Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Gancho Tuesday Aug. 18, '09 Connie Seethes, Monita Deceives, Beto Heaves (almost), Estrella Leaves and Ximena Grieves

Whew. There's a lot right there in the title but that's not all, folks. Quite a bit happened tonight, plus we heard a whole raft of phrases describing"playing in the other ballpark" or "for the other team" and there was no way I could catch them all on the fly. Maybe I'll go back after this is written and stop and start my tape. (Hoping Santa will bring me a Tivo recorder for Christmas.)

There's a brief review of the hot potato number with the muchachas, thinking the package that arrived is a bomb. And once again we get to hear Ximena drop the real bomb that Connie has the hots for Beto (and evidently no olfactory senses).

Our feisty Monita elects herself the Bomb Squad in the Barrio and dismantles the package to find out it's chocolates. Estrella takes quick ownership and flees...but not without discovering there is also a gold chain inside. And a mash note...."To Estrella, the brightest star in the firmament." Uh oh. No doubt about it. Rolando's been having impure thoughts and even more impure intentions. Estrella is offended...but not so upset as to not eat all the chocolates! (How does she maintain that figure?)

In the meantime, Mauricio and Sal, after checking to make sure the microphone is still in place, fake discuss how they're going to meet an informant in the park and hand over a wad of cash for the info on the betrayers. Oscar and Jeri are primed to check it out, with Oscar adding that if they're caught, he'll wash his hands of the whole affair and leave Jeri holding the bag. Joke, joke, he adds slyly. Jeri looks confused.

Aldo, meanwhile, is phoning Estrella and getting rebuffed once more. You should be studying, working, hanging out with kids your own age, she snaps. Don't call me ANYMORE.

Sal is now hassling Mauricio about bringing Monita into the conspiracy mix. And sure enough, here comes our little Monkey in another I Love Lucy moment, complete with mustache, sideburns, suit and hat, swaggering like a miniature macho male.

While she's in disguise, our favorite "loca" is invading the office once more, scaring the bejesus out of Gaby who hasn't forgotten the very serious knife attack of a few months ago. Lorenza vows she's a new woman, just like a 2009 car... latest model ya know! but Gaby isn't convinced. It's true! and what's more, she knows who Sal is sneaking around with. Lots of monkey, King Kong imitations that baffle Gaby until finally Lorenza screams "It's la Monita". Gaby sets her straight. Her "very good source" Jeri is just stringing her along. Lorenza is sad and then mad. She vows vengeance. Now this is something we can get behind! And off she goes, while the camera pans down to her two different shoes. (This is not that weird. A friend of mine, broken-hearted over a betrayal, often ended up putting on two different shoes. We women are emotional dang it!)

More mayhem with women. (This is an equal opportunity violence show). Connie is suffocating Ximena, screeching that she thought Xime was her best friend. Best and ONLY friend, sniffs Xime when she can catch a breath. All right...I'll tell you who Roby's girlfriend is. Oh my. Of course there's an ad so we don't really know if she's going to spill the beans.

When we come back, we see Rolu swaggering into the neighborhood, ignoring the excited shrieks of the children and then flashing them a look of disgust. Oh yeah, for sure we know he's a bad guy. Even Estrella seems to know it. She hands him back his necklace (the chocolates are long gone) and protests that she's a decent girl and resents his obvious attempts to bed her. Rolu's undeterred and smoothly begs forgiveness on his knees, no less. But wait! we see Aldo watching from afar. This can't bode well.

At the park, Monita is acting out her part but seeming to get the intent confused. In the guise of whispering in Mau's ear (so the bad guys won't hear) she's actually caressing his face. Mauricio, making a valient effort to stay in persona, hands off the briefcase with the "cash" and sends her off. Jeri is sure he recognizes the little guy. It's Carlos Balero! (I tried googling this name and got a couple of different guys on Facebook but nothing else) Does this Carlos look like Charlie Chaplin? 'Cause Monita sure did. And she's staying in persona also, flirting with a couple of girls on her way out of the park.

The muchacha mayhem has intensified. Coni has given up on suffocation and is now threatening to cut off Xime's hair. Alright...Beto's girlfriend is P..., Pau....Paula! The "afanador" (cleaner)!? sniffs Consti. She doesn't even wax off her mustache! You're jealous, sneers Xime. No way!

And now, the famous THREE things Xime has to add to their discussion:

1) Connie, you're putting out a lot of negative energy and it's going to come back to you.

2)That negative energy will become a big ball of excrement!

2) I don't want you near me. You're splashing me (salpique) with it!

