Provócame

Episode 4

-THE MAIN HOUSE- CECILIA AND MARIANO ARE IN THE LIVING ROOM. MARIANO IS SITTING DOWN, WHILE CECILIA IS PACING THE FLOOR. SHE’S UPSET THAT VICTORIA IS IN THE ESTANCIA-

CECILIA: She has the nerve to show up here as if it was the most natural thing to do!
MARIANO: Well, mother, Victoria has always been very close to the Villalobos.
CECILIA: But of course not! Once Leonora died, she stopped all contact. But now, she is once again on the prowl!
MARIANO: Mother, on the prowl? You sound as if she were the devil himself. She’s come to see Ignacio, that’s all. It makes sense.
CECILIA: Are you implying I’m crazy?
MARIANO: No, I didn’t say that, mother.
CECILIA: Victoria is a mean woman, mean! She’s always been mean and now she’s plotting something against us! First the horse, then the peon, and now her visits.
MARIANO: If what you’re saying is true, just relax. I’ll be able to handle her.
CECILIA: If I were you, I wouldn’t be so sure!
MARIANO: I am very sure! And the only thing I need from you is to keep your feelings in check. Relax, relax! I’ll take care of things. I need smiles from you, only smiles. I’ll take care of the rest. All right?

-CECILIA NODS IN AGREEMENT AND SMILES. MARIANO LEAVES THE ROOM. CARMEN HAS BEEN LISTENING TO THE CONVERSATION-

CARMEN: He’s very young. He still doesn’t know the devil gives free rein….
CECILIA: Yes, I know, but this once, I’m going to listen to him.
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-PEDRO IS TALKING TO CHOCOLATE, UNAWARE THAT JULIETA HAS ARRIVED AND IS LISTENING TO HIM-

PEDRO: You have to promise me that if, for some reason, we are separated, you’ll behave, you’ll do what I taught you and you’ll listen to your new partner.
JULIETA: Why are you telling him that, Pedro?
PEDRO: No, for no reason. I like talking to him while I feed him.
JULIETA: But you aren’t leaving him all alone, are you?
PEDRO: Well, I want Chocolate to get used to being without me, in case one day I have to leave him.
JULIETA: Does that mean you’re leaving?
PEDRO: Why all these questions? And you. little mischief, where have you been?
JULIETA: I’m too old to get in any mischief!

-AT THIS MOMENT, VICTORIA AND FLORIA COME WALKING TOWARDS THEM-

PEDRO: Hello.
FLORIA: Good afternoon.
VICTORIA: Hello.
PEDRO: What are you doing here?
VICTORIA: I’d like to visit more often but I must tell you that if not for Floria, they wouldn’t even let me set foot at the door!
JULIETA: How are you, Floria?
FLORIA: Very well, querida.
JULIETA: This is Pedro.
FLORIA: My pleasure! I’ve heard so much about you. I’m Ana Laura’s grandmother.
PEDRO: Yes, I thought so. But I didn’t know you were this beautiful!
FLORIA: Well, thank you very much!
JULIETA: Floria, come. I’ll show you Chocolate and the other horses!
FLORIA: We’ll see each other again soon, Pedro. Come on, querida. I love horses!

-JULIETA AND FLORIA LEAVE-

VICTORIA: How’s everything around here?
PEDRO: It doesn’t look good. There’s a lot of gunpowder around and it’s about to explode, and there will be no one to stop it!
VICTORIA: It’s inevitable! When something is about to explode, it’s best to let it explode!
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-IN THE KITCHEN, ERICA IS POURING HERSELF SOMETHING TO DRINK. FRANCISCO COMES IN. ERICA DOESN’T WANT TO TALK TO HIM-

FRANCISCO; Hello, Eri.
ERICA: Hello.
FRANCISCO: Do you have a minute? I need to talk to you.
ERICA: I don’t have time right now!
FRANCISCO: Wait! Wait a second! I need to talk to you!

-ERICA EXITS THE KITCHEN. FRANCISCO IS ABOUT TO FOLLOW HER, BUT GUNTHER COMES IN AND PREVENTS HIM FROM LEAVING. GUNTHER IS STILL UPSET ABOUT HIS DOGS DISAPPEARING-

GUNTHER: They stole my dogs!
FRANCISCO: Who’d want your dogs, Gunther?
GUNTHER: My dogs are precious jewels! Call everyone to the kitchen for a meeting!
FRANCISCO: Call everyone? I don’t work here!
GUNTHER: I didn’t ask you if you worked here or not! A meeting in one hour!
FRANCISCO: All right. I’ll do it, but only as a favor to you!

-FRANCISCO LEAVES. GUNTHER SITS AT THE TABLE. HE’S VERY UPSET. PATRICIA COMES IN. SHE’S STILL TRYING TO GET HER HANDS ON THE PRE-NUPTIAL AGREEMENT THAT ALVARO HAD MOLINA PREPARE FOR ANA LAURA TO SIGN-

PATRICIA: Did you get it?
GUNTHER: What?
PATRICIA: The envelope, Gunther!
GUNTHER: Gunther has problems! They stole his dogs!
PATRICIA: You’re thinking about your dogs instead of doing what I asked you to do?
GUNTHER: They have never disappeared before!
PATRICIA: I asked you for a favor, but it seems you don’t care!
GUNTHER: I care! But…my puppies!
PATRICIA: All right! All right! I’ll take care of this myself! Incompetent!

-PATRICIA WALKS AWAY, LEAVING GUNTHER FEELING MISERABLE-
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-ANA LAURA IS IN THE LIVING ROOM. IGNACIO, STILL IN HIS ROBE, COMES IN-

ANA LAURA: What are you doing up?
IGNACIO: I’m tired of being in bed!
ANA LAURA: Dad, why are you disobeying the doctor’s orders? What did he tell you? Sit down!
IGNACIO: I’m fine! I’m fine! Were you going out?
ANA LAURA: Yes. I was going to get a little fresh air.
IGNACIO: I can read in you eyes that you’re not doing well.

-ANA LAURA DOESN’T HAVE TO ANSWER HIM BECAUSE CECILIA WALKS IN THE ROOM-

CECILIA: Hello, good to see you! You have great color, as if nothing had ever happened!
ANA LAURA: I’ll be on my way!
CECILIA: No, no! Now that we’re here together, why don’t we take this opportunity to go over the details of the wedding?
ANA LAURA: Does it have to be now?
CECILIA: Yes. There’s so much to organize! After what happened, we need to have an important party! Much more important than the first one!
ANA LAURA: I thought I’d just have a very small, intimate ceremony. Very simple, with just a few people. The people I love the most.
CECILIA: Yes, but people somehow, need to forget about the fiasco that happened!
ANA LAURA: I don’t care about what people think!
CECILIA: I do! Mariano deserves a grand wedding!
ANA LAURA: I’m not going to be part of a circus, when I have nothing to celebrate!
IGNACIO: Please, you’ll never come to an agreement if you go on this way!
ANA LAURA: Dad, I’m not going to have a party, when everything is going so wrong!

