Wednesday, June 04, 2014

Lo Que La Vida Me Robó, #146, 6-4-2014: José-Luis suspects the rumors of Alejandro's comatose state have been greatly exaggerated

Lo refrito:  Montserrat counters Gracie's disapproval of Montse's infidelity with Alejandro by proclaiming that, unlike Gracie herself, she (Montserrat) isn't trying to hide her love.  Montse claims that Gracie, even if she were to acquire millions, is the poorest woman that Montserrat knows.

Unanticipated Noble Gestures May Have Surprisingly Negative Consequences
House of Montse and José-Luis:  Rosario continues ripping J-L for marrying Montse without telling her that Alejandro was still alive.  Rosario claims that Alejandro needed Montse more than ever, and she's also mad that J-L didn't even tell her (Rosario) either!  J-L looks guilty and seems to feel bad about what he's done.  He assures Rosario he's taking charge of things and also going to do the right thing to make amends:  he's in the process of trying to bring comatose Alejandro back to Mexico so he can live out his life-supported days among the women who love him best.


"Qué" asks Rosario, shocked since she knows Alejandro is out of his coma and already in Mexico.

"Yes," he says.  "To a hospital in Agua Azul."  He is doing this so Montse and Rosario can be close to Alejandro.  J-L adds that this is all he wants to say and that he hopes that one day Rosario will forgive him.  He limps away using his cane, no doubt leaving Rosario to deal a large range of emotions including her residual anger at him for lying, begrudging respect for his inherently good character, and crazed fear for the consequences of her own lying about Alejandro's current very non-vegetal state.  

(José-) Luis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
Pedro's Personal Fortress, Agua Azul:  Pedro in his home office is smoking his pipe and taking a call.  It's José-Luis, fresh from his attempt at reconciliation with Rosario.  

"Wow! What a surprise!" declares Pedro, with what seems genuine delight.  Still, he wants to know to what he owes the honor of J-L's call since he (J-L) would ever be calling Pedro normally since they hate each others guts.  

J-L admits that he need some information and Pedro is the only person who can provide it: the name and the number of the hospital in Buenos Aires where Alejandro is right now.  Pedro says, sure, but he wonders why.  J-L says he's going to tell Montse the truth and wants to give her all the information.  Pedro wonders why José-Luis would want to tell Montse--Ale is a rotting vegetable, kept alive by machines.  It would be better to figure out a way to have that plug disconnected, Pedro advises.  J-L says he doesn't like Pedro's commentary and asks again if Pedro is going to give the J-L the details he's asking for or not.  Gloating, Pedro says, yes, of course, he'll help J-L, and adds that he has a feeling that this will be the start of a great new friendship between them.  

"Do you have a paper and pen?  He's registered as Alejandro Dominguez," says Pedro on one end of the line as J-L writes down the details on the other.

Montse and J-L's House:  Rosario talks aloud to herself (something I love to do, too, Rosie!) vowing that J-L can't know that her beloved hunky son Alejandro has woken from his long beauty rest.  

"It can't happen!" she declares.

At that moment in comes Laurito.  He asks her is he can ask her something, and she says, of course.  Laurito wants to know if his abuela is angry with his Papá José-Luis?   She wonders if Lauro heard them talking, but he says, no, it was just that she looked angry coming from her bedroom. Rosario assures him that it's nothing serious:  just adult things that will pass.  He makes her promise and says how much he cares for José-Luis.  Then he wants her to go outside to play with him.

In the study, J-L is talking to someone at the hospital in Buenos Aires.  He says he is calling from Mexico to ask about the status of a patient, Alejandro Dominguez.  He listens to the voice on the other end.  

After a few moments of silence, the dramatic music starts to swell and J-L's dark, permanently five o'clocked shadowed face takes on an even darker expression.

"What are you saying?" he asks in disbelief and horror.

Two Young Horn Dogs In Love
Garden of Josefina's Mansion:  Alejandro and Montserrat are sitting by the fountain in the garden, unable to keep their hands of each other.  Montse claims that it's late and she has to leave to return to her house.  Alejandro begs her not to go, but when she insists she has to, he says he understands.  Still his 7 years of sleep seem to have give him endless sexual stamina, and he says he wants her to escape again and come to him tonight.  She says, No! No! but he says, Try!  Try!  She says she doesn't want to arouse suspicions, but he tells her he needs her.  Finally, smiling and pleased at her inherent desirability and unable to resist him anyway (fair enough, says your recapper), she says, she'll do her best.  He promises he'll be waiting in the hotel for her--he'll even get the same room as before.  She says great, but if something happens at the last minute and she can't come, she wants him to understand.  None of this is easy for her.  They kiss some more and say once again how much they love each other.

Two Middle-Aged Horn Dogs In Love--well, at least one
Mansion Mendoza-Basurto:  Sandro is telling Gracie how beautiful she is and how much he desires her.  She flirts with him a little and says what a pleasure it is to know how much he wants her, but then says suddenly that she has been doing some thinking and has decided that there isn't going to be anything more than friendship between them.  He is surprised and asks why she's playing with him.  She says it's because she doesn't like to share her any of her things, and most especially her men.

Sandro understands and admits, yes, he's had lots of conquests, but that no other woman has ever affected him like Gracie.  He admires her beauty, her intelligence, as well as her complete lack of scruples.  In fact, she just might be the only woman he has ever loved.  He promises if she'll be his that he won't touch another woman while they're together.

"Even Fabiola?" Gracie asks.

Sandro laughs, unable to believe that Gracie would be jealous of Fabiola.  He vows he can't stand her.  She's always drunk and bores and disgusts him.  Gracie insists that she's not jealous and again says that it's just that she doesn't want her own daughter's sloppy seconds--she didn't say that last thing, but that's probably what she is thinking.  She also notes that Fabiola may disgust him, but that she's a woman and has been there for Sandro for a long time.  Sandro can't believe Gracie would defend Fabiola at all given what she's done to Gracie and what Gracie wants to do to Fabs-Fabiola.  Gracie says she's not defending Fabiola, but Gracie doesn't think it's good form for a man to trash a woman after he's been with her and wants him to promise he won't be with Fabiola again.  He promises.  She goes in for a little kiss that excites Sandro, but then breaks away before Sandro can start a proper make-out session and asks him instead if he wants more coffee.  

Yet Another Emotional Phone Call  
In Josefina's house of sanctuary, Alejandro is now on the phone with Rosario.  He says, "Thanks for telling me everything, Mamá," and also informs her Montse just left and should be arriving home soon, adding an "I love you," to Rosario for good measure.  Victor has heard Alejandro's end of the conversation and asks Alejandro what's wrong.  

Alejandro tells him, "It's possible that José-Luis knows that I'm not in the hospital in Buenos Aires."

More dramatic music combined with grim expressions from both men.  

More of the same ol' same ol' from María about--oh, y'all know.
Dressing Room, La Escondida:  María is at the mirror primping when Adolfo knocks and comes in.  She immediately asks him if he's spoken with Alejandro.  Adolfo tells her not yet, and she gets snippy with him, reminding him that he promised her he would tell Alejandro to come to look for her.  She needs to see him!  Doesn't Adolfo understand?

