The Milagro Beanfield War (1988)

Carlos Riquelme: Amarante Cordova

Photos 

Quotes 

• Herbie Platt : This looks good - what is it?

  Amarante Cordova : Lizard tail tea.

  Herbie Platt : [sniffing it]  Ohhh - been in the family for generations, I bet.

  Amarante Cordova : No; I found it on the highway this morning.

• Nick Rael : Hey, what are you doing? You can't buy bullets with foodstamps, grandpa!

  Amarante Cordova : It is the same as money.

• Amarante Cordova : Mmm! Oh, if you sleep with your bed pointed west, you're just asking for stomach trouble. The scorpions will make nests in your shoes if you leave them there. And be sure not to lean too far back on the seat in the outhouse... or let your testicles swing up under the wood. Black widows.

• Coyote Angel : I don't think your boy knows what he's in for.

  Amarante Cordova : Nobody would do *anything*, if they knew what they were in for.

  Coyote Angel : Maybe so - but the bogeyman just came to town.

• Amarante Cordova : I thought you were going to help. When are you going to do something?

  Coyote Angel : I don't do things; I give advice.

  Amarante Cordova : You have some advice?

  Coyote Angel : You're gonna need a big sacrifice here.

• Coyote Angel : Idiots! Full of sound and fury, signifying nothing. What a start for a revolution, eh, viejo?

  Amarante Cordova : Milagro will wake up. You'll see. The people will fight Devine.

• [first lines] 

  Amarante Cordova : [in the early morning, the Coyote Angel appears out of a whirlwind, and dances along a road, laughing and playing a concertina as he enters town and passes Amarante Cordova's meager farm; Cordova awakens, pulls himself out of bed and shuffles to the mirror]  Thank you, God, for letting me have another day.

• Herbie Platt : What does "Milagro" mean?

  Amarante Cordova : "Miracle". Like the town.

• Herbie Platt : What was that little statue I saw out there on the altar?

  Amarante Cordova : Ah. Saint Jude. He's the patron saint of desperate causes. Pulled me through six operations. I would be long dead except for him.

  Herbie Platt : Really? How did he do that?

  Amarante Cordova : He's a saint.

  Herbie Platt : Yeah, I know. But, I know, but, what, I mean...

  Amarante Cordova : No, no, no, no. You have to put out for him a nice meal. Some tamales, some salsa. Maybe a little beer. And then you talk to him and ask him for help.

• Coyote Angel : I see. Desperate times call for desperate measures, eh?

  Amarante Cordova : Bullshit!

• Emerson Capps : Back off, old man! This beanfield business has gone far enough!

  Amarante Cordova : You get down or I'll blow a hole in your chest big enough for an owl to nest in.

• Amarante Cordova : You get yourself outta here!

  Coyote Angel : Take it easy, old man. You should have a little more respect for your elders. How do you know I didn't come here to help?

  Amarante Cordova : Well, nobody around here needs your help.

  Coyote Angel : Ah? - starts laughing - Relax, amigo. Relax. It's your town that's dying.