-MARIANO WALKS IN AT THIS MOMENT-

MARIANO: Excuse me, what’s going on here?
CECILIA: Ana Laura doesn’t want a party for the wedding! Querido, don’t you think that’s totally crazy?
ANA LAURA: Your mother wants to have a big production. I really don’t feel like having a large wedding. I won’t allow it!
IGNACIO: There’s an easy solution to all this….
MARIANO: Yes, of course. We’ll do whatever the bride decides, as it should be.

-MARIANO IS ABOUT TO WALK OUT OF THE ROOM, WHEN ANA LAURA STOPS HIM-

ANA LAURA: Mariano!
MARIANO: Yes?
ANA LAURA: Have you decided what you’re going to do with Pedro and Marisol?
MARIANO: I’m thinking about it, my love. I’m thinking about it.

-HE LEAVES THE ROOM-
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-FLORIA AND PEDRO, ARM IN ARM, ARE TAKING A WALK THROUGH A SHADED AREA OF THE ESTANCIA-

FLORIA: Since you came here, you’ve given many people a lot to talk about.
PEDRO: Good or bad?
FLORIA: Some good, others not so good! -PEDRO LAUGHS-
FLORIA: Take my granddaughter, for example. She appreciates that you helped leave the estancia.
PEDRO: She told you?
FLORIA: Yes, she did. You shouldn’t have let her come back!
PEDRO: Why?
FLORIA: I’m not happy about the idea of her marriage to Mariano. That man does not love her. But she was clinging to an illusion. That’s not true love!
PEDRO: I wouldn’t know. I haven’t had the pleasure of knowing what love is.
FLORIA: Is that true? How can a young man as handsome and nice as yourself, hasn’t been able to find love?
PEDRO: Well, I lead a very complicated life.
FLORIA: There are no excuses when it comes to love!
PEDRO: Do you really think so?
FLORIA: Just wait until the right woman comes along!
PEDRO: They say the right woman is precisely the wrong one!
FLORIA: Querido, if I were three or four years younger, you wouldn’t be able to escape from me!
I’m not that crazy!
PEDRO: How nice you are!

-FLORIA STOPS, LOOKS AT PEDRO AND SMILES-

FLORIA: Now I understand!
PEDRO: What did you say?
FLORIA: I know what I’m talking about!

-FLORIA WINKS AT PEDRO. THEY LAUGH AND CONTINUE WITH THEIR WALK-
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-GUNTHER, AT LAST, FINDS HIS DOGS. THEY ARE SITTING, VERY STOICALLY, IN THE MIDDLE OF A PIGPEN. HE’S VERY HAPPY TO SEE THEM. HE JUMPS OVER THE FENCE THAT ENCIRCLES THE PIGPEN. IN TRYING TO EMBRACE THE DOGS, GUNTHER FALLS TO THE GROUND. THE ANIMALS (DOGS AND PIGS) RUN AWAY. GUNTHER’S ON HIS KNEES AMID THE MUD, WHEN HE FINDS A BALL BELONGING TO JULIETA-

GUNTHER: I know now who’s involved in all this! They will pay for this!
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-PATRICIA ENTERS THE LIBRARY. SHE’S LOOKING FOR THE PRE-NUPTIAL AGREEMENT ANA LAURA IS SUPPOSED TO SIGN. SHE SEARCHES THROUGH SEVERAL DOCUMENTS ON THE DESK. SHE THEN OPENS A DRAWER AND FINDS THE ENVELOPE SHE WAS LOOKING FOR. SHE IS ABOUT TO LEAVE THE LIBRARY, WHEN LISA WALKS IN AND SURPRISES HER-

LISA: I’m sorry! I didn’t know you were in here!
PATRICIA: No, I’m not!
LISA: I don’t understand!
PATRICIA: You don’t understand? If you don’t want to lose your job in this house, you never saw me! I haven’t been in here. Do you understand me now?

-PATRICIA WALKS OUT-
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-MARISOL’S HOUSE. SHE’S STANDING AT THE KITCHEN SINK, DOING THE DISHES. THERE’S A KNOCK AT THE DOOR-

MARISOL: Come in! It’s open!

-SHE DOES NOT LOOK UP. MARIANO WALKS IN-

MARIANO: Hello!

-MARISOL, SURPRISED TO SEE MARIANO, SUDDENLY DROPS THE UTENSILS SHE’D BEEN WASHING. SHE SEEMS PARALIZED WITH FEAR. SHE DOES NOT LOOK AT HIM-

MARIANO: Are you alone? Yes, you are alone, I assume. It’s strange that I haven’t come to visit you all this time, don’t you think?
MARISOL: Is there anything you need?
MARIANO: Yes. An idea has occurred to me that will help you stop living off others in this house.
MARISOL: I don’t understand.
MARIANO: I want you to come work for me. Don’t you think is a good idea?
MARISOL: That’s impossible!
MARIANO: Why?
MARISOL: We both know why!

-MARISOL HAS WALKED AWAY FROM MARIANO AND IS STANDING BY THE KITCHEN TABLE, WITH HER BACK TO HIM. MARIANO IS LEERING AT HER-

MARIANO: Marisol, Marisol! What do you want? To be thrown out onto the street? I wouldn’t like that!
MARISOL: What are you really after, Mariano?
MARIANO: Well, I could be after many things, but….

-HE’S ABOUT TO PUT HIS HANDS ON HER SHOULDERS, BUT MARISOL MOVES AWAY FROM HIM AND WALKS TOWARDS THE KITCHEN SINK-

MARISOL: Leave me alone!
MARIANO: Hey! Hey! Why do you react this way? Am I such a monster?

-HE WALKS TOWARDS HER-

MARIANO: It’s been a while since you and I have been alone.
MARISOL: There’s no reason for us to be alone.
MARIANO: What’s the matter? You used to treat me with a lot more affection before.

-MARISOL IS CLEARLY UNCOMFORTABLE WITH HIS PRESENCE THERE. SHE’S ALMOST IN TEARS. MARIANO TRIES TO TOUCH HER-

MARIANO: You look very nice.

-MARISOL BECOMES VERY UPSET AND STARTS SCREAMING HYSTERICALLY-

-MARISOL: Don’t get near me! Don’t get near me!
MARIANO: I can’t help it! I can’t resist touching you every time I’m near you! It’s your scent! Your scent! Your skin!

