Speaker 1: Hey, podcast listeners, just a heads up, this episode does
Speaker 1: contain the sounds of gun violence. Please take care while listening.
Speaker 1: From executive producers Daniel Ramidez and myself, Evil Longoria, The
Speaker 1: Sisters of the Underground tells the powerful story of the
Speaker 1: Meat about sisters, real life Latina's who sacrificed everything for
Speaker 1: the fight for freedom. Welcome, Welcome to them. Wow, THEA
Speaker 1: is this how everything looked back then? See it's all
Speaker 1: the same, only the flooring and the roof of the
Speaker 1: house have been replaced. Look a bas college degree and
Speaker 1: the photo of her welling with Papa Minola. She looks
Speaker 1: so beautiful, she did. How long did you live here
Speaker 1: for THEA, Joe? When I I stayed here for quite
Speaker 1: a while after Mommy, THEA has passed away, you know.
Speaker 1: Back at the Quaranta prison, Bobby Lossle Andre Petro just
Speaker 1: didn't believe they were dead. This this has to be
Speaker 1: another one of their sick jokes. It's it's not possible.
Speaker 1: Through Hugh wouldn't was calling more attention to himself. Next
Speaker 1: time we go outside, make sure to ask every prisoner
Speaker 1: if they have seen them. Someone has to know. Little
Speaker 1: Too felt cornered as the United States imposed more economic
Speaker 1: sanctions and continue to pressure him to step down. I said,
Speaker 1: I'm not leaving. This is your last chance. After everything
Speaker 1: I've done for this country. President through here, we gave
Speaker 1: you an opportunity, but unfortunately you leave us with no choice.
Speaker 1: I have it under control. We have word that there
Speaker 1: are people plotting against you in Cuba and Venezuela. We
Speaker 1: just can't continue resorting to violence. So that's what this
Speaker 1: is about. Buying for Latin American support and kissing room
Speaker 1: little bit and course asks. This is about constituting a
Speaker 1: benevolent and democratic government and preventing communism from taking over,
Speaker 1: which is also a threat to you, not just us.
Speaker 1: The longer you're here, the more susceptible the country is
Speaker 1: becoming to left this extremism. Your country entrusted me to
Speaker 1: leave my people. I know what's best for them. I'm
Speaker 1: afraid our time is over. I am not finished. My
Speaker 1: men did not kill those sisters, there is no proof
Speaker 1: of that, and I will see to it that the
Speaker 1: country does not fall into the hands of communism, and
Speaker 1: that if you don't agree with what we've proposed at
Speaker 1: this time, I'm afraid we won't be able to support
Speaker 1: you any longer? So who will you support the dissidance?
Speaker 1: Good luck, presidente Ovis. We need arm guards position in
Speaker 1: every corner of the island, ready to retire any traitors immediately.
Speaker 1: We'll handle it in they May thirtieth one. The Dominican
Speaker 1: people finally decided to take matters into their own hands.
Speaker 1: Even his own top advisors have reached the breaking point.
Speaker 1: After bearing witness to the shameless murder of the Metaball sisters,
Speaker 1: they plotted the perfect ambush of the dictator. Thank you
Speaker 1: for your hospitality. How long before we get to the
Speaker 1: house and center stood? Half hour or so? Heafy, good?
Speaker 1: Why hall await copy? We're in position over this is it?
Speaker 1: Keep an eye out for the chevallet and night had
Speaker 1: finally come Antonia in bert Let the upper list. That's him,
Speaker 1: Go go, go go. They took a chase after the
Speaker 1: regious car. Heafy, I think they're following us. Lose them.
Speaker 1: I'll try. There's another car. Effect we have to stop.
Speaker 1: Get down to binge it out to Helfy, Are you okay?
Speaker 1: I'm here? Oh God, you're pleading turn me a gun? What?
Speaker 1: He no? Please stay inside the car. Follow my orders,
Speaker 1: can you he's coming out of the car, you fucking
Speaker 1: basta ah ah. So it was finally over. The people
Speaker 1: were free, just like all never wanted I wish, but
Speaker 1: through hideous statistics. So ground Fis arrived the next morning
Speaker 1: from Paris, and he immediately declared himself through hideous successor.
