In the Time of the Butterflies (2001) Movie Script
[Minerva]
FUNNY, THE THINGS WE FORGET,
THE LITTLE MOMENTS
WE TUCK AWAY INSIDE OUR MINDS.
MAYBE WE PUT THEM THERE
FOR SAFE KEEPING
SO THEY WON'T GO DULL
AND LOSE THEIR GLOW
FROM TOO MUCH HANDLING.
MAYBE WE KNOW
THE TIME WILL COME
WHEN WE'LL NEED TO SUMMON
THESE MEMORIES.
SUMMON SPLENDOR,
SOARING IN THE WIND
LIKE BUTTERFLIES.
I CAN'T THINK OF A HAPPIER
TIME IN MY LIFE
THAN MY CHILDHOOD WITH
MY SISTERS IN OJO DE AGUA.
[Girl giggling]
[Birds chirping]
[Girls giggling]
MINERVA! COME ON!
[Horse neighing]
[Mama]
DEDE, PATRIA,
MINERVA, MATE!
DINNER IS READY!
COME ON. GO.
MINERVA!
[Horse snorting]
[Glass breaking]
[Papa]
GO TO YOUR ROOM!
RIGHT NOW!
YOU'RE NOFAIR, PAPA.
[Papa]
I DON'T NEED TO BE LECTURED
ON FAIRNESS, MINERVA MIRABAL.
BUT IT WAS
AN ACCIDENT.
DEDE AND PATRIA
DIDN'T BREAK THE CHINA,
THEY ONLY DROPPED IT.
THE FLOOR BROKE IT.
COME ON, PAPA,
THEY WERE JUST TRYING
TO HELP MAMA SET THE
TABLE. NOBODY GOT HURT.
THEY HAVE TO LEARN
THE VALUE OF THINGS.
[Cutlery clattering]
[Minerva]
OK, I HAVE A
DEAL FOR YOU.
THEY BROKE 2 PLATES,
ONE GLASS
AND ONE CUP,
TOTAL VALUE
OF 3 PESOS.
WE HAVE AGREED--
EAT YOUR DINNER.
WE HAVE AGREED
THAT YOU CAN TAKE
10 CENTS OUT OF
EVERYONE'S ALLOWANCE
FOR THE NEX8 WEEKS,
BUT LET MY SISTERS
OUT OF THE HOUSE.
MINERVA IS GOING
TO ARGUE
WITH ST. PETER
AT THE GATES.
I'M JUST TRYING
TO HELP MY SISTERS.
SHE'S REPRESENTING US.
SHE'S OUR LAWYER.
[Papa]
JUST WHAT WE NEED
IN THIS COUNTRY,
SKIRTS ON THE BENCH.
WHICH BRINGS ME
TO MY NEXT SUBJECT.
SCHOOL APPLICATIONS
ARE DUE NEXT WEEK.
YOU CAN FORGEABOUT THAT.
BUT WHY?
I DON'T WANT YOU
TO GO TO SCHOOL
AND BE OUT THERE
ALONE, WITHOUT A FAMILY.
I WON'T, IF YOU
ALLOW MY SISTERS
TO COME WITH ME.
ENRIQUE, YOU'VE
GOT THE MONEY.
AND MOST IMPORTANT,
OUR SOCIAL POSITION.
NOW OUR DAUGHTERS
NEED THE EDUCATION
TO GO ALONG WITH IT.
AND OUR PATRIA,
IF SHE IS TO
BECOME A NUN...
HOW COULD ANYONE WANTO SACRIFICE NICE DRESSES
TO WEAR THOSE
AWFUL HABITS?
THAT'S NO
SACRIFICE AT ALL.
IT'S A WASTE
OF A PRETTY GIRL.
THAT'S WHAT IT IS.
BESIDES, IF ALL MY
LITTLE CHICKENS LEAVE,
WHAT WILL
BECOME OF ME?
WHO WILL HELP ME
WITH MY BUSINESS?
I'LL STAY AND HELP
YOU, PAPA.
YOU SEE?
IT'S SETTLED.
NOTHING IS SETTLED.
DEDE WILL STAY
WITH YOU.
YOU'LL DO AS I SAY.
NOBODY'S GOING TO
LEAVE THIS HOUSE.
[Train whistle blowing]
BYE, MINERVA.
BYE.
BYE, PAPA.
BYE. THANK YOU.
BYE.
BYE. TAKE CARE
OF YOURSELF.
[Train whistle blowing]
[People chattering]
MINERVA.
THANK YOU, MAMA.
[Door opening]
[Chains rattling]
SHH.
[Woman whispering]
QUIET.
[Bell chiming]
[Car horn honking]
[Shrieking]
ALL RIGHT, GIRLS.
TAKE CARE.
MINERVA, BEHAVE.YES, MAMA.
AND GOD BLESS YOU.
[Laughing]
[Patria]
WE SHOULD HAVE STAYED
HOME WHERE WE BELONG.
[Minerva]
HOW COULD WE KNOW
WHERE WE BELONG?
WE ONLY KNOW
THE FARM.
[Chattering]
[Nun]
ANTONIA VILION.
THANK YOU.
ROSARIA DOMINGUES.
ANGELA PERNANDES.
GRACIA GARCIA.
SANTA GOMEZ.
NUES GUSMAN.
[All]
OUR HOLY MOTHER CHURCH,
MOTHER SUPERIOR,
OUR FAMILIES
AND COUNTRY,
AND OUR BELOVED
PRESIDENT TRUJILLO.
AMEN.
IN THE NAME OF
THE FATHER, THE SON,
AND THE HOLY
GHOST, AMEN.
[Sniffling]
[Girls chattering]
[Bell chiming]
HEY.
TAKE THIS.
I DON'T WANYOUR CHARITY.
IT'S NOT CHARITY.
IT'S A FRIENDSHIP PIN.
HMM.
[Nun]
AS SINNERS, ALL WOMEN
ARE LIKELY TO GET SICK
AROUND THIS TIME
IN THEIR LIFE.
AND THE ILLNESS COMES
IN THE SHAPE OF BLOOD.
PSST.BLOOD THAT REPRESENTS
THE SIN OF OUR FOREFATHERS,
ADAM AND EVE.
AS SOON AS YOU FEEL
THAT YOU MAY HAVE
ANY NEW COMPLICATIONS
WITHIN YOUR BODY,
YOU SHOULD COME
TO SEE ME.
%[Singing in Spanish]
[Minerva]
SO, THE DONKEY
CLIMBS ON TOP
OF THE SHE-DONKEY
AND HE PUTS
ITS PEEING THING
INSIDE HER PEEING THING.
THEN, THE DONKEY,
HE STARTS MAKING
THIS REALLY LOUD NOISE
AND THE SHE-DONKEY
KICKS HER HIND LEGS.
[Giggling]
PEOPLE, THEY DO IT,
TOO. YOUR FATHER--
MY FATHER IS DEAD.
WELL THEN, YOUR UNCLE
AND YOUR AUNT--
MY UNCLES ARE DEAD, TOO.
AS I AM QUITE SURE YOU
HAVE ALL HEARD BY NOW
WE ARE EXTREMELY
FORTUNATE.
OUR GENEROUS
BENEFACTOR HAS AGREED
TO HONOR US WITH
HIS PRESENCE
AT INMACULADA
CONCEPCION.
PRESIDENT TRUJILLO
HAS ALWAYS BEEN
VERY GENEROUS
TO OUR SCHOOL,
AND WE WANT THIS TO BE
A SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY
TO HONOR HIM.
[Students whispering]
ON A DAY LIKE TODAY,
THE 24TH OF OCTOBER
OF 1891,
RAFAEL LEONIDAS TRUJILLO
WAS BORN.
OUR MOTHERLAND
WAS REBORN THAT DAY.
WE ARE DEEPLY
HONORED
TO HAVE AS OUR
GUEST TODAY
OUR BELOVED
PRESIDENT TRUJILLO.
[Crowd applauding]
FOR MY MOTHERLAND,
FOR MY PEOPLE,
I MUST DO MORE THAN
WHAT HAS BEEN DONE.
THE MOTHERLAND
IS THE FUTURE,
AND WE ARE THE ONES
WHO SHALL MAKE HISTORY.
THE FUTURE WILL
CROWN THE BRAVE,
THE HARDWORKING PEOPLE,
AND WE WILL WALK TOWARDS
IT WITH CONFIDENCE
SHIELDED BY OUR COMMITMENTO SERVE HUMANITY.
[Crowd applauding]
"I AM THE
SHACKLED FATHERLAND.
"DARE I NOW HOPE FOR
FREEDOM FROM MY WOES?
"OH, LIBERTY,
"UNFOLD YOUR
BRILLIANT BOW."
I AM FREE!
THANKS BE TO LIBERTY
AND OUR BLESSED
BENEFACTOR!
VIVATRUJILLO!
[Crowd cheering]
VIVATRUJILLO!
SPLENDID PERFORMANCE.
WHAT IS YOUR NAME?
MINERVA MIRABAL.
YOU'RE VERY PRETTY,
MINERVA.
AND BRAVE.
I REMEMBER THAT NAME.
[All]
VIVATRUJILLO!
[Sinita]
OPEN YOUR EYES, MINERVA.
YOU SPEAK OUAGAINST EL JEFE,
AND POOF,
YOU DISAPPEAR.
IF YOUR FAMILY ASKS
TOO MANY QUESTIONS,
POOF, THEY
DISAPPEAR, TOO.
THIS CAN'T BE
TRUE, SINITA.
WHO'S BEEN TELLING
YOU ALL THIS?
YOU HAVEN'T BEEN
LISTENING TO ME,
HAVE YOU?
HE KILLED MY FATHER,
HE KILLED MY BROTHER,
HE KILLED MY UNCLES,
LIKE HE'S KILLED THOUSANDS
OF PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY.
NOW ARE YOU
LISTENING TO ME?
THERE ARE MANY THINGS
YOU DON'T KNOW
ABOUT YOUR
GENERAL TRUJILLO.
[Mate]
HEY, LOOK. LOOK.
PLEASE, LOOK.
COME ON, PLEASE.
[Gasping]
WHERE ARE THEY
TAKING LINA?
[Car engine starting]
[Cell door clanging]
[Minerva]
LINA NEVER CAME BACK
TO SCHOOL.
THERE WERE STORIES.
SHE LIVED IN A
BIG MANSION,
SHE CARRIED
TRUJILLO'S BABY
SHE WAS BANISHED TO MIAMI.
ALL I KNEW WAS THASHE WAS GONE.
SO WAS SINITA.
SHE VANISHED.
AND I WAS AFRAID
TO FIND OUT WHY.
WE'RE ALMOST THERE.
LOOK. THAT'S
POQUITA'S HOUSE.
WE SPENT 5 YEARS
AT SCHOOL TOGETHER.
ON THE RIDE BACK HOME,
I HAD THE CHILLING
REALIZATION
THAT MAYBE EVERYTHING
I HAD EXPERIENCED
HAD BEEN FOR NOTHING.
AND THERE I WAS,
WITH ALL MY KNOWLEDGE,
GOING BACK WHERE
I BEGAN, THE FARM.
MATE, STOP WORRYING
ABOUT YOUR NAILS!
[Laughing]
[Car horn honking]
JAIME'S HERE!
JAIME.
HEY, WELCOME HOME!
JAIME, HOW NICE
TO SEE YOU!
HOW HAVE YOU BEEN?
FINE, HOW ARE YOU?
GOOD.
JAIMITO!
PATRIA, HOW ARE YOU?
MINERVA, HOW ARE YOU?
THIS IS
VIRGILIO MORALES,
A TEACHER ATHE UNIVERSITY.
HELLO.
AND THIS IS PATRIA,
MINERVA,
DEDE AND MATE.
I MEAN, JAIME
WAS TELLING ME
HE HAD SOME PRETTY COUSINS,
BUT THIS IS RIDICULOUS.
[Laughing]
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU.
WHAT A REFINED
YOUNG MAN.
WHAT DO YOU TEACH ATHE UNIVERSITY, LIO?
I TEACH LAW.
MINERVA WANTS
TO BE A LAWYER.
IN WHAT COUNTRY?
IN THIS ONE,
RIGHT HERE.
LAST I HEARD, WOMEN WEREN'ALLOWED TO STUDY LAW.
LAST YOU HEARD,
YOU HADN'T HEARD OF
MINERVA MIRABAL.
IS THAT RIGHT?
[Giggling]
[Hens clucking]
[Lio]
SO YOU WANT TO BE A LAWYER?
YOU LOOK MORE LIKE A
FARM GIRL FROM HERE.
I DON'T WANTO BE A LAWYER.
I'M GOING
TO BE A LAWYER.
WHAT FOR?
BECAUSE I BELIEVE
IN JUSTICE.
JUSTICE?
[Minerva]
MM-HMM.
[Laughing]
HERE, THERE IS
NO JUSTICE.
ONLY FIGHTS
TO BE FOUGHT.
WELL, I'M A VERY
GOOD FIGHTER.
AND WHAT BATTLES
HAVE YOU WON?
SOME.
SMALL ONES,
BUT YOU HAVE TO
START SOMEWHERE.
WELL, YOU'RE NOT GONNA WIN
ANY OF THE BIG ONES
WITH TWO EGGS
IN YOUR HAND.
I WANT YOU TO READ THIS.
IT'S BY JOSE MARTI,
THE CUBAN LIBERATOR.
I KNOW WHO
JOSE MARTI IS.
SO YOU'VE READ HIM?
HMM?
NO.
YOU CAN LET GO.
I'VE BEEN DOING MY OWN
READING SINCE I WAS 6.
[Jaime]
LIO, LET'S GO!
OH.
OH.
[Giggling]
COME IN, MINERVA.
IT'S BEAUTIFUL.
COME IN.
COME ON.
MM-MMM.
THAT'S THE WAY.
IT'S BEAUTIFUL.
[Panting]
[Mama]
HAVE YOU READ THIS?
DON'T YOU CARE WHAHAPPENS TO ANY OF US?
[Minerva]
GOOD MORNING.
[Mama]
DID EITHER OF YOU
KNOW ABOUT THAT?
ABOUT WHAT?
A DEMONSTRATION ATHE UNIVERSITY LAST WEEK.
LED BY A BUNCH OF
YOUNG PROFESSORS,
VIRGILIO MORALES
AMONG THEM.
"ENEMIES OF THE
STATE," IT SAYS HERE.
AYE, MAMA, ANYONE WHO
BELIEVES IN FAIR GOVERNMENIS AN ENEMY OF THE
STATE THESE DAYS.
MINERVA,
ARE YOU TRYING TO
GET US ALL KILLED?
WHAT KIND OF
GOVERNMENT IS THIS
THAT WE'RE AFRAID TO
SPEAK IN OUR OWN HOME?
THE KIND WHERE THE
WALLS HAVE EARS
AND EVERY HOUSEHOLD HAS
SOMEONE ON THE PAYROLL.
SO YOU WATCH THAT MOUTH
OF YOURS, MINERVA MIRABAL.
YOU WILL NOT SEE
THAT YOUNG MAN AGAIN,
NOT IN THIS HOUSE,
NOT ANYWHERE.
DO YOU UNDERSTAND?
BUT, MAMA,
YOU HEARD LIO'S IDEAS,
AND YOU LIKED THEM.
