Caray, Caray!

Scenes from the last show
--Anibal and Clemi share a chaste kiss and Anibal tells her that she’s the one he wants.
--Julio fesses up in front of the fashion show audience that Diego’s been doing his best design work since the last fashion show and he hasn’t given him credit until now.
--Diego gives mommy and daughter engagement rings to Caty and Azul on stage at the fashion show. (How did he know to get the rings ahead of time if he though that Julio would snub him yet again?)
--Julio and Arnaldo announce their engagement. They are getting married under the new civil union law. GSD blows a gasket. Apparently it was OK for his son to be gay and have a partner but not OK for him to make it formally legal.
Isela, Clemi and Anibal are all standing together happily after the show. Isela tells Clemi to live life to the fullest, or something like that and turns to go find Silvana to congratulate her on her successful graduation from modeling school and apologize for arriving late. Clemi remarks that before she thought of her as her rival but now she realizes what a good person she is and how both of them were in love with a mirage, a false image of what Manuel was really like. Anibal asks when he’s going to deserve such attention. Clemi smiles and says from now on, he’s her only one. Anibal and Clemi kiss, an elegant, discreet kiss but on the lips.
Diego is chasing Azul around the workshop. She stops to look at wedding dress pictures. More chasing, cuddling with the Laura Pausini theme in the background.

Next Morning

At Casa Gloria-Silvana-Isela, Silvana and Isela are eating breakfast. Gloria announces that she is going out today with Don Chucho. Isela remarks that she’s been going out every day with Don Chucho. Phone rings and Silvana gets up to get it. Although the spooky music plays, it soon turns to happy music. When she puts the phone down, she announces that she’s going to Japan to sign a very important Modeling contract! The other women are filled with glee.

Lidia and Clemi are at the breakfast table at Casa Moran. Clemi is complaining about how Manuel is holding up her divorce. Lidia tells her that she should talk to Diego and get him to stop it. Clemi says, no, that Diego is so happy finally, she doesn’t want to bother him. She’ll wait. Lidia says it’s not fair that Manuel do this to her. Clemi changes the subject asking Lidia if Tavo still refuses to speak to her. Lidia says yes, and she’s not sure if she should just give up trying.


At GSD’s or Emilia’s (or maybe it’s GSD AND Emilias now) GSD throws down the paper in disgust. On the front page of whatever section he’s reading, it says in big letters, GAY WEDDING. He is angry that the papers are full of Julio and Arnaldo’s impending nuptials. GSD says it’s all a plot by Julio to distract attention away from the fact that he stole Diego’s designs. He thinks that the only result of all this media attention is going to be to diminish his prestige. GSD throws a a silver cigarette case around for effect and then takes one out and lights up. Emilia begs him to calm down, and tells him that his prestige and Arnaldo’s wedding/being gay have nothing to do with each other. Emilia reminds him that today is Azul’s wedding as well and that if he’s going to skip one, he’s going to be skipping the other. GSD says no way is he going. He won’t be present for that huge mistake (aberracion) his son is making. Emilia goes up to answer the door. It’s Efrain and Gaspar, dressed up in suits. Gaspar says somberly that they’ve come to talk to him about his son. Emilia offers to make some coffee and ducks out. Gaspar and Efrain sit down. GSD brusquely tells them to start talking. Gaspar says they are there because of Arnaldo. They love him very much (un montón). Efrain butts in. He says that really, he and GSD have a lot in common. GSD isn’t getting it. Efrain gets up and explains that he knows what it felt like, the day that his son told him that he didn’t like women. He was a boxer, a macho guy. And he remembers when his son was born, but he was “different.” Gaspar chimes in that even when he was little he wanted to go out in the street dressed like a woman. Efrain continues that the rest of his family rejected Gaspar and by extension him. Efrain says he asked himself WHY? WHY? Did this have to happen to him. And he was angry at God for giving him a son who was “different.” Gaspar adds and he was sad when he thought that he would never know the happiness of having a grandchild. Efrain says that he continued to feel this way until he realized that he had put a great wall between himself and his son. He hadn’t been thinking of his son at all, what he wanted.