Speaker 1: Today the Dominican Republic is in mourning. Alissimo was shot
Speaker 1: that last night at kilometer nine of the sample of
Speaker 1: Mingos and Cristobal Highway. He and his driver, Zakaria La
Speaker 1: Cruz were ambushed by assailant. The Chevy bell Air received
Speaker 1: more than sixty bullet impacts, seven of which he tells
Speaker 1: his driver was injured but survived the attack. If you
Speaker 1: have any information on who the fugitives could be, please
Speaker 1: reach out to your closest same office. Ah yeah, glory
Speaker 1: as in the conspirators fled to various parts of the country,
Speaker 1: hoping to evade the man hunt, but whatever hope they
Speaker 1: had would soon vanish. Flush He's found them and executed
Speaker 1: them himself. And as the months went by, me, Papa
Speaker 1: and uncles were transferred the epic into the prisoner Victoria
Speaker 1: that we had no idea of this, not any among
Speaker 1: me there. We spent many months without hearing of their whereabouts?
Speaker 1: The flag has been lowered and the guards are wearing
Speaker 1: black bracelets on the wrists. Really let me see I
Speaker 1: call you? So it finally happened. A month later, reps
Speaker 1: from the Organization of American States finally visited the country
Speaker 1: to investigate reports of human violations, so they interviewed political prisoners.
Speaker 1: Among them were Poppy and theos leandro Ipito. Facing internal
Speaker 1: political pressure, the government finally decided to release them. Nina's Bangan,
Speaker 1: I made your favorite, as about it for you Prayaki style?
Speaker 1: And miss Mooso's where's me now? She's probably reading again? Mama?
Speaker 1: What did I tell you about letting her read all
Speaker 1: those books? Bitter Mama? What did you expect? She's a
Speaker 1: me me? No mucha tita? Where are you when Poppies here?
Speaker 1: Keep Poppy? Poppy? Lying is a sin and you're too
Speaker 1: young to be seeing ghosts. I just I mean part
Speaker 1: of the os is that you you alive? Me? Man?
Speaker 1: Is that see here? You're so big? I missed you
Speaker 1: all so much and we did too. Where's Where's meaning?
Speaker 1: Didn't you read the news? I did? But it can't
Speaker 1: be true, right, tell me it's not true. I'm sorry. Yeah,
Speaker 1: she's gone. They're all gone, Sandos fuero. Lastres, Poppy paused,
Speaker 1: reality was finally sinking in. He didn't talk, he couldn't.
Speaker 1: He just cried. When I goes, I can Cassie the
Speaker 1: other day, Mama chair Poppy could finally grieve together. Bobby
Speaker 1: would spend the following nights on a rocking chair in
Speaker 1: the backyard, holding me protectively in his arms, I said,
Speaker 1: to shield those from old danger. I was a very
Speaker 1: curious five year old coot, and each night, as he
Speaker 1: put me to bed, Poppy would patiently answer all of
Speaker 1: my questions. Could you miss me? Clad of me? All
Speaker 1: I can think about was you, Alito and your mom
Speaker 1: Every single day. I miss her me too. What are
Speaker 1: those dark spots on your arms? These are cigarette marks?
Speaker 1: Did the evil men do that to you? Yeah? They
Speaker 1: won't hurt you again, right? Uh? No, memordal they won't.
Speaker 1: You know. One of the last times we spoke, Mommy
Speaker 1: said that you love to read and draw? Is that true?
Speaker 1: I do you know? I'd love to see some of
Speaker 1: your drawings, Poppy. What else did you and mommy talk about? Well,
Speaker 1: we talked about our dreams, what we hope our lives
Speaker 1: could be like in Monte Cristi. And you know, but
Speaker 1: Mommy's dreams neighor came true, did they? Uh, those dreams
Speaker 1: are still alive in you and your brother. She'll always
Speaker 1: be watching over you, and so will I promise always.
Speaker 1: Good night, my angel. That night, something strange started to happen.
Speaker 1: Poppy started hearing mommy mean meaning is that you? Who
Speaker 1: are you talking to? Poppy? Um? No one, no one
Speaker 1: go to sleep? Good night? Meaning Elena? Is she asleep? Yeah? Almost,
Speaker 1: I'll be lying if I said I've been able to
Speaker 1: sleep myself. I can remember the last time I had
Speaker 1: a good, nice sleep neither. Hey, I left you some
Speaker 1: fresh linens and towels in the guest room. The shower
Speaker 1: had not been in the bathroom, which is a bit clunky.
Speaker 1: Just be careful when turning it. Yeah, I can take
Speaker 1: a look at it tomorrow. I cant ask you. That'll
Speaker 1: be great, check ask but for what? For everything? For
Speaker 1: taking care of them, for being a loyal sister friend.
Speaker 1: And that's the least I can do. It's been a
Speaker 1: while since I've been alone without guards looking over me.
