HAPPY 1919!
When I first got to the city, I let my heart guide me.
I was so innocent.
Are you having fun?
I've never been in such an elegant place.
nor in such good company.
I must be the envy of all these girls.
Personally, I'd prefer not to have to share your company
with all these people.
Would you excuse me? I have to use the powder room.
It wasn't long before I learned that reality was much different.
And just what are you doing?
You should find someone else to do this work, Victoria.
I can't do it.
You'll never take control of your own life
if you're still waiting for Prince Charming to rescue you.
Francisco isn't coming back.
Why let your emotions get the best of you?
What if he tries kissing me again?
That's easy.
You dissuade him...
with one of these.
Just sneak one in his drink, and he'll stop bothering you. Mm?
Five, four...
- three, two... - I'm sure you can do this.
- one! - Happy New Year, princess.
Happy New Year!
What matters is that no one finds out that...
what really rules you is your head and not your heart.
People think that those who follow their emotions can't lie.
That's why, when you want to fool them,
you have to convince them that things happen by chance.
What they don't know is...
there is no such thing as chance.
Miss Aguilar. What a coincidence seeing you here.
Would you care for a drink?
Just one drink.
What do you say?
Is that a yes?
- Miss Aguilar, is that a yes? - Why don't you call me Lidia?
Then there are those who believe
that only the heart knows what we really want.
That it's the compass that can guide us to happiness.
- Where were we? - But it's a lie.
We were about to make a toast.
- A good start to a great night. - Mm-hmm.
Following your heart can make you do crazy things...
but it almost always ends badly.
Make yourself comfortable. I'll be right back.
- I'm delighted you're here. - So am I.
Don't you live in the family house?
Leaving the nest before tying the knot
would have broken my mother's fragile heart.
And I, as you know, am a model son.
Of course.
Which does not prevent me, as a man, from needing to...
Appraise your candidates?
All the way.
You're moving very fast, and the night has just begun.
I'll be right back.
Put down the knife.
How could you do this to me?
Elisa, what are you doing?
Huh? What have you done?
Please! I need a doctor!
Please, call Dr. Granados! Please!
A NETFLIX ORIGINAL SERIES
Close the door, please!
CHAPTER 4: FEELINGS
Ubalda!
Is anyone home? Ubalda!
Elisa!
Elisa...
The doctor is doing everything he can.
I... I'm sorry.
- Where's Carlos? - I don't know where he is.
People who follow their emotions often let their guard down.
Head or heart?
Depending on which guides you, you'll suffer more or less in life.
And I'd already suffered too much in mine.
Carlos, open up. It's me!
It's important. Open the door!
He's in there, but he won't answer.
This happens a lot with Don Carlos.
- I'll be downstairs if you need me. - Thank you.
Carlos.
Hey, wake up.
Stop, stop... That's enough!
Are you okay?
- Where's the girl? - There was no one here when I arrived.
What are you doing here?
It's your sister.
She tried to kill herself.
What? How is she? Is she all right?
I don't know. It's my fault, Carlos.
How can that be?
There are things I didn't tell you about Alba.
She didn't just come back into my life...
Lidia!
Oh! I didn't mean to interrupt.
I'm sorry, but there's a family emergency.
Then I should probably be going.
- Goodbye. - Bye.
Francisco, come on.
You and the operator.
We'll talk about it later. What matters now is Elisa.
And you had to come out to keep Francisco from telling him the truth?
What else could I do?
The blueprints were there, within reach.
I couldn't take them.
Why are you laughing? What's so funny?
I'd have liked to have seen the look on Francisco's face
when he found his best friend with his first love.
I'm sure you can imagine it.
Look on the bright side.
One positive thing came out of your failed robbery.
What?
Didn't you want to push Francisco away? There was no better way to do it.
No, I just didn't want his life to be in danger.
I didn't want to hurt him.
Darling, you can't have everything. I already told you...
Victoria, if you're going to say you warned me, please...
I won't say another word. You're an adult.
I gave you advice. If you take it, perfect.
If you don't, well...
you're the one who'll suffer the consequences.
I guess now you'll have to keep pretending
that you're attracted to that man until you get the blueprints.
Because I guess you're willing to make sacrifices for Francisco
to keep people from finding out about your mistake, that kiss. Hmm?
Alba?
I am.
Of course I am.
He's taking a long time.
I'm glad to see that, after all,
you're not totally indifferent to what happens in this family.
Ricardo, please...
All that matters is that Elisa recovers and that word of this doesn't get out.
