Episode 43
Alejandro insists on going with Ramona to the hacienda.
Dona Ramona and Felipe are talking about the events of the day. She is very upset by Juan Canito’s death. She says she will be next. Felipe tries to comfort her and says she’s very strong. Dona Ramona feels it’s too much for her to bear. Juan and Marta were her companions for many years. She shared her tragedies and happiness with them. They witnessed the most important events of her life. Everything is falling apart around her, first Ramona now this. The only thing left to go wrong is if she loses him. He’s the most important thing in her life. He’s a grown man now, so she can go in peace.
Felipe wants her to calm down. He says she won’t die. Dona Ramona says she’s tired of suffering. Those damn Americans came here to claim another life. She’s on pins and needles waiting for news about his sister Ramona’s death. Felipe says that the American’s left thinking Alejandro dead, so nothing will happen. Dona Ramona says, “they will find him. And Ramona too.”
Alejandro tells Antonio, Sebastian and Jesus that Lince brought the notice about registering their lands. The Americans say they must show their deed. Those papers are buried at the Moreno’s hacienda. Jesus says he should send one of them to get the papers, it would be too dangerous for him to go. He refuses and says if anything happens, he should be the one to go because he’s caused the problems with the Moreno’s and wouldn’t want anyone else to suffer because of his actions. They are surprised that the whiteman hasn’t come looking for him, they must think he’s dead.
Ramona seeks out Carmen who doesn’t want to talk with her. She’s gotten into enough trouble on account of trying to help her. That’s why Ramona came, to say thank you. Carmen wants her to understand, they helped her when Pepe died, they are her people. Ramona says she understands.
Nepo arrives at the hacienda as they are praying for Juan and giving Marta and Mago their condolences. He talks with El Norteno and says to speak with Felipe. He wants to know why? Nepo asks who the dead person is and EN tells him it’s their captain. He refuses to say why he’s there, but says they could lose their land if they don’t speak with him.
Manuela and Yahale see Carmen and Ramona leaving her tent. Now they are sure she’s the one who helped Alejandro go after Ramona and gave her the clothes. Manuela calls her a traitor and spits in her face. Ramona says she should spit on her, and pushes Manuela down. She says Carmen doesn’t hold as much resentment as they do. Manuela says she’s nobody to tell them anything. She calls her a thief who stole Alejandro. She throws mud on her face.
Manuela says Carmen should know how she feels since Pepe as taken from her. But, Mexican’s didn’t take him, she says. Manuela thinks they’re all alike, Mexicans, Spanish, American’s, etc. Ramona says she knows how she feels. She and Alejandro were in love from the moment they met but she has to understand that by trying to hurt her she’s not gaining anything. There’s no point to more racial fighting. There’s enough blood spilled on the earth by people like her who cast the first stone. She didn’t steal Alejandro from her, he never belonged to her in the first place. Yahale says she’s right about that.
Felipe tells Beatriz that Juan spent his whole life at the hacienda. He was a good leader who men respected. He doesn’t understand how he was stabbed with is own knife. Maybe it was his eyesight, says Beatriz. Marta told her it was failing. Felipe insists that he was so quick with his knife, more than with a gun. El Noteno interrupts saying there is someone who wants to speak with him. His name is Nepomuceno. He met in town, but he’s not really sure who he is. At first Felipe says he doesn’t want to see him, but when he hears it’s about his land he asks him to go to his study.
Ramona is in her room talking with Angus. She tells him that Juan is now with him, keeping him company. He left without her giving him thanks for everything he did for them. She opens a box with her momentos. She thinks back to the days she secretly met with Angus in Juan’s house.
They are kissing. She says she’s afraid of her parents finding out about them. Her father would take a gun to him. She would be afraid of him seeing that uniform in his house. Even she feels guilty at times when she sees him. Juan comes in and says her father has awoken. She leaves quickly….. She recalls that these were perhaps the happiest days of her life.
Nepo meets Felipe and introduces himself. He notices the Cuban cigars and starts to sniff one until Felipe takes it away from him. He says they are both paisanos, Mexicans, and he brought the notice about the land registration so that his property won’t be turned over to the Americans.
Ramona returns to their cabin very annoyed and Alejandro asks her what is wrong. She’s washing the mud off her face and he asks her who did that to her. He asks if it was Manuela? He gets angry and says he’ll go to her right now. She says not to, since she taught her a lesson. Alejandro says they can’t live that way. He gave them a warning. Now he should throw them out of the village. Ramona says that’s exactly what he shouldn’t do. They argue but Ramona convinces him that they will have to learn to get along with everyone, regardless of their race or nationality.
Felipe shows Don Cesar the notice. It is from Sacramento and informs them that if they don’t show their deeds, they can lose their land. The deadline is almost up. He’s worried about leaving with everything that’s been happening. Cesar must also take care of his property.
They question Nepo who says that the whiteman wants all their land. He says that in his travels he learned this and thought he’d tell his paisanos. Since he’s so poor, he thought they might reward him. Felipe hands him a bag with some silver. He says he wants to stay for a few days. Felipe says he can stay overnight but has to leave the next day.
Alejandro goes to see Matea to discuss Manuela. He says he can’t permit them to continue to hurt Ramona. Matea says she’s not bad, only hurt. Not only did she lose Alejandro, but her virginity by that man who raped her. That memory stays with her night and day. He says that was avenged, he will also avenge the murders of his father and Pepe. She says he’s very brave.
