Friday, May 21, 2010

El Clon Thurday May 20: In which we see a broken but unbowed Lucas, a kinder, gentler Leo, and the revenge coupling of Said and Marisa.

In the hospital room in Morocco, the multiply broken but unbowed Lucas has just told Enrique that he doesn’t expect any trouble from Said. After all, he’d have come by to confront him by now. And in walks Said:
Lucas, tenemos que hablar.
Lucas, we have to talk.
Said tells him he got lucky, he could have died. Yeah, thanks, says Lucas. What did you want to talk about? Said is going to the US tomorrow and asks Lucas if he’d like him to bring something to Marisa. No thanks, answers Lucas. I’m going back myself. Yes, replies Said, but I’ll be there ahead of you.

After he leaves the room Lucas tells Enrique that he doesn’t understand why Said was so insistent about bringing something to Marisa. I don’t get it either, agrees Enrique. Perhaps it’s that he wants to keep me close to him so he can watch all my movements, speculates Lucas.
[Sidebar: This is a interesting scene. I think Said is trying to make Lucas feel humiliated at the idea of another man approaching his wife. Lucas honestly doesn’t care about that so the intended insult is lost on him, but the menacing tone is not.]

Dumbhead -- says the ever-maternal Hilda as she massages the sore back of Karla, recently injured in the studio brawl with her arch-rival, Diana. You ruined your chances at the audition. Well how did she even know I was going to be there? counters K. This fascinating colloquy is interrupted by a crash from outside. Peeping Tom Amin has just fallen from the ledge of the porch where he’d been spying on Ms K. This resourceful little liar tells H he came to tell her about new veils at dad’s store and how swell they’d look on a beautiful and elegant lady like H. Well, thinks H delusionally, maybe I should go over there for a dose of Mohammed magic – if Karla can’t get it done, maybe our meal ticket is across the street!

Said has just arrived in Miami. He phones Marisa and they arrange a rendezvous.

Said, now in Mohamed and Latifa’s place, is dressed to go out and carrying a red gift box. Tengo una cita, he explains. (“cita” doesn’t necessarily mean “date”; it can be just a business appointment) After he leaves, Latifa wants to know who the gift is for, but Mohamed says he doesn’t know. Must be for one of his Miami girlfriends, sniffs Latifa. Listen, says Mohamed, Jade and Said were unhappy, not blessed like us; that’s why he has a right to look for his happiness. Come, says Latifa, I have a surprise for you.

Meanwhile the Naz is asking Samira about this novio that Jadiya has found for her. His name is Enrique and he lives in Miami. The Naz is excited but she still wants to go out with her niece and look for Osvaldo in the street. Watch out for Amin, he’ll tell my dad, warns Samira. Yes, agrees the Naz, he has a long tongue, that brother of yours.

Ramoncito spots the Naz, runs to her with the latest: Osvaldo has moved in with his girlfriend. Then he asks for his earring as reward and instead receives a stream of curses – how dare you ask for a reward when you bring me bad news?

Latifa has clearly been practicing; she shows some impressive flexibility as she bellydances for the rapt Mohamed.

Marisa joins her new friend Said at a swanky restaurant and he gives her an expensive necklace which he puts around her scrawny neck. Then he runs his hands down her tattooed arms.[Sidebar: This gesture of man putting necklace on woman, in Said’s hands, reminds me of an owner putting a collar on a dog. It is tagging, possession.]
[Second point: I’m reminded of Marisa’s expensive gift to her escort, David, except in this scene she is the one for sale]

Nati is trying to persuade Alej to give her family another chance. He’s not so sure.
Tu mamá fue suficientemente clara esa noche. Si no me mató, fue porque no tenía una arma cerca.
Your mom was clear enough that night. If she didn’t kill me, it was because she didn’t have a weapon nearby.
No, no, come on, urges Nati, she was just upset because of the fight she had with my dad. When she knows you, she’ll love you. (le vas a encantar). Get ready and we’ll and see my grandfather.

