Original subtitles

The mines Mota gave me are nearly depleted.

They find almost nothing there. No gold, no diamonds.

Now, the Estate of Jatobá...

isn't doing half bad.

I simply cannot shut it down.

As grandmother Esmeralda taught me.

But you'll work while pregnant?

As long as my belly hasn't begun to swell, I can appear on stage

and choose a gentleman.

Except you

will escort him into my room. Do you understand?

Optchá.

Salve, Saint Sarah Kali, salve.

You get on the stage,

but Olivia is the one who lays.

Dressed as Madam Beja, with the diadem, of course.

What say we make her dreams come true?

Alright.

But you have to choose colonels that do not know you,

and never laid with you.

Is there a better way to honor a colonel that is visiting for the first time?

May the fate of this house,

and my own fate,

be one and the same.

May I, here, stay.

May I, here, be my true self.

Salve.

Let me do that! You should be home, resting!

It only works if the mother does it!

-If you fall, there is no baby! -He'll be born strong.

He'll save my marriage!

There. Now, the prayer.

Saint Cosmas, Saint Damian,

spirits of God,

I summon forth the strength...

How does it go, again?

Strength,

purity and joy

from all children that have grown under the shade of this tree.

Fine. Now come down.

May you touch their hearts, my dear saints.

I ask you,

please protect this child I carry within my womb.

I wouldn't drown you if it weren't so grave!

You let my mother kick Honorato out, right?

Very well, then you'll be punished.

Please, my saint! Give me aid!

Make my marriage to Fortunato come true!

You'll only see the light of day when you bring my love back to me!

And make me marry him in church!

Quickly!

Beja.

Only one thing eludes me:

What will happen when your belly swells?

I'll announce renovations, Olivia takes "Madam Beja" to serve out of Araxá,

and I'll seclude myself until my child is born.

Do you think Antônio will return?

Only if he has no shame.

-He packed up and took all his things. -At my behest.

Without trust, there is no love.

This child is mine alone.

I don't need a husband, I have my child and my work.

Moon, moon...

Full moon...

I'm a mother.

And you, godmother.

I give milk

and much love.

You give light

and splendor.

I offer you

this child,

that grows in my womb.

May it come into the world under your protection.

And so may it be.

MADAM BEJA

DAYS LATER

Raspberry leaf oil and wild roses.

This should strengthen the womb, and also prevent further bleeding.

Mr. Fortunato, what about the nerves?

-Anything to soothe them? -Angélica has been on edge.

No one knows what to do.

Nothing beats chamomile.

Good morning.

Good morning, Severina.

-Is my order ready? -Yes, let me fetch it.

Here.

Have her do an infusion with orange leaves to treat the nausea,

and give her coffee, for the drowsiness.

Thank you.

Stop by the mansion some time, give us a visit.

Chamomile. It never fails.

Thank you.

Is Beja ill?

It's nothing serious.

Funny.

Nausea, drowsiness...

Angélica suffered those too.

-Maria. -Cousin, is she pregnant?

My profession warrants discretion.

-Come. Let's let him work. -Wait, Valdo!

Cousin, have you heard from Antônio?

Forgive me, cousin, but I must resume my work.

-Excuse me. -Let's go.

Stop it, Valdo!

Look at that!

I'm thankful, but you'll spoil me!

Yeah?

You're just like me.

-Yeah? -You like to eat well in the morning.

We're alike in many ways.

But you...

God!

You're so beautiful.

It's a shame your heart doesn't see me.

That's not it.

-It's just... -I know.

I'm a whore.

But so is Beja.

Antônio.

I know I don't ignite in you the flame that Beja does.

I've noticed it.

But you know that something strong brings us together.

It's not just the skin color.

It's something within.

It's recognition.

A feeling of being home.

Two drums,

with the same beat.

Thank you, Candinha.

For receiving me,

for not asking questions,

for not minding my silence.

And for liking me the way I am.

Will you thank me for the kisses, too?

No, not that! No!

Thank you.

-Thank you. -Here, too.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Maria, I don't have to lie.

Antônio's not here. I told you.

Did he finally see your true colors?

-For God's sake. -You almost killed a child!

What are you saying?

Angélica bled, and it was your fault.

She could have lost her child! Can you imagine losing yours?

Imagine being pregnant and alone.

I never wished her any harm.

You're pregnant, right?

My God!

Where do you get such an active imagination?

Tea for nausea.

Coffee for drowsiness.

And now you...

I saw that same look in Angélica's face.

A mixture of terror and happiness.

