My Teresa,
ever since you've gone away, my days have been deeply miserable.
This is the only place where I feel fine.
Like I could feel your presence, and you could feel mine.
The part of me that smiles died with you.
And it may never come back.
Without you here, breathing feels totally pointless,
even though many still remind me that I have to move on.
Sometimes I think I only survive by thriving on rebellion.
At times, all I want is to unload my soul of hatred.
But there is no suffering worse than a mother's.
It constantly reminds you that all these mistakes could've been avoided.
My mother left me alone.
Beja!
-Let me go! -Grab the branch! Grab on!
But I will never, ever abandon you.
I'll preserve your name, your honor,
and your memory, my Teresa Tomásia.
You are the love of my life, baby.
Love always survives.
Didn't you teach me that, honey?
MADAM BEJA
I've called you to talk about the refund of Teresa's dowry.
-What do you mean? -The marriage was not consummated.
-Must I give it back, father? -Shut up.
No, no.
So you affront my father?
Keep in mind, he's João's political godfather.
This could affect your husband.
To honor
the name of my late daughter is the most important goal in my life.
So, we could start like this: My son had expenses on this wedding.
As I expected. You gentlemen won't cooperate.
Leave. Get out of here.
Please, sir.
Beja, what are you going to...
I'll fight, of course.
Teresa was buried as Mrs. Botelho.
As she asked.
To have my daughter carry the name of those two
is an honor for them, much more than her!
And I don't mean just Teresa. Joana, too.
This rather fat dowry on the wedding is part of her heritage!
Uncle.
If you're here to reprimand me on suffering a loss...
I've spent days wondering whether I should return here or not.
But I had to come.
To express my solidarity, to see how my nephew is doing.
And, who knows, maybe help.
I understand your pain.
As you know, I too have children outside of marriage.
Bastards or not,
if something bad happens to them, it really hurts.
-I'm very sorry. -I don't know how I could carry on.
My life makes no sense anymore.
What I'm about to say to you is not out of self-interest,
but rather an attempt to try and save you
from the abyss swallowing you whole.
Throw yourself into your work, Antônio. Win this election.
For your own sake, my nephew.
Antônio has been miserable.
We were too unfair with him.
I should never have been against him getting to know his daughter.
What's this, Angélica? Remorse, now?
It was because of Beja that you lost your child, remember?
You do not understand.
Only those who have lost a child
would know what she and Antônio are feeling.
It's a loss like no other.
Our mother is right about the little bastard.
She died late.
-She died young! -She was born at the wrong time.
Just by being born, she harmed the world so deeply.
She must be burning in hell.
For God's sake, Zé.
We've been in this house for days without seeing each other or talking.
I'd rather die than feel like a captive.
Did you think on what I said to you?
Did you?
That the love between us has died?
I wish I hadn't heard that.
I have thought a lot about
how love mimics the cycles of nature.
It blooms in spring. It explodes in summer.
It retreats in fall.
And finally,
it falls dormant in winter.
It's not our fault, Zé.
It's not anyone's fault.
It's just impossible to fight against what is inevitable.
But we could both still give dignity
to this love, which has evaporated.
Allowing it to transform into something new.
Something that honors everything that we have lived together.
Because it was beautiful, Zé.
The two of us are beautiful.
You know you weren't my first love.
Or my first man.
I was a widow when we married.
The two of us are living proof
that love will always come back and subdue us again.
Is it necessary for one of us to die for us to have another chance?
Go back to your room, Zefa.
You know me. I'm not like the others.
I won't accept being your captive for much longer!
To do what everyone else wants me to do, that will destroy me.
It'll destroy you, too.
Teresa, she...
Teresa was...
She was just a bastard!
She had my blood, yes. She had my blood.
But nothing else.
Nothing else.
She doesn't deserve a single tear. Not a single tear!
Not one tear.
Excuse me, mother.
Have you decided on what we will make for dinner?
My God. What's going on?
Nothing. Nothing's going on.
Nothing's going on. She... She was just a bastard!
She was just a bastard.
Hey. Listen. Listen to me.
It's normal to feel what you're feeling, ma'am.
Alright?
Like it or not, Teresa was your granddaughter, too.
What? Now, listen here, you! I will not accept...
That you...
You of all people, the little crybaby whose birth I saved
would dare to come to me and run her mouth on what I can and can't do!
Birth? What do you mean?
So you knew my real mother?
I... I don't know what...
