by @LifeisBetterGay with the help of @clairedsfield and @galacticdesperado
Note: This timeline will be a simplified guide to Mafin including only Marta/Fina interactions, scenes directly related to their sexualities (and who knows about them) or scenes that do or will later impact them as a couple. Summaries are done for each episode and significant events are bolded for easy reference.
Extra shoutout to @caskettmyheart for drive access, and to @clairedsfield for transcribing and translating diary entries!
I encourage any use of this timeline as a basis for future Mafin fun and expression; just shout us out and carry on!
Temporada 1 / Season 1
1-4Ā Ā Minimal interaction. Fina is interested in Petra. Marta dealing with factory things.Ā
1 [Deleted scene] After Marta introduces the new employees, she asks Fina what she was thinking because Fina had just dropped a box of soap in front of them, and gets a scolding. "You look like the new girl.ā Fina couldn't answer properly because she was very flustered. Marta doesn't want any more apologies and sends her to the storeroom. As Fina walks to the storeroom, she stops to look at Marta's back, disappointed in herself for not being able to talk to her properly.
5Ā Ā Dependienta interview. Marta is the one interviewing her, and Fina was very nervous. Marta gives her a second chance.
6Ā Ā Fina gets the job in the store.Ā
7Ā Ā Fina's afternoon with Petra, and thinking it might be a date, Fina tries to kiss her but Petra is horrified.
8-9Ā Petra blackmailing Fina. She tricked Fina into thinking she liked her too, but it was all to gain her trust and get her to reject the saleswoman position so she could keep it for herself [She seems to have; itās implied but never explicitly admitted].
9Ā Ā Petra outs Fina to Marta. Marta fires Petra. She defends Fina to Petra and asks, "Who do you think they're going to believe?"
10Ā Ā Fina shares Esther's letter with Carmen. This is the first time Fina has opened up to someone in her circle of [true] friends.
13Ā Ā Marta snaps at Fina for informality in the store. [She referred to one of the clients as "TĆŗ" instead of "Usted" which is the formal way to address clients but this client was a childhood friend of Fina's and also calls this friend āGorgeous / Guapisimaā. That's what Fina tries to explain to Marta, but she simply refuses to listen. "And on top of that, you're talking back to me?"]. After that encounter, Fina looks for the key to lock the shop, and Marta, who was behind the counter, watches her from afar with a rather peculiar look, as if she were 'worried' about whether she really was too harsh with her. Photographer Marcos stares at her, as if understanding what's going on with her.Ā
14Ā Marta keeps looking for Fina's gaze but she avoids it at the same time [they are at a photo shoot for a perfume campaign]. Fina is very nervous about being photographed, and even more so because Marta is present; she mentions this to Carmen. Marcos says, "Don't worry, I'm a little gentler than your boss." Marta and Fina both grimace at this. Marta, seeing how Fina can't even hold the perfume bottle properly, comments on whether it's so difficult to follow Marcos' instructions. Fina manages to smile naturally and Marta just watches her. Marcos kisses Marta but she rejects him. "I'm sorry, you've got me wrong." Photographer Marcos asks if Marta likes (is attracted to) Fina. āShe attracts you like a magnet.ā She denies that comment but then becomes speechless.
16Ā Ā Marta stares at a photograph of Fina while Marcos describes what he thinks Fina is like. Marta snaps at Fina for shortening her skirt, "Short and poorly made" Fina simply doesn't keep quiet and responds in the same tone, raising her voice. Fina tells Marta that she only sees the bad things she does. As a solution to Fina's audacity, Marta reduces her position and sends her to work in the warehouse. As Marta leaves the store, we see a distressed Marta hugging herself because of the "cold." Marta makes a sarcastic remark about how Fina should follow the example of her coworkers even though she isn't present.
17 Marta chooses Carmen as the face of the new perfume instead of Fina and Carmen reminds her how badly she has treated Fina.
19Ā Ā Fina confronts Marta about her treatment in the store and stands up for herself. Marta fantasizes about Fina in the middle of the store (The āensoƱamientoā) while she waited to speak to her, then Marta apologized and told Fina she could return to her job as saleswoman. āI need youā¦ as dependienta.ā
20Ā Ā Marta and Fina bond over suizos. Marta opens up to Fina and apologizes for the way she has treated Fina in recent days. They realize they share the same dream: to open a pastry shop. Marta learns that when her mother was alive and Fina was still little, she used to save suizos for her, even when Fina wasn't invited to Marta's birthday parties. Marta also realizes that she has dropped her cold-hearted act in front of Fina, and as she tries to leave, a letter meant for Jaime falls to the ground, their hands brush against each other, and they stare at one another. "Sometimes I forget that I'm a married woman." Marta seems to be on cloud nine after that interaction on her way to her office.
21Ā Ā Marta brings suizos made by herself [with Digna's help because she hadn't set foot in the kitchen for years] to the store and wipes crumbs from Fina's mouth. [She never touches her lips.]
22Ā Ā Fina gives Marta an embroidered apron for her birthday [She stayed up all night doing it]. Marta gives Fina a kiss on the cheek as a thank you. Fina helps Marta put on the apron and their fingers brush against each other. Isidro thinks Fina is in love with someone just by looking into Finaās eyes, which reminded him of his late wife Adela when she looked at him.
23Ā Ā Marta gifts a damaged perfume bottle to Fina and apologizes again for how she treated Fina. Fina is surprised by this gesture and shows Marta how magical it is, explaining that it depends on the person; different nuances can be perceived. Marta, without further ado, takes Fina's wrist and smells the perfume from there, telling her that the citrus notes stand out on her. When it's Fina's turn to smell the perfume from Marta's wrist, she says that she, on the other hand, smells sweet. Their conversation changes because Fina asks her about her birthday celebration and that Marta should cheer up to celebrate it properly. Marta invites Fina to the Opera as her way of thanking Fina for the apron.Ā
24Ā Ā Marta cancels on Fina for a call from Jaime but reconsiders. She remembers herself trying to brush the sugar from Fina's mouth and when Fina put perfume on her wrist. Marta stammers and tells Fina she's made a mistake and asks if she still wants to go to the opera with her. The tienda phone rings in the middle of this, and Marta doesn't know how to react to the way Fina's talking to the other person on the phone. Esther [Fina's ex] has come to visit.Ā
25Ā Ā Fina misses the Opera to take Claudia to the hospital leaving Marta feeling stood up and sad, confessing to DamiĆ”n that she feels lonely.Ā
26Ā Ā Marta is very upset the next day ["Maybe your French friend called again"] until told the truth. Esther and Fina have a heart-to-heart conversation, but Fina doesn't reciprocate her feelings. Esther suggests returning to Paris with her, but Fina says she'll think about it. Marta and Fina hug for the first time [on screen].Ā
27Ā Ā Marta gets jealous because Esther lied to her, saying that Fina is coming to Paris with her. āCongratulations on your new life!ā Esther tries to convince Fina and Marta to get Fina to go to Paris with her.Ā
28Ā Ā Marta tells Fina that she is very photogenic and thinks it would be a good idea for her to appear in a commercial with Carmen to promote Esencias de la Reina but Fina tells her that she might not be around by the time it happens. Fina asks Marta for advice on whether she thinks it's a good idea for her to go to Paris because her opinion is the most important to her. "You have to be happy, Fina. There's nothing I want more." We see a moment alone with Marta, about to cry in the warehouse.
29 Ā Ā Fina decides not to go to Paris for Isidro's health when Digna tells her how bad it really is. Fina stays overnight at the big house to keep her father company. Marta comforts Fina in the kitchen [They hug for the second time [on screen]] after learning about Isidro. āThank you for being there" āThank you for letting me be.ā They almost kiss, but Marta realizes what they are about to do and tells Fina that āIām sorry I canāt. I canāt.āĀ
30Ā Ā Fina is distressed by her conversation with Dr. Borrell about her father, and Marta, upon entering the store, asks her if she is alright and realizes that she has been crying. Seeing that Marta wants to comfort her, Fina confronts her, saying that she makes her believe they have a relationship of trust and intimacy with such actions, but then she runs away. Marta tells her that she has never felt anything so special for anyone, but that what she feels for her is not what Fina would like. Fina tells her that things have happened between them, there have been glances, there have been smiles. Marta confirms that Fina didn't make them up but, āIām not like you, Fina.ā Marta apologizes to Fina for making her think that what they had was more than a friendship. Fina asks for space and Marta respects that and tells Fina that she's right and it's better that they keep their distance and stick to store matters. Marta brings Marcos back to work and [tries to] flirt as if trying to prove to herself that āshe is not like Fina.ā DamiĆ”n interrupts them and thinks that Marta is cheating on Jaime.
31Ā Ā Marta is confronted about company matters and if she is cheating on Jaime, and Marta gets a little nervous until he mentions Marcos the photographer. āAhā¦ that.ā Claudia suggests to Fina that she should go out with Gaspar and asks Fina if she wouldn't like to fall madly in love with someone [since she's single], Fina simply looks away and smiles.
32Ā Ā Marta and Fina arrive at the store early, and Marta tells Fina she doesn't want to be alone, to which Fina replies the same [Marta has just discovered a family secret, and Fina had to spend the night at the dispensary with her father]. Carmen and Claudia are with Luis. Marta, to comfort Fina, grabs her hand, and Fina pulls her hand away. Fina reminds Marta of their status as boss and employee. "I know you don't mean any harm, but you confuse me and hurt me." Fina asks Gaspar to fake date her to make Isidro happy.
34Ā Ā Marta is upset that Fina is dating Gaspar. Marcos suddenly appears to ask her out, and Marta rejects him to the point of comparing him to a supplier. Fina returns from her break and finds Marta annoyed, treating her indifferently. "Look, Marta, I don't know what's wrong with you today." Fina goes to the warehouse and Marta follows her. Fina tries to explain to Marta what is really happening with Gaspar, but Marta sarcastically asks Fina if she likes men now. "I don't know anything anymore because one day you accuse me of not having the courage to be with you, and the next day you get a boyfriend." They argue to the point where Fina tells her that everyone has their own private life, and Marta is perfectly clear on that. Fina asks Marta why she's so interested in who she's dating or not, Marta looks at her mouth and... steals a kiss. Fina is breathless. Marta leaves without another word, but not before saying: "Does this answer your question?" It's their first kiss.Ā
35Ā Ā Fina comes to see Marta in the office and calms Marta's nerves by telling her that she loved that she kissed her. They talk and share their second kiss. Fina suggests to Marta that they escape from there, far away from everyone. Fina tries to break up with Gaspar and things don't go as planned. Marta sees Fina and Gaspar hugging in the kitchen of the big house.
36Ā Ā Fina flirts with Marta in the store, and Marta is a little cold because of what she had seen the night before, tells her that she is going to Madrid with Carmen and advises her to end things with Gaspar before it gets too late, because then she will reach a point of no return and feel like trapped in a cage wondering if she will ever have the courage to do it, and perhaps that day will never come because "what's the point now?". Later in the canteen, during Fina's break, Marta goes to find her to clear things up because she felt bad about their earlier conversation. She sees Gaspar and Fina holding hands and leaves. Gaspar and Fina reveal the lie to Isidro.Ā
37Ā Ā Fina tells Marta she succeeded in breaking up with Gaspar. Marta tells Fina that she is very brave. First night alone together in Illescas hotel. Just talking and sweet cuddles as Marta isnāt ready for more yet. Fina is content to just be with Marta. "Fear is fought with lots of love" "And lots of kisses." When Marta asks when Fina noticed her for the first time Fina confesses that she's noticed Marta since she was little. Marta confided in her that what she liked about Fina was her cheerfulness, her mouth, her contagious smile, especially when she brushes her hair away from her shoulders; when she tries to control her feisty nature. She told Fina she wants to know everything about her. āEvery detail, every corner.ā They spoon contentedly on the bed.
40 Ā Ā Bed scene in Illescas a week after their first time, with another week planned to rent the hotel room again. Fina calls Marta, āMi amor.ā They discuss renting a small apartment in Madrid, which Fina refuses. āI would like to be able to live this love without having to hide. I would run away with you to the ends of the earth.ā Cuteness in store. Carmen is professionally jealous.Ā
41Ā Ā Fina tells Carmen about her and Marta. Carmen tells her that "she's walked into the lion's den."
42Ā Ā Marta had a family dinner and had to cancel her plans with Fina to spend the night with her. In the factory office, they kiss and dream about going to Venice and if they will ever. Fina tells Marta she told Carmen about them. Marta panics and Fina tries to convince her that Carmen won't blackmail them or tell anyone about them because she's like a sister to her. Fina tells Carmen that Marta knows she is aware of their relationship. Carmen and Marta share an awkward moment in the store, making things worse.
43Ā Ā Marta talks about her fears. They almost breakup before having conversation in Illescas. Fina tells Marta that she would understand if she wanted to end what they had so as not to see her suffer [Marta had started having nightmares about her family rejecting her, Marta feeling naked in front of Carmen] and Marta, in addition to so many other things, asks her that who would want to go through this life without loving or being loved. Despite everything, Marta doesn't want to live without Fina. They spend the night together.
44Ā Ā Isidro overhears Fina talking with Carmen about her clandestine relationship.
45Ā Ā Fina spends the day tired from her night with Marta in Madrid and having to get up early to get to work. Isidro learns more, confronts Fina about her "married man." Fina tells Isidro she is in love with a woman and he rejects her and refuses to speak to her.
46Ā Ā Fina tells Marta about Isidro knowing she is in love with a woman and Marta panics again. Fina says she is tired of having to lie to her loved ones and that Isidro will come to his senses.Ā
47 Ā Fina goes to the big house to find her father and tries to get him to listen to her, but the conversation doesn't end well.
48Ā Ā Marta shuts down Don Agustin and Gaspar talking about a homosexual in the colony, and won't go to the cemetery with Fina out of fear. It was the anniversary of Fina's mother's death and Isidro doesn't want to go with her.
49Ā Ā Marta tries to talk Fina up to Isidro. Fina tries again to talk to her father in the big house insisting that she is not going to change or deny herself for who she is. Isidro then tells her that Marta, her ābossā, whom she has "deceived," has spoken well of her to him. Marta goes to the colony's dorm to bring Carmen a wedding gift, and Fina asks her to stay so they can all have a drink and celebrate, but she says it's late and that she has to leave. [Isidro and Digna look at a picture of Fina and Adela].
50Ā Ā Fina thanks Marta for speaking with her father and then tells her that she feels very lonely. Marta tells her that she will never be alone. Marta finds it super difficult to stay mad with Fina for a long time. They form a pact to be honest with each other, to forgive each other, to support each other, to cover for each other. Marta rents an apartment for them and Fina attacks her with kisses. Marta tells DamiĆ”n, for business reasons, that she has rented an apartment for her trips to Madrid since it is "cheaper" that way. Jaime returns for a short visit.
51Ā Ā Marta plays the role of wife but is cold with Jaime and resists more than platonic affection. Fina learns that Jaime has returned when he and Marta go to the store, and asks him if he's staying long.
52Ā Ā DamiĆ”n accuses Marta of "neglecting" her husband since he arrived, and Marta defends herself by saying it's true because she doesn't feel like it, given that they haven't seen each other for many months and things have changed a lot. He then brings up Marcos the photographer again. The talks between Fina and Isidro are still not progressing because Isidro continues to reproach her for who she is and she's getting tired of it. Marta stops by the shop, and Fina, after her last conversation with her father, tells her she needs a hug. Marta says there's nothing she wants more than that, but they can't. Marta asks her to be patient because Jaime will be in Toledo for a few days, and Fina feels ridiculous. Marta calls Fina āamorā and āthe love of her lifeā. Fina gets frustrated because she has to pretend as if she doesn't care that Marta has to play the role of wife to Jaime.
