Caray, Caray!

Paloma finally, finally, finally blows out the candles on her birthday cake. 18 years old (though I think it’s actually the next day)! Freeeeeeeeeedom! Rufi says she hopes her next 18 years will be as happy as the first 18. Rufi! Mean!

Hugs all around. Emiliano and Paloma hug for way too long. Romina makes a pass at Gabriel. He passes.

***
Everyone shakes what their mamas gave them until the witching hour, and eventually all the guests drift away until only Paloma and Gabriel remain, dancing a sexy bachata. Pulling her close, Gabe murmers in Paloma’s ear. “Don’t go home. Carlota is evil. Let’s get out of town right this minute, while the getting is good.” Paloma considers it a moment. In the back of her mind, she has a hazy recollection of some mopey dude who keeps bugging her, but who is it? Well, doesn’t matter. She looks deep into Gabriel’s eyes and intelligence osmoses straight from his brain to hers. Suddenly all those deaths and all those years of abuse don’t seem so random—Auntie Maim is out to get her! And everyone else in town is just nuts! They grab their wallets and Gabriel’s keys and run to the car.

As they drive by Doc B’s house on their way out of town, a shadowy figure in the shrubbery catches Paloma’s eye. Was that a giant vulture? Before she’s even finished the thought, they are out on the highway, and soon Unreal del Monte is a speck in the rearview mirror.

Meanwhile, the would-be intruder falls out of a tree and into an open well. Doc B comes home, after dropping Rufi at home, and sees the cap off the well. “Whoops, careless of me,” he thinks, and replaces it, noting the weird shrieking sound coming from inside. “Wells have the strangest acoustics in the wind,” he remarks.
***
That last bit may have only happened in my head. Back to what happened on screen:

Carloca sits in her car outside Rodolfo’s house and fondles her lace scarf thing with an evil glint in her eye.

Diana uses three phones simultaneously to try to reach Samuel. She incants her message “call me, whatever time it is” over and over and tries to tell herself he would never deceive her. He loves her and they are going to marry soon.

Slimy Sammy is boozing it up with his super-mellow “business” partner. Partner says the investment is not doing well. Sammy frets. The house will be lost! He’ll be ruined! He can’t move out of the country again; he has no place to go! “Don’t worry. You’ll be fine,” says the partner, totally unconcerned.

Back at the party, Angélica tells Paloma that she’s moving, and Miriam is taking her place at the platería. Also, that twit Anamar has signed on, supposedly to work on exports but mainly to work on Emiliano. Gabriel pulls Paloma away, saying he has another gift for her. He leads her by the hand into the bedroom, which gets Emo’s blood boiling.

Crazy Cruel leaves her car and heads for the hedge, carrying her purse and wearing high-heeled boots.

Camila fixes dinner while Orlando sets the table and opens wine. They are both thrilled that Paloma is Cris’s daughter. Cami wonders what Cris is doing about Carloca’s deceptions and Orly tells her that Eugenio is helping him with that; he’s an expert at such things. Camila wants to be present when Paloma finds out who her father is. It will be such a happy moment!

A black-gloved hand reaches through a window and pulls the door lever. Then, Carlota enters through the door, which opens on the other side, away from the windows. Did I see that right? It was strange. Carloca wanders around the house, talking to herself, but not turning on the lights, so we can’t tell that the house is a collection of other set parts, primarily, it seems, from Diana’s house.

Gabriel gives Paloma his art kit and books. He says he doesn’t need them anymore. She wonders how she can thank him for all this. He has a good idea. They step close together, Paloma gingerly fingers the wolf suit, lips slowly near…

…after the break, we get to imagine that they kiss while looking at the back of Paloma’s head. They pull away, Paloma remarkably not freaking out, and Gabriel says he knows how she feels about him, but the one kiss was enough; that’s it for them forever. Paloma leaves the room and Gabriel looks blissfully happy.

The party rolls on. Some dude appears to be doing the limbo. Good for him. Rufi and Eugenio hold down the sofa. Don E asks what Carlota is all about, fundamentally. Rufi says she’s a very unsatisfied woman. Don E says an unsatisfied woman can be worse that the devil himself. Totally, says Rufi. Carloca can destroy everything she touches.

Liliana sharpens claws with Romina, as usual. Lili says eventually the truth about Romi’s baby will come out. Romina flounces away to try to get Emo to leave with her, but he doesn’t want to go. She taunts him with musings as to how Paloma will thank Gabriel for the party. Emo flees her toxic presence, and Germy slides in to fill the void. A few wiggled eyebrows and sly suggestions later, Romina says goodnight to Paloma and departs, followed immediately by Germs. This is not lost on Lili.

Carloca relaxes in Doc B’s dim house, pouring herself a drink and reminiscing about her previous four murders. “They all made me get rid of them,” she crazies. “This will be Rodolfo’s last night, and then everyone else will realize they have to change their attitude toward me. And Paloma will never leave me, unless I decide to send her to the other side as well.”

Camila and Orlando enjoy their dinner, at least until Orly starts talking. He invites himself to accompany Cami to the ceramics factory tomorrow. She insists that it is her business and she doesn’t need help. Then he wonders if she will rent or sell her house. ¿Qué? He starts doing a little backtracking and justifying…he wants to buy her a new place, away from the memories, something that’s theirs together. Just as Cami starts to calm down a little, Mr. Clueless says their new house doesn’t have to be in Real del Monte. It could be at the beach, or in another city. Say, isn’t Houston lovely? Cami chugs her wine.

Eugenio finds Gabriel alone in his bedroom, huddled and sniffling. “This is no way to party!” says Don E. Eugenio thinks Gabe should enjoy all the time he has left by dancing and being with Paloma. “And force the woman I love to watch me die?” asks Gabriel. “I am a desahuciado (dispossessed, hopeless) man. I have nothing to offer.”

The party people are terrible dancers, but they’re having a good time. Lili pulls Emiliano aside to inform him of Romina’s and Germy’s coziness.

Back in the bedroom…
Eugenio: I would give my life in exchange for yours.
Gabriel: I know…everyone knows they are going to die, but no one really believes it, or they think it will happen when they’re really old. But I know I don’t have much time.
Eugenio: And that’s why you’ve lived so intensely, in a hurry to leave an impression. But you’ve exceeded your limit.
G: I know I’ve been living on borrowed time.
E: You’ve already survived longer than the doctors expected. Who knows; maybe you’ll be here a lot longer.
G: No, I can feel that my time is coming to an end. I’ve lived my way, and I want to die my way.
E: Maybe you’re just afraid to enjoy life with Paloma, only to leave.
G: Exactly. I can’t be so selfish and make her suffer even more.
E: But Paloma’s presence is such a gift to you. She’s making you so happy! Don’t reject that.
G: Yes, I’ve been happier than ever, but it’s all ending.
Fierce hug.
E: I am so grateful for the time I’ve had you here.
G: I love you, papá!
E: I love you more.
Lots of tears. Then an advertising break so we can find more tissues.

Emo stands around being a total aguafiestas while the others dance. Doc B gives him the address of his new house in the D.F. and says Paloma would kill him, but he’s a total romantic and doesn’t want things to be over between them. They discuss getting the results of the paternity test; sounds like it will be at least a few more days before Emo can pick them up.

Eugenio and Gabriel rejoin the party and Paloma asks Gabe to dance. Emo glares, and Eugenio looks wistful and melancholy.

Germy and Romina can’t even make it into the house to get frisky; they’re still in Germy’s car. Romi seems to think they can’t go inside because although she’s separated, she’s still a married woman. Yes, all the more reason to get busy on the freaking street. Germs thinks she should give up on Emiliano and get together with him. She doesn’t think he can support her and the baby in style. “You don’t need money, you just need my kisses,” he says. Well, she’ll take them, whether she needs them or not.

Doc B escorts Rufi home and they marvel anviliciously that finally Paloma is of age and they can all leave and start a new life together.

Carloca continues skulking around the doc’s house and gloating that they won’t get away.

Rufi gets sentimental about all the memories in the Manor of Misery. Yay, Iñaki! Love him.

Eugenio tells Paloma that he owes her, because he’s never seen Gabriel so happy as he is around her. Gabe asks her to dance. It’s a slow song, and he says he wants her to remember him whenever she hears it. They dance super-close, slowly swaying. Emo glares. Just when they’re looking a bit kissy, Emo rudely interrupts to say goodnight. Seriously, dude. STEP OFF.

Doc B pulls up in front of his house as the Cellos of Doom remind us that this is Not Good. He goes inside.

Paloma once again tries to tell Emiliano Goodbye PARA SIEMPRE, but he won’t accept it. “Too bad,” says Paloma. “Romina says she’ll never leave you. My life is not with you.” “Is it with him?” Emo asks. Paloma looks over at Gabriel, politely twiddling his thumbs in the corner while Emo makes a pain of himself. “Yes.” They hug for a long time with much anguish and theme music until Paloma pulls away and goes back to dancing with Gabriel. Atta girl.

Rodolfo takes his pajamas from under his pillow and heads into the bathroom.

Paloma and Gabriel say they don’t want the night to ever end. They dance some more. The other guests seem to have left. Hey, maybe I’ll get part of my fantasy.

Emo is back in his hotel room, being a moony mooner and tormenting himself with memories of all the times he’s seen Paloma with Gabriel. This all just serves to remind me of how much more I like Gabriel.

Doc B puts his jacket away and turns around as Carlota steps out from behind a screen. “¡¿Qué haces aquí?!” Carlota says he isn’t going to steal her Paloma. “She’s an adult. She can leave if she wants to. Get out of my house!” “Okay, I will. But first…” Carloca aims a pistol at him, and the lighting in the room magically adjusts so that it only shines on her evil eyes.

Mañana: Carloca fires the gun. Does the doc meet his doom? Then, she cheerfully brings a flaming birthday cake to Paloma in bed.

Labels: amor

Ezequiel informs Vicky that there's been "an accident." No, I'm pretty sure those guys dumped Fernando over the railing on purpose. Fernando is in the hospital. Vicky cries and tells Alex what happened. Katia is there too. A doctor says he needs to get Fer into surgery ASAP. Hernán comes over and gets the update from the doc. He's got some spinal fractures and neurological something. Hernán asks for more details, so they go to doc#2's office to talk about their golf swings or whatever it is doctors do when they get together. I suppose they might talk about just how screwed Fernando's going to be, but who knows.

Alex starts asking Katia what happened. She tries to evade, saying she and Fer were talking and he just got upset and took off, but she ends up explaining about the sex tape. Vicky hugs Katia and cries.

MaryJo and Felipa are canangananga-ing the babies in the nursery. Raquel comes in, looking for Vicky. MaryJo tells her what happened to Fernando. Raquel's Good Twin has taken her place today. She feels bad for Vicky because she knows how much Vicky cares for Fer. She also makes some motions with her hands in the general direction of her offspring. She blames what happened to Fer on the bad neighborhood with no security. She touches little Vicky for about a second before she leaves, asking them to keep her informed. Oh, great, they're turning Raquel into a decent person now. I'll believe it when Ulises' death doesn't send her right back to the bottle. And maybe not even then. If the real Raquel had been around she would have come in looking for Vicky, given an "a mi no me importa" (I don't care) when told about Fernando, and called her child a "maldita escuincle" (damn brat). MaryJo and Felipa throw a frickin' party over Raquel actually touching the kid. Rosie comes in with MaryJo's medicine.

Hernán comes in and updates the family. Fernando runs the risk of ending up paraplegic. Alex says "no!" I agree, this is tragic, but it's not the end of the world, people. Especially because Fernando's job doesn't require him to do anything with his legs…checking out job sites could be problematic, but they could figure out a way around that. Plus he's rich and well-educated, so he can afford to buy or hire whoever or whatever he needs to make things work for him. Sorry, sometimes I just hate the way characters in TN's react to disability. I'm sure there are people out there who are paraplegic who still get up in the morning and go about their business and don't think it's the end of the world. Katia goes to Vicky for comfort. Hernán doesn't think there's a lot of possibility of Fernando avoiding his horrible fate. They've got to wait to see how he's doing after the surgery. Hernán tells them they don't need to stay, but Vicky and Katia insist they aren't moving. Alex says he's going home to update MaryJo, but then he's coming back.

Alex fills in MaryJo, who laments Fernando's youth, but she also thinks that being so young and studly, I mean, uh, strong, that that's exactly why he will get better. Alex says he doesn't know why Fer was in that neighborhood, that Katia told him that Fer left the office upset and he has the impression that it wasn't an accident, it was a confrontation with someone. Alex just wants Fer to be ok. Alex has got some serious bags under his eyes. The man needs some sleep. And serious stress reduction (preferably in the form of MJ getting her memory back and Bruno conveniently dying in a gruesome way). MaryJo says they've got to find out who did this to Fer.

Two random ladies complain to a man about a smell. Ah, these are Ulises' neighbors complaining to the super. They can't stand the smell anymore.

Hernán and the Red Cross Doc inform the family that Fer is awake, but it's too soon to tell if he's able to move or not. Yeah, those fancy surgery drugs will do that. Hernan's shirt is way too tight. I don't really like the baggy look, but buttons should not be strained like that. Vicky and Katia both decline the offer to see Fer because they don't want to cry in front of him and upset him. Katia looks like she's hiding behind Vicky. Alex will go, but he only gets a few minutes.

Raquel gets a call from the building super, Alvaro. He reminds her about the apartment and she says she may cancel the lease. He doesn't care about that, he cares about the smell. Raquel laughs it off and says "what do you want me to do?" She thought the place was empty. The super suggests a dead rat, haha. He offers to go check things out unless she wants to do it herself. Raquel says she'll come over, she has a lot of personal stuff there.

Alex tells Fer that he's got to fight, man. Fer says he can't feel his legs. Alex blames it on the anesthesia. He says the doctors are going to take good care of Fer. He asks what happened and asks if it was Bruno. Fernando says he got into a fight and the guys threw him off a balcony. He tells Alex it was Mateo and a couple of other guys. Alex had already heard about the sex tape. Alex says he will take care of it and that dumbass will pay. Fernando asks about Vicky. Alex tells him that both of his ladies have been there all night. Fer gets fixated on not being able to feel his legs, but Alex just tells him everything will be fine.

Maura and Lisette (in a cute hat) argue about Lisette going to Mexico City. Lisette has clearance from Hernán to travel. Maura gripes about her insisting on paying for Lety's treatment. Lisette needs some space from Maura after finding out about the sex tape. Maura is sick of Lisette's "aires de santurrona" (sanctimonious airs), and Lisette's sanctimonious response to that is "blah, blah, blah." I like Lisette better this way. Before Lisette can leave, the maid announces Alex. Lisette changes her mind and sticks around. Alex wants to talk to Maura about Mateo. Lisette takes a seat and says she'll stay since things are about to get good. Alex is upset that Maura let Mateo into her party and let him hang around Katia. Maura tries to claim that she didn't know Mateo was there and she's not Katia's babysitter. Alex asks how Bruno ended up with the video on a cell phone and asks if that wasn't Bruno's plan all along and Maura helped him. She doesn't answer, just makes a face. Alex asks her what she has going on with Bruno that she would do that kind of favor for him. Maura says she has no idea what Alex is talking about. Lisette has had enough. She tells Maura that maybe she wasn't in cahoots with Bruno, but she does know what Alex is talking about, she knew what was going on with Mat and she allowed it to happen. Maura says she thought it was a good idea at first, so that Katia could get over Bruno, but she didn't know what would happen. Alex says he hasn't known for a while if he should believe her. He tells her he hopes she doesn't have Fernando's possible paralysis on her conscience. She asks Alex not to think badly of her. Alex says she got the address of the fight from the paramedics and once he checks things out he'll know what to think of her. Once Alex leaves, Lisette tells Maura she'd better forget about Alex, because once he finds out what happened, he'll never forgive her. Now Lisette leaves.

Katia and Vicky hang out in the hospital waiting room. The Red Cross Doc offers to let Vicky go see Fer. She passes to Katia, but Katia passes back. Vicky ends up going in. Felipa comes up with two cups of coffee and gives one to Katia. Katia leans on Felipa for comfort.

Fer is sleeping. The RCD tells Vicky that the operation went well, but he's got to consult some other white coats to see if they want to do another surgery, or just take care of it with physical therapy. Vicky goes over to stand by Fer, but she has a hard time touching him. She keeps crying and patting him on the head. He wakes up and says he feels like a tank rolled over him. He wants to know what's going to happen. He can't feel his legs. Like son, like mother--she tells him it must be the anesthesia…or maybe the pain meds, yeah, that's it. He insists that he's paralyzed but no one wants to tell him. She insists he's not. Vicky cries and says whatever happens, she's going to be by his side night and day and she loves their conversations, and she loves him. She kisses him very carefully. Fernando says he'll only be half a man. She says he's a whole man. Well, a man-boy anyway. Tears all around. Woe is us.

Raquel pulls up at the apartment. The super meets her. Apparently they can smell it from outside. The super thinks an animal got in and died. Raquel is gagging as they get up to the door. Dude…the makeup guys went to town! Ulises is GREEN! I'm sorry, this is sad, really it is, Ulises, gunned down in his prime, Raquel losing the father of her baby, yes, yes, human tragedy…but GREEEEEEEEEN! I can't help it, I'm cracking up laughing. Also, I had jury duty for two whole months on a second-degree murder trial and I saw dead body pictures every day, so this really looks very fake to me. Anyway, um, yeah, Raquel has a meltdown and acts like she wants to touch him, but just can't bring herself to do it. She screams for help, while the super just stands there with a rag over his nose and mouth.

Alex and three of the neighborhood ladies are down at "la delegación" (the popo) saying they've got to find Mat and make him pay. The ladies have his name and everything. The cop asks if they have proof and all three ladies chime in about how they saw the whole thing go down, with their propios peepers (that's "their own eyes), yep, the saw the "guerito" (blondie) go over the balcony, mhm, they sure did. One lady even thought the poor guy was dead. And then the little group of them ran away…well, they're a "pandilla" (gang) don't'cha know, and they've been causing lots of problems in the neighborhood. Huh, I thought Mateo was a gigolo. Shouldn't he have been living in a nicer place? Maybe gigolo-ing doesn't pay like it used to? The cop asks why Fernando was there in the first place. Alex said he found out that Mateo had made a video of himself having "intimate relations" with Fernando's sister and uploaded it to the internet. Alex's phone rings and he excuses himself to answer it, giving the ladies ample time to gossip over the latest scandal.

It's Raquel, calling to ask for Alex's help. She retches while she's on the phone with him. She tells him that Ulises is dead, she saw it herself, he's in her apartment. She doesn't know what happened, but he had a gun in his hand and she doesn't know what happened. Alex tells her to calm down, he's on his way. He goes back into the room to inform the ladies and the cop that he has to leave now, his sister just called to tell him someone they know is dead in her apartment from an apparent suicide. Well, the cop can check that one off his bingo card. The cop asks if this might be related to the incident with Fernando, but Alex doesn't think so. If only he knew…"Well, let's see, Bruno, who has been trying to kill me for las ultimas 84 capitulos and/or take my wife from me and/or take control of my company, commissioned the sex tape from Maura who's been trying to get into my pants and/or get my wife bumped off for las ultimas 84 capitulos, who hired Mateo to slip Katia some roofies and make the actual tape (being that she's not into girls, so she couldn't do it herself), which is the reason that Fernando went over there and got his silly ass beat up. Many capitulos ago Maura convinced Ulises to hire Mateo to pretend to be my wife's lover in order to piss me off. Ulises slept with both my sister and my brother-in-law, impregnated my sister, and got her to rent him the apartment where his cold dead stinky body now lies, having been put there by a bullet to the brain courtesy of Bruno. So no, I wouldn't say they're related, no, except for everything ultimately being Bruno's fault." Alex tells the cop that recently his wife was kidnapped and the family had begun to suspect Ulises, who now lies dead and stinky. The cop suggests they both go right over and he bids the ladies farewell, saying they'll start searching for Mateo ASAP. He calls some other guys to come in and take written statements. The ladies buzz. This is about a year's worth of gossip in one afternoon.

Alex, having made a pit stop at a phone booth to pull off his shirt, revealing red, blue, and yellow spandex underneath, pulls up and is greeted by a hysterical Raquel. She swears someone killed Ulises. She's crying that he can't be dead, he just can't! Alex puts her in the passenger seat of his convertible and finishes parking it the rest of the way.

He also gags at the smell. The cop thinks it was days ago, but he's going to have the gun analyzed. Alex supposes that Uli killed himself because he felt "acorralado" (trapped). The cop is curious. Alex says all the clues about his wife's kidnapping pointed to Ulises and he probably didn't think there was any other way out except to kill himself. Either way, the cop wants to talk to Raquel. Alex puts him off until the next day, being that Raquel is hysterical, being that Ulises was her baby daddy. The cop nods from behind his hankie.

Alex calls Roberto and tells him Ulises is dead. Roberto knocks over a statue. Alex wants Roberto to meet him at the house. Alex hangs up, but Roberto is still holding the phone, in apparent shock.

Back at the house, Rosie and MaryJo are out front with the babies when Alex and Raqui pull up. MaryJo goes over to see what's up. Alex says he'll explain later and walks Raquel to her chalet. Roberto pulls up immediately after, tells MaryJo that Ulises killed himself, and runs after Alex and Raquel. MaryJo is impactada…but I'm not sure what kind of impactata. Could be "oh, no, someone killed themselves, how horrible" or "wait a minute, Ulises, I know that name."

Porfirio gets a visit from a terrified Elena. She makes some bland excuses for not visiting sooner. Porfi wants her to get to the point. Elena says she's there to tell him the truth…she hid something for years and it's time for him to know…she doesn't want him to die without knowing it. "Then spit it out!" From down by his knees, Elena gives the floor an annoyed look.

MaryJo is still outside with Tiny Tony and Alex asks where Rosie is. She went to take Mini Vicky for a walk. Alex tells her that Ulises apparently shot himself, probably because he felt cornered, but there's something about all this that doesn't feel right. He's going to go to the Red Cross to visit Fernando. MaryJo reminds him he's gone for about 48 hours without sleep…ah, hence the bags under the eyes. Alex says he'll go try to convince Vicky to come home and get some sleep and then he'll rest.

Elena spins her tale…she was married to another man when she met Cristobal…she ended up pregnant and she made her husband believe the baby was his, but it was really Cristobal's…she gave birth to twins…then Cristobal went away and she had another baby by her husband…then Cristobal came back and she couldn't stand being with Pedro anymore, so she left him and only took one of Porfirio's grandkids. "One of them," he repeats. Elena says it was Sandra, but Sandra died and Ulises kidnapped MaryJo and made them think it was Sandra. Porfirio yells that she's a liar and those girls aren't his son's daughters. Elena swears they are and she can prove it. Porfirio dismisses her and she goes running for Isaias to bring his medicine. Porfirio keeps ordering her out and tells Isaias to throw her out. She drops her fake-pious shawl revealing a truly enviable rack and finally leaves. Mr. 5ft thinks Porfi is faking feeling bad. I think so too.

At the Red Cross, Alex nags Vicky and Katia to eat, sleep, and bathe. They refuse. Alex tells them it's going to take time for Fer to get better and there's no point to them hanging around. Felipa tells Vicky to just go get some sleep and then come back. Vicky insists she wants to stay to get the results of the latest spinal scans. The doctor comes up then and says there's no need for another operation. Fernando is in a lot of pain from the surgery and they're giving him pain meds. As to him walking again, that's going to take time. Vicky finally agrees to leave. Katia also agrees to go, but she'll go to her house. They leave and Alex goes in to see Fer.

Porfirio actually was upset. He'd just gotten used to the idea of not having any family, but now that Elena has come around, telling her tale, he's not sure what to think. He knows Elena is a liar, but he would also rather believe he's not alone in the world. Porfi cries.

Fer has been sedated to deal with his anxiety. Alex tells him he's going to get better, he has to.

Katia is greeted by Sami, who by now has probably peed in everyone's bed and chewed up all of Fer's shoes. She just wants to hug him for a while.

Felipa puts Vicky to bed. Vicky doesn't think she can sleep. Felipa says life goes on. It breaks Vicky's heart to see Fer so down. Felipa tells her to have a lie down and she'll bring some tea.

Ezequiel asks Alex how Fernando is doing. Alex says badly. Zeke says that MJ and Rosie are feeding the babies. He offers to fix Alex some food, but Alex says no, he just wants to sleep.

Roberto tells Bruno that Raquel found the body. Bruno is intensely curious what the police had to say, but Roberto doesn't know. Roberto, however, is of the opinion that a head wound + a gun + he was alone = suicide. Roberto! I expected better of you! Bruno is sure he killed himself to avoid going to jail for MJ's kidnapping. Roberto thinks it's possible, but Bruno insists that's how it went down. Now Roberto looks slightly suspicious…or maybe that's me.

MaryJo finds Alex sleeping in his/her/their bed. She covers him with an absurdly small blanket and tries not to wake him up.

Elena tells Jorge that she told Porfirio her lie. She figures Porfirio will leave the money to MaryJo and then she'll tell MaryJo how much they need it and MaryJo will give them some of it. Jorge won't beg. Either way, the University of Vancouver is interested in his research, so he's outta there if they don't get the money. And he's not taking Elena with him. Come on, that rack's gotta be useful for something. It would probably liven up those faculty mixers. Hey, she could even seduce a student or two. Better yet, a lab assistant!

Jorge goes to his office and takes a call from Bruno. Bruno gives Jorge the update, although he still doesn't know what the cops have said. He's sure he did such a good job that the cops won't find anything. They hang up and Alex walks in and tells Bruno that now he's definitely being kicked out or Alex will turn him in for corrupting a minor and putting the video of Katia up on the internet. Bruno denies and whines about how it's his house. Alex says he knows Bruno and Maura did it and the cops are already looking for Mateo, so maybe Bruno doesn't want to be around when the cops find him. Alex leaves him with "and if Fernando should end up paralyzed…." Bruno is confused.

Vicky has changed into yet another matronly outfit. Come on, she's not much older than Elena, if at all, and Elena's showing a little cleavage, even if her outfits are fugly. A little cleavage could be just what Fernando needs. Alex starts to chew her out, but Felipa says she had a nap and a bath and she just didn't feel comfortable staying in the house. Alex offers to go back to the hospital with her. Felipa will stay home and pray.

Fernando is still sleeping, though his sedative should have worn off already. Hernán, Vicky, and Alex stand around wondering if now is the right time to tell him. Vicky says he suspects, but she couldn't bring herself to tell him. Fernando starts waking up. He asks why he was sleeping. Hernán says he needed the sedative to stay calm. Fernando asks why. Alex tells him there's something he has to know. He has a spinal fracture and part of his body is paralyzed. Fernando starts freaking out. Hernán says he can't move his legs now, but it's not definitive. Fernando thinks they're sugarcoating things and he's going to end up in a wheelchair. He starts crying that he can't live like that and he'd rather kill himself. Ugh. Yes, yes, I know a lot of people have that reaction at first, but maybe they wouldn't if they hadn't heard all these fictional people say it first. Vicky swears she'll stick by him and they'll find the best specialists, etc. Fernando doesn't want her to be stuck with "un invalido" (an invalid) but she screams at him that she's not going anywhere no matter what he says, got it? He might or might not, but I think Hernán finally got it.

