Caray, Caray!

Aloha all, I will be out of town with no computer or TV between Christmas Eve and New Year's day and will be unable to do my recap on Dec 27th (two weeks from tonight). I know it's a rotten week to ask for a sub considering many of us are out of town, but if anyone is around and willing to fill in please let me know. I suspect that week may be hit and miss anyway but we'll see what happens. And now, on with the show...


We are back to the original lead-in song El Rey Tiburon but we still see the new faces from last night's intro - beautiful women and, as Schoolmarm-in-Black pointed out, a cute little boy. Hmmmm....

Angarita tells Nidia she's the only woman in his life. The only thing is he won't share her, does she love him or will he have to make heart from tripe (pluck up his courage) and say goodbye forever?

The bad guys of Achichipico have traced Juan to Doña Delfina's house. She and Dark Buddy (Juan's singing friend whom Kris named) try to hold Juan back or at least make him take a pistol, those dudes are going to crucify him. Juan says it's his town and he's going out, he's no pantywaist. He gathers his courage and runs outside, followed by Akito, Delfina and Dark Buddy. He raises his fists against the three rifles that are pointed at him and demands, "Why are you doing these things Don Aldemar?"

Anga tells Nidia that if she's by his side she and her child will never want for anything. She moans that she can't leave Delirio for certain reasons. "Then it's better we say goodbye," Anga announces firmly.

Akito leaps between Juan and Los Chavez; he performs some ineffective Karate moves and knocks over a pot. The men lower their guns. They don't want to kill an innocent nut case. Juan calls them out, he challenges them to put down their guns and fight mano a mano.

Don Aldemar tells Juan that he insulted his daughter's honor. Juan steps in front of the gun and denies it. How did he offend her honor? What they had was mutual. He grabs all three rifles, holds them to his chest and tells them to go ahead and become murderers. The crowd cheers at Juan's stupidity, oops I mean bravery. Don Aldemar has an itchy finger which makes the girls cry and garners worried looks among the crowd.

Paula whines to Ana that she couldn't find a job. (Sheesh, she's only had one day of half-assed attempts and she's already feeling sorry for herself, the baby.) She proposes to Ana that they start a business together, maybe a business of painting and design, very exclusive, things signed by (or maybe approved by) Ana. Ana stops sucking the lemon and looks interested.

Juan makes a grand speech to the people of 'his' town. He says he didn't come back to re-ignite an old feud, but rather as a businessman with his associate Don Akito. They have a dream for his fecund land, they want to convert it into a commerce center of wealth and progress. The crowd applauds Juan's speech.

Juan apologizes to Don Al saying he (Don Al) is a well-respected man in the community. Juan would like to repay his debt of honor in some way so that they can work together as new friends. He apologizes to Don Al in public and vows to apologize to his daughter too. Dark Buddy breaks out into song. The crowd applauds and joins in, "Que viva Juan Juan Juan!"

Anga refuses to reveal to Kike what Nidia told him. If Kike wants to know what's wrong with Nidia he will have to ask her himself. Anga tells Kike he's frustrated...why did he have to find the love of his life only to lose her again?

Back at the office Fernando picks Marely up and swings her around. He thanks her over and over because he got the job! As soon as he gets his first paycheck he wants to take her out. They are observed by the office gossips and a scowling Ivonne.

Back in Achichipico Delfina slowly explains to Akito, using pantomime and sound effects, what happened outside with Juan and Los Chavez. It was a matter of honor. Akito says honor is very important. Juan tells him that tonight Delfina will have a blow-out feast. "Oh Sushi!" exclaims Akito hopefully. Juan tells him not sushi, this geisha in front of Akito's ojos de rendija will be making the meal herself. (Cracked eyes? Is he referring to the shape of them? Oh dear, not exactly PC with this character, are we?) Akito eyes Delfina lasciviously and mutters, "Geisha, muy beno!" Delfina instructs Juan to explain to him discretely that the doors to her place (she runs her hands up and down her body) are open to him. Well she certainly is Nidia's cousin. I would love to see these two brassy broads together in a scene.