Fortunately for us, you show up to worry once the worst is already over.
It's a relief.
- I said I was sorry, Father. - What good is being sorry?
Have you asked yourself what we'd be doing now
if Francisco hadn't been here?
- It isn't Carlos' fault. - It's not just about this.
Why not say what you're thinking?
How could I have been so mistaken when it came to your upbringing?
When did you become a good-for-nothing who only thinks about women and parties?
I'm not a good-for-nothing.
You're irresponsible and selfish.
All you think about is wasting the family fortune.
- I can't trust you with the company. - Do you know why I'm never here?
If I had to put up with you day and night, I'd have been the one who slit my wrists,
not Elisa.
Ricardo...
that's enough.
That isn't even half of what he deserves.
How is she, doctor?
She has to rest. She's awake now.
Doña Carmen, your daughter has asked to see her husband first.
Darling...
how are you?
Do you still love her?
That's all in the past.
I really need to believe you, because I can't...
I can't bear the idea of you thinking about another woman.
Elisa...
Elisa, you're the only woman I care about.
The only one.
Then get rid of that suitcase...
and swear that you've ended that relationship.
Because if I lose you, next time I won't let you save me.
And everyone will know you're responsible for my death.
Darling.
My dear girl... My dear girl...
Girls, breakfast is ready.
Yes, we're coming, Doña Lola.
It's always the same. You'll be late!
Ángeles!
Honey, how am I supposed to go to work wearing this?
This shirt hasn't been ironed.
What's going on this morning? Breakfast isn't ready. I'm hungry. Hey?
I'm talking to you!
The iron is in the closet.
You can iron it yourself.
Come on, iron the shirt.
- What? - Iron the shirt.
You don't need me for other things.
Do we have to talk about this again?
Are you really serious?
Ángeles, I told you already. I'm sorry.
It was one mistake, Ángeles. One.
What else do I have to do? Will you ever forgive me?
Honestly, I'm not sure.
But, until I decide,
you'll do your own laundry and make your own breakfast.
- Did he ask you out? - Well, not exactly.
He said we'd meet in the bar to have lunch and talk.
So he asked you out. You said yes, didn't you?
Marga!
If I go to the bar, I'll have to admit I was lying to him. I can't do that.
Just explain and apologize. He'll understand.
And what if he doesn't?
No, it's best if I don't go.
Yes, it is. I mean, why take a risk and live life?
You can stay at the boardinghouse with Doña Lola and feel bitter.
- Carlota, I'm not bitter. - No, but you're a coward.
Is this insult day?
If you lose him because you won't take a risk, don't come crying to us.
Stay away from my wife, got that?
- You're not allowed in here. - I don't want you talking to her.
I don't know what you've said to her, but she was never this disobedient.
- Disobedient? - Be quiet!
- You're not to talk to her again. - All right, please.
Mario, get out.
I'm sorry.
Why are you apologizing? It's his fault!
Ángeles, Ángeles...
Come on, sit down.
Why do things always happen at the worst time?
Sit down.
What's going on?
I'm pregnant.
I told him it was a lie, but it's true, and now I don't know what to do.
Stay calm.
We have to start working. I'm fine.
- Ángeles, wait. - Okay.
Listen...
Listen.
If you want to fix the problem, I know someone who can help.
She's trustworthy and very discreet.
No.
For me, a child is a blessing.
Yes, but at times it isn't.
You're not the first friend of mine who's been in this situation.
Thank you, but...
no, I can cope with this.
My dear, you have a call.
Do you think you're well enough to take it?
Yes, Mother, don't worry. Thank you.
- Hello. - Doña Elisa?
- This is Carolina. - Yes? What is it?
I've moved into the boardinghouse where that operator Lidia...
Forget about Lidia.
I found a note my husband wrote to his mistress.
Her name is Alba, not Lidia.
You have the wrong woman.
Alba? Are you sure about that?
I saw the note with my own eyes.
- Yes, of course. I didn't mean to... - Find this Alba.
Alba... Let's see if there's an Alba...
- Don Francisco. - Yes?
Would you like me to organize the celebration for the employees?
We've reached 150,000 subscribers in all of Spain.
There will be no party.
Remember, it was my father who made that rule.
We celebrate every 50,000 new subscribers.
- Good morning, Carolina. - Good morning, Don Carlos.
Carlos, your father will be angry.
I'm doing what he expects me to do,
organizing parties and wasting the family fortune.
It's like you're doing it on purpose.
I hope it's not because we rejected the prototype.