He says he also wants to know something else. She says it’s about Ramona’s background right? Yes, why did she tell her she had Yahi blood? She says the stones told her the secret. He says that can’t be. Ramona is the daughter of the hacienda owner and probably an Irishman. What do you mean probably? Alejandro explains that they are not sure, she might be the daughter of Angus O’phail.
Carmen goes to Ramona with a gift, a delicious cake. She apologizes for having been a coward. After she thought about it, she agrees with Ramona’s words. Ramona appreciates it especially since she knows that Yahale and Manuela will be angry with her. She feels badly about Yahale because she’s suffered so since she was raped. She too was angry with all whites when Pepe was killed. But, Manuela has always been strange. Alejandro never courted her, she had a crush on him. Ramona hopes they can all see her as a Yahi one day.
Matea says she has no proof that Ramona has Yahi blood, but she’s sure of it. Alejandro asks why she can’t tell Manuela so that she’ll leave her alone. She can’t convince her until she has proof. In any case, he wants her to promise not to harm Ramona. She’s his wife and she deserves respect. Matea says that Angus was the man who took Tewa and then had a child who disappeared. Is she saying that the child could be Ramona? Matea says that’s what they have to find out.
Nepo, El Norteno, Sofa and Delgadina are in the kitchen. El Norteno asks the little girl where the doll he gave her was. She says she wont’ play with it because she’s white and Mago told her that white people are bad because they killed her father. Nepo asks if they know who did it. Norteno says it was either the Sherrif or the Doctor. Nepo says they should have gotten hold of them to punish them. Norteno says they couldn’t then, but Felipe will make sure its avenged. Delgadina asks if the gringos will murder Alejandro. Sofia says no, they think he’s dead. Norteno clears his throat and says he is dead and he threw his body into the river. Felipe comes in and asks Norteno to step into his study. He asks Sofia to take Nepo to his cabin. Nepo asks Delgadina to show him the way, but Sofia says she’ll take him.
Alejandro starts packing for the trip. They’ll leave early. Ramona says the only thing that makes her happy about returning is seeing Felipe again. Alejandro says she must miss him. She does and appreciates how he helped them. Yes, Alejandro says, he didn’t thing he would, but he did it because he must love her very much. Ramona says she loves him too. Alejandro says he loves her.
Felipe takes some papers out of the bookcase. He says to tell Sofia not to talk with people they don’t know. He doesn’t trust Nepo. Tell everyone not to talk about Alejandro. He’s dead. He wants El Norteno to prepare for a long trip. They are going to take some papers to Spurtown, but first will stop at the Yahi village. Is he leaving his mother alone? Felipe says he’s got to do it or they’ll lose their land. Norteno will stay at the hacienda and Marco will go with him. He argues, but Felipe says he’ll be taking over Juan Canito’s duties if Dona Ramona doesn’t object. El Norteno is humbled to be given such confidence.
Alejandro, Ramona and Lince leave together. Manuela is furious that she’s taking Alejandro away again. Matea tells her that Ramona may have Yahi blood.
In the cemetary everyone is around the grave. Felipe throws the knife down. Dona Ramona says that before the prayers she wants to say a few things about Juan Canito. He was born on this land and has returned to its guts. His whole life was devoted to serving us, he’s a loyal husband, and loving father. He was also a loyal companion to the peons he led. There is no one here who has not shed a tear because of his death. She is sure everyone is furious because of the cowardly way in which he was murdered. She swears that they will avenge his death and she decrees seven days and seven nights of mourning. She tosses a handful of dirt into the grave.
In Spurtown the Sheriff and Doctor go to the saloon. It’s empty and he says it looks like a cemetery. Doris says its because Prescott has banned Mexicans. Since then, business has dropped off. Thomas says that soon roles will change and Americans will have all the money. Douglas wants to know what happened. Sheriff Green says it went well, they saved them the trouble of killing Alejandro. The Mexicans did it themselves because he wanted to take the owner’s daughter. It’ll be easy to attack the Yahi’s now that they are leaderless. Where’s Davis? He was drunk most of the time, but sent Nepo to put up the notices.
The funeral is over. Dona Ramona tells Marta to take some time to rest. She’ll make due with Sofia. Mago too, she should rest. Marta says she’d rather work, it’s worse to sit and think. Nepo leaves and says he hopes they find who killed Juan. Dona Ramona asks who he is, she doesn’t like the look of him. Felipe tells Ramona about notice and registering his deed. She wants to send Norteno or Marcos. Felipe says she’s treating him like a girl. He can’t avoid his responsibilities. He’ll take Marcos and some peons. He knows how to defend himself. She tries to convince him not to go, but he insists. She wants him to promise not to kill the man who murdered Juan. He’ll try but he cannot promise. She gets excited and makes him promise. He gives in and does so.
Green is discussing the registration of land. Some people have already done so, for example Ruy Coronoda. When are they getting rid of him? Soon, says Green. He’s heard they are about to lose everything. Thomas says he’s interested in buying their house.
Davis comes in and asks how it went in Sacramento. They didn’t go there, they went to kill Alejandro. Without him? Don’t worry Davis, he says, you couldn’t have done anything. When they got there Alejandro was already dead. You owe Felipe Moreno the favor.
Beatriz doesn’t want Felipe to go. She thinks his mother is right. Her father could take care of everything. He’s not going to risk the hacienda in case they put more obstacles in their way. Beatriz coughs. He says they will leave first thing in the morning. They will stop at the Yahi village to leave them their deed. He’ll dig them up tonight. They are buried beneath the tree his mother always prays at.