Speaker 1: I forgot what it even felt like to be free. Yeah,
Speaker 1: well those days are going now you're finally here and
Speaker 1: to Casa contos. You know, Manola. Sometimes I go back
Speaker 1: to that day and I can't help but think that
Speaker 1: I should have stopped her from going to put They
Speaker 1: they they, they like anyone could stop her from doing
Speaker 1: anything once you made up her mind. M You know
Speaker 1: you you might think I'm crazy, but I've been hearing
Speaker 1: her voice. Oh you think you too. I know for
Speaker 1: sure she's looking after us. What's that noise? You have
Speaker 1: a gun? We just have to be ready these days
Speaker 1: for anything. Oh hi, Yeah, it's just our neighbors. The
Speaker 1: town read a lot. They're rising with those men. Public
Speaker 1: kept fighting, searching for the killers who murdered me, my
Speaker 1: mind and aunts. But it was tough. Ramph is true.
Speaker 1: He use time as the leader of the Dominican people
Speaker 1: did not last. A military uprising drove the Ruhidio family
Speaker 1: into exile. They fled to Europe with millions of dollars
Speaker 1: of more cash, never to return again. On this day,
Speaker 1: to Trujillo has become San To Domingo once again, ending
Speaker 1: the thirty year long to Hear Your era. The country
Speaker 1: has found new hope with one Bush who is promising
Speaker 1: freedom to all Dominican One Bush would win by a
Speaker 1: landslide victory nine six three in what would be the
Speaker 1: first re election in the country's history. He granted the
Speaker 1: nation many of the basic human rights the mommy and
Speaker 1: he has had outlined in their movement, including a new constitution.
Speaker 1: For a brief moment, we felt as if we could
Speaker 1: breathe again. But Bobby Deos wouldn't rest until they tracked
Speaker 1: down the men who murdered the girls. Their names were
Speaker 1: finally given to Leandro by a guard who had worked
Speaker 1: for the armed forces. What happened to them? They went
Speaker 1: to trial. There was a trial of the centering. The
Speaker 1: oh I met about a chip TV set that barely worked,
Speaker 1: and the O's house. You know who they are, who
Speaker 1: would fill up with people who came every day to
Speaker 1: see the hearings. Oh God, Hi there, I know, I know,
Speaker 1: come on work there, there, it's back. She finally independent.
Speaker 1: Alfonso Cruz, Valerio, Emilio Ramon, Emilio Rojas, Laura Rosa, the store,
Speaker 1: Antonio guilty. Hi, Gloria b. C. Morci gives better the
Speaker 1: spider best efforts to seek justice. The murderers were released,
Speaker 1: serving barely any time. They wrote letters to the judge,
Speaker 1: but they were ignored. Most of the killers went into hiding.
Speaker 1: Many fled to the United States. But here in our country,
Speaker 1: Babi Leandro Pedro the other day, continued to seek justice
Speaker 1: and fight for the cause, especially after the coup that
Speaker 1: ended one Bushes democratic government in September of nineteen sixty three,
Speaker 1: pushing the country into even more violence. The dictator was dead,
Speaker 1: but the regime was still very much alive. It's an
Speaker 1: honor to be here with you, my beloved Pueblo, and
Speaker 1: to see how far the butterflies, my sisters, have spread
Speaker 1: their beautiful limbs. They gave us the strength and bravery
Speaker 1: to keep fighting for our freedom. But clearly this fight
Speaker 1: is far from over. Although no longer with us, their
Speaker 1: spirits continue to bless us as women. We must rise,
Speaker 1: demand our democracy, demand that our democracy prevailed. Let us
Speaker 1: keep the memory of our butterflies alive, and let them
Speaker 1: guide us and inspire us every day to never never
Speaker 1: lose hope. She had been left behind with nieces and
Speaker 1: nephews to raise, as well as her own threeet children.
Speaker 1: She was a loving mother to all of us, me.
Speaker 1: You would have seen level we are most local. We
Speaker 1: drove her and a wil a crazy. You know what.
Speaker 1: She took care of all of us as if we
Speaker 1: were her own and raise us to be whole and
Speaker 1: empowered members of society, instilling pride in our heritage and
Speaker 1: most importantly, a sense of duty to our country. Trying
Speaker 1: for tulips again, Mama, you know they don't grow in
Speaker 1: this heat. The true gardener never gives up on her
Speaker 1: plans today, Why don't you just rest and I'll finish
Speaker 1: up with this? Absolutely no. This is what keeps me going,
Speaker 1: and I'm gonna keep doing it. Oh my Nola, Mama,
Speaker 1: me a key, I me Weilla that I surprise you
Speaker 1: need some help, my jail. I know, Thank you, Jo,
Speaker 1: I got it. I've been telling her she needs to Restada.
