Queen of Swords (TV Series)

Duel with a Stranger (2000)

Tessie Santiago: Maria Teresa Alvarado, The Queen of Swords

Photos 

Quotes 

• [lamenting leaving behind her former life in Spain] 

  Maria Teresa Alvarado : I miss it, Marta. I miss the people, the music, the parties.

  Marta : You have a party to go to.

  Maria Teresa Alvarado : But Montoya's parties are so boring. I'd rather go to the Day of the Dead fiesta with you. I'm tired of play acting the role of the spoiled aristocrat.

  Marta : You do a very good imitation.

  Maria Teresa Alvarado : Yeah, I know. Even I hate myself sometimes.

• Maria Teresa Alvarado : I'm not going.

  [Tessa ducks beneath the soapsuds in her bathtub, but Marta grabs her hair and pulls her up] 

  Marta : The reason why you're going to the party is to find out when Montoya will be shipping the gold.

  Maria Teresa Alvarado : I know.

  Marta : You're not going to have fun or to make silly conversation. Are you done complaining?

  Maria Teresa Alvarado : No.

  Marta : Fine!

  [Marta dunks Tessa's head under the bathwater] 

• The Queen of Swords : If all I wanted was gold, I'd take it and disappear with it... but what I want is justice.

  Antonio : There is no justice. The world is not a just place. No one gets their due.

• Antonio : You still run. Senor Torres will be displeased.

  The Queen of Swords : I thought that staying alive was the most important thing.

  Antonio : Not above honor.

  The Queen of Swords : How can you speak of honor?

  Antonio : Ha! You are the one hiding behind a mask, not me. Who are you?

• Marta : He's going to betray you.

  Maria Teresa Alvarado : How do you know?

  Marta : I feel it.

  Maria Teresa Alvarado : I don't.

  Marta : Of course not. You feel nothing but your own heat.

• [last lines] 

  [Tessa is praying for Antonio's soul in her church] 

  Col. Luis Montoya : If I were not now in the house of God, I would curse her.

  Maria Teresa Alvarado : You know, the Queen of Swords didn't kill Antonio.

  Col. Luis Montoya : If it were not for her, you would sailing right now for Spain with...

  Maria Teresa Alvarado : Please don't.

  Col. Luis Montoya : I am sorry. I should not speak of such things. Mark me, Dona Alvarado, someday soon the Queen will pay for all the suffering she has brought down on all our heads. I am sure I join you in praying for her swift and timely death.

• [during their swordfight] 

  Antonio : Well done. I'm sure Senor Torres was your teacher.

  The Queen of Swords : What does it matter, Antonio?

  Antonio : You know me?

• [after defeating the Queen of Swords in a swordfight, Antonio pulls off her mask] 

  Antonio : Tessa?

  Maria Teresa Alvarado : Antonio.

  Antonio : You mock me!

  [Antonio stalks away] 

• Antonio : Is the Queen of Swords worth the gold I carry?

  Col. Luis Montoya : You are carrying one thousand reales in gold.

  Maria Teresa Alvarado : [to Marta]  He will not betray me.

  Col. Luis Montoya : That is twice the price we agreed to.

  Antonio : Yes, that's true, but if you want the Queen of Swords, you are in no position to argue.

  Col. Luis Montoya : I would pay ten times that to see her head on a pike in the village square.

  Antonio : Very well.

  Col. Luis Montoya : That was well done, Don Antonio. You have finally named the price for your honor.

  [Antonio throws the stolen gold to the ground] 

  Antonio : I cannot sell something I have already lost.