Caray, Caray!

Lo de ayer and Lo de hoy is all mixed up with Lo de mañana and Lo que no pasó, so it's all in a single narrative.  Apologies for the recap being so long.

[Jorge Alfredo made it to Maria’s and La Dama del Queso will leave you with Urban Anthropologist’s beautiful words describing Jorge and Maria’s declarations of love, followed by a really nice kiss.]

Maria’s Apartment
Scarlet tells Rhett Maria tells Jorge that – As much as you love me, you will never love me as much as I love you.  He tells her that he shouldn’t have fallen in love with her, because he’ll have to leave, but he loves her and he will come back for her.  She tells him that she shouldn’t love him either, but she loves him, and has since the first day he walked into the bar and when he made that phone call, she heard what he said about her.  He’s amazed, and what was it she heard?  That she’s an angel and those eyes….  He says, because she is—and is someone who despite having so little can give so much.

Overcome with emotion Jorge Alfredo drops to one knee [and Viewerville is thinking, this is waaay too soon] and asks if Maria would be his novia [whew, not a marriage proposal, but it’s still too soon].  She hesitates, only so we can get close-ups of her answer, sí, quiero ser tu novia.  [Ah, first love, it just carries you away, well it’ll carry Jorge Alfredo away at the very least.] He asks rhetorically, even though I will have to leave you and don’t know when I’ll be back?  For nothing in the world would I trade a minute of happiness to be by your side [sigh], she replies.

This very romantic interlude is rudely interrupted by some very enthusiastic foreplay between Elvira and Celoso, right on the living room coffee table which was cleared with one sweep of the hand.  Celoso stops, takes a breath and, we’re hoping, what—that he will or that he won’t, since either choice will mean bad times ahead for our main lovebirds. He picks Elvira up and as she calls him her gallito, roosters crow and he carries her off to his nidito (little nest).

A la Romeo and Juliet, we have ‘parting is such sweet sorrow’ as dawn breaks over the vecindario. JA says goodnight, my love, sleep, rest. He’ll be back to get her in the morning to take her to her classes.  She doesn’t think she’ll be able to sleep, this being the most important night of her life.  JA makes a slight correction, the most important night of our lives is when, *all together now, Viewerville,* no one and nothing can ever separate us, and when I return to be able to wake up every morning in your arms [didn’t Rogelio say this to Ana Paula, the two timing b@*#ard].

Next morning Amalia is aghast when she finds out that Jorge Alfredo declared himself to Maria last night and that she accepted to be his novia. Maria says it’s the best decision she's made in her life. [I think this means it’s an exclusive relationship and Celoso is not going to take it graciously, or won’t take himself por vencido.] Cute little Isa is spying on this conversation. Even though he’ll be leaving?  Mama, that’s all the more reason to be novios, they don’t have much time and she wants to spend what time they do have together.  Mama is just not with the program.  She tells Maria that there is something about Jorge Alfredo she doesn’t like, she doesn’t trust him, he’s hiding something.  She just can’t accept him as her beau.  Maria says she’s within her rights to feel that way, but she needs to accept *her* decision.  Amalia is not convinced.

Hollywood, LOL, L.A.
Altagracia has come to see Michael in jail.  She apologizes, after an emotional embrace, that she couldn’t come any sooner as Justo had forbidden her to come. Michael is like a son to them and a brother to Santos, so she just had to, to get his side of the story.  Michael assures her that Santos is innocent of the fraud and money laundering charges (and whatever else Comm. Derecho digs up).  It would be impossible for him to do any harm.  It had to be a trap. They tried to kill him when he was in Tijuana. That’s why he fled to Mexico City.  Mexico City? Alta repeats (a little louder please, so the guards can hear you), Santos went to Mexico City (ok, now they probably heard you). He’s still in danger, Mike tells her.

Back in the Barrio
Jorge is singin’ in the sunshine.  He’s at Oh Happy Day, except it’s all in Spanish, as Irasema watches bemused.  He’s in a good mood today, what happened?  Well, he took her advice and Doña Prudencia’s and declared his love to Bonita and she responded.  She tells him she’s happy for him and that La Bonita is fortunate to have such an upstanding young man by her side.  JA wants to know if she has anyone, boyfriend, partner? No, sadly, who would look at someone like her.  JA says she has a good heart and surely there is someone for her.  He doesn’t dilly-dally because he’s got places to go and things to do.

