Caray, Caray!

lived a princess. There was a handsome prince too, and an evil aunt who…. But let’s not get ahead of our story. Let’s begin at the beginning, where all good stories start. Before we start, though, here’s a list of the characters you’ll see tonight in case you have trouble keeping the names straight. They introduced an astonishing amount of characters, so I hope the list is close to correct.

Marianela – our pudgy protagonista
Eva – her beautiful mother, a singer
Ricardo – Eva’s assistant or manager
Luis Felipe – Eva’s husband (framed and matted)
Netty - Marianela’s aunt, Eva’s sister

Emiliano - Eva’s brother-in-law, so uncle of Marianela.
Fedra – his wife, Marianela’s aunt
Their kids:
Emanuel
Axel
Greta
Kristel – novia of Mauricio
Nereida – the family maid at Emiliano’s house
Bernardo – Fedra’s right-hand man

Mauricio – novio of Kristel

Lorenzo - Father of Ilitia?
Ilitia, a model
Camila? – Ilitia’s mother

Brandon
Bladiola – Brandon’s mother?Dolores - Brandon’s grandmother?
Doris – Brandon’s sister?
Oliver – Brandon’s friend
Javier – a child in Brandon’s family


First we see a modern office building, and inside, in a big office, the press is flashing photos of an impatient and annoyed beautiful brunette, Eva. In comes Ricardo, her assistant, who politely but firmly tells them that they can get all the photos they want in the main room. What? says Eva angrily. He ushers the press out.

She tells him off: A press event? Today? You have to cancel it right now! He shows her a newspaper and says Look! This is about your triumphant return to this country. The headline, which we see for a nanosecond, says something about a singer’s big success.
He tells her they have to take advantage of it, but Eva protests that he knows very well that she’s come back to Mexico to be with her daughter, and she’s never going to be separated from her ever ever again, plus today is her graduation and she’s not going to let her down. Oh, to be at with her, to hug her! She’s going to kiss her after all these years. There’s nothing more important than that.

Cut to an aerial view of Internado San Agustín, nestled by a lake in some soft wooded hills. Inside the dorm, we see Marianela excitedly showing her schoolmates the headline about her mother, and telling them that her mother has promised that she’s is going to come see her graduate. A schoolmate points out that it says her tour ends in three days. Oh, says Marianela, hugging the paper to her, maybe she can’t make it. She gushes that she can’t wait to hug her mama. She takes a bite off a candy bar. The girls are excited and decide to put on some music. They start hopping around, dancing and lipsyncing to the music. They shove each other onto the beds in fun, and when Marianela is shoved onto hers, it collapses. Laughter all around.

Now we’re at a race site complete with bouncing pom-pommed cheerleaders and there’s our main man Emanuel pulling up in his hot and happenin’ red three-wheeled motorcycle. Another fellow, Lorenzo, greets him warmly, I think calling him yerno (son-in-law), though the captions say “tierno,” and telling him that he’s going to have his daughter at the ready at the door of the church if Emanuel wins. Emanuel says it looks like he’s going to be a married guy then, because he’s going to win. They backslap and yuck it up.

Lorenzo laughs that Fedra, Emanuel’s mother, called him six times last night, telling him not to miss the race. Then, pointing at the cheerleaders, he tells Emanuel to watch out for temptations. So saying, both guys look their way and the girls giggle and make eyes back. Emanuel tells him to watch it, or his wife’ll have him sleeping on the couch.

Lorenzo asks where Emanuel’s father is. Emanuel looks around and says he doesn’t know, his mother wasn’t doing too red hot this morning. Hooboy, your mother! says the other guy, rolling his eyes, she’s a hurricane!

We are in the large bedroom of a modern home. Emiliano, Emanuel’s father, is adjusting his collar at the mirror, and his wife Fedra, still in her silky red bathrobe, demands to know how can he go to a race when they are about to lose everything. He reminds her that their son is about to be in an important competition – he’s defending his title. Well, she huffs, exactly where are we going to put the trophy when your sister-in-law throws us all out of this house? Emiliano doesn’t figure that’s going to happen, but she shows him the newspaper, which says Eva’s coming back to Mexico City. Emiliano doesn’t think that means she’ll throw them out. He reminds her that the house belongs to his niece, that his dear departed brother left it to her.

