01x13 - The Faith of Chata

[bunniefuu]

[waves crashing]

[music]

Letter to Loretta.

Starring Loretta Young.

Miss Loretta Young

[clapping]

Hello.

Have you ever been to Mexico?

Oh, my, it's a beautiful country.

Everything aboutit is beautiful.

It's color, it'smountains, its villages,

it's seacoast. Butalmost of all, it's people.

The warm and friendly and vital.

We spent our honeymoon there.

And so it's just possiblethat I maybe slightly biased.

Do you recall the night wesat in a patio of your hotel

and listened to the storyof a little girl named Chata?

Chata is Spanish for a pugnose.

Her real name wasInez, if you remember

And do you rememberhow deeply impressed

we were with thestory of Chata?

And at the same timehow puzzled we were?

Well, I think that theenclosed newspaper clipping.

which I found bychance in this morning's

paper may explainaway our puzzle.

Don't you agree?

Yes, I most certainly do agree.

And I think you will too.

But first, of course, you haveto know the story of Chata.

Chata was a littlenine year old girl.

She lived in a smallhouse with her mother.

A dancer, whomeveryone called Paula.

Now, if the father tothis little family lived,

no one in the village hadever heard Paula mention it

She earned her living and her childby dancing in the local cantina.

[music]

[clapping and cheering]

Will you tell me Señor.

If you keep your shop openfor me. The statue, is she ready?

Señor. I told my daughtershe will have it tonight.

And tomorrow thesun will also arrive.

Well, not for Jota. if she doesnot get her statue of the sun isn't.

Señor.

I have promised her.

Is it ready?

Oh, Señor, she's beautiful.

It is too good for a child.

Oh, no, no, not for a Chata.

This is no play toy for her.

This is her patron's name,since she loves her very.

Do you have the money?

Si Señor, si.

They're right here.

[putting down coins]

, , -,.

And that this is all.

Oh, it's the most beautifulstatue in the whole world.

Yes.

Is it truly mine? My very own mama.

Yeah Chata dear, your very own.

Now, have you decidedwhere you're going to put her?

-Si.-Oh, where?

In the niche by your bed?

Oh, no, not there.

No.

-Where then?-Come, I will show you.

Oh.

Come here.

See, I'll get in theflowers in a little grotto.

But Chata wewould have to build it

[music]

Yes.

You're keepingsomething from me.

You have alreadybuilt the grotto, right?

Si, Momacita, I was sure thatthis would be my saint day present.

I see.

Well, where is he?

Everything looks the same.

But it is here. I made it to peacein the Bronx. I found him a quarry.

You did? Little tips.

Mamacita, Close youreyes. I will surprise you with it.

They're closed.

[music]

You ready?

Now you may look.

[music]

Chata.

Oh, Chata.

Not good enough for something?

No, no. It'sbeautiful. Beautiful.

Oh, I'm glad. Mamacita.I have been so worried.

Worried?

Si, mamacita. I worried twice

Once I worried that youwould not get me the statue.

Then I worried that her homemadegrotto was not good enough.

Oh, Chata.

Homemade thingsare not always made

with the finest oftools and material.

But always they arecreated with love.

It is the best way.

Sometimes I feel that you'reexactly like saint Mary.

Oh, god.

[music]

[lightning sound]

Oh, no, not under the light.

Chata, Chata stop it.

This is sensitive.

Now you have been told.

Not to fear. It's a trendingnoise telling us of the rain for

our farms. Now you know I'vetold you this a hundred times.

Well, you have told me times.

Be careful when I run.Yes. Do I trip and fall,

mamacita, just notto catch cold. Yet I do.

Don't worry, come. Time for bed.

Even if he stay in a bend.

[music]

[door closing]

Let me not be afraidof the noise in the sky.

Let me not thinkof it. Let me just

pray and think onlyof my love for him.

Let me be close to youas I am to your statue.

[lightning sound]

Good clouds.

Chata, time to get up..

School bell doesnot wait for sleepy heads.

Si, mamacita.

What is it?

I do not feel very well.

I think I have a cold.

Oh, Chata you have a fever.Quickly, get under the cover.

Dear.

You went out in the rain last night?

See, Mamacita. I didnot want saint Ignez

to get weton the first night.

And I was afraid of the thunder.

Why didn't you climbinto bed with me?

How could you be so fool, Chata.

Chata.

You are sick.

I will be all right, Mamacita.

Of course you will.

And the doctor? He is atthe school today. I will get him

And do not get out of bedfor anything. I will be back.

Mamacita.-Si?

Did you put saintIgnez back in the grotto?

When I get back.

[music]

Oh, please.

You are the patronsaints of my little

Put your deed there,

you will look after her, would you?

[door opening]

Señor Doctor.

She'll be all right.This is just the cold?

This is pneumonia.

Señora.

She's asleep now. Do not disturb.

She will be all right? Youwill give her something?

I have already.

This medicine from thebecause people that make.

In an hour I willgive her some more.

Doctor, I cannot pay younow, but I promise I...

That is not important.

When you can.

When you can.

Yes.

-You can do everything.-Of course.

I will take her to the big hospitalas you say. I should do this

Señora.

She's a very sick child.

We cannot move her.The hospital is too far away.

We must wait, we Hope.

And pray.

Till the doctor you will see here.

You would go to the church?

Si.

Go, then. I wouldstay with your child.

[music]

[door opening]

[music]

[speaking in spanish]

Father it's Chata.

She is sick with pneumonia.

Is doctor is present?

Padre, she went out in thepatio on the rain to shelter

her statue of SaintIgnez and she got wet.

Padre, She's all I have.

She's such a good child.

Why, parde why.

There are some things, Paula,that are very hard to bear.

Yet we must, andwith courage and faith.

