Queen of Swords (TV Series)
The Serpent (2001)
Tessie Santiago: Maria Teresa Alvarado, The Queen of Swords
Quotes
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[first lines]
[the Serpent has just knocked the sword from young Arnaldo's hand]
Arnaldo : Here - take it all! Please don't kill me!
The Serpent : Kill you? Why would I want to kill you? Your father would give me ten times that. Why would I kill the goose that lays the golden egg, huh?
[the Queen of Swords appears behind The Serpent]
The Queen of Swords : You could try killing this goose instead.
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[the Queen knocks the pistol from The Serpent's hand with her whip]
The Serpent : Mama warned me there'd be women like you.
The Queen of Swords : Maybe you should have listened to her.
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The Serpent : Why fight El Serpiente? We're on the same side.
The Queen of Swords : Senor Serpiente, we're not even on the same planet.
The Serpent : Too bad... for you.
-
Maria Teresa Alvarado : Anything wrong?
Col. Luis Montoya : No doubt you have heard about our latest bandit attack.
Maria Teresa Alvarado : Ah, yes, how terrible. Luckily the young man was saved by the Queen of Swords.
Col. Luis Montoya : It seems evident to me that the Queen in now in league with The Serpent.
Maria Teresa Alvarado : I don't understand.
Col. Luis Montoya : This rescue - just a weak attempt to impress the gullible.
Maria Teresa Alvarado : Oh, I see. My, my. The Queen sure is the clever one, isn't she?
Col. Luis Montoya : Not quite so clever as she thinks. But do not fear, Maria Theresa, soon the Queen and the Serpent will be dead and then this little pueblo of ours will once again be a paradise.
Maria Teresa Alvarado : But remember, Colonel, even the Garden of Eden had its serpent. Apple?
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[looking at Leandro, a member of The Serpent's gang of outlaws]
Marta : Do you know him?
Maria Teresa Alvarado : No, but the Queen does.
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[referring to the outlaw the Queen just shot during a struggle]
The Queen of Swords : He's one of the Serpent's men, isn't he? Is his boss still alive?
Dr. Robert Helm : That's a confidential matter between doctor and patient.
The Queen of Swords : He isn't just any patient, Doctor.
Dr. Robert Helm : To me he is.
The Queen of Swords : He's a killer!
Dr. Robert Helm : Then I guess you two have something in common.
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[the Serpent and his outlaws have laid waste to a poor peasant village]
The Queen of Swords : If you hadn't saved The Serpent's life, none of this would have happened.
Dr. Robert Helm : I tended to an injured patient.
The Queen of Swords : Who was a murderer.
Dr. Robert Helm : I don't judge, I heal.
The Queen of Swords : Then let the law judge him!
-
The Queen of Swords : Where is he?
Dr. Robert Helm : I can't.
The Queen of Swords : For God's sake, why?
Dr. Robert Helm : Because I swore an oath to protect the sick.
The Queen of Swords : And your oath is more important than these people's lives?
Dr. Robert Helm : It's not as simple as that. This is a matter of honor.
The Queen of Swords : Don't fool yourself, Doctor. There's no honor in protecting a murderer - only vanity.
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Maria Teresa Alvarado : You know, I envy you.
Dr. Robert Helm : You're not serious.
Maria Teresa Alvarado : I do. You have a sacred duty to save lives. There is so much honor in that. You must be very proud.
Dr. Robert Helm : Perhaps I am just vain.
Maria Teresa Alvarado : Doctor, who would dare call you that?
Dr. Robert Helm : Someone.
Maria Teresa Alvarado : Anyone who would say such a thing is callous and ignorant.
Dr. Robert Helm : No, she is not!
Maria Teresa Alvarado : A woman?
Dr. Robert Helm : Just possibly the most remarkable woman I've ever met.
-
Dr. Robert Helm : So you risked your life to save mine. *Thank you!*
The Queen of Swords : Yeah, it seemed like a good idea at the time. I'm not so sure anymore.
-
Dr. Robert Helm : How many have you killed? How many? Do remember their faces?
The Queen of Swords : [softly] Yes.
Dr. Robert Helm : I probably remember the first forty. Husbands, brothers, sons... after that they all become a blur.
The Queen of Swords : During the war?
Dr. Robert Helm : The *war*. The enemy was evil; I was good. One day I realized they felt exactly the same about me. There was no evil, no good. There was only blood - and death.
-
The Queen of Swords : We're about to have company.
Dr. Robert Helm : Six, all armed.
The Queen of Swords : And you used our only shot on a snake!
Dr. Robert Helm : I could have just let it bite you!
The Queen of Swords : How do you feel about saving The Serpent now, Doctor?
Dr. Robert Helm : I'm willing to consider a second opinion. Happy?
-
Col. Luis Montoya : You must forgive me; I was expecting a very different guest.
The Queen of Swords : I'm sorry to disappoint you.
Col. Luis Montoya : I'm not disappointed. I have caught two birds in one canyon - The Serpent below and The Queen of Swords above. And you, Doctor... scrambling about canyons so far from home?
Dr. Robert Helm : I was abducted by The Serpent.
Col. Luis Montoya : What a glamorous life you lead, Doctor - abducted by bandits, rescued by masked ladies. Whatever's next - bands of angels descending upon us from the heavens above?
-
Dr. Robert Helm : This lady is leaving us, Colonel. If your soldiers fire on her, I will kill you.
Col. Luis Montoya : If I fall, shoot the doctor.
The Queen of Swords : Don't do this.
Dr. Robert Helm : It's already done.
Col. Luis Montoya : Altruism on one hand; self-sacrifice on the other. My, it's almost romantic.
-
[the Serpent bends to slit Dr. Helm's throat]
The Queen of Swords : Hey!
The Serpent : You again.
The Queen of Swords : How lucky can one guy get?
-
[Dr. Helm killed The Serpent to save the Queen]
Dr. Robert Helm : Damn you! I killed him!
The Queen of Swords : To save me.
[the Queen grabs Dr. Helm and kisses him passionately]
The Queen of Swords : Thank you.
-
Maria Teresa Alvarado : It must be very difficult to live with killing a man. Colonel Montoya must be very strong, I suppose.
Dr. Robert Helm : I suppose he must.
Maria Teresa Alvarado : I think I prefer a man who saves life, rather than takes it, but I'm sure it's not always a simple choice.
Dr. Robert Helm : Senorita Alvarado, no offense, but what could you possibly know about life and death?
Maria Teresa Alvarado : [softly] ... Nada.
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[last lines]
[Dr. Helm leaves Tessa and strides across the plaza]
Marta : Well?
Maria Teresa Alvarado : Maybe someday.