Plot Overview
The Mirabal sisters: Patria, Dede, Minerva, and Maria Teresa, first admired their president Rafael Trujillo, unaware of the awful deeds he had done. But when Patria, Minerva, and Maria Teresa go to the school Immaculada Concepcion, they learn the harsh reality of the world and of Trujillo. Minerva is the first sister to learn of Trujillo’s secrets from her friend Sinita, leading Minerva to become disgusted and to no longer view Trujillo as a hero. Minerva also learned how horrible Trujillo could be when her idol and classmate Lina Lovaton was taken in by Trujillo as a girlfriend even though he has a wife. From this experience, Minerva quickly grows very daring and outspoken against the government. She is the sister to initiate a change in the other sisters’ belief in Trujillo. Maria Teresa, the youngest sibling, is very naive and thought of Trujillo dearly, but she also admired Minerva, who tried to dispel Maria Teresa’s admirations towards Trujillo. Patria, the oldest sister, naturally is very religious, but Minerva’s words against Trujillo begin to shift Patria’s deep faith. Then Patria carries a still baby, which truly destroyed her faith, but once she goes onto a pilgrimage, her spirit is restored.
After Minerva learns the secrets of Trujillo, she realizes that she wants changes to be made to how the government is run. Minerva also finds out that Trujillo is not the only man with secrets. She finds out that her father was having an affair with another woman and that he has four other daughters with this woman. Minerva’s compassionate side is shown when she helps enroll these four other daughters in school and shares her inheritance with them. Later, when Minerva meets a man named Virgilio Morales, or Lio for short, she learns of the anti-government movement. Lio shows Minerva how to fight back and speak against the government. Lio quickly gets in trouble for his outspoken behavior and has to go into asylum. However, Lio’s disappearance does not have any effect on Minerva’s fight against the government and she continues to persist in her efforts. Minerva’s blatant dislike for the government not only attracts the attention of the people, but also the attention of Trujillo. Due to this newfound interest in Minerva, Trujillo invites the Mirabals to a party. This party is the first sign of trouble for Minerva and her family. Instead of showing support of their leader, the Mirabals offend Trujillo when Mineva slaps him and they leave the party early. Leaving a party before Trujillo is illegal in the country, so their early departure results in the government taking Papa in for questioning. After weeks of Papa being in captivity, Mama and Minerva get a meeting with Trujillo and earn Papa back his freedom.
As more people begin to learn the truth about Trujillo and his corrupt ways, they too want to join the underground movement against his reign. Patria and Maria Teresa soon join Minerva in the fight against their dictator, earning the three of them their notorious names of Las Mariposas, or the Butterflies. Patria’s son Nelson and Patria’s, Maria Teresa’s, and Minerva’s husbands, Pedrito, Leandro, and Manolo are also all a part of the revolution. However, Dede and her husband, Jaimito refused to be a part of the revolution because of the risk and potential consequences. If someone is caught being a part of the underground movement, he or she could be either taken in for questioning, put in prison, or executed. Slowly, the revolutionary efforts begin to take up the girls’ lives. Maria Teresa even states that she has lost all interest in her classes and only attends them so she can keep her cover. In their free time, the girls are making sure they have enough ammunition or they are making homemade bombs. However, the bomb that the girls do not see is the one that is ticking down the seconds until the world as they know it comes crashing down.
Captain Pena arrives at the Mirabals sisters homes announcing that he must take Minerva, Pedrito, Nelson, Manolo and Maria Teresa to the prison because of their work in the underground movement. Patria, and Mama are distraught and are worried about what will happen to their family in prison. Patria and Dede are left to take care of all the kids. The prison is a depressing place. Maria Teresa feels like she has disappeared and is upset with the lack of beauty in the prison. In prison the girls send letters to Patria and Dede informing them about what is happening and how they are doing. Trujillo soon releases all women and children. However, when Minerva and Maria Teresa are pardoned to leave they refuse. Patria begs Captain Pena to release her son Nelson from prison. While in prison, Maria Teresa documents her time and experiences in her notebook that was smuggled in by a guard, Santiclo. In prison the girls are under close watch by the guards. Minerva, Maria Teresa, and other inmates get occasionally interrogated about the work that they did while in the underground movement. Each day Minerva holds a “little school” for all the girls in their cell. Everyday a different prisoner has a breakdown. Maria Teresa especially struggles with living in prison. She is starting to lose her courage and is upset that her little girl is growing up without her. Finally they are informed that they are going to be released. Surprisingly, the girls are upset to leave because the girls in prison have formed a tight bond and can not imagine being without each other.
Despite Dede’s advice for the sisters not to travel all together, Minerva, Maria Theresa, and Patria make their way to La VIctoria to visit their husbands. But on the way there they stop by the SIM, like they always do. While they are there, they are told that their husbands have been moved to Puerto Plata, which is closer to the Mirabals home. As they are driving it begins to pour, but Rufino wants to continue driving, because he does not want to stop. On their way to Puerta Plata they stop at El gallo to get sewing supplies and purses. The store clerk recognizes the girls and slips a note into Minerva’s purse. The card reads “Avoid the pass.” But, Minerva doesn't read the note until it is too late. They are already passed La Cumbre when the see Captain Pena’s car. Luckily, the girls make it to Puerta Plata with no trouble and they get to see Manolo and Leonardo. After a nice visit the sisters get ready to leave, but, both Manolo and Leonardo request for them to not drive back tonight saying there are many rumors going around.But, the girls continue on the journey, not knowing what was going to happen.Dede and her mother get a telegram saying that there has been an accident and they need to come down to the hospital in Santiago. They are both hopeful that nothing serious has happened and they are just injured. On their way to the hospital they get a call confirming that the girls and Rufino are dead. They go to pick up the bodies and slowly drive them to the morgue. Later on a trial occurs accusing Trujillo’s men of murder. They explain their story and admit to killing the Mirabal sisters. They say that they murdered the sisters and Rufino by strangling them. After they were dead, the men placed them back in their Jeep and pushed it over the edge of the mountain. The men get a long sentence in jail but are soon released because of the revolution. Manolo, Leandro, and Pedrito are released as well. And finally Trujillo is assassinated. Coming back to the present, 1994, Minou tells Dede that she should no longer answer questions from reporters or interviewers, but that she should write the story of what happened herself.