54Ā Ā Marta stops by the store and sees Fina looking sad and staring into space. They have a conversation about Jaime. Then Jaime shows up at the store and casually mentions that he has a key to the Madrid apartment thanks to DamiĆ”n. Marta and Fina go to Madrid to visit the apartment and they give Carmen an excuse so that Fina can leave the store. First time we've seen Marta and Fina walking through the streets of Madrid with their arms linked. Fina commented that in that apartment they are going to start a list of memories that they will remember when they are old ladies. Jaime shows up in the apartment and Fina leaves. Marta makes up an excuse to Jaime and goes after Fina, telling her how sorry she is, and then goes back inside the building.
56Ā Ā A moment alone in the office for a talk and a kiss. Jaime comes to the store to ask Fina to help pick a gift for Marta. Marta and Fina share a conversation in front of the colony's rooms about what Jaime asked Fina and feels sorry for him. Marta says she has already discovered what she wants in her life, and it is Fina, who makes the comment that Jaime will do the impossible to "win Marta back." Fina suggests that Marta needs to say something to Jaime that will change his mind, so as not to give him false hope. Fina is stabbed by a robber in the tienda while defending Marta. Fina saves Marta from being stabbed, and Marta saves Fina, thanks to the pressure she applied to her wound.
57Ā Ā Marta confesses an affair to Jaime but says it was Marcos. Marta wants the marriage to be over. Isidro is scared for Fina and apologizes to her for his rejection. Marta checks on Fina in bed. Despite Finaās pain, she has not lost her appetite and Marta tells Fina that "that's my girl," / āesa es mi chica.ā but clarifies that she is much more than that. Marta confides in Fina that she had never been so scared in her life because she couldn't imagine life without her. Jaime decides to stay permanently.
58Ā Ā Marta visits Fina in her room and doesn't confess to Fina about her conversation with Jaime. Marta tries to convince Jaime to leave but it doesn't work because he wants to try to save their marriage. Marta has a conversation with DamiĆ”n that forces her to call Jaime to go out for lunch in Madrid.
59Ā Ā Marta visits Fina in her room and brings her sweet Toledanas cookies because she heard her tell Carmen one day that she liked them. She then confides to her that she had lied to her in their previous conversation and tells her that Jaime is going to stay to fix their marriage. They both hope to see each other only because Jaime is going to work in Madrid.
60 Ā Marta finds out from Jaime that he will be the new doctor of the colony; he will not be going to Madrid because of DamiĆ”n and Fina learns that Jaime is the new doctor from Luz, who was taking care of her wound for the last time.
61Ā Ā Marta goes to visit Fina in her room but finds her walking alone through the hallways and tries to help her until they reach the room. They talk about not having a voice or vote to decide about their lives and having to accept things just because. Marta confesses that she only wants to be happy, but above all, to make Fina happy. āLove is like the sun; it can hide for a few hours, but it inevitably reappears.ā āMi sol, mi cielo.ā They promise to never let each other down, that even if everything collapses around them, they will fall together.Ā
63Ā Ā Fina returns to work after she is discharged. Marta has doubts about whether it's fair to Fina that, with Jaime in the colony, they can't even see each other. First time Fina refers to Marta as her mujer. First time Marta tells Fina "Te amo" [on screen]. Marta tells Fina to be free, to think about it, to take advantage of being happy when she can't.
64Ā Ā Fina cooked a special dish, her mother's recipe, because she decided to have a picnic with Marta to make her day better with everything they had been through and the conversation they shared. It took Marta half an hour to work up the courage to go into the store to see Fina, and Fina, on the other hand, was eagerly awaiting her arrival. Fina assures her that of course it's worth it for her to be with Marta. "Although I can give you nothing more than crumbs" "But those crumbs give me life." They kiss and Fina attacks Marta with kisses, because āshe would survive on kisses.ā Marta playfully slaps Finaās butt as she goes to open the door. Once again, they are accepting their reality and giving themselves strength to be strong and face whatever comes. Jaime interrupts and takes Marta to lunch, ruining Finaās plans for a picnic.
65Ā Ā Fina talks to Isidro about her pain ("Whatever happens, make our daughter happy" / āAre you happy?ā) and then meets Marta in the office to break things off because she prefers to live with the memory of what they have lived together rather than with the hope of something that will not come but reminds her that she has loved her, and that she loves her with all her soul and that not having her is the worst thing that has ever happened to her. Marta doesn't have time to say a word and is left crying in her office.
66Ā Ā Fina is distraught in bed and talks to Carmen about what happened and she comforts Fina; she doesn't want to go to the tienda for fear of seeing Marta and breaking down there. During his medical visit, Jaime notices that Fina has the same edition of Madame Bovary as at his father-in-law's house, and Fina tells him that DoƱa Marta lent it to her. At the mere mention of Marta, Fina breaks down and tries to hide it by saying that her wound hurts and just as she opens the door, Marta is there, having come to visit her and leaves with Jaime, then returns later. Fina doesn't want to see her because it hurts her, saying that she should have gone to Paris. Fina complains to Marta if she doesn't care because she doesn't see her falling apart like she does, but Marta tells her that she has had to live like this, keeping up appearances, when in reality she is dying inside because she will never be happy if she is not with Fina. Marta and Jaime have an argument over a pen; she claims that there are things that are only hers and that with his presence, he has managed to take them away from her.
67 Ā Carmen scolds Marta for even starting something with Fina after asking her to help Fina when she can't.
[First diary entry.] āI always found those paragraphs about heartbreak in romance novels exaggerated. Maybe that's why I stopped reading them early on, because I thought no one in their right mind could feel something like that. Now I'm the protagonist of one of those stories, feeling like I'm losing my life as [she] drifts away from me. We agreed to turn the page, but I don't even feel capable of finishing writing this.ā
70Ā Ā Jaime shows symptoms of experiencing some health issues. He asks Marta to have a child because that would improve their marital problems and would be good for the family in general, Marta reminds him that they had ruled that out years ago, fleeing from there with an apology on her lips.Ā
71Ā Ā Marta writes of her feelings in her diary*. Jaime ends up interrupting her, and they talk about how a child isn't going to solve their marital problems, but Jaime insists.
[Second diary entry.] āIs life worth living without love? Many poets and writers have striven to find an answer. And I simply ask, is it possible to live without breathing? Perhaps it's the same question, and there's no need to reflect much further.ā
73 Ā Marta seeks advice from Digna, who happens to use double entendres about how Marta will have to give up being herself in order to be a mother.Ā
74Ā Ā Marta decides to agree to have a child with Jaime to have something to be happy about [after having conversations with Fina, Digna and spending their afternoon with Julia.] Jaime asks who he should thank, and Marta has a flashback of Fina telling her that she also deserves to be happy [72], she lies to him by saying Digna. DamiĆ”n then enters the office and Marta tells him the news; as they hug, we see a sad Marta.
76Ā Ā Marta avoids being intimate with Jaime and he reproaches her for not doing her part. Fina thinks Marta is avoiding her in the tienda. [She did not make eye contact with her while she was giving orders to the girls.]
77Ā Ā Marta asks the store girls to come up with ideas for the Anhelos de Mujer. Fina wants Marta to choose between her idea and Carmen's. Carmen thinks that thought is related to Fina's earlier anxiety about Marta.
78Ā Ā Carmen and Fina present their ideas to Marta who Fina sees is distracted and very busy. They both get annoyed. Marta doesn't finish reading Finaās idea because she receives a call to solve a problem at the factory, leaving Fina there with the words in her mouth.
79Ā Ā In the tienda, Marta tells the girls that she chose Carmen's idea because it fits what they want to do with Anhelos de Mujer, and as soon as she says it, she notices that Fina had gone to the storeroom. Later in the storeroom, Marta sees Fina is more upset than makes sense to her and tells Fina not to address her formally. Marta apologizes for how she treated Fina in the office [78]. Fina asks if their personal history is why Marta passed on her idea and Marta explains the decision was purely professional. They don't end their conversation well. Fina questions her place in the company and cries in her bed. Carmen talks to her.Ā
81Ā Ā At the launch of Anhelos, Marta and Fina have some cordial time to talk. They share champagne and Fina suggests doing Marta's makeup. Their feelings rise to the surface, but Marta stops them and interrupts to tell Fina she and Jaime will try to have a baby. Fina is shaken, though she acknowledges she did tell Marta to find happiness.Ā
82Ā Ā Marta writes in her diary if she had a choice to have a baby with someone, she would have picked the person she discovered, "true love" with and not Jaime. Fina tells Carmen about Marta's baby plans.
[Third diary entry.] āIt's been so long since I forgot about the idea of āābeing a mother, that now, having regained my illusion, thereās nothing that makes me look to the future with greater hope. Thinking about discovering the world through their eyes makes me smile. And Jaime, who wants it more than anything. I know he's going to be a great father. But to be honest, if I were free, I wouldn't choose him to accompany me on this adventure. I would choose the person with whom I discovered true love. Fina. I miss her; she is my life. And I survive without her, settling for the memory of her smell and the warmth of her breath.ā
83Ā Ā Marta is concerned for Isidro and Fina, talking to Jaime about them. Fina visits the big house to be with her father and Marta hugs her and tries to comfort her. Marta is writing in her diary as Fina walks in.
[Fourth diary entry.] āMy heart aches at the thought of Isidro's passing. Life is unfair, inflicting so much pain on the people we love most, and I don't know how Fina will ever recover from such a blow. What hurts me most is not being able to be by her side the way I would like.ā
84Ā Ā Marta comes to check on Fina in the store after her father has another health scare and might die soon. Marta is excusing herself every time a chance for intimacy with Jaime arises.Ā
85Ā Ā Empotramiento. Isidro gives Fina her mother's ring and tries to give her his too. Fina is crying in the warehouse in the evening. Marta finds her, comforts her, and they embrace. It leads to a kiss and more in the store. Jaime, coming to find Marta for a dinner date, sees Marta and Fina kissing, turns, and walks away.Ā
86Ā Ā Marta meets Jaime at the big house and apologizes for missing dinner. Jaime confronts Marta and asks about her relationship with Fina which she denies at first but concedes and tells Jaime the whole truth. She affirms she and Fina are done and she wants to continue on as they have been. Jaime is angry and reproachful. Marta tells Fina what happened but believes Jaime won't hurt them.
87 Ā Ā Fina tries to apologize to Jaime when he comes to check on Isidro but he is still angry, though professional.Ā
88 Ā Ā Fina tells Marta she thinks Jaime is not treating Isidro as best he can because of discovering the affair.Ā
89Ā Ā Marta and Fina discuss DamiĆ”n paying for Isidro's experimental treatment and Fina's worries about Jaime retaliating but Marta insists he won't and says they can't let what happened in the warehouse/store happen again. Fina tells Carmen what happened and also says she can't take it anymore and will likely leave once her father dies as the medication has still not arrived.
90Ā Ā Marta confronts Jaime asking if he is taking his anger out on Isidro and if he will report them. He is angry she would suggest that and accuses her of being selfish.Ā
91Ā Ā Marta is writing in her diary in the big house when Jaime comes in. She reiterates her desire to go back to their previous plans and to be a good wife, but he doesn't want the lie and a wife that doesn't truly love him. In the dispensary as they are discussing Jaime and Martaās problems and Isidroās health, Jaime confides in Luz that Marta is in love with a woman. Luz takes it in stride and gives him the advice that if heās not going to fight for Marta, he should let her go.
[Fifth diary entry.] āI'm a ship adrift. I thought casting off would be best for both of us, but I can't seem to find my way to safe harbor.ā
92Ā Ā Marta and Fina talk in the kitchen and Fina tells her Isidro encouraged her to be brave. She affirms she doesn't want to live without Marta and wants Marta to be her āmujerā. Marta tells her that their, "love is not made for this world," and Jaime walks in. In Isidro's room Fina apologizes to Jaime for hurting him and for thinking badly of Jaime regarding her father and tells him she'll leave when Isidro dies.
93Ā Ā Isidro's treatment arrives and starts working. Marta and Fina share a moment of happiness and Jaime sees how they are looking at each other. He talks with Marta in the main room of the house and she reiterates her loyalty to him after the affair, but having seen how she and Fina looked at each other with such love, realizes she will never look at him like that and suggests they live their own lives and only keep up the appearance of a happy married couple. She is surprised and nervous, but happy, and accepts.Ā
94Ā Ā Marta and Fina chat with Isidro out on the balcony. Jaime comes out and asks Marta why she clearly hasn't told Fina about their arrangement and she lashes out wanting privacy. She later apologizes and explains what's done is done and she fears so many things if she and Fina were to resume their relationship.Ā
96Ā Ā Marta stops by the kitchen for a moment to check on Isidro when he is eating with Fina and Digna.
98Ā Ā Jaime visits Fina at the store to tell her about his agreement with Marta and to ask her to be the brave one of them and go after Marta as he wants all of them to be happy.
99Ā Ā Fina visits Marta in the office, telling her Jaime revealed the agreement to her. Marta insists on her fears and Fina's previous need to leave the relationship when Jaime returned. Fina in turn insists they fight for their love and that Jaime is no longer an obstacle. Fina says she will leave if Marta tells her she doesn't love her. Marta can't and they fall back together in an embrace with kisses and promises. Marta visits Jaime at the dispensary and thanks him for helping get her and Fina back together.
100Ā Ā Fina tells Carmen she and Marta are back together.
101Ā Ā Marta and Fina flirt in the store. āEverything I like can be found in this store.ā -Fina. They discuss Claudiaās, āextreme exhaustion,ā and Marta proposes a getaway and pouts it canāt be sooner. Later in the store, while packing orders, Fina and Marta blatantly and romantically flirt since no one is around. āYour mouth drives me crazy.ā -Marta. They almost kiss when Tasio walks in and they freeze as Fina tries to play it off as brushing an eyelash from Martaās face. Marta insists they remember the consequences of being discovered and be more careful.
104Ā Ā Fina tells Isidro she is back with the married woman she was seeing before.Ā
105Ā Ā Marta and Jaime talk of their loves (Fina and Luz) and after Marta goes to visit Luz. They talk of their respective relationships with Jaime, and they talk of Marta and Finaās. Luz suspected them after seeing them together.Ā
110Ā Ā Marta comes to the warehouse and apologizes to Fina for being busy lately with business. Marta says theyāll go to Madrid that night and they blow little kisses to each other.
112Ā Ā Marta and Fina spend a sunny day in Madrid, sitting on a bench, taking a walk, and talking about work, and about life being, āwhat happens when you leave that all behind,ā according to Fina.
114Ā Ā Fina and Marta stroll through Madrid as Marta waxes literary and Fina flirts lovingly with Marta and apologizes for her previous jealousy with tickets to a concert. Fina almost kisses her in public. They hail a taxi and head off smiling.
115Ā Ā Marta talks to Jaime. She says sheāll have to cancel the concert plans with Fina due to MarĆaās miscarriage. He encourages her to go anyway and be happy. Later, Marta and Fina are walking to dinner in Madrid after the concert and they run into Isabel. Fina makes up an excuse for her present for a, āvery special person,ā being for Marta. It seems like Isabel believed them, but Marta says they shouldnāt risk going out to dinner now, that Fina wins and they have to, āskip to dessert.ā š
116Ā Ā Marta and Fina are chatting while taking a walk in a park. Fina is still a bit worried about Isabel. Marta tells her itās fine and thereās nothing to obsess about. They gaze lovingly at each other. Fina tells Marta she could, ādrown in her eyes.ā In the office, Jaime visits and Marta shows him the fancy scarf she bought for Fina. Isabel walks in and sees some of the scarf sticking a bit out of the box. Fina and Marta sit on a park bench. Fina is still worried about Isabel, but is very happy when Marta gives her the scarf she admired at the concert, though she says itās too elegant to wear around anyone but Marta. Marta says, āNothing is too elegant for you,ā and dreams of future dates in Madrid together.
