Episode 4 recap

I may be judging a little early but this family needs a professional. Is there a psychologist in the house?

Episode 4

Maya notifies Kute of her new job and adds that although it’s not her intention to become a yaya, having this job still gives her an opportunity to study to become a flight stewardess, with the help of Richard. Kute accepts and wishes her to take care.

Maya finishes packing and receives a text from Richard’s driver, Joma (Micah Munoz), who is waiting outside to pick her up.

In the car, Maya asks whether Abby is at home or maybe at this time of day she should be at school. Joma informs her that Abby is home-schooled and her two older siblings are the only ones that go to school; her older brother, Luke (Jerome Ponce) whom he thinks looks like Richard and her older sister Nikki who looks like their mother.

“Eh si Abby, kayo ba siya nag mana? Doon sa tatay niya or sa nanay niya?”

“Sa tingin ko… sa lola.”

Hehe.

Arriving at the house, Joma honks for the gate to be opened. Maya gets a clear view of the place and asks if they have arrived at a mall or a palace. Pft!

Still eyeing the house, Maya is first greeted by Manang Fe by the pool.

“Paano po ba kayo nag kikitakita dito? Nag kakarinig na po ba kayo?”

“Sino nag sabe sayo’ng lage sila’ng nag kikita?”

“Po?”

On their way up the stairs, Manang Fe tells Maya that she will find on the other side is the garden, on the left is the swimming pool and at the back is the laundry. Still admiring the house, Maya points out that the house is so big that her voice echoes and asks if they play music. She tells her that Richard doesn’t allow any noise or sounds (it’s captain von Trapp!).

After having been shown her bedroom, Maya is introduced to the rest of the gang; Doris and Sabel, whom are in the kitchen with Joma, betting. Sabel bets 2 weeks, for Doris, 1 month and Joma, 2 months.

Maya asks what their bet is about and with hesitation, Joma tells her it’s about her and how long they think she will last in the house. Since they constantly have different nanny’s coming in and out, they might as well bet on it. Surprisingly, Maya goes in on it too with confidence. Confident that she is sure she will stay for 2 years. Ha!

Richards comes in (what, no “hello”?!) and orders tells Maya to follow him. Manang Fe tells them that her bet is 1 year. Hahaha! (This show is too much)

In his office, Richard hands Maya an employment contract to sign. With no problems, Maya signs away. I’m glad she’s smart to skim the whole thing.

“Yun lang.”                                                    

(Are you freaking kidding me, Richard?! No welcomes?! No further discussions?! Arrrghh). He goes back to work and tells Maya that Manang Fe will answer any further questions that she may have.

In the hallway, they meet with Abby who has just finished a school session, and behind her is her teacher, teacher Emy (Dionne Mansanto). On her way outside, she sees Joma and includes her share of the bet, 500 pesos on two days.

Back inside, Maya and Abby play hide and seek who then both literally bump into Nikki who has just arrived home. Thank god she doesn’t lose it, instead, she welcomes Maya into the family. Unenthusiastically I might add. 

Preparing for dinner, Nikki busies herself in the kitchen making sure that all the food are well prepared. Maya is surprised and Manang Fe explains that it is a rare occasion that the whole family is here for dinner so Nikki wants everything to be perfect.

In Abby’s room, Maya and Abby share some bonding time where Maya mostly does the talking. It’s very cute how Abby covers her ears to tell her that Maya’s voice is very loud.

“...kase yung mamang ko, mahinay mang pangdinig dun eh..”

Abby understands and in turn, replies by using her iPad, showing her liking of her.

A sound of a bell is then heard from outside the room. Thinking it’s the ice cream man, Maya excitedly takes Abby outside of her room but only to find Manang Fe walking in the hall way with a bell on her hand. She says that it is not the ice cream man and the bell is to let everyone know that dinner is ready. Emrmph! I hope this behaviour is never seen again. It’s stupid, unnecessary and barbaric. Too similar to the whistle scene at the beginning of The Sound of Music.

Just before the family gets into the dining area, Maya is left to prepare the table (I wouldn’t want to be the one washing those plates). As Nikki and Richard enter the room, they wonder why there are many plates on the table.

