Caray, Caray!

We seem to be back on track, heading for the finale next week.  This episode suffered from a million paper cuts, clipped and snipped and pasted back together again.  In the interests of continuity for Viewerville, some scenes have been electronically cut and pasted back to where they can form a paragraph or two instead of a sentence or two. 

El Refrito
Aldo has sought out Vicky for a date and won’t take no for an answer.
Luci is packing up to go home and Rod comes in to see her.

Partial Refrito
The Casota Grande de Dios – Patricio has come to visit the Padre with his heart heavy with unrequited love.  Padre is always at his disposal to listen.  Pato tells him he’s deeply in love with Luciana.  Rod and Gala are getting a divorce so that nothing will stand in their way to be together.  He knows Rod and Luci love each other to the exclusion of anyone else, but he’s sure he could make her happy, if only he had an opportunity.  He wants them to be happy, so what should he do with this overpowering love he has for her.  He would never interfere, so it will have to be a silent love.  He also knows that to be able to offer Luciana the best of him, he will need to give her his whole being and his whole body—and there’s the rub.  Padre is sure there are lots of worthy, single, young women (and married women and grandmothers, even great-grandmothers and some decent young men) lined up to be at his side and share his life with him whom he could choose from, but, being Honesto, honestly can’t tell him what to do with this great love.

Lo de Hoy
TL Empresa, Luci’s Office – Rod comes to tell Luci about Gala offering the divorce and soon he’ll be free and they can be together.  He’s as anxious as a puppy dog waiting for a treat for being good—if he had a tail it would be wagging in unbridled enthusiasm.  Luci doesn’t think he’s been that good.  It’s not that easy or simple she declares, backing away from him, they’ve been living apart for so many years.  Just as things erode into a You Gotta-I Can’t verbal volleyball game, Violeta interrupts for some advice.  She’s out of her carwash outfit and is wearing a stunning (but still too tight) short emerald green dress.  Luci doesn’t want to discuss the impending divorce and it’s consequences although Violeta only sees happiness ahead for them.

Vio has come to see her about Don Aquiles.  She doesn’t know what to do.  Lately she’s had feelings of wanting to see him and talk to him.  Luci thinks she should go ahead, but Vio doesn’t want him to think she’s just a gold-digging opportunist.  Luci doesn’t think he’d see it that way.  Wasn’t it Don A who came looking for her?  Vio thinks that if she doesn’t follow up, she will have lost an opportunity for them to acknowledge their consanguinity if he passes on.  Luci urges her to go see him.

Luci then invites her to dinner and Vio accepts because they still have a lot to talk about—especially what she’s going to do about Rodrigo.  Luci says this much, that Gala is a sick woman, so she’d rather stay out of things (quedarse al margen) for now.  Sadly, she says, she won’t be able to be happy with him or with anyone until she finds her son.  We see Rod passing by in the hallway outside her office and stops to look in, but it’s symbolic; he probably wanted to talk to Luci again and is a little annoyed that Violeta is still there.

Het Het  – Procopio wants to know what Don A. wants for lunch.  He’s offered the doctor’s diet of healthy vegetables and Don A, gagging at the thought, tells him that’s great for a rabbit, but he wants a big chunk of meat and scrambled eggs.  Procopio tries to reason with him, that it’s for his heart, but Don A says his heart is going tu-tú-tu-tú, so it’s fine and he dismisses long-suffering Copio with his usual bravado (blustering, swaggering conduct).

TL Offices, Claudio’s Office  – Oscar has finished telling Claudio his suspicions about the fraud and his finding Pedro Campos.  Claudio is astonished at the twists and turns life has taken.  They agree that Sr. Campos is the only one who can shed any light on the fraud and name the person who paid him to accuse Claudio. Then Claudio recognizes Oscar's position in the hierarchy and being a confidant of Max, how is it that he is coming to Claudio with this information and not his boss.   Oscar proudly and a little defensively tells Claudio that, though he’s been Max’s friend for a long time, Max knows where he stands.  He’s an ethical attorney and when it comes to justice, his loyalty to the truth is unconditional.

Claudio is still mulling over what Os has been telling him.  One thing is for sure, although he’s not interested in seeing Max sent to prison, he is interested in unmasking him before his children, so they know who their father really is.  He’s a hypocrite, just like his wife.  Os agrees that it will be their children who will suffer the most at the revelation.  Claudio thanks him for coming to him with this information, but doesn’t want Os to end up looking like a traitor.  Oscar replies that betrayal would be sitting back and saying nothing; it would be betraying himself and his principles.  He wouldn’t be able to face himself knowing he pretended nothing had happened.  He’s going to tell Max that Claudio has the information and Claudio will be speaking to Pedro Campos.  If Max says nothing, it implies he’s in the clear; if Max gets upset, it implies he did have something to do with the scam and he should pay the consequences.  

