Caray, Caray!

Hello everyone,

I’m sorry this is so late!!! I wasn’t aware of how quickly everyone liked to see these, and also didn’t plan enough time to write the recap and get it up. I promise you all it will be up a lot more quickly next time. Any comments about what you might like to see are most welcome.

Sortilegio chapter 15

Review of the end of chapter 14:
Brutus asks Alex for $1mm to leave the country and Alex barters him down to $500m. Alex sends for the check to be cut and signed and as Brutus is leaving Alex mockingly asks him about Maria Jose – is Bruno just going to leave her to him? Bruno gives him a killing look but no answer, and after he leaves faithful friend Fernando (FFF) points out that Alex is looking for trouble by poking at Brutus. That’s what Alex wants, he claims – he wants Brutus to fume! (He uses the word reventar, which means to explode, and there are definitely overtones of “may his head explode from the frustration and rage I hope I’m causing him!”) He vows to put security on Maria Jose so that Bruno can’t take her away. FFF reminds Alex that he has one month to annul the marriage as long as he doesn’t have sex with MJ.

Begin chapter 15:
Cut to Maria Jose and her sister Paula. Paula is trying on her older sister’s clothes. MJ is counting money and tracking the family’s finances. Paula wants to know why Alejandro was so furious the night before and wonders if it had to with MJ. MJ is of course sworn to secrecy and only tells her that it’s because of problems between the two of them – nothing to do with her. Paula remarks that he seems really jealous. “Of course Bruno’s jealous” says Maria Jose – it’s already clear to her that Alex is the top dog and Bruno is the one who’s jealous. Noooo squeals Paula – It’s not Bruno who is jealous of Alex, but Alex who is jealous of Bruno, because Alex himself likes Maria Jose. Maria Jose is pretty pragmatic about any supposed attraction: sure – maybe he likes me – but for what reason?

Maria Jose counts out some of their money and tells Paula to bring their father shopping for some hair dye and a couple of shirts. Paula whines about not getting anything for herself, and when MJ says that don’t have any more money P wonders why MJ doesn’t ask Alex for money. She clearly feels like she doesn’t fit in in their new environment but MJ reminds her that they are there temporarily and it’s got to end. Paula can’t understand why and when MJ leaves the room P goes through her wallet and empties it of all the money she can find.

Cut to a shot with Victoria and Maria Jose on a bench in front of house. Victoria is explaining to MJ how much it has always pained her the way those boys don’t get along, and asks MJ to avoid talking to Bruno since it obviously bothers Alex and leads to fights like the one they had the previous evening. MJ assures her that she is not the one seeking out problems and Victoria jumps on that immediately – “Ah – so it’s him?” MJ reassures her that it’s just because they are living together, and Victoria asks her to listen to her (i.e., stay away from B).

Alex drives up in his (of course) white sports car, supposedly for some papers, and asks to talk to Maria Jose. As they walk into the house he tells her in a low voice that Bruno asked him for money and wants to know if Bruno asked MJ to go away with him. She tells him that he did, but she refused. –“Why?” She wants to be truthful with him, she says, and show him that she’s a good person. She hopes that he won’t send her to jail and that the two of them can get a divorce. Alex gives a brief nod and a searching look and the shot cuts to Bruno rounding the drive in his grey sports car. He tells his mother he has to talk with Alex and, ignoring her and her explanation that he’s with MJ, runs up the stairs in search for him.

In the meantime Maria Jose and Alex have made it to the office and are discussing the oddity of what has happened to them. Alex asks MJ if she believes in destiny, no doubt wondering if she is his. MJ isn’t sure about the destiny concept and thinks it may be simply a question of ending up where your errors leave you. Alex hopes that he’s not making an error with her, and MJ says she can tell him only that she wishes that what happened had never happened.

