Monday, May 29, 2017
La Candidata Lunes, 5/29/17 Chapter 1: Looking for Guilt
Foreword
After
years of chronicling the lives of the rich and shameless I am still
astonished at how similar they are no matter the country or culture.
The newly rich like Eladio Gomez-Luna will buy their respectability
through the silence and compliance of others. In the end he fell
short of becoming another Gerald Bradley because the latter never
fooled the set who regarded him as an interloper. In the end – if
what I heard about his death was true – he was ultimately unable to
fool himself. Since I no longer practice the faith of my upbringing
I am done speculating on whether he is in Purgatory or elsewhere.
I
have found new examples of the ultimate indulgences of such people.
While there is no Coliseum or Circus Maximus in Mexico City the San
Románs share some of the vices of certain historical personages
echoed by their name. Only modern civil law and my profession have –
thus far – held the line against the rise of a new Caligula or
Nero. I am a latter-day Suetonius, telling tales of hypocrisy,
corruption, and crimes that attempt to defy discovery and go without
punishment. I present my tales to you, my elite readers, that you
may judge these people for who they are.
Sit
back and read at your leisure. At least our wine is better than that
which was consumed by the Caesars.
- D.D.
Chapter
One: Looking for Guilt
It
was a rainy night with shadows of buildings reflected in the
increasing puddles in the narrow street, like something out of a
1940s film. A young woman whose tight short skirt resembled a
bathing suit from an earlier decade ran from an unseen enemy, her
steps slowed by the stacked heels of shoes she could not stop to
remove. A car with its bright lights at full power turned the corner
in pursuit. Her life flashed before her eyes as she fell down while
recalling the last time she had had sexual relations with Emiliano
San Román Bárcenas. The fall caused just enough delay for her
pursuer to get out of the car and catch up with her. The man wore a
dark blue hoodie. He grabbed her hair at the back of her head and
dunked her head three times into a metal barrel of water, but only
enough to disorient her. She grabbed a circular object to defend
herself with but could not get away. He caught up with her in only
three steps and threw her against the building wall before stabbing
her several times just below the solar plexus. He made certain she
was dead before leaving her body in the street like so much garbage,
then quickly ran back to his car.
Several
hours later Regina Bárcenas addressed the legislature after hearing
the report of this on the morning news. She was an attractive blond
of about forty years of age.
“It
is with shame I recount to you how dangerous it is to be a woman in
this country, specifically with regard to homicide. Every day seven
women are murdered in our country. Seven lives that are stolen and
most of their executioners do not face justice. Their murders mostly
go forgotten because it inconveniences those in power. We must
reflect on who governs because they can't or don't want to protect
us. Who will tell us he is able to deal with the violence,
unemployment, inadequate salaries, the lack of access to healthcare,
and the shameful lack of basic services?”
Gerardo
Martínez watched her with full attention and scrutiny. He was a
handsome gentleman in his early forties with thick dark hair and a
decisive face with strong features. The cupid's bow of his upper lip
was so sharply cut no one would have thought it feminine.
“It
is for this that I am going to bring an initiative to protect those
who are the most vulnerable prior to their birth. The law will be
comprehensive. It will obligate the state to guarantee every baby,
boy and girl, access to education, healthcare, and nutrition. We
must make the weak strong and therefore united. We must take care of
our nation.”
The
senate applauded Regina.
In
the parking lot of the local fire department Alonso San Román
addressed a crowd of people gathered before the billboard for his
campaign.
“During
this gubernatorial election we will carry on, changing the lives of
our people. We don't talk, we take action. We work for you to get
things done so you can believe in a more united country. This is
what we can all believe in. An independent sovereign and independent
country. Please, follow me in this great transformation so that
together we can make it succeed. Thank you very much.”
There
was some applause.
As
the firemen dispersed to go back to work and Alonso stepped away from
the podium Mauro, one of his aides, handed him a cell phone with a
news story about him. The headline contained the word every
politician fears: Scandal. He said they had better get back to the
office.
Gerardo
took the podium in the senate house.
“It
is curious that we are supporting a government that has serious
problems in the management of the economy. It is dealing with
accusations of corruption and deapite never being interested in the
condition of its people announces such a progressive law. What makes
me suspicious is who is proposing this law. This is only a demagogic
recourse, on the eve of the election.”
A
few cries of support and applause occurred. The speaker of the house
called for silence. The house began to empty. Regina rose from her
seat and met Daniela, her assistant, on the way out. She was
irritated with Gerardo, whom she had known years earlier when they
were at the university together. Daniela then told her there was
something more urgent to deal with.
“It's
your son.”
Alonso
came out of the parking lot with Mauro and headed back to their
office. Regina was headed back to her office as the local news
replayed the story of the murder of the night before. In two
separate locations Regina and Alonso watched the news footage of the
crime scene workers zipping up the body bag as the reporter described
described the victim as a young woman between twenty and twenty-five
years of age. The rumor was that her name was Florencia Oscura and
that she had been the star of a sex video that had gone viral on
social media. Alonso's father, Don Omar, watched his son's reactions
during the report.
Gerardo
and Nieves, his secretary, were in his office watching the same
report, calling it a tragedy. Ximena, Gerardo's daughter, appeared
just outside and he got up to let her in.
Regina
took her handbag and prepared to leave.
“Before
you go I have to ask you something,” Daniela said. “You once
told me you knew a Gerardo Martinez when you were Don Alonso's
assistant. Is that him?”
“If
this is going where I think it is I don't want any more questions.”
“Yes
or no?”
“Yes,
it's him.”
“Isn't
it odd that he appears now? Wow.”
“Wow?”
Regina paused at the door. “You know what your problem is,
Daniela?” She stared rather than state the issue. “I need to
rush out.”
Gerardo
greeted his daughter, who apparently was there to talk about her
mother. Gerardo asked for privacy and Nieves left them alone. At
the same time Regina was on her way home, concerned about Emiliano.
He was not answering his cell phone. As she got into the back of her
car she told Daniela to locate him for her and tell him to go to his
father's office.
Ximena
told her father she could no longer live with her mother. Her mother
was stealing money from her, lying to her, and trying to make her
feel guilty for not wanting to stay. This was nothing new to him; he
had separated from Teresa because of her mental illness, which had
destroyed their marriage. Before he could say anything Nieves opened
the door to tell him he had an important call. He had to take it.
“I
want the ones responsible for this. Do we know who they were?”
Alonso asked.
“We're
looking into it,” said Pacheco. “We suspect it was someone from
her world.”
“I
don't want theories. I want to know who they were. Whoever they
were this was an attack on me and I want them silenced.”
“The
problem is the media,” said Pacheco. “An accusation gets made
and they're all over it. And people have loose lips.”
“Then
we will have to deal with the media first,” Alonso said. “Say
that the governor's family is in turmoil, my son is very sick.
Invent something about this girl. Something that leaves no doubt.
Call Ochoa. Move it!”
The
two men walked out without a word. They knew Alonso San Román too
well to question his orders. When they were out of the office Alonso
looked at his father.
“Father,
what do you think?”
“I
only hope this doesn't do anything to you. If you insist, what are
you hiding?”
“Just
a distraction, a foolish act.”
“And
the death of this girl?”
“No,
no, I don't want to know any more about it. The investigation will
say that.”
Don
Omar nodded, knowing that his son would know how to handle this as he
had learned well from him that one must maintain total control over
one's life.
Regina
arrived at Alonso's office just as Omar exited it and closed the
door. He guided her away from the door as he greeted her.
“Dear
Regina, everything is alright.”
“Do
you know something?” she asked him.