Okay, after that colorful exchange, we have a knock-down drag out fight. Aldo confronts Rolu. Rolu pretend to leave, then whirls and sucker punches little Aldo, not once but three times and then kicks him to boot. What a crud! If Estrella had any doubts, they're put to rest now. He's only 17! she rails at Rolu. He's still in full seduction mode. I love your eyes, your mouth, your legs and BAM! Estrella slaps him a good one. And he's gone. So is Aldo. But wait! she follows Rolu out to the sidewalk, he grabs her and forces another kiss on her....just when Xime arrives in a taxi and sees it all. Oh woe is Xime. And Estrella too, for that matter.

Seems that Nieves has organized a little lynch mob and now they're trying to run
Estrella out of the barrio. But I don't look for problems, problems just seem to find me, wails our little redhead. The mob ain't buyin' it.

Let's break this up with a little romance. Monita's in Mau's office and he's helping her take her mustache off. But that brings him close to her lips and well, you know....Our goofy galan wants to tell her something but she more or less says "shut up and kiss me" and he does.

Does the cellphone ring? Nope, something even worse. Beto walks in on them and thinks Mau is gay. We get a veritable flood of words, with Beto trying his darndest to be p.c. and broadminded, but finally excusing himself and saying he's going to vomit. Well, he tried. He really did.

Paula meanwhile, is entranced with the new little guy and is coming on strong until Monita finally clues her in. After that scene, Beto bops in the coffee room saying he's got big news and lays down a lot of slang about Mau's tendencies, one concerning "rice" which I've heard before but didn't catch this time. (Went back and checked the tape. See vocabulary below.)

So Beto's bewildered. So is Pau. And frankly, Mauricio still doesn't have a clue...not about who planted the microphone in his office, anyway. Neither does Gaby. No one will believe Sal when he accuses Oscar and Jeri of the spying. For Gaby, it's strictly sexual jealousy on Sal's part. For Mauricio, I think he's just missing a few cogs. All brawn and no brain, this one.

Lorenza been busy with her car again. This time she not only mowed down Jeri and Oscar (who come limping into the office on crutches) but it seems she also swiped some hapless street merchants in an outdoor market and has gone from jail temporarily and then back to the loco ward. But of course, Oscar is intimating it was all part of a scheme by Sal to assassinate them.

The mob scene is still going hot and heavy back in the neighborhood. Estrella's protesting that she pays rent like everybody else but Nieves reminds her she's a month in arrears. Lots of insults about being a "prostituta" and a "mujerzuela" and then our little Monita shows up and delivers a snappy "let ye who are without sin cast the first stone" sermonette. She rattles off an impressive list of everybody's shortcomings including that Nieves doesn't even know who Beto's daddy is. Chagrin all around and the crowd melts away.

Estrella's still downhearted. They always thought the worst of me, she laments. Paula's not sympathetic. "Te conozco mosco" she snaps. And why do you light up men's water heaters (boilers) and then expect them to take a cold bath! (This brings back memories of Austria. When I lived in an apartment there, we did have to light up the gas heater above the bathtub if we wanted warm water. )Great image though of Estrella's effect on men. She does light fires left and right.

One singed little guy... our Aldo... is in bed, trying to avoid having Mauricio find out he's been beaten to a pulp. But Mau isn't fooled and wants to know who did it. Just a guy. I was defending a girl. He was trying to get fresh. Estrella? Don't pry into my life and I won't pry into yours. Well, they settle with a little male bonding. Mau invites him to come to the racetrack tomorrow where they'll be running some laps. And advises that life is like a race...you have to control your speed so you can take the curves and finish strong. Okay then. Monita sermonette. Mau sermonette. Are there any more to come?

Guess not. Monita's in bed thinking about you know who. You know who calls. Says they have unfinished business. She says they can take up where they left off the next morning. Oh, a little early a.m. romance?! Dang, no, he's coming in late. Gotta go to the racetrack first. No matter. She'll prepare a sumptuous breakfast for him at the office and they'll...take it from there.

From hope to despair. We see Estrella, looking bedraggled and sad, walking slowly away from the barrio, after leaving a note for Monita.

Aldo's at the racetrack. Nasty Rolu shows up and sneers. Want another beating? Mau overhears, accuses him of bribing the doctor to give him a false health report (Rolu looks confused) as well as warning him if he ever touches his son again, he'll kill him! ( Rolu looks amused).

Back in the barrio. Monita's dressed to kill and Beto's worried. Everybody's going to be whistling at you in the bus! That encounter is cut short when they find Estrella's note saying she can't take any more garbage from her neighbors and is leaving....forever.

