Friday, May 09, 2014

Lo que la vida me robó, ep. 128, Fri., 5/9/14: How's Tricks?


Graciela, foul trickster and serial Apple picker* sits with her latest victim, Josefina Valverde, and parlays a few facts -- 

-Josefina has returned to Aguazul.
-Josefina is looking for Rosario.
-Nadia has called Josefina's phone.

-- into a full-blown Holmesian deduction:

-Someone has asked Josefina to find Rosario.
-If Nadia is alive, then that damned bastard Alejandro has also survived.
-Josefina is here on Alejandro's behalf.

Josefina remains silent.


[*The increasingly common crime of stealing someone's iPhone has become known as Apple picking.]  

Love the one you're with, part one:

Dimitrio has an eye --> mind experience as he sits in Mónica's living room, a delivery pizza untouched on the coffee table in front of him: 
In the public square of AguazulDimitrio declares his undying love for Josefina.

Mónica's entrance brings him back to the present.  He turns away from the image in his memory, and focuses his attention on the comely Capt. Rentería.  

Love the one you're with, part two:

Meanwhile, in a nice bit of symmetry, Refugio's fantasies stray to the captain.  In his dreams, Mónica beckons provocatively.  Me gustas muchísimo, Refugio, she says with a sly smile.  Then her image morphs to that of his very real, very pregnant wife.  Esmeralda apologizes for waking him up -- it's just that she has to get up to pee so many times at night.  She settles back into bed with him and wants to cuddle.  He joins her in an unenthusiastic spoon.

Graciela has cracked Josefina open like a coconut.  
Now she knows all about Alejandro's fate (though not about his miraculous awakening and his still incredibly well-muscled thighs.)  Graciela says it's all very sad.  But she disagrees vigorously with Josefina's insistence that Montserrat be told the truth.   Montse has suffered enough.  She finally has a chance to start a happy life with José Luis (and all his money, though Graciela doesn't mention this).  If Montserrat learns that Alejandro is alive, she will leave José Luis (and Graciela will lose her life-time annuity, though she doesn't mention that either).

Josefina is still not convinced.  Alejandro needs Montserrat.  But Graciela begs Josefina to say nothing.

Carlota (who is perhaps wearing padding to appear a bit plumper so she can later look slimmer as a result of embracing a proprietary diet system that is too embedded in the plot to remove, but is apparently only available in Mexico) bubbles cheerily that she and Montserrat can start looking at wedding gowns the next day.  She says goodnight and heads for home.

Laurito has dozed off on a couch.  José Luis scoops him up in his arms and carries him off to bed.  Montserrat smiles.

Graciela tries to break down Josefina's resistance.  

After Alejandro was revealed as an imposter, Montserrat's marriage to him was considered invalid; and poor Laurito was nobody's child.  What nobility on the part of José Luis to offer to recognize Lauro as his own son.

As noble as JL's behavior may be, JL isn't his father, says Josefina.  And Laurito deserves to know that his father is still alive.  It is Montserrat who must decide whether to marry José Luis or stand by Alejandro.

"I beg you -- give Montserrat a chance to be happy."  Graciela's eyes fill with tears; she kneels, reaches out for Josefina's hands and kisses them.  [Blech.] "Just think about it." 

Turning Tricks 

The Hunting of the Skank

A bluesy background beat.  A man is driving down the dark streets as if in search of something or someone.  He stops a girl with long dark hair.  Is she the one who stole his wallet?  And we see that the driver is Adolfo, one predator stalking another.  (Whatever the girl's sins, we are hoping he never finds her.)

This isn't the one.  He drives a little further.  

Hey!  I've been looking for you!

He sees another girl with long dark hair.  He yells at her to approach the car.  He peers at her face in the obscurity of the night.   And then he recognizes her -- it's María!  She doesn't seem to know him.  She looks confused.  He tells her to get in the car so he can take her to his house.  She'll do it, she says, but it will cost him 1000 pesos for the night  -- 500 more and she'll clean the house.

Tango!

Only nobody is dancing.  Alejandro sits alone in the dark and has a sad Eye -->  Mind moment:
Te amo tanto Montserrat...más que me vida...Yo tambien te amo Alejandro...

Alejandro vows to kill Pedro Medina.  He swears to the dead (but as we know, not really) Montserrat that he's going to find the maldita persona who shot her (though only The Patio knows that it was María, not Pedro, who pulled the trigger).

A transparent trick that fails...

José Luis and Montserrat tuck Laurito into bed. Montse goes back to her room for a sweater so she can walk him to the outside gate.  He stops her.   He can walk Laurito to school in the morning if she lets him stay the night.  He makes his move...

Adolfo guides zombie María into his house and then picks her up and carries her to his bedroom.  She is soooooo tired.

Montserrat extricates herself from JL's rather loutish lunge.  

And then, gentle reader, she apologizes.  It's just that things are moving too fast.  JL understands.  He has waited years for this moment -- he can certainly wait another month.

Adolfo tucks María into bed.  

He removes her shoes and looks at them for a moment  -- one red, one black, both sadly tawdry.  The fishnet stockings that cover her Piaf-thin legs are full of holes.  María, he whispers.  He covers her with a blanket and kisses her cheek.

[What a sweet guy, we might be tempted to think, if we didn't know he was a heartless hit man.]

Because he is also a moron, he sets his gun down in plain view, then settles himself in a chair at the bedside, using his jacket as a blanket.

Tricking the Trickster

Let a smile be your bulletproof vest.

