Original subtitles

Men and women behave very differently

to whatever knocks them off track.

It's a shame I couldn't go to that party at the Estate last night.

Did you enjoy it?

Well, I left early.

-The music was strange. -Yes, I left with you.

I took a ride.

I left before all of you.

Boring party.

Before any kind of embarrassment,

men feign normality and seek safe harbor.

Who do you gentlemen think will win the elections?

Costa Pinto! Of course, there's no doubt Antônio will be elected. Again.

Times have changed. Antônio has lost the way of politics.

João Mendonça will win by a landslide.

May the best man win!

-Mass begins. Come. -Yes.

We must pray. Let's pray.

Unlike men, women have a hard time hiding their discomfort.

Though, depending on the behavior of their husbands,

their wives' shall behavior follow suit.

When a husband validates his wife's behavior...

Hello, Beja!

...she is capable of doing anything

just to please her husband.

Quite different than the platter you had sent for me

when I came back to Araxá.

Me?

Funny, I don't remember.

But I do hope we can leave behind any unpleasant memories.

After all, Madam Beja is now a good, faithful woman!

Isn't that right?

It's trade, you see?

MADAM BEJA

To gain respect, we must conform to the rules of society.

-You make it sound easy. -It never has been.

At first I was rejected, and then, I had power.

I made all of Araxá bow to me.

But I was only truly respected after marrying.

-It wasn't easy. -I'm a witness.

They made your mother's life hell.

I don't want my daughters to suffer what I've suffered.

That's why I'm sorting out Teresa's marriage,

and then yours, Joana.

I don't mind you picking a husband for me.

Of course, honey.

I don't want to marry.

You don't have to want it.

First, Teresa. Then, you.

You won't find a man interested in a loony.

Wasn't it your day off?

You know I haven't worked.

And you know who I'm going to meet.

The agreement was clear for us three before we married.

You can't complain now.

I wanted to have you like this,

with your body glued to mine, every evening.

You've let your chances slide so many times, Antônio.

Now I have a husband, and you, a wife.

Apologies.

I didn't think you'd await me awake.

I haven't waited for you in a long time, Antônio.

I know exactly what you were doing.

Whether it was the tavern, or Beja,

it's your problem.

But it becomes my problem if you humiliate me in public.

Do not sully my name, Antônio.

And don't put your name in the mouths of people.

Or else, you'll lose this election.

I'll be more discrete, Angélica.

You'd better.

But your discretion is not enough.

One piece of jewelry

for every night you spend out of the house.

Jewelry?

You can start with that ring.

My father gave this to me at my graduation.

Excellent.

It'll look like proof of love.

The husband gives the wife a ring that was given by his father!

It's lovely, no?

"Let's be realistic. There's nothing 'secret' about this secret lover.

Even the actual husband knows, and seems to let it slide when Beja,

the madam courtesan, goes to meet with you-know-who in her nights off."

-Quite a position you've put me in. -Me?

Botelhinho is a crook!

Does he poke fun at the colonels' mistresses?

Or the two families they maintain?

The colonels can! Why can't I?

Have you any clue how much this could harm my political career?

The support I could lose?

I thought you fought for liberal values.

-Liberal values. -Beja.

You know how hypocritical our society is when it comes to marriage and family!

Many still pretend I'm not married to a courtesan!

But you are!

We never made it a secret!

One matter is what you do as work,

another matter is having another man to give you pleasure as lover.

Botelhinho may be a crook, but this only protects Antônio!

I am exposed! Demoralized! This is disrespectful, Beja!

So now Botelhinho dictates the rules of our relationship?

Everyone knows he's a great supporter of the Conservative Party,

just to oppose his father!

He'll do everything to weaken a liberal like me!

Then we must find a way to stop that scoundrel.

It's simple! Just leave Antônio!

That's the last thing I needed.

To let an idiot like Botelhinho dictate the rules of my life!

He already does with his newspaper!

There's only one way to maintain my dignity.

Stop seeing Antônio.

Father, how would you like to have a son in politics?

Did you find a long lost child of mine I didn't know I had?

I think I'm a good candidate.

I even have a newspaper that could help out.

I just need the support of the colonels, and you could help me with that.

Botelhinho, you don't have the knack for it.

You don't even have a wife or a family yet!

Now you want to get into politics?

Give me a break!

And I already have a candidate.

I think you'd better rethink that, sir.

João is the husband of a prostitute.

He deserves no respect.

What's more,

if I decide to expose your bankruptcy on my newspaper, dear father,

no one votes on João.

Do you have anything to tell me?

I won't even ask if these words are true.

I know they are.

Teresa,

you're too young for this conversation.

Is one husband not enough, mother?

You needed a lover, despite working the Estate?

One day you'll understand

the heart cares not for society's rules, baby.

If you really wanted to be respectable,

the way I thought you did, you'd have no lover.

No.

Teresa, you need to eat.

I need a husband,

so I'll be a lady that can then leave this home.

Do I make you so unhappy?

That's a relief! I thought you'd be upset with me.

But,

Candinha is in shambles about the death of Dorotéia.

