Sunday, December 02, 2007
Yo Amo a Juan - November 30, 2007 - In which Nidia is no starving artist and Ivonne should be negotiating hostage situations
On a lovely morning in the D. F., we revisit Delirio attempting to feed his Prodigal Wife. She wants him to demonstrate what’s important, and not with affectations (cursilerías). What? All this time and she hasn’t figured out that’s what he does best? Delirio is the King of Affectations. He takes the tray, so full of beautifully prepared food, away and somehow manages to get it out the door with both hands full. They have a prolonged exchange before he exits, though, with Nidia figuratively pushing him and his lovely gesture away and him trying to get her interested. When Delirio toadies up, he does such a grand job. Nidia is, of course, not only unimpressed, she’s provoked to the max.
And we revisit a beaming Monica giving Juan her briefcase and beaming at him as she wonders if he’s aware the Licenciada is leaving Farell? He thought bubbles that he hadn’t known, but maybe he’d best act like he had (not give her the rope to hang him, implied). He says he’d heard, and she wants to know what he thinks. He hedges—the hour comes for everyone to go sooner or later. He tells her he was thinking of it, too. Monica puts on her best flirting expression, grabs Juan by the tie and pulls him closer, asking “how’s that? The changes of bosses seems so bad to you?” Monica doesn’t simper well. Juan stumbles around. He wants to expand his horizons, he isn’t putting down his time as a chauffeur, but it’s time to move on, up. Monica is So Glad he has aspirations, and she guesses she understand him. She plays with his tie and tells him she can help him move in Farell. Juan is impactado and squirmy. He tells her this gives him pause (gives him pena, my interpretation), because he surely wouldn’t want her to bother. She plays with his lapels and tells him it’s No Bother. She strokes the lapels and tells him she loves to help people accomplish their dreams. She touches his nose fondly and tells him he’s demonstrated he’s a magnificent person. Juan wiggles his nose like he’s got an itch and thanks her, with no eye contact as he struggles to keep from sneezing. She tells him to let her see what she can do and touches him lightly to punctuate. Juan thanks her again uncomfortably, and then opens the limo door for her. She thanks him, spins around with full coquettish eye contact, a hand grasp and WHAT? A WINK? Sheesh. Finally, she gets into the car. What a relief. For Juan and for Us. Juan thought bubbles that this woman has him intrigued. First she hurled a stone at him with this info about the Licenciada, and then she comforted him by offering help. His eyes shift – he has no clue what to make of this. The door closed, he makes his way around the car, though bubbling that it’s got to be one of three things. She’s the Good Samaritan like people say, or she was plotting (tramando) something and wants to get him in the middle of it, or worse, you, if you were sly, “were a couple of bragging dogs???” ( Estaba echando dos perros, someone help with the dicho!) He glances in the mirror to see Monica smiling, still plenty coquettish. He maneuvers through traffic, still talking to himself while Moni plays with him in the mirror, kissing her finger and turning it around to him. He continues to muse on this—he’s not really surprised, it won’t be the first or the last little kid (goat type, cabrita - a little female) who would have slipped onto the terrain of Juan Dominguez. His eyebrow goes up as he watches her in the mirror. [Ed. Note: Moni, no way can you convince us you’re sleazy. Nice try, though. Just don’t crush Juan, he’s had plenty of that.]
Ana is sharing a distinctly uncomfortable breakfast with Paula. Paula wants to know what the heck is on Ana’s mind before Ana explodes. [Ed. Note: I froze the frame to type here and Ana’s expression was So Sour that my hubby said if she doesn’t be careful, it’ll freeze that way forever.] She doesn’t want them to continue with this attitude (plan, one of the definitions). They need each other. Ana explains that Paula will have to forgive her, but she overheard Paula and Juan the night before. Paula had asked Juan if he knew what she was looking for. It seemed like a plea to Ana. A plea for what? Ana can’t really say, she’s not sure. It was like she wanted him to do something. Ana says Paula will think she’s crazy, but he almost kissed her. Paula thinks Ana is hallucinating. But Paula isn’t making eye contact when she tells Ana. Ana says Paula’s attitude was pretty flirty, like she was provoking him. Maybe Juan is the answer to what she’s looking for, Ana earnestly tells her. Paula firmly denies this. She’s found what she wanted. Ana doubts it. She’s always wanted a love with integrity, honest, total. And the only man who’s offered that is Juan. Ana points out that Paula knows that no one will lover her like Juan does. Paula wants to know why Ana is so sure. Because Juan gave Paula up in order that she could be happy with CL. That’s the best possible proof of how much he loves her. Paula counters that CL gave up his marriage, his business [Ed. Note: and THIS makes him a good catch?] and CL told her he’d let her go so she could be happy with Juan. They’re saved by the bell again, thank heaven. It’s probably Fernando to pick her up. Ana stops her as she starts to answer the door—she can’t marry someone when she has feelings for another. Paula says she really doesn’t know why her mother’s saying that. Ana says it’s because of what she heard and saw the night before, the manner in which Paula looked at Juan. She tells Paula to think about it. Paula nods but says she has to go to the office, and kisses her mother. Ana is not thrilled with it all.
CL is all dressed for something, which is amazing given he’s unemployed. He greets his friend Andres, also dressed to the nines in a suit with as much hair gel as Fernando Mendiola (but on Fernando Mendiola, it was positively sultry). They exchange pleasantries. Andres thinks it’s odd that CL isn’t meeting at the office with him. CL tells him to sit, lots of things have changed since the divorce. Andres says CL will have to update him (actualizar). He can’t have a lawyer with these gaps (laguna, another definition). Ah, he’s a lawyer, that explains why CL has a suit and tie on when he’s unemployed. CL tells him it’s all a very long conversation ahead of them. [Ed. Note: So, is this guy on the clock or what? Can you afford to give him all the juicy details when you’re unemployed, CL?] The boys lean forward, so they can talk in whispers in CL’s apartment. CL wants Andres to tell him something. How soon can he re-marry? Andres is not the least bit impactado. Well, the divorce is done, but there’s paperwork….it’ll take up to a month if Andres really speeds up the paperwork. Not good enough, CL tells him. I want to get married next weekend. NOW Andres is impactado.
Marely is shocked to see Paula back in the office after “yesterday’s uproar (alboroto)!” No, Paula’s not leaving things incomplete. She’s not giving that woman the pleasure of seeing her abandon all the work, unfinished, and it’s going to be all organized and clear before she walks out the door for real. Marely just nods. Paula changes the subject. How’d it go with Nidia last night? Great, Marely tells her. Things are calm on the home front For The Moment. She thinks Paula might have lost some sleep with all the drama. No, Paula replies, she lost sleep, but not because of that. Marely wants to know what. Thinking about a thousand things. Marely retorts that among those things might be CL? Yes, that too. Paula doesn’t understand this enmity between him and her mother. He can’t stand her. Why? Well, because we talked about getting married and proposed to take her with us and leave the country to live, and she got furious. Marely is shocked that Paula and CL think to leave the country. Paula acknowledges that she’s not thrilled about the idea and they might be moving too fast. Marely points out that she’s said this to the point that it’s worn out. Yes, Paula agrees. She was completely sure of all this before, but now she doesn’t know. On one hand there’s CL pressuring her and on the other hand there is Juan. Juan? What’s up with Juan? Marely looks worried. Paula looks at her guiltily.
CL and Andres are still hashing out how a divorce in the D. F. can be accelerated to faster than the speed of light. Andres tells him it’s too hasty to try to get the paperwork done for a weekend wedding. CL tells Andres that maybe he didn’t understand what CL asked. He doesn’t give a rip about the paperwork. He’s ready to pay whatever. But, it has to be resolved in time for the wedding. Can Andres do it or not? CL’s camaraderie has flown out the window, he means business. Andres tells CL he’ll get to work on it. He’s not a happy camper. He wonders if the service will be a religious one. CL tells him that’s resolved; he didn’t marry Monica in the church. Andres wants to know if it’s not an indiscretion, why now? CL sighs. His mother in law is a toothache (dolor de muelas, toothache). If he doesn’t do it, she’s never going to get over it. He’s fed up with her. Andres points out that once he’s married, he’ll never be able to get rid of the mother in law. CL knows, but he’ll find a way. The woman is a really negative influence on Paula.
Paula is leaning against her credenza, telling Marely how Juan has been so good with her, so special. He even talked to her mother and helped calm her regarding CL. Marely looks increasingly worried with Paula’s change of heart. There’s no room for doubt that Juan has shown how much he loves her. He’s made a sacrifice. Marely quietly asks if she needs more evidence. No, Paula says, but this is making such a tangled of knots in her head that she doesn’t know how to handle it, what to do. Her mother’s got her thinking as usual, Paula continues, and she doesn’t know what she’s looking for. Paula asks what Marely thinks. Marely thinks she shouldn’t pay attention to her mother and not think twice. Paula is impactada. Marely fumbles around that whenever she gives advice, Paula does the opposite, so she’s giving her the opposite of what she should do now. So, Paula says, she should pay attention to her mother and let up on the accelerator. At least that, Marely agrees, and maybe even put on the brake and get out of the car. Paula sighs; Sr. Farell won’t think this is the least bit amusing. Marely says that’s some bad luck. Paula smiles fondly at Marely and asks if she has any more advice. Well, Marely says, if you’re going to let up on the accelerator take advantage of this opportunity to clarify your feelings for Juan. [Ed. Note: As I said last week, they are Recycling Scripts Here, folks. We’ve been there, done that.] Marely doesn’t’ want her to make an unforgivable mistake of marrying CL when Juan is still deep in her heart.
Monica is spitting out orders to Pastor. Two things: first, we need to think about finding someone to replace Paula Dávila. Pastor’s eyes get oh-so-wide. “Don’t tell me that she’s going?” Monica retorts indignantly that he shouldn’t try to tell her that he didn’t know. He hedges, well, he’d heard rumors. But the Licenciada’s resigning was becoming a sport….Moni interrupts him. That was during the CL era. Things are different now, so get busy and find a person to replace her. Pastor knows just the ideal candidate, now that she mentions it. He describes this person who could move up, with passion, hablablablabla and Monica cuts him off again. “Would that by any chance be You?” Nope, Forget It. She needs him right where he is too much. He protests and she cuts him off yet again, because she doesn’t want to discuss it. Look for candidates, already, and give three choices. Yes, Ma’am. Second, Monica wants Pastor to find something for Juan Dominguez. That gets Pastor’s attention. Excuse me? Well, Paula has resigned, and Juan is thinking of doing the same, and I suppose that’s something you also knew. Pastor makes a face that clearly says he had no idea. Well, Moni wants him to stay and so they have to offer something that will interest him. Yes, Ma’am. Pastor looks away.
Fern is at the garage desk, doing crosswords or whatever he’s always doing. Juan, sans jacket, wants to know how it’s going with the Licenciada Paula? Fern doesn’t even look up. “How’s what going?” Well, Juan asks, you’re picking her up, bringing her here….? Fern finally looks up. “What do you think?” Juan replies “How bad tempered, a person can’t even ask you a question.” Fern goes back to his crossword. “You can, but not nonsense.” Juan prods a little. The Licenciada is good people, nice, chatty….. Fern says she didn’t open her mouth during the whole trip. Juan is impactado. Why? Could it be that something is bothering her? Fern looks up again, annoyed. “Well, you’re not leaving me in peace until I tell you some gossip about the Licenciada, right?” Juan protests that this is his ex-boss, he’s just interested in her well being. Well, Fern tells him, for his information she had a worried look. What kind of worried look? About work, or a personal matter, or what? Juan sits next to him, anxious. Fern wants to know how he’s supposed to know what sort of worry she had. Fern wonders if Juan is trying to drive someone up the wall. (sacar a algn de quicio to drive someone up the wall). He stands up, totally irritated. He points out he’s seen lots of faces in the rearview mirror, and this woman had a face that looked like she’s going through a complicated time, because of work, because of Juan, whatever, he didn’t have a way of knowing. Fern asks if he can get back to what he was doing. Juan snaps at him. Sorry to have disturbed your deep reading there. Fern shows him the book up close. Oops, probably not a crossword. Juan is disgusted.
CL is still in his apartment and still dressed to the nines. He’s asking Paula how everything is. More or less, she tells him, lots of work. He tells her she doesn’t have to worry. On the contrary, I’m leaving things all ready for your ex, she tells him. She won’t have any doubt about my management. He asks her to go out to eat, but Paula wants to do the work. He’s not accepting a no. He has a surprise. He won’t tell her, but suggests they meet at the Italian place. Bye bye, he hangs up too fast for her to say a word. Paula’s provoked. Marely wants to know what’s up. Paula says CL has a surprise lunch for her. Marely asks why she doesn’t take advantage of it and give him the surprise that they’re slowing things down some. Paula just looks irritated.
Pastor comes into the garage to see Juan and they exchange greetings and chitchat about how Juan’s new assignment is going. Pastor tells him the boss loves him. [Ed. Note: uh-huh.] She’s thinking of changing herself into his new guardian angel. Pastor remarks that he doesn’t know what it is about Juan and the female executives of this company, but he makes them crazy. Juan makes a self-deprecating remark about Pastor coming up with all this stuff, one just needs to be a decent person, nothing more. Well, Pastor informs him, the boss wants to offer him a job in the offices. It’s not just anything, it’s something important. Juan is wary, but says she mentioned it. Pastor wants to know what kind of work Juan would like to be doing in the company. Such opportunities don’t call twice at the door.
Ana is serving coffee as she and Nidia stand in Ana’s kitchen. Ana wants to know how it went the night before. Nidia, with a pained and martyred look, replies if only she could tell Ana about her Calvary. There is only one thing worse than having a big fuss with Alirio Perafán, and that’s to reconcile with him. Ana takes a pan of biiiig pastries out of the oven and puts them onto the tiled counter. Nidia continues, what a torture it was, his little gestures. She describes him bringing her breakfast in bed and trying to feed her while she looks longingly at what Ana has baked. Nidia does a great Delirio impression, tone of voice, expansive gestures and body language, and all. [Ed. Note: Nidia really ought to take up acting.] Ana chuckles, picturing Alirio in full splendor. She tsks and tells Nidia it’s not so bad, he’s making an effort. Nidia thinks he’s a pain in the neck. But, Nidia tells Ana, she wants to talk very seriously with Ana. Ana looks worried impactada.
Juan rubs at the car behind him a little and tells Pastor he simply doesn’t want to be in the company, but he has no problem with the company. Pastor wants to know if it has something to do with the Licenciada Paula. Juan tells Pastor he knows it does. That’s the only way he can forget. Pastor points out she’s resigned. Yeah, but those resignations were not forever. Pastor chuckles. In this case, yes. Paula and CL are going to live out of the country. For real? Juan is muy impactado. Yes, Pastor tells him, didn’t you know? Juan had no idea. Speaking of the Queen of Rome, Paula comes into the garage. She greets them and walks on, clingy black dress wrinkling badly around her okole. Juan looks after her, absolutely impactado. Pastor asks if he’s going or if he’s staying with Farell.
Nidia is telling Ana her tale of woe; she burned her brain all night, asking herself questions. Why me? And I concluded it happens because I’m idle. [Ed. Note: Busy hands are happy hands….] Ana is curious about that. Well, Nidia continues that she had dedicated herself to being a mother, hablablablabla and was going to escape with Anga. Ana wants to know if she’s going to work. Nidia is appalled at the thought. Nobody in her family goes to work. Except Marely, but she got that from Samuel. Ana rolls her eyes a little. Well, then, is she going to sew or embroider or something? Nope, Nidia has a better idea and that’s where Ana can help. Ana looks wary, and she should. Me? Yes, you. I want you to be my teacher, Nidia tells Ana. Teacher of what? Nidia wants to dedicate herself to painting. Lovely classical music plays.
Pastor is still working on Juan. Juan just has to overcome this situation. Can he give up an opportunity like this just for spite? No. Pastor expects more of Juan. Juan protests but Pastor asks Juan to do it for him. What’s he going to tell the Sra. if Juan doesn’t stay? Juan says that’s really annoying, such insistence. What abuse from this Sra. Pastor tells him to think a couple of days about it. He shouldn’t make any scatter-brained decisions (atolondradas). He should take his time and then decide what to do with his life. Juan looks warily at Pastor……
Paula strides toward CL, who is already seated at the table. She’s beaming. He jumps up, calls her his love, and kisses her—she looks LOVELY. And this? She wants to know what’s up. Is this the surprise? No. Why so much mystery—it’s making her nervous. [It should.] He tells her to calm down, and take her cup. They’re going to celebrate their wedding. He clinks her champagne glass and she’s impactada. CL, how good that you’ve brought up this topic because….because what? CL wants to know. We’re getting married next weekend. To your health, my love! She’s impactada again. [Her impactada never brings a single wrinkle or line out. What’s up with that? Is her face permanently botoxed?] He smiles broadly.