Ivonne approaches Fer in the garage and asks why he's so happy. He excitedly tells her his news. Doesn't his promotion seem a little too easy, she asks? Fer is too excited to hear what she's trying to imply.

Monica happily tells Laura that she and CL will be traveling together. Now she can give Paula a taste of her own medicine. Paula, by the way, has run home to mama due to a conjugal crisis. She joyfully comments that things are really going in her favor.

Kike visits Fern and tells him he's afraid Nidia has a fatal disease. She may already have her feet in the sweet hereafter. They tch tch about poor Marely. Fer comments he has good news but now it seems unimportant. "Life goes on," philosophizes Kike. That's all Fer needs. "I'm promoted!" he exclaims. They high five and Kike makes a short public service announcement about the worth of continuing education.

Juan and Dark Buddy yuck it up at the local watering hole. (Hey, what happened to Delfina's big blow-out feast?) Juan tells tall tales about his life in the big city. In less than one week he landed a job with the commercial vice presidency of the number one commercial food business. He worked in the morning and studied at night. He had a very clear vision of his goals and the rest was easy. As his friend nods adoringly Juan thought-bubbles that maybe he's stretching the truth just a little. He continues on that in his study group was a friend who owned his own business. He helped Juan, Juan helped him, and thanks to good public relations, which is very important in the world of business, they were able to start their own weekend business.

Don Al tells a pissed-off Casimero that he won't do anything against Juan right now and Casimero has to promise the same thing. Casimero begrudgingly agrees but adds that when Juan fails to follow through on his promise they'll be asking Casimero to take care of him.

Juan blathers happily about his business partner, a brother really, and how successful they were. Dark Buddy, slightly jealous of Juan's friendship with Kike, toasts to Juan's success. After a shot of tequila Juan asks his pal what it was he and Delfina were going to tell him earlier. Dark Buddy hems and haws and finally suggests that Juan find out from Delfina.

Over at the local nunnery one nun tells the world's most beautiful nun that Juan came to town and Los Chavez didn't kill him. The rumor is that Juan will stay in Achichipico. Beauty nun says it would make her the happiest woman in the world if Juan had returned to her; nobody could love him like she does. We don't get to see the other nun's reaction but I'll bet she's impactada at the very un-nunny thing she just heard.

Kike, Delirio and Mari are driving home in Kike's truck. Kike tells them that Anga told him there is something gravely wrong with Nidia. Delirio goes ballistic at Angarita's name. Kike shuts him up by saying Nidia gave Anga her final farewell before dying. Delirio and Marely are impactados at this news.

Paula runs the business numbers by Ana. Naturally Ana whinges at the risk but Paula assures her that one cannot have success without risk. Paula suggests they get Nidia to join the business. (Yeah, Nidia could bankroll it with their own money.) Ana reveals that Nidia has a grave problem at the moment...she's pregnant.

Back at Delfina's house Juan pumps her for the secret she was going to tell him. "You remember Rosalba?" she asks. Oh yes, Juan dreamily remembers the beautiful Rosalba, but he'll say nothing because he doesn't kiss and tell. "She had a baby," announces Delfina. Juan says he's truly thrilled for her, blah blah blah. Delfina interrupts, "and the father of this boy is...YOU!" Juan is muy, pero muy impactado. (Aha! It looks like we were right about Juan being a daddy.)

Juan is incredulous, how could he have a son and not know it? Rosalba left town more than seven years ago! Delfina says that's why she left, she didn't want to be the talk of the hood. Maybe she was afraid Juan would deny the child. Juan flips out, he would NEVER deny his child. He excitedly yells, "I have a son, I have a family!" He asks where his family is and they tell him Rosalba died. People say she died of a broken heart and the last thing she whispered was Juan's name.