While at the primo's home, our broken-hearted Xime is in obvious mourning. Sympathetic Jeri says Why are you down on the barrio girls? Did they rob you of your cellphone? No, wails Xime. The Love of my Life! You'll get over it, he smiles. (and no doubt she will).

The coffee room remains a busy place. Paula's now in Monita's disguise trying to pass herself off to Gaby as Rogelio, Paula's twin brother. Gaby says she attracted and wants a French kiss. Paula caves and Gaby says, Now drop that stupid act and get me a cappuchino!

And once more we're back at the racetrack. Mau and Tano are eyeballing a new contender, some little twerp from the US. He's gonna bite the dust says Mau confidently.

Connie walks in on Moni preparing the nifty breakfast for Mau and wants to know what's up. Moni informs her it's a special moment and she's going to share it with him. Connie draws her arm back to slap her and Moni counters effectively. Watch out Coni. You're dealing with a professional here!

And speaking of professionals, Mau is completely flummoxed on the racetrack. Can't get around that pesky little U.S. contender no how no way. Racer steps out, takes off the helmet and oh no, it's Regina ( or evil Paulina from Tontas if you will) and she's back in Mauricio's life and sure to bring trouble. And there we end.

Previews:

Yep. Here comes trouble. Regina's in the office laying a big fat kiss on Mauricio and Connie and Monita both see it. (As noted on the MEPS line, galans never seem to be able to fend off a kiss. They let considerable time pass before they react. Leading to all kinds of problems!)

Regina's in some kind of meeting at the office and announcing she's thinking of starting a family. Connie goes into a violent coughing spell.

We hear that Mauricio and Regina had some kind of romantic relationship in the past.

And Monita gets revenge by biting Mauricio when he zeros in for a kiss! Yikes. Whadda gal.

Vocabulary:
insinuoso = suggestive
afanador = cleaner
salpique = splash, splatter, as with mud
engrudo = paste (for Monita's mustache)
trenzado con el joven = making out with the young guy (Beto describing the kiss he saw)
se chinga las pestañas = more Beto descriptions of what Mauricio was up to
se le gusta el chivito con el precipice= more of the same
el morder la almohada = more of the above
jugar con el ciclope japonés =and still more...
le gusta el arroz con popote = yep, still more
que hace chocolate con los codos = etc. etc.
que trueno al reverso = finito, that's all I got. But it's a lot for just one proclivity
bozal = muzzle
tianguis = street market (where Lorenza mowed down some vendors)
nunca me tragaron = they could never stand me (Estrella talking about neighbors)
desarmador = taking apart, tearing up (Moni talking about somebody tearing up the barrio)
atole = corn or maize drink. One of the things Moni asked if Mauricio wanted for breakfast. What he wanted was her!)
pinta de maleta =looks like a useless heap. Mauricio, underestimating Regina's race car
encamarse = to go to bed together. The usual male reaction to Estrella's charms

Dicho of the Day:

En gustos no hay nada escrito. Each to his own. No accounting for tastes. (Beto trying to be p.c. when he catches Mauricio kissing Monita disguised as a young man.)

Labels:


Comments:
Judy, an absolutely fantastic job with a fun but obviously difficult episode. What a job you did gtting all of Beto's euphemisms. He had me laughing and my head spinning. I almost fell off my chair when Connie grabbed and held Ximena's tongue. I too was again reminded of I Love Lucy by this episode. I'll bet some of the writers are fans. Carlos
 

Oh definitely I Love Lucy, they must be fans.

Say, I saw Karla Alvarez's name in the credits last week and was wondering how she would turn up. Looks like she's a seductress yet again. Will Moni and Consti combine forces against her? I really don't see that happening.

I know I sound awful but I thought it was hilarious when Lorenza ran Jeri and Oscar over with her car. They so deserved it. Looks like I might have gotten my wish if she stays in jail or the manicomio.

Awesome recap Judy! I just love Ximena's three pieces of advice. I hope Rolando gets what he deserves, the kid hater and beater! What a jerk.
 

P.S. Carlos, I forgot to say I like your new picture.
 

Good morning Carlos and Sylvia. I'm a "me too" on your new picture Carlos. You've got a certain Matt Dillon Texas sheriff charm with the hat and the mustache.

Beto's lengthy spiel on alternative descriptions of lifestyle is one reason this telenovela is so much fun. Really creative verbal humor. And quick resolution of problems, in most cases, and no serious harm done...although I agree, Sylvia...I might have enjoyed seeing Jeri and Osky smashed to a pulp.