Speaker 1: I gotta do this now while I still can. Or Cassio,
Speaker 1: when I leave this world, who will take care of
Speaker 1: my beautiful flowers? I will? And you still do. I
Speaker 1: can see it. Maybe I can build my own garden
Speaker 1: in New York with many Darius. I love that you
Speaker 1: have to be patient with them. Did Daddius take time
Speaker 1: to bloom this? Big? I was kid? This was the
Speaker 1: same spot where my mom was taking care of the flowers.
Speaker 1: On the last day I saw poppy. How old yous Anthea? Well,
Speaker 1: I was only seven. That's when Bobby returned to his
Speaker 1: leadership position with the movement. His mission was to reinstate
Speaker 1: one Bush's democracy. He really was a true patriot. Yell
Speaker 1: Missmodia that John F. Kennedy was assassinated November. My dad
Speaker 1: fled to the mountains with other members of the movement
Speaker 1: to fight against the military coup that had toppled our
Speaker 1: first democratic government. The forces of the New Region tracked
Speaker 1: them down and waited until they ran out of resources,
Speaker 1: and so Bobby and his companions had no choice but
Speaker 1: to surrender. But instead of arresting them, we're unarmed. Don shoot.
Speaker 1: Oh ah, I see her, I can hear, And just
Speaker 1: like that, they were murdered. He was only thirty three
Speaker 1: years older. You know. I always wonder why his last
Speaker 1: moments on earth were like and kepting so he did
Speaker 1: he ever see Mom up there in those mountains. Maybe
Speaker 1: their spirits finally found each other. I think they sure,
Speaker 1: m hm. You know, when I was little nothing in
Speaker 1: the world. Whatever this strack me from a good book,
Speaker 1: come on to until I heard the scream from my
Speaker 1: mach that morning. No id as me or no where,
Speaker 1: this said, and probably foom to my no, no no
Speaker 1: where said. I couldn't help but look up the new world.
Speaker 1: I had just heard the fun too. I flit through
Speaker 1: Mommy's dictionary looking for the day punto the punto, and
Speaker 1: then there it was deceased. Then no longer life, No no,
Speaker 1: no me no. I locked myself in my room and
Speaker 1: did what most seven year olds would do. I hit
Speaker 1: the pain for as long as I could, so you
Speaker 1: cast set. I didn't know what else to do. I
Speaker 1: lost both my parents, mommy, Poppy, just like that. Me, no, me,
Speaker 1: what far? Oh well, he's not coming back, is he?
Speaker 1: You see it? To ide im, I'm sorry, no, no,
Speaker 1: I'm sorry. It was a big loss for everyone. My
Speaker 1: much about to never visit the cemetery, and that was
Speaker 1: a problemise she would keep until she passed away the
Speaker 1: other day, would continue to honor that Mariposa's unbreakable spirit
Speaker 1: for the rest of her life. You know what you are,
Speaker 1: Mariposa too, and so are you me, Vida. We are
Speaker 1: all butterflies, just like the ones here in the garden.
Speaker 1: Look at this. Yes, yes, that is the shrine. This
Speaker 1: is where the spirits of let Marie Bosas can rest
Speaker 1: see me. Nina, I found this letter. It was under
Speaker 1: all the other ones. Can I read it? Of course?
Speaker 1: February three, sixty four, Dear Mom and Dad, I went
Speaker 1: to the cemetery to visit you both today. I miss
Speaker 1: you so much. Your little daughter me new it's a
Speaker 1: letter you wrote to abuelam Ned and Abuela Minolo. Can
Speaker 1: I keep this one? I don't want to leave. I
Speaker 1: feel as if I'm just getting to know who they were.
Speaker 1: You know what, We can come back as many times
Speaker 1: as you like when you visit it. Deal, deal, Thank
Speaker 1: you for bringing me. How could I not? You know,
Speaker 1: since we're in Salzetto. I was hoping we could stop
Speaker 1: at the best giourny get it placed in town. M M.
Speaker 1: I was hoping you'd say that we don't have those
Speaker 1: back at home. Well maybe we can sneak some of
Speaker 1: those in your luggage to send back to the States.
Speaker 1: Oh yeah, let's get a bunch of them for mommy.