“I
can't say anything; I know nothing about this,” he said. “The
most important thing is that you are together and all this will be
quickly resolved.”
“I
need to get to the bottom of this,” she said.
“Alonso
wants the same. This was an attack on him. That's the one thing I'm
sure about.”
Regina
looked into her father-in-law's eyes with a thousand-yard stare, as
though she did not believe him.
“I'm
going to see him, if you will excuse me,” she said, backing up
toward Alonso's office. Omar did not like this, but did not try to
prevent her. As soon as her back was turned he took out his cell
phone. He called his wife's chauffeur and said he wished to speak
with her.
She
had already exited the car and was on her way inside. The chauffeur
called after her to say her husband was on the phone.
“Tell
him I'm busy. I will be back in ten minutes,” she said.
Pacheco
and Mauro talked via cell phone, concocting a story about Florencia
Oscura having been a prostitute who often serviced foreign visitors.
Gerardo told Nieves to make an appointment for Morales, the man he
had spoken with on the phone. He gave Ximena a check to make up for
the money her mother had stolen and promised her that she could soon
move in with him. Ximena was still upset and left his office in
tears.
Emiliano
went outside to the pool area only to be stopped by Mario, his
maternal grandfather. He was tall, white-haired, and dressed for the
office.
“Why
not?”
“It
won't be convenient for a few days. Reporters are hanging around,
waiting to pounce.”
“I
need to know what happened to Florencia.”
“It's
being investigated. All the country's resources are on it. Besides,
what can you do? You can't talk to anyone. One careless remark to
the wrong person could be misinterpreted and severely hurt your
father's position in government. All it would take is one person who
opposes him.”
“I'm
not going to do anything, Grandfather. This isn't about him, it's
about me!”
Nonetheless
he went back inside, passing his grandmother along the way. Noemi
was not a stupid woman; she knew that something was not right.
“What
did you do to him?” she asked her husband.
“Trying
to get him to behave accordingly. He's not ten years old anymore.
I've got to go.”
He
turned to leave.
“Mario,
where are you going?”
“I'm
going to see how the investigation is going.”
“Oh,
really? I was just asking. Surely it's one of your whores.”
“How
is it you're drinking so early? I don't have to answer that.”
Cecelia
Aguilar showed a new employee to her new apartment. She told her
about The Rules, meaning that she was not to bring friends or
boyfriends into a place where she was entertaining clients. There
was a gymnasium downstairs for her use and a social room where topics
of the day were discussed, especially politics. She was to pay
attention to any political news. Absolute discretion was an
unbreakable rule. Nothing heard there was to be repeated.
“Don't
bore them with your personal angst,” she continued. “The truth
is that aren't interested. Instead, get them to talk about their
sexual fantasies. They like that. Please them and always, always
use a condom. Some might not but you need to protect yourself.”
For
a moment it looked as though Cecelia was looking to make a pass at
her, but she then suggested they put away her clothes. She pointed
the way to the bedroom. The new girl was on her way when the news
began on the TV set. Cecelia dropped the glass she was drinking
from. The new girl ran into the kitchen to see what was wrong.
It
was an update on the murder. The victim was identified as Florencia
Oscura, twenty-two years of age. She was said to have been involved
with Emiliano San Roman, who was seventeen years old.
Alonso
and Regina talked about this.
“We
should send Emiliano out of the country. Maybe to Europe for a
while.”
“That
won't resolve anything,” Regina said. “Besides, we can't leave
our son alone at this moment.”
“Then
we have to find a way to avoid the problems. Someone has to be
guilty. Someone had to have had a reason, a motive. They are
looking to discredit my administration.”
Regina
was obviously aware of his abject selfishness.
“We
are talking about our son and your family, Alonso. And you are
worried about your political career when at the moment you should be
thinking about Emiliano. Someone killed a girl he was going out with
–”
“He
was boinking her behind our backs. He made a video of it on his cell
phone –”
“That
was his only mistake. The only one. Now our duty, Alonso, is to
help and protect him. He is what's important at this moment.”
Alonso
looked as though he wanted to dismiss her concern, which he did.
“Regina,
I can't believe how naïve you are. This woman was a slut. Someone
planted her with our son. First the video, then kidnapping a
governor's son. Then she ends up dead. They are targeting our
family. Me! Taking him to an unknown place. Or do you know who she
was?”
“No.
Only about the video.”
“It
looks like he didn't do anything.”
“But
he did. I will order an investigation.”
“By
whom?”
“I
will speak to Almirón de Lucia, my security chief.”
“Ask
him to investigate, but nothing else.”
Natalia
walked into City Financiera demanding to see Javier. She breezed
past the receptionist and found Javier's boss, Arturo, in the
conference room working on his laptop. He said Javier was not in.
“Surely
you discuss your most important clients' business with him. And
surely the governor's mother is one of those clients, isn't she? Am
I wrong?”
“No,
no Señora.”
“Well,
then...”
“Look,
what I know is that one of the bad investments has disappeared but
don't worry; the other part is in very good shape. I've calculated
that you should recover the money in a few months.”
“I
want my money now. Tell Javier that he has twenty-four hours to get
it to me. I will not wait longer.”
“Yes,
Señora,” he said.
She
did not wait to hear more.
“What
are you insinuating?” Regina asked.
“I'm
sorry, it's nerves,” Alonso said. “I'm worried. But yes, you'll
have to keep your word.”
“When?
It's been months since you wanted to have relations with me.”
“And
now you start with reproaches again.”
“You're
right. We need time to talk about our marriage, our family.
However, I think we've lost it because of our lack of communication.
And when I find out about this girl the time has come. And when you
talk to Emiliano, talk to him like his father, not like a governor.”
She
walked out of his office, leaving him to think about that element of
his deficiency as a father. He never liked to think of such things.
Javier
entered the conference room in time for a reproach from Arturo, who
was not pleased at having been put in this position. He dismissed
Arturo's attitude about how he was handling Natalia's money,
suggesting that he smooth it over with her.
Regina
immediately met with de Lucia, who assured her that the most trusted
and expert police were investigating the situation. He told her that
the girl in question was not a prostitute, but something higher on
the food chain. She told him to keep her informed through her
secretary before any information got to the governor. He told her
that the governor had his own resources to find out what he wanted to
know. Regina did not permit that as an excuse. He was to do her
bidding in this matter and not cave to any pressure or get lazy. She
wanted to know who killed the girl and who hired him to do it.
De
Lucia said “Your wish is my command, Señora.”
“Work
this one alone,” she said.
Alonso
chewed out Ochoa for not keeping him informed of Regina's movements.
He demanded to know everything first. The man told him that Almirón
de Lucia will keep secret anything that Regina didn't want him to
know and he couldn't help that. He escaped from Alonso's office
before he could verbally whip him.
Mauro
and Pacheco were watching the news at the office. The newscaster
talked about the investigation into the double life of the murder
victim. She had apparently last been with a foreign businessman. At
the same time an security professional named Sosa reported to his
superior in the security chamber of the senatorial building and was
ordered to take evidence for immediate analysis. The box contained
security videos of the streets in the neighborhood frequented by the
victim. He wanted to know whom she had been with and when. After
which he was to follow standard operating procedure: destroy the
evidence and pay off whatever that cost. Sosa sent his underling,
Rodriguez, to do the work.
At
the San Román mansion Natalia took a call from Omar. There was
mention of the current family crisis and she asked whether he was
coming home early. Her reaction implied that he would not but she
did not appear disappointed. She called someone else but cut off all
his attempt at a serious conversation.
“I
don't like to talk on the phone. I want you in my bed.”
She
was at least discreet enough to not say so in front of the household
staff.
