Caray, Caray!

Friday: Madeleine is Chris’s ma!

Monday: Is this a joke? says Chris.

Madeleine: No joke; I’ve been wanting to see you again forever.
Chris: Madam, I don’t know what kind of game this is, but you’re very much out of line.
M (pleading): Don’t push me away. I understand you are surprised, maybe angry, but this is no time to argue. It’s bad enough what you are suffering in this place.
C: I don’t understand what you’re doing here in the prison.
M: God works in mysterious ways. Being here has wrecked your life, but if it weren’t for that, I wouldn’t be here with you now.
C: What is it you want, Madam?
M: To see you, to get to know you. You’re my child – my only child.
C: I was a half-orphan from a very young age. I lost my mother. I think it’s better that you leave now. (He stands)
M: Please, just listen to me.

Diana and Inez are having lunch at a café and Inez asks her to be her maid of honor. Diana says sure and says she hopes she has the same kind of luck with Samuel. Whew! What a lover! Maybe Camila has said he’s bad in bed, but she must’ve just been frigid. Yowrrrrr. Pragmatic Inez says maybe he just got a lot of experience in the meantime. Whatever, says Diana…. what a night!

Joel walks in with Monica, her child in his arms. Diana spots them and says Joel! What’s with the kid? Oh, poor little guy – I see why you’ve kept him hidden. Monica snatches the boy from Joel’s arms and says He’s mine! Joel says And he’s going to be mine too very soon. He hasn’t been kept hidden. Diana says Oh, don’t be so touchy.

Monica heads for another table waaay on the other side of the room and Joel tells Diana he hopes her grandson will recover. Diana is shocked and Joel says didn’t you know he was born last night? Diana says You’re lying! Joel tells her that he’s in an incubator, and Diana abandons Inez, furious that nobody even told her.

Madeleine tells Chris that she lives in Paris, but was born in Mexico. When she saw his photo in the papers and read his name, she jumped on the first plane to Mexico. Or rolled on.

Chris says I’m sorry to hear you went to the trouble, because you’re wasting your time. I have no mother. My mother abandoned me when I was a baby, and left me with an alcoholic father. So you can see, even if she were alive, I wouldn’t want to have any sort of relationship with her.

I understand how you feel, she says. I expected it. But this isn’t the time to argue. I wanted to be here for you at this hard time. Chris says I don’t want you here. Go on back to Paris. Please, she implores. I need to be with you, just once.

Why? says Chris. Madeleine says I wanted you to know how much I love you (Chris snorts) and how much I care what happens to you. Empty words, says Chris. If something is important to a person, they don’t ever desert it.

Chris says I don’t want to judge you, but if you are who you say you are, you made that decision years ago, let’s be honest.

Carlota is reading in the paper that Chris and Natalie’s case is coming up and German will be their lawyer. The prosecutor will be Lic. Cordero. Carlota seems to know who that is, but I don’t. Anyway, she figures she has some secrets about Chris to tell him.

Back at the jail, Madeleine says people change their minds, see the errors of their decisions, repent. Perdoname! Chris says I have nothing to forgive. But I do get to choose who I want to be with, and I don’t want to be with you.

Madeleine says the thought of seeing you again has kept me alive all these years. If you want me near, or far away, I can die in peace, knowing that I was able to look you in the eyes and tell you that I haven’t had one single day of peace. Perdoname!

Nurses are trying to get Romina suited up in a sterile outfit to go be with her baby. Em watches through a door window. Romina is scared – the baby will be too fragile. She’s just not good at stuff like that. They tell her they need her to give breast milk and she is horrified – she says there is all kinds of good formula out there. The nurses say the baby needs her. Romina tells Em that she’d give milk to the baby in the incubator, but not to the nurse. Gross! Forget it.

Em, all suited up, goes in to see the megababy.

