Tuesday, March 15, 2016
El Hotel de los Secretos #34, 3/14/16 Monday: Two mothers, two babies, no waiting!
There's a long pause as Isabel's gaze meets Julio's. For the record, I never hear her say yes, but apparently she says it. Julio finishes his letter to his mother: "I'm happy, Mom."
AUTUMN 1908
It's the night before the wedding. Mati is trying to get Isabel to cancel. (Mati, do you call this a bachelorette party?) Isabel says she'd rather work in the hospital than continue chasing a lofty dream. And having Diego as a companion is better than nothing.
And now we're at the wedding. Dr. Vicario walks Isabel up the aisle. (The church looks to be half-empty. Where is everyone?) We're spared the long ceremony; people are already throwing rice. Elisa is there. Felipe is there in his robes, making me wonder how much Teresa has been paying to keep him at the monastery.
At the reception, Teresa is beaming, wearing an amazing silver gown. Sofia frets: she's afraid people are looking at her, and will know her secret. And Alfredo's coming home soon, she says. The doctor tells her to act happy. She'll be a mother soon. Teresa offers her some soothing wine with the doctor's blessing.
Elisa is still planning to take Alfredo home when he gets out of jail. (She notices that Victoria is wearing red lipstick.)
Felipe tells Mrs. Limantur he's trying to be like St. Augustine. He's not sure if he's ready to come back to the "world" yet. She teases him, saying he should test himself with a little temptation: drink, dancing... Felipe hopefully asks one of the brothers his opinion. The brother says NO.
It's time for the champagne toast. Benjamin tells Julio that he should act in Andres' place to serve the champagne to the novios. Julio complies with great reluctance.
Isabel is startled to see Julio with the champagne. Diego takes the glasses and shoos Julio away.
Belen is exhausted, in pain, tugging tight shoes off of swollen feet. There's a noisy gush. She calls for help and gets Natalia.
At the reception, Teresa gives a speech about the hospital for the benefit of those guests who didn't already know about it. Yeah, Diego's a real hero. Keep reading.
Natalia tells Angela that Belen's baby is coming. Angela informs Teresa, who gives the signal to the doctor.
Teresa tells Angela to have Jacinto get the midwife. Teresa is emphatic that only the midwife can see Belen. Teresa takes off with Sofia.
Diego notices all the activity and tells Isabel and Matilde that he has a surprise. He takes off. Isa sees Julio again and looks pained again.
Diego goes to Belen's room and tells Natalia that Teresa is looking for her. Teresa is not looking for Nat; that's just a ruse to get Nat out of the room. He locks the door behind her and slaps Belen. "What the hell do you think you're doing? How dare you ruin my party giving birth on the day of my wedding? No one is going to help you; you don't matter." He locks the door again (double-locks? I don't get it). "You want me to open the door for the midwife? Then give me the letter."
"What letter?" Belen replies disingenuously, and is slapped again.
Sofia panics in her room. "Not now!" She wants to wait for Alfredo. Teresa and the doctor discuss where to get blood and an umbilical cord. He thinks he can find some bloody entrails in the kitchen. He asks if he shouldn't see to Belen. Teresa is dismissive; Belen is from the pueblo, so childbirth will be nothing for her. "Your patient is right here," she declares, indicating her nervous daughter.
Sofia begs her mother - not the doctor - for laudanum. The doctor doesn't so much as raise an eyebrow, but something in his face tells us he's not very surprised. He tells Teresa to give Sofi the laudanum while he gets some gross stuff from the kitchen trash.
Natalia finds Angela in the kitchen. Angela is sure that Teresa didn't ask for Natalia, and she's suspicious that Diego is with Belen. The doctor arrives and tells Angela that Sofia's giving birth too. He requests hot water and lots of clean towels.
Natalia marvels at the coincidence that both Belen and Sofia are dando the luz at the same time. Angela tells her to mind her own business.
Belen tells Diego: "You can't be so cruel to your own child." "I don't make babies with the servants," Diego snarls.
Isabel goes out for some fresh air and finds Julio smoking a cigarette. He gallantly offers it to her, but she refuses. They have a strained conversation. She says she's doing fine, and asks about Andres. Julio says Andres is the same. As for Julio, he says he's scared. Isa says she just wants her life back. "But this is not your life," Julio protests. "It is now," Isa replies.
