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Horea (1984)
ROMANIA FILM
presents a NUMARUL PATRU production producer RADU STEGAROIU filmed at the CINEMA PRODUCTION CENTER studios in BUCHARES HOREA with OVIDIU IULIU MOLDOVAN SERBAN IONESCU DAN SANDULESCU RADU BELIGAN MIRCEA ALBULESCU ENIKO SZILAG Y ION BESOIU PETRE GHEORGHIU FLORIN CHIRIAC SIEGMUND SIEGFRIED ALEXANDRU REPAN MIRCEA DIACONU NICOLAE ALBANI Z OLTAN VADASZ MIRCEA HINDOREANU COSTEL RADULESCU screenwriter TITUS POPOVICI music by TIBERIU OLAH with the symphonic orchestra conducted by IOSIF CONTA make-up artists ELENA RUCAREANU GHEORGHE DRAGHICI assistant directors MARIANA PETCULESCU DIMITRIOS SUKAS editor ELENA PANTAZICA soundtrack NICOLAE CIOLCA costume designer DESDEMONA LO ZINSCHI setting designer MARCEL BOGOS production director LUCIAN DANTE GOLOGAN director of photography VIVI DRAGAN VASILE director MIRCEA MURESAN HOREA VIENNA 1784 A division of the Tuscany regiment will depart to Slatna! Go on, please. Pressbuch Herzeitung: Transylvanian tragedy caused by peasants' impoverishment Wiener Zeitung presents the events... Politische Jurnal from Hamburg: Horea speaks German well, reads German classical authors, According to people who know him intimately in Vienna. Oberposter Herzeitung, Frankfurt: Horea wore a precious stone, the seal of his new kingdom, Dacia. A company of the Romanian regiment of frontier guards will depart to Miercurea. The skills and loyalty of these units are to be tested. Go on, please. The point made by Gazette de France, Journal de Geneve, Wicklaas News, Gazeta de Madrid, and Diario Estero from Milan is that the Transylvanian riot is legitimate for the berserk slaves grow relentless in their hatred as the tyrants become more oppressive. Gentlemen, his Majesty is at work! He's humiliating us. I don't see why we had to come before the German looking like a bunch of beggars. So he might see where his demented hatred for the Transylvanian nobles has brought us! - What if he won't see us today either? We'll stay here for as long as it takes, Until we'll all perish from starvation on his doorstep! His Excellency, the honored Count, Anton lankovici. Myes... Go on. Der Deutsche Merkur from Weimar: It is unknown where Horea's heroic deeds will take him. We hope he will not be tortured and end as Thomas Munzer, the hero of the German Peasants' War. I most humbly bow before your Majesty... ...Since ballet scenes interrupt the flow of narration rendering a frivolous note, we propose - underline this word - their elimination from operas to take place in the future. I ordered our personal physician to tell you the truth concerning your situation, my esteemed Count. I was aware of it without this gesture of attention from your Majesty. Palida mors aeque pulsat pede pauperum tavernas regum vetures If it concerned another, one may have thought this a cruel gesture. You are doomed, my brother. Rest at ease, they are doomed as well. I have a favor to ask of you. I'm listening, brother. You are faced with the great unknown, a threshold, a peak, who knows? You may look lightly upon human passion and turmoil. Yes. I am appointing you Royal and lmperial Commissary in Transylvania for the duration of the investigation. You shall personally look into the causes of this riot. I know them, brother. The obstinate intellectually-reduced and savage-mannered nobility refuses to let go of old privileges. I know, but a clear inquiry must be made, not necessarily for history's sake, But for mine, first of all. I must know how and where this all started. I want to learn the secret mechanism of this storm. The entire Europe is discontent; I see it, hear it, feel it every day. As far as I know, the peasants have accepted the eight-days truce proposed by Colonel Wajda. Since the riot passed its initial ebullition, it is as good as ended. Prepare the general commander patent of the Wurthenberg Dragons' regiment for colonel Savelius Wajda Pustahaza. Myes. The riot is as good as ended. Its remittance is next, the usual... none of your concern. I want to know its texture, its secret mechanism, because you can never understand that you must never... I impart justice and not my subjects. For this, the leaders must be apprehended. That is your mission, brother. But alive, alive at any cost, especially Horea. Their fate? The lesson given to the illiterate, arrogant, rebellious landowners, reluctant to my reform was more than welcomed. As if this Horea had read my mind. But one who is able to read a king's mind is dangerous. You shall decide their fate, brother. With the clear mind and detachment that only your approaching end can provide. Beyond which we know there is nothing else. Farewell, brother. I thank your Majesty for this supreme proof of trust. Are you wearing powder, Count? I wouldn't have allowed myself to show your Majesty the image of human decrepitude. For the noblemen refugees in the cities of Deva and Hunedoara there will be a daily tax of 17 kreutzers, a sum to be returned to the imperial treasury as soon as calm is restored. His Royal lmperial and Apostolic Majesty, Emperor of Germany, King of Hungary, Bohemia and Jerusalem, Archduke of Austria, Duke of Burgundy, Great Prince of Transylvania. Count Karoly requests de honor of presenting your Majesty's high compliance to the needs and grievances of Transylvanian nobility. Your most sacred Majesty, the fire and pillage caused by the Romanian rebellious noblemen, arsonists, harassers and assassins lead to the utter devastation of most nobles, the flower and decorum of Transylvania, and they are still relentless. Their past and present leader is the poisoning Urs Necula, also known as Horea, who shamelessly poses as an authority... Will