Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Mentir Para Vivir #68 Mon 1/13/14 Two sets of parents, not enough brain to go around




At the plant Ric has a meeting with a guy called Ismael, another one of the cotton workers representatives. He explains him that whatever promises Arte Folclor made, they won’t be able to keep them for long. Aresti Breton can’t give them the extra 30%, but they can pay an additional 15% for now and once a business with a Chinese company goes through, the salaries might increase some more. Ismael wants to remain with Aresti Breton because he trusts them and so do the rest of the workers; but they’re afraid that Serafino Gomez, their supervisor (cacique) will do something against them. Ismael suspects that Serafino has made a deal with Arte Folclor; he mentions how Ric’s brother, Sebas, works for AF and also, another guy, Antonio. Ric isn’t pleased with the news, but promises Ismael to talk with the police, ask for protection for the workers

Antonio is updating JL on the fact that the cotton workers are still on their paycheck, but Ric is trying to change their minds. JL tells Tony that Seb blabbed to Raquel about their actual business and that’s why he had Mike kill him. Tony is shocked, he didn’t agree to any murderous activities when they shook hands and started working together. JL basically tells him to stop whining and deal with it.
Tony looks scared shitless. 


Mike meets with Joaquin, tells him about JL’s orders and how some other guy got to Seb before him. J wonders if killing Zorro’s wife might not be the answer to their problems, but Mike doesn’t think this is a good idea: her family is very powerful, they might cause problems and, besides, the abuela is friends with Homero, J’s nemesis. Shouldn’t they maybe forget all about this operation?
No, imbecil, J screams.
Mike suggests removing JL from the situation. J isn’t down with that either (picky guy), or would Mike care to take JL’s place? Mike doesn’t think he has the abilities for such a job. All through this rather tense discussion he keeps a straight face, I wonder if this is a director’s decision, or the actor is just not that good. He’s a handsome lad (multiplied by a thousand), but can he act his future galan love scenes, while I blow kisses at him from my living room couch?

Oriana is telling Alina that she fell down the stairs at the mall and that’s how she got injured (proof that too much shopping will kill you). Ric calls her to say that she needs to meet the judge to talk about the adoption. Oriana reminds him she no longer wants to continue with this, so Ric explains her why they can’t do that.
One – they already filed the papers, if they change their minds now, it won’t look good.
Two – Alina is terrified by JL, she won’t want to live with him.
Three – Ori is supposed to spy, work at AF, do the dishes, wash JL’s socks, do her hair and make-up every day; who will take care of Alina in the meantime?
 (Huh? How about the millions of women who work full time? Who takes care of their kids? Aren’t these people rich enough to have a nanny? )
Oriana is convinced, she will talk to the judge; she thanks Ric for his help, he explains he’s only doing it because he luuvs her.

Joaquin receives a very prudent JL, who assures the boss that the cotton workers are on their side, even if they have to be paid double what Aresti Breton offered. (I thought it was only 30% more; is JL managing a con on the side?  When does he have the time?) JL further explains how he micromanaged everything, without ever being seen and then he expresses his unhappiness about Mike. J sets the record straight: Mike is more valuable to him than JL is, so he better save his breath. JL shouldn’t have hired Sebas in the first place and then he shouldn’t have asked Mike to kill him. Well, Mike didn’t, some other guy attacked Seb.
How about the wife, then, J further inquires? She’s getting better after her accident and she’ll come back to the house, JL explains.
J: Does this mean that you’ll be able to concentrate, come to work from 9 to 5, like every normal employee?
JL/ Zorro: Yes, and after that, I want out!
J: We’ll see about that. First, let’s get the job started. Remember I’m doing you a favor, usually nobody leaves my command while still breathing. And no, you can’t leave, even if I no longer trust you, because we have a deal. And you better make sure that the whole wife business doesn’t cause a scandal, because her family knows Homero de la Garza.
JL thinks he can become friends with the guy, but J simply laughs off this ridiculous idea: Homero is ten times smarter than JL will ever be.
When he arrives home, JL is furious, but his day is only about to get worse: Mike gives him a subpoena from a family judge. QTH, is JL thinking.