Alex suggests they take the opportunity to get to know each other, but MJ is afraid that he will just deceive her too – he and his family are so different. Alex maintains that the only difference is the money – they are flesh and blood like everyone else. He’s been moving closer as they talk and now he starts to kiss her. She responds with just a minimal and unenthusiastic puckering of lips. Alex, suave ladies’ man that he is, can recognize when a woman isn’t really participating and he backs off and asks her if it bothers her that he kissed her. MJ says that’s not it – it’s just that she doesn’t know if she’s doing the right thing. Alex throws back his head and laughs – ha ha ha – and hooks his arm around her neck to draw her in close.

They are locked in an embrace when Bruno charges into the room. You would think that MJ or Alex would notice that he has come in, but at that moment dramatic music cuts in so loudly that of course they don’t hear him arrive. Bruno watches them for a painful moment, until Alex notices him. MJ is pretty much into the embrace and doesn’t realize Bruno is there until Alex backs away from her and angrily asks Bruno how many times he has to remind him to knock before entering. Bruno, in a trembling voice, hands him the check and tells him he forgot to sign it. Alex signs it and then, in an obvious attempt to make Bruno's head explode, puts his arm around MJ and tells Bruno that the two of them wish him an excellent trip.

Maria Jose is angry – it’s clear that Alex is using her to get at his brother - and asks Alex what his plans are for her. Alex wants to know what would have happened if he had really died and MJ had inherited all his money – was Bruno planning to the marry MJ? MJ says that was Bruno's plan, but she would never have fallen in with it and she had told Bruno that. Alex is skeptical – she’s in love with Bruno, and a woman in love will always end up forgiving her man. MJ is adamant – she will never forgive Bruno!! She wants to know what Alex is going to do – is he going to wait until Bruno leaves the country and then blame her for everything? Because if he does she won’t hesitate to spill the truth. Even if no one believes her, it will cause a scandal for the Lombardo family and she knows they don’t want that.

Cut to Bruno and slavish dog Eric. Bruno tells Eric their plans have changed. MJ and her family don’t have passports so they’ll have to go to Mexico City first (to get them, I suppose). Eric tells him that his buddy in Tijuana can get them fake visas. That’s fine, says Bruno, but they also have to find another way to get MJ and her family out of the Lombardo family compound, because Alex has beefed up security. They have to be ready to grab any opportunity that presents itself.

Cut to MJ and Alex, with Alex explaining why he took the decision he did (which decision? He’s not specific, but it seems to be the one related to bribing Bruno to leave the country): it’s so unpleasant to know that someone is trying to kill you. MJ agrees that this is indeed unpleasant, but points out that it’s been tried many times before – Bruno has told her so! Alex is astonished and angry that she could still believe Bruno after all the lies he’s told, but she points out that she knows nothing about them. Alex tells her that the accident was intentional – the semi-trailer truck aimed straight for them – and a poor campesino was killed in the attempt. MJ starts to say she doesn’t think Bruno capable of such a thing, but Alex assures her that Bruno is capable of all of that and more. He’s gotten worked up and angry and now starts to wonder again how involved MJ is in the plot. Bruno is leaving the country, MJ wants a divorce, and she and Bruno can then get together, forget all this nasty business about an attempted murder, and live happily ever after. MJ assures him that she is not going to marry Bruno. Alex says he believes her, but proposes that they change their marriage contract so that MJ no longer gets a portion of his money if they break up. She agrees – she doesn’t want his money! and glares at him. He drops his eyes.

Cut to a shot of Lisette, Paula and Don Pedro in front of the mansion. Lisette was just visiting Raquel and is on her way out, and she’d be happy to drop off Paula and Don Pedro downtown. Maria Jose arrives and and Lisette tells her how surprised everyone was that she married Alex, and assures her that she, Lisette, has nothing against her. She invites them to a party the following day but MJ doesn’t seem very interested; she’ll ask Alejandro. Paula whines and grabs MJ arm “ay sí – vamos!” and MJ says that if they can, they will. Lisette, Paula and Don Pedro all leave in Lisette’s SUV to go to town.