We cannot always know the reasonfor these things. But God does.

And we know hispurpose is always good.

Si parde.

I will try to remember this.

I shall return with you, Señor.

Chata is a veryspecial friend of mine.

Oh, parde you are good.

Let us pray together.

[music]

There's nothing more I can do.

We must await the crisis.

She can hear me, then?

Yes, but do notmake her speak father.

Chata.

I have seen the grottoyou have built for this

statue to honor saintIgnez, it is beautiful.

Your heavenly paternalsmust be very proud of you.

Very happy that your momplaced you under a special care.

She will be most happy,I think. Chatita. If you

pray with her, let Godmake you well again.

Please Padre.

[music]

Mamacita.

Mamacita.

[music]

Señorita.

Breakfast in bed for Señorita.

Chata.

[Speaks in spanish]

What is it?

Nothing mamacita.

Oh, it's good.

I feel boring.

Nothing can hurt me anymore.

No.

I'm going to bewith saint Ignez and have

Chata, no.

No. You are going to get the well.

Doctor, he said so. He said so.

I'm going to be with SaintIgnez in heaven soon.

Forever.

Chata.

[music]

-She is no better?-No, Señora.

I feel she will get worse.

I have seen deliriumin his many forms.

Never like this.

No, Doctor, Chata is not delirious.

Do you think Santa Ignezhas asked her to join her?

Perhaps not.

Perhaps she just thinks she has.

Which again is delirious.

But I will not argue a pointwhile the child's life slips away.

No.

I will ask the father to come out.

Maybe he can convince Chata thatshe is misinterpreting

-Saint Ignez.-Si, si, doctor.

I will be back by night.

[music]

Señor.

Padre was here?

Si.

for hours.

He spoke of faith.

Her faith in saint Ignez?

No.

Our faith in God.

He's not, he says not eventhe smallest fruit can fall without

God's knowing.

You have need ofsuch comfort, Señora.

God knows all our needs.

Padre says.

He says that we do thefirst danger of each fruits.

God gives us the other then

It's God's way of measuring.

Padre says.

Does she talk much?

Si.

Say that soon shewill be with Saint Ignez.

She says that she will look like,

me.

A kind of me.

But you won't beable to dance as good.

Come aside quickly.I have an idea

Doctor?

Señora.

At this point there isnothing more I can do.

Nor you nor the Padre. Am I right?

-Si-if this is so.

Then who can help us.

Our lord.

And who is best toask our Lord this favor.

-Saint Ignez?-Exactly? Saint Ignez

Or someone posing as a Saint Ignez.

I do not understand.

It is this simple.

Tonight you pose as Saint Ignez.

Appear to Chata. Explain toher that she misunderstood

you. That she can bewith you without die.

Convince her of this.

No. It would not beright to pose as a saint.

Would it be right,

Is it right,

to let a beautiful child die?

No.

Then do as I say. Get awhite robe, pose as a saint.

But with my face she would know.

To her, Ignez hasthe same face. Did she

not tell you this?Moreover, it will be night.

Do as I say, Señor.There is no other chance.

To pose as a saint.

Have the thought of Chata now?

Later tonight, you mustappear as Saint Ignez

I think it will work, Señor.

I'm sure.

I am of the world.

I know these things.

[music]

You all right?

Doctor, she was on two minute ago.

She's like one bornagain. She is well

so it seems

But to make sure, wewill listen to my little teller.

Oh, of course.

You will excuse us, Señor.This is only a two way line.

Señorita.

[Music]

Chata.

You are % improve.

Soon you will be up and outsideand playing and picking flowers.

and pray for Saint Ignez.

That's what she said last night.

Who?

Saint Ignez, she visitedwith me. Oh, it was wonderful.

-Doctor-Here, Saint Ignez?

What did she say?

She said there was no need for meto go to heaven to be at her side.

She said Chata, you're atmy side in grotto, in school,

in church, and you workin the field everywhere.

So long as you love God,so long as you serve him.

This is the best way to love me.Your mama, and all his creatures.

You loved yourself.

And then she talkedabout the grotto.

She liked it very much,even though I made it.

She told me otherthings that I'm to do.

I'm going to beginas soon as I am well.

And that will be any day.

Now, you rest and I will be backto visit you again in a few days.

[music]

Señora.

Doctor, she will be well?

In less than a week.

Ah.

Señora, It is amazing.

She remembers every detail ofthe visit of Saint Ignez last night.

She told me what wassaid almost word for word.

You did a fine job, Señora.

Posing as Ignez saint.

This was a wise thing.

Señora.

What is it?

Doctor.

Want to see thePadre after you left.

He said it would not be rightfor me to pose as Saint Ignez.

I did not pose.

I couldn't.

It would have been wrong.

What?

I did not pose.

[Bell rings]

[music]

Yes, I know. That's just theway we felt when we heard it.

And now for the newspaperclipping, which is dated

years after the storyof Chata took place.

Fifteen orphaned childrenon their way to a picnic.

Narrowly missed death todaywhen the bus they were riding in

collided with the truck,overturned and caught fire.

The quick and heroic actionsof a young woman in charge of

the group is credited withsaving the lives for the children.

The young woman, togetherwith the driver of the bus,

removed the children throughwindows and an emergency door.

The young woman's fullname was not Ascertained,

but the childrenreferred to her as Chata.

The Mexican nickname for pugnos.

years. That's a long timeto wait for an answer, isn't it?

Or is it? If youlook at it this way.

Though the mills of God grind slowlyyet they grind exceedingly small.

Though with patience hestands waiting with exactness

grinds thee all.

I believe that's, Mr. Longfellow.

And I believe I believe him.

Well, good night. See you next week.

[clapping]

Listen, Loretta young again nextweek, same time, same station.

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