Episode 5: Torn

NARRATOR:
Previously, on Timestorm...

ROMÁN:
Are you new in town?

ALEXA:
Yes. This is all so new. 

ROMÁN:
No need to be nervous. Celestina Cordero is most welcoming.

ALEXA:
A pleasure to meet you, Maestra Cordero. 

CELESTINA:
Román, please see this correspondence makes its way to the newspaper office.

ROMÁN:
It will be at La Gaceta within a quarter of an hour.

CELESTINA:
My students work hard, I work hard - it's unfair that being born female prevents us from being acknowledged for our efforts. Sincerely, Celestina Cordero.

PEÑA:
How delusional must this woman be to think La Gaceta would publish such a desperate notice?

RAFAEL:
You've arrived during free art practice.

BENI:
It's an honor to be in your class, Maestro Cordero.

ROMÁN:
A civil guard stopped us on the street and confiscated the notice before we made it to La Gaceta.

RAFAEL: 
Did you catch the guard's name?

BENI:
His laugh. Sounded like a demon.

RAFAEL:
Peña y Ruiz.

ALEXA:
Thank you for the warm welcome into your classroom. And for everything you're fighting for.

ATABEY:
You tell me: what is a plea for equality worth to Celestina and those girls?

HORACIO:
They must get that artifact.

ALEXA:
Beni?

ALEXA/BENI:
I’m so glad to see you!

BENI: 
You wouldn't believe // what happened today. 

ALEXA: 
I know what the artifact is. 

BENI: 
Me too. 

ALEXA: 
So, it's at la Gaceta? 

BENI: 
Not quite.

MUSIC: THEME SONG - "IN THE TIMESTORM"

Witness. Find. Remember.
The hidden past seeks its dawn, showing us that we all belong.
Horacio, Alexa, and Beni take back time, find history in the timestorm.
Witness. Find. Remember.

1838. SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO. AN ALLEY.

MUSIC: "LA MAESTRA" TRANSITION.

ALEXA:
You actually had the artifact in your hand and you let this dude take it away?

BENI:
Oh, like you would have been able to stop him.

ALEXA:
Maybe not physically. But you could have used your brain, you know.

A dog barks in the distance.

BENI:
How about I figured out what the artifact was hours ago, and you figured it out just now.

ALEXA:
I was in class all day being laughed at by two giggling, nineteenth-century know-it-alls. Do you know how hard it is to not say things from the future?

BENI:
Uh, I brought up graphic novels in a discussion about primary colors. And then when someone asked me where I was from, I just blurted out, "Loíza!" That's where a bunch of Pa's family's from, right?

ALEXA:
Yeah. I told Celestina, "Ponce."

BENI:
Maybe we should get our stories straight for the future.

Distant thunder. A dog barks.

ALEXA:
But right now we need to find this civil guard and get that notice back.

BENI:
According to Rafael, his name is Peña y Ruiz and he guards the governor's residence in the afternoon.

The barometer buzzes in ALEXA's satchel.

ALEXA:
The barometer. It’s glowing blue.

BENI:
We’re on the right track.

ALEXA:
Guess we're going to La Fortaleza.

BENI:
Didn't we visit that place with Ma and Pa?

ALEXA:
Yep. Let's go find this creepy civil guard.

BENI:
Wait until you hear him laugh.

Distant thunder. A dog barks.

1838. SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO. NEAR THE ENTRANCE OF LA FORTALEZA.

MUSIC: "LA MAESTRA" TRANSITION.

Rain hits a cobblestone street.

ALEXA:
Rain feels good.

BENI:
The building looks so different. Smaller. And like an actual fort.

ALEXA:
It won't be renovated to look more like a house until sometime in the next decade.

PEÑA paces.

BENI:
That's him there. Peña y Ruiz.

ALEXA:
Pretty average looking, if you ask me.

BENI:
Look! The paper is still there in his front pocket.

ALEXA:
Celestina's plea.

Thunder is getting closer.

BENI:
How are we supposed to get it?

ALEXA:
I have an idea. I think I can grab it.

BENI:
You can't just walk up to him. You're a girl in eighteen thirty-eight.

