The Merchant of Santa Fe

[print edition page number: 7]

Characters

CLARÍN — Town crier, a mature man.
DOÑA AMPARO — Madam of the town brothel and inn.
SALAZAR — Proud and ambitious young man who has ties to the Inquisition.
AMBROSIO — Young man committed to gratifying his appetites.
LORENZO — Young castizo in love with Rebeca.
DON ANTONIO — Prosperous merchant and leading citizen of Santa Fe.
RAFAEL — Young man in love with Doña Portía.
DON SAÚL — Prosperous moneylender, leading citizen of Santa Fe, and a hidden Jew.
DON ERASMO — Leading citizen of Santa Fe, close friend of Don Saúl, and a hidden Jew.
REBECA — Daughter of Don Saúl, a hidden Jew, and love interest of Lorenzo.
LÁZARO — Genízaro servant assigned by the parish priest to Don Saúl’s household.
GOVERNOR-GENERAL — Professional army officer and the new Governor-General of New Mexico.
TENIENTE MANZANAREZ — Accomplished and ambitious young army lieutenant, a hidden Jew, and a recent arrival to New Mexico.
DOÑA PORTÍA — Wealthy young mistress of the Manzano Estate. [8]
NERISA — Genízara servant, friend, and confidant to Doña Portía.
YSIDRO — Black mayordomo of the Manzano Estate.
DON RENALDO — Pretentious suitor of Doña Portía.
DON FLORIBUNDO — Hairy and roguish suitor of Doña Portía.
FRANCISCO — A guard. [9]

ACT 1
Scene 1

Santa Fe plaza, morning. CLARÍN, the town crier, rings his bell.

CLARÍN
Las nuevas era por filo en Santa Fe la Real, y todo no está sereno. Come on, wake up, you sleepyheads. The Governor-General wants to make a proclamation.

He keeps ringing the bell. DOÑA AMPARO charges out of her brothel.

DOÑA AMPARO
Por Dios, stop that infernal clanging, Clarín. My customers are trying to sleep.

CLARÍN
They should have done their sleeping last night, instead of drinking wine and spending borrowed coins on putas.

DOÑA AMPARO
Watch your mouth, viejo. My girls are ladies, you hear? In Madrid, they’d be called damas de la noche.

CLARÍN
Well, we’re not in Madrid, we’re in Santa Fe, and I call them …

DOÑA AMPARO glares at him threateningly.

Well, you know what I call them …

He rings the bell.

Wake up, wake up everybody!

SALAZAR emerges from the brothel, buttoning his shirt. He is a neat, fastidious man.

SALAZAR
Clarín, ¿por qué tanto ruido?

CLARÍN
Ah, Salazar. You’re lucky I didn’t haul you off to jail last night. Do you know whose nose you broke? [10]

SALAZAR (shrugging)
Captain Gutiérrez, so what? Any man who accuses me of cheating deserves to have his nose broken. I don’t care if he is a Captain of the Militia. You can’t arrest a man for defending his honor.

CLARÍN
Oh, that’s what you say after every fight, but this time your honor’s got us all in trouble.

SALAZAR
What do you mean?

CLARÍN
Muy pronto verás.

He rings the bell.

Wake up, everyone, get out of those beds … the Governor-General has something to say.

DOÑA AMPARO
What does he mean? The Governor-General’s going to shut down my business?

SALAZAR
If he did, every red-blooded male in Santa Fe would conspire against his life.

DOÑA AMPARO
If he shuts me down, it’s your fault, Salazar. ¿Y dónde está el dinero que me debes?

SALAZAR
What money?

DOÑA AMPARO
Don’t play with me, chico. Others can say they get drunk and forget, but you never let yourself forget anything. Pay up. Twenty pesos.

SALAZAR
I’ll pay you later.

DOÑA AMPARO
No, ahora. [11]

SALAZAR
Later, when you provide me with names.

DOÑA AMPARO
No.

SALAZAR
Names, my dear lady. Give me the names I’ve asked for and you shall get your twenty pesos.

DOÑA AMPARO
Ya te dije, I don’t know anybody who …

SALAZAR
Entonces, you’re out twenty pesos, ¿qué no?

DOÑA AMPARO glowers at him, but SALAZAR laughs.

DOÑA AMPARO
Hijo de la gran …

She storms toward her brothel just as AMBROSIO emerges, propping up LORENZO with one arm.

Ah, from my worst customer to my best.

She plants a big kiss on AMBROSIO’s lips.

AMBROSIO
Give me a hand with poor Lorenzo, will you, Doña Amparo?

LORENZO (miserably)
Oohhhhh, la cabeza. I drank too much.

CLARÍN (to AMBROSIO)
You degenerate! Taking an inocente (indicating LORENZO) into that … brothel!

DOÑA AMPARO
Quiet, Clarín, it’s part of a young man’s education …

CLARÍN (to LORENZO)
What were you thinking, eh, sleeping with those women? [12]

AMBROSIO
Thinking had very little to do with it.

CLARÍN (to LORENZO)
How are you going to tell Rebeca you lost your virginity?

AMBROSIO
Lost his manhood, is more like it: drowned in a sea of wine, and nothing Esperanza could do would bring it back to life.

LORENZO
Oigan, it was love that unmanned me last night, not the wine.

SALAZAR
Rebeca? You’re in love with a girl named Rebeca?

LORENZO
Yes, but I am no longer worthy of her …

SALAZAR
Who are her parents?

LORENZO
You sound like my mother.

SALAZAR
¡Dime!

LORENZO
Her father is Don Saúl. He’ll never take me as a son-in-law after …

SALAZAR
Don Saúl, the moneylender? What do you know of this Don Saúl?

LORENZO
One of the most respected castizos in Santa Fe. He doesn’t think I’m good enough for his daughter.

SALAZAR
Hah!

LORENZO
What’s so funny? [13]

SALAZAR
Joven, I could tell you things about Don Saúl that would change your mind about him. You need an education.

LORENZO
Not now, Salazar, my head hurts.

AMBROSIO
Miren, alli está Don Antonio.

They join DON ANTONIO, who is in a conversation with RAFAEL.

SALAZAR
Buenos días, Don Antonio.

DON ANTONIO
Salazar, you devil, I heard about your little disagreement with Gutiérrez.

SALAZAR
Don Antonio, I assure you, I was stone cold sober when I broke his nose.

They laugh.

DON ANTONIO
Maybe you should start drinking wine — it might make you slower to take offense.

SALAZAR
Don Antonio, the Captain accused me of cheating!

DON ANTONIO
I know. Gutiérrez is a sore loser, but he’s like this (crossing his fingers) with the Governor-General, and I’ll have to do some fast talking to keep you out of trouble.

SALAZAR
No te empeñes por hacerlo.

DON ANTONIO
I can’t have a friend of mine hauled off to jail for defending his honor, can I?

AMBROSIO
Spoken like a generous and noble castizo! [14]

SALAZAR
I would be deeply grateful for your intercession with the Governor-General, Don Antonio.

DON ANTONIO
Bueno. But Salazar, can’t you try to curb your temper?

DOÑA AMPARO
He needs a woman.

DON ANTONIO
That’s right, take a mistress, or fall in love like young Lorenzo here.

AMBROSIO
Or Rafael? He’s fallen deeply in love, and this keeps him completely out of trouble.

DON ANTONIO
Rafael, ¿por qué no me dijites?

RAFAEL
Ambrosio, when I revealed my heart to you, I didn’t mean for you to tell the world.

DON ANTONIO
I’m deeply hurt. Somos amigos, ¿qué no?

RAFAEL
Yes, pero even friends can mock and tease a tender feeling to an early death. The lady in question doesn’t know yet how I feel about her. My love is new … it hasn’t had a chance to root …

AMBROSIO
To rut, you say?

RAFAEL (to DON ANTONIO)
You see?

SALAZAR
Is that why you left the Seminary? Because you fell in love with a woman?

DOÑA AMPARO
¡Ay, qué romántico! [15]

RAFAEL
Yes, Salazar, I fell in love. You ought to try it sometime yourself.

He walks away.

SALAZAR
Women are too strange and unpredictable to love.

DOÑA AMPARO
Hah! Is that why you’re so afraid of us?

DON ANTONIO
Oh, we’ve hurt his feelings. Rafael, wait!

He joins RAFAEL, and they talk quietly. CLARÍN reenters.

CLARÍN
The Governor-General! Come hear your Governor-General, citizens of Santa Fe!

Enter DON SAÚL, REBECA, and DON ERASMO. REBECA flirts with LORENZO.

Buenos días les de Dios, Don Saúl, Don Erasmo.

DON SAÚL
Buenos días, Clarín. What’s this about?

CLARÍN
Oh, Salazar got into another fight last night.

DON ERASMO
Woke me up at three in the morning and ruined the rest of my sleep!

DON SAÚL
These escuincles are getting out of hand. Let them drink, gamble, and dissipate all they want. Fine, I say, but this fighting business …

(to REBECA) Rebeca, what are you doing?

REBECA
Nothing, Papá.

DON SAÚL
Quit staring at that horca. [16]

(to DON ERASMO) You say your daughters have gone out of town?

DON ERASMO
Yes, to Santa Clara to see their tía. You should have let Rebeca go with them.

DON SAÚL
I want her here where I can keep an eye on her.

Enter the GOVERNOR-GENERAL and TENIENTE MANZANARES.

CLARÍN
Citizens of Santa Fe … the Governor-General approaches.

LORENZO (to SALAZAR)
Who is his Lieutenant? He’s new in town, ¿qúe no?

SALAZAR
Teniente Manzanares, recently arrived from Sonora to serve the King in this godforsaken outpost and thus advance his ambitions in Spain.

CLARÍN
¡Cállense! Your governor.

GOVERNOR-GENERAL
Hermanos —

Last night two young men fought for their honor at La Madrileña. Desgraciadamente, there was nothing unusual about this senseless fighting because it happens almost every day.

God sees both what we do and what we fail to do. We offend God when we betray our mission as españoles. El Señor in his infinite wisdom has sent us advertencias. Look at the Salinas province. The drought, the famine, the Apache raids, the streams of refugees, those are all warnings that we must change our ways.

Por ejemplo, the Pueblo elders complain to me that many of you abuse and cheat their people. And the ones who are causing problems with the Pueblos are making trouble here. You borrow money and don’t repay your debts, you spend it on women and wine, and you walk around crudo y desvelado. Is there any wonder the indios don’t respect us? Can you not feel revolt in the air?

