Las Aguas Mansas (Still Waters)                     Summaries in English.

     Telemundo. 8/24/99 -  1/14/00          . Colombia. 1994.  125 capitulos. 25 weeks. 6 months. “still waters run deep”.  Final weeks cut by Telemundo. Protejeme de las aguas mansas, porque de  las bravas me cuido yo - heard on a different novela

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Please send additions, changes, corrections to diane@telenovela-world.com/ Por favor, envia adiciónes, cambios o correcciónes a diane@telenovela-world.com.

 

Summary episodes 1-4  Author: Ixchel Date:   09-01-99 18:04 PDT

     I posted this in the main forum a few days ago.

     It takes place in 1949 Bogota, Colombia during a period of civil unrest; many

poor people have been driven off their lands with few options and the rich are in power. In these first episodes we were introduced to a young girl, Lidia, who is having an affair with an older, married man, Bernardo Elizondo. She doesn't know he is married with 3 daughters. They have been meeting in secret for the past few months and both are totally in love with each other. We also met Lidia's brothers: Oscar, Franco, & Juan (the eldest who has taken the responsibility of caring & providing for his siblings since their parent's death a few years ago.) They run the neighborhood bakery.

     The brothers hear a rumor that Lidia has been meeting with a man in secret, they confront the store owners who claim to have been hearing her conversations with Bernardo for some time now. They don't believe them & confront Lidia later that evening. Lidia confesses that she is in love with Bernardo; that he's a great man; and that they've had sex. Juan wants to kill her for having ruined her reputation and can't believe they had tried so hard to keep her a decent girl for nothing. The other 2 are more accepting and comfort her. They demand to see Bernardo.

     We are also introduced to Bernardo's family - his wife Gabriela, his eldest daughter Sofia & her jerk of a husband Fernando, 2 unmarried daughters, and his father-in-law who is bound to a wheel chair. We find out Bernardo and his wife have not had sex in a lonnnng time because she believes sex is just a means for reproduction & if you do it for pleasure you go to hell. Bernardo can only think about how much he loves Lidia and how he is going to give up his family for her love and to finally be happy. We also find out that Sofia and her husband got married in a hurry - her mom set it up

because she was raped a year ago and were afraid it would have consequences; so the mom set her up with the loser (who comes from high society but his family lost all their money) to be on the "safe" side and avoid public hummiliation. The couple is not happy and he loves to spend his wife's money.

     The brothers meet Bernardo and they aren't too thrilled that he is a much older man and are very suspicious of his intentions. Juan prohibits they see each other again. Oscar & Franco believe it's in their best interest that they let Lidia see him since Bernardo has told them that he will marry her and provide for all of them; but Juan does not want any thing from him. By this point the whole neighborhood knows about Lidia and her affair and they have thrown rocks through their windows as a sign that the people don't want them there. A few days later, Lidia tells her brothers that she is pregnant. They decide to tell Bernardo; he is thrilled & shocked. He asks for her hand in marriage. A few days later Bernardo takes them all to see the new beautiful

house he has just bought for her & her family.

     Meanwhile, the main housekeepe, Eva, has found a photo of Lidia in Bernardo's suite but doesn't tell his wife. Bernardo confesses to her that he is in love and has been seeing Lidia for months now.

     Also, Franco is in love with this night club performer named Rosario; but Oscar has planned a few meetings for him with rich older woman to sell them his company for money.

     And Bernardo's wife recieved a call from the family lawyer regarding the new house Bernardo has purchased. She is not that surprised since she knows her husband has dealt in real estate before.

     Friday's episode left us when Bernardo is telling the housekeeper that Lidia is expecting a baby and his jerk son in law overhears their conversation.

     I think that's enough info to get those of you that missed last week caught up.

Hope it helped,

Ixchel

 

Summary episode 2, Wed 8/25  Author: Ixchel (---)  Date:   09-01-99 16:23 PDT

     I posted this short summary for episode 2 last week in the main forum.

     The old man, Bernardo Elizondo is at the party for his wife's birthday with

a long face because he's thinking of Lidia. The 3 brothers argue about the situation they are now in. The 2 younger ones believe that they should let Lidia marry the old man because he's rich, says his intentions are true, and is not married (they don't know he is.) But the older one keeps on telling the others that he will not let her marry the old man and that the rich people are their enemy and to not forget that because they were thrown off their land because of rich folk.

     Back at the party, we are introduced to the old man's 3 daughters & his son in law. There's something fishy about the oldest sister marriage and the reasons for having gotten married, but they didn't really explain. The son in law seems like a total macho jerk; the married couple lives with the parents.

     The brothers talk more about their problems when some one comes to tell them that Lidia is in trouble with the grocery store owners. The store owners we met yesterday are outside confronting Lidia and tell her that they have their 2 sons here with them to defend them. They ask her to deny that she is seeing the old man and selling herself. They start yelling that her family leave the city and go back to where they came from. One of their sons starts trying to hug & touch Lidia. The brothers some running down the street and the fight starts. The brothers against brothers, and the mom & dad taking turns hitting with sticks while Lidia just stood there and watched. After a few minutes the cops show up and they all run off.

     Back at the party - The Bernardo, his wife Gabriela and the priest are talking about the current political situation and how lucky the old man is to have a great wife, great kids, and lots of money. Bernardo points out that the priest has benefitted too much from his money and they argue a bit about this issue and the wife butts in and they all end up getting mad & the old man leaves to his room. The wife follows him, but he doesn't let her in. She notices that her dad is watching her from his room - he's in a wheel chair and his daughter seems to not like him and is embarrased of his condition.

     Nighttime - The brothers (Juan, Franco &Oscar) & Lidia talk about how messed up everything is now, that her reputation is tarnished and is on the mouth of every nieghbor. The older one,Juan, talks about how they will have to move & sell the bakery and start a new life somewhere else. The others don't want to leave and insist that the old man is their ticket out of their current problem.

     Back at the party - it's moved inside and the wife's dad is drunk and embarrasing her.

     Franco goes to the night club to see the performer again. This time he gets to meet her and they talk.

     Bedtime - Lidia's in her room and a rock breaks her window. Franco stands guard outside their door.

- Bernardo is asleep and starts saying lidia's name. this wakes his wife up. She tells him he said a woman's name. he tells her she must of imagined it. They start talking about their relationship and how they haven't been intimate in a very lllllooooooonnnnnggggggg time. He tries to touch her, but she stops him by saying that having sex is only necessary to have children, & those that do it for pleasure will go to hell. He gets mad & runs out to sleep on the couch. (in a house sooo big why couldn't he find an empty room with a comfortable bed???) A few minutes later his older daughter Sofia (they seem to be close) goes to his side and wants to know what's really going on. They start talking but get interrupted by her jerk husband who tells her she should not be outside their bedroom at this time of night no matter who she talks

to; she leaves to her room.

    

 

Wednesday, Sept. 1 Summary  Author: dd (---)  Date:   09-02-99 03:28 PDT

Very brief resume of Tuesday, 8/31/99:

     Hortensia convinces Libia to see Bernardo’s family and, with one of her sons, goes with Libia to the city, all the time telling her she must confront Bernardo’s family. Libia does so, reluctantly. Gabriela doesn’t believe her and humiliates her in front of the entire family. Neither Eva nor Fernando, both of whom know the truth, say anything. Libia runs out of the house, where Eva briefly stops her and tells her that she knows the truth; Libia wanders the street, almost being run over by a car. At the river, desperate, she jumps in. Meanwhile, the brothers have reported her as missing to the police.

     Wednesday, 9/1/99:

     Martín, Gabriela's father, is shaving and talking about Libia with Eva, wondering if the story was true. Eva says nothing. Then we see Libia floating in the water. Back at the house, one of the unmarried daughters has dreamt of Libia and talks with the other unmarried sister who has also been thinking sympathetically about the young woman, wondering if what she said was true.(sorry, I don't know which is Sarita and which is Ximena yet).

In the pueblo, the three brothers are still asking questions. Hortensia and her son have returned, not knowing where Libia is or what happened to her.

Gabriela is at the breakfast table telling Eva that she didn’t believe the story until an hour ago when she found the picture Eva had hidden of Libia. At first Eva lies aboout the picture, but then admits the truth, how she has known about the girl for a short time. Gabriela becomes hysterical. She says that now she understands about the house Bernardo bought. She asks Eva how long she has worked in the house, been treated as a member of the family. “Toda la vida”. Gabriela asks Eva how she could have betrayed them, then corrects herself and says "her", because she had not betrayed Bernardo. Eva says that she will leave, but Gabriela says no...with an odd look on her face.

     Martín asks Gabriela what she did to Eva. Then he tells her that Bernardo was unfaithful because she was not a good wife; that he knows the secret of their intimate relationship. Martín says her mother was a complete wife to him until the day she died, unlike her. He calls her a “frigida miserable” who deserved her husband’s betrayal. In their bedroom, Gabriela breaks Bernardo’s picture, pours water on her bed, throws things around, and says he deserves punishment.

Meanwhile, the brothers go to the house that Bernardo Elisondo bought for Libia, still not knowing that he is dead.

     Martin visits Eva, crying in her room, and lying on her stomach on her bed. It is obvious that Gabriela beat Eva. Martín says they are now all under Gabriela’s thumb because with Bernardo’s death she controls everything.

     Libia’s body turns up downstream where some women are washing clothes.

Gabriela brings her father his meal; he says he isn’t hungry and besides, she might be trying to poison him. Martín yells after the departing Gabriela that he would help the girl if he weren’t in a wheelchair.

The police come to the brothers’ home; they’ve found a woman in the river. The brothers go to the river and identify Libia's body.

     Gabriela visits Eva and puts compresses on her back. Gabriela says they will forget it as they will forget everything.

     The police tell the brothers that there must be an autopsy. Juan says that she was murdered and accuses Bernardo Elisondo, the man who seduced and impregnated and abandoned her. The son who accompanied Hortensia and Libia to the city runs into the shop and tells them all that Libia has been found dead in the river and must have committed suicide. Hortensia tells them they will say absolutely nothing, they know nothing. Juan especially is distraught by Libia's death and blames one of his brothers for wanting to sell their sister. They fight.

     In the cabaret, the cabaretera performs (sorry, I don't know her name).

     In Gabriela’s house, Fernando hears one of the sisters outside his door (I think it is the youngest but I don't know if that is Sarita or Ximena) and grabs her. They kiss briefly; then each swears they would never have anything to do with the other if they were the last person on earth.

     The brother, Franco?, who loves the cabaratera is at the cabaret and tells her of his sister’s death.

     Juan dreams of Libia when they were children.

     The brothers bury their sister. We hears a voiceover news item; I think it is about a strike and some elections. Juan swears vengeance on Libia’s grave and makes his brothers swear also.

     Back at Gabriela's house, she, Ximena and Sarita are walking out of the house when Martín, reading a paper, tells Gabriela that she might be interested, because of the girl’s name, in a news item about a young woman who was found dead in the river but Gabriela insists she is not interested in people she knows nothing about.

     Hortensia offers her condolences to the brothers. The brothers tell her they still don’t know anything about how it happened. Juan tells her they want nothing from her or her family and insults her. An infuriated Hortensia tells a closed door they deserved what happened.

     In Gabriela's garden, Fernando and Gabriela are talking. (Unfortunately, my tape seems to have ended a minute or two early so I don't know what the conversation was about. Sorry.)

     Diane

     RE: Tuesday, Aug. 29 Summary - clarification  Author: dd (---)  Date:   09-02-99 14:55 PDT

     It is the younger sister, Ximena, who is hot for Fernando---although why I don't know since he makes my skin crawl. And it is, indeed, Franco who is hot for the cabaretera, Rosario (thanks, Yolette!).

     Diane

 

     8/31/99 - Hortensia convinces Libia to see Bernardo’s family and , with one of her sons, goes with Libia to the city, all the time telling her she must confront Bernardo’s family. Libia does so, reluctantly. Gabriela doesn’t believe her and humiliates her in front of the entire family. Neither Eva nor Fernando, both of whom know the truth, say anything.  Libia runs out of the house, where Eva briefly stops her tells her that she knows the truth; Libia wanders the street, almost being run over by a car. At the river, desperate, she jumps in. Meanwhile, the brothers have reported her as missing to the police.

 

     9/1/99. Martín, padre de Gabriela, shaves, and talks about Libia with Eva, wandering if the story was true. Eva says nothing. Then we see Libia floating in the water. Back at the house, one of the unmarried daughters has dreamt  of Libia and talks with the other unmarried sister who has also been thinking sympathetically about the young woman, wondering if what she said was true. In the pueblo, the three brothers are still asking questions. Hortensia and her son have returned, not knowing where Libia is or what happened to her. Gabriela is at the breakfast table telling Eva that she didn’t believe the story until an hour ago when she found the picture Eva had hidden of Libia. At first Eva lies aboout the picture, but then admits the truth, how she has known about the girl for a short time. Gabriela becomes hysterical. She says  that now she understands about the house he bought. She asks Eva how long she has worked in the house, been treated as a member of the family. “Toda la vida”. Gabriela asks Eva how she could have betrayed them, then corrects herself and says her, because she had not betrayed Bernardo. Eva says that she will leave, but Gabriela says no...with an odd look on her face. Martín asks Gabriela what she did to Eva. Then he tells her that Bernardo was unfaithful because she was not a good wife; that he knows the secret of their intimate relationship. Martín says her mother was a complete wife to him until the day she died, unlike her.  He calls her a “frigida miserable” who deserved her husband’s betrayal. In their bedroom, Gabriela breaks Bernardo’s picture, pours water on her bed, throws things around, and  says he deserves punishment. Meanwhile, the brothers go to the house that Bernardo Elisondo bought for Libia, still not knowing that he is dead. Martin visits Eva, crying in her room, and lying on her stomach on her bed. It is obvious that Gabriela beat Eva. Martín says they are now all under Gabriela’s thumb because with Bernardo’s death she controls everything. Libia’s body turns up downstream. Gabriela brings her father his meal; he says he isn’t hungry and besides, she might be trying to poison him. Martín yells after the departed Gabriela that he would help the girl if he weren’t in a wheelchair. The police come to the brothers’ home; they’ve found a woman in the river. The brothers go to the river and identify her body.  Gabriela visits Eva and puts compresses on her back. Gabriela says they will forget it as they will forget everything. The police say there must be an autopsy. Juan says that she was murdered and accuses Bernardo Elisondo, the man who seduced and impregnated and abandoned her. The son who accompanied Hortensia and Libia to the city runs into the shop and  tells them all that Libia has been found dead in the river and must have committed suicide. Hortensia tells them they will say absolutley nothing, they know nothing.  Juan especially is distraught  by her death and blames one of his brother for wanting to sell their sister. They fight. In the cabaret, ? performs. In Gabriela’s house, Fernando hears  the youngest? sister outside his door and grabs her. They kiss briefly; then each swears they would never have anything to do with the other if they were the last person on earth. The brother, Franco?, who loves the cabaterera is at the cabaret and tells the cabaretera of his sister’s death. Juan dreams of Libia. The brothers bury their sister. We hears a voiceover news item; I think it is about a strike and some elections.  Juan swears vengeance on Lbiia’s  grave and makes his brothers swear also. Martín tells Gabriela that she might be interested, because of the girl’s name,  in a news item about a young woman who was found dead in the river but Gabriela insists she is not interested in people she knows nothing about. Hortensia offers her condolences to the brothers. The brothers tell her they still don’t know anything about how it happened. Juan tells her they want nothing from her or her family. Hortensia tells a closed door they deserved what happened. Fernando and Gabriela talk business and, I think, about firing Eva.

 

 

    

~~Summary #8 Thur. 9/2 ~~  Author: Ixchel (---)  Date:   09-02-99 22:02 PDT

     Outside the house

     Sarita is on a bench reading a book while Ximena is leaning against the railing looking below where Fernando is sitting with someone. Ximena asks Sarita what she think of their brother in law. Sarita doesn't understand the question so Ximena clarifies - what do you think of him as a man?

Sarita responds that he's a gentleman, very smart, friendly, etc. Ximena isn't interested in that kind of answer and asks if she would be interested in him if he wasn't married to Sofia. Sarita (is it my imagination or does she look really old???) still doesn't understand very well so Ximena tells her that she thinks he's very attractive, but that his relationship with Sofia isn't going well. Sarita asks if she know anything & Ximena points out that they don't even kiss. She admits that she spies on them because she is worried. She also tells Sarita that if she were Sofia she would not reject him & would love him very much, and since he is the only man they are in contact with, she can't but observe him. Sarita stands up in disgust & tells her that she should not be looking at him for any reason and to go confess this instance. She tells her that they are decent señoritas & to be very carefull because she could go to hell.

     In the foyer of the Elizondo house

     Fernando & some of the help bring grampa down the stairs. The whole family is there. He is very upset and tells them not to take him away to an asylum for old folk. Gabriela & Fernando tell him that the place is very nice and with nurses & nuns to take care of him. Grampa gets Eva's hand & tells her to not let him go, but Eva tells him she has to obey Gabriela's orders. Grampa looks at the girls & asks if they think the same way as their mom. Sofia tells him she doesn't want him to go, but Gabriela tells her to shut up and to not complicate things. She sends the girls to their room, but Sofia tells her that she prefers to go with grampa to where ever they're taking him. Gaby gets angry & walks up to her & tells her to obey. Sofia insists on letting him stay so Gaby lands a huge slap across her face. Grampa screams out "don't hit her! don't do them more harm than what you have already done!" Sofia runs to his side & he hugs her & continues screaming at Gaby. Grampa tells Sofia he knew sooner or later Gaby would do this to him & that he will feel much better being far away from this place. He tells her that all he asks is that she go visit him. Fernando (ugh!! I can't stand him) pulls Sofia away & Gaby goes behind grampa's wheelchair. Fer tells Sofia that he is telling her as her husband that she leave to their room immediately. Sofia wipes her tears away & tells her mom:

"for the moment there is nothing I can do to stop you from taking him away. When people get old, we have to put them away so that they won't bother us. The same is going to happen to you, mom. The years go by very fast, mom & in a day not far away you'll be as old and as incapacitated as grampa & when that happens, my sisters & I will imitate you & we will throw you in an asylum for old people so that you won't bother us or make our lives a living hell. We will learn your lesson very well, mom!" (was that a great come back or what??) Gaby remains speechless, her lip quivers, she doesn't say a word, and she walks away.

     Reyes bakery

J   uan is kneading some dough, Juan is taking bread out of the oven. They are all with long faces and Juan starts crying. He tells them that one day they will find out what really happened & they will get revenge just as they promised over Libia's tomb.

     Outside Elizondo house

     Gaby is walking with a man pointing at things here & there.

     Sofia & Fer's room

     Eva knocks on door to tell Fer that Gaby wants him ouside to speak with the arquitect.

Fer leaves & Sofia asks Eva why her mom is talking to an arquitect. Eva tells Sofia that she is planning to build an apartment for her & Fer behind the house. Sofia does not look happy.

     In detective's office

     The detective tells the brothers that there is no one guilty of Libia's death because she committed suicide. Juan insists that it was Bernardo's fault, so the detective tells them that a dead man couldn't have killed her. He tells them that Bernardo died a few weeks ago & that he was a married man with 3 daughters. The 3 brothers are shocked. Juan is furious. The detective tells them Libia must have found out about his death & it's why she took her life.

     Outside Elizondo house

     Sarita & Ximena go talk to Fer outside to ask him if it's really necessary to construct a separate place for them. They don't want to see all the construction materials dirtying the house & gardens. Fer insists that it is necessary because they need more independence as a couple. He looks at Ximena & walks toward Sofia. He asks if she is also against the apartment. She coldly answers that their situation will remain the same whether they move to this new apartment or if they stay in the house. This doesn't make Fer happy & he responds that nothing will ever bethe same; that they will be alone & that their intimacy will change for they will live as husband & wife.

     Reyes House

     Juan is very upset & can't believe Bernardo lied to Lidia. He will not accept this & wants to know everything about the Elizondo family. He is not happy with the police's explanation. Oscar tells them he agrees with Juan & that they should go get the address to the Elizondo house. Franco is not in agreement because they will not gain anything from it. Juan insists that someone has to pay for this crime. Franco tells them it was a suicide, Oscar says it was a crime & that family will pay.

     Elizondo dining room

     The girls are eating & gaby show up to announce that she will be going to their country house - la Savanna -for a few days & will take Sofia with her.

     In car, on the road

     Rosario tells Franco that it's okay not to react the same way as his brothers. He tells her he is scared of what they could do. She invites him to her apartment. . . . .In the apartment .... Rosario & Franco talk & have a few drinks. She tells him all she wants is his frienship, but he leans over & kisses her. She pulls away & tells him to stop. Next second they are on her bed, but she pulls away from him angrily. She tells him she didn't bring him to make love, that she wants something else from him. Franco leaves & stops on the stairs. Rosario walks to him & tells him she is very alone & needs his company & understanding, but if he can't give her that, then it's best that he leave. They hug each other, & he leaves.

     Reyes house

     Oscar tells his brothers he got the Elizondo address & they can now go when they feel like it.

     Elizondo house - Grampa's room

     Grampa asks Eva if Gaby left. He is upset & comments that Gaby hasn't come to see him ever since she tried to throw him out of the house. Eva tells him she needs a rest.

     Reyes house

     Franco tells the brothers he is not happy about going there. He points out that the family might not even know about Libia. Juan tells him that he doesn't need to go if he doesn't want to. He gets his gun out of a drawer & Franco tells him not to take that.

     On the road

     Gaby, Fer & Sofia are in the car heading towards their country house. Gaby tells them that she is not comfortable having left the girls with Grampa so Sofia tells her she shouldn't have made this trip if she was going to be so worried. Fer points out that they left Eva in charge & that Eva will take care of them.

     Outside Reyes house

     Franco tries to stop the brothers, but they continue on their way.

     Elizondo house - outside

     Ximena & Sarita run into Eva & tell her that they're going to church. As they walk towards the gate, they see the three brothers standing there. The guys open the gate & walk in. They ask if it's the Elizondo house & tell them they want to talk to the widow of Elizondo & the rest of the family. The girls tell them they are the daughters.They insist on talking with Gaby so Sarita goes to get Eva & tells her she believes they are part of the construction team. Sarita leaves & tells the guys to go talk to Eva. As the guys walk away, Ximena keeps on looking at them. Ummmmm .. . . . . .The brothers tell Eva they need to talk to the Elizondo family. Eva mistakes them for the construction men, but they tell her they need to talk to the family in private about another matter. They won't leave till they talk to the widow or a member of the family. Eva asks who they are & they tell her they are Libia's brothers. Upon hearing this, Eva invites them in. . . . They go to the living room. She tells them that she knew of Libia, of her relationship with Bernardo, & the baby & that they should not try to talk to the family because a huge scandal could break out. Franco tells Juan & Oscar that Eva is right, but Juan shuts him up. He tells Eva that they will not listen to her & don't care about what scandal breaks out.

     At church

     Ximena (I think it was her, it wasn't too clear) is in the confesional & tells the priest to forgive her for having sinful thoughts. She tells him she does this very often, especially at night before bedtime. The priest asks what type of thoughts she has. She tells him that she imagines being in the arms of "hombres prohibidos" & that she gives herself to them in those dreams & that she would give herself to them if those dreams came true.

     Elizondo house

     Eva tells them to leave & that she's been nice because she met Libia. Juan insists on staying & pulls out the gun.

     At church

     She continues with her confession & tells the priest that she has killed someone in her mind & that the worst thing is she isn't sorry she's thought it.

     Elizondo house

     Franco tries to stop Juan, but is held back by Oscar. Franco tell Juan to not threaten this woman like this & to not do something that he'll later regret. Juan tells Eva they are not criminals but came because they are willing to do whatever it takes for Libia because she is no longer with them & commited suicide because of Bernardo. Eva is shocked. She sits down & keeps on saying no. She tells them she didn't know that happened & tells Juan that he doesn't need to be pointing that gun at him anymore. Juan tells her about Libia's disapearance & death. Eva tells them that Libia was very upset & crying when she left the house. Oscar interrupts to ask "when she left this house?" Eva tells them Libia was here & confronted Gariela & the family and that now can tell them that who killed her was not Bernardo. She stops to tell them that what she can say will get her in trouble & that this is not the place nor the time to talk, but that they have all the right to come making claims. Grampa comes in & thinks they're the construction guys. They go along with him. He asks them to carry him to his room & they help him out.

     Eva walks them outside & tells them that she will call them tonight to tell them all she has to say. Oscar asks how they can trust her so she tells them that her job & future in this house is at stake so they must trust her. . . . . Eva goes to Gaby's room. She starts talking to her picture & says that she owes her many things: the roof, food & all the humiliation she has made her suffer. She will give everything back to her.

     At the country house

     Gaby tells Sofia that she could not remain single after her rape. Sofia tells her she doesn't want to talk about it. Gaby tells her she had to marry her off with Fernando because he is an outstanding man. Sofia tells her she bought her a husband like one buys a dress. Gaby tells Sofia she thought she would come to love him. Sofia responds that that's what she thought also. Sofia points out that they've been married for over a year & all that doesn't matter. . . . . Gaby goes outside & hears some moans & sees Fernando making out with maid. "FERNANDO!!," she screams, & walks away. Fer runs after her & tells her that it's not what it seems. Gaby is extremely angry & tells him he cannot explain what she just saw. She tells him just minutes ago she was telling Sofia what a great man he is, but she was obviously mistaken. She leaves him with a pale face. (yes! yes! yes!)

     Reyes house

     Eva tells the brothers that they can't blame Bernardo, that he was a good man & wouldn't hurt anybody. Franco tells her Bernardo lied & led Libia to her death. Eva explains that his feelings were true, that he was willing to leave everybody for Libia. The brothers point out that he still lied about being married. Eva tells them that Libia took her life not because of him, but because of what happened that night Libia went to the house. Oscar asks Eva what happened. She tells them that Libia showed up to talk to Gaby & that Gaby gathered the family & that Gaby humiliated her in front of the whole family and that that's why Libia ran out of the house "desesperada." Eva insists that the one responsible is Gabriela because she knew the truth, but insisted on treating her the way she did.

     That's all!

 

 

~~Summary #9 Fri. 9/3 ~~  Author: Ixchel (---)  Date:   09-04-99 19:41 PDT

     ~~Summary #9 Fri. 9/3 ~~

     At the Savannah - Poor little Fernando complains to Gaby that he & Sofia haven't been intimate & thus they haven't consumated their marriage yet. Gaby comments that that can't be true, but Fer tells her to ask Sofia. He continues telling her that Sofia is not only allergic to him, but to men in general & that it's torture for him every night because he has this beautiful wife that he can't touch.

     At the cabaret - The old, bald man that we've seen with Rosario before prohibits Rosario from seeing Franco ever again. She tells him no one tells her what she can and cannot do & insists that he leave immediately & to stop bothering her friend. Franco also tells him to leave, the old man gets angry & throws the glass of water he has in his hand across Franco's face. Franco grabs him and throws him back. WHAM!! BONK!! SLAM! The man falls on the floor & tries to hit Franco, but the bouncer grabs him and drags him out. On his way out, the old an starts yelling insults at Rosario that she's a hooker and this & that Rosario & her friend will pay for this.

     At the Savannah (evening) - Fernando is setting a fire, Sofia's on the couch & Gaby walks in & asks Fer to leave them alone, that she needs to talk with her daughter. He leaves & Gaby tells Sofia that they have to talk VERY seriously now that she is aware of the intimacy problem in her marriage. Sofia tells her she will not talk about her private life with her, so Gaby tells her that Fer did the right thing by telling her & he doesn't deserve to be treated that way. (Wow, how quickly she forgot about Fer & the maid!) Sofia tells Gaby not to judge her private life, but Gaby tells her will intervene since she is the one responsible for their marriage. Sofia starts to walk away, but Gaby hold her back & tells her that she has to comply with her conjugal duties & that's what they will talk about right now.

     At Rosario's apartment - Franco tells her he didn't like one word of what the old man shouted to her. Rosario tells him that not everything he said was false, & that she has many faults. Franco points out that the old man threatened to stop paying the rent to her apartment & asks if it's true. Rosario says yes & asks if he is shocked. He says no & gives her a hug. She tells him to not take his friendship away & he assures him he won't.