Now we see Jorge knocking on a door we know is not Maria’s nor probably Celoso’s.  Ah, he asks for Braulio and mistakes the maid for his wife.  (Well, what did he know, don’t all wives in DF wear braids and aprons?)  He’s come to pay the back rent for Maria, all of it. Surprised to see him, Braulio does take it and counts it.  It comes with strings, JA intimates. Braulio is not to bother either mujer any more.  Well, he may if they don’t pay on time.  Jorge Alfredo announces that from now on, *he* is taking over payments and Braulio can be assured it will always be on time—so, no, bothering Amalia and Maria any more.  [Ay de mi, Jorge, it’s obvio you deal with honest folks and contracts are sealed with no more than a handshake—but why didn’t you ask for a receipt?]

Amalia is walking Isa to school.  Isa is complaining about not being able to go to the park because of her low math grades.  Amalia says she’s being punished and that is the way it’ll be.  They run into JA (on his way to pick up Maria) and in a leap of genuine affection, Isa rushes into his arms for a hug.  Then he finds out why she’s being punished.  He volunteers to help her with her math lessons.  Amalia looks on, so, in addition to being a mechanic, a ranchero singer and who knows what else, he can tutor in math? Coloso was right to talk about him, she says.  Isa has begged for an ice pop and is gone so the adults can have a serious convo about his intentions with Maria.

But first we go back to Susanito’s barrio to watch the “boys” playing a little pick-up soccer and a little pick-up about their very first loves.  Celoso starts reminiscing about his first and lost love, Gloria [hmmm, where have we heard *that* name before] and then they turn on Susanito and start teasing him.  Tongue-tied, he blurts out that his first love was, wait for it, his mother—and he runs off.

Jorge Alfredo doesn’t know what Celoso told Amalia about him. They talked about not hurting her daughter.  He wants her to know he tried to live up to his promise to leave Maria alone, but he hurt her trying to separate her from him.  What they both feel for each other is too strong. He loves her, he promises he’ll come back for her and take charge of her (in a nice way—cargar). Amalia doesn’t believe him, thinks he’s hiding something and says men all make promises like that.  JA reminds her that not all men are alike.  Amalia doesn’t want him to think she is selfish about trying to keep Maria pain-free, but she does know what it is like to suffer for love.  JA doesn’t want her to suffer either and declares that Maria awoke this love in him, but now only the hand of God can separate them.

Hollywoodland, LOL
Mama Altagracia is having a serious talk with Memewendyme.  She can’t get it through her tousled head that Santos is innocent.  Look, Michael is in jail, just like Bruno. Go talk to Michael.  Oh, Wendy points out, he would defend him. Is she insinuating that Bruno is lying? Of course not, it’s that everyone has ganged up on Santos and he’s not here to defend himself.

Back to the Barrio
Jorge Alfredo has reached Maria’s apartment to take her to class.  He greets her with a rose. They’re happy, bantering, laughing as they collect her things. [It’s bound not to last, but, please, telenovela gods, give us a few more episodios to watch these two being happy in love.] They stop along the street to look at an old model car, like one JA used to have and Maria shows him the simple wooden truck like the kids in her barrio had to play with. He would love to have had one like that.  He leans over and says to her, Gracias por estar conmigo.  Then Maria sees an old hand cranked victrola.  She’s enchanted by it because she’d be able to hear her father’s voice again, since she actually has his first disc.  When he offers to get it for her, she thinks he’s crazy; it’s too much money and she’d never be able to pay him back.  He says he’ll make it a gift (un regalo).  They continue their walk towards classes.

The Horse Whisperer – in Spanish, of Course
As they cross the plaza, an entrepreneur has set up a real horse and is taking pictures of kids, and anyone else who wants one, on the horse.  Suddenly, the horse shies and the kid on his back could be in danger.  Jorge Alfredo to the rescue.  Who knew, now he adds Horse Whisperer to his resumé.  All’s well that ends well.  The photographer, grateful to JA for being able to dodge a lawsuit, offers him anything he wants, anything.  JA says, naw, but photoguy presses him.  As a lark, JA asks Maria if she would like a ride.  We guess she did, because here they come.


The Barrio
We left the “boys” playing soccer and teasing Susanito.  Now they’re hanging out drinking jugo de piña or naranja out of little plastic bags stuck with a straw. [Personally I think they’d be hard to hold, but oh, so easy to fling at someone you don’t like.]  Celoso is claiming that Maria will sooner or later be his.  The guys don’t think so.  Why not?  Because it looks like Maria and Jorge Alfredo are already pretty pegaditos (stuck together). Half wanting to know and half not wanting to know, Coloso el Rey de los Celos wants to know what this miserable chap has that he doesn’t. [I can answer that one…it’s charisma, dude, and dimples, deep, deep double dimples, those lips, those eyes, that black suited, black hatted, fuete wielding hunk.]  Jorge Alfredo and Maria approach on horseback while JA is quaintly explaining the meaning of doncellas—the old fashioned word for señorita (with the added meaning that she’d be virginal) and all about caballeros. There’s more conversation, but let’s get to the action.  The two see the “boys” and dismount.  It only takes the drop of the hat, figuratively, for Celoso and Jorge to trade barbs, oh, so you also ride, and then trade warnings, when Celoso tries to caress Maria and finally trade fists.

