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PROVOCAME - THE NOVELA - THE BEGINNING!
THE STORY BEGINS WITH MATIAS RIDING A MARE NAMED LUNITA,
THROUGH THE ESTANCIA. MARIANO AND PATRICIA ARE WATCHING HIM.
MARIANO: Are you ready to jump, Matías?
PATRICIA: Come on, champion!
MARIANO: Your husband is not coming?
PATRICIA: He always has something more important to do with his time.
MARIANO: Hmm!
JULIETA, FROM AFAR, IS ALSO WATCHING MATIAS RIDE LUNITA.
MARISOL APPROACHES JULIETA.
MARISOL: What are you doing here? I’ve told you before, you cannot
be here. I’ve told you a
thousand times.
JULIETA: No, mami. Let me stay just a little while. Look, Matías
is about to jump.
MATIAS, ON LUNITA, AS HE JUMPS, KNOCKS DOWN A BAR FROM
THE OBSTACLE COURSE.
JULIETA: What a brute Matías is! Poor Lunita! Do you think she
is alright, mom?
MARISOL: You’ve seen everything you had to see. Let’s go.
MATIAS ANGRILY WALKS TOWARDS MARIANO AND PATRICIA.
PATRICIA: My love, my love, you were great!
TOTI, THE FARM HAND, TAKES LUNITA FROM MATIAS.
MATIAS: I did terrible. That mare isn’t any good.
MARIANO: Calm down, Matías. I already told you, you won’t
be jumping with Lunita. The horse
I bought for you will be here soon.
MATIAS: Yes, well. I’ve heard that a thousand times. So when is it
really getting here?
MARIANO: It’ll get here soon. It’ll be here in time for the
competition. It’ll be here.
PATRICIA: Matías, Matías, come back here!
PATRICIA WALKS AFTER MATIAS. ROBERTO, ALVARO’S RIGHT
HAND MAN, APPROACHES MARIANO.
MARIANO: Did you call Miami, again?
ROBERTO: I’ve been calling everyday.
MARIANO: And?
ROBERTO: The horse is on its way.
MARIANO: It’s on its way! It’s on its way! But when is it really
getting here, old man?
THAT SAME DAY, DURING THE EVENING, THE WEDDING BETWEEN
MARIANO AND ANA LAURA IS TO TAKE PLACE. TABLES AND ARRANGEMENTS ARE SET
UP ALL AROUND THE GARDEN. GUNTHER, THE MAJORDOMO, IS SCREAMING AND ARGUING
WITH THE HELP. LISA, THE MAID; ROSA, THE COOK. MAGDA, ANA LAURA’S
FORMER NANNY AND NOW, HER GRANDMOTHER’S ASSISTANT, COMES OVER AND
ASKS WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. GUNTHER IS NOT SATISFIED WITH THE SETTING. HE
SAYS EVERYTHING HAS TO BE PERFECT. THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT OCCASION,
WHERE TWO OF THE AREA’S MOST PROMINENT FAMILIES, THE LINARES AND
THE VILLALOBOS, ARE UNITING. GUNTHER TELLS THE HELP HE’LL BE INSPECTING
EVERYTHING EVERY FEW MINUTES AND THAT HE EXPECTS THEM TO HAVE EVERYTHING
READY. HE ADMONISHES HIS DOGS, BUT OF COURSE, THEY COMPLETELY IGNORE HIM.
AT THIS POINT, A TRUCK PULLING A HORSE TRAILER IS SEEN ARRIVING AT THE
GATE.
JULIETA AND MARISOL ARE HOME AND WHEN JULIETA SEES THROUGH THE WINDOW
THAT THE NEW HORSE HAS ARRIVED, SHE ASKS MARISOL IF SHE CAN GO AND SEE
IT. MARISOL TELLS HER NO, BUT JULIETA RUNS OUT, ANYWAY.
ANA LAURA IS IN HER BEDROOM TRYING ON HER WEDDING DRESS. HER GRANDMOTHER,
FLORIA, IS WITH HER AND SHE TELLS ANA LAURA SHE LOOKS BEAUTIFUL AND THAT
SHE LOOKS JUST LIKE HER MOTHER.
ANA LAURA: Do I really look like her?
FLORIA: She was as beautiful as you are.
ANA LAURA: You don’t know how much I need her at this moment.
MAGDA WALKS INTO THE ROOM.
ANA LAURA: Magda, did you find Mariano?
MAGDA: No. I looked everywhere, but that idiot, Gunther, stopped me and
kept me from looking
anymore.
ANA LAURA: I can’t believe this. Where could he have gone?
ERICA, ANA LAURA’S YOUNGER SISTER, WALKS IN ANA
LAURA ASKS HER IF SHE’S SEEN MARIANO. ERICA TELLS HER NO.
FLORIA: He must be doing something important.
ANA LAURA: Grandmother, what’s more important that his wedding? The
only thing he has on his
mind is those horses. And now, with the competition coming up, you can
imagine, it will only get worse.
ANA LAURA TAKES OFF THE WEDDING DRESS, AND TELLS ERICA
AND HER GRANDMOTHER, THAT SHE’S GOING TO GO LOOK FOR HER FIANCE.
MARIANO MEETS THE APPROACHING TRUCK AND TELLS TOTI TO
GO GET MATIAS. JULIETA IS HIDING BEHIND A TREE AND TRYING TO HIDE, RUNS
INTO GUNTHER WHO CHASES HER AWAY. PEDRO BALMACEDA, WHO WAS TRAVELING IN
THE BACK OF THE TRAILER WITH THE HORSE, THEN EXITS THE TRAILER.
PEDRO; Are you Mr. Mariano Linares?
MARIANO: Yes. And you are….
PEDRO: I’m Pedro Balmaceda, the caretaker.
MARIANO: Caretaker?
PEDRO: Didn’t Señora Victoria tell you I was coming with the
horse?
AT THIS MOMENT, ANA LAURA ANGRILY APPROACHES MARIANO,
COMPLETELY OBLIVIOUS OF PEDRO. PEDRO GETS OUT OF THE WAY AND WITH AN INCREDULOUS
LOOK ON HIS FACE, SMILES AND STARES AT ANA LAURA.
ANA LAURA: Not even on your wedding day, are you willing to stop this!
MARIANO: Matías’ horse is here!
ANA LAURA: Ah, you care more about the horse than you care about me.
MARIANO: Don’t say that!
ANA LAURA: Well, if you don’t come and help me with the preparations
for the party, you will end up marrying the horse!
MARIANO: Ana! -TO PEDRO: I’m sorry. I didn’t know a caretaker
was involved. We’ll talk later!
PEDRO: As you wish.
GUNTHER IS SEEN LITERALLY CARRYING JULIETA OFF THE PREMISES.
MARISOL COMES RUNNING AND TELLS GUNTHER TO LEAVE HER DAUGHTER ALONE. GUNTHER
TELLS MARISOL THAT HE DOESN’T WANT JULIETA RUNNING AROUND THE ESTANCIA
AND THAT SHE NEEDS DISCIPLINE. MARISOL TELLS HIM SHE IS THE ONLY ONE WITH
THE RIGHT TO DISCIPLINE HER DAUGHTER.
ANA LAURA AND MARIANO WALK INSIDE THE HOUSE.
MARIANO: Don’t be angry.
ANA LAURA: How do you want me to feel. You’re out there playing with
the horses on your wedding day.
MARIANO: I’m not playing. I didn’t know today was going to be
the day Chocolate would arrive.
ANA LAURA: Don’t talk about it as if it were a person. It is only
an animal.
AT THIS MOMENT, LETICIA, ANA LAURA’S BEST FRIEND
AND THE ESTANCIA’S VETERINARIAN, WALKS IN, AND ASKS IF SHE CAME IN
AT A BAD MOMENT. ANA LAURA ASKS HER TO ACCOMPANY HER TO HER BEDROOM. MARIANO
STOPS ANA LAURA FROM LEAVING AND GIVES HER A KISS.
MARIANO: Do you forgive me?
ANA LAURA: Yes. I forgive you, but don’t do this to me. I’m
very nervous because of the
wedding, I’m asking you, please!
MARIANO: Calm down, calm down.
ANA LAURA: Oh, my love!
ANA LAURA WALKS AWAY AND LETICIA FOLLOWS HER. AT THIS
POINT, ROBERTO WALKS IN.
MARIANO: You heard the horse has arrived?
ROBERTO: Yes.
MARIANO: Did you know the contract specifies that the horse comes with
a caretaker?
ROBERTO: Yes, of course. It’s a clause Señora Victoria added
to the contract.
MARIANO: Well, someone by the name of Pedro Balmaceda came with the horse.
Please
take care of everything, or else, I’ll end up getting a divorce before
the wedding!
AS MARIANO WALKS AWAY, ROBERTO SEEMS VERY SURPRISED TO
FIND OUT THAT IS PEDRO WHO ARRIVED WITH THE HORSE.
PEDRO IS IN THE STABLE WITH THE HORSE AND IS TALKING WITH
TOTI.
PEDRO: Who am I supposed to talk to about this?
TOTI: I don’t know. Right now, because of the wedding, everything
is….
ALVARO AND MATIAS APPEAR. MATIAS RUNS TO THE HORSE AND
SAYS IT’S BEAUTIFUL.
PEDRO: He’s a little nervous. Is it yours?
MATIAS: Yes.
ALVARO: Excuse me, who are you?
PEDRO: I’m Pedro Balmaceda, the caretaker.
ALVARO: The caretaker?
PEDRO: Yes. Señora Victoria, the previous owner, sent me here.
ALVARO, AFTER HEARING THIS, SEEMS VERY SURPRISED AND
ANGRILY ASKS PEDRO IF HE WORKS FOR VICTORIA.
PEDRO: Yes. Sometimes.
MATIAS: Can I ride him?
PEDRO: No, that’s not a good idea. He just arrived and is a little
tired.
