Caray, Caray!

Our amazing evening begins with two short scenes from the other day. First, Chayo, surrounded by friends at the Institute, receives a call from Eduardo's lover, who warns Chayo that Ed is going to divorce her, and then marry the amante. In the other scene, Lucía tells Meño that Charly is selling drugs.

In Santi’s office, Paulina complains that Isabel showed a lack of taste and breeding by not inviting Pau to the boda. Santi calmly points out that the wedding was for guests, friends and family, and Pau doesn’t fall into any of these categories. Pau then insults Isabel, calling her a cartoon hippie. Now Santi’s not so calm. He stands up, tells Pau that the only time he has ever laid a hand on a woman was when he operated – don’t make him break that record now! Paulina snarls some more, when Arturo’s Mom Margarita enters, accompanied by Hortenisa, who ushers Pau out of the office (crying “no me toques” all the way). Margarita wants to be prettier, younger, what can Santi do? Turns out the real problem is that Arturo has a lover.

At a fancy outdoor restaurant, Patricio confronts his Dad about having a lover again. Art tells Pat not to meddle in his private life. Fine, replies Pat, then take back this key to the safe deposit box if you don’t want me to meddle. Art denies this is meddling, rather it’s to save Pat’s mother’s life after Arturo dies.

Back in his office, Santi advises Margarita that plastic surgery isn’t going to solve her problems, she needs another kind of help. He suggests some kind of therapist (maybe another of Santi’s patients will become one of Candy’s clients!).

Well, Pat was given specific instructions not to open the safe deposit box until Arturo died. So where is he now? At the bank, as the attendant carries a silver gray metal box to him, leaving him to determine what Dad was hiding.

It’s evening, and Ed has prepared a romantic dinner for him and Chayo. As he finishes pouring the wine, Chayo walks in, and slams the door, obviously angry. She throws down her pocketbook, as he wonders what’s up. She grabs the wine glass, and downs it in one gulp. She informs him that the tonta (her) who doesn’t criticize, and who didn’t get mad out of fear, is no more. She’s had it. She’s going to be in charge of her own life. She drinks HIS glass of wine. If he wants a divorce, fine. Ed’s getting frantic, and after Chayo relates that the amante called her, HE pours two more glasses, which they both drink. He says the amante is lying. Chayo doesn’t trust either of them. Ed says he’ll prove he is through with the lover, and everything the lover says is a lie. Deal, responds Chayo, and they clink glasses.

Now we see our darling Marissa, in Candy’s office, looking at Candy’s computer diary, talking on the phone to a friend. As she’s talking, Candy happens to approach the doorway, and hears and sees all. Marissa tells her phone friend what she thinks of Candy – Candy acts like a friend, then wants to stab you in the back. Mari picks up a letter opener/knife and says if Candy had a pocketknife like what I have in my hand, she’d be stabbing me right now. Mari looks down at her tummy, and as she ends the conversation with the friend, complains about her escuincle (which seems to show she’s not even so happy about her little baby to be. I think escuincle just means a kid, but it’s not such an endearing term. Or maybe it’s a “low-class” word, I’m not sure). Candy repeats the word to herself with a questioning face, as she quietly exits.

Santiago is sadly remembering that Mari made him swear to forget Candy, and they both swore, although their fingers were crossed. Donato brings him a drink to deaden the pain.

Candy is walking at night, talking on the phone to Lulu, telling Lu about the baby clothes, the reading of the diary, the escuincle remark, what’s up with Marissa? Lu thinks Mari doesn’t really want (or love, it’s the same word, quiere) the baby. Candy doesn’t think things are too bad, but Lulu cautions her, watch out for Marissa! Please!

After the commercial, Ed asks Chayo are you ready? Ready, she answers, as they clink glasses, down another round each, and he dials the amante, with the phone on the table, on speaker. After the amante answers, Ed asks her what was the deal with telling his wife he was going to divorce her? Amante admits she made it up (Ed’s happily gesturing see, see?), but amante adds does he think she’s going to stand idly by with him happy with his wife, and sending her (the amante) to the devil? (at this, Chayo wants to strangle the phone). Ed grabs Chayo’s hands, and tells the amante okay, that’s all I wanted to know, but the amante says, wait, remember the great time we had when….Ed quickly presses the hangup button, as Chayo grabs his hands to stop it. Ed thinks he’s proven his point, but Chayo says you’re not getting off that easily.

