Caray, Caray!

For the rehash, we get to see Lorena suffer again as Sister Trinidad hand her the papers showing that she was abandoned in a garbage can. Lorena's hopes and dreams of finding her parents are dashed and now she realizes she'll never find out who they were. Mother Trinidad tries to console her with spoonfuls of tea and bromides but Lorena's looking very crushed.

Meanwhile, Sara is smarming up Hortensia at the jail again, reassuring her that the release is a slam-dunk, but Hortensia, with a sour look, refuses to "cantar victoria" until she's actually out. She's also viewing Sara with a jaundiced eye, musing to herself that Sara didn't do this for me...she did it for ambition. " You're shrewd (lista) Sara but I can't trust you. " (Hate to admit this, but I kinda like this wicked old broad. She's dreadful...but she's upfront about it, and plenty intelligent, unlike some of the other characters.)

Back at Maruja's house, Mother Trinidad is trying to repair the emotional damage to Lorena by saying You'll always be my child. We (the nuns) will always carry you in our hearts. Be strong, don't let rancor and resentment overtake you. Our plucky heroine vows to "superar" (overcome) this latest setback and reminds herself that she has many people who love her.

Having dropped her bomb, Mother Trinidad scurries off, saying she has things to do before returning to San Martin.

Switch to the clinic, where we get to enjoy Alonso's very best bedside manner, hovering over Florencia. He's gone to her school and gotten her grades which he tells her are good and also mentions Sergio asking about her. A little chit-chat and then Florencia asks him if he has a girlfriend. He teases her that she must be up to something and she says yes, when she recovers she wants to be his "novia". Get in line little lady.

At Paula's house, Ivan (Chef Hawt's nephew) is calling on Bettina and she wants to entertain him in her room...a proposition that throws Paula for a moment but she relents. Ivan has brought her a pie but she says it will take more than that to turn her into a mother-in-law. Also, she wants him to call her "Paula" not "señora or any of that nonsense.

Back at the other apartment, Ms. Big Hair (I think her name is Amalia) is lighting candles to her dead husbands. Can't figure out if this lady is a sentimental Black Widow/con artist or just a lady down on her luck, husband-wise, but she's sure not giving Don Toribio the straight story. She quickly snuffs out the candles and spins a tale about these being pictures of her brothers (and yes, they all look different because they had different papas). And no, no picture of husband, he didn't like photos. Don Toribio swallows this tall tale and when he mentions that he's going over to see his daughter Paula, Amalia invites herself along.

Turns out Mother Trinidad's to-do-list involved reaming out Sara for taking Lorena's boyfriend. Why does everyone defend Lorena? pouts Sara, and throws in a little more character assassination, which Mother Trinidad doesn't buy for a minute. However, the good nun is goofy enough to assume Sara will comfort Lorena for her emotional setback and tells her about her friend being found in the garbage. Of course we know how Sara will handle this but at least it results in a big hug from our hunky chef. But hey, that comes later. Hold on folks.

The scene switches to Bettina's bedroom which is gradually being invaded....first by Paula bringing sandwiches and then joining in to watch the movie. Later, Don Toribio and Amalia will add themselves to the mix. No worry about any monkey business going on with this crowd.

Now we're at the restaurant and Lorena gets the snotty text message from Sara congratulating her on her origins. Her composure slips, she starts to cry, Chef Hawt arrives, she tells him what happened, he embraces her and lo and behold, jealous little Monica arrives and pitches a fit. We can see where this is going and it's not good. Chef Hawt should have kept his spatula in his drawer 'cause from now on Miss Monica's going to be on the warpath.

Sara has dropped in on Alonso and wants him to take her to dinner to celebrate Hortensia's release. He can't go because of Florencia and she pitches her own fit, accusing him of evading her on behalf of the patient who reminds him of Lorena. Another guy who should have kept his stethoscope in his pocket. Too late now Alonso.

Here's a little bedroom scene that's G-rated though. The whole family's in Bettina's room watching the movie and getting on the little gal's nerves big-time. And Amalia starts giving Paula advice, telling her not to chide Bettina so much. Pretty nervy if you ask me. I wouldn't let a perfect stranger start giving me mothering advice in front of my child....but I digress...back to the action.

Ernesto wants Lorena in the kitchen (Monica assumes he wants Lorena in his bed) and they fight about it. Finally she yelps, Fine, but when you get sick of her don't send her back to me! Big big smile from Ernesto. Lorena gets busy right away, wanting to experiment with a sauce by adding" licor de chocolate" to it, giving it a touch of mole poblando. Ernesto approves, Sous-Chef disapproves, the other chef (our old hairdresser from Juan Querendon) brings the licor and the experiment seems to go well. She adds just a pinch of sugar to balance it out.

The busy day at the restaurant is over, Lorena is putting away a few things, and Ernesto is regarding her wistfully, thinking that he lost her before Ihe even had her.. She gives him a sisterly hug, thanks him for helping her fulfill her dreams (as well as comforting her about her parents) and as she departs, he thinks that it's better that they are friends because he doesn't really deserve her. (Well that could be true, but Holy Toledo, Alonso doesn't deserve her either! Judges, could we have a third choice?)

We break for ads and when we come back, Chalo is admiring himself in the mirror when Sara arrives, three sheets to the wind and wanting some hot loving, which he's only too happy to provide.

Our other lovers are not doing so well. Monica's accusing Ernesto of having designs on Lorena and threatening to get rid of her altogether. Ernesto tries to disentangle himself from the relationship and sputters that Monica shouldn't mix the personal with the professional. (a little late for that Chef) Monica doesn't want to see Lorena in the kitchen....or come to think of it anywhere around the restaurant! Ernesto says that if Lorena goes, he goes too. Checkmate. For now.

