Original subtitles

I loved being Madam Beja!

You took me to heaven,

only to leave me in this hell.

Forgive me!

Forgive me, baby!

You won't deny the money that I have to give to you.

Confess!

I never asked for this! I didn't ask for this!

I will love you forever, honey.

I'll kill that Botelhinho.

Inspector, I advise you to stick to the salads.

MADAM BEJA

Severina said you wanted to talk to me.

- The Colonel's putting me on a leash? - There's no "Colonel" here.

There's a mother that wants to know why you falsified your father's signature.

Don't deny it.

Here's proof.

A response to a letter I didn't write! It mentions you!

- They responded? - Explain it to me.

What were you thinking?

If I'd asked you to write that letter, would you have done it?

Joana.

Falsifying a signature is unacceptable!

I hope it's the first, and last time!

Apologize to your father.

- Now. - I'm sorry, father.

I just really wanted to, so I signed myself up.

- To the army? - You think it's strange?

Then know that I won't do what others expect of me!

I'll do what I want!

- But why the army, baby? - Why not?

- Because I'm a woman? - Were you a man, we would still worry!

How could we be at peace?

Knowing you run the risk of dying in a war?

Well, isn't that just life?

Risky, no matter where?

Fearless like her father.

And her mother.

She's really our daughter.

Baby, if we can avoid risks, then isn't that better?

It doesn't matter now.

I was rejected.

Don't you think you were mistaken?

How many women have joined the army?

Probably as many women who have mothers that wear pants,

and a father that didn't mind raising the child of another man.

I've always accepted the two of you the way that you are.

Why can't you let me choose my path?

You'll go to the army, Joana.

I'll find a way.

It's a simple thing, I know,

but just going out shopping with you like this makes me happy.

We're making up for lost time!

I'll never leave your side, mother.

"Mother?"

What the fuck does she mean?

- You misheard... - I hear quite well! I'm not deaf!

- I heard that right, didn't I? Speak! - What's going on?

Your aunt is a whore!

A whore!

Will you confess? Or do I have to beat it out of you?

- Calm down, Felizardo! - Uncle, this is no place for this.

You don't get it, boy!

You don't get it! She wasn't a virgin on our wedding night!

She'd already given birth to a daughter!

You fucking bitch!

- Let her go! Let go! - I'll teach you a lesson!

- Let go of her! - You bitch!

- No! - My God!

There are two places for you,

either the tavern, or the cemetery.

This time, it's the cemetery.

You fucking bitch.

That's either two deaths, or none.

Make your choice.

Mind your own fucking business.

- She's my wife. - She's Angélica's aunt, and Fortunato's.

She's a child of God.

And she's my friend.

None of us wish her harm.

Put your gun away.

I won't say it again.

Aunt! Are you alright?

I'm scared he'll come finish what he started.

Mother, if there's one thing I learned tending to this farm,

it's the handling of a gun.

If that scum sets foot here, I'll shoot.

I swear I will.

Still drowning in your thoughts?

Is this what I wanted?

Did I want to become this woman?

When you look in the mirror, what do you see?

A girl that was born in a crooked family,

a young woman that learned through love, fear and courage.

A woman that lost herself,

exploiting the same violence that was done against her.

Everything you did, you did to stay alive.

You survived in the world of men.

But maybe I could have done all that through different means?

Maybe it's time for Ana Jacinta to accept Madam Beja.

Or the opposite.

Enough moody thoughts. I have a letter I need to write.

"To Your Imperial Highness, Dom Pedro II,

the one writing to you now is Ana Jacinta...

The one writing to you now is Madam Beja,

and I'd like to plead to you, my lord, in the name of my daughter."

"Madam Beja, from Araxá,

for years, I've heard that name from the lips of my father.

He used to tell me that you reported a Magistrate that stole from the Crown.

He said he owed a favor to the loveliest woman in Brazil.

Still, it does not seem reasonable that you request

the acceptance of a little lady into our army."

"To Your Imperial Highness, Dom Pedro II.

If the Brazilian army defends freedom

and equality,

then why not accept a lady?

Maria Quitéria proved women can fight.

Quite well, at that.

Your Highness,

are exceptions not known to pave the way into new, unexplored territories?