I DIDN'T KNOW THEY
WERE COMMUNIST IDEAS.
[Sighs]
YOU'RE GONNA GEYOURSELF KILLED
IF YOU KEEP GOING
UP AGAINST THEM.
WELL, THEY BETTER
DO IT QUICKLY,
BECAUSE I'M
LEAVING THIS COUNTRY.
IF I COULD ONLY
MAKE IT TO MY RIDE.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND
WHY YOU WANNA GO AROUND
STIRRING THINGS
UP ANYWAY.
WHY DON'T YOU JUST LEAVE
IT WELL ENOUGH ALONE?
BECAUSE IT'S NOT WELL ENOUGH,
DEDE. DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND?
THIS REGIME IS INSANE!
DO YOU KNOW
THAT TRUJILLO
HAS A SECRET CAMPAIGN
TO MAKE OUR POPULATION
WHITER THAN IT IS?
HE SECRETLY MURDERS
THOUSANDS OF
BLACK HAITIANS
THAT CROSS THE BORDER
BECAUSE, LISTEN TO THIS,
HE CLAIMS THATHEY'RE CONTAMINATING
THE DOMINICAN RACE.
[Guard]
YOU CAN PASS.
[Guard #2]
OK, YOU HEARD HIM.
[Dogs barking]
OPEN UP.
WHAT DO YOU
HAVE IN THERE?
IT'S ONLY CLOTHES.
[Guard]
MIGUELO.
OVER HERE.
LOOK AT ME.
I'LL WRITE TO YOU.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
LIO. LIO.
[Gasping]
YOU CAN GO THROUGH.
YOU CAN PASS.
MOVE IT.
MOVE IT.
MINERVA, WHAT ARE
YOU DOING?
GET BACK HERE!
GET BACK.
CHECK THAT HOOD.
OK.
MINERVA!
IT'S OK.WHAT IS SHE DOING?
IT'S OK, JUSSTAY QUIET.
LIO.
LIO.
LIO.
WELCOME TO
THE REVOLUTION.
BUTTERFLY.
[Gun firing]
[Woman crying]
LET'S GO.
I DON'T THINK YOU
CAN TOPPLE TRUJILLO
FROM THE MOUNTAINS
OF ANOTHER COUNTRY.
WELL, I CAN'T DO IIF I'M DEAD EITHER.
BUT IF I STAY,I WON'LAST LONG, MINERVA.
I'M STILL GONNA
FIGHT THE REGIME,
BUT FROM A
SAFE DISTANCE.
[Car engine starting]
THAT'S MY RIDE.
WILL YOU
WRITE TO ME?
EVERYDAY.
I GOTTA GO.
[Minerva]
I DIDN'T YET UNDERSTAND
LIO'S REVOLUTION,
ONLY THAT IT HAD
TAKEN HIM AWAY FROM ME,
AND THAT WITHOUT HIM,
MY LIFE FELT EMPTY.
PATRIA'S LIFE TOOK
AN UNEXPECTED TURN,
AND WHEN HER
CALLING CAME
IT WAS NOT THE
SORT WE EXPECTED.
[Crowd cheering]
[Papa]
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
SEE YOU TOMORROW.
ANYTHING
FOR ME, PAPA?
NO, NOT TODAY.
YOUR FRIENDS FROM INMACULADA
MUST BE TOO BUSY
GETTING MARRIED AND HAVING
BABIES TO WRITE LETTERS.
YOU SHOULD FIND
A NICE BOY
FROM A GOOD FAMILY
AND MARRY HIM.
NO NICE BOY FROM
A GOOD FAMILY
IS GONNA WANNA
MARRY A LAWYER.
WHICH YOU ARE NOT, AND
WHICH YOU NEVER WILL BE.
WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO
COME BACK TO REALITY?
BYE, MINERVA.
[Lio]
SINCE THE LAST TIME
I SAW YOU, MINERVA,
NOT A DAY HAS GONE BY
WHEN I DON'T THINK OF YOU.
AND ALTHOUGH THIS
IS THE 4TH LETTER
I WRITE TO YOU
WITHOUT RESPONSE,
I CAN'T HELP HOPING...
[Lio]
I'M SO FAR FROM YOU.
LOST IN THESE
MOUNTAINS,
I'VE NEVER FELT SO
CLOSE TO ANYBODY.
[Lio]
I STILL HAVEN'HEARD FROM YOU.
I LONG TO KISS YOUR
LIPS AND TALK...
AND I'LL WRITE TO
YOU UNTIL WE'RE FREE...
[Papa]
HOW DARE SHE GO
THROUGH MY THINGS!
THAT'S TO REMIND YOU
TO RESPECT YOUR FATHER.
YOU DON'T HAVE MY
RESPECT ANYMORE.
I WAS TRYING
TO PROTECT YOU.
I KNOW OF AT LEAS3 OF VIRGILIO'S FRIENDS
WHO HAVE
DISAPPEARED.
YOU CAN'T BE SAFE IF YOU
STAY IN CONTACT WITH HIM.
ENRIQUE, CAPT. PENA'S
HERE TO SEE YOU.
CAPT. PENA, TO WHADO WE OWE THIS HONOR?
PRESIDENT TRUJILLO HAS
REQUESTED THE PRESENCE
OF YOUR DAUGHTER MINERVA
AT THE PARTY HE IS
GIVING AT THE PALACE.
YOU AND YOUR OTHER LOVELY
DAUGHTERS ARE ALSO INVITED.
[Mama]
WE ARE NOT WORTHY
OF SUCH HONOR, CAPT. PENA.
UNFORTUNATELY, I HAVEN'BEEN FEELING WELL LATELY.
THE PRESIDENT WILL
MISS YOU, SENORA.
FOR THE REST OF YOU,
THIS IS A PARTY
I WOULDN'T MISS.
HAVE A GOOD DAY.
%[Classical music playing]
[Crowd chattering]
YOUR TABLE IS
RIGHT OVER THERE.
NO, NO, MY DEAR.
EL JEFEHAS INVITED
YOU TO THAT TABLE.
THAT'S QUITE
AN HONOR.
GO ON,
MY DAUGHTER.
[Whispering]
DON'T WORRY,
WE ARE HERE.
HERE.
THERE YOU ARE.
ENJOY.
IT'S A PLEASURE.
EXCELLENCY.
DON MANUEL,
HOW ARE YOU?
[Chuckling]
AMBASSADOR, SO
GOOD TO SEE YOU.
SON.
HI.
[Whispering]
NO, I'VE NEVER SEEN HER.
[Whispering]
IT'LL HAPPEN,
JUST BE PATIENT.
%[Spanish love song playing]
[Crowd chattering]
MAY I HAVE
THE PLEASURE?
%[Music playing]
%[Singing in Spanish]
YOU ARE A
BEAUTIFUL DANCER.
THANK YOU.
BUT THEN AGAIN,
WOMEN FROM EL CIBAO
ARE BEAUTIFUL DANCERS.
IS YOUR WIFE
FROM EL CIBAO?
I AM TALKING ABOUTHE NATIONAL TREASURE
I'M HOLDING IN MY ARMS.
I DON'T FEEL MUCH
LIKE A NATIONAL TREASURE.
WHY NOT?
YOU'RE A JEWEL.
I FEEL LIKE I'M WASTING
MY LIFE IN OJO DE AGUA.
YOU SHOULD COME
TO THE CAPITAL.
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAI KEEP TELLING PAPA.
I WANT TO GO TO
LAW SCHOOL HERE.
WOMEN ARE NOT ALLOWED
IN LAW SCHOOL.
THEY WOULD BE
IF YOU SAID SO.
UNIVERSITIES ARE
NOT GOOD FOR WOMEN.
YOUR MEDALS
ARE HURTING ME.
OH.
EXCUSE ME.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE
I CAN DO TO PLEASE YOU?
[Music stops]
[Crowd murmuring]
RELEASE HER.
PLEASE, JEFE,
LET ME TAKE MY
DAUGHTER HOME.
[Crowd whispering]
[Thunder rumbling]
[Rain pattering]
[Sighs]
[Thunder rumbling]
THAT WAS SUCH A
STUPID THING TO DO.
[Papa]
I WILL SEND A TELEGRAM
OF APOLOGY TO EL JEFE.
HE'LL UNDERSTAND,
PATRIA.
[Dede]
YOU'RE RIGHT, PAPA.
DO IT BEFORE
THINGS GET WORSE.
WHAT DID YOU
WANT ME TO DO?
HE GRABBED MY ASS.
MINERVA.
IT WAS AN
IMMEDIATE REACTION.
YOU DON'T SLAP
TRUJILLO.
YOU SHOULD HAVE
THOUGHT ABOUT IT.
WELL, MAYBE IF I HAD
THOUGHT ABOUT IT,
I WOULD HAVE DONE
EXACTLY THE SAME THING.
BECAUSE IF I LET HIM
GRAB MY ASS, NEXT HE'S
GONNA GRAB MY BREAST--
MINERVA! I WILL
NOT TOLERATE THIS
LANGUAGE IN THIS HOUSE.
MINERVA DID WHAT HER
CONSCIENCE DICTATED.
NO ONE IS TO
BLAME FOR THAT.
A TELEGRAM
TO APOLOGIZE.
HE'LL UNDERSTAND.
[Thunder rumbling]
[Cow mooing]
[Dog barking]
GOOD MORNING.
MR. ENRIQUE MIRABAL.
HE IS MY HUSBAND.
WHAT DO YOU WANT?
CAPT. PENA WANTS TO
SEE HIM IMMEDIATELY.
[Policeman]
THAT'S ALL I CAN SAY.
EVERYTHING ALL
RIGHT, MINERVA?
[Mama]
ENRIQUE! THERE IS
SOMEONE LOOKING FOR YOU.
WHY ARE YOU
TAKING HIM?
FOR HOW LONG?
I DON'T KNOW...
WHY YOU?
DON'T WORRY,
MINERVA.
I'LL CLEAR IT UP.
I'M SORRY, PAPA.
TAKE CARE OF YOUR
MOTHER, YOU HEAR?
YOU'LL BE BACK SOON.
I PROMISE.
ENRIQUE.
ENRIQUE!
UGH!
[Sobbing]
[Crowd chattering]
[Woman crying]
NO, I CAN DO
NOTHING ELSE.
WE'RE LOOKING
FOR A PRISONER.
ENRIQUE MIRABAL.
WE'VE BEEN COMING FOR
2 WEEKS, EVERY DAY,
AND YOU STILL CAN'TELL US WHERE HE IS.
GET THIS DOCUMENSTAMPED CORRECTLY,
AND PERHAPS
WE CAN HELP YOU.
THESE DOCUMENTS HAVE
BEEN STAMPED CORRECTLY
FOR 2 DAYS NOW.
LOOK AGAIN.
[Bureaucrat]
TALK TO CAPT. PENA.
HE SEEMS TO HAVE A SPECIAL
INTEREST IN YOUR CASE.
[Capt. Pena]
I TRIED TO HANDLE IT HERE,
BUT THE ORDERS
CAME FROM THE TOP.
HE SENA TELEGRAM.
YES.
YES, I KNOW.
HE'S JUST A FARMER.
HE DOESN'T WANNA GEINVOLVED IN ANY TROUBLE.
WHAT IS HE
ACCUSED OF?
WHATEVER IT IS,
I'M POSITIVE IT'S JUSA MISUNDERSTANDING.
IT COULD BE
CLEARED UP.
CAN YOU TAKE
US TO HIM?
IT WILL BE BETTER
ALL THE WAY AROUND
IF WE FOLLOW ORDERS.
ISN'T THAT RIGHT,
SENORITAMINERVA?
I WILL DO WHATEVER
I NEED TO DO
TO MAKE SURE MY
FATHER'S ALL RIGHT.
UH, LISTEN,
SENORITAMINERVA,
DON'T, UM, DON'MISUNDERSTAND ME.
I'M A MAN OF HONOR,
BUT TO BE HONESWITH YOU,
I BELIEVE THERE'S A WAY
YOU CAN HELP YOUR FATHER.
THANK YOU,
GENTLEMEN.
[Man]
THANK YOU, YOUR EXCELLENCY.
WAIT OVER THERE
BY THE DESK.
[Dice rattling]
SENORITA
MINERVA MIRABAL.
SEEMS LIKE YOU LEFQUITE AN IMPRESSION
ON MY POLICE
DEPARTMENT.
PLEASE SIT DOWN.
JEFE,I HAVE
COME TO PLEAD
FOR MY FATHER'S
RELEASE.
PLEASE SIT DOWN.
I WOULD LIKE TO
INVITE YOU HERE,
TO THE PALACE,
TILL WE WORK
THESE MATTERS OUT.
I WILL HAVE TO
ASK MY MOTHER,
SHE'S WAITING FOR ME
OUTSIDE IN THE CAR.
I'M SURE SHE'LL BE
VERY, VERY FLATTERED
WITH YOUR HOSPITALITY.
LET'S LEAVE IT TO THE
WILL OF FATE, SHALL WE?
THE ROLL OF THE DIE.
IF YOU WIN,
I'LL DO EVERYTHING
I CAN TO MAKE SURE
THAT YOU, YOUR FATHER,
AND YOUR MOTHER
LEAVE HERE TOGETHER.
IF YOU LOSE,
I'LL DO EVERYTHING
I CAN TO MAKE SURE
THAT YOUR MOTHER AND FATHER
LEAVE HERE TOGETHER,
AND YOU WILL STAY.
IS THAT WHY MY
FATHER IS IN PRISON?
I BELIEVE HE'S JUST BEING
QUESTIONED. AM I WRONG?
THEN LET ME RAISE
THE STAKES, JEFE.
HOW SO?
IF I WIN, YOU WILL
RELEASE MY FATHER...
AND YOU WILL ALLOW ME
TO GO TO LAW SCHOOL.
AND IF YOU LOSE?
THEN YOU WILL
RELEASE MY FATHER,
AND YOU'LL GEYOUR WISH.
[Die rattling]
CONGRATULATIONS.
YOU COULD STILL
ROLL AN ACE.
I HAVE NO
INTEREST IN TIES.
WINNING OR LOSING,
WITH ME OR
AGAINST ME.
IT'S WHAI BELIEVE IN.
YOU MAY LEAVE.
[Doors clanging]
ENRIQUE, WHAT HAVE
THEY DONE TO YOU?
I'M MUCH
BETTER NOW,
MUCH BETTER.
[Dog barking]
I JUST HOPE
THE MUSIC
HASN'T SPOILED
THE YUCCAS.
WE DON'T GROW
ANY YUCCAS, PAPA.
EVERY TIME THERE IS
A PARTY, THEY SPOIL.
WE'VE GOT TO STOP
FEEDING THE HOGS.
ENRIQUE,
THE YUCCAS ARE FINE,
AND SO ARE THE HOGS.
WE APOLOGIZED.
WE...
APOLOGIZED.
[Priest speaking Spanish]
AMEN.
[Sobbing]
[Capt. Pena]
SENORA.
MY CONDOLENCES.
THANK YOU,
CAPT. PENA.
SENORITA,YOUR
FATHER WAS A GOOD MAN.
FOR HIS HEART TO GIVE
OUT LIKE THAT, IT'S, UH,
SO UNFORTUNATE.
