Caray, Caray!

Monita is making last minute preparations for her upcoming defense of her Nacional Bantamweight title when she looks up to find that she has been joined by Coni (who as usual, looks great in a simple print dress and tan blazer). Where is security? (Moni by the way is once again pretty in pink with matching gloves, her hair pulled back in a loose single braid). Moni is all set to get it on and circles the trainer's table with fists raised. Uh oh, Coni is packing heat...well, sorta. She quickly counters by whipping out a can of bug-spray, oh wait, make that pepper-spray. SECURITY! They then engage in an unpleasant conversation regarding the two of them, Mao, and the children. Moni offers to let go of Mauricio for the release of the children. OK, that and convince Mao to marry Coni. Moni refuses and Coni gives the MACE a little warning pfft. SECURITY! Moni orders Coni to leave, and as she turns to leave she says to Moni whose back is now to her, "Monita!" Monita wheels around, "Whadayawant!" She aims the spray at Moni's eyes and blasts her with it. Shoulda called security, Monita. It's getting harder and harder to support Coni, cute as she might be.

Moni drops to her knees clutching her face as Coni walks out, running into Beto just outside the dressing room door. He is surprised but delighted to see her. She has been looking for him. She tells him that she's going away for awhile. He doesn't want her to go. She removes her jacket (must be getting warm in here) and they indulge in urgent, fervent, furtive kisses. She then presents Beto with airline tickets. The plane leaves at midnight. She's going with or without him. He's going to Nueva York! With Coni!

Meantras tanto, Sal is busy hiring a PI to find Mauricio's kids. Done, he turns to Gabi who reminds him that they are going to Moni's fight. As he turns he suddenly becomes vertiginous and spots a gigantic tarantula on Gabi's right shoulder. Looks like Loriloca's drugging of Sal is succeeding. My guess, belladonna, old fashioned but reliable and effective. He points it out to Gabi who is frightened until she sees for herself there is no spider. She scolds him for a lousy joke, but he insists. She humors him. Phone rings. It's Mao. She reminds him of Moni's fight then tells him that she's worried about Sal and the effect that all this stress is having on him, he's seeing tarantulas and Constanza isn't even there.

Back in Moni's dressing room, Estrella is helping Moni, gloves off for the moment, rinse her eyes. Careful of the makeup, ladies. Like everyone else she thought that Coni was out of the city. Estrella applies drops to Moni's eyes while suggesting that Moni tell don Cesar. Moni won't hear of it. "No, he would cancel the fight." Well I would hope.

At ringside Nieves is sitting next to Alicia who does not seem thrilled to be seated next to the young monkey wrangler on the other side with said monkey decked out in a pink monkey jacket. Nieves jumps up, thrusting a large plush bear she was clutching into Alicia's lap. In the aisle she talks with Beto who informs her that he has found work up north, in Gringolandia, and will be leaving right now. He asks for her blessing and they end up blessing each other before he leaves. She is distraught.

Ivan is preparing Teresa a little snack when Granny Teri walks in. She has gotten bored lying in bed and wants to call Coni's and speak with the kids. He tries to hurry her off to bed but she balks, "Tell me the truth about what's going on." He does. She is stunned to hear that Coni has taken off with the kids.

At the reformatory, Dani and Luisa are seated together at a group table as Aldo is ushered in by Dr. Phil (well he looks like Dr. Phil). Dani hops up yo greet him but is detained by a more cautious Luisa. The wicked wardeness strolls over and greets him with a word of caution as he seats himself at the boys' table. She retreats and to Dani's delight, he makes a face. "¡Silenco!" growls the evil educator.

Up in the ring now, Moni seems to be holding her own, even though her vision is markedly blurred. (Coni, you scamp.) Oops, I spoke too soon. She is really not able to focus on her opponent who lands a telling blow almost knocking Moni down just before the bell ending the round. (Coni, you rat!) In her corner her handlers, especially don Cesar are concerned and apprehensive. She insists that she is OK. Hey, check her eyes.

Back at Stow-A-Stray, Luisa and Dani lag behind the march to their room and there is no guard bringing up the rear. The elusive Aldo detours them into a classroom for a group-hug.

Back in the ring things are not going well for our little monkey. She is struggling to focus and flailing wildly. There is a cut above her right eye. Why doesn't Cesar throw in the towel, or the referee stop this? Oh and great, Pretty Boy is just now showing up. Get a bigger watch! Moni is standing flatfooted and defenseless, her opponent delivers a brutal, possibly fatal uppercut to the chin and down goes Moni in a limp lifeless heap. I told you guys to stop the fight.

"... ocho, nueve, fuera!" The referee counts over the unhearing pink mass on the canvass. Confetti spills from the sky, but this time it's not for our Monita. The ring physician (we recognize him by the helpless stethoscope draped around his neck) shines a Penlite at her unseeing eyes.

We peek in on the kids in the classroom. The femsibs tell Aldo that Dani spoke with Mao on the telephone but was caught, and besides, she doesn't even know where they are. Aldo reckons that Mao must be going nuts looking for them. Hugs. He checks the hall, all clear, and sends them to bed. Kind of an unfruitful meeting considering the chances taken, but I have faith in the resourcefulness of the kiddos.

Monita is wheeled out of the arena accompanied by Mau,medicos, and medical attendants. Her entourage delays enough for Nieves to wail, for Estrella to claim blame, and for Sal to astutely observe that she received a strong blow to the head rendering her unconscious. Well at least he didn't see spiders crawling over her. Cesar knows very well what a blow like that can do. Yes, well why didn't you stop it when you saw how helpless she was?

