Caray, Caray!

Friday: MariVicky insists she doesn’t want Eman to kiss her, and that he’s out of bounds anyway because her best friend Marianela - ta DUM! - still loves him.

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Muñeca and Brandon have arrived home to her place, and she thanks him for dinner and for bringing her home, but he got on her nerves wanting to talk about the Lirio the whole time. She insists that neither Fidel nor Eman are connected to the Lirio in any way, and isn’t Brandon maybe just a weensy bit obsessed about the whole thing, and isn’t maybe, just maybe, his attraction to Ilitia is influencing the direction of his investigation? He catches her meaning and says he’s not doing it out of jealousy of Eman, he’s too professional for that. Muñeca smiles that passion can make people do stupid stuff (the telenovelas plots sure are proof of that).

Well, look who comes waltzing in! It’s Ilitia back from Paree already, saying she jumped on the first plane home so she could be with her beloved. I’m dying to be in his arms, she says, scratching her scalp idly. She wonders what Brandon is doing at her folks’ house so late. Work, sez he, and then he asks why, if she misses said beloved so much, did she come straight home to her mama’s?

Because she wanted to bathe and pretty up for him after the flight, assures him. No need, says Brandon, because your beloved is off on a trip with Vicky. Muñeca, who has been watching this exchange with amusement, winces.

Back to the soggy hacienda! Instead of being ecstatic about the “she still loves you” news, Eman is fried. He says Mari never would even tell him face to face if she loved him, or if she hated him. And after he thought he’d never again feel for any woman what he felt for Mari, he’s feeling it now for Vicky. Destiny! he declares. No use fighting it!

But MV slips away, reminding him that he’s married, and no way is she going to be somebody’s lover. Forget it!

Zip! We’re back at the big house. What’s wrong? clueless Emil asks Bernardo, who, as we recall, has materialized in the living room where Gretel was just about to tell her father about her uncle’s unscheduled flight over the balcony rail lo, these many years ago. You look like you’ve seen a ghost, says Emil. Bernardo solicitously replies that he and Fedra were so worried about Gretel, but here she is. Eman notices that his daughter is looking pale, and Bernardo helpfully suggests that maybe she’s about to have one of her crises. Gretel, horrified, wants to bolt.

Emil holds on to her, reassuring her that he won’t let anybody harm her, but she runs out, terrified. Bernardo says he has some matters to attend to, but Emil barks that he’s not going anywhere.

Hacienda again. MariVicky is lying in bed, smiling, remembering the red-hot kisses between the red-hot sheets of the agency soundstage. She hears something go bump in the night and lights a candle and peers out the window. She shrieks, then screams for Eman.

Big house: Bernardo oozes that he always has cared so much for the kids, ever since they were young. Emil rages at him that he saw the look of terror on Gretel’s face, and he needs to realize that Emil knows that he and Fedra kept her caged like an animal for two years. Bernardo explains that Gretel was having a breakdown, and besides she was about to marry that loser policeman.

Emil explodes that nothing he’s saying justifies what they did to her, and he’s the one who decides what’s best for his children. If it had been up to him, Bernardo would have been fired years ago. Bernardo curls a lip slightly and tells him too bad that his firing is something Emil would have to consult with his wife about.

Emil grabs him by the lapels and growls that from now on, Bernardo better step gingerly (andar con pies de plomo, lit. walk with lead feet) because if Emil finds out that he’s laid a finger on any of his kids, he’ll kill him. He imprisoned your daughter, Emil, kill him now! Aw, no such luck. Instead, he gives him a little shove for emphasis and stomps off which leaves Bernardo free to do some thoughtbubbling: What if you knew that this child that you’re defending so hard is not even yours?

Hacienda: Mari is cowering in bed, the fire-spitting professional woman reduced to a hysterical ninny, and Eman has arrived with a flashlight. Eeky shrieky it’s a terrible animal! she says, pointing, and, following her finger, we see a small, wet monkey cowering against the wall. Eman tells her not to scream or run or it’ll turn savage, but to hold very still, to hug him really close. She does, legs and all, and he tells her to notice how the little thing has calmed down.

