Caray, Caray!

Moni surprises Cl by announcing that she will give him a divorce. She instructs him to tell his lawyer to call her lawyer...and the only thing she asks is that she be allowed to continue working at Farell Industries. Stupid CL's radar should be going off like crazy but he immediately agrees, saying it's her business too. She tearfully wishes him the best of luck and leaves. He looks amazed and impactado, but not necessarily relieved or happy.

Alirio dolefully tells Nidia that there is no explanation for his firing, he was treated horribly. Nidia and Yadi roll their big, heavily made-up eyes and Nidia insults him. He tells her that he uncovered a serious case of fraud and when he reported it CL became furious and fired him. Nidia doesn't believe him. She leaves in a huff for Farell Industries, presumably to negotiate Alirio's rehire.

In a split screen, CL invites Paula to lunch, they need to talk. She agrees but insists that they leave separately, sin chauffeurs, and meet at the restaurant. No one must know. CL licks his lips.

Moni takes her rage out on Fernando. She tells him that all men are cut with the same scissors. Fer tries to play dumb but Moni says he has known of CL's activities all along. She really lets him have it.

Juan calls Paula but Mari answers since Paula has already "snuck" off to lunch. Juan fills Mari in on the Pastora situation; he doesn't know when he'll be in.

Juan comforts a weeping Pastor. Pastor tells Juan that they have to operate on his mamita, however there is a huge problem. They need blood before they operate and unfortunately they are all out of her type, O-negative. Juan is impactado. He goes through a silent and short moral dilemma then makes his decision...he himself is O-negative and will donate his blood!

CL leaves his office for the private Paula lunch. He stops by the wretched Ivonne's desk for his daily dose of beeatch. She knows what he's up to and tells him so.

It's time for the bloodletting. Pastor pats Juan's shoulder while two comely nurses (wearing the required telenovela nurse caps) comfort and prep him. Juan has whiny thought bubbles and obsesses about the huge needle s-l-o-w-l-y p-i-e-r-c-i-n-g h-i-s s-k-i-n.

Moni tells Chelo that she's leaving the apartment. Chelo retorts the CL is the one who should leave. I think Moni says that if she gives CL the same treatment that Paula gave him, she'll see whether he realizes that, by her absence, Moni is serious.

CL and Paula are at the restaurant being their usual boring selves. They can barely communicate with each other and neither are truthful. It's pretty painful to watch. CL says they should be together. Paula plays hard to get and says she's confused. CL says she's lying because deep down she loves him. She says he no longer interests her.

Juan and Pastor have a sweet scene - Pastor brings Juan lunch. Juan says since he gave Pastora his blood he is now one of the family. Pastor tearfully thanks Juan for everything, Juan was divine. Juan says it's no problem, they are friends. Juan refuses to leave Pastor until he knows that everything is fine with Pastora. Enter the doctor who announces that everything is under control and Pastor is ready for her operation.

CL tells Paula that now there is nothing in their way. She informs him that there is something much greater than his wife that stands in their way, it's his lies and dirty tricks. He says she's wrong, he's a new man. (Oh puhleeeeze!) He presses his case. He accuses her of not caring for Juan. She only used Juan to make him jealous. He demands that she look him in the eyes. Did she or did she not use Juan to provoke him? CL is an ass but when he's right he's right.

Back at the hospital Juan thought bubbles, "Who would have thought ... here I am preoccupied by Pastor and his mamita, in a matter of life or death. In the meantime my Licenciada and CL were defining my life and my death, too."

CL and Paula continue arguing ad nauseum about Juan. Finally CL decides to take another tack, he suggests they forget Juan and concentrate on themselves. He wants Paula to return to him. She says she needs time so don't start singing Victory yet. She purses her lips and does a perfect impression of a cat's aft end when the tail is up.

Pre-op Pastora tells Pastor she's worried about him if she dies. She has always managed his life for him. He weeps and begs her to stop talking like that. Pastora feels the need to get something off her chest...there is something that she doesn't want to take to the tomb, she has many secrets. Pastora gets to the point, bless her heart. "You have a brother Pastor, or should I say, a half brother!"