“Ay… para po sa inyo, para po kay Manang Fe, kay kuya Joma, kay Doris atchaka po kay Sabel. Atchaka sa akin. Completo na po.”

“Servants don’t eat with us.”
“Nikki! Your mouth.”

Nikki apologises.

Maya is left wonder as she had the impression that the “welcome to the family” meant ‘everyone’. Manang Fe, Doris and Sabel enter and sort out the misunderstanding.

As Richard takes his seat at the head of the table, he looks to an empty spot on his left. Nikki informs him that her kuya will be late as he has a study session with his friends and she volunteered to tell him for him. Nikki then begins to serve her dad. She takes his spoon and happily transfers rice on to his plate. He tells her that he can do it. She tells him it’s ok with her but he firmly insists for her to take her seat and eat. Speechless from this interaction, Maya can only watch from her seat next to Abby.

Later that night, Maya tells kute of her first day in the house. Describing it as just like a church, in the house there’s no sound that can be heard and when it’s time to eat, nobody acknowledges anyone. But on the bright side, Maya is happy living there and she can soon send money to them. She adds the fact that although her boss may act superior, to her, he is gwapo. Kute can only laugh. Behind her, their mum asks if that’s Maya on the phone she’s talking to. Not willing to let her talk with Maya, Kute quickly says goodbye to Maya and tells her that the calling card has been used up.

Cut to their bedroom, Cho is seen laying on their bed with a towel on his forehead.

Ready for bed, Abby bids her sister goodnight then Maya takes her to also greet her dad one. Nikki can only display a disapproving (?) look.

A shy Abby approaches Richard in his office. Walking hesitantly towards him, Abby kisses his cheek, with a motivational help from Maya. It is clear that they either don’t do this regularly or they haven’t done it before. As Richard returns the kiss, Maya can’t help it but get lured into smelling Richard’s hair and by the look on her face, she definitely approves. Pwahaha.

Nikki is surprised that Abby got to say goodbye to their dad (ok so they haven’t done the greeting of goodnights before) and when Maya and Abby return to her bedroom, Nikki takes a sneak peek at her dad in the office.

“Yes? May kailangan ka?”
“Ay ah, nothing, dad. Goodnight”

He nods to her and goes straight back to his laptop (I think the picture above says it all).

Tucked in and ready for story time, Maya recites a story similar to Rapunzel. As she gets to the part to when the prince comes in to rescue the princess, unbeknownst to Maya, Abby falls asleep.

“…eniligtas siya ng isa’ng princepe. Matipuno, malakisig, gwapo at ubod ng bango galing ng daddy mo.”

Pwahahahah!!

Even though she notices that Abby is asleep, Maya still continues. She says it’s true, that to her, her dad is handsome and smells good. She also defends herself that she didn’t mean to smell him before. Haha!

In her bedroom, Maya has a difficult time trying to fall asleep. Meanwhile, Richard is still in his office looking tired. He receives a call from Stephanie who he then brushes off. Getting up and closing his laptop, Richard makes his way to his bedroom and as he turns all the lights off in the house, he walks in on Maya in the kitchen with her arm up scratching her underarm.

Comments:

Hahaha. It’s a comedic ending to an episode full of more downs than ups.

There are many things in this household that clearly needs some patching up and the one that really stands out the most in today’s episode is the relationship between Nikki and Richard.

As I was anticipating the arrival of the kids, I had guessed correctly that I would get to meet a lovable little girl that would allow Maya to connect with the Lim family and that was definitely what I was given through Abby. With Nikki on the other hand, I was afraid that we would get a typical, spoilt teenager who would go on to be completely and totally against Maya. I was very wrong. The scene in the dining room was telling of how Richard’s lack of acknowledging and support to Nikki has resulted in Nikki to take the mother role in the family where all she needs is a father’s attention to his daughter. We see a young teenager who is just yearning for her father’s affection and is not able to receive any despite all the effort to just get a simple father-daughter communication.

Though it seems to be that Richard is more attentive to Abby, we still have yet to know the exact reason behind her inability to speak and I’ve got the feeling that it requires not only the help of Maya, but most importantly also from Richard.

As for Luke, although we have yet to meet him, it is safe to assume that he will also be affected by the passing of their mother, we just don’t know to what extent.