Big house: Bernardo enters Fedra’s bedroom and when she spots him, she’s overcome. She runs over and hugs him, though he doesn’t hug back, and says she was so afraid she’d lost him forever. Really? You were worried about me? he asks. Pouting for maximum effect, she tells him she was afraid he’d gone off to Veracruz to die like Chemo. Don’t ever leave me like he did! It’ll kill me. Bernardo scoffs that she doesn’t care if he lives or dies. She swears that she was ready to tell Tiburon to go looking under every rock to find him.

Bernardo’s sure that she could always comfort herself with her lover. Don’t even mention him, that cheating rat! she says. I caught him messing with Kristel. Instead of looking gleeful, Bernardo presses his lips together in disgust.

Our little Kristel is joining Lower than Low Lorenzo in a fancy restaurant, where he flutters around her. He’s worried about Fedra’s reaction to having seen them, and Kristel says she was too, but it worked out great because Fedra moved up her wedding date with Mau. Lorenzo protests that she just did it to break up what he and she have together.

Whoa, “easy, calm down” says Kristel in her hip top-model wannabe English. There’s nothing between us, but I really appreciate how you’ve helped me with my modeling. You’re just jealous of my “baby boo” because he has somebody so hot. She’s all cheery and suggests that they “move on” with their lives. Lorenzo kneels tableside and holds her hand, and says he wants to know how he can see her, so they can develop what’s growing between them. She throws cold water on that idea, so he asks her why she came to dinner. She tells that first, she wanted to thank him for his help, and second, she wants him to know that outside of work, there’s nothing between them. She skeedaddles out, he chasing after. He’s left with a waiter staring at him and two customers having a giggle at his expense.

Back to B&F, BFFs: Bernardo is ready to go kill Lorenzo, but Fedra tells him to leave it to her. Bernardo explodes that she would let him live after he’s drooled all over her daughter. Fedra tells him it’s her business, and she’ll decide what happens, and when it all stops.

Then she wants to know where he was all that time and why he left without saying anything. He tells her about Oliver and Mano knocking him out, about the cellar and the rats, and that Max helped, and that it’s Gretel getting her revenge. She’s insane! (desquiciada, lit. unhinged).

Fedra wonders how he got out, and he mentions Nereida, but says that’s not important. The important thing is that Gretel was here talking to Emil. Fedra is sure Gretel will tear her eyes out. They have to do something!

Hacienda: Eman now has the little monkey sitting in his hand. MariVicky is squealing like there’s a spider the size of a dinner plate in the room. Eman pulls her leg a little bit about the fierce animals out there and puts the little guy out of the window. MV begs him to close the window and clings to him in fear. Mari did better with the giant snake, for heaven’s sake.

Big house: Bernardo tells Fedra that Emil and Gretel were talking about the past, and if he hadn’t appeared when he did, Gretel probably would have told Emil about how Luis Felipe met his untimely end. Looks like Fedra has lost control of her. Fedra starts scheming. They have to think of something that will mark her for life, so that she’ll have to keep her mouth shut.

Bernardo suggests telling Gretel the truth and Fedra flutters her eyelashes, pretending not to understand. Bernardo grasps her shoulders and tells her Gretel is Maximo’s and Paula’s bastard (Fedra weakly protests she never knew) and, leaning over her all wild-eyed, he hisses that she never told him, never trusted in him, that she always put him below that Lorenzo Lopez. This is what he saved her life for? She’s an ingrate, and he ought to have let her fry in that ship and then end up at the bottom of the sea.

Fedra wriggles loose, but he grabs her again. Emil doesn’t know, huh? And he doesn’t know that Eman is Jose Maria Sevilla’s son either, does he? What else are you hiding from me? Axel and Kristel could be Lorenzo’s! He gives her a shake. Fedra, loose again, waggles a finger and tells him he’ll regret it.

Your poor husband says Bernardo. What all he doesn’t know about his children! Emil has walked in, and says he wants to hear about it now.

Hacienda: MariVicky has the flashlight now and Eman has nailed the window shut, saying he’ll protect her with his superpowers. Look! It peed on me, he says, holding his hand out for her to sniff. He leaves, teasing her and she tries to fall asleep, but hears more sounds. She grabs the bedding and flees downstairs where Eman offers to sleep in the bed while she stays downstairs, but no, she’s afraid to be alone.

