Chapter
4: Life Tips, Swaying Hips, and Guilt Trips
After
closing his apartment door Ricardo looked at the garter he picked up
in the parking lot prior to the wedding that didn't happen. He
remembered Jaime introducing him to Alejandra. He then put the
garter in a book-shaped box that he kept on his nightstand.
Anna
Maria, Leonardo's girlfriend, arrived at his hospital room shortly
after Olivia arrived with the oversized teddy bear. He introduced
them and Anna Maria thanked Olivia who was clearly (at least to us)
discomfited at hearing she had a rival. Anna Maria didn't appear to
notice this; she treated Olivia very graciously.
Ricardo
confronted Benjamín about how he had mocked Mendez the other day in
the office. He told him that if he had not done that Mendez would
not have come after him in the parking lot with the gun and Leonardo
would not be in the hospital with a gunshot wound. Benjamín asked
whether Ricardo was blaming him for this and Ricardo wasn't afraid to
say yes. Benjamín didn't seem to get that and appears to have
little or no emotional intelligence with how to handle clients,
thinking that his billable hours and contingency wins were all that
mattered. Ricardo tried to get him to understand that Leonardo's
life was put at risk because of this and this was not the first time
that Benjamín's attitude had caused problems. After Ricardo left
his office Benjamín slammed his portfolio on his desk. There is
probably a pink slip in his future.
Roberto
went to visit Leonardo and met Anna Maria at the water cooler on his
way in. He introduced himself and flirted with her; she told him she
was visiting a relative. He continued the flirtation and put his
phone number into her cell. He definitely has ideas about her.
Alejandra
visited Carlos in the jail after having had a bad (possibly
sleepless) night. She told him she wanted to end their relationship
because of his infidelity. She needed to start over. He freaked
out, ranting about “It was just one night!” Who was he kidding?
Ricardo
met with Aloso regarding the need to prosecute Mendez. Ricardo
excused himself to send a few e-mails before they discussed their
next move. They also talked about the immediate need for a new
family law specialist due to the caseload. They needed to decide
whether they would promote Victoria or Letizia or look elsewhere.
Alonso asked him to review documents by Letizia to see whether she
deserved a promotion.
Carlos
protested that he loved Alejandra and didn't intend to hurt her, but
she wasn't buying it. He pleaded and she cried, but...
Roberto
tried to encourage Leonardo to relax and not think about work.
Finally he commented on how many beautiful women he observed in the
hospital. “You never change, do you, Bobby?” Olivia asked him.
Alejandra
told Carlos that he was not honest with her. She could not forget
what had happened and she had always been honest with him. She ended
their engagement and left. He trie to follow her, raving like a
lunatic until the guards dragged him back.
Roberto
continued talking about women in an effort to amuse Leonardo. He
couldn't settle for just one and disappoint the others, or nonsense
to that effect. Olivia finally said he would be eating his words
someday when the right woman came along for him. Alonso and Ricardo
arrived and Leonardo wanted to talk about his girlfriend.
Alejandra
walked out of the jail, trembling and somewhat out of breath.
Alonso
and Ricardo said they would love to meet the novia, then Ricardo
excused himself to return to the office to work on his challenging
case. Alonso shooed Olivia and Roberto out and hung back and talked
briefly with Leonardo about how this experience had affected him,
since brushes with death are life-changing. Anna Maria came back and
Leonardo introduced them.
Benjamín
tried to get jiggy with Letizia in his office. She reminded him that
they could not risk being caught. He scoffed at this, saying that
the others were all visiting Leonardo. She was wearing a dress that
was watermelon on the left side and papaya on the right; maybe she
thought that would make her look more tasty to him. He then
complained about Ricardo's scolding. Letizia took Benjamín's side.
He suggested they get a room and she said she had work to do for
Olivia and that she had not been promoted in the two years she had
been with the firm. He told her to be patient. After he left Elena
called and asked how things were going. Letizia told her that
Ricardo was at the hospital. Elena told her “I'm changing my
strategy about Ricardo. I'll let him be with the children as much as
he wants so other women can't get near him. I'll make sure that the
children won't accept him being with anyone else.”