ALEXA:
That can work to our advantage. Stay hidden just around this corner. 

ALEXA throws BENI the satchel. BENI catches it with a grunt.

ALEXA:
Here. Hold onto my old-timey bag.

BENI:
Fine. But just...be careful.

ALEXA steps forward.

ALEXA:
Help me! Oh, woe!

PEÑA:
Who's there?

BENI:
Oh, woe?

ALEXA:
Ay, ay, ay, ay, ay! 

PEÑA approaches them.

PEÑA:
What is the meaning of this? This is no place for a girl. Leave at once.

ALEXA:
I feel so faint. I need your help, Papá.

PEÑA laughs.

PEÑA:
I'm not your father.

ALEXA:
Ay, the rain...the rain...

ALEXA falls onto PEÑA.

PEÑA:
Ave Maria purisima.

ALEXA:
Papá, it's getting...so...dark.

PEÑA:
Eh?

ALEXA grabs the paper from his pocket. A barometer buzzes.

BENI:
She's got it.

ALEXA:
Thank you for your help. I feel much better now.

ALEXA steps away.

PEÑA:
Not so fast. I'll take this back.

PEÑA grabs ALEXA’s arm and snatches the paper away. He laughs. She shrieks.

BENI:
Let go of her.

PEÑA grunts. 

ALEXA:
Get it, Beni!

BENI grabs the paper.

BENI:
This paper isn't yours!

PEÑA:
You again?

PEÑA reaches for the paper, ripping it in half.

ALEXA:
(gasps) It's torn in two.

BENI:
Give me the other half.

PEÑA:
You dare give an order to a civil guard officer?

PEÑA grabs BENI. He struggles.

BENI:
My arms! 

ALEXA:
Let him go!

PEÑA laughs.

PEÑA:
Scamper off, little girl.

ROMÁN:
(yelling from several feet away under a portico) Would you look at this? The entrance to La Fortaleza is unguarded. Perhaps I'll pay the governor a visit.

PEÑA:
Who's there? 

BENI struggles.

BENI:
Román!

PEÑA:
Keep still, silly boy.

ALEXA grabs the other half of the paper.

ALEXA:
Got the other half!

BENI:
Grab the satchel, Alexa!

ALEXA grabs the satchel.

PEÑA:
Ay, niños malditos.

BENI wriggles free. The barometer buzzes in the satchel.

BENI:
Ha-HA!

ROMÁN:
Run, Benito! Corre, Aleksa! Complete the errand!

ALEXA:
Come on!

BENI:
Let’s go!

ALEXA and BENI run.

PEÑA:
I'll have you arrested, young man!

ROMÁN:
Perhaps the governor would frown upon one of his civil guards arresting the top student in the seminary.

PEÑA:
What is your name?

ROMÁN:
Román Baldorioty de Castro. 

ROMÁN steps out.

ROMÁN:
You have no right to take private property. And you have no right to kick me from the streets of my San Juan.

1838. SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO. ANOTHER ALLEY.

Thunder and rain. ALEXA and BENI rush into another alley. They laugh.

BENI:
How amazing was Román back there?

ALEXA:
He came out of nowhere!

BENI:
Peña's no match for him.

ALEXA:
That laugh!

ALEXA imitates PEÑA’S laughs.

BENI:
I told you!

ALEXA:
His uniform smelled like it's never been washed.

BENI:
(imitates ALEXA) The rain...the rain...Papá it's getting so dark.

ALEXA and BENI laugh.

BENI:
Shame the paper's torn. Here. Put both pieces in your purse thing.

ALEXA:
Good idea. We don't want it to get any more destroyed before we get to La Gaceta.

BENI:
La Gaceta?

Thunder.

ALEXA:
Román said to complete the errand.

BENI:
He doesn't know what we know.

ALEXA:
You should've seen la maestra's face. She's just trying to get what the girls deserve.

BENI:
We can't go back without this artifact.

ALEXA:
But delivering this notice seems like such a minor thing.

BENI:
La Gaceta never published this notice. It has to stay that way. 

ALEXA:
Celestina cares so much about her students. This is her life's work. 