I suspect these telenovela writers in Mexico have studied American TV and movies to the max. I frequently see take-offs on some of my favorite comedy movies and thanks to Carlos' link to I Love Lucy, I'm noticing that effect also.
 

Judy: Your vocabulary list (and dicho) was simply spectacular. I'm also in awe of how you managed to capture all the phrases. Amazing. Wonderful recap of an interesting and slightly different episode.

Thoroughly enjoyed "miniature macho male" "muchacha mayhem" and my favorite "Connie has the hots for Beto (and evidently no olfactory senses). Excellent!

I'm so happy you brought up the shoe issue! Grief makes us do strange things. True story - I worked for a woman years ago who was in crisis mode. One day, upon entering the office, she sat down to change her shoes. However, she proceeded to put the first shoe on the wrong foot. Not wanting her to be embarrasssed and scared she might be too upset to notice, I gently pulled the shoe off and urged her to go home and rest (which thankfully she did).

Several unusual low lights - Nieves' attack on and very hard slap of Estrealla and of course, the contemptible Rolu. Bullies. Blech...

Carlos, I also enjoyed the sticking out of and pulling of tongues. So third grade but good fun. Great picture!

Sylvia, I also laughed when Jerry and Oscar got hit. Their facial expressions were priceless. Lorenza finally got something right! :)

Diana in MA
 

Diana...so glad that grief-stricken colleague had you to understand her (without words) and gently send her home to rest. I remember when I was going through my marital crisis, I lost credit cards, drivers' licenses and probably wore mismatched shoes to boot! One is literally crazy for a time.

Rolu is an absolute swine. But the actor is terrifically handsome. Would be nice to see those sexy dark looks in a galan role. We can but hope.

I found Nieves' attack especially gratuitous given that Estrella had recently defended her when Andy and his thugs were roughing her up and raising her blood pressure. How soon she forgot Estrella's kindness!

There was no way I could catch all Beto's spiel on the fly but after the automatic recording switched off at 10 pm I was able to rewind the tape and write down a few more. It was quite a spiel.
 

I also was very perturbed at Nieves' outburst against Estrella. As you say, she of all people should not be spewing bile toward Estrella. However it seems like she has always had something against Estrella. Maybe it's that weird thing that happens when one sees oneself in another person and one doesn't like what one sees. (Did that sentence just make sense?) Anyway, good for Moni for sticking up for her friend. She and Pau looked truly distressed at Estrella's departure.

Ladies, interesting comments on the effects of grief, thank you for sharing.
 

Hey Sylvia, your comment about Nieves and Estrella made perfect sense. I believe the "in" word now is "projection". Heck, I know I still do it a lot. Just didn't know the code name.

One can really get in trouble with one's kids...seeing your defects carried on in your children is no fun...for them or for you!

My favorite Al-Anon saying is "Mind your own business". If I keep working on myself, I don't have time to criticize anyone else. I'm a full-time job, alas!
 

It's funny you mentioning one's traits showing up in one's kids. Last weekend a friend was telling me how his dad drives him crazier the older he gets and I popped off half-joking "That must mean you're becoming more and more like him." He admitted it was absolutely true, this led to a big discussion amongst the group on this very topic. We all agreed there are some things we just can't escape. Seems like the harder we run away the closer we get to it.
 

Whoa Sylvia...you were lucky your friend didn't get mad. Some people are very defensive. However, I've often admired your people skills and I'm sure you found a way to say it that allowed him to be honest about it.

From what I've seen, you're an always supportive friend with a light touch. Wish they'd made more of that make and model! There's not enough of you in the world.
 

Although this show certainly doesn't require or even invite over-analysis of the characters, I think that Nieves is actually more frustrated with Moni and Beto than she is with Estrella. Although I agree that she probably sees herself reflected in Estrella and doesn't approve of what she sees.Once when I was reproaching my daughter she came backwith,"Well you know I'm just like you!" All too true.

Carlos
 

Carlos, I love those little family stories. Here is mine...My aunt is very feisty and her youngest son is just like her. She claims she was a hellion as a kid and my cousin Stan (after two very calm older brothers) was her payback. I’ll never forget one time when he was a teen they were having it out and (to our horror) he called her a bitch. “Well I guess that makes you a son of a bitch,” she snapped back, not missing a beat. My cousin was very chagrined as we all burst out laughing.
 

Thanks Judy, for another terrific recap, and tons of great euphemisms. There was a lot of action in the show last night.

