Saturday, May 23, 2009

Tontas no Van Friday 5/22 Heading for the Cliff(hanger)

Santi and Candy have been doing a pretty good job of supporting each other while trying to persuade their kids to accept the upcoming marriage. But that’s all out the window tonight, as Paulina takes off the gloves, and aided by some amazing luck, skill or maybe just creative writers, gives our love wagon a possibly fatal push. It’s like a perfect storm, as the brakes have come completely off the wagon, it’s picking up steam, and careening out of control towards the cliff (hanger). (Sorry for all the metaphors :))

Things begin quietly enough, as we revisit the scenes in which Candy and Santi were telling their respective kids (fast asleep at the time) that the kids would always be the most important things in their lives.

We also see the tender scene between Raúl and Soledad, where they both say “te amo”. At least someone’s lives are looking up.

Morning in Guadalajara. Candy fell asleep on Chava’s bed. She wakes up, tells Chava to hurry, get ready quickly ‘cause he’s a little late for school. Come right down for breakfast, she adds. As soon as she leaves, he says to himself, not right now, I’m mad at her (Candy).

At Santi’s house, he apparently didn’t sleep too well, as Donato has to rouse him with a rooster imitation. They have their usual banter, Santi saying turn out the light, Don saying it’s millions of miles away (referring to the Sun), Donato noticing Santi’s red mustache, Santi telling him he’s a cat.

In the restaurant, Meño is looking for something, while Christian is complaining about the noise, and the sound of the gas being delivered in the restaurant where he’s been living, can’t Meño do something about it? Meño is mainly worrying about the woman on the phone he’s talking to, but tells Chris he’ll see what he can do. Chris smiles in evil glee.

Chava tells Pat he didn’t even give Candy a goodnight kiss, he’s so mad at her. But why? Pat wants to know. Because she’s going to marry Rocío’s papá! Pat is impactado.

So Meño the softy is inspecting a vacant apartment, asking the landlord if it’s quiet there. It is, and there’s no problem with the gas delivery, because they use hot water heating. The landlord thinks Meño’s “friend” is a little demanding, and Meño doesn’t like this guy’s attitude.

It’s time for the kids to solve the world’s problems with their little cabezas. Rocío and Chava agree that they don’t want their parents to marry each other.

Candy is at work when a single rose appears at her office door. It’s followed by another, then a third, then Santi. Candy appreciates the thought, but confesses she didn’t sleep well. She’s still worried about the kids, and suggests postponing the wedding. Santi reassures her the kids were just having a tantrum (berrinche), and eventually they’ll see how happy the adults are, and the kids will be happy. Candy never thought being happy would hurt so much, but Santi sneaks a little kiss to cheer her up.

Christian informs the staff he has invited a group of friends to the restaurant, and will close the restaurant for their private party. Lulu, Gregoria, Zamora and Toño try to protest, but Christian claps his hands, tells them of course “Don Manuel” knows about it, it was even his idea! He tells them they’d better get to work, or he’ll fire them all, and they nervously scurry away like little mice. Christian gives a whistle, and a parade of completely over the top stereotypes of gay guys enter jumping, hugging and spinning their wrists.

In a hotel room, Paulina puts her earrings back on and coolly reapplies her makeup as her sexual blackmailer Gabino reads the morning paper, drink in hand. What’s her hurry? Well, she has things to do. She has to stop Santiago from getting married. How? asks Gabino. By killing him, as with Mario? No, it’s much easier. All I have to do is put his kids in opposition to him. Oooo, what a bad girl you are, says Gabino, showing her with a little kiss on the cheek that he likes her style.

