Caray, Caray!

HACIENDA NARIÑO

Don Jorge, in a feeble attempt to win Magda back, tells her that he wants to help her and to help his daughters. They are not your daughters she tells him. Jorge tells her that this is our moment. Nariño will never return. A slap to his silly face. She can’t stand him now. You got me pregnant at the same time you impregnated María Tadeo. My husband is an honorable man. Magda is sorry for what she did.

Antonio will return to get rid of you. She now thinks like Don Antonnio who wants equality for all. I am not afraid of him says Don Jorge. Well, you better be, says Magda.

Magda is left on the hacienda to work the land. She is now talking like Nariño about fighting the Spanish. Her sister warns her to be careful about what she says.

Baraya arrives and tells Magda that Antonio has escaped and warns her that soldiers might come looking for him.


ON THE TRAIL TO JAIL

Don Antonio wants Tonito to return to the hacienda to help his mother, but Tonito tells his father that she will be OK. You need my help, and an officer makes them stop talking. Tonito expresses his absolute loyalty to his father.

They are in a little boat going down a river. Nariño mentions that girl in Guaduas and how different she is. Then he tells Tonito that they cannot go to Cartagena and be put in jail. They have to try to escape.

When they stop for the night and the guards are asleep, Tonito cuts his father’s handcuffs. Nariño tells Baltasar that if we are found, they will kill us. Nariño writes a message on something and he and Tonito leave in the boat.

When the guards awake and realize the prisoners are gone the officer in charge (Angel) says he knew the boy was trouble. Baltasar tells him to read the message. I am not going to jail and I leave your good company – the company of angels.

SANTA MARTA

Nariño and Tonito arrive at Santa Marta and seek help from a priest who once was one of his teachers.

The priest goes out for provisions and unfortunately is detained by soldiers. Their freedom is short lived. Nariño realizes that to be returned to prison or to be sent to the prison where he is going is like being put in the mouth of a wolf (meterse en la boca del lobo).

AT THE MANSION

The doctor tells Alejo that he is getting better and that the infection is under control. Alejo wants to go to Quito. The doctor tells his family that he needs rest, and his mother wants to postpone the wedding. Francisco has a fit.

Doña thinks it is a miracle Alejo is alive. Francisco remarks as to why he was the only soldier wounded. Alejo relives the shooting. I was going through the bodies looking for survivors, etc. María Ignacia, forever desperate, gets him to say that he will marry her. Why wouldn’t I want to marry you, says Alejo.

His mother tries to get him to eat since the wedding is two weeks away. Alejo asks Francisco if he is in agreement with a massacre. Francisco warns him to be careful about what he says. Those people weren’t with the French. They tell Alejo the news – the troops from Santa Fe are meeting in Popayan and then they are going to march on Quito. Alejo says the Quiteños are going to think it is the king who is going against them when it is the Viceroy.

Alejo wants to go to the governor and stop them. Francisco – the Viceroy is in agreement. Don Gaspar, says Alejo, you are an influential man. The governor will listen to you. You can avoid another tragedy. After discussion between Francisco, Alejo and Gaspar, Gaspar admits that he agrees with Alejo and he says that he is going to ask for a meeting with the governor.

Francisco says the governor is trying to defend Spain. The governor has power over everything – even Don Gaspar’s gold mines. Don’t worry – I will marry María Ignacia. Francisco tells him that he is running a risk by running around with that Indian. Francisco wants to stop Gaspar.

Alejo’s mom remarks that he has hardly said a word to her since he returned from Spain. Alejo is still annoyed at her because of how they hid news of Pola from him. She tells him that he doesn’t understand the position of a married woman who lives at the whim of her husband. Well, he says, do you want me to be as miserable as you are. Then he ask her forgiveness, but adds that this will never stop hurting me.

Gaspar tells everyone that they are going against Quito. Alejo says that is absurd. There will be blood on our hands. Francisco says that we are sending a message. Alejo wants to join his troop, but is unable to get out of bed.

