Capitu (2008) s01e02 Episode Script
Episode 2
ON THE PROMENADE I haven't been here for so long, perhaps a year.
Forgive me, but it's only been 3 months since you came here with our neighbor Pádua.
You're growing up and he's becoming presumptuous.
Dona Glória might not like that.
Those Páduas aren't all bad.
Capitu, in spite of those eyes the devil gave her have you noticed her eyes? They're like a gypsy's, sly and cunning.
That would be all right, but for her vanity and pride.
Go on, ask, order! I see you wish nothing but my well-being.
What else could I want, Bento? In that case, I'll ask you a favor.
A favor? Tell me, order me? What is it? Mother.
Mother? What of your mother? Mother wants me to become a priest, but I cannot.
I can't, it's not in me.
I don't like the priest's life.
Mother knows I do everything she asks I'll be anything she likes, even an omnibus coachman.
But not a priest.
I can't be a priest.
It's a fine career, but it isn't for me.
I'm counting on you to save me.
But what can I do? Plenty! You know how highly thought-of you are at the house.
Mother often asks your advice, Uncle Cosme says you're talented.
I confess I have the talent your uncle sees in me but it is just a talent for knowing what is good and worthy of appreciation.
Nothing more.
And for protecting your friends, like me.
And what can usefully be done, my little angel? There'll be no dissuading your mother from a project which apart from being a vow, has been her dream for so many years.
No, no, no.
It's too late.
Only yesterday she did me the favor of saying: "José Dias, I must send Bento to the Seminary.
" It's not too late.
There's still time, if you wish it.
What other desire but to make you happy, as you deserve? So there's still time! Look, I'm not just being indolent if mother wants I'll study law, I'll go to São Paulo! THE LAW IS FINE It is too late, but to prove I've no lack of good will I shall speak to your mother.
I don't promise to prevail, but I shall fight.
Work with all my soul.
You don't wish to become a priest? The law is fine, my dear.
You can go to São Paulo, Pernambuco or even further! There are great universities in the wide world out there! Go to the law, if that is your vocation.
I shall speak to Dona Glória, but don't count only on me speak also to your uncle.
If you cannot become a priest and prefer the law the law is fine, without disrespecting theology which stands above all, the ecclesiastical life being a most saintly one! You'd better go to a university abroad right away.
Then while you study, you'll travel.
We could go together, visit foreign lands we'll hear English, French, Italian, Spanish, Russian and even Swedish.
Dona Glória will probably not be able to go with you.
Even if she can and does go, she won't want to see to all the business, papers, applications, lodging oh, the law! The law is fine! So, will you ask mother not to send me to the seminary? I'll ask her, but asking is not achieving.
Angel of my heart, if the will to serve were the ability to order we'd be already on board, right now! Oh, you can't imagine what Europe is like, Bento! Europe, little Bento One of his ambitions was to return to Europe which he had visited once.
He spoke about it many times without managing to tempt my mother nor Uncle Cosme.
He hadn't thought of this possibility of going with me and staying on throughout the eternity of my studies.
THE EMPEROR What if I went to the Emperor, told him everything and asked him to intervene? I'd not mention it to Capitu.
If His Majesty asked, mother would give in.
The Emperor is visiting to Dona Glória's house! - I wonder why? - Why not? I'd like you ask to not to make Bento a priest, madam.
It's fine career, and we have good professors and doctors who can stand shoulder to shoulder with the best in other lands.
Medicine is a great science, a fine career.
Send him to our School.
Do this for me, yes? Would you like that, Bento? If mother so wishes.
Of course I do, Bento.
If that pleases Your Majesty.
If that pleases Your Majesty! To medicine! To our School I saw and heard all this.
No, Ariosto's imagination is no more fertile than the imagination of children and sweethearts, and all that is necessary for a vision of the impossible is the corner of an omnibus.
CURIOUS CAPITU No, Bento, you'd better leave the Emperor in peace.
Let's just stay with José Dias's promise.
Capitu wanted me to repeat all his answers, any alterations in gesture, the sounds of his words, even his pirouette.
She was detailed and paid great attention.
Capitu was Capitu.