Rosa mentions to Marisa that Lucas will be coming home soon.
Sí, muero de dicha
Yes, I’m so happy I could die.
Enter Nati, who wants to know if Mommy Dearest still feels the same way about Alej. MD lets forth her string of insults for this muerto de hambre (pauper, literally dead of hunger) and Rosa looks heavenward for guidance and alas finds none.

Marisa is at a café with her friend Lucia. How, wonders Lucia, are you going to explain that jewelry? I was just thinking about what underwear (ropa interior) I should wear with it answers Marisa. You’re going too far, warns Lucia.

Karla and Pablo are at the pool and he tells her that Alej is dating the Ferrer girl.
Están felices comiendo perdices, says Pablo.
They are happy eating partridges (literally); something like: they are happy as clams.
Pues rico por él. (well how rich for him) says K. [Nice sardonic echo of Marisa’s muero de dicha above]

Alej and Nati go to Empresas Ferrer; she introduces him to Clara and Carolina who are impressed with what a lovely couple they are.

Clara remembers she has forgotten to remind [!] Escobar about his grandmother’s birthday. When she phones him, he says no worries, that:
Alicia se encarga de todo.
Alicia is taking care of everything.
This makes her furious. Carolina urges her to calm down. Let’s go to dinner, she suggests.

And back in Fez…
When Jade finds out the coast is clear – Ali and Enrique are at the camel markets – in spite of Zoraida’s vocal protests, she puts on her black burqa and prepares to go to the hospital to say goodbye to Lucas.

While in Miami…
Said and Marisa are sealing the deal. They have so much in common: they have the hots for each other and they both want to get even.
Marisa: Siento mucho deseo, me atraes mucho, y siento deseos de vengarme.
I feel much desire, I’m very attracted to you, and I feel desire to get vengeance.

And Jade is saying to Lucas:
Tengo mucho miedo del destino, Lucas, miedo de perderte otra vez.
I’m afraid of fate, Lucas, afraid of losing you again.
All will be well, says Lucas. You’ll divorce Said, I’ll divorce Marisa and when I’m walking again, I’ll come back here for you. My worst error was leaving you but now life is giving me a second chance and I’m not going to waste it. But I’m so afraid, insists Jade, that your wife is going to do something to keep you trapped.
Lucas: Hace muchos años era joven, era muy inseguro, tenía muchos miedos pero ya no.
Years ago I was young, I was insecure, I had many fears, but not now.
Now, says Lucas, it’s different. I’m a man and I’ll do whatever it takes. Believe in me, Jade.

Clara and Carolina discuss strategies for dealing with the odious Alicia.

Okay, this is a sweet scene:
Leo meets with Nati and Alej. He interviews him: So Nati tells me you are boyfriend and girlfriend [he says novios but I can’t think of a one-word way to say this in English: you’re dating, you’re a couple, you’re seeing each other…?]
Tell me about yourself. What do you study? Have you always been a chauffeur? Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Alej answers simply, tells him he lives with his mom, finished high school but couldn’t afford college, is a fighter (Lucha Vale todo), suffered an injury but is training and his goal is to be national champion.
[Lucha vale todo, according to Wikipedia, is a style of fighting where you can use the techniques of any martial art or contact sport; it is like on-the-ground combat]
Leo responds graciously:
El haber puesto la cara habla bien de ti.
The fact that you met me face to face speaks well of you.
I just love your daughter; I have no reason to hide, answer Alej. Then as long as you are a gentlemen with Nati, I’m not opposed to your relationship. But, he cautions:
Despacito. De la prisa sólo queda el cansancio.
Go slowly. The only thing haste gets you is fatigue./go too fast and you wear yourself out.
Leo shakes hands with Alej, hugs Nati.

