Act I - Scene VI

TERESA (who shows up by the door, wrapped up in a shawl): Jesus, what’s this?!...

MERIA GENISTA: The old hag burned Tóino!...

TERESA (runs to Tóino, tears in her eyes): Oh, poor thing… poor thing! Does it hurt a lot?! (to Rosa) Evil hag! Wicked, wicked!...

(Rosa, like an attacked animal, brandishing the ember)

RITA (to Rosa): Dead… under the earth, in a deep burrow, that’s where I wanted to see you, ma’am: before that there is no quiet in this house!...

JOÃO (always bending over João’s wound): Give me a bit of grease, mother!?...

(She does)

GUILHERMINA: Don’t cry, son of my soul, don’t cry…!
TERESA (sudden tender): Don’t cry, Tóino Genista… (looking at his wound) Jesus, it’s swelling already! Poor little Tóino… (kisses his hand).

TÓINO (hurt smile, very soft): This will get well in an instant, Teresa…

JOÃO (who receives the grease from Rita’s hands, harsh, brushing Teresa away with violence): Get out of here, girl: let me put on the grease!... (touching the wound) Does it hurt, Tóino?...

(Tóino moans)

TERESA: Don’t press too hard, João!...

JOÃO (aggressive): Go to bead, Teresa, get off my hair! (angry mock) D’you think this heals with… kisses?!

(Rosa walks back)

MARIA GENISTA: Let me see that ember, aunt Rosa!... (Rosa shrinks back)

FERNANDO (offering a plate with food): Here, grandma!...

(Rosa drops the ember and takes the plate, cat-like: shrunk in a corner of the fireplace, eats greedily)

JOÃO (who greased the burnt area): Wait… the blood burst out here…

TERESA: Blood?!...

JOÃO (staring into Teresa’s eyes with contained violence) Blood, Teresa. (Slowly, in a strange manner, bends over Tóino’s hand and, his eyes now staring into Tóinos, drinks, with his own lips, the blood from the wound).

TÓINO (between touched and hurt): Leave it, João… don’t do that!...

FERNANDO: Suck all the blood, João. You’ll see, Tóino, it’s dry up in an instant!...

MARIA GENISTA: You’re like the werewolves, João: you like to drink people’s blood!

JOÃO (intense): Your blood is good, Tóino Genista: it tastes like new wine!...

RITA: Let me put on a bandage… Help me out, Guilermina!...

(She does)

MARIA GENISTA: Aunt Rosa is sleeping again!...

GUILHERMINA: She’s like a child… Oh Rita, I always tell you…!

RITA (shrugging): Everyone has their star… (to Tóino) There, boy, it’s done: you won’t die from this!

TÓINO: It doesn’t ache so much anymore…

FERNANDO (laughing): Of course, it was Teresa’s kiss!...

MARIA GENISTA (idem): Jesus, what else?! If Tóino died, you… I don’t know, you could throw yourself in a well!

TERESA: I don’t…!

TÓINO (who interrupts, loving, begging): Don’t get mad again, Teresa…!

TERESA (slowing down): Your colors are back, Tóino Genista!...

(They smile at each other)

GUILHERMINA (ready to leave): Are you coming, Rita? We’re going to the church, Maria Genista! And you, Tóino, can you?...

(Maria Genista gets ready)

JOÃO: He’d better stay: his hand might swell even more…

RITA (putting her shawl over her head): Come along, Teresa!... (she gets ready. To João and Fernando): Are you coming with us? Won’t take long…

FERNANDO: Are you going, João? (he shrugs) I, João and Tóino will stay, mother. We’ll wait here for you… Eh, Teresa, where are the playing cards?... Have you tasted the white wine, João? (he gives him a glass) You’ll se…! (he helps Tóino. João, abstract, with his glass on his hand).

MARIA GENISTA (to João, provocking): Drink up, man: you look like the soul of a bad dead man!... When are you getting married, João?

JOÃO (surprised): What!?...

(Guilhermina, Rita and Teresa leave)