ALVARO: Toti, saddle the horse!
PEDRO: I don’t think is right…
ALVARO: The only one who decides what is right, is me and if the horse
is nervous, I can take care of that.
ALVARO IS ABOUT TO STRIKE CHOCOLATE AND PEDRO LAUNCHES
AFTER ALVARO TO STOP HIM FROM HITTING THE HORSE. MARIANO COMES RUNNING
AND GRABS PEDRO AND TELLS HIM TO LET GO OF HIS FATHER. PEDRO LOOKS VERY
SURPRISED BY THE HOSTILITY SHOWN BY BOTH, MARIANO AND ALVARO.
Just a little footnote, for those of you who don’t know, the name
Marisol is compound of two words that run together: Mary Sol. The Sea
and the Sun. Marisol!
IGNACIO, ANA LAURA AND ERICA’S FATHER, ARE IN THE
LIBRARY. HE’S STANDING IN FRONT OF A PHOTOGRAPH OF HIS TWO DAUGHTERS,
WITH A DRINK IN HIS HAND AND LOOKING SORROWFUL. PATRICIA, HIS YOUNG WIFE,
WALKS IN.
PATRICIA: Why didn’t you go see Matías’ horse? I believe
it shows disdain on your part towards Mariano. He’s been very gracious
with Matías.
IGNACIO: I have other things on my mind. It is not a good day for me.
PATRICIA: You should be happy and grateful. Your daughter is about to
marry a good man with a very generous heart.
ANA LAURA KNOCKS ON THE DOOR AND WALKS IN.
ANA LAURA: What are you doing closed in here all day?
IGNACIO: I’ve been resting. Counting the hours. Oh, before you get
dressed this evening, come back and see me.
ANA LAURA: Why? Is something wrong?
IGNACIO: No, no. There’s nothing wrong. It’s a last minute surprise.
ANA LAURA: Alright. I’ll be here. One minute before I get dressed.
I’ll be here.
ANA LAURA LEAVES THE OFFICE.
PATRICIA: You are not thinking of giving her your wife’s jewelry.
Are you?
IGNACIO: She’s my daughter. She is entitled to them.
PATRICIA: Everything is for your daughters. What about me?
IGNACIO: Everything? Patricia, I don’t have anything anymore!
PATRICIA: Thank you for putting me at the bottom of your list.
PATRICIA WALKS AWAY, ANGRILY.
BACK TO THE STABLES WHERE PEDRO IS STILL DEALING WITH ALVARO AND MARIANO.
PEDRO TRIED TO EXPLAIN TO MARIANO THAT HIS INTENTION WAS ONLY TO STOP
ALVARO FROM STRIKING CHOCOLATE.
PEDRO: I meant only to…
MARIANO: No one asked you what you meant! Are you alright, father?
ALVARO: Yes, I’m fine. And I would have managed just fine without
your help.
MARIANO: Well, let’s go home, alright?
ALVARO: I’ll be there later.
MARIANO: Father….
ALVARO: I said I’ll be there later!
MARIANO LEAVES AND ROBERTO APPEARS. WHEN PEDRO SEES HIM,
PEDRO LOOKS RELIEVED AND HUGS HIM.
PEDRO: Roberto! At last! A familiar face!
ROBERTO: Pedro, what are you doing here?
PEDRO: What’s wrong? Aren’t you happy to see me?
ROBERTO: No, it’s not that…
PEDRO: Maybe I should have let you know when Señora Victoria asked
me to come here. I’m sorry, but you know how I feel about this horse.
ALVARO: Roberto, we are going to be taking care of the horse. Mr. Balmaceda
will be staying in Buenos Aires until he hears from us.
PEDRO: That was not the agreement.
ALVARO: Toti! Take that horse to a safe place!
ALVARO WALKS AWAY.
PEDRO: Who does he think he is? My dealings were not with him!
ROBERTO: Pedro, Pedro. Alvaro is the one who decides everything around
here. Today is a special day for everyone in the estancia. Please have
a little patience.
PEDRO: But, what’s wrong with you? Aren’t you happy to see me?
ROBERTO: Yes, of course! I was just very surprised to see you, that’s
all.
MARIANO WALKS IN THE HOUSE AND CECILIA, HIS MOTHER, GREETS HIM.
CECILIA: Mariano, Mariano, you won’t believe how beautiful everything
is! The whole world will be talking about this wedding!
MARIANO: I like seeing you so happy.
ALVARO, PATRICIA AND MATIAS ENTER THE HOUSE AT THAT MOMENT.
PATRICIA TELLS MATIAS TO GO TO HIS ROOM AND REST. MATIAS TELLS HER HE’S
DISAPPOINTED HE WON’T BE ABLE TO RIDE THE NEW HORSE RIGHT AWAY. PATRICIA
TELLS HIM HE’LL SOON HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO. PATRICIA THEN
THANKS MARIANO FOR BUYING THE HORSE FOR MATIAS AND SHE TELLS MARIANO HE’S
MADE HER SON VERY HAPPY.
JULIETA IS SEEN CRYING IN THE STABLES. PEDRO SEES HER AND GOES TO HER.
PEDRO: What’s wrong?
JULIETA: Nothing, go away!
PEDRO: Why are you crying?
JULIETA: It’s that animal’s fault! (SHE MEANS GUNTHER!)
Why couldn’t he let me see the horse?
PEDRO: I see! You wanted to see Chocolate and someone prevented you from
seeing him!
JULIETA: And how do you know its name is Chocolate?
PEDRO: Because I brought it here. And you are….
JULIETA: Julieta.
PEDRO: Listen, Julieta, since you really like him, I can introduce you
to Chocolate.
JULIETA: Really?
PEDRO: Yes.
JULIETA: Will I be able to feed him and caress him?
PEDRO: And ride him if you want.
JULIETA: Ride him? I’m not allowed to ride him.
PEDRO: Why not?
JULIETA: My mother says that’s just for people who can afford it.
I’d also like to jump, like Matías. Well, I’d jump better
than Matías.
PEDRO: Chocolate is just the right horse for that. If you want, I can
teach you how to jump.
JULIETA: Seriously?
MARISOL ARRIVES AND JULIETA INTRODUCES THEM.
JULIETA: This is Pedro. He’s Chocolate’s caretaker. This is
my mother, Marisol.
MARISOL: Nice to meet you. (She’s all smiles!)
JULIETA: Mami, Pedro tells me I’ll be able to ride Chocolate and
he’s also going to teach me how to jump. My mom says that problem
is that I like horses too much.
PEDRO: Well, I don’t think that’s a problem.
MARISOL: The problem is that they are out of her reach. Let’s go.
JULIETA AND MARISOL LEAVE AND TOTI COMES OVER TO TALK
TO PEDRO.
TOTI: How’s everything going?
PEDRO: I can see that what they say about the women from Argentina, is
true! By the way, you left and I didn’t know where you went. What
did you do with Chocolate? Where did you take him to?
TOTI: Uh, uh. I can’t tell you where it is.
PEDRO: What do you mean, you can’t tell me where it is!
TOTI: I’m just obeying orders. I can’t tell you where it is,
I’m sorry. (TOTI WALKS AWAY)
PEDRO: Wait! Wait! Where’s Chocolate!!
IN THE KITCHEN, MAGDA, ROSA, LISA AND CARMEN ARE PREPARING
EVERYTHING FOR THE WEDDING. CARMEN IS CECILIA’S PERSONAL ASSISTANT
AND ALSO ROBERTO’S WIFE. - ROBERTO COMES IN AND PULLS CARMEN TO THE
SIDE.
ROBERTO: Carmen, come here, please.
CARMEN: What’s wrong?
ROBERTO: Do you know who’s in the estancia?
CARMEN: No.
ROBERTO: Pedro.
CARMEN: Pedro, who?
ROBERTO: Balmaceda.
CARMEN: Balmaceda? But how did he get here? Did he find out anything?
ROBERTO: I don’t know! Victoria sent him.
CARMEN: Roberto, this is going to end up very badly. I told you this was
going to happen one day! This will end up in tragedy.
MARISOL IS BRUSHING JULIETA’S HAIR AFTER HER SHOWER.
JULIETA: Do you think Matías is going to love Chocolate? He’s
a brute with horses! Oh, mom! You’re pulling my hair!
MARISOL: Julieta, be still and please, be quiet!
AT THIS MOMENT, THEY HEAR SOMEONE KNOCKING ON THEIR DOOR.
BOTH, MARISOL AND JULIETA, COME TO ANSWER THE DOOR.
MARISOL: Who is it?
PEDRO: Pedro! I need to ask you something.
JULIETA: Mom, don’t open the door, I’m in my robe!
(AT THIS, MARISOL ROLLS HER EYES AT JULIETA AND GOES AND LETS PEDRO IN)
JULIETA: Come in, Pedro.
PEDRO: Thank you. I’m sorry for coming here so late, but I’m
trying to find my horse.
MARISOL: You’ll need to ask one of the workers.
PEDRO: I did, but no one wants to tell me anything. I thought maybe you
could help me. Maybe you have an idea where it might be.
MARISOL: Why don’t they want to tell you?
PEDRO: I don’t know.
MARISOL: It must be because everyone is so busy with the wedding. Did
anyone tell you there’s a wedding going on?
PEDRO: Yes. I heard. But what worries me is my horse.
JULIETA: He must be at the old stable.
PEDRO: Where is that place?
MARISOL: Far, very far. There’s a road that will take you there,
but you can’t get there on foot, specially at this hour.
PEDRO: I’m going to try, anyway. Thank you for the information, ciao.
- (PEDRO LEAVES)
JULIETA: See, mom. You should find a boyfriend just like him.
MARISOL: Go put on your pajamas!
JULIETA: He’s cute. He likes horses. He talks with that funny accent.
And he pays attention to you. He’s just right for you! I better go
put on my pajamas!
IN THE OFFICE, IGNACIO IS SITTING AT HIS DESK. MARIANO
AND ALVARO ARE SITTING ACROSS FROM HIM.
