Saturday, June 27, 2009
Gancho Friday 6/26, Wack-a-Mole, 2 Fights, and Evil Plan #1
As we saw yesterday, Beto can’t understand why Monita is down, when Don Cesar’s gonna make her a star. But Beto’s not going to let that dampen his mood, and he saunters off, quite pleased with himself.
Mona’s moping, though. She tells Estrella she was born to lose. Estrella comforts her.
Over in the big house, Mau has marched Aldo in to apologize to Connie. He does, and Connie, using her new strategy, is very gracious in response. Spacey Ximena almost messes things up, saying “of course my bff didn’t throw your photo in the trash on purpose”, and things might have gotten tense except that she follows it up with her own story about losing her keys. Seems she had 5 daiquiris one night and was going nuts emptying her purse to find the car keys. Guess what she finally remembered? They were home. What she had really forgotten was to bring her car! (Okay, Thanks, Ximena).
Moni tells Estrella how dumb she feels. She didn’t even finish high school. No, you’re smart, says Strella, what are you really upset about? Moni quit her new job. Strella knows a guy must be involved. Is he cute? He’s good enough to eat (es más bueno que el pan). Oooh, Strella likes this. She imagines his body, his eyes, his lips. Which part does Moni like best? His soul (of course!)
Time to shush, though as Ms. Frosty (Nieves) walks up with a suspicious look. She knows there’s a secret they won’t tell her. Moni says they were talking about Strella’s novio, but Frosty doubts that. Moni gives Frosty what little dinero she has to go to the market, but asks her to hold the frijoles (they don’t want any Beto bombs). Strella’s not too happy with Frosty’s frosty attitude.
It's busca (search) time. Maury and his chauffeur Ric are outside the apartment where Moni said she lived. (Let me just say that I didn’t like Sebastián Rulli too much in Pasión, but it may have been the hair. His hair looks very good in this one, clean, the right length, not bleached as in Rubí). Ric doesn’t look bad himself (any opinions from the ladies?). The guys press a random button on the door to the building, but the lady who answers never heard of Valentina López or La Monita. Ditto with the super (portero), she doesn’t live here. The guys figure she must live nearby, and split up to continue buscando.
Moni is washing her clothes outside (which ones? She’s only been wearing evening gowns for 3 days), talking to Strella. She’s wearing a light blue tee shirt, knee-length light blue jeans and sneakers. Estrella’s got on short red track shorts, gold-colored leggings down to mid-calf, and heels of course. She also has a green tank top over a blue one, and her cell is clipped onto her top right above her boob. After some more pep talk from Strella, Moni spies chauffeur Ric across the courtyard! The girls duck down, Strella says she’ll handle it, she’s an actress. She takes a deep breath, strides over to Ricardo, leading with the chest. Ric’s looking for someone. So am I, replies Strella breathily. Is she blond, brunette or redhead? (pelirroja, as she flips her own ruby tresses). Ric’s looking for Valentina López. La Monita? Nope, never heard of her (no me suena para nada).
Maury’s not having much luck, either, as he asks a parade of people if they’ve seen the mystery girl. Meanwhile Ric and Strella are getting to know one another. Frosty passes by with a scowl. Ric wants to ask that señora if she’s seen Monita, but Strella assures him that she’s the loony of the barrio, just got out of the asylum, so Ric lets it pass. He has to go now, and Strella gives him a smoking farewell kiss on the cheek.
After the commercial, my helpful tv station blocked out all the sound for a few minutes to tell us the earthshaking news of a thunderstorm watch about a hundred miles away from me, but menos mal (thank goodness) I have captions. It’s night now, and Ric tells Maury he found her! Monita? No, the love of his life (Strella). Oh.