you be baptized as serfs? Yes, yes... What shall your names be? What shall we name them? Vasile! Gheorghe! Then, we name Adam and Eve! Is that rightful? Yes, yes, we thank you. Now you will see how we lead our lives. Good day to you, gentle folks! Any truce, any treaty with Romanian peasants is wrongful. Ever since out fathers came to Transylvania, seeing the nature of these peasants, wisely ruled that only the harshest punishments may keep them obedient and dutiful. This is their home! This is to be your home. You were quick to take on peasant manners! Forgive me, my love! Forgive me, light of my eyes! You will survive. Freedom was given to them by the new imperial laws, emerged from august kindness, but these people are against all morals... Enough! You've understood nothing. Why did you dress like Bohemian tumblers? So that your Majesty may see to what misery the faithful noblemen of Transylvania have been brought to! Faithful? The faith in the Crown... a minimum of intelligence and common sense would have dictated that you apply a salving reform! But you, through excessive taxations at your own will, senselessly and ceaselessly, in winter and in summer, have constantly burdened your subjects! I will punish with no remorse those who dared to take justice into their own hands but... How many victims were there? One hundred and seventeen noblemen suffered an unpleasant death, your Majesty. Too little compared to the manner contrary to your interests in which you treated them. What of the humiliation? What of our humiliation? What of our pride? Countess Palfy Agnesz. Gentlemen, the hearing is over! He is mad! His mother was a whore and he is mad! Take heed of your words! It is clear that Horea tells the truth in saying he rebelled with His approval. Countess, you shouldn't have! They are returning to their homes. The riot is over! Now comes the most difficult part... uprooting the very idea of riot. Philosophical subtleties elude me, your Excellency. I am a military. Of Romanian origin, it seems. Distant, which hasn't prevented me from my military duties when given the order, Excellency. I was not making a reproach. It is a noble origin. Shame, shame! The nobles are returning home as well, Excellency. Only they are not greeting us. What are your Excellency's feelings towards this Horea? Those I am ordered to have, Excellency. I was asking about your personal feelings for him. Respect. I consider him a brave soldier. Dangerous honesty, Excellency. We've taken every measure for his capture. I also expect positive news at our first stop, Excellency. Seize him! Seize him! I see not everyone regards our mission with sympathy. Seize him! Leave him, Excellency. It is of no use. Besides, we seem to be approaching our stop. A light meal for your Excellency. Eat, your Excellency. It is not virtue that makes me abstemious, but infirmity. A glass of warm milk, watered down. Have the riot leaders been apprehended? Not yet, Excellency. And here? What goes on here? Present your report, captain. Captain Heinrich Pfeiffer of the Dewins regiment. Following the trial of those charged with crime, the sentences will be read out, part of them being passed. The tribunal comprised of deputy-commissioner Faray, baron Kemeny, count Perecay, and members of the bourgeoisie Maieriu, Cosma and Hopschebergen. Approach, gentlemen. Have the tribunal members suffered personally from the rebels deeds? According to express orders of his Majesty, I assisted every interrogation without applying extraordinary measures. There were only benignum examen. Only impartial witnesses for each case. What is this? The milk you Excellency requested. The sentences. I am Szilagy Ignac, notarius. I present myself before your Excellency's attention. Ion Lupenci, from Petris, 33 years old, instigator to the arson of nobility courts, sentenced to be executed before the Petris village. Craciun Pacurar and Toma Beghisan, Mihai Marian and Sandu Toader, sentenced to be burned at the stake. Thank you. I piss on his Excellency. I don't work at night. I'm no butcher. I'm a master executioner. Begging your Excellency's pardon. The executioner has lost his patience. He must cut off the heads of... ...of Gheorghe Branisteanu, the judge from Colop, who was first to set the riot by beating against the castle gates to carry out the false commandment given by the Emperor to strike down the nobles. The master executioner refuses to work without light in order to avoid unnecessarily torturing the convicts. A meritorious mark of the profession's honesty. Is the sentence fair? Yes, Excellency. Proceed. We are here to strictly apply the law, not to break it. Branistean Gheorghe! Sit still. You'll be in no pain, if I don't miss. If this is imperial justice, then cut off my head as well! I too have taken down castle gates, I too have drunk the wine of Hungarian nobles. I too have taken under my abode Horea, Closca and Crisan, I too have baptized landowners as serfs, cut off my head! If things are as you say, you will be punished, pater. But not before you are tried. Pereat mundus, fiiat justitiam. You too are a Hungarian noble, Count lankovici! You cannot impart justice between us and Hungarians. Nemo esse judex in sua causa potest! I thought you were an orthodox, pater. How is it that you speak Latin? I learnt it from my forefathers, Count. Splendid answer. The window from your Excellency's carriage has been replaced. The fire was so comfortable. Malens suada frigor. Excellency... - Excellency, I beg your forgiveness... - I was not asleep, Excellency. Have the leaders been apprehended? Was Horea caught? Not yet. But those willing to capture them have arrived. Light the candles, lord secretary. Bring them forth