Victoria wakes up to find a stranger -- a very pretty and motherly woman --  looking at her kindly.  Amelia -- yes, it is she -- introduces herself to the little girl.  She promises to take good care of her until her mother arrives.  Victoria perks up when she hears that Amelia knows her mommy.  The child tells Amelia that 'that man' is bad.  He says he is her daddy, but he isn't.  'That man' is her husband Pedro, Amelia explains, and he is 'confused.'  He thinks he really is Victoria's daddy.  That's why they have to play a little game.  It will be their secret.  And as long as they go along with him and always look happy and keep smiling, he won't hurt them.

Buenos Aires

I would do anything for her.

Nadia is almost catatonic in her pain, not eating, barely speaking.  She clutches Victoria's doll to herself in her perpetual darkness.

Nadia has never collected the sizeable fee she was to be paid for her concert.  Victor and Alejandro will find Martín, the friend who brokered the concert, and collect the money.  Then they can pay for the false papers they need to get to Aguazul.  Nadia needs to stay close to the phone in case someone calls.

As soon as the men leave, the phone rings.  It is Pedro.  "Where's my little girl?" she asks desperately.

"Are you alone?"  She is. What would she be willing to do to get her daughter back? "Anything," she says.

That's what he wanted to hear.  He has some instructions for her; she must follow them to the letter...

The game is on

Victoria is as desolate as her mother, and has no appetite for the breakfast Amelia has served her.  But as Pedro approaches the table and pats her head awkwardly, she follows Amelia's prompts.  She swallows a morsel of food and answers Pedro's greeting.  To Amelia's chirpy announcement that she and Victoria are going shopping together -- they're going to buy dresses and shoes and a doll -- Pedro responds brusquely that his wife will have to go alone. Victoria is not to leave the house.  Besides, Amelia has raised two girls.  She can figure it out.  And if something doesn't fit, she can toss it.

Amelia's mild protest is shouted down.  "I said no!  Don't you understand the word NO?"

Shoot!

María wakes up, sees Adolfo's gun and takes it in her hands.  She has a bloodshot and mascara-smeared eye --> mind moment:
Adolfo is pointing the gun at her head.  She begs him not to shoot. He pulls the trigger.

Adolfo walks in, toweling himself off from the shower.  She holds the gun in a wobbly but determined two-handed grasp and aims it at him.  He begs her to give him the gun; he wants to help her.

She deliberately aims wide and then pulls the trigger.  The bullet goes through the bedside lamp and into the wall behind it.  Adolfo tries to get the gun away from her, but she turns it and aims it at her own head.  If Adolfo really wants to help her, then he should finish the job that Pedro ordered:  Kill her!  She doesn't want to go on living.

This might get tricky...

Amelia makes a surreptitious phone call.  She tells the person on the other end of the line that something very serious has happened.  They agree to meet in a half hour.

Pedro wants to know who she was talking to.  "Fabiola," she lies.  She's going to meet her for comida. He reminds her to be careful what she says -- no one can know about Victoria.  And then adds sententiously that living with him is best for the child. 

Amelia can't help thinking about the hell that Nadia must be experiencing.  Pedro explodes: it's no different from the hell he went through when Nadia decided to abandon him!

¡Mátame! Yo ya estoy muerta.

"Kill me!  I'm already dead."  María doesn't want to live in a world without Alejandro.  Her heart stopped beating when he died.  She's not sure if another world exists, but she no longer wants to live in this one.  Adolfo was willing to kill her once.  She begs him to do now for real. He remembers and regrets that moment -- that's why he's determined to help her.  

Adolfo wrests the gun from her.  He can't bear seeing her like this, he tells her.

["Right," someone stage whispers on The Patio. "Because how will he ever find out where she hid Benjamín's real will if she blows her brains out?"]

María sniffs that both Alejandro and Adolfo abandoned her.  Now she has nobody in this maldita vida to care for her.   Adolfo assures her that he will take care of her.  She weeps in his arms.

Buenos Aires

No roses in their teeth

Victor and Alejandro stand in the rain under a giant rubber tree in the gracious public plaza.  Victor has an envelope containing the cash Martín has given him as payment for Nadia's performance.  He takes out some bills and hands them to Alejandro.  It should be enough to buy their air tickets to Mexico.

Greetings from Mexico

Victor takes the rest of the sizable sum and walks over to meet his contact, prepared to pay him for the forged identity documents.  The stranger takes the money.  Then he pulls out a knife and quickly plunges it into Victor's belly.  He leans close to deliver a message:  "Pedro Medina sends you greetings from Mexico."

Alejandro has seen it happen.  Horrified, he runs to Victor and shouts for help.

[Writers: don't you dare let Victor die -- not after all this!]

Back in Aguazul, the Governor of the State, Pedro Medina, confirms via a quick phone call to Carlos Torres, the Honorable Mexican Ambassador to Argentina, that arrangements have been made to meet Nadia at the airport.  "And her pet?" asks Pedro.  He seems satisfied by what Torres tells him.  "As we say here in Mexico," says Pedro:
Muerto el perro, se acabó la rabia.
(Kill the dog and you get rid of the rabies, i.e., dead dogs don't bite.)

Victoria is sitting quietly, coloring pictures.  She appears to have heard Pedro, and she looks worried.

Adolfo bathes María.  

If it weren't for the bubbles in the tub, it would look like he was washing a corpse.

What's a nice woman like Amelia doing married to a sociopathic castrato like Pedro Medina?