What would the Brazilian army be without its front lines?

The King of chess without his Queen?

In fact, isn't it the Queen, with her omnidirectional powers,

who can best protect the King?"

"You are everything my father described and then some.

Let's see what a little lad of 16 years old

is able to do with such good arguments."

Did they respond to your letter?

Compliments of the Emperor.

Mrs. Ceci.

I was on my way out to sort out business with my music school.

Please, come in. I'll call Mrs. Josefa.

No! No need.

There's no need.

I actually wanted to talk to you.

It's taken me a while to work up the courage to talk to you.

How can I help you?

I'm the one who's helping, Avelino.

I'm here to soothe you,

to tell you your love doesn't offend me.

- My love? - Yes.

- Mrs. Ceci, my feelings are personal. - Of course, of course!

No one else needs to know.

But I know, and that's all that matters.

I don't quite understand where you're getting with this.

I'm getting to the place you haven't had the guts to go yet!

You don't have to lie anymore!

It's just you and me here!

It's impossible to miss the way that you look

at my skin.

At my hair.

At my lips.

Have you been drinking?

I look at you too, Avelino.

I feel the same way for you! We have to confess it!

- Ma'am, you're out of your mind... - No! No, no!

My eyes have never been so opened!

I've missed out on too much of my life trying to control myself!

Trying to forbid myself, but...

But you...

Avelino, I...

I won't lose you, I...

I'd do absolutely anything for you.

You needn't do anything, Mrs. Ceci.

Too late!

- I already did! - What do you mean?

All the things that I was capable of doing for you!

For love!

For our love!

How do you think her husband had learned about you two?

It wasn't coincidence, no!

So it was you?

- Mrs. Ceci was on her way out. - No,

I wasn't!

You've humiliated yourself enough for a man that doesn't want you.

Josefa! Of course he wants me!

Look at you, then look at me!

There's no comparison!

- Because you're white? - Enough.

- You can't offend the woman I love. - She's not offending me.

She's offending herself.

Offering herself like a trophy.

Someone who behaves like that has a lesson long overdue.

What will you do?

- Hit me? - Ceci.

You deserve to love, and to be loved back.

Any person,

even you,

deserves a little love.

- I only leave with Genoveva! - She doesn't want to leave!

In fact,

we didn't think you'd come back for her after such a long time.

A wife only wants what her husband tells her to want.

Call her.

It works like that in other families, but things here have changed.

Don't test my patience.

Without a father, husband or brother, I am the man of the family!

Do not defy me!

You don't get it.

I'm not playing around.

Do you think I'm scared of women?

A woman with a fork?

Angélica!

Leave me and my husband.

I'll prepare some coffee.

The way you like it, sir.

Go!

You're coming back home today. With me.

Why don't you bring your other family to live at the farm?

I'm a man of respect. I have no other family.

I've always known of your other wife,

with whom you had children.

I never complained, since I never gave you any.

You never complained because you had nothing to complain about.

It was you that I married, and I'll live every last day of my life beside you.

Why? To hit me?

To humiliate me?

More than you already have?

Who taught you to disrespect your husband like that?

Angélica? The little bastard?

Never threaten her like that again!

Do not test me, Genoveva.

Or I'll drag you out of here by the hair!

I once pretended not to know how much of a whore you are.

You were already used.

I'm sorry.

Forgive me.

Drink your coffee, I'll get my things.

Go. I don't have all day.

What are you waiting for, woman?

For it to kick in.

The rat poison.

You're insane.

You murderer, you're trying to kill me!

You bitch!

- Let go of me! - You bitch! You barren bitch!

I'm a saint! I'm a saint, is what I am!

After all the suffering you gave me,

I can at least thank God for the miracle of ridding the world from scum like you!

Angélica.

What happened, mother?

It's a party in hell.

What will we say?

To Ceci?

The same we'll tell everyone else.

He left me and joined his other family.

Why did you do this?

To prevent you from doing it.

Mother...

So, shall we plant roses here?

What do you think?

Plenty of fertilizer.

Don't be discouraged!

We'll do it! I'm sure of it!

Will we?

Another landlord refused to rent for our arts school.

It's the third time already.

Don't worry.

I'm sure...

