Caray, Caray!

Friday: Vicky once again tells Netty and Doris how Eman broke Mari’s heart. Hablablabla, we’ve heard it all a million times before. Muñeca throws Lorenzo’s sorry hiney out of the house, out of the business, out of the back account and out of her heart. Ilitia, holding Christian and watching, looks only a tiny bit sad.



Fedra raves to Bernardo about how la gorda is taking over the business, and after that it’ll be the house, and then everything. He tells her he’ll take care of Mari, but Fedra says his services won’t be needed this time, Lorenzo’s going to take care of it. Bernardo is livid, saying he promised she’d always been the queen and he’s never let her down. Fedra reminds him of his previous flops as a murderer, then tells him that not only is Lorenzo a god in bed, he’s better at taking care of her little issues, so she probably won’t be needing him (Bernardo) anymore. Bernardo, having been told that he’s a little gun guy and Lorenzo is a big gun guy, storms out. Fedra grins.

We’re at Muñeca’s. Okay, I’ll go, says Lorenzo, whipping off his neck brace with a flourish, then wincing, but I’m taking my son. Muñeca tells him no, and Ilitia wants to know if he’s going to use force to rip Christian from her arms. Lorenzo, wounded, says he could never lay a hand on her, or on Muñeca, but we know he has no qualms about bloodying people verbally, and sure enough he points out that Muñeca isn’t even Ilitia’s mother, nor Christian’s either because she couldn’t give him any children.

Ilitia says she’s a lot prouder of Muñeca than she is of her daddy, and he better not try to take Christian out of her arms. Lorenzo implores she’s what he loves most in the world. Ilitia, a little too saintly for belief, asks him what he’s waiting for… time to go. He leaves and Ilitia assures her mother everything is going to be okay. They hug.

Oliver comes into a luxury apartment that has a whiff of bordello décor to it, wondering where his date is. Oh, there she is! Or at least her leg, which she slowly waves seductively in the doorway. The rest of her makes an entrance, and it’s La Sirena de la Noche, in a smaller mask, but otherwise a costume similar to what is all the rage on the stage at La Mala Noche. She slinks against him, saying she wants him all night. The champagne bottle he’s holding pops and foams over. I’m not even touching that one…

Eman and Fidel are talking outdoors, Eman furious that the fake Lirio is giving the real Lirio a bad name. Fidel thinks the police are smart enough to figure that out, but what worries him is that they suspect that the real Lirio is a Ruiz y de Teresa. They both want to get the fake Lirio, and Eman points out that the fake Lirio knew exactly what he was looking for and exactly where to go to get it. Who tipped him off? Fidel explains the history of the cash’s wanderings from hand to hand and how it must be the money the real Lirio stole from Mauricio originally. Eman notes that the lirio the fake Lirio left behind was the same one they are using, so it had to be someone who the real Lirio had robbed before, none other than Mauricio!

Muñeca and Ilitia are alone in the living room, Christian having been put to bed. Muñeca asks Ilitia if it’s really true what she said, that she is proud of her. Ilitia, tears in her eyes, says she used to judge her harshly before she found out what it was like to have your husband always thinking of someone else. It’s hell. Muñeca says she would give anything so that Ilitia didn’t have to live through that, and Ilitia says she’s ashamed to say she always swore to herself that she didn’t want to be like her mother.. and now look. They both wipe each other’s tears.

Ilitia actually cares enough to ask if the experience with the (fake) Lirio was awful, and if she’s okay. Muñeca tells how the Lirio was cruel, and how embarrassing it was to be tied up half naked. Ilitia remarks that she was shocked when she was with Brandon and heard. Muñeca is surprised she was with Brandon, but Ilitia assures her she’s taking just self-defense lessons from him. Muñeca advises her against hanging out with Brandon because it could turn into something more, they both know it, wink wink, nudge nudge. Ilitia protests that she’s not some wild animal with no brain. Muñeca says when it comes to passion, we’re all animals. Better not to see him anymore if she wants to save her marriage.

At home, Eman insists Fedra talk to him, and he asks if she’s a murderer. Fedra fakes being shocked, saying that Netty is her worst enemy, and is just jealous because she lost Emil. Eman isn’t buying. How could you? She accuses him of switching teams, that he said he wanted to be her accomplice getting Mari’s money, and then he turns around and gives her a huge chunk of it. Duh, says Eman, I thought it was obvious that I lied to you to find out if you were trying to hurt Mari, because she’s the love of my life. Fedra accuses him of being a traitor, to which he replies that if Mari comes back and it’s all true, he’s going to be the first person dialing the police.

