Caray, Caray!

As always, folks…..correct me if I’m wrong!

We find Nidia talking about true love to Enrique, a refresher from yesterday. She waxes eloquent about love, with a suggestion of hoisting just out of our range. [Ed. Note to the Directors: if she’s gotta hoist, this is a good way to do it and spare us]. True love has to be nourished, she says, if it’s going to succeed, and this is an appropriate moment for that to happen. She encourages him to go up to Yadi and get with the program. He says he’ll go see her, he thinks she might need a good friend and he’ll listen. Nidia is thrilled and pushes him off to the stairs.

Yadi is in her very orange room, almost in tears, moaning to Marely, who listens sympathetically. She tells her sister that Fernando was the real man of her life, the one she hoped for. Marely sweetly takes her sister’s hand and tells her that things aren’t always what they seem. [Ed. Note: mild understatement]. He might not be the guy you think he is. She tells her sister she might be enamored of an illusion that doesn’t exist. Is she sure that Fern is who she thinks? Yadi wonders why she says that. Enrique’s at the door asking if he could come in.

Marely runs downstairs to ask her mother if it was her idea to send Enrique up there. Nidia says it was. Marely doesn’t think it was such a great idea to get him mixed up in this. Nidia disagrees, but suddenly they are interrupted by Pastor greeting them as he walks in with an unhappy Juan trailing behind him. Pastor is enchanted to meet them, Nidia and Marely are impactadas, and Juan is resigned to his fate. The night is not going well for him……he thought bubbles a prayer for help. He gestures at Pastor in front of him, “he’s….he’s…” Pastor interrupts, “His friend Pastor.” Pastor grins at the ladies Cachón and gestures behind him at Juan, whose face is toward the floor with hands on his hips. [Ed. Note: this looks like a stance that says “d*** this is bad” but no one seems to notice how put out Juan is except us]. Pastor is at their service. Nidia offers him a little glass of something. Marely looks distinctly uncomfortable while Pastor turns and beams over his shoulder up at Juan, who is trying to make the best of it. [Ed. Note: nice try, Juanito, but no cigar. There’s no way to pull this one out, you can only hope that a sinkhole is going to appear and suck you into the earth.]

At Ana’s home, Paula and she are sitting down to dinner. They have resolved their recent fight and are chatting like always. Ana tells her that CL came. Paula wants to know what he said. Ana reports that he said he loves Paula. She’s trying to understand her daughter’s perspective. They talk about her decision to resign. Paula says it was because she met CL’s wife. She wasn’t what Paula expected at all. She thought the woman was older and ugly, but she is young and lovely. What’s more, she’s a business woman! When she saw the wife with CL, she wanted to die. Ana says, well, we’ll both be unemployed. Paula tells her mother that she changed her mind and will stay. Ana advises her that she’s going to need to be smart about it, because there will always be the ghost of the ex around. [Ed. Note: Hear, hear! Excellent point!] Paula thanks her for the change of attitude. Ana says that she trusts Paula and wants her to have everything that she desires. Paula is pleased; she has never been in love with anyone like she is with CL—he drives her crazy. [Ed. Note: if you only knew how crazy he’s gonna drive you in the next year, muchacha].

Enrique shifts on both feet uncomfortably in Yadi’s room, his very orange shirt blending beautifully with her very orange room. They can’t make eye contact. Yadi, still sitting on her bed holding a very orange pillow in front of her, wonders why he is so quiet. He tells her he doesn’t know what to say. She guesses they told him what has happened. Well, more or less. She asks how it could be more or less? Either they told him or not. Yes, he stammers, they told him. Well, exactly what did they tell him. Well, that she was doing badly so he came up to cheer her up. She smiles a little. He tells her he didn’t know what to say and her mother pushed him. Yadi smiles a bit and shakes her head. She tells him to relax, be serene. He doesn’t have to be there if he doesn’t want to be. He comes closer, telling her it’s hard for him, but he is always going to be there for her if she needs him. She smiles and gives a little laugh, looking grateful for his gracious offer.