     Back at the Savannah - Gaby tells Sofia that the sacrament of marriage is a very sacred one and no one has the right to break it as she is doing.

     Gaby - What are you thinking, girl, that you married Fernando to torture him with your rejection? You are obligated to give yourself to him as a woman because you swore to it at the altar! Nobody gets married to run from their husband, but to satisfy him & to give him children!

     Sofia - But I don't feel I'm capable of that, mom.

     Gaby - You don't feel capable? What kind of answer is that?

     Sofia - Well, if you feel you have to get involved in my intimate life, then I'll let you in on it. I'll tell you everything & will tell you things you don't know. I have to let them out before they keep on poisoning me. Don't get terrified by what I'm about to tell you & remember it was you who asked to know!

     At Rosario's apartment - Franco's at the door & about to leave, but Rosario tells him to stay because it's too late & it's raining. Franco asks where he would stay so she tells him he'd stay in another room. Franco doesn't like the idea & tells her he will spend the night only when she invites him to stay in her bed, not before. Rosario isn't pleased with his answer & asks if that is the only thing he is interested in. Franco heads down the stairs.

     At the Savannah - Sofia starts telling Gaby that she used to like guys & she was a normal girl till the day IT happened. It was a dark, cloudy day April 9 last year. We get a flash of political demonstrations & a city in chaos. Ximena, Saritaa & Sofia run downstairs & ask what is going on. There's noise everywhere & people are on the streets. There are fires everywhere & they seem to be concentrated downtown. Eva tells them a political figure has just been murdered & that's why the people are in an uproar. Sofia tells her her parents are downtown attending a reception & should go get them. The girls are frantic & Sofia wants to go outside, but Eva tells them to go upstairs because there are people at the gate. Ximena & Sarita heed her words, but Sofia insists on going outside to help Eva. Eva tells her to stay inside. We see Eva running down the front steps as a band of armed men have crossed the gate & are now on the property. Eva tells them to leave, but they come for her & throw her to the floor. Eva screams to Sofia to go back inside the house, but it's too late. Sofia starts running to get away from the men, but runs into another group. She's stuck in the middle with nowhere to run. . . We see Sarita & Ximena in Grampa's room. He asks where Sofia is & they tell her she stayed downstairs with Eva. He grabs his riffle & tells them he saw men enter the house, but the riffle is broken. . . . The men grab Sofia as she screams for help. Eva runs to her, but to no avail. . . . The flash back ends & Sofia is crying as she tells all this to her mom. Sofia tells Gaby that it was horrible & that she never told her what really happened because by the time she & Bernardo got back, everything was over. She points out that she & dad never asked anything & were satisfied with just hearing one of their daughter had been raped. She tells her that what she felt can't be explained with words, that she feels absolute repulsion for the brutality of men & infinite "grossness" (the word she used was something similar). Gabriela remains quiet but she is crying softly. Sofia tells her that a few days later out of the blue she brought Fernando to the house & introduced him as her future husband to wipe out the disgrace as if she had asked for the rape. Gaby wipes her tear away & tells Sofia that it was necessary & that one only thinks about the well-being of one's children. Sofia asks if she really thought about her, or about safeguarding the family's reputation at any cost.

     S - No mom, you didn't think about me. if you would have though about me you wouldn't have obligated me to marry somebody & you would have left things as they were.

     G - You would have become "sour" (amargada?) & would have closed up.

     S - That would have been much better because the medicine turned out worse than the illness. I am not capable of being intimate with any man, not even with Fernando. The minute he starts touching me, I relive that moment & I feel I'm going to go crazy!

     G - It's not Fernando's fault. You have to comply with your conjugal obligations because you have to consummate that marriage. It lacks sense.

     S - If you think it lacks sense, then why don't we find the best solution, mom? We could end the marriage & separate!

     G - Don't even say that as a joke. We are decent people and decent people do not get separated! That's what atheists do. You're a good girl & were educated to adhere to the strictest norms -social, moral & religious - do you understand, Sofia? Is that clear or not?

     S - No norm is going to make me give myself to Fernando or any other man! Nobody lives in my flesh, or feels what I feel! Is that clear or not, mom?

     Gaby doesn't say a word, Sofia keeps on crying & we see Fernando was overhearing everything. . . . Fer walks outside, stops & leans against a wall & has a look of anguish on his face.

     (morning) At the Reyes house - Franco's sitting down as Oscar tells him that he's not paying enough attention to their problem because he spends all his time thinking about that cabaretera. Oscar insults her & Juan tells them to stop arguing. Juan tells Franco he has to stop thinking about Rosario for a while because they all have to concentrate on their problem with the Elizondo family.

     Elizondo house - (grampa's room) The little girls are playing cards with grampa & they all seem to be having a great time. Grampa comments on how they are laughing & enjoying themselves w/o Gaby in the house. . . One of the maids tells Eva the architect is here so she tells her to go see if the girls need anything because she doesn't want to be interrupted as she talks to the architect. He tells Eva that everything's ready to start, but Eva tells him she has new orders to suspend the construction.

     At the Reyes house - Franco tells the guys what they think of doing is absurd & criminal.

     Elizondo house - The architect is angry & can't believe Gaby doesn't want the construction of the apartment any more. Eva very calmly tells him Gaby changed her mind. He asks to talk to Gaby , but Eva tells him she is out of town. He is angry at Gaby for having wasted his time & tells eva he will never do business with her again. . . The girls walk dowstairs & ask Eva who she was talking to. Eva tells them it was the architect & that everythings ready to start. Ximena asks if the same laborers that were here the other day will be coming back & Eva says yes. This gets Ximena & Sarita very excited.

     At the Reyes house - Franco tries to stand strong & tells his brothers that he will not go back to the Elizondo house. Juan grabs him & tells him they will go back & Oscar joins in to say they will do it as he has planned.

     At the Savannah - Fernando is out in the pastures thinking as gaby approaches him. She tells him she talked to Sofia last night, but didn't get too far. Fer tells her he doesn't have his hopes high because what Sofia has is a sickness that she might never recover from. He tells her that the best thing would be to get separated, but Gaby says NO! She tells him she still thinks he is the best husband she could have found for her. He asks if she thinks that even though she found him with the maid. She tells him she knows why he did it and & forgives him, but that doesn't mean she will let that happen again. She asks him to behave like a gentleman because those escapades don't look good & that he should have faith that things will change for the better.

     At the Reyes house - Eye candy indeed!! The brothers are in their room after having had taken showers. All of them are without their shirts & let me tell you Juan & Oscar look HOT HOT HOT!!! Oscar has a towel rapped around his waist with some water droplets still on his chest. Juan is in white boxers & Franco is in gray boxers furthest from the camera. Oscar tells them that they have to be in the Elizondo house before Gaby comes back & that he will not let Franco ruin this opportunity for them. Franco insists they stop with this idea, but Juan tells them the family is still at fault because they humiliated & insulted Libia. Franco points out that Libia & Bernardo are both dead & no vengeance will bring her back & that they should forget about this tradegy & go on with their lives. Juan walks to him & asks where his word went & reminds him what they swore on Libia's grave. Juan tells Franco that if he doesn't go along with their plan, they will stop being his brothers & will deny his existence

     At the cabaret - Rosario tells Franco that he shouldn't do what his brother want if he doesn't agree with their plan. She asks if their plan is that bad & he denies knowing what they have in mind. Franco tells her he can't tell her anything regarding Libia's death, although he would love to do so. She tells him that she's a man & why he doesn't go out on his own & leave them. He tells her he's never thought about that & that he could not leave them now that they need his help so much. A misterious man walks into the cabaret & spots them talking. Rosario sees him & tells Franco she has to go see him.

     At the Reyes house - Juan & Oscar are at the table talking as Oscar is drawing some construction plans. Juan doesn't think Oscar know too much about this, but Oscar points out that he is a fast learner & that he worked in construction before. Juan tells him he only worked there 2 months, so Oscar responds that he also worked a short time at the bakery & asks who's idea t was to set theirs up. Juan tells him it was him, but because he has really worked hard at it. Oscar tells him to trust him, & that he's worried about Franco.

     At the cabaret - Rosario stops talking to the mystery man & goes back to Franco's table. He asks if it's a problem he is hear & she says no, & that the man is only a friend. Franco tells her he knows it's one of her men. Rosario tells him to understand she needs to use these guys because she is used to her way of living & needs their money. She tells him she's been poor and will never be that way again & that's why she does what she does. He asks about her dignity & she tells him it's a pretty word that only goes with those that have money.

     At the Savannah - Gaby asks what Sofia's doing. Sofia is watching the help milk the cow & tell her mom she remembers how she used to love to do it when she was a little girl. The help tells her to try again so Sofia starts milking the cow. This is a weird scene because as Sofia is miling the cow, Fernando gets this strange look on his face - dare I use the word excited? - so Sofia stops & tells them it's not as fun as it used to be. Sofia leaves & Fernando tells Gaby that they're not accomlishing anything with their stay here & should think about heading back to Bogota.

     (next morning) Elizondo house - The Reyes brothers greet Eva at the foyer. She tells them she wasn't expecting them so soon. Grampa & the girls walk in & ask if they're here to start the construction. They say yes & Sarita asks if more men will be joining them. Juan answers that it's just the 3 of them & that that's enough to get the job done. . . . They all go outside & grampa asks how long the construction will last. Juan answers that it will be done in about 3 to 4 months so grampa asks if having more laborers would help to shorten that time. Oscar tells him that it's better that only the 3 of them work at this project because they're used to working together & make a great team. Grampa asks if it's because they want bigger slices of the pie & tells them that if money is an issue not to worry because his daughter Gaby is rich. Franco tells them that the project is small & that more men would only add confusion and make more mess around the house. Grampa asks how many square meters the apartment will be & Oscar tries to show him the blueprints, but grampa tells him he doesn't know anything about those things. Ximena tells him that she is interested in looking them over, but grampa stops her & tells her & Sarita to not worry about that & to go back inside. . . . (in the living room) Ximena tells Sarita that the guys are wonderful & seem even more delighful than when they were here the last time. Sarita tells her to calm down, so Ximena tells her she will try. She's all smiles. . . . (Gaby's room) Eva is sitting in front of the mirror trying out Gaby's pearl necklace as Grampa starts calling out her name. She quicky puts it back in its place. He is mad because he's been calling the help for a glas of water & none of the maids have come to the room. He asks where they are . . . .(back yard) 2 maids are out on the 2nd floor terrace staring at the brothers as they work. Ximena & Sarita see them & tell them to go back to their duties. Ximena tells Sarita the guys are gorgeous. Juan, Oscar & Franco do look good! Sarita asks her if they are brothers. Oscar sees the girls staring at them so he taes of his shirt. Juan does the same thing & they continue working. I love this taking off their shirts scenes!!! Sarita tells Ximena they must leave & Oscar notices they are having an impact on them & smiles.

     Rosario's apartment - Franco tells Rosario he is working in construction & that his hands aren't used to this type of labor. Rosario tells him he had told her they had a bakery so franco tells her they still do but are nw in construction for the time being. Rosario insists he not do what his brothers want. He tells her he wishes he had a job in which he made tons of money to give to her so that she wouldn't have to get involved with other guys & be just for himself. Rosario tells him that if he were rich, he would spend his money on another girl, a much younger one without a past or as complicated as her. Franco tells her that wouldn't be true because he loves her. Rosario tells him that's not true, that he's just in lust. They kiss & she tells him that she doesn't want to fall in love with him. The mystery man walks in to interrup & she tells him Franco was just leaving. When Franco leaves, this man slaps Rosario & she falls on the bed. He tell her he doesn't believe Franco is just a friend, that he's not stupid & that he wouldn't care if Franco were old & rich but Franco is neither poor nor rich so she must be interested in him. Rosario denies sheis interested in him & he tells her that if it's true, it's not good for him (is he her pimp or something?) She tells her no again & that she will not let him let him hit her again.

     At a hardware store - Oscar tells franco that they only need 3 bags of cement instead of the 8 Eva gave them money for. Oscar tells him he will use sand instead & won't waste all the money. Oscar reminds him that they will stay at the Elizondo house until Gaby & all the family has paid for what they did to Libia.

     At the Elizondo house - Ximena has the dreamy eyed look as she stares at the nice bodies working in her back yard. They're without their shirts off. . . Eva is walking with grampa outside & he tells her he these guys don't have the look of common construction guys. Eva asks why he thinks that; he responds that it's just a hunch. Eva tells him they are just like any other construction workers, that she doesn't see anything wrong or strange with them. He tells her that if it weren't for the effort & the way Juan is working, he'd think they were lying to him . . . . Sarita looks at Juan in "sinful" way.

     That's all!

 

9/6/99 - no episode. Labor Day

 

9/7/99 - Gabriela, Sofia and Fernando return from the ranch. The brothers discuss a different kind of vengeance: Oscar suggests that they make the three daughters fall in love with them. Juan objects; he still wants to kill Gabriela. Fernando “takes charge” of the building of the apartment.

 

Summary for Wednesday, 9//8/99  Author: dd (---)  Date:   09-09-99 00:39 PDT

     Quick overview: Sofia and Juan dream of each other. Gabriela tells Sofia she must “comply with her marital obligations” but tells Fernando that he cannot win Sofia with jealousy and desconfianza. Gabriela asks him, as head of the household, to assume responsibility for the business. Sarita sees Ximena and Franco kissing. Eva tells the brothers to leave, she was wrong to seek vengeance. Rosario’s pimp threatens Franco.

     Scenes:

     “Elisondo home”:

     Sofia and her mother argue about Fernando. Sofia says he is demasiado dominante. Gabriela tells her she is not complying with her obligations. Her mother supports Fernando: “he is the only hombre in the house”.

     “Brothers’ home”:

     The brothers continue to debate how to revenge themselves on the family. Oscar says Sofia is the most beautiful woman he has ever seen. Juan recalls her image.

     “Elisondo Home”:

     Outside, the brothers, Sofia, and Fernando discuss the apartment. Fernando says he wants something really fine. The brothers say that’s ok, if money is no object. Fernando says he wants the best. Oscar tells Franco that Fernando acts big but knows nothing, that Sofia is nothing like her sisters.

     “Brothers’ home”:

     Oscar continues to try to convince Juan that his plan is the right one. Juan finally agrees.

     “Elisondo home”:

     Nighttime. In bed, Sofia recalls the face of Juan. Next day, while Franco is unloading supplies, he cuts his finger and asks the watching Ximena if he can get it washed and bandaged. She helps him wash it, puts alcohol on it, comments on how nice a hand it is, asks if any of the brothers is married and learns that none is. Franco says it is because they work hard and, perhaps, because they’ve never met a woman as pretty as she is. He almost kisses her, but just then her mother calls. Juan sees Sofia watching him, looks up, she leaves. Oscar tells Juan that Sofia is married; concentrate on the solteras.

     Nighttime. Upstairs, Ximena recalls the scene with Franco, gets out of bed and looks at herself in the mirror. Sarita wakes up. Ximena says she had never thought of herself as pretty until Franco told her she was. Downstairs, Gabriela and Eva talk; somebody is returning [couldn’t understand whom]. Eva drops a dish. Gabriela tells Eva to forget the past, that she acted for her benefit, embraces Eva. Next morning. Oscar and Franco talk about how to win the love of women such as these. Juan enters the house; Sofia, in a robe, asks him what he wants. He tells her he needs money for expenses. They look at each other. Gabriela enters and yells at him: he is not to enter the house without authorization. Gabriela tells him to deal with Eva, never to enter the house again. He looks daggers at her, clenches his fists. Upstairs, Martín and the granddaughters talk. Gabriela enters. They want to go for a walk with their grandfather; Gabriela says no. The granddaughters leave the room. Martín and Gabriela argue. I think she tells him that if the neighbors saw him in a wheelchair, they would pity him. Martín tells Gabriela that she is only waiting for him to die, to cease being a bother. Gabriela tells him to watch his language around her daughters. She leaves. He thinks to himself that if he wasn’t so sure his wife was faithful, he would believe that Gabriela was not his.

     Outside. Eva tells the brothers that she is afraid, feels different now, doesn’t want them to hurt the family, that for one moment she lost control. Oscar assures her that they will not kill anybody, that they have changed their plans. She tells them they must leave. She will pay them herself. Eva asks them what their new plans are; Oscar tells her to forget everything, they won’t involve her. Franco asks her why she agreed in the first place. She says it was because of a loved one she lost, that she too wanted vengeance against Gabriela. [at least I think this is what she said]

     “Brother’s home”:

     The brothers wonder about Eva’s change of heart, conclude that there must be some secret. Franco can’t forget Rosario.

     “Cabaret”:

     Rosario and Franco talk in her room. Franco begins to kiss her when her pimp [haven’t figured out his name yet] enters the room. Rosario tells Franco to leave.

     “Elisondo home”:

     Ximena talks of Franco to Sarita, wondering where he is.

     “Cabaret”:

     Rosario performs. Franco and the pimp watch. The pimp goes over to Franco and tells him he will get nothing from Rosario without money and warns him that he will suffer the same fate as others if he tries to replace him.

     “Elisondo Home”:

     Sofia is speaking warmly to somebody on the phone. Fernando asks who it is. She says ? [couldn’t get the name]. Fernando thinks it is Pedro[?]. Sofia tells him she has had it with Fernando’s jealousy. She tells him that he is always watching her, even at night, that she isn’t his wife, she is his obsession. Gabriela descends the stairs, tells Sofia to retire, she must talk to Fernando alone.

     Upstairs. Sofia finds Ximena going through a drawer in her room.

     Downstairs. Gabriela tells Fernando that he has no right to doubt Sofia, that she is an Elisondo, a person incapable of betrayal. Fernando says she knows his situation. Gabriela tells him that he won’t win her that way. She tells him that he is now the head of the family, should do something more useful than follow his wife around, is capable of doing anything, should take charge of the family’s business. Fernando agrees. Gabriela pats his cheek. Gabriela says that by doing so he will win Sofia’s love.

     Upstairs. Ximena apologizes. She was looking for cosmetics. Sofia gives her some. Ximena says that Sofia got all the beauty in the family which is why she won the love of a man as wonderful as Fernando, a man who loves her more every day. But Sofia wishes she could change places with her sisters.

     Outside. Martín asks the brothers if they have any girlfriends. Oscar says no, they are too busy. Martín says that’s wrong. Work is good, but so is pleasure. Franco says he is in love but it isn’t corresponded. Martín says he should look for another, but should not marry one who is too pretty (or other men will always be after her). Ximena joins her grandfather and takes him away. Later, Ximena asks Franco how his hand is, then takes it. She tells him how she wishes she were beautiful; Franco says true beauty is inside [a backhanded compliment if I ever heard one] and she must have many rich suitors. She says yes, but none of them interest her. He says if the rich don’t interest her, a poor worker certainly won’t. She says he interests her a lot, perhaps too much. They kiss; Sarita sees them and they break apart.

     Bedroom. Ximena asks Sarita to understand her. Sarita says she is disillusioned. Ximena is is a well-educated, well-loved young woman. How could she behave so with such a person? Sarita walks out of room.

     Outside. Sofia watches Fernando leave in his car, then turns her head and sees Juan.

    

 

Summary for Thursday (9/9/99)  Author: Yolette (webjefa) (---)  Date:   09-12-99 19:51 PDT

     Eva walks down the stairs behind Sarita, who sits grimly in the parlor. Sarita should get ready, Eva tells her, she had many people to visit today. Sarita asks after the workers. Eva tells her they were changing and about to leave. Sarita abruptly gets upand heads outside.

     The brothers are putting on their shirts as she comes striding up. She calls Franco to her and berates him for having kissed her sister, who may be silly but who was a respectable girl. "If you think I'm going to let you sully her, think again," she snaps. Franco flatly asks her if she will tell her mother what she saw. Sarita says she has no interest in stirring up a scandal. Franco looks relieved. "Listen here," he begins. "I'm not an unscrupulous seducer. If I kissed your sister it was because she inspired me to do so and she was the one who sought me out. Not because I'm a construction worker does it mean I'm not a decent man, nor does it mean I chase after every skirt I see." Sarita doesn't know what to say to that. They are interrupted by Gabriela, who wants to know what they are talking about. Sarita says she was just answering a question. Gabriela says they can ask their questions of the servants and orders her inside to dress up.

     Inside the car, Ximena complains that her mother is always the last to be ready even though she hurries everyone else. Sarita worries they will be late. Ximena notes Fernando pacing on the porch, and then asks Sofia if it was true she was not happy with her husband. Sofia does not want to answer. Sarita berates her. Ximena insists. "Just answer me one question: If you were still single and could choose a husband, would you marry a man of modest means quite below your social status?" Sofia responds, " If I could love him without fear, I wouldn't care about anything else. I'd marry him in two seconds." Sarita is shocked. "Even if he was a vulgar construction worker?" "Even if he were a beggar," Sofia says with conviction. Ximena smiles triumphantly at Sarita, who glares back.

     At home, Oscar berates Franco for his carelessness in getting caught kissing Ximena. "We have to be intelligent about this!" Franco tries to brush it off. "Sarita won't say anything." But Oscar says they shouldn't be too sure. Ximena may have fallen into their trap, but Sarita was a spinster, older and more bitter. She would be a tough nut to crack. Oscar notes Juan brooding silently at the head of the table and asks his opinion on it. Juan says he has no opinion, that it was Oscar's plan, and if things did not work out, he knew what he was going to do. He leaves. Oscar fumes that Juan is another who is not helping the plan. "And he would help less if he knew your true intentions," Franco says. "What do you mean," Oscar asks warily. Franco says it is obvious that Oscar is after the money, not revenge. He tells Oscar not to worry, that he was now after the money too else he would never be following him blindly like the naive Juan.

     Exiting the car, Sarita and Ximena complain of what a boring visit and why all their social actvities were thus. Sarita points out that at least they had completed their duty of welcoming home the Uribe family. Ximena says that the old couple were getting more arrogant every day, what with all the bragging about their trip to Europe. Sarita replies that the Uribes were bearable, but their daughter Ruth was completely antisocial. Ximena seizes upon this as a new reason why it would be OK to give up her social position to marry below her class and continues harping on the topic though Sarita tells her to drop it. "I know why you're doing this," Sarita says, "but you're not going to convince me that it's OK for you to see Franco." Ximena insists that Franco is special, quite handsomer than any of the gentlemen they had met, and the only one thus far to have told her pretty things and kissed her. "You should be ashamed of yourself," Sarita scolds. Ximena is unfazed. "Instead of shame, I feel wonderful. I wish it would happen a thousand times over." Sarita threatens her severely and then softens as Ximena's face crumples. "Look at me," Sarita says gently. "Don't you think I would like some man to pay attention to me? Nobody has ever kissed me or told me pretty things. But I'm aware that it can't occur with just anyone. I have to respect my family and myself." She soothes Ximena, "its just a crush, nothing more."

     Eva enters and tries surreptitiously to pry information about their visit and specifically about Ruth. Eva asked how she looked. Ximena replies dismissively that she looked as always, pale and skinny. Sarita tells her not to be bitchy that Ruth looked very pretty and elegant though she might be antisocial. They want to know why Eva is so interested. Eva pretends it was only idle curiosity.

     Rushing out to press her face against the cold iron bars of the birdcage, Eva remembers being in the same spot, crying and begging Gabriela not to throw her out because she was pregnant. In a flashback, we find out the man who had impregnated her had abandoned her and she had no family to fall back on. It would be impossible to get a new job in her condition, she pleaded. Gabriela coldly said that was all the more reason to kick her out since she would be too sick to work, Eva replied that this was not true that she would work until the very day she gave birth and that they would have no cause for complaint. Gabriela then said she could not stay because it would set a bad example for the other maids. And if they were to let her stay, what would she do after the birth? She could not take care of the baby and work satisfactorily, Eva states. Pressuring her abominably, she says the best thing would be to give up the child to the Uribes, that she would send Eva to the country to give birth and no one would ever know, that the child would grow up in comfort and with money. And if Eva did not agree to give the baby up, she would be out of a job and home and her baby would likely die of starvation. It would be a sin, Gabriela says, to expose the child to such an abominable existance. Crying pitifully, Eva finally concedes. "You'll be thankful later," Gabriela soothes her. Coming out of the flashback, Eva shakes her head, face wet with tears, "It's been a long time and I stll don't feel thankful, Sra. Gabriela!" Fernando comes up behind her, wanting to know what was wrong. She brushes him off.

     "I've always been a fair woman," Gabriela tells the priest during confession. "I've respected the commandments even over my own interests. I think I've had very few lapses over my lifetime. But ever since I met that unfortunate girl, I have not had a moment's peace." The priest reminds her that she had been conscientious and had not meant to do the girl harm. "But I offended her, father," Gabriela says. "I felt so angry when she told me she was my husband's lover, but she was only a little girl." The priest counsels her to try finding Livia. Gabriela says she has been looking for her everywhere but had not found her. "I don't even know her last name."

     "Reyes Guerrero," Oscar says as Gabriela writes out yet another check for materials. She notes that they are spending a lot on materials. Oscar assures her that they were using only the finest products and were not cutting corners like other construction workers. Gabriela questions their experience, since they were all so young. Oscar tells her that they were from a family of construction workers and they had been working since they were children with their father and their many more brothers, all of whom were now married except for the three of them. "No sisters?" Gabriela asks. "None," Oscar replies. Sarita notes that they were not from Bogota and asks when had they arrived, Oscar tells them four years ago. Gabriela tells Oscar that she likes him and that she would prefer to deal with him from now on instead of his brutish brother, Juan. Oscar says Juan only looks like a brute but that he was an angel. Eva calls Gabriela out to speak with Fernando, leaving Sarita and Oscar alone. Sarita attemps to follow her mother out but Oscar detains her.

     Ximena folds a letter together and presses it to her bosom inside her room.

     In the parlor, Oscar tells Sarita that Franco was really sorry for what he had done. He tells her that Franco had never had a girlfriend before and that he had gotten carried by the feelings he had for Ximena. "We're very respectful," he adds. Sarita agrees. "Yes, it's obvious that you guys have class and are very educated." She tells him to tell Franco not to worry about it anymore, as long as he stayed away from her sister. She says Sarita was very silly and got carried away by their looks. "I have to admit it, all three of you are very attractive," she says smiling, a little embarrassed. Oscar does his best at a blush and "aw, shucks" grin. He stares after her smugly when she departs. Ximena stops him on his way out and tosses him the letter for Franco.

     Gabriela waves goodbye to Fernando as he pulls out in the car and tells Sofia how wonderful he was to pick up the reins of Bernardo's businesses. "You don't appreciate him," she says. "You have an excellent husband." As Gabriela moves out of Sofia's line of vision on her way into the house, Sofia looks up and her eyes lock on Juan's from where he stands, watching her. She walks resolutely over to him. "Why do you keep staring at me? Am I some object of curiosity?" Juan responds, "I could ask you the same thing, miss." "You know very well that I'm not a miss, but a Mrs," she says stiffly. "You can call me Doña Sofia or Sra. de Escandor." "And you can call me Juan," he smirks. "Very well, Juan. Do your job and stop looking at me. I don't like it." She turns away high-handedly and Juan's nostrils flare.

     During their walk home, Oscar tells Juan that Gabriela is suspicious of him and couldn't he tone down the aggression. Juan tells him that its difficult, knowing what they did to Livia. He can't understand how she can be so calm after what she had done to their sister. Franco says that maybe she did not know that Livia had died. Juan was sure she wouldn't care even if she knew. Oscar proposes that they go out to distract themselves that night. Juan isn't too keen, but Oscar tells him he'd wrung more money out of the family and it was on him. Juan tells him to make sure they wouldn't be grabbed as thieves next, but Oscar assures him that he has fixed the books well, no one could ever tell. "That's why I'm the magician," he gloats. They decide to go play billiards. Oscar hands Ximena's letter to Franco. Franco bristles, "I suppose you've already read it?" "Of course," Oscar says. "You know how curious I am!" In the letter, Ximena asks to meet him at 11 a.m. in the national park.