Amelia has an extended eye --> mind moment that answers The Patio's questions on this odd coupling:
José Luis tells Amelia about Joaquín's sacrifice to spare his family; he explains about her husband's suicide note exonerating Alejandro and incriminating Pedro and how Pedro destroyed it.  He confirms that Pedro pressured Joaquín into committing suicide.  

Amelia tells JL that Pedro is courting her. (Pedro Medina me está pretendiendo)  She sees right through him: if she accepts, he thinks it will clear him of the miasma of suspicion that still clings to him.  

JL warns her against it -- it's too risky.  But Amelia wants to do something to help JL expose Pedro.  She knows how to be the perfect spouse.  And she has nothing to lose.  Only Virginia worries her.  She can keep her safe by sending her abroad.  Pedro Medina has to pay for what he has done.

Present-day Amelia meets present-day José Luis.  It is the first time they have seen each other since he was released from prison.  They hug.  "It's so good to see you after all these years," she says.

Montserrat takes advantage of a quiet moment in the normally bustling café to break the news to Macario and Dominga: she and José Luis will marry in one month.

Graciela is muttering to herself that the fenómena mustn't tell Montserrat that Alejandro is alive.  Before she can share any more of the fascinating workings of her twisted mind with The Patio, she is joined by two visitors almost as adept at dirty tricks as she herself:  Fabiola Guillen and Sandro Narváez.

Avances:
Life or death moments!
A secret is revealed!
Nothing will keep José Luis from marrying Montserrat!

Montse and Josefina finally come face to face!

Labels:


Comments:
Great recap, with these being my favorite parts:

"Now she knows all about Alejandro's fate (though not about his miraculous awakening and his still incredibly well-muscled thighs.)"

"Because he is also a moron, he sets his gun down in plain view, then settles himself in a chair at the bedside, using his jacket as a blanket."

Hahaha!

So we finally see what exactly Amelia's reasoning for marrying Pedro was. But I'm still curious what she told Pedro it was, as the lack of sex would give anyone pause.

Maria actually said that it's 500 for an hour and "si traes algo para pasarla mejor, te lo dejo en 200". In other words, if Adolfo had some drugs, she'd give him a discount.
 

I just thought about something in regards to the rings Mons was sorry she threw in the ocean. They wash back up on shore just in time for her second wedding to Ale in the grand finale.
 

Though I think the invalidation of her marriage to Ale would itself be invalid since he really is an Almonte. So they still would be legally married.
 

Honestly, I'm really confused by the whole business and I'm not sure that the logic used for why her marriage was invalid really holds up.
 

"Pedro Medina sends greetings from Mexico!" Hahaha i laughed hard at this. I hope they dont kill Victor off:(..
Marias return will only cause serious trouble ,i can assure you that,especially after Ale makes his fateful return to Aguazul!

Finaly we know the reasons why Amelia married Pedo ,good job woman! I cannot wait for the meeting of the Dirty Three ( Ms Sauron,Sandho and Fab) !! . The villians remind me of the Marvels Sinister Six(Juvie,Gracie,Fabiola,Maria,Ezequel,Sandho),with Pedo being the Sinister Seven.


 

NovelaNaven, I loved the recap and the title is perfect. Thanks.

Graciela has sure tried to make Josefina's simple decision to tell Montse that Ale is alive complicated--of course all to her own benefit.

Too bad that Maria had to pop up.

Too bad Victor could be on his way out.

At least we know why Amelia married Pedro. What will he do with her when Nadia arrives on the scene and he has his perfect little family?

Jarifa
 

Gracias NM. Great detail on last night's events. I missed this one and you were so descriptive, I could just see the happenings. Don't think I need to watch this one after all.

Yeah, yeah Maria. Are we supposed to feel sorry for her now? True, she has hit rock bottom, but what will happen if she hears Hunkiliscious is alive? She and Adolfo are a perfect pair of losers. "Because he is also a moron, he sets his gun down in plain view". Doesn't that about sum up these two and how they got where they are??

Well, thank you Amelia. Hated the idea that Angie's mom was that delusional, so putting up with this weird marriage for 7 years makes perfect sense now. I'm sure the monster approached it as a marriage of convenience for both of them as "lonely" widowers. I worry for her though now but thank goodness Victoria as an ally.

So the Perfect Storm is coming together. I see from your recap of the previews the news hits on everyone being alive. Apparently Fina is not Carlotta-gullible in believing Gracie apparently since the news gets out. When did Gracie ever care about her kids being happy...her concern is she might lose that monthly/yearly check, whatever it is, from JL. Witch.

And on a side note, the EYE-Mind (like that) of Dim remembering his love for Fina gives me a warm fuzzy. However, Refugio needs to get hit by a truck. If they suddenly have him madly in love with Esme, I'll gob-smack the writers. He's been mooning over Monica for awhile we're told, so at this point, I'd like Esme to kick him to the curb (she's savvy enough to be on her own) and he can take Monica and sail off on a battleship together. (These are Navy people. Why don't we ever see them on boats? Just sayin'. Probably budget.)

As we get along now, the list of people possibly meeting their demise either as evil minions or expendables in the way is getting alarmingly big.

Big day in the household, off to my son's college graduation today: double major in voice performance and music education. Took him five years of hard work and long hours, but he gets to walk across that stage today. So proud of him! Now both twins will be off to the working world AND I feel old. Swear I was just walking them into kindergarten. Sigh.

Have a great Mother's Day to all my fellow nose-wipers out there!

Daisynjay
 

How do you create light, laughter and hope from raw materials of evil, despair and hopelessness? You need only to read this recap.

