Caray, Caray!

Sure, there was a lot of pathos in this segment but let's focus on the important stuff...Lorena and Ernesto get together in the kitchen. First they cook and then they kiss...three nice little nibble kisses (kind of like those fish who nibble your feet during pedicures). But hey...I'm way ahead of myself. Let's start as usual with the rehash.

The little girl, Gina, is crying and asking if her parents can come back from the "cielo" (heaven in this context) to see them. Of course the answer is "no" but Ernesto assures her that her parents can see them from heaven and can watch over them from there.

At the mansion, Chalo has showed up , informing Sara that money isn't enough, he wants to live in grandeur like she does. And once again, Sara has to improvise quickly when Barbara asks about him. He's the new chauffeur. But we already have a chauffeur! Didn't like him, fired him. This is the new guy. Barbara looks him over like she's measuring him for..... what, a uniform? Well, we'll see.

Meanwhile, Nurse Ratchet (her actual name is Augusta) is cooing over Hortensia like she's a newborn babe. (I can't wait till the day Horty recovers her voice and lights into this unctuous lady, but she is doing her job protecting her from Sara.) Barb is grateful because she knows she'd go absolutely crazy trying to take care of the old bat.

Now a tender scene of Lorena reading to the children while Ernesto looks on like the besotted galan that he is. Little Gina is still wondering if they'll ever see their parents again and adds that she doesn't want to be alone. Ernesto assures her that she'll have him. Ivan, still lashing out, reminds Ernesto that he couldn't stand them when their parents were alive, how does he think he's going to become their dad now !? Ernesto assures him that no one could ever take their father's place but he will be there for all of them.

Lorena tries to moderate the dispute so then Ivan lights into her. The only thing that matters to you is my uncle! (True for Monica but not our Lorena). She reminds Ivan that she's an orphan herself and understands what they're feeling. Not sure if it works with Ivan, but she's reeled in Ernesto hook line and sinker. It's all over but the shoutin' for our chef.

What do I care!? ripostes Ivan. I don't want to know anything about your life! With that he storms out the door. Lorena imagines that he's probably off somewhere by himself grieving and adds that she has to get to class. But she'll stop by after work at the restaurant. Ernesto tells her he needs her and they hug. We get a glimpse of Lorena's eyes and they seem to be saying "Where is all this going to lead?" We're wondering the same thing.

Rossy is going through that dreadful female ritual (attention guys!) where women try on a gazillion outfts for the Big Moment, all the while protesting that they feel fat and ugly. She's worried about the "monuments" (read silicone- enhanced sculpted models) that will be surrounding Julian. Mom tries to reassure her that she's cute and gorgeous. Rossy says what we all think at those times....You're only saying this 'cause you're my mom!!! (ugh, brings back a lot of miserable teenage memories) Maruja assures her that she means it, but then ruins it by calling her "mi changuita" (my little monkey). Come to think of it.....but still, Rossy's a cute little monkey.

Sara has found Lorena at the school and is tells her to quit meddling in her life or she'll carve up her face. (does Sara still have the knife set? just sayin') Lorena fires back that she's not afraid (Lordy, I would be) and gets in a couple of more good shots like He's no longer of interest to me. If he doesn't believe in me, that's his problem. He'll never love you like he loved me. And so forth. Sara knows that Lorena is the one that ratted her out, but all she seems able to do in this episode is yell at people. No schemes are being pulled off (other than putting some more money in her account for Chalo) and no one seems to be falling for her stories anymore.

After the ads, we find ourselves in the office with Jacqui and Ickturo. She's whining about being all alone in the hotels. She's nervous. Be nice to me. Gimme a little sugar. Which he does right when Barbara walks in the door. Big impactado look from Barbara. Jacqui vamooses. Ickturo, taking the high road as usual, tells Barbara to get out of HIS office. When she threatens exposure , he assures her that her reputation will suffer more than his. After all, he's a MAN. And besides, whatever was...WAS. She slaps him, hurls a few insults, exits and he closes the door with a half-smile on his face. (Would love to know what he was thinking. Guys? Any clues?)

Julian's workplace is a lot more interesting. (So sorry, Ferro, this should have been your episode). We've got a couple of models, spilling out of their bikini tops ,draped all over Julian. Elenita criticizes one for wearing the wrong swimsuit. Our gal hoists her pair up for inspection and says, Gosh I thought this bikini looked really good on me. They brush off Rossy (We need our space. Only models here please) and then some lucky assistant gets to rub oil on Julian's pectorals. He's clearly been shaved or waxed within an inch of his life and is wearing some miniscule piece of fabric that is no larger than a decorative jock strap.