     Ximena tosses and turns in bed. Sarita asks if she's OK. Ximena says she's fine and Sarita? Sarita says she's calm too. She mentions that she had talked to Oscar that day and was convinced that none of the brothers had bad intentions. She begs Ximena not to lead the poor boy astray. Ximena tells her not to worry that she would respect her house and she would never seek him out there again. (Keyword being *house*, of course)

     In the pool hall, Oscar tells Juan he was worried about him being so silent and asks him what he was thinking. "Am I thinking?" Juan asks drily. "You're convinced I'm a brute without a brain. That's why I always end up doing what you want, even against my own judgment. You're the intelligent one." Oscar grins at that and seems to take it seriously. He pats Juan on the back, then points out several women who are eying Juan. "You certainly attract the ladies," he says. "Perhaps because of your height and build, but as soon as they see you, they start drooling." Juan shoots him an "oh, please" look. Oscar wants to know when was the last time he had a relationship; he thinks Juan no longer likes women. Bending over a shot, Juan replays his last encounter with Sofia (see above), and says, "It's precisely because I like women that I don't fool around with all of them. I concentrate on the ones I need and can have." Oscar tells him to concentrate on Sarita, who would be difficult, but that he, Oscar, would be happy to give him some pointers on how to go about it. Juan tells him to save his advice, that even a brute like him could figure out how to seduce a woman he was interested in. "I'll find a way," he says, as his thoughts stray to Sofia once again. "I'll make her pay for what they did to Livia!" Oscar gives up his game to Franco and goes over to flirt with the women who were eying Juan.

     Later that night, walking home, Juan and Franco puzzle over the whereabouts of Oscar. Franco thinks he disappeared with that woman. Juan asks if Franco, too, thinks that he no longer likes women. He confesses that he had been seeing the girl who works at the flowershop before Livia's death, and had planned to ask her to marry him but he completely forgot about her after the tragedy, thus proving he had not really been in love with her. Juan then asks Franco how it was going with the lounge singer, did he still have a crush on her. Franco says it is not a crush; it's love. Juan advises him to forget her. "We can't afford to be involved with anyone else in our situation," he says. "We have to concentrate on our revenge." Franco asks if Livia would approve of their course of action were she alive. Juan says no, Livia had always been too good and naive. But "Wherever she is now, she must now know how rotten the world is."

     Sofia lies in bed, wide awake, and thinks about Juan. She tosses a little, looking distraught. Fernando wakes up and she stiffens. He wants to know what she's thinking. She turns her back to him. "Nothing."

     Entering their house, Juan and Franco hear a noise. Juan bursts into Oscar's room and finds him with a prostitute. Juan drags the sheets off them. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" Juan rages. Oscar covers his privates with a pillow, cowering. Juan accuses him of not respecting the home Livia once lived in by bringing prostitutes into the house. He orders the girl out. Franco enters and pulls Juan out. The prostitute doesn't want to leave unless she gets paid for her service. Oscar refuses to pay her and tells her that if she doesn't leave Juan would be back to throw her out of the window.

     The Elizondo family is gathered on the lawn for brunch, all except Ximena, who said she was sick and would be resting in her room. They hope that it isn't one of Ximena's "crises", and we find out that Ximena is prone to nervous fits, but had not been "sick" for two years.

     Ximena picks her way through the park, where a band is playing surrounded by spectators. She cranes her neck, looking around but doesn't see anybody.

     Walking on the porch, Fernando remarks that their relationship will improve once they are in their own apartments. Sofia asks bitterly if that was because he imagines that the proximity to her family is inhibiting her or if being removed would make it easier for him to force himself on her. Fernando says he has no intention of forcing her, that he had married her because he'd fallen in love with her at first sight, that he had no other reason to have accepted the marriage arrangement except that it was his opportunity to gain her. "I don't know what you thought of our marriage," Fernando says. "But if you thought it was all a farce, it is not so. Had it been any other woman, I would not have married her." Sofia is touched. Tearfully she apologizes for not being able to respond to him as a wife. She swears to him that she had tried to squelch her fears but was unsuccessful. "I don't reject you on purpose," she says. "And it doesn't please me to frustrate you." "I know," Fernando says, squeezing her shoulders. "That's why I'm still hanging on, even though it makes me suffer." He asks her to make an effort to change. She asks him to give her more time.

     Observing their intimate conversation from the lawn, Gabriela says that no one could doubt that Sofia and Fernando were a loving couple. Martin laughs at her. "Appearances can be deceiving," he says. Gabriela asks Eva to go check on Ximena.

     In the park, Ximena checks her watch and despairs. Turning around with a long face, she begins to walk out of the park. She looks up. Franco stands in front of her, wearing a cool gray suit, and a smile to match.

     At the house, Eva knocks on the door and enters to find Ximena's room empty.

     Ximena confesses she thought Franco would not come. "i was counting the minutes impatiently," Franco lies smoothly. Ximena asks him to call her by her first name. Franco says he would like to invite her to a special place. Ximena suggests a few locales, but Franco points out he has no money and cannot afford to take her to those places. She says it does not matter. Anywhere was fine as long as she was with him. "Take me anywhere," she gushes, looking at him adoringly.

     Eva comes downstairs and bumps into Sarita. She tells Sarita that Ximena is not in her room and that she was about to go tell Gabriela. Sarita persuades her not to. "Mom will kill her!"

     Franco has taken Ximena to a remote part of the park. He kisses her softly. "That's my second kiss," she says dreamily. He queries her about the boyfriends she had previously mentioned. She tells him they never got that far and that he was by far the most attractive man she had ever met. He kisses her again, gently. "That was my third kiss," breathes Ximena, her eyes still closed. "You're going to lose count," Franco says, his eyes gleaming coldly, and begins to kiss her more passionately, but she pulls away from him, frowning. "Don't kiss me that way!" Ignoring the signs of panic in her eyes, Franco tries to persuade her to go deeper into the park with him. Ximena balks, then asks why he's looking at her that way. "What are you planning to do with me?" she cries. "Let's go," Franco insists, trying to pull her into the woods. "You're scaring me!" she wails and breaks away from him in a run.

 

 

~ ~ Summary # 13, Friday 9/10 ~ ~  Author: Ixchel (---)  Date:   09-11-99 05:42 PDT

     Oscar is all mad at Franco for having wasted the opportunity to be with Ximena. Juan defends Franco & they argue that the Elizondo daughters are not just any girls, they're decent & it will be hard to "conquer" them.

     Sarita & Eva are arguing with Ximena for having gone out withour any permission. Eva leaves & Sarita asks her again if she went out to meet Franco. Sarita threatens to tell their mom so Ximena starts screaming that she wants her freedom. Gaby hears them arguing & comes in, but Sarita covers for her & tells Gaby that Ximena is not feeling good & they leave her alone.

     Fernando & Sofia go to a night club and the night's attraction is Rosario. It turns out that her pimp, Armando, was a close buddy of Fernando's. The pimp sees Fer & goes to greet him. They're happy to see each other after a long time. Sofia doesn't like him & excuses herself from the table. Fer & the pimp talk & Fer finds out that his old buddy is Rosario's manager/pimp. The pimp even tells Fer, that Rosario is available to him for a price whenever he wants. At first Fer tells him he wouldn't do such a thing, but by the end of their conversation he tells him, he'll keep that in mind. . . . . Fer & Sofia get home & she asks who the guy he was talking to was & she tells him their was something in his look that she didn't like. He tries to kiss her & Sofia turns him away, again.

     Gabriela, Sofia, Fernando & Sarita go to a lunch/dinner engagement & leave a sick Ximena in the house. Sarita warns her before leaving that she stay in her room or she will have to tell their mom about her infatuation with Franco. . . . Outside, Oscar sees the family leave in their car & notices that Ximena is not with them. He points this out to Franco so Franco goes upstairs to talk to her. Juan tells Oscar he doesn't understand him - one day he tells Franco he's going too fast & to slow down, & today he tells Franco to go see Ximena in her room.. .. Franco sneaks into Ximena's room. She tells him she is a decent girl & will not go ll the way with him. She expects him to treat her like a gentleman & to be romantic; to tell her how pretty she is, to tell her poems, to bring her a flower, etc. Just as he is about to kiss her, grampa knocks on the door demanding she open it immediately....... Back outside, Eva is a nervous reck because she is afraid that the brothers will be found out. She warns them to be carefull because Gaby could call the arquitect at any moment. . Ximena opens the door and stands by the door & he asks who she was talking to. She tells him she wasn't talking to anybody, but was reading poetry out loud. He doesn't believe her, but before he can go on, Ximena grabs his chair & tells him they should go out to the garden. . . . Franco sneaks out of her room but runs into Eva. She asks what he was doing, but her tells her it's none of her business. . . . . The brothers have lunch & continue talking about how they have little time to meet their goals with the Elizondo daughters.

     Later that night - Franco goes to the bar where Rosario usually performs. The bouncer tells him that on Rosario's orders he cannot go in.

     Gaby & the others return & Sarita tells Ximena that she was very worried that she would see Franco. Ximena tells her she stayed inher room most of the time. Sarita doesn't believe her & tells her she will talk with Franco tomorrow.

     Franco goes to her apartment & waits for her to show up. Rosario arrives and invites him in. He tells her that he wants to hear it to his face that she doesn't want to see him anymore. Franco's at the brink of tears. They start arguing until Rosario lies & tells him he is a poor good for nothing kid that cannot afford to buy her time. Franco slaps her & calls her a loose woman & leaves. . . . Armando pays Rosario a visit & reminds her how it was him that helped her get out of poverty (jeez, that guy is such a jerk!). He tells her that he will not let a litte kid like Franco come between them. & he tells her that she & he will pay for their little fling.

     At the Reyes house, poor Franco is depressed & sad. Oscar tries to tell him to forget about Rosario, that there are other women in this world. He also remind him that they have a mission that needs his concentration for the time being.

     Next morning - Sarita asks Eva if the brothers arrived & goes to see them. . .

In the changing room, the brothers are talking and changing into their work clothes. Franco gets ready 1st, then Oscar. Juan stays and starts taking off his clothes with his back to the door. Sarita walks in & sees him NAKED!!! as he is taking off his undies. Juan turns around & she is in shock & apologizes for having come in.

     Night time - We hear Juan talking about Sofia as we see her out in the balcony. The scene interweaves with Juan thinking about her. . . Oscar tells Juan to not think about her because she is already married.... Fernando walks in & asks her if she's cold & that she should go back inside. Sofia tells him that she really wants to fulfill her marital obligations, but not just yet, and gives him a tiny kiss on the lips & goes inside. Fer is totally surprised & was not expecting this unforced kiss from Sofia. He looks sincerely happy by this out of the blue kiss. . .

     Elizondo living room - It seems that Fernando has followed his beloved mother in law's advice & is now going to the office to run the family business (something tells me this big idiot is going to clean the Elizondo's dry of all their money). He tells Gaby that he is having the staff write reports to inform him of what has been going on with the business. He also tells Gaby about Sofia's kiss & that he is finally having hope that he & Sofia will be a normal couple. Gaby is very happy about this & tells him he is a great son-in-law. She also tells him that she will be inviting many guests over to the house these next weeks because she needs to find suitable husbands for her 2 unwed daughters. (I don't now why, but everytime these 2 are talking alone they always speak very close & it even sees there's this sexual tension between them - or is it just me??)

     Oscar sees that a couple of cars have arrived with a bunch of people all dressed

up. Eva tells him that her guess is that Gaby is looking for suitors for her daughters. Oscar is speechless.

     The guest families arrives for the lunch/dinner engagement. Gaby goes to the girls' room to have them hurry up now that the guests have arrived. Both are dressed in black because they're still in mourning, but Gaby tells them to pick out other dresses to make them less depressed-looking. She even suggests that they put on some make-up & tells them they can use hers. Ximena & Sarita are very surprised (if they only knew what Gaby's up to.) . . . Gaby runs into her dad & he starts bugging her about how she doesn't invite him to go downstairs & visit. She points out that he doesn't like the guests anyway; he agrees & leaves. ... Eva walks in & Gaby tells her to tell the brothers to stay in the changing room. Gaby warns her that the Urribes are among the guests, but that their daughter Ruth isn't with them. Eva gets all sad. . . (Hmmm...I bet this Ruth is Eva's daughter.)

 

~ ~ Summary # 14, Monday 9/13 ~ ~  Author: Ixchel (---)  Date:   09-13-99 23:57 PDT

~ ~ Summary # 14, Monday 9/13 ~ ~

     The brothers are having lunch in the changing room & discus how Gaby is trying to marry off her unwed daughters. Oscar is very worried that she might get them engaged before they're able to fulfill their plan. Juan volunteers that if that happens, they'll have to use force & go back to his original plan.

     At the dining room - The Urribes are gathered for lunch. The Urribes are an older couple that have brought 2 nephews. There's another couple (younger, late 20s) at the table but I don't really know who they are & how they're related. They talk about what a beautiful house Gaby has, & about other nonsense. They discuss the apartment they're building in the back & the conversation goes towards Sofia & Fernando & how lucky he was to have met such a beautiful woman. Gaby interrupts & points out that Ximena & Sarita are also very beautiful. Mrs. Urribe asks if they have boyfriends - the girls say no. Then the married guy points out that these 2 guys (the nephews) aren't married either and don't have girlfriends. Not to be mean but these guys are HUGE dorks & they are not good looking at all & actually look older. Ximena & Sarita make "thanks but no thanks" faces to each other. . . .. . The guests & hosts take a stroll outside & see the construction area. Gaby had ordered that the brothers stay in the changing room, but the guys head back to work. Gaby excuses herself from the guests & goes to tell the guys that they should go back to the room or take the day off. Juan tells her they can't stay here without doing anything, but they decide to leave. ..... Mrs Urribe stayed inside & Eva takes her a cup of coffee. Eva dares to ask her how Ruth is - this angers Mrs Urribe & she tells Eva, "MY daughter Ruth is doing great. I am her mother because I've given her everything she has, her name, her education. Don't ever forget that & don't ever talk about MY daughter Ruth ever again because it bothers me!!" Mrs Urribe leaves the room & Eva's left there sad.

     Nighttime - Franco goes to the bar to see rosario, but the doorman doesn't let him in. franco doesn't insist & starts walking away. A few streets down, a car stops beside Franco, some men get out, they pull Franco in. Armando tells him that he had been warned against seeking Rosario, but Franco tells him to F- off. . . Armando gets his men to beat franco up pretty bad. After they're done, they throw himm off the car & leave him for dead on the street.

     At the Elizondo house - Gaby is checking that the girls are asleep & makes the rounds. She sees Eva is all alone in the dining room. She asks her what is wrong. Eva tells her nothing is wrong, but then tells her she couldn't help it & asked Mrs. Urribe about Ruth. Eva tells Gaby that she still feels Ruth is her daughter, but Gaby tells her this is a delicate issue & she has to forget about her. Gaby points out that she doesn't even know what Ruth looks like. We get a clue that Ruth's dad was a fair skinned man. Eva tells Gaby that Ruth reminds her of Libia. Gaby tells Eva that she still remembers Libia & that she has been looking for her everywhere. Eva is surprised & asks her what she would do if she found her. Gaby tells her she would help Libia without anyone finding out & she would provide for her & her child. Eva tells her to forget about her 'cause she could be dead, but Gaby tells her that that girl is young & has her whole life ahead of her.

     Juan is having bad dreams & sees a dead Libia & wakes up. He wakes Oscar up & they see that it's pretty late, but Oscar tells him not to worry. . . . .

     After a few hours, Franco manages to barely stand up & limps in agony to the front door of his house. . . .. Juan wakes up thinking that he heard a knock on the door. He wakes Oscar up & oscar goes to the door. He sees Franco passed out & bleeding & calls Juan for help.

     At Rosario's apartment - Armando pays Rosario a visit & wakes her up. He tells her he wants to feel that she is his, especially tonight. Rosario makes him promise that if he doesn't hurt Franco, she will never see Franco again. Armando swears that he will never hurt him. .

     Oscar & Juan take Franco to the hospital in a taxi. they are both frantic & panic that by the time they get there, it'll be too late.

     Morning, Elizondo house - Gaby goes out back & sees that the brothers haven't arrived yet. At the breakfast table, she tells the family that they are 2 hours late already. Fernando tells Gaby to be strict. She decides to call the architect; Eva tells her that he is out of the country, but Gaby insists. As she heads to the phone, she runs into Oscar & Juan. She gets mad that they entered the house, but they explain that Franco had an accident. She offers that they take the rest of the day off, but Juan tells her it's not necessary. Gaby goes back to the dining room & tells the family that one of them had an accident. When Ximena hears it's Franco, she stands up & knocks some silverware over. . . . . Ximena & Sarito enter their room & Sarita's mad at Ximena's showimg of affection. She tells her she was too obvious & that mom might suspect. Ximena is frantic & wants to go to the hospital. Grampa goes into their room & asks which brother had the accident.

     Oscar & Juan are in the dressing room talking about how they have to find out the truth of what really happened to Franco. Oscar suspects it's all Rosario's fault. . . . Sofia walks in & tells Juan she wants to talk to him. Juan tells her what happened & Sofia offers her financial help. Juan thanks her but doesn't accept it. She apologizes to Juan for seeming rude & tells him again that she wants to help. Juan leaves. Fernando & Gaby turn the corner & see Sofia leave right after him. She asks what she was doing with Juan.

     Oscar tells Eva about Franco. She offers her savings to help if they need the money, but Oscar rejects her help.

     Gaby is mad that Sofia went to talk to Juan. Sofia tells her that she offered their help because Gaby hasn't offered hers. Gaby tells her that she was about to offer her help when she saw her coming out of the room. Fernando agrees with Sofia that they should help the guys. . . . . Gaby goes to tell Juan & Oscar that she could lend them money. Juan tells her they don't need money, that Franco's at a free clinic that only asked for blood. Gaby tells him that he shouldn't reject her help if his brother's life is at stake. Juan gets a little mad & Gaby repeats that she wants to help & to let her know what they need.

     Oscar & Juan take the bus to go see Franco. Oscar tells Juan that he will accept the money that is being offered to them.

     Ximena & Sarita talk about how worried they are about Franco. They wish they could do something, especially Ximena. Gaby walks in to tell them to go down to dinner. Sarita tells her that they want to help Franco by going to visit him. Gaby thinks they're crazy, but them Sarita givesher this religious speech about it being their duty. Gaby agrees, but tells them they will not go, she will do it for the family. Gaby tells them they have to stay home because the Urribe nephews are coming to visit them. They aren't too thrilled.

     Oscar & Juan see Franco at the hospital. They ask Franco what happened. He tells them that it had nothing to do with Rosario but the brothers don't believe him. . . .. Later that evening, Oscar makes dinner for them, but they can't eat. they decide to go to the bar to get the truth from Rosario. . . . They get to the bar & wait outside a bit. . . .. In the bar - Rosario tells her hairstylist that Armando is like cancer & that she now feels trapped & doesn't like it. Rosario tells her that she now realizes that she is in love with Franco but has to forget about him. . .Hasta mañana!

    

~~ Summary #15, Tuesday 9/14 ~~  Author: Ixchel (---)  Date:   09-14-99 23:58 PDT

     ~ Summary # 15, Tuesday 9/14 ~ ~

     Juan & Oscar go to the entrance of the bar where Rosario performs. The doorman

doesn't want to let Juan in because he's not wearing a tie. Oscar gets mad at Juan because he had told him to dress up. They plead with the doorman to let them in, but he still says no. Oscar tells him to lend Juan his tie for just a few minutes. Oscar tells him that if he doesn't let them in, Juan will use his muscles. The doorman doesn't want to be killed, so he gives his tie to Juan. Juan puts it on & walks in. They note that this place looks very expensive & is full of rich men with their other women. They get a front row table.

     At the Elizondo house - A nervous Sofia gets out of the house & walks towards the guy's changing room. She looks around to make sure no one sees her. She enters the room & walks to where the guys hang their clothes. She starts running her hand through the rack till she instinctively reaches Juan's shirt. The camera remains with her as we start hearing her tell somebody, "when everything seems like it has stopped in our lives and we have resigned ourselves to accept the fate given to us, when we are empty, and we have lost our illusions/dreams, all of a sudden an image appears in our heads that doesn't want to go away, an image that disturbs us, that disconcerts us, something strange that gives un deep anxiety, what could that be, Eva?" The camera was showing us Sofia taking Juan's shirt to her face & smelling his scent, then it goes to Sofia sitting outside with Eva. Eva tells her it could be love & Sofia doesn't answer.

     They wait a few minutes & Rosario finally appears on stage singing her routine. Oscar comments that she is a beautiful woman & can understand now why Franco is so in love with her.

     At the hospital, we see Franco in bed with bandages wrapped around his forehead. He can hear Ximena saying that Franco is a special person, & has something mysterious that excites her. The camera goes to Ximena in bed talking to Sarita. Ximena is worried that Franco might die just like their dad died.

     Rosario does her act . . . After Rosario's performance is over she goes to her dressing room. Juan & Oscar knock at her door & tell the assistant that they want to speak to Rosario about Franco. Rosario lets them in. They ask her if she is the one responsible for Franco's accident. She tells them she knows nothing & that she even ordered that Franco not be let in anymore but they don't believe her. The guys start insulting her & tell her she's just a cualquiera. She asks them to leave & doesn't tell them who beat Franco up. The guys leave . . After they leave she throws herself on her sofa & starts to cry. The assistant come in & she tells her about Franco's accident. Armando enters her room & tells her to get ready to go home ause tonight he has something important to tell her. She tells him she has something important to tell him too. .... In her apartment -

Rosario brushes her hair slowly in front of her dresser & looks worried & sad. Armando asks her what is wrong & tells her that the news he has will cheer her up. His great news is that he met a rich, fat man in his 50s that was impressed by her beauty & wants to meet her tomorrow for lunch at the hotel he is staying at. He makes a big point to tell her the man is full of dough & hands her his hotel information. Rosario can't hold her anger in any longer & throws the card at him. She tells him she already make plans for tomorrow, that she will be going to every hospital in the city until she finds her friend. She asks Armando why he did it & he calmly tells her that he had already done it when he promised her he wouldn't. She tells him she doesn't wan to see him anymore, that they are through, that she's tired of him, that she hates him now. She tells him she wants to be free to love whoever she wants & to do whatever she wants. Armando is pissed by what he hears. She tells him that he should be grateful she didn't tell Franco's brothers about him cause they aren't weak like Franco. He tells her he isn't afraid of anybody & even tells her she will give her one last chance to beg for his acceptance right now (JERK!!!) Rosario tells him she's not crazy & he tells her she will be sorry for the rest of her life. The jerk throws her on the bed & leaves.

     Morning - Oscar & Juan arrive at the Elizondo's. Eva tells Oscar Gaby wants to talk to him. Oscar goes to the living room where Fer, gaby & Sofia are gathered. They ask Oscar how Franco is doing. Fer tells him that their offer still stands & Gaby tells him that she will go and handle the transfer to another hospital herself. . . . . Oscar goes outside & juan is mad that Oscar accepted the enemy's help. Oscar tells him they are talking about Franco's health & that he will be better at the private clinic. Juan wants to go tell Gaby they don't need her help, but Oscar warns him that he would not forgive him if Franco gets worse because of this. Juan gives in.

     Rosario meets her assistant & they take a taxi to go look for Franco in every hospital in the city.

     Grampa goes to visit the guys while they're having lunch. Gramps tells the guys that he's glad that they accepted Gaby's help. He tells them that she is so proud of her philantropic ways but never practices it personally. He points out that his son in law Bernardo would have done the same thing. He tells them that Bernardo was a good man, a loyal husband, and a good father. He tells the maid to bring his lunch out here & that he wants to eat with the guys. Gramps tells Oscar & Juan that they are better company than the fellows gaby has invited for lunch. he also tells them she is trying to marry the girls off and this lunch is part of her plan. Oscar & Juan look at each other nervously.

     The Urribe nephews pay Sarita & Ximena a social visit. The girls aren't very happy that they have to tend to these two wackos. One is too talkative and has stereotypical gay-like gestures and the other doesn't care about anything else except food. They tell the girls that they want to become great friends. Sarita & Ximena just give them fake smiles. Eva calls them into the dining room for lunch.

     Rosario tells her assistant Franco was not in the hospital she just visited so they go to another one.

     Gabriela, Sofia & Fernando are coming back from the hospital to transfer Franco to a private clinic. On their way back, Gaby tells them that she was really affected by seeing so much human misery at that hospital. Sofia tells her that it's good to see that & to become an active participant in helping, instead of just giving the money to intermediaries like priests or organizations. Fer tells Gaby that now with Franco so sick, the construction job will take even longer to complete & he suggests that they stop by the architect's office to get more workers on the project. Gaby tells him she thought of that but that she won't hire others in consideration of the brothers. He tries to convince her, but then Gaby points out that she wants to go back to the house to make sure Sarita & Ximena treated their gentlemen guests the way they were supposed to.

     Back at the "date" - The girls tell the old boys that their mom is a very giving person & is helping out one of the workers right now. The almost bald one tells them that that's the way aunt Raquelita is also and that he wishes Ruth would be the same way. He tells them that ruth is very tough & likes to keep her nose up in the air. He tells her they don't get along with her very well. Eva hears this & asks if Ruth is really that way. Sarita tells Eva to not interfere in their conversations so Eva apologizes & leaves. They comment that it's strange that Eva asked about Ruth since she hardly even knows her

     Oscar & Juan talk outside about the possibility of Gaby getting husbands for Ximena & Sarita. Oscar tells him that he is worried so Juan tells him that if the current plan doesn't work, he'll take on physical violence & will start with harming Gaby first.

     Sarita & Ximena walk their guests outside just as Gaby, Sofia & Fer arrive. Gaby tells them that she hopes they were well taken care of. The nephews say everything was great & that they want to do this again. They tell the girls that the next invite will come from them. Gaby says that these men are wonderful candidates. The best of the best.

...... Gaby goes to the back to tell the guys that Franco is now better at the private clinic. Oscar jumps to tell her he is very gratefull while Juan looks at her coldly & reminds her that they can't pay her back. Gaby coldly tells him not to worry, that she will pay all costs & tells him not to even thank her because it was her responsibility as the boss.

     Later that evening, The Elizondo's are gathered in the dining room talking about the day. Ximena tells her momthat she is happy that Franco is now in a private clinic & that he will get better. Gaby asks why she is so concerned about him so Ximena tells her that she would worry about anybody like that. Gaby tells her she should pay that much attention to the ment that came to see them this afternoon. The girls tell her they had a nice afternoon & Gaby points out that these 2 guys are among the best that Bogota high society has to offer (ugh!!) & that they are among the most sought-after bachelors around because of their status, their name & their family. [my signal went out for a few minutes.] My tape comes back as Sarita tells Fernando that they can't be thinking about getting engaged when the 2 men have just only offered their friendship & she doesn't believe they intended to befriend them for marriage. Gaby interrups & tells her that if that were the case, she would be very happy. Sofia gets up & tells them she feels tired. The other girls do the same. Fer tells Gaby that she shouldn't pressure the girls too much & that marriage shouldn't be seen as a business transaction. Fer tells Gaby that Sofia is changing a little bit because now she is worried about the obreros - people that would remind her of the men that raped her. He admits that he couldn't care less about Franco but must show a good, caring side to Sofia at all times. he tells her he's confident that things will change for the better.

     Oscar & Juan pay Franco a visit. Oscar points out that this clinis is way better than the clinics. Franco tells Juan that he is feeling better & Juan asks him again who hit him. Was it Rosario? Franco tells them that the only guilty person was himself & he promises them that he will never ever look for Rosario Montes again.. .

     Hasta mañana!

 

 

Summary #16, 9/15/99  Author: dd (---)  Date:   09-15-99 21:21 PDT

     Las aguas mansas, 9/15/99

     Brief Overview: Armando trashes Rosario’s apartment then gets her fired. Franco returns home. The Uribe brothers take Ximena and Sarita to the cabaret, which offends the latter and pleases the former. Martín tells Gabriela that he knows what she is doing but that she should let her daughters choose their own husbands, as he let her choose Bernardo. She says they lack her character and she must intervene. Sofia tells Eva that there is something strange about the brothers, especially about Juan.

