Malú walks towards the parked car being watched by her aunt who notices the young woman's red face. Aline opens her lips to ask about the session, but gives up, feeling that she needs to make room for Maria Luísa.
— Everything is fine? – Aline asks, touching Malú's face, who nods positively to her.
Each one sits in a corner of the car admiring the beautiful landscape of Curitiba. Malú, thinking about Ariadne's words, while Aline thinks about how long it will take for all that to become just a vague memory. But in the meantime, she needs to find a way to cheer up Malú and bring some fun into her life. So Malú's aunt smiles while looking for something in her bag, she already knows what to do.
—Reginaldo, can you do us a favor? – Aline asks the driver.
—Yes, ma'am. – replies the driver, staring in the rearview mirror.
— Put that flash drive on the stereo. Music nineteen and in the last volume – informs Aline handing the flash drive to Reginaldo.
Girls Just Want To Have Fun, by singer Cyndi Lauper takes care of the car making Malú smile. Aline holds a pen between her hands and begins to dub the singer. His performance is strangely observed by the driver. She hands the pen to Malú, who risks a few gestures until the song ends.
—Drive to the nearest paintball. – Orders Aline receiving a surprised look from Malú — Yes, we need some fun.
—Miss Aline, I believe that Senhora Almeida will not like this. – Warn Reginald.
— Leave it to her, I'll figure it out later – Aline replies, excited — Just drive to paintball... And of course, get back to the music.
♫Oh girls... They wanna have fun
Oh girls Just wanna have fun♫
***
Maria Luísa elegantly adjusts her red scarf around her neck that falls over her white dress shirt, matching her black suit and skirt set, as well as the same color pantyhose. She stares in the mirror, studying the uniform of the Ladies Magistrates' Association of which she is president.
The Ladies of Magistrates take care of social and meritorious promotions, and voluntarily collaborate with the community achievements undertaken by the respective Magistrate Club. In addition to cooperating and assisting philanthropic, assistance and educational entities; and other assistance works necessary for the community and for the well–being of the community.
Association of Ladies of Magistrates is an entity formed, voluntarily, by wives and relatives of Magistrates, as effective members, and other ladies and ladies of society, in the quality of cooperating, benefactor and honorary members. In Maria's case, all the women in her family were members of the ASM and presidents of the Entity. And the purpose of their meeting at his house is precisely to guarantee Malú's place in the ASM and also Thiago's victory in the elections. It was time to live up to his legacy.
—They're here. – Adelaide warns at the door.
— Thank you – thanks Maria heading towards the door. She looks at her wristwatch, by the time Malú and Aline should already be home. He stops in front of Adelaide and orders — As soon as Malú arrives, ask her to go to the living room.
—Yes, ma'am. – Adelaide replies, closing the door behind them.
As soon as he enters the living room, he finds all the representatives of the Board, Councils and Committees of ASM talking, animated. At least until the matriarch arrives, which causes them to remain silent looking at Maria, who sits calmly in her brown leather armchair.
—Good afternoon. – greets Maria.
—Good afternoon. – they all respond at once.
— I know you must all be curious about my request for this Meeting – Maria begins, rejecting the coffee being served by one of her maids — As you all already know, Thiago is a candidate for the Senate.
— Yes, and both the ASM and the Magistrate Club have officially supported the candidate. –Reminds me of the red–haired lady in Chanel before taking a sip of her coffee. She is the vice president of the Association.
— Thank you for reminding me, Silvia – thanks Maria dryly. —But I need more than the support of the Magistrate Club and ASM.
— Most? – Silvia asks raising her eyebrow.
— We will focus all our efforts on my son's elections. Every action taken, every appearance, every work... Everything is related to Thiago.
— But that way you will be violating the commandments of the ASM and also of the Magistrate Club – contests another lady who was fighting for the button of her suit not to open.
—I'm not, Denise. Even why how many times have you asked me for support for your husband's projects? – asks Maria — I'm just asking for the favor. Which brings us to another topic... My granddaughter – surprised looks stare at the unafraid matriarch. —Please don't be pathetic. You already knew very well about the existence of my granddaughter, daughter of a passing case of Thiago's.
— Whoever goes out to their own, doesn't degenerate – comments Sílvia, drawing a few shy laughs from the ladies.
Maria Luísa is silent watching each of the women who laughed at the vice president's comment.
— I hope you don't believe that sentence, Sylvia. Unless he intends to open a rehab clinic to hide addicts from his family. – Maria comments, calmly. She smiles at another who is eating a cookie — And you Rose, what about your wife–beating husband, do you want this to be perpetuated for your daughters–in–law? How long will it take Denise before her daughter attempts suicide? Clarice, how is your relationship with your nephew?
The women are silent, watching Maria who continues to reveal the secret of each one present there. In fact, they know that they are only there thanks to Maria and her influence.
***
Aline and Malú get out of the vehicle that has just been parked by Reginaldo. The two are disheveled, full of paint all over their bodies, even in their hair, but happy for the fun afternoon at paintball.
— Thank you, Reginaldo – thanks Aline before accompanying Malú into the mansion.
But their joy ends when they find Adelaide in the hall of the mansion, nervous. They approach under the housekeeper's horrified gaze.
— Jesus, Mary and Joseph, where were you? – whispers the maid waving her arms
— After the psychologist, we decided to go to Paintball – replies Aline, excitedly hugging Malú.
—Mrs. Maria won't like this at all. – Adelaide whispers, watching the hall. She grabs them both by the arm, pulling them towards the stairs. —Get up soon, before she sees you.
