Caray, Caray!

Greetings all, in a coincidental turn of events I, too, will be on vacation from this Thursday until the week of July 24th. I am supposed to return on the 24th and if my schedule goes according to plan I will start recapping Heridas on Tuesday the 25th. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Heridas turns out to be worth our time and effort.

On to Barrera:
As we left them, Andres is hunched over the writhing Valeria who is moaning "No grandmother, don't lock me up, I must see Andres!" Sergio enters the room with the tray and asks Andres what he's doing there.

Maite has a flashback to when When Valeria was born. A white-haired doctor is in the scene (and it looks like Jacaranda's doctor friend but I'm not sure because those white-haired older guys all look the same to me). Maite remembers that's when she started to become sick, when she began to lose Valeria little by little.

Sergio tells Andres that Valeria seems drugged, it's no use to wake her. No doubt it's the work of his sister Jacinta. She's the grandmotherly type who probably set the dogs upon him and most certainly gave something to Valeria so that she couldn't meet him in the garden. Andres says, "But the dogs could have attacked Valeria!" Sergio seems to think this a minor glitch and tells Andres he should get a rabies shot. Andres is still worried about Valeria and why she was drugged. Sergio says it was definitely the work of Jacinta and Andres should leave now, he can meet Valeria tomorrow.

Carlos tells Jacaranda that on the day of Maite's baptism he and Jacinta gave Maite a mega-dose of drugs that would make her seem like an alcoholic. Jacaranda says she's curious to meet this Jacinta. Carlos says she'll get the opportunity if she goes to Aguascalientes.

Sergio tells Jacinta that Valeria is sick and delirious, as if she is drugged. Jacinta says it was a simple herbal tea to help her rest. Rest in Peace is more like it. "Pretty potent herbs," he comments. He asks if it has to do with the boy that Valeria was meeting and she tells him to mind his own business.

The next morning the maid (Clotilde?) tries to wake Federico, Jacinta wants him to join her for breakfast. He is majorly hung over and wants to be left alone. No wait a minute, he wants a beer THEN he wants to be left alone.

Sergio tells Valeria that she was incoherent the night before. Valeria remembers events as if in a delirious dream. He asks if Jacinta gave her some sort of herbal tea. No, only a glass of milk, and afterward she felt dizzy.

Jacinta is irked that Federico is "indisposed" and wants to call the doctor. Clotilde tells her it's just something he ate that gave him a stomach ache. Jacinta seems to believe her and Clotilde gets big bug-eyes and looks just like Mrs. Danvers, except relieved instead of diabolical.

Andres, who should be seriously thinking about getting seen for dog bite, is window shopping for engagement rings.

A painting has arrived for Jacinta's inspection. It is a portrait, Valladolid style, of Federico.

Veronica, Maite, and apparently Jacaranda are going to Aguascalientes for Valeria's birthday party. Maite is nervous and Veronica doesn't look pleased that Jacaranda is joining them.

At the vineyards Baldo is worried about Andres' wounded arm, he thinks he should get a rabies shot. Andres says he is certain that Federico ratted him out to Jacinta. Baldo agrees, adding that Federico is a "lambiscon" who only wants to suck up to Jacinta.

Federico's beer must have done the trick as he's up and about. He tells Jacinta that he set the dogs on Andres and his arm was hurt. She thinks the beauty of this plan is that Andres was trespassing so it was his own fault he got attacked. No one will suspect them of orchestrating the attack. (Nobody except everybody who has heard about it so far!)

Valeria drives out to the vineyard and sees Unibrow, remember they met at Nutria's clinic in an earlier episode, but they don't really know who the other is. Uni mentions his son Andres and Valeria, realizing Uni is his father, beats a hasty retreat.

Jacinta thought bubbles, "Just think how surprised Federico will be when he finds out he's a real Valladolid. I was really mad when Pedro legally recognized him as his own, but now I'm just so darn glad that he's not a bastard. He's pure Valladolid stock. I'm going to look for the perfect opportunity to tell him!"

Federico looks at Pedro's portrait and thought bubbles, "Damn! I was hoping I was Pedro Valladolid's son, only to find out I'm the son of that poor devil of a teacher. My mother is an idiot, if only she could have gotten herself knocked up by the Padrona then I could have been HIS son."

