Subject: Book 3: Chapter 1
Author: Robin N (157.198.3.51)
Date: 10-04-1999 11:24
Chapter 1
Renato reads Monica’s petition for annulment (because she intends to
take the veil). He asks Sofia if this was Aimee’s idea, but she
tells him no, it was Monica’s. He doesn’t believe she’d come to this
decision without prodding and he rushes off to find out who.
Meanwhile, Aimee’s sneaking out in the darkness to rendezvous with
Lt. Britton. She promises him it will be a night to remember. He
thinks he’s living a dream, to have a woman like her by his side
seems impossible. She flatters him in return. He goes on and on
about it, he can’t imagine it…, and she cuts him off by telling him,
“well, try to imagine it… now let’s find a carriage.” He brought one
with him and Aimee gently mocks him for thinking sensibly. He’s easy
to wound and asks if it’s funny that he loves her. She suggests that
such words are premature. He tells her that he’ll make any sacrifice
for her, he belongs to her body and soul. He clasps her to him and
kisses her ardently.
“Caramba!,” exclama Aimee satisfecha. “Besas como un maestro, no
como un novato. Menos mal… Empece a temer que fueras de los que
hablan demasiado…”
Bach at the house: Renato shouts for Ana and Aimee. He’s flushed
with anger. Ana answers his call, but has to lie and say that Aimee
is in her room. He calls her a liar and she tells him that she
didn’t want to be bothered by anyone and she locked herself into her
room. She sent Ana to tell Renato that she won’t open the door,
whatever happens. Renato reacts violently. He’s been drinking all
day in the library and… “Mas fuerte que el alcohol es aquel fermento
de pasiones que hierve en sus entrañas: odio, rencor, amor, anhelo
desesperado por aquella mujer de la que todos le apartan, y una
colera violenta hacia la mujer a quen dio su nombre… colera que se
refrena bajo el impacto de algo parecido a remordamiento…” He
insists that Aimee must explain herself to him. He demands that she
open the door. Sofia pleads with him to leave it for now, but he
won’t, this is private between him and Aimee. She reminds him that
there’s no such thing when he shouts so. She goes on to swear to him
that Aimee had absolutely no part in Monica’s decision. It was
really more her doing, in conjunction with Catalina. They had to
hold off any whiff of scandal. They were gratefully surprised when
Monica agreed with them. “Rompera ese lazo matrimonial que es una
ignonomia, tomara los habitos, y a nosotros no nos quedara sino
tratar de olvidar que existe un bandido llamado Juan del Diablo.”
Renato tells Sofia that he won’t permit Monica to be sacrificed yet
again. It’s not right that she should be pushed into something else
just to wash away the crimes that others have committed. He refuses
to believe that she did this voluntarily and persists in thinking
Aimee was part of it. Sofia reminds him that she’s his wife and the
future mother of his children, and if he can’t love her now, at
least respect her. If he doesn’t believe that Monica’s in agreement
with this, ask Catalina. He leaves.
Sofia turns to confront Ana and asks her, “Your mistress isn’t in
the house, right?” She tells him she is, but Sofia tells her not to
lie any more. She may lie to her son but she can’t lie to Sofia. She
tells Ana that she thought she saw her leave—she could tell by her
clothes—but since she’s here… “Tell me the truth! It was her and you
were her accomplice!” Ana admits it, but says she’s not at fault.
Sofia tells her that she’s going to pay anyhow. The next day she’s
to go to Campo Real and Bautista will take care of the matter. This
puts her into a panic and she begs not to be sent back. Sofia
reminds her that the one she must obey is her, she was born a slave
in her house and she’s eaten her bread – it’s only she who she must
serve! Ana whines that she sent her to serve Aimee, she did what she
wanted. She commands her to go find her. She’s got 2, no 1 hour to
bring her back to her room.
Out on the town: The carnival is in full swing. Aimee and Britton
watch some sensuous slave dancers and she asks him if he likes it.
She explains the meaning of the trio’s dances—that it’s about
granting three wishes— and asks him what his desire is? He tells her
that he wishes the night would never end, that he would spend his
life with her at his side. The part of the dance comes when the
audience can dip their hands in blood for an offering to make their
wishes come true and Aimee forces Britton to do so. She grabs his
hand and puts it 3 times into the blood. He’s shocked by this but
Aimee’s energized. He asks her why she’s come with him, was it for
jealousy. She asks him why it matters, isn’t it enough that she’s
there with him? He’s not sure… she has strange tastes, this dance
for example. She tells him that it’s just a typical corner of the
town. Where else should he experience carnival, at the governor’s
ball or her mother in law’s salon? He’s just trying to figure things
out. Why have they gone into 10 or more taverns: is she looking for
someone in particular? She asks him how he could think that. Doesn’t
he understand that a woman who’s imprisoned in the D’Autremont house
just wants to live a little? He tells her that he’s no one to judge
her, he’s just trying, uselessly, to understand her. He doesn’t
pretend to believe that she loves him, so why is she there with him?
