Caray, Caray!

"LO QUE LA VIDA ME ROBO"
Gretell Valdez does an amazing portraying despicable characters & this is no different.

 

kpa
Kara Para Ask – Black Money Love – Amor de Contrabando
Episode 55 #1

Bahar drives up to a fancy restaurant, following Levent and Elif. Bahar can see them from her car and is very irritated. Levent mentions that the person they were going to meet is late. He asks Elif if she is OK. She nods yes. He apologizes for making her go to the restaurant, saying he could have had the meeting alone.
Elif: How could that happen? This is my job after all.
Levent tells the waiter they will order when their guest arrives. His phone rings, and the guest isn’t coming after all. [Is this the old trick of running out of gas out on a date?]
Levent: These guys are always like this. Always sick, always doing this. I just knew this would happen.
Elif: Well, I’m a bit more relaxed, I suppose. I wasn’t relaxed knowing we were not going to be seeing Bahar here. We need to listen to her even if she doesn’t have the same ideas.
Levent: Of course, you’re right. It wasn’t kind of me to impose on you. I’m sorry.
Elif: What’s the time? The whole evening’s collapsed. Come, let’s go.
Levent: I made them chill a bottle of wine for us. Let’s just have one glass. We can also talk about the things that we need to do before you leave, hum?
Elif: OK.
Levent calls a waiter over: Excuse me, our guests aren’t coming. May we have the wine, please?
Elif: We need to arrange a meeting with that PR firm. We need to find an advertising agency now.
Levent: OK, I’ll arrange everything
They look at each other for a short time.
Levent: And how are you?
Elif: Well, and you?
Levent: Me, me, the same, but you’ve changed. You seem happier.
Elif: Actually, everything had been going badly except for you and your ideas. My sisters are home now and we, we started to have fun at home as well. We sit and eat together. I was able to take a breath of relief.
Levent: Family. Family is everything. To family (he toasts and they touch their glasses together).
Bahar is still simmering in the car watching them interact so easily.
Elif: Have you arranged the dates of the launching times?
Levent: Launching times?
Bahar finally loses her cool and calls Omer. He doesn’t answer.
Levent: I’ve almost done everything. I’ll make a good report from it all and then they’ll start working with the magazines.
Levent: Asks for a taxi and offers to drop her off. He says even one glass of wine is a worry. He says the staff will return her car. She agrees. They walk out of the restaurant and Levent offers his coat. She feels the fabric absentmindedly, lost in thought.

FLASHBACK: Omer and Elif in car. Omer: I’m not sure what the future may bring for me. Personally, I think tomorrow will be harder than today.
Elif: Shut the voice up that’s inside you, then.
Omer: You think that’s possible?

Back to waiting for the taxi. Levent has to call her name to bring her back from her musing. They get in the cab together. Bahar goes into the restaurant and orders a double from the bar. The nice-looking bartender says it looks like she has a problem. She drinks it fast and says it didn’t do any good and for him to pour her another.
Bartender: And what are we celebrating today?
Bahar: To the ones that are born lucky, and to the girl who took my life.
Bartender: To the ones who always win.
Elif: One more for the ones who won.
She drinks it fast and then orders another.

Babachita
 

kpa
Episode 55 #2

Denizer mansion:
Levent and Elif get out of the taxi. She thanks him.
Levent: I thank you, even if we didn’t have dinner. Another time?
Elif (smiling): OK.
As he leaves: Oh, Levent, your jacket.
The camera shows someone is watching from across the street. It can’t be Bahar who is drinking in the bar. It is…Omer!
Levent sees him and raises his eyebrows at Omer, a gesture that looks like, I won this round.
After the cab drives off, Elif crosses the road to Omer.
Omer: The way I see. It, this guy’s always around when I’m not there. Maybe he checks in at the right time. Maybe you open your door just a little more for him.
Elif: Look, I don’t need to explain myself to you. We were coming from a business meeting, if you want to know.
Omer: Sweetheart, you just contradicted yourself there. You don’t have to make any explanations.
Elif: Look, I can go out, go to movies, supper with him. Levent is a friend of mine.
Omer: Yeah, of course, what we’re doing now is only because of the friend being an issue. For your information, that jacket didn’t suit you at all.
Elif: What jacket?
Omer: Oh ho, you got so used to it, you don’t even remember him putting it on. The long jacket. He’s such a gentleman. Said, give you my jacket because you might get cold. (Omer acts out this in a humorous manner.)
Elif: Oh, you’re really funny. I got cold and he gave me his jacket, that’s all it was. Gosh, now look what we’re talking about here. Am I right in guessing that you’re not here to talk about Levent with me?
Omer: It’s not my fault the subject always comes up.
Elif: Omer, enough! You become repulsive when you do this.
Omer: Elif, what do you want me to say? I just can’t understand you. OK, forget about it.
Elif: Good, that suits me just fine. I don’t want to listen to this anymore, either.
Omer: I had a chat with Sami. You and I need to talk about Rome.
Elif was turning to leave, but this got her attention.
Omer: So I came to fetch you.
Elif: So, tell me everything from the beginning.
Omer: The car’s over there. Come on, let’s not make the man wait. By the way, I can give you my jacket, you know, if you’re cold, don’t worry.
Elif: Thanks. I’m not cold anymore.