Fabiola tells her mother that she had lunch with Piero because they have been at the doctor’s to get the test results. Her child will be sane and she has decided to keep it. Madhilde shares the news about Seb’s condition and urges Fabi to marry the guy – then when he dies, at least her kid will have a last name.
Fabi actually considers this and speaks with Oriana about it. Oriana reminds Fabi how much she detests Seb. What will happen if he doesn’t die, will they stay married? Fabi needs to stop allowing other people to make decisions for her and do what she wants to do, take control of her life for once and for all. (Hear, hear!!!)

Mariano visits Fidelia and Marilu and updates them on Seb’s condition. He will need a lot of care when he’s out of the hospital, but Fidelia is not too willing to receive him, because she’s scared of him. Arriving to join the chat, Ric says that he’ll allow Seb to live in his bungalow and he’ll move into the house with them. It’s all for the better, anyway, since the judge will surely want to check their living conditions before agreeing to the adoption. Marilu’s face brightens, but she and Ric won’t share a room, anyway, so no hanky panky for Marilu for the time being.
Ric also asks Mariano not to tell Paloma about Seb’s attack, because in spite of everything, she loves him very much and this might affect her health.

JL goes to see the judge. He’s extremely shocked and hurt to find out that Oriana wants to give Alina up for adoption, can’t understand what is going on. The judge explains that it is the mother’s right to do this, but he, as the father, also has the right to ask for custody. He should be warned, though, there is another couple interested, the Sanchez-Bretons.
JL loses his calm, starts to scream at the judge. This prompts the guy to tell him that a psychiatric evaluation will take place, to see who is better fitted to care for the child. JL doesn’t understand how he needs to go through that if he’s the father, but after the way he just reacted, his words don’t hold much power.
May I just take the time to say that I don’t like it one bit that the authorities have been involved? They have been talking about Alina’s adoption for ages, but let’s face it: the poor kid has lived in an unstable environment for a long time now. What if the judge realizes this and sooner or later they are ALL in danger of losing Alina? What was wrong with the girl living with Paloma or tia Fidelia without making so much fuss about it? The kid is scared of her dad, JL can see that very well. Oriana could have gone to live with him and let Alina at Paloma’s place, where is her real home. This way they are only making JL more suspicious and furious, therefore jeopardizing Oriana and the PLAN even more.
Rant over…

At the hospital, Neuro Doc tells Ric that Seb has an infection and they don’t know if he’ll come out of it alive. Well, others have died for far less, so let’s keep the hope alive (pun not intended).
Later on, Ric visits the Inspector Cousin, to tell him about the danger his workers are in because of their supervisor, Serafino Gomez. He might force them to work for Arte Folclor, or kill someone to scare them off. The Inspector can’t do anything without proof, though, so Ric explains that AF is into the lavado de dinero business, too. No proof of that, either, but Ric warns the inspector that if he does nothing and something happens to the workers, it will be on him. So he better go and threaten Serafino Gomez if he wants to avoid a tragedy.
Isn’t it funny how a civilian can go into an Inspector’s office and ask him to go threaten another civilian without any proof that he’s doing something illegal? The dangerous cacique endangering the cotton workers is another twisted story that we’re supposed to keep up with? My head is spinning. 30 episodes left? Feels like 300.

JL comes to see Oriana at Paloma’s house. They are all outside and Alina runs screaming when she sees her father. Paloma is not happy to see him, either, but Homero is also there and asks her to calm down: Oriana has a job to do and is doing it very well. Paloma can’t stand the sight of JL, though, she wonders how Ric will be able to stand seeing his love with her ex. Well, everyone has to do what they have to do and that is that, Homero promptly clarifies.