Monita’s in her house (or maybe her room of a big, connected house), working with the punching bag, when there’s a knock. It’s a monster with a red hood. Before she can deck him, Beto gives her a bouquet of flowers, takes off his mask. She points out he hasn’t given her flowers in 15 years, but he’s a new man. Morales (Elvis from Destilando Amor) has given Beto a job in his wrestling troupe. She’s not so convinced he’s a fighter, but he has no doubts at all, and asks her to go to the store for a snack (botana) and some wine to celebrate. She walks out the door into the moonlight, and there’s Mauricio. He tells her she has no idea how long he was looking for her, he felt terrible about her quitting the job. But she wants him to leave inmediato (since Beto’s only 20 feet away), she doesn’t want severance pay, he has to leave now! He’s not giving in. What can he do to make her come back? At this point, Strella walks up, Moni introduces the handsome Maury, and Strella faints into his arms! He easily picks her up, taking her inside JUST as Beto pops his head out the door. Where’s that snack? And by the way, were you talking to someone? Oh, sure, Paula’s father, lies Moni. Just in time, Frosty arrives, dinner’s ready (something Beto can’t refuse) and Moni runs back inside, as Beto follows Frosty toward the food.
Our keystone cop caper (more like Wack-a-Mole, since they keep popping out of doors, just to be knocked back in by Moni or Strella) continues, Moni dragging Maury into her apartment, and as he starts punching her punching bag in fun, she says this isn’t her apartment, it belongs to another girl (right), she’s nervous, but he calmly says he wants her to be his personal assistant. He’ll pay her well. Before she can answer, there’s a knock at the door, and she pushes him behind some curtains.
It’s Strella, now revived, who can’t believe Moni’s turning away a Prince Charming (Principe Azul), what’s wrong with her? Strella recognizes him as a famous race driver from the magazines, and he’s a millionaire to boot. At this point, Frosty’s back, wants to drag Moni (but not Strella, no loose women at her table) to dinner, and as Moni enters Frosty’s house, shuffling nervously, Frosty calls for her big baby boy Beto. Beto bursts in, covered from head to toe in a silver wrestling outfit, including full head mask, blue boots, gloves and breastplate. Given Beto’s modest physical attributes, he looks more Pillsbury Doughboy than Hulk Hogan, but his Mom’s whistling and cheering to bring out the band. Beto wants to go three falls in the bedroom, but Mom says cut that out, Moni says listen to her, and runs back out to check on Maury.
Cut to a swingin’party with the rich folks, it looks a little like Playboy After Dark, I guess it’s some restaurant or club, they’re drinking martinis, a couple of people are pretending to dance. Ximmy, Jerry (Jeronimo) and Connie are talking about the three kids Maury adopted. Ximmy thinks they’re cute, just like a commercial. Connie thinks Maury and Ximmy will go for any bleeding heart cause (she uses ablandar, or soften, el corazon). Ximmy says if you get mad you lose friends (El que se enoja, pierde amigososa). (Meanwhile, I’m staring at Connie’s shiny legs, stop Hombre, you’ve a recap to do!) Ximmy thinks Connie has nothing to worry about with the 3 kiddies, but Jerry says what if there were another woman? Connie leaves in a huff. This leaves our panther Jerry free to prey. He asks about the kid’s parents. Ditzy Ximmy, in between dipping her olive, says Luisa said their Mom was dead, but the Dad split, one Osvaldo Hernández. Poor kids. Jerry takes mental notes.
Back at the mansion, Luisa and Ivan are getting to know each other, strolling through the large, modern decorated rooms. Ivan says he has no parents. Similar to Luisa, his Mom died, his Dad left with another woman, and he’s been living with his Abuela and studying. They’re just sitting on the (marble) steps, but Aldo sees them, gets all big brother protective, causing Ivan, wanting to avoid problems, to exit. Aldo tells Luisa he doesn’t like her hanging around with that “idiot”, but this angers Lu, who tells him to butt out.