IGNACIO: This is my house, this is my land, and I’m not signing
anything until your son and my daughter are husband and wife.
AT THIS MOMENT, AS PREVIOUSLY REQUESTED BY IGNACIO, ANA
LAURA IS APPROACHING THE OFFICE AND SHE ACCIDENTLY HEARS THE CONVERSATION
BETWEEN THE THREE MEN. SHE STOPS OUTSIDE THE DOOR, AND LISTENS.
ALVARO: What’s the matter? Don’t you trust us?
IGNACIO: You will own everything that is mine, once I’m certain my
daughter will be protected.
MARIANO: Your daughter will be protected, I promise you. I wouldn’t
cancel the wedding just because you signed those papers.
ALVARO: Ignacio, this wedding is very convenient for all of us. You’ll
be saving yourself and us at the same time.
MARIANO: Besides, we’ve been planning all this for two years. You
are not backing down, now. Are you? Come on, sign!
IGNACIO: No, I will sign after the wedding. I don’t like doing things
this way.
ALVARO: Well, don’t take it so hard. Business is business.
IGNACIO: This is not business. You corraled me. We are talking about my
daughter. Don’t you understand?
ALVARO: It’s better than going to jail for fraud!
ANA LAURA IS SHOCKED BY EVERYTHING SHE HEARD AND IS CRYING.
ERICA ARRIVES.
ERICA: Ana!
ANA LAURA: Come here, please.
ERICA: What’s wrong?
ANA LAURA: Please, I need your help.
ERICA: Oh, you argued with dad again!
ANA LAURA: I didn’t argue with dad, I need you to help me!
ERICA: But tell me what happened!
ANA LAURA: Don’t ask questions. Go find me something to wear. If
anyone asks about me, you haven’t seen me, alright?
ERICA: Ana, you’re crazy! Why….
ANA LAURA: Go! Go bring me some clothes. I’m asking you, please!
PEDRO, TOTI AND CHAPA, ANOTHER WORKER, ARE WALKING THROUGH
THE STABLES.
PEDRO: I don’t want to get you involved, just tell me how to get
there.
TOTI: Tell me, why do you want to go to the old stables?
PEDRO: You know why!
CHAPA: No one ever goes to the old stables.
TOTI: How to get there is easy to explain, but it is very far.
PEDRO: May I borrow a horse?
TOTI: Yes. Take Tomasa. It’s the one at the very end. She’s
got wings!
TIME FOR THE WEDDING CEREMONY. THE GUESTS HAVE ARRIVED.
EVERYONE IS WAITING. MARIANO IS NERVOUS. ALVARO TELLS HIM TO GO GET READY,
THAT ANA LAURA WOULD BE ARRIVING AT ANY MOMENT. MAGDA IS AMONG THE GUESTS,
TALKING TO LETICIA.
MAGDA: If Gunther sees me here, among the guests, he’ll go crazy.
But, I can’t miss my little one’s wedding.
LETICIA: You stay by me, No one will say anything.
IGNACIO AND PATRICIA GO BY. MAGDA MAKES COMMENTS TO LETICIA
ABOUT WHAT PATRICIA IS WEARING. SHE SAYS PATRICIA PUT ON EVERYTHING SHE
HAD IN HER CLOSET. A NERVOUS ERICA JOINS THEM.
LETICIA: Erica! Finally! Where’s Ana? Is she going to be much longer?
ERICA: No, I haven’t seen her, so I don’t know!
LETICIA: What’s wrong? Are you up to something? (ERICA
DOESN’T ANSWER)
PEDRO, RIDING THE HORSE HE BORROWED, IS SEEN ARRIVING
AT THE OLD STABLE. UNKNOWN TO HIM, ANA LAURA IS ACTUALLY HIDING THERE.
PEDRO, RIDING THE HORSE HE BORROWED AND LOOKING FOR CHOCOLATE, ARRIVES
AT THE OLD STABLE, UNAWARE THAT ANA LAURA IS HIDING THERE. ANA LAURA,
HEARING SOMEONE ARRIVE, TURNS OFF THE LANTERN SHE’S BEEN USING AND
STAYS STILL. PEDRO, SLOWLY, MAKES HIS WAY INSIDE THE DARKENED STABLE.
HE’S CALLING OUT TO CHOCOLATE AND ANA LAURA, THINKING HE IS SOMEONE
SENT TO LOOK FOR HER, HITS HIM ON THE STOMACH WITH A FLASHLIGHT AND TACKLES
HIM TO THE GROUND. THEY BEGIN WRESTLING AND PEDRO LANDS ON TOP OF HER.
HE THEN GRABS HER ARMS, TO SUBDUE HER. SHE STARTS SCREAMING AND TRIES
TO GET LOOSE.
ANA LAURA: Let go of me, stupid! Let go of me! Who are you?
PEDRO GRABS THE FLASHLIGHT FROM HER AND SHINES IT ON
HER FACE.
PEDRO: You! What are you doing here?
ANA LAURA: Please, don’t hurt me! Please, don’t hurt me!
BACK TO THE RECEPTION. MARIANO, STANDING WITH ALVARO AND
IGNACIO, IS QUESTIONING MAGDA.
MARIANO: What exactly did she tell you?
MAGDA: I don’t know. She said she wanted to get dressed by herself.
After that, I didn’t see her
again. She left her wedding dress on the bed.
IGNACIO: That’s absurd! You don’t think she was kidnapped?
ALVARO: Don’t be ridiculous! Ignacio, please!
MARIANO: It’s possible. It’s possible. No one disappears like
that, especially on their wedding day!
CECILIA: People are getting restless! What do we do?
GUNTHER IS WALKING ABOUT AND PATRICIA TELLS HIM ANA LAURA
DISAPPEARED AND HE’S TO DO SOMETHING SO THE GUESTS FEEL COMFORTABLE,
AND TO BE DISCREET, AND AT THIS TIME, HIS DOGS COME RUNNING AND JUMP ON
THE TABLES, MAKING A MESS.
BACK TO PEDRO AND ANA LAURA AT THE OLD STABLE. HE’S
STILL RESTING ATOP OF HER.
ANA LAURA: Who sent you to look for me?
PEDRO: No one. I’m not looking for you.
ANA LAURA: Don’t lie to me! I haven’t seen you before!
PEDRO: I’m Pedro. We met this afternoon, but you were a little upset!
ANA LAURA: Fine! Fine! So, who are you then looking for?
PEDRO: Chocolate!
ANA LAURA: Chocolate?
PEDRO: Yes! Chocolate, my horse. Don’t you remember, this afternoon…
ANA LAURA: Yes, I remember. I know what you’re talking about, now.
Excuse me! Would you mind getting off me?
PEDRO: Oh! Excuse me! I’m sorry! Wait, shouldn’t you be getting
married right now?
ANA LAURA: Yes, I ought to…but I’m not getting married!
PEDRO: But, why? What about the guests, the party, the cake, all the people….
ANA LAURA: What do you care about all that? Tell me, how did you get here?
PEDRO: I rode here. Someone told me Chocolate might be here.
ANA LAURA: Someone’s coming! Please, if they ask about me, tell them
you haven’t seen me, okay?
PEDRO: Yes, yes. Alright.
PEDRO GOES TO CHECK BUT THEN TELLS ANA LAURA IT’S
A FALSE ALARM. ANA LAURA STARTS WALKING BACKWARDS, STILL TRYING TO HIDE,
AND RUNS INTO CHOCOLATE. SHE GETS SCARED AND STARTS SCREAMING.
PEDRO: What happened?
ANA LAURA: Your horse! It’s there!
PEDRO: Chocolate! Chocolate! My friend! Calm down, calm down! What did
they do to you? Those animals! My God….
ANA LAURA: You should get that horse out of here!
PEDRO: How can I? Can’t you see how upset he is?
ANA LAURA: Alright! I’m the one who’s leaving, then!
PEDRO COMPLETELY IGNORES ANA LAURA. HE’S EXTREMELY
ANGRY ABOUT HOW THEY TREATED CHOCOLATE.
PEDRO, TALKING TO CHOCOLATE:
PEDRO: Calm down, calm down! This won’t happen again! I will talk
to Victoria, and we are
going to deal with those animals!
PEDRO CONTINUES TALKING TO CHOCOLATE AND SOUNDS VERY
ANNOYED WHEN ANA LAURA INTERRUPTS HIM. SHE TAPS HIM ON THE SHOULDER AND
HE ANGRILY TURNS TOWARDS HER:
PEDRO: What! What!
ANA LAURA: Do you know…you are going to help me!
THE RECEPTION. ALVARO IS TALKING WITH MARIANO.
ALVARO: Insolent brat! She has no idea of the consequences this situation
could carry! What if
this is something Ignacio planned!
MARIANO: No, no! This marriage is more advantageous to Ignacio than to
anyone else! We need to
know what happened!
MARIANO WALKS AWAY, AS IGNACIO APPROACHES ALVARO.
IGNACIO: I don’t know what to think! What do you think we should
do now?
ALVARO: I don’t know, but if this is not resolved soon, everything
is going to the devil!
BACK TO THE STABLE WITH PEDRO AND ANA LAURA.
ANA LAURA: I’m just asking you for a little solidarity, that’s
all!
PEDRO: It’s not like that! I already have a problem here, I don’t
need another one!
ANA LAURA: It’s very simple. You need to go get a car, bring it,
and get me out of here!
PEDRO: And what do you suppose I tell the security guards? That I’m
taking the bride for a ride?
ANA LAURA: Don’t worry about what you should tell the security guards!
Just help me! Could you
stop touching that horse!
PEDRO: What do you wante me to do? Touch you?
ANA LAURA: Don’t try to be funny!
PEDRO: Why don’t you go back and tell those people to give you the
explanations you need, already?
ANA LAURA: If you knew all I’m going through, you wouldn’t be
saying something so stupid! Are you
going to help me or not?
