EPISODE 171

 

Later that night,

At Claudia's house,

Antonio and Gabriela had passed there. Antonio was with his grandmother, in what used to be his grandfather's study and which was now hers. Claudia looks at Antonio keenly. Antonio fidgets nervously. His grandmother has that effect on him. He then asks his grandmother why she wanted to see him alone. Claudia says that she knows that he is stressed because of his son and niece's kidnappings but she knows that something else is bothering him. Antonio says that there isn't. Claudia calls him by his full name, Antonio Miguel Diaz.

She tells him that she knows him too well. Antonio smiles. Nothing gets past his grandmother. Antonio tells her that he had a bit of an argument with Gabriela earlier. Claudia asks him what it was about. Antonio says that he got annoyed at her for telling her father about Hannibal being kidnapped before telling him. Claudia shakes her head. She then walks over and pinches his ears. He winces and tells her that he is too old for that. Claudia tells him that he is being childish. She adds that if he wants her to treat him like a mature adult, then he should act like one.

The next day, on Friday

Hernan is in his office. He is in front of his computer. He sighs and runs a hand through his hair. He has a flashback of himself with Hannibal in his home office. Hannibal smiles at him and says that he wants to be like him. He then says a quick prayer for the children. He is however brought out of his reverie by his phone ringing. He looks around his table and spots it. He picks it up. The call is from an unknown number. He lets it ring at first. The phone rings until it stops.

Hernan is about to put it down when it rings again. He shakes his head and picks it up. He answers the call. He says hallo. He hears no response and says halo gain. The voice he hears on the other side of the phone sends shivers down his spine. Helena tells him that it has been quite a long time. Hernan is shocked into silence. After several seconds, he asks Helena what she wants. Helena asks him if he is alone. Hernan thinks about telling her that it's none of her business but decides not to.

He tells himself that she probably has the children and he should try and keep calm. Hernan says that he is alone. Helena says that's good. She tells him that she wants them to negotiate. Hernan folds his free hand then asks Helena what she wants them to negotiate about. Helena chuckles evilly and asks him how his daughter and nephew are. Hernan clutches his hand again and tells Helena to get to the point. She says she will. She says that the safety of the children depends on what he does.

Meanwhile,

At the prison where Carlos is,

Carlos has largely been kept in solitary confinement for most of his sentence so far. He only interacts with other prisoners, once a week. He is quietly sitting on his own when he overhears a conversation between two fellow inmates. They are talking about Helena having kidnapped Hannibal and Gisela and are pondering over what her next move and her end game might be. Carlos shakes his head. He says to himself that she has gone completely crazy.

Back to Hernan and Helena,

Hernan tells Helena to let the children go. Helena laughs evilly and tells him that he is no one to tell her what to do. Hernan tells her that she is only making things worse for herself. Helena ignores him and says everything was going well until he and his sister came back. She adds that they should have remained in whatever small town, they grew up in. Hernan tries as hard as he can to remain calm. He tells Helena that whatever problem she has with him and Gabriela, they can solve it between themselves and they should keep the children out of it. Helena laughs crazily.

She then tells Hernan that he and Gabriela took everything from her and she will never allow them to be happy or at peace. She adds that she will take away something dear to each of them. Hernan clutches his chest in fear. He then stammers a little as he asks Helena what she is talking about. Helena laughs and says that is exactly what she wants to hear from him. She adds that she wants him timid and scared. Hernan tells her to get to the point because all that matters is his daughter's and nephew's safety. Helena asks Hernan what price he and Gabriela are willing to pay to ensure the children are safe. Hernan is shocked.

Elsewhere,

At Claudia's house,

Marianna is with Dianna in her room. It has been a very difficult and traumatic two days. Dianna has been crying and having nightmares quite a lot. Dianna asks Marianna if the bad people will hurt Hannibal and Gisela. Marianna looks at her daughter. What can she say? Dianna says that Gisela is her best friend.

Back to Hernan and Helena,

Hernan tells Helena to stop playing mind games with him and to get straight to the point. Helena says she will. She says that she does have the children. Hernan asks her what she wants. Helena sighs dramatically and tells him it's funny he would ask that after he and his sister took everything from her. Hernan frowns and says to himself that Helena is crazy. Helena continues and says that she want to reach a deal with him and Gabriela. Hernan asks her what deal she means.

Helena says that she wants to do an exchange. She says that he and his sister in exchange for the children. Hernan is shocked. Helena has gone mad. He remains quiet. Helena continues and says that her patience and time are limited. She then reminds Hernan that if they come with anyone, the children will pay. Helena also says that she will communicate her location later. She then hangs up. Hernan sighs and stands up. He begins to pace around the room restlessly. He then says that he has to talk to Gabriela.

Meanwhile,

Gabriela returns to her office and walks straight to her desk. She picks up her phone and starts scrolling. She says that she has a lot of WhatsApp messages and begins opening them. The first one is from an unknown number. She opens it, gasps, and covers her mouth with her hand. It is a picture of Hannibal and Gisela tied to separate poles. They are crying and masked gunmen are standing behind them. She then runs a hand through her hair. Gabriela then wipes tears from her eyes. She wonders out loud if Hernan knows anything.

The next morning (Saturday),

At Antonio and Gabriela's house,

He is blissfully sleeping. His three-year-old daughter Claudia comes into the room. She walks over to the bed and then climbs. She begins to shake Antonio, to wake him up. He begins to mumble. She calls him, daddy, daddy. Antonio wakes up and looks at Claudia. She tells him to add her milk. Antonio looks around. Where is Gabriela? He asks Claudia where her mother is. Claudia says that mommy said she had to go somewhere. Antonio runs his hand through his hair.

He asks himself if Gabriela got some news about Hannibal and Gisela. Claudia tells Antonio again that she wants milk. Antonio stands up then picks her up. He says to himself that he hopes she doesn't grow up to be anything like Gabriela or his grandmother because keeping up with the two of them is hard enough. He asks Claudia if her mother told her where she was going. Claudia says that mommy said that she had something important to do.

Meanwhile,

At Hernan and Adrianna's house,

Adrianna is in the kitchen making some tea, when her son, Armando walks in. She smiles at him. He is so cute. He looks like an almost carbon copy of Hernan at the same age. When he sees her, he starts to cry and runs to her. She carries him and calms him down. She asks him if he has seen his father. Armando says that daddy left. Adrianna asks Armando where his father went. Armando says that he said he had to go and do something. Adrianna sighs. She says to herself that she hopes that Hernan hasn't gone where she thinks he has gone. She adds that Hannibal and Gisela being in danger is already scary enough.

Elsewhere,

Hernan is driving his car as Gabriela sits quietly. He steals a glance at his sister. She is clearly as nervous as he is. He stops. Gabriela looks at Hernan and asks him what he is doing. He says that he just stopped a little to check on her. Gabriela shrugs. She says that she is scared but they have to do all they can to rescue the children. Hernan holds his sister's hands and says that just like always, he will be there for her. She tells him that she could not ask for a better brother. Hernan smiles and says that he is perfect. Gabriela pokes him but smiles.

After some time,

Antonio is with Claudia in the kitchen when his phone rings. He is making her breakfast. It is Adrianna. He greets her. Adrianna asks him if Gabriela is in their house. Antonio says that she isn't. He says that Claudia says that she left, saying that she had to go somewhere. Antonio then asks her why she is asking. Adrianna says that Hernan isn't around either. Antonio runs a hand through his hair. Adrianna calls him Tony and asks him if he thinks they went to try and rescue the children. Antonio says that he fears so too. Adrianna says that she fears for them. She adds that Helena is a psyco and, there is no telling what she could do.