Saturday, August 14, 2010
El Clon Friday August 13: Summary for Discussion
The Men of La Mancha: A Tragedy in 160 Acts -- or: ¿Qué hiciste, Albieri?
In Leo’s office at Empresas Ferrer, Dora stares at Lucas in disbelief:
¡Dios! ¡eres Daniel sólo que más viejo!
My God, you’re Daniel, only older!
Dora has lost her innocence. Of the four people in the room -- Leo, Cristina, Dora and Lucas – only Lucas still thinks they are talking about a “resemblance”.
Dora thinks that Leo or Lucas must have been the sperm donor for her insemination, but both insist that’s impossible. Albieri must know who the donor was, they all agree.
Leo shows Dora a photo of Diego and Lucas taken shortly before Diego’s death. She stares at the faces of two young men who look exactly like her Daniel; she is startled to hear the name ‘Diego’ and remembers that was the name Albieri wanted for her son. All agree: Albieri has some explaining to do.
Lucas wants them to stop talking about reincarnation. If that were the case, he says, as I understand it, the person reborn would have something of the person who died – a mark (una mancha), a mole, something distinctive. Now if this boy is simply my father’s son, he won’t have my mole since it came from my mother, not from my father. And Lucas pulls his shirt back to show them the mole on his shoulder.
In Cristina’s apartment, Daniel shows Vicki his mole (lunar). Ahí está desde que nací. (It’s been there since I was born.)
Back to Leo’s office: Dora’s eyes widen when she sees the mancha on Lucas’s shoulder: Daniel has the same mole! It’s identical! Hmm. Lucas is going to have to revise his hypothesis.
Escobarde walks into the clinic, chatting happily on his cell to Ratoncita, reminding her to bring him the title to the property today. He is all smiles as he tells Julio and Anita about moving into the apartment with his true love.
Unbeknownst to Escobarde, Ratoncita has turned her little rodent snout in another direction. She opens the apartment door to welcome Pablo. She was lucky enough to get a good deal on the apartment, she tells him, and she bought it with the small inheritance she had from her family. And your boyfriend? asks Pablo.
Eso se acabó; él no valoraba el amor que le daba.
That’s over; he didn’t appreciate the love I gave him, the rodent confesses, with a momentary maidenly air of melancholy.
Pedro, who is so clear-eyed when it comes to pointing out Alej’s folly, seems to have checked his IQ at the door. He is snowed by her shy admission of her feelings for him. He looks thoughtful as she goes off to get him a cold beer. (The beer is for guests, she stresses. She doesn’t drink.)
We see Jade’s tear-stained -- and rather orange, at least on my television -- face as she languishes in her bed and obsesses over Lucas’s words:
Cree en mi, Jade, no vas a perder a tu hija, te lo prometo.
Believe in me, Jade, you’re not going to lose your daughter, I promise you.
Zein comes into the room, takes her hand, and puts a delicate gold chain in it. He says:
Es muy difícil el camino a tu corazón, pero siempre hay un camino – y lo voy a encontrar.
The way to your heart is very difficult, but there’s always a way – and I’m going to find it.
Jade is thinking about writing a letter to Jadiya. Do it, says Zein. I’ll get it to her.
Abdul and Zumaya are out walking in Fez. Said has told him how unhappy Jadiya is without her mother and he has asked Abdul to come to Miami. (Why? When has Abdul ever done anything but make a bad situation worse? Is the Mosque giving a prize this month to the family with the greatest number of insufferable relatives staying with them?) Anyhow, little Zumaya is pleased because for her it means a free trip to the Land of Haraam.
In the street outside their house in Miami, Mohamed watches Amin watching Karla. He reminds his son that he is engaged and he needs to follow the same faith standards as he expects in his bride-to-be.
In a Centro Comercial, Samira and Carlos are – gasp! – holding hands. Amin sees them and, in keeping with his higher standards, threatens to tell Baba. Balance of Terror time:
Holding hands with occidental in public place vs Nudie pictures under mattress
Menstruating and not wearing the veil vs Spying on naked Karla with telescope.
Threat neatly averted.
Ali is drinking tea with Latifa at her home. Samira and Amin come in the door, still bickering, but quietly. Alí says he’s going to visit Jade before Jadiya’s party. Both he and Latifa are worried about Jade, but he maintains that she made her own fate. After all, Ala se olvida de quien se olvida de él. (Allah forgets those who forget Him).
It’s a party at Said’s! (And it doesn’t look as if Marisa has been invited this time.)
A freckle-faced tween named Jamir seems to be checking out Jadiya. The Naz grabs the kid and pulls him to the dance floor. Then Jadiya takes the Naz’s place as Jamir’s partner.
As usual Rania is kvetching to Amina about Said’s neglect.
Zoraida fills Latifa in about Jade’s letter to Jadiya. As usual Latifa is afraid Mohamed will blame her and give her back. (Apparently, that warrantee has NO expiration date.)
Mohamed tells Said how lucky he is to have Rania; and Said says yes, but as usual he is still mooning over Jade.