This war with the Apaches started thirty years ago when one of my predecessors tried to enslave and exterminate them. How can I promise the Apache [17] chiefs that the King’s government will deal fairly and honestly with them when you don’t keep your word with the indios or even with our own tradespeople? If we don’t act like noble castizos, then the Apaches will laugh at our peace offerings and keep on fighting for another thirty years.

I warn you: one day we will wake up in Santa Fe to see the hills full of hostile indios. Our only choice will be to stay here and starve or to take our chances on the road to El Paso.

The crowd reacts with surprise and concern.

Sí, es cierto.

The viceroy sent me to make peace and so, here and now, I will. We will not tolerate quarreling and fighting. Violators will be severely punished with both fines and time in jail. No exceptions. Promises, bonds, and contracts will be strictly enforced — not just in spirit but also to the letter. No exceptions.

Hermanos, les pido, les ruego, y les mando, let us be shining examples of la madre patria España y nuestra santa fe.

SALAZAR
Excelencia, with all due respect …

GOVERNOR-GENERAL
I know what you’re going to say, Salazar — you fought last night for your precious honor.

SALAZAR
No, I merely wanted to lend my complete support to what you’ve said.

GOVERNOR-GENERAL
Good, let’s have no more fighting then.

He turns to leave.

SALAZAR
Pero, Excelencia, think how much more effective your law would be if you had the assistance of the Inquisition to help you punish moral offenses and … other deeper sins.

DON ERASMO (to DON SAÚL)
The Inquisition. Ayyy! [18]

GOVERNOR-GENERAL (warily)
I think the Inquisition is doing a fine job where it is, in Salinas.

SALAZAR
Excelencia, I have close connections with the Holy Office …

GOVERNOR-GENERAL
Yes, I know — your uncle sits on it.

SALAZAR
I would be happy to offer myself as a liaison between you and the Inquisition if it would help you in enforcing the laws of Santa Fe.

GOVERNOR-GENERAL
Your offer is most generous, Salazar, but I don’t think we need the assistance of the Inquisition.

SALAZAR
Are you sure, Excelencia? The deepest sins are hidden among us, and they stain the moral fiber of the whole community.

GOVERNOR-GENERAL
Yes, well, we’ll call you if we need help.

(to the crowd) Hermanos, don’t forget: now is the time for honorable behavior.

The GOVERNOR-GENERAL exits. DON SAÚL and ERASMO regard TENIENTE MANZANARES while REBECA flirts with LORENZO.

SALAZAR
This new Governor-General must think — because he comes from Spain directly and we have been here generations — that we are nothing more than indio peones, sweating under the same yoke they wear.

REBECA passes, and LORENZO joins her.

RAFAEL
So, she’s Lorenzo’s newest, truest love.

AMBROSIO
Que chula. I wouldn’t mind a smile from her myself.

SALAZAR
Pues, hombre, you don’t know who she is? [19]

AMBROSIO
Don Saúl’s daughter.

SALAZAR
Sí. The judaizante.

AMBROSIO
You mean, a hidden Jew?

SALAZAR
Yes, look at him. Can’t you tell?

DON SAÚL sees REBECA flirting with LORENZO. He interrupts his talk with DON ERASMO.

DON SAÚL
Rebeca!

(to DON ERASMO) Why look, she’s flirting with that boy again. Daily she grows more rebellious.

DON ERASMO
It’s very hard to curb them at that age.

DON SAÚL (to REBECA)
Rebeca, stop that! Come here now.

REBECA rejoins him.

(to DON ERASMO) I’ll rest easier when I get her married to the proper man.

AMBROSIO
He looks like an ordinary father to me.

LORENZO (rejoining his friends)
Who?

AMBROSIO
Besides, he goes to mass. I’ve seen him at La Parroquia.

SALAZAR
You infants! You know nothing of the world. I’ve seen Jews burn on the pyres of New Spain, swearing as the flames wrapped their limbs in holy fire that they were followers of Christ. But inwardly, inwardly, Rafael, such men keep secret faith with the laws of Moses. [20]

LORENZO
Who are you talking about?

SALAZAR
Don Saúl, you fool. The Rebeca you love is the daughter of a hidden Jew.

LORENZO
¡Cuida tu lengua!

AMBROSIO
No te enojes, Lorenzo.

(to SALAZAR) You have proof of this?

SALAZAR
I’ve been gathering evidence.

AMBROSIO
Then why not tell the Governor-General?

TENIENTE MANZANARES enters with CLARÍN, giving him instructions.

SALAZAR (pitching his voice so TENIENTE MANZANARES will hear)
Our governor would rather fight Apaches than those who mock the true faith. There was a time when Spain would send us leaders unafraid to fight for Christ. But now she sends us vainglorious fools who only think to further their careers.

TENIENTE MANZANARES approaches SALAZAR and AMBROSIO coolly, looking directly at SALAZAR.

TENIENTE MANZANARES
Buenos días les de Dios, caballeros.

AMBROSIO & LORENZO
Buenos días.

The group breaks up under TENIENTE MANZANARES’s relentless stare. SALAZAR looks like he’s tempted to confront him, but he loses his nerve. [21]

SALAZAR (to AMBROSIO)
Come, let me show you the evidence I mentioned. I keep it under lock and key at Don Antonio’s.

(to LORENZO) Y tú, amigo, ven. You need instruction in the faith.

AMBROSIO, SALAZAR, and LORENZO exit. RAFAEL and DON ANTONIO are still conversing upstage.

TENIENTE MANZANARES (to CLARÍN)
¿Me entiendes, Clarín? The governor wants the notice posted now.

CLARÍN
Ahora, ahora, ahora, todo es “ahora”! Siempre “ahora.”

CLARÍN fixes the proclamation to a post. DON SAÚL approaches TENIENTE MANZANARES.

DON SAÚL
Teniente Manzanares, might we have a word with you?

TENIENTE MANZANARES
Sí, cómo no.

He joins DON ERASMO, REBECA, and DON SAÚL as RAFAEL and DON ANTONIO walk downstage. CLARÍN eavesdrops on their conversation.

DON ANTONIO
I promise I won’t betray your trust again.

RAFAEL
No, think nothing of it. I shouldn’t have reacted so strongly. Este …

DON ANTONIO
I know … love makes temperamental idiots of us all. Won’t you tell me who she is? I’ll keep it a secret …

RAFAEL
Her name is Portía.

CLARÍN hears this.

I saw her at mass last New Year’s Eve. I was conducting the choir in the Gloria, when from the corner of my eye, I caught sight of the most radiant pair of [22] eyes. They were lit with an inner fire that I have not seen burn in any woman. I turned to look at her and suddenly lost count of the music. I lost track of the words we were singing. All through the mass, I kept staring at her, and those few times she looked at me I felt as if our fates had been preordained. I knew then that it was a mistake for me to be a priest. I only wanted to see esa linda creatura, to talk to her, to ask her qué pasión brillaba en esos ojos negros. But after mass, she disappeared. Clarín told me who she was …

CLARÍN
Ah sí, Portía, La Doña de las Manzanas.

RAFAEL
Yes, that’s her — my Lady of the Apples.

DON ANTONIO
Apples?

CLARÍN
Her papá planted apple orchards for leagues and leagues. Era muy, muy rico, and she’s his only heir. But Papá Manzano knew the suitors would line up the moment he died. So he locked up all his money and left it in his will that no one could marry su hijita until they passed la prueba.

DON ANTONIO
What test?

CLARÍN
You want to marry Portía, you have to pick the right casket.

DON ANTONIO
Casket? You mean, a coffin?

CLARÍN
No, no, no, casket, casket, casket! It’s like a little basket, but it’s a casket. Three of them. One gold, one silver, and one lead. You pick the right one, you get the girl! You choose wrong, you lose. But wait, there’s more! If you lose Portía, you must swear never ever to marry another woman.

RAFAEL
If I failed to win her love, I would never marry anyway. [23]

CLARÍN
Oh sí, you say that now.

RAFAEL
No, I swear it.

CLARÍN
Anyway, you haven’t got a chance in hell to win such a lady. You have to have mucho dinero to even stand in line to see her.

RAFAEL
I think she would value true love more than money.

DON ANTONIO
You know all this though you’ve met her only once?

RAFAEL
Pues …

DON ANTONIO
No, my friend, Clarín tiene razón. It takes money to woo money.

RAFAEL
Then I am lost, for I have none.

DON ANTONIO
You shall, Rafael.

RAFAEL
I don’t see how.

DON ANTONIO
I’ll stake your claim so that you may court your Portía.

RAFAEL
Oh, Antonio, I couldn’t.

DON ANTONIO
We shall outfit you like a prince so you may meet your lady love in a style equal to your inner worth. Since women are so easily swayed by a man’s outward show, we shall sway your lady Portía ’til she bends, succumbing to your charm. [24]

CLARÍN
Make her drop her apples.

RAFAEL
But I can’t possibly repay you.

DON ANTONIO
Please, I have my selfish reasons to give you joy. Besides, if you win the lady, you can reimburse me from her fortune.

CLARÍN
And what if he loses?

DON ANTONIO
Knowing dear Rafael shall forswear marriage will forgive the debt.

RAFAEL
I never had a truer friend.

DON ANTONIO
Go now, transform yourself into a suitor. Have my tailor fit you for new clothes, buy a decent horse, and, most importantly, seek out presents for your lady. And invite all our friends — we’ll have a feast to celebrate your departure for Manzano.

RAFAEL
Mil gracias, Don Antonio.

DON ANTONIO
Por nada. Clarín, take him to look at that brown gelding that Gómez wants to sell.

CLARÍN
Oh, it’s such fun to spend other people’s money!

RAFAEL and CLARÍN exit. DON ANTONIO goes to DON SAÚL, who is still talking with TENIENTE MANZANARES, REBECA, and DON ERASMO.

DON SAÚL (to TENIENTE MANZANARES)
So is this Apache threat as serious as the Governor-General makes it sound? [25]

TENIENTE MANZANARES
Yes, but this Governor-General will handle the threat differently than his predecessors.

DON SAÚL
Sí, I like him and I like his new policy. We must deal humanely with the indios.

DON ERASMO
Make peace with those who want peace …

TENIENTE MANZANARES
And keep up the pressure on those who want war. That’s the razón firme policy. Sí, señores, it is the key to long-lasting peace.

DON ANTONIO
Don Saúl, may I have a word with you?

DON SAÚL
Sí, cómo no. Join us, Don Antonio.

DON ANTONIO
It’s a matter of business.