Listen, she says, wheedling, Eva’s left a long time ago, and I’ve been the one who has taken care of this house, and it just doesn’t seem fair that…. Calm down, he says, Marianela has been in that boarding school all these years, and of course she’ll want to come to her home and live with her mother. We’ll be a united family.

Oh, great, says Fedra, a drunk – is that the example you want for your kids? Emiliano protests that Eva’s completely recovered from that, so it pains him to hear that Fedra still thinks that. He gives her a kiss on the forehead, tells her to get dressed, and he’ll wait for her downstairs.

In her office, Eva is looking at a photo of Luis Felipe, her dead husband, and saying she can’t imagine living in that house without him. It’s been so difficult since he died! She can’t wait to see their daughter – how she wishes he were there with her! She hugs the photo and sighs.

Fedra, still in her robe, is pitching a fit. She grabs the phone and calls somebody named Bernardo, telling him to come up to her room right now - they have a major problem. She glares at the newspaper she’s thrown on the floor and says You’re not going to ruin my life, not you, not your daughter either.

The boarding school gals have arranged themselves in front of the TV where Emanuel appears with a reporter, and says his fiancée couldn’t be there. He throws her a kiss. Marianela smiles and touches her fingers to her lips.

Eva’s manager comes in and tells her that he has cancelled the press conference, as she asked, but reminds her that they have a signed contract and she has to comply with what’s in it. She says she will, she’ll be at the event tonight. She’s going to dedicate her performance to her daughter, and sing the best she ever has.

He hands her what looks like a boxed bottle and a gift card, saying it looks like she has an admirer. She opens the card which says So you never forget the past. She stands up to open it, and we see her impressive mile-high platform stilettos. Those, along with her ample white bosoms offered up by a lift-up bra, make her quite a sight to behold. She opens the gift and holds it up – a bottle of hooch. Her assistant says it must be somebody’s idea of a bad joke. She says she knows who it is, somebody who’s always wanted to destroy her. Well, they won’t succeed this time.

In the meantime, Bernardo has arrived, and Fedra , hands on her hips, asks how long he’s worked for them.. Almost a whole life, he says. You’re my right hand, my trusted employee, she tells him. No no no, he says – I’m not just your employee. I’m much more than that as you well know. I know you better than anybody else does, which is why I don’t like seeing you distraught. She tells him that that booze hound is going to come back and take over the house like a big lady, and she’s not going to let that happen. He swears that it won’t – it’ll always be the queen’s house. She strikes a royal pose.

The phone rings. It’s Eva, who says Hello, this is your conscience calling. Fedra says her conscience doesn’t sound like an alcoholic. Eva laughs and tells her she received her gift and she just wants Fedra to know that she’s not the weak woman Fedra knew before. Fedra nastily recalls Eva on her knees, begging for a bottle of booze. Eva informs her that she’s coming back to care for her child.

You’re going to throw me out of the house, states Fedra. Eva smilingly replies that Fedra probably doesn’t want to live with the woman she tried to destroy. Fedra throws the phone.

We see Eva in an elevator, leaving the office building.

It’s graduation day – the girls are in their caps and gowns. Marianela and a couple of friends are walking on the lawn, and Marianela says she hopes her mama makes it. She’s munching on a candy bar, and one friend tells her not to eat so much, it’s making her fat. Doesn’t she want to have a boyfriend? They don’t just sweep down from the heavens, you know. Marienela dreamily imagines one who does, who picks her up in his strong arms as if she were light as a feather.

Cut to cousin Emanuel doing some pushups to get ready for the big race. Back to Marianela who suddenly has trouble breathing. Her girlfriend reaches under Marianela’s gown and grabs her inhaler and administers a few squirts of it. Marianela coughs a few times, then recovers. The girlfriend tells her to quit thinking about her dishy cousin and get a real boyfriend. Does she want to end up like her aunt who’s always waiting for her knight in shining armor and has ended up a spinster?

We see the aunt in question, Netty, who is riding on a colorful country bus, fanning herself with her hand.

