Caray, Caray!

Tonight it's my turn to have no closed captions, then delayed and missing closed captions, and lots of macroblocking. How annoying! However I was in luck because today our dear Paula mailed her notes of tonight's episode to me which were a big help. Thanks Paula!

Tonight starts where last night left off: Alicia and Patricio are having dinner and the mood is strained. She's enamored and wants to talk about "their" baby. He acts like he's barely hanging in there. She says no importa that you have two sons and are in love with my sis, but I can't adopt a baby alone and I need your help. He is so not on board with this. He doesn't want to be grosero (coarse) but he needs to find his rumbo (course), and she ain't it.

Arturo asks Margarita's forgiveness. She replies she doesn't want to compromise herself, much less for a man. She justs wants his money so she's going for the divorce. Wow, is she on the level? I find her honesty refreshing and I loved seeing Art leave in a huff.

Next morning at the Institute Candy talks to Mili the miracle bobblehead about her (Mili's) life. It's like a telenovela, but in a telenovela you marry the boss or the son of the boss. Mili says her patron is not her patron but her pa... OK, I realize she's talking about the plot of Guapos and I apologize because I never watched it, but I just know the guy she fell for turned out to be her brother, but not really, right? Mili wistfully says she would have liked to marry the son of the boss.

The kids are back in class and Rocio doesn't want to turn in her homework. The pretty maestra grabs it, looks at it, and notes that her homework looks like Chava's handwriting. Chava shakes his head "No" and Rocio is impactada.

Santi and Lalo are in Santi's office watching bandanna guy do bicep curls with Santi's statuary. They congratulate themselves on their successful radio show and discuss that Raul has big plans for them. They'll copy the girls' themes and then contradict them. Great idea guys.

Mili says she loves how Candy's column nails the macho guys. She wants advice...she's married and she doesn't love her husband but rather Alejandro his cousin. Al is Luciana's son and after that it gets complicated and I was completely confused. But hey, her life is a telenovela and you guys already know that.

Gregoria tries to comfort Meño. She heard about Charly's HIV and it's like a bomb in the hand (una bomba en las manos), i.e. a losing battle (I think). Meño wishes it were a bomb in his hand that he could explode away from his son. He says suddenly he feels he's in a film that will soon end and his son will be fine. She holds his hand and he tells her it's the first time she's shown him affection. She reveals that his brother thought of him before he died and forgave him. (Forgave him for what?!? Oh well, she's trying to be sweet and Meño seems cool about it.)

The doorbell interrupts them, it's his ex-wife mean Laura at the door. However, she's come to make up so now she's nice and they agree they have to both be strong for Charly because he needs them.

Candy tells Mili to fight for her love. Of course Candy uses this as an opportunity to butt in and tell her own tale of woe and her rejection of all men until the plastic doctor appeared and showed her how to love again. They are instant best friends when Mili pronounces Candy's sis a traitor. They discover they both love futbol, woot! They bicker good-naturedly about rooting for opposing teams. Mili says she vows to be with Al, who will Candy choose...Santi or Pat?

Break time and it looks like I get next Thursday off for the Premio Lo Nuestro show...Proximo Jueves!

Whew, we get a lighthearted scene where Meño gives his dance lessons to Luciana and Mili. Barb really cuts loose, forms a conga line, the women whoop and bond, and Meño shakes his bootie and forgets his grief for a short while.

Meanwhile Greg and Laura sadly discuss life. Laura says Clemente made Meño marry her and she ended up blaming Meño for everything bad in her life. Greg says he can maybe be blamed for not standing up to Clemente but Meño's a wonderful guy. Laura cries and says she doesn't know anything about AIDS. Greg assures Laura that with proper treatment Charly could live many more years.

Rocio scolds Chava for doing her homework. Hey, he was just trying to help, he says. Well he made it worse because now la maestra's going to her house to accuse her. Beto eats a pastry as big as his head, yum.

Back at the Instituto Sol announces that Luciana is ready to be presented. She looks fantastic with her makeover and blue silk dress. She thanks Candy for helping to teach her that her vocation is no longer to be a rug. Group hug!

Outside the big house Charly gingerly approaches Lucia and tells her Donato let him in. She goes nuts, throws dirt clods at him and screams at him to leave. He says he didn't know he was contagious and he loves her. She pushes him and cries, Vete! Vete! Poor Charly stumbles off in grief. I don't blame her for being angry and scared but Charly was a real man for facing her like that.

Candy rings The Bell and asks Santi how he's doing. He says they need to know the truth but he's afraid. How is...Patricio (makes face and imitates Pat)? He asks does she really think it can work with Pat after what he did at the wedding? She's determined to give it a try but he sighs and tells her it won't work. Candy responds with "me voy", "I'm outta here". That is so Candy.

Isabel and Jaime are having a conference with Rocio's maestra. Isa figures out Rocio's problems started with Mariloca's bad news so she and Jaime give the maestra a brief rundown of Rocio's problems...mom's in NY, dad's wedding was a bust, and her papi's not there because he is worried and involved with his other daughter who has a very delicate sickness. Maestra diagnoses that Rocio is acting out to get her papa's attention.

