The Violet Seller

Soledad, a street violets seller and a novice singer, meets Fernando at the door of the Apolo Theatre in Madrid on 31 December 1899. They are immediately drawn to each other despite their different social worlds, and they fall in love at first sight. This chance encounter marks the beginning of a passionate, forbidden romance.

Fernando faces heavy pressure from his older brother, Duke Don Alfonso, who insists on his duties and his engagement to Countess Doña Magdalena. Alfonso's interference brings a public scandal as Fernando moves Soledad into a luxurious apartment and announces their engagement. The aristocratic social order fights back against their union.

To defend Fernando's honor, Alfonso duels and dies. The tragedy shakes Fernando's sense of duty and intensifies the social fallout surrounding his relationship with Soledad. The loss deepens the rift between personal desire and family obligation.

Now in line to be a Duke, Fernando feels the weight of Alfonso's death and obeys what he believes his brother would want by breaking up with Soledad. The public separation marks a painful turn in both their lives. The romance is cast into the shadows of social expectation.

Only hours later, Fernando realizes he cannot live without Soledad and returns to the apartment she has just left to go to Paris with Henri Garnal. His renewed longing challenges the boundaries of duty and love. The path to happiness seems briefly within reach before new obstacles arise.

In Paris, Soledad becomes a famous singer, supported by Garnal, a prominent French theatrical producer who is impressed when he first sees her perform. Her talent blossoms on the European stage, widening the gap between her and Fernando's world. The new city, new fame, and new collaborations redefine her life.

Fernando marries Magdalena and is appointed ambassador to Brazil, leaving Spain behind. Soledad continues to tour Europe, performing in top venues with Garnal. Their separate paths reflect the enduring costs of their early romance.

During Soledad's Madrid debut, she and Fernando meet again. He tries to explain what happened, confesses his love, and asks her to leave with him. She confesses her love in return but ultimately refuses, choosing her own path and their respective commitments.

Soledad travels to the United States for a Broadway debut, where she survives a serious illness. Meanwhile, Garnal dies in the sinking of the RMS Titanic, a tragedy that casts a long shadow over her career and life.

After the Titanic disaster, Soledad loses her singing voice and, penniless, struggles to find work in Paris. The brilliant star of Europe faces a long, difficult downturn that tests her resilience. Her later struggles compound the heartbreak of her earlier choices.

Nearly ten years after becoming a widower, Fernando returns to Madrid on New Year's Eve and is appointed to be a minister in the government. His return marks a new chapter in a life shaped by public service and personal longing. The stage is set for one more, fateful reunion.

Fernando finds Soledad at Salón Bolero, attempting a modest comeback by lip-synching 'La Violetera' to an old recording for an audience. Her face shows a mix of nostalgia and determination as she confronts the possibility of returning to the stage. The moment underscores how far they have come and how much they still long to be together.

Despite a shaky start, she regains her song when the orchestra begins, and she sings in tune. They share a hopeful hug and kiss as the hall erupts in New Year celebration, a symbol of their renewed bond and the promise of a future together. The scene closes the long arc of their romance with a defiant, celebratory note.