117Ā Ā Isabel comes to the store to buy something for herself and sees the scarf while there. She knows itās fancy and expensive so Fina makes up the excuse her father gave it to her. After, Fina tells Marta who thinks Isabel couldnāt know what the scarf she bought looks like and calms Fina. In the office, Marta leaves Isabel to go do some work. Isabel sneaks a look at Finaās pay receipts. Marta, now a bit worried, visits Fina outside her room to caution her to not wear the scarf around the colony. Fina is upset at this and how they have to live their love and pulls away. Marta pulls her in and kisses her to calm her. Isabel is watching from the door down the hall.
118Ā Ā Marta is wearing the scarf in the office to show Isabel she has one too and didn't give it to Fina. They discuss how Fina got her scarf. Marta hopes they got away with it.
122Ā Ā Jaime tells Marta he has an inoperable brain tumor. She vows to stay by his side to the end.
123Ā Ā Marta talks to Luz about Jaime. JesĆŗs wants Marta out of his way in business dealings as she is disagreeing with him. Isabel tells him about Marta and Fina to give him leverage. He denies Marta could be that way and tells Isabel to get out.
127Ā Ā At the factory workerās fair, Fina is alone missing Marta so she calls the big house. Fina wishes she and Marta could dance together like all of the couples. āTe quiero. Y yo a tĆ.ā
128Ā Ā JesĆŗs comes into the store saying he is looking for a gift for his wife. He starts asking Fina weird questions about Marta and asking what she would give a woman she wanted to surprise. Fina is very uncomfortable so she gets defensive and short with him. JesĆŗs is annoyed and leaves. JesĆŗs tells Marta he wants to send Fina to the warehouse again and she refuses as it is her domain. Marta and Fina discuss JesĆŗsā weird actions but canāt figure out the why.Ā
129Ā Ā In the store, Marta and Fina discuss the situation with Claudia [her being pregnant and having kissed Mateo the priest and a jealous admirer spilling the whole story to the colony at the fair] and Marta fighting to not have her fired. They also mention JesĆŗs and Marta asks Fina to not take the bait if he is weird again. Jaime comes in and he and Marta discuss her being careful about not being too obvious with Fina especially so JesĆŗs wonāt find out.
130Ā Ā Anhelos de Mujer is receiving a business award and DamiĆ”n thinks Marta should go and accept it on their behalf due to her work on the campaign. JesĆŗs resents not being the one to do it.Ā
131Ā Ā Marta and Fina are out strolling in a park eating ice cream. Theyāre talking about the award Marta is going to accept, her hard work, JesĆŗs self-centeredness, and their love. Marta wants Fina to come to the awards with her risks be damned. Sitting on a bench they wax romantic and barely restrain themselves from a kiss. Marta gets up and calls Fina to follow her into the trees and greenery. They kiss. A camera takes photos of them from afar. Later, Isabel comes into the office and hands JesĆŗs a letter. Inside are the damning photos of Marta and Fina.Ā
132Ā Ā DamiĆ”n is shocked to receive an unmarked envelope with the photos of Marta and Fina. Marta walks and he asks about their relationship. Marta insists itās the same as it ever was until he shows her the photos. He is furious and feels deceived, but she tries to reason with him and explain itās just her nature. He refuses to let her accept the award now.
133Ā Ā DamiĆ”n is looking at the photos again in his home office when Marta walks in. They continue their previous discussion. Marta stands up for herself and tries to get him to understand. He continues to reject her. Marta goes to see Fina getting ready for the award presentation. She explains DamiĆ”n knows and has photos of them. They try to figure out who is behind the photos and think it might be JesĆŗs and Isabel, but have no proof. Later, DamiĆ”n to Marta insists they end their relationship. Marta refuses and dares him to report them.
134Ā Ā Fina goes to see Isidro and explains that someone took photos of her and her partner and DamiĆ”n has them. She reveals she is with Marta. Later Marta subtly questions Isabelās loyalty. At the big house, DamiĆ”n and Isidro talk about Marta and Fina, though DamiĆ”n resists and doesnāt want to talk further.
135 Ā Ā DamiĆ”n calls Fina into his office and compliments her work, offering her a position in Barcelona. Fina tries to decline but DamiĆ”n makes it clear itās not an option. In the store, Fina and Marta talk about DamiĆ”nās āofferā and how to prevent being separated. Marta goes to DamiĆ”n to prevent the transfer and he tells her JesĆŗs is the one behind the photos and is willing to denounce Marta for his own gain even if DamiĆ”n wouldnāt.
136Ā Ā Fina asks Isidro if he would consider going to Barcelona with her but he insists he canāt. In the warehouse Marta tells Fina about JesĆŗs being behind the photos. Marta confronts JesĆŗs in the home office. He insults her and she slaps him. In the factory office Fina comes in to tell DamiĆ”n she is rejecting his offer as Marta sits at the board table behind her.Ā
137Ā Ā Fina explains her rejection of DamiĆ”nās offerĀ further, stands firm, and says she will resign if need be if that is her only option. Marta backs her up. In the dispensary with Jaime, Marta updates him about whatās happening. Jaime comforts her and later confronts JesĆŗs. He had covered up JesĆŗs drugging BegoƱa, though he kept an eye on her, because JesĆŗs knew about Marta, but then JesĆŗs went ahead with the photos anyway.
138Ā Ā Isidro visits DamiĆ”n at the factory office about Finaās decision and DamiĆ”n asks him to convince Fina to leave for her safety. Jaime explains the blackmail to Luz. Isidro talks to Fina and says he will go with her to Barcelona now.
139Ā Ā In the warehouse Marta tells Fina about JesĆŗs screwing over the Merino cousins about the spa land. Fina asks when he will use the photos against them. Fina proposes Marta comes to Barcelona with her and Isidro. Marta tells her sheād need to think. Marta talks to Jaime and tells him she wonāt go as she promised to be there for him until the end. He tries to talk her out of staying for him. In the shop Carmen and Fina talk about Barcelona and the situation. Marta takes Fina into the warehouse and explains she canāt go because of Jaime and Fina reacts poorly. At the house Jaime confronts JesĆŗs again and almost lets him drink from a poisoned glass, but refuses to lower himself to JesĆŗsā level.
140Ā Ā Marta and Jaime tell the family he is sick. Isidro talks to Fina, mentioning hearing about Julia running away and about Jaime and Fina realizes she reacted poorly before. In the store, Fina hugs Marta and apologizes. Sweet forehead touches. Fina and Marta talk with Jaime in the big house, proposing he come with them to Barcelona, for him, but mostly for them. He accepts.
141Ā Ā Carmen asks if Marta would need a new store manager and Marta sees Fina told her something about Barcelona, but Marta trusts her.Ā Regardless of the circumstances decides to give Carmen the position.Ā
143Ā Ā Jaime collapses and loses his sight, getting much worse, and canceling their plans to go to Barcelona.Ā
144Ā Ā Marta relays the news to Fina in the warehouse. Fina comforts Marta with a hug and vows to never leave her and promises theyāll go to Barcelona when they can. They whisper their te quieros.Ā
145Ā Ā Marta is rewriting a story she had written for Jaime years ago, to comfort him, when Fina walks into the office and greets her with rambles and a kiss. Fina encourages Marta to lean on her in her grief and to let herself feel safe to feel. Sheās there for Marta, āfor better or for worse.ā
146Ā Ā DamiĆ”n visits Jaime resting in bed. Jaime encourages him to be proud of and accept Marta as she is, as he has himself.
147Ā Ā Marta reads her story to Jaime out on the big house terrace. He passes away as she reads.Ā
148Ā Ā Following Jaimeās funeral, Marta still intends to go to Barcelona and DamiĆ”n is confused. Marta affirms Fina was her real reason for leaving and DamiĆ”n, frustrated, tries to convince her itās a bad idea. Marta holds firm. JesĆŗs snipes at Marta about Fina and they argue. He tells her Jaimeās almost poisoning. She denies he would but then admits she wishes he had let JesĆŗs drink it. Marta crumples emotionally in the kitchen. Fina comes upon her and embraces her from behind. They talk about grief and their love.
150Ā Ā Marta and Fina talk in the store. Fina wishes she could have been there to comfort Marta earlier. Marta tells her she wants to leave for Barcelona right after her fatherās wedding to Digna.Ā
151Ā Ā DamiĆ”n calls Marta into the home office to tell her he has decided to remove JesĆŗs as director and instead wants Marta to take the position. He still doesnāt understand her feelings but he loves her and will take care of JesĆŗs and the photos. JesĆŗs confronts her later and she realizes he must not have the photos anymore. [DamiĆ”n had the negatives destroyed at some point between 138-151] She accepts the position.Ā
152Ā Ā Marta calls Fina into the head office at the colony. They talk of the success of the recent private sale at the store and Marta reveals her new position to Fina as well as the fact that the negatives are destroyed. They celebrate.Ā
155Ā Ā Marta comes to the store to deal with business and to talk to Fina about JesĆŗs getting kicked out of the factory and Digna cancelling the wedding.
156Ā Ā DamiĆ”n tries to talk to Marta to get her to forgive him and see heās better now. She reproaches him for his actions and tells him to consider how she can see herself reflected in his blackmail of her uncle. In the factory office, Isabel tries to help Marta with business issues by suggesting she is good at finding blackmail to help get what Marta might want. Marta plays along to confirm Isabel has done this before and when she is sure, she promptly fires Isabel for leaking the information about her and Fina to JesĆŗs.
160Ā Ā Marta and Fina share croquetas in the kitchen and share a sweet moment. Marta canāt resist and steals a quick kiss from Fina. Marta called her there on her break to give her tickets she got for the Opera for them. Fina says she doesnāt have anything fancy enough and Marta brings out a box with a dress inside she bought specifically for Fina. āNobody knows my measurements better than youā¦ā Fina attacks Marta with kisses, thanking her.
162Ā Ā Fina has to work the afternoon of the Opera and the only one she can ask to switch with is the new store clerk Jacinto who she resents for taking a job into one of the few spaces women can work. Marta gently tells Fina to grow up and ask him to switch.
163Ā Ā Fina says she canāt ask Jacinto and Marta is annoyed. Later in the warehouse Jacinto is being made fun of by male workers for his job and they assume he is gay. Fina backs him up and rebukes the men and Tasio for participating. Jacinto proposes a shift switch himself and they agree to a truce. Fina talks to Isidro later about her excitement for the Opera and he tells her he is worried that she might continue to come second to work for Marta having seen her family do similar for years. In her room, Fina is getting dressed for the Opera when Marta stops by to tell her there is a business problem she is expected to resolve personally that night so they canāt go. Talking to Isidro later, Fina brings up her worries for her future with Marta and Isidro encourages her to not put her life on hold waiting around for Marta and to enjoy other things as well as their time together.Ā
166 Ā Ā Marta visits Fina in the store. Fina is irritable about their time apart and the new girl Marta put in her shared colony room. Marta proposes a getaway dinner and hotel evening but Fina says she canāt as she already has plans with the girls and Marta is confused why she wouldnāt cancel. Fina tells her she isnāt happy that their plans always revolve around when Marta has time for her, regardless of Finaās plans.
168Ā Ā JoaquĆn holds the De la Reinaās at gunpoint, crazed with anger learning of JesĆŗsā crimes against his family and DamiĆ”nās later help covering up evidence. Luis talks him down. Fina visits Marta in her office, asking if Marta is still mad at her for their last conversation. Marta breaks down telling Fina all of the recent horrors she and her family have seen (JesĆŗs killed his wife and her lover, his cousin ValentĆn, and blamed the cousin for it all). Marta tells Fina about DamiĆ”n's cover up of the bodies and his blackmail of her gay Uncle. Marta worries she will end up like her family and Fina reassures her.Ā
169Ā Ā Fina and Isidro talk about the De la Reina family situation and he tells her they canāt trust that family. Fina insists Marta isnāt and wonāt be like them.Ā
171Ā Ā Despachamiento. In the big house kitchen Isidro and Marta talk about flowers, the recent De la Reina family horrors, and Martaās fears about becoming like her family. Isidro thinks Marta should leave and choose Fina over the company or else leave her. At night, Fina shows up to visit Marta at the factory office. They talk about Martaās earlier conversation with Isidro. Fina doesnāt want her to leave the business she loves and neither does Marta. Marta avows she will turn to her love for Fina to keep her grounded in her crazy family. Fina and Marta embrace and, as they are alone in the factory, take the opportunity to make love in the outer office.Ā
172 Ā Ā Marta and Fina have a sweet breakfast in the kitchen with Isidro and get to feel like a normal couple. They talk to Marta about the decision for her to stay since Fina helped assuage her fears. Isidro acknowledges he wasnāt being fair to Marta before. DamiĆ”n comes in and it is awkward as he clearly wants to be invited to sit. He visits the store later to talk to Fina and ask if she can help with their relationship. Fina refuses to help him since all Marta wants is to be accepted and loved and his actions have hurt her.
173Ā Ā Fina visits Marta in the office, needling her to make sure to eat and Marta tries to distract her with a kiss. They talk about their happy breakfast and Fina tells Marta about her conversation with DamiĆ”n. Marta thinks any positive thing from her father is just because heās using her and needs her as director. Marta thanks her for always being there. DamiĆ”n and Marta talk in the home office later and she is angry with him and all of his actions while he insists he made mistakes but his motivations were protecting his family. Marta wants nothing but a professional relationship with him now.Ā
176Ā Ā Fina talks to Isidro about DamiĆ”nās sudden gift and seeming change of mind about Marta. Isidro is doubtful about DamiĆ”n. Marta talks with DamiĆ”n in the factory office about his guilt and past misdeeds. She is not terribly sympathetic, but he insists that all he wants is her happiness. Marta accepts the casa de los montes.Ā
178Ā Ā Fina and Marta explore the casa de los montes for the first time. They dream of their peace and sanctuary at this gorgeous house, perhaps one day having a dinner party with their small group of allies to share love and happiness and be treated just like a normal couple. They share many many wonderful kisses and embraces without fear of anyone watching them, and Marta gives Fina a cheeky butt slap. Marta suggests asking Isidro to help them with the gardens. Later in the big house kitchen Fina talks with Isidro and he cautions her about not being seen going to the house too often. She asks him to help fix up the garden with her as a gift to Marta. They talk about how Fina and Marta donāt have a coupleās flower yet, and about how Isidro can visit that day but that Fina will stay the night with Marta as it is their first night together in the house.Ā
179 Fina and Isidro continue tidying up the house, clearing away the weeds. Fina can't believe her luck, because being in the casa de los montes is a dream come true for her. Marta and Isidro have a short but beautiful conversation about how he sees a different woman in her than the one he thought he knew, and how Marta is now more herself than ever thanks to Fina. Marta is moved when Isidro tells her that Fina couldn't have chosen anyone better to share her life with. [Fun fact: Fina has an aunt named Rosi, who has a dog named BufĆ³n.]
