Caray, Caray!

Well gang, tonight you're at the mercy of a disappointed Dr. Carlos and I'll tell you right up front, after a rather exciting week, nothing... and I mean nothing of any note or importance happens tonight. No dead cats, no jailhouse assaults, no cockfight in the parlor... nopis. Hints of things to come, but for tonight... nada. Tonight we get to see Marianela eat her fruits and veggies (the girl is anemic! She needs red meat, for goodness sake). So if your time will be better served by flossing the hamster or bathing the goldfish... then by all means...

So let's see if we can get through this as painlessly as possible. Oddly we pick up with a soused Emiliano conferring with a prickly Maximo. Sylvia covered this very nicely last night so being the lazy old fart that I am, I'm going to borrow her eloquence to get us started:

He has a very hard time spitting out what he wants to say but he finally manages to grunt out his question, was there something between Fedra and his brother Luis-Felipe? Brandon and Emanuel huff and puff at each other. Brandon is incensed when Mari asks him to leave the room. He tells Eman that for every tear he causes Mari, Brandon will collect it back in Eman’s blood. Max tells Emiliano how dare he soil his brother’s memory with such a question. Luis-Felipe was always deeply in love with Eva. Max says yes, LP was interested in Fedra, but only because he was investigating her to find out who she really is. Mari and Emanuel make up and he apologizes for causing her such sadness because he was a dumba** for not telling her his plan. She says she wanted to die. Eman tells her that if she dies he wants to die right behind her. They gaze at each other.

Thanks Sylvia.

An edgy Lorenzo is interrogating a put upon Flora about the whereabouts of the rest of his family. She has no idea where they might be and her expression suggests that it's not her highest priority. He tells her to shut up and get back to work. He fitfully pours himself a drink (Famous Grouse Scotch would be my guess) as he remembers a happier time frolicking with his son, the late (well, so he thinks) Cristian, in the park.

The kid is no judge of character because he seemed quite content in the hands of this psychopath.

Meintras tanto, his significant other is at the naco dorm looking for his other significant other, Begoña. She strolls in the always open front door and inquires of Netty and Gladiola if Brandon Moreno lives here. They look at her suspiciously. "Yes, he's my son," offers Gladiola. Muñeca introduces herself, "Camila Rivero," and tells them that Brandon had told her that Begoña lives there as well. They tell her that she did, but left suddenly for Italy and they haven't heard from her since. "Strange." At this moment Brandon pops in and happily greets Muñeca with a kiss to the consternation of the other women.

He walks her out, promising to let her know if they hear from Begoña. Well, good luck with that, I believe their resident clairvoyant has moved out. Brandon returns with a worried look...or maybe it's a touch of gas.

Now I've mentioned that I'm something of an Ilitia fan but I find her outfit a bit strange and confusing. She is in Manny's room getting a little seduction set up and is wearing a very sheer black nighty but, I guess out of some sense of modesty, she has on underneath purple bra and panties , detracting from the intended and desired effect. Of course these days our nightime fashion tends to be flannel or cotton knit, so what would I know about such things? Like a lusty lioness she paces the room and literally marks her territory. "Don't wanna wait for the Caribe beach. All's fair in love and war," she purrs as she fill the room with her spoor.

Turns out that Brandon is irked that Emanuel entered Mari's room, "by climbing the wall like a fly and crawling through the window like a rat." This sends an agitated Netty flying up the stairs just as Oliver shlumps in looking as though his best girl just dumped him... oh, that's right, she did. This is one dejected detective. "I saw Gretel. She's at her parents' house. She never cared for me."

Back in the wine cellar with Fedra and Bernardo, Gretel has learned that her mom is not completely reliable. She thinks that her compliance with Fedra's demands merits more consideration but... think again sweetie. For her trouble and pleading, she is treated to a sedating injection from a syringe

which her mommy has thoughtfully kept warmly nestled between those impressive bubis. As Gretel starts to melt to the floor Fedra gives her a couple of motherly kisses, picks up her bottle of wine and she and Bernardo leave Gretel alone to contemplate the impressive wine collection with which she shares the cellar.