More a woman than I a man.
If I haven't mentioned this then I do so now.
If I have, there is no harm in repeating it.
Certain ideas must penetrate the reader's soul by means of repetition.
Caesar! Julius Caesar! Tu quoque, Brutus? Capitu didn't like Caesar's profile but the actions cited by José Dias sounded admirable to her.
A man who could do everything! Who gave a woman a pearl worth 6 million sestertius! And how much was a sestertius worth? All things awoke Capitu's curiosity.
He's the greatest man in history! Ancient furniture, old furnishings, customs a saying here a recollection there my mother's childhood and youth, an adagio UNDERTOW EYES Capitu is in the drawing room, combing her hair.
Sneak in and give her a fright.
Any news? None.
I came to see you before Father Cabral arrives for class.
How was your night? Mine? Fine.
Hasn't José Dias said anything yet? - Apparently not.
- But when is he going to? He said he intends to broach the matter today or tomorrow.
He won't be too direct, just mention it in passing.
First he wants to gauge mother's resolve.
This is infernal! Insist with him, Bento.
I will.
He must say something today.
-You swear? -I swear! I recalled the definition José Dias gave them.
Let me see your eyes, Capitu.
"Sly, deceiving gypsy eyes.
" I didn't know what he meant by sly, but I understood deceiving.
What's wrong? Never seen my eyes before? Oh rhetoric of sweethearts! Give me an exact and poetic comparison to describe those eyes of Capitu.
No image springs to mind capable of saying what they were like and what they did to me.
Undertow-like eyes? Yes, undertow will do.
I could comb your hair, if you liked.
- You? - Yes.
You'll only get it all tangled, I bet.
If it tangles, you can untangle it afterwards.
Let's see.
It was awkward work, sometimes because I was clumsy at others on purpose to undo what I'd done in order to redo it.
Sit here, it'll be better.
All right, let's see the great hairdresser.
But the hair got done, however much I wished it never to end.
the infinite countless times.
If this appears emphatic to you, unfortunate reader that is because you have never combed a young girl never placed your adolescent hands on the young head of a nymph.
There! -Is it all right? -Look in the mirror.
Raise your head, Capitu, you might get dizzy, hurt your neck.
Mother, look at what this hairdresser has done to my hair.
Look at these braids! Oh, very nice.
You'd never know they were done by someone who can't comb hair.
What, mother? This! Mother! Oh, how dizzy! Don't make fun of my 15 years, my precocious reader.
Many, at 17, haven't yet begun to think of the difference between the sexes.
Since I wished to speak to hide my state I called up a few words from within but they filled my mouth without one managing to get out.
All the words retreated to my heart, murmuring: Here's one who's never going to have a great career in the world, he's dominated by emotions.
Bento, your mother has sent for you to go to your Latin class.
Father Cabral is already waiting for you.
I'm a man! I'm a man! PROTONOTARY APOSTOLIC Bento, Father Cabral has just been named Protonotary Apostolic! By decree from the Pope! It's not exactly an appointment of the Curia, but an honorary one.
Protonotary Apostolic! Be prepared, Bento you could be Protonotary Apostolic one day.
But the length of the title, to add to your name it's rather long, isn't it? You may call me simply Protonotary Cabral.
The Apostolic will be understood.
Of course, Protonotary Cabral.
But Protonotary, will you be obliged to go to Rome? No, Dona Justina.
It's just an honorary appointment, Justina.
Now, in more formal cases, official matters the full title may be used: Protonotary Apostolic.
- I see.
- Of course.
Pius IX is the Pope of hope for a unified Italy! Congratulations, father Cabral.
Protonotary Cabral, Bento.
Congratulations, Protonotary Cabral.
You can take a day off Latin today, Bento.
No celebrating the day's idleness, Latin will always be useful to you, even if you don't become a priest.
That's when I knew my man.
It was the first word the seed cast on the ground, just in passing as if to get the family's ears used to it.
He must become a priest! And a handsome priest.
And don't forget, sister Glória, Protonotary too.
Protonotary Apostolic.
Protonotary Santiago! THE SOUL IS FILLED WITH MYSTERIES Was Father Cabral waiting long? There was no class today, we had a day off.
