Caray, Caray!

Folks, I didn’t remember seeing any one who said she/he could sub tonight, so here’s a quick and dirty recap. Am leaving for Hawaii in the morning and have more packing to do. Melinama graciously will sub for the following two weeks, THANKS! Everyone be sure to fill in the blanks here! I apologize for not translating a lot of the dialogue between Juan and Enrique tonight.

We open to Nidia asking Alirio if she’s done something rude to merit his rudeness on the phone (from yesterday). He denies it and calls her Nidicita of his soul. He’s at her orders, “Just now, or at any hour of the day or night?”

And here’s Juan, still in Pastor’s office, working hard to get the car for the evening. He’s told Pastor he’s working on a surprise for him. Which means Juan better come up with something good. Will Pastor cave on this? Nope, he’s not an idiot. He’s going make Juan SUCH a deal. And Juan will have some requirements. Juan has the good sense to be nervous. Juan thought bubbles about what he’s going to do, what is he going to lose if he goes along. He leans over to shake hands with Pastor, still nervously thought-bubbling and smiling. He leaves, with Pastor very satisfied for now.

Juan enters the lobby, still thought bubbling. He’s not one to throw in the towel. He’s remembering that CL congratulated Juan’s interest in a woman [Ed Note: Juan, muchacho, CL might just figure out that the mujer who interests you is Paula, and then all bets are off]. Juan considers if CL’s comments before mean that CL might overrule Pastor. No harm in playing. He flirts with Ivonne. He tells her she needs a bit of rest. She asks about problems with Pastor. No, nothing that the jefe can’t help with. She calls CL and in Juan goes.

CL understands, but the rules are clear. The car spends the night HERE. He sadly says he understands, but asks CL if he could tell the truth? It would be best. Juan tells him about this young lady he spoke about previously, and if he can do this, it will change his life. CL is chortling about Juan’s enthusiasm and “honesty,” and he tells Juan that Juan sits well with him, so take the car. But, CL cautions him – whatever happens with the car, it’s going to be his responsibility. Juan leans over the desk, shakes the boss’s hand, and thanks him. CL says he doesn’t need thanks, it’s a gentlemen’s agreement. When CL needs Juan’s help, he’ll expect it unconditionally. Juan agrees. But, there’s one more thing. (Another bother). “One more thing?” Yep, how about if Fernando takes YOUR car? CL is impactado.

At the bank teller’s window, Alirio tells himself he’s becoming rich. But, he’d best keep up the present appearance.

In her room, Nidia-patra is making herself up. She’s got the Egyptian queen’s headgear, and a bright red outfit. She mutters about the sacrifices she’s having to make for you, Juanito.

In the underbelly of Farell Industries, Juan (sans jacket) is leaning on Fern, and both are sitting on the hood of one of the exec’s cars. He tells Fern that Pastor is in the minors and he’s now batting in the major leagues. Fern’s not so sure. He only knows what Juan tells him (implicit that it may have some flaws….). From now on, Juan tells him, CL can ask me whatever he wants, because I sold myself to him (raffled off myself). Fern is pessimistic, but Juan gets up and reminds him about tonight’s fun, demonstrating by singing the theme song and dancing. Fern actually laughs. Paula approaches behind Juan, which may be why Fern’s laughing. He asks if Juan knows this little gal well (chava—“chaval” is a lad, so this is a guess, folks). Paula is standing, smiling about Juan’s enthusiasm, and listening. Juan notices Fern pointing, and looks, then gets very serious as he greets Paula. He throws some parting directives over his shoulder at Fern about tonight’s great feast at 8:00, and you know the address. He opens the door for Paula.

