Episode 5: "La arpia"
English subtitles https://youtu.be/sozeYsnTkzo
Spanish subtitles https://youtu.be/DpypsYDHjB4
Preparing to propose to George, Carmen wears new floor-length, full-skirted floral & leaf print dress he secretly bought for her at Beverly Hill's famous high fashion expensive shopping district on Rodeo Drive. On wall leading to guest & master bedrooms is row of geometric paintings in primary colors (yellow, blue, red) resembling colorful traditional Mexican "papel picada" banners--if they'd been run over by car wheels covered in black oil.Maria brings George a cup of tea (which he often drinks in upcoming episodes); remember, tea is made with LEAVES and sometimes flowers and/or seeds, as are many relaxing, healing beverages used in Latin cultures.
Clio wears clingy blue satin mini-dress for her date (seduction) with Andy at her trendy mid-century style cement & glass Hollywood house. Asian chef may be preparing sushi (fishy food may be significant, like George's salmon) judging from Japanese style cups without handles which seems to hold strongly alcoholic sake--not tea. Giant mural portrait of Clio (includes orange poppy--state flower of California--and some kind of purple blossom) as well as framed photos of her adorn the Diva's den, whose furnishings include mid-century style chairs in bold lemon yellow and blue.
Clio bites into something bright orange--warning!--during her "interrogation" of Andy who seems on his guard. He tells her he prefers making independent films with stories "mas humanas, menos cliches" than typical Hollywood movies . She says although she may not look it, she has seen some of his work. I'm guessing films he'd made may resemble David Riker's highly regarded LA CIUDAD--THE CITY, and some by Mexican actor Gael Garcia Bernal (more hints given in future episodes).
"X" of crossed slats are on backs of wooden chairs around table on Cruz terrace, which Jurado family have decorated with colorful yarn & bead hangings purchased at a Mexican-style local market. When Cruz twins complain about it looking like a "Feria de pueblo" or "tiangis" (Swap meet), Yuli comments that she knew that George must have some flaw--it's his "tarugo" (idiot, blockhead) kids. Tommy puts on "blinders" (mirrored sunglasses). Yuli wears sheer black blouse printed with sunflowers when Tommy calls her "floribunda" which subtitles may translate as "ugly duckling", but I get feeling he meant more like "tacky" or British "NAF".
By the way, I think J.K. Rowling named her gawky, geeky, unlikely hero Newt--Newton Artemis Fido--Scamander so those would be his initials.)
After twins walk away, Pedro calls them Gremlins. Yuli says Carmen will "ver negro"--literally "see black"--BIG RED BOOK OF SPANISH IDIOMS suggests "have a tough time" or "uphill struggle" when twins become her step-children.
Lara had previously worn crochet top of colorful FLORAL motifs, now wears crochet STRIPED top in more dull shades, a signal she is changing chameleon-like to try to fit in with geometric fake Beverly Hills style, away from natural, in touch with life appearance of her family roots. Lara is bewitched by shimmering high heel shoes ("tacones de hechizo"--but Cinderella or Dorothy?) that Paz gives her to sweeten girl up and keep her working as unpaid personal assistant, also saying Lara can borrow any of her clothes like clingy shiny color-changing mini-dress. Paz behaves--tho less kindly--like Cher giving makeover to new girl at school in now-classic teen movie CLUELESS, which you may know was based on Jane Austen's novel EMMA (less widely known is that EMMA also helped inspire HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE, in having main character realize toward end their perception of people and events was entirely in error.
Concerned Carmen & company knock on George's bedroom door--which he won't open, fearing misunderstanding after Leti pops out from under pillows wearing red negligee. (Reminds me a bit of poor Professor in 1972 screwball comedy classic film WHAT'S UP DOC, when he's trying to hide from his bossy fiancee Eunice an uninvited guest, free spirit Judy who's only wearing a bath towel-who tells him "you're so cute in your pajamas". At least George's room doesn't get set on fire like handsome Howard's demolished hotel room! See Wikipedia article on DOC pointing out details that casual viewer will miss. I think DOC also helped inspire FANTASTIC BEASTS films in at least 3 areas: luggage, Lion parade & Cole Porter lyrics. "Let's Do It, Let's Fall in Love"--also known as "Birds do it, Bees do it"--Rowling wrote song for Blind Pig speakeasy incorporating various fabulous magical animals.)