MY FATHER HAD A
BIG, STRONG HEART.
IT GAVE OUT BECAUSE
HE WAS TORTURED.
YOU SPEAK FROM GRIEF.
EL JEFEASKED ME
TO EXPRESS
TO YOU HIS DEEPESSYMPATHIES, AND, UH...
TO GIVE YOU THIS.
[Dede]
HE KILLED OUR
FATHER, MINERVA.
SENDING YOU
TO LAW SCHOOL
DOESN'T MAKE IANY BETTER.
HOW CAN YOU ACCEPA MURDERER'S GIFT?
BECAUSE IT'S THE
ONLY WAY I HAVE
TO FIGHT HIM BACK.
[Clasps snapping]
[Minerva]
I TOOK THE TRAIN AGAIN,
THIS TIME ON MY OWN.
I HAD PLAYED
AGAINST TRUJILLO,
AND IN WINNING,
I HAD LOST.
MINERVA, TAKE CARE.
MINERVA,
WRITE TO ME.
DON'T FORGET.
TAKE CARE
OF YOURSELF.
I LOVE YOU. BYE.
GOOD-BYE, MINERVA.
BYE.
[Speaker]
GEN. TRUJILLO
IS THE LEADER OF THE
STATE AND THE GOVERNMENT,
PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION,
AND OUR NATIONAL
ARMED FORCES.
HE EXECUTES THE LAWS,
CARRIES OUT THE MULTIPLE
BUSINESSES OF THE STATE,
AND REPRESENTS THE ISLAND
IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS.
[Bell chiming]
[Crowd chattering]
LIO.
[Man]
I KNEW YOUR FRIEND LIO.
AFTER HE LEFTHE COUNTRY,
HE WROTE
TO OUR CELL
ASKING IF ANYONE
HAD SEEN YOU
AT THE
LAW SCHOOL.
WE ALL LAUGHED
AT THE IDEA
OF A WOMAN
BEING ADMITTED.
HE SAID HE LIKED TO
CALL YOU BUTTERFLY.
MANOLO TAVARES,
BUT SOME FRIENDS
CALL ME POLO.
MINERVA MIRABAL.
BUTTERFLY.
SO HERE YOU ARE.
THAT'S RIGHT.
HOW DID YOU
ACCOMPLISH THAT?
I GAMBLED WITH
THE DEVIL AND I WON.
WHY DID LIO COME
BACK IF HE KNEW HE
WAS STILL IN DANGER?
HE DIDN'T COME BACK.
TRUJILLO HUNTS
DOWN HIS ENEMIES
LIKE DOGS
WHEREVER THEY ARE.
WHY DOESN'EVERYONE KNOW THIS?
MOST PEOPLE DON'WANT TO KNOW.
EVERYONE'S
TOO SCARED.
I WANT TO KNOW IT,
AND I WANNA DO
SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
FEAR IS THE
BEST BREEDING GROUND
FOR HIS REGIME.
EVERYONE IN THIS
COUNTRY LIVES IN FEAR.
EVERYONE JUSGOES ALONG, MINDING
THEIR OWN BUSINESS,
TURNING AWAY
THE TRUTH.
THEN, ONE DAY,
SOMETHING HAPPENS,
AND YOU CAN'LOOK AWAY ANYMORE.
YOU'RE AFRAID NOTO GET INVOLVED,
NOT TO FIGHT BACK,
BECAUSE YOU KNOW,
YOU REALIZE,
THAT NO ONE
YOU CARE ABOUIS SAFE ANYMORE.
THAT'S RIGHT.
MY BROTHER'S ONLY CRIME
WAS TO BE OUT OF A JOB.
HE WAS TAKEN BY THE POLICE
AND ACCUSED OF VAGRANCY.
NOBODY HAS BEEN ABLE TO
TELL ME WHERE HE IS.
BUT I'M SURE HE'S IN
ONE OF THOSE CAMPS
THAT TRUJILLO HAS
OUT IN THE FIELDS.
THEY TREAT THEM
LIKE PRISONERS
AND MAKE THEM WORK
UNTIL THEY DIE.
THE POLICE SAY THE
CAMPS DON'T EXIST.
ACCORDING TO THEM,
NOTHING EXISTS,
ONLY TRUJILLO
THE GREAT.
THAT'S WHERE WE'RE HAVING
OUR BIGGEST PROBLEM.
TRYING TO MAKE
PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHATHE REAL SITUATION IS.
THAT'S WHAWE NEED TO DO.
EDUCATE PEOPLE ABOUWHAT IS REALLY GOING
ON IN THIS COUNTRY.
EVERYBODY, THIS IS
A LAW STUDENWHO WANTS TO
WORK WITH US.
HER NAME IS...
BUTTERFLY.
GO AHEAD,
BUTTERFLY.
POLO AND I HAVE MADE
A LIST WITH THE PEOPLE
WHO HAVE DISAPPEARED
LAST MONTH.
WE HAVE MORE THAN
300 NAMES ON IT.
WE NEED TO MAKE COPIES
AND DISTRIBUTE THEM
SO PEOPLE KNOW WHATRUJILLO IS DOING.
HERE.
PUSH IT DOWN.
THERE YOU GO.
RIGHT HERE.
PAY ATTENTION
EVERYONE.
PALOMINO WILL
PICK UP THE BOXES,
UP HERE IN
BELLA VISTA.
AND WE'LL DELIVER THEM
ALL THE WAY HERE
TO THE
WAREHOUSE. OK?
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
[Knocking]
[Knocking]
LET'S GEEVERYTHING OUT.
MOVE THOSE
THINGS OUT.
[Knocking]
[Woman]
OPEN UP.
MATE, WHAT ARE
YOU DOING HERE?
I'VE RUN AWAY.
I WAS GOING CRAZY
ON THAT FARM.
IT'S MORE BORING THAN
EVER, NOW THAT PATRIA
IS HAVING KID AFTER KID,
AND DEDE, BEING A
NEWLYWED, YOU DON'T--
MATE, YOU CANNOSTAY HERE.
I WOULDN'T BE
ANY TROUBLE.
I CAN SLEEP ON A COUCH,
OR EVEN A MAT ON THE FLOOR.
THIS PLACE LOOKS LOVELY.NO, NO.
YES, BUT--
WHERE DID YOU GEALL THIS FURNITURE?
YOU HAVE TO
GO BACK.
[Rattling]
WHAT WAS THAT?
NOTHING.
YOU DON'T HAVE A
MAN IN HERE, DO YOU?
NO. LET'S GO.
MAMA MUST BE SO
WORRIED ABOUT YOU.
YOU CAN'T JUST RUN AWAY.
[Mate]
WHERE ARE WE GOING?
[Minerva]
IT'S A GOOD THING
THE BUS STATION'S
ONLY A COUPLE
OF BLOCKS AWAY.
YOU'LL BE HOME
BEFORE MIDNIGHT.
I'LL CALL MAMA AND
TELL HER SOME STORY.
WHATEVER
YOU PLEASE.
WHAT'S THE MATTER
WITH YOU?
MATE, YOU'RE NOT GONNA
LIKE IT HERE. THE CITY IS...
I DON'T KNOW,
JUST TRUST ME.
YOU'RE NOT GONNA
LIKE IT HERE.
THERE YOU GO
AGAIN, TREATING ME
LIKE I'M STUPID.
I'M NOT A
CHILD ANYMORE.
I'M CAPABLE OF MAKING
MY OWN DECISIONS.
AND I'VE DECIDED
TO STAY IN THE
CITY AND GET A LIFE.
I'LL SLEEP ON THE
STREETS IF NECESSARY,
BUT I'M NOGOING BACK.
OK.
YOU'RE RIGHT, MATE.
BUT I'M SORRY,
YOU CANNOSTAY WITH ME.
I'LL HELP YOU GEA PLACE FOR TONIGHT.
HERE, YOU'LL
NEED MONEY.
[Scoffs]
I DON'T WANYOUR HELP.
I DON'T KNOW WHO
YOU ARE ANYMORE.
MATE.
YOU DID THE
RIGHT THING.
YOU'RE
PROTECTING HER.
[Sighs]
[People chattering]
ARE YOU OK?
CAN I HELP YOU?
THE BUTTERFLY HAS
BEEN OUR INSPIRATION.
BUTTERFLY?
IT'S HER
UNDERGROUND NAME.
I'M LEANDRO, BUI GO BY PALOMINO.
SO...
I GUESS, FROM NOW ON,
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE
MORE THAN JUST ONE
BUTTERFLY, AREN'T WE?
[Man]
PALOMINO, LET'S GO.
PASS ME THE GLUE.
[Minerva]
PALOMINO!
COME ON, LET'S GO.
LET'S GO.
WHAT ARE YOU
DOING HERE?
THE VERY SAME
THING YOU ARE.
DID YOU GET HER
INTO THIS?
ISN'T THAT WHAWE'RE SUPPOSED
TO BE DOING?
RECRUITING PEOPLE?
GET OUT OF
HERE NOW.
MINERVA, I'M NOA CHILD ANYMORE.
COME ON,
LET'S GO.
IF YOU CAN TAKE THE
RISK, THEN SO CAN I.
THIS IS PERSONAL.
TRUJILLO HATES ME.
HE KILLED PAPA
BECAUSE OF ME.
I DON'T WANT ANY MORE
FAMILY BLOOD ON MY HANDS.
GET OUT.
HE WAS MY
FATHER AS WELL.
LET'S GO.
LET'S GO.
[Car engine starting]
[Minerva]
IF THE ERRANT IS UNDER 18,
HE WILL BE SENT TO
A CORRECTIONAL HOME
OR TO THE COUNTRYSIDE
TO CULTIVATE THE LAND
OR DO WHATEVER THE
GOVERNMENT DECIDES.
CORRECT.
OR ELSE HE WILL
BE RETURNED
TO HIS PARENTS OR
CLOSEST RELATIVES
IF THEY COMPROMISE
TO TAKE CARE OF HIM
[Together]
AND MAKE HIM A
PRODUCTIVE PERSON.
MANOLO...
DO YOU THINK WE'RE
PRODUCTIVE PEOPLE,
OR DO YOU THINK WE'RE
JUST A PAIR OF FOOLS?
WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
YOU KNOW.
[Sighs]
MAYBE WE'RE DREAMING
OF SOMETHING
THAT WILL
NEVER HAPPEN.
YEAH, MAYBE.
BUT I'D RATHER
DIE FINDING OUTHAN LIVE KNOWING I DIDN'DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
I, MINERVA MIRABAL,
TAKE YOU, MANOLO TAVARES,
TO BE MY HUSBAND.
I PROMISE TO BE YOUR
LOVER AND YOUR FRIEND,
YOUR ALLY IN CONFLICAND ADVENTURE,
YOUR GREATESADVERSARY,
AND YOUR
BIGGEST ADMIRER.
VIVAN MANOLO
Y MINERVA!
[All]
VIVA!
[Trujillo]
CONGRATULATIONS.
CONGRATULATIONS.
CONGRATULATIONS.
CONGRATULATIONS.
[Student]
THANK YOU. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH.
CONGRATULATIONS.
CONGRATULATIONS.THANK YOU.
CONGRATULATIONS.THANK YOU.
DONA
MINERVA MIRABAL.
IT SEEMS THAT THE UNIVERSITY
HAS TREATED YOU WELL.
THANK YOU, JEFE.
FATE WAS
KIND TO YOU.
I JUST HOPE IT'S ALL
BEEN WORTHWHILE.
I PROMISED YOU THAI WOULD ALLOW YOU
TO ATTEND
LAW SCHOOL.
NOTHING WAS SAID ABOUALLOWING YOU TO PRACTICE LAW.
BESIDES,
YOU'RE A WIFE NOW,
SOON TO BE A MOTHER.
YOU'LL HAVE ENOUGH
WORK AS IT IS.
CONGRATULATIONS.
[Whispering]
TAKE IT.
[Man]
INGERO, DANDIDO
[Trujillo]
CONGRATULATIONS.
[Man]
FIGUEROA, ESTEBAN.
[Student]
THANK YOU, SIR.
[Trujillo]
CONGRATULATIONS.
[Man]
RAMIREZ, JUAN.
[Trujillo]
CONGRATULATIONS.
WHAT IS IT?
WHAT HAPPENED?
HE'S BEEN PLANNING
THIS ALL ALONG.
HE'S BEEN SO LOOKING
FORWARD TO THIS MOMENT.
HE HAS
OTHER MOMENTS
COMING TO HIM
THAT HE WON'ENJOY SO MUCH.
[Man]
GOD BLESS YOU, MY CHILD.
[Minerva]
WE TRIED TO KEEP
PEOPLE INFORMED,
BUT TRUJILLO'S REGIME WORKED
FASTER THAN WE COULD.
HE WAS FEEDING
THE PEOPLE
A DICTATOR'S
FAVORITE DIET--
BREAD AND FEAR.
[Soldiers yelling]
[Panting]
[Children crying]
[Struggling]
[Crowd gasping]
[Screaming]
[Baby crying]
HOW ARE YOU,
MY LOVE?
DO YOU WANT SOME?
[Mate]
MANOLO?
[Minerva]
THE BIRTH OF MINOU MADE ME
WANNA FORGEEVERYTHING.
MANOLO, DO YOU KNOW
WHERE AMARMANOS IS?
BUT THE KILLING
OF MY FRIENDS
BROUGHT ME BACK
TO REALITY.
LAST I HEARD
HE WAS IN...
NO ONE WAS SAFE.
[Whispering]
[Engine starting]
[Tires screeching]
[Man]
GO! GO! GO!
[Child]
THEY'RE HERE!
[Children laughing]
[Child]
MANOLITO!
[Woman]
MINOU, HOW ARE YOU?
[Girl]
I'LL HOLD HIM.
[Giggling]
PATRIA.
I NEED YOUR HELP.
I'M GOING AWAY
WITH MANOLO,
AND I WAS HOPING
YOU COULD TAKE CARE
OF MINOU AND MANOLITO
TILL WE GET BACK.
[Children laughing]
WHAT IF YOU DON'COME BACK?
HAVE YOU THOUGHOF THAT?
MAMA IS WORRIED SICK
ABOUT YOU AND MATE,
ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE
DOING IN THE CAPITAL.
WE'RE DOING WHAHAS TO BE DONE.
LEAVING YOUR
CHILDREN BEHIND?
IS THAT WHAHAS TO BE DONE?
I CAN'T BE PART OF
ANYTHING YOU'RE DOING.
YOU CHOOSE
FOR YOURSELF,
AND I CHOOSE FOR ME
AND FOR MY FAMILY.
THEN YOU HAVE TO ASK
YOURSELF WHAT IT IS
YOU'RE CHOOSING
FOR YOUR FAMILY.
YOU CAN'T HIDE
FROM THINGS
JUST BECAUSE
THEY'RE UGLY, PATRIA.
MINERVA, I'LL TAKE
CARE OF YOUR CHILDREN.
THANK YOU, SISTER.
AT LEAST TELL US
WHERE YOU'RE GOING.
IT'S BETTER IF I DON'T.
[Minerva]
WHEN I LEFT PATRIA'S HOUSE,
I WAS TORN APART.
I COULDN'T BEAR TO
LEAVE MY CHILDREN,
BUT I WANTED THEM TO
HAVE A BETTER LIFE.
