Caray, Caray!

Checklist for watching Un Refugio Para el Amor tonight

Got your hankies and tissues out?  Check
Got your rotten tomatoes handy? Check
Got your “Rose” colored glasses on? Check
Got your Beanie-by-Emilia on your head? Nooo, lost it in translation
1 Box Pepperidge Farm Classic Favorite Assorted Cookies (I can eat them all between 7-8) Check
1 Tall glass Club Soda with a twist of lime (I’m on a diet) Check
Got your lie detector aimed? Check
Got your hand sanitizer? Oops, it’s in my other purse

Snippets from ayer –
The men want to begin their meeting, but Luciana isn’t there.  They decide to call in Cardenas.  Rodrigo gets a call and takes it out of earshot.

The Het Het crowd was ready to leave DF when Ariche asks to say goodbye to Rodrigo.  Luci calls for him.  When he’s done, he hands the phone back to Luciana.  Gentle conversational breezes blow.  Pato needs you, I need you, too; we have to get to the airport; are you in a hurry; yes, we’re in a hurry; are you coming in to the office; no; I want to talk to you; we are talking; I want to see you.  She cuts him off and they leave for the airport.

Lo de hoy –
In the TL House
Roselena is on the phone, alterada as usual.  She’s reaming out someone on the other end about having asked for some pertinent information ten days ago and she still knows nothing.  She wants it, like yesterday.  She’s paying him well, so get hopping.  With Roselena everyone is supposed to be at *her* disposal and on *her* schedule.  (Recapper’s memory is out to lunch—but thinks RE contracted a P.I. to find out who her husband’s lover is.  If he’s any good, RE is in for a surprise when she finds out she was replaced by a certain little Miss Doña Nail Nadie.)

At the TL Oficina de Max
Max, Rodrigo and Oscar are having a confab regarding the status of the empire.  They are reassured that the judgment which went against them was only an internal matter.  As far as the investors go, everything is ok—nor has Claudio becoming a socio again affected the image of the empresa.  High-level stuff when a puff of bad air arrives unannounced.  It’s the Sra. Torreslanda, Jr.  I came for you, my love, as she puts a proprietary hand on Rod’s shoulders and a wifely smooch on the neck.  Gala is actually dressed quite conservatively—ah yes, because they are going to the Ob-Gyn today, as a matter of fact, right now, we barely have time to get there.  Rod is righteously confused; he knows she didn’t mention it.  He can’t go because he has a lot of work.  She reminds everyone there she’s already had to cancel two appointments because of him and, looking at Max, it couldn’t be because he doesn’t care about your grandchild, could it?  (Man she knows how to spread the BS on thick like peanut butter on bread.)  Max brushes it off as being first time daddy jitters.  Off you go, he urges.

At the Heartbreak Hotel Restaurant
Boris and Jana continue the conversation they started earlier.  She’s trying hard to let him down easy—he’s been a friend from childhood.  As we watch, from behind the brasserie’s open flames, she gives him the standard line, it’s not you; it’s me.  She tries to convince him there’s no one else, but he’s not buying it and she ain’t selling it very well.  He wants to know exactly why she wants to end it.  It’s just that she wasn’t ready to see him as a novio and it made her uncomfortable.  Boris pleads his case.  All he ever tried to do was make her happy and all those “mistakes” he made will never be repeated.  He can change, he assures her.  No, it’s no use.  Jana is sorry and leaves.  Boris is left with a broken ego, two uneaten desserts, the bill and a face that’s hard to read.  Is he going to go after Lorenzo or chalk it up to a life experience.  That remains to be seen.

Dr. Nice’s Office
On arriving at the Ob-Gyn’s, Rod realizes he’s been snookered.  This isn’t the same doctor they went to the first time.  No it’s not, says Gala triumphantly.  She switched to a better doctor but since he never listens and never lets her talk, she didn’t have an opportunity to tell him.  Rod tries to hide his face in the shadows during the office consultation.  Gala is very enthusiastic to know if it’s a girl—she wants a girl, though macho hubby naturally wants a boy.  And you, no, doc wants to know.  Well, of course if it’s a boy he would be the first-born (primogénito) in the family to carry on the Torreslanda name.  Doc’s overhead light bulb goes on and he addresses Rod, I think I know you; your face is familiar.  Gala steps in to spread more peanut butter, oh, that can’t be, this is the first time my husband has been her, right, my love?  (Poor Rod—if doc figures it out he will think Rod is a two-timing bigamist with a really high sperm count.)  Doc puts his curiosity on a shelf and Rod doesn’t lie, by just not answering.  Rod is mortified by the situation, just what Gala wanted.