George--wearing blue denim shirt again--doesn't manage to take planned shower (which may be symbolically significant); he explains away voices Carmen heard as "important phone call from studio" (actually whispered argument with Leti), and said he had to get dressed again, when Maria notes he's still wearing same clothes & his hair isn't wet, because he says someone was "tumbando" (knocking down) the door, which Carmen corrects as "tocando" (knocking AT the door). When all they heard was silence, Carmen, Marga and, Yuli were worried George might be ill or injured, so Maria ran off to get the key. He opens door just in time, after ordering Leti to stay in bathroom or sleep in the street if she doesn't.
Yuli shoves Carmen into bedroom for her to have private moment alone with George, saying "Aqui se rompio una taza", a "dicho" that continues "y cada quien a su casa" (time to go home, party over). Carmen leads George by the hand from master bedroom out to pool-side terrace (he may simultaneously be flustered that Leti might be discovered--as she hopes--and be honestly dazzled by lovely Carmen). She seats George at head (or foot?) of table around which are gathered Jurados & Hernandez (Yuli & Juancho), Andy watching from indoors and Leti secretly from upstairs (may illustrate Spanish expression "balconear"--to spy on--used in LA MENTIRA).
Carmen explains to George that when he'd proposed to her that night: "Pues, yo me obfusque, me bloqueo, okay? Cuando tengo miedo, me bloqueo.
George: Miedo a que?
Carmen: Miedo--como a lo nuevo. Pero te amo (he tenderly smiles with joy) Te amo. Y quiero que sepas que aunque a veces haga mis berinches y digas "ay, ya no lo soporto" porque me ponga como...
George: Un poca loca?
Carmen: Ah! Un poca loca.
Margarita: Ay si. De lunes a viernes.
Family talk all at once: Un poquita, nada mas, lo pase. Pero se le pasa.
Carmen: Se me pasa rapido. Que haz de cuenta, como a los dos dias, ya estoy bien. Nada mas me das mi espacio (breathes in) y me relajo.
George: Okay.
Carmen: Te voy a decir algo con otras palabras porque con estas no me sale, si?
George: Claro.
Carmen: Si. (to Pedro) Venga, hermano.
Pedro: Listo. Va. Un dos tres quarto.
Carmen sings to George, with rest of family gradually joining in:
Adoro
La calle en que nos vimos (holding hands with George, she twirls under their upraised arms)
La noche cuando nos conocimos
Y me muero por tenerte junto a mi
Cerca, muy cerca de mi
No separarme de ti
Y es que eres mi existencia
Y mi sentir (Andy watches from shadows, Leti unseen from above)
eres mi luna, eres mi sol,
eres mi noche de amor
Yo te adoro, vida mia.
Carmen suddenly kneels in front of still seated George, says "Echalo" to Yuli who throws her ring box.
Carmen to George: Te quieres casar conmigo? (Snippet of their song "Tuya para siempre)
George: Ay no, por que haces esto, si yo te lo iba a volver pedir?
Marga: Se le dijo, se le dijo!
Juancho: Esperate.
George: Dejame ir por el anillo
Carmen.: No. No no no no no. El anillo es lo de menos. Lo que importa es el amor que hay en el corazon. Lo material no importa, verdad, familia?
Juancho: Bueno, a veces tantito. Si quieres, yo voy por el anillo, voy a tu closet.
Todos: No!
Juancho: No, bueno, estan bueno.
Carmen: Te quieres casar conmigo?
George (smiles): Accepto. (Carmen throws her arms around his neck. They kiss. Family claps & cheers.)
Juancho: Giro papalote giro (another reference to wind/breath "Turn, pinwheel--or windmill?-- turn", like he said in San Miguel when family thought Joaquin had proposed.)
Yuli: Es tan tan tan tan--el anillo! (Unnoticed, Leti and Andy walk out of view)
Margarita: George, yo te quieria pedir pos, con todo respecto y encareidamente, no mas para guardas las formas, este, que le pides el matrimonio a mi hija, si?
Yuli: Otra vez la burra al trigo. (traditional phrase meaning "Here we go again". In future episode, when Carmen varies to "mula"/mule instead, George asks, "no es burro?")