180 The next morning, Marta takes a moment for herself and writes in her diary*. Fina and Marta share breakfast in their new home. They talk about their fears, about living in the present, about feeling secure, about being exactly where they want to be and with whom they want to be. Marta tells Fina that, with her, she can be herself because she's spent her life feeling like something was missing and filling that void with obligations, formalities, with what her environment imposed on her. Now Marta feels complete. They discuss which flower would define them [178] and playfully wonder if swiss rolls would count. They feel confident that they can write their own story there, memory by memory. Kiss by kiss. Their first kiss in close-up. In the office, DamiĆ”n talks to Marta about wanting to make things right with her so she can live her love without having to hide, acknowledging all the years he's been strict with her from a place of remorse. The casa de los montes is a way of making amends for what Marta has suffered: being married and having to hide her feelings, hiding to avoid rejection from her family and society. Later, Isidro and Fina spend time together at the casa de los montes. Isidro confides in Fina that when he thought he was going to die the first time, his fear wasn't about dying, but about leaving her alone. But things have changed; when it happens, he'll leave knowing that she has a life of her own, a precious love, and a future.Ā
[Sixth diary entry.] āThese last few months have been very, very hard. I've discovered the hidden side of my family, and I've lost a man who became a great support in these last months of my life. But despite everything, life has given me a little light amidst so much darkness. A new dawn with the person I love, and I couldn't be more grateful to that woman, my greatest joy, the smile I look for every morning.ā
182 Fina goes to look for Marta at the office before Claudia's wedding and finds her sitting with DamiƔn in the hallway. They have a sweet moment because of the way Fina dressed up and they talk about Isidro. Marta suggests to Fina that Isidro come live with them in the caretaker's house, which would also provide a good alibi for her. Fina is happily celebrating Claudia's wedding and ends up a little tipsy from the liquor and the merriment, while Marta takes care of some business matters. [This is the first time the novela shows two women dancing together in public without being stared at because they are in a safe space.]
183 Fina takes a moment from the wedding party to go to the big house to visit her father and tell him about the idea that Marta proposed to her [182]. Isidro shows Fina a notebook where he has written the meanings of flowers, telling her he wants her to learn them so she knows what will bloom each spring. As he names them, he gives her a definition that reflects her strength, his gratitude for having her by his side, her fortitude, how he wants her and Marta to feel safe there, and the love he feels for her. Among them are lilies, gladioli, dahlias, rose bushes, and white roses. In the garden of the casa de los montes, Isidro has left a space for when Marta and Fina decide which flower defines them. Meanwhile, Marta attends her meeting at 6pm in the office with the other shareholders of the company. Later in the afternoon, Marta and Fina return home together, with Fina promising to make Marta happy after her meeting, only to find Isidro's lifeless body in their garden.
184Ā Ā Fina, in mourning for Isidro, cries to Digna about feeling guilty for pushing her father too hard to work on the garden at the casa de los montes for her which she insists is what killed him, and that she wonāt be able to go back there. Digna says she wonāt have to as it is Martaās house, of course. Fina comes into the store later wanting to work. Marta comforts her and assures her she isnāt alone like she feels, but tries to get her to go home and rest, but Fina wants to work to keep her mind off her fatherās death.
187Ā Ā Digna visits Fina in her dormitory room and they talk of Isidro and Finaās grief. Digna also asks about something that bothered her, that she felt Fina seemed afraid to tell her about something else bothering her related to her insistence about having sent Isidro up to Martaās house. Fina feigns ignorance. They talk about how they feel like mother and daughter to each other. In the warehouse later, Fina and Santiago bond over both having recently lost parents and having had ups and downs in those relationships.
188Ā Ā As Fina is getting ready in her room, Marta comes to see her. They continue to disagree on Fina needing rest or to work as Fina sees Isidroās death as having been alone and her fault where Marta sees a man who died doing what he loved for who he loved and that his time had just come. Marta insists on staying there and being there for Fina through all her feelings and she asks Carmen to look after Fina too. In the warehouse, Fina and Santiago continue to discuss their deceased parents and their guilt over how things ended in those relationships. Fina offers to accompany Santiago to the cemetery he has been avoiding to see his motherās grave and he offers the same for her father. They later go.
189Ā Ā In the big house, Fina collects the things from Isidroās memorial and runs into Digna. Fina agrees to continue their previous conversation and admits she was hiding something. She admits to Digna that Isidro was at the house because in a way it is her house too as she and Marta are in a relationship and that Isidro did know. Digna says she would never judge them and is saddened that so many people live and die with such a secret in their hearts. She reiterates what Marta and Santiago had told her, that Isidro likely knew exactly what he was doing and she shouldnāt feel guilt over his death. Having a drink in the canteen, Fina and Santiago talk and he hugs her as she goes to leave. She is startled but brushes it off as him being nice and awkward. Fina tells Marta she told Digna, and she talks of returning to the casa de los montes and all of the wonderful future moments they will have together. [Romantic forehead touch]. At dinner at the big house that evening, Digna drops the bomb that DamiĆ”n had a secret affair and a resultant love child: Tasio.
190Ā Ā Marta is uncomfortable with the whole situation and later tells Fina the news. Santiago comes in and Marta walks off. Santiago brought pastries for Fina to thank her for helping him. Later he runs into her and jumpscares her a little but they have a nice talk until he invites her to dinner at his house or some other place for a date. Realizing he is interested in her she is surprised and says she canāt that night. He says they can finalize plans later and walks off as she is silently stunned.
191Ā Ā Fina and Carmen talk about Tasio and Marta turning out to be siblings but quiet when Claudia walks in. Marta and Tasio talk in the office later. Marta explains that she is very surprised and that this explains DamiĆ”nās seemingly bizarrely generous treatment of Tasio when Tasioās talents and actions didnāt seem to merit it. He says he never asked for that and is just excited to have a family. Later Fina tells Carmen about Santiago asking her out. Later Santiago comes to finalize their plans and Fina politely and firmly rejects his romantic advances but offers friendship and doesnāt want there to be any confusion.
192Ā Ā Fina comes to visit Marta in the factory office. Marta tells her she is the only person who will always brighten her day as Fina hugs her from behind. They briefly talk about the Tasio situation, but then Fina explains about Santiago and his interest in her, asking her out on a date, and the signals she didnāt see and or he misinterpreted, and how she clearly and definitively rejected him. Marta is amused and not worried about fighting for Finaās affections. She is surprised Fina doesnāt have more suitors, really. They tease and flirt and share sweet kisses as Fina tells her she saved some of the pastries Santiago brought for her for Marta. Later Carmen and Fina are talking in the store and it occurs to Fina that the De la Reina sibling situation makes them sisters-in-law. They stop talking as Claudia comes up and she says that. Carmen relents and explains the Tasio situation. Later Santiago finds Fina in the warehouse, scaring her coming up too quietly, and says he should have picked a better moment to ask her out. She politely and firmly rejects him again saying it wasnāt about timing. He insists that she would like him if she gave him a chance and she could stop working (which she doesnāt want to do) and that she is just rejecting him out of fear and gets angry at her rejection, accusing her of playing with him like a doll.
193Ā Ā Marta and Carmen have a tense discussion about the Tasio situation as Carmen thinks Marta is being too hard on him and Marta would have liked more understanding of her own perspective too. Marta apologizes for being harsh with Tasio and they agree to start afresh. In the warehouse, Fina is restocking alone when Santiago comes in drunk, upset, and insisting on knowing why she is rejecting him and backs her to a wall attempting to kiss her. She calls out for help and Carmen intercedes, threatening to call the police.Ā
194Ā Ā The next day Fina is in the office waiting for Marta and is very upset as she tells her how Santiago attacked her. Marta is scared for her and horrified and tells her to always bother her regardless of the time of day. In the store, Marta tells the other girls to send Santiago to her as soon as he arrives. Santiago walks into the office like nothing is wrong. Marta immediately calls him out and he downplays his behavior and blames Fina, getting angry and misogynistic as Marta fires him and kicks him out of the factory. Santiago goes and finds Fina in the store instead of leaving and harasses, chases, and tries to attack her again, blaming her for being unreasonable and getting him fired for ānothing.ā She knees him and threatens him with scissors to go away then calls Marta and they make plans to meet right away in a nearby park. Santiago is still nearby listening.Ā
195Ā Ā Marta and Fina meet in the park and talk about the horrifying Santiago situation and what they can do about this in a world that would believe him over her and say she led him on and she deserved whatever happened. Santiago, watching from the trees, sees Fina clearly romantically embracing a woman. Later in the store Marta is talking with Fina and the girls. The Civil Guard comes in to arrest Fina as she has been accused of being a deviant, and they take her away fighting as Marta tries to stop them, panicking but trying to maintain her professional facade.Ā
196Ā Ā Marta collapses into Carmen and Claudiaās arms as Fina is taken away. Carmen tries to take care of her as Claudia gets water, and Marta worries and panics over Fina being in jail and how they treat people like them. Marta is visibly and personally upset and panicking, more than just a caring boss, as Carmen tries to calm her and Claudia starts to notice. Marta goes to DamiĆ”n for help and he struggles to find a lawyer who wonāt ask uncomfortable questions. He notes someone must have seen them but Marta wonders why only report Fina? They talk about the potential consequences, how women accused of this are treated, if and who accused Fina, and he cautions Marta to be prudent and not get herself taken away too by being reckless with her emotions over this. In the store, Carmen goes on as normal pretending the accusation is false but Claudia already saw Marta break down and implies so. Carmen confirms to Claudia that Fina does only love women and is with Marta. Claudia is hurt to not have been told. Later, DamiĆ”n takes Marta to visit Fina under the cover of a professional visit and she insists it must have been Santiago who followed her to the park.Ā
197Ā Ā Marta talks to Digna in the kitchen in the big house about Fina and her arrest. She tells Digna everything else is secondary to her with Fina in this danger and that, āFina es todo para me. Ya lo sabe.ā Digna encourages her to cry and gather her strength to fight for Fina. Later, Marta calls Santiago into her office to see what he knows. He saw Fina and proudly denounces her but he didnāt see who the other woman was. Marta tries to pay him off, but he refuses the money and says no one will take her word over his. Marta goes to see Fina to update her and Fina affirms she would never ever give them Martaās name.
200Ā Ā Claudia and Carmen discuss Finaās plight and Claudia insists she wouldnāt have judged Fina so she is hurt they all kept this from her. Marta comes to update the girls in the store on all news regarding Fina. Marta and Carmen talk of Martaās fears when the store gets a call saying the civil governor has done it and Fina will be released. They all hug. Carmen and Tasio talk about Fina coming back and he is still weird and digesting the information, but he says he defended [thanks to Carmenās influence] her when people were making comments on her sexuality the day before. Later, in her cell, Fina is recalling sweet memories with Marta [breakfast at their house 180, their first visit to casa de los montes 178, ābeso a besoā 180] when she hears a knock on the door and it is Santiago. He bribed a guard to let him in to see her alone. He threatens and harasses her and starts to try to rape her but gets no clothes off when a guard comes in and breaks them apart and sends Santiago away.
201Ā Ā With DamiĆ”n, Marta goes to retrieve a dazed and tired Fina from jail. Marta is angry to see the bruises Santiago left, though she assumes the guards did it and Fina doesnāt correct her, but Fina just wants things to be over. At the dormitory, Marta tries to comfort and get things settled for Fina who remains out of it and startles and cries out when Marta hugs her too tight reminding her of Santiagoās assault. Fina pleads for space and sobs on her bed as Marta cries outside the door. Claudia and Carmen visit Fina with flowers and a card from Finaās closest friends. The girls talk about Claudiaās love for Fina not changing, the accusations, if and how they can fight them, and promise to stand up for Fina. Digna later comes to visit Fina and sees the bruises, asking about them, horrified. Fina lies and says it was a guard, but panics and cries out as Digna is leaving so she rushes back in and Fina admits it was Santiago and what he did as Digna comforts her.
202Ā Ā Digna visits Fina in bed. She refuses to eat and when Digna tries to reassure her that Marta will make sure Santiago stays far away when Fina tells her, Fina insists she wonāt be telling Marta because she just wants to forget and move forward while she knows Marta will want to report it and deal with it. Digna tries to convince Fina otherwise when Marta arrives. Marta tries to reassure Fina and show her physical affection, but Fina panics and has an outburst of need for Marta to get away every time she gets too close and the Santiago memory is triggered. Concerned by Finaās rejections, Marta leaves but reminds her sheās there and loves her.Ā
203Ā Ā Marta and Digna talk in the big house kitchen about the situation. Marta fears that Finaās distance with her since returning means she thinks all of this was Martaās fault. Marta doesnāt know how or what to fix things and feels hopeless. Digna insists that she just needs to love and be there for Fina, that her affection and patience and time is all thatās needed to return Fina to herself. In the dormitory, Digna talks to Fina who is startled to learn Marta thinks Fina might blame her for everything. She still feels like she canāt tell Marta as she is afraid to be looked at with disgust or pity by her, so she makes Digna promise to not say anything. Later, Marta visits Fina and almost leaves, thinking Fina doesnāt want to see her, but Fina asks her to stay. Marta says sheād understand if Fina started to hate her for not being able to protect her better, but Fina responds she in fact loves her more than ever. Marta smiles in relief, calling Fina, āAmor.ā Fina tells her she just needs to find strength in herself to get past this and asks to go to the casa de los montes.Ā
204Ā Ā At the casa de los montes, Marta is taking care of Fina, though Fina still struggles to let Marta touch her and lies about why, lashing out when Marta tries to touch her as comfort. Marta wants to help and defend Fina and make those who hurt her pay and Fina, frustrated, just wants to move on. Later Marta asks Carmen for help as she feels a distance between Fina and herself. Claudia comes in. Marta pretends until Carmen affirms Claudia knows now, and Claudia promises sheād never hurt them. Carmen visits the casa de los montes and as she and Marta laugh over macho men and their fragile masculinity, Fina, triggered, runs off. Carmen is surprised and Marta says she no longer knows how to act.
205Ā Ā Fina returns some time later, having gone on a walk in the countryside, to find Marta sitting alone on a step. Marta expresses her hopelessness at trying to help Fina and feeling so distanced from her. Fina admits she has been keeping something from her as it was too hard to say. Fina tells Marta what Santiago did and tried to do to her. Marta holds her as they cry.
206Ā Ā Fina is feeling much better after having told Marta what happened. Marta is happy, but she still wants Santiago to pay for what he did. Fina insists she let it go and that she just wants to move on and never see him again. Marta calls the lawyer, though he says they canāt do anything with no proof. Digna talks with Marta who wants justice with or without the law, and tells her Marta will be the one to harm Fina with this revenge if she pursues it. Marta talks to Tasio and appeals to him to help her hire a thug given his previously shady dealings, but he refuses.
207Ā Ā Carmen visits the casa de los montes to check on Fina. Claudia couldn't come as she was busy with Mateo. At the factory, Tasio tries to talk Marta out of hiring a thug but she is insistent, so he relents and gives her a contact. Marta returns home to Fina (very honey, Iām home married vibes. 10/10) at the casa de los montes. A call comes and Marta has to break the news to Fina that Claudia and her husband Mateo have been in a car accident and Mateo is dead and Claudia had a miscarriage [Tasioās baby].
209Ā Ā DamiĆ”n and Marta speak in the factory office about the car accident [particularly the lost grandchild/niece or nephew], but he also asks after Fina and recalls the anger he saw in Marta over the situation. She explains what Santiago almost did to Fina in jail. He warns her to talk to him first before reacting. In the store, Fina is pitching in as a stocker to help with Claudia out when Marta arrives. They talk about God or fate when other warehouse girls walk by staring at Fina who is upset by it, but Marta tells her, āDonāt make it easy for themā [theyāre staring because of the invert allegations] and tries to give her strength. Marta tells her she intends to seek justice and Fina frustratedly pleads with her to respect her wishes. Fina makes Marta explicitly promise her to not do something sheāll regret. Fina says the Marta she fell in love with is not a vindictive person.