We switch to Candy, at home on the computer, staring off into space. Chava comes in without knocking, is sent back to enter again properly, which he does. When he comes back in, he wants his bedtime kiss, but notices that Candy is a little sad. She denies this, wants about 35 kisses, they hug, and he tells her he got a perfect 10 on the homework she helped him with, and the teacher likes him, and said he was the only one who got everything right. Candy praises the teacher, and tells Chava how he’s her whole life. They hug and kiss some more, as Chava goes off to bed. At least Candy does have this one bright spot in amongst her troubles, but she then flashes back again to the wedding, where she swore (with fingers crossed) to forget Santiago. She thinks to herself the baby needs a papa who loves him, and therefore, there’s nothing more to consider. Candy will have to forget about Santiago.

Well, I guess Ed is trying to convince Chayo a little more, because at this point, they’re slow dancing (remember how much wine they drank!). She has pardoned him, but she still doesn’t trust him. He smiles and wants to know if she wants a little test of his love. She’s up for that, but she also wants him to be committed to her. He says, that’s the problem, he doesn’t exactly know how to behave to show he’s committed. He wants her to help. Can’t she help? They’re both smiling now, and kissing a little, and hugging a little, as he jokes about her little kiss, saying eso estuve medio chafa – literally that was half shoddy, but she’s laughing and hugging him. It’s nice to see them happy.

We switch gears to a weeping Lucía. Donato knocks, tells her that Charly has asked for her twice now, what should Donato tell him. Nothing. Lucía doesn’t want to see him now.

Meño is pacing the floor at home, waiting for Charly. (Let me just say in advance, I don’t think he’s handled this too well. When Charly wanted a moto, Meño just said forget about it, I’d rather have an angry son than a dead son. But that’s not the way to deal with things. I think Meño should have stayed calm, said maybe one day you can get one, but you should save up, and in the meantime, research motorcycles on line, give him some articles, say maybe in a few years, and with safety classes, something like that. Meño’s quick and extreme response wasn’t enough. It’s just like when everyone told Charly and Luc about sex. Use a condom. That was it, one sentence. Of course it didn’t work. They need to take more time with their teenagers. Of course we’re just seeing snaphots, and maybe there were more conversations, but the results speak for themselves).

Okay, end of sermon. It’s time for tonight’s key scene (or scenes, a lot is going on). Charly comes home, Meño grabs the front of his shirt violently, saying we have to talk! Candy comes downstairs, what’s going on? Don’t meddle, reponds, Meño. Doorbell rings, and it’s Santi, so Candy and Santi go outside to talk.

Meanwhile, in Mexico City, Patricio confronts a drinking Arturo in Art’s office. Pat slams a manila envelope down on the desk, demanding, what’s this?

Santi and Candy are walking along at night, Santi pretending to shield Candy from paparazzi, he doesn’t want any more photos of them kissing, but Candy says not to worry, there won’t be any more kissing. Santi can’t even remember what he wanted to talk about, but Candy has come to a decision. They should forget each other. This will be their adios. Santi is acting calm, sure, that’s fine. Candy is getting a little teary, as she adds that she shouldn’t be the godmother of the baby either. Santi agrees, they both say adios, Candy starts to walk away. Santi says this is when, in the old movies, the hero and the beautiful girl make up, but Candy says this isn’t a movie, it’s real life. Goodbye.

But their hearts are breaking, as Santi gets in his car and drives off.

Back home, Meño is reading Charly the riot act. There are only two places to end up with drugs, dead or in jail. Charly protests, so now you care, when you abandoned me years ago! Meño argues that his mother kicked him out. Oh, you poor victim, says Charly sarcastically to his father. If I want to sell drugs, I’ll sell them. If I want to buy a moto, I’ll buy it. Candy comes in, telling Charly she understands he wants to be a rebel, but this is a crime. Charly shoots back, yeah, well wasn’t what YOU did, pretending to be dead, a crime? Meño yells at Charly you’re not gonna sell drugs, or else I’ll…..Or else what, screams Charly, are you going to hit me? And Meño does. He slaps him, and Charly runs out. Candy runs after. She tries to grab him. He tells her to leave him in peace! He runs into the middle of the street, just as Santiago’s car zooms around the bend, and despite his braking, crashes into Charly! Charly’s out cold on the ground, bleeding from his forehead. Candy is distraught. Santi is calmer, checks Charly, don’t worry, he’s going to be okay. Meño runs up, also distraught. Santi reassures them, and calls for an ambulance, it’s urgent!