DON SAÚL
Ah. Momentito … excuse me, Teniente, don’t go away.

(aside to DON ERASMO) Keep Rebeca here with the young Teniente.

Come with me, Don Antonio.

They go to Don Saúl’s shop.

Now, how can I help you?

DON ANTONIO
I’m a little short on funds, and uh, I need …

DON SAÚL
To borrow money? That’s not a problem, señor, for a man with your excellent credit. How much do you require?

DON ANTONIO
Three thousand pesos.

DON SAÚL whistles in response. [26]

DON SAÚL
You’re building a new house? Traveling back to Spain?

DON ANTONIO
A young friend of mine is in need of funds to court a lady.

DON SAÚL
And I’ve heard that you are most generous to your friends, señor.

DON ANTONIO
It’s usually no problem to give them loans from my own money. But until my cargo trains return …

DON SAÚL
Yes, I’ve heard you have three caravans traveling now. May they all arrive safely.

DON ANTONIO
A thousand fates could snare them and I’d be ruined. But I don’t worry — I’ve always been a gambler, and I usually win.

DON SAÚL
I was in your business once. I’m glad I got out. The waiting and the loss, the waiting and the gain — I’m not a gambler. I marvel that you stay so cool, Señor Antonio.

DON ANTONIO
Gracias.

Beat.

So you have the funds available?

DON SAÚL
Sí, cómo no, I’ll lend you the money.

He rummages for a paper and hands it to DON ANTONIO.

If you’ll just read this, and if it agrees with you, sign it, then …

DON ANTONIO
¿Qué es esto?

DON SAÚL
A simple contract, standard form. [27]

DON ANTONIO
A bond?

DON SAÚL
Pues, sí.

DON ANTONIO
You want me to sign a bond?

He tosses the paper.

¡Pero mi palabra es ley!

DON SAÚL
Don Antonio, please don’t take offense. You yourself said that you were at great risk of losing your cargos. What if you had to default on the loan? No court would honor a verbal agreement …

DON ANTONIO
Soy yo, Don Antonio. Mi palabra vale más que oro. This is the first time that my word has ever been questioned.

DON SAÚL
I’m sorry, I thought you knew: all my customers sign a bond.

DON ANTONIO
Entonces, I am not your customer!

As he turns to leave, RAFAEL enters with a piece of lace cloth.

RAFAEL
What do you think, Don Antonio? All women love mantillas, no?

DON ANTONIO
Es preciosa, my friend.

RAFAEL
Don Antonio, ¿qué te pasa?

DON ANTONIO
Nothing. Go! Buy it for your lady.

He returns to Don Saúl’s shop.

Where is that stinking piece of paper? [28]

DON SAÚL
Here, read it over carefully.

DON ANTONIO
I don’t care what it says.

DON SAÚL
You can change the terms, you know. I’d be more than happy to …

DON ANTONIO
What are you going to do, kill me if I default?

DON SAÚL
Don Antonio, I don’t understand your bitterness.

DON ANTONIO
Go ahead, put that in the bond. Inisisto.

He grabs the bond from DON SAÚL and scribbles it in himself.

“And if Don Antonio default, Don Saúl shall seek his death.” Ves? You see how absurd I’ve made your bond? If you don’t trust my word, then you might as well take my life, because that is how important a man’s honra is to him.

DON SAÚL
You don’t have to borrow money from me. Try Chávez, off the plaza. He’s a good, honest castizo …

DON ANTONIO again heads for the door.

… whose interest rates are thirty percent higher than mine.

DON ANTONIO glares at him, then suddenly shrugs, carelessly signs the bond, and leaves without a word.

DON SAÚL (calling out to him)
I’ll bring the money to your house tomorrow.

DON SAÚL follows DON ANTONIO outside, watches him exit, and then joins TENIENTE MANZANARES, REBECA, and DON ERASMO.

REBECA
Why is Don Antonio so upset? [29]

DON SAÚL
Sometimes we españoles take this honra thing too far. I may have offended him, but I had no choice. Don Antonio is propped up by friends who fawn upon him and spend his money freely. God help him if his fortunes ever shift, for such friends will flee from him like rats.

(to TENIENTE MANZANARES) Bueno, Teniente, what do you think of my daughter, eh? Bella como su madre — que descanse en paz. And like her mother, Rebeca is a wonderful cook. I particularly like the meal she prepares for Friday evenings.

DON SAÚL and DON ERASMO watch TENIENTE MANZANARES intently. When he smiles knowingly at them, they beam at each other.

Se me hace que she may be ripe for marriage. ¿Qué piensa usted, Teniente?

TENIENTE MANZANARES (flustered)
Uhh, I don’t know. Uh, yes, yes, it seems so.

REBECA
Papá, I’m not going to stay here if you start talking like that.

(to TENIENTE MANZANARES) Please, excuse my father. He thinks he is a matchmaker as well as a moneylender.

TENIENTE MANZANARES
He is simply being a good father.

DON ERASMO
Saúl, guess what the Teniente’s first name is? Aarón.

DON SAÚL
Aarón.

He smiles with delight.

What a strong name. Aarón — I like it. Teniente, how long will you be with us?

TENIENTE MANZANARES
The viceroy gave the Governor-General and our company three years to end the Apache war.

DON SAÚL
¿Y luego? [30]

TENIENTE MANZANARES
If I’m successful …

DON ERASMO
He’ll walk out of here a captain and his next posting will be in Europe.

TENIENTE MANZANARES
Si Dios quiere …

DON ERASMO
If he makes his name on a European battlefield, he’ll be well on his way.

DON SAÚL grimaces at DON ERASMO, who shrugs happily.

DON SAÚL (to TENIENTE MANZANARES)
On your way? To what?

TENIENTE MANZANARES
There have been more than five generations of soldiers in my family. I hope to be the first to command a regiment — and make colonel.

DON SAÚL
I admire such ambition in a young man. Pues, Teniente, among the soldiers that came up from Mexico with you and the Governor-General, are there any such men like yourself for my Rebeca?

TENIENTE MANZANARES
Most of my men are prisoners. The only way they could recruit soldiers for Nuevo México is by commuting the sentences of convicts who volunteer.

DON SAÚL
Forgive my bluntness, Teniente, but what about you? Are you betrothed?

REBECA
¡Papá!

She runs off.

DON SAÚL
Stay, Rebeca!

DON ERASMO
You’ve embarrassed her, Saúl. [31]

TENIENTE MANZANARES
She’s a beautiful young woman, Don Saúl, and I’m sure she would make someone a good wife. But, unfortunately …

DON SAÚL (crestfallen)
You’re engaged, I knew it.

TENIENTE MANZANARES
No, pero …

DON SAÚL
Dinos, somos hombres.

TENIENTE MANZANARES
Regardless of one’s qualities as an officer, one must have noble connections to make colonel or general.

DON ERASMO
Which you hope to gain by marriage in España?

TENIENTE MANZANARES nods yes.

DON SAÚL
So, the leading families of New Spain aren’t good enough for you?

TENIENTE MANZANARES
Lo siento, Don Saúl. I wish things were different. Rebeca’s a beautiful girl.

DON SAÚL
Teniente, I’m afraid she’ll run off with an horca.

TENIENTE MANZANARES
There are worse things than that — my father was an horca.

DON SAÚL
¿De veras? Christian?

DON ERASMO
Castizo?

TENIENTE MANZANARES
Yes. My mother was from an old converso family. [32]

(quietly, so as not to be overheard) By the way, many of the officers who developed the razón firme policy were converso.

DON ERASMO
The governor’s policy is so humane compared to those of his predecessors. Is he … ?

TENIENTE MANZANARES
No, es castizo, but he is a smart man.

DON ERASMO
We heard that there were converso officers, but you’re the first we’ve met.

He nods to DON SAÚL.

Invítalo, Saúl.

DON SAÚL
We would be honored if you’d join us at a dinner that we have at my house every Friday night. Tonight perhaps. A very special dinner if you know what I mean.

TENIENTE MANZANARES (hesitating)
I’m honored, Don Saúl, but I don’t think I will be able to attend. My military duties … you understand?

DON SAÚL (disappointed)
Sí, sí …

(brightening) Well, we’re not giving up on you yet, Teniente.

TENIENTE MANZANARES (laughing)
That’s good to hear. You know, Don Saúl, you remind me of mi tío Jacobo.

DON SAÚL and DON ERASMO smile at each other.

DON SAÚL
¡Jacobo!

TENIENTE MANZANARES
He had a wonderful singing voice. He and my mother used to sing together … on Friday nights. Songs from the old country.

Behind them, SALAZAR and LORENZO enter and stop when they see the three men. [33]

DON SAÚL
Ah, the old songs.

(to DON ERASMO) What was the song we were trying to remember the other day, Erasmo?

DON ERASMO (singing badly)
Durme, durme …

DON SAÚL joins in.

DON SAÚL & DON ERASMO
Durme, durme, hermoso hijico …

DON SAÚL (to DON ERASMO)
We are slaughtering the tune, old friend …

TENIENTE MANZANARES joins in, singing so well that DON SAÚL and DON ERASMO stop to listen.

TENIENTE MANZANARES (singing)

Durme, durme, hermoso hijico.
Durme durme, con savor.
Cerra tus luzíos ojicos.
Durme durme, con savor.
A la scola tú te irás y la Ley t’ambezarás.

SALAZAR
Mira nomás, I know that song.

LORENZO
Suena bien.

SALAZAR
Pendejo, that’s a Jewish song.

LORENZO
How do you know?

SALAZAR
I told you, my uncle taught me how to recognize them. Quick, go get the others!

LORENZO exits. [34]

DON SAÚL
Beautiful, Teniente!

DON ERASMO
They don’t make them like they used to, do they?

TENIENTE MANZANARES
My mother taught it to me. And her mother taught it to her. And her mother …

DON SAÚL
Learned it from her mother …

(softly) You are one of us, aren’t you, Aarón?

TENIENTE MANZANARES nods and smiles. Enter DON ANTONIO, RAFAEL, LORENZO, AMBROSIO, and others. They stay in the background while SALAZAR continues to talk to them.

Try to come visit us tonight. We need each other, Aarón. Bueno, enough. Vamos, compadre, let the Teniente perform his duties.

TENIENTE MANZANARES
It has been an honor and a pleasure to make your acquaintance.

DON SAÚL
El placer es mío. Adiós.

TENIENTE MANZANARES
Adiós, Don Saúl, Don Erasmo.

As DON SAÚL and DON ERASMO leave, they glance uneasily at SALAZAR and his group. TENIENTE MANZANARES sees their look and turns to face SALAZAR.