After Minerva learns the secrets of Trujillo, she realizes that she wants changes to be made to how the government is run. Minerva also finds out that Trujillo is not the only man with secrets. She finds out that her father was having an affair with another woman and that he has four other daughters with this woman. Minerva’s compassionate side is shown when she helps enroll these four other daughters in school and shares her inheritance with them. Later, when Minerva meets a man named Virgilio Morales, or Lio for short, she learns of the anti-government movement. Lio shows Minerva how to fight back and speak against the government. Lio quickly gets in trouble for his outspoken behavior and has to go into asylum. However, Lio’s disappearance does not have any effect on Minerva’s fight against the government and she continues to persist in her efforts. Minerva’s blatant dislike for the government not only attracts the attention of the people, but also the attention of Trujillo. Due to this newfound interest in Minerva, Trujillo invites the Mirabals to a party. This party is the first sign of trouble for Minerva and her family. Instead of showing support of their leader, the Mirabals offend Trujillo when Mineva slaps him and they leave the party early. Leaving a party before Trujillo is illegal in the country, so their early departure results in the government taking Papa in for questioning. After weeks of Papa being in captivity, Mama and Minerva get a meeting with Trujillo and earn Papa back his freedom.
As more people begin to learn the truth about Trujillo and his corrupt ways, they too want to join the underground movement against his reign. Patria and Maria Teresa soon join Minerva in the fight against their dictator, earning the three of them their notorious names of Las Mariposas, or the Butterflies. Patria’s son Nelson and Patria’s, Maria Teresa’s, and Minerva’s husbands, Pedrito, Leandro, and Manolo are also all a part of the revolution. However, Dede and her husband, Jaimito refused to be a part of the revolution because of the risk and potential consequences. If someone is caught being a part of the underground movement, he or she could be either taken in for questioning, put in prison, or executed. Slowly, the revolutionary efforts begin to take up the girls’ lives. Maria Teresa even states that she has lost all interest in her classes and only attends them so she can keep her cover. In their free time, the girls are making sure they have enough ammunition or they are making homemade bombs. However, the bomb that the girls do not see is the one that is ticking down the seconds until the world as they know it comes crashing down.
Captain Pena arrives at the Mirabals sisters homes announcing that he must take Minerva, Pedrito, Nelson, Manolo and Maria Teresa to the prison because of their work in the underground movement. Patria, and Mama are distraught and are worried about what will happen to their family in prison. Patria and Dede are left to take care of all the kids. The prison is a depressing place. Maria Teresa feels like she has disappeared and is upset with the lack of beauty in the prison. In prison the girls send letters to Patria and Dede informing them about what is happening and how they are doing. Trujillo soon releases all women and children. However, when Minerva and Maria Teresa are pardoned to leave they refuse. Patria begs Captain Pena to release her son Nelson from prison. While in prison, Maria Teresa documents her time and experiences in her notebook that was smuggled in by a guard, Santiclo. In prison the girls are under close watch by the guards. Minerva, Maria Teresa, and other inmates get occasionally interrogated about the work that they did while in the underground movement. Each day Minerva holds a “little school” for all the girls in their cell. Everyday a different prisoner has a breakdown. Maria Teresa especially struggles with living in prison. She is starting to lose her courage and is upset that her little girl is growing up without her. Finally they are informed that they are going to be released. Surprisingly, the girls are upset to leave because the girls in prison have formed a tight bond and can not imagine being without each other.
Despite Dede’s advice for the sisters not to travel all together, Minerva, Maria Theresa, and Patria make their way to La VIctoria to visit their husbands. But on the way there they stop by the SIM, like they always do. While they are there, they are told that their husbands have been moved to Puerto Plata, which is closer to the Mirabals home. As they are driving it begins to pour, but Rufino wants to continue driving, because he does not want to stop. On their way to Puerta Plata they stop at El gallo to get sewing supplies and purses. The store clerk recognizes the girls and slips a note into Minerva’s purse. The card reads “Avoid the pass.” But, Minerva doesn't read the note until it is too late. They are already passed La Cumbre when the see Captain Pena’s car. Luckily, the girls make it to Puerta Plata with no trouble and they get to see Manolo and Leonardo. After a nice visit the sisters get ready to leave, but, both Manolo and Leonardo request for them to not drive back tonight saying there are many rumors going around.But, the girls continue on the journey, not knowing what was going to happen.Dede and her mother get a telegram saying that there has been an accident and they need to come down to the hospital in Santiago. They are both hopeful that nothing serious has happened and they are just injured. On their way to the hospital they get a call confirming that the girls and Rufino are dead. They go to pick up the bodies and slowly drive them to the morgue. Later on a trial occurs accusing Trujillo’s men of murder. They explain their story and admit to killing the Mirabal sisters. They say that they murdered the sisters and Rufino by strangling them. After they were dead, the men placed them back in their Jeep and pushed it over the edge of the mountain. The men get a long sentence in jail but are soon released because of the revolution. Manolo, Leandro, and Pedrito are released as well. And finally Trujillo is assassinated. Coming back to the present, 1994, Minou tells Dede that she should no longer answer questions from reporters or interviewers, but that she should write the story of what happened herself.