Adolfo tells her to be patient and also suggests that it might be possible that Alejandro isn't exactly eager to know news of María.  She calls Adolfo an idiot and insists that, of course, Alejandro will want information about her, especially when he knows that she is the only person who can help him.   Adolfo must tell Alejandro that María has the power to help him recover everything!

"Even his wife and son?"  asks Adolfo.

"Don't be stupid!" María insists.  Montse has married J-L and Alejandro has lost her forever.  Once again, María orders Adolfo to bring Alejandro to her.   She'll be in charge of the rest.

Back to the Old Horn Dogs
In Mansion Mendoza-Basurto, Sandro wants to know when Graciela will give him their first night together.  She tells him to find someplace discreet where she'll feel comfortable and then after they'll talk about it more.  He says she can count on this.  Gracie reminds tells him she need her space and also says she needs a favor.  She wants him to find a person--a servant who used to work for Alejandro.  Her name is María Zamudio.

Sandro wants to know why Gracie wants to find María, but she shuts him up, reminding him that he can get into her bed but he can't get into her business.  He backs down and wants to know if she can give him some clue of where to find María.  Gracie suggests he talk to that imbecile EZ.  She has a feeling that her sister-in-law's husband knows exactly where to find María.  

"Just don't mention my name," she cautions Sandro.

What Might Be Public Service Announcement From the Good Folks at Televisa or Just a Very Random Scene
Esme and Refugio are visiting DIM and Monica in their new digs.  They all comment about how great the place looks and how much work they've done to unpack and get settled in such a short time.  DIM jokes that it's because Captain Monica makes him work like a slave.  Monica comments that they only remaining problem is that she has too much good stuff left from her own apartment that they can't use, and she doesn't want just to give her furniture away.  Esme commiserates:  when she and Refugio moved in they had two of everything--blenders, microwaves, etc.  Luckily, there is this great thing you can do:  you can advertise your stuff to sell on the internet.

"Where did you sell it again?"  asks Monica.
On a website.  It's easy!  It's free!  
"Get your computer and let's look at it together now!"  Esme urges.

More Revelations in the House of Montse and J-L  
Montse enters, just returning from her afternoon with Alejandro.  She gives Rosario two kisses--one from her, the other from Ale--but notices that Rosario seems upset.  She asks what it is, and Rosario says that she needs Montse to tell her something, and she wants Montse to be honest.

"Are you pregnant by José-Luis?"  Rosario asks.
"He told you?" Montse asks back in shock.
"Answer me!" Rosario insists.

Montse says that it was just that in the morning she felt a little dizzy when she was talking to J-L.  She thought it was low blood pressure, but he insisted it was something else.  Again, Montse can't believe J-L told Rosario.  Rosario admits that he didn't but that she overheard him talking about it to Amelia.  Montse tells Rosario not to worry, that she (Montse) feels fine now and is fairly sure she's not pregnant.  

Rosario changes the subject and tells Montse there's something else they need to talk about, too….

José-Luis is lying on his bed, looking pensive and sad.  Suddenly, Montse comes running in after getting the latest dirty low-down from Rosario--

"You knew Alejandro was alive!" Montse screams at J-L.  "You knew Alejandro was in a coma and didn't tell me anything!"

It seems J-L has been expecting this attack and is already concerned about something else.

"Why are you talking in the past, Montserrat?"  he asks.  "Did Alejandro already wake up?"

He insists on knowing what she knows about Alejandro.  She's surprised for a minute, but then recovers and is back on the attack, telling him she knows nothing more than Rosario just told her, but, more to the point, what does J-L know about Alejandro?

J-L tells her he called the hospital in Buenos Aires to arrange to have Alejandro flown to Mexico, and Montse is surprised at this generous gesture.  He says he felt bad for hiding the truth about Alejandro from her and knows she won't understand, but that he had his reasons.  Montse wants to know what the people in the hospital told J-L when he called.  He tells her they told him that Alejandro wasn't there, but that that couldn't give him any more information.  J-L insists that he only did what he did because he loves Montse so much.  He knew what he did was wrong, but he felt it was better for Montse if she thought Alejandro was dead.  José-Luis tells her he's sorry and moves closer to her to take her in his arms.

"Don't come close to me or touch me!" Montse yells at him.  More calmly, she tells J-L that he doesn't need him to explain himself because she already understands his reasons.  He knows she would NEVER have married J-L if she had known that Alejandro was still alive.  She proclaims she would have run to Alejandro's side.  She says she married J-L still loving Alejandro and that she always love Alejandro.

Quick Cut to a Hotel Room on Outskirts of Agua Azul
Alejandro has made quick trip to Pier One and bought a bunch of white candles on sale to place around the room in anticipation of Montserrat's arrival.

Back to José-Luis and Montserrat

Shocked and hurt, a distraught J-L sits down on the bed.
"Why, José-Luis?" Montse wonders.  "Why did you do this to me?"
"I want a divorce," she tells him.
"No!" he cries.
"You forced me to marry you!" she says.
"I didn't force you to do anything!"
"You knew he was alive!"
"I did it to protect you!"

In the background, the doorbell sounds.  

More calmly now, J-L tells her he did everything so that Montse wouldn't have to suffer more.  He adds with some bitterness that he hopes that one day, Montse will understand all the sacrifices he's made for her.  Not buying his explanations, Montse informs him that before this conversation is over, J-L is going to never want to speak to her again either, because she lied to him, too.  This get J-L nervous and he starts asking, "What do you mean, Montse?" but before she can answer then Rosario comes in with a surprise announcement:

"Victor Hernandez is in the living room," Rosario tells Montserrat.  "He wants to talk to us."

J-L says in disbelief, "Victor Hernandez!"  J-L hurries out to go and see his visitor, leaving Montse and Rosario alone for a moment.  Confused, Montse wants to know from Rosario what Victor is doing there.  Rosario tells her Alejandro sent him.  

Oh, the Potential Metadrama!
Very interesting scene as everyone involved feels surprise, shock, and disbelief but also must simultaneously feign feeling surprise, shock, and disbelief for other reasons.  For example, J-L is surprised to see Victor and says so--"Good evening, Victor, what a surprise!"-- but José-Luis must pretend to be more surprised than he actually is since J-L already suspects that Alejandro is in Mexico and wherever Alejandro is in this TN, Victor usually is, too.  Montse and Rosario know even more than José-Luis, and Montse has even been hanging out in Josefina's house with Alejandro and Victor all afternoon, but they have to pretend shock at seeing Victor because they have to pretend to J-L that they both only just found out that Alejandro is alive.  Victor goes to embrace Montserrat, proclaiming how happy he is to see her after such a long time, as if he didn't judy see her a few hours before.  She behaves oddly and coldly because she has now idea what he's up to, and J-L jumps to her defense, telling Victor to let her go as José-Luis assumes it's a real shock for Montserrat to see Victor alive.  José-Luis asks Victor to excuse Montse because she just found out about everything.  Rosario explains to him that Nadia told Montse that both Victor and Alejandro died in the plane crash. 

