Stephen plays Bernardo, a man that Vera Hidalogo (Elisa Pataky) had previously married, when she was 14 and he was 20. She'd loved him then: 'so handsome, so wild. He knew how to get things, food, money, a warm place to sleep.' But according to what she tells Tessa, he also had a darker side, 'used her', 'made her do things...' So many years ago, evidently she had run away. We are not told how exactly Bernardo found her, just that 'he had traveled half way across the world looking for' her. He kidnaps her, and tells her that once he has the gold, he will release her. But somewhere along the line, he changes his mind, and decides to keep her as well as the ransom. The trick for him is to keep Tessa, (Tessie Santiago) aka the Queen of Swords, from taking the girl as well as the ransom back from him.

The Colonel sends Captain Grisham to take the ransom money and retrieve Vera. Bernardo neatly twarts that. Ties up his men, takes his horse and the girl. But Tessa who had been following, helps Vera to escape. But then Bernardo comes into town, meets Vera in the stable and tells her that she has 24 hours to come to him or the truth will come out. Tessa overhears them and after Vera has left, Tessa helps the Captain catch Bernardo, by first beaning Bernardo with the barndoor and then a pail. Then she yells for help! [Queen of Swords is very much like the Guy Williams' version of Zorro.]

While in jail, the Captain beats Bernardo up. [I truly did not enjoy watching that. But to Stephen's credit, holy cow did it look realistic. Just hurt to watch it.] When Tessa learns that she has inadvertently put Vera in a bad position, she helps Bernardo to break out of jail. Of course, once out of town, they have a sword fight, but we will never know who would really have won, because Don Hidalgo (the spoiled sport) shoots Bernardo, from a hill nonetheless!

This was filmed entirely in Spain, so the local is moody and interesting and the horses are first rate. The costuming is lovely too.

Stephen looks excellent in a drover's coat. And he's wearing a black floppy hat that set off his face very nicely. [As if he needed it!] Think you will also enjoy the long hair and couple days growth of beard! Another thing that is really fun about Stephen's Bernardo is although he is being mean and vicious, he is still sparkly and and interesting. And nobody, and I do mean nobody, makes better eye contact than Stephen! Totally gripping to watch. As usual. :) [Also, personally, LOVED him on a horse and handling a sword. Truly, doesn't get any better than that!!]

To download some of Stephen's
lines as Bernado
click here to go to the SOUND WAVs
from "Queen of Swords"

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[These in the table do of course enlarge when clicked upon.]

For MORE PICTURES of Stephen as Bernardo,
click here to go to ADDITIONAL PICTURES from
"Queen of Swords"

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