PEDRO: I’d love to help you, but I can’t!
ANA LAURA: Because of that horse?
PEDRO: Come on, Chocolate! Come on!
ANA LAURA: Chocolate! Ha!
MARISOL’S HOUSE. TOTI COMES OVER AND TELLS MARISOL
AND JULIETA WHAT HAPPENED.
TOTI: Anita didn’t show up for her wedding!
JULIETA: She left Mariano waiting?
TOTI: Yes! You don’t know the uproar that exists in that house at
the moment! It’s impressive!
That’s all I wanted to tell you for now, ciao!
MARISOL: How angry he must be! That imbecile! I knew Ana couldn’t
be that blind!
JULIETA: Mami, why do you hate Mariano so much?
ANA LAURA: You’re crazy! I’m telling you I’m trying to
escape and you want me to steal a horse!
PEDRO: No, we are not going to steal it, we are going to protect it, and
the contract says….
ANA LAURA: No, don’t tell me what the contract says. I just want
to know if you’re going to help me
or you’re going to help your horse!
PEDRO: Early tomorrow morning, the three of us can leave, alright?
ANA LAURA: No. Tomorrow morning will be too late for me. I need to leave
now!
THEY HEAR SOMEONE COMING. ANA LAURA HIDES AND PEDRO GOES
TO MEET TOTI AT THE ENTRANCE, PREVENTING HIM FROM COMING FURTHER INSIDE
THE STABLE.
PEDRO: My friend, what are you doing here?
TOTI WALKS IN AND LEANING ON A BEAM, ACCIDENTLY SHINES
THE LIGHT ON PEDRO’S FACE. PEDRO TELLS HIM TO TURN OFF THE FLASHLIGHT.
TOTI: Chapa and I were thinking….you already saw the horse. Why
don’t you come back to the house?
PEDRO: No. I’m staying right here. The horse has been hurt enough.
I cannot allow that to happen again.
TOTI: Come one, that’s over!
PEDRO: No, it’s not over. I’m getting this horse away from the
finca, and I’m counting on you to
help me do just that.
TOTI: Me? No, that’s too risky.
PEDRO: But you don’t have to do anything! All you have to do, is
keep quiet! That’s all! That’s
not too hard, is it? So, can I count on you?
TOTI NODS IN AGREEMENT.
PEDRO: Thank you, my friend!
TOTI: One moment! I think this is….Oh! I talked…. (TOTI
WALKS AWAY)
ANA LAURA: What power of persuasion! So the three of us are spending the
night together!
Your horse, you and I!
PEDRO: Yes. But don’t worry. I won’t do anything you don’t
want me to do!
ANA LAURA: Very funny!
NEXT MORNING, IN THE BIG HOUSE. IGNACIO AND FLORIA, HIS
MOTHER, ARE IN THE LIVING ROOM.
FLORIA: I believe Ana Laura simply changed her mind about getting married
and she decided to go somewhere.
IGNACIO: What are you saying, mother, please!
MATIAS, WALKING IN THE ROOM.
MATIAS: Have you seen my mother?
FLORIA: Didn’t they teach you how to say good morning, little boy?
IGNACIO: Your mother’s sleeping. She was very upset with what happened
yesterday.
MATIAS: If you see her, would you tell her I’m training?
IGNACIO: Can you stay still until your sister shows up?
FLORIA: Ana Laura is not his sister! Why confuse the boy, always?
CECILIA COMES IN, COMPLAINING OF A TERIBLE HEADACHE.
FLORIA: Here’s another one who doesn’t know how to say good
morning! Could it be these are
the new rules for living together?
CECILIA: Can’t you see I’m ill?
FLORIA: Excuse me, querida, I’ll see if I can prepare a potion for
you!
IGNACIO: Mother, don’t fight, please!
AS FLORIA WALKS AWAY, ROBERTO COMES IN.
CECILIA: Roberto, I need to talk to you about some things.
IGNACIO: I’ll leave the two of you alone.
PEDRO IS SEEN TAKING THE COVER OFF AN OLD CAR THAT BELONGED
TO LEONORA, ANA LAURA’S MOTHER. MARISOL IS STANDING A FEW FEET AWAY,
WATCHING HIM. PEDRO COMMENTS TO HIMSELF THAT THE CAR MAY BE OLD, BUT STILL
RUNS WELL.
BACK TO CECILIA AND ROBERTO.
ROBERTO: What did you need to talk to me about?
CECILIA: I want to know who offered my son that horse. Why that one in
particular.
ROBERTO: That animal is unique.
CECILIA: You know very well what I’m talking about! Why do you continue
doing business with Victoria?
ROBERTO: I can assure you there’s nothing strange behind all this.
This is just a business transaction.
CECILIA: And that young man, the caretaker, does he work for her?
ROBERTO: Pedro is an expert. He’s always been around that horse,
that’s why Mrs. Duncan sent him here.
CECILIA: Oh, she’s now passing herself as a respectable woman! Very
well, I don’t want that “señora” to have anyinvolvement
in our lives, not even through an animal! This is the last time you will
have any dealings with her! Is that clear?
ALVARO COMES IN THE ROOM.
ALVARO: Hello, querida.
CECILIA: Did you have breakfast?
ALVARO: No, I’m not having breakfast. I’m on my way to Buenos
Aires. Roberto, did you take
care of the matter with Balmaceda?
ROBERTO: I’m working on it, boss. Excuse me.
IGNACIO WALKS IN THE ROOM.
IGNACIO: Good morning. Are you going into the city?
ALVARO: Yes. I’m going to the city. I need to talk to my lawyers.
IGNACIO: I’d like to ask you for a little consideration regarding
our affairs.
ALVARO: You dare ask for consideration after the embarrassment your daughter
put us through?
IGNACIO: But we don’t know what happened to her!
CECILIA: Ignacio is right! Let’s wait until things clear up!
ALVARO WALKS AWAY WITHOUT SAYING A WORD.
IN THE OLD STABLE, ANA LAURA WAKES UP AND SEES THE HORSE
NEXT TO HER FACE. TERRIFIED, SHE CALLS OUT FOR PEDRO.
ANA LAURA: Pedro, Pedro, please!
PEDRO: What’s wrong?
ANA LAURA: Get this animal away from me! Please! Get him away from me,
please! Now!
PEDRO STANDS FOR A MINUTE, LAUGHING.
PEDRO: Yes, yes! Hello, Chocolate! How are you doing this morning? We’re
getting out of
here! Calm down, calm down!
ANA LAURA: How are you this morning? Didn’t you see that animal was
about to attack me?
PEDRO: Of course! With that temper of yours!
ANA LAURA: Stop talking nonsense! Were you able to get the car? You took
long enough!
PEDRO: Yes, but it needs a little gas.
ANA LAURA: You got the trailer? I told you I’m not going anywhere
with this animal!
PEDRO: I’m not arguing with you! Are you ready?
ANA LAURA: No! I told you, with that animal, I’m not going!
PEDRO: Well, Chocolate, we’re leaving. Come on!
ANA LAURA: And what am I going to do?
PEDRO: Well, if you want to come with us, come! Let’s go!
BACK AT THE FINCA’S STABLES, ANTONIO, ROSA’S HUSBAND (THEY ARE
FRANCISCO’S PARENTS) WITH CHAPA, IS QUESTIONING TOTI ABOUT THE HORSE’S
DISAPPEARANCE.
ANTONIO: And who’s telling Don Mariano the horse has disappeared?
Are you sure about this?
MATIAS ARRIVES AND TELLS ANTONIO TO GET THE HORSE READY
FOR HIM.
ANTONIO: Lunita is tired. She had a bad night.
MATIAS: I said the horse! Get Chocolate ready to jump.
CHAPA: The horse is not here.
MATIAS: What do you mean? Where is it?
CHAPA: Maybe Mariano decided to send it some place else. Why don’t
you go ask him?
ANTONIO: Yes! That’s right! Go ask him!
JULIETA ARRIVES AND TEASES MATIAS:
JULIETA: What’s wrong, Mati? Are you looking for your little horse?
MATIAS: It’s none of your business!
JULIETA: Perhaps I know where it is, but I’m not going to tell you!
MATIAS WALKS AWAY WITHOUT SAYING ANYTHING.
JULIETA: Toti, tell me the truth. Chocolate is with Pedro in the old
stable, right?
TOTI DOESN’T SAY A WORD, BUT BY HIS GESTURE, JULIETA
KNOWS SHE’S RIGHT, AND SHE THANKS HIM.
PEDRO AND ANA LAURA ARE GETTING READY TO LEAVE. SHE GETS IN THE BACK SEAT
OF THE CAR AND PEDRO TELLS HER TO HIDE UNDER A BLANKET. PEDRO GETS BEHIND
THE WHEEL AND HE’S ABOUT TO DRIVE AWAY, WHEN MARISOL SHOWS UP AND
STARTLES HIM.
MARISOL: Good morning! Are you leaving incognito? Who authorized you
to use the car
belonging to Leonora? (ANA LAURA’S LATE MOTHER)
PEDRO: Well….
MARISOL: You’re not thinking of getting this horse out of the finca?
This could cost you.
PEDRO: Look, so far, no one has seen anything, and if you don’t say
a word…..
MARISOL: You’ll be the first person they’ll suspect did this!
PEDRO: Yes, but they are mistreating the horse! I cannot allow this. I
have to get him out of here!
MARISOL: You’re right! I don’t know what to tell you. I know!
Take me with you, that way
it’ll be easier for you to take that horse!
PEDRO: No, no! I can’t get you involved in this!
MARISOL: Go ahead! I know what I’m doing!
MARISOL GETS IN THE CAR AND THEN REALIZES SOMETHING IS
IN THE BACK SEAT.
MARISOL: What do you have back there?