Faithful Friend Fernando arrives at that moment and he and MJ exchange an awkward head-bob and wave; they are clearly not at ease with each other. Fer goes to Alex’s office, where Alex tells him that he is changing the status of the marriage contract, and that MJ is aware of what he is doing and agreed to it. He also tells Fer that he thinks MJ is a victim of Bruno’s “murderous schemes.” Fer just wants to make sure that Alex isn’t making an error which might hurt Victoria. Alex smirks and doesn’t reply, but Fer keeps going on about it – it’s easy to be dazzled by a pretty woman who presents herself as the victim of somebody that Alex hates. They don’t resolve the issues and Fer changes the subject, telling Alex he just came to let him known that Alvaro (?) has been investigating the accident site but there are so many isolated villages out there that they haven’t yet found out anything about the campesino who died, or his wife. Fer stays to eat with them.

The next scene, in a shopping mall, seems designed to show just how out of place and over their heads Paula and Don Pedro are, and how false Lisette is in pretending to be their friend. Don Pedro is so afraid on the escalator that he tries to run back up it to get off. Paula wants to look – just look - at shoes in a designer-label store and Lisette insists on buying a pair for her.

Now Victoria, Alex, Bruno, Fernando and Maria Jose are having lunch and Fer is talking about a fine they had to pay on a development deal, and suggests to Bruno that he (Bruno) talk to him (Fer) the next time so that Fer can look at the land beforehand and make sure that it’s buildable. Bruno is contemptuous and incredulous – I should let you know. This seems another scene designed to show the difference between evil Bruno and saintly Alex. Bruno maintains that a bribe could take care of practically anything – even building a skyscraper on a cemetery, and Alex reminds him about his father’s saying that there are no solid grounds to build anything if it’s not done ethically. Bruno angrily tells Alex not to talk to him about his father. Squabbling ensues, interrupted by the arrival of Paula and Don Pedro.

The new arrivals sit down and Paula brings up the party the following evening. MJ says she doesn’t really feel like going but Paula and Bruno pressure her, saying she needs to start developing a social life. Besides, says Bruno, setting out some bait for Alex, Alex would be delighted to bring her – he’s always been proud of all the beautiful women he squires around, and he’s squired the most beautiful women in Merida. Alex of course takes the bait and ups the ante (sorry for the excessive metaphors): Maria Jose is in fact the most beautiful woman he’s seen – wouldn’t Bruno agree – and he would be delighted to bring her to this party. With staged tenderness he takes MJ’s hand, calls her my love and says he wants to bring her to the party because he would do anything to please her; if she wants to go then they shall. Victoria now chimes in that it would be a good idea to go and MJ, pressured on all sides, caves. The girl is clearly missing a few vertebrae. Paula squeals with delight but points out to all at the table that, unfortunately, all their dress clothes are in Saquí and alas, they will have nothing to wear. Soft touch Alex, of course, tells them not to worry about it.

Maria Jose, Paula and Don Pedro are walking back to the guest house after lunch. MJ is angrily recriminating Paula for her obvious bid to get some new clothes out of the deal. Paula shrieks at her that she should get over her complex about it, that they can’t go in rags, that she should do it for Alex, whose wife should be dressed appropriately. MJ insists that Alex is NOT her husband, and Paula and Don Pedro insist that he is: she married a man named Alex Lombardo, and there is a wedding certificate to prove it. MJ points out that Alex was not the one who signed the certificate, and Don Pedro, desperate to stay out of jail, points out how happy, how in love Alex seems to be with her. MJ, sworn to secrecy, can only insist that they just don’t understand, and she leaves them.

Brutus is explaining to Eric that at the upcoming party he will wait until it’s very crowded and then take MJ and her family away. The first thing Alex will check is the planes, so the four of them will drive up to Mexico City rather than flying. Once they have the passports they’ll go to Tijuana for the visas. Eric will have to stay in Merida to keep an eye on what Alex is doing, but he will join them later in the US. Eric is fearful that B will leave him behind but Bruno insists that he won’t.