Father Cabral received an honor from the Pope: Protonotary Apostolic.
May I go to compliment him this afternoon, at your house? You may, but why? Father will naturally want to come too but he'd better pay him a visit at home, it's more suitable.
But not l, being almost a young lady.
Nanata! Nanata! Capitu! Nanata! But Bento, what is a Protonotary Apostolic? So there you are! My God, what a fright! What's all this talk about a Protonotary, girl? I'll tell you in a minute.
Mother, supper! Father's here! THE VOCATION Vocation is everything.
The ecclesiastic state is absolutely perfect since the cleric is destined from the cradle, right? There being no vocation, I'm talking about sincere real vocation, a young man can perfectly well devote himself to human letters, which are also useful and honorable.
Vocation is a great deal, but God's power is supreme.
A man may not have a taste for the Church and even persecute it and one day God's voice speaks to him, and he becomes an apostle.
Take St.
Paul.
Yes.
Well then! Without a vocation there can be no good priest and in any liberal profession God is served, as all should serve.
What? So one could go to the seminary and not come out a priest? One could.
Bento, for instance, is clear in his vocation.
His toys were from the church.
And he adores church services.
Good evening, all.
Bento, go with her.
No need, Dona Glória, I know the way.
Good-bye, Protonotary.
Good-bye, Capitu.
Don't come.
We'll talk tomorrow.
-But I just want to tell you -Tomorrow.
-Listen! -Stay! What's wrong? Are you ill? Mother, am I going to live at the seminary? No.
You'll come home on Saturdays and holidays.
When you've taken your vows, then you'll come and live with me.
I'll miss you.
In a short while you'll get used to your colleagues and masters and eventually enjoy the life with them.
But I only like mother.
But you want so very much to become a priest.
Bento, Our Father has heard me, saving your existence.
There can be no failing or lying to Him.
Being a priest is good, it is saintly.
Don't be silly, Bento, be a man and obey me for your mother's sake and the good of your soul.
ARE YOU AFRAID? Doesn't Capitu look tired, Bento? Too much reading yesterday before and after tea, and until well after midnight aren't I right, dear? And by lamp light! If I lit a candle, you'd scold me.
Daughter! I'm fine.
Capitu! I'm fine.
I was unwell because of what I heard at your house yesterday.
We sat on the canapé and gazed into space.
I tell a lie she gazed at the floor.
I followed suit, as soon as I noticed.
But I believe Capitu was looking inside her very self while I stared at the floor, the gaps in the floor two flies walking and a cracked chair leg.
The undertow eyes didn't move and appeared to grow.
- Are you afraid? - Afraid? Yes, I'm asking whether you're afraid.
Not wishing to interrogate further, I tried to understand.
Afraid of what? Of being beaten, arrested, fighting, walking, working - Being beaten? - Why would someone beat me? - Who might beat me, Capitu? - And why? Also, why would I be arrested? And who would arrest me? Oh my God! You're yellow! I don't understand, Capitu.
Who's going to beat me? Sorry.
I'm just a bit crazy today, I was just fooling around, and No, Capitu, you're not fooling around.
You're right, I was just being crazy.
See you.
What do you mean? My headache's coming back, I'm going to put a slice of lime on my temples.
Come on.
THE FIRST CHILD It's hopeless, Bento.
Our separation is certain.
Tell me something, but tell the truth, no making things up.
What is it? If you had to choose between me and your motherwhom would you choose? Me? I'd choose but why choose, Capitu? Mother wouldn't be capable of asking me that.
I'm asking: suppose you're at the seminary and hear that I'm dying.
Don't talk about dying, Capitu! Or that I'll die of longing if you don't come right away.
Tell me, would you come? Yes.
- Against your mother's orders? - Against mother's orders.
You'd leave the seminary, leave your mother leave everything to see me die? Stop talking about dying, Capitu! A priest is good, certainly.
A canon is better because of the purple socks.
Come to think of it, a canon is much better.
But you can't be a canon without becoming a priest first.
Start with the black socks, purple ones will come after.
One thing I don't want to miss is your first mass.
