Caray, Caray!

We open to Juan and Enrique in the study with Nidia, Enrique insisting that Samuel was like a father to him (and crosses himself with a may-he-rest-in-peace appeal to the ceiling). Nidia asks Juan if he knows how many years she was married, and he, astute judge of women, asks, “really young, right?” She tells him, “a kid, a youngster when I had those girls!” (chiquilla) She checks with Enrique about what he’s thinking to do with her daughter. He assures her he adores Yadira. Nidia tells him he better figure out how to convince her to marry him. She lists all of Yadira’s great qualities, including rolling in dough soon (va a quedar bañada en oro—gonna be bathing/swimming in gold) my best guess, help me here anyone) and if he doesn’t get on the stick he’s going to be left with nothing! Enrique swallows and asks for her hand. Nidia says “she’s all yours!” She urges him to get Yadira convinced and off to his house, but there better be a wedding first.

Juan attempts to interrupt, but Nidia cuts him off and informs him that she and he have things to talk about very soon; she has great plans for him. (Yeah. Right. One can only imagine, gentle readers, what Nidia plans to discuss. On the other hand, perhaps it’s best not to imagine. She’s a little out of her weight class, IMO. Still, if presented with Juan, who’s to say I wouldn’t want to fight out of my weight class….or age class….Okay, I retract my initial take on this). Nidia has a terrible headache, so she swishes off to rest.

The boys break out beers, which Sylvia noted last night were so conveniently available all over the study, it seems. Juan is impactado when Enrique wishes him good health, “father-in-law.”

In Ana’s home, she is showing Paula a cherished photo album. She caresses the cover and sadly (but fondly) tells Paula that in this book are the lovely memories of her life. There is a young Samuel and Ana on the day of Paula’s birth, in the hospital with Ana holding the little bundle. “I have never seen him so content. That day, he told me that he wanted to marry me.” But, that was also when Nidia told him she was expecting. So, he stayed with Nidia. She showed Paula the photo of her 8th birthday, “precious.” They turn to a lovely sunset. It’s a photo of a trip to Paris. Paula is surprised. She didn’t know. “Why haven’t you told me?” Her mother replies that her whole life has been a secret, a sad secret. According to Paula’s father, they were on a “honeymoon.” It was lovely and romantic; they had left Paula with an aunt. That was during the best time of her life. The next photo was “when the problems began.” It’s a photo of Paula as a teen with her mother. Paula remembers. There is graduation; Paula didn’t know but her father was there in the crowd to see her get a diploma.

Paula wonders how her mother could have done this. Ana responds that no one knows what a woman can do for love. She had given up her youth, her life, so she would not lose the man she loved. She accepted humiliation, made sacrifices, but is not sorry because it was an honest love and a great love. It was greater than the judgment and gossip people spread. No one knows what it’s like to spend the nights alone, to always be “the other woman.” Paula tells her mother that she really doesn’t understand this form of love. Her mother says it is because she’s never been in love. Paula retorts that she will never, ever in the name of love let a man treat her badly. Her mother understands, but when love comes, it comes and it’s something over which we have no control. Paula can only shake her head disbelievingly.

[Ed. Note from the commercial break: I love that ground fountain Juan dances around during the breaks. Our town just re-opened a fountain that had been closed for several years and renovated so it’s not really even the one that was originally there a hundred years. It’s just in the same place with the same pipes feeding it, and this new one has that water coming up randomly from the ground in one area like Juan’s does. The kids in town ADORE it. Juan is just a big kid at heart. Back to our irregularly scheduled program.]

The next morning, back at Cachón Industries, Ana is packing her things to leave. She’s resigned. Her colleague is trying to talk her out of it. For Ana, it’s just not worth it to stay now. Her colleague tells her this is really all hers; she deserves it. She helped Samuel get this business up and running. The sleazy lawyer (Perafán) lets himself in (no one knocks at Cachón Industries, it seems….). He wants to know where Ana is going, but Ah! He understands how difficult it is now. “With this sudden death, you and Paula are unprotected.” (Did anyone else hear the old boy salivate?) The colleague leaves, and Ana (sharp cookie!) asks if he could be a little clearer? Well, legally speaking, Paula should have the same rights as her half-sisters. Ana is no fool and knows that Nidia is capable of doing anything to get what she wants. Perafán assures her that Samuel wrote his will set in stone and nothing can change it. He can’t tell her right now what the exact terms are, but the time will come. (If I were her, my radar would be up and running when he called me by the familiar “Anita” instead of something a little more appropriate. Looks like she actually has that radar engaged, however. Good girl!) She’s going to fight for her daughter’s well-being (bienestar). “Oh, sure, that’s her right! Excuse me….” With a little touch that I, as a school administrator, would be investigating under our new harassment policy….

