The Time In Between Episode 1

The Time In Between is based on the novel by Maria Duenas, which at the moment is only $1.99 over at Amazon. I may have to look into that.

 

The episode begins in October of 1936 in the Moroccan city of Tetouan. (There's supposed to be a little dash over the e in Tetouan but again I don't know how to do that.) Somewhere, behind drawn drapes, our young heroine is dressed only in her slip as another, older woman starts attaching guns and all sorts of weapons to the heroine's body.

 

 

Sira Quiroga (played by Adriana Ugarte) introduces herself to us. She claims to be a simple seamstress, the same vocation as her mother's. They lived in the Spanish city of Madrid. Sira didn't get to play much with the other kids as she had to help Mom out with the sewing at an upscale dress shop. (While I wouldn't call it a sweatshop, they're still using child labor.) It's just Sira and her mother, Dolores, as Dad is nowhere in the picture and Mom doesn't want to talk about him.

 

After this brief life history of our heroine, we know go to the year 1934. Sira's lame friend, Paquita (I mean lame as in she limps) has gotten engaged to a Communist and the girls are going out to celebrate. As usual with newly engaged women, Paquita wants everyone to be engaged and she works on hooking Sira up with Ignacio (played by Raul Arevalo).

 

 

Things seems to be going well. Sira has her work. Ignacio plans to become a civil servant. They begin to date. Dolores approves of him. Paquita marries her commie. What could possibly go wrong? 

 

Well, I'll tell ya. First off, the lady who runs the shop where Dolores and Sira work is going to have to close the place down. Thus our heroine is out of a job. Ignacio suggests she learn typing and become a civil servant like he is. They're at a shop comparing typewriters when Sira encounters Mr. Tall, Dark and Handsome, also known as Ramiro (played by Ruben Cortada).

 

In fact, let's take a moment to appreciate Ruben in all his glory.

 

 

 

Okay, back to the show. Ramiro is the manager of the shop and personally shows Sira around the shop. Just like me, Sira can't stop staring at this man. Good golly, how tall is this guy? Ignacio, stop being stupid and notice how your territory is being threatened.

 

The next day Sira (alone) goes to the shop to pick up the typewriter. Apparently in Spain, part of buying a typewriter is going out for drinks with the drop-dead gorgeous store manager. Actually, that makes sense. Ramiro confesses he can't stop thinking about her. Sira runs away in fright, afraid to admit she also can't stop thinking about him.

 

Oh no, the typewriter is broken. She'll have to take it back to Ramiro's store and fight the sexual tension some more. Poor thing. Apparently in Spain, part of getting your typewriter fixed is sleeping with a tall Cuban male model. Damn, I need to move to Spain!

 

Sira finally works up the courage to break things off with Ignacio. Dolores doesn't take the news very well. They argue, with Sira moving out and in with Ramiro. Time goes by in sexual bliss. Then one day a very disapproving Dolores shows up with a stiff invitation for Sira to finally meet her birth father, Gonzalo (played by Carlos Olalla).

 

 

Dad is worried about his life and the possibility of civil war erupting. He gives Sira a bunch of money and jewels in the hope that she and Dolores will flee the country before the violence breaks out. Dolores refuses to run from anything or anyone. Ramiro very easily talks Sira into investing the money in a typewriter school and opening a branch in Morocco. 'Cuz when you think of Berbers, you think of typewriting.