Bahar, back at the bar, gets her phone out and calls Omer again, but it goes to voicemail. Frowny face.

At the abandoned building, Omer and Elif enter.
Omer: Hey Sami, I brought Elif. Originally, she was going to have a coffee with her friend, but I made our apologies, so everything is fine now. We’re all good to go.
Elif: Tell me why you brought me and then. I will leave.
Omer: No need to be in such a rush.
Sami: Shall we get started? I have to be honest. We don’t know how much we can be around you from the beginning to the end of the whole operation, Elif. That’s why we have to be careful. Look, you must keep this pen with you.
He shows her that there is a small camera on the pen. Sami tells her they will be able to see exactly what she is seeing. Omer shows her how it works and how to charge it if the battery gets low.

Babachita
 

kpa
Episode 55 #3

Omer: We can see what you write. That’s why you must make sure that you write everything down.
Sami: Especially when you are going to the bank, you have to put this wire inside your clothes. I can have a lady come and show you all of this.
Elif: There’s no need. I’ve seen how to do this in all the movies. I’ll just attach it to my clothing inside.
Omer: You can secure it with double-sided tape. He shows her how to turn it on. The red light means it is recording.
Sami: If something goes wrong or if you are in any danger of any kind, use an Italian word like
Galo. You know Italian, right? Giallo.
Omer: And what is giallo?
Elif: Giallo means yellow, and it’s also a detective trick. Don’t worry, you’ll learn slowly.
Sami: Has Omer given you the phone? That is the only phone you are allowed to use to call us. We have to be really sure that no one is tapping in.
Elif looks at both of them: You mean you’re not coming? You said you’d be there with me.
Sami: Don’t worry about it. We’ll be right there with you. (He uses a white board to sketch out the plan.) So, first stage is from home to the airport. I will be at the airport. While you are coming to the airport two of our friends will follow you.
Omer: What did you say? I thought you said there would be no one else, Sami.
Sami: It’s to keep Elif safe, isn’t it? It wouldn’t make sense for you to do it. Metin knows you. The second part is the delivery at the airport. Understand? You will wait wherever he wants to wait. You will take the luggage that he’ll bring you. You will pass through security with no problem. We arranged everything. Also, I’ll wait for you, two seats behind you, and two of our other friends will also be on the plane but you won’t know where they are. Their only job is to keep you safe, Elif.
Elif: Omer?
Omer: I’ll be on a different flight but arrive at the same time, Signorina.
Sami: Don’t be in a panic, Elif. We’ll be there following you. Everything has been planned already. OK?
Elif: I know that you’ll protect me. It’s just two days. After two days it will be finished, and we will finally have our hands on Metin.
Sami: So, now the third stage is Rome Airport to home. They will pick you up from the airport and take you home and they will meet with Omer to follow you, so don’t be afraid.
All three stare intently at one another. Elif looks seriously at Omer and stands up to leave.

At Denizer mansion:
Elif goes through her things, packing and organizing her suitcase. She picks up a scarf (her mother’s, perhaps. She inhales the aroma intently and packs the scarf in the suitcase. Then she sees the box from Metin on the floor near the bed. She looks for a good place to hide it, and ends up putting it under the bed, but it’s still visible if one is looking carefully.

