Original subtitles

Oranges. Fresh oranges.

It's a bargain, madam. Nicely priced.

You'll thank me eventually, for bringing you to your senses.

Gentlemen. Madam.

I would like to announce that our ship is now at anchor,

with the holds refitted to accommodate our cargo...

of coal.

Which bay is the boat in?

That information is confidential.

You understand that we must take precautions.

It will be less likely that, if someone has a slip of the tongue,

our business will reach the ears of the authorities

or the damn abolitionists.

- Understand that I have every right... - Do you know where it is?

Don't worry. Novas takes care of the more tedious business,

and we just collect our money.

Oh, Blessed Virgin, protect me.

I hope they don't take much longer. I'm so hungry I could eat a whole ram.

I don't know about a ram,

but there's an inn nearby that has pork rinds that are finger-licking good.

- It's on me, while we wait. - Are you crazy?

No. I can't move from here.

But it's right here, nearby.

Don't you understand?

If my mistress comes out and doesn't see me,

this slave is in real trouble.

I forgot, you're her property.

You show obedience to your master too.

That's different. Mauro is my boss, yes,

but he and I have risked our necks working side by side in the mine.

He even saved my life when I was trapped in a cave-in.

And who's to say my mistress hasn't saved my life?

Who knows where I'd be if it weren't for her.

I'd be on a plantation, busting my back,

or something even worse.

Instead of safe in a lovely house.

The difference is that I can leave whenever I want.

Listen.

I would have really loved to have gone to eat those pork rinds with you.

Cheer up.

You're about to be rich and you look like someone died.

You really have no qualms about the nature of this business?

For God's sake, leave the qualms to the pious and the Masons.

If I feel remorseful, I'll settle it with my confessor.

For your information,

I will tell you that slaves are not so much servants as part of the family.

Well fed, clothed and pampered. Isn't that right, Trinidad?

Nearly our whole lives together.

You see?

Hold on.

There's something I want to ask you.

If we're going to get caught up in this mess together, at least be honest.

Why do you insist on going behind your husband's back?

Are you married?

I was.

You'll agree with me that marriage is a complex alliance.

It gives you joy and bitterness. And sometimes it's a power struggle.

With more money in my hands, I might get more power in my marriage.

You are desperate too, and you put this opportunity in front of me.

Multiply my inheritance without even touching it.

I don't like men who only take women halfway.

I've never had any complaints in that regard.

Let's go!

This came for you, boss.

It's an invitation to Don Luis Montalvo's birthday party,

which his cousin will be hosting at El Cerro.

No, there's no way I'm setting foot in that house again.

These slaves don't seem to lead a bad life.

Appearances can be deceiving, boss.

Our work in the mine was harder.

Excuse me.

Luis Montalvo?

Mauro Larrea. At your disposal.

Do you remember me?

The Mexican by adoption.

Nice to see you again.

I trust you got the invitation to celebrate my birthday.

I did. But I regret to inform you that I will not be able to attend.

I'm so sorry.

I've ruined your hat.

- Let me buy you a new one. - Don't worry.

At least let me buy you a coffee to make up for my clumsiness.

Tell me, what brings you to Havana?

Originally I came to Cuba for family reasons.

Unfinished business with my cousin Gustavo.

Family.

A simple word, but so complicated at the same time.

You come from southern Spain, correct?

From Jerez de la Frontera.

We are the remains of a great winemaking family.

Look at this pretty one. You think it'd suit me?

You always look beautiful.

What a flatterer you are.

- Be more careful! - Forgive me.

If you break anything, you'll work in the plantation,

where they'll put an end to your daydreaming.

Hurry up!

Your cousin and Carola are a very...

interesting couple.

Strange woman, Carola.

Strange and... charming.

May I give you some advice?

Watch your step.

Don't fall into her trap.

If you get too close to her, it'll be very difficult to escape.

Doesn't her behavior make her husband jealous?

Gustavo is indifferent to her.

There's no room for her in his heart, no matter how many years go by.

The worst thing that can happen to a man is to lose his self-respect.

But that's not something that happens overnight.

It all starts with a bad decision.

May I confess something to you?

I think I already made one.

A deal that will make me good money,

but at the cost of betraying my principles.

Be careful.

Some lines should never be crossed.

Or your soul will end up paying the price.

Hey! What is it you want now?

Don't get involved in that business, boss.

They're human. They think, they eat,

they have toothaches and they mourn their dead.

You've fallen for Mrs. Carola's slave, huh?

The slave has a name. Trinidad.

They all have names, boss.

Remember when we used to go down to the mine?

You made us work our backsides off,

but you never treated us like animals.

Whoever wanted to stay by your side stayed.

Whoever wanted to go their own way, no one forced them to stay.

Those days are over. Now we have other problems.

I have to get ahead for my children's future.

Boss...

In life, things are either right or wrong.

There are other ways to regain your fortune and pay your debts.

And you know it well.

This isn't right.

Again?

Come here and kiss me.

I'm serious. We can't keep deceiving Gustavo.

Gustavo has never cared about you.

Why do you care about him now?

I came to Havana to heal old wounds with my cousin.

Not only have I not done that, but I've opened new ones.

Soledad would be ashamed.

Soledad?

That bitch has ruined my life from the other side of the world.

Stop, you don't know her.

Are you going to defend her too?

You don't know what it's like to feel unloved.

Filling the space they wish someone else would fill.

My family has always made me feel like that.

Filling the gap left by Matías, without being able to, either.

And don't you think that, for once,

we should be loved as we deserve?

Let's go.

No, my love.

How incredible, Don Mauro!

You've only been in Havana a few days and you've done so much already.