She's scared of this killer that's running loose around here.

I thought it was a good moment to be with her.

I'd never be upset to see you do what you please.

Thank you, Beja!

You're too good, you know?

Araxá doesn't deserve you.

We're all good and bad, at the same time.

I wish you good luck, my friend.

Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you.

You?

I'm back.

I...

I don't want you giving up your good life at Beja's Estate.

Candinha,

you need a friend!

Now that we've lost Dorotéia,

did you think I'd leave you here all alone?

Knowing you needed me?

So?

What of Dorotéia's autopsy?

As you suspected, sir.

Poisoning.

Devil's Trumpet.

Bronchoaspiration.

Like Olívia.

Without signs of semen, as well.

Then Col. Botelho may be telling the truth. There was no sex.

But this time...

COINS

There was a payment.

What? Another one?

She was killed like the others.

Luzia. Put her name on the board.

She used to sell her body around Campo Alegre.

That's what they told me.

Campo Alegre?

Towards Paracatu.

-Yes. -Then the killer's an outsider.

He came to Araxá, killed, and left.

Belgard?

It's just me.

The candles betrayed your coming.

Do you normally spend days out of the house

without letting anyone know?

When I was working at Patrocínio, I was called to Campo Alegre.

You've been to Campo Alegre?

Yes.

It's common that I practice in neighboring towns and villages.

I missed you.

-Did you? -Yes.

Simmer down, gentlemen!

We've reached the moment where one of you will be chosen

to spend a night worth a thousand!

-Here! -Here! Pick me!

Who will be the lucky man?

-Me! -Over here! Me!

Me! Here!

I'll pay any cost to lay with you, Beja.

My dear Botelhinho!

Araxá's illustrious journalist!

The eloquence with which you write your articles,

it has finally shown to me the kind of man that you are.

The kind of man that, on a night like this,

deserves a special treat.

It's high time.

This game won't be violent, will it?

Beja.

That's all up to you.

It's agonizing, is it not?

To be at another's mercy?

With your hands tied?

That's how people feel when they read your newspaper.

Either you stop writing shit about my life,

or the entire mineiro valley will know.

Know what?

That you were the only man picked by Beja

that went up with her and did absolutely nothing!

-A skill issue. -I have a rebuttal.

After all, you tricked me when you told me that this rope was for my pleasure.

With or without rope, you'd do nothing!

Absolutely nothing.

See? You can't.

Beja...

I don't care. It's normal.

But your friends,

your colonel friends, they'll say you have no backbone

for a woman like myself.

Understood?

You can rest easy, João.

Botelhinho won't disrupt your campaign anymore.

-How do you know? -Am I not Madam Beja?

The sorceress of Araxá?

Should I marry Teresa? Beja's daughter?

What the hell kind of idea is that?

Do you think Beja would allow such a foul thing?

If someone could calm that beast, that would be you.

And why would I do that?

First of all because you've spent every last dime on whores.

And second, because half of Teresa's dowry,

that I'll give to you,

could pay off quite a bit of your debt.

Which is to say: I help you, and you help me.

After all, aren't we a family?

What a curious little entourage!

Here to apologize, Botelhinho?

Col. Botelho spoke sense to you, at last? Is that it?

Please.

Beja, I'm here to talk about Teresa.

Should I speak to the father, or the man of the house?

The madam of the house.

You can speak to me.

Very well.

I would like to respectfully ask Teresa Tomásia's hand in marriage.

It would greatly please me

if you agreed

to unite our children.

Beja. Beja.

This is serious.

It seems he really does want to marry our daughter.

Antônio, we need to talk. Quickly.

What is this stupid nonsense?

Didn't you say we need to wed the girls?

To Botelhinho?

It could be good for Teresa to have a wife's life.

What do you gain from it?

Political support?

-That's it, right? -If I was a self-seeker man,

I would have already agreed.

It's my call, as her father.

Technically, Teresa is daughter to an old priest.

Let's be adults.

He comes from a good family and has a newspaper.

He could give her a place in society.

Don't even think about it!

She will not marry Botelhinho!

She wouldn't want such a thing!

I accept.

Simmer down, baby. You don't make these choices so lightly.

You must think carefully.

You claim to respect everyone's desire,

but won't let me decide my destiny?

Father has agreed.

Don't go down that path, honey.

Please, mother.

Let me marry.

The husband doesn't matter, I just want to be a lady.

To have a surname.

A normal family.

It's all I want.

I'll do whatever you want, baby, if it means you'll be happy.

The priest won't wed my daughter.

Beja, concern yourself with the dowry.

I'll handle the church.

Father Otávio wouldn't dare

refusing to wed my son.

He wouldn't even know what hit him.

I hope, dear fiancée,

my princess,

that we'll all be very happy.

All of us, in this house.

No! Don't do that in the house!

The maid could've seen!

You don't know if Mendonça is awake!

Why do you run from your feelings? It's not possible!

It's not about avoiding!

-Josefa! -Mrs. Ceci!

Mr. Avelino!

Sorry for popping in so early, without notice,

I didn't know when the violin lessons began

and didn't want to miss it!