     Scenes (I’ve collapsed some of them.)

     Armando turns up during Rosario’s performance. She takes Emilia home with her for protection and finds it completely ransacked, all her valuables destroyed. She tells Emilia that things don’t matter, people do---especially gente como Franco..

     In the Elizondo home, Gabriela and Raquel Uribe talk. Outside, Sofia sees Ximena give a letter to Juan and insists on reading it, and he gives it to her. She returns it to him, then confronts Ximena in her room. She tells Ximena that she wants to recover their old closeness and asks if she is falling in love with Franco. Ximena asks if it would scandalize her. Sofia tells Ximena that she is a pretty young woman who could have any suitable man. Ximena asks her if she would be happy if she married one of the Uribe sons, Benito “qui es tan torpe y debil de carácter” or Leandro “qui es tan excessivo refinado”. Sofia says she wants Ximena to be happy, but the brothers are from a completely different world.

     Downstairs, Martín, Gabriela, and Raquel talk. Martín wants to see Ruth but she refuses. He comments, negatively, on the age of Raquel and her husband. Afterwards, on the porch, he tells Eva how much he enjoys upsetting Gabriela. Gabriela corners him and says they must talk. He tells her that he knows what she is doing by bringing the Uribe men there and that she is wrong, that she believes that marriage is a matter of convenience, a business, but that a marriage is personal. He tells her that she should let her daughters choose their own partners, as he let her choose Bernardo. She says they lack her character and that she must intervene, especially for Sarita.

     In the hospital, Franco reads Ximena’s letter. It simply wishes him a fast recovery, but Oscar is pleased. In her apartment, Rosario recalls the kiss she and Franco exchanged. She tells Emilia that she has lost him, and Emilia says that it may be for the best, but Rosario misses him more each day.

     Outside the Elizondo home, Sofia stares at Juan and he stares back, then approaches her. He tells her he assumes that she reprimanded Ximena for the sympathetic letter to his brother. She replies that she respects her sisters, and only wants to make sure that they behave properly. “And,” he says, it would be incorrect for one of her class to associate with one of his class, for her they must be “despreciables”. She says no. She says her family has behaved well toward them. “Yes,” he says, but always maintaining that superior attitude. She asks if they should lower themselves to his level without respect for themselves. No, he says, as they could not try to rise to her level without appearing to be social climbers. “Like animals, they must both respect their own corrales”. Then he asks if once anybody of her level had ever descended to associate with one of his class, to go where he shouldn’t. (at least I think that is what he said; the tenses were hard for me to parse.) Fernando finds her talking to him, but she says they were only discussing Franco’s recovery.

     The brothers take Franco home and hire a servant. I think her name is Quentina.

     Gabriela tells her daughters that they are going out to dinner with the Uribe nephews. They aren’t pleased with the idea, but thanks to Martín, the men decide to take her to Rosario’s cabaret. This thrills Ximena but not Sarita. While they are in the cabaret, at home Fernando talks to Gabriela and tells her not to pay attention to Martín. Gabriela says that the welfare of her daughters really does matter to her. (Have you noticed the way these two touch each other when they talk? and how he calls her Gaby?)

     In the cabaret, Leandro, the gay one, praises Rosario. Sarita thinks she is vulgar and when she sees a couple kissing at another table, she insists on leaving. Senor Fuentes approaches Rosario during the intermission and tells her this will be her last show. Later, he explains: Armando cancelled the contract, and he admits that he is afraid of him.

     The next morning, Ximena is so happy she is dancing. At the breakfast table, they explain about the cabaret (I don’t know why this doesn’t bother Gabriela) and mention Rosario’s name. Fernando and Sofia recognize it, and he says that she is indeed a very talented and beautiful performer.

     Rosario is determined to find other employment, to not let Armando force her to return to him.

     Ximena stops wearing black and tells Sarita that the Uribe brothers can be useful. Sarita tells her she is worried for her because Franco will be returning to work.

     Franco tells Quentina they missed having a woman around the house, that the nature of the accident to their sister was unimportant but not the responsibility for it.

     Outside her home, Sofia, watching the brothers again, tells Eva that there is something strange about the brothers, especially Juan.

    

 

Summary #17, 9/16/99  Author: Yolette (webjefa) (---)  Date:   09-18-99 05:34 PDT

     Fernando's white car turns into the driveway. Sofia, stony-faced in the front passenger seat, replays in her head Juan's bitter words about the rich descending to his class. "You're very pensive," Fernando observes. "What are you thinking about?" Sofia says she was thinking about her father and his relationship with Livia. Fernando says the point is moot now that Bernardo was dead. Sofia says she cannot rid herself of the doubt. "My father, like everyone, had his weaknesses and he certainly could have fallen in love with that girl." Fernando doesn't see the point in remembering it. Sofia says that Livia and her family, wherever they were, probably could not forget it. "What do you propose then?" Fernando asks. "What if the girl and her family would return to demand their rights once again?" Sofia asks. Fernando scoffingly says that they had no rights; the girl was just a affair without importance. Sofia quirks an eyebrow. "You sound very sure of it." "You're making me say things i don't mean," Fernando blusters. Sofia wonders if he remembers Livia's last name. He says no. She suggests he think about it and try to find the poor girl. Fernando refuses. "And don't you even think of bringing it up in front of your mother! Think of more important things...like our marriage." He scoots closer to her and presses kisses to her cheek. She holds herself immobile. "I'll be the happiest man in the world the day can truly say that you're my woman."

     Talking to Oscar in the yard, Eva wants guarantees that Juan will tone down his aggression and at least try to dissemble. "He talks too much, especially to Sofia." Oscar is immediately on alert. "What happened with Sofia?" "She told me she sees something odd in him; I think she is getting suspicious," Eva says. She is worried. She tells Oscar she surprised Franco in the house, "What are you guys planning?" Oscar says not to worry that their plan has nothing to do with violence. But he would do his utmost to get he and his brothers to just disappear if their plan did not work.

     Fernando come up behind Sofia on the veranda and says he wants to go out that night with Sofia, to dinner or a club. Sofia is not in the mood to go out. "I feel that you are more mine when we are away from this house," Fernando says. He kisses her ear. She fixes him with a cold glare. "I'm not in the mood." Rebuffed, he angrily decides to go out without her.

     The nightclub owner watches the raucous performer on stage and tells Armando that it will not do; they could not replace Rosario with this act. In fact, the patrons start catcalling and booing the new singer off the stage. One snags the owner to tell him the locale has lost its class. Armando won't budge, saying that the day Rosario returns it will because he's brought her. Fernando arrives and greets Armando. His lascivious grin indicates he has one thing on his mind.

     Gabriela asks Sofia where Fernando went. She is shocked when Sofia says coolly that Fernando went out to "enjoy himself like men do." She accuses Sofia of not caring about her own husband; if she didn't take care she would lose him. "Speaking from your own experience? Had he not died, you would have still lost him. You were so sure of his fidelity that you never suspected his late nights and his endless business dinners?" Gabriela, hurt and taken aback, forbids Sofia to ever disrespect her like that again. Sofia is nonchalant. "I don't care if Fernando goes out or not. If i can't be a wife to him, he has every right to replace me."

     Indeed, Fernando is in search of Rosario. "I want to be with her tonight," he says with barely restrained lust. Armando wonders how, with a wife like his. Fernando says he loves his wife but Rosario was special. "Too late," Armando breaks it to him. "We've gone our separate ways. But she'll be back...and then I can keep my promise to you." Both men smile.

     Rosario sends Emilia to bed. "You must be tired." "You must be tired too!" she says, "you walked all over town trying to get a job today!" Rosario says it was obvious that Armando had leaned on all the nightclub owners to deny her a job. Emilia isworried that Rosario will not survive, but Rosario is adamant that she will not return to Armando. "The situation isn't desperate, I can live off my savings for a time," Rosario says, looking up at the moonlight. Other things hurt much more...like losing Franco."

     On the front steps, Oscar and Juan tell Gabriela and Fernando that Franco would be returning to work tomorrow, thanking her for her attentions. Gabriela magnanimously urges them to tell him to stay hom a few more days to make sure he was completely well. Oscar says Franco is fine. The two suitors arrive along with Sarita and Ximena, ready for the outing. "Where's Sofia?" Gabriela asks. Sarita says that she does not feel well and does not want to go out. Juan takes note that Sofia will stay alone in the house.

     Oscar is digging and Juan, shirtless, is stacking bricks when Sofia appears on the balcony to stare at him. Juan feels her eyes on him and looks up. Sofia holds his look then turns and walks into the house. Juan throws down his trowel, puts on his shirt and makes to follow her. Oscar grabs his arm, "What do you think you're doing?" "Let me go, Oscar, else I will shout out right here who we are and why we came and be done with it!" Powerless, Oscar watches Juan stride up into the house.

     Sofia is in her room putting her hat away when Juan enters and closes the door. "What are you doing here, Juan?" she demands. He stalks her silently. "i'm asking you a question! What are you doing here?" "Trying to see how long a lady like you hangs on to her class," Juan responds. "Get out right now!" she snaps. Juan grabs her and hauls her against him, noting bitterly how easy it is for the rich to humiliate and take advantage of the poor until they're reduced to violence. With that he clamps his lips on hers. She struggles and manages to break free and slap him. He grabs her and kisses her again. Struggling at first, she finally gives in to the kiss, which shocks Juan so much that he pulls away to look at her in disbelief. Her eyes are slow to open, but when they do, the door flies open and her grandfather wheels into the room. "What the hell is going on here? What are you doing in Sofia's room?"

     After looking at each other in panic, Juan begins, "I'll gladly tell you what you want to know..." "I'll tell him," Sofia interrupts, "because it was I who ordered you to enter, or wasn't that so, Juan?" Juan stares at her in disbelief. "I wanted to show him the pictures of the part of the house that burned down, remember that, Grandfather?" she explains breathlessly. She pulls out the pictures from a drawer. "The architecture was so beautiful and I wondered if we could recreate it with the apartment..." Martin is satisfied with the answer and in fact thinks it's wonderful that she will have some input on the apartment. Juan watches her cover for him with admiration. Glancing at him timidly, she says, "We'll talk about it later Juan. Now, since you're up here can you carry Grandfather down?" Muscles rippling, Juan does as he's told, and their eyes cling as he leaves the room with the old man in arms. Sofia sinks to the dresser in relief.

     A maid wheels martin out, leaving Juan in the living room and Sofia near him on the steps. She walks down to stand near him. "Why didn't you accuse me?" Juan challenges. "Afraid of a scandal?" "Do I look like a woman who lives in fear, Juan Reyes?" Sofia asks coolly. "Don't tell me you don't care that I overstepped my bounds." "Of course I don't care...because nothing happened," she says. "Madame..." Juan begins. "NOTHING happened," she insists harshly. "And nothing will happen, because I trust you will never do that again. Nothing happened, Juan." He watches her glide up the stairs, and almost runs out of the house, looking haunted. Oscar waits for him outside, arms folded.

     Sofia enters her room and sits in front of the mirror, looking stunned and confused. She touches her lips and closes her eyes, imagining Juan's kisses once again. She smiles wonderingly. Over her image, the voice of Mrs. Uribe waxes poetic about how Sofia was the prettiest and most accomplished of all the daughters. At the picnic, Fernando agrees that he was lucky to have caught her. Gabriela acknowledges that while Sarita and Ximena are not as attractive they were full of other virtues. Mrs. Uribe agrees and talks up her nephews.

     On a walk together nearby, Ximena and Leandrol agree to become each other's accomplices. Neither is really interested in the other, but they got along well; by hooking up, each would have the freedom to do as they wished, Leandro proposes. Ximena sees the way to Franco and seizes on the opportunity.

     Running alongside Juan, Oscar tries to pry what happened with Sofia out of Juan. "None of your business." "It is my business, I need to know how to act around her! what did you tell her?" Oscar insists. Juan says he wished he could have told her something but she turned out to be smarter than him. "I don't understand," Oscar says. "I don't understand myself," Juan says a little desperately. "But every day I get more disconcerted. I don't know what kind of people we're dealing with here!" He looks up at the house. "If Bernardo Elizondo could confuse our little sister, Sofia must have inherited a lot from him. I sense they are the same...except she's much more dangerous."

     Franco arrives at the Bar Alcala, but discovers Rosario no longer works there. He asks after Armando, but noting his rage, the doorman stops him from going into the bar after him. "He's got his goons with him!" Franco does get the man to identify Armando's car for him and sauntering near it, he surreptitiously taps at its tires.

     Juan is distressed that Franco went out. He is sure he went to the Alcala. Oscar tells him not to worry, but Juan can't help it after what had happened to him.

     Outside the Alcala, Armando is livid that all of his tires are flat. He browbeats everyone within earshot for having allowed it to happen. The doorman swears he never saw anyone near the car. Telling his goons to take care of the car, Armando sets off down the street to catch a cab to another appointment. Franco pulls away from the shadows and follows him.

     In bed with Fernando, Sofia is having a rough night of it. Restlessly she squirms and tosses, replaying the kiss. She finally gets up and heads downstairs. In the living room she runs into Eva, who also can't sleep. She ells Eva that she is plagued by odd thoughts. "Juan again?" Eva asks worriedly. "He is an odd man." "I don't know, Sofia says. "Maybe the odd one is me. I haven't felt normal since I was violated." Eva counsels her to try to forget it. "I can't," Sofia says, "but the strange thing is, I thought the rape caused me to be repulsed by all men, yet there is one who I like, one who I am extremely attracted to."

     Armando walks down the stret n the dark, looking over his shoulder repeatedly, hearing footsteps and seeing no one. Franco finally steps out from an entry way. "Never thought you'd see me again, huh?" Franco says, flexing his fist. "Let's see how tough you are without your goons, in a fair fight."

     Battered and bleeding on the ground, Armando listens to Franco belittle his strength. He pulls out a gun, but Franco wrestles it away. "Be grateful I don't kill you," he says. "It's not worth it to serve time for a roach like you." He tosses the gun away. "This was a fair fight, Don Armando Navarro!"

     At home, his brothers don't buy the tale that Franco just went out for a walk. "Stop worrying about me," Franco responds exasperatedly. "Look at me, I'm fine, right?" Juan tells him to be more considerate. When he leaves the room, Oscar tells Franco that he wants the real scoop. Where did he go? "To settle a score," Franco says pleasantly. "I settled it. And now I feel much better." he denies it had anything to do with Rosario and repeats his intention to forget her and concentrate on their revenge.

     The three brothers stride up to the house and bump into Sarita and Ximena on the steps. Sarita tells Franco he looks well. Ximena is bubbling with excitement that he's back. They leave for church, Sarita dragging Ximena by the arm. Sarita warns Ximena not to start flirting with Franco again. Ximena tells her not to worry, she's decided to accept Leandro's offer.

     Leaving her apartment, Rosario runs into Armando who is being helped up the stairs by a goon. He demands with threats and abuse to know where he can find Franco. Rosario is unsympathetic and tells him she'd be the first to be with him if she knew where to find him. She gloats that it looked as if Franco had returned the favor of the beating they gave him. Emilia backs her up fiercely. Rosario threatens to push Armando down the stairs if he didn't get out of her way and leaves, head held high. "Don't ever seek me out again." Armando shouts after her that he will find Franco if its the last thing he does.

     Juan looks up from his work to see Sofia out on the terrace staring at him once again. Their gazes lock and hold, until Fernando comes up behind Sofia to enquire if she was looking out for Franco. "Yes, it seems he is much improved," she says. He kisses her neck. "Let's go to lunch. Ximena wants us all there."

     "I can't believe what I'm hearing!" Martin hollers. "It's true," Ximena announces happily. "I've thought about it and I'm accepting Leandro's offer." "I was viewing the visit of those two as a joke, but i guess it wasn't. You'd have to be blind or stupid to accept such a..." he makes a limp wrist."Some one must be forcing you to accept him." Gabriela, smiling triumphantly, denies she had anything to do with Ximena's choice and Ximena corroborates it. Even Sofia questions her worriedly. "Are you sure?" Fernando applauds Ximena's answer. Sarita scowls silently through lunch.

     Sarita ties to figure out what's wrong with Ximena in the bedroom, but Ximena is resolute. "I'll accept him as my fiance; that doesn't mean I'll marry him, though," Ximena says. "Leandro will never be my husband."

     Eva breaks the news to the brothers at lunch. Oscar is pissed. Franco is almost amused at his upset.

     In the changing room, Oscar is still bemoaning the engagement and cursing Ximena. "She must have cockroaches in her head to behave the way she does!" he sneers. "What a hypocrite! How could she be sending you little notes and greeting you with a smile from ear to ear and then decide upon this course of action with that loser?!" "Leandro is not a loser; he's a friend of the family. And rich, " Franco points out. "Have you ever seen him?" Oscar asks incredulously. "An effeminate fop that in no way compares to you. I'm not saying this because you're my brother, but your physique is too powerful an advantage to be traded in so quickly." He insists Franco must seek her out and persuade her to change her mind. Franco is less than willing to play the fool. Oscar reminds him that if he fails, Juan will do things his way and neither of them wanted that. Franco says he thinks Juan is different now and he doubts he would see it through. Juan enters the changing room, but Oscar refuses to wait for him to change. "I need to get out of this house," he fumes. Franco accompanies him. They doff their caps at the family gathered on the terrace as they pass by, everyone there but Sofia.

     Sofia enters the changing room. Already fully dressed, Juan turns around in surprise. She walks up to him slowly, without a word and kisses him. he pulls her off him to stare nto her eyes and then he begins to kiss her more passionately. Eventually, she pulls away, and also without a word, she

 

Summary #18, Fri 09/17/99  Author: Sue (---)  Date:   09-19-99 09:44 PDT

     In the presence of the whole Elizondo family, Leandro asks for Ximena’s hand in marriage. Gabriela agrees. Sarita looks angry and Martín just rolls his eyes. Ximena goes over and kisses her new fiance. Later, Ximena assures Sarita that she knows exactly what she’s doing ("Yo sé lo que hago.")

     Next morning the Reyes brothers arrive for work. Franco looks up and spots Ximena watching him from the balcony. Oscar has to yank him along. Ximena goes down to the changing room and finds Franco alone. She tells him how happy she is to see him. "So happy that you’re marrying someone else?" "You know?" She hands him a note which he promptly puts in his pocket. Just then the door opens and Gabriela catches the two of them together. "What are you doing in here?" They leave and Ximena tells her that she is so happy about her impending marriage that she feels that she has to tell everyone around her. "I also told him I’m happy that he’s recovered from his accident."

     Franco goes over to the building site and lets Oscar read the note. Oscar smiles. Everything is going according to plan.

     Gabriela and Ximena discuss Ximena’s feelings for Leandro. Ximena lies through her teeth, telling Gabriela that she is "deeply in love."

     Thunder booms outside. Sofia is in her room brushing her hair. She goes to take off her robe and does it slowly and sensually. Fernando comes in and immediately goes to her and starts kissing her neck. Sofia fantasizes that it’s Juan caressing her. She comes to and pulls away from Fernando.

     Eva brings tea (or coffee—this is Colombia after all) to Oscar and Franco in the changing room. They cannot work because of the storm. She wonders if they are even capable of building the apartment for Sofia and Fernando. She asks where Juan is and Oscar says he’s around somewhere.

     Juan and Sofia meet outside and embrace. They kiss passionately. Eva comes around the corner and sees them kissing. She drops the tray and Juan and Sofia are surprised by the crash. Sofia walks away. NOTE: It did not look like rain during this scene.

     Juan is lying on his bed and we hear Sofia’s voiceover. The scene switches to Sofia and Eva. Sofia tells her how she feels about Juan. Eva reminds her that she’s a married woman and she should concentrate on her husband. Sofia says she was married out of humilliation. Eva warns her that she doesn’t know Juan very well and that it would be risky to pursue him. "Es un desconocido."

     Leandro arrives to pick up Ximena for a date. They leave and Martín comments that they look like "un par de princesas." (Martin gets some of the best lines!) They drive into town and Ximena promptly ditches Leandro so she can go meet Franco. He doesn’t appear to mind though because they are "accomplices". She walks up the street and meets Franco. They embrace.

     Oscar and Juan are talking about the plan. Juan appears to be getting cold feet on account of Sofia. A woman comes to the door and informs them that Franco’s girlfriend is there. Oscar goes into another room and finds Rosario (whose hair reminded me of Roseanne Roseannadanna). "What are you doing here?"

     Ximena and Franco are seated at a table in a nice restaurant. She explains to him her arrangement with Leandro. "I’m so deeply in love with you that I’m capable of doing anything for you."

     Rosario tells Oscar and Juan that she came because she’s worried about Franco. "How did you find out where we live?" Juan then tells her that it would be "imprudent" for her to try to contact Franco. She insists to them that he loves her and the "maid" (who is that?) says "Of course he does." Oscar tells her to mind her own business and get out. He then tells Rosario that Franco is out with his girlfriend. "His real girlfriend." Juan confirms that a young lady is interested in Franco. Oscar orders Rosario to disappear from Franco’s life for good. "Don’t come looking for him. Forget he even exists."

     Ximena and Franco are dancing at the restaurant. She says that since they know each other a little better they should address each other as "tú". He agrees. He tells her that he is looking for a serious relationship. She agrees. (At least that’s what I think they said. The music was drowning them out.)

     Rosario is speaking to Emilia in the car. She appears to be accepting defeat.

     Next day Ximena is at her usual perch watching the worker’s progress. Franco looks up at her and smiles. Eva walks by and notes the electricity in the air.

     Sofia and Fernando are in their bedroom. She is combing her hair when he comes over to her and asks her to hold still. He tells her how beautiful her eyes and face are and how intensely he loves his wife. "Fernando, please…" [as in "please don’t"].

     The brothers eat lunch and Franco tells them about Ximena’s arrangement with Leandro. Oscar talks about their plans when Juan gets up and leaves. Franco says that Juan is beginning to object to what they are doing. Oscar thinks he’ll come around. "Is there any hope for a relationship with Ximena?" "Yes, there is." Franco worries that he can’t woo her like a gentleman. Oscar goes over to a rose bush, easily plucks a rose (and doesn’t cut himself on any thorns) and brings it to Franco. "Give this to her."

     Eva goes to see Juan and begs him not to take out his revenge on the three sisters. "They had nothing to do with your sister’s death." She begs him not to pursue Sofia. Juan swears to her that he does not agree with his brother’s plans. He’s broken up about how things have turned out. "I don’t know how Sofia Elizondo feels about me but I know that what I feel for her is anything but hate."

     Sarita and Ximena are in the drawing room. Sarita is knitting and Ximena is reading a book. A maid comes in and asks Sarita to come to the kitchen. She leaves and Franco sneaks in and gives Ximena the rose that Oscar took from the garden. Gabriela walks in and Ximena hides her rose behind her back. "What are you doing here?" "I came to speak to you Doña Gabriela, to thank you for everything that you have done for me." She tells him that she was just being a good patrón. After he leaves Eva comes into the room. Gabriela tells her that Franco came to thank her personally. She muses that there is something weird about the three brothers. Meanwhile, up in her room, Ximena puts her rose in a vase.

     Leandro is walking outside with Sarita. She tells him that she can’t believe there is a full-blown romance after only a few weeks. In his typical flowery language he tells her that loves lies dormant until the right person comes along to bring it out. He asks her if she isn’t just a tiny bit jealous of Ximena. He offers to fix her up with his brother Benito. Sarita says that she doesn’t feel interesting or attractive. Leandro warns her that women who feel that way tend to fall for men who are too attractive. "Like that one over there." He looks at Juan who is building a brick wall.

     That night Oscar and Franco are at home. Oscar is trying to figure something out while the cleaning woman is out in the hall making an enormous racket with her singing. Oscar goes out and asks her to stop. She asks him if he told Franco that his girlfriend came last night. He warns her not to breathe a word of this to Franco. "My lips are sealed." He goes back into the room and continues to work on a love letter to Ximena.

     Next day Martin, in his entertaining way, is telling the brothers how he met his wife. The story involves a cabaret singer which must have sent a chill down Franco’s spine. Ximena comes over and tells him it’s time for lunch. "I’m not hungry." "Please don’t cause any problems with Mother. Let’s go." She turns the wheelchair but it gets stuck in the grass. Oscar gives Franco a signal that he should go over and help. He gets the chair moving again and Ximena thanks him. He sneaks her the letter that Oscar wrote for him. She puts it in her purse. On the way back to the house, Martin comments that those men are good. "All they do is work." Just then a car pulls up. Martin says that he’s unaware of any visitors coming today. Armando gets out of the car and asks if Fernando is home. Ximena says he is. "Tell him his good friend Armando Navarro wishes to speak to him."

 

 

SUMMARY #19 (Monday 9/20/99)  Author: Yolette (webjefa) (---)  Date:   09-21-99 09:25 PDT

     Martin and Ximena watch curiously from the yard as a dark car turns into their driveway. Armando steps out, looking every inch a gangster. He's there to see Fernando.

     On the construction site, Oscar gloats that Ximena will melt when she reads the letter. Franco sniffs that he would never have written such corniness to a girl. "Even Rosario?" Oscar asks. Franco's face falls. Oscar apologizes for bringing her up, but Franco confesses he hasn't stopped thinking of her for an instant. "What I wouldn't do to forget her."

     In the parlor, Fernando greets Armando and invites him to join the family for lunch. Armando apologizes for having arrived at such an inopportune time and declines to be introduced, saying he would be embarrassed with all the bruises on his face. Fernando suggests they walk outside then, and promises to show Armando the apartment being built for him and Sofia. On the way there, Fernando asks what had happened to him and Armando says he was mugged, complaining that no one came to his aid while he was being attacked. "You told the police, of course?" Fernando asks. Armando says no, that he was planning a personal payback as soon as he laid eyes on the man again. Meanwhile, yards away, Franco is breezily laying bricks. Armando confesses that since Rosario left him, business had gone downhill for him. "Then you'd better get her back," Fernando suggests.

     Eva arrives at the construction site to ask if one of them can help with a water leak in the girls' rooms. Juan volunteers, but as they move away, Armando and Fernando come around the corner still deep in conversation. Franco spots them and hastily and insistently takes Juan's place with Eva. He rushes poor Eva into the house. Standing in front of the construction, Fernando brags about the apartment and Armando congratulates him mightily while the brother glare a them. Fernando asks where the missing brother is, but his absence is easily explained.

     In the house Franco and Eva study the leak. Franco tries to pry info from Eva about Armando's relationship to the household.

     Around the corner of the house, Armando comes to the point and asks to borrow money from Fernando. Fernando says he does not have the cash, but that he will ask Gabriela. Oscar and Juan watch them go and comment that they did not like the looks of that guy. From the roof, Franco watches Armando get back into his car with relief. Eva prods him to work on the leak. He says he'll go get Juan, who knows more about leaks. Eva watches him go, puzzled.

     Seated in the parlor, Fernando asks Gabriela for the money but remains vague about why he needs it. Gabriela asks if it has anything to do with the man who came to see him. Fernando says it does, but calls it an investment opportunity. Gabriela, smiling broadly, says she cannot refuse anything to the male head of the household. "I'll write you a check right away, because I trust no one as much as you." Walking into another room for her checkbook, she runs into Eva and Juan. She demands to know what he's doing in the house, but allows him to pass once Eva explains about the leak.

     Franco drops a brick and Oscar notes that he seems nervous. "It looked like you were trying to hide from that guy." Franco denies that. Oscar concludes he tried and missed a good opportunity to be in the house with Ximena. Franco comments that Fernando must not be a very good guy to have friends like Armando. Oscar says they can't criticize a parasite like Fernando because they might end up just like him if the plans work out.