Jadiya and Jamir introduce themselves. What a funny name, says Jamir on hearing her say 'Jadiya'. Fue nombre de la primera esposa del profeta. (It was the name of the prophet’s first wife) explains Jadiya primly. (Hell, even we knew that. And we begin to wonder if the kid is really novio material.)
At Gloria’s, Skank1 and Skank2 squeal and dance and lick their porcine chops. The pregancy is confirmadísimo – two months! Everyone will just die when they find out she is having a multi-millionaire’s baby!
Andrea and her mother are at home watching tv when Lucia grabs the remote and switches off the program. She says:
No soporto ver la infidelidad, ni siquiera en telvisión.
I can stand seeing infidelity, not even on tv. (Well that rules out telenovelas, I guess.)
And I’ll tell you something else: If your father were unfaithful, I’d kill myself.
Dora and Cris leave Leo’s office and agree that they will need to talk to Albieri. But first Dora wants to check in on her mother. Miguel has told her that Estela is very nervous.
Lucia phones Roberto at work and asks him one little question (preguntita): ¿Tú me serías infiel? (Would you be unfaithful to me?). His answer:
¡Prefiero morirme en los brazos de Claudia Schiffer antes de ser infiel!
I’d rather die in Claudia Schiffer’s arms than be unfaithful to you!
Lucia is not amused.
Lucas comes out of Leo’s office and Roberto asks him how it went. Even though Lucas has not yet seen Daniel, he is now convinced that he is identical to him. He isn’t surprised that his father is willing to accept reincarnation as an explanation. After all:
El siempre quiso traer a Diego de vuelta.
He always wanted to bring Diego back.
Roberto correctly guesses that Lucas is looking for another explanation, perhaps one less spiritual. And indeed Lucas asks him:
¿Tú te crees que hay un interés económico de por medio?
Do you think there’s some economic interest involved?
Dora gets home to her apartment. Estela is relieved to see her and welcomes her with a warm embrace.
Luisa has also been waiting at home. When the bell rings, she hurries to answer it. She opens the door and it is – Daniel! He is smiling. She is aghast. At first, he doesn’t seem to notice her reaction:
You’re Luisa, right? Do you remember me? It’s me, Daniel!
Her response: ¡Dios mio!
Albieri continues his conversation with Padre Andres in the church. What did you do, Albieri? You created an Adam in the laboratory?
Albieri defends himself:
From the beginning of history, man has struggled to master nature and decipher all her secrets. It’s in our hands to improve our species. We can make humanity better.
For whom, Albieri? asks Andres.
Si podemos dominar el enigma de la naturaleza, podremos rescatar las mejores características genéticas del ser humano.
If we can master the enigma of nature, we’ll be able to rescue the best genetic traits of mankind.
Andres finds it frightening to think of how unwisely governments might use such power to manipulate genetic make-up. You want a formula for creating a human, says Andres. You don’t accept the marvelous diversity of nature.
If God exists, counters Albieri, why did he give us this thirst to discover the secrets of nature?
Andres is convinced that what Albieri did is so profoundly wrong, that it amounts to a recapitulation of original sin: You ate of the forbidden fruit, he says, and all humanity will pay. (This was Alí’s conclusion too. I wonder if Albieri is going to try his luck with a Rabbi next.)
The living proof of Albieri’s genius ( or sin - your choice) Daniel, continues his conversation with Luisa:
He: Why are you looking at me like that?
She: It’s just that I can’t understand it.
He: Are you afraid of me?
Luisa denies it. He says that he came to her because she liked him – or at least that’s what he thought. Oh yes, says Luisa, she felt a lot of affection for Daniel (as if she is talking about another person).
He: I thought you’d be happier to see me. I thought you’d hug me like my father did. Luisa, will you give me a hug?
She touches his shoulder tentatively, then pulls her hand away and seems to shrink into herself.
He: You’re afraid of me??
She: No…
She hugs herself, then covers her mouth with her hand.
And then we are back at the party!
Said tells Zoraida that Jamir’s father is a businessman he knows.
Jamir and Amin are getting acquainted. Amin announces he’s going to be very rich and buy lots of gold for his wife. Jamir's not feeling it.
Jadiya gets annoyed when Samira says that Jamir is cute. After all, Samira already has a novio back in Fez. That makes Samira annoyed. She doesn’t accept her arranged noviazgo:
O me caso con quien quiera o no me caso.
Either I marry whomever I wish, or I don’t get married, she declares.
Overhearing this, Zoraida tells Latifa how much Samira reminds her of Jade. No digas eso, pleads Latifa.
Mohamed boasts that he took precautions by arranging marriages for his children. Yes, agrees Said, Abdul’s advice was very wise. But who thinks of my needs, begins the Naz. Mohamed complains that the Naz is starting to sound like one of those feminists from Cairo. She talks as if she were a man.
The ever-observant Zoraida espies the servant Mariam handing Jade’s letter to Rania.
Alí is visiting Jade at Zein’s house. When Jadiya reads my letter, Jade says, everything is going to change. You’ll see.
Alí asks how things are with Zein. Jade tells him about their six-month agreement. He surprises her by saying it might be better if she did fall in love with Zein. Maybe Allah put him in her path so she could refashion her life.
Alí goes on to say that he had a very strange feeling after seeing that boy who looked so much like Lucas. It was frightening, as if time itself had gone mad.
