Provócame

Episode 23

MARISOL: What are you talking about, Mariano?
MARIANO: Do you think is wrong that Julieta wants to know who her father is?
JULIETA: Yes, mom, I want to know!
MARISOL: Julieta knows everything she needs to know!
MARIANO: No, no, that’s not true. Children have many doubts.
MARISOL: In any case, that is a matter between she and I. You have nothing to do with this.
JULIETA: Mariano is just trying to help, mom!
MARIANO: Yes, of course! I’m just trying to help, Juli, but I don’t know why your mother’s been acting this way with me, lately.
MARISOL: I’m a very complicated person.
MARIANO: I don’t know why you’re angry with me all the time. I really think we could get along very well, providing we stop arguing, of course.
JULIETA: Yes, Mariano is right.
MARISOL: Get out of my house.
MARIANO: All right, if that’s what you really want. What else can we do, Juli; that’s just the way your mother is. Ciao!

-MARIANO EXITS THE HOUSE-

JULIETA: Mom, what does Mariano know about my father?
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-IN THE UTILITY SHED, ANA LAURA HAS LOST ALL CONTROL AND IS ANGRILY BANGING ON THE DOOR, SCREAMING FOR HELP. PEDRO IS STANDING TO THE SIDE TRYING TO KEEP CALM-

ANA LAURA: Please! Please! Someone open this door and get me out of here!
PEDRO: Ana Laura, please! Stop yelling!

-SHE MOVES AWAY FROM THE DOOR AND COMES AND STANDS CLOSE TO HIS FACE-

ANA LAURA: Don’t tell me to stop yelling! The only thing I want is for someone to get me out of here!
PEDRO: If Mariano hears you, we’re going to be in serious trouble! Do you understand?

-ANA LAURA HITS HIM ON THE CHEST-

ANA LAURA: You’re enjoying this, aren’t you? This is all your fault! You did this on purpose!

-SHE MOVES AWAY FROM HIM AND WALKS TO STAND BY THE DOOR AGAIN. PEDRO IS BEGINNING TO LOSE HIS PATIENCE-

PEDRO: It’s a good thing I know you, or else I would think the confinement is altering your nerves! But I know you!

-ANA LAURA ANGRILY BEATS ON THE DOOR-

ANA LAURA: Don’t talk to me that way! Don’t treat me like an idiot!

-SHE’S HYSTERICAL AND ALMOST IN TEARS BY NOW. PEDRO IS INCREDULOUS AND CAN’T HELP LAUGH AT HER IRRATIONAL BEHAVIOR . SHE COMES NEAR HIM AGAIN AND BRINGS HER FACE CLOSE TO HIM-

ANA LAURA: I’m not crazy! And please don’t laugh at me, that it makes me very angry! All right?

-SHE IS ABSOLUTELY LIVID. PEDRO LOOKS AT HER BUT REMAINS SILENT. HE’S TRYING VERY HARD TO KEEP HIS COMPOSURE-

ANA LAURA: And now you’re going to tell me that you’re not laughing at anything, isn’t that so? Like always! Like always! “Why are you laughing, my love? Just because!” “Why are you living with Marisol? Just because!” Isn’t it true?
PEDRO: You always like to mix everything up, don’t you?
ANA LAURA: I mix everything up?
PEDRO: Yes! Yes! Yes!
ANA LAURA: I mixed everything up? Do you want to know something? You have feelings for me and you don’t have the courage to admit it! The only thing you do is live with Marisol and Julieta!
PEDRO: Yes! Because I want to protect them! I want to protect the three of you! Marisol, Julieta and you! That’s all!

-ANA LAURA GOES BACK TO THE DOOR AND ANGRILY BANGS ON IT AGAIN-

ANA LAURA: No! The truth is that you’re a canchero! Isn’t that the truth?

-PEDRO IS VERY ANGRY NOW. HE YELLS AT HER-

PEDRO: You love getting me angry, don’t you? Is that what you like?

-ANA LAURA GOES BACK AND LEANS ON THE DOOR-

ANA LAURA: And you like to play both fields!

-PEDRO WALKS TOWARDS THE DOOR AND STANDS FACING HER-

PEDRO: No, querida! No! No! I don’t like to play both fields!
ANA LAURA: Oh, you don’t?
PEDRO: No! No!
ANA LAURA: No? Then, why don’t you make up your mind and make a decision! Decide, who do you like; me, or Marisol!
PEDRO: I’ve already told you! I already told you what I think and what I feel, but there’s nothing I can do about that!
ANA LAURA: Oh, no?
PEDRO: No!
ANA LAURA: There’s nothing you can do? It’s a real pity! There’s nothing you can do! What a pity! You could at least show me!
PEDRO: Do you want me to show you that I love you?
ANA LAURA: Yes!
PEDRO: You want me show you….here and now….how I feel?
ANA LAURA: Yes, I’d love that!

-PEDRO COMES CLOSE AND IS ABOUT TO KISS HER, BUT ANA LAURA ANGRILY WALKS AWAY FROM HIM-

ANA LAURA: Why, Balmaceda! You touch me and I swear I will kill you!

-IN HER ANGER, SHE GRABS ONTO A WATER PIPE, SHAKING IT AND ACCIDENTLY BRAKING IT. WATER THEN SPRAYS ALL OVER HER FACE AND CHEST. THAT SEEMS TO HAVE A CALMING EFFECT ON HER. PEDRO, STILL STANDING BY THE DOOR, SEES THIS AND LAUGHS AT HER WITH ABANDONMENT-
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TOTI: Have you ran some tests yet?
LISA: No, not yet. And until I do, there’s a possibility that this is not what I think it is. But….
TOTI: But you must have the test done. If you’d like, I can go to the pharmacy in the village and buy the kit that……

-THEY ARE SUDDENLY INTERRUPTED BY GUNTHER, WHO ENTERS THE ROOM AND, USING A LOUD WHISTLE, BEGINS TO MAKE USE OF HIS AUTHORITY. TOTI AND LISA COVER THEIR EARS FROM THE LOUD NOISE FROM THE WHISTLE-

GUNTHER: You both receive a yellow card for talking during working hours!
TOTI: You are nothing but a little thing now! You are no longer a majordomo, so don’t come and bother us! Please!
GUNTHER: When you address me, please address me as general inspector of the property! Is that clear? Another yellow card, for not recognizing the authority of the general inspector.

-TOTI HAS HAD ENOUGH. HE SLOWLY STANDS UP FROM THE BED AND COMES CLOSE TO GUNTHER’S FACE-

TOTI: Will you stop bothering us, piñata!

-LISA STANDS UP AND COMES BETWEEN TOTI AND GUNTHER, TRYING TO AVOID A CONFRONTATION-

LISA: That’s enough! Enough! It’s doesn’t make sense to waste your time on Gunther! Come on!

-LISA AND TOTI LEAVE THE ROOM-

GUNTHER: They’re deadly afraid of me!
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-JULIETA AND MARISOL ARE SITTING AT THE TABLE-

JULIETA: Mom, why don’t you tell me the truth about everything?
MARISOL: Julieta, I’ve already told you that you can’t believe everything Mariano tells you.
JULIETA: Why did you get so nervous?
MARISOL: Because he makes me nervous.
JULIETA: You always end up fighting about one reason or another! Why can’t you be friends, if only for a little while?
MARISOL: No, I already you a thousand times that I can’t be Mariano’s friend.

-MARISOL STANDS UP AND WALKS TO THE SINK-

JULIETA: Mom, there’s something you don’t want to tell me; I’m not dumb.

-MARISOL TRIED TO OPEN THE FAUCET BUT NOT WATER CAME OUT-

MARISOL: What happened now? Julieta, did you shut the water main?
JULIETA: No, mom, I don’t do childish pranks.
MARISOL: Why isn’t there any running water?
JULIETA: Did you forget to pay the water bill?
MARISOL: Don’t be silly.
JULIETA: Let me try it.