No one is happy, nothing is going right. But who could not smile at "How's Tricks?" and "Graciela has cracked Josefina open like a coconut?"

NovelaMaven, you are amazing. I thought the recap was simply wonderful. "Tango!Only nobody is dancing", "Shoot!" and "Now she knows all about Alejandro's fate (though not about his miraculous awakening and his still incredibly well-muscled thighs" were among my many favorites.

I join everyone in being happy that Amelia had an agenda for marrying Pedro. Her life is certainly in peril and I am afraid for her. Jarifa, I fear Pedro likely intends for Amelia to have an "accident" before Nadia reappears (speculation only).

NovelaMaven, I also thought that Carlotta appeared to be padded in order to validate her visit to the doctor for weight loss. I sadly suspect she will lose her appetite when EZ is exposed as well.

"What a sweet guy, we might be tempted to think, if we didn't know he was a heartless hit man." Yes. For a few moments it appeared Adolfo showed he does still have a heart, exuding a tenderness from a long ago past.

I hope Victor survives as well.

Nanette, I noticed you posted a summary of the up and coming TNs on yesterday's post. I look forward to reading it. Thank you

daisy, you have so much to be proud of!

I would like to wish everyone a happy Mother's Day. Whether you have a mother, are a mother (to human and/or fur children) or are a cherished friend, neice or sibling, it is a day for all women!

NovelaMaven, thank you. I so enjoyed this!

Diana
 

Daisynjay, how wonderful for you and your son! I hope you enjoy the occasion to the max. You have surely earned 'bragging rights.' I've always bowed down to mothers of twins, but raising twin boys on your own -- boys who grow up to be people you can be proud of -- is a wonderful and remarkable achievement. Wow.

"These are Navy people. Why don't we ever see them on boats?"

From what I can tell, it's because what is called the "Marina Armada" in Mexico overlaps with, but is not identical to, what we call the "Navy" in this country. The "Marina" is very much involved in Mexico's struggle against narcotrafficking; some operations are amphibious, but many -- like the ones we see the Marina undertaking in this story -- are land-based.

Anon 1:26, I decided not to include María's entire price card, just the rate she offered Adolfo for going home with him and spending the night, 1000 pesos. But you're right, she did in fact offer him her hourly rate first, and then the 'special discount.'
 

Great work, NovelaMaven. I envy you getting this episode.

So, Amelia surprises us by going deeply undercover. I'm sick at what her life must be like and I agree with previous speculation about Pedro's possible plans for her. Of course he would then have to find a way to dispose of Virginia, who would hightail it back to Mexico to find out the truth. Let's hope it doesn't come to that.

Gracie is some piece of work. Here's hoping Josefina sticks to her own principles and tells Monserrat the truth. How long is it going to take before she realizes that Gracie pocketed her cell phone?

Victor better survive. We now have yet another setback to their return to Mexico.

I am now thinking about my Karmageddon for Gracie and it's changing again.

Have to get dressed to go out, but I will be back around the dinner hour.
 

Wow NovelaMaven. I'm always impressed by your writing and your ability to come up with a uniting theme for a recap. This particular one is a work of art. (well, they all are, frankly)

How's tricks? Apple picking, transparent trick that fails,(I was surprised José Luis was so gracious at the rejection) Amelia's trick in marrying Pedro, her trick with Victoria in continuing to try and deceiving her, Graciela's vile tricks trying to convince Josefina to hide the truth....yes, it all seems quite clear when you write it...but I doubt if we would have seen that unifying theme, watching the episode. You have made the writers of this look better than they are in how you portrayed it. Well done.

Some of the verbal gems:

unenthusiastic spoon
Graciela has cracked Josefina open like a coconut
his still incredibly well-muscled thighs
Tango! only nobody is dancing
Piaf-thin legs
clutches Victoria's doll to her in her perpetual darkness

That last phrase was almost too painful to contemplate. "Her perpetual darkness" said so much about her emotional despair, her blindness, her helplessness, the dark world of her anguish. Such a powerful image. Kudos to you, my friend. I'm a hopeless fan girl of your writing.

I actually felt compassion for Maria last night. But then let's face it, I'm still the "trop bonne poire" that I was in my youth.

And Daisnyjay, Congratulations! Yes, seeing our children become self-supporting adults can make us feel old. But also happy.

And Diana, how wise you are to note that all of us are mothers...whether we mother our children, pets, friends or needy people in our community--we are all nurturers at heart and we find our purpose and joy in that.

NovelaMaven...thanks. This was a powerful recap. You keep raising the bar, my friend.
 

Jarifa,

"At least we know why Amelia married Pedro. What will he do with her when Nadia arrives on the scene and he has his perfect little family?"

Yes, that is the chilling question. We already heard Pedro say (on Thursday, I think) that he was planning to get rid of (deshacerse de) Amelia. Let's hope Amelia keeps her head...

Dear Diana,
What a perfect mother's day message you wrote. It is well-worth repeating:

"I would like to wish everyone a happy Mother's Day. Whether you have a mother, are a mother (to human and/or fur children) or are a cherished friend, niece or sibling, it is a day for all women!"

[I suppose it wouldn't be in the spirit of things to add to the above: "with the exception of Graciela Giacinti." Nah, didn't think so.) :)
 

On Refugio's fantasy, I want to share this. Of course it angers us women to see that. But I remember when a young minister in our congregation was preaching one day and he said this:

"My wife has the ability to fall into a deep sleep almost instantly "(they had three very active boys...doesn't surprise me). He continued "and I lie there beside her having sexual fantasies about other women."