Down in the living room, Nidia and Marely are sitting across from Pastor, who has planted himself so close to a very, very uncomfortable Juan on the long sofa that they’re almost touching. Juan is playing with his tie and not making any eye contact while Nidia and Pastor talk about how Pastor knew her deceased husband and the coincidence of Juan’s living with the Cachón family. Nidia eggs Pastor on with LOTS of questions and lets him talk. Marely gives a very polite, very tight smile and nods while Pastor remarks on her being CL’s goddaughter. Pastor babbles on about all the coincidences, touching Juan on his crossed legs every so often, marking his territory. Pastor says, “silly, why didn’t you tell me?” Juan rolls his eyes toward the wall and thought bubbles that it was for exactly this reason, and his reputation couldn’t get much lower. Nidia offers Pastor another little glass of something. No, he’d rather have a glass of water. Juan shoots up from the sofa and says he’ll get it; Pastor’s hand shoots out and grabs him back. “What an attentive man!” Nidia is enjoying the drama. Marely is getting concerned. [Ed. Note: Totally wierded out is a better term but schoolmarms don’t use it.] Pastor says Juan should stay in the chat and drags him back down to the sofa, babbling on about what an enchanting man Juan is. Nidia looks nauseated. Pastor touches Juan and Juan removes his hand, thought bubbling a fervent prayer to the Blessed Child of Atocha to send a meteor immediately. He is totally disgusted impactado.

Enrique tells Yadi that to be honest, seeing the woman he loves suffering on account of another man is horrible. [Ed. Note: You go, guy! Tell her like it is!] But, it’s preferable to not seeing her at all. She says it’s clear he must love her very much and thanks him. He affirms he does, more than she can imagine. She cries and tells him he should be looking for the woman he deserves. One who will love him. He tells her yes, but the heart is capricious. She reaches for his hand, and he sits with her on the bed. He hopes that sooner or later she will realize how he is the man of her life, and that lovely face will never have tears on it again. They will be the happiest people on earth. But, she tells him not to fool himself, she just cannot love him in return again. Both are nearly in tears. He tells her he’s not asking for anything now; he’s learned one thing in this life—patience. She tells him no, but Enrique says he’s waiting for a miracle. He smiles gently. [Ed. Note: Wow. Who’d a thunk Enrique had this in him?] Yadi leans up on her knees to give him a kiss; she takes his neck in her hand and kisses him….firmly on the forehead, and thanks him.

Nidia is still egging Pastor on, enjoying this spectacle enormously. Juan is still looking at the ceiling for the meteor he requested. The bell rings and Juan jumps up too fast for Pastor to grab him back. Nidia thanks him for going to the door, calling him “Papi Rico.” Pastor LOVES this nickname. [Ed. Note: let’s expect Pastor to use this in the most inconvenient places and times now.] Pastor flirts outrageously toward Juan and Juan thought bubbles angry thoughts at Pastor about what he’d like to do about this.

Juan opens the door. D***, here’s all they needed, Alirio, he thought bubbles. Now the gang’s all here. He welcomes Alirio. The go into the living room and exchange pleasantries. Alirio and Juan continue to stand—Juan has strategically placed Alirio closer to Pastor.

Enrique, prince of a guy that he is (and clearly in love with an undeserving wench), hugs her and Yadi moves away as he strokes her cheek. She tells him they need to leave it like this. Like how? Like this. She doesn’t want him to have illusions. He says he’s never giving up this illusion. He smiles encouragingly and their conversation is interrupted by laughter from downstairs.

Juan is back on the sofa, and what’s this? Is Pastor actually batting his eyes at Juan? Juan is trying to make himself as small as he can against the arm of the sofa. That’s a lost cause for a guy his size. Pastor is telling funny stories. Nidia says they love to laugh. Juan thought bubbles about what Pastor is trying to get from him. Nidia and Pastor laugh wildly, and Marely and Alirio are just taking this all in, looking unsure qué the heck to make of it.

Paula is leaving but Ana wants her to stay. Paula thanks her, but it’s best for her to go, she says. Ana wheedles, but Paula insists; her mother insists on taking her instead of Paula taking a taxi. Paula tells her mother she’s stupendous. Ana says Paula only needs to love her as she loves Paula. They smile lovingly at each other. Ana runs for her keys.

