Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Lo Que La Vida Me Robó, #67, 2/12/14: Duel on the PLAYA



It's on!


“A man may shoot the man who invades his character, as he may shoot him who attempts to break into his house.” -Samuel Johnson


An action-packed episode, amigas and amigos, with some significant movement forward ¡por fin! in our drama!  I'll skip the first refrito and get to the main action.      

Alejandro's Beach House, Agua Azul:  Victor and Alejandro discuss the meeting that Montse (actually, Gracie sending a text pretending to be Montse) proposed between Alejandro and herself.  Ever-reasonable Victor wonders if Ale is going and thinks he should--maybe Montse has something to say that will clear up Alejandro's doubts.  Ale responds that the only thing she wants is to protect José-Luis.  Victor suggests that maybe Montse wants to protect Ale himself.

Unfortunately, Ale is still on an interminable tour of duty in his own private WAR OF BITTERNESS AND IMPLACABLE RESENTMENT and (why am I even writing it since we all know what he's going to say?) talks again about how Montse and J-L tricked him, laughed at him, and how his life is hell.  It's a thorn in his manly breast.  He maintains J-L should have talked to him (Ale) man to man when he (J-L) first came to the hacienda, but Nooooo--J-L had to go and pass himself off as someone else.  Ale is upset because he confided in J-L and treated him as a friend.  And once again Alejandro declares that what makes him the most enraged is the fact that EVERYONE ELSE KNEW. 

Victor urges Ale to calm down for what must be the gazillionth time since episode 52 when the truth first came out, but, even at episode 67, Ale is still not listening and says don't tell him to be calm when an he feels like an idiot for being duped and how he can't forget what happened.  He ends the scene by declaring that only thing he can do is make J-L pay with his life for destroying Ale's.  I think he's said this before, but given that I know what's going to happen as I write, he means it even more than ever.  




Mansion Mendoza:  Dim enters fresh from his recent argument with Josefina.  Gracie pounces on him and demands to know if DIM convinced Josefina to help them.  Dim says something about no and that Josefina heard everything that he and Gracie were talking about.  Gracie wants to know how that is possible and says Josefina is such an air head and that she (Gracie) is going to talk to her, but here DIM stands up to Gracie and tells her no.  Josie is HIS wife and this is HIS problem.  Gracie says OK, if this is what he wants, but sticks it to him by adding that he's doing things badly and tells DIM in so many words that he doesn't have sufficient avocados to get the job done.  

Here, DIM gets angry and tells Gracie to keep out and to quit bothering him and Josie with her (Gracie's) endless misery.  He stalks off with Gracie calling after him, "Baby, you can't just leave after talking to me that way!"  Sorry, Gracie, but it looks like DIM maybe is just beginning to sprout some avocados, though I'm convinced no one in this telenovela will ever have a set as big as YOURS.

Montse walks in at this and wonders what's happening.  Gracie says nothing but then uses this as a King-Lear-like moment to expound on how awful it is to have ungrateful children who don't respect her.  With some kind of bizarre logic of recrimination, Gracie declares thank God Lauro died several episodes ago, since if he hadn't he would certainly DIE AGAIN if he knew what the family was going through.  And you, Golden Girl, Gracie says with menace, approaching Montse--you better think carefully about what you're going to do when Ale comes tonight.  This kind of opportunity might not present itself again,and, Gracie adds, it was all THANKS TO HER.  

Upset and nervous Montse wants her cell phone back to look at the message that Gracie sent to Ale, pretending it was from Montse. Gracie says she's sure Ale will come to the meeting.  Gracie wants Montse to convince him to return to her.  Montse is shaking her head, thinking it's all crazy and that Gracie doesn't understand is probably only making things worse.

Alejandro's Beach House, Agua Azul:  A nervous Rosario waits in the living room, seemingly for a chance to talk finally to Alejandro and to tell him the truth about being his mother.  Katniss Everdeen enters--no, sorry, folks, it's actually María sporting a new HUNGER GAMES look.  I was confused for a few seconds but figured out who she was as soon as she barked out her usual mean-spirited, "¿Qué haces aquí?  and told Rosario to beat it when Rosario said she wanted to talk to El Señor Almonte.  María tells Rosario that as long as she (María) is the lady of the house and Ale's mujer (not) Rosario will never talk to Alejandro and then María gives Rosario a slap in the face for good measure.  Rosario leaves and María assumes one of her usual facial positions when feeling triumphant.

In an attempt to lighten the mood before the big drama to come, I'm throwing in this gratuitous, type-point-sized representation of María's principal pleasures in life:  
ALEJANDRO. Hating Montse.  
Being mean to others, especially Rosario. Clothes. Fruit.  Cock fights.


Alejandro's Bedroom, Beach House:  Depressed-looking Ale is lying on his bed, maybe thinking about maybe going to see Montse.  María knocks on the door and asks if he wants a mescal, though she should know by now he's a tequila drinker.  He says no and to leave him alone.  

Evening, Mansion Mendoza:  Montserrat descends the main stairs of the house in an off-the-shoulder blue number amidst great praise for her beauty from Tía Carlotta.  In spite of her earlier protests, Montse has taken Gracie's efforts to woo Alejandro back on Montse's behalf seriously and is making an effort.  Montse tells Tía she's nervous and wonders what she'll say to Ale when he comes--in the message that Gracie left Ale to convince him to show, she said that there was 'something important' to tell him.

Tía just says for Montse to tell Ale that Gracie sent the message and also suggests that Montse just use the opportunity tell Ale she loves him and to try to clear things up.  Montse says that Alejandro never believes her and already thinks that she planned everything to deceive him. Tía Carlotta suggests Montse show him the baby, which should move him or she could tell him that the results of the paternity test will come tomorrow.  Montse gets growing more animated considering this, but then worries that probably Alejandro won't show up anyway since he didn't answer the message.  Tía wonders which Montse would actually prefer--if Ale come or not come.  

Gracie enters at this and wants them to notice how beautifully she had the table laid, also urging Montse not always to think negatively.  Tía and Gracie are headed out for the evening to to leave Montse and Ale alone, but anxious Montse wonders what Ale will think of her when he realizes the others aren't there.  Gracie is having none of this prudishness and simply states the truth:  of course, he'll think it was because Montse wanted to spend the night with him.  She snaps at Montse to get Alejandro up to her bedroom and be done with it already!  Carlotta gives Montse two thumbs up for encouragement and Gracie barks at Carlotta that it's time for them to go and calls back to Montse "Be a coquette!"  Montse looks exasperated.

Meanwhile at the dinner table in Beach House Almonte, Ale, Victor, and María have just finished eating.  Ever eager María asks Ale if he wants some coffee to which he replies no, and then gets up from the table, declaring he's going to bed.  Sleep well, Victor tells him as María smiles to herself.  You're happy, Victor comments to her.  Sure, says María, because Montse isn't allowed to exist here.  In response, Victor tosses his fork down in disgust while María laughs to herself. 

Back in Mansion Mendoza, Montse is lighting the candles on the dining table in preparation for what she hopes will be her romantic rendezvous with Alejandro.  Clearly, her positive attitude is paying off because the doorbell rings!  She hurries over to open the door only to find the man with the worst timing in the world:  BACHELOR # 1 José-Luis Álvarez.  Actually, none of the men concerned are bachelors anymore but, oh, the irony for her and even more for me!  The first recap I did at CARAY CARAY was episode # 3 of this TN and THAT TIME Montse opened the same door expecting to see José-Luis who was supposed to come to ask her father for permission to marry her, only to find Bachelor # 2 Alejandro waiting outside instead.   I didn't mind so much then, but this time, I AM REALLY BUMMED at this switcheroonie.

J-L wonders if he can come in, but mostly Montse wants to know what the heck he is doing there.  He explains he just arrived in Agua Azul and wanted to see how she is and if she needs help.  She tells him Alejandro is in  A. A., too, and is looking for J-L in order to kill him.  Just then the doorbell rings again, and, speaking of obsessive, delusional hunks, it's none other than the murderously-inclined Alejandro himself!  

Oh, god, Ale is here, she says, and J-L asks calmly, why don't open the door then?  Montse looks at J-L like he's insane and when hesitates he says he'll open the door.  She begs J-L to stop and demands to know why he wants to meet with Ale.  J-L says that after all that's happened that now is the time.  J-L got things to clear up with Ale and Ale has got things to clear up with J-L.  Montse begs him no, please, please, por favor, and he kind of mocks her back, saying that with her it's always the same, and she's always begging him to run off.  She says that Ale will think even worse of them both and kill both of them.  J-L says that, well, as matter of fact, he wants to kill Ale, too, for all the lousy things he's done.  J-L can't believe Ale would run her off the hacienda knowing she was pregnant.  