SLAVE QUARTERS - ADULTERERS

We have to leave this damned town, Josefa.

You know fleeing solves nothing.

It's like this everywhere else.

Isn't this what we do with our pain?

Making into beauty?

We stay.

More than ever, these people need our art.

- Aren't you scared of who did this? - Araxá has shunned us,

but we both know exactly who did this.

And all of you? You'll just stare at me?

Or will you help me end this foul race of blacks?

These vile adulterers!

I always knew,

that you'd just fly away.

Away from me, away from here.

You weren't born to be a colonel's wife, baby.

What about you?

- What about me? - You weren't born to be stagnant water.

You need to move.

Like that waterfall.

Isn't it time, mother?

To dive into the depths of your own rivers,

to find out what's underneath all this mud?

My little Joana.

You've always taught me things, even when you were little.

With that lovely smile, so sensible and so willing to do anything!

You're becoming an incredible woman, baby.

I wouldn't be strong had I been raised without you, ma'am.

This brave little Joana wouldn't exist if there hadn't been a Madam Beja!

Madam Beja existed to open my path, and to open your path as well.

So she did.

She opened your path, and mine.

Thank you for being my mother.

Thank you.

Listen, just remember this:

Once you're in the world of men in uniform,

heed naught but the orders of your office.

Okay.

Madam Beja!

Well, Ceci,

maybe Genoveva isn't entirely to blame.

Husbands sometimes are... complicated.

A husband leaves his wife when she does not please him.

He sought to make a new life with someone who does.

Someone who gave him children.

Will you insist on this matter?

Don't we have more pressing matters?

What's more pressing than this?

The fact that Valdo,

the foreman that cares for our land, has been missing for days!

Ladies, if you'll excuse me, I have to go.

I have to serve lunch to my husband.

He's a bit weird.

But he's a husband.

Weren't we going to the kitchen to get fruit for our picnic?

You want to say goodbye to a woman with fruit and bread, by a river?

My body wants to say goodbye to yours.

I don't know if I'll see you again.

But I'll take it with me forever,

everything I learned with you.

Me too.

May I know why Vicente isn't here? Lunching with us?

He had things to do.

Our son has a life out there.

Yes, well, may he live his life.

Men don't ever take risks, no?

Did you know that Col. Felizardo abandoned his wife?

To live with another woman,

who gave him children!

What is it? Costa Pinto!

Do you feel pity for Genoveva?

I can't take it!

Don't even think about leaving me!

What can't you take, father?

You're more likely to abandon me!

God forbid! Have you been drinking?

No, I've been playing with fire.

And I saw a giant fire consume everything I worked so hard to achieve!

What's that? Poetry?

The ones you show Vicente?

Father, say it already.

We're by your side! Tell us!

I lost it all in the game!

This trip to São João Del Rey was to negotiate the debt.

It didn't work!

Costa Pinto, we're broke? Is that it?

We're ruined!

We'll have to sell the house to pay the debt!

I'll have to step down as Judge,

for bribing the police to keep that officer's death quiet!

And for making it up that Carminha and Honorato died!

I don't want to have yet another goodbye burned in my memory, baby.

Then do as we agreed.

I won't look at you, and you won't turn around.

I just want you to be happy within the path you chose.

And your happiness? Do you promise it?

- Promise you'll search for it? - I will.

I promise I'll try, baby.

This is an opportunity that life gives you,

saying goodbye to that which harms you.

I've learned so much with you.

I learned that true happiness lies within the choices we make.

Not the ones made for us.

Don't you worry. I'll find a way to be a happy woman.

Go.

Go, my love.

I don't want to cry.

I love you.

Well, Januário,

Araxá feels like a town of missing people.

First, it was Maria. She went missing in the river.

That poor soul is dead.

And Col. Felizardo, though they say he's living with another woman.

So I've heard.

And now, Alcides.

Everyone noticed the postman's disappearance.

I know he's not missing.

I saw him being arrested.

What happened?

The Inspector forbade me from speaking of it.

Why? Was Alcides' crime that grave?

Alcides was accused of murdering the prostitutes, but it wasn't him.

The investigation shows he wasn't even in Araxá when the victims died.

- So why was he arrested? - Surely, by mistake.