Omer is packing as well. Husseyn comes in the room, bringing him some tea. Husseyn asks him what he is doing.
Husseyn: I hope that you are not planning to leave home. You’re not angry with me.
Omer: Yeah, well I’ve been working on that and changing my attitude.
Husseyn: So, you’ll be coming back? What I’m talking about here is you can’t leave your family. (He has a lot of nerve, as Husseyn has plans to leave with Svetlana!). Where are you going? Are you going back home?
Omer: I don’t know, I haven’t decided yet.
The brothers stare at each other.
Omer: Everybody needs a breather now. Far away would be good. We all need a break.
Husseyn: Puts his hand on Omer’s. I will never breathe easy without your forgiveness. I will stand up for you. You’re right. I can’t be a good brother to you. What I did sucked. I was there like a headless chicken. I should have killed Ali there and then and I need to throttle Tayyar as well. But, I see you in my dreams. I don’t know if you can forgive me, but I am sorry. Can you forgive me? Please, Omer.

Babachita
 

kpa
Episode 55 #4
They stare at one another, and finally, Omer smiles. They hug.
Husseyn: This feels good, man.
Omer: Hey, your tea’s getting cold.
Both brothers fight back tears and drink the tea. Husseyn kisses Omer on the cheek.

Omer is leaving his mom’s house. Bahar walks up.
Bahar: Hi Officer Omer.
Omer: What are you doing here? And how did you know my address?
Bahar: I talked with your sister-in-law. She kindly gave me your address.
Omer: Well, you can say what you want to say and then go.
Bahar: OK. You’re a cop and you know about things.
She hands Omer the note from Sami that Elif had torn up and thrown out and that Bahar retrieved and taped back together.
Bahar: Who do you think could have written this card to Elif? Don’t get me wrong, I’m just worried for my friend. You know that her family have always had problems.

FLASHBACK to the recent meeting with Sami and Elif where Sami wrote the plans on a whiteboard. Sami’s writing matches that on the note.

Bahar continues: I wanted to know if there’s something else happening.
Omer thanks her. She asks him to tell her what he finds out. Then she leaves.
Omer crumples up the note and thinks very hard. Then he walks very quickly away from the house.

At a small store, Fatma and her husband Bekir (in a wheelchair) run into Melike. Melike greets them in a jolly manner and he responds similarly. [I know Fatma won’t be as cheerful!]. Fatma is rude and doesn’t greet Melike. She says they have lots of things to do and that Hatice will be back from school soon.
Melike asks: Why are you talking like this? What have we done to you, Auntie Fatma?
Fatma: As if you don’t know, Melike. People have died and the rest of us are left behind. Weddings, dances, parties, well I hope you’ll be happy with your new bride.
Melike: I want to stay calm, but you never stop talking. What can Omer do? Will he mourn for your lying daughter?
Fatma: My lying daughter? Was Sibel a liar?
Melike: Yes, Sibel pulled the wool over our eyes. It’s OK, but I hoped you would have stopped it. My mom came the other day, and you sent her from your house. It’s a shame a person must think like that. Give some thought to why Omer gave up on your daughter.
Bekir: Melike, please, these kinds of things can’t be discussed in these places. It’s not right.
Fatma: Slander! You just slandered my daughter.
Melike: I’m telling you your daughter was a courier. She was laundering money while Omer was with her. It’s good that Sibel’s death separated them.
Fatma: Don’t you slander my daughter. Of course, as you have found a rich way out now, you slander my daughter in order to cover your shame. Well, you will pay for this. Do you hear me?
Melike: That is enough! It’s not slander. Everything’s obvious. Anyone who wants to know can go to the police station and learn the truth.
Fatma: Look at me, girl.
Melike: You look at me and listen. You stop talking about my family, OK? We no longer want to have connections with people who do illegal things.
During this encounter, Bekir is looking increasingly ill.
Fatma: You look at me right now, girl. Look at me.
They are asked to leave the store due to their yelling.

Babachita
 

kpa
Episode 55 #5

Bekir asks them to stop it the arguing. Fatma finally realizes he is very ill and goes to him, trying to get him to respond. She asks them to call an ambulance.

