Caray, Caray!

Welcome everyone to a new page for this exciting week.

Floridia & Lila:
I have no doubts Lucrecia had everything to do with the plane explosion. She killed the wrong person. Her intent was definitely Florencia. The poor pilot would be collateral damage.

In that fashback ham radio call Amaya heard under the table, early on we hear Lucrecia tell David she knows how to stop them, leave it to her (or something to that effect.)

Lucrecia didn't count on the pilot not being in the plane when Florencia went looking for him to help her with Amaya and the bags. She didn't count on it being David in the plane and Florencia refusing to get it.

In the explosion, we see Flo running away from the plane, back to the car and falling from the impact of the explosion and fire.

No wonder she was rattled when she called Mauro from the side of the road.

-----

Floridia--thank you for checking up on how surnames are applied in Spanish speaking countries. It seems both Lucrecia and I were wrong!!

Lila--I just can't wait any longer. Max and Amaya, if not declaring their love, kiss each other again and are surprised by how nice it felt.

-----
I won't be able to watch for several days, so please keep me posted as to what happens during Max and Amaya's "meeting" at the office today and other good stuff.



 

Anita dear, thank you!! Love your posting the questions at the beginning of the header for the next two weeks!! Thanks for your thoughts on the plane explosion. More later, at work now. Please enjoy your family and we faithful Amarte fans will keep you and each other posted!!

Lila
 

Anita and QA watchers-- I have now seen a few epis of this while on medical leave these last few weeks. Lots of fave actors, one of my fave hunks CdlF, and a producer I like. I wish this were on in primetime. I'm really trying to cut back on tn watching, but I might have to start recording this one. Oh, and the coffee growing landscape is beautiful.
 

Vivi--You won't be sorry. It's a solid story, so far. CdlF looks a little too scruffy for me, but it seems to be the fad.

He also wears too many different colored pants and he must have a closet full of shoes. The red ones he wore on Friday were really something. Do guys really wear shoes that bright? Maybe I haven't been out and about enough to notice.

Medical leave? Hope it was nothing too serious and you are recovering or have recovered. Oh, and thank you for the Mads update. I have a card to send--got her address from your posting.

 

Did Lucrecía go see a doctor at the beginning of the TN or am I thinking about another show? I think the doctor said there was nothing they could for her but I don't know why she went to the doctor. Am I getting this confused with another TN?

Thanks
 

Bluejean I don't remember that happening. Would have to go back to look. The grabber in this one was Amaya finding out that rather than trying to give their love another go, Horacio was screwing around yet again, like the night before. She took off in anger and had been arguing with him on the cell phone and the swerved to avoid some deer or something and plunged into the lake in an accident eerily reminiscent of the one she and her mother had 30 years earlier. Of course, this doesn't mean there wasn't a scene of Luce at the Drs., just don't remember. Anybody else?

Hey, Vivi! Love this show. Had never seen CdlF before and have never been up on directors and producers but every episode has been great and the story many-layered and engaging. Hope you join and discuss this one with us when you can. This is totally prime time fare!

Lila
 

Lila- This in the same producer who did Amor Bravio, Cuando Me Enamoro, and En Nombre del Amor. All very good tns that I enjoyed. I wish they had put this in prime time, but I think I will start recording it. I'm finally back to work tomorrow.
 

Ah, great Vivi! Glad you're feeling better. Those are all excellent TNs, no wonder this is so good! Sorry I missed Amor Bravio. I thought I saw it on hulu+ but if it was they took it off. Maybe they thought they young hot actors would be more of a primetime draw vs. the seasoned actors in this one? Who knows!

Lila
 

I snuck a peek to see how we got 8 comments before the show even started!

Bluejean--Yes, Lucrecia did go see a doctor about her voice. He said there was nothing more they could do for her. That was not a satisfactory answer for her. She wants a second opinion and so far we haven't seen her follow through (on screen, that is).

Cheers everyone.

 

Uni in DC went blank after Amaya met up with Max in his office. Things started off pretty darn frosty. Did Amaya eventually thaw and give Max the benefit of the doubt?