In the dining room of Casa Cachón, Nidia asks how Pastor enjoyed the meal. He tells her it was delicious and wonders if she cooked it. She tells him how much she loves to cook. [Sheesh]. He tells her his Mami cooks like this. They exchange small talk, with the other five just staring uncomfortably. Alirio chimes in that his Nidia is a wonderful cook, you know the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. Marely asks how Pastor decided to come to the house? Juan, sitting too close to Pastor for comfort, thought bubbles – he’s promising the Blessed child of Atocha that he’ll never tell another lie if Pastor doesn’t’ give him away. No such luck. Pastor looks at Juan fondly and says they’ll have to ask Juan, since Juan asked him. [Ed. Note: Boy, that’s a whopper if we ever heard one, Pastor. You bullied the living daylights out of the muchacho to get into that house.] Juan babbles rapidly then realizes that he’s busted himself as he says that he owed Pastor an invitation because Pastor had invited him to his own house and that was very special with him…..Juan thought bubbles to himself – qué the heck is he saying? Shut up, already! By now, only Nidia and Pastor are making eye contact….Pastor implies that they are very, very familiar now. Alirio asks about Juan at work. Pastor says he’s divine. [Ed. Note: laying it on a little thick, aren’t you, Pastor?] Enrique comments to Pastor about Juan, who gives him an ugly look. Pastor gushes about Juan. He doesn’t know what the business would do without Juan. Enrique is proud Juan is his friend, and Nidia says she always knew that Juan was a diamond in the rough. Pastor promises to polish him, and do it very well. Nidia is eating it up. Pastor proposes a toast for the man of the hour, who is fiddling with his collar—apparently it’s choking him. They toast Juan. He’s not pleased and looks at Pastor like “qué the heck? Let me be!”

CL is in his office at the steelhouse, dialing hotels one after another to find out if Paula is there. Okay, mis amigos, just how many hotels are there in the D. F.? Will he be dialing all night? Will Monica bust him? Enquiring minds want to know. He’s frustrated again and again. He watches the door nervously.

In the Cachón living room, the night is the longest of Juan’s life. [Ed. Note: Juan, muchacho, exactly why have you let Pastor weasel you into the tiny space next to him on the sofa again?] Nidia and Pastor are laughing like hyenas at some joke. Juan jumps up and tells Pastor it’s time to go. Nidia wants to know what’s the rush? [Ed. Note: We bet this is the most fun you’ve had in a long time, Nidia. We bet when you were a kid you thought it was fun to pull the wings off of flies, too. Poor Juan!] Juan makes excuses and tries to rush Pastor, who agrees, it’s time. But he’s so happy, happy! He tells them if Juan doesn’t come back home, they’ll know to send a rescue out. Nidia and Pastor giggle. Nidia bids him goodbye. It’s his house. Pastor tells them they’re all invited to his house some day. Nidia is titillated and accepts. Pastor begins to talk about details, and Juan YELLS “NO!” He’s had it up to his lovely neck. EVERYONE IS IMPACTADO. Juan babbles that Pastor is too busy, and Pastor is thrilled that Juan’s so concerned for him. He says goodbye to everyone….and Juan spins him and shoves him out the door. [Ed. Note: Juanito, you could have done that hours ago….]

Nidia wants to know if they’re thinking what she’s thinking. Enrique reminds them he told them, but they didn’t believe it. Alirio can’t believe what surprises life brings. The ladies Cachón are distressed and speechless.

Pastor thanks Juan before he goes into his house, outside the gate. Juan says he’s welcome. Pastor says he lives with lovely folks. [Pastor shakes his finger fondly at Juan, flirting to beat the band]. Juan assures him that Pastor was the life of the party. Pastor is thrilled and moves closer as he tells Juan they’ll see each other tomorrow in the office. He offers his cheek for a kiss, which puzzles Juan, who grabs his hand and pumps it hard. Pastor rubs his wounded hand and looks up at the window, suddenly realizing that Mami might be snooping. He glows with joy about his “date,” wiggles his fingers goodbye at the long-since departed Juan, and walks into the closed gate…..Pastor looks around and hurriedly opens the gate to go in.