Montse once again begs him to leave, at least out of respect for her son who is sleeping upstairs.  He finally agrees to go but not before telling her that he and Ale are going to have to meet to settle things eventually.  He thinks he should have talked to Ale when he first arrived at the hacienda and not pretended to be Olivares.  The doorbell rings again several more times, as J-L and Montse exchange some desperate, determined, and significant looks until at last J-L heads off to leave through the back door as Montse makes a rush to throw open the front door only to find……..BACHELOR # 0.   Seemingly impatient and fed-up of waiting, Alejandro has left.

Disappointment!  

HOWEVER, in the next instant, outside of Hacienda Mendoza, fate (as manipulated by our writers who have finally decided it's time to bring this particular story line to it's long-awaited climax) has had it with Montse's pleas for conflict avoidance: 

In the dark garden, seemingly by accident but at last, Alejandro crosses paths with his great rival, José-Luis.  
They stare at each other, stunned that they are suddenly but finally face to face.
J-L pulls a gun.

Fancy meeting you here!

Back inside Mansion Mendoza, a sad Montse closes the door, not sure what to think or to do--the Patio, though is quick with a response, muttering variations of, "Jeez, just walk out and look around a bit for him, Montse!"  Rosario comes down the stairs and Montse wants to know if Baby Lauro is okay.  Rosario says, yes, that he's sleeping and comments she though Ale was here since she heard Montse talking to someone.  Montse lies and says no, she was by herself the whole time.  Rosario says it would be awful if J-L and Alejandro met and maybe J-L could kill Ale. Rosario comments that this doesn't seem important to Montse, to which she respond that, of course, it's important but she also cares about what happens to J-L and also what can they do?  Rosario tells her that in the afternoon she (Rosario) went to talk to Alejandro, but that he wasn't there and also that María ran her off.  Montse tells Rosario that she really needs to talk to Alejandro.  Rosario promises that she'll try again tomorrow and offers Montse some tea.

Back OUTSIDE Mansion Mendoza again, the conversation has not yet wound its way to an offer of a hot beverage.  Instead, J-L tells Ale to go ahead and take out his own gun.  Ale says he came unarmed to talk to Montserrat but that he now understands why she wanted him to come tonight--it was just another trap so that J-L could kill him.  J-L asks Ale qué the hell he's talking about and informs Ale that Montse didn't know anything, but since thinking the worst of Montse is pretty much all Ale can do these days, Ale won't believe J-L.

J-L tells Ale, "You know what?  I don't need gun to settle things," and puts his own away.

At this point, Monte, having decided to follow our advice and leave the house and have a look around for Ale, finds them together and runs up, saying "No, no, no!"  Alejandro puts her roughly behind him, and J-L tells Ale not to treat her like that.  Ale informs J-L that whether J-L likes it or not Montse is still HIS (ALE'S) WIFE.  Ale says to Montse that this is just one more time she tried played dirty with him and that he knows J-L was waiting to kill him. Montse says no again and begs Ale to let her explain.  

But neither Ale or J-L are listening to her as J-L calls out to Ale that this isn't the place to settle their issues. J-L is basically going Gentlemen's Code of Honor on Ale and saying hey, even though we're already literally outside, let's take this thing outside in the more significant figurative sense:

"Tell me when, how, where, and I'll be there," José-Luis says.
Ale says, "Tomorrow at 6 on the dot on the beach where I caught you together for the first time!"  
J-L says okay, that's the ideal place.  We'll meet at 6 in the morning and sort this out.
Upping the ante Ale says, "And don't forget your bullets."  
This is fine by J-L  who retorts, "Don't you forget to come armed, either!"  
Ale says a gruff "Let's go," to Montse and forces her come away with him.

Inside Mansion Mendoza once again, Montse is still begging Ale to let her explain.  She had no idea J-L was back in Agua Azul much less ask him to come to see her at the house.  I'm telling you the truth, Alejandro, she says while a nervous Rosario looks on, and Ale forces Montse to go into another room to have it out.

Alejandro's Beach House, Agua Azul:  María knocks on Ale's bedroom door, presumably to try her luck with him again, only to find that her plans have been foiled and he's gone.  Knowing instinctively what this probably means she looks nervous and runs back out to the living room to ask Victor if he knows where Alejandro is.  Victor replies that she was with them when Ale said he was going to bed, but María tells him no, that Ale's not there and that he went out.  Devastated and angry, María says, "He went to see her!"  while a suddenly much happier Victor whoops it up a bit on the sofa to spite her.  In yo' face, María!  

Back to Mansion Mendoza, where things aren't going as well as Victor might assume since it's time for yet another round of the old same fight between Montse and Ale about J-L, though all credit to the actors for making it feel fresh and awful for us viewers every freaking time.  Ale has hit replay on his favorite personal soundtrack of recrimination and is accusing her of cavorting with J-L and gets angry when she tells Ale once again that J-L isn't guilty of anything.  He tells her the only way she's going to see her lover again is in the cemetery.  Ale can't believe she still defends J-L after what he did, and she tells Ale that he's wrong.

"Reacciona!  Reacciona!" she tells Ale several times, which translates as "recover" or "come around"  In plain English something more like,  "Wake up/Get with the program/Get over it already!"

She starts speaking more quietly and urgently and tells Ale once again that it's HIM that she loves, and for the first time in a while, he seems a bit calmer and maybe to be taking this in.  She's not as guilty as he thinks, she tells him, and they need to talk.  She says they should forget everything that happened and that what she wants most is for her and Ale to begin a life together again.  She wants him to forgive her.  Caressing his face, crying, she tells him once again that she loves him, that she's never loved anyone more, and that she needs Ale to believe in her.  This seems to be working, and it looks like they're even about to kiss, but then instead  Ale does a quick evil reversal (or maybe he was just faking Montse/us out before) and says, "I can't! I swear I can't," and claims it's because she's hurt him too much.  The baby isn't his, and he wants Montse to admit that she is wrong and it's all HER FAULT.

Montse isn't about to take this and stands up for herself and says that she's not about to accept blame for a sin she didn't commit.  Ale is back at her with even crueler words and says that he doesn't have to accept a cualquiera for his wife, which you can translate a few different ways, but given his incredibly hostile tone and her devastated reaction, I think it would be best to assume he said, "I don't have to accept a whore."

He storms out, leaving Montse crying.  As he heads for the door, he passes an anxious Rosario who begs him to listen to her, too, though he ignores her even when she breaks down and cries out, "My son, listen to me!"  Rosario hurries to Montse to find out what happened, though Montse just responds, "My husband is a monster!"

Casa of Unconditional Love, Agua Azul:  J-L enters the bedroom to find a sleeping Angélica.  He goes to kiss her, and she wakes up, first commenting sweetly, "You came back," but then sitting up suddenly as she remembers, "Alejandro came looking for you and wants to kill you!"  J-L tells her not to worry, that he already saw Ale and they talked about things and sorted everything out.  She wants to know what J-L said, and he says he told Ale what he needed to know to be calmer about everything. She seems pleased but surprised and asked if that means that Ale and Montse have also reconciled.  He lies and says yes.  Angie tells him she was afraid, and, once again, he tells her there's no need to worry, that all is well.  He adds that they need to go to sleep now since he has to get up to be at the Naval Base early.  She accepts all this and says nothing more but looks suspicious. 

Alejandro's Beach House:  Angry Ale enters to find Victor, Marcario, and María waiting for him, worried about him and where he's been.  María immediately accuses him--"You went to see her, right?" and Ale answers yes, to which she responds with a petulant look and walk off in a snit.  Marcario comments that María is steaming mad, and Victor asks what happened.  Ale informs them that he found Montse with José-Luis.  They can't believe it as Ale insists it was all a trap for him.  Victor wonders if Alejandro is sure about this, but, of course, Ale says yes since he is always sure about everything.  Marcario comments that it was a good thing that Ale didn't have a gun with him or he would have killed J-L.  True, Ale says.

He then informs them that he's going to meet J-L at 6 in the morning and that one of the two of them is going to end up dead.  

This elicits sort of flabbergasted, Jeez-we're-two-regular-Mexican-guys-but-even-we-can't-freaking-believe-this-retro-macho-posturing-crap looks from both Mac and Vic to end the scene. 

Mansion Mendoza:  A still crying Montse, snuffs out the burning candles of the prettily-laid dinner table with her bare fingers.  She tells Rosario to leave the things on the table, and Rosario responds that, given what's just happened, she doesn't think she'll be able to sleep.  Montse says, me either.  Rosario says it hurts her to see both Montse and her son hurting so much.  Montse comments that there's nothing they can do since things have gone too far.  Ale won't believe her.  Rosario remind Montse that she once tried to leave with J-L, but Montse says this was before she loved Ale and when she was desperate.  She admits that she wanted to leave and that she and J-L shared a kiss, which she regrets greatly.  Now Ale thinks she's the most disgraceful woman in the world.

Gracie and Tía Carlotta return from their night on the town in Agua Azul, presumably to see Montse and Ale after their post-renewed marital relations, but instead find Montse alone with Rosario and want to know what happened.  Montse informs Gracie that none of her machinations worked and that Ale just dumped her/stood her up (dejar plantata) Gracie says Ale is overly proud, and she's going to talk to him, but Montse won't permit it.  She says things have their limit, and she's not going to beg Alejandro again.  

