Original subtitles

As the months went by,

Pedro was getting used to the idea

of him and Rosaura becoming parents really soon.

He had always dreamed of having a family...

Do you really need to leave?

...but he never thought it would be like this.

Yes.

I have to leave.

What if the baby is born and you're not here?

Rosaura, the doctor said you'll give birth in about a month.

I'll come back tomorrow.

I'll be here, I swear.

It's just that I don't get it.

What could be more important than being here with me?

My friend, Santiago Mezquide, convinced his father to sell us

a stallion from the Del Encino ranch.

It's a one-time offer.

You'll be careful, right?

Of course.

Good morning.

Good morning.

Tita,

I must go away on a journey.

If nothing happens,

I'll be back here tomorrow.

If nothing happens?

Roads can be treacherous.

Even more these days,

with all the rebels out there,

and with so much unrest.

If something happened to me,

the only person I can trust to take care of the baby

is you.

Your child has a mother and a grandmother.

-They'll look after it. -Tita, please.

No, Pedro. I can't promise you anything.

Why?

Because I will never love that child.

Goodbye.

LIKE WATER FOR CHOCOLATE

Fortunately, things went according to the plan.

Now we must think how to make the weapons go unnoticed.

We have to be very careful.

I can't believe it!

Son of a bitch!

-Pedro. -So you are the rebel colonel.

And you are the Maderist arms dealer.

Look at you...

Santiago.

Meet Juan Alejandrez, horses and women's best friend.

Horses only, now.

-Nice to meet you. -You too.

-It's good to see you. -You too.

-You kept the secret. -So did you.

I owe you an apology, Pedro.

That time when I told you we were no longer friends...

I was wrong.

Goddamn son of a bitch.

Gentlemen!

The rebels are laughing at us in our faces!

Quemado, the Moral...

HEADQUARTERS PIEDRAS NEGRAS

...the Ranchería, the Centinela hill...

The border is full of holes!

The rebels have spent months bringing weapons

for Villa's army!

They walk through our State as if they owned the place!

An informant has told us

that they will receive a shipment today.

And we'll teach those smugglers a lesson.

I'll hung every single one of them, whoever they are!

-Did you hear me? -Yes, Colonel!

We'll meet here at midnight.

I'll carry an oil lamp with me. I'll swing it three times.

If you don't see the signal,

don't come near.

Okay.

See you at midnight.

Would you like a drink for the road?

You must be thirsty.

I think I'll take it.

Well, we're on track.

Let's see.

-Is my niece born already? -No, not yet.

But the doctor said it will be born this month.

And we still don't know if it's a girl.

And...

What does Tita think of all this pregnancy stuff?

She won't talk to me.

No wonder, Pedrito.

-Did you put the quince jelly away? -Yes, ma'am.

As well as the butter, the cheese, the peach jelly and the hawthorn jelly.

Where are you going?

To visit the nuns.

Then, we'll go to the city to buy the fabric for the baby's crib.

Can I go with you?

What for?

You must stay and look out for your sister.

Fina can do that. I'll go with you.

Rosaura is your responsibility, Tita.

She's really swollen.

I told her you'll prepare a bath with guava leaves for her.

In your bathtub?

In my bathtub, of course.

And don't spare any hot water, fill it to the top.

Let's go, Fina.

Do you know the names we've planned for our baby?

No.

If it's a boy, we'll call him Roberto.

There are no Robertos in our family.

Neither in Pedro's family.

But I like the sound of it.

Roberto.

Be careful!

And if it's a girl?

Then we'll call her Elena, like Mom.

She'll have a lovely name, anyway.

In moments like this,

Tita could see as clear as day how Rosaura was becoming

her mother little by little.

This place is scary, ma'am.

Don't be stupid. It's just a nuthouse, Fina.

That's why!

What are you waiting for, Fina?

I'm sorry I couldn't bring more food, Mother.

Things are not easy.

You're very charitable, Miss Elena.

I wish all the ladies of your class remembered their duty to God.

Delicious.

You'll be in our sisters' prays, I assure you.

-Isn't that Isabelita, Mother? -Yes.