Jeez, that's complicated!

Finally, Montse finds her voice and asks about Alejandro, knowing full well he's alive but unsure of Victor's motives for coming. J-L explains he called the hospital in Buenos Aires and that they said that Alejandro wasn't there.  

Victor says yes and comes out with the big whopper of the scene:  he's sorry to tell them the bad news, but Alejandro died several weeks ago.  The doctors made the decision to disconnect him from life support.

Now Rosario and Montserrat have to rise to the occasion and attempt some more difficult acting since they know Victor is lying and that Alejandro is alive but don't want J-L to suspect this.  They both begin crying and wailing and run out of the room.  To me, they were pretty convincing.  Maybe they as characters are wasting their time in Agua Azul and should move to Mexico City where they could train at the Televisa Academy and start careers as actors in a telenovela within a telenovela.  However, José-Luis seems a much more discerning critic of their thespian skills and begins to ask Victor some pointed questions:

"Where is Alejandro's body?" he wonders.
"We cremated it," says Victor.
"And where are his ashes?" José-Luis asks.
"On the way."
"Death certificate?"
"Don't have that, either, yet."
"So you don't have any document to prove what you're saying?  Only your word?"
"José-Luis," Victor says again.  "The documents and ashes will be arriving soon."
"I see.  I'm very sorry," says. J-L.
"Thank you," says Victor.

Both men look suspicious of each other.

In another part of the house, Rosario and Montserrat argue over what has just happened.  Montse is angry and insists she doesn't want to lie to J-L.  Rosario insists that Victor had to do what he did and was protecting Alejandro.  Montserrat claims this wasn't the right way to do it.  She tells Rosario that she asked J-L for a divorce.  He turned her down, but she will convince him.  She wants to explain to him that Alejandro is in Agua Azul and that she and Alejandro have been together.  But now she wonders how she can be angry at J-L for lying to her when she is lying to him in the worst way.  

Rosario begs Montserrat again not to tell José-Luis the truth.  But Montserrat says it was awful to have to pretend to be unhappy at Alejandro's supposed death when she is so happy to have discovered that he is really alive.  What's more, what is she going to say to Laurito?  She's going to go this moment and tell J-L the truth.

"No, Montse, hija!"  Rosario cries.

Montse returns into the the main living room area to find Victor waiting alone.  She wants to know where J-L went.  Victor explains that José-Luis left to make a call.  To whom?  Montse wants to know.  He didn't say, says Victor.  Montse then asks Victor to leave.  An anxious Rosario informs Victor that Montse wants to tell J-L the truth.  Victor says she can't do that, but Montse says, yes, she can.  She won't pretend to be destroyed by this terrible news that isn't true.  Again, she asks Victor and Rosario to leave since Montse needs to be alone with José-Luis.  She doesn't want to live a lie.

Think of the consequences, says Rosario.  Think of the consequences of a lie like this, Montse responds.

Another Anguished Phone Call
After Rosario and Victor go, Montse waits for J-L to come out of the study.  She goes to the door, seemingly to hear some of his private conversation, but then gets a better idea and picks up the other extension in the living room and listens in.  J-L is on the phone, venting to his best friend Refugio.  He tells a shocked Refugio that Alejandro was in a coma for seven years and that he (José-Luis) knew this and didn't tell Montse.  He admits he feels badly about it, but he doesn't regret the decision because if he hadn't withheld the truth, Montse would never have married him.

Refugio is trying to digest the fact that Alejandro even survived the plane crash.  J-L tells him that all three survived and that Nadia is even in Agua Azul.  What's more, J-L thinks that Victor was lying to him about Alejandro dying in a coma.  J-L needs to find out what happened and above all if Alejandro is in Agua Azul.  José-Luis is going to start investigating, and he wants Refugio to use the resources of the marina to help, though he must be discreet and not say anything to anyone, not even Esmeralda.  Refugio promises, though he says he doesn't understand why Victor would lie.  J-L says it's simple:  J-L is the chief of police and is under orders to arrest Alejandro.   Refugio is a little shocked that J-L would do this, especially considering that J-L always insisted Alejandro was innocent.  J-L even went to jail for Alejandro.   J-L says, yes, he did, but he's paid his debt, and he's not going to lose Montse again.  J-L says he hopes Alejandro is dead because if he's not, then there's no telling what he (José-Luis) might be capable of….

After hearing this, Montse puts the phone down.  Possessed of some new determination, she takes off her wedding ring and then flees the house.

José-Luis comes limping in a moment later.  "Montserrat?" he calls, looking for her.

Dinner Party o' Rancor
Mansion Mendoza-Basurto:  Sandro, Gracie, Carlotta, and EZ are having a very awkward family meal.  Sandro urges Carlotta to use the familiar form "tú" with him, but she snakily informs him she could never do that because she will never consider him a friend, especially after all the nasty things he did to her niece and Alejandro.  Carlotta then turns on Gracie and tells her to remember that the house is no longer hers, but Carlotta's.  Carlotta tells Gracie to show some manners and consult with Carlotta the next time she (Gracie) has a dinner guest.  Gracie tells Carlotta to can it and that the situation has changed and that Sandro is no longer working for Fabiola.  Carlotta wants to know why Sandro is in Agua Azul then, and he politely informs her that he returned to find something that was robbed from him seven years ago.

Curious, Carlotta asks, "What was robbed?"
"My heart," says Sandro.
EZ laughs.

Carlotta and EZ both hope that Gracie and Sandro's relationship prospers.  EZ adds that this will be a good way to get Gracie out of the house at last!  Sandro would be doing them all a huge favor.  They laugh some more at Gracie's expense, but she is soon ready to get pay back for the insult and suddenly asks EZ, "By the way, have you seen María Zamudio?"   Carlotta warns Gracie not to mention María again and says thank god she won't return to bother them all again.

"How stupid you are, Carlotta," says Gracie.  "María's not looking for your husband to bother him.  She's looking to enjoy herself."

At this, the maid enters to tell Gracie that Fabiola is here and wants to see Gracie.  

Gracie goes to the garden to talk to Fabiola who has come to tell Gracie that she's been thinking and decided to accept the proposal Gracie made the other day.  Gracie congratulates Fabiola on showing she has some sense.  Fabiola says she has one condition, but Gracie shuts her down and says that no one gives her (Graciela) any conditions.  Besides, the only thing that Fabiola needs to know now is that her suspicions were correct: Alejandro is alive and, more than that, he's very close.  Gracie taunts Fabiola with the knowledge that Alejandro is in Agua Azul and is preparing to make his first blow against her.  Fabiola is upset and wants to know if Gracie has talked to Alejandro, and Gracie tells her, of course, and that he threatened her, too.  He also vows he's going to get back everything.  

Fabiola wants to know if Montse knows and J-L, too?  Gracie wonders what's it to Fabiola, but Fabiola insists that anything having to do with José-Luis is important to her.  Gracie tells Fabiola not to be ridiculous.