210Ā Ā Marta contemplates calling the thug, Elaidio, while in the office when DamiĆ”n walks in. He wants to talk with her about her feelings of revenge but she avoids the topic. DamiĆ”n meets with Santiago to try to pay him off to take back the complaint. Santiago agrees and has three days to leave for the Canary Islands.
211Ā Ā In the home office, DamiĆ”n tells Marta he has fixed the Santiago situation without telling her so his daughter didnāt have to get her hands dirty. Marta still feels this isnāt justice enough, simply being sent away with money, especially as it is clear to her Santiago took the money from DamiĆ”n and not her out of sexism. DamiĆ”n tries to counsel her to not seek more than this, that a cornered enemy will only attack more viciously. In the store, Marta is having flashbacks of Santiago when Fina comes in and tells her of the girlsā plans to go to the sea right away together to help Claudiaās grief. Marta gladly gives them all permission but has to decline for work and privacy [their relationship] concerns when Fina invites her too.Ā
212Ā Ā Marta meets with Santiago in a wooded park. He tells her things are settled because the men were able to talk (note: ew) and asks what more she wants. He is suspicious at her insistence on justice for Fina [more sexist insults] but she defends it as professional and women supporting women concern. As he walks away, Eladio walks over and Marta sends him to give Santiago a beating.Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā
213Ā Ā DamiĆ”n is walking and finds Santiago beaten in a bush. Santiago is raving and accuses Marta of having been the woman in the park he saw with Fina and thatās why she went to such lengths to get back at him. DamiĆ”n threatens him with his far-reaching connections and tells him to leave or spend life behind bars. Immediately going to find Marta in the store, DamiĆ”n confronts her with what he found. Marta is deeply satisfied to hear the state Santiago was left in, but is sobered when DamiĆ”n tells her Santiago is now suspecting her because of this, though she doesnāt regret taking action. Talking with JesĆŗs later, Marta is told her father gave Santiago the money so she wouldnāt turn into someone like JesĆŗs himself [no scruples, violent to achieve his ends, ruthless].
214Ā Ā Marta greets the girls back in the store. Marta fixes Finaās bow and encourages her getting ready for her first shift back as a public-facing store clerk. Carmen calls Marta into the warehouse to show her a small sad soap from their trip, giving her the idea to build a relationship between Perfumerias de la Reina and hotels. A customer comes in and Fina tries to help her, but she avoids Fina and leaves. Marta checks in on her later and Fina asks to stay in the warehouse a bit longer to not have to face judging clients and to not hurt sales. Marta resists but gives in to Finaās wishes, also telling her it was DamiĆ”n who fixed everything. Outside the factory, Eladio finds Marta to tell her even though she paid for the beating, he will need more money for his silence.
215Ā Ā Fina visits the factory office to see DamiĆ”n to thank him for helping her through the whole situation, and in a way, accepting her relationship with Marta. DamiĆ”n tells her, āitās clear that my daughter could not have chosen a better person to share her life with,ā and because she means a lot to Marta, she also means a lot to him. Marta finds Tasio outside the factory and tells him of Eladioās blackmail. Tasio is sure the man is serious but tells her not to pay him when Marta suggests just doing so [Tasio has a flashback of DamiĆ”n telling him if he helps Marta with her revenge heāll hold Tasio responsible]. Tasio says he will go and meet Eladio and deal with the blackmail. DamiĆ”n speaks with Marta in the home office. From his conversation with Fina he can see Marta did not tell her of her revenge.
217Ā Ā Marta, having made a call to Pelayo Olivares, the owner of the hotel chain she wants Perfumerias de la Reina to do business with [216], meets with Pelayo to convince him to break the contract with Floral and go with them. Tasio meets with Eladio to pressure him to forget about the blackmail.
218Ā Ā DamiĆ”n overhears Tasio telling Marta he dealt with Eladio, and he is furious at both of them, but especially Tasio and rejects him as a son for helping Marta go down this path. Marta defends Tasio. Marta invites Pelayo to the store to try some products. In showing him a perfume, he passes the smelling paper and smells the perfume from Martaās wrist. Fina and Marta are startled by his overfamiliarity. In the warehouse, Fina is unhappy at the display from before and asks who that man was. Marta explains and tries to convince Fina that not all men are like Santiago despite the weird moment. Later, Eladio finds Marta outside, not cowed by Tasioās threats. He mentions believing now that Santiagoās accusations were true and that she was the other woman in the park. He demands more money and she fearfully agrees.Ā
219Ā Ā DamiĆ”n overhears Marta telling Tasio what happened with Eladio and enters the office. Marta explains it all and DamiĆ”n says he will finish it. Pelayo visits the factory to tell Marta he will break the contract and go with Perfumerias de la Reina. He asks her to dinner, clarifying after her refusal [she is a recent widow and it wouldnāt be appropriate] it would have been just business. DamiĆ”n goes to confront and pay off Eladio. Tasio follows. Things get heated and Eladio pulls a gun and Tasio is shot in the arm.Ā
220Ā Ā In the hospital DamiĆ”n explains to Marta what happens after she rushes in worried. Carmen then comes in and DamiĆ”n makes up a story as to how Tasio got shot. Marta and Pelayo talk business and the dinner awkwardness is addressed. Marta proposes they talk over coffee [to smooth the awkwardness]. (Unrelated, but Fina gives Claudia a forehead kiss in this ep. and I love them)
221Ā Ā Talking to DamiĆ”n in the factory office, Marta thinks Tasio must hate her, but DamiĆ”n refutes that. DamiĆ”n tells her this could have been avoided, but Marta asks what else could she have done with all this pain and rage at Santiago and the injustice of letting him just leave with money and no punishment. Talking to Tasio in the hospital later, Marta apologizes to him and he says heād never hold a grudge, and that he doesnāt want Carmen to know the truth or sheāll be furious with him. Out for a walk later, Marta and Fina discuss Tasioās shooting. Marta confesses itās her fault and explains it all. Fina is quite upset that Marta disregarded her request to not do anything. Marta cries and begs Fina to forgive her. Outside the factory, Fina talks to Carmen about Tasio.Ā
222Ā Ā (Unrelated, but that scene of Fina smirking while spritzing perfume is here) In the plaza, Fina talks with Carmen who is doubting the story she has been told about Tasioās shooting. Santiago goes to the factory office to threaten Marta and have her turn herself in for hiring Eladio to beat him and threatens her more with knowing her secret.Ā
223Ā Ā Marta tells DamiĆ”n about Santiagoās new threats and he promises to take care of it like he has for his children before [all the stuff JesĆŗs did]. Fina visits Marta in the factory office. She starts back as a salesperson today [Marta mentions they spent the night before together]. They talk about Tasio staying at the big house while recuperating and DamiĆ”n recognizing him as legitimate [earlier this ep]. Fina tells her about Carmen starting to wonder the worst of Tasio with the Eladio situation and asks Marta to tell Carmen the truth. Marta resists at first, out of fear and a promise to DamiĆ”n, but relents and promises to tell Carmen. Pelayo interrupts them to talk business. Outside, Marta finds Carmen and asks to speak with her, telling her the truth. Carmen is furious and thinks itās again the De la Reinaās using Tasio.
224Ā Ā Marta and Pelayo are having a tense business discussion over coffee. He wants to resolve their disagreements, āanother way,ā and having no idea what the implication could be other than romantic or sexual in nature, Marta is insulted and irritated though Pelayo denies that implication. They will finish the conversation and decide to continue the business relationship or not that evening. Santiago is sitting nearby listening. Marta and Fina are at the casa de los montes in the golden afternoon light. Fina asks if Marta will let her read the diary she is writing in one day. A flirty Marta says maybe. Marta says she started writing the diary when she felt she couldnāt live without Fina, that it helps her put her thoughts in perspective. Marta tells Fina she told Carmen the whole truth. āTĆŗ mandas y yo obedezco.ā [Everything is lovely and gay and alas Santiago is creeping in the bushes, watching.] Fina kisses her hand and then her lips as Marta asks if she is forgiven. [Fina calls her tonta affectionately.] Fina tries to flirt her way into getting Marta to stay longer and try the stew she cooked, succeeding in pulling her inside for eating of some kind. Santiago steals Martaās diary left out on the table. Santiago goes and finds Pelayo, telling him his troubles at the factory and trying to get him to sympathize. He reveals Marta is a ādeviantā and her relationship with Fina. Pelayo is startled at first but says he is his best chance to get back at Marta.Ā
225Ā Ā Santiago wants to help Pelayo get a better deal with Marta and to denounce her himself to get back at her himself, but he is wary, telling Pelayo all of what he went through [from his perspective]. Pelayo tries to convince him his status and power are the only way to get what Santiago wants, so he should give him the diary so they can prevent, āa deviant from roaming around freely.ā Pelayo gets the diary and proposes their plot to expose Marta later that day. As Marta and DamiĆ”n are concluding their proposal to Pelayo, the Guardia Civil enters the factory office stating she is being accused of being an invert [Santiago is behind them]. Santiago tries to expose her, even as Marta and DamiĆ”n fall on the cover story [the truth just sans affirming Marta or Fina are gay or together], so he looks to Pelayo to produce the diary. Pelayo feigns ignorance and says Santiago tried to threaten him to help get revenge upon Marta and he swears he was with Marta all day [when Santiago says he saw Mafin kissing]. Pelayo keeps up his full ignorance until DamiĆ”n leaves, then revealing to Marta he has the diary and protected her. He says his reasons for protecting her are his own, but he gives her the diary back and tells her to get rid of it.
226Ā Ā Fina is looking out of a window dramatically [at the casa de los montes]. Marta and Fina talk about Santiago in jail and Finaās worries about Pelayo and if he read the diary or not. Marta holds Fina and tries to assure her itāll be fine. Carmen talks to Tasio about Marta and he wants her to move on like he has. Carmen and Marta are discussing shop matters later and Marta notices Carmen is still angry at her. Carmen thinks she and the family are taking advantage of Tasio and are trying to buy his silence by giving him parts of their shares in the company (I feel she gets a bit too judgemental about Marta especially and is protective over Tasio despite his own failings). DamiĆ”n questions Marta about the Guardia Civil situation and she tells him the whole truth. He will take care of this and warns her she must be extra careful as this is the life she has chosen. She replies that āNo one chooses to be like this.ā Marta later calls Pelayo [he asks to use the informal address going forward] into the office to ask further about why he helped her, to assuage her fears given experience and the power he could wield, and her loved onesā. Pelayo affirms he does not judge people on such a thing and eventually admits, through implication, that he is gay as well. She is relieved and agrees to not tell anyone about him.
227Ā Ā DamiĆ”n is still worried about Pelayo, talking about it with Marta in the factory office when Pelayo walks in. He manages to convince DamiĆ”n of his sincere intentions. Marta and Pelayo are friendly and she offers to be his confidante. Fina attends to a customer successfully for the first time since being taken away by the Guardia Civil when Claudia is late for work. Marta invites Pelayo to the casa de los montes for a drink. They talk about Santiago, DamiĆ”nās support, and Pelayoās personal life [āLove is not among my prioritiesā]. He wants to go into politics. They have a nice and friendly chat and Marta makes some food.Ā
228Ā Ā At the casa de los montes, Marta and Fina are sharing a sweet morning together. Marta takes a moment to tickle attack Fina and is happy Fina is back to work in the shop. Fina had noticed there was no bread in the kitchen and Marta explains her lunchtime chat with Pelayo, having been too excited and busy kissing Fina the night before to explain then. Fina, only having assurances and not knowing what Marta knows, is worried and upset and heads to work early. Pelayo comes into the store later and Fina attends to him. She is cold and irritated with him. Their conversation leads to his protection of Marta and he is pleased to realize she didnāt tell Fina. He tries to assure her of his intentions.
229Ā Ā In the factory office, Marta and Pelayo talk about Fina. Marta asks to tell Fina the truth of his intentions as likely nothing less will reassure her. He says no and she respects that. They talk of her willingness to love despite the risks and his unwillingness to do the same. āYou think Iām a coward, no?ā -Pelayo. Marta thinks him a gentleman as of now. Pelayo is flattered and agrees that she can tell Fina the truth. He does say, āIf you or Fina put in danger what Iāve spent my whole life building, Iām sorry, but I will have no choice but to defend myself.ā Marta is understanding. Later in the closed store, Marta seeks out Fina who is annoyed but not mad at her and tells her the truth about Pelayo. Fina is relieved and apologetic for her doubts. [Iconic āĀæQue me calle? CĆ”llame tĆŗ.ā scene and their romantic spinning kisses in the warehouse.
230Ā Ā In the factory square, Fina apologizes for doubting him, explaining her experiences have made her wary. They part cordially. Marta and Pelayo talk business later and Marta also inquires about his decision to not pursue love. They discuss their different perspectives. Marta invites him to share a meal with them at the casa de los montes.Ā
231Ā Ā Marta goes to talk to Carmen in the store. Carmen is upset with her now because she and JesĆŗs and DamiĆ”n missed a dinner with Tasio and Carmen at the big house the night before [JesĆŗs destroyed a note left by DamiĆ”n explaining and apologizing for their absence for business reasons]. Carmen does not want to hear her apologies or explanations and still sees the worst in Marta and the familyās intentions. Marta and Fina host Pelayo at the casa de los montes and Marta is happy to be able to have a guest. Pelayo says he is jealous of them, but when encouraged by Marta, still insists he is not made for those sacrifices. Fina has to leave and goes to kiss Marta but they awkwardly donāt [nerves even with another gay person], but Marta does playfully slap Finaās butt as she leaves. Carmen makes a slip up in conversation about recent events leading Tasio to guess Marta and Fina are together. Carmen confirms but shushes him and Tasio, though he laughs in his surprise, says he doesnāt want to hurt either of them, especially Marta as she is his sister. Back in the casa de los montes, Marta and Pelayo discuss their lives and great business alliance and he gets an idea for a more personal alliance. Pelayo proposes marriage to Marta.Ā
232Ā Ā Marta and Fina have another quiet morning at the casa de los montes. [Spiderman kiss and Fina calls Marta āmi amorā]. Marta tells Fina of Pelayoās proposal. Fina is annoyed that they ālive in a world where such a ridiculous proposal makes complete sense.ā Marta does not intend to say yes and imagines she would be miserable keeping up that facade. Marta proposes a vacation, but theyād have to pretend that meeting was an accident like in a spy movie [āY tĆŗ seras me Greta Garboā]. Marta invites Pelayo to the casa de los montes later on to talk. He asks if she has an answer and she responds we do. She calls for Fina, calling her āamorā. [Fina in the red plaid dress making apple compote]. They politely reject Pelayoās proposal. He asks if theyāre sure and suggests they have had some slip ups lately and another Santiago might come around one day. Pelayo tries to convince them itās in their best interest for him and Marta to get married. They still say no. He warns if they are ever in a bind he wouldnāt be able to help them.
233Ā Ā Don AgustĆn talks to Claudia about the rumors about Marta and Fina, but Claudia does her best to explain them away and give the right excuses for them.