The Massage Parlor
We get a brief view of two bro-mates or business colleagues getting a treatment from some silent kneaders of flesh.  One is Don Rubén del Olmo, pretendiente de Maria, except he’s a little tardy to the game now.  She’s taken, but he doesn’t know it yet.  Buddy wants to know if he’s going to give her the position at work.  Rubén is all smiles, of course. Does he realize he’s risking his marriage—that he’s out of control? Rubén is not worried. Well then, Buddy suggests, take her to a hotel, show her the time of her life.  Rubén is still smiling at the thought, but somehow he is aware that it won’t be that easy to conquer her.

The Fight
The two rivals come up for air after spending some time rolling on the ground trading punches.  Maria tries to intervene telling Celoso that she is grateful to him, but he’s expecting something from her that will never happen.  She wants him to leave her in peace [is this a bingo square?]. The fight isn’t over yet.  By now spectators have gathered and are watching as if it were a real match and the “boys” back there are taking bets.  Maria is disgusted with both of them and stalks off.  JA sees her leave and calls to her and bites Celoso’s hand to get him off and races after her, grabbing the horse and swinging himself up on it. Maria is about to be run over by a truck, but her knight in black armor comes to the rescue and picks her up and is out of the way before the truck driver can say, wha happened, a horse in the middle of traffic?--and they're gone.  None the worse for wear, the two lovebirds continue on their journey to class. [What a red herring that was.]

Paloma and Rodrigo Spend Quality and Quantity Time Together
Rodrigo passes Paloma a note in class asking her to go for a walk after school.  She nods and later tells him she’ll have to call her mother first.  She’s the decider on where they go, since Rod is not familiar with the area.  So, she takes him on a bus and walking tour of Mexico City historical highlights.  They nearly share a kiss on the bus and they know it.  Later they are sharing some pink cotton candy and they do accidentally kiss and they like it.

Oscar el Coloso Rey de los Celos Sings
Oscar is back home and sings a sad song while holding a framed photo of Maria. Maria, meanwhile is still saddled up with JA and begging him not to fight anymore. JA admits to his own jealousies.  Maria tells him that she loves Jorge Alfredo and no one else.  Will she forgive him, he wants to know?  Oscar is still singing.  Maria and JA kiss and hug.  Oscar still sings.  Maria and JA have gotten off the horse to nuzzle each other.  Then they come riding up to class.  Ana and side-kick get a big laugh out of seeing them.  Ana thought they were angry with each other.  Maria says that was last night, now it’s hugs and kisses.  They’ve drawn an audience and they all clap and cheer. Oscar finally quits singing.  Someone knocks at his door.  He thinks Maria, well, not sure, but he’s certainly not elated to see Fernando standing there, waving a little white handkerchief.  It doesn’t move Celoso.  He tells him their friendship is O V E R, finished.  Later Maria tells the two saucy wenches how much she luurrrvves Jorge Alfredo and when he came knocking on her door, if he’d asked her to, she would have followed him to the ends of the earth in her p.js no less.

The Rehearsal
Jorge Alfredo arrives for practice and sees Genaro, el Baritono.  He tries to give him the money from the serenade the night before.  Bari says, what, you some kind of millionaire?  No, JA insists. Bari finally takes it, not for himself, but so his family won’t be lacking.  JA still needs another job.  They suggest several, including loading trucks at the market.  Celoso arrives.  He and JA give each other the stink eye.  Cel says, they have an asunto pendiente—he brags that it’s not going to be easy for JA to keep Maria for himself.  JA brags back that Maria already belongs to him.  But, he’s willing to fix this matter when and where Cel wants to.  Cel gets in his face about still being El Rey around here.

