LIKE WATER FOR CHOCOLATE
"Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord.
I, John,
heard a voice from Heaven say to me,
'Happy are those
who die in the Lord.
Now they can rest forever after their work,
since their good deeds go with them.'"
We pray in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.
And we say...
-Amen. -Amen.
Tita's tears were not caused by her dead controlling mother,
but by that woman
who, like her,
was not allowed to love.
That very moment
she realized that, finally,
there was some kind of bond between them.
That afternoon,
a strong wind lifted the cemetery's soil,
as if Elena were fighting back and refusing to be buried.
Tita.
I know I've been distant.
Forgive me.
I wasn't ready to see you.
So you made me believe you were still dead?
It's very complicated.
I lost Robertito.
Then my father.
I've hurt everybody.
I was selfish.
This time I want to do it right.
It's the best for everyone.
You know you can tell me anything.
You have a lot on your plate, Tita.
I want you to know I understand what you're dealing with.
I'll be fine.
I know what Pedro means to you.
I know that when you love someone,
it won't vanish into thin air.
What I mean is that, if you need more time,
or if you've changed your mind,
I'll understand.
I want to marry you, John.
That hasn't changed.
But this place doesn't make me feel good.
Then let's go.
We'll return to Eagle Pass once the nine-day period is over.
Thank you, Fina.
-Thank you, Fina. -Thank you.
Enjoy.
-Enjoy. -Enjoy.
Would you...?
-No, thanks. -Okay.
I want to apologize to you.
This whole situation of my mother's death
hasn't given me the chance to say I'm so happy for your engagement.
A toast to you.
I wish you all the happiness in the world.
You're a very fortunate man, Doctor.
Thank you very much, Rosaura.
And I'm very happy to be part of this family.
I'm so glad you've finally found someone
to spend the rest of your life with, Tita.
Me and my husband...
are at your disposal for anything you may need.
-Thank you. -Where will the wedding take place?
I don't mean to interfere,
but I believe that the sooner you get married, the better.
We still haven't discussed dates.
Regarding the location...
Eagle Pass.
We'll marry at Eagle Pass.
Right.
To your health!
-Cheers. -Cheers.
Cheers.
The Army!
-What's wrong? -The Army's here!
Hide, Gertrudis. Now!
This way! The door.
Why are you here, how did you get in?
My orders are to arrest Pedro Múzquiz.
He's accused of rebelling and of betraying the nation.
-Let's go! -Move, sir.
-You're wrong. -Hold on.
-Let go! I was granted a pardon! -Pedro!
Let me go! Just...
-Let him go! -Let me go!
-Let him go, please! -Let me go!
Don't move!
-Don't hurt him! -Let me...!
Don't beat him up!
Rosaura! The documents!
Stay put!
Calm down, please. That man has documents.
Come on!
Go with Rosaura.
Come on!
Rosaura, what's wrong?
Just breathe!
What's wrong?
Are you all right?
Where is Pedro?
He was taken by the army.
I'll go get the pardon.
Please, take a seat.
Right, be careful.
She's about to give birth.
-I'll take it. -No!
What?
Gertrudis, take this, save him!
No. If she's seen, she'll be arrested.
I'll take you to bed.
You like to play the Resurrection of Jesus game.
But Pedrito, coming back to Piedras Negras?
What were you thinking?
You should stayed hidden with the Yankees.
It's a mistake, uncle. I'm not a rebel anymore.
Damn!
What? Out of thin air?
The president granted me a pardon.
-Where's that? -Back in the ranch.
The president does not pardon traitors!
-Put him on his knees! -Yes, general!
This time I'll make sure you die for good.
Stop!
This letter was signed by the president, you can't touch him!
Here's the water.
My first-aid kit is in my room. She's about to give birth.
Thank you.
You're no longer a rebel.
Since when are you backing the government?
Your child is about to be born.
How do you feel, Rosaura?
She's so beautiful.
Gertrudis, they may come in.
Tita, are you all right?
How's the baby?
Are you all right?
Yes.
It's a girl.
Hi.
What did they do to you?
I'll tell you later.
What will be her name?
She should be called Esperanza.
I like it.
I don't know if Mom would have liked that name.
Rosaura.
Mrs. Elena is gone.
Let's call her Esperanza.
Esperanza.
Hi, Esperanza.
Let's leave them alone.