Alonso is having no luck getting hold of Sara. Her cellphone is turned off. She wakes up in Chalo's bed having spent the night, due to too much drink and too much amor. Worse yet, Chalo wants to take her car to go get lunch and Sara's furious.

Outside, who should be lurking but Rossy and Lorena who's ready to get Sara where it hurts. The timing is perfect. First Chalo emerges and then an angry Sara, forbidding him to take the car. He takes offense and she makes up for it with some heavy-duty smooching. Lorena finally understands that not only are they lovers but the affair must go all the way back to the orphanage....how else could Chalo have found her so easily in the great big city of Mexico. and how did he know to show up and be so obnoxious when she and Alonso visited the orphanage!?

We break for ads again and when we come back, we have a shot of Alonso, jealous as usual, wondering why Sara's cellphone was turned off and where was she all night! She quickly makes up a story of helping a friend with a project and a dead battery in the cellphone. Alonso caves quickly and says let's not fight. (These two deserve each other).

Lorena has some slick skills of her own as she confronts Chalo adroitly, saying she's always liked him and couldn't understand why he would do something so low and dirty as to make her out to be a tramp in front of Alonso. But hey, she can forgive that....what she can't forgive is Sara, her best friend, taking her novio. Chalo is stunned but tries to fake it and assures Lorena she must be confused. No way, she counters, Alonso's picking Sara up at school, kissing her in front of everybody, you don't know what she's capable of! Those two are together. And we're alone.

There's a brief scene back at the mansion where Barbara rags on Sara for being out all night (your novio kept calling) and they trade mutual insults with Sara coming out on top, naturally. They're both schemers but Sara has brains, Barbara doesn't (can't argue with that) and Sara is going to see to it that Vasco and his brainless mom are out on the streets in no time.

Now we switch to the company kitchen where Arturo is pulling some sleight of hand, wanting the chef to switch to cheaper ingredients for some order. (reminds me of Bruno negotiating cut-rate cheap drugs for the clinic). Chef balks, saying Hortensia will not approve and right then Sara arrives, with orders to prepare a big banquet for Hortensia's homecoming with huitlacoche soup, endive salad, lobster thermidor, rice and "tarte tatin".(which I believe is an apple tart) No expense spared! Arturo makes some quip about her commanding posture and she smiles, Of course you're invited to the banquet too. And how about me? asks Jacqueline. No way. Jacqui has to coordinate everything as well as send out press releases the next day refurbishing Hortensia's image. (no mention is made of Jaime in all this) After Sara sails out, Jacqui looks at Arturo and says "One word and I'll kill you". He grins. And tells her he has a surprise for her.

Julian's at the lesser house, grinning from ear to ear, having just received an offer to model for "ABC Sport". Maruja arrives and he's so excited he whirls her around and around, as well as saying that he wants Rossy, the jealous one, to come along on the photo shoot to keep him calm. Zully and Omar are down at the court. Hortensia is expected to be released and at last....someone wonders about Jaime...Yep, our Maruja is still thinking about him.

Well, turns out Arturo's surprise for Jacqueline is a cheap elephant replacement for the Thailand souvenir that was shattered. Jaqui's disappointed. She thought it was something just for her. Not to worry, he's thought of a place where they can be together....alone....once she gets her work done. This guy has management motivational skills out the wazoo.

Meanwhile Bruno's lurking outside Diana's workplace ready to rush her into a civil marriage and an already furnished apartment....in HIS name only (no community property for you Diana!) and brushing aside all her requests for the apartment to be in their child's name. Clearly this is going to be a very short-lived marriage as Bruno seems to be planning to take the money and run. What a sweetheart.

We have another very odd, contrived scene where Ernesto's sister dumps another kid on him...this time Ivan, Bettina's novio . Ernesto argues that Ivan's old enough to stay by himself (just not at Ernesto's apartment) but Sister prevails and he ends up dragging the boy, sulking all the way, to the restaurant.

The kid is a real pain, refusing to do anything helpful, slouching in a seat right in the middle of the kitchen , reacting snottily when the sous-chef trips over him (thank goodness Ernesto makes him apologize) and then Ernesto smooths things over by introducing him to Lorena, whispering....meet someone who could be your aunt. No way, squawks the kid, she looks young enough to be my sister!

What did you say? asks Lorena. Just kidding, Ernesto covers. (Hmmm...I guess we still have hope here for a little romance. Keep your fingers crossed)

Meanwhile Monica is trying to enlist the help of the hostess in conquering Ernesto. Hostess is licking her lips and evidently thinking of conquering Ernesto himself. (it would be interesting to see if he's an equal opportunity bedmate...let's give us older women a chance!)

Back in the kitchen, Ernesto gives Lorena a recipe to follow, telling her to do it just as he says. Evidently he's deliberately put something wrong in there and is hoping that she'll catch it.

At Amalia's apartment, Don Toribio arrives, she kisses him and he's surprised. If you don't like the kiss, take if back, she says....woo hoo...heavy duty flirting here. But wait, turns out he's come to collect some money to pay for repairs to the apartment....every renter has to divvy up a certain amount. Amalia doesn't have a cent. But your brothers? I don't have any brothers....er, uh, I don't have any brothers when it comes to lending money. (Okay, don't know if she's for real or a total con. Weigh in on this readers)

Final scene is of Alonso surprising Sara outside of work. He knows it's an important time for her and is ready to lay some heavy-duty kissing on our gal. A lurking Chalo sees the passionate smooch and vows vengeance, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a knife.

Tune in tomorrow and see if Sara can slip her way out of this one.

Word for the day: alevosia = treachery, premeditation, malice aforethought. Rossy spoke of alevosia y ventaja (advantage) when learning about Sara and Chalo's schemes

Labels: enemiga