-JULIETA TURNS ON THE FAUCET. THERE’S STILL NO RUNNING WATER-

JULIETA: No, there’s no water.
MARISOL: I wonder what’s wrong.
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-IN THE SHED, PEDRO AND ANA LAURA ARE NOW RESIGNEDLY LEANING ON THE DOOR. ALL THE ANGER AND FRUSTRATION ANA LAURA SHOWED EARLIER SEEM TO HAVE LESSENED, ALTHOUGH SHE STILL SEEMS ANXIOUS TO GET OUT-

ANA LAURA: I want to get out of here.
PEDRO: Are you afraid?
ANA LAURA: No! I’m not afraid! Who am I going to be afraid of?
PEDRO: Me!
ANA LAURA: No, I’m not afraid of you! I just want to get out! Can’t you open this door?
PEDRO: There is no latch!
ANA LAURA: But, isn’t there anything you can do to open this door?
PEDRO: I’d love to take you out of here!
ANA LAURA: Ah! I know! You’d love for me to leave!

-SHE WALKS AWAY FROM HIM AND LEANS ON SOME OLD CRATES. SHE’S STANDING WITH HER BACK TO HIM-

PEDRO: Yes. Yes. Yes, I’d love for you to leave.
ANA LAURA: Of course, because you don’t like being with me, right?

-PEDRO HAS WALKED TOWARDS HER AND IS STANDING RIGHT BEHIND HER, LETTING HIS GAZE TRAVEL IN APPRECIATION OF HER BODY. ANA LAURA SENSES HIS PROXIMITY AND LOOKS OVER HER SHOULDER IN TIME TO SEE WHAT HE WAS DOING-

ANA LAURA: Why are you looking at me like that?
PEDRO: Like that? How?

-SHE TURNS AROUND AND FACES HIM. THEY STAND VERY CLOSE TO EACH OTHER-

ANA LAURA: Like that; the way you’re looking at me.
PEDRO: Does it bother you very much?
ANA LAURA: Yes! It bothers me very much! And I don’t like it when you provoke me.
PEDRO: Ah! You love to provoke me, but you don’t like it when I provoke you!
ANA LAURA: No, I don’t provoke you.
PEDRO: Yes, you do! You do it all the time!
ANA LAURA: No, I don’t. You’re wrong.
PEDRO: How proud you are! How proud you are!
ANA LAURA: I’m not proud at all.
PEDRO: Yes, you are. Look, you’re freezing to death and still you don’t ask me to put my arms around you.
ANA LAURA: No, I’m not cold at all.
PEDRO: You don’t…..
ANA LAURA: I’m not even trembling.
PEDRO: You don’t know what you want anymore.
ANA LAURA: I know very well what I want.
PEDRO: You do?
ANA LAURA: Of course…..

-SHE BRINGS HER LIPS TO HIS. HIS RESPONSE IS IMMEDIATE. SHE RAISES HER ARMS AROUND HIS SHOULDERS. HE WRAPS HIS ARMS AROUND HER, BRINGING HER CLOSER TO HIM. SHE GRABS ONTO THE FRONT OF HIS JACKET, AND THEY KISS AND CLING TO EACH OTHER WITH ALL THE PASSION THEY’VE BEEN HOLDING BACK-
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-IN THE LIBRARY, PATRICIA IS NERVOUSLY PACING THE FLOOR, WHILE RICARDO MOVES ABOUT THE ROOM LOOKING AT EVERYTHING-

PATRICIA: Could you stop searching through everything?
RICARDO: Calm down, I’m not going to steal anything.
PATRICIA: Why did you come here?
RICARDO: What a question, my love! I was dying to see Matías.
PATRICIA: Matías? You never cared for your son!
RICARDO: Ah! How can you say something like that? How can I not care about my son?
PATRICIA: What a cynic you are! What a liar you are!

-HE SUDDENLY LOOKS IN A VERY MENACING WAY AT PATRICIA-

RICARDO: Don’t say those ugly things to me! You’re going to make me angry!

-HE THEN SMILES, TRYING TO EASE THE TENSION, AND LOOKS AROUND THE ROOM ONE MORE TIME. PATRICIA LOOKS EVEN MORE NERVOUS THAN BEFORE-

RICARDO: Look at all the money these people have!
PATRICIA: Things are not like they appear to be.

-HE SMILES SARCASTICALLY-

RICARDO: Oh, really? Let’s see….Patricia….married to a millionaire….without a care in the world….of course, until now, that I appeared again!
PATRICIA: Leave me alone!

-HE SUDDENLY GRABS HER AND TRIES TO GET NEAR HER-

RICARDO: I’ve never been able to forget you! You were fantastic!
PATRICIA: Don’t touch me!
RICARDO: You couldn’t have forgotten all the good times we had! We were good together!

-THE DOOR TO THE LIBRARY SUDDENLY OPENS AND MARIANO WALKS IN. PATRICIA IMMEDIATELY MOVES AWAY FROM RICARDO-

MARIANO: I’m sorry, what are you doing in here?
PATRICIA: Mariano! I’m sorry for invading your office! I was talking with…..my cousin, Ricardo!

-MARIANO, UNCONVINCED, LOOKS FROM PATRICIA TO RICARDO-

RICARDO: Hello, nice meeting you.

-MARIANO NODS AND ACKNOWLEDGES RICARDO, BUT HE ADDRESSES PATRICIA-

MARIANO: I didn’t know you had a cousin.
PATRICIA: Yes, he arrived by surprised, just passing by, but he has to leave now.

-RICARDO ADDRESSES MARIANO-

RICARDO: I’d like to get to know you better; another time, perhaps, when I have more time.
PATRICIA: No, I don’t think that’ll be possible! Let’s go, Ricardo!

-PATRICIA GRABS RICARDO’S ARM AND DIRECTS HIM TOWARDS THE DOOR. THEY WALK OUT OF THE ROOM, LEAVING MARIANO WITH A LOOK OF DISBELIEF ON HIS FACE-

MARIANO: So long!
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-PEDRO AND ANA LAURA ARE STILL IN EACH OTHER ARMS, KISSING PASSIONATELY. PEDRO TRIES TO REMOVE HER SWEATER-

ANA LAURA: No! Stop! Stop! We better stop now!
PEDRO: No, princess! Don’t leave me like this, please! I want you so much!

-SHE PUTS HER SWEATER BACK ON HER SHOULDERS-

ANA LAURA: It’s just that this place is horrible!
PEDRO: No! What do you mean is horrible! It’s perfect! No one can see us! No one can say anything to us!
ANA LAURA: Hm! Yes, but…..

-PEDRO TAKES HER IN HER ARMS AND BEGINS KISSING HER AGAIN-

PEDRO: Isn’t true that you want me also? You also want to…don’t you?
ANA LAURA: I do! I do!
PEDRO: You do? Then let yourself go!
ANA LAURA: Hm!

-THEY CONTINUE TO PASSIONATELY KISS. UNKNOWN TO THE THEM, MARISOL IS APPROACHING THE SHED. SHE TRIES TO PUSH OPEN THE DOOR. SHE FINDS RESISTANCE AND POUNDS ON THE DOOR, TRYING TO PUSH IT OPEN. THIS ACTION BY MARISOL INTERRUPTS PEDRO AND ANA LAURA. THEY LOOK AT EACH OTHER WITH CONCERN. PEDRO WALKS TO THE DOOR AND YELLS OUT IN RESPONSE TO MARISOL’S EFFORTS-

PEDRO: Who is it?
MARISOL: Marisol!

-PEDRO AND ANA LAURA LOOK AT EACH OTHER-

MARISOL: Pedro! Is that you?

-PEDRO LOOKS AT ANA LAURA FOR A SIGN ON WHAT TO DO NEXT. MARISOL BECOMES CONCERNED WHEN PEDRO DOESN’T ANSWER HER RIGHT AWAY-

MARISOL: Pedro! Pedro! Is that you? What’s happening?

-ANA LAURA WHISPERS TO PEDRO-

ANA LAURA: Tell her not to open the door!
PEDRO: Just a minute, Marisol!

-HE COMES CLOSER TO ANA LAURA AND TALKS TO HER IN A LOW VOICE TO AVOID MARISOL FROM LISTENING TO THEM-

PEDRO: How am I going to tell her not to open then door?

MARISOL: Are you trapped in there?

ANA LAURA: She’s going to find us here!

PEDRO: No! No!
MARISOL: What do you mean, no? There’s no latch on this door!
PEDRO: I mean, yes! Yes! I locked myself in here!
MARISOL: Well, I’m going to look for the latch and see if I can get you out!

ANA LAURA: No! No! Tell her no! Ask her to leave!

PEDRO: No! No! Marisol, not now!
MARISOL: What do you mean, no? But…..what’s going on?
PEDRO: Nothing! I’m just fixing something!

ANA LAURA: You don’t want her to see you with me! Is that it?
PEDRO: No, it’s not that! We need to get out of here!