234Ā Ā The Merino family plots how to counterattack if Marta and the De la Reinaās donāt prioritize the spa project that was their fatherās dream [has been ongoing in the background]. Marta is pissed off and insulted that simply following the plans the company has had for weeks if not months just to prioritize the spa project out of nowhere is being construed as her trying to take revenge on the Merinos (for what, I canāt recall), so she challenges them to call for a vote for the directorship. Pedro remains at the factory office and begins intimating to Marta about the situation with Santiagoās accusations being potentially damaging for the company and is trying to pressure her on the spa project. Pedro goes to ask Pelayo about the situation, who tells the right truth to protect Marta.Ā
Marta talks with Carmen and Tasio in the store [Tasio is acting a bit weird, staring, now knowing about Marta and Fina]. He is amazed that Marta likes women and is so feminine and apparently doesnāt show favoritism toward Fina. Carmen asks what her appearance has to do with her loving Fina.Ā
A visit to the casa de los montes to have lunch, where Fina is gardening, brings peace to Marta. Marta tells her of Don Pedroās insinuations and Tasioās weird staring, and Fina mentions Don AgustĆnās inquiry. They are worried and decide to postpone their trip. Fina starts to think perhaps Pelayoās proposal should be reconsidered. Marta firmly says no, āIām already married to youā¦ TĆŗ eres mi mujerā and kisses Fina.Ā
In the factory office Marta asks Carmen to head up a store in another area in Spain that needs a temporary [a month or so] manager since Carmen is the best for the position. Carmen thinks it might just be a way to get rid of her given their recent issues. In the store Pelayo comes to buy something for his mother and Fina inquires about his feelings on the proposal to Marta now. He does not want to be put in the spotlight with the rumors flying around now.
235Ā Ā Carmen and Tasio talk in the store and she mentions Marta asking her to go to the other store for a few weeks. Tasio thinks Marta is trying to get rid of Carmen for a bit but Carmen is trying to see it as just business. Tasio talks to JoaquĆn and then to Marta to change the decision, and she explains she knows the business and what she is doing and Carmen is the best fit for this job. He is useless without Carmen [his opinion] and needs her and is upset Marta wonāt help him especially as he helped her with the Eladio stuff. In the square, Marta and Pelyao discuss Pedroās inquiry and he mentions Fina talking to him, though Marta says her answer would still be no. They come upon a wooden wall graffitied with the word āInvertida.ā In the factory office, Pelayo suggests Marta distance herself from Fina after this. Marta fervently rejects this and her monologue concludes with, āYou canāt ask me to give her up because youād be asking me to die whilst living.ā
236Ā Ā Sitting on their outdoor swing at the casa de los montes, Marta and Fina talk about recent events and worries about Don Pedro and Santiagoās accusations and incarceration. Fina wonders if she should stop going to the casa de los montes for a while, and while Marta thinks the Pelayo discussion was done, Fina does think with rumors only growing if they donāt do something. Marta doesnāt want to be distanced from Fina, and Fina wants to save Marta the humiliation and suffering she has been through. Marta says, āthe only thing that could destroy me is losing you.ā ā... youāre not going to lose me, mi amor.ā Bittersweet Mafin cuddles.
237Ā Ā In the store, Tasio overhears Fina say to Gema her management position is only until Carmen comes back. At the casa de los montes Pelayo has reconsidered and again proposes a marriage of convenience to Marta. She is confused as he was recently reticent because things were getting worse, but he says he now thinks it will be the best thing for both of them [ālos dosā specifically, not tres] to protect them. Marta reminds him she will not distance herself from Fina for anything. He tells her Don AgustĆn is still intent on investigating the rumors, and that Pelayo tried to cover Marta by telling AgustĆn that he and she are lovers [she thinks he has gone too far]. Marta reminds him once again, āFina is the love of my life and Iām not going to risk everything for a marriage of convenience.ā Marta would rather be at risk with Fina than safe without her.
248Ā Ā In the office, Pelayo asks Marta if she might meet his mother soon [he insinuates she is aware he is gay]. She canāt make the lunch date he proposes and he responds, āI will be a very permissive husband. Youāll see.ā Fina comes in as Pelayo leaves. She is a little startled to hear Marta talk of her mother-in-law to be [a āmi amorā from Fina and an āamorā from Marta]. Marta says they need to have accepted this by now. āItās one thing to accept it. Itās another for it not to hurt me.ā
249Ā Ā Fina is reading in her room when Marta arrives, kissing her cheek and then her lips [the collar getting in the way]. āWhatās that for?ā āWell, because I love you and I canāt help it.ā Marta says nothing will change even with marrying Pelayo but Fina is doubtful. Marta explains DoƱa Clara knows about Pelayo, which does change things. Fina suggests she herself should maybe get married and start a family, but itās just a joke, as sheād never marry a man even for convenience. Marta tells Fina that Gema [JoaquĆnās wife] will be starting in the store and Marta would like Fina to train her. Fina is not amused at all and doesnāt really like Gema. Marta tries to explain Gema is family and would do a very good job, but Fina thinks Marinieves should get the job if anyone [running joke Fina supporting Marinieves instead whenever someone new is hired in the store]. [Theyāre arguing, but in a cute low stakes way]. Marta steals a kiss from a grumpy Fina as she leaves.
250Ā Ā Pelayo introduces Marta to DoƱa Clara in the factory office. Marta has to leave for a moment and while she is gone Pelayo chides his mother for trying to mark her territory. She thought he would marry a simple woman but finds Marta intelligent. She despairs to learn he has told Marta about his tastes. He tries to assure her Marta will not out him or ask for what he canāt provide but she doubts, until she suspects that the only reason Marta would agree to marry him is if she was like him [he doesnāt deny it as heās run out of excuses]. DoƱa Clara is in the store and Marta introduces her to Fina and pulls Fina into the warehouse to see how her day is going when DoƱa Clara goes to look at things. Marta has to leave to take care of something and leaves the two together, Fina showing her perfumes and DoƱa Clara asking questions about Marta. Fina sings her praises. DoƱa Clara goes to find Marta in the office [a bit rudely asking if business will keep interrupting] and Marta explains her ties to the company. She doesnāt think being an ambitious woman is bad, but DoƱa Clara wants the best for her son regardless of Martaās wishes [she wants Marta to mold her life to Pelayoās, not to have him compromise].
253Ā Ā Marta and Pelayo meet with DamiĆ”n and DoƱa Clara at the big house. Theyāre discussing the upcoming wedding and DamiĆ”n mentions children were recently in Martaās plans, while apparently Pelayo never intended on any as DoƱa Clara says [DoƱa Clara and DamiĆ”n donāt know each other knows about their own children]. Marta politely says theyāll consider it in due time, but DoƱa Clara keeps needling her. As they move to the dining room, DamiĆ”n asks Marta if Pelayo is like her [gay]. She is silent, then says theyāll talk later. At a cafe outside, Pelayo and DoƱa Clara await Marta busy with business. DoƱa Clara complains about Marta more, but Pelayo assures her he and she know what theyāre doing and this will be good for them. Marta arrives and Pelayo leaves them so DoƱa Clara can apologize for her behavior and offer an olive branch to Marta.Ā
255Ā Ā Marta comes up to Fina working in the warehouse [playful slap with some papers]. Fina asks how Marta is doing with everything. Marta tells Fina that JoaquĆn ignored some engineering reports and now part of the spa project works have collapsed and he wants to spend more money to fix things [253]. Fina wishes she could help, and Marta suggests she help her pick a wedding dress. āNo matter what you wear, youāll be the most beautiful bride in the world.ā Fina starts dreaming a little about what they would want for their own wedding, though she knows itās only a fantasy. Marta rubs her back comfortingly as DoƱa Clara is watching from the store. She interrupts them and they go out into the store, feigning normal. Pelayo and DoƱa Clara are at a cafe later and she wonders aloud if Marta is doing her part in their deal [alluding to seeing her with Fina]. She sees in his face he knows about them and he confirms. She sees this relationship as a danger to and imposition upon him, but he insists this was always part of the agreement. DoƱa Clara tells Pelayo he will need to distance Fina from Marta if he wants to marry Marta. Marta and Pelayo talk in the office later. He sees she misses her time with Fina. He notes that must be why they find it hard to hide and she assumes that means his mother noticed them earlier. He suggests they make some concessions to his mother [she kept his family company together after his father died] but Marta expresses that she is scared he might let his mother control him so much.Ā
256Ā Ā DoƱa Clara comes into the store and asks to try out some makeup for the wedding. She then starts to make veiled warnings to Fina about not messing things up for Marta and Pelayo. Fina tells Pelayo about it later, upset, and he in turn reproaches her and Marta for exposing themselves again. He practically asks her to be grateful to him until she points out he wants and needs this too. He apologizes for his mother and says it wonāt happen again. He again warns her that her staying out of the light is part of their agreement (was it??). She knows, but Marta is her light, āand like it or not, you wonāt be able to take it away from me.ā
257Ā Ā Marta visits the store to update the girls on Carmen coming back soon and compliments Fina taking charge in her absence. Fina and Marta talk in a corner about Finaās new wedding doubts after the DoƱa Clara incident. Fina worries more obstacles will arise between them. Marta says, ānothing and no one can change whatās between us. My love is yours forever.ā Fina tells Marta Pelayo justified what DoƱa Clara said and Marta is upset. She talks with Pelayo later and tells him she is rethinking the marriage. She reminds him this was supposed to be about image, yes, but also to protect her relationship with Fina and she was very upset with his and his motherās behavior. She wonāt have Fina told to stay in the shadows like she had to when Jaime returned. āUntil you understand that my priority is and will always be my relationship with Fina, maybe we should suspend our plans.ā He insists he understands and deeply regrets Fina being worried by this (mmmhmmm). Pelayo and DoƱa Clara speak as theyāre getting ready to leave the factory. She pushes and he admits what happened to Fina and the Marta rumors. He says removing Fina is not an option. āYou know as well as I do that youāll have to remove her.ā He is silent in response to that. Marta and Fina talk in the office later, JesĆŗs making a snide comment as he leaves and Fina enters. Marta mentions JesĆŗs might get his way partly selling the company to Brossard [a large French perfume company]. Fina apologizes for bringing up her worries with Martaās problems, but Marta insists, āYou are my priority. If I have to choose between him or you, Pelayo knows perfectly well that Iām staying with you.ā
258Ā Ā Marta and Fina are sharing pastries in the warehouse in a sweet moment of peace. Theyāre talking about JesĆŗs and Patricia Lambert [Marta previously tried to get the company into the French market through her. JesĆŗs stepped over her to take over contract negotiations. He has since pissed Lambert off.] Their discussion turns to flirting [Marta came in and solved a big company problem and Fina is complimenting her] and an almost kiss before theyāre interrupted. Fina greets Carmen happily and after a second of awkwardness, Marta hugs Carmen too [things are better between them now]. Fina starts to dish to Carmen about Gema and Marta jokes she has to leave before it starts getting mean (Fina is a hater, but so loveable). Marta mentions wedding preparations too [Carmen is learning about it for the first time]. Carmen asks Fina if sheās okay and Finaās response is a very muted and halfhearted yes. Outside the factory, Don AgustĆn is pestering Marta about having the wedding in the colony and the timing. The Archbishop will perform the ceremony in a bigger church and it will be within the week [he pointedly asks if she is pregnant]. She gives him appropriate explanations, very irritatedly, and leaves. Carmen and Claudia discuss their reactions to the wedding and Finaās feelings, in the canteen [they resolve to make sure to take care of Fina]. In the big house, Marta and Pelayo [also DoƱa Clara] meet with Don AgustĆn for the spiritual wedding preparations. They have to give the right answers and pass his questioning (It is funny to see him warn them to wait to have sex and then only for procreation). Talking after, Pelayo learns that DamiĆ”n knows [Marta explains he guessed just like DoƱa Clara did].
261Ā Ā Carmen and Fina are in the warehouse talking [Tasio is being annoying about Carmen wanting to get her driverās license] and the conversation turns to Fina feeling distant from Marta with the wedding and all when Gema interrupts [upset at everyone avoiding her].
262Ā Ā Don AgustĆn talks with DamiĆ”n in the family office at the big house about Marta and Pelayoās wedding and his concerns [he finds their enthusiasm lacking considering the rush to get married, especially with how recently Marta was widowed]. DamiĆ”n puts him in his place and makes the appropriate explanations and excuses. Later, DamiĆ”n and DoƱa Clara discuss the wedding and their children. DamiĆ”n also speaks with Pelayo when he arrives. He mentions Don AgustĆnās concerns and suggests that Fina will be an issue in making this marriage believable going forward. Pelayo says he trusts them. DamiĆ”n says he is not one to stand in the way of his daughterās happiness, but he tells Pelayo, ānow itās your job to make sure none of this gets out of control.ā He promises to help Pelayo if and when needed if it is for the āgreater good.ā Fina visits the big house to bring wedding favors and sees Marta being fitted for her wedding dress [she is very affected seeing Marta]. āIf this wedding were ours, I would start crying and wouldnāt stop until after the āI do.ā And even after that.ā āOur love is in our skin.ā They reassure themselves theyāre doing the right thing when Pelayo walks in.
264Ā Ā In the factory office, Marta and DamiĆ”n are talking about business [JoaquĆnās poor decision to lower salaries to offset spa project expenses] and he mentions the wedding is more important for her right now.
265Ā Ā Marta and DoƱa Clara meet for coffee and wedding preparations at the canteenās terrace. Marta is distracted but says she will take care of things. DoƱa Clara is insulted she wonāt take help and leaves. Carmen arrives and she and Marta talk about the wage cut and the basket favors for the wedding Carmen agrees to help make. Marta asks her not to involve Fina to spare more hurt to her feelings. Later, Carmen and Claudia are working on the baskets in the warehouse when Fina walks up and asks why she wasnāt asked to help. She learns Marta asked them to leave her out and walks off upset. Fina finds Marta in the office and she sees Fina is upset [two āamorās from Marta]. Fina asks why she couldnāt help. āBecause even if you insist on making me believe that it doesnāt affect you, I know it does,ā because it affects her too. āI wish I could vow my eternal love for you.ā They share their pain, a kiss or two, and Fina curls into an embrace from Marta. Marta tries to explain her reasoning and says she also thinks Fina shouldnāt go to the wedding. Fina wants to be there to support her doing this for them, but Marta says she knows her and she will break down which will make Marta break too. Fina says that wonāt happen because sheāll see Marta coming down the aisle and imagine itās her Marta is marrying, that itās her Marta is saying āI doā to, and it will be āas if you and I are swearing eternal love before God.ā āUntil death do us part.ā āAnd reunite us in the afterlife.ā āJust one life is too little time by your side.ā They share a kiss and Fina snuggles back into Martaās arms.
266Ā Ā Preparing for the wedding at the big house, Marta and JesĆŗs are talking. She refuses to allow him to attend the wedding and he says he wouldnāt be able to resist raising his hand when the priest asks if anyone knows of an impediment to the wedding. He calls her a deviant point blank and asks what she plans to do on the wedding night, how she will keep Pelayo from learning. She calls him an embarrassment to the family, though he thinks she is the greater embarrassment. She tells him with all the enemies heās made, āI donāt know if you have a place to die.ā (Oof. Get him, girl). DoƱa Clara and Pelayo are talking later at the church and she mentions perhaps Fina shouldn't be at the wedding. He declares he wonāt sideline Fina and thatās that. In the big house, Marta, though upset with MarĆa, is kind and sympathetic and invites her to the wedding, though she politely declines.
