ACT ONE

#1

#1a

DIALOGUE after 1a

MARIANA
You need to be more careful in public, Anibal. Everyone’s talking revolution, but you
don‘t know who‘s listening.

ANIBAL
Don‘t worry, Mariana. We have our eyes and ears out there too. Have you seen Don Luis?

MARIANA
You just missed him.

ANIBAL
If you see him, tell him I’m looking for him. See you later?

MARIANA
Of course.

#2 begins directly as Anibal exits

DIALOGUE after #2

MARIANA
And what brings you back here now? True love?

JAVIER
My loyal love for Luisa Fernanda.

MARIANA
You’re impossible!
While you‘ve been away having your fun,
She‘s been here suffering.
JAVIER
You know how it is for a soldier…

MARIANA
…with a girl in every city!

JAVIER
Mariana, it‘s me, your own little Javier. You‘ve known me since I was a boy. You know I
have a good heart.

(ANIBAL and NOGALES enter and interrupt at the sight of JAVIER)

ANIBAL
Javier!

JAVIER
Anibal!

NOGALES
Young man, where have you been hiding yourself?

JAVIER
It‘s good to see you again.

ANIBAL
We‘re glad you‘re here - we‘ve been hoping to talk with you.

JAVIER
What’s going on?

NOGALES
Let‘s go somewhere private.

(They exit. Just as they do, LUISA FERNANDA enters from the opposite)

LUISA
Has Javier been here?

MARIANA
You just missed him.

LUISA
Story of my life. He moves too fast for me.
MARIANA (dramatically)
He is like the wind.

LUISA (laughing)
Then I‘d better keep up.

(She wants to follow JAVIER but MARIANA stops her again)

MARIANA
Sweet girl, I’m going to speak to you frankly. It‘s high time you get over this infatuation
with Javier. (LUISA shakes her head, MARIANA presses on). He only pays attention to
you at his convenience! To pine over that…that boy, when a real man like Vidal Hernando
is crazy about you…

LUISA
Yes, yes, Vidal Hernando, you‘ve been his cheerleader for a year now.

MARIANA
And I‘ll keep cheering him on! He‘s rich, he‘s intelligent, he‘s kind…and he really wants
you, Luisa. It’s been true ever since he got to the city and saw you for the first time. He‘s
going back to his ranch in a few days - you have a decision to make. Why not choose a
man who will treat you with respect?

VIDAL has entered to hear the end of MARIANA’s speech.

VIDAL
That he will. (The women turn to him in surprise). I would treat you like a queen, Luisa.

MARIANA (pleased)
Well, I‘d best be going! (She leaves)

VIDAL
Do you mind that I‘m here?

LUISA
No. Please forgive me, Vidal. I…don‘t know what I‘m supposed to do.

VIDAL
Take a moment to hear me out.

LUISA
I know what you’re going to say. I’ve heard it a dozen times.
VIDAL
Then hear me just once more. Surely you will listen to this honest man… who‘s madly in
love.

#3

Dialogue after #3

(ANIBAL enters)

ANIBAL
Vidal! Good news - we’ve converted an army man to our cause! Power to the people! To
the revolution!

VIDAL
I admire your passion, Anibal, but I’m not a political man.

ANIBAL
That’s okay, I can be patient. Don Javier Moreno put us off at first too. We just had to
figure out what he cared about.

VIDAL (with interest)

I see. And what does Don Javier Moreno care about?

ANIBAL (laughing)
Climbing the ladder. Becoming a general as fast as possible.

VIDAL
I see. And so now he says he supports your cause?

ANIBAL
Officially!

VIDAL (irritated)
Then I am officially opposed to it!

(VIDAL exits, followed by an exasperated ANIBAL)

#4 begins directly on Vidal and Anibal’s exit

Dialogue after #4

ANIBAL
This is bad. Typical Javier - he can’t be trusted!

VIDAL
If he changes sides, then so will I.

(MARIANA and NOGALES enter)

MARIANA
Is Javier here?

ANIBAL
Here - but not with us. He’s with Carolina.

NOGALES
Bah, he‘s too easily swayed. That boy is power hungry!

ANIBAL
If only you were as pretty as the Duchess.