“So how come you told me you were living in that other place”? asks Maury of Moni. Ever incapable of telling the truth, Moni says she lives there, too, it’s her aunt’s house, and her aunt has menopause, so Moni has to go over there and comfort her when she gets hot flashes. Maury lets this slide, just wants to confirm that Moni will be in the office tomorrow. But, she says, she can’t. Our handsome hunk gazes deeply and earnestly into Moni’s eyes, tells her he “needs” her, and Moni melts. Okay, I accept, she answers with a smile. They say goodbye, and Moni hustles him out after checking if the coast is clear. As she goes back inside, Maury comes face to face with Beto (back in street clothes), who asks whacha doin’ in the neighborhood, bud? Maury says he was looking for someone. He was looking for…Me! yells out Strella, just in time. She takes Maury aside, and in answer to his question about Beto, replies he’s just a loser who thinks he owns the neighborhood, but thanks for visiting, and I promise I won’t faint next time!
As he leaves, Frosty asks Beto who was that guy? Just some friend of Estrella’s. Frosty thinks Strella’s turning the barrio into a brothel (burdel). Beto thinks that would be a good idea, it would certainly pay well. This causes Frosty to go a little loco, starts insulting Strella. A few insults later, they grab each around the neck, and we’ve got a fight! Beto just enjoys it, exhorting them to pull out each others’ hair, but Monita comes back out to separate our two tigresses.
In the underground parking lot of the club, Jerry gets into Bonilla’s car, only to have Boney demand money (since Boney had to quit due to Jerry and Boney’s joint scheme at Grupo Sermeño, Jerry has to pay Boney to insure his silence). Boney demands 50 green by next week ($50,000.00). Jerry doesn’t have the ready cash, but if Boney wants it, he’s gonna have to help Jerry in something. Does Boney happen to know an actor?
In Moni’s room, she’s reaming out Strella. What were you thinking, fighting with Nieves? And why did you give out the address of the barrio to the guy I’m trying to dodge? Strella thinks she did Moni a favor. This Prince Charming could rescue Moni from dirty, grubby (mugroso, roñoso) Beto. Moni thinks she has no chance with Maury, and Beto’s not so dirty. Paula (who was quietly sitting on the bed the whole time) says Beto does smell quite rank, but adds after a while, one gets used to it. All this time, Moni keeps pushing the punching bag, and she’s also hitting another little punching bag, definitely conflicted about all of this. Moni lets out that Maury asked her to come back to work, and she said yes. (the music changes from comic to romantic). Strella and Paula squeal in girl delight, not diminished when Moni says Maury’s got a novia. Paula describes Connie as an old nuisance (sangrona) with the face of a spider. Moni agrees, her face is probably filled with botox, and the bubis are obviously fake. Well, adds Pau, she’s got all that dough (lana) to pay for it. But she looks at me with disgust, says Moni. Why not, when you’re stealing (Strella uses the word bajando, or taking down) her guy? No way, protests Moni, I’m committed to Beto, smelly or not. The girls don’t believe her, and as Moni exits, Estrella whispers to Paula, “About that chauffeur. Do you happen to know his (zodiac) sign?”
In Jerry’s apartment, he, Boney and a shorter guy named Mario all look as if they’re about to cry. Apparently that’s the idea, Mario is the actor, who has to fake tears. He’s failing miserably at this point, saying he doesn’t have his motivation, just give him another chance. Jerry gives him a crash course. Breathe deeply, and….give me a minute. He turns away, sneakily put drops in his eyes, turns back a true weepmeister to bravos from the other two stooges, what a performance! Mario’s not sure he could match that, but Jerry says just think of something terrible, like losing something irreplaceable, like, like….. your cellphone!
It’s morning, and Salvador fell asleep on the couch at work. Gabriella the office manager, first to arrive each day wakes him up, what happened? Well, he had to go out drinking with those Gringos, to get them to sign the contract, which they did. But now he has a hangover. Also, when he got home late, his wife was mad, so he had to sleep here. But I thought you were divorced, says Gabi. She’d heard rumors around the office. No, not true, says Salvador, as Gabi hides her disappointment (she has a crush on him). So, could you please buy her a really nice bouquet of flowers, requests Salvador, and get me something for my headache? Yes sir is the response, as Gabi dutifully goes off.