Speaker 1: Oh yeah, all right then, Nina, how about you go
Speaker 1: ahead and go onto the car. I'll be there in
Speaker 1: a moment, Okay, Bartia Battoria. There Matha Mama, Chea Minerva
Speaker 1: and Papa Manolo. See you soon. You have a Mongo Kicks,
Speaker 1: getle Mongole, Longos Kicks Cucks. Then the senior per me
Speaker 1: so see five Johnny cakes, four single. It's so grassy. Yes,
Speaker 1: here are be careful like being m This is so good.
Speaker 1: It's your mommy calling be the Okay, hello, m's doing
Speaker 1: the Johnny cakes. Yes, I'll bring you the world can't wait.
Speaker 1: I was the museum. Oh you should bring their mommy.
Speaker 1: It was so great. I a surprise. Yes again you
Speaker 1: can hear me better what I see? I remember I
Speaker 1: told you the councilman called about the street side. Say
Speaker 1: wait a minute, I need my glasses. Okay, have you
Speaker 1: see what it says? Meet about sisters? Yes, who streets
Speaker 1: and the heights. Today was the naming ceremony Kelly and
Speaker 1: we got a song. You see. Their legacies are life,
Speaker 1: unwill always beer always. Besides, when I leave what we'll
Speaker 1: take care of my flowers. I will She'll always be
Speaker 1: watching over you, and so will I. I wish I
Speaker 1: were brave like you. Courage already runs in your blood.
Speaker 1: You're gonna this is as I walk through our old
Speaker 1: home and this garden. I imagine you all here, beautiful
Speaker 1: and free. I think of the many letters that have
Speaker 1: yet to be written. I imagine a whole generation of
Speaker 1: women who are your legacy. You remain alive in all
Speaker 1: of us. We remember the sacrifice of the courage you
Speaker 1: gave us the butterflies. Miss Barry Boss, I see you,
Speaker 1: I hear you. You are here. I will always be remembered.
Speaker 1: Sisters of the Underground is a production of School of
Speaker 1: Humans in conjunction with iHeartMedia's Michael Dura Network and Unbelievable Entertainment,
Speaker 1: with co executive producers Eva Longoria and Dania Ramierres showrunner
Speaker 1: and director Jose Maria Cabral. The series was written by
Speaker 1: Jose Maria Carrel and Mary Castellanos. Story by Dania Ramirez
Speaker 1: and Jose Maria Cabra. Lead producer and story editor Julia
Speaker 1: Chrisco Associate producer and first a d Andrew Harmon, Production
Speaker 1: manager Daisy Church, script supervisor Sarah Montague, recording engineer Clay Hillenburg,
Speaker 1: post production supervisor Jeremy Gilbertson at Tune Welders in Atlanta,
Speaker 1: Sound design, mixing and mastering by Harper W. Harris, Assembly,
Speaker 1: editing by Liam Marie Puffenberger, Jason Shannon composer, score music
Speaker 1: editor Spenser Willis. Music licensing by Serio Marte, Lorenzo Lauds
Speaker 1: at Pixanc Music and Natalie Brady at Texture Music Marketing,
Speaker 1: and designed by Jasmine Mihia and Claudia Marti Corena. Our
Speaker 1: Incredible cast includes Dania Ramirez as Mino Tavares Miraval our narrator,
Speaker 1: Julie Reges as Minerva Miraval, Jane Santos as Miraval, celinezt
Speaker 1: Ribio as Miraval, char Line Chaule as Maria Presa Miraval,
Speaker 1: Acariendo as Patria Miraval, Serio Carlo as Manolo Tavaris, and
Speaker 1: the radio announcer Heemki Malera as Trujillo, Ector Anibal As,
Speaker 1: Johnny Abas, Gabriela Stein as Adela. Additional cast includes Juan Via,
Speaker 1: Alex Lynn Ward, Jacqueline Calderon with Michael Uribs, Silvio Martinez,
Speaker 1: Ryan Baila, Darius de la Cruz, Marco Barra, and Daniel Lujan.
Speaker 1: Additional executive producers include Jose Maria Cabra, Mary Castellanos, just
Speaker 1: Sell Bonces Virginia Prescott, L. C. Crowley, and Brandon bar
Speaker 1: Special thanks to Doug Boum and Abu so far at
Speaker 1: i Heeart Media Special thanks to Minoavaris Miraval, daughter of
Speaker 1: Minerva and Manolo, who is a politician and activist in
Speaker 1: the Dominican Republic. She also published the book of letters
Speaker 1: that we quote throughout the series. It's called Magnana Escrivio Travis.
Speaker 1: Check out our show notes for more details. If you
Speaker 1: enjoy the podcast, help us get the word out by
Speaker 1: leaving a review on iTunes or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Speaker 1: It really helps. Thanks School of Humans