Que Dios les guarde, caballeros.

SALAZAR
Look at him trying to act innocent. Lorenzo and I heard you singing just a while ago to Don Saúl and Don Erasmo.

LORENZO
Nice voice.

SALAZAR glares at LORENZO. [35]

SALAZAR
Nice voice, wrong song. I’m frankly amazed at your brazen display of heresy, Teniente.

TENIENTE MANZANARES
What are you talking about?

SALAZAR (mimicking him)
What are you talking about? Don’t play dumb with me, Manzanares. You were singing a Jewish song. You’re judaizante, aren’t you?

TENIENTE MANZANARES (laughing)
Caballeros, caballeros, it’s an innocent song, well known in Mexico. My father (making the sign of the cross), que descanse en paz, was an Old Christian hasta los meros huesos.

SALAZAR
Every hidden Jew claims to be an Old Christian — that’s how you can spot one.

DON ANTONIO
I never would have known. He looks just like a castizo.

RAFAEL
Are you sure about this, Salazar?

TENIENTE MANZANARES
You’re making a mistake, gentlemen.

SALAZAR
What is the other sure way to spot a judaizante? Cowardice. Crypto-Jews lack the cojones to stand up to a real castizo.

TENIENTE MANZANARES
I will not fight you. The Governor-General expressly forbids it.

SALAZAR
Notice how he hides behind the Governor-General? A Jew has no honor.

TENIENTE MANZANARES (to RAFAEL)
You should take your friend Salazar home. He doesn’t know what he’s getting into. [36]

RAFAEL
But he’s insulting your honor. You’re not going to fight him?

TENIENTE MANZANARES
I don’t fight civilians.

He rises and begins to exit.

SALAZAR
Lo ven.

RAFAEL
Cobarde.

SALAZAR steps into TENIENTE MANZANARES’s path. He must step around SALAZAR. As TENIENTE MANZANARES refuses to fight, SALAZAR gets bolder and preens for his audience.

The group begins to act like a wolf pack sensing wounded prey. They cheer for SALAZAR and hurl insults at TENIENTE MANZANARES.

GROUP
¡Échale, Salazar!

¡Judaizante! Coward! ¡Cobarde!

SALAZAR runs in front of TENIENTE MANZANARES, confronts him, then spits in his face. TENIENTE MANZANARES is enraged, but he wipes the spit off his face and continues his exit.

LORENZO (embarrassed for TENIENTE MANZANARES)
That’s enough, Salazar.

Not expecting a response, SALAZAR delivers a final insult at the departing TENIENTE MANZANARES.

SALAZAR
¡Me cago en la leche de tu madre!

TENIENTE MANZANARES
¡Hostia!

He draws his sword. SALAZAR is looking at the group so he does not see TENIENTE MANZANARES draw the sword. The others [37] gesture at TENIENTE MANZANARES. SALAZAR turns and is surprised to see TENIENTE MANZANARES approaching.

SALAZAR
¡Mira nomás, amigos!

He draws. RAFAEL draws. RAFAEL turns to DON ANTONIO.

RAFAEL
Échele, Antonio.

DON ANTONIO draws.

TENIENTE MANZANARES
This is not a fair fight.

SALAZAR
Miren, the Teniente is afraid of four civilians.

TENIENTE MANZANARES
No. My broadsword will cut through your rapiers like dry sticks.

He turns to LORENZO and hands him his broadsword.

Toma.

He takes LORENZO’s rapier.

Now, it’s a fair fight.

They fight. Early in the struggle, TENIENTE MANZANARES smashes an elbow into DON ANTONIO’s face. DON ANTONIO spends the rest of the fight upstage holding his nose. While keeping SALAZAR at bay, TENIENTE MANZANARES is able to flip RAFAEL’s cape over him. He then hits RAFAEL several times with the pommel of his rapier. RAFAEL falls. TENIENTE MANZANARES then focuses on SALAZAR. He plays with SALAZAR, gains advantage, disarms him while knocking him down, and then closes in for the kill.

TENIENTE MANZANARES
Muere, perro!

TENIENTE MANZANARES hesitates over SALAZAR as though he is not sure he wants to kill him. Everyone senses the hesitation. Enter the GOVERNOR-GENERAL, led by an excited CLARÍN. [38]

GOVERNOR-GENERAL
Teniente, ¿qué haces? Everyone hold. Minutes after my proclamation you are fighting in the street like mongrel dogs. Tú, Manzanares, look at yourself! Salazar, otra vez, eh? Y tú, ¿cómo te llamas?

RAFAEL
Rafael de la Torre, Excelencia.

GOVERNOR-GENERAL
Rafael, you’ve just earned a thirty peso fine. ¿Y tú … Don Antonio? Is that you?

DON ANTONIO
Excelencia.

GOVERNOR-GENERAL
Don Antonio, I’m disappointed. Thirty pesos, también. Ambrosio, treinta pesos.

SALAZAR
We caught him singing a Jewish song.

The GOVERNOR-GENERAL appears incredulous that this would cause a fight.

GOVERNOR-GENERAL
No me digas.

SALAZAR
We caught him. He’s a judaizante.

GOVERNOR-GENERAL
Dame paciencia, Señor. What can I do with people who kill each other over a song?

(to TENIENTE MANZANARES) Teniente, check the provisions for tomorrow’s patrol.

TENIENTE MANZANARES begins to leave.

TENIENTE MANZANARES
Perdóname, I lost control. [39]

GOVERNOR-GENERAL
You bet you did. I may be sending you and your men back to Salinas tomorrow, pero tonight you’ll spend in jail. I am docking thirty pesos from your pay.

TENIENTE MANZANARES
Sí, Excelencia.

GOVERNOR-GENERAL
Salazar, you’ll also spend the night in jail and be fined ninety pesos …

SALAZAR
Pero, Excelencia …

GOVERNOR-GENERAL
… porque eres tres veces más pendejo que él. Primero, you were fighting right after I warned you of the consequences. Segundo, look around you: we have drought, famine, war with the Apaches, and the Pueblos grumbling about revolt, and you run around stirring up trouble among us when we should be united? Tercero, you have no proof. Singing a song does not a crypto-Jew make. Now clean this place up.

He exits.

AMBROSIO
Thanks a lot, Salazar. You just got us all in trouble.

RAFAEL
We should know better than to listen to him, anyway.

LORENZO (to SALAZAR)
Come on, let’s go.

SALAZAR shakes off LORENZO’s hand.

SALAZAR
You all think I’m loco? You’re the ones! You’re just like the governor — you want to fight an enemy that’s out there instead of cleaning out your own house! But I’ll show you the truth. You’ll see …

He grabs LORENZO.

You especially had better listen to what I have to say. [40]

He and LORENZO exit as the others watch them leave. DON ANTONIO feels his nose and moans. RAFAEL looks at DON ANTONIO’s nose.

RAFAEL (to AMBROSIO and the others)
It looks like Don Antonio’s nose is broken. Ayúdame, Ambrosio.

They help DON ANTONIO offstage, still talking about SALAZAR. [41]

ACT 2
Scene 1

The Manzano Estate. DOÑA PORTÍA stirs a batch of apple cider in a big pot while reading an old recipe book. NERISA enters with a jug.

DOÑA PORTÍA
Nerisa, come see if you can read my father’s handwriting.

NERISA looks at the book.

NERISA
“ … after the cider has fermented, take ten gallons and pour it into the still, along with … ” I can’t make out what he wrote.

DOÑA PORTÍA
Neither can I. Whatever it is, it’s the missing ingredient that magically turns apple cider into apple brandy.

NERISA
I found this in the cellar. It must have been from last year’s crop.

They both eye the jug with trepidation.

DOÑA PORTÍA
Let’s open it and see how it tastes.

NERISA
I don’t know … we got so sick from the last batch we made.

DOÑA PORTÍA
Nerisa, are we mujeres or are we mice?

NERISA
Better to be a sober mouse than a puking woman.

DOÑA PORTÍA uncorks the jug, sniffs it, wrinkles her nose, and then bravely tries a sip of the cider. She spits it out.

DOÑA PORTÍA
Ughhh! Awful! How could two such sweet, charming women have made such a vile mess? [42]

NERISA
We’re new at this. And as soon as we figure out that missing ingredient from your father’s recipe …

She examines the book again.

DOÑA PORTÍA
I really do think this could be a profitable venture. After all, we have to do something with all these apples, and as long as there are hard-drinking hombres in this world, there will always be a need for apple brandy, ¿qué no?

NERISA (sighing)
Your papá’s hand was very shaky when he wrote this.

DOÑA PORTÍA
Pobrecito, he was trying to write everything he thought I’d need to know before he died.

She hands her the jug.

Here, take this away. Pour it out somewhere.

NERISA
I know! We could feed this stuff to the suitors.

DOÑA PORTÍA
Oh, you had to mention them.

NERISA
I’m surprised no one’s shown up today.

DOÑA PORTÍA
You’d think that by now one brave caballero would have guessed the answer to papá’s riddle. Are men as dense as they appear? Or do only idiots come to woo Portía?

NERISA
You haven’t liked a single one?

DOÑA PORTÍA
No!

NERISA
I know one you would like … [43]

DOÑA PORTÍA
I know the one you mean …

NERISA
Rafael of Santa Fe.

DOÑA PORTÍA
Ah …

NERISA
Ah …

DOÑA PORTÍA
I remember him well from New Year’s Eve mass.

NERISA
I saw the look that passed between you two.

DOÑA PORTÍA
But I don’t think he’d ever make the journey to Manzano. He’s poor in wealth and rich in pride, and such a man would never court because he thinks he woos in vain. Though he could come here on a burro and I’d welcome him.

YSIDRO (offstage)
¡Alto!

NERISA
¿Qué pasó?

(hollering offstage) Ysidro, who comes?

DOÑA PORTÍA
I pray it’s not Apaches, not today.

They gather weapons.

YSIDRO (offstage)
Todo está seguro.

DOÑA PORTÍA and NERISA breathe a sigh of relief.

NERISA (calling offstage)
No Apaches? [44]

YSIDRO (offstage)
No.

NERISA
Then who is it?

YSIDRO (offstage)
Otro caballero para la Doña Portía.

DOÑA PORTÍA and NERISA groan.

DOÑA PORTÍA (calling offstage)
Ysidro, is he a fancy-pants?

YSIDRO (offstage)
Sí, Doña. He wears a wig, and a hat with three feathers, and white stockings. And heels!