The Pink Recliner in Dr. Hauser’s Office – RE is not particularly happy to be there and it shows.  She’s come to sound off on Matilde.  She can’t believe that esa sirvienta has more sway in her family than she does. The good doctora reminds her – gently – that this woman has been with the family since RE was a child as her nana.  The terminology, nana, servant, employee, makes no difference to Roselena.  The fact of the matter is that everyone in the world is against her for having dismissed her. Doc asks her if her decision not to ask her to come back is inflexible.  RE turns toward Dr. Hauser.

RE – Have you not been listening to a thing I have been saying?  I don’t want this woman in my house because she’s a traitor.  And traitors don’t merit clemency (Ok, time to wake up, RE, can’t you see this is yourself you are describing?).
HA – Treachery, Sra.? Or was she just disagreeing with the intransigent way you do things.  Those are two very different things. 
RE – Dr. Hauser, it’s been a pleasure knowing you, but I don’t plan to step foot in here again—ever.

And out she goes.  Dr. Hauser is left to ponder the fate of this woman she’s tried to help for the last five (read that: 5) years!  (We know RE is worse than ever, hearing voices of bebés in her house.)

TL Mansion, Front Gate  – Lor arrives with a special delivery of Estelita’s best tacos en canasta and a note for Roselena.  The new servant takes the basket.  (If that had been FrBrigida, she would have thrown him and the basket out.)

Gala’s Office at the El Chisme Magazine – Gala gets a phone call from her financial advisor.  She needs to talk to him, but he’s out of town until tomorrow.  She’s coming into a whole bunch of moola very soon and needs his financial advice on where to invest it.  (Oh, my, do we ever see little green anvils poised over her well-ironed hair-do.)

TL Empresa, Patricio’s Office  – Ofelia has furnished Pato with the list of top specialists in spine surgery that Aldo researched and wishes him well on finding the right one.  She wonders why he needs one now since his rehab is going so well.  He admits that is true, but he can’t walk and that is what he wants most.  Rod comes in on the tail end of the conversation, “What is it that you are looking for, I can get it for you?”  “To be able to walk,” Pato answers.

Luciana’s DF Apartment  – Vio and Luci are talking at her place over a meal.  Two BFFs.  Luci mentions Pablito, but then lets loose her feelings about Mateo.  She doesn’t think he’s her son, because supposedly he’s a couple of months older than her Roddy, but she still can’t help wanting to hug him and see him everyday.  She tells Vio about his living conditions, but despite the deprivations, he is a happy child with lots of love to give.  Then she sadly remembers how long it has been since she’s been without her child, and yet it seems like the time is flying by.  Sometimes she just doesn’t know how she’s going to go on.   Vio feels that she is going to find her son and has felt that way for some time now.  Wow, she just notices the time.  She’s got to go and pack her bag since she’s leaving for HetHet that very evening.  Luci says she can’t do that, the two Moms are already on their way to DF.  Precisely, says Vio, if she stays, Magda will try to talk her out of going to see him—Luci knows how Magda feels about Don A.  Luci gets a phone call from Gala, apparently she wants to meet with Luci.

TL Mansion, Dining Room  – Pato is staring at an empty plate when Aldo rushes in with the basket of tacos.  He’s thanking God for this bounty.  Miracles do exist. You’d think they had been starving him to death. Patricio is surprised that the tacos from Lorenzo’s enterprise are for RE and Aldo shows him the note.  Aldo wants to open it and read the note.  Before they can dig in, Os and Conny arrive to invite them out to eat.  At any other occasion, they would be happy to join them, but here are some fantastic tacos, still warm, that have arrived.  Aldo helps himself and takes a big bite.  Melissa and Janah arrive, surprised by the basket of tacos for RE from Lorenzo.  They are all smiling and happy about the gift.  But guess who arrives to spoil the party.  With a raised voice, RE wants to know what that basket is doing in her dining room.  Her accusatory glare surveys the gathering and the smiles drop off onto the floor like cookie crumbs from the faces of guilty little kids.  Pato is the one who responds, what’s the problem, mama?  He explains about the basket and hands her the note.  With a sneer of disdain, she reads that they are from La Canasta de Lorenzo.  She reads the short note out loud and with even more disdain, tears it up infront of Janah’s face, tosses it on the floor and reaches for the basket, while Aldo tries to hold onto the basket, saying they are very tasty.  Conny steps in and asks if she is really going to throw out this food.  Since she can’t answer Conny, she turns to Janah and tells her that her patience with Janah has run out and she had warned her.