Switch over to where Julio, Arnaldo, Diego, Azul and Ceci are gathering for the wedding. Julio’s on the phone. After he gets off he tells them it’s Silvana. She’s not going to be late to the wedding because she has to make arrangements to fly to Japan. They are all amazed at this news. He tells them that she is going to sign a modeling contract over there. Ceci is jealous. The rest laugh.

Ceci isn’t the only one who is jealous. Over at Casa GSI, Gloria is lamenting that Silvana is going to be enjoying herself over there with the taca-taca (slang for Japanese?) while Isela and she get left behind. Silvana says that she’d better keep Don Chucho occupied or he might move on to someone else. Gloria makes a big show of saying that she will miss her. Silvana promises to send her a ticket so that she can visit her. Isela announces that she’s going to go with Silvana, at least for awhile, if she allows. She needs a change of scenery. And she doesn’t understand the men who speak Spanish, so why not try the Japanese? She’s not going as a substitute mom, she assures Gloria, but as a friend. As for moms, Silvana already “has the best” finishes Isela. AWWWW! Big hug! Gloria thanks Isela for helping Silvana at a difficult time. Isela thanks Gloria for her happy-crazy ways. I guess that the Isela-Gloria feud is now officially over. Silvana remarks on how great this is that her mom and best friend are friends. She’ll be able to be happy even if she’s million miles away.

Back to the torture over at GSD’s house. Gaspar and Efrain are finishing their heartfelt tale of father-son reconciliation. GSD looks on in stony silence. Efrain says that it took him awhile to realize that parents always want their kids to grow up and do what they think they should do. Emilia (who has brought the coffee) chimes in and says that that never works, children are independent individuals and have their own free will. Parents can show them the path, but to travel it, that’s their own, not their parents’ job. More stony silence from GSD. Efrain adds here that the most important thing is that our children be happy. Nothing else matters. Gaspar continues that after his father accepted him the way he was, they became best friends and their love became stronger. I couldn’t really understand what he said after that because they both start blubbering. Something like “He is my example for living….” They get up suddenly and say they’d better go. Efrain reminds GSD that Julio and Arnaldo aren’t trying to start a war, they just want to formalize their love. Gaspar says they are just two people who want to unite as a couple. That’s all. And Arnaldo is very sad because GSD isn’t going to be there, on the most important day of his life. The two take their leave, Emilia accompanying them. GSD is silent but his eyes are glistening. Did they convince him?

The wedding party is gathering at the house, with the judge for the civil weddings. Don Chucho arrives, as does Inez. They remark on Gaspar and Efrain’s absence. They show up suddenly and Gaspar cracks a joke, something I couldn’t quite catch about a bride. Julio steps in to thank everybody for supporting them, especially Arnaldo, because he knows how important it is that he get support from his family. Azul and Inez chime in their support, with Azul saying that she knows what he’s feeling but that this is a great day, and he should have nothing but happiness today. The judge calls the assembly together and hands Arnaldo the pen right away to sign the civil union acta. Guess there are no vows required, just signatures. Before Arnaldo can sign, GSD makes a dramatic appearance, asking to be part of the ceremony and apologizing to Arnaldo for “not understanding” him. Arnaldo apologizes for not being the son he wanted. GSD looks stricken and says never to say that again. He was the one who was mistaken. “Before anything, you are my son, I love you and it doesn’t matter that you are a homosexual. You’re my son and I love you.” Tears flow from the two men, Emilia, Azul and Gaspar has a runny nose. GSD adds that he never wants his son to change. The one who has to change is him, or at least his attitude. Applause all around. Then there is an odd scene with Ceci hugging Arnaldo. (What was up with that? A little closure on their escapade or foreshadowing?)

