Sunday, January 26, 2025
El extraño retorno de Diana Salazar #2 1/26/25
Some time latein the 20th century, a baby has been crying from 8:30 p.m. to 2:15 a.m. A man is in the house looking at the baby. As he turns to leave, a mirror on the wall explodes on its own. He seems terrified and leaves A woman comes down the stairs calling out to him "Emiliano." He apologizes to her and leaves quickly. The woman follows him out of the home and into the street. A little girl comes down the stairs to investigate what is going on.
Malena asks her sister why she thinks the reflection was their father's. Diana refers to the, albeit, few photos they had of him. Diana swears that she never touched the glass. Malena believes her and then tells her that this is not the first time this has happened. Malena says she was very young and even though she doesn't remember very well, she does remember being awakened by the sound of a mirror shattering.
Back in the past, Malena approaches the crib where baby Diana is mesmerized by shards of the mirror suspended in the air above her and reaches out to them. Malena lifts Diana out of the crib.
Diana tells her sister that glass doesn't fly. Malena answers that it does not break on its own either. Malena never told her about what happened when she was a baby because it happened so long ago she didn't know if it were a memory or a dream. Diana asks her not to tell anyone about what happened. They are going to think she is crazy. Malena is tired of Diana's attitude. Maybe their father's spirit is trying to reach out to her. Maybe it is time to ask new questions in order to get new answers. Diana is frustrated and in tears because that is what she has been trying to do in her different therapies. She has tried everything. Her sister thinks that maybe the time has come to let her father go. Diana answers that she didn't even know him. Malena says she didn't miss much but thinks that could be the issue. Malena suggests that Diana go visit his grave. Diana says they would have to talk to their mother and that is something she never has never wanted to talk about. Malena thinks the time has come.
Malena stops by Gael's place only to pick up some of her things. He says she really left in a hurry the day before. She explains that she left so she wouldn't have to listen to his nonsense anymore. She is going with her sister to Zacatecas but first has to work at the gallery. Gael admits he was wrong the day before and he should have told her how proud he is of her and the gallery because he really is. He loves her.
Malena is already at work when Gonzalo shows up. They have a good joke about an abstract painting, and share a laugh. She asks him why he chose her as his partner. She wants to know if it was because she is really good at what she does or was it because they were friends.The truth of the matter is that he does not know of a restorer or anyone who can look at a painting or get excited about it like she does. He is also lucky that she is his friend. She thanks him for telling her that. Malena seems satisfied having heard that.
Diana is with Joaquín. She is worried that these episodes are going to mess up her life. He asks why she thinks she saw the image of her father on that glass. She has no idea, but Malena thinks that maybe she should visit her father‘s grave. They are going to have to go visit her mother in order to find out the information about where he’s buried. She really doesn’t feel comfortable going to see her mother because she never really got along with her and hasn’t seen her in quite a while. .Joaquín thinks it is a good idea because sometimes being with family can change our perspective. He takes her out into the park where she helps him learn how to ride a bicycle. It is a change of scene for both of them. He explains that whenever you feel like you are at an impasse, you need to go out and do something completely different to change your perspective. He asks her how ask her how she feels now about visiting her mother. She admits that he made her change her mind.
As they arrive in Zacatecas, the sisters spot their mother at an outdoor bazaar at the old church.. Their mother sees them and says "look at what the wind blew in." She asks "what does she owe this honor to? Diana says that they’re happy to see her but with a lack of verbal response from her mother ends up, rolling her eyes. Malena suggests that they go get something to eat.
As they sit down to what their mother cooked, she asks why they came. Diana says that they are there to find out about their dad. She wants to know where he’s buried. Malena adds that they have some doubt about why he left. Their mother is in no mood to talk about that. Diana says she’s never in the mood to talk about that. Her mother remembers that everything was fine when they were a family of three. Things began to change when Diana was born. Diana says that she always remembered the stories about how she was a problem baby that cried all the time. Her mother agrees that yes, she was a very, very difficult baby. She adds, as they know, their father left them but died years afterwards. She has no idea where he’s buried and she never cared where he was buried. Diana finds that really strange. that she wouldn't want to know. Malena thinks it would be a good idea to talk to their Tia Concha their father's sister. Their mother quickly admits that they won’t find his grave anywhere because their father isn’t dead. He is very much alive.