Back at la Casa Cachón, they’re waiting for Nidia, as usual. Marely is making excuses. Perafán is disgusted with women (who are always late, implied? This man is itching for a harassment suit. That’s two potential harassment incidents in less than two minutes; I’m counting). Nidia makes her grand entrance of the morning, excusing herself on the pretext du jour (she was WHAT? Stretching (desperezada)? Someone who knows, please help here. She’s ALWAYS stretching as long as it pushes out her chest. Qué the heck kind of excuse is this for an important family meeting?).

Perafán assures her that under the circumstances the last thing you want is visitors…..anyway, it’s urgent. Nidia takes her place in front of the fireplace and breathes deeply, so her tight top flexes properly with plenty of forward thrust. So, it’s about my late husband? (DUH. Ya think?) Perafán thinks they’d best do it with only family and Nidia assures him the family is HERE. Juan winks at Enrique. They’re in like Flynn.

Perafán “doesn’t know how to start.” Marely, always the pragmatist, tells him the beginning would be good. He stutters and stumbles. Basically, he tells them, it’s not good news. Juan thought bubbles that this doesn’t look like it’s going to have a happy ending. He’s not enthralled with this lawyer. Good thinking, Juan. Another point for an astute assessment of character. Now if you can only use your powers on Nidia. Nidia tells Perafán to quit beating around the bush and get to the point (pun not intended, but if you like it, we’ll say it was a pun). She says nothing could be worse than her husband’s death.

Perafán tells her that Samuel apparently was planning his death for some time. As terrible as it sounds, he spent the last six months getting rid of everything, absolutely everything….it’s a long list, starting with the company. Nidia is excited at how considerate he was to liquidate it all for her. So much easier! (Good thing she wasn’t running the company). They won’t have to worry about running the company and all. So, how much did he leave each of us? NADA! Qué the heck???? NADA???? So, whom did he leave it to? The BAREFOOT CARMELITES! Lucky nuns!

Nidia is impactada. She falls against the fireplace behind her. Juan has a reallllly goofy grin. What’s up with that? Has he got gas from all the beer laying around the house? Cut to commercial, with a shot of Perafán sitting down next to Nidia at the mall and putting her hand around her shoulder lasciviously while she sneers at him.

Back to Juan, we get a transition shot of Nidia hoisting up her chest. Seems to me she just needs to go for a bra fitting and get a good one. She seems to spend a lot of time doing that.

In the living room, she’s hoisting again, and breathing deeply. Maybe hoisting her chest helps her think better. “Are you making fun of me, Licenciado?” (WhatEVER would make you think that, Nidia?) Perafán assures her he is not (he’d better work fast, if he wants to spend quality time with her.) Yadira is panicky. Perafán acknowledges that Samuel did leave them something. It’s the house, and what they need for the girls to finish their studies. Enrique butts in, “nothing more?” Nidia is furious, but Marely says it makes her happy. Yadira wonders if this makes them poor. Perafán says, practically speaking, yeah. Yadira whines about their father killing himself AND leaving them without anything. Nidia can’t believe her dear departed did this to her and she’s working up to a mimisqui. Ooops, same time slot, wrong novela. She swoons into Juan’s arms. How convenient he was right there, Johnny on the spot, to help. Mild chaos ensues and Perafán wants all to remain calm so they can think. Marely thinks Papa would be happy with this. She accuses her sister and mama of always abusing Papi. Money is all that’s important. She’s thinking Pops did the right thing. Nidia accuses her of being as crazy as her papa. Marely would rather compare to Daddy than to her mother and sister.

