Episode 7: Broken

NARRATOR:
Previously, on Timestorm...

CLARA:
More antipasto?

RAMIRO:
No, thanks. Pizza should be out any minute. And I'm ready.

The barometer buzzes.

ALEXA:
Be right back.

RAMIRO:
Hurry, or I'll eat your slices.

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.

THE TIMESTORM. ANOTHER DIMENSION.

ALEXA and BENI laugh as they land.

HORACIO:
Hola, primos. What have you been up to?

ALEXA:
We were about to eat pizza.

HORACIO:
Pizza. Oh. To have pizza again.

ATABEY:
Former humans don't require caloric intake.

HORACIO:
I'm not thinking about calories.

ATABEY:
Let's do this, shall we? 

HORACIO:
Clothing.

A whoosh indicates the twins' clothing change.

HORACIO:
Stylish.

ALEXA:
Can these sleeves be any poufier?

BENI:
I'm so gonna have hat hair.

The barometer buzzes.

ATABEY:
Synching barometer: mil ochocientos noventa y siete / eighteen ninety-seven / Ponce, Puerto Rico / Teatro La Perla / Cosme Tizol / padre / father / Claudio Brindis de Salas / Cuban / cubano / Stradivarius / promise / Lolita Tizol / nena / girl / violinist / violinista / broken / promesa. Your quest: Retrieve a broken promise from Ponce. Quest begins now.

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

1897. PONCE, PR. HOUSE & BACKSTAGE OF TEATRO LA PERLA.

MUSIC: END OF "CONSOLACIÓN" (C. BRINDIS DE SALAS) ON VIOLIN.

ALEXA and BENI hold back laughter as they land.

BENI:
Shh. We can’t. It’s a concert.

Audience applauds.

ALEXA:
Whoa. It's standing room only.

BENI:
(shouting towards the stage) Woohoo!

ALEXA:
Did you just woohoo?

BENI:
What? That's what Pa does at jazz concerts at NJPAC.

ALEXA:
Where do you think we'll find a broken promise?

BENI:
I don't know. This place is huge. It could be anywhere.

The audience exits the theater.

YOUNG LOLA:
He was amazing, Papi!

COSME:
Si, Lolita.

YOUNG LOLA:
And to think he came all the way here to play for us.

COSME:
For us, and a few hundred other Ponceños. Mira, an usher just went through that door leading backstage. Quick. Got your violin? Follow me, Lolita. 

COSME and YOUNG LOLA shuffle down the aisle of the theatre. COSME opens a heavy door.

YOUNG LOLA:
You think we're allowed, Papi?

COSME:
No one's said otherwise.

LOLA and COSME walk through the door.

BENI:
Maybe there's a broken promise backstage?

ALEXA:
You read my mind.

The twins enter backstage. The door closes behind them. 

BENI:
Here. Behind this curtain.

STAGEHAND:
Pero…it was an honest mistake, Señor. You see, some musicians request that we put away their instruments following a concert.

The STAGEHAND's footsteps as he pushes a cart backstage.

BRINDIS DE SALAS:
I will put away my Stradivarius. Gracias.

STAGEHAND exits backstage.

ALEXA:
Stradivarius? 

BENI:
Sounds like a dinosaur.

ALEXA:
It's a violin. They're crazy rare.

COSME:
Con permiso, Señor.

BRINDIS DE SALAS:
¿Sí? Do I know you? 

COSME:
Cosme Tizol. I heard you teach the violin in every city you visit.

BRINDIS DE SALAS:
Bueno. I try.

YOUNG LOLA steps up to BRINDIS DE SALAS.

YOUNG LOLA:
I've never heard anyone play the violin like you.

BRINDIS DE SALAS:
Gracias, m’ijita. I see you've brought your own instrument. 

YOUNG LOLA:
I can play it for you.

BRINDIS DE SALAS:
I hope you'll understand I only teach serious students. 

COSME:
Lolita is serious.

BRINDIS DE SALAS:
Serious male students.

COSME:
Maybe it's time to change that.

BRINDIS DE SALAS:
I'm afraid my time in Ponce is all booked up. Lo siento.

YOUNG LOLA:
Excuse me, but...how far away is Havana?

BRINDIS DE SALAS:
Ah, you know my hometown in Cuba. You've studied me.

YOUNG LOLA:
I know that your island is to the west of ours and that we share a sea. 