Ana and Nidia sit down to a Huge lunch. Nidia, her napkin tucked into her décolletage, sighs as the lovely classical music continues to play. All her life she’s been a frustrated artist, she declares to Ana. “Don’t tell me.” “Oh, yes, I tell you!” In college she was the queen of singing, dancing, theater. “What happened?” Nidia hops up and spins around, demonstrating the part she played. She describes how her father interfered, okay, partly because she was playing fast and loose with manhandling her leading man. Might have been partly due to the mini-falda, too. Ana chuckles and Nidia declares anything for art! Now that she has time again, she wants to take up that vocation again. What does Ana think? Ana wants to know if she’s painted before. Yes, for pure jokes. (?????) [Help! This dicho is beyond me and all 12 dictionaries—“puros cuernos” One definition of cuerno is “joke.”] They laugh again. Seriously, Ana asks, why painting? Because it’s so pretty, because I can do it at home, and because I’d have you as my teacher. Nidia leans over and touches Ana fondly. She’s going to pay Ana, though. Ana won’t hear of it and they fuss about that like the viejas they are. [Ed. Note: Nidia reminds her tactlessly that Ana has no work. Nice touch, Nidia. Give and take away.] Nidia thinks it’s a win-win situation. How does that seem to Ana? Ana shakes her head; it’s doesn’t thrill her.
CL is working Paula over at the restaurant still. He tells her he thinks it’ll be marvelous. Paula tries to protest. He protests over her, but she tells him to take a step like this they have to be very aware of what they are doing. He wants to know if those are her words, or her mother’s. [Ed. Note: Paula’s annoying expression is only surpassed by her annoying décolletage. How was it that Melinama put it not long ago? We just don’t need to see the underside of her bosom. Or something along those lines.] The discussion escalates into a drag-down fight. He complains about Ana, who is spoiling everything, in his opinion. [He is one First-Class Manipulator.] She sets Paula against him, he accuses. Hablablablabla clear up to about 120 decibels. Paula jumps up and sarcastically thanks him for the invite, then stalks away. He gets the waiter, pays and runs after her. She tells Fern “let’s go,” and CL stops them. He’s not done with the conversation. They yell at each other a while more and then he tones down. Fern crosses his arms and looks prepared to deck CL. Hm. CL wants to calm down, keep eating and talking. Nope. Paula’s going back to work. What for, she doesn’t work for Farell any more. She tells him to lower his voice. He tells her she’s forcing him to this. Oh, it’s my fault now? He whines a little. Their future depends on how they handle these situations. Finally, she’s out of there with Fern. Whew. That’s a relief, we don’t have to listen to the pair of them for a while. Fern gives CL a Really Dark Look as he closes the door for her. CL chews his lip in chagrin.
Gutis has come to visit Delirio in the catacombs. “You went to find her,” he accuses Delirio. “She’s my wife.” “And I imagine you crawled on the ground like a dog?” Nope. Delirio describes the scene where he manfully forced his wife to come home. Not. He tells Gutis how he talked tough and he cleared things up. Gutis wants to know where he found her—that guy’s house? Nope, a girlfriend’s house. [Ed. Note: please notice that he didn’t tell Gutis it’s Ana.] Now, Gutis, this topic is dead and buried, Delirio tells him.
Juan and Marely are at a quaint little eatery having a nice lunch. Why didn’t Marely tell him that Paula was leaving Farell? Marely points out that one day she’ll get mad and another she’ll change her mind and stay. And why hasn’t he told her about this little place? He can’t know how long she’s been looking for a place with delicious and inexpensive food like this close to the office. It’s a state secret, he tells her. They joke around a little. What if they spill the tepache about this place, everyone will start coming, and it’ll be full. Then the king that he is won’t get in. She accuses him of being jealous over it. Nope, he says, it’s self-preservation. He has to keep it exclusive. He touches her chin and she smiles back at him. He wants to change the topic and know what she’s doing after work. Nothing, why? He has a triple-header plan: some tacos and dancing. Marely says it doesn’t seem so good to her. The cachi-cachi-bombon music grinds to a stop. Juan wants to know why, and Marely wants to know why he’s asking her out now? He’s tired of work, wants to go out, get a little spirit, etc. relax [Juan actually said relax in English and the captioner MISSED it.] Marely calls his bluff; he wants to forget Paula. Busted. He can’t lie to her, it’s true. She’s the only one who can help him. She’s pleased with his frankness, but she’s tired of being his crying towel. It’s not that, he tells her. Yes, it IS that, she retorts. He tells her it’s not lies, he’s just going through a time that’s very difficult for him. Marely tells him he needs to find another person. And what’s more, she hesitantly tells him, she thinks that Paula’s not done with him. He snaps back to attention. Nope, she doesn’t know what she’s saying, she’s crazy. Of course she knows what she’s saying, Marely tells him. He tries to get more out of her but she refuses; she’s not saying anything more. She shoves a spoon into his mouth to feed him some dessert. [Ed. Note: Juan, we’re going to whack you if you keep on overlooking this gem!]
Ivonne sashays back to the lobby desk where she used to sit, but now Julia is there. Julia and Ivonne greet each other warmly. Ivonne wonders if they’ve replaced her so fast, and gives Julia an indirect compliment about her suit – “are you on a diet, or are those my nerves?” Julia beams, then complains about the job. They put her there because Ivonne hasn’t been around. She gripes about “that Sra.” and Ivonne chuckles at her, looking very relaxed. The phone rings and Julia dives for it. Pastor walks up behind Ivonne, also chuckling—“who do we have here?” Ivonne turns and greets him with double-cheek kisses. He fusses fondly at her, the ingrate, he’s left her a thousand messages and she’s not reported back. He has her final payout ready. She’d better cash it today, he tells her. He asks her to come to his office. Nope, she’s not going. He warns her not to look for more problems, because the Sra. Monica….Ivonne turns to Julia and tells her to announce Ivonne’s visit to the boss. She wants to see Moni. Julia doubts Moni wants to see Ivonne. Ivonne is, as Sylvia noted yesterday, goal-oriented and persistent. It’s very important. Julia throws up her hands and goes off to do Ivonne’s bidding. [Ed. Note: And don’t we just know who the Alpha Female is here, huh?] Pastor whispers to Ivonne. “What are you going to do?” She’ll tell him later. Pastor tries to dissuade her from doing something truly nuts. A surprised Julia comes back to tell Ivonne to go right in. Next thing we know, she’s talking to Moni. She has a proposal for Moni. “You have a proposal for ME?” [Ed. Note: your recapper can’t help but notice that although Ivonne’s skirt is short, her décolletage is more subdued than usual. Sorry, Oldman54. Perhaps Ivonne realizes that she wants Moni’s total attention in the most positive sense, and the skirt doesn’t matter when it’s behind the desk.] Moni’s skeptical look shows what she thinks of that idea. Ivonne informs her that perhaps she hasn’t realized but now that she’s in the company, and now that CL and Paula are going to marry, what Moni will need is allies and not enemies. Why allies? Ivonne says she’ll need allies for what Ivonne wants to propose. With Ivonne she doesn’t need to hide anything. Moni thinks that’s pretty shrewd of Ivonne. Ivonne continues that she’s a woman who is equally, or possibly more, offended than Moni, and in Moni’s place Ivonne would be thinking the same as Moni is. And what would that be?..... “To ruin the lives of this pair.” Ivonne delivers the final punch: Moni won’t find a better ally than her in this company. Moni tells Ivonne to sit and convince her. Ivonne struts to the chair.
Marely and Juan are back from their intimate lunch at the hideaway gem of a restaurant. Marely greets Enrique, who’s seated at the desk Fern usually occupies. Kike wants to know what’s up, and she lets him know she has some orders for deliveries for him ASAP. They say goodbye and Juan sits on the edge of the desk. And, what’s up, my Juanito, Kike asks. He gets up onto the edge of the desk on the other side so they’re back to back and looking around to see each other. Kike gets that cute little grin he has when he’s prying for chisme—is Juan making points with Marely now? Juan denies it, he’s more at a loss with Marely than with the Licenciada. Kike teases him not to be that way, because it’s no secret to anyone that Marely is wild for him (anda cacheteando las banquetas, slapping the sidewalks – from my Barron’s dictionary of Spanish slang). Juan replies mournfully that women are strange and he had the brilliant idea of falling in love with the Licenciada and now he has no idea how long his punishment will last. He wonders if Kike knows someone who can help him rub out the tattoo. Kike is impactado. Kike tells him it’d be too difficult and he’ll have a Really Ugly Scar (cicatriz refea, adding the prefix “re” before an adjective can make it a very strong superlative in some cases, if I understand correctly). He retorts that his scar is in his soul.
Paula is actually talking to Fern as they drive back to the office. She asks him for a very special favor, that he be discreet with what just took place and that he won’t say Anything to Anyone. Fern is a little offended. He’s surprised that she has to ask this. She protests that she knows about the dirty laundry that gets aired in the garage. She’s serious, that he won’t say Anything to Anyone. Fern looks pained. Above all, nothing to Juan. Fern tells her straight out he’s offended but not to worry.
Ivonne elaborates on her proposal to the Jefa. Ivonne thinks Moni should know that things between Ivonne and CL aren’t done. Moni looks a bit impactada in an “Oh, don’t tell me” sort of way. Moni wants to know if Ivonne wants a medal. No, but Ivonne thinks this means something about how strong CL’s actual feelings for Paula really are. She plays with her hair and proceeds to tell Moni that she was in CL’s bed while he was convincing Paula he was going far away, and while he was comforting her for the discussion that Moni had with her, Ivonne was in his bedroom. Just yesterday…Moni cuts her off, enough already, she’s got the idea. Ivonne just wants her to know that Ivonne is still a part of his life and has been for a good long while now. Moni sarcastically congratulates Ivonne, what a great woman she is. Ivonne responds that CL doesn’t love Paula. Moni retorts that CL doesn’t love anyone with the possible exception of himself. Ivonne points out that he’s caused a lot of pain. Moni doubts that he’s caused Ivonne any. Ivonne responds that she’s always known that for him it was a game, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t hurting. Moni’s not sure that wasn’t an advantage for Ivonne, since she was always used to being the other woman. Ivonne thought there was no other way for her. Moni wants her to cut to the chase; what’s Ivonne looking for? To give them a lesson. Both of them, but especially her. Moni stands up….”and after you give this lesson to Paula Dávila…” Ivonne interrupts. No, WE give this lesson…because it’s a task for both of us. Okay, after WE give the lesson, Monica wonders, then what? Nothing more, each of us has had her vengeance. It’s what might be called a temporary partnership. Moni chuckles—“a partnership between you and me? In exchange for what?” [Ed. Note: this is why you’re the Jefa, you’re always two moves ahead, Moni.] Ivonne tells Moni that among other things, she wants her job back. Only that? Ivonne acknowledges that there will be the pure personal satisfaction, too. Moni looks thoughtful, and Ivonne reads her mind. “There’s not much to think about, Sra. Monica, I think I’ve been clear enough and my proposal is worth your while.” Moni and Ivonne exchange slightly conspiratorial looks.
Out in the lobby, Julia is typing away when Ivonne exits Moni’s office. “My esteemed Julia, what a shame, but you’re going to have to abandon this desk…” Ivonne hands Julia her water, and helps her move things off the desk. “You’re going to return?” Julia is impactada….and pleased. That’s good, because one more day working with this Sra. and I’d be totally fed up (estoy hasta el gorro, I am fed up). Ivonne smiles cheerfully at her and gently pushes Julia back toward her reception desk. She eases into her chair with a contented sigh.
The viejas have gone out to purchase art supplies, and the nice young man in a suit [in an ART supply store??] is helping. Nidia tells Ana that the first thing she has to buy is a horse, right? We hear the horse neighing in the background. Ana chuckles fondly at her, no, they want a caballete- easel – not a caballo – horse. Yeah, Nidia agrees, the thing they put the paper on so they can make drawings. Ana chuckles again. The young man says they have several models, or are they looking for a specific one? Nidia wants the most expensive one they have, the model doesn’t matter. The lovely classical music is playing at this store, too. Perhaps they have the same Muzak tape that Ana does. Nidia is convinced that if you go cheap, it ends up expensive. Ana takes her aside and disabuses her of the need for the most expensive. Nidia needs to begin with basics for now. Don’t go crazy buying supplies you don’t need, Ana advises. All she’ll need is some paper and charcoal pencils (carboncillos), that’s plenty for the first phase. Nidia is doubtful, but Ana wants her to listen up, she’s the teacher. Nidia still argues….
Ivonne makes Pastor nervous when she comes into his office because she’s not going to cash that final payout check. He’s upset that she’s going to provoke Monica and hasn’t followed his advice. She laughs and interrupts—“I’m staying at Farell!” “No!” Pastor is impactado. Yes, she tells her esteemed and incredulous comrade. He comes around, the perfect gentleman, to seat her and make her tell him Everything. Without omitting any details. [Now her décolletage is back to normal, folks. It’s magic. Or I’m not as observant as I thought.] Pastor settles back in for a lovely gossip session.
Ana struggles in her door with an easel that nicely matches the woodwork in her house, while Nidia carries the little bags of art supplies. The art supply store music is playing here again. Nidia is babbling about not wanting a class that is half way or they might as well just hang up the paintbrushes. Ana finally puts the easel down, resting against the back of the sofa, and says they won’t start today. Nidia is disappointed. She figured that she’d be getting at least $10,000 per work by the gallery showing she’s having next week. [Okay, I was being a little sarcastic.] She concedes, though. How about if they start early tomorrow? Nidia hopes that she’s going to have all the models they plan to use hired. The Muzak grinds to a stop. Qué the heck? Models? What do you mean, what models? The Muzak operator puts on a different lovely classical music tape. Nidia wants to begin with the human body. Certainly, a man. She describes in detail learning to paint each muscle, each curve, every chomi….complete with expansive hand gestures. Ana tells her not so fast. They can’t begin with that. Nidia goes back to her explanation, as if Ana will be convinced. Nope. First things first, the basics. Oh, of course, Nidia replies. Ana continues, for example, a line, a shadow, an outline, some color….lots of things. Nidia’s face falls [as far as it can, given lifts]. What a shame! She was so enthusiastic about the pair of papiricos she’d envisioned, chomi-chomis, oh well. Ana turns her face and giggles behind her hand. Well, Ana is not going to be moved and there’s nothing Nidia can do. Ana nods and smiles firmly as my favorite lovely classical Muzak plays.
Pastor congratulates Ivonne on her bloodless coup. She’s back in power. She defended her territory like the great ones, she was brilliant. Ivonne gives him the credit, because with a teacher like him, one can only imagine! He’s pleased she’s giving him credit where credit is due, and it’s always wonderful when the student surpasses the teacher. But, she confirmed one thing for him, that women unite only when they have an enemy in common. She affirms that she and Monica are going to have their vengeance on this woman. They’ll skin CL alive. Pastor chuckles. He has only one question. How can they do that when Paula and CL will marry and leave the country to live. Ivonne assures him it’s all coldly calculated. Ivonne’s partner, the Sra. Monica, will handle that little detail.
Speaking of the Queen of Rome, Moni informs CL by phone that what she wants to talk to him about isn’t urgent, but she just wants to talk about a matter with him. They arrange to meet the following day.
Fern helps Paula out of the car, and she strides off. She passes Juan and Enrique so that Juan can greet her, she can smile a little but not speak to him, and he stare after her. [Okay, did that sound sufficiently catty?] Kike wonders aloud to Juan about the little smile there. Juan snaps at Kike not to begin bugging him. Fern hurries over to Where the Boys Are. Kike is covering a smile as Fern greets them and asks what’s up. Juan replies that nothing’s new on this front. Fern says okay, nothing new…..and explodes, qué the heck, I have something new! [This is the most excited we’ve ever seen Fern, folks.] “With the Licenciada?” Juan is curious-impactado. “Spit it out, man!” Kike can’t wait. Fern realizes he’s put his foot in his mouth, so to speak.
Marely is surprised that Paula’s back so soon, she thought Paula would be longer at her lunch. Paula informs Marely she didn’t even eat. Why? Because every day CL leaves me with a new surprise. Okay, so now what’s the new surprise. That we’re going to get married This Weekend. Marely is impactada! Paula asks if that seems like he’s come totally unhinged.