Nidia-patra and Alirio are drinking at a bar (in her home?), one on each side of it. He wants to know why she urgently summoned him from his office. Is a reason really necessary? Let’s talk about life, love. He smiles back smarmily. He listens to her and reminds her that up till now, she was not interested in him, just talking about the money. She backpedals a little. Well, even though she was Samuel’s wife for so many years, she doesn’t want to be interred with him. Alirio leans over and caresses her cheek with his finger. Wise words! She flirts with him about what he might win today. They can dance, drink a few glasses. But, she’s sad. She wants to celebrate life. That’s his philosophy, too, he says. She offers a toast, and tequila or another beer. They flirt some more, with the bar still between then.

Paula is in the back seat. She wonders why he’s so quiet; it makes the trip seem an eternity. He thought bubbles that he’s giving her the cold shoulder, and now his little love sees the gain in talking. He gets a little grin. He turns around to look at her and says he’s just thinking. About what? Oh, yes, she says, the party tonight. She hasn’t danced in a long time. She smiles (Sylvia thinks it’s in her contract. I think Sylvia’s spot on.) He thought bubbles about how lovely she is, and he says aloud that she’s young, lovely, and should be conquering all the guys. She doesn’t think so. He thought bubbles some more about her while he runs around to open her door. Too late, she’s out, and on her way into her house. She thanks him; he tells her to rest and thought bubbles about her while he kisses the muscles first on one forearm, then the other. If one wasn’t paying close attention, it’d appear he was sniffing to see if he needed deodorant.

Enrique runs in to the Casa Cachón garden, calling to Yadira. Has she been waiting long for him? HOURS! He was in traffic. He shows her the day’s profits, it was worth it. She fusses at him. He wants to take her out, but she’s not going out with him today. Why not? Well, she had to wait too long. He is indignant that he was out working hard and she doesn’t want to go out? She yells again and flounces into the house. He’s first irritated, then deflated. He ought to use Juan’s techniques (be careful, muchacho!).

Paula is talking with her mama in the kitchen. She tells her mama to be patient. She’s talking about the problems that Pastor has with Juan using the car. She’s sure it’s just jealousy (Pastor’s). Paula shares the office chisme with her mother about Juan and Pastor, and Ana is impactada. Then, there is also Fernando in all this. Ana decides this is Too Much Info. And, it’s dangerous to have this person as an enemy. Paula tells her about the weekend trip. Ana asks if everyone at the office is going to the training? Nope, just CL and me. Now Ana is REALLY impactada, and worried. Paula looks at Ana over her shoulder; she has the good sense to realize this might bother mama.

Juan and Kike are in a garden with a fountain, where Kike fills his bucket, towel over shoulder. He’s filling Juan in on his problems with Yadira; nothing is enough to satisfy the woman. Juan says you’ve shown her you care, you’ve been honest, right? Yes, but she just shows me how much she hates me. Kike begins to wash down his microbus. He complains about her treatment, because he’s acting appropriately. He tells about how much he really loves her, each day it’s more. But he doesn’t understand this now. Like today, he worked himself like a mule to get the cash so they could go out, and she was like a crazy woman. Juan attempts to comfort him. He has a plan. He doesn’t abandon those who have fallen. Enrique chuckles a little.

Paula and Ana continue making dinner together and talking about the weekend to come. Paula tells her that before she accepted, she told him not to get any ideas about her. Ana is now replying in monosyllables, lips pursed. Paula wants her mother not to be upset, and Ana replies she hasn’t said anything. Technically, this is true. But, she’s spoken volumes. Ana wants to know why she’s going to so much trouble to explain. Well, so you won’t worry, Paula tells her. Ana explains why she’s not thrilled with this, and CL is not too trustworthy. Paula says he’s told her about what’s up with him. Ana asks, “and you believed him?” Paula says yes! It’s just a meeting! Her mother repeats the details. A weekend, alone, he’s married. She’s a bit afraid for Paula. The exchange some hot words because Ana is worried for her and Paula says she won’t commit the same mistake that Ana committed with her father. Ana looks offended. She takes off her apron, leaves the table, and goes up the stairs. Paula sighs.