BRINDIS DE SALAS:
That's more geography than I knew at your age.

YOUNG LOLA:
Is it close enough that you'll come here again? Or perhaps, my family can visit you?

BRINDIS DE SALAS:
Ah, mira. You are quite serious.

COSME:
Let her play. Then you can decide.

BRINDIS DE SALAS:
Show me your best thirty seconds, niña.

LOLA takes her violin out of the case and plays a portion of "Consolación."

BENI:
She's really good. You think her violin is the artifact?

ALEXA
I hope not. I don't want to take this girl's violin.

LOLA finishes playing.

BRINDIS DE SALAS:
Impressive. Bueno, me llamo Claudio Brindis de Salas Garrido.

YOUNG LOLA:
I know that. They also call you the King of Octaves.

BRINDIS DE SALAS:
Asi es. And your name?

YOUNG LOLA:
Lola Tizol.

BRINDIS DE SALAS:
I will teach you, Lola. But only if you commit to the violin, to make it your life's passion.

YOUNG LOLA:
I promise.

BRINDIS DE SALAS:
Meet me here tomorrow afternoon after school lets out.

COSME:
Gracias, Señor Brindis.

YOUNG LOLA:
I won't let you down.

COSME and LOLA'S pass by.

BENI:
Shouldn't we follow them? That girl, literally, just made a promise. That's gotta be a clue.

ALEXA:
She made a promise. She didn't break one. The artifact's got to be in here somewhere.

ALEXA crosses to the center of the stage.

BENI:
Alexa. What are you doing?

ALEXA:
Whoa. Can you imagine performing on this stage with those seats full? People applauding and cheering—

BENI:
We don't have time for this. We need to find a broken promise.

ALEXA:
What if the stagehand promised not to touch the Stradivarius? Would that count?

BENI:
You think the artifact is the crazy rare violin of a world-famous musician?

ALEXA:
You have a better idea?

BENI:
I thought you were against stealing violins?

STAGEHAND:
What are you niños doing on stage? 

ALEXA:
We're...uh...students?

BENI:
Yeah.

STAGEHAND:
Si, aren't we all? You can stay out in the lobby until the storm passes. But you can't be—

A barometer buzzes.

STAGEHAND:
What's that sound?

ALEXA:
My brother's pocket watch. It's loud. Probably should get that fixed, Benito.

BENI:
No, no, no. Not yet. We don't have a broken—

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

THE TIMESTORM. ANOTHER DIMENSION.

ALEXA and BENI laugh as they land.

BENI:
Hey! We didn't even have enough time to figure out what the broken promise was.

ALEXA:
Was it the Stradivarius? 

HORACIO:
Claudio Brindis de Salas Garrido's Stradivarius? Now, that would be an impossible quest.

ATABEY:
You got what you needed from that time.

BENI:
Nothing?

HORACIO:
The artifact is in nineteen-oh-seven. You were in eighteen ninety-seven. 

ALEXA:
So, there wasn't a broken promise in that theater?

ATABEY:
Affirmative. You were there to witness a moment that will help you identify the artifact.

BENI:
Which moment? 

ALEXA:
Yeah. What were we there to see?

HORACIO:
It'll be clear soon. Time to head back: clothing!

A whoosh indicates the twins' clothing change.

ATABEY:
Synching: mil novecientos y siete / nineteen oh seven / Ponce, Puerto Rico / Cosme Tizol / padre / father / Saturnina Tizol / madre / mother / promise / Lola Tizol / young women / señorita / violinist / violinista / broken / promesa. Quest continues now.

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

1907. PONCE, PR. ON THE PORCH OF THE TIZOL HOUSEHOLD.

Rain hits on a zinc roof. Chicks chirp nearby. ALEXA and BENI laugh as they land.

ALEXA:
Aw! How cute are the little chicks?

The porch door swings open.

COSME:
I didn't realize Lola was teaching today. Come in, come in. 

ALEXA:
Us?

COSME:
Of course! Your names?

The twins enter the house.

BENI:
Benito.

ALEXA:
Aleksandra.

SATURNINA:
Hola.

ALEXA / BENI:
Hola, señora.

A door opens.

LOLA:
I'll take it from here, Ma. Thank you. Ah. New students.

COSME:
Benito y Aleksandra.

SATURNINA:
You promised to cut back on your hours, Lola.

LOLA:
Ay, Mami. What would you prefer? That I refuse them?

