Speaker 1: Hey, podcast listeners, just a heads up. This episode contains
Speaker 1: some intense material, including references to severe violence, some of
Speaker 1: which might not be appropriate for children. Please take care
Speaker 1: while listening. From executive producers Daniel Ramidez and myself, Eva Longoria,
Speaker 1: Sisters of the Underground tells the powerful story of the
Speaker 1: Middle Bell Sisters, real life Latina's who sacrificed everything for
Speaker 1: the fight for freedom. Okay, buckle up, musium here week,
Speaker 1: calm all these letters the amina, they're kind of like
Speaker 1: a story. Do you think you can make a whole
Speaker 1: book out of all these letters? When there how only
Speaker 1: that way more people can read? And even outside the museum.
Speaker 1: You are a very smart one, are they like? Uh?
Speaker 1: I wonder which letter was the very last one before Abuela?
Speaker 1: You know, do you think they ever got to say
Speaker 1: goodbye to each other? No one actually knows me. I'm more,
Speaker 1: but I don't think so. You know, life isn't the
Speaker 1: study as all that. And after Puppy was transferred to
Speaker 1: the prison in Pata, everything took a turn for the worst.
Speaker 1: Good morning, are you in charge here? Good morning? We
Speaker 1: have information that our husbands have been transferred. That's correct,
Speaker 1: they have been transferred to Puerto Plata. Whata And why
Speaker 1: weren't we informed or this from our superiors? We just
Speaker 1: follow them, but can't we see them? Is it's are
Speaker 1: permitted on Fridays from two to five pm? Oh very well,
Speaker 1: then we'll go this Friday, all right, I'll notify my superior,
Speaker 1: as you well know, you must first report here before
Speaker 1: you leave. Well, we just did tell your superior that
Speaker 1: this upcoming Friday will be importa. Don't go to Portolat.
Speaker 1: It will just throw attention to you. I'm very worried.
Speaker 1: Easy for you to say you have your husband by
Speaker 1: your side, unlike us I and honestly that they what
Speaker 1: can they do to us that they haven't done already?
Speaker 1: But I see some mane. It's just too risky. I
Speaker 1: think it's better if you wait it out until things
Speaker 1: get better with these people. Waiting is the last thing
Speaker 1: we can afford to do. We've waited decades too long
Speaker 1: to free ourselves from their oppression. Meanwhile, they gain power
Speaker 1: by the day. I'm going with you, Babria. Don't you
Speaker 1: even there. I won't let them go alone. Hire a driver.
Speaker 1: You don't have to put your life at risks. Rumors
Speaker 1: from the city alleged that you are being newer to Portada.
Speaker 1: Excuse me just to be killed. Let me see how
Speaker 1: the voice of the people is the voice of God.
Speaker 1: Isn't that what you're always saying? Tranquila? Mommy, listen, there's
Speaker 1: safety in numbers. We will be in public, and the
Speaker 1: video cares too much about his image to do anything drastic.
Speaker 1: Are you sure about this, Patria? We survived la guarenda.
Speaker 1: We will be okay. I've never been so sure of
Speaker 1: anything in my whole life. No, no, no, no, no no,
Speaker 1: I can't believe this. Use me. Let me see how
Speaker 1: I raise you to be strong in spirit and lespity
Speaker 1: to not heads strong. Mommy, pa, if it's the four
Speaker 1: of us, including the driver, it'd be political suicide for
Speaker 1: to hurt us. It would make him look weak, not strong.
Speaker 1: He will risk it, can't I Your boy, calm down,
Speaker 1: it's just ruffino. He's taking us to put good evening.
Speaker 1: How are you all doing bad? Very bad? I hear
Speaker 1: you're the one taking my stubborn sisters tomorrow. Huh. I
Speaker 1: am rene gladly agreed to let me take you in
Speaker 1: his car. That's your disguise is somewhat We've heard great
Speaker 1: things about you, one of the best drivers in town.
Speaker 1: Thanks always here to help, especially if it's for your family.
Speaker 1: What time do you want to leave? Very early in
Speaker 1: the morning. We want to arrive well ahead of the
Speaker 1: meeting time. Consider it done. I'll take care of the rest.
Speaker 1: Good night, good night, and thank you Ruffino. On November
Speaker 1: another day that I will never forget. Mom Maria, Theresa
Speaker 1: Patria la Cruz took off on their journey to that prison.