Bruno comes looking for Maura. She tells him what happened to Fernando. He already knew that Fernando found out about the sex video, but he says he wasn't the one who put it on the internet. Maura tells him that the cops had better not find Mateo, 'cause Mateo will definitely spill the beans and then both Bruno and Maura are in a lot of trouble. Oh, wait, I think I see a flaw in her logic…. I was expecting Bruno to question her "we" but instead he tells her to just find Mateo and tell him to keep his mouth shut. Maura, however, has had it. She doesn't want any more trouble. Things have gone too far and she's tied up now not only in the sex tape scandal, but in the Maria Jose business as well. Bruno says his hands are clean on the count of MJ's kidnapping and no one can prove his involvement. Maura says her involvement can be proved and when Alex came over to ask about the sex tape, she could tell that he no longer believes a word she says. She doesn't want any more trouble. Bruno says he'll find Mateo. Luckily, in addition to the phone with the video, he also had another phone, which Maura happens to have the number for. Bruno says that when MaryJo gets her memory back, and when she remembers what Maura was saying, she's "frita" (fried). Yeah, yeah, she knows.

The Red Cross Doc says they avoided paralysis and he thinks if Fer gets his ass in gear, he can recover some movement with physical therapy. Vicky says they need to transfer him to another hospital. RCD says he agrees, they're not a specialist facility. Vicky asks Hernán to take Fer to his clinic and Hernán agrees, sadly. Do you think maybe Vicky was the love of Hernán's life? Maybe the writers can set him up with Fernando's new hot physical therapist? Or a nurse? Poor guy.

Pedro and MaryJo talk about Elena. MJ says she's still beautiful, she treated MJ well…although there were times they argued and Elena was harsh with her and would say ugly things, like that MJ was a promiscuous drug addict. MJ asks Pedro if he still loves her. I don't get the beginning of his answer while my DVR switches over to the next program. He starts talking about how he heard that Elena had gone off with a good looking rich guy. MJ says she could have at least been up front and talked to him about it. Poor Self-Esteem Pedro says he was just a poor nobody with nothing to offer her and he still is. Wah, wah, wah. Dude, that doesn't mean that when your wife's leaving you, you don't deserve to have her do it to your face instead of sneaking off while you're at church. MJ says he's a good guy, with a big heart. Pedro says Elena had ambition and it hurt him not to be able to give her what she wanted. That's so not my definition of "ambition"…going after a guy who could shower her with material goods instead of oh, I don't know, doing something on her own account to get ahead in life. Pedro figures she must have loved him at one point, but then, when the feeling fades, everything is different. MaryJo asks if he'd like to see her again, but he refuses. He says she's too pretty and it wouldn't be a good idea for her to see what he's turned into. MaryJo says it hurts her to hear what her mom did to him.

Gran Final on the 17th, feet in the sand, tears and drama. And Corazon Salvaje on the 22nd.

Labels: sortilegio

We have lost our Tuesday recapper. Any takers? Here's what happened tonight, minus all the funny stuff:

Alejandro and Rafael are both in need of cold showers after being rejected by their respective erstwhile lovers. Rafael gets his shower, but Alejandro - probably because she can't take showers in her condition - instead goes in to work at 5 in the morning, after a noche de perros (I guess that means, like barking all night keeps you awake).

She calls Rafael, it's still dark! and makes him come to work straightaway.

Julieta needs money for books so she goes to Rafael's dubious friend Pepete at the billiard party and asks him to sell some of the expensive wedding booze for her. He doesn't want to get involved (fearing Rafa's wrath) but tells her where to find some rich folks who'll buy it.

Marcos is still kissing harlots (sitting in his fine new ride) when Ale calls him to say he doesn't need to take her to work, she took a taxi. Speaking of which, does Marco work? Ever? He also tells Ale he is in the midst of "fecund and creative activity."

Suzanna, perplexed to see Ale at work so early, says "You can join me in a salute to the sun! Tai Chi [etc]" Ale turns her down and says invoices are her equivalent. Susanna sees there's a problem, is distressed to hear Marco and Ale haven't "done it" since the accident, and utters the warning seen above.

The sales force straggles in, Ale's already yelling. They see she's even grouchier than usual and will eat them alive in their daily sales meeting. In that meeting, before their rousing close, she tells Claudia to button up her blouse, "I don't want to see your 'products,' that's only for selling cars."

Finally Rafa gets a chance to start making calls from his list of clients (the list stolen by his co-workers) and finds they've all been called. He tells Alejandra.

Labels: dinero

Alternate title: CAN I TELL YOU THREE THINGS?
Alternate title II: PROMISCUOUS, PERVERSE AND HORNY
Alternate title III: THE HAIR SAYS IT ALL
(ps. I know with "alternate" there should only be two. But work with me here.)

Today was a day of satisfying confrontations. Jacqui guesses that Estrella is pregnant and wants to know the next step. She counsels against abortion. Aldo finds out the truth and is ready to step up to the plate and be a dad. Katja, after being pushed and prodded, gives a reluctant confession and apology to Estrella. Estrella slaps her a good one! (okay by me, since Katja wasn't really sorry, anyway) Jacqui, who has witnessed Katja's perfidy and lack of real repentance, apologizes to Estrella for her daughter's behavior. Estrella then blasts Jacqui for raising up two such poisonous daughters. Ximena confronts Connie about being an ugly bitter person who mistreats others. Mauricio defends himself from Marco's accusations and together they seem ready to reach an understanding about how to protect Valentina. But not before Mau characterizes Marco as arrogant...as arrogant as his daughter.

Well, heck, that's pretty much the episode. Want more? Okay, here goes.

We begin with a very hungover Jacqui facing the horror of cleaning up in a shared barrio bathroom. Does it have a roof at least? she asks anxiously. Well, a partial one is Estrella's none too reassuring reply. In spite of her hangover and baño anxiety, Jacqui picks up on Estrella's slip of the tongue earlier and guesses she's pregnant...and by Aldo, no less.

In the meantime, Connie is spreading her good vibes and universal love around the office, telling the bereaved Gabriela that she's fired, along with Pau. That's when Gabriela gets the additional news that Connie has divorced Mauricio and been awarded every last penny and shares in his business, along with those miserable kids. Yep, Connie and Dad are the bosses now...and you, Gaby?...you're outta here. What's more, after I beat that chimpanzee in the ring, I'm tossing out everybody in her little neighborhood.

Time for the first of Ximena's three things....to Connie: 1) You're the worst person ever. 2) If you think you're going to beat Moni in the ring, you're crazy. She's the freakin' national champion, for gawdsake. and 3) Can I get your little black dress after Monita destroys you?

Time to check on Nieves. She's dragging her behind, in spite of the sparkling maroon streaks in her coiffed hair. What's bringing her low is Cesar's desertion and Beto's decision to become a priest. Monita arrives and pooh-poohs the whole thing. He'll change his mind. Next thing you know he'll want to be an astronaut. And Cesar's crazy about you. This must be a misunderstanding. Beto gets a little huffy about their doubt of his vocation but nobody pays him any mind. Well, once he's in his priest's robes (sotano) and listening to their confession of their "pecaditos" (little sins) they'll change their tune! Secure in the knowledge that Beto could never take up a profession that didn't include women, Moni promises to talk to Cesar and straighten things out. But wait! Nieves isn't sure she wants him back. Dum de dum dum.

Back to Estrella's fashion emporium. She's picking out just the right outfit to replace Jacqui's tequila soaked pantsuit. There's some hemming and hawing from Jacquelinay but the alternative, an outfit from Nieves, doesn't suit-- so she's up for it. And it's not bad. With the sunglasses, she has a certain rakish charm. What designer? Santiago. Never heard of him. The Santiago tianguis (outdoor market). Ya' think I can afford designer clothes? Get real! Jacqui promises to get it dry-cleaned and returned to Estrella, after she gets home.

That settled, Jacqui gets down to the real business at hand. Estrella's lived her life but Aldo's just beginning to live; he's only a kid. What are you going to do with a baby? Estrella confesses that she wants to lose it. Jacqui, who's been relaxed and tolerant up till now, looks shocked.

Whew. Just when things started getting heavy, Xime lights us up. Connie, Marcos and his nameless lawyer, are sitting in the boardroom with glazed eyes, while Xime gushes about her love letter from Rolu and Arny's romantic missive from Lalu. They're going to be a "maraviguay" couple.

Basta ya ! Let's get down to business. Marcos slides over a chit of paper with a figure on it. That's my offer and it's non-negotiable. Take it or leave it. Xime squints and wants to know what these zeros mean. Connie assures her it's plenty...enough for Xime to buy anything she wants. Even the Castillo de Chapultepec? Alright. Not that . Now sign! Marcos and Connie wait. Faces grim. Will she or won't she?

Well, same question for Estrella, verdad? She's telling Jacqui about her lifelong dream of being an actress, her audition with Ms. Nesma (Hey, she's a buddy of Jacqui's. Who knew?) and how she's slated for the part of the sexy lover. And boom! she goes into an hilarious mini-drama, complete with a pastiche of the Connie-Beto coupling, for Jacqui's benefit. Alas, the conditions of the part require no pregnancy. And in a few months she's going to show (have a "panzona"). What's a chica to do?

Which is precisely Ximena's question: She's so nervous she's "sudando hasta las manos".
(breaking a sweat even in her hands). Mauricio arrives just in time to keep her from signing. He dismisses the offer as ridiculously low. Scribbles a new sum on the paper (Wow, sez Xime) and sails it down. No way, answers Marcos. That's it. Take it or leave it, says our newly macho galan. The tipping point? Ximena threatens to start talking about Lalu and Arny again. Done. Accepted. Signed sealed and delivered. Yay! Best part of the scene. Connie looking like she's having a gall bladder attack. Marcos looking the same. Savor the moment, folks.

Awright. Estrella and Jacqui are still talking about the baby...and the possible regrets if she does have it....and resents it...when sass! Aldo and Katja arrive. Overhear the conversation and now Aldo knows. You lied to me Estrella, he sighs. And we break for an ad.

When we come back, it's to the office. Marcos is seeing the nameless lawyer out and apologizing for the time wasted. Connie is seething at Ximena and wants to know what she'll do with all that money. 1) I don't have to tell you a thing. You're bad bad bad. 2) Mauricio is not "alone', the money is for him 3) Don't mess with my cousin. You're no saint yourself.
Well said, Ximena!

Things are heating up back in the barrio.

Estrella: you got into my bed, Aldo, to make yourself "a man". You never cared a thing for me.
Aldo: I love you.
Estrella: Yeah, right! You talked about me like I was a prostitute. Those stupid cowards came after me, thanks to you. At least have the guts to admit it. You're an imbecile who wanted to have some fun with me and boast about it at school.
Aldo: Yes, I'm an imbecile. I blew it. Please forgive me.
Katja, during all this, is looking guilty....but not saying a word. Skank.

Whoa. Suddenly we're back in the office where Marcos is reaming out Mauricio in a similar fashion. He doesn't want to talk business, he wants to tell him what a wretch he is, messing with two women at the same time. Stay away from Constanza. I'd love to, quips Mau. Just give me back my children. Stay away from Valentina too. You have no right! Oh yes I do. Both Connie and Valentina are my daughters. (cara impactada--Mauricio)

Brief return to barrio. More bitterness. Aldo wants to know why she didn't tell him about the pregnancy. 'Cause it doesn't concern him. How do you even know it's yours? Gals like me dole it out to anybody, don't you know that?

Longer return to office. Marcos admits that Isabel was in his past but so what. The main thing is Mauricio is a wretch who, through his despicable actions, has caused hatred and contempt between his two daughters. No way. Okay...the usual. Monita is "la mujer de mi vida". I'd give my life to make her happy. Etc. etc. etc. She doesn't need you, snarls Papa. Neither one of them. They have ME. I'll give Monita my name, make sure she has what she needs and I'll protect her from animals like YOU.

Well, speaking of animals. Estrella's now talking about the two scummy classmates of Aldo's who came and threw money at her and attacked her. Aldo made them believe she was a slut.

Aldo admits he was foolish. So thrilled about being her novio, so happy that he couldn't stop talking about it. His first time....and it was wonderful. But no, I never said you were a slut. That was Katja's doing. Jacqui's head snaps up. What did you do Katja? she asks.

And now the worst "apology" ever. Katja reluctantly sidles up. Admits she wanted to break up Aldo and Estrella. But hey, everyone knows you're "easy". Bueno ya, perdoname. Big slap. Richly deserved.

Exit Katja. Jacqui apologizes for her daughter but Estrella won't let her off that easy. You ask forgiveness but you're the woman who raised those two spiders (Connie and Katja). You're the pharaoh, the head of the pyramid. You're responsible for the way they turned out. Exit Jacqui. (Dang. I like Jacqui. Not the best of mothers but let's let Katja and Connie be responsible for their own actions.)

We've got more blah blah with Mauricio. Marcos doesn't understand why Mau thinks Monita needs protection from Isabel. We hear about Mau's immense cariño for Monita. Well, Marcos isn't letting him near any of his daughters. They're both unhappy and it's YOUR fault. I'm NEVER wrong. Mau: Nopis. Connie gave you the wrong idea about me. And you're an arrogant so and so. Just like she is.

Making progress is our Mauricio. He goes on to explain about Isabel's abandonment. Her threat to tell Monita how much she hates her if Mau doesn't help her play out her fake death. And only his great love for Moni led him to help Isabel. Marcos looks thoughtful. Realizes that Isabel has lied to him about a number of things. Is actually listening. Wow.

And Ximena is listening to Connie....who's still looking like she's in the midst of a gallbladder attack. Ojala! Ximena, ever pert, asks that Connie "no me claves la mirada" (don't glare at me). You're an imbecile snaps Connie. I maybe expected you to waste all that money on strawberry daiquiris, but never thought you'd give it to Mauricio!

And now....three more things: Ready?
1) Mau is my cousin
2) Not leaving him bereft after all the horrible things you did to him.
3) I need a mirror to protect me from your evil gaze! (as Xime holds up a little hand mirror to shield herself).

And there's more. Our pixie is glad Roberto's free of Connie now. Her former amigosa gets more bitter and ugly every day. And Xime hopes he can find a woman worthy of him. He'll never find anybody like me, sniffs Connie. Yeah, promiscuous, perverse and horny, retorts Ximena.

Back to the endless Mauricio/Marcos discussion. Our galan explains how he was protecting Monita from learning of her mother's hatred of her. He wanted to leave her with a memory of a mother's love and a tender, heartfelt reconciliation. Yes, but that's an illusion, points out Marcos. Isabel gave me a completely different story. Said she faked her death so Valentina wouldn't suffer watching her die slowly, little by little, from the disease. But I guess you dug your own grave, helping her fake it, didn't you, Mauricio? Perhaps. But I wanted Monita to believe her mother died loving her. If you can doubt my love after that, well, too bad.

And now...now that Marcos knows the truth? Well, let's confront Isabel. No can do. She's left her hotel and no one knows where she's gone. (Well, Connie knows. But our two fellas haven't sussed that out yet.)

Barrio time again. Aldo reaches out to touch Estrella. She angrily shakes him off. Let me hold you, he begs. What's going to happen to us?
E: You'll go on with your life. I'll go on with mine. Forget about me.
A: How? You can't ask me to do that.
E: How? That's your problem (bronca).
A: I WON'T leave you. It's my problem too. It's my baby too.
E: You're not ready. It's a mistake. The very worst thing that could happen. I don't want this baby. I want to lose it.

Oh my. Hard to see a happy ending here. Will be interesting to observe how the writers work this out. Ideas, anyone?

Now we're at the gym. Don Cesar is in a splendid blue suit and aqua shirt. Absolutely horrible hair. Worse than usual. Clearly a metaphor for his great distress. The hair says it all. Monita is there to get the two lovebirds together again. Alas, there's only one lovebird. Cesar. Nieves enjoyed his company, accepted his tenderness, but she wasn't in love with him. Not like he was with her.

Okay. Here's the "take-home message". Get ready. Monita reminds Don Cesar that with Love, well....it's like Boxing. Never throw in the towel. Never give up. So you're against the ropes in the first round. You pick yourself up and go at it again. You taught me that Cesar! Follow your own lessons.

Great place to end the episode, right? Wrong. There's more. Marcos wonders why he should believe a scoundrel like Mauricio. Well, if you don't....ask Monita. She can tell you. Marcos admits that Isabel is very manipulative. And Mau points out that she and Connie are in contact. So Monita is clearly in danger even if Marcos has forbiddn his daughter to hurt Moni.

And sure enough--the two vipers appear in the next scene. Isabel's in the apartment sipping what looks like a whiskey. Connie sails in and gets reprimanded for not knocking. And the latter informs Isabel that it's HER apartment and she'll come in without knocking anytime she darn well pleases. Does Marcos know where Isabel is? No. Good. Let him forget I exist. Fair enough, but now I want to talk "sin tapujos" (frankly). Just what's up between you and my father.

We knew each other 30 years ago. I was madly in love with him but he was about to marry another. You know her. Nieves Ochoa. Cara impactada, Connie. And there we end.

Previews:
Oscar, busy collecting more frequent flyer points to Hell, threatens Connie. Remember, you're the one who broke Salvador's cellphone. And your fingerprints are on it. If the police know, and they find out he didn't die in Venezuela, they'll figure you killed him. Another cara impactada, Connie.
And Aldo asks Estrella to marry him.

Vocabulary:
cohete aguamieleras = that's what the closed captions said. Help! Any idea, Jarocha?
Sylvia suggests it was actually "jicote aguamierleras", a type of honeybee. Possibly a term of endearment? Or this type of honey as an ingredient in a hangover remedy?
arañas fumigadas = lit. fumigated spiders. in other words, two dames drunk as skunks
descreido = disbelieving. Monita, about Beto's plans for the priesthood.
panzona = belly "three-monther"
la chiquis = little kid
mira la trompita = look at your face! Beto, kidding his mother about her glum look
cara de fuchis = icky face. looking like there's a bad smell
sin tapujos = frankly, no holds barred
bronca = problem, something disagreeable
maraviguay = marvelous in a gay way
creaste la fama de prostituta = you started the rumor that I was a hooker, you ruined my reputation
sudando hasta las manos = sweating right down to my palms
no me claves la mirada = don't stare at me or don't glare at me
sotano = priest's robe
pecaditos = little sins
tianguis = outdoor market

Dicho of the Day:

Las mentiras tienen patas cortas. lit. Lies have short legs or feet. In other words, eventually the truth will come out. Well, some of it did today. But there are many more lies to uncover.

Labels: gancho

Friday: Luz is knee-deep in orphans at the school. The social worker thinks she’ll make a swell mother. Chris visits Mac’s grave. He’s going to protect Paloma from Carlota, he assures her. Paloma doesn’t think Romina will give Em a divorce and she’s ready to start a new life. Carlota has lunch with Don E and tells him about losing her dad, her brother and her sister. Her life has been very hard, porbrecita. Paloma is like the child she never had. She tells Don E she likes how he’s full of life. He tells her he likes the same thing about her. She thoughtbubbles about how she’s going to make him pay for getting Chris off. He thoughtbubbles about how they have nothing in common. They smile and chink glasses.

Ultimas semanas!

Anamar is doing a little work at the plateria. Her dress is doing a lot of work, because there’s so little cloth and so much to hold up. Em is surprised to see her on the computer looking over their exports. Man, he’s got good eyes to see her screen from across the room. Anamar says it’s my specialty, remember? She says she’s doing work there now. Neat, huh? she says. No, he says, we’re never going to be anything more than friends. To translate literally, he says Don’t confuse the things. So maybe he did actually notice her boobs. We don’t want them confused.

Carlota primly tells Don E that she doesn’t usually go out with men - it doesn’t look proper and the man might misunderstand. He says You’re free and single - and also beautiful. She sighs that it’s easier for a man. He turns on a smoke machine of charm, saying Let’s think of this as a business dinner, shall we? I can’t be your personal lawyer. I want to leave when Gabriel decides to, plus I’m not the kind of lawyer you need.

I’m a trial lawyer, and a moral woman like you (the subtitles say “immoral.” Ha! Freudian slip) wouldn’t run afoul of the law. She says But a lawyer like you could give me the level of security and protection that I feel I need sometimes. I’ll think about it, he says.

Nighttime, or maybe it already was.

Chris offers Rufi some hot chocolate. He thanks her for hinting that Paloma is his daughter. She’s glad they won’t tell her until they are safely in Mexico. Chris says he wants to move there too, if Paloma will allow him to be around her.

They chit chat about Chris’s mother, and Rufi admits it makes her a bit jealous that Paloma will have a real-for-real grandmother. Rufi is a little tearful and Chris hugs her and laughs and assures her that nobody will take her place. The music noodles happily and I can almost see fat little Disney bluebirds singing over their heads.

Orlando and Camila arrive at Romina’s home. She wants to talk to Romina alone, so he drives off.

¿Qué haces aquí? Romina asks her mother rudely. Camila says How are you? As if you care snorts Romina. Em has left me for that new girlfriend. Camila says It’s not her. You knew it would turn out like this. Romina says she doesn’t want to be miserable like Camila was when Samuel left years ago.

Camila says it really shook her self-confidence but after time she realized it was the best thing that could have happened to her. She tells Romina that yeah, Em is a great guy, but if he doesn’t love her, their life will be awful. Romina weeps that she thought the baby would do the trick and now she doesn’t want to live without Em.

Orlando and Em are at a nice restaurant. Orlando urges him to re-think this whole divorce idea. Em says he’s 100% sure, and he’s going to go find an apartment. Orlando urges him to stay with him, but Em says no, he’s starting a whole new life, on his own.

Romina is packing in her room. She’s sad. So many memories, she says. It’s flashback time! Mac is giving her the pearl necklace.

Oh! Just one flashback. That’s it? Just one memory? Guess so, because Rufi comes in and gives her a pep talk about her having a spanking new life, but Paloma still looks wistful.

Carlota comes in and calmly asks if there’s anything she can do to persuade Paloma to stay. No, says Paloma quietly. I’ll be in touch and I’ll come to see you when I turn 21. Carlota says so the money is all you care about? Paloma says no, but I need it to turn my dreams into reality, to finish up my studies.

Paloma says I do thank you for all you’ve done for me. It’s a weird way to show it, says Carlota. I can’t imagine this house without you in it. I want you to know that nobody has done as much for you as I have, that nobody has loved you, or sacrificed for you, as I have. Tears well in her eyes. She leaves.

Paloma says it’ll be hard for her here alone. Rufi says she’s reaping what she sowed. If she’d been different with you, you would have wanted to stay.

Carlota is in her lair, looking mad. She dials her phone. We see Dr B in his house, which is stacked with boxes ready to go. He answers his cell. Carlota thanks him for taking responsibility for Paloma, and says that she’s already starting to miss her. He says he’ll be picking up Paloma and Rufi the day after the birthday party. Carlota says she’ll get Paloma’s papers in order to give to him.

She hangs up and says Enjoy the last hours of your life, Doctor.

Daytime.

German calls Don E and chews him out about costing him his job. He isn’t going to go down alone. Want to hand out some real justice? he says. The person who put the noose around my neck, and around Chris’s, is Carlota.

Why should I believe you? says Don E. German says because I have proof. We see him pick up a big manila envelope. Meet me tonight.

Whoo hoo! Now we’re getting somewhere.

Now Dr B is visiting Mac’s grave with a big bunch of flowers. He addresses her out loud and says he knows she loved Chris, and he will take good care of Paloma, whether Chris goes back to being a priest or not. Paloma is approaching in the background with just one flower because – remember? – she’s poor and can’t afford a whole bouquet like Chris and Dr B. She hears this last bit. What does it have to do with me whether Chris returns to the priesthood?

Good catch Dr B! He tells her that Mac told Chris to watch over Paloma. Dr B hopes she can make up with Chris. Paloma says she doubts it, plus they’re leaving town anyway. Dr B says leave the door open…. He was you mother’s true love.

Okay, we leave Macarena all snuggly under her roses and get back to what we watch this show for: pure evil.

Carlota is checking out Dr B’s hedges again, this time by broad daylight. She peeks in his front door. A neighborhood maid passes by and Carlota stops her and asks her if she knows anybody looking for work. Didn’t Dr B have a maid? The maid says yes, Katita, but she’s already found something else. She’ll ask her, though.

Joel and Rafa are happy that Luz has helped them by finding an export market. And here they thought they were on the verge of bankruptcy! Rafa’s cell rings.

It’s Camila. He’s startled to hear from her. She wants to talk to him about something, and no, it’s not Em and Romina. She asks if they can meet tomorrow. He hangs up, surprised that she’s in Real del Monte, and that she wants to talk to him.

Em is in his hotel room, trying to focus on working on his laptop. He gives up and heads for a shower.

Paloma and a few friends - okay, her only friends - discuss whether Em will come to her party.

Looks like it’s almost party time! The friends and Paloma bring food, and set up Gabriel’s studio.

The sun sets.

Now the guests are here. Paloma has on a pretty little black dress and her little hairbow is actually black and white instead of just white. Go wild, girl! Gabriel takes her hands and tells her she’s lovely. Behind her a voice says For once we agree. It’s Em. Paloma gazes at him. Gabriel watches.

Em hands her a little gift box. She starts to walk away with Gabriel when Em catches her arm and says aren’t you going to open it? She does and it’s a medal on a chain, probably a St Christopher. He says it’s to watch over her, since he can’t. She exclaims over it, then looks over her shoulder at Gabriel, who is watching.

Paloma tells Em that she hesitated about inviting him, but he had been so important in her life that she wanted the opportunity to say goodbye. Maybe this can be the start of a beautiful friendship? she says.

I don’t think so, says Em. I can’t be the friend of the woman I love. The woman I will always love.

Mooning, sulking, and now this. Why can’t poor Gabe, who’s expected to keel over at any moment, get the girl at least before he goes to the Great By and By? Let’s have some cosmic justice. You don’t catch him moping and throwing scenes even though he sees his heart’s desire yearning after whiny Em who right now is looking like no prize.

Don E is coming into a nice restaurant and heads for the bar. He’s talking on his cell to Madeleine who is on cloud 9 about her talk with Chris and the hug. Don E tells her she has another nice surprise coming. She wants to know what it is, but he won’t tell.

She wants to know what she can do for him in return for his kindnesses. Don E says what I want nobody can give me. Nobody. I want a miracle for Gabriel.