-MARISOL PICKS UP A KNIFE AND POINTS IT AT HIM-

MARISOL: Don’t touch me! Don’t touch me! Don’t you ever touch me again!
MARIANO: Little cousin, put that down! You know sooner or later, we’re going to end up together! Put that down!

-PEDRO WALKS IN AT THIS MOMENT. MARISOL PUTS THE KNIFE DOWN IMMEDIATELY-

PEDRO: What’s happening here?
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-GUNTHER’S SCOLDING JULIETA. HE’S SHOWING HER THE BALL HE FOUND NEXT TO HIS DOGS-

GUNTHER: I wanted to know who was responsible. Now I know!
JULIETA: Did you find your dogs?
GUNTHER: I found the dogs and I also found this little ball! This little ball is yours, isn’t it? If I have the little ball, I have the person responsible, right?
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-BACK TO MARISOL’S HOUSE-

PEDRO: I asked what’s going on here!
MARIANO: What’s going on here, is none of your business!
PEDRO: What are you doing to her?
MARIANO: What am I doing? Nothing!
PEDRO: Marisol, are you all right?
MARIANO: She’s fine, don’t worry.

-MARIANO ADDRESSES MARISOL-

MARIANO: Well, think about my offer, all right? It could be to your benefit.

-MARIANO WALKS OUT. MARISOL IS NOW CRYING IN EARNEST-

PEDRO: What’s wrong? Why are you crying?
MARISOL: I can’t take this! I can’t take it anymore!

-SHE RUNS INTO PEDRO’S ARMS-

PEDRO: But, what did he do to you? Did he threatened you? What happened? Calm down! What did he do to you? What did he do to you? That miserable…I’m going to….
MARISOL: No! No! Please! Don’t say anything to him! Please, don’t say anything to him!
PEDRO: What did he do to you?
MARISOL: Nothing! Please, don’t say anything!
PEDRO: I won’t allow him to hurt you!
MARISOL: No, Pedro! Please, don’t!

-PEDRO ANGRILY, GOES AFTER MARIANO. MARISOL IS LEFT CRYING INCONSOLABLY-
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-MARIANO IS IN HIS BEDROOM, RESTING ON A CHAIR. PATRICIA WALKS ANGRILY IN THE ROOM-

IGNACIO: What’s wrong?
PATRICIA: This is what’s wrong!

-SHE THROWS THE ENVELOPE ON HIS LAP. IGNACIO OPENS THE ENVELOPE AND READS THE DOCUMENTS-

IGNACIO: Where did you get this?
PATRICIA: It doesn’t matter where I got it! If Ana Laura signs those papers, we are lost, Ignacio! Don’t you see? They want to take from us what little we have left! They want to leave us in the street!
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-ANA LAURA IS WALKING THROUGH THE ESTANCIA/ MARIANO SEES HER AND RUNS AFTER HER-

MARIANO: Ana!
ANA LAURA: Please, leave me alone!
MARIANO: What’s wrong? Are you all right?
ANA LAURA: Do you care what happens with me?
MARIANO: Of course I care!
ANA LAURA: Then, why did you make me look like a liar?
MARIANO: When?
ANA LAURA: When? This morning, in front of Pedro and Marisol!
MARIANO: Oh, no! I never actually said you told me anything!
ANA LAURA: You implied I did!
MARIANO: It’s really sad, all this that’s happening to us!
ANA LAURA: What do you mean?
MARIANO: I say one thing and you understand something else!
ANA LAURA: So, what I heard before the wedding is also a lie?
MARIANO: Enough! Enough! I’m really hurt by the way you’re acting!
ANA LAURA: Isn’t that the truth?
MARIANO: The only truth is that I love you! You know very well, I love you! Ana, believe me! Please, believe me! I always wanted to marry you! I never wanted to hurt you!
ANA LAURA: I can’t believe you! I can’t believe you!
MARIANO: Is it so hard for you to understand that I love you, Ana?

-MARIANO SEES PEDRO APPROACHING. ANA LAURA IS FACING MARIANO, SO SHE DOESN’T SEE PEDRO MAKING HIS WAY TOWARDS THEM. MARIANO THEN KISSES ANA LAURA FULLY ON THE LIPS-

ANA LAURA: Don’t ever get near me again!
MARIANO; Did you need something, Balmaceda?

-ANA LAURA IS SURPRISED TO SEE THAT PEDRO IS STANDING BEHIND HER AND THAT HE WITNESSED THE KISS MARIANO GAVE HER-

PEDRO: I believe you and I need to take care of a few things!
MARIANO: Well, can’t you see I’m busy at the moment?
PEDRO: Even so! It’s important!
MARIANO: These peons really get out of line sometimes!
ANA LAURA: The only one out of line here is you!

-ANA LAURA TRIES TO LEAVE, BUT MARIANO STOPS HER-

MARIANO: Come here, come here! Don’t go! He’s the one who’s leaving! What is your problem? Do you want to know about your sleeping arrangements? Well, everything has been arranged. You’ll be sleeping with the rest of the peons. You can go in peace!
PEDRO: That’s not what I want to talk to you about!
MARIANO: Oh, no? What is it then?
PEDRO: That I can’t stand cowardice!
MARIANO: I could care less what you can or cannot stand!

-MARISOL COMES RUNNING, TRYING TO AVOID A CONFRONTATION BETWEEN PEDRO AND MARIANO-

MARISOL: Pedro! I knew I’d find you here! Let’s go! Come on, Pedro! Let’s go, now! Please! Excuse us! Come on!

-PEDRO RELUCTANTLY GOES WITH MARISOL. MARIANO CYNICALLY YELLS AFTER HIM-

MARIANO; If you have any problems with the peons, let me know!
ANA LAURA: Don’t you ever kiss me again! Did you hear me? Never!

-ANA LAURA WALKS AWAY-
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GUNTHER: Sabandija is in big trouble!
JULIETA: My ball! Where did you find it?
GUNTHER: Your little ball, I found almost in my dogs’ mouth!
JULIETA: So, it was them that stole it from me!
GUNTHER: My dogs don’t steal! That excuse is not going to do you any good! I’m going to accuse you!
JULIETA: Go ahead! I’ll tell everybody that your dogs attacked me, and when the Linares find out how dangerous your dogs are, they’ll make you get rid of them!
GUNTHER: Ha! Don’t make me laugh! That’s a childish argument! No one will believe you!

-JULIETA GRABS THE BALL FROM GUNTHER’S HAND AND RUNS. GUNTHER RUNS AFTER HER. AS HE CHASES JULIETA, GUNTHER LITERALLY SLAMS INTO TOTI AND ALMOST KNOCKS THE AIR OUT OF HIM-

GUNTHER: What are you doing, you, crazy idiot?