Before Dawn, Bedroom of José-Luis and Angélica: Angie wakes up to see J-L dressed and ready to leave.  She asks what he's doing, and he reminds her (fingers crossed behind his back) he's leaving early to be at the Naval Base at 6 AM.  He wants her to go back to sleep and kisses her.  He says goodbye to her and leaves for his duel with Alejandro, unsure if he'll ever see her again.   This was sad and moving

Dawn, Beach House Almonte:  Brief Scene of Alejandro in a towel--did he actually take a shower before his duel?--who glances at a gun on the night stand.  The sight of SR's bare chest is always a thrill, but this scene was also sad to me.

Same Dawn, Mansion Mendoza:  Montse, looking very well-groomed in red at 5 AM, looks out the windows of the house, knowing what is about to happen.  Carlotta and Rosario come in, too, and Montse is as surprised to see--turns out they're going to early morning mass--as they are to see her, but before she can explain it's the doorbell.

She runs to it and yet again finds José-Luis again darkening her door.  She wants to know why he's there, and he asks her, no matter what happens, to please not abandon Angélica if something happens to him.  Montse asks if Angie knows the truth and he tells Montse he lied and said he was just going early to the base.  Montse starts crying and J-L says he also came to tell her goodbye since this might be the last time they see each other.  She begs him not to go, but he reminds her that she knows him better than anyone and that he is a man of his word and will do what he promised.  He touches her face and tells her goodbye.  We get a long parting shot, replete with swelling music, of first their clasped hands and their fingers slowing separating from each other.  

After he leaves, Montse turns back to Rosario and Carlotta who have heard everything.  Rosario now understands that J-L and Ale made an appointment to fight to the death.  Crying and praying all around.

And yet I suppose I AM worth it

Study, Beach House Almonte:  Freshly showered, dressed, purposeful Ale enters to find Vic and Mac waiting in the study.  He gets out a big wooden box, loads his gun up with bullets, and puts it down the front of his pants.  He then does something surprising and says to Victor, "If I die, tell Montserrat I give the baby my name.  The poor thing isn't to blame for anything."  He says he has to leave now so he's not late.  Victor and Mac ask if he want them to go with him, but Ale tells them this is something he has to do by himself.  

Ale runs the risk of destroying his only remaining asset

Just outside of Beach House Almonte:  María pounces upon Ale as he leaves the house to fight his duel with J-L.  Upset, María can't believe that Ale would leave without saying goodbye to her--this might be the last time they ever see each other. He clearly has not spent one nano-second considering this tragedy for her and just says he thought she was sleeping.  She begs him not to go, but he shuts her down and tells her that she knows perfectly well he's been waiting for this moment for a long time.  She keeps at it, asking him again not to go and get killed since she doesn't have anyone but him.  He just tells her that he doesn't want to be late and leaves.  She shouts after him to promise her he won't get killed, but he's already off.

Lest we lose our priorities in this intense moment, we next get a fine shot of a gleaming Toyota pick-up on what looks to be the streets of Agua Azul during our obligatory, nightly Tundra commercial.  

Casa de Angélica and J-L:  Refugio enters, asking Angie if J-L is at home.  She tells him no, that J-L was off to the Naval Base early for something important.  Refugio looks puzzled and says that there wasn't anything special going on at the base today.  At this Angie gets nervous and tells Refugio that he's got to find J-L since Alejandro came looking for him and wants to kill J-L.  She says that J-L swore that he'd talked to Ale and that they'd worked things out, but she now thinks it was all a lie.  She tells Refugio he has to do something or Ale will kill J-L.

Sunny Yellow Municipal Building, Agua Azul:  In other worries, Basurto is remembering his conversation with Pedro about how he (Pedro) is someone and has a wife from a good family, while Basurto is nothing and needs remember to keep to his level.  A station officer appears and announces to Basurto that la Señora Carlotta Mendoza wants to see him.  Basurto repeats her name as if some bright idea is dawning upon him and says that she can come in.  Carlotta enters without her fan for once, but still hot and agitated and informs Basurto that she needs his help since her niece's husband, Alejandro Almonte, is about to kill José-Luis Álvarez!  Basurto reassures her that the police are here to help in matters like this and also assures her, at her insistence, that he knows the Mendoza's are one of the most important in Agua Azul and that she can rely on his complete discretion in the matter.  For a moment, they both seemed more concerned about avoiding a scandal than the actual potential murder itself. 

Carlotta is soon back to the main point, though, and tells Basurto they don't have much time to lose and that she'll take him now to the place were Ale and J-L planned to meet.  At this Esme walks in to see Basurto, but he brushes her off and tells her that he's got to help Señora Mendoza instead.  Esme accepts this without complaint and is about to leave when Carlotta remembers that Esme knows J-L's good friend, Refugio.  Carlotta tells Esme she needs to find Refugio and tell him what's happening.  

What's happening?  Esme asks.

Duel at the Playa, Agua Azul:  Was pleased to see that the convention of the pathetic fallacy is still alive and well in Telenovela World, folks, as this long-awaited scene begins:  our characters are in a dark and stormy mood, and so the heavens follow suit, and the writers have cued dark clouds, a single bolt of lightening which rips across the sky, and low decibel rumbles of thunder as Ale walks onto the beach to find J-L waiting for him.   It's an old trick, but it always sets the mood.

(Just an aside that I read on-line that it took the actors and crew 7 hours to film this fight sequence.  Also, in spite of the attempt to create the dark mood, I couldn't help but notice the powerful Mexican sun forcing it's way through over the best efforts of the rain-making machine towards the end of the scene.)

The men face each other.  The skies open and the rain pours down.  José-Luis lifts his weapon to show Ale and maintains he kept his part of the deal, but he immediately tosses it aside, declaring, "Like I told you last night, I don't need a gun to fix this issue."  
"Me, either!" Ale shouts back and tosses his gun into the sand, too. "I'd prefer to kill you with my own hands!"  
José-Luis says first something about wanting to offer him an apology.  Ale says his apology isn't sufficient.  
"Then you're going to have to kill me," says José-Luis.
Both men take off their shirts.  
Bare-chested Alejandro and wife-beater-clad José-Luis assume fighting stances.

Soggy Deathmatch Alejandro vs. José-Luis 


Ale lands the first punch to the face, but J-L is back at him fast with another and they exchange a few hits.  J-L give Ale a swift kick that makes Ale stumble forward and look back in some surprise.  Ale kicks, too, and then punches J-L who falls to the ground, spitting blood as he gets back to his feet.  J-L is back at Ale landing some punches, Ale gives a balletic-looking high kick that misses, but eventually they are both on the ground and J-L has Ale in a head lock from behind.

Soon J-L is on top and connecting a lot of punches to Ale's pretty face, but in the next instant, Ale makes a move, rips J-L's undershirt, and things are reversed and now it's Ale who's on top who is winning and getting his wish and strangling J-L with his (Ale's) bare hands.  Next, J-L does some kind of move thing, and there is another roll around and Ale is back on the ground with J-L having gotten away from the strangle-hold, and it looks like Ale's hand is hurt.  Most of this occurs in slow motion and takes a lot longer than my summary.

Jeez, die already, J-L!

Both men are starting to get exhausted, though, and it seems Ale is realizing that it's much harder to kill a man with your own hands than it is simply to put a bullet in him since he (Ale) is now crawling across the sand for his gun in spite of his earlier bravado that he didn't need it.  J-L is going for his gun, too, and gets to it first, but maybe because he's not as crazy as Ale, has displayed a lot more humanity than Ale in general throughout this TN, AND has a soft spot for Ale from the hacienda days, J-L hesitates to use the gun and just points it, holding it steady at Ale.  

Be careful, José-Luis!  Your sense of human decency may just get you killed!


But this gives Ale the time he needs to reach his own gun, stand up, face J-L, take aim, and FIRE!


Crazy Ale's auto-pilot is set to VENGEANCE IS MINE!


There are gasps of "NO!" from Montse, Rosario, Carlotta, Basurto, Esmerelda, and Refugio (basically a good portion of Agua Azul as we know it) who have arrived just in time to witness Ale shooting J-L.

We see a stunned J-L and get a shot of the bullet wound in his side, just below his heart.

J-L's gun seems to go off, too, but, seemingly mortally wounded, he misses his mark.  Ale watches, his face hard to read and impassive, as J-L falls to his knees.  We cut to a shot of a shocked Montse standing in the rain, watching the two men.  J-L is looking in her direction, and he mouths something that looks like, "Te Amo" just before he falls over.  Montse is screaming, "No, no, no!" and runs to José-Luis.

Here's hoping we can all now finally move on from this plot point

Esmerelda is the first to state the obvious to Alejandro, though with a tone of disbelief and horror, "You killed him!"

