Original subtitles

[barking]

[Jacqueline] On the island of Puerto Rico,

there are dozens of poor little villages

drowsing in the tropic sun.

None is poorer or smaller or drowsier than Esperanza.

Esperanza can't afford a mayor.

But Father Dominic makes

whatever official pronouncements are required,

which are always quickly endorsed by the town council

who are also known as Los Filosofos.

Or the 3 wise men.

Or the do-nothing club.

Nothing ever happens here

except for an occasional baptism, funeral or wedding.

Tomorrow, after 7 years as a widower,

Luis Armijo is marrying Manuela Garcia.

Everyone in Esperanza is excited.

And no one more than Luis' son, Tonio.

Left out of all the grown-up talk,

he decided to pick a bouquet of wild flowers for Manuela.

And that's when it happened.

[exclaiming]

Hi. You kind of surprised me.

You playing hide-and-go-seek?

Oh, you've been picking wild flowers.

Oh, they're beautiful.

For me? Oh, thanks.

Tonio.

Please, say it again.

Say what?

My name.

Tonio?

Well, listen, I--I guess you saw that...

What I mean is...

I knew someday you'd come out of the sky.

You did?

Papa said that when you went away up to heaven,

you couldn't ever come back to me.

But I knew you would, Mama.

Mama?

I've got to tell Papa and Manuela and everybody.

Wait, Tonio!

Tonio, I'm not your mother.

I--I didn't come from heaven.

T-Tonio?

Hey, Tonio, let's play.

I can't play, my mother's back.

Your mother's back? She came down from heaven.

What did the boy say?

That his mother just came down from heaven.

Well, she picked a nice day for it.

Papa! Papa! She jumped out of the sky.

I was on the hill when I saw her coming out of a cloud

just the way I knew she would--

whoa, Tonio.

Who? Who came out of the clouds?

Mama.

Well, Manuela has been here with me all day.

She couldn't have been up in the clouds. No, not Manuela.

My real mother.

Your mother?

My mother's come back, Manuela, and she's beautiful.

Just like you said, Papa.

What are you saying, Tonio? You should not be making up stories like this.

It isn't a story, Papa, I saw her.

We talked. She spoke my name.

I'm sorry. I don't know what to say.

Oh, be gentle, Luis.

It isn't easy for Tonio, the wedding and all--

she looks just like this.

She's wearing the same kind of clothes and everything.

Tonio, it isn't possible.

Maybe you stared into the sun until you thought you saw her.

She's there. Come see for yourself.

Son, today we don't have time to go around

looking for people who aren't there.

Please, Papa.

Luis, in an hour we have to see Father Dominic

to sign the wedding papers.

If we leave now, we can go with Tonio.

But why should we be looking--

Luis.

All right, all right.

Hurry, Papa, hurry.

[exclaiming]

Oh, good morning, Father Dominic.

Sister Bertrille.

Sister.

I guess you're surprised to see me, huh?

Sister,

nothing you could do would surprise me.

But please, this is a very peaceful little town.

[stuttering] You're not staying here, are you?

Oh, no. The reverend mother just gave me permission to come over and apologize

for that little mix-up in San Juan last month, when you were there.

Well, I really didn't want to go to San Juan.

But my niece, she asked me to baptize her first child.

What could I do?

But she did not warn me that you were going to be the godmother.

I know I shouldn't have taken the baby on the motorcycle

but I thought you were going to baptize the wrong baby.

Motorcycle. Motorcycle. I could have understood that.

But when you...

[birds chirping]

When you flew up to the--the roof of the cathedral...

Well, I explained that.

Yes, sister, so you did.

But I'm not a young man.

I've led a sheltered life

and I... Well, that's all right.

Everything is done now, and everybody's happy.

My--my great-nephew has been baptized.

My niece and her husband have reconciled.

And you're here for a very short visit, huh?

Oh, yes. You see, you ran off in such a hurry that you forgot your pipe.

Oh.

Thank you, sister. Thank you.

Thank you. This--this is my favorite one.

And it was very thoughtful of you to take such a long trip

and bring it to me again.

Of course, you...

[exclaiming]

Maybe somebody saw you?

Oh, no.

Just this little boy on the hill

but he made it part of some game he was playing.

But I don't understand, Papa.

She was right there.

Tonio, there was no one here.

There was, Papa.

She came right down out of the sky.

And then we talked.

I gave her flowers.

Maybe you were dreaming.

I've dreamed about Mama many times, but this was different.

I was awake and she was here.

Tonio, I'm not going to--

Luis, un momentito.

Listen, Querido.

Maybe you feel because I'm coming to stay with you,

take care of you

that--that I'm trying to take your mother's place.

That isn't so.

I'm hoping that you can love both of us.

I like you, Manuela. Very much.

But don't you see? Now that my mother's back,

she will look after Papa and me.

And you won't have to take care of us.

Enough of this foolishness now. But, Papa--

you go home. I don't want to hear any more of that.

Mama has come back and I'll show you.

I'll find her, then you'll see.

It will be fine, Manuela.