In Mari's room, Netty metastasizes all over a stammering Manny, castigating him for treating Mari miserably, sneaking into her room uninvited, and mostly for having ever been born. Mari listens passively and finally the Eman gets in a word. If he can't get Mari to eat, he'll leave... forever. Since either result would suit her desires, she hesitantly agrees.

Our lusty lioness has settled onto Manny's bed to await her prey. Deciding to rehearse a bit, she picks up a pillow and asks it for a kiss. She must not have noticed that this is the Brandon pillow, but as soon as she kisses it she recognizes her well-tanned policeman, tosses him off the bed, and orders him out of her pretty little head.

She looks around to see if anyone noticed. Cute, very funny scene.

Under Netty's protective gaze Emanuel, like a mother titmouse, is coaxing bites of fresh produce into Mari's reluctant beak. This chubby little bird is anemic, Manny, some nice juicy worms or crispy grasshoppers would do more good. She needs some meat. He looks to Netty after a tiny morsel of broccoli is successfully delivered. She nods approval. He beams as he announces that he is spending the night, sleeping on the floor, of course. Netty wrestles with this, finally conceding to herself that this is Mari's only hope of survival. Oh, por favor. More food, and I swear I'm not making this up, it's WHITE RICE! Now all she needs is a sip of TEA and she will have consumed all of our Dr. Judy's essential food groups... Next!

Downstairs, Oliver is giving Brandon a play by play of his visit with Gretel. We were there to experience it with him...so...Next!

Netty shares good news and bad news with Brandon. The good: Marinela's eating. The bad: Emanuel is feeding. Our cocky cop focuses on the bad and wants to evict Manny. Netty thinks they should let him stay... at least until Mari improves...

Back upstairs, Mari has cleaned her plate and we are overdosed with cute. He hands her the ugly doll (a lame token of her daddy's affection) says he's jealous of the doll (I know, I know, it's making my teeth hurt), then sits on the bed and starts taking off his shoes...

Not so fast cowboy... she directs him to the couch where he snuggles a couple of purple pillows. Mari smiles that cloying smile of hers (you know the one) and thinks:

"I love yo Emanuel, with every minute that passes I love you more and I don't know if it's a mistake to believe you but I can't, I can't, I don't want to doubt you."

He wrinkles his nose...


NEXT!

At Castle Creep it must be morning because Nereida has brought Cristal breakfast and the sun is shining. Nereida listens as Cristal tells her of Ilitia's indictment of Mauricio. Now litia is no fan of Orangeboy but is even less fond of Ilitia. She suggests that maybe it was just the reverse... perhaps Ilitia attacked the Jaundiced One. She calls her a mátalas callando (?). She says that her abuela says, "Amigo el ratón del queso y sin embargo, se lo come (the mouse may be a friend of the cheese, nevertheless , he eats it )."

Said mouse wakes up in Manny's bed... no Manny... cause for concern?

Max is still outraged at Emiliano for even thinking that his brother might betray him with Fedra and shares his ire with Paula

who is now worried about Gretel since Oliver told her that she is no longer in the nut house. You mean she wasn't worried while she was there? Max observes that Paula is partial to Gretel. She explains that it's because she came along at the same time they lost their daughter. Hmmm.

Upstairs on the main floor, Fedra has good news for Emiliano. After pondering it all night long she has decided to forgive him for bumping the little cars with that needy spinster, Netty, and give him another chance. Surprisingly Emiliano is not yearning for forgiveness, much less another chance. In fact, he'd prefer a divorce. Hmmm, and Fedra was thinking more along the lines of a romantic trip to Paris.