MARISOL: Pedro, do you want me to open the door, or not?

ANA LAURA: What are we going to do?
PEDRO: I don’t know, but we can’t leave things like this!
ANA LAURA: I know! I’ll wait for you in my apartment at six!
PEDRO: Your apartment?
ANA LAURA: Yes!

MARISOL: I found it, Pedro! I’ll be able to open the door!
PEDRO: Chévere (great)! That’s great!

-ANA LAURA PULLS PEDRO TOWARDS HER AND THEY KISS ONE MORE TIME, BEFORE ANA LAURA HAS TIME TO DISAPPEAR FROM VIEW-

ANA LAURA: I’ll meet you there!
PEDRO: Yes! Yes! Hide for now!

-MARISOL FINDS THE LATCH ON THE GROUND UNDER SOME LEAVES. SHE PICKS IT UP AND REPLACES IT ON THE DOOR. SHE GIVES THE DOOR ONE MORE PUSH AND THIS TIME, IT OPENS. ANA LAURA IS HIDING BEHIND AN OLD TABLE. MARISOL STANDS AT THE DOOR-

MARISOL: Oh! Everything is wet!
PEDRO: Yes, that pipe over there broke and everything got wet and the door got stuck! I really don’t know what happened!
MARISOL: What bad luck!
PEDRO: Ahum!
MARISOL: Well, let me help you…..

-SHE TRIES TO COME IN, BUT PEDRO IMMEDIATELY PREVENTS HER FROM DOING SO-

PEDRO: No! Don’t worry! Don’t worry! This looks like the Titanic! I’ll be over later!
MARISOL: Mariano came over today. You have no idea what he did.
PEDRO: Yes. Yes. I can imagine, but, I’m sorry, Marisol, you can tell me later. It’s just that I have so much work to do here!
MARISOL: All right. If there’s anything you need…..
PEDRO: I’ll let you know. I’ll let you know. Thank you very much.

-SHE LEAVES-
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-GUNTHER IS IN THE KITCHEN, HAPPILY KEEPING TRACK ON A NOTEBOOK OF THE DEMERITS, ACCORDING TO HIM, THAT EACH OF THE EMPLOYEES HAS EARNED-

GUNTHER: One yellow card for Francisco! One yellow card for Lisa! Two yellow cards for Toti, which bring him closer to a red card!

-PATRICIA WALKS IN. SHE’S FURIOUS-

PATRICIA: May I ask what it is you’re doing?
GUNTHER: Summarizing the employees’ offenses! Five yellow cards add up to a red card, which means they’re out!
PATRICIA: Write down one more! Gunther’s offense! Because he’s never around when he’s needed!
GUNTHER: That is not true, Frau!
PATRICIA: Is not true? Where were you when Ricardo showed up?
GUNTHER: He was here?
PATRICIA: Yes! He was here! And Mariano saw him! And why? Because you’re not doing your job, Gunther!
GUNTHER: If Gunther lived here in the house, it would be much easier for him to do his job, Frau!
PATRICIA: Gunther, you better start doing your job, otherwise, you’ll end up sleeping with the dogs!

-GUNTHER IS PREVENTED FROM ANSWERING BECAUSE CECILIA ENTERS THE KITCHEN AT THIS MOMENT-

CECILIA: Have you seen Rosa?
PATRICIA: Cecilia, that is exactly what we were just talking about! In this house, the help comes and goes as they please! They’re never around when you need them!
CECILIA: That’s the way the Villalobos ran this place!
PATRICIA: Yes, well….I think that if we were to find a place for Gunther in the house, this kind of problems would be a thing of the past. Don’t you agree, Cecilia?
CECILIA: I don’t know! I’ll think about it!
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PEDRO IS STANDING BY THE OPEN DOOR OF THE SHED, AFTER MARISOL HAS JUST LEFT. ANA LAURA COMES OUT OF HER HIDING PLACE AND JOINS PEDRO AT THE DOOR-

ANA LAURA: I’ll leave now.
PEDRO: Yes. Yes. You better leave, and make sure no one sees you, okay?
ANA LAURA: Don’t worry, no one will see me.

-SHE COMES CLOSER AND GIVES HIM A BRIEF KISS. HE KISSES HER BACK, WANTING TO PROLONG THE MOMENT-

ANA LAURA: Are you sure you’re coming?
PEDRO: Of course I’m coming, my God!
ANA LAURA: Good! I’ll give Leticia the keys to give to you, that way, you’ll get there first.

-SHE’S TALKING TO HIM BUT HE’S VERY DISTRACTED KISSING HER LIPS AND HER NECK. SHE GRABS THE FRONT OF HIS JACKET, TO MAKE HIM STOP AND PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT SHE’S SAYING-

ANA LAURA: Listen to me!
PEDRO: Hum?
ANA LAURA: Listen to me! You’re not going to change your mind?
PEDRO: Of course I’m not going to change my mind!
ANA LAURA: Good!

-SHE GIVES HIM ONE MORE KISS-

ANA LAURA: Well, I’ll leave now.
PEDRO: All right.

-HE POINTS TO HER WET CLOTHES-

PEDRO: Go change, before you catch a cold.
ANA LAURA: All right.

-HE TAKES HER FACE IN HIS HANDS AND KISSES HER ONE MORE TIME. SHE WALKS A FEW STEPS BUT THEN DECIDES TO COME BACK AND, TAKING HIS FACE IN HER HANDS, KISSES HIM FIRMLY ON THE LIPS ONE LAST TIME. SHE THEN WALKS AWAY, TURNS AROUND AND LOOKS AT HIM WITH A MISCHIEVOUS LOOK ON HER FACE. HE SMILES-
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-TOTI IS IN LISA’S ROOM WITH THE PACKAGE FROM THE PHARMACY. LISA IS IN THE BATHROOM AND SHE DOESN’T KNOW THAT MAGDA IS STANDING NEXT TO HIM IN THE ROOM. TOTI IS SHOUTING AT LISA FROM THE MIDDLE OF THE ROOM, LETTING HER KNOW HE’S NOT ALONE-

TOTI: Eh….I was looking all over for you, and finally, after I didn’t find you, I decided to go to the pharmacy myself to buy the anti acid tablets for you!
MAGDDA: Is that true, young lady?

-LISA ANSWERS FROM INSIDE THE BATHROOM-

LISA: Yes, aunt! Toti is helping me!
MAGDA: Are you feeling better?
LISA: Yes, aunt. Please, don’t talk to me anymore.
TOTI: Poor thing! She’s in there feeling sick, and we’re over here bothering her! Go ahead and go, I’ll stay here with her.
MAGDA: All right, I’ll be going, but, leave the door open! I don’t want to see you in her room with the door closed!

-SHE WALKS TOWARDS THE EXIT AND MAKES SURE THE DOOR IS WIDE OPEN. AS SOON AS MAGDA LEAVES, LISA COMES CRYING OUT OF THE BATHROOM-

TOTI: Well?
LISA: It’s positive, Toti! I want to die! I’m pregnant and I’m all alone!

-SHE GOES INTO HIS ARMS. TOTI TENDERLY EMBRACES HER-

TOTI: No! Don’t say that! What do you think Toti is here for? What do you think Toti is here for? I’m going to help you!

-HE KISSES THE TOP OF HER HEAD-
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-LETICIA AND PEDRO ARE IN THE KITCHEN OF THE EMPLOYEES’ HOUSE. SHE’S HANDING HIM THE KEYS TO ANA LAURA’S APARTMENT IN THE CITY-

LETICIA: Here! This one opens the bottom lock and these two open the ones on the very top. Do you understand?
PEDRO: Yes! Yes, Leti! I understand! You’re more nervous that I am!
LETICIA: Well, it’s just that I’m very happy that you two are together!

-PEDRO TAKES THE KEYS FROM HER-

PEDRO: Thank you!

-HE WALKS TOWARDS THE DOOR AT THE SAME TIME THAT CHAPA IS COMING IN-

PEDRO: Chapa!
CHAPA: Pedro!