Montse and Refugio are both bent over the body of J-L, and Refugio laments that they arrived too late.  Montse screams at Alejandro, "You ought to be happy now.  This is what you wanted."  For good measure, she throws in a few rounds of "I hate you, I hate, you!" at him, too.  Enraged Refugio goes for Alejandro, swearing to kill him, but Basurto has already drawn his own gun in an attempt to control the chaos and tells Ale to put his hands behind his back.  He's being arrested for the murder of José-Luis Álvarez.  Ale, seemingly in shock himself, puts up no protest of any kind as he is lead off in handcuffs by Basurto.  There is crying from Rosario as Ale is taken away and more crying from Montse over the body of J-L, and she keeps muttering, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry."  All seems over and a good man is dead.
UNTIL
Suddenly, ever-loyal, ever-vigilant Refugio notices some movement in J-L.  
"He's alive!" Refugio cries.  

In another part of Agua Azul, Pedro and Nadia are having breakfast at their house.  Pedro is wondering if Nadia has thought about the proposal he made to her about having Victor get her pregnant.  She snipes back that there is nothing to think about.  He wants to know why she's pretending--he knows she wants to be in Victor's arms and have a child with the man she loves.  She says sure, but she's not going to do it to raise the child with Pedro and advance his  career.  She's only do it if she were able to leave Pedro and start her own family with Victor.  Pedro claims that is NEVER happening since politicians of his stature don't get divorces.  As long as she's alive, she'll be his wife. Pedro says he want to be clear that for him this isn't a game.  Her love for Victor is not going to get in the way of his (Pedro's) plans.  He says again that she has his permission to sleep with Victor until a pregnancy is confirmed but as soon as it is, she has to break off relations with Victor and never see him again without any explanation.  Nadia shoots Pedro a look of loathing as the phone rings.

"What happened, Ezequiel," asks Pedro, as he takes the call from Basurto, listens, then says,  "Do you have him in custody?  Great."  He hangs up the phone and turns to Nadia, informing her with the glee he typically has when he's got something wounding to say to someone else:  

"I have bad news, my love.  Alejandro Almonte just killed José-Luis Álvarez."

Jail, Agua Azul:  Still shirtless Ale sits alone on his bunk, in a deep state of brooding about what has happened.  María and Macario enter, and María is smiling, at least, though at this moment, she and Pedro may be the only happy people in Agua Azul.  She tells Ale that she brought him some clothes.  Mac informs Ale that Victor already got a lawyer who is on the way right now.  María promises Ale that he'll be getting out soon, but Ale hasn't looked up yet, acknowledged her, or responded to anything either of them have said.  María seems not to notice Ale's mood of utter dejection and goes on chirpily, thanking god it was José-Luis who died and that it was all done and just, and that it gave her great pleasure to know that Ale killed J-L, but Ale has very soon had enough of her, and, finally roused, tells María to shut up and to stop with her stupidity.  Alejandro glares at María with rage; she says nothing but is peeved and tosses the clothes she brought for him into the cell.

Hospital Agua Azul:  Carlotta, Rosario, and Montse sit on a couch in the hospital waiting area, hoping to hear news of José-Luis's condition.  Montse is lamenting that Ale is so cruel and vengeful.  She notes that more than once J-L saved Ale's life and how this isn't important to Ale.  She comments that it's good that her child doesn't have Ale's name.  The doctor comes in.  He informs them that J-L is okay, that he was able to take out the bullet and now everything is in God's hands.  The women all cross themselves.  Montse asks if she can see J-L and the doctor escorts her to the room, leaving Rosario and Carlotta to give Victor the latest news about J-L's condition when he comes in a moment later to find out what's going on.

In José-Luis's hospital room, Montse sits by the bed of J-L as Esme and Refugio stand near by.  Montse urges a delirious J-L not to move and to rest and Refugio comments that they need to call Angélica.  Montse says that she (Montse) will wait and tell her (Angie) everything.

Back to Ale in the same jail cell but now, unfortunately, with a shirt.  He gets a little more animated when Victor appears to tell Ale that he came from the hospital and that J-L took a bullet in X but is still alive.  Ale wants to know what happened and Victor explains that J-L took the bullet in his lung (I think, please correct if I'm wrong).  Victor won't lie:  J-L is in a delicate state.  

Here Victor pauses and asks Ale if he regrets what he did.  Ale says something, and Victor, my favorite grammar teacher, wonders what Ale would have done (qué hubieras hecho) using the pluscuamperfecto del subjunctivo if he had been in José-Luis place.

Ale says he doesn't know, but Victor says he's sure that Ale would have pursued the woman he loved to the ends of the earth.  Ale would have done everything possible to get her back.  Ale says maybe but then says again that it doesn't matter since Montse is HIS WIFE.  If he had known she was in love with another man, he wouldn't have married her.

Victor asks Ale what he's going to do.  Ale says, Nothing--he's going to pay for crime he has committed.  He says that Mac told him that Victor got him a lawyer, but Ale claims he doesn't need one.  He doesn't want anyone to lift a finger to get him out of jail.  Victor thinks this is crazy and asks about the child, insisting that the child is Ale's.  Ale says that they still don't know that for sure, but Victor has had enough of Ale's denials and just says, "Please, Alejandro! Don't make your child hold the same kind of grudge against you that had for you father."  Ale seems to take this in and then says quietly to Victor that he (Ale) needs Victor to do something for him.   Ale needs Victor to arrange for a paternity test as soon as possible.  

Okay, says Victor, quietly.  

They exchange manly, meaningful looks to end the episode.

Avances:  Montserrat comes to the jail to deliver to Alejandro in person the results of the paternity test.  In the extra scene during Qué Pobres Tan Ricos, Rosario visits Alejandro in jail, and they embrace through the bars.  

Labels:


Comments:
Hey Friends,

Attempted quite a few screen shots, especially during the fight scene. The picture quality is better on some than others, but I hope you enjoy.

What an episode!
 

Julia, thanks for the wonderful and fun recap of such a pivotal and entertaining episode. The screen shots were great and I especially enjoyed your following creations:

"Ale is still on an interminable tour of duty in his own private WAR OF BITTERNESS AND IMPLACABLE RESENTMENT."

"Ale runs the risk of destroying his only remaining asset."

Yes, I think we were all "really bummed at this switcheroo."

The type point size representation of Maria's life.

Poor Katniss having been mentioned in the same sentence as Maria. Yikes!

Thanks, for the laughs!

Shock of shocks, my favorite part of the episode again was centered on Dimitrio. His telling Graciela off was priceless.

Sure took them long enough at the hospital for someone to think of calling Angelica about JL's situation.

Maria needs to pay for slapping Rosario. Maybe Rosario will usurp her position as "the woman of the house" at the hacienda. Wouldn't that be special?

Ale continues on in his self destructive mode wanting to take whatever punishment is due to him. At least he wants a paternity test. Looks like his realization of what an ass he has been could be just around the
corner.

Jarifa


 

Julia R:

Love all these screencaps. They are so perfect. I haven't read the recap yet, but had to tell you I love those screencaps. Fabulous!
 

Thanks, Julia. Terrific recap, loved the screen shots and captions. My picture was totally messed up during most of the "duel to the death." It did clean up so I could see the aftermath.

So did Basurto show a glimmer of ambition to find his own well-bred wife in Carlota? She deserves a man in her life, but he's not the one.

Catching up from the last couple of days: Thanks to Gloria and NovelaMaven for the Mon. and Tues. recaps. I wrote a comment yesterday, but blogger ate it.

Loved Pedro destroying the cell phone. It was only a matter of time. His rage seems to be a volcano just waiting to escape his tightly clenched face. Sendal usually has a smoother affect covering his dirty dealings. Pedro is cruel, petty, and twisted.

Dimi and Fina are most entertaining to me right now. Is there a couple here who isn't deceiving each other and concealing pertinent info?

Hoping the power stays on as we aren't enjoying much peace from storm Pax!
 

I think Alejandro is rabid. Where is Louis Pasteur when we need him?

Loved the photos and hilarious captions. Will have to savor the rest mañana.
 

Julia R:

Fabulous recap Amiga, truly fabulous from the screen shots to the most minute detail. Loved the whole splendid recap!

A duel, really????? In this day and age, for pity's sake! I suppose it was better than stalking and killing. JL, I think, has the best honor code, Ale clearly has none! I just knew that Ale would think it was a set up when he went to Monse's. Too bad he wouldn't listen. It's like when Monse talks, she is talking to the hand, cause Ale's head is stuck on stupid!

JL had some good defensive moves, better than Ale's I must say. Too bad he wasn't as quick on the draw. You were correct Julia, Ale did hit him in the lung. I hope JL recovers.

I think JL didn't tell Angie because he didn't want her to suffer a set back with her health, but I really think he should have told her the truth. It will be horrid when she finds out from Monse what happened.

Wait till Pedro and EZ find out that JL isn't dead. What will they do then? They can still charge Ale with attempted murder.

I don't blame Monse for feeling the way she does about Ale. He is a monster and needs to wake the hell up already!