Alejo makes his way to the lounge because they have to get ready for the wedding. He and Ignacia share a moment together. He asks her what is the matter. Have you forgotten the mestiza? He has not. Have you seen her? Yes. Are you still in love with that mestiza? Alejo says that he cannot help that his thoughts always go back to her. If you do not want to marry me, I will understand.

Ignacia says do you think I am not disgused by your loving this mestiza. You cannot look at a woman like that because you are going to have a señora at your side. I am going to take care of your every need. Alejo says I don’t want to make you unhappy. She will be the unhappy one says Ignacia.

There is some talks about Francisco returning to Honda – but in the end he accepts Gaspar’s offer to stay in the mansion. Alejo announces that he will not live in Popayan. I am a soldier. I might have to go to Spain. Then Francisco pipes in with after Quito, everything will be like nothing happened.

Francisco tells Leandro that your brother is going to kill me and he tells Leandro about the letters. Leandro tells Fran that Pola was living with the campesinos and slaves and that Alejo is going to find her because he thinks she might need his help, but that he was going to comply with the engagement. (With??) Fran wants to know if Alejo and the indian ever shared a bed. Alejo doesn’t know about the letter from Guaduas denouncing him. Pola told Leandro that Alejo would return for her. Well, says, Fran, she is playing dirty, and we will do the same pagar con la misma moneda).

Fran and Ignacia (with a little friendly persuasion) hatch a plan to trick Alejo into thinking that he dishonored her. But, she admits that if she does this, Alejo will know she is lying.

At dinner all the talk is about wedding plans and Alejo could care less. He wants to report to his battalion and get away for a couple of days.

Later Alejo is packing and Leandro asks him what he thinks he is doing. He is going to look for Pola, to help her. He says he has a right to just one last trip and that Leandro can kill him if he wants.

Doña Eusebia found Ignacia crying. Iggy says she committed a sin and that her father will not pardon her. Gaspar overhears this conversation. I lost my honor. Alejo robbed my honor. Gaspar enters in a rage.

Gaspar catches Alejo as he tries to leave and calls him a miserable … The women are crying and of course Alejo is bewildered. Alejo denies it and says that Iggy is not telling the truth. Gaspar goes so far as to offer him a gun for a duel. Alejo knows better. You don’t remember, says Iggy, because you were asleep? He says “moribundo” – what?

Gaspar believes his daughter and Acacia remembers a few minutes when Alejo and Iggy were alone. Alejo remembers his dreaming of Pola and saying that if I can’t be with you, I prefer to die. If I did this, says Alejo, it was not by my free will. Gaspar wants him to pay with death.

Calm down, Gaspar, says Francisco, they are getting married next week. No one has to know. Anyway, for the time being Francisco and Iggy get by with their little trap, and the wedding plans proceed.

POPAYAN

Military officers and a nobleman debate the right course to take. The governor wants to send the troops to Quito. The nobleman wants to negotiate. It appears that both the governor and the Viceroy are playing both sides against the middle.

The governor wants to crush the rebellion in the name of Spain.

The governor receives a letter from the archbishop. He reads about the complaint against Alejo on behalf of a girl from Guadas. Well, he says to himself, it looks like Sabarain isn’t all that honorable after all.

Gaspar has gone to see the governor and finds that a nobleman by the name of Gaspar is being taken away by soldiers. We are not against the king, he says. Governor Tacón is on Napoleon’s side.

Gaspar goes in to speak to the governor, but Francisco catches up with him and interrupts. Francisco congratulates the governor on his victory, but, Gaspar adds that it will be a big mistake to march into Quito.

How can it be an error to defend our own lives? Gaspar – but they are on our side, and he leaves.