Heartbreak Hotel
Luci and Violeta get back to the hotel suite.  Luci invites her to stay as long as she’s there.  Vio accepts and wants to start planning their little revenge against whomever sent Luci the hideous doll head.  Luci says no to that.  She’ll be leaving for Het Het soon and wants to leave the brujas behind.  (Even she of the big heart recognizes brujas and calls them like she sees them.)  Vio is all about vengeance.  They deserve it.  She’ll think of something.  They plan an evening together and Vio leaves to go get her clothes from the barrio.

Luci gets a phone call from Patricio.  He was worried about her because she didn’t come back to the office.  Pato is surprised the group left as soon as they did.  He wanted to give Ariche another ride in the wheelchair, but he’s glad she stayed.  Well, says Luci, you convinced me.  He wants to know if she’ll keep coming to the office, but Luci says probably not.  There’s really nothing I have to do for the foundation that can’t be done by phone or we meet somewhere else (where she doesn’t run into sad, mopey, lovesick, stalky Rod or reopening her own wounds).

The Dungeon in the Sky
Rod basically dumps Gala at the apartment to go back to work.  She wants to know when he’ll be back, because they need to talk about the gyno visit.  They certainly do, he agrees.  He calls her on having changed doctors on purpose but she plays Mrs. Inocente.  The door closes and we see her signature big grin.  She’s enjoying sticking it to him (so sick).

Downtime in Het Het
Don Aquiles is quietly drinking the night away.  Procopio rushes in to tell him the ladies have returned from the capital.  Don A wants to know if Violeta was with them.  He doesn’t know.  Find out, Dag Nabbit.  Don’t come to me with half a chisme, bring me a whole one, so get hopping.  At this time of night?  Of course not, tomorrow, 2 in the afternoon, of course now.  Don A literally kicks Proco out the door.

Heartbreak Hotel
Luci is sitting on the bed reviewing documents when there is a forceful knock at the door.  Thinking it’s Violeta, Luci flings the door open and there’s Rodrigo and their theme song standing in the doorway.  He moves in like a mistral breeze and tries his moony lines on her.  He misses her.  Luci turns away from him.  Rodrigo, what are you doing here.  Please leave.  I can’t be without you; I need you to live; I need you to breathe.  Luci says, no, I…., this isn’t right.  Rodrigo leans in for a kiss and she responds.

The Dungeon in the Sky
Observing this encounter between two lost loves is interrupted in order to have to watch Gala chatting with mama about the doctor visit.  Gala gets down to details, including Rod’s return to the office for something urgent.  Gagame just can’t stand that La Domestica is at the office all day long.  Julie advises that as long as you two don’t separate, everything will be fine.  BTW, let’s have breakfast together tomorrow.  I have a plan to share with you.  Gagame agrees, but warns she’ll probably be in a foul mood if there’s another fight with Rodrigo.  Julie tells her not to fight.  But, he doesn’t listen to me, he doesn’t like anything and if he gets angry, I will too.

Heartbreak Hotel
Luci liked that kiss.  Rod is telling her, with all the ardor he can muster, he loves her.  They kiss again.  Luci moves her lips away just far enough to say, Rodrigo.  We can hear them breathing heavily as they embrace again.  Rod pleads, don’t leave me.  Luci disengages—please, understand, go away.  Rod says I’m not leaving; I don’t want to live if you aren’t here.  Luci says he has to live for his child, for his children.

