Caray, Caray!

Tonight is a night of confused familial ties. We have mothers who aren't mothers, mummies who aren't mommies, fathers who wanna be, sons that do and don't, confused daughters, reluctant in-laws and a whole slew of yet-to-be-defined family members searching for their places at the table. Let's begin...


Moni falls for more Isabull "I'm your ma and I had to protect you". Mami te quiero. Blech! Moni starts planning the homecoming, ma will stay with her. Honestly, I don't see Isa being happy packed like a sardine into the barrio but time will tell.

Nieves, looking stern in her pink bunny earrings (I think that's what they are), gives Marcos a piece of her mind. Moni always had a mom and dad in her, he lost the opportunity, get out of her life forever.

Moni worries about Estrella but Isa doesn't want to give up center stage and tearfully whines until Moni agrees to stay by her side. She adds a little "auch" and squirms her injured arm a bit so as to appear truly pathetic. Gah!

Jero has brought Aldo to a wooded area. This change of plan is creeping Aldo out and the sight of Oscar dragging Estrella into the clearing under gunpoint doesn't make him feel any better. He bravely tells Oscar to lower the gun so that Estrella can run into his arms.

Mientras tanto, Mauricio is at the mummy's tomb frantically trying to get a hold of Aldo or maybe Jero, I'm not sure. Jacqui says Jero is stupid and ambitious but he's not homicidal. Mau points out the danger is with his friend Oscar. Just then the mummy shows up and Mau gets all up in her face about not monitoring the kids appropriately. Did she know that Estrella is expecting Aldo's baby? The kid is missing and if anything happens to him then she will pay the consequences! It was funny to see Coni look so shocked about the news.

Back in the woods Estrella tells Jero that Oski tried to shoot La Monita. Now Jero is concerned and he puts his hands protectively on Aldo's shoulders.

Coni doesn't care a cumin seed what happens to the little brat Aldo. It's Mau's fault Aldo's hanging around with that tramp because Mau himself set a bad example. Jacqui disagrees, Coni is responsible for the kids. Coni responds that they know full well all her spare time is taken up with boxing. (Oh, there's an excuse for the courts!) And since she's the lady of the house Mau has to leave right now. Mau sniffs in disgust and heads in to see the girls.

Mau finds them in their room upset about Aldo. Aldo sends Dani off on an errand so he can try to console Luisa. Yes, Aldo is missing and in danger. Poor Luisa, I know she's worried but she's an awful whiner. "Find Aldo, we hate the Mummy, get us out of this house right now!" Mau correctly tells her to suck it up for the sake of her little sister. Luisa whines in overdrive.

Oski is still waving that pesky gun around. Jero, although he stands with Aldo, is safely back a couple of feet just in case. Oski continues to threaten Aldo about staying out of his business and Estre keeps interrupting that Monita knows nothing, she just answered the phone. More threatening, more pointing the gun at Aldo's nose, more feeble protests from Jeronimo. Oski threatens Aldo that for the sake of his kid and his own life he'd better keep his mouth shut. Aldo agrees (like he has a choice), Oski gives it a rest, and Estrella is once again royally POed at her little cub. Throughout all of this Aldo's got a death grip on his legal papers which are no doubt soaked by palm sweat.

Ready for something a little less serious? I am too. Let's visit those wacky brothers Klunder. Rolu is in his chair telling Arni that "they" have to do something about Ximena, she got home very late last night. "We?" asks Arni, reminding Rolu that Ximena is Rolu's wife, not his. Our adorable trasnochadora (night owl) skips down the stairs right on cue and announces she's a bit depri (depressed). Arni immediately asks if there is anything he can do to help. Rolu posessively grabs her hand and asserts that HE is her husband so HE will help.

Wow, Luisa is now whining at hypersonic Mach 10. I'm sorry but I had to mute this. OK, the sound is back on and Mau is trying to reason with her. She needs to be patient and have confidence in him. So far he's been pretty dismal at protecting the kids but for some reason she believes him and her hug is her vote of confidence. His face however, not so confident.

Xime tells Arni directly (ignoring Rolu) that she's depressed because her favorite couple is having problems. She always thought that Mau Tse Tung and the Monkey are the example that true love exists. Rolu gives solace a shot, THEY are the perfect couple and their marriage proves that love conquers all. "Ya think?" she skeptically asks as Arni rolls his eyes. Xime's had enough and announces she's going back up to try to sleep. Rolu insists on his goodnight kiss and Aldo watches disapprovingly. After a long kiss Rolu asks doesn't she feel better? "No" she squeaks with a pout. Arni's glee is held captive in a slight eyebrow twitch and a subtly smug smile to himself.

Upstairs, Xime consoles herself with a carton of ice cream that matches her jammies. She shovels in a big spoonful and hears a knock on the door. "Whh ivvv ivvv?" she asks, holding her frozen brain. Que sorpresa, it's Arni with a cup of tea to make her feel better. And it does, the gay sensibility is super, she says, he's a real queen. She pets his hand, igniting the fire within. She comments the tea is so hot he must be trying to shut her up. No, he loves everything she says. Really? Even the three things? Oh yes, everything.

Aldo, wearing a dark grey suit and pink tie that matches Estrella's outfit, runs after her. She's furious, how could he endanger them by hanging out with that murderer? He shot Monita's mama! Aldo says he didn't know what Oski did, anyway nothing happened and they're fine, can they get married now? He gives her a big kiss and presses his point with just a little whine or two thrown in. He wants to get married today, OK? He takes her hand and leads her toward their destiny.