BM's place in hell is set. In TNlandia you never slap a Mama! It ensures your place in hell! BM still doesn't see that Ale is so not into her. She is such a beyotch!

I too am glad that Dimwit told off Gracie. But will it last?

Can't wait for tomorrow to see what happens! Even though Ale is still Dead To Me, I still am addicted to this TN!
 

Absolutely amazing recap! I loved it! I especially enjoyed your list of Maria's life pleasures. I LOL'ed at that. She is so crazy she can't see how little Ale cares about her. He was about to go to his possible death and he was completely apathetic to her tears. I actually yelled at my TV: "Bitch! He doesn't love you! Leave him alone!"

I'm so glad this whole duel is over with, I hope now that Ale is stuck in a jail cell he'll have no choice but to listen to reason.

I still don't understand why JL would pull out his gun when Ale was unarmed? JL wanted to talk to Ale and explain things but then he decides to wait until they're about to duel to tell Ale he owes him an apology?
 

Great re-cap of a very stressful episode! Even though it's futile, I still wish Monse and her baby could end up with the "better man"--Jose Louis.
 

Julia R,

I was waiting for your recap, and I'm glad that I did. It was awesome. I found myself laughing as I read your clever asides and details. I was happy to laugh at such an intense epi.

Here were some of my favs:

-"It's a thorn in his manly breast"
-"Sorry, Gracie, but it looks like DIM maybe is just beginning to sprout some avocados,"
-"ALEJANDRO. Hating Montse.
Being mean to others, especially Rosario. Clothes. Fruit. Cock fights."

-"...the man with the worst timing in the world."
-"I didn't mind so much then, but this time, I AM REALLY BUMMED at this switcheroonie."
-"...speaking of obsessive, delusional hunks, it's none other than the murderously-inclined Alejandro himself!"
-"Back OUTSIDE Mansion Mendoza again, the conversation has not yet wound its way to an offer of a hot beverage."

These are just a few of my favorites.

I was happy to see Dimi stand up to his mother once again, and tell her to stay out of his marriage with Fina. I think he's finally starting his break away from the apron strings.

I will admit that I was looking forward to the meeting between Montse and Ale. But then JL, the man with the worst timing (as Julia R. noted)shows up and then refuses to leave. He was beginning to remind me of the JL from the hacienda. He was being necio! Hard-headed! Just like when Montse would plead with him to leave the hacienda with no avail. Once again, we had to witness that side of JL. The whiny, insistent JL was back! For a second, I thought he was going to start sweating. And I didn't see it as a good thing that the moment JL came back into town he went to see Montse instead of going home to his sick wife.

The confrontation, FINALLY! We had been waiting for so long. I am glad that it wasn't long and drawn out. I went back and watched the moment when the shots were fired several times; Ale's gun did go off first, but JL's went off immediately after. So to me, they both shot at each other. Ale's hit and JL's didn't. For a second I didn't know if anyone had gotten shot. When JL went down, I knew he wasn't dead. I knew that if he hadn't been shot in the head or directly in the heart (which would be difficult to do) he would still be alive.

Ale seems to be in some state of shock now. To me, the look on Ale's face after seeing JL lying on the beach, was of disbelief. It was like he couldn't believe that he actually shot JL. He had been thinking about it for so long, and now that it happened I don't think he feels vindicated. He feels guilty because he doesn't even want to defend himself. He wants to stay in jail and pay for his crime.

I liked the fact that Ale wanted to give his name to the baby (even though Montse would not want to). No matter what, he knows that baby is innocent. Question is how will he react when he finds out the results of the DNA test, and that Rosario is his mama while in jail?

BTW, why does Montse insist on telling Ale that JL didn't do anything to him when we all know that HE DID?!?!?!?!

Gotta get some sleep...hasta pronto!
 

Excellent, Julia. Not a word that doesn't work.

Tonight's episode is Must-See TV; that's all I'll say about it.

Telling off Graceless hasn't worked so far; I haven't counted how many times Monserrat has done it to no avail. Dimwit's efforts won't be effective at this stage if at all.

The way she pimps her own children is beyond disgusting. Somebody needs to ask her why the hell she doesn't just get a job. I forgot how many times she has slapped Monse, but I hope when she tries it the next time Monse stops her cold. The first time I did that to my mother I was younger than Monse is now and it was the last time she tried (not that it stopped her insults or that it would stop Graceless').

Maria's body language is showing more and more evidence of what a monster she is. Her shoulders are starting to make her look like a latter-day bride of Frankenstein.

Where the hell are Nadia's parents?

Why did nobody try to tell Alejandro that dueling has been illegal for almost two centuries? Otherwise what was the point of updating this story? Oh, I know; they don't want to spend the dinero to make a novela de epoca.

While this episode was well-written and performed I hope that the Televisa writers learn that updating a novela de epoca to the present day isn't as easy as they might have thought.

When Monserrat turned up in that blue dress I was cringing. She should have allowed her mother to leave and then changed into something else. She isn't a whore like her mother and should not have allowed her to have the last word on a situation that she was angry about herself.

Finally, this shooting looks like it's the wake-up call Alejandro needed. It looks like he's lost the rage, but not the depression. At least he thought of the baby and how he doesn't deserve to suffer the same rejection. But I will never stop hating the gun culture that infects the Americas. It does nothing positive.
 

My goodness Julia, you knocked it out of the park with this sparkling recap and awesome pictures. Here are just a few of the gems I noticed:

"interminable tour of duty in his own private WAR OF BITTERNESS AND IMPLACABLE RESENTMENT."

"Back outside Mansion Mendoza again, the conversation has not yet wound its way to an offer of a hot beverage"[clever transition. those are so hard.]

"hits replay on his favorite personal soundtrack of recrimination"

and my favorite photo caption of all time
"Ale runs the risk of destroying his only remaining asset."

Have to rush off to work so will read the comments later. But wow...thanks. Quite an episode. Look forward to watching it later today.
 

Julia's jewel. Sensational.

In addition to your delightful “bachelor behind the door” comments, “interminable tour of duty in his own private WAR OF BITTERNESS AND IMPLACABLE RESENTMENT”, “It's a thorn in his manly breast”, “all credit to the actors for making it feel fresh and awful for us viewers every freaking time”, “DIM maybe is just beginning to sprout some avocados, though I'm convinced no one in this telenovela will ever have a set as big as YOURS” were splendid. My favorite was your amazing “Hating Montse.
Being mean to others, especially Rosario. Clothes. Fruit. Cock fights.”

Your screen shots and detailed, fabulously written recap were beyond stellar. The Samuel Johnson quote? Perfect.

I continue to cringe at Ale's vile words to Monse. I understand that he was upset to find JL there (the man has the world's worst timing), but his reaction was again monstrous (to quote Monse).

La Paloma “So did Basurto show a glimmer of ambition to find his own well-bred wife in Carlota?” What an interesting speculative comment! You may be on to something there…

Madelaine, you echoed my thoughts about the duel – really, in this day and age? And of course UA you were "on target" (sorry, couldn't resist) with "Why did nobody try to tell Alejandro that dueling has been illegal for almost two centuries?" Amen. That said, I could not tear my eyes away!

Did anyone else think JL deliberately missed? I would be surprised if Ale's firearm skills were on the same par as JL's.

Lily, agree that jail may force Ale to finally listen to reason - simply because he can't walk away or storm into his den.

Only upbeat moment was Victor's unrestained glee that Ale was going to see Monse and Maria's clear annoyance.

Once the paternity test results are revealed, I can only hope that Ale feels terrible remorse for denying his son and that he spends every waking moment showering Lauro with the love and affection he himself never received.

Although I am looking forward to that scene, it appears Rosario may impart her great secret to Ale tonight. I'm going to be sure I have plenty of kleenex on hand.

Julia, thank you for this wonderful, wonderful recap.

Diana
 

Carolina, I also wanted JL to end up with Monse (bachelor #1, thanks Julia). But Angelica is so lovely, she has totally won me over. I hope she lives long enough to hear JL say the words she has longed for him to say, I love you.

Even if Angelica does not survivie (speculation only), I think the time for JL and Monse has passed. We are fairly assured of the inevitable outcome, that Monse will end up with Ale. I heave a sorrowful sigh.

But yes, I do want someone better for Monse. Many of us are hoping (and this has been noted before) that bachelor #3 will waltz in and save the day.

Diana
 

The idea of Basurto pursuing Carlota is horrific. This man is almost as much a monster as his boss. I can see them eventually turning on each other. The whole thing about "minding your place" is what decided that.
 

WOW!! Julia! Loving this JUMBO recap. . .not finished yet but Maria's interests represented in font side is hilarious! Cockfights made the list as is very appropriate for this episode, BM missed it but we didn't. Can't wait to read the rest. Thank you!

Lila
 

Wow! Julia R., this was simply fantastic. I couldn't bring myself to watch last night, so I appreciate the lovely detail and the screen shots. Perhaps I'll watch it later today on this snow day.