The despair of someone that knows they have many fights ahead, but...

also a certainty that now,

life will truly have value.

Tell me the truth.

Are you pregnant?

Maria, the tea was for me. It was something I ate.

Beja.

If you want your son to have any chance of being watched by God,

let me be his godmother.

Will you?

Didn't you always say I'm a snake?

The devil made flesh?

What do you think you are?

The angel of salvation?

I can be useful!

I'd be a good influence on that child.

I can help you raise him.

You and me.

I'm not pregnant.

There is no child.

-Beja. -Excuse me.

Excuse me, Maria.

Think on my request.

-For the good of your child. -Leave.

That girl has completely lost it.

She's in love with you.

I have no doubt.

But why does she insist on the baby?

-On being the godmother? -To be near you.

But you've rejected her again.

Even with all this, I can't be angry at her, she's so lost.

You may not feel anger,

but you must be cautious, because she can be dangerous.

Cousin, explain it to me!

If it's up to my mother, I'll never know!

Maria, it's not my business to discuss these things with you.

I'll only leave once you tell me how a couple makes a child!

This stays between us, alright?

See this flower?

It will help me answer.

Let's say the bee,

attracted to the shape and smell of the flower,

-it approaches... -The bee?

Do you think me a fool, cousin?

No seagulls or bees!

-I want the truth about men and women! -Fine, I'll tell you.

The man and the woman,

when they go together to bed,

the man, he...

He plants a seed inside her.

Inside the woman.

There, that's it.

In bed?

Well,

Beja could be pregnant from Antônio.

Stop thinking nonsense, Maria.

Don't meddle in his life.

I, too, want what's good for him.

And for Angélica, back home,

fighting to keep their baby well.

But that's their business.

On the other hand, cousin,

if what you say is true,

every man that has laid with Beja has planted a little seed there.

She must be full of seeds inside her, no?

Only one seed flourishes.

There is only one father.

-That's it! -What?

Anyone could be the father to her child.

I need only prove that the child is not Antônio's.

Where would I be without you?

If you enter the court like this, that's all they'll notice about you.

There.

Now that I'm presentable, thanks to Mrs. Josefa,

I am free to go.

See you, honey.

-Goodbye, Avelino. -Goodbye.

I don't get it.

You said you weren't living life the way you wanted.

It's what I felt when I thought I would die,

but I've been with him for many years...

Stop thinking about the years that have already passed!

Think of those that are yet to come.

Please, don't do this to me.

Please.

Don't you want this?

I do.

I do.

Life is curious.

If I hadn't been arrested,

and if João hadn't freed me,

made it up that I was sick so I could stay here,

I would never have felt this feeling.

Avelino, you were arrested?

Thank God for that!

I fought for freedom,

and wound up here.

A prisoner of love.

You and my son are totally reckless.

And so am I. Just look.

One decision.

One choice.

It can change the course of an entire life.

Many lives.

Do you regret this?

Do you regret being arrested?

Or fighting for your heart?

No.

Neither do I.

But it doesn't mean I don't feel guilt.

Avelino, I'm not a young woman.

I'm a mother.

A wife.

And beautiful.

So, so beautiful.

"I could hear the voice of my friend,

but paid no attention to his sentimental plots.

I thought only of him,

'The Reader,'

and how to find him.

'The Reader,'

that is how he signs.

That is how he leaves me in suspense

so I wish, every waking moment, to uncover his mystery,

for he is the only one I think of.

Him."

My Lord,

I know these are inappropriate words to be exchanged between two men,

but I cannot lie to you, my Lord.

Every word the author writes,

he describes intimate knowledge of me.

And that, my Lord,

makes me want to know him,

just as intimately.

It makes me desire.

It makes me want his company.

You know this, my Lord,

how hard I've fought this feeling, but...

tell me, please.

Please, my Lord.

Tell me what to do if this is what I feel.

Tell me, Father.

The water is cold, no?

Yes, but I'm used to it.

You're the new girl that arrived here to work at the Estate of Jatobá, no?

-Do we know each other? -No.

I just really wish I could work there, and,

everyone says Madam Beja is very protective of her girls.

-Do you like to work there? -Quite a lot.

I'll be like Beja one day. Rich, powerful.

I'll bed whoever I want, whenever, as many times as I want.

Really?

Aren't you afraid you'll get pregnant and raise a child alone?

No.

Just do as Beja does:

She doesn't let men finish inside her.

That's the golden rule.

None?

No man, ever?

One of them did, but he's the love of her life.

You mean this Antônio fellow?