so I may inspect them. He is Anton Melzer, ranger of the imperial woods, robbed by the rebels. And they are former rebels that have contrived, the brothers Maties... We'd best keep names under discretion's veil. I assume they must redeem for petty sins... The hell they are petty! Begging your Excellency's pardon. This one, Maties loan, took everything from my home. e destroyed every thing he couldn't carry. And who swears for their new loyalty? I do. His Eminence, Bishop Ghideon Nichitici. I am pleased, pleased indeed. His Majesty sends gracious thanks for the precious help you gave at the truce. I serve the cause of my lambs as I see fit. The Romanian people have not acquired patience. This long-oppressed race cannot be lifted through riots and violence, but through patient and industrious education. But can the Romanian peasant, the serf, endure? What must he be patient for? Pity and kindness? Whose? And will the heart of landowners be tamed by industrious education? Get out, lord secretary. From now on, you will ride with the driver. He is Romanian. His father and two of his uncles were decapitated at Deva without trial. Otherwise, he is a valuable secretary. Eminent Nichitici, I fear that our holy empire is a cauldron uselessly and dangerously boiling incompatible passions, interests and people. Horea is the rebellious one. That is why I touched the hearts of those peasants so they may help with his capture. My heart grows more tired than before. Why did you make peace with them near Tiber? Why did you accept their peace? Because I did not receive your letter in time. The people were tired and hungry. We'd been in that valley for two days and people didn't know what to think, because your letter was late. Who knows what goes on at home? My family's been gone for three weeks... and Grofita Traicescu, poor woman, they cut her head off... You're full, aren't you? You drank, ate, set fire! And now you're finished! No, no, I was only babbling away in my stupidity... Are you their leader? I came to hear your demands! Your grievances! Don't you know them? Didn't you receive Horea's letter? Tell the general anyway! So he may hear them once more! Tell him! Why shouldn't he hear them? Why did you come in such numbers? Why have you rebelled? Let our brothers go free! Let them go free! Because our rights have been trampled on! And the truces we made, willingly or not, were also broken. There, officer, we talk of peace, minding our business while landowners eavesdrop. How can there be peace? With whom? Between them and us? I myself, your shepherd, came to teach you as a father, and show you that the merciful emperor has forgiven each and every one. Long live our emperor, losefus Secundus! For this mercy, clemency and wisdom to be granted to you, I bid you return home, my sons! And come back here in eight days time with your true leaders whose orders you willingly obey, and we will reach an accord! You shouldn't have done that. How can there be peace between those who have and those who don't? Between the powerful and the weak? I knew the truth. Only lies and deceit! But, you see, the people... they thought that... Don't blame the people! Some missed their infants, others were tired of sleeping in the cold, others were frightened of their own deeds! But they didn't renounce us and they didn't sell us out! Who are you? The eight days have passed! We meet again! Let the leaders come forth! Are you the leaders? The people's messengers! You will come with me to Deva! There you will be told... you will hear the emperor's order! The emperor's order or answer? The order, Horea. Bring three horses for these people! Well, officer, we cannot travel that far, alone, together with foreign troops! The emperor's troops, old man! And if we all go, we cannot hold responsibility for our people, because they need food and shelter! Your leaders' conscience is not clear, since you don't dare come alone and, still, I am content by this! This means you realize you've sinned in your crimes! No one among us has sinned, unless it is sinful to seek justice! It may be a sin to you, but not to us! I demand that show here the written orders that you pretend... that you claim to have from his Majesty, the emperor, and with which you've deceived the unknowing crowds! You are too insignificant in rank to see them! That may be! Then, I ask you three to accompany me and show them to whomever you deem worthy. Judas! You traitor! Show us the emperor's letters! Show them to us if you refused to show them to the general! Here you are, Maties. I cannot read. What do the letters matter? It is clear the emperor is a liar! The Hungarian nobles must've bribed him! They must've tempted him with one of their women! You lied to us! You lied to us! How did my father lie to us? How did he lie to us? Were we doing well and he said otherwise? Were we blissful and Horea said we lived as animals? - How did he lie to us? - Leave him alone! We'll put down our weapons... the broken ones, and we'll hide the good ones together with the powder. We'll make more scythes and spears. And I say we give back the things we seized. The clothes of Hungarian nobles are not suited for us. And if you believe that myself or others lied to you, we'll go and surrender ourselves. No! Horea, these are the first weak words I've heard you utter. Go! The mountains are our home. We'll wait for you next spring. - We can't fight the imperial troops. - How can that be? For the time being. Take it! Thank you! And here, in the mountains, where I believe we are truly at home, we may crush them. Father. Father! Let me come with you. Son, who knows if we'll ever sit at the same table again and drink to one another's health? Here! I have