Alonso
was at his desk talking to his doctor who had delivered bad news in
person.
“Alonso,
you have an STD. I need to treat both you and your wife.”
“Obviously,
Regina can't know anything about this.”
“But
you have infected her. You have to tell her now.”
“Another
thing to worry about. Another weight to carry.”
“Then
you have to keep carrying it.”
“I
can't go on like this with her. It's unfair that this will ruin our
reconciliation.”
Emiliano
was skyping with a friend, talking about being locked up in the house
and his father keeping him under tighter surveillance. It prevented
him from being able to find out any more about Florencia as well. He
asked his friend for help.
“I
want to know whether she really wanted to be with me or whether this
was about incriminating my father.”
“Okay.
I'll talk to Deborah and see if there's an explanation.”
Emiliano
ended the call and looked at the video of himself and Florencia
having relations. He began to cry.
Regina
arrived at the senate house and was met by Daniela and Gerardo on the
steps. She acknowledged Daniela and indicated she had no interest in
speaking with Gerardo. As they got inside the building Gerardo made
it clear that he wasn't going to give up.
“If
you're going to continue to follow me it better be about the new
initiative,” she told him. “You'll have to wait, like everyone
else.”
“Do
you think that is the only reason I'd want to talk to you?” he
asked.
“What
else? You are from the opposition party. Only legislation. I
recall that a little while ago you said that I brought the initiative
to the table for the governor so I don't know what you want.”
“I
admire you. I'm very proud of you. It's true. I'm very proud of
you. That was born at graduation. Besides, I have many ideas to
discuss over dinner. Congratulations.”
“I
never thought this would be,” she said, with a sigh of relief. She
reached for her office door.
“Why
do you reject me?”
“Excuse
me, but that's not true.”
“No?
It was the first time I've asked you to dinner.”
“This
is the first time I've had the opportunity,” she whispered back.
“So
can you accept that you and I have a story?” he whispered.
“That
is a closed chapter, Senator,” she answered.
“No?
If that were the case, you wouldn't be interested in me.”
“I'm
a married woman and from the opposition party, so forget it.”
“I
can't. I've thought all this time what I lacked that you married
Alonso.”
“Well,
since I'm married and we're both working here we can have a polite
relationship, no?”
“Yes,
yes; of course.” A pregnant pause later he said “Well, the real
reason I looked for you was to ask about your son. I wanted too say
we're together on this.”
He
took her hand in his, much to her discomfort.
“Come
to me if you need anything.”
“Thanks.”
She withdrew her hand, closed the door, and sat down without a
backward glance.
Cecelia
walked out of the building and her cell phone rang. She asked about
something happening in the cabaret. She then said she needed
someone's help. Her father was not to know about this. She asked ow
long she would need to wait and said that no one was to know about
this. As she talked she was going into the cabaret room where a
woman in black dominatrix lingerie was moving around on a stripper
pole. Isela appeared just as she ended the call.
“Daughter,
what do you think you're doing here?”
“I
was going to meet a friend here but we're going to see each other
elsewhere.”
“Wait
–”
“I'll
call you, Mother,” she said, deliberately cutting her off.
Isela
followed her toward the door, but Cecelia would not turn back. She
gave up and turned to a male employee, a bearded man in a leather
jacket.
“What
was my daughter doing here?” she asked. “I hope she didn't find
out anything.”
“I
didn't tell her anything, Isela.”
Alonso
and Mauro walked as the latter updated his boss with their progress
on the cover-up. Alonso looked up and saw Omar, so he dismissed
Mauro to meet with him. Omar told him that they could not waste time
because they needed a guilty man immediately.
“The
police are still investigating; we don't have anyone yet.”
“Then
we'll make one up,” Omar said.
“No.
We're working the press so they won't get suspicious.”
“What
would you prefer, to lose your wife, your career? We cannot allow
the doubt to fall on ourselves. We need a guilty man. Tomorrow we
will name the killer.”
“Very
well. But of course this conversation never took place.”
“Of
course.” He paused for a second, then looked at his son. “Have
your resolved your sex problems with your wife? We need that.”
“How
do you know?”
“Have
you forgotten I'm your father? I can see through you.”
Alonso
smiled ironically to himself. He reminded himself never to
underestimate his father.
Someone
filled Gerardo in that things were not well in the governor's office.
Somehow, though, despite this the governor was more popular than the
president. His campaign manager, Ignacio, handed a file to Gerardo
and suggested that he lead a vote against the law proposed by Regina.
They tried to urge him to do this to further his own advancement,
saying that this was the moment to destroy the governor and his wife.
Three
men in suits arrived at Señora Oscura's home. She didn't recognize
them, but they told her they were from the governor's office. She
looked bleak, her complexion washed out and made all the paler for
lack of cosmetics. The men pushed past her into the house, followed
by another.
Señora
Oscura sat at her table as the men made her an offer they didn't
think she would refuse.
“I
want to give you my condolences for the loss of your daughter,” the
leader said as he opened his briefcase. He removed a leather
document folder, revealing stacks of money whose value may have
equaled thirty pieces of silver. “This is a small compensation.”
He closed the briefcase. “Of course, before you receive this you
must sign this.” He opened the folder in front of her. One of the
other men stood near the window and kept watch outside the building.
“What
is this?” she asked.
“You
can read it calmly. But if you want to know it's your promise not to
talk to the press, or approach – in public or private – the
governor or his family. The case contains an open plane ticket. It
would be convenient if you took a little vacation now to heal your
wounds. You need to leave tonight.”
“I
need to bury my daughter's ashes, Sir,” she said.
“Your
daughter is in heave, the best place possible. Fly to wherever you
want to. Do otherwise and there is no deal. It's your decision.”
He
clicked open his pen and put it on the table in front of her.
Regina
arrived home as Noemi was putting ice in her glass.
“Mother,
are you drinking?”
“Yes;
it's for my depression,” was her answer.
“Yes,
we'll talk about your depression. Now I want to talk about my son,
Emiliano.”
“Emiliano
is locked in his room.”
“Were
you able to talk to him?”
“Your
father started to and of course he tried to force him. Mario has
lots of talent for that, you know.”
“And
what about my father?”
“Mario
went out and as usual didn't say where he was going, but I know where
he went.”
“Excuse
me, but –”
“I
know he has a mistress, Regina. He took his car and kept talking on
his cell phone. He's always talking to her. Your father is –”
“Again
with this? No.”
Regina
turned away and went into the next room. Noemi followed her, drink
in hand.
“Is
this of so little importance to you? I mean it, it's serious. It's
more serious than last time.”
Regina
paused, collected herself, and did an about-face.
“What
are you talking about?” she asked her mother.
“Her
name is Cecelia. You have to know this. It's very important for
this family. You'd never know where she works.”
“Where?”
“Please,
Regina, listen.”
“I
need to see my son now.”
She
walked away from Noemi.
Alonso's
chauffeur and another man were escorting him away from the office.
“Where,
Sir? Home?”
Alonso
laughed quietly in the back seat of the limosine. “You know
where.”
The
other man, who was riding shotgun, spoke into a microphone clipped to
his lapel. “A change of plans.”
Gerardo
sat as Ignacio kept talking.
“Surely
this is about your old relationship with her.”
“No.
The only driver of my decision is my ethics.”
“No,
this isn't about ethics. It's that your balls aren't big enough.”
He pointed. Gerardo got up from the desk and the man headed for the
door. “Don't worry; I resign. You can get someone your size as
your campaign manager and you know what? You won't go on to the
presidency.” He opened the door.
“Wait
a minute,” Gerardo said as he checked his ringing cell phone.