GUNTHER IS THE FIELD, USELESSLY TRYING TO TRAIN HIS DOGS,
WHEN HE SEES JULIETA RUNNING TOWARDS THE OLD STABLES. HE CALLS THE DOGS
TO HIM, BUT OF COURSE, THE DOGS COMPLETELY IGNORE HIM.
MARISOL DISCOVERS ANA LAURA HIDING IN THE BACK SEAT. PEDRO GIVES MARISOL
AN EXPLANATION OF WHY ANA LAURA IS IN THE CAR.
PEDRO: So she then asked me to help her get away from here.
ANA LAURA: Truthfully, Pedro has nothing to do with what’s going
on with me. He’s just trying to help me!
PEDRO: Of course, I didn’t want to get involved in this mess, but
I saw how scared she was!
ANA LAURA: Marisol, I’m begging you! Please, don’t tell anybody!
MARISOL: Of course I won’t say anything!
PEDRO: Do you understand now, why I couldn’t take you with me?
MARISOL: Well, if you want to leave, you better hurry up!
ANA LAURA: I owe you one! Thank you!
PEDRO: Thank you, Marisol!
MARISOL: Be careful!
JULIETA APPROACHES MARISOL.
JULIETA: Mom, is that Pedro driving the car?
MARISOL: Yes, but we never saw him! Do you understand?
JULIETA: More or less. What’s going on, mom?
MARISOL: Julieta! Questions! Questions!
JULIETA: Well, if only you would answer me, I wouldn’t keep on asking!
MATIAS, FOLLOWED BY PATRICIA AND ROBERTO, ANGRILY WALKS
INTO THE OFFICE WHERE MARIANO IS SITTING AT THE DESK.
PATRICIA: Calm down, Matías! Calm down!
MATIAS: What happened to my horse? It disappeared!
MARIANO: Matías, the horse is in the old stable.
MATIAS: No, the horse is not there and no one knows anything about it.
MARIANO: It can’t be! I’m telling you, the horse is there!
ROBERTO: Matías is right. The horse has disappeared. The workers
went looking for it and they
couldn’t find neither the horse nor Pedro Balmaceda.
MARIANO: What’s going here? Are they trying to drive me crazy?
GUNTHER APPEARS AT THE DOOR AND CALLS PATRICIA TO HIM.
IN THE MEANTIME, ROBERTO CONTINUES TALKING TO MARIANO.
ROBERTO: I think….
MARIANO: No! Don’t think! Bring that horse to the estancia!
PATRICIA: Mariano?
MARIANO: What is it?
PATRICIA: Gunther has something to tell you.
MARIANO: Well, I’m listening! Talk!
GUNTHER: I saw the little sabandija* (Julieta) walking towards the old
stables, a little while ago!
MATIAS: I’m sure she has something to do with all this!
MARIANO: Enough! Enough! Matías, please, please! Yes, Gunther.
Go get the girl. Bring her.
I want to talk to her!
GUNTHER: Yes!
PATRICIA: Calm down, my love! The horse will soon show up!
*THIS IS A TIME WHEN GUNTHER WAS STILL PRETENDING TO BE THE TOUGH,
MEAN GUY. HE OFTEN REFERRED TO JULIETA AS SABANDIJA, WHICH MEANS A SMALL
REPTILE OR LIZARD.
ERICA, ANA LAURA’S SISTER, IS SITTING ON A BENCH
IN A SHADED AREA OF THE ESTANCIA. HER CELL PHONE RINGS. IT’S ANA
LAURA CALLING.
ERICA: Girl, at last! Where are you? We are all worried! Where are you?
ANA LAURA: I’m fine. How is everything around the house?
ERICA: You don’t know the confusion you caused! You didn’t realize
how bad it was going to
be, did you?
ANA LAURA: I’m on my way to Buenos Aires. I’ll call you later.
ERICA: All right. Where will you be? Hello? Hello?
-FRANCISCO IS SPYING FROM BEHIND THE TREES-
ERICA: Who’s there? Who’s there?
-GUNTHER, DRAGGING JULIETA BY THE EAR, ENTERS THE OFFICE-
GUNTHER; Here’s the Sabandija!
JULIETA: What is it? What do you want from me?
MARIANO: We want you to tell us where my horse is!
JULIETA: How do I know?
PATRICIA: Gunther saw you walking towards the old stables.
JULIETA: I always play over there!
MATIAS: She knows where it is. She’s a liar!
JULIETA: And you’re an idiot, little boy!
-MARIANO GETS UP FROM HIS CHAIR AND GRABS JULIETA BY
THE ARM-
MARIANO: Enough! Enough! If you know where the horse is, you better tell
me now, because if you
don’t, you and your mother will be in big, big trouble!
-MARISOL WALKS IN-
MARISOL: Leave my daughter alone! It’s not enough for you to be
bothering adults, now you are
going to start with the children?
-PEDRO AND ANA LAURA STOP AT A GAS STATION. THE ATTENDANT
TELLS PEDRO THAT THEY DON’T ACCEPT THE DOLLAR AS CURRENCY.
PEDRO: What do you mean, you don’t take dollar bills? That’s
all I have, brother!
ATTENDANT: I’m sorry.
PEDRO: Ana, they don’t accept dollar bills. Do you have any money
on you?
ANA LAURA: What do you mean, they don’t accept dollar bills? He’s
putting you on, give me that!
-WHILE ANA LAURA IS ARGUING WITH THE ATTENDANT, PEDRO
SEES ALVARO AT THE SAME GAS STATION. PEDRO TRIES TO GET ANA LAURA’S
ATTENTION BUT SHE IGNORES HIM AND CONTINUES ARGUING. PEDRO THEN GRABS
HER ARM AND PULLS HER BEHIND THE HORSE TRAILER-
ANA LAURA: What is the matter with you?
-SHE THEN SEES ALVARO-
ANA LAURA: What’s is my father-in-law doing here? Why didn’t
you tell me my father-in-law is here?
PEDRO: I did!
ANA LAURA: But, why? How am I going to get rid of him?
PEDRO: Keep your little mouth shut, and trust me, okay?
-ALVARO APPROACHES THE TRAILER AND PEDRO WALKS TOWARDS
HIM, PREVENTING HIM FROM COMING NEAR THE TRAILER, WHERE ANA LAURA IS HIDING-
PEDRO: What a surprise!
ALVARO: Exactly! What are you doing here?
PEDRO: I’m on my way to Buenos Aires.
ALVARO: And what do you have back there?
PEDRO: Nothing, sir.
ALVARO: Nothing!
-BACK IN THE ESTANCIA, CECILIA HAD JOINED THE GROUP IN
THE OFFICE-
MARISOL: We are not leaving until you apologize to my daughter!
CECILIA: Enough! We all are under a lot of duress! Let’s forget this
episode and let’s all go back
our proper places.
MARISOL: Are you sure you’re where you belong, aunt?
-THE MAIDS (ROSA, MAGDA AND LISA) ARE OUTSIDE THE DOOR,
LISTENING TO THE CONVERSATION-
CECILIA: Don’t ever call me that again!
-LISA, WHISPERS THAT SHE DIDN’T KNOW MARISOL WAS
CECILIA’S NIECE. ROSA TELLS HER SHE BETTER FORGET SHE HEARD ANYTHING-
MARISOL: Listen to me, Mariano. Don’t you ever lay a finger on my
daughter again, and do not let
that man (Gunther) get near her. Next time, I’ll let the law handle
it!
MARIANO: The law! How ungrateful! Don’t forget you’re living
here on charity!
MARISOL: I’d rather be living on charity than being an usurper!
CECILIA: That’s enough! Leave, now!
MARISOL: Yes, we’re leaving. This place stinks! -MARISOL
AND JULIETA LEAVE-
PATRICIA: Well! Where does she get off acting that way! What an attitude!
MARIANO: Resentment! Nothing more!
-THE TELEPHONE RINGS-
CECILIA: Answer, Mariano! It could be news from Anita!
-BACK AT THE GAS STATION-
PEDRO: Don Alvaro, I didn’t have another alternative.
ALVARO: Come on, don’t lie to me Balmaceda.
PEDRO: Me?
ALVARO: Yes, you.
PEDRO: No, sir.
ALVARO: I don’t like this kind of games. I want to know what are
you going to do with that horse!
-ALL THIS TIME THAT PEDRO HAS BEEN TALKING TO ALVARO,
ANA LAURA COMICALLY HAS BEEN APPEARING AND DISAPPEARING FROM VIEW, HIDING
FROM ALVARO-
PEDRO: Ah! The horse! I decided to get him out of the finca. He’s
really suffering much abuse!
ALVARO: Does Mariano know about this?
PEDRO: No. I didn’t want to bother him. He has enough problems already!
ALVARO: I don’t really care what you do with this horse. I was never
in favor of this deal.
PEDRO: Yes. If you’d like, I will talk to Señora Victoria.
We can undo the deal and that’ll be the
end of it!
ALVARO: Victoria is in Buenos Aires?
PEDRO: I believe so.
ALVARO: Fine. You talk to Victoria. I will talk with my son.
-ALVARO WALKS AWAY-
ANA LAURA: Did he leave?
PEDRO: I don’t know. Yes. I told you, you could trust me.
ANA LAURA: Why didn’t you let me know sooner?
PEDRO: I did.
ANA LAURA: You scared me to death!
PEDRO: You were arguing with the attendant.
ANA LAURA: I hope next time you react at the proper time!
-ANA LAURA WALKS AWAY ANGRILY AND GOES TO PAY FOR THE
GAS. PEDRO, TALKING TO HIMSELF-
PEDRO: I wonder if she’s always this way!
-BACK TO ERICA AND FRANCISCO-
ERICA: Francisco, I saw you! Were you spying on me?
FRANCISCO: No, of course not!
ERICA: Did you listen to the conversation?
FRANCISCO: You were talking to your sister, right?
ERICA: Look! If you say a word of this to anyone, I swear….
FRANCISCO: I’m not saying a word!
-LETICIA ARRIVES IN THE SCENE-
LETICIA: Any news?