Give me plenty of notice so I can make a dress with a wide skirt.
Or perhaps that won't be fashionable by then.
It needs to be a big church, Carmo or St.
Francis.
Or Candelária.
Any of them will do provided I attend the mass.
Everyone will ask: Who's that graceful woman with such a fine dress? Oh, that's Dona Capitolina a girl who used to live on Matacavalos Street.
Used to? Are you moving? Who knows where we'll live tomorrow? And you at the altar, wearing your cassock a golden cape over the top, chanting the Lord's Prayer.
Agreed, Capitu.
You'll watch my first mass, but on one condition.
Your Excellency may speak.
Promise me one thing? - What? - Tell me you promise.
I won't promise without knowing what it is.
- Well, to be honest, two things.
- Two? What? The first is that I be the priest to give you penitence and absolution.
You must always confess to me.
- The second - The first, I promise.
The second is that I be the priest who presides over your wedding.
My wedding? No, Bento I'd have to wait too long.
I'll promise you something else that you'll baptize my first child.
That's exactly what Capitu said, her very words.
She spoke of her first child as if it were her first doll.
That threat of a first child, Capitu's first child her marriage to someone else, the absolute separation the loss, the annihilation, all this had such an effect on me that I became dumb.
Capitu smiled.
And I saw her first child playing on the floor.
MAKING UP Forgive me, Capitu.
You forgive me.
I think it was the insomnia, my headache.
It was my fault.
No, it was mine.
All right, it's over.
Just explain one thing why did you ask me whether I was afraid of being beaten? It was nothing.
Why touch on that again? Was it because of the seminary? I've heard they have beatings there.
No? I don't believe it either.
And we sat there adding up our illusions, our fears and started to miss each other.
THE OATH OF THE WELL - No! - No what? Definitely not! They say we're not old enough to marry that we're children.
But two or three years soon pass.
Will you swear something? Do you swear you'll only marry me? I swear! I swear! I swear! Even if you marry another, I'll fulfill my oath by never marrying.
-If I marry someone else? -Anything might happen, Bento.
You might find a girl who wants you fall in love with her and marry.
Why would you remember me in that case? No! I swear too, Capitu! I swear by the Lord Our God that I'll only marry you.
Is that enough? I don't dare ask for more.
Yes, you swear.
But we'll swear a different oath: that we must marry one another whatever happens.
Our farewell didn't last long.
But at 15 everything is infinite.
May I come in? Be happy! We'll miss you very much we all hold you in high esteem, as you deserve.
If you hear any different, don't believe it.
It'll just be gossip.
I'm not like certain parasites coming from far away, dividing families, low flatterers.
No, I belong to a different species.
I don't live in someone else's house.
If one day you lose your family, you can count on our company.
It's not sufficiently important, but our affection is enormous.
Priest or no priest, our house is at your service.
I only ask you not to forget old Pádua.
Don't forget your old Pádua.
Would you leave me some memento? A notebook anything, a jacket button.
Something which is no longer of any use to you.
The value will be in the memory.
Here, keep this.
A lock of your hair! Thank you.
From me and my people.
I'll give it to the old lady to keep, or the young one who is more careful than her mother.
How lovely it is.
How could you cut such a lovely thing? Come here and give me a hug.
Another! Good-bye! Pádua's eyes were moist with that knowing expression of one who bet all his savings and hope on one ticket and sees the damn number come up blank! And such a fine number! ON MY WAY Oh, mother dear, I offer you this day which is breaking with all that it may bring: joy, weariness, misunderstanding, suffering.
Your mother's heart is always open to your children.
I ask you, oh Mary, to give me your hand and guide my unsteady steps this day.
Thank God on my behalf for this new day which now begins.
Go on, lad, come back as the Pope! Oh beloved sight! To share him with God is to possess him still.
Within a year we'll be aboard.
Only in a year? I'll find out the best time of year to cross the Atlantic.
I can study medicine right here.
Wait a year.
By then it'll all be arranged.
My sweet childhood companion.
I was pure, and pure I remained and it was pure that entered the São José Seminary.
to seek my sacerdotal appearance and investiture and before that, my vocation.