-PEDRO LEAVES AND CHAPA APPROACHES LETICIA-

LETICIA: Ah! Love! The things we do in the name of love!
CHAPA: What…..what is it….what crazy thing are you going to do with him?
LETICIA: Me? I’m not doing anything with him. That is between him and Ana Laura.
CHAPA: Ah! So things are as they appear!
LETICIA: But…. Don’t say anything! This is a secret, so I expect you to be discreet.
CHAPA: Please!
LETICIA: Besides, nothing has happened between them yet, although they’re dying for that to change! Have you noticed that when there’s a certain wave of attraction between two people, all it’s needed is a small spark to make it happen?
CHAPA: I understand perfectly! It’s like a…..contact!
LETICIA: Yes, a contact! A very close contact…..
CHAPA: Yes, but there are certain contacts that are very difficult to achieve…..
LETICIA: Are we talking about the same thing?

-TOTI ENTERS THE ROOM AT THIS MOMENT AND INTERRUPTS LETICIA AND CHAPA-

TOTI: Hello!
CHAPA: Toti! Where have you been? Why didn’t you tell me about the competition? I was talking to Matías earlier and……

-CHAPA AND TOTI WALK OUT OF THE HOUSE, LEAVING LETICIA STANDING ALONE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROOM-

LETICIA: What do I have to do to reach this guy? Turn into a martian?
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-GUNTHER CAN BE SEEN TALKING TO HIS DOGS. HE’S GIVING THEM INSTRUCTIONS AS TO HOW TO ACT WHEN THEY SEE A STRAGER IN THE PREMISES-

GUNTHER: You let an intruder, Ricardo, come onto the property and neither one of you barked! What kind of dogs are you? I don’t want any more mistakes! This is the last opportunity I give you, so let’s try this again!

-GUNTHER BLOWS A WHISTLE SEVERAL TIMES AND THE ANIMALS TAKE OFF RUNNING-

GUNTHER: Very well, my puppies! Perfect! You did wonderful! Fine, now you have to come back to me!

-HE BLOWS THE WHISTLE ONE TIME. HE EXPECTS THE DOGS TO COME BACK, BUT OF COURSE, THEY IGNORE HIM-

GUNTHER: Puppies! Puppies! One long whistle means you have to come back! Puppies! You, undisciplined animals, come back here!
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-IGNACIO AND PATRICIA ARE STANDING IN THE LIVING ROOM, ARGUING-

IGNACIO: You stopped being my wife long ago!
PATRICIA: Oh, really? You’re the one who drove me away!
IGNACIO: Listen, all I know is that this can’t continue this way! We have to go our separate ways!
PATRICIA: Really? Fine, we’ll go our separate ways, but I don’t know if you still remember! I already explained to you my conditions for a separation!
IGNACIO: I’m bankrupt! I have nothing else to give you!
PATRICIA: I’m sorry! I’m very sorry! But, you’ll have to figure out what to do somehow!
IGNACIO: I don’t have to do anything!

-IGNACIO WALKS OUT OF THE ROOM. PATRICIA YELLS AFTER HIM-

PATRICIA: You ruined everything, Ignacio! Everything! Your fortune! My future! Our lives together! Everything!

-MARIANO ENTERS THE ROOM AND OVERHEARS PATRICIA YELLING AT IGNACIO. PATRICIA TURNS AROUND AND SEE MARIANO. SHE RUNS TO HIM AND PUTS HER ARMS AROUND HIM AND BEGINS CRYING-

PATRICIA: My God, did you hear him, Mariano? Did you hear him? I can’t stand him anymore! What am I going to do?

-MARIANO LOOKS AROUND THE ROOM VERY UNCOMFORTABLY. THE LAST THING HE NEEDS IS TO HAVE SOMEONE WITNESS THIS SCENE. HE REMOVES HER ARMS FROM AROUND HIS SHOULDERS AND PUSHES HER AWAY FROM HIM-

MARIANO: All right! All right! Try to be a little more discreet, all right?

-SHE CLINGS TO HIM AND TRIES TO EMBRACE HIM ONE MORE TIME-

PATRICIA: I need you, Mariano! I need you! I need to feel cherished! We need to get away from here! Let’s get away from here!
MARIANO: Fine! Fine! Why don’t we meet tonight at the bar by the lake?
PATRICIA: Tonight?
MARIANO: Aha!
PATRICIA: I think it’s perfect!
MARIANO: Tell me something! That little cousin of yours that recently showed up; where did he come from?
PATRICIA: No, don’t say anything. He’s no one important. Don’t worry, he won’t be bothering us anymore!

-MARIANO LEAVES THE ROOM WITHOUT SAYING ANOTHER WORD-

PATRICIA: I hope he doesn’t!
………………………………………………………………………………………………

-PEDRO ENTERS ANA LAURA’S APARTMENT. HE’S CARRYING A COUPLE OF BAGS. HE WALKS TO THE KITCHEN AND SETS THE KEYS ON THE COUNTER. HE THEN TAKES A BOTTLE OF CHAMPAGNE FROM ONE OF THE BAGS AND PLACES IT IN THE REFRIGERATOR. HE WALKS TOWARDS THE LIVING ROOM AND TURNS ON SOME MUSIC. HE REMOVES HIS JACKET AND PLACES IT ON THE SOFA. HE THEN SLOWLY WALKS AROUND THE APARTMENT. HE STOPS IN FRONT OF A TABLE AND PICKS UP A FRAMED PHOTOGRAH OF ANA LAURA WHERE SHE’S WORKING WITH ONE OF HER SCULPTURES. HE SMILES AS HE CARESSES THE PICTURE-

PEDRO: If you only knew how I feel about you.

-NEXT IS THE SONG THAT IS PLAYING WHILE HE’S LOOKING AT ANA LAURA’S PHOTOGRAPH AND WAITS FOR HER TO ARRIVE. THE TITLE OF THE SONG IS ‘SOY LO PROHIBIDO’ (I’M WHAT’S FORBIDDEN) AND WAS WRITTEN BY ROBERTO CANTORAL-

I’m that vice on your skin, that you can no longer live without/ I’m what’s forbidden.
I’m that fever in your being that unwillingly controls you/ I’m what’s forbidden.
I’m that night of pleasure, when you surrender without contracts/ I’m your punishment.
Because in your false intimacy; in every embrace you give him, you dream of me.
I’m the sin that gave you a new illusion in love/ I’m what’s forbidden.
I’m the adventure that arrived, to help you continue on your path.
I’m that kiss that is given and not talked about.
I’m that name that away from here, you’ll never pronounce.
I’m that love you will deny to save your dignity /I’m what’s forbidden.

ANA LAURA IS SEEN OUTSIDE THE APARTMENT BUILDING. SHE NERVOUSLY APPROACHES THE INTERCOM, BUT BACKS AWAY A FEW STEPS BEFORE PRESSING THE BUTTON. UNDECIDED, THE PACES THE SIDEWALK FOR A FEW MOMENTS. SHE FINALLY DECIDES TO RING THE APARTMENT. PEDRO’S VOICE IMMEDIATELY CAN BE HEARD COMING IN THROUGH THE INTERCOM-

PEDRO: Ana, is that you? Ana!

-ANA LAURA REMAINS SILENT-

PEDRO: Ana!
………………………………………………………………………………………………

-VICTORIA AND MERCEDES HAVE JOINED MARISOL IN HER KITCHEN-

VICTORIA: Can you imagine the look on the Linares’ faces when they lose the trial? How terrible!
MARISOL: Their revenge will be even more terrible!
MERCEDES: You no longer have anything to fear because we are all together now!
VICTORIA: We are all united to protect you and your daughter; don’t forget.
MERCEDES: Pedro is not going to allow anything bad to happen to you.
VICTORIA: No, of course not.
MARISOL: Pedro has plenty of things to worry about. I don’t want to be a burden to him.
MERCEDES: I don’t think Pedro feels you’re a burden to him.
VICTORIA: How can you feel so bad, knowing that a man like Pedro is around to protect you?
MARISOL: No, I don’t feel bad; to the contrary, Pedro makes me feel very good.