267Ā Ā Carmen, Claudia, and Fina are talking in the warehouse. Tasio is refusing to go to the wedding [related to the salary reduction and his siding with the workers] and Fina asks Claudia to talk to him because not having him there would be a disappointment to Marta. DoƱa Clara comes to the store to strongly suggest Fina not come to the wedding, reminding her of their previous conversation telling her she needs to stay out of the way [256]. Fina tells her she has a right to be there too, but DoƱa Clara reminds her she is the most vulnerable one in this trio, and that she shouldnāt make it harder for Marta to do this if she loves her. DoƱa Clara tells her to keep this between them.Ā
269Ā Ā Marta is getting ready for her wedding to Pelayo, putting her rings from her marriage to Jaime away, and walking downstairs with DamiĆ”n. He tries to cheer her up and they talk about JesĆŗsā plans to go to Paris and take Julia too. Marta wonders if sheās a coward for choosing to live these lies instead of fighting. āYou canāt fight this world alone.ā Fina rushes in. āIām not alone.ā [Only the second time sheās been out of the kitchen in the big house?]. DamiĆ”n suggests she not be there, but Marta asks him to leave and turns her attention to Fina, letting the guests wait a bit longer. Fina presents a bouquet of flowers planted by her father in the garden and asks Marta to carry her flowers through the wedding so Marta feels closer to her. āI donāt plan to separate from them.ā āTe quiero, Fina Valero. And nothing and no one will be able to change that.ā They share a weighted forehead touch and a quick kiss [and Fina kissing her hand].
Back in the dorms, Claudia stays with and consoles Fina as she returns in tears thinking of the love of her life getting married to someone else, even if it is for their protection. Fina is almost inconsolable knowing that now Pelayo will have the right, and duty, to be with Marta almost 24/7 while she will have to exist in the shadows. In parallel, Marta is dissociating at the wedding, recalling in time with the Archbishopās words, memories of her love with Fina: dropping the letter [20], the gifted embroidered apron [22], their first night in Illesecas, [37], their first kiss [34], their ābeso a besoā kiss at the casa de los montes [180]. At the signing of the marriage register the Archbishop says he has never seen such devotion in a brideās eyes. DoƱa Clara is picking and needling at the De la Reinaās and Marta especially, wanting only the best for her sonās future and not caring much about anything else. Pelayo does try to calm her.
Back at the big house, DoƱa Clara comes upon Marta on the phone saying āTe quiero,ā and reproaches her for making Pelayo leave the reception early, reminding her the marriage is in part for their mutual business gain that is squandered leaving a social event early. Marta took care to talk to everyone before leaving as she notes. DoƱa Clara wants Marta to have the decency to spend her wedding night with her new husband, but Marta says Pelayo has what he wants, she is now going to get what she desires, and classily tells her to mind her own business. DoƱa Clara vents to Pelayo about Marta running off [to whom they are all aware] and how tempting fate at the first chance is not a good indication for this marriage of protection. Pelayo doesnāt know what she wants him to do. āControl your wife.ā (ew) DamiĆ”n walks in and DoƱa Clara speaks rudely of Marta being led by her lust [to Fina] and is determined someone go find her and bring her back to the house. Pelayo just wants to let it be for right now and not make things worse. DoƱa Clara tries to convince DamiĆ”n this reflects on them as parents, but he insists on leaving them be in their own arrangement.
Marta drives to the factory and Fina meets her outside the gates at her car [three āmi amorās from Fina], surprised Marta is seeing her on the wedding night. Marta spent the day thinking of her and didnāt want the night to be the same. They talk, foreheads pressed together. Those few hours apart felt like an eternity to them both. Marta affirms she is the same and they will use this marriage to live their lives with more freedom. āYou donāt know how much I needed to hear this, my love.ā Marta wants to feel close to her, to smell her. Fina tells her she has to be a good girl. āI donāt plan to be.ā Fina notes Marta should go with Pelayo waiting. Marta insists he has gotten what he wants and now itās her turn. āNow I want a grand wedding night with the person that occupies my heart.ā Marta gets down on her knees and proposes to Fina, asking her to spend the wedding night together at the casa de los montes. Fina, thrilled, repeats her, āI do,ā over and over. They get into the car, but pause and stare at each other until the tension breaks and they come together in passionate kisses [coats are removed, the glass begins to fog up, and Martaās hand presses against the window Ć la Titanic]. They presumably make love in the car before heading to their house.Ā
Is there a post somewhere that collects all of Marta de la Reina's journal entries?
A post or series of posts with the known text from Marta's journal/diary? Either here on tumblr or somewhere else? If so, I'd really appreciate any help with finding it.
Asking because 1. I would love to be able to read all the excerpts we got to see or hear on the show, just in general, because her writing is one of my favorite things about her.
And 2. I had an idea for a possible Marta journal entry (before the journal got destroyed <sob>) and wanted to confirm that canon hasn't already done something similar.
Thanks in advance for any pointers on this!
Modern AU where BegoƱa and Luz are married and run their own clinic:
* BegoƱa's wedding ring is really really from Luz, for them.
* BegoƱa is on maternity leave and this is the first day where she's supposed to be resting at home, but she hears about some bad news and rushes over to make sure Luz is all right.
BegoƱa: I had to see you and make sure you're fine.
Luz: I texted you already that I was fine, and not to worry.
BegoƱa: I know, but I was so restless, Luz. Of course I'm going to worry about you anyway. I had to see you and set my mind at ease.
Luz: We could have done a video call, so you didn't have to leave the house.
BegoƱa: It's not the same.
Luz: I know it's not the same. Now you've seen me, and now you can go home and keep working on the homework assignment we agreed on.
BegoƱa: Luz, you know I can just as easily make a list of names for the baby here. Besides, you haven't told me what names you like.
Luz: That's easy. Anything except Gabriel.
BegoƱa: What do you have against Gabriel?
Luz: I used to know a guy called that, in a previous life. Really unpleasant. You would not have liked him at all.
BegoƱa: Okay. Not Gabriel. Then, what about Gabrielle? *
Luz: Gabrielleā¦like from 'Xena'?
BegoƱa: Yes.
Luz: Wellā¦of course that's all right.
* The 'Gabriel' vs 'Gabrielle' bit works better when pronounced in Spanish :DD
[Ok don't ask me why my brain decided to do this. I'm posting it here before I change my mind...
This is for @clairedsfield and @mrsdaphnefielding - thanks for the luzgoƱa gifsets and extended thoughts!]
This may actually be too compassionate a take, but I really do feel for Marta. Here is a woman who has known love once--epic love, earth-moving love--and it went away in the blink of an eye. She doesn't know why, she doesn't know what she could have done to stop it. She only knows what was in that letter (and in the letter Fina sent to Digna). As far as she is concerned, Fina is never, ever coming back. She was told to respect her wishes. She was told this is how it is. No, she can't forget Fina. No, she can't love Cloe the way that she wants to be loved. But she cares about her, she feels things when she is with her. She's been honest. Cloe has told her she understands. That they will try to live in the present, making of it what they can. I just--I sort of can't fault her for going along with that. This is a woman who was a walking wound, and that wound never healed. That wound never closed up. That wound bleeds at times. So can I blame her if she looks around and clings to something that will staunch the bleeding?
Thanks for posting this, @bloomsberries. I was working on something along similar lines but much longer (eta: and ramblier, ha; you hit the main point way more succinctly!) and essentially I feel the same as you.
For sure, Marta is still suffering and grieving the loss of her partner and closest friend and feeling abandoned. In some ways it's worse than mourning a physical death because of the mystery and confusion and lack of closure. She's not herself.
Do I agree with all of her decisions? No, but grief can make people do weird things. Yes, I know the writers are making her do these things, technically, but if there's ever an excuse/explanation for it, grief and bereavement makes more sense to me than anything else they could have conjured up to explain this current plot.
I don't expect her head space to be rational during this time.
Frankly I'm impressed she's able to get dressed and go down to breakfast each morning, and go to work. I'm glad she tries to make Carmen feel at home. If there's anything to get Marta out of her own head, it's not surprising to me that it's someone she trusts who she feels she could help.
I'm glad she's not relying on alcohol as she had been.
So, "too compassionate" a take? I would say no.
If anyone could have been more compassionate IMO it's the writers who decided to deploy this betrayal and gaslighting from Pelayo, and leave Marta in the dark and not allow Fina's mujer or friends/family feel that her sudden fleeing and Dear John letters were beyond sus/concerning after a few weeks' worth of episodes.
Modern AU where BegoƱa and Luz are married and run their own clinic:
* BegoƱa's wedding ring is really really from Luz, for them.
* BegoƱa is on maternity leave and this is the first day where she's supposed to be resting at home, but she hears about some bad news and rushes over to make sure Luz is all right.
I am not caught up with all of the plots for this season, so grain of salt, etc etc.
However, with all of the Fina flashbacks especially recently, and her return seemingly around the metaphorical corner, and after what we know of the leaked script dialogue via AF... I would be very very surprised if the (initial) reunion between Marta and Fina is a purely joyful one. As much as I want it to go well and have them be happy right away, dramatically it would not make sense for a daily soap opera to have it go well. (Unfortunately)
The writing has caused Marta great anguish over an extended period of time, and to have that anguish be quelled in one fell swoop would not make sense.
A lot of folks have theories so here's mine as to what I think may happen:
If Marta does not know the truth of Pelayo's betrayal before their reunion, and Fina walks into the picture and looks safe and is even smiling, I can easily see Marta being angry. Yes, glad to see she's safe, but absolutely furious, and perhaps even asking her to leave because it was just too much to bear and she can't go through it again.
I think that spoiler from AF may indicate a conversation that happens after Marta says something like this to Fina.
Whatever her reaction, I can't imagine the writers have prepared a reunion that's smooth sailing. If anything, this is their chance to add even more drama. They're playing a long game here and it makes me think yet again of American soap opera writer and pioneer, Agnes Nixon and her motto:
"Make them laugh. Make them cry. Make them wait."
We will have to wait for a proper Mafin reunion. And when I say proper, I mean one that makes sense to the characters and finally resolves the arc that began so long ago: for Marta to learn the truth about Pelayo and his blackmail, and for Marta and Fina to reunite under the banner of that truth.
Clearly the writing so far has shown the gravity of their relationship, so even if Marta does put up her walls to Fina (whether Marta knows the truth or not), we know that it's yet another detour and will eventually get to a real reunion.
[Another ~1K words as I think more about this... musings below include spoilers for Guiding Light's final season, and Doctor Who S12/Revolution of the Daleks, and I'll tie them back to Mafin's separation.]
This makes me think again of a soap opera from years ago, where the writing also did something nonsensical and had one of the pairing leave suddenly (and off-screen the reason was also because of maternity leave) and there wasn't even a letter. It resulted in the absolute anguish and overdrinking of the character left behind.
That was Natalia leaving Olivia on Guiding Light (also at least Olivia spent time asking around about Natalia and found out where she was and went there to talk to her without success, but that's not the point of this reference).
When Natalia eventually returned, seemingly out of the blue and appearing well and healthy, Olivia was furious and conflicted and kept telling Natalia, "You left me" and "You broke my heart" and she didn't want to see Natalia again. (Quotes are from memory and may not be 100% exact.) It was Olivia feeling sucker punched and protecting herself from feeling like that ever again.
There are lots of examples like this -- especially in plots where one person has no idea what happened to the other, sometimes imagines the worst, then the missing person rolls up and is obviously healthy and not at all looking unwell or distressed (outwardly), and the person who was left behind is angry. It's a feeling almost of being scammed.
How dare they let me worry for all this time, and walk back as if nothing had happened, as if everything is normal.
How dare they leave without so much as a face-to-face goodbye.
How dare they look so wonderful and (possibly) smiling, and meanwhile I was here going through hell without them.
Very different context, and not a soap opera but I'm also reminded of another separation story - the first extended separation between Yaz and the Thirteenth Doctor.
I mean the first extended separation, when the Thirteenth Doctor insists on sending Yaz (and her other friends Graham and Ryan) off to be safe (they do have a goodbye in person, and the Doctor tells them "Live great lives"), with the high risk that the Doctor will die.
Yaz and the others don't know if the Doctor is still alive, but of the three, Yaz ends up spending her days (and seemingly nights too) trying to work out a way to find the Doctor again somehow. This goes on for at least 10 months, in Yaz's timeline.
The Doctor, meanwhile, made it out alive but was captured and spent decades in prison (in her timeline). After all that time, she manages to escape with help. When she finally reunites with Yaz, the Doctor smiles joyfully but Yaz literally shoves her (much to the Doctor's shock) and says "We were worried about you!"
What's interesting is that it's been 10 months for Yaz, but it's also been 10 months for the audience because of the hiatus between episodes -- the separation was introduced in the S12 season finale, and the reunion occurred in the New Year's Day special the following year, before S13 began nearly another 10 months after that. So, not a daily soap with episodes over 10 months, so it was a lot more palatable to watch for me as a viewer, that's for sure. But still, plot-wise, 10 months.
Yaz's flash of anger subsides within the same episode, and they have to work together again quickly, but all through S13 (and there's an even longer separation that happens in S13), there's an undercurrent of anxiety from Yaz about the Doctor leaving.
[Edit: And yes, Olivia and Natalia do find their way back to each other and Olivia forgives Natalia (and they have a happy ending, which was honestly groundbreaking in many ways for any tv show, soap opera or not, in the early aughts).]
So all that to say... Would Marta shove Fina, if Fina shows up all smiles (outwardly)? I don't think so, but I mention Yaz's shove not because I think Marta would do that, nor because I think Yaz and Thirteen are in similar situations (they're not).
I mention the shove because it's a visceral reaction that Yaz had, being apart for so long from a woman she loved (and a woman she was unknowingly in love with) without knowing what had happened to her or even if she was still alive. Yaz and Thirteen at that point were great friends; they were not romantically together and certainly they were not two people who considered each other spouses.
But clearly, Yaz's worry and love manifested in that shove in that moment.
While there might not be a physical shove in Marta's case, there might be a verbal one. Because at heart, many thoughts would be similar:
I was worried about you.
You left me.
I didn't know where you were.
You spent all these months away from me and you didn't send any word to me.
How could you do that to me.
If Marta doesn't know the truth about Pelayo, and she sees Fina Valero looking stunning (honestly AB looks like she's gotten younger since before her mat leave lol) and in those clothes from the Fina Returns clip (yes I know that could be from a later scene because they don't film in order but go with me here), and Fina looks like she's just come back from an adventure... look, I wouldn't blame Marta for fuming.
Again...
How dare you look so wonderful and how dare you smile, and meanwhile I was here going through hell while you were out there doing your own thing.
Marta is good at putting up walls, and putting up a mask. It'll be so interesting to see how that initial reunion goes. Will it be accidental? In public or amongst others, so Marta is forced to keep her mask in place? Will she succeed? How far will that mask crumble?
At this point I doubt that Fina will reappear to Marta in an obvious state of distress. Because if Fina showed up panicked and needing help that would be a different story and I'm not sure if the writers would go there. Marta seeing Fina in distress would remove any reason for a dramatic conflict to keep Marta and Fina apart emotionally, and also remove the reason to make the audience wait for a proper reunion.
Regardless of whether Marta puts up walls initially to Fina... at some point, Marta will learn the truth about Pelayo and that's when I will be able to thank the stars for that loop being closed. We know it will happen, and I am so looking forward to witnessing Marta de la Reina as a character finally, finally having the agency to move forward while armed finally, finally with the truth.
I look forward to a proper reunion, where they both can heal again and can talk to each other honestly again.
And oh my gosh I am so looking forward to Fina Valero walking back in and providing her magnetism to the show's moral compass again.
P.S. The walls, the anger, etc etc -- again I think it's possible the writers could write Marta this way to add a speedbump. However, if the show doesn't want to make us wait for a proper Mafin reunion, who am I to judge? I'll take it! I'll love it!!
"We think art comes from trauma because we're most curious when we're devastated or in danger and we're curious for an answer. You can be desperately curious. It doesn't have to be a mild feeling. Some people say they can't write when they're happy. That's because they write pain out of habit. They just aren't curious about joy. Joy can be just as intense, profound, and even terrifying. Recovery is a side-effect of curiosity. Knowledge is a side-effect of curiosity. The opposite of curiosity is an insularity that leads to self-isolation and a solitary death."
