Episode 4.4

[ continuing from the previous episode...]

Adora tells Dorina she's old enough to think for herself. It's now up to her what she wants to do. Adora will no longer do anything to stop her.

Later, Dorina and Bencho are in bed but Adora has not yet turned in for the night. Dorina goes to the living room and finds Adora sleeping on the couch. She tries to wake Adora and convince her to return to the bedroom. She tries to ask for forgiveness. But Adora feigns sleep and refuses to acknowledge even hearing Dorina.

After Dorina leaves, Adora opens her eyes and cries quietly.

-- commercial break --

Rosamia is at a restaurant consulting a lawyer to see if a loophole can be found in her contract. She also asks if it's possible to file a complaint against Larry through the Manager's Guild.

The lawyer tells her it's possible, but that Larry is currently on the board of the guild, so he's got a lot of clout with his fellow managers.

Just then, there is a commotion at the entrance of the restaurant, and Lavinia and Rosamia enter. They see Rosamia right away. The two stars exchange glances before the two new arrivals proceed to their table.

Barbara remarks that Rosamia looks pathetic. She looks like she's not had any sleep and that she probably has nothing to eat anymore these days. She laughs. Lavinia tells her there's no need to gloat, it's enough that Rosamia's concert was a flop.

Barbara disagrees. She says there's no need to feel sorry for her, that there's still retribution to be made because of the way Rosamia slapped Lavinia and humiliated her in front of others. There's still a debt to be repaid and that the concert is not enough.

Barbara reminds her that she's going to be even more famous, and will surpass Rosamia. She'll be unstoppable. She's not just the shining star -- she's the "super" shining star. And the world will revolve around her. This is music to Lavinia's ears, and she smiles.

Rosamia is in the restroom washing her hands when Lavinia enters and asks Rosamia if she has nothing to say. Rosamia says she's said all there is to say.

Lavinia smiles and asks if Rosamia is not even going to congratulate her for her successful concert? When Rosamia does not respond, Lavinia calls her a sore loser. Rosamia tells her she has not lost yet. She warns Lavinia not to pick a fight with her because she's not the type to retreat.

Lavinia tells her she's not afraid of Rosamia. It may be true that she's younger but she's more powerful now. Now, she's the one that people look up to, she's the one that is adored and worshipped by the public.

Rosamia tells her she's starting to believe too much in her own publicity. She offers a bit of unsolicited advice to Lavinia -- Don't put yourself up on too high a pedestal. You're only human, you have no wings. And the day will come when you will fall back to the muddy ground from which you came.

Lavinia is enraged and slaps Rosamia soundly.

-- commercial break --

Right after slapping Rosamia, Lavinia appears to be surprised by her own actions. She starts backing away slowly.

Rosamia tries to slap her back in response, but Barbara arrives just in time to grab Rosamia's wrist in mid-air. She challenges Rosamia, and the singer leaves the restroom without a word.

Barbara is so proud of Lavinia and asks her how she feels. Lavinia is still shaken, but she says she's okay.

Emilio is at the prison altar praying for guidance. He tells God he is losing hope of ever leaving the prison, but that he's desperate to search for his daughter.

He says he is willing to do practically anything, even taking part in a jailbreak, but he knows it's not right and he has no wish to endanger his daughter. He asks for help in making the right decision.

The Pineda family is having a very quiet meal together. Dorina tries to strike a conversation and asks Adora what new recipe she used for their dinner, but Adora ignores her. Bencho asks the same question and Adora responds with a smile saying it's not a new recipe, that she just copied it from a restaurant she ate at previously.

Dorina says it's wonderful, but Adora ignores her. Dorina tries to ask Adora for forgiveness, saying she never meant any disrespect towards Adora. Adora looks at her briefly then says to Bencho that she's heading back to the lugawan. Adora gets up and leaves without saying anything to Dorina.

-- commercial --

Adora and her friend are sitting at one of the lugawan tables, and her friend asks Adora how much longer she will give Dorina the silent treatment.

