Caray, Caray!

• Repeat of Carmen commenting positively about Ana and Leonardo announcing their engagement. Ricardo looks somewhere between apprehensive and guilty. He commented that Leonardo was the most honest man he had ever known and surely Leo found that quality in Ana, who made a show of saying she had made a lot of mistakes in her life but hopefully will be what Leonardo deserved. Ricardo looked like he was restraining himself.
  
  
• Olivia complained to Victoria yet again and in return was reminded that “You can't lose what you never had.” Same old, same old. [Love the flamenco background music, though.]
• The next day Victoria arrived at the office to see Dario Durán, who did not have an appointment. He accused her of “putting ideas in Rocio's head.” She told him she was merely advising Rocio about the danger she was in. They argued about his violence and he accused her of being bitter, lonely, and ignorant about the difficulties of marriage. “If you can't be happy, leave her alone.” He said he wouldn't see Rocio become like her and tried to intimidate her into leaving Rocio alone. She told him that his marriage is sick and she would not be intimidated by his insults or threats. He got in her face and demanded that she mind her own business. Roberto heard this and entered to help Victoria. This ended with him shoving Dario out.
• Alejandra was about to leave for work when she saw that Lourdes and Alicia were there [That early in the morning? Don't these women have lives?]. Lourdes was crying about her boyfriend Joaquin who was in the hospital for something serious and that his children were not allowing her to visit him. They had never accepted her. Alejandra asked some questions and regretfully informed her that they could do this because she was neither married to Joaquin nor living with him. All she could do was to talk to them.
• Something had gone wrong with a contract Alan worked on. The client accused him of neglecting his case because of Carlos. Alan denied this. The client had said he would feel better if Carlos was in the office and asked about when he was getting out of jail. Alan did not (and could not) give him an exact answer. The client wasn't satisfied, so he pulled his business in favor of another lawyer who happened to be the son of one of his partners. He said they would talk again if Carlos was innocent. [Methinks Alan is completely inept.]
• Leonardo arrived at the morning meeting and thanked everyone for the party. Ricardo and Roberto looked uncomfortable knowing what they knew about precious little Ana. There were comments about how much Leonardo meant to everyone and Roberto elaborated on that. Victoria asked whether he finally had feelings. Alonso brought up a new case concerning competency of an elderly woman whose children believed that her (male) nurse is taking advantage of her. Ricardo got the case. Next item discussed was his pending decision on the new candidate for senior attorney. The new candidate was Alejandra, so Leticia broughth up that she had been there for years, so why would he think of anyone else? Benjamín looked a little annoyed.
• Dario went home to find Rocio entertaining another couple, Claudia and her husband, Patricio. They asked about the children and Rocio said they were with her parents for a few days. Dario said it was so they could have a few days of second honeymoon alone together. The others looked like they believed this.
• Benjamín argued that Leticia was capable and after a look from him Gustavo added that she had been there a while and knew the company routine. Leonardo mentioned Alejandra's competency in the case with Ricardo. Alonso reminded them that he had thought of Alejandra before but Leticia still could get promoted.
• Patricio helped her clear the dinner table and when they were in the kitchen he noticed her injuries. He picked up her hand to look and she told him she fell down the stairs. He didn't look like he believed this. Dario saw him touch Rocio's arm and...[seriously, do we need to ask ourselves what he thought?] Dario suggested they return to the living room. Patricio went back and behind him Dario shoved Rocio in front of himself to follow.
• Benjamín looked to Olivis to sing Leticia's praises. She complied. Leticia then said “ If you need help, I'm here. Besides, we don't know Alejandra.” Victoria agreed, but didn't elaborate. Ricardo began by talking about her abilities and that she also had experience in international law, which will also help the firm. Alonso then announced that they had all the information needed for him to make a decision, which would be announced later.
• Alan introduced Alejandra to the witness, the hotel waiter. He questioned him in front of her while she took notes. The waiter said he had spoken to Carlos at seven in the morning and that Carlos had requested some eggs benedict and a rose for the lady. He further said that Carlos was calm and therefore thinks he's innocent. He finally said that he took this to mean that all had gone well with the lady the night before. Alejandra looked a little annoyed at this.
• Claudia announced that they needed to go because “something came up at the last minute” so she and Patricio said their goodbyes. As they shook hands Patricio told Rocio to take care of herself. Dario escorted them to the door. As soon as he closed it he went back to the kitchen, grabbed Rocio by the hair, and accused her of fooling around with Patricio and that they were kissing. She denied it, saying that he had noticed her bruises and she had told him she fell. Dario punched her hard. Twice [that we saw].
• Ricardo went into Roberto's office to tell him he had to tell Leonardo the truth about Ana. Roberto knew he should but not how to do it. He was afraid of losing Leonardo's friendship. Ricardo reminded him that Leonardo was a fair man. They agreed that he deserved to know.
• Rocio got up off the floor and limped her way to the kitchen wall phone, but was caught by Dario. He blocked the phone and accused her of going to call her friend to lie to her. We see three more blows, almost hard enough to knock her off her feet. We hear two more from outside the house and know there were more to follow.
• Alan thanked the waiter, then sort of apologized to Alejandra. She calmly told him that everything they hear about this case made it worse. She had difficulty being objective about it and decided that it was not good for anyone for her to be there. Then she left.
• Roberto continued to worry about the Ana situation. He confessed it to Victoria who called him the most disgraceful man she had ever known. This confirmed her opinion. “How could you do that to a friend?” she asked. Roberto explained that he didn't know Ana's relationship to Leonardo at the time. “Either way it's no good,” Victoria said. He said he had no idea how to tell Leonardo. Victoria replied with “There is no easy way to do this. What you did is unforgiveable.”