nothing else to give you. We'll stay here tonight. I'll gather some firewood. Spring's a long way away still. The tracks... I forgive you for stealing everything from my home, Maties loan. We'll live better with everything we'll receive after this. Sandor. Did you call for me? Or did I dream? Command me! I am prepared to die. Take the clock outside and throw it in the latrine! You know, the countess cannot stand anything touched by the Wallachians' filthy hands. The entire family's been through the Wallachians' hands. I assume those hands touched you, even against your own will. Did you suffer much from the tumult, count? Look around, Excellency. We invited you to these ruins hastily put back so that you may see for yourselves. They took everything. They broke what they couldn't take! The important thing is that you live. Only animals value life most of all! Horea calls for you! Get out! Horea calls for you! Grab your axes, your forks, your scythes! Come out! Grab your axes, your forks, your scythes! Come out! Horea calls for you! Agnes, can't you hear them outside? Let's leave while we still can! Sandor, Sandor! Please, try to convince her! Agnes, your leaving, goddess, is not shameful, but a gentle swan's fly through the clouds! Go to hell! How is it that you, a Palfy, don't see that if we defy them, if we are not frightened, they will not dare! They're plebeians! Afraid of what they do not understand! And if you force me to leave, we will part forever! I'd rather be with a gypsy than you! They're waiting for us to leave, but seeing us upright, dignified, in our home, they will not dare! The plebeians fury in vain boils, thou needs only draw thy sword! Be as the lightning, Arpad! And the hydra penetrated the dark abysses! Very well. As you wish and as God wishes! What are you doing here drinking? Judge, why aren't you with the people? Rest peaceful, master. Ever since the tumult started they keep telling us we'll suffer the world should we... Be careful, for they greatly "desire" you! And you? Why aren't you at your posts? In arms, so they may see and fear you? Stay and have a drink with us, your highness. Ildiko! Polodar! Children, where are you? Children, where are you? Stay still, son! This is not child's play! You bragged that you wait for them, and now you lie about? Now is their turn to pay! These are the emperor's orders: there are to be no Hungarian nobles left in the land! Castles are burning on the Mures, on the Cris rivers, and you...! Or perhaps you did not hear the command? Perhaps you are on their side! They've shown you too much kindness, making your lives too full! We've set fire to them everywhere we've been! And we shall do the same from now on! and you should know, that those who keep away when every man will rebel, those we'll mark with this! You say you have the emperor's orders! Where are they? Can you show them? Do you know this? Feel it, it's made of gold? Where would I get gold if not from the emperor? I see the cross! The cross is solid! But I hear the emperor has also sent letters! If you are so kind as to show them! So that all things may be in order! Here, old man, here are the letters! So you may seek order in peace of mind! I cannot read. You are too patient, Horea! We must! We must have patience until we lose it all. Perhaps someone else can read! I can read! I, the emperor Josef, seeing that all my orders in favor of the peasants have been kept from them by the Hungarian nobles and their servants... ...and by their servants... They not only ignore them, but did the opposite of what I ordered, I, emperor Josef. For this reasons, I command you to rebel and do away with them, if you love me and if you love yourselves! But we cannot do it without the emperor's permission, can we? Need we hear from the emperor that we are hungry and mocked, that we endure as fools do, that we are many and that Hungarians nobles live fully. Do we need the emperor to tell us that? Come! Leave me or I will kill you! The children! What would they want with the children? The children did them no harm! You mad woman! Don't you see it's us they want to kill? We'll find them! Mother, what game shall we play? My angels, my lambs! Shall we shoot them? They'll eat us alive! What is the matter, Horea? No matter, I'm just watching and learning. You're talking in parables again. There are no parables here. I'm trying to learn people's hearts. Now, have you stopped again? You've reached their gates and came to a halt? Are you scared even of gates? This is what I wanted to see. What do you say, father? Are you pleased with me? You've grown up and slimmed down. Of course, with all the walking from one village to another. - I am content with your shooting. - I am too. They don't pay me to die. Wait, good folks! I'll open the gates for you! Don't bother! I am Boz Grigor! Come in, brothers! Wait! Come here, brother! You were my brother and you beat me! We have the same mother and father and you tortured me! I was doing my job, brother! As I am doing mine! May God not rest your soul! What are you doing? Get away from there! I'll only speak to your leader, Horea! Which one of you is Horea? Which one do you think? Him. Say what is on your mind! You are the village judge. How did you defend the people? Are you looking for the nobles? You won't find them! ou can't! If I take you to them, will you spare me? What you done so you may \be forgiven for? They built a hiding place years ago, when they learnt that our beloved and precious Horea went to see the emperor. Stop sniveling and tell us where they are! Come with me, brothers, and we will drink their souls! Look there! You know what makes me wonder? The fact that people like you, like me were afraid of