Xime carries on about Arni's gay sensitivity. More eye rolling from him, he says he's not... Xime interrupts, does he think she and Rolu are soul mates? He says he can't answer because with true love it doesn't matter what others think but rather what you feel. When you truly love someone you accept them with all their attributes and defects, you can share absolutely everything with them and the two complement each other. Xime is impressed, tenderly takes his hand and thinks he sounds just like Rolu's letters to her, but Arni says all the words were Rolando's not his. (She looks a little sad.) She says three things: one, Rolu was never a romantic, at least with her; two, Lalu is the luckiest guy in the world (more eye rolling from Arni); and three, look, he let her hold his hand all this time and he didn't hop around once! Poor Arni slides off the bed and dashes out of the room leaving our Ximena with cara impactada.

Over at the hospital Alicia annoys Isa by plumping her pillow and Moni is still preoccupied about Estre because she can't reach anyone by phone.

Arni's a busy guy tonight. Lalo is over at the house enjoying a romantic dinner for two. Correction, they are at each end of the table dividied by Rolu and Xime who are sitting together in the middle. Rolu whips out his latest love letter which Xime sets aside so the meat doesn't get cold. Lalu make a wisecrack that the only cold meat there is her husband's. (Good one Lalu!!) It turns out Lalu also ate a litre of ice cream today, two in fact, and it's all Arni's fault.

The four Borrachos, Beto, Cesar, Chris and Tano, finally stumble over to the neighborhood and encounter the wrath of the ladies who are still spun out about Oski pulling a gun and running off with Estrella. Chris slurs that he'll go right now to the police station, Paula salutes and goes with, they grab Tano on their way out.

Back at the dinner-for-four Rolando has gotten loud and spouts off that Arni is timid because he's never been kissed. This is enough to prompt Lalu our picaresque predator to poise himself for a pursuit around the table. Arni uses his napkin as a shield and it's a flaccid defense indeed.

Beto and Cesar want to go with Nieves to check on Monita. Nieves refuses to let Cesar go but he insists. He understands how she feels but the important thing right now is Monita and Estrella. Well, OK but he can't say one word. Cesar agrees and stumbles out with his churlish chocolatita (bomboncita envinado). Please writers, these two HAVE to end up together. Oh, and they are color coordinated again, hoorah!

What Lalu has in enthusiasm he lacks in finesse; it looks like our timid titmouse has flown the coop and Lalu is breathless with the wasted effort. Time out - Ximena looks spectacular tonight in her slim black slacks and sequined single-sleeved top; wow!! Back to the story, Xime assures Lalu it's just that Arni is afraid of germs and infection, that's why he flees from the kiss. Xime insists she's going to help; Lalu says if she can get Arni to loosen up (aflojar which also means "put out", possibly explaining Xime's reaction) he'll be her slave forever.

Eager Aldo and his surly Star arrive at the judge's in the nick of time. Where are their witnesses? What? Estrella suggests running back for Paula and one of the others. Nice try but Aldo doesn't want to delay. Luckily the judge's employees can fill the bill. OK, now Estrella has to go to the bathroom and she promises to be right back. The judge looks doubtful.

Arnie sneaks back into the house, is it safe? Xime wants to tell him three things. Una, Arnie has to overcome his fears or he will never be happy with Lalu or any other man. The first step to overcoming any problem is to recognize it exists...

Alicia and Moni ask the doctor when can Isabel get outof the hospital. Good news, he'll release her right now as soon as Monita signs the required paperwork. Nieves, Cesar and Beto arrive and Moni becomes defensive and angry when they want "to talk" to her about her mother.

...Dos, Xime is going to help him overcome his fear of touching people. Is Xime going to let Arni's tirade about a million germs and infirmities dissuade her? Nopis! Because the third thing is love, Lalu is his soul twin and love conquers all. Arni and Lalu have to get together so she can believe in love again. She scoots over and puts her arm around him. Xime announces she's going to teach Arni to kiss. Arni says it's not proper, she's his sis-in-law. Oh but it IS allright because he's gay so it will be like a kiss among friends. She tells him to shut his eyes and she gives him a soft kiss on the lips. She smiles triumphantly as he opens his eyes, smiles...and faints. Arnie? Arnie? Ay no no!

The judge recites the vows while Estrella keeps looking over her shoulder. "Do you Aldo accept as your wife Estrella Falcón?" "Claro que si." "Estrella Falcón... ('Actriz!' she pipes up)...Actriz, accept as your husband Aldo Hernandez?" Just as it seems she can't delay any longer the door bursts open and in rushes Mau to stop the show.

We know how this next scene is going to unfold, Aldo tells Mau to butt out, they're going to get marrried. Mau insists it's not going to happen because Aldo is too young. The judge surprises Mau by telling him Aldo brought papers signed by Coni allowing him to marry. Aldo tells Estrella to hurry up and answer. Estrella admits she called Mau to come and stop the wedding, she doesn't want to get married.

Monita has a day's worth of pent up fear and anger seething below the surface and our volcanic vixen is about to blow her stack. How can they possibly doubt Isabel's love? She took a bullet for her! Nothing the three say can calm the enraged Monita and she tells them to beat it. Nieves says that she, Nieves Ochoa is Monita's mother, not that woman who abandoned her. Monita corrects her, SHE, the woman in that bed is her mother, "No usted".

Aldo pleads with Estrella who mentions that Oscar threatened her. Mau is "Que the hell did Oscar do to you?" Aldo wants a chance to make things right by marrying Estrella and he begs her to think of their child. Mau tries to intervene as Aldo's father and Aldo uses the cruelest weapon in his arsenal, "You can't give me orders because you're not my father!"

Mañana: Another kiss, another faint, Estrella's in trouble.

Labels: gancho