I PRAY THAT THEY
WILL UNDERSTAND.
[Man whispers]
TAKE THIS ONE.
TAKE IT.
[People whispering]
PUSH IT ALL THE
WAY TO THE BACK.
CAREFUL.
[Man]
LET'S GO.
ANOTHER ONE.
[Branch breaking]
SHH. SHH.
[Birds squawking]
WAIT. WAIT.
[Engines starting]
[Guns firing]
[People yelling]
GET IN THE TRUCK!
WHERE'S PALOMINO?
THERE'S NO MORE TIME!
GET IN THE TRUCK!
HURRY!
[Machine guns firing]
GO!
[Yelling]
[Truck approaching]
[Cow mooing]
[Horse neighing]
MINERVA, WHAT ON
EARTH HAS HAPPENED?
I'VE BEEN PREVENTED
FROM PRACTICING LAW,
SO I'M IN THE DELIVERY
BUSINESS NOW, AND, UH,
I NEED A PLACE
TO STORE SOME OF THIS
FRUIT FOR A FEW DAYS.
[Groaning]
PALOMINO,
ARE YOU OK?
PALOMINO, ARE
YOU ALL RIGHT?
I WAS SO WORRIED
ABOUT YOU.
I WAS WORRIED
ABOUT MYSELF, TOO.
COME ON, WE HAVE
TO UNLOAD THIS.
WHAT IS IN
THOSE CRATES?
YOU DON'WANNA KNOW.
WHAT ARE YOU
GOING TO DO
WITH THEM?
BURY THEM.
HERE?MM-HMM.
ARE YOU CRAZY?
PEOPLE WILL SEE YOU.
NO, LET'S TAKE
THEM BEHIND MY HOUSE.
OK, LET'S GO.
[Man]
WHAT ARE YOU DOING
TO US, PATRIA?
[Patria]
I CAN'T TURN THEM
AWAY, PEDRITO.
IT'S ONE THING
TO TAKE THEM IN,
AND ANOTHER THING
IS TO HIDE THEIR
WEAPONS IN OUR LAND!
THEY ARE
MY SISTERS,
AND THIS IS MY
FATHER'S LAND.
THEY ARE GOING TO LEAVE THE
TRUCK AND CRATES HERE
NO MATTER WHAT'S
INSIDE THEM,
AND NO MATTER
WHAT YOU SAY.
I'M NOT GOING TO
TURN MY BACK ON THEM.
[People chattering]
[Whispers]
HI. GO AHEAD.
[Patria whispers]
WE KNOW THAT SOME
OF YOU IN THE CHURCH
SYMPATHIZE WITH
MOVEMENT IDEAS.
[Whispers]
SO WHAT IS IT YOU WANT?
[Minerva]
TO JOIN FORCES
AND FIGHT BACK.
YOU'RE TALKING
ABOUT VIOLENCE.
NO, WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT THE
CHURCH HELPING US
TO REACH ITS
PEOPLE AND TELL
THEM THE TRUTH.
IT'S NOT AN ARMY WE'RE
PUTTING TOGETHER, FATHER.
IT'S EVERYONE.
STUDENTS, WORKERS,
MOTHERS AND FATHERS,
EVEN SOME
OF THE RICH.
WE WANT TO HELP YOU
ORGANIZE YOUR CONGREGATION
AND TO CONTACT OTHER PRIESTS
TO DO THE SAME, FATHER.
WE NEED EVERYONE.
THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH
TRUJILLO CAN DO
AGAINST THE CHURCH.
ARE YOU WITH
US, FATHER?
I AM.
[Boy]
COME ON!
[Minerva]
FOR TOO LONG, OUR LITTLE
ISLAND HAS BEEN CLUTCHING
TO THE IRON GRIP
OF THE DICTATOR.
HE HAS SMOTHERED
RESISTANCE
AND SUPPRESSED ANYONE
WHO SPEAKS OF FREEDOM.
THIS REGIME IS
BASED ON FEAR,
VIOLENCE
AND OPPRESSION.
BUT THIS TIME IS
COMING TO AN END NOW.
[Man speaking Spanish
on radio]
BE CAREFUL.
THIS CAUSE IS NOJUST FOR MEN,
IT IS A CAUSE
FOR WOMEN, TOO.
WE CANNOT ALLOW
OUR CHILDREN
TO GROW UP
IN THIS TYRANNY.
WE HAVE TO FIGHAGAINST IT.
WE HAVE TO BE PREPARED
TO GIVE EVERYTHING,
EVEN OUR LIFE IF
IT'S NECESSARY.
[Man]
OK, EVERYBODY.
LET'S GO.
YOU TWO, TAKE THE
DOGS TO THE BACK.
GET THE DOGS
TO THE BACK.
[Guard]
BREAK IN AROUND THE RIGHT!
MINERVA?
[Yelling]
[Dogs barking]
[Screaming]
[Guard]
OPEN THEM UP!
I WANT TO SEE
EVERYTHING.
[Screaming]
GET ANOTHER
TRUCK AROUND BACK.
MATE!
[Screaming]
[Coughing]
[Door clanging]
[People murmuring]
[Coughing]
[Cell door opening]
MINERVA MIRABAL.
THE BUTTERFLIES
ARE ALIVE.
SILENCE!
I AM ALIVE, TOO.
NICOLAS IS ALIVE.
ESTEBAN IS ALIVE.
CAYETANO IS ALIVE.
MANOLO!
IS MANOLO ALIVE?
LET'S GO!
MANOLO!
[Panting]
[Gasps]
MANOLO.
[Sobbing]
I'LL MAKE THIS
EASY FOR YOU.
I WANT THE NAMES OF
EVERYONE IN YOUR GROUP.
THE NAMES.
DO YOU WANT TO SEE YOUR
HUSBAND DIE RIGHT HERE?
[Whimpering]
[Electricity crackling]
[Breathing heavily]
[Zapping]
[Groaning]
[Screaming]
[Minerva]
FUNNY, THE THINGS I FORGOT.
AND NOW I'M STRUGGLING
TO REMEMBER
TO KEEP MYSELF ALIVE.
MY FATHER'S EYES.
LIO'S VOICE.
MY CHILDREN'S LAUGHTER.
MANOLO'S HANDS.
LOVE, JUSTICE.
[Creaking]
[Woman]
YOUR FAMILY IS SAFE AND WELL.
YOUR HUSBAND IS ALIVE,
BUT HE'S BEING
TRANSFERRED.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE.
WHO ARE YOU?
LONG LIVE THE
BUTTERFLIES.
"INSIDE A SECRET PLACE
IN THE HUGE HOUSES
"THE MATRESSES ASLEEP
IN THE PAS"THE BITTER GREEN VALLEY
SEEN FROM ABOVE
"FROM THE HIDDEN GLASS
"ALL ADOLESCENCE
GETTING WET AND BURNING
"LIKE AN OIL LAMP
DROPPED IN THE RAIN
"THE PERFUME
LIKE AN ACID SWORD
"PLUMS IN THE ROAD"
I THOUGHT YOU'D
NEVER COME BACK.
WHAT DID THEY
DO TO YOU?
NOTHING.
JUST LEFT ME ALONE
FOR A WHILE.
THERE IS A DONKEY
PULLING A FLOWER CART.
[Woman]
WHAT COLOR IS THE DONKEY?
HE'S GRAY AND CHUBBY.
IT'S A FAT LITTLE DONKEY
WITH LONG, FLOPPY EARS.
[Laughing]
MINERVA!
MINERVA,
COME AND LOOK!
[Laughing]
YOU HAVE TO LOOK,
MINERVA.
COME.
I'VE COME FOR
YOUR BUCKET.
[Whispers]
LONG LIVE THE BUTTERFLY.
BLESS YOU, SISTER.
WHAT IS IT?
"VENEZUELAN PRESIDENROMULO BETANCOURHAS FILED CHARGES
"WITH THE ORGANIZATION
OF AMERICAN STATES
"CLAIMING THAT THE
DOMINICAN GOVERNMEN"WAS INVOLVED WITH AN
ATTEMPT ON HIS LIFE."
[Gasps]
IT'S HAPPENING.
IT'S FINALLY,
FINALLY HAPPENING.
[Minerva whispers]
DON'T BE AFRAID OF THEM.
THEY'RE JUST INVESTIGATING
THE TREATMENT OF
POLITICAL PRISONERS.
BUT REMEMBER, THERE
ARE MICROPHONES.
OVER THERE.
I AM ROBERTO ARROYO
OF COLOMBIA.
WE REPRESENTHE ORGANIZATION
OF AMERICAN STATES.
SENORITAMIRABAL,
WHAT'S YOUR CELL LIKE?
COMFORTABLE.
HAVE YOU, OR ANY
OTHER PRISONERS,
BEEN TORTURED?
NO,
WE ARE VERY WELL
TREATED HERE.
HAVE YOU ANY
COMPLAINTS AT ALL?
[Crying]
ONLY...
THAT I WANTO BE AT HOME...
WITH MY FAMILY.
[Coughing]
[Guard]
MINERVA AND
MARIA TERESA MIRABAL.
OH.
[Crying]
THE MEN?
ANY WORD
FROM THEM?
NO.
MINOU.
[Sniffling]
COME ON, LET'S GO.
THANK GOD.
[Thunder rumbling]
[Crickets chirping]
[Whispers]
HEY.
I'M SO PROUD
OF YOU.
THIS IS NOT FOREVER.
YOU'LL GET BETTER.
YOU'VE GOT TO COME
OUT OF THIS ROOM.
I CAN'T.
IT'S TOO MUCH.
TOO MUCH?
NOISE, LIGHT, LIFE.
MINERVA, YOU HAVE
TO BE STRONG AGAIN.
WE NEED TO GEOUR HUSBANDS BACK.
[Whispers]
CORPUS CHRISTI.
CORPUS CHRISTI.
CORPUS CHRISTI.
LONG LIVE
THE BUTTERFLIES.
[Whispers]
GOD BLESS THE BUTTERFLIES.
GOD BLESS
THE BUTTERFLIES.
SENORAMINERVA?
GOOD MORNING.
I HAVE SOME VERY
GOOD NEWS FOR YOU.
I JUST LEARNED THAT YOUR
HUSBANDS ARE SAFE AND WELL.
SO I MADE SOME INQUIRIES
FOR YOU, AND I JUST FOUND OUTHAT THEY'RE ALL BEING HELD
IN DIFFERENT PRISONS.
I PULLED
SOME STRINGS,
AND NOW THEY ARE ALL BEING
MOVED TO PUERTO PLATA.
EL JEFEHAS GRANTED
YOU PERMISSION
TO VISIT THEM.
CAN YOU PLEASE
TELL EL JEFETHAWE ARE ALL VERY
THANKFUL FOR
HIS GENEROSITY?
YOU'RE GONNA BE ABLE
TO THANK HIM YOURSELVES.
HE'S GONNA BE STOPPING
AT YOUR PLACE
ON HIS WAY
TO SAN JULIAN
TO HEAR YOUR
WORDS OF GRATITUDE.
MINERVA,
WHAT'S WRONG?
WE ALL KNOW
WHAT'S WRONG.
PEOPLE LOOK UP
TO US NOW.
IF WE WELCOME
TRUJILLO IN OUR HOME
AND PAY TRIBUTE TO HIM
AS IF NOTHING
HAS HAPPENED,
WE'RE GONNA SEND
THE WRONG MESSAGE.
YOU DON'T HAVE
TO BELIEVE IN
WHATEVER YOU
MIGHT SAY TO HIM.
IT'S JUST GOING TO BUY
US SOME PEACE OF MIND.
YES, BUT FOR
HOW LONG?
HOW MANY MORE HUMILIATIONS
DO WE HAVE TO TAKE?
[Children chattering]
[Horse neighing]
[Man chuckling]
[Minerva]
JEFE.
SENORAMIRABAL, YOU HAVE
A BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER.
THANK YOU.
[Whispers]
GO GET YOUR GRANDMA.
IT IS A GREAT HONOR
TO HAVE YOU
HERE IN OJO DE AGUA.
I LOVE TO DROP
BY ON PEOPLE.
SEE HOW THEY
REALLY LIVE.
I AM VERY HAPPY TO
HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY
TO THANK YOU FOR OUR
RELEASE FROM PRISON.
NOW THAT YOU'VE GOTTEN
YOUR 2ND CHANCE...
WHAT ARE YOU PLANS
FOR YOUR NEW LIFE?
I'M AFRAID I WILL NEED
YOUR HELP ONE MORE TIME.
I'VE KNOWN YOU FOR
MANY, MANY YEARS.
YOU'VE DONE PRETTY
WELL WITHOUT IT.
I THINK WE BOTH
KNOW THAT'S NOT TRUE.
YOU'RE RELENTLESS.
FIGHTING SO BRAVELY
FOR A LOST CAUSE.
BUT THEN AGAIN,
MAYBE I'M FIGHTING
A LOST CAUSE, TOO.
CAN YOU PLEASE HELP US GEOUR HUSBANDS OUT OF PRISON?
I WILL DO
EVERYTHING I CAN
TO END YOUR TROUBLES.
[Mama]
TAKE CARE!
I'LL LOOK OUT FOR THEM,
DONAMERCEDES.
YOU CAN RELY UPON ME.
[Baby crying]
TAKE CARE!
BYE!
IT'S SO GOOD
TO SEE YOU,
SO GOOD.
[Whispering]
DON'T LET EVERYONE SEE
HOW YOU'RE MAKING ME CRAZY.
MATE, I CAN'T BELIEVE
I'M SEEING YOU.
DON'T WORRY, WE'LL
SOON BE TOGETHER.
LOOK AT MINOU.
OH.
[Whispers]
ALREADY SO BIG
AND BEAUTIFUL.
JUST LIKE HER MOTHER.
MINERVA,
IF ANYTHING
HAPPENS TO ME...
NOTHING WILL
HAPPEN TO YOU.
EVERY NIGHT THEY
TAKE MEN OUT,
AND THEY NEVER
COME BACK.
WE KNOW THEY'RE
BEING KILLED.
BE INVISIBLE.
DON'T LET THEM
NOTICE YOU.
THERE ARE RUMORS.
THE GOAT WILL BE KILLED.
WHEN?
SOON. VERY SOON.
BE CAREFUL. PLEASE.
I WILL.
I LOVE YOU, MINERVA.
AND I LOVE YOU.
IT WAS SO GOOD
TO TALK.
ONLY, PEDRITO
LOOKS SO THIN.
WE'LL GET THEM HOME
AND FATTEN THEM UP.
WE ARE BEING
FOLLOWED.
STEP OUT OF THE
JEEP, ALL OF YOU.
JUST A MOMENT,
I HAVE MY PAPERS.
MOVE!
IT'S GONNA BE OK.
IT'S GONNA BE
ALL RIGHT.
LET'S GO.
HELP!
THEY'RE GONNA
KILL US!
TELL PEOPLE THEY
KILLED THE MIRABALS!
[Sobbing]
YOU DON'HAVE TO DO IT.
I KNOW YOU DON'BELIEVE IN THIS.
PLEASE LET US GO.
[Gasping]
[Whimpering]
[Sobbing]
"THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD,
I SHALL NOT WANT.
"HE MAKETH ME TO LIE DOWN
IN GREEN PASTURES..."
