Caray, Caray!

When the ladies begged Gen. Morillo to spare the men, María Tadeo told him you are killing the best - scientists, writers, etc., and a "sabio". Does anyone know anything about a "sabio"?
 

they think of a man very extremely educated/illustrated as 'sabio'. That is how they call Caldas (the guy who was with Camilo Torres and traveled with Baraya's troops and convinced Baraya to support Camilo and betray narino
 

Caldas proved to be a good strategist, well versed in history and very well respected for his 'wisdom'. a 'sabio' could be translated as 'he with wisdom'.
 

Tues Sep 06
Camilo Torres does not have much luck with Don Pablo Morillo even thought he ennumerates that he was against Antonio Narino and against Jose Maria Carbonnel and always tried to make everyone else continue to recognize the authority of the King. HE will be executed. Even when his lawyer offers to Morillo his weight in gold, Morillo won’t bulge.

Lopezito and Alejo talk to Samano, convince him that they have thought about it, that they made a mistake and there is no higher authority than the king, and are willing to fight for the king’s forces. Samano does not believe Alejo, but he says he will let him live as a way to consider his debt to his brother paid. But the first mistake he makes, Samano will have him executed. Samano also degrades them to common soldiers. Pedrito is also with them. Pedrito asks Alejo if he wrote to Pola telling her he is alright. Of course he did. But later we see Gertrudis break and throw away the letter since that ‘ungrateful native’ left her behind to her own fate.

Jorge Tadeo does not have much better luck with Pablo Morillo… Morillo will let his brother the Marques live with a considerable monetary contribution to the king… but there is no mercy for Jorge Tadeo even when he begs for it.

The wives including Maria Tadea, Lopezito’s mother and Maria Matea cry begging to Morillo but he tells them that after he had mercy on the first american folks he met on the coast, they turned around and slaughtered his troops… so he won’t give anyone any second chances.
The ladies beg to let the illustrous men of America live… M: ‘Spain does not need ‘sabios’…’
 

Andrea tells Pola they are killing them all. Pola says even if those men don’t deserve admiration, they don’t deserve to be slaughtered. AA says the spanish are killing all the ‘smart’ men who can bring up ideas… Pola says they are wrong if they think the people don’t think. Pola tells AA about Don Antonio’s writings in Bagatela predicting that the spanish were going to come to punish them all. Andrea comments ‘look at the divine justice, Don AN is the only one that will survive it’.
As we see Pola read the ‘what do we base our hopes of liberty? Out there the dangers increase while in here we are waiting passively and distrust each other. The country is not saved with arguments, or arguing our cause. We believe in it. We believe it is fair and necessary. Well then, we must succeed or die… are there still souls so naïve that think they will escape the knives if we are submitted again? They can’t kid themselves, we are rebels, traitors, and traitors are punished as such. The hypocrits surrounding us will fall to the sword of vengeance. Because our conquerors will not come to argue with words, they will cut off all grass, the good and the weed together… whoever survives will only do it to survive their dead relatives… lets open our eyes, the hour has come, our ruin is inminent if we don’t get together/join forces…let the fire of our country ignite our hearts and feed them with the justice of our cause to defend ourselves from the risks that threaten us… let there be only one voice heard, to save the country or die … ‘ we watch as Baraya, Sabio Caldas, Camilo Torres and Jorge Tadeo get executed individually.
Lucia and the girls are there to watch JT die, as he remembers early days with Magdalena, when he asked her if she would be willing to fight for them to be together, and she turned the question back to him and him saying yes, would be willing to fight for you…(which he didn’t of course)…

Andrea and Pola also are watching, they feel disgusted…
Pola: They are dumb. With all these deaths they won’t get us to be faithful to their king… on the contrary, they will get us to hate them more each day, that we won’t think of anything other than vengeance…

The girls ask Lucia why she brought them to watch JT die, she won’t tell them but says she did it for him. That JT wanted to see them before dying… the girls ask why, but she won’t tell.

Alejo visits Maria Ignacia at the convent, lies to her saying he is for the king again. He tells her he is heading for Santa Fe… might see Pola again… MI asks if she is still a ‘rebel’. He corrects her saying she is a ‘patriot’. MI hopes he will find her and bless their union. He asks her if she will stay in Popayan alone… she says tomorrow is in God’s hands.

Pola and the A brothers with Rodriguez and Juliano discuss why the local leaders/smartmen are dying without resistance… AA’s brother says because they never thought Morillo would slaughter them all. Pola asks why if they were showing their loyalty to the king and prepared that welcome reception? AA adds the story that Morillo gave the wives… the slaughtering of his troops on the coast. Viviano asks if its worth it to continue fighting them. Pola strongly argues it is… Maybe it is not obvious, but we are many, and the more they kill, the more that will join us! The rage at loosing the loved ones will turn into strength to fight them. AA says we need resources to buy guns. Pola suggests to try the wives of the wealthy men… Pola will talk to them. Ambrosio says the leader of the largest patriot troops, the one in the plains, is coming to meet with them. AA says if they gather at least 1000 armed men they could try to take Santa Fe.
 