     Sarita walks in as Juan is heaving the armoire out of the way. Trying not to stare at him too much, she offers to take the clothing from the armoire to lighten the load. Eyeing her warily, Juan helps her with the garments. On one shelf is a picture of Bernardo. Juan's jaw tightens when he sees it. Sarita points it out to him proudly along with a complimentary account of him. Juan grits out that all children think highly of their parents, even if undeserved. Sarita state emphatically that it was very deserved. he was alwast very fair and kind. "Maybe with you and your family,but was he that way with other people?" Juan asks. Pressuring her relentlessly, Juan wants to know if she'd stake everything on his honesty, was she very, very sure that no one had a claim against him? No one? Sarita is forced to think of Livia and she mentions it briefly, but dismissively. "She made a mistake." "Are you sure she wasn't telling the truth?" Juan presses. "Why are you trying to make me doubt my father?" she asks angrily, before leaving.

     At their home, Juan fills his brothers in on the conversation. "She's utterly convinced her faher is a saint and wasted no breath before denouncing Livia as a liar," he growls. Oscar is afraid Juan may have let something slip. Juan assures him that it was she who brought Livia up.

     Sarita brings up her doubts about her father with Martin, who tells her to forget them. Bernardo was a good man, despite his defects. Sarita pleads to be told the truth and Martin finally acknowledges that the girl was indeed Bernardo's lover and most probably was telling the truth about her pregnancy. Sarita is shocked and appalled that they had all treated the girl so shabbily. She fears that her family will return for revenge. She is even more horrified when Martin tells her that he suspects that Livia may have committed suicide, as per the newspaper article.

     Sarita tells her mother that she would be spending the afternoon Christmas shopping with Benito, making sure to clarify that she was not interested in him. Martin tells Gabriela thank God for that. Gabriela concludes that Martin must be jealous and worried about losing his granddaughters. Martin tells her that something is happening with Sarita but he doesn't know what.

     Sarita, meanwhile, has come to stand at the balcony overlooking the construction, staring hotly at Juan. Juan looks up and notices.

     Blathering noisily, Benito accompanies Sarita down the sidewalk. She asks him to take her to the office of the architect.

     Ximena is excitedly beginning to set up the Christmas decorations. She asks Sofia to help and Sofia begs out of going shopping with Fernando. Gabriela takes her place instead. She mentions that Sarita is also out shopping, with Benito.

     Sarita incredulously finds out that the architect had nothing to do with the construction or the three workers. She manages not to spill the beans, however. Outside though, Benito notes that she looks deep in thought.

     Ximena comes out to see if "someone" could help them set up the decorations since no one else was home. Oscar craftily volunteers Franco. Franco and Ximena keep up the appearances in front of Sofia, but she contrives to leave them alone, smiling slightly. Ximena and Franco arrange to meet. Then Sarita walks in, and rudely breaks them up. She orders Franco to follow her then orders him to give her their address. He writes it down for her. She also wants their full names, spelled out.

     Sofia, meanwhile, walks out on the veranda to ogle Juan. When he looks up, she angles her head to indicate that he meet her in the changing room. Juan immediately complies. Oscar watches him go worriedly, then follows him. As soon as Juan enters, they fly into each other's arms, kissing passionately. "I need to see you outside this house," Juan begs. "I need you."

     Sarita replays her interview with the architect in her head. When Eva approaches, Sarita shrewishly maneuvers to catch her in the lie that the workers were sent by the architect. But she does not confront Eva with it.

     Ximena gushes over the letter to Franco at their meeting in a restaurant. She decrees that with his talent and sensitivity he should not be a simple construction worker but aspire to greater things. Franco responds that he only aspires and would be content to be her husband. Her breath catches. "Would you marry me?" he asks her. She says it ould be her biggest dream, but... Franco seizes upon the "but" to rage against the class division and lack of a respectable family lineage, pointing to Fernando as one who married into the family based solely on that. He brings up Armando to impugn Fernando's reputation. In midsentence, his eyes meet across a crowded room with Rosario's. After an agonized moment, she gets up and leaves.

     In bed later that night, Franco thinks of Rosario. And she speaks of him to her maid. He was with a girl, she reports, yet she saw the same longing in his eyes, maybe that's why she left so quickly. The maid wants to know if she managed to reach a deal with anyone for work. Rosario says no, bcause all men were the same and they all wanted much more than just her signature on the contract. "Even if I die of hunger, I'n never going to sell myself again. I learned my lesson very well when I felt myself so unworthy of a man like Franco."

     Franco tells Oscar of the encounter the next day. Oscar, first worried, congratulates Franco for having held firm to his resolve not to approach her. Franco, however, looks very depressed. From the driveway as she leaves with Benito, Sarita eyes them grimly. Oscar, too, notes grimly that Sarita sems to be following her sister's steps. Franco says he is convinced that Sarita is suspicious of them.

     With Benito in tow, Sarita looks up the address Franco gave her and knocks on the door. A toothless woman answers. Franco had given her the wrong address.

     The Uribes talk about the love and marriage with Gabriela, Martin, Ximena and Leandro. They set the wedding date for two months.

     Juan waits impatiently on a corner. A taxi draws up behind him and Sofia gets out. She is wearing her hair down. They step towards each other wordlessly.

 

~ ~ Summary # 20, Tuesday 9/21 ~ ~  Author: Ixchel (---)  Date:   09-22-99 22:44 PDT

~ ~ Summary # 20, Tuesday 9/21 ~ ~

     At a restaurant - Fernando is having dinner with his best pal, Armando. The leech (they both are, but I'll call Armando that) thanks Fer for loaning him the money. "Friends like you are the ones necessary in life," he tells him. Fer comments that he is also in need of a friend. Armando asks if he's having problems with Sofia. Fer tells him he loves her very much but that they have problems. He confesses that they still haven't consummated their marriage. Armando is shocked by the news and immediately asks who's fault it is. Fer quickly points out that it's all Sofia's fault, that she becomes crazy & can't let herself be loved. Arm asks if she loves another man & Fer assures him that's not the problem. . .

     Sofia & Juan - they got a hotel room and Sofia starts taking off her coat & dress. Juan follows. Neither says a word, but say everything with the looks on their faces. Juan gets her hands and they hug and start touching & kissing each other passionately. ...

     Back to Fer & Arm - He tells him that at first it was very hard & even tried to force Sofia to be his, but then stopped doing that because it wasn't getting him anywhere. He also tells him that with the family being there, he didn't want them to hear her screaming. Arm decides Sofia is crazy & that her behavior is outrageous, but Fer explains that she is traumatized & that he understands her condition. If it wouldn't be for that, he wouldn't have been able to stand her rejections & that's why he remains with her. . . .

     Back to S & J - Both are sitting naked on the bed still kissing & hugging each other while we hear some fake thunder in the background. They fall towards the bed...

     Back to F & A - Fer tells Arm that he has felt a sickening jealousy of her family, her friends, faces on the street that got her attention, but that now he has changed because he realized that what Sofia suffers is an intense dislike/hate towards men in general & it's something that can't be fought.. . .

     Back to S & J - Juan is on top of Sofia; they both continue to caress each other & do it. Sofia tries to tell him something but the words don't come out.

     Back to F & A - Fer tells Arm, " I love her too much to give up on her love, and I wait with patience until she can get over her trauma & can keep her promise to be the wife I have always wanted." Arm asks what if she falls in love with another man? Fer responds that he would be capable of the worst after all he has had to endure.

     Reyes house - Oscar tells Franco that he can't sleep so he'll write another letter for Ximena. Franco is worried about Juan, but Oscar suggests that he's probably out looking for a woman. Franco asks if it could be Sofia, but Oscar dismisses that idea because Fernando is always watching her like a hawk. He tells Franco that he's probably with a cheaper woman, a woman that can make him feel better for at least a little while.

     Back at the hotel room, Sofia gets up & gets dressed as Juan stays naked on the bed. He wakes up as she closes the door & calls her name, but she continues & tries to get a taxi home.

     At Elizondo house - Sarita can't fall asleep thinking bout everything she has found out about the brothers. She reaches for a sleeping pill but can't find one. Ximena suggests she go to the downstairs bathroom to get one. She also comments that she can't believe she will be getting married on less than 2 months. . . Sarita runs into Fernando downstairs & wishes him a good night. Fer goes to his room & sees that Sofia is not in bed. He gets worried & runs to the hallway & downstairs looking for her. He finds her in the living room in her pj's all by herself. She tells him she didn't feel like sleeping & he apologizes for having arrived so late.

     Morning - Sarita asks grampa if he remembers Libia's last name. He doesn't so she asks if it could be in the newspaper where he read about the death of a similar girl. He suggests that she look through the newspapers he keeps in the garden basement.

     Eva serves lunch to the brothers & tells them that she believes Sarita is acting very weird & looks at her funny & has asked suspicious questions. They suggest that she try to talk to her about it & ask if Ximena has been behaving the same way. Eva tells them that Ximena is the same & is too busy thinking about her upcoming wedding to Benito. Eva tells them that the wedding date is already set. Oscar gets mad & knocks his food over. He goes huffing & puffing into the changing room & tells Franco that he has to do something about this. Franco doesn't know how he can tell her anything, but Oscar insists. . . . . Oscar goes into the house into Ximena's room. He tells Ximena that Franco sends her a letter & hopes to see her in their regular meeting place tonight. He leaves her alone & on his way down the hall runs into Gaby. She asks what he's doing up there so Oscar puts on his angel face & explains that he was checking to make sure that the leak in the girl's room had been taken care off. He acts all sweet towards her & apologizes for having entered without permission & that he was careless & that he's sorry. Gaby is pleased that he is being nice & knows the error of his ways so she tells him not to apologize because he was only doing his job. . . . Gaby walks to Ximena's room & sees her reading a piece of paper. Ximena is startled to see her & immediately tries to hide the letter, but it's too late. Gaby demands she hand it over to her, so Ximena does & tells her it's from Leandro. Gaby starts reading it & is impressed by the words & gives it back to her. He congratulates her & tells her that there's no doubt Benito really loves her.

     Sarita continues looking through the newspapers her grampa has in storage. Grampa shows up & she asks if he remembers when the article was published. He tells him it was around September or early October.

     Dinner table, Elizondo house - Gaby asks Sarita what she was doing with all those newspapers. Sarita lies that she was looking for something regarding fashion, but that she didn't find it. Leandro interrupts & tells her that if she has a questions about fashion, she should ask him because he knows everything there is. Gaby tells Leandro that he liked the few words she read in his letter. Ximena quickly tells Leandro that she is referring to the letter he wrote her so that he can play along. He does & thanks her. Gaby turns to Sofia and asks if there's anything wrong since she has been very quiet lately. Sofia tells her nothing is wrong, that she feels perfectly fine. Sofia asks Leandro if he plans to take Ximena out tonight, & he says yes.

     Ximena & Franco are at a cafe talking about her plans to get married. Franco pretends to be very upset when he fond out about her getting married in less than 2 months. Ximena tries to explain that she didn't set the date & Franco keeps on pretending he is hurt. Ximena tells him that she will marry him in less than 2 months no matter if her world falls down.

     Reyes house - Franco tells Oscar that Ximena wants to marry him in a short time. Oscar is thrilled by the news as Franco tells him that he can't marry her, that he wouldn't know how to treat her. Oscar reminds him that thanks to that marriage, they will have lots of money. He tells Franc to think about all the influence, power & money he will have & that he could even buy Rosario for himself.. . Juan is in bed thinking about the night he spent with Sofia

     Sofia is in bed with Fer & she runs her hand on his side (he's got his back to her). This little touch wakes him up & he's surprised. He starts kissing her and tries to take her night gown off, but she stops him & tells him that she is trying to get used to his body so that she can be a good wife, but also tells him she is still not ready for that.

     Reyes house - the brothers get up & are ready for work when they see Quintina made a Christmas "pesebre" for the brothers. Oscar tells her to take everything down, but Franco & Oscar tell her everything is fine & to leave it. Oscar tells Juan that Ximena will marry Franco very soon.

     On the bus ride - Franco remembers the day he spent with Rosario out in the fields & how she danced just for him & they kissed . . . . Juan tells Franco that he doesn't have to go along with the marriage thing if he doesn't want to. Franco tells him he will do it because since he lost Rosario, nothing really matters to him anymore...

     At Rosario's apt - She tells Armando that she doesn't care about him anymore & to leave her alone. She is very upset, but he wants to talk to her. He tells her to admit that she is not doing fine without him. Rosario points out that his power & influence can't reach everyone & that she has already found a job. He tells her to admit that she needs him, but she screams that she doesn't need anything from him & that she will not let him touch her. He gets the nerve to suggest that he become her manager again without having to have a physical relationship & that he would even give her back all the things he took from her. But Rosario stands her ground & tells him to leave. He leaves & Emilia tells her to think about Armando's offer, but Rosario tells her that Armando is scum & doesn't deserve her attention.

     Elisondo house - Raquel & Grampa argue about where the wedding announcement will be made. She insists that they have it at her house, but Martin tells them that he will not go to her house ever. Leandro tells them that it shouldn't be either there nor there & that it could be at the "grill room" at a fancy hotel, but Fernando interrupts to tell them that the announcement reception will be held here. . . . Fer walks with Sofia outside to the car & tells her that he would like to take her to dinner tonight, but can't because he has a previous engagement that will keep him a long time. He tells her to try to relax. Fer leaves & Juan catches a glimpse of Sofia staring at him. Eva is standing very close & notices their intense look. She is very shocked & can't believe her eyes. Sofia tells Eva that they haven't said any words. "Between us, only the language of attraction exists & is what unites us. I see him & I feel the great urge to throw myself into his arms. I like his look, & the warmth & scent of his body. His touch drives me crazy & I am capable of doing the most not suspicions things to feel his. Actually, I have already been his. I've been able to do it without any difficulty; I've given myself voluntarily to him even after having felt such repulsion towards men including Fernando. With Juan it's all different because he's knocked down my wall of fear & has let me feel pleasure." Eva is very surprised & tells her it's just pleasure, not love. Sofia tells her that the only thing she knows is that she has done it to fight her insecurities & fear & to help herself get closer to her husband. Eva tells her that's absurd, but Sofia tells her she had to do whatever it took to get a hold of herself again. Eva tells her she is feels scared & Sofia responds that she too is scared; that she's scared of only feeling like a woman with Juan Reyes.

     Leandro & Ximena are strolling along the house discussing their arrangement. Leo tells her he is happy with her & doesn't want to be tied to just one person. He asks who she is in love with. She looks towards Franco & tells Leandro she can't tell him who it is.

     Outside the house - Raquel tells Martin that her husband is very jealous of other men. Martin calls Calisto, her husband an old fart (not exactly in those terms) & that he would have made have more fun for one week than all the years she's been married to him. Raquel gets mad & asks Martin not to insult Calisto. They start calling each other names (I love when he calls her "momia"!!) & she tells him that at least he is not an invalid like him. This hurts Marting very much so she tries to apologize, but he doesn't accept & calls her a demonic old lady. Her nephews come out & they leave.

     Sofia is in her room staring out the window when Gaby walks in to ask her what is wrong with her. "Why have you been so silent, so distant? You can trust me, Sofia." Sofia tells her there are no problems & that it's all in her head.

     In the changing room - Eva tells Juan that Sofia has told her about them & Eva begs him to leave Sofia, that she's a married woman. On his way out, Sofia walks over to him & tells her she wants to see him tonight at the same place. Eva overhears.

 

 

Summary, Wednesday, 9/22/99  Author: dd (---)  Date:   09-23-99 01:09 PDT

     Highlights: Eva threatens to betray Sofia to keep her from seeing Juan again, but doesn’t. Then she tells Gabriela she wants to return to her pueblo, but the family talks her out of it. Leandro discovers that Franco is Ximena’s secret lover, and even talks to him, but promises to keep the secret. Ruth arrives.

     Scenes:

     Evening outside the Elizondo house: Eva tries to stop Sofia from seeing Juan, threatens to tell her family. Sofia tells her that she trusts her but to tell if she feels she must.

     Hotel room: Sofia and Juan are in bed. We hear a voice-over which turns out to be Oscar reading the love letter he has written for Franco to give Ximena.

     Brothers’ home: Quentina asks Oscar if Franco is illiterate. He says no. She comments that she wouldn’t mind which one of them wrote her a love letter. (Quentina has obviously been introduced to provide the humor in the brothers’ lives.) Oscar is worried about Juan, wonders where he is.

     Hotel room: Juan asks Sofia why she is leaving, is she afraid of being discovered. She tells him not to say anything, kisses him and leaves.

     Elizondo house: Gabriela surprises the returning Sofia and insists on knowing where she was. Sofia says she wasn’t doing anything wrong, that she felt asyphixiated in the house and needed time for herself. Eva lies for her, says that Sofia told her where she was going and that she was out for only a few minutes. After Sofia goes upstairs, Gabriela says she is still worried about her. Eva says she understands because she feels the same way, she is tired and wants to return to her pueblo. Gabriela tells her to not to say one word more, then embraces her.

     Brothers’ home: Oscar demands to know where Juan was, but Juan tells him not to meddle.

     Elizondo house: Gabriela gives Eva something to drink and asks if it is because of Raquel and Ruth. Eva says that, and other things. Gabriela says that, if necessary, she’ll ensure that Raquel never comes again. Eva says she did something bad against them all, then sort of covers herself by mentioning her hiding the fact of Bernardo’s lover. Fernando arrives and asks what is going on. Gabriela tells him that Eva wants to leave.

     Elizondo house, breakfast: Gabriela mentions the conversation with Eva. Sarita immediately leaves the table and goes upstairs where she finds Eva packing. Sarita insists on knowing why. Eva again says she feels tired. Sarita asks if she is fleeing something, asks if she will be sincere with her, that it must be something very serious. Then Sofia arrives and sks Sarita to leave her and Eva alone and asks if it is because of her, because of the secrets she knows. Eva says yes, and other things. “Sí, no puedo más. Tantos secretos, tantas cosas que sé. Soy una cobarde por suportarlo. Si supiera.” Sofia says she knows, that Eva is una mujer noble, tells her to forget all the bad things that surround them, to stay; she herself will tell the truth, confront reality.

     Elizondo house outside: Franco gives Ximena the letter, then meets Sarita who asks if the address he gave her was correct. He tells her she could find out if she doesn’t trust him. She says she could. (and, of course, she has)

     In a car outside the restaurant where Ximena plans to meet Franco, Leandro tells her that he, too, has his secret loves. But after she leaves, he follows her and sees her meet Franco. In the restaurant, Ximena tells Franco she’s been reading his letter all day, that each day she loves him more.

     Elizondo house: Eva’s room. Martín, having heard the news, enters and asks her if she thinks he would let her leave, tells her that she is irreplaceable. Eva says that after talking with Sarita and Sofia, she realizes that she can’t escape, that she must confront what comes. Martín says if she left she would have to take him with her, that she doesn’t know how much he values her, that if she knew she would never even think about leaving.

     Later, outside the car, Leandro can’t stop laughing and tells Ximena he found out her secret. Ximena says she won’t forgive him for betraying their agreement. Leandro says she can depend on him, as a comprensivo pretendiente y esposa.

     In the bedroom upstairs. Sarita tells Ximena she must talk with her and 1) asks her to admit that she is using Leandro (Ximena won’t), and 2) asks her if she would believe something bad about the brothers. Ximena says she wouldn’t, that they are good. Sarita gets angry and says she will keep her own confidence, that she is obviously alone.

     The next day, Ximena and Leandro are walking outside the house. Ximena tells Leandro not to make fun of Franco. Leandro wonders how somebody so vulgar could write such pretty letters. Then Leandro walks over and insists on talking to Franco. He tells him that the letters were poems and not to feel bad that Ximena showed him the letters. But Franco is upset. Then Leandro asks him if he really wrote those letters, that it was surprising from one such as he. Franco says he has studied (or something like that). Leandro says the relationship doesn’t bother him, that the three of them could have fun together. Ximena steps in and takes Leandro away.

     Brothers’home: Franco asks Oscar what kind of people these are. He wonders if Leandro will keep quiet after he marries Ximena. Oscar says to view Leandro as an ally, that when he learns the truth it will be too late. Franco says he isn’t going to marry a fool who could manipulate so many people so cooly. What would she be like with him after the wedding? Quentina tells the resting Juan that he must be in love and Juan says yes, that the woman is más que bonita, el mujer más linda, and that the love is returned, but that marriage is impossible although he would be willing to give up everything for her. Juan tells Quentina he can’t explain why. She tells him to have faith.

     Elizondo house, the next day: many people are arriving for the engagement party. Fernando sees Sofia and Juan look at each other, then goes over and asks why it is taking so long. Franco says that they are slow but good. Juan tells Fernando to talk to the architect if he is worried about the progress. Fernando tells them to stop work, and not to return until after Christmas, so as not to bother the guests. Upstairs, Eva tells Martín he can’t wear his military uniform. Gabriela goes up and insists he dress properly or stay in his room. She tells Eva to leave them alone. Martín says he would stay in his room if he had company and, jokingly, says even the workers would do. So Gabriela agrees to bring him the workers to keep him in his room and does so. Martín says they’ll enjoy themselves and brings out the cards. Oscar says the situation is uncomfortable. But they stay. Outside in the hall, Gabriela tells Fernando, who tells Sarita and Ximena, that she had no choice. Then Eva arrives and Gabriela asks her to stay upstairs because Ruth will probably be coming. Gabriela says it is for her good, though what Eva wants most is to see Ruth, if only from afar.

     Sofia sees her crying and tries to comfort her. Eva says she’ll stay where she is, that it would be difficult to explain, she would only be a bother. In Martín’s room, he decides it is time to go downstairs, although the brothers tell him they should continue playing---but he insists. Downstairs, Sofia tells Gabriela that Eva is very depressed. Gabriela tells her and Fernando not to worry about Eva. Then Sarita tells Gabriela that Raquel has arrived. From the top of the stairs, Martín and the brothers look down, and we see Ruth, her face partly hidden by a large hat, for the first time. The brothers, especially Oscar, appear stunned.

    

 

~ ~ Summary # 22, Thurs. 9/23 ~ ~  Author: Ixchel (---)  Date:   09-24-99 01:40 PDT

     ~ ~ Summary # 22, Thurs. 9/23 ~ ~

     Elizondo house - Gaby welcomes the infamous Ruth & the brothers go pale as they see her resemblance to Libia. They remain speechless. . . . Eva's in her room crying as she looks at & kisses the photograph she has of Ruth's first communion. She wishes to see her & is sad because she knows Ruth is near..... Grampa tells the guys they are statues & look as if they've seen a ghost. He tells them to bring him down; Gaby sees them & orders Juan to take him back upstairs. Gramps insists on staying downstairs, Juan stays frozen in disbelief as he looks at Ruth, Gaby has her way & Juan carries him back up. Fernando tells Oscar & Franco to go back in with gramps as he walks to Ruth & tells her to go into the living room. Leandro & Benito tell Ximena & Sarita that Ruth is always trying to get everybody's attention.... Juan puts gramps on the bed as he is screaming that he wants to go back down. Gaby tells him she will leave his wheelchair outside. Juan can't stand his screaming any longer & tells him to shut up & stop behaving like a baby. Gaby leaves to go get a maid to watch her dad. She runs into Oscar & Franco & tells them to stay & watch gramps a little longer. Juan sees them & tells them he wants to go back downstairs to see their sister Libia. Oscar tells him Libia is dead but the guys tell him Libia is dead & that the girl downstairs is another person...... Gaby apologizes to Raquel & Ruth about her dad's behavior. Ruth tells her not to worry, that she thinks Martin is an awesome person & she remembers when she was a little girl & he gave her a book of poetry. Raquel tells her that he is not the same person he was then & Ruth asks Gaby why she didn't let him stay. Gaby explains that she didn't want him to create a scene, Ruth tells her that he just needs attention & would have made the party more alive. She wants to go say hello, but Raquel doesn't want her to. Ruth insists in seeing him..... Eva wipes her tears & leaves her room ..... Benito tells Sarita that she doesn't look very happy. She tells Benito that she doesn't like the fact that the obreros are upstairs. Gaby & Ruth walk pass them & tell Sarita she is going up to say hello.... Outside Leandro tells Ximena that Ruth is very "stuck up" & that she is that way because she is Raquel's only daughter. He comments that aunt Raquel will leave him a good part of her fortune if he gets married..... We see Eva walking outside towards the front entrance of the house.... Gaby warns Ruth to leave Martin if he starts saying bad things. Gaby & Ruth walk into Martin's room. She sits on his bed & is very nice to her. They hold hands & he comments that she is looking very beautiful. Ruth tells him she wanted to see him & remembers how nice he was with her when she was little. They are both very happy to see each other. The brothers just stare at them. Ruth asks who the men are. Gaby & Martin explain that they are the obreros working on the apartment. Oscar introduces himself & the others. Ruth starts flirting with him a bit, but Gaby interrupts. Gaby tells them that they shouldn't come to work this next week due to the holidays..... Fer asks Ruth how her visit went. Gaby sees Eva looking around for Ruth & takes her into the next room to tell her not to see Ruth. Eva tells Gaby that she wants to see Ruth & will not hide from her reality. Eva gets a tray & walks into the living room.... Raquel doesn't believe that Martin was nice to Ruth. Ruth tells Sofia, Fer & Raquel that she just met the most handsome man in the world (Oscar). Sofia ask who, but Ruth tells her she'll keep it a secret. Eva sees Ruth & asks who wants some wine. Ruth gets a glass & so does Raquel. Eva tells Raquel that she has a beautiful daughter & leaves. Ruth points out that Eva is a nice made. ... Eva puts the tray down & starts crying against the wall & goes upstairs.. . . . Benito sees Raquel wanting to go upstairs. The old woman runs into Eva crying in the hallway. Eva apologizes for what she just did, but Raquel tells her she told the right thins & sits down with her & tells Eva that she is thankful for what she gave her, that she can imagine what she's going through. (wow - she seems human!) She tells Eva she does not forget the great gift Eva gave her. Raquel puts her arm around Eva as she cries..... Fernando tells everybody it's time to announce the engagement of Ximena to Leandro - The wedding will take place Feb 11, 1950. Everyone applauds.. Sofia leaves the room & sees the brothers walk down the stairs. Sarita sees Sofia leave. Once outside, Juan tells Oscar & Franco to start without him. Sofia goes outside & Sarita follows...... Everyone starts telling the couple to kiss - Leandro & Ximena kiss each other on the cheeks, but everyone tells them on the lips. Ximena kisses Leandro on the mouth. Fer asks Gaby if she's seen Sofia; she notices that Sarita is also gone so she concludes that the must be upstairs checking on grampa. Gaby volunteers to go upstairs to check...... Sarita walks to the side of the house & starts calling out Sofia's name. ..... Gaby goes to Martin's room; he's asleep. ..... Sarita continues her search & hears moans & sees Sofia & Juan making out. She runs & cannot believe what she just saw.......... Sarita in bed - She has a nightmare & starts screaming that "she can't be there kissing another man!" Sarita wakes up & is feeling sick. Ximena is worried & Sarita tells her that there are terrible things going on & she can't tell anyone.

     Morning, Reyes house - Quintina tells the brothers that today is christmas eve. They all have a depressed look so she tells them to get happy, that they should have a few drinks. They all stay quiet. She tells them she will make them tamales. Oscar tells the guys that they need money & one of them should go get their paycheck. Oscar volunteers to go.

     Elizondo house- Eva tells Gaby that Sarita is not feeling well & Ximena tells them that she kept on waking up throughout the night saying things she couldn't understand. Fer tells them that Sarita probably caught a cold because she was out in the gardens for a long while & that when he saw her, she looked pale. He asks Sofia if she didn't run into her, since she was also outside. Sofia tells everyone she will go check on Sarita.. .. Sofia goes into Sarita's room. Sarita turns her back to her. Sofia asks if she is feeling sick. Sofia suggests a doctor, but Sarita tells her to leave her alone & that she doesn't want to see her. As Sofia starts to leave, Sarita tells her she saw her with Juan last night; that she couldn't believe her eyes. Sarita is very distraught & asks Sofia how she could have not stooped so low as to get involved with such a man & forget that she is married. Sofia tells her she is attracted to Juan, Sarita tells her that if it would have been with another man that she would remain silent, but not with Juan. Sarita tells her that she is scared of Juan & his 2 brothers, that they are not who they seem, that they came into this house to harm them. Sarita believes that juan has done everything to seduce her, but Sofia tells her that it was she who looked for him. Sarita doesn't believe her, but Sofia tells her that Juan is the only man she has felt good with, that he's the only man that drives her crazy, the only man that has made her feel like a woman. Sarita slaps Sofia & tells her to stop saying this, & tells Sofia she will tell Fernando everything. Sofia tells her that she doesn't care, that she has done everything of her own will, that she accepts all responsibility for her actions. Sarita can't believe her ears & cries. Sofia tells her that she is a a woman that has to live & that she has a right to be happy even if the earth below her feet sinks. Sofia leaves & Sarita tells herself she has to find proof of her suspicions against the brothers.