Well, it seems that now that his blood lust has been satisfied, Ale can finally start to think clearly. We'll see, I guess. Looking forward to him being hit with the truth about his mother and his child.

JL is a crack shot. If he missed it's because he didn't intend to hit Ale, or was too wounded to aim accurately.
 

Brilliant Julia. Don't know how you did it, but you put a stellar recap together of an episode that I basically watched shaking my head in disbelief.

Let me echo a sentiment from Mads: "A duel. Really????" I just wanted to throttle both these macho he-men and tell them to park the testosterone. This whole duel was the stupidest thing to be seen by two supposedly smart 21st century men ever. I could maybe see guns drawn in the heat of an argument, but the High Noon aspect of this was lost on me. Both these idiots need to be slapped up the side of the head.
And JL has a dying wife and he pulls this??? Poor Angie. So much for her final days being happy ones? Good one dude.

The one positive in all this was ignoring the antics and just focusing on the shirtless moments. At least we got that bone thrown to us.

So now we have poor Ale in jail and everyone still coddling and feeling bad for him. This is going to be hard to swallow. I hope he does have to stay there for awhile. I'm sure Pedro will try to make that happen.

And what will Maria do now? Perish the thoughts.

Daisynjay
 

Hi Everyone,

Thanks so much to you all for reading and commenting on the recap today. It really means a lot to me. I wish I had time to respond to each of you individually, but, per usual, Thursday is my busiest teaching schedule, and I have a class I'm taking tonight, so I just don't think I'll have time.

Just wanted to add that I thought it was impressive that the writers of this TN staged the long-awaited encounter between J-L and Ale AND their fight on the same night. I haven't been watching TNs too long, but I would guess that a more conventional team could have drawn these two events out for episodes.

With much affection for you all! --Julia R
 

Julia: This is an absolutely wonderful recap. You are creative and inventive and didn't miss a thing. Thanks.

I never thought of Basurto and Carlotta. At first blush he doesn't seem to be all that ambitious, but, Pedro really pushed his buttons. Maybe pursuing Carlotta will be his revenge.

Also, I had the feeling that JL pulled his punches. He is well trained in martial arts and marksmanship. I thought he would have it all over Ale and could have ended that fight before it began. He is also a trained tactician. So, what happened? OK, the writers had to let him live and put Ale in jail because that is the only place he will sit still long enough for Rosario and Montse to talk to him and where Maria can't throw them off the trail.
 

Pasofino: Enjoyed your comments, particularly "the writers had to let him live and put Ale in jail because that is the only place he will sit still long enough for Rosario and Montse to talk to him and where Maria can't throw them off the trail". Oh my so true!

Julia, hope all your classes go well today!

Diana
 

I'm here to defend Alex and support Aunty Ann. Jose Luis is a moron. He pulls a gun on Alex, accepts his challenge to a duel and then leaves his dying wife to fight over another man's wife. Did we even know for sure that Alex is the one that shot him? Did Joaquin know they were there?
 

Dear Julia Rold:

If you squint very hard, you will see The Patio on its feet, cheering and applauding. What a spectacular job you have done today -- not only have you given us a superbly written recap, but also GRAPHIC ART, smartly-chosen screen caps cleverly captioned, and even a smidgeon of grammar. Bravo, Julia!

The writers seem to have elbowed the monkeys out of the room long enough to set up the long-dreaded macho match-up. Are we to see this as an exorcism of Alejandro's demons? Was this violent and intimate explosion of passionate hatred an echo of the DimFina scene of the night before? Of the 6 minute scene a few weeks ago?

On a dramatic level, it works brilliantly. Maybe we should just leave it at that.

José Luis, I'm not happy with you. Instead of going home to your wife, you insinuate your old whiny aggressive self back into Montserrat's life at the worst possible moment. You ignore her when she begs you to leave.

And then you have the nerve to tell Refugio that you have no choice but to keep your appointment with destiny because you are a man of your word! PALABRA! Bah! What about your word to Angelica?

Don't you dare die on her!

[And then there's Maria slapping Rosario -- oh no! That may have been the single most shocking moment of the evening.]
 

Wonderful, Julia! Finally an exciting episode and you did it more than justice.

OK - Ale has finally, finally hit bottom and we can get past this point. So glad to be past this.

I agree that JL had no intention to shoot Ale. I didn't even realize JL's gun had gone off. He waited for Ale to shoot, and JL is a crack shot.

I couldn't believe Monse came down the stairs looking like the pimped one again. She feels like she's on sale again - yet she still does it? Her mother still has an unbelievable influence over her.

Everything changed for JL once he learned that Monse lied to him and that Ale kicked a pregnant Monse out of his home and abandoned her. He wouldn't have married Angelica if he had known.
 

Wow, Julia, impressive!!! Wit and humor in every line. I can't do the font like you but, IMHO, this was the inspired line of the night:

ALEJANDRO. Hating Montse.
Being mean to others, especially Rosario. Clothes. Fruit. Cock fights.

I also loved your comments under the screen caps: "Ale is running the risk of losing his last asset" and "here's hoping we can move past this storyline"!!! Hilarious.

I got my wish snd Ale is in the lockup. Daisynjay, I too hope he stays there a while. He needs a huge helping of humble pie. Hopefully he will scrub toilets, peel potatoes and make license plates and finally realize he's not all that.

Did I hear in avances last night that next show isn't til Monday?!!! My DVR shows a recording tonight but I swear I heard "lunes".


 

Julia R! Thank you for this splendiferous recap of last night's exciting episode! I'm glad I watched but the detail and screencaps serve perfectly even without watching!

So many funny lines and editorial comments as well!

This elicits sort of flabbergasted, Jeez-we're-two-regular-Mexican-guys-but-even-we-can't-freaking-believe-this-retro-macho-posturing-crap looks from both Mac and Vic. . ."

did he actually take a shower before his duel?--

Ale runs the risk of destroying his only remaining asset

Now, if I hadn't watched, the beginning of this line would have been tantalizing: José-Luis lifts his weapon. . . Hee Hee!

Yah, anyway, Ale's encountering JL at Montse's. . .danggit! The whole world keeps confirming Ale's alternate world view in which Montse is eeevil incarnate!

Loved the dripping wet beefcake on the beach. I was actually shouting to JL to "beat his ass!" The licks JL got in felt great! Glad JL didn't die. Didn't like JL and Montse continuing to lie. Love Montse and Dim telling Mumsie to butt out of their private lives.

Loved Montse snuffing out that candle with her bare hand -- damn girl! And she was absolutely gorgeous in that blue dress and ponytail. Blue's my fave color and that blue was fittingly vibrant and electric.

So after all this, the big dummy realizes none of this is the child's fault and wants to bestow his about-to-be-murderous apellido on the little blond cherub whom, if the idiot would just look at him, he would immediately see is his son. BIG DUMMY!

Let him go Montse! Can you see Ale at a parent-teacher conference after little Laurito gets bad grade on something!? Sheesh!

Love the previews. Thank you writers for Montse personally delivering the DNA results! And will Rosie finally claim this rage-filled spawn of hers! More importantly, can she chill him out!

Thank you Julia R. Totally enjoyed this!!

Lila
 

Katy:

Robo is on tonight. You may have caught something different. I checked my cable guide and it is on the rest of the week, same time, same channel ; )
 

Hey guys, seems AB and SR are going to be on El Gordo y La Flaca. . .not in the studio seems like maybe an on-site (probably brief) interview. I don't normally watch their show but I think they do these spots on the hot novelas of the moment.

Lila
 

WOW, Julia R. You are on fire. I haven't finished the recap yet, but I loved the captioned photos, especially the one with Mony reflecting that she was "worth it." When you are hot, you are hot. However, my favorite was your use of type size to give us a list of MALria's favorite things..great. No whispers on kittens and girls in white dresses or snowflakes that melt on her nose and eyelashes for this chick. The Sound of Maria.

And that rumble at the beach...and the rains came and we got some wet pants, but not the good kind like DamFine's wet, white pants. Meh

Well, it is snowing steadily here . It started last night , and it looks like we will be getting a lot of snow today. The plows, as usual, have knocked over our mailbox. Well, reading the recap and comments will be a diversion in between chores. I am feeling trapped. Thanks, Julia R. for this wonderful retelling of all the crazy business .
 

Wow, Julia, what a great recap and great photos and captions. My favorite caption:

"And yet I suppose I AM worth it"

Yes, Montserrat, you're all that... and more.

UA,

Yes indeed, dueling certainly did go out of style quite some time ago, but if they were going to resurrect it to settle this matter, at least they could have had the grace to follow the strict rules that go with it. Two angry guys showing up on a beach with guns does not a proper duel make. Tacky... how sad that we often ignore the etiquette of our time honored traditions these days.

Gee... that evening planned by Graciela had such potential. I think that Montse might have dressed a bit more modestly considering, but she certainly seemed hopeful that it might just work. The fact that Ale even showed up (gunless) at all suggested that maybe it wasn't such a bad idea after all... what might have been.