Madeleine tells Chris that she’s going to leave a box at the priest’s residence that has family papers and photos so if he wants to he can find out about his mother and his family. Chris says I made it all these years without knowing that, why bother? Madeleine says because now you know you have a mother. Who abandoned me, says Chris. Who is here now, says Madeleine.

I’ll leave it with the priests, she says. Chris says you realize they chucked me out of the church? I know, she says, mi amor. Chris squeezes his eyes shut. Leave, he says, and don’t come back.

The baby has a great pair of lungs. The nurse tells Em to touch the baby and he reaches through the incubator armholes with his UNGLOVED hands. Every inch of him is covered in blue sterile getup, hair included, but all those parts of him are outside the incubator. He strokes the baby, buttering it with germs. Romina watches through an observation window. Em sweettalks the baby, telling him he loves him, that he’ll take him camping and everything. Romina smiles.

Madeleine says I know I have no rights here, but I’m going to stay in town. Think about it… if you want to see me, I’ll leave my hotel address. Chris says why don’t you go back to Paris – you must’ve been happy all these years. Madeleine says how could I be happy? I love you, I’ve always loved you. Chris rolls his eyes and sighs. I’m going to stay here and see what happens with the trial. Chris takes the hotel’s card and gets up to leave. As he passes her, Madeleine takes his hand, kisses it and leans her cheek into it. Chris gives her a perfunctory blessing and leaves.

Paloma in her bedroom slops bright yellow paint on a canvas. She stops and calls Gabriel and tells him that she had a nap, and when she woke up, she felt she had to get her thoughts on canvas. Never has she been in this color mood! She feels like something is starting, something is about to be born. Gabriel says wow – we’re painting the same thing! Me too! Orange! Yellow! Red!

Paloma wonders if it has something to do with the baby being born. Gabriel thinks so. He’s stoked that they’re so in sync. He tells her to bring her canvas when she comes for her lesson.

Lili and Sandra (in bed with her hepatitis) are talking on the phone and Lili gives her the bad news that Gabriel went over and asked Paloma if he could escort her to the graduation party. Sandra is bummed, but Lili says he doesn’t think Paloma is interested in him. Sandra has heard about Lili’s breakup with Erik, but she says it makes sense since Lili is still hung up on German.

Sandra says she’s realized she liked Erik way better than she thought and now she’s unhappy. Sandra asks her to tell all about Romina’s water breaking at the party, and then says she feels jealous of Paloma. What should she do?

Romina calls Paloma from her hospital bed and begs her to come see the monster newborn. Paloma says I didn’t think you wanted me to come because…. Romina says please come see him, he’s adorable. She hangs up and says I want you to come shrivel up with jealousy about Emiliano and the baby.

Rufi was listening, and Paloma says she feels uncomfortable about going. Yesterday was an emergency, but this is different. Rufi says it’d look rude if you didn’t come, and besides, you’re not butting in, Romina invited you. Paloma says you’re right! I’ll get a present and go.

Rafa and Luz are visiting Romina in the hospital. Em is there too. Rafa marvels that he’s a grandfather and Romina marvels that she’s a mother. Luz urges Romina to touch her baby – that it would know her smell and her voice. Romina is doubtful. She asks if Luz has kids, and Luz says no, you two are so privileged to have one.

Diana barges in and says nobody even told me! Luz smirks. Rafa rolls his eyes. He says he called all night, but she didn’t pick up. Diana says no you didn’t, but Em backs Rafa up.

Rafa and Luz leave, Luz trailing clouds of smugness. Diana reproaches Em and Em says all you can gripe about is not having found out? Why don’t you ask how Romina is? How the baby is?

Samuel comes in with a bouquet of tacky baby-themed balloons. Diana looks nervous and shifty-eyed. Samuel is all phony-gushy and Romina informs him the baby will be named after him.