(The group are laughing at this when LUISA, on the verge of tears, speaks and surprises
them)

LUISA
So it’s true!

MARIANA
Luisa…

LUISA
No, Mariana. I saw them. I saw them!

(She runs to MARIANA and cries in her arms. The mood shifts immediately.)

ANIBAL
He‘s not worthy of you.

NOGALES
He betrays us all.

VIDAL (a decision)
Friends. I‘m with you! For your cause, I‘ll give whatever you need. Viva la revolucion!
For Luisa Fernanda‘s happiness, I will gladly give my life.

#5
#6a
#6b

Dialogue after #6b

(As the couples are leaving, VIDAL enters. He and JAVIER see each other and stop in
their tracks; CAROLINA seizes the moment)

CAROLINA
I don‘t believe we‘ve been introduced.

VIDAL (bows politely)

I am Vidal Hernando. Duchess, your reputation precedes you.

CAROLINA
Please, call me Carolina. (To JAVIER) Darling, could you leave us alone for a moment?
(JAVIER hesitates and then leaves, irritated) And what brings you to the city, Vidal
Hernando?

VIDAL
Business.

CAROLINA
What is your business?

VIDAL
I have the feeling you know.

CAROLINA
Would you like to win a thousand gold pieces?

VIDAL
Are we betting on something?

CAROLINA
On a queen, but not the one you find in a deck of cards. On one that has both throne and
scepter - our queen.

VIDAL
A thousand gold pieces seems very little for such a royal person.

CAROLINA
Then name your price.

#7

Dialogue after #7

ANIBAL
So you’re friends with the aristocrats now?

VIDAL
Patience, young friend. The Duchess gave me something valuable - a bribe.

ANIBAL
What?

VIDAL
Don‘t worry! I turned her down. And now I know that they are worried about us.

LUISA (who has drawn closer)

Vidal? Was that the Duchess Carolina?

VIDAL
My darling - have I made you jealous?

LUISA (after a pause)

No. No, you have not.

VIDAL (disappointed)
Of course not.

LUISA
Don Vidal Hernando…there‘s no reason to be jealous of someone that I trust. (VIDAL
turns to her). Someone whose words are as true as his heart.

VIDAL
Luisa Fernanda…

#8
END OF OUR ACT ONE

INTERMISSION

ACT TWO

#9

Dialogue

ANIBAL (over the crowd‘s shouts)

Come on, come on, brothers and sisters!
Don Luis!

NOGALES
Here I am.

ANIBAL (leading the crowd)

Viva el jefe!

CHORUS
Viva el jefe!

NOGALES
No - viva España!

CHORUS
VIVA!

NOGALES
Brothers, sisters, listen to me. We may die for our principles. The government is in
trouble, but they are still powerful. We will be the storm that blows them down! (Cheers)
Anyone who is afraid, return to your homes without shame - but if you are not afraid,
follow me in defense of our freedom!

CHORUS
VIVA!!

(The group leaves stage together, leaving VIDAL alone)

#10 begins after the crowd’s exit

Dialogue after #10

(ANIBAL, MARIANA, ROSITA, and LUISA enter - ANIBAL and ROSITA have been
wounded. MARIANA and LUISA speak over each other).

MARIANA
Come this way. We’ll take care of you.

LUISA
You were so brave! It‘s going to be all right.

(CAROLINA enters)

CAROLINA
Mariana!
What is happening?

MARIANA
Revolution!

ROSITA
The people are awake!

CAROLINA
The people! The crowd‘s gone crazy! You people will destroy the beauty that we have
taken years to create.

LUISA (can no longer hold back)

No, Duchess! The people love beauty - they only desire equality.

CAROLINA
Luisa Fernanda, how dare you!

LUISA
Duchess, please listen to me!
Life is beautiful…for you. You look down on it from a high balcony. But for so many
others, life is hard!
Who has wealth? People from rich families.
Who has status? People who play the game.
Who has love? People who can buy it!
I’ll say this to your face:
No human heart is worth more than any other.
You do not have the right to have something just because you want it!
CAROLINA (coldly)
I don‘t understand a word you are saying. (She leaves)

MARIANA (with admiration)

It seems bravery is contagious. You were…magnificent!