DOÑA PORTÍA runs to get a good look, then returns to NERISA.

DOÑA PORTÍA
¡Por Dios! I don’t think I can stand another Prince of Arrogante.

NERISA
Shall I offer him some cider?

DOÑA PORTÍA
We don’t want to kill him, but as long as he’s here, let’s have some fun with him.

She smears dirt on her face and messes her hair.

NERISA
What are you doing?

DOÑA PORTÍA
Stand next to me when he enters. Let’s see if he can pick the real mistress of Manzano.

Enter DON RENALDO, a self-styled “puro castizo” with aristocratic pretensions. He sees the two women, goes to NERISA, and kisses her hand.

DON RENALDO
Estimada Doña Portía, Don Renaldo de Sevilla kisses your lily-white hand. [45]

NERISA
Señor …

DON RENALDO
Is this the dainty hand that rules over this vast apple empire?

NERISA
Señor …

DON RENALDO
Ah, my presence overwhelms you. I often have that effect on the fairer sex. But your effect on me is also overwhelming. Allow me once more to plant my lips upon this delicate palm …

He kisses her hand again, winking suggestively at DOÑA PORTÍA as he does so.

NERISA
Señor, you’re kissing the wrong hand. She is my mistress, Doña Portía.

DON RENALDO
Estimada Doña Portía, Don Renaldo kisses your lily-white hand …

DOÑA PORTÍA pulls her hand away and affects a “hick” accent.

DOÑA PORTÍA
Oh, better not smooch my paws, fella. I been guttin’ chickens all day …

DON RENALDO
Ah. I see.

DOÑA PORTÍA
I ’spose you wanna try your luck at guessin’ which one of Pappy’s caskets is got my picture in it?

DON RENALDO
Ah, yes, lovely lady, I would dearly love the chance to win your hand … or any other part of you …

(aside) that’s clean.

DOÑA PORTÍA
Well, you just plumb gonna have to wait ’til later ’cause I got me a couple of pigs need to be fixed afore I can mess with you. [46]

DON RENALDO (faintly)
Later would be … fine.

DOÑA PORTÍA
So go on out and show my man Ysidro how good a wrassler you are. He’s never been whupped yet, but I ’spose there’s always a fust time.

DON RENALDO
Wrassling?

DOÑA PORTÍA
You know, combat.

(deepening her voice) Mano a mano.

DON RENALDO gulps, nods, and backs offstage. DONA PORTÍA and NERISA can barely contain their laughter until he leaves.

DOÑA PORTÍA
¡Dios! I grow weary of these pretentious fools!

NERISA
Do you think we scared him off?

DOÑA PORTÍA
I hope so. And if we have not, perhaps Ysidro can lend a hand.

Offstage, DON RENALDO yelps and a heavy thud is heard, followed by a grunt from YSIDRO. DOÑA PORTÍA and NERISA laugh.

Scene 2

Friday evening. DON SAÚL’s home. REBECA lays a new cloth on a table where DON ERASMO sits.

DON SAÚL
The sun is setting. Soon we can light the candles and welcome Queen Sabbath to our house.

DON SAÚL turns a picture of Christ so he’s facing the wall, then joins DON ERASMO at the table. [47]

DON ERASMO
I tell you, compadre, I’m worried by today’s events.

DON SAÚL
Yo sé.

REBECA
What happened?

DON SAÚL
Oh, Salazar picked another fight — this time with Teniente Manzanares.

He glances worriedly at REBECA.

Erasmo, didn’t you say you wanted some chocolate?

DON ERASMO
Hmm? No.

DON SAÚL
Yes, you did.

(to REBECA) Would you be a good girl y trae una copita para tu padrino?

REBECA exits.

DON SAÚL
I don’t want to upset her with this business about Salazar and his accusations. Do you know, when the Inquisition charged Governor-General López de Mendizábal and Francisco Gómez Robledo with being hidden Jews nine years ago, my Rebeca couldn’t sleep. And when we heard that the Governor-General had died in jail, my poor girl dreamt that I was roasted alive at the stake and that she was dragged through the streets, forced to wear a yellow hood, and whipped until the blood streamed from her back.

REBECA enters quietly and listens. DON SAÚL and DON ERASMO don’t see her.

DON ERASMO
Is there a Jew living who doesn’t have such nightmares?

Beat. [48]

The crazy thing is that Gómez Robledo, who was one of us, talked his way out of the Inquisition jail, but López de Mendizábal, who wasn’t one of us, died there.

(sighing) Yes, we all slept badly during that awful time.

DON SAÚL
I just don’t want Rebeca to be scared away from the faith. I worry about that …

DON ERASMO (seeing REBECA, to DON SAÚL)
You worry too much. Ah, muchas gracias, Rebeca.

REBECA
De nada. Papá, won’t you tell me what’s going on?

DON SAÚL
Nothing, querida, nothing. We’re just two old men sitting here worrying about the world, like we always do. Hmm. The chocolate smells good. Rebeca, ¿por qué no me traes una a mí?

REBECA sighs and leaves.

She is the light of my life and my only hope for the future. And yet she worries me so much. Tell me, Erasmo, did one of your daughters ever fall in love with a castizo boy?

DON ERASMO
No. They know if they did, I would take a stick to them.

DON SAÚL
What have I done wrong, then? I have tried threatening her, begging her, reasoning with her to give up this infatuation she has with young Lorenzo, but she listens to nothing I say.

DON ERASMO
Young girls are that way — they get an idea fixed in their head, and nothing can shake it from them. But I don’t think Rebeca would do anything to hurt you, Saúl.

DON SAÚL
You’re right. I should trust her more.

DON ERASMO
We have greater problems to solve. [49]

Beat.

What shall we do about Salazar? If he can publicly accuse the Governor-General’s right-hand man of being un judío …

DON SAÚL
Yes, but the Governor-General humiliated Salazar in public. He’s been discredited.

REBECA stands in the doorway and again listens without them knowing.

DON ERASMO
But I know Salazar. He’s even more dangerous when his pride has been injured. And he has powerful connections. What if he discovers us?

DON SAÚL
We’re too well hidden.

DON ERASMO
All he’d have to do is talk to his uncle, and we’d have the Inquisition breathing down our necks.

DON SAÚL
Now it’s you who worries too much.

DON ERASMO
I think you should talk to the Governor-General. He respects you.

REBECA
Would somebody tell me what is going on here?

They turn to see her.

DON SAÚL
Rebeca!

REBECA
Papá, it’s a dozen times worse when you don’t tell me the truth. My imagination conjures up the most awful …

DON ERASMO
She’s right, Saúl. Tell her. [50]

DON SAÚL
There’s been some trouble — Salazar accused Lieutenant Manzanares of being a hidden Jew.

REBECA
Is he?

DON SAÚL and DON ERASMO nod.

Then it’s only a matter of time until we’re …

DON SAÚL
Now mija, no te preocupes …

There is a knock at the door.

Who goes there?

LÁZARO, Don Saúl’s genízaro servant, disguises his voice. He carries a bundle of candles.

LÁZARO
Soy yo, El Gobernador.

DON SAÚL
The Governor-General?

LÁZARO
Sí. I want to borrow some money. Are you open today?

DON SAÚL
Uh, uh … yes, we were just closing shop …

He flips the picture of Christ so it’s facing outward.

But for the Governor-General, we can certainly open up again …

He flings the door open, seeing it’s only LÁZARO.

You!

LÁZARO (cackling)
Señor, the Governor-General was here, believe me, but he left his purse in his carriage and had to go get it …

DON SAÚL
Oh sí, and I’m the King of Spain. [51]

DON ERASMO and REBECA laugh.

Don’t encourage him! Get in here. I’m in no mood for your pranks. You brought the candles?

LÁZARO
Sí, it took me all afternoon, though.

DON SAÚL
So I noticed. You know, I’ll have to talk to the padre about how long it takes you to run the errands I send you on.

LÁZARO
Hey, it’s hard finding candles that aren’t made from … what is that stuff?

DON SAÚL
Tallow. Animal fat.

He sniffs them.

Bueno, these are made of beeswax. For once, you did well, Lázaro. Where did you buy these?

LÁZARO
Oh …

He hands DON SAÚL money.

… here.

DON SAÚL
But this is the money I gave you.

LÁZARO
Sí.

DON SAÚL
Pues, what did you use to buy the candles?

LÁZARO
Well, let’s just say I borrowed them.

DON SAÚL
From whom? [52]

LÁZARO
From the church.

DON SAÚL
Does the padre know you took these candles?

LÁZARO
He wasn’t there.

DON SAÚL
Ay, the Lord sent Lázaro to us to afflict us, to test our faith and spirit.

LÁZARO
Pues, you’re no day at the fiesta for me either, señor.

DON SAÚL
Quiet! Enough of your backtalk.

He points at the candles.

Return those to the church and help Padre Gerónimo with the mass, like you’re supposed to.

LÁZARO
I’d rather be drinking than helping the padre.

DON SAÚL
¿Qué dices?

LÁZARO
Mañana hay misa para los sordos …

REBECA laughs.

DON SAÚL (to LÁZARO)
Vete, do as I say …

Knocking at the door. DON ERASMO, DON SAÚL, and REBECA look at each other anxiously.

Who could it be?

DON SAÚL opens the door — it’s TENIENTE MANZANARES.

(relieved and surprised) Teniente, it’s so good to see you. [53]

TENIENTE MANZANARES
May I come in, Don Saúl?

DON SAÚL
Sí, pásale, pásale.

(to REBECA) Rebeca, set another place for the Teniente.

TENIENTE MANZANARES
No se molesten — I only have a few minutes before I have to … report to jail.

DON SAÚL (to LÁZARO)
¿Y tú? What are you staring at? Go help the padre.

LÁZARO
All right, I’m going.

LÁZARO exits.

DON SAÚL
He helps the padre with mass every Friday night, then he cleans the church.

TENIENTE MANZANARES
Shabbath Shalom.

DON SAÚL, DON ERASMO, & REBECA
Shabbath Shalom.

DON SAÚL
Bienvenido, your timing is perfect.

TENIENTE MANZANARES watches as DON SAÚL turns the picture of Christ to the wall.

DON ERASMO
I didn’t think you would be coming.

TENIENTE MANZANARES
I didn’t either, pero … it’s been so long since I observed the Sabbath. It’s very hard when you’re in the army …

DON ERASMO
Mijo, it’s hard anywhere you are. Ven, let us pray. [54]

TENIENTE MANZANARES
I have no tallit.