Sergio has had an exotic meal with the two gossips Letitia and Bertha. He flatters them endlessly...but wait, a shocking development, he has forgotten his wallet! The old bags are putty in his hands and end up arguing over which one of them gets to pay for his meal. Then he gets them to float him a loan and promise not to mention it to Jacinta.

Now we have one of those heavy-handed scenes that indicate the writers think we viewers need to have everything spelled out for us...Uni tells Andres he has the perfect girl for her, but Pa I have a girl and you're gonna meet her, but this girl was awesome I don't know her name sure hope she has nothing to do with the Valladolids blah blah blah. Yes, we already KNOW about this scene set-up.

Federico is tailing Sergio. He is extremely obvious as he tiptoes from doorway to doorway, hiding and peering around walls at Sergio.

Valeria and Andres, still unvaccinated, rendezvous in a beautiful garden. She is sure that Federico told Jacinta about them and that Jacinta gave her a knockout drug. Federico can't be trusted. By the way, she met Andres' dad at the vineyard but he doesn't know who she is. They talk ad nauseum about her running into Unibrow. I only mention this because it is where Andres finds out Nutria was seeing a doctor. He wonders why his parents hadn't shared that info with him.

Manola calls her mom to tell her all is going well with Gustavo's admission to "the clinic." Cut to Gustavo in his cell, guarded by a nurse. "How long must I remain here? I can't believe Manola would do this to me. This place is going to be my tomb."

Federico has followed Sergio to the doctor's office. He passes Nutria and checks out her rear as she walks away.

Another heavy-handed scene, this time between Rodrigo and Jacinta. She wishes Valeria would be his girlfriend, for once he's more worried about taking care of his dad's business than getting it on with the richest girl in town. The only people he can count on are Jacinta and Federico. His mom and Nicolas took Gustavo to a clinic in the U.S., (news to Jacinta)and they wouldn't let him go. He thinks they are hiding something. Jacinta will investigate. She tells him except for his excessive smoking he really reminds her of a true Valladolid!

Federico follows Sergio, who is carrying a big envelope (medical records?), back to the hacienda. Sergio put the envelope away and blows smoke rings. After he leaves, Federico goes in and opens the envelope. He thinks if Sergio really has cancer the information will be in these records. But Sergio could pay to have records falsified, how will Federico know if the information is real or not? Without a doubt Sergio is going to figure out a way to live off his sister (vivir a sus costillas=live off her ribs). Better to wait until Sergio makes a stupid move then he can figure out what to do with the information.

El Gordo, horsing around with Andres, pokes him in the arm. Andres winces in pain and FINALLY admits to Gordo and Daniel that the Valladolid dogs bit him. Daniel is going to vaccinate him against rabies.

Jacinta tells Federico she wants him by her side when she greets the party guests that evening. He's worried it might look inappropriate. She says since Adolfo's death little by little Federico has become the man of the house. Since the estrangement of his mother he has become even dearer to her. He says her words honor him, especially considering the ingratitude of his mother. "Eh...you and your mom are like oil and water." He kisses her hand and then stares hard at Adolfo's portrait. "I only wish Adolfo had had your character," she concludes.

Valeria confronts Jacinta and wants to know what she put in her milk. "Only a little something to help you sleep," answers the wicked old witch. Valeria says it's not right to drug her without consulting her first. (this is most certainly the oddest statement in tonight's episode.) Jacinta responds that nobody knows better than she (Jacinta) what is best for Valeria. While Valeria is a minor she will abide by Jacinta's rules, and that means no more Mr. Nobody. The day Valeria leaves the house without marrying well will be the day Jacinta disinherits her.

Manola and Nicolas are back in time for the fiesta. They lie about Gustavo's rehabilitation but Rodrigo acts like he doesn't believe them.

Gustavo discovers he can move his hands but decides he better keep it a secret or Manola will kill him. Ya think?

Party time!! Jacinta, Valeria and the guests are millling about the patio. Andres arrives, then Maite, Veronica and Jacaranda arrive. Jacinta looks shocked but not awed and the gossips seem to recognize Maite. (It occurs to me that perhaps Jacaranda isn't the best companion if Maite is to convince everybody that she wasn't a prostitute.) Andres looks pleased with himself, Valeria looks worried, Juanita smirks.

Labels: barrera