They spot Juan out with Don Noel. Aimee wraps herself in her shawl,
but Britton says hello. Juan’s surprised to see him still in
Martinique. Britton offers his continued assistance, but Juan tells
him he needs none, and he can see that Britton is already well
accompanied. He invites him for a drink. He looks at Aimee and
thinks that she looks familiar, but he can’t see her hands or hair
to be sure. He suggests a little gambling, his luck is excellent.
“Que dice usted, hermosa? Supongo que lo es cuando el teniente se
toma la molestia de acompañarla…” Britton thanks him, but tells him
that it’s a little late for his date. They were just leaving. Juan
comments that his date is mute, or has a voice that’s easy to
recognize perhaps. Too bad her face is hidden in the darkness.
Britton warns him off. Juan picks up the handkerchief that Britton
had dropped after cleaning his hands. He recognizes the perfume,
tuberose, and recalls that he knows a woman who uses that as her
scent. “Maravilloso… Maravilloso, teniente!” He steps back and
speculates, how easy and what a terrible vengeance it could be for
Juan del Diablo (to denounce Aimee publicly). Britton tells him that
it’s enough, let them continue on their way, he has no right…
“Y que importa el derecho? Tengo los medios al alcance de mi mano.
Lo que usted hiciera, no haria mas que empeorar la situacion, darle
alas al escandalo. Se da usted cuenta? Me bastaria arrancar del
rostro de esa mujer ese trapo negro para que mañana todo
Saint-Pierre se riera a carcajadas del caballero D’Autremont… Caro
que a usted le costaria la vida, mi buen amigo, y pagaria muy caro,
terriblemente carro el place que quizas creyo gratuito.”
Aimee can’t contain herself any longer. “Basta, no tienes derecho!”
Juan mocks her and Britton suggests that she take herself home while
he deals with Juan. Juan advises him that it would be preferable
(and healthier) if he doesn’t intervene, but Britton tells him that
he would have to kill him rather than let an insult to Aimee pass.
Juan tells him not to make useless gestures because she’s not worth
it. Britton makes to leave but Aimee tells him to wait.
“No ve que es ella la que no quiere irse? Le encanta estar aqui,”
comenta ironico Juan. “Aunque parezca mentira, este es su ambiente.
Se equivoco al cambiarlo por el oro de los D’Autremont. Ahora le
molesta y le asquea todo aquello por lo que vendio su vida: vajillas
de plata, pulserias de brillantes y collares de perlas…”
Britton continues to ask him not to speak that way of Aimee and
Aimee eggs him on, “Are you going to let him talk that way?” Juan
asks her how Britton can stop him, he should think about that. He’s
just a plaything for her, a woman without scruples. He asks her what
her intentions are towards Britton. Hasn’t she hurt enough? Aimee
suggests that others hurt him, but she only did good things for him.
He’s an ingrate. Juan tells her that she exaggerates. He can’t
prevent her from telling Britton stories, but he should remind them
that Renato’s just looking for somone to kill. “Va usted a seguir
haciendo el juego a esta bella vibora? Le debo la lealtad de su
declaracion, teniente, y haberme tendido la mano de amigo a traves
de las rejas de una prision. Por eso le pregunto: Va a prestarse
para que ella le use a su antogo en provecho de sus mas oscuros y
tortuosos intereses?”
Charles takes off and Aimee calls to him. She calls him Juan a
canalla and tells him he deserves the gallows. Juan suggests that
perhaps it would be at her side. He tells her that if she wishes to
continue being the señora D’Autremont, she should leave the mud
(squalid scene) that she likes so much. She tells him that it’s not
his business and he agrees: he wishes it never had been. He’s
totally cured of her.
“Y de quien no? De quien no?” indaga Aimee con repentina ansio. “No
vas a decirme que la quieres a ella, que te interesa ella!”
“Y si asi fuera?”
“Antes de consentirlo, los haria matar a los dos! Prefior que se
junten el cielo y la tierra! No le daras a otra la pasion que es mi,
que me pertenece!”
“Y toso eso lo afirmas cuando acabo de hallarte junto al teniente
Britton,” sonrie Juan, sarcastica y mordas. “Tienes un corazon my
amplio, y muy flexible.”
“Que me importa a mi Britton, ni Renato, ni el mumdo entero? Me
importas tu y me importo yo misma. con todos los demas, puede
hundirse el universo!”