• Benjamín was working on his fraud case when Leticia arrived. She asked what he will buy her when he got his commission. [In your dreams, jerk.] He said this could have him make partner. She accused him of always thinking of himself. He told her that they would celebrate as soon as he got his commission. She said she liked that. He looked as though he might be seeing her for the first time what she truly was.
• Roberto went into Leonardo's office to talk. Leonardo suggested that they do something so that he and Ricardo could get to know Ana before the wedding. Roberto screwed his courage to the sticking place and said “You can't marry her because.... Ana Maria cheated on you with me.” Leonardo grabbed his lapels and punched him. Roberto said he didn't know that Ana was his girlfriend. Leonardo punched him a second time. Ricardo and Gustavo came in and restrained Leonardo to prevent this getting any worse. Leonardo ordered Roberto out of his office.
• Alejandra indignantly told her mother about what happened. Paula said she didn't want her involved in this. Alejandra wanted out of if but said she couldn't pull out. [Why not? Lawyers and judges recuse themselves when necessary.]
• Gustavo handed a handkerchief to Roberto. Ricardo tried to get Leonardo to listen. Roberto repeated that he didn't know and asked Leonardo whether he really knew Ana Maria well. Once again Leonardo told him to get out of his office and that he didn't believe him. Roberto complied but not before saying that he was just being honest with him and that their friendship was very important to him. He walked out and Gustavo closed the door.
• Paula said Alejandra should distance herself from this case. [We agree.] Alejandra doesn't see not helping Carlos but realized she would have married him without really knowing him. “But when does this stop hurting?” she asked.
• Ricardo and Gustavo stayed in Leonardo's office to calm him down, reminding him that Roberto would never have done this deliberately to hurt him. They have known each other all their lives. Leonardo said he felt like an idiot. “This is a betrayal.” Ricardo pointed out that Roberto had the loyalty to tell him. He then suggested that he talk to Ana Maria, which Leonardo was finally willing to do. He picked up his briefcase and started to leave. Gustavo stopped him long enough to tell him to do this calmly. After Leonardo went out Gustavo said “I have never seen him this angry before.”
• Roberto and his bloody nose went to Victoria who wasn't surprised at Leonardo's reaction. She was confident in Leonardo's ability to recognize a lie. Carmen came in with towels and ice and Roberto told her what happened. She said to call her if he needed help, then left the office. Victoria wrapped some ice in a towel and applied it to his cheekbone. Roberto enjoyed that, but was worried that Leonardo wouldn't forgive him. He wasn't sure what to do. He had never broken the heart of a friend before and this bothered him.
• Rocio's day maid arrived and found her dead on the kitchen floor. She ran out, screaming.
• Alonso and Ricardo discussed the candidacies of both women. Ricardo pointed out that Alejandra had the additional advantage of being empathetic and therefore good with clients. This quality was not present in Leticia, as noted by Alonso.
• Leticia was nervous and went to Benjamín's office to tell him that Alonso and Ricardo were discussing the situation. She felt her future was at stake. He got up and closed the door, while trying to reassure her. It looked like they were going for an afternoon delight. [Note that she is not a fashion victim this time; the blue dress is fabulous.]
• Ricardo and Alejandra met with Daniela to negotiate the next steps. She will be provided with monthly photos and information until Santiago hits eighteen. Alejandra got the papers and Daniela signed. She thanked both lawyers and left. She was leaving the country, but they would know where to find her. Ricardo and Alejandra talked about the case and he told her that Alonso had another candidate but he would tell her as soon as he knew the decision. When that happened there was a case he wanted to talk to her about.
• Roberto and Victoria had drinks in his office. She advised him that it could take a while before Leonardo forgives him and she hoped he learned a lesson from this. More in that vein. He declared that this would never happen again. Victoria's cell phone rang. While we don't know who called her we know what she was told.
• Leonardo went home and immediately confronted Ana. She looked like a deer in the headlights.
• Roberto escorted Victoria to Rocio's house; the police were there. Roberto knew the lead detective (Omar) and got him to let them in by telling him that Victoria was the victim's lawyer and that there was a charge of domestic violence made against the husband. He let them in, telling them to touch nothing. Victoria was horrified when she saw Rocio on the floor with blood all over her face and blouse. A police photographer was taking pictures.
• Ana gave the “I didn't know he was your friend” line. Leonardo emphasized that Roberto had never lied to him. She claimed not to have been looking for anything, then that she met Roberto in the hospital. In view of that, this completely finished it for Leonardo. She tried tellin ghimi she loved him and the encounter meant nothing. He was done with her. He told her to pack her things and leave before he came back because he never wanted to see her again. Then he walked out, leaving her to her crocodile tears. [We don't think this was a good move on his part.]
• Victoria told Roberto that she was going to make Dario pay for this. They left the crime scene, telling Omar that they would go to the police station to make a statement.
• Carmen told Olivia about the fight and what she heard about the reason. Olivia got upset and wanted to go to Leonardo right away but Carmen told her to allow him some space. Olivia then realized that Leonardo was now free.
• Alejandra went home and told Paula she had competition for the new job. Paula offered to talk to Jaime about it but Alejandra said she wanted it on her own merits. Paula was confident in her. They ajourned to the kitchen for some dark chocolate. [We concur with that choice.]
• Alan visited Carlos to tell him about the waiter's statement and how it affected Alejandra. Carlos was angry because nothing had been working in his favor. [He really should be questioning Alan's competence and/or hidden agenda.] He was angry also at the prospect that Alejandra would be working with Ricardo. Carlos suggested a new strategy: Get Leonardo to defend him to show that he is not afraid to be investigated.

Labels: ley

Permalink posted by Urban Anthropologist @ 11:00 PM