Big house: Out with it, says Emil. Bernardo tells him that they were just chatting about Gretel, and how she was there. Fedra adds that she was sorry she wasn’t there to see her. Emil frostily asks Bernardo to leave.

Alone with Fedra now, he reproaches her, saying that his own daughter had to sneak into her home just to see him and talk to him. Fedra in turn reproaches him for letting her go, since she’s not right in the head. He growls that Gretel isn’t insane.

Fedra, as usual going on the offense, says she’s deeply offended, that he’s very judgmental, that he never let her explain her actions, and that everything she’s done has been for her children and for him. He swears to her that when he has enough proof to uncover her lies, he’s going to put her out in the street. He leaves and she proclaims that nobody is going to throw her out of her house.

Vicky thinks maybe Eman could sleep on the floor (too damp, he says), or in the chair (too hard), and he says the only way is for them both to sleep in the hammock. Finally, after a lot of back and forth, she agrees if he promises to turn his back to her. She climbs in and he tells her back to back won’t work in a hammock. He puts his arm around her and they sway peacefully.

When Eman wakes in the morning, MV is gone, but the little monkey is there. Eman finds a note stuck into the hammock which tells him that MV is off scouting locations.

Back in Mexico City, Ilitia is leaving a cranky message on Eman’s cell. Her mother tells her not to talk to him that way, but Ilitia’s mad that she’s been calling him all night and his cell is turned off.

Just then Brandon walks in with a cup of tea for Muñeca. Ilitia is shocked that he’s there, but her mother reminds her that they’re under a round- the-clock watch. Ilitia thinks he ought to do his watching outside, not in the house. She tries Eman’s cell again, then sniffs that she’s sure Vicky planned the whole thing and that he’s cheating on her.

Doris and Jorge are having morning coffee in what looks like a hotel lobby. Jorge’s been trying to reach Eman all morning, but no luck. However, both think it’s a good sign that the sun is out again, and they hope they can get over the bridge and start their shoot, which I hope is an indoor one, as it’s going to be a muddy mass of broken limbs outside.

In the background, we see Andre giving some lady a goodbye kiss, then he joins Jorge and Doris, who rolls her eyes. He tells her it’s her fault, she rejected him last night. She tells him he better watch out for his health, sleeping with strangers. He laughs and says if he dies, he has a great makeup artist, hahaha. Sleazebag.

Ilitia tells her mama that she’s going to go find Eman, since no man is trustworthy, one short skirt and they’re babbling idiots. Muñeca tells her not to offend Brandon, who is still standing there. Ilitia is sure that he’s dying of jealousy because he’s hot for the little Spaniard. Brandon, giving the knife a little twist, says that it’s not that she’s gorgeous, a major babe, it’s who she is inside, her big heart. Plus she’s not bipolar. He jumps a bit away.

Ilitia comes after him, and Muñeca has to step between them. They decide not to fight and Ilitia calls her dad at work and asks him where Eman might be. He tells her about them being at the Ruiz y de Teresa hacienda, so she says she’s going to head right over. Lorenzo tells her that Vicky’s out to get Eman, and she has to save her marriage.

Lor’s secretary lets in Hinojosa, the accountant, a properly balding and serious-looking fellow, who tells Lor that he transferred the money into Lor’s personal account, but this time he’s going to have trouble covering it up because it’s such a large amount. Lor isn’t worried, he’s been doing these transfers for years and nobody’s ever noticed. Hinojosa tells him it’s different now that Vicky has taken over. Lor says she’s not here right now, and he needs the money for an investment he’s doing with Fedra. He’ll make his wad and return the money and no one will be the wiser.

Hacienda exterior, so exterior that the hacienda itself is not in sight. There’s Eman looking around at the scenery and thinking it’s just right for a shoot, and sure enough, it doesn’t look like it’s rained enough to wash out a bridge. Not a puddle in sight, the trees all nice and dry. He is able to reach Jorge who tells him the bridge is still out and they’re going to see if they can get a truck to get them and the gear across.

