Caray, Caray!

Yeah, sorry, I'm going to sort of phone in another recap, since it's the holidays and I'm really stressed out and busy. I hope to provide at least some decent screencaps later. And fill in the blanks.

Here's the recap summary (bulleted list) based on memory. Hope to flesh it out later, and don't hesitate to correct me on anything I miss or get wrong!

First, a screenshot (MORE TO COME I HOPE!)

Big Angel prays for Nikki's safe return.

EVENTS SUMMARIZED AND MAY BE OUT OF ORDER.

* Nikki and Kendra get kidnapped by slimy kidnappers. They are thrown into a nasty room with only a ripped, stained mattress in one corner. Nikki is totally freaking, because of course it's "real" to her. Kendra is pretending to be freaked, but she's not, really. One of the creepy kidnappers is sliming up to poor Nikki and caressing her legs, and strongly implying that he's gonna rape her. Kendra seems to want to avoid that happening to Nikki, and distracts the kidnappers by saying she's got to go to the bathroom. As soon as she's been taken out of their filthy "cell," she demands that her hands be untied, and she's around when the kidnappers (eventually) call the parents with kidnapping demands. (Two million dollars, and don't call the cops!) By the end of the episode, Nikki has "bonded" with her new best friend, Kendra, saying that they'll be tied together forever through their mutual suffering through this ordeal. Oh blech. I hope for severe karmageddon for Kendra and Salsa-dude for doing all of this.


* It takes a while for the household to figure out that Nikki is AWOL. Vicki first starts looking, then the bodyguards. Nothing. Meanwhile the police have found the abandoned car of Kendra and come to the house. They approach Big Angel and give him Nikki's purse. The whole household (except for Salsa-dude) are put into turmoil at this news. Vicki is beside herself with distress and dismay—lots of screaming and big fat wet tears—but somehow is always clear-headed enough to not blame the bodyguards for this. (Nelson is all about blaming the bodyguards, though he also bitches about Nikki being so irresponsible. Well, he's not wrong about Nikki who was not taking the kidnapping risk seriously!) Vicki says that she cannot lose the most important thing in her life: her daughter.

* Meanwhile, at Big Angel's and Christina's apartment, they're having a lovely dinner with Guzmancito and Beatriz. Guzmancito is helping Lily put up the curtains, but there is a mishap and we have a moment of sexual tension as Guzmancito loses his balance and falls on top of Lily. She looks like she is totally into being in that position, but it's hard to read Guzmancito's feelings. He gets a phone call about Nikki being kidnapped. He is beyond impactado. Very stricken. He leaves immediately without explaining why—just that "a friend" is in trouble and he needs to go help.

* Paula is visited by Christina, who is trilling about her great guests (Beatriz and Guzmancito) and she is eager for Paula to meet them! Christina has come to ask about borrowing some tools (for the errant curtain rod) and Paula is super-uncomfortable and is able to beg off and tells Paula that some the super would have the tools. Christina seems oblivious to Paula's discomfort and hesitation.

* Christina has a nice chat with Beatriz where she says that she always wanted to give Big Angel a lot of kids, but somehow she never could have any more after Lily. But that's okay, Lily is the light of their life. Happy happy happy. They both look forward to Big Angel returning on Sunday. Lily (who is of course unaware of the kidnapping distress going on at the estate) wonders what dad's doing right now. Probably deep asleep, says Christina. Then she says to herself (with a steely look) that he'd BETTER be asleep!

* Thomasina, who is fast becoming my favorite character in this novela, is standing up to the Turkish dude. She demands to be treated like a lady! And hey, don't treat us as if we are lying or have no honor, dammit! Polita has arrived with the other check (which looks like 23,000 pesos) and all of that is signed over the Turkish guy. (Amusing scene with the two thugs carrying in a very short Polita, holding her up between them so her feet don't touch the ground.) Check is given to Turkish dude, Thomasina and Felipe are free to leave. Turkish guy is obviously taken with Thomasina, who gives him her "expert" opinion as an aficionado of the Chinese Horoscope. She gives her analysis of Turkish dude's qualities, which seems to please him. Looks like she's got two different guys (neither which are great catches—just saying) interested in her! Turkish dude kisses her hand s-l-o-w-l-y. Yikes.

* When Felipe and Thomasina go to the estate, Thomasina bids Felipe goodbye and tells him his "lucky" numbers (per Horoscope). You're enabling him Thomasina! Stop! Anyway, Guzmancito is surprised to see his dad at the estate. Dad is surprised by Guzmancito's current gig being at this estate. Blah blah blah. When Thomasina (and Polita) find out about Nikki's kidnapping, they are very distressed, especially Thomasina, who always considered Nikki the "daughter I never had." Both Thomasina and Vicki bond and try to comfort each other in their distress.

* The kidnappers call with a demand for 2 million dollars. No cops or the girls are killed! Earlier Big Angel had advised calling the authorities, but Salsa-dude nixed that, saying that the authorities only screw things up. Viewerville is given the impression that Salsa-dude is just feeding the fears of these hysterical parents, and that the authorities really wouldn't be a bad idea. But when the kidnappers say no cops, Salsa-dude gives Big Angel the stink-eye, as if "I TOLD you so!"

* Paula is wanting more from Anibal. Probably the same old same old. I missed some of this. Anibal tries to mollify her by telling her to take that art history class that interested her. It's not enough for her, though.

* The bodyguards (with the exception of Salsa-dude) are all impactado about Nikki's kidnapping. Guzmancito looks green around the gills and very impactado (almost to the point of tears, it seemed to me) at times. A lot of this is his professional guilt, I am sure, but I suspect there is some personal feeling in there too. Big Angel prays to God to bring back Nikki to her parents. He says how much he loves his daughter and has understood (I think because of the house fire that almost took Lily) how dear a child is. Tears stream down his cheeks as he prays for Nikki's safe return. Awww, Big Angel, how can we not love you?

* Vicki is crying and distressed. Vows to make the kidnappers pay someday. Says she won't go to bed until she gets Nikki back. Nelson is a turd and bitches about Vicki. (Something about how he can't sleep if she's not asleep, for fear that she'll make a bone-headed decision behind his back?) Big Angel hears all of this and mutters disgust over what a pig Nelson is.

AVANCES: Nikki gets the gun away from the kidnappers somehow. Looks very intense. Must see TV!