In our parallel storm, Arturo scolds Pat for opening the safe deposit box before he died. But now Pat knows. Right, Pat says he now knows his father is a murderer. It turns out that Arturo has built a number of buildings not to code, to save money. He used third rate materials, and the buildings are structurally unsound. Pat is incensed. It’s a crime, and people could die. This report says the buildings are unsafe. Yeah, well, the inspector changed the official report, so the one that’s filed says everything’s fine, counters Art. Pat shouts back of course! You bought that contractor, the way you buy everything. But what am I supposed to do with these papers? Art tells him that when Art dies, Pat will have to manage things, so he has to know about this. Pat keeps insisting, what if a building collapses, or there’s an earthquake? Well, we’d lose everything, and your mother would be on the street. But don’t worry, none of my buildings has ever collapsed (telenovela famous last words:)). Pat wants nothing to do with any of this. Really? Arturo reponds. How long have you been in your little artisan business? Not long. Whereas look around you. I have an empire! Don’t you want to give that to your children, to your wife? Because Candy still happens to be your wife, he throws out, hitting Pat like a thunderbolt.

The ambulance has arrived, Charly is strapped onto a stretcher. Santi and Candy will ride in the ambulance, I think Meño will drive separately, Gregoria will watch Chava, the police will take Santi’s car into custody.

Pat can’t believe all Arturo’s money came from risking people’s lives. Arturo (still drinking) reminds Pat that he grew up in luxury. He never asked where any of the money came from. Pat informs Art that Art got all this money for himself, not for Pat, and Pat would have traded all the money for the love of a father. He would gladly have preferred his Dad taking him to play fútbol, or to a bullfight, rather than have any of that money. He would glady have traded the money for a Dad who would help him blow out the candles on his birthday cake. Arturo thinks these are nice words, but he insists he did everything for Pat. Pat knows it’s not true. Arturo did it all for himself, for his lovers, for his macho pride. And look at him now, drinking to anesthetize himself. Arturo warns Pat to respect him. Pat walks out, telling his father just keep on drinking. Which he does.

In the ambulance, Santi explains he was driving to Candy’s house to see her, he came around the corner, may have been a little distracted, didn’t see Charly until it was too late. Candy reassures him, as Charly moans a little, his head immobilized to protect against neck injury. Doctor Santi asks if Charly knows who he is, and who Candy is, and since Charly does, that’s a good sign. Although Charly can’t remember what happened, he’s conscious, nothing is broken, they’ll be at the hospital in 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, I guess to remind us that things are NOT okay, we see Isabel sitting in her robe at Jaime’s house, looking wistful. She thinks about Rocío, Lucía, Santiago. Jaime comes in, what’s wrong? She asks what he hears. Nothing. Well, that’s the problem. She misses the shouts of Santiago, the smell of the kitchen, all the excitement at her old house. Jaime comforts her, saying she’ll get used to the sounds and smells of this house. Yes, maybe, she answers, but would he be mad if she asked him for something? Whatever you want, my love, says Jaime, clasping her hands. A divorce, she answers, as he lets go of her hands, and looks at her with a mixture of mild shock, but maybe some amusement (hopefully he’ll change her mind).

At the hospital, Meño has arrived at the same time as Candy, Santi and Charly. As Santi goes with Charly on the stretcher, Meño admits to Candy that he hasn’t done this in a long time, but he prayed the whole way to the hospital. Candy hugs him as he says that if Charly dies, he’ll die. Fortunately, the doctor comes out, and Charly is fine, no broken bones, no brain damage, they just have to keep him overnight for observation. Santi explains that Charly’s blank about the accident is normal, it’s a defense mechanism against trauma. Meño wants to stay with Charly, and Candy says she’ll stay too. This prompts Santi to volunteer as well (since he wants to be with Candy). But Meño gets rid of them, knowing Santi wants to talk to Candy.

Santi runs out after Candy, who was going to take a taxi. He wants to walk and talk (and I think he knows yet another magic place to show her). She thinks he’ll never give up, he’s so stubborn. No, he just wants to talk, he won’t try to convince her of anything. Besides, this is their farewell night.