RE isn’t through ruining her family’s meal of tacos; she yells for Natividad to come get the basket.  Just at that moment Max shows up with Matilde in tow. With an overwhelming display of affection, Roselena must endure how Mati is greeted by her family (Serves her Right.).  RE still isn’t through ruining her family’s meal—see how they all respect me, she says to no one in particular. She grabs the basket, hands it to Natividad and storms out.  (Lucky Natividad and the rest of the unseen help.)  Max gives Matilde a big kiss on her forehead and welcomes her back then follows RE.  The whole crowd picks up their smiles from the floor, puts them back on their faces and there is general exultation and kisses and hugs all around.

Fancy Schmantzy Restaurant, al Fresco Dining Available – Luciana arrives for her “appointment” with Gala and declines anything to drink, to which Gala overrides her and orders a bottle of the best water for her guest.  They ought to be celebrating. She continues to ply Luci with liquids, while Luci wants her to get on with the real reason for this meeting.

Gala’s sure Luci has heard that she’s giving Rod his divorce, in return for lots and lots of moola.  Gala needs her help to get this over with smoothly, for the good of the three of them.  Luci says, not three, two of them—she has no interest in getting involved in their affairs.  Gala is of the opinion that she and Rod won’t waste any time getting all lovey dovey in the dove-cote she’s flying the coop out of (mangled sentence structure, but I just had to).  She’s leaving Alexia with Rod, but reminds Luci that, pase lo que pase, Alexia will always be her child and she’ll make sure he doesn’t forget it.  Gala is a little shocked (but we aren’t) when Luci tells her that is the most sensible thing she’s said up to now.  A child should have her mother close even though the mother doesn’t live with her.  Luci is so done with her.  Gala’s parting words out of earshot is maybe no longer a domestica (domestic servant), but she’ll always be a criada (servant).  (Now, maybe Gala knows something I don’t know about definitions, but the terminology seems redundant.  Anyhow, to Gala a domestica by any other name is not necessarily a Domestica.  Who knew.)  She laughs at her brilliance.

TL Mansion, RE & Max’s Bedroom – RE is furious at being thwarted and by her own husband, no less.  How could he shame her like that infront of her family and take what had been her decision and reverse it.  Max scoffs and tells her not to pretend it bothers her because they both know Mati is critical to the well-being of the household and above all to Patricio.  Yes, she retorts, and to Janah, too, facilitating her relationship with Lorenzo.  Max says, “You can’t blame Mati for something she wasn’t responsible for.  If those two want to see each other, there’s not much we can do.  If they want to, they could go ahead, but lie to us about seeing each other.”  RE can’t believe he is in accordance with that relationship, a relationship between two of such unequal social levels?  Max repeats, no, he’s not necessarily approving of the relationship, but there’s little they can do about it.  If they oppose her, Janah, being of age, can just pick up her marbles and move out.  RE insists they can stop her and prevent this relationship from moving forward.

Max, puts his King Solomon’s crown on and asks her: which would she choose, knowing where her daughter is, though she may not be happy about it or never see her again.  Now, the real Roselena comes through. She’d rather see Lorenzo Dead, Dead.  Max reminds her she has threatened him many times in front of witnesses.  RE will be the first one suspected if any harm comes to him. He continues, it was Luci’s intervention with her father, coming from her heart, that kept RE out of prison for having given her away as a newborn.  If something happens to Lorenzo now, she can be sure that despite a huge legal team (bufete de abogados) to defend her, it is most probable that RE will spend the rest of her days in prison.  She doesn’t look convinced, so Max goes on.  Luci has the cojones to match hers should any harm come to Lorenzo and would probably not be as forgiving.   

The Boxcar Barrio – Don C is helping Mateo get ready for bed.  He’s been released from the hospital, but he’s under observation at home until the doctor checks him again.  He wants it to hurry up and be daytime so he can go on the paseo with all his new friends.  Don C would rather he rest and get well because he doesn’t want anything to happen to him.

