The Taste of Violence (Le goût de la violence)

THE TASTE OF VIOLENCE

Central America in the early 20th century... In the Oriente province,

General Guzman's "Guerilleros", during a merciless fight,

have put all their forces into overthrowing President Laragama's regime.

They have ambushed Laragama's daughter to use her as an hostage.

Welcome to President Laragama's daughter.

Miss...

I've been ordered to take you to General Guzman,

head of the provisional revolutionary government.

I don't recognize your government.

Be warned that it's gonna be a long journey.

It depends upon you whether or not it is pleasant.

How dare you take it out on me? You and your men are going to be hanged!

Till that high day, Miguel you take command.

We'll meet in two weeks at Salte de la muerta.

Chamaco!

Chico!

You're coming with me.

Get some food and take the best horses.

Get her some different clothes, too.

I refuse! I won't wear them.

If you prefer, I can ask my men to undress you.

Go!

Ready!

Aim!

Fire!

She refuses to eat.

So what?

She probably doesn't like it.

Do you realize? The President's daughter!

Do you know Cordova's Madonna?

Yes, so?

She looks like her.

She's so beautiful!

Madonna or not, I'm sure she's worth her 4 or 5 million pesos.

Maybe even 10.

Do you think that much?

Much more.

How much?

Something priceless.

Blood.

50 of our comrades have been condemned to death.

A President's daughter is well worth 50 revolutionaries.

- If you want to know what I think... - I don't!

Go get some sleep.

I'll take the first shift.

No, no...

I don't get it. - What?

Listen. If we had been killed

during the train attack,

do you think General Guzman would have came to the rescue?

Certainly not.

So why give him such a present? It's not fair.

He set up the kidnapping. The girl belongs to him.

I disagree. It's unfair.

What's unfair?

Don't get angry but, if we trade the girl for prisoners...

Do you know any of those people?

Do you think they're still alive?

I only think to one thing:

the pesos. - What pesos!?

If we asked for a ransom, the old man would agree to pay 10 million.

That's a lot of money.

More than 3 million for each of us. - No way!

Okay, you're the boss: 5 for you.

Chico and I, we split the rest. Okay?

You don't get it, Chamaco.

That girl doesn't belong to us, she belongs to the people.

And we are the people, aren't we?

Let me explain you... Why are we fighting? Because we're starving

and we want it to change. And that's our chance!

The revolution isn't a chance.

It's a holy cause. - Yeah, big words.

But they aren't gonna warm us up after your revolution kills us.

Listen, Chamaco...

I've been ordered to take the girl to Guzman and I'm gonna do it.

Is that clear?

No.

The government troops!

Let's get in there!

- The mule walked off. - Idiot! You should have been more careful!

- Keep her mouth shut! - Stop it!

Pardon me, Excellency. Thank you for stopping my mule.

Do you expect me to believe that this mule is yours?

Certainly, Excellency.

Then why did it walked away from you?

I was asleep, Excellency.

Asleep...

A lazybones and a mule thief, that's what you are!

Sergeant, take this mule, I confiscate it on behalf of the Government!

But, Excellency!...

Yes?

Pardon me, Excellency.

I'd like to speak to Paco.

Is he here?

- Are you a friend of Paco? - Yes.

You're coming from far away?

Yes.

And you came all that way to see him?

I was around.

What's your name? If you're a friend, he has probably spoken of you.

Oh, Paco's coming.

Perez...

- What are you doing here? - I'd like to speak with you.

Come in.

Trouble?

Yes.

The President's daughter?

You already know about it?

Yes, some soldiers came yesterday.

They're looking for you. There are rewards on your heads.

100 000 pesos.

That's a sum.

Well, what can I do for you?

We lost our supplies.

We need a mule and some food.

Yes...

We'd better wait for nightfall.

100 000 pesos, that's enough to make people think.

It's fine, I'll take care of it.

- Thank you. - Where are you staying?

Up there, in the ruins of the monastery.

- Where is she? - In the chapel.

- What is she doing? - Dunno.

She's praying, huh?

Good for her.

Why?

Yeah, good for her.

Why?

Think...

If we can't trade her... you know, for prisoners...

We've lost a lot of time.

Maybe they're already dead.

Perez' friends.

And so?

So what's Guzman gonna do if we bring him the girl?

Dunno.

He'll take revenge on her, don't you think?

- He can't do that! - Want to know what I think?

A bullet in the head.

That's what your Madonna can expect.

Unless she end up at the end of a rope.

- Can we prevent it? - Yes, we can.

But there is Perez.

If I could rely on you

I could maybe find a way. - How?

What's Paco doing?

It's almost daytime, he should already be here.

- Maybe he gave us up. - Why?

To get the bounty.

It's fine, it's Paco.

You have the mule. - Yes.

Chico, put the mule with the horses!

So, was everything okay?

Yes, kind of, but I felt like I was followed on the way up.

Villagers?

Yes.

And I think you'd better leave... - Perez!

The horses have been stolen!

They won't lose sight of you and when you're exhausted, they'll attack!

- They want more than the horses. - Then, what?

Can't you guess?

Wait, I'm gonna scare them.

Let me handle it.

So?

What are you expecting?

Come on, go home

and let us through.

Go ahead.

Let's go.

Listen...

I have an idea.

Come on, walk straight ahead. Quickly!

So where's my profit?

A mule for an old bark, admit it's a good deal.

A mule isn't very helpful for fishing!

Anyhow, don't expect to go fishing now!

What are we waiting for?

- They're gonna open fire if we go. - He's right.

They won't dare open fire after they see her.

Move and I shoot.

Get on the bark!

Now that they've spotted us, they won't get off our backs.

They probably went around the lake and sent patrols all over.

They must be searching the woods to try and surprise us.

We must reach Diego's place as quickly as possible.

We can say it was a close shave.

What do you think, Chamaco?

If you want to know,

this is only the beginning.

We're gonna end up dead.

It's not a woman we have with us, it's dynamite.

Dynamite that is worth a lot of gold and that we should trade before it's too late.

Don't you say anything?

Me and Chico,

we did a lot of thinking...

I think it's time to tell you about it.

I'm listening.

We agreed on this, me and him.

We'd like to hand the girl over and get the ransom.