Romina tells her maid that going to Paloma’s party is a major drag, but she’s going because she’s not going to let Em be there on his own. He’s for her, and her alone! If Paloma tries to get her hooks into him, she will go after Gabriel. Now, that guy is good-looking! Really? says the maid, getting excited.

Orlando has dropped in on Chris. Manhug! Nice you’re free… thanks, how’s the moneymoon?… great… blah blah. Chris says he’s reconciled with his mama, and Paloma is his daughter. Orlando is impactado at this last morsel. Chris tells him that whole fake daddy thing was set up by Carlota. Chris hopes he’s good enough to be Paloma’s dad. Prison must’ve been hard on his self-esteem. I mean, a while ago they were about to make him a bishop or something.

Orlando says it’s just like what happened to me – finding my child when I was already an adult. And our two children are in love with one another! They yuck it up. Thigh slappin’ time.

German has arrived at the restaurant. Don E, not even looking up at him, tells him to make it short – he has a party to get to. German sits down and comes right to the point. He haltingly tells Don E that Carlota paid him to torpedo Chris. Then she screwed him over - she didn’t even pay him after Don E won the case, and she withdrew her support at the law firm, so his boss fired him.

She’s not the guilty party, says Don E. You are. You should never have let yourself be bought. I learned my lesson, says German. Don E says I don’t know if you did. What has all this got to do with me? German says you’re honest, incorruptible. You’re the only one who can unmask her and show her for the monster she is.

Okay, says Don E. Whisky?

Carlota is in her bedroom with that lace shawl thingy on again. She’s fingering it. Rufi knocks and comes in with a tea and Carlota very slowly starts to slip it from her shoulders. Rufi wants to know why she isn’t going to the party. Carlota curls a lip and says I already told Paloma. Rufi says Dr B is coming by for her shortly.

Carlota says she’s going to go to bed. Rufi says have a good night, and off she goes. Carlota looks calculating.

Back to the party, which actually looks pretty dull so far. Gabriel thinks it’s nice everyone share this important day, and Paloma thanks him for making it possible. Romina comes in and tells Paloma that she couldn’t miss saying goodbye. Even though they’ve become distant, she loves her and is going to miss her. She hugs Paloma, who looks very skeptical. Over Paloma’s shoulder, Romina smiles triumphantly at Em.

German tells Don E about the two wills. He’s sure that one was made up well after Paloma’s parents died. He has copies of both.

Don E says I wouldn’t bother with all of this if it weren’t for Paloma. And German? Don’t even think of messing with me. You do, and I’ll be all over your sorry little hiney. Don’t worry, says German. I told you I learned my lesson.

Romina goes up to Em and tells him she didn’t know he was coming. He said he didn’t know she was either. I couldn’t miss it, says Romina. Right, says Em, you couldn’t miss an opportunity to bug Paloma.

Romina comments to Paloma that she’s going to be 18 in a few hours. Paloma says then she’ll start to feel different. Romina says she did. Paloma says she’s glad Romina came, as it couldn’t be easy to show up now that she’s going to be divorcing. Never, says Romina confidently. Em and I are going to be together all our lives. I’m never divorcing him.

Carlota is about to leave the house. She opens the door and gasps. Chris is standing there. Chris says I wanted to take this opportunity to talk to you when Paloma wasn’t home. And don’t tell me you were headed for her party. Carlota says I was just checking because I thought I heard something.

And why do you have your purse? Chris asks. Carlota says Oh, I just found it on the table there. Chris says I just came to tell you that I have decided not to tell Paloma that I’m her father. I don’t have anything to offer her. They’re leaving for the DF tomorrow and I don’t want to get in the way of the life that Dr B can give her.

Carlota smiles and says So you’re doing it for her good? Chris says the truth is that she doesn’t want to be around me and I’m worried that it might make her lose even more respect for me. Good idea, says Carlota. You’ve definitely decided? For now, says Chris.

Are you going to return to the priesthood? Chris says I don’t know yet. For now, I think it’s just best for me to live a regular life. I just wanted to let you know about my decision. Good night.

She closes the door behind him and smiles with satisfaction. Without God, without a daughter. Excellent news.

The guests have blindfolded Paloma and they bring in a cake with candles and sing Las Mananitas Congratulations and hugs.

Dr B presents her with a tiny box. It’s the engagement ring he bought for Mac, and he says she’s the person it should belong to. Paloma is touched. Em comes up and asks if he can give her a hug. She says okay.

We see German in the background, and Romina too, watching Em and Paloma. Their hug is long. Gabriel watches sadly.

Romina suggests to Gabriel that they console each other . Gabriel says I thought you married Em because you were in love with him. Yes, smiles Romina. But just because I’m on a diet doesn’t mean I can’t look at the menu. Gabriels says the menu isn’t available. Romina says am I not your type, or what? Con permiso says Gabriel, blowing her off.

Carlota has arrived in her car outside Dr B’s. She has that lace shawl with her. She fondles it and stares at his house.

Avances: Congo line time at the party. Looks like Gabriel is going to kiss Paloma. Romina says something to Em about his fabulous love, but the background music is too loud for me to make it out. Carlota scales the hedge and we see her gloved hand on the latch.

Last time: Elena realizes Jorge is gonna let her take the fall alone if the "Ulises did it" ruse fails; Alex and MJ are off to Toluca to tell gramps something. Maybe the truth!

Lisette has her new friend Lety over to the luxurious digs. "When our parents died, they left us well cared for financially... so I can pay for your transplant and treatments, and I'll go to the city hospital with you." They embrace and frolic.

I am SO bored by Fer and Vic. Rehash: Raquel has promised to stop drinking if nobody denounces Useless; Fer gave Katya a dog to make up for the lack of Bruno. Vic will publish her book of poems under her own name. Fer acts like she's then going to be famous and he will be so proud to be her boyfriend. [In real life the publishing of a volume of poetry does not make a big splash in the news.]

Raquel defends Useless to Maura, who is patently skeptical - after all, it's in her best interests for him to take the fall. "Everybody but you, Raquel, believes him to be guilty, right? Your family believes that, right?" She offers Raq a drink. Which Raq turns down! And leaves.

Paula tells everything to Roberto; she wants Useless to Pay (unaware that he already has). Roberto is a little sad to hear that the hope of saving Useless is an incentive powerful enough to get Raq to stop drinking when he, Roberto, couldn't. Nevertheless, he hopes this will help her be a better mom.

Pau is impressed with his sagacity and niceness. He says "In future, go first to Gabriel, he can learn to understand and help you." [I think Gabe's a bit of a mouth-breather, but whatever.]

On the way to Porfirio's, at MJ's insistence Alex drives to Elena's place. Elena and MJ embrace. "I was worried about you, Sandra." "No, mom, I'm MJ and this is Alex my husband and the father of my child." "Oh, sorry, I fell for Ulises' deception." "Well, ... I'm your daughter, still."

Elena asks anxiously if Porfirio knows yet. Alex says it's time to tell him. Elena is all, "No, no, it would be cruel, please don't, no no no."

Back in the car, MJ is afraid all the news will devastate her faux-grandpa; Alex says this whole farce was set up to extract money, and there should be no more lies!

Elena keeps trying to interest her "husband" in this problem but Jorge is preparing to throw her in the piranha tank. He now hopes the news about not-Sandra will kill Porfirio; Elena says if it doesn't, Jorge may lose his medical license.

Jorge says all this was Elena's idea and he washes his hands of it. "You would abandon me to my fate? You are the cruelest, coldest man in the world." He reminds her of all the lies she told, and he uses nasty air quotes to remind her that they aren't even really married! [Remember, she deserted our sweet lachrymose Pedro, she never divorced him.] "And you did it for ambition, for the hope of marrying Future Nobel Prize Winner Me - so resolve your own problems."

Porfirio exclaims happily to see Sandra/MJ! She introduces Alejandro - "Oh, this is the famous photographer?"

Porfirio berates Sandra/MJ for leaving without even saying goodbye. He calls for tequila, everybody says he shouldn't, he says he'll die anyway. He gets his tequila.

MJ tries to calm him with the "vacation" story but Porfirio presses hard - he knows it's a lie because the servant saw Elena alone in town when she was supposedly away - tell the truth! She calls Alex "mi amor," Porfirio asks "is he your boyfriend?"

"No, we're married and have a child, I'm not Sandra." (Just then Elena, who has been pacing nervously outside, calls Porfirio but he refuses to take her call.)

Evidently, Alex and MJ tell Porfirio everything and then say he should rest. "You've deceived me all this time? That fox Elena, she never married my son? " MJ: "I didn't mean to deceive you, I thought it was all true!"

Alex explains about the memory-erasure, which doesn't interest Porfirio, who goes on to ask Emiliano: "Et tu?"

Emiliano: "I was afraid for your health, that's why I didn't tell you - and why I told MJ to come back."

Porfirio: "I am completely alone."

MJ: "No! In the short time I've known you, I've grown to love you." "For money!" Alex: "No, she's got oodles of her own moola and I'm more than capable of supporting her also."

Porfirio suggests a game of chess but then changes his mind and sends everybody away, saying "Don't tell the buitres (vultures) that I know."

Elena runs up to them outside. "We didn't tell Porfirio The Truth, he still thinks I'm Sandra." Elena is wobbly and grateful. Alex and MJ are leaving for their ride home but MJ suddenly tears away and runs back to embrace her mom and say "Adios."

Porfirio: "I want to sleep - or perhaps die."

Alex and MJ have a little squabble in their hotel room - she says he didn't even want her to say goodbye to Elena. Alex: "But she hurt you and deceived you." "But it was all Ulises' fault." "But she abandoned you and Paula when you were little." "OK, you're right."

Emiliano calls nephew Fer: "They told him everything. He was so hurt. He is my oldest friend. My only friend. When he goes, I'll be completely alone." "You have me." "But you're so far away." "How about I send you Katya? She's nicer now. And she's got a great dog."

Again Elena reports to Jorge. He crafts some complicated new lie to save their butts: part of it was that she should say MJ and Sandra were actually daughters of Porfirio's son. "So what? Even so, MJ won't share the inheritance." "Make her." "Not easy with that husband of hers around."

Next day, Alex and MJ go back to say goodbye to Porfirio and he's in a much better mood. "Though you're not my grand-daughter, I'd have liked to have had one like you." "And I'd like you for a grandpa." "You have a kid, really?" Alex: "We'll bring him next time." Porfirio says, don't wait too long...

Breakfast table debriefing at the Lombardo's. Blah blah blah. Paula wants the guilty to be punished and when she gets too abrasive Alex reminds her not to be late to work, the chauffeur will take her. She pouts and flounces out, indignant to be treated as an employee. Alex apologizes to MJ for being firm with Paula but she's a a bit of a "rebel" - MJ agrees.

MJ comes to see Alex and her sis at the office. Maura enters. Paula doesn't like to see Maura, especially near MJ, who can't remember what a jerk Maura is. Maura acts nice, offers to take MJ to the bank and set her up with her new checking account, help her with the papers she has to sign... we don't like any of this.

Raquel goes to Dr. (I always want to call him Dr. Placenta) and says she hasn't taken a drink but she needs SOMETHING. She wants drugs - he suggests she try rehab again and not leave till she's really better.

Lisette likes Katya's dog. She tells Katya about Lety. The two girls agree they used to be bad but are becoming rehabilitated.

Then Katya tells how Maura set her up with Matteo. "I took something... and thangs happened..."

The girls search for Katya's name on the internet, and - Dang! Somebody has uploaded that video of her getting it on with Matteo! Since Maura gave the cellphone to Bruno, it must have been him. They need to go tell the story to Fer!

Lisette yells at Maura, reminds her "I know about your Mario Aguirre trick," says she's ashamed of her.

Fer listens to Katya and Lisette and then goes and finds Bruno and throttles him. Bruno: "Let me go, you imbecile, it's not my fault your sister is a whore." Bruno tells Fer where to find Matteo, and laughs his brittle psycho laugh. I love Bruno, what a great villain.

Alex works his magic on MJ and gets her to agree to have a civil marriage soon and then a church wedding with all the fixings, and they'll baptise Tony the same day - as they had planned to do before MJ was kidnapped.

Fer goes off to find Matteo's apartment, it's in a squalid barrio with lots of ugly homeys around with nothing better to do than follow Fer up the stairs. When Fer starts getting in Matteo's face, they all gang up on him, beat him and kick him and - thrown him over a Stairway of Doom. He falls to the pavement.

Matteo and the homeys run away. Neighborhood ladies, who saw it all, cluck and fuss and send for an ambulance. Fer is "grave." He asks the ambulance guy to call Alejandro. Ezequiel takes the call - Alex isn't home, but Vic gets the news.

Feb 17th is the last day of Sortilegio.

Labels: sortilegio

This is even briefer than usual because I have to blog Sortilegio in three minutes... I'll try to clean it up later.

Well, Jorge wasn't dead. Azucena the maid thought he'd committed suicide! ("And he left owing me money!") The doc looks him over. At first he thinks it was a heart attack, but it turns out Jorge took a few sleeping pills thinking they were vitamins "or something for my memory." His sis sez nobody is going to tell Ale about this little mistake.

Ale is annoyed Claudia has been draping her assets over Rafa - he needs to concentrate. He was going to lunch with Claudia but Ale says "his training is not over" and takes him out in the parking lot. She was intending to drive him to lunch with Carlos Porda, a petroleum company exec, and her ex-boyfriend - Rafa's startled because she's in no shape to drive - but she's not going to let him, a beast, an assassin, drive her - he says "I was practically born driving" - she refuses - but Beltran the boss shows up and gives the keys to Rafa.

She yells at him for speeding (he isn't), he drives erratically because her shouting is frightening him, she scolds him again for trying to kill her That Night, he says he was distracted That Night because when she was leaning over (for her cellphone) he thought nobody was driving the car... she thinks he's going to hit that biker who is about 100 blocks away... she harps on the accident and says he was drunk, he denies it...

Meanwhile the sales force is dividing up the 70 pages (!?!?!) of contacts and squabbling about how to divide them up. Jimenez ("Dios Mio") sees them - he wasn't invited to the party - he instantly figures out what they're doing and says he'll have no part of it. But reminding him - "excuse me, aren't you poor and a loser?" - he has kids to put through school, the ringleader convinces him into it. Soon all are settled down with a few pages of clients, making calls.

Vic calls Rafa constantly, he never answers. In quite a state she goes to the beauty parlor run by the jail boys. She has a few grey hairs ("he gave them to me!") and wants them covered. There is a dumb conversation around their confusion about her "pajarito" (little bird) and cats are nice pets and so are boa constrictors etc.

Finally Rafa and Ale get to the restaurant, where her ex-boyfriend is waiting. She tells him the harrowing tale of the beast who almost murdered her (without saying it was Rafa). Carlos asks what she's been up to, since university. She says she went to Harvard. Him, in English: "No kidding, I was in Boston too, best years of my life!" they talk in English, leaving Rafa out, until he says: "Let's get back to cars."

The boyfriend wants a very low price. Ale starts saying that's impossible, the boyfriend says "then I will take my business elsewhere," Rafa starts talking a mile a minute about his cousin's trucks full of cattle and before you know it, the client has said ok, I'm sold. Ale is surprised and impressed.

Rafa jumps up and down and does karate moves in the parking lot, but Ale slaps him down and says the commission goes to the company because he's still in training. "Maybe you can get that cousin of yours to buy more trucks." "I just made that up." "You professional liar!" No matter how much she yells at him, he looks at her admiringly. He asks what kind of music she wants - she says SILENCE.

When they get back to A. Siglo, everybody tells Rafa's phone has been ringing constantly. "Vicky! Vicky! Vicky! Vicky!" He says, "it's my cousin" and slinks into his cubicle to call her back.

Ale tells Susanna it was Rafa who sealed the sale - "I've never seen anybody sell like that before. He's ignorant but creative." She calls Marco and says he can have a new car.

Marco crows to Chavez and rushes over to the agency and slides into a great car - "This is a car like I deserve!" - and drives it off at high speed to the distress of the mechanic. The plan he made with his seedy buddy: to hoochy-koochy with harlots tonight. And now he has a car to do it! He drives Ale home, where all admire the car. He plans for her to take sleeping pills and him to slip out, but her plan is to make love.

Meanwhile, Rafa has gone home, tired but happy. His friend Jaime is helping sis with her homework (and batting her eyelashes she convinces him to take it home and finish it for her).

They say Vicki called him forty times already and in fact is calling again this very minute. He tells V. not to come over but too late! She's already hung up and is on her way. But when he starts kissing her she is pushing him away and squeaking, not here, not now, my daddy, I need to call him, dad calls her ...

... and Marcos is pushing away Ale over and over, saying she is too fragile for this, and besides he forgot to bring condoms ... his cell rings, it's no doubt Chavez saying the harlots are ready, but he pretends it's some biz with the British International Co and he has to leave...

Ale flashes to the tender, loving looks Rafa gave him during the day... careful, Marcos, you haven't landed that fish yet...

Labels: dinero

Hello all,

I don't have a TV and so I usually go watch Sortilegio with a long-suffering friend who doesn't speak Spanish and is only mildly interested in Telenovelas but gives over her TV to me so I can watch and blog. (thanks Chris!) Today we're having blizzard conditions and I don't think I will be able to make it to her house. If my wifi is up tonight (sometimes it doesn't work in storms) I'll try to find Sortilegio chapter 88 on YouTube and get something up at least. Stay warm and dry, everyone!

Judy wanted me to share this with y'all! Hombre wrote:

Delayed gratification. That could be the secret to all telenovelas. They make us think something is going to happen, in this very episode. Then we wait, we watch, we lean towards the television set. Our pulses race, our breath quickens, we can just TASTE the revelation to come. Except when it doesn’t. Sometimes it’s a moment of love, sometimes revenge. Usually, we’re just waiting for one character to finally tell another something we, the faithful audience, have known for weeks! Ah, but those writers, have they no shame? Do they think it’s FUNNY when they tease us, only to make us wait until the next episode? And that means waiting through a long weekend? With lots of snow? (at least for me). I guess they do.

[Because your kiss is on my list of the best things in life

(because your kiss) your kiss is on my list

(because your kiss) your kiss i can't resist...

Because your kiss is on my list of the best things in life
--Hall and Oates, "Kiss On My List" (1980)Voices Album]

Resumen del capítulo 87

First a little review of the redo:

Gabriel and Paula are cleaning up the kitchen while discussing Gabe's new found and eventually reknowned talent as a sculptor of means. He is inclined to believe that his future fortune and fame are written in the stars and hopes that our pretty pug in a ponytail will now begin to see him with $$... er...those same stars in her eyes. Peso-lovin' Pau, on the rebound from an unrequited love for her first crush, Roberto, decides to give Gabe a go. They make a date. She gives him a kiss on the cheek and skedaddles. Once she's gone Gabe the Gimp acts like he is never gonna wash his face again.

At the same time, across town at the hospital, Dr. Hernan and the consulting neurologist and gynocologist give Mary Jo and Alex the results of her brain scan and ultrasound. The scan shows she was not a drug addict and the ultrasound shows she had indeed had a baby. She is 100% certified as Mary Jo, the wife of Alex, and the mother of Tony. With time and the medication they prepared for her, says the neurologist, little by little she will begin to get her memory back. MJ cries tears of happiness and confusion mixed with concern at not being able to relate.
=============

At casita de Nando, Katia is still very down in the dumps and brooding over Bruno's giving his little ho' the big heave. She tells her big bro' Fernando that she hasn't felt like seeing anybody or going anywhere all day. Woe is the ho' cuz now she is jobless and seemingly friendless. Life's a bore and she's a ....(rhymes with snore). Nando gives his bitch of a sister (appropriately enough) a puppy named Sami to cheer her up.

Meanwhile, Maura and Raquel are having coffee at a streetside cafe in town. In between complaints about her drinking, Mau is pumping Raqhell for news from Casota de Lobos y Locos de los Lombardo. Mau is anxious to know how Alex took the news about Ulises being the one who kidnapped MJ, and more importantly, if he's planning on reporting Uli to the police. Raqui says she doesn't know but she hopes not. Supposedly they are waiting to see if MJ recovers her memory first and can tell them what happened during the incident. Mau has a flashback to the kidnapping. Raqui confirms that Mary Jo is being treated in hopes that it helps her to get her memory back. Mau is Ruh-Roh!! impactada when she hears that MJ is under treatment specifically to regain her memory. (A silent prayer goes up to the virgencita throughout Viewerville in hopes that it might be soon--the sooner the better.)

Bruno now shows up at the main house throwing choice insults around at the hired help while looking for Mary Jo. He makes sure with Arturo first that Alex isn't around. Art says Sr. Alex has gone out for the day. Bruno goes inside the house then and asks Felipa if MJ is in. She tells him even if she were, he doesn't have permission to go upstairs. He sneers at her. Victoria walks in on him and Felipa. Vicki asks why he's there. Bruno says he wants to talk to Mary Jo. (Hmm. No more pretense that she's Sandra?) Vicki tells him she's not there. He asks if she's refusing to let him speak to her. (Like, where else would she be, lady?) Vicki deflects and asks what he needs to talk to her about. He gives her the now tiresome line that MJ's now a divorcee and that in Toluca they were dating and yada, yada.

Vicki says MJ never mentioned it. Bruno says well, he's telling her now, and that it means that Mary Jo loves him. Vicki is stone faced. He whines for effect, trying to elicit a little motherly guilt, complaining that even now that MJ's stopped loving Alex, his momma is forceably keeping him from a chance at happiness with her. (¡Ay! Talk to the hand, Bruno, cuz that face stopped listenin' a while ago.) Vicki reminds him she's his brother's wife, for crying out loud. He reminds her that technically she isn't. (Ugh! Here we go uh-gain!) Felipa interjects with something about as soon as MJ gets her memory back, but El Bruto tells her to shut her trap and starts heading for the stairs. Vicki yells at him to stop right there.

El Broodo de Bruno asks Vicki why she insists on stopping him and is taking the side of somebody who isn't even her real son. Felipa makes a pointed aside that they all wish to God that Alex was her son and not him. (Ten points team Felipa!) He yells at Felipa to stop meddling in his business. Vicki tells Bruno to stop yelling and acting like some deranged crazy person because Felipa is right. As soon as MJ gets her memory back his scheming will all be for nothing anyway because she'll know Alex is her one and only true love. He whinges (I do like that word!) that before all this memory stuff they were serious with each other.

Vicki throws her hands up in the air and says what the heck is his problem, anyway? They had and have had nothing going on between them. "What do you want? To snatch her from your brother? To destroy a family?" Bruno carps that Alex did that to him so why can't he do the same to Alex? It's only fair. Vicki tries reasoning with him, telling him again that it doesn't make any sense, that he's destroying himself, and --bottome line--that the way he's tied himself to this need for MJ is almost sick. (Almost, Victoria???) She pleads with him to look for another woman to have a relationship with and to forget this obsession so that he could actually be happy for once. "Just forget her and all this resentment of yours!!" Broodo says she doesn't know the first thing about it or him: Alex took away everything and has made him what he is! Alex not only took everything from him but he flaunts it in front of his face all the time! How is he supposed to feel? Who's being unfair then? Just who?

Vicki loses her patience and yells. "Enough already!" The commotion is so loud that as Alex and MJ return and enter the house, Alex has to intercede. He asks what's happening here. Felipa spouts off that "what's happening" is that Bruno is a spawn of the Devil. Vicki tries to cover and smooth things over. She lies and says nothing's going on and then tries changing the subject to what they found out at the hospital. Alex looks suspiciously over at Bruno and tells her that it turns out that tests showed there were no drugs and therefore it's not Sandra, but really Mary Jo, just like they thought. Besides that, the ultrasound proved she had had a baby.

Bruno yells back at Alex that the kid isn't his and that even so, MJ doesn't feel a thing for Alex now. (Nanny-nanny-boo-boo!) Alex says, yeah, but she'll remember soon enough. Bruno glares at Alex. "Oh yeah? What's she going to remember?" Alex gets in Bruno's face and keeps verbally punching back. He doesn't miss a beat. "You know what she'll feel whenever she looks in your face? Scorn! Rejection! That's the only thing you've ever aroused in her." Bruno is ready to explode. Vicki tries getting Mary Jo out of there. Mary Jo takes a hint and says she's going upstairs to see Tony.

Bruno starts after MJ but Alex blocks him. He's in Bruno's face again and telling him that his alegations are useless, cuz she's his wife and that's that! Bruno taunts back. "--In Toluca we were a serious item. We dated and we got touchy-feely with each other. We kissed each other. I even went to bed with her! (Oh noes!) Yep. That's how it was!" Alex has heard enough; he goes for Bruno's jugular. (Viewerville is up for another one of those exhillarating knock-down drag-outs, but...) Vicki jumps in between them and yells at them (despite Viewerville's multitudenous groans of protest) to stop it, and now! She turns to Bruno accusingly. "--No way will I witness [presenciar] another fight in my house!" Alex threatens that he'll kill him if he doesn't stay away from Mary Jo.

Bruno looks like he welcomes the challenge, but then he turns to his Mama with tears of frustration in his eyes. "What's Alex got to do with any of this? After all he's nothing but a filthy mooch since now the house belongs to you and Mary Jo!" Vicki is caught in the emotional squeeze-play. Somewhere she finds the strength to tell Alex to ignore Bruno, and, yes even to cut the apron-strings with her pain-in-the-ass progeny. "Precisely because I own this house I'm now telling you to clear out!" Bruno balks and stalls saying they'll wait to see what MJ has to say about it. Alex spits back a warning not to mix her up in this! Vicki has to break it up again. "Enough already! You get out of here or I'll throw you out myself--unless you've been so poorly raised that you'd lay a hand on your own mother!" Bruno threatens her not to force him to. Vicki (along with an incensed Viewerville) yells at him to just "Get out!!" Alex backs her up. "--Beat it!!" [¡Largate!] Bruno backs down (for now) and mumbles to himself on his way out the door. "--Again! Again!" [Otra vez]

Alex says next time Vicki should let him kick him out. Vicki is apopleptic. "--NO! There are not going to be anymore fights in this house! Is that clear?" (In a pig's eye.) Alex says then he and MJ will have to leave with Tony and go somewhere else to live. Vicki begs him not to do that. Alex hands her an ultimatum: she'll have to find the way to throw Bruno out. He walks off in disgust. (The screamfest has left Viewerville emotionally exhausted.) Vicki grabs her head as Felipa worries and warns that all of this emotional upheaval is going to kill her.

Alex heads upstairs to the nursery and learns that Mary Jo took Tony into their bedroom.

MJ is cooing at Tony and telling him she knows she's his mother now, though she doesn't really remember him. Alex walks into their room and MJ wants to know what happened. He says Bruno acted like a fool is all. He sits down and starts to stutter through a question. "I know you thought you were Sandra and I can understand... he was trying to get close to you. So I won't take your answer the wrong way... I just need to know is all. You are everything in the world to me, but I just can't handle it anymore... I ...just can't handle it. I need to ask you; I need to know..... Just how far did the trap Bruno set for you go? Because I would never forgive him, never in my life. He would have to pay for that. --Did you go to bed with Bruno?" Mary Jo immediately and firmly answers him in the negative. "--Of course not!" Alex nervously rubs his brow, lets out a deep sigh of relief and hugs her. MJ hugs him back, but a bit awkwardly.