Aldo is stealthily trying to creep back to his room but is nabbed by the plaid-clad dragon lady. Dang.

At the hospital, is a matter of consoling and being consoled. Cesar for Nieves, Cristian for Estre and Pau, Sal and Gabi for Mau. Well here's the Dr. let's hear what he has to say. "¡Coma!" Chilling in English and Spanish, and viewer's sentence to tedium for the foreseeable future. "Valentina may come to in a couple of days or a couple of months, or... never." Drat! For the record, Moni has a brain contusion...actual bruising. More serious than a concussion, less severe than a laceration (tear). Definitely not a good thing.

Aldo is returned to the punishment room. Since a night didn't improve his attitude, perhaps a week will help. Bwahaha!

The Dr is still conferring with Moni's concerned groupies. Estrella is especially rough on the Dr. but is rebuffed by the others. He understands her exasperation. Cristian asks, "In a coma? Like a plant needing to be watered everyday?" He is promptly shushed. Estrella turns on herself for not stopping Moni after her encounter with la Momia. Mau wants to know what Coni has to do with this. Estre only knows that Moni had trouble seeing after a spat with Coni during which Coni sprayed a gas into Moni's eyes. "Ya really shoulda told me! Estrella," Cesar complains. "I'm going to see Monita, " Mao asserts.

At Ximy's apartment, Jero's sharing a well-deserved toast of the riddance of Ximena with his bosom buddy, Oscar. The doorbell rings and Jero wecomes two slim attractive scantily clad blondes. He dubs them Constancia and Valentina. He wants to be flagellated. What a sportsman. Oscar excuses himself (so both of these are for Jero?). They seat him on the sofa and proceed to undress him.

Moni, meanwhile is occupied by keeping up a steady, oddly reassuring beep on the cardiac monitor. Mauricio enters, kneels at her bedside, leans over her face and pulling down his surgical mask so we can view his sparkling teeth, tells her once again how much he needs her. Now pull that mask back up, Buster.

Jero is now in his shirt and boxers and blindfolded with his tie. He's enjoying the attention as one of the lovelies gets up and opens the door for Oscar and some other guys. Oscar has brought rope (mecate) and as the ladies proceed to tie Jero up (amarrar), the other men begin emptying the apartment. Jero suggests that they call him cowboy. Oscar joins in the fun by gently whipping Jero with a length of rope. Then, (and this I must condemn) he wraps it around Jero's neck and playfully but menacingly pretends to choke him. (OK, maybe I'll make an exception in Jero's case.) Even Jero mildly protests this. Then, the apartment stripped, they exit leaving Jero tied up on the couch, blindfolded, wondering where the girls have gone.

Gabi's talking at Sal so rapidly that even he has trouble understanding her. She is insisting that something must be done about Coni. His head is about to explode (estallar) (don't forget, he's been poisoned). She suggests that since they are in the hospital, he should get checked. No, all he needs is an analgesic... and her silence. Cristian offers to get coffee for the remaining Amigas, and Nieves and Alicia engage in a petty squabble over whom is deserving of Moni's affection and who should go in to see her first. Cesar reminds them where they are. While they argue, Estre and Pau go in to see Moni, effectively replacing Mao. They, in contrast, keep their masks up. As Mao, they too are wearing blue paper gowns and the nifty type of paper surgical caps, not the dorky net shower caps. Of course all three have bountiful tresses flowing out from under the caps thus negating the intended purpose, but it does look cooler, and I see no reason for Moni to be in isolation in the first place. They give the same type of bedside speeches as Mao offering encouragement and support (dang I hate comas in these shows) as they each hold a hand.

Mao is peering through the window. Sal takes him by the arm, Mao blubbers about how he already is suffering from his loss and will miss her little misdeeds and his capuchino. Sal tries to reassure him and tells him to buck up.

Estre and Pau are still standing watch over Monita as Alicia, Nieves, and Cesar enter the room. Nieves and Alicia continue their bickering and Cesar, even in the dimly lit room still is wearing dark shades. Monita please wake up! This is turning into a telenovela. Estrella exhorts the two older ladies to behave. Jeez I hate this. Nieves wimpers her little bedside speech and is joined by Alicia in the maudlin outpourings followed by Cesar who calls her a warrior. Next! Mercifully, Moni is deaf to all of this. The downside... we are not.

Before they leave Gabi and Sal offer their support and concern, Gabi gives him a sweet peck on the cheek (gee, I bet she smells nice), Sal gives him a manly hug (I doubt that he smells nearly so good), and they leave him with his thoughts.

Lost in those thoughts he is interrupted by Cristian who offers consoling encouraging words. Moni doesn't look so bad. He's seen much worse, and then he proceeds to describe an example of a woman with her brain crushed (apachurrado) in an accident. Thanks for that, Cristian. He does add that the love that Mao and Moni share may result in a miracle. That's a little better.

The rest emerge, Nieves tries to send Mao on his way, Alicia on the otherhand thinks that his presence is good medicine. Estrella rescues Mao and she and Pau escort him back to Moni's room stationing themselves at the door. Cristian, with a little nudge by Paula, reminds the rest that they are misbehaving in an hospital and gently but firmly escorts them out. Back to the 'hood with these rowdy nacos!

Alone with Moni, Mauricio kneels at her bedside once again and kisses her cheek, "Monita, my love, I implore you, don't leave me. I love you with my entire soul and I need for you to get well. I can't live without you. If you leave, I want to go with you."

Carlos

Labels: gancho

Permalink posted by Carlos @ 10:36 PM