And on with the graduation – the nuns are giving out the award for the top student, which goes to Marianela of course, because in telenovelaland protagonistas always get straight A’s. The nun hugs her and tells her she’ll go far. Enthusiastic applause from the affectionate students.

A helicopter comes whomping overhead and Marianela runs out from the graduation tent, shouting Mama, you came! The helicopter lands on the grass, its door opens and a stylish platform stiletto-heeled foot presents itself. Eva steps out and affixes a wide elegant hat. Marianela runs to her. They stop, and just look at each from a few yards away, then hurry towards each other, Eva oddly enough now wearing walking black walking shoes, I guess so she doesn’t sink up to her hubcaps in the grass. They hug for a long time, then Marianela steps back and tells her mother that she just got this (medal on a long ribbon) for being the valedictorian. She takes the medal from her neck and hangs it on her mother, thanking her for everything she did to make it possible for them to be together. Her mother is overwhelmed.

I have something for you too, she says. Boys! Out of nowhere materialize a troupe of white-costumed mariachis (were they stuffed in the helicopter like clowns in a VW?). They fire up and Eva, who in another magical shoe-switch now has her heels on again, sings a love song to her daughter (a bit hard to do when your upper lip barely moves. Oh, meow! Sorry.) and strokes Marionela’s hair. The song says nothing except the hand of God well ever separate them; they will love each other forever.

While the song continues, we see Netty on the bus again, and, for local color, a fellow holding a goat in his lap. Suddenly the bus seems to lose its brakes, rolling backwards, then almost tipping over a rise, but it comes to a stop just in time, luggage spilling from the top. Netty berates the driver and points to the statue of a protective santo she is carrying.

Eva’s still singing her heart out in the background while we see Netty walking on a small road in a sylvan area, carrying her umbrella and pulling her little wheeled suitcase behind her. A fellow with a burro passes her, and suddenly a lightbulb goes on over her head.

Eva finishes her song, and embraces her daughter. Elsewhere we see Netty astride the burro, umbrella still aloft, à la Mary Poppins. The burro breaks into a canter and she fusses at it.

Eva and Marianela walk together at a distance from the graduation. Eva tells her that she can never forgive herself for their not being together. Marianela tells her not to worry, the main thing is that they’re together now. Forever, swears Eva, nothing will separate us now. She hugs Marianela and kisses her. Marianela wants to know if she’s proud of her, even though she’s fat.

Eva says the usual Of course, what beautiful eyes you have, and Marianela thinks that’s just a mother talking. Her mother says she’s lovely, because what really matters is what’s inside a person, in their soul. Marianela wishes she were a beauty like her mother, but her mother says that kind of beauty fades with age, and the only thing that lasts is who we are inside. You are beautiful, you radiate from inside! Marianela tells her mama that she is beautiful inside and out. They hug.

Eva wonders where Netty is. She just talked to her yesterday and she said she was going to come. On cue, Netty heaves into view, kicking the burro into another canter. Her umbrella goes flying, and she falls off. Marianela and Eva burst out laughing.

Fedra’s not laughing – she’s doing her makeup in the mirror. Bernardo suggests to her that black isn’t a good color to wear to her son’s race. Don’t bug me, mi amor, she says. He tells her to save the mourning for later - there’s going to be a death in the family real soon. Fedra whips around to look at him and a smile slowly breaks out across her face.

Marianela is in the nurse’s office and has fixed Netty up with a sling. Netty is impressed that she learned how to do that and Marianela tells her they taught her a lot of stuff here. She hugs her aunt and her mother and leaves to tell the head nun her aunt’s okay.

Netty asks Eva how Marianela got so fat. Eva thinks maybe it’s her fault – her daughter was so alone.
N: You say that like you had abandoned her, and we both know that’s not true.
E: Marianela was in this boarding school since she was little, because I couldn’t take care of her.
N: You had to take care of yourself! Your husband’s death really hit you hard, but look at you now! You’re gorgeous! You quit drinking; you got your life back.
E: I couldn’t take care of her; you don’t know how sorry I am. But you’re right, I’m different now (the music swells) and now I have the strength to fight for my daughter against all comers. She’s beautiful to me.