people like them... who would sell their masters to us so we may kill them! One like him, a nobody! Horea and Closca have been apprehended. They are being taken to Alba lulia, through Slatna, heavily guarded. They've been caught! They're in chains! Take me to Alba lulia! I want to see him in torment, humiliated! - I beg you, Count! - These people understand nothing! Cum victum arma povit et victor decet odia de pove Agnes, calm yourself. They haven't set their arms. And their hatred will never be quenched. Good day, fair lady. Mother, when is it time? I'll tell you when. Madam, I bow to you. It's harder to obtain the authorization to see Horea in chains than it is to see his Majesty himself! Still, how did you do it? What a naive question! Allow me to escort you. Behind these gates through which you passed is imprisoned Closca lon. Do you wish to see him? No! I want to see Horea! Madam, sir, the orders are formal regarding the search of those who wish to see the criminals. The corporal, who is higher in rank, has done me the great favor of allowing me to search you. Forgive me. You don't think we've come here to put him out of his misery. Sweet children! Pity! They would've enjoyed it! This way! Look at me! Madam, any dialogue with the rebel is forbidden. Now what? We'll try you! Try them, Horea! I don't know these people! They were never my masters! They were yours! You try them! But is the emperor's command? That we should do what we see fit! Kill them! Kill every last one of them! What is your name? Irimia! They call me son of Oiste! Kill them! If you command me to kill them, I'll do it! I did not command anything, it was you who shouted! Kill them. Start with the infants. See, now? Then, let them go! No! Never! They cannot go unpunished! It isn't fair! But how should we punish them? You've lived long. You should know! In my opinion, the biggest punishment for us is life! Then why don't you punish them with a life such as yours? Come! Let's go! Come! Don't look that way. And leave the boy with me until you set your home straight. He's young and bears no fault. Come along, little girl. In aunt Saveta's poor home you'll starve to death. What's your name, dear? lldiko. Mom, can I go with auntie? Go, dear, go with aunt Mary. I won't forget this. Yes, you will, sir. Come, children, you must be hungry. I'll be there when you die. Countess, any discussion with the rebel is forbidden. Why don't you sit at the table? Thank you, I'm fine here. Don't mind my asking, but why are you staying here for the night? The nobles' castle is empty. People slew their animals and are now frying them. That is not why I lead them, I don't shed blood to take the nobles' place. This is one, Candea Alexa. That's his name. Romanian like us. But the old Hungarian paid for his school and he's been brainwashed. He calls himself Kendi Sandor. You said you needed an educated man, there he is! Is he any good or should we hang him? The storm of the rage is coming, the sacred and eternal! You are Hercules and the mighty scythe is the symbol... Can you write? Latin, Hungarian, German and, of course, Romanian, for I myself am one, your Excellency. Give him a horse! I've never been to those places. Question 23. How did you dare deceive the people by telling them the riot was ordered by the emperor? I've never said such words. Question 24. Why did you seek to kill Domeneal Cernanski-Gabrel si Aron Alexander in Mosca village? I have never heard those names before. Bring in the imperial judge Craciun Resiga and the witnesses. Do you know this man called Closca lon? - No. - When he was shown to you in prison yesterday, you knew him. I didn't see well. Horea, your silence is futile! You're making things difficult for yourself! When asked if he could write, the accused answered that he could not! But this letter to Crisan reads: 'Your messenger has been caught! Knowing my handwriting, you will know that I sent you this letter! God forbid, but should it come to the enemy, you shall remain silent! That is what I decided together with Closca, I, Horea! ' What do you have to say? These simpletons think that if they deny everything... We're wasting our time, Excellency! It was a spontaneous riot! Spontaneous, your Excellency? Do you think the army, with all its admirable organization would have succeeded in conquering such a territory in two weeks alone, without a well-laid plan, without connections kept secret for years? This is what we have to find. Simpletons? Excellency, do know Horea's proclamation? The bold philosophers in Paris whose brochures are being burnt demand the nobles be gentler to their subjects. This naive Horea demands the nobles perish. Maybe the proclamation was dictated to him by one of his mysterious inspirers. Bring in the noble Kendi Sandor. Forgive me, noble Count! I'm a poet. As Prometheus chained to hard and merciless rock, I suffer for a blame that is not mine. Only my hand wrote the thought of the fierce rebel! I'm afraid his Excellency, the General is too tired to enjoy these... harmonious verses. Describe the circumstances in which Horea issued the ultimatum proclamation of November 11 th. You were there, you wrote it. Scripta manent. In heavy chains he dragged me on his horse, this Rex Daciae of the rebelled plebeians. Excellency, he treated me kind. As peasants treat their sowing instruments, I being necessary to them as a... writing instrument. Horea was and was not present. As a violent blizzard born from an abyss, he crossed the mountains and the hidden valley... We cannot establish where was Horea and what he did during the riots! What his captains did! The Abrud was the target of the bloody passion that lead the crowds with spears and thousands of scythes