Monday, May 11, 2009
MEPS 5/11: $3 million, $3 million, $3 million. How much? $3 million.
At Las Animas, Fr/Ed admits he loves Fer but what to do about it? He's not keen on Esteve's suggestion that he woo her as Franco Santoro. Meanwhile, he has to come up with $3 million dollars pretty fast. We'll hear that figure many times over the course of this episode... His goals: to put the Elizaldes in their place, to get Lily out of the manicomio and get her wits back about her, to make Barbara pay for her crimes, and to find out who was responsible for his mother's misery.
But first, $3 million... Steve says he doesn't have that much in ready cash, but he can ask his dad for it. Fr/Ed wants to manage the problem himself - he can probably distract the family for another day or two but that's it. Fr/Ed asks Gardenia (looking all perky in her sundress) to show Esteve to his room. Surely Esteve is going to fall for her? She calls him Don Gringuito which I think is quite cute.
Camilo and Anibal are loudly blaming Fer for the Milk Group predicament. She claims things are worse for her and promises to do what she can to get the money back. Barbara starts insincerely consoling her, later I felt "blegh" when she stroked Fer's hair in sympathy...
Camilo snidely suggests Fr/Ed may be in need of a wife and Fer now being free... Santi bounds down the stairs and accuses Camilo of selling his sister for $3 million. Camilo snidely mocks him for losing Aurora - "she realized what a disaster you are."
Three guys I don't know are discussing their attempt to find some dirt about Fr/Ed - the investigation has to be finished in two days. They say Gardenia can be used to solve the problem "Tomorrow you'll get what you need." Somebody else fill me in here?
Dominga pulls cash out of her garderobe and stuffs it in her ample bosom, cackling - then goes off to bet it on the game cocks I think - after spurning the dinner Aurora brought her. Aurora cries about Santi, "the best thing that ever happened to me," then sees a piece of paper sticking out of the garderobe. She jimmies the door and sees it's some telegram or something (we don't see what it says).
Later, when Dominga is snoring, Aurora sneaks in, cuts the key off the string around that fat neck, and tiptoes out the front door with her suitcase.
Lily shakes and sobs in her sleep while Martina catches a few winks. Lily dreams about that day, years before, when she got framed for killing her mother. She knows it was Barbara, she heard the phone call... They both wake up and Lily finally tells Martina that in those few moments she was alone with Barbara recently, the Hyena threated to kill her dad if she spilled the beans.
Franco sternly tells Obregon: "I can't trust such a double-crosser." Obregon weakly explains he wanted his dough from Barbara, that's why he called her. "Well, Lily is not leaving here, so kiss your reward goodbye! I'll give you one more chance, Obregon - if Barbara calls say everything is fine - I have eyes and ears everywhere so don't think you can jerk me around...
"... here, read this out loud!" Franco hands him a piece of paper and turns on a little tape recorder. "I, Plutarco Obregon, director of Happy Acres, arbitrarily administered medication to Liliana Elizalde, who arrived her perfectly sane, and I did it on the orders of Barbara Greco."
Damian has taken over Vladimir's apartment and is explaining to him that Pris will call soon, when she realizes it's true that Anibal took her money. "She'll ask where you got the information, but you can't tell her! Leave her in suspense - say you can only tell her in person."
Vlad is like a puppy and says he'd like to give her flowers and take her to a nice restaurant and show her his love. "You're not in love, you're the biggest imbecile in the world! I won't help you! You won't get anywhere by being nice!"
Prisila harangues Anibal about her money but he says he's got no head for missing papers when the company and the family are going down in flames.
After being bleghily consoled by Barbara, Fer admits to herself she doesn't love Damian.
Damian lies in bed brooding about the $3 mil and about Barbara telling him he'll be hunted down so he'd better go to ground (madriguera = a lair). He curses her.
The phone rings, it's Prisila calling Vladimir! Vlad is all happy, and wants to see her immediately (using his info as the pretext) but Damian makes him cool his jets. No, the morning will not be convenient, he has a boxing lesson; no, the afternoon's no good either, he's tied up... "I'll call when I have time."
They hang up and Vlad crows "you were right! She's desperate to see me!" "That proves I am NEVER WRONG." "But I hate to make her suffer!" "You must be firm - say only what I tell you to say - she'll deny you nothing!"
Pops Elizalde drinks alone. Barb (without makeup!) comes in and is infuriated when Pops tells her he promised Fer he wouldn't send Lily out of the country, at least for three months. Barbara goes into her dressing room and brushes her hair very, very fast to work off her frustrated malevolence.
Fr/Ed tries to communicate with Lily. "I believe you, you're innocent, but we need proofs. Barbara said what she said to scare you. We must keep your secret, you can't tell anybody, not even Fer, we can't alert anyone, understand?"
Prisila asks Anibal what's going on with the company, he asks why she's interested all of a sudden. "My child will have a stake so now I care." "Damian fled with $3 mil. Now, without Franco's help, our family has no future." Prisila asks what Fern's doing. "She's in her room, crying, then she'll get ready to fall in love with some other cretin."