-MARISOL SMILES SHYLY-
………… ……………………………………………………………………………

-SEVERAL IMAGES OF PEDRO IN THE APARTMENT, ARE SHOWN. FIRST, HE TAKES THE CHAMPAGNE BOTTLE FROM THE REFRIGERATOR AND SETS IT ON THE COFFEE TABLE, WHERE HE HAS ALREADY PLACED A WHITE TABLECLOTH AND TWO GLASSES. THE NEXT IMAGE SHOWS HIM WAITING PATIENTLY ON THE SETTEE. THE THIRD IMAGE SHOWS HIM RESTLESSLY PACING THE FLOOR. IN THE NEXT IMAGE, HE OPENS THE BOTTLE AND POURS SOME CHAMPAGNE IN A GLASS FOR HIMSELF. THE NEXT IMAGE SHOWS HIM DESPERATELY PACING THE FLOOR. HE APPROACHES THE FRONT DOOR, AS IF HE WERE GOING OUTSIDE TO LOOK FOR ANA LAURA, BUT DECIDES AGAINST IT. HE’S THEN SEEN ANGRILY TAKING A SHEET OF PAPER FROM A SMALL DESK AND WRITING SOMETHING IN IT. HE PICKS UP THE KEYS FROM THE KITCHEN COUNTER AND PLACES THE NOTE ON THE REFRIGERATOR. THE NOTE READS:

“I WAITED FOR YOU AND YOU DIDN’T COME. PEDRO.”
………………………………………………………………………………………………

-LETICIA IS IN THE LIVING ROOM, READING ALOUD, A MAGAZINE ABOUT UFO’S-

LETICIA: “There are extra-terrestrial beings that have a normal appearance. Some are very small. Others are short and have wrinkly skin and have peculiar features.”

-LETICIA LOOKS AT ONE OF THE PICTURES IN THE BOOK-

LETICIA: This one looks a lot like Chapa! Is it possible that he’s a martian?

-SHE CONTINUES READING-

LETICIA: “Their demeanor is non-threatening and their communication is non-verbal, although some witnesses have expressed they…….”

-LETICIA IS SUDDENLY STARTLED BY THE FRONT DOOR BEING SLAMMED. SHE TURNS AROUND AND SEES ANA LAURA ANGRILY ENTERING THE HOUSE-

LETICIA: You scared me! What are you doing here?
ANA LAURA: I feel terrible! I ruined everything!
LETICIA: Lower your voice. What happened?
ANA LAURA: I didn’t have the courage to go through with it.
LETICIA: What do you mean? What did you tell him?
ANA LAURA: Nothing! I didn’t even go in!
LETICIA: I don’t understand you! You had him served on a platter and…..

-LETICIA IS PREVENTED FROM CONTINUING WITH HER COMMENT BECAUSE MARIANO ENTERS THE ROOM AT THIS MOMENT-

MARIANO: You finally show up!

-ANA LAURA ANGRILY TURNS TOWARDS MARIANO-

ANA LAURA: I’m going to ask you to please stop harassing me!
MARIANO: Don’t start with your stupid commands!

-LETICIA AVERTS HER GAZE AND SITS IN UNCONFORTABLE SILENCE. MARIANO HAS EVERY INTENTION OF CONTINUING TO WALK OUT OF THE ROOM, BUT ANA LAURA DETAINS HIM-

ANA LAURA: Don’t leave! I have something else to tell you….
MARIANO: I’m very busy.

-HE WALKS OUT OF THE ROOM-

LETICIA: Is this guy ever going to change? Tell me, why did you leave Pedro waiting?
ANA LAURA: Honestly? Because I really don’t feel like ruining his life.
LETICIA: Come on, Anita! You’re not going to fool me! You didn’t do this for him! You did it for yourself; because you panicked and then you stood him up! Isn’t it so?
………………………………………………………………………………………………

-PEDRO IS IN THE UTILITY SHED REPAIRING THE WATER PIPE ANA LAURA BROKE. HE LOOKS ANGRY STILL. TOTI IS STANDING NEXT TO HIM-

TOTI: Explain something to me. Who understands women! For example, if you think about it, a woman…..who does she prefer to stay with?…..with the lowlife who treats her badly, or with the nice guy who would give his life for her?

-TOTI, OF COURSE, IS TALKING ABOUT THE SITUATION BETWEEN HIMSELF, LISA AND FRANCISCO. PEDRO, HOWEVER, IS ABLE TO COMPLETELY IDENTIFY WITH TOTI’S STORY-

PEDRO: With the lowlife, undoubtedly!
TOTI: Do you see? Do you see?
PEDRO: Ahum.
TOTI: Take me, for instance. You’re dying of love for these women; you tuck them safely in bed before they go to sleep; you give them a nice a kiss and show them a lot of affection…..and what happens? They run in the opposite direction….like Lisa!
PEDRO: What’s happening with Lisa?
TOTI: Eh…..Don’t be angry, but I can’t tell you anything!
PEDRO: Come on, tell me. Seriously, tell me.
TOTI: I can’t! I can’t tell you!
PEDRO: Fine. If you can’t talk about it, then don’t tell me.
TOTI: I can’t tell you! I promised I wouldn’t!
PEDRO: All right! If you promised, don’t tell me. It’s the correct thing to do; keep the secret.
TOTI: Fine, if you want me to, I’ll tell you.
PEDRO: No, don’t tell me!
TOTI: No, I can’t tell you, because this would end up going from one person to the next and at the end I would end up telling you that Lisa…….
PEDRO: No! No! Don’t say anything! Let’s leave it at that! Ciao, Toti!

-PEDRO GIVES TOTI A CURIOUS LOOK AND LEAVES-

TOTI: Ciao, Peter! I almost told him! Fortunately, he’s a little slow and didn’t understand what I was trying to say!
………………………………………………………………………………………………

-ERICA IS IN HER BEDROOM, TALKING TO FRANCISCO. SHE HANDS HIM A TEXT BOOK-

ERICA: Here, take it and be sure to practice. We’ll go over the subject later.
FRANCISCO: I don’t have time to study. My work doesn’t leave me much time to study.

-THE DOOR TO THE BEDROOM IS OPEN AND LISA PEEKS IN TO SEE WHAT’S HAPPENING. ERICA AND FRANCISCO ARE NOT AWARE THAT LISA IS WATCHING THEM-

ERICA: Come on, just can study a little every night before going to bed, all right?
FRANCISCO: Well, since you ask me in that nice way….

-HE TRIES TO COME NEAR HER AND KISS HER, BUT ERICA STOPS HIM-

ERICA: No, stop. You better leave, because I know how this ends.
FRANCISCO: Fine.
ERICA: Don’t be angry. But practice!
FRANCISCO: All right. Ciao.
ERICA: Ciao.

-HE EXITS THE ROOM AND CLOSES THE DOOR BEHIND HIM. LISA IS WAITING FOR HIM IN THE HALLWAY-

LISA: I have to tell you something and although you don’t want to hear me out, I’m going to tell you anyway.
FRANCISCO: I already told you I’m not interested in talking to you, and especially not here. I don’t want any problems!
LISA: If you really don’t want any problems, you better stop by my room tonight.
FRANCISCO: Are you trying to tempt me?
LISA: No, not at all! But you better show up, or it will be much worse for you.

-LISA WALKS AWAY, LEAVING FRANCISCO STANDING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HALLWAY-
………………………………………………………………………………………………

-MOLINA VISITS MARISOL-

MARISOL: What are you doing here, Estéban?
MOLINA: I already told you, I want to talk to you.
MARISOL: I don’t. You’re part of the Linares’ plot.
MOLINA: That’s not the way it is, Marisol. I do my job responsibly, that’s all.
MARISOL: Well, you do it very well! And allow me to congratulate you for the type of clients you choose. Rich, powerful and corrupt! You don’t even have the courage to refuse to do all the cruel things they ask you do!
MOLINA: You are so wrong!
MARISOL: Why am I wrong?
MOLINA: Because I’m here to try to help you; and to show you that I’m willing to take risks for you.
MARISOL: Oh, really? What risks?
MOLINA: Call me on my cellular phone. I don’t want to talk about this here in the estancia, just in case.

-HE HANDS MARISOL A CARD WITH HIS PHONE NUMBER-

MARISOL: Fine. What is this about?
MOLINA: It’s about something very important to you.

-HE WALKS OUT OF THE HOUSE-
………………………………………………………………………………………………

-MARIANO AND PATRICIA MEET FOR DRINKS AT A LOCAL BAR. THEY’RE SITTING AT A TABLE AND MARIANO CAN’T KEEP HIS HANDS TO HIMSELF. HE’S CARESSING PATRICIA’S LEG UNDER THE TABLE. SHE TRIES TO CONVINCE HIM TO STOP-

PATRICIA: People are watching!
MARIANO: I know and I love that!
PATRICIA: I think it’s time we went some place more quiet.
MARIANO: Yes! Yes! I have a surprise for you.
PATRICIA: Hum! I like surprises.
MARIANO: Let’s go.