Fern has spoken out of turn and is doing his level best to backpedal so he won’t have to spill the beans when he told Paula he was offended that she’d think he’d do it. Especially to Juan. Fern tries to run off and the boys try to grab him. “Better to leave it there or there are going to be problems.” The boys protest, especially Juan. Fern already “rumbled” and he’s gotta give the info up. He starts to describe waiting outside the restaurant and what did he see? “What did you SEE?!” the boys howl at him. Well, the Licenciada coming at him absolutely furious! And they’ll never guess who was right after her? Juan yells to Fern to not keep them guessing the gossip. Well, it was the boss (CL), running to catch her. Fern describes the fight with CL raising his voice and her wondering if he wanted the pair of them yelling in the street. Kike is totally tickled by this scene, that got so bad. Yep, Fern tells them, she didn’t let him twist her arm (give her arm to him to twist, no dio su brazo a torcer) go back to the restaurant with him, either. And what do you think? She finished off the conversation telling him if he’s tiring of her, she’s tiring of him, even more! The boys’ expressions are proud (Fern), tickled (Kike) and incredulous (Juan). “That’s a quote!” (palabras textuales exact words). Fern tells them he doesn’t know, but it seems like this pair is everything except a pair who really wants to marry. This pair has serious problems. If they’re this way now, imagine what it’ll be like when the knife is at their throats (They’re married?). Kike thumps Fern’s gut, what great gossip. Juan’s smile expands like the Grinch’s heart.
Nidia and Ana, exhausted from the afternoon of shopping, are chatting on the sofa. Nidia tells Ana it’s good that she told Paulita what she was thinking. Ana second guesses herself, because Paula’s not listening, she thinks. Nidia wonders who ever listens to their mother. Ana tells Nidia she’s not against marriage, but she thinks it’s not an easy undertaking (another definition of “empresa.”) Even if one marries the most marvelous person in the world, there are sacrifices. Sure, it has its recompenses—it’s not all bad. Nidia wants to know how Ana knows so much since she was never married. Oops. She realizes at Ana’s pained look that her foot’s in her mouth. Pardon me, Nidia begs. Ana doesn’t want to sound harsh, but she thinks that Samuel’s relationship with her was practically a marriage. And, Ana learned many things about Nidia’s marriage with Samuel. Among others, Ana knew what was going wrong between Nidia and Samuel. Nidia becomes distinctly uncomfortable. If Ana’s going to turn out to be her professor in everything, at least don’t pound it in. In addition to painting, it looks like Ana knows everything, everything about love, Nidia declares. Ana is rueful. Nidia wants to talk in confidence; what would Ana do in her case? Ana diplomatically replies it depends on whatever she’s prepared to do. Drama Queen Nidia tells Ana whatever is needed to recover her peace. Ana continues for her to think about doing what’s needed to reconcile her marriage, be lovely for her husband. Nidia agrees, of course. Ana tells Nidia she’s passionate, so take advantage of it. Put those qualities on the table, and if she’s willing to tame her husband he might turn into an interesting man. Nidia scoffs, Ana shouldn’t be making fun of her. This tasteless man can’t inspire any thoughts in her except bad ones. Ana thinks the feos (ugly ones) have their points (gracias – one definition is graces), it’s just a matter of identifying them. She continues that Nidia should put on a very sexy blouse, exploit her sensuality to the max [Ed. Note: Let’s keep in mind, friends, that this is ANA speaking here.] Nidia leans over conspiratorially—did Ana do this with Samuel? Ana is impactada-offendida. That’s a question that she’s not going to answer, she tells Nidia sternly. Nidia tells her okay, who would have seen her, so timid, so cautious. You had yours hidden, but you had it. Ana hesitates at this outburst….Nidia changes the subject, she’s got to go. She’s got to be ready for her hubby.
Moni is watching Juan musingly from the back seat. Juan is thought bubbling; he wonders if it could be true what Fern has told him. No way would he be inventing these things, right? Could it be that they fought because of me? He begs the Blessed Child of Atocha about the bad piece of meat and calls himself pig-headed [Ed. Note: my hubby says that – about a bad piece of meat - when he’s having a bad day and his head is full of stuff he doesn’t want to think about. It’s from Dickens, I think, the Christmas Carol.] Moni chews on her finger thoughtfully, watching like a cat ready to pounce. Juan continues: now, what do I do?
Apparently, he’s decided what to do. He’s back to stalking outside Paula’s bedroom window and standing there talking to himself—only this time we can’t hear inside his head. He’s angry? Unhappy? All of the above?
CL isn’t meeting Moni at the office. No, he’s coming to see her at Laura’s house. Perhaps he’s strategizing to throw her off her stride. She wants to know what he’s doing here. What, he asks, didn’t you need to meet with me? It could have waited for tomorrow. He turns around and retorts that they say you shouldn’t leave for tomorrow what you can do today. Before anything, he tells her, he wants to thank her. What for? Her discussion with Paula, thanks to that his future wife no longer works at the company. Moni informs CL that she didn’t fire Paula, if that’s what Paula is telling him. No, CL says, he didn’t come to talk about Paula or hear Monica defend herself. But thanks to that, Paula now has nothing to hold her in this country. Well, then, Moni observes, you must be thinking in going. Moni adopts the “poor little woman” demeanor. She had no idea how difficult it would be to manage such a large company as Farell. CL smiles that MCP smile and assures her it’s a titanic job. Moni regrets that she can’t do it alone. She begs him to stay and come back to work. He looks at her warily, all traces of the chauvinist gone. He knows when he’s been set up. And we are reminded that any similarity to real life is purely a coincidence.
Monday: (the last day of Destilando, but Juan is still on) Paula is still confused, but we’re not surprised, because she is terminally confused. Ana tells her to figure out what she feels for Juan. Can there be something that will change everything? Will she stay with CL or go with Juan?
Vocabulary
Cursilerías – affectations
Tramando – plotting
Plan – attitude, (alternate definition)
Actualizar – update
Laguna – gap (alternate definition)
Alboroto – uproar
Sacar a algn de quicio-to drive someone up the wall
Atolondrada – scatter-brained
Anda cacheteando las banquetas – wild about someone (slapping the sidewalks – from my Barron’s dictionary of Spanish slang)
Estoy hasta el gorro - I am fed up
Carboncillos – charcoal pencils
No dio su brazo a torcer – didn’t let him twist her arm, didn’t give her arm to be twisted
Palabras textuales – that’s a quote (exact words)
Echando los perros - flirting, (thanks, Cap'n Eve/Sylvia for checking with a friend)
La soga al cuello - get married (thanks, Judy B.)
Schoolmarm Jeanne
And we revisit a beaming Monica giving Juan her briefcase and beaming at him as she wonders if he’s aware the Licenciada is leaving Farell? He thought bubbles that he hadn’t known, but maybe he’d best act like he had (not give her the rope to hang him, implied). He says he’d heard, and she wants to know what he thinks. He hedges—the hour comes for everyone to go sooner or later. He tells her he was thinking of it, too. Monica puts on her best flirting expression, grabs Juan by the tie and pulls him closer, asking “how’s that? The changes of bosses seems so bad to you?” Monica doesn’t simper well. Juan stumbles around. He wants to expand his horizons, he isn’t putting down his time as a chauffeur, but it’s time to move on, up. Monica is So Glad he has aspirations, and she guesses she understand him. She plays with his tie and tells him she can help him move in Farell. Juan is impactado and squirmy. He tells her this gives him pause (gives him pena, my interpretation), because he surely wouldn’t want her to bother. She plays with his lapels and tells him it’s No Bother. She strokes the lapels and tells him she loves to help people accomplish their dreams. She touches his nose fondly and tells him he’s demonstrated he’s a magnificent person. Juan wiggles his nose like he’s got an itch and thanks her, with no eye contact as he struggles to keep from sneezing. She tells him to let her see what she can do and touches him lightly to punctuate. Juan thanks her again uncomfortably, and then opens the limo door for her. She thanks him, spins around with full coquettish eye contact, a hand grasp and WHAT? A WINK? Sheesh. Finally, she gets into the car. What a relief. For Juan and for Us. Juan thought bubbles that this woman has him intrigued. First she hurled a stone at him with this info about the Licenciada, and then she comforted him by offering help. His eyes shift – he has no clue what to make of this. The door closed, he makes his way around the car, though bubbling that it’s got to be one of three things. She’s the Good Samaritan like people say, or she was plotting (tramando) something and wants to get him in the middle of it, or worse, you, if you were sly, “were a couple of bragging dogs???” ( Estaba echando dos perros, someone help with the dicho!) He glances in the mirror to see Monica smiling, still plenty coquettish. He maneuvers through traffic, still talking to himself while Moni plays with him in the mirror, kissing her finger and turning it around to him. He continues to muse on this—he’s not really surprised, it won’t be the first or the last little kid (goat type, cabrita - a little female) who would have slipped onto the terrain of Juan Dominguez. His eyebrow goes up as he watches her in the mirror. [Ed. Note: Moni, no way can you convince us you’re sleazy. Nice try, though. Just don’t crush Juan, he’s had plenty of that.]
Ana is sharing a distinctly uncomfortable breakfast with Paula. Paula wants to know what the heck is on Ana’s mind before Ana explodes. [Ed. Note: I froze the frame to type here and Ana’s expression was So Sour that my hubby said if she doesn’t be careful, it’ll freeze that way forever.] She doesn’t want them to continue with this attitude (plan, one of the definitions). They need each other. Ana explains that Paula will have to forgive her, but she overheard Paula and Juan the night before. Paula had asked Juan if he knew what she was looking for. It seemed like a plea to Ana. A plea for what? Ana can’t really say, she’s not sure. It was like she wanted him to do something. Ana says Paula will think she’s crazy, but he almost kissed her. Paula thinks Ana is hallucinating. But Paula isn’t making eye contact when she tells Ana. Ana says Paula’s attitude was pretty flirty, like she was provoking him. Maybe Juan is the answer to what she’s looking for, Ana earnestly tells her. Paula firmly denies this. She’s found what she wanted. Ana doubts it. She’s always wanted a love with integrity, honest, total. And the only man who’s offered that is Juan. Ana points out that Paula knows that no one will lover her like Juan does. Paula wants to know why Ana is so sure. Because Juan gave Paula up in order that she could be happy with CL. That’s the best possible proof of how much he loves her. Paula counters that CL gave up his marriage, his business [Ed. Note: and THIS makes him a good catch?] and CL told her he’d let her go so she could be happy with Juan. They’re saved by the bell again, thank heaven. It’s probably Fernando to pick her up. Ana stops her as she starts to answer the door—she can’t marry someone when she has feelings for another. Paula says she really doesn’t know why her mother’s saying that. Ana says it’s because of what she heard and saw the night before, the manner in which Paula looked at Juan. She tells Paula to think about it. Paula nods but says she has to go to the office, and kisses her mother. Ana is not thrilled with it all.
CL is all dressed for something, which is amazing given he’s unemployed. He greets his friend Andres, also dressed to the nines in a suit with as much hair gel as Fernando Mendiola (but on Fernando Mendiola, it was positively sultry). They exchange pleasantries. Andres thinks it’s odd that CL isn’t meeting at the office with him. CL tells him to sit, lots of things have changed since the divorce. Andres says CL will have to update him (actualizar). He can’t have a lawyer with these gaps (laguna, another definition). Ah, he’s a lawyer, that explains why CL has a suit and tie on when he’s unemployed. CL tells him it’s all a very long conversation ahead of them. [Ed. Note: So, is this guy on the clock or what? Can you afford to give him all the juicy details when you’re unemployed, CL?] The boys lean forward, so they can talk in whispers in CL’s apartment. CL wants Andres to tell him something. How soon can he re-marry? Andres is not the least bit impactado. Well, the divorce is done, but there’s paperwork….it’ll take up to a month if Andres really speeds up the paperwork. Not good enough, CL tells him. I want to get married next weekend. NOW Andres is impactado.
Marely is shocked to see Paula back in the office after “yesterday’s uproar (alboroto)!” No, Paula’s not leaving things incomplete. She’s not giving that woman the pleasure of seeing her abandon all the work, unfinished, and it’s going to be all organized and clear before she walks out the door for real. Marely just nods. Paula changes the subject. How’d it go with Nidia last night? Great, Marely tells her. Things are calm on the home front For The Moment. She thinks Paula might have lost some sleep with all the drama. No, Paula replies, she lost sleep, but not because of that. Marely wants to know what. Thinking about a thousand things. Marely retorts that among those things might be CL? Yes, that too. Paula doesn’t understand this enmity between him and her mother. He can’t stand her. Why? Well, because we talked about getting married and proposed to take her with us and leave the country to live, and she got furious. Marely is shocked that Paula and CL think to leave the country. Paula acknowledges that she’s not thrilled about the idea and they might be moving too fast. Marely points out that she’s said this to the point that it’s worn out. Yes, Paula agrees. She was completely sure of all this before, but now she doesn’t know. On one hand there’s CL pressuring her and on the other hand there is Juan. Juan? What’s up with Juan? Marely looks worried. Paula looks at her guiltily.
CL and Andres are still hashing out how a divorce in the D. F. can be accelerated to faster than the speed of light. Andres tells him it’s too hasty to try to get the paperwork done for a weekend wedding. CL tells Andres that maybe he didn’t understand what CL asked. He doesn’t give a rip about the paperwork. He’s ready to pay whatever. But, it has to be resolved in time for the wedding. Can Andres do it or not? CL’s camaraderie has flown out the window, he means business. Andres tells CL he’ll get to work on it. He’s not a happy camper. He wonders if the service will be a religious one. CL tells him that’s resolved; he didn’t marry Monica in the church. Andres wants to know if it’s not an indiscretion, why now? CL sighs. His mother in law is a toothache (dolor de muelas, toothache). If he doesn’t do it, she’s never going to get over it. He’s fed up with her. Andres points out that once he’s married, he’ll never be able to get rid of the mother in law. CL knows, but he’ll find a way. The woman is a really negative influence on Paula.
Paula is leaning against her credenza, telling Marely how Juan has been so good with her, so special. He even talked to her mother and helped calm her regarding CL. Marely looks increasingly worried with Paula’s change of heart. There’s no room for doubt that Juan has shown how much he loves her. He’s made a sacrifice. Marely quietly asks if she needs more evidence. No, Paula says, but this is making such a tangled of knots in her head that she doesn’t know how to handle it, what to do. Her mother’s got her thinking as usual, Paula continues, and she doesn’t know what she’s looking for. Paula asks what Marely thinks. Marely thinks she shouldn’t pay attention to her mother and not think twice. Paula is impactada. Marely fumbles around that whenever she gives advice, Paula does the opposite, so she’s giving her the opposite of what she should do now. So, Paula says, she should pay attention to her mother and let up on the accelerator. At least that, Marely agrees, and maybe even put on the brake and get out of the car. Paula sighs; Sr. Farell won’t think this is the least bit amusing. Marely says that’s some bad luck. Paula smiles fondly at Marely and asks if she has any more advice. Well, Marely says, if you’re going to let up on the accelerator take advantage of this opportunity to clarify your feelings for Juan. [Ed. Note: As I said last week, they are Recycling Scripts Here, folks. We’ve been there, done that.] Marely doesn’t’ want her to make an unforgivable mistake of marrying CL when Juan is still deep in her heart.
Monica is spitting out orders to Pastor. Two things: first, we need to think about finding someone to replace Paula Dávila. Pastor’s eyes get oh-so-wide. “Don’t tell me that she’s going?” Monica retorts indignantly that he shouldn’t try to tell her that he didn’t know. He hedges, well, he’d heard rumors. But the Licenciada’s resigning was becoming a sport….Moni interrupts him. That was during the CL era. Things are different now, so get busy and find a person to replace her. Pastor knows just the ideal candidate, now that she mentions it. He describes this person who could move up, with passion, hablablablabla and Monica cuts him off again. “Would that by any chance be You?” Nope, Forget It. She needs him right where he is too much. He protests and she cuts him off yet again, because she doesn’t want to discuss it. Look for candidates, already, and give three choices. Yes, Ma’am. Second, Monica wants Pastor to find something for Juan Dominguez. That gets Pastor’s attention. Excuse me? Well, Paula has resigned, and Juan is thinking of doing the same, and I suppose that’s something you also knew. Pastor makes a face that clearly says he had no idea. Well, Moni wants him to stay and so they have to offer something that will interest him. Yes, Ma’am. Pastor looks away.