You go to the most select parties, as well as to secret meetings.

What I do outside your house is none of your business,

is it?

Allow me to tell you that your other activities are not.

But the last one, as a quadroon,

does affect me somewhat.

Quadroon?

A quarter of black blood runs through my veins.

You see, my grandmother...

was a beautiful slave.

When she was 13, she was made pregnant by the master of the house, who was 53.

Eight months later, my mother was born.

And since the owners had no children, and the lady was as barren as a desert,

they decided to keep her.

My grandmother, so that she wouldn't get attached to the baby,

was taken to another property.

And there, unable to see her daughter grow up,

she became more and more angry and ended up running away.

For the Maroons,

the slaves who run from their masters,

there are usually three ways out.

The best is to reach a port and be emancipated in an American country.

The second is to be caught and whipped.

And the third?

To have the dogs rip them to shreds.

Hunting hounds trained to catch slaves and kill them.

Do you want to know which of those three fates befell my grandmother?

I'd like to know, too.

But nobody ever found out.

Wonderful to see you, Larrea, my friend.

I thought you had decided on other business

and that I would not see you again.

But please, come in.

Thank you, but I'll be brief.

Do you have contacts with the anti-slavery movement?

Look, my friend...

In my line of work...

I keep good relations with even the devil himself.

And you say the ship is almost ready to go?

Exactly.

Although it's supposedly cleared for Puerto Rico,

it's about to sail to a different destination,

and then it will return to Cuba with more than 600 Africans.

But do you know where it's docked?

Unfortunately, I don't, gentlemen.

And there's no one else who knows?

Yes. There may be someone else.

Is there any chance you can get them to tell you?

Difficult, I think.

My intention, after informing you, was to withdraw from this matter

and have nothing more to do with it.

Sir...

Your good intentions are laudable.

But without that information, everything could fall through.

Mr. Larrea,

if you could find out, you might save many lives.

There's a lot of suffering at stake.

Mauro Larrea, how lovely to see you.

I thought you'd never trust me again.

A man can change his mind.

And I'm glad you did.

Is there somewhere we can talk more discreetly?

There is.

But first, I warn you.

I cannot disappear from a party in my own home

and risk my reputation if not for a good reward.

You have my word that it will be worth it.

I wanted to talk to you to apologize.

Thanks to your advice, we are going to receive

a generous amount of money.

And I have not thanked you properly.

I'm glad you've realized that,

and that you've overcome your silly scruples.

I've never gotten used to giving up control.

In business, I'm always in control of the situation.

I have no doubt.

Although sometimes it's best to let yourself go.

Both in business and in life.

For my peace of mind, I would like to be sure

that our project is proceeding smoothly.

It is, rest assured.

I know I gave my word,

but experience tells me that I must be cautious.

And I'd like to check everything with my own eyes.

You know Novas doesn't want anyone to know where the boat is.

Just as a precaution, of course.

I insist. I want to see it.

Or else I'm going to have to withdraw from the game.

At the Cavalry Dock. That's where the damn boat is.

Now, will you stop worrying for once?

I understand why women fall in love with you.

- Carola. - Yes?

You're a unique woman.

- Aren't you afraid of anything? - Of course I am.

But that's for you to find out.

I know an inconspicuous place, not far from here.

Let's be smart.

You'd never forgive me if your guests

had to do without your presence.

So, if you'll excuse me,

I too have some important business to attend to.

Excuse me.

Happy birthday, cousin.

I hope you had a great time.

You shouldn't have organized all this in my honor.

I don't deserve it.

I came to Havana to seek our reconciliation and...

since I arrived, everything has been one failure after another.

With Carola's help.

Which was probably invaluable to you.

I have eyes, Luis. I know exactly what's going on.

I know her very well.

And you've fallen into her web.

You're not one to judge.

What are you trying to say?

You're also obsessed with a married woman.

Don't go there.

How dare you come to my house and say that to me?

Because of you, Luis, because of your cowardice,

I've been living in exile all these years.

We can keep lying about what happened at the game reserve,

but we know the truth.

We swore to never talk about it!

Well, now we're going to.

I didn't kill Matías.

I didn't fire that shot.

And you always knew it.

But of course, you were incapable of speaking.

You were bedridden for weeks.

Everyone turned out to look after poor Shrimp,

so weak, so small...

Even I, Luis. For your protection,

I invented the story of an unknown hunter who fled.

- They never blamed you. - They didn't have to.

Everyone knew I hated your brother for not stopping Sol's wedding.

Grandfather didn't hesitate to send me to the Americas.

No one could bear the idea of living with a suspected murderer.

I didn't know anything about all that.

My mind just went blank and...

It took me months to get myself together.

But when you had the chance to tell the truth, you didn't.

- You kept your mouth shut. - Because you'd gone far away.

Matías was already dead and buried...

It didn't matter anymore.

It did matter, Luis! It did matter!

If you had at least told the truth...

even having lost Soledad...

I could have returned to Jerez

with my dignity intact

and my head held high.

You only had to say a few words, Luis.

That it was an accident.

That it was not deliberate.

And more importantly...

That the shot that killed Matías came from your shotgun.

How could you do this to me?

You're a traitor and a coward.

We did well not to go into that dirty business.

You should thank me for making the right decision.

You have no idea what you're messing with.

The authorities found the boat and confiscated it.

This will have consequences for me

if Novas and his associates find out I talked.

Madam, there are lines that cannot be crossed.

Out of conscience.

I don't care about your conscience.

You're a miserable cheat.

This is not over yet.

You're going to regret betraying me.

Dear Sol

LA TEMPLANZA BASED ON THE NOVEL BY MARÍA DUEÑAS