-THEY LEAVE THE TABLE AND WALK OUT. A FEW FEET AWAY, RICARDO, PATRICIA’S EX-HUSBAND, IS SITTING READING A NEWSPAPER. HE’S BEEN WATCHING THEM FROM AFAR. ONCE THEY LEAVE, HE STANDS UP AND STARES AFTER THEM. UNAWARE TO RICARDO, GUNTHER IS ALSO IN THE ROOM. HE’S WEARING DARK GLASSES AND BLACK CLOTHING AND IS TRYING TO BE UNNOTICED, HIDING HIS FACE BEHIND A COMIC BOOK. HE’S THERE, SERVING AS A BODY GUARD FOR PATRICIA-

GUNTHER: I finally got you, creep!
………………………………………………………………………………………………

-PEDRO IS IN HIS ROOM, AND IS HOLDING A HAMMER IN HIS HAND, TRYING TO MEND A BROKEN WOODEN TABLE. MARISOL ENTERS THE ROOM CARRYING A BAG AND A FOOD CONTAINER. SHE HAS TO SHOUT TO BE HEARD OVER THE HAMMERING NOISES PEDRO IS MAKING-

MARISOL: Pedrito!
PEDRO: Hello. Am I making too much noise?
MARISOL: No, it wasn’t that bad. I told you this room needed a lot of work.
PEDRO: No, not at all. I’ll be happy to do it.
MARISOL: Since you didn’t come in for dinner, I thought you’d be hungry and I brought you this.

-SHE HANDS HIM THE CONTAINER WITH THE FOOD-

PEDRO: It looks good!
MARISOL: It’s a ham and cheese sandwich. I don’t know if you’re going to like it.

-MARISOL LOOKS AROUND THE ROOM TO FIND A PLACE TO SET THE REST OF THE ITEMS SHE BROUGHT WITH HER. SHE REMOVES SEVERAL OF JULIETA’S DOLLS THAT WERE ON A SMALL TABLE AND TAKES FROM THE BAG A SMALL TABLECLOTH, A BOTTLE OF WINE AND ONE GLASS-

PEDRO: You can organize an entire party in a second!
MARISOL: I wouldn’t go that far.
PEDRO: No, it’s nice, really.
MARISOL: Here you are! What do you think?
PEDRO: I think that….if you stay and have dinner with me, this night will be perfect.
MARISOL: I’d love to, but I don’t want to bother you.
PEDRO: Please, you don’t bother me! It wouldn’t be the same without you here.

-MARISOL SMILES-

PEDRO: There’s only one thing missing.
MARISOL: What?
PEDRO: A corkscrew to open the bottle of wine.
MARISOL: No, I have one right here!
PEDRO: No!

-SHE HANDS IT TO HIM-

PEDRO: Well, then….sit down.

-HE PULLS OUT THE CHAIR FOR HER. MARISOL SITS DOWN AND PEDRO PROCEEDS TO OPEN THE BOTTLE OF WINE-

PEDRO: You are the guest of honor in my humble little room in the back!

-THEY BOTH LAUGH-
……………………………………………………………………………………………...

-LISA LETS FRANCISCO IN HER BEDROOM-

FRANCISCO: Did you think I wasn’t going to come?
LISA: I was positive you would be here.
FRANCISCO: Why were you so sure?
LISA: Because I know you.
FRANCISCO: Well, here I am; I’m all ears. Why all the mystery? What’s happening?
LISA: What’s happening? We’re expecting a child!
FRANCISCO: What?|
……………………………………………………………………………………………

-PEDRO HAS FINISHED HIS DINNER. MARISOL IS STILL THERE. THEY’RE SITTING DOWN, LISTENING TO MUSIC-

PEDRO: I won’t have the energy to continue working after this excellent meal.
MARISOL: We could set mattress in the dinning room.
PEDRO: No, don’t worry, the bed is fine; all it has is a little broken leg, but it’s nothing big.
MARISOL: All right.

-MARISOL BEGINS PICKING UP THE DINNER ITEMS, AND SHE BEGINS TO SING ALOUD WITH THE SONG PLAYING ON THE RADIO. PEDRO LISTENS TO HER SINGING AND SMILES-

PEDRO: You sing beautifully!
MARISOL: No!
PEDRO: I like it!
MARISOL: I like the way you dance.
PEDRO: Do you want to dance?
MARISOL: No, I don’t know if it’s the right moment.
PEDRO: What do you mean it’s not the right moment? Always is the right moment!

-HE STANDS UP AND MOVES HIS CHAIR OUT OF THE WAY-

PEDRO: Come on!

-THE BEGIN TO DANCE AND THEY SMILE AT EACH OTHER. THEY CONTINUE DANCING FOR A FEW MINUTES AND ARE REALLY ENJOYING THEMSELVES, WHEN THE DOOR OPENS AND ANA LAURA APPEARS. FROM THE DOORWAY, SHE INTERRUPTS THEM-

ANA LAURA: Excuse me.

-PEDRO AND MARISOL TURN TOWARDS THE DOOR AND STOP DANCING-
………………………………………………………………………………………………

FRANCISCO: I’m sorry, but where do you get off saying that child is mine?
LISA: How can you say something like that? Who else is it going to be? You are the only person I’ve ever been with!
FRANCISCO: Lisa, please! You go around sleeping with anyone and now you want to pin this on me! What’s wrong with you?

-LISA IS CRYING NOW AND CAN’T BELIEVE FRANCISCO IS SAYING THIS AWFUL THINGS-

LISA: You are nothing but garbage!
FRANCISCO: No! No! You are garbage coming to me with all this madness! But, listen to me! Don’t even think of bothering me again with this! Do you understand? You are not going to mess up my life!

-HE WALKS OUT OF THE ROOM. LISA SITS IN STUNNED SILENCE ON THE BED-
………………………………………………………………………………………………

-ANA LAURA COMES IN THE ROOM. MARISOL’S STANDING VERY CLOSE TO PEDRO-

ANA LAURA: I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt you.
MARISOL: No, you didn’t interrupt anything. We were just dancing but it’s not a big deal.

-PEDRO REACHES OUT AND TURNS THE MUSIC OFF-

ANA LAURA: Please continue. Continue, don’t turn it off! It’s all right!
MARISOL: If you need to talk to Pedro, I’ll leave you alone and I’ll leave…..

-PEDRO QUICKLY GRABS MARISOL’S ARM. HE’S UPSET WITH ANA LAURA BECAUSE SHE LEFT HIM WAITING IN THE APARTMENT EARLIER THAT DAY-

PEDRO: No! You don’t have to leave, Marisol! Stay here!
ANA LAURA: I feel terrible! I wish I hadn’t come!
PEDRO: What did you need?
ANA LAURA: Nothing. Nothing important. This is not the time, nor the right place….

-MARISOL HAS BEGUN TO FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE ABOUT THE TENSION SHE SENSES EXISTS BETWEEN PEDRO AND ANA LAURA-

MARISOL: I believe Ana wants to talk you alone, so I’m going to leave!

-PEDRO ONCE AGAIN, STOPS MARISOL FROM LEAVING-

PEDRO: No! No, Marisol!

-HE THEN ADDRESSES ANA LAURA, DISMISSING HER-

PEDRO: We’ll talk later, then.
ANA LAURA: Fine! Fine! If you prefer, I’ll request an appointment in writing!
PEDRO: And I hope that when I do give you the time, you show up! That you don’t leave me waiting! I’m not your puppy! I also have things to do!

-ANA LAURA LOOKS AT MARISOL, WHO’S STANDING BETWEEN THEM, LOOKING VERY UNCOMFORTABLE-

ANA LAURA: Yes! I know! I know you have a lot of important things to do!
PEDRO: Is what you have to tell me important?
ANA LAURA: No! No!
PEDRO: We’ll talk tomorrow, then.
ANA LAURA: Perhaps by tomorrow, I will have nothing to say to you. Excuse me.

-ANA LAURA WALKS OUT OF THE ROOM AND CLOSES THE DOOR-

PEDRO: I can’t believe this!
MARISOL: Eh….I will be leaving also, Pedro.
PEDRO: But, what about our coffee?
MARISOL: It’s late. Let’s leave it for another time.