The governor asks Francisco to stay. Francisco agrees with the governor that the Quiteños are not on their side. The governor then gives Francisco the letter to read. What? She is not honorable. She is a mestiza. The governor tells the guards to leave. She has two letters: 1. A declaration of love and 1. A proposal of marriage. No, it is prohibited. The governor wants to know if she’s pregnant – no. And, Francisco says you aren’t going to pay any attention to this letter. That depends, says the governor. Many people hee think I am on the side of the French. I am not for Napoleon. I am on my own side. You and I as Spaniards have to succeed in Quito. I need the support of influential people like Gaspar. I need his unconditional support. I will forget I ever received this letter. Francisco, of course, assures him that he can count on him.

The governor is thinking of doing a new bando to the people of Popayan – he wants Francisco to read it.

Later, Francisco obliges the governor and Francisco speaks aloud from a balcony with the governor.. The Quiteños are Napoleon’s accomplices. Now – let’s go to Quito and recover the property for Spain. Anyone against this is a traitor. Long live Governor Tacón. Gaspar, who is in the crowd looks bewildered.

Still later Francisco tells Gaspar not to listen to my son. I don’t think the way my son thinks. We must recover Quito, then everything will return to normal.

SANTA FÉ

The Viceroy is worried about a confrontation. More than 500 Quiteños were killed. The people might go against us. The Vicereina is getting bored and wants to get out of the four walls she is in.

Sámano tells him the little group is not planning a botanical expedition and that they are planning an intrigue. Nariño is especially dangerous and we will get him. We note that the vireina is a flirt. Apparently she is having an affair with José Antonio who has bought her a villa. She is spotted by Baraya and some women as she stands outside the villa”Amar es mi Delicia” with her lover.

HACIENDA DOMINGO - GUADUAS

Juliano can’t find Nicolasa who is in the woods drinking from a gourd and singing. Pola tells Bernarda that she has to leave. Bernarda doesn’t want Nicolas to find out that she is helping Cata with a fertility remedy.

Domingo tells Pola that he wants her to help out with their new guests, the soldiers. She is happy about that, but then she finds out that they are not going south, but to Cartagena with prisoners.

Cata watches Juliano, who in this moment responds and looks back at her. She pretends to look away. Juliano remembers Nicolasa’s words that something strange is happening with Cata and him.

Pola brings sleeping mats to the prisoners, but an officer tells her that they have to sleep on the ground. When she protests that in this posada everyone is equal he gives in and lets her leave the mats. She doesn’t think they look like bandits. She asks the man why he is a prisoner, and he tells her that he doesn’t know why. She remembers him, and she remembers a speech he made attended by her father who asked a question about taxes.

She tells Tonito that thanks to your father I lost my family. My father moved our family to Santa Fe and followed Don Antonio, and they all got smallpox. Your father is terco (stubborn), she says. I am going with him because he is my father, wouldn’t you do the same? I agree with my father. We will all be better off and free.

Later, Pola pulls an old box out of a sack. She sees her mother’s shawl and her father’s hat. Then she remembers Don Antonio telling her that a man was sent to prison in Africa for translating the document that she has also just found. The document is the rights of man from France. She remembers her father telling her that it isn’t right that those who were born here didn’t have the same rights as the Europeans. She remembers her family being humilliated in church. She remembers how Juan Samáno treated her like she was nothing and of little value.

Nariño makes a point of telling the alférez that he will never be a commander because the higher positions are reserved for Spaniards.


Pola asks Nariño to explain the rights of man to her. She tells him her father’s name. Nariño explains to her that all men are equal and that in France the people killed the king, which is shocking to her.

Nariño: All men are born with equal rights – the slaves, the mestizos, everyone. She asks if they can marry people like me – yes, he says, when we break the yoke of Spain.

Nariño tells Pola that she is a very different type of woman. She tells him that she taught the slaves how to read and that they learned very fast. Why is it bad. It is bad, he says, for the owners. It will be harder to dominate them. She tells him how Juliano lost his finger. She has asked for his freedom. She also tells Nariño how she learned to read.

Nariño tells Pola to look for José María Carbonel. The soldieries interrupt them but, he adds that you can count on me to be in Santa Fé soon.