Mario’s boss asks Gael if he has different items prepared for Mario’s clinical study. Gael assures him he has. Gael wants to know if his boss had time to look over the papers that he gave him a few weeks back. They are from the research that he is conducting. His boss tell him that he’s sorry, but at the present time 100% of the laboratories resources are being directed to the clinical trials of Mario. He needs to be patient. Gail looks upset.
Mario arrives at the hospital where Irene stops him to chat. She refers to them talking about the loss of his wife the night before. She admits that she has seen many patients die before but it’s different when it’s your relative. He tells her it’s not easy, but in his case, he found this new proposal there are times though that he thinks that it is just a distraction so he doesn’t have to think about his wife anymore. She tells him that he can count on her for whatever he needs.They have a lot in common. She looks at him longingly as he turns and walks down the hall.
Diana’s mother gives her daughters a tin box filled with all sorts of things that their father left behind. It is all that she has of him. Diana asks how could have she lied to them all of these years. Their mother insists that she did it to protect them. Malena asked what was she protecting them from? Their mother reminds them that their father was the one who abandoned them. She says that she would have liked to have told them the truth years ago, but she never found the right time. She wanted to save them from the pain of it all. Malena says thy are not there to judge her. Malena finds an article from a newspaper in the box. The headline says that "Man Kills a Youth in Mystic Ritual." Their mother says yes, their father killed the boy and he spent many years in jail for it. Also in the box are all of the letters that she wrote to him in prison that were returned to her unopened. The box is the only thing that she kept from him. She tells her daughters that if they do find him, not to tell her because as far as she is concerned, he’s dead.
At the old church in town, Malena find some works of art from the colonial period in Mexico. Sister Beatriz tells her that in a couple of days she will be removing all of these paintings that were confiscated during the Holy Inquisition. The rightful owner of the paintings wants to auction them off. Malena sees this as an opportunity for her gallery to run the auction since the sister doesn't know how to run one.
Mario and Gonzalo are out for drinks.Mario asks him how long he has known Diana. Gonzalo wants to know if he's just curious or if he’s interested in something more with her. Mario makes clear it is just out of curiosity. Before he can say much more, he gets a call from Malena. She tells him about them needing to run an auction of these colonial paintings in Zacatecas. He is very interested. Sergio congratulates him and Malena. Gonzalo asks if it’s that obvious. Mario says it is. They laugh. Gonzalo admits that he’s just crazy over Malena but she has been with Gael forever. He has known her since she graduated from college. Mario talks about how hard it is for him going on dates because he always ends up talking about his wife. He really hasn’t thought about going out with anybody until just recently. Gonzalo decides to toast to the Salazar sisters who are driving them both crazy. They toast.
Diana goes to find her sister in the old church and as she enters, the architecture reminds her of the past and the buzzing and the flashback starts again. Malena is there to grab her and bring her back to reality.
Later that night, Malena asks if Diana wants to go see a doctor. Diana assures her that she will be fine. She only needs to rest. Malena says that they went through a lot today. Diana wonders if what she’s going through is related to her father and what it meant to see him reflected in that glass.
Diana goes back to the past. This time she is at an elegant party where she sees Eduardo. Across the room, their eyes meet and they smile at each other Eduardo comes up to her and her family and makes the usual small talk. Lorena invites him on a tour of Zacatecas the next day. Her father tells her that Eduardo does not have time for such things. Her mother doesn’t see it as being prudent either. She has enough to do with her preparations for the wedding. Eduardo is grateful for the invitation anyway. Eduardo decides to leave and makes a special point of kissing Lorena's hand. They both smile.
The next day, Lorena and her mother talk about flowers for her wedding. Ofelia, a maid, comes by to let them know that exclusive perfumes are being delivered to the market today. She and Lorena are going to to the market together to see about them. Instead, Ofelia delivers her to Eduardo in the garden. He is more than pleased to take the tour of the town that she offered him. They are soon at the market. He wants to play a game. He wants her to close her eyes and then try to guess the different fragrances that he is going to present her. She ends up with the gardenia she identified. She shows him the sweet prickly pear fruit of the cactus. He tries it and likes it. She says is showing him her secrets. He says her secrets are. . . She says "unsettlilng." He readily agrees.