“It
won't help you. Let's go on to the party.” He walked out as
Gerardo answered his phone.
“Yes,
Nieves?”
“Sir,
I just found your wife. You've got to get here immediately because
she's causing a big scene.”
“Give
me the address and I'll be right there.”
He
ran out of the office.
“Ignacio,
we're not finished. There is a major problem we need to follow up
on.”
“Oh,
yes, it's your ex-wife.”
“How
do you know?”
“She's
a burden on you. You've gone years without doing anything about her.
You know, 'ethics' for you is a mask for cowardice. You're deaf and
timid, Gerardo.” He walked out the door.
“Ignacio!”
Gerardo went out after him, but then went back to retrieve something
from his desk.
Alonso's
limousine stopped in front of a house. He remained inside while one
of his men opened the door. A long-haired brunette in a long
clinging red dress came out and went inside at the instruction of his
bodyguard. A guard who could not prevent the assault this visit was
about. The woman turned on the seduction with the manner in which
she said “Hello.” Alonso was in no mood for this.
“No,
don't,” he said, raising his hand in reproach.
“What
do you want?”
“You
really don't know?”
“No.”
“Yes,
you know. Bitch.”
He
looked at her with pure hatred. If looks could kill she would have
been cremated on the spot. He grabbed her hair suddenly and talked
through clenched teeth.
“What
did you give me when I fucked you? And how many others were you
with?”
“Nobody,
I swear.”
“You
can't not know. You gave me a disease. Stupid bitch.” He
released her and handed her a business card. “Go there tomorrow so
you can be treated and forget about being with anyone else as long as
you're with me. Is that clear?”
“Yes,”
she whispered.
“Now
get out of here!” He pointed to the door and she got out. The car
pulled away, leaving her standing on the sidewalk.
Emiliano
was still on his computer. He hit a social media page that said “This
profile does not exist.” There was a knock.
“I
don't want to see anyone.”
Regina
walked in.
“It's
me, son.”
“Leave.”
She
did not and he realized it. He stared at her for a moment.
“They
took everything away from me.”
“What
are you talking about?”
“There's
nothing left of her. No photos, no video, no Facebook page, nothing.
Everything about Florencia is gone.”
Regina
sat next to him and he looked into her eyes.
“You
had nothing to do with this, did you?”
“No.
I'm sure your father is very worried about this.”
“Why
isn't he here?”
“I'm
sure he's on his way.” She touched his face to make sure she had
his attention. “We're not your enemies. We're here and we're with
you when that video is revealed. We're not reproaching you for
anything.”
He
was not reassured. He got up and walked over to the other side of
the room.
“Don't
scold me for anything, from here on I'll never see her again! She'll
never reappear again.”
“Perhaps
she was the one who published the video.”
“How
could you say that, Mother? What a stupid thing!” He headed for
the door, still going on about this. She followed him and stopped
him from leaving the room.
“Calm
down and listen to me,” she said, evenly. “Your father believes
that someone did this in order to discredit him.”
“The
television knows something. They think he is at fault.”
“Emiliano,
that's a hypothesis. A speculation.” She got him to sit down
again. “What you must know is that all this is a trap. You
understand that, don't you?”
“He's
just like Grandfather, isn't he?”
“Like
what?”
“He
thinks I can't have a woman, that I can never be a father –”
“No.
No way,” she said, stroking his hair. “You can love any woman
but a secret is something else.”
“I
don't want to see you. I don't want to listen anymore. Go, Mother.”
She
stared for a long moment, then left his room without another word.
“Ochoa,
do you have any news?” Alonso asked over the phone.
“A
scandal in security, Sir.”
“What?”
“Someone
in the command center broke protocol. They wiped out all the images
of Florencia Oscura from the security cameras at the crime scene.
The images were from prior to the murder.”
“Of
course. How convenient,” he said with cold sarcasm. “Therefore
you have nothing yet.”
“We
may have something from a nearby building. It's being processed now.
It has images of the killer who had followed the girl.”
“So,
do you or don't you know who killed this woman?”
“Watch
your wife's security, Sir.”
Teresa
was seated at the hotel where Nieves caught up with her.
“I
swear I'll pay everything to the last centavo,” she said.
“You
are not leaving or setting one foot out of here until you pay this
gambling debt,” said a butler.
Gerardo
was on his way to deal with this. As soon as he entered the room
Teresa rose from her seat and went over to him.
“See,
this is my husband,, an important senator.” She turned to Gerardo.
“My love, I'm sorry you had to come but I did something foolish,
this man disrespected me, and I want you to close this place.”
Gerardo
maintained a stiff upper lip, but was embarrassed.
Back
at the San Román mansion, Javier was about to light a post-coital
cigarette after a vigorous encounter with Natalia. Natalia reminded
him that her husband didn't smoke.
“Then
I better go,” he said. She didn't see his face, but he looked as
though he couldn't get out of there fast enough. She began caressing
his bare shoulders.
“You're
mistaken. You're not leaving until you give me back my money.”
“You
have no reason to fear your husband.”
“I
was told he saw me in the center of town last night. Don't worry
about him. You're better off worrying about me.”
“It's
that here I don't have it. I have no contacts at the top.”
“You
can take your cell, make contact with your account, and transfer my
money to me. It's that easy.”
“I
see you distrust me.”
“Do
I have to?”
“Do
you know I love you?”
“Then
show me one more time.”
She
laughed as she pulled him back on top of herself.
It
was like a bucket of freezing water had been dumped as Omar entered
the bedroom.
“Natalia!”
Both
sat up, holding the sheets in front of themselves.
Alonso
went inside the house. Regina was waiting for him.
“My
love,” she said.
“I'm
going to talk to Emiliano,” he said to her.
“You
need to listen to me a moment. I just talked with him and I think –”
“I've
had enough assessments. I don't need more to talk to my son.”
“What's
rushing you? What happened? Why are you like this?”
He
gave her a look of pure hate, not unlike the one he gave the
prostitute.
“Because
I hate being deceived. Especially by my wife.”
“What
are you talking about, Alonso?”
“Florencia
Oscura. I know who killed her.”
Neither
saw Emiliano, who had opened the door just in time to hear this.
Labels: candidata
Comments:
And, in so far as it relates to you guys, you should know that Univision has already announced 'Nadie mas en el mundo' (I guess that would make it 'NMEEM' then, wouldn't it?) as one of their confirmed telenovela productions that they will be airing. And interestingly- something that, I think, is a sign of Sra. Gonzalez's increasing esteem in the entire industry- when Univision made their announcement they had to do so using only clips, information, and pictures from the original, Argentinian, production as, of course, nothing on this one has actually even begun yet. That Univision has signed on to a new Televisa production (hence, not their own a la 'La pilota') without not only it not having ever aired, but not even having begun PRODUCTION, is pretty incredible.
(Along those same lines, alas... also confirmed by Univison for telenovelas you guys will at some point in time see up America way will be Juan Osorio's latest, which everything up to this point that I have heard about it makes my stomach tie up in knots, and my soul cry a little...).
Anyway, just thought you guys might like to know all this! Best wishes to all!! :-)
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Please note the following:
Due to the subject matter of this novela there will be strict moderation of the comments. Anything about current or past real-world political situations will be removed. Discussion will be limited to the story, the production values, and the actors' performances. Also, episode discussions will be closed once the next episode's recap is posted.
Due to the subject matter of this novela there will be strict moderation of the comments. Anything about current or past real-world political situations will be removed. Discussion will be limited to the story, the production values, and the actors' performances. Also, episode discussions will be closed once the next episode's recap is posted.
