Caray, Caray!

Firstly, many thanks to the lovely and clever Maricruz for volunteering to do my Thursday recaps while I was on vacation. They were fabulous. Thank you Maricruz!!

Secondly, I will be unable to recap again next Thursday so if Maricruz or anybody else could help out again I would be very grateful. If not no worries, I know it's a holiday weekend which makes it tough for people.

And now, on with tonight's show...

Consuelo the maid catches Cesar Luis skulking around his den after hours where he was attempting to call Paula on the sly. Consuelo tells CL that she knows what he's up to and she's going to share the chisme with the Mrs.

Juan tries to reason with the insanely drunk Alirio. Juan suggests Alirio go to the party and play nice, if he still fells like cancelling the wedding in the morning he can do it then. Alirio's eyes roll back in his head and he slobbers unintelligibly. Juan tells him it takes a man with real calzones to deal with a woman like Doña Nidia. Alirio perks up and babbles lecherously as Juan yells "Torero, torero, torero" and pretends to entice a bull.

Back at Casa Nidia, Nidia shows off her house to Ana. Ana says the decor is very...er..Unique and Original. Nidia asks Ana and Paula if they noticed anything interesting on the walls. In response to their blank stares she escorts them to the naked portrait of Juan. All the ladies are impactadas, especially Paula.

Cesar is still impactado by what Consuelo told him. She finishes by telling him the chisme is that it's stress that's making him behave oddly. Whew!! He sinks into his chair in relief. Consuelo tells him she won't rat out his "stressful" wanderings to Monica if he promises to go to bed.

All the ladies at the party are ogling Juan's portrait when Juan bursts into the room with teetering Alirio. Nidia's eyes get huge. Juan's eyes rest on his beloved licenciada when suddenly he sees the pic of himself in the all-together "shamelessly airing" his attributes to the the assemblage. Well, he can't worry about that now; he's got to concentrate on saving Alirio from Nidia's death stare.

Nidia drags Alirio into the den and rips him a new one for arriving drunk and bringing along a musical trio from Veracruz. She says she hates drunks! He reminds her that at Samuel's funeral she herself was a "blazing mango" whatever that is. She was boozing it up at the funeral so maybe it means something like a cheap drunk.

Back at the party the jarocho trio has livened things up. Juan is appalled that Nidia could do such a thing as display his bodacious bod (my words) over the bar. Marely tells him not to worry, he's got a good physique, it's art, and nobody at the party will recognize it's him. Just then two leering female guests show up to fawn all over Juan's arty physique.

Alirio become belligerent with Nidia and says he doesn't have to abide by her rules because the wedding is cancelled! Nidia tells him fine, he can get his skinny butt out there and make the announcement. She flicks her pink nails at him.

As Alirio tries to leave Nidia rushes in front of him, bars the door, and turns on the waterworks. She sobs, why does he want to humiliate her? Alirio blathers that he only wants a little respect and consideration. She must prove to him that she loves him this instant. She plants a short, perfunctory kiss on his lips and he swoons.

Things are getting pretty lively at the party and Juan thought bubbles that this could be a very promising night. He tells Kike that maybe he and Yadira will reconcile. The band starts playing Juan's song - it's his big chance to teach Paula the Cachibombon! He struts over to her, dips her and they begin to dance. The crowd claps at the spectacle that is Juan shaking his bootie.

As Juan drives Paula back to her apartment she tells him that he dances like a spinning top. Will he teach her the steps one day? He wiggles his hips and she smiles, enchanted. As she leaves he thought bubbles that words cannot describe the love he feels for her, but the harsh reality is that this goddess belongs to another man. She's as far away as the stars.

Back at Nidia's place Juan tiptoes past a snoring Alirio. He's surprised to see Marely sitting alone. She says she was waiting up for him and they need to talk seriously. She wants to know why Juan gave her the ring. What does he feel exactly? Does he love her? His mouth answers "from the first day I met you" but his mind thinks "how can I answer her NO?"

Marely kisses Juan, but instead of enjoying it his thoughts are a raging storm inside his head...he's lived the life of a vagabond but suddenly he feels faithful, faithful to an impossible love, to the woman of another. Juan leaps up to the sound of breaking glass. "No puede ser!" he tells an impacted Marely.

Meanwhile Nidia and Yadi are upstairs watching an old movie and having a heart to heart. Yadi tells Nidia to forget Alirio, he's an ugly old coot. Nidia tells Yadi it's easy for her to say because Yadi is young, but Nidia is afraid, afraid of being alone.