DON SAÚL
No te preocupes, hijo, I have an extra. Rebeca, give him the one with blue trim.

REBECA hands TENIENTE MANZANARES the tallit. She then brings in two candlesticks. She and DON SAÚL join DON ERASMO and TENIENTE MANZANARES behind the scrim. REBECA presides over the lighting of the candles ceremony. LÁZARO enters.

LÁZARO
I forgot to take those candles back to the padre …

(shocked) Ayyy!

He crosses himself and steps back in terror.

Enter CLARÍN. LÁZARO bumps into him, almost knocking him over.

CLARÍN
Watch where you’re going, idiota! You almost smashed my foot.

(seeing the look on LÁZARO’s face) ¿Qué te pasó? Did you see a ghost?

LÁZARO points at the open door. CLARÍN looks in for a few seconds. He shakes his head, then carefully closes the door and takes LÁZARO to one side.

Come here, joven.

LÁZARO
It’s devil worship, isn’t it? The padre told me all about it.

CLARÍN
No, no, no.

LÁZARO
Yes! Don Saúl is doing something very, very bad, and if I don’t tell the padre …

CLARÍN
Listen to me. I know the padre wants you to be a good Christian, but that doesn’t mean you have to be a tattletale. [55]

LÁZARO
But …

CLARÍN
You don’t think I could have told the padre about Don Saúl? I’ve known for a long time that he’s a hidden Jew.

LÁZARO
The padre says it’s a sin to be anything but Catholic. I mean, he made me give up my religion, sabes, when they first brought me here.

CLARÍN
You?

(laughing) What kind of religion could you have?

LÁZARO (stubbornly)
I don’t know. I was only five years old, but whatever it was, I had to give it up and be Catholic. So if I had to, how come Don Saúl doesn’t?

CLARÍN
I don’t make it my business.

LÁZARO
¿Por qué no?

CLARÍN
For the same reason you’re not going to make it your business: it would hurt Rebeca if you did.

LÁZARO
Rebeca …

CLARÍN
Yes, she’s been very good to you, and if you tell anyone that Don Saúl is judaizante, she will be hurt, too. The Inquisition would torture both of them, and she might die in jail, or worse. So, keep quiet about this.

LÁZARO
But how will I face Don Saúl? I mean, I know! I can’t keep it a secret. [56]

CLARÍN
Live as long as me, mocoso, and you’ll find out. If we started telling everyone’s secrets, we’d all roast in hell.

He exits. LÁZARO sits, deep in thought.

Scene 3

SALAZAR and LORENZO converse in the plaza.

SALAZAR
You say you love her, ¿qué no?

LORENZO
Salazar, I don’t care if she’s a hidden Jew. She could be Apache for all I care — I would still love her.

SALAZAR
If you love her, you’d better save her then.

LORENZO
Save her? From what?

SALAZAR
I’m drawing up a list to give to the Inquisition — a list of suspected heretics. Don Saúl’s name is on it. Don Saúl and his friend Erasmo. And of course, Rebeca, his daughter …

LORENZO
Te lo juro, Salazar, you harm one hair on her head …

SALAZAR
Cálmate, hothead, there’s a way to save her.

LORENZO
How?

SALAZAR
If you marry her, fool! If she’s married to a castizo, she’s safe, as long as she renounces the heresy of her upbringing. [57]

LORENZO
Are you sure?

SALAZAR
Trust me, Lorenzo, you’re her best hope of salvation.

LORENZO
But she would never leave her father.

SALAZAR
Oh, to hell with him. You’re man enough to steal her away from under his nose, aren’t you? He deserves no better for raising his daughter to be a Jewess and therefore endangering her life.

Beat.

¿Pues?

LORENZO
Pues, to save the woman I love …

SALAZAR
You can do no less. Now the first thing we have to do is persuade Rebeca to elope with you. Hmm.

He pauses to think.

Write her a love letter, proposing marriage. But don’t mention a word about the Inquisition, ¿sabes?

LORENZO
¿Por qué no?

SALAZAR
You know how women are. Just tell her you love her and want to marry her and you know her father would never approve of you. That will soften her heart. And if she agrees …

LORENZO
What if she doesn’t? [58]

SALAZAR
Where’s your confidence, hombre? Of course she’ll say yes to a fine young toro like you. Then we have to figure out how to get Don Saúl away from his house tonight.

He pauses to think.

Hmmm. I have an idea that may work. Come, let’s go. We have much to do.

They exit.

Scene 4

LÁZARO still sits outside Don Saúl’s home.

LÁZARO
Clarín is right — I wouldn’t hurt Rebeca for all the gold in the world. She’s the first española who ever laughed at my jokes. And she’s pretty, and she cooks good, and …

He sighs.

What would Don Saúl do to me if he found out I know? Because he will find out. With my big mouth, a secret never stays a secret for long.

RAFAEL and AMBROSIO enter. RAFAEL is wearing new clothes.

Mira el lindo. Is that Don Rafael under that fancy outfit?

AMBROSIO (laughing)
I hardly recognized him myself. They say that clothes make the man, but, in your case, Rafael, we have before us an entirely new man.

RAFAEL
And one that will win the hand of Portía, I hope.

LÁZARO
Buena suerte, Don Rafael. You’ll need it.

RAFAEL
Why?

LÁZARO
It’s a hard trip to Manzano, especially now with all the Apache raids. [59]

AMBROSIO
Apaches? Damn, we didn’t think about them, did we, Rafael?

RAFAEL
What?

AMBROSIO
Right. There’s only one thing on your mind, that’s plain to see.

LÁZARO
I think you’ll be all right if you travel at night and don’t burn any campfires.

AMBROSIO
What do you know about Apaches?

LÁZARO
I am one, or I was one, til the soldiers brought me here.

RAFAEL
Really, Lázaro? I thought you were a Pueblo.

LÁZARO (scornfully)
Those pot makers? No. Soy Apache.

AMBROSIO
Then speak some Apache for me.

LÁZARO decides to bluff and makes up some fake Apache.

LÁZARO
Okay … Alshecoathe ne nazat shquack.

AMBROSIO
What does that mean?

LÁZARO
It means … give me a job, get me out of Santa Fe. I could … yeah, I could be your guide. Show you the way to Manzano.

AMBROSIO and RAFAEL laugh.

RAFAEL
I thought you were Don Saúl’s man. [60]

LÁZARO
Not anymore. He … uh … he kicked me out.

AMBROSIO
Why?

LÁZARO
Because … oh, let’s just say I like his daughter too much.

AMBROSIO
A man after my own inclinations. Take him on, Rafael. You’ve money for his keep and his jokes will make the journey shorter.

RAFAEL
All right, you’re hired. But let me warn you — y tú también, Ambrosio — you must act like caballeros in my lady Portía’s presence. Como una infanta, she’s been pampered and protected, and her dainty heart would swoon to hear the way you fart and belch and swear like the Portuguese. Promise me you’ll tread lightly in Portía’s house.

LÁZARO
I’ll do what I can to control my mouth, señor, but as for what comes out the other end …

RAFAEL
Stop! You see, that’s just the kind of language I’m talking about.

AMBROSIO
Relax, Rafael, we’ll behave for your lady. Bueno, vamos. You have one more present to buy for Portía.

RAFAEL
Sí, vámonos.

(to LÁZARO) Meet us at Don Antonio’s later tonight, Lázaro. [61]

They exit.

Scene 5

Sunset. REBECA talks with LÁZARO outside Don Saúl’s house.

REBECA
But why do you have to leave Santa Fe, Lázaro?

LÁZARO
Oh, it’s time for your silly clown Lázaro to be a man, to seek adventure …

REBECA
But where will you go?

LÁZARO
To Manzano with Señor Rafael.

REBECA
Lucky you! They say Doña Portía grows the most beautiful apples in Nuevo México.

LÁZARO starts to say something vulgar, then remembers he’s with REBECA.

But what shall I tell papá?

LÁZARO
Tell him … I don’t know … tell him I said goodbye.

REBECA
Won’t the padre be upset to know you’ve run away?

LÁZARO
Don’t worry about the padre. Goodbye, Rebeca.

REBECA
Goodbye, Lázaro.

(hesitating) Before you go, could you do one final favor for me?

LÁZARO
Of course.

REBECA
Deliver this note to Lorenzo. [62]

LÁZARO
Ah, I’ll miss being the go-between for two lovers.

REBECA
We won’t be needing a go-between anymore if all goes well.

LÁZARO
¿Qué dices? Do you mean you and Lorenzo?

REBECA
You’ll keep my secret?

LÁZARO
Ay! More secrets.

REBECA
Lorenzo asked me to marry him.

LÁZARO
And you said yes?

REBECA
I did. Oh, papá will be so angry, but I hope to change his mind between now and the wedding.

LÁZARO
Good luck, Rebeca. Your father is as stubborn as an old goat.

REBECA
I’m stubborn, too, though. Don’t forget, I’m his daughter. But make sure Lorenzo gets this note? He wants it by tonight.

LÁZARO
Consider it done.

REBECA looks offstage.

REBECA
Quick, go! My father’s coming. And good luck, Lázaro. I know we’ll meet again someday.

LÁZARO exits, waving and blowing kisses. REBECA watches DON SAÚL approach. [63]

REBECA
He looks so tired today. He’s not been sleeping well. It’s not a good time to mention my news.

DON SAÚL
Rebeca!

REBECA
Yes, papá?

DON SAÚL
Don’t fix dinner for me tonight.

(patting her cheek) My girl looks like a fresh rose today, such blooming cheeks, such bright eyes.

(showing her a note) Look, Don Antonio sent me this very nice letter. He wants to apologize for his rudeness yesterday, and he’s invited me to a feast. I don’t know if I should go, though.

REBECA
Aren’t you always saying we should forgive those who hurt us so that we may be forgiven too?

DON SAÚL
Oh sí, sí, it’s not that. I’m just not feeling well. My sleep has been disrupted by evil dreams. Why, last night I dreamt our house was torn apart by a hot and howling wind, and everything within was scattered. Even you were swept away, lost to me …

REBECA
A rich meal and good red wine would help you sleep better.

DON SAÚL
Sí. Pues, I’ll go to Don Antonio’s. Let me warn you, though: lock every door and window as soon as I’m gone.

REBECA
Sí, papá. [64]

DON SAÚL
Those young friends of Don Antonio’s will be drinking hard tonight, I’m sure, and will roam the streets carousing until dawn. I want you locked up safe inside this house, ¿me entiendes? No horca thief shall steal my brightest jewel.