OMG!!! URBAN, YOU ARE INCREDIBLE!!!!!!!
HOW in the HELL did you manage to DO this??? Didn't the episode, like, JUST end???
This is awesome, Urban, really... what a terrific way to get things started. Thanks again, SO much!
Have fun with this one, gang!! And, as always... my continued best wishes to one and all. :-)
HOW in the HELL did you manage to DO this??? Didn't the episode, like, JUST end???
This is awesome, Urban, really... what a terrific way to get things started. Thanks again, SO much!
Have fun with this one, gang!! And, as always... my continued best wishes to one and all. :-)
Permalink posted by 
: Monday, May 29, 2017 at 10:35:00 PM EDT
: Monday, May 29, 2017 at 10:35:00 PM EDT
Urban, what a brilliant recap! If i were to list what I liked most about it, I'd have to copy and paste the whole thing. I completely forgot that this TN started today and forgot to record it. With this recap, I felt like I was actually watching the episode. Thank you so much!
RgvChick
RgvChick
Permalink posted by : Monday, May 29, 2017 at 10:48:00 PM EDT
: Monday, May 29, 2017 at 10:48:00 PM EDT
Thank you, Urban, for starting us off so well with your recap of this jam-packed fast paced episode. So many characters and so many plots and you did them all justice. From murder to the senate to a brothel to political intrigue to STD's this episode had it all going on.
It was great seeing Fernanda Borches of Jorge/Manuela fame in "El hotel de los secretos" as Daniela Regina's secretary.
Rafael Sánchez Navarro playing Regina's husband Alonso seems to have perfected that look of having very bad digestion in almost all of his interactions including with his own wife.
Poor Natalia getting caught in the sheets with her boy toy by her husband Omar. I always like Helena Rojo.
It was great seeing Fernanda Borches of Jorge/Manuela fame in "El hotel de los secretos" as Daniela Regina's secretary.
Rafael Sánchez Navarro playing Regina's husband Alonso seems to have perfected that look of having very bad digestion in almost all of his interactions including with his own wife.
Poor Natalia getting caught in the sheets with her boy toy by her husband Omar. I always like Helena Rojo.
Urban that was AMAZING! You did a wonderful job with this opening episode. Nothing about this show is a snoozer, it was jam packed with drama and intrigue the entire way through plus it started with a murder! I was like, "Whoa!" Can it get any better than this?
I took extra time with this one because the nature of the story makes the dialogue seriously important. Politics, conspiracies, murder, cover-ups.... not to mention catching as many characters' names as possible. I had to watch this opener three times to get it all.
Also, I prepped for this by reading A Season in Purgatory, which I highly recommend. The film of it was done for TV in 1996 and you can find it on YouTube in three pieces. 90% of its dialogue is directly out of the book. What the film doesn't give, however, is the author's literary descriptions of things, which I try to do here.
The flagrante delicto scene was so brilliantly played. Helena Rojo was 72 at the time of production; I'll bet she never anticipated getting a scene like that at this age.
This is not the first series to deal with STDs; Amigas y Rivales talked about AIDS back in the day. But a sex scandal in politics involving STDs is a whole new ball game and no doctor worth his license is going to dance around the subject.
Bienvenido, RgvChick! Hope you stick around for this. This series won Beset Novela in the last round of awards and if the rest of this measures up to the first two episodes we're all in for a treat.
Also, I prepped for this by reading A Season in Purgatory, which I highly recommend. The film of it was done for TV in 1996 and you can find it on YouTube in three pieces. 90% of its dialogue is directly out of the book. What the film doesn't give, however, is the author's literary descriptions of things, which I try to do here.
The flagrante delicto scene was so brilliantly played. Helena Rojo was 72 at the time of production; I'll bet she never anticipated getting a scene like that at this age.
This is not the first series to deal with STDs; Amigas y Rivales talked about AIDS back in the day. But a sex scandal in politics involving STDs is a whole new ball game and no doctor worth his license is going to dance around the subject.
Bienvenido, RgvChick! Hope you stick around for this. This series won Beset Novela in the last round of awards and if the rest of this measures up to the first two episodes we're all in for a treat.
In the words of Maurice Chevalier, "Ah, yes; I remember it well!" That was where I first saw Gabriel Soto. I loved the Pygmalion job the other characters did on his character.
But you're right; I can't recall STDs being mentioned since then until now.
BTW, Rafael Sanchez Navarro (Alonso) is 58 years old and a Gemini. He is 20 years older than Silvia.
But you're right; I can't recall STDs being mentioned since then until now.
BTW, Rafael Sanchez Navarro (Alonso) is 58 years old and a Gemini. He is 20 years older than Silvia.
The Alonso character seems ANCIENT compared to Regina and so far there is nothing attractive about him except his power for those for whom that may be an aphrodisiac. Just one, of what I am sure there will be many, that makes my skin crawl already.
I believe this is the same producer as YNCELH which had a robbery, a murder, and an attempted rape in its opening episode so she's running true to form.
Jarifa, I think that the makeup department is making RSN look older than he is for this role; I just found a photo of him from Dec 2014 which might be truer to current reality. He's actually quite handsome and looks like he should be a politician.
The backstory is that he was Regina's poli-sci prof and she was his star student, so for him to be 20 years older is not unrealistic. Regina is meant to be in her early 40s here (SN is 38 off-camera) and for them to have married when she earned her master's degree would jive with their relationship at the time. I can't wait to find out when it all started going wrong and why.
Jarifa, I think that the makeup department is making RSN look older than he is for this role; I just found a photo of him from Dec 2014 which might be truer to current reality. He's actually quite handsome and looks like he should be a politician.
The backstory is that he was Regina's poli-sci prof and she was his star student, so for him to be 20 years older is not unrealistic. Regina is meant to be in her early 40s here (SN is 38 off-camera) and for them to have married when she earned her master's degree would jive with their relationship at the time. I can't wait to find out when it all started going wrong and why.
Urban, thanks for all the info. The old May/December romance, eh? The makeup job is just soooo bad because if she is 38 and he is 59 ish (born 1958), they could/ should have let him just look his age.
Because the stress of politics ages one. Besides, he might have the idea that silver hair looks more authoritative. Notice that both their fathers have white hair.
I think most of the audience probably knows this because it defies cultural division.
As for infection, many STDs don't get that far in men anymore because the early symptoms show up more frequently in men. The smart ones get the injections and/or pills before this shows any effect. It's women who suffer more from the effects of syphilis and gonorrhea because they often don't have symptoms and can go for months or years before this shows.
As for infection, many STDs don't get that far in men anymore because the early symptoms show up more frequently in men. The smart ones get the injections and/or pills before this shows any effect. It's women who suffer more from the effects of syphilis and gonorrhea because they often don't have symptoms and can go for months or years before this shows.
Very complete and eloquent recap, Urban. I found it especially helpful because I was having a hard time keeping all the characters straight and figuring out who was who. I especially loved your "whose value may have equaled 30 pieces of silver" and "If looks could kill she would have been cremated on the spot." But, my goodness, what a corrupt and sordid environment! Paying off news reporters? Oh my! At risk of sounding like an ageist (though I am within a few years of the actress playing Natalia), I found the Natalia-Javier hook-up particularly creepy, and not just for reasons of age!
And after this episode, I watched the latest capítulo of "El Bienamado," which is farcical and silly (though in a good way), with a much more positive attitude toward the human race. If La Candidata doesn't get more sympathetic, I might be switching my allegiance.
Bienvenido, SpanProf! I love when new peeps join us.