Nidia is fussing at Alirio in her study, while he holds a check out at her. He assures her that he isn’t tricking her, this is a certified check. She tells him she’s a women of her word, so they’ll marry as he wishes. She flirts and puts the check into her cleavage. He wants a little kiss….she hoists her chest, gets up from her chair, coquettishly takes his face in her hands across the desk, and plants a big, red kiss on his forehead. [Ed. Note: Yadi must have learned it from her Mami]. There’s his kiss. It’s late, so time to go to bed. [Please Note: she doesn’t invite him up.] Alirio protests while he leaves.

CL has finally found the right hotel. She’s not there, though, and they don’t know when she’ll return. He’s satisfied for now.

The ladies Cachón are having a lively discussion about what just came down in their house. They’re astounded that they hadn’t realized about Juan. Is he or isn’t he? It seems pretty clear he IS. Nidia confesses she tried to get him interested, but he didn’t show any at all. [Ed. Note. Duh. You think this is because he’s GAY? Think again, honey.] Yadi confesses about trying to trap him, too. Nidia and Marely are so incensed they call her by her full name! Yadira de Pilar! She tells them how she had her sexiest PJs, and how she was on his bed when he came in….and nothing! He threw her out! Her mother is incensed now—this is a decent house! Well, nothing happened…..they turn to Marely……You, too??? Well, she hedges, it’s not what you think! She tells them what she saw between Juan and Pastor at work. Pastor seemed a little…..A LITTLE?? Yadi and Nidia look at each other. Marely continues to tell them what she saw. Pastor was jealous, Nidia and Yadi figure. Is there any doubt now? The ladies Cachón are all sad about Juan. They heave a collective sigh as the girls rest their heads on Mami’s shoulders.

We find Alirio and Enrique ambling away from the house in the yard, musing about the strange evening. Enrique tells him that Juan’s talked about having a girl here a girl there….(he’s puzzling this one out). Alirio asks if he’s noticed anything, seen anything concrete. Enrique says really, no, there was nothing. There was one time he was going to serenade someone from work (female), but Juan let him out of the car before he got there for the serenade. Alirio has it! It must not have been a female colleague, but a male! A little male! Enrique asks “do you think?” Alirio is sure, because there are some folks who don’t take the risk of coming out of the closet. They may look like womanizers….but……Alirio thinks that serenade was for Pastor. Enrique looks doubtful, then says “like the song says, life is full of surprises, and surprises give life.”

Juan is sitting on the side of his bed, in his boxer/jammies, tank undershirt, and boots. His head is bowed, hands clasped in front of him. He’s muttering thought bubbles to himself….these have not been among the best moments of his life. He’s had trouble with his little caramel-mouth, (his relationship with her got doused ), he’s given them a lot to talk about in this house, and they’re wondering what’s up with Pastor and him—As if that weren’t enough, Pastor can’t keep his little paws off Juan. [Ed. Note: tough to translate, but I think that’s the basic idea, folks]. He’s wondering why he came here from his hometown. Why? To complicate his existence? [Ed. Note: Okay, Juan is miserable….but check those muscles out!] He realizes that at times he is so thick! He hits himself on the forehead.