Bitch.
Ricardo
caught up with Alejandra near the courthouse. He offered help. Mild
flirtation ensued.
Alan
visited Carlos, who could not stop ranting about getting him out of
jail. He told him that Alejandra came to break up with him and he
was afraid of losing her. He said he wants her back “because she
is mine!” Alan tried, but failed, to get him to calm down. Carlos
demanded to know the court date, which had not been set. He then
demanded that Alan get Alejandra involved in his defense. Alan told
him that this wasn't her specialty, but Carlos didn't listen or
didn't care. He wanted her involved because he was afraid of losing
her. He should have thought of that at his bachelor party.
Without
revealing any details Alejandra was telling Ricardo that her life had
become very complicated in recent days. Ricardo said that she should
take things one at a time. Daniela arrived and Alejandra received a
text message saying that her client, Nuria, had arrived at the
courthouse and was waiting for her. She went inside and Daniela
thanked Ricardo for taking her case.
Olivia
went back to the office and confided in Victoria that she had met
Leonardo's novia and that he seemed besotted with her. She was upset
because “nobody could love him more than I do.” Victoria advised
her to get him out of her head.
“But
he's not just in my head, he's also in my heart,” was the answer.
In
family court Ricardo began by clarifying that his client was the
biological father of the child and since he had changed sex the
documents reflected that. The judge acknowleged that this was
completely legal.
Victoria
tried to get Olivia to be more practical and to look for an available
single man. Olivia didn't want to. Victoria told her then that her
only option would be to hope that this relationship will end and she
didn't want to see her become Miss Haversham. That would not be
worth it. She tried to get her to Get Busy. Roberto entered – he
actually knocked! – and saw that Olivia was not in great spirits.
He said “Love isn't to suffer about; it's to enjoy” which caused
Victoria to laugh, which was probably his intention. She accused him
of having sex on the brain and doing nothing else. His response was
about being good at it “And the demonstration would be free.”
More of their usual banter. We know where this is going.
Ricardo
reminded the judge that Mexico had no law forbidding a transgendered
parent from petitioning for primary custody of a child. Alejandra
countered with reminders about the rights of the child. Ricardo
pointed out that the child had the right to a family and Alejandra
pointed out the possible psychological damage over the father's sex
change. Ricardo pointed out that her client had hidden the fact of
the child's existence, which got the judge's attention.
“Is
this true?” he asked.
“My
client knows what her child's father did with his body,” Alejandra
said. “She does not want her son to be confused.”
“Mr
Bustamante, are you aware that the rights of the child are the most
important ones here in this court?”
“Yes,
Your Honor.”
“I wish to hear the testimony
of a child psychologist before rendering my decision. We are
ajourned until then.” Court was ajourned. Alejandra and Ricardo
looked at each other.
Carmen showed a Mrs Lupe Sanchez
into Gustavo's office, along with her five-year-old son, Paco.
Gustavo noticed that the boy's shoes clearly should have been
replaced long before this visit. She was looking to get the boy's
father to provide child support. She did not make enough money
during her ten-hour workdays to pay for everything. Gustavo asked
whether Mrs Sanchez was married to the boy's father. She said she
was not but that his name was on the boy's birth certificate.
Gustavo said that this was a good thing and that he would be able to
help her.
Juan Lopez approached Ricardo on
his way out of court to congratulate him. As soon as he was on his
way Nuria got nasty with Daniela, declaring that no psychologist
would give custody “to a monster like you” and that Ricardo was
worse because “only a crazy person” would defend a freak like
Daniela. Alejandra tried to tell her that her attitude wasn't going
any good, but she walked out. Alejandra apologized to Daniela, who
accepted graciously before departing. There were mutual compliments
between the two lawyers regarding their legal talent and he followed
that up with an invitation to dine with him.