If I were resentful, I'd have stopped speaking to him long ago.
The party starts at 6:00.
This isn't a good day for celebrations.
Francisco, sit down.
No one must know about what happened with Elisa, right?
One thing my father hates more than parties
is not keeping up appearances.
We have to carry on.
We have to pretend things are normal.
Leave it to me. It's my way of helping.
You all say I'm good at it.
It's a complicated situation, but things will return to normal.
Nothing will go back to normal, and it's my fault.
- You don't choose who you love. - But you decide who you stay with.
I made a mistake...
and I almost gave up everything for someone who wasn't worth it.
- You mean Alba? - Yes, yes.
She isn't the person I thought she was. Not anymore.
I never thought I'd hear you say that.
There are many things we don't expect.
I want one tray of hors d'oeuvres and one of drinks on each table.
Don't put it all together.
Otherwise, the guys from administration will dig in, and we know how that'll end.
Somewhere around here.
So it's true about the party.
Very well, that's all. I want everything ready before 6:00.
Get going!
So you still want to party after your problem at home.
She'll get over it.
Ángeles is a very bright woman, and she knows that men like me
are unfaithful by nature.
She certainly deserves her place in heaven.
Who cares about heaven, blue eyes?
- They're green. - Well, they're beautiful.
Did I tell you my favorite sin? I will.
Pablo, Pablo. Women... Trouble on two legs.
Don Mario, women are like mathematics.
Hard for men to understand,
but it's impossible to explain life without them.
You reek of cologne. Going to a wedding?
- No, no. - Have you got a date?
You're meeting up with the operator.
We're just having lunch.
- It isn't a date. - It's a date.
No, we're colleagues. We get along well. We're just having lunch.
It's a date.
I'll do you a favor. Take her here. They don't ask questions, and it's clean.
You owe me one!
MONTERA BOARDINGHOUSE
Lidia, Don Francisco wants to see you in his office.
Carlota, could I have a word with you?
I need you to spy on these numbers. Orders from the government delegate.
- And the transcriptions... - I'll get them to you.
Is everything all right? If you want to talk about...
No, there's no need to. I should get back to work.
Come in.
What are you up to?
I don't have to explain who I associate with to you.
- It's none of your business. - It is my business!
I catch you breaking into the safe, then almost in bed with him.
- I've been honest with you, and you... - What about me?
Why are you doing this? Do you want to drive me crazy?
Do you know...
Do you know how hard this is for me?
You don't, do you? You have no idea.
I'm sorry.
I didn't want to hurt you. I just wanted to get on with my life.
Do you have to choose my best friend, my brother-in-law?
I don't believe it! I don't!
I was about to destroy my life and my wife's life for nothing!
Alba...
tell me it wasn't for nothing.
I didn't ask you to give up anything for me.
I suppose you'll remember this.
You're still living in the past.
I don't believe you.
Show me that you really feel nothing for me.
Nothing.
Sorry!
Right, that's that. I'm going for lunch.
Excuse me, I booked a table for two.
It's great. It's perfect.
The first sign that you're following reason
is that you're able to lie to those around you,
and you're even able to lie to yourself.
Carlota...
everyone's celebrating, and I feel awful.
Let me guess... Pablo!
I was about to do it, but when I saw him, my legs froze.
I know what you're going to say. That I'm a coward and I'm bitter.
I'm not as strong and brave as you are.
Can I help it if I'm scared? You're not afraid of anything.
I'm sorry. I won't say that again.
- Are you coming to the party? - No, I'd prefer to keep working.
Good evening, everyone.
A few days ago, the Telephone Company made the first transatlantic call.
Today, we're here for something perhaps less remarkable,
but no less important.
Thanks to everyone's hard work, we now have reached 150,000 subscribers!
And that is due in part to your effort and your dedication.
That is why management is throwing you this little party,
as is the custom when we reach subscriber milestones.
Enjoy the evening, and I hope we'll soon reach 200,000. Cheers!
A nice speech and an even nicer gesture for the workers.
Some workers deserve everything.
I was dying to see you after last night.
You fell asleep. I thought I had bored you.
No, you could never do that. I think it was the wine, the champagne.
It was rude of me, and I'd like to make it up to you
and finish what had started so well.
And what was that?
I had thought that, as well as being a magnificent host, you had big dreams.
- Is this your dream? - Planning parties?
- No, of course not. - I meant the subscribers.
Is that your objective?
Today, 150,000...
Tomorrow, one million, perhaps?