-MARISOL ALSO WALKS OUT OF THE ROOM-
………………………………………………………………………………………………

-RICARDO IS ABOUT TO WALK OUT OF THE BAR AND FOLLOW MARIANO AND PATRICIA, BUT GUNTHER GETS IN HIS WAY AND STALLS HIM-

GUNTHER: Just a minute, sir! You can’t leave!
RICARDO: Why can’t I leave?
GUNTHER: Because…..because…..because I have a wonderful bargain for you! It’s a wonderful pen with a fine point that works……

-RICARDO ANGRILY GRABS GUNTHER BY THE EARS-

RICARDO: If you don’t get out of my way, I’m going to knock all your teeth out! Do you understand, fatso?
GUNTHER: Ah, yes! It’s very clear now! If you want to resort to violence, let’s do it! I’m a karate expert and my fists are considered lethal weapons!

-RICARDO SUDDENLY HITS GYNTHER ON THE NECK, KNOCKING HIM TO THE GROUND. RICARDO STANDS OVER HIM AND THEN WALKS AWAY-

GUNTHER: Don’t run away, coward!
………………………………………………………………………………………………

-MARISOL IS STANDING BY THE SINK, DOING THE DINNER DISHES. JULIETA IS TALKING TO HER-

JULIETA: Mom, why didn’t Pedro come and stay here?
MARISOL: I don’t know. I offered him the couch but he didn’t accept. It’s better if he stays somewhere else.
JULIETA: Why is it better?
MARISOL: I don’t know. It’s just a matter of speaking. And why aren’t you in bed?
JULIETA: Mom, Doctor Molina called and he wants you to call him.
MARISOL: It’s too late now. I’ll call him tomorrow. Go put your pajamas on.
JULIETA: Yes, but come in later because I need to talk to you.
MARISOL: What do you want to talk about?
JULIETA: Mariano. I want you to tell me once and for all, what is it that you’re holding against him.
MARISOL: Why are you always asking me the same thing?
JULIETA: Mom, if you don’t give me an answer, I have no choice but to continue asking you. I’m old enough to know now!
MARISOL: Have you been talking to him? Every time you talk to Mariano you come up with a different argument!
JULIETA: He didn’t say anything to me!
MARISOL: Don’t lie to me! You’re still very innocent and too young to realize what’s happening! He’s doing all this on purpose because he wants to confuse you, because he wants to hurts us!
JULIETA: But, mom…..
MARISOL: No, Julieta! I’m going to ask you to please don’t worry about what Mariano tells you! Don’t believe him! I don’t know how many times I need to tell you that!
JULIETA: Fine, mom! Don’t worry anymore! Don’t be so upset!

-JULIETA WALKS AND HUGS MARISOL-

VICTORIA AND IGNACIO ARE TALKING IN THE LIVING ROOM OF THE MAIN HOUSE-

VICTORIA: The date of your appearance in court is almost here. Don’t weaken, Ignacio.
IGNACIO: No, I won’t weaken, Victoria. I will testify against the Linares and well….I’ll tell the truth and take whatever risks are necessary.
VICTORIA: I’m very happy about that.
IGNACIO: I’m not the coward everyone believes I am.
VICTORIA: I never thought you were a coward.

-VICTORIA SMILES AND KISSES IGNACIO GOODBYE-

VICTORIA: Ciao, querido.
IGNACIO: Ciao.

-SHE WALKS OUT OF THE HOUSE-
………………………………………………………………………………………………

-PEDRO IS SITTING ON A BENCH. HE SEES ANA LAURA APPROACHING AND HE ROLLS HIS EYES IN EXASPERATION. ANA LAURA QUIETLY SITS NEXT TO HIM. HE SIGHS AND REMAINS SILENT. AFTER A FEW SECONDS, ANA LAURA SPEAKS FIRST-

ANA LAURA: May I speak with you?

-HE’S VERY QUIET AND SEEMS RELUCTANT TO TALK TO HER-

PEDRO: What do you want to talk about?
ANA LAURA: I want to talk about what happened.

-HE ANSWERS IN A SARCASTIC MANNER-

PEDRO: So many things have happened lately!

-THIS SEEMS TO ANGER ANA LAURA, BUT SHE HOLDS BACK-

-ANA LAURA: Don’t be……you know very well what I’m talking about. I absolutely hated to see you dancing with Marisol! You’re very inconsiderate!
PEDRO: And where does that leave you?
ANA LAURA: Me?
PEDRO: Yes! You! You left me waiting all afternoon! Have you forgotten already?
ANA LAURA: No! No! That’s why I came over last night because I wanted to explain to you what happened; because, unlike you, I put all my cards on the table.
PEDRO: And what happened?
ANA LAURA: I was afraid.
PEDRO: Afraid of what?
ANA LAURA: Of making a mistake. And when I saw you dancing with Marisol, I congratulated myself.
PEDRO: You are really crazy.
ANA LAURA: Ah, I’m crazy!
PEDRO: Yes!
ANA LAURA: And what about you?
PEDRO: Do you really care?
ANA LAURA: Very much.
PEDRO: You mean, you’re interested in me?
ANA LAURA: That isn’t news.
PEDRO: Ana, you are baffling!
ANA LAURA: Really?
PEDRO: Yes.
ANA LAURA: And you’re shameless. You’re a womanizer.

-PEDRO IS SILENT FOR A FEW SECONDS. HE GIVES ANA LAURA A HURTFUL LOOK-

PEDRO: You’re always playing with me.
ANA LAURA: And it’s all right for you to play with me? You enjoy yourself with Marisol and you enjoy yourself with me, don’t you?
PEDRO: Think whatever you want! Think whatever you want! I don’t care!
ANA LAURA: My God! How superior! You recover fast!
PEDRO: Superior! Fed up! I’m tired of you!
ANA LAURA: You’re tired of me? Why? What do I do to you?
PEDRO: What do you do to me? You do a lot of things! A lot of things! And I don’t want to continue this way! I think it’s best if we stay away! It’s best that we stay away from each other!
ANA LAURA: Are you sure about that?
PEDRO: Yes! I’m sure!
ANA LAURA: All right. I hope you don’t come to regret it.
PEDRO: You either!

-SHE’S VERY HURT BY HIS WORDS, BUT STANDS UP AND LEAVES WITHOUT SAYING ANOTHER WORD. PEDRO DOESN’T LOOK ANY HAPPIER-
………………………………………………………………………………………………

-MARISOL OPENS THE DOOR AND MARIANO WALKS IN-

MARISOL: Mariano, what do you want now?
MARIANO: I want to talk to you for a minute and without insults, please!
MARISOL: Can’t you understand we have nothing to talk about?
MARIANO: I believe we do. I need you to authorize the DNA test.
MARISOL: Never!
MARIANO: Marisol, please! Can’t you see how important it is for me to know if I’m Julieta father?
MARISOL: Why do you want to know?
MARIANO: Because I’d love to have a child with you. That’s something else you’ll never understand; you are the only woman for me.
MARISOL: I will never forgive you for what you did to me.
MARIANO: I know. I made a mistake. It wasn’t the appropriate thing to do, of course, but I wanted you; I wanted to be with you because I was madly in love with you, Marisol, don’t you understand? I was madly in love with you; I’m still madly in love with you!

-MARISOL IS MESMERIZED BY THE MADNESS SHE SEES IN HIS FACE AND IS INCAPABLE OF MOVING OR SAYING ANYTHING. HE’D BEEN SLOWLY WALKING TOWARDS HER AND HE NOW TAKES HER IN HIS ARMS AND FORCIBLY KISSES HER-
………………………………………………………………………………………………

-JULIETA AND GUNTHER ARE SITTING OUTDOORS TALKING. HE’S SPORTING LARGE BRUISES ON HIS FACE FROM THE CONFRONTATION HE HAD WITH RICARDO. HE’S NOW EXPLAINING TO JULIETA HOW HE RECEIVED THE BRUISES-

GUNTHER: Gunther is a soldier and when a soldier faces combat, physical marks are often visible after that encounter!
JULIETA: What encounter? You didn’t even go to basic training!
GUNTHER: Ha! I graduated with honors!
JULIETA: Toti said you did something to get out of it!
GUNTHER: Toti lies!

-WHILE GUNTHER TALKS TO JULIETA, RICARDO CAN BE SEEN IN THE BACKGROUND MAKING HIS WAY INTO THE HOUSE-

GUNTHER: Do you want to know what they used to call me? Eagle eye!
Look into my right eye! I can dilate it at will!
………………………………………………………………………………………………

-MARISOL, AFTER STRUGGLING WITH MARIANO, FINALLY MANAGES TO GET FREE-

MARISOL: Let go of me! You disgust me!