-The Aguirres' youngest daughter? -That's right.

She's expecting, but she won't tell who the father is.

The Aguirres will keep her here until she gives birth.

We'll take care of the baby, afterwards.

As it should be, Mother.

Or she would be an embarrassment for her family.

Rosaura, you're really swollen.

My pregnancy has been like that.

But it's not normal.

Why don't you walk on the cold floor to reduce the swelling?

Why don't you bring me my slippers, instead?

Can't you find them?

Tita!

My feet are freezing!

Dear Tita, it's already been five months and you've never written me back.

Maybe my letters never reached you,

or maybe you've moved and you couldn't let me know,

or perhaps you're ill.

Winter's been rough.

If that's the case, I pray

that your mother and sisters are taking care of you.

I'd do anything to be there, holding your hand.

Tita, whatever the reason may be, I don't blame you.

I just want to know if you're fine.

One word from you would give me peace of mind and hope.

Rosaura!

Rosaura!

You had these!

Mom would have destroyed them.

You didn't have the right to steal them!

Pedro's not only yours, Tita.

What?

I am as entitled as you to love him.

That's not true.

Pedro loves me.

Those letters always felt as if they were meant for me.

-You're crazy. -No.

On the contrary.

Can't you see it?

In the end, everything he told you on those letters

came true with me.

All the kisses he promised were for me.

Nobody forced Pedro to marry me.

It was his only way to stay near me. He told me that!

And he had to get me pregnant too, right?

Who do you think he thinks of when he touches you?

Shut up.

Did he ever say something nice to you?

Did he ever whisper anything in your ear?

When did you laugh together for the last time?

-Shut up! -Pedro doesn't love you.

He feels sorry for you.

And, honestly, I feel sorry for you, too.

It's sad to see you living on someone else's crumbs.

But the worst part is seeing Mom's boot stamping on you forever!

Don't talk about Mom like that! She loves me and not you!

Mom is incapable of loving!

She only loved Gertrudis, and now she's gone.

And you're right, she doesn't love me.

Don't lie to yourself. Stop playing the perfect daughter.

You'll never feel her affection, because she doesn't love you!

-Why don't you leave? -Leave?

-Where to? -I don't care, just go far from here!

If Pedro wanted it, I'd leave with him right away.

And you think he would leave with you?

Don't you see it, Tita?

If I give him a boy, he'll be mine forever,

-for I will give him an heir. -That would be his choice.

But I swear one day I'll get the happiness I deserve,

the one you want to steal from me.

And you'll be here with Mom, turning into her, little by little.

A bitter, lonely and sad woman!

No!

Tita!

Tita!

Don't let anything stop you!

-What if I can't find the doctor? -You must find him!

-Did you hear? Don't come back alone. -Yes, Boss.

Please, by all means!

Don't get nervous. I won't fail you, Boss.

Stop right there.

Corporal, check the back.

Yes, Sergeant.

Where are you heading to?

We're carrying food for my ranch's stable.

-What ranch? -The Múzquiz ranch.

It hasn't been raining.

The cattle is hungry, Sergeant.

Since we have less workers due to those rioters,

I have to do things myself.

Sergeant!

Sons of bitches!

Tell them to drop their weapons or I'll shoot you!

Give the order, Sergeant!

Watch out!

Pedro, are you okay?

Pedro!

-Pedro! -Pedro! Are you okay?

Pedro, are you okay?

-Pedro! -Answer, Pedro!

Are you okay, Pedro?

-Don't you want to go to your room? -No! Where's Doctor Brown?

-He's on his way. -Magdaleno left hours ago!

That's why, he must be arriving.

What about Mom? And Pedro? Where's everybody?

I don't know...

Tita!

-What's happening? -I can't see you.

Rosaura!

Rosaura!

Nacha.

Nacha, please, help me.

Are you okay?

Yes.

-We need to leave. -That's right.

We should better go separate ways.

I'll take a look at that wound, Pedro. It's bleeding too much.

Thanks for saving my life.

That bastard would have killed you too.

Don't think about it too much.

Is it that bad, Doctor?

No. There's nothing to worry about.

You feel that pain on your chest because you're stressed.