In La Casa Escobar, the boys are bickering because Clara isn’t home and Fer and his dad don’t seem to know where the kitchen is. Clara comes in, says she was at her favorite restaurant and then went to the movies. Escobar starts in on his “I worked all day…” rant but she cuts him off at the knees. I don’t have an Alicia looking after my every need, she says. Who’s Alicia, asks Fernando.

Albieri is saying goodbye to his friend Ali who tells him he plans to go to Miami after Said’s wedding.

Jade is very nervous. She tells Zoraida she has a bad feeling. She knows Marisa is cozying up to Said just to make Lucas jealous. What if it works?
Zoraida says if Lucas is in your destiny, no one can take him from you.
Jade: Cuando sientes humillado el amor propio es fácil confundirlo con celos. A mí me pasó.
When you feel humiliated, when your pride is injured, it’s easy to confuse that feeling with jealousy. It happened to me.
Replies Zoraida: You’re afraid he doesn’t love you as much as you love him; you remember the times he left you, suitcase in hand…

In Miami, Rosa enters Marisa’s room and expresses surprise that she is up so early. You got home very late, didn’t you? When she sees the necklace Said gave her, Rosa says:
Debió costarte un ojo de la cara y parte del otro.
It must have cost you an eye of your face and part of the other eye /an arm and a leg.
Marisa says that yes, it cost a fortune, but it was a gift, and clearly I’m worth it.
Rosa says Lucas will need a special hospital bed and she’s having it set up in Diego’s room. No, says Marisa, Lucas will stay here.

Nati runs out of the house to the waiting Alej and Marisa is incredulous that he is back. Rosa explains that Leo has given him permission to visit. She tries to reason with Marisa, to consider that Alej might actually be good for Nati, but Marisa insists that Nati should be with someone like Fernando (ugh!), but who after all would look twice at her, dressed like a hippie from the 60’s [better than a hooker from the 90’s, Mommie Dearest!]
¡No, no quiero esa relación!
No, I don’t like/want this relationship.

And across town another mom is stamping her foot:
¡No, no acepto ese noviazgo de Alejandro!
No, I don’t accept this relationship of Alejandro’s.
Gloria is ranting to Pablo that she saw how hurt and humiliated her son was after the ‘cancelled’ dinner. Her son needs to find someone of their class:
Cada oveja con su pareja.
Every sheep with its partner. [This means you should find a partner similar to you , of your social class. Like with like? I couldn’t think of a comparable English dicho]

Warning: Nasty scene ahead
Mohamed tells the family that all is arranged, his cousin will watch the store while they are in Morocco for the wedding. The Naz asks if they are all happy to be going and Latifa says no, it makes her sad to think that a man is marrying a second wife. Samira agrees that it’s unfair. The Naz says it is proper and pious, and follows the prophet’s example, for a man to have several wives because it offers protection to the women. Mohamed nods in agreement. But the Naz isn’t finished. I always thought that Mohamed was the most religious of my brothers, she continues, but now I see that Said is following the teaching of the prophet more closely.

To the children she sneers: Your mother is selfish! [because she's unwilling to share her husband with other wives] It’s because of selfish women like that, that I’m still single. Well maybe your father will meet a woman he likes in Morocco and marry her.

The children are appalled. My father never wanted that, says Amin. Well maybe he has never met a woman who llenó sus ojos (filled his eyes/dazzled him).
[Every time I start feeling a little sorry for the Naz she does something so breathtakingly mean, that she goes right back in the bruja column]

Lucia is busy checking Roberto’s cellphone but quickly sets it down when he comes in looking for it. Lucas is coming home today, he says. They agree to go visit later, she to offer support to her friend Marisa. They are making out a little when Fernando – yes Fernando – wanders in, eating a snack. Lucia is embarrassed and apologizes to the little turd! He’s waiting for Andrea, he says. The subject of Nati’s new beau comes up. He takes the opportunity to stir up a little more trouble by saying that, oh yeah, he seems ok, Nati is thinking about marriage and everything… Andrea, who has now joined them, looks on with dismay. [I mean really, why is anyone still friends with this jerk Fernando?]