Folks are up at Naco Central and someone has brought Mari breakfast... a bowl of fruit. I don't see a lot of iron in that bowl. Manny did spend the night which appears to have been good for Mari but rough on his back. A cheery Netty waltzes in, notes improvement in Mari and gently kicks Manny out, "I'll take over here, why don't you have breakfast downstairs?... before you... go home. He doesn't put up a struggle but seeing Mari's anemic breakfast, opts to catch a bite on the street. He gives Mari a sweet kiss under the watchful eye of an impatient Netty

who times the kiss, breaks it up, and kicks him out. "You look so much better." "All because of Emanuel. I love him, I love him, I love him!" Netty understands, but tells her that she can never be happy with him, "...as long as Fedra Curiel is alive."

Emiliano doesn't want Fedra to make one of her little scenes this morning. Fedra does... and does. She begins summoning the entire family at the top of her lungs. Axel arrives first then Delicia, Nereida, and Benigno. "Where is Cristal? Where is Gretel? Where is Emanuel?" "Well, Cristal is locked in her room,"Nereida reminds her. I guess she forgot that Gretel is locked in the wine cellar... ummm... in Switzerland. She is not thrilled to learn from Benigno that Manny didn't come home last night. Nereida escorts a drowsy Cristal down the staircase. She then dramatically announces to all those rounded up, "I have news for you. Your father asked me for a divorce!"

Lorenzo is visiting the crime lord, Garduño, in the big house. He wants to know why his baby ended up dead and he wants those responsible punished. Señor G calmly explains that it was an unfortunate accident and besides he is after all the crime lord and makes the important decisions, like who gets killed, himself. Lo should be grateful that he's out of jail. As consolation, he is sending a goddess to, "... distract your thoughts." Well, if you insist...

At home, as Muñica eats her breakfast, Flora fills her in, "El Señor was very annoyed when he arrived home last night and was up and gone early this morning." "Just as well..." Muñeca doesn't want to see him. Ilitia went to spend the night with her BFF, Cristal (well, sort of), and there's a precious new baby boy at la Casa Hogar. Muñeca plans to drop by and meet him this afternoon.

Frick and Frack, the bald and the bearded toadies responsible for the Cristian cockup have apparently tentatively located the little guy and are parked in the street outside la Casa Hogar.

The Ruiz y de Teresa family meeting is going rather well. Axel and Cristal prefer the status quo. They back Fedra. Emanuel wanders in and Emiliano fills him in, "I'm going to divorce your mother." "Oh my heaven."

Netty, aware now that Manny and Mari (hmmm Em&M) are not related, is pointing out the downside to Emanuel, in a word... "Fedra." She leaves Mari with that thought. Mari decides to punish the ugly doll and begins bashing its little head against her extra-firm mattress. Predictably it bursts open revealing what appear to be paper towels from a service station restroom. Someone has written on them so she sits down to read. It's the results of the investigation her father made of Fedra.

Meanwhile the family meeting continues. Emiliano has yet to find a sympathetic ear. The entire family turns on him. Cristal is shocked over the thing with Netty. Manny is especially harsh. Emiliano sees that everyone is against him but hopes that someday they will understand. Understandably, Axel, who has understood nothing since the show began, says that he will never understand. Understood? "You see? You're destroying this family." Emiliano thinks it'd be best if he talked with Fedra alone. The kids split. Fedra is crushed, but recovers quickly. "Forget the the divorce," she hisses, "I'm not going to make it that easy for you." They are interrupted by a knock on the door. A white flag, followed by a cowering Benigno, cautiously enters. The General requests a meeting with Fedra in the basement.

Mari furtively fingers her father's Fedra file and is once again recalling that fateful day that she discovered his crumpled broken body outside his office window and his final gasp, "the silver lily." It's all clear to her now, he meant for her to look inside the doll. Qué? Somebody help me out here. How do we get from silver lily to look inside the doll? Yet as brilliant as she is she still wonders why he put the papers in the doll. "Did he know that he was going to die? Did he want me to know the truth about Fedra?"

