Caray, Caray!

The entire town stands motionless, throughout the dark and stormy (but with a full moon) night, waiting to see if PadTad has “recovered”. Meanwhile, Eeyore, Mariachi and Capricho swear a blood oath that they will never ever work on a show like this again, and they pledge eternal brotherhood, para siempre. Sofia “leaves” the hacienda again, and Juan, Oscar and Franco try to figure out (again) where he left his doo rag (it’s on his pants, but he put them on “backwards”). On the other side of town…..wait a minute, wrong telenovela! Oh well, wouldn’t it be nice if ours was as fun as that, but Tontas is a “light comedy”, so let’s see what fun stuff happened.



Unfortunately, this was the leukemia episode. As we saw last time, Chava has leukemia, and in this episode, we see how all the people in his life find out, and how each one reacts. It tells us something about their character.

We begin with the Doctor telling Candy the results of the tests. Candy is shocked and distraught, staggers out of her office into the hall, and sinks to the floor. Santiago arrives, and when she tells him, he’s immediately supportive, telling Candy that leukemia is not considered a mortal or deadly disease any more, and Chava will be okay. The Doctor comes out and reaffirms this. He tells Candy that leukemia means “white blood” in Greek, and that’s where the name came from. It’s an excess of white blood cells. But there are treatments, such as chemotherapy, and bone marrow (médula ósea, in Spanish) transplants. Candy is still dazed and sobbing, and Santi says maybe we should go to the cafeteria and talk more calmly about this. Soledad and Meño come in, and Meño goes to comfort Candy, who is inconsolable.

Meanwhile, in our other theme for tonight, Alicia finds a bill for some womens’ clothes she didn’t order. She thought it was a present, but no, Patricio fesses up that they were for “the mother of his son”. Alicia is not too happy that Pat seems to be seeing more in Soledad than just “the mother of his son”, and warns him that if he continues with this, she’ll kill him. Pat’s too cool for this, and just throws out his better idea. Why don’t we get divorced? This was NOT what Alicia was hoping for.

Candy, Santi, Meño and the Doctor are talking in the cafeteria. The doctor discusses the treatment options, but Candy is still worried that Chava could die. Santi takes her hand and tells her Chava will be okay. Santi, Meño and the Doctor all pledge their support. Candy needs to go for a walk, and Santi goes with her. The first thing she’s worried about is how she’s going to tell Chava. She feels like dying, but Santi reassures her, telling her she’s a good mother, and will know how to tell Chava. He hugs her. The music plays a theme I’m going to call SIS (Santi is supportive).

Charly is arguing on the phone with his Mom, who had just told him Meño was gay. Charly doesn’t believe it, thinks Ma is making this up because she’s depressed or angry. She cautions him that he’s in for an unpleasant surprise, but he doesn’t buy it, and says he’ll prove Meño is straight.

Alicia is giving Pat a bit of a shoulder massage, while he continues to use the word pioja (louse) every two seconds, even calling her one in what he must consider a playful way. (As someone pointed out – I think it was Margarita – Pat’s two favorite words are “louse” and “sexy”). If he ever gets together with Candy, I hope she cures him of this, because these are not really too flattering for him). Alicia asks what Pat would do if she had a lover, and he responds that before killing him, he’d get divorced. Alicia notes that he has now mentioned divorce twice. Is he serious? Apparently so, as Pat coolly observes that they could still “just be friends”.

Candy and Santi are walking now, in a park or garden, with flower bushes and a high stone wall below them. Santi says it’s a magic place. He comes here when he has a wish. He shows Candy what to do. You take a flower petal, make a wish, and blow the petal off of your hand. No matter where it falls, an angel will come down, and take your wish to God. She wishes for Chava to be cured, and blows the flower from her hand, but she still is worried. (not to break the mood, but I sort of thought the actors were slightly laughing in this scene, because both flowers only flew about two feet and got stuck in some bushes, instead of floating down over the stone wall). Santiago says that he once heard that we’re all angels, but there’s just one wing, and the only way we can fly is to hug each other. SIS plays again. (Santi is sure ready with a bunch of magic places and treatments. There was a place on the beach, where there was something with two halves of the orange, last week he taught Candy the scream your name technique, and now blow the magic flower. There may have been more, but I can’t remember).