The outraged restaurant staff has retreated to the back steps of the restaurant, all complaining at once about Christian. Meño comes up, signed lease in hand (from an apartment he has rented for Chris), and wants to know what’s going on. They say they needed some air, it’s polluted inside, and although he says let’s get back in there and work, they agree to let him find out for himself. Inside, Christian’s friends are dancing on the tables, swinging napkins and drinking as Christian tells a buddy that first he got free clothes, then an apartment, and guess what’s next? A new car, then a round the world trip! It’s like winning the lottery! You know what, with this fool, it’s as if I have a chicken who lays golden eggs! In the shadows, Meño heard everything. He rips up the lease in disgust.

Santi has his first patient of the day. This time it’s not a luscious lady seeking a lift, but a bald guy with a big beak and a long black beard. He gives Santi a profile shot, of course you know what I need, right? Santi says sure, a nose job. Not at all, it’s his chin (note, the word barba means both beard and chin. Another word for chin is mentón). He has to wear the beard to hide his weak chin. Imagine all the nicknames (apodos) he has to suffer because of it. Santi can imagine. Superchin (mentón superhéroe), Johnnie Bravo, Barba de Pompa (bubble chin), the guy shushes him, and Santi’s phone rings. It’s Agent (I forget his name, something like Abrosino, but Santi calls him Barbino), and trying not to laugh, has to cut off the name so he won’t offend the patient. The patient asks if Santi can help him. Of course, first cut off the ridiculous beard, it’s totally out of style, the days of peace and love are long gone. Then, I’ll operate on your nose, which will result in your chin looking better, because your face will be more balanced. The guy pushes up on his nose and scrunches up his beard, trying to imagine his new look.

Back at the restaurant, Zamora, Toño, Gregoria and Lulu are reviving a dazed Meño by fanning him with a little straw basket. He finds out that they all knew Christian was using Meño, but Meño never noticed it. Greg asks what they’re going to do now. Fire him, of course! However, Meño doesn’t want to do it, and sends his two greatest amigos (Zamora and Toño) in to do the honors.

Agent whatever his name informs Santi that before he died, Leonardo had found Marissa. Well, let’s go, says Santi, filled with hope. Unfortunately, when they went to the location, Mari must have known they were coming, and has now vanished. Also, no news in finding the baby, but they’re working on it, he says to a now deflated Santi.

Zamora and Toño go back into the restaurant, not sure how they’re going to deal with stopping the gay parade and fire Christian. Zamora thinks these guys could beat them up, but Toño thinks they’re pretty harmless. The two summon up their courage, Zamora taps Christian on the shoulder, and presents him with the bill. Christian says we’re not going to pay, this party is on the house. Toño gets tough (after all Christian’s only about 3 inches taller than he is), puffs out his chest, and says Meño said you’re fired, and you’d better leave now. Zamora adds, or we’ll call the police. Meanwhile, outside, Lulu, Greg and Meño are awaiting he results with baited breath, taking turns fanning themselves with the little basket.

At the Institute, receipts are down, expenses are up, and Chayo and Candy are juggling bills. Candy is worried, but Chayo reassures her that they have several things coming up, and they have three more days before the rent is due, they’ll be okay. Candy, of course, is not just worried about the rent. Chayo sees her ashen face and assumes it was a fight with Santiago. She tells Candy about the argument with Ed about choosing between school and marriage, she chose both, so what was Candy’s fight with Santiago? No, it’s Chava. He didn’t say one word to me this morning, just went directly off to school with Patricio. She touches a photo of herself and Chava with a trembling finger, and the tears start coming.

Meño and crew have recovered enough to reenter the restaurant, where Meño finally gives Christian a bit of his mind, Christian is sent packing, and Meño says they’ll celebrate with the food and drinks those (he uses a cussword for gay guys or freeloaders, I think, it was bleeped out) guys left behind.

It’s time to pick up Chava from school. Candy waits outside the class, as Paulina saunters in. Pau turns the screws, asking if Candy thinks Chava will stay with her, Pau thinks Chava would rather spend more time with Rocío. Pau continues how the kids were so upset about the marriage with Santiago, that a rash broke out all over Rocío’s face (salió una roncha en toda la cara). Here come the kids. Rocío runs to Paulina. Beto greets Candy warmly, but Chava coldly brushes past her, asking Rocío if he can eat at her house. Candy tries to protest, but Chava insists, and Paulina takes Rocío and Chava away, taunting Candy by saying Pau knows what the children really want.