Meanwhile, back at the compound, Maria Jose is going to her room. Alex sees her and greets her with a flirtatious, “Hi, beautiful.” MJ angrily tells him not to call her that, and says she is not a plaything for him or his brother, that he should save his pretty lies for his other girlfriends. (I can’t help thinking that if MJ were in fact a toy, say a teddy bear, she would by now be missing an arm and half her stuffing would be falling out of her.) Alex points out that they are in fact living a lie, and MJ again reproaches him for telling lies about her being beautiful and only wanting to please her. By this time they are inside MJ’s room, and Alex tells her that if he had gotten married of his own free will he would surely have married her, because of all the women he knows she is far and away the best. He has grasped her arms to tell her this but she denies what he is saying and rather feebly tries to shake him off. He insists that it’s so and she responds that she is aware of the great bitterness (rencor) between the two men and doesn’t want to be used by them to get at each other. She turns to face him: “That’s really what you want from me, isn’t it?” Nope. It turns out (according to Alex) that the only thing he wants is for her to go to dinner with him that night. (His needs are simple, his wants are few.)

Maura and Bruno meet at a restaurant or bar, where Bruno tells Maura of his plan to take MJ and her family away during the party. This is, of course, purely for MJ’s sake, as Alex has practically kidnapped her and is keeping her there against her will. Will Maura help him? But of course! Her job will be to keep Alex busy while Bruno spirits away MJ and her family.

Maria Jose and Alex are at a restaurant and Alex is leading MJ onto the dance floor. MJ proposes that they each lay their cards on the table. He knows who she is and how she got there, and now she wants to know more about him. What she especially wants to know is, is he being so good to her and her family simply to get her into bed, as Bruno maintains? Alex would like to know if she would accept if those were the conditions. If he agreed to a give her a divorce and forget about the whole thing, would she sleep with him? She doesn’t answer and he wonders why not – is it because she is afraid it will make him angry if he says no? That, she says, and also she’s never made love, and she has to be in love to make love. Well, Alex acknowledges that he would like to get her into bed, but says he would never pressure her. And now we get to the crux of the matter: MJ wants to know if he will let her and her family go, even if she doesn’t sleep with him. Alex wonders why she wants to leave – is it so that she can go back to Bruno? She claims not, and he says that if he were absolutely sure that she wasn’t going back to B he might, he might, he might let her go. Throughout the conversation they are stroking and caressing each other’s hair, so it’s hard to believe either one is really able to think beyond the pheromones they’re both producing.

Back at the house, Alex accompanies to her room. He tells her his mother will go with her and Paula tomorrow to get clothes, but she is really bothered by how much they are taking from him and doesn’t want to accept any more. He proposes that she take what he is offering right now (no, not that - the clothes!) and when she leaves them she can leave behind everything he gave her. They exchange a brief kiss at the door of her room but it’s clear that they’re both dying for more.

MJ is alone in her room and, big surprise, here’s Bruno coming through the outside door again. Why in the world doesn’t that girl start locking the doors? Bruno tells Maria Jose about the plan for the next night at the party, but she refuses: she wants to do things right, Alex has said he will give her a divorce and she believes him. Bruno, enraged, grabs her by the neck and says that he won’t allow Alex to win this fight – Alex can keep all the money but he won’t get MJ, and if MJ doesn’t fall in with Bruno's plans he will turn her father in for dealing in black market goods and running drugs. MJ starts to say she will tell the truth but Bruno claps his hand over her mouth and says she has no way of making her accusations stick, whereas he has all he needs to make his accusations against her father work.

The next day Maria Jose, Paula and Victoria go shopping, MJ protesting all the while that she is really embarrassed about accepting so much. Later, in an exclusive boutique, Paula is clearly enjoying herself and Maria Jose is just as clearly uninterested.

Over drinks Maura and Raquel talk about Bruno’s plans to go away with MJ and her family. Raquel doesn’t understand why she would walk away from Alex and his money, but Maura doesn’t care – she just wants her to go.

Maria Jose tells Paula that they have to leave with Bruno because of the threats he has made about turning in their father and Paula pitches a terrific fit. Paula wants her to tell Alex about Bruno’s threats, but MJ doesn’t want this to be the cause of another fight. Paula finally agrees, with bad grace and with much crying and shouting, that, to save their father they have to go.