“Ahora si fuiste sincera… Te importas tu misma…”
Aimee tells him, yes, it’s all about her. She tells him that she’ll
have him again, that he’s the only love of her life. She’ll even
fight for him against Renato who hates him. She tells him that
Renato is crazy for Monica and the only thing she could think of was
to have a baby that would inherit his name and lands. Juan asks her
if she’s going to have a baby and she tells him there is no child,
but she has to have one to offer Renato. The teniente was going to
be the one to give it to her. This makes Juan laugh. Aimee tells him
that he’s taken his vengeance on her again, go run and tell Renato.
At times she wishes that the earth would end it for them once and
for all, opening and spitting fire.
“Si Satanas fuera mujer, tendria su cara, tus palabras, y tu voz…”
Aimee persists in saying that Juan loved her, still loves her. If he
would repeat his proposition made in Campo Real, she would leave
with him immediately. He tells her, sure, she would leave because
she has nowhere else to go, she’s properly tangled in her own nets.
She begs him to save her and take her far away with him. She demands
an answer and throws herself into his arms. He asks her to leave him
in peace. When she married another she should have realized that
they were finished forever. Aimee tells him that maybe he’ll think
differently when he knows Monica’s petitioned for an annulment. Juan
accuses her of lying. She tells him that she didn’t testify against
him because she was afraid of him, but in secret documents now on
their way to Rome, she tells all of his infamy. Her testimony at the
trial was a farce, she’s in league with Renato. She lays on the
poison thickly and tells him that he ruined her chances to have
Britton impregnate her. And Monica pretends to be a saint, but she’s
her black shade. Renato, for all his soft ways, is their worst
enemy. They work only to wound you, Juan. Juan denies this all, he
won’t believe her. Aimee tells him that he’s going to be sorry.
At this moment, Ana finds them. She tells her that she has to come
back and be in Sofia’s room before Renato returns. Aimee’s angry
that Ana has apparently betrayed her. Juan reproaches her for
treating a servant so. Aimee angrily asks Ana if she expects her to
return on foot and Ana tells her that she has a carriage driven by
her friend Esteban. He’ll be silent on what’s happened. They leave.
Catalina sees Aimee coming in and they exchange words. Catalina sees
that it’s true, that Aimee’s been sneaking out and Aimee suggests
that now’s not the time for sermons. She’s had enough disagreeable
moments for one night. Cata’s alarmed that she and Renato have had
it out, but that’s not it. She tells her that she went out to enjoy
the carnival, it’ boring here and she should have never married
Renato. First he’s jealous, then he abandons her… Cata tells her
that it’s all Aimee’s fault, even if she was a weak mother. Now she
needs to hear things, and she’ll speak in Sofia’s name. Aimee tells
her that she’s become a shade of Sofia’s, she’s just like her.
“En efecto, no soy ya mas que una sombra… Este es el pecado que
ahora estoy purgando: el de no ser nada para nadie, el de no existir
realmente ni siquiera en el corazon de mis hijas… Ambas estais muy
lejos de mi, ambas me sois extrañas.. Una por generosa, por sublime:
otra por egoista, por perversa… Me sangren los labios al tener que
decirtelo, pero es cierto: vives para el mal y para el engaño.”
Aimee tells her to leave her in peace. Cata tells her that it’s her
wish and Sofia’s that they leave and return to Campo Real. She asks
her to take care of the child who will inherit that is her last
hope… Aimee sees how that’s the only thing that matters to her
mother. Cata tells her that it’s Renato’s wish too. “Y si no
naciera?” Cata is shocked by Aimee’s question and wants to know what
she’s saying. Aimee calms her by saying that it’s nothing. She was
making a joke in response to her moralizing, because at 4 in the
morning she really doesn’t feel too good.
Cata is still alarmed. “Se que no tienes corazon, pero no creo que
llegues a eso. Sin embargo, tu lo has dicho por algo.. Aimee… Aimee,
se una vez sincera!”
Aimee tells her that she’s going to, to please her, because she
asked her. She sees that her suegra is afraid sending Cata to speak
to her. Too bad, she was hoping to confront Sofia, but instead she
sends her mother as ambassador to speak to the bad girl. She tells
her that she wants to be no less than the “hija sublime.” From that
she understands that Monica will take the habit? Cata tells her that
it’s true, Monica will annul her marriage and join the holy orders.
“Pues fiemos en la palabra de Santa Monica… Juan y Renato han muerto
para ella, verdad?” Cata tells her that she won’t leave the convent,
so it’s as if she was dead. Aimee also wants Cata to promise that
Sofia will leave her in peace, to come and go as she pleases. “As
long as you don’t risk your health.”
“Sin restricciones. Ya sabre yo como me cuido. si promote dejarme en
paz, dile que esta misma tarde salgo para Campo Real con ella.” And
with that, Aimee walks up to her room with a satanic gleam in her
eyes.