It’s dark and Kike, in the microbus, is leaving Juan at the Casa Cachón. Marely walks up to Juan, smiling and looking very lovely in an off-white top and dark micro-falda. Juan is impactado and greets her. She greets him. She’s off to buy make-up and he says she needs none. He thought bubbles about how beautiful his little rose garden is. He asks about the friend she’s bringing, he doubts that Fern will be late. Does he know her friend? Perhaps…..I don’t know…..she coyly says, smiling, could be! He doesn’t like the mystery; is she bringing some nun? She laughs. No, she’s really good looking. Not like you, Marely. You couldn’t have a duplicate in the universe. She blushes and walks away.

Juan stands in the driveway thought bubbling about his lovely Marely, ah, and his lovely little boots, under her bed…….at dawn…..

Nidia-patra, with her hands on Alirio’s shoulders, tells him not to be such a flirt [Ed. Note: FLIRT? Nah, he’s got her pinned against the fireplace and she has to shove him off. That’s no flirt there]. She greets her daughter—saved by the belle. Marely wants to know what’s up. Nidia-patra and Alirio twitch around to regain their composure (such as it may be at any time). Juan follows Marely in. Nidia-patra says that Alirio makes her laugh with his things. He tries to talk and Nidia puts her hand over his mouth. She says they’re in such a good humor they’re going out drinking. He agrees with her. Yadira makes a grand entrance, a vision in sparkly white coming down the curved staircase, talking about Juan and his friend. Juan realizes she’s the “friend” Marely’s bringing. Yadi invites Alirio and Mama, Juan jumps in to say “NO!” He thinks quickly. Fern is so serious. Yadi insists. They’ll go! Juan is impactado.

Ana is knitting in her room. Paula wants to know if she is coming downstairs. No, Ana says, she is not hungry. Paula feels badly and tries to apologize. Why? There is no need, Ana says. But, Paula loves her mother most of anyone in the world. She doesn’t want to judge her mother, she has no right. Her mother only cares that Paula thinks about all this. Paula felt attacked and tried to defend herself, stupidly, she tells her mama. Ana says she was no example to follow. Paula doesn’t want to hear that. Ana tells Paula that she’s totally aware of her mistakes, but all that she did with Paula’s papa she did for love. Paula says she knows. But, Ana says, that’s not to say it was what she really wanted, and she doesn’t want history to repeat. She doesn’t want Paula to suffer. Don’t do this!

In Buenos Aires, Monica gets a phone call. It’s CL. He wants to know if she’s upset with him. She wonders if she has reasons to be. Yes, he says. She says she shouldn’t have called, it was her fault. He says no, but right now he has a humungous problem at work. He won’t sleep until he has asked her pardon. Being like this with her is the worst thing he could do. [Ed. Note: he sounds almost believable]. She’ll forgive him, silly thing. He’s happy again. He can sleep and wishes it was with him. He hangs up, smiling, and Ivonne from behind him [under the covers] asks how he can lie like that with no remorse. He says, it’s easy, it’s not a lie, he loves her. He adores her. Ivonne is really sorry for his poor wife. She knows all the stories he’s told her. He blathers on. He wonders why Ivonne is still with him. She says she’s looking for the good in him. He tells her that when everyone finds his or her place in the world, it’ll be better for all. But he tells Ivonne that she doesn’t want to understand. He’s going to sleep at home, but she can stay if she wants. Ivonne is a bit offended.

Monica is still at her desk in the hotel room in Buenos Aires. She calls home, and asks Chelito, the housekeeper (who was in bed), if she can speak with CL. He’s not home yet! Monica is surprised and disappointed. She asks Chelito to let him know she called. She looks upset as she hangs up.

Enrique is driving a group of guys in his microbus. It’s some mariachis he’s brought to serenade Yadira. He tells them to be quiet while he scopes out the terrain. Outside Casa Cachón, Fern is leaning against the boss’s car, waiting. Out come Yadira, all gussied up, and the rest. She and Nidia-patra are impactada at CL’s car. Marely has a fetching red dress with a handkerchief hem, Yadi has sparklies in her hair, which is now a shade of purple, and Nidia-patra still has her slinky red outfit with the Egyptian headgear and make-up on. Yadi admires Fernando. He seems a bit wary, but they all greet each other. Enrique peers through the fronds of a short palm tree at this scene as we go to commercial.