Still Looking for Montserrat
Rosario is looking worried, per usual, when there's a knock on her bedroom door.  It's J-L wanting to know if Rosario knows where Montse is.  Rosario says, no, and is genuinely surprised herself that Montse is not in the house.  Trying to stay calm, J-L says then he supposes Montse won't be long and wishes Rosario goodnight.

Rosario calls outs to him that she knows Montse asked him for a divorce.  J-L dismisses this, saying Montse was just angry and that when people are angry they always say foolish things.  He's sure that in a few days Montse will forget it.  

"It's not foolish," Rosario insists.
J-L looks distraught but doesn't argue with her.  "I'm sorry about the death of your son, Rosario," he says.

Back to the Mean-Spirited Mother and Child Reunion
Gracie tells Fabiola that she's actually in luck because now that Alejandro is alive Montse will want to be with him and will regret marrying J-L.  Fabiola gloats that she warned Montserrat not to get married, but she wouldn't listen.  Gracie says why should Montserrat listen to a pathetic drunk like Fabiola?

Fabiola says that Gracie never answered the question:  Does J-L know that Alejandro didn't die?  Gracie says that J-L thinks that Alejandro is in a coma in a hospital in Buenos Aires and hopes that Fabiola won't be stupid enough to tell J-L the truth.  Fabiola insists that it's in her interest to tell him since she doesn't want Montse to stay with J-L.

Gracie wants to know what it is that Fabiola likes about J-L.  Is it the millions his wife left him?  Fabiola says, yes, among other things.  Gracie almost seems to admire Fab's ambition for a moment and is maybe even proud that Fabiola is a chip off the old tacky, mercenary block that is Graciela herself. Fabiola also comments about the similarities between them.

Gracie excuses herself and says she has to get back to her dinner guest who just happens to be Fabiola's ex-lover and ex-lawyer, Sandro.  Fabiola says that Sandro told her he had some news about her parents, as Gracie predicted.  Gracie tells Fabiola that with Gracie's help, Fabiola will soon have all the answers to the questions she been asking.

A Manly Heart to Heart
Gracie comes back into the dining room, and Carlotta immediately wants to know if Fabiola came to threaten Gracie once again.  Gracie tells Carlotta not to be gossipy, but Carlotta insists rightfully that she's just worried because if Fabiola is drunk, she will do something stupid.  Gracie says she needs to touch up her make-up and asks Carlotta to accompany her, presumably to tell Carlotta more about what happened in a private setting.  They excuse themselves, leaving EZ and Sandro alone.

Sandro continues with his charm offensive and compliments EZ on having such an enchanting wife.  EZ says, unfortunately, he can't say the same thing about Sandro's woman, but Sandro insists Gracie is a beautiful woman with great class.  Maybe EZ won't believe him (Sandro) but Sandro swears he's in love with Gracie.  EZ tells Sandro to be cautious because Gracie must surely need something from Sandro.  For the second time this episode, Sandro brags about how well he knows women--above all women like Gracie--and can take care of himself.  

"Good luck with that," says a knowing EZ.

Waiting for His Wife in Candlelit Hotel Room on the Outskirts Of Town
Alejandro hears a long-anticipated knock on the door.  He runs to open it and takes Montserrat into his arms, kissing her passionately per usual.

Waiting for His Wife in a Dark Room In Their Beautiful House in the Center of Town
A brooding, angry José-Luis asks, "Where are you, Montserrat?  Where are you?"

Back to the Hotel Room
Alejandro and Montserrat break their lip lock at last and an anguished Montserrat informs Alejandro that J-L won't give her a divorce.  What's more, she heard J-L talking to Refugio:  J-L wants to put Alejandro in jail.  She claims it's no longer important to J-L that Alejandro is innocent.  The only thing important to J-L now is that he's never going to allow Montse and Alejandro to be together.

Montserrat gets up from the bed and walks across the room.  She says that she knows that Alejandro doesn't want to escape again, but they've got to go.  

Montse insists, "We've got to leave here before José-Luis discovers you're in Agua Azul!"

Looks of searching and longing--or something intense--from our golden couple, Montserrat and Alejandro, to end the scene.

End of Episode 

Avances:  Alejandro agrees to escape with Montserrat.  José-Luis waits for Montserrat to come home and looks really angry when she finally appears.

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Comments:
Julia R:

Thanks so very much for this superb recap. I like all your little details.

Ay, yi, yi, it's getting really bad and the testosterone is really ratcheting up. Victor really did a dumb thing, and wasn't that nice of JL to offer to move Ale, it's too bad that Rosy and Monste keep lying. I can understand Monse's indignation, but, she's lying too and she keeps on lying. Woe to her when JL finds out the truth, jus' sayin'.

I liked the sparring of Graceless and EZ, too funny. I also like what EZ said to Sandho.

The other thing that bothers me is when Monse said that JL forced her to marry him. So not true! She agreed, she made her bed, and she'll have to find a way out of it. Monse should have told JL no when he asked her to marry him. That would have been the end of that, but then we wouldn't have this contretemps would we?

I don't know if JL would throw Ale in the prison. If the roles were reversed you can bet that Ale would JL in the prison without a second thought. JL has sacrificed much for Monse, and she still doesn't get it. I just hope JL sticks with his principals and let's Monse go, after he is over his anger. He'd be better off.
 

This comment has been removed by the author.
 

Julia, thanks for your quick, complete and very excellent recap.

Victor and the "lie" were just lame. What a bad plan. Let's just lie some more. I do not understand why Ale does not just leave town now that he has made contact with Montse and the two of them make plans to meet somewhere else a couple months down the line.. They also have Laurito to think of and Rosario.

Loved Carlota at the dinner telling Sandro she and he would not be "tutearing" each other and why; and also telling Graciela to pass it by her first if she wants to invite anyone for dinner.

Jarifa
 

JL didn't make that offer out the goodness of his heart. RME. He got caught and now is trying to worm his way out of it by pretending to "help." Glad Montse overheard his conversation with Refugio and knows the truth about him! Thank you and no I don't think her lying is worst than what he did.
 

Thanks so much for your recap Julia. Your title gave me a chuckle as well.

Mads, ITA w/you about the foolishness and hypocrisy of the lies Rosie, Monse, and Victor are telling.

Gracie continues to juggle people and her interests. I wonder if she and Fabs will grow to be civil to one another?
 

Julia, once again you have outdone yourself. Thank you for the superb recap.

What an episode. Filled with so many discoveries and lies. At least Montse finally knows that JL lied to her about Ale. And I am glad that she heard that conversation between JL and Refu. She kept insisting that JL would help Ale clear his name. But now she knows what JL's true intensions are. Thank goodness she heard that convo.

When Montse says she was forced to marry JL, I think she means she felt obligated. The time JL spent in jail for Montse made her feel guilty, especially after Gracie showed her that video. Plus Tia Carlota was a big influence too. The final blow was Rosario giving her blessing. Plus she thought that her son needed a father figure. I think Rosario felt pressured to give her blessing because she didn't want to be the one to keep Montse from moving on with her life.