Mary Jo then asks Alex why he would ask her such a thing. Alex tells her that it's what Bruno just finished telling him about her. She asks why Bruno does these sorts of things. (Do you have a few years to spend learning the psychology behind sociopathology?) Alex explains that he's always done stuff like that, ever since they were kids. "He would always take advantage of me, hassle me, beat up on me. I never let myself lose control, but........" MJ wondered what his parents ever did about it. Alex says he told about some things and they scolded Bruno. Other things he just let pass and kept quiet about. "Things got worse as we grew up." Alex just sort of resigned himself to it all, he tells her. Mary Jo says she thought brothers were supposed to love each other. (Ever heard of Cain and Abel?) Alex reminds her that they are only half-brothers. Anyway, he says, Bruno always was doing something to upset and anger him --and MJ as well. MJ wants him to tell her everything in detail. If it's that disturbing for him, she says, she needs to know all of it. They decide to eat up there in the room and have a long overdue discussion.

Later that evening Mau and Bruno have a pow-wow at the usual watering hole. Mau says she's going crazy from this whole thing and can't deal with it anymore. She's unable to sleep, to eat, or to even think straight any more. The poor dear even has to take tranquilizers to calm herself down. She's desperate. Bruno asks just what it could be that's bothering her. Mau says she is really worried about what happens if and when MJ remembers what went on during the kidnapping and that MJ heard her. "--What the hell was it you said?" She explains that when the kidnappers rushed in she was afraid that they might make a mistake and take her instead. She pointed at MJ and told them she was the one they were supposed to take. "--You should have kept your mouth shut!"

Mau says she was too frightened, so now she's worried that MJ will remember and she'll be arrested for being an accomplice. Bruno thinks it's a small detail and Mary Jo probably won't remember it. Or, they'll just have to hope that she doesn't. "--But what if she does?" "--Then you deny it! Remember they're only interested in the real culprit. That will be Ulises." (It helps not to have a conscience, of course. However, Mau isn't a sociopath like you, dude. She is just a rich, run-of-the-mill, jealous female out to get back at her competition.) "--Do you know where he is?" Bruno lies and says he doesn't. She whimpers again. She is really afraid. He loses his patience with her and tells her to just deal with it! He pays the tab (big of him), kisses her hand gallantly (what a jerkwad) and leaves her alone with her conscience.

Back at The Compound, Alex finishes telling MJ about all the little intrigues they've suffered through with Bruno recently. Mary Jo wants to know why he didn't just put a stop to it all or go to the police with it. Alex tries to explain that he didn't in order to save their families from scandal. She's surprised that he included her family into the mix. He says it was because he had fallen in love, head over heels, with her; that he still feels that way about her now. Alex misses her kisses and hugs, and especially the sex. This makes her uncomfortable. (Ah, come on. Look at this guy! Who in their right mind wouldn't want to jump his bones and/or have him jump their bones after a romantic come on like that?) MJ gets up from the table and walks away. Alex asks her to tell him --truthfully-- if she feels anything, anything at all, for him now.

Mary Jo tries to explain how it was in Toluca. "When I was in Toluca and Don Porfirio told me he wanted me to get married, I told him about Damian and introduced him. Don Porfirio didn't like him. So then, I told him about you --a photographer-- and that I was undecided about what there was between you and me. He wanted to meet you." Alex wants to know what she felt for the "photographer" at least. She admits he came across as sweet, pleasant, and kind. She liked him. He's disturbed that she talks about him in the past tense. She tries explaining that with everything that's happened since then, his taking her by force, and then telling her so many painful things about her mother that it's hard to say. He reminds her that everything he told her about her mother was the truth.

Mary Jo says it's hard to feel something nice about a guy who treats her like that. She lost control of her life because of what Alex did, so frankly, she finds it hard to imagine herself being able to love him. She doesn't know that she even wants to. (Ouch!) He says fine. But, she should know--and he swears to her-- that what they had between them before she was kidnapped was more beautiful than either of them could have ever imagined. He only wants the chance to show her and to get back what they had. "Open your heart with me. Try to love me, a little, please?" Mary Jo is brutally honest and says she doesn't know if she can. He says fine. "Have it your way. Just forgive me if I handled things badly. I thought I was doing the right thing by bringing you back here to your real life and home. Apparently you prefered your new life there." He politely says good-night and leaves her alone to mull.

The next morning the rest of the women are having breakfast together. Raqhell says they knew all along that she was really MJ. Felipa agrees. Vicki says the tests she took gave them proof what Bruno was telling them was a lie. Paula says she never believed her mother for a minute. No way could the woman have mistaken her for Sandra. "No, you know it when you're dealing with a loved one." Raqui puts in a worried good word for Uli. "Nobody can possibly think it was Ulises who took her. He had nothing to gain. [interés = reason to pursue, i.e., financially or romantically] Vicki insists that nobody is accusing him. Felipa suggests that he might know something, though. Just then MJ appears at the table asking for Alex. They tell her he already left for work. Apparently he left without saying good-bye and Vicki finds that a bit disconcerting. Mary Jo says she'd really like to visit her father. Paula happily says she'll take her to see him.

Once MJ and Paula are gone Vicki says that something must have happened for Alex to take off like that. Raqui thinks maybe the big love affair is caput. Felipa says it's a shame since MJ just found out she's his wife and all.

Pau and MJ arrive at the mall and she tells MJ not to think it's going to be a first class operation, but at least it's an honest way for their dad to make a living now. Pedro and the others are excited to see MJ there. Meche and Chucho reintroduce themselves to her because she can't remember even a little bit. Chucho reminds her (uh-gain) how he saved Alex's life way back when. Pedro tells her that she met Meche when Bruno played a dirty trick on Meche's kid brother, Gabe, and the rest of them. The three of them head for Pedro's humble abode so that they can have a little chat.

Meanwhile, back at Lodge Lombardo, Vicki has a chat of her own with Bruno. She tells him she really wants him to look for another place to live since he cannot seem to get along with Alex and MJ. Broodo insists on staying there as the judge decreed is his right. The chalet is his and that's that. They can leave if they want. He's staying. Vicki asks him to show a little class. (Him? Might as well spit into the wind, Vicki dear.) "Everything you've done up to now has been a waste. Why don't you just man-up and go your own way? Let everyone have a litte peace around here." This opens it up to a discussion about Bobo and his errant ways. "Are you trying to say I'm like Roberto?" Vicki smiles with just a hint of a snicker. "Roberto has a greater sense of decency than you." "--I'm not leaving! We'll just see if you can run me off!"

Vicki tries to reason with him again. "You have stock in the company and money." "--Yes, but I am lacking the love of my family." (Geez, Louise. It's back to this again.) Vicki gives up and walks off. Bruno watches her walk away and curses her under his breath. "You have never loved me you old fuddy-duddy! Now you can just rot!"

Back at Papi Pedro's apartment, MJ finds out that everything Alex told her about Bruno/Damian was true, and that the reason they never did anything to stop it was because Bruno was blackmailing Pedro for selling pirated merchandise and threatening to throw them all in jail. Pedro insists with his bum leg that nobody would give him a decent job. (To believe this line of self-pity regarding Pedro's game gam, please adjust the beany two notches. He had a desk job, you know?) Pedro continues his tale. When MJ found out, she went along with the fake marriage to Alex to protect them all from Bruno. Pau inserts herself here. "He's the worst kind of human being!" MJ asks why Alex went along with it once he found out. Pau and Pedro insist he kept quiet out of the kindness of his heart and because he fell in love with MJ.

MJ asks if she loved Alex also. Paula assures her she was head over heels for him, too. [derrapar = skidd, spin] Pedro asks what she feels for Alex now. MJ admits he's a stranger now to her. Pau wonders how this could be since they have a child together. Papi P. tells her to think of the rest of them and how they must feel, and how badly Alex suffered when he found out she was kidnapped. Pau tells her how Alex locked himself up with their baby for weeks afterwards because of his depression. Now, says Pedro, he's suffering because she doesn't feel the same for him anymore. MJ starts processing.

Back at Casa Lombardo Vicki tells Felipa she failed to get Bruno to see the light. Felipa's all for putting bugs, rats and whatever other vermin they can find in his place to run him off. (Viewerville is definitely down for that!) Vicki tells her to get real. She says she expected to pay dearly for all her sins, but never like this. She just can't cope any longer. Just then there's a call from Vicki's editor wondering if she's ready to publish her book of poems. Vicki says yes and that she wants it published under her real name. (Anybody wonder if it'll be dedicated to young lover Fer?) The editor is elated and says it will be sensational. FF>>

At Lombardo, Inc. MJ shows up with Pau for a look-see. Pau tells her it's the largest construction company in the state. Alex is thrilled to see her. MJ tells Alex she wanted to see the place where he works. Pau asks if he remembered offering her a job. He tells Mari to see to it immediately. He and MJ go into his office for a chat. MJ tells him about her chat with her papi and how Alex saved him from himself by paying his debts, etc. Alex admits he felt sorry for the old guy. It's obvious that MJ now sees him in a different light.

Meanwhile, Mari and Paula make quick friends with each other, especially when Mau shows up and they can secretly agree on how disagreeable Meowra is. Mau wants to speak with Alex. Mari and Pau let her know he's busy speaking with MJ and cannot be disturbed. Meowra says she wanted to tell him what Dr. Hernan told her about Lisett and to have him call her later when he's free. She pads out on all fours. Mari and Pau want to gag. They share a secret snicker.

Back in Alex's office he and MJ begin to flirt a bit. He takes the rest of the afternoon off and says after lunch he wants her to see the sights of the city with him. She says fine and blushes. He says there's a change in her. He wonders if it's good or bad. She asks him what he thinks. He says he has lots of questions he might ask her, but there's only one he will ask. "Can I kiss you?" She nods. He makes his move. They kiss. She goes with the flow and the two of them end up panting on his love seat. Just when it starts to get out of hand and we think they're going to do the deed right then and there and are asking ourselves if they remembered to lock the door, Alex pulls away. He politely asks her to forgive him for getting so carried away. "It's just, well, the fact is that I'm dying to make love to you. (Viewerville swoons.) It seems like years since we've done it." MJ giggles as Uni breaks for a little crass commercialism and gives us all a chance to catch our breath.

When we return, Pau and Mari are sealing their friendship. Pau says it's obvious Alex and MJ adore each other, so she is not about to be a third wheel. She asks Mari where Bobo's office is and heads there for a surprise visit. Bobo is happy to see her. He shows her the project he's working on. She mentions that BTW she's got a job there now also. He's happy to hear it. She's wondering if he'll end up going to Brazil for a while. He thinks he probably will. She says she'll miss him. He says he'll miss her also, then asks in his best Big Brother voice if she's managed to meet anyone yet. She says yes and that he knows him but probably doesn't remember him because the guy's been a nobody all this time although he is about to become a famous sculptor. Bobo says she doesn't sound very enthused about the guy. She says that's because the one she's been so enthused about was him. Bobo gets suddenly stiff. "I already explained that to you."

We beam over to the hospital now where Lisett is being discharged today. Her new friend from the free clinic, Lety, comes by and introduces her to her brother, Checo. (Uh, where is the scarf, Lis? --Hubby can't resist remarking that she looks like a conehead without it. Sadly, he's got a point. Show a little self-respect there, Lizzie. That turquoise thing looked pretty good the other day.) Lis introduces both of them to Big Sis, Meowra, and then invites them to come the next morning to the Hello-Kitty Castle for a big surprise she's got planned for them.

On the way out of the hospital Meowra scolds Lis for wanting to pay for the other girl's transplant. "What's the matter? Don't I have the money?" "--Of course you do, but you don't go throwing it around like that! I'm your sister and I'm supposed to take care of you." Lis says it's good that she remembered that because it seemed she forgot while Lis was laid up in the hospital all this time. (Ten points, team Lis.) Luckily she had Lety who did come to visit and she became her friend. Meowra can only gripe about the class Lety and her brother--with a name like Checo--come from. Lis walks off and leaves Meowra to stew and spew by her sorry damn self. (Another ten-pointer for Lizzie.)

Meanwhile, Pau and Gabe have their date. He shows her through an art museum nearby and explains what he knows about techniques or some such. FF>>

That night at the Casota, up in the nursery, Alex and Mary Jo tuck little Tony in. Alex tells her she'll be the best mother. MJ says it seems she remembers him telling her that exact same thing before. Could it be she's finally starting to remember? Alex says it could be. She's elated and hugs him. They walk towards their bedroom door. She thanks him for a wonderful day together then asks where he's going to be sleeping. Alex chuckles and says he's sleeping in the guest room. MJ asks him if he wants to come in with her. He smiles and says it will not be just for a kiss good-night. It looks, though, that she might be seriously considering the option. Mary Jo makes up her mind and invites him in. Alex asks her not to turn the lights on. He tells her that he understands how she feels and that he realizes it must be like the very first time they were together. He promises to be kind and gentle with her. He goes in for The Kiss. She tries to get into it but she's still too nervous and not really ready for it. Alex says not to worry. If she's not sure about it he can wait. He wants her to be completely confident so that next time they're together nothing is stopping her. He kisses her good night. She tells him to rest well. [Descansar] He chuckles to himself. (As if.) She smiles. He leaves. She's hot but not quite ready to trot.

The next morning they are all at breakfast. Alex and MJ tell Vicki they're going to visit Porfi but first he's stopping at the police station to report Uli to the police for the kidnapping. Raqui walks in on the discussion. Vicki tells her now that they know MJ is really MJ those responsible must pay for their crime. Raqui is desperate. She says all they have is Bruno's word that it was Uli. (We all know what that's worth. It seems like Mama and Alex are suffering from amnesia all of a sudden, here, too.) "Perhaps it's nothing but a big lie!" Vicki says that's why the police have to find him, to get at the truth. "But Mary Jo is just fine!" Pau pipes up to add that whoever did that to MJ has to pay! "--But he's my child's father!" Felipa chides her. "--And a courageous man you chose for the father, too! Anyway, you could give a flip about your daughter!" "--Stay out of it!" Alex tells Raqui that his mind is made up. He's reporting Uli to the police. Raqhell is frantic. She begs him not to do it. She turns to Vicki and tells her she'll die if Uli's sent to prison. "If you don't do this...I promise...I promise I'll never take another drink! Please! I'm begging you!" Vicki asks if she's really serious. Raqui nods. Serious as a heart attack.

Mary Jo says she has no problem if they choose not to report Uli to the police. Besides, she's back, safe and sound. Alex says then he'll think about it, but it is a crime that should not go unpunished. Raqui runs to MJ and tries to thank her --as best she can, considering. Pau starts to say something else but Mary Jo shuts her up on the spot. "There's nothing more to say. Perhaps we're making a mistake in not reporting Uli to the police, but with what Raqhell has promised, we've come out with a win."

Back in Toluca, Elena has been found out by Porfi's manservant, Isaías. Isaías goes back to Porfi's bedside and reports that he's sure he's seen Elena around town. So where is Sandra? Does that mean they have returned from wherever? Porfi doesn't like how things are shaping up. He has his man call Elena's rancho. The housekeeper answers and says yes, Sra. Elena is there. When she goes to hand the phone to Elena, Elena tells her to tell whoever it is that she's still away on a trip. Oops! Too late. The housekeeper tries to tell Isaías she's still traveling, but Porfi isn't buying any of Elena's B.S. and gets on the phone himself.

"If she's back why hasn't anyone bothered to tell me? It's not like we live in another country or something! Look, I want to speak to Elena! Put her on!" Elena pretends she's just walked back in the door. "So where's Sandra?" Elena pretends she left her to visit or something. "--You left her alone?" "--Oh, Porfirio. She's lived on her own for years now." "--You tell her she's to come back here immediately! That's an order!" Click.

Elena races over to tell Jorrible Jorge the bad news. "What do we do now?" Jorge tells her to call Merida and convince Mary Jo to come. "--And if she doesn't want to?" "CONVINCE HER!!!!!" (Viewerville waits for the rafters to stop shaking. What a freakin' ogre! It's Three Billygoats Gruff come to life. He and Porfirio are such a freak show.) Elena takes the phone from him and starts dialing. Vicki takes the phone from Zeke. She lets Elena know that MJ and Alex are on their way to Toluca to visit with Porfirio. "--Uh, Mary Jo?" Elena acts confused. Vicki says yes. They've medical proof now that MJ isn't Sandra. Vicki is so cool towards Elena the phone nearly gives Elena frostbite. "--Is there anything else I can help you with?" Elena says no, thank you, and then hangs up. She chokes giving Jorge the bad news that they've found out Mary Jo is not really Sandra and that she and Alex are on their way to visit the old man. What if they tell him the truth now?

Jorge wonders what's the big deal. "Not to worry. Ulises was the one who did the kidnapping, remember? He assured us she was Sandra." Elena is on the verge of a nervous breakdown. She can't believe that Jorge can be so cool and calm about it. Doesn't he realize the threat they are facing now, she asks. Jorge robotically explains to her that if one panics one cannot think clearly. Elena just blinks at him. She is panic personified.

Back at the Lombardo's Fernando is visiting his one true love. Vicki tells Fer that MJ and Alex have gone to see Porfirio. He asks if they plan to tell the old guy the truth. Vicki says she isn't sure MJ has it in her. He says he'll call his tío abuelo to warn him because if Porfi gets the bad news he won't take it well at all and somebody will need to control him. The man flies off the handle all the time and only his tío can really manage him. She has Fernando make the phone call. Emiliano answers and thanks him for the heads up, then heads over to Porfi's for the assist.
　

Labels: sortilegio

Permalink posted by Jardinera654 @ 2:29 PM 112 comments

Delayed gratification. That could be the secret to all telenovelas. They make us think something is going to happen, in this very episode. Then we wait, we watch, we lean towards the television set. Our pulses race, our breath quickens, we can just TASTE the revelation to come. Except when it doesn’t. Sometimes it’s a moment of love, sometimes revenge. Usually, we’re just waiting for one character to finally tell another something we, the faithful audience, have known for weeks! Ah, but those writers, have they no shame? Do they think it’s FUNNY when they tease us, only to make us wait until the next episode? And that means waiting through a long weekend? With lots of snow? (at least for me). I guess they do.

So, we’ve arrived at the moment of truth. Mau will tell Moni about Isabel. At least that’s what we’re led to believe. Monita shows up at Mau’s, and he decides to cook some pasta for her. Let’s just say, the pasta never gets made. Well then, does he suelta la sopa (spill the beans)? We’ll see. Moni tells Mau that La Momia said the strangest thing, that Isabel was still alive, and Mau could answer all her questions about the matter. Can you believe that? How crazy is that!

Mau’s response: I love you so much. Moni doesn’t get it, I love you too. There’s a little kiss, but Moni notices that Mau isn’t smiling, in fact, he’s crying a little. What’s wrong? Mau tells her he’s lost so much. He lost Salvador, who was like a father to him. He lost his children. Moni’s all he has left. Without her, he wouldn’t want to continue living.

But over in the cantina, they’re continuing living it up. Beto’s filling Nieves’ glass, while Estrella fills Jacqui’s. Don Cesar observes helplessly as the game of Mujeres All-Shloshed-inas continues. Beto tells Cesar not to be a spoilsport (aguafiestas), as Nieves, beads around her forehead, but sinking down, and Jacqui, hair in face and blouse askew, continue slugging down tequila.

Moni’s never seen Mau this despondent (don’t know if I believe that, we’ve seen him crying at least 5 other times). Anyway, she SWEARS that she’ll never leave, nothing can stop their love, yada, yada. He of the big secret, however, says you’ll hate me in the morning. No way, insists Moni. But Mau starts to let it out. La Momia was right – I AM the person who has the answers about your mother.

Cut to said mother, Isabel, talking to Marcos in her hotel room. What did you tell your daughter? Marcos assures Isabel that all he told Coni was that Isabel and he were just old friends, and he ordered Coni not to bother Valentina. Isabel isn’t so sure La Momia will go along with this. Marcos wants to know when Isabel’s going to approach Valentina (I guess to tell her she’s alive, and that Marcos is her father). Isabel refuses to be rushed. Marcos glares at her – Don’t mess with me, or else! His phone rings, he has to leave. He reminds her, though, don’t forget, you have to get close to Valentina, so after that, she can get close to me. Understood?

Moni asks Mau what’s going on, and he says nothing, but his face tells all (well, not all, but you know what I mean). She goes on a rant, her mother was dead, they were in the hospital, Moni tried to save her life but failed, but her mother loved her! She really loved her! Mau keeps saying he’d like to explain, but Moni’s on a roll. Why are you doing this to me? If my mother’s dead, tell me she’s dead! The only thing I have left is the certainty that she loved me. Mau starts to explain. My love, those days in the hospital…and Moni cuts him off again. If she tricked me, if she didn’t really love me…No, that would be a lie, because my Mamá loved me! My Mamá was really sick. Yes, she was sick, replies Mauricio. And she died in the hospital, right? asks Moni. Mau opens his mouth, and….his phone rings. He doesn’t want to answer, but Moni insists. Uh oh, Aldo and Luisa are in jail!

Cut to our favorite little jail (or police station, they use the word delegación), which has the girl’s cells and the boy’s cells facing each other, right across a little walkway. Cristian enters, truncheon in hand, to check out the new guests. We have Luisa and Katia in the girls’ cell, with Aldo, Andrés and the other boys on their side. I guess that little fight in the club got serious. Cris is perturbed that Aldo’s locked up again, was there another raid on a brothel? The other boys find this a hoot, give us the address, Aldo. How are the ladies there? Aldo gets mad, but Cris cautions them not to make things worse. The cops are contacting all your families. Please don’t call La Momia, pleads Luisa. Cris says they called El Señor Mauricio Sermeño, and unfortunately, La Señora Constanza Lerda de Tejada alias La Momia also has to be contacted. Katia asks if they called her Mom (Jacqui). Sorry, Miss, says Cris, your esteemed mother is in a cantina, and is in no condition to help you out. But we’re calling your Dad. Katia doesn’t like this one bit. After Cris leaves to tend to “procedures” (gestiones, one could also use the word trámites), Andrés tells Luisa he’s really jazzed that she came to hear him sing. Lu smiles shyly. (Is she forgetting about Ivan?)

Said Ivan is grilling Britney Sofia (Coni’s new maid), where’s Luisa, let me see her! But she’s not here, says Britney desperately. Out comes Coni. After calling Britney an idiot (she says burra, or donkey), she haughtily informs Ivan that Luisa went to the club to see her schoolboy singer friend. Yes, Andrés Rivadeniera, a well-educated boy, from a good family, with lots of money. He’s handsome, enchanting, talented, perfect to be the novio of Luisa, unlike you, Ivan, you’ll never amount to anything. So leave now, and never return. Ivan counters that Andrés may be all that, but he’ll never get Luisa to love him. Coni laughs, sure, what you want only happens in telenovelas, so lárgate! (Get out!) Ivan leaves, Coni’s phone rings, and she gets the news about the kids in jail.

Luisa screams that it’s Aldo’s fault they’re in jail. Aldo says no, it’s these dummies, they were bragging that they went to see Estrella, saying she was a prostitute, that they threw money at her. One of the nerds gets up and says, well, Katia’s the one who said she was a prostitute, even said she was in porn movies. She even gave us Estrella’s address. (Ahhh, Katia’s been found out, looks as if she wants to sink into the ground).


Aldo realizes what happened, looks at Katia, so it was YOU.

We now peer through a spiral of ironwork into Rolu’s bed. Does this symbolize the circuitous nature of his relationship with Xime?


Xime pops into view, love letter in hand. The letter was maraviguau, no one’s ever written something like that. Rolu takes full credit, those are his true feelings. Xime is enchanted. She then tells Rolu she sold her shares, is he happy? He sure is. But, she adds, she’s giving the money to Mau, is Rolu mad now? No way, he’s fine with that (since he wants Xime to impoverish herself, thus leaving himself indispensable as sole provider). Xime thought he’d be mad, what with their race car rivalry, but Rolu of course says, Mau’s family now, cousin of the woman I love, and you can do whatever you want with your money. And I promise as long as we’re together, you won’t want for anything, I’ll buy you anything you like. Xime says he’s divine, and they kiss, but he’s still WAY more into it than she is.

Jerónimo! Yes, we’ve missed our bungling baddie. He breezes into the apartment, complaining to high heaven to anyone who’ll listen (which at this point means Arnie) how Oscar abandoned him. Jacquelinay won’t answer his calls. What’s he gonna do? Oscar left him destitute (en la miseria). He sees his future passing before his eyes. He’s standing at a traffic light, with a clown nose, two balloons balanced on his butt, juggling (haciendo malabares), and all for what! He was a stockholder, dammit! Now he’s a nobody. But maybe…. you and I could do something together. Arnie’s appalled. Business, replies, Jero, just business. Arnie starts to flee. Sure, abandon me, says Jerry ruefully. Just like everyone else. I’ll have to get used to it, just like they’ll reject me when I’m holding my little bottle of cleaner, trying to clean those windshields. That’s my destiny. Arnie leaves.

Jerry spies the love letter from Lalo, looks around furtively, decides to read it. He’s entranced, then mad, then wistful. How come Lalo never wrote anything so pretty to me? Don’t I deserve it? Don’t I?

At the cantina, we’re winding down, as Beto and Estrella now have to lift the hands of their drinkers to get those shots into them, Nieves and Jacqui having lost the ability to handle such matters on their own. The hands are lifted for another round, but Nieves can’t quite manage it, and her head sinks down onto the table, she’s out cold. Same with Jacqui. Darn, says Estrella, a tie! Okay, game over, says Cesar, let’s get the ladies back to the vecindad. You, Beto take Nieves, I’ll take Jacqui. Hey, says Beto, why do I get the heavier one? Well, it’s your Mom. But I could get a hernia, says Beto. They enlist some strong guys from the next table to help. The guys will help carry Beto’s ex-suegrita, and he and Cesar will take Nieves. On the count of three!

Mauricio, Monita and Connie all arrive at the police station at the same time. Connie won’t even let Mau and Moni see the kids, ‘cause they’re her kids. So this is how you take care of the kids? asks Mau. Coni reminds him that when the kids were under his guardianship (tutela), there were problems, too, but now, with Coni’s firm hand, they’ll behave like cultured people, not animals. Mau says the kids were never animals, and rather than teaching manners, shouldn’t one teach them how to be good people? He doubts Coni will teach that. Enter Marcos, what’s happening? Coni fills him in, but he then notices Moni, what’s she doing here? Moni says she came with Mauricio, the kids are more his that hers (Coni’s)! Ahh, he says, walking over to Mau, so you’re Mauricio Sermeño.