FUNNY, THE THINGS WE FORGET,
THE LITTLE MOMENTS
WE TUCK AWAY INSIDE OUR MINDS.
MAYBE WE PUT THEM THERE
FOR SAFE KEEPING
SO THEY WON'T GO DULL
AND LOSE THEIR GLOW
FROM TOO MUCH HANDLING.
MAYBE WE KNOW
THE TIME WILL COME
WHEN WE'LL NEED TO SUMMON
THESE MEMORIES.
SUMMON SPLENDOR,
SOARING IN THE WIND
LIKE BUTTERFLIES.
I CAN'T THINK OF A HAPPIER
TIME IN MY LIFE
THAN MY CHILDHOOD WITH
MY SISTERS IN OJO DE AGUA.
[Girl giggling]
[Birds chirping]
[Girls giggling]
MINERVA! COME ON!
[Horse neighing]
[Mama]
DEDE, PATRIA,
MINERVA, MATE!
DINNER IS READY!
COME ON. GO.
MINERVA!
[Horse snorting]
[Glass breaking]
[Papa]
GO TO YOUR ROOM!
RIGHT NOW!
YOU'RE NOFAIR, PAPA.
[Papa]
I DON'T NEED TO BE LECTURED
ON FAIRNESS, MINERVA MIRABAL.
BUT IT WAS
AN ACCIDENT.
DEDE AND PATRIA
DIDN'T BREAK THE CHINA,
THEY ONLY DROPPED IT.
THE FLOOR BROKE IT.
COME ON, PAPA,
THEY WERE JUST TRYING
TO HELP MAMA SET THE
TABLE. NOBODY GOT HURT.
THEY HAVE TO LEARN
THE VALUE OF THINGS.
[Cutlery clattering]
[Minerva]
OK, I HAVE A
DEAL FOR YOU.
THEY BROKE 2 PLATES,
ONE GLASS
AND ONE CUP,
TOTAL VALUE
OF 3 PESOS.
WE HAVE AGREED--
EAT YOUR DINNER.
WE HAVE AGREED
THAT YOU CAN TAKE
10 CENTS OUT OF
EVERYONE'S ALLOWANCE
FOR THE NEX8 WEEKS,
BUT LET MY SISTERS
OUT OF THE HOUSE.
MINERVA IS GOING
TO ARGUE
WITH ST. PETER
AT THE GATES.
I'M JUST TRYING
TO HELP MY SISTERS.
SHE'S REPRESENTING US.
SHE'S OUR LAWYER.
[Papa]
JUST WHAT WE NEED
IN THIS COUNTRY,
SKIRTS ON THE BENCH.
WHICH BRINGS ME
TO MY NEXT SUBJECT.
SCHOOL APPLICATIONS
ARE DUE NEXT WEEK.
YOU CAN FORGEABOUT THAT.
BUT WHY?
I DON'T WANT YOU
TO GO TO SCHOOL
AND BE OUT THERE
ALONE, WITHOUT A FAMILY.
I WON'T, IF YOU
ALLOW MY SISTERS
TO COME WITH ME.
ENRIQUE, YOU'VE
GOT THE MONEY.
AND MOST IMPORTANT,
OUR SOCIAL POSITION.
NOW OUR DAUGHTERS
NEED THE EDUCATION
TO GO ALONG WITH IT.
AND OUR PATRIA,
IF SHE IS TO
BECOME A NUN...
HOW COULD ANYONE WANTO SACRIFICE NICE DRESSES
TO WEAR THOSE
AWFUL HABITS?
THAT'S NO
SACRIFICE AT ALL.
IT'S A WASTE
OF A PRETTY GIRL.
THAT'S WHAT IT IS.
BESIDES, IF ALL MY
LITTLE CHICKENS LEAVE,
WHAT WILL
BECOME OF ME?
WHO WILL HELP ME
WITH MY BUSINESS?
I'LL STAY AND HELP
YOU, PAPA.
YOU SEE?
IT'S SETTLED.
NOTHING IS SETTLED.
DEDE WILL STAY
WITH YOU.
YOU'LL DO AS I SAY.
NOBODY'S GOING TO
LEAVE THIS HOUSE.
[Train whistle blowing]
BYE, MINERVA.
BYE.
BYE, PAPA.
BYE. THANK YOU.
BYE.
BYE. TAKE CARE
OF YOURSELF.
[Train whistle blowing]
[People chattering]
MINERVA.
THANK YOU, MAMA.
[Door opening]
[Chains rattling]
SHH.
[Woman whispering]
QUIET.
[Bell chiming]
[Car horn honking]
[Shrieking]
ALL RIGHT, GIRLS.
TAKE CARE.
MINERVA, BEHAVE.YES, MAMA.
AND GOD BLESS YOU.
[Laughing]
[Patria]
WE SHOULD HAVE STAYED
HOME WHERE WE BELONG.
[Minerva]
HOW COULD WE KNOW
WHERE WE BELONG?
WE ONLY KNOW
THE FARM.
[Chattering]
[Nun]
ANTONIA VILION.
THANK YOU.
ROSARIA DOMINGUES.
ANGELA PERNANDES.
GRACIA GARCIA.
SANTA GOMEZ.
NUES GUSMAN.
[All]
OUR HOLY MOTHER CHURCH,
MOTHER SUPERIOR,
OUR FAMILIES
AND COUNTRY,
AND OUR BELOVED
PRESIDENT TRUJILLO.
AMEN.
IN THE NAME OF
THE FATHER, THE SON,
AND THE HOLY
GHOST, AMEN.
[Sniffling]
[Girls chattering]
[Bell chiming]
HEY.
TAKE THIS.
I DON'T WANYOUR CHARITY.
IT'S NOT CHARITY.
IT'S A FRIENDSHIP PIN.
HMM.
[Nun]
AS SINNERS, ALL WOMEN
ARE LIKELY TO GET SICK
AROUND THIS TIME
IN THEIR LIFE.
AND THE ILLNESS COMES
IN THE SHAPE OF BLOOD.
PSST.BLOOD THAT REPRESENTS
THE SIN OF OUR FOREFATHERS,
ADAM AND EVE.
AS SOON AS YOU FEEL
THAT YOU MAY HAVE
ANY NEW COMPLICATIONS
WITHIN YOUR BODY,
YOU SHOULD COME
TO SEE ME.
%[Singing in Spanish]
[Minerva]
SO, THE DONKEY
CLIMBS ON TOP
OF THE SHE-DONKEY
AND HE PUTS
ITS PEEING THING
INSIDE HER PEEING THING.
THEN, THE DONKEY,
HE STARTS MAKING
THIS REALLY LOUD NOISE
AND THE SHE-DONKEY
KICKS HER HIND LEGS.
[Giggling]
PEOPLE, THEY DO IT,
TOO. YOUR FATHER--
MY FATHER IS DEAD.
WELL THEN, YOUR UNCLE
AND YOUR AUNT--
MY UNCLES ARE DEAD, TOO.
AS I AM QUITE SURE YOU
HAVE ALL HEARD BY NOW
WE ARE EXTREMELY
FORTUNATE.
OUR GENEROUS
BENEFACTOR HAS AGREED
TO HONOR US WITH
HIS PRESENCE
AT INMACULADA
CONCEPCION.
PRESIDENT TRUJILLO
HAS ALWAYS BEEN
VERY GENEROUS
TO OUR SCHOOL,
AND WE WANT THIS TO BE
A SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY
TO HONOR HIM.
[Students whispering]
ON A DAY LIKE TODAY,
THE 24TH OF OCTOBER
OF 1891,
RAFAEL LEONIDAS TRUJILLO
WAS BORN.
OUR MOTHERLAND
WAS REBORN THAT DAY.
WE ARE DEEPLY
HONORED
TO HAVE AS OUR
GUEST TODAY
OUR BELOVED
PRESIDENT TRUJILLO.
[Crowd applauding]
FOR MY MOTHERLAND,
FOR MY PEOPLE,
I MUST DO MORE THAN
WHAT HAS BEEN DONE.
THE MOTHERLAND
IS THE FUTURE,
AND WE ARE THE ONES
WHO SHALL MAKE HISTORY.
THE FUTURE WILL
CROWN THE BRAVE,
THE HARDWORKING PEOPLE,
AND WE WILL WALK TOWARDS
IT WITH CONFIDENCE
SHIELDED BY OUR COMMITMENTO SERVE HUMANITY.
[Crowd applauding]
"I AM THE
SHACKLED FATHERLAND.
"DARE I NOW HOPE FOR
FREEDOM FROM MY WOES?
"OH, LIBERTY,
"UNFOLD YOUR
BRILLIANT BOW."
I AM FREE!
THANKS BE TO LIBERTY
AND OUR BLESSED
BENEFACTOR!
VIVATRUJILLO!
[Crowd cheering]
VIVATRUJILLO!
SPLENDID PERFORMANCE.
WHAT IS YOUR NAME?
MINERVA MIRABAL.
YOU'RE VERY PRETTY,
MINERVA.
AND BRAVE.
I REMEMBER THAT NAME.
[All]
VIVATRUJILLO!
[Sinita]
OPEN YOUR EYES, MINERVA.
YOU SPEAK OUAGAINST EL JEFE,
AND POOF,
YOU DISAPPEAR.
IF YOUR FAMILY ASKS
TOO MANY QUESTIONS,
POOF, THEY
DISAPPEAR, TOO.
THIS CAN'T BE
TRUE, SINITA.
WHO'S BEEN TELLING
YOU ALL THIS?
YOU HAVEN'T BEEN
LISTENING TO ME,
HAVE YOU?
HE KILLED MY FATHER,
HE KILLED MY BROTHER,
HE KILLED MY UNCLES,
LIKE HE'S KILLED THOUSANDS
OF PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY.
NOW ARE YOU
LISTENING TO ME?
THERE ARE MANY THINGS
YOU DON'T KNOW
ABOUT YOUR
GENERAL TRUJILLO.
[Mate]
HEY, LOOK. LOOK.
PLEASE, LOOK.
COME ON, PLEASE.
[Gasping]
WHERE ARE THEY
TAKING LINA?
[Car engine starting]
[Cell door clanging]
[Minerva]
LINA NEVER CAME BACK
TO SCHOOL.
THERE WERE STORIES.
SHE LIVED IN A
BIG MANSION,
SHE CARRIED
TRUJILLO'S BABY
SHE WAS BANISHED TO MIAMI.
ALL I KNEW WAS THASHE WAS GONE.
SO WAS SINITA.
SHE VANISHED.
AND I WAS AFRAID
TO FIND OUT WHY.
WE'RE ALMOST THERE.
LOOK. THAT'S
POQUITA'S HOUSE.
WE SPENT 5 YEARS
AT SCHOOL TOGETHER.
ON THE RIDE BACK HOME,
I HAD THE CHILLING
REALIZATION
THAT MAYBE EVERYTHING
I HAD EXPERIENCED
HAD BEEN FOR NOTHING.
AND THERE I WAS,
WITH ALL MY KNOWLEDGE,
GOING BACK WHERE
I BEGAN, THE FARM.
MATE, STOP WORRYING
ABOUT YOUR NAILS!
[Laughing]
[Car horn honking]
JAIME'S HERE!
JAIME.
HEY, WELCOME HOME!
JAIME, HOW NICE
TO SEE YOU!
HOW HAVE YOU BEEN?
FINE, HOW ARE YOU?
GOOD.
JAIMITO!
PATRIA, HOW ARE YOU?
MINERVA, HOW ARE YOU?
THIS IS
VIRGILIO MORALES,
A TEACHER ATHE UNIVERSITY.
HELLO.
AND THIS IS PATRIA,
MINERVA,
DEDE AND MATE.
I MEAN, JAIME
WAS TELLING ME
HE HAD SOME PRETTY COUSINS,
BUT THIS IS RIDICULOUS.
[Laughing]
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU.
WHAT A REFINED
YOUNG MAN.
WHAT DO YOU TEACH ATHE UNIVERSITY, LIO?
I TEACH LAW.
MINERVA WANTS
TO BE A LAWYER.
IN WHAT COUNTRY?
IN THIS ONE,
RIGHT HERE.
LAST I HEARD, WOMEN WEREN'ALLOWED TO STUDY LAW.
LAST YOU HEARD,
YOU HADN'T HEARD OF
MINERVA MIRABAL.
IS THAT RIGHT?
[Giggling]
[Hens clucking]
[Lio]
SO YOU WANT TO BE A LAWYER?
YOU LOOK MORE LIKE A
FARM GIRL FROM HERE.
I DON'T WANTO BE A LAWYER.
I'M GOING
TO BE A LAWYER.
WHAT FOR?
BECAUSE I BELIEVE
IN JUSTICE.
JUSTICE?
[Minerva]
MM-HMM.
[Laughing]
HERE, THERE IS
NO JUSTICE.
ONLY FIGHTS
TO BE FOUGHT.
WELL, I'M A VERY
GOOD FIGHTER.
AND WHAT BATTLES
HAVE YOU WON?
SOME.
SMALL ONES,
BUT YOU HAVE TO
START SOMEWHERE.
WELL, YOU'RE NOT GONNA WIN
ANY OF THE BIG ONES
WITH TWO EGGS
IN YOUR HAND.
I WANT YOU TO READ THIS.
IT'S BY JOSE MARTI,
THE CUBAN LIBERATOR.
I KNOW WHO
JOSE MARTI IS.
SO YOU'VE READ HIM?
HMM?
NO.
YOU CAN LET GO.
I'VE BEEN DOING MY OWN
READING SINCE I WAS 6.
[Jaime]
LIO, LET'S GO!
OH.
OH.
[Giggling]
COME IN, MINERVA.
IT'S BEAUTIFUL.
COME IN.
COME ON.
MM-MMM.
THAT'S THE WAY.
IT'S BEAUTIFUL.
[Panting]
[Mama]
HAVE YOU READ THIS?
DON'T YOU CARE WHAHAPPENS TO ANY OF US?
[Minerva]
GOOD MORNING.
[Mama]
DID EITHER OF YOU
KNOW ABOUT THAT?
ABOUT WHAT?
A DEMONSTRATION ATHE UNIVERSITY LAST WEEK.
LED BY A BUNCH OF
YOUNG PROFESSORS,
VIRGILIO MORALES
AMONG THEM.
"ENEMIES OF THE
STATE," IT SAYS HERE.
AYE, MAMA, ANYONE WHO
BELIEVES IN FAIR GOVERNMENIS AN ENEMY OF THE
STATE THESE DAYS.
MINERVA,
ARE YOU TRYING TO
GET US ALL KILLED?
WHAT KIND OF
GOVERNMENT IS THIS
THAT WE'RE AFRAID TO
SPEAK IN OUR OWN HOME?
THE KIND WHERE THE
WALLS HAVE EARS
AND EVERY HOUSEHOLD HAS
SOMEONE ON THE PAYROLL.
SO YOU WATCH THAT MOUTH
OF YOURS, MINERVA MIRABAL.
YOU WILL NOT SEE
THAT YOUNG MAN AGAIN,
NOT IN THIS HOUSE,
NOT ANYWHERE.
DO YOU UNDERSTAND?
BUT, MAMA,
YOU HEARD LIO'S IDEAS,
AND YOU LIKED THEM.