Paloma, gift in hand, is looking through the big observation window at the baby and coo-cooing at him. Em enters and Paloma melts, seeing him caress his child. He looks up and sees her and they look at each other with delight. A nurse comes up and talks to Paloma for a while, but we can’t hear. Next thing, we see Paloma all suited up, being allowed to come love up the baby. She puts her hand into the incubator and we all hope and pray that she doesn’t have any Carlota cooties on her ungloved hands.

Paloma doesn’t look like she knows how to handle a baby, she mostly just pets its clothes, but she does know how to sing, and so we and Em are treated to a lovely little lullaby. Em looks at her with admiration.

Paloma says this is the most amazing thing she’s ever experienced. She has the urge to protect the baby, to hold it and kiss it. Em says you can come do that any time. But reality break: Paloma says Romina wouldn’t like that. The musicians put down their Happy Baby sheet music and switch to the Crushed Lovers score. I’ve just come today because she asked me to. Em says the nurses say the baby needs this attention to thrive and Romina is unwilling, or unable, to provide it. Let’s not tell Romina.

In the prison visiting hall, Chris is telling Padre B about his mother’s visit. He says he didn’t actually know if she was dead or alive, but just that she had abandoned him when he was very small and left him with father and after he died, he lived with his grandparents until they died.

Padre B says don’t you want to know what happened? Chris says no – I’m sure she’s just here because she was always afraid her child might turn out to be a murderer. Padre B says whoa – negative vibes! Chris says why not? The church turned its back on me. Padre B says he believes in him, and look at the silver lining – his mother found him. She came all this way to see him!

Why do I have to deal with so much? Chris anguishes. Padre B says they’re trials, trials that’ll make you stronger. He urges Chris to dig around in his heart and find some love and compassion. Besides, the trial will give him the opportunity to tell his side. He says Chris should give his mother the same opportunity.

Back at the hospital, Paloma says she doesn’t want to make Romina mad. Em says you never know which way that cat will jump, but the main thing is what the baby needs. Paloma marvels at it, that it’s Em’s baby.

Em says he wishes it were her baby. Paloma says hush. He says you’re right, it shouldn’t have to pay for his mistakes. Paloma says the baby is lucky to have him. Em says he’s going to dedicate his life to making his son happy. Paloma looks at him with melty eyes. She sings another lullaby. He looks at her tenderly.

Gabriel is painting furiously – he has done a landscape with a yellow sky. Oops – suddenly he doesn’t feel well.

Now Paloma is visiting with Romina who says the baby looks just like Em, don’t you think? Paloma says to her babies never look like anybody, but they’re so sweet. Romina says he scares her – he’s so fragile. What if she dropped him? She likes babies better when they’re bigger. Paloma gives her a kiss and Romina thanks her for everything she’s done for their new family. Paloma leaves and Romina smirks.

The sun rises over Real del Monte.

At the plateria, Angelica is telling Orlando about what Dario did to her. Orlando says he’s sorry he hasn’t been around – all the excitement with the baby. Angelica says she’s going to go after Dario with everything she’s got.

Orlando says he’s sorry, but he couldn’t find the manuscript she gave him. He wanted to read it. Why? she says sharply. It was a good story, she says, or Dario wouldn’t have stolen it. Don’t look for it, I found it thrown in among your other papers. Orlando says he really wanted to read it and Angelica says is that why you lied to me and said you had? Orlando says I was ashamed that I hadn’t yet.

I’m awfully sorry, says Orlando. I won’t lie to you again. Give it to me – I want to read it. I’ll be honest with you from now on – does this mean you’ll stay? She reminds him that she was just filling in for a couple of months. He says he wants her to stay because things are really going to be hopping when they expand to the U.S. You write your new novel and I’ll read every page!

Every page? Wow, you da man, Orlando! Why not go for the gold and read the cover flap too?

Angelica gets a little tearful and Orlando asks why. She says she felt so alone. You’re not alone he says.