ERICA: Yes. Ana called….. -ERICA TO FRANCISCO:
Is there anything else?
FRANCISCO: No. Nothing else. I’ll see you later. –FRANCISCO
LEAVES-
ERICA: Ana called and said she’s fine, but she didn’t say where
she was….
LETICIA: There are many places where she could have gone. Most likely,
she’s at Samantha’s house.
ERICA: Samantha?
LETICIA: Where else could she go in Buenos Aires? Come on, let’s
go!
-CARMEN WAS HIDING BEHIND A TREE AND HEARD THIS INFORMATION
REGARDING ANA LAURA’S WHEREABOUTS-
-ALVARO AND MARIANO ARE TALKING IN THE OFFICE. ALVARO IS SITTING AT THE
DESK-
MARIANO: That horse is mine! It shouldn’t have left the estancia!
ALVARO: When things get off to a bad start, it’s best to put a stop
to them before they become a problem.
MARIANO: The only problem here is Pedro Balmaceda! Since he got here,
he continues to…..
ALVARO: There are things more important than Pedro Balmaceda or that horse,
son!
MARIANO: For me, that horse and the competition are important! Very important!
ALVARO: More important than Ana Laura? More important than the possibility
of losing these
lands or Ignacio’s enterprises?
MARIANO: I’m not letting anyone walk all over me!
ALVARO: If what happened to you, had happened to me, I assure you…….
-ROBERTO WALKS IN AT THIS POINT-
ROBERTO: I’ve got news! Carmen listened to a conversation between
Erica and Leticia. They were
talking about Anita. According to them, Anita is at this house belonging
to an artist by the name of…..
MARIANO: Samantha! Of course! Samantha!
ALVARO: What are you waiting for? Go look for her, already!
MARIANO: Roberto, come with me.
-MARIANO AND ROBERTO LEAVE. ALVARO REMAINS IN THE OFFICE.
THE PHONE RINGS. ALVARO ANSWERS. IT’S VICTORIA, CALLING FROM HER
HOUSE IN BUENOS AIRES-
VICTORIA: May I speak with Mr. Mariano Linares, please?
-ALVARO RECOGNIZES VICTORIA’S VOICE-
ALVARO: Victoria, is that you?
-PEDRO AND ANA LAURA ARE STANDING OUTSIDE SAMANTHA’S
HOUSE. SAMANTHA IS NOT HOME, BUT ANA LAURA HAS CALLED HER AND SHE’S
ON HER WAY HOME-
PEDRO: Your friend, will she take long?
ANA LAURA: I honestly don’t know, but if you want to leave, go ahead.
It’s not a problem. I can stay
here by myself.
PEDRO: You never stop, do you? You really like to quarrel, don’t
you?
ANA LAURA: If I like to quarrel or not, I’m sorry to tell you that
your predictions were wrong! No one
is looking for me, as you can see!
PEDRO: Okay! You are right, señorita!
ANA LAURA: I don’t like people to agree with me as if I were crazy!
PEDRO: Listen! Nothing ever pleases you, does it?
ANA LAURA: Well, enough, Pedro! Stop questioning me all the time! I’m
very nervous!
-ERICA AND LETICIA ARRIVE AT THIS MOMENT. ERICA AND LETICIA
GET OUT OF THE TRUCK AND RUN TO HUG ANA LAURA-
ANA LAURA: I can’t believe it! How did you guess I was here?
LETICIA: Where else could you be?
-ERICA AND LETICIA NOTICE PEDRO STANDING NEXT TO THEM
AND LOOK TO ANA LAURA FOR AN EXPLANATION-
ANA LAURA: This is Pedro Balmaceda. He was coming to Buenos Aires and
I decided to travel with
him, but he was just leaving.
-PEDRO SEEMS SURPRISED THAT ANA LAURA IS DISMISSING HIM
IN THAT MANNER. ANA LAURA PULLS HIM TO THE SIDE-
ANA LAURA: I appreciate everything you did for me, except the unasked
for advice. Ciao! Thank you
very much! Ciao!
-PEDRO GIVES HER AN INCREDULOUS LOOK AND WALKS AWAY WITHOUT
SAYING A WORD-
LETICIA: Who is this bombón?* Where did you get the chance to
meet him?
-ANA LAURA DOESN’T HAVE TIME TO ANSWER LETICIA BECAUSE
AT THIS TIME, SHE SEES MARIANO ARRIVING AND STOPPING IN FRONT OF SAMANTHA’S
HOUSE. ANA LAURA THEN TELLS ERICA AND LETICIA TO KEEP MARIANO OCCUPIED
WHILE SHE GOES AFTER PEDRO. PEDRO WAS ABOUT TO GET IN THE CAR WHEN ANA
LAURA CALLS OUT TO HIM-
ANA LAURA: Pedro, I’m going with you.
PEDRO: I thought you wanted me to leave alone!
ANA LAURA: Forget what I said earlier! I’m going with you, okay?
Excuse me, excuse me!
-ANA LAURA GETS IN THE CAR, TO PEDRO’S ASTONISHMENT-
-ALVARO, ON THE PHONE, STILL WITH VICTORIA-
ALVARO: I’m talking to you in this tone of voice because I don’t
understand what you are trying
to accomplish with all this!
VICTORIA: I’m not trying to accomplish anything! I sold your son
a horse! What’s the problem?
ALVARO: The problem is that I don’t believe you. What is it that
you’re after?
VICTORIA: Nothing, Alvaro. You’re seeing ghosts everywhere, as always!
ALVARO: Why don’t you undo this deal? If it’s a matter of more
money, I’ll take care of it!
VICTORIA: That’s something I’d have to talk to Mariano about.
ALVARO: He has more pressing problems at the moment.
VICTORIA: I’m sorry, but I didn’t call to talk to you. Tell
your son I called. Thank you.
-SHE HANGS UP THE PHONE. ALVARO IS STILL HOLDING THE
PHONE, WHEN CECILIA, HIS WIFE, WALKS IN THE OFFICE-
CECILIA: Who were you talking to?
ALVARO: No one. They wanted to talk to Mariano.
CECILIA: He’s not here?
ALVARO: No. He went looking for Ana Laura.
CECILIA: Where did he go to look for her?
ALVARO: I don’t know. I don’t know, Cecilia. –ALVARO
LEAVES THE OFFICE-
*Bombón - Bonbon. As you probably noticed, this word was commonly
used in the novela by several people to describe a certain male specimen!
-TOTI IS IN THE STABLES BRUSHING DOWN LUNITA. JULIETA
IS KEEPING HIM COMPANY. MATIAS SHOWS UP-
MATIAS: Get Luna ready for me!
JULIETA: Why don’t you let her rest!
MATIAS: Why do you get involved? Didn’t you learn your lesson?
JULIETA: You just acted that way because you were surrounded by grown-ups!
TOTI: Stop! Stop! That behavior is only fitting to selfish people!
JULIETA: There’s no one more selfish than him!
MATIAS: And there’s no one more stupid than you, little girl!
JULIETA: Why don’t you go get Gunther so he can hit me again?
MATIAS: Shut up! I don’t know why I even bother listening to you!
Why don’t you shut up, little girl?
-MATIAS, TO TOTI: Are you getting Luna ready, or not?
JULIETA: If he bites down his tongue, he’ll die from poisoning!
-BACK TO SAMANTHA’S HOUSE. PEDRO AND ANA LAURA MANAGE
TO LEAVE WITHOUT MARIANO AND ROBERTO NOTICING. MARIANO AND ROBERTO APPROACH
ERICA AND LETICIA-
MARIANO: Well, well! It looks like we got the same information!
ERICA: Do you know anything about Ana?
MARIANO: No. I don’t know anything. Why don’t you tell me where
she’s hiding?
LETICIA: What are you talking about? We came to see if Samantha knows
anything.
MARIANO: You haven’t talked to Ana?
ERICA: No. We would have told you if we had.
MARIANO: Really?
LETICIA: Look! Here’s Samantha now.
SAMANTHA: What happened to Ana Laura? She called me.
MARIANO: She called you?
ERICA: Yes! She called you but surely it was before the wedding, because
she disappeared afterwards!
SAMANTHA: Of course! Of course! It’s been a couple of days since
I talked to her! Excuse me,
what are all of you doing here?
MARIANO: We are looking for Ana Laura. She disappeared. We can’t
find her.
LETICIA: And we thought maybe you would know something.
SAMANTHA: Me? Me? No! I don’t have any idea where she could be!
LETICIA: This is such a strange behavior for Ana Laura!
ROBERTO: It is strange! And something could have happened to her!
SAMANTHA: Did you notify the police?
MARIANO: We notified the whole world! If you hear anything…..
ERICA: We’ll let you know!
-PEDRO AND ANA LAURA IN THE CAR-
ANA LAURA: All this is madness!
PEDRO: Don’t say that! Calm down!
ANA LAURA: That’s easy for you to say. You are seeing things from
the outside.
PEDRO: What do you mean from the outside! I’m in all this with you!
I’m involved in everything!
ANA LAURA: What’s the matter? Are you recriminating me all your help?
PEDRO: No, it’s not that. What I’m trying to say is that I think
you are doing the right thing.
Follow your feelings. If you don’t want to get married, no one can
force you. Don’t get married!
ANA LAURA: It’s not that I don’t want to get married! It’s
that they lied to me! They betrayed me!
PEDRO: Well, then. Go to that man and ask him to forgive you! Marry him
and that’s that!
ANA LAURA: I can’t ask him for forgiveness! He doesn’t deserve
it!
PEDRO: Then, don’t get married and let that miserable man pay the
price!
ANA LAURA: Oh! How easy everything is for you! Get married! Don’t
get married! Honestly,
I’m sick of your advice!
-AT THIS POINT, ANA LAURA IS ABOUT TO EXIT THE CAR, BUT
PEDRO STOPS HER AND HOLDS HER BY THE ARMS-
PEDRO: Okay! Okay! I won’t give you any more advice! No more advice.