Meño is talking to a sleeping Charly. He feels guilty. He remembers when Charly was born, he held him in his arms, and promised never, never would he let Charly be cold, hungry or afraid, because Meño would always be with him. Please forgive me, he says emotionally to his sleeping son. I failed you. I didn’t fulfill my promise.

Yes, Santi has brought Candy to another magical place, a pretty park, with picturesque trees, as they talk under the moonlight. He tells Candy he will always love her. He wants to sleep with her, wake up with her, bring her breakfast in bed every day, and he wants a home, a home with Chava, Lucía, Rocío, and the two of them, a family, and he wants to love her for his entire life. Thank you, says Candy. For what? Candy explains that she has wanted something like that her whole life too, and she thought the only place one’s soul could be cured was at the Institute, but now Santi has just put a little bandaid on her heart. She thought she would have to bring up Chava alone, but now she realizes that if she wants, if she needs someone in her life…Santi now says thank you, and Candy asks why. For talking with honesty, and from the heart. Santi also has had problems, raising Rocío alone, and Lucía, and caring for his mother, and he never had a woman at his side. They sit down in front of a huge double oak tree, as Santi tells Candy that she is the love of his life, his only love. Is he the love of her life? Does she have to answer right now? Well, at least before dawn, says Santi. Candy feels a bit cold, and Santiago gently wraps his arms around her.

Night turns to day, and our lovers have fallen asleep, sitting in front of the large tree. A drop of fresh dew falls on Santi’s cheek, and he wakes up smiling. He whispers her name, and she awakes. He dreamed she was his. He asks why people say farewell at night. Does the night hurt less? The day is much harder. But you never answered my question. She says it’s time to leave, and they stand up. She says she’ll always be there when he needs her. She wants his heart to be happy, and for him to have a good life. They hug deeply, then break apart, holding hands, staring into each others’ eyes, tranquil at last. As she walks away, she turns back, and says, “and the question you asked me? The answer is yes.”

(I just have to say this was the most beautiful scene in this telenovela so far for me, and it brought tears to my eyes, both when I watched it live, and again doing the recap).

Of course, we’re not done yet. Pat is back at his own office, and puts the envelope with Arturo’s incriminating papers in his safe, just as Alicia breezes in. She wonders what the papers are, and he tells her they have to do with his father, but don’t ask further. She’s fine with that, how about they talk a bath together, as she rubs up against him. No, he’s going to play fútbol with his sons. She still wants him to bathe her, or maybe she’ll go with him to the game? Nope, you don’t like fútbol, bye, enjoy your day, as he walks out. She looks at the safe and makes a face.

Santiago is having a tea for breakfast, as Donato says he looks a little tired. No, he’s fine, today is an easy day at the office, only one surgery, an ear job, and everything is great (estoy a todo dar). Besides, last night was one of the best nights of his life. So, Donato queries, you were thinking about last night? Not really, says Santiago, and he starts talking about how he’s wanted a son for a long time. Of course, this is our telenovela cue for trouble, as Rocío has come downstairs, hears this, and listens in behind the door. Santi tells Donato how he’s wanted to teach a son how to play fútbol, how to head the ball, etc., as we see a concerned Rocío.

And in Candy’s office, Patricio and Chava have come to visit, and they’re both wearing Americas’ jerseys! They jump up and down, as she remarks he can’t wear that shirt, it’s a filthy thing (me da roña), and she whips it off of Chava, gets out the kids’ Chivas jersey she just happens to have behind her desk and quickly puts it on him, reminding him and Pat that Chava is a Chiva just like his Mom. Well he has some eagle (Americas) blood in him, too, says Pat. Candy tells Pat he can make Beto an eagle, but not her Chava. Pat then says the real reason he came is to invite the two of them to the big stadium, because the Americas are playing Chivas. Really? Yes, says Pat, just the three of us, like a family.

Next time: More rivalry, Candy vs. Marissa for Santi, Santi vs. Pat for Candy.

Vocabulario:

Eso estuve medio chafa – That was half shoddy. Probably used better in the negative, eso no estuve medio chafa – that was not half bad. Also means not authentic, see comments for more explanation.
Escuincle – a kid, maybe a brat
Estoy a todo dar – everything is great
Me da roña – That’s disgusting (it gives me filth, or scabies!)

Labels: Tontas