1X11 THE RETURN

Aired Week of: 4/23/01

Leonardo sails to Santa Helena to reunite with his long-lost love, Marta. After his friend recklessly shoots a soldier, Montoya uses Leonardo to lay deadly traps for both Don Hidalgo and the Queen of Swords. The Queen is in a tight spot - she doesn't want to see Leonardo harmed, but if she saves him, she'll surely lose Marta forever.

WRITER: Scott Kraft
DIRECTOR: Paolo Barzman

This episode had an interesting storyline. The writer introduced a little more history about not only Marta's past, but also Tessa's. There were very tender moments and emotional dialogs between Marta and Tessa. The storyline expounded upon their roles of not only as Mistress and Servant, or as very dear close friends, but as members of a family. It tested their relationship, in which decisions had to be made. Both Tessa and Marta found themselves caught up in a heartbreaking situation. Tessa had to accept the fact that Marta may leave to start her own life and she must be strong to take care of herself. Marta, who is caught in the middle between her love for Leonardo and caring for Tessa, has a difficult dilemma of making the right choice. The dialogs between Tessa and Marta describe how Tessa (although it was breaking her heart) wouldn't stand in Marta's way of happiness with Leonardo. Marta, on the other hand, wanted to follow her heart, and felt she would have to either forfeit her love for Leonardo or her loyalty to Tessa.

My favorite scene in this episode happened when Vera went to see Tessa after her meeting with Colonel Montoya. She surprises Tessa by showing up just when she is dressed as the Queen and ready to leave. Tessa reluctantly has no other choice but to greet Vera. She looks at herself and begins to undress knowing she has much unlacing to do, while Vera waits impatiently wondering why Tessa is taking so long. Poor Tessa gets caught at a bad time. She is able to take it all off, but obviously is it quite an undertaking. I found that scene so hysterical. Vera is thinking that Tessa is hiding from her, while Tessa is undressing she remarks to herself "I'm not exactly myself". It was the perfect light humor needed for this episode.

I enjoyed watching the sword duel between the Queen and Colonel Montoya. There aren't very many episodes in which these two get to square off. As rivals and enemies, these two characters don't get to spend very much time battling with swords. But whenever an episode has a scene in which both the Queen and Colonel Montoya duel, it helps to build their love and hate relationship. The stunt involving the double horse riding was great to see.

I really enjoyed the episode and it was good to learn more about Tessa's past and also Marta's. In the end, Marta sacrificed her love for Leonardo and stayed with Tessa. Hopefully the remaining episodes will also delve more into the characters past.

INTERESTING LINES AND INFO THAT I THOUGHT WERE IMPORTANT IN THE EPISODE:

TESSA: Someone is in a fine mood this morning�I guess a way to a man's heart is through his stomach�well, aren't you going to tell me all about him?
MARTA: We met in Spain 10 years ago�
TESSA: �and?
MARTA: �its been 9 years since I've seen him.
TESSA: Marta!�
MARTA: What?
TESSA: You're not getting away this easily�I want details.
MARTA: We were young�he wanted to see the world.
TESSA: So you waited for him while he went off to make his fortune.
MARTA: Something like that.
TESSA: Humm�or maybe you couldn't go�because you felt responsible for a 12 year old girl�
MARTA: Nonsense.
TESSA: �who had no one else�
MARTA: Except an Aunt, an Uncle and three cousins.
TESSA: �who should have stayed in California�Marta, you gave up Leonardo for me.
MARTA: I'll get the buggy ready.

TESSA: I went to check the stock in the south pasture�it would be a lovely place for an hacienda to settle down together.
MARTA: Its too much to hear.
TESSA: What's wrong Marta?
MARTA: He wants me to leave with him.
TESSA: That's wonderful�congratulations, when will you go?
MARTA: I'm needed here.
TESSA: I'm not twelve anymore Marta�please don't loose your chance because of me�not again.

TESSA: Is it true?
MARTA: Leonardo is not a murderer.
TESSA: A soldier's dead.
MARTA: It was Prieto�Leonardo would never hurt anyone�I will stake my life on it.
TESSA: But he is a criminal.
MARTA: He went to prison for stealing a loaf of bread.
TESSA: Why didn't you tell me?
MARTA: Because you've never had to choose between stealing or starvation.
TESSA: I'm sorry Marta.
MARTA: You must save him.
TESSA: I've already spoken to Colonel Montoya, I'll do everything I can.
MARTA: Montoya will kill him no matter what he tells you�the Queen must save us.
TESSA: But if she does�you'll be a fugitive all your life.
MARTA: Leonardo crossed the world to find me�I won't desert him now.

LEONARDO: I never should have come back.
MARTA: I'm glad you did.
LEONARDO: Glad?�look around you.
MARTA: I am looking�you want to know what I see�someone I was waiting for�someone I could have children with�grow old with�someone I love.
LEONARDO: Oh, love is a curse.
MARTA: We'll get out of this�we'll be together Leonardo�you mustn't doubt that.
LEONARDO: Look at this�this is what I am�is this the man you want to be with?
MARTA: You're not a thief.
LEONARDO: I'm in jail for murder�I'm going to die and I maybe taking you with me.
MARTA: Its not over yet�have faith.
LEONARDO: Faith is not for criminals.

GASPAR: What are you doing about the bandits?
MONTOYA: Ah, yes�the bandits who don't steal.
GASPAR: You don't believe me?
MONTOYA: Its not that�what few men I can spare are searching for them�but since your tragedy today�with my limited resources�there is nothing I can do. Now if you can persuade the Don's to change their minds about the taxes�.
GASPAR: (yelling)�My life is threatened and you speak of taxes!�a man might wonder if you care whether I live or die.
MONTOYA: You think I wish you harm Gaspar?
GASPAR: I suppose not�an attack on a Don with friends in the Royal Court would be foolish�even for a Colonel with a militia behind him.
MONTOYA: My desire to make Santa Helena a safer place has brought us to this?�I will forget the taxes and the fact that you led the Don's against me on this�our friendship is much more important to me then money.
GASPAR: Thank you Colonel.
MONTOYA: Look after your leg my friend�I will do everything in my power to see that no further misfortune befalls you.

QUEEN: You better get going�Montoya will have soldiers watching every road.
MARTA: (speaking to Leonardo)�give me a moment.
QUEEN: Your running out of time Marta.
MARTA: Look at you�I still see a spoiled child.
QUEEN: (smiling)�I was a terror wasn't I?
MARTA: (smiling)�Your cousins thought you were a barbarian�but then your different.
QUEEN: I love you Marta. (Hugs her)
MARTA: I'm so proud of you.
QUEEN: Go�they'll be here soon.
MARTA: What will you do?
QUEEN: I can take care of myself�I was raised by a gypsy (both smile and giggle).
LEONARDO: Soldiers!
MARTA: We should head east through the canyon.
QUEEN: I'll lead them off!
MARTA: No, we can't leave you like this!
QUEEN: It's hard enough watching you go�I won't watch you hang�go�GO (yelling).

TESSA: (surprised to see Marta)�Marta?�and Leonardo?�Is he alright?
MARTA: He's fine�he has to find his place in life�prove to himself who he is or isn't�when he has�he'll come back.
TESSA: You never could lie to me�why didn't you go with him?
MARTA: I know this is my place�I belong with you�In many ways your cousins were right.
TESSA: Why?
MARTA: Your still a barbarian�somebody has to keep you out of trouble.
TESSA: Do you miss him? (Tessa and Marta stare at each other)
MARTA: I keep talking and lunch will never be ready.

Looking forward to the next episode.

~Margie~

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