Fern is at the garage desk, doing crosswords or whatever he’s always doing. Juan, sans jacket, wants to know how it’s going with the Licenciada Paula? Fern doesn’t even look up. “How’s what going?” Well, Juan asks, you’re picking her up, bringing her here….? Fern finally looks up. “What do you think?” Juan replies “How bad tempered, a person can’t even ask you a question.” Fern goes back to his crossword. “You can, but not nonsense.” Juan prods a little. The Licenciada is good people, nice, chatty….. Fern says she didn’t open her mouth during the whole trip. Juan is impactado. Why? Could it be that something is bothering her? Fern looks up again, annoyed. “Well, you’re not leaving me in peace until I tell you some gossip about the Licenciada, right?” Juan protests that this is his ex-boss, he’s just interested in her well being. Well, Fern tells him, for his information she had a worried look. What kind of worried look? About work, or a personal matter, or what? Juan sits next to him, anxious. Fern wants to know how he’s supposed to know what sort of worry she had. Fern wonders if Juan is trying to drive someone up the wall. (sacar a algn de quicio to drive someone up the wall). He stands up, totally irritated. He points out he’s seen lots of faces in the rearview mirror, and this woman had a face that looked like she’s going through a complicated time, because of work, because of Juan, whatever, he didn’t have a way of knowing. Fern asks if he can get back to what he was doing. Juan snaps at him. Sorry to have disturbed your deep reading there. Fern shows him the book up close. Oops, probably not a crossword. Juan is disgusted.
CL is still in his apartment and still dressed to the nines. He’s asking Paula how everything is. More or less, she tells him, lots of work. He tells her she doesn’t have to worry. On the contrary, I’m leaving things all ready for your ex, she tells him. She won’t have any doubt about my management. He asks her to go out to eat, but Paula wants to do the work. He’s not accepting a no. He has a surprise. He won’t tell her, but suggests they meet at the Italian place. Bye bye, he hangs up too fast for her to say a word. Paula’s provoked. Marely wants to know what’s up. Paula says CL has a surprise lunch for her. Marely asks why she doesn’t take advantage of it and give him the surprise that they’re slowing things down some. Paula just looks irritated.
Pastor comes into the garage to see Juan and they exchange greetings and chitchat about how Juan’s new assignment is going. Pastor tells him the boss loves him. [Ed. Note: uh-huh.] She’s thinking of changing herself into his new guardian angel. Pastor remarks that he doesn’t know what it is about Juan and the female executives of this company, but he makes them crazy. Juan makes a self-deprecating remark about Pastor coming up with all this stuff, one just needs to be a decent person, nothing more. Well, Pastor informs him, the boss wants to offer him a job in the offices. It’s not just anything, it’s something important. Juan is wary, but says she mentioned it. Pastor wants to know what kind of work Juan would like to be doing in the company. Such opportunities don’t call twice at the door.
Ana is serving coffee as she and Nidia stand in Ana’s kitchen. Ana wants to know how it went the night before. Nidia, with a pained and martyred look, replies if only she could tell Ana about her Calvary. There is only one thing worse than having a big fuss with Alirio Perafán, and that’s to reconcile with him. Ana takes a pan of biiiig pastries out of the oven and puts them onto the tiled counter. Nidia continues, what a torture it was, his little gestures. She describes him bringing her breakfast in bed and trying to feed her while she looks longingly at what Ana has baked. Nidia does a great Delirio impression, tone of voice, expansive gestures and body language, and all. [Ed. Note: Nidia really ought to take up acting.] Ana chuckles, picturing Alirio in full splendor. She tsks and tells Nidia it’s not so bad, he’s making an effort. Nidia thinks he’s a pain in the neck. But, Nidia tells Ana, she wants to talk very seriously with Ana. Ana looks worried impactada.
Juan rubs at the car behind him a little and tells Pastor he simply doesn’t want to be in the company, but he has no problem with the company. Pastor wants to know if it has something to do with the Licenciada Paula. Juan tells Pastor he knows it does. That’s the only way he can forget. Pastor points out she’s resigned. Yeah, but those resignations were not forever. Pastor chuckles. In this case, yes. Paula and CL are going to live out of the country. For real? Juan is muy impactado. Yes, Pastor tells him, didn’t you know? Juan had no idea. Speaking of the Queen of Rome, Paula comes into the garage. She greets them and walks on, clingy black dress wrinkling badly around her okole. Juan looks after her, absolutely impactado. Pastor asks if he’s going or if he’s staying with Farell.
Nidia is telling Ana her tale of woe; she burned her brain all night, asking herself questions. Why me? And I concluded it happens because I’m idle. [Ed. Note: Busy hands are happy hands….] Ana is curious about that. Well, Nidia continues that she had dedicated herself to being a mother, hablablablabla and was going to escape with Anga. Ana wants to know if she’s going to work. Nidia is appalled at the thought. Nobody in her family goes to work. Except Marely, but she got that from Samuel. Ana rolls her eyes a little. Well, then, is she going to sew or embroider or something? Nope, Nidia has a better idea and that’s where Ana can help. Ana looks wary, and she should. Me? Yes, you. I want you to be my teacher, Nidia tells Ana. Teacher of what? Nidia wants to dedicate herself to painting. Lovely classical music plays.
Pastor is still working on Juan. Juan just has to overcome this situation. Can he give up an opportunity like this just for spite? No. Pastor expects more of Juan. Juan protests but Pastor asks Juan to do it for him. What’s he going to tell the Sra. if Juan doesn’t stay? Juan says that’s really annoying, such insistence. What abuse from this Sra. Pastor tells him to think a couple of days about it. He shouldn’t make any scatter-brained decisions (atolondradas). He should take his time and then decide what to do with his life. Juan looks warily at Pastor……
Paula strides toward CL, who is already seated at the table. She’s beaming. He jumps up, calls her his love, and kisses her—she looks LOVELY. And this? She wants to know what’s up. Is this the surprise? No. Why so much mystery—it’s making her nervous. [It should.] He tells her to calm down, and take her cup. They’re going to celebrate their wedding. He clinks her champagne glass and she’s impactada. CL, how good that you’ve brought up this topic because….because what? CL wants to know. We’re getting married next weekend. To your health, my love! She’s impactada again. [Her impactada never brings a single wrinkle or line out. What’s up with that? Is her face permanently botoxed?] He smiles broadly.
Ana and Nidia sit down to a Huge lunch. Nidia, her napkin tucked into her décolletage, sighs as the lovely classical music continues to play. All her life she’s been a frustrated artist, she declares to Ana. “Don’t tell me.” “Oh, yes, I tell you!” In college she was the queen of singing, dancing, theater. “What happened?” Nidia hops up and spins around, demonstrating the part she played. She describes how her father interfered, okay, partly because she was playing fast and loose with manhandling her leading man. Might have been partly due to the mini-falda, too. Ana chuckles and Nidia declares anything for art! Now that she has time again, she wants to take up that vocation again. What does Ana think? Ana wants to know if she’s painted before. Yes, for pure jokes. (?????) [Help! This dicho is beyond me and all 12 dictionaries—“puros cuernos” One definition of cuerno is “joke.”] They laugh again. Seriously, Ana asks, why painting? Because it’s so pretty, because I can do it at home, and because I’d have you as my teacher. Nidia leans over and touches Ana fondly. She’s going to pay Ana, though. Ana won’t hear of it and they fuss about that like the viejas they are. [Ed. Note: Nidia reminds her tactlessly that Ana has no work. Nice touch, Nidia. Give and take away.] Nidia thinks it’s a win-win situation. How does that seem to Ana? Ana shakes her head; it’s doesn’t thrill her.
CL is working Paula over at the restaurant still. He tells her he thinks it’ll be marvelous. Paula tries to protest. He protests over her, but she tells him to take a step like this they have to be very aware of what they are doing. He wants to know if those are her words, or her mother’s. [Ed. Note: Paula’s annoying expression is only surpassed by her annoying décolletage. How was it that Melinama put it not long ago? We just don’t need to see the underside of her bosom. Or something along those lines.] The discussion escalates into a drag-down fight. He complains about Ana, who is spoiling everything, in his opinion. [He is one First-Class Manipulator.] She sets Paula against him, he accuses. Hablablablabla clear up to about 120 decibels. Paula jumps up and sarcastically thanks him for the invite, then stalks away. He gets the waiter, pays and runs after her. She tells Fern “let’s go,” and CL stops them. He’s not done with the conversation. They yell at each other a while more and then he tones down. Fern crosses his arms and looks prepared to deck CL. Hm. CL wants to calm down, keep eating and talking. Nope. Paula’s going back to work. What for, she doesn’t work for Farell any more. She tells him to lower his voice. He tells her she’s forcing him to this. Oh, it’s my fault now? He whines a little. Their future depends on how they handle these situations. Finally, she’s out of there with Fern. Whew. That’s a relief, we don’t have to listen to the pair of them for a while. Fern gives CL a Really Dark Look as he closes the door for her. CL chews his lip in chagrin.
Gutis has come to visit Delirio in the catacombs. “You went to find her,” he accuses Delirio. “She’s my wife.” “And I imagine you crawled on the ground like a dog?” Nope. Delirio describes the scene where he manfully forced his wife to come home. Not. He tells Gutis how he talked tough and he cleared things up. Gutis wants to know where he found her—that guy’s house? Nope, a girlfriend’s house. [Ed. Note: please notice that he didn’t tell Gutis it’s Ana.] Now, Gutis, this topic is dead and buried, Delirio tells him.
Juan and Marely are at a quaint little eatery having a nice lunch. Why didn’t Marely tell him that Paula was leaving Farell? Marely points out that one day she’ll get mad and another she’ll change her mind and stay. And why hasn’t he told her about this little place? He can’t know how long she’s been looking for a place with delicious and inexpensive food like this close to the office. It’s a state secret, he tells her. They joke around a little. What if they spill the tepache about this place, everyone will start coming, and it’ll be full. Then the king that he is won’t get in. She accuses him of being jealous over it. Nope, he says, it’s self-preservation. He has to keep it exclusive. He touches her chin and she smiles back at him. He wants to change the topic and know what she’s doing after work. Nothing, why? He has a triple-header plan: some tacos and dancing. Marely says it doesn’t seem so good to her. The cachi-cachi-bombon music grinds to a stop. Juan wants to know why, and Marely wants to know why he’s asking her out now? He’s tired of work, wants to go out, get a little spirit, etc. relax [Juan actually said relax in English and the captioner MISSED it.] Marely calls his bluff; he wants to forget Paula. Busted. He can’t lie to her, it’s true. She’s the only one who can help him. She’s pleased with his frankness, but she’s tired of being his crying towel. It’s not that, he tells her. Yes, it IS that, she retorts. He tells her it’s not lies, he’s just going through a time that’s very difficult for him. Marely tells him he needs to find another person. And what’s more, she hesitantly tells him, she thinks that Paula’s not done with him. He snaps back to attention. Nope, she doesn’t know what she’s saying, she’s crazy. Of course she knows what she’s saying, Marely tells him. He tries to get more out of her but she refuses; she’s not saying anything more. She shoves a spoon into his mouth to feed him some dessert. [Ed. Note: Juan, we’re going to whack you if you keep on overlooking this gem!]
Ivonne sashays back to the lobby desk where she used to sit, but now Julia is there. Julia and Ivonne greet each other warmly. Ivonne wonders if they’ve replaced her so fast, and gives Julia an indirect compliment about her suit – “are you on a diet, or are those my nerves?” Julia beams, then complains about the job. They put her there because Ivonne hasn’t been around. She gripes about “that Sra.” and Ivonne chuckles at her, looking very relaxed. The phone rings and Julia dives for it. Pastor walks up behind Ivonne, also chuckling—“who do we have here?” Ivonne turns and greets him with double-cheek kisses. He fusses fondly at her, the ingrate, he’s left her a thousand messages and she’s not reported back. He has her final payout ready. She’d better cash it today, he tells her. He asks her to come to his office. Nope, she’s not going. He warns her not to look for more problems, because the Sra. Monica….Ivonne turns to Julia and tells her to announce Ivonne’s visit to the boss. She wants to see Moni. Julia doubts Moni wants to see Ivonne. Ivonne is, as Sylvia noted yesterday, goal-oriented and persistent. It’s very important. Julia throws up her hands and goes off to do Ivonne’s bidding. [Ed. Note: And don’t we just know who the Alpha Female is here, huh?] Pastor whispers to Ivonne. “What are you going to do?” She’ll tell him later. Pastor tries to dissuade her from doing something truly nuts. A surprised Julia comes back to tell Ivonne to go right in. Next thing we know, she’s talking to Moni. She has a proposal for Moni. “You have a proposal for ME?” [Ed. Note: your recapper can’t help but notice that although Ivonne’s skirt is short, her décolletage is more subdued than usual. Sorry, Oldman54. Perhaps Ivonne realizes that she wants Moni’s total attention in the most positive sense, and the skirt doesn’t matter when it’s behind the desk.] Moni’s skeptical look shows what she thinks of that idea. Ivonne informs her that perhaps she hasn’t realized but now that she’s in the company, and now that CL and Paula are going to marry, what Moni will need is allies and not enemies. Why allies? Ivonne says she’ll need allies for what Ivonne wants to propose. With Ivonne she doesn’t need to hide anything. Moni thinks that’s pretty shrewd of Ivonne. Ivonne continues that she’s a woman who is equally, or possibly more, offended than Moni, and in Moni’s place Ivonne would be thinking the same as Moni is. And what would that be?..... “To ruin the lives of this pair.” Ivonne delivers the final punch: Moni won’t find a better ally than her in this company. Moni tells Ivonne to sit and convince her. Ivonne struts to the chair.
Marely and Juan are back from their intimate lunch at the hideaway gem of a restaurant. Marely greets Enrique, who’s seated at the desk Fern usually occupies. Kike wants to know what’s up, and she lets him know she has some orders for deliveries for him ASAP. They say goodbye and Juan sits on the edge of the desk. And, what’s up, my Juanito, Kike asks. He gets up onto the edge of the desk on the other side so they’re back to back and looking around to see each other. Kike gets that cute little grin he has when he’s prying for chisme—is Juan making points with Marely now? Juan denies it, he’s more at a loss with Marely than with the Licenciada. Kike teases him not to be that way, because it’s no secret to anyone that Marely is wild for him (anda cacheteando las banquetas, slapping the sidewalks – from my Barron’s dictionary of Spanish slang). Juan replies mournfully that women are strange and he had the brilliant idea of falling in love with the Licenciada and now he has no idea how long his punishment will last. He wonders if Kike knows someone who can help him rub out the tattoo. Kike is impactado. Kike tells him it’d be too difficult and he’ll have a Really Ugly Scar (cicatriz refea, adding the prefix “re” before an adjective can make it a very strong superlative in some cases, if I understand correctly). He retorts that his scar is in his soul.
Paula is actually talking to Fern as they drive back to the office. She asks him for a very special favor, that he be discreet with what just took place and that he won’t say Anything to Anyone. Fern is a little offended. He’s surprised that she has to ask this. She protests that she knows about the dirty laundry that gets aired in the garage. She’s serious, that he won’t say Anything to Anyone. Fern looks pained. Above all, nothing to Juan. Fern tells her straight out he’s offended but not to worry.
Ivonne elaborates on her proposal to the Jefa. Ivonne thinks Moni should know that things between Ivonne and CL aren’t done. Moni looks a bit impactada in an “Oh, don’t tell me” sort of way. Moni wants to know if Ivonne wants a medal. No, but Ivonne thinks this means something about how strong CL’s actual feelings for Paula really are. She plays with her hair and proceeds to tell Moni that she was in CL’s bed while he was convincing Paula he was going far away, and while he was comforting her for the discussion that Moni had with her, Ivonne was in his bedroom. Just yesterday…Moni cuts her off, enough already, she’s got the idea. Ivonne just wants her to know that Ivonne is still a part of his life and has been for a good long while now. Moni sarcastically congratulates Ivonne, what a great woman she is. Ivonne responds that CL doesn’t love Paula. Moni retorts that CL doesn’t love anyone with the possible exception of himself. Ivonne points out that he’s caused a lot of pain. Moni doubts that he’s caused Ivonne any. Ivonne responds that she’s always known that for him it was a game, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t hurting. Moni’s not sure that wasn’t an advantage for Ivonne, since she was always used to being the other woman. Ivonne thought there was no other way for her. Moni wants her to cut to the chase; what’s Ivonne looking for? To give them a lesson. Both of them, but especially her. Moni stands up….”and after you give this lesson to Paula Dávila…” Ivonne interrupts. No, WE give this lesson…because it’s a task for both of us. Okay, after WE give the lesson, Monica wonders, then what? Nothing more, each of us has had her vengeance. It’s what might be called a temporary partnership. Moni chuckles—“a partnership between you and me? In exchange for what?” [Ed. Note: this is why you’re the Jefa, you’re always two moves ahead, Moni.] Ivonne tells Moni that among other things, she wants her job back. Only that? Ivonne acknowledges that there will be the pure personal satisfaction, too. Moni looks thoughtful, and Ivonne reads her mind. “There’s not much to think about, Sra. Monica, I think I’ve been clear enough and my proposal is worth your while.” Moni and Ivonne exchange slightly conspiratorial looks.