-TOTI IS HAVING TROUBLE CATCHING HIS BREATH-

TOTI: You were coming at me like a rhinoceros! You crashed into me!
GUNTHER: I just wanted to grab sabandija, that’s all!
JULIETA: Yes, but you accused me of taking your dogs!
GUNTHER: I’m not accusing you, I’m confirming it! And now that I see the two of you together, I see how things stand. You really don’t like Gunther!
JULIETA: Well, that’s because you make it hard for people to like you!
GUNTHER: Keep you mouth shut, brat!
TOTI: No! Don’t talk to her that way! She’s just a little girl! Don’t talk to her that way!
GUNTHER: I’ll talk to her anyway I want!
TOTI: No, you are not going to talk to her like that. She’s my friend! She’s my friend, and watch out! Don’t get me angry! She’s my friend, is that clear?

-GUNTHER BEGINS YELLING, AND SPEAKING GERMAN. THE ONLY WORD THEY’RE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND IS THE WORD ‘IDIOT.’ TOTI AND JULIETA RUN AWAY-
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IGNACIO: Where did you get this?
PATRICIA: It doesn’t matter! That’s the only way I have to find how things stand around here!
IGNACIO: Put it back in its place! We can get in trouble for this!
PATRICIA: I will, but before I do that, I want to know what is this you’re doing!
IGNACIO: I’m not doing anything, Patricia. I’m not doing anything. Everything is fine. It’s nothing serious!
PATRICIA: Stop lying to me, Ignacio! Stop treating me like an idiot! Do you care so little for me?
IGNACIO: Don’t say that!
PATRICIA: You only care about your daughters! The only thing that matters to you is your family!

-FLORIA HEARS PATRICIA SCREAMING AND ENTERS THE ROOM-

FLORIA: What’s going on?
PATRICIA: Nothing, Floria! Don’t get involved, please!
FLORIA: You leave me no choice! He’s just recovering. What are you trying to do, kill him?
PATRICIA: His selfishness is what’s going to kill him!

-PATRICIA WALKS OUT OF THE ROOM-
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-ANA LAURA STARTS WALKING AWAY FROM MARIANO, BUT HE FOLLOWS HER-

MARIANO: Ana, Ana! Don’t run away! Did you dislike the kiss so much?
ANA LAURA: No, it wasn’t the kiss.
MARIANO: It was an impulse! We’ve been together so long!
ANA LAURA: Really? And what kind of an impulse did you have with Marisol?
MARIANO: What are you saying? What are you talking about?
ANA LAURA: It’s obvious that Pedro came to see you because you did something to her.
MARIANO: Stop! Stop! Since when do you care what the peons say or don’t say?
ANA LAURA: I’d like to know what happened, don’t try to change the subject.
MARIANO: Do you really want to know what happened?
ANA LAURA: Yes, I really want to know!
MARIANO: I went to Marisol’s house to offer her a job.
ANA LAURA: You offered her a job!
MARIANO: Yes, you heard correctly. And then Pedro showed up and he got insanely jealous!
ANA LAURA: Why would he be jealous?
MARIANO: I don’t know! They are a couple. I imagine they are very good together! Does that explain things a little for you?

-MARIANO TRIES TO PUT HIS HAND ON HER ARM-

ANA LAURA: Yes. That explains a lot! But don’t touch me, please! -SHE WALKS AWAY-
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-PATRICIA ENTERS THE LIBRARY. SHE RETURNS TO THE DESK DRAWER, THE ENVELOPE CONTAINING THE PRE-NUPTIAL AGREEMENT. SHE THEN SITS AT THE DESK AND PICKS UP A PHOTOGRAPH OF HERSELF WITI IGNACIO AND MATIAS. THE LIBRARY IS ALMOST COMPLETELY DARK. THE ONLY LIGHT IN THE ROOM IS COMING FROM A DESK LAMP. SHE’S STILL LOOKING AT THE PHOTOGRAPH, WHEN MARIANO WALKS IN-

MARIANO: Reading without proper lighting could hurt your eyes.
PATRICIA: No, I was not reading.
MARIANO: I’m sorry if I disturbed you.

-PATRICIA LEAVES HER CHAIR AND WALKS AROUND THE DESK AND STANDS VERY CLOSE TO MARIANO-

PATRICIA: No, you don’t disturb me. To the contrary, amid all the problems that surround me in this house, you’re like a breath of fresh air.
MARIANO: Thank you very much. And you’re right. Lately, the atmosphere in this house is extremely dense.
PATRICIA: Yes, and after all is said and done, Mariano, you are the only one in this house, who worries about Matías. Your gift of the horse was the best thing that has happened to us in a long time.
MARIANO: I’m glad. And I’d like to be able to help you a little more.
PATRICIA: I would also like that very much, but I don’t see how you could. Mariano, with Ignacio’s health problems, I feel very insecure.
MARIANO: Yes, I can see why. If you were my wife, you would never feel insecure.
PATRICIA: Yes, but I’m not your wife. It’s incredible, isn’t it? Ana Laura has at her side a man like you, and she doesn’t appreciate you. If I were in her place….
MARIANO: If you were in her place, what….
PATRICIA: If I were in her place….nothing, nothing! I better not say anything more, and it’ll be best if I leave.

-SHE LEAVES AND MARIANO REMAINS BEHIND, AND HE SMILES-
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-ANA LAURA IS IN HER BEDROOM, PACING THE FLOOR. LETICIA IS WITH HER-

LETICIA: Ana, would you please relax?
ANA LAURA: I can’t, I can’t! Everything is going wrong with Pedro! First, I come across as a traitor and then, he sees me kissing Mariano. I don’t know what he’s going to think about me, you see!
LETICIA: Let him think what he wants! Why do you care? The only thing that should concern you is what Mariano thinks.
ANA LAURA: I don’t care what Mariano thinks!
LETICIA: Yes, but perhaps he now regrets lying to you and he’s trying to make it up to you!
ANA LAURA: Oh, really! If he were truly sorry, he would cancel the wedding or he would not be trying to send my father to prison! Don’t you think?
LETICIA: I think you lost all trust in him!
ANA LAURA: Absolutely!
LETICIA: And what about Pedro?
ANA LAURA: No, nothing! I just don’t want him to think bad of me, that’s all! Don’t look at me that way, Leti. I know you!
LETICIA: Ana, we’ve known each other since we were five years old! You can’t lie to me! Since that guy arrived in this house, you’ve been acting different! You have softened your heart a little more!
ANA LAURA: That’s a stupid observation! I’ve softened my heart? That’s nonsense! What are you talking about?
LETICIA: It’s not nonsense! And I’m not leaving this room until you tell me what’s happening to you with this guy!
ANA LAURA: Nothing!
LETICIA: Ana, you like him!
ANA LAURA: No, I don’t like him! But…
LETICIA: But you’d eat him with kisses! Listen, you can’t lie to me! Did something happen between you?
ANA LAURA: No! You’re crazy! What could have happened? Nothing happened! Nothing must happen!
LETICIA: Why?
ANA LAURA: Because, between he and I, nothing must happen! Absolutely nothing! It can’t happen! Never!
LETICIA: Then you really like him much more than I thought!

