Caray, Caray!

Juanmi is still trying to get a response from Yvette – what’s wrong, he can’t figure it out. He’s asking her what’s the matter. Meanwhile, she’s trying to hide under a pile of pillows.

Back at Leo’s, Amador calls and Candi picks up the phone. He wants info about Mari.

Meanwhile, Yvette/Blanca is trying to figure out who she is. So is Juanmi. She realizes that some other horrible woman lives within her. Juanmi wants to know about the woman of the daggers – explain it to me. What’s happening. He looks so cute and confused.

Candi tells Amador that everything is Ok and that Mari hasn’t given birth. He’s insistent – but Candi thanks him for his concern and says goodbye. She knows he’s a liar and doesn’t trust him.

Juanmi keeps at Yvette who is now falling apart. He confronts her and insists that she tell him what’s going on. Yvette runs out in a panic.

In the barrio, Olga has been laid out on a tabletop while Padre Anselmo, Purita and ladies tend to her. Olga is still unconcious.

Juanmi walks down a dark street – and ponders what has just happened before his very eyes about Yvette. He’s as confused as ever.

Yvette/Blanca returns to the mansion, sneaks in her room and is shocked by what she sees in the mirror. It’s not me, no, no. Vivi appears at the door.


In the barrio, Padre A tells the gathering of Olga’s friends about stoning sinners. Adrian insists that Purita tell him what happened.

At the mansion, Blanca quickly morphs into her old frumpy self while Vivi unlocks the door.

Purita tells Adrian about the forced kiss in the street. She doesn’t know the name of the man, but Casilda and company saw it. She and friends say the man is Kiko – a friend of Casilda.

Vivi tries to get in while Blanca tidies up the room. Blanca unlocks the door and let’s Vivi in. Vivi tortures Blanca some more with her inquisition. Vivi tells her that Onelia couldn't find her earlier. Blanca insists that she was in the garden, but Vivi isn’t buying into that story and tells Blanca that she is hiding something. Blanca thinks quickly and answers Vivi – why was your mother looking for me. Never mind – and Vivi leaves. Blanca can relax for a moment.

At Leo’s farm, Mica and Candi discuss the storm, etc. Candi goes in the bedroom where Leo is listening to Mari’s stomach when the lights go out.

At the Vellarde’s Ceci is having a meltdown. She has a premonition. She calls Padre A and asks about Mari. Enter Estefi. Pat takes the phone and tells Padre A that Ceci was having a nightmare. Ceci grabs it back – she dreamed about Mari – that she was dead.

Leo lights some candles – tells the ladies that they have to get busy. Mari has been sedated.

Ceci repeats the nightmare to the padre and begs for information. He insists that he doesn’t know anything about Mari. What a liar. He’s listening, and he reassures Ceci that Mari is in a safe place – she begs again when you know something, let me know. He agrees, then passes the crucifix and explains the situation to Jesus on the cross. He, too, wants to know if Mari is in danger of dying.

Leo and Mica are discussing the bad situation with Mari and the possibility that either she, the baby, or both might die.

Yikes – Isa the witch is talking to Amador. They are lamenting the lack of news about Mari. She’s not interested in anybody’s nightmares – just when the baby is born.

Leo shouts out orders to Candi to try to wake Mari. He wants her to wake and push. This is so tense and scary. They’re all pushing. A scream.

Estefi and Martirio give advice to Ceci – don’t worry. But Ceci is consumed with fear. Estefi actually shows some human characteristics of care, concern and compassion toward Ceci. But Ceci’s heart and soul are with Mari and if Mari dies so will she.

Mica gets in Leo’s face and tells him he has to fish or cut bait. He’s still denying his ability as a doctor. With new resolve, he gets to work.

Miraculously, Estefi is with Isa. Isa doesn’t understand – by all accounts the baby should be born.

We’re all pushing, pushing, it’s Mari who screeching and falls exhausted. Then we hear a baby cry and Candi has a moment of pure joy followed by pure grief because she thinks Mari has died.

Leo talks to Lirio/Mari – look at your son, he’s alive. He hands the baby to Mica and tells her to be careful. Candi is totally distraught because she thinks Mari is dead. Leo looks shocked.

Juanmi in his bedroom is wearing his blue striped shirt and tight fitting pants – a knock at the door. It’s Blanca.

Candi laments the life and death of Mari. Leo interrupts her and tells her Lirio is not dead. He gives Candi some alcohol to rub over Mari. Leo prepares to give Mari an injection.