I have checked out El Bienamado and it is amusing. Jesus Ochoa is a comic genius. The actor who plays the reporter is hot and we should be seeing more of him soon. I wish there was a team for it here to keep me on track, but this series is going to take all my creative energies for a while. The way the scenes are edited in my writeups from here on is a challenge because I wonder how the readers will perceive that all this happens at much the same time.
The Natalia/Javier hookup is creepy because of his possible motives for it. I can't say more than that for now.
Just a heads-up that tonight's recap will also be by me and will be posted slightly later than usual. I am going out to the opera tonight and when I post Chapter 2 I will need to close off this discussion. All comment threads will lead with the first post that is here.
This procedure will be followed through this series to keep spammers and other undesirables out of this blog.
I have checked out El Bienamado and it is amusing. Jesus Ochoa is a comic genius. The actor who plays the reporter is hot and we should be seeing more of him soon. I wish there was a team for it here to keep me on track, but this series is going to take all my creative energies for a while. The way the scenes are edited in my writeups from here on is a challenge because I wonder how the readers will perceive that all this happens at much the same time.
The Natalia/Javier hookup is creepy because of his possible motives for it. I can't say more than that for now.
Just a heads-up that tonight's recap will also be by me and will be posted slightly later than usual. I am going out to the opera tonight and when I post Chapter 2 I will need to close off this discussion. All comment threads will lead with the first post that is here.
This procedure will be followed through this series to keep spammers and other undesirables out of this blog.
Well you knocked it out of the park, UA. A real tour de force because both the action and the dialogue were hot and heavy from the get-go. But I especially loved your eloquent D.D. prologue. Just an extra treat for an amazingly detailed recap. Not a single word of dialogue was missing.
The color palette of this one seems especially bleak. As if everything and everyone were seen through a nicotine-smudged lens. All the characters, even the young ones, looked washed out and inexplicably drab....like their moral, ethical lives. And yes, we undoubtedly have some "good" characters. But because they are linked to weak and corrupt ones, that haze of pollution bleeds and leaches them out as well.
An amazing, and somewhat depressing, portrayal of the power of corruption and the corruption of power. But great storytelling and AMAZING RECAP. Thanks.
The color palette of this one seems especially bleak. As if everything and everyone were seen through a nicotine-smudged lens. All the characters, even the young ones, looked washed out and inexplicably drab....like their moral, ethical lives. And yes, we undoubtedly have some "good" characters. But because they are linked to weak and corrupt ones, that haze of pollution bleeds and leaches them out as well.
An amazing, and somewhat depressing, portrayal of the power of corruption and the corruption of power. But great storytelling and AMAZING RECAP. Thanks.
That is what you get from this author's pages. I don't know if he ever compared himself to Suetonius, but he definitely had a similar viewpoint.
It's depressing to see how many of Suetonius' works were lost.
It's depressing to see how many of Suetonius' works were lost.
I'm going to read this later but I'm so glad you guys are recapping this show. I don't have UniMas and Hulu doesn't have Univision/UniMas anymore. I'm going to see if I can find my DirecTV information so I can watch it online.
Permalink posted by : Tuesday, May 30, 2017 at 1:43:00 PM EDT
: Tuesday, May 30, 2017 at 1:43:00 PM EDT
Hi again everybody! Nice to see you all here!
I wanted to say something to the group upon reading SpanProf's comments, just because I don't want anybody to waste their time in something if, with the benefit of hindsight that I have, I don't think that they'd enjoy, and that's to say that if that's how you feel, you really SHOULD probably make your switch now. This one is unquestionably NOT going to get any brighter. It's by no means unremittingly dark, but if one could draw a parallel between telenovelas and Shakespeare (a stretch, I know, but please bear with me...), in things such as mood, scope, depth, and intention, La Candidata would be 'King Lear' and El Bienamado would be 'A Midsummer's Nights Dream'. And that is absolutely not a statement of one against the other, either way. Some people are 'Lear' people, some are more inclined to 'Midsummer Nights', both are right. But if one is decidedly more inclined to the latter than the former, than you probably won't enjoy this one. It's an incredibly production, but it is very intense... and if at the end of a hard day one wants to just sit back and enjoy something that doesn't impose a lot of demands on the viewer- 'light' as opposed to 'heavy'- than this one isn't it. And there's nothing wrong with it either- some people prefer a nice fresh sorbet, and some a chocolate cheesecake with crushed Skor bar topping. Both are right, it's all about your preference! :-)
I wanted to say something to the group upon reading SpanProf's comments, just because I don't want anybody to waste their time in something if, with the benefit of hindsight that I have, I don't think that they'd enjoy, and that's to say that if that's how you feel, you really SHOULD probably make your switch now. This one is unquestionably NOT going to get any brighter. It's by no means unremittingly dark, but if one could draw a parallel between telenovelas and Shakespeare (a stretch, I know, but please bear with me...), in things such as mood, scope, depth, and intention, La Candidata would be 'King Lear' and El Bienamado would be 'A Midsummer's Nights Dream'. And that is absolutely not a statement of one against the other, either way. Some people are 'Lear' people, some are more inclined to 'Midsummer Nights', both are right. But if one is decidedly more inclined to the latter than the former, than you probably won't enjoy this one. It's an incredibly production, but it is very intense... and if at the end of a hard day one wants to just sit back and enjoy something that doesn't impose a lot of demands on the viewer- 'light' as opposed to 'heavy'- than this one isn't it. And there's nothing wrong with it either- some people prefer a nice fresh sorbet, and some a chocolate cheesecake with crushed Skor bar topping. Both are right, it's all about your preference! :-)
Oh yeah, and one thing I can't resist mentioning to you guys... even though I haven't as yet got it confirmed by my own personal sources yet...
Giselle Gonzalez's next novela is already in the works. It's an adaptation of an Argentinian telenovela that just finished airing down in those parts and was wildly successful, not only because the plot (which, if I were to have to try and come up with a one sentence description of the overall plot would be something like "a story about two very nice couples whose lives become intertwined in ways that they could never have imagined after a tragic accident), necessitates the casting of four major protagonists, and the producers in Argentina gathered together four of their biggest and best. Sra. Gonzalez's adaptation of this work will be called 'Nadie mas en el mundo'
I mentioned that the plot involves four major protagonists, one for each husband/wife pair. The wives have been confirmed- Silvia Navarro and Adriana Louvier. The husbands were announced recently: Jorge Salinas and Gabriel Soto. Since then, Giselle Gonzalez has said that she had NOT yet actually decided 100% on the villains as, apparently, she is STILL being approached by leading actors asking if they can test for the role. She has, however, just this morning confirmed as to Gabriel Soto.
This novela will also mark the Televisa debut of Erika de la Rosa from Telemundo, which is a huge thing as she has proven herself to be one of their most solid emerging performers and, unquestionably, their BEST actor-or-actress in villainous roles since Catherine Siachoque (she was the villain Felicia in 'Bajo el mismo cielo' for which she won the award for best villain at that year's Telemundo awards show, as well as the villain 'Marlene' in last year's 'Eva la trailera', for which she won the same awards. She's fantastic). She tested for the role of the main antagonista and, while Giselle Gonzalez herself has not made that announcement, producers usually only do such things in the case of their protagonists and everywhere I look says she has been confirmed. If so, this is an amazing coup for Televisa as, at this point, regardless of the network, nobody does villana better than Sra. de la Rosa.
Keeping with the villains- Julietta Egurrola (most recently 'Isabella' in MdN) has won the crucial role of the mother of one of the male leads, which is an antagonistic one and a sure-fire shoo-in for Urban's next 'Toxic Mother's list (needless to say, perhaps, I loved the character), and Arath de la Torre has won the role of main male villain, who would be Julieta Egurrola's nephew and as such, one of the male lead's (I'm not sure if this will be Sr. Soto's character or that Sr. Salinas-or-whoever-beats-him-out) cousin.