Credits roll.

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Comments:
Excellent recap, Novela Maven of a rather unexciting episode.

That was definitely not the body of the actress who plays Latifa doing the belly dance! They did headshots and bodyshots but never both.

Marisa was giving David a tip for services rendered and spending Lucas' money. Said is making a deposit, as it were, for future services but you are right, they are similar.

The scene with Leo, Alej and Nati was cute, especially Leo trying to be positive when he finds out that his daughter's boyfriend is a high school graduate whose ambition is to be a Luche Vale todo champion. His 'bien's' said so much.

My favorite line,
[better than a hooker from the 90’s, Mommie Dearest!] LOL. How true.
 

Many thanks, NovelaMaven, for this excellent recap. What you say about the scene between Said and Lucas is very helpful to me--I was expecting Said to be more menacing, but I think you're right: he thinks his seeing Marisa first (and alone) is much more insulting than Lucas feels it is.

I was again very nervous when Lucas and Jade were together in his hospital room. I figured that the writers had given us a false sense of security (nothing happened last night) just to set us up for disaster tonight. But no, wrong again. One thing about that scene did unnerve me: Lucas' eyes seemed almost crossed. I'd never thought so before, but I had a hard time watching him in this scene.

Before I discovered CarayCaray I only watched abridged telenovelas. Lots of people hate them and complain bitterly on Amazon.com that the version for sale isn't complete, but in some ways I prefer the abridged version, since it tends to cut out all sorts of extraneous and irrelevant subplots. I'd bet that the scene with Karla and her mother would end up on the cutting room floor, and I wouldn't miss it at all. It's interesting to think about what other parts of this TN would be cut. Probably most or all of the scenes with Alicia. I still can't figure out where that sub-plot is going.

I very much appreciate all the Spanish vocabulary help. I've started to save some of the words and phrases that you, Jean, and Paula have highlighted. Today there was an especially rich assortment. Muchísimas gracias otra vez.
 

I wasn't too worried during the scene between Lucas and Jade. Since I don't think they would ever let her character receive the punishment for her crime - getting 100 lashes or being whipped to death, she can't be discovered in a situation where that would be the result.

I do agree with you that Lucas seemed google eyed sometimes in his conversation with Jade. I guess that it's hard to act lying down but it was definitely weird.
 

Jean, I never even thought of body doubles in this dance scene (and maybe in some earlier ones too), but I'm sure you're right.

I agree, too, that Leo is less than excited about Alej's 'credentials' as pretendiente; but I do think he is being both kind and prudent in his behavior to Nati and Alej.

Juanita, thanks so much for your nice words.

You know I think of the DVD novelas as the 'Instant Gratification Version' -- you don't have to wait a day or a weekend to find out the Abdul didn't recognize Jade or that Enrique has survived the tainted tea. And as you point out, you don't have to bother with the less interesting subplots and marginal characters -- although that sometimes leads to gaping holes in continuity.

I have to admit, though, that the convoluted details of plot and character in the full-length version have their appeal. Okay, Anna Karenina it's not -- but it's not 'I Dream of Jeannie' either!
 

Great recap, NovelaMaven! You sure have a way with words, but then we are blessed here on the El Clon portion of Caray, Caray with extremely clever and witty recappers.

I agree with Jean that many of the belly dancing scenes are shot so as to insert another, more proficient body in place of Jade and Latifa.

They are making some interesting contrasts with Samira and Jadiya. By the way, some of you have written Zamira, but the sub-titles spell it with an "S". Don't know which is the more likely Arabic name. Anyway, Jadiya was pleased that her papí was going to marry again, as long as Jade would still be first wife. But Samira was appalled. I like Samira so much. I hope they have a good outcome for the conflict between her rebellious nature and her traditional parents.

