Caray, Caray!

Rehash: Mari is walking along a busy street when JM, who is standing by his car waiting, grabs her arm.

New hash: They look at each other and sexy sax music plays. He calls her liar. She says are you mad at me? And he says What do you think? He scowls at her. More sax, but since he is mad, it is safe sax.

A foxy brunette in a ponytail walks up to a modest home and knocks. A middle-aged lady answers and is surprised. Stefania? she says.

Back to JM and Mari. She wants to know how he knows where she lives and he says he’s not as stupid as she thinks. She is copping attitude and wants to know how he found out it was a lie. He says none of your business. She says are you going to take me off to jail? I could run away. He lists her lies. She says you have no right to say I have no mother or father.

Back to Stefania. The middle-aged lady, who we find out is her aunt, is telling her that if she wants to stay with her, she’s going to have to find a job because the aunt is having trouble making ends meet as it is. Stef says of course, but if it bothers you, I’ll find somewhere else, okay? The aunt says it’s okay if you stay, but I can’t afford to pay your expenses. Stefania flips through a paper, and the aunt snatches it out of her hand and says oh look! My friend Cecilia! We see Viviana and Cecilia, the judge’s wife, together in the society pages.

Patricio the judge and Ceclia, sitting out in their garden, see the same photo. Looky there, he says. They remember the party. The judge says what you do think of JM’s wife? She says well, she’s arrogant and egotistical. He agrees, he thinks Viv is bossy, and he’s glad his own wife is so wonderful and he gives her a hug. He says she looks great in the photo with Viv.

JM says to Mari Are you so affected by the loss of your parents? (Maybe he got that PhD in psychology by mail order.) She sticks her chin out. He asks how old she was when she lost them. She tries to walk off, but he stops her. He says he was at the police station to help everyone. She says nobody helps anybody around here, you must have wanted something. He says he wants to save them from the streets and from self-destruction. She says yeah, sure. Just don’t try to jerk me around.

He tries his lopsided smile trick and says I see I can’t. She says I’m not afraid of anybody, and particularly not of some guy whose wife yells at him. He says what do you mean? Mari repeats what she heard: You’ve abandoned me! You don’t want to go to the parties we get invited to! (Black and white flashback of that argument) All you care about is your work and all those nutcases!

JM tells her to shut up and grabs her wrists. How do you know so much about my private life? She says I know a lot about you, and you don’t know anything about me. Let me go. He lets go and apologizes, saying he didn’t realize he’d grabbed her so hard. She says leave me alone, and off she goes down a colorful street scene, full of street vendors and plenty of people. She cuts into a doorway.

The aunt is looking at the paper still. She says I can’t believe she married him again. What luck she has! Stephanie says what are you talking about? (and we want to know too!) The aunt says it’s a long story. See this lady, Cecilia? She has quite a past. Oooh, tell! says Stefania. Later, says the aunt (rats!) right now we need to talk about you.

Where do you plan to get a job? Stef says I dunno, somewhere where I manage a lot of money. Like where? says the aunt. Stef says I don’t know, I’ve been looking for money under rocks. Me too, says the aunt. A light bulb appears over her head and she thoughtbubbles My friend Cecilia! She says to Stef I think I know where we can get some together!

In castle San Ramon, Viv is packing while her mother and Rocio, JM’s younger sister, look on. The sister tells her not to forget her jewels. Never says Viv, looking through her jewelry box. I’m going to recapture my husband. All three smile.

Said husband is sitting on the couch with their little daughter Mayita in his lap. He tells her he’ll be gone for two weeks and she says it’s so long and she’ll miss him. The three ladies come in and the little girl says her goodbyes to her parents.

A plane takes off.

A nice little street scene with an organ grinder, and then we see Mari coming down the stairs of the apartment holding Cuate. Cande worries about fleas her in laundry. She says this stuff is for the San Ramons. Mari says I’m not going to take it. Cande looks surprised.

A palmy beach scene, which they let us know is Miami. A long black limo pulls up by a seaplane. They get out and Viviana squeals mi amor a few times, she can’t wait to be alone with him in Jamaica. Soon they are airborne.

Mari is telling Cande nope, no no. She’s not going to that house. I think she tells Cande that the guy in that house tried to make a pass at her at the police station. Cande wonders who’s going to deliver all their laundry. Mari says she’ll go anywhere but that house. Cande suddenly remembers that their chauffeur told her when he dropped off the laundry that they were going out of town on a plane trip, so that means they won’t be there.

Mari says you’re not lying to me are you? Cande said when have I ever lied to you? Mari says never, and says okay I’ll take it. I sure would like to ride in an airplane sometime. Cande says I’d love to fly one.

Viv and JM are in the plane, looking down at the scenery. For some odd reason, their hair is blowing slightly. She is clutching her jewelry case happily.