In the house, Oriana and JL talk about the adoption story. They are at the bottom of the stairs, while Alina and Fabiola are eavesdropping at the top.
Why is Oriana giving Alina to her amante, JL demands to know (What is an amante? Alina asks Fabi from upstairs?).
Oriana explains that Ric was never her amante, they dated while she thought he was dead; and he is sleeping with Raquel, so what is his problem?
Raquel means nothing to me, JL retorts.
Oriana says that Alina will go live with Marilu and Ric because she loves them very much and they will be good parents for her. JL suspects the marriage is just a trick, but Oriana says he can believe what he wants. She will go back to him, but Alina is too scared to go, too. JL insists that he wants his daughter, too, so Oriana threatens to go to the authorities and reveal that he is Jose Luis Falcon and she helped him smuggle gold in Colombia. Does he want Alina to end up in an orphanage? And if she’s no longer accused of smuggling, she’ll say that she killed Gabe. And, if they are in jail, what will happen with Alina?
Hearing this prompts the little girl to run down the stairs and into her mother’s arms (I don’t know why Fabiola didn’t take her away from the moment the first amante came out of JL’s mouth).
Alina cries that she doesn’t want her father to hurt Tito, JL says something nasty about the dog – the whole thing is a mess. Oriana asks him to leave, especially after Alina rejects his caress.

Ric calls Manolo in San Carlos, asking him if he trusts his cousin. Why is that? Because the Inspector refused to obey Ric’s order to go threaten a guy – can’t they understand that people’s lives are at stake, here? Can’t Manolo talk some sense into his cousin? Never mind jurisdiction, law and common sense, this is lavado de dinero we are talking about here, it can’t get any worse, Ric barks at Manolo.
Apparently this works, because Manolo calls his cousin and asks him to obey thy orders and do what Senor Sanchez Breton demanded.

Oriana talks with Paloma and Homero about the scene with Alina and JL. She doesn’t understand why her daughter is so scared of daddy, she should maybe take her to see a shrink or something. She does still intend to go ahead with the plan, to Homero’s glee.
Surely, nothing has changed, Oriana is a trooper.
Lucina calls just then, happy to hear that Oriana is back at home, recuperating. She offers to visit the next day and after she hangs up, she gets into a fight with Raquel. Can’t the crazy nympho see that JL is only using her while still having the hots for his wife?
Of course Raquel knows this, she’s not stupid (you could have fooled us). JL is not taking advantage of her, she is taking advantage of him – look at all the presents she got! Lucina thinks she should cut the crap and start snooping on JL, find out something they can use against him. But Raquel doesn’t fancy spying on her golden goose; what if JL is not guilty of gold smuggling after all and it was all Oriana’s doing.
Lucina might be getting a headache to hear all this nonsense, but who isn’t? Where is the great villainess we were promised when Altair Jarabo took this part?

At the bungalow Neuro Doc is updating Ric and Mariano about what a mental illness means. At first I have no clue about which cuckoo they are talking about, but then it becomes obvious JL is on their mind. Bipolar condition means one will have calm periods, followed by bursts of fury. And on they go, talking about a medical condition that has never been diagnosed and I honestly don’t see. JL has no bipolar condition, he just telenovela crazy, that’s an illness they don’t teach you at Medical School.
Ric is afraid JL might become violent and kill Oriana but the Doc disagrees – this is not an effect of the disease.
Then the talk turns to the other crazy, the one who suffers from epilepsy and maybe something else? The Doc explains that Maria’s problems came mainly from her frustration and her brain tumor. Seb’s epilepsy has nothing to do with this, there is no telling how his condition will evolve. In the meantime, the infection is gone, so he’ll live. (Rats!!!)  

I’m going to ignore Alina drinking milk while Oriana reads her a story. Product placement is annoying, especially when they create an entire scene just for it.