The ladies Cachón are enjoying a lovely breakfast together. Marely is surprised that Mami is up so early—she looks at the shower cap Mami is sporting. Nidia tells her that she’s trying a new hair treatment. Yadi wants to know what it is. It’s a cream with an extract of cacahuamilpa—Nidia stumbles over the word. She lets Marely peek under the cap. Marely looks doubtful and asks if it isn’t cacaguananche (??). Nidia says of course, that’s it! Juan comes in all cheerful, dressed for work in a suit and bright lime green shirt. [Ed. Note: watch Juan’s tie in various scenes. Most of the time it’s too short. CL’s is always just right, breaking at the belt buckle. Juan ties his like a country boy, an inch or more above the belt. Once in a while, in a special scene where he is supposed to be very serious and looking suave, is his tie breaking at the buckle. Do you think I have too much time on my hands? Or, maybe it’s sheer distractibility?] The ladies greet him a bit nervously, glad to see him feeling so well. A cricket chirps with increasing loudness as the silence in the room grows and the ladies eye him with a mixture of discomfort and speculation. [Ed. Note: I had to turn off the sound and read the captions, and play this back to check on the cricket. We live in a big, old farm house and often get crickets at this time of year in our basement family room….I thought it was our cricket.] Juan realizes something’s up and asks, “¿Qué?” [Ed. Note: Aw, C’MON, Juan, what qué? It should be pretty obvious!] They deny any problem, everything is fine, and look at each other nervously. Chirping [this morning as I recap, I realize for sure it’s not OUR cricket, because I’m watching on the second floor where the crickets don’t come]. Nidia takes the bull by the tail (not the horns, that would be way too direct), and asks Juan if there isn’t some little thing he wants to tell them? Marely rivets a gaze on Juan to see what he’ll do. He reaches for something on the table. “About what?” Marely gives her mother a glare and mutters “nothing.” He asks if they can assure him nothing is wrong. They all affirm they’re very sure nothing is wrong. He eats and looks at them suspiciously, thought bubbling that he knew this would happen eventually. But, he’s not going to let them have a single word in response from him if they want to know, until they ask him up front, directly. He compliments the breakfast. Nidia takes another route: “don’t you want me to wrap a couple to take them to Don Pastor?” He tells her not to trouble herself, he always arrives early, well-fed. She looks a little startled, it’s not the response she wanted. He thought bubbles that this is going to be way more complicated than he imagined. They all chuckle nervously and look around; Juan looks a little smug. He won this round.

At the steelhouse, CL is trying to make a good knot on his tie. Monica tells him he hasn’t ever learned to do it right, and he tells her not to get up as she tries to help him. She expertly (and very sweetly) ties it perfectly for him while they chat about the knot and she tells him what she’s thinking about setting up her business. She’ll need a good assistant, one she can trust. She needs his help; he knows many folks in Mexico.. He’s going, and doesn’t want her to move out of the bed. She pulls off the band-aid on her forehead, which smarts a little. She promises to do stay in bed, and asks if she can expect him at dinner. He tells her no. He has too much work. He moves to leave and she calls him back. He turns but doesn’t come over to kiss her or hug her. She says he’s very handsome. He thanks her abruptly and leaves. Monica is disappointed by the response.

Juan waits for Paula outside her hotel. She strides toward him, and greets him. He gives an apology for being foolish. She tells him it’s forgotten. They smile at each other and she tells him she has a proposal if he wants to help her. She realizes that there’s gossip that’s getting worse. She wants him to tell her what he hears. Juan doesn’t want to be passing gossip he’ll just take action (beat on them?), but she convinces him she needs to know what’s said about her. He agrees. She thanks him for worrying about her and apologizes for her reaction. It’s nothing. Juan is happy again.

Pastor is describing his special night to Ivonne. He’s so happy! What, she asks, do you trust him again? What could he do, Juan is a prince among princes, Pastor tells her. He was received by the family so warmly and they’d cooked a special meal just for him. They are all charmed with him. They got along so well. She says, so you’re in the clouds. But, Pastor says, that’s not even the best part. You’ll never guess who Juan lives with? She’s intrigued, who!?? With Samuel Cachón’s widow and daughters. Ivonne is impactada! Marely is one of the daughters. Ivonne wonders how she ended up as a secretary if she’s so rich? He goes on that Paula’s mother was the secretary of Samuel….and she was other things, too….Ivonne is more impactada! They had a daughter who works here. Paula. Ivonne bites one hand so she won’t scream and then shakes it! Wow. This certainly is great chisme!!! No!!! Pastor smiles smugly at his triumph.

In the garage, Paula and Juan say goodbye for the day. Juan watches her leave; she passes Fernando and greets him. Fernando walks toward the cars, where Juan has just removed his coat. Paula calls back to him; has he seen CL? Yes, he was here early. Juan dances over to Fernando cheerfully greeting him and arranging his lapels. Fern smiles and slyly asks if he’s resolved the problem with his boss, or was it with Pastor? Juan remarks on there being a lot of gossip, it seems. Well, he’s resolved the misunderstanding with his boss. Fernando makes a crack about Paula and his boss. Juan hauls off and belts him to the floor. Fern is bleeding and glaring up at Juan who is glaring back down at him menacingly.