Don't worry, everyone in the village knows they have an affair.

That's him.

I don't understand how Beja can stand that man.

He's awful to her!

They say he treats his wife the same way.

Hey!

Didn't you want to work there?

I can take you to Beja!

We need to keep an eye on the horses, they have colic.

I'm happy to see my friend working again.

Really!

I thought you'd given up!

I like working the dirt.

It frees my mind from its demons.

But, Antônio,

if you didn't get along with Beja,

-why didn't you come back home? -They lied to me.

Especially Angélica and Maria.

-I'm not coming back. -I get it. I do.

But you've been traveling,

so I don't know if you've heard:

-Angélica... -I don't care.

I haven't forgotten what she did.

-But it's important... -Go back.

Go back to the corral.

I'll be there shortly.

Let's go, folks.

I pray, Father.

I don't sin, and still you punish me!

Carminha,

I treated her only with love, so she would be a good lady...

Good Jesus, help me.

She's pregnant,

and single!

From a bum!

So I'm the grandfather to the bum's son?

Augusta, you were acting very strangely.

That's why I found a way to hear your confession.

I thought you were abandoning me.

On second thought,

I wish that were the problem.

-Tell me about it. -Yeah.

-Tell me about it. -Yeah.

My Lord, grant me patience.

Not patience, grant me a miracle.

No one will marry her now!

On the contrary.

Our daughter has a husband now.

Yes.

I was not put on this world to be made a clown.

-Husband? -Yes.

Yes.

Her child's father.

-You mean Honorato? -Of course!

Do you want our daughter to walk around with a belly,

-without the father beside her? -Good God.

No.

There's only one problem.

Honorato is gone.

But that was a long time ago!

No, no. That was the first time, and he showed up,

inside our home.

-I'm talking about the second time. -There was a second?

Costa Pinto,

I screamed that drunkard away from here.

He ran so far, he disappeared entirely.

Carminha won't stop crying!

I knew it.

A letter from João.

She always knows when the letters are his.

"Dear parents, it is currently total bedlam here in Rio de Janeiro,

but fortunately I found a perfect house to share with Maria once we marry."

Excellent. One less problem.

"On the topic of marriage,

Avelino's fiancée is terribly worried and misses him greatly.

Her parents still wonder whether or not they will marry."

Avelino, my son.

Don't get me wrong, but your health has improved greatly.

Should you not seek out this woman?

I didn't know you had a fiancée.

Did you know, Josefa?

I am, perhaps,

excessively discrete with those matters.

Don't be discrete with your feelings.

Return as soon as possible,

and tell this lady that she has a fiancé.

I agree.

You can't make a lady wait like that.

It's decided.

The carriage is at your disposal.

Return to the capital quickly,

Josefa is right.

You cannot postpone such matters.

-It's time to choose our lucky man. -Me!

-Me! -Choose me!

-Me! -Pick me!

-Here! Over here! -Madam Beja!

-Pick me, Madam Beja! -Over here!

It's an honor. You're gorgeous.

-Colonel...? -Andrade.

-You're new around here. -Yes, I am.

Welcome.

Thank you very much.

You've arrived here with luck.

-That's good. -Severina will escort you to my room.

This way.

I'm sure your night will pay you back a thousand times.

-Is it working? -Marvelously well!

Excellent.

While Col. Andrade travels the Arab lands

on Madam Beja's flying carpet,

I'll go rest a bit.

-I need to care for my child. -Then go.

"With every sentence of yours that I read,

it's as if I've committed every sin possible on Earth.

That's why,

this letter is a goodbye letter, my dearest Author.

God gave me the breath of life,

and for my love for Him,

I must

silence this whirlwind inside of me.

Goodbye,

from your,

dear Reader."

GRAVEYARD

Enough, Augusta.

I can't search anymore.

That bum has evaporated!

The living always show up! Even at the graveyard!

But only the dead are here!

Don't be such a wuss, Costa Pinto! Your daughter's honor is at stake!

-I knew it! -Is he dead?

Of course not, Costa Pinto!

He's drunk!

Hold him properly, Costa Pinto!

Can't you see the poor devil is slipping?

Each time he breathes,

I can smell nothing but pure alcohol!

My poor stomach is turning!

I can see why you chose the feet now.

Open the gate.

There's no doubt,

this is not our daughter's ideal fiancé.

To think she picked him herself!

This is why I tell you women shouldn't choose their husbands!

My father was a man yet chose poorly, still!

It's what we have. Go on, now. Wake up the drunkard.

We have to turn this frog into a prince.