The midwife arrives. Angela is unable to open the door. She asks Jacinto to bust the door open, but he is unable. Inside, Diego taunts Belen: "If you don't give me the letter, you and your bastard die." She denies it at first, but as the contractions become more intense she finally relents and gives him the letter from a pouch she's been wearing around her neck. (I know I haven't said this in a while, but pockets are the BEST!) He opens the door and brushes past Angela, Jacinto, and the midwife without a word.
The midwife looks at Belen and says, "I can do this alone." She sends Angela and Jacinto away.
There's a knock on Sofia's door. It's Diego, waving the letter in Teresa's face. He warns that Belen is not doing well.
Actually, the baby is just fine. The midwife is just about to hand the baby to Belen when Teresa shows up. The midwife gives the baby to Teresa, announcing, "it's a boy." Belen wants to hold it, but Teresa says, "it isn't yours." She pays the midwife and reminds her to say that the baby was born dead. The midwife leaves, reluctantly but with generous payment.
Belen protests. "I told you not to mess with me. You brought this on yourself," Teresa tells her, and leaves with the baby - locking the door behind her. Belen is still cramping.
Diego dances with Isabel to Tchaikovsky's Sleeping Beauty waltz. (Sleeping Beauty? Really?) Didn't he promise her a surprise? Isa stares sadly at Julio, who is grinding his teeth at the sight of them.
Elisa notices that Sofi, Teresa, and the doctor are all missing. She goes to investigate.
Julio goes outside, tries to drink from one of the wine glasses on his tray and drops the whole thing.
In the kitchen, Lupe fusses over the cake. Angela intercepts the midwife on her way out and asks, why so secretive? What happened? The midwife doesn't answer right away. "That's my grandson," Angela pleads. The midwife reports that the baby was born dead.
The doctor won't let Elisa in Sofia's room. Teresa comes in from the hallway with the baby - she says the doctor didn't have any talcum powder, so she went to the kitchen (with a newborn baby, sure) to get some flour. Elisa peers suspiciously as Teresa, the baby, and the doctor go into Sofia's room. Elisa hyperventilates at Victoria: "This can't be true! It's not possible!" The whole charade almost seems worth it just to ruin that woman's day.
Teresa presents Sofia with her new son. Sofia rejects the child: "No, this isn't my baby. Look, he's got Diego's face and hair!"
Julio is sneaking another cigarette outside when he hears Belen gasping and struggling. He fairly easily knocks the door in (why couldn't Jacinto do that?). He takes off his coat, washes his hands, assumes the position, and delivers a bouncing baby... placenta? Nope, it's a whole 'nother baby! Julio hands it to Belen, who thanks God. Julio says she's lost a lot of blood and he wants to get the doctor. She says no, please, put me in your room next to Andres. They'll kill me and my baby. Teresa left her in this room to bleed to death. Please, do this for your friend.
Julio complies. Belen thanks him. He has to go back to work - Benjamin will surely notice he's missing. (How is he not covered in blood?) He leaves her with the baby and Andres.
Belen tells the baby, "He doesn't know it yet, but your father is one of them. When he wakes up, when he marries your mother, I'll tell him that his real father is Don Romulo. That's right, Andres. That letter says you're the firstborn son of the Alarcons."
Next time: Teresa tells the doctor that Belen is... DEAD?
Labels: hotel
No, I wasn't expecting a bonus baby until Teresa left Belen in that room. It seemed obvious to me (not that I have any experience with this) that Belen wasn't finished.
But Sofia doesn't seem to be in a very cooperative mood. Is she going to demand laudanum every time she has to hold the baby?
So, what about the avances? Is Teresa going to whack Belen? Or is she just assuming that Belen will die? It's not like Teresa to leave something to chance, but she's so full of herself right now, who knows?
Now, what is Diego going to do with the letter? Seems to me it would be in his best interests to burn it, but even if he does, might there be some other type of proof somewhere? Does Angela herself have something that she's been withholding for some reason? I think there are still more secrets.
I think from the look Teresa and Sofia exchanged, the wine had laudenum in it. The doctor was surprised to later hear Sofia ask Teresa (not him, the doc) for the drug. That's the moment he realized Teresa has been Sofia's pusher and supplier all these months. But since they were right in the middle of the baby caper, there really wasn't time to make an issue of it at that moment. The way Sofia reacted to the baby, like she was Rosemary seeing the glowing devil eyes, she might need to be heavily drugged each time she sees him.
