Footsteps fall on the parquet floor, muffled only by
the Persian rug the mystery man skirts in approaching the door. He opens it to reveal his lover, posed seductively, reclining on the sofa and waiting for him. She
is not the mystery: he is. And he is…Ari. (Yes!) and he is clearly out of
sorts. Upset about Doris, he strips and prepares to seek oblivion in the skinny
arms of his lover…
But wait a minute, what about Max. He’s in his own
bedroom and someone has strewn rose petals all over the bed. Who? And why?
There’s a note:
Forgive me
for not telling you that I was going to come by your apartment one last time,
but I wanted to steal a moment in this space that we shared so many times to
be alone and remember all of the beautiful moments that I lived here at
your side. I took away all of my clothes and I wish I could do the same with what I feel for you. But I can’t because I could never get you out of my
heart. I left you flowers and what you like in the refrigerator, but now [I do
it only] as a friend that cares about you and hopes to maintain that friendship
always. I’m giving you back your keys and with them your freedom to seek
out…happiness.
Max is swept away in memory. He recalls when he gave
Maleny the keys to his apartment, so that she could get used to sharing a life
with him, in the hopes of convincing her to marry him. He cooked her dinner and
afterwards presented the key on a platter of chocolate covered strawberries.
She was quietly thrilled and they christened the bed, now “theirs” rather than
“his”...
Doris cries in Orlando’s apartment. (I love that she’s
using a roll of toilet paper for tissue. So true to life.) She doesn’t know why
Ari thought Orlando told her (about Maleny). She asked him directly on MD’s
advisement because she had a point: If Ari’s only her tennis instructor, why
would Mal ask him to help her run away? Orlando says he was never on board with
Ari’s game because Max is a good person who doesn’t deserve to be cheated on.
“And what about me?!” Doris asks, offended. Orlando continues that Ari’s like a
brother to him, but he’s always told him to do the right thing and not hurt
anyone. If it helps at all, Orlando confirms that Ari did in fact break up with
Doris. Doris just wails harder.
Back at the Santibanez manse, someone’s at the door.
Maleny hustles a naked Ari up the stairs and opens the door. It’s Max, and this
time it's not a dream or a fake out. He apologizes for not calling
ahead but they haven’t been able to talk since they broke up and they really do
need to. After reading her letter, he realized just how important she is in his
life. He abruptly pulls her into a hug, stepping through the doorway she’s been
trying to block with her body. Maleny’s frantic gaze shoots to the stairs, but
Ari’s no where to be seen. She breathes a relieved sigh into Max’s chest.
Isela tells MD that she and Orly broke up. Isela
doesn’t think he’ll ever forget the things Josefa said. MD sits her down and
says she doesn’t think Isela giving them the whole truth either. First, she
said someone at work forced a kiss on her, then Honoria heard that she’s got
something going on with Claudio and now her own mother says she’s sleeping with
some guy to make her way up the socioeconomic ladder. Isela insists that it’s
all gossip. She’s not seeing anyone…she was sexually assaulted. MD seems just
as surprised as if Orlando hadn’t told her that this afternoon. Who was it? Was
it the guy who kissed her by force?
Claudio gets home. Alma meets him in the dining room.
She wants to know what Clara said. Claudio says they pretty much just talked
about helping Leo catch up in the schoolwork he missed. Alma reveals that she
heard Clara and Leo talking about the fact that Max told MD he loves her! She
might have said she still loves Daniel, but Alma’s convinced she was just
saying that to play hard to get and that she and Max are really going out!
Claudio has faith in Max. He’s been honest and upfront about this situation.
Alma’s sure that MD will hurt him. Ivana told her that MD declared that she
would use Max to pay for all of the hurt she’s suffering. She’s already started
(seeking vengeance): it’s her fault Ivana lost the baby. They have to get Max
away from her!
Mal says she thought Max was going to ask her to get
back together. Max replies that she’ll always be very important to him. She was
the first woman he really loved and she’s been “His Girl” for all these years.
He was crazy about her. That’s why he asked her to marry him so often. She
claims she couldn’t accept because they were too young; she wanted them to
really enjoy life first (um…you haven’t been “that young” for several years,
sweetie). Yes, well, Max says that’s changed and they’ve both changed and that
love has become deep affection. Mal says that this is happening because she
was so sure of his love. It’s been a huge blow to her ego. Max assures her
she’s a wonderful woman and he’s sure someone will love her just like he once
did.
Isela comes home and asks Jo why she told Orlando what
she did. Jo admits she wasn’t really thinking. She got so mad when Claudio told
her Isela was doing things behind her back. But then she remembered that Isela
had said that when she finished with Claudio, she was going
to get back together with Orly. Jo just figured she should try to help move
things along i.e. skip straight to the Orly breakup part. Isela doesn’t buy any
of that crap. She goes to her room where Josefa has made a collage of couples
from wedding magazines. She’s replaced the original faces with pics of Isela
and Orlando. “Why do you torture me like this?!” Isela screams out. Jo hurries
into the room and claims that she wasn’t trying to torture her. Kneeling next
to Isela, Josefa sweetly claims that a wedding with Orlando is their next goal.