It's part of what I want, I can't deny it. But my dreams go much farther.
I'm thinking about the future, not just the number of subscribers.
The telephone is a new invention. We don't know how far it can go.
You think so? How far?
One thing I've learned from women is that some mystery must be maintained.
You want to learn more about me? Accept the invitation.
Perhaps you'll find out.
Ángeles, I'd like to talk to you. I'm not here to argue.
You're going to hear me out.
I'm not very proud of what I've done.
And if I'm sorry about it for anyone, it's you, because I appreciate you...
You appreciate me? Now you've gone too far.
The slut who tried to steal my husband is lecturing me about morality.
- That's not what I was doing. - I don't care what you're doing.
You're not stealing my husband.
He made a mistake. He's sorry and he won't do it again.
"Sorry"?
Do you really think he knows the meaning of that word?
Leave him alone.
Leave him alone!
We were happy until you came along.
- So it's my fault? - Yes.
Don't kid yourself.
I'm just the latest on a long list that includes Rosalía Fernández,
Antonia, Estrella and Carmencita, that cute receptionist.
But you should consider yourself lucky.
Either out of pity or love, Mario always goes back to you.
The rest of us are just a bit of fun...
a pastime with no future.
That's a lie.
You're lying to me, Carolina.
Am I?
Ask the others and see what they have to say.
Let's go.
I'm thirsty.
Mario...
let's go.
You can go. I'm staying.
You're not coming home with me?
We have to talk.
Didn't you say you were leaving? So leave.
It takes a lot of blows to break a heart that is in love.
It takes a lot of blows to make you stop seeing with your heart.
But when that heart finally does break, it can't be put back together.
And from then on, only reason remains.
Reason leads to distrust.
And from distrust to hatred...
there is only one step.
Any left?
- What? - Is there any left?
Ah.
Do you like brandy?
Are you asking because I'm a woman or because you want the rest?
No, I don't even like it, but I've had a bad day.
Looking at you, I'd say it was horrific.
Because of a woman.
I thought that might be it.
But she's not here. It's someone else.
We were going to meet up, but... she didn't show up.
- She didn't? - Mmm-mmm.
It's my fault. I shouldn't have gotten my hopes up.
I didn't want to admit it was a date, but seeing as she didn't come...
Lately, I only feel good when talking to her.
Then you can't give up just because she didn't show.
Maybe something came up, or she was scared.
- Who'd be scared of me? - No, not scared of you.
Scared of the situation...
of falling in love.
But if you like her, you can't give up over something silly.
- Excuse me, I have to do something. - Sure, of course.
- Marga. - Yes?
This was left at reception for you.
Thank you.
"Please come and pick up some urgent reports for the night shift."
Yes, put me through immediately.
This is George V.
Hello!
I've come to pick up some reports.
Hello?
Don't worry. It's me, Pablo.
Oh, Don Pablo...
What happened to the lights?
Nothing, I switched them off.
Because you didn't want to see me...
Yes, yes, I do want to see you. Of course I do.
Then why didn't you come today?
Because I'm not the woman you think I am, Don Pablo.
I'm scared that when you see me, you'll run away.
That won't happen.
- You don't know that. - Yes, I do.
Don't worry. It's my hand.
Your hand is cold.
Well, I'm... a bit nervous.
So am I.
What's going on here?
Uh, it's the party for getting 150,000 subscribers.
You were the one who...
The party's over. Everyone get out of here!
Carlos, in my office!
What's this about?
You knew this would happen.
In that case, I'll go with you.
No, didn't you want to go to the Lyceum?
Nothing must stop the struggle for women's rights. Onward!
And don't trust Catholic suffragettes.
They're more Catholics than suffragettes.
- Am I wrong, or are you avoiding me? - No. Me? Why?
You couldn't even hand me the transcriptions.
Because you weren't at your desk, but the transcriptions are safe.
Are you worried about something? You look tense.
No. Why's that?
You tell me why.
So now that you're a heroine, you don't mingle with commoners?
On the front page? I thought it would be a small piece.
THE SWITCHBOARD HEROINE
What will your father say? It gives your full name.
He'll say, "Pilar, this is a scandal, an attack on our honor!"
I'd love to rub it in his face.
That would be nice.
In fact, we could do it now.
I got a call from the palace.
From the palace! The shame of it!
Do you realize how serious this is?
Someone called His Majesty from one of our switchboards
and tried to pass himself off as King George V of England,
with the aim of selling him Gibraltar.
What's so funny about it?
