Caray, Caray!

The first few minutes are a rehash of Monday's show with Alirio pontificating in Cesar Luis' office, lamenting that his wife has taken off rather than waiting for him to get out of jail...just like your wife has taken off, Cesar Luis, he adds. We're suffering the same tragedy...they're both with that no good Juan Dominguez.


Now we see Paula, spilling out of her low-cut blouse, asking Erlinda and Molondron about the beauty contest. Molondron and Erlinda are both looking "muy impactados" and give Paula the run around on who's organizing the contest. Finally Erlinda fibs that it's Don Aldemar Chavez that's the head honcho and unfortunately he's away traveling. Paula leaves her local address so they can get in touch with her.


Alirio, who's been kicked out of the office, undeterred, asks Ivonne to see Pastor so he can be paid for his time in jail. When he learns Pastor is no longer with the company, he's overjoyed. Alirio himself is the perfect replacement. He reenters the office to inform Cesar Luis and now things really heat up. " I pay you to warm a seat, you get us into this computer mess, you level ugly insinuations about my wife and now you want me to give you Pastor's job!!!!???? you 'pedazo de animal'!"(literally piece of an animal). Alirio gives it right back. If I'm a "pedazo" you're a total animal, and one wearing horns big enough to be the envy of a buffalo!


A wonderful knock-down follows, Alirio flies out of the office on his tush and then literally gets kicked to the elevator. I read somewhere that the actor who plays Cesar Luis trained in the martial arts and was a stunt man before getting bigger roles and he certainly landed a graceful kick on Alirio's backside.

Paula's confiding her suspicions to the ever patient Ana...they're hiding something. I'm sure Juan's a part of all this. Why aren't they leveling with me?

And why isn't Juan getting to Achichipico? Well,'cause now the truck is stopping and Nidia and her new beau are heading for a cold one. Want to come along? He points out they're already very late but the driver says he's "al puro pelo" (he's just right, has exactly what he wants). So Juan grudgingly climbs down and joins them.

Monica is following up on the fight. Cesar says that Alirio drives him up the wall (Me saca de quicio) but she's shrewd enough to know there's more to it. Yes, he's now sure that Paula conspired with Juan to get the business with the Japanese Monica is ready to believe his wife could betray him emotionally...but business-wise? Still, as they compare notes, Susana and Sunyu were in Achichipico to connect with the main man, why sure...and then Cesar goes even further...Paula and Marely are thick as thieves, Fernando probably covered up for them and Ivonne is good friends with Pastor...oh my...he's all alone, surrounded by a nest of vipers. He can't trust anybody!

Nidia and the driver are dancing, Juan is sulking and when a blonde asks him to dance, the driver says, "Don't bother, "ese patea chueco" (he's gay) which awakens the interest of a hulk at the next table. Finally Juan gets Nidia to leave...and she charms the driver to take them...and off they go again.

Pastor meanwhile is explaining to Ivonne how he's trying to get out of driving a truck for his brother. After protesting that he's a lousy driver and could hurt not only himself but others he proposes to have a 2-month trial as manager, increasing business by 30 per cent. If he can do that, he'll get out of the driving job. Ivonne lets him know he's not the only one kicked out of Farrell, Perafan has been dismissed also.

Different story at Casa Cachon. Alirio says he quit...couldn't put up with Cesar anymore. Yadira isn't fooled...we'll see what Marely says, she smirks. Alirio goes on that he'll start his own law office....RIGHT HERE IN THE HOUSE!!!

Next we see a darkened office, Cesar sitting all alone...till Monica enters, turns on the light and sets to work trying to lift him out of his depression. Strictly business after all...his low mood could affect Farrell and she's an shareholder in the business. He protests but she persuades him to go out to dinner. Okay, but if I ruin your mood with my bitterness, don't blame me, he protests.

No sweetness and light at the Cachons. Yadira tells Alirio flat out that there's no way she's tolerating him around the house 24 hours a day. I'm here and I stay, he retorts. Wait till my mom gets back, she counters. If and when she does, she'll have to support me in this. Well, I won't, says she. Well I know a little secret about this family that you wouldn't want to get out. That get's Enrique's attention but Yadira doesn't want to tell him what's going on.

Fernando and Marely are walking after seeing a film and he asks her to go to dinner. She wants to pay but he won't let her. He explains that he's taking her to a restaurant where Cesar used to take all his little girlfriends. And while he waited in the chauffeur's car, he dreamed of the day he would have enough money to take someone of his own. And even if he didn't have all the money Cesar does, his girlfriend is a thousand times more beautiful than any of his bosses'. Sweet shy smile of Marely to this.

Yadira and Enrique are arguing now...as her husband he has a right to know and she finally decided to tell him about the "chanchullo" (racket) but swears him to secrecy. So now it's out...Alirio and her mother changed the will, giving all the money to the Cachons rather than to the Davilas.

Enrique goes ballistic...it's a crime, a fraud, a robbery!...and you're implicated 'cause you helped cover it up. Well, it's my mom. What could I do? And she was just trying to help us...she didn't want us to wind up in the streets. Look, Enrique replies, I'm a simple guy but I'm honorable. I can't tolerate this.