I know she got a raw deal all these years, but as Max pointed out he was just a kid too and didn't know. And shouldn't she just be jumping for joy that she'll now have enough cash to get away from the awful ex husband of hers and afford her own place?

I have lots of questions about how some of these folks are related and timelines of things. But I'm sure I can figure it out by watching a few more epis in sequence. Max's blended family is quite complex.
 

Hi everyone!!

I wanted to take a minute to thank everybody here for contributing to this thread...

I followed 'Quiero Amarte' as it came out, and it really IS quite a good novela... darker (which I like, and which can be expected from the director of novelas such as ENDA and AB...), and so much more involving than what we are seeing now in Prime Time (this, of course, being solely my own opinion... and we know what those are worth).

But please continue enjoying this novela- it's a good and worthy ride! And I look forward to keeping up with you all on here.

My best wishes to all!

S. :-)
 

Vivi--If you read the earlier weeks' recaps you'll get the idea of where this was going. I told my folks I had to turn it on, just to "check" to see if the DVR was recording (haha).

YES! We got a dream kiss at the beginning and we got a real kiss at the end. It took Amaya by surprise, but she responded. AND HOW.
Cheers again.
 

I hope y'all don't mind. Don't want to step on anybody's toes but here's a summary of Monday, November 17, Part 1.

We are reminded from last week:
Hector cautioning Ivan that Mariana could change once Amaya comes into get money.
Flavia vowing to return to El Paraiso for Ivan.
Ivan pining over not wanting Mariana to change and to remain close to him.

Max answers his cell phone in his car. He lights up, it’s Amaya. It is important to him that he sees her even though it is the day of the engagement party with Constanza. They agree to meet first thing in the morning in Max’s office. Delores counsels Amaya that she doesn’t have to resolve the issue with the Montesinsos so quickly. You should not be alone with him; you’re very in love with him. Yes, it’s true but justice has to be done for all the threats that were made against you and all the years you lived in fear and this affected me too.

Ahhhh. We are treated to a beautiful fantasy in misty pastels in which Max and Amaya are sitting on the love seat talking about their meeting in the morning. Amaya coos to Max, “tomorrow I will see you, I am so looking forward to it. If you only knew how much I love you.” Max replies, “How I would love to be the master of your heart and all your thoughts. If I had just one wish, it would be to be able to love you for the rest of eternity.” The doorbell rings and interrupts Amaya’s lovely daydream.

It’s a delivery boy with the red coffee machine of love! Delivery boy splits, Max comes in right behind him and kisses her. Fantasy time again with profuse professions of love punctuated with kisses. Max says, “I am crazy in love with you and I am sure my existence only makes sense if I am by your side. “ Amaya replies “I thought this moment would never come in my life, I am in love with you too, from the first moment I met you. Our lives are intertwined.” Max whispers with passionate intensity, looking deeply into her eye, “Quiero amarte, Amaya.” “And I want to love you, too.” As this fantasy fades we see Max has also been daydreaming. A split screen shows he and Amaya have been sharing the same fantasy. He looks at his empty arm thrown across the back of his love seat and sighs.



 

11-17 Part 2

It’s the morning of the much awaited meeting and we are in the apartment of the unhappy ex-couple, Amaya and Whoracio. Whor makes plans to meet Aaron at the Nescafe plant for some dirty dealing. Amaya and Horacio have an early morning argument when he learns that Val has spent the night at Carolina’s “without his permission.” Delores has spent the night and comes out of Val’s room with a cheery good morning. He blows her off and leaves in a huff. Delores is surprised how aggressive the relationship has gotten. Amaya cries to her Nena: It does remind Amaya of her parent’s relationship, it seems she unconsciously picked someone just like her Dad.

