Subject: Summary #3, XVII & XVIII Author: Robin N (166.90.70.107) Date: 07-13-1999 22:26 XVII Aimee pays Pedro Noel a visit in order to find out when Juan is returning. He’s surprised by her visit because he doesn’t know her. She cooks up a story that she paid Juan to buy perfumes (English at that!) and wedding gifts for herself and Renato. This amazes Noel even more. However, because of circumstances, Noel thinks that it’s unlikely that Juan can return without fear of imprisonment. He advises her to forget about Juan returning with her commission and she asks him to forget about her visit. Meanwhile, back at Campo Real, Sofia is pressuring Renato to go get Aimee and get things underway. It’s bad for a man to give in to a woman. She does worry, though about Aimee’s character. “She seems a little restless.” On the other hand, she speaks highly of Monica, “seems an excellent person.” Renato agrees, but worries about ehr nerves. Sofia wants to know the source of this trouble and he tells her about his friendship with Monica and her sudden desire to become a nun ever since she learned about his intentions toward Aimee. Never mind, Aimee will be like a queen here at CR. But Aimee wants to live in Saint-Pierre, I promised her, Renato tells his mother. She’ll be bored here. Sofia isn’t buying this. She chastises Renato for trying to please Aimee too much and he concedes this point to mama. Aimee, on the beach, is desolate that Juan is unlikely to return. Monica approaches and Aimee hides her tears, not wanting to be seen humilliated by Juan. Monica tells her that Renato’s waiting for her at the house. Renato wants to bring Aimee back to CR to get married. She puts him off telling him that Monica is so highstrung, so strange these days... it’s not a good idea. Monica comes in and says, “I heard you, I heard everything you said.” Covering, Aimee says, “Don’t misunderstand me...” “It’s as clear as the light of day: you hope that I’ll go back to the convent and not stand up at your wedding.” Monica stays her course. Renato smooths things over. Monica tells Aimee that she’s going to take a long time to decide if she’ll go back to the convent--if ever--and so she’s available. She leaves and Aimee is mad. “It’s not possible to trust crazy people (referring to Monica!)” she says and leaves. Aimee sees Monica in the garden and calls to her. She was hoping to speak to Aimee. She tells her that when she believes that Aimee will love and care for Renato as he deserves, she will return to the convent. Renato draws close and Monica tells him that she’s just giving Aimee a little sisterly ‘advice.’ XVIII Juan is on board the Luzbel and tells Colibri, the young former slave, that soon he will have a new mistress. Colibri tells Juan that he’s changed a lot, as if he’d drunk one of the herbal potions they sell in Haiti--like the ones that make people like the dead or steal the soul. He laughs and says that he’s alive and also very rich. He tells of his plans to build a home on the Cabo del Diablo and to repay his debt to Renato. At CR, they’re admiring the trousseau linens bought for Aimee. Monica tells Aimee to leave things for her to put away and go spend some time with Renato. He wonders why she looks so almost-worried. He wonders is he should be jealous. “How crazy you are, Renato! Jealous of whom?” Aimee pretends to be happy. Renato sees Bautista in the distance (now the plantation administrator) and this gets him speaking of the poor conditions his workers live in... but he realizes he’s boring her. She asks him about the condition of the house in Saint-Pierre and he tells her that it’s going to need some work so they’ll stay at CR until it’s ready. This annoys Aimee greatly so when she sees Monica, she spitefully tells him that he can go talk the ‘plight of the cane workers’ over with her. And so he does. She offers to help and he gratefully gives it.