Speaker 1: Before they left, Ill said they notified the authorities as
Speaker 1: they had promised, and arrived in Port just in time. Manol,
Speaker 1: And are they hurting you why? I don't know. At
Speaker 1: least no more torture for now, and I want to
Speaker 1: be able to tell the children I'm okay, my dad.
Speaker 1: I just feel so very far away from all of you.
Speaker 1: I know you said we feel it too. But the
Speaker 1: good news is that we have permission to visit every Friday.
Speaker 1: But don't commune. Are you being well? No? Not really,
Speaker 1: I can tell you looked then. How's the trip long?
Speaker 1: But all right, this is all such small talk when
Speaker 1: I want to say big things. Do you mean you're not? Sam?
Speaker 1: Yea more me too? You know we're not giving up right, Yeah,
Speaker 1: I know, but we're worried. We think they know that too.
Speaker 1: There is a persistent rumor from the new prisoners that
Speaker 1: the only reason we were transferred here was to lure
Speaker 1: you to your death. That they heard the same thing.
Speaker 1: We can't believe it's true, but just to be safe,
Speaker 1: Patia came and the world's best driver who finally acoust
Speaker 1: Do you think this routine gives a rest ass about
Speaker 1: that about appearances? With what we've seen and heard, this
Speaker 1: government and half ago on the abbes, all of them
Speaker 1: will do anything to anybody with no remorse or care.
Speaker 1: This meeting is over. What do you mean over? We
Speaker 1: just got here. You heard me, miss obey my orders
Speaker 1: or meet the same faith as your husband's. Let's go
Speaker 1: momento inside said that we were told that we would
Speaker 1: have until five. I said it's over. Stay strongly, Andrew,
Speaker 1: this will be over soon. I can only imagine how
Speaker 1: this must have felt like a door closed on their hopes.
Speaker 1: The abruptest missile made them anxious and vigilant. Either me,
Speaker 1: we're being followed. You write my day. That car has
Speaker 1: been following the since we saw a dream. Please be careful,
Speaker 1: Ruffino don't drive so fast. No, no, drive faster. We
Speaker 1: need to lose that dream. I think I've been carrying
Speaker 1: it around all my life. I have a bad feeling.
Speaker 1: Maybe you're just six courting us, making sure we leave.
Speaker 1: Don't be so naive, Mathing. Well, we can't assume they
Speaker 1: got our meeting short. They must be up to something. Look,
Speaker 1: there is a roadblock. They are ordering us to stop.
Speaker 1: Don't don't stop, you mean don't you joined the revolution
Speaker 1: late Patria. It doesn't mean you have to make up
Speaker 1: for the last time. They'll shoot us if we don't comply.
Speaker 1: Of course I'll stop. I'm sure it's some sort of misunderstanding.
Speaker 1: See Prometa, there are five of them. No, no, no,
Speaker 1: this isn't a misunderstanding. It's a challenge. Five men were
Speaker 1: waiting for them, not matter pic a bridge led by
Speaker 1: the commanders. Little did they know that this man was
Speaker 1: in charge of a brutal plant. Was right. He'd received
Speaker 1: an order to apprehend them days before. Their access to
Speaker 1: their husbands was a part of a set up. What
Speaker 1: is the matter, officer. We've just been to see our husbands.
Speaker 1: We had official permission, and now we're on our way
Speaker 1: back home. I have orders to detain you and take
Speaker 1: you in our vehicles. There and why we've complied with
Speaker 1: every demand. Just get out of the car. Patria, who
Speaker 1: was sitting on the right side, saw a truck driving
Speaker 1: by and jumped out and ran to engage and alert them. Hey, hey, hey,
Speaker 1: we're the mirror of our sisters. You've heard of us.
Speaker 1: Surely the military is arresting us for no reason. Please help, please,
Speaker 1: they're going to kill us. Please, hey, comes, come here,
Speaker 1: come here now, you don't touch me. Come down thine
Speaker 1: a lot worse. Please tell her family if they're taking us,
Speaker 1: Please tell her family. Family. No one dare to fight
Speaker 1: the regime playing sight like that. Immediately the guards got
Speaker 1: up with him and she was taken back to the
Speaker 1: by force. You have no right to arrest us. Play
Speaker 1: to me, Let me go. I'm just a driver. Please,
Speaker 1: they're going to kill us, murderers. Was this your dream too? No?
Speaker 1: This is different. I don't think I can continue the story.