L-Please, help me – you and I don’t have a right to….
R-Why not? We love each other.
L-Because you are married to Gala.
R-But I don’t love her.  I  d.o.n.’t. love her.  Our love is greater than anything.  Life has put obstacles in our way.  I’m asking you, begging you, to fight for it.  I implore (suplicar) you.  Luciana, I’m going to divorce Gala, yes, I’m going to ask her for a divorce.
L-With tears in her eyes…and your child?
R-And ours?  Both my children have a right to be with their father, the difference being that I love you with all my strength, not Gala, otherwise I would stay by her side (swelling musical strains indicate a triumph of love over obstacles, a teardrop falls, but….).  Rod continues, this situation can’t go on.  I’m going to get a divorce from Gala.  I want to be your husband; I want to be with you forever, all the time, my whole life.
L-But it’s too late; you can’t fix one thing by breaking another.
R-But why do we have to be kept apart when we love each other.
L---Shrugs her shoulders.
R-You are expecting my child, too.  Why do I have to stay with Gala if I don’t love her?
L---Seems to be succumbing to his logic, but then she says, we’d never be able to live in peace; I wouldn’t be able to live in peace--she stands up—knowing you left your wife for me.  So, please don’t go on like this.
R-I love you—coming up behind her and wrapping her in his arms, I love you, Luciana.  I love you.
L&R---They are both crying.  She turns and puts her hands up to his face.
L-I love you, too, and I will the rest of my life, but we can’t be together.
R-Don’t take me out of your life, I implore you, I beg you.

They are standing very close.  Rodrigo is holding Luci’s face in his hands.  We will never know what she was going to reply because Vio arrives and lets herself in.  It’s a bit awkward before Luci says that Rod is just leaving.  He does.  Luci is undone.  She tells Vio, he says he loves me and will keep loving me.  Rod hasn’t made if very far from Luci’s door.  He’s standing right outside, propped up by the wall in the same state as Luci, crying over a love he ruined and is affecting the lives of six people, himself, Luciana, Baby Rod, Gala, Baby Gala and Patricio.

Torreslanda House
Pato comes in to see Jana.  He doesn’t know she just broke up with Boris.  He wants to know why she didn’t come down to dinner.  She tells him and says she feels badly for Boris.  In fact, she was about to tell him they’d continue, but she’s not in love with him; she sees him only as a friend.  (Pato are you listening to your sister. Is there anything that could apply to you.)  He does say that it is better to break up sooner rather than later.  Pato wants to know if she broke up because she saw him as a friend or because of Lorenzo.  Jana is about to tell him when, with no advance storm warnings, mama cyclone barrels in with that, “you and I have to talk,” speech.  She wants Jana’s brother present. (Poor Pato, the middle child in the middle again.)

Jana is still getting chewed out by her most indignant mother.  Jana swears she doesn’t know what RE is talking about—Lorenzo hanging around?  I’m not stupid, says RE (no, only a twisted being in designer clothing), you were in the garden when Frigida saw him spying on you.  But I never saw him.  Whatever, in any case I’m not going to permit that infeliz to come sniffing around and get near you.  Pato tries to referee, but RE cuts him off short.  You be quiet.  I’m sick of it, when every time, you go against me.  So, Jana, if the day comes when you dare to get close to him or he to you, I’m likely to kill him.  There’s no follow-up talk between the sibs as she stalks out.

El Barrio
Lorenzo seems ready to expand the business to a construction site.  Tomorrow he’s sending Polo and Fabian to the regular corner where folks know them and Polo can learn the business.  Meanwhile, he’ll go to the construction site, to see if he can get the right authorizations.  Polo reminds him that if an opening for a bartender comes along, he’s taking it.  Understood.  But work is work.  Ofelia pipes up and suggests they bring Serena in to help on some days when she can’t.  Fabian likes that idea.

TL House Despacho
Max is trying to read, but we don’t think his mind is on the printed page.  Rosa arrives like the cold North wind and blows away his few moments of refuge.  See what comes from your infidelity?  See, at the same time (de una vez) your little affair is keeping you occupied, it’s also keeping you from staying informed as to what is happening in this house.  Max is clueless.  Jana, your princesita is making googly eyes at a miserable, no good, so and so.  Who are you talking about?  That filthy, dirty (mugroso) taquero, hermano de Lucia.  She is still spitting icicles as Conny comes in to learn what the commotion is all about.  Conny tells her to cool her jets or she could be hurting herself.  No, it’s you and everyone else who are hurting me (just so they know it’s all about ME).  The family and the house are falling apart and no one does anything about it.