Ivan is distraught that he’s losing Luisa to Andrés. Paula gives him some words of encouragement in English. “Don’t worry, be happy” (isn’t she cute?) Meanwhile, here come the wounded soldierettes, returning from the field of battle.


After a few joking remarks from the crowd, Ivan helps Beto get Nieves to her house to sleep it off. But what to do with Jacqui?

Mau tells Marcos these are his kids, but Marcos says the law is the law, and he’s the adoptive grandfather. He stands up to Mau and says Mau’s a wretch, to mess with two womens’ lives. Marcos is GLAD Mau’s without money, in the street, because that way it’ll be easier to stop him for good. As usual, Mau’s quiet, but Moni’s enraged, and jumps in to defend her man. Mau and Moni insist they just want to SEE the kids, to make sure they’re okay, but even that’s too much for Coni and Marcos. Moni threatens to break Coni’s head in two. Marcos says violence never solved anything (he must have missed the first two thirds of this show), and also tells Coni to control herself, too. Moni gets in another jab, saying the Mummy should open up her museum, we have some relatives here (implying Marcos is just like Coni). Valentina! yells Marcos in frustration.

Okay, what’s to do with Jacqui? First idea, a taxi. No, says Cesar, she’s in no condition, and La Momia would kill us all. They decide the guys from the bar have helped enough, so Beto and Ivan each take a shoulder, and Don Cesar gets between Jacqui’s legs and lifts. Not too dignified, but at least they’ve got her in motion. Okay, let’s take her to Estrella’s house. No, no, no, says Estre, frantically waving her hands, take her to Paula’s house. Wait a minute, says Paula, she won’t fit in my house, we have my father, Cristian and me. How about with Ivan and Terry? No, please no, says Terry, we have Alicia, Ivan and I, and Alicia’s sleeping soundly right now. Ivan suggests calling La Momia, but Beto says she wouldn’t help out her mother for anything. Okay, Paula has another idea, let’s take her to Moni’s house!

Cris tells Mau and Moni they don’t have any rights, so they agree to leave. But Moni has a parting shot for Marcos. If you’re on La Momia’s side, how do you expect me to trust you? They leave, and Marcos tells Cris he wants to take care of the fines. Coni will go check on the kids.

Chaos continues in the vecindad. Estrella nixes the idea of Moni’s house, there’s only one bed, and Moni hates La Momia, what would happen when she got home? Fine, says Beto, then tells Estrella, it’s your house and that’s that, since my jefa is in mine, and we had a tie, right? So you get Jacqui. Estre grudingly agrees as the entire crowd carries the passed out rich lady in the white pantsuit off to her fate.


(Think about it, though, if a poor woman passed out in the rich neighborhood, would the neighbors be so kind? Not in THIS novela).

Luisa, Katia and Aldo have been released, and Coni insults them for about 5 minutes, until her Dad comes back to muzzle her. He also wants to be introduced to his grandchildren. Fine, says Coni, and states their names dismissively, adding there’s also a little one sleeping at home. She’s disgusted, but Marcos is amused and happy. He gives both Aldo and Luisa some high fives and fist bumps,


tells them to cheer up, let’s go out to dinner. Coni opposes this, but Marcos reminds her she was young once. But I’m still young! she insists. Well, then why did you adopt adolescents, instead of having your own babies? To bother our father, says Luisa. You see this insolence, says Coni, this is why I have to be strict with them. Nah, says Marcos, adolescence is a very tough stage, you have to be understanding. Now let’s go to dinner, kids and your new granddad will get to know you. No way, shoots back Coni, we’re going home. Come now, children. She marches off defiantly, leaving her Dad to sputter helplessly.

Outside Moni’s apartment, Mau’s still down about the kids, and he’s also worried about Marcos, but he doesn’t want to talk about it anymore. Monita gives him a happy little salute, yes, sir, as you order sir,


and gives him a hug. Mau wants to continue talking about the matter they were discussing before. Moni’s too sleepy to finish the talk, but asks him to come in, and stay with her until she falls asleep. They enter her house, hand in hand.

Nieves is snoring away, as Beto and Cesar tease each other. Cesar thinks Beto set a bad example, egging his Mom on in the cantina. Beto disagrees, after all, she almost won. Cesar tells Beto to go to the store and get some things for a hangover, Nieves will need these. Beto agrees, but not before Cesar has to give him the necessary lana (dough) to pay for the items.

After he leaves, Cesar looks lovingly down at Nieves, bemused that she drank so much. He leans in to kiss her, but is overwhelmed by the liquor smell, thinks he could get drunk from the smell (la pura tufa). He takes off his shades, kisses her hands, calls her his little chocolate candy, he’s here with her, he’ll never leave her alone. Nieves stirs a bit, mumbles where are you? Where is who? asks Cesar. Marcos. The love of my life. Come back to me, I still love you, Marcos, let’s kiss, ah Marcos! Don Cesar is sunglasses-off impactado.


Monita has fallen asleep in Mau’s arms, and he gently places her head on the pillow and quietly gets up. Outside, he runs into Beto, who tells him about the drunk ladies. Beto then notices that Mau looks sad, how come? Valentina now suspects her Mamá is alive. What are they going to do?

Inside, Moni wakes up. She thinks of her Mom, gets out the cigar box with that picture they took when she last saw Isabel. Moni flashes back to all the kind words Isabel said, that she adored Moni, that she was proud of her, that she was so sorry for having abandoned Moni, and begged her forgiveness.

Mau tells Beto that now that Moni has this doubt, there’s no turning back. Sooner or later, through La Momia or otherwise, the truth will come out. Beto agrees, Coni would never stay quiet. He tells Mau how Coni had the chance to choose between love and vengeance, and chose vengeance. Her life’s goal (su meta en la vida) is to destroy La Monita. Mau says he’d understand if Beto doesn’t want to get involved after being hurt by Coni, but Beto says Mau’s his soul brother, and they’re on the same team. He’ll do whatever he can to protect La Monita. Mau says he’s tired of lying. Tomorrow morning, he’ll take Valentina to see her mother.

Moni thinks back some more about those beautiful things Isabel said. But then we see Moni’s face turn thoughtful, wondering, doubtful.


I guess she’ll have to wait until Monday to find out what Mau was trying to tell her.

Previews for Monday: Oscar uses the power of the purse, to make sure Sal stays the same – or worse. And Moni gets to see what’s behind Door Number Two. Will she like what she sees?

Vocabulario:

Un aguafiestas – a spoilsport, a party pooper, a wet blanket
Delegación – police station
Gestiones – procedures (such as legal ones), similar to the word trámites
Miseria – poverty, destitution, it’s a false friend, as the word for “misery” is sufrimiento
Malabarismo – juggling
Tutela – guardianship, tutelage, protection
Tufo – something stinky
Meta en la vida – life’s goal, aim in life

We start with Ale telling Rafa she’s going to give him an on-site lesson on how to be a businessman.

Marino tells the other vultures...er, employees, that he is going to make copies of Lopez’s list so they can share the clients. They all scatter and try to look busy when Ale and Rafa come in. Naturally, it doesn’t work and Ale tells them they need less talkie and more workie. She singles out Claudia and Rosaura and asks to see them privately.

Marino pulls Nelson and Isabel aside and tells them he’s going to split the list between the three of them. Isabel calls it a little extreme and Marino says she must not want the money because she already has enough to provide for her hijo. I never said that! Isabel gripes. Nelson tells Marino it would better for them to wait to copy it until Ale isn’t around, so they can have more time to decide what to do. He pries the list out of Marino’s hands and puts it back on the desk.

Rafa admires one of the models but Ale snaps him out of it and makes him practice his selling technique with her. Ale pretends to be a family of clients (a husband, wife, and a seven year old) and she critiques how Rafa handles it. (This was really fun; Ale is very good at acting out each part.)

Ale tells Rafa he has to sell forcefully and confidently to assure the customer he can fulfill their demands. Then, she shows him how it’s done by using a flirty voice and two leggy models to help seal the deal. Rafa thought-bubbles that Ale is a little strange but awfully pretty.

Vicky visits Leonor and gives her a huge hunk of meat as a gift since she knows how tight money has been. Leonor doesn’t want to accept it but Vicky says it’s what family does. After all, she feels like a part of the family anyway. Vicky asks about Rafa and Leonor gushes like a proud madre about how well he’s doing. She’s thankful her hijo has finally found stability.

Instead of being happy for him, Vicky mopes that Rafa hasn’t called her. Leonor has to pad Vicky’s ever-fragile ego and assure her that Rafa will call when he isn’t so busy. Unfortunately, Vicky sees the telephone number of the Siglo on a tablet and takes off to call him.

We’re role-playing with Ale and Rafa again. This time she’s a very snappy elderly woman and Rafa doesn’t handle it much better than his first trial. Marino interrupts to tell him Vicky is on the phone. Rafa asks Marino to tell her he’ll call back later. Ale lectures that he should never leave a customer for a phone call. However, Rafa is too busy staring at her lips to be paying much attention to what she says.

Marino snatches the client list and the employees start arguing over how much each person gets from the copies. Claudia wants 50% since she was Lopez’s woman. (For all of half an hour.) Marino says it was his idea so he gets to decide how to split it up. (Very grade school playground mentally. “I saw it first!”) Rosaura says they should split it all up equally but Marino makes no promises. Nelson stops him and says someone trustworthy needs to make the copies with Marino so everything ends up fair. Rosaura nominates Isabel and Marino reluctantly agrees.

Trapito, another employee, brings Ale a cane to replace her crutches. (Everyone better be on the lookout, that cane looks a lot easier to swing around than crutches.) Ale has Rafa practice how to VOCAL-I-ZADO when introducing himself.

Lic. Beltran barges in during this and Ale has to introduce him to Rafa. Beltran takes to Rafa immediately and hopes the many achievements Ale has told him about will help increase their profits. After he leaves, Rafa teases Ale for regarding him so highly to her boss and not mentioning that she hates him. Ale snarks that all she wants is her payment.

Marino and Isabel are at the copy machine and he comes up with a proposition: give 50 pages of the list to the salespeople and keep 20 pages for the two of them. Isabel starts an impassioned speech about honorability; she would never defraud the company that way.

Rafa practices introducing himself again and Ale continues criticizing. She tells him he needs to be more clear and charming, like a caballero or “un sexy boy”. (She did say that and it made me smile.)

Susana interrupts and says a client called looking for Lopez; Ale says to transfer the call to her and declares Rafa’s daily lessons over for the day. She sends him out to practice by himself.

Claudia gets sent to chat up Rafa (to keep him from finding out about his missing list) and he vents a little about how annoyed Ale is with him. Claudia says Ale is bitter and Rafa is surprised because he thought she was only that way with him. Claudia drags him off to get him a cup of coffee.

Claudia asks Rafa if he’s married or has a novia. He says he doesn’t; he likes to be free. “Then who’s Vicky?” Rafa chokes on his coffee and says Vicky is a distant cousin who works in his house.

Nelson runs into the copy room to warn Marino and Isabel that Rafa is out of the office. They grab all the paperwork and run.

Rafa chats with Claudia about his past sales experience and she keeps him distracted long enough for the vultures to rush off unnoticed.

Rafa finally gets back to his desk and calls Vicky. She cries about how abandoned she feels and freaks out when he calls her Vicky instead of Pajarita. (This girl is the definition of clingy.)

Marino emphasizes again that they are going to share the list between them (excluding Rafa).

Vicky keeps sobbing into her phone so her padre grabs it and asks Rafa why he’s making her cry. Vicky blames it on the onions and Rafa has to lay it on thick until Vicky takes the phone back again.

The group tries to send Claudia over to eavesdrop on Rafa’s call, thinking it’s a business deal. She doesn’t want to because Rafa is so darn cute but they convince her to slink over. Rafa struggles to talk to Vicky with Claudia pawing him and has to hang up quick.

Ale tells Susana that the client who called was Carlos Pardo, a friend of a friend from back in college. Ale whines that she wishes she were still as pretty as back then but Susana tells her to cut it out.

Susana asks Beltran if she and Ale can borrow one of the cars so they can go out for lunch with a client who wants to buy 10 of them. He agrees but says Susana needs to take a message to his wife and Rafael should go in her place.

Susana tells Ale about it and she is as happy about it as you can imagine. Ale overhears Claudia and another employee talking about how great Rafa is compared to all the other grumps they work with.

Rosario and Azucena wonder why Jorge hasn’t gotten up yet so they sneak into his room. Rosario is hysterical when she can’t wake him, no matter how much she shakes him and yells.

Avances: Vicky (surprise) whines that Rafa hasn’t called her all day and says it’s “all that woman’s fault”, Rafa and Ale get ready to go to lunch with the client.

Labels: dinero

Tonight, Angelique Boyer is "Soledad, Cautiva" (Soledad, captured).

A couple gets hot and heavy in a bright orange retina-burning room. The guy mumbles something about her being very expensive, but she says she's worth it.

Credits.

A "family" is traveling in a car. We gather that the girl in the back seat is Soledad. Dad is driving, and Stepmom sits up front. Dad is sick of the other two fighting and wants Soledad to get over it and Stepmom to just shut up already. Soledad is pissed that Stepmom was dad's lover before Mom died. Stepmom doesn't like how either Dad or Soledad treat her. Soledad won't let go of Stepmom being "Lover" first. Dad actually pulls the car over in the middle of nowhere rather than threatening and Soledad gets out and starts walking down the road in the opposite direction. Dad orders Stepmom back into the car and they drive away.

Soledad has no luck hitching a ride until, finally, an old beat-up truck pulls over and she hops in the back. They drive her to a roadside stand, where, due to her lack of money, she just asks for a glass of water. A hottie in a much nicer, newer truck pulls up. He orders his usual, whatever that might be. He notices Soledad crying and asks if she's ok, but she just shakes her head. He picks up his tacos and goes to sit next to her. He asks if she's hungry and he shares his…quesadillas? On blue corn tortillas?

He gives her a ride to somewhere. She talks about Dad and Stepmom and tells him the whole story, according to her. Her cell phone battery is dead, so she can't call her best friend and his is only for inbound calls. She finally realizes she's been talking this whole time and starts asking him to talk. What he comes up with is "I like listening to music while I drive and being with pretty girls." He turns the radio on.

It's getting late and she figures he must be getting tired. She feels bad about it. He asks what she's going to the city for. She's going to see her aunt. He offers to put her up in a hotel for the night so they can rest. Just a nice, simple, clean place.

He said it wasn't a by-the-hour place, but when they get there, it is. He says maybe that's how other people use it, but they're just there to sleep, so it's no big deal.

Ah, but now it turns out there's only one room available with only one bed in it. No worries, though, he'll take the floor.

At some point, he asks if she's awake, which she is. He playfully grabs her hand and pulls her off the bed and onto the floor with him. This suits her just fine and the by-the-hour motel room heaves a sigh of relief as it gets to fulfill its life's purpose.

Dad calls Yolanda, the aunt, I presume, and is surprised to hear that Soledad isn't with her. She also hasn't called. Dad defends himself for yesterday, saying Yolanda wasn't there and she shouldn't judge him. He agrees to call her later. Stepmom tells Dad to chill, that Soledad is probably with a friend.

A male, naked friend, in fact.

They keep driving on. The guy drops her off at an intersection of two highways. He says when he comes to Mexico he'll call her at her aunt's place. She asks if his uncle's house is much farther away. It sounds like she's scared to go to her aunt's. He offers to wait, but she declines. He finally, very seriously, says it was a pleasure meeting her. She giggles and ends up asking what if she goes with him to his uncle's house. He asks if she's sure and she gets back in the truck and kisses him. Nice shiny truck like that…I've got a bad feeling about this. Really, man, there's no point getting informed consent unless it's actually informed. But I bet that "are you sure?" is going to come back to haunt her. Safe bet on a show like this.

He pulls up to a gate and honks. A man in a dark suit holding some kind of rifle waves them in. There are several of these men around, and also a pool and a lot of pretty girls in bikinis. As the truck pulls up, several of the girls start walking over. Since I'm sick of calling him "the guy" I looked up his name on IMDB--Esteban. Esteban greets a man in a lighter suit, Jorge, and introduces Soledad as his girlfriend. Jorge calls her precious and says she's got beautiful eyes while carressing her face. Jorge asks if Esteban explained. He starts copping a feel and Soledad freaks out. Esteban tells her it will be better if she plays along. Better in the sense of "not getting quite as bruised in the process" I imagine. She starts backing away as one of the dark-suited guys goes after her. She starts asking the bikini crew for help, but all they do is watch. The one woman not in a bikini comes up and injects something into Soledad's arm as two suits hold her. This is Clarissa, who I recognize from playing Marta on Tormenta en el Paraiso. The hair's different, but she has a very distinctive, almost manly jaw. Soledad gets carried off and sure enough, Esteban yells after her "Hey, this was your decision, remember?" Jorge asks how much for the girl.

Soledad wakes up with blurry vision, surrounded by a posse of other girls her age. One of them tells her that her name is Cindy now, as per Don Jorge. Another girl whispers not to worry, that as soon as they can they'll all get out of there. Don Jorge and Clarissa walk in. Soledad begs to go home. She throws up from the drugs and Jorge gets pissed off. Clarissa wipes the vomit off Soledad's mouth and tells her that's the last time she does that. Soledad keeps begging to go home. Jorge tells her she's to open her legs and not her mouth. He tells Clarissa to have her washed and brought to him. He tells her that she will open her legs.

Soledad gets hosed off by another of the girls, while the one who woke her up gives her a quick swipe with the soap. Clarissa watches, smoking a cigarette, and another girl holds a towel and looks worried.

She ends in what looks like a hotel room, dressed in lingerie. Don Jorge walks in and she starts the crying and begging all over again while he starts getting undressed. From the way he bites into a strawberry, he seems to get off on the crying and begging. The crying and begging continues, as does the undressing. She asks what she has to do so they'll let her go and starts telling him not to come closer. Back in the bunk room, the other girls cry and/or cover their ears as she continues screaming "no." One of the girls says she hopes Soledad passes out. Other than "no" and "please" we also get "me duele" (it hurts)…yeesh! Clarissa waits out in the hallway and smokes.

I take it we're keeping the same cops throughout the whole series. Dad has brought Det. Capellan Soledad's purse and a picture of Soledad. He says all she would have with her is her cell phone. Det. Capellan says it's been 24 hours since his daughter disappeared. Det. C thinks it's odd she hasn't called in that time. Actually, Dad says she called her friend, but just when she was about to tell her friend where she was, the call got disconnected. It seems like she was with someone. He thinks it's the first time she's gone off with someone and that's what worries with him. Det. C tells the cop behind her, whose name I didn't catch, but whose hair I covet, to set up a 100km perimeter around a spot she points to on the map and to notify her of any sighting of Soledad. She hands over the photo.

"From me, you will learn everything you need to know to give pleasure. To serve men, to please them, to not suffer. Forget about the other day with Jorge. I'll show you how things are here. I'll turn you into a geisha, a goddess. From now on, see me as your teacher, your protectress, your friend. You need to be obedient, pleasing, servile. Under my care, nothing will happen to you. And one day, if you do what I say, a client will come, who will notice you. He'll be with you once, and he'll come back again and again for you until he falls completely in love with you and he pays us everything you're worth. And that's how you'll get out of here." This is Clarissa's little motivational speech to Soledad as she introduces her to the fine art of whoring. Aren't these shows so much more fun when you actually know what people are saying?

Soledad spends some quality time with a Hugh Heffner wannabe, complete with satin robe.

"And now, I'll tell you one of the great secrets. Here, it's the clients who enjoy, not you."

Mr. 5ft thinks it would be nice of Soledad blows this whole place up. Given the show, I think that's entirely possible.

Curly-haired cop explains to Det. C and a hot male cop that within that perimeter she found other missing girls. She has points of disappearance and pictures up on the computer screen, mapped out. The guy is Lt. Moran. He reports that there are several whorehouses in the area, many of them with registered sex workers (http://www.illegaleconomy.com/prostitution/prostitution_in_mexico.php) but none of those correspond to these missing girls. Dec. C wonders, then, what's going on.

At Casa Jorge, the girls sunbathe. Soledad notices Enrique's truck pull up. Another girl tells her not to be stupid. Soledad watches another girl try to run as the "Don't be stupid" girl tells "Cindy" not to "echar a perder" (ruin) things. "Soledad," Soledad insists, "my name is Soledad." The other girls start talking about needing to escape. DBS is working on a plan. Another girl says in the meantime, they've got to go welcome the new girl. Soledad looks over at Esteban and Jorge.

Estaban asks how it's going. Well, but they need more, according to Jorge.

Back in the bunk room, the new girl is laid out on a table, in some distress from the drugs and the kidnapping and the suspicion that she's about to start a fun new job she didn't ask for. The other girls hover, comforting her. DBS points out that today is Monday and on the first Monday of every month, Don Jorge leaves. She presumes, to go move his money around. And with two of the guards gone with him, that leaves less eyes to watch the girls. Another girl thinks DBS is saying stupid stuff. If they get caught, they're dead. "We're already dead," says another girl. DBS says if someone doesn't want in on the plan, fine, but they need to keep their mouth shut. Don Jorge comes in, asking if the girl is awake yet. DBS says they're working on it. Jorge tells them to get the girl ready quickly and bring her to his room.

Out on the floor, one girl wipes a glass, another fiddles with her necklace, and a third attaches her thigh-highs to her garter belt. Clarissa comes in, suspicious, and asks where Karen and Soledad are. Thigh-high girl says they're getting changed.

Outside, one of the girls seduces a guard to get him to leave his post. Others start sneaking out. Another one waits by the breaker box and cuts all the electricity.

Clarissa is still asking the few girls who are left where Karen and Soledad are…"Where is everybody?"

The girls outside get chased by guards with lights attached on their big scary guns.

Inside, Clarissa reprimands the other girls for their lack of discipline. One of the girls is lying on a table, at least hurt, but possibly dead. Clarissa asks the girl who seduced the guard "Since when do you care about others?" For Soledad, she has a "Why did you do this to me?" And for the guard, she says if he breathes a word of this, he'll have to deal with Jorge. She zips his pants up. Right then, Jorge walks in, asking what happened. I guess the girl on the table is dead after all. Jorge says "look what you've done to her." He asks Clarissa if she knows how much money he's losing. He orders the guard to get the body out of the room.

Curly haired cop gets a call. She tells Lt. Moran that the Red Cross found one of the missing girls. She's having her transferred to them.

Jorge directs his dark-suited lackeys to "find the girl." They're out there with dogs, not knowing that the Red Cross found her first.

The doc tells Det. Capellan that if what the girl is saying is true, they've got a real horror story going on. They're standing outside the interrogation room, while the escaped girl sits inside with the curly haired cop. Doc says that another doc did some tests and said the girl was fine.

Looks like the ringleader is the one who made it out. The cop is showing her pictures and asking about the girls. She identifies one as "Roxy," who got out with her, but then she thinks they must have caught her. She's sure Roxy is dead by now. She also identifies "Cindy". She explains to the cop that they give all of them new names.

CHC comes out and announces to Det. C that she's identified practically every girl on their list, including Soledad. But she doesn't exactly know how to get to the place where they are. It's a secret place and you have to put in several passwords on the computer, but she knows the main address is "diosasdelamor.com" (goddesses of love). That's actually not a site name that's taken.

The bring a laptop in and Det. C asks Karen to help them, but she only knows the address and she doesn't know any of the passwords. Lt. Moran is going to take care of it. He guesses a couple of wrong passwords. Karen says it's members only and you have to be recommended. Moran pulls up a "search engine" which is really one of those programs to try every different password until it finds the right one. He puts in the password, but then it asks "Who is your contact?" He enters "sierra" and then gets asked for a credit card number. Curly haired cop comes in with a big suitcase and hands Moran the department's Black Amex. He enters the number. Okay, I was only kidding about it being Amex. He gets a menu of pictures and picks Soledad's. He gets a message reading "It's a pleasure to have you as a client. You will receive a phone call giving you instructions to follow. Privacy, sensuality, and good taste await you. Enter your telephone number." He enters a number.

As curly haired cop tapes a mic to his manly chest, Moran answers his phone and hears a recording with directions to get to the whorehouse. These directions, however only get him as far as valet parking. He'll be driven the rest of the way in a company truck. This does not sound like a safe proposition. They will also take his GPS and cell phone away from him. We watch all this happen.

Meanwhile, Det. C and CHC track him on the computer.

Moran wanders around the whorehouse lobby, looking around. He tells Clarissa that he chose Cindy, but he doesn't see her. He tries to insist on her, since that's who he chose on the computer, but Clarissa says she's indisposed and can she offer someone else instead. They'd hate to give him bad service. Clarissa suggests Perla instead (looks like the new girl, especially by the body language) and offers him the Hef's robe.

"Perla" cringes her way into the room, where a guard and Clarissa wait outside.

Soledad is getting a room ready. She considers the lighter she's holding for a moment before she starts to light the candles. Esteban walks in, asking if she's missed him. She agrees that they've treated her well. Esteban brags that he paid a lot for her because he missed her. Soledad smiles faintly and says she's glad he paid. Everyone has to pay.

Soledad, in the interrogation room, cries as Det. C asks "How could you trust him enough to get into his truck?" Soledad says she liked him on sight. He looked at her like no one had before. It was love at first sight. "Hasn't that ever happened to you?" Det. C doesn't answer. She says it was a falling in love that she paid dearly for. "Tell me about the place where you were locked up." Soledad says it was hell. "They hit me, they raped me, and they made me feel like I wasn't worth anything. There you live with the constant worry of waking up dead. Just waiting for the next degenerate to come along." Det. C asks if she knew that Esteban was coming for her that night. Soledad says he acted like nothing had happened.

We see her take the cork off the corkscrew. It seems like she considers the corkscrew for a moment. She turns around and hands him a glass of wine.

The cops roll up in black SUV's and start surrounding the place.

Perla cries and begs Moran to help her. He covers her mouth and shushes her. He tells her he's a cop and they're there to help, but she has to stay quiet.

Esteban keeps flirting with Soledad, and she flirts right back.

Soledad tells Det. C that he showed up so he could treat her like dirt, because he showed up to buy her. He paid for her. "He always considered me his prostitute."

We get the scene from the beginning where he says he paid a fortune for her and she says she's worth it.

Out in the lobby, the cops are quietly moving in. Some of the girls are crying and others are smiling.

Soledad and Esteban keep getting it on. She tells him "no pasa nada" (it's nothing; nothing's happening here) and keeps macking on him. Aw, honey, you don't want him to die happy, do you?

Jorge threatens Clarissa with a gun, calling her stupid. The curly haired cop, with backup, walks in and tells Jorge to drop the gun. She ends up shooting him and he slides down the wall.