Denizer mansion:
Nilufer tells Hulya she will replace the batteries in a remote and goes into Elif’s room to do so. She spots the box that Fatih sent Elif, that looks like the boxes he has sent Nilufer. It puzzles her. She gets the box and opens it. She finds the CD in a container that says to listen to it first. She puts the disc in Elif’s computer, and she hears Fatih gives Elif instructions.
Fatih (on the CD): Hi partner, I hope you’re well. Everything will be as planned. They will give you the bag on the plane. Just try hard not to panic. Just be a professional like you were the first time. Otherwise, I will get angry with you. Don’t get mad. Look what money has done for us. The first one was to save Nilufer, and this one is to save Asli. The third one will be for you. You’ll see. You’ll go there as your volunteered. You love money, I know that. We’re in-laws, so we will protect each other. Don’t worry. Just think about tomorrow.
Nilufer is very shocked. This proves that Elif was telling her the truth about Fatih forcing her to do this.

At the airport, Sami checks in. He spots Omer who is taking another flight. Omer walks up next to Sami and tells him they need to talk. Sami asks him what’s up. Elif walks up to the check-in counter. She spots them but keeps on walking.
Sami, angrily, asks if Omer is back to his trainee days: Are you crazy? We shouldn’t be seen together here.
Omer: Why don’t you answer me first and then you can bring me the [training] manual. What did you say to Elif that I told you in confidence?
Sami: Oh, this is not the place to talk about any of that. Look, this attitude of yours is no good for me. I had to do what I did. I had to be sure that your feelings would not take over and you would get arrested.
Omer: That’s why you did it?
Sami: That’s exactly what happened. We’re talking about people’s lives here, not a love affair. It’s time to get your head in the game, Omer.
Elif can see the two of them talking earnestly. She looks confused.
Omer: Look, Sami, I have never been disrespected by you until today, and I don’t want to ever be again. There’s also a human life involved here and you’re ignoring it. What you did to me is worse than Ali getting me fired.
Sami: Omer, it’s over now. Now just do as I say.
Omer walks off to check in for his flight.
Elif sees how concerned he is. He walks right by her in the airport.
Elif: Where are going, Omer?
He looks at her with a very unhappy expression.
Omer: Elif, I’m not coming along.
Elif: What do you mean you’re not coming?
Omer: Sami will explain everything. Looks like the two of you will be going together.
Elif: What do you mean? Why aren’t you coming, Omer?
Omer: I’ve been taken out of the operation. It will just be the two of you.
Sami is watching them.

One of the other team members tells Sami it’s time for them to go. Sami tells him to get on the plane and that he’ll bring Elif with him.

Elif (formally): Officer, just because you’re suspended,
Omer: Elif, don’t be afraid. You can trust Sami. Everything’s going to be fine.
Omer smiles at her and walks off.
Elif calls after him: I can’t do it without you.

Babachita

 

kpa
Episode 55 #6
He stops. They both look at each other.
Omer: Elif, it’s time to go.
He walks away, leaving her standing alone.
She turns and heads to Sami, stopping next to him and asking what is going on with Omer and why he’s not coming. Sami is very unhappy she is doing this. He tells her he will explain later.
Sami: You either get on the plane or it’s jail time. This operation has been done for your sake. Tell me now if you want to back out.
Elif clenches her jaw and heads to board the plane.
Sami follows at a safe distance.
Omer, still in the airport, looks at the flights on the display trying to make up his mind. He spots a flight to Rome and runs to get a ticket.

Denizer mansion:
Nilufer enters the room where Asli is sleeping. She picks up Asli’s phone and takes it out of the room with her. She calls a number but gets voicemail.
She leaves this message for Fatih: Call me as soon as you land. What kind of man are uou? How can you do this to me? How can you lie to me while looking at me in the eye. How can you do this to me?
Nilufer is very distraught.
She calls Mert. He answers, thinking it is Asli.
Nilufer: Mert, this is me, Nilufer.
Mert: I knew it! Can you explain the fact that you didn’t come home and you haven’t said anything.
Nilufer: Mert,
Mert: Drop it. Don’t bother to thank me. My father and I will always have your back in any situation even if you don’t think so.
Nilufer: Mert! I’m not OK at all. Will you please come?
Mert (changes attitude): Of course, what happened?
Nilufer: Don’t ask, please just come.
She hangs up and stands there crying.

On the plane:
Elif boards and puts her bag in an overhead bin. She takes an aisle seat. She keeps looking at passengers as they enter. She finally sees Sami boarding. He goes to a seat two rows back and sits in an aisle seat so that they both can see one another across the aisle. [They seem to be in coach, but in the front of the plane, so perhaps it is a commuter flight with all the same seating.]