"I pray," says Pris, "my baby does not inherit the stupidity of her mother."
Fer broods: could somebody else have stolen the $3 mil? Who? "I'm full of doubt," she soliloquizes. She picks up Eddie's picture, under the moon. "Ah, Eduardo, you are in my thoughts at the happiest and the saddest times."
Fr/Ed plays the Obregon tape for Esteve. Esteve thinks this should be all that's needed; Fr/Ed says no, it would get thrown out in court, but it will serve to "neutralize" Obregon and possibly have some weight against Barbara herself.
In the morning, while Aurora is sneaking out of Dominga's house, Santi is painting her picture, and Barbara is visiting Artemio Bravo, aka Cigarman. They are discussing the desfalco (embezzlement) and the police hunting Damian. "Now, just make sure the Milk Group doesn't get that $3 mil and they'll be broken -" "and my contract with you will be over - my liberty!" "After so many years, what will you do, Rebeca?" "That's not your concern." "You know, evil becomes an addiction." "My destiny could have been different." "That's a past that's dead." "People don't forget their pasts." "But in the meantime you're still mine, so do what I tell you!"
Fr/Ed is under observation, I guess by that trio of guys from earlier in the show. Esteve wakes up after a fine sleep. They mull over the $3 mil. Esteve sees the headless chessman, and they look at Palafox's note about the lion, fox, and Isaac Newton. Esteve gets the idea to look in the phone book and they find, there, a 'Newton, Barrera Isaac.' Gooooaalllllllllll!
Tomorrow: Gardenia gets grabbed.
Labels: manana
My guess: Fr/Ed and Esteve are going to go find Palafox's secret recipes for crowd-pleasing junk food and sell them to Frito-Lay for - $3 million dollars! Tomorrow!
I think Aurora retrieved a money order telegram from the wardrobe(she called it a giro). Glad to see her showing a little gumption. I wish that she had locked the door behind her.
Eddie and Esteve were like the Hardy Boys puzzling over Ciro's cryptic message. I see real chemistry between Esteve and Gardenia.
Vlad on the phone with Damian coaching him was laugh out loud funny.
Carlos
The three stooges that you couldn't identify were leering Lucio, despicable Jairo, and sneaky Rene' Manzanares, and I can't see how kidnapping Gardenia is going to really help their quest for info on Santorito. Gonna really piss off Santorito and don Grinquito.
No, Connie, Fr/Ed never has had the $3M; it was very confusing to me the way that they have presented this whole thing.
I'm with you, Carlos, Vlad and Damian together are fun to watch. The odd couple, indeed.
The three men that were meeting are 1) Manzanares - Artemio Bravo's private detective 2) Jairo - the man who has an over-the-top obsession with getting even for losing Martina and Lili as wrestlers in his mud wrestling extravaganza - as well as wanting vengeance for Ed beating him up. and 3) Julio - Barb's chauffer, who for some reason has become Jairo's "best buddy".
Manzanares has presented himself to Franco and told him that he is investigating an Franco Santoro who is a drug smuggler and he wants to know if he is that man. Ed told him to come back in a couple of days and he would have ample documentation of his identity. This is a ruse to try to find out more about Franco Santorro for Artemio Bravo.
Jairo and Julio want to help Bravo's private detective pin some kind of drug charge on Ed/Fr. What the private detective will do with that info is a bit fuzzy - as he is not a real cop and can't really arrest him - only scare him. Unless he is going to turn over forged evidence to "real police".
__________________
Also, the telegram that Aurora found was more than that. It was a "giro telegraphico" - a money order. Which means it probably has Artemio Bravo's name on it - we were led to believe someone has been sending Dominga money over the years - another clue which Ed probably won't find out about for another 100 episodes.
Something that really irks me here, the Elzalde boys balming Fer for Damian's embezzelment. Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't BOW bring him into the picture by hiring him? Fer just made the horrible mistake of marrying him. Seems to me that BOW should be feeling the heat for this, in a reasonable world. Beanie adjustment
Carlos
Caborita: They showed the picture of Aurora the other day and I thought, "that is better than she actually looks." Now I know why, it had a smile. :)
If they kidnap Denia, they'll get no sympathy from me. They'll get what they deserve. :)
JeffMN
So that was the 'dig' Cad made at his brother, Santi!
And if Barb is in the early stages of 'regrets' she can just hang it up. As Cigarman indicated she's addicted to the unhappyness she can create. I think IF she discovers who Aurora is she will try that touching to comfort like she did with Fernanda. And then this telenovela will fullfill that requirement, one character must say 'no me tocas'.
Ab needs somebody to remind him the company troubles did not start with Damian's theft of 3 million. Ab is not saying how it was Damian's badd business financial manuvering that started this slippery slope slide. And it was Ab that didn't insolate them against more bad decisions of Damian. How dare he now blame his sister for marrying a thief. He didn't fire an incompetent.
Babs venom poured out when she answered Artemio, Sí Señor, not sure who the winner will be here.
Fernanda said this in talking about Damian & wanting an explanation.