'Why are you whispering?' – Aline asks, confused — And what does she have to see us?
—She has a visit from the Ladies of Magistrates. Come on, go up. – Asks Adelaide, nervous — And you, Malú, choose a nice outfit, because she asked for your presence.
Malú looks at the surprised maid. Why does the grandmother want her presence in the room?
— What's going on here? – asks Maria appearing in the hall. She looks at her granddaughter from head to toe — Why are they looking like homeless people? You know what, forget it, let's go. – Calls the matriarch pointing to the room.
— Go there – encourages Aline.
—You too, Aline. – Maria comments, seriously.
— Me too? Because? – Asks Aline being ignored by Maria who already walks back to the room.
As soon as Malú and her aunt enter the room, they receive the same judgmental look as Maria, only ten times more. They stop next to Senhora Almeida's armchair, who is carefully holding Malú's hand.
— This is Maria Luísa Braga de Almeida, my granddaughter and she represents the next generation of women in my family to be part of the Association of Ladies of Magistrates. – Presents the matriarch drawing applause from the women present.
—How old are you, young lady? – Sylvia asks, curious.
—Sixteen years old. – replies Aline in Malú's place.
—A pity, because when young women from the Magistrate Club families turn fifteen, they attend our Debutante Ball and are introduced to society. – Explains Denise, pretending to be sad — Too bad you're already sixteen.
—Yes, she is sixteen years old and will be presented at this year's debutante ball. – Reveals Maria surprising everyone, especially Malú.
—But the ball is in less than a month. We already have everything ready for the debutantes – comments Silvia, surprised — She didn't even participate in the rehearsals... She didn't share her personal information... We don't even have a guy from the Magistrate Club for her...
— I know. – Answers Mary. She touches her granddaughter's shoulder and continues — But don't worry, Malú will be prepared by me and I'll take care of everything.
—But will she be ready? – Clarice asks, analyzing Malú from head to toe.
— She's an Almeida, Clarice, she was born ready. Just worry about your granddaughter and her misconduct. – Maria replies, harshly — Do you agree?
—Yes... – they answer, intimidated.
—Malu, you can go. – Maria orders her granddaughter who leaves the room leaving Aline alone in the midst of those distinguished ladies.
— I present to you, Aline – says Maria pointing to Malú's aunt — She is my granddaughter's caretaker.
— Will she also be part of the ASM? – Sylvia asks nervously.
— No, but she has an idea that can help my son grow in research and we will help her. – Maria replies, staring at Aline who has no idea what the matriarch is talking about. — Tell them about the Libra Learning group you discovered.
Aline stares at Maria for a long time trying to find out how Maria knows about the Group and what she wants with it. She takes a deep breath, regardless of what Maria's real intentions are, nothing better than a group of society ladies to help the Group, and then begins to tell everything she knows receiving interested looks as she tells her story.
***
One by one, the Magistrates' Ladies say goodbye to Maria Luísa and Aline. As the last lady walks out the door, Aline faces the matriarch with a smile: they managed to convince ASM to support the Learning group and turn it into a great social project.
'Don't thank me,' Maria rebuffs seriously.
— I won't – answers Aline crossing her arms — But I must admit that you are tough on the fall.
—I didn't become president for nothing. – says Mary.
— Let's see if this will be enough to convince Thiago to accept to insert the project in the campaign.
—I've already convinced him of worse... – Maria comments calmly.
— Yes, I had almost forgotten that it was you who separated Thiago from Anna. – Shoots Aline, seriously.
— Sacrifice for the greater good – Maria replies, staring at Aline — You wouldn't understand...
—I also don't understand how you found out about the group.
— Aline, this is my house, I always know everything. Never forget that – replies Maria walking away.
—Impossible to forget. – Aline whispers up the stairs.
***
Malú runs down the stairs when he hears the clock chime, which indicates that it is two–thirty in the afternoon. He has only half an hour to be back at Ariadne's office. Aline walks right behind the young woman, laughing at her niece's agitation.
'Where are you going?' – asks Maria entering the mansion almost being run over by her granddaughter.
— Today is Malú's first day at Grupo de Libras – explains Aline.
— Reginaldo – Maria calls, waiting for the driver to approach and then orders —Take my granddaughter and stay there until you finish your chores.
—I know I can't take you to the office alone. – Aline grumbles.
—But you won't go with her today. – Maria warns.
— Why not? – Asks Aline, annoyed. How dare that woman say that.
—Well, it's quite simple. You are now a representative of my son's campaign before ASM. – Maria starts analyzing Aline from head to toe —We need to improve your wardrobe, so we'll go shopping... And to the hairdresser too.
—I don't see the need...
— Cooperation, Aline. Cooperation – comments Maria entering the mansion.
Aline takes a deep breath and goes back to the mansion, leaving Malú to go to the office alone.
***
"You are punctual" says Benjamin in pounds to Malú, who is sitting at the door of Ariadne's office.
She went from yesterday to today anxiously thinking about what this meeting with Benjamin would be like. I was about to give up when he appeared at the clinic gate with his bicycle.
"Hello" writes Malú, kicking a response to Benjamin's misunderstood speech.
"Some rules need to be established as you are interested in being part of the group. Number 1" Benjamin on Malú's tablet “ No other forms of communication besides pounds."
"Yes" tries Malú in pounds.
Benjamin holds Malú's hand which turns red with the touch, he closes the girl's little finger and thumb, making them touch each other then slides her hand down, correcting the YES sign. Then he takes her hands in both of his, leading them through the air:
“Number two: Your hands are mine now and they will do what I say. You won't get them back until I say you're ready, starting now."