ALEXA:
Oh...no, we can't leave yet. 

BENI:
Uh, our parents would be so disappointed if we didn't start our lessons today.

COSME:
Lola can study after dinner.

SATURNINA:
Fine. But remind that school that you no longer teach on Wednesdays.

LOLA:
Bueno? Who's first?

ALEXA / BENI:
Oh...wow...I... / First...uh...

BENI:
You can go, Aleksandra.

ALEXA:
You sure you don't want to go, Benito?

BENI:
Ladies first. I insist.

ALEXA:
Great. Thank you.

COSME:
What a kind young gentleman.

BENI:
I know, right?

1907. PONCE, PR. SIDE ROOM IN THE TIZOL HOUSEHOLD.

MUSIC: "CONSOLACIÓN" TRANSITION.

LOLA opens her violin case.

LOLA:
Here's a practice instrument. 

ALEXA:
Oh..uh. Thanks.

LOLA hands the violin to ALEXA.

LOLA:
Oh. It's your first time holding a violin, isn't it? We'll start at the beginning then: resting position. Stand with your feet together. Place the violin under your right arm, like so. Careful not to squeeze the bridge. Good. Now, before I hand you the bow, make a limp hand...y los dedos...aqui...and then...your pinky...así. Don't worry, you're doing just fine.

1907. PONCE, PR. THE FRONT ROOM IN THE TIZOL HOUSEHOLD.

MUSIC: "CONSOLACIÓN" TRANSITION.
SATURNINA places a plate down on the table.

SATURNINA:
Mira, m’ijito. Bread.

BENI:
Oh. No, thanks.

SATURNINA:
It wasn't a question.

COSME:
She makes good bread. Buen provecho.

SATURNINA slides a plate in front of BENI.

BENI:
Okay...gracias.

BENI takes a bite.

BENI:
Mmm.

SATURNINA:
Does your sister make bread?

BENI:
No.

SATURNINA:
Bueno, she's still young. Now, Lola should be making bread. But between school, teaching, and that violin.

COSME:
Ay, Saturnina, she's keeping her word.

SATURNINA:
It always comes back to this. The promise she made backstage at a concert a long time ago.

BENI:
Backstage. Teatro La Perla.

COSME:
How many children get to learn from Brindis de Salas? Let alone how many girls?

SATURNINA:
Perhaps no other parent would stand for their daughters devoting their lives to music.

COSME:
She's gifted, Saturnina. Brindis saw something in her. Her passion, her promise. 

SATURNINA:
That was ten years ago, Cosme. We're in a new century. And so much has changed. We've all had to let some things go. Mira, more bread, Benito.

BENI:
No, thanks...oh, that wasn't a question. Thank you.

1907. PONCE, PR. SIDE ROOM IN THE TIZOL HOUSEHOLD.

MUSIC: "CONSOLACIÓN" TRANSITION.

LOLA:
Orta vez, from resting position to playing position. 

ALEXA:
Do mind if I stretch out my neck a little?

LOLA:
Go ahead. You can place the instrument in the case right there.

ALEXA places the violin in the case.

ALEXA:
You're a good teacher.

LOLA:
That's kind of you. My mother would be thrilled to hear it. She wants me to forget the violin and become an educator. Now, I really do believe that teaching is an excellent profession, but...

ALEXA:
Is it what you want?

LOLA:
I made a promise once.

ALEXA:
A promise?

LOLA:
To dedicate my life to music. Of course, it was years ago. Back when we were still subjects of Spain. Before Hurricane San Ciriaco wiped away so much across the island.

ALEXA:
And you haven't broken your promise in all that time?

LOLA:
I've never gone more than a couple days without playing since I gave him my word. The teacher who changed my life. Claudio—

ALEXA / LOLA:
Brindis de Salas.

LOLA:
You know of him?

ALEXA:
I learned about him recently. The King of Octaves.

LOLA:
I still have the bow he gave me during my final lesson. I promised to use it for my first professional performance.

LOLA opens a drawer and retrieves a bow.

ALEXA:
Wow. Can I hear you play with it?

LOLA plays a bit of "Consolación.” COSME knocks on LOLA's door. LOLA walks to the door and opens it.

LOLA:
Si, Papi?

COSME:
Sorry to interrupt. Lola, a letter's come for you. I thought you'd want to read it at once.

SATURNINA:
Cosme, I told you to let me see it first.

COSME:
The envelope is addressed to Lolita. She should be the one to open it.