Back in Istanbul at the store:
Fatma is desperately trying to get Bekir to open his eyes as they await the ambulance. Melike is distraught. Hatice shows up and begins CPR. Melike tries to help, but Fatma just curses her. The ambulance arrives.

On the plane:
Elif keeps looking back at Sami, who shifts uncomfortably in his seat under her gaze. A fligjht attendant tells Elif that one of her high school friends is in the back: She’s in the 32nd row wearing a navy shirt. Elif unbuckles her belt and walks back to row 32. Sami turns and follows her with his eyes. Her “friend” greets her warmly and tells her there is a handbag in her overhead apartment, the same as the one the “friend” has with her. It has “Elif” on it. She warns Elif not to make her brother angry by forgetting it when she gets off the plane.
Elif walks back to her seat. Sami instructs his man to check up on the girl and to follow her.

Denizer mansion:
Nilufer is crying in the garden.

Babachita

 

kpa
Episode 55 #7

FLASHBACK: On Fatih’s disc is the video from Elif at the bank laundering the money.
She hears him tell her: Your beloved sister is laundering the money, or let’s say she is doing her job.
Nilufer: Elif would never, ever do such a thing.
Fatih: Your father used to do it and now your sister has taken over. Check the dates. They will be the exact dates that your sister was missing. She is laundering the money with her man in Rome.

Nilufer continues to cry.

FLASHBACK: Elif telling Nilufer she’s done all of it just to save her so they can be together once again. I had no idea about black money until father died. That man is using you against me. Whatever ideas you think you have were put there by him. His only aim is to use me as a courier. You’ve got to listen to me, Nilulfer.

Nilufer continues to cry, holding her head, as she remembers this, and finally, Mert arrives. He holds her as she continues to cry.

At the ER
Husseyn and Elva drive up. Husseyn says he will check inside. Elvan asks what exactly Melike said. Hiusseyn said he couldn’t understand because she was crying. Just then the ambuland arrives, followed by Bekir’s family. Elvan calls out to Hatice. Hatice tells Husseyn that his heart stopped in the ambulance but they were trying to resuscitate him. Melike drives up, crying, and Husseyn rushes to her. He takes her inside, but she is collapsing from guilt.
Melike: I was there. I wish I was dead instead of him. (She falls to the pavement and Husseyn tried to comfort her.]. Melike keeps asking if she is going to be a murderer. She is crying desperately. Husseyn has his wild-eyed, fearful look as he tried to comfort Melike.

Babachita

End of Episode 55.

 

KPA 55

Excellent recap Babachita, thanks!

I agree the bartender was very cute! I kept thinking who cares about Levent Behar, look at that!!! :) I really don't see the appeal of Levent and I definitely saw the bartender's appeal but to each their own I suppose....

Behar did Omer a favor though she wasn't trying to.

I wonder if this reveal is enough to drive Nil away from Fatih? I'm guessing no, but we'll see.

Melike isn't a bad person, and she wasn't even wrong, but she lacked tack and compassion in confronting Fatima in that way and now she will have to deal with her guilt. It's sad, I kind of think Fatima deserved that treatment, but of course Bekir didn't.
 

kpa
55
Darcy, I have felt sorry for Melike all along. But, it’s hard because she’s so annoying!!! Elvan handles her so well. I think it’s lucky she’s her MIL. When everything hits the fan, she’ll need compassion. Do we know her background? I worry about her children with their behavior issues. There must be more to her story. I definitely like her more than Mukkades!!!

I think Fatih-Nilufer is a strong bond. But he needs to become a nicer person for me to want this relationship to succeed. What’s with those amulets? I wonder if they are tracking or recording devices. But, maybe they are on the level. Where did Fatih get them??? They are awfully clunky to have to wear them always.

Fatma is very hard for me to like. The actress does it so well. But, hers is a hard life. Hatice seems to have a good head on her shoulders.

Babachita
 

KPA

Melike is definitely light years ahead of Mukkades (though I LOVE that actress!!!) Melike has a good heart, Mukkades was self-centered. Self-serving and cruel. She took advantage of everyone around her and didn't seem to care about anyone but herself. Melike seems to actually care about her family including Omer - she just doesn't go about it in the right way.