And some of you were rooting for JL?

Carlos
 

I just read yesterday's later postings and found this wonderful quote Carlos posted which I am taking the liberty to re-post. I found that I have been drawn in by Pedro's/Sergio's acting the past few nights and this captures why perfectly:

"As many here, up till now I've been somewhat disappointed in Sergio Sendel, but now I see that he is brilliantly developing this character by unfolding his personality bit by excruciating bit. We know so much and yet so little about Pedro..."

Diana
 

Mads,

Thanks so much! What a relief! I'm so addicted to this show, warts and all! And won't that be a killer scene when Montsy shoves that paternity test in Ales face? Bwahahaha!

I hope they replay that bonus scene with Rosario at the jail.

Susanlynn, hang in there! This is our first real snow in the DC metro area in a long time so it's really exciting. But I can see how it could old for the folks who keep getting pounded!;)

 

Katy..yes..it is getting old. We have been getting about one good snowfall EVERY week...for weeks starting before Christmas. I have lived here my whole life, and in recent years , we have had very mild winters , so this winter is like the old days. To tell the truth, the farmers around here need snow in the winter to make sure that the crops will have enough ground water in the spring....okay...we have enough now. I am feeling trapped. We clean up from one snow. Then, a few days later, we have another storm. The snow is really piling up around here. We live on two acres of land, but our daughter lives in a townhouse...nowhere to go with the snow. So far, our mailbox has been knocked over by the snow plows at least four times. We may have to shovel off the deck as there is twelve inches on it already.

Mony's little sleeveless dresses are getting me DOWN, --Susanlynn, wearing a turtleneck, a sweatshirt, jeans, socks...meh
 

Julia thanks for your wonderful recap. Your "implacable resentment" was so appropriate for Ale and reminded of a real galan, Mr. Darcy. Your pic and captions was great too.

Truly hope Ale has now hit rock bottom. I wonder what type of atonement the writers have in store for him? Still hoping for galan #3.

Lila, yes Ale now that you are in jail for attempted murder give the baby your name. What a winner.

Susanlynn, thanks for remembering the Damfine moment. ITA about feeling trapped. I think we're supposed to have about 1.5 feet of snow by the end of Pax.

Carlos, thanks for sharing another gem with us: "Yes indeed, dueling certainly did go out of style quite some time ago, but if they were going to resurrect it to settle this matter, at least they could have had the grace to follow the strict rules that go with it. Two angry guys showing up on a beach with guns does not a proper duel make. Tacky... how sad that we often ignore the etiquette of our time honored traditions these days."

 

Susanlynn and Karen, we were in the same pattern until a couple of weeks or so when the jet stream changed which gave the west coast some much needed snow, took us off the snow train but unfortunately you guys are still riding the rails! Sorry! We do have a good 2 feet on the ground that varies from place to place due to drifting. We're on a 4th day without snow (falling, that is)! And freezing cold! It is like the old days where we didn't see the bare ground for three months or more!

Hang in there!

Lila
 

I had a lab appointment this morning because there was a screw up last week, so I went in. Wish my shrink had called before I had a big breakfast before going to the subway; I could have saved some dinero.

To have a preemption tonight would be dire cruelty.
 

Whoa! Sorry, Urban, feel better!

Lila
 

Reagarding the surf side duel, in Alborada ,Diego (JL here) was the villain. He had a duel with the galan's best friend Cristobal' (a former priest). Cristobal shot into the sky, but Diego just smirked and shot Cristobal , wounding him badly. Now, it looks as if JL decided to be noble/stupid and not to shot to kill or hit Ale. The whole idea of a duel in the present day was dumb. If you are going to remake a historical novela in the present day, you have got to change certain plot points...LIKE A DUEL.

And what is it with these dudes putting the pistols in their pants ? ... not wise.
 

Anyone dumb enough to put a pistol in the waistband of the pants should read this apocryphal story. Just a suggestion.

There must have been a better way to do this, but I can't think of it right now. This weather makes me want to go to sleep.
 

I don't see how Ale can ever have a satisfactory redemption now. He tried to murder JL. It was only a fluke that JL didn't die. Ale's actions are as repugnant as if he did die.

How can the monkeys write their way out of this? Huge brain tumor? Demonic possession? Homicidal multiple personality disorder which can be cured by encouraging him to embrace his slutty tendencies, like in CCEA? Ale doesn't merely need to learn a few lessons and grow up, like most flawed leads. He needs a complete personality transplant and a reset button to start life over and try again.

Loved Dimitrio telling his metiche mama to stay out of his and Josefina's lives. About time.

Dueling is so stupid. I wonder how often, in the old tradition of dueling, the winner actually ended up with the lady and how often she just told them both to go to hell because she doesn't want to be with a hotheaded moron.
 

yes, UA, I agree . ..this snowy, cold winter has made me feel like hibernating. I have to prod myself to keep moving...laundry, correcting tests, and making a big pot of chicken noodle soup. Also, I am getting nervous about that snow piling up higher and higher on the deck. I think I will layer on a coat, scarf, and boots and help Hub to shovel some of the snow off so that the deck does not end up on the patio below.....yikes.

stay warm...stay safe...no duels today
 

Julia...Yes, Ale has gone around the bend, and no amount of life coaching can save him from himself. ...at the moment. However, he most likely will end up with the leading lady.....because SR is the lead actor. Therefeore, he will be together with Mony at the end for a happily ever after. Que? In my opinion, some people are so damaged, it seems that they can never redeem themselves in real life or in novelas. When you are dealing with a messed up , damaged person in real life , there are no magical transformations....but in novelas...there are. Some how, some way, the writers will sell us on Ale's reformation into a good guy and he will end up with the beautiful wife, adorable child, and the big hacienda. Meh. Huh .What possible penance can Ale pay that will save him from all the grief and torment he has spread around ?
 

Thank you for that awesome recap, I was off with my boyfriend and by the time we got to his place the telenovela was over, I'm looking forward to seeing it tonight although with the recap I feel like I saw the episode.

PS: Katniss Everdeen rules!
 

Just saw the end of the ep and haven't read the recap or comments. Ale's gone to jail and yes I am so happy. I hope he rot in there. Looked like JL had a chance to shoot first and didn't. Who's the galan in this TN?
 

I was kind of hoping this novela would take a sharp left turn away from the formula and JL and Ale would wrestle their way into the ocean and both drown because they wouldn't let go.
 

I've only got to Jarifa's comment. Wow!!! I missed a good one!!! I can't wait to watch tonight.
 

Should be *rots*
 

Julia...Yes, I got a strange "From Here to Eternity" / ,"Beach Blanket Bingo" vibe while the two guys were wrestling in the surf.
 

OMG that was a GREAT episode and a PERFECT recap. Loved the pictures you included. I am so glad Dimitrio finally is acknowledging his Wife and maybe growing some advocados.

I am so hooked on this novela and this Blog.

I do have a question.....where is this filmed? I love that beach they keep going to?
 

Julia,

"Dueling is so stupid."

When he was a child my grandfather and his schoolmates witnessed a duel from the windows of their schoolhouse. Two local ranchers decided upon the schoolyard for the site to settle their scores. In an absurd affirmation of your statement the unfortunate choice of weapons was shotguns. Pistols at least offer the opportunity of missing the target but shotguns at close range pretty much guarantee that you'll hit your mark. The predictable result was that both participants perished... one right away and the other (I guess he could have been ruefully declared the winner) died a few days later.

Susanlynn,

At least the duel in Alborada followed the rules. While rather ungallant, Diego was well within his rights to shoot Cristobal.

I wonder if after JL recovers a bit, he will be jailed for attempted murder as well? Maybe he and Alejandro will share a cell and get a chance to discuss their differences and swap stories. I'm hoping that this will be an opportunity to see our Televisa rats.

Carlos
 

Shotguns... dueling should always be limited to sabres which only do slash cuts. It's hard to kill that way unless you go for the carotid artery.

I was unable to find out when laws about dueling changed in Mexico, but the info I found about the US and Britain said that military officers were still prone to it for a while after civilian law made it illegal.

Which again makes me state that Maria is a total idiot for thinking that there wouldn't be consequences for the survivor.
 

JuliaR. Stellar recap. You had me in stitches. Everyone else has mentioned the numerous funnies that you inserted in your recap. I love your recaps.

Ale’s treatment of Maria has changed. He’s gone from affection to indifference to dislike.

OK Mons picks NOW to bring up that JL saved Ale’s life more than once. She couldn’t have mentioned this earlier. I know it probably wouldn’t have made any difference, but it might have let a little air out of Ale’s self-righteous balloon.

Here's hoping you're wrong about Carlotta and EZ. Unless he's redeemable, I don't want to see her with him. She's going to get so hurt.
 

UA..."Maria is a total idiot "...yes, it has been a recurring theme in this novela.