I am a bit stumped at how all of this will play out. But I am pretty sure that BM will try to separate our couple. I really wish BM were out of the picture. I don't have the strength to watch her spew her hatred again. I don't want to see BM try to put her paws all over Ale. I might throw something at the screen. I don't even want to think about it.

Off to bed...hasta pronto!
 

Great work, Julia, and AuntyAnn, I completely agree with you.

A sense of obligation is harder to fight than the brow-beating Monse could have gotten from Gracie. That worked 9 years ago when she was 19 but it won't work now. Conscience is something altogether different.

Now that she knows JL lied to her all bets are off.

The idea of Gracie joining forces with Maria is too disgusting for words.
 

Your recap looks delicious, Julia R. I'll have to sample bit and bit during the day. I can see your dialogue is well organized and your imagery is as good as watching the program.
Hate the way the story is going-Aunty Ann, I feel like throwing the Tiki Torch again at the TV.
If the story ends by August, and we are in June (as I count on my fingers due to my agitation with the story) shouldn't they be trying to resolve some of the issues by now? The are going on making new conflicts that would take months to resolve.
Que?
 

Julia, Brava!

I could rave about this marvelous recap for hours. This was laden with witty insights and high humor.

I had to pare down my list but had to keep "her residual anger at him for lying, begrudging respect for his inherently good character, and crazed fear for the consequences of her own lying about Alejandro's current very non-vegetal state", "Gracie insists that she's not jealous and again says that it's just that she doesn't want her own daughter's sloppy seconds--she didn't say that last thing, but that's probably what she is thinking", " Oh, the Potential Metadrama!" and "However, José-Luis seems a much more discerning critic of their thespian skills and begins to ask Victor some pointed questions". Wonderful all!

I was wondering how to capture how disillusioned, disappointed, and dazed I felt about last night's events. There was no need, you did it perfectly: "Very interesting scene as everyone involved feels surprise, shock, and disbelief but must also must simultaneously feign feeling surprise, shock, and disbelief for other reasons".

Such an opportunity for our favorite (and least favorite) characters to hone their lying, cheating, manipulating personnas.

Proof positive that when you are caught in a lie, turn the tables and attack with lies and recriminations.

"You forced me to marry you!" she says. "I didn't force you to do anything!" A true rebuttal, one of the few in last night's agonizing events. Madelaine, I agree that whatever else may have transpired, JL never forced Monse to marry him. Whatever her reasons were, they were her own and of her own accord.

I'm not convinced that JL will put Ale in prison either. The reverse? Absolutely.

I was very uncomfortable when Rosario was questioning Monse if she was pregnant. I sensed her reaction would not be far from Ale's. I am beginning to see a dark side of Rosario and perhaps an understanding of where Ale did indeed come from.

I was also not happy with Monse. I understand her outrage that JL kept the news that Ale was alive from her. Still, that doesn't justify what she and Ale are doing. All hell is breaking loose for everyone else while Ale's biggest concern seems to be finding the perfect romantic setting accessories.

Men behaving badly. Women behaving badly.

Loved Carlota's put down of Graciela. She is a formidable woman!

Hoping we can move to some resolution so this wild havoc can come to an end. We need some levity and lightness.

Julia, thank you for providing this amazing recap.

Diana
 

Diana, I must disagree. Any major injection of levity in the current storyline detracts from its power. That is the major failing of any Mejia production and that infection shouldn't get to other producers. It just would make the whole series far less memorable.

I personally would love to see JL, Alejandro, and Adolfo find out Pedro's shameful secret. Individually or in some combination they could make things even uglier for him.
 

I'm on the M4 limited bus writing on iPad so it's going to be messy. IMROTFL over "old horn dogs".!!
When I saw Ale bringing in the bag and start arranging some white objects I thought, "yum! Chinese take-out!"
I was so disappointed when I saw candles. Shows you where my mind is, so not into this story. But great recap, loving it, and the comments!!
 

Julia- What a wonderful recap. Loved the way you broke down that scene when everyone was lying and pretending to feel things they didn't. That was such a stupid lie, and totally useless since half of Agua Azul, most of them his enemies, know that Ale is alive and WHERE he's hanging out. What a lazy fugitive he is. Hide better! Remember fugitive JL running through jungles, sleeping in shacks, and having car chases with the police? Ale's doing the Club Med version of being "on the run."

Monse was living in a dream world if she expected that JL's reaction to learning that Ale was back and that she is leaving JL to be with Ale, would be JL immediately offering to clear Ale's name. I guess he has made so many crazy sacrifices for Ale and Monse before, that she just figured he'd roll over and do it again. Oh, please! I think eventually he will do this, but that's not going to be his first reaction knowing that he's being dumped to Ale yet again.

I hope Monse sticks to her guns about divorcing JL, but drops this silly idea about going on the run. That means Lauro and Rosie would have to go on the run too. Why? They are not in the same situation as Nadia, Vicky and Victor who have a madman after all of them. Ale needs to take care of his business and then come back to his family.
 

Thanks for this thorough and thoroughly entertaining recap, Julia. I especially enjoyed your description of that head-spinning scene in which everyone involved freely invoked lying and deception. I enjoyed the scene immensely but your retelling even more so.

It looked to me like JL was trying to give the impression to Rosario that he had been planning to bring Alejandro back to Agua Azul for sometime... somehow I doubt that was his original plan. What was he going to do, present the vegetating Alejandro as a surprise gift, sort of like a fruit basket?

UA,

"I personally would love to see JL, Alejandro, and Adolfo find out Pedro's shameful secret."

This disturbs me a bit. I'm no fan of Pedro, but if there is anything that one should or could be sympathetic with him about, it's that horribly tragic genital mutilation. I have no idea if this detail was intended by the writers to play a part in making him into the monster that he is, but if so, then it is unfortunate. To call it a shameful secret and a reason to hold him up to public ridicule doesn't seem to me any more fair or seemly than mocking a woman who has been mutilated in some way... say for example, either genital mutilation or mastectomy.

Pedro is a cruel vicious sorry excuse of a human being and deserves most any punishment that is directed at him, but I simply can't get on board with holding him up to public scorn for this. Of course opinions vary.

Carlos
 

We don't actually have enough backstory to know what role that accident and its horrible result played in making him what he is now.

I can guess that he takes some form of testosterone supplement or he wouldn't have a mustache or a widow's peak. Doesn't abuse of this stuff lead to aggressive behavior that can be hugely destructive?

Whatever the answers to those questions, nothing excuses what he did to Nadia. He...

-- courted her for two years, pretending to be a gentleman
-- married her without explaining his condition
-- abused her emotionally for almost two years before explaining the truth
-- had her under video surveillance, watching her in bed with Victor
-- repeatedly threatened Victor's life and had him beaten and almost murdered
-- tracked them down in Argentina
-- kidnapped Victoria
-- emotionally abuses Victora
-- physically abuses Nadia, who is now helpless because she is blind.

He lost out on any right to compassion long ago.
 

Diana:

I am so with you, we do need a bit of levity. I also agree with you about the men behaving badly, women behaving badly, so well said!

