Subject: Summary # 2, pages 51-104 Author: Marta I (152.163.207.208) Date: 07-11-1999 22:40 (Sorry, this is going to be long, it's just that so much went on in these 54 pages..) And the years went by... Martinique (the island setting for the book) is beautiful, volcanic island, full of love and hatred, passion, cruelty, etc. Over this land four hearts would crash (Monica, Aimee, Juan and Renato). Monica is already a novice, described as gentle and sensitive. She suffers, loves deeply, like a fire that consumes itself giving light. Monica wants to make the final commitment (to religious life) but her mother, the confessor and the 'Madre abadesa' try to convince her to take it slow. Monica does not want to leave the convent, begs them not to send her away, not to reject her. Renato returns to Campo Real. He's described as 'Altivo y gallardo'. Blonde straight hair with big light colored eyes, Lord of his land. Renato is upset when he notices how inhuman is the treatment given to the workers in CR. Renato has an argument with Bautista about this. Aimee is introduced as a very passionate woman, is compared to the volcano for her ardent passion. She seems to be anxiously awaiting for someone's arrival. Her mother notices this and confronts her. Seems like Aimee has some past stories that should be kept quiet and they do not want Renato to find out about it. Juan's ship arrives. Strong and agile, threatening look in his eyes, 'recio', strong and wide chest, rough hands and 'rostro altanero', owns a diabolic shine of triumph in his image. He is like the son of the storm, like a rebel who stands against the whole world and feels capable of fighting the whole world. Juan is now 26 years old and is the most skilled mariner in the Caribbean. People call him JUAN DEL DIABLO. The Molnar family residence is described, just like on screen, as a solitary, isolated home near the beach. Furnished with older luxuries. One of those households which try to maintain the appearance of earlier years of wealth. Aimee is visited in her room by Juan. They go outside and make love. They seem to be crazy about each other (more of a passionate physical bond than anything else). Juan already knows that Monica is a novice but has not met her yet. Aimee confesses to Juan that she loves him for being rude, violentt (salvaje), for being a 'devil'. She asks him about his pseudoname (JDD). He avoids the issue and tells her to call him anyway she wants. He answers to no one. Nobody owns him but himself. We get to know that Aimee was the one who originally spotted Juan as he arrived on one of his trips. She seized him until they had the passionate relationship that they keep now hidden from most other people. Monica seems to be getting sick/weak at the convent from all the sacrifice exercises. She is ordered to spend some time (months?) back with her family before making the final commitment. Renato meets his mother (Sofia). He has an argument with her about Bautista's ways of running CR. She lets him know that thanks to Bautista CR is twice as big and they are twice as wealthy. But Renato is more concerned with the wellbeing of the workers. They live as if they were slaves. Renato tells his mother that he is in love, with Aimee. Sofia is happy for him, although shows some disgust for Aimee's family having no money anymore. Sofia introduces Renato to Yanina, Bautista's niece, who has become her nurse, companion and almost her daughter. Back to the Molnar issue. Renato and Sofia decide to invite the entire Molnar family (Dona Cata, Aimee and Monica) over to CR for a while. Renato tells his mother about Monica being now a novice. He says Monica's decision seemed all of a sudden, unexplained. He says he was originally closer with Monicaa. At that time Monicaa seemed lovely, full of life, very spirited. She used to look after him all the time, took care of his needs while he was a student, stood by his side, was like a sister to him. Renato asks his mother about Juan. She is very uneasy with that subject conversation. She says Juan has turned into a repulsive adventurer, a gambler, a pirate and they still call him JDD all over town. Renato feels sorry for Juan. He's sorry for the hard life Juan must have had, all that he has suffered and fought to get 'to that'. Renato does not blame Juan. He actually justifies his attitude 'cuando desde nino se vive con el alma envenenada...'. Renato recalls the last time he saw Don Francisco before his accident. He feels bad that he was so rough with Don F, but he does not regret defending his mother as he did. He does not resent his father. He actually justifies Don F's gesture, his embarrasment at catching himself in such a violent outrage against Sofia that he ran away in anguish, losing his own life in that tragic accident. He remembers his dad's final words asking him to take care of his mother and Don F's begging him to look after Juan, to love him like a brother. Dona Sofia wants Renato to forget about Juan. Everything she has done was for Renato's wellbeing. Renato acknowledges that and changes the subject to avoid a strong argument with Sofia. (However, he is still decided to look for Juan to try to fulfill his father's request...) Monica arrives back at the Molnar's house. She goes into one of the empty rooms in the halway and Juan walks in thinking it is Aimee, not Monica. For the first time, they face each other. Juan behaves arrogant and 'altanero', very self-confident. M: What do you want? J: With you...nothing. Monica does not want to tell him where Aimee is and Juan gets even more arrogant and begins calling her 'Santa Monica' several times. He even calls her 'Terrible Cunada'. Monica leaves the room. Monica runs into her mother. They talk about Aimee and how she has deceived others. Monica says Aimee will not deceive Renato. She promised to make him happy. Aimee arrives with several young men (she had left the house with girl friends). She is stopped by Juan. He wants to see her that night at his cave. Juan leaves when they hear Monica come toward them. Monica reminds Aimee of their 'pact' (arrangement). Aimee swore something to Monica and Monica will see it through that Aimee complies with her words. Monica confronts her about Juan's visit. Aimee threatens Monica that if she tells about Juan, Aimee will tell Renato ..