Now arrest me.

I killed those women.

Why, Fortunato?

An innocent's been arrested, I can't abide it.

We both know I'm the main suspect.

- I knew it was him all along. - Calm down.

We can't be certain of that.

- He's confessing! - Don't forget all the evidence.

Easy access to poison.

My being at Campo Alegre when that lady died.

My trauma, as motivation.

And of course, the red handkerchief.

Release him and arrest me.

Postman, you're free.

How so? What happened?

Enough talk! Come!

Let's go!

Aranha! I didn't know you were here. Good afternoon!

- Hello, Beja. - I'll get another plate.

No need, Beja. We won't eat now.

I'm taking Severina to meet my village.

That's beautiful!

Be careful on the way.

People here are increasingly aggressive.

Have you heard about what happened at Josefa's house?

Deplorable.

Do you mind if I steal your friend away from your feast?

Of course not!

Please, enjoy! Have a nice trip.

Thank you.

Goodbye, Beja.

Joana! What a mess! I study here, too!

Mother, you've read all of these books?

The night is the best part of my days, because I lay down with you.

My entire world could fit in your embrace.

Valdo!

- Valdo! - Is something wrong?

- Valdo, our foreman. - Yes?

He's missing.

They just told me they saw him around here,

- but I don't know if I should go in. - I'll come with you.

- Valdo! - Valdo!

Valdo!

Valdo!

Valdo!

Valdo!

Valdo, are you okay?

Are you okay?

Come, let's go home.

- Come! - I want to see Maria.

I want to see Maria.

- She's here. - She's not here.

She's not.

She wasn't buried, remember?

You won't talk to me?

I'll visit you until you talk.

Fortunato.

I love you.

I love you.

I want to see what speaks louder.

Your suspicion, or the love you say you feel for me.

I am innocent.

I told you already.

And now, gentlemen, the most awaited moment of the night!

With you, now, the Queen of Araxá!

The one and only, the unrivaled Madam Beja!

Many things have broken.

Madam Beja isn't as fulfilling as before.

Neither is this estate.

I understand.

But I'll miss this place.

You won't.

Wasn't your dream to open a tea house, my dear?

This estate is yours, Severina.

Are you serious, Beja?

Nobody deserves it more than you, my friend.

It's yours.

Being a woman is like walking on wet stones.

Like the ones at the Donkey's Creek.

Covered in moss.

It's almost impossible not to slip.

You have to smile,

but never show your teeth too much.

You have to be kind,

but never let them try walking in your shoes.

You have to be a good mother.

Dedicated.

You have to see your daughter be torn away from you.

You have to be available to your man.

But never show desire for him.

And you have to be pretty.

Dress tight around the waist.

Full breasts, overflowing from the dress, the way they like it.

I'm so exhausted, Severina.

I'm exhausted.

I don't know about you,

but I'm so tired.

I don't know what pleases me anymore.

I don't know who I am anymore.

You said goodbye to me, Antônio.

But I...

I could only just now come here to say goodbye to you.

To send you off, truly.

From the bottom of my heart.

From the same heart I had you in for a thousand nights.

Like a prince.

A prince I should adore,

that I should wait for,

so I can become a princess.

A dream.

A dream of mine, since I was little.

Forgive me.

Forgive me, Antônio.

I didn't know.

But I do now.

No woman needs a prince

to be herself.

To be whole.

Rest

in peace,

my love.

Apologies for the hour,

but the Inspector asked I call him when Candinha wakes up.

Hello, Candinha.

Clients?

No, no.

It's the Inspector I told you about, remember?

Excuse me.

I'm glad you woke up.

I need your help to know if I did the right thing.

Think calmly, and tell me.

Who attacked you?

Do you remember his face?

It wasn't him.

It was her.

It was all there in front of me.

So, Fortunato prescribed her this so called Devil's Trumpet.

Too great a dosage would turn that remedy a poison.

And this red handkerchief? Is it a sacrifice? Witchcraft?

You pretended not to see the code people like us use to meet each other.

Have you seen these marks on the neck?

Do you see the shape of the marks?

Sadly, the body wasn't found.

- Maria. - You thought I was dead?

I came from hell to take you with me.