At the pension, Doris is combing MariVicky’s now long locks. MV raves about what she’s done with it, but face it, MV, it’s just straight hair. MV is plenty glad to get shut of the wig and so are the people in hair and makeup I’m betting, since those braids under the wig must’ve been a lot of work. Me, I liked her look with the wig better. It was perkier and not so droopy. Anyway, Doris leaves, and Consuelo comes in and demands to know what’s up between MV and Brandon. She sniffs something fake about MV and no way is going to let her hurt him. She’s in love with him, so paws off. MV says that Brandon just thinks of Consuelo as a friend (ouch! but true), so maybe Consuelo should be talking to him. Consuelo swears she’s gonna unmask MV. MV blows her off.

Ilitia comes by Brandon’s office and says she has to stop her lessons. She gives him heartfelt thanks, but says it’s best if she’s not around him. He wants to know why – is it maybe that her feelings for him are too strong? She smiles wistfully.

La Sirena is coming on hard to Oliver who wishes he could forget Gretel, but he just can’t. Gretel thoughtbubbles that it’s her, but she can’t tell for his own safety. She is very seductive and he gives in, wondering what it is that draws him to her. I don’t think most men would ask that question.

Fedra feels misjudged by Eman – the love of a mother is sacred, and everything she does is for her children. (Or to your children maybe, Fedra?) Like what you did to Gretel? Eman yells at her. And you’re a murderer! Eman suggests doing the right thing might be more important.

Fedra wonders if he really thinks she’s capable of murder. He asks if she really wants him to answer that. Fedra drags her wing, saying how could he think that way about her, his mother who brought him into the world and did everything for him, etc., boo hoo hoo hoo. Since he feels that way, she’d rather die.

Brandon tries to understand Ilitia and she tries to say that there’s nothing between them, so he wonders if that’s true, then why is she so scared of being around him. They banter gently, she saying that she could never fall in love with somebody so poor and uneducated, and he countering tenderly that he could never fall for somebody so frivolous and shallow. She smiles a small, sad smile.

Fedra is lying curled on her bed, hugging a pillow and bemoaning the pain of Eman turning on her. Bernardo comes in and is all concern to see her that way. Fedra explains that Eman betrayed her, telling her he was her accomplice while all along he was in love with la gorda. He believes I was poisoning her and he’ll send me to jail! Bernardo sits on the bed and puts his arm around her, telling her it breaks his heart to see her that way. She sobs that the one thing she can’t bear is losing Eman’s love, and it’s all Mari’s fault. She wants her dead! She stole her son!

Ilitia wants to make sure Brandon realizes this is goodbye. He sits at his desk and says he understands, and to close the door after she leaves. She lingers, saying it really and truly is goodbye, obviously hoping he will do something, which he does, getting up and saying she just can’t leave without one kiss.

While they’re kissing, we cut to Gretel and Oliver who are kissing too. She’s working her seduction for all she’s got, and finally he capitulates. He lunges in for a passionate embrace, and rips her mask off as he closes in for a big kiss. He gets a split second glimpse of her face, which stops him in his tracks. Gretel? he says, bewildered.

In the foyer of the pension, Doris and MV are having a secret chat. MV is sure that the robbery at the agency was meant to intimidate her. Doris warns her to be careful, and MV launches into her wrath against the R y deT. Doris speaks for us all when she tells her that she doesn’t recognize Mari any more, she’s so full of hatred. It’s going to destroy her. MV goes on about how she’s not going to rest until Fedra and Eman are ruined.

Just then Mauricio drops by with a bouquet of flowers. He admires her new ‘do, and invites her out to celebrate. She tells him not a chance, but he interrupts that he knows she hates Fedra and Eman, so he is at her service. Use me to get rid of them, he offers.

No thanks, says MV. He tries to persuade her that he’d be useful. She says she doesn’t want to kill anybody, she just wants to drive out a few rats in the family. That list includes Kristel and Mauricio himself, by the way, as they hurt Marianela. He swears that if she wants him to leave Kristel, he’d do that for her, and so much more. Really? she says. Would you leave Kristel standing at the altar the day of your wedding for me?

Cut to Kristel who is in front of a mirror in her wedding dress, wailing to a stylist that it’s not glamorous enough, she just has to have everything better than Ilitia. She can’t wait. Nothing is going to wreck her wedding day! It’s going to be the happiest day of her life!

Oliver throws his arms around Gretel and exclaims that she’s alive, but then he pulls back and says Wait a minute. Are you the same person who was dancing for me at that joint? Gretel asks him to let her explain. He thinks that she knew it was him at the club, that she set him up, and that she’s playing with him again just for fun. How many men have you had in your bedroom? How many have you kissed? She swears none. He tells her he spent two years in hell due to her. She protests that he’s the love of her life.

That’s not what you told me that day at your house. Your words are branded into my brain. I see now it’s all true. You’re not going to do it to me again! He grabs his jacket and heads out. She runs after him, but he tells her to leave him alone.