Now comes the most interesting scene of the evening - Santi visits Pato for a face-off. Pat tells Santi to butt out of his life. Santi cautions Pat against playing with Candy's feelings. Pat retaliates by swearing he's waited years to get Candy back and the last thing he'd do is hurt her. He has the right to fight for her. This sets Santi off on a tirade against Pat, Pat ruined Candy's trust in men, he's worse than Santi's ex-wife, he's using their kid as a link to Candy...

Pat patiently listens and finally tells Santi not to confuse issues, he knows why Santi is upset. It's because he is having a bad time with his daughter. Santi acts like the wind is knocked out of him, how does Pat know about Lucia? He's not happy to hear that Candy told Pat, but Pat is understanding, "Hey, I'm a dad too and not long ago Chava almost died, I know what you're going through." Santi calms down and admits this thing with Candy makes him crazy. And Marissa, she's nuts and won't let Santi see their son, but the thing with Lucia is the worst, she's his daughter. Pat gives Santi a man hug and tells Santi they have their differences but family is family and he's there for Santi, whatever he needs. Poor Santi leaves looking mollified and slightly confused to have found a friend in such an unlikely place.

Double double, toil and trouble...
Al and Mariloca eat potato chips (or is it eye of newt) with hot sauce and brew up their hell broth of a plot, they'll travel together to another country and swap identities. Then Mariloca, as Aliloca, will have the kid so when Al returns home the kid will be her own. Apparently Mari had a friend who did it and it's easy! The brujas snuggle and pinkie-shake on their new fiendship.

Candy gathers the institutas to tell them about Charly. Even though the radio program will be a lot more work she doesn't want to cancel it. Mariloca tiptoes in to eavesdrop. After Candy leaves Loca demands why she wasn't invited on the radio show, it was her idea. Lulu says there are two bosses but the institute was Candy's brainchild. Loca insists on being involved, it's her money and they'd better all hail the queen or their little feet will be in the street.

Lucia coughs in bed, pale wan hands upon the coverlet; she feels muy mal and doesn't want to die. What if Charly infected her? Santi tells her there is a lot of misinformation on the internet. The whole family will support her. Time to fast forward through the PSA about HIV and AIDS...some people live a long time with HIV and don't get AIDS Magic Johnson has had HIV over 15 years, they are making medical advances all the time. Santi gives her a safe, fatherly hug.

Isa and Jaime report to Santi that Loca is responsible for Rocio's bad behavior. Santi explodes and they all agree he needs to calm down. Rocio needs his attention.

Over at the Instituta Mariloca practices her mothering skills. She demands to review all the institutas' work, she pulls the sucker out of Lulu's mouth, and she won't let Sole make personal calls at work. The institutas all agree she's making them pay for what Candy and Santi did to her. Mamaloca breaks them up, pulls the sucker out of Lulus' mouth again and the moment she leaves what does Lulu do? Yep...sucker.

Santi gives Rocio a ride to school and stops the car so they can have a talk. She thinks she's in trouble for her homework but no, dad just wants her to talk to him. Is she sad that Mari won't be her new mama? Rocio admits not really because Chava said Loca has a bad heart and she believes it, but she's bummed because she wanted to take care of her little brother and change his diapers. "Que asco!" teases Santi. Dad said he's sad about it too and he'll do everything so her brother can be with them. (This actress is awesome. When she acts sad her little voice trembles like she's really about to sob.)

Pato shows up at Meño's talk to Charly. Charly blows a fuse when he finds out Pato knows he's HIV positive but Pato gently presses him into a man-to-man talk. Pato has a friend in the DF who has the disease. Pato assures Charly if he takes care of his disease he can live quite well. Charly asks how long did his friend have it before he died? Pato's friend has had it for 11 years. He works, has a girlfriend, and lives a normal life. He gives Charly his telephone number and tells him to call him if he wants. Charly thanks him and they bond.

Downstairs, Meño tells Pat he heard what he said and he's glad Candy's giving him a chance. Pat says he knows Meño was on Santi's side but Meño says no, nobody can tell Candy what to do. Both men agree that the day you touch your child is the day your heart starts.

In desperation Santi visits Raul to confront him about Mariloca. "She's Loca!" he cries in despair. He begs Raul to help him. Raul fidgets, paces, and rubs his face before telling Santi it was his own fault, Mari read the email he sent to Raul. Santi is blown away, she read the email he sent to Raul before the wedding? And she still wanted to continue? Then Candy was right, Mari planned to marry and then abandon him? Raul claims he knows nothing about it and he's loyal to his sister. Santi becomes heated and accuses Raul of knowing much more, and what about his loyalty to his friend and to his own nephew? What about his nephew's safety? Raul wails he can't do a thing. Santi, in a rage, yells "I know you can do much more Raul!"

Mañana: What? Patricio agrees to help Alicia? Que asco!

Labels: Tontas