Now that we're all together,
I wanted to tell you that John and I are waiting
for this nine-day mourning period to pass
to return to Eagle Pass.
You can't go.
Why not?
Because neighboring ranches are still under attack.
Roads aren't safe. Just wait until it gets better.
Don't take risks.
I agree it's not the best time to leave.
But if we travel during the day, we'll be fine.
Thank you for your concern.
Why don't you get married here?
Once you're spouses, you'll be back in Eagle Pass when things settle down.
No.
I won't do it here.
We'll wait.
Well, let's organize a meeting to show the ranch is still standing.
And we can announce your engagement.
-It's not a good time. -I agree, we're not ready to celebrate.
Tita,
let me do something for you and for our family.
Mom has just died.
It doesn't have to be now.
We need time to improve this ranch.
But we must show Piedras Negras
that Las Palomas and this family are still standing.
While we organize this, go back to Eagle Pass then.
It's not the right time to celebrate.
We're not celebrating.
It's a meeting with guests.
A small dinner to show we're together and happy.
That we have a beautiful daughter.
And there's also Tita's engagement.
It's what we have to do as the new landowners of Las Palomas.
What is bothering you?
Can't you see?
War isn't over.
There are more attacks on ranches.
We can't have a meeting, we have no money to do that.
Does Tita's engagement bother you?
Don't be ridiculous, Rosaura.
We've just had a daughter.
I didn't ask you that.
Do you still love her?
No.
We're no longer the same.
All I care about now is this family.
I promise I'll wait until things settle down.
Until our situation improves, then, we'll have this meeting.
I can't wait until everybody sees how beautiful our family is.
MÚZQUIZ RANCH
María...
María!
Yes, Madam.
Get Julio changed for his piano lessons.
Thank you, Dad.
Finally, Son!
You're a man.
You may go.
Teaching him to shoot is one thing.
But buying an 11 year old boy a gun...
Julio must learn to defend himself.
To defend his belongings.
Besides, that gun is not loaded.
Maybe you're right.
When he grows up,
his enemies won't always escape from him, unlike his dad's.
What I'd really love to know
is how the hell he got a pardon from the president himself.
In my opinion, you attach too much importance to your nephew.
He can't take this away from us.
He may have a pardon,
but he's still a rebel with no deed to prove he owns this.
Besides, I have a tight control on the rebels of this region.
They have no ammunition.
No food.
So why is he back?
You're so obsessed with killing your nephew
that you can't see what really matters.
The ranches businesses and closing deals with the Yankees
are the only things you should bother about.
Things change every day in this country.
We must benefit from that.
You won't always be a general.
This ranch must look like new.
We can't let people think we're not at our best.
What will you cook?
There's plenty of time, right? You haven't set a date.
Before setting a date,
I want to make sure we have our position back
in Piedras Negras society.
Unless you want a party with no guests.
It's a dinner!
With few guests, that's what we'd agreed.
Yes, right.
A dinner.
But we'll have about ten or fifteen people.
There's not enough food for so many people, Rosaura.
We'll see about that.
Let's cook champandongo.
It's cheap and it goes a long way.
It will be delicious.
Where are you going?
I must return.
It's for the best.
This is her house too.
Don't take it the wrong way.
You won't see me around for a while.
The path you chose to follow is endangering us all.
We must repair our family's reputation,
and having a rebel wanted by the law won't help us.
But a...
Wait!
Don't go!
I'm pregnant with Juan's child.
Why didn't you tell me?
Because I didn't want to.
You can't go. The hills aren't a good place to stay in your condition.
The hills are home, I'll be fine, Tita.
This is your house, both of you will be safe here.
I've never ever felt safe again here.
Rosaura is right, I'm a danger to all of you.
Her opinion doesn't count.
Well, it seems it does!
Lately, she's been having the last word on everything.
Look at you, Tita.
You'll marry a man you don't love.
What for?
To teach Pedro a lesson while he makes mistakes?
Mom is gone.
You're free.
I don't want to see you living a lie.
Like Rosaura.
I understand your point of view.
But it's not like that.
John and I love each other.
Trust me.
Do you trust yourself?
Take care, sister. Please.
You take care too.
Tita and Doctor Brown returned to Eagle Pass
as soon as they could.
Tita was sure that, no matter Rosaura's plans,
she'd never return to Las Palomas.
To be near Pedro, Rosaura and Esperanza was a real torture.