The Dungeon in the Sky
Rodrigo gets home.  It’s dark.  He thinks he’ll have some peace.  Wrong, Hurricane Harpy sweeps in from the Gulf.

R-Don’t provoke me.
G-So, what will you do to me if I do?
R-I already told you.  I’m going to divorce you.
G-Never—listen up, buddy, never will I give you a divorce.  You will have to kill me because only dead would I ever give you a divorce so you can be with her.  Only dead (Gala, be careful what you ask for).  At this point she’s yelling at puro aire because Rod has left the room for gym and gives the punching bag a jab, wishing it were Gala’s face.

Heartbreak Hotel
Violeta is trying to comfort Luci.  Think about the things you have—you’ve been with a man you love, he loves you, you love him, you’re having his baby, you have your dad and he adores you, you have a family, you are so fortunate.  Luci agrees that she has all that, but she doesn’t have *him.*  We love each other but can’t or shouldn’t be together.  What solution is there, can there be one.

Het Het Funeraria y luego luego Paz’ abode
More chisme about the fantasma.  Procopio doesn’t believe in them.  Theofilo swears he heard moaning behind the funeral parlor.  Don A blusters in and wants to know if Procopio found out if Vio came back with Magda and Paz.  No, he hasn’t had time to investigate.  Well, get hopping, while he helps himself to their cookies and sips and dips his finger in Proco’s coffee.

Paz is telling Magda to go get her stuff and move in already.  Magda says she will because she wants to leave the house ready to turn into the studio-workshop.  Paz is sure the change will be for the good.  She’ll even earn a little rent on the place.  They’re ready to leave when Proco pops in and tries to find out about Vio.  And since when has he cared a fig about Violeta.  Magda finally tells him to go tell Don Aquiles that Violeta did not come back with them.  Magda is sure Don A is going to try to vex and annoy her again, but this time she’s not going to let him.

Later on, Don Aquiles is having a reflective moment in his office, alone with his cigar when a tornado touches down.  What do you want he demands when the tornado turns out to be Magda.  To talk about Violeta.  Ok, what about Violeta—you aren’t going to saddle me with that little miracle.  You’re sick retorts Magda, do you think at my age I’m going to make you recognize her?  I just came to tell you that if you dare get near Violeta, I will personally have you charged with sexual assault on your own daughter.  Do you understand?

The Big White Church in the Vale
Roselena shows up, wearing her best sackcloth outfit.  Padre Honesto welcomes her.  Since he hasn’t seen her in awhile, she must be doing well.  Rosa says she doesn’t know how she’s doing.  She’s convinced that her penance is Luciana and her accursed family.  Padre is horrified by her language.  She apologizes.  I did everything right.  I went to a psychiatrist who thinks I am crazy. (ITA, Dr. Hauser read her like a book.)  I did it to restore harmony in my family and here comes Luci’s brother wanting to get involved with Jana.  Padre has no consejos today.

The Torreslandaland Towers
Luciana, Ofelia and Violeta get off the elevator to be greeted by none other than the Un-Official-Empresario-Wannabe Greeter Aldo.  Vio speaks to him and he directs his remarks to her, saying he’s sorry she lost her job, so what is she doing here?  Just keeping Luci company.  He wants to show her around.  Luci says ok, but don’t take too long.  She and Ofelia go in another direction.

Oscar is in Patricio’s office telling him what medicines the foundation has.  Pato wants a study done on which communities need medical services.  Os says he anticipated that.  That study is done and as soon as the report is finished, Pato can pick which communities he wants to start with.  Luci comes in to introduce Ofelia.  Pato tells Oscar she will be working with him and Lic. Linares.  Pato wants her to start right away.  He asks Os to take her to personnel to fill out the employment forms.

