Caray, Caray!

Here is a quick posting spot, maties. I have an unexpected guest arriving at the Villa de Willa any minute so will record and recap late tonight.

Part I -

Review:
Maria Rosario and Juan de Dios are forced apart in her bedroom by the vengeful Rodrigo and the more than vengeful Leonarda. Juan who leapt out of the jail window, next leaps off MR’s balcony on to a waiting horse (who put that horse there?) flees the inept troop of horsemen with long rifles who are ordered by the screams of Rodrigo to kill him but who don’t seem able to hit the side of a barn. Juan takes his third leap into the sea to avoid the incompetents. HIs fisherman skills include staying under water for Olympics medal worthy long periods leading to the rumor that he must have drowned in the sea.

Back at Rodrigo’s hacienda the baby is born, Leonarda hands off the swaddled baby to Clemencia who makes a second pass to Celestino who holds his bottle of fire water with more tenderness than the beautiful ill-fated infant. So Celestino drives the doomed baby away in the wagon with more rain and more lightening while Leonarda administers a sisterly ether and pillow smothering as an unusual postpartum treatment for the new mother.

The hapless doctor has had his wagon wheels doctored and is fatally spilled out on the mountainside to assure that he cannot deliver his threat to report the shameless treatment of mother and infant.

Tonight: Crocodile teared Leonarda tells Rodrigo that Maria de Rosario has died. Leonarda is anxious to show off her handiwork leading Rodrigo toward the body but he cannot bear to go see saying she has been dead to him since he found her at the altar with Juan, we sweep back in black and white to his hateful memory of seeing her happy at the altar. He strides down the impressive stairway to take care of a few things just ahead of the whining Leonarda who worries how Dr. Miranda will keep his promise to report to the authorities. Rodrigo assures her not to worry since Dr. Miranda won’t return to tell anything, dead men don’t tell tales (admiten = confess, tell, allow).

Clemencia thanks Celestino for saving the baby, saying God will repay you, this makes him look really worried but a celestial over voice tells us that the storm was an omen (presagio = omen) and the baby did not perish but would survive and be strong like his father, marked by providence. And sure enough the lightening and storm are all around but the baby in the grass is dry in his still clean white blanket.

Back with the loving sister Leonarda who re-administers the ether like liquid while Fulgencio, the man servant looks on. She is already dressed in a thousand yards of black lace and veiled as she pulls a sheet over Maria de Rosario while practicing her mournful sniffles.

Next morning, Rodrigo prepares to leave in his elegant carriage while Clemencia begs to go along, but Rodrigo orders her to help Leonarda prepare things. What things, she asks in innocence. Why, the wake (velatorio = wake for dead person), Maria de Rosario died last night.

Back by the sea, the baby cries in the glen while a small boy carrying a rabbit grabs the note place by the baby but now down the slope a bit, hides it in his waistband and picks up the softly crying infant. . Rodrigo asks Celestino what he did with the infant, but Celestino says he followed Leonarda’s orders...

Back at the tiny village, the boy shows up with the baby and hands him off to a friendly woman who is already surrounded by children so seems to know just what to do. The boy reads the note which merely says this child is named Juan de Dios. She notices the telltale mark on the babies neck (cuello - neck and also collar). We switch to a quick sight of Celestino cryng in remorse and shame. Then to Noel giving sincere regrets to Rodrigo for the tragic loss of M de R. Rodrigo does not miss a chance to vent more hatred and blame the whole thing on Juan de Dios. He tells Noel the “truth” of her dying in chlidbirth but asks for absolute discretion and secrecy. The condolences and promises are interrupted by a servant woman announcing the death of Dr. Miranda.

We see the villagers commenting on the funeral coach in front of the hacienda then up in the bedroom, Leonarda looks woefully at the empty casket and the Fulgencio loads a burlap bag of something, books and clothes into the casket to approximate the weight of a dead woman. Back to the beach, the woman begs her husband to let her keep the foundling and without telling him everything says they will baptize him Juan de Dios as if she had thought up the name herself.

After the break, we return to the drawing room where Rodrigo discusses the fatal accident of Dr. Miranda. The police chief (I presume) mentions that something about it seemed premeditated, but bites his tongue when Rodrigo gives him that look. Noel opines that Dr. Miranda had no enemies, how could this be. When asked about the services for Maria de Roasrio, Rodrigo says her sister just cant’ let go of the body yet, YEAH, we flash to Leonarda and Fulgencio carrying the sheet covered body into the a miserly room (at the Finca del Mar?) As the sheet is taken off, M de Rosario stirs, then Leonarda throws a black veil over her sister's face and cannot bear to look at her again. At the wake, the closed elegant casket causes much confusion and weeping, Later alone, Leonarda assures Rodrigo that she has already donated all of Maria’s clothes to charity as she cannot bear to have sad remembrances lying around. She strokes Rodrigo’s grief torn face but he shirks her caress. Clemencia and Celestino argue more about the disappearance of the baby. Celestino is too drunk to come up with a good story but sober enough to keep from telling the truth.