The collage is just a reminder that once they get through with The Claudio
Bustamante Project, Isela can focus on getting her happy ending with Orlando.
Her voice hardens as she finishes “…so hurry up [with Claudio].” When she
leaves, Isela rips the pictures off the wall and sobs. She remembers talking to
Claudio in his car, telling him that Orly’s lack of faith hurt her and she was
thinking of Claudio while she was kissing Orlando.
Maleny quietly returns to her room and leans on the
door. Ari teases her, mockingly repeating Max’s words that she’s wonderful and
special and should find someone to love her the way he did. Suddenly, Maleny
marches to the bed and points a gun at Ari! That shuts him all the way up. She
says the good thing is that he can’t leave her like Max did. “…Or you’ll kill
me?” Ari asks. “You wouldn’t be the first one,” she mutters as she jumps onto
the bed. He struggles with her as she puts the gun up to his head, then hers
then tosses herself halfway off the bed. Ari’s freaking out, but Maleny is
laughing. “You’re crazy,” he says, frantically trying to put on his pants. He
tries to shake her off, but she drapes herself over him, slapping him and
telling him not to push her. She outlines her plans: she’s going to keep
playing with Max until he falls back into her trap. She and Ari will continue
as they have been and everything will get back on track. She forces Ari back
down onto the bed, literally sitting on him, and tells him to relax and enjoy
it. Ari is freaked all the way out.
The next morning, MD has made breakfast for the family.
Espy says she should’ve woken her, but MD says she must be very tired from
working the taco stand last night. Espy says Hon was depressed by how little
they sold. MD hopes they keep it up because Julian still has to furnish the
office. Clara joins them and says MD didn’t sleep all night. MD confesses that
Dan called her and said he was with Ivana and things were really bad, but he
couldn’t tell her more until he saw her in person. Clara adds that no one’s been
able to see Ivana and all of her friends are really worried.
In Cuernavaca, Ursula’s all dressed up for something.
She asks Isidro if Ivana’s ready, but he says she’s totally knocked out. Ursula
relays this to the doctor. “She can’t seem drugged or we’re going to have
problems,” she warns. The doctor protests that she’s already been taking too
many drugs and that’s probably why she’s taking so long to regain conciousness.
Ursula’s out of patience and snaps at him to do whatever he has to do!
Gerry’s on the phone with Max begging for his help.
He’s looking less that his usual high-fashion self. No cravat, no waistcoat,
just a shirt with the top buttons undone…it’s pretty hot. Anyway, he wants to
know what he can do. Ursula took clothes, yes, but she also took papers out of her safe. Max says
that changes things. Then again, if Ivana's lawyer was there...All Gerry wants to do is see
her and make sure she’s ok. He asks Max to get the address for the Cuernavaca
house, but Max says he knows where it is and they decide to head down there
right away.
MD and Orlando talk about his broken engagement with
Isela. Orly feels like an idiot for the fight. MD encourages him to fight for
his love.
Mal calls Max to tell him she thinks Ivana’s at the
Cuernavaca house. He says he’s heading there now. She reminds him she’ll always
try to help him if she can. Ari, laying on his stomach on the bed, listens to
all of this. Mal hangs up and tells Ari she’s leaving and he should follow
after 10 minutes (why, if no one’s home?) He pretends to be asleep while she’s
talking. As soon as she leaves, he springs up from the bed and starts dressing.
He gets distracted by the jewelry box on Mal’s vanity and fingers some earrings
and a necklace.
Doris is doing her makeup in front of the tailor shop.
MD opens it and Doris continues furiously powdering herself until MD asks
what’s up. Doris confesses that Ari was cheating on her with Mal. MD says she
doesn’t deserve that jerk. Doris thinks they should tell Max, but MD doesn’t
want to. Max and Mal are broken up and Max’s parents already think
she’s trying to get with him. Doris says if MD can’t do it, she just might.
Mal eats with Claudio and Alma. They ask how she’s
doing, and she continues to play the heartbroken victim. Claudio says he’s
talked with Max, but they can’t force him to get back with Maleny. She swallows
her disappointment and says she doesn’t want to be with someone who’s forced
either.
Julian, Jenny and Fermin are trying to get furniture
for the office. Julian hopes MD likes it. Since he’s self-employed and doesn’t
have his own credit card, they have to try his credit score, but it’s not high
enough. Jenny insists they charge it to her card.