The Walking Botanic Garden
There is a knock at Maria’s apartment.  She’s sure it’s Paloma, they’ve been worried.  Maria runs to open the door.  She sees a ginormous floral arrangement moving in under its own steam.  Mi amor, she cries out in surprise, you shouldn’t have.  It’s Celoso that answers, I just love it when you call me, mi amor.  She’s embarrassed and then irritated.  He just wants to be forgiven for his jealous fit over a nobody.  He keeps calling her “chiquita” and it just irritates her more.  She can’t get it through his thick skull that she doesn’t love him and can’t love him and would he please leave.  He cheerily rearranges the bouquetasso and says, ok, but not until she forgives him.  Maria reluctantly does.  After he’s gone Isa wants to know if this makes him her novio.  No.  Amalia wants to know why she can’t see Cel as a potential mate.  He’s nice and attentive, etc.  On the contrary, says Maria, I’ll be eternally grateful to him, but all he does is pressure me and act as if I’m already his.  Isa wants to know why Maria is grateful to him.  Maria says that thanks to Cel, their mother is still with them.

Neuromyelitis Optica
So now we get the backstory on Amalia’s disease.  Read all about it in Wikipedia, but what the doc tells Maria in the hospital is essentially correct. It is also very uncommon.  With the diagnosis confirmed, the doc tells Maria (Celoso is with her) that it is expensive to treat, $64,000 pesos.  Without the treatment, she will gradually suffer muscle deterioration and blindness.  She’s terrified because the family doesn’t have that kind of money.  The doc kind of shrugs his shoulders, but El Coloso Rey de los Celos steps up and says not to worry he has the money.  Maria can’t let him do that, it’s his car money.  He insists, the most important thing is the life of her mother.  So, Isa figures, she owes Celos a lot of money?  Amalia corrects her. Maria paid him back every cent, but she feels morally obligated to him. Maria says she’ll never love him.

Rent, the Non-Musical
Maria meets Braulio on the street and stammers about having some of the rent money for him and she can have the rest of it next week.  She waits for the hammer to fall.  He cheerfully lets her know that it’s paid, all the back rent is paid and they are up to date.  Cara de impactada de Maria.  Who, when, how?  El tipo, ese, you know, that Jorge Alfredo paid up. Cara de doble impactada de Maria.  [Thank you, Braulio for not trying to collect twice.]

Two Guys on a Shopping Spree
Jorge Alfredo enlists the help of Susanito [we know he can’t say no].  Susanito is scared to help him at first, worried about what his mother or el Celoso will do to him if they find out.  JA assures him no one will find out.  So, the two guys go shopping.  We see JA buying something interesting at one shop but by the time they reach a flower vendor, he reaches in to find no more money in his pocket for a bouquet, so he settles for a single rose. [Good choice, my man, less is more on this particular day.]  There is a little unimportant interlude with Fernando needing some thread to sew on a button and gets a hard time from Ana while side-kick is even willing to sew the button on for him.  Then there’s some suggestive talk I’ll skip over to get to the really good stuff.

LaLaLand, the City that Never Sleeps (or Justo and Alta don’t)
Justo is up poring over documents the Commandante left him about Santos.  Alta scuffs in to ask what he’s doing so late at night.  Justo has decided to give his son the benefit of the doubt and do what The American Justice System does, Innocent until Proven Guilty (unless the case belongs to Comm. Derecho).  He’s going to work the case and confront everyone who condemned his son and find out why.

Two Guys on the Roof
JA and Susano are on the roof of JNTR preparing un camino de amor for Maria.  JA gets out the rebozo he bought her in Puebla. The camino is strewn with either petals or mazapan. The lights work. Todo listo.

Maria y Jorge, Standing on the Roof, K-i-ss-i-n-g
Maria, dressed in a gorgeous teal taffeta ranchera dress, is on the stage at the empty bar, looking for Jorge. She hears his voice. She wants to know about this business of paying their rent.  She wants to know where he got the money to pay Braulio.  His voice says Don Concho gave him an advance, but that isn't important.  Instead he says how indebted he is to her and to life.  Maria wants to know how come life?  His voice says because life gave me your love. I love you.  Maria responds with her refrain, “You’ll never love me as much as I love you.” JA wonders if she’d like to bet on it.  We get a peek at Jorge Alfredo, resplendent in Pedro’s black and silver charro outfit, but Maria has yet to see him. He tells her to follow the camino, not to be afraid, while Que Bonito Amor is heard in the background. She leaves the stage, through the bar, up the stairs, hearing his voice saying I love you. Now she begins to hurry.  He watches her, telling her not to stop.  When she reaches the end of the lighted camino on the rooftop, she sees the rose and the rebozo covering the old victrola. She turns, Jorge Alfredo approaches her, takes her in his arms and as rose petals rain down on them, they kiss, sweetly, then deeply.

Avances
Fernando accuses Jorge Alfredo of being that delinquente Santos Martinez de la Garza and maybe he should turn him in.

Labels: QBA