Fuenteovejuna

At the Court of the Catholic Kings in Toledo, Ferdinand is discussing the battle at Ciudad Real with Don Manrique when a heavily-wounded Flores enters. He tells Ferdinand of the mutiny of the townspeople in Fuenteovejuna, claiming that their accusations were unproven, and that by the time they were finished with him, “the largest parts of him / That remained were his ears” (101). Ferdinand expresses shock and promises to send a magistrate to investigate and hold the guilty parties responsible.

In Fuenteovejuna, with the head of the Commander fixed on a pole, the townspeople take turns singing songs of celebration and praise to Ferdinand and Isabella. Esteban and Juan Rojo enter with a new coat-of-arms for the town, to celebrate the fact that their “dark times are almost over” and that “The sun is beginning to rise” (106).

Esteban points out that there will be an investigation and that they should plan ahead. He suggests that when they are interrogated, they

stick together!

And when the interrogator asks,

We speak these words and nothing else:

‘Fuente Ovejuna did it.’ (106)

They then take turns rehearsing to ensure they all have it right. At that point, Alonso comes to inform them that the judge is on his way.