Leonor takes Eduardo to the theater and runs up behind him. She covers his eyes and tells him to guess who she is. He says she is the most beautiful woman in New Spain. He starts to quote Shakespeare. They are both fans. Her most favorite thing that she can think of would be actually seeing the Twelfth Night being performed. She says such books are banned by the Holy Inquisition but she has her own copy that her aunt brought her from Europe. How she would love to see Europe! He says that he could take her to Europe if she would like. She answers that she wouldn’t like anything more if she weren't engaged. He just tried to forget that her wedding is in three months when the count arrives. It would’ve been better if he had fallen in love with a dream. She recognizes that he’s quoting Shakespeare one more time. He grabs her and pulls her to him and tells her that what he feels for her he has never felt before. She tells him how hard it is being near him. She wants all time to stand still. Somebody starts to enter the theater and she pulls Eduardo to the side so they can hide.
Leonor‘s mother is looking for her. She finds Ofelia in the kitchen and starts to question what is going on since they were to go to the market together. Ofelia says she should be right there. Before Ofelia can go find Leonor, she comes in with a basket full of flowers. Her mother wants to know about the fragrances she was supposed to buy. Ofelia conveniently has bought some lavender and honey, so her mother cannot complain. Her mother likes the fragrance. Edgardo enters the kitchen from another direction with a huge basket full of flowers for the ladies of the house. He is accompanied by Lorena‘s father. It is a token of appreciation for the hospitality they have shown him.
Back in the present, Diana, in sleepwalking mode, sits up in bed remembering the familiar message: "Your eyes can change their shape, but the soul that lives behind them will continue being the same." She goes down to the storage area of the old church. There she hears ". . . until eternity passes away." A drape falls off of a portrait of a nun crowned with flowers. (popular style of the Colonial Period) She knows there is something hidden behind the canvas and pulls out a piece of paper. Sister Beatriz asks her what she is doing there. She suddenly awakens and doesn’t know.
As Diana trembles staring at the portrait, the sister tells her that it belonged to a family who had lived there long ago, but now it belongs to their heirs. Their last name is De Santiago. In her mind, Diana remembers Eduardo and him calling her Leonor de Santiago. The nun does not have contact with the family but she knows that José Santiago is a very private man. Diana asks for his telephone number. It’s a very important matter. Sister Beatriz takes her to her office.
Diana shows her sister Malena the paper that she found behind the portrait. She points out that the name is perfectly clear: Don Gustavo de Santiago. He is one of the men that she dreams about. Malena thinks that’s strange. Looking at keywords that they can make out in the document, it seems that the original owner of the portrait said that it was imminent to preserve it within the family. It turns out that Jose Santiago has no plans on coming to the auction, but that does not stop Diana ftom calling him and leaving him a message. Malena asks why she’s getting involved in all of this. Diana explains it is because this is the house that she dreams about, this place and this family. Malena explains that they grew up here. Maybe that’s why she is having dreams about this man. Diana asks about the last name. Her sister thinks that she just could have heard it somewhere. Diana insist that she needs to talk to him. The letter wanted her to find it. Melina asks what scientific reason explains that. Diana answers saying that Joaquín has told her that not everything can be explained by science and she is starting to pay attention to that opinion.
The next day, Malena has changed her mind about going to find their father. Diana is surprised because they had agreed on it Malena understands but she’s thinking that it might be less painful just to keep thinking that he’s dead. Diana is angry and tell her that she can think what she wants but she and their mother are like an ostriches with her head in the sand.
Diana goes to see Joaquín at his home and tells him that she is more angry with her mother than anything that her father could have done. Joaquín explains that is because she has no idea of the context within which her father acted. Diana asks him why he wanted to meet her at his house. He says that he sensed that she was a little annoyed and he thought that they could work more calmly there. He asks that she meditate. He tells her to breathe deeply and imagine a white light in front of her. A metronome sounds somewhere and Diana is at the market with Eduardo and at the theater where he grabs her around the waist. Diana starts to cry when she remembers looking Eduardo deeply in his eyes. Still in her altered state, she starts to kiss Joaquín who takes her out if her trance-like state. She remembers that she had a vision of the past. Joaquín says that she got dizzy and he got close to help her. He sees that now she is able to access a hypnotic state quite easily. They weren’t even doing a deep meditation. He tells her to stay and rest. He goes to get some tea. He makes a point of taking his phone with him with the recording of her meditation.
Diana tells Malena that she was finally able to get to contact José Santiago. Her sister is annoyed hearing that. Diana thinks that maybe they are related to these Santiago’s on Dad’s side. Her sister scoffs at that idea and adds that it’s clear that she doesn’t care what she thinks. Diane says of course she respects what she thinks but that doesn’t mean that she cannot go looking for their father. She just stopped by to let her know that Santiago was coming to the auction. She didn’t want her to be surprised if she saw him there.
