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 Last
member of the Andrade family to appear to the screen, Ruben is a
straight man, who remains anchored in traditional values considered as
exceeded by the new generation. He is certainly the patriarch of this
large family from Hispanic origin but, on the contrary of what it seems
to be, this is not him its real central axis, but his wife Rosa.
The
values carried by Ruben are simple and do not take into account some
insignificances. This is why he refuses to Danny (by incomprehension of
the youth) the authorization to go to Hollywood during the summer
holidays to try his chance in the capital of cinema. However, Ruben will
get back on his decision further to Rosa's intervention (afterward, they
will intervene with C.C. Capwell so that he authorizes his son Ted to
leave with Danny).
In
the same way, Ruben does not understand the behavior of his daughter
Santana, at Joe's come-back in town. And certainly because of his
values, this is not to him that Santana will come to confide. For Ruben,
a woman, even an independent one, has to depend on a man, and he does
not understand that Santana is still today a single woman. And it is to
Cruz (a Hispanic man just like him, from the same social background, who
according to him would make a good husband for his daughter) that he
entrusts his confusion.
Because
Ruben does not share the interest of his daughter for the Capwells. In
Ruben's world, they are only the employees and they have to stay at
their places : their worlds have nothing in common. So, he sees of a
very bad eye the relation which begins to settle down between Santana
and C.C.. Ruben can only disapprove their connection. And it is only
after the intervention of C.C. Capwell himself that Ruben will have to
open the eyes : Santana is not a child any more and the world where he
lives has changed.
And
Ruben is not at the end of his surprises. It is at the occasion of the
earthquake that Santana confides to his father the filiation of Brandon
DeMott. Ruben (whereas Rosa knows it since the beginning of the show) is
shocked to realize that his own daughter did not come to look for
support and for comfort with his father, but with C.C. Capwell. Ruben is
also indignant by C.C.'s behavior and lies during all these years. After
the departure of Santana, scandalized, Ruben even thinks of leaving the
Capwells service. And faithful to his values, he refuses the Christmas
bonus which C.C. will give him, while pointing out to him that at this
moment, although from two different universes, they have a grandson in
common !
Ruben
will disappear of the show with Kelly and Joe's wedding, even if, from
time to time, we will talk about him, quite as we will talk about Rosa
preparing good meals. As time goes by, the Capwells will forget him
completely. And when Rosa will come-back on the set and will date Rafael
Castillo, we will discover that she is not with her husband any more,
without any reason given for it.
Portrait
written for this site by Lilian
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