Luciana’s DF Apartment – Rodrigo “drops by” Luciana’s apartment.  (We can all see the black skirt she had on with the rose top better. As she walks down the hall, notice how beautifully the sheer overskirt hangs and moves.)  Rod is there to remind her of Mateo’s doctor appointment.  There’s no way she’s going to forget.  She saw him earlier in the day and promised him a paseo if he passes inspection.  Rod changes the subject to try to talk about “nosotros.”  She just can’t.  She tells him how she feels—exactly what she told Vio earlier—she can’t think of anything else in her life as long as her son is missing.  Does he think she cares one whit what is going on between him and Gala?  Rod wants her to take it easy; she’s right and to forgive him.  He kisses her chastely on the forehead and takes his leave. 

The two Moms and Ariche arrive after their all night and half-day bus trip.  Ariche didn’t like the trip too much; he was very uncomfortable, but the two Moms had plenty of time to talk and they did, on the whole trip.  Luci tells Magda that Vio is on her way to HetHet to see her papa. 

Best Tacos de Canasta in Town, Original Location – Fabian and Lor are hauling baskets of tacos around, Lor is telling Fab that today is the day he talks to Janah about love and ask her to become his novia.  Luci calls Lorenzo to tell him his a-Ma is here in DF and came all this way just to talk to him...and to Janah.  Then we see Janah taking a call from Luci for a meeting at her place.

TL Offices, Max’s Office – Max gets a visit from Dr. Hauser.  Very unusual for her to come to an office on a personal matter.  Watch carefully, because this only happens in tns.  She’s about to breach the sanctity of the doctor-patient relationship.  ¡Hijole! she has no doctor-patient chismes to reveal.  She has come to tell Max that RE up and quit on her, but feels RE should continue the treatment she has been giving her.  She can’t obligate her to return so Max offers to talk to her.  Dr. Hauser thinks she still has a long way to go.  (We think she’ll never get there with or without the good doctor’s help.)  Max assures the doctora that he will speak to his wife (not knowing how useless that will be).  It should still be voluntary on RE’s part, she adds, psychiatric treatment should be entered into by conviction, not imposition….and, BTW, he should keep an eye on her, while he’s at it.

The Boxcar Barrio – Rod arrives with Alexia in tow.  Luciana and Ariche are already there waiting for them.  Luci gets a big hug from Alexia.  Here comes Mateo.  He and Alexia give each other a big hug.  Luci and Rodrigo look on adoringly; Chuy and Chelo have mixed feelings about all this luurrve swirling around them.  Mateo is anxious to get going.  If he gets the high sign from the doctor, he can go on his paseo with Luciana, if Don C. gives his permission.  When he does, he tells Doña Chuy they might be a little late for lunch.

Luciana’s DF Apartment — Lorenzo has arrived and greets the two Moms.  He knows Paz wants to talk to him about Janah.  The doorbell rings and Magda lets Janah in.  She looks elegant and gorgeous in white wide-leg slacks with black polka dots and a black, fitted, scoop-neck, spaghetti-strap top.  The two lovelorn kids see each other and greet each other, a smile lighting up Janah’s face.  Paz says the three of them have to talk.  They are asked to sit down on the couch, but Lor is a little too close.  Paz pulls no punches and gets right to the point.  Do they like each other?  Are they novios?  Lor stands and says that no, they aren’t novios then sits down infront of Janah and tells her he was going to ask her that very day to be his novia.  Paz says he’s getting ahead of things.  Lorenzo is pushed away to stand behind Paz.  The interrogation begins.  Janah is first up.  Janah is a little amused, but she’s willing to go along.

PA – Do you like my son?
JA – Yes, Doña Paz, I like him.
PA – You are aware, aren’t you are very different from my son
JA – No, we’re alike.
PA – No, you are very different.  You were raised in a big house with lots of advantages, educated differently, good schools, and a career with a university degree.  My son, here, he is a good worker, but he’s uncomplicated.  He’s not schooled; he’s a workman.  You, on the other hand, you are a young lady, brought up to expect the best of all things.  (Here Lorenzo butts in, and Paz tells him it’s not his turn yet.)  Understand, Srta. Janah, I’m not opposed to you to liking each other, but that won’t keep you from having a lot of obstacles and problems.  Are you aware that Lorenzo won’t be able to give you everything to which you are accustomed?
JA – Could I be honest with you, Doña Paz?  And I’m glad Lorenzo is here, because what I have to say, he will be hearing it for the first time.  Since I met him, I felt something special about him.  At first I only knew I liked him (me gustaba) enjoyed seeing him and talking to him.  Later I realized that what I really felt was love. (She stands and approaches Lorenzo, speaking now only to him.)  That love came out from me everywhere.  (Paz watches silently.)  My mother noticed it and that’s why she sent me away for those five years.  And that is why, just to please my mother, I agreed to become novios with Boris; but I never forgot you and I was thinking about you every single day.  When I returned and saw you again, call me a romantic, but I think now what I felt was love at first sight.  I dreamed of living this love with you.  I want to grow and grow old at your side.  I don’t need to know you any better to know you are the man of my dreams.