I have to admit the honesty of that just blew me away. I was happy his wife was not in the congregation to hear that particular confession, but still respected him for his transparency.When I wrote him about it, he said "I'm a sinner like everybody else. And that's why I need Christ and forgiveness...like everybody else."

This is the not so rosy picture of "happily ever afer". But it is what it is. I think the portrayal of Refugio's ambivalence is disturbing...but also quite realistic. So I can't fault the writers for this turn in the telenovela...even though it also makes me sad.
 

Urban, you're right about this episode -- it really was chockful of flavor nuggets (though I confess to envying Gloria since she got 'Awakening'). And while I'm at it, thanks to the you, Mads, Gloria, Julia R, Eli and EJ for the fabulous work over the last several days. I've been somewhat distracted and overwhelmed lately and haven't been able to comment, but I've been reading and admiring.

JudyB, I'm relieved you thought the 'tricks' theme worked. (I never know until I read what you have to say.) Thank you!

"Trop bonne poire" you may be, but I don't think you were alone in feeling compassion for María last night. The actress was amazing (and so was the make-up department). But compassion for the character is always mixed with unease. We know she is going to strike out in predictably unpredictable ways with absolutely no concern about hurting others.
 

NovelaMaven - What a delight to wake up to your recap. My favorites have been cited, but "Tango!" made me spray my breakfast. As always, thanks for the key translations.

Yay, Amelia and JL are a secret Scoobie team. At least there's one good woman with a working brain. But I fear for her too now.

JudyB, I agree with what you said about Refugio. I was actually encouraged by his sexy Monica fantasy because maybe that's the extent of his feelings about her. But he's so useless to Esme that I still want her to ditch him.

I feel sorry for Maria and Adolfo and I do think he cares for her beyond just getting Benjamin's will. They got in over their heads and now they feel stuck. I think Adolfo is redeemable, mainly because he's got the sensitivity to treasure Fina. But Maria is doomed because there's no evil she wouldn't do to get Ale.

Daisynjay, congrats on your son's graduation today!
 

Well done, NovelaMaven. We were out last night so I read your recap before watching the episode. You really nailed it and with such style.

Although I was happy that María's back, my heart was breaking last night when we saw what has become of her. The writers are certainly treating her badly. She did make me smile ruefully when she offered to do some light housekeeping for an extra 500. I guess the time spent mopping and toilet cleaning at La Escondita enhanced her resume.

One minor quibble with the recap...you said:

"[although we know that it was María who burned the note]"

but at the time it happened, Julia R told us:

"No doubt inspired by a vision of Joaquín in flames, Pedro takes out a lighter and burns Joaquín's suicide note."

Not that it matters that much, but María already has so much to answer for that she doesn't need to be held accountable for a crime committed by Pedro.

Congratulations on your son's graduation and for your incredible success as a mother, Disynjay... you deserve to be very proud.

And Happy Mothers' Day to all of you ladies. I hope you all enjoy a special pampered day.

Carlos
 

JudyB, I don't fault your young minister for his fantasies, but I do -- as the judges like to say on Project Runway -- "question his taste level." :)

Niecie, Do you really see Adolfo as a candidate for redemption? The soft-hearted reluctant killer who wears a rose tattooed on his arm? Wow. The actor is earning his money.

Yes! Amelia, JL AND Robledo are secret scoobies. This could get interesting.

Carlos, If Julia R recapped it, then it is so. I'll correct the error in the recap. Thanks for pointing it out. You are right -- María has enough to account for without attributing the sins of others to her.
 

Indeed, NovelaMaven. That was a "transparency" better left, perhaps, to a one on one counseling session with someone confronting similar problems. I'm still astounded that he said this in front of a bunch of traditional older Protestants. I'm sure he got a lot of feedback, but I suspect mine was the only positive one.
 

Graciela should end up sick, poor and alone.Money is not the most important thing.
 

"If it weren't for the bubbles in the tub, it would look like he was washing a corpse."

One of your powerful verbal images I forgot to include, NovelaMaven. Any chance you were thinking of the opening scene of the movie The Big Chill? I'll never forget my shock, after watching the careful dressing, that it was actually the dressing of a corpse. On a big screen, in a movie theatre...oh my, I still remember hearing people gasp.
 

Judy, I wasn't consciously thinking of The Big Chill, but now that you mention it, the comparison is apt. And I also remember the shock I felt at the climax of that amazing scene.

[A few frames later, when the camera focused on María's glassy eyes, she looked like someone in an opium den, alive but completely wasted.]
 

NovelaMaven, I would have to quote the whole recap to tell of the parts I love and laughed over.
Besides the snark, your interpretation and ability to communicate it is wonderful.

My favorites:
Adolfo guides zombie María into his house...
Montserrat extricates herself from JL's rather loutish lunge.
Let a smile be your bulletproof vest.

And the stage whispers:

"Right," someone stage whispers on The Patio. "Because how will he ever find out where she hid Benjamín's real will if she blows her brains out?"

...and Graciela will lose her life-time annuity, though she doesn't mention that either...

So we have 4 people laying low for years (?!?) to bring Pedro down:
Stealth Basurto
Stealth Jose Luis
Stealth Adolfo
Stealth Amelia

I would have a limit on how many years I would sacrifice for this before thinking “I’m outa here!” Just saying.