She admits that she was also frightened – frightened that her eyes were deceiving her (miedo de que me estuvieran engañando mis ojos), frightened to remember what she once felt and to feel it again. She threw her life away for him – she needs to know that this great love really existed, that it wasn’t imaginary.
Images of Daniel (or Lucas?) in Fez…
Back at the party, Zoraida finesses Jade’s letter away from Rania. Then she takes Jadiya aside and tries to give her the letter. Jadiya refuses it. My mother doesn’t love me, she says, and I don’t love her either.
Daniel is shown walking along the street, head down, hands in his jeans pockets, alone.
Cris and Vicki are talking things over in Cris’s apartment. Vicki can’t believe that Dora would betray Cris. Both women are impressed by the mancha: if it came from Diego and Lucas’s mother and Daniel also has it… Well, there could be a supernatural explanation! Or it could be that Lucas invented the story to shield his father. They agree that Albieri has some explaining to do:
El único que puede desenredar este nudo es Albieri.
The only one who can untangle this knot is Albieri.
Dora and Estela are at home worrying that Albieri and Leonardo might try to take Daniel away from them. They are prepared to fight to keep him.
And by the conversation Leonardo and Roberto are having in Leo’s office, the ladies will have a fight on their hands. Says Leo:
Ese muchacho es mi hijo – no sé cómo, pero lo es.
That boy is my son – I don’t know how, but he is.
Leonard wants Roberto to help him make it legal: he wants to assume his paternity. Roberto tells him not to be too hasty and suggests letting him look into it first. No, says Leo. Do it immediately.
Final scene: Albieri comes home. El estuvo aquí (he was here), Luisa says to him flatly. Albieri gasps, looks around as if for an escape, then says: Bueno, lo sabes. (okay, you know.)
Luisa: Explícame que pasa porque no lo entiendo. (Explain to me what is going on because I don’t understand it.)
Albieri: Yo hice un clon de Lucas. Daniel es un clon. (I made a clone of Lucas. Daniel is a clone.)
Credits roll.
In Leo’s office at Empresas Ferrer, Dora stares at Lucas in disbelief:
¡Dios! ¡eres Daniel sólo que más viejo!
My God, you’re Daniel, only older!
Dora has lost her innocence. Of the four people in the room -- Leo, Cristina, Dora and Lucas – only Lucas still thinks they are talking about a “resemblance”.
Dora thinks that Leo or Lucas must have been the sperm donor for her insemination, but both insist that’s impossible. Albieri must know who the donor was, they all agree.
Leo shows Dora a photo of Diego and Lucas taken shortly before Diego’s death. She stares at the faces of two young men who look exactly like her Daniel; she is startled to hear the name ‘Diego’ and remembers that was the name Albieri wanted for her son. All agree: Albieri has some explaining to do.
Lucas wants them to stop talking about reincarnation. If that were the case, he says, as I understand it, the person reborn would have something of the person who died – a mark (una mancha), a mole, something distinctive. Now if this boy is simply my father’s son, he won’t have my mole since it came from my mother, not from my father. And Lucas pulls his shirt back to show them the mole on his shoulder.
In Cristina’s apartment, Daniel shows Vicki his mole (lunar). Ahí está desde que nací. (It’s been there since I was born.)
Back to Leo’s office: Dora’s eyes widen when she sees the mancha on Lucas’s shoulder: Daniel has the same mole! It’s identical! Hmm. Lucas is going to have to revise his hypothesis.
Escobarde walks into the clinic, chatting happily on his cell to Ratoncita, reminding her to bring him the title to the property today. He is all smiles as he tells Julio and Anita about moving into the apartment with his true love.
Unbeknownst to Escobarde, Ratoncita has turned her little rodent snout in another direction. She opens the apartment door to welcome Pablo. She was lucky enough to get a good deal on the apartment, she tells him, and she bought it with the small inheritance she had from her family. And your boyfriend? asks Pablo.
Eso se acabó; él no valoraba el amor que le daba.
That’s over; he didn’t appreciate the love I gave him, the rodent confesses, with a momentary maidenly air of melancholy.
Pedro, who is so clear-eyed when it comes to pointing out Alej’s folly, seems to have checked his IQ at the door. He is snowed by her shy admission of her feelings for him. He looks thoughtful as she goes off to get him a cold beer. (The beer is for guests, she stresses. She doesn’t drink.)
We see Jade’s tear-stained -- and rather orange, at least on my television -- face as she languishes in her bed and obsesses over Lucas’s words:
Cree en mi, Jade, no vas a perder a tu hija, te lo prometo.
Believe in me, Jade, you’re not going to lose your daughter, I promise you.
Zein comes into the room, takes her hand, and puts a delicate gold chain in it. He says:
Es muy difícil el camino a tu corazón, pero siempre hay un camino – y lo voy a encontrar.
The way to your heart is very difficult, but there’s always a way – and I’m going to find it.
Jade is thinking about writing a letter to Jadiya. Do it, says Zein. I’ll get it to her.