Julia R...I got a good giggle out of your reference to MALria's Hunger Games look. She dies always seem to be hungry. She had better watch that couch snacking, or she will have to size up on her leggings .
 

Julia what a masterfully clever recap. Just finished. Starting to read the comments.

Hope we don't have to watch Maria enter the hospital with a knife to finish the job she illogically thought would be the best outcome.

That dress Montse had on for the rendezvous was about as cualquiera as it could get. She should have dressed like the mother she is now, stylish but a little more discrete.
 

So much has been said about "the duel" from last nights epi. I know that many of you see it as stupid, childish and downright out of date. I didn't see it so much as a duel, but more as a confrontation. We all knew that this was going to happen. Ale and JL were going to have to see each other again, and we all knew that the results would not be good. It would only be a duel to me if, as Carlos stated, it had been done correctly. So, I for one, cannot label it a duel. It was a confrontation, with hunky men, wet shirts, bare chests, and guns for the added element of danger. I am glad that we didn't have to wait any longer for this to happen.

Julia R,
I forgot to mention how much I loved your screen shots. I LOL at:
"Fancy meeting you here!"

"And yet I suppose I AM worth it."

"Ale runs the risk of destroying his only remaining asset"

"Jeez, die already, J-L!"

I forgot to mention in my earlier comment how much I loath BM. Especially after she slapped Rosario. She has worn out her stay. She's like that piece of gum that sticks to the bottom of your shoe that simply won't come off. Ale needs to get rid of those shoes and throw them in the trash.

LOVED the scene where Victor rubbed it in BM's face that Ale had gone to see Montse by raising his arms in the air as if to say, TOUCHDOWN!

Cynderella,
I will have to investigate your theory of Joaquin being in the area during the confrontation. We must not forget that Joaquin did try to shoot JL before. Hmmm...

back to work...hasta pronto!
 

I liked the color of her dress, but the cut had a strong whiff of olde-tymey brothel madame.
 

Oh, and talk about dueling being so 19th Century. If it were two narco-criminals staking out territory I would have expected them to try to take each other out, but not by themselves on a beach at dawn in the rain.

What will CRAZY Pedro think of next. Is he serious? He's a possessively-obsessive husband who beat her supposed lover nearly to death and threatened her and now he's allowing her to sleep with Victor and get pregnant? Give me a BREAK.

BTW, I just loved Julia's visual hierarchy of Maria's interests in life--glad fruit and cock fights were included.
 

But how would Joaquin know where to go on this? Angelica wouldn't have told him (I don't think they're speaking) and I don't think he's following him around.

In fact, I doubt he would want to be anywhere near that scene out of concern that he would need a good alibi since his disapproval of the marriage of JL and Angelica was too well known among his immediate acquaintances.
 

Anita,
ITA,"That dress Montse had on for the rendezvous was about as cualquiera as it could get." I was a bit surprised when I saw her. But let us not forget that she is her mothers daughter.
 

Hide all the fruit!

Pedro is a sick sadist. There is some nasty secret about him we don't know and nothing has been said of his past. He has no relatives nor has he spoken of any.

Here's something no novela seems to have done before: What if he is a transsexual who used to be a woman? That would explain a lot.
 

I think Pedro just gets off on control. He wanted to control Nadia and keep her away from Victor. Now he wants to coerce her to have a baby and then dump Victor. That combined with the political ambitions makes me think that what her really wants is to be a puppeteer. It doesn't matter all that much what people are doing, as long as he is the one making them do it.
 

I'm sorry but I'm not team Montse at all!!! Montse has always been a liar and always justifies her rationale for it. Even when given the chance to tell the truth, she lies. For example, last night when she was asked by the ladies if Ale came by she lied and said NO. In addition, as Jl was leaving, she held onto his hand a little too lovingly in my eyes for a so called "married" woman. She didn't even have the respect for Rosario as Alejandro 's mom. MO she strings jail along too much and is bit firm enough with him when she tells him to go away. She should have reminded him last night that he has a sick wife at home who needs him. Yes I know that Alejandro has been acting like a douchebag but come on all the lies she has told him and all the games she has played who could believe her. Even earlier in the story when she had a chance to tell the truth she preferred to seduce him to get his mind off of what she was hiding. Although I don't agree with Graciela she was right when she called Montse on her lies and told her what did she expect Alejandro to think after he found out the truth. Imagine as a woman or man that the proclaimed love of your spouses life was unknowingly living under your roof, what would you as a person feel and do. I would go crazy and think I've been played for a fool.
 

FINALLY!!!!!!! Tamara2, if I were lesbian I would date you!
 

Julia, thanks for the recap!
 

Thanks Cynderella. It's been a horrible day but you just made me LAUGH OUT LOUD! Hope you have a terrific Valentine's Day, lady. I love your sense of humor.
 

Tamara2,

How about joining us (well...me) for a drink here at Mesa María? No matter what your opinion of María may be, we certainly share some similar thoughts about Montserrat.

Carlos
 

Tamara2, Carlos, and Cynderella, I have to speak in Monse's defense. You write as though she had malicious intent in her lies when all the while she was trying to avoid the ugly confrontation that took place in this episode. She does not have the life experience to know another way to do this. She was only 19 years old in the opening episode and fresh out of a convent school.

Thus far she has been under her mother's thumb and ruled by her fears for and sense of guilt about her family. She tried to protect her father from too much ugly stuff that would upset him. Dimwit knew this and he unleashed the ugly truths that ultimately killed their father despite the final words coming from Alejandro (who wouldn't have said them without Maria starting off and he felt there was no holding back).

Graciela has no business calling Monserrat out on lies because her own were so much bigger and nastier. Graciela is also a murderess and would have no conscience about doing it again. I predict she will try eventually.

There will be a time when Monserrat will cut the puppet strings and I think that time is very soon. I can't wait for the day when she slaps her mother right back.
 

Cynderella...you always give me a giggle, girl.
 

Julia:

Thank you so much for this wonderful recap. I was so appalled by the episode that I was sorry that you caught it.

I agree with Julia. Alejandro is rabid. That is a great explanation for his insane behavior.

I am late to commenting, but please know that I appreciate how much effort you put into this marvelous recap.

Elna June


 

Tamara2,
I just lost my comment, but I had to ask where have you been? I TOTALLY AGREE with what you said about Montse and her lies. Thank You!

Back to work...hasta pronto!
 

I agree with UA and her assessment of Mons. I do think that Ale had a reason for being hurt, upset, etc.--but his extreme, vicious and unreasonable reactions to what went down has cleared my conscious about feeling no sympathy for him.

Flaco just asked me if this TN was almost over. I said, dude, there are at least 80-100 more eps to go. He felt like the duel kind of set us up for ultimas semanas, I guess.
 

I am SO incredibly late to this wonderful party. Work seems to always get in the way.

Julia...you had me literally on the edge of my seat!!! I SO wanted to quickly glance forward to see the end, but I said to myself, "No, Fatima, don't do it!" I was good. I didn't scan ahead.

HOLY COW!! I was glued to my Kindle Fire as I read this. What a story you told, Julia!!!

Aunty Ann: "Anita,
ITA,"That dress Montse had on for the rendezvous was about as cualquiera as it could get." I was a bit surprised when I saw her. But let us not forget that she is her mothers daughter." You've really got me thinking about that last sentence.

NovelaMaven thank you for that shout out from yesterday. I am just relieved today that we finally have forward movement on this TN.

Fatima
 

Not any more.

At least this isn't a comedy being turned into a thriller or vice versa, which would be worse.
 

Uh. . .ill-conceived, Gracie-inspired or not Montse was meeting with her husband to talk some sense into him and hopefully punctuate the talk with some carnal persuasion. She was not meeting the Padre to study the Bible!

Lila
 

Fatima,
I was surprised when I saw Montse in that dress because I didn't think she would go through with her mother's suggestion of seducing her husband. I was confused about why she was doing it. To get back with Ale, or to get Ale to not confront JL. And even though Montse is not like her mother, she learned how to lie by Gracie's example.
 

I was thinking that she would change as soon as Graceless was out of the house, but didn't have time.
 

I thought Montsy looked fabulous in that dress. She really couldn't have borrowed something from Aunt Carlotta, and that dress did not come out of Gracie's closet.
 

She was gorgeous and the dress was beautiful. I think she didn't initially want to go along with it but finally thought she would try one more time. This would be the first time she'd ever been that close to Ale and for a few moments it looked like she was going to get through. Can't wait to see what Ale does when he gets the DNA results and they'd better not insert some stupid unseen intervention of somebody having screwed with the results!

Lila
 

*that close to Ale and alone since the breakup.

Lila
 

Julia R. - What a blast! The recap and photo captions were hysterical.
 

Regardless of why Montse wore that dress, I DO agree that she looked fabulous in it. And I do think that Ale was extremely close to giving in, if JL hadn't shown up. The sparks were flying last night between Montse and Ale in that office.
 

Wish i could watch this, but your recaps are sufficient for the time being. and the screen shots are just so juicy.
 





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