Oriana is in bed, trying to sleep, when Ric calls her. I thought these two are broken up?
Anyway, she was awake, thinking about the situation, Alina, JL. How about me, Ric begs for attention.
Oh, Ric, don’t torment me with your neediness, I have enough to worry about, Oriana should say, but instead tells him about the fight she had with JL and how Alina overheard the amantes bit and that she’ll have new parents. Oriana knows that she needs to have a serious chat with her daughter, but how can she make her understand when she’s just a child? In all fairness, Viewerville is pretty grown up, but understanding this hot mess still comes hard. So, don’t blame Alina, blame the writers.
While talking, Oriana somehow calls Ric mi amor, which is enough for him to piss himself a little. She wants them to be just friends, he thinks that’s impossible, but at least they can pretend. Oh, tormentas del amor.

Ruben is telling Cesar and Lucina that the divorce is a go but it will cost some money. Both Cesar and Lucina offer to help out, but Ruben refuses. After he leaves, Cesar asks Lucina if she has any feelings for his father. Lucina cares for him very much, but she’s done with men, she’s had her share of suffering and she isn’t willing to go through that again. (Am I missing something? Is there a long lost love in Luci’s past?)
Anyway, she thinks Cesar should be the one to find a girl, someone nice and worthy. Raquel shows up, somehow thinking they are talking about her.
She tries to flirt with Cesar but he literally runs away. Lucina asks her to stay away from Cesar, he’s a healthy (?!?), good boy. Raquel asks Lucina to butt out; what she does is her business, she takes orders from nobody. Or is Lucina feeling like Cesar’s mom now that she’s after Ruben?
To make a point about the fact that she does what she damn well pleases, Raquel goes in Cesar’s room. He’s taking a shower, she undresses and gets in the shower, too. He resists her for 1.5 seconds and then they start kissing.

Alina screams in her sleep. Oriana runs to her and assures her that there are no monsters waiting to take Tito and her away.

The next morning Alina doesn’t want to go to school, she says she doesn’t like it anymore.
As it turns out, she’s upset because she doesn’t want to leave Paloma’s house and have different parents. Oriana says that she has to travel for her work, so Alina will live with tia Fidelia, but visit Paloma every afternoon.
How about going to jail, then, Alina further inquires? Oriana reminds her that once she told her that her father has done some bad things. It’s hard to explain because Alina is a smart girl but she’s still too little.
But remember how they had to lie about having different names and living in Monterey? Can Alina help her momma now and lie once again, saying that Marilu and Ric are her parents?
Alina is willing to help, but she looks just as confused as Viewerville will ever.

Labels:


Comments:
Great work, Adriana.

This episode definitely didn't feel like there are only 33 left. This story is more tangled than the previous one with DZ as the hero. That was the first series I covered.

If Oriana is not understanding why Alina fears JL her brain is truly addled. She was present when JL tried to kill Tito. And that dear little dog would love to kill him now.

MADhilde needs to be muzzled for everyone's sake. She is truly vile for wanting her daughter to suffer.

As to Mike's poker face when dealing with Joaquin, I think it was totally appropriate. If he is what we are being led to believe he is that is a job requirement. This is an easy role to introduce an actor with his kind of alpha male looks who hasn't had much previous acting experience.
 

Ariana Noel - Terrific recap. Enjoyed all your commentary. My favorite snark: "JL has no bipolar condition, he's just telenovela crazy."

Yes, Alina is intelligent, but this is too much lying and confusion for an adult, much less a 6 year old. And Fabi must have the mentality of a 6 year old to let Alina eavesdrop on her parents' very adult conversation.

At least Ric knows not to wear the pretentious ascots when he's confabbing with the cotton workers. The vests suit him well.

Ready for Oriana to move in with JL already. Let the crazies begin.

Cesar, come on dude – stand up for yourself.
 

Some really great asides in an excellent recap, Adriana Noel!!

Niecie in MD: "Cesar, come on dude-stand up or yourself." He did, but just not in the way we had hoped. :))

So, we've gotten this far and Oriana is just now figuring out that Rhodalina needs some emotional help?! YA THINK, Oriana?!? Brother!

Why do I sometimes want to slap Oriana silly?

Fatima
 

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I really enjoyed your rant and completely agree!!! I also feel like you do 30 *is* feeling like 300.