Cut to a white, red and yellow race car. Apparently, “My, I’m Rico” (Mauricio) still has the racing thing going, and has brought Aldo in for a little male bonding. Maury whistles and the mechanic, Cristano, jumps, then laughs. Maury makes the introductions, Aldo likes cars, so Cristano says the magic words, wanna take her out for a spin? Big smiles all around.
During the commercial, Maury and Aldo were putting on racing outfits, and they’re twins, with orange racing jackets (Nextel promptly displayed), white stripes, and tight black pants. They don their helmets, get into the car (Nextel all over it, guess who paid for this segment) through the window, Maury driving of course, and we switch to a montage, techno music now, as Maury flips all the switches, and they’re off in a cloud of dust. The car looks great (it’s a souped up Ford, spoilers, big wheels, the kind of car they use at the Daytona 500), and although it doesn’t look as if they were really going too fast, Cristano is marking the times, and when they screech in for a stop, engine still roaring, Aldo is stoked. He wants a turn, but Maury says no way, you need experience. Okay, fine, but Aldo now knows what he wants to do. He’ll be a race car driver (piloto) just like Mauricio!
Beto’s sitting in the kitchen, contemplating his wrestling mask, when Frosty comes in to yell at him. Why aren’t you training! No worries, Ma, first I’m training the mind, the body comes later. Sure, says Frosty, but look at that (chubby) body! You finally got a job, and if you don’t apply yourself, you could lose Monita. Nah, I’m her one and only. Really? says Frosty. What if she found a guy who didn’t mistreat her the way you do? What if she fell in love with another guy? Beto starts laughing, good one, Ma, good joke, you really crack me up, Ma!
Monita arrives at work in her fourth consecutive dressy dress, this one’s royal blue, one shouldered, a big blue bow on one side, her hair is totally restyled, she looks like a model, all this on zero money, but who are we to complain, she looks hot! (I just figured out what she looks like – a beauty contest contestant! The one shouldered thing is like her sash). Anyway, Gabriella’s crying at her desk. What’s wrong, asks Moni. Still married, is the reply. All the men I know are married or have novias. Take Mauricio, he has a beautiful, elegant, refined novia, and he’d never leave her for someone as insignificant as you. Moni frowns.
Luisita is fixing Danni’s hair as Aldo and Maury have returned from the track. Danni runs to greet Maury, who picks her way up high and gives her a hug. Everyone’s happy, and Teresa says it’s time for breakfast. The doorbell rings, and Maury goes downstairs to get it. It’s Mario the actor, with his best crying face on. He introduces himself. I’m the father of the children you just adopted. Uh oh!
He continues that he’s happy the kids have a good home. He’s been watching them through the gate of this big house. He doesn’t want to talk to them (I guess not), but he does want to talk with Maury. So what’s your name? He fumbles, manages to get it out – Osvaldo Hernández. Maury gives him his card, agrees to talk later in the office. When Mario leaves, Maury calls Bernarda, the lady from the group home. What do you know about the father of the kids?
In the ladies’ room, Monita is replaying Gabi’s harsh words, lost in thought. Paula snaps her out of it, what time did you go to the gym this morning? 4 A.M is the reply. You can’t keep this up, it’s nuts. I know, replies Moni, but I can’t let Beto down. Or Mauricio.
Said Mauricio is rubbing his chin in concern when we hear “Mi amor!”, it’s Connie (reminding me of Alicia in Tontas), breezing in from a morning shopping spree. She calls in the kids, and guess what, all the bags are for them! Danni gets a blue and white dress, along with lots of other clothes. Next up, Luisa, who gets a cool red jacket, the latest fashion. And there’s lots for Aldo, too, although he doesn’t want it. Luisa tells him not to be ungrateful, so he accepts the bags, and politely thanks Connie. Okay, kids, time to try on your things, and don’t worry if something doesn’t fit, we’ll exchange it, says Connie. Yes, her strategy of nice is definitely working. She tells Maury how she loves the kids, hopefully soon, they’ll love her. Mauricio forces a smile.