that shone in the night. Crisan rode with a merciless sword, slaying the nobles around. My beloved sons, the Lord showed his will in the Holy Scripture, commanding 'Thou shall not kill, thou shall not steal' as well as teaching us to love our enemies... God commands only us, the peasants, to love them, but not to the nobles! Die, you hypocrite! They come to us with the Ten Commandments, what do you bring us? Dear and respected lord Crisan, we, the landowners in Transylvania... ...Plead you to spare the Abrud from pillage, for we'll pay you in gold, as much as you want! You worms, the money you tempt us with are our strength! - We don't need it! - What is that you want the? What? We want to do away with you! Take them to Abrud! Let Horea try them! Captain, you leave us defenseless in front of these fierce animals, more fierce than vandals? My orders are to defend the mines and that it what I'll do! But what about us, our women, our children?! I have no orders concerning this! So it's true that this slaughter is going on with the emperor's express or tacit compliance! Count, my instructions don't allow me to draw such conclusions! Gentlemen, I advise to keep hidden! Where should we hide, captain? We have wives and children! The wrath of these people is terrible, but short. The exasperation of centuries makes them cruel for just a few days. The proud flower of nobility stood helpless! Oh, wild blaze, peasants everywhere gathered! Hatred, as a storm, ravaged everything in its way! Oh, poor flower of nobility! I'll take you to the nobles' hiding, brothers! Follow me! Hungarians, yes, Hungarians started persecuting their Hungarian brothers and give them over to the to the fury of the rebels! The nobles see the mines for themselves now! No, no, spare me, no, don't kill me! Let me, let me! Sequitur superbus ulturat urga Deus. The god of vengeance seeks out the arrogant. Great noble, this God not only sought them out, but reached them. They were forced to convert. Do you or do you not swear to convert to serfdom? We swear, we swear, we swear! Then, come here. Now, what shall we call him? What? lon. What will we call him now? lon! Now, you are called lon. Here are your papers, you are to dress in peasants' clothes and hang a white towel on your gates! What will we call her? Ana! Now she is Ana! Your papers! Isn't she pretty? That moment, fate turned around its way! 03:04 Fatam viam inveniat! As your Excellency knows, there were 50 peasants executed in Deva under lege statario. Do you know the names of those who formed this illegal and unconscious tribunal? We were unable to identify them, your Excellency! A knight comes riding a furious horse, an angel's face but bloody was his soul! What are doing? Are you baptizing the? See here how they baptize us! They're slaughtering us like cattle in Deva and stick our heads on poles! Then Horea appeared! You who were nobles, what is it that you want of me? Life, spare our lives! No, no! Let no Hungarian go unpunished! Irimia, you are drunk and stupid! He's Hungarian too! And what about me? My name is Cionkasz Fary. Well, father, these are people, not landowners! And him, damn his soul, he's Romanian and he's a noble! Cretu Gavrila is his name? What shall we do with him? Horea, I reckon we kill him! And him? He's Romanian! He is Maties from Carpinis, and he's a serf, but wants to be a noble! What shall we do with him? Take him away! Horea had a strange nobility, not of rank and not of power, but of a sort of blind justice! He commanded that I be brought forth and dictated to me: 'Write this down, Alexandru Candea! Today, November the 11 th, 1784. One. Let the nobles of the county and their children swear by the cross! We swear! We swear! We swear! Wait and see what is that you'll swear... Swear to set serfs free! Two. There are to be no more nobles, everyone should work however they can and earn their living from it! Three. Let the wealthy nobles forever leave their lands and their properties be divided among peasants according to the emperor's command which is soon to come! Horea! Horea! Long live Horea! And you, a noble, even captive, wrote down these monstrous ideas. Your Excellency, my hand was but a tool moving on the white sheet by the crowd's fury. Alright, you may leave. You are dismissed. Excellency, Excellency, my respects... Excellency, this riot was not spontaneous and these ideas, I fear, have not been broken by the bullets you fired at the heads in which they were born. Excellency, the third leader has been apprehended, Crisan. The good news is brought by father Moise from Carpinici, who most contributed to his capture. Your highness, I humbly present myself as Moise, llie Moise from Carpinici. Palida morseque pulsat pauperum tavernas regum vetures. ...expressing the opinions of the radical wing that predominates France's rulers, brother Brissot intends to issue an open letter addressed to the emperor. Our Ambassador, brother Mercy provided us with some excerpts: 'Each time power is avert from the purpose of government which represents public good and public freedom is endangered, the people may and have the right to change the old governing and set a new one. The doctrine of submission to an arbitrary government is absurd and menial. The riot is subsequently legitimate everywhere power is not directly given by the people, everywhere the purpose of government does not represent the general good of society, but the good of one man or few people. Subject for centuries to a cruel, blind and stupid tyranny, the noble Romanians wallowed in misery until, out of the very bosom of its suffering, Horea emerged. People tormented by every nation joined him and bishops and arms were sent against rebels. Clergy