He loves you.

Of course he does.

It will be fine.

Hey, Tonio, catch.

I can't play, Pablo. I've got to find my mother.

You don't have a mother.

Yes, I do. She came down out of the sky.

Out of the sky? This morning.

You're a liar. I am not.

Out of the sky. Huh. You hear?

His mother flies out of the sky like a bird.

His mother's a bird.

[cawing]

Don't you say that about my mother.

[Pablo] Your mother's a bird! Your mother's a bird!

[Tonio] Shut up about my mother!

My mother's no bird.

Hey, you guys! Hey!

Cut it out!

[Pablo] Your mother's a bird.

She's no bird.

You should be ashamed of yourself, fighting.

I'm sorry, but he said a bad thing about you.

About me?

[Tonio] And he called me a liar.

[Pablo] You are a liar.

You did come out of the sky, didn't you?

Well, I...

Tell him. Please?

Well, actually, fellas, he is telling the truth.

She thinks she's a bird, too.

Don't say that.

[Bertrille] Hey, hey, now, Tonio. Hey!

Tonio, it looks like I'm gonna have to take you home.

Yes, then Papa and Manuela will believe me.

Tonio Armijo thinks that the nun flew down from the sky.

That is strange.

Even more strange, the nun thinks so, too.

Papa. Manuela.

They will be here soon.

Why don't you sit down and rest, Mama?

Thank you, Tonio.

Before they do come back

there's something you and I have to straighten out first.

Si, Mama?

Now, it's true, you did see me come of the sky.

Just the way I knew you would.

But because you wanted to believe that--

sometimes when I looked up, I thought I saw you.

But always before, it was just a cloud.

Tonio, do you know what a nun is?

You've never seen a nun?

Well, this is a nun's habit.

I knew you'd be dressed all in white,

like in the picture.

This is your mother?

Si. It is you.

Tonio,

now you've got to listen to me.

Yes, Mama.

I know how much you must have missed your mother

and honestly, I wouldn't do anything to hurt you.

Go on, Mama, I don't mind.

I've heard Pablo's Mama say that to him

and then after, she hugs him and kisses him.

Tonio.

Please don't cry.

We should be happy.

I've never been so happy.

[exclaiming]

Look at your hands.

Why, they're a disgrace.

And your face is all smudged.

I will wash them, Mama,

and then you can scrub behind my ears.

You know, sometimes children who have lost their mothers,

they have such ideas.

But I will say a word to Tonio.

♪[Bertrille singing] Father, listen.

♪ Till the break of day ♪

♪ you'll see the world inside ♪

♪ your pillow ♪

♪ just as soon as I turn out ♪

♪ the light ♪

♪ all you have to do ♪

♪ is close your sleepy eyes ♪

♪ and say the magic words ♪

♪ good night ♪

Oh, hi. You must be Tonio's father.

Who are you?

I'm Sister Bertrille.

You look like... I know.

Tonio thinks I'm his mother.

You haven't told him who you really are?

Shh.

Why haven't you told him?

I wanted to.

I--I should have. I just couldn't.

Well, why not?

Well, it seems to mean so much to him to know his mother loves him

the same way he's loved her all these years.

I couldn't find the right way to take away

something so precious to him.

Yes, but his mother is dead.

After tomorrow, Manuela will be his mother.

I didn't realize.

Oh, this has gone too far.

I'm gonna set Tonio straight. Luis, no.

Well, what do you mean, no? Tonio can't go on thinking

she's his mother. She's a nun.

But she's right.

What Tonio feels about his mother is very precious to him.

You must take the time, Luis,

to find the right way to tell him

or this can be a hurt that he will carry all his life.

Don't you think so, father?

We must slowly try to do what is best for the boy.

Yeah, but what about the wedding?

What about us?

What's best for Tonio is best for us.

Manuela, wait.

Sister, why didn't you mail me my pipe?

Would you like some more tea, father?

Mmm-mmm. No, no, thank you.

I've just got to find a way to tell Tonio the truth.

The truth?

You're going to tell him that you're a nun

from convent San Tanco?

That you fly like an airplane?

Well, then, Tonio will tell this to the people of Esperanza.

All of them?

Yes, sister. The whole town will know.

And then the news will travel to the next town,

and the next.

No, sister. I'm afraid you have to...

You have to find some other way to help Tonio.

Father, will you please talk to Manuela?

All of a sudden, she decided we should not get married tomorrow

because of this idea that Tonio has.

She won't even listen to me anymore.

All right, I will try to reason with her.

But why something like this should happen now?

We'll work it out. Thank you very much, sister.

I thought that nuns went around helping people.

I'm sorry.

Why are women so complicated?

Look, I love Manuela, and Manuela loves me.

Tonio needs a mother and I need a wife.

Manuela wants a husband, so...

So we're not getting married.

I don't understand it.

Papa. Papa, Mama.

Tonio.

See, Papa, I told you Mama had come back,

and she's just like you said.

Tonio, if you-- you haven't had your lunch, have you, Señor Armijo?