It was just a prank, Father.
I never thought you could use the telephone for that.
- A new use. - The telephone is something serious,
not entertainment for drunks.
And much less an instrument for mocking the monarchy!
- For God's sake! - We'll punish the culprits.
Do it quickly. Make an example of them.
Excuse me.
Well, if the crisis is resolved, I'll be going, too.
Carlos, can you postpone whatever it is and come home with us?
Your sister is still convalescing.
Leave him be, Carmen. Let him go.
He organized a party.
He thinks he's done more than enough.
He didn't even offer to punish the culprits!
When he needs something, he'll come home.
When he's short of money, he'll show up with his tail between his legs!
That's enough, all right? I'm sick of your attacks.
Mother, stay out of it!
I will not explain myself anymore, and I'm through apologizing!
Look, if you're worried about the money, I won't ask you for another cent.
Never again!
If you want to fire me, do it.
But do it now or just keep quiet!
Don't hold it against him. He's upset.
Carmen...
for the first time, your son has shown that he has a backbone
and has acted like a true Cifuentes.
And for the first time...
he didn't need his mother.
What's this?
I wanted to know how you were.
Perfectly fine.
Actually, I asked my father to come so that you and I could be alone.
And look, it worked.
Come with me.
- Where are we? - Welcome to my temple.
This is my secret hideaway, Lidia.
It's entirely possible that right now,
my dear father is writing a new will to disinherit me.
Hmm.
Tomorrow, they might not even let me into the building.
That would be a shame.
"I had thought that, as well as being a magnificent host, you had big dreams."
You said that.
I guess I'm not such a good host.
It was a great party. I didn't mean to insult you.
I know.
It's just that... I expected more from you.
When you think a person is capable of doing great things...
it's frustrating to see him settle for less.
I'm not settling.
I have big dreams.
Well...
I've been working on this for a long time.
What is it?
A project I tried to show my father. He wouldn't listen, as usual.
I won't bore you with technical details...
but this machine will vastly improve our efficiency...
and increase company profits.
- It must be worth a fortune. - Yes... and no.
How's that?
We have to build a prototype to show that it works.
Without the finished prototype, these papers are worthless.
As soon as I build it... it will be truly revolutionary.
What's this? Where do you think you're going?
We're going to my mother's house for a few days...
until I can come to terms with what you've done.
Maybe I can forgive you in time, but I cannot stand being here for now.
- What are you doing, Mario? - You're not going anywhere.
No! Let her go! Mario, no!
Leave her alone!
We are leaving, Mario.
- Mario! Take it easy! - Why are you doing this?
What is this? Are these things that your friends say to you?
- You are not like them. - Leave them alone.
Why are you doing this to me?
- Do you want to know why? - Yes!
Because you cheated on me! Not just once, but so many times!
I don't deserve more humiliation.
Come on, run!
- Here goes. - Yes.
And suddenly,
just when you think that you have everything under control...
that your life is ruled by reason,
someone will awaken your sleeping heart.
But if you were led by reason,
you would surely run far away.
But you can't run forever.
Because the heart is alive,
and you can't stop it from following its path...
even if you know that path will end up hurting you.
To think or to let yourself go? That's always the dilemma.
The heart makes us dream.
I'm Marga, Operator 47, who answers your calls in the company.
I'm also the woman you helped get her purse back last night.
I want to send you my eternal gratitude for that.
You are my hero.
But it's the head that transforms dreams into reality.
The head guides us along an orderly path,
while the heart takes us into unexplored places
that we never could have imagined existed.
Head or heart? It's difficult to decide.
This is it.
You've behaved like a real gentleman...
- but if you think walking me home... - Why did you change your mind?
I'd never been rejected so much.
And suddenly, one night, you let me buy you a drink. Why?
- What do you want from me, Miss Aguilar? - Me?
You realize I could ask you the exact same question, Mr. Cifuentes.
Lidia, you're a mystery to everyone, except me.
I see through that act.
The fact you're always on the defensive is just a front to protect yourself.
If I had to guess why, I'd say someone broke your heart.
But whoever hurt you so much didn't know what he had.
And you do?
Quite well.
- So you wouldn't break my heart? - Never.
At least not intentionally.
So tonight, you won't try to steal a kiss?
I did think about it.
- Mm? - Hmm.
And I've always preferred apologizing to asking for permission.
But for once in my life, I think I'll try to do things properly.
I want to give each step the time it needs, so...
- See you tomorrow, Miss Aguilar. - See you tomorrow. Carlos!