(does not specify but my guess is Monica was in love with Renato and he preferred Aimee, that's why Monica decided to turn herself to God) Monica reminds Aimee that their pact is worth more to her (Monica) than life itself. Renato arrives at the Molnar's and Aimee puts on her 'lady'-like face, very different than the one she meets Juan with. Renato lets her know that they will live in CR. Aimee is upset, she thought that they would live in Saint-Pierre (close to Juan of course). Renato tells Aimee that Monica's attitude towards him seemed to change overnight, she took away her appreciation for him, her friendship. He's worried that he does not remember doing anything to her to trigger that change. Aimee says that Monica might be going nuts. Renato defends Monica, she's exceptional, intelligent, balanced, and admirable in every sense of the word. Renato tells Aimee he loves her so much he would kill her if she deceived him because killing her would be better than knowing she belonged to another man. Renato invites the whole family to stay at CR for a season. Renato specifically asks Monica to come along because he needs her help and advice to fix those things that he is not happy with at CR (mainly the injustice committed against the workers). He tells her that they used to talk and dream of a new world, better, peaceful, more generous. He is asking her to fix the dark areas of the paradise he considers CR to be. For that he needs Monica as his companion, his guide, his teacher. Monica is moved by all of Renato's words. She feels happy listening to those words, even though she is hurting deeply inside. She could not deny anything to Renato. Renato stays for dinner. Aimee is very anxious throughout dinner (she is worried about Juan coming to get her if she does not go to his cave). Right after dinner, Aimee fakes a great discomfort with the heat. As Renato is leaving and walking away, Aimee takes off to see Juan. She goes through the house and grabs the black novice throw of Monica's and covers her face with it. Outside Renato sees her but thinks she is Monica. He follows her but later feels embarrased for following her and leaves. Monica is praying asking why she is being submitted to so hard a temptation. She considers it an extreme test from Christ. Aimee is with Juan. He is leaving the next day for a trip and promises her a present upon his return. Aimee promises him that she will be there awaiting him. She will wait for him, facing the entire world if need be. Renato goes to visit Pedro Noel. PN is pleased to see Renato. Renato resembles his mother but has the magnificent profile of the D'Autremont's. Renato and PN share a drink. Renato asks PN to take back the job he had when Don F was alive at CR. PN asks if Sofia agrees with that request. She does not know yet. PN feels uneasy with that answer. Renato asks PN about Juan. PN has not been able to keep in touch with Juan. Describes Juan as an independent sinister man, angry at life, involved in unlawful businesses and contraband. Juan is in the middle of every riot, every fight, scandal or bout in Saint-Pierre. But he has been lucky enough or smart enough to not have had to face court yet. PN advices Renato to stay away from Juan, not to look for him. Forget about him. Aimee returns from her encounter with Juan and walks into Monica. She gives the throw back at Monica who is suspicious because Aimee would not need a throw if she is complaining of the heat. Also, the throw is moist and smells like salt, algae. Monica immediately concludes Aimee was with Juan. (none other) Juan is playing a gambling game with a man. They get to bet their own ships on one last play. The man wins but Juan discovers he was cheating and sticks his knife in the man's had. Renato has been watching without being noticed by Juan. All of a sudden someone shouts that the police are coming and everyone runs away. Juan takes the money and is escaping when he runs into Renato and threatens him with the knife to get out of his way. Renato pulls out his gun, later retrieves it. Renato tries to make Juan recognize him by introducing himself and reminding Juan that he took his money when they were kids. Juan is very rough even though he does recognize Renato. Juan says he doesn't have time 'para esas ninerias'. His ship leaves the next day and he will return Renato's money some other night when he is more lucky at gambling. Renato returns to PN's and tells him about the incident with Juan. Renato tells PN that he watched Juan defend himself and walk among enemies. He couldn't help it but feel admiration for Juan. Juan seemed likeable in a strange unavoidable way. PN tells Renato that he just learned that Juan was arrested. Seems like the man he wounded claimed Juan had lost the game and tried to kill him, bringing false witnesses. PN and Renato leave to try to defend Juan and get him out of the unfair spot. Money is no object to Renato. PN is proud of Renato even though outside he still is outraged at his interest for Juan's welbeing. Aimee is looking out at Juan's ship 'Luzbel' the next morning. Monica joins her and Aimee admits what she is doing. Then they see some cops arrive at the 'Luzbel' searching for someone or something. Aimee leaves back for the house and Monica is impressed by the ship's name. How in tune with its owner. Back at the jail, PN tells Juan that he is free. Juan at first thinks it has been PN who managed to get him out, so he is very thankful to PN. Juan reminds PN that he is the only person who ever gave Juan anything or smiled at him without any outside interest. Juan recalls how PN helped him through that trip on the coach to Don F's Campo Real, nobody else every noticed him, not even to give him something to eat, except PN who bought a case of oranges for him. Juan says that has been the only present that anyone gave him, the only time someone smiled at him and cared about him. PN is very moved by Juan's words. Renato has heard all of this spilling of feelings by Juan from close by in the dark. Renato is visibly shaken by the discovery of how little Juan has had in life compared to him, who had it all. Renato comes out of the dark and faces Juan. Juan is outraged. Juan feels angry at having been freed by Renato's money, sarcastically states that this must have cost the blood of several slaves. Renato remains calm and states that he would like to talk to Juan as friends, as brothers like his father asked him to... Juan does not let him finish the thought. Juan jokes about the D'Autremont last name as 'royal blood'. Juan says that hee must leave to get the bundle of money that he now owes Renato. Juan is very sarcastic at all this. PN is outraged but Renato remains calm even though he is being insulted. PN reprimends Juan but Renato wants to hear what Juan has to say. Juan is not interested in talking anymore. He excuses himself and leaves quickly. PN is outraged, he feels like they should put Juan right back in jail. But Renato is not regretting having helped Juan (asks PN if he regrets having given him the oranges that time). Renato shares with PN the belief that a man capable of recalling PN's noble gesture with that emotion cannot be so evil inside.