Your blood pressure is within its normal levels.

Excuse me, Boss. I hear noises at the barn.

God damn it!

Stress, you said?

What else could it be these days, Doc?

Fix yourself a drink. I won't be long.

Well, if that rifle works, I might help you.

If you want me to.

Go ahead.

Let's go.

Enough! I don't like it!

You need it. You look red and swollen.

Another contraction?

-What should I do? -I don't know!

Who's there?

I said who's there!

Come here!

-Keep pushing! -I can't!

You can do it, Rosaura! It's almost here!

Just a little bit more!

Stop!

-No, no. Please, no! -It's okay.

What's the matter, Private?

I'll handle this.

What are you doing here, Miss Elena?

What's going on?

The roads are closed. It's a national security matter.

I don't really care about your security.

I have to go to Las Palomas.

My daughter might be giving birth right this moment.

That's impossible, ma'am.

Don't you care about your nephew?

When I'm wearing my uniform,

law and order are more important than family.

Right, you don't really love him.

Don't worry, I'll keep your secret.

The feeling is mutual.

If you won't tell these fools to step aside,

then tell them to shoot me.

I won't stop.

Corporal!

Let the lady through.

Push! I almost got it!

Is it a boy?

Yes!

-Is everything alright? -How should I know?

Yes. He's perfect.

Let's meet your mommy.

Let's meet your mommy.

Look. Look.

Thank you, Tita.

My brother's army uses those bullets.

What a beautiful little baby!

These little hands... Yes!

These little hands...

Let's button this. That's it.

Now this button.

And then this one.

It's good you didn't use too much powder,

or his skin might dry.

If you take him out, wrap him up like a taco.

He looks like Pedro.

He looks like himself.

Tell Rosaura to put a thread on his forehead

to protect him from the evil eye.

We'll bury the umbilical cord on the backyard,

so he'll know where his roots are

and he'll have a place to come back to.

Why didn't you help me before?

The stress almost killed me.

Because I knew you could do it on your own.

I thought you would never love him.

How couldn't I? He's lovely, isn't he?

How beautiful!

You're hungry.

Okay, okay.

Since when are you with the rebels?

Do you really want to discuss this now, Dad?

Since I went to the city to study.

And we're not rebels.

-No? -No.

-What are you, then? -Democrats.

Reformists.

Armed reformists who attack ranches!

-They rape and plunder! -Many lies have been said.

And, anyway, it's not worse than what army soldiers do.

You think your uncle rapes people?

-I don't think he ever stopped it. -I'm sorry?

First, you shame your family, and now you insult us!

-Enough with the bullshit! -It's not bullshit, Dad!

I killed a man today.

A soldier.

I'll talk to your uncle.

-We can solve this. -You won't talk to anyone.

This is all your friend Santiago Mezquide's fault.

Dad, this is no one's fault.

-I know exactly what I'm doing. -Yes?

-Yes. -Why?

What did I do to you?

What did your family or your people do to make you betray them?

Wake up, Pedro!

Half of the workers you're fighting for would murder you to steal from you.

And the other half are just bastards who can only learn through violence!

You're the one who needs to wake up!

Look at you.

Your workers left you.

Just like Miss Elena's.

You're both the same.

Selfish, greedy...

With a heart of stone that doesn't deserve someone's love.

In the end, you will reap what you sow.

Bitterness...

and loneliness.

It's better to be alone

than to be surrounded by a bunch of ingrates!

You really don't get it.

Excuse me.

Magdaleno, what happened?

I've been looking for you all day long.

Your child is about to be born.

I don't know what's going on, Tita.

He was born early, you might not have enough milk.

It's not that I don't have enough. I don't have any milk!

What are we going to do?

-No, no. Don't cry. -It will come out.

I'm sure.

Thank you.

Doctor...

-About this... -Don't worry.

I won't say a word.

Pedro! He was born!

You have a beautiful boy!

It's a boy?

I'm sorry for being late, Miss. I couldn't find the doctor.

Don't worry, Magdaleno. He's here now.

Thank you.

Tita, who attended to the mother?

I did, Doctor.

You?

You're an extraordinary woman.