Abdul and Zumaya are out walking in Fez. Said has told him how unhappy Jadiya is without her mother and he has asked Abdul to come to Miami. (Why? When has Abdul ever done anything but make a bad situation worse? Is the Mosque giving a prize this month to the family with the greatest number of insufferable relatives staying with them?) Anyhow, little Zumaya is pleased because for her it means a free trip to the Land of Haraam.
In the street outside their house in Miami, Mohamed watches Amin watching Karla. He reminds his son that he is engaged and he needs to follow the same faith standards as he expects in his bride-to-be.
In a Centro Comercial, Samira and Carlos are – gasp! – holding hands. Amin sees them and, in keeping with his higher standards, threatens to tell Baba. Balance of Terror time:
Holding hands with occidental in public place vs Nudie pictures under mattress
Menstruating and not wearing the veil vs Spying on naked Karla with telescope.
Threat neatly averted.
Ali is drinking tea with Latifa at her home. Samira and Amin come in the door, still bickering, but quietly. Alí says he’s going to visit Jade before Jadiya’s party. Both he and Latifa are worried about Jade, but he maintains that she made her own fate. After all, Ala se olvida de quien se olvida de él. (Allah forgets those who forget Him).
It’s a party at Said’s! (And it doesn’t look as if Marisa has been invited this time.)
A freckle-faced tween named Jamir seems to be checking out Jadiya. The Naz grabs the kid and pulls him to the dance floor. Then Jadiya takes the Naz’s place as Jamir’s partner.
As usual Rania is kvetching to Amina about Said’s neglect.
Zoraida fills Latifa in about Jade’s letter to Jadiya. As usual Latifa is afraid Mohamed will blame her and give her back. (Apparently, that warrantee has NO expiration date.)
Mohamed tells Said how lucky he is to have Rania; and Said says yes, but as usual he is still mooning over Jade.
Jadiya and Jamir introduce themselves. What a funny name, says Jamir on hearing her say 'Jadiya'. Fue nombre de la primera esposa del profeta. (It was the name of the prophet’s first wife) explains Jadiya primly. (Hell, even we knew that. And we begin to wonder if the kid is really novio material.)
At Gloria’s, Skank1 and Skank2 squeal and dance and lick their porcine chops. The pregancy is confirmadísimo – two months! Everyone will just die when they find out she is having a multi-millionaire’s baby!
Andrea and her mother are at home watching tv when Lucia grabs the remote and switches off the program. She says:
No soporto ver la infidelidad, ni siquiera en telvisión.
I can stand seeing infidelity, not even on tv. (Well that rules out telenovelas, I guess.)
And I’ll tell you something else: If your father were unfaithful, I’d kill myself.
Dora and Cris leave Leo’s office and agree that they will need to talk to Albieri. But first Dora wants to check in on her mother. Miguel has told her that Estela is very nervous.
Lucia phones Roberto at work and asks him one little question (preguntita): ¿Tú me serías infiel? (Would you be unfaithful to me?). His answer:
¡Prefiero morirme en los brazos de Claudia Schiffer antes de ser infiel!
I’d rather die in Claudia Schiffer’s arms than be unfaithful to you!
Lucia is not amused.
Lucas comes out of Leo’s office and Roberto asks him how it went. Even though Lucas has not yet seen Daniel, he is now convinced that he is identical to him. He isn’t surprised that his father is willing to accept reincarnation as an explanation. After all:
El siempre quiso traer a Diego de vuelta.
He always wanted to bring Diego back.
Roberto correctly guesses that Lucas is looking for another explanation, perhaps one less spiritual. And indeed Lucas asks him:
¿Tú te crees que hay un interés económico de por medio?
Do you think there’s some economic interest involved?
Dora gets home to her apartment. Estela is relieved to see her and welcomes her with a warm embrace.
Luisa has also been waiting at home. When the bell rings, she hurries to answer it. She opens the door and it is – Daniel! He is smiling. She is aghast. At first, he doesn’t seem to notice her reaction:
You’re Luisa, right? Do you remember me? It’s me, Daniel!
Her response: ¡Dios mio!
Albieri continues his conversation with Padre Andres in the church. What did you do, Albieri? You created an Adam in the laboratory?
Albieri defends himself:
From the beginning of history, man has struggled to master nature and decipher all her secrets. It’s in our hands to improve our species. We can make humanity better.
For whom, Albieri? asks Andres.
Si podemos dominar el enigma de la naturaleza, podremos rescatar las mejores características genéticas del ser humano.
If we can master the enigma of nature, we’ll be able to rescue the best genetic traits of mankind.
Andres finds it frightening to think of how unwisely governments might use such power to manipulate genetic make-up. You want a formula for creating a human, says Andres. You don’t accept the marvelous diversity of nature.
If God exists, counters Albieri, why did he give us this thirst to discover the secrets of nature?
Andres is convinced that what Albieri did is so profoundly wrong, that it amounts to a recapitulation of original sin: You ate of the forbidden fruit, he says, and all humanity will pay. (This was Alí’s conclusion too. I wonder if Albieri is going to try his luck with a Rabbi next.)
The living proof of Albieri’s genius ( or sin - your choice) Daniel, continues his conversation with Luisa:
He: Why are you looking at me like that?
She: It’s just that I can’t understand it.
He: Are you afraid of me?