It could still happen, but I wish we had gotten a scene where Marta tells Digna how Damian reacted in the beginning to her (Marta) falling in love with Fina... and then asking her aunt, "What do you think Mother would say?"
Basically, I wish Marta and Digna had way more personal, supportive conversations together. While I know there's been one recently, and we'll get at least one important scene later on, I hope there are many more that aren't about the company or business or about Damian. Especially since Digna is literally Marta's aunt, was one of Isidro's closest friends, and especially because she has said she loves Fina too.
And way more personal, supportive conversations with Fina and Digna too. And with all three, Marta and Fina and Digna... I think the last time might have been in the prison? so yeah a nice group convo when they're not in terrible circumstances would be great as well, thanks so much, SDL.
I started writing about S2's ending, and the unrecognizable characterization for MDLR...
Anyway so here's ~3K words about the feelings I keep running into about this. I wrote most all before the new S3 opening intro dropped, and my words still stand.
tl;dr:
Mafin was established in canon, through their scenes and characterizations, as a celebration of queerness, hope, and love. And proved again and again that their love is honest and true, and that love abides.
S1 and part of S2 demonstrated this through the Mafin story, again and again. This is a major reason why I found it refreshing. It was one of the best storylines I've seen in many years, and I don't say that lightly.
The way S2 went after Pelayo forced Fina to leave, though, was hard to watch and offered little hope and few positives for MLDR amidst the forced separation of Mafin, and of Pelayo's ongoing deception. I also was not a fan of "gotcha" scenes that turned out to be imaginary.
Unless S3 starts with Marta waking up from her bad dream about Cloe, or Marta saying "sorry I'm not myself and don't know what I'm doing" and Marta finally going to find Fina... I honestly am not sure how this will be resolved in a way that goes back to reflecting the celebration and joy and hope we saw earlier, while respecting the characters I love.
Perhaps the writers simply made errors in judgment in how to write S2 and they recognize this, and will course-correct for S3. It may mean some handwaving of some episodes; but as long as Marta does not become a pod person and remembers who she is, queerness is not portrayed with constant bleakness, hope and kindness return, and we finally get to healing Mafin, then yeah, I am willing to see where it goes.
1. Most importantly. I'm a fan of Mafin.
I, like a lot of folks, really loved and enjoyed the characters that originated and fueled Mafin. Their relationship was fresh, humorous, taken seriously and written with care.
Throughout S2 we see again and again, deliberately from the writers, references to Fina in dialogue, in flashbacks. She is, significantly, not forgotten about. She is MDLR's declared spouse. And we know that MDLR is fiercely devoted.
So yeah, what's the deal with not going to find Fina, again? What's the deal with the writers deliberately having MDLR not take further action? What's the deal with Fina's best friends just letting her go? If I'm supposed to buy into this, I need more reasons than the ones given.
2. So much of S1 and early S2, for Mafin, was about hope and finding hope and strength in being honest and vulnerable with each other. Queerness was taken seriously and also celebrated.
We got to hear really beautiful, moving, fun, and humorous dialogue between Marta and Fina, and saw many memorable scenes.
I loved that so much time was given to Mafin discovering and being happy with each other, in addition to affirming their dedication to each other again and again: showing affection and also validating each other through words of devotion; supporting each other through fears and anxieties and trauma; acknowledging successes and accomplishments.
Aside from threats and homophobia of the period, the majority of friends and family members also supported them. I also found this very refreshing. It wasn't just the one friend, but multiple friends. Eventually both father figures. Digna as well.
The writing obviously honored two characters who found, supported, loved, enjoyed, and respected each other to such a degree that, when the characters uttered what were essentially marriage vows to each other, I believed them and their words.
I also loved the way that Mafin's existence did not revolve solely around queer themes. There was always the company, and Marta's arc as the head of the company, + Fina's talent in photography are major plots for their characters.
Through all the challenging times, they kept speaking to each other and they recognized that they made each other stronger.
Which leads me to perhaps the main reason why I love Mafin:
3. One of the core traits of Mafin: respecting and admiring each other, and not being afraid to have difficult conversations with each other.
The best thing about their relationship, to me, was how well they communicated and were honest with each other. I remember writing in my journal one day after watching one of their S1 scenesā¦ something like, "Do people like this exist? Where they actually just talk to each other and figure things out? Where they tell each other the truth even though it might not be what the other person wants to hear?"
Marta even tells Damian this at some point: that she and Fina don't run away from difficult conversations/situations. Instead, they confront them together.
Meaning, this was something written for MDLR's dialogue. The writers' room recognized this about Mafin and even had Marta say it in canon, to reinforce the events that we were already seeing on screen in terms of their relationship.
I remember being so impressed by this because so much of the events of drama relies on miscommunication. So much of humor also relies on miscommunication. So much of tragedy relies on miscommunication. And it's one of my least favorite things about watching stories in media, where I know that the contrivance in a plot relies on poor communication, or lies or deceit or false impressions.
And even if one of them held back, they'd always be honest eventually, because they knew the lack of transparency was damaging. Which leads me to the end of S2.
4. S2 had its moments, but ultimately the writers handled Fina's departure in such a way that the aftermath has essentially broken everything I loved about Mafin and the writing for Mafin.
I know I am not alone in this.
It's very clear the writers are being very deliberate here. There are no accidents and they meant to do what they've done to the characters.
I only hope that one day they will understand the impacts they obviously overlooked. Because the only thing that I can come up with, to explain the latest turn of events, is that the writers just didn't know what the ramifications would be.
5. Where Mafin was about hope and strength in each other, and queerness was celebrated, there is such a stark contrast now, and has been since Fina left.
Keeping MDLR in the dark on Pelayo's betrayal, lies, and gaslighting, and the real reason why Fina left. In the beginning, I followed along but to string this all the way through the entire season is another thing that doesn't make sense to me.
We the audience know why Fina left and that Marta was not to blame, so it's tiring to have to watch Marta (or any character on the showā¦Marta is not the only one) be deceived for so long when we know the truth.
The fundamental basis of why I loved them, and their transparency and vulnerability and honesty with each other, is gone.
Pelayo as a villain could have been interesting, and especially Pelayo as a queer man as a villain. But for him to specifically turn on Fina and denigrate her and her relationship with Marta is the opposite of celebrating queerness.
To have to watch him lie to her face and try to erase Fina from her lifeā¦to have him be the polar opposite of honesty and transparencyā¦ that was not hopeful.
Adding a new 'love interest' in the form of a woman who is her boss and is aggressive and inappropriate. That was not hopeful.
On one hand, cool (?), we get more queer characters in Pelayo and Cloe etc. But when one of the most positive characters is forced to leave the story (queer or not), and the plot device is a direct emotional wrecking ball on her partner, we now have the main queer character of the cast in absolute turmoil and agony and despondency for most of the rest of the season. That was not hopeful.
Bringing back Santiago and the diary, and using queerness again as a reason for blackmail, threats of arrest and imprisonment, assault, etcā¦ yes, I know this is a period piece. But again, after Fina's departure in the story, so much of queerness is portrayed like this: risky, dangerous. Marta being afraid. Not able to be herself. For some reason (never satisfactorily explained by the writers) her not going to look for Fina, and seemingly just accepting the sudden turn of events that don't make sense (which she literally says, it doesn't make sense). That was not hopeful.
6. Of course, stories can't all be about hopeful events, and of course there has to be conflict to resolve. However, portraying constant turmoil for a queer character, with that caused by another character, is not a portrayal of hope. It also doesn't make it better that the perpetrator is queer.
In the very very long history of queer portrayal in media, I can go to pretty much 95-98% of media with queer representation and there will be turmoil that is specific to queerness. This is the year 2026. The way S2 ended feels like it was written in 2006. Which is baffling to me.
Honestly, I don't understand this at all. Do the writers/producers expect us to believe that Marta is so downtrodden that she can't even remember her own boundaries? That she can't recognize abuse? That she is so good-hearted and trustworthy to be naive enough that she will allow others to take advantage of her?
One of the most annoying things I see so often in queer stories is that things that are not okay from a guy are suddenly "okay" if it's a woman.
If the new boss from France was not a woman but a man, and the man said the same dialogue and made the same advances and pressured Marta in the same way, would the writers expect us to root for her to give in to his "charms"? God I hope not.
Yet why is it okay for someone to do this if it's a woman? Because it's a woman, and because Marta is queer?
Why is it okay for Marta not to know what Pelayo did? Because he's queer too and she trusts him for that?
7. I vaguely remember reading that a writer (head writer?) for season 1 left before or during season 2. If this is true, then the unfortunate direction for season 2, especially regarding MDLR, has a very clear explanation of different leadership.
If it's not true, then, that will just makes things worse IMO.
8. Events that would have helped make this feel less bleak and more hopeful:
If Marta had gone looking for Finaā¦
If Fina had found some way to warn Marta about Pelayo without endangering her and herself...
If Pelayo had confessedā¦ (more about this later)
If Marta's diary had not been the target of blackmail for yet another timeā¦
That would have changed my mind on some things. That would have added a lot more hope, for sure.
That didn't happen, though.
9. (CN: this part might get pretty depressing/negative since it covers more about what I did not enjoy)
So my impression as a Mafin viewer here if I just end with S2 is that the turmoil never ends. And in the context of queer rep especially, it's exhausting.
My impression is, if you happen to find someone who loves you as much as you love them, who would sacrifice their life for yours, you will lose them. Men like Santiago, Gabriel will make it part of their everyday lives to attack you in their own ways. Even trusted confidants can turn on you like Pelayo, and you will never even know he's attacking and how he's done it.
Where's the hope? Where's the joy? Where's the celebration of queerness? Why would I want to keep watching?
For MDLR, she becomes a shell of herself. She has no idea what the man she trusted did to her and her partner.
And the one comfort she had left, the one hope she had of entrusting her thoughts to paper in her diary, is a liability because of her queerness. After the diary is read and exposed again, she feels even less safe.
So she turns to someone who had used abusive tactics on her? Really?
What can I say... It's one thing after another for Marta after Pelayo turns on Mafin. It's relentless, and even with allies she's still hounded and threatened because of her queerness, and she's not allowed to find out the depth of Pelayo's betrayal; and she's not allowed go do the one thing that makes sense and was even referenced in a dream sequence for Damian: to go look for Fina.
Also I did not appreciate Damian's dream sequence where Marta leaves the company to find Fina, or Pelayo's imaginary scenario where he tells Marta about his getting Fina to leave. It's like the writers are trying to eat their cake and have it too; as if the writers were doing some sort of "wink, wink, we know what you want but you're not going to get it."
I don't enjoy feeling like I'm being strung along and then being faked out like that, especially in the bleak story that MDLR was given after Pelayo's betrayal.
**
(Sidebar: LOL that there was also actual time and effort put into writing and filming those scenes of Damian's dream and Pelayo confessing to Marta, as part of his imagination.
Yet it only tells me that the writers knew EXACTLY what they're doing and that those were viable routes to go yet they deliberately did not take those routes for canon.
The Pelayo 'confession' is where I stopped watching clips of the show. Because, it felt almost like I was being ridiculed for wanting Pelayo to confess and for Marta FINALLY to have that mystery resolved and being given a scene to that effect, but the show's like, Haha j/k it didn't really happen.
Why even show that scene at all? The audience knows how he betrayed Fina and Marta. We know his deliberate withholding of information is already cowardly and IMO it would have felt less like being the target of a psych-out "gotcha!" joke if that imaginary confession and punch had not happened.)
**
Writers and producers creating a queer story to share on popular media should know the history of queer representation and how their story compares with others in the long unfortunate spectrum of violence and trauma in queer representation. They should understand how their story will impact queer people, and if their story will perpetuate stereotypes or common tropes in queer media.
When creating a story about gaslighting and abuse of a queer woman, please consider how that impacts queer women.
When writing a season that focuses on the bereavement of a woman who has been deceived and lied to on a daily basis, please explain why this has to go on through the remainder of a season without some sort of concrete hint or hope of resolving the deception.
I'm not sure what happened but for S1 it was so clear that the Mafin story was being written in context of the period, but also primarily refreshingly positive for that period and 2024.
At this point it sounds like there was a wrong turn in S2 and I have to pretend certain episodes don't exist, and not just a few but a lot.
It happens so often in media so it won't be the first time. Disappointing because S1 set such a high bar. And the end of S2 seemed to have veered into a different place I was not expecting, for unfortunate reasons.
10. Disappointments in canon are the whole reason for the existence of fix-it fics and the power of fanfiction writers and fandom artists. The magic of finding hope and healing within fanfiction is a time-honored experience of consuming queer representation in media. I tip my hat to every single person who contributes to the hope and celebration of Mafin via creative works.
11. As for S3: good luck, SDL. I don't recognize you anymore in your latest attempts to be suspenseful and dramatic. Please remember: Kindness is not an enemy of ambition.
As I said, I'm a fan of Mafin: MDLR and FV. Both at heart competent, compassionate, loyal characters. And all kudos to MB and AB for their buy-in of Mafin and creating legends from the scripts. None of my disappointment is directed at them. I know they're just doing their jobs and that they're not in charge of the plots or how Fina left.
During this part of the story I do want to support MB because aside from her being my favorite actor on the show, from the few interviews I've seen, she seems to have above-average knowledge and understanding about the history and importance of queer representation.
With that in mind, I have no doubt she has her own thoughts on the scripts and how MDLR has been written, and has to be careful about those thoughts because she doesn't have the power of executive decision on the show.
Perhaps one day when this is past, MB will be able to share her thoughts about this particular storyline arc if it's safe to do so, but I don't expect her to do so anytime soon.
So I'll likely still monitor how things go for MB, but my interest in the show in general is no longer a must-see and has not been so for a bit already.
***
"Kindness is not an enemy of ambition" (translated) is something Fina once said.
It's one of my favorite lines in any work, ever: tv, movies, books, you name it. It's one of the lines that impressed me about SDL and made me sit up. It might be my favorite line from SDL, and certainly my favorite line from her because it says so much about her as a person/character.
I think, at the heart of my feelings for the end of S2, I am missing the kindness of the show. It would have been helpful and less brutal to see more kindness for Marta amidst all of the twists and turns and the direction from somewhere to create fakeout scenes for a queer fandom.
Maybe it's because Fina's gone and without her, the show is missing the voice of kindness (Fina, we really need you back!).
But Fina is not the only character who is kind. Other characters are kind. Fina recognized that Marta is kind, and by the end of S2 Marta is perhaps sometimes too kind, which is a problem. For goodness' sake, let Marta find out what Pelayo did. Without that, what is the point of having her suffer in ignorance?
I can only wish SDL well and that the writers will remember kindness towards the queer audience especially in this current climate. And that kindness will be a basis from which they draw for S3.
(If you've read this far, you win a virtual pastry of your choice)
Probably the most relatable post I've seen on Mafin and the season finale. I appreciate that you took the time to recognize the positive and negative aspects of the show without condescension. The most frustrating part of participating in this fandom, for me, has been seeing fans willfully ignore both parts. I don't make criticisms because I want others to be negative. I write criticisms because I want the show to change and become something it used to be in parts! Positive! I LIKE MAFIN. It's insane to me that some people cannot understand that criticism comes from a place of love.
Thanks @midniteowlet for your reply and the kind words. I always wonder whether I'm speaking into the void especially with these longer text posts, so it's always good to know if this resonated with folks.
100% on writing about the show and Mafin because I care and I'd love for the series to be successful because of positive queer representation, rather than in spite of it.