Ilitia shoves Brandon off and tells him that’s exactly why they can’t see each other. He tells her that what she feels inside is in there yelling, begging to be let out. He kisses her neck, telling her she drives him crazy. She smiles, then looks serious and pushes him away. He reminds her of the night they spent together, and she says she was drunk, it wasn’t the real her. He wonders if this is the real her, trembling in front of him, saying she wants to run away, but glued to the floor, wanting him to kiss her, to caress her, to desire her?

She pushes him away and says he’s a curse (maldicion) in her life. She leaves while he tells her te quiero and begs her not to leave him.

MV tells Mauricio if he leaves Kristel at the altar, she’ll be real nice to him. He says if that’s what she wants, that’s what he’ll do, stupidly forgetting Garduño. He kisses her hands. She doesn’t want anybody suspecting, so he’ll have to wait. He says he will, and, smiling his most smarmy smile, he vanishes.

Netty comes and exclaims over MV’s hair. (Nobody seems amazed it’s about a foot longer. Now I know men assume that transformations are the magic of women, and can happen at any time, but women themselves usually want to look behind the curtain.) Not so Netty, who just says she doesn’t care for Mauricio. MV says she doesn’t either and wonders if he’s the Lirio, which makes Netty laugh. MV is surprised she’s laughing – does she know who the Lirio really is?

Lorenzo’s at his bachelor pad, and unhappy Fedra drops in, the bounce completely gone from her step. She gloomily asks him to cheer her up because her son hates her. Ilitia hates me, too, he says, handing her a drink. They lean on one another back to back and sing a sad duet, lamenting, she saying that Eman wants to destroy her, and he that his princess has sided with her mother in throwing him out of the house.

We did everything for them, says Fedra, she even trying to get rid of la gorda so that her son could have the inheritance. Lorenzo swears that Muñeca won’t keep what is rightfully his. He didn’t stick with that awful woman for 20 years just to have her make off with everything. Fedra was stuck with Emil’s awful family, and did everything just for Eman, and now he’s betrayed her.

They turn and face one another and stare sadly at each other for a minute. Lorenzo! Fedra! They fall into a passionate kiss.

Netty tells MV that the Lirio is a good thief. MV kinds of gets it, and says every woman wants a man who’s presence makes her feel like she’s the only woman in the world. On cue, Eman wanders in, without knocking of course.

Oliver is drowning his sorrows in a bar and Mano comes in and sits next to him. He’s glad to see Mano and sobs that Gretel did it again, jerking him around. He swears that it’ll never happen again. He’s going to blot her out of his mind and his heart. Mano puts his arm around him.

MV gives Eman a frosty reception, but Netty tells her to talk to him, give him a chance. Even a coin (moneda) coin has two faces, she says, but I don’t have time to contemplate that intriguing observation. Netty leaves and MV informs Eman that it’s too late for her to receive guests. He says he came to find out how somebody tried to poison his gordita.

A tiny Axel/Delicia scene just to placate us: Axel has made Delicia an elegant dinner with his own hands, and tells her it’s just the two of them and to forget them world. They kiss. We gratefully scarf up this crumb.

MV doesn’t believe for a second that Eman didn’t know about the poisoning. He tells her of course he didn’t, and she doesn’t understand because she’s all dried up inside and doesn’t know what love is.

So why didn’t you save her? MV wants to know. If it hadn’t been for Tia Carlota, she’d be dead. Eman protests that he tried to protect her, and doesn’t seem to notice that it’s a bit odd that tears are running down MV’s cheeks, that’s she’s waaaay to much into this. She calls him the usual, hypocrite, etc.

Mauricio tells Kristel he wants to move the wedding up to tomorrow because he’s so crazy about her, he can’t wait. She squeals with joy. Then she realizes she still needs a to do a lot of stuff for the giant celebration and tomorrow is too soon. No, he can’t wait to be married, to sleep every night in her arms. She bounces and squeaks. She can’t believe how he was mister single guy who didn’t want to marry and now he’s done an about face. He says he had doubts, but now he’s sure she’s the woman he wants to spend the rest of his life with. She throws her arms around him and says they’ll marry whenever he wants to.

MV, really coming unglued, rants on about how Eman destroyed Mari, how he tried to kill her, etc. He denies as usual, and she grabs his shirt and yells at him that he’s a murderer, that the poison was in the chocolates that he gave Mari. He’s astonished. You succeeded all right, she says, because your gordita hermosa is dead.

Avances: Mari is furious that Eman is taking off on a trip with Ilitia (who is looking like a much better bet than Mari right now). We see the tropical vacation with kisses. Lorenzo, bent on revenge, is in the rafters of the sound stage, and drops a huge light, which is headed Mari’s way. Look out! yells Doris.

Labels: llena