     Raquel & nephews arrive for lunch at the Elizondo house - Ximena & Leandro go to the gardens with Ruth. Gaby asks if she is not worried about Eva; Raquel tells her that she is better about the situation now, & believes Eva won't say a word & she doesn't want to deprive Eva of seeing Ruth once in a while. ..... Leandro & Ximena show Ruth the construction site; Leandro points out that they really haven't made much progress. Ruth tells them she is very interested & walks toward the site. Leandro asks if she has missed her secret lover & they leave. ... Ruth sees Eva walking by & stops her to ask her about the obreros. Ruth wants to know more about them & tells Eva that she is just curious to know more about them. Eva sees Oscar arriving & Ruth smiles (someone wipe off her drool). Oscar sees them & waves. .... Oscar sees Gaby about their paycheck; she wishes them good holidays & he gives her a nice christmas card. He leaves as Sarita walks down the stairs. Gaby tells her that she looks pale & Sarita asks what Oscar was doing here. She tells her he was hear to pick up their paycheck & tells her that she is very surprised by the card, & about the writing. She points out that it's very eloquent & that it reminds her of Leandro's writing. Sarita isn't thrilled..... Ruth stops Oscar outside & asks about his brothers. She tells him she wishes to speak to him more because she finds him likeable. Oscar doesn't know what to say, but she insists in seeing him alone one day soon. She tells him she will continue to visit this house for him. . . . Ruth walks into Sarita & asks how she is. . . . Benito comes to tell her to go inside, but she tells him to go with her to the newspaper archives tomorrow. He starts walking inside just as Sarita faints. Benito lifts her up a bit & starts screaming for the others to come help him. Gaby & the others come to help, Sarita is not responding..... Later that evening - the doctor tells Gaby that Sarita is a little better, but that she is very weak & that they have to perform some tests. Sofia asks if its her fault, but Sarita tells her not to worry, that she'll be okay. ..... Sofia's in bed dreaming about Juan. She has a passionate look on her face & Fer wakes up & sees her. He starts kissing her & she thinks it's Juan! She continues kissing Fer till she wakes up & sees it's him. He doesn't want to stop & she tells him to stop, but he doesn't. He takes her clothes off & rapes her.

     Fer goes to the bar to see Armando. He tells Armando that Sofia was finally his tonight, but that it wasn't the way he imagined it. He confesses that he made her his by force, but Arm tells him to not feel guilty because he is her husband. Fer tells him that if he weren't sure of Sofia's fidelity, he would swear she was thinking of another man when she enticed him.

     Reyes house - Quintina tries to cheer them all up, but the brothers are all depressed & quiet. Juan goes to his room to think more about Sofia..

     Sofia's in bed thinking about Juan & tells herself that she will never be able to be with Fer because she's in love only with him.

 

Summary #23, Fri 09/24/99  Author: Sue (---)  Date:   09-26-99 20:34 PDT

     Fernando comes home and Gabriela confronts him. "I can tell what happened last night." "Was she complaining?" "No, she didn’t complain." She warns him not to pressure her into doing something she doesn’t want to do. "That’s not the way to win the love of a woman." Fernando goes to his room and grabs Sofia as she tries to walk away. "First you entice me, then you reject me. What are you trying to do to me?" He comments that all this is hard on his nerves. She tells him that what happened wasn’t her fault. He says that he will not stay in their bedroom until she comes to him. Later that evening as Martin is reading a book on the terrace, Fernando tells Gabriela that he and Sofia have resolved the problem. Gabriela is not happy that Fernando will be sleeping in another room.

     Next morning the Elizondos are at the breakfast table. Gabriela tells Sarita that she doesn’t like the fact that she’s going out so early. Sarita tells her that it’s all right—she’s going with Benito. Ximena comments that she doesn’t look well but Sarita snaps that she’s "perfectly all right" and that she has to leave because she has lots to do. She goes out onto the terrace where Martin is sitting. He warns her about her obession and how it’s affecting her nerves. "Forget about that young woman." Benito pulls up and before she gets into the car, she spies the three Reyes brothers coming to work. "Let’s go. No time to waste."

     In the changing room, Oscar says that he thinks Sarita is suspicious of them. "I wonder why she’s going out with him [Benito] so early." At the newspaper office Benito asks her what she’s looking for so intently. He offers to help but she says she wants to look by herself. She looks through the back issues and finally finds what she’s looking for: an article about a young woman who allegedly commited suicide by drowning. She reads the article and discovers the woman’s name at the end: Libia Reyes Guerrero. "My God! They’re her brothers!"

     Back at the worksite, Oscar gives another love note to Ximena. Sofia walks along the balcony and watches Juan. He looks up at her.

     On the way home, Benito’s car breaks down. He goes out to look under the hood. Sarita is inside worried sick. She thinks of how the Reyes brothers have ingratiated themselves so that they can take their revenge out on all of them. At that point she slumps down in the seat. Benito gets back in and tells her the problem is fixed. When she doesn’t respond, he looks at her and asks her why she’s looking at the roof. "Why are you sleeping with your eyes open?" Then he realizes that she’s dead.

     At the house Ximena reads the letter from Franco. Martin comes up to her and she says it’s a note from Leandro. Martin tells her that he doesn’t approve of Leandro but it’s her decision. Ximena asks him if he’s worried about her future. "Yes, I am." He asks her if she’s noticed that Sarita has been worried for the past few days but Ximena doesn’t know about what. Gabriela comes into the room and mutters something about Sarita. The phone rings. It’s Benito and when he tells Gabriela she drops the phone. She calls for Sofia and Ximena.

     In the evening the family plus Benito, Leandro, and Raquel are gathered. Benito tells them that he went with her to the newspaper office. Fernando asks what she was looking for. "She refused to tell me. Whatever it was it made her very pale and nervous. She wanted to rush home to tell all of you." "Tell us what?" "I don’t know." Sofia, crying, runs from the room to her bedroom. Martin asks her what’s wrong. She tells him that she thinks that she’s to blame for Sarita’s death because she had a huge fight with her. Martin assures her that she is not to blame: "Sarita was obsessed by an idea that made her so nervous it killed her. But I’m not going to say anything about it."

     The brothers discuss the day’s events. Franco thinks that the family will be on to them because of Sarita’s death. Oscar and Juan don’t agree and feel they should go on with the plan. Oscar says that they can’t be blamed for Sarita’s poor health.

     The family returns from the funeral. Oscar goes up to Gabriela and offers condolences on the brother’s part. Gabriela thanks him and tells him that she feels that he’s sincere. Ruth walks by and stares at Oscar. Later, Ruth goes to the changing room and talks with Oscar. After she comes out Eva goes up to her and tells her that she shouldn’t associating with the workers. Ruth tells her that she is just an empolyee and she can’t tell her what to do.

     Ximena walks with Leandro who tells her that you have to enjoy life to the fullest because you never know when your number is up. Ximena says that she’s going to miss Sarita so much because they were very close. "Well now you have a man." He points at Franco who is digging. He goes over and yells to Franco, "She’ll meet you tonight in the usual place."

     That evening Franco gets ready for his date with Ximena. He says he intends to find out as much as he can about Sarita’s death. He asks Oscar why he doesn’t go after Ruth. "She’s got her eye on you. She the perfect woman for you—the only child of an elderly couple." "No, she’s not good for me." "She’s young, rich, and beautiful…" "And she looks just like Libia." The cleaning woman comes in and asks where Juan is. "I haven’t the slightest idea."

     Sofia comes out of the house and notices one of the maids looking towards the garden. "I thought I saw someone lurking in the garden." Sofia knows it’s Juan and tells the maid she’ll go look. She dismisses the maid and heads out. She meets Juan in the changing room and says to him "No more." She is still blaming herself for what happened to Sarita. She goes back to the house as Fernando comes home. He feels something’s up and starts to look around.

     Franco, Ximena, and Leandro are dining out. Leandro is being a real pain to Franco, Finally he leaves at Ximena’s request. Franco tries to pump her for information about Sarita’s death but she says she doesn’t know anything.

     Next day Oscar talks with Franco about Ximena and again Franco tries to convince him to go after Ruth who has just arrived with her mother. Raquel says that Leandro and Ximena should put off their wedding. Gabriela agrees. Fernando comes into the room and asks to speak privately with Gabriela. Sofia comes out on the balcony and looks briefly at Juan and then goes back inside.

     Ruth and Oscar go for a walk in a park. Ruth tells Oscar that she could be happy with a man like him….

 

 

Summary #24, mon. 9/27/99  Author: Yolette Nicholson (webjefa) (---)  Date:   09-28-99 10:24 PDT

     Oscar wipes his eyes; Ruth reminds him so much of his sister. Ruth is worried and declares that she doesn't want to be compared with anyone.

     Gabriela laments that house is so alone without sarita. Martin notes that with everyone locked up in thier sorrow, the only company she has is him, whom she detests. Gabriela asks if she should investigate Sarita's death. martin tells her not to bother, that he already knew. He tells her Sarita was obsessed with looking for Libia's real name and had found it in a newspaper clipping of her suicide.

     At their usual meeting spot, Franco pressures Ximena to marry him sooner. She doesn't want to hurt her family. He proposes they marry right away and then keep it secret until it was a good time to tell them. Ximena balks. Franco insists, "I need to feel that you're my wife!" Looking up, he catches sight of Rosario by the door. He gets up and follows her out the door, leaving Sarita waiting. She's getting into a car. he calls out, "Rosario, please wait."

     Oscar puzzles about Ruth with Juan. "If it were anyone but Ruth I would have been overjoyed at the opportunity of a rich socialite seeking me out for a relationship," he says. But with Ruth, it's different. He can't look at her without seeing his sister. And he feels a fierce desire to protect her, Oscar reports, just as he did with his sister. Juan wonders what's going on. "When we entered this house it was with a firm purpose...but now everything is mixed up!"

     Rosario tries to discourage Franco. At her table, Ximena sits and worries. Franco finds out that Rosario had come to the house to look for him yet his brothers had not told him. "Why did you come visit me?" Franco asks. she tels him she found out what armando had done and was worried. "Was that the only reason?" he presses. They kiss. Franco admits he loves her still and can't stop thinking about her. "I'd leave everything for you," he says.

     Inside the restaurant, Ximena gets fed up with waiting, finds Leandro and takes off.

     After breakfast the next morning Sofia and Ximena excuse selves to go to church, Fernando to go to the office. Alone again, Martin comments that Sofia and Fernando were sleeping apart and Gabriela asks why Sarita was so interested in Libia's last name. Outside the house, Ximena glares at Franco as he and his brothers arrive for work. Oscar stops to ask her what's wrong and finds out that Franco had stood her up. In the changing room, he accosts Franco, but Franco counters loudly that his brothers had not told him of Rosario's visit and now things had changed. "I love her and she loves me!"

     Franco sits up in bed with Rosario, chgrined. "i feel ridiculous," he says gloomily. "I dreamed so long of being with you and now I can't do it." Rosario soothes him. "It's just anxiety," she says. "Anyway, that is not the most important thing that you offer me, not like your love and tenderness." Franco insists this had never happened to him before. Rosario wantsto make sure she does not hurt him or a third-party. "Swear to me that you're not betraying anyone by being with me," she asks. "I don't want to marry anyone but you," Franco responds.

     One of Armando's goons watches Franco leave Rosario's apartment.

     While Rosario performs, the goon tells Armando about Franco's visit. Armando smacks him for not having the initiative to follow Franco home so he could find out where he lived. He is convinced Franco is the only obstacle to getting Rosario back. "I'm going to erase him from the map!"

     Franco reads an apology letter to Ximena that Oscar had written for him, then rips it up, saying that was what he was going to do to the relationship. Oscar jumps him. They crash to the floor, scuffling, and Juan enters to pull him off. Juan scolds Oscar: "Stop trying to manipulate us!" Oscar accuses him of being in love with Sofia and Franco with a cabaret singer and that both of them were going to ruin their lives. "Better we ruin our lives our own way than by satisfying your greed," Juan responds.

     Ruth pushes Martin through the grounds. Martin marvels at her freedom of spirit and asks if she has many admirers. She admits she does but that she cares for none. "When love comes, then I'll throw the doors wide open!" she says. martin cautions that love doesn't come in the form of an inapprpriate match. Ruth looks up and catches Oscar's eye. "What if I were to fall for one of them," she asks Martin. "Would that be bad?" Martin tells her that class resistance can be considerable. Ruth says that isn't a problem for her because she only does what her heart tells her. with that, she walks towards Oscar. She invites him to be her date at a dance and the brothers all double-take. Oscar looks at her as if she had just sprouted horns on her head and Ruth laughs, saying she loves it when he blushes.

     She returns to Martin, who wants to know if she really was interested in one of those men. She is saved from answering when Armando drives up. Martin sends him to the house with a maid. Franco does not see him.

     Raquel and Gabriela talk about Ximena's wedding when Armando enters and Gabriela excuses herself to go greet him. Fernando comes down and is happy to see his friend. Armando wants to talk outside. There he apologizes to Fernando for not being able to pay him back as he had promised, a bag of excuses. Things were still bad with Rosario, he reports, just wait till he gets his hands on the man that stole her. Fernando warns him that Rosario is the problem, "You gain nothing by fighting with her lovers." At that moment Armando spots Franco. "it can't be!" Fernando tries to stop him but he beelines for Franco.

     Armando laughs derisively at Franco. "You're a simple construction worker?" He can't believe Rosario traded him in for a laborer. Franco says he's ready for another brawl, but not here at his job. Armando does not care. He pulls out a gun and points it at Franco. Fernando breaks into a run. "Don't" he warns Armando. "I don't want bloodshed at my house." Armando is persuaded and he punches Franco in the stomach instead. Juan and Oscar run over to help their brother, but Fernando hauls Armando away. The brothers demand to know what is Franco's problem with Armando; they deduce from his non-answers that he was the man who had sent Franco to the hospital. Juan's jaw tightens and he runs after Armando, furious. He grips him by the lapels in front of Fernando and warns him to leave Franco alone else he will rip him apart personally. He picks up Armando and tosses him halfway across the lawn. Fernado gathers up his friend and tells him to leave quickly. Raquel, Gabriela, Ruth and Ximena watch horrified from the front steps.

     in the changing room, Franco is angry that the brothers had interefered. Oscar demands to know why he kept secrets from them as if they weren't brothers and berates him for chasing after such a troublesome woman.

     In the living room, Gabriela berates Fernando for allowing the spectacle, especially in front of their guests. Fernando promises the family that he will ask Armando never to return to the house. he leaves but Ximena chases after him. She wants to know what personal problems Armando and Franco had with each other. fernando tells her they were both after the same woman, Rosario Montes. Ximena is disbelieving, but Fernando assures her that indeed Franco was winning the contest for her affections.

     As the brothers have lunch, gabriela arrives and tells them she won't tolerate aggression in her household. Oscar explains that armando attacked Franco and they had to defend him. gabriela says they should have avoided it and threatens to call the architect to have them replaced.

     Juan and Oscar sit gloomily around their dinner table while their housekeeper chatters about their long faces. She tells them that Franco is in the room getting spiffy to go out. Juan charges into the room to stop him. "if you think you're going out so that guy can kill you, think again." He threatens to shadow Franco's every footstep. Franco tells him he's not meeting Rosario, but Ximena, in order to break off the relationship.

     it's New Year's Eve, and Gabriela laments the year's losses. Sofia kisses her mother and urges her to be strong. They lament that Xmena went out with Leandro instead of staying in with them.

     Juan encourages Oscar to go out if he wants to for the holiday. Oscar sulks that they've made him feel like an executioner when he was only trying to look out for the family. Juan tells him to forget his plans because franco was out right now breaking up with Ximena. oscar gets up resolutely and says that he's going out, that he knows who he can go see.

     At the Elizondo household, Fernando makes a round of toasts to the family members, ending with one to sofia, for tolerating a husband she did not love. "I'm willing to agree to a separation whenever you wish it," he tells her.

     Ximena arrives at the date but Franco explains to her that their usual spot is closed. Ximena tells him Leandro will drive them. "Where to?" "The only place that's open," she says snidely. "Bar Alcala"

 

 

~ Summary #25, Tues. 9/28 ~ ~  Author: Ixchel (---)  Date:   09-29-99 02:11 PDT

     ~ Summary #25, Tues. 9/28 ~ ~

     -Franco gets in the car with Ximena & Leandro & they head to the Bar Alcala. Franco turns pale & is obviously bothered with the idea. Once at the bar, Franco's nervousness shines through. Ximena starts being sarcastic & tells him that she is sure he loves her. Leandro points out that he is waiting for the show to start, that it will be great because Rosario montes will be performing tonight. Franco's in a bad mood so Ximena suggests that he write her something like the letters she has gotten. Franco freaks out & tries to tell Ximena he doesn't feel like writing, but Ximena insists, so he writes a stupid line about having a happy new year. Ximena is upset & knows that Franco indeed has been lying to her all this time. The announcer introduces Rosario & the crowd goes wild.

     Elizondo house - Gaby is upset that Fernando made such terrible things about separating. He tells her that he doesn't want to be seen as an opportunist.

     Bar - Rosario does her dance & sings a song about how she is thinking about somebody that has hurt her; she goes down to sing/dance close to the people & starts touching Franco. He is very uncomfortable by this & so is Ximena, but Rosario keeps on dancing in front of him.

     Elizondo- Fer tells them that at first he was interested in the marriage as a business, but that that faded away very fast & he is no longer interested in the money. He gets up to tell Sofia that she will never love him despite all his attempts; that they shouldn't keep on putting up with this torture.

     Bar - Rosario's dressing room - she tells Emilia that Franco is outside sitting with his girlfriend & she doesn't like it. . .. . Leandro asks if Ximena is bothered that Rosario carressed Franco; she says yes.... Armando & his maton see Franco & he sees them & wants to leave but Ximena insists on staying.

     Elizondo house - Sofia tells fer that they shouldn't be discussing their private lives in front of her mom & grampa. Fer tells her that they have every right to hear them & demands that Sofia give him an answer right now. Gaby tells Sofia to not say anything & asks if she is capable of causing her more pain (guilt trip galore!!). Sofia tries to run out, but Fer stops her, but she tells him that she will not give him an answer tonight out of respect for her mom & her pain.

     Bar - Armando tells his maton that Franco is looking for him, but the maton tells him he shouldn't bother Franco right now because he is with someone & that they should look for another place to confront him.... Franco gets up to leave, Ximena gets up too & they go outside & leave Leo in. Ximena tells Franco to tell her what he said he needed to talk to him. Ximena starts telling him that she knows everything was a lie, that the letters weren't written by him, that he's a liar, a fake, that he wanted to ridicule him. She tells him off & that she knows about Rosario. Franco admits to his love for Rosario & Ximena tells him to leave her alone, that she hates him with all her heart. She runs away, Leo comes out & runs after her....... Franco goes to see Rosario to tell her that he finally broke up with Ximena, that he only loves her. Rosario is mad because he brought her here & doesn't appreciate it. Franco tries to apologize & tells her he will wait for her tonight, but she says to forget about it & to not wait for her..... Franco starts walking out of the bar & Armando's killer grabs him. Armando tells him that he will not hit him & will not harm him physically; instead he will let Franco himself mess up & let Rosario find out what kind of looser he really is; then Rosario will finally "open" her eyes & go back with him (Armando). Franco tells him to not be too sure about this, but Armando tells him he is superior to him & will get Rosario back.

     At a party/dance - Ruth is dancing the night away with some guy while Raquel is talking with a friend. She tells her that she is tired, Ruth walks towards her, Raquel tells her that she will leave with Benito. Ruth says she should go, buy Raquel insists that she should stay because she looks very happy. Her friend volunteers to take Ruth back to Raquel & Benito leave. A few minutes later she sees Oscar at the entrance. A huge smile takes up her whole face...

     Elizondo house outside- Ximena tells Leo that she was really in love with Franco, but that he is a liar, that she really believed him, that she is sad. Leo tries to console her & really is a friend that tries to calm her down. He tells her to forget about him, that he's not worth all her tears. She tells him she wanted to have a serious realtionship with Franco, but Leo tells her to forget about him. He hugs her & tells her that she is not alone, that he is her confident, & to not lower herself by wasting her tears on Franco...

     Party - Ruth & Oscar dance the night away as they talk about how much of a good time they are having. Oscar worries that somebody might recogize him, but Ruth tells him not to worry , that she can go out with whomever she chooses. They're both full of smiles & Ruth tells him that she feels she has known him all her life...

     Elizondo house - Gaby walks into Sofia's room & sees that she is still awake. Sofia tells her she can't sleep & they start discussing what Fer said. Sofia tells her Fer is right & that their marriage makes no sense, that she can't be a wife to him, that she can't force herself to love him. Gaby insists that she try to keep their marriage, but Sofia tells her that she doesn't deserve Fer. Gaby tells her to think about her actions so that she won't have regrets later on. Gaby leaves ...... gaby walks downstairs & sees Ximena crying by herself in the living room. Gaby asks if she fought with Leo, Ximena says no, that she is just sad about all the things she has lost, her dad, her sister. She cries & cries as Gaby hugs her.

     Reyes house - Franco gets home & Juan wakes up. Juan tells him he was worried, Franco starts telling him about his terrific evening, that Ximena forced him to go to the Alcala, that Armando humiliated him, that Ximena & he ended. Franco tells Juan he feels terrible, but that he has learned his lesson - not to play with other people's feelings. Juan tells him it's all Oscar's fault for having forced him into trying to get Ximena.

     party - Raquel's friend tells her husband she will go tell Ruth they have to leave. Ruth calmly tells her to leave without her, that Oscar will take her home. The friend tells her she will not lether go with this guy, but Ruth insists on staying. The lady leaves, & Ruth & Oscar continue dancing..... Oscar starts walking Ruth to her house. She tells him she had a great time, that he is very nice. He tells her he was surprised when he told the lady to leave without her, that he likes his independence. Ruth tells Oscar that she wishes he be somehting else, that she knows he can be different & do great things. She says that she will help him do that if he is interested. Oscar's light bulb turns on (money money money). Ruth leans in to get Oscar to kiss him. He kisses her on the forehead & tells her he can't kiss her any other way, so Ruth takes the plunge & kisses him on the lips.

     Elizondo house - morning - Gaby & Sofia are in Ximena's room. Ximena is going through a crisis, she is laughing & crying every few seconds & saying incoherent things. Sofia tries to console her. gaby goes outside & Martin asks how Ximena is doing. They start talking about how the last time, she almost ended up in a insane asylum. Martin suggests that they start giving her treatment right away, because last time she came too close... Ximena sits up in bed & starts ranting about some elves coming to kill her; she has this very distant look on her face as she starts to cry some more & then stops to laugh & vise versa. Sofia tries to calm her down, but nothing helps. ...... Franco tells Oscar & Juan that he doesn't know what he's doing here. Oscar tells him to leave if he wants to but Oscar defends himself by telling Franco it's his fault & that the reason they are still here is because Juan is obsessed with Sofia. Juan gets angry & walks away... Sofia walks fer to the car, he's going into town to get the doctor. He pulls out of the frive way & Juan sees Sofia & calls her name. Sofia just stands there for a few seconds as he says that he wants to see her, that he'll go crazy withou her. Eva opens the door & steps outside & hears him, Sofia runs inside, Eva angrily tells Juan to be more discreet, he leaves...... Leandro goes to visit Ximena & is sad to see her that way. gaby tells him that she's been this way shince that night she went out with him so she asks if they fought or if somehting happened. Leo tells her they didn't fight & that nothing strange happened. The doc walks in with Fer & Gaby tells him that it's the same crisis she suffered through the last time 2 yrs ago. Leo asks what crisis, but the doc insists they leave him alone with Ximena..... Outside, Eva tells Oscar that Ximena is ill, that this has happened to her once before. Franco asks if it's a mental problem, Eva tells him it's nerves & that last time it was caused by a huge disagreement she had with Gaby, & wonders what happened to her this time. Leandro comes to talk to Franco & Eva leaves. Leo tells Franco that he must be very happy now, that he shouldn't have come to this house anymore. He threatens that if something does happen to Ximena, he will tell the family everythinghe knows....... Gaby tells Raquel that Ximena is going through this crisis, that she gets severely depressed, & closes in. Martin insist that Gaby tell the whole truth. Gramps tells them that she also starts talking incoherently. Fer tells them that the recent loss of her father & sister probably caused this, that she had it all bottled up & it finally exploded.... Ximena tosses & turns as Eva's in the room taking care of her. She starts saying something incoherent & them mentions Franco's name. Eva is surprised & worried.... Ruth goes upstairs to see Ximena.....

 

 

Summary #26: 9/29/99  Author: dd (---)  Date:   09-30-99 03:10 PDT

     Summary #26. 9/29/99.

     While Ruth visits the writhing Ximena in her room, at the brothers’ home, Franco tells his brothers that he doesn’t feel guilty about Ximena because this isn’t the first time such a thing has happened to her, that Leandro can’t say anything without implicating himself, that he will, however, continue working with them, but that nothing matters to him except Rosario.

     Then we see a dream sequence of Ximena as a young girl. Her mother is punishing her for being disrespectful to her parents and in church. She calls her a sinner for flirting with a boy. Ruth and Eva talk in Ximena’s room. Eva tells her that she’s worked in this house a long time, knows the people in it and loves them. Ruth asks her if she has family. She says no. Ruth apologizes for her behavior the other day. Eva tells her that she is an intelligent woman, that she has a lovely smile and lovely eyes, very like her father’s (to which Ruth replies that her father’s eyes are of a different color), and apologizes if she said anything to bother her the other day. Eva cries and Ruth comforts her. Ximena cries out; she’s having a horrible nightmare.

     At the club, Armando tells Fernando that he understands his position and won’t go after Franco again because he realizes that it is Rosario who must change. [Does Armando really believe this or is he just saying it?] Fernando asks about the loan and Armando tells Fernando that he is about to close a wonderful deal, that he understands that Fernando doesn’t trust him, and it is obvious that Fernando is beginning to doubt him, but he doesn’t say so. Armando insists that he is on the verge of becoming a great entrepreneur, that at base he’s not so bad, and is, indeed, about to buy the bar. Backstage Emilia tells Rosario that Armando plans to buy the bar, though she doesn’t know where he will get the money. Rosario agrees: as far as she knows, he has always lived off of women. Emilia seems to prefer Armando to Franco: she tells Rosario that Armando is shrewd, that Franco isn’t and, moreover, that Armando never paraded another woman in front of her, as did Franco. Franco enters her room. Out front, Armando advises Fernando not to separate from his wife, not to give up what he has gained.. Fernando asks what has he gained: bitterness. He can live without the money of the Elizondos but not with the desamor of his esposa. Backstage, Franco tells Rosario he is only for her.

     At the Elisondo home, Ximena has a nightmare of Franco in the arms of Rosario, of Raquel, Leandro, her mother, of Fernando kissing her, of Oscar. She runs screaming out of her room and Gabriela tries to stop her. They struggle on the stairs and Ximena falls down them. Next, we hear that Ximena is in the clinic, recovered from the fall but not from the nervous attack. Fernando tells the family that Ximena must be committed. Gabriela says no, that she will recover, as she did before, they can hire a nurse. Outside: Martín meets up with the brothers, tells them that Fernando and Gabriela are leaving for the clinic and will be staying there, that he is alone except for Sofia, who watches the brothers leave. But Juan returns later and enters her room. She objects at first: she feels guilty, guilty for the death of Sarita, indigna frente a su madre y su esposa. But she gives in and they make love. Upstairs, Martín plans to say goodnight to Sofía but then decides to let her sleep.