But you were my vocation, you my investiture.
Forgive me, but it's only been 3 months since you came here with our neighbor Pádua.
You're growing up and he's becoming presumptuous.
Dona Glória might not like that.
Those Páduas aren't all bad.
Capitu, in spite of those eyes the devil gave her have you noticed her eyes? They're like a gypsy's, sly and cunning.
That would be all right, but for her vanity and pride.
Go on, ask, order! I see you wish nothing but my well-being.
What else could I want, Bento? In that case, I'll ask you a favor.
A favor? Tell me, order me? What is it? Mother.
Mother? What of your mother? Mother wants me to become a priest, but I cannot.
I can't, it's not in me.
I don't like the priest's life.
Mother knows I do everything she asks I'll be anything she likes, even an omnibus coachman.
But not a priest.
I can't be a priest.
It's a fine career, but it isn't for me.
I'm counting on you to save me.
But what can I do? Plenty! You know how highly thought-of you are at the house.
Mother often asks your advice, Uncle Cosme says you're talented.
I confess I have the talent your uncle sees in me but it is just a talent for knowing what is good and worthy of appreciation.
Nothing more.
And for protecting your friends, like me.
And what can usefully be done, my little angel? There'll be no dissuading your mother from a project which apart from being a vow, has been her dream for so many years.
No, no, no.
It's too late.
Only yesterday she did me the favor of saying: "José Dias, I must send Bento to the Seminary.
" It's not too late.
There's still time, if you wish it.
What other desire but to make you happy, as you deserve? So there's still time! Look, I'm not just being indolent if mother wants I'll study law, I'll go to São Paulo! THE LAW IS FINE It is too late, but to prove I've no lack of good will I shall speak to your mother.
I don't promise to prevail, but I shall fight.
Work with all my soul.
You don't wish to become a priest? The law is fine, my dear.
You can go to São Paulo, Pernambuco or even further! There are great universities in the wide world out there! Go to the law, if that is your vocation.
I shall speak to Dona Glória, but don't count only on me speak also to your uncle.
If you cannot become a priest and prefer the law the law is fine, without disrespecting theology which stands above all, the ecclesiastical life being a most saintly one! You'd better go to a university abroad right away.
Then while you study, you'll travel.
We could go together, visit foreign lands we'll hear English, French, Italian, Spanish, Russian and even Swedish.
Dona Glória will probably not be able to go with you.
Even if she can and does go, she won't want to see to all the business, papers, applications, lodging oh, the law! The law is fine! So, will you ask mother not to send me to the seminary? I'll ask her, but asking is not achieving.
Angel of my heart, if the will to serve were the ability to order we'd be already on board, right now! Oh, you can't imagine what Europe is like, Bento! Europe, little Bento One of his ambitions was to return to Europe which he had visited once.
He spoke about it many times without managing to tempt my mother nor Uncle Cosme.
He hadn't thought of this possibility of going with me and staying on throughout the eternity of my studies.
THE EMPEROR What if I went to the Emperor, told him everything and asked him to intervene? I'd not mention it to Capitu.
If His Majesty asked, mother would give in.
The Emperor is visiting to Dona Glória's house! - I wonder why? - Why not? I'd like you ask to not to make Bento a priest, madam.
It's fine career, and we have good professors and doctors who can stand shoulder to shoulder with the best in other lands.
Medicine is a great science, a fine career.
Send him to our School.
Do this for me, yes? Would you like that, Bento? If mother so wishes.
Of course I do, Bento.
If that pleases Your Majesty.
If that pleases Your Majesty! To medicine! To our School I saw and heard all this.
No, Ariosto's imagination is no more fertile than the imagination of children and sweethearts, and all that is necessary for a vision of the impossible is the corner of an omnibus.
CURIOUS CAPITU No, Bento, you'd better leave the Emperor in peace.
Let's just stay with José Dias's promise.
Capitu wanted me to repeat all his answers, any alterations in gesture, the sounds of his words, even his pirouette.
She was detailed and paid great attention.
Capitu was Capitu.
More a woman than I a man.
If I haven't mentioned this then I do so now.