But I don’t want to
leave you like this! Let me help you!
ANA LAURA: All right, I’m staying. But let’s not forget our
places, okay?
-PEDRO THEN REALIZES HE’S HOLDING HER, AND RELEASES
HER
-BACK TO THE ESTANCIA. IN THE LIVING ROOM, IGNACIO IS
STANDING, WHILE CECILIA IS SITTING ACROSS FROM ALVARO AND FLORIA. . THE
PHONE RINGS. IGNACIO ANSWERS-
IGNACIO: Mariano, at last!
MARIANO: False alarm, Ignacio. I couldn’t find her.
IGNACIO: Where are you?
MARIANO: Buenos Aires. My father, is he there?
IGNACIO: Yes. I’ll let you to talk to him.
–IGNACIO, TO EVERYONE IS THE ROOM: No news!
MARIANO, ON THE PHONE, TO ALVARO: The information
we got was wrong.. Any news of the horse?
ALVARO: Yes. Mrs. Duncan wants to talk to you.
MARIANO: Anything on Balmaceda?
ALVARO: No, she didn’t say anything about him. All right, son, goodbye.
FLORIA: What do you mean you don’t know where she is? She’s
got to be somewhere!
IGNACIO: It’s all right, mother. Come with me. Calm down.!
FLORIA: Yes, but we must look for her! She couldn’t have disappeared!
-IGNACIO AND FLORIA LEAVE THE ROOM. ALVARO IS ABOUT TO
FOLLOW THEM, WHEN CECILIA STOPS HIM-
CECILIA: Did you talk to Mrs, Duncan?
ALVARO: This is not the right moment, Cecilia.
CECILIA: Be careful! This time there’s a lot more at stake!
-BUENOS AIRES. VICTORIA’S HOUSE. PEDRO AND ANA LAURA
COME TO SEE HER. SHE COMES INTO THE ROOM AND HUGS PEDRO-
VICTORIA: It’s so good to see you again, Pedro!
PEDRO: Hello.
VICTORIA: Forgive me, you are…..
ANA LAURA: Ana Laura. How are you?
VICTORIA: You’re Anita! Anita! How beautiful….
-VICTORIA LOOKS FROM PEDRO TO ANA LAURA:
VICTORIA: Pardon me, the two of you…..what are you doing together?
-PEDRO AND ANA LAURA LOOK AT EACH OTHER BUT DON’T
SAY A WORD. THE SCENE THEN CONTINUES WHEN THE THREE OF THEM ARE SITTING
AND TALKING IN VICTORIA’S LIVING ROOM-
PEDRO: You cannot imagine how bad they are treating Chocolate in that
place!
VICTORIA: No, I don’t know. I tried talking to Linares, the son,
but I couldn’t find him.
ANA LAURA: Mariano?
VICTORIA: Why do you seem so upset?
PEDRO: Yesterday, Ana was supposed to have married Mariano but she left
him waiting.
VICTORIA: Yesterday? The day was yesterday? Pedro, what’s your involvement
in all this?
PEDRO: I have nothing to do with this! We are helping each other, that’s
all!
ANA LAURA: He’s helping me and I’m helping him because we are
both in trouble, that’s all!
VICTORIA: Yes! You are both in trouble, indeed!
PEDRO: Yes, but the problem will be resolved immediately, as soon as you
undo the deal with Chocolate!
VICTORIA: Please! What nonsense!
PEDRO: But they are mistreating him over there!
VICTORIA: I already sold it to them!
PEDRO: Yes, but the contract says….
VICTORIA: I know what the contract says! I signed it! This is an ethical
problem, not a legal matter.
So please, get that horse and take it back. You will apologize to Mariano
Linares…..
PEDRO: No, please! Don’t ask me to…..
VICTORIA: No arguments, Pedro. Because if you don’t do it voluntarily,
I will order you to do it!
-TOTI IS WALKING THROUGH THE STABLES WHEN HE SEES FRANCISCO
SITTING ON A BALE OF HAY-
TOTI: Yeah! Lazy vagrant!
FRANCISCO: No, I’m not a lazy vagrant! I take advantage of the opportunities
that come my way.
There is a difference!
TOTI: Yes, and you’ll soon have the opportunity to find yourself
out of here and on the street!
-TOTI WALKS AWAY AND ERICA, ANGRILY, APPROACHES FRANCISCO-
ERICA: So, you wouldn’t say anything, right? Do you want to tell
me who told Mariano he could
find Ana Laura in Buenos Aires? Was it you?
-MARISOL AND JULIETA ARE IN THEIR KITCHEN. MARISOL IS
FROSTING A CAKE-
JULIETA: He should have said goodbye to me! Are men always this way?
MARISOL: Some of them. But I don’t think Pedro is that kind of men.
JULIETA: Well, he didn’t behave very well with me! We had plans!
MARISOL: Plans! Well, then perhaps he’ll come back.
JULIETA: You would really like that, right?
-JULIETA DIPS A FINGER INTO A BOWL CONTAINING THE FILLING
FOR THE CAKE-
MARISOL: That’s disgusting! What are you talking about?
JULIETA: You’re not going to tell me he is not cute?
MARISOL: Julieta, I don’t think this is an appropriate subject for
someone your age!
JULIETA: There’s no age limit when it comes to love!
MARISOL: You are terrible! And getting worse every day!
-THERE’S A KNOCK AT THE DOOR. MARISOL GOES TO ANSWER.
IT’S CECILIA-
CECILIA: May I come in?
MARISOL: How odd! You, threading through the land of the poor!
CECILIA: I want to talk to you about something very important.
-MARISOL DOES NOT ANSWER, BUT LOOKS WORRIEDLY TOWARDS
JULIETA-
-ALVARO IS IN THE OFFICE. IGNACIO WALKS IN. ALVARO SITS
VERY AUTHORITATIVELY AT IGNACIO’S DESK. IGNACIO TAKES A SEAT ACROSS
THE DESK-
IGNACIO: We need to talk.
ALVARO: If it’s regarding what I think it is, there’s not much
to say. Without a wedding, there’s no
Fusion, and in that case, the numbers don’t add up. Was that the
topic?
IGNACIO: So, you’re telling me that if Ana doesn’t want to marry
Mariano, you’ll want to settle the accounts.
ALVARO: That was the agreement. I’m sorry.
IGNACIO: You’re sorry! You haven’t been sorry or cared about
anything for a long time!
ALVARO: And you, because you care too much, caused your own downfall!
IGNACIO: You put me in that position!
ALVARO: The role of victim doesn’t suit you!
IGNACIO: You’re killing me, Alvaro. With everything you’re doing,
you are killing me!
-ALVARO SHRUGS. IGNACIO LEAVES THE OFFICE-
-BACK TO VICTORIA’S HOUSE-
PEDRO: They don’t want me there. Why do you insist that I go back?
VICTORIA: Pedro, you have all my support!
ANA LAURA: Yes, mine too! If the horse has to stay, I’m going to
make sure they treat you right.
PEDRO: Yes, but first, you need to resolve your situation!
ANA LAURA: Right now, don’t worry about me. Worry about yourself.
Don’t give me any advice!
VICTORIA: Do you prefer to leave Chocolate alone?
PEDRO: Why did you choose me for this?
VICTORIA: Because you love that animal and because you are the best. Do
you need any more reasons?
ANA LAURA: Victoria is right. If you love that horse so much, you can’t
leave him here alone.
PEDRO: Fine, fine. But I’m telling you right now, I will never be
able to get along with Mariano
and the first time he…..
VICTORIA: Pedro, please! Let’s wait until that moment gets here.
-AT THIS TIME, THE DOOR BELL RINGS. MARIANO AND ROBERTO
ARE AT THE DOOR. THE HOUSEKEEPER LETS THEM IN-
MARIANO: I’m looking for Señora Victoria. Is she in?
-ANA LAURA AND PEDRO LOOK AT EACH OTHER AND ANA LAURA
THEN TRIES TO HIDE FROM VIEW, BY SLIDING DOWN THE SOFA SHE’S BEEN
SITTING ON-
-MARISOL, NEEDING TO TALK TO CECILIA, TELLS JULIETA TO
GO OUTSIDE AND PLAY, BUT TELLS HER TO STAY CLOSE TO THE HOUSE-
JULIETA: Are you sure you don’t want me to stay?
MARISOL: No, my love. It’s all right. Behave.
-JULIETA GOES OUTSIDE AND MARISOL ADDRESSES CECILIA-
MARISOL: What did you want to talk to me about?
CECILIA: I want you to leave the estancia. It’s not good for any
of us to have you here.
MARISOL: You don’t have the right to ask me that!
CECILIA: I will, very soon! I just want to gain some time. And if you
and your daughter leave,
there shouldn’t be any more problems. If you want, I can help you
find another place to
live. A residential position maybe, or the house of someone you know.
MARISOL: Like some puppies! Don’t event think I’m leaving this
place! Not unless Ignacio asks me to leave!
CECILIA: Ignacio?
MARISOL: As long as he owns this land, Julieta and I will remain here.
CECILIA: Don’t say later on, I didn’t warn you!
MARISOL: Is there anything else, aunt?
-CECILIA IS UPSET THAT MARISOL CALLS HER AUNT, BUT LEAVES
WITHOUT SAYING ANYTHING ELSE-
-BACK TO BUENOS AIRES. VICTORIA’S HOUSE. AFTER MARIANO
AND ROBERTO ARRIVE, THE SCENE CONTINUES WITH PEDRO AND ANA LAURA HIDING
BEHIND THE LIVING ROOM DRAPES, WHILE MARIANO AND ROBERTO COME IN AND BEGIN
TALKING WITH VICTORIA-
VICTORIA: Come in, please! Sit down!
-ANA IS TAKING A PEEK THROUGH THE DRAPES AND REALIZES
THAT HIDING BEHIND THEM IS NOT A VERY GOOD IDEA-
ANA LAURA: Have you gone crazy?