-I don't know what you're talking. -Who is she?
Tell me!
Is she alive? Dead?
-I want to know! -Leave me alone!
-Leave me! -Tell me!
-Leave me, goddammit! -I have the right to know! Tell me!
-Leave me alone! Leave me, goddammit! -Tell me! I demand to know!
-Mother. -Tell me what you know!
-Who is my mother? Who birthed me? -I do not have to tell you!
-I want to know! -What's going on here, mother?
You said she had died!
Now, you say you saved me? What did you do to her?
-Did you let her die? -Listen! I saved you, but,
I saved your mother too!
-Saved her from what? -From winding up dead!
-From working the tavern! -My mother was a harlot?
-Is that it? -I never knew who the father was.
-I never knew... -Ceci, let go of that bottle!
-You've had too much! -Leave me!
-Look at you, interrogating me! -Hey!
What's happening here?
What's this madness, mother?
Maria's constantly judging me,
-Angélica asking questions. -You're drunk?
Genoveva keeps trying to control me! I can't take this anymore!
-Angélica, take mother to her room. -Let go of me!
She is not my mother!
What did you say?
After everything I've done, after all this time,
I'm not your mother?
Now you disown me as mother?
That's what you get for having favorites!
-Not now. -But it's true!
And you! Would it have killed you to be born with...
With clear, white skin, like mine? With my nose?
Would it have killed you two? But no! You had to be like your father!
-Skin made of coal! -I'm taking her to her room.
-Ceci, you need a bath! -You know who you should disown?
The one who birthed you!
Not me, because I saved you!
You should disown the sinner! She's right here!
Your mother!
Right? Genoveva?
Right?
It was the man...
that I loved.
He was killed in an ambush
and only then did I learn that I was pregnant.
You needn't tell us if you don't wish it.
No.
I can't bear this lie anymore.
Ceci said she would help me.
That in order to spare me from infamy...
she would raise the child.
And would find a way to get me married to her brother.
And how did you trick uncle Felizardo on the wedding night?
Maria.
A chicken's bladder.
I popped it to get blood on the sheets.
He believes he married a virgin, to this day.
I'm sorry, Angélica.
I'm sorry for all these years of silence, but I just knew
that you were in good hands with Ceci.
I knew I'd get to watch you grow, following along your every step.
I'd get to be some part of your life.
I don't know if you'll ever be able to forgive me.
There will be quite a fuss when Felizardo learns of this.
No one will tell anything to uncle Felizardo.
Do you understand, Maria?
That's an order.
But what if my mother...
What if Ceci does tell him?
Could she?
She kept that secret for so long.
She won't tell him.
She's far from being the good soul in this story.
Do you really think our mother kept Angélica,
a powder-white little baby,
just so she could help her friend from church?
Beautiful. That was beautiful.
God must be smiling. That's all for today, you may go.
Sister Rita, thank you so much for being here with us.
Your gifted voice has helped us greatly.
Congratulations, Vicente.
Your voice improves every day.
-I didn't think I'd be able to sing. -Worried about Joana, my son?
I mean, boy.
Give it time.
When we lose someone we love, the pain lingers for some time.
Joana must be mourning her sister.
Nothing that a hug from a friend can't help.
Why are you judging me?
Society only let the likes of you walk among us because we had money!
But that doesn't mean that I have to accept you, no!
We are your children.
-Your children! -We are blood of your blood.
-Skin of your skin! -So what?
What are you two complaining about?
I was the best mother I could have been for the children I had!
Is not my fault
if when I look...
I look at you, I...
I don't see myself!
I don't! Is that my fault? What's wrong with...
With having wanted a daughter that looks like me?
A daughter...
that looks...
Angélica came to me at the right time.
So beautiful.
Such white skin!
And she was raised like me!
In my image and similarity!
That's not true. I am not the same monster that you are, ma'am.
Nothing's worse than an ungrateful child. Nothing.
Nothing's worse than hearing from your mother what you always knew.
But what could we expect
from the daughter of a man that sold people like animals?
What? What do you mean?
Our grandfather which, thankfully, none of us ever met.
He trafficked Africans.
Father hid it from us out of love.
Don't you spit on the same plate you've eaten on!
You'll disown the surname you've been given
only thanks to my father?
I had no dowry.
Everyone knows this, but your father
didn't even have a surname!
So, respect your grandfather!
-He worked his whole life! -He "worked?"
-He did. -How could you say that, mother?