Mrs Sanchez apparently worked on
the cleaning staff of a supermarket and her son's father owned a
business. Gustavo told her that she should not worry and he would be
able to help her.
Product placement (aaaack!) while
a receptionist displayed a shoe catalogue to Carmen, telling her that
she was making enough money to buy a car.
Carlos approached an old
acquaintance – or client – named Sergio who was sentenced to 20
years of hard time. The guy blamed him for it. Sergio had three
thugs with him. This did not look like a class reunion.
Alejandra did not want to talk
about Carlos. Ricardo offered to help and she declined.
“If one has problems of the
heart, it's because of having given it to the wrong person. If you
look for solutions they could be right in front of you.”
Long goodbye “until the next
audience.”
Juan told his mother about the
case he observed. She found it astonishing and did not approve,
thinking this was crazy. Juan tried to get her to understand that
the client had the right to her child and that the child had the
right to the truth. They did not agree, Juan's mother finally citing
how she felt bad for the child. What she found more interesting,
however, was the identities of the lawyers in the case.
Gustavo drove over in his lovely
white car to the business owned by Paco's father and took photos with
his cell phone.
Paula was having coffee with her
friends and talking about how Alejandra was dealing with her
situation. Alejandra came home and told them she had broken up with
Carlos. Paula was pleased, saying “I am happy that you made this
decision and that for once you are thinking of yourself.” She
hugged her.
Gustavo approached a man at the
counter of this business (hardware store? plumbing?) pretending to
be a future customer while he looked for information.
Elena tried to talk to Federico
about him not wanting to participate in sports. Ricardo arrived and
told Federico what he needed to hear, which was that he would help
him. Elena asked if he wanted to stay for dinner, but Ricardo
declined, saying he was just there to see the children.
Roberto went to the club where
his client's patient worked and flirted with her. He finally asked
her out for that night. They left together... and were seen by
Victoria and Olivia, who recognized her. Victoria was shocked that
Roberto would date his client's witness; this wasn't cricket. They
talked about being outsiders in matters of love because of what they
saw all day in their work. Victoria got on Olivia's case about her
issues again.
Ricardo helped his kids with
their homework which appeared to have gone well, then Elena told them
it was their bedtime. After sending the children to get ready for
bed she unsuccessfully tried to persuade Ricardo to get back together
with her. He told her that this was not possible. They would only
fight all the time. She asked him not to hurt her or the children.
She finally handed him his jacket. After he left without kissing her
she was clearly disappointed.
Alan showed up at Alejandra's
home to tell her how bad Carlos felt. Alejandra made it clear to
Alan that Carlos had hurt her badly.
“He destroyed my dreams. He
was unfaithful.”
Alan tried pleading Carlos' case
but Alejandra gave all the reasons why the evidence didn't support
it. Carlos wasn't the man she thought he was. Alan admitted
bringing the hookers to the bachelor party but this didn't matter.
Alejandra didn't want to get involved in Carlos' defense. Alan tried
playing on her empathetic nature. After he left she looked as though
she might cave.
Another man in the club came on
to Olivia but struck out. Olivia told Victoria that he wasn't her
type. Victoria was a little annoyed that Olivia was still thinking
of Leonardo.
Anna Maria had brought Leonardo
some food she had prepared and he appeared to be pleased. Ricardo
came to visit and was introduced to Anna Maria who then took her
leave. Leonardo asked about the custody case and Ricardo told him
about it. He said that Alejandra wasn't making it easy for him so he
thought she was a great lawyer. Leonardo asked about Elena and he
told him that she was letting him see the kids.
Carlos asked Sergio how he could
be so calm knowing that he was going to be in prison for twenty
years. He got an NYOB response. Carlos provoked him verbally with
insults until a fight began, a fight that involved Sergio's three
bros. They began beating the merde out of Carlos, leaving him
a bloody pulp.
This looked deliberate on Carlos'
part, designed to send Alejandra on a guilt trip.
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