 

I doubt EZ wants to destroy Pedro for the sake of being "heroic" but to sink the others with it as well.I dont know why he didnt tell everyone in Aguazul that Pedo is a no ball?.And why didnt EZ took a backup copy on Pedros computer while he had the chance ,he could have saved that as proof against Pedro.. I think EZ will take advantage of the eventual return of Ale,to escalate matters with Pedo,bringing Pedro and Ale to a facedown.He knows well they both hate eachother to death.He could kill Pedro and knowing that Ale is on the run,EZ uses it to guilt blame Ale and send him to prison.And in order to gain Ales inheritance,he forces Fabiola /Sandro at gunpoint to sign everything to him and then kills them.With that he is able to take Ales property and laugh at the entire world
 

Aren't we far enough along in the novela for the good guys to start winning?
 

Emarie, I really appreciate your kind words.

And I've also been thinking that seven years is a very long time to lie low (especially in Amelia's case, since she has had to live with the monster). I guess it's all part of the fairytale -- undying love, undying loyalty, undying hatred, greed, envy, undying vendettas.

Nanette, we could use a little good news, couldn't we?

Dimitrio, I expect that one day you'll be writing your own stories. You sure have the imagination for it.
 

NovelaMaven,

Comprehensive,clever,captivating, and hilariously comical as always.

Thanks once again for informing and entertaining us. I learn a great deal from everyone's comments and do appreciate the diversity of ideas.

The part about Ale's well-muscled thighs cracked me up. Most of us would be pure flab after only a brief stay in the hospital, but as we noticed, Ale did a few bedside exercises that put him in instant repair.

I don't know if anyone else mentioned this, but it made me laugh when Ale put on the clothes that were conveniently lying in wait for him...after 6 + years and after being in a devastating air plane crash.

At first, I thought they might be Victor's clothes because he had packed a small valise, but they fit Ale to the T. What was the origin of the clothes?

Re: Victor, I do hope he survives. As I mentioned in another post, he is currently in a production in Mexico honoring
José José. I wonder if this was staged in order to work in this other commitment. I don't understand the time frame of the TN's. I don't know how far ahead of real time they actually are.

Re: One's sexual fantasies, some of you will remember one of my idol's remarks in Playboy in 1976.
Jimmy Carter created a mild furor when he remarked that he had "looked on a lot of women with lust," and "committed adultery in his heart many times."

Re: Refugio, I think he is afraid of being a father and the responsibility that goes along with it. I am certain that he will answer the bugle call when the baby (babies) is (are) born, but admittedly, his behavior is inexcusable now.

Re: Amelia, I am curious as to just what info she has amassed on Pedro during all this time.

Daisynjay,

How fabulous for you and your sons!
Both College Grads!!
This is what you have been working for all these years. Congratulations to all!


NovelaMaven,

I hope things are okay with you and your family -- as you said you have been distracted and overwhelmed lately. Wishing you well in all respects. I know everyone here appreciates all that you do to keep the recaps on a superior plain. Take time for yourself.

All the best....Floridia
 

Floridia, thank you so much for your generous comments. It is so kind of you to be concerned about me. Just like everyone else, I'm living my own personal telenovela; right now, there's a little cluster of plot points. It's good for me to step away for a bit and concentrate on our imaginary friends in Aguazul and our real (though virtual) friends on this page.

About the origin of the clothes --
I assumed they were Victor's. He had changed into a tee shirt and sweats for the night and left his jeans and shirt on the chair.

The jeans seemed to fit Alejandro, but the shirt was awfully tight, even by TN standards. Also, it was green. And we know our boy always wears blue.

So that's my theory. I stand ready to be corrected. [I'm far too lazy to find the episode of the previous day and see what Victor was actually wearing.]

I hope you are right about Refugio manning up when the time comes. I think his reaction to the baby/babies is going to be fun.

Jimmy Carter! Yes, that popped into my mind too -- one of those comments that a public person never lives down.

Thanks again. It's great that you are watching this one and joining in the conversation here.
 

Yep, they were Victor's clothes, but didn't Ale look Marvelous in them! Amazing the way they fit him.

 

Daisynjay, I agree with you about Refugio. I think he's afraid of his impending fatherhood and I suspect he has no mentors for it. We've never heard him talk about a father or any other older men who could have taught him how to be one.

Shouldn't Josefina be demanding that Gracie return her cell phone?
 

Urban, I don't think Josefina has yet realized that Graciela HAS her cellphone.

What I kept hoping she'd do was get someone -- a lawyer or agent or somebody -- to track down contact information for Nadia from the concert venue in Buenos Aires.
 

Thanks so much, NovelaMaven, for that excellent, as always , recap. It is nice to have something in one's life that one can count on as bring consistently high quality. I always look forward to your delicious retelling.

As to your personal telenovela , I understand , sister. I think that we should all think of titles for our own personal telenovelas.

Judyb....yikes.,that young minister did a little over sharing from the pulpit. A few years ago, we had a young minister who used to ask what would normally be rhetorical questions, but then he would call out a name of some poor soul in the congregation...very discomforting. Besides this strange practice, he did some other things that made me feel uncomfortable. Well, I have read many articles about trusting your instincts , and I firmly believe that you should because a few years ago, this same fellow ( no longer our minister), donned a ninja outfit and came out of his house shooting at the police and was killed. Yikes. Life is stranger than fiction.

Well, after a loooong week of giving finals and figuring final grades and starting some private tutoring, I spent today hanging laundry on the line...snatching it off again as a sudden rain arrived..rehanging it. Then, a nice dinner with Hub at my favorite restaurant.

Daisynjay...Congratulations to you and both of your sons on a job well done !!!! Be proud.
 

What a treat NM! You recappers keep us guessing with your schedule switches but I could tell from the genius term "Apple Picker" that you were our recapper du jour!