Juanmi asks Blanca what’s wrong. Blanca says that she’s quitting. She can’t stand it in this house anymore. Juanmi – says why – because of Vivi. Blanca of course denies that. He wants to know the truth. She says she has personal and powerful reasons – family matters. He says – but, you told me you didn’t have a family.

Mica has gotten the baby all clean and wrapped up. Enter a field hand – padre has called. With great joy she tells padre that Mari had a boy but Mari is in delicate health.

Leo – tells Candi he’s going to rest and puts her in charge of watching Mari. He assures Candi that Mari will wake up. Leo looks out the window, holding a burning candle and a small photograph of a woman (Yvette). He talks to the photo – how she destroyed him, broke his heart, and so forth. The storm rages on.

Blanca tries to explain her situation to Juanmi—he offers her more money to stay. That’s not it. She’s offended. He even says that he thought she would take care of his as yet to be born child with Vivi. But, she’s out the door tomorrow morning. What’s the rush. She begs him not to pressure her. He wants to talk it out because he thinks she’s inventing excuses and wants absolute truth. I wonder what he’d do if he knew the truth. Probably call Ed for a conference.

In her room, Blanca is packing – or throwing clothes still on hangars into a suitcase. She’s a mess and suddenly what do you know, Yvette takes over and throws the suitcase on the floor and starts trashing the room while laughing. Yvette, dressed as Blanca, opens the patio doors, has a thought and goes out the bedroom door, down the hallway to the room where Vivi is sleeping. This is the room with the fake stonework. Yvette sits next to Vivi and thought bubbles – sleep, my dear, sleep forever.

Voices keep telling Blanca/Yvette to kill her (Vivi). Out of nowhere, enter Onelia. Doesn’t your mother walk around in the middle of night and go in your bedroom.

Leo keeps talking to the picture – oh, go ahead and burn it. Get the devil out of your soul. He reveals that he’s been tormented for so long by your memory. Up it goes in flames at last. He now claims that he is finally liberated from her diabolical power.

Onelia demands to know what Blanca is doing in the room. Blanca returns and begs forgiveness. Onelia says that woman is crazy – Vivi wants to know what she was doing. Vivi – the other loony lady says that Blanca hates her because Blanca is in love with her husband. Aren’t we all.

In the barrio Adrian confronts Kiko who get one sucker punch in. Then Adrian makes a comeback and leaves Kiko and his lunch on the ground. A well trained crowd is absolutely motionless during this scene.

In his office, Juanmi daydreams about his honeymoon with Mari and the promises they made. He calls her “Mi vida…” Oh, how he suffers. Any offers of help?

Leo has gone for a walk in the woods. The rain has stopped – he looks happy, relieved. His mojo has returned.

In her room, we see that Mari has given birth to a three-month old baby. Leo returns and says blessed God has put that baby at her side. He tells her the baby is perfect, and that he was afraid, but she had a natural childbirth. Mari hugs and kisses that beautiful baby who will probably be able to talk in the next chapter.

Pat talks to Ceci – are you going to get up? Meanwhile Juanmi is wearing the pink shirt in his office and has the dreamy look. We’re back in the honeymoon bed with Mari. He’s got such a cute laugh. He’s so enchanted with Mari. They pledge their love again. She says it’s beautiful in body and soul.

Mari and Leo talk about the baby and how sweet he is. How happy she is that her little squirt has lived and how happy she is to be alive, too. She thanks Leo. Leo is modest – he says that she was brave in the most critical moment. She gave birth when she was practically dead. She will be eternally grateful to Leo forever.

Juanmi just can’t get thoughts of Mari out of his head. He’s tortured, and we’re tortured. I wonder if Mari and Juanmi ever got to know one another. They’ve spent more time apart and just meet in their dreams. Juanmi has a soliloquy – what a perfect love, what will become of it – nine months… Connect the dots, my love.

Mari, as she hugs and kisses the baby, thinks of Juanmi. A beaming Leo looks on. Juanmi thinks of her and their honeymoon again. Are you happy, yes, a lot. True, yes. He tells her to go to sleep and says I love you, I love you. Out loud he says we love each other. She’s my woman, my wife. We were sweetly asleep – if only the baby Vivi was carrying was Marichuy’s.

Mari keeps thinking of JuanMl.

Purita thanks Adrian for helping her. He admires her pretty face and tells her he’ll protect her – she says as a friend – he says, more than a friend. A brother? No – Adrian says he loves her. Purita looks happy and surprised.

End of part one (I think). Go, Maggie, go.

Labels: Cuidado