Now a montage of still wedding photos (black and white) compete with camera clicks against the Laura Pausini theme. Of Arnaldo and Julio signing the docs and then getting hugs from everybody. Very cute. No picture of the couple kissing however. I guess this may be a history making telenovela but they aren’t going that far.

Next we’re at the after party. Efrain gives the toast. Silvana walks in and congratulates the happy couple. Julio tells her to take a seat but she says she can’t stay, she’s got a lot to do before she leaves and she just wanted to say goodbye to everybody. Arnaldo, thanks her. She indicates to Diego and Azul that she won’t be able to attend their wedding. Azul says not to worry. She knows that Silvana has the opportunity of a lifetime. Ceci even congratulates her. Silvana graciously wishes her well in her career. Silvana tells Diego to take special care of Caty after all all she has suffered. Diego follows her outside and gives her a hug. Silvana thought bubbles “goodbye my love” and is sniffs away tears when he goes back into the banquet room.
Time passes and we’re now on Azul’s wedding day. Azul is running around in her dress like a crazy person. Splashing on the makeup. Complaining about the way she looks. Ceci is complaining that she has about two minutes. Caty comes in wearing a pretty pink dress and Azul fusses over her. Ceci says Azul looks beautiful and that she just needs to calm down. (Apparently Diego’s design for wedding dresses still favors corsets because the dress is different, than the one for the Mo wedding but it still has a lace-up corset) Azul finally calms down when Ceci drags her in front of a mirror and shows her she looks fine. There is a mention of Ceci’s new galan, apparently they’ve been chatting via internet. Caty says something cute that I couldn’t quite pick up, like Azul is the prettiest and they all have a group hug.

Everyone is gathering at the church. Looks like the same one in the town they were hiding out in. (What? Did Mo die or did they get an annulment? ) Lidia is wearing a low cut peach dress that shows her nipples. A little bit skanky for her brother’s wedding, but then again, that’s our Lidia! She greets a bunch of people and grabs Tavo’s arm as he tries to rush past her. She begs him to listen to her. Tavo doesn’t look happy and asks her angrily what she wants. Lidia tells him that her divorce from Piero was finalized and that she confessed all to Lucia. “I don’t love Piero anymore, because I am in love with you.” Tavo says he’s not going to fall into her trap again. Lidia says she’s sorry and that Tavo showed her what true happiness is. Tavo says she should have thought of that before she got involved with Piero for money. Lidia says yes, she fell pretty low, but never again. Tavo says, good for you…Lidia says, “OK, If you don’t love me, like I love you, I get it. I also get it if your anger at me doesn’t allow you to forgive me. But if this is true, just tell me to my face and stop torturing me.” Tavo says there is one thing she can do for him. Lidia is all eager at this news. Tavo says, “after the wedding, come to my house and be my wife for a day. “ Even Lidia the skank looks shocked by this idea.

Tavo says, “not like you think.” I’m not like “your brilliant executive.” “I want you to have a realistic idea of what you’re getting into if you decide to get involved with me.” Lidia smiles and agrees.

Manuel walks up to Clemi and Anibal. He complains that Clemi is thinking of letting Anibal give Diego away. Clemi begs him to civil on Diego’s wedding day and in a church. Manuel says not to make him out to be the bad guy, he was just ask’in. Anibal steps forward but Clemi motions to him to cool it. She says that if Manuel acts up on Diego’s wedding day, she’s going to tell Diego that Manuel is refusing to give her a divorce. Anibal says that he hasn’t gotten involved because Clemi asked him not to. Manuel says Clemi is still his wife, and he has the right to fight for her. He come up close to Clemi and asks her if the wedding day doesn’t remind her of their wedding, and how they loved eachother. He says this in an extremely smarmy way so it’s no wonder Clemi takes a couple of steps back. She tells him that yes they LOVED eachother, past tense. And now the man she loves with all her soul, is Anibal. She leaves, with Anibal in her wake. Manuel is left standing there, looking unhappy.