Charly’s upset, and Meño asks him about it. Charly was arguing with someone (his mother), but he really doesn’t want to tell Meño now, and wants to go see his novia. But he notices that Meño is upset, and Meño tells him about Chava. Charly is concerned, and offers to stay or help in any way needed, but Meño says it’s better for him to go see his novia now. As he leaves, Meño thought bubbles that Charly should never find out that Meño’s gay.

At the Institute, Bárbara, Lulu, Chayo, Ceci and Marissa are discussing the sad news about Candy’s son. Lulu’s uncle died of it, but Chayo’s more positive and hopeful because of modern medicine. Ceci thinks people can still die from it, but Chayo urges them all to try not to let Candy see them with such sad faces. Marissa says nothing, but walks out of the discussion, looking worried (but maybe not so much for Chava, but for herself and Santiago).

Chava himself is oblivious to the grown-ups’ preoccupations, and is playing happily with a toy plane while Gregoria fights back tears, and Meño urges her to try to laugh, so Chava won’t pick up on their worries. He tries to laugh himself, but it doesn’t come out too well.

Another depressing discussion is taking place, this time Chayo telling Ceci that if Ed gave her all those flowers, he feels guilty, and must be having an affair. Ceci wonders if she’ll stay quiet as usual, and Chayo doesn’t know what to do. She dreads (me da pavor) that he might leave, and the nights she spent at the Institute were terrible, she feels incomplete without Ed. The worst part – she thinks Ed’s lover is not just a little adventure, but something serious, that he’s been seeing the same amante for a while.

Raúl and Ed are talking about the same thing. Raúl thinks Ed’s time with his lover is taking him away from the guys. Ed upset about the situation, and says Santi’s been no help. And he’s upset that Chayo is still going along suffering in silence. For once, he wishes she’d kick, scream or claw! At this point, Ed’s cell rings, and it’s the amante. This time Ed tells her he cannot go out with her tonight, has she forgotten he's married? All this time he’s absentmindedly choking Raúl, who isn’t so happy to be on the receiving end of Ed’s confusion.

Marissa has called Santiago (still consoling Candy at the stone wall) to let him know that all the ladies at the Institute know the situation, and will be supportive. After hanging up, Santi promises Candy money, doctors, his friend the specialist or anything else Candy should need, and she is truly grateful.

Charly and Lucía are also talking about Chava. They’re worried, too, but each time they hug to reassure each other, Donato appears with a bullhorn saying “No hugging allowed”. Charly then tells Lucía the other thing on his mind. He wants to get Lulu together with his Dad (Lucía doesn’t realize this is for Charly to prove his mother wrong). Lucía has a great idea, how about a romantic dinner, in the form of a blind date! They scamper off to plan, as Donato’s bullhorn warns them against going into a “forbidden zone” (upstairs).

Continuing with our light entertainment for this evening, Alicia is now stalking Soledad. Soledad leaves her house, and Alicia (in another great outfit of sparkly black clingy dress and thigh-high grey suede boots) walks toward same house, holding something sinister in her hand.

At Santi’s house, Marissa tells Isabel about the leukemia, and right in front of Rocío’s half opened door, tells Isabel that Chava could die. Of course, Rocío heard.

By this time, Soledad’s back from the market with a few groceries. I guess what Alicia was holding really was sinister, because written in spray paint on the front of Soledad’s house are the words “You’re dead, bitch”, along with a smiley face. How nice of Alicia to add that little extra touch. Sole knows who did it, and calls Pat.

It’s getting dark, and Santiago has been with Candy all day. They’re outside her house. She’s more tranquil now. She knows she has to be strong for her son. Santi tells her not to try to do it alone. Accept the support from her uncle, her mother, and her friends. She thanks him again, and as she goes into the house to somehow tell Chava, she gives Santi a look of deep appreciation for the strength he’s provided to her this day, and Santi returns the strong, assured look. The music’s a little happier. But after Candy leaves, we see Santi looking the other way, very worried, almost crying, with his pupils sort of spinning (the way they did in LFMB when he lost Lety).

It’s time for Candy to tell Chava. Chava wonders why she’s crying. She asks him to get Merengue. He brings back the cat puppet, and the puppet says he has a tummy ache. Chava is surprised that Merengue is sick, but Candy says it’s okay, because Merengue will get well, just like you. Chava happily shows his muscles, saying he’s not sick. Candy quietly relates that Chava is a little sick, and is going to have to go to the doctor a lot, and won’t be able to play fútbol, or do a lot of other things. With Merengue’s help, she gets Chava to laugh, and they pretend to have a laugh war, but Candy’s laughs barely hide her concern.