is always present in political turmoil, perhaps they know the art of deceiving. Brother Brissot doesn't know that the low-ranked clergy took part in the riot with their congregation. The people rebel only when they are oppressed! The people only demand justice, and sovereigns, no matter how wise they may want to seem, through the very nature of their power... Taxes and chores in favor of nobles tripled over the last few years. We work for them for five days, and when we go home the sixth day to work for our benefit, they won't leave us and they call for us everywhere to no beginning and no end in winter, spring, summer or fall. And Your Grace should know that we reap, we harvest, we carry the crops, but not for us. We hand over everything, butter, meat, fowl and eggs, fish, nuts, our rags we give for their paper mills, so that nobles may read. We can't read, you Grace, but only few of us, such as myself, Ursu Necula, who was sent to you for this reason by the people. And it is not only the nobles who oppress us, but their servants as well, who torture us worse than the nobles. Those who rise and forget their origins are worse than the nobles, because they are even more greedy. There are no laws but their whims and desires. Laws go according to them but the hardest of all is the mockery, for we feed tax collectors as well, the investigators who torture us, those who beat us. Then, what is left for us, Your Grace? Shall we perish, shall we perish from our lands or... Or? - Or... - Or... Do it! In order to eliminate the rumors that the rebel leaders have not been apprehended or enjoy special privileges in captivity, they will be dragged in chains to the places of their crimes, heavily guarded. Poor horses! They looked for you the other day as well. How much longer will you live in the wilderness? In the wilderness, as you call it, I don't know how long. But I will be a slave no longer. How do you think you can set him free on your own? He is in chains, people are frightened, by the emperor's orders, men hang each day in each village, they are wheeled. How am I supposed to let him be tortured? How can I leave him to be mocked? Here. Food for the road. What are you doing, Irina? You were kind to me and we were happy together. Thank you. How? Then, may your hand be steady. Well, lon, let us tend to our duty. Father, don't be afraid. It's your son, lonut. Good evening, lon. Father, I wanted to shoot you in the heart, to spare you from torments. Is that what you think of me, that I'm frightened by torture? I don't fear it, otherwise they wouldn't have caught me alive. As to death, when I had people rebel, my son, I made a deal with death as well! We owe death anyway. But it matters how you die. I reckon I have the strength to die like this, so that the people I die for may be forever ashamed to live with with their heads down in front of some lowlifes, in front of some nobodies. But are we going to do without you? Keep to your life as the wolf keeps to his prey. Have many children, starve so may send your children to schools, so they may be more schooled than the nobles' children. And from time to time, tell them a story about me as well, but not often. Why not often, father? So words may not grow cheap. Are you crying? Are you crying, son? Let this be the last time, hear me? We are not allowed to cry. I understand, father. I understand. Question no 1. Name, age, occupation. My name is Crisan, or Giurgiu Marcu, 52 years-old, humble servant. Question no 2. Do you know why you are here in chains? I reckon that it's not for picking flowers. For ripping out nobles' souls! Because I made people rebel so there may be justice for us! Who commanded the Mesteacan riot? I did! Don't you know? I didn't do it in secret! We did nothing in secret! The nobles won't forget this for a long time! Their children's children will remember! Do you know that not even the emperor can stand them? I know, but for other reasons. Was Horea present at the Mesteacan riot? How could we do anything without him, without out leader? I said he should be unchained. Excellency, I cannot take the responsibility... Take them off! Thank you, Excellency. Good evening, Horea. Good evening to you too, sir. I kindly ask you to let me rest by your arm. I have no strength left. I'm dying, I have cancer. We are all mortals. But you and myself are closer to death than others. Sit there in front of me, if you'd be so kind. And in front of him. Thank you, sir. You confessed nothing to the commission. And you thought I'd confess to food and drink. No, I didn't call you here to confess. I know, I know, you called me to treat me kind. Take anything you want, anything you like. I'll ask you to forgive me. It is not virtue that makes me abstemious, but weakness. I mean, the doctors... I would very much like a glass of that wine. If you're dying, why not drink then? I trust you're not worried that I might try to poison you. You are not that kind! What to drink to now, sir? Health, long life? Here's to an easy death! It has been ruled that you'll wheeled for your deeds, that is, you'll have your legs and arms broken... Everyone dies in some way, sir... Then your body will be ripped in four and scattered in four corners of the country. I will have a large tomb then, as big as the entire country of Ardeal. Pour me some wine. Palida mors eque pulsat... Do you know what this means? 