He pats her cheek.

REBECA
Sí, papá.

DON SAÚL
Rebeca?

REBECA
¿Sí, papá?

DON SAÚL
In this light, you remind me of your mother. How I wish she were here to see you now.

Beat.

Rebeca?

REBECA
¿Sí, papá?

DON SAÚL
Do you love your old papá, eh?

She bursts into tears. He holds her.

Why, that was a silly question, wasn’t it? Of course you love me, but not half as much as I love you, mijita. There now, dry your tears. I’d better go. I’m already late for Don Antonio’s feast. You’ll be all right?

REBECA
Sí. Goodbye, papá.

DON SAÚL
Remember, lock the doors and windows.

She watches him leave. [65]

REBECA
Goodbye, papá.

(to herself) It’s fortunate that he’s going to Don Antonio’s. Maybe he’ll meet Lorenzo there and maybe they’ll get a chance to talk. Maybe he’ll see that Lorenzo would make a good husband for me. Maybe they’ll be friends someday.

(laughing at the idea) Maybe.

She goes inside.

Scene 6

Evening. The patio of Don Antonio’s house. SALAZAR paces restlessly, watching DON ANTONIO read a scroll.

SALAZAR
Well, what do you think?

DON ANTONIO
Where did you get this?

SALAZAR
From Mexico City. They keep very scrupulous records on every auto da fé since 1562.

DON ANTONIO
But it doesn’t prove anything, Salazar. All it says is one Don Saúl de Toledo was arrested for being a judaizante. Just because the fellow’s name was Saúl doesn’t mean that …

SALAZAR
He was Don Saúl’s grandfather.

(pointing to the scroll) See this? After Saúl was interrogated and tortured, he confessed to being judaizante but renounced his old faith and supposedly [66] embraced Christianity.

DON ANTONIO
Yes …

SALAZAR
The Inquisition appropriated what they could of his fortune, but they never found the 50,000 pesos listed in his account books.

DON ANTONIO
Hm, I wish I had some of that gold in my accounts.

SALAZAR
Now, here’s the important part: soon after he did penance and was released from prison, Saúl, his wife, and two sons disappeared. It was reported that Saúl fled to Holland — the Dutch are such fools, they’ll accept anybody. But neither of his two sons went with him. One went to Morocco to join a Sephardi community, and the other, Don Bernardo, came to Nuevo México.

Beat.

Don’t you see?

DON ANTONIO (absentmindedly)
See what?

SALAZAR
Don Bernardo was the father of Don Saúl. And that mysterious disappearance of the 50,000 pesos — well, the old man divided it between his sons. How else would Don Saúl’s father have had the capital to be a moneylender?

Beat.

Don Antonio?

DON ANTONIO
Perdóname, friend, all this talk about gold has got me thinking about my cargos. I haven’t heard word of their safe arrival.

SALAZAR
Your cargos will reach their destinations. Don’t worry.

Enter LORENZO, AMBROSIO, RAFAEL and LÁZARO.

(whistling at RAFAEL) Will you look at him? Has there been a prince among us, in disguise all this time?

RAFAEL
Oh stop it, Salazar. [67]

DON ANTONIO
You look so fine, Rafael! Wonderful! If your lady turns you down, you can always come back here and we’ll find someone to fall in love with you.

RAFAEL
I owe this all to you, Don Antonio …

SALAZAR (seeing LÁZARO)
Who’s this fellow? Aren’t you Don Saúl’s slave?

LÁZARO
Slave no more — I work for Don Rafael here. And I bring a message to Lorenzo from a very special young lady.

LORENZO reads the note.

LORENZO
Excellent! ¡Maravilloso!

SALAZAR
I take it her news is good.

LORENZO (reading)
“Querido, it gives me greatest pride
To say to you, I’ll be your bride.
I can hardly wait for our new life,
You as my husband, I as your wife.
— Love, Rebeca.”

SALAZAR (dryly)
She’s a poet, too.

RAFAEL
Oh, this is wonderful! I am so happy for you both, Lorenzo.

DON ANTONIO
Yes, we have another cause for celebration tonight.

SALAZAR
Unfortunately, Lorenzo will not be at your feast, Don Antonio.

DON ANTONIO
Why not? [68]

SALAZAR
He must elope with Rebeca tonight.

AMBROSIO
Elope?

(sighing dramatically, imitating DOÑA AMPARO) ¡Ay, qué romántico!

(to LORENZO) What’s the rush, Lorenzo? Have you gotten her pregnant?

LORENZO starts to attack AMBROSIO. RAFAEL and ANTONIO hold him back.

SALAZAR (to LORENZO)
Cool off, would you?

(to AMBROSIO) No, Ambrosio. Lorenzo’s Rebeca is still chaste, we believe …

LORENZO (roaring)
I KNOW SHE IS!

SALAZAR
Yes, well, faith is a wonderful thing. In any case, Lorenzo must elope tonight because it’s the only chance he’ll have to steal Rebeca away from her father.

RAFAEL
But everyone knows how Don Saúl loves his daughter. It will break his heart if she runs away …

SALAZAR
Better to break an old judaizante’s heart than to have his daughter’s soul roast in hell for heresy.

AMBROSIO (to LORENZO)
What’s he talking about now?

LORENZO
I am saving Rebeca, that’s what. I’m a castizo, and if she marries me she will escape …

He glances nervously at SALAZAR.

… the Inquisition. [69]

RAFAEL (to SALAZAR)
Did you put him up to this?

LORENZO
I would marry her anyway …

SALAZAR
I’m just helping true love find a way to consummate itself. And if in the process I can help save a soul from eternal damnation … well …

AMBROSIO
So now you’re after Don Saúl, huh? You didn’t get your ass kicked hard enough by Manzanares? You want to take on one of the most respected men in Santa Fe?

RAFAEL
What’s your proof against Don Saúl? Another song?

RAFAEL and AMBROSIO laughingly sing a bit of a song, until they see the deadly expression on SALAZAR’s face. He approaches them menacingly.

SALAZAR
I can endure the humiliation I received from the Governor-General because he’s a pendejo short-timer who won’t live to see another winter in New Mexico. The indios will kill him, the same indios he’s trying so hard to win over. But what I cannot stand is to have my very own compadres mock me. Ask Don Antonio. I’ve shown him the proof that Don Saúl is a judaizante.

They turn to look at DON ANTONIO.

DON ANTONIO (to SALAZAR)
Well, the information you showed me certainly looks official.

SALAZAR
So Salazar the madman is right this time. And Lorenzo is doing the right thing in stealing Rebeca from her heretical father. And you, my so-called friends, must prove your friendship to me by doing the right thing.

DON ANTONIO breaks the uneasy silence.

DON ANTONIO
What do you want us to do? [70]

SALAZAR
I’ve taken the liberty of inviting Don Saúl to your feast, Don Antonio. He thinks you have sent for him to make amends about the loan.

DON ANTONIO
What? You want him here, among us?

SALAZAR
Exactly, and you must keep him here until Lorenzo can …

RAFAEL
Ah, elope with Rebeca.

SALAZAR
Yes.

AMBROSIO
Easy enough, I suppose. We’ll just wine and dine him …

LÁZARO looks offstage.

LÁZARO
Look who comes. My old master, Don Saúl. He’s chasing me down!

SALAZAR (to LORENZO)
I didn’t think he’d come!

(to the others) Are you with us on this?

RAFAEL
I want to help Lorenzo because he’s in love, but Don Saúl has never hurt me …

AMBROSIO
And Don Saúl could hurt us a lot easier than we could hurt him, what with his connections …

SALAZAR
Rafael, your benefactor Don Antonio has seen the evidence against Don Saúl. Are you going to insult the man who has been so generous and kind to you?

RAFAEL
Of course not. [71]

SALAZAR (to AMBROSIO)
And don’t be scared of Don Saúl.

He holds out domino masks.

Here, these will help your resolve. Have fun confusing the old buzzard.

DON ANTONIO
This is all happening so fast, Salazar.

SALAZAR
Yes, life works that way sometimes.

DON ANTONIO (to the others)
Pues, let’s do it.

They slip on the masks.

LÁZARO (bewildered)
What? I don’t get no mask?

DON SAÚL enters. LÁZARO runs to him.

Patrón, I took nothing from your house, not one itty bitty piece of silver, even. I swear it.

DON SAÚL
Did I say you did?

LÁZARO
You’re not looking for me?

DON SAÚL
No, I’m seeking Don Antonio.

SALAZAR
He awaits your pleasure inside, Don Saúl.

DON SAÚL
Who are you?

SALAZAR
One of Don Antonio’s many friends.

DON SAÚL
You all wear masks. [72]

SALAZAR
Why, that we do. Didn’t our host tell you? Tonight’s a masquerade. We’re all in disguise.

DON SAÚL
Pretending to be something you are not.

(aside) A perfect game for these young cocks.

SALAZAR
A game you well understand, Don Saúl.

RAFAEL holds out a mask.

RAFAEL
Will you wear one, señor?

DON SAÚL
No, such foolishness does not suit me.

DON ANTONIO
Then come inside and share our feast.

As DON SAÚL steps inside, SALAZAR slaps LORENZO on the back.

SALAZAR
Go now! Quickly, and do exactly what I told you. I’ll try to get away from here in a while to help you.

RAFAEL
Good luck, Lorenzo!

AMBROSIO
God help you in your adventure!

LORENZO exits.

¡Dios! I’m almost tempted to go find a woman to elope with myself, just to see what it feels like!

DON SAÚL
Why does he leave so abruptly? [73]

RAFAEL
Uh …

AMBROSIO
He went in search of other masqueraders.

SALAZAR
Come to our table, Don Saúl.

He leads DON SAÚL to a table of prepared dishes.

When Don Antonio thought to invite you, he had his cook prepare the finest dishes. Are you hungry, Don Saúl?

DON SAÚL
I confess I was looking forward to this feast. I have heard that Don Antonio has the best cook in Santa Fe.

SALAZAR
Some mole, Don Saúl? Mmmmm. Take a bite.

He and DON SAÚL sample the dish.

DON SAÚL
Excellent. Where is he, by the way?

RAFAEL
Don Antonio or the cook?

DON SAÚL
Don Antonio.

DON ANTONIO
I am here, Don Saúl. Welcome to my house.

DON SAÚL
Thank you for inviting me. I was quite pleased to get your note. I, too, am willing to forget this little disagreement between us. In fact, I am willing to forget the need for a bond … [74]

DON ANTONIO
What?