Ed and Santi are comparing problems. They recall the glory days, when they had no worries. Santi sounds as if he’s going a little nuts, forgetting what he’s saying a few times, and holding his sneaker-clad feet up like a kid, while Ed is still obsessed with whether he can have a kid with Chayo, since they rarely do it anymore. Ed leaves before Santi can get his hug.

But we do see a hug between Charly and Meño. Charly is happy Meño finally saw the light about Christian. Meño says he sort of knew all along that Christian was trying to take advantage, but he’s a generous guy who gets pleasure from giving. That’s great, says Charly, since you’re so generous, I could use a motorcycle, okay? In your dreams.

In typical novela fashion, when all else fails, pray. Candy has a bouquet of pink flowers for the virgencita, kneels in the church in front of a candle, clasps her hands, asks the Lord to help with her pain, to give her the balance, the force to make Chava happy. Her cell rings, it’s Santiago, maybe her prayers are answered.

In the garden at Santi’s house, it’s story time, as Paulina tells Rocío and Chava one, which ends up with the lady and the man marrying, but the man was very bad, and made his wife kick the children out, and they were “in the street” (the typical worst punishment for anyone in a novela). Chava thinks it’s “just a story”, but Paulina corrects him, she read it in a newspaper, this is what happens in real life. And you know what, it happens to many children like you two! She leaves the frightened kids to play in the playhouse, smiling to herself. The kids discuss things, Rocío thinking Candy will kick her out, Chava thinking Rocío’s dad is bad, both of them say they’re afraid, as Paulina secretly observes how well her scheme is working.

Santi and Candy are trying to cheer each other up over lunch in a French restaurant. Santi wants to forget the kids for just two hours, and try to be happy with Candy for that short period of time.

Meanwhile, Raúl has brought Beto and Soledad to see some of the color copy machinery that makes his magazine. I think Beto wants his own magazine. They’re having a good time.

Candy is back from lunch, and guess who’s waiting in her office? Pat. He half-heartedly congratulates her on her engagement, he’s glad she’s happy, but once again, he thinks Chava should be with him, there’s no other option, Chava has to be safe. Candy says no way. Pat flashes back to when Lozano told him he was taking pictures of Santiago. He implores Candy, what more can I say? It’s a rhetorical question, as he leaves Candy in stunned silence. Candy is destroyed again (this is about the third or fourth time today she’s essentially been hit with a brick). I guess she is supposed to read Pat’s mind.

We get a little fun, though, as Raúl, Soledad and Beto are now bowling. Raúl shows Beto how to roll the ball down the center of the lane. Beto launches the big bowling ball with two hands, it veers off toward the gutter, but in a miracle of editing, Beto gets a strike! Raúl wants a rematch (revancha, also means revenge), Soledad doesn’t think so, but the two boys beg her, and she can’t resist. Raúl seems to be aiming for a perfect game, this bonding with Beto is right down his alley.

Back to sad. Candy came home from work a little early, but Chava’s already in bed, so she isn’t even going to get to talk to him. Gregoria consoles her, saying things have been changing fast for Chava, give him time.

At Santi’s house, he examines his patient, Rocío’s rash is all gone. He asks if she likes Candy, she responds that she loves her mother. But the question was do you like (or love) Candy? No, not at all, in fact she can’t stand her (me cae gorda). She runs out, leaving Santi frustrated.

At Soledad’s, Raúl and Beto make tiger faces at each other, reveling in their maleness, can’t wait for tomorrow, and Beto goes off to bed. Soledad is overjoyed at how fast Raúl has gained Beto’s trust. And you know what, adds Sole? Every day, I’m liking you more (cada día, me caes mejor). How much more? Raúl wants to know. She answers him with a kiss.