When they leave, Luci is about to go around and hug him, but stops herself.  He tells Luci how happy he is to see her here.  After their conversation yesterday, he didn’t think he’d see her in the office again.  He wants to know how much longer she’ll be here.  Probably quite awhile.  Her father’s affairs will take some time.  I’m glad for me, he pauses, so, how are you?  How’s my nephew?  Luci says fine, but I’m always hungry.  Right in the middle of this, No-Knock-Rod walks in.  Luci excuses herself and says they’ll talk later.  Rod sort of blocks her exit so she has to brush close to him.  He turns to Pato just glowing and declaring his love for her.

Aldo is so full of hot air, he’d take off if he were a balloon.  He and Vio are still on tour.  He wants to send her back to reception saying he’s got work to do.  He doesn’t want to show her his empresario-sized office, but she insists.  Dang, he forgot his key so he sends her back and they’ll catch up later.

Roselena has arrived at the offices and sees Vio from the rear and her infidelity radar is instantly pinging.  She’s irritated because Max is out and Selena says he isn’t answering his cell phone.  She’ll go see Luciana in the meantime.  She fixes a beatific smile on her face and knocks.  Luciana is startled when it’s RE that walks in.  RE looks around the office and suggests it needs, oh maybe some art work on the walls, maybe a plant, something to make it more pleasing, more feminine.  Luci is looking at her looking around her office and wonders where this is going.  RE says she’ll call Arch. Cardenas.  Luci, still trying to be pleasant says that won’t be necessary.  She likes it the way it is.  RE finally admits, that’s not why she came.  She owes Luci an explanation—just as she conveniently collapses into a chair in pain, holding her head.  Luci is concerned.  RE says it’s her medicines.  Instead of making her feel better, she feels worse.  She’s ashamed.  Luci gets her a glass of water.  RE says she wanted to talk to her, but as she can see, she’s not well.  RE wants to know if she can come back tomorrow.  Yes, of course.

Aldo and Vio are back together on tour.  He invites her to lunch.  Great, she’ll get Luci to join them.  Aldo leans in to ask what she’s going to do now without her Inferno job.  Instead of a vacation as she mentioned earlier, she’s going to keep Luci company as her personal assistant until she decides to go back to the pueblo.  Still, she wants to see the offices of the meros-meros (high up muckety-mucks).

Roselena is now very pissed that Max still isn’t back. We all know where he is, ya?  She sees Aldo and confronts him but he swears he doesn’t know.  He’s been showing Violeta, a great friend of Luciana’s who will be working for her soon.  Violeta?  Yes, Violeta, and she extends her hand in greeting to RE.  RE looks away and her mind takes her right to the Osito message signed “V.”  She is now 100% positive this is the chippy Max has been fooling around with.  RE says, con qué Violeta to her and walks away (not sure how this is statement is relevant).

The Bear Den
Yep, no doubt about it.  Max is MIA because he’s gotten a little action with “V.”  She brings up the list of shops she gave him.  Max no longer looks satisfied.  He looks annoyed.  He doesn’t want to be pressured.  She’s not pressuring him.  She complains when he says he has lots of potential locations, that they are his and after two years of seeing her he would already have given her one.  He leaves her another check.  Clearly by Vicky’s face it’s just as measly and miserly as the last one.

Back at the TL Oficina
Oscar is giving Rod a whole bunch of documents to sign.  Who breezes in with her Febreze trailing her, but Roselena.  Oscar is surprised.  She snaps at both of them, El Señor isn’t in, won’t answer his cell phone and no one knows where he is.  One of them had better have an answer.  She doesn’t want to think he’s with his lover.  Though clueless, they both look guilty.

Vocabulario
Alterada = agitated, disturbed (I would say the latter fits)
Un consejo = one piece of advice
Primogénito = first-born
When Rodrigo says he doesn’t want to live if you aren’t here, he said in Spanish, “ no quiero vivir si tú no estas.” Aquí would be understood.  In English it would sound funny if he said he doesn’t want to live if you aren’t.
Suplicar = beg, implore, supplicate, any of which are correct.
De una vez = at one and the same time is a little awkward, so maybe at the same time is ok
Mugroso = filthy, dirty.  RE applied it to a person.  La mugre is grime, dirt, filth, grease.    Mugriento/a is the real adjective.

Avances
Julie tells Gala her latest game plan—go after Claudio and make him your conquest.
Claudio tells Luci not to have confidence in anyone.

Labels: refugio