'Pale death knocks on the door of poor and kings alike.' It isn't true, sir. And then do you know what they did? They sent two landowners, one from Cris valley and one from Brad, together with some soldiers, to capture Horea. How could they think of something like that? That was their final thought. I drove them into the ground! lmagine they wanted Horea! Justice isn't gained through pillage and murders? But haven't the nobles pillaged us as well? For hundreds and hundreds of years! That is our country from our ancestors, it's out land, reaped with sweat and blood, work, honesty, pride! And for all that, tell me, for I know you counted them, how many perished while making people rebel? Around one hundred and fifty. What kind of scales do you use, sir? The scales of state reason, the scales the emperor gave me. Those are phony scales, sir, as their master. I'm getting hungry. Aren't you? Why should I lie, captain? I'm hungry too. Then I'll go order something good to eat. You shouldn't have said anything. Neither Horea, nor Closca said nothing. They admitted to nothing. What we did, we did in front of the whole world. They want to know how the riot was planned. What were your connections in the villages, where the secret roads are and hiding places. So they might know how to prevent it in the future. Who are you? A Romanian, a measly Romanian. Good. I won't say anything more. It's too late now, Crisan. They're experts. It's all done since you talked. They'll confuse you with what you said so far. They're good at it. Crisan, the nobles' terror. I like the fact that you're not stubborn. Your comrades, Horea and Closca, told us everything as well. - We will consider everything. - Everything will be considered. I'd also like to know... Well, general, I'm very tired and hungry. Of course, of course. Tomorrow morning, we have all the time in the world. Take off some of his chains. Now, sir, I thank you for dinner, it was good. And don't be upset that you couldn't learn what you wanted from me. This is secret is kept by too many people. It isn't mine or anyone else's, it's ours. So, the turmoil is over. For three weeks, Romanians were free and you can't take that back. People forget, Horea. You don't know us, sir, and you can't rule over us. Only we know ourselves, our good and bad, and I did nothing but teach it to some with a kind word, with fire, with the scythe, with terror, so that each and everyone may understand. So they may rebel with me and I may die, I, Ursu Necula, called Horea, called thus because I enjoyed life and singing. Let's go outside. We are ordered to let him rest. Well, Horea, I didn't tell them much. Majesty, Ursu Necula, called Horea, has a great personality, with an unusual force of heart, not only with peasants, but among the highest social ranks. He cannot be bought, nor made to doubt the justice of his cause and of his means. That is why, as a political necessity, his execution is called for in a terrifying manner. Although contrary to your august principles, this must be done in front of three youths and old men from each village, so that the love and faith in Horea may be destroyed for all eternity. Prepare arms! Fire! The emperor hates crime, loves the people, he is the father of the people. This is the reward of your faith. You did your duty. Let this day of joy and celebration be a teaching for your children and their children's children. Take this medal awarded by his Majesty. I was the one who caught Crisan. The villagers will kill me. And the bishop gets rewarded. It's value is in the imperial grace, not in the gold. I wish you guide them for many years, ruling the peasants' souls, these children capable of miracles and murders. We're no longer serfs, my brother. - We're no longer serfs... - Shut the hell up! Come closer and collect your reward. Approach. I'm free, I'm free, I'm free! I, Maties lon, am free! The sentence in the trial against Horea, also called Ursu Necula, charged with instigating to riots, posing as leader of the rebelled people whom he solely gathered and named leaders lower in rank. He gave, either personally, either through his men, the order that from every serf home, one man should come to arms and, thus, powers united, they should kill all nobles, steal their fortunes, turn into ruin every home, drive them away from Transylvania that Horea considers to be Romanian land. As it is. Please, forgive me, the servant, for I only do my duty, and I swear that I hold no grudge against you. You were born from the ground and there you shall return... Shut up, father. Leave us to die in peace. They're stupid, lon, they're stupid. Why do you say that? The city of Belgrade... Mihai Voda's Belgrade they give to us. Good. You made me a peasant. Go in peace, lon! Father, will you be upset if I ask you something? I am only upset with those who don't ask. Those are stones, not people. I'd ask myself, but I've no one to ask anything. What does the emperor look like? Does he wear a crown on his head and a beard as God? What do you care about the way the emperor looks? - Now, see that I've upset you? - Go on, ask. And did he really tell you, Horea or Necula, gather the people and kill the nobles? lon, do you think emperors talk straight like that? That how we talk, the peasants. You should know when you meet the emperor, that he has a confusing tongue. If things go well, he is honored and revered, if things go bad, it means that you didn't understand him. But when will I have to talk to the emperor? It had to begin at some point, by any means, but it had to begin. What's worse is not slavery, but that people get used to it if enough time passes. People grow accustomed with slavery, with obeisance, with fear, with mockery. They stop caring and become as the dumb bird used to its cage, forgetting it ever flew. Or is afraid its master might know it hasn't forget how to fly. Only now, with the emperor's permission or not, we know we can do it. Now I understand, that you are the emperor. |
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