Luisa denies it. He says that he came to her because she liked him – or at least that’s what he thought. Oh yes, says Luisa, she felt a lot of affection for Daniel (as if she is talking about another person).
He: I thought you’d be happier to see me. I thought you’d hug me like my father did. Luisa, will you give me a hug?
She touches his shoulder tentatively, then pulls her hand away and seems to shrink into herself.
He: You’re afraid of me??
She: No…
She hugs herself, then covers her mouth with her hand.
And then we are back at the party!
Said tells Zoraida that Jamir’s father is a businessman he knows.
Jamir and Amin are getting acquainted. Amin announces he’s going to be very rich and buy lots of gold for his wife. Jamir's not feeling it.
Jadiya gets annoyed when Samira says that Jamir is cute. After all, Samira already has a novio back in Fez. That makes Samira annoyed. She doesn’t accept her arranged noviazgo:
O me caso con quien quiera o no me caso.
Either I marry whomever I wish, or I don’t get married, she declares.
Overhearing this, Zoraida tells Latifa how much Samira reminds her of Jade. No digas eso, pleads Latifa.
Mohamed boasts that he took precautions by arranging marriages for his children. Yes, agrees Said, Abdul’s advice was very wise. But who thinks of my needs, begins the Naz. Mohamed complains that the Naz is starting to sound like one of those feminists from Cairo. She talks as if she were a man.
The ever-observant Zoraida espies the servant Mariam handing Jade’s letter to Rania.
Alí is visiting Jade at Zein’s house. When Jadiya reads my letter, Jade says, everything is going to change. You’ll see.
Alí asks how things are with Zein. Jade tells him about their six-month agreement. He surprises her by saying it might be better if she did fall in love with Zein. Maybe Allah put him in her path so she could refashion her life.
Alí goes on to say that he had a very strange feeling after seeing that boy who looked so much like Lucas. It was frightening, as if time itself had gone mad.
She admits that she was also frightened – frightened that her eyes were deceiving her (miedo de que me estuvieran engañando mis ojos), frightened to remember what she once felt and to feel it again. She threw her life away for him – she needs to know that this great love really existed, that it wasn’t imaginary.
Images of Daniel (or Lucas?) in Fez…
Back at the party, Zoraida finesses Jade’s letter away from Rania. Then she takes Jadiya aside and tries to give her the letter. Jadiya refuses it. My mother doesn’t love me, she says, and I don’t love her either.
Daniel is shown walking along the street, head down, hands in his jeans pockets, alone.
Cris and Vicki are talking things over in Cris’s apartment. Vicki can’t believe that Dora would betray Cris. Both women are impressed by the mancha: if it came from Diego and Lucas’s mother and Daniel also has it… Well, there could be a supernatural explanation! Or it could be that Lucas invented the story to shield his father. They agree that Albieri has some explaining to do:
El único que puede desenredar este nudo es Albieri.
The only one who can untangle this knot is Albieri.
Dora and Estela are at home worrying that Albieri and Leonardo might try to take Daniel away from them. They are prepared to fight to keep him.
And by the conversation Leonardo and Roberto are having in Leo’s office, the ladies will have a fight on their hands. Says Leo:
Ese muchacho es mi hijo – no sé cómo, pero lo es.
That boy is my son – I don’t know how, but he is.
Leonard wants Roberto to help him make it legal: he wants to assume his paternity. Roberto tells him not to be too hasty and suggests letting him look into it first. No, says Leo. Do it immediately.
Final scene: Albieri comes home. El estuvo aquí (he was here), Luisa says to him flatly. Albieri gasps, looks around as if for an escape, then says: Bueno, lo sabes. (okay, you know.)
Luisa: Explícame que pasa porque no lo entiendo. (Explain to me what is going on because I don’t understand it.)
Albieri: Yo hice un clon de Lucas. Daniel es un clon. (I made a clone of Lucas. Daniel is a clone.)
Credits roll.
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Ah, NovelaMaven, you're in top form (as always)! Your great recap cleared up several points I had missed or misunderstood and left me laughing over and over again at the great snark. I loved your description of the Ratoncita turning "her little rodent snout in another direction." I thought Pablo was moved but also perplexed. I sorely hope that he didn't check his IQ at the door. I guess we'll see.
Another gem, this one explaining why anyone would ask Abdul to come to Harram-land, oops, I mean Miami: "Is the Mosque giving a prize this month to the family with the greatest number of insufferable relatives staying with them?" There's certainly no other equally plausible explanation.
I also enjoyed your describing the shouting match between Zamira and Amin as "Balance of Terror time." They both do seem to be skilled negotiators, having had lots of practice.
I now realize that I misunderstood several things in the episode, and perhaps this is another example, but I thought that Lucia told Andrea that if Roberto were unfaithful, she would kill herself. Didn't she say "matarme"?
My internet connection is a bit flaky, so I think I'll post this and then perhaps add a few remarks in a separate message.
Another gem, this one explaining why anyone would ask Abdul to come to Harram-land, oops, I mean Miami: "Is the Mosque giving a prize this month to the family with the greatest number of insufferable relatives staying with them?" There's certainly no other equally plausible explanation.