Speaker 1: I am I'm gonna pull over. But you said it
Speaker 1: was important for me to know. Was that the day
Speaker 1: that they Please tell me? Okay, no, no, no, no, no no, no, no,
Speaker 1: you can't do it. You speak for them. Okay, if
Speaker 1: I closed my eyes, I can't imagine the cries, the anguish.
Speaker 1: This fair, my dad. The guards hold the sisters deeper
Speaker 1: and deeper into the bushes far from the highway, each
Speaker 1: of them with a victiming toe and a chloe. Each
Speaker 1: goes in a separate direction to commit his brutal lot. Hello,
Speaker 1: kill me, and I will lift my arms ever stronger,
Speaker 1: even from the grave. All right, let's finish what we
Speaker 1: came here to do. Get them into the car and
Speaker 1: we'll ditch it down in the ravine so it will
Speaker 1: looks like an accident. Right. They should have never been
Speaker 1: allowed to cause trouble while they were alive. Let's make
Speaker 1: sure they don't do it now that they are dead.
Speaker 1: M Yeah, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to force you
Speaker 1: to tell it. I'm here, here, I'm here. Oh, probably
Speaker 1: a minima. I'm okay, I just I needed a minute meet.
Speaker 1: It all happened very close to this area. So on
Speaker 1: our way to town you will see the murals honoring
Speaker 1: them right at the edge of the mountain. And I
Speaker 1: think that we should actually go see the monument first,
Speaker 1: jacket and wake before the museum. Lea, stop your mode.
Speaker 1: You already if you are. I think I can do
Speaker 1: it now, right, Yeah, let's keep going okay with the
Speaker 1: story back in all the Agua Mama chair it the
Speaker 1: other day were on edge. Of course, night had fallen
Speaker 1: and there was still no sign or the driver. Something
Speaker 1: has happened. Mia. It's nine pm and we haven't heard
Speaker 1: anything from them. I'm having Morrissa pasen your source. Please
Speaker 1: protect my daughters from harm and trouble, especial, may you
Speaker 1: keep my girls. They are still my girls under your
Speaker 1: wings as they head back a mem I'm my Gloria.
Speaker 1: They're here, They're here. I me, Mama. I met this
Speaker 1: takey chair today. What what has happened? I got a telegram?
Speaker 1: Can they say? Don you tell up? Please sit? No,
Speaker 1: I will not damelon Patria Rofino de la Cruz. You
Speaker 1: know a persona no identific got to have died in
Speaker 1: a car accident, no care an accident. No no, no,
Speaker 1: no no, this is no accident as a seen, no
Speaker 1: murders mess Kira. They couldn't even mention the name of me.
Speaker 1: No no, no, no no no no where they said
Speaker 1: no where they said no. But we met Papa and
Speaker 1: now my sisters. I hate, I hate them all to
Speaker 1: hear you, to hear you has blood on his hands. I, Mama,
Speaker 1: it can't be true. No, whether said, I'm sorry, my more.
Speaker 1: The telegram had omitted Mommy's name on purpose, trying to
Speaker 1: avoid any scandal. So the in suing hours were filled
Speaker 1: with anxiety, sadness, and growing hopelessness to hey that they
Speaker 1: were made to jump through all sorts of bureaucratic hoops
Speaker 1: just to claim the bodies from the hospital. I didn't
Speaker 1: think that's your Finally they came home, resting their best club,
Speaker 1: both living and the dead. I love her, I loved,
Speaker 1: I love lovell s your ma. You're rest in peace,
Speaker 1: my dear sister. Oh the Monument of Lagumere where it
Speaker 1: all happened. Wow. Look, I know it's hard for you,
Speaker 1: but I am so glad you brought me. Oh there's
Speaker 1: text here on this plaque. M h FIVOPO M no
Speaker 1: where against Saba amarm alive forever she who knows love
Speaker 1: will never die. A seems more here they are still
Speaker 1: always able to renew the desire for freedom of the
Speaker 1: Dominican people. A vigil was held the following day. Hardly
Speaker 1: a word was spoken there, but he threw. He and
Speaker 1: his agents thought they had extinguished the Meal Sisters. I
Speaker 1: they were wrong. They had ignited a flame, and he
Speaker 1: burned everywhere meeting you did people stand up for them.