Diana ends up asking Joaquín for his support in looking for her father since her mother and her sister are not there for her. He agrees to help her find him. He thanks her for having that kind of trust in him.
Diana and Joaquin end up going to visit with her father‘s ex-cell mate at a prison. The first thing the prisoner asks if she’s the Devil‘s daughter. He is obnoxious to them just to see them jump so he can laugh at them. . He tell them that Diana's father was a poison eater. The f***** said he could cure people of their ills but sometimes it didn’t work. He took the fear out of the other inmates but doing so made him sick from all their poison. Her father paid for it. He had very vivid dreams. Diana asks what he said about the dreams. The inmate says he didn’t say much but he did talk a lot about Diana. He said that she would come looking for him one day, but she never did. The inmate chuckles. Diana asks if he knows where she can find him. When did he leave the prison? The inmate motions for her to come closer and tell her to look for him in paradise. (El Paraíso) He then shouts "BOO" and falls back laughing. As the guards take him out of the visiting room, he tells Diana he was glad to meet her and she should come back and visit HIM sometime. His maniacal laughter can be heard down the hall as he is taken back to his cell.
Diane tells her sister how unpleasant it was, but he did say some things that made sense. Their father wanted to cure people and he had nightmares. Her sister says that their father sounds like he is mentally ill like his cell-mate. Her sister is still not keen on the idea of Diana going to find her father but Diana insist that she needs to find him to see if all of the things that are happening to her are happening for a reason. Her sister understands, but she wants Diane to also understand her. She lived with him for almost four years and even though she was a very little girl and Diana was a baby, he will always be the father that abandoned them. Malena adds that Joaquin told her that this was nothing worth fighting about.
As Diana and Malena are talking, the doorbell rings. It is Mario and Gustavo who Malena has invited to Gael's. Dinner time conversation is about how all of the news seem to be about the eclipse. Malena explains that eclipses are important in Mexico and that today they have a blood moon also which means it is a good time to cleanse ourselves of everything from the past. They talk about strange things happening to people during eclipses. Gael asks like what? Gonzalo answers things like palpitations, strange dreams, headaches. Gael sees it as is pure superstition. The idea of a blood moon is like an aphrodisiac for Gonzalo. . . . The conversation continues. Mario splits the last of the wine with Diana . Their hands touch. They toast to the moon.
Later on the balcony, Diana tells Mario that her sister likes to believe in those things but it really doesn’t hurt anybody. Diana says that she also has her own doubts but isn’t elaborating. Mario asks about the scar on her chest and how she got it. She says that it’s a birthmark, she was born with it. He asks if he can check it out and as he touches it. We see the image of her being branded. She takes his hand away, saying that her birthmark burns sometimes. She excuses herself and goes inside to cool the birthmark off with some some cold water.
Mario offers to drive Diana home.When they arrive at her house, they agree that they both enjoyed seeing each other. He says there is just something about her. She answers that is that is how she feels about him, too. They kiss under the blood moon. The kiss is accompanied by scenes of Leonor and Eduardo naked making love in the waterfalls. She tells Eduardo to never let her go. He says he never will. Next, she pictures herself in the present making love with Mario. In reality they share a kiss. They agree that they like each other a lot. They go their separate ways.
Malena calsl her sister and tells her that she should give Mario a chance. The chemistry that the two had was so good you could see the sparks fly. Diana says that his wife just died and he’s in the mourning. Malena thinks that she should try it a little bit at a time. The time is going to come sooner or later that he is going to be ready for another chance. Diana says that he is absolutely delicious. He gave her a kiss that was like out of the movies when he dropped her off at home. It was so much more vivid than what she has dreamed. Malena blames it on the eclipse. Malena believes that the eclipse opens portals.
Back in the 17th century, Eduardo and Leonor have managed another outing with Ofelia's help. They end up at the theater again. Eduardo asks her if she has ever heard of the legend of the Masquerade from Venice? He explains that several years ago, a couple in lovers sneaked into the into the rehearsal of The Masquerade. Leonor likes hearing about the couple in love part. She says well this time it’s not The Masquerade, but it is a staging of a play by Calderón de la Barca. “La cena del Rey Baltazar. Eduardo knows some lines by heart. Before he can speak and before she can kiss him, they watch from behind the iron grating as a director says " The theater is like life. We find our happiness there." Leonor and Eduardo almost kiss. She looks at him and says thank you with her face full of joy. As they find themselves again in the marketplace, Leonor tells Eduardo that she wishes this moment would never end. They hear the church bells ring, Leonor tells him that it’s time for them to go home. She suggests that they go out again tomorrow. He says if it were up to him, he would be out with her every day. She kisses him on the cheek. He takes her by the arm to escort her home. Little does she know her mother is watching them.