George: No, no, claro! Por supuesto. Ni mas faltaba, senora. Sin el anillo?
Margarita: Si!
Juancho: Por eso, si quieres, yo voy por el al cuarto...(Adds a little tension to scene for audience, tho characters are all unaware Leti is hiding in bedroom, now seemingly forgotten by George who's focused on Carmen.)
Todos: No!
George: Bueno. Carmen Jurado, quieres casarte conmigo?
Carmen (teasingly seems to briefly consider question): Si!
George stands up, Carmen again wraps her arms around his neck, they kiss.
Carmen opens box, she slips ring on his finger) Oye, pero me vas a dar el anillo, verdad?
George: Claro.
Carmen: Ay, bueno. (they kiss again, embracing)
Leti rages to herself: La odio! No la soporto! La mugrosa cantanilla de quinto nivel. Okay, calmate, Leticia, porque no le va a ganar. Jamas te va a ganar esa mujer asi. Claro, respira. Piensa. (removes her crystal ear studs, placing them on bed. She'd already put two glass goblets and bottle of wine in bucket on upholstered bench at foot of bed when she prepared trap for George.)
Margarita wearing big smile, goes upstairs on way to guest room. But her smile vanishes when Leti strolls out of George's bedroom past her, dressed only in skimpy red satin robe.
Leticia (with sly smile) to Margarita: Que tenga un lindo dia, Margarita.
Margarita: Si. Usted tapese. No se le vayan a resfriar sus partes. (Marga looks into master bedroom, maybe sees goblets & wine bottle): Marga exclaims: Virgen Santisima!
Andy collapses on bed in Tommy's room with lemon yellow lamps, etc: Ay Dios mio. Esa mujer es perfecta. Que vas hacer, Andy, que vas hacer, que vas hacer?
Pedro enters thru sliding glass door from terrace. Andy tells Pedro he plans to share the room, if it won't bother him ("estorba"). Pedro cheerfully says it won't.
Andy: El que estorba soy yo...y mis pensamientos.
Pedro laughs: Eso estuvo bien de novela, mi Andy, pero esta bien. Viste la pedida de mano que hizo Carmen?
Andy: Si, si. Estuvo...estuvo muy bonita, eh..se ve que son muy felices juntos, no?
Pedro: Si, no, de a montones, hermano. De a montones.(with hindsight, reference to height is significant). Hasta siento que se respira ahi al amor, no? entre ellos dos. Ay de verdad que que bonito. Que bonito encontrar asi pues alguien, no? con quien ser feliz.
Andy (dispiritedly): Si. Si ha de ser...ha de ser muy bonito.
George & Carmen enter master bedroom, close door. (around 20 minute mark)
Carmen: Oye, creo que abu y mi jefe nos vieron.
George: Pues si nos vieron, se van que tapar los ojos porque esta noche yo no voy a dormir solo.
Carmen: Ay, no. No te voy a dejar. (He backs her to bed as they kiss). Que haces? (she falls on bed, laughing) Que es esto?
George sees Leti's ear studs on bed near Carmen: Eh, que es que?
Carmen: Que es eso? Sabes de lo estoy hablando? (George trying to pretend innocence, shakes his head) Ven aca (she pulls him down on to bed, he grabs ear studs, she abruptly rolls over on top of him, which makes George grin.) Ahi hay dos copas. No te hagas, George.
George: Dos copas, claro.
Carmen: Tu tenias planeado robarme.
George (smilingly plays along, following her lead): Uh huh.
Carmen: Es en serio?
George (becoming more intense): Si mi amor.
Carmen: Es un rey (they kiss). Voy a servirnos.
George: No, yo, no, yo te sirvo, yo te sirvo (he slips ear studs into his trouser pocket.)
Carmen sits up on bed: Si? Ahora si como la gente decente.
George pours and hands her glass of wine: Para ti. (Carmen starts drinking quickly) Ay ay ay, a ver, 'perame 'perame 'perame (informal abreviation of "esperar", wait for me, wait for me)
Carmen: Esta buena
George: (pants. The two clink their glasses together) Por nuestro amor.
Carmen: Te amo. Te amo, to amo, te amo.