Speaking of simple, we have a sweet scene with Delfina trying to get Juanito to eat, she's afraid Juan will come back and find his little guy too thin....when, kaboom, Juan enters and all is happy reunion. Nidia, of course, is wanting to know all about Juanito and how come she, who was like a mother to Juan, didn't know about this. Juan explains he didn't know at the time either. And he adds, I don't know where Juanito gets it, but he's very intelligent and well-behaved!

Paula and Ana are at it as usual in the hotel. Ana wants to leave first thing in the morning. Paula wants to wait. Wouldn't Juan have gotten in touch with you by now if he wanted to see you?

In the meantime, Delfina and Nidia are doing what all women do when they meet after a long time...you haven't changed a bit!...I swear you look younger every day!...widowhood has rejuvenated us! Nidia doesn't want to talk about her marriage so they switch to Delfina's love life. She's about to bring up Angarita when Juan enters and then the scene switches back to Kike and Alirio.

Alirio piously protests that Enrique shouldn't judge without knowing his reasons. You and Nidia are a pair of rats, Kike replies and what will Marely think!? Now Alirio IS panicky. We can't let her know, she's capable of going to the police and I already have a record.

Delfina now is sharing her romantic history...starting with the Japanese. He was so tender, we had such wonderful communication! You speak Japanese? No...bodily communication! Nidia understands perfectly. But then along came Angarita. But it didn't work. He turned out to be jealous so I had to end it.

Impactado look big time from Nidia. This Angarita...was he tall, a little ugly? Yep, that's the one.

Monica and Cesar are now at the restaurant and she's reminiscing that this is where they had their first date. He doesn't remember. Well, she's not surprised...he's forgotten a lot of important things. Ah, but now he DOES remember. In fact the dress she wore got stained and a year later, when they were in New York, he tried to find her a similar one but no luck. So he bought her an expensive watch instead, to make up for it. But they were rushed in the restaurant...why? he muses.

Because we were going to a Luis Miguel concert afterwards. And then we bought all his CD's (he is a fabulous singer, especially with sensual love songs..try his "33" album..it's my favorite-editorial) and spent many an evening listening to them. We were happy, Monica adds, looking very tenderly at Cesar. Old times...good times, they both muse. Their hands touch as they both set down their wine glasses. I'd forgotten that look of promise, he adds, that look of promise that no longer shines for me. You threw it all away, she gently corrects. We bring about our own downfall, he admits. Never too late to change course, she replies....they draw closer and are about to kiss...when he sees Fernando and Marely entering the restaurant.

Monica wants to ask them to sit at the table but Cesar restrains her...can't you see they want to be alone? So Monica takes a new tack. Did you cheat on me a lot? Don't get defensive...give me the whole truth...after all, it's in the past.

While that's going on, Marely and Fernando are talking about love and the importance of honest communication and he's completely entranced with everything about her. It's also obvious to them that Monica and Cesar aren't having a business dinner and Marely gives her version of why the Paula/Cesar marriage is shaky...neither one was authentic with the other and Paula is confused about her feelings. Understatement of the year!

And speaking of inauthentic, Cesar's giving a very cleaned up version of his infidelities. One or two times, nothing more. Why, because of my trips and you were alone? Or for vengeanc?. No...these things just happen. Will you be unfaithful to Paula? No....I don't think so. Don't know what will happen. Why can't men make a committment!!?? Why can't women leave the future and past alone and just enjoy the moment?..and with that he gives her his best sexy look and adds, "I'm dying of hunger. Aren't you?" Smoulder smoulder.

Guess who's trying to reach him at just this moment? Paula. Miffed that she can't find him anywhere,her mom gets in another jab...you're jealous of your husband when you're seeking out another man?! Juan is a friend, much esteemed, nothing wrong with that. Then why didn't you tell Cesar the truth? He wouldn't understand.

Cesar, clearly a bit tipsy but still seductive, is hovering at Monica's door, saying aren't you going to invite me in for a drink? You've already had a lot and I'm worried about you driving home. He thanks her for her company, it helped a lot, and he's feeling a lot better. Tender looks, a tender kiss, and then he reluctantly leaves.

Alirio and Yadira are still sparring...he's threatening her with exposure as an accessory if the truth comes out and she's totally unfazed...she's ready for whatever. Love her tough attitude!

Monica and her cousin are now going over the events of the evening. A rather poignant conversation where Monica says that the worst part of a separation is not the man leaving but the loss of one's childhood illusion of marriage as a paradise. I realize now that I was married to a complete stranger, she adds. (welcome to the club Monica, we've all thought that!) and I believe we're better friends now than we were when we were married.

Are you going to fall in love again? Monica smiles.....will she become Cesar Luis' lover without the bonds of marriage? And wouldnn't it be great to have the wisdom of today with the body of a twenty-year-old her cousin adds.

And that's it for tonight folks. Truths and half-truths are coming out, illusions are crumbling, and who knows where it all will lead?

Labels: Juan