-PEDRO HOLDS HER BY THE ARMS, AND IS STANDING VERY CLOSE
TO HER, WHISPERING-
PEDRO: If you have a better idea, now is the time to say it!
ANA LAURA: They are going to see us!
PEDRO: They won’t, if you keep your little mouth shut!
ANA LAURA: You are holding me too tight!
PEDRO: Yes! I’ve noticed!
VICTORIA: I’ve asked you to come because I wanted to discuss business
with you. I believe it’s
best to deal with important matters in person.
MARIANO: I want my horse back….and without Pedro Balmaceda! I’m
here for that reason, señora,
nothing more!
-ERICA IS WALKING THROUGH THE ESTANCIA. FRANCISCO RUNS
AFTER HER-
FRANCISCO: Erica! I didn’t say anything to Mariano! I don’t
even know where your sister is!
ERICA: Francisco, I don’t want to listen nor talk to you!
FRANCISCO: I didn’t say anything!
ERICA: You listened to the conversation I had with Leticia and you were
spying on us!
FRANCISCO: No!
ERICA: Oh, now you are going to deny you spy on me! Who sends you? My
brother-in-law?
FRANCISCO: No one sends me! Is that clear? And yes, I spy on you. I do
it often, but I do it because..
ERICA: Why? Because you like me? Is that it?
FRANCISCO: Do you find that I’m beneath your station? Is that it?
ERICA: No, I’m just saying it’s impossible because we have nothing
in common. Can’t you see?
FRANCISCO: Yes, of course I see it, but I can’t help feel this way
and I…..
ERICA: And what?
FRANCISCO: Nothing! Forget I said anything!
ERICA: Fine! I’ll pretend you didn’t say anything! You aren’t
even willing to take a risk for
something that matters to you! What cowardice!
-ERICA WALKS AWAY AND JULIETA SUDDENLY APPEARS FROM BEHIND
A TREE-
JULIETA: Is she very angry? Why aren’t you running after her?
FRANCISCO: Are you giving me love advice?
JULIETA: No, it’s not love advice! It’s….feminine intuition!
But don’t waste your time trying to
understand. One has to be a woman to understand these things!
-JULIETA TAPS HIM ON THE CHEEK AND WALKS AWAY
-BACK TO THE SCENE WITH VICTORIA, MARIANO AND ROBERTO-
MARIANO: We are really not accustomed to accept so many impositions and
this matter of Pedro
Balmaceda being flung into our home, I feel, is pathetic and unpleasant….
VICTORIA: Well! Talking to me in that tone of voice, I doubt very much
we can arrive at a solution!
ROBERTO: Mrs. Duncan is right! Perhaps all we need is to review a few
points in regard to Pedro
Balmaceda’s presence in the estancia.
VICTORIA: No! Absolutely not! I brought Pedro specifically from Miami
so he could help the horse adapt to….
MARIANO: That horse is going to have to adapt!
-PEDRO, LISTENING BEHIND THE DRAPES, GETS ANGRY AT MARIANO’S
COMMENT-
VICTORIA: No, it doesn’t work that way. Pedro is vital to this horse.
You will understand that when
you meet him,
MARIANO: I have met him! I saw what he did with the horse! That boy’s
mind does not function properly!
VICTORIA: He says the horse is not receiving adequate care!
ROBERTO: I’m sorry, Señora. That’s not true!
VICTORIA: I believe everyone is interested in solving this problem without
anyone coming to any
harm. That’s why I thought it’d be a good idea to include Pedro
in this conversation. What do you think?
MARIANO: Fine. I agree with that. Do you know how to get a hold of him?
VICTORIA: Pedro? He should be arriving at any moment!
Some words in the Spanish language do not lend themselves to a literal
translation, without actually altering their meaning. One of the scenes
in this part of Provócame, contains a term used several times in
the novela. This is specifically in reference to the word negrito. The
cultural significance of this word varies greatly throughout Latin América.
For the most part, this word is used as a term of endearment between husband
and wife, between parent and child, and as a source of ethnic pride, particularly
in countries around the region of the Caribbean. In the case of the novela,
however, it is used by Mariano as a way of belittling Pedro’s station
in their lives. This word could have been left completely out of the narration,
but that wouldn’t have taken away the fact that the taped episodes
contain the word, and that there is an issue that is very much in evidence
throughout Latin América, and that is, class distinction. Being
a distinction for reasons of ethnicity, education, or financial status,
the reality is that it exists, and in this case, is part of the novela.
-PEDRO AND ANA LAURA ARE HIDING BEHIND THE DRAPES, WHILE
MARIANO AND ROBERTO TALK WITH VICTORIA-
PEDRO: Next time, try to choose a better husband, okay?
ANA LAURA: No, it’s not that. I don’t understand what’s
happening!
PEDRO: Well, Señora Victoria called me. I need to show up.
ANA LAURA: No, wait, you can’t! Look, I’ll come out and resolve
this.
PEDRO: No! You’re not going anywhere. You will stay right here!
ANA LAURA: You’re not going to order me around!
PEDRO: Well, this time you’ll have to make an exception.
ANA LAURA: Where are you going?
PEDRO: Out there!
-PEDRO RUNS, UNNOTICED, TOWARDS THE FRONT DOOR, AND PRETENDS,
LATER ON, THAT HE JUST ARRIVED-
MARIANO: Is he going to take long?
VICTORIA: No. He should be here soon. More coffee?
BACK IN THE ESTANCIA. IGNACIO IS IN HIS BEDROOM, WHEN
PATRICIA WALKS IN. GUNTHER COMES IN AFTER HER, CARRYING SEVERAL PACKAGES
CONTAINING PATRICIA’S PURCHASES. GUNTHER WANTS TO STAY AND ARRANGE
THE PACKAGES, BUT PATRICIA DISMISSES HIM-
PATRICIA: Ignacio, my love, I bought you a shirt. I’ve been looking
for this shirt for a long time.
IGNACIO: I appreciate it, but I don’t want anything, specially right
now. What’s wrong with you? Aren’t you concerned about Ana?
PATRICIA: Of course I’m concerned. But I know she did this on purpose.
IGNACIO: What?
PATRICIA: She’s jealous because Mariano bought the horse for Matías,
my love.
IGNACIO: How did you come to that stupid conclusion?
PATRICIA: It’s not stupid. You’re over here worried sick and
any minute now she is going to walk through the door as if nothing has
happened, you’ll see.
IGNACIO: Ana’s disappearance is not the only thing bothering me and
you know it.
PATRICIA: But she’s the only solution, my love. If only you’d
tell her.
IGNACIO: No! I rather die than to let her think I’m trading her like
merchandise.
PATRICIA: Here we go! Getting all dramatic again! After all, she’s
marrying Mariano Linares! Do you know how many women wish they were so
lucky, my love?
IGNACIO: It’s evident that your view on life differs greatly from
mine.
PATRICIA: Yes, and that’s the reason I drive you crazy!
-SHE KISSES HIM AND WALKS OUT OF THE ROOM-
-IN THE KITCHEN, GUNTHER IS TASTING A MEAL PREPARED BY
ROSA. MAGDA IS ALSO THERE-
ROSA: I spent all morning preparing this.
GUNTHER: Agh! This is terrible! Everything around here is always so spicy.
MAGDA: That’s the way meals are prepared in this house. If you don’t
like it, go into town and have your meals there.
GUNTHER: What I don’t like is the way you are talking to me. If you
don’t change your tone of voice, blood will run!
MAGDA: Yes. Yours! Go do your job, fatso!
GUNTHER: Fatso? Who are you calling fatso?
-PATRICIA APPEARS AT THE DOOR-
PATRICIA: Gunther!
GUNTHER: Yes, Frau Patricia.
PATRICIA: Please, have them prepare me tea and some toast. I’ll be
in the sauna.
GUNTHER: Did you hear?
MAGDA: Yes, we heard.
GUNTHER: And what are you waiting for?
MAGDA: For you to leave!
-GUNTHER WALKS AWAY ANGRILY-
ROSA: This man is not normal. Is he?
MAGDA: Normal? In this house, lately, nothing is normal!
-VICTORIA’S HOUSE. PEDRO WALKS IN AND JOINS THE
GROUP-
VICTORIA: Pedro, how fortunate that you arrive, because the situation
here is becoming very tense.
MARIANO: What you did with the horse is unforgivable!
PEDRO: Unforgivable is everything all of you have done!
MARIANO: Do you see what I mean, señora? You can’t talk to
me that way! Is that clear?
VICTORIA: May we please talk rationally?
PEDRO: I’ll try! But he has to remember there’s a contract that
protects the animal and I’m going to make sure the contract is followed,
no matter what!
MARIANO: The #%@ with the contract! You have to treat me with respect!
You have to remember your place!
ROBERTO: Boys, please remember you are in the presence of a lady!
PEDRO: Señora, Do you see what I’m talking about? He’s
always trying to humiliate people!
MARIANO: Just what I suspected! A resentful negrito, aspiring to be the
boss!
PEDRO: What did you say? I didn’t hear you!
ROBERTO: Boys! Please!
MARIANO: A resentful negrito, aspiring to be boss! And with a violent
temper, as well!
-PEDRO AND MARIANO LAUNCH AT EACH OTHER. VICTORIA TRIES
TO RESTRAIN PEDRO AND ROBERTO TRIES TO RESTRAIN MARIANO. MARIANO PUSHES
ROBERTO OUT OF THE WAY AND APPROACHES PEDRO, BUT PEDRO IS FASTER THAN
MARIANO AND HE PUNCHES HIM ON THE FACE, DRAWING BLOOD FROM MARIANO’S
NOSE. MARIANO LOOKS STUNNED THAT PEDRO ACTUALLY HIT HIM. PEDRO IS ABSOLUTELY
LIVID-
PEDRO: Do you want more from the negrito?
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