Det. C says "if you'd just waited, Soledad. My people were there to save you and all the other girls." Soledad said everything happens in a moment. "In a moment I went from heaven to hell, from love to hate, from his princess to his prostitute. That's why I had to take advantage of the moment. He'd paid for me, we were alone."

She picks up the corkscrew and slashes him across the face with it. Then she breaks the wine bottle and stabs him with it. Repeatedly. She keeps screaming that she's Soledad. And away flies the bloody butterfly.

"Soledad Oropeza was sentenced to 12 years in prison for unpremeditated murder. The extenuating circumstances presented to the judge by Det. Capellan reduced her sentence to half. DIEM dismantled a prostitution and white slavery network. It is estimated that there are 27 million people worldwide trapped in prostitution and pornography networks."

Labels: asesinas

Yesterday:
The boys argue over MJ. Alex wins and Bruno leaves. Instead of having a family dinner Alex decides to take MJ out to dinner and enjoy the rest of their evening. Bruno heads back to his Chalet and rants and raves and has a tantrum. Eric shows up and wants to know how things are going. Bad idea. Bruno bites his head off and says that if he can’t have her then neither can Alex.

Tonight.

Alex and MJ arrive at the restaurant where their table is waiting.

Dr. and Mrs. E-vil are discussing Sandra. Dr. E wants to know the scoop with MJ and Alex. Elena explains they are divorced but they live together. Dr. E doesn’t look pleased. There is a knock on the door and who should appear but Useless. Even though he is out of his coma he is still—well, useless. He tells Dr. E that he’s heading for Merida. Dr. E doesn’t think that his body is ready. Useless doesn’t care. He wants to go to Merida and bring Sandra back. But first he’s going to pay a visit to Bruno. Uh oh! He says he’s going to need some money. Of course says Dr. E. The phone rings and it is someone from Porfirio’s house saying that Porfirio’s condition has worsened. Dr. E is on his way because he doesn’t want the old guy to kick the bucket before he signs his will.

Back to the land of sunshine and roses MJ and Alex are having dinner. She wants to know about Useless and why Damian brought up his name. Ok, let’s get this straight. His name is Bruno not Damian—Damian is his second name. Useless is friends with the Mexitrash crowd. In fact, he’s the founding member. He explains that Useless is the father of Raquel’s baby. MJ wants to know if Robertoo knows about the baby and he says yes. When Raquel was pregnant Useless disappeared and no one knew where he went. Alex tells her about being kidnapped. She wants to remember. We were happy. He asks her to dance. He sings to her as they dance. She likes it. Lots of smiling and almost kissing. At least we didn’t have to hear the theme song again. Finally they kiss.

Back at the Casa they head upstairs. He thanks her for going with him. Then there’s the awkward, “Do I kiss her or do I not?” scenario at the bedroom door. He wants to come in for just a little bit so they can talk about some other things. R i g h t He wants to know when she wants to go to the hospital to have the tests done. She says whenever you want. Alex thinks they have to talk to Porfirio and tell him the truth. She agrees. Reluctantly he leaves. There’s a split screen of them thinking about each other. Sigh…

Bruno is in bed when the phone rings. It’s Dr. E informing him that Useless is heading for Merida tomorrow. Don’t you fail me. Bruno assures him everything will be fine.

Fer and Vicky are drinking coffee. She is telling him about the dinner and that Bruno came and everything went to Hell in a handbasket. Stamp me stupid for thinking it would go smoothly. He’s glad because he got to have coffee with her. Seriously dude, you are such a wuss. He wants to talk to her about Katia. It seems Bruno terminated their relationship and she is devastated. He doesn’t care why it ended but he’s glad that it did. They switch to the topic of Maura being involved in the kidnapping. Fer thinks she's involved because she is so obsessed with Alex. She wants to help him with Katia. Vicky loves Fer and he loves her and he doesn’t want her to think about an end to their relationship. There is no end. Snore—FF>>

Paula, Felipa, and EZ are sitting around shooting the breeze. It is unanimous that they are glad that MJ and Alex are together again. They are so in l-u-u-v. Felipa wants to know if Paula has a hunk-a, hunk-a, of burnin’ love to call her own. Well, sort of—but he’s married so maybe not. But then again, there is this one guy---(and we all know who that is –blech).

Dr E gets back from Porfirio’s. Elena wants to know what happened. Did he die? Like she really cares. No, but he doesn’t have much time. He wants to see Sandra. That can’t happen. No, duh, you stupid heifer! We can’t lose the money. We need it. Elena wants to know what they are gong to do. Dr. E tells her to stop bothering him with all these questions. He thinks they need to get Useless to take the fall for the kidnapping of MJ. Everything depends on it.

Next day. MJ is in Tony’s room and Alex comes in on his way to work. They talk about the babies. She thanks him for everything last night. He was glad that she went with him. Vicky wants to get some things for the babies. She says she doesn’t have any money. He tells her not to worry about it. She wants to know if her mom went back to Toluca. Praise the Lord, she did. He leaves for work and gives her a kiss. Paula is downstairs playing the piano. She wants to know how everything is going with MJ. He says not too bad. She says she’s bored and wants to know if he has a job for someone with her fabulous computer skills. He says he’ll see what he can do. On his way out he asks EZ to fix the phone in his bedroom. Paula is excited about having a new job that she doesn’t even have yet. Alex shows up at Bruno’s chalet. Bruno wants to know what he wants. Alex says it’s MJ and not Sandra. Bruno is like, so? It doesn’t matter, she’s not your woman right now. Alex says that will be rectified shortly. Bruno makes that awful clicking thing he does and says don’t be too sure. They have a stare down and I couldn’t hear what they said.

Paula is excited about having a job. MJ is concerned about calling her mom to let her know she is ok. Paula doesn’t want her to talk to Elena because she doesn’t deserve to know anything about their lives. MJ wins and calls Elena. She tells her that she is still confused. He keeps wanting me to remember that I am MJ. Paula chimes in and says that she is not Sandra. Elena explains that Useless found her and brought her home. MJ says they are telling her the medicine that Jorge gave her has messed with her memory. Elena tells her not to take any medicine they give her. You need to come home. Porfirio is very bad. He doesn’t have much time. He needs to see you. I don’t want him to die. You have to come.

Tio is talking to Porfirio—he wants to see his granddaughter. He suspects something is wrong. He wants to know what is going on. Porfirio makes Tio promise to tell him what is going on. There’s a knock on the door. It is the doctor. He orders him out. The doc says he needs the oxygen. They just want me to sign my will. Tio tries to convince him that he needs the oxygen.

MJ gives her mom a phone kiss. Paula looks like she wants to hurl. Bruno enters and rushes to MJ and tries to give her a kiss. Paula gets in between them. She pushes him away. Victoria comes down the stairs and Bruno rushes to her and greets her with a kiss. Vicky and MJ are going shopping for the babies. He stands behind then on the stairs of death waiting and watching. When they leave he comes down the stairs but Paula stops him and tells him what a scumbag he is. If they only knew just how bad you really are. He tells her to shut up. She doesn’t know anything. He either tries to head-butt her or kiss her, I’m not sure which and she tells him to get away from her. Felipa seconds that and he walks out with a snort.

Alex and Fer are at the office discussing how things are going. Alex says not too bad. He held her in his arms and kissed her and thought she would remember. But she is still confused. Fer tells him he has to have patience. Alex is worried that she might feel something for Bruno.

Letty comes to visit Lissette. She says she doesn’t have money for something. They talk and Letty leaves. Hernan comes in and Lissette asks him for a favor. Sorry FF>>

Useless enters his apartment. Bruno is there waiting for him. (This doesn’t look good. Dun, dun, dun). Useless looks surprised (but what else is new) and wants to know what he is doing there and how did he get in. He made a copy of the key. Useless wants to know who told him he would be here. Ah, the good Dr. Kruger. Useless still doesn’t get what is going on. He says something and I don’t know if it is because he is still under the influence of his drug induced coma or what, but I can’t understand him. Bruno laughs and says isn’t it obvious? They lied to you except for one thing. You are taking the fall for the kidnapping of MJ. He says it was Sandra he brought to Toluca not MJ. He grabs Bruno by the throat and bends him over the bar. Muscles bulge. Bruno’s face gets red. Just when it looks like all is lost for Bruno he kicks Useless and he falls to the floor. That gives Bruno the chance he was waiting for. He whips out a pistol with a silencer and POP. Oh snap! <
Vicky and MJ get home from shopping. Victoria and Felipa talk about MJ and how sad it is that she can’t remember. They can’t understand how her own mother could treat her like that. FF>>

Bruno is on the phone with Dr. E-vil. It’s done. I killed him. It was very quick. He had no idea it was coming. I left him in the apartment. Dr. E says not to tell anyone. Then he says something I don’t understand. Bruno says I don’t understand. Dr. E tells him to just do what I say.

Back at the hospital—Alex reassures her everything will be ok. He promises her that if they determine she is Sandra he will let her go home to her mother. What if they find something. Still insecure, he wants to know what she feels for Bruno. She says nothing. Nothing happened. Hernan says they are ready. Hernan says they are ready. She looks nervous.

Dr. and Mrs. E-vil are discussing Bruno’s latest accomplishment. What happened to the body? They will think he died because he was guilty of the kidnapping. We will wait and see.

Paula is telling the gang about her new job. She wants to know where Gabe is. Oh, he’s at home working on some art. Pedro wants to know how MJ is. Paula tells him about her going to the hospital for some tests.

MJ is gong into the MRI. Hernan comes out and says everything is fine.

Gabe is back at the house working on a statue. Paula shows up. I guess you are too busy. He says he’ll fix her something to drink. She touches his hand as he gives her her drink. She smiles coquettishly at him. He asks her to go with him tomorrow. She says it’s a date and kisses him on the cheek. He is in heaven. Like we didn’t see that one coming.

At the hospital everything is fine. You aren’t Sandra you are MJ. She is overcome with emotion. You will begin to remember little by little. Everyone is happy for her.

Labels: sortilegio

Permalink posted by Connie @ 2:17 AM 75 comments

Discussion post for Friday.

Labels: amor

Carlota goes to what she thinks is going to be a lovefest with Cristobal, only to find that the actor she hired to play Paloma’s father is there too--Cris wants to know why she lied that this guy Basilio was Pal’s father, when he knows that he (Cris) is the father. She insists he’s not the father, but he says he doesn’t need any other proof--with what he feels for Pal, the great love he had with Macarena, and this (he throws some papers at her), this is more than enough. The papers contain the info Carlota sent to Basilio so he could play Pal’s papa and make Mac out to be a tramp. Of course, she denies any involvement and says he can’t prove anything. “But Basilio can.” So Basilio starts to sing like a canary--everything he did was on her instructions. Carlotta-loca slaps him. Cris yells at her that she’s really perverse--doesn't it hurt you to make others suffer because of your damn cruelty? Carlota plays the victim and tries to make up a story about Basilio coming to her and saying he was in love with Mac and was Pal’s pops. Basilio declares that he doesn’t know no Macarena.

Cris sends Basilio to the other room. “Now what do you have to say for yourself?” Carlota finally admits that she hired the guy, but it doesn’t mean Cris is the father. Cris tells her to stop lying and that he will do a DNA test if he has to. But he is positive that Pal is his daughter, the daughter of the great love that “YOUR SISTER [dramatic pause] and I had, that you’ve never had for anyone.” Carlota tries to shove him and insists that her love for him is the biggest in the world. Cris yells “no, yours is everything BUT love. Love is light and mercy but you don’t know anything about that.” He proceeds to cue up an anvil drop by swearing that he’s going to rescue Pal from Carlota’s hate, at the cost of his own life if necessary.

Liliana and Pal chat at a cafe about Gabriel and Emiliano. Lili sees Gabe as an angel in Pal’s life. But boo-hoo, Pal won’t ever be able to forget Emil. Then we hear Emil say “and I’ll never forget you”--he’s standing right behind her. Pal flees the table.

Eugenio is in the other room with Basilio, reading him the riot act for colluding with La Loca.

Carlota thinks that Cris won’t be able to win Pal’s love, and, like the Purple Queen of Hypocrisy that she is, warns him to be careful about telling Pal the truth lest Pal get hurt again. They get into a heated argument with Carlota claiming that everything Pal is (her name, her education, her values) is because of her, and Cris saying it’s because of Mac. Carlota counters that Pal is a child of sin, but Cris comes right back with “she’s a child of love”, and if he has to renounce the priesthood for her, he will. He’s sure that one day Pal will be proud of having united her mother and father. Carlota tries to plant doubts in Cris’s mind by commenting that Mac must not have thought the same way, since she didn’t tell Cris the truth about Pal. He yells that Mac was going to tell him, he’s sure that was going to be her wedding gift to him, because she had spoken to him of a surprise. She tells him he’s stupid and he reiterates what a rotten, low-down dirty creep she is. He doesn’t want to see her ever again--GET OUT! After she leaves he thanks God for the gift of his marvelous daughter.

Pal pouts to Rufi about Emil. Rufi suggests that maybe they’ll get back together after being apart for awhile, like with her and Edmundo. Talk turns to Mexico City and how Pal wants to be someone in life. Rufi mentions Gabe and Pal admits she’s glad about him coming to the city; at his side she doesn’t feel alone. Rufi thinks she should invite Romi and Emil to her birthday/going-away party, but Pal doesn’t think it’s a good idea.

Lili asks Emil why he’s moping. Well, DUH, I wonder why. Blah blah blah Paloma blah blah blah. He informs Lili that he’s going to do the DNA test again. She doesn’t doubt that Romi altered the results. She promises not to tell anyone but thinks he better hurry, since Pal is leaving town soon.

Cris tells Eugenio about signals he got re: Pal being his daughter, but he didn’t know how to see them. He recounts a discussion he had with Pal after Mac had died--flashback of her holding Mac’s necklace and explaining that her father gave it to her mother; Mac had told her the pearl necklace was from the man she loved, so Pal was certain it had to be from her father. Cris feels bad about believing Carlota’s lies about Mac having another man. Eugenio thinks Cris is being too hard on himself; anyone would fall in her trap. Yikes, sounds like another anvil to me. Eug recommends that Cris not rush into telling Pal he’s her father; he should think things through carefully.

Carlota tells herself she’s going to make Pal hate Cris forever. You’re not going to beat me, Cristobal.

Rufi tries to talk some sense into Pal. You’ve forgiven Romi, Emil, Mac--everyone except Cris. Talk to him before you leave town. Pal promises to think about it.

Dario shows up at Angelica’s office and actually has the nerve to ask her to help him and recant her accusation of plagiarism so that he can continue his fake career. She refuses and yells at him to get lost, and even slaps him a couple times (after he asks if she’s getting it on with Orlando and tries to grab her). After he leaves she exclaims, “Yes, I could” (stand up to him, I guess), as if to say “I did it!”

Carlota comes home in a tizzy and demands to know Pal’s whereabouts; Rufi explains that Pal went to give Gabe some cookies as thanks for the computer. Carlota accuses Rufi of telling Cris that Pal is his daughter. Rufi says she didn’t break her promise to Mac to keep quiet, but maybe she gave Cris a little hint. Since Cris isn’t a priest anymore, there’s no reason to keep hiding it, is there? Carlota thinks Rufi better give Cris the hint that if he gets near Pal, she’ll kill him.

Pal asks Gabe’s opinion on Rufi’s suggestion that she invite Emil and Romi to the party. Gabe says something like she should invite Emil because it comes from the heart, not because someone tells her to. It’s important to have closure . . . but does she really want that, or does she want Emil at the party to leave open the possibility of something between them and before she leaves?

Romi whines on the phone to Emil for the millionth time that she misses him and wants him to come back; he sighs heavily that “it’s not you, it’s me.” He repeats for the millionth time that he doesn’t love her. After he tells her not to call anymore and hangs up on her, he tells himself he’s not going to allow her to blackmail him again. “Maybe there is still a possibility for me and Pal.”

Pal adds Emil and Romi to her list of guests but then crosses them off (I think--bad camera angle). In his room, Gabe suddenly has another episode and falls and nearly passes out but is able to take one of his pills in time. Pal hears him fall and comes running. He convinces her that he was just dizzy. She gets stuff to treat his wound.

Anamar visits Emil to declare that she still loves him. She knows he’s going to get a divorce and is in love with someone who’s leaving town, but she’s going to stay in Real del Monte, find a job, etc. She wants him to give her a chance and she’s willing to wait.

Eugenio returns to Gabe’s place and, when he sees what happened, asks Gabe if he took his you-know-whats and Gabe cuts him off with a quick “yes.” The significance of this little exchange goes unnoticed by Pal. Eugenio then insists on accompanying Pal home. After Pal leaves the room, Eug looks a little mad and asks Gabe if he’s really ok. Yes dad, don’t worry. Once he’s alone, he says “It’s going to be so hard to leave you” and takes out some paper and starts writing (or drawing?).

Cris and Padres Benito and Mateo discuss Carlota’s evilness--she's the devil incarnate. Padre B believes Carlota knows perfectly well the harm that she causes. And now that she herself has confessed to you (Cris), I can reveal that she confessed to me--when she learned you might leave to become a bishop she came into the confessional and told me everything. Padre M asks if Cris is going to return to the priesthood, but Cris doesn’t know what he’s going to do. Padre B advises him to take the path that will allow him to protect Paloma and get her away from that ridiculous nutjob.

Pal arrives home and gets yelled at (and nearly smacked) by a flailing, Looney Tunes (no pun intended) Tasmanian devil-esque Carlota (a Carlotian devil?) until Eugenio says “she was with me”. He and Carlota chit chat about Pal being a lovely girl or something like that. Rufi and Pal leave. Carlota asks about Gabe but Eugenio says he was just dizzy. She invites him in but he wants to make sure Gabe is ok. But he says he’ll see her tomorrow, unless she wants to cancel their meeting. Oh no, of course not, I think it’s important that we talk. He thinks one day she’ll forgive him for being sure that Cris was innocent; she says why don’t you ask if one day you will forgive yourself for having let him go free?

Luz is making plans about bringing Xochitl home but Rafael reminds her that they don’t know yet if they’ll get her. She feels Xochitl was destined for her. She talks about how she can’t sit home doing nothing; Rafa mentions working at his office but Luz thinks one of his associates wouldn’t appreciate that. Besides, they should each have their own space, their own world. She has decided what hers is, but won’t tell him what it is yet.

Orlando relays some news to Camila that he got from Angelica--first, that the baby is going home soon; second, that Mr. Gibson in Houston wants to talk to him in person. He suggests they go home for a couple days, then go to Houston for a couple more days and from there continue their honeymoon in Europe. She thinks it’s a great idea.

Carlota yells at Pal some more for coming home late. She’s worried about Pal because there are people who want to belittle her in front of Pal. She claims that Cris threatened to disparage her if she doesn’t convince Pal to forgive him. Pal’s response is, I don’t know what the deal is between you two, but it doesn’t interest me in the least, and I’m not going to listen to anything from either him or you. Nighty-night.

Carlota storms into her room and starts looking through her drawers for something. She takes a box down from the top of the bureau and looks inside. She seems to find what she was searching for and sighs in relief; then she contorts into another one of her self-satisfied smirks with glowing eyes.

Avances: Romi and German fool around some more; Cris meets with Dr. B.

Labels: amor

From yesterday: Chavez convinces Marco to come to his party where there will be many lovely “Viejas”. He doesn’t have to twist his arm. Susana begins to introduce Rafa to the other Auto Siglos sales team, starting with Marino, the most successful salesman. Marino is more interested in the list of clients Rafa is clutching (Lopez’s list) than in shaking Rafa’s hand.

We then get a feel for the characters of each salesperson as Susana introduces Rafa to them one by one:

Rosario: Formerly a rich housewife. When her husband lost his job, she needed to work and came to Autos Siglos. She seems to get most of her clients from her circle of rich girlfriends. She asks Rafa if he is one of “those” Medinas, but Rafa is obviously NOT from the same circles she runs in.

Ramiro: Worst salesman on the team. Lost his job before coming to Autos Siglos and it doesn’t look like this job is doing much for his self esteem. Ever cheerful Rafa urges him to cheer up and offers him some of that fine whiskey he still has stashed in his house. Unfortunately, Ramiro doesn’t drink. He really should start, given what we’ve seen of his wife and mother-in-law.

Don Ismael: The oldest salesman, who seems to specialize in selling big old cars to little old ladies. Unfortunately, his sales seem to be affected by his forgetfulness- very similar to Ale’s dad and also very cute. He, unlike the other salesmen, kindly offers to help Rafa any way he can- if he can remember that is.

Isabel: She’s called the General because she tells it like it is, even to the customers- no bs and by the book. Sort of like Ale, but with even less people skills.

Ramirez: A former college professor, who has published books on “the process of selling”, he seems know how to talk about selling, more than he seems to know how to actually do it.

Claudia: As Susana says, her legs are her best selling point. Well, her legs, and her boobs, and her derriere as she leans over to helpfully “inspect” some tires for a customer, and…well, you get the picture.

Nelson: The Dandy seems to be the male equivalent of Claudia, using his big white smile, gelled hair and stylish pink striped tie to reel in the lady customers.

Susana finally deposits Rafa at his desk. Apparently his recent tour through the Valley of Lost Souls and Ambitions has not dampened Rafa’s spirits at all. In fact he is doing a little happy dance to have a desk and computer and office phone for the first time in his life. He does what most of us do the first time we have a real, “grown-up” job with our own office/cubicle. He calls his mommy to give her his office number and talks about what great co-workers he has. Leonor asks him to please call Vicky, who has been driving her crazy calling the house all morning for updates on Rafa. Meanwhile, Vicky is having a little chat with a friend from the barrio, while holding a BIG knife. This friend is not vey smart, or doesn’t know Vicky very well because she: 1) talks about what a hot commodity Rafa is considered among the ladies of the barrio; 2) confirms Vicky’s fears that yes, by working in a fancy car dealership Rafa could meet and be interested in other women; and 3) asks if Vicky has a pet bird and what the heck she is talking about when she talks about her “pajarito.” Vicky clutches her knife and declares that Rafa is HERS.

Rafa’s introduction to Autos Siglos continues when Susana sits him in front of a tv to watch the propaganda, uh…orientation video. Rafa has clearly drunk the Kool-Aid because he doesn’t barf when the video version of Licenciado Francisco says they are all one big happy family. In fact, his megawatt smile grows even bigger. Poor devil.

Meanwhile, one of the members of said big happy family is sneaking up behind him, already looking for a way to stab him in the back. It’s Marino, and seeing that Rafa is occupied, he decides this is the perfect moment to get his hands on that much coveted list of clients. Unfortunately for Marino, Don Ismael chooses just this moment to pause at Rafa’s desk to work on his receipts, right on top of Rafa’s inherited list of clients. Marino raises such a ruckus trying to get rid of Don Ismael, that he raises the attention of all the other salespeople. Soon everyone is at Rafa’s desk, fighting over whether or not they should be looking at the list, whether Rafa deserves to have it, and which one of them deserves to have it. Obviously, each of them thinks that they deserve it. They don’t reach an agreement over which one of them should have the list, but agree that it shouldn’t be Medina (Rafa), as someone like him, with his fancy qualifications, surely already has all of the contacts he needs.

Rafa’s little sis Julieta seems to have also been thrown into a den of lions today. She’s gone to a college classmate’s house to work on a project with a group of students. Not only is the house more luxurious than any she has ever seen, her classmates seem intent on encouraging her to enjoy the pleasures of that luxury rather than studying. In particular, two of the three “boys” seem a bit too flirty and a bit too handsy with her, and Julieta is uncomfortable. Since one of them is the guy who played rapist Aaron on En Nombre de Amor, and is creepily rubbing sunscreen on her back, I am particularly worried about Julieta. Run, Julieta! Run!

On to another woman who should run, not walk, away from a man…Ale is speaking to Marco on the phone, calling him the most wonderful man in the world. Hah! Apparently, despite the neck and leg braces, the doc has cleared her to resume congressing with Marco, if she so desires. And she does. Marco, however, is more interested in talking her into buying a new car so that he will be able to drive around in the style to which he has become accustomed once again. Of course, this is for her own good, so that Marco can pick her up every day and she won’t have to ride in those disgusting taxis each day. Despite her good sense, and her crushing debt, Ale relents and decides to buy a new car. This increase in her debts reminds her of Rafa and how much she hates him. She will make him pay. She will make every day he works for her a living hell!

She decides to begin right away by giving Rafa his first lesson on the basic process/principals of the sale. Rafa’s first attempt to outline the process seems pretty good to me- first you greet the customer, make them feel welcomed and look your best (for which he always carries a pocket mirror); second you showcase the merchandise; third…He doesn’t get to finish as he keeps getting interrupted by Vicky calling him on his cell phone, and Ale angrily yelling at him and calling him an idiot. It’s the method all the best teachers use, right?

Ale finally decides on a more proactive approach to the lesson, teaching Rafa that the process of the sale involves seduction, convincing the client, making them imagine that they are already driving the car at high speed down the road, but NOT running innocent people off the road like someone she knows. And finally, of course, getting them to BUY (COM-PRE). While Ale is lecturing him on this, Rafa is drawing a pretty funny picture of Ale, neck and leg brace and all, hanging from a rope. When Ale hobbles closer to yell at Rafa from a more intimidating distance, she topples over his desk, right onto the drawing. BUSTED!

Labels: dinero

The interesting pairing tonight is Nieves and Jacqui, two great actresses and two great characters have a great time, but we're not there yet. Patience my friends...


For once we start off with fun, Xime salutes Mau and tells her primis she's going to give him her stocks, AJA!!!

As Kris described yesterday, Marcos pushes Moni to "just talk" and have a cup of coffee, oh and call him Marcos. Our little hothead isn't impressed by this smooth talker, and she's not buying his "I just want to get to know you better I'm so proud of you" bit. If he's connected with La Momia he must have something up his sleeve; Momia, the one who is stealing Mau's money and kids, poor orphans that he rescued from the street and she detests them. Marcos pleads, he's not an enemy. Moni refuses, she doesn't need his help, and Marcos mutters she's stubborn like Constanza. One thing I like about Marcos, I can understand him when he talks.

Xime presses Mau to accept the stocks she wants to give him. He's all NO it's your inheritence and I'm supposed to take care of you but she rightly points out that she should take care of him like he's always done for her since they were kids. She also reveals that Jero sold all his shares to the man who wants hers too, the father of Constanza. Mau is QUE??? and Xime thinks it's rather amusing.

Luisa and Katia have dragged a sullen Aldo to the kiddie disco to see Andres, slime-ball-in-training, croon but hopefully not play the guitar. Something about Andres' parents being friends of Katia's parents, whatever. Aldo thinks he's stuck in a mass of posers (bola de mamilas, see vocab below) and that's why Ivan's not there either. Katia requested a song to dedicate to Aldo; he looks disgusted. Fast Forward through Andres' song, Luisa's moony eyes, Katia staring at Aldo and Aldo trying to ignore her. Aldo, by the way, not impressed with Andres. Katia's having black and white flashbacks of Aldo. Oh, and Aldo's pretty bent out of shape because he sees the two creeps who attacked Estrella.