Speaker 1: Finally there came what I call the way of the
Speaker 1: Cross for them Medabo Sisters, where the civilians would send
Speaker 1: coded messages and formed telephone chains. The group bigger and
Speaker 1: bigger by the day, using their underground name. Of course,
Speaker 1: let my epos the butterflies the butterflies forever, and they
Speaker 1: kiss and how to the middle of our sisters don't
Speaker 1: live the middle of our sisters. As the middle sisters,
Speaker 1: the butterflies are still with us. Good morning, It's April
Speaker 1: Fit team. In today's news, American diplomat Robert Murphy is
Speaker 1: paying a visit to our handed Alisibo. Welcome Murphy. Wow,
Speaker 1: beautiful hotel. Then every reason do you enjoy poker? I've
Speaker 1: had some luck. That's because you haven't played against me.
Speaker 1: We have to change that before you hard Welcome to
Speaker 1: the Presidential suite. I only invite my most steam guests,
Speaker 1: consider yourself one of them. Thank you, Generalismo. More run
Speaker 1: Murphy please. Grassy is premium high quality runs straight from
Speaker 1: the distillery of some marquis. Mm hmm, wow, wow, very smooth.
Speaker 1: You know there are great distilleries in America too. Maybe
Speaker 1: it's time for you to experience what the United States
Speaker 1: has to offer. I enjoy America very much, but I'll
Speaker 1: never abund to my country. Mr Murphy, with all due respect,
Speaker 1: word on the foreign press hasn't been favorable, especially after
Speaker 1: the death of the Mirrabelle sisters. President Kennedy doesn't support
Speaker 1: domestic terrorism in his country or anyone else's. Who does
Speaker 1: he think he is? Huh, mother, that is just keep
Speaker 1: fighting your own wars and let me focus on running
Speaker 1: my own country. General Reasmo, this is not up for debate.
Speaker 1: Our offer is fair. You can live a peaceful and
Speaker 1: prosperous life in the US with your fine horses and cars.
Speaker 1: Perhaps visit Europe during the summer. I'm not living on
Speaker 1: anyone's hand out. It's not a handout. It's the only
Speaker 1: way of working towards a more peaceful transition of power.
Speaker 1: The opposition is getting stronger, and you know it so
Speaker 1: strong in fact, that it seems you've driven more people
Speaker 1: toward communism than away from it. We've asked you to
Speaker 1: step down to ensure political stability and to stop the
Speaker 1: threat of a potential revolution. Things are only going to
Speaker 1: get more challenging for you and your family if you
Speaker 1: choose to stay here. I am not leaving my country.
Speaker 1: Even if Kennedy himself were to come with machine guns
Speaker 1: in the atomic bomb. The keys understand. So now how
Speaker 1: about the rhinod poker? And with pressures mounting, the tyrants
Speaker 1: resorted to what he knew best, repression. Snfica com their
Speaker 1: soldiers are out there again. Al we don't know. Take Manolito,
Speaker 1: me in your clean and hide them rappido rapid when
Speaker 1: I Donna chair Camello, my deepest condolences. May have a
Speaker 1: minute with you alone. No, my mother isn't talking to
Speaker 1: anyone without me. Tell us what you want or leave
Speaker 1: us two mourn. Unfortunately I cannot do that. The sister's
Speaker 1: death is causing disruption. Listen to me, Your leader caused
Speaker 1: the disruption. Heaven needs you to sign this letter, Chail,
Speaker 1: Can I see it? It is to dispel any rumors.
Speaker 1: Mammy yummy. Many have speculated, including the foreign press, about
Speaker 1: the deaths of my three daughters. I wish to make
Speaker 1: clear that this sass situation was the result of a
Speaker 1: terrible accident in the mountains of Puerto Plata. They will say,
Speaker 1: I'm well to locals. What in God's name you know
Speaker 1: what happened. You all know what happened, and you want
Speaker 1: my mother to lie for that man? Please, I am
Speaker 1: just the messenger. They were brutally killed on the orders
Speaker 1: of that devil, your devil, and the car accident was staged.
Speaker 1: This isn't speculations. Is the truth, Combs, and you and
Speaker 1: I both know that everyone knows that. Everyone knows that.
Speaker 1: And now I tell you what if she doesn't sign
Speaker 1: what well? And I can't guarantee that your family will
Speaker 1: be safe? Don't a chair? That is the only daughter
Speaker 1: you have left. What does it matter if you sign on?
Speaker 1: Everyone already knows it was not an accident. Give that
Speaker 1: letter to me, Mama. No, don't sign there's all and don't,
Speaker 1: says Perra Draki. You are not welcoming this house, understood.