I also enjoyed your describing the shouting match between Zamira and Amin as "Balance of Terror time." They both do seem to be skilled negotiators, having had lots of practice.
I now realize that I misunderstood several things in the episode, and perhaps this is another example, but I thought that Lucia told Andrea that if Roberto were unfaithful, she would kill herself. Didn't she say "matarme"?
My internet connection is a bit flaky, so I think I'll post this and then perhaps add a few remarks in a separate message.
Hola otra vez. I just wanted to add one or two remarks about last night's episode. Jade seemed a bit orange on my TV as well, though what struck me most was that even in bed, she was made up with carefully applied eyeliner. I wonder whether she wore it in the hospital as well.
So Albieri has finally told Luisa what he did. I guess he'll be explaining to the others as well. I wonder what he'll say to Daniel. I think he has already anticipated that that conversation will be the most difficult.
My heart really went out to Daniel last night in the scene with Luisa. Her love for him as a small child was one of the few really positive memories he had, and now she shrinks from him.
So Albieri has finally told Luisa what he did. I guess he'll be explaining to the others as well. I wonder what he'll say to Daniel. I think he has already anticipated that that conversation will be the most difficult.
My heart really went out to Daniel last night in the scene with Luisa. Her love for him as a small child was one of the few really positive memories he had, and now she shrinks from him.
Thanks, NovelaMaven.
Missed yesterday's episode, but because of your excellent recap, I now feel as if I watched it.
Prinny
Missed yesterday's episode, but because of your excellent recap, I now feel as if I watched it.
Prinny
Permalink posted by 
: Saturday, August 14, 2010 at 10:56:00 AM EDT
: Saturday, August 14, 2010 at 10:56:00 AM EDT
Juanita, ¡tienes la boca llena de razón! Lucia would kill herself, not Roberto. (Maybe I was just projecting...hahaha) Anyway, thank you so much! I corrected the text.
The scene between Luisa and Daniel broke my heart too. I thought it was played exactly right and it was all the more powerful for the absence of the usual telenovela overacting.
Yes, Albieri still has to tell Daniel the truth and that's going to be very hard to watch.
Thanks, as always, for your kind words!
The scene between Luisa and Daniel broke my heart too. I thought it was played exactly right and it was all the more powerful for the absence of the usual telenovela overacting.
Yes, Albieri still has to tell Daniel the truth and that's going to be very hard to watch.
Thanks, as always, for your kind words!
Jean,
Don't be alarmed by the CarayCaray escort meeting you when exit the plane. We will be holding you for your own protection until we see you back on the blog next week. And I'm not making this up...
Don't be alarmed by the CarayCaray escort meeting you when exit the plane. We will be holding you for your own protection until we see you back on the blog next week. And I'm not making this up...
Novela Maven --your title is brilliant! Are any of the characters going to be tilting at windmills any time soon?
Chris
Chris
Permalink posted by : Saturday, August 14, 2010 at 1:29:00 PM EDT
: Saturday, August 14, 2010 at 1:29:00 PM EDT
Excellent recap, NovelaMaven. I don't have time to sing your praises as I'd like to do because I'm out the door to go to two plays today, the matinee and the evening performance at Shakespeare Santa Cruz. A group of friends and I do this every year.
When Samira got into Amin's face, I was also thinking of "mutually assured destruction" from the Cold War era.
When Samira got into Amin's face, I was also thinking of "mutually assured destruction" from the Cold War era.
Permalink posted by : Saturday, August 14, 2010 at 2:47:00 PM EDT
: Saturday, August 14, 2010 at 2:47:00 PM EDT
NovelaMaven, thank you for the last two days of recaps. They have both been excellent.
I felt so sorry for Daniel last night. The poor thing doesn't understand the reaction everyone is having to him. Yes, Ali has a lot of explaining to do.
So we are now going to have Tio Abdul helping to stir the pot, just what this novela needs - not.
I think it is time for a little one on one between Jade and Jadiya. What Said and Raina did was really evil as far as I am concerned. And those two are going to bring another child into the world. What was Allah thinking.
So who is proud papa of Karla's baby. We know of at least two candidates, The Turkey Baster and Daniel. There maybe more in Miami that we do not know about.
Rosemary
I felt so sorry for Daniel last night. The poor thing doesn't understand the reaction everyone is having to him. Yes, Ali has a lot of explaining to do.
So we are now going to have Tio Abdul helping to stir the pot, just what this novela needs - not.
I think it is time for a little one on one between Jade and Jadiya. What Said and Raina did was really evil as far as I am concerned. And those two are going to bring another child into the world. What was Allah thinking.
So who is proud papa of Karla's baby. We know of at least two candidates, The Turkey Baster and Daniel. There maybe more in Miami that we do not know about.
Rosemary
Permalink posted by : Saturday, August 14, 2010 at 5:20:00 PM EDT
: Saturday, August 14, 2010 at 5:20:00 PM EDT
Rosemary, is it definite that Karla is pregnant? Yes, she felt nauseus and lightheaded, almost certain symptoms in TNland, but still.... I don't recall that she has any definite evidence that she's pregnant. After all her high-five celebrating, I'd love to see her find out that she's not. Of course, that would fly in the face of all the "hints" we've had from Roberto and Lucia that such a thing could/should/would never happen to him/them.