Claudio assures Mal that they don’t trust MD, but
after Maleny's reaction to the break up and all of Daniel’s actions in general, he’s not to interested
in join their families either. Mal pulls the dad card and says she understands;
anyone would think twice about getting involved with a suicidal family. She’ll
respect whatever decision Max makes. Claudio says they’re behind her.
They all go up to say hi to Leo, but Isela’s already
in his room. She came to leave him a gift. Alma suggests that Claudio give her a ride since he’s also heading to work. Mal takes note.
Julian and Adriano (Max’s accountant friend and now
Julian’s associate) wait for Max, but he’s not answering his secretary's phone
calls. Adriano demonstrates interest in Jenny. The secretary gives them a list
of Claudio's students that he thinks could help them out in the office (intern material).
Claudio kisses Mal and Alma goodbye. When Alma gives
him a polite peck, he pulls her in for a much bigger kiss. Isela looks away.
Mal notes everything. After they wave goodbye, Mal starts sewing seeds of discord: Isela
doesn’t like Mal, but Mal’s not surprised because she’s good friends with MD.
Alma admits she had her doubts about Isela too, at first, but she’s proven
she’s trustworthy and not like MD at all.
In the car, Claudio and Isela fight. He’s mad about
her showing up at his house like that. She snaps back that his big goodbye kiss
was an obvious ploy. He says he loves his wife and he can revive their passion.
Isela reminds him that he himself told her the passion was gone. If it’s
revived, it’s because of her! He reminds her she’s marrying Orlando. She tells
him the wedding’s off. It’s not fair to lie about being raped for one, but also
she doesn’t want to be with Orly…she wants to be with Claudio.
Ivana’s lawyer has showed up at the C. House. Ursula’s
upset and wants to know who called him. “I did,” Ivana answers. She pale and shaky, but she's awake.
Gerry and Max are on their way up there now. Gerry says he's tried to talk sense into Ivana to get her to leave Daniel and leave MD alone,
but she won’t listen. Max says MD’s just as much a victim, but Gerry won’t
stick his neck out for MD again. He only cares about Ivana and will defend her
against any and everyone. Max looks like he wants to ask what we all want to
know: Is Gerry in love with Ivana? But he doesn’t.
So everyone’s all dressed up because IVANA AND DANIEL
ARE GETTING MARRIED RIGHT NOW!!! But before they do, Ivana’s lawyer wants to
make sure they’re getting married with a separate property policy (akin to a
prenup, yes?) Daniel professes to be in agreement, though Ursula looks like she
swallowed something bad. Dan says all of his family’s property is in his
mother’s name anyway, so it doesn’t really matter, but the lawyer insists that
it’s important they do this so that future properties are considered.
Mal continues her plot. She tells Alma that it would
be best if Leo and Clara stopped seeing each other. If she and Max get back
together and marry, Mal would never feel comfortable having MD around. Alma intimates
that she and Claudio have no intention of letting them stay together.
Especially since someone tried to hurt Leo at the mechanic shop. Mal is
surprised. Wasn’t that an accident? No, Alma shares. No, it wasn’t.
Dan stands behind Ivana’s chair at a small table set
up next to the pool. Ivana is decked out simply in a white wrap dress, Daniel
in a summer suit. The table is simply decorated with tulips and some lilies for
contrast. The day and the guests are quiet and calm. So just like that, as if
nothing sinister is going on, Dan and Ivana sign the marriage certificate.
Arango and Ursula sign as witnesses. A (real, we assume) judge declares them
man and wife. They toast to the occasion. The doctor warns Ivana that she can’t
drink, but Ursula says a toasting sip won’t hurt. It’s a moot point because as
Ivana raises her glass, she passes out cold. Everyone looks at her prone body in
surprise. The doctor feels for a pulse and shakes his head.
Back in La Vecindad, Jo yanks Orlando into her
apartment. She points at something off camera, a table maybe, and orders him to
look at it. He seems crushed by whatever it is, but we don’t get to find out
what’s up.
Isidro offers to call for an ambulance, but Ursela
says no, they’ll take care of it. She orders the servants away. The doctor is
still frantically checking Ivana’s vitals. She has no pulse. They need to get
her to a hospital, he reports. Ursula, Arango, and Dan just watch on
dispassionately. Daniel shuffles a bit. Arango takes a sip of champagne. “She’s
going to die!” the doctor continues. No reaction from these horrible, horrible
ice people. The doc stands. “Oh no. No, this time, I won’t do it. This time I
will. Not. Do it.”
“You already are,” Ursula silkily points out. “[As the
doctor] You’re in charge.”
“I won’t allow it,” he insists.
Before anyone can say another word, URSULA SUDDENLY
ROLLS IVANA’S UNCONSCIOUS BODY INTO THE POOL! “Ursula! What are you doing?!” the
doctor cries, horrified. Dan looks on in mild surprise at his mother’s actions. Arango's face is as blank as Claudio's usually is.
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