-Good morning. -Good morning. Name?
Eventually,
Pedro changed laborer's working conditions.
Fairer daily and monthly wages brought people back to the ranch.
Little by little, things were going back to normal.
Thank you, sir.
Ranches are still under attack.
People say it's Villa's followers.
Yes, it's a complex situation, but I'm really grateful to you for...
But only after some months,
Rosaura was accepted again by Piedras Negras society.
But first and foremost,
I wanted to invite you to meet the new member of this family.
Due to Rosaura's relentless insistence
Tita finally returned to Las Palomas.
She wrote in her diary
that this was important for the future of the ranch.
-Thank you. -No problem, sir.
But I believe that what really brought her back
was her desire to see Pedro again.
Thank you.
What she didn't know was
it wouldn't be a short visit,
like she had expected.
Tita was nervous.
That night, she would announce her engagement to Doctor Brown.
Finally, she would put an end to that absurd tradition
that wouldn't allow her to get married.
She was supposed to be happy.
But she wasn't happy.
Tita, it's very important to find the right elements
to light our inner flame
and to live a meaningful life.
Otherwise, that box of matches
might get wet and never turn on again.
One of Nacha's favorite recipes was champandongo,
normally known as "poor man's cake"
because it was made of leftovers.
A simple dish in which a cake was sort of made by using tortillas.
To do this cake, ground beef and pork are mixed.
An onion is fried together with acitrón and cumin.
In another dish, there's cream,
and small torn pieces of queso añejo for decoration.
But the secret of this delicious dish
is the mole sauce.
How's dinner going?
-Hi! -Tita, your hands are dirty.
I don't want her to get used to you.
Because you'll go back to Eagle Pass.
The ingredients to prepare the champandongo are ready.
The mole needs to be heated some more to get all the flavor.
Well, yeah, it's tasteless.
Meanwhile, why don't you get changed?
Go get ready.
I'll take care of the mole.
Thank you, Fina.
I'll bring laurel from the orchard, then I'll get changed.
I love you.
You make me the happiest man on earth, Tita.
Bring more plates!
The flowers, please!
Now what's wrong?
Too much chili, don't you think, Tita?
No.
While cooking,
Tita couldn't stop thinking about that image.
Pedro's fingers buttoning Rosaura's dress.
Both of them looking at their daughter.
Once again,
the family she'd always wanted to have.
It is said that the mole was dark that day.
Darker than the bottom of a well.
Darker than Tita's blind jealousy.
It tastes good, Tita.
I'll get some water.
-Good evening. -Good evening.
John, check if the guests are being properly served.
I'll go check everything at the kitchen.
"A dinner with a few friends"?
-Good evening, Pedro. -Hi, good evening.
-Come on in, welcome. -Welcome.
-You've invited all of Piedras Negras. -Don't overdo it.
Good evening, Pedrito.
Glad to see you again.
General, Valentina,
it's an honor to have you here. Welcome.
-Thank you for inviting us, Rosaura. -Evening.
-Good evening. -Evening.
It's so good to see things are going better for you.
Excuse us.
Come on in.
I can't believe you've invited him. He wanted to kill me, now he's my guest?
Calm down... Welcome, good evening.
Calm down, Pedro.
It's important he sees we have nothing to hide or fear.
And it's great he sees the ranch is fine.
-Evening. -Good evening.
How are you?
-How was your trip? -Fine.
-Glad to see you... -Welcome...
That's it, that's it, push.
Push.
-So young, and such a pity. -Yes, such a pity.
Mrs. Berenice, how's your husband doing?
Getting better.
I'm so glad to see you've tried again!
Children are a blessing.
It's true. Thank you.
Do you happen to know when dinner will be served?
Let me check how it goes.
By the way, darling, congratulations.
Everything looks wonderful.
Thank you very much.
How will we pay for all this?
It's all settled. Trust me.
-But Rosaura... -Trust me.
Dear nephew.
You got some balls coming here.
I got some balls?
You got some balls coming back to Piedras Negras, Pedrito.
I'll find out why exactly you came here.
-Well, I... -Good evening everyone!
Thank you for coming.
You may sit, dinner is ready.
Dear friends. First and foremost, I want to thank you
for being with us in this special occasion.
Today, besides paying tribute to Mrs. Elena de la Garza,
a flawless woman
who gave her life for this ranch
and kept it producing for many years,
we're also celebrating a new era at Las Palomas.