"le dé la cara", I think it's something like face to face, but I've heard that as cara a cara. Maybe look him in the face?
Anibal was in on the expired milk thing, I don't know how much that cost the company, but I'm still pondering why no one has checked into the missing $167 mil that Babs took. Anibal s/b in the clear on money transfers since Babs & Damian were the only ones with the passwords, another curiosity.
There was another clue imprinted on Ciro's note, "directorio" that led Fr/Ed & Esteve to look in the phone book, really surprised at that one, since something so simple usually takes a least 10 episodes. Can't wait to meet Isaac Barrera Newton.
Does Artemio know that Babs transferred such a large amount to her personal account in the Caymans? Does he intend to get that money for himself or really just give it to Babs?
Why doesn't Babs turn around her venganza against Artemio? Is it because he has told her something like "the evidence incriminating you for murdering your parents is in the hands of my attorney with instructions to mail to the authorities on my death?"
Thanks for a swift and sure recap, Melinama. You're the best.
What I love is Damian as the expert, coaching Vlad about how to manage a woman. "Say only what I tell you to say - she'll deny you nothing!" Yes, Damian, just like you have Barbara eating out of your hand, right?
Love Damian and Vlad, so fun to watch.
I'm all for Gardenia and Steve, and Carlos, I also thought of the Ranson of Red Chief! Too funny. I hope Denia gives them all a good beat-down!
Carlos, the Ransom of Red Chief comparison is sooo true. I almost hope they do kidnap Denia, just so we can enjoy the hijinks that would ensue.
We also have Aurora out on her own now, escaped from Dominga and seeking her destiny. Some more smiles from her would be a welcome change.
There have been entire movies made about people like Vlad who are imposed on by people like Damian. I love Vlad's cluelessness and Damian's devious domination of him. I would even enjoy a little backstory on Damian's background, his opportunistic mama, his friendship with Vlad, and how Barbi came into his life.
La Paloma
JudyB- I laughed at musical beds, too, and intended to comment, glad you did. It made me wonder if this was the director's or Sendel's idea...
Bonney Churros, cobarde means cowardly. I think Fer was saying Damian was a coward for leaving and not explaining anything.
Dorado Dave, could you please elaborate on what you think if phoney about Steve's accent? I think he's speaking more Spanglish than he has to but otherwise I don't hear phoneyness when he talks. Contrary to annoying, I kinda like his accent. Now speaking of an annoying accent, Santiago claimed that title in Destilando Amor. The only people who would have believed he was a real Gringo was people who knew no English. I see Aurora's back. I hope she lets us see her pretty smile this time around.
Judy and Dorado Dave, I agree that Dam taking over Vlad's bed was the highlight of the night! Their scenes are just great to watch and I wonder if they are having as much fun doing them as we are having watching them.
Esteve is not only intelligent but loyal. I like his easygoing, genuine manner and hope he sweeps Gardenia off her feet. He's a nice compliment to Fr/Ed. Maybe this will be another Ricardo/Mario team a la Pasion.
Diana in MA
Susanlynn, I also thought that Martina is more than entitled to a bed. Not conducive to a restful night's sleep.
I'm thinking that the money order that Aurora found is money that Babs has been sending Dominga for Aurora's "care". Dominga was very upset when Aurora ran away early on, when she met Santi at the toll booth. She was muttering about losing the money she had been receiving. Of course, she was planning to do even better by selling Aurora by the night to at least one ugly scumbag that was shown.
Artemio Cruz doesn't feel right to me as the one who's been sending the money. But, of course, time will tell.
I don't think Babs knows that Aurora is her child, although there was a definite "llamada de la sangre" when she first met her.
Yes, Damian is the love guru to Vlad...even though he never reached beyond first base with Nanda.
The Elizaldes are lacking in business and personal relation skills. Hey, Gonzo and Ani...there is $167 million missing not just $3 mil. GinCA
novelera - I'm with you on whose money Aurora took.
Funny, Novelera...Llamada de la sangre! That sounds so funny in spanish, who knows why. Some things translate awkwardly. But, I still like to have the exact translation.
I'm enjoying Don Gringito, and everything he'll add to this story. I didn't care for Sergio when I first saw him, because I found him difficult to understand. He mumbled and jumbled his words. But, his antics have made me a fan...
jb
I think I see Fr/Ed having a high position in Grupo Lactos. Power Milks Latin Am empresa, so Esteve's dad would get his $3mil back.
All I can do is agree with what has been said: Dam/Vlad - hilarious. The Elizade men - still idiots (save Santi)
Seeing Barb's hatred for cigarman was interesting. Can't wait to see how it plays out.
I think that Sendel and the actor playing Vlad are having a ball. I'd bet that there are some great outakes that aren't making it to the small screen.
Esteve wants to give it to Fr/Ed, but he doesn't want it, Anibal & Camilo do, Babs does & doesn't, Fernanda wants it for her school, Damian who thought he had $3mil, doesn't, he has $300.00.
Did I forget anything?
¿Comprende? if so, you are doing better than the rest of us.
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