Juanita, I went back and look at last night scene and Karla was waiving around a piece of paper which I assumed was test results. Her mother wanted to see the paper of confirmation of her pregancy. I could be wrong since my Spanish leaves a lot to be desired.
Rosemary
Rosemary
Permalink posted by : Saturday, August 14, 2010 at 6:33:00 PM EDT
: Saturday, August 14, 2010 at 6:33:00 PM EDT
Great summary!
Jeez! Luisa was a jerk to daniel.
I know she scared and in shocked, but still she should have given him a fake hug.
Better yet, fainting would been a
less cruel reaction.
Jeez! Luisa was a jerk to daniel.
I know she scared and in shocked, but still she should have given him a fake hug.
Better yet, fainting would been a
less cruel reaction.
Permalink posted by : Saturday, August 14, 2010 at 7:13:00 PM EDT
: Saturday, August 14, 2010 at 7:13:00 PM EDT
Thanks, folks, for the nice words!
Chris, I'm glad you liked the title. Good question -- who, if anyone is likely to be tilting at windmills? I would have called Lucas the most quixotic of the bunch up to now, but maybe he has changed. Daniel? Possibly, if the revelation of his clonitude doesn't break his spirit.
Juanita, I agree with Rosemary. Miss K apparently went to a doctor's office where they confirmed that she was pregnant and told her she was two months along. Of course as to the identify of the father -- well, all bets are off!
Novelera, what a great way to spend a Saturday! Enjoy!
Chris, I'm glad you liked the title. Good question -- who, if anyone is likely to be tilting at windmills? I would have called Lucas the most quixotic of the bunch up to now, but maybe he has changed. Daniel? Possibly, if the revelation of his clonitude doesn't break his spirit.
Juanita, I agree with Rosemary. Miss K apparently went to a doctor's office where they confirmed that she was pregnant and told her she was two months along. Of course as to the identify of the father -- well, all bets are off!
Novelera, what a great way to spend a Saturday! Enjoy!
Thanks, Rosemary and NovelaMaven, for the additional info about how Karla knows she's pregnant. All I remembered was her feeling stereotypically ill.
Hmmm...do you think her kid will look like a turkey baster? :-)
Hmmm...do you think her kid will look like a turkey baster? :-)
Having now watched Friday's episode, I am even more impressed with your recap, Novela Maven. I was able to escape the Caray Caray escort by promising them that I would be back on the job on Tues. (going to Yankee game on Monday).
Novelera: My father lives in Santa Cruz. It's a beautiful place. I know about the Cabrillo Music festival they have there. I didn't know about the Shakespeare.
sKank Karla did have a piece of paper indicating a pregnancy test but she counted how far along she was on her fingers. I still have hope that Karla did not get pregnant from Roberto and that she is going to accuse Roberto, create a big stink with Lucia and then be shown as a liar. I hope it isn't Daniel's baby either. I wouldn't anyone I liked to have their genes mixed with Karla's.
I thought that while Pablo was buying Malicia's story about the apartment and her job - he wouldn't have any reason not to, he wasn't ready to fall into her arms. He seemed kind of non-comittal while the Ratoncita was putting the moves on him.
I still can't believe that the week where the world's slowest moving novela finally swung into action is the week that I was on vacation. Looking forward to getting back into the recaps.
Novelera: My father lives in Santa Cruz. It's a beautiful place. I know about the Cabrillo Music festival they have there. I didn't know about the Shakespeare.
sKank Karla did have a piece of paper indicating a pregnancy test but she counted how far along she was on her fingers. I still have hope that Karla did not get pregnant from Roberto and that she is going to accuse Roberto, create a big stink with Lucia and then be shown as a liar. I hope it isn't Daniel's baby either. I wouldn't anyone I liked to have their genes mixed with Karla's.
I thought that while Pablo was buying Malicia's story about the apartment and her job - he wouldn't have any reason not to, he wasn't ready to fall into her arms. He seemed kind of non-comittal while the Ratoncita was putting the moves on him.
I still can't believe that the week where the world's slowest moving novela finally swung into action is the week that I was on vacation. Looking forward to getting back into the recaps.
NovelaMaven great job on this recap and thanks so much for your hard work.
Is Pablo even a little attracted to Malicia? Didn't look like it to me, but i will be happy when the dope finds out he has been dooped and dumped.
Wow if a person who is in a medical profession like Luisa acts like she did to Daniel and she didn't have the full story yet? Imagine how the others are going to act when they find out the real truth.I really felt how hurt Daniel was y Luisa reactions.I can see how he will turn on Albieri once he learns how he really came into existence.
Is Pablo even a little attracted to Malicia? Didn't look like it to me, but i will be happy when the dope finds out he has been dooped and dumped.
Wow if a person who is in a medical profession like Luisa acts like she did to Daniel and she didn't have the full story yet? Imagine how the others are going to act when they find out the real truth.I really felt how hurt Daniel was y Luisa reactions.I can see how he will turn on Albieri once he learns how he really came into existence.