Juan makes introductions. Yadi is practically swooning. Fernando guides her to his car, his hand around her waist. Enrique looks muy impactado. We see the scene from between Enrique’s palm leaves. Fernando helps her into the car. Enrique nearly pokes himself with the point of the palm. Juan and the others get into Paula’s car. Juan says “follow me” to Fernando. “Let’s go!” They’re off. Enrique runs to the bus and the guys want to know what’s up? He ignores them and starts the bus. He’s going to follow! The guys don’t want any problems.

CL is home now. He gets himself a drink. Chelito comes to tell him Monica called. This late? Yes, a half hour. What did you tell her? That you weren’t here. He sighs. Busted.

Outside a fancy club in a hotel, Yadi is wiggling her okole with the music, barely able to walk on her super high silver heels. They go in. Enrique arrives with the mariachis in the bus. He goes in. The disco ball is revolving, the music beating. Yadi gives Fern her purse, and takes off her jacket. He smiles! She loves the place, and wants them all to sit over there! She leads the way. All follow. Nidia-patra does a turn in front of Fern, and Alirio does a little turn with her. Nidia-patra hoists for him and asks him what he’s into? He’d rather she tell him about herself. Juan breaks in and extols Fernando’s great exec job. She asks another question, Juan answers more about the food business. Fern is reluctantly agreeing to what Juan says. Nidia-patra does a little revolving dance and asks more questions. What’s the name of the company? Lara and Brothers (Fernando’s last name is Lara). Fernando is looking distinctly uncomfortable. Alirio wants to know if he hasn’t seen Fernando before? His face is familiar. [Ed. Note: The Garage, Alirio. Think of the Garage.] Juan breaks in again. If he didn’t know Fern before, he knows him tonight! They all smile, Alirio shakes Fern’s hand. Fern kisses Nidia’s. Juan ushers them all to a table. He wants a toast! Juan thought bubbles that the less Alirio knows, the better. The three couples sit inside chatting while Enrique is trying desperately to get the gatekeeper to let him in, and the mariachi guys are right behind him. If the guy doesn’t let him in, he’ll get all the microbuses to leave him flat. He begs, he yells, the mariachi leader tries to get him to calm down. Enrique will not be swayed. He’ll pay them for their time. He begs again.

Paula is not sleeping well. She dreams of herself in a lovely white evening gown, walking toward CL who is admiring her. He puts his hand on her waist and twirls her in a dance, then kisses her deeply. Oops, it’s JUAN! Paula stands back, impactada! Juan smiles so beautifully. Paula looks again and it’s CL she’s holding her hands out to….then there is just vapor. She sits upright in bed, impactada and awake.

Back at the disco, the “couples” chat, but Juan grabs Marely and takes her to the dance floor. He tells her he want to be honest, she didn’t really need to know Fern, this was his strategy. She looks wary. She thinks she may have been wrong about him again. He smiles, then the theme song begins. He looks up, impactado and pleased. They dance. Juan really cuts a rug and Marely loosens up a whoooole lot. Everyone watches. {Ed. Note: aside from his being twice her size, they look cute together]. Nidia-patra makes a comment to Alirio about Juan, and Yadira asks Fern if he doesn’t dance. He says not much. He never learned and no one had patience to teach him. She looks fondly at him. Poor thing. She takes him out to teach him. Cachi, Cachi BomBon plays over and over.

OHMIGOSH! Here’s Ivonne, in a lovely floral evening dress, seeing Fernando dancing with Yadi and Juan with Marely. She’s not thrilled.