Pat arrives at Soledad’s to see Alicia’s grafitti, He says it could have been a kid, but Soledad saw a red car out of the corner of her eye, and knows it was Alicia. She’s crazy. What is Pat going to say to her? Nothing, but he’ll take care of the situation.

Lulu is showing a mysterious note to Chayo. The note is composed of letters cut out of a magazine (the way people do with ransom notes) , and is unsigned. It’s very colorful and happy, tho. In it, the writer says he needs to see Lulu, he’s a timid fool, let’s meet in the park. We know Charly and Luc wrote it, but Lulu thinks it’s from Meño, who’s too timid to sign it. She gets all excited, asking Chayo what to wear, what makeup, how to do her hair, talking a mile a minute, so much that Chayo can’t even get a word in.

Santiago is now reassuring Isabel and Marissa about Chava, saying that Chava is going to be okay, but we don’t have to worry Rocío yet. Isa tells Santi that Rocío already knows, and Santi also takes this in, but says we’ll all work together. Marissa then touches her tummy and asks “what about my baby?”. Great timing. Santi doesn’t get into any discussion, just repeats that everything’s going to be okay.

Beto arrives home to see Pat painting the front of his house (the grafitti has been covered up). He wants to know what’s going on, and Pat just tells him it’s a work of art. Beto says his Dad used to paint the wall before he left, and Pat says maybe Beto should call his Dad and ask him to come visit, and they can all paint. Beto wants to try his hand, so Pat gives Beto the paint roller, and they have a nice father/son bonding moment, painting the wall.

Now Meño has also received a note (prepared by the juvenile matchmakers) inviting him on a date. He shows it to Candy, and he’s excited. Who’s it from? He has someone in mind (a guy, I believe), but Candy says it could be Lulu. Meño can’t believe Lulu is really that determined (lanzada), but Candy says Lulu sure is. However, it could be someone else. Meño’s heart is palpitating at the possibility, but feels guilty to be happy about this. Candy thinks it’s fine to have something to be happy about. Okay. Meño will go on the date, but if it is Lulu, he’ll get out of there pronto (salgo disparado como tapon de cidra – literally, get away like a cork from a bottle of cider, I think), without Lulu’s realizing. Candy agrees, it’s a deal.

Santi is comforting Rocío on the sofa. Rocío wonders if Chava’s sickness is like a cold. Santi explains that it’s more than that, Chava will probably have to go to the doctor a lot, and maybe even the hospital, but he’s going to be fine. Rocío then asks if God’s punishing Chava, since a girl at school said illnesses are punishments from God. Santi says the girl is completely wrong, God is good, and would never do something like that. Chava will be okay (SIS theme plays again).

Well, even the Abandonados are out of hijinks. They’re sitting around a table eating dinner, with long faces, drinking wine instead of beer. Some of them say we shouldn’t be too sad, so let’s at least have a toast to Chava’s health, which they do, in a restrained way.

Pat is fuming mad at Alicia, knows she painted Soledad’s wall, and says the next time you do anything like that, will be THE LAST. Alicia is not to be deterred, and asks if Pat’s in love with her. Pat reiterates, he was only in love one time (with Candy). Maybe Alicia shouldn’t have asked.

Raúl briefly gives his support to Candy, and leaves. Candy can’t sleep, so Gregoria will get her some tea while she works on her column, when the doorbell rings, and it’s Santi again.

Meanwhile, Raúl is now discussing the situation with Marissa, who really doesn’t care as much about poor Chava as she does about poor Marissa. She can’t believe Santi said he was in love with Candy’s “youth”. She’s no old hag. Raúl asks whether Santi might just be marrying Mari out of obligation, because of the baby, but Marissa says no way, he loves me, he’s just confused. Raúl wonders if Marissa’s fooling herself, maybe she should just break up with Santi. Mari insists Santi will change, as soon as they get married, just as he did with Paulina. Raúl doesn’t understand what Paulina has to do with this. Well, she left him alone with a kid, and he changed. No problem. But Raúl says Candy’s not Paulina, Santi might really love her. No way, says Marissa, maybe Candy just wants his money! Raúl gets mad about this part, and pleads with Marissa to get real. She’s acting like novias of alcoholics, who think as soon as they get married, the guy will stop drinking. Marissa doesn’t want to hear this either, tells Raúl all he does is yell, it’s like a drill on her ear, go yell somewhere else. Or maybe it’s like a right handed punch (derechazo, also a right handed pass with the cape in bullfighting). Well, go punch somewhere else. Raúl goes off maybe to do just that.

