Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases
Revolutionary Victory
A revolutionary leader arrives in a town and defeats all the federales. His heroic deeds lead to a promised marriage.
Key Events
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Leader Enters Town — The revolutionary leader arrives in a town after leading his state's movement.
Location: Town
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Revolutionary Authority — His position as leader establishes his authority and heroic reputation.
Location: Town
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Federales Attacked — The revolutionary leader attacks the federal forces in the town.
Location: Town
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Federales Defeated — He kills all the federales, securing control of the town.
Location: Town
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Promised Marriage — As a reward for his heroic deeds, a girl has been promised to him.
Location: Town
Marriage And Promise
The leader cleans up, wins the girl's affection, and marries her. The apparent victory immediately gives way to an unexpected marital problem.
Key Events
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Hero Cleans Up — The victorious leader cleans himself up before entering married life.
Location: Town
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Affection Develops — The girl falls for him after seeing his transformed appearance.
Location: Town
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Wedding Takes Place — The revolutionary leader and the girl get married.
Location: Town
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Marriage Is Unconsummated — The newly married couple cannot consummate their marriage.
Location: Marriage setting
The Song Returns
The song El Quelite exposes the source of the leader's inhibition. It recalls his mother singing while bathing him and prevents consummation.
Key Events
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Song Begins Playing — The song El Quelite plays in the background during the marital difficulty.
Location: Marriage setting
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Bathing Memory Revealed — The song recalls the mother singing it while giving him a bath.
Location: Marriage setting
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Song Triggers Inhibition — Hearing the song repeatedly prevents him from becoming sexually aroused.
Location: Marriage setting
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First Failed Attempt — An attempt to consummate the marriage is thwarted when the song is heard.
Location: Marriage setting
An Unwanted Rival
The couple repeatedly struggles against the song's effect. An old man who wants the girl introduces an additional source of obstruction.
Key Events
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Repeated Marital Struggle — The couple continues struggling to overcome the song's psychological effect.
Location: Marriage setting
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Old Man Wants Girl — An old man desires the girl for himself.
Location: Town
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Outside Interference — The old man's desire becomes an additional obstacle to the marriage.
Location: Town
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Attempt To Overcome Song — The leader struggles to separate married intimacy from the remembered song.
Location: Marriage setting
The Consummation Struggle
The song and the old man's interference continue to thwart the couple. The closing conflict remains focused on the effort to complete the marriage.
Key Events
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Old Man Thwarts Couple — The old man thwarts the couple while they try to consummate the marriage.
Location: Marriage setting
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Final Consummation Struggle — The central struggle continues as the couple seeks to complete their marriage.
Location: Marriage setting
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Comic Marital Impasse — The story closes around the recurring conflict between marriage, memory, and the song.
Location: Marriage setting