I DIDN'T KNOW THEY
WERE COMMUNIST IDEAS.
[Sighs]
YOU'RE GONNA GEYOURSELF KILLED
IF YOU KEEP GOING
UP AGAINST THEM.
WELL, THEY BETTER
DO IT QUICKLY,
BECAUSE I'M
LEAVING THIS COUNTRY.
IF I COULD ONLY
MAKE IT TO MY RIDE.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND
WHY YOU WANNA GO AROUND
STIRRING THINGS
UP ANYWAY.
WHY DON'T YOU JUST LEAVE
IT WELL ENOUGH ALONE?
BECAUSE IT'S NOT WELL ENOUGH,
DEDE. DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND?
THIS REGIME IS INSANE!
DO YOU KNOW
THAT TRUJILLO
HAS A SECRET CAMPAIGN
TO MAKE OUR POPULATION
WHITER THAN IT IS?
HE SECRETLY MURDERS
THOUSANDS OF
BLACK HAITIANS
THAT CROSS THE BORDER
BECAUSE, LISTEN TO THIS,
HE CLAIMS THATHEY'RE CONTAMINATING
THE DOMINICAN RACE.
[Guard]
YOU CAN PASS.
[Guard #2]
OK, YOU HEARD HIM.
[Dogs barking]
OPEN UP.
WHAT DO YOU
HAVE IN THERE?
IT'S ONLY CLOTHES.
[Guard]
MIGUELO.
OVER HERE.
LOOK AT ME.
I'LL WRITE TO YOU.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
LIO. LIO.
[Gasping]
YOU CAN GO THROUGH.
YOU CAN PASS.
MOVE IT.
MOVE IT.
MINERVA, WHAT ARE
YOU DOING?
GET BACK HERE!
GET BACK.
CHECK THAT HOOD.
OK.
MINERVA!
IT'S OK.WHAT IS SHE DOING?
IT'S OK, JUSSTAY QUIET.
LIO.
LIO.
LIO.
WELCOME TO
THE REVOLUTION.
BUTTERFLY.
[Gun firing]
[Woman crying]
LET'S GO.
I DON'T THINK YOU
CAN TOPPLE TRUJILLO
FROM THE MOUNTAINS
OF ANOTHER COUNTRY.
WELL, I CAN'T DO IIF I'M DEAD EITHER.
BUT IF I STAY,I WON'LAST LONG, MINERVA.
I'M STILL GONNA
FIGHT THE REGIME,
BUT FROM A
SAFE DISTANCE.
[Car engine starting]
THAT'S MY RIDE.
WILL YOU
WRITE TO ME?
EVERYDAY.
I GOTTA GO.
[Minerva]
I DIDN'T YET UNDERSTAND
LIO'S REVOLUTION,
ONLY THAT IT HAD
TAKEN HIM AWAY FROM ME,
AND THAT WITHOUT HIM,
MY LIFE FELT EMPTY.
PATRIA'S LIFE TOOK
AN UNEXPECTED TURN,
AND WHEN HER
CALLING CAME
IT WAS NOT THE
SORT WE EXPECTED.
[Crowd cheering]
[Papa]
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
SEE YOU TOMORROW.
ANYTHING
FOR ME, PAPA?
NO, NOT TODAY.
YOUR FRIENDS FROM INMACULADA
MUST BE TOO BUSY
GETTING MARRIED AND HAVING
BABIES TO WRITE LETTERS.
YOU SHOULD FIND
A NICE BOY
FROM A GOOD FAMILY
AND MARRY HIM.
NO NICE BOY FROM
A GOOD FAMILY
IS GONNA WANNA
MARRY A LAWYER.
WHICH YOU ARE NOT, AND
WHICH YOU NEVER WILL BE.
WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO
COME BACK TO REALITY?
BYE, MINERVA.
[Lio]
SINCE THE LAST TIME
I SAW YOU, MINERVA,
NOT A DAY HAS GONE BY
WHEN I DON'T THINK OF YOU.
AND ALTHOUGH THIS
IS THE 4TH LETTER
I WRITE TO YOU
WITHOUT RESPONSE,
I CAN'T HELP HOPING...
[Lio]
I'M SO FAR FROM YOU.
LOST IN THESE
MOUNTAINS,
I'VE NEVER FELT SO
CLOSE TO ANYBODY.
[Lio]
I STILL HAVEN'HEARD FROM YOU.
I LONG TO KISS YOUR
LIPS AND TALK...
AND I'LL WRITE TO
YOU UNTIL WE'RE FREE...
[Papa]
HOW DARE SHE GO
THROUGH MY THINGS!
THAT'S TO REMIND YOU
TO RESPECT YOUR FATHER.
YOU DON'T HAVE MY
RESPECT ANYMORE.
I WAS TRYING
TO PROTECT YOU.
I KNOW OF AT LEAS3 OF VIRGILIO'S FRIENDS
WHO HAVE
DISAPPEARED.
YOU CAN'T BE SAFE IF YOU
STAY IN CONTACT WITH HIM.
ENRIQUE, CAPT. PENA'S
HERE TO SEE YOU.
CAPT. PENA, TO WHADO WE OWE THIS HONOR?
PRESIDENT TRUJILLO HAS
REQUESTED THE PRESENCE
OF YOUR DAUGHTER MINERVA
AT THE PARTY HE IS
GIVING AT THE PALACE.
YOU AND YOUR OTHER LOVELY
DAUGHTERS ARE ALSO INVITED.
[Mama]
WE ARE NOT WORTHY
OF SUCH HONOR, CAPT. PENA.
UNFORTUNATELY, I HAVEN'BEEN FEELING WELL LATELY.
THE PRESIDENT WILL
MISS YOU, SENORA.
FOR THE REST OF YOU,
THIS IS A PARTY
I WOULDN'T MISS.
HAVE A GOOD DAY.
%[Classical music playing]
[Crowd chattering]
YOUR TABLE IS
RIGHT OVER THERE.
NO, NO, MY DEAR.
EL JEFEHAS INVITED
YOU TO THAT TABLE.
THAT'S QUITE
AN HONOR.
GO ON,
MY DAUGHTER.
[Whispering]
DON'T WORRY,
WE ARE HERE.
HERE.
THERE YOU ARE.
ENJOY.
IT'S A PLEASURE.
EXCELLENCY.
DON MANUEL,
HOW ARE YOU?
[Chuckling]
AMBASSADOR, SO
GOOD TO SEE YOU.
SON.
HI.
[Whispering]
NO, I'VE NEVER SEEN HER.
[Whispering]
IT'LL HAPPEN,
JUST BE PATIENT.
%[Spanish love song playing]
[Crowd chattering]
MAY I HAVE
THE PLEASURE?
%[Music playing]
%[Singing in Spanish]
YOU ARE A
BEAUTIFUL DANCER.
THANK YOU.
BUT THEN AGAIN,
WOMEN FROM EL CIBAO
ARE BEAUTIFUL DANCERS.
IS YOUR WIFE
FROM EL CIBAO?
I AM TALKING ABOUTHE NATIONAL TREASURE
I'M HOLDING IN MY ARMS.
I DON'T FEEL MUCH
LIKE A NATIONAL TREASURE.
WHY NOT?
YOU'RE A JEWEL.
I FEEL LIKE I'M WASTING
MY LIFE IN OJO DE AGUA.
YOU SHOULD COME
TO THE CAPITAL.
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAI KEEP TELLING PAPA.
I WANT TO GO TO
LAW SCHOOL HERE.
WOMEN ARE NOT ALLOWED
IN LAW SCHOOL.
THEY WOULD BE
IF YOU SAID SO.
UNIVERSITIES ARE
NOT GOOD FOR WOMEN.
YOUR MEDALS
ARE HURTING ME.
OH.
EXCUSE ME.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE
I CAN DO TO PLEASE YOU?
[Music stops]
[Crowd murmuring]
RELEASE HER.
PLEASE, JEFE,
LET ME TAKE MY
DAUGHTER HOME.
[Crowd whispering]
[Thunder rumbling]
[Rain pattering]
[Sighs]
[Thunder rumbling]
THAT WAS SUCH A
STUPID THING TO DO.
[Papa]
I WILL SEND A TELEGRAM
OF APOLOGY TO EL JEFE.
HE'LL UNDERSTAND,
PATRIA.
[Dede]
YOU'RE RIGHT, PAPA.
DO IT BEFORE
THINGS GET WORSE.
WHAT DID YOU
WANT ME TO DO?
HE GRABBED MY ASS.
MINERVA.
IT WAS AN
IMMEDIATE REACTION.
YOU DON'T SLAP
TRUJILLO.
YOU SHOULD HAVE
THOUGHT ABOUT IT.
WELL, MAYBE IF I HAD
THOUGHT ABOUT IT,
I WOULD HAVE DONE
EXACTLY THE SAME THING.
BECAUSE IF I LET HIM
GRAB MY ASS, NEXT HE'S
GONNA GRAB MY BREAST--
MINERVA! I WILL
NOT TOLERATE THIS
LANGUAGE IN THIS HOUSE.
MINERVA DID WHAT HER
CONSCIENCE DICTATED.
NO ONE IS TO
BLAME FOR THAT.
A TELEGRAM
TO APOLOGIZE.
HE'LL UNDERSTAND.
[Thunder rumbling]
[Cow mooing]
[Dog barking]
GOOD MORNING.
MR. ENRIQUE MIRABAL.
HE IS MY HUSBAND.
WHAT DO YOU WANT?
CAPT. PENA WANTS TO
SEE HIM IMMEDIATELY.
[Policeman]
THAT'S ALL I CAN SAY.
EVERYTHING ALL
RIGHT, MINERVA?
[Mama]
ENRIQUE! THERE IS
SOMEONE LOOKING FOR YOU.
WHY ARE YOU
TAKING HIM?
FOR HOW LONG?
I DON'T KNOW...
WHY YOU?
DON'T WORRY,
MINERVA.
I'LL CLEAR IT UP.
I'M SORRY, PAPA.
TAKE CARE OF YOUR
MOTHER, YOU HEAR?
YOU'LL BE BACK SOON.
I PROMISE.
ENRIQUE.
ENRIQUE!
UGH!
[Sobbing]
[Crowd chattering]
[Woman crying]
NO, I CAN DO
NOTHING ELSE.
WE'RE LOOKING
FOR A PRISONER.
ENRIQUE MIRABAL.
WE'VE BEEN COMING FOR
2 WEEKS, EVERY DAY,
AND YOU STILL CAN'TELL US WHERE HE IS.
GET THIS DOCUMENSTAMPED CORRECTLY,
AND PERHAPS
WE CAN HELP YOU.
THESE DOCUMENTS HAVE
BEEN STAMPED CORRECTLY
FOR 2 DAYS NOW.
LOOK AGAIN.
[Bureaucrat]
TALK TO CAPT. PENA.
HE SEEMS TO HAVE A SPECIAL
INTEREST IN YOUR CASE.
[Capt. Pena]
I TRIED TO HANDLE IT HERE,
BUT THE ORDERS
CAME FROM THE TOP.
HE SENA TELEGRAM.
YES.
YES, I KNOW.
HE'S JUST A FARMER.
HE DOESN'T WANNA GEINVOLVED IN ANY TROUBLE.
WHAT IS HE
ACCUSED OF?
WHATEVER IT IS,
I'M POSITIVE IT'S JUSA MISUNDERSTANDING.
IT COULD BE
CLEARED UP.
CAN YOU TAKE
US TO HIM?
IT WILL BE BETTER
ALL THE WAY AROUND
IF WE FOLLOW ORDERS.
ISN'T THAT RIGHT,
SENORITAMINERVA?
I WILL DO WHATEVER
I NEED TO DO
TO MAKE SURE MY
FATHER'S ALL RIGHT.
UH, LISTEN,
SENORITAMINERVA,
DON'T, UM, DON'MISUNDERSTAND ME.
I'M A MAN OF HONOR,
BUT TO BE HONESWITH YOU,
I BELIEVE THERE'S A WAY
YOU CAN HELP YOUR FATHER.
THANK YOU,
GENTLEMEN.
[Man]
THANK YOU, YOUR EXCELLENCY.
WAIT OVER THERE
BY THE DESK.
[Dice rattling]
SENORITA
MINERVA MIRABAL.
SEEMS LIKE YOU LEFQUITE AN IMPRESSION
ON MY POLICE
DEPARTMENT.
PLEASE SIT DOWN.
JEFE,I HAVE
COME TO PLEAD
FOR MY FATHER'S
RELEASE.
PLEASE SIT DOWN.
I WOULD LIKE TO
INVITE YOU HERE,
TO THE PALACE,
TILL WE WORK
THESE MATTERS OUT.
I WILL HAVE TO
ASK MY MOTHER,
SHE'S WAITING FOR ME
OUTSIDE IN THE CAR.
I'M SURE SHE'LL BE
VERY, VERY FLATTERED
WITH YOUR HOSPITALITY.
LET'S LEAVE IT TO THE
WILL OF FATE, SHALL WE?
THE ROLL OF THE DIE.
IF YOU WIN,
I'LL DO EVERYTHING
I CAN TO MAKE SURE
THAT YOU, YOUR FATHER,
AND YOUR MOTHER
LEAVE HERE TOGETHER.
IF YOU LOSE,
I'LL DO EVERYTHING
I CAN TO MAKE SURE
THAT YOUR MOTHER AND FATHER
LEAVE HERE TOGETHER,
AND YOU WILL STAY.
IS THAT WHY MY
FATHER IS IN PRISON?
I BELIEVE HE'S JUST BEING
QUESTIONED. AM I WRONG?
THEN LET ME RAISE
THE STAKES, JEFE.
HOW SO?
IF I WIN, YOU WILL
RELEASE MY FATHER...
AND YOU WILL ALLOW ME
TO GO TO LAW SCHOOL.
AND IF YOU LOSE?
THEN YOU WILL
RELEASE MY FATHER,
AND YOU'LL GEYOUR WISH.
[Die rattling]
CONGRATULATIONS.
YOU COULD STILL
ROLL AN ACE.
I HAVE NO
INTEREST IN TIES.
WINNING OR LOSING,
WITH ME OR
AGAINST ME.
IT'S WHAI BELIEVE IN.
YOU MAY LEAVE.
[Doors clanging]
ENRIQUE, WHAT HAVE
THEY DONE TO YOU?
I'M MUCH
BETTER NOW,
MUCH BETTER.
[Dog barking]
I JUST HOPE
THE MUSIC
HASN'T SPOILED
THE YUCCAS.
WE DON'T GROW
ANY YUCCAS, PAPA.
EVERY TIME THERE IS
A PARTY, THEY SPOIL.
WE'VE GOT TO STOP
FEEDING THE HOGS.
ENRIQUE,
THE YUCCAS ARE FINE,
AND SO ARE THE HOGS.
WE APOLOGIZED.
WE...
APOLOGIZED.
[Priest speaking Spanish]
AMEN.
[Sobbing]
[Capt. Pena]
SENORA.
MY CONDOLENCES.
THANK YOU,
CAPT. PENA.
SENORITA,YOUR
FATHER WAS A GOOD MAN.
FOR HIS HEART TO GIVE
OUT LIKE THAT, IT'S, UH,
SO UNFORTUNATE.
MY FATHER HAD A
BIG, STRONG HEART.