-ANA LAURA DOESN’T RESPOND-
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

-MARISOL’S HOUSE. PEDRO IS PACKING HIS CLOTHES TO MOVE OUT OF MARISOL’S HOUSE. MARIANO HAS TOLD HIM HE IS TO MOVE IN WITH THE OTHER WORKERS. PEDRO IS TRYING TO FOLD HIS SHIRTS, BUT IS DOING A TERRIBLE JOB OF IT-

-PEDRO: I’m not afraid of Mariano. If I have something to say to him, I go and say it.
MARISOL: I know that. But my case is different. I’d rather leave things as they are. Pedro, I think folding clothes is not one of your greatest accomplishments!
PEDRO: I think you’re right!
MARISOL: Let me.
PEDRO: May I ask you something?
MARISOL: Yes.
PEDRO: What does Mariano want from you?
MARISOL: Nothing. He wants me to go work for him, but there’s no way! I’m not going to accept!
PEDRO: I’m not referring to that. Why does he retaliate towards you?
MARISOL: It’s a long story!
PEDRO: I have the time to listen to it. What did Mariano do to you, Marisol? Why do you hate each other so much?

-MARISOL LOOKS AT PEDRO BUT SHE DOESN’T ANSWER FOR A MOMENT-

MARISOL: I don’t want to talk about that. It’s something very painful for me.
PEDRO: Did he harm you in any way?
MARISOL: Very much. And he still does, every chance he gets.
PEDRO: And Ana Laura, does she have anything to do with all this?
MARISOL: No, she’s a good person.
PEDRO: A good person doesn’t say one thing and then does something completely different! A good person does not betray you!
MARISOL: I’m not convinced she betrayed us! No, she wouldn’t be capable of doing such a thing!
PEDRO: Ana Laura? Ana Laura is capable of anything! Yesterday she told me she hated Mariano, and today, I find her kissing him!
MARISOL: Well, I see that’s what is really bothering you!
PEDRO: In which way?
MARISOL: In which way? You care for Ana Laura, and you care very much!
PEDRO: I cared! I cared for her like I’d care for any other person. No more, no less! And now much less, because I detest a lie!

-JULIETA WALKS IN. SHE NOTICES PEDRO’S PACKED CLOTHES-

JULIETA: Pedro, what are you doing? Where are you going?
PEDRO: I’ll be close by.
JULIETA: But I don’t want you to leave!
MARISOL: My love, he has to leave.
JULIETA: But I want you to stay!
PEDRO: I’m still going to be with you. I’m just sleeping in the same room with Toti and Chapa.

-PEDRO KISSES JULIETA AND PICKS UP HIS SUITCASE. JULIETA TRIES TO STOP HIM, BUT MARISOL TELLS HER TO LET HIM GO. SHE GIVES JULIETA A KISS, AND WALKS PEDRO TO THE DOOR-
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

-ALVARO IS IN THE LIBRARY TALKING TO ROBERTO-

ALVARO: If only I knew what her intentions are! What happened suddenly with Victoria that made her come threading around this house again?
ROBERTO: Yes, someone should try to find out what her intentions are.
ALVARO: That someone is you!
ROBERTO: I don’t think I’m the right person to do this. She’s not going to tell me one word about her plans! That is, if she’s really planning something!
ALVARO: I don’t know about that. But I know that although you work for me, she’s always liked you very much!
ROBERTO: But not enough to trust me with her things!
ALVARO: You could get close to her, by taking advantage of the affection she has for you. You could try to be friends with her again. I’m sure we could accomplish something that way!
ROBERTO: I don’t see it that way! She’s a very astute woman!
ALVARO: Please, don’t argue with me! Why don’t we try and see what happens. I want you to get closer to Victoria. Do you understand?
ROBERTO: Yes, yes As you wish.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

-ANTONIO (ROSA’S HUSBAND) ACCOMPANIES PEDRO TO THE ROOM HE’LL BE SHARING WITH TOTI AND CHAPA. CHAPA AND TOTI ARE THERE-

ANTONIO: Come in, Pedro. Boys, how about a welcome for him?
TOTI: Of course, Peter, this is your house! It’s not a palace, but it has its charms!
PEDRO: It’s fine to me.
ANTONIO: This is your bed. It’s the only one we have.

-ANTONIO POINTS TO A BED THAT HAS OBVIOUSLY SEEN BETTER DAYS. THE MATTRESS SHOWS A LARGE INDENTATION AROUND THE MIDDLE. THE BED LOOKS AS IF IT’S READY TO FALL APART-

CHAPA: Pardon me, are you installing him in here?
ANTONIO: Yes. Mr. Mariano’s orders. Any problem with that?
CHAPA: No!
ANTONIO: Are you sure?
CHAPA: Yes.
ANTONIO: Well, then, I’ll leave you now. Get to know each other.
PEDRO: Thank you.
ANTONIO: Ciao! -HE LEAVES-
TOTI: The bed is not as bad as it looks.
PEDRO: No, it’s fine, thank you.
CHAPA: It’s the only one available.

-CHAPA TRIES TO SHOW OFF AND GIVES PEDRO A SPEECH IN LATIN, THAT LEAVES PEDRO AND TOTI WAITING FOR AN EXPLANATION-

PEDRO: Excuse me?
CHAPA: A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush!

-PEDRO AND TOTI LAUGH-

TOTI: That was fat Gunther’s bed.
PEDRO: The majordomo? He’s moved up in the world, then?
TOTI: Yes, of course, because he’s always kissing someone’s…..
CHAPA: Look, Pedro, as you can see, this place is not big enough for three people, but since the bosses decided you should stay here, we have to make the best of the situation. We have rules in this place. Very strict rules, is that clear?
PEDRO: Yes, of course, Chapa, but don’t worry, that you won’t have problems with me.
TOTI: I think it’s only fair that we draw for the three beds to see who gets the best bed.
CHAPA: Totino! Have you gone crazy, querido?
TOTI: Toti! Don’t call me Totino! And, no, I haven’t gone crazy! There are three of us and….
CHAPA: There are two of us, and now with the señor, who just arrived…don’t you see how uncomfortable we are going to be, Totino?
PEDRO: Please don’t argue because of me!
TOTI: But I don’t want you to sleep where the mammoth slept! I feel bad for you!
PEDRO: No, Toti, is all right, look, the bed is fine!