Like you and others, I can't figure out why Fabi didn't take Alina fully away from the argument.
 

Thanks for the recap, Adri!

I'm just glad that everyone will soon be evaluated by a shrink. Perhaps now we will find out who the true crazy villain is.

Cynderella
















 

Great recap, Adriana. I'm glad that you are capably pointing out some of the strange legal incongruities that abound here. My favorite today:

"Isn’t it funny how a civilian can go into an Inspector’s office and ask him to go threaten another civilian without any proof that he’s doing something illegal?"

Thanks.

I am not a fan of JL. He is a whack job. but the way he is being treated over his daughter is downright criminal. I cannot imagine a similar set of circumstances in real life. He was literally ambushed in that judge's office.

This show is a hoot to watch what with all the weirdness. My favorite scene was actually split between the last two episodes. The sly wink that Raquel gave César on Fri. followed by stepping into the shower with him last night. Resistance is futile, César.

Mikey?... Next!

Carlos
 

No way should JL have custody of Alina without major psych treatment. Her fear of him is not entirely because of the near-killing of Tito.

Oriana was right when she said a few episodes later that she had to be afraid he would hurt the child.
 

I want to have fun with Raquel. :) She's so HAWT.
 

So what if Ignacio Casano (Rick) can't act. He's guapo and a wonderful addition to any TN.
 

Carlos...here in PA. , it is almost impossible to get full custody of a child after a divorce. ..no matter what problems one of the parents might have and even if PFA s have been served against one parent. I wonder if the courts protect the parents' rights above the children's best interests. It is very frustrating. Divorced couples can be ordered by the court to go for coparenting sessions. I have not they found out yet aqwhat happens when one parent refuses to go to coparenting counseling or anger management counseling.
 

Super recap Adriana! :) I enjoyed. :)

Bipolarity, bipolar behaving is same with manic depression or it is a fully different mental illness?

The best of the day were Lina and Tito. I guess the writers made this scenes for the effect, for me too was enough illogical the eavesdropping. I loved when Lina pushed away his father's hand. And even better: Tito stirred up his ears, and the inimitable Tito-look when JL said: Que importancia tiene un perro? Really actor-dog, a warrior-dog.

I am Mike-fan! It's not my fault! :D I would watch his "fights" with JL every day. I want this great patience like his.

I do not like that Sebastian has high fever, and antibiotics doesn't affects. He might have another problem.

Raquel is a very naughty bad girl, and Cesar have no enough power to say no, I think he looks alike a bit to his father.
 

Thanks Adriana. I haven't had much time lately to comment as much as I like, but I watch the episodes and read the comments too.

I feel a tiny bit sorry for JL too with regards to Alina being adopted out. I know he's probably sick and doesn't realize how his behavior is affecting those around him, but in his mind he loves his daughter and does not want to give her up, even more so to Ric. But if they want to show just how crazy he is, then having Ric adopt her will completely bring out the serious crazy in him, so it's probably a good plan.

I think that Mike is being cold and calculating acting on purpose. That's how the boss' sidekicks are supposed to act. Emotionless.
 

Thanks Adriana for a "job" very well done. I agreed with several of the points you made such as Ricky's neediness and Fabi's lack of good judgment. You also clarified a lot of the Joaquin scenes & plots.
UA, according to previous tele's that I've watched, my crystal ball tells me that this tangled webb could go on for another 25-30 episodes. Whoever is deemed the baddest of the bad guys (probably JL), won't get his reward until the last 1 or 2 episodes :-)
 

Niecie, no wonder Alina doesn't get it. Neither can we.

Urban, I agree with you that Mike needs to have a good poker face in his line of work, but I think he is teh same with Homero, too. Regardless, the actor is seriously HOT. If they could give Ximena Navarette a lead I think they can make a sacrifice for him, too, right?

Fatima, I think Oriana is doing teh best she can with Alina, considering the fact that everybody is constantly telling her what to do. She has been in a position of weakness ever since teh beginning, always hiding, always needing protecting. In all fairness, they all need shrinks.
Haha, just like Cynderella is suggesting. Right on!