Don Eugenio is on the phone with Gabriel, who assures him he’s fine. Don E wants to come see him anyway. He uses the excuse of the unfinished conversation with Carlota. Gabriel, though he’s having a nature walk, looks a little peaky and Don E looks worried after he hangs up.

Paloma and Lili are visiting. Lili says it looks like there’s something between Paloma and Gabriel, but Paloma scoffs. Lili says I know you don’t want anything to do with cupid, but Em’s making his own life with Romina and the baby and you should make yours.

Paloma deflects her by asking about Erik. Lili says she’s really down and Paloma suggests she talk with him and tell him how she feels.

Lili says I know! I’ll try with Erik and you try with Gabriel. They laugh and banter then agree and high five.

Camila is packing up Romina’s bag and she and Em are about to check her out of the hospital. Em says it’s weird to leave the baby there, but Romina says they’ll take good care of him. A nurse comes up and asks if they’re going to go by the neonatal unit. Romina says of course, we want to say goodbye to the baby before we go. The nurse says I wasn’t asking for that reason – I was asking because we need some milk.

Camila tries to talk her into it and Romina says she can do it at home, but not here with a nurse. The nurse warns her that her milk will dry up. Romina walks off and Camila says Romina finds ways to get out of things, but she’s sure Romina is very worried about the baby. Em looks skeptical.

Romina looks at the baby through the observation window and thoughtbubbles that he looks just like German and she doesn’t know what she’s going to do when he gets bigger. Em and Camila come up and Romina gushes about how he looks just like him. Even his mother said so! Em doesn’t really see how he looks like him. And her dad says he looks like her when she was young, she asserts. Don’t you think so, Mami? Behind her, Camila looks very troubled.

In the prison yard, Chris is staring and is remembering his mother saying she hadn’t had one day of peace all these years, thinking about him. Chicho spots him and runs over and says what’s wrong? Chris says he just doesn’t get all this. Chicho says his mother says God’s ways are not the same as men’s ways. From a distance, Canibal studies him. He and another thug approach slowly. Canibal tells him he can’t wait until the day when he quits pretending to be innocent and admits to be a killer, like the rest of them there.

Canibal says maybe he’ll land up back in the hospital, or maybe even the cemetery. Chicho tells him to knock it off – a higher power will be stepping in. Canibal says he always wanted to tempt God. He grabs Chicho and starts to struggle with him, Chris and the thug jump in and the guards come and break it up.

Holding Canibal at bay, the guard tells Chris he has a visitor. Chris says he doesn’t want any visits, unless it’s his lawyer. The guard says this isn’t a boutique – go see your visitor.

AHHHHHH intone the bassos. It’s Carlota waiting for Chris. Guard! he says when he sees who it is, but the door remains closed. He wants to know why she won’t leave him alone. She says who is this Madeleine Martell? How did you find out? Chris demands.

Ca: I know everything. Is she one of your conquests?
Ch: How do you know this stuff?
Ca: There’s nothing money can’t buy.
Ch: You’d better leave, because I’m capable of….
Ca: (coming in close) Of what? Kiss me!

He grabs her face and pushes her away and says Basta! You’re nuts! This obsession of yours is driving me crazy. And I can’t get it out of my head that you’re responsible for all this.

Ca: And what if I told you you’re right?
Ch: Dios mio! You were capable of killing Alonso to get close to me?
Ca: One day you’ll understand what your love has made me do.
Ch: Get out of here.
Ca: This is your last opportunity to get back to your life. The trial is about to start and then I won’t do anything for you. Now is the time. The only thing I ask of you is that you be mine.
Ch: You are the worst thing that has happened to me in my life. I’d rather spend the rest of my days in prison than in bed with you.
Ca: Fine. If you want to stay in prison, help yourself. We would have been great together.

The guard lets Chris out and she says You lost your opportunity.


Avances: Carlota tells German that she wants him to sink Chris. He’s stunned. She tells him that she consents to him approaching Paloma. And then she grabs him by the face and kisses him passionately.

Labels: amor