SALAZAR (moving quickly between them)
Ah ah ahh! No talk of business tonight, not when we are celebrating love, eh?

(to DON SAÚL) Don Saúl, I bet you’re a man who loves cordero. Just look at this tempting pyramid of freshly made lamb chops.

(to LÁZARO) You, tell the servants to bring plates for the guests.

LÁZARO exits.

AMBROSIO
Wine, who wants wine?

RAFAEL
Pour some for me.

AMBROSIO
Don Saúl? Have some of Don Antonio’s finest.

He pours a glass for DON SAÚL.

DON ANTONIO
Let’s drink to true love.

AMBROSIO
To true love! ¡Salud!

ALL
¡Salud!

RAFAEL
May we all find it soon.

SALAZAR
Some sooner than others.

They all laugh except DON SAÚL.

DON SAÚL
Eh? Excuse me, I don’t get the joke.

LÁZARO enters with plates.

SALAZAR
Oh, you will, Don Saúl, you will. [75]

An uneasy silence. SALAZAR grabs plates and begins serving carne adovada.

In the meantime, allow me to serve you.

DON SAÚL
No, you don’t have to wait on me.

SALAZAR
But I insist.

He hands plates of food to the others.

You know, one dish that Don Antonio’s cook is particularly famous for is his carne adovada.

He samples a spoonful.

Mmmm. And this time, the cook has surpassed himself.

(to the others) Compadres, you must taste this. He has cooked the pork just exactly right, so tender and juicy. Mmmm!

They all taste the carne adovada except for DON SAÚL. SALAZAR gestures to DON SAÚL and nods to the others.

SALAZAR
Don Saúl, please, have a bite of this carne adovada …

DON SAÚL
I … I’m not really hungry right now.

SALAZAR
But you said you were bringing an appetite to this feast.

DON SAÚL
I’ll have some cordero … that looks good.

SALAZAR
Ah, but you just said you weren’t hungry.

DON SAÚL
I’m not fond of carne adovada, that’s all. [76]

SALAZAR
I understand. Some people just don’t like pork. In fact, some people refuse to eat it.

DON SAÚL
Imagine that.

Beat.

(to SALAZAR) Why don’t you take off your mask and let me see who you are?

SALAZAR
Why don’t you take off your mask, Don Saúl, and show the world who you really are?

Silence. DON SAÚL rises.

DON SAÚL (looking around)
Don Antonio? Where are you?

Nobody comes forward.

I thank you for your hospitality, Don Antonio, wherever you are. It was very kind of you to invite me to such a feast. Unfortunately, I am suddenly not feeling well … something in the air, no doubt. I will take my leave. Buenas noches, caballeros.

He leaves. SALAZAR takes off his mask and paces excitedly.

SALAZAR
Did you see him? He practically came out and said he was a judaizante. You were all witnesses — you all saw how he refused to eat pork.

RAFAEL and the others take off their masks and stare skeptically at SALAZAR.

RAFAEL (to LÁZARO)
Lázaro, run quickly ahead and tell Lorenzo that Don Saúl is on his way home.

AMBROSIO
Run!

LÁZARO leaves.

RAFAEL
¡Corre! [77]

AMBROSIO (to RAFAEL)
Come inside. There’s nothing we can do out here.

RAFAEL
May God protect Lorenzo and his love, Rebeca!

Scene 7

LORENZO stands outside Don Saúl’s house and calls out to REBECA.

LORENZO
Rebeca! Rebeca!

REBECA (offstage)
Who is it?

LORENZO
Soy yo.

Hesitantly, REBECA opens the front door.

REBECA
Lorenzo!

They embrace, and he kisses her.

Did you get my note?

LORENZO
Yes, and those sweet words you wrote have made me happier than any man I know.

REBECA
Oh, Lorenzo, I can’t wait to start our new life together.

LORENZO
Why must we wait, querida?

REBECA
You know why — I have to talk my father into letting us marry. [78]

LORENZO
You’ll never succeed with him, Rebeca.

REBECA
Did you see him at Don Antonio’s feast?

LORENZO
I did.

REBECA
Did you talk with him?

LORENZO
No.

REBECA
You should try.

LORENZO
Your father hates me, and nothing you do will change that. The only way you and I can be together is if we marry without his blessing.

REBECA
I couldn’t, Lorenzo — he would never forgive me.

LORENZO
Our love will die if you wait for him to bless it.

Beat.

Rebeca, you said you love me more than anything.

REBECA
I do!

She tries to kiss him, but he holds her back.

LORENZO
Then you must prove your love. Elope with me. We’ll start our own family. We won’t need anyone else. And who knows? When your papá sees his first grandson, his heart might soften.

Beat.

Will you do it then? [79]

REBECA nods.

LORENZO
¡Dime!

REBECA
Yes. For better or worse, I cast my fate with yours.

LORENZO
And I with yours.

They kiss. SALAZAR creeps out of the shadows.

SALAZAR
Hssst!

REBECA
What’s that?

LORENZO
Wait here. I’ll find out.

He finds SALAZAR.

SALAZAR
How’s it going?

LORENZO
She said yes, Salazar!

SALAZAR
Did you have any doubt? Now hurry! We don’t have much time. Didn’t Lázaro tell you Don Saúl’s on his way home?

LORENZO
I haven’t seen Lázaro.

SALAZAR
Tell Rebeca she has to find a disguise. She can’t run off with you as she is — everyone will recognize her.

LORENZO
Claro, tienes razón. Gracias, Salazar, for everything. [80]

He goes to REBECA and waits outside while she runs inside Don Saúl’s house.

SALAZAR (to himself)
You’re welcome, you simpering puppy. I can assure you that I wouldn’t raise a finger to help you if your plans didn’t fit so nicely with mine.

LORENZO rejoins SALAZAR.

(to LORENZO) I know it’s hard to think straight when you’re in love, Lorenzo, but how will you and your corazón survive? I mean, have you thought about what you’ll live on?

LORENZO looks at him, nonplussed.

I thought not. Love won’t feed you, not for long anyway. Listen to me, then, for here’s what you have to do. Her old man’s rich — he won’t miss a few bags of gold.

LORENZO (offended)
You want me to ask my fiancée for money?

SALAZAR
Don’t get all steamed up — what if you don’t get the gold? Women get very unhappy when you don’t feed and clothe them. She might leave you before the honeymoon is over.

LORENZO
You think? But I can’t ask her for money!

SALAZAR
Try.

LÁZARO runs in, breathless, and pounds on the door.

LÁZARO
Rebeca? Lorenzo? Hello, anyone inside?

(to himself) Have they already run off?

Hello! Anybody there?

LORENZO (calling to him)
Lázaro! Over here. [81]

LÁZARO joins SALAZAR and LORENZO.

LÁZARO (to LORENZO)
Señor Salazar told me to tell you to hurry! Because Don Saúl is on his way …

He sees SALAZAR.

Señor Salazar, you’re here.

SALAZAR
That’s because I didn’t stop in any taverns on my way.

(to LORENZO) What’s keeping her? Old Saúl should be here any second.

(pushing LORENZO towards Don Saúl’s house) ¡Vete! Tell her to hurry!

LORENZO (softly)
Rebeca! Rebeca? Let’s go, cariño … we don’t have much …

The door opens and REBECA, dressed as a boy, comes out.

LORENZO
Rebeca?

REBECA (giggling)
Do you like my new sex?

LORENZO
I much prefer you as a woman, but this disguise shall keep us safe from your father’s wrath.

REBECA
Let’s go then.

LORENZO
One thing, Rebeca … I hate to ask you this, but …

REBECA
Ask me.

LORENZO
Well, it’s a question of economics, you see. I don’t have any income just now, and I was wondering, you know, I mean, as much as we love each other, we can’t live completely on love. I mean, we have to eat sometime, and I wonder …

REBECA
You want to know what we’re going to live on? [82]

LORENZO
Yes, that’s it.

She looks at him for a few seconds, then runs inside.

Rebeca? Rebeca, come back! ¡Ostras! I’ve ruined it. She’ll never talk to me again. Why did I ever listen to that scheming Salazar? Rebeca, I’m sorry, love. Come back. We don’t need any money. We’ll live on, we’ll live on …

REBECA appears at the door dragging two bags of gold.

REBECA
Take these — they’re too heavy for me.

LORENZO
What’s in the bags?

REBECA
Gold, silly.

LORENZO
You stole those from your father …

REBECA
You were the one who said we couldn’t live on love. And I’m not really stealing them, not quite. Papá intended this for my dowry. So I’m just taking what’s mine, a little earlier, that’s all — (whispering) and without his permission.

LORENZO
My brave, beautiful girl!

He hugs her.

¡Salazar! ¡Lázaro! ¡Vengan!

LÁZARO and SALAZAR enter.

LÁZARO
Rebeca, is that you? Ay, you make a pretty nice-looking man, ¿fíjate?

SALAZAR
Come on, no time for your jokes. Lorenzo and Rebeca, I’ll keep this money for you. [83]

LORENZO
Why?

SALAZAR
If you’re stopped by the militia, you’ll have some explaining to do.

LÁZARO
And if you’re stopped by the Apaches, you can kiss that gold goodbye.

LORENZO
Sí, you’re right as always, Salazar. Just give us enough to get to Manzano. Rafael will be there, and he’ll help us.

REBECA
¿Nos vamos a Manzano? Wonderful!

They take the bags offstage.

LÁZARO
We’re gonna have a wedding feast like Santa Fe has never seen.

SALAZAR
Santa Fe will never see it because you can’t celebrate here. Her father would discover you.

LORENZO
Let’s find a priest to marry us.

LÁZARO
Come, I’ll take you to the padre’s.

REBECA
At this hour?

LÁZARO
You flash a piece of that shiny gold his way and he’ll wake up.

SALAZAR
Anda, vénganse.

They exit. REBECA leaves last. She stops and goes back to close the window shutter of Don Saúl’s house. [84]

REBECA
Adiós, mi vida de antes.

LORENZO (offstage)
Rebeca!

REBECA
Welcome, my new life!

CLARÍN shuffles onstage, humming a little song.

CLARÍN
Las dos estaban por filo en Santa Fe la Real, and all is well.

He passes Don Saúl’s house, stops, and does a double-take. He goes back, sees that the door is open, and peeps inside.

Don Saúl?

He picks up a gold coin lying in the doorway.

CLARÍN
Rebeca?

He goes inside and then runs outside, ringing his bell.

Help! Help!

He rings the bell.

Sound the alarm! Help! Robbery! Kidnapping! Help!

Blackout. [85]