(There are shouts from offstage)

#11 begins directly with the offstage shouting

#12

Dialogue after #12

VIDAL
Drinks for everyone!

(The crowd goes to get refreshments, chatting quietly. As they slowly leave, VIDAL
approaches LUISA admiringly - DON FLORITO and MARIANA are with her)

VIDAL
Look at these dark eyes, this grace, this beauty! Who can blame me for falling in love!

MARIANA
That‘s right!

LUISA
Vidal Hernando, you have such a way with words. I hope you can read what is in my
heart.

VIDAL
I only need one word from you. Do you love me? (Luisa nods) Then I am happy. And now,
refreshment!

(VIDAL, LUISA, MARIANA, and DON FLORITO follow the chorus; DON FLORITO is
conversing with VIDAL. ANIBAL hangs back, approaches LUISA, and takes her aside as
the last of the chorus leaves stage)

ANIBAL
I need a word.

LUISA
What is it, Anibal?

ANIBAL
I‘ve brought you something…someone.

LUISA
(Whispers) Javier? (ANIBAL nods, LUISA speaks again, too loudly) Javier!

ANIBAL
Keep your voice down.

LUISA
What are you thinking?

ANIBAL
I‘ll take a risk if I think it‘s necessary.

LUISA
How is this necessary?

ANIBAL
He just wants a chance to explain.

LUISA
He‘s too late.

ANIBAL
He still loves you. (LUISA turns away) Luisa, I didn‘t want to pity him either, but he‘s a
different man. He has lost everything.

LUISA
Gamblers sometimes lose.

ANIBAL
Just let him see you one more time.

LUISA
Now? Today? What about Vidal? What about our guests? Anibal, I don‘t know if I can do
this.

ANIBAL
I‘ll do what I can to keep the people away. He‘ll be on the next train out of here - think of
this as a last farewell.
(ANIBAL takes LUISA’s hands, then follows the chorus offstage. LUISA is left alone).

#13

Dialogue after #13

(JAVIER exits. LUISA bursts into tears. VIDAL enters and watches her for a moment)

VIDAL (sings to her gently)

„Montaraza de mis montes, relicario de mis sueños.“

(LUISA, surprised by VIDAL’S voice, turns away and wrestles to control herself)

Everyone’s waiting for you. Are you crying?

LUISA (turns around with a smile)

Just an emotional bride on her wedding day.
Vidal, listen to me. Soon I will be your wife. And I swear to you, my past will be like a
plant pulled out by the roots. I will start a new life with you. You will be everything to me,
and the past will be dead.

VIDAL (goes to her)

My love…

LUISA (moving away from him)

My friends, gather round! Drinks! Music! Dancing!
Anibal!

ANIBAL
You rang?

LUISA
You choose the dance.

ANIBAL
let’s do the „Cerandero.“

CHORUS
Viva!

#14

DIALOGUE: begins after “Bomba!” at the top of p/v p. 119

JAVIER (at a breaking point)
Luisa, I’m sorry, I’m sorry for everything. I don’t care if they kill me, I just want to hear
you say that you forgive me.

LUISA
Javier, I told you to go away.

VIDAL
Enough!

MARIANA
Vidal, don‘t hurt him - He‘s crazy.

LUISA
Vidal!

VIDAL
Luisa! (Underscoring begins at rehearsal #5, p/v p. 119) Dear Luisa…I see in your heart
what your words deny. You said you’d tear up your past by the roots, but who is strong
enough to tear roots so deep? My love, we must be honest with one another. I know you
do not love me.

LUISA
But I have promised to be your wife!

VIDAL
I can‘t ask you to live a life you’ll regret. I release you from your promise. Go with the
man you love. My heart will go with you, but don‘t be afraid. A heart that forgives is very
light to carry.

LUISA
Vidal!

VIDAL
Goodbye, Luisa Fernanda!

JAVIER
Sir, I…

VIDAL (harshly)
Go! (With more kindness) Go with my blessing. Go.

LUISA (She runs to him for a last, heartfelt embrace)

Goodbye, Vidal! God bless you.

(Underscoring should end here, at the end of p/v p. 120. Chorus continues on p. 121 to
end the opera)