One youth protagonist has been confirmed- Ela Velden ('Gianna' in MIVAC, 'Fernanda' in AQNMD, the lead protagonista in 'Despertar contigo') probably as Silvia Navarro's daughter (people have been pointing out how much they look alike since casting was announced, and it's uncanny).
Giselle Gonzalez's next novela is already in the works. It's an adaptation of an Argentinian telenovela that just finished airing down in those parts and was wildly successful, not only because the plot (which, if I were to have to try and come up with a one sentence description of the overall plot would be something like "a story about two very nice couples whose lives become intertwined in ways that they could never have imagined after a tragic accident), necessitates the casting of four major protagonists, and the producers in Argentina gathered together four of their biggest and best. Sra. Gonzalez's adaptation of this work will be called 'Nadie mas en el mundo'
I mentioned that the plot involves four major protagonists, one for each husband/wife pair. The wives have been confirmed- Silvia Navarro and Adriana Louvier. The husbands were announced recently: Jorge Salinas and Gabriel Soto. Since then, Giselle Gonzalez has said that she had NOT yet actually decided 100% on the villains as, apparently, she is STILL being approached by leading actors asking if they can test for the role. She has, however, just this morning confirmed as to Gabriel Soto.
This novela will also mark the Televisa debut of Erika de la Rosa from Telemundo, which is a huge thing as she has proven herself to be one of their most solid emerging performers and, unquestionably, their BEST actor-or-actress in villainous roles since Catherine Siachoque (she was the villain Felicia in 'Bajo el mismo cielo' for which she won the award for best villain at that year's Telemundo awards show, as well as the villain 'Marlene' in last year's 'Eva la trailera', for which she won the same awards. She's fantastic). She tested for the role of the main antagonista and, while Giselle Gonzalez herself has not made that announcement, producers usually only do such things in the case of their protagonists and everywhere I look says she has been confirmed. If so, this is an amazing coup for Televisa as, at this point, regardless of the network, nobody does villana better than Sra. de la Rosa.
Keeping with the villains- Julietta Egurrola (most recently 'Isabella' in MdN) has won the crucial role of the mother of one of the male leads, which is an antagonistic one and a sure-fire shoo-in for Urban's next 'Toxic Mother's list (needless to say, perhaps, I loved the character), and Arath de la Torre has won the role of main male villain, who would be Julieta Egurrola's nephew and as such, one of the male lead's (I'm not sure if this will be Sr. Soto's character or that Sr. Salinas-or-whoever-beats-him-out) cousin.
One youth protagonist has been confirmed- Ela Velden ('Gianna' in MIVAC, 'Fernanda' in AQNMD, the lead protagonista in 'Despertar contigo') probably as Silvia Navarro's daughter (people have been pointing out how much they look alike since casting was announced, and it's uncanny).
And, in so far as it relates to you guys, you should know that Univision has already announced 'Nadie mas en el mundo' (I guess that would make it 'NMEEM' then, wouldn't it?) as one of their confirmed telenovela productions that they will be airing. And interestingly- something that, I think, is a sign of Sra. Gonzalez's increasing esteem in the entire industry- when Univision made their announcement they had to do so using only clips, information, and pictures from the original, Argentinian, production as, of course, nothing on this one has actually even begun yet. That Univision has signed on to a new Televisa production (hence, not their own a la 'La pilota') without not only it not having ever aired, but not even having begun PRODUCTION, is pretty incredible.
(Along those same lines, alas... also confirmed by Univison for telenovelas you guys will at some point in time see up America way will be Juan Osorio's latest, which everything up to this point that I have heard about it makes my stomach tie up in knots, and my soul cry a little...).
Anyway, just thought you guys might like to know all this! Best wishes to all!! :-)
SHIT! In my second posting above I said "Giselle Gonzalez has said that she had NOT yet actually decided 100% on the villains as, apparently, she is STILL being approached by leading actors asking if they can test for the role." That SHOULD have read: "Giselle Gonzalez has said that she had NOT yet actually decided 100% on the GALANS as, apparently, she is STILL being approached by leading actors asking if they can test for the role."
BIG difference between a 'villain' and a 'galan', I know! That's why I HAD to correct my error... of all the things to screw up (it's not like it's an 'it's' vs. 'its' situation, y'know??)
Sorry to all for any confusion... :-(
BIG difference between a 'villain' and a 'galan', I know! That's why I HAD to correct my error... of all the things to screw up (it's not like it's an 'it's' vs. 'its' situation, y'know??)
Sorry to all for any confusion... :-(
Urban superb recap!!!
I am so exited about this TN, after MDN I took some time off TNs but this one is perfect. All the fast paced action, twists and turns, double dealings, pay-offs, underhanded moves, murderers, lunatics, drunks, all I can say is WOW and this is just the first episode. Thank you for all of the inside scoop and such an eloquent recap. It's too early to pick any faves or dislikes, but one thing I can say for sure is that the kidos in these relationships are not coming out unscathed, they are already exhibiting signs of emotional abuse. So sad.
Urban again thank you.
Sandie
I am so exited about this TN, after MDN I took some time off TNs but this one is perfect. All the fast paced action, twists and turns, double dealings, pay-offs, underhanded moves, murderers, lunatics, drunks, all I can say is WOW and this is just the first episode. Thank you for all of the inside scoop and such an eloquent recap. It's too early to pick any faves or dislikes, but one thing I can say for sure is that the kidos in these relationships are not coming out unscathed, they are already exhibiting signs of emotional abuse. So sad.
Urban again thank you.
Sandie
Gracias, Stevey; I'm signing on for that one in advance. It's been a year and change since PyP and I've been waiting with baited breath for a new series from JS. But who will be married to whom?
Ouch; I have to remember to preview first. If NMEEM has Jorge Salinas, I'm in. I've been waiting over a year already for a new novela with him. As to the rest of the info, it does look like an interesting story regardless.
As long as there are a couple of sympathetic characters and the bad guys get theirs in the end, I'm ok. Once school starts up again in the fall, I'll probably only have time for one tn, so I may have to choose then. I will look forward to that upcoming tn with Erika de la Rosa though!
Sandie, without divulging too much, the characters of the two children in this story, as written, are heartbreaking. Usually, if given the chance between caring about what happens to the youth protagonists in a telenovela, or lying writhing in the dirt dying of a sucking chest wound, I wouldn't hesitate in choosing the latter. Not so here. Children generally speaking are, sadly, unwitting either victims or accomplices to the adults in their lives, and that's simply a fact. This is yet another theme that Giselle Gonzalez and Leonardo Bechini wanted to show in this novela, and they do an incredible job in it, as to their actors- both young and the adults around them. I eagerly await the colorful words you guys will come up with to describe how you feel about Nailea Norvind's 'Teresa' once you get to know her... (lol)
You may also note that neither of the two youth participants (Karla Farfan & Federico Ayos) are not in any way your typical-looking telenovela 'youth protagonists' (i.e.- society's general standard of 'beauty'- glowing smile, flawless bone-structure, awesome body/figure). I have no doubt that this casting was intentional. Youth is youth- unsure both of itself, and of what awaits it in life. It isn't really aware of what people are capable of- both good and bad. Things such as physical beauty, confidence, a solid base of support, are things that our society enables to help shield them from the predaceousness that life can have (something which, I have found, unfortunately also enables those types of youth to grow up to become the biggest, most horrible, aggressive assholes in adulthood- life has not beaten any semblance of humility in them, is what I think, but I guess that's another conversation (lol)). To cast two actors who do not project any of that I believe was fully intentional, to show how truly 'lamb to the slaughter' life can be in regards to children and the adults who comprise their lives.