BENI:
We’re not supposed to deliver this to La Gaceta. We can't mess around with history.

THE TIMESTORM. ANOTHER DIMENSION.

HORACIO:
You're right, Benito. Ugh, why can't I just tell him? I can use the barometer. 

ATABEY:
Not yet.

HORACIO:
So we're going to let them alter history and create another timeline when I have the ability to speak to them?

ATABEY:
They haven't altered history yet. You need to trust your cousins. They need to trust themselves. They've got this.  

1838. SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO. AN ALLEY.

ALEXA:
Fine.

ALEXA steps away.

BENI:
Alexa!

ALEXA:
What?

The barometer buzzes.

BENI:
See? We're doing the right thing. 

ALEXA:
Tempus.

BENI:
Here we go...

A dramatic thunderclap. ALEXA and BENI shout as they travel through the portal.

1838. SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO. INSIDE CELESTINA CORDERO'S CLASSROOM.

MUSIC: “SO LONG, AND THANKS”

RAFAEL opens the door to the classroom and walks toward CELESTINA’s desk.

RAFAEL:
Hola, hermana. Another week of lessons completed.

CELESTINA:
Rafael. How did your students fare today?

RAFAEL:
Tremendous. And yours?

CELESTINA:
They managed well enough. My class continues to grow. I had to assign three girls to share a slate today.

RAFAEL:
I hope this helps.

RAFAEL places down several slates.

CELESTINA:
I don't want to take slates away from your boys.

RAFAEL:
It's rare that all my slates are in use at one time. 

CELESTINA:
I appreciate your generosity, but I’d prefer to claim what’s rightfully ours. Let us first see what my public announcement in La Gaceta yields.

RAFAEL:
I'm afraid the notice was intercepted.

CELESTINA:
What's this?

RAFAEL:
I spoke with Román. That arrogant Peña y Ruiz swiped the paper from him before he reached La Gaceta. 

CELESTINA stands, sliding her chair back.

CELESTINA:
They want to silence me. To make it seem like I don't exist. No, it’s worse than that. They want to erase the fact that there are girls in here every day thinking and speaking their minds—smart girls who can grow up and be better teachers than I could ever dream of being. 

RAFAEL:
I'm sorry, Celestina.

CELESTINA:
I thought maybe when Queen Maria Cristina put a halt to the slave trade to Puerto Rico that more freedoms would follow. But here we are, three years later, and I can't offer my students what they need.

CELESTINA slams a stack of papers on her desk.

RAFAEL:
Is that paper? Why are the sheets torn?

CELESTINA:
I tore each sheet into four smaller pieces. It will last longer this way.

RAFAEL:
Ay, Celestina. Please, accept these slates. I'm repaying a debt.

CELESTINA:
You owe me nothing.

RAFAEL:
I'm a teacher because of you. You changed my life when you started that first school here in San Juan. How lucky I've been to have a big sister to lead the way. 

CELESTINA:
You would have started one soon enough. After all, you are a Cordero.

RAFAEL:
Ah, but I could never match your perseverance. Standing up to the city council to get accreditation after years of rejection. 

CELESTINA:
And the rejection continues. I'm so tired, Rafael.

RAFAEL:
Then rest your mind for the new week. Your students need you.

CELESTINA:
Thank you for the slates. The girls will benefit from them.

CELESTINA places the slates next to the others. 

RAFAEL:
Debt repaid?

CELESTINA:
You don’t owe me, hermanito. 

RAFAEL:
Ay, Celestina, so many of us do.

MUSIC: “SO LONG, AND THANKS”

THE TIMESTORM. ANOTHER DIMENSION.

ALEXA and BENI laugh as they land.

HORACIO:
Welcome back. How was the trip?

BENI:
Kind of crazy.

ATABEY:
Lots of running around. 

BENI:
You could see us in the windshield?

HORACIO:
Not the whole time. We check in to make sure you're safe.

BENI:
How long were we there? You know, in earth time? 

HORACIO:
You completed the quest in just under eight hours.

ALEXA retrieves the paper from the satchel.

ALEXA:
Here you go. A plea for equality. Torn apart.