You know how in love I am...

with music!

Excellent, my children!

You may go.

I love it, Vicente! Thanks for getting me into the choir.

It's my pleasure.

Having you here is... really nice.

I like your company, too,

my friend.

You sing like an angel, my child.

Who did you get that gift from?

Your mother, or your father?

I truly don't know.

I've never met either.

But thanks for the compliment. It makes me happy, ma'am.

Vicente! Come on!

Your parents told everyone that you two died on a road accident!

They must've lied to spare Vicente.

I killed a man.

To defend Honorato.

A hard truth to swallow, no?

To defend him?

Who knows of this?

My father must have covered it up.

I'd like to say it was done to protect me.

But I think they merely wanted to avoid the shame

of having a killer daughter and son-in-law.

Honorato, too?

He has a delicate past, Beja, but he's a great man.

My friend.

So the two of you have lived all these years as fugitives?

I couldn't let him get jailed, Beja.

But worse than living on the run was being away from my son.

I didn't watch him grow.

You can stay here, with me.

I can find a room for you at the Estate.

But what do you intend?

I don't know.

I have to meet Vicente.

I wrote thousands of letters to him and to my parents,

all of them were sent back, and have never been read.

So your parents won't let you come near him.

You could see him at the choir, in church.

That's a bad idea.

I can't just show up in church, the entire town will notice me.

I know a way to get you in church, and to make you invisible.

Tell me!

How was it?

My son is so sweet!

So lovely! So kind, Beja!

His voice is heavenly!

Vicente is a sweetheart!

He's Honorato's and Carminha's son, after all!

No.

Sister Rita.

Get used to it so no one knows.

My dear friend, you can count on me for anything.

Just promise you won't risk yourself.

I don't want you in jail. Promise me.

I promise.

Could we please stop?

My hands can't take this.

It's because you chose the path of perfection, ma'am.

-You did well today. We can stop. -Thank you.

You were lovely, Josefa!

-A little juice? -Yes, please.

Ladies, I have matters to attend.

-Excuse me. -Thanks, Avelino.

-Your juice. -Thank you.

How's Teresa, Beja?

Not that well, my friend.

Don't lose faith.

She'll get better, Beja.

Severina?

Tea, anyone?

Mom! Help!

Mom!

-Teresa! -She fell, out of nowhere.

Honey!

Thank you, Severina.

Teresa, breathe in.

Yes.

Don't push yourself. You're too weak.

Just breathe, okay?

She hasn't been drinking the tea.

She says the taste is bad, and spills it over the plants.

It's for your good, Teresa.

Call the priest and my fiancé.

I want to marry already.

I have to!

Your dress isn't ready yet, honey.

It's alright.

I'd rather marry without a dress...

than die single.

Breathe, my love. Breathe.

Breathe in, Teresa.

Good evening, Zé!

I bumped into Avelino coming back here.

By God, what are you doing?

I should kill you both right now,

to wash my honor with blood.

I won't sully my hands, though.

Avelino, get your things and go

before I change my mind and blow your head.

Do as he says, Avelino!

For the love of God! Go! Quickly!

Go!

Zé! Please, calm down!

Not a word out of you!

You're going to hear me.

Even if you kill me, you will hear me!

Zé, our love...

You know as well as I do, it ended.

Long ago.

Sadly.

At first, the passion was gone.

Remember?

Our conversations became few and far between.

Our meals, silent.

I spoke to you of my paintings

and you spoke back only of your lawsuits!

Like we couldn't hear each other!

With time,

I realized we didn't look each other in the eyes anymore.

And that bed, so unbearably cold.

I never knew I could feel so alone, even though accompanied!

I didn't want things to have come to this point, but they have!

We've loved each other so much, Zé.

We've loved each other too much to pretend now!

We have to face reality!

Are you done speaking, madam?

Are you going to kill me?

-Go to your room, Zefa. -Zé, please.

Go to your room, I said.

MEET ME IN THE RIVER

Even though I can't read,

it didn't seem to me that the letter was about music.

As we can see,

I was quite right.

What God unites, a man cannot separate.

You may put the ring on.

I declare you husband and wife.

What kind of bullshit is that?

It's like buying a cow and leaving it at the seller's farm!

Col. Felizardo is right!

Where'd you get this idea? Living in your wife's house?

The right thing, Botelhinho,

is for the bride's parents to pay the dowry to the groom's father,

and the groom takes the lass back to live at his home.

Beja demanded it, she wants her sick daughter nearby, to care for her.

It'll be best for me.

I leave my little spot above the newspaper shop,

to live in a mansion!

I come out on top because I married the princess,

but soon, I'll be sleeping in the room next door, with the queen.

Madam Beja! Queen of Araxá!

Delight of Araxá!

Whore of Araxá!

Enough, enough. That's enough drink. You're delirious.

Listen here,

don't forget our deal.

Yes, half the dowry. I will pay.

-Good. -Now, leave me be, I...

want some fun now. Come here.

Poor Teresa.

She deserved something better.

Yes.

But, oftentimes,

life fails at being fair.