Rocio is playing with little Mayita, and Viv’s ma Onelia is annoying them by running her hand over the lower keys of the piano. Onelia tells these young people that Viv has suffered so much due to the actions of JM and that now Viv thinks he doesn’t love her and is staying married just for appearance’s sake. Little Mayita says that’s not true, Grandma! Rocio tells Onelia that these are not proper things for the little one’s ears. Onelia says she needs to know the truth about her parents, since her future will be decided by this trip.

Back in the airplane Viv is happily leaning on JM and says why can’t we stay one week longer? He says you know I have to work. The camera focuses in on her big wonking bracelet.

The pilot says what’s happening? They seem to lose control of the plane and some alarm is going off. They nose down a bit and fake smoke is coming from no specified place on the plane. JM and Viv are frightened. The pilots say We’re going to crash! JM utters the hoary and venerable telenovela word to Viv: Tranquila! She screams.

A guy lets Mari in the gate of the grounds of castle San Ramon. She starts off running through the wooded grounds, but they’re so extensive, she is pooped and walking by the time she gets to the entry. A maid lets her in. She greets Onelia in slang and Onelia corrects her, then asks doesn’t she know to use the service entrance? Mari says she forgot, but here’s the laundry. She hands it over to the cranky maid who also tells her to use the back entrance.

Upstairs, the sister is in her room watching TV when the news comes on of two Mexicans killed in an airplane accident. The footage shows the plane floating in the ocean.

Mari is sitting on the carpeted stairs, waiting, when Onelia comes down and gives her a shove with her foot. They exchange some words, but the captions disappeared. I think Onelia is saying they don’t have to use Cande for their laundry and Mari says whatever.

How cool to live in a castle! Little Mayita moves some old trunks out of the way, exposing some circle-shaped woodwork. She turns one circle and opens a secret door into a small passageway. She climbs over some stuff, then enters a cartoon world where harp music is playing and butterflies fly. She says Grandma Mariana, I’m here! A granny in a white heaven-style robe, her long white hair flowing, comes up to her. Mayita is excited and the granny asks her for a kiss. The granny says why such a sad face, and Mayita says my mommy and daddy are on a long trip and I’m left with Grandma Onelia and I don’t like her, not like I like you. The granny hugs her and says I adore you, I love with you all my heart.

Back to Estafania and the aunt. Stefie is saying she’ll look in the paper tomorrow and start her job search. The aunt says don’t worry if you don’t find anything. Stefie says huh? The aunt says she has a plan to get them both a lot of money.

Rocio is looking at the TV, stunned. The news guy gives the names of the two dead, namely JM and Viv. No waiting until the families are notified, apparently. Rocio breaks down.

Onelia is telling Mari to get lost when Rocio runs down the stairs and sobs the bad news. Onelia says no puede ser! She tells Mari to get lost again, saying she has no right to be present at private family stuff. Mari gives her condolences and leaves.

The judge and his wife have just found out too. The judge says they are still doing the rescue and nobody knows if anyone survived.

In cartoonland, the granny is telling Mayita that her parents will be home soon. Mayita tells her that her daddy hugged and kissed her, but her momma only kissed her forehead and wouldn’t let her hug her. The granny says that Viv doesn’t always show her affection. Mayita says that she loves her granny and doesn’t want any other granny. Her Grandma Onelia is always criticizing her and granny can’t defend her because she’s far away in heaven. The granny says she’s always nearby. Mayita asks how it is in heaven and the granny says it’s great and God is always there. There is no hurt or anger.

Mayita says she’s afraid that her mamma and daddy won’t come back and then she’ll have to live with Grandma Onelia. The granny assures her that won’t happen. (And she would know if they’ve checked in, wouldn’t she?) Mayita says she loves her daddy, but her mother doesn’t pay much attention to her. The granny counsels her to take people as they are and not to measure their love by outward actions. Mayita snuggles happily in her granny’s arms.

On the way home on the bus, Mari thinks poor guy and some other things I didn’t understand. At the castle, Onelia sobs poor Viviana. My only daughter! I can’t imagine that I have lost her forever! She was so looking forward to this trip and now… why her? Rocio looks on sadly.

The doorbell rings and they hope it’s news. We see that Rocio has on a micro mini and some hussy high heels. Tut! Onelia says I hope my daughter was saved, only her if anyone. It’s best friend Eduardo, who says there are survivors, but he doesn’t know who. Onelia spots the little girl looking through the stairwell woodwork. She tells the cranky maid to take the little girl to her friend’s house.

Mari comes home and Cande wonders if they paid. Mari hands over the money and says there was an accident. Cande is scared that it’s Padre Anselmo. Mari says no, it’s that couple.

The cranky maid takes the little girl to Loli’s house, but she doesn’t want to stay. She is led off by that family’s maid.