Vivi:

I agree with you about Laurito and Rosy on the run with Monse and Ale and the "Club Med" version of being on the run. JL and Refug had it bad the whole time they were on the run. The car over the cliff, being dirty and muddy, taking a bath in the creek. No pasta and candles for them ; )

I've been thinking if JL could really throw Ale in the prison. I think if he did, it might be to protect Ale from Peddy. If Peddy were ever to get wind of Ale being back in Aguazul, he'd kill him and use his being a fugitive as an excuse. One the one hand, Peddy is now the governor, on the other hand, JL would insist on complete control of the prison. I don't know, we'll have to wait and see how JL handles this.
 

I don't think that Alejandro would be in any level of Protective Custody from Pedro. I'm not sure that even exists in Mexico.

I think he'd be a sitting duck and JL wouldn't care.
 

JL maybe not be Pedro but I highly doubt he will step aside once he finds out Alec is alive or is with Montse. Also wanting to help and not arrest him.

More likely he will be angry and feel "betray" by them and will want revenge and want to hold on to Montse even more. It is best if Alec, Montse, Laurito run away and leave town.
 

Julia,

This was an exceptional recap.
I appreciate your dedication and diligence to duty and detail.

This episode was loaded with action, emotion, and much humor too...both in the novela and on your part as the writer.

Loved your analysis of the roles and many faces of the characters after Victor's shocking news.



 

That scene with Pedro talking to JL on the telephone was rather bizarre. It began with smoke literally billowing out of Pedro's pipe and then Pedro was so giddy as he talked to JL that he seemed almost pathologically euphoric. He reminded of our cat, Jack, when he gets into the catnip. I wonder if he was testing out some of his product?

Carlos
 

Julia, this recap was a masterpiece and many of your noted comments brought a clarity to an otherwise mind-numbing episode. Bless you.

I feel in watching events unfold that the smartest person in the room is Laurito. These grown-ups are acting like spoiled children instead of thinking through the issues, taking a deep breath and just getting a grip on the facts. Everything is reacting by the seat of the pants, which digs the holes deeper and ramps up the jealousy and anger. And we are suppose to root for these people?

And are we now supposed to believe that JL is so desperate to hang on to a woman who obviously doesn't want him any more (yeah, that will be fun dude), that he's willing to go in league with Pedro? What other favors will he ask for?

But can I say, Sergio gave me a mighty chuckle last night in that brief scene. Not the character, but the actor. He played that as over the top as you can possibly do it without making it pure nonsense. The glee at hearing it was JL, the constant referring to his name, the way he puffed on the pipe...give that man an award. The character may be vile and hard to take, but darn, the actor is giving it his all.

Ah, the brief, happy moment with Dim and company. Love the new furnishings and hate to admit that Dim and Monica seem to be doing ok. Could use a little more of that.

Daisynjay
 

Yes, Carlos, I noticed the smoke pouring out of that pipe and how he was acting and I was wondering what the heck was in that pipe!

 

Best scene of the night
 

That scene with Peddy and JL on the phone was a good one, but I watched JL's facial expression. He looked like he was gonna hurl the whole time he talked to Peddy, like hey, dude, got your number. JL really knows what and who Peddy is and would never be his friend. Pretending yes, actually being nopis.
 

Was JL getting the hospital info from Pedro in order to bring comatose Ale to Mexico signalling that he was willing to work with Pedro? Seems like he just went to the source that he knew would have the info.

Pedro is wriggling with glee because he knows he's getting an exact replay of what happened last time. Last time his used jealous husband Ale as a weapon to take down fugitive JL. Now, he figures he can just sit back and see JL go all homicidal when he realizes Ale is alive. Problem solved for Pedro, and he doesn't have to get his own hands dirty.
 

I'll add that Ale was stupid enough to fall into Pedro's plot last time. But JL has always seemed smarter about the way he interacts with Pedro than Ale. I expect him to perhaps play along with Pedro with the ultimate goal of bringing him down (like Amelia), but I don't see JL really going into league with Pedro.
 

If some bloggers are looking for comic relief just look at the wardrobes of Sandro and Graciela.

Sandro rocked it with his orange blazer last night. It looks like he picks his color scheme from a assorted popsicle box.

Graciela with her usual puffy, billowing sack-like dress that would look perfectly appropriate on a rodeo clown.
 

UA I think the levity some are referring to here could be small, pleasant moments with likeable characters (Dim & Monica, Fina, Esme & Ref before the baby) instead of the almost wall-to-wall coverage of the baddies winning and the supposedly good characters lying and doing it poorly. In Meija tns levity is over the top and out of place but this tn is better than that.

It can also be found in the fashion as Oxnard Huero noted.

Vivi, ITA that Pedro's glee was based on him being able to watch JL and Ale do one another in.
 

What does Gracelees have hidden under that tablecloth she has draped over her chest?
I
 

Karen, as usual, you interpreted my remark about levity perfectly.

Gracias amiga.

Diana
 

Julia R. – Superb recap. You pack it all on so deftly. My favorite:

He limps away using his cane, no doubt leaving Rosario to deal a large range of emotions including her residual anger at him for lying, begrudging respect for his inherently good character, and crazed fear for the consequences of her own lying about Alejandro's current very non-vegetal state.

Yay, JL may be obsessed but he’s no monster! I loved the look on Rosario's face when JL said he would have Ale's body moved to Agua Zul so she can watch over him. Nope, it doesn’t make up for his deception, but it shows a working brain and sheepishness – and it’s better than nothing.

How stupid was that lie Ale made Victor give? Answer: as stupid as “The dog ate my homework!” Please! That lie only insulted JL and heightened his resolve to hang on, for spite. But, JL, honestly you committed burlarse to your own self by marrying a women you knew full well wasn’t in love with you.

I’m in the camp that says no way is JL going into league with Pedro. JL just needed Ale's hospital address, period. Agree it's nuts for Monse to have expected JL to immediately want to help Ale with all these emotions running high. Also, Monse must have a lot of trust in JL to ask for a divorce, toss off her wedding ring, run out of the house in the middle of the night, leaving Laurito there with a step dad who feels betrayed.

Maria looked great with her hair up in braids. But please writers, no more dancing for her.

Sandro flashed the maid such a gorgeous smile. Uhf! Even the orange jacket didn’t turn me off.
 

Vivi I would love to agree with you on JL and Pedro. To me it makes no sense he would do it, but I worry when I see scene like that NOW, because I don't trust the writers. That's what I was referring to. You can never tell if they are hinting at something to come or not.

If they go that route, horrors, it would almost be a slap in the face to Angie. By that I mean, it would make me feel like the writers would take away the man she kept insisting to everyone was worth her love and in that way make her look foolish and wrong. Just me.

But again, would put nothing past how these TN's flow, especially one where we know they are dragging out the story for all it's worth for additional episodes.

By the way, my day perked up as I went out for lunch. There walking down the street was a dapperly-dressed (is that a word) middle age man in an orange sportcoat, baby blue shirt and plaid pants with the same colors. Sandho would be proud.