If I have, there is no harm in repeating it.
Certain ideas must penetrate the reader's soul by means of repetition.
Caesar! Julius Caesar! Tu quoque, Brutus? Capitu didn't like Caesar's profile but the actions cited by José Dias sounded admirable to her.
A man who could do everything! Who gave a woman a pearl worth 6 million sestertius! And how much was a sestertius worth? All things awoke Capitu's curiosity.
He's the greatest man in history! Ancient furniture, old furnishings, customs a saying here a recollection there my mother's childhood and youth, an adagio UNDERTOW EYES Capitu is in the drawing room, combing her hair.
Sneak in and give her a fright.
Any news? None.
I came to see you before Father Cabral arrives for class.
How was your night? Mine? Fine.
Hasn't José Dias said anything yet? - Apparently not.
- But when is he going to? He said he intends to broach the matter today or tomorrow.
He won't be too direct, just mention it in passing.
First he wants to gauge mother's resolve.
This is infernal! Insist with him, Bento.
I will.
He must say something today.
-You swear? -I swear! I recalled the definition José Dias gave them.
Let me see your eyes, Capitu.
"Sly, deceiving gypsy eyes.
" I didn't know what he meant by sly, but I understood deceiving.
What's wrong? Never seen my eyes before? Oh rhetoric of sweethearts! Give me an exact and poetic comparison to describe those eyes of Capitu.
No image springs to mind capable of saying what they were like and what they did to me.
Undertow-like eyes? Yes, undertow will do.
I could comb your hair, if you liked.
- You? - Yes.
You'll only get it all tangled, I bet.
If it tangles, you can untangle it afterwards.
Let's see.
It was awkward work, sometimes because I was clumsy at others on purpose to undo what I'd done in order to redo it.
Sit here, it'll be better.
All right, let's see the great hairdresser.
But the hair got done, however much I wished it never to end.
the infinite countless times.
If this appears emphatic to you, unfortunate reader that is because you have never combed a young girl never placed your adolescent hands on the young head of a nymph.
There! -Is it all right? -Look in the mirror.
Raise your head, Capitu, you might get dizzy, hurt your neck.
Mother, look at what this hairdresser has done to my hair.
Look at these braids! Oh, very nice.
You'd never know they were done by someone who can't comb hair.
What, mother? This! Mother! Oh, how dizzy! Don't make fun of my 15 years, my precocious reader.
Many, at 17, haven't yet begun to think of the difference between the sexes.
Since I wished to speak to hide my state I called up a few words from within but they filled my mouth without one managing to get out.
All the words retreated to my heart, murmuring: Here's one who's never going to have a great career in the world, he's dominated by emotions.
Bento, your mother has sent for you to go to your Latin class.
Father Cabral is already waiting for you.
I'm a man! I'm a man! PROTONOTARY APOSTOLIC Bento, Father Cabral has just been named Protonotary Apostolic! By decree from the Pope! It's not exactly an appointment of the Curia, but an honorary one.
Protonotary Apostolic! Be prepared, Bento you could be Protonotary Apostolic one day.
But the length of the title, to add to your name it's rather long, isn't it? You may call me simply Protonotary Cabral.
The Apostolic will be understood.
Of course, Protonotary Cabral.
But Protonotary, will you be obliged to go to Rome? No, Dona Justina.
It's just an honorary appointment, Justina.
Now, in more formal cases, official matters the full title may be used: Protonotary Apostolic.
- I see.
- Of course.
Pius IX is the Pope of hope for a unified Italy! Congratulations, father Cabral.
Protonotary Cabral, Bento.
Congratulations, Protonotary Cabral.
You can take a day off Latin today, Bento.
No celebrating the day's idleness, Latin will always be useful to you, even if you don't become a priest.
That's when I knew my man.
It was the first word the seed cast on the ground, just in passing as if to get the family's ears used to it.
He must become a priest! And a handsome priest.
And don't forget, sister Glória, Protonotary too.
Protonotary Apostolic.
Protonotary Santiago! THE SOUL IS FILLED WITH MYSTERIES Was Father Cabral waiting long? There was no class today, we had a day off.