Out in the lobby, Julia is typing away when Ivonne exits Moni’s office. “My esteemed Julia, what a shame, but you’re going to have to abandon this desk…” Ivonne hands Julia her water, and helps her move things off the desk. “You’re going to return?” Julia is impactada….and pleased. That’s good, because one more day working with this Sra. and I’d be totally fed up (estoy hasta el gorro, I am fed up). Ivonne smiles cheerfully at her and gently pushes Julia back toward her reception desk. She eases into her chair with a contented sigh.
The viejas have gone out to purchase art supplies, and the nice young man in a suit [in an ART supply store??] is helping. Nidia tells Ana that the first thing she has to buy is a horse, right? We hear the horse neighing in the background. Ana chuckles fondly at her, no, they want a caballete- easel – not a caballo – horse. Yeah, Nidia agrees, the thing they put the paper on so they can make drawings. Ana chuckles again. The young man says they have several models, or are they looking for a specific one? Nidia wants the most expensive one they have, the model doesn’t matter. The lovely classical music is playing at this store, too. Perhaps they have the same Muzak tape that Ana does. Nidia is convinced that if you go cheap, it ends up expensive. Ana takes her aside and disabuses her of the need for the most expensive. Nidia needs to begin with basics for now. Don’t go crazy buying supplies you don’t need, Ana advises. All she’ll need is some paper and charcoal pencils (carboncillos), that’s plenty for the first phase. Nidia is doubtful, but Ana wants her to listen up, she’s the teacher. Nidia still argues….
Ivonne makes Pastor nervous when she comes into his office because she’s not going to cash that final payout check. He’s upset that she’s going to provoke Monica and hasn’t followed his advice. She laughs and interrupts—“I’m staying at Farell!” “No!” Pastor is impactado. Yes, she tells her esteemed and incredulous comrade. He comes around, the perfect gentleman, to seat her and make her tell him Everything. Without omitting any details. [Now her décolletage is back to normal, folks. It’s magic. Or I’m not as observant as I thought.] Pastor settles back in for a lovely gossip session.
Ana struggles in her door with an easel that nicely matches the woodwork in her house, while Nidia carries the little bags of art supplies. The art supply store music is playing here again. Nidia is babbling about not wanting a class that is half way or they might as well just hang up the paintbrushes. Ana finally puts the easel down, resting against the back of the sofa, and says they won’t start today. Nidia is disappointed. She figured that she’d be getting at least $10,000 per work by the gallery showing she’s having next week. [Okay, I was being a little sarcastic.] She concedes, though. How about if they start early tomorrow? Nidia hopes that she’s going to have all the models they plan to use hired. The Muzak grinds to a stop. Qué the heck? Models? What do you mean, what models? The Muzak operator puts on a different lovely classical music tape. Nidia wants to begin with the human body. Certainly, a man. She describes in detail learning to paint each muscle, each curve, every chomi….complete with expansive hand gestures. Ana tells her not so fast. They can’t begin with that. Nidia goes back to her explanation, as if Ana will be convinced. Nope. First things first, the basics. Oh, of course, Nidia replies. Ana continues, for example, a line, a shadow, an outline, some color….lots of things. Nidia’s face falls [as far as it can, given lifts]. What a shame! She was so enthusiastic about the pair of papiricos she’d envisioned, chomi-chomis, oh well. Ana turns her face and giggles behind her hand. Well, Ana is not going to be moved and there’s nothing Nidia can do. Ana nods and smiles firmly as my favorite lovely classical Muzak plays.
Pastor congratulates Ivonne on her bloodless coup. She’s back in power. She defended her territory like the great ones, she was brilliant. Ivonne gives him the credit, because with a teacher like him, one can only imagine! He’s pleased she’s giving him credit where credit is due, and it’s always wonderful when the student surpasses the teacher. But, she confirmed one thing for him, that women unite only when they have an enemy in common. She affirms that she and Monica are going to have their vengeance on this woman. They’ll skin CL alive. Pastor chuckles. He has only one question. How can they do that when Paula and CL will marry and leave the country to live. Ivonne assures him it’s all coldly calculated. Ivonne’s partner, the Sra. Monica, will handle that little detail.
Speaking of the Queen of Rome, Moni informs CL by phone that what she wants to talk to him about isn’t urgent, but she just wants to talk about a matter with him. They arrange to meet the following day.
Fern helps Paula out of the car, and she strides off. She passes Juan and Enrique so that Juan can greet her, she can smile a little but not speak to him, and he stare after her. [Okay, did that sound sufficiently catty?] Kike wonders aloud to Juan about the little smile there. Juan snaps at Kike not to begin bugging him. Fern hurries over to Where the Boys Are. Kike is covering a smile as Fern greets them and asks what’s up. Juan replies that nothing’s new on this front. Fern says okay, nothing new…..and explodes, qué the heck, I have something new! [This is the most excited we’ve ever seen Fern, folks.] “With the Licenciada?” Juan is curious-impactado. “Spit it out, man!” Kike can’t wait. Fern realizes he’s put his foot in his mouth, so to speak.
Marely is surprised that Paula’s back so soon, she thought Paula would be longer at her lunch. Paula informs Marely she didn’t even eat. Why? Because every day CL leaves me with a new surprise. Okay, so now what’s the new surprise. That we’re going to get married This Weekend. Marely is impactada! Paula asks if that seems like he’s come totally unhinged.
Fern has spoken out of turn and is doing his level best to backpedal so he won’t have to spill the beans when he told Paula he was offended that she’d think he’d do it. Especially to Juan. Fern tries to run off and the boys try to grab him. “Better to leave it there or there are going to be problems.” The boys protest, especially Juan. Fern already “rumbled” and he’s gotta give the info up. He starts to describe waiting outside the restaurant and what did he see? “What did you SEE?!” the boys howl at him. Well, the Licenciada coming at him absolutely furious! And they’ll never guess who was right after her? Juan yells to Fern to not keep them guessing the gossip. Well, it was the boss (CL), running to catch her. Fern describes the fight with CL raising his voice and her wondering if he wanted the pair of them yelling in the street. Kike is totally tickled by this scene, that got so bad. Yep, Fern tells them, she didn’t let him twist her arm (give her arm to him to twist, no dio su brazo a torcer) go back to the restaurant with him, either. And what do you think? She finished off the conversation telling him if he’s tiring of her, she’s tiring of him, even more! The boys’ expressions are proud (Fern), tickled (Kike) and incredulous (Juan). “That’s a quote!” (palabras textuales exact words). Fern tells them he doesn’t know, but it seems like this pair is everything except a pair who really wants to marry. This pair has serious problems. If they’re this way now, imagine what it’ll be like when the knife is at their throats (They’re married?). Kike thumps Fern’s gut, what great gossip. Juan’s smile expands like the Grinch’s heart.
Nidia and Ana, exhausted from the afternoon of shopping, are chatting on the sofa. Nidia tells Ana it’s good that she told Paulita what she was thinking. Ana second guesses herself, because Paula’s not listening, she thinks. Nidia wonders who ever listens to their mother. Ana tells Nidia she’s not against marriage, but she thinks it’s not an easy undertaking (another definition of “empresa.”) Even if one marries the most marvelous person in the world, there are sacrifices. Sure, it has its recompenses—it’s not all bad. Nidia wants to know how Ana knows so much since she was never married. Oops. She realizes at Ana’s pained look that her foot’s in her mouth. Pardon me, Nidia begs. Ana doesn’t want to sound harsh, but she thinks that Samuel’s relationship with her was practically a marriage. And, Ana learned many things about Nidia’s marriage with Samuel. Among others, Ana knew what was going wrong between Nidia and Samuel. Nidia becomes distinctly uncomfortable. If Ana’s going to turn out to be her professor in everything, at least don’t pound it in. In addition to painting, it looks like Ana knows everything, everything about love, Nidia declares. Ana is rueful. Nidia wants to talk in confidence; what would Ana do in her case? Ana diplomatically replies it depends on whatever she’s prepared to do. Drama Queen Nidia tells Ana whatever is needed to recover her peace. Ana continues for her to think about doing what’s needed to reconcile her marriage, be lovely for her husband. Nidia agrees, of course. Ana tells Nidia she’s passionate, so take advantage of it. Put those qualities on the table, and if she’s willing to tame her husband he might turn into an interesting man. Nidia scoffs, Ana shouldn’t be making fun of her. This tasteless man can’t inspire any thoughts in her except bad ones. Ana thinks the feos (ugly ones) have their points (gracias – one definition is graces), it’s just a matter of identifying them. She continues that Nidia should put on a very sexy blouse, exploit her sensuality to the max [Ed. Note: Let’s keep in mind, friends, that this is ANA speaking here.] Nidia leans over conspiratorially—did Ana do this with Samuel? Ana is impactada-offendida. That’s a question that she’s not going to answer, she tells Nidia sternly. Nidia tells her okay, who would have seen her, so timid, so cautious. You had yours hidden, but you had it. Ana hesitates at this outburst….Nidia changes the subject, she’s got to go. She’s got to be ready for her hubby.
Moni is watching Juan musingly from the back seat. Juan is thought bubbling; he wonders if it could be true what Fern has told him. No way would he be inventing these things, right? Could it be that they fought because of me? He begs the Blessed Child of Atocha about the bad piece of meat and calls himself pig-headed [Ed. Note: my hubby says that – about a bad piece of meat - when he’s having a bad day and his head is full of stuff he doesn’t want to think about. It’s from Dickens, I think, the Christmas Carol.] Moni chews on her finger thoughtfully, watching like a cat ready to pounce. Juan continues: now, what do I do?
Apparently, he’s decided what to do. He’s back to stalking outside Paula’s bedroom window and standing there talking to himself—only this time we can’t hear inside his head. He’s angry? Unhappy? All of the above?
CL isn’t meeting Moni at the office. No, he’s coming to see her at Laura’s house. Perhaps he’s strategizing to throw her off her stride. She wants to know what he’s doing here. What, he asks, didn’t you need to meet with me? It could have waited for tomorrow. He turns around and retorts that they say you shouldn’t leave for tomorrow what you can do today. Before anything, he tells her, he wants to thank her. What for? Her discussion with Paula, thanks to that his future wife no longer works at the company. Moni informs CL that she didn’t fire Paula, if that’s what Paula is telling him. No, CL says, he didn’t come to talk about Paula or hear Monica defend herself. But thanks to that, Paula now has nothing to hold her in this country. Well, then, Moni observes, you must be thinking in going. Moni adopts the “poor little woman” demeanor. She had no idea how difficult it would be to manage such a large company as Farell. CL smiles that MCP smile and assures her it’s a titanic job. Moni regrets that she can’t do it alone. She begs him to stay and come back to work. He looks at her warily, all traces of the chauvinist gone. He knows when he’s been set up. And we are reminded that any similarity to real life is purely a coincidence.
Monday: (the last day of Destilando, but Juan is still on) Paula is still confused, but we’re not surprised, because she is terminally confused. Ana tells her to figure out what she feels for Juan. Can there be something that will change everything? Will she stay with CL or go with Juan?
Vocabulary
Cursilerías – affectations
Tramando – plotting
Plan – attitude, (alternate definition)
Actualizar – update
Laguna – gap (alternate definition)
Alboroto – uproar
Sacar a algn de quicio-to drive someone up the wall
Atolondrada – scatter-brained
Anda cacheteando las banquetas – wild about someone (slapping the sidewalks – from my Barron’s dictionary of Spanish slang)
Estoy hasta el gorro - I am fed up
Carboncillos – charcoal pencils
No dio su brazo a torcer – didn’t let him twist her arm, didn’t give her arm to be twisted
Palabras textuales – that’s a quote (exact words)
Echando los perros - flirting, (thanks, Cap'n Eve/Sylvia for checking with a friend)
La soga al cuello - get married (thanks, Judy B.)
Schoolmarm Jeanne
Labels: Juan
Amar Nov 30 - We have a cure
Not a great setup so far for my final Amar recap – I feel like crap. I’ll try and soldier through and hopefully the drugs won’t ruin things.
Mo rants and raves at Azul, threatens to hurt Ceci for anything that Azul does, and reveals that it was Andres that killed Leonarda. Mo tells her that she has to stay in their bedroom and can’t leave, not even to see Katy. She says something about him being in jail and he yells at her to shut up some more. This scares her, I think, so she tells him that she agrees and won’t make any trouble.
Arny tells Emilia that he doesn’t remember what happened with Ceci. They discuss STDs, Arny says he hasn’t slept with Julio after Ceci just in case he caught something. Wow, he has a high opinion of Ceci! I guess that’s good that he’s being safe. He asks Emilia to help him remember what happened that drunk night with Ceci. She says he doesn’t believe Ceci? He tells her that Ceci doesn’t remember either. He is concerned because he very clearly likes having sex with MEN. Emilia tells him some crap about learning a lesson that alcohol and casual sex don’t mix. He begs her for help. She says she doesn’t want to mix personal with business, she did that before and it was a mess. He continues to beg for help.
Diego runs into somebody he knows on the street and asks if she has seen Azul. The show’s theme song plays while Diego runs around the neighborhood looking for Azul. This is kind of ridiculous, she’s a grown woman, it’s not like he would find her lost in the park or something like what happened with Katy. Diego ends up at a church crying for Azul.
Emilia must have caved, she has Arny hypnotized and he is remembering the drunken night. He and Cecilia are drinking and getting flirty. Ceci wants him to striptease and takes off his shirt. He takes off HER shirt.
Julio tries to convince the modeling school teacher to give Silvana another chance, the teacher is having none of it.
Cecilia is finally being honest with Andres about what she knows about him. Andres says it can all be like it was before, Ceci says no and Andres gets slightly threatening. He says she accepted his killer past when she thought it was just his uncle. They go back and forth, Andres says it’s all Mo’s fault. He is acting extremely creepy, finally he grabs Ceci by the throat and screams that they will be together forever. She says even if he kills her, like he must have done to Leo, she won’t stay with him. Andres freaks out and backs off. He gets on his knees and begs her to stay with him, he loves her, then says he had to kill Leo, it was for her (Ceci), so they could be together! Ceci starts freaking out and crying, obviously. The doorbell rings, Andres threatens her to calm down to see who it is. It’s Arny, I guess he is done with his hypnotism session, we never got to see the end. He sees Andres and says he’ll come back, but Ceci won’t let him leave. Then the PHONE rings. Jeez everything all at the same time. It’s Diego, looking for Azul. Ceci says she doesn’t know where Azul is. She says she’s busy and hangs up fast. Arny gives Andres a suspicious look.
Katy is playing with a doll, telling the doll that she misses Azul. Just then Azul walks in and Katy is happy again. I thought Azul wasn’t allowed to see her?
Lidia tells her mom, still in the hospital, that Gustavo took her somewhere expensive to eat, Clemi says the poor guy probably spent his whole paycheck. Clemi tells her that she shouldn’t fool around with this other guy until she is fully divorced. Lidia goes on about Tavo giving her butterflies in her stomach. She goes on and on. I nominate Lidia for ‘biggest slut’ on this show – she cheated on Paco with Piero, then she slept around with Piero even after he screwed her over, now she has something going on with Gustavo but is leading Piero on. She gets around. She tells Clemi how Gustavo says she is the woman of his dreams, etc etc. Clemi changes her tune a bit and says that having that kind of love from a man is more important than him being rich. She turns the conversation around to be about her and how she has doubts about Manuel, who as we know, is a complete ass. Lidia tries to defend Manuel, but he is indefensible. Clemi says she wants somebody nice, etc, I was waiting for her to say ‘like Anibal’ but she doesn’t.
Andres seems to have left, Ceci is stressed out big time. Arny tells her that nothing happened between them. She just has a blank look in response. Maybe she is more concerned about getting killed by Andres. He explains that he went under hypnosis. They got drunk and stripped/danced, then passed out. Ceci says what good news, while at the same time trying not to cry. They renew their loving friendship, Ceci cries that she needs her friend. Now he wants to know what her problem is, she just says to hold her. He starts joking about how awesome she looks naked. Why didn’t we see that part of the night from his hypnosis flashback?
Andres has reported to
Katy wants to go outside and play, Azul has to say no, since she isn’t allowed outside. She says that the sun is dangerous to her. She says she can only be in her room or here with Katy. I guess she IS allowed to see her, I must have misunderstood earlier. Katy asks why she says she isn’t sick any more if she can’t even go outside. Azul makes something up that only a kid would believe. Hugs.