Both me and my husband, Pedro Múzquiz,
we'll make this ranch's splendor come back.
Second, I'd like to make a toast to our beautiful heiress health,
Esperanza Múzquiz de la Garza.
Finally,
I'd like to make a toast to my dear younger sister
and her eternal love,
Doctor John Brown,
who are formally announcing their engagement tonight.
To their health!
I hope they're as happy as we are.
-Cheers. -Cheers!
-Bravo. -Bravo!
Long live the bride and groom!
-Enjoy! -Thank you!
Tita's feelings, trapped among champandongo tortillas,
influenced anyone who may eat her dishes.
The more time passed,
the less strong the enchilada seemed to be,
but it caused uncontrollable fits of jealousy.
-You, fool. -I'm watching you.
It's so delicious.
-Just delicious. -But kind of hot.
A bit hot, yes.
Pedro!
Sir!
Excuse me.
What's wrong?
I'll be back.
-Let me examine you. -I'm fine!
That glass is near your tendon, be careful.
You may fool everybody else, but not me.
I don't understand.
You took advantage of Tita to seduce her.
I didn't take advantage of Tita!
I took care of her, nobody else did at the asylum!
You know we love each other.
Then why did you marry Rosaura?
Is it serious, Doctor?
No.
-It's just a scratch. -Are you all right?
Yes, I'm fine.
Don't you think it was too fast?
I was dead, and you got engaged.
Don't you dare talk about things you don't know.
Besides...
Did you want me to grieve until your third child with Rosaura?
At least she waited for me.
I'm fed up.
No, really, look, this is a real ranch.
May I have your attention, please?
I hope you're having a good time.
Me and John want to invite you to an event.
We want you to come to our wedding which will be held soon
here, at Piedras Negras.
Thank you.
You're devouring her with your eyes.
I'm watching you!
They really went all out.
With somebody else's money.
Yes, with our money.
I hope they can give it back.
That's what I'm saying, damn it! Why are you so stubborn?
It's not the people,
it's the government who won't let us grow.
Watch your words, Mr. José! Or you may be in trouble, got it?
Tita got engaged very soon.
Does she have a bun in the oven?
Quite the contrary.
Tita has always been in love with the doctor,
but she kept it under wraps.
Yes, come on, push.
Push, push! Yes!
Keep pushing. Push!
That's right!
That's it.
What's wrong, Fina?
Nothing.
I'm sad.
When I start cleaning, I'll be better.
Is it because of Jesús, your boyfriend?
I went to the market, and we talked.
I told him to come for me if he ever decided to be with me.
But he didn't come for you.
Come on, go to bed.
No, there's a lot of cleaning to do.
I'll do it.
You go to bed.
Thank you, Tita.
Good night.
I'm a dad.
Yes.
Juan?
Hi.
Tita and I will get married,
and I demand,
being the gentleman you are, that you respect our engagement
and remain far from my fiancée!
I must protect her from an opportunistic like you!
The only opportunistic here, who used two women, is you!
I didn't take Tita as my patient and cure her with an engagement ring!
-Pedro! -You did the same with your former wife?
Calm down, John! John!
Stop!
Enough! Calm down, please!
What's wrong with you? Are you crazy?
Where were you when Tita was dying at the asylum?
Leaving a mass grave, I'd been given up for dead.
As soon as I could walk, I went straight to Eagle Pass.
And there she was.
Happy.
But she wasn't alone.
-Why were you with him? -I was picking things up.
-Swear it! -You're not yourself, John.
I thought I could handle this. But I can't bear how you look at him.
This is why you wanted to come? To see him?
Tita, I'm talking to you!
Juan, calm down, please.
How can I calm down? You take me for a fool!
I'm not that boy's dad.
Are you saying this is someone else's son?
Well, I don't know.
You tell me.
If that's what you think, we'll go.
Don't worry.
Why didn't you say you'd been looking for me?
Because I saw you happy with John.
You're a great woman, Tita.
ON THE NEXT EPISODE OF LIKE WATER FOR CHOCOLATE
Will you stop pretending nothing happened?
It was completely real.
It was a complete mistake.
I did something really bad.
-I've been looking for you. -Can we talk?
I asked the priest to come and organize the wedding.
If anyone thinks there may be a hindrance to this wedding,
they should record it here.
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