I agree that JL is not getting a fair treatment when it comes to Alina. Yes, he hurt Tito, but he loves Alina, that is obvious. Everybody is acting like they have more right over his daughter than he does. He should at least get visitation rights.

Alejo, Seb's infection not responding to antybiotics? This brings a certain desease to mind, but I won't jump to any conclusions.
 

Adriana- I'm still laughing at telenovela crazy. LOL! So true.

I don't think Ori was surprised at Alina being scared, she's worried about the intensity (that she's terrorized) and that it's not getting better, but worse.

When Fabi gave Mati an update on the baby, didn't she just say it was healthy (sano), not sane. But I guess she likely meant the same thing. I noticed Mati didn't pass up the opportunity to call her daughter a whore (cuzca). Ah, a mother's love.

I'm going to stop trying to understand this adoption and spying thing, and just go with it. Watching JL lose it is fun.
 

Vivi, you're right, Fabi did say healthy, not sane, but there was too much crazy going around, I guess I slipped. :))
Yeah, Oriana is worried by how scared Alina is, not the fact that she's scared to begin with. I kind of agree, as much as Alina loves Tito, shouldn't her father come first, even after she witnessed the abuse?
 

Sebastian's mysterious infection is another example of this TN's refusal
to follow natural law. Adriana reports:

"At the hospital, Neuro Doc tells Ric that Seb has an infection and they don’t know if he’ll come out of it alive."

AlejoP observes:

"I do not like that Sebastian has high fever, and antibiotics doesn't affects. He might have another problem."

... hmmm... anyone here with a pulse who hasn't thought of AIDS? I'm guessing that it likely occurred to the Drs. treating him as well and that he was tested for HIV. (Surely, by the way, HIV testing was part of Fabiola' prenatal screening.)

then... SHAZAM!

Adriana reports:

"In the meantime, the infection is gone, so he’ll live."

Say what?

Another Festivus miracle?

Maybe the CI crew has hijacked MPV.

Carlos
 

Carlos: I thought about cancer at first (leukemia), because of I am watching now La Patrona and the hero's daughter has suffering in this, and she has often fevers because of the illness. Or I saw something similar in Sortilegio (another Zarattini TN, s the writer woman has returning items) with Lisette, therefore this was suspicious.
Or a mononucleosis, it would be rational.
But if it's gone, then it's gone! Then we are happy! :)
 

I thought AIDS, too, especially since we've been talking about unprotected sex and how many are doing it.
Seb slept with Raquel and Fabi, then Raquel slept with Cesar and JL, too.
If Seb does have AIDS, half the cast has to get tested.
A fine mess!
I'm not sure of how the infection works, but I guess Seb could recover from this medical crisis and still be sick as a general rule.
Poor Fabi, this is the last thing she needed. I don't think HIV testing is something they normally verify with pregnant women. Maybe someone who was recently pregnant has more information on this? I don't remember any of my friends mentioning it.

 

I think in the US they do, but this is Mexico, so it's hard to say.
 

Well, some of us won't be happy until Sebass is gone.

I vote for a round of HIV and mental health testing for the whole lot.
 

Carolina, I second your medical opinion. Neuro Doc should take care of this, he knows everybody and he's an expert in all medical fields, like all tn doctors are required to be.
 

Adrina, Dr. Neuro Doc is the perfect guy for this job, for sure! I'd just love to see the story suspended while they all are assessed and maybe receive ranked scores of novela crazy. I think we all know that JL's the one to beat.

Thanks for this and all your hilarious recaps!
 

HIV testing is a routine part of the prenatal exam, as is any procedure where the medical staff will be exposed to the patients blood. Although precautions are taken on any procedure involving blood, there are further special precautions physicians and staff take in the operating room and delivery room when operating on or delivering an HIV positive patient.
 

Gracias for the recap, Adriana! I think your soon-to-be main squeeze will respond appropriately to your romantic overtures when the time is right :D
 

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