It’s now time for the bride to arrive. Azul steps from the car with her full veil and blusher. Diego kisses his mommy while the watch from a side room. GSD escorts Azul to the altar. GSD makes a pretty speech when he brings Azul up to Diego. “I bring you my treasure…respect her love her take care of her…Diego. I am sure she knows how to make you happy.” Diego promises and they shake hands. He further promises to dedicate his life to making her happy. The wedding music (Ave Maria) plays. The Priest starts the wedding. The camera pans over the audience, all happy, except for Manuel who is a bit blank. They exchange rings. Then he gives her the coins. They get all giggly when Azul can’t remember the words. Then they do the thing with the rope around both of them, which in this case looks like it has crystal beads. Caty and Ceci help with that. Finally the vows and the consent. They are declared husband and wife. And the BIG KISS. Applause rains down from the audience. We see individual shots of many of the characters, all looking happy ... into the commercial break.

When we come back, Diego and Azul are kneeling before a picture of Our Lady of Guadalupe that looks like it’s in a side altar. Azul is praying aloud thanking the virginicita for making her the happiest woman in the universe. Diego’s busy kissing her hand and arm. (the virgincita thought bubbles: “get a room”!—no I’m just kidding). Finally, we get the long view of them processing out with the newer Amar theme sung by Karyme Lozano. People throw flower petals. They stop to kiss, framed in the doorway.

Later at the party, the two dance their first dance while everybody looks on. It’s a slow jazzy number and basically they are just hanging on to each other and kissing.

GSD, Emilia and Inez have nipped out of the fiesta to take Inez to the airport so that she can take her flight to Vienna to begin her new career as a cello teacher. Emilia says that the enthralled couple probably didn’t even notice. Inez wishes them both well and hopes that their love grows more every day. As Inez walks away, backwards, she runs full tilt into a handsome middle aged looking guy who then helps her pick up the stuff she dropped. We get the love theme. I think we all know where this is going. Is he going to Vienna too or will Aunt Inez be coming back to Mexico?

Poor Lidia is in the middle of Tavo’s kitchen. She is standing there like a statue afraid to touch anything. Tavo is cold to her and asks her if she’d rather clean his clothes or cook some food. She confesses she doesn’t know how to cook. Tavo says see, “this is turning out to be more complicated than you thought.” He tells her. “It’s reality, MY reality. This is the way I live.” [OK, I get it that you are poor, but you’ve got to get the girl class up the place a little by getting rid of that horrible picture of a yellow car on the wall and replacing it with something, anything, even a picture of the virgincita. The place itself doesn’t look that bad. The paint job in the room looks like the painters went on strike before they finished it, but otherwise it doesn’t exactly look like a hovel. ] After this speech, Lidia who has been silent picks up the hem of her dress and walks out without another word. After she walks out, Tavo looks stricken. Now Lidia is outside in the street, at night in her extremely clingy evening gown. She dissolves in tears.
Back at the wedding, the party is still going strong. Azul throws the bouquet and Ceci catches it. She orange flashbacks Luis Felipe spilling a drink on her at GSD’s award ceremony reception. Then she orange flash-forwards (or is this just a dream?) Luis Felipe is giving her an engagement ring. It’s pretty small, but then again, he’s just a medical student, right? Oops, I guess it’s just a dream. More dancing.

Now the honeymoon. Diego and Azul hit the sack. Rolling around in bed kissing [Frankly, for me, this doesn’t have the drama it might in other novelas since we’ve seen them “do it” novela style at least, what, 3 or 4 times? ] New Amar theme swells in the background.

This is where the show ends and I caught a glimpse of the previews before the tivo cut off with someone asking Azul if she’s going on a trip. Azul says yes and she’s very happy.

[You just know that something really bad will have to happen if we are going to stretch this out another month.]

Labels: amar