The reason no one could get into the room is because Diego blocked Belen's door with the heavy armoire, and Jacinto pushing and shoving finally moved it somewhat by the time Diego got what he wanted.
I wonder if the babies are identical or fraternal twins? As they get older, there certainly would be questions about why the young master upstairs is identical to the kid downstairs.
All this time and no killings? What happened to Ayala? Does this mean that Andrés is the killer?
Vivi, great comment about the kids being identical or fraternal twins.
Great plot line about laudanum/morphing addiction.
Now we finally know the secret!
Elisa hyperventilates at Victoria: "This can't be true! It's not possible!" The whole charade almost seems worth it just to ruin that woman's day.
I was absolutely furious when she barged in on Sofia's suite. She did this in the full knowledge that this would upset Sofia at a critical time. She has no boundaries and needs to be stopped once and for all. Now that there is a son for Alfredo and he gets control over his inheritance, Mama will either have to cut the apron strings or risk Alfredo burning them.
Dee Eggo has truly earned his closet in Hell with brutalizing a woman in labor. That is one of the most disgusting things I've ever seen a villain do (outdone only by Pigorio in El Talisman when he kicked the pregnant Mariana in the belly, killing a baby that could have been born alive). Since we didn't see him read the letter is it too much to hope for that Belen hid the real letter somewhere and gave him a fake one? She was fairly confident when talking to the second baby about telling Andres he is the first-born of Romulo Alarcon.
Felipe is still in the monastery? Teresa must be donating quite a lot of dinero to make that happen. Is he providing frustration for the monks, or amusement?
Teresa is one cold customer to leave Belen to bleed to death. I'm sure she intends to reneg on payment for the live baby. It would be very interesting indeed if the other one is an identical twin, which Belen herself wouldn't know because she wasn't even allowed to look at the face of the first-born one.
Maybe Belen will fake her death in some way. Can't wait for the next episode.
I don't like how they keep rushing to the next scene. I feel like we're missing some things. One minute Isabel seems happy with Diego and the next she's really sad to be getting married.
Did they mention why Alfredo would be getting out of jail soon? I was a little confused about that.
Question is, what will Julio do when Alfredo is free and walking around the hotel? He believes this is his sister's killer. He will be p*ssed off for sure.
so, the cast of Quien es quien was born. Julio can be in charge of maternity in the new hospital.
At least we now know that Diego will die since he and Isa are married. I'm trying to imagine the worst possible death for him, too bad they didn't have wood chippers in 1908.
Andres was the 1st born, but Belen no longer has the letter, what now? She needs to spill the frijoles to Isa, Andres, Julio, the Doc & most of all Angela.
Pablo, according to the scenes we saw at the end of Friday's episode, I thought there were three more killings while Andres was in a coma. So he definitely couldn't be the murderer!
Urban - I love your idea for Belen to fake her own death. I would love for her to live-haunt Teresa. Unfortunately, I don't think that's her kind of mischief.
Vivi, thanks for figuring out that the wine already had laudanum in it, and the very subtle look on the doctor's face when Sofi asked Tere for laudanum. Also thanks for explaining about the armoire. It's funny, the things that I can't see/figure out when I'm recapping. I notice a lot of details that I normally wouldn't pay attention to - but then I miss big obvious things (like furniture) that are in plain sight.
I don't understand Matilde. First she supports and all smiles over the proposal and did a 180 on wedding day.
Why didn't Angela go back to check on Belen? She says nothing to Diego when they finally push their way in but not follow up other than asking the midwife.
Though I don't really get why Julio is still at the hotel I am glad he heard Belen.
Jorge Poza is incredible in this.
Belen got guts and nerves of steel
We also need to come up with a way for Isabel to get out of her wifely duties with Diego. Will she go with the headache defense? Or will fate somehow intervene to keep Diego out of the bedroom all night?
Julio says he's staying around till Andres is well, but we all know he just wants to torture himself gazing at Isa all day.
And it's a good question why Angela didn't check on Belen. Granted things were hectic at the hotel that night, and Angela isn't exactly crazy about Belen anyway - but maybe she was just so relieved to hear that there would be no baby that she didn't trust herself not to gloat.
