Original subtitles

In time's steadfast choreography,

I made illusions take root.

I made pain take root.

With clumsy moves, I tore it like a thin veil, João's heart.

Meanwhile, in my arms, Antônio was always a step ahead.

And a step behind.

But when the music stopped,

I realized I no longer danced with my own two feet.

That's when I discovered the strings that still attach me to the past.

Strings that manipulate me now as if I'm a puppet,

a toy, in the hands of time.

Hold on, Beja! Hold on tight!

Hold on, Beja! Don't let go!

Time...

I had no idea,

but time still had so much to teach. To me, and to all of us.

Madam Beja

has a crown worthy of her.

MADAM BEJA

I always knew

that this day would come.

I will not leave you unsupported.

Besides the jewels for each night I spent out,

-I'll also send money. -I don't want your money.

I don't want to be a hostage of your moods,

of your whims,

of your charity.

I want autonomy to make my own money.

-What do you mean? -The farm.

You will give these lands to me.

The farm belongs to the heirs.

It's mine, my mother's and my sister's.

You are not a daughter of our blood. I'm so sorry.

-It's the law. -You're the law, my love.

Men always bent the law to obtain privileges.

And now, you'll bend the law.

For me.

Without you here, who will care for these lands?

I will.

I'll also take care of our mother, and of Maria.

Don't you worry.

I never thought you'd become this type of woman.

The kind the fights, yes?

Me neither.

But I've learnt it.

With Beja.

Don't you admire her so?

I don't want any more trouble.

I'll put the farm in your name.

Great.

But Valdo will still care for it.

I'm the one who decides that. I want autonomy!

My freedom, for yours.

Or else,

there'll be screaming and crying...

You'll have what you wish.

Not what I wish.

I will have what I deserve,

after I put my life in your hands.

Excuse me.

My son, this will always be your home.

How did Joana take it?

Well.

I asked her not to judge her mother, or take any sides.

-You did well. -You'll be fine, friend.

With time.

I'll go rest a bit.

With João around here,

I think you should go back to my room, Zefa.

So he won't suspect anything.

How I yearned to be all yours again, Beja.

Mind, body and soul.

Any day, any hour.

Endlessly.

Now, we'll be happy.

DAYS LATER

Well?

They didn't accept you?

The council is conservative.

They must not have told the Emperor that you're in the Constituent Assembly.

The Emperor is a child. It's not his fault.

Then it's the envious men!

They saw you as a threat, but they'll understand.

It's your fault.

Your fault.

It's late.

Do you think he'll make it home?

I haven't seen him like that in some time.

What could have happened to make him drown his sorrow like that?

He was surely turned down.

That's why he's like that.

Time to go home. Come. Enough.

Come.

Zé.

Do you think our son will recover well from this disappointment?

Some wounds of love don't heal.

But life moves on.

No?

As surely as the sun rises after the moon.

I just resent that God, knowing how fickle His children are,

hadn't whispered it in the ears of priests,

that just as we marry under the grace of the Lord,

so, too, should we be able to unmarry under that same grace.

That would solve so much.

-I'm sorry. -No, I am. I'll get my book.

Zefa.

Don't let João see you.

Of course.

Thank you for everything.

Sleep well.

How long can we keep this a secret from João?

One day at a time, my love.

Don't let me wake up late. I need to go back to my room.

I make a point of negotiating the cattle's price with the man.

Schedule it.

Yes, ma'am.

But, in Antônio's absence, that would be Valdo's job, no?

Why, Maria?

-I can count, too. -And read.

I don't know why I let you learn those things at the capital.

The farm is mine, now.

I'm the one who decides.

"Who would summon Mr. Sampaio to the Council?

A man that left his wife to go live with the Queen of Harlots,

just to be sustained by her?"

I will kill Botelhinho! That son of a bitch!

-Did Antônio read this? -He's not home.

No?

The guy thinks he's the hotshot!

He's always boasting: "I have a mission!"

Yeah, well, his mission was a failure.

Botelhinho!

You vulture!

Bastard!

You scum!

Let go! Let go!

I know you. You went after Botelhinho.

When you blame me for your political misfortune, is it because of him?

No one respects a politician that lives with a courtesan.

So that's all I am? A courtesan?

Well, what are you?

What are you, to everyone else?

I don't care about the others, I care about you!

All of our love and time together is gone now?

-Ever since you were kidnapped. -I wanted to be kidnapped?

Some say you smiled constantly at the Magistrate at the ball.

Some say you exist to live up to the expectations of others.

As if you're any different.

Look at you!

Always imposing yourself, begging to be accepted!

