Here's a rushed synopsis I penned last night. What do you think?
ACT ONE
Consuelo is a born again Christian with a past she wishes she could just erase and forget. She lives with her much younger husband, also a Christian. He's Richard. She's 38. He's 26. They married recently and it seems not to the approval of the congregation they frequent, but it isn't the case with his family. And they're in love. Consuelo works as a cleaning lady in the house of the Collins. She's been there for a month or so. Consuelo still struggles with habits from her past. She keeps herself from thinking too much about what was it that really attracted him to her because she doesn't want to be ungrateful or feel guilty for sayings "buts" to something God gave her, she believes. And that something is Richard, companionship. Something that she never thought she'd have. So she's off to work. At the Collins', the middle aged couple are mad at each other, as usual. After the wife, Dana, leaves, his husband, Dave, gets fresh with Consuelo. She keeps it to herself. About a week later, he rapes her. She keeps it a secret, which begins to eat her up inside. Later, about a month or so, Dave has a heart attack. Consuelo is there. She hesiates at first, but eventually gets help. He survives. She doesn't know whether to be happy or mad. She's kinda both. Dave eventually gets well, and after asking Consuelo, her pastors go to his place, pray for him...and he becomes a Christian. He decides to surrender to God.
ACT TWO Consuelo receives this with mixed feelings. Secretly, she's becoming more confused and angry. She neglects her husband, begins to turn inward, everyday more self-destructive and confused. Meanwhile, Dave gets well, physically and spiritually. He acts and seems different, more happier and not so defensive and prone to yelling. His wife notices. He wonders what has gotten into him. And Consuelo downward spirals steadily, questioning God and thinking He forsook her, her faith basically begins to crumble. Richard recognizes he hasn't been paying her the attention she needs. She says she's okay. She doesn't talk about the incident. Secretly, she's worse. She still works at the Collins. Dave tries not to see her or face her, and when he does he's evasive and tries not to look her in the face. She glares at him sometimes. And he tries to never stay along with her anymore. Consuelo tells her husband, Richard, about the rape. He doesn't quite grasp it at first. He doesn't know what to say. His reaction is kind of delayed, angered, even at Consuelo for not saying it earlier and reporting it to the police. They argue, but eventually calm down. He doesn't know what to think. The news start to get to Richard, too. He doesn't know what to do, how to approach it; Consuelo quits her job. Later, they go to a counseling session with their pastors, which was appointed to start before the rape. They don't say a thing. They found out Dave is also set to be counseled by the pastors. He's gonna be a regular member of the church. Claudia tells her husband they should go to another church. One Sunday they stay home. And then another, and another. The pastors try to talk to them about why the stopped going. They make excuses. They do go the next week. They see Dave is getting better, and they feel they're getting worse. Consuelo doesn't like it. She thinks it's not fair. Later at home, she indirectly tries to tell Richard they should do something about it: revenge. He doesn't agree. Later, she convinces him.
ACT THREE
Consuelo thinks they should rape Dave's daughter, that Richard should do it. He doesn't want to. They end up not agreeing after all and drop the whole plan. Consuelo makes a desperate attempt to reconnect with God. She fails. She doesn't let go of her hatred and resentment. She looks for another job. Later, they resume the counseling sessions with the pastors. Dave and his wife are present. Consuelo and Richard keep quiet. The pastors learn Consuelo quit her job with the Collins. Consuelo says she's tired of cleaning jobs. There are not further words exchanged. Consuelo and Richard leave. Seeing Dave so "happy", and considering his wife's situation, he decides it's best to carry on the plan. They're gonna kill Dave, maybe his wife, too. One Sunday in church, Richard waits for Dave, stabs him to death. He leaves with Consuelo. In their car, as they drive away, they realize there's no way back now. They're still confused. They just try to drive as far away as possible. Much later Richard's in prison; Consuelo is not. He looks messed up and old and weary. They're getting divorced. He doesn't wanna see her. He talks to her just to let her know how they've raped him in there. Consuelo has realized her erroneous ways and the hatred. She's repented, but the consequences remain. Consuelo only wishes she had forgiven Dave sooner, just like God forgave her of her blemished and sinful past.