In the night Rodrigo is awakened with Leonarda in his bed with kisses and caresses. As soon as he figures out what is happening her orders her out of his bed. Leonarda curses him and says the best punishment for his spurning is the loss of Rosario. She swears he will never be happy with anyone else.

The camera pans a grave stone for Maria de Rosario engraved with 1820 - 1851. (and didn’t look a day over 47...) Clemencia says the only thing she has of Rosario's is her rosary which she vows to wear forever. The young woman and man who were at the ill-fated wedding are with her and find out that Juan de Dios is presumed dead and wasn’t there a baby? Yes, but Leonarda demanded that he be hauled off in a wagon and he probably died out on the road. The young woman swears that the baby and Juan can’t be dead,

Maria de Rosario (I’ll just call her Rosario from here) now wearing her black veil is screaming out for Juan de Dios while the Nabor servant looks disturbed and concerned.

Part II -

So sorry this is ever so late and a bit disjointed in the posting. But where were we - Oh yes,

Life proceeds happily for the baby. The bloodied dirty hand of Juan watches as the villagers discuss the disappearance of Juan and his supposed death. Fulgencio tries to strangle Rosario but is stopped by Leonarda and paid off. The soldiers show up at the shore and make grabs at the women and questions the fishermen. A land deal was discussed during the first episode that will drive the fisherman from the valuable beach front property that Rodrigo has designs on. The soldiers taunt the fishermen that Juan de Dios, their savior is dead and what are they going to do. Behind the hut, Juan hears the story of Rosario’s death as they cross themselves.

Noel, swears to be at Leonarda’s side come what may. (pase lo que pase - note the use of subjuncitve). Leonarda announces that they should marry immediately. After the break she is dressed in her lovely bridal gown when Clemencia chastises her for marrying Noel out of spite (por despecho) while she has always loved Rodrigo. The lovely wedding and clouds lead to the bedroom while she thinks about other things and other love while Noel undresses her for their wedding night frolic. We see Rosario crying in the finca prison thinking of her lost love for Juan de Dios.

A young couple are arguing about the need but lack of money, that he says she knew about when she married him. A universal theme but sorry I don’t know who they are yet.

A young couple are arguing about the need but lack of money, that he says she knew about when she married him. A universal theme but sorry I don’t know who they are yet.
Oh this must be the jug swigging Celestino and his pregnant wife who wants him to extract more money from Leonarda to continue the keeping of her secrets.

The precious young boy and his adorable baby “brother” sell food to delighted people in the market place. No one can keep their hands off the magical baby.

Leonarda is as disgustingly self-righteous as a pregnant rich lady as she was a pining old maid. She and Clemencia argue over the memory of the sainted Rosario. Meanwhile Rosario spends her miserable days with a mentally challenged woman who can’t really talk to her, hoping for better days.

Noel hears the first cries of his new baby and hears from Clemencia that it is a son. Leonarda rocks the baby like it were a jug of orange juice to shake up with little tenderness. She is sullen as Noel thanks her for giving him this greatest of gifts. She demands that the baby be named Renato in honor of her father. Already she has established a pattern of talking down to Noel.

The baby Juan is walking and playing on the beach with his beloved big brother, Remedio, while the privileged Renatto is dressed in baby tuxes learning to play piano and write. Juan is learning to trap rabbits. Renatto looks board while Juan learns the joy of spearing fish and tell stories by the fireside but Remedio’s father warns them they better teach Juan to know he is an orphaned outsider, not one of them. Mom protests while the wise young Remedio swears that Juan will be his true brother forever. Renatto looks out the window with boredom and Clemencia expresses her sorrow to Noel that the little boy is so sequestered and isolated.

Back at the bad Finca del Mar, Leonarda is disgusted by the filthy smells and terrified at the black cat the Fulgencio brings to her. She threatens to never come again but Fulgencio threatens even stronger that he will be forced to divulge her secrets and the truth about Rosario and all that is hidden there. Leonarda flees as Fulgencio grins.

Meanwhile Celestino’s wife is teaching their daughter to take things from Leonarda’s drawingroom. Leonarda orders them to get back to the kitchen and the brat (mucosa = snotnose) to her vivienda. Rene asks how things went at Finca del Mar. Oh fine, fine she dismisses him. Then a letter comes from Rodrigo which Leonarda acts so selfish. Rodrigo’s letter promises to return forever with the biggest surprise. Leonarda thinks he is returning to her and prepares her loveliest clothes and the ship bringing Rodrigo and his surprise plys the waters. And here is Rodrigo telling Leonarda how young and lovely she looks but he has something to tell her. Leonarda begins to tell Rodrigo about her unfortunate but not necessarily permanent mistake (marrying Noel) meantime her eyes go wide as the lovely Constanza (same name, same pretty actress as Gancho but looking ever so sweet) is introduced as the love of his life whom he kisses fervently while she reveals her silk and satin clad pregnant belly. Oh there will be more surprises and we can be sure, Leonarda isn’t pleased.

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