Let's see what Gretel thinks. Lying in an empty hot tub curiously cut into the floor of the wine cellar she remembers with greater clarity than ever that fateful day. Ill advisedly, Mari's dad showed Fedra the copy of the results of his investigation as he hit the high points:

"Juana Felipe Pérez was a prostitute from the port of Veracruz, concubine of a smuggler named José Maria Sevilla (known as Chema). She became pregnant before disappearing in a mysterious fire on the high seas. The ship's name was el Lirio de Plata."

"You are that woman."

Gretel, now fully alert, snaps to, " It's she, it's she! Fedra es Juana Felipa Pérez. Dios mio, no."

Brandon counsels Oliver that in time he will forget the pretty girl (la chava). Oliver doesn't think so but he's trying to concentrate on work.

Speaking of work, the latest intelligence from Caiman is that Mauricio has bonded with Garduño and an effort is being made to spring Mauricio.

Under white flag, Benigno ushers Ferdrainto General Maximo's headquarters. Both she and the general are unarmed. He offers her a seat. She tells him that Emiliano has asked for a divorce, but rather than be a divorcee, she'd prefer to be a widow. Maximo really doesn't want to be involved but warns her that Emiliano wants her out of his life. "Maybe the one widowed will be him and not you." She responds, "There's no room for doubt, you are completely insane." Well, what he really wants to know is, "...where is Gretel, and don't bother telling me she is in Switzerland because I won't believe that lie even for a second."

As if to remind us, join Gretel in the wine cellar,

"Dios mio, yes Fedra is Juana Felipa Pérez." She wants out. She wants to kill Fedra. (I think a line is starting to form for that.) She kicks the door, "¡Asesina, Asesina! You are a murderer, Juana Felipa Pérez!"

Fedra notes that Maianela was always Maximo's favorite. Why the sudden interest in Gretel? He tells her that it's none of her business but at least the Ruiz y de Teresa blood flows through her veins and the same can't be said for Emanuel. "You were pregnant before you met Emiliano." She denies this and says that Emanuel is Emiliano's child. Then she surprisingly ups the ante, "...but Gretel is not. Nor is she my daughter." "What are you talking about? Then whose daughter is she?" "Ask your sister, Carlota."

Actually General, just sit there for a moment and do the math. He does just that. "¡No puede ser!" Benigno returns. The general wants his pistol. The general loads his pistol. Benigno worries, "What are you going to do?"

Manny stumbles into his room, sits on his bed, and begins to undress. The bathroom door cracks open, "Baby." Surprise, it's Ilitia. "What are you doing here?" She gets right to the point, "My body needs yours, Baby." She kisses him. He wrinkles his nose, but not in that happy way.

Muñeca arrives at Crazy Casa looking for Fedra. Delicia shows her in. Fedra is glad to see her but Muñeca recoils as Fedra moves in to embrace her. As Cristal peers in from the hallway, Muñeca skips the small talk, "What's going on between you and my husband?"

Mari is puzzling over the pages her daddy left behind detailing the story of a 15 yr. old Veracruz hooker named Juana Felipa Pérez. "But what does this have to do with Fedra?" The anemia clearly has damaged her brain. Her critical thinking is interrupted by Netty bearing more food. Oh good, looks like a pork chop on her tray. She's curious and asks about the papers. Mari lies.

Ilitia clings to Manny like kudzu to an abandoned car. He caves and seems to be getting into it, "Marianela," he sighs.

Talk about a mood killer.

Fedra tells Muñeca that she is aware that Lo sleeps with any woman that crosses his path but hey... Muñeca insists but as Fedra complains that, "Yo soy una mujer digna (I'm a dignified woman)" they are joined by a loaded pistol wielded by an agitated Maximo,

"You don't know what dignity is!" Muñeca gapes, "¿Padrino?" Fedra is amused, "So the animal has decided to leave his cave?" He points the pistol, "I won't allow you to toy with something that is sacred to me." "¡Bernardo! ¡Emanuel! ¡Benigno! Someone come stop this lunatic!" "Arrabalera (riffraff) since you first arrived in this house you done nothing but sully the name Ruiz y de Teresa, but it's over. You are leaving here today! ¡Para siempre!"

Carlos

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