I don't want any lunch-- I can fix you some.

I can fix my own lunch.

No, Papa. That's Mama's job, and I will help her.

Come on, Mama.

Would you like anything else, Señor Armijo?

No, thank you.

[doorbell ringing] I'll get it.

No, I'll get it.

Mama, why do you call Papa "Señor Armijo"?

Shouldn't you call him by his first name?

Well, it's just that, uh,

I want to show how much respect I have for him.

Yeah.

So, our wedding gift isn't good enough for the great Luis Armijo.

Wedding gift? What wedding gift?

In better times, men would have fought duels for less.

Julio, what are you talking about? This.

And you weren't man enough to insult us in person.

You sent your boy to fling our gifts in our faces.

My boy?

Your boy.

Julio, wait a minute. Tonio!

Si, Papa.

Tonio, did you take back this wedding gift to Señor Reyes?

Si, Papa. I took all the presents back.

All of them?

I thought you might want me to,

since there isn't going to be a wedding.

Luis, you're not going to marry Manuela?

Of course I... What are you--

Mama's back. Mama.

Tonio, no.

See?

[speaking Spanish]

Tonio, what are you...

Julio, wait.

Tonio says it's his mother. You ready for that?

Returned our wedding gifts when there's no wedding.

[speaking Spanish]

Will you go please go somewhere?

Do something.

I'm gonna try to explain to my friends,

then I'm going to go to my shop.

I'm going to hammer and saw and glue

and try to understand what's happening to me.

[mumbling]

Thank you, Mama.

Now I want to buy you something.

Oh, no, Tonio,

I don't want you to waste your money on anything for me.

But Pablo and the other boys

buy presents for their mothers.

Perhaps-- please, Mama.

Ok. You wait here so it'll be a surprise.

Good afternoon, sister.

Good afternoon.

You are a nun?

Yes, I'm a novice at the convent San Tanco.

Here, Mama.

I did not let senora chapa wrap them,

because I want you to wear them.

Earrings.

Don't you like them, Mama?

Oh, they're... I've never had a nicer present.

Aren't you going to put them on?

Please, Mama?

You look beautiful.

Let's go show Papa.

Oh, if that little novice

is ever going to become a nun,

she will have to try very, very much harder.

Oh, hello, father. Where's Papa?

Your father's at the shop.

[stuttering] Sister, what...

Oh.

Earrings. Tonio gave them to me.

Aren't they pretty, father?

Ah, yes. Very interesting.

Now, Tonio, I would like a word with the lady, alone, eh?

Si, father.

Sister, the...

Oh, yeah.

Manuela is leaving.

Leaving Esperanza?

Yes. She's packing to catch the 3:30 bus to San Juan.

But that's ridiculous. That's ridiculous.

And it's all my fault. Father, we can't let her go.

I couldn't stop her. But I will.

I'm afraid you won't change her mind, sister.

It's for the best, sister.

But how could anything that separates 3 people

that love each other be for the best?

Oh, I should have never come to Esperanza.

No, you mustn't blame yourself.

It isn't anything you've done that makes me know

I--I cannot stay.

It's Tonio's feeling for his mother.

But you must have always known how he felt.

Well, I've known.

But, sister, aren't we all a little bit like Tonio?

When we want something so very much,

we make it happen.

He brought his mother back in you.

I thought he was ready to accept me.

Once or twice,

he seemed to reach out to me.

And he will again.

Oh, Manuela, he knows you love him.

I do love him

and I never wanted to take his mother's place.

All I ever asked

was to be a mother to him, in my own way.

And you can be.

No, I don't believe that, sister.

Not now.

Today, I saw the truth.

There will never be room for me in Tonio's heart.

But you're wrong.

There's all the room in the world.

Why, he reached out to you before, and he will again.

Only you won't be here. You'll be in San Juan.

[bus engine starting]

Oh, Manuela, I think I can prove you're wrong. Will you let me try?

[bus horn honking]

The bus is leaving.

Manuela,

don't you want to know the truth?

[birds chirping]

Why did you bring me here, Mama?

Well, Tonio, I'll tell you.

I wanted to be alone with you.

You see,

Tonio, the time has come to say goodbye.

Goodbye?

Yes.

I-I'm sorry. I have to go.

I've already stayed longer than I was supposed to.

When will you be back?

I can never come back.

You don't want to be my Mama anymore?

It's not that.

It's just-- it's just that I don't belong here.

What do you mean, Mama?

You have your Papa and Manuela.

Manuela is nice,

very nice, but she's not my mother.

But, Tonio,

in her own way, she loves you as much as any mother could.

No, Mama, please. Don't leave me.

I have to.

Why did you come back at all?

Well, it was meant to be.

You see, Tonio,

when a mother can't take care of her little boy anymore,

she needs to know he has someone else

who loves him and looks after him.

And you do, Tonio.

I won't be able to keep these earrings.

Thank you for giving them to me.

Goodbye.

I leave you with my love.

Tonio.

Tonio.

Mama.

Oh, Tonio.

[speaking Spanish]

[end credits]

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