I'm sure it's too much to hope for that Said would really fall for Marisa. Of course, she'd have to be a mistress, not a wife. She has dollar signs in her eyes, but no real understanding that he likely would not marry a non-Muslim. At least it's my feeling that she'd jump ship and leave Lucas alone if Said proposed. She seems to be leaning that way in her conversations with Lucia. And Marisa well knows that marriage is the only way to guarantee an income stream. But TN characters like Said who have an obsessive love rarely let go of the object of their obsession.
 

Thank you for covering it all, NovelaMaven. I like what you said, "Anna Karenina it's not -- but it's not 'I Dream of Jeannie' either!"

What bothers me about the condensed DVDs is that they have no heart, they have no soul. You see the sweet young thing kidnapped, you see the hero upset about it, you see the hero rescue her, and you see them fall into each others' arms. But you don't see the longing, the agony, the fighting off feelings of hopelessness. So when they are reunited, you say, "Yeah, whatever." But when you see the long version and feel their agony through their separation, then you also feel the joy and euphoria when they are reunited.

I love LFMB so I got the condensed (I also got the complete, unauthorized). The show itself carried me away in a flood of emotions. The condensed version felt like reading a grocery list. It's like what Woody Allen said, "I took a speed reading course and read 'War and Peace' in twenty minutes. It involves Russia."
 

NovelaMaven, you mentioned the word "rico." I use that word a lot. Yes, it can mean rich. But the main definition is "delicious." And usage goes beyond just delicious food.

If you offer me chocolate-covered strawberries, I'd answer, "Qué rico!"
If you told me you got to sleep late today, I'd answer, "Qué rico!"
If you told me you worked really hard on your essay and you finally got an A on a paper (like my best friend just told me, 6 minutes ago), I'd answer, "Qué rico!"
And if you told me your novio wanted to take you sailing in the moonlight, I'd answer, I'd answer, "Qué rico!"
 

Novelera, thanks so much -- but as you say, Paula and Jean have set a very high standard here.

As for the Samira/Zamira thing, yeah you're right, I'm really inconsistent with spelling names, mostly going by how they sound. In this case, I'm afraid I don't know which is a better reflection of the Arabic. Sorry!

Paula,
It really is a challenge deciding how to translate a particular word and I appreciate your close reading.
The cool thing here is that the English word 'rich' is as nuanced as the Spanish word 'rico'. So 'rich' can certainly mean 'wealthy' but also 'delicious', 'overly heavy' (as food), or even 'ironic'. That's what I was thinking when I chose to translate 'pues que rico por él' as 'well how rich for him'
 

NovelaMaven: Really enjoyable romp through Miami and Fez.

IMHO Said needs that contract with the Ferrer business as much as they need his hotel business. He's not only "keeping his enemy closer" as they say down Mexico way, but he's better off working with a world-wide, respected company that his family/relations know and trust and respect than one they do not. I think that is an important cultural detail in that part of the world. JMHO.
 

Hi ,all. Thanks for the great recap, Novela Maven. I agree that the recappers of this novela have set a very high bar. I haven't been able to watch or read the recaps much lately. I can barely keep up with Corazon Salvage which I must record because it was moved from 9 to midnight. I was amazed to read that Said went after Marisa for some revenge sex. Here is my take on the Samira/Zamira debate: First, when Arabic people translate their names from Arabic to our alphabet , they do so phonetically which can result in different spellings of the same name . For example, I've had students who spell the same name Basim, Bassim, Bssem, etc. Also, in English the ''s'' has two sounds . For example, in my name ''Susan'', the first ''s'' sounds like an ''s'' but the secone ''s'' sounds like a ''z''. Add to this the fact that in Spanish the ''z'' sounds like our ''s'' sound [zapatos] , so it all gets very comlicated. I've had students with ''s'' names [Said] , but I've also had students with ''z'' names [Zakhour]. Arabic has a very strong ''z'' sound in many words . For example, the word for smart is ''zakeed'']. If I have any Arab speakers when I start summer class on Monday , I'll ask them about Samira/Zamira.
 