ATABEY:
Artifact cloud, emerge.

The artifact emerges, making a rhythm.

BENI:
What in the world? It's like one of those mobiles for a baby's crib. 

ALEXA:
Only...for junk.

ATABEY:
Artefactos.

HORACIO:
This is the artifact cloud. You can see objects already up there.

ALEXA:
An instrument. An old book. Ooh, a mask. 

BENI:
Why is everything changing size like that?

ATABEY:
In the cloud, matter changes form according to the cloud's rhythm.

BENI:
But where did these other artifacts come from?

ATABEY:
A question for another time. Artifact attained.

A whoosh sound indicates that that artifact floats into the cloud.

ALEXA:
Whoa. Okay. There it goes.

ATABEY:
Artifact cloud retreat.

The artifact cloud retreats and the rhythm stops.

HORACIO:
 ¿Qué pasa, Alexa?

ALEXA:
The notice should have been published instead of floating around in a weird-looking cloud.

HORACIO:
If you had delivered it to La Gaceta, it would have created another timeline.

ALEXA:
So, we just hold on to what happened, knowing that we could have done more?

BENI:
You saw Celestina teach. We found and retrieved the plea for equality.

ALEXA:
What does bringing back a muddy, torn piece paper of from eighteen thirty-eight do exactly?

ATABEY:
A question for another time. 

BENI:
Wait a minute. I thought time was too human for you.

ATABEY:
It’s just a saying, Benito Ventura. Now, before the time portal closes—

A whoosh indicates a costume change.

BENI:
Ah. Twenty-first-century clothes are so comfortable.

HORACIO:
You'll be back for your next quest before you—

A dramatic thunderclap. ALEXA and BENI shout as they travel through the portal.

2017. NEWARK, NJ. THE VENTURA HOME. BENI'S ROOM.

ALEXA and BENI laugh as they land in BENI’s room. CLARA knocks on the door.

CLARA:
(through the door) Beni? (in the hallway) Have you seen your sister?

MUSIC: "IN THE TIMESTORM" (INSTRUMENTAL).

NARRATION:
This episode of Timestorm was written by Dania Ramos with audio engineering, sound design, and original music by Michael Aquino. The role of Alexa Ventura was played by Leilany Figueroa. Beni Ventura was played by Claudio Venancio. Horacio Méndez was played by Orlando Segarra. Atabey was played by Alicia Rivas. With special guests J. F. Seary as Celestina Cordero, Juan Cartagena as Rafael Cordero, Alexis Pérez as Román, and Carlos Ponton as Peña y Ruiz.

It's time for our Listener Share-out! Here's Leilani, who co-hosts of the Book Power for Kids podcast featured on the KidsListen app. 

Hi. My name’s Leilani. I’m ten years old and I live in Kissimmee, Florida. My adventure share-out is about my vacation to Thailand. My family and I were staying at a family resort and we got to plant trees by the riverbank. Our boat driver was steering the boat through the river when we saw some monkeys on the shore. We looked at them and took pictures, but the excitement really began when two of them climbed over to us. One came from trees and dropped onto the plastic canopy on top of the boat. The others swam up near us and jumped up the side of the boat. Our driver immediately got out of the boat and grabbed a bamboo pull to fend off the monkeys with. One of the monkeys grabbed a bag of rice we were going to have for lunch, but the driver wrestled it away. It was a crazy, amazing experience, and one that I will never forget.

NARRATION:
Sounds like those monkeys wanted to party with you. Thanks for sharing, Leilani. 

Hey, listeners, we want to feature your voice in an upcoming episode! You can learn more about how to submit a Share-out by visiting Timestorm Series dot com.

Timestorm is produced by Cocotazo Media and is a proud member of TRAX from PRX. Support for TRAX comes from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. To learn more about TRAX, visit TRAX dot fm: that’s t-r-a-x-dot fm. Additional support comes from the PRX Google Podcasts creator program.

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Timestorm is produced in Essex County, New Jersey, which is situated on the traditional territory of the Leni Lenape people.

As always, thanks for listening.

ATABEY:
Witness. Find. Remember.