Do you remember the word Teresa used?
However, it's laughable that haughty Teresa would personally take this extremely valuable newborn baby down to the kitchen - an area full of fire and sharp knives - rather than send someone to fetch the flour. I mean, I guess it's as good a cover story as any to explain why she's bringing the baby in from the hallway, but it's also hilariously implausible.
Just had to finish it.
I'm sure Cecelia will return soon. I mean, Claudia Ramirez has to have more than just a an episode or two.
I really hope Isabel doesn't have a "normal" marriage with Diego. He's so creeeeeeeeepy.
She could get her period or Dee Eggo could have an attack of ED. He sooooo deserves that.
This is the 1st time I've seen Jorge Poza & he is great as a slimy, creepy, vile degenerate.
I had a wicked bad headache last night, but just could NOT bring myself to stop watching long enough to get painkillers!
What an ep!
Nanette
I was also thinking last night, it seems odd that Teresa never questions the motives of this doctor who is doing all kinds of crazy things for her. Perhaps she's arrogant enough to simply accept it as her due, but when he talked about looking for bloody entrails in the kitchen trash I thought that went way beyond the call of duty for a casual co-conspirator. At some point, doesn't she have to wonder what's in it for him?
Regarding the amnesia idea. I'm with you on not wanting that to happen. But I also don't want Andres to jump into marriage with Belen. I can see her grabbing the priest and dragging him into Andres' room the minute he wakes up.
I wondered why Diego didn't search Belen for the letter. Something that important I'd keep on me at all times, too.
When Diego left the room and had that self-satisfied smile on his face, my first thought was that I can't wait until he dies. Which will surely happen, as Variopinta said, now that he and Isa are married. Even if the marriage isn't consumated, I'd think it would be difficult to anul a marriage during this time in history.
Tofie: I also wondered what was up with Matilde. She looked so sour at the wedding and then all smiles at the reception. Maybe she was drunk.
Once again, I have to mention how much I love Vic's gown. It's such a beautiful style and color and is perfect for her.
What was the deal with the lipstick?
OMG! What an episode! What an episode! It had me at the edge of my seat, breathless, wringing my hands, face contorted with anxiety... Ilse Salas, the actress playing Belén was sencillamente magistral! What a tour-de-force performance! Her scenes with Diego were saw raw and magnetic. Excellent job by both actors.
I suspected from the beginning that Andrés was an Alarcón but learning that he was the first-born Alarcón was a surprise to me. I still maintain there is something more to the letter than this revelation. I think it might contain some grave accusations against Teresa.
Does anybody recognize the lady in purple that accompanied Nena Limantour? The actress looked familiar.
I will read the comments as soon as I get a chance. I'm eager to see what my fellow EHDLS Patio dwellers think of this episode.Can't wait for tonight's episode! Thanks again, Julie!
"La paciencia es un árbol de raíces amargas (...) y de frutos dulces."*
* Victoria and Elsa exchanging life's wisdom: "Patience is a tree of bitter roots (...) and sweet fruit"
raíz = root. Fig.: cause, origin.
amargo(a) = bitter. Fig.: sad, painful, embittered, bittersweet.
And of course you missed the piece of furniture against the door. When one is recapping, the head is down...typing or taking notes by hand lickety-split. A lot of the visual details are missed. Csn't be helped. That's where the viewers and commenters can step in.
Loved how you described Felipe's stab at wantonness and the chaperoning monk saying NO!
I haven't seen this yet, but can't wait. Merciful heavens, this is QUITE the story!
Thanks Ms. Julie. I always enjoy your style of writing.
So Isabel actually went through with her reluctant wedding. And in the church, no less. I was hoping they might dispense with that old telenovela tradition of "if you can't or won't marry the one you love, marry the next person available, no matter how much you dislike them." Sure, Diego set up that hospital for her...and she didn't even ask where he got the money. Two seconds of thought would have told her that he stole it from her family.
Wasn't this about the time that lipstick was just becoming acceptable in conservative places for respectable ladies? At least I think it was the time it became common to wear lipstick in the U.S.; maybe about the same time in Mexico as well. Maybe that was the point of the lipstick, to show that times are changing.