-PEDRO GOES TO SHOW TOTI THE BED IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION, BUT AS HE LIES ON IT, THE BED COMPLETELY COLAPSES, CAUSING TOTI TO LAUGH, AND CHAPA TO SMILE-

PEDRO: Well, I’ve slept in better places!
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

-MARIANO IS SITTING AT THE DESK IN THE LIBRARY. MARISOL , EXTREMELY NERVOUS, IS STANDING ACROSS FROM HIM. SHE DOES NOT LOOK AT HIM-

MARIANO: Are you comfortable? Would you like anything to drink?
MARISOL: No, I’m fine.
MARIANO: I didn’t like the way you reacted yesterday! But I’m a very forgiving man!
MARISOL: Can you please come to the point?
MARIANO: Yes, I’ll go straight to the point. I will not take no for an answer to my job offer.
MARISOL: That’s your problem, because my answer is no.

-MARIANO LEAVES HIS CHAIR AND WALKS AROUND THE DESK AND STANDS VERY CLOSE, BEHIND MARISOL. SHE STILL HAS NOT LOOKED DIRECTLY AT HIM-

MARIANO: Marisol, if you refuse to work for me, I’ll be forced to throw you out, and you’re going to have to go far away, because I will not leave you alone!
MARISOL: Even so, my answer is still no.
MARIANO: I’m telling you, you won’t like it.

-MARISOL AT LAST, FINDS THE COURAGE TO TURN AROUND AND FACE MARIANO. SHE LOOKS RIGHT INTO HIS EYES WHEN SHE TALKS TO HIM-

MARISOL: I’m used to it!
MARIANO: I don’t understand! I’m offering you a job! I’m offering you comfort. And you don’t budge.
MARISOL: I wouldn’t be near you, not even for all the riches in the world! May I go?

-MARISOL TRIES TO WALK AWAY, BUT MARIANO GRABS HER ARM AND STOPS HER. HE THEN HOLDS HER FACE WITH BOTH HANDS AND CONTINUES CARESSING HER CHEEKS. MARISOL IS CLEARLY UPSET AND, ONCE AGAIN, AVOIDS LOOKING AT HIM-

MARIANO: Come here, come here! All right! All right, don’t think about yourself! Look at me! Think about your daughter! What’s going to happen to her? Where is she going to live? What is she going to eat?
MARISOL: We’ll manage, as we always do!

-MARISOL GETS LOOSE FROM MARIANO’S HOLD AND BEGINS TO LEAVE, BUT MARIANO GRABS HER ARM ONCE AGAIN AND IS FORCIBLY DETAINING HER. HE MASSAGES HER SHOULDERS. MARISOL STRUGGLES TO GET LOOSE-

MARIANO: You will regret it! You will regret it!

-MARISOL FINALLY ESCAPES FROM THE LIBRARY-
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

-VICTORIA’S HOUSE. ROBERTO COMES TO SEE HER. THEY SIT IN THE LIVING ROOM-

VICTORIA: What a surprise! Sit down!
ROBERTO: Thank you.
VICTORIA: It’s been a long time since you came calling!
ROBERTO: I’ve been meaning to stop by, but you know how it is. When it’s not one thing, it’s another!
VICTORIA: Of course! And why are here today?
ROBERTO: Oh, nothing in particular. I just wanted to see you, have a talk.. I understand you came around the estancia.

-VICTORIA LAUGHS-

VICTORIA: How nice! I’m moved that you thought about me!

-ROBERTO ALSO LAUGHS BUT SEEMS UNCERTAIN WHETHER VICTORIA IS BEING FRIENDLY OR IF SHE’S BEING SARCASTIC. HE SOON RECEIVES AN ANSWER. VICTORIA DROPS ALL PRETENSE AND BECOMES VERY SERIOUS-

VICTORIA: He’s scared, isn’t he? He’s afraid!
ROBERTO: Who?
VICTORIA: Alvaro!
ROBERTO: Why?
VICTORIA: Because he knows me! Because he knows I can make things very difficult for him. And you know that, too! We’ve known each other a long time, Roberto. What did he send you for? Tell me, why did he send you?
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

-CECILIA COMES IN THE LIBRARY AFTER SEEING MARISOL RUN OUT OF THERE IN TEARS. MARIANO IS ANGRILY PACING THE FLOOR-

CECILIA: Imbecile!
MARIANO: Don’t get involved, mother!
CECILIA: I will certainly get involved! You’re making a mistake, Mariano. Leave that girl alone! Can’t you see you’re losing control?
MARIANO: I know very well what I’m doing!
CECILIA: You’re behaving like an adolescent!
MARIANO: I’m sick of you getting involved in my business, mother! I’m fed up!
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

-MARISOL IS RUNNING IN THE HALLWAY, CRYING. SHE STOPS FOR A MINUTE. ANA LAURA, AT THIS MOMENT, EXITS A ROOM AND SEES HOW UPSET MARISOL IS-

ANA LAURA: What are you doing here? What happened to you?
MARISOL: Nothing. Nothing happened!
ANA LAURA: Marisol, please tell me, what happened to you? Tell me!
MARISOL: I can’t! I need to go! I need to get out of here!

-MARISOL RUNS OUT OF THE HOUSE. ANA LAURA IS LEFT STANDING IN THE HALLWAY. SHE TURNS AROUND AND SEES MARIANO COMING DOWN THE HALL, WALKING TOWARDS HER. ANA LAURA GIVES MARIANO A QUESTIONING LOOK. MARIANO STANDS THERE WITH HIS HANDS IN HIS POCKETS, NOT SAYING A WORD-
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

-JULIETA IS IN BED, PRETENDING TO BE SICK. PEDRO IS SITTING ON A CHAIR NEXT TO HER BED-

PEDRO: So, you have a big fever!
JULIETA: Yes, my mom took my temperature and it was very high!
PEDRO: How terrible! You don’t seem too bad!
JULIETA: I don’t look too sick because I’m trying to be strong! But I’m glad you came! My mom had to leave, and since I was so sick, I didn’t want to be alone!
PEDRO: You did the right thing calling me.
JULIETA: Yes, but if my mom asks you, tell her you came on your own, because if she finds out I asked to come over, she’ll kill me! Come here, lie down here next to me!
PEDRO: No, I’m fine right here!
JULIETA: No, come on, and then you can tell me a story!

-PEDRO GETS UP FROM THE CHAIR AND SITS ON THE BED, NEXT TO JULIETA. HE LEANS ON THE HEADBOARD-

PEDRO: A story! When it comes to telling stories, I’m terrible! But, I’m going to tell you a story about a little girl who liked to tell lies all the time! Do you know it?
JULIETA: No, but I don’t like stories about people who tell lies!
PEDRO: But, why? Have you told a lie, lately?
JULIETA: No, of course not! You better not tell me a story. Pedro, I want to tell you something. Something that I’ve never told you. I love you very much!
PEDRO: And do you know something? I love you very much, also!

