Walker 1987

Flees Mexico and faces trial in the United States

In 1853, Walker flees Mexico after a failed attempt to incite an armed insurrection. He is subsequently arrested and placed on trial by a US official for violating the Neutrality Act. He delivers a rousing speech to the jury and wins acquittal.

Plans to settle down and start a newspaper

With his legal troubles behind him, Walker envisions a quieter life, planning to settle down and start a newspaper. He longs for stability away from constant conflict and looks to build a new chapter. The dream, however, is soon eclipsed by the opportunities beckoning him elsewhere.

Ellen Martin dies of cholera

Walker's fiancée Ellen Martin dies of cholera, cutting short his hopes for a domestic life. The loss deepens his resolve to seek glory and action abroad. The tragedy marks a turning point toward the Nicaragua venture.

Vanderbilt hires Walker to bring stability to Nicaragua

American millionaire Cornelius Vanderbilt offers Walker a job to stabilize Nicaragua by supporting the Democratic side in its civil war. He hires sixty mercenaries to join the mission, aligning with the broader goal of securing an overland route for trade. The deal marks the shift from personal ambition to international conflict.

First bloody victory at Rivas

Walker and his mercenaries score their first major victory in Nicaragua at Rivas, lifting their morale amid heavy losses. The battlefield tensions reveal Walker's calm presence as gunfire rages around him. The win paves the way for subsequent incursions into Conservative territory.

Conquest of Granada and Yrena's seduction

The troops push into the Conservative capital Granada as the city falls. Amid the chaos, Doña Yrena, the president's mistress, seduces Walker, complicating his ambitions and personal loyalties. The episode blurs the lines between politics and desire.

Walker executes the President and seizes power

Discovering that the President plans to rally neighboring Central American states against the Americans, Walker orders the President's execution for treason. He then assumes the presidency through a rigged election, consolidating control over Nicaragua. The coup marks a turning point toward autocratic rule.

Presidency becomes manic; clashes with Vanderbilt

From 1855 to 1857 Walker's rule becomes increasingly erratic and ruthless. He revokes Vanderbilt's license for the overland trade and seizes his ships, enraging his financier and destabilizing the economy. The strain worsens as supplies and reinforcements dwindle.

Brother challenges authority; Walker kills him

A challenge to Walker's authority from within his own ranks escalates into deadly violence, and he kills his brother without hesitation. The act demonstrates the depths of his ruthlessness and the fragility of his regime. It foreshadows the empire's imminent collapse.

Slavery introduced to win Southern support; deserters rise

Walker tries to attract support from Southern states by introducing slavery to Nicaragua, a controversial and incendiary move. In protest, African-American members of his legion quit the force, further eroding the cohesion of his army. The policy backfires by alienating his own troops and allies.

Neighboring nations invade; Yrena returns

As neighboring countries invade Nicaragua, Yrena returns to challenge Walker's rule and attempts to persuade him to stop the carnage. He refuses her pleas, and she flee after a failed attempt on his life. The conflict intensifies as internal and external pressures mount.

Destruction and final stand in the church

Walker orders the town burned as his numbers dwindle, taking refuge in a church with a few loyal soldiers and prisoners. He delivers one final speech asserting that the United States will never abandon Nicaragua and that conquest is its destiny. The speech riffs on grandiose nationalism in a bleak final stand.

Helicopter arrival and last defiant proclamation

A helicopter arrives with American troops, and a State Department agent orders all American citizens to be returned home. When asked his nationality, Walker proclaims, 'I'm William Walker, President of the Republic of Nicaragua,' and is left behind by the departing forces. The moment crystallizes his isolation and stubborn nationalism.

Walker is executed on the beach

With no backup and dwindling options, Walker is executed on the beach by Honduran soldiers. The act marks the definitive end of his short-lived attempt to reshape Nicaragua. The horizon closes on a career built on conquest and grandiose ambition.