Emiliano is coming down the stairs with his son Axel, who is trying to get out of going to watch his brother in the race. He has something important to do! Emiliano tells him the race is important. Axel wants to know why his father isn’t making his sisters come. Your sisters! blusters Emiliano. You can’t compare yourself to them. They’re doing their makeup or something.

There’s one now (Kristel) in her bedroom with Mauricio, telling him it’s not good to play slap and tickle right before a race. Sez who? sez he, whipping off his shirt. I’m going to prove them wrong. I’m going to beat that brother of yours. She tells him if her dad catches him, he’ll kill him. Mauricio doesn’t care. They start necking.

And Gretel… says Emiliano to his son and gestures helplessly. We see Gretel sitting on the floor in the corner of her room, staring aggressively and stroking her orange cat.

Back at the graduation, Netty is telling Eva she’s nuts to want to move into that house with that horrible woman. Eva says Marianela inherited it and she’s not scared of Fedra. Netty is sure she’ll put up a fight. Eva says she doesn’t want a fight, she just wants Marianela’s rights respected.

Netty wonders again how Eva’s ever going to get a boyfriend, she’s such a fatty.

At the race, some fellow tries to interest Emanuel is meeting up with some girls, but he good-naturedly says nothing doing before a race. The other fellow says okay, maybe after.

We’re in New York! In struts model Ilitia and the press go nuts taking photos. Ilitia smiles happily and strikes poses. Her mother (Camila, I believe, though nobody calls her by name) comes in and tells the press that she has to talk to her baby for a minute. She pulls Ilitia over to one side, but Ilitia zips back to the press and rotates and revels in their attention.

She has her cell and dials, telling her mother that it’s Emanuel’s race day, and she hasn’t been able to even give her darling fiancé a kiss. Her mother, mindful of the press, smilingly tells her in a low voice not to smother the poor guy. Ilitia says oh, she’s not calling him, she’s calling her (future) sister-in-law.

Who we see under the sheets with Mauricio. Ilitia has a weensy fit that she hasn’t answered, but recovers immediately, smiling blindingly at the photographers who snap away.

Eva’s about to leave – her sister tells her to be safe, appealing to the appropriate saint. Eva hugs her daughter and tells her that she has special seats reserved for Marianela and Netty, and the concert will be just for her daughter.

Eva has one more present – a jewelry box with a silver lily in it, which Marianela’s dear departed daddy had given Eva. Marianela looks sad as she has a flashback, and no wonder – it’s her father, flat on the pavement, apparently after a fall, as blood is trickling from his head onto the cement. He gestures weakly to little tyke Marianela, saying “the silver lily.” Eva says she thinks of him every day.

They both say how much they love each other, and Eva tells Marianela that she’s lovely and don’t let anybody tell her different. She tells her to remember their talk. She leaves, and Netty comes over and thanks San Antonio that Eva seems to be happy. Marianela tells her her mother just said she was still in love with her father. Netty sighs and says that’s the way it is when you find true love. Ah, Gordita, there’s nothing like a big love to heal everything. Marianela is wistful.

Mauricio has arrived at the race and is bragging to Emanuel about how he’s going to win, in fact he plans to drink champagne out of the winner’s cup with Emanuel’s sister. They head off to the race starting line.

On your marks, get set… the cheerleaders go nuts, and the runners are off.

Eva gets into the helicopter sending a silent prayer for her daughter as she takes one last look at her.

The runners round a bend in the pathway in the woods.

Emiliano and Fedra have arrived, and Lorenzo greats Emiliano warmly. Emiliano tells Fedra he’s glad she came, and she primly says she would do anything for her children. Axel is with them, pretty much ignored. Here comes Emanuel, ahead in the lead. Fedra makes a big show of urging him on.

The helicopter takes off, then explodes. We see the horrified faces of Marianela (Mama! Mama!) and everyone else. Flames flicker in front of the lens. At the race, we see Fedra with a small smile and Bernardo with a big one.

Now the racers are switching from running to bike riding. Emanuel is looking confident. His family cheers him on – no sign of Mauricio.