Mientras tanto, Ivan is studying and griping about La Momia to Tere. He misses Luisa and can't visit or call her. Tere reassures him that Mau is surely doing something about the situation but Ivan thinks he's lost Luisa forever. Alicia the metiche listens carefully in the background while pretending to form meatballs.

Alicia tries to comort Tere who is worried about poor Ivan and they agree that Monita is very special to all of them. Tere actually thanks Al for "listening", eavesdropping is more like it. Tere likes living in the neighborhood and they rip on Nieves a little bit which helps them bond.

Yawn, these broads are a bore. Let's jump over to the fun side of the courtyard.

Nieves and Jacqui are sharing, or should I say slamming, a tequilita to warm up for a little verbal sparring. One shot, Jacqui tells Nieves Marcos wouldn't marry a muerto de hambre (cheap skate) like Nieves; Nieves points out he was still in love with her after the wedding. Second shot, Nieves points out he's still in love with her and Jacqui says that's what he said at the hotel. Third shot, Jacqui blasts Beto for being beneath Coni. Fourth, Nieves calls Coni a lazy worm, drink up! Fifth, something about Marcos throwing Nieves in the trash, Adentro! Sixth, Nieves says then why was he just kissing her at the hotel? Seventh, Marcos was kissing Jacqui not fifteen minutes before that, toast! Eighth, Jacqui you're a liar. Nieves, you're a vulgar low-life. Let's toast to it!

Rolu's sulking in his chair and has to stand up to answer the phone. It's Lalu; Rolu tells him his bro is timid but interested. Lalu thinks Rolu is a love. Arni takes the call, answers kind of sexy but is horrified to hear Lalu on the other end. (Like, who else would be calling him?) Lalu wonders if he's read his lovely card yet. Poor Lalu, it's going to be hard to discourage him.

Back at the barrio the ladies have emptied the bottle and neither wants to admit she's drunk. Jacqui says she's as fresh as lettuce. Nieves says lettuce that's 15 days old, dry and limp. Jacqui says she's always the life of theparty while Nieves is the piñata. Nieves brags nobody can best her when it comes to drinking tequila. Jacqui brags that years of drinking and a lifetime of revelry are her endorsement. They decide to go to the Cantina to see who can drink the most tequila and off they stagger. Jacqui thinks the earth is trembling and tries to walk into the bedroom instead of out the door.

A hungry Don Cesar is outside waiting for Nieves and griping to Chris. Chris observes that the ladies are leaving. Nieves slurs that they're off to Don Tiburcio's cantina and don't follow them. She drags Jacqui off leaving Don C to fend for himself for dinner, but at Chris' urging DC follows so he can protect his sweet love muffin.

Mau is telling Xime that he can't accept the stocks. She says fine she'll sell them to him. But he doesn't have money. OK then she will sell them and loan him the money, she doesn't want to work in Marcos and Coni's company anyway. Mau can pay her back whenever because he's the best cousin in the world. He accepts on the condition that he can repay with interest and the adoring cousins rub foreheads. Wow, what a sweet scene this was.

Arni frets around the house while Rolu teases him about getting ready for his galán. What? Arni hasn't read his love letter yet? Like real brothers Rolu grabs the letter and taunts while Arni chases him around. Arni looks at the letter like it's going to bite him. When Rolu hauls his wheelchair upstaris I have to wonder, how do they get him up and down that spiral staircase when he's actually in the chair?

Oh crap, we're back at the Latched-To-The-Pap disco having to watch the jerk Andres shake his skinny little hips in Luisa's direction. I swear he's got a pair of gym socks stuffed down his pants, the show off. Oh cool, Aldo's mocking him. I love it. But the girls love Andres and smother him with kisses. Blech.

Uh oh, Aldo has reached the boiling point and jumps up. I was wondering what happened to those dopes who harassed Estrella. They're about to get thumped.

Estre and Beto walk home as sympathetic pals, a first for them. They thank each other for listening and never imagined they could be pals, she says he's a blast (cannon = cañon) but how will they act with each other from now on? They agree as long as he's not a jerk and she's not a nobody it'll be fine, the new pals high five.

Mientras tanto the little would-be rapists can't keep their mouths shut and begin insulting Estre. Aldo informs them she's his girlfriend which sets them laughing. The one calls her a whore (golfa) and gets a punch in the face for it. The other gets it in the stomach. It's about time, these guys are incredible creeps.

The Odd Couple of Snow and Fire are at the cantina starting in on a new bottle. We see that Don Cesar has taken a table behind them so he can observe. Jacqui brags that Marcos married her. Nieves says true but he loved her and only married Jacqui to try to forget his little snow ball. Jacqui says he wanted to marry a classy lady from a good family and that would be her. They laugh and slam their shot glasses down after every insult.

Pau tells Chris to be careful and kisses him as he goes off to work. (Uh oh, is this an anvil?) But first they have to give Beto the 411 that his ma oscillated off to the cantina with the Momia's mom, both drunk.

Jacqui brags that Marcos gave HER the pearls. Nieve says he bought them for HER but she refused them. They argue about which are better the beads from the tianguis (good call Jarocha) or the expensive black pearls and they both say each to her own. The ladies look like they might be slowing down, Jacqui asks Nieves if she's getting cold feet but Nieves is matching Jacqui shot for shot. Poor DC's got ants in his pants and wants to interrupt but thinks better of it and sits back down.

Xime arrives back home to find Arnie and is shocked he hasn't yet read Lalu's love letter. One, Lalu wrote a great letter of his love, two it's very bad he hasn't read it, and three, she can't believe he's not dying of curiosity and hasn't read it a thousand times. But oops, she has to admit that she hasn't read Rolu's letter yet either. They decide to read them at the same time. Ready? One Two Three. They sit knee to knee, read, sigh and glance at each other, then ask, did you like it?? Xime says she's never read anything so romantic. Arni says he's not gay but...neither has he! Xime says Lalu adores Arni and Arni says not as much as Rolu does you, are you sure a woman didn't write this letter? Xime looks guilty and said she saw Lalu write the words. Xime asks did Rolu really write his? Yes, Arni saw him. They stare.

They glare, and I'm talking about the dos brujas who are into their third bottle. Nieves looks at the two empties and tells Don T to "take those four away." They sink lower and lower in their chairs as they get friendlier and friendlier, each determined to win the drink-off. Jacqui's clothes are starting to fall off of her. DC has seen enough and tries to stop this. He wants Nieves to go home and Jacqui says it's a trap because she doesn't have a chauffeur. She also sneaks another shot while DC scolds Nieves.

Nieves, beads now around her head, is thrilled to see Beto and Estrella enter the cantina. Meanwhile Jacqui tries to force a shot down DC's throat. Dang, could these scenes be any funnier?

Bah, gotta end with the glum I guess. Mau recalls Isabel threatening to go with him to tell Moni that she's alive. The doorbell rings and whoever could it be? Monita! He wants to make a delicious pasta dinner for his queen. But the queen looks sad and preoccupied. It's nothing, just a stupid thing that happened. She saw the Momia who thinks that Moni's mom is alive and suggested that Mau could quell her doubts. Mau looks miserable and Moni asks what's going on?

Mañana: Mau and Moni face off with Marcos and Coni. Mau and Moni cry.



Bola de mamilas = About the word "mamila" that Aldo used. That's the common word people use to avoid saying "mamón" because that word is considered too much for family hours. "Mamón" means a person that is always acting as if he is better than everyone else but in reality he is just a poser and a coward. It comes from the act of breastfeed as that type of behaviour is seem sometimes on people who are spoiled by their parents. That is what Aldo meant when he said that the place was full with a bunch of "mamilas". (Explanation courtesy of Jarocha)

Labels: gancho

We start off with Ale singing Rafa’s praises to her boss. He’s concerned that Rafa doesn’t have any experience selling cars. Ale reassures him that won’t be a problem. He replies I don’t doubt that as you will be responsible for him.

He encourages her as his trainer she can polish this Rock. Who knows it might just turn into a gem. Ale pulls one of her faces.

We are now in the showroom. Ramirez is informing Edgar that he has seen Lopez’s List of clients on Ales desk. Edgar wants him to copy this list. Ramirez is not buying that. He would rather be dressed up as a hamburger. (what?)

Now we have Isabel trying to finagle the same information from Susana. Ale sneaks up behind them and quickly puts an end to that game.

So now if there are any men out there watching this show, this is for you. We have Vicky posing in front of the mirror in very bright red underwear. She is giving herself a little pep talk. With this type of clothes and lots of love, nobody will be able to steal her man.

After holding several different little outfits in front of the mirror she decides to surprise Rafa with a phone call. Oops there’s a busy signal and a knock on the door.

Enter the Brothers Grimm. They start harassing her about them being hungry . Filepe snatches the phone out of her hand wanting to know who she’s calling. Of course getting fed is more important to them. They leave yelling at her to hurry. Poor Vicky is left alone looking sadly at her phone

Ale informs Susana that Beltran accepted having Rafa work at the Siglo. Susana doesn’t know whether she should congratulate her or give condolences. Ale says the condolences, as she is now going to spend the next few years in Hell.

Ale makes Susana promise that no one but her and Marco is to know that this criminal is working here. She agrees and tells Ale she will keep her company in this Hell. Susana asks Ale what happens if this guy can’t sell cars and can’t pay her back. She tells her not to worry, if that guy has to be here, he is going to pay her back everything.

Rafa walks into his living room and Vicky is on the sofa crying Rafa asks her whets wrong, Sniffing she tells him she is just leaving. She asks if he is going to start work tomorrow. Rafa answers yes and Vicky
Is bawling even harder. And she’s out the door.

Leonor chides Rafa, she says they know he didn’t ask Vicky to marry him. Rafa tells him he is just trying to do the right thing. Earn the money on his own. Pay his own debts. Julieta wonders if he knows what he is getting into by working for Ale.

They are concerned for him as he has always worked independently and never for a big corporation.
He understands their concern, but this accident has changed his life. He too is concerned if this doesn’t work out he will go back to jail.

Ale has now returned home greeted by her adoring fiancé Marco. She is relieved that the doctor took away her crutches and is now able to use a cane. She is lamenting her situation with having Rafa work for her. She even admits she falsified his resume. I sense a little remorse in her voice at having to lie and defraud her boss and co-workers.

Marco reassures her that is okay. What a moral man. She has to do what she needs to do . Ale makes Marco promise he wont tell her dad or her aunt that Rafa is working for her.

Ale is greeted by Azusana, informing her what is for supper. Marco has excused himself to go and greet the in-laws. Azusana informs Ale There is only enough for the three of them and she encourages Ale to get rid of Marco Ale says she’s not hungry and to not worry.

At the table we have Jorge informing Marco that there was someone to see the house and our “ can you guess the guys name” game is being played between Rosario and Jorge. Ale enters and puts an end to that. Marco informs her that they have a buyer for the House. Ale tells them they are not selling the house. She says she is working now and Rafa is also working so he will be able to pay them.

Jorge enquires if she is just saying this to ease their minds. They are reassured that this is not the case. Jorge states that he will call Filepe in the morning to inform him they are not selling the house. He is corrected by Rosario saying it is Carlos. Jorge state’s okay you call Carlos and I’ll call Filepe. (too funny)

Jorge is calling for Azucena to get some supper for Marcos. Azucena is behind Marcos waving wildly. Jorge wants to know what’s wrong, Azucena says their was a fly, and off she goes to get Marcos supper. Ale will go without.

Marco starts telling them about the embargo. Things are not going well. Rosario states she doesn’t have confidence in Chavez and Marco tells her not to worry he will take care of everything. (Huh huh)

Marco has a one track mind. He now tells them he has good news. Everything’s ready for him and Ale to get married next month. Ales jaw drops.

We also have talk about marriage at Rafa’s hose. He is telling Leonor that he can’t be thinking about getting married at this time. Leonor understands this but is concerned for Vicky. She states Vicky is worried that once he starts working that their relationship will end.

Back at Ale’s place Marco is upset that Ale wasn’t thrilled about his wedding plans. Ale is upset that he didn’t talk to her first, and that he wants the wedding in a month. They continue to argue. Ale wonders if this is what it is going to be like once they get married (I’m afraid so honey).

Marco pulls the wounded puppy card and questions if its because she doesn’t want to marry him. Ale reassures him that’s not the case. She states she’s not the same person. She’s broken, poor, in debt and facing another operation. She’s not ready to get married like that.

Marco is flaming mad and calls her egotistic. (Isn’t that like the donkey saying you have big ears). He rants on at her. Ale only pleading for time to reorganize her life. Marco gives her an ultimatum. If she loves him she will marry him next month. Otherwise its over. And he is out the door.

Morning has broken, and now we have Rafa at home getting a nice send off from mom and sister. He gives them lunch money and is out the door. He is running late and who should be around the corner but Vicky.

She feigns surprise at their meeting. She wants to know if he was going to leave without saying good bye. She is concerned that he is going to be working with beautiful women all day. She is either worried he will change and not want her or worried or that he will trade her for someone else. Didn’t get too much of that whole conversation.

She wants him to take her with him and introduce her to all her to all his work-mates as his girlfriend. He calls her crazy, back peddles and in the end is off without her, but not without one final kiss..

Ale is at Siglo, irate that Rafa hasn’t arrived yet. We flash to Rafa getting off the short green bus, dropping his attaché case and fumbling around. As if he wasn’t late enough he stops to chat with the janitor for a while.

Rosaura is late as well and asks Susana if Ale is there yet. She tells Rosaura to hurry to the meeting before Ale sees her. As Susana leaves Rosaura quickly glances at Rafas’ resume sitting out on the open table. She puts it down as Susana returns and scurries off.

She enters the meeting room and speculates to her co-workers the reason why Ale isn’t there yet. She’s waiting for her new salesmen. They enquire if it is a man or woman. She proceeds to give them the scoop as she “accidentally’ saw the resume on the table. There is much gossip going on about this new guy. Edgar says he cant begin to be as good as the man, pointing to his own picture, on the wall. Claudia wants to know what Rafas’ photo looked like.

The gossip is ended as Ale walks in the room. She looks weary and walks slowly to the front. Ismael wants to know if it is true that Lopez’s replacement starts today. She says yes, and he should be here.. Some one states that poor guy is off to a bad start. When Ale asks him what he said he sheepishly says “I feel bad and I am poor”.

Rafa finally tears himself away from the janitor and rushes inside. Ale is telling everyone they have to improve their sales. She wants sales and punctuality. At this moment in walks Rafa . This is not the way to make a good first impression. She sarcastically asks for applause for the replacement of Lopez as he looks like a deer caught in headlights.

All eyes are now on Rafa as he timidly smiles and waves. He shoots Ale a sheepish grin and she is not impressed.

He timidly greets everyone and Ale is having a small melt-down. Susana to the rescue. She tells Ale to take a breath, and she momentarily takes over and introduces Rafa to the group.

Ale resumes her role as leader and reminds Rafa the importance of punctuality. We have an exhausting speech from Ale about how they have to improve their sales. She signals out everyone there and tells them one by one how many sales she expects from each of them. As she approaches Claudia who is now standing we see Rafa almost falling out of his seat sneaking a peak at Claudia’s legs.

When she gets to Jimenez she tells him she wants him to sell 13 cars. He tells her that is an unlucky number. Okay she says then make it 14. As she walks back up front, Rafa has his hand in the air. Whistling to get her attention. That didn’t go over well. She yells at him to not whistle at her she is not some animal. She composes herself and says they will talk in the office.

The meeting is coming to an end and she states for the love we have for this company lets sing our hymn. Rafa stands and starts singing, what can only be the Mexican National Anthem. She screams at him and
says the hymn of the Auto Siglo. He begs her pardon, and she says for the last time.

They all stand and start singing. And furthermore this is an action song. Too funny.

We have one more Vicky scene with her pounding on Leonors’ door, bawling, He’s gone he’s gone.
Leonor assures her he will be back. She is crying and says she has a bad feeling that he’s gone for good. She says this job is a one way ticket. Leonor continues reassuring her and tells her he is probably trying to call her now. Vicky wipes her nose thinks about this for a second and she’s out the door.

Ale and Rafa are now in her office. She is yelling at him stating not only is he an assassin but irresponsible. He shows up late for work. He tries to apologize using the Tu form and she tells him not to tutear him. They are not equals. Rafa looks heartbroken at this. He gives her all his excuses for being late. She is not buying any of this.

She asks him if he has any experience working for a company. He tells her he is use to working alone. She makes fun of him as he tries to explain what he does She finally tells him if it wasn’t for the fact that she had to hire him because of all the grief he has caused her he would be out on the street.

More gossip from the crew about Rafa and why he was hired. Speculating that he may be an ex-boyfriend. Claudia doesn’t like that idea . They hope it is a boyfriend, and maybe she wont be so cranky anymore. Rosaura informs everyone she is going to take advantage of Susana’s absence form her office and steal the resume.

Ale tells Rafa she has a copy of his resume. He seems pleased with this and confesses he did it himself. She tells him not to be an idiot. She had to fix it up. It was if a school kid wrote it. She tells him to memorize it because from now on he is a different person. Rafa is impressed with all his new attributes. Ale is shaking her head and rolling her eyes

Rafa’s new co-workers are also singing his praises.. They are all looking over the resume that Rosaura took from Susana’s office, sizing up their new completion.

Ale is letting Rafa know what she expects from him. He has to sell more cars then anyone else so he can pay her what he owes him. The minimum is 28 cars. And at least 6 of them have to be trucks. Rafa is a little panicked at this. Not to worry. She hands him Lopez’s list of clients. Rafa pulls out his list of clients as Ale pops a pill. Ale asks if anyone on this list would buy a truck. She yells at him some more and says this is the only thing that is going to save you from prison. Or something like that.

She calls for Susana to introduce Rafa to the crew. As he goes to leave he offers to shake her hand goodbye, and she dismisses this, and takes a drink of water. As he is about to leave she tells him that no one is to know what type of criminal he really is. She tells him to read the resume. That’s who he is.

Susana asks her if she is all right. She screams back at her, how can I be all right when I have to look at this guy from now on.. She wants to know if Marco called. Susana tells her no. Ale is wondering why she just didn’t die in the accident. (that would have made poor Rafa’s life easier)

We have a scene with Marco disguised as some cowboy meeting with Chavez. Chavez goes in for the hug, and Marco stops him. Telling him it is dangerous for them to be seen together. He scolds him for having meetings in public places where he could run into people he knows.

Chavez asks him why he’s so cranky. Marco states it’s because he had to walk. Chavez wants to know why he didn’t take the father-in-laws car. He explains that he had a fight with Ale last night and left in a hurry.
Chavez warns him about upsetting the fiancé especially since the embargo can be lifted at any time. If he isn’t married before that happens, everything they have worked for is over.

Marco tells him to chill. He has everything under control. Chavez hands him some money. I think they are selling milk form the ranch on the side. He warns Marco not to let Ale get a look at the books or they will both land in jail

There is some silly talk, with Chavez doing a little street dance and Marco telling him to stop Chavez wants to have a party at the Hacienda. I didn’t get too much more than that

Our final scene is in the showroom. Marino is on the phone, and Susana introduces Rafa. She tells Rafa he is the most successful salesman.. As he goes to shake Rafa’s hand he realizes that Rafa has in his hand the list of Lopez’s clients. Marino is not a happy man. And this is where we end.

Emilio leaves for home.

Ale explains to SMJ why they are divorced, tells her about the pills she should take and asks her to see Tony.

Maura shows Bruno that she has on her cell the video of Katia with Mateo. Maura asks Bruno about the "other" matter and Bruno tells her how Alex showed MJ's scar, but not to worry that Useless will be blamed for everything. Maura is all over Bruno's arm.

In the nursery SMJ comes in and the nurse asks how she is and how is her father? SMJ says fine, but I don't think she has seen him yet. The nurse goes on how she has much affection for Don Pedrito and she doesn't know why anyone would want to harm a good man like him. The nurses tells SMJ about little Vicky and how she is suffering from the consequences of her mother drinking while pregnant. The nurse says what a good baby Tony is and how Ale loves him. She encourages SMJ to pick him up. SMJ says he is beautiful and shes asks the nurse if she is sure he is her son. The nurse says of course. But that she wasn't called in the first few weeks because SMJ was nursing him. SMJ asks why she stopped and the nurse says maybe she didn't like but don't ask her. SMJ caresses baby Tony with her hand and tells him she is his mommy.

Bruno is walking somewhere and he calls Katia. Katia says she is angry with him and Bruno says he they need to talk. Katia says go ahead, but Bruno says not on the phone. Bruno says he wants to talk in his hotel room.

At the market Pedro is telling Paula how well Gabrials show went. Ale comes and Pedro asks if he has news of MJ. Ale says yes, she is at the house. Pedro is thankful. Paula says to Ale to tell him the rest. Ale tells Pedro she has no memory. Ale says he wanted to prepare him for when she doesn't recognize him.

Bruno is in the swimming pool when Katia arrives. Katia says she has looked all over the hotel for him. Bruno says yeah, but she is late and he doesn't have time. Katia starts telling him all the things she can talk about like the DR thing and her being a minor. Bruno pushes her down on the bed and says lies, you are a wh0re! Katia jumps back up and slaps him, not hard enough. Bruno licks her hand. He tosses her the phone so she can see the evidence of her being with Mateo. Katia can't believe it. Bruno walks in the the bathroom that has a full tub and gets in without removing his shorts. Katia tries to tell him she loves him and he grabs her head and pushes underwater and then he tells her to get out already. Katia crys. So sad!

Elena gets back home and asks the maid where her husband is. He's in the clinic.

Then we see Emilio knocking on Porfirio's door.

We see Jorge and Elena at the bed Useless. His hair is gone and because of his nervous system he is all jerky.

Emilio and Porfirio talk. Porfirio says he doesn't have much time left. He is dying. Porfirio is adamant that Emilio confirm his suspicions that Damian is deceitful. Emilio confirms.

Ale along with Paula and Pedro drive up to the Lombardo casa. SMJ comes down the stairs Ale greets her and asks how she is feeling. Ale then introduces her to her father. SMJ says Usted? Paula says yes, he was there when their mother abandoned them. Pedro asks if he can kiss her. SMJ does not remember. Ale and Paula leave so Pedro and SMJ can talk. Pedro starts explain how they went to church... SMJ still remembers nada.
SMJ asks Pedro if Elena is her mother. Pedro says yes she is the mother of SMJ, Paula and Sandra who died a few days ago. He tells her that the doctors said it was a drug overdose. Ale was with her at her last moment. SMJ wants to know where she is buried and Pedro tells her that Sandra was cremated and he has her ashes at his home. SMJ then says that the truth is that she really is MJ? Pedro says yes. He is telling her the truth. MJ says that she can feel his love and that she did not feel love at the house of her mother. There she felt fear, a horrible feeling, jailed repressed and now after speaking with Pedro she realizes here she is wanted, and she is thankful.

Maura is on the phone with Lissette. Maura is passing along the news that it was Useless that kidnapped MJ. Katia comes to ask why Maura did it. Katia knows that Maura is behind the video etc. Katia tells her they are pigs. Maura tells her she is stupid. Well Katia is finding out what kind of friends she has.

Lety, Lisettes friend comes to visit and help her eat. They laugh about por el pipip.

MJ comes in with Pedro and tells Ale that her Padre told her the history. Pedro says that he will pray that she remembers soon. Ale says she will remember sooner if she takes the medicine that Hernan brought. MJ says she will and that she wants to remember and she also wants to have the brain scan. She needs to remember because she sees Ale as a stranger that she wants to remember.

Fernando comes home and Katia runs down crying and asks for forgiveness. Fernando was right about Bruno. Fernando tells her to cry and that her life will get better, that he will always love her. Sooooooooo is this Katia's redemption?

Jorge in Useless room is on his cell with Bruno and are getting their stories correct and that Useless will be in Merida the next day. Bruno has it all under control. Useless will take the fall.

Useless is asking what is wrong with him? He is useless.

Bruno is trying to meditate while Rachel asks him to explain how Useless kidnapped MJ. Bruno says it is the truth. Rachel says she doesn't want him to go to jail. Bruno says Useless was irresponsible. He tells Rachel she is pathetic and it is not his fault. Rachel says she doesn't believe it.

We are back at the clinic where Useless is brought in and fed some bull. Useless is getting stronger by the second.

Emilio calls Fernando and wonders if MJ couldn't visit Porfirio. Fer says her will talk to Ale.

Elena and Jorge tell Useless that he has problems. Bruno is going to blame him for kidnapping MJ.

Rachel is telling Victoria that she doesn't believe that Useless kidnapped MJ. Victoria woud like to believe it was Useless.

Ale is at work and Fer tells him about the call from his Tio and that they should go see Porfirio and tell him the truth. Ale agrees. Victoria calls and suggests that Ale take MJ to dinner and start making new memories.

At the market Chucho is closing shop and Paula is telling Meche and Gabe everything about MJ.

Roberto is holding baby Vicky. MJ comes in and says hello to Roberto and then Victoria comes in. Roberto has to leave. Victoria talks to MJ about going to dinner with Ale, and at first she protests because she doesn't remember but Victoria talks her into it.

Ale comes home and Victoria brings MJ downstairs. Ale compliments MJ and MJ says she not used to being called MJ. Bruno walks in and says that she is Sandra and that it is the fault of Useless. Rachel says no. Victoria says end of discussion. Bruno takes MJ's arm and Ale says that is my woman and Bruno says she is his woman and that they divorced. They fight again on the floor. Victoria finally gets it broke up and MJ says she is going with Ale. Bruno continues his lies but finally leaves. Victoria apoligizes to MJ and Ale says the rest of MJ's night will be restful. They leave. Rachel says 'see" to Victoria. Bruno can't leave MJ alone.

Bruno in his room is getting crazy mad. He hates that Ale always seems to get what he wants, but if he can't have MJ Ale can't either

Labels: sortilegio

Cristobal asks Eugenio to help him find a man.

Dr. Bermudez is packing up his office and comes across the ring he was going to give Macarena. He decides to give it to Paloma.

Rufi is looking at a picture of Macarena and confessing to her that she sort of hinted that Paloma was Cristobal's. I thought it would be okay once I found out at the trial that you were going to marry him. I think he should take care of his child.

Gabriel brings Paloma a birthday gift. It's a laptop. She doesn't want to accept it, but he insists. She wants him in her life forever. She has so much to learn from him. He says me too. They gaze at each other and he kisses her on her cheek.

Anamar tells Emiliano that the baby is his also and that they can't take that away from him. Emiliano asks her when she plans to leave. She was only supposed to be here for a couple of days, but doesn't look like she's rushing off. She says she's staying until things are better from him. He needs a friend right now. Emiliano doesn't want to keep her from things that she has to do. She agrees, but says he's more important. She leans in to kiss him, but a nurse interrupts them. The doctor wants to see him.