Alas, we break from this fetching scene for a little confrontation between Valeria and Barbara. Actually, it's a great scene so who cares? Barbara's at the clinic trying to rat out Jacqui 's affair with Icturo and Valeria could care less. So what if Jacqui's married!? So are you Barbara and you were sleeping with him too. And if you had a speck of dignity you'd leave. He's not worth the trouble. And neither are you. Vamoose! Excellent excellent scene.

The runway modeling takes place. Julian is clearly the best-looking and does gleam like a perfect sculpted statue while the young gals in the audience ooh and ahh. To his credit, he tries to call Rossy over to pose for photos with him afterwards but Elenita shoos her off and chides Julian when he tries to follow her. Don't go running off after your novia! Act like a professional.

Chalo meanwhile is earning his first day's pay dragging in a multitude of bags and boxes from Barbara's therapeutic shopping spree. Other than extramarital sex and whining, this is her only mode of existence. She launches into a big pity party which Chalo just doesn't get. How can you be miserable in all this luxury!? He moves in close and personal to assure her that life can bring some sweet surprises but she waves him off. I gave you no reason to speak to me that way, she huffs. And don't tell my son Vasco. However, since she tells him where her bedroom is so he can take the packages up....we are left wondering. Some mixed messages going on there, folks.

Nurse Ratchet is finishing up a bed bath for Hortensia while the maid looks on. So strange to see her so quiet and peaceful, marvels the maid. Mind you, she was no angel! (Better hope she doesn't recover lady). Tough nurse says she loves her job....old people are so defenseless (hmmm) and reassures Horty that if she really tries, she can recover.

Vasco arrives in mom's bedroom and wonders what the heck this guy (Chalo) is doing there. Barbara doesn't want to get into the trivial details of who gets hired and who gets fired but Vasco is concerned about who calls the shots around the house. As well he should be.

His concern, Sara, is at the office computer, speculating what money she could safely transfer to his blackmail account and decides the embassy money is too risky but she can take from the profits of the school graduation parties.

Don Toribio's apartment. Knock at the door. Old friend of Amalia's last husband looking for her. Last husband!? Well, you know she had five....died, every one of them ! My friend was the fifth...told him the fifth would be the winner, but hey, he died too. You might be next. Ha ha. Give her my regards. Impactado look from Torby.

After the ads, we're back with Julian, who's tracked down Rossy at the restaurant and is wondering why she left without saying good-bye. We have a sweet little scene where he reassures her that she's special to him, that he thinks she's beautiful inside and out, and that includes her lungs, heart, kidneys and liver! Rossy ends up laughing and they kiss. She decides she doesn't need to break up with him after all.

Not so good a scene as Tori confronts Amalia about her lies and her attempts to exploit him. Forgive me. No, it's over! And the worst part is, I'm a psychoanalyst and I didn't even figure out that you're a mythomane (chronic liar) After he storms out, she looks at her five pictures and snaps, "What are you looking at!" But the music cues us that this is a comedy scene, not some dark finegling....so I'm going to assume that they get back together somewhere down the
line.

Alonso is at the table studying. Cellphone rings. He looks and sees who it is. Rolls his eyes (Hey, that was ACTING guys. He's communicating that he doesn't like the caller. Way to go!) And as if the body language weren't enough, he's very brusque with her. I'm studying. Just want to ask you to attend a function where I'm filling in for my grandmother. Alright...if I have time. Flat voice. No affect. And for once, it's appropriate.

Don Toribio rolls in and Alonso asks him what he thinks of Sara. ( Jeez...your dad has already told you he doesn't like her! ) And when Alonso adds he wants to break up with her, dad shouts hallelujah! Of course, Alonso feels guilty because Sara's going through a tough patch right now, but dad pooh-poohs that and tells him to go ahead and end things.

Back at Ernesto's apartment, Ivan continues to be unreachable. He's texting and making no eye contact when Ernesto tries to talk him into going to bed (early day tomorrow...school etc.) But when Lorena arrives, Ivan is clearly disgusted and heads out of the room. She's brought food for dinner but the kids have already gone to bed. Ernesto, speaking about half a millimeter from her nose, is thanking her for her thoughtfulness. You'd do the same for me, she says. Not so sure, he breathes, I've been pretty egotistical, avoiding commitments all my life. I really don't know the children. Well, life is giving you a chance to show them some tenderness now, she replies. (I'd say his tenderness is aiming in a different direction and I think Ivan agrees with me...but hey. I know Lorena's thoughts are pure)

The adorable little Gina comes out at this point. She's having bad dreams. She wants Lorena to sleep with her but she's wet the bed. Don't worry, everybody does that, reassures Ernesto. You too Uncle!? Lorena promises she'll put special clean happy dreams sheets on the bed and off they go. Ernesto assures her he didn't want to "compromise" her by asking her to spend the night. If you'd asked me, no, she replies, but if Gina asks...that's different.