Thank you. Come in.

Like this...

Hi.

Do you still want to call him Roberto?

Hi, Roberto.

Hi. What is it?

Excuse me.

-How do you feel, Rosaura? -I'm better now, Doctor.

Such a beautiful baby! Congratulations to both of you.

I'll get everything ready for the check-up.

At that moment,

Tita was moved by the sight of that family's birth.

A family that could have been hers.

Excuse me.

I'll prepare some atole to help my sister breastfeed.

Tita prepared a delicious atole, following the tradition

that mothers at Las Palomas held for generations,

in order to have abundant breast milk.

The secret was to add just a little bit of warm beer.

I think that, if that didn't help them produce more milk,

at least it would uplift their spirits.

Tita! Tita!

-Tita! -What happened?

Tita! The baby was born!

The baby was born!

I know, Fina. I helped him with my very own hands.

How come?

The doctor didn't earn his paycheck?

He just got here.

-And what happened to you? -If I told you!

There was a crazy woman that was laughing and talking.

I could only see her eyes moving back and forth.

It was scary. I just wanted to get out of there.

And there wasn't a soul outside the hospital.

I couldn't stay there on the street, or with the nuns.

I would have felt scared...

Fina!

That's beer.

Well, yeah, I noticed.

I should better take the atole to Rosaura.

Okay, then.

Damn rebels.

I will never forget them

for making me miss my first grandson's birth.

Yes. I feel the same way, too.

Hi, Mom.

I see you've met this little angel.

What is that?

I asked you what is that.

Atole for Rosaura.

-Did you prepare it right? -Yes, Mom.

I followed Nacha's recipe.

You do everything wrong, Tita De la Garza!

That's not true.

Pedro, please.

What, Rosaura?

Tita handled the birth alone.

She did it with great skill and...

well, with great instinct.

Every woman is born with that, Doctor.

Well, according to Rosaura's description of the symptoms,

she suffered from eclampsia.

If it weren't for Tita,

your daughter and your grandson wouldn't be alive.

Thanks for the information, Doctor. Now leave Rosaura alone,

so she can breastfeed her baby.

Thank you.

Tita, you did a great job.

Doctor, I'll walk you out. Please.

Come.

-See you later. -See you later.

Pedro?

Are you okay? Pedro.

That soldier...

I can't get his face out of my mind.

How long have you been with the rebels?

Since I came back from the city.

Why didn't you tell me that? Don't you trust me?

No, Tita, it's not that.

I thought it was best for you not to know anything.

I killed a man.

If you blame me, I understand.

No.

The guilt you feel is enough punishment.

Is violence the only way?

Anyway...

Thanks for saving my sister.

I would like to be as brave as you are,

and to be capable of doing what you did today.

Thank you.

What's the matter?

I found out that Rosaura stole all your letters from me.

She kept them in her closet.

All those beautiful things you told me...

were stolen by her.

Tita...

No.

She can't steal that from you.

They're still here.

In my thoughts.

And in my heart.

They will always belong to you.

Please.

Please.

Please, stop. Stop, please. Please.

Are you Santiago?

-Please. -Son of Gabriel Mezquide?

From the Del Encino ranch, right?

I remember you from my nephew's wedding.

I knew your father well.

And I'm glad he won't be here to live with this shame!

I understand why the bastards you give weapons to rise up.

They have nothing to lose.

But you?

Why, Santiago?

Why?

If you don't give me a name,

you're completely useless to me.

No, no!

-No! No, please. -Talk,

and I might feel like sparing your life.

Please. Please...

-Pedro... -I can't hear you.

Pedro...

Pedro. Pedro.

Pedro?

My nephew?

Yes.

Does anyone else know?

No.

He tried to escape.

Tita, make Roberto some tea.

Like the one Nacha used to make.

Yes, Mom.

Pedro.

Rosaura was asking about you.

Come, my little Roberto.

Let's make you some tea.

Nobody knows if what happened that night was due to the atole's effect

or the fact that Tita couldn't stand seeing a hungry person asking for food

while she had nothing to offer.

Whatever it was,

that night, at Las Palomas, a miracle took place.