Daisynjay
 

In terms of Sandho's fashion sense, orange is the new black, correct? ;)

Diana
 

Julia, such a great recap! All these characters are lying so much about everything I wonder how they'll keep it all straight? No wonder Montse wants to tell the truth. It's easier.

"When I saw Ale bringing in the bag and start arranging some white objects I thought, "yum! Chinese take-out!" LOL! I thought the same thing! I wonder where Ale is getting the money for flowers, candles, and the hotel room? Is Josephina giving him (and Victor) an allowance?

 

My goodness, Julia Rold,

I have enjoyed every single one of your recaps, but I do believe this one is my favorite. While it is hard to pick the best lines to highlight (there are so many great ones), I think I'm going to have to go with this part:

"Oh, the Potential Metadrama! Very interesting scene as everyone involved feels surprise, shock, and disbelief but must also must simultaneously feign feeling surprise, shock, and disbelief for other reasons."

which several paragraphs later culminates in this:

"To me, they were pretty convincing. Maybe they as characters are wasting their time in Agua Azul and should move to Mexico City where they could train at the Televisa Academy and start careers as actors in a telenovela within a telenovela. However, José-Luis seems a much more discerning critic of their thespian skills and begins to ask Victor some pointed questions:"

I just love your ATTITUDE and WIT and SMARTS, Miss Julia. Thank you so much. The bases were loaded and you brought everybody home!
 

All I have to say is that I'm not liking Monserrat. No one forced her to marry Jose Luis. She choose to do so whether she felt guilty or not there are other ways to rectify it besides marrying the man. And what she is doing now is absolutely despicable and heartless. She is no different from her mother Graciela, but atleast Graciela stays true to herself. Monserrat is a fake and a phony. Now she is going to pay just like Jose Luis will pay for lying to her! Except her lies to him were worse. Vent over*
 

I think Pedro's lack of balls will have to be exposed to all in order to prove that he couldn't have sired Vicky.
 

18I know he's got his faults and all but, still, pobre Jose Luis! Just cannot win for losing.

More gorgeous scenery - makes me crazy to see some of these vistas and not be able to teleport myself instantly. That Cathedral alone is stunning.

What on earth have they done to LoLo's hair? He's such a cute little boy -- Woody Woodpecker. Horrivel!

And, yes, JL needs to be done with Monse and get his life in order without her. Will he do any of that? Por supuesto que no. It's painful to watch. The refritos are charred and burning, exuding smoke, on that stove top.

Last shallow observation: Monse's coffee and cupcake paradise really looks dreadful. The one epic fail of the set designers.

Thanks as always for the super detailed and witty witty witty recap.
 

Thank you for the recap Julia! It was great and it made me relive this episode which I saw a couple of weeks ago.

I had to comment because this episode made me laugh so much. When Montserrat went to Victor screaming "DON'T DO THIS!" and Rosario took her to the bedroom I just couldn't stop laughing. That's the kind of crazy I can enjoy in these telenovelas.

Jarocha


 

I don't think Montse meant she was literally "force" to marry JL. IA with what AuntyAnn said she felt obligated to marry him. I have no probs with her attitude. I'm all for it and am cheering her on. And anyone who doesn't like JL and sees him for the obsessive, annoying, pathetic person he is fine with me.
 

Anybody think Pedro's maid knows his secret? She said to Nadia a while back that she (the maid) knows how to keep secrets. And she seems to not wonder if Victoria could be Pedro's.
 

Anon 2:57- I think it is nonsense that JL forced/obligated Monse to marry him (her choice), AND I think she should divorce him. I don't think it has to be one or the other. They should have never gotten married in the first place.
 

How can JL not grant the divorce? Can't Monse sue for the divorce and a judge decides? I pull my hair whenever someone says "He won't let me go" what in the hades? Someone please enlighten me? I know in noveland anything goes but seriously? I may be alone in thinking this but JL is on his way to crazy town y punto.
 

Pedro's maid knows that Victoria isn't his and she has always been loyal to Nadia. However, I don't think she knows about Pedro's lack of hombria although she knew about Nadia and Victor.
 

Romy- I always wonder about that too, when people, especially these tns characters, say "s/he won't give me a divorce." Basically, all this means is that the divorce process may take a little longer. There is some point when, even if the other party doesn't sign the divorce papers, the divorce is granted any way. The only delaying tactic would be if one is trying to claim assets/support from the other, and I just don't see JL trying to get spousal support, nor Monse trying to get spousal support from JL.
 

I found this on divorces in Mexico:

In Mexico there are 2 types of divorces. The first is called Nicesario . This is a contested divorce where the parties do not agree and need to fight it out in court. This process will be very expensive, and the only winning party will be the lawyers. The courts are pretty tight here concerning the split of the assets, which is normally 50/50. Throw in custody battles, and off-shore pensions, and this could drag out for years. The minimum time to complete this type of divorce is one year.

The second type is Voluntario. This is where both parties agree to all terms, and have an agreement drawn up to supply to the courts. The judge will review this and then meet with both parties to determine if in fact this is the way they want to proceed. The judge will usually call two of these meetings. These uncontested divorces generally take 3-6 months.
 

Goodness, Monse and JL haven't even been married long enough to have a joint checking account. All she needs to do is change the locks on the door.
 

Niecie- I know, right! Get some big dudes to come get his stuff and him, and drop him and his stuff off in front of his house (now Dim's) or Refugio's house. Change the locks. Get a lawyer. Wait for however long the divorce takes. It's not like she and Ale are waiting to get it on until her divorce comes through. Who cares how long it takes?!
 

Vivi, thanks for the divorce info. I felt exasperated with Montse when she said that JL wouldn't "give" her a divorce. It was as if she had no power of her own. She has power in all of this but she needs to take it.

Jarifa
 

I agree that the No divorce tactic is most cases is one of "If you try I will drag this out, make it ugly and make you miserable" type of deal in most of these cases. Honestly, if someone doesn't want to be around you that much, than bye, don't let the door hit you, no matter how much it might hurt. Why be in a miserable marriage.

Now that said, we are talking about a Catholic church marriage. I doubt JL is coming from that perspective, though who knows if he'll use it, but there are those who are very serious about a church sanctioned marriage and the consequences of a divorce because of the status you garner once divorced. Technically, the Catholic church doesn't recognize a civil divorce. Only an annulment granted by the church technically frees you. If a divorced person, not annulled, should remarry they are considered living a perpetual sin since the church never recognized the first divorce....gets messy, and the person can no longer receive the sacraments of the church, especially communion. My old school teaching and watching my brother go through all this. So in those circumstances it does mean a great deal if one of the couple refuse or won't go for the annulment.

Daisynjay
 

Vivi and Romy and Niece,

It's a TN, where everything is done with the writers imagination. This is almost a throwback to 1900 with I won't give you the divorce thingy ; )

How about the Express Divorce, Vivi, we saw on PVAA, does that exist? It took like two weeks to a month I think, and the poor wife had no idea she'd been divorced! They also used this on Refugio too.
 