     Meanwhile, Oscar meets Ruth at a restaurant. He tells her that he doesn’t know how to treat her. Ruth asks him if he could love her; he says no. Although he is not and never has been in love with anybody else, something he can’t explain prevents him from thinking of her as anything other than a sister. Does that offend her? Ruth says no. She offers a toast to their friendship and whatever the future holds in store for them.

     The maid sees Juan leave Sofia’s room and goes to Eva. Eva tells her to keep quiet, that if she talks there will be a scandal.

     Backstage at the club, Rosario tells Armando that she will resign if he buys the bar. Armando tells her she should separate the personal from the economic, as he is doing, that he will leave the road free for Franco, although he will never stop loving her. [He seems sure that she will return to him]. Franco enters and Armando leaves.

At the Elizondo home, Leandro and Gabriela return with Ximena. Oscar tells Franco not to show his face. Leandro very gently accompanies Ximena to her room. Fernando asks Gabriela how Ximena is; Gabriela says “the same”. He asks her to rest, not to overtire herself. Then Ximena throws a fit, destroying furniture in her room. The next day, Leandro and Gabriela discuss the fit of the night before. Leandro says he doesn’t want to break the engagement. He is sure she will recover. Upstairs, he tries to comfort Ximena, tells her that Franco is a nobody who doesn’t deserve her, that there will be more and better loves in her life. Ximena says “Leandro, I want to be alone”; when he refuses to leave her to her thoughts, she throws a vase at him. He realizes that things are worse than he thought and flees the room.

     At the dinner table, Martín says that Ximena is getting worse. Two weeks have passed and she does nothing but cry all day. She neither speaks nor eats. Raquel says they must do something. Fernando insists that she must be committed and Sofia agrees; Gabriela continues to refuse. Leandro says that he feels like a widower before he is a husband, that she is no longer the sweet, young woman he knew. Gabriela leaves the dinner table and Fernando follows. She feels derrotaded: Sarita lost, Sofia unwilling to accept her advice, Ximena desquiciada. Fernando tells her that if she really wants to help Ximena, she must permit them to commit her. She, worn out, agrees. Outside, construction of the apartment is proceeding awfully slowly. Oscar explains to Fernando that it has rained a lot, but Fernando says he no longer cares, that he will probably never occupy the apartment anyways, for reasons he won’t explain, that it is time to stop the construction. When asked about Ximena, he says they are going to commit her. He tells them that their days working for the family are numbered. Oscar is upset, sits on the stairs of the house and exchanges looks with Eva, then focuses on a flower. Upstairs, Gabriela packs for Ximena and tells Martín that she is more or less tranquil. Martín tells her that part of the fault is hers, that she has been much too hard with her daughters. He says that her love is real and excuses her faults to some degree but that it is a selfish, possessive love. She says nothing in return. Later, the maid sees Oscar enter Ximena’s room and tells Eva what she has seen. Eva says she will tell Gabriela

     Oscar offers a flower to Ximena; she tells him that flowers have thorns. He assures her that this one doesn’t. He tells her that she shouldn’t suffer for his brother, that he didn’t mean to hurt her. She says that everything was a lie, even the words in the letters he didn’t write. Oscar says they weren’t lies: that she is pretty, that her eyes reflect all the tenderness a man could want, that her lips tempt one to kiss them, that her face reflects all the illusions that are converted into reality [didn’t quite understand this part], that she deserves all the happiness in the world, a true love. Franco isn’t the only man in the world. He tells her that there is always somebody who will understand her worth, that she hasn’t lost Franco, he has lost her. He kisses her hand and leaves. [It is an incredibly tender scene.]. In the hall, Gabriela and Eva confront him and ask what he is doing there.

    

~ Summary #27 , Thur. 9/30 ~  Author: Ixchel (---)  Date:   10-01-99 04:17 PDT

     ~ Summary #27 , Thur. 9/30 ~

     Elizondo house - Oscar leaves Ximena's room & runs into a stark raving mad Gaby. Gaby screams at Oscar, "what the heck do you think you were doing? You have no right! blah blah blah!!!." Oscar know he's messed up & wants to explain that he just wanted to say goodbye to Ximena before they took her to the insane asylum. Gaby doesn't want to listen to him & continues screaming like a lunatic; Sofia comes to see what is happening, she tries to calm Gaby, Oscar continues apologizing, Gaby tells him that she doesn't want them in her house any longer, Sofia asks Oscar to go back outside...... Outside - Oscar is very upset & tells his brothers that it is all over, it's over now when he had just begun to do something good. They ask what he did & he tells them that Gaby found him out & threw them out. Juan is extremely angry that he's screwed up...... Sofia tries to calm Gaby, they go downstairs & she tells them she will call the architect right away to have the obreros thrown out. Sofia tries to intercede, but Eva tells Gaby to call the architect so that everything can be cleared up once & for all. Gaby starts to dial, but Ximena (carrying the rose Oscar gave her) tells Gaby from the top of the stairs to come talk to her. Gaby follows Ximena to her room & asks if Oscar's visit made her uneasy. Ximena tells her that Oscar told her things that made her feel much better, that he was very nice, that she feels much better, & that she will not go to any asylum. She goes to the mirror & tells her mom she needs to clean her self up & look better. She even smiles & Gaby can't believe her eyes & cries from happiness..... Franco tells Juan to control himself & to not make the situation any worse, Juan insists that he doesn't want to leave. Gaby walks towards them & tells them she needs to talk to them. She apologizes for being so harsh to Oscar, but explains that she had every right to feel that way for what he did. Juan agrees, Oscar tells her there's no need to fire them because they were already leaving. Gaby tells Oscar she is very thankful for speaking to Ximena, that she is doing better....... Ximena is in front of the mirror fixing herself up when Fernando, Sofia, grampa & Eva walk in. Fer asks if she is getting pretty for the asylum (what a jerk) because the ambulance will be here shortly. Ximena tells them she is not crazy & that she is better & wants to fix herself up... - - 3 days later - Raquelita is visiting & Gaby tells her of Ximena's miraculous recovery thanks to one of the obrero. They start talking about how god works in mysterious ways & when least expected, & are very thankful Ximena is back to normal. Ruth asks which obrero was the miracle worker & they tell her it was Oscar. Leandro joins them & tells them all he is very happy Ximena is back, that they just talked & it was great!

     On the bus home - Juan asks Oscar what he told Ximena; Oscar tells him he said everything he felt & that he doesn't even know why he dared talk to her. The bus stops & Franco gets off. Oscar comments that he wishes they would have been thrown out so that this meaningless charade be done with; that the only reason they stay there is because of Juan & Sofia.

     Sofia's room - Fernando tells Sofia it's time that they talk about their situation now. Sofia asks if he's in a rush to get separated; Fer points out that they have been separated for a long time already, that they are 2 strangers living under the same roof, & that he's nothing more than the family's accountant looking over the business. Fer insists they separate; Sofia tells him she doesn't want to hurt her mom with this because she's suffered enough already. Fer retorts that she wants to separate when ever she finally feels like it & that it's very disrespectful. He tells her all he has left is his pride & he has to defend it any way he can.

     Bar Alcala - Rosario is performing; Franco is in a front table enjoying the show when a man starts touching Rosario & won't let go. He jumps out of his seat & knocks that man down; there's a big mess & the "security guards" (los matones de Armandito) throw Franco a few punches as Armando enjoys the scene.... Armando goes into Rosario's dressing room demanding Franco respect his place of business, that he already lets him have a front table without buying anything, that he can't be having these street fights in his bar. He tells her Franco can keep on coming as long as Franco behaves...... Rosario tells Franco that Armando has every right to be angry, that this is his bar. Emilia tells franco that things like this happen in Rosario's profession. Franco tells Emi to mind her own business so she leaves them alone. Rosario tells him that Emilia is right, that things like that happen & that he is very immature to be the lover of an artist.....

     Elizondo house - Juan sees Franco's lower cheek has a punch bruise so he asks if he got into trouble with Rosario's friend again. Franco tells him it was somebody else & that this is his business only...... Inside - Oscar gives Gaby a list of the materials they have to buy this week. She tells him it's pretty long & isn't too happy. Oscar suggests that she talk with the architect if she is not pleased; she tells him she doesn't want to get them into trouble & asks if they can't work faster. He asks who they should listen to since Fer has told them to take their time so that it comes out perfect & she's telling them to hurry up. Ximena walks down the stairs, Gaby tells Oscar she won't discuss that so he finishes writing the list. He leaves. Ximena asks Gaby to let her see the list for a few minutes, that it's just out of curiosity, she goes up to her room to check the letter she got from Franco & compares the handwriting. Bingo!! He's the one that wrote them....... Changing room - Ximena walks in to tell Oscar she wants to talk to him later tonight where she used to meet with Franco...... Outside - Leandro tells grampa & Gaby that he has some kind of fashion business & how when he marries Ximena, he will enjoy fitting her with all his designs. Grampa sarcastically tells him all he wants is a mannequin! Ximena arrives & tells Leandro that she wants to go out later instead of right now, that she wants him to take her to the concert he told her about (wink wink). Gaby doesn't want to let her go, but gramps insists to let her go out like she used to, so she says yes.

     In the car - Leandro wants to know who Ximena will be meeting. She tells him she can't tell him yet & that if he spies on her she'll break off the engagement. He thinks it's Franco, but she keeps her mouth shut & drives her to the meeting place. She tells Leo that she is no longer interested in Franco, that she was in love with the letters he gave her.... She gets out, goes in the coffe shop & sees Oscar.

     Reyes house - Quintina is alone with a depressed Franco & she tells him it's funny how they're taking turns being sad; that last night Oscar & Juan were the ones sitting wher he is now & tonight it's he who's sitting there. Franco is annoyed by her.

     Coffe shop - Ximena is impressed by how Oscar looks when he's not in those dirty working clothes. He tells her he's happy she is much better so she thanks him for the words he told her, that they were like an injecting of spirit & life. She tells him his words were like the ones in Franco's letters & that she realized Oscar was the author. He tries to deny this, but she tells him about having compared his handwriting w/ the list he gave her mom earlier. Ximena gets to the point & tells him that she is here to ask if he & Franco got together & agreed to his little charade to make fun of her (I am so surprised by her level of maturity & guts!). Oscar turns a little pale.

     Alcala Bar - Fer pays a visit to his buddy Armando (where the deck did he get the money to buy the bar???) Armando gives fer the money he borrowed & fer is a bit surprised he paid off his debt. Fer tells him he will separate from Sofia, Armando notices he is depressed & suggests he meet some girls he has around. Armando takes him to the table to meet the pair of girls.

     Coffee shop - Oscar tries to explain that women & men see things & do things in a different way, that men tend to be more "realistic" while women are more into romance & dreams. He tells her Franco made a mistake & turned out to be different than what she had dreamed him out to be; that he is young & inexperienced. Ximena responds that he is even younger than Franco & asks if also thinks that women are objects that can be used & dropped at their leisure. Oscar tells her he is not like that at all; & that he really thought Franco was in love with her & wanted to help him out. Ximena tells him that those weren't Franco's thoughts; that those were his calculated words written to make fun of her. She gets a look of disgust across her face & tells him that he is even more guilty than Franco; that she wouldn't forgive him if he hadn't gone to talk to her that day because his words encouraged her & seemed sincere but they must have been coldly calculated just like the letter. She stands up & tells him they are dangerous people & never wants to see any of them in her house again. Oscar tells her to listen to him so she sits back down. He tells her she has every right to be angry, but swears that those weren't calculated words. He confesses that those words described what he was feeling because in order to write them he had to be inspired by her. "To be inspired by me, you'd have to be in love with me," she calmly replies without fully realizing what she just said. "It's possible that I am," he responds. She tells him to stop, but he goes on. "Franco wasn't interested in you, but I was. I still am, Ximena. It was the only way I could let my feelings for you out in the open. I knew that I couldn't fight against my own brother, especially since you only had eyes for him." Ximena doesn't believe him but Oscar tells her it's the truth & that she had to know it even if she hates him now for what happened. "I loved you Ximena; I loved you in silence & I had to be content with writing the love letters my brother would give you. Now that I have told you, I feel much better & I won't blame you if you want to never see me." Oscar gets up, leaves money for the drinks & leaves a speechless Ximena sitting at the table.

     Alcala - Fer & Armando are still sitting with the 2 teenagers as the blond kisses Fer but he doesn't respond. She kisses him again & he imagines she's Sofia telling him she loves him & wuold never leave his side. He opens his eyes & realises it was a dream, stops kissing the girl & leaves....... Rosario tells Emilia that Franco didn't come today because he must feel hurt. Rosario tells her that she loves his warmth & tenderness, but Emilia tells her he is just a little boy & that Armando was a better match. Rosario disagrees & tells her he is a big jerk, & that all she cares about now is Franco. Emi tells her not to worry, that Franco will come look for her.

     Elizondo house - Leandro takes Ximena home & is extremely curious to know who she met with. She doesn't want to tell him so he insists it must have been Franco or someone like him. She tells him that that's not true, that this guy is more intense just like the letters he writes. Leandro is more curious & tells her to be careful, but won't let her leave till she tells him who he is. It's Oscar, Leo can't believe his ears & Ximena quickly gets out....... Morning - Ximena goes to the terrace to stare at Oscar; he looks back at her & then Franco looks up & she gives him a nasty look & turns her face away & leaves.... Raquel, Ruth, Leo, Ben & Raquel's husband arrive for a visit. Martin & Gaby greet them. The husband can't remember who Martin is, but shakes his hand anyway. Ruth goes to the back to say hello to Oscar. He tells her she shouldn't be around here, but she tells him she wants to see him tomorrow. Leandro appears from around the corner & looks at them...... At lunch table - Raquel asks Ximena if that obrero really helped her get better; Ximena tells her is was more her will & desire to not be sick. Ben suggests that it could have been Oscar's visit & he tells them that he's heard how some people have healing powers by just looking at you. Gaby tells him to not to think Oscar has some kind of magical healing powers or that they could all be curious & go "try" him out. Leo tells her that the curiosity as already begun & that that's probably why Ruth was talking to him a few moments ago. Ruth is not happy by his snide remarks & quicky tells everyone that she just wanted one of them to fix the car since Benito hasn't had it little problem fixed. Gaby is surprised that Ruth would ask one of them this so she tells Sofia to go check if he knows what he's doing because she doesn't want their car to get messed up. Sofia goes outside & it's Juan who's the mechanic now. She asks him if he feels he can fix the problem & he says yes. She turns to leave, but he runs to her & grabs her arm. She gets mad & tells him not to be touching her 'cause someone might see them. Juan is desperate & tells her that if she doesn't see him he'll tell the whole world about them...... Nighttime - Sofia remembers Fer's words that he is leaving at the end of the month...... Ximena is out in the terrace remembering Oscar's words & asks if Oscar can truly be in love with her...

     Reyes house - Oscar wakes up & so does Juan. O asks about Franco & Juan tells him that he is probably with Rosario. O tells him that Franco has resolved to stay with Rosario just as Juan is crazy about Sofia; & now it seems that even he might fall into something similar even if all hell breakd loose.

    

 Summary #28 Fri 10/01/99  Author: Sue (---)  Date:   10-03-99 21:00 PDT

     Sofia shocks Gabriela by saying that she is going out alone. Meanwhile, Juan is getting ready to meet her when Oscar walks in. "You’re going to meet Sofia Elizondo. This relationship is dangerous." Oscar further comments about Franco and Rosario. Juan is angry and says something about Ximena. Oscar says that Franco let Ximena get away but he will not.

     Gabriela observes Sofia leaving and then joins the others at breakfast. She asks Fernando where he was last night. "Out. With friends." "Who?" "Armando Narvarro. I think I have the right to go out and enjoy myself." Fernando notes that Sofia has gone out alone. Martin says that she has seemed preoccupied lately and that she just needs to clear her head.

     Sofia takes a taxi and picks up Juan at an agreed-upon spot. Together they drive back to Juan’s house. He tells her "I want you to become acquainted with who I am." She looks around. "What was this place?" "A bakery. We were living here when we first came to this city. At first it was really hard…" Sofia asks him why they are working in construction now. Juan comes up with an excuse. "We thought it would pay more. But I’d like to go back to my old job here." He pours his heart out to Sofia: "I don’t have any money. I don’t have a bright future. I don’t feel as smart and as capable as my brothers. I’m just a man who loves his family and works for it—one who has to brace himself to go forward…My greatest fortune has been to meet you…I live in reality…all I have are these hands. That’s who I am." Sofia is touched by his honesty. He asks her if she would go away with him if she were to separate from Fernando. "Can you live with me with the way that I am? Or am I just a plaything to you?" Quintana interrupts and Juan tells her to go away.

     Franco brings two bags of groceries to Rosario’s room. "Put them in the kitchen." Franco notes that Rosario seems kind of down. She feels that she isn’t really part of his life. "You never tell me about your brothers." "I never thought it was important." He tells her that she is his life and says that they should marry. Rosario laughs. "You’re not in any position economically to marry. And I’m simply not ready."

     Martin and Raquel are on the terrace watching Ximena and Leandro walking through the gardens. Raquel says that watching people in love reminds you of your own youth and how the world was "color de rosa." Ximena explains that Oscar wrote the letters because he is actually in love with her. Leandro doesn’t believe it for a minute and tells her that Oscar is just toying with her. She says that Oscar is more bold and more intelligent than Franco. She asks Leandro to continue being her accomplice.

     Ruth and Oscar are out in a rowboat on a pond in the park. Ruth tells him that she could love a man like him. "Am I making you nervous?" "You do when you say things like that." "I’m deeply in love with you. [Note: She is still calling him "usted".] I like your voice and the way you move." She asks about Ximena and what he was doing in her room . "I only went in there to comfort her." They talk some more and both look down into the water. Oscar has a flashback to when they found Libia drowned.

     Juan asks Sofia if she is willing to give up all the luxuries and her lifestyle for a simple man like him. She tells him that the sacrifice is worth it. Quintana comes in with coffee and asks if they want anything else. Sofia tells her not to worry and she leaves. Sofia tells Juan that she doesn’t love Fernando and she will be separated from him soon. "I’m willing to leave everything behind for you." Juan tells her that he will do anything to make her happy. They kiss.

     When Sofia returns home Gabriela chews her out for being gone all day without any explanation. She reminds Sofia that she is a married woman. Fernando comes in and drops a bomb: "We’ll be separated soon and I’ll be leaving." Gabriela: "But you can’t leave. You’re practically the head of this house. I don’t want you to leave." "I can’t stand this whole situation. It doesn’t make sense for me to stay here. I’m going to pack." Sofia asks him to wait. He tells her that he’s already said everything he needs to say to her. "It’s over." Sofia faints.

     Oscar is seated at the kitchen table at home. He has a flashback to happier times with Libia. Quintana comes in and makes some comments about Rosario. Oscar tells her she has no right to call Rosario such things even though he does it himself. Quintana then tells him about Juan’s girlfriend: "So pretty and distinguished—like someone you would see in the newspaper." Oscar becomes enraged and goes to Juan. "How could you bring Sofia to our home?" The two get into a fight and Franco arrives home and breaks it up.

     The next day the brothers arrive for work and Eva tells them that Sofia is sick and the family has sent for the doctor. Juan looks worried. Ximena and Martin are eating breakfast and Ximena comments that Sofia shouldn’t be this ill from a simple fight with Fernando. Martin says he feels bad for Fernando and that a separation is inevitable. Gabriela comes downstairs at that point and goes over to Fernando. She tries to assure him that it’s nothing serious. He insists that when she is out of danger, he will leave. The doctor comes downstairs and tells the family what’s wrong with Sofia: "She’s pregnant."

     Ximena goes in to congratulate Sofia. Meanwhile Gabriela finds Fernando outside. "Are you all right?" "How do you expect me to feel? I’m about ready to leave her and I find this out." "Let’s be frank Fernando. How can this happen when you keep saying that your marriage hasn’t been consummated?" "It happened that night and by force. It was the result of my rage at being rejected all the time." "In any case, it’s your child. This changes everything. You can’t leave now."

     Ximena is fixing Sofia’s hair and chatting with Eva about how happy she is because she’s going to be an aunt. Gabriela comes in and asks the two of them to leave so she can talk with Sofia. Gabriela tells her that the child is innocent and cannot be blamed for its parents problems. "But I don’t love Fernando." "You have no right to deprive the child of its father. You have no right to be so selfish." Outside, Fernando glances over at the brothers working on his apartment.

     Fernando runs into Martin in the hallway. He hands Fernando a celebratory cigar. "Why do have that look on your face? You’d think someone had died." "You know very well the state of my relationship with Sofia." Martin, who had welcomed the idea of a separation, changes his tune. "Fernando for the sake of the child and the family you have to reconcile." Gabriela comes downstairs and says that Sofia is fine. Fernando goes up to see Sofia. "What are we going to do now?"

     In the changing room Franco tells Juan to calm down—Sofia is all right. "I know but I’m still worried." He goes outside and speaks to one of the maids who spills the beans. Shocked, he walks around the corner and sees Sofia on the balcony. She sees him and then quickly goes into the house.

     That night Fernando is out with Armando and one of his proteges. Armando says they are going to celebrate the good news. At home Raquel, Ruth, and Leandro are visiting. Martin says that he thinks it’s great that he’ll be a great-grandfather. Ruth wants to congratulate the happy couple. Gabriela tells her some other time because "Sofia is asleep and Fernando has gone out for the evening." Raquel comments that his place is beside his wife.

     At a restaurant Armando explains to his lady friend that Fernando is having problems with his marriage so the time isn’t exactly right for a baby. Fernando chides him for discussing his private matters with this stranger. He then says that he should be getting on home. Armando calls him a wet blanket ("aguafiestas"). Fernando thanks him for the good time and leaves.

     Eva goes into Sofia’s room to check on her and finds her still up. Sofia says that perhaps she’ll live in a small house without luxuries or servants to wait on her and she’ll do all the cooking herself. "I’m going to leave home. I have to be with the father of my child." Eva tells her that that is madness. "What kind of future will you have with Juan Reyes? How about your baby’s future? It would cause such a scandal and would devestate your mother and Fernando. You have to be practical." "How would you know? You’ve never experienced my situation." " You may not think so but I know." She talks about a sacrifice that she made and reminds Sofia that she has to do what’s best for the child.

    

~ ~ Summary # 30, Tues. 10/05 ~ ~  Author: Ixchel (---)  Date:   10-06-99 16:34 PDT

     Savanna - Ximena is outside standing along the road that leads to the house waiting to see if Oscar shows up today. Emiliano, the caretaker, walks by her & asks if she's waiting for someone. She tells him she's just waiting for her boyfriend & that she wasn't sure what day he would come.

     On the road - Oscar took a taxi & gives the driver the directions to the Savanna.

     Elizondo house - Raquel, Ruth & Leandro once again are having another meal at the Elizondo house. Raquel comments that they must all be feeling very lonely without the girls here. Gaby agrees that they are very missed. Raquel asks Fernando if he will go visit Sofia, he says no because he doesn't want to bother her. Leo tells them all he will go visit Ximena tomorrow & with Raquelita. Raquel tells him she's too old to be making such long day trips so he asks Ruth if she wants to come along, unless she has other plans. Ruth tells him she doesn't want to go, so Leo starts saying that a friend of his has seen her with some guy no one has met before. Raq asks Ruth who this guy is so Ruth tells her he's just a friend & that when that special person comes along, she'll be the first one to tell her so that se won't hear it from <chismosos> like some people she knows. Ruth takes Leo outside & tells him to stop bothering her or she'll open her mouth about the things she knows about him. Leo tells her he knows she's after one of the obreros & should have more respect for herself.

     Savanna - Sofia & Ximena are in the living room enjoying the early evening. Sofia tells Ximena she seems nervous, Ximena tells her it's just that she wishes there were more to do here & that the days have gone by really slow. Sofia suggests she go back to the city, but Ximena tells her she won't leave her alone & Gaby would never forgive her for that.

     Elizondo's - Fer walks into Sofia's room, picks up her nightgown & brings it to his nose to smell her scent. Gaby walks in & they talk about how much he misses her. He assures her that they will most likely separate, but Gaby insists they won't. Fer tells her that without love there is nothing, she hugs him.

     Savanna - Sofia tells Ximena that at first she used to dislike Fernando very much, but with time she's seen that he really cares about her. Now she only feels <pena> (pity?) for him. Ximena tells her she should just try to be happy with him, so Sofia confesses that she's in love with another man. Ximena is shocked & points out that she never goes out, so how can this be? Sofia tells her that she is in love with this other man & that although they've been here for 2 weeks she still doesn't know what to do; and that she is expecting some sort of sign to guide her in the right direction.... Outside, Oscar arrives & tells Fatima (caretaker's daughter) to tell Ximena a friend is here.... Fatima tells Ximena a man is here looking for her. Sofia asks who it is, he just said a friend, & assumes it's Leandro. Ximena tells her she will go greet him outside..... Ximena grabs a lantern & is happy to see Oscar came.... Sofia asks Fatima why they didn't come inside, Fatima tells her they stayed outside near the stables..... Oscar tells Ximena that he came to se her & to talk. Ximena doesn't want to stay near the house so they start walking..... Time passes, Emiliano asks Sofia if she wants dinner. Sofia tells him she's waiting for Ximena & Leandro. He tells her they're not where they were, so Sofia tells him she'll go look for them.... Ximena tells Oscar that she knows he is not in love with her & just wants to play with her like Franco did. Oscar tells her that's not true & asks if she didn't believe those letters. He starts telling her all these romantic things that flow like a poem. He asks her if she ever gave herself to Franco, she says no & starts to run. It's pretty dark out there & Oscar can't see Ximena even with the help of the lantern. Ximena continues walking & walking & Oscar continues looking for her..... Sofia is now worried that Ximena & Leandro are still out there. Fatima tells her the man came without a car. Emiliano volunteers to go look for them..... Oscar continues looking for Ximena till he comes to the pond & spots her on the other side of it. She starts taking her clothes off & screams that she's never been with anybody but wants to try. Oscar follows suit & starts undressing..... Sofia is extremely worried now & tells Fatima she doesn't like their disappearance one bit..... Emiliano continues searching..... Sofia tells Fatima that although Leandro & Ximena will get married, they shouldn't be doing this.... Ximena & Oscar are in the pond (they're the ones shown in the opening credits!) swimming & touching each other. (These scenes were done really good. They don't show any action, per se, but do manage to show the passion these 2 are sharing. They make it look very romantic.) ...... Fatima tells Sofia they must be in love, Sofia supposes they are. Fatima asks her if she is in love, Sofia says yes & starts telling her what love is to her - letting yourself open up, giving yourself completely, letting yourself emerge into this magical dream, but then you have to wake up.... Oscar & Ximena continue their passionate encounter in the pond, more cool scenes.....

     Elizondo's - The camera shifts from Ximena & Oscar to Gaby screaming Ximena's name after a nightmare while she had dozed off on the sofa. She calls for Ewa, but the other maid tells her she went to bed already. Gaby tells her she is worried about her daughters & will go with Leandro tomorrow to visit them.

     Savanna - Oscar & Ximena get out of the pond & sit nearby to talk about what they just did. She asks him if he still loves her; he says yes & then asks her the same question. She says yes & is glad she never had given herself to anyone before this. She tells him she's fallen in love with him, with his words, with what he is. They start kissing each other...... Emiliano goes back to the main house without the couple so Sofia is now even more worried & anxious. She tells them that this in not typical for Leo, unless it's not Leo. So she asks Fatima to describe the man. Fatima describes him & Sofia realizes it's not Leandro so she decides to go look for them herself. She walks and walks (it's a big place) until she is near the pond & stumbles upon men's clothing. She walks a few more steps & sees Ximena & Oscar cuddled together sleeping. Sofia is SHOCKED in horror and runs from the scene & starts crying in disbelief, she can't believe this is happening...... Morning - Oscar & Ximena walk back & asks her when they will see each other again, that he doesn't want to be without her. She tells him it all depends on Sofia. They kiss & say good bye. Ximena goes to the house and tries enters the living room slowly & quietly, but she sneezes. Sofia opens the door, coldly stares at her & gives her a nasty slap across the face. Ximena falls on the cough & grabs her cheek. Ximena tries to explain what happened but Sofia tells her she saw everything. They both start crying & Sofia tells her she can't judge her since she herself is in a similar position. S tells her she will not mention a word of this to anybody, that Ximena has to make her own decision, but that they will not stay here any longer. Sofia also tells her she has now made up her mind on what she will do with her life.... Sofia goes outside to tell Emiliano & Fatima to not say a word of what happened yesterday to anyone.

