Episode 3 of "Breathless," alias "Respira," commences with a breathtaking leap from the rooftop by Rodri, landing him in a perilous yet tenuous state of existence upon his arrival. Despair blankets the atmosphere as Biel yearns to soothe Jesica's shattered spirit, only to be interrupted by Lluis's beacon of hope—Rodri, though comatose, remains stable.
Concurrently, Leo's visit to Joana unravels a web of uncertainty, as he warns of their impending exposure for tampering with the truth. Joana's conviction in identifying her assailant unwavering, she lashes out at Leo's doubts. The scene shifts to Hugo's desperate plea for innocence to his parents, revealing Lluis as his father. In private, Leo confides in Lluis, acknowledging the impasse: Joana, as the defendant's mother, cannot testify. Yet, Leo pleads for May's intervention, proposing a workaround to dismiss the report.
May, however, stands at a crossroads, her moral compass spinning. She either speaks the whole truth, exposing Leo's misstep, or remains silent. Under Leo's earnest plea, May ultimately elects to safeguard Leo's career, invoking her inability to testify without personally examining Joana. With the accusation looming large and evidence scarce, the court decides to detain Hugo pending trial.
Amidst this turmoil, the ER teems with fairgoers in need, prompting a staff meeting to grapple with understaffing and financial constraints. Rodri's case serves as a stark reminder of their plight, fueling Moa's impulse for a symbolic five-minute strike. Lluis, however, remains resolute against such a move.
Patricia's arrival, fraught with fears of hair loss exposing her vulnerability to the media and adversaries, only adds to the chaos. Moa's sarcastic observation undermines her concerns, pointing out the absurdity of premature chemo side effects. As if fate weren't cruel enough, the ill-fated tourists' grievances go viral, lambasting the hospital for neglect. To quell the storm, Patricia指令Lluis to prioritize tourists over local patients, sending a chilling message of inequality.
Moa, though deeply troubled, chooses an alternate path in his relentless pursuit of a solution to Patricia's hair loss dilemma. He comes across a prototype, and as he presents it to her, he subtly yet emotionally manipulates the situation, emphasizing how the local community stands to gain immensely from a doctor's compassionate intervention. The tactic appears to take effect, for Patricia's expression betrays her irritation.
Later, we witness her confiding in her personal assistant, Emilio, her intention to provide private healthcare to the deserving patients. Emilio, astonished, endeavors to dissuade her, yet she remains steadfast in her decision.
Pilar, on the other hand, endeavors to soothe her son's discomfort, but her past lack of affection makes his reception of her efforts lukewarm. Acknowledging this, she vows to do better and extends an invitation to Quique for dinner, hoping to turn over a new leaf. Quique arrives hesitant, as he's been striving to distance himself from Oscar's obsessive attentions.
The dinner unfolds precisely as Quique anticipated, with Oscar subtly but relentlessly pursuing him. However, beneath the surface, it seems Quique harbors feelings for Oscar as well. Following the meal, Pilar dismisses Oscar and implores Quique's assistance in apprehending the drug dealers with whom Oscar associates. Quique, taken aback, nonetheless agrees.
Meanwhile, among the first-year students rallying around Rodri, Biel observes Jesica's persistent avoidance of her brother. He endeavors to offer comfort, but Jesica remains unyielding, her mind preoccupied with finding Lluis, who's embroiled in sorting out his son's troubles. Fearful of confronting her brother's mortality, Jesica throws herself into caring for a new patient, Pablo, who suffers from stomach pains, seeking solace in her work.
He stands morbidly obese, his scoffs ringing out when confronted with the sole prescription of shedding pounds. That fateful evening, their conversation veers towards the depths of their fears, as she ventures to inquire about his coping mechanisms. In her own struggle, she seeks solace through fleeting distractions, attempting to forge a connection with Biel, who rebuffs her advances, urging her instead to tend to her brother before it's too late.
The dawn brings a sobering realization, and she acquiesces, agreeing to accompany Biel on her journey to visit Rodri. Left to his thoughts, he traces the line of his scar, while Quique's jesting voice echoes, recalling wagers placed on the mystery of its origin. Biel's heartrending confession unfolds: a battle with cancer, fought alone as his father's absence weighed heavily during his darkest hours. They swear to share this truth with Rodri, when he awakens from his slumber.
Elsewhere, May and Rocio plot their escape to Germany, the latter's residency serving as the catalyst for their departure. As Jesica prepares for her reunion with her brother, Pablo's sudden distress sends shockwaves through the hospital, yet an X-ray fails to uncover the hidden torment within. Undeterred, Jesica springs into action, harnessing the power of a colossal CT scanner, typically reserved for elephants at the zoo, to unravel the complexities of his condition. Her keen eye detects the hidden dangers, prompting Pilar to take the reins as Jesica rushes to her brother's side.
But fate has other plans. Arriving too late, she is met with Biel's solemn declaration: Rodri has passed away. Her tears mingle with the outrage of the first-year residents, who rage against the hospital's perceived indifference and inaction. In a defiant stand, Moa vows to spearhead an indefinite strike, a call to arms until their demands for justice are met, echoing through the halls of the hospital, leaving no room for breathlessness but a resolute determination to fight on.