Brief bedroom scene with Zulema and Omar. He still can't confess his problem and she's depressed thinking that her life as a woman is over. From now on it's just mothering and grandmothering.

Now we're at the nightclub where Elenita and the statuesque models are celebrating the show. They sneer at Rossy when Julian walks in with her, saying "Ah, he's brought the waitress." And here Rossy shows her mettle. She greets them in a friendly manner, pulls Julian in close, marks her territory with a big smooch and an "Oh I'm so proud of you" and then pulls him off to dance. We get a nice glimpse of boss Elenita looking at Rossy with new respect, while the brainless broads sulk. Rossy scores a solid 10 and gets the gold medal for this one.

Ernesto goes in to check on Gina and finds both Alex and Gina nestled in Lorena's arms, the three of them sweetly asleep. Big smile. Ernesto's a goner. It's official now.

Well, we're going from bedroom to bedroom here. Now we're at Horty's where Sara sneaks in with mayhem in mind, no doubt. Nurse Ratchet appears out of nowhere, gets between Sara and Horty and reminds her that there's to be no physical contact. Sara yells to no effect and our stolid nurse tells her she'll throw her out of the room bodily if she has to. We'll see how long you last, threatens Sara as she storms out. Nurse leans over Horty and coos, "Your granddaughter is a bad person but don't worry, I'll protect you."

Sara wants to pitch another fit in the dining room where Barb and Vasco are breakfasting but they ignore her completely. She's so undone she leaves without eating anything.

Back at Ernesto's, little Gina is balking at going to school. Lorena, hugging her while Ernesto keeps a safe distance, talks her into going by reminding her that mom always wanted her to be at school unless she was sick. And she's not sick. Ivan ,as usual ,is being impossible, declaring that his parents always let him go on his own. Ernesto reminds him that he's in charge now. However Ivan does go off on his own while the Alex and Gina ride in the back seat of the car with Lorena. She's calmed Alex' car fears by saying Uncle will drive really slow and he can get out if he's truly scared. She bonds with them over soccer, Gimme five for the America team!, and upon arrival, walks them into school with her arms encircling both, kisses them good-bye and oh my, Ernesto is just watching the whole thing in a puddle of tenderness. He is signed, sealed and delivered.

Ominous stalker watcher Monica is observing this scene also.... but with quiet rage. He said he didn't want to be a couple with anyone but look at this!!! Lorena is scoring points with the man who really should belong to me! To think he rejected ME for HER!!!!

Toribio's run over to Paula's to talk about his discovery of Amalia's black widow past and how she talked him out of his money. He'd like a loan, thank you very much, but Paula has all her money invested in her cosmetic products. He'll have to fess up to Alonso and frankly, she wouldn't want to be in his shoes.

Valeria and Alonso are now conferring over his patient's need for a bone marrow transplant. Clearly the school health insurance won't cover such a treatment but he's determined to go ahead with it, counting on finding the money somehow.

Sara, meanwhile, is furious to find Vasco at the office, all spiffy in a suit and fresh from a shareholder's meeting to which she wasn't invited. But she's the granddaughter, she yelps. Yeeeess, but not a shareholder. And the shareholders voted in Vasco as general manager. He's there to protect his father's interests and she might as well get used to it.

Now we're at Ernesto's apartment where our galan is protesting the movers' treatment of his carpet...at least take off your shoes! They pretty much ignore him, he pays them off, and then he looks around at the mess of boxes and sighs that he's going to go crazy.

Lorena has just the solution. Do what you love in order to relax. And the answer is.....you know....cook! He's putty in her hands, for now, and off they go to the kitchen for some nice sensual scenes of mixing and rolling out empanada dough (shades of Fuego, but at least Ernesto has his shirt on. Hey, actually that's not better from my point of view)

She drops an egg into the nest of flour. He drops in another. They look into each others' eyes. She rolls out the dough. He watches her. More eye contact. The kitchen's getting hot and it ain't just the oven. Now we stir up the filling, plop it in each little crescent, pop the tray in the oven. Then out it comes, nicely browned and baked, smelling good, looking even better.

Ernesto is giving her one of those just-melt-me-down-and-take-me smiles and Lorena says, See, you feel so much better now don't you? Yes indeed he does....but it's not the cooking but because being with you makes me happy, he replies.

Slow, slow, slow move in for the kiss. One kiss, (nibble nibble) two....pause....and three. Mmmmm...now we're cookin' folks, we really are. Here's hoping for more action tomorrow night....and no, I'm not talking about gambling. Or maybe I am. Love is indeed a gamble for our little gal from the small town orphanage come to the big bad city. Stay tuned.

vocabulary:

arisco = angry, unfriendly (how Ivan is with Ernesto and Lorena)

gandalla= Mexican slang for crook, swine (what Sara accuses Chalo of)

embaucadora= trickster (what Toribio calls Amalia)

Labels: enemiga