Marga in pale blue pajamas in guest bedroom, she shares one bed with her sleeping mother in law. (Going back to Ep. 3 when George brought their luggage to guest room which he SAID was where Carmen had been staying, but his expression and covert glances--unseen by anyone except perhaps Carmen--say couple's sleeping arrangements were otherwise.)
Yuli comes in brushing her teeth, tells Marga "Y ahora? Por que estas toda a chicopalada?..
Marga looks very worried, comments: Tengo una espina que traigo ahi atravesdada.,...Estoy molesta, pero conmiga. Pues, porque cometi un error bien grandote. Deje entrar una rata en esta casa. Pero manana mismo le pongo orden, eh. Yuli: Ay, no entienda. Marga: No importa. Con que yo me entienda es suficiente. After seeing Leticia in compromising situation, she repents of letting Leticia stay--now suspecting she let a rat into the house but resolves to correct the matter the next day.
Orange bedsheets on master bed (which brings to mind expression "media naranja" idiom used by couples for their partner; in English "my better half", my other half, my missing piece). Carmen and George (bare chested) lying in bed side by side with arms around each other and fingers intertwined (sculpture in suggestive shape and leaning bottle in bucket on bedside table are meant to indicate what happened off screen).
Carmen: Me choca que ya me tengo que ir.
George: A donde?
Carmen: (sounds like "Mexico").
George (startled): Como a Mexico?!
Carmen (laughing): No! A mi cuarto!
George, relieved: Ah!
Carmen: Que no ves que mi abue es muy? (she crosses herself) Y no podemos estar asi, ya de...asi tan dormir, pues hasta que no nos casemos.
George: En serio?!
Carmen: Si, ya sabes!
George: Bueno, y si nos casamos manana mismo?
Carmen: Tu estas loco.
George tenderly smiling: Por ti.
Carmen: Tu estas loco.
George: Si.
Carmen: Me estas emocinando y eso no se vale.
George: Claro que es en serio.
Carmen Ay, como te amo. Voy al bano. (She grabs her removed dress and wraps it around herself. George smiles tenderly at her.)
Carmen: Estas loco. Pero te amo.
Juancho tells pal Aurelio his dreams of becoming Hollywood scriptwriter, but latter opines he couldn't even write his own name. Juancho reminds him of letters he wrote for pal to his mujer and convinced her to forgive him, "con mis dulces palabras y toda la cosa". Aurelio asks him to send money as Perrote's men threaten they'll have his neck and he shouldn't have to pay for Juancho's errores. He warns that they know he's in "los Uniteds" and Aurelio might tell that he's in "los Hollywoods". Black and white chess set is seen during this conversation.
Carmen goes downstairs barefoot to get glass of milk, and sees Andy, who has been drinking alone and guesses she and his father have been together. He congratulates her on pretty marriage proposal. She wants to thank for letting her know how George felt about her so she wouldn't make stupid decision because of Leticia.
Andy: Los dos merecen ser muy felices.
Carmen: Yo se que tu y yo empezamos con el pie izquierdo. Yo fui bien pelado cuando nos conocimos. Te pido una disculpa y, pues porque no volvemos a intentarlo de ahora con el pie derecho. (She extends her right hand) Amigos?" They shake hands, then she gives him sisterly hug, which makes his drink slop out of glass.
Andy makes late night trip to Clio who welcomes him in dull red & pink lingere, not knowing he's trying to flee from his feelings for Carmen.
Clio: Did you forget something, handsome?
Andy: Digamos que soy yo el que ahora quiere ensayer.
Next morning, Marga goes to Leti's room without knocking. Leti pretends: "Ay no la escuche cuando toco." Marga tells Leticia owes her an explanation, not to pretend she'd forgotten something in George's bedroom. Leti confesses she was in George's room when Carmen knocked, but then lies that George had wanted to talk to her alone, and he "esta dispuesto a perdonarme por nuestros hijos". Marga replies "A otro perro con ese hueso ("Tell it to the Marines" or as British say "pull the other leg, it's got bells on it"), as Leti is married to Robert and George just proposed to Carmen. Leti pretends she's telling Marga about "the truth" because she's grateful for them treating her kindly in letting her stay, and she doesn't want Carmen to suffer, "Y creo que entre mujeres debemos defendernos". Marga accedes that if what she says is true, George "va a tener que explicarme muy bien que son sus entenciones con mi hija." Leti sadly shakes her head in pretended sympathy.