DaisynJay:

It's very sad with the annulments in the Catholic Church if you have children, cause the annulment makes the children you have had null and void also, in other words the marriage never existed and neither do your children. I think the Church needs to change the rules.
 

Mads- Express divorce is only in D.F.
 

We haven't even gone into the mental gymnastics of what the Catholic Church will do once Ale is declared alive-- what does it mean for either of Monse's Church marriages?

I'm pretty sure the civil marriage is a done deal, even if Ale being alive is established. But I would think things will be a lot more complicated in the Church, no?
 

JL will play the pregnancy card. He will contest the divorce saying that Montse is preggers.

Yes, there is an "express divorce" in Mexico. Montse could try for one of those. But then there is the church wedding, and if Montse does end up being pregnant I don't know if an annullment would be granted. Of course I would think that the church still recognizes her marriage to Ale as the valid one once it is known that he is alive.
 

Vivi:

Thanks for the info on the Express Divorce.

If Ale gets his name back, the Church may recognize that marriage as being valid. He was declared dead though, so I really don't know how that would work. Legally though, without the Church, the marriage to Ale is not valid since he was declared dead.

JL and Monse have no children, but she still can't get annulment because of the consummation of her marriage to JL, BUT JL knew Ale was alive and in a coma before he married Monse so she has grounds to stand on for an annulment.
 

This comment has been removed by the author.
 

Aunty Ann- Since she's not in D.F., the divorce express isn't an option for Monse, but maybe she and Ale should consider going there to hide out and take care of the divorce while they're at it.
 

The Catholic Church has become much more lenient in granting annulments than it was 50 years ago. I think the church would annul her marriage to JL based on fraud because JL married her knowing her first husband was still alive. Rosario would be witness #1.

Jarifa
 

I thought that the church wouldn't grant an annulment if there were children involved, so I'm with Vivi here about what a mess this will be if Montse is pregnant with JL's child. Two church weddings, two living, breathing husbands, two children ... I'm afraid for JL's baby's survival!
 

If Mons is pregnant, won't the courts make her wait until after she has the baby before allowing her to proceed with a divorce?
 

Jarocha,

How are you ????

I haven't seen your name for so long.
Did you finish school and recover from surgery?

All the Best,

Floridia
 

Alejandro was declared a bastard, which nullified his marriage to Monse, Laurito notwithstanding. His having been declared legally dead therefore doesn't matter.

JL contracted the marriage in bad faith, which might be sufficient grounds for Monse to request an annulment. Consummation is therefore not a factor.

To Mads' point, rich people get annulments all the time despite the marriage having lasted ten or more years and there being children. It's sick.
 

On the annulment issue:
Canon law states that "children who are conceived or born of a valid or of a putative marriage are legitimate." A marriage which is eventually discerned to be invalid through the annulment process was nevertheless considered valid by both parties at the time of the wedding, and presumably at the time the children were conceived. This constitutes a "putative marriage", and children conceived in such a relationship are therefore legitimate.

Canon 1137 of the Code of Canon Law specifically affirms the legitimacy of children born in both valid and putative marriages (objectively invalid, though at least one party celebrated in good faith).

Now bear in mind two recent Popes
St. JPII and Benedict XVI both complained that annulments granted for lack of 'capax' or emotional immaturity were being granted way too often at the diocesan level. Not sure if the annulments mill has put on the breaks recently.
 

So, once Ale has cleared up that he's not a fraud/is the child of Almonte, AND has himself declared alive, what will the Church decide about his marriage to Monse? So confusing. Wouldn't want to be the bishop who has to deal with THAT case. Maybe Arturo Peniche will come back for a third turn in his priest/bishop role and help these folks like he did Renata and Jero in CME. :)
 

That he was missing and presumed dead for 7 years is the biggest complication in the entire mess.

If Gracie is still alive at the time that Alejandro is proven an Almonte she will end up in prison for fraud. Maybe the church will excommunicate her.

BTW, in all of the preceding episodes have we ever seen her even enter a church except for Monse and Alejandro's first wedding?
 

From what I have known with several friends and family ( so sad to say that) having to deal with annulments through the years, their has been greater leniency in the granting. One of the primary changes has been in regards to children as brilliantly pointed out by Anon with the canons. If there is a valid and granted annulment by the church that makes the marriage null and void, it should not affect the legitimacy of the children. The old idea that once a marriage was consummated it was hard to get an annulment is no longer as valid. The whole area of annulments is not one of the top areas that the new pope is reviewing from the articles I've read. I don't think he feels it a priority with all the other issues he has.

The situation with Ale would have to get a lot of legal eagles involved, and perhaps a good church lawyer to create the needed paperwork to straighten out, might be able to make the case that his marriage is the true binding one since he really wasn't dead. You know what good lawyers can do!
In any case, I think JL's church marriage would be toast from a church perspective, only any civil ceremony they had would have to be dealt with. Did they have a civil ceremony? I don't remember.Are u required to have both in D.F.?

Daisynjay
 

You are. The civil ceremony is the legally binding one. The church ceremony is legally irrelevant.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hE0ag88rKvQ English Promo for Mi Corazon es Tuyo! This looks promising, let's hope it doesn't go PEAM on us and it keeps momentum like say UFCS (or Mi Pecado) did?
 


Carlos’ comment about Pedro’s overexcited puffing and E-Marie’s comment about Ale bringing in the little white boxes both made me laugh.

Pedro’s puffing reminded me of the trains in the cartoon “Thomas and his Friends”. Whenever Sir Topham Hat, the fat gabacho who runs the trainyard gives one of the engines a compliment for a job well done, that’s how they react.

And, when Ale came back to his hotel room with his little white boxes of candles I thought to myself, “There’s a Pier 1 in Aguazul”? The second thing I thought is “Why did you go out shopping without any disguise, you dumb payaso”?
 

The comments are over the top, LOL.

Y'all know, right, that no matter what the legal marriage rules are regardless of Church or state, that we are in TeleNovelaLand. So, certainly, if Monse being pregnant will mess this whole thing up legally, then she MUST be pregnant. TN rules.
And they do have a couple of months to go.
I hate the lying storyline-it's like a bad "Three's Company" rerun.
 

Julia, all my faves were already commented on several times but thanks for another stellar recap.

I enjoyed everyone's comments today as well. Even though all these characters have their flaws, and are downright lying to each other right now, I hope their conscience gets the better of them and that they don't turn to the dark side. JL, I'm looking at you! I do admire Montse for trying to tell the truth. I don't fault her as much as JL because he hid the truth from her because he knew she wouldn't have married him.

She just found out the truth about Ale, and although she failed JL in her midnight rendezvous with Ale, she has always wanted to come clean to him. With all she heard last night from JL's call with Refu, now she really does have reason to hold back.

Oxnard, your last comment on Ale's shopping and lack of disguise was hilarious!

Maricruz
 

Anon 4:38:

Thanks so much for the update on canon law. I am very glad the rules have changed for the children, that's a good thing.

DaisynJay:

Thanks so much for your added info also. It's a good thing.
 





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