And now, we finally have a “Fuego” moment, as the half charm that guy left for Candy the other day magically glows as Candy lights a candle in front of Chava’s picture (only we can see the magic, tho). Santiago has stopped by just to give her one more moment of support (and play the SIS theme), but the real reason (as far as we’re concerned) he stopped by was so he could also see the magic amulet glowing. He picks up the amulet and asks Candy where she got it. Someone just gave it to her, saying that (and then he finishes for her) when she finds the other half, she’ll have true love. She is a little astonished he knows, but after he leaves, she squeezes the talisman, and prays to God for Chava to be cured.

In the morning, Candy visits the doctor. His brother is a specialist, and in the meantime, they can start treatment, and maybe at some point, do a bone marrow transplant.

Bárbara is “helping” Chayo, saying all men are the same, Ed must love Chayo because he hasn’t divorced her yet, Ed’s one of the worst womanizers, lots of other helpful things. Thanks, Barb.

Raúl, like a bull in heat, bursts into Santi’s office to give him the derechazo Marissa demanded. He grabs Santi’s throat and while shaking him, tells him he’s a traitor, and he better marry Mari or he’ll be very sorry. Santi pushes him off, saying what kind of idiocy is this, what right do you have to come into my office and shake me (zangolotearme) like that! He says Marissa told him he she couldn’t get pregnant, so he was taken by surprise. Then you don’t want the baby? roars Raúl. No, I want it, it was just unexpected. And if you don’t calm down, I’m just walking out of the office and leaving you here. No, I’ll leave, shoots back Raúl bitterly. But you know what you have to do, he adds on his way out.

The doctor has come to Candy’s house to set out the regimen for Chava’s treatment. He tells Candy, Meño and Gregoria the new realities. From now on, try to avoid any contagious things with Chava. Only one or two people should be with him at a time. Anyone near him has to have totally clean hands, and they have to wear facemasks (tapabocas). You have to be very careful with his food. And even after the operation, he’ll have to be cared for very delicately. Is the operation dangerous, asks Candy? Well, the real danger would be not to operate.

Santi is typing a letter to Raúl on his computer, since speaking directly was causing too much anger. Santi is calmer now, and in the letter, he admits that he is in love with Candy. The love took him by surprise, and for a while he didn’t realize it. But don’t worry, Santi will marry Marissa. Santi loves his two daughters, but he’ll love the new baby just as much. The baby is innocent, and deserves to live a happy life. But Raúl, he adds, don’t ask me to be happy when I’m giving up the woman I love, and you don’t know how much it hurts me. Un abrazo, Santiago.

Pat was driving when Meño almost walked into his car. He gets out and asks Meño what’s wrong. Meño says Chava’s name, then thinks better of it, and says, sorry, I can’t tell you. He leaves Pat wondering what is going on.

Candy, wearing the facemask, goes to Chava’s bed, explains to him that he can’t play with Beto for a while, he’ll have to go to the doctor a lot, but later everything will be back to normal. Chava’s still in an excellent mood, and asks if Mom can bring the television into his bedroom. She will.

Gregoria came to tell Alicia the news, too (at least just about everyone knows now, they got that part over with – on my recap night, thanks a lot). Gregoria thinks Alicia should tell Pat, but Alicia says no way, he’s not going to find out, he doesn’t have to find out. At this point, Pat walks in, asks what do I not have to find out?, and we’ll have to wait until Monday for Alicia’s response.

Not quite the happiest of episodes.

But next time – Chava’s going to need a donor (what a surprise!).

Vocabulario

Médula ósea – bone marrow
Me da pavor – it gives me dread, or terror
Lanzada – determined
Salgo disparado como tapon de cidra – I’ll hurry away like a cork from cider (not sure of this one)
Derechazo – a right hand punch in boxing, a right hand pass in bullfighting
Zangolotear – to shake somebody
Tapabocas - facemasks

Labels: Tontas