Showing posts with label quemada. Show all posts
Showing posts with label quemada. Show all posts

Tuesday 25 September 2018

I Do Know That Whenever I Try to Do Something... I Try to Do it Well.


Shelton, of The Royal Sugar Company : 
So there are no more plantations, they're all burnt to the ground.

“Sir” William Walker Not  of The Royal Sugar Company :
They'll rise again.

Shelton, of The Royal Sugar Company : 
In 10 years, Sir William.

“Sir” William Walker Notof The Royal Sugar Company :
Well, you have another 89 years to exploit them. Renewable.
Doesn't your contract specify that?

Shelton, of The Royal Sugar Company : 
Your contract specifies that you are to defend our interests.
Instead, you're destroying them.

“Sir” William Walker Not of The Royal Sugar Company :
Well, that's the logic of profit, isn't it, my dear Shelton?
One builds to make money.
And to go on making it... or to make more, sometimes it's necessary to destroy.
Yes, I think perhaps it's inevitable.

Shelton, of The Royal Sugar Company : 
Then why didn't you say so before?

“Sir” William Walker of The Royal Sugar Company :
Well, why didn't I say what?

Shelton, of The Royal Sugar Company : 
Where is it going to end?

“Sir” William Walker Not of The Royal Sugar Company :
As I told you... with the end of Jos Dolores.

Shelton, of The Royal Sugar Company : 
At this price, it's no longer profitable.

It isn't you who pays, or even Royal Sugar.


Do you remember him?
There is Tin-Tin, too, one of the old ones.
But there is no Jos Dolores.

“Sir” William Walker Not of The Royal Sugar Company :
And you're sorry?


No. I wouldn't want to find him like this.

“Sir” William Walker Notof The Royal Sugar Company :
Well, you might have thought of that before.

No. I say, as long as Jos Dolores lives...
I have work, and good pay.
Is it not the same for you?

“Sir” William Walker Not of The Royal Sugar Company :
No, on the contrary,
I work for an overall sum.

Shelton, of The Royal Sugar Company : 
I must report to London.

“Sir” William Walker Not of The Royal Sugar Company :
Do that, Mr. Shelton.
I'll tell them how things are.
Yes, I hope so.

Shelton, of The Royal Sugar Company : 
I'll have to inform them that the island has been completely burnt... and Jos Dolores has once again broken through the encirclement.

“Sir” William Walker Not of The Royal Sugar Company :
Tell them that, Mr. Shelton.
And tell them also that you make me sick.

Shelton, of The Royal Sugar Company : 
Sir William!

“Sir” William Walker Not of The Royal Sugar Company :
Do you know why this island is called Queimada?
Because it was already burnt once, and do you know why?
Because even then, it was the only way to conquer the resistance of the people... and after that, the Portuguese exploited the island in peace...for nearly 300 years.


Shelton, of The Royal Sugar Company : 
Yes, but I was merely trying...


“Sir” William Walker Not of The Royal Sugar Company :
You know that fire can't cross the sea because it goes out.
But certain news, certain ideas travel by ships' crews.
Have you any idea how many islands there are on which Royal Sugar has concessions?

You should know.

And have you the vaguest notion
of what would happen to our  mployers... if the example of Jos Dolores reached those islands?

Senhor?


“Sir” William Walker Not of The Royal Sugar Company :
Mr. Shelton, I...
I don't know, I'm not...
just quite sure what I'm doing here.
Money is important, but then... my salary is small compared to yours.
Therefore, it's less important.
I'm also not sure just why I do what I'm doing.
Perhaps it's only for the pleasure of it.
Or perhaps...
I'm unable to do anything else.
Perhaps I've nothing else to do, but I do know that whenever I try to do something...
I try to do it well.
And to see it clearly and through to the end.
Do you understand?