Did you forget you tried to be accepted by a Council that doesn't want you?

-Watch your mouth, I'm a man! -And I'm a woman!

I'm sick of being blamed for all your failures!

You're the one who sunk me!

No one shouts at me in my own home.

It's obvious you're a man.

If you were a woman, like me,

you wouldn't be so cowardly as to blame me for your failures.

You have to be a woman, and you have to have respect

to wear a dress, Antônio.

The man who will hit me in the face is yet to be born.

If he's already born, he should be prepared to die.

I'm sorry...

I...

Go away, Antônio.

Disappear from my life.

Go away!

My only consolation, João,

is that you, too, failed.

Beja didn't want you.

Two men,

two broken hearts,

and a wonderful woman.

That could be the title of a romance.

Time for you to go suffer in your homes. I need to close up the tavern.

Come, Antônio.

Come, let's go.

Let's go cry in our pillows.

Not the same pillow.

-Of course. Yes. -Not the same one.

Avelino!

I need to talk to you.

It's about Beja.

Avelino, are you okay?

-What's going on here? -My son!

-You're drunk! -Not enough to be oblivious!

You're lovers?

And you knew?

I will not accept this bizarre arrangement!

What husband accepts his wife's lover into his own home?

And the lover could be her son!

-You said you were my best friend. -I love your mother!

You talk like it's a filthy thing, but it isn't!

-It's love. -Shut up, vermin!

Father.

-You... -João!

Who do you think you are to give moral lectures to your parents?

What do you think you understand about life?

Calm down, Zé.

-It's normal he'd feel like that. -He's not a boy anymore.

He's a man.

He has to learn to respect the decisions of others,

just as we've respected his!

-Or is freedom only his? -Sir, you accept this humiliation,

and you call that a choice?

-I can't bear it. -Calm down, son, please.

I want distance from all this.

And you, Avelino.

Stay away, or I won't answer for my actions.

What's that?

-My God, it's Antônio! Stop! -Go, go!

Antônio! Are you okay?

-It's me! -Antônio, get up. Get up.

It was hard to bathe him, he wouldn't stay still. Then he passed out.

Siá Boa, when he wakes up, set him up with a room, alright?

Won't he stay in yours?

He's a guest like any other.

He'll pay for every day he spends here.

Look at that.

Just look at you now.

We're aware they've all been conditioned to love a blonde, blue-eyed woman,

we are quite painfully aware, but I'm sick of being forgotten.

We learn to respect ourselves eventually.

What is this?

-Isn't this what nuns wear? -Yes.

How'd they wind up here from the convent?

Well...

-It must be a mistake. -Surely.

I'll go ahead and return them next time I go wash up the sheets.

-Good morning. -Good morning.

I'm heading to the council, do you need anything?

Could you check if the tavern taxes are up to date, João?

Of course. I'll look into it for you.

Thank you.

See you later.

See you.

-Excuse me. -Of course.

Okay. What is it?

That's what I should ask you! What just happened here?

-A man was kind to a woman. -"Kind," right?

A man like him, that makes every woman look like this,

head over heels.

He's just a guest that is more of a gentleman than usual.

And that's it! Quit your nonsense!

Watch me be "kind."

-Less chat, more work! -Yes, ma'am.

João, I really need to talk to you, my friend.

I think we should...

What is this?

More people involved with Beja. Is someone going to die?

Traitor! You disrespected my father!

-We came to an agreement! -My father doesn't respect himself!

He'd cover up such a thing?

My God. Genoveva.

Did we both just hear the same thing?

You're disgusting!

João's friend is laying with his mother?

-That's what I heard. -And with the Prosecutor's permission.

Stop that!

Are you just going to watch? Won't you help?

-So virile, two men dueling like that. -Jesus, Augusta!

Leave me, Beja! Who are you to talk?

What about you?

Who do you think you are? God?

To be passing judgement like that?

Betrayal began with Adam and Eve,

when they broke their allegiance to God and heeded the words of the serpent.

But here, in Araxá, its words have reached absurd proportions!

A husband, betrayed.

Covering up his wife's infidelity within his very own home!

With her son's friend, no less.

Excuse me.

I have lawsuits to study.

They used to look at us funny, and now it's much worse.

I'm sorry, my love.

I didn't want to put you in a tough spot.

It's not your fault.

João wasn't mature enough.

My God, Zé!

João.

My son, please. João!

Wait.

I have nothing to say to you.

And I won't listen.

Your father left you a letter.

You can bury that with him.

Give time to time, Josefa.

Come here.

What are you doing here?

I came to wish you a happy new year.

That was a while ago.

Don't you miss me?

I miss you every single day of my life, Fortunato.