Well our short respite in "happy cupcake shop" Aguazul has come to a screeching halt.

Please no one throw nerfazos but I'm disappointed in Finas makeover physically and personally! We waited so anxiously for her transformation for this? Remember all the digs Gracie made about her being too old for Dim? Well she's dressing like she's 20 years older than she is. Her hair was fine for the concert where she met Nadia but every day hair for a youngish person? No! And her behavior back in Aguazul just seems marginally better than before the time jump. How can she forget how cruel Gracie is? How can she trust and defer to her? Having said all this, I love Finas character, she's probably my favorite, but I just think she deserves better!

Congrats DaisynJay on your HUGE accomplishment! My junior son and I are doing college tours trying to figure out where he'll go to college. I truly can't imagine how proud you must be to have crossed the finish line!

Diana, what a gracious and thoughtful Mother's Day message. You are such a kind, generous person! And NM, your addendum re: Gracie was hysterical!

Happy Mothers Day to All! And thanks, Carlos, for the nice wishes;)
 

Susanlynn, I'm so flattered that you enjoy what I write. I always look forward to your upbeat voice in this conversational chorus of ours.

After a long week in the academic trenches, you surely deserve a fun weekend (including a wonderful Mother's Day)!

Katy, we DO try to keep you all guessing. I'm happy to see it's working. :)

Fina Fina Fina. You're right. Many of us have been waiting patiently at her table all this time. As you say, now that she is finally back:

"How can she forget how cruel Gracie is? How can she trust and defer to her?"

I was disappointed that she told Graciela anything at all, but happy to see her stand her ground on telling Montserrat and Laurito that Ale is alive. I'm quite anxious to see what she does on Monday.

I kind of like it that the physical changes aren't huge. She is still lovely and quirky but now with an overlay of elegance and confidence. [I will say that I loved the scene a couple of days ago when Nadia felt Fina's face and realized that she had plucked her unibrow.]
 

Yikes Susanlynn--that is SOME story. As far as I know, our former minister has gone on to even greater glory, now being head of one of the largest churches in our denomination in the country. But if he ever goes Ninja on 'em, I'm sure we'll read about it.

Just goes to show you though that we have our own colorful, and sometimes frightening, telenovelas going on in our lives daily.

Katy, I would never throw a Nerfazo at you and while not disappointed in Josefina's makeover I WAS disappointed in that red pants outfit. The color was too harsh for her very fair skin. Maybe the wardrobe folks chose red as a power color,(she always seemed to wear cream or pastels before) but it was still wrong for her complexion.

As for the rest, the writers are just messing with us. Prolonging the anxiety and the resolution of problems until we will be so frustrated and frazzled that we'll be breathing into a paper bag.

And yet....we keep watching!

 

Thanks to all for the wonderful wishes for my son's graduation. He definitely worked hard for it. I could just see the relief fall off his shoulders yesterday, but then he said at dinner..." now to get employed." But there are some great prospects in the music field in our area, so I do believe he'll be ok on that front soon.

Feels a little weird as a worrying mom for 23 years to think, " I will always worry, but neither is my little boy in school anymore". Not to worry, I made sure not to go all Rosario or Victoria Ruffo on him. (But the Kleenex was still well used. )

Nanette, I so agree with you on the flow of this TN, but Judy hit the nail on the head:

"As for the rest, the writers are just messing with us. Prolonging the anxiety and the resolution of problems until we will be so frustrated and frazzled that we'll be breathing into a paper bag.'

I'm beginning to think this is one of those TN where we only get fleeting moments of smiles and happiness, but for those most part it will be battles, heartache, deaths and mayhem until we get to that FINAL screen.

Daisynjay

 

Happy Mothers day to all the moms here!

NM Thanks for a great recap. I don't know how you guys keep these amazing recaps coming with all the rest that's going on in your lives!

Daisynjay congratulations on your son's graduation!

You ever watch an old black and white detective flick, maybe a Dashiell Hammet story, and think "use your cellphone! USE YOUR CELLPHONE!!!" before remembering they don't have them? Well I keep thinking that in this TN and they DO have them. Weren't you just dying to have Josefina say, "hang on a sec. I know I had my phone-- give me a sec Graci I'm just gonna check the house, and then have her call the phone and have it ring in Graci's purse? And how about the Scoobies? Really?! When Ale left Rosario didn't have a cellphone?! He didn't even think to TRY to call it? Or Macario? Give me a break! Sorry, but it's bugging me.

I am so happy to see that Amelia is on the good guys side, but really? You're going to call JL while you're still in the house?

Also, I think Graci does have her way with Josefina. It looked to me in the advances like they were replaying a clip in Friday night's episode where Josefa said "Montse has a right to know." They like to manipulate with those advances. I suspect that Josefina doesn't say anything because they need everything to go wrong so that Alejandro doesn't arrive until it's boda time.

Hope you all have a wonderful day!

Becky
 

DaisynJay, I was trying to figure out if you would worry more or less after your son graduates. Congrats to you, your son and Happy Mother's day, (also to all).

I have to agree with Becky, and DaisynJay, this TN is going to be filled with filler memory scenes, wailing by distressed mothers (on Mother's day yet!) and inexplicably idiotic decisions marked by event amnesia by the TN characters to keep the agitation going until the 2 hr finale, whenever that is.
And there isn't a character on the show that can keep a secret.

Luckily, we all have these stellar recaps to keep us going.
 