Marely demands to know why Juan won't kiss her. Is he gay like everyone at the office says? He stammers...he loves someone else but he can't reveal who it is. Marely pushes and probes, is it Paula?

Nidia tells Yadi to take her advice, it's better to marry a man who is in love with you than to marry a man you are in love with, there are less problems with that arrangement. Yadi furrows her brow and considers Nidia's words. Maybe Kike has a chance after all.

Paula flops around in her bed, picks up the phone, and dials Cesar (who is asleep next to Monica). She gets his voice mail and hangs up. Serves her right for chasing after a married man.

Marely asks Juan why he acted like he wanted her if he really loved Paula. He gives her some lame excuses before she goes for the jugular...does Juan really think a high-powered exec like Paula would actually fall for a simple chauffeur? Marely flounces out and tearfully removes Juan's ring.

In his room Juan chatters to himself and treats us to an undressing. He strips down to his boots and cute little blue boxers. He somersaults onto the bed and says he will sleep well tonight because he has finally done the right thing.

The next morning Nidia greets Alirio with an Alka-Seltzer. She starts to tell him off but he interrupts. "No Señora!" he bellows, "you won't have Alirio to kick around any more. The old Alirio is dead. Now good day, we'll talk later!"

Whoa!!! Juan is skipping down the road in his boots, wife-beater and red shortie shorts (skimpier than his boxers)!! He's gone out to buy bread. He greets Alirio with a hug and a shake; poor Alirio's head is splitting. Alirio thanks Juan for helping him the night before and for advising him to be hard and strong with Nidia. "Let's wipe the slate clean, friend," Alirio suggests, shaking hands with his new best friend.

Cesar and Monica have a dreary breakfast in their steel home. Monica surprises him with an announcement. She wants a trial separation.

Juan and Marely are also having a subdued breakfast. He tries to suck up to her and she berates him. He doesn't want their friendship to change. "Too late," she snaps. Juan asks her for a favor, please don't tell Paula that he loves her. Marely promises to guard his secret. Juan, looking a bit ashamed, thanks her.

CL lies and tells Monica that he loves her, he adores her. She insists they need a separation so she can view the problems in their relationship clearly. He pretends to feel sad and says a separation will pain him, but his right eye does the happy dance.

Juan picks up Paula for work and thought bubbles that he needs to find out for sure if Paula is an impossibility for him, otherwise he will feel like a dog stuck between two sandwiches. He notices that Paula is gloomy and is encouraged, she must be having problems with CL!

Fernando waits by the limo as an elated CL approaches with his suitcase. When Fern asks CL how he is CL replies, "Encantado!" He's better than he's been in ages and he's going to paradise.

Consuelo tells Monica that it was dangerous to let CL leave, hasn't Monica seen the telenovelas? Monica assures her that CL leaving is only the first step in making him fall more in love with her. If she only knew what a rat bastard he really is...

Cut to a commercial lead-in of CL checking out some major mini-faldas on either side of him.

Paula arrives at work and asks Marely if she has seen CL. No? Well Marely is to let Paula know as soon as he arrives. Ivonne fiendishly eavesdrops.

Cl arrives at the garage and tries to get info from Juan about how Paula was at last night's party. Then CL goes upstairs and tells Marely he had to miss the party because some little thing complicated his life. He smugly slithers into Paula's office and finds the ice queen shooting icicles into his heart with her eyes. He tricks her into admitting she tried to call him at home.

Fernando reports to Juan that CL got into the car carrying his suitcase and saying something about going to paradise. They have a silly conversation about what a disaster it would be if CL left and Pastor took charge of the company. Juan thought bubbles that if Paula and CL are planning a future together it will be the biggest blow that he (Juan) will ever experience in his life.

Paula scolds CL and yells at him for being AWOL all day and night. He has arrived too late to try to fix the problems between them. He says they need to look for a radical solution to their problem. She calls him a liar but he will have the final word..."Paula, do you want to live with me?" Paula is impactada and as dumb as a hairball if she falls for that line. Which I'm sure she will.

Tomorrow: the characters display varying levels of impactado but we don't know why.

balbucer = to babble
borron y cuenta nueva = wipe the slate clean
jarocho/a = from Veracruz
mango flameado = blazing mango??
trompo = spinning top

Labels: Juan