Diego has already made it to Mo’s house. Jacinto is holding Diego’s arms back, Diego yells at Mo to tell him where Azul is. Mo answers back that it is Diego who should know, since he stole her away. This goes on for awhile. Mo ends up telling Diego that Azul has the same deadly disease as
A commercial for “Amas de Casa Desesperadas” – I think it is supposed to be Desperate Housewives.
Mo tells Diego to ask GSD if he doesn’t believe Mo about the disease. Diego stammers that it can’t be true, it must be a trick.
Gustavo is at the Moran house, talking to Lidia, who looks like she’s about 3 seconds from throwing him on the floor and having sex with him. Good old Gustavo just stopped by to see how her mom was doing. I know we’re supposed to believe this, but even the nicest guy in the world will find reasons to show up when the cute daughter who wears tight pants is always around. Gustavo says he is there for whatever she needs. As she walks him out, Manuel starts to stumble down the stairs, he has one shirttail out to signify that he is drunk. It’s a universal symbol, like putting a sock on the doorknob outside a bedroom in college. We all know what that means too. At the door, Gustavo tries to give her a nice kiss on the cheek but of course they start making out. And of course Manuel sees them.
Diego is at Silvana’s place, reporting to the three ladies who live there about Azul also being sick. Gloria says Azul must have gotten it from sex with Mo, right? Diego looks like he will puke from the thought of Azul having sex with
Mo looks at a photo of Azul, then says to himself ‘tonight you will be mine.’ Great. Rape alert.
Gloria tells Diego to get Ivan to come back, oh and he can stay at the apartment because hotels are expensive, and…. Before she can finish her little fantasy Diego informs them that Ivan is in witness protection and won’t be back.
Manuel drunkenly tries to chew out Lidia for kissing Gustavo. They fight about this for a while. Manuel puts him down, saying he is a naco, not of their class. Lidia says oh no he isn’t.
Diego shows up at Ceci’s, demanding to know where Azul is. He is mad because Ceci obviously knows where she is. He says she is infected, Ceci says yes, everyone already knew but him. He wants to know why nobody told him, Ceci says because Azul wanted to live her last days with intensity with the love of her life. She tells him to not look for Azul, then she has a flashback of Andres holding a gun to her head and Mo telling her something, I didn’t really understand that part, then she tells Diego again to leave Azul alone.
GSD IS IN THE LAB. ALERT THE MEDIA. HE IS ACTUALLY WORKING ON THE CURE. Emilia rushes in and wants to know what GSD called her for, he holds up a vial and says he found it! He found the cure! OH PLEASE LET THIS BE TRUE SO THE DISEASE STORY CAN END. Please God I am begging you. Emilia hugs him. Maybe we can get him working on Cancer and AIDS, since he can cure diseases single handedly. They get all emotional since Azul is going to live. They decide to call Azul right away.
Diego mopes and whines to Cecilia. He insists that he loves Azul above all, even if she is sick, whatever. He wants to know where she is. He says to help him. She says for him to help her! He has to leave and not ask her anymore. Diego won’t leave, he gets right in her face and she won’t answer, she opens the door and tells him to leave. As he leaves the phone rings, Ceci answers and it is GSD. He says he can’t find her. She yells that she doesn’t know where Azul is, Diego was also there, nobody knows! GSD is impactado that Diego doesn’t know where Azul is.
Gloria yells at Silvana for something or other, whatever she has decided to do to help Diego. I like Silvana’s new look of hair down/tight dress. She says that Mo has to pay, whatever crime sticks, he has to pay. Oh cripes I’m getting it now – Gloria is mad at her for skipping modeling class. Silvana says putting away her son’s killer is more important. I would have to agree. Gloria says Silvana is just doing things in the hope that Diego will return to her, she has to understand that Diego isn’t and will not be hers. I also agree with that. Dang – Gloria says that after Azul dies, then maybe Silvana will have a chance. That’s cold, especially coming from your own mother. Silvana grabs her by the arm and tells her off. She picks up her bags and leaves, Isela follows, leaving Gloria alone with nobody to whine to.
Mo tells Azul to get used to the idea that they are married, he tells her to call her lawyer and cancel the divorce work. Mo acts like a huge creep and they yell at each other. She calls her lawyer and tells him to cancel all the divorce work. Mo is pleased. He says now she has to fulfill her wifely obligations. She doesn’t want to of course, he threatens to have Diego infected if she doesn’t give it up. I guess I’m not in danger of being one of these creepy guys, because I can’t imagine that having sex with someone who so obviously hates you would be any fun. Mo seems to think it will be great. I guess he wants the power trip. With Mo’s threat of infecting Diego, Azul flashes back to how he infected her, she understands now how it happened. Mo claims that it was Eva Santoro who infected Azul, but she figured it out. She reproaches him and he looks like he doesn’t know what to say. Finally he admits to it, since he needed her father to keep working on the cure. She continues to yell at him. He claims that he really does love her, he did everything for her. None of this makes any sense. She admits that she prefers Diego, because he loves her for real. Mo threatens her when there is a knock on the door, the maid says GSD is there and says it’s urgent. Mo says she now knows what he is capable of, so she better be careful talking with her father. Also, Andres killed Leo, so he can kill Ceci too.
Andres is at Ceci’s again, acting creepy and saying that GSD won’t find a cure. Ceci steps away from him and says they won’t ever be together.
Diego is driving at night and telling someone on the phone that he’s worried about Azul. it must be the lawyer because Diego says that Azul would never cancel the divorce proceedings. Diego says he’s on the case.
Mo has heard the news, he is very excited. GSD tells him to calm down. He is going to give him an injection now and wants to help Azul too but can’t find her. Mo acts all surprised and says that Diego lost her. Mo gravely says that Azul could die without treatment, he tries hard to look upset about it. The credits roll with the REO Speedwagon ripoff song.
Monday – Azul is tied up, Ceci helps Diego break in and try to rescue Azul and it looks like they are trying to bring Katy with them too.
Labels: amar
Saturday, December 01, 2007
Amar Sin Limites: Thursday Nov. 29, 2007- "Looks like we've got a hostage situation here"
Hello- Here is my first attempt at recapping Amar Sin Limites. Sorry it has taken me two days to get this posted (Thur. Packer game and preparing for a blizzard are my excuses). Just to let you know, my recap most likely has errors in it, because I’m doing this with only three years of HS/College Spanish. So if there is something I missed, please fill in the blanks and if there is something I’m totally off base on, please set me straight.
The show starts off with an overlapping to the end of Wednesday's episode. Azul is being shy with Diego because she doesn’t want him to see the open sores on her back. He questions why there is blood on the towel and figures out it must be a woman thing. Ceci calls to give Azul an update on Caty and Azul is upset that Ceci is calling from Mauricio’s house. Ceci assures her friend that Mauricio and Andres are behind close doors, but she heard something that she must tell Azul. The two women make plans to meet tomorrow.
Behind closed doors, Mauricio is telling Andres that he needs to do whatever is necessary to find out what Ceci knows about Azul’s whereabouts.
Back in the love shack, Azul and Diego (with long stemmed rose strategically placed) are getting romantic and she has a flashback to him telling her how his abuela died and the mourning his abuelo went through at the time. I’m sure that Azul is personalizing this and is afraid of the suffering that Diego will feel when she dies. I anticipate some sort of martyr-ish sacrifice coming up on her part. So needless to say, thinking of Diego’s abuelos is enough to kill the mood and Azul puts a stop to the passion. Diego says he understands, but we know he really doesn’t. Azul essentially tells Diego “to just hold her”, which is a classic cheesy romantic line that has been overused, but fits here.
The next morning Isela is at Silvana’s house and discovers that Silva has a lot of money stashed in a box/suitcase (?). Isela tells Silva that it isn’t safe to have that kind of cash around the house. Silva tells Isela that the money isn’t hers, it is Diego’s (so therefore it is OK to keep the cash in the house?). Isela doesn’t believe that Diego could have that kind of money, so Silva has to explain that Eva arranged for Diego to have the money, but he wanted nothing to do with it. So Ivan asked Silva to hold onto it for Diego.
We are then treated to an exchange between Efrain and his son that I don’t think that I quite got. Efrain is concerned about making a declaration against Mauricio because who is going to believe that he, an ex boxer, would be afraid of Mauricio causing him harm. Efrain’s son (can’t remember his name right now) says that Efrain should get in touch with his feminine side. This obviously offends Efrain and the son ends up leaving when Gustavo comes over to the house.
Gloria, Isela, and Silvana are having breakfast when Diego arrives. They invite Diego to join them and then Gloria goes on and on about the secret, dangerous romance between Diego and Azul. This woman continues to make herself look like such an idiot (op ed.). Diego bemoans his money problems to the ladies –how he has to pay back Anibal for his mother’s medical expenses and now has to set up a house with Azul. Isela says that Diego shouldn’t worry, he’s got money. A puzzled look crosses Diego’s face.
Ceci is standing in some sort of park like place, waiting for Azul. Andres is doing a really bad job of hiding behind a tree, watching her.
Manuel and Piero are discussing why Mauricio demanded a meeting with Manuel. Manuel is worried that Mauricio knows they fudged the numbers on the laboratory project.
Diego assumes that Isela is offering to lend him money, but he declines because he doesn’t want to put her out. Thinking on the spot, Isela runs with that idea and insists he “borrow” money from her. Diego asks if she sold the billiard hall or invested wisely in stocks. Gloria is in the background making faces to indicate money talk has her interested, but investment talk has her confused.
Azul is meeting with her dad and getting treatment for the sores on her back. Azul is concerned that Diego might catch what she has (funny time to start thinking about that after you’ve had numerous romps in the love shack). GSD says that it isn’t possible because the disease can only be transmitted through blood. He gives his daughter instructions on how to care for the sores, they need to be redressed at least three times a day. Azul is concerned that Diego will find out and she wants to put makeup on the sores. GSD tells her that will not be good for healing and he urges her to tell Diego that she’s sick. Besides, he warns her, you won’t be able to keep it secret for too much longer. GSD and Azul talk about Mauricio and his want to see Azul before agreeing to a divorce. Azul suspects a trap, so she doesn’t want to meet him. She expresses concern over Caty and what will happen to her once Mauricio is incarcerated and Azul dies. She mentions that Diego, GSD, Emilia, and Silvana will all have to look after the little imp.
Mauricio meets with Piero & Manuel. Andres is no longer tailing Ceci, instead he’s following behind the men trying to look menacing in his shades. Mauricio tells P & M that he likes the work they’ve done—they are good with numbers. Now that the lab is done, he’d like to offer Manuel the job of overseeing it. Manuel’s ego is stroked and he jumps at the chance, giving Mauricio a hug. Mauricio thinks “you’ve fallen into the trap” as the sinister soundtrack plays in the background—cut to commercial.
We return to Tavo at Efrain’s house. He’s come over to ask for an advance on his salary. Efrain gives him heck about sniffing around Lidia, because she’s a married woman. Tavo tells him that she’s in the process of getting divorce. Efrain warns that she’s pretentious and dangerous. Tavo tells Efrain to not be so unfair. Efrain gives him the money and tells him that’s all he’ll get. He needs to learn to live with the salary he has and so will Lidia.
Piero & Manuel leave the meeting with Mauricio and Piero questions the strange attitude of Mauricio. Manuel is, as always, self-absorbed so he can only think of celebrating his promotion.
Silvana, Isela and Gloria are preparing to go out when a police detective arrives at the door. He’s from homicide and tells Silva that they are looking into the death of her son. The principle line of investigation is focused on Mauricio Duarte. Silvana is impactada.
Diego meets with Julio and the men discuss their collaboration. Diego mentions keeping the meeting secret and Julio thinks it is because Diego doesn’t want Alfredo to know they are working together. Diego says it is because he’s got to keep Azul hidden from Mauricio. Julio accepts this and they talk about Diego’s deadline for the designs. Julio hypothesizes about how they’ll work the campaign while keeping Diego’s involvement secret, but Diego says that he wants his name on the designs when they go public. We, the audience, are to believe this will be further motivation to hurry up and get Mauricio behind bars.
Ceci and Azul meet in a public bathroom—was the park thing a ruse to throw Andres off? Well it didn’t work because Andres is standing outside (apparently done with Mauricio and back on the trail of Ceci, sans shades). He reaches for the door to the restroom, but is stopped by a store clerk who thinks he’s confused. She directs him to the men’s room. Ceci and Azul overhear this exchange and Ceci high tails it to the clerk and leads her to believe that Andres is a pervert who’s been doing similar stuff throughout the mall. Ceci tells the clerk to call security and let them know that a customer complained. She runs back to the restroom and fills Azul in on what she did. The two women rehash how evil Mauricio and Andres are and how they interrogated Ceci the day before trying to find out what she knew about Azul. Ceci gives Azul the drawing from Caty. Just a comment on the women’s attire---Azul, with her seeping sores on her back is wearing a WHITE, tight shirt. Not exactly the best color to hide bleeding wounds, let alone the tight fabric causing some irritation. Then we have Ceci, a budding fashionista, wearing a shirt that looks like an apron. End of tangent. The security guard questions Andres and he's upset they think he’s a pervert. Andres starts to make a scene, but the security guard threatens to call the police and that gets him to shut up and leave.
Castelear meets with Maurie and tells him that he’s being investigated for involvement in the deaths of his first wife and Nicholas. Maldita Silvana! Maurie is irate. Castelear brings up the police looking into Leonarda’s disappearance. Maurie says he’ll tell them she’s gone out of town. Castelear says that with her passport, the police will be able to determine if she’s left the country. Mauricio says they need to concoct a way to impede the investigation and he and Castelear realize that a sick Azul could appear to be crazy. Once this happens, Mauricio as her husband can have her institutionalized. Andres calls Mauricio to fill him in on the recent happenings and Mauricio reads Andres the riot act. He tells Andres that Ceci gave the police Leonarda’s passport. He orders Andres to take care of Ceci.
At the hospital, Tavo arrives and finds Lidia and Diego in the waiting room. He shows Diego that he brought Clemencia some cholesterol free cookies (sounds delicious, umm not). Diego compliments him on his details (I’d rather have flowers than some rock hard cholestrol free cookies). Diego pays Tavo the balance on the money he owes him for the car. They are told Clemencia is up to visitors, and Diego volunteers to go, with cookies in hand and plans on giving Tavo’s regards. Once in her room, Clemencia gushes over the cookies and how sweet Tavo is. A drunken Manuel comes into the room to announce his promotion. Diego gives him what-for for not even asking how Clemencia is doing. Clemencia accuses Manuel of being drunk and he claims to have only had a few drops. Clemencia tells him that he smells as if he’s been in a pool of rum.
Tavo and Lidia take the time to go out to eat. Lidia goes on about how she wants to live the high life and Tavo tells her that things won’t bring her happiness. Lidia indicates she’d sure like to give it a try. Tavo lists off his good qualities and tells Lidia that she’s the woman he wants, blah blah these two really bore me.
Andres finds Ceci as she’s leaving the mall (I assume) and he tells her that he’s not a dumb as she thinks he is. He knows that she gave the police Leonarda’s passport. Ceci plays up that she thought Leo went on a trip. Andres grabs her and she demands that he let her go. Azul shows up and tells Andres to let Ceci go. Andres makes a grab for Azul and Ceci slaps him. The two friends turn and run, but Andres pulls out a gun and stops them in their tracks.
Silvana arrives late for class and the teacher is extremely ticked. Apparently being a model isn’t important enough for Silva to arrive on time, so good bye—she’s kicked out of class.
Diego gives his dad a lecture on how he’s done nothing to win back Clemencia and right now he doesn’t deserve a woman as good as her. Manuel tells Diego that he’ll go celebrate elsewhere since the family seems to hate him. Manuel leaves. Diego talks to the doctor and finds out his mother can go home tomorrow.
Piero goes to Mauricio and wants to know why Manuel got promoted. At first Mauricio tells him he doesn’t need to know, but typical to megomaniacs, he’s got to brag about his own brilliance. He lets Piero know that Manuel is going to be the fall guy for their evil empire. Mauricio wonders if this bothers Piero. Piero reassures Maurie that Lidia is his only interest. Her family is annoying.
Andres now has Ceci & Azul in a car, with Azul driving. When a police car pulls up next to them, he lowers the gun and orders the women to smile (reminding me of an evil version of Mr. Roarke from Fantasy Island—smiles, smiles everyone). Azul gets faint behind the wheel and tells Andres that she can’t drive. He thinks she’s trying to pull a fast one over him and he tells her to move it.