Look at me!
Look at Antônio!
We are black!
Black, just like the captives that my grandfather was cruel to!
Antônio, I think you should throw this woman out on the street!
No, Maria.
We truly are different than her.
This black man you've rejected your entire life...
will not act like you.
Excuse me.
Angélica.
Stop! Stop it!
-Stop that! -Come, honey! Come on!
Come, the water's nice!
I knew I'd find you here.
Teresa didn't like rivers.
She said she preferred clear water.
Now I understand why.
It must be really hard having a heart full of mud.
I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Sorry.
Sorry, I...
-It was reflex, I... -I liked the kiss.
And, since I'm here...
Come!
What's wrong?
Are you scared of getting wet?
You can look. I'm not embarrassed.
-They're beautiful. -Do you want to touch them?
Are you sure?
What now?
I don't know!
Didn't you say you've laid with a woman at the tavern?
I lied.
Then what do we do?
I don't know. Let's find out.
We've met the greatest pain on this world.
My mother, she...
She...
I suffer
just from imagining it,
what Teresa must have felt.
How rejected she felt because of me.
Because of a stupid promise I made for my father.
And for having married with that son of a bitch!
How could we have allowed such a thing, Beja?
How?
We will never forgive ourselves for this, Antônio.
With regards to Botelhinho...
he's going to get what's coming to him.
I will make certain of it.
-What's this? -Beja has filed a lawsuit
demanding the refund of her late daughter's dowry.
What nonsense is this?
Beja has completely lost touch with reality.
The time of the hearing is written there. Excuse me.
You'll have to return the part I gave to you.
I've spent it already.
How will I face Beja at court now?
I don't know. It's your problem.
You didn't hurt me. I promise.
Yes, but you bled. I saw it.
Don't worry.
It actually felt better than I imagined.
In fact, I feel a bit different.
Me too.
Something's changed inside of me.
And, if I already liked you before, then now I just...
For the rest of my life, you will be the woman that made me a man.
My heart will never forget.
You can be at ease. I'll talk to my grandfather,
he'll talk to your father, and we'll sort out the entire marriage!
Vicente.
I want to study!
And to travel. There's so much I want to do before marrying.
But we will always be friends.
Your heart will meet new people.
Your body, too.
And mine, too.
Then I have to go. The night draws near.
So, excuse me.
Josefa.
Come with me.
You have to eat.
I thought a lot on what you said about love.
But I disagree with you.
I don't think love dies.
My love for you didn't die.
It may not be what it's usually like between a man and a woman, but,
I love you so much, Zefa.
All that I want is to see you happy.
Hello, Josefa.
Zé!
What will you do?
Me?
Nothing.
But you two will dine.
He looked for me, to talk.
I brought Avelino back
so you wouldn't have to expose yourself.
I don't understand.
Do whatever you want. In here.
But don't expose yourselves out there.
The people of Araxá would not understand.
You're doing this for me?
For me, as well.
I wouldn't be happy knowing that you aren't.
You're a different caliber of man.
Truly special.
What's special is the love this woman and I share.
The son we had.
The house we've built.
You can't throw such a beautiful love story into the trash.
Won't you eat?
It's your favorite roast.
I had it made for you two.
I'm alright.
I need to rest.
We are now beginning this hearing.
Mrs. Ana Jacinta de São José
came to court to request the refund
of the dowry she gave to Joaquim Botelho,
on the occasion of his marriage with her daughter, Teresa Tomásia.
Anything to declare?
-Yes, your Honor. -Here we go.
I will...
return the money.
-Are you sure about this? -Botelhinho.
If the Judge closes this case, there's no going back.
I'm sure. I've even procured the money.
That was the quickest hearing of my life and I might not miss my trip!
Case closed.
At least justice was done.
You had the gall to sell part of my lands to refund her dowry?
I will not be publicly shamed for not consummating my wedding!
And I sold my mother's part of those lands, which were mine!
And you refused to give to me!
You never knew how to handle money, Botelhinho!
-You never even liked the farm! -Exactly.
Why hold on to something with no use? Fields, cattle, chickens.
I want to be a deputy!
You need fields, cattle and chickens to be deputy.
And why didn't you ask me
if I wanted to buy your half of the farm?
Please!
With what money?
You're penniless!
You lusted your money away.
Watch it! I'm still your father! You owe me respect!
No. You're the one who owes me.
The share of the dowry I gave you to pay off your debts, and you didn't!