LO – (Through his tears) Janah, I think the same. All I do, I do for you.  Remember when I said I was looking at a star far above me?  And for that star I would overcome (superar) everything? That star is you.  I’ve loved you since I first saw you.  Nothing would make me happier than to be married to you.
PA – Ahem, much as I like seeing the two of you so in love, we have to be realistic. If it should come to pass that you do get married, are you prepared to live in a little place in Doña Estelita’s vecindad?
JA – (Janah takes Lorenzo’s hand and they both face Paz.)  Yes, Doña Paz.
PA – Valgame Dios, are you ready to cook for him, sew on buttons and darn his socks?
JA – There are things I don’t know how to do, but if you will show me, I’m willing to learn.
PA – That much is your part; Now Lorenzo, he has to be ready to promise to take care of you the rest of his life. Now comes the hardest part.  Roselena doesn’t like Lorenzo and won’t want you to be together.
JA – I’m know but that’s not the point.  I like him and that is the point.  Everything you have said, I’m ready to assume.  And, furthermore, I’m firm in my decision to fight for my love for Lorenzo (them’s anvil words, according to tn laws).  Ojala that your son loves me as much as I love him.
PA – Ay, señorita Janah; ay, mijito.

She’s left speechless and can only sputter contentedly and give them a quick blessing.  She turns and leaves, leaving the young lovers alone.  After a first kiss as novios, Lorenzo speaks to Janah.

LO – Janah, I like you very much (Te quiero is love minus a couple of ounces).  You have no idea how often I dreamed of this kiss.
JA – I love you, Lorenzo (Brava—she says it).
LO – And I you.  And though it’s a little odd, I would like you to marry me.
JA – Yes, Lorenzo, nothing would make me happier.
LO – Then let me speak to your parents.
JA – Wait, let me talk to them first.
LO – Whatever you say (he uses the formal Ud.—this boy has been brought up right), whatever you say.  Thank you for letting me love you (Gracias por dejarme amarte).

They share another kiss.

Magda has been in the other room waiting.  Paz now goes to her to talk about why she’s shouldn’t be dead set against Vio seeing Don A.  Just think how Vio might feel one day if Magda prohibits her from saying goodbye to her papa.  Magda wants to know since when did she turn into his defender.  That’s not it, she replies.  Regardless of how he has treated all of them in the past, she has come to the same conclusion Vio herself did, to have the chance to talk and acknowledge what they already know, they are father and daughter.

HetHet – Procopio is trying to persuade Don A. to write a book to keep him occupied while on bed rest--his biography or something.  Don A wonders when the beasts started to think.  While his heart may be failing, Procopio’s brain has failed.  They finally settle on a book of his dichos.  Procopio is sure it will sell like hot cakes and they’ll make millions. [Note:  If you want to know what they are, you’ll have to wait and buy the book—I’m not going to even try to decipher them.  I think we all wish he had written this book before the tn started.  It would have been very helpful.]

Don A is actually serious about writing down his dichos.  Procopio comes back to tell him he has a visitor.  She finally appears.  It’s Violeta.  She greets him, buenos dias.  I heard you were sick and came to see you.  He denies being sick, just resting.  Procopio begs to differ and lets loose that he’s had a heart attack.  No way, he protests.  Yes, and the doctorcito can confirm it.  If he doesn’t take care of himself he could, well….   Well, what, says Don A, I could die?  Who cares if I die, anyway.  Violeta says, it’s important to me, because you are my father, or not?  Don A nods and says yes, I am your father.

Avances
Lorenzo wants to ask for Janah’s hand in marriage
RE is telling Boris that time is running out
Oscar is telling Max about Claudio and Campos


Quedarse al margen = stay out of things


Bufete de abogados = a legal team/firm/office – I actually wish it meant what it sounds like in English—a veritable buffet of lawyers—but I’ve heard this term in a different novela and it also referred to a legal firm or office.

Superar = overcome

Gracias por dejarme amarte = Thank you for letting me love you.  That was such a romantic closing to what was a very sweet and tender exchange of sentiment between Janah and Lorenzo.  Who says this guy is a little rough around the edges.

Labels: refugio