The rest of the episode is like a perfect storm. Each little event is perfectly timed to throw our characters’ lives in turmoil. How did the writers do it? Let’s see.

Step 1. Cut to Chava. I think it’s time for a nightmare. Sure enough, Santi has left him in the street (looks more like a forest, tho) as he screams for his Dad! He wakes up, puts on his shoes, and sneaks out of his room.

Step 2. Candy, unaware of this, is on the phone with Santi. He has an idea, let’s take the kids on a vacation, if the four of us are together, it’ll be fun. Candy wonders how they can persuade the kids to go. Santi says the important thing is to get them all together, even if they have to use force to get them to go on the trip. Candy doesn’t think Chava will want to be taken by force. Guess what – Chava is outside the half-opened door, hears the words Santiago, taken by force, and realizes his fears are confirmed.

In the morning, Candy comes in to wake Chava, and he’s gone! The note on his pillow says “Mommy, don’t search for me, because before you two kick me out of the house, I’m going out on my own. Chava”. Candy is frantic, Charly notes that Chava’s backpack and clothes are gone.

Step 3. So where is he? Apparently he was able to find Santi’s house, and Rocío has him hiding behind the drapes. The coast is clear, and he hides under the piano. Eventually she gets him up to her room (very conveniently, there’s no sign of Lucía, Donato, Isabel, etc.) Chava tells Rocío he’s not going back to his house, and he wanted to go to his Dad’s house, but it’s too far away. He tells Rocío about his nightmare (pesadilla) in which her Dad ran him into the street, and she defends her Dad, but agrees he can live in her room, and she’ll bring him some breakfast. Just then,

Step 4. Paulina comes in (the only person who is NOT going to return Chava to his house). Pau hears Chava’s story, and reminds the kids that she’s the only one who can protect them, but they have to promise not to tell anyone. They do. But Pau says Chava can’t live in Rocío’s room, he has to be in a safe place where Santi won’t find him. Rocío has an idea, and they go off together, as Pau gives her evil smirk again.

Candy has called Pat, but Chava isn’t there, and Pat will come right away to help search. He tells Alicia to stay home, he has to be able to reach her at any moment. She doesn’t care a bit about poor Candy, and after Pat leaves, she tells Patito, let’s go to the beauty salon.

Back at Candy’s, they’re all dressed, Charly has searched the park, and no Chava. Candy figures that Chava must be at Santiago’s house. She calls, and

Step 5. Guess who happens to answer the phone? Paulina, who sees the caller ID, hangs up, then dials and puts down the phone. On the other end, Candy says it went dead, now it’s busy. So she’s calls Santi’s cell, but

Step 6. Santi’s in the bathroom, and Paulina just happens to have walked into his bedroom just in time for this call. She presses ignore, hides the phone under the chair, smiles again, and calmly exits Santi’s room.

Back at the house, everyone is going crazy, Candy is going to go over Santi’s house, but when she opens the door,

Step 7. Pat is right there. He tells Candy that Chava is gone because Candy didn’t keep him from Santiago. Candy, I warned you many times, Chava should have been with me. Why didn’t you pay attention and listen to me! Candy’s eyes get big, as she sees the edge of the cliff approaching at maximum velocity!

Monday: Santi is kidnapped, as we’re not just in últimas semanas, we’re in últimos capítulos!

Vocabulario:

un berrinche - a tantrum
una barba - a beard, or a chin. Other words for chin are barbilla and mentón
roncha - a rash, or measles type spots
apodos - nicknames
revancha - a rematch, or revenge
me cae gorda - I can't stand her

Labels:


Comments:
Hombre de M. - What a witty and well written recap. I laughed all the way through it. Cristian is a piece of work and your image of spinning their wrists to describe his gang of gays is too funny. I am glad they dispatched him, I like Meno so much, I have not enjoyed this engaño thread, although it had some amusing moments making fun of stereotypes.