When George's usual driver can't take him to studio just when he'd planned to review script on the trip over, Juancho volunteers to drive (licks his finger and holds it up like testing for wind direction) Rocco telling him his phone has map as they don't yet know their way around LA. Juancho suggests to George that they could work together as writers, like Batman and Robin are a team. He then asks George if he thinks family might stay ("quedar", which can also be used to mean "agree"). George asks what he means, Juancho clarifies "stay living in your house--forever", unknowing reference to words of Carmen & George's love song "Para Siempre".
Tommy spent the night in his Mom's room and woke up with a kink in his back because he says his own room smells like a mix of incense and tortillas now it's shared by Andy and Pedro. He suggests he and sister Paz share her room, but although she's finds Lara's wanting to be sisters & join BH society annoying (pointing to her own face, says "esta se nace, no se hace"), Princess Paz still doesn't yet want to lose her personal servant. Neon pink "Selfie" sign over mirror in her bedroom is like modern version of Queen's mirror in Snow White.
Doubt sown by Leticia makes Marga tell Carmen she shouldn't marry George, that he might not be what they think. "Casarse y descasarse es algo que pensarse". Carmen counters that her mother also always told her "que lo que me haga feliz es lo que haga". When Marga can't articulate reason for her vague distrust, Carmen misunderstands & assumes it's because mother doesn't want to lose her daughter, and promises "tu vives en mi corazon y siempre vas a ser mi mejor amiga y asi me vaya lejos, lejos...siempre voy a ir al pueblo a verte . Te amo". Marga pretends to agree that was her reason, tho her concerns haven't been put to rest.
George is furious that his script has been changed without his permission, from a story about the pure love of one man for one woman (based on his own & Carmen's lives) to one about a man in love with two women (Andy's life) in order to have box office draw of big star of Clio's caliber lacking in novice Carmen and relatively unknown Andy. Kurt refuses George's offer to write another role for Clio saying she won't accept secondary role. Kurt then says in English "I've got some fires to put out" (problems to resolve) which looking back from Ep. 50 or so, suggests something sinister, but will have to wait until that point in story to explain--(Hint: LA is called city of angels, which may include some from down below who fell from heaven. Author Francesca Lia Block--who invited me to Hollywood reading of 2nd in her "Dangerous Angels" series--sometimes calls LA, Hell-A.)
Tania figuratively sits on the fence: "No estuve ni de acuerdo ni en disacuerdo" when George asks if she agrees with Kurt/studio decision of what's best for the picture. Dressed all in white, she's like a blank page. Or rather, she's acting impartial, but has secret agenda she's hiding from George (i.e. anything to get rid of Carmen). When Clio tells her Andy is now her official boyfriend (tho he doesn't know it) and wants to tell the world via press conference, Tania uses expression related to vision, "who would have seen it coming?" She warns Clio that since she's known Andy since he was little boy, she'd rather not hear intimate details. Clio says "x"--as in "cross something out" or erase?
Juancho & Rocco wander around studio, look at prop guns which Juancho warns are of the devil, but Rocco says are only plastic. Boy points out hat on rack of costumes that looks like one Juancho owned; when he tries it on, group of actors dressed as cowboys like Juancho go by and it's assumed that he is one of them.
Andy takes Pedro to Tenoch's restaurant, where Pedro is surprised, "No sabia que existia un lugar asi tan Mexicano aca en el gabacho.
Andy: Acuerdate que estamos en California. Esta era tierra Mexicana y la tierra nunca olvida."
Andy pretends when his uncle begins asking about Carmen he's talking about "casa". Privately Tenoch jokes about if Pedro calls Andy "tio o cunado", depending on whether Carmen marries father or son.
Leticia tells George being back in their home brings back so many memories and because he consoled her when she was weeping, she thought they might...George flatly tells Leti he loves Carmen and "entre tu y yo ya no va a pasar nada, entiendes?" Tho discouraged she presses on: "Me he dado cuenta que no he dejado de querete, George". Margarita overhears and asks to speak with him. (to be continued in next episode).
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