You spent it on whores, no?
You bastard.
If things go on like this,
I could lose the entire farm, like I lost the mansion in Vila Rica.
What will be of me then? Will I live out on the streets?
That's your problem!
You said that when you left me with nothing.
Remember?
It's alright, you'll live.
I need money, Botelhinho.
-And the house above the newspaper shop? -Forget it. Give it up.
I sold it when I moved into the mansion, the money is paying my stay here.
Is this your mother's jewelry?
Take your hands off that.
One of many she gave to me when she was sick,
she knew you'd go around giving them away to the whores you lay with.
You mediocre idiot! You're a piece of shit journalist!
Living in a brothel, dressed as a cabman!
On a village in the middle of nowhere that no one even knows exists!
That's what you are!
If you could at least brush your hair properly,
your mother wouldn't have been so ashamed of you.
And she was very ashamed.
She must be turning in her grave.
I've never seen a judge go on so many work trips!
Because I'm the only judge you know!
Now let me go, I have a long road ahead of me.
Give me a kiss.
Goodbye.
Dear Saint, should I go out into the streets?
My husband has no spine even to order me to stay inside!
Or do I lock myself in?
To obey an order I was never given?
With all this boredom? No way!
I will not stay home alone!
Vicente, you need to hold that note a little longer.
Very well.
Today was very productive! You can go, but practice at home!
Grandma?
I'm so glad you came.
They asked about you and I said my grandparents have no patience
to listen to the same song all the time.
Vicente.
Who is that nun?
That's Sister Rita!
She leads the choir now.
-Since when do you wear a habit? -Mother!
It's been so long!
I never imagined you'd want to take your vows, Carminha.
I am called Rita now. Sister Rita.
The death I caused in this very church has lead me to convent.
It's the only way I found to ease my guilt.
But if you became a nun, what of your husband?
Lost in the ways of life.
You were right when you said that, the day we left.
Being marginalized is awful.
Why did you come back to Araxá?
God whispered in my ear.
After much dedication, He gave me this gift.
He told me, in a dream, I could come meet my son.
Vicente doesn't need you. He has me.
And your father.
I came to see you, too.
-My parents. -You've seen me.
Now you can go.
Mother, please.
I miss you two so much.
I need to see my father.
He's out on a business trip and will be very long.
You'd best not leave your convent waiting.
I will not leave this church until the choir is in tune.
I promised father Otávio.
Carminha.
Even if married to Jesus, you are still a fugitive!
And so,
you'd best remain missing!
Meaning,
do not tell Vicente one word about who you truly are!
Understood?
And also, don't go dragging your habit around the plaza.
Someone might recognize you and report you.
One more thing,
when your father gets back here and you satisfy your longing to see him,
from afar,
you'd better go back to your convent.
After all,
a fugitive would not want to be found by the police.
Right?
Col. Botelho?
You argued with your father.
May I know why?
I sold my part of the farm, the heritage from my mother.
It was the only way I could get money to refund Beja's dowry.
And did you see the Colonel, ma'am?
I was here, at the counter, and heard their argument.
And I saw the Colonel coming downstairs, angry.
Did he say anything?
No. He paid and left.
I spent my whole life trying to prove that I was something to be proud of,
but I never could.
Another strike to the head.
Do you think there's a link with the prostitutes' killings?
Col. Botelho was the last to be seen with Dorotéia.
It all suggests that he lied to us.
-If you lie... -...you know too much.
Was he killed to be silenced?
We'll find out soon.
Yes?
Who would have clear motives to kill Col. Botelho?
Thank you for responding to our request so promptly.
It seems you won't give me one moment's rest.
-You don't give anyone else the same. -Januário.
-I talk. -What's he on about?
Motives.
No lack of them.
What motives?
Olívia betrayed you before she was killed.
Dorotéia, and we've checked,
stopped being the most sought-after whore here
after the Estate of Jatobá overshadowed her.
She was cross, over the petit-déjeneur you summoned all the girls to.
Then, she was murdered.
Luzia, from Campo Alegre,
we're still investigating to know if you have a link to her.
But Col. Botelho,
he not only had a link to you but was also totally desperate,
since you demanded the refund of your daughter's dowry,
and he lost land because of it.
A desperate man is like a wild bull.
To tame him, only strength works.
Sometimes, a lot of strength.
And what are you implying, sir?
That you ceased to be a possible victim,
and have become the main suspect of the prostitutes' murders.