Again, I noticed that Regina's pink car had no ads, cluing us in that she's a bad guy. So fun to have Paulina from Tontas back so soon as a troublemaker!

I laughed when Paula was disguised as her twin brother Rogelio, and Gabi pointed out that she forgot the rest of the disguise (she was still wearing her dress and the little racoon tail she always twirls!

It's also interesting that Connie said Paula doesn't even wax her lip (I didn't hear that part, but Judy pointed it out), and later, Moni rips off Paula's mustache. Problem solved.
 

Ah, female mustaches. Some use a depilatory, some wax. I've never had one, thank gawd but one of my daughters, who's beautiful, inherited a slight mustache from her paternal grandmother and is very careful to have it removed on a regular basis. Of course females are waxing and shaving where I would have never thought to! Glad my dating days are over.

Carlos, love that family story. Yours too Sylvia. Parenthood is very humbling.
 

Thanks for the recap Judy and as Diana noted all the great vocabulary. I think you and Sylvia are spot on about Nieves's attitude toward Estrella. It was always irksome to me that Nieves kept making comments about E when we found out she had no idea who Beto's father was.

I also loved seeing Jeri and Oscar get mowed down. Their expression were priceless and it's the type of cartoon justice this novela enjoys. Will this be the end for Lorenza?

Good observation about Regina, Hombre.

Thanks everyone for sharing the family and grief stories.
 

Hi Karen. Good to hear from you. Is I.U. about to start up again? We're already getting reams of articles in the Dispatch about football.

The family and grief stories are always interesting because sometimes we can relate to those better than the madcap shenigans we all enjoy on Gancho.

What I love about this particular line is we often get deliciously "off topic"....and nobody seems to mind.

Now go Bucks!(Sorry, couldn''t help myself)

And BTW,on MEPS did you catch the comparison of Fernanda's chair slinging with Bobby Knight's famous performance? The legend lives on.
 

It was so good to see that Pau (now Regina) has recovered completely from her fall down the elevator shaft and is now driving race cars. She's looking good. I'm hoping for an unholy alliance between Moni and Connie. Poor Mao (who I think still has some leftover effects from his head injury) is certainly no match for the two of them in tandem.

This show has been going on for a while now and, so far, still shows no indication of bogging down or getting stale.

Carlos
 

What makes this show great is that it doesn't really depend on plot progression; the jokes are always fresh. There's no "Juan's lines, Sofia's lines" sort of thing just because we need to kill a few months.

Another thing that makes it great is that the recappers are so awesome.
 

Well hey, Julia. Aren't you nice! Sometimes it seems like we're talking to ourselves though.

Was just thinking that we had the most diversity of reader/viewers (at least who commented) when we were doing Querida Enemiga. And that was a novela that sorely tested my ability to withstand wicked deeds.

However your Carlota surpasses all the wicked women I've seen so far. Don't know how you and the crew stand it. But you have a nice cadre of people who are loving the show in spite of the daily horror of it all.

+ + +
Carlos...I agree. It's fun to see Paulina again, renamed Regina. Hard to imagine Connie and Moni as partners but stranger things have happened.
 

Julia, thank you! The feeling is mutual.
 

Hey Judy. Yes classes start up in about 10 days. I've also been on a mini-sabbatical so I'm kinda sad to see summer go.

Yes I did see the comparison of Fer's chair throw to Bobby Knight and I did think of you. But she had the advantage of wheels on her chair, poor Bobby just had a folding chair.

And I too love how we drift off topic. The recappers (and commenters) are all great people and have had really interesting experiences.
 

Judy, on QE we also had Chef Hawt. That was a major draw right there. No such fortune on ENDA.
 

So true, Julia. How could I forget Chef Hawt?

But we also had several male commenters...Anonymous #1 and Mark who seemed drawn by our wicked heroine, I guess...not sure.

It's possible also that some people just are drawn by drama. I'm more in the mood for humor at the end of the day. There's enough drama in my daily life, thank you very much!
 

Actually, I prefer the humor, too. I can handle ENDA for a few months but if the show following that is as dark, I'll have to take a break from recapping or switch to something else.

Regina should be a saucy addition to the mix here. You just can't have too many crazy and/or desperate women going after the protagonist. Is it just my selective memory, or do most novelas have some seriously nutso women trying to snag the galán, while the protagonista's also-ran suitors are usually more nice and normal, just not THE ONE?
 

Hmmm...I'll have to think about that, Julia. Your memory may be selective but mine is just plain hazy.

However I DO like the addition of Regina to the mix. She's definitely going to jazz things up! Mauricio is cute, but Lordy, he's so DENSE.
 

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