The miracle of the cell phone at the altar was another terrifically staged scene with the roses and beautiful altar and Candi's lipglossed prayer.

I missed a couple of episodes so was uncertain about your reference to Mario being killed by Pau. Did he die or did he run off? By the way I like the way everyone calls her Pau which sounds like POW which perfectly describes her affronts to everyone. She especially enjoys hurting and scaring the little kids. There hasn't been a whole lot of death in this telenovela but I wonder if the telenovela gods can let her live in the end, she is such a nasty bit of work too.
 

Cheryl, Mario is not dead, he just left town. However, Paulina and Lozano (Gabino's bodyguard, who IS dead) faked Mario's death, so Gabino thinks Mario is dead. That's why he made that remark to Paulina.
 

Hombre, very witty, funny,clever, well-conceived recap. I especially loved your description of Chris' flock of friends partying(dare I say it?)with gay abandon(sorry but you set the tone). Your stepwise account of things spiraling out of control was on target. Well done. I realize that Meño's do has supporters, but I think the old look was more dignified and age appropriate. I admit to being an old fogy. Actually, wish I had hair to make such a decision about. Maybe I should follow Fafy's lead...Nah, toohot her in Texas. Cheryl, I bet someone has already updated you (takes me a while to peck these out) but Pau,Lozano(RIP),and Mario faked Mario's death. I think Mario thought it would be the real deal for a bit. I did. Carlos
 

Hi Hombre...you did your usual stellar job of opening paragraph, clever structural insights and deft transitions (Santi doesn't get a hug but Charlie does...for instance). I always get a sense of your musical talent in the way that you transpose a somewhat chaotic episode into a cohesive recap. Bien hecho!

Glad to know we're in ultimos capitulos as I'm growing weary of Candy's tears. Seems like she's been sniveling non-stop since the beginning. Enough already!

Glad to see life looking up for our former sad sacks Raúl and Soledad, but I'm still hoping for romance in Lulu's life. When oh when!?
 

Hombre, you are indeed such a poet. you really have such a great way with images and concepts and putting them together in your descriptions of what happened. Your metphors always paint such a lovely ancillary picture of what happened and really complete the "what happened" I had not realized the storm brewing, but you're right it was such a deliberate combination almost like dominos falling exactly where they needed to. I knew Pato would talk advantage of this calamity, but I hadn't even tied it in to the potential thougts he must have about the mafia and Santi. Nice work.

Thanks for the details, as always!

Oh and Jeff....looks like you called it - Pau's oldest trick definitely gained her some respect by someone...or was it her evil ways...eh it's a blurry line.... :)
 

This comment has been removed by the author.
 

Thank you, Hombre. I love how you bring order to the random events.

The detective is Agent Rossini.

"Me cae gordo" - thank you. I knew there was a caer phrase for something you hate, but I can never remember what it is. Is there a caer phrase that goes beyond "bien"? Something colorful? I think I've heard something, but can't recall what.

We have a little more than four weeks left. By Mex numbers, Monday will be #118. We have 22 or 23 cap's left, depending on how they handle the ending. That puts it around 6/24, barring unforeseen.
 

Thanks for the recap Hombre. I'm glad Meno finally found out about Christian. I'm a little slow. Up until this show, I hadn't quite realized how bad he really was. Finally figured it out for sure when early on Christian said to himself that he deserved an Oscar for his work. :)

I thought Pau would be a little more upset to gave to "work" with Gabino... But, no. Just all in a day's work for her it appears. :)

The rest of her work using those kids the way she does, just not unbelievable. She can't handle the adults very well, but those kid, twists them every which way. Not right!

JeffMN
 

Paula, thanks for Agent Rossini's name, and also thanks for letting us know approximately how many episodes are left.

Jeff, I agree Paulina is scary how well she manipulates the kids, and it's a terrible thing. She's been smiling a little too much lately, a sure sign that payback's a comin'.