Daisynjay...I hate to tell you this, but even after your kids are gainfully employed and married and parents...you still worry ...worry and try to help. Somehow...no matter how old they are or how old you are...that mothering thing keeps humming in our hearts.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY. I hope that you are all relaxing and enjoying whatever and whomever makes you happy.
 

NovelaMaven,
Thanks for the recap. I am sure I will enjoy it later when I have time to thouroughly read it. I have had and am still in the middle of a busy weekend. Just wanted to pop in and say gracias amiga!

Feliz Dia de Las Madres!
Happy Mother's Day!

Back to weekend stuff...hasta pronto!

 

I'm only a cat mother (also known as a Meowmy) but my Figaro woke me up with head butts to mt cheeks! Such a dear boy.

Next Mother's Day we should have a gallery of good novela mothers. Bet that they're played by the same three or four actresses.
 

First of all, Happy Mothers Day/Feliz dia de las Madres, to all my fellow "Caray,Caray" moms! Hope you have all enjoyed your day. You to, "Meowmy" Urban! :-)

Daisynjay, congratulations on your son's graduation!

Novelamaven, excellent recap, and thanks to you I learned a new term: "apple picking". Also, loved the part about Ale's "miraculous awakening and his still incredibly well-muscled thighs" and "Adolfo guides zombie María into his house".

Regardless of how bad Maria has been, I didn't expect to see her show up like this. I felt a bit sorry for her, but most likely once she's 100% she'll go back to her old ways if she finds out Ale is alive.

Also really relieved Amelia is only faking with Pedro. For a while, I was disappointed in her having married him, but now we know why. Also glad Victoria has someone who will take care of her, hopefully JL and Captain Robledo are also able to keep Amelia safe.

Nanette, have to agree with you when you say "Aren't we far enough along in the novela for the good guys to start winning" We had a bit of light coming through the clouds but now its dark all over again and it feels so frustrating to see the evil guys continue to get away with doing horrible things to good people. Ahem, Pedro, Maria, Sandro, Gracie and Fabiola....

Maricruz
 

I don't understand the purpose of the Josefina character other than to annoy me. Also why do people put up with Graciela poking them in the head? I would punch her...I'm not joking.

As usual, you are awesome Novela Maven.
 

Dear Becky, AuntyAnn, Maricruz and Cynderella,

Thanks so much. I really enjoyed reading your comments.

So it just occurred to me: The genie is already out of the bottle.

Whether Josefina tells Montserrat the truth or not (though if she keeps quiet about Ale, she can spend another 7 years in Tibet, for all I care), Victoria is sure to tell Amelia all about visiting her uncle Alejandro in the hospital. And Amelia is sure to tell José Luis that Alejandro is alive.

If JL pushes the already reluctant Montse to marry him without telling her what he knows, she is going to despise him (and anyone else who is in on the secret) when she finds out.

I hope it doesn't get that far.
 

It might, knowing how this tale is running.

I hope Monse ends up knowing everything Gracie pulled. Maybe we will finally get a heroine who refuses to forgive the unforgivable actions of a truly selfish parent.
 

Dear NovelaMaven,

Such a pleasure to wake up to read your recap this morning! There so many smart and funny comments and observations: "A transparent trick that fails..."; "Let a smile be your bulletproof vest."; "Greetings from Mexico" "No roses in their teeth" and "What's a nice woman like Amelia doing married to a sociopathic castrato like Pedro Medina?" were some of my many favorites. It was all wonderful.

I was also relieved to see that Amelia was a woman bent of revenge and hadn't fallen for Pedro's story. The writers really surprised me on that one.

Did poor Victor REALLY have to get stabbed last night? God, those poor people have suffered enough.

Thanks again, NovelaMaven--and happy belated Mother's Day to all mothers in our community.

 

Good morning, amigos!

This appeared in my FB feed this morning. Thought you'd all get a kick out of it.
 

Thanks, Urban! That's funny stuff!

Good morning, Julia R. Thanks for the kind words. I also thought Amelia's motive in marrying NoNuts was surprising and satisfying (enough if the seven year bit is a stretch).

Yes, poor Victor. If he survives, it means Alejandro stays by his side, spends the plane fare money for his medical care, and José Luis continues Operation Buy Back Montserrat unimpeded. Or maybe not. (I'm not such a good guesser.)
 

Good morning, all.

UA..thanks for sharing that link. Yikes...the comments were all pretty negative ! # 13 was a great photo of Fernando looking handsome in a black shirt, black suit, and black tie. Very nice and a good way to start the day.
 

Thanks NV and the other recappers; keep 'em coming.


Katy...

"Please no one throw nerfazos but I'm disappointed in Finas makeover physically and personally! We waited so anxiously for her transformation for this? Remember all the digs Gracie made about her being too old for Dim? Well she's dressing like she's 20 years older than she is. Her hair was fine for the concert where she met Nadia but every day hair for a youngish person? No! And her behavior back in Aguazul just seems marginally better than before the time jump".

Cynderella...

"I don't understand the purpose of the Josefina character other than to annoy me".

Thank you both. Meet the new Fina...same as the old one.

After Monica inevitably dumps Dimmy, we will have to bear witness to the nauseating spectacle of a refried Dimmy, Fina courtship.


Blah!


 

Nanette--I'm still catching up and trying not to intrude until I do.

But.....I saw your synopses of the upcoming shows. If you wouldn't mind, I'd like to revise the page for **Las Proximas** where these are lined up and include more than the names of the actors.
 

Having some computer issues; tonight's might be a little late.
 

So sorry UA. Wouldn't you know...the very night you need to post. Sending good vibes)))))))
 

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