MI talks to her parents, she wants to go with them to Santa Fe. She says she put her life in God’s hands, and God brought Alejo back to her… argues that Alejo changed back to serve the king while Pola is still a rebel. MI argues the same happened to her dad. Gaspar says he was forced to. Eusebia backs MI her in her idea to get back with Alejo, Gaspar won’t. He wants her to not sufffer anymore. MI insists that it is a sign of God to abandon the convent and form a family with Alejo or anyone they choose for her.

Maria Matea tells Pola that Pedro Sr sent a letter to Samano begging for Pedrito… MM is afraid Samano will execute Pedrito. Pola says she too wants to die to meet with Alejo. But she won’t accept defeat even with all the deaths… MM tells Pola that Pedro will be made Oidor again, the royal audience will be reinstated soon… Pola asks her to gather the wealthy women of SF so Pola can speak to them.

Arcos and Alejo are talking, doing guard together… Alejo insists that he is just waiting for a chance to fight for the patriots again. Arcos laughs, where are those patriots… Alejo tells Arcos that Samano is going to Santa fe, and he will take lots of men with him. ’I am going. And so are you…’

Pola keeps recruiting men… this time Arellano and another guy. Arellano came back to heal his wounds. While they were here Morillo arrived and everyone was called to his service. Pola tells Arellano that Alejo was executed. He says sorry to hear that. AA, his brother and Rodriguez basically ‘encourage’ them to leave Samano’s forces and join the patriots. AA tells them they can stay and fight with them, or any other patriot group around. Arellano agrees immediately, the other guy follows suit.

Pola keeps insisting to AA that the royal soldiers won’t hurt a woman… we can see that AA is beginning to feel attracted to Pola, but she continues crying Alejo, remembering their blood vow.
‘no matter what happens, when I give myself to anyone it will be to you…’
We see Alejo pulls the cloth she bandaged him with at their first meeting, smells and kisses it…

Col Herrera and Samano are talking. Samano says any job that Morillo gives him will always be under him.. (which Samano is not thrilled with)
 

Samano and his men are about to stay the night in Guaduas, Alejo tells him the commanders can stay at the mayors house, the rest will find lodging in the posadas around… Once Samano walks away Alejo tells Arcos that Pola has not answered any of his three letters, getting nervous that something has happened to her.

Meanwhile Pola is wondering about Catalina, wants Juliano to go back to Guaduas. Ambrosio won’t let her write any letter to Ignacio at the Guaduas mail house. AA comes to tell Pola that Samano is heading here to SF. They will all meet tonight to prepare the ‘welcome party’.

Gertrudis tells Alejo Pola left, she probably got caught… for revolting… Alejo asks did she receive the letters? Gertrudis says where would I send them? Gertrudis says a man called Almeida bought the house. Alejo asks for lodging. Gertrudis wants them to pay her ‘un real’ per soldier…

The meeting is happening at the chicheria… they are thinking of a surprise attack… They are thinking of catching Samano alive. Pola volunteers. The A brothers are doubting Pola’s ability. Pola gets offended, says a woman can get close to Samano unnoticed. Candelaria tells them about when Pola had a knife to Samano’s neck and made him cry. The brothers are surprised. Pola says when the soldiers see Samano with a weapon to his head, they will drop their weapons and give up. AA says you make it sound so easy… Pola says what won’t be easy is to stop myself from shooting him.

Alejo and Arcos are going to sleep at the slave barn in Domingo’s house. Arcos asks if he still loves Pola. Alejo says much more, even my body hurts of not being with her. ‘IF I don’t see her again I will regret …’ Arcos asks what.. Alejo changes his mind and says ‘forget it’.

Pola tells AA about the day she met him, she had finally met a man who did not think of women as useless… he asks her if she is not going to forgive him for doubting her proposed plan. She says he mocked her in front of everyone. HE will have to appologize on his knees the day she hands Samano over to him. HE will gladly kneel. But he asks her that if she ever finds herself in danger she will try to protect herself. ‘if something happens to you… I will die’. They are about to kiss but she pulls back, he appologizes, she wants to leave but he asks her if her volunteering for the raid is to die and join Alejo. She says its not a bad idea… but no. She wants to see her country free. And if she were the one dead, she would have wanted Alejo to see it too. AA asks her if he will ever have a chance with her. She just says no and leaves upset.
 

