The Mission Page #4

...for the authority of the state.

Member of your community,

Father Gabriel?

Yes.

Come.

- That was perfect.

- What?

A flash of Jesuit temper was just

what we needed him to see.

- What do you mean?

- Be patient, will you?

All we need is a little patience.

He knows what to do.

- You will apologize to Don Cabeza.

- What he said was a lie.

Silence. You will apologize. Go now.

- What was he before he joined you?

- A mercenary and a slave trader.

- Will he apologize?

- Yes, he will.

You should know that the Spanish

do have slaves here.

They buy them from the Portuguese,

amongst others.

- And Don Cabeza connives at this?

- Yes.

Profits by it too.

Don Cabeza wants the mission territories

to be taken over by the Portuguese. Why?

Because the missions are the

only sanctuary left for the Guarani.

Without the shelter we provide

under Spanish law...

...the Indians have no protection

against slavery.

They come to us of their own free will.

- Truly?

- Ask them. Ask the Guarani.

Nine-tenths of what they earn goes back

into the community, into their lives.

Father Gabriel, what do you think

is at issue here?

- The work of God is at issue.

- No, what is at issue...

...is the very existence of the

Jesuit order, both here and in Europe.

And I assure you that

the courts of Europe are a jungle...

...in comparison with which

your jungle here is a tidy garden.

But is that to stand in our way?

Thank you.

- But why must I apologize? Why?

- Because I order it.

- It was a lie.

- Nevertheless, I order it.

Don Cabeza hates Jesuits and Indians.

He and the Portuguese are ruthless.

- Can't you see that?

- Of course.

- Then why must I apologize?

- What better excuse can we give them...

...but that one of our order, albeit a

novice, publicly insults one of them?

Now, you will apologize.

Or are you no longer a Jesuit?

By order of holy obedience,

without reservation...

...I ask Don Cabeza to pardon

my presumption and my insolence.

Well, I accept.

Why not?

But as I said before, I cannot accept

a challenge from a priest.

True, which makes my insolence

all the more insolent...

...and your pardon twice as gracious.

Your Eminence, I ask your pardon too.

I ask the pardon of this assembly.

I ask for the pardon of my brothers.

And I ask for your pardon...

...for insulting His Excellency.

- Thank you, that will do.

Well, that was most gratifying,

Your Eminence.

Do you think you could tell us about

your attitude to the transference...

...of the missions' territories?

- Precisely.

I have kept these matters in the front

of my mind ever since I came here.

But I do not think

I should make a final decision...

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