You may also note that neither of the two youth participants (Karla Farfan & Federico Ayos) are not in any way your typical-looking telenovela 'youth protagonists' (i.e.- society's general standard of 'beauty'- glowing smile, flawless bone-structure, awesome body/figure). I have no doubt that this casting was intentional. Youth is youth- unsure both of itself, and of what awaits it in life. It isn't really aware of what people are capable of- both good and bad. Things such as physical beauty, confidence, a solid base of support, are things that our society enables to help shield them from the predaceousness that life can have (something which, I have found, unfortunately also enables those types of youth to grow up to become the biggest, most horrible, aggressive assholes in adulthood- life has not beaten any semblance of humility in them, is what I think, but I guess that's another conversation (lol)). To cast two actors who do not project any of that I believe was fully intentional, to show how truly 'lamb to the slaughter' life can be in regards to children and the adults who comprise their lives.
that should read: "they do an incredible job with it, as DO their actors" (not "as TO their actors").
Stupid fingers! (lol)
Stupid fingers! (lol)
Hey! Actually, I'd like to ask you guys something, if I may... it was something that I posted on a posting for 'La pilota' one night, and while I appreciated the encouragement from the people that I got there, it's not a very big patio, so I thought maybe I'd put it out before you guys as well, in the hopes of getting some better feedback in relation to the overall readership here at CarayCaray...
I was wondering if you guys would be interested if, like Urban's wonderful 'Toxic Mothers', 'Karmageddon', and 'Weekend Discussion' posts, I were to do something along those lines... but about things- roles, stories, themes, 'first ever' kind of things, etc.- that have been considered 'groundbreaking' GLOBALLY in telenovelas? I'm not talking about going back to when Libertad Lamarque played such-and-such in this telenovela in 1958... just about really COOL things in this genre that the people that read this blog- to whom, mostly, this is a NEW thing, I think would like to know! Truly epic roles (there ARE some other than 'Catalina Creel', awesome though she may be...), internationally renowned (to the point of causing riots or city shutdowns), or just plain interesting stuff about the genre (one of my ideas was to take a "telenovela demise" trope- the one I had in mind was, of course, the worst of all- being BURIED ALIVE, and to talk about it, and when and how it's been used)...
What do you guys think??
Please let me know. Whenever I've come up with something that I'd like to share with you guys in the past, I've always approached the always awesome Vivi who's always great in posting things for me, and hopefully we can work something out? I just really DO have a pretty encyclopedic knowledge on stuff in this genre, all of which helps me to love it even more. FWIW- I work in trivia for a living (which basically means I get a lot of blank and uncomprehending stares from people if I'm at a dinner party) and it was through HAVING to get to know this important type of Latin American entertainment culture that I came to love it as I do (the DOWN side of this, unfortunately, has been the utter disdain that is has given me for most have what we get in North America, which historically speaking has been what they call 'procedural', but oh well (lol)).
Anyway, I'd love to hear your thoughts on the matter, and thanks again to you in advance. Best wishes to all! :-)
I was wondering if you guys would be interested if, like Urban's wonderful 'Toxic Mothers', 'Karmageddon', and 'Weekend Discussion' posts, I were to do something along those lines... but about things- roles, stories, themes, 'first ever' kind of things, etc.- that have been considered 'groundbreaking' GLOBALLY in telenovelas? I'm not talking about going back to when Libertad Lamarque played such-and-such in this telenovela in 1958... just about really COOL things in this genre that the people that read this blog- to whom, mostly, this is a NEW thing, I think would like to know! Truly epic roles (there ARE some other than 'Catalina Creel', awesome though she may be...), internationally renowned (to the point of causing riots or city shutdowns), or just plain interesting stuff about the genre (one of my ideas was to take a "telenovela demise" trope- the one I had in mind was, of course, the worst of all- being BURIED ALIVE, and to talk about it, and when and how it's been used)...
What do you guys think??
Please let me know. Whenever I've come up with something that I'd like to share with you guys in the past, I've always approached the always awesome Vivi who's always great in posting things for me, and hopefully we can work something out? I just really DO have a pretty encyclopedic knowledge on stuff in this genre, all of which helps me to love it even more. FWIW- I work in trivia for a living (which basically means I get a lot of blank and uncomprehending stares from people if I'm at a dinner party) and it was through HAVING to get to know this important type of Latin American entertainment culture that I came to love it as I do (the DOWN side of this, unfortunately, has been the utter disdain that is has given me for most have what we get in North America, which historically speaking has been what they call 'procedural', but oh well (lol)).
Anyway, I'd love to hear your thoughts on the matter, and thanks again to you in advance. Best wishes to all! :-)
Great comment, Alfredo.
And (though perhaps needless to say) unfortunately, you ain't seen nothin' yet! (lol)
And (though perhaps needless to say) unfortunately, you ain't seen nothin' yet! (lol)
Thanks, Urban. I don't know if I will stick with this, but you have definitely given it a great start.
Regarding STDs in telenovelas, there was AIDS in Heridas de Amor in 2006 or so.
Regarding STDs in telenovelas, there was AIDS in Heridas de Amor in 2006 or so.
Alborada had its villain die of syphilis in an era before it could be cured. A fitting fate for the creep. That was in 2005.
Stevey, go ahead. I've been hoping that there could also be another Weekend Topic author to fill in my gaps. During my double-duty of VEA an MDN I had no energy for it.
Stevey, go ahead. I've been hoping that there could also be another Weekend Topic author to fill in my gaps. During my double-duty of VEA an MDN I had no energy for it.
UA: I'm looking forward to seeing how high the corruption goes inside the Mexican government & if it's going to be super bloody like Telemundo's "LA DONA" or UniMas' "Yago".
I don't get Unimas but still hoping I can find La Candidata online. As for STDs in TNs, in Mentir para vivir a sweet young woman and her villainous boyfriend (who found redemption) both caught HIV.
I don't know if anyone has already mentioned this, but in "Para volver a amar" the nasty ex-husband of one of the female characters died of AIDS and she ended up HIV positive, though was coping well at the end of the tn.
Thanks for this exquisitely detailed recap UA. You must be exhausted after providing us with such rich translation of the dialogue as well as beautiful narrative of the action and insightful description of the characters.
Well, I don't have a lot to offer after having only seen this first episode but it does seem pretty clear that this is not going to be another Gancho al Corazón. I'm impressed with the acting by both those actors already well known to me as well as those who are new faces.
I wish we knew which STD Alonzo has. I suppose that it is one that is rather easily and readily treated.
The only quibble I have with your recap is that last statement Alonso. I'm pretty sure he said that he knew that she sent the guys who killed Florencia and not that he knows who killed her... small point.
I hope that I can adhere to the rules set down for discussion and not be one of the undesirables.
Carlos
Well, I don't have a lot to offer after having only seen this first episode but it does seem pretty clear that this is not going to be another Gancho al Corazón. I'm impressed with the acting by both those actors already well known to me as well as those who are new faces.
I wish we knew which STD Alonzo has. I suppose that it is one that is rather easily and readily treated.
The only quibble I have with your recap is that last statement Alonso. I'm pretty sure he said that he knew that she sent the guys who killed Florencia and not that he knows who killed her... small point.
I hope that I can adhere to the rules set down for discussion and not be one of the undesirables.
Carlos
And if I'm not mistaken, a nice ex-husband of one of the characters in "Para volver a amar" is the embittered widowed doctor in "El Bienamado."
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