Diego gets a call from Ivan. He’s surprised to hear from him. Ivan says he’s got some good news, he’s got some evidence against Maurie. However, the papers he’s got don’t prove that Maurie committed the crimes, but could be enough to get the ball rolling. Diego urges Ivan to take it to the police, but Ivan says he can’t. He’s now in the witness protection program because he’s ratted out the mafia. Diego is happy to hear that Ivan is turning a new leaf and offers to come to Prague to get the papers. He’ll surely be able to find Ivan there, meanwhile the mafia will remain clueless as to Ivan’s whereabouts.
Andres takes his captives to Mauricio’s home. As he enters with the women at gunpoint, Maurie demands to know what stupid thing Andres is up to now (umm, because it isn’t obvious?). A stunned Andres says he brought the women like Maurie asked (Andres, you really need to stop putting up with this kind of abuse from your employer!). Azul demands that Maurie let them go or he will pay. Ceci calls Maurie a murderer and this really gets his goat. He doesn’t like being accused of crimes he didn’t commit all because Azul wants to run off with Diego. Ceci begs Maurie to let Azul go and Azul states that she won’t leave without her friend. Maurie says they are staying---Azul will be watched 24-7 and Ceci better not say anything to anyone or else things will be bad for Azul (so perhaps I didn’t quite get this part, is he going to let Ceci go on her own recognizance or is she to also be held in the house of doom?).
Diego comes home and thinks that Azul is hiding (oh the silly games lovers play). He soon realizes that she’s not there and he gets his concerned face on-- “where is Azul?”
Maurie tells Azul that she’s going to pay dearly for what she’s done to him. She reminds him to think of Caty. He starts to list all the “terrible” things she’s done to him---she married him under false pretense (because he tricked her) and then she left him for Diego. Ed. Note---let’s think of all the things he’s done to her like injecting her with a deadly disease for starters. Azul assures him that she married him to provide a family for Caty, but when she was on the beach with Diego he showed her what kind of person Maurie really was. This isn’t sounding too good to Mauricio and he tells Azul that she’s going to be remaining at the house and if she tries anything, Andres will take it out on Ceci. Azul says just like you did to Leonarda. Oh no, Maurie says, you’re mistaken it was Andres who took care of Leonarda. END OF EPISODE.
The show starts off with an overlapping to the end of Wednesday's episode. Azul is being shy with Diego because she doesn’t want him to see the open sores on her back. He questions why there is blood on the towel and figures out it must be a woman thing. Ceci calls to give Azul an update on Caty and Azul is upset that Ceci is calling from Mauricio’s house. Ceci assures her friend that Mauricio and Andres are behind close doors, but she heard something that she must tell Azul. The two women make plans to meet tomorrow.
Behind closed doors, Mauricio is telling Andres that he needs to do whatever is necessary to find out what Ceci knows about Azul’s whereabouts.
Back in the love shack, Azul and Diego (with long stemmed rose strategically placed) are getting romantic and she has a flashback to him telling her how his abuela died and the mourning his abuelo went through at the time. I’m sure that Azul is personalizing this and is afraid of the suffering that Diego will feel when she dies. I anticipate some sort of martyr-ish sacrifice coming up on her part. So needless to say, thinking of Diego’s abuelos is enough to kill the mood and Azul puts a stop to the passion. Diego says he understands, but we know he really doesn’t. Azul essentially tells Diego “to just hold her”, which is a classic cheesy romantic line that has been overused, but fits here.
The next morning Isela is at Silvana’s house and discovers that Silva has a lot of money stashed in a box/suitcase (?). Isela tells Silva that it isn’t safe to have that kind of cash around the house. Silva tells Isela that the money isn’t hers, it is Diego’s (so therefore it is OK to keep the cash in the house?). Isela doesn’t believe that Diego could have that kind of money, so Silva has to explain that Eva arranged for Diego to have the money, but he wanted nothing to do with it. So Ivan asked Silva to hold onto it for Diego.
We are then treated to an exchange between Efrain and his son that I don’t think that I quite got. Efrain is concerned about making a declaration against Mauricio because who is going to believe that he, an ex boxer, would be afraid of Mauricio causing him harm. Efrain’s son (can’t remember his name right now) says that Efrain should get in touch with his feminine side. This obviously offends Efrain and the son ends up leaving when Gustavo comes over to the house.
Gloria, Isela, and Silvana are having breakfast when Diego arrives. They invite Diego to join them and then Gloria goes on and on about the secret, dangerous romance between Diego and Azul. This woman continues to make herself look like such an idiot (op ed.). Diego bemoans his money problems to the ladies –how he has to pay back Anibal for his mother’s medical expenses and now has to set up a house with Azul. Isela says that Diego shouldn’t worry, he’s got money. A puzzled look crosses Diego’s face.
Ceci is standing in some sort of park like place, waiting for Azul. Andres is doing a really bad job of hiding behind a tree, watching her.
Manuel and Piero are discussing why Mauricio demanded a meeting with Manuel. Manuel is worried that Mauricio knows they fudged the numbers on the laboratory project.
Diego assumes that Isela is offering to lend him money, but he declines because he doesn’t want to put her out. Thinking on the spot, Isela runs with that idea and insists he “borrow” money from her. Diego asks if she sold the billiard hall or invested wisely in stocks. Gloria is in the background making faces to indicate money talk has her interested, but investment talk has her confused.
Azul is meeting with her dad and getting treatment for the sores on her back. Azul is concerned that Diego might catch what she has (funny time to start thinking about that after you’ve had numerous romps in the love shack). GSD says that it isn’t possible because the disease can only be transmitted through blood. He gives his daughter instructions on how to care for the sores, they need to be redressed at least three times a day. Azul is concerned that Diego will find out and she wants to put makeup on the sores. GSD tells her that will not be good for healing and he urges her to tell Diego that she’s sick. Besides, he warns her, you won’t be able to keep it secret for too much longer. GSD and Azul talk about Mauricio and his want to see Azul before agreeing to a divorce. Azul suspects a trap, so she doesn’t want to meet him. She expresses concern over Caty and what will happen to her once Mauricio is incarcerated and Azul dies. She mentions that Diego, GSD, Emilia, and Silvana will all have to look after the little imp.
Mauricio meets with Piero & Manuel. Andres is no longer tailing Ceci, instead he’s following behind the men trying to look menacing in his shades. Mauricio tells P & M that he likes the work they’ve done—they are good with numbers. Now that the lab is done, he’d like to offer Manuel the job of overseeing it. Manuel’s ego is stroked and he jumps at the chance, giving Mauricio a hug. Mauricio thinks “you’ve fallen into the trap” as the sinister soundtrack plays in the background—cut to commercial.
We return to Tavo at Efrain’s house. He’s come over to ask for an advance on his salary. Efrain gives him heck about sniffing around Lidia, because she’s a married woman. Tavo tells him that she’s in the process of getting divorce. Efrain warns that she’s pretentious and dangerous. Tavo tells Efrain to not be so unfair. Efrain gives him the money and tells him that’s all he’ll get. He needs to learn to live with the salary he has and so will Lidia.
Piero & Manuel leave the meeting with Mauricio and Piero questions the strange attitude of Mauricio. Manuel is, as always, self-absorbed so he can only think of celebrating his promotion.
Silvana, Isela and Gloria are preparing to go out when a police detective arrives at the door. He’s from homicide and tells Silva that they are looking into the death of her son. The principle line of investigation is focused on Mauricio Duarte. Silvana is impactada.
Diego meets with Julio and the men discuss their collaboration. Diego mentions keeping the meeting secret and Julio thinks it is because Diego doesn’t want Alfredo to know they are working together. Diego says it is because he’s got to keep Azul hidden from Mauricio. Julio accepts this and they talk about Diego’s deadline for the designs. Julio hypothesizes about how they’ll work the campaign while keeping Diego’s involvement secret, but Diego says that he wants his name on the designs when they go public. We, the audience, are to believe this will be further motivation to hurry up and get Mauricio behind bars.
Ceci and Azul meet in a public bathroom—was the park thing a ruse to throw Andres off? Well it didn’t work because Andres is standing outside (apparently done with Mauricio and back on the trail of Ceci, sans shades). He reaches for the door to the restroom, but is stopped by a store clerk who thinks he’s confused. She directs him to the men’s room. Ceci and Azul overhear this exchange and Ceci high tails it to the clerk and leads her to believe that Andres is a pervert who’s been doing similar stuff throughout the mall. Ceci tells the clerk to call security and let them know that a customer complained. She runs back to the restroom and fills Azul in on what she did. The two women rehash how evil Mauricio and Andres are and how they interrogated Ceci the day before trying to find out what she knew about Azul. Ceci gives Azul the drawing from Caty. Just a comment on the women’s attire---Azul, with her seeping sores on her back is wearing a WHITE, tight shirt. Not exactly the best color to hide bleeding wounds, let alone the tight fabric causing some irritation. Then we have Ceci, a budding fashionista, wearing a shirt that looks like an apron. End of tangent. The security guard questions Andres and he's upset they think he’s a pervert. Andres starts to make a scene, but the security guard threatens to call the police and that gets him to shut up and leave.
Castelear meets with Maurie and tells him that he’s being investigated for involvement in the deaths of his first wife and Nicholas. Maldita Silvana! Maurie is irate. Castelear brings up the police looking into Leonarda’s disappearance. Maurie says he’ll tell them she’s gone out of town. Castelear says that with her passport, the police will be able to determine if she’s left the country. Mauricio says they need to concoct a way to impede the investigation and he and Castelear realize that a sick Azul could appear to be crazy. Once this happens, Mauricio as her husband can have her institutionalized. Andres calls Mauricio to fill him in on the recent happenings and Mauricio reads Andres the riot act. He tells Andres that Ceci gave the police Leonarda’s passport. He orders Andres to take care of Ceci.
At the hospital, Tavo arrives and finds Lidia and Diego in the waiting room. He shows Diego that he brought Clemencia some cholesterol free cookies (sounds delicious, umm not). Diego compliments him on his details (I’d rather have flowers than some rock hard cholestrol free cookies). Diego pays Tavo the balance on the money he owes him for the car. They are told Clemencia is up to visitors, and Diego volunteers to go, with cookies in hand and plans on giving Tavo’s regards. Once in her room, Clemencia gushes over the cookies and how sweet Tavo is. A drunken Manuel comes into the room to announce his promotion. Diego gives him what-for for not even asking how Clemencia is doing. Clemencia accuses Manuel of being drunk and he claims to have only had a few drops. Clemencia tells him that he smells as if he’s been in a pool of rum.
Tavo and Lidia take the time to go out to eat. Lidia goes on about how she wants to live the high life and Tavo tells her that things won’t bring her happiness. Lidia indicates she’d sure like to give it a try. Tavo lists off his good qualities and tells Lidia that she’s the woman he wants, blah blah these two really bore me.
Andres finds Ceci as she’s leaving the mall (I assume) and he tells her that he’s not a dumb as she thinks he is. He knows that she gave the police Leonarda’s passport. Ceci plays up that she thought Leo went on a trip. Andres grabs her and she demands that he let her go. Azul shows up and tells Andres to let Ceci go. Andres makes a grab for Azul and Ceci slaps him. The two friends turn and run, but Andres pulls out a gun and stops them in their tracks.
Silvana arrives late for class and the teacher is extremely ticked. Apparently being a model isn’t important enough for Silva to arrive on time, so good bye—she’s kicked out of class.
Diego gives his dad a lecture on how he’s done nothing to win back Clemencia and right now he doesn’t deserve a woman as good as her. Manuel tells Diego that he’ll go celebrate elsewhere since the family seems to hate him. Manuel leaves. Diego talks to the doctor and finds out his mother can go home tomorrow.
Piero goes to Mauricio and wants to know why Manuel got promoted. At first Mauricio tells him he doesn’t need to know, but typical to megomaniacs, he’s got to brag about his own brilliance. He lets Piero know that Manuel is going to be the fall guy for their evil empire. Mauricio wonders if this bothers Piero. Piero reassures Maurie that Lidia is his only interest. Her family is annoying.
Andres now has Ceci & Azul in a car, with Azul driving. When a police car pulls up next to them, he lowers the gun and orders the women to smile (reminding me of an evil version of Mr. Roarke from Fantasy Island—smiles, smiles everyone). Azul gets faint behind the wheel and tells Andres that she can’t drive. He thinks she’s trying to pull a fast one over him and he tells her to move it.
Diego gets a call from Ivan. He’s surprised to hear from him. Ivan says he’s got some good news, he’s got some evidence against Maurie. However, the papers he’s got don’t prove that Maurie committed the crimes, but could be enough to get the ball rolling. Diego urges Ivan to take it to the police, but Ivan says he can’t. He’s now in the witness protection program because he’s ratted out the mafia. Diego is happy to hear that Ivan is turning a new leaf and offers to come to Prague to get the papers. He’ll surely be able to find Ivan there, meanwhile the mafia will remain clueless as to Ivan’s whereabouts.
Andres takes his captives to Mauricio’s home. As he enters with the women at gunpoint, Maurie demands to know what stupid thing Andres is up to now (umm, because it isn’t obvious?). A stunned Andres says he brought the women like Maurie asked (Andres, you really need to stop putting up with this kind of abuse from your employer!). Azul demands that Maurie let them go or he will pay. Ceci calls Maurie a murderer and this really gets his goat. He doesn’t like being accused of crimes he didn’t commit all because Azul wants to run off with Diego. Ceci begs Maurie to let Azul go and Azul states that she won’t leave without her friend. Maurie says they are staying---Azul will be watched 24-7 and Ceci better not say anything to anyone or else things will be bad for Azul (so perhaps I didn’t quite get this part, is he going to let Ceci go on her own recognizance or is she to also be held in the house of doom?).
Diego comes home and thinks that Azul is hiding (oh the silly games lovers play). He soon realizes that she’s not there and he gets his concerned face on-- “where is Azul?”
Maurie tells Azul that she’s going to pay dearly for what she’s done to him. She reminds him to think of Caty. He starts to list all the “terrible” things she’s done to him---she married him under false pretense (because he tricked her) and then she left him for Diego. Ed. Note---let’s think of all the things he’s done to her like injecting her with a deadly disease for starters. Azul assures him that she married him to provide a family for Caty, but when she was on the beach with Diego he showed her what kind of person Maurie really was. This isn’t sounding too good to Mauricio and he tells Azul that she’s going to be remaining at the house and if she tries anything, Andres will take it out on Ceci. Azul says just like you did to Leonarda. Oh no, Maurie says, you’re mistaken it was Andres who took care of Leonarda. END OF EPISODE.
Labels: amar
Destilando Amor, 11/30/07: A Woman Scorned X 2 -- The Playboy Gets Played
The two women Aaron has scorned are finally facing off and facing facts. Yes indeedy it's Aaron's two redheads in a righteous rough-and-tumble over the man they've fought for these past four years. Pammy, in a staring match with malevolent Minnie, is in her terri-er slippers and bathrobe. (What is it with costuming and these granny-fuzz slippers and terr-ier cloth robes they're always putting these sexy starlets in, anyway? I mean, some weirdo in that group, with a grandma fetish, is obviously getting his jollies seeing long legs scraping around in fuzzy flats with gawd-awful ugly-robes barely covering their tushes.) Minnie accuses Pam of planning the whole scenario out of revenge and Pammy asks her if things had been reversed and she'd been the one made a world-renowned laughing stock after such a world-class jilt, wouldn't she have done the same?
Minnie says perhaps, but then she would know that she deserved it for getting involved with a married man. ""If you were in my shoes you'd have reacted the same as I. You, though, not only got involved with a married man, but a man who doesn't love you, to boot. Or, how else do you explain him coming back to me?"
Pammy answers that Aaron said it was only because he felt compromised since Minnie could destroy him with the information she had about his illegal tequila shipments. Red-faced, Minnie says, "Yeah, well, he only came back to you to recover what you stole from him." Pam punts and says, "I have no intention of arguing this with you. He no longer interests me. "
Pammy tells Minnie that she no longer cares whether Aaron really loved her or not since he's no longer on top of that pedestal she'd always put him on. Yep, her dirty tricks are done with and she and that Ronald-McDonald red mane of hers never intend on seeing him again. She apologizes then because she didn't realize Minnie was expecting.
Minnie wants it straight. "I am not puttin' distance between me and you till I get the whole truth about you and him!" Pammy starts up the tape recorder hidden in her phone to let Minnie hear the conversation she had with Aaron. Minnie gets a real smack in the face hearing her beloved call her a sneaking, old ugly biddy, whining about the circumstances that forced him to return to her. Pammie then shows Minnie the two tickets to Tubaloo and says these are proof that he played both of them for fools.