But just think how disillusioned the kids will be. A lot of this novela has been about trust and truth. Candy has that box of mentiras for Chava, and Chava and Rocio currently have total trust in Paulina. And what happened to Chava's heartbeat trust detector?

For that matter, most of the other good characters have also suffered by being too trusting, including Lucia, Meno, Lulu, and Chayo. Santi can usually spot lying when he sees it, but even he, being basically good, couldn't conceive how far Marissa and Paulina would go with their mentiras.
 

Permit me to offer a different take on Pau. I think that ever snce the thing with Mario followed by the tragic, though not totally unanticipated demise of Lozano, I just don't think her hearts in it anymore. She seems dispirited. That evil flame no longer glows in those beady little eyes. Oh sure, she continues to work her evil, that's who she is, but without the same enthusiasm an zest. That former passion for bad has gone. She is now that dying scorpion fighting and stinging so long as life remains. Like a noble sports team faced with the certainty of defeat yet running out the clock with it's head held high. Then of course I could be full of crap. Carlos
 

Carlos, hmm, perhaps, may be a little less spark there or... :)
Hombre, that's right. Whatever happened to Chava's heartbeat detector! Ahh, perhaps if there is no heart to beat... it doesn't work?

JeffMN
 

Thanks so much Hombre!
Every time I see Pau I can't help thinking, "Won't someone please stop her?".
I hate, hate, hate the way she twists the kids.
I had high hopes it would be Gambino who would do her in but it looks like he has other uses for her.
Candy and Chava, what can I say?
He has become one royal center of the universe brat.
I've been out of town so this weekend has been fun catching up on three days of recaps and comments. Thanks to everyone for all the interesting input!

Carrie L.
 

Interesting comments about Paulina....if she's a little wan lately it's probably because she never eats!

I also like Hombre's theory that the heart detector didn't work because Paulina has no heart at all.

Still, she seems rather tame compared to our wicked lady in Querida Enemiga. Very tame indeed.

Still hoping for a romance for Lulu...getting late though.
 

Hee, you know it's amazing about Pau. She was also in La Mentira, ages ago, and I remember thinking, hmmm, she's got quite some hips on her. She was quite round in those days and I remember thinking it was interesting to see non stick women in leading roles. Well, that sure changed with her! She became thin again in what was it, Heridas, before this one? And now she's just even more of a twig. I don't like her face that gaunt really.
 

Ah Kris...our little Paulina once had big hips!? Hard to believe. Probably someone in the industry told her "lose weight or no more jobs". Its a cruel business.

In this case, though, she may have chosen to look gaunt because she IS in the fashion industry, and in spite of all the lip service to changing the look of models in the hopes of eradicating anorexia, the girls are still bone-thin and the ones in Vanidades look like underfed zombies. Sad.
 

I thought the scene with Raul showing Beto his work place was very amusing. Poor Raul seemed a little overwhelmed by Beto's rockem-sockem attitude, fostered no doubt by Pato's over the top "superhero" style. OK, I see in the next episode Raul is starting to get with the boyish excitement program and they are working things out. Good.

Hombre, I loved your perfect storm analogy. The way you listed the diabolical occurrences step by step really helped clarify what was going on. You must have a very organized mind.

I know I've been a tepid Christian advocate but I was glad to see Meno give him the boot. Fuera dolor!

Maybe Pau has been a little lethargic recently but she seems to have attacked this Chava situation with renewed vigor. It sems to me that the writers are making her into such a baddie that if she meets a hellish demise we viewers won't feel too sorry for Rocio if mama gets hit by a pie cart full of scorpions.

Thanks Hombre, I loved reading your recap.
 

Thanks Hombre for the great recap. I just got caught up and I'm hating the Chava brat scenes. Does anyone else find it strange that the very place he's fighting about moving to (if the boda ever takes place) is always the place he runs to?
 

Enjoyed that opening paragraph, Hombre!
 

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