Father Cabral received an honor from the Pope: Protonotary Apostolic.
May I go to compliment him this afternoon, at your house? You may, but why? Father will naturally want to come too but he'd better pay him a visit at home, it's more suitable.
But not l, being almost a young lady.
Nanata! Nanata! Capitu! Nanata! But Bento, what is a Protonotary Apostolic? So there you are! My God, what a fright! What's all this talk about a Protonotary, girl? I'll tell you in a minute.
Mother, supper! Father's here! THE VOCATION Vocation is everything.
The ecclesiastic state is absolutely perfect since the cleric is destined from the cradle, right? There being no vocation, I'm talking about sincere real vocation, a young man can perfectly well devote himself to human letters, which are also useful and honorable.
Vocation is a great deal, but God's power is supreme.
A man may not have a taste for the Church and even persecute it and one day God's voice speaks to him, and he becomes an apostle.
Take St.
Paul.
Yes.
Well then! Without a vocation there can be no good priest and in any liberal profession God is served, as all should serve.
What? So one could go to the seminary and not come out a priest? One could.
Bento, for instance, is clear in his vocation.
His toys were from the church.
And he adores church services.
Good evening, all.
Bento, go with her.
No need, Dona Glória, I know the way.
Good-bye, Protonotary.
Good-bye, Capitu.
Don't come.
We'll talk tomorrow.
-But I just want to tell you -Tomorrow.
-Listen! -Stay! What's wrong? Are you ill? Mother, am I going to live at the seminary? No.
You'll come home on Saturdays and holidays.
When you've taken your vows, then you'll come and live with me.
I'll miss you.
In a short while you'll get used to your colleagues and masters and eventually enjoy the life with them.
But I only like mother.
But you want so very much to become a priest.
Bento, Our Father has heard me, saving your existence.
There can be no failing or lying to Him.
Being a priest is good, it is saintly.
Don't be silly, Bento, be a man and obey me for your mother's sake and the good of your soul.
ARE YOU AFRAID? Doesn't Capitu look tired, Bento? Too much reading yesterday before and after tea, and until well after midnight aren't I right, dear? And by lamp light! If I lit a candle, you'd scold me.
Daughter! I'm fine.
Capitu! I'm fine.
I was unwell because of what I heard at your house yesterday.
We sat on the canapé and gazed into space.
I tell a lie she gazed at the floor.
I followed suit, as soon as I noticed.
But I believe Capitu was looking inside her very self while I stared at the floor, the gaps in the floor two flies walking and a cracked chair leg.
The undertow eyes didn't move and appeared to grow.
- Are you afraid? - Afraid? Yes, I'm asking whether you're afraid.
Not wishing to interrogate further, I tried to understand.
Afraid of what? Of being beaten, arrested, fighting, walking, working - Being beaten? - Why would someone beat me? - Who might beat me, Capitu? - And why? Also, why would I be arrested? And who would arrest me? Oh my God! You're yellow! I don't understand, Capitu.
Who's going to beat me? Sorry.
I'm just a bit crazy today, I was just fooling around, and No, Capitu, you're not fooling around.
You're right, I was just being crazy.
See you.
What do you mean? My headache's coming back, I'm going to put a slice of lime on my temples.
Come on.
THE FIRST CHILD It's hopeless, Bento.
Our separation is certain.
Tell me something, but tell the truth, no making things up.
What is it? If you had to choose between me and your motherwhom would you choose? Me? I'd choose but why choose, Capitu? Mother wouldn't be capable of asking me that.
I'm asking: suppose you're at the seminary and hear that I'm dying.
Don't talk about dying, Capitu! Or that I'll die of longing if you don't come right away.
Tell me, would you come? Yes.
- Against your mother's orders? - Against mother's orders.
You'd leave the seminary, leave your mother leave everything to see me die? Stop talking about dying, Capitu! A priest is good, certainly.
A canon is better because of the purple socks.
Come to think of it, a canon is much better.
But you can't be a canon without becoming a priest first.
Start with the black socks, purple ones will come after.
One thing I don't want to miss is your first mass.
Give me plenty of notice so I can make a dress with a wide skirt.