Aldo is just finishing putting on his new expensive sneakers when Ivan comes in, jokingly admiring Aldo’s new duds. But Aldo takes it the wrong way, and snaps at Ivan. Ivan tells Aldo to chill, they might as well get along if they’re going to see each other every day. Aldo nixes that, there should be a wall between them. Fine, jokes Ivan, I’ll leave, and stop bothering the “princess”. Bad move, as hot-tempered Aldo punches him, which starts a fight, they’re grappling on the floor, Aldo on top, as Maury rushes in to separate them. After Ivan leaves, Maury tells Aldo that violence is not permitted in the house, and Aldo should apologize to Ivan. Aldo doesn’t like this at all.
Connie was right there, and pulls Maury into the other room, telling him Aldo’s a savage. No, he just needs limits, replies Maury. Well, good idea, says Connie, I just happen to have these brochures for special schools. Here’s a nice one in Spain, what do you think? Maury gets right in her face. These kids didn’t leave a group home to be shipped off outside of Mexico. They’re my children now, and NO one’s going to take them away from me! Connie’s taken aback by his ferocity, as the episode ends.
Monday’s preview: Moni, in expensive dress NO. 5, is just about to kiss Maury, when the elevator door opens. It’s Constanza!
Vocabulario:
Es más bueno que el pan – He’s good enough to eat, he’s fine (better than bread)
No me suena para nada – I’ve never heard the name – literally, it doesn’t sound to me at all, sort of like it doesn’t ring any bells
Una Botana – a snack, or appetizer to go with a drink
Ablandar – to soften, or melt
Un burdel – a brothel
Mugroso, roñoso – both mean filthy, grubby, dirty
Sangrono, or sangrona – a nuisance or an annoying person
Piloto - driver
Labels: gancho
Now, how do the ladies feel about Ricardo? Quite presentable, in my view. Definitely attractive, clean-cut...all good.
In real life, I would see him as a good match for Moni. But since this is a telenovela, Moni has to end up with somebody not only handsome but also mega-rich. So I guess Estrella gets the leftovers.
Love the Wack-a-Mole reference and I guess we should keep track of the evil plans. Seem like there have already been plenty. Evil plan #1 at the office failed when Mauricio got back early from his trip. Constanza's evil plan to marry him hasn't succeeded yet but she's certainly in there pitching. And now evil plan #3 to somehow get to Mauricio's money through the adopted children. Wait...I've changed my mind. We're gonna get into high numbers if we keep track of all the evil plans. And math is not my strong suit.
Does Jeronimo have a gambling problem? Is that why he's always short of cash? And does Ximena have a drinking problem? No matter, I"m liking her more and more as time goes on. She seems to be playing the idiot who actually addresses each situation with wisdom (other than romantic ones).
And I continue to have a soft spot for Gardenia. She's bright and capable and stuck yearning for a man who's not available. A sadder but not yet wiser girl.
Thanks for the great vocabulary, Hombre. Excellent job (now quit thinking about those shiny legs, fella)
I thought Wack-a-Mole had some daffy spelling, but according to Wikipedia, it's actually Whac-A-Mole. Of course, Carlos is right, the real word is whack, but I was thinking wacky, so you can see the result.
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One of the recappers on Cuidado kept a running list of all the characters introduced in that novela (both animal and human) and there were 63. Of course many disappeared after a while with no further story line (think your image of the chain and dog on the MEPS line) but when she pulled up the more obscure ones for a "pop quiz" hardly anyone had a clue...other than the razor-sharp Julia.
If we started doing that....well, I'd already be behind. For a moment when I was reading your recap and you mentioned Paula on the bed, I thought, Who the H...is Paula?! (Of course I probably have her stored in my brain as Carla)
That was a great recap Hombre, it took me back to when I first watched this episode, I think this was my first episode of Gancho and it was nice to remember.