Permalink posted by : Sunday, August 15, 2010 at 12:24:00 PM EDT
: Sunday, August 15, 2010 at 12:24:00 PM EDT
Jean,
¡No te preocupes! I'm sure there will be plenty of plot to go around in the weeks that come!
Blusamurai and Jean, here's how I read the Pablo/Malicia thing: He continues to believe, uncritically, everything that she tells him, but there's no sign that he's particularly attracted to her.
As for Luisa's reaction to Daniel, well -- As anon 0713 said yesterday, even fainting would have been less cruel.
¡No te preocupes! I'm sure there will be plenty of plot to go around in the weeks that come!
Blusamurai and Jean, here's how I read the Pablo/Malicia thing: He continues to believe, uncritically, everything that she tells him, but there's no sign that he's particularly attracted to her.
As for Luisa's reaction to Daniel, well -- As anon 0713 said yesterday, even fainting would have been less cruel.
NovelaMaven: As far as I remember, Don Quixote was prone to react violently and unpredictably to situations that he misunderstood and then to suffer the horrible consequences. Doesn't this sound familiar in the context of our story?
Chris
Chris
Permalink posted by : Sunday, August 15, 2010 at 3:36:00 PM EDT
: Sunday, August 15, 2010 at 3:36:00 PM EDT
NovelaMaven, I dug your title and your perceptive recap. That episode had one of the best-acted and best-written scenes we've seen, Luisa's reaction to Cloniel. That scene revealed more of their characters than the usual fainting scenes. I think Cloniel is starting to get upset about these encounters, and how Albieri lied to him. I see trouble there. And Luisa, never able to deal with her problems, is very confused and worried. I was a little surprised Albieri told it her straight after all. She probably would have believed his lies. But maybe he's given up hiding it.
Yeah, Chris, excellent point. It does sound familiar, although when I look at Jade, Lucas and Said, I see all three acting out of impulse and suffering terrible consequences; but I'd only use the word "violent" to describe (some) of Said's behavior.
Albieri seems to have snuck in from another tradition entirely. With his sweaty, surreptitious manner and his unsavory mixture of guilt and arrogance, he's like a refugee from a Dostoevsky story. And the terrible consequences of his arrogance are visited, for the most part, on others.
[Without even examining the ethics of human cloning, what Albieri has done is evil: he stole Lucas's genetic identity; he stole Dora's opportunity to have her own child (my God, he sucked out the contents of her eggs -- like some monstrous raptor!); and he brought Daniel into this world without really considering the consequences he's suffer because of his origin.]
Luke, I agree, the scene between Luisa and Daniel was one of the best we've seen, as disturbing as it was emotionally credible.
Albieri seems to have snuck in from another tradition entirely. With his sweaty, surreptitious manner and his unsavory mixture of guilt and arrogance, he's like a refugee from a Dostoevsky story. And the terrible consequences of his arrogance are visited, for the most part, on others.
[Without even examining the ethics of human cloning, what Albieri has done is evil: he stole Lucas's genetic identity; he stole Dora's opportunity to have her own child (my God, he sucked out the contents of her eggs -- like some monstrous raptor!); and he brought Daniel into this world without really considering the consequences he's suffer because of his origin.]
Luke, I agree, the scene between Luisa and Daniel was one of the best we've seen, as disturbing as it was emotionally credible.
I also thought Pablo was not ready to fall into Malicia's arms. My take on it is that Pablo is basically a very kind man. He fell for Malicia's "poor me" routine. I don't remember her telling him that she'd lost the baby. Or did she ever tell him she was pregnant? I thought she had. So he's believed her so far and treats her like a wounded bird.
Any man who's at all attracted will respond when a woman leans forward like M did, with the come hither look. He did not.
Jean, about Santa Cruz. The Shakespeare Festival there has been going on for 29 years. It takes place on the University of California, Santa Cruz, campus. The actors are professional and the performances wonderful. They normally do two plays by the bard and one other (Shaw, Albee, Chekhov). On Saturday we saw The Lion in Winter and Othello. We usually stay over and see all three plays on the weekend, but this year we're going back next weekend for Love's Labour Lost.
Any man who's at all attracted will respond when a woman leans forward like M did, with the come hither look. He did not.
Jean, about Santa Cruz. The Shakespeare Festival there has been going on for 29 years. It takes place on the University of California, Santa Cruz, campus. The actors are professional and the performances wonderful. They normally do two plays by the bard and one other (Shaw, Albee, Chekhov). On Saturday we saw The Lion in Winter and Othello. We usually stay over and see all three plays on the weekend, but this year we're going back next weekend for Love's Labour Lost.
Permalink posted by : Monday, August 16, 2010 at 2:20:00 PM EDT
: Monday, August 16, 2010 at 2:20:00 PM EDT
Yes NovelaMaven, what an excellent observation regarding Albieri, definitely a character from Dostoevsky, Crime and Punishment, perhaps. We'll have to wait to see what Albieri's punishment is going to be, but it's not too difficult to imagine some interesting possibilities (with Mary Shelley in mind, perhaps).
Chris
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Chris
Permalink posted by : Monday, August 16, 2010 at 2:59:00 PM EDT
: Monday, August 16, 2010 at 2:59:00 PM EDT
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