IT GAVE OUT BECAUSE
HE WAS TORTURED.
YOU SPEAK FROM GRIEF.
EL JEFEASKED ME
TO EXPRESS
TO YOU HIS DEEPESSYMPATHIES, AND, UH...
TO GIVE YOU THIS.
[Dede]
HE KILLED OUR
FATHER, MINERVA.
SENDING YOU
TO LAW SCHOOL
DOESN'T MAKE IANY BETTER.
HOW CAN YOU ACCEPA MURDERER'S GIFT?
BECAUSE IT'S THE
ONLY WAY I HAVE
TO FIGHT HIM BACK.
[Clasps snapping]
[Minerva]
I TOOK THE TRAIN AGAIN,
THIS TIME ON MY OWN.
I HAD PLAYED
AGAINST TRUJILLO,
AND IN WINNING,
I HAD LOST.
MINERVA, TAKE CARE.
MINERVA,
WRITE TO ME.
DON'T FORGET.
TAKE CARE
OF YOURSELF.
I LOVE YOU. BYE.
GOOD-BYE, MINERVA.
BYE.
[Speaker]
GEN. TRUJILLO
IS THE LEADER OF THE
STATE AND THE GOVERNMENT,
PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION,
AND OUR NATIONAL
ARMED FORCES.
HE EXECUTES THE LAWS,
CARRIES OUT THE MULTIPLE
BUSINESSES OF THE STATE,
AND REPRESENTS THE ISLAND
IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS.
[Bell chiming]
[Crowd chattering]
LIO.
[Man]
I KNEW YOUR FRIEND LIO.
AFTER HE LEFTHE COUNTRY,
HE WROTE
TO OUR CELL
ASKING IF ANYONE
HAD SEEN YOU
AT THE
LAW SCHOOL.
WE ALL LAUGHED
AT THE IDEA
OF A WOMAN
BEING ADMITTED.
HE SAID HE LIKED TO
CALL YOU BUTTERFLY.
MANOLO TAVARES,
BUT SOME FRIENDS
CALL ME POLO.
MINERVA MIRABAL.
BUTTERFLY.
SO HERE YOU ARE.
THAT'S RIGHT.
HOW DID YOU
ACCOMPLISH THAT?
I GAMBLED WITH
THE DEVIL AND I WON.
WHY DID LIO COME
BACK IF HE KNEW HE
WAS STILL IN DANGER?
HE DIDN'T COME BACK.
TRUJILLO HUNTS
DOWN HIS ENEMIES
LIKE DOGS
WHEREVER THEY ARE.
WHY DOESN'EVERYONE KNOW THIS?
MOST PEOPLE DON'WANT TO KNOW.
EVERYONE'S
TOO SCARED.
I WANT TO KNOW IT,
AND I WANNA DO
SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
FEAR IS THE
BEST BREEDING GROUND
FOR HIS REGIME.
EVERYONE IN THIS
COUNTRY LIVES IN FEAR.
EVERYONE JUSGOES ALONG, MINDING
THEIR OWN BUSINESS,
TURNING AWAY
THE TRUTH.
THEN, ONE DAY,
SOMETHING HAPPENS,
AND YOU CAN'LOOK AWAY ANYMORE.
YOU'RE AFRAID NOTO GET INVOLVED,
NOT TO FIGHT BACK,
BECAUSE YOU KNOW,
YOU REALIZE,
THAT NO ONE
YOU CARE ABOUIS SAFE ANYMORE.
THAT'S RIGHT.
MY BROTHER'S ONLY CRIME
WAS TO BE OUT OF A JOB.
HE WAS TAKEN BY THE POLICE
AND ACCUSED OF VAGRANCY.
NOBODY HAS BEEN ABLE TO
TELL ME WHERE HE IS.
BUT I'M SURE HE'S IN
ONE OF THOSE CAMPS
THAT TRUJILLO HAS
OUT IN THE FIELDS.
THEY TREAT THEM
LIKE PRISONERS
AND MAKE THEM WORK
UNTIL THEY DIE.
THE POLICE SAY THE
CAMPS DON'T EXIST.
ACCORDING TO THEM,
NOTHING EXISTS,
ONLY TRUJILLO
THE GREAT.
THAT'S WHERE WE'RE HAVING
OUR BIGGEST PROBLEM.
TRYING TO MAKE
PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHATHE REAL SITUATION IS.
THAT'S WHAWE NEED TO DO.
EDUCATE PEOPLE ABOUWHAT IS REALLY GOING
ON IN THIS COUNTRY.
EVERYBODY, THIS IS
A LAW STUDENWHO WANTS TO
WORK WITH US.
HER NAME IS...
BUTTERFLY.
GO AHEAD,
BUTTERFLY.
POLO AND I HAVE MADE
A LIST WITH THE PEOPLE
WHO HAVE DISAPPEARED
LAST MONTH.
WE HAVE MORE THAN
300 NAMES ON IT.
WE NEED TO MAKE COPIES
AND DISTRIBUTE THEM
SO PEOPLE KNOW WHATRUJILLO IS DOING.
HERE.
PUSH IT DOWN.
THERE YOU GO.
RIGHT HERE.
PAY ATTENTION
EVERYONE.
PALOMINO WILL
PICK UP THE BOXES,
UP HERE IN
BELLA VISTA.
AND WE'LL DELIVER THEM
ALL THE WAY HERE
TO THE
WAREHOUSE. OK?
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
[Knocking]
[Knocking]
LET'S GEEVERYTHING OUT.
MOVE THOSE
THINGS OUT.
[Knocking]
[Woman]
OPEN UP.
MATE, WHAT ARE
YOU DOING HERE?
I'VE RUN AWAY.
I WAS GOING CRAZY
ON THAT FARM.
IT'S MORE BORING THAN
EVER, NOW THAT PATRIA
IS HAVING KID AFTER KID,
AND DEDE, BEING A
NEWLYWED, YOU DON'T--
MATE, YOU CANNOSTAY HERE.
I WOULDN'T BE
ANY TROUBLE.
I CAN SLEEP ON A COUCH,
OR EVEN A MAT ON THE FLOOR.
THIS PLACE LOOKS LOVELY.NO, NO.
YES, BUT--
WHERE DID YOU GEALL THIS FURNITURE?
YOU HAVE TO
GO BACK.
[Rattling]
WHAT WAS THAT?
NOTHING.
YOU DON'T HAVE A
MAN IN HERE, DO YOU?
NO. LET'S GO.
MAMA MUST BE SO
WORRIED ABOUT YOU.
YOU CAN'T JUST RUN AWAY.
[Mate]
WHERE ARE WE GOING?
[Minerva]
IT'S A GOOD THING
THE BUS STATION'S
ONLY A COUPLE
OF BLOCKS AWAY.
YOU'LL BE HOME
BEFORE MIDNIGHT.
I'LL CALL MAMA AND
TELL HER SOME STORY.
WHATEVER
YOU PLEASE.
WHAT'S THE MATTER
WITH YOU?
MATE, YOU'RE NOT GONNA
LIKE IT HERE. THE CITY IS...
I DON'T KNOW,
JUST TRUST ME.
YOU'RE NOT GONNA
LIKE IT HERE.
THERE YOU GO
AGAIN, TREATING ME
LIKE I'M STUPID.
I'M NOT A
CHILD ANYMORE.
I'M CAPABLE OF MAKING
MY OWN DECISIONS.
AND I'VE DECIDED
TO STAY IN THE
CITY AND GET A LIFE.
I'LL SLEEP ON THE
STREETS IF NECESSARY,
BUT I'M NOGOING BACK.
OK.
YOU'RE RIGHT, MATE.
BUT I'M SORRY,
YOU CANNOSTAY WITH ME.
I'LL HELP YOU GEA PLACE FOR TONIGHT.
HERE, YOU'LL
NEED MONEY.
[Scoffs]
I DON'T WANYOUR HELP.
I DON'T KNOW WHO
YOU ARE ANYMORE.
MATE.
YOU DID THE
RIGHT THING.
YOU'RE
PROTECTING HER.
[Sighs]
[People chattering]
ARE YOU OK?
CAN I HELP YOU?
THE BUTTERFLY HAS
BEEN OUR INSPIRATION.
BUTTERFLY?
IT'S HER
UNDERGROUND NAME.
I'M LEANDRO, BUI GO BY PALOMINO.
SO...
I GUESS, FROM NOW ON,
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE
MORE THAN JUST ONE
BUTTERFLY, AREN'T WE?
[Man]
PALOMINO, LET'S GO.
PASS ME THE GLUE.
[Minerva]
PALOMINO!
COME ON, LET'S GO.
LET'S GO.
WHAT ARE YOU
DOING HERE?
THE VERY SAME
THING YOU ARE.
DID YOU GET HER
INTO THIS?
ISN'T THAT WHAWE'RE SUPPOSED
TO BE DOING?
RECRUITING PEOPLE?
GET OUT OF
HERE NOW.
MINERVA, I'M NOA CHILD ANYMORE.
COME ON,
LET'S GO.
IF YOU CAN TAKE THE
RISK, THEN SO CAN I.
THIS IS PERSONAL.
TRUJILLO HATES ME.
HE KILLED PAPA
BECAUSE OF ME.
I DON'T WANT ANY MORE
FAMILY BLOOD ON MY HANDS.
GET OUT.
HE WAS MY
FATHER AS WELL.
LET'S GO.
LET'S GO.
[Car engine starting]
[Minerva]
IF THE ERRANT IS UNDER 18,
HE WILL BE SENT TO
A CORRECTIONAL HOME
OR TO THE COUNTRYSIDE
TO CULTIVATE THE LAND
OR DO WHATEVER THE
GOVERNMENT DECIDES.
CORRECT.
OR ELSE HE WILL
BE RETURNED
TO HIS PARENTS OR
CLOSEST RELATIVES
IF THEY COMPROMISE
TO TAKE CARE OF HIM
[Together]
AND MAKE HIM A
PRODUCTIVE PERSON.
MANOLO...
DO YOU THINK WE'RE
PRODUCTIVE PEOPLE,
OR DO YOU THINK WE'RE
JUST A PAIR OF FOOLS?
WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
YOU KNOW.
[Sighs]
MAYBE WE'RE DREAMING
OF SOMETHING
THAT WILL
NEVER HAPPEN.
YEAH, MAYBE.
BUT I'D RATHER
DIE FINDING OUTHAN LIVE KNOWING I DIDN'DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
I, MINERVA MIRABAL,
TAKE YOU, MANOLO TAVARES,
TO BE MY HUSBAND.
I PROMISE TO BE YOUR
LOVER AND YOUR FRIEND,
YOUR ALLY IN CONFLICAND ADVENTURE,
YOUR GREATESADVERSARY,
AND YOUR
BIGGEST ADMIRER.
VIVAN MANOLO
Y MINERVA!
[All]
VIVA!
[Trujillo]
CONGRATULATIONS.
CONGRATULATIONS.
CONGRATULATIONS.
CONGRATULATIONS.
[Student]
THANK YOU. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH.
CONGRATULATIONS.
CONGRATULATIONS.THANK YOU.
CONGRATULATIONS.THANK YOU.
DONA
MINERVA MIRABAL.
IT SEEMS THAT THE UNIVERSITY
HAS TREATED YOU WELL.
THANK YOU, JEFE.
FATE WAS
KIND TO YOU.
I JUST HOPE IT'S ALL
BEEN WORTHWHILE.
I PROMISED YOU THAI WOULD ALLOW YOU
TO ATTEND
LAW SCHOOL.
NOTHING WAS SAID ABOUALLOWING YOU TO PRACTICE LAW.
BESIDES,
YOU'RE A WIFE NOW,
SOON TO BE A MOTHER.
YOU'LL HAVE ENOUGH
WORK AS IT IS.
CONGRATULATIONS.
[Whispering]
TAKE IT.
[Man]
INGERO, DANDIDO
[Trujillo]
CONGRATULATIONS.
[Man]
FIGUEROA, ESTEBAN.
[Student]
THANK YOU, SIR.
[Trujillo]
CONGRATULATIONS.
[Man]
RAMIREZ, JUAN.
[Trujillo]
CONGRATULATIONS.
WHAT IS IT?
WHAT HAPPENED?
HE'S BEEN PLANNING
THIS ALL ALONG.
HE'S BEEN SO LOOKING
FORWARD TO THIS MOMENT.
HE HAS
OTHER MOMENTS
COMING TO HIM
THAT HE WON'ENJOY SO MUCH.
[Man]
GOD BLESS YOU, MY CHILD.
[Minerva]
WE TRIED TO KEEP
PEOPLE INFORMED,
BUT TRUJILLO'S REGIME WORKED
FASTER THAN WE COULD.
HE WAS FEEDING
THE PEOPLE
A DICTATOR'S
FAVORITE DIET--
BREAD AND FEAR.
[Soldiers yelling]
[Panting]
[Children crying]
[Struggling]
[Crowd gasping]
[Screaming]
[Baby crying]
HOW ARE YOU,
MY LOVE?
DO YOU WANT SOME?
[Mate]
MANOLO?
[Minerva]
THE BIRTH OF MINOU MADE ME
WANNA FORGEEVERYTHING.
MANOLO, DO YOU KNOW
WHERE AMARMANOS IS?
BUT THE KILLING
OF MY FRIENDS
BROUGHT ME BACK
TO REALITY.
LAST I HEARD
HE WAS IN...
NO ONE WAS SAFE.
[Whispering]
[Engine starting]
[Tires screeching]
[Man]
GO! GO! GO!
[Child]
THEY'RE HERE!
[Children laughing]
[Child]
MANOLITO!
[Woman]
MINOU, HOW ARE YOU?
[Girl]
I'LL HOLD HIM.
[Giggling]
PATRIA.
I NEED YOUR HELP.
I'M GOING AWAY
WITH MANOLO,
AND I WAS HOPING
YOU COULD TAKE CARE
OF MINOU AND MANOLITO
TILL WE GET BACK.
[Children laughing]
WHAT IF YOU DON'COME BACK?
HAVE YOU THOUGHOF THAT?
MAMA IS WORRIED SICK
ABOUT YOU AND MATE,
ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE
DOING IN THE CAPITAL.
WE'RE DOING WHAHAS TO BE DONE.
LEAVING YOUR
CHILDREN BEHIND?
IS THAT WHAHAS TO BE DONE?
I CAN'T BE PART OF
ANYTHING YOU'RE DOING.
YOU CHOOSE
FOR YOURSELF,
AND I CHOOSE FOR ME
AND FOR MY FAMILY.
THEN YOU HAVE TO ASK
YOURSELF WHAT IT IS
YOU'RE CHOOSING
FOR YOUR FAMILY.
YOU CAN'T HIDE
FROM THINGS
JUST BECAUSE
THEY'RE UGLY, PATRIA.
MINERVA, I'LL TAKE
CARE OF YOUR CHILDREN.
THANK YOU, SISTER.
AT LEAST TELL US
WHERE YOU'RE GOING.
IT'S BETTER IF I DON'T.
[Minerva]
WHEN I LEFT PATRIA'S HOUSE,
I WAS TORN APART.
I COULDN'T BEAR TO
LEAVE MY CHILDREN,
BUT I WANTED THEM TO
HAVE A BETTER LIFE.
