The Price of Silence

SYNOPSIS

The night before his wedding to Vanessa Santillana, and minutes after saving the life of a patient in surgery, Santiago Bayona, M.D. and partner in the clinic, is approached by Los Angeles’ clinic’s Administrative Manager Octavio Andrade, in the clinic’s parking lot. Octavio tells Santiago that they need to talk about some important matters. Santiago’s parents are expecting him home for dinner, but he accepts to talk to Octavio in the car on his way home. On his way out of the clinic Santiago hears some noise and he gets out of the car. The noise comes from an argument between Luisa Maria and the guard. The guard does not allow Marucha, a little girl in delicate health to enter the E.R. Santiago mediates and takes care of the girl achieving the admiration and respect of Maria Luisa whom at first had been aggressive towards him. While in the car, Octavio reveals the most unsuspected secrets to Octavio. He tells him that Luis Alberto Bayona, Santiago’s uncle did not die of a heart attack as he was told but instead had been murdered. Luis Alberto Bayona had received the clinic as a figurehead to a mafia member and instead of returning the clinic he executed it by deed to the name of Santiago, Benjamin (Santiago’s father) and to Mr. Jorge, our hero’s grandfather. The mafia member wants his clinic back since he can use it as a front for his deals and to achieve this, they appoint Alvaro Castro and Vanessa Santillana. Vanessa ends up falling in love with Santiago and Alvaro cannot convince him to sell his stock. These two reasons make Amadeo Carreño and Roberto Molina, mafia lords who want the clinic, take a final decision. In the middle of their conversation, a car hired by the mafia lords hits Octavio and Santiago. Their car crashes and Octavio dies. Santiago is immediately transferred to the clinic’s E. R. where he is operated by surgeon Manuel Santamaria. Santiago’s operation is successful but a hired killer tries to murder him while in the I.C.U. This time the apparition of Manuel Santamaria saves him. The next day, feeling threatened, Santiago and Manuel decide to come up with a story in order to save Santiago’s life. They tell everyone that Santiago has suffered sever cerebral trauma which has left him in a vegetative state for the rest of his life. To make sure the secret is safe, they decide to tell no one, including his family. In his vegetable state, Santiago Bayona is transferred to his house. Off guard thinking that Santiago is not aware of what is going on, everyone in the house carries on normally. This situation allows Santiago to see the real everyone in his house, Vanessa included. Luisa Maria starts to work taking care of Santiago at the Bayona residence. Her sweetness and determination will make her an interesting woman to Santiago’s eyes, while diminishing his love for Vanessa. The obstacles that prevent this love from consolidating will not be few. In his faked vegetative state, Santiago discovers that his grandfather is going to be manipulated by his children. He also finds out amazing things about the personality of his relatives and friends. But since he needs to keep his promise of working for the good of people, for the truth, and for love, he needs allies within the household. Paco, his grandfather, Mireya, and Luisa make up the team in charge of finding out the truth of the situation. The main plot and guiding thread of the soap opera is the love story between Luisa María, the nurse, and Santiago, the patient. Luisa María will also be the central figure of several positive subplots developed, such as the creation of a foundation to help abandoned children, the concern for the welfare of old people, and the leadership of the Non- Violent Revolution movement.