Synopsis

Texas, present day – Laurentino is 75 and very ill. His son Mark serenades him on guitar. Mark’s daughter Diana asks about Laurentino’s Mexican-born son, Rafael, who has been estranged from Laurentino for decades. Laurentino wakes, but in his delirium mistakes Mark for Rafael. Mark continues to play the guitar while Laurentino remembers the last time he heard this song: his wedding to Renata in Mexico 50 years ago. 

Flashing back to that day, the newlyweds Renata and Laurentino enter to great celebration with their friends Lupita and Chucho (En fragiles alas / On fragile wings). They dream together of their future (A cincuenta años de ahora/50 years from now). 

Present-day Laurentino wakes from this beautiful dream crying out for Renata. Diana remains with Laurentino while Mark attempts to make contact with Rafael. Diana comforts Laurentino, joined by the ghost of Renata. They both promise to be with him until the very end (Siempre estoy aquí/I’m always here). 

Back in Mexico, 50 years ago, Chucho, Laurentino’s friend, convinces him to travel to the United States with him for work, promising him a better paycheck and a better life for him and his family (Diez veces más / Ten times more). Renata is not pleased with Laurentino’s decision to leave Mexico. Laurentino promises to return regularly. 

In the present, Mark and Diana contemplate Laurentino’s health. Separately, Mark and Rafael agonize over what making contact with each other could mean (Números / Numbers). 

The scene returns 43 years in the past as Lupita remarks how beautiful Renata’s new house is, but Renata confides her anguish over Laurentino’s absence (Un pueblo sin hombres / A town without men). Renata engages Victor to smuggle her and young Rafael across the border into the U.S. While they embark on the perilous journey across the desert, Laurentino and Chucho talk about how much they miss their families (Norte y sur / North and south). On their desert journey, Renata struggles to keep moving, revealing that she is pregnant. She eventually collapses while clutching Rafael. Victor tears Rafael from his dead mother and flees back to Mexico with the boy. 

Laurentino learns of the tragedy through Lupita, who tells him Rafael is traumatized and needs time to recover. Laurentino asks where Renata is buried, but she cannot bring herself to tell him the truth. Laurentino continues his search while Lupita voices her longing for Chucho’s reassurance (Di mi nombre / Say my name). 

Present-day Laurentino watches the butterflies outside his window. He tells Diana the story of their miraculous journey and his fascination with them as a boy (Cruzar la cara de la luna / To cross the face of the moon). She promises to help bring him back to Mexico after he dies. 

Eighteen years after Renata’s death, Laurentino finally locates his son. But filled with his own anguish and rage with his father’s decision to leave Mexico, Rafael refuses to acknowledge Laurentino as his father. Laurentino persists, observing that Rafael has Renata’s eyes (Los ojos de tu madre / Your mother’s eyes). 

In the present, Rafael, contemplating his decision to reunite with his father and his new family, falls into a dream where his mother appears. Together they dance, and Renata urges him to forgive Laurentino (¿Quieres bailar? / Want to dance?). Rafael reunites with Laurentino and introduces his daughter, Renata. She assures Laurentino of her love for him (El padre de mi padre / My father’s father). Reconciled with his family and at peace, Laurentino dies. As Diana promised, the family buries Laurentino in Mexico as the monarch butterflies descend to welcome him home (Mi hogar / My home).