Next morning Pola asks MM if it is possible that if she loves Alejo as she does, she could look at another man… She thinks she is not a good woman… IS it possible? MM says if she is thinking it then it is possible. Pola says we human beings are miserable… it hasn’t even been two months since I learned of Alejo’s death. MM asks if she gave her virtue to AA, if kissed him. Pola says no, but she felt like it.. how is that possible? She loves Alejo, she wants to die to be with him. She won’t let anyone else touch her. She made a blood vow to Alejo that she would only be his, she will fulfill that promise for the memory of her dad.

The royal troops are marching toward Santa Fe
Arcos: Sabarain, until you confirm she is dead, can you take off that funeral facial expression? Even though… you might find her alive, no? … but with another man! (laughs)
Alejo: Pola would be incapable of looking at another man…
Arcos: (laughs louder) Are you sure?
Alejo: Yes, I am sure! And if you mention it again you will loose your teeth! (Arcos laughs again)

MM: Pola don’t get like that!
Pola: I feel like a traitor, like trash!
MM: IS that man a good man?
Pola: OF course, but what does that have to do with it?
MM: Yes it does. You would have fulfilled your promise to Alejo if he were alive, but he is dead. And God does not want you to burry yourself with him. If he willed to take him away, you have to accept his will and move forward. Including letting yourself meet another man. Don’t be so hard on yourself. You have done nothing wrong. You can choose your hairstyle but not whether you feel attracted for a man. That just happens and you can’t do anything about it.
Pola: Wherever Alejo is, he must be dissappointed in me.
MM: Wherever he is, Alejo did not want you to stay alone. Perhaps he is the one that asked God to put this good man in your way.
Pola: Alejo is still warm in his toumb!.
MM: That man will value you, and can wait for you to mourn Alejo.
Pola: No. That man does not have to wait for anything. I will not have anything with him.
MM: Just give yourself time. You will see time will give you all the answers you need.
Pola: God should remember me today (but she won’t give MM any details of what is going to happen today)

The troops finally face the ‘raid’ by the patriot group…
Samano sent some men ahead and those are the ones that notice the raid. Alejo is in the front group, with Arcos and Iglesias. Herrera wants to join the men fighting. Samano says no, he taps himself for having had the idea of sending a group ahead, tells Herrera to stay and protect him.
Arellano tells AA that Samano is not there. AA says lets retreat then, no need to loose men. Pola is not so quick to give up on the mission. She runs ahead and AA sends Arellano with her while he calls the retreat.
Alejo and Pola find themselves pointing guns at each other… Arcos is with Alejo, and Arellano with Pola.
 

previews look like a mess... seems Pola and Alejo have a fight, she slaps him, Alejo kisses MI and ends up stating he would like to marry her... nasty!
 

so timeline wise, it has been 5 yrs since Narino wrote the Bagatela issues... and two months since Pola heard Alejo died, so maybe 3 mos since they executed Caval.
so timeline must be around late 1816 by now since mid 1811 is when the first issue of la Bagatela came out.
The last battles where Alejo fought for Narino (Cebollas?) were in mid 1814 so that makes it about 2 yrs since.
 

Martaivett: Wow again at your recap. And, thanks for the historical connections.

What is Alejo thinking he's doing with all these contacts with María Ignacia. You would think he had learned his lesson with her. She has a one-track mind.
 

I can see he is trying to behave like the gentleman, after all he owes her his life in a very direct way... and he must feel real bad about continuing to want la Pola and knowing (or so he thinks) that MI loves him.
so yes, he might look dumb, but this is in line with his early education and manners...
however, the previews for tonight are showing things go really bad from here for the Alejo/Pola story.
 

Thank you Pasofino and Marta! Wonderful job, both of you.

"What is Alejo thinking he's doing with all these contacts with María Ignacia. You would think he had learned his lesson with her."

I agree with Marta: Alejo is being true to his upbringing as a gentleman. But he has learned his lesson with María Ignacia in the sense that he holds back the essential truth about what he's doing. He lets her believe he has really changed sides.

Ay. Things are so bleak for the patriots right now. The only way I can bear to keep watching these days is being reminding myself that in the end, Colombia wins its independence.

Still, I admire the way the writers have developed the character of Gen. Morillo a bit, showing his motives for acting so implacably. He's the enemy, yes, but he -- unlike Sámano -- is a man of honor.
 

I asked my Mexican husband why is it that after all the greed, cruelty, torture, a lot of it committed in the name of the Catholic church by the Spanish/Spain against every country in Latin America, there is still the notion that having Spanish blood in your family is a good thing? I just don't understand the justification behind that. Could it really be that after centuries of independence people still believe it's better to have Spanish blood?
 

Anon- I believe it still has to do with 'white supremacy.' i know, i know..... just saying.
 

shallowgal - that's what I believe too - even though it's not a very PC thing to think or say.