Ivonne fusses at Pastor – why didn’t tell her about Paula being illegitimate before? Pastor didn’t want her using it against Paula. She pouts. Pastor tells her that only he and CL had known this. Ivonne suddenly realizes that Paula and Marely are sisters. Yes, Pastor confirms, half-sisters. Ivonne thinks this is really, really good. Pastor wonders what she’s cooking up here. He tells her not to deny it, he knows her like he knows the palm of his hand. [Ed. Note: and so it wouldn’t be the crafty smile on her face that cued you in here, Pastor?] Ivonne tries to look innocent as the driven snow. [Ed. Note: more likely snow that’s been driven on]. He tells her to keep her mouth shut. She says she’ll never say a thing. She wonders if this isn’t too big a coincidence. Pastor reminds her that maybe not, they say that truth is stranger than fiction. Ivonne thinks the office is going to be very amusing!

Paula gets a shock as she comes into her office; CL is waiting there for her. She laughs and tells him not to scare her like that. Why is he there? He tells her he’s followed through with his wife, yesterday they worked out details and today he’s a free man. They signed the divorce papers. Paula is impactada. [Ed. Note: So am I. Not to put too fine a point on it, but this is possible the biggest, ugliest whopper I’ve ever heard. He must have been up all night thinking this one through. Apparently he didn’t think about four or five months beyond this minute, however. Getting busted is going to be waaay too good for this guy.] He’s all smiles.

When we come back after the commercial, he’s on the other side of the desk, telling her more lies about the divorce papers. Monica is going to stay in the house a few more days and then live away from there. Paula didn’t expect it and doesn’t know what to say. He asks if she doesn’t believe him. [Ed. Note: pay attention, Paula, honey. This is your cue to disbelieve.] He hopes this will change her image of him. [Sheesh.] He is free and he just wanted her to know. He goes to leave the office, looking back seductively over his shoulder. Paula is speechless and smiling.

The fight in the basement garage has escalated into high gear. Juan is spitting out blood; Fern has gotten in some good blows. They exchange insults. A security guard comes in to separate them. Juan calls Fern the son of the seven swords, and pushes the guard away. The muchachos keep insulting each other. Fern tells him, just look at how much fear I have of you. They face off and a crowd begins to gather. They go at each other, and Juan delivers a good head butt that knocks Fern off his feet. Then, he dives prone on top of Fern. They continue their battle horizontally. Someone comes with a German Shepherd on a leash---probably not a guide dog. The dog barks at the fighters; he’s spoiling to get into the action, too. The crowd looks concerned and the boys keep fighting.

The guard runs to a phone to get Pastor to come down and stop the two chauffeurs from fighting. The boys roll around on the concrete floor. Ouch. Pastor shuffles as fast as he can, his short little legs pumping. He mutters about what’s happening. It’s urgent! People join his trail as he moves through the office. Marely asks a woman what’s happening, and she tells Marely about Juan and Fern. Marely is upset and a little disgusted.

The boys are on their feet, waltzing while they choke each other. Pastor arrives just in time to save Fern’s lovely face from Juan’s fist. He wants to know what this is about, and Juan yells at him but faces off with Fern. Ivonne runs to protect Fern. Juan says Pastor stopped him from finishing off this guy. Pastor spins him around and tells him this fight is over (strategically using the Latin phrase, ipso facto, “by this very fact” it’s done.) He strides between them,, yelling where do they think they are? A cantina? Are the men or beasts? Juan points to Fern—he’s a beast. He insults Pastor, too, who slaps him. The crowd titters behind hands. Pastor yells that Juan shouldn’t compel him to behave like a savage. Juan hangs his head. Pastor wants to see them both. In his office. Right now! He sends the others back to work and tells the boys to obey. Even Ivonne runs. The guard is the only one left, with a smile. Pastor yells at him, too. What’s he smiling about? The guard makes himself scarce. Pastor straightens his toupee, his lapels, and huffs away to his office, following the delinquents. [Ed. Note: I’m about as tall as Pastor, and this looked suspiciously like déjà vu for me. I’ve been here, done this, and hauled delinquents off to my office. It’s really bad form to slap them, though. ;-) ]

