Warning: there are many, many spoilers about the Spanish drama Velvet ahead.
Fashion Point: Understanding the muse.
Spanish Language Tip: I was listening for the Y pronounciation.
We open on Cristina and Alberto in bed at Marquez Manor. Cristina is a little freaked; it’s 7:00 am, and her father will be pissed. Naturally, this very same morning, Ana has a plan to show up at Marquez Manor and shower Alberto with paper airplanes. Marquez Manor has no security, see. They don’t even lock the doors at night, that’s how safe Franco’s Spain is. Thus, Ana can stalk Alberto and sneak into his room—where she catches a glimpse of Cristina!
Ana leaves, angry. How dare the creepy man who tried to arrange a secret marriage to her sleep with his other betrothed? Why, Ana just left him at the altar yesterday! Or maybe it was two days ago. I dunno. The whole bunch of them need medical care.
Back at the store, the dressmaking staff is preparing for a big rush of post-show orders. Also, Manolito’s mother shows up. She has found work in Germany and will be moving. Pedro is sad. So is Rita. One of the show’s male attendees sends flowers to Clara, so Pedro is also jealous. So is Mateo.
Doña Blanca is busy, too. Carmen tells her that she is leaving to take another job, so naturally her mother sneaks off, calls the new employers, and gives a bad reference. Just then, Devastatingly Handsome Maximiliano walks in with a message. Greasy Don Francisco Cayentana is dead, and Doña Cayentana needs a mourning dress.
Cristina arrives at the workroom to talk to Ana about the wedding dress. She tells Ana that the lingerie worked. Okay, then! These writers are really into tormenting the characters.
Down on the floor, Patricia’s friend Susu shows up to return her new Raul de la Riva dress. Susu loves it, but her mother doesn’t and refuses to pay for it.
Don Gerardo walks into this mess, and he’s angry. The collection is a failure, he has the letter from Ana, and Cristina didn’t come home last night. He wants to cancel both the wedding and his investment in Velvet. Alberto, who wants Cristina and the money, makes a counteroffer: Gerardo can come in as controlling shareholder. They both need to keep Cristina happy, because she told all her friends to come to the story to buy Raul’s dresses.
Clara has a date with her admirer. She looks fabulous, so Mateo is upset. Her admirer turns out to produce TV commercials and needs actresses. This could be Clara’s big break!
Doña Blanca finds Carmen crying. The job offer was rescinded because someone called with a bad reference. On top of that, Max loves someone else. Carmen is so, so sad. Doña Blanca looks so, so guilty.
Rita and Pedro are sad that Manolito is leaving. Pedro tells Rita that she was such a great help with him. She’s the best! He gives her a kiss and walks away. The dope.
Clara returns from her date. Mateo waited up for her, at the office. He tells her that the date and acting gig are nothing more than pretexts to get her into bed. He tells Clara not to see the fellow anymore, but he won’t get into more detail.
Finally, morning rolls around. Carmen and Doña Blanca are on the street. Doña Blanca has placed some calls and found a new job for Carmen. She gives her daughter money and wishes her well. Then, Doña Blanca goes back to her room to cry. Who should knock but Devastatingly Handsome Maximiliano! He holds her while she cries.
Doña Cayentana arrives for her dress fitting. Luisa helps her into it and says that she is sorry about Don Cayentana’s death. “No, you’re not,” says the Doña. “You and I both know that he was a vile man.
Well, then.
Doña Blanca has recovered enough to take Ana off the Cristina Wedding Dress project. Ana goes upstairs to confront Alberto. He tells her that the wedding is taking place. Ana then goes back to the workroom and sees Cristina in the wedding dress.
Ana goes to her room to cry. Don Emelio comes in to comfort her, and she tells him that the relationship with Alberto is over. She asks him to destroy Alberto’s letters. Don Emilio takes them and stores them in his room.
And then, he walks out to the shop floor and collapses.