-JULIETA REACHES UP TO PEDRO AND GIVES HIM A HUG. PEDRO KISSES THE TOP OF JULIETA’S HEAD. JULIETA SETTLES IN FOR THE NIGHT. COMFORTABLY KNOWING PEDRO IS THERE WITH HER-
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

THE MAIN HOUSE. THE FAMILIES HAVE GATHERED TOGETHER IN THE LIVING ROOM. ON THE LARGE SOFA, SIT ERICA, ANA LAURA, FLORIA, AND IGNACIO. ACROSS FROM THEM, SIT MARIANO, CECILIA AND PATRICIA-

CECILIA: As you all know, this reunion is for the purpose of discussing the details of the wedding.
ERICA: Do I have to stay?
IGNACIO: It’s your sister’s wedding, Eri.
ERICA: Yes, but my friends are waiting for me!
ANA LAURA: Go ahead, Eri. It’s all right. After all, this reunion doesn’t make sense.

-ERICA HAPPILY RUNS OUT OF THE HOUSE-

CECILIA: Why do you say that?
ANA LAURA: Because everything is ready for the party. Isn’t it? There are only a few small changes. Patricia, I wanted to tell you that you will not be my second godmother at the wedding.
PATRICIA: And why not?
FLORIA: Because Anita thought about it, and she wanted to choose someone else!
PATRICIA: Ignacio, aren’t you going to say anything?
IGNACIO: This is Ana’s decision. She’s got all the right.
MARIANO: Yes, absolutely! I agree. I think Floria will make an excellent second godmother.
FLORIA: Me? No, no. Well, Anita offered, but no, I’d get too emotional!
CECILIA: Then, who will it be?
ANA LAURA: It’s a surprise! A very nice surprise!
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

-IN THE KITCHEN, GUNTHER IS GIVING THE EMPLOYEES INSTRUCTIONS REGARDING ALL THE PREPARATIONS FOR THE WEDDING BANQUET. EVERYONE IS PRESENT AND THEY ARE STANDING AROUND THE TABLE. GUNTHER IS IN THE MIDDLE. TO HIS RIGHT, IS ROSA, MAGDA AND LISA. TO GUNTHER’S LEFT, STANDS ANTONIO, CHAPA, AND TOTI-

GUNTHER: First, you pick up the napkin, then you fold it and then you see how a beautiful flower is formed!

-EVERYONE LAUGHS AT GUNTHER’S ATTEMPTS AT TABLE SETTING-

GUNTHER: Don’t laugh! Don’t laugh! Gunther knows a lot and he’s the boss!
ROSA: Gunther, with all due respect, I know a technique that creates beautiful roses, so if you allow me…
GUNTHER: Gunther here is the boss, the cook just cooks, is that clear? Now, the silverware, you get one of each and then put them together on the table, like this, and is ready!
CHAPA: Gunther, querido, Toti and I will be in charge of the grill, so why do we have to be here receiving these instructions?
GUNTHER: Gunther shows you so you can learn!
MAGDA: Excuse me, the sausage is not eaten with this fork, this is for fish!
ANTONIO: Magda is right!
GUNTHER: Magda is burra!
ANTONIO: No, Magda knows a lot!
GUNTHER: No, Magda burra! Donkey!! Hew! Haw! Hew! Haw! Don’t laugh! Don’t laugh!

-GUNTHER TRIES TO PICK SOME DISHES FROM THE TABLE TO CONTINUE WITH THE DEMONSTRATION, BUT HE DROPS A FEW AND THEY ALMOST BREAK-

GUNTHER: All of you make Gunther nervous!
MAGDA: Gunther, please! We all know each other here and we are very close. You better change your way of thinking and join forces with us, or else, your head will be the first one to go, you heard what Cecilia said!
GUNTHER: Gunther has to do good!
MAGDA: This is going to be harder than I thought! If anything goes wrong with this wedding, not even Patricia will be able to save you! So, you have two options! Either you join us and become one of us, or you die! You choose!
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

-MARISOL’S HOUSE. PEDRO AND JULIETA ARE BOTH ASLEEP. PEDRO IS STILL SITTING BUT HE’S RESTING HIS HEAD ON JULIETA’S AND IS HOLDING ON TO HER HAND. MARISOL, VERY UPSET AND STILL CRYING, WALKS IN JULIETA’S ROOM. PEDRO IS AWAKEN BY HER CRYING-

PEDRO: Marisol! What’s wrong now? What’s wrong?

-MARISOL RUNS TO PEDRO’S ARMS, CRYING. HE TENDERLY HOLDS HER AND TRIES TO CONSOLE HER. ANA LAURA HAD COME TO CHECK ON MARISOL. SHE HAPPENS TO SEE THROUGH THE WINDOW, THAT PEDRO IS HOLDING MARISOL IN A TIGHT EMBRACE. ANA LAURA THEN WALKS AWAY, BUT NOT BEFORE PEDRO NOTICED SOMEONE HAD BEEN STANDING AT THE WINDOW-

MARISOL: What’s wrong?
PEDRO: I thought I saw someone!

-PEDRO RUNS OUTSIDE TO CHECK. MARISOL SITS ON JULIETA’S BED. JULIETA WAKES UP AND SEES MARISOL-

JULIETA: What wrong, mom?
MARISOL: Nothing, nothing, my love. Nothing.
JULIETA: Where’s Pedro?
MARISOL: He’ll be back. What’s the matter with you?
JULIETA: Nothing, I was feeling sick and Pedro just happened to come by.
MARISOL: Don’t tell me you called him!
JULIETA: No, mom, how can you say that?

-PEDRO COMES BACK IN THE ROOM-

PEDRO: I thought I saw something!
MARISOL: Perhaps it was the shadow of a tree branch.
PEDRO: No, I thought I saw someone looking through the window. What’s more, I even think it was….no, that’s not possible!
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

-BACK TO THE KITCHEN-

GUNTHER: I don’t need anyone’s help!
ANTONIO: Think for just a minute! The Linares are waiting for us to make a mistake, so they can throw all of us out!
GUNTHER: What kind of help are you talking about?
MAGDA: We all help one another, that way the old hag, I mean, Señora Cecilia, won’t be able to say anything if she sees we’re united. That’s our only solution.
GUNTHER: That’s true! That’s true! I accept! But I have the last word!