Coming off the elevator, Pastor is stalking on ahead of the boys, who are eyeing each other as they walk beside each other. Ivonne is in front of them, so she can’t see it, either. Juan steps in front of Fern to trip him up, but Fern recovers. Fast. They play “I’ll get there before you do” the rest of the way to Pastor’s office. Marely sees them coming and runs to Paula’s office to tell her the chisme. Paula is staring dreamily at the ceiling and Marely asks why she’s so happy? Paula wonders how she noticed. Marely says she’s got a big sign out there in front. Paula says she’s happy, and Marely wants to know why? Paula says no reason, but she’s seeing life in another color now. Marely lets her know not everyone seems to be having such a good day. She tells Paula about the big fight with blows exchanged. Paula thought they were friends. Marely affirms this and gives her take on what might have happened; Gaitán looked like a Mother Superior [Ed. Note: good call on that, Marely. Spot on.] She can only imagine what made this happen. Paula thinks Fern said something he shouldn’t have.

Pastor is in his chair, “waiting for an answer, sirs.” Juan and Fern, standing shoulder to shoulder in front of the desk, exchange wary glares. Pastor wants to know who stared it and why. He’ll wait her all day until he hears a reason. He demands an explanation. He’ll apply the policy in all its force. Are they sure they want to lose their jobs? The exchange glares again. Fern’s fades first and he looks at the floor but tells Pastor it’s not worth that. He tells Fern he’ll get a pink slip, and Fern says, no, no….I think….Pastor interrupts. Juan says he wanted to say it’s not Fern’s fault. Pastor asks if he started the grotesque spectacle. Juan affirms that he threw the first blow. Pastor is disgusted. He asks Fern if that’s right. Fern nods and says it is. Pastor tells Fern to leave him alone with Juan, but don’t have any illusions that you won’t have discipline, because a fight needs two people. Fern excuses himself and looks back at Juan who gestures at the floor and holds his arms out, like “what do you want?” Pastor wants an explanation. Juan freezes.

Paula and Marely see Fern in the lobby. Paula asks him what happened? He says nothing, but she says it wasn’t "nothing," look at your face! Why were you fighting? He tells her foolishness and excuses himself. [He looks pretty busted when he has to look her in the face and tell her it was foolishness. He was gossiping about her, after all].

Marely wonders who might know what happened. Ivonne says “what happened?” She tells them about the fight in the basement, but who knows why?

Pastor is trying to worm the reason for the fight out of Juan. Juan evades the real reason. Pastor wants to know if Fern provoked him in some way. Juan says Fern looked at me ugly, that’s what. Nothing more. I have hot blood. Pastor sarcastically points out he says he’s always so cool. Isn’t he ashamed of this spectacle? Of course, Juan responds. Pastor says he hopes never to get on Juan’s bad side. [Ed. Note. Nonsense. You just want to be on any side of Juan. Don’t try to fool us.] He wants Juan to control his hot blood and channel the energy to more positive activities. What will he do with his Juanito? He strokes his toupee. Juan’s eyebrow shoots up. He’s going easy on Juan this time, but if there’s one more barbarian act, he’ll have to suspend Juan. Juan appreciates it very much. Pastor reminds him that it’s costing him a lot to overlook the policy. He hopes Juan realizes just how much he esteems Juan. He looks at Juan meaningfully and it dawns on Juan that he should be careful what he hopes for. He warily thanks Pastor and excuses himself. Pastor sighs: “Ay, men, men, men.”

Out in the lobby, Marely and Juan look at each other as he walks across. Paula is waiting to grab him and haul him into her office. He reluctantly follows, motioning to Marely to “sh.” Paula confronts him: was the fight about her? He won’t tell her. She tells him she needs to know the truth; they were talking about her, right? She makes him look at her eyes. It was, wasn’t it? He tells her that Fern made a comment, and he, Juan, doesn’t want to be involved with gossip. She tells him she appreciates it, but he does not need to go to such extreme lengths on her behalf. He thought bubbles about how he had to do it, she’s his reason for living. He visibly struggles with something, and thought bubbles that moments like this give him the desire to shout, “Woman, I’m allowed to love you!” And we are reminded that any comparison with real life is purely a coincidence.

Jeanne

Labels: Juan