Back at the castle, everyone worries and waits. Eduardo has left and will call if there’s more news. Onelia says it’s best for Mayita if she doesn’t know anything, then goes off to another room. Rocio tells the cranky maid Malvino that Onelia is only concerned for her daughter and nobody else. The maid says well, you know how she is. Rocio says I hope both have survived, most of all for Mayita’s sake. They hug.

The phone rings and Rocio answers. It’s Eduardo! Onelia runs in and rips the phone out of her hand. He looks like he’s at an airport and he says he has the list of survivors. She says my daughter? He says it looks like JM. My daughter? He says she’s not on the list. Onelia falls weeping onto the couch and Rocio grabs the phone. Eduardo tells her that JM is alive and on his way to a hospital in Miami. He’s waiting for a flight there right now.

A plane is airborne.

Mari is lighting candles in front of the virgin and the padre comes in. She wants to know if people who crash at sea go to heaven. He says if they’re good it doesn’t matter where they die. She says he was a good guy, and she kneels to pray.

Eduardo is at JM’s bedside. JM says he hurts all over. Maybe he will have amnesia! No such luck - he says the crash was horrible. We relive it in black and white. He says and Viviana? Eduardo looks serious.

Onelia is sobbing. Rocio comes in and says don’t lose hope, maybe Viv will suddenly appear, alive, like her brother. Onelia says my daughter is dead and it’s your brother’s fault.

In the hospital, Eduardo says nobody knows what happened to Viv, it’s like she just disappeared. Eduardo says no, he saw somebody floating in the water, alive. We see some black and white scenes of broken stuff floating in the water near a palm-lined shore. It must’ve been Viv, says JM. JM tries to get out of bed, he wants to see about Viv, but Eduardo holds him down saying tranquilo.

Rocio is telling Onelia that she can’t blame JM. Onelia says probably he had a chance to save her and didn’t do it, because he doesn’t love her. Rocio says she was his wife, don’t say such things. Onelia says he just stayed married to keep up appearances and in this accident he saw his big chance to get rid of her.

Uh oh, somehow little Mayita is back and she’s listening in the background. Onelia is saying it’s just the same as if he murdered her. He let her drown. He’s guilty! Onelia is getting hysterical. Mayita runs up and cries My mother isn’t dead and my father didn’t kill her.

At the hospital, JM is just hanging up the cell. He says no word of her, but no body. She must’ve died and he gets all weepy. He wants to know if Mayita knows. Eduardo says no, they’re not telling her, but Onelia and Rocio are devastated. He wants to talk to them, but Eduardo says tranquila.

Mayita is sobbing, she wants her mama and daddy. Onelia tells Rocio to take her to her room. JM is on the phone and Onelia says she’ll talk to him and tell them what he says. Actually, it’s Eduardo, but JM takes the phone from him. Onelia wigs out and shrieks assassin! at him. You didn’t save her! He tells her there were other survivors, he saw somebody out there in the ocean. He says he hopes it was Viv. Liar! says Onelia, you wanted her dead. Maldito! You should have died instead of her!

JM almost crushes the phone in frustration. He weeps. Eduardo says tranquilo.

The street is still lively at night. Cande is seen wearily lugging a huge bag of laundry. Inside, she says it’s some family’s wash. She sits and rubs her leg. Mari says even though she didn’t know the family, she feels bad about the guy. Cande feels sorry for the little girl. Mari didn’t know there was a child. Cande says she’s about 6. Mari says now she’s an orphan like me, poor thing.

In Mayita’s bedroom, she is on the bed, sobbing in the arms of Rocio. The doctor is there and gives her a sedative. Rocio tells her she’ll never be alone, she has her.

Mari comes up on her bicycle and tells the painter guy (Vicente) she can’t pose tonight. She tells him about the accident and who was involved. She gets tears in her eyes.

The arty types, including the cousin, are in Vicente’s place, one playing the guitar. Vicente tells them about the accident.

Mari is sitting on the steps in Cande’s place with Cuate on her lap. She is remembering JM and we have some black and white scenes of her talking to him. She decides maybe he was okay and not bad like most other men.

It’s daytime again and Mari is sweeping the landing in the busy apartment house. Here comes that nice young man Adrian. He wonders where she’s been. She says she’s been busy, but she has thought of him. He is really pleased and runs up the stairs. She says sometimes sad things happen and then she thinks of him. He hears the dog bark and asks what’s that? She brings him in to meet Cuate. She says she found him in an alley, just like Cande found her. He sees that she is sad and he said what happened, did someone do something to you? She says it’s a secret, a sad secret, that I never tell anyone. He looks serious.

In the hospital, some official guy tells a weepy JM that the search is over and Viv has not been found . JM says did the sharks eat her? (Sorry – I made that up.) Is she dead? The guy says we are classifying her as missing.

We see her floating on a piece of flotsam, face down, like passed out.

Avances: Viv is seen washed up on a beach. Mari sees JM and says no puede ser!

Labels: Cuidado