-SHE WIPES HER LIPS-

MARIANO: You won’t get anywhere acting this way, Marisol!
MARIANO: Neither are you! You have no right to touch me! You have no right to Julieta! You have no right to anything!
MARIANO: We’ll see about that! But it’ll be to your advantage to authorize the DNA test!
MARISOL: And what will be next? What else are you going to want from me?

-HE TRAVELS HER BODY WITH AN INSOLENT LOOK-

MARIANO: Everything! What else!

-MARISOL LOSES ALL CONTROL AND BEGINS SCREAMING-

MARISOL: Get out! Get out of my house! Get out of my house! Now! Get out!

-VICTORIA ENTERS THE HOUSE AT THIS MOMENT-

VICTORIA: What’s going on here?

-MARIANO WALKS BY VICTORIA WITHOUT SAYING A WORD-

VICTORIA: What did you do now?

-VICTORIA APPROACHES MARISOL WHO’S BEGUN TO CRY-

MARISOL: I hate him, Victoria! I hate him with all my being! I hate him! I hate him! Why did he do this to me? I hate him! I hate him!

-VICTORIA TAKES MARISOL IN HER ARMS, TRYING TO CALM HER DOWN-
………………………………………………………………………………………………

-RICARDO ENTERS THE EMPTY KITCHEN. HE WALKS AROUND, LOOKING AT EVERYTHING. CARMEN ENTERS THE ROOM-

CARMEN: Good morning, sir! How can I help you?
……………………………………………………………………………………………...

-ANA LAURA ENTERS HER APARTMENT IN THE CITY. SHE’S CARRYING HER LUGGAGE AND SEEMS TO BE IN HIGH SPIRITS. HER FRIEND SAMANTHA IS WITH HER-

ANA LAURA: I wasted enough time on lost causes! There is a new Ana! Totally!
SAMANTHA: Excuse me, ma’am, but since I’ve known you, lost causes have been your specialty!
ANA LAURA: That’s over! It’s over! You’re looking at the new Ana, who begins working today!
SAMANTHA: Good! Good! Did you know that the pieces we sent to Germany were very well received? If you really dedicate time to this, we could set up a second exhibition!
ANA LAURA: Excuse me! Excuse me! What do you mean they liked them? Why didn’t you tell me anything?
SAMANTHA: I called you to tell you all about it Ana, but you were going through the problem with your dad. You sounded really bad, that I didn’t want to bother you.
ANA LAURA: No, it’s all right; don’t worry about it. I’ve had a hard time concentrating on anything since my wedding took place.
SAMANTHA: Are you willing to set your problems aside and spend time on your work?
ANA LAURA: Absolutely! I think that if I work through the night, I’ll have some sculptures ready in one week; anywhere from one to three themes.
SAMANTHA: Tell me something; are you by yourself?
ANA LAURA: Do you see someone next to me? Do you see any man hovering over me? No! Ana is all alone!
SAMANTHA: I also see you don’t want to tell your friend anything! Come on, Ana! I’ve known you a long time! Just by looking at you, I know something very important is happening to you! Am I wrong?
………………………………………………………………………………………………

-MARIANO IS SITTING AT HIS DESK. FRANCISCO IS ARRANGING SOME PAPERS ON THE SMALL DESK ACROSS FROM MARIANO-

MARIANO: Tell me, what are you up to?
FRANCISCO: Me? Nothing! I was just thinking about the competition. The time is almost here, right?

-MARIANO LEAVES HIS CHAIR AND COMES AND STANDS ACROSS FROM FRANCISCO-

MARIANO: Yes, it’s almost here. I’m going to ask you to keep an eye on Toti and all the other peons. Will you be able to do that?
FRANCISCO: Yes, of course!
MARIANO: But make sure you watch them closely. I don’t want any strange going on. Is that clear?
FRANCISCO: Very clear. May I go see Erica for just one second?
MARIANO: Erica! How is that coming along?
FRANCISCO: I think it’s going well.
MARIANO: I’m glad. I’m really glad you’re going out with my little sister-in-law! This way, everything stays in the family!
FRANCISCO: Yes!
MARIANO: Go ahead! Go ahead!

-FRANCISCO LEAVES. MARIANO LEANS ON THE DESK. PATRICIA ENTERS THE ROOM-

PATRICIA: Hello! You’re tremendous!
MARIANO: Are you teasing me?
PATRICIA: No! Not at all!
MARIANO: Tell me something!
PATRICIA: What?
MARIANO: Would you like to repeat an outing like the one from last night?
PATRICIA: Anytime you want! The more you give me, the more I want!

-THERE’S A KNOCK ON THE DOOR. PATRICIA MOVES AWAY FROM MARIANO. HE BECOMES ANNOYED WITH THE INTERRUPTION-

MARIANO: Yes?

-CARMEN OPENS THE DOOR-

CARMEN: Excuse me. Señora Patricia, there’s someone here for you.
PATRICIA: Who is it?
CARMEN: Your cousin. He’s waiting for you in the living room.
PATRICIA: Thank you, Carmen.
CARMEN: Excuse me.

-CARMEN LEAVES AND CLOSES THE DOOR BEHIND HER-

MARIANO: He’s here again? Your cousin has good timing!
………………………………………………………………………………………………

-MOLINA IS SEEN WAITING AT THE COUNTER OF A CAFETERIA. MARISOL ARRIVES AND SITS NEXT TO HIM-

MARISOL: I’m sorry I’m late, but I had to make some deliveries.*

(*MARISOL DOES ODD JOBS TO SUPPLEMENT HER INCOME. BAKING SWEETS IS ONE OF THEM.)

MOLINA: You’re forgiven! Business is business.
MARISOL: If you say so! You know a lot about that.
MOLINA: Yes, that’s true.
MARISOL: Listen, if you called me to try to convince me about your professional ethics……
MOLINA: Yes, Marisol, in a way, that is what I’m doing.
MARISOL: I’m such an idiot! I can’t believe I’m here! If Mariano sent you….
MOLINA: Mariano doesn’t know any of this.
MARISOL: Can you be a little more precise?
MOLINA: Well, if you’d only let me talk!
MARISOL: I’m listening.
MOLINA: I have a proposition for you. I think you’ll be interested.
………………………………………………………………………………………………

-FRANCISCO IS IN THE KITCHEN, POURING HIMSELF A DRINK OF ORANGE JUICE FROM THE REFRIGERATOR. LISA WALKS IN-

LISA: We need to talk.
FRANCISCO: I already told you I don’t want to know anything!
LISA: You don’t have a right to do what you’re doing to me!
FRANCISCO: Come on, Lisa, what else do you want?
LISA: The baby I’m expecting is yours! And although you don’t want to admit it, sooner or later, you’re going to have to take responsibility!
FRANCISCO: I’m not taking responsibility for anything!

-ERICA ENTERS THE KITCHEN AT THIS MOMENT. FRANCISCO RIGHT AWAY IMPROVISES HIS CONVERSATION WITH LISA-

FRANCISCO: “……and that’s Mariano’s complaint, Lisa! He said that when you do the cleaning in the library, you leave a complete mess behind you! How are you, Erica?
ERICA: Fine. If you have time, we could go over one of the lessons in computer science. Are you up to it?
FRANCISCO: Yes! Yes! Give me a just a second and I’ll be there.

-ERICA LOOKS AT LISA AND THEN ADDRESSES FRANCISCO-

ERICA: Is everything all right?
FRANCISCO: Yes. Mariano is a little heavy handed when it comes to giving orders, but everything is fine.
ERICA: All right. I’ll be waiting.
FRANCISCO: I’ll be there.

-ERICA EXITS THE KITCHEN-

FRANCISCO: If you make trouble for me, you will pay dearly! Forget about me!

-HE ALSO EXITS THE ROOM-
………………………………………………………………………………………………

MOLINA: I’ve been thinking a lot about you, about Julieta, and I’m not willing to allow this madness to continue.
MARISOL: It’s a little too late.
MOLINA: No, it’s not late at all. I have a plan, but in order to put it into practice, the DNA test has to be done, Marisol.
MARISOL: No!
MOLINA: I can alter the results to show that Julieta is not Mariano’s daughter.
MARISOL: I don’t believe you. You would never betray Mariano.
MOLINA: You’re wrong. You are much more important to me than Mariano. I would do anything for you, Marisol.

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