Adora says she doesn't know. She says Dorina is turning into a disobedient child. Her friend tells her to just be understanding. After all, Lavinia gives Dorina special treatment so it's only natural that she becomes a fanatic. Adora tells her it's not the case of being a fan. The real issue is that Dorina no longer listens to her.

Her friend says the problem is that Dorina has been a great daughter all her life, so Adora has difficulty accepting that she's just human and also makes mistakes.

Adora says she can accept that. But what she doesn't understand why Dorina has to change now?

Her friend says it's probably all part of going through the rebellious teenage years. Adora says she hopes that's all it is, and that it's not because Dorina has lost respect for her as a mother now that she knows she's not Adora's biological child.

Her friend ecourages her to cheer up because it's so unlike her to be like this.

Rosamia learns from her lawyer that there are no loopholes in her contract. Rosamia is still tied for the next 6 years to Larry Calma. Rosamia tells him he's not giving her any work. She says it's not about money. It's about her singing, her craft. She will die if she can't pursue it. The lawyer tells her they can't do anything, that it's all up to Larry.

Oman asks Dorina outside the church if she has no choir practice, and she says it's not until later. Oman tells her to cheer up and that Adora will soon lift her punishment.

Dorina sadly tells him that she's no longer grounded, that she's now free to do whatever she wants. But it's as if Adora no longer cares about her. Oman tells her that's not true. But Dorina says Adora does not even acknowledge her existence anymore and that she refuses to accept Dorina's apology. She won't even sleep in the same bed with her, and whenever they're in the same room, Adora doesn't speak to her or even look at her. It's as if she doesn't exist. She says it really hurts so much to be ignored that she would have preferred being hit than getting the silent treatment.

Rosamia is waiting to talk to Larry at his office when two people approach her. One of them introduces himself as Mr. Ocampo, an organizer for provincial fiestas and events.

He asks her if she'd be interested as a guest at the Fiesta of San Roque. When Rosamia turns him down, he gives her his business card and asks her to think about it, before leaving.

Larry and Libby enter, with Larry talking on his cellphone. Rosamia calls him but he ignores her and continues walking into his office. Rosamia has no choice but to sit and wait.

Later, Adora is still sleeping on the couch. Dorina comes out of the bedroom and places a blanket over her sleeping mother. She kisses her mother on the forehead and returns to bed, believing her mother to be asleep. As soon as Dorina returns to the bedroom, Adora opens her eyes and sighs.

In the bedroom, Dorina stands beside the window, looking outside, crying. She is unable to sleep.

Just then, Adora enters and without speaking, the two of them hug each other tightly. They apologize to each other.

Nico and Lavinia are out stargazing. Nico points out the star Venus and says it's named after the most beautiful Roman goddess. She agrees that it's quite beautiful. Nico then says that lately his mind has been on a different star, as he looks at her. Lavinia laughs and says he's being corny.

Nico tells her he may be corny, but he says he must get that way because he's in love. Lavinia looks surprised but she seems touched by his confession.

Nico tells her that he's been out with a lot of women, but that she's nothing at all like them, that she's different.

-- commercial break --

The working day has ended at LaCalma, and Rosamia is finally called in to see Larry.

Once in his office, she pleads with him to give her a chance. She says that as someone who has been with LaCalma for more than 15 years, surely she doesn't deserve to be discarded like garbage.

He tells her that she's passe and that she's no longer needed. She asks him to give her another chance. She tells him her career is all she has left. She says she doesn't know what she would do without her career.

Larry says no. Rosamia literally goes down on her knees and says she'll do anything, even change her style, even if she were to just become Lavinia's front-act. She says she just wants to sing again. One more chance is all she needs.

Larry asks her if she will really do all that, and she says yes, thinking he is finally giving her a chance. In response, Larry tells her there's no need for her to do any of that, because she has truly hit rock bottom. He walks out of the room, leaving her sobbing on the floor.