At dinner that night, Leonor says that her father could eat a whole wedding roast every day of his life. it is his favorite. They all laugh except for her mother. Eduardo asks Leonor to pass him the last slice of bread but her mother grabs the bread before she can. Eduardo tries to respond in good humor and remarks that he guesses that her mother was faster. Her mother tells Eduardo that not everything in the house belongs to him. Leonardo and Eduardo look suddenly shocked. Her father asks his wife if everything‘s is okay. Her mother smiles and takes a drink of wine saying everything is just fine. Out of nowhere, her father asks if they can smell the gun powder. It seems that a ship has just arrived with all sorts of amusing cargoes. Like fireworks. Her mother adds that that also includes a lot of noise, smoke and scandals. Her father doesn’t agree with and invites Eduardo to a great celebration because his workers have just found a new silver vein in the family's personal mine: El Paraíso. (Paradise) . Eduardo says he doesn’t have anybody to accompany him to such an event. Leonor’s father says no problem. His daughter can accompany him. Her mother says they cannot really distract Eduardo from the business that he came to do. He must have much more important things to do. Leonor smiles Her father over-rules her mother and says it is all decided. Eduardo is coming to the celebration.
In the present, Diana is in bed and repeats "El Paraiso".
Joaquín and Diana are on their road trip to find her father. It turns out that after Diana went to college, her aunt got her mother a job working at the cooperative. The aunt that she’s talking about is her father‘s sister. She smiles as she reads some texts from Mario. She then tells Joaquin that she kissed Mario. He asks if she feels OK with that. She smiles and says yes she has never felt that way before. Joaquín doesn’t look happy but he puts on a good face as he stops off for a suddenly necessary coffee.
Back in Mexico City, Irene is putting the moves on Mario. She tells him if he has no other plans she wants to show him somewhere. He agrees to go see the surprise. Irene takes Mario bowling. There is an anniversary celebration and everybody starts dancing, even Mario and Irene. Their faces get closer and closer. Suddenly, she breaks away to go to the washroom. She smikes smugly to herself.
Diana and Joaquin end up at the El Paraíso Mine. It is located in the middle of the city of Zacatecas and looks like a museum..
Diana and Joaquin find out that the mine was principally active in the 17th and 18th centuries and basically produced silver and gold. Diana tells the tour guide that she’s interested in seeing documents from the early years like before 1830. The guide says of course she can. Diana sees old books and documents under glass. She sees a sketch of a man and seems to recognize him as one of the men that she dreams of: Leonor’s father. A document says he was one of the first owners of this mine. Diana tells Joaquín that hat he has said is true: regressions are real. Suddenly, Joaquin starts to have an asthma attack He decides to leave the mine to go get some air. She stays behind.
Back at the mine, Diana hears footsteps behind her. Somebody calls out "daughter" to her. Surprised, she turns around. He tells her he was waiting for her.
FIN
I was wondering if the mother worked attending a convent with the nuns presence. I thought perhaps Leonora's home had become that convent and that it rented rooms to tourists d that is where they stayed, or her motherived there and the girls were raised in it. They seem very familiar with the location for rarely visiting there mother.
Hoping to add more, time to go to "work" and hope I don't catch COVID from my son in law that managed to catch it .
Good luck with your Covid avoidance.!
I agree with Kat; this was a beautifully written story in and of itself. The plot is fascinating and you always explain everything clearly.
"She looks at him longingly as he turns and walks down the hall" perfectly encapsulates the love and yearning that many of the characters have for each other. Well not all as evidenced by "Her mother agrees that yes, she was a very, very difficult baby". She appears not to have an ounce of maternal instinct unless I've missed something.
So Diana's father is alive; not really surprising but the reveal was well done. "Man Kills a Youth in Mystic Ritual" was disturbing.
Gael is just wrong for Malena on so many levels; Gonzalo is a better man all the way around. (I didn't recognize Sergio Muir who worked with Rulli in Papa a toda madre).
So much to absorb; I can't wait to see what happens next.
Diana
Diana
I love seeing the artwork.
So..was Joaquin Leonora's fiance ? These three are certainly connected somehow. The chemistry between Angelique and Sebastian is sparking .
Susan
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