Speaker 1: I mean I had to do this for you and
Speaker 1: my grandchildren. There are my responsibility now, and if anything
Speaker 1: were to happen to them, I would never forgive myself.
Speaker 1: Nonka news, why are you going conservively? That was one
Speaker 1: of the toughest things Mama Chia had to do, me Enia,
Speaker 1: but it is probably why I am still here to
Speaker 1: tell their stories. But still with rumor circulating and the
Speaker 1: foreign press hounding to hit you, the story was late
Speaker 1: reaching the most important people in the sisters lives. Bobby
Speaker 1: Leandrew had been transferred once again to La Sin. There
Speaker 1: they were reunited Conto. Soon after their arrival, the Captain
Speaker 1: of National Police, Miguel delba Albais, had a gift delivered
Speaker 1: Mr Dovas. We don't normally share newspapers with political prisoners,
Speaker 1: but we thought you might want to read this. Three
Speaker 1: sisters and their driver die following a cheap accident. What
Speaker 1: the jeep driver in the middle of our sisters, who
Speaker 1: were traveling as passengers died on Friday night when they're
Speaker 1: jeep plunge into an abyss. Oh God, that's what this
Speaker 1: government does to the rats. That their challenge are handad
Speaker 1: alissimo and this doesn't end here. Watch your backs never Oh,
Speaker 1: okay day. Welcome to our old home museum EDNA. Ready
Speaker 1: to go inside. Yes. Sisters of the Underground is a
Speaker 1: production of School of Humans in conjunction with I Heeart
Speaker 1: Medias Michael Dura Network and Unbelievable Entertainment, with co executive
Speaker 1: producers Eva Longoria and Dania Ramirez, showrunner and director Jose
Speaker 1: Maria Cabra. The series was written by Jose Maria Cabral
Speaker 1: and Mary Castellanos, Story by Dania Ramirez and Ma Lead
Speaker 1: producer and story editor Julia Chrisco Associate producer and first
Speaker 1: A d Andrew Harmon, Production manager Daisy Church, script supervisor
Speaker 1: Sarah Montague, Recording engineer Clay Hillenburg, post production supervisor Jeremy
Speaker 1: Gilbertson at Tune Welders in Atlanta. Sound design, mixing and
Speaker 1: mastering by Harper W. Harris, Assembly editing by Leah Marie Puffenberger.
Speaker 1: Jason Shannon composed our score, music editor Spenser Willis, Music
Speaker 1: licensing by Sergio Marte, Lorenzo Louts at Pixinc. Music and
Speaker 1: Natalie Brady at Texture Music Marketing, and designed by Jasmine
Speaker 1: Mahia and Claudia Marti Corena. Our Incredible cast includes Dania
Speaker 1: Ramirez as Mino Cavaris Miraval, our narrator, Judy Reyes as
Speaker 1: Minerva Miraval, Jane Santos as Miraval, selinzt Ribio as de Miraval,
Speaker 1: Cha Lin Taule as Maria Tresa Miraval Acariendo as Patria Miravan,
Speaker 1: Serio Carlo as Manolo Tavaris, and the radio announcer Hemki
Speaker 1: Malera as Trujillo, Ector Anniva as Johnny Albas, Gabriela Stein
Speaker 1: as Avela. Additional cast includes Juan Dia, Alex Lynn Ward,
Speaker 1: Jacqueline Calderon, Vido, Michael Urivez, Silvio Martinez, Ryan Padija, Darius
Speaker 1: de la Cruz, Marco par and Daniel Luhan. Additional executive
Speaker 1: producers include Jose Maria Cabra, Mary Castellianos Gessel Bances, Virginia Prescott, L. C. Crowley,
Speaker 1: and Brandon Bark. Special thanks to Doug Bohm and Abu
Speaker 1: so far At I Heart Media Special thanks to Mino
Speaker 1: Tavares Miraba, daughter of Minerva and Manolo, who is a
Speaker 1: politician and activist in the Dominican Republic. She also published
Speaker 1: the book of letters that we quote throughout the series.
Speaker 1: It's called Manana Escribo Travis. Check out our show notes
Speaker 1: for more details. If you enjoy the podcast, help us
Speaker 1: get the word out by leaving a review on iTunes
Speaker 1: or wherever you listen to podcasts. It really helps. Thanks
Speaker 1: School of Humans,