     On the street - Rosario tells Franco she is happy they will finally get a peaceful afternoon out in the countryside. She tells him Alfredo (the guitar player) volunteered to take them. Franco isn't thrilled with the idea of going with Alfredo & Emilia, "why can't we just be alone & go to a local park?" he whines. Rosario tells him she doesn't want to go to a crowded park, & that they can't go anywhere else because they don't have a car. "If you had a car things would be different," she tells him. F: "No, I don't have a car. I don't have anything. I thought my love was enough." R: "Well, sometimes love isn't enough, is it?" (I think their magic is disappearing fast!!)

     Reyes house - Juan continues to clean up the bakery section of the house. Quintina tells him he's been working very had to get this place clean again. She tells him Oscar is back & went to bed. He charges into the room to wake him up & demands to let him know where he was all night. Oscar tells him he spent the night with Ximena & that she is now in his hands & he was able to do what the 2 of them didn't. Juan just looks at him speechless. (The comment by Oscar makes it seem he was just interested in getting her for the revenge thing, but I still don't know what to make of it!)

     Elizondo's - Gaby calls Leandro to tell him to pick her up to go to the Savanna. She tells Martin & Fernando that she's had nightmares about Ximena being in trouble & needs to be with her.

     Savanna - Sofia is outside sitting under a tree. Ximena walks to her & tells her she needs to talk with her. Sofia doesn't have anything to tell her, but Ximena tells her she feels guilty that she pushed Sofia to make a premature decision. Sofia asks her when she started sleeping with Oscar, Ximena explains last night was their first night together. And that her engagement with Leandro is a farce. Sofia tells her she can't believe she doesn't know her own sister after so many years of living together, & tells her she will not reprimand her for her actions. All she tells her is she hopes she is not making a mistake she might later regret & to be sure of what she is doing.

     Countryside - Rosario & Alfredo are singing/playing guitar as Franco is sitting with Emilia. He does not have a happy face (jeez this guy has become such a sourpuss and a grouch!!) as he sees those 2 singing and really enjoying themselves. Rosario sees how miserable Franco looks so she walks over to him. Mr. whiner complains that he believes her friends are more important to her than he is, & complains that she has changed. Rosario tells him he's the one that's changed, that he just spends his days without ambition, without the desire to better himself, still living with his brothers, & not doing anything to better his life. They argue & he brings up Armando Navarro's name, they get mad at each other & she walks away.

     La Savanna - Gaby & Leandro arrive. Sofia tells Gaby they were just waiting for them to arrive to go back home. Leo tells Ximena she is very quiet so Sofia explains that Ximena isn't feeling well. Fatima butts in to say it was because she stayed up very late. Sofia gives her an "I told you to not mention this to anybody" look & immediately explains that Ximena was bored last night & went out for a late evening walk. Leo tells Ximena to go take a walk with him. Gay asks Sofia if she's ok. Sofia tells her she's at peace with herself & with her conscience & wants to get home as soon as possible..... On the way back to Bogota, Ximena sneezes a lot from the cold she caught.

     -Elizondo's - Gaby joins Grampa, Fer & Sofia after making sure Ximena is in bed upstairs. Sofia tells Gaby not to worry so much about Ximena, that she'll be fine. Sofia tells Fernando that she has made up her mind to not get a divorce; Gaby is thrilled & Fer is surprised....

Sofia's room - Fer asks Sofia if she thought about him or just about the baby. She just tells him her conscience decided everything...... Sofia tells Juan that her conscience decided everything, that she decided to stay married, that she weighed her obligations against her love for him & that her obligations weighed more. Juan is mad & tells her he'll go crazy without her. She tells him she has to stay with Fernando & can't leave her family knowing that Ximena is now involved with Oscar. That she has to break off their relationship because she needs to be by her mom's side when Ximena's bomb explodes. That Gaby would not take the news well and that after all she's been through she wouldn't be able to handle a double blow. She walks away & turns to tell him that she hopes the construction job is over soon so that it won't be tortuous to know he's out there. She leaves & Juan grabs the chair & hits it across the room. He storms out of the room to look for Oscar. Franco tells him Oscar went home because he had a cold. Juan responds, "in a little bit, he'll have much more than a little cold!"

    

Summary #31 - Wednesday, 10/6/99  Author: dd (---)  Date:   10-06-99 23:26 PDT

     Juan fights with Oscar in the bakery and Quentina, trying to intervene, gets covered in flour. Juan tells Oscar that he doesn’t care for anybody but as a result of his intrigue, Juan has lost the woman he really loves.

     Leandro and Ximena argue in the car. He refuses to leave her alone with Oscar because he doesn’t trust him and he doesn’t want her to have another crisis. He tells her to take it or leave it or he will tell her mother because he doesn’t like this relationship.

     Franco and Juan talk before he leaves to see Rosario. Franco says that sometimes Rosario demonstrates a character he can’t stand, that he must do something with his life or lose her. Juan says he’s lost Sofia because of Oscar’s greed and he hates the Elizondo house.

     In the restaurant, Ximena tells Oscar she can’t get rid of Leandro or he will tell her family. Oscar says he will take care of Leandro.

     Sofia walks in on the praying Gabriela who tells her how content she is with her decision. Sofia asks if she is happy with Ximena. Yes, does Sofia knows something? She says no. Sofia asks if they can stop constructing the apartment, that the workers make her nervous, that Ximena will leave the house when she marries so the apartment isn’t necessary. Gabriela says it would be foolish to stop now.

     Oscar invites Leandro to their table and asks him if he distrusts him so. Leandro says yes. Oscar says that he is more honest, more direct, and really loves Ximena. Oscar says he is willing to let Leandro marry Ximena. Leandro says that Oscar is much more dangerous than Franco. But Oscar says that he understands the social situation and will be content to be her lover; any sacrifice is worthwhile, not to lose her. He will consider Leandro an ally.

     In a letter to Ximena later, he says what he told Leandro was partly true, partly false. That they have to pretend for a while, that he wants to marry her, does not want to share her. Gabriela enters Ximena’s room and says they must talk seriously of her marriage to Leandro.

     At the dinner table, Raquel, Gabriela, Fernando, Leandro, Martín, even Ruth want her to set a date. Ximena says she would like to wait, to arrange a big party. They discuss the matter and Ruth promises a big party after the wedding.

     Leandro tells Ximena that Ruth hates him (he calls her the “mosquito muerto”) and that she is going after Oscar, too. Just then, they see her talking to Oscar. Ruth asks him where he lives. He refuses to tell her, warns her that they are being watched. Ruth tells him that Leandro and Ximena will marry within a month. Leandro kisses Ximena’s hand.

     At the Bar Alcala, while Rosario sings, Papita praises her to Emilia and Franco (wonderful voice, figure, legs, etc.) ...except for comments about her age and her much younger lover! Papita says that when one’s heart is happy all goes well, such is it with her. Armando is so sweet, so strong, takes her to the clouds, because he is an hombre de verdad. She is so happy. Rosario ends her song and Armando throws a rose at her. Afterwards, in a car, Emilia and Franco say that Papita is certainly Armando’s new lover. Rosario crushes the flower.

     At the house, Eva tells Sofia it hurts her to see her so sad. Sofia says she has begun to doubt her decision, that it won’t be easy to continue the deception. Eva tells her that if she really knew Juan, she wouldn’t doubt her decision, that once the workers leave the house, she may tell her something. Sofia says that won’t end the relationship, not because of her or Juan but because of Ximena, but she can say nothing else.

     In the restaurant, Ximena and Leandro talk about Ruth and Oscar. Ximena doesn’t believe him. Leandro says that Oscar is just like Franco, playing with them both. Oscar arrives and Leandro leaves them alone. Walking outside, they argue about Ruth. Oscar insists that he and Ruth are only friends. Ximena says he got what he wanted because she wanted it, and she can leave him too. She walks away, gets in the car and tells Leandro she will marry him...tomorrow.

     Ruth and Ximena talk about Oscar. Ruth says she is very attracted to him, that it is more than simple curiousity, but she doesn’t know if it is love. Yet he wants nothing more than a friendship and has rejected her kisses. She only knows she has to find out what the attraction is that makes Oscar look at her so tenderly but run away when they get close. [I don’t understand this since she now knows that she reminds him of his dead sister.]

     Oscar visits Ximena in the dressing room and they kiss. She asks him to pardon her. He tells her that he loves her with all his soul, that he is afraid he will lose her, that he will have nothing to do with her if she marries Leandro or any other man. It is all or nothing. Ximena says she has an idea.

     At the car, Sofia agrees to go out with Fernando when she sees Juan watching them. She kisses him and hugs him goodbye.

     Sofia confronts Oscar coming out of the dressing room, followed by Ximena. Sofia tells her that she is playing with fire and can get burned, that she must make a decision. Ximena says she has made a decision and Sofia will know it soon.

     In their home, the brothers talk. Juan says they have achieved their vengeance and been victims of that same vengeance: that they are in part responsible for Sarita’s death, which Franco denies, that in any case they have upset the whole household. Juan says he has given up Sofia and that Oscar must do the same with Ximena. Oscar says there is no reason why he should, that nobody can stop him. Juan says that he will, that they wll leave the house but first he will confront the family and tell them the truth. Franco agrees they should leave but doesn’t want to reveal the truth. Juan insists.

     At dinner, Fernando talks about their plans for the evening. Leandro waxes eloquent about the opera. Eva seeks Ximena and finds her packing some clothes, “for the church” she says. She refuses to go out with Leandro because she is tired. Then the family hears a loud noise. The apartment has completely collapsed.

     The next morning, Gabriela can’t get hold of the architect, nor have they a way to contact the brothers. Eva goes up to Ximena’s room, finds it empty and the letter from Oscar. Downstairs, Leandro is insisting that they call a lawyer. Eva asks to see Leandro, tells him that she thinks Ximena has left the house and takes him up to Ximena’s room, where he investigates and finds the address of a church.

     Diane

    

Summary #32, Thur. 10/7 PART 1  Author: Ixchel (---)  Date:   10-08-99 03:28 PDT

~ Summary # 32, Thurs. 10/07/99 ~

     Elizondo House - Leandro finds the address of the church where Ximena & Oscar are to get married.

     Outside Church - Oscar asks Ximena if she is ready for te step they're about to take, she says yes & explains that it's difficult inspite of what happened last night. Oscar asks what happened last night & she tells him about the apartment walls colapsing. Oscar can't believe it.

     Part 1 (sorry guys, I didn't have enough time to write all of it. The 2nd half will be written by Friday evening!)

     Elizondo house - Juan & Franco arrive & see the mess of the fallen walls. Grampa greets them & sarcastically tells them to look at the great walls they built. Franco wants to get the heck out of there, but Juan stops him from running & insists they will face this problem together.

     Church - The couple is waiting for the hour that the priest will marry them. They talk about how they both had to get up really early to leave their houses without getting noticed. They decide to walk in as Leo arrives honking his car like a mad man. He screams at them & asks if they think they're going to get away with this.

     Elizondo house - Juan & Franco walk towards the house, Fer greets them & tells them to go in. (franco has a look of horror on his face!)

     Church - Ximena tells Leo he has no tight over her to tell her what to do with her life. He starts insulting Oscar & calls him a poor loser. He grabs her to take her to the house, Ximena walks with him to tell him to let her do what hse wants, that she never intended to marry him because she doesn't love him. He argues that he will not let her do this to him because they are engaged & he needs to get married to get the money from his aunt. Ximena tells him he can find somebody else to marry & his aunt will still give him the part of the inheritance. She tells him she will not marry him & will not be an ornament. She wants a real man she loves. Leo threatens to talk to the priest, but Ximena tells him she has made up her mind. Oscar tells her that they should go inside. Leo tells them they will not get away with this & that he will force her to marry him even if by force! He makes more threats & leaves in his car as Ximena & Oscar walk into the church & down the aisle.

     Elizondo house - Sofia asks Eva if she is sure Ximena left the house since she didn't take all her clothes. Eva asks what else could it be since she can't find her anywhere on the property. Eva tells Sofia she hasn't said a word to Gaby because things are already difficult. Sofia tells her to not say a word because Ximena has made up her mind & they have to respect it. Sofia goes to her room because she doesn't want to be in the argument with the obreros. Eva tells her she will go downstairs to face the situation..... Gaby asks Juan & Franco what type of materials they were using for the walls to have fallen like they did. She is extremely angry!! Martin tells them they must have only used sand. Fer tells them they are criminals & that those walls should have fallen on them. Juan tells them it's normal that this happened since they lack experience in contruction & had no clue on how to continue the rest of the work. Gaby asks how they can say this so calmly & screams that they are a bunch of frauds instead of the professionals she believed them to be. Juan tells her that if she calms down, he will explain in detail what happened. Eva interrupts & says she has to start explaining since she was the one that let them into the house. Juan shuts her up, but she tells them she is involved. Dorita enters to tell gaby the architect is here, Gaby tells her to let him in. The architect walks in very calmy & oblivious to all that's happened. Martin tells him he should be more worried due to what his obreros did. The architect tells them he never hired these guys because he was told Gaby did not want to continue with that project, & that Eva told him Gaby didn't want to go ahead with it. He demands an explanation since he was never involved with the project. Everybody is in shock & disbelief. Fer asks what all this means & what is going on here. Gaby tells Eva she owes her an explanation. Juan interrupts & tells her Eva will not say anything, that he came here to explain what really happened. Leandro comes in running to tell Gaby that they have to go with him because Ximena is about to marry Oscar. (The look of terror/horror on Gaby's face is priceless!!) .... Gaby goes to her room to get her coat & screams that thisis not possible, that Ximena cannot be doing this to her. Sofia walks in & asks what is going on with the construction problem. Gaby explains the construction problem is the least of her worries now, & that Leo has told them Ximena is about to marry Oscar, & that she has to help her stop Ximena. Sofia boldly tells her she will not go because she doesn't want to interfere in her sister's life & problems. Gaby is in disbelief, she tells Juan & Franco to stay here or she will throw them in jail, Juan tells her they aren't cowards & will wait for her, she leaves with Leo & Fer. Eva asks Juan if they knew about Oscar's plans, they don't answer so she takes that as a yes, she tells them they're "canayas" & could not have cause more harm than what they've already done, that they're insane. Franco tells Oscar he doesn't want to stay, that he had insisted they leave the house long ago but they didn't listen, Juan tells him he is not going anywhere. Grampa strolls in & asks Eva what types of men she let into their house that have done all this.

     Inside the church - The father gives the final blessing & Oscar & Ximena hold hands.

     Reyes house - Rosario pays a visit & asks Quintina where Franco is. She explains that she was worried about him since he didn't go see her last night. Quintina doesn't like Roario & lets her know about it. Rosario asks her to tell Franco she was here & leaves.

     Elizondo house - Franco is scared they will get sent to jail & won't be able to tell Rosario. Juan tells Eva that he knows her intentions at first were good & they won't implicate her in any of this. Sofia walks in & asks eva to leave. She tells Juan they don't have to stay, that they should leave. Juan tells her they will not run like rats & asks if she is worried he'll say anything about thier relationship. He tells her not to worry , that he wouldn't do such a thing. He tells her he will not leave, & wants to know what happened with his selfish brother Oscar. He tells her he resents him because she decided to end their relationship because of him & will always love her.

     Church - The happy couple walks out of the church & kiss as Gaby, Fer & Leo arrive & get out of the car. Ximena is terrified & holds onto Oscar who stands strong.

Gaby: Do me the favor of letting go of that man!!!

     Ximena: Why should I??

     G: I am your mother & I am ordering you! (Gaby pulls Ximena from Oscar's arms) You will never see him again! You will NEVER talk to him again for the rest of your life!! You will forget about him & you will forget why you came here!

     Oscar: The reason is already a fact, we just got married.

     G: That is not true!!!

     O: (shows her the wedding ring on his finger) We just did it.

     G: I don't believe it!

     X: You have to believe him mom, it's true. (she shows her her wedding ring) Oscar is my husband. (Gaby throws her a nastry SLAP across the face that knocks Ximena into Oscar's arms)

     O: Do not hit my wife!! You have no right!!

     Gaby tries to go give Oscar a few punches but Fer holds her back. He insults him & tells Ximena she has gone completely insane.

     Elizondo house - Martin tells Sofia Ximena must be crazy & must have gone back into her illness, that this must be some sort of joke. Sofia tells him it's all true, that Ximena had been seeing Oscar for some time, that she found out about them at the savanna. Martin tells her Gaby must be extrememly angry.

     Church - Gaby continues her insults & screaming at Oscar. Leo says that if it's true they got married, it should be annulled & can't believe Ximena did such a crazy thing. Oscar tells him to go ahead & try! Gaby calls him a miserable. Fer tries to calm her down & points out that they are creating a spectacle out in the street. Fer tells Oscar & Ximena they have to go back to the house with them, Oscar tells him they have other plans, but fer gets mad & grabs him by the tie & insists they go with them.

     Elizondo house - Juan tells Franco that Oscar doesn't love anybody & is just interested in the money, that he must be in heaven now that he thinks he will be rich. Eva walks in to warn them they are all here.... Gaby grabs Ximena & tells Martin & Sofia to go inside with them, that they all have to be present to discuss this situation......

 

 Summary # 32, Thurs. 10/07 ~ PART 2  Author: Ixchel (---)  Date:   10-11-99 14:48 PDT

     Sorry for the delay - I have a cold & was sick all weekend! And there was so much juicy dialogue I just had to include it all!!

     Elizondo house - Juan tells Franco that Oscar doesn't love anybody & is just interested in the money, that he must be in heaven now that he thinks he will be rich. Eva walks in to warn them they are all here.... Gaby grabs Ximena & tells Martin & Sofia to go inside with them, that they all have to be present to discuss this situation......

     G: Everything started when we wanted to build an apt for Fer & Sofia; We talked with the architect, came to an agreement & left for the Savanna. I left Eva in charge & was sure she would carry out her orders because I trusted her completely. But what happened? 3 men entered my home, 3 individuals Eva inexplicably hired on her own after telling the architect I didn't want his services. Eva!! Please explain your actions!

     E: What I have to say is extremely difficult, but I don't know how to begin since it's not all like Gaby believes. This situation began months before, not the night they came in. (Fer tells her to take her time to explain everything she knows. Oscar gets up.)

     O: She shouldn't be the one to tell the story. That's something for one of us, & I'm going to start speaking.

     G: You shut up! You big fraud/liar!!

     O: I'm not shutting up & please do not insult me because we all deserve respect. We didn't come to aggravate things, but to clear this whole mess up. In the first place, my brothers & I are not frauds or nothing of the sort. Even if we're from the country & don't belong to this city's oligarchy, one day we had it all & we were as respectable as you or any other person in your social circle. We had great parents; they were healthy & honest, not bad. People that      worried about giving us, their sons, the best education. People don't get educated just in the

cities or abroad, there is also culture in the countryside in case you didn't know it. But one day, we lost it all; they killed our parents & we had to run from our lands & never go back because of the constant threats. We arrived in this city by force with our hearts full of resentment & our hands empty. (He turns to Juan) Or is it not like this, Juan? (Juan nods). We were used to defending ourselves honestly so we started to work in the bakery Juan set up with great effort, but unfortunately it didn't give us the results we wanted. It was then that we got the idea of working in construction. We passed in front of this house and the opportunity came to us by accident. We entered the house mistakenly as we talked to Eva we realized she had taken us for the obreros that were supposed to start working here. We made her believe we were the ones she was expecting & she believed us.

     Eva: Oscar, you can't say that.

     O: You believed us Eva; we lied to you & you didn't find out the truth until some days later when we had already began the job. Naturally, Eva was about to throw us out, but we moved her with our words & we convinced her to let us go on with the construction. (Franco stops Juan from moving) That's why Eva lied to the architect, because she trusted in our good faith - and we had it! We had the good faith & believed that we could build that apartment without thinking that one day the walls would fall down. Lamentably, we failed in our calculations. (Juan can't contain himself)

     Juan: You're not telling the truth, don't be a coward & confess what really happened!!

     Franco: Juan please! Oscar is telling the truth, what do you want him to say?

     J: Both of you are against me! You're pants are shaking & you don't dare reveal the truth!!

     O: You are the one that's against us!! (Juan starts moving towards Oscar)

     Gaby: Be very careful with what you're about to do! Remember that you're in MY house & you must maintain composure. Here you may not scream or fight with your brothers!

     J: You can't trust in what Oscar is telling you!

     G: If you want to know, out of the 3 of you, you're the one who I trust the least & I wouldn't believe 1 word from you so I'll only let your 2 brothers speak!

     O: You better calm down & let me speak without interruptions! You know perfectly that I'm telling the truth!

     Leandro: Who cares if you're telling the truth- you just admitted you are impostors & took advantage of Eva's good will!. I say we must sue them & send them directly to jail!

     Fernando: At this moment, the construction is the least of our concerns in front of the severity of this gentleman's marriage to Ximena.

     G: You're right Fernando. What importance do some fallen walls have, when the life of my daughter & my family is in jeopardy here. We will talk about that absurd marriage, of that & nothing else!

     Ximena: Don't lie to yourself mom, I've never been more sane & I've never been ore sure of taking a step than this one I took today.

     Leo: Please Ximena, accept that you're crazier than a lamb & that this morrongo took advantage of your insanity to marry you!

     Xim: I'm not crazy, & nobody has taken advantage of me. I am conscious of my acts & I respond for them

     Leo: Don't speak to me about being conscious, when you well now I know many of your secrets. I can tell them, I can tell them.

     X: Say what you want because I also know many of your things & I could go spread them publicly.

     L: You see, she's crazy. She wouldn't dare challenge me after having told me she loved me with all her heart.

     Sofia: That's not true Leandro, & you know it perfectly (Fer tells her to not get involved). That is not true because I had already spoken to Ximena about this & knew that her relationship with Leandro was false, it was just an arrangement.

     Gaby: You knew it all Sofia?

     Sofia: I found out accidentally when I found Oscar & Ximena in the pond.

     Fer: What were they doing in the pond?

     X: Tell them Sofia, tell them the truth, there's nothing to hide.

     S: They spent the whole night there making love. I was a witness. (Everybody's faces turn white!)

     Gramps: This can't be fixed; if that happened, then they need to be married & they just complied with their obligations.

     G: Dad, I will not accept that marriage under any circumstances!! I won't accept it even if my own daughters turn against me and hide the truth. You, Oscar Reyes, don't think you've won, don't think I'll accept you as another member of this family!

     O: Mrs. Gabriela, when I set my eyes on Ximena, I didn't lay them on the whole family. I married her, not everybody else. Even if you don't accept me as a son-in-law we are married before God & the laws of man.

     G: Leave!! The 3 of you leave! I'll turn you in so that they can lock you in for fraud! Leave!!

     Gaby's gone insane as Fer & Sofia try to calm her down. Franco, Juan & Oscar leave. Gaby tells Ximena to never call her mom again & to never speak to her again. Gaby runs to her bedroom as Ximena tries to run after her. ....... Later that evening - Fer stands outside Gaby's door & tells her to open up & that he's checking up on her. She doesn't open the door. Fer goes down to the dinning room & tells Sofia she wouldn't open the door. Gramps tells them to let Gaby cry & let that anger & feelings out. Sofia & Martin tell Ximena to eat, that she can't survive on love alone. Fer asks Ximena how she was capable of doing what she did knowing that it would cause Gaby great pain.

     Fer: "How could you marry one of those men? How could you ruin your life? And you Sofia, How could you have remained quiet? I don't understand your behavior.

     S: What would we have won by that? It would have just created a scandal.

     F: At least if would have given us time to prevent this marriage.

     X: Nothing could have prevented it because I would have married Oscar anyway!

     F: You still haven't realized you just did the stupidest thing of your life.

     X: I don't regret it, not will I ever. If I stayed today it is or my mother, but I really want to be with Oscar.

     They continue arguing & she tells them it's her life & no one will decide it for her or tell her who to marry like it happened to Sofia. She leaves & Fer tells the others she'll soon find out what a big mistake she's just committed. Ximena goes to her room to think about Oscar & how she was able to actually marry him.

     Reyes House - Quintina sees a depressed Juan alone in the bakery; he's upset & tells Quintina that they're not going back to the construction job tomorrow. Oscar walks in & Juan tells him he is ashamed to call him brother; that he has no dignity. Oscar tells him he said what he had to say to get them off the hook for the construction job, & that they would have gotten nowhere if the truth had been told. Juan tells Oscar to get off his high horse & to realize the Elizondos will never accept him as one of their own. Oscar just laughs & tells Juan that Gaby & the others will have to accept him & he'll become an important member of that family & will get all the benefits that come with it & that he plans to share it with his brothers of course. Juan gets sick of listening to Oscar go on and on so he grabs him & throws him on the table & starts banging him against it. Quintina tries to help.

     Bar Alcala - Rosario is performing as Armando gives Pepita an expensive ring. Pepita is very happy & wants to know if he was this generous with Rosario. He doesn't answer.... Pepita enters the stage & starts talking to the audience; they seem to like her al lot..... Rosario tells Emilia she can't stand Pepita. Emilia tells her Armando just gave her a really nice ring so Rosario gets mad. Emilia asks if she is envious or jealous. Franco walks in to tell Rosario she gave an excellent performance. He tells her the job with his brothers is finally over, that's he's free to do what he wants, that he needs her, & that she's all he has now.

     Elizondo house - Morning. Gaby tells Sofia that Ximena was her greatest hope & asks how was it that she didn't know this was going on & what has she done to deserve this. Sofia tells her to calm down, but Gaby doesn't & tells her not to tell her that. Gaby asks Sofia how she was capable of covering all this time for Ximena. Sofia tells her she didn't cover all this time, that she just found out & it was already too late. Fer tells Gaby that even if they would have known, there's nothing she could have done to prevent it because Ximena seems very determined. Gaby wants to annul the marriage; that they could say Ximena was pressured into it, or that she was under one of her nervous spells. Sofia immediately tells Gaby that she will not lend herself to that, that it wouldn't be right, & that Ximena & Oscar love each other & Ximena has been his.

     G: But only we know that! And we can hide it!

     S: Your social interests are more important than your morals!

     G: Sofia!

     S: It's the truth mom! You have a "doble moral" because for some things you are very strict when for others you are inexplicably flexible.

     G: I'm not going to let you call me unscrupulous; if I seem it it's because it's my duty to save the honor of this family & Ximena's future. You think she can be happy married to that poor devil? He didn't marry her for love, he married her for money!

     Fer: That's not doubtful; we must do something.

     G: if we could just do something to turn back time & not let those men into this house. Eva is the one responsible for this.....

     Gaby walks downstairs, sees Eva arranging some flowers, grabs her by the arm & takes her to the living room. Gaby tells her they have much to talk about, that she feels totally betrayed by her. She asks how she dared do this to her & that she did wrong in covering up for those delinquents.

     E: I know.

     G: That's all you can say 'I know'? That doesn't cut it. Something really strange must have happened for you to have let those men into my home. You will tell me the truth!! (She starts grabbing her & shaking her.) We'll go to your room.

     E: We will not go there & I'm not going to let you do what you did the last time to me.

     G: you deserve punishment Eva!! (Ruth, Raquel & Leo walk in)

     Ruth: Gabriela!! But what's the matter here? Why are you mistreating Eva like this?

     G: I'm not hurting her, I'm reprimanding her for having let those men in.

     Eva leaves & Raquel tells Gaby that she came to look for an explanation from Ximena as to why she left Leandro.

    

 

Summary #34, Monday, 10/11/99.  Author: Rebecca (---)  Date:   10-12-99