Rafa and the lawyer are waiting for Diana who is an hour late. She finally comes in and says sorry I'm late, but I wanted to look good. So you know what you’re missing. Although now it is I who wants to divorce you.

Carloca comes home and no one notices her. Paloma shows her the computer that Gabriel bought her. Carloca takes it away and tells Gabriel that Paloma cannot accept such a gift. He tells her that it's more then a gift, it's for Paloma to use for further learning in his class. She doesn't have the money for it until she gets her inheritance. It's a loan which she will pay back to me. Paloma and Rufi laugh and Carloca gets onto Paloma for laughing. She points out that some men will do things for you, but want something in return. Gabriel says that's not the case. Rufi agrees and says that she would be with Paloma along with Dr. Bermudez and who knows who else. We will take better care of Paloma then you did. Paloma takes back the computer.

Diana signs the divorce papers and Rafa thinks to himself that if only all this happened before Camila married Orlando. Diana thinks to herself that Rafa will be sorry he divorced her once he realizes how wonderful she is. Then out loud tells him that Camila married another. And that the woman he's with will also leave him. Rafa says so that's why you finally gave me the divorce. Because Camila married another. Well yes replies Diana. At this time I don't care to lose you, but I swore to myself that you were not going to be with her. And it happened.

Orlando asks Camila if she's feeling better now. Camila says she overreacted. With Samuel there was so much lies, that a part of me doesn't trust. Orlando says that he didn't feel right talking to her about Emiliano's feelings. It is a problem between him and Romina. We should not get involved. Camila agrees. She knew they wouldn't last but didn't imagine it would happen so fast. Orlando says let's not let this spoil our honeymoon.

Emiliano informs Anamar that the doctor tells him that the baby can go home Friday. Anamar gets excited and kisses him.

Carloca walks into her study pissed and looks for Dr. Bermudez address. She says out loud that first it's Dr. Bermudez then Cristobal.

Emiliano tells Anamar that he doesn't want her to confuse things. He tells her that they had great times together in the past, but he considers her a friend now. I love another woman and she's in my heart. There is no room for anyone else. Not even I asks Anamar. No not even you replies Emiliano.

Carloca is lurking outside Dr. Bermudez house. Tries the door, but finds it locked. Dr. Bermudez drives up. She runs off without him seeing her. Comes back after he gets in his house and figures out a way for her to get in.

Eugenio and Cristobal keep talking about the mystery man and Carloca. Eugenio says that Carloca's very observant and obsessive. He's going to help him. Eugenio makes a call for a man to come quickly to Real de Monte.

Romina gets a call from Camila asking her how she's doing. Romina thinks she's on her way to her, but Camila says I'm still on my honeymoon. Camila reminds Romina that she knew this was going to happen, but insisted on marrying Emiliano anyway. Romina doesn't want to be lectured and can't believe that she's abandoning her. Camila says she's not. She's talking to her on the phone. If it was an emergency she would be there, but it's not. And she's not suspending her honeymoon for this. Romina says fine. Then don't call me while your there and don't tell me how wonderful of a time your having with your husband. While I am here alone and just abandoned by my husband. Then hangs up on her.

Romina gets another call and thinks it's her mother. I said don't call shouts Romina. But it's Emiliano. She gets all soft spoken and asks him if he misses her as much as she misses him. He ignores her and asks if she's been to the hospital today. Yes lies Romina. For a little while. Then you already know says Emiliano. What asks Romina? The doctor tells me the baby can come home Friday. Romina pretends she knew this and says I was going to call you. I want for both of us to go and get him. Emiliano agrees. Then Romina says I want us to all be together here for the first night.

Eugenio introduces Cristobal to an artist so that he can describe how Paloma's fake daddy looks like.

German is at a bar drinking and reminiscences about his conversation with his boss about Carloca. His boss gets onto him. German tries to defend himself, but his boss fires him. He keeps on drinking. Liliana and Eric are at the same place. She runs off to go to the ladies room and sees him. She says I heard you got fired. Your little boyfriend must have told you replies German. It was an injustice. Injustice asks Liliana. Things can change.

Luz and Gabriel are having coffee and tell each other they think things are going bad in their respective relationships.

Madeleine is excited that Cristobal wants to talk to her. Eugenio tells her that Cristobal's hurting though. He doesn't know when Cristobal plans to see her, because right now he's having problems. Madeleine wants to know, but Eugenio says you'll find out soon. He gets a call from Carloca. She wants to talk to him about business. They agree to meet in a few days. He says he'll pick her up.

Gabriel tells Inez that Rafa is a good man. He's offering to share his life with you. Luz agrees, but doesn't want to get married. Marriage destroys relationships. Gabriel disagrees. His parents were very happy together. Rafa is not just offering marriage for you to be together, but also to help you get Xiochi. I think that this is the first time you really feel something for someone and it scares you. Luz agrees. She's scared. Gabriel says give it a chance. Luz says she'll think about it. She changes the subject to Paloma. He says not much can happen. I don't have a lot of time. Never have I wanted to live like I do now. But don't tell anything to my dad about this.

Juanita serves Diana dinner. Diana wonders if Samuel has called her today. Juanita says no one. Diana runs to the phone and calls Samuel. No answer. She leaves a message for him to call her. Turns out Samuel's in bed with another.

Luz comes home and Rafa tells her he's finally divorced. They talk about his marriage proposal to her. He tells her to forget it. He knows how uncomfortable it makes her. She asks if he has changed his mind. Of course not replies Rafa. Luz proposes to him. He accepts.

The artist is done with the drawing and Cristobal shows Eugenio and Gabriel the picture. Gabriel claims to know him. But where? Eugenio tells the artist guy to give the picture to the police.

Paloma is at church reading from the bible. Carloca notices Madeleine behind her and asks Rufi if that is Crisotbal's mother. Yes replies Rufi. Carloca glares at her. After church Madeleine stops Paloma from leaving. She tells Paloma that at the trial she noticed that she looked like someone she knew. Who's that asks Paloma. My mother replies Madeleine. She pulls out a locket from her purse and shows Paloma a picture of her mom and dad. (Looks like Paloma and Emiliano to me) Paloma says we look alike to Rufi. Isn't that weird?

Gabriel tells Eugenio that he was up all night thinking about who the mystery man was. Eugenio says don't stress yourself out. He gets a call from someone who I think has found the guy.

Cristobal gets a visit from his Excellency who informs him that the church wants him back. Cristobal is overcome with emotion and cries. The phone rings and its Eugenio.

Camila and Orlando are swimming in the sea, petting lizards, going scuba diving, jet skiing and just having a grand time.

Rafa and Luz pick up Xiochi. She's theirs.

Cristobal calls Carloca and wants to talk. He wants to meet at a hotel. Carloca is excited. Cristobal hangs up and Eugenio tells him perfect.

Carloca pulls up to the hotel all excited. She's dressed in her favorite color. She knocks on the door and Cristobal opens the door. Carloca is wearing a very low top with her bosoms hanging all out. She walks in and is all nervous. Cristobal looks at her and says there not alone. It's Paloma's fake daddy. Cristobal asks her why she lied. Because I am Paloma's real father. Carloca muy impactada.

Manana: Cristobal confronts Carloca about her lies.

Ale can’t believe that Marco would even consider asking her to hire her worst enemy, Rafael. Marco lays out the wisdom of the move – she can guarantee he’ll have money to pay her, and she needs another dealer anyway. Though I don’t know why, considering the showroom typically has about eight salesmen and one customer. Maybe THAT’s why she ran out of money! Aside from the fact that she hates Rafael, Ale also reminds Marco that Raf doesn’t know anything about selling cars. She gets offended when he suggests that she use her clout to steer sales toward him.

Ale goes into the meeting to yell at the staff. I think her motivational tactics need a little polish. Everyone wants to put a friend into the salesman job opening, and everybody wants to get their hands on Lopez’ list of sales contacts. Dandy tries to get it from Claudia, and later El Teórico tries to swipe it from Ale’s desk. Speaking of Lopez, check this YouTube clip of Joaquín López-Dóriga (click here), a very respected, polished news anchor, in an uncustomary situation. Imagine Walter Cronkite getting the giggles. (Yeah, I know it’s off topic, but this is my recap and I can go OT if I wanna’. Neeners!)

Ale tells her boss that she has found a replacement dealer, but he says he is the one who will decide whether to hire the guy, and first he needs to see a resume.

Raf has gotten to the point of desperation. The only way he can get money is to borrow it from Vicky’s dad, but the only way Gastón will make the loan is if Raf marries Vicky. So our hero has a choice: wedding bells or prison cells. Be a lovebird or a jailbird. So he cinches up his calzones and calls Vicky to tell her he wants to meet with her father. Our pajarita goes all aflutter, expecting that after three years of working on this boy, she’ll finally catch the brass ring. (What? You think Rafael el probre can afford a gold ring??)

Rafael drags his friend Jaime along to see Gastón, so there is someone to call an ambulance if he ends up on the business end of a meat cleaver. Jaime is even more scared than Raf, and manages to slip out, promising that he’ll watch from a distance.

“From a distance” translates into hiding in the nearest doorway, which happens to be that of the new salon. The short jailbird says his name is Bougainvillea. Anyone remember another novela moment (click here), same actor, and another Bougainvillea? Our “beauticians” are so desperate for business, they Shanghai Jaime into a chair and start giving him a makeover. When Jaime remembers them from jail, they shut him up by putting a moisturizing towel over his face, so their new associate won’t hear this important detail about their work history.

At the butcher shop, Raf stumbles and stutters, afraid to talk about the M-word. He’s saved by the bell, and this time it’s not wedding bells but a ringing cell. Marco tells him to get his resume to Ale ASAP, Sabes? Well, Raf doesn’t sabe. What’s a resume? Raf finishes the call and has a welcome change of plans. He tells Gastón that he came to announce that he has a job. Poor Vicky almost cries, seeing her hopes go hopeless. But the cries turn to shrieks when she has Raf alone. She’s furious that he didn’t ask for her hand as she had understood he would, and she’s none too happy that he’s going to be working around women. She wants her pajarito all to herself.

At home, Raf calls his friend to ask, “What’s a resume?” Ale tells Susanna that she’s going to hire Rafael, and Su concludes that Ale’s med’s are rotting her brain. Marco tells his shady cohort Vicente the real reason he wants Raf hired – so Ale makes less money, so she won’t be able to redeem the house, and Marco will be able to take possession. Vicente suggests that Marco marry quickly, but I couldn’t understand the reason. Jaime warns Raf that working with Ale will be worse than his cuñados’ machetes. Raf goes to the repo man and begs a little more patience, and a chance to use the fax machine.

Susanna brings Ale the resume off the fax machine. It goes on for several pages, hand written, block letters like a second grader. His list of education starts in kindergarten, and his references include his mother the housewife. But he does mention that his first salesman job was in elementary school. Susanna is really warming up to Rafael. (Isn’t it always the wise, kind character who first sees the value of the diamond in the rough?) She has become his advocate with Ale. Ale knows the resume won’t fly, so she invents one as Su types.

I know that there were many things that flew over my head. I welcome any additions or corrections.

Friends, this is my last recap of Dinero. I stepped in at the beginning as a sort of “bridge” recapper until the show got rolling, and as the sidebar says, it was a temporary fix. Thank you for your support. Board Mom is looking for a replacement, but if no one steps forward there won’t be a recap on Tuesdays, just be an empty blog post so people have a place to comment. I encourage you to give it a try. It’s a great way to improve your Spanish, and the audience is always appreciative.

Labels: dinero

Repeat from yesterday: Paloma doesn’t find it all suspicious that her evil auntie orders her to stay away from her ex-beloved ex-priest, who has been acquitted of murder and whose only crime was to not announce his engagement to her mother when he was still in the process of leaving the ministry. After all, his relationship with Natalia shows how vile he is.

Rufi tells Carlota she thinks they should just get all the secrets out in the open. Carloca says it is the will of god that Paloma and Cris be separated. I put “god” in lower case on purpose because I’m pretty sure La Loca is referring to herself, not any officially recognized deity.

Today: Paloma packs her suitcase and reminisces about hugging Emiliano at the jubilant moment when Cris and Nat were declared innocent. She thinks she’s got to get out of this place and away from him.

At the same moment, Emiliano is also packing and reminiscing about the same moment.

Cris pays an unfriendly visit to Misery Manor and asks Cruel if she was behind the whole murder accusation. She, of course, coolly declares that she loves him and would never hurt him. “Do you think I’m an idiot?” he asks. Cruel says she did this to help him; now that he isn’t a priest they are totally free to get it on. Isn’t that why he’s here? Cris looks stonefacedly sick as Carlota slimes herself into his personal space. Just then Paloma walks up behind Crueloca and is way impactada. Cruel smirks.

Eugenio tells Gabriel that the birthday gift Gabe is giving Paloma is perfect; it will let them keep in touch. Fatalistic Gabriel says he’s saying goodbye to her para siempre after the party. That would be for the best. Eugenio says that he will be with him until the very last moment. They hug and cry. I might possibly sniffle a little myself.

Carlota stages a big scene, claiming that Cris was trying to force his way into the house to talk to Paloma. She’s all simpery sweet in her protective auntie character. Paloma says she isn’t going to listen to him anyway; she’s tired of all the lies. Then he really does push his way into the house and says he hasn’t deceived her. He loved her mother and he loves her, too. Paloma yells that Mac didn’t tell her what was going on and she’ll never forgive them. I am not sure what makes her think she was entitled to know everything. If she ever spent 30 seconds on analytical thought, she would realize that a) the engagement happened very suddenly, and Mac died immediately afterward, and b) it was a very delicate situation, as Cris had not yet told the world at large that he was leaving the priesthood. But Paloma throws a snitfit at Cris and stomps away…heh, that’s how you can tell they really are father and teenage daughter. Carloca grins smarmily at Cris and he shoots death glares at her.

Orlando and Camila are happily honeymooning (the only kind of mooning Emo doesn’t know how to do) when Emo finally reaches them with the news that Cris and Nat are free. They are delighted. Well, now that Orly has spent three seconds thinking about his best friend, it’s back to the recreation. He puts his cell phone in Camila’s beach bag, which they abandon while they trek off to check out marine life.

Ol’ Crazy Cow tells Cris that now there is nothing stopping them from getting together. He says it’s amazing that she’s so stuck up that she can’t see that he is not in love with her. What’s even better, Carloca continues, she has saved herself for him! Never been with another man! He is neither surprised nor impressed. Virginity doesn’t make a woman more valuable, he says, good character and morals do. She says if he loves her (or just fakes like he does), she can guarantee that Paloma will love him and consider him a father again. “Estás loca. Absolutamente loca, de verdad!” he says, as he barely pulls back his fingers to avoid strangling her and walks out. Le sigh, says the purple one, I don’t want to get rid of anyone, but they leave me no choice!

Over breakfast, Romememena demands that Paloma convince Emiliano to return home and not divorce her. Paloma declines to get involved. Your husband, your problem, she says. Romi can’t believe she won’t help her dear friend. “You knew he didn’t love you when you married,” says Paloma.

Rafael is doing research about adoption and tells Luz it would be much easier for them to adopt Xochi together. She doesn’t want to; she wants to adopt all by herself. He asks why she’s so afraid to commit to him. After all, she is the one who is always telling him to take risks and go after what he wants. Luz is not shining brightly today, she’s just kind of whiny and stubborn, so Rafa leaves. She tells him not to be mad, which is always a surefire way to keep someone from being mad.

Romina whines that she just wants her baby to have a father. I’m surprised she still remembers she has a baby. Paloma finally blows her top. She is sick of Romi’s lies and manipulations! She didn’t have to force Emo to marry her for him to be a father to the baby, and she told all those lies just to hurt Paloma! Romina weakly volleys that Paloma deceived her, too. Paloma says it’s not the same. All she did was fall in love with Emo, and he wasn’t dating Romina at the time.

Emiliano breakfasts at the hotel with Anamar. He may not be having an affair, but he’s certainly feeding the gossip mill. She thinks he should move to Houston to run the new deal or whatever there. And, bonus, that way they could spend more time together! Eh? Oh, total coincidence; she’s planning to go to Houston to study! And he could get away from Romina! Emo doesn’t want to leave the baby, but he looks thoughtful.

Romina cranks up the waterworks. Please, please, I desperately need your help, Paloma! What can I do for my marriage? Give up, says Paloma. Let Emiliano go. Toodle-oo. She leaves and Romina flings dishes all over the floor.

Cris calls Rufi and asks her to come see him ASAP. Carlota is in the room, so Rufi goes on and on pretending she’s talking to Padre Benito and he wants her tamale recipe. Cris rolls his eyes a bit. I love that he is not hiding his snarky thoughts so much now that he isn’t a priest. Rufi finally hangs up and tells Carlota she’s going to the church to give PB a recipe. “Yes, I heard you a thousand times,” says Carlota. She doesn’t want Rufi getting any uppity ideas that she can just leave her work whenever she wants. “I know you already think very little of me, buh-bye,” says Rufi, and they have a snippy exchange over whether she is calling Carlota “señora” or “señorita” as she leaves.

Padre Benito is talking to someone who might be the bishop and they agree that Cris should be reinstated as a priest. The bishop (?) says it’s like the parable of the prodigal son. {Except completely not; did this bishop even read the Bible?}

Romina tries to call Camila, gets voice mail, and flings the phone. Not quite Sendel style, but she’s working on it.

Eric makes a ten-second appearance to mock Germán until Carloca and the other lawyer arrive. Thanks for trekking all the way down to the studio for that, Eric.

Romina leaves an urgent message on Orlando’s voicemail for them to call her immediately.

Carlota very formally tells Germy he is no longer her lawyer, nor a trustworthy man. Germán protests his dismissal and maintains that he did everything Carlota asked. Cris and Nat were declared innocent like she wanted, weren’t they? (The other lawyer is still in the room, and should be wondering what Carlota has to do with that case). Anyway, he’s still fired. She says she’s sorry, with a big grin.

Cris rushes Rufi inside and begs her to help him with Paloma. “I don’t know; she’s really stubborn,” says Rufi. Cris says he knows that Mac is Paloma’s mother, and he knows who the father is. In fact, he has met him, and it’s painful to think that Mac was intimate with that nasty dude. “Ehhh…sit down,” says Rufi. She tells him that Crueloca lied to them. That man is not Paloma’s father.

Cris asks Rufi if she’s saying that Paloma is his daughter. No, no, she clarifies, she is not saying that directly, because she promised she wouldn’t say. She is only VERY STRONGLY SUGGESTING that he investigate the matter himself and find out for sure.

Orlando finally checks his messages. They call Romina, and she cries that Emo has abandoned her and begs them to come home. Cami tries telling her to calm down, but she just gets more red and hysterical, then hangs up after demanding that they come immediately. Camila tells Orly that Emo left Romina. “Oh, yeah, he said he was going to divorce her,” Orlando remarks casually. “WHAT?! YOU KNEW?! AND YOU DIDN’T TELL ME?!” There is trouble in paradise.

Cris tries to figure out how he can get a DNA test. Eugenio arrives.

Rafa and his lawyer wait at the family court building for Diana to arrive to sign the divorce papers. Diana is still at home, frantically trying to call Samuel. He finally answers, and says he’s about to be able to give her the life of a queen, like she deserves. She squeals with glee and rushes out for her divorce.

Samuel and some other guy wear suits and talk shady business deals.

Germy and Carloca take their bickering into the street. His chasing her and whining does not help his case. So he threatens her with exposing her dirty deeds regarding Paloma’s inheritance. “Do I have to explain things to you with apples and sticks?” she asks. He’s just as guilty as she is, and would be judged more harshly for his unprofessional dealings. “So don’t try to blackmail me. Stay out of it, or you will suffer VERY serious consequences.”

Cris thanks Eugenio profusely for freeing him and Nat. Eugenio says it was Madeleine who got him to take the case. He asks Cris to try to make amends with her. Cris is reluctant, but he agrees to at least talk with her after Eugenio says it’s not just for her sake, but for his own peace of mind. He’ll just have regrets later if he doesn’t at least try while he still can. Then Cris asks Eugenio to help him find a certain man, although he doesn’t even know whether the name is his real one.

Doctor B packs up his office. He finds the engagement ring he gave Mac and decides to re-gift it to Paloma (not as an engagement ring).

Rufi tells Mac’s picture that she didn’t break her promise. She didn’t actually tell Cris that Paloma is his daughter, even though that would have been so much easier (yeah, Rufi, tell us about it).

Gabriel goes to Paloma’s house and gives her a birthday gift. It is a laptop computer. She tries to protest that it is too expensive, but he insists that she needs it for her studies. She says he’s the best teacher and she hopes to be close to him for the rest of her life, to keep learning from him. He says he also wants to be with her…for whatever time they spend together. He snuggles up close to show her how to use the computer, and they look into each other’s eyes, hovering inches apart, and…end credits.

Avances: Cris and Eugenio plot to unmask Carlota. Gabriel maybe kisses Paloma. Anamar definitely kisses Emiliano, and because he is an idiot galán, he has no powers of resistance.

Labels: amor

Rolu announces to Arni that he needs to repursue Xime and begs him to help write a love letter to Xime. Arni finally agrees if Rolu will turn over the clorox!!

Lalu writes a "love" letter to Arni, Xime reads it and her burned eyes tell us it's really a "lust" letter. She tells Lalu he can't write something like that, it's not from his heart but other body parts and that he needs a professional love consultant, her! Get your pen out Lalu, youpi will be writing a newpi!!

Papi and Con discuss Issy. Pa tells her to stay away from Moni. Coni blames her for evrything bad, but Pa is not swayed, he prohibits her from getting anywhere near our Monkey. Ooooh.

Papi tells her to forget about Vale and do yoga or pick up a sport. HA! Guess what she has...boxing, and she is going to knock the living sh.. out of Valentina Lopez, who is national champion. He all but laughs in her face. It takes years to reach that level he tells her, no way you'll do it, now cut it out and leave her be or you'll answer to me. Basically. Hrmmph.

Issy is spewing more venom at Mau...Mau saying she deserves her Pa, her saying that Pa abandoned her in the trash too. She then plays a little game, ok let's go right now to tell her everything, including how much I hate her. You want this? Of course our boy's balls shrivel and he leaves without saying a word.

Back to Rolu and Arni, he's trying to think of something to say. He looks at the photo for inspiration. He says beauty, my love, you arouse so many emotions in me that I wanted to write them down to make them more tangible for you. He continues on about her as a surprise box that he opens and she's kind and candid, he loves all of her. Arni realizes what he said to himself and drops the photo. Rolu says it's a masterpiece and asks again if he's not gay. Arni repeats it twenty times. Echo Sylvia's comment, um not worried about your bro and your wife eh? Nice.

Over at the restaurant Xime writes a similarly inspiring love note about his sensual aroma and his company being the most beautiful thing. This is too cute, so are these guys going to end up together? Anvils are pointing this way....

Speaking of more anvils, Estrella is at Televisa chatting with Angelis and Nesma about her getting the part of the lover. She is over the top excited to be an actress. The anvil is lowering, you have to be with us for the whole show. A little lower...It will last 8 -10 months. Lower still....You have to watch your figure and your image. You are single right? Good, so sometimes gals get pregnant and it affects production a lot. Boom the anvil has smacked our queen. Whoops. Well if you are pregnant you should tell us now. Ha..not at all allowed in the US to even make such insinuations or questions. Anyway...Estre lies of course.

Back at the house Marc is still lecturing Coni, look Issy is my friend and Moni is her daughter and that's all you need to know. Speak of the Monkey, here she is, what's this crap about my Mom being alive and faking her own death.

Jacqui and Tere are together in the vecinidad chatting about Britney Sofia, the new maid over at Coni's. Jacqui misses Tere. tere misses kids. No one misses Coni, Jacqui knows how everyone feels about her daughter. She was waiting for Nieves who hasn't shown up, but there she is with Cesar. Jacqui notes them smooching.

Back over to the cold house, Coni asks Papi what she should tell Valentina. He is shocked it's her. She remembers him as the lawyer talking to Nieves. Coni wants to know what he was doing talking to the Mama of Beto. Whoops, anvil time, Nieves is that tapujo's (subterfuge's) Ma??

Jacqui meets up with Nieves who has nothing good to say to her, thinking she is there on behalf of her daughter. Nopis. It's about her ex-husband Marc. Que? Marc is your ex hubby??

Ok now we go back to the dueling chicas. Vale finds out he's Coni's pa and thinks he's bad for faking being a lawyer, Beto is worth gold, the one who isn't worth anything is this bitter Momia. They break into a fight and like the good papa he stands in the middle of his two supposed hijas and keeps them apart.

Back at Xime's she arrives with the note and tells Arni to read it and go for it and not let what happened to her happen to him, whoops, that wasn't supposed to slip out, I think. They look at each other very seriously. He decides to go read upstairs. Xime recovers from her look towards him and tells Rolu that he doesn't want us to see his true reaction and hopefully he'll enjoy the letter. Rolu wants to talk again about the shares. He thinks she should sell them, the business isn't really hers. She gets an idea of what she needs to do but doesn't tell us. Rolu gives her the love note, but she is too excited about her idea and leaves. She'll read the card later.

Back at the stone house the girls are separated but that is not enough to let evil words slip out like how Mona stole a married man but Momia got pregnant by her lover. Papa asks if she is pregnant and she says no. Mona reminds it's because she lost the baby, but she wonders if it was an accident or deliberate... Momia denies this to her Pa - this goes back and forth until he finally makes her say that was the worst mistake of her life.

And like magic we are in a park at night staring at that mistake aka Beto and Estrella walks up. They seem to talk to each other while merely talking to themselves. This was quite cool. Neither wants to go back to the vecinidad. She about to lose all of her dreams when they find out she's pregnant, and he swears off women forever, they ripped out his heart. He can't believe he lost his fantasmita, she can't believe she's having a bebita. In unison, un hijo, mi hijo. She for the one that comes, he for the one that has gone. Masterpiece.

Back again Papa Marc can't believe that Coni was pregnant and never told him. She asks what he would have done, come to Mexico to console her? He says of course. She says yeah you didn't even come for my wedding. Val says she's off, she just wanted to tell her not to mess with her Ma. Coni says she can't answer the questions re Ma, but ask Mau, he can tell her. marc escorts Moni off.

Xime is at Mau's new pad. He tells her he's in the street that Coni took it all. She curses Coni's badness, but...she can help. you are not in the street. I'm giving you my 10% of Grupo Sermeno!!! Claro que si!!!

Marc wants to invite Val to coffee, he wants to chat. In typical rebellious fashion, she refuses. he worries about her late at night. She says I'm a stranger why are you so worried. He's proud she's a boxer. Again why. Please accept my invitation, you are wrong. I want us to get to know each other better. He tells her she doesn't know who she is and what she means in his life. Whoa.