Poor Enrique is still trying to get in He makes ugly remarks about the doorman. The mariachis strike up a tune at Enrique’s command. The doorman ignores. Inside, the music comes to an end; Fern is pleased and Yadi is thrilled. They leave the floor. Ivonne accosts them: Fernando, what a miracle, it’s you! He asks her how he is. Well, she says, not as well as you, but here we are. She tells Yadi “mucho gusto” even though they haven’t been introduced, and gives her name. “Hola, Yadira” is the reply. Yadi clings to Fern and both have lovely catty smiles. They eye each other. Yadi touches Fern’s cheek and says she’ll wait for him at the table, don’t be long. Nope, he’ll be there in a minute. He and Ivonne exchange slightly catty chitchat. She tells him he’s under his weight class with this one (Yadi) and looks over her shoulder at Yadi. He asks her who told her that he was interested in good girls? [Good thing Yadi et al. are out of earshot now]. So why are you interested? She makes another couple of snide remarks and he says he has nothing to hide. She says she sees this is a “plan of chauffeurs” and asks if they talk about mechanics. He just glares at her and walks away. Ivonne touches her fingers to the bridge of her nose and looks slightly upset. She takes a deep breath.

As she abruptly leaves, Enrique’s mariachis are still playing at the entrance and the doorman is still ignoring them. Ivonne hesitates; it’s raining. A doorman puts an umbrella over her head and walks her out as Enrique stands with his hands on his hips, glaring.

Back inside, Juan and Marely finish dancing. Juan is positively ebullient. Alirio, three sheets or more to the wind, tells him what moves! You move like a fish in the water! Juan responds and Alirio asks where he learned all this? He learned it from a little boy. It’s in his blood and soul. He had good teachers, too, his aunts. [And whew, that shirt is open to the waist, ladies…..] He tells about these little steps they taught him. They chat (well, not Alirio, he slurs) about cachi, cachi bombon. Alirio wants the aunts to give him lessons. They drink to it. Marely tells Juan that the last dance enchanted her. She leans on his shoulder and he leans into her as they clink glasses. He thought bubbles about his Marely putting her delicate chamois-like hand around his robust sword….etc….. [Ed. Note: Whew. Too steamy for a schoolmarm to be translating!] Nidia-patra is apparently reading his mind. She gets downright ugly, giving him a look that will, for sure, kill. Soon. She grabs Alirio’s tie and drags him to her. Marely smiles up at Juan, clearly naïve about his plans for her delicate chamois-like hand on his sturdy (robust) sword [Ed. Note: I SWEAR that’s what it said!]

Enrique is now trying to sneak in the back way with the mariachis. He’s one determined dude.

On the dance floor, Juan is still thought bubbling with Marely looking fondly at him. But he is concentrating on Yadira flirting with Fern, who seems to be happy with the situation. Fern and Yadi are talking about Ivonne showing up, and he’s sorry about it. She admits she’s a tad jealous even though she barely knows him. He smiles, too—she doesn’t have to be jealous. Yadira asks who she is. She’s an acquaintance. Yadi presses. They were sweethearts. They ended badly. Did he care much about her? Yes. Why’d they break up? She had some grand ideas [Ed. Note: Yep, Cesár Luis}. Yadi thinks she was a fool. He’s interesting, etc. She strokes his lapels and smiles.

Back in the back room, the mariachis are filing in, walking in the beat of the music. Yadira asks Fern if he still feels something for her? He denies it. He says he’s beginning to feel something for another woman and she drives him crazy. Yadi flirts like crazy. Who could it be? He says he’ll tell her the secret, and stage whispers in her ear, she’s called Yadira. [Ed. Note: trouble coming, folks.]. She giggles and they kiss! Juan and Marely watch from across the room, impactados!!! [Ed. Note: me, too.]

Enrique and the boys are climbing stairs to the disco. Juan and Marely, Alirio and Nidia-patra, are fascinated watching this amazing kiss between Yadira and Fern. Whew. We learn yet again that any comparison to reality is pure coincidence.

See you in three weeks, everyone!

Jeanne

Labels: Juan