Juan, holding tightly to Nidia, thought bubbles how much he admires Marely when she’s righteously indignant and her eyes are flashing (poetic license here). My little rose garden (interesting name for Marely) has given these others a lesson in dignity….and I’d follow her to the ends of the earth. Meanwhile, Nidia is rubbing against Juan and looks like Meg Ryan in the scene in the restaurant in “When Harry Met Sally” where Sally shows Harry how easy it is to fake it. You know what I mean. ;-)

Nidia swoons across the room to grab a bottle of her favorite nectar. She brandishes the bottle; she’s going to kill herself (honey, given how much we saw you drink last night, it’s going to take a lot more than what’s in that little old thing to do it).

Ana comes staggering into her house with the awkward box of belongings from the office and Paula runs to help. “What, did they fire you?” “No, I resigned.” “Why?” Ana needs to rest and look for other work. She just doesn’t want to stay there. Paula will go back to the United States and keep studying. Paula replies that no way is she leaving her mother alone! But, her mother points out, she has a life there. No, it’s not a life she loves and she’ll always be an outsider. She assures her mother that her future is by her mother’s side, with as much love and pleasure in her face and voice as any mother could ever want to see (contrast this with the Casa Cachón!).

Speaking of the contrast of Casa Cachón, Nidia is still brandishing her bottle, threatening to kill herself. The rest are trying to calm her and talk her out of it. Life is SO unfair! Juan begins to move across the room in slow mo, and Nidia breaks the bottle on a ledge behind her. Given her proclivity for booze, she’s obviously serious, because that bottle was full. Juan begs her to put the bottle down.

She won’t because she’s planning to pursue this maldito de Samuel to h*** and make sure he gets what’s coming to him for leaving her nothing (geez, I just noticed what talons this chick has! Good thing she didn’t have to type for a living or anything). Yadira begs her not to cut her wrists. Enrique, always on the ball, breaks in and advises her that it’s better to go for the jugular. The others look at him and hiss. “Well, I’m just saying….” He shrugs.

Juan continues his slow mo across the room, thought bubbling that he has to calm her. He reminds her of her children, her grandchildren. WRONG, Juan. She’s too young to ever have grandchildren (hoisting). He backpedals. Okay, you’re a successful woman, beautiful, a monument of humanity. RIGHT, Juan! Nidia is smiling now and hoisting. She calls him a little treasure, Johnny, tan divino (hold on, there, Nidia. That phrase is exclusive to Don Fernando, and Juan’s not so little, either). He just talks so pretty she’s going to have to set down the bottle. But only for that reason. Big grins and some more humbug talk. But, it gets the job down. We see Juan smiling broadly, proud of himself, and fade downward to a belt buckle shot of him (okay it was a bit lower but I AM a schoolmarm, after all).

In the dark yard, the muchachos are talking. Enrique is worried about the muchachas. They are used to really fine things, lots of wealth, living like queens (that’s more like princesses, if you ask me). What can he do now? He hasn’t said a word to Yadira yet. Meanwhile inside, Nidia is assuring Yadira that Enrique has already asked for her hand and her future is secure. This is not exactly welcome news for Yadira, who still thinks like a princess. In fact, she’d rather die of hunger. Yadira thinks that instead of organizing her life, Nidia should be thinking about their situation. Nidia has. She’s going to break the will. It’s a lot of money for barefoot nuns.

Perafán is back the next morning, and Nidia is yelling that he messed with her mind. Samuel didn’t leave the money to the nuns at all. He’s trying to tap dance around it. Nope, Samuel didn’t leave the money to the nuns. He invented that story because the real one is too complicated. He finally tells her, after considerable beating around the bush, that Samuel left it all to Paula. This time, the swoon is for real.

Paula is in the office of a greasy old man. She’s applying for a job, but he gives her a look-over that makes her grab her résumé back and run.

And I apologize, all, but my darn DVR didn’t get the ending tonight when the program went a few minutes over! If anyone else had the foresight to add a few minutes to the recording, help!!

Vocabulario

Chiquilla – a kid, a youngster (girl)

Suegro- father-in-law

bienestar- well-being, contentment

Jeanne

Labels: Juan