I'm disgusted. So disgusted.

What?

I'm back?

Mother-in-law!

Be quiet!

Carminha can't know you're here yet!

-Listen... -I think I like him better asleep.

Or dead! Why not call Carminha and the priest and end this already?

Perish the thought!

Carminha will not marry a bum! She will marry a Count!

Get that off his face! He'll die!

How long will you make do with scraps?

Instead of grabbing and sniffing his clothes,

you should grab him by the scruff of the neck and drag him home!

Or will you let Antônio pick the other instead of you and your child?

Maria, I don't know if I have the courage

to enter the whore's house and fetch him.

He isn't there now.

He was seen going elsewhere,

but still not somewhere you can enter so calmly.

If you really want to save your marriage...

Get up. Get dressed.

It's time to come home.

This is no place for you.

-Nor for you, Maria! -It's no place for a father, either.

You should all go sort this at home.

I knew it!

I knew you'd do this, Maria!

You can't help it!

Meddling in people's lives!

-Can't you see the suffering you caused? -You're the one causing suffering!

Maria, he doesn't care.

He cares about no one but himself.

-If he's happy, why should he care? -That's not true, Angélica.

I understand your pain.

But it was your lies that caused this entire situation!

You, me, Beja and the baby!

You replace the people in your life just like that,

-so easily, and it's my fault? -I've replaced no one!

That is her venom!

-Angélica. -He replaced you with Beja once.

Why wouldn't he do it again?

Replacing you and your son,

for the whore and the child that he put in her belly.

What?

She...

Beja is expecting your child?

-That is not my child! -Of course it is!

The village knows the golden rule in the Estate of Jatobá.

No one finishes inside her.

She won't allow it.

She has only made one exception.

Or will you claim never to have planted your seed in the whore?

Why did you do that, Antônio?

A legitimate son isn't enough?

You wanted to be father to a little bastard?

Monster.

You're a monster.

I will kill you!

I'll kill you!

-Angélica! -Stop!

-Angélica! -Calm down!

-Angélica! -Angélica!

-Angélica! -Angélica!

Angélica!

Angélica!

Good morning, father.

God bless you, sweetie.

-Good morning, mother. -Good morning, baby.

-There's a stranger at the table! -It's me, my love.

-Who? -She can't even recognize him!

-Who, my God? -He is your future husband.

Carminha, can't you recognize me?

Honorato?

No. Mr. Rodrigo Caldas, Count of Seven Swords.

Actually, Count of Siete Espadas.

That's the land of my Spanish ancestors.

Your parents tried to localize it a little to simplify things.

-Did I memorize it well? -Very well.

My God, you're so handsome!

Costa Pinto!

Honey. Baby, please.

Just a moment.

Just a second.

Move away a second, honey. You two have made a child, yes?

Now you have to get married.

-We will? -Yes!

And quickly! Before that belly is even bigger.

But no one can even suspect that the Count is a bum.

Dorotéia, a toast to me!

Joaquim Botelho, you are a genius!

-A gift! -Keep your dirty whore mitts off!

-This is gold, not for the likes of you. -Rude.

-You're ruining it. -Can I know what that is?

These are letters.

Forbidden letters.

And they're delicious, Dorotéia.

From rich parents that hide a criminal son from the law.

And I,

Joaquim Botelho, will get to the bottom of it.

Do you know what'll happen? I'll get rich.

I'll get rich!

Honey.

Honey, you...

You have to regain your strength.

Eat a little, it's a light meal.

I don't understand.

She was supposed to rest, but...

instead she takes the carriage out at night to do a ritual.

I don't understand.

The ritual was for the baby's health, mother.

Well, look at the result.

This could have happened because she doubted God.

I've never seen so much blood.

That's why we took her to the apothecary for Fortunato to check her,

but not even that worked out.

-The baby... -Enough, Maria.

Enough.

Our pain is enough on its own.

Now, Angélica needs to rest,

and accept grief.

God is all-knowing in His plans.

My child,

if you need anything at all,

call us.

Call us and we'll come.

Rest, baby.

Rest.

Come, Antônio.

Let Angélica get some rest.

Get up, you bitch!

-Are you insane? -Insanity is not coming here sooner!

I've always known that you're vile, but now?

Now you have exceeded every last limit, Beja!

You whore!

Do you want to try your strength against mine?

Do you really think your shamelessness is stronger

-than a faithful woman's hate? -You need help!

I don't need help!

I have God on my side, and I've come to do justice in His name.

If I won't have Antônio's child,

neither will you.