"A brother???" asks Pastor, "how, when, who is it?" Pastora tells her story, before she met Pastor's father she had a suitor with whom she was deeply in love. She surrendered her love to him. Then she says something I don't understand...she fell at his feet when he (or the other?) painted her little birds of gold (pajaritos de oro), and thus she became pregnant. Help anyone?

Fer and Nidia enter the restaurant where CL and Paula scowl over their expensive wine. They see the glumbirds and debate whether to say hello or not. Nidia wants to approach them but Fer holds her back. CL sees them in a clinch and smirks.

Nidia tells Fer she has a surprise for him, it's a little box. Fer is surprised, she bought him an expensive wallet that must have cost a lot. She tells him he's worth more to her than all the gold in the world. He seems genuinely touched. Nidia acts like she's having a hot flash.

Pastora admits that every time she escaped from the house she went off to call Pastor's brother. "That's the last straw," he exclaims, "escaping, hiding, don't you think I deserved to know the truth?" Pastora says she can't change the past, but if something happens to her she wants Pastor to look for his brother. She's afraid Pastor can't survivie on his own. Pastor weeps; she gives him his brother's contact info and Pastor promises he will try to find him. Pastor and Pastora say how much they love each other. Actually I found this scene very touching.

Pastor returns to the waiting room and tells Juan that things are bad, very bad. Juan suggests they go to the chapel to pray. Pastor says it's been too long since he's prayed, it wouldn't be ethical to ask God for help. Juan pooh-poohs that thought. He suggests Pastor pray to his favorite pal, the Santo Niño de Atocha. He should do it for his mamita.

Cut to the operating room...ominous music, a pile of clamps, serious doctors...Pastora's heart does something abnormal. "Doctor we have a complication!!"

Commercial break to a Destilando Amor ad - cat fight between Gaviota and Minerva in the ladies room! Go Gavi!!

Back to Pastora's dire situation - the doctors whip out the defibrillator...one, two, three, bzzzzzap! The doctor shakes his head.

Juan helps Pastor pray that Pastora's life be saved. If she dies then Pastor will die too, so Juan is praying for not one miracle but two.

Kike is interested to see a very chummy Fer and Nidia return from lunch. Kike teases Fer about becoming his father in law.

Juan calls paula. She lies (again!) and says she had lunch with a client. Juan tells her that Pastora is under the knife and poor Pastor is a mess. Juan gets goo-goo with Paula, kisses the phone and says he's loco loco loco for her. He wants to tell the whole world how he feels about her! When they hang up he looks ecstatic and hopeful while she looks bitchy and confused.

Nidia is outside CL's office. Mari tries to talk her out of seeing CL but Nidia will not be swayed. She bursts into CL's office unannounced. "What a surprise," he says wearily, "yet again."

Fer helps Kike study. He pulls a pen out of his jacket and his new wallet flops out. Kike admires it and teases Fer, it's pure calfskin, not fake naugahyde. He calls Fer 'father-in-law' again.

CL tries to tell Nidia he let Alirio go because Ali's potential was stifled at Farell. Nidia doesn't buy it and she begs CL not to fail her in her time of need. "For the love of God," she wails, dropping to her knees, "don't play such a dirty trick on me by sending him back to my house!"

Pastor and Juan pace, they wonder why they heard news yet of the operation? The doctor arrives, sweaty, glum and serious. He tells Pastor he's very sorry, they did all they could, but lamentably Pastor's mamita passed away.

Pastor breaks down but luckily Juan is there to comfort him. Juan thought bubbles that he felt Pastor's pain as if it were his own. He still remembers and his heart shrinks. And what did he say to Pastor at that time? Nothing. What words could fill the void left by his mother? So at that time the only thing he could do was to stay with Pastor and hope, little by little, that time would do its work.

That scene should have been the end...poignant, sad, emotional, but nooooo. Instead CL arrives home. He walks around and sees that Moni has left. He stupidly asks Chelo where Monica is and did she say whether or not she would return? "You would know better than I," retorts Chelo. CL looks kind of impactado, more like constipated, or maybe he's just a little surprised at Chelo's subordinate and accusatory tone.

eso es el colmo = that's the last straw (lit. that's the height)

Labels: Juan