You are Spanish, says Pola. My father was Spanish, says Nariño. The Spaniards from Europe don’t treat us as equals. If we want to be free, we have to take the risk. This is our land. Blood will be spilled. Spain will call us traitors. Every day more and more people like you are changing their minds. Pola now realizes that her father wasn’t wrong. I did something terrible, she says. She flashes back to her father’s deathbed. I refused to forgive him. Nariño tells her that a good father knows that his children love him. Now you understand your father’s side. We have to fight for this land. We have to get the Spaniards out of here.

You are a beautiful woman, says Nariño, and a beautiful woman is a most lethal weapon in a war. I am a prisoner. I went to save my family and the Viceroy accused me of treason. Now I count on the support of my family. I am going to support you, too, says Pola. You are easy to convince says Nariño. I don’t have any place to live. I have nothing to lose. My father was ready to give his life for you. Why not me?

Later Pola talks to Bernarda after the soldiers and Nariño have left. I will be able to do something my father couldn’t – but I better not tell you.

Pola sings as she works. She tries to help Juliano and asks him if he wouldn’t like to fight injustice. He just doesn’t want any problems.

Juliano goes to Nicolasa – do you still love me? Why are you so distant? Are you pregnant? No. My children will be free.

Leandro arrives in Guadas. He goes into a cantina and can’t understand how such a miserable place has so many clients. A woman approaches him and asks if he is looking for a girl. He is only looking for one called Pola and learns she lives with the slaves.

When Leandro enters the barn he sees Pola sitting with Juliano and doesn’t miss the opportunity to criticize her for being with campesinos and slaves. She snipes back and he threatens to withhold information about his brother. After teasing her about Alejo being dead, Leandro tells her he was only wounded. And, he says, he going to get married to a very distinguished woman of Popayan.

Later Leandro meets Pola. She says we cannot be together because you your stupid society. But, even the “dirty blood” have rights. You can only be a concubine. Pola slaps Leandro. I am a decent woman. He wants the medal. She refuses – she still has hope. Leave my brother in peace. Are you afraid of me? He feels the same as I do.

Pola found out about the letter of denouncement and asks Gertrudis why she did it. Basically, Gertrudis is looking for a way to save herself, Cata and indirectly Pola by thinking Alejo will be bound to pay something to get rid of Pola.

Pola announces that the laws aren’t for a person like her and that she is leaving. The mayor asks her what does she think a mestiza like herself is going to do. She tells him she is going to Santa Fé to get rid of chapetones like you. The mayor accuses her of treason and threatens to take her prisoner – but, she tells him that he should think about the people of Guaduas, not her.

Nicolasa gets weaker and weaker as each day passes. Bernarda wants to call a doctor, but Nic won’t have it.

Pola writes a letter to Alejo telling him that she did not denounce him – that it was Gertrudis and Cata. She also tells Juliano that she is leaving as there is nothing here for her. She is going to Santa Fé and tells him one day skin color won’t matter.

THE REVOLUTIONARIES

Baraya, Torres, etc – yes, 500 died. Jorge says it is a message. And what they did to Nariño is a message too – to show us they can do it to us, too. They have to be very careful because Sámano is watching. Speaking of the devil – he wants to know what they are doing. He knows they are planning something and talking about Nariño. They think he is the leader – Jorge says he is not going to return. Sámano wants power, too. Sámano wants to be viceroy and put them in their place.

Our little group of revs supposedly are planning some kind of botanical outing. Don Jorge is handling a plant and announces that he has found a new venomous species. The others chime in that it must be Sámano.

Enter Baraya with news that Nariño has escaped. Jorge’s jaw drops. But, they don’t think it is a good idea to organize a revolution with a fugitive as a leader.

Later – Jorge is at his home when he receives a message and his wife comes out to taunt him that Nariño escaped. But, he brags that news from Spain is good and that they practically have the crown’s blessing to go ahead and form a junta. Now you can be king, she says, isn’t that what you always wanted?

Labels: LaPola