Loved that quote, Nandicta. Elisa's a funny one to speak of patience! (Just like she's a funny one to call the hotel a manicomio when she's the craziest of the bunch.) She has no idea how to play the long game. She keeps coming back with yet a new scheme to take her little boy home, but so far every scheme has been a quick grab at something just beyond her reach. If she joined a club for TN villainesses, they'd make merciless fun and kick her out.
And yeah, I did just now say that Elisa's the craziest of the bunch. With calmer surroundings and no meddling from her mother, Sofia might be sane. But Elisa has a bizarre, reverse-Oedipus complex that just won't quit.
I thought Vic might have been using lipstick to attract someone--Felipe? Afredo? But that really doesn't work once you think about it.
I watched this actually this morning before leaving for work--yeah, that was a mistake. (Just had to watch Part 2 of the And Then There Were None from the UK last night. SOOOO good.) First meeting I had wanted to take someone's head off. They sounded just a tad too much like Diego.
Speaking of which, I am firmly planted at the DIE DIEGO DIE!!!! table. Maybe I don't like Belen, but he was...well, we all know. I kept thinking how does he get out of that room---well, he just sauntered right out as if he was Mr. Untouchable. Maybe today dude...but you just wait.
The wedding made me nauseous, I don't understand Isa at all. There's setttling and thanking someone for setting up a local business and then there's throwing your life away. Diego will be a "companion". Good luck with that honey. Was nice to see Felippe...he acutally looked healthy and happy.
Have to say Andres looks amazing for someone who has been in a coma, taking no sustenance (maybe forced liquids) for months. Nary a pound lost. Sorry, that was one bit of continuity I thought maybe they could done better with. Dark circles under the eyes or something.
So history is repeating itself with twins? Andres may be the first born, but he was a child born out of wedlock, so there would have to have been some will somewhere giving him rights to have this mean anything. Normally, only the naturally recognized children inherit. Dis Teresa use a doctored will to give the hotel to Isa, this having Diego in the mix? Still say she offed the hubby.
I want to see the looks on the faces when they get a load of Baby No. 2. But Belen better hoof it somewhere, at least for awhile, if she's smart.
Daisynjay
This was a fantastic episode, though!
-Annie
Belen should leave the area as soon as she is physically able and not come back for a while. If she gave a fake letter to Dee Eggo, he will kill her. Andres is better off without her for every reason in the book. If the babies are identical twins then both would be at risk. If they're not then the secret is safe for a few more episodes.
(I am trying to picture a vulture-faced baby. For once in my life, I'm glad I can't draw.)
Given all the factors at play, I don't think the story can afford for Belen to die right now. But then why in the avances does Teresa tell the doctor she's dead (and isn't that for the doctor to say), and how will she explain when Belen turns up alive ten minutes later?
Maybe she sends Belen away with a bag of money, with or without baby #2, and tells her never to come back. (Of course Belen will totally come back, around episode 78 or so.)
Maybe we'll find out tonight and I should be patient. At least more patient than Elisa, LOL.
I'm disappointed in Matilde. This character was so much better in the original. Here she just seems to give wishy-washy useless advice.
The only person who was told that the baby died was Angela, and Jacinto also overheard because he was taking the midwife back to town. I don't think Angela ran right out and started blabbing to everyone that the baby died. So the only two people who will ask how/why Belen has a baby, will be Angela and Jacinto. But Belen can just tell them the truth-- she had twins, and the midwife didn't realize it.
Speaking of the midwife-- nice to see Simona from Muchacha Italiana. Wonder if we'll see her again?
Wait - I think we've seen both of them, right? Have we? I can't tell babies apart unless they're wearing different outfits, so I'm pretty useless. But any resemblance or lack thereof between the two boys will probably be significant to the story.
I mean, Ashley and Mary Kate Olson are fraternal, and I can't tell them apart.
I also have two second cousins who are sisters but not twins but close in age, and those two have two first cousins who ARE twins who are close to their same age, and when they were little I couldn't tell any of the four apart, they looked so alike.
Another thing, maybe Julio will take pity on Belen's situation and send her and her little one to the brothel of the madam who saved his skin a few years ago. Now to watch every gorey detail of Capitulo #34!!
Thank you all who make this soooo much fun.
Marcia
Thank you for the recap. I agree that Ilse Salas's acting in yesterday's episode was sublime. She indeed is shining as the ambitious Belen. Even though Belen is not a saint, it was horrible how her legs were all bleeded up and how that monster of Diego was torturing her.
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