About Ximena, I think it's hilarious that many of you think she sounds drunk, she is supposed to be a "superfresa" rich girl and the character it's a bit of an exaggeration but that is how they sound, especially the ones in México City.
I love Ximena, she is one of my favorite characteres along with Beto and Constanza, I also really like Estrella and Gabriela.
Jarocha.
Glad you're having such a great time in Canada. Is the weather lovely? We're sweltering down here.
And we already think your English is perfect!
And If I'm allowed to, I'd recommend a good swim for that sweltering summer you are having Judy :).
Jarocha
I'm really enjoying the honeymoon period of this novela. Everything is new and characters aren't annoying. (Though I still want to see the actor playing Jerry as a galan and not a rake.)
Ricardo is a cutie. He's got dimples too.
Ricki is certainly cute. He's been in several novelas too actually.
I was always thinking the same thing...queck (que the heck) with the formal gowns already? It's like the "Little Miss" pageant for overgrown chicas. That part just makes no sense to me - but she does have amazing legs, so I'm that part has something to do with keeping the hombres watching... :)
I'm glad Jarocha made the "superfresa" reference. I could be wrong, but it seems to me that we have here is the classic conflict between superfresa and naca, high class vs. low class, wicked stepsister vs. Cinderella, etc. In that I generally view TNs as morality tales (or fairy tales) of some sort I think it's clear what the theme of this one is.
Thanks Jarocha for your input about the superfresas of the DF. I've heard the term mentioned before but didn't fully understand what it meant or what it encompassed. I think Judy's analogy to the "Valley Girl" is spot-on on more than one level...self-centered, preoccupation with shopping. sense of entitlement, etc. (By the way, "Valspeak" is an accent that Californians in particular love to mimic, it being an exaggerated version of our own accent the existence of which we try to refute.)
Anyway, thanks Hombre for the excellent recap, I loved the title (in my head I keep saying wack-a-mole rhyming it with guacamole), and once again I adore your fashion analyses. Buen hecho!
But with time the term ended up being used for the shallow rich people, and also now even if you are not rich, but you walk around acting with a sense of entitlement and talking like that you are called fresa, while some of the people who are truly fresa take some pride of that fact, usually people get upset if you call them that way because they feel you consider them "airheads".
By the way Sylvia, you are right about the class conflict, usually fresas hate nacos and viceversa.
Jarocha
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVhUUh0uP6M
Jarocha
But there is also the fact that right now if you want to be considered educated you have to know english, us who go to public school get six years of obligatory english in secondary shcool and bachillerato (high school) and a year and half in University (optional or obligatory depending of your major), the problem is that only the Universities have a good english program, most public schools don't take english seriously, but if your parents have enough money, they can pay for private school where you are taught english since preschool.
So in a way the fresas use english words and phrases to show that they had acces to a better education than the rest of the population, but the rest of the population also knows and uses some english because they are heavily influenced by the media. The curious thing is that when someone who has lived in the US comes back to México and intercalatates both languages while he speaks that's called speaking "pocho", and speaking pocho is considered to be naco.
Carlos I took a connecting flight in Houston and was amazed by the people at the airpot who spoke a pretty good english and spanish, I would really love to visit your city sometime.
Jarocha
Here's the Houston Chronicle article about our own Monita .
Camil? Fresa? No puede serrrrr! jiji. It's funny when they tease him about it. In AxM Javier teased him that he had never ridden a subway. In a pre-AxM interview, Carla Gomez teased him that he had never camped before.
It's interesting that the well-educated (i.e. rich) have been taught English well. But to insert English in your Spanish looks naco. My good friend, a Mexican with a degree in psych, spent a year in the US to improve her English. When she returned home for a job interview, she was so nervous that English would slip into her Spanish and make her look bad.
So far, we're ALL enjoying it...great start.
The side characters are also delightful...Ximena is a hoot and maybe not as dumb as she acts, Estrella is entertaining, the men are good-looking...the child actors need a little practice but they're not awful.
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