BENI:
Alexa, any luck?

ALEXA:
Not yet.

COSME hands LOLA an envelope.

LOLA:
It's from the school in Boston. 

SATURNINA:
Boston?

ALEXA:
Here, I'll...hold your bow.

LOLA:
Gracias.

LOLA tears the envelope open.

LOLA:
It's a scholarship. To study music. 

COSME | ALEXA | BENI:
De verdad? | Nice! | Whoa!

SATURNINA:
What about the teacher training program in Alabama?

LOLA:
This school can train me to be a professional musician. They believe in me. Just like Brindis.

SATURNINA:
What do you think? You'll tour the world as he did?

LOLA:
Oh, to travel all over and play concert halls just like Teatro La Perla. Don't you see? I can keep my promise to him.

SATURNINA:
A little girl made a promise. You're a woman now, Lola. And a musician's life is not for you. 

SATURNINA reaches for the paper.

LOLA:
No. You won't touch this letter. You can't stop me! 

SATURNINA:
Here's what I can do.

SATURNINA grabs the bow out of ALEXA'S hand.

LOLA / ALEXA:
My bow! / Wait!

SATURNINA cracks the bow in two.

COSME:
Saturnina!

ALEXA / BENI / LOLA:
It's broken.

LOLA:
How could you? You have no idea what you've done.

LOLA runs out onto the porch.

COSME:
Lola!

ALEXA:
I'll deal with Lola. Get the artifact.

BENI:
The bow. I'm on it.

ALEXA exits out onto the porch.

MUSIC: "CONSOLACIÓN" TRANSITION.

ALEXA:
I'm sorry that your bow is broken. 

LOLA:
Thank you. You know, if I were a boy she'd probably throw me a party. 

ALEXA:
It's so unfair.

LOLA:
What are you? Thirteen?

ALEXA:
Twelve.

LOLA:
A couple of years until people start setting limits for you.

ALEXA:
I think it'll be different for me. Things change with time. 

LOLA:
I thought things would be different for me, too. When my father took me to see Brindis in concert, and I saw him on that stage playing a Stradivarius - that was it. The life I wanted. To perform. To command an audience's attention. To capture sound then let it ripple away.

ALEXA:
Sounds incredible.

LOLA:
But that wasn't even his greatest gift to me.

ALEXA:
The bow.

LOLA:
The bow's special, but no. Brindis made me believe in my promise. How I wish I could have studied with him longer. But he's busy performing on the most famous stages in the world.

ALEXA:
You said he changed your life. Not the performer, but Claudio Brindis, the teacher. Maybe that's how you can change lives, too. Lola Tizol, the teacher.

MUSIC: "CONSOLACIÓN" TRANSITION.

COSME:
Why couldn't you just talk to her? That bow meant the world to Lolita.

SATURNINA:
It was from her childhood, Cosme. It's time that you recognize she's not a little girl anymore. 

COSME:
I do, Saturnina. But why does it have to mean shutting the door on her dream?

SATURNINA:
Think about life for a young woman. Not some dream, but real life. 

COSME:
I thought maybe, by the time Lolita came of age, becoming a musician would be an option for her. As it should be.

SATURNINA:
You know it isn't. 

SATURNINA places the bow on the table.

BENI:
The bow.

SATURNINA:
I had no choice but to break it. You know a musician's life isn't for our daughter. And you must tell her this, Cosme. She won't hear it coming from me. Ahora, I must finish dinner.

SATURNINA'S exits into the backyard.

COSME:
Your lessons will need to be postponed.

BENI:
We understand. I'm going to grab the last piece of bread. I'll be right out!

COSME exits out onto the porch. The barometer buzzes.

BENI:
Glowing blue. This bow is the artifact. 

BENI slides the broken bow under his shirt.

BENI:
Thank you, flowing white shirt, for keeping my cover. It's switching to purple. The portal's opening.

BENI exits out onto the porch. Chicks chirp.

BENI:
I've forgotten to feed the chicks, Aleksandra. A quest that must be done. Let's go!

ALEXA:
Right!

BENI:
Adios!

ALEXA and BENI pass through a wooden gate.

COSME:
Do you hear that?

LOLA: 
That's the strangest noise I've ever—

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

1907. PONCE, PR. THE PORCH OF THE TIZOL HOUSEHOLD.

Rain hits a zinc roof.