Here it seems that Pam's need for vengeance and her will along with it are both as squishy as her silicone smile. They've oozed out of her just like someone popping a pin into that precious pillowy pout of hers. Pam gets the USB and the CD which contain the proof of Aaron's illegal shipments and hands them over to Minnie, along with the responsibility for two other innocent lives this bubble-lipped bimbo refuses to consider: people who are counting on Pammy to present it and prove their innocence, and to save them from wrongfully spending 20 years in purgatorious prisondom paying for a crime she darn well knows her lover actually committed.
Bulbous bubble-lips tells Minnie that she won't be responsible a second time for Minnie's losing a child. She says she has promised Aaron she wouldn't appear to testify against him and she plans to keep that promise. So, only Minnie knows what she will do with this evidence. (Sure as shootin' Pammy couldn't have had a clue, considering Minnerva's long history of greed and graft at the side of Aaron and the felonious Fedra.....) We are left to suppose Pam hopes Minnie will do the right thing but for all the wrong reasons, i.e., revenge.
==============
Minnie gets home and finds Aaron waiting for her with his "heart dangling by a thread". She assures Aaron that Pammy managed to destroy their marriage, and he right along with her since he jumped into bed with her. He tries to explain it all away by saying because of the USB he was forced to fool around with her since it was their future at stake; but Minnie's had enough and won't listen to anymore of his excuses.
"--Don't you dare touch me! What excuses are you going to make this time? That it wasn't you I found half naked in her apartment, or that I was just hallucinating?" "--It was all just a ruse, a trick to get back at us because she knew I needed the USB. She took advantage of me." "--Sure, I suppose she forced you to get undressed and to make love with her?" "--Well, a little bit, yes.....There's an explanation if you'd just listen. We have got to get away from her. She's destroying us." He gets down on his knees to her and pats her pregnant belly. "You and little Aaron are the most important thing in my life. Give me this one last chance."
Minnie finally realizes that they invented the phrase "getting deep in here" to describe guys like Aaron and their cock-n-bull stories. "We'll talk after you give your testimony tomorrow," she says and stomps off, leaving Aaron sitting on his couch, tearfully sucking down whiskey.
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In London, meanwhile, Avellaneda congratulates everyone for having gotten the majority in the vote during the Conference. He then assigns them all to a tour of various countries to follow up on that vote and to smooth things over by discussing what it will mean to the countries involved who were not initially in favor of it. Alonso is to head off to Argentina while Olavarrea and Gavi are headed to Eastern Europe for 10 days. Once they return all of them will be given time off for vacation. Alonso encourages Gavi afterward to take the time off she's being given.
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The next day at the hearing Aaron makes his acknowledgment to the judge and says that because of delaying tactics in Rod's defense of his business dealings, Aaron's assets have been frozen so he is losing enormous amounts of money daily and wants to sue Rodrigo for it back. Videgaray gets to ask him first, though, for the record, just how he financed his Agave Enterprises in Miami. Aaron is surprised by the question and says he couldn't possibly give him an answer off the top of his head.
Nestor then asks Lluvia if she realizes that she will be held liable for other charges regarding her breach of trust and any damages done to the shipping division of the company. He advises her that her sentence will be much less if she confesses to the court that she was under somebody else's orders, or at least that she didn't act alone. Lluvia says she understands but still denies that anyone of the other Montalvo's gave her instructions to sign off on the illicit shipments.
Patricio knows Lluvia is down for the count and tells his aunt that life won't be worth living with Lluvia sent away. Fedra simply hisses at him not to be bothered. He and Lluvia exchange longing glances and Pat gets fidgety. The judge moves for another court date to set a sentence for her punishment. At that moment Pat is desperate to save her and stands up. "NO! No more hearings!" He turns around to Aaron. "I warned you that my life was meaningless without Lluvia. If she isn't free then I don't want to be either!"
Patricio then shocks the entire courtroom as he retracts his earlier statement. He admits that he ordered Lluvia to sign the shipping orders, that Aaron colluded with his attorney, Oñate, who organized everything in order to finance the launching of Turquoise Agave, and that he was aware of the entire scheme from the beginning. He explains then that neither Gavi nor Rod knew what they were signing and were unfamiliar with the company's shipping procedures, and Oñate was in charge of falsifying the CRT's stamps of certification.
Just then Minnie, the bitch-witch herself, who as we all know is never one to lose an opportunity to cause a real stir when making an entrance, appears at the trial and asks to give her testimony. Aaron is stammeringly impactado. "Wh-what are you doing here?" "--Can't you guess?" says Bitch-witch with a bellyful of baby. "---B-b-b-but you're putting little Aaron's future at risk!"
Poor Bruno, always the last to know, turns to Fedra confused, and asks what is going on. Fedra replies that someone obviously has put Minnie up to this, to hurt their Aaron.
Minnie hands over the USB memory and a CD to the judge saying that this is proof that demonstrates her husband is a crook. Aaron is now wide-eyed-my-goose-is-cooked impactado; Rod is jumping for joy impactado behind his jail bars. Realizing what's in store for them all, Bruno is devastated. Fedra is ready to bite her nails down to the quick as Minnie tells Aaron in front of the whole courtroom that she warned him when she found him in the hot-tub with Pamela Torreblanca that what he was doing to the family and to the business was criminal and she knew he was adulterating his tequila. Aaron scrambles to tell the judge that this is simply a reprisal of a jealous wife because of their marital problems. The judge and the M.P. have their doubts and has her sit down to answer Videgaray's questions.
On the record Minnie tells Nestor that on the CD (which Pammy had the investigative law firm make but didn't have the stomach to use against Aaron) is a detailed rundown of all the illegal shipments, dates and destinations Aaron made regarding Turquoise Agave. Aaron tells the judge that it is a skillful ploy by the defense to destroy him and that the judge shouldn't be fooled by two jealous and resentful women -- a bad move, considering the judge is a woman herself. Guess Aaron never heard of a thing called Karma.
Minnie takes out the mini-cassette for the judge and M.P. and puts it into the recorder she's brought along just for this purpose and plays it. On it is Aaron asking Pam for the USB back, definitely telling her how he'll be happy as a pig in mud to get hold of it. She testifies that Aaron and Oñate used Rod and Mariana Franco and that Lluvia was forced, along with Patricio, to participate in his schemes. In particular, Lluvia was pressured and didn't participate in the planning and never received anything in return. As for Mariana Franco, she says, with a definite pucker and a frown as she looks at her hands in her lap, she has no evidence of her involvement in anything.
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Meanwhile, in London Gavi is trying to get some news about Montalvo Corp.'s situation from her contact, Lascuráin, who says all he knows is that the family is involved in some sort of irregular liquor exportation scandal. She discusses the situation with Alonso who asks if the Montalvo's could truly have been involved in something like that. Gavi tells him about the rumors when she worked for the Corporation and how when she and Rod went to the various ports to investigate they were unable to find anything out of order.
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Back at the hearing Minnie accuses Fedra of being complicit. Fedra jumps up and tries to claim it's a conspiracy and to run out of the room, but she is stopped by Bruno, who throws her back in her chair and tells her she's not going anywhere till the hearing is over.
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Gavi continues her conversation with Alonso and makes some nasty aside that Rod is probably in his hacienda right now, so who knows what's up with him.
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The judge accepts the evidence and Vid makes a plea to the judge to accept the testimonies of all involved along with the USB and the CD and to exonerate his client from all charges. The judge decides in Rod's favor. (Cheers all around.) Bruno freezes Fedra out with one mean, icy stare before he walks off. Pat goes to Lluvia and assures her they'll soon be together again.
Through the cell bars Rod thanks Pat for his testimony and Pat apologizes for covering up for Aaron all this time and says he's ashamed of his actions then walks away. Rod confronts Aaron. "Come here, Aaron!" Rod is smiling through a triumphant sneer. Aaron walks over as Rod tells him soon he'll be taking his place behind these bars. Aaron tells him it's not over till its over and threatens that he is going to make certain Gavi is brought back from London and jailed. "I'm certain you'd rather see her behind bars than together with Alonso Santoveñia," he taunts, trying in a last ditch effort to make Rod believe that she's thrown him over for her ex-boss. "You've certainly seen the news footage on television." Rod swears to Aaron that he'll do everything in his power to stop Aaron from having the pleasure of seeing Gaviota behind bars.
Rod congratulates Aaron then in his successful attempt to destroy the business, the family, and his father's moral support, not to mention getting him thrown into jail, but says he won't be at peace until he's seen Aaron stripped of everything. He's going to be the one picking Aaron's cell and will make certain it is the most remote, dark and narrow little space there is since he's now going to be suing Aaron! In fact, he plans on coming to visit Aaron weekly just to make sure and to take comfort in his being there. Aaron sneers back and says forget it, it isn't gonna happen 'cuz the likes of Aaron Montalvo wasn't made for jail.
The judge then informs Vid that Gavi is exonerated from any charges also. Nestor, Dani and Sofia promise to call Gavi and to tell her all that's happened and what Rod did for her. They promise they'll have her there the next day, even. Rod says he's dying to get out but doesn't intend to look for Gavi now since he figures she's involved with Alonso over in Europe and she is over him. Dani scolds him for saying this and tells him it's only work related and that he knows better than anyone how much she loves him. He finally gives in and says they can call her for him. Then Nestor tells him that he should be out of jail in 48 hours. No one lets on about Pilar's stroke and being close to death.
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Oñate is on the telephone and laughing at the fact that in Tubaloo there were several dead people because they had to add methanol to the distilling processing as the filler, and the dummies drank it. He's laughing his head off because of it when Interpol agents arrive and slap handcuffs on him.
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Elvis is very emotional and he cries to Pilar that she's his only grandmother, that he'd give up being with Dani, the love of his life, if she asked him to, provided that she'd wake up from her coma. Pilar hears him it seems, at some level, and though she's still got her eyes closed, she reaches for him and squeezes his hand.
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Back at what's left of Montalvo Corp. and Aaron's office, Bruno is yelling at Patricio that he saved nobody. In fact, he tells him, Pat cold bloodedly manipulated Rod into jail, ended his career, destroyed the company's reputation and the family's good name, right along with the shipping company he ran, all things that his father labored for years to sustain; and if that weren't all, he along with Aaron, brought his mother to the brink of death.
When Bruno opens the door to leave there are Aaron and Fedra listening to everything through the cracks. Bruno tells Aaron they'll get decent lawyers, ones with a sense of ethics to defend them and they'll face their consequences like men. Aaron ignores this and tries to persuade Patricio to flee to Tubaloo with him. He refuses and Bruno demands they both stay and face their consequences with dignity. God knows where they'll find it, but he won't stand to have his family, on top of everything else, become a horde of fugitives from the law.
Fedra screams at Bruno then for blaming it all on his son. He gives her a disgusted look and says Aaron's not the only one to blame; she's also to blame. He doesn't even know her anymore and he wonders how she could have covered for such vile, mean deeds.
As Bruno walks away he says to Aaron and Patricio, "Well, I guess you'll have to learn what it is to be decent men --like your grandfather, and like me-- from behind bars."
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In another conference room Soto, Aaron and Patricio consider their fate and their options. Pat apologizes for turning on blood but says Aaron left him no alternative. Aaron again tries to convince him to go to Tubaloo with him where he is certain they'll be safe. Pat says no, he is not leaving Lluvia and walks out.
Soto then advises Aaron to change his destination as a month ago there was a mass fatality in Tubaloo due to the population ingesting the liquor concoction he sold through Oñate. Aaron dismisses this because it was all sold through a ghost company and the mishap cannot be traced to him. Soto leaves in frustration.
Aaron calls Minnie from the empty conference room to come join him. He knows all is lost and he has to flee the country. Otherwise he'll be sent to prison and he would rather die first. (We can only hope.) He has the nerve to tell her that she overdid it with the vengeance thing, because he did it all for the three of them, and that he forgives her and would really like one last chance. He doesn't want to lose her and the child. Minnie's eyes are swollen from a whole day of tears; she refuses to join him and says they're over. She hangs up and cries over losing him.
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Totally ignoring the nurse's orders to leave Pilar's restricted room in the INTENSIVE CARE area, Dani and Sofia have rushed in determined to give Pilar the exciting news that Rod was let free and will be getting out of jail soon.
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Fedra rushes to speak with Bruno. He has things to think over and doesn't want her around. She whines that he is being too hard on her for making a mistake. Bruno, totally disgusted with her, realizes who he's been married to all this time, and tries to forcibly throw her out, but she clings to him. "--A mistake?" he asks her in disbelief. "A mistake that finished off everything!!" "--How can you let your children be put in jail?" she screams. "If you won't help them then I will!"
The phone rings and Bruno answers. He says, "Well, Patricio, that was to be expected." Fedra asks what Patricio wanted. Bruno says, "That was the police coming to take Patricio to jail. Don't feel strange if the next one is from your son." He turns on his heel and leaves. Fedra is crying hysterically.
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Pilar must have heard the girls' exciting news at some conscious level. She starts gasping for air and begins suffering cardiac failure. The sisters turn hysterical while Elvis races out to look for the people with the crash carts.
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In his lonely jail cell Rod turns and fingers his taped up newspaper photo of Gavi (the one he must have ripped out when nobody was looking that day a while back). He thinks to himself that he hopes she will forgive him for having told her he didn't love her and that he trusts in her love being greater than her disappointment in him.
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In the waiting room Dani, Sofia, Elvis and James are worried that Pilar will die. Sofia says it'll all be on Aaron's head if she does. (Well, not quite, you ditz! They told you not to bother the old lady. She was in intensive care, after all. They call it that for a reason! I-N-T-E-N-S-I-V-E- C-A-R-E, as in any unusual excitement or shock to the system can kill, duh!)
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In his chartered jet Aaron is on his cell with Oñate telling him the plan is to relocate to Tubaloo for a little while and so he should fly out first thing the next morning and meet Aaron in Molucas Palas. Oñate asks about Minnie joining them. Aaron says he's certain when she gets over her tantrum she'll catch up to him. As the camera pulls back we see that this is all a ruse by Interpol to track Aaron down using Oñate as bait.
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At the hospital Bruno arrives as the doctor tells the family that Pilar has suffered a respiratory problem and her blood pressure is very high. If they cannot control it she may not last the night.
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Back in Gavi's posh pad in that very fashionable part of London overlooking the Thames, with an impressive view of Big Ben and Parliament, Alonso says good-bye to Clarita and Gavi. Before he leaves he suggests that he and Gavi spend their vacation together. She says that she'll think about it and they'll talk when they get back from their business trips. He smiles, gives her a peck on the cheek, then leaves.
Once Alonso is gone Clarita complains to Gavi that God will never forgive her if she's got Alonso going around with false hopes again. She asks Gavi to accept the fact that she might be starting to feel something for her ex-boss after all. At first Gavi objects, saying she's not in love with him, but then she smiles and says that he's respectful of her and treats her well, and that she feels happy and comfortable when she's with him. Clarita smiles and says, "Well then, you see. You are attracted to him." Gavi has to admit that she probably is.
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Pat is now in jail with Rod and keeping him company at dinner. Pat apologizes again and Rod says he knows he was only being blackmailed and pressured by Aaron. The important thing is that he came clean and told the truth, so surely he won't be in jail very long. Rod promises then that Pat will have the full support of the family once Rod is released and out.
Back in her room Pilar's vital signs go flat. She suddenly opens her eyes to a bright white enveloping light.
Back in Gavi's posh pad in that very fashionable part of London overlooking the Thames, with an impressive view of Big Ben and Parliament, Alonso says good-bye to Clarita and Gavi. Before he leaves he suggests that he and Gavi spend their vacation together. She says that she'll think about it and they'll talk when they get back from their business trips. He smiles, gives her a peck on the cheek, then leaves.
Once Alonso is gone Clarita complains to Gavi that God will never forgive her if she's got Alonso going around with false hopes again. She asks Gavi to accept the fact that she might be starting to feel something for her ex-boss after all. At first Gavi objects, saying she's not in love with him, but then she smiles and says that he's respectful of her and treats her well, and that she feels happy and comfortable when she's with him. Clarita smiles and says, "Well then, you see. You are attracted to him." Gavi has to admit that she probably is.
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Pat is now in jail with Rod and keeping him company at dinner. Pat apologizes again and Rod says he knows he was only being blackmailed and pressured by Aaron. The important thing is that he came clean and told the truth, so surely he won't be in jail very long. Rod promises then that Pat will have the full support of the family once Rod is released and out.
Back in her room Pilar's vital signs go flat. She suddenly opens her eyes to a bright white enveloping light.
Labels: Destilando
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