Isn't it time to forgive me?

Give me a chance?

Am I out of your list of suspects?

Of being a prostitute killer?

I love you.

I love you more than anything in life.

You didn't answer my question.

You changed the subject because you still suspect me.

I came here to make peace.

My life isn't the same without you.

Enough of this.

Inspector! I'm glad I found you.

What is it, Januário?

They found another victim.

Near here.

In the lake.

Well? Any similarities to the other victims?

Many.

Including the satchel of money.

But there's a difference.

In this victim, traces of semen were found.

Even outside of the vagina.

Which proves that this Firmina de Cachoerinha

was indeed violated by a man.

Do you think Beja paid Rômulo to have sex with this poor girl?

-To throw us off the scent? -She had no way of knowing.

I never mentioned the semen, and it wasn't on the blackboard.

So she's innocent?

No one is innocent,

not until proven otherwise.

A masked ball,

to celebrate my birthday!

It was all I needed

to turn this into a place where everyone comes to.

Not just by men.

What a marvellous idea, Severina!

It's like a dream!

And it seems everyone accepted the invite.

That's great.

Josefa!

I'm so glad you came, my friend!

Life must go on, isn't that what you say?

And yours continues beautifully.

I love your costume, Avelino!

You're both beautiful, in fact!

It really matches the beauty of your hearts.

Thank you, Beja.

It hasn't been easy.

I need to talk to Beja.

I need to apologize to her for the things I said and did.

I need to talk to her.

At least you know you're wrong.

Even if drunk.

Look at that.

The booze dissolved the man and left only the husk!

Scum.

-You want another beating? -No! Just ignore him!

Why are you here if there's a mask ball over at Estate of Jatobá?

I wasn't invited.

I see. You weren't invited here, either, because we're closed today.

Go take a nap!

Beja.

I'm sorry, Beja. I'm sorry.

Beja.

If you want to apologize so badly, then go and apologize.

-At the ball? -Yes.

You think?

I think you won't be at peace until you go talk to her.

But I don't have a costume.

That's easy.

Come here.

Lucky for you, I have a nun's habit right here.

It's what they wear when they go out and about in town, you know?

They really like masks.

At least here, we can be ourselves, without worries.

With or without a mask,

you're as lovely as always.

Severina.

-Yes? -It's my first time.

I've waited so long for this moment, and for you.

And I for you, my Iboapi!

-You know my name? -I couldn't keep calling "Father"

the man that I want for myself.

Ladies and gentlemen,

I hope you enjoy tonight's first number:

The marvellous Mademoiselle Rouge!

Funny. She reminds me of someone.

-It's time for us to go! -Wait, wait!

I'd like to ask for one moment of your attention.

Tonight, all masks will drop.

Starting with mine.

Augusta!

Augusta, that's our daughter!

Are you happy, father? To see me alive?

Or would you rather see me dead, like my mom?

That woman is a criminal!

She killed a man!

I would like to announce

that neither I, nor Carminha, owe anything to the law anymore.

The Emperor has pardoned us!

And as you can see,

they were both only dead to those who believed in that lie.

The one her parents spread, out of shame over reality.

Then you're not sister Rita?

-Is that our son? -Vicente!

-Vicente, wait! -Did you know?

No! If I knew I'd never have suggested we sneak in here!

My son, you have no idea how long we waited for this.

Costa Pinto! Explain it to your grandson, man to man!

Vicente.

Let grandpa catch his breath and we'll talk.

I don't want to talk. I'll never believe in you again.

-Calm down, all we want... -It doesn't matter what you want!

I don't want to be a son to the people who abandoned me and left me behind!

Your grandma wouldn't let us take you!

Of course not.

I would never allow two criminals to take away my baby! My grandson!

I don't want to be a part of this family of liars.

-Vicente! -Are you satisfied?

With the suffering you've brought to my baby?

-He's my son! -I raised him!

-What do you want? -To apologize and dance.

-You're drunk! -Come here. Give me a kiss.

Is it money you want? Here, I have it.

-Come on. Kiss me. -I want to be alone!

-I can't take it anymore! -Leave me be!

-I'll go check on her. -Wait. Let her compose herself.

I can't believe we wore the same costume.

That should show you how connected we are.

But did you recognize me with the mask on?

-Were you seducing a stranger? -No!

No?

You were disguised, but,

I know your body.

That little walk.

Let's not fight anymore.

Please.

Alright?

-Did someone see us? -No.

No?

Just some crazed girl enjoying what the ball has to offer.

As I wounded others, I failed to notice mine was the worst wound.

Because, inside of us,

the past and the present are one and the same thing.