Five nanoseconds at the big house: Max takes Bernardo some breakfast but finds hysterical bondage queen Nereida instead.

Eman calls to Vicky – where has she gotten to? He goes looking in the woods, and near the river he sees an undergarment on a branch. Oh boy! Could she be swimming nude, he wonders. He takes a deep sniff of the undergarment and wonders why he’s so attracted to her. Sometimes he feels like he’s known her all his life, other times she seems so distant. He thinks a few lustful thoughts. He goes searching to see if she’s swimming in the river.

Bernardo has brought Fedra tea, and she wonders where Nereida is. Bernardo tells her he’s given her time to think over her priorities, and that she tried to control him and he wouldn’t have it. Fedra thinks that’s what you get messing with a servant. She says she realizes Bernardo is right, the way to shut Gretel up is to tell her the truth about her parentage, and she’ll tell her herself. Bernardo thinks Gretel will be relieved to find out she’s not related to Fedra, and Fedra, not the least insulted, is sure that relief will evaporate when she finds out that if she opens her mouth, Paula gets it.

Down by the riverside: Eman spots MariVicky swimming in the river in her bikini and snaps a few shots of her. She notices him and is embarrassed, but he persuades her to smile, telling her that she looks like a goddess. Her face lights up and he shoots some more. He walks into the water fully dressed and they end up in a passionate embrace, but not before we get a real eyeful of her fabulous figure.

Fedra is flopped on her bed, sweeping the last drops of tea out of her cup with her finger, then licking it off. Bernardo, half on the bed, is near her and they are plotting about how Gretel has to know that Paula is at their mercy. Bernardo points out that first they have to find Gretel so Fedra can tell her, but Fedra thinks that’s easy – just find Oliver and he’ll lead them to her. Bernardo says he’ll take care of the policeman, and Fedra can take care of Mano.

Bernardo wonders if Paula knows that Gretel is her child, and Fedra tells him of course not, and it needs to stay that way. They have to get Paula away from the general somehow. Bernardo says he’ll take care of it.

Max hasn’t untied Nereida, who is sobbing while he demands to know where Bernardo is. She wails that he tied her up and escaped. Serves you right, says Max, for invading my territory. I ought to leave you tied up for working with the enemy, he says, but finally he unties her.

He helps her into his room, not closing the door to keep the fearless rats out, and we are treated to an eyeful of her incredible figure too. This is a banner night for our male viewers, who have hit the jackpot, and maybe for us ladies too, who toast the TV screen, remembering when our stomachs were that flat. Max sits her on the bed, and puts his arm around her, telling her to take heart. Of course just then Paula comes in with his tray which she drops in horror.

Paula flees and Max tries to follow her, but of course he never leaves his cellar. Agoraphobia can really put a crimp in a romance. He covers Nereida with a sheet and orders her to run up and tell Paula the whole truth.

Bernardo encounters Nereida on the stairs and grabs hold of her angrily. She tells him she has to go tell Paula that she wasn’t doing anything with Max. Bernardo tells her he wanted her to see who’s boss and what he’s capable of. From now on she has to do everything he says if she wants to get her privileges in the house back. She’s to give Paula the impression that she spent the night with Max. You’re insane! she spits.

Want to spend the night with the rats again? Obey, or I can do things so bad you’ll wish you were dead. He gives her a rough kiss on the cheek. Got it?

More necking in the river, some very nice views of MV’s pert and perfect behind, and MV breathlessly asks Eman where all this is leading. To the end of the world, he says. More gushy lovetalk, more kissing. She’s been dreaming of this moment, she tells him. I have something very important to tell you! But he can’t quit kissing her to listen to any breaking news.

Oops, the shirt is coming off. In place of the usual waterfall, we have a bit of tumbling river water in the background, and, avert your eyes if you’re the shy type, close-ups of skin and gropey caresses and big sloppy kisses.


Avances: Brandon is driving Ilitia to the hacienda. We see them kissing! Marianela sits Eman down to tell him the truth, namely that Marianela is here. She doesn’t define “here” at least not in this snippet.

Labels: llena