Hi, Jardinera !!!!! Happy weekend ahead.
 

Hi, Jardinera !!!!! Happy weekend ahead.
 

Thanks to all three recappers for the high standard you set. The Spanish dichos and translations are really appreciated. As pointed out previously, I find the delusional Jade and Lucas quite unsympathetic. One cannot simply roll back 20 years with different partners, children, culture, etc simply because in telenovela land - amor es para siempre.

Lynne
 

NovelaMaven, that makes perfect sense to me. You probably made the best word choice. Que rico! Sorry that I sounded kinda' high-n-mighty.
 

Novelera: Am I missing something here or is Marisa really thinking of divorcing Lucas and trying to get Said to marry her once he's supposedly divorced Jade? Doesn't she realize that she'd be part of a harem and would have to share? On the other hand, would Marisa be satisfied being the mistress of a Muslim millonario for the rest of her life? Just how long does she plan to have "revenge sex" (luhhv that turn of phrase) with sad Said?
Soooo many questions!!
=============
Hey, Susanlynn/Sz! The sun is due tomorrow and I'm gonna be out on my patio all day, drinkin' it in!
6 8 > )
============
I would like to see Samirah confide in Jade about her trying to fit in with the other occidental girls since Jade lived there for so long. Samirah needs a way out of that culture trap.
 

At Mohammed's comment: "Jade and Said were unhappy, not blessed like us; that’s why he has a right to look for his happiness," I just find it an interesting double standard that Jade doesn't have the same right to look for happiness.

I hate biased interpretations of religion!
 

Erin: ITA! I wrote something yesterday about my screaming the same thought at my tv screen! LOL!
 

Good Morning - looks like a rainy day here in the Detroit/Michigan area. There aren't many Spanish-speaking people here - mainly Arabic. Dearborn (heavily Arabic) even managed to get a young lady chosen as Miss USA in one of the competitions. The Arabic-American spokesman was very proud of her - usual media issues about her dress ..

I hauled out my Arabic books and I'm too lazy to relearn the little I learnt. (This part participle is acceptable in the British world :) ) But superficially there appears to be only one z in Arabic. The z is transliterated as zaay. As Susanlynn pointed out the problem comes with the English s that is sometimes pronounced as a s or z. Arabic seems to have two s's. One is transliterated as seen or siin. There is another s that is transliterated as Saad. Some books say that there is no English equivalent. But if I recall a good comparison correctly it was the difference between the English s in a word like sing as opposed to Sod. In other words the Sadd Arabic sound is pronounced more like the Sod - back of the throat? My book states that the Saad sound is the emphatic counterpart of the siin sound. Well, something like that ..

I should have been a linguist instead of an IT person - but one does what one does to earn one's bread - but in my next life ... :)

Lynne
 

Suzanlynn and Lynne--

Thanks for saying such nice things and for taking the trouble to look into the Samira/Zamira issue.

Lynne, after reading your latest comment, I think I'll stick with initial 's' since the sound is, to me, distinct from the initial 'z' in, for example, 'Zoraida'. (Too bad they're Latin American and not peninsular Spanish speakers -- those guys would pronounce initial 'z' and 's' quite distinctly and we recappers would have no trouble at all with the spelling!)

Now as for the Hadiyah/Jadiyah/Jadiya, Latifah/Latifa question... don't get me started!! :-)
 

Thanks for your efforts!

I think that Samira should have an "S" in English. However, I am not sure if it is the "siin' or "Saad" sound. It seems as if emphatic consonants such as Saad deepen the sound of the surrounding vowels. So the English Sod is different to the English said.

I've also been interested in the constant use of the supposed Islamic belief in an omniscient God. Zoraida always tells Jade that what will happen to her "es escrito". My subtitles give it to me as maktub. As Arabic has a root system based on three letters with suffixes and prefixes, I think the root for this word is k/t/b. So a book is kitab, an office is maktab, a writer is katib - etc.

Lynne
 

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