Juan berates himself but Dark Buddy reassures him. He and Delfina tell Juan his son lives with his granny outside of town. He knows he is the son of Juan Dominguez and he is very quick-witted. Juan looks like he is about to cry from pride and joy.

Back at Casa Cachón Nidia sits at the table while the rest of the family, convinced she is at death's door, are at her beck and call. Nidia, confused and annoyed by the attention, tells them to sit down. She has something important to tell them.

Pastor shows up at the market. Apparently Anga is drunk on tequila and his employee called Pastor for help. He said Anga started drinking after the lady with big chi-chis, Nidia, came to visit. Anga tells Pastor it's too late, he'll never get her back. Poor Angarita looks truly miserable.

Nidia tells her family she has something very difficult to tell them. In life people are born, they live, reproduce... "And die!" blurts out Kike, to the girls' horror. Nidia ignores him and blathers on, stalling for time. Yadi interrupts, "Ma, we know." This surprises Nidia. Delirio asks why she didn't tell them before? "I didn't want to inconvenience you, it's not easy to discuss, I was afraid of how you'd react," she answers. Nidia doesn't want any tragedies, this is a part of life, she's not suffering and she doesn't want them to. Nidia tells them to cheer up and enjoy the meal. "Smile, smile everyone. A toast to your health!" she exclaims. Yadi and Marely look completely stricken and Delirio raises his glass to Nidia's courage.

Fer sees CL and thanks him for his part in the promotion. CL is obviously surprised but he hides it. CL says this is a great opportunity for Fer to keep his eye on Monica and report back to CL. Fer doesn't look very pleased about the arrangement.

Anga tells Pastor his tale of woe, he'll spend his whole life trying to forget Nidia once again. Pastor tells Anga not to be a pessimist and he refuses to give Anga his bottle of tequila.

Delirio watches Nidia sleep and snore. She wakes up and scolds him for staring at her. Nidia and Delirio miscommunicate as the violins play. Delirio calls her his muse, his Beatrice. Nidia sarcastically comments that he acts like she's going to die. "Isn't that precisely what the Dr. told you?" he asks. Nidia tells him not to be such a blockhead.

Dark Buddy tells Juan about his son. Juan wants to know, does he look like him? Does he have his eyes, his lips, his mullet? Dark Buddy says more importantly he has Juan's boots and he refuses to take them off, even to sleep, just like Juan. "That's my boy!" exclaims Juan.

Dark Buddy wants to hear more about the big city and the women Juan met. Juan says the day he arrived there was a house, no a castle, with a queen and two princesses. Juan describes the lovely Marely and we get a close-up of her shapely tush packed into white pants (brave girl), she's a true angel, he says.

Cut to Casa Cachón where Nidia's family bicker amongst themselves. Nidia finally arrives and demands to know which of them is going around telling people she's going to die? Kike stands up and tries to explain himself. Nidia interrupts and says she was telling Angarita goodbye because she's closing that chapter of her life. Period. She tells them she's not exactly sick, but...get ready...she has a bomb for them...one, two...I'm...pregnant! Yadi and Mari gasp, Kike looks confused, and Delirio topples over like a tree.

Juan continues his tale of love. Yes he felt something for Marely. It was yes, then no, then yes, then no. Then, just when they were on the verge of coagulating, a beautiful dove arrived. She was a goddess, an angel, an apparition, a pain in the ass. (OK, I added that last one.) His narration leads into...

Paula and CL talking over dinner. They are both smiling which means Chelo must have cooked. CL tells Paula he has to travel to Guadalajara for business. "We're going to hear some proposals," he quickly explains, trying to slip this into the converstion without her noticing. "We?" asks Paula, "and who's going with you?" CL responds that Monica is going too. Chelo strains to hear and Paula puts on her best sourpuss impactada face.

avispado/a = quick-witted
comidilla = talk of the neighborhood
comilona = a feast, a blow-out
cuagar = coagulate, coalesce
emporio = center of commerce, financial empire
más alla = further on, the sweet hereafter
rencilla = feud

Labels: Juan