Felipa and Victoria are wondering what is really going on between Alex and Maria Jose. They are unable to resolve the situation, but Victoria is sure of one thing – since that girl MJ has come to the household there has been nothing but fights and an unhealthy atmosphere in the household. She tells Felipa about Alex’s first supposition that MJ and an accomplice were trying to swindle him and perhaps even kill him, and wonders what is the matter with him that now he rejects the possibility that MJ was responsible. She is sure that something is wrong with Alex, and is angry with Fernando that he won’t tell her what’s going on. Felipa asks, not quite out of the blue, if Victoria has ever thought of getting married again.

MJ tells her father that they have to leave. She doesn’t want to tell her father that he is what Bruno is using to blackmail them into leaving, and so she says it’s because Alex is on the verge of discovering what’s going on. Bruno comes to get their birth certificates so that they can apply for passports and assures MJ that, although she is angry with him now, she will see later that he was right to do what he did. A few minutes later Alex drives up just as Bruno, followed fairly closely by MJ, return to the main house. Alex asks her where she’s been and she says with her father. -“With Bruno?” -“No, alone.” A clearly doesn’t buy it and goes to ask Roberto if he was with Bruno (apparently the only place Bruno would have been if not with MJ and her father was with Roberto). Roberto, in a bathrobe and with a cocktail in his hand, says he hasn’t seen Bruno.

Alex goes to see Don Pedro and says that Bruno just told him he (B) had come by to say hello. Don Pedro, not quite sure what to say, says that he was but just for a couple of minutes. Alex doesn’t respond but is clearly unhappy and suspicious. He returns to the main house, where his mother tells him that although Paula was overjoyed with the clothes, MJ seemed distracted, sad and unhappy, although she didn’t say anything. Victoria asks what is going on, since there is clearly something wrong with MJ and the two of them are still sleeping in separate rooms. Alex, taken aback, comes up with the quickest lie he can think of: his rib is still bothering him a bit. Vicki doesn’t buy it and tells him so, but Alex simply excuses himself and says he has a lot to do.

Getting ready for the party, MJ notices that all their money is gone. Paula maintains that one of the servants must have taken it, but MJ isn’t buying it. Before they can argue, Vicki knocks on the door. Persistent to the end, she ask MJ to please talk to her if she and Alex are having problems. MJ gives her an emotional hug and thanks her for everything before quickly leaving.

At the party, Alex is obviously proud to introduce Maria Jose to his friends, introducing her by her (very long) married name, Maria Jose Samaniego de Lombardo. Bruno takes Maura aside to tell her she has to somehow get Alex alone so that he can get MJ and her family away from the party. In a moment alone with MJ, Alex comments that she seems odd. She says it’s because she’s not used to parties like this, and Alex takes the opportunity to tell her how beautiful she looks tonight. At that moment Maura interrupts them, gives Alex an exceedingly affectionate kiss and insists that she has to talk to Alex on urgent business - she needs his advice about a financial matter. MJ surely wouldn’t mind lending him her husband, would she? MJ clearly does mind, but does the polite thing and says of course she doesn’t. Maura proposes to Alex that they go someplace quiet where they can talk alone. As they walk away Alex is following MJ with his eyes from across the room, and a frustrated Maura tells him not to worry, nothing will happen to wifey (tu mujercita). Alex tells her not to kiss him like that anymore when she greets him, and especially not in front of his wife.

Bruno gets MJ and tells her their father is going to be there soon and then they will all leave. MJ tells him she has changed her mind – she doesn’t want to leave anymore, and she goes to look for Alejandro.

Maura, in the meantime, has brought the conversation around from investments to her and Alex. She wants to know why he could have done what he did. They were together (and by together, understand “together”) just a few days before he got married – what happened? Alex looks away from her, unable to find a response, and just as MJ walks into view Maura is pulling his head around to force him to look at her so she can tell him she loves him (I must say, there is a lot of coercion by way of head and neck going on in this story.) The scene ends with MJ gasping. It’s not clear whether or not she has heard Maura, but she has clearly seen how intimate they still are with one another.

Labels: sortilegio