Or perhaps that won't be fashionable by then.
It needs to be a big church, Carmo or St.
Francis.
Or Candelária.
Any of them will do provided I attend the mass.
Everyone will ask: Who's that graceful woman with such a fine dress? Oh, that's Dona Capitolina a girl who used to live on Matacavalos Street.
Used to? Are you moving? Who knows where we'll live tomorrow? And you at the altar, wearing your cassock a golden cape over the top, chanting the Lord's Prayer.
Agreed, Capitu.
You'll watch my first mass, but on one condition.
Your Excellency may speak.
Promise me one thing? - What? - Tell me you promise.
I won't promise without knowing what it is.
- Well, to be honest, two things.
- Two? What? The first is that I be the priest to give you penitence and absolution.
You must always confess to me.
- The second - The first, I promise.
The second is that I be the priest who presides over your wedding.
My wedding? No, Bento I'd have to wait too long.
I'll promise you something else that you'll baptize my first child.
That's exactly what Capitu said, her very words.
She spoke of her first child as if it were her first doll.
That threat of a first child, Capitu's first child her marriage to someone else, the absolute separation the loss, the annihilation, all this had such an effect on me that I became dumb.
Capitu smiled.
And I saw her first child playing on the floor.
MAKING UP Forgive me, Capitu.
You forgive me.
I think it was the insomnia, my headache.
It was my fault.
No, it was mine.
All right, it's over.
Just explain one thing why did you ask me whether I was afraid of being beaten? It was nothing.
Why touch on that again? Was it because of the seminary? I've heard they have beatings there.
No? I don't believe it either.
And we sat there adding up our illusions, our fears and started to miss each other.
THE OATH OF THE WELL - No! - No what? Definitely not! They say we're not old enough to marry that we're children.
But two or three years soon pass.
Will you swear something? Do you swear you'll only marry me? I swear! I swear! I swear! Even if you marry another, I'll fulfill my oath by never marrying.
-If I marry someone else? -Anything might happen, Bento.
You might find a girl who wants you fall in love with her and marry.
Why would you remember me in that case? No! I swear too, Capitu! I swear by the Lord Our God that I'll only marry you.
Is that enough? I don't dare ask for more.
Yes, you swear.
But we'll swear a different oath: that we must marry one another whatever happens.
Our farewell didn't last long.
But at 15 everything is infinite.
May I come in? Be happy! We'll miss you very much we all hold you in high esteem, as you deserve.
If you hear any different, don't believe it.
It'll just be gossip.
I'm not like certain parasites coming from far away, dividing families, low flatterers.
No, I belong to a different species.
I don't live in someone else's house.
If one day you lose your family, you can count on our company.
It's not sufficiently important, but our affection is enormous.
Priest or no priest, our house is at your service.
I only ask you not to forget old Pádua.
Don't forget your old Pádua.
Would you leave me some memento? A notebook anything, a jacket button.
Something which is no longer of any use to you.
The value will be in the memory.
Here, keep this.
A lock of your hair! Thank you.
From me and my people.
I'll give it to the old lady to keep, or the young one who is more careful than her mother.
How lovely it is.
How could you cut such a lovely thing? Come here and give me a hug.
Another! Good-bye! Pádua's eyes were moist with that knowing expression of one who bet all his savings and hope on one ticket and sees the damn number come up blank! And such a fine number! ON MY WAY Oh, mother dear, I offer you this day which is breaking with all that it may bring: joy, weariness, misunderstanding, suffering.
Your mother's heart is always open to your children.
I ask you, oh Mary, to give me your hand and guide my unsteady steps this day.
Thank God on my behalf for this new day which now begins.
Go on, lad, come back as the Pope! Oh beloved sight! To share him with God is to possess him still.
Within a year we'll be aboard.
Only in a year? I'll find out the best time of year to cross the Atlantic.
I can study medicine right here.
Wait a year.
By then it'll all be arranged.
My sweet childhood companion.
I was pure, and pure I remained and it was pure that entered the São José Seminary.
to seek my sacerdotal appearance and investiture and before that, my vocation.
But you were my vocation, you my investiture.