COSME:
Nice kids. A little strange, pero...

LOLA:
Too bad I can't teach them again.

COSME:
I think your mother will let you continue teaching students if...if you train to be a teacher in Alabama. You can teach and play violin on the side.

LOLA:
A hobbyist.

COSME:
Nothing wrong with that.

LOLA:
Of course not. But...Brindis only taught serious students. And he taught me.

COSME:
When you were a girl.

LOLA:
You called me a serious student back then. You believed in me, like he did.

COSME:
I still believe in you, Lola. Y en orta vida? You'd tour the world as famous as they come.

LOLA:
In another life, I would have been a serious music student at that school in Boston.

COSME:
But you're a young woman living here and now. And your mother's right...you wouldn't be respected as a musician. Teaching is an honorable profession.

LOLA:
I know. Aleksandra told me I'm a good teacher.

COSME:
Smart girl.

LOLA:
The broken bow, I can't bear to see it again. Will you throw it on the stove? 

COSME:
Ay, Lola.

LOLA:
Please, Papi.

COSME:
As you wish.

THE TIMESTORM. HELICOPTER CABIN. ANOTHER DIMENSION.

ALEXA and BENI laugh as they land.

HORACIO:
Welcome back. Bueno, that was tricky a one.

ALEXA:
How'd you get the bow from Saturnina, Beni?

BENI:
She put it down on the table. But...I kinda feel like I just stole something.

ALEXA:
So, how is retrieving an artifact different from, you know, theft?

ATABEY:
In the original timeline, Lola never saw the bow again. She insisted Cosme throw it on the stove out back. 

BENI:
That's harsh. Here it is: a broken promise.

BENI takes the bow from under his shirt.

ATABEY:
Artifact cloud, emerge.

A rhythm indicates the artifact cloud has emerged.

ATABEY:
Artifact, attained.

A whoosh indicates the artifact has floated into the cloud.

BENI:
It's so weird seeing that broken bow floating up there like that.

ATABEY:
Artifact cloud, retreat. 

HORACIO:
Clothing!

A whoosh indicates the twins' clothing change.

HORACIO:
Nos vemos—

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

2017. NEWARK, NEW JERSEY. MARIO'S FAMOUS PIZZERIA.

ALEXA and BENI laugh as they land.

BENI:
Is it weird that I feel sad for Lola back in nineteen-oh-seven? Having to break her promise like that?

ALEXA:
Lola kept her promise. She's not the one who broke it.

BENI:
You're right. It was broken for her. Hey, I think that's Mario with pizza.

RAMIRO:
Find it?

BENI / ALEXA:
What?

CLARA:
The rack for your raincoat and umbrella.

ALEXA:
Oh. Yeah.

BENI:
It's still next to the bathroom.

MARIO:
A Grandma and Margherita pie!  

MUSIC: "CONSOLACIÓN" TRANSITION INTO THE THEME SONG: "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. Young Lola was played by Isabella Ramirez, Lola Tizol was played by Isabel Pask. Cosme Tizol was played by Ernio Hernández. Saturnina Tizol was played by Marilyn Ricco. Claudio Brindis de Salas Garrido was played by A. R. Garcia. Clara Ventura was played by Jennica Carmona. Ramiro Ventura was played by Walter Rodriguez. With special guest musician: Aurora Méndez. You can also hear her play on this episode’s version of the theme song. Also featured were Michael Aquino and Emilio Zappa.

Now, it's time for our Listener Share-out! 

SOPHIA:
Hello. My name is Sophia. I’m twelve years old and I live in the United States. For my time-travel share-out, I want to share about where I would time-travel to. I’d go to New York City, where I lived when I was baby. I think New York City is cool now, and I want to see if in the year 3010 there are flying cars, other high-tech stuff, and to see how tall the buildings have gotten.

NARRATION:
Seeing New York City from a flying car? What a view that would be! Thanks for sharing Sophia. 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.

If you enjoy the show, ask your parents to subscribe to Timestorm on Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, or the Kids Listen App. A quick message for our adult listeners: please be sure to check out our free resources, including episode guides and transcripts over at Timestorm Series dot com. And if you're interested in more bonus and behind-the-scenes content, we hope you’ll consider joining our Patreon community over at Patreon dot com slash Timestorm. You can also show your support for the series by sharing it with a friend or leaving a rating and review on Apple Podcasts and Podchaser.

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

ATABEY:
Witness. Find. Remember.