I PRAY THAT THEY
WILL UNDERSTAND.
[Man whispers]
TAKE THIS ONE.
TAKE IT.
[People whispering]
PUSH IT ALL THE
WAY TO THE BACK.
CAREFUL.
[Man]
LET'S GO.
ANOTHER ONE.
[Branch breaking]
SHH. SHH.
[Birds squawking]
WAIT. WAIT.
[Engines starting]
[Guns firing]
[People yelling]
GET IN THE TRUCK!
WHERE'S PALOMINO?
THERE'S NO MORE TIME!
GET IN THE TRUCK!
HURRY!
[Machine guns firing]
GO!
[Yelling]
[Truck approaching]
[Cow mooing]
[Horse neighing]
MINERVA, WHAT ON
EARTH HAS HAPPENED?
I'VE BEEN PREVENTED
FROM PRACTICING LAW,
SO I'M IN THE DELIVERY
BUSINESS NOW, AND, UH,
I NEED A PLACE
TO STORE SOME OF THIS
FRUIT FOR A FEW DAYS.
[Groaning]
PALOMINO,
ARE YOU OK?
PALOMINO, ARE
YOU ALL RIGHT?
I WAS SO WORRIED
ABOUT YOU.
I WAS WORRIED
ABOUT MYSELF, TOO.
COME ON, WE HAVE
TO UNLOAD THIS.
WHAT IS IN
THOSE CRATES?
YOU DON'WANNA KNOW.
WHAT ARE YOU
GOING TO DO
WITH THEM?
BURY THEM.
HERE?MM-HMM.
ARE YOU CRAZY?
PEOPLE WILL SEE YOU.
NO, LET'S TAKE
THEM BEHIND MY HOUSE.
OK, LET'S GO.
[Man]
WHAT ARE YOU DOING
TO US, PATRIA?
[Patria]
I CAN'T TURN THEM
AWAY, PEDRITO.
IT'S ONE THING
TO TAKE THEM IN,
AND ANOTHER THING
IS TO HIDE THEIR
WEAPONS IN OUR LAND!
THEY ARE
MY SISTERS,
AND THIS IS MY
FATHER'S LAND.
THEY ARE GOING TO LEAVE THE
TRUCK AND CRATES HERE
NO MATTER WHAT'S
INSIDE THEM,
AND NO MATTER
WHAT YOU SAY.
I'M NOT GOING TO
TURN MY BACK ON THEM.
[People chattering]
[Whispers]
HI. GO AHEAD.
[Patria whispers]
WE KNOW THAT SOME
OF YOU IN THE CHURCH
SYMPATHIZE WITH
MOVEMENT IDEAS.
[Whispers]
SO WHAT IS IT YOU WANT?
[Minerva]
TO JOIN FORCES
AND FIGHT BACK.
YOU'RE TALKING
ABOUT VIOLENCE.
NO, WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT THE
CHURCH HELPING US
TO REACH ITS
PEOPLE AND TELL
THEM THE TRUTH.
IT'S NOT AN ARMY WE'RE
PUTTING TOGETHER, FATHER.
IT'S EVERYONE.
STUDENTS, WORKERS,
MOTHERS AND FATHERS,
EVEN SOME
OF THE RICH.
WE WANT TO HELP YOU
ORGANIZE YOUR CONGREGATION
AND TO CONTACT OTHER PRIESTS
TO DO THE SAME, FATHER.
WE NEED EVERYONE.
THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH
TRUJILLO CAN DO
AGAINST THE CHURCH.
ARE YOU WITH
US, FATHER?
I AM.
[Boy]
COME ON!
[Minerva]
FOR TOO LONG, OUR LITTLE
ISLAND HAS BEEN CLUTCHING
TO THE IRON GRIP
OF THE DICTATOR.
HE HAS SMOTHERED
RESISTANCE
AND SUPPRESSED ANYONE
WHO SPEAKS OF FREEDOM.
THIS REGIME IS
BASED ON FEAR,
VIOLENCE
AND OPPRESSION.
BUT THIS TIME IS
COMING TO AN END NOW.
[Man speaking Spanish
on radio]
BE CAREFUL.
THIS CAUSE IS NOJUST FOR MEN,
IT IS A CAUSE
FOR WOMEN, TOO.
WE CANNOT ALLOW
OUR CHILDREN
TO GROW UP
IN THIS TYRANNY.
WE HAVE TO FIGHAGAINST IT.
WE HAVE TO BE PREPARED
TO GIVE EVERYTHING,
EVEN OUR LIFE IF
IT'S NECESSARY.
[Man]
OK, EVERYBODY.
LET'S GO.
YOU TWO, TAKE THE
DOGS TO THE BACK.
GET THE DOGS
TO THE BACK.
[Guard]
BREAK IN AROUND THE RIGHT!
MINERVA?
[Yelling]
[Dogs barking]
[Screaming]
[Guard]
OPEN THEM UP!
I WANT TO SEE
EVERYTHING.
[Screaming]
GET ANOTHER
TRUCK AROUND BACK.
MATE!
[Screaming]
[Coughing]
[Door clanging]
[People murmuring]
[Coughing]
[Cell door opening]
MINERVA MIRABAL.
THE BUTTERFLIES
ARE ALIVE.
SILENCE!
I AM ALIVE, TOO.
NICOLAS IS ALIVE.
ESTEBAN IS ALIVE.
CAYETANO IS ALIVE.
MANOLO!
IS MANOLO ALIVE?
LET'S GO!
MANOLO!
[Panting]
[Gasps]
MANOLO.
[Sobbing]
I'LL MAKE THIS
EASY FOR YOU.
I WANT THE NAMES OF
EVERYONE IN YOUR GROUP.
THE NAMES.
DO YOU WANT TO SEE YOUR
HUSBAND DIE RIGHT HERE?
[Whimpering]
[Electricity crackling]
[Breathing heavily]
[Zapping]
[Groaning]
[Screaming]
[Minerva]
FUNNY, THE THINGS I FORGOT.
AND NOW I'M STRUGGLING
TO REMEMBER
TO KEEP MYSELF ALIVE.
MY FATHER'S EYES.
LIO'S VOICE.
MY CHILDREN'S LAUGHTER.
MANOLO'S HANDS.
LOVE, JUSTICE.
[Creaking]
[Woman]
YOUR FAMILY IS SAFE AND WELL.
YOUR HUSBAND IS ALIVE,
BUT HE'S BEING
TRANSFERRED.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE.
WHO ARE YOU?
LONG LIVE THE
BUTTERFLIES.
"INSIDE A SECRET PLACE
IN THE HUGE HOUSES
"THE MATRESSES ASLEEP
IN THE PAS"THE BITTER GREEN VALLEY
SEEN FROM ABOVE
"FROM THE HIDDEN GLASS
"ALL ADOLESCENCE
GETTING WET AND BURNING
"LIKE AN OIL LAMP
DROPPED IN THE RAIN
"THE PERFUME
LIKE AN ACID SWORD
"PLUMS IN THE ROAD"
I THOUGHT YOU'D
NEVER COME BACK.
WHAT DID THEY
DO TO YOU?
NOTHING.
JUST LEFT ME ALONE
FOR A WHILE.
THERE IS A DONKEY
PULLING A FLOWER CART.
[Woman]
WHAT COLOR IS THE DONKEY?
HE'S GRAY AND CHUBBY.
IT'S A FAT LITTLE DONKEY
WITH LONG, FLOPPY EARS.
[Laughing]
MINERVA!
MINERVA,
COME AND LOOK!
[Laughing]
YOU HAVE TO LOOK,
MINERVA.
COME.
I'VE COME FOR
YOUR BUCKET.
[Whispers]
LONG LIVE THE BUTTERFLY.
BLESS YOU, SISTER.
WHAT IS IT?
"VENEZUELAN PRESIDENROMULO BETANCOURHAS FILED CHARGES
"WITH THE ORGANIZATION
OF AMERICAN STATES
"CLAIMING THAT THE
DOMINICAN GOVERNMEN"WAS INVOLVED WITH AN
ATTEMPT ON HIS LIFE."
[Gasps]
IT'S HAPPENING.
IT'S FINALLY,
FINALLY HAPPENING.
[Minerva whispers]
DON'T BE AFRAID OF THEM.
THEY'RE JUST INVESTIGATING
THE TREATMENT OF
POLITICAL PRISONERS.
BUT REMEMBER, THERE
ARE MICROPHONES.
OVER THERE.
I AM ROBERTO ARROYO
OF COLOMBIA.
WE REPRESENTHE ORGANIZATION
OF AMERICAN STATES.
SENORITAMIRABAL,
WHAT'S YOUR CELL LIKE?
COMFORTABLE.
HAVE YOU, OR ANY
OTHER PRISONERS,
BEEN TORTURED?
NO,
WE ARE VERY WELL
TREATED HERE.
HAVE YOU ANY
COMPLAINTS AT ALL?
[Crying]
ONLY...
THAT I WANTO BE AT HOME...
WITH MY FAMILY.
[Coughing]
[Guard]
MINERVA AND
MARIA TERESA MIRABAL.
OH.
[Crying]
THE MEN?
ANY WORD
FROM THEM?
NO.
MINOU.
[Sniffling]
COME ON, LET'S GO.
THANK GOD.
[Thunder rumbling]
[Crickets chirping]
[Whispers]
HEY.
I'M SO PROUD
OF YOU.
THIS IS NOT FOREVER.
YOU'LL GET BETTER.
YOU'VE GOT TO COME
OUT OF THIS ROOM.
I CAN'T.
IT'S TOO MUCH.
TOO MUCH?
NOISE, LIGHT, LIFE.
MINERVA, YOU HAVE
TO BE STRONG AGAIN.
WE NEED TO GEOUR HUSBANDS BACK.
[Whispers]
CORPUS CHRISTI.
CORPUS CHRISTI.
CORPUS CHRISTI.
LONG LIVE
THE BUTTERFLIES.
[Whispers]
GOD BLESS THE BUTTERFLIES.
GOD BLESS
THE BUTTERFLIES.
SENORAMINERVA?
GOOD MORNING.
I HAVE SOME VERY
GOOD NEWS FOR YOU.
I JUST LEARNED THAT YOUR
HUSBANDS ARE SAFE AND WELL.
SO I MADE SOME INQUIRIES
FOR YOU, AND I JUST FOUND OUTHAT THEY'RE ALL BEING HELD
IN DIFFERENT PRISONS.
I PULLED
SOME STRINGS,
AND NOW THEY ARE ALL BEING
MOVED TO PUERTO PLATA.
EL JEFEHAS GRANTED
YOU PERMISSION
TO VISIT THEM.
CAN YOU PLEASE
TELL EL JEFETHAWE ARE ALL VERY
THANKFUL FOR
HIS GENEROSITY?
YOU'RE GONNA BE ABLE
TO THANK HIM YOURSELVES.
HE'S GONNA BE STOPPING
AT YOUR PLACE
ON HIS WAY
TO SAN JULIAN
TO HEAR YOUR
WORDS OF GRATITUDE.
MINERVA,
WHAT'S WRONG?
WE ALL KNOW
WHAT'S WRONG.
PEOPLE LOOK UP
TO US NOW.
IF WE WELCOME
TRUJILLO IN OUR HOME
AND PAY TRIBUTE TO HIM
AS IF NOTHING
HAS HAPPENED,
WE'RE GONNA SEND
THE WRONG MESSAGE.
YOU DON'T HAVE
TO BELIEVE IN
WHATEVER YOU
MIGHT SAY TO HIM.
IT'S JUST GOING TO BUY
US SOME PEACE OF MIND.
YES, BUT FOR
HOW LONG?
HOW MANY MORE HUMILIATIONS
DO WE HAVE TO TAKE?
[Children chattering]
[Horse neighing]
[Man chuckling]
[Minerva]
JEFE.
SENORAMIRABAL, YOU HAVE
A BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER.
THANK YOU.
[Whispers]
GO GET YOUR GRANDMA.
IT IS A GREAT HONOR
TO HAVE YOU
HERE IN OJO DE AGUA.
I LOVE TO DROP
BY ON PEOPLE.
SEE HOW THEY
REALLY LIVE.
I AM VERY HAPPY TO
HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY
TO THANK YOU FOR OUR
RELEASE FROM PRISON.
NOW THAT YOU'VE GOTTEN
YOUR 2ND CHANCE...
WHAT ARE YOU PLANS
FOR YOUR NEW LIFE?
I'M AFRAID I WILL NEED
YOUR HELP ONE MORE TIME.
I'VE KNOWN YOU FOR
MANY, MANY YEARS.
YOU'VE DONE PRETTY
WELL WITHOUT IT.
I THINK WE BOTH
KNOW THAT'S NOT TRUE.
YOU'RE RELENTLESS.
FIGHTING SO BRAVELY
FOR A LOST CAUSE.
BUT THEN AGAIN,
MAYBE I'M FIGHTING
A LOST CAUSE, TOO.
CAN YOU PLEASE HELP US GEOUR HUSBANDS OUT OF PRISON?
I WILL DO
EVERYTHING I CAN
TO END YOUR TROUBLES.
[Mama]
TAKE CARE!
I'LL LOOK OUT FOR THEM,
DONAMERCEDES.
YOU CAN RELY UPON ME.
[Baby crying]
TAKE CARE!
BYE!
IT'S SO GOOD
TO SEE YOU,
SO GOOD.
[Whispering]
DON'T LET EVERYONE SEE
HOW YOU'RE MAKING ME CRAZY.
MATE, I CAN'T BELIEVE
I'M SEEING YOU.
DON'T WORRY, WE'LL
SOON BE TOGETHER.
LOOK AT MINOU.
OH.
[Whispers]
ALREADY SO BIG
AND BEAUTIFUL.
JUST LIKE HER MOTHER.
MINERVA,
IF ANYTHING
HAPPENS TO ME...
NOTHING WILL
HAPPEN TO YOU.
EVERY NIGHT THEY
TAKE MEN OUT,
AND THEY NEVER
COME BACK.
WE KNOW THEY'RE
BEING KILLED.
BE INVISIBLE.
DON'T LET THEM
NOTICE YOU.
THERE ARE RUMORS.
THE GOAT WILL BE KILLED.
WHEN?
SOON. VERY SOON.
BE CAREFUL. PLEASE.
I WILL.
I LOVE YOU, MINERVA.
AND I LOVE YOU.
IT WAS SO GOOD
TO TALK.
ONLY, PEDRITO
LOOKS SO THIN.
WE'LL GET THEM HOME
AND FATTEN THEM UP.
WE ARE BEING
FOLLOWED.
STEP OUT OF THE
JEEP, ALL OF YOU.
JUST A MOMENT,
I HAVE MY PAPERS.
MOVE!
IT'S GONNA BE OK.
IT'S GONNA BE
ALL RIGHT.
LET'S GO.
HELP!
THEY'RE GONNA
KILL US!
TELL PEOPLE THEY
KILLED THE MIRABALS!
[Sobbing]
YOU DON'HAVE TO DO IT.
I KNOW YOU DON'BELIEVE IN THIS.
PLEASE LET US GO.
[Gasping]
[Whimpering]
[Sobbing]
"THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD,
I SHALL NOT WANT.
"HE MAKETH ME TO LIE DOWN
IN GREEN PASTURES..."