-EVERYONE DISAGREES WITH GUNTHER’S STATEMENT-

TOTI: Besides, if anything goes wrong, if anything goes wrong, Señora Cecilia said the first head to come off would be yours! Can you see your head rolling down….
GUNTHER: Gunther will not tolerate threats coming from no one, especially from an ordinary, rude, little peon!
TOTI: Who are you calling little peon?
GUNTHER: Keep your mouth shut!
MAGDA: Not again! It’s incredible!
CHAPA: Enough, why don’t we unite and don’t worry about Toti, I’ll handle him!
Toti: Who are you talking about?
CHAPA: You!
ANTONIO: No more arguments! Gunther, do you accept?
GUNTHER: Yes!

-GUNTHER SHAKES HANDS WITH ANTONIO, CHAPA AND TOTI-

MAGDA: Excellent! Now those snobs are going to have the opportunity to see how a wedding is celebrated in an estancia!

-EVERYONE CHEERS-
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

-BACK TO VICTORIA’S HOUSE IN BUENOS AIRES-

ROBERTO: No one sent me.
VICTORIA: Come on! I know Alvaro. He’s worried, and he should be!
ROBERTO: Why do you say that?
VICTORIA: You know why! Now, I ‘d like to know what Alvaro is trying to find out, exactly?
ROBERTO: As far as I know, nothing!
VICTORIA: I’m going to take this opportunity, since you’re here, to send him a message.
ROBERTO: Hmm?
VICTORIA: Tell him he always got his way, but now it’s my turn!
ROBERTO: What are you talking about, señora, I don’t understand.
VICTORIA: He’ll understand! It wasn’t me, who threw the first stone! So he better be prepared, because now, the war begins, and it’s going to be fierce!
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

-THE ESTANCIA- FLORIA IS SITTING ON THE SOFA. MAGDA AND CARMEN ARE HELPING CECILIA WITH SOME FLOWER ARRANGEMENTS MEANT FOR THE WEDDING. ERICA WALKS IN THE DOOR-

MAGDA: Where are you coming from, at this hour?
ERICA: I went to a friend’s house, we had some studying to do. Can you prepare me something to eat? I’m hungry!

-MAGDA LEAVES TO PREPARE SOMETHING TO EAT FOR ERICA. ANA LAURA WALKS IN THE ROOM-

CECILIA: Look at these beautiful arrangements! And we still need to add the natural flowers!
ANA LAURA: Excuse me, those are not the flowers I chose!
CECILIA: Well, no, but they are very similar.
ANA LAURA: I don’t want them!
ERICA: They’re not bad!
ANA LAURA: Erica, this is my wedding, not yours! They’re not what I selected! I don’t want them!
ERICA: I was just trying to help, but fine, I’m leaving! -ERICA EXITS THE ROOM-
CECILIA: All right, if these arrangements are not what you want, fine. But you need to decide which one you want, because we need to take care of this in advance.
ANA LAURA: They’re not what I want. The only thing I want, it’s for you to leave me alone!
CECILIA: You are obviously very nervous!

-ANA LAURA JUST SMILES AND NODS IN AGREEMENT-

CECILIA: Carmen, help me with this!

-CECILIA ANGRILY THROWS ALL THE FLOWERS IN CARMEN’S ARMS. CECILIA WALKS OUT OF THE ROOM, EMPTY HANDED, FOLLOWED BY CARMEN, WHO’S CARRYING ALL THE FLOWERS. FLORIA AND ANA LAURA ARE LEFT ALONE IN THE LIVING ROOM-

FLORIA: Do you want me to leave you alone, or do you prefer to tell me what’s wrong?
ANA LAURA: No, Grandmother. I’m an idiot, that’s what’s wrong!
FLORIA: You were correct in putting a stop to Cecilia’s meddling.
ANA LAURA: No, I’m not talking about Cecilia. I’m referring to what happened to me this afternoon.
FLORIA: What happened?
ANA LAURA: I stupidly went to see how Marisol was doing, and I saw her in Pedro’s arms.
FLORIA: Pedro and Marisol are together?
ANA LAURA: Yes. But it doesn’t bother that they are together.! Let them be very happy if that’s what they want! What I hate is that I’m going to have to concede to Mariano that he was right, and I don’t want to do that! That’s what bothers me! I don’t want to admit he was right!
FLORIA: Yes, of course! That’s what makes you angry!
ANA LAURA: Yes! That’s why I’m angry! But not about them, grandmother, really! It’s just that I feel like an idiot! That’s the only reason! Do you understand?
FLORIA: If you are an idiot, because you like Pedro, then I’m also an idiot! -FLORIA LAUGHS-
ANA LAURA: No, it’s just that I thought….I don’t know what I thought! That he was going to rescue me at the last minute! I don’t know! I feel so stupid about all this, grandmother! That’s not exactly what I meant to say! What I mean is that he acted very kindly towards me, he behaved like a true friend and…
FLORIA: No, no! Don’t say anymore. As my late father used to say, don’t clarify that it obscures things!

-FLORIA LOOKS AT ANA LAURA AND LAUGHS. ANA LAURA ONLY SMILES-
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

-MARISOL IS CHOPPING VEGETABLES. SHE’S WITH HER BACK TO JULIETA AND PEDRO. PEDRO AND JULIETA ARE TRYING TO KEEP MARISOL FROM FINDING OUT THAT JULIETTA CALLED PEDRO TO COME STAY WITH HER WHILE MARISOL WAS OUT-

PEDRO: I hope you’re feeling better!
JULIETA: Yes, much better!
MARISOL: You were that sick?
JULIETA: Yes! I had a fever!
MARISOL: And how are you now?
JULIETA: I’m perfect, because Pedro healed me!
MARISOL: And how did you end up over here, Pedro?
PEDRO: I…I came in and I saw she was all alone in her little bed and I…
MARISOL: And you thought she was really sick!
JULIETA: I was, mom! There was something wrong with me, until Pedrito came and…
PEDRO: And Pedrito will now leave the two of you alone, and disappear!

-PEDRO LAUGHS AND WALKS OUT-

JULIETA; You see! I should find myself a dad just like him!
MARISOL: And I should find myself a little daughter who doesn’t lie! Did you do your homework?
JULIETA: No, mom. I was sick! Besides, we were discussing another subject!
MARISOL: If that subject is Pedro, I’m warning you, that’s a close case!
JULIETA: Why do you react that way, every time we talk about him?
MARISOL: I don’t react in any way! Stop getting those strange ideas in your head!
JULIETA: Why are they strange? Look, I don’t have a father, you don’t have husband and he’s single! Everything fits!
MARISOL: Go do your homework, Julieta!
JULIETA: Look how you’re reacting! I can tell Pedro makes you nervous!

-MARISOL TRIES TO LOOK ANGRY WHEN LOOKING AT JULIETA, BUT DOESN’T SAY ANYTHING-