Lorenzo has a video camera and he must be a leg man, because he has one of the cheerleaders posing for him on the grass. He tells her to skitch her tiny skirt up a little more, and he videos her legs up close, from every possible angle. She says this is for a future casting, right? He runs his finger along her leg. I get the contract right? she says. Yes, he says distractedly videoing, you’re perfect for the ad for Sexy Leg Stockings. Where would I find legs like yours? He gives her a smooch on the cheek. Blech.

As Emanuel gets set to cycle off, Kristel wants to know where Mauricio is. Emanuel laughs that he’ll be along, maybe in an ambulance.

New York again, where Ilitia is having her hair done, and she’s on her cell with Kristel. She’s excited that Emanuel won the first leg, but Kristel reminds her that Mauricio is one of the favorites. Ilitia pouts that she misses Emanuel. Kristel tells her that are a lot of gorgeous girls there.

Here comes Mauricio staggering. He falls into Kristal’s arms, then ends up on the ground, maybe passed out.

Dressers are fussing over Ilitia while she’s worried some other girl will swipe her guy. Everyone assures her she’s gorgeous and nobody’s going to steal him away.

Now we’re in Los Angeles airport with a new character, Brandon, who wants to catch a flight to Mexico. The ticket lady surreptitiously checks her computer for photos of terrorists. She thinks he looks like the photo of a terrorist with a full beard and pushes the silent alarm. Guards grab him and cuff him.

Brandon’s family is setting the table, expecting him. His mother Bladiola says she misses him. His grandmother, I think she is, says he’s such a good boy, such a hard worker. It’s a loving family and we meet Doris, who I think is his sister. There’s another lady maybe Doris’s age there, whose name nobody mentions, but she calls to Javier (unseen) to stop playing and wash his hands. In comes Oliver, Brandon’s friend, laughing and bringing beer.

They toast to Netty, who is reuniting with her sister Eva and her niece Marianela.

Emanuel finishes the bike leg in the lead and changes part of his outfit.

At the L.A. airport, Brandon smilingly tells the official that he’s not an Arab, much less a terrorist. Why, he’s from Mexico, the land of tequila and mariachis. The official shows him the terrorist photo and Brandon squints at it saying yes, they kinda look alike, but he’s handsomer. They arrest him. Brandon appeals to the heavens, wanting to know which saint handles stuff like this.

Here’s me thinking the race was a triathlon. But apparently not – Emanuel hasn’t switched into a bathing suit, instead he’s got a backpack on and is trotting up into the mountains.

A kaleidoscope of flash scenes: Ilitia working the runway; Emanuel rock climbing; Marianela and others sitting in grief; Brandon being put in a holding room, protesting his innocence; Ilitia again; Emanuel almost missing a handhold, then exulting at the top; Marianela and sad group again.

Emanuel is up on the winner’s stand, getting his trophy while the crowd cheers and the cheerleaders work their pompoms. His family congratulates him, and his sister (girlfriend to Mauricio, remember?) pushes him off when he tries to kiss her.

Fedra is trying to get Greta, who is still staring while she pets the amazingly compliant cat, to come down for dinner. Greta doesn’t want to join in a stupid family dinner. The maid, Nereida, brings in dinner on a tray, but Fedra waves her off, telling Greta no dinner if she doesn’t join them. Good, says Greta, you can leave me alone. Fedra tells her in no uncertain terms that she’s to come down and Greta actually complies, though bad-temperedly.

It’s the service for Marianela’s mother, the schoolgirls are there. Netty brings in her ashes in a box and hands them to Marianela. The MS comes in and tells Marianela that Emiliano just called, and she had to tell him the news.

Emiliano tells those of his family who are gathered, namely Fedra, Bernardo, Emanuel and Greta. Fedra and Bernardo give each other a quiet triumphant look, unnoticed by the others.

I think we’re getting the picture of who’s naughty and who’s nice…

Avances: Marianela has to move with Fedra’s family – into a den of wolves. Fedra discovers some cash. She tells Bernardo to do something, but I couldn’t understand what, and he says he’ll take care of it.

Truth in packaging: If I am a new recapper to you, it’s only fair to warn you that I’m a Spanish-learner, so any additions or corrections are very welcome!

Labels: llena