Mauro and Manuel discuss the situation with Amaya. Mauro doesn’t intend to tell Amaya that her mother, Florencia, could be alive but he wants Manuel to find a top-notch investigator. They discuss how clueless Mauro was that his lawyers were threatening Delores. Manuel recalls that Mauro had intended to adopt Amaya if he had found her and we get a grey-toned color memory scene of Lucrecia fussing at Mauro about his intentions. He recalls Lucrecia always opposed whatever he proposed. Mauro thinks that Lucrecia never knew how he felt about Florencia, but thought his intentions were to care for Amaya because of the obligation he felt towards David’s family.

Mauro wants Amaya to be in charge of the advertising campaign for Max’s coffee with Nescafe. Manuel agrees but notes that Lucrecia will know it is Florencia’s daughter because according to Mauro she is the spit and image of Florencia. Damn the torpedos, nobody is going to stop Mauro from getting what he wants and desires.

Luce comes into Cesar’s room and scolds him for the nasty attitude he’s copped. We have to be united. She tells him that she heard “his Father” tell Juliana that he (Mauro) had found the daughter of that woman (Amaya) and Mauro has just found out that the lawyers were sent to threaten Delores if her family got near Mauro or any of the Montesinos family. Lucrecia thinks he wants to move Amaya into the house or give her some land, or something. Caesar vows he’s not going to let it happen. Caesar is going to figure out a way to get the Zona Estrella and block Max’s project for the lands. But he is not going to have to use a plague that kills the harvest. See how we need each other? Lucrecia attempts to caress Caesar’s face but he cringes and pulls away. You take care of Mauro and Max and I’ll be in charge of keeping Florencia out of the way. We have to work together to realize everything you’ve proposed. He laughs in her face. She looks stricken.


 

11-17 Part 3

Juliana, Max and Jorge in the living room of the Montesino’s mansion. Juliana tells Max she is going to stay in Mexico until after his wedding. Max is off for his meeting with Amaya. Can you imagine what would happen if Amaya were single? Juliana asks Jorge. Well, your beloved brother would not be asking for Constanza’s hand.

Preparations for the engagement party. Const does not accept some things that Sal gave Nora to return to her. She’s about to begin a new life and so is he.

Nena with Val. Caro and Amaya are their too. Hor has preempted a movie date Caro, Val and Nena were going on. He texted her that he was taking her out to eat. Mensajeando – texting. Caro wants the 911 on how it came to be that she’s going to meet with Max.

Val opens up to Delores. Delores invites her to sit on her knee. Val feels bad that all the children know her parents don’t love each other anymore. She’s sad cause she wants them to live together. Delores gently tells Val to remember her parents both love her if they’re not together.

Ivan and Mariana walking, he asking her if she would quit once Amaya got the lands. Mariana confesses she accepted the job because she actually wanted to be at Paraiso to investigate the allegation that the land in the Zona Estrella belonged to Amaya. There is a tense moment and he repeats his question. Yes, she’s going to continue working there, she won’t let him down. He’s glad and she is glad too, to have a friend she says socking him in the arm. She hasn’t had a high opinion of men after her father and he has not of women after his mom abandoned him and his dad when he was 10. We endure a scene where the bowing, scraping, servile Cipriano agrees to deliver Mariana to Ulisis and leave them alone. He is thrilled that Ulisis wants to be Mariana’s “friend.” Cipriano is cheesing big time as he leaves Ulisis’ office.

 

11-17 Part 4

At the Nescafe plant Whor shows Aaron his penmanship practice. They discuss how much they’re going to earn with their dirty business when Caesar walks up and asks Whor what he’s doing there. Oh, working, sir, had some stuff to do, hee hee, takin’ care of business. He and Aaron deny knowing each other. Whor scurries away and Aaron tells Caesar he has almost perfected his signature. Good, I’ll tell you when to strike. The timing has to be just right.

Eloisa, Juliana, Lucrecia are getting dolled up for the engagement party. Constanza enters and she and Flavia exchange a chilly greeting which Juliana notices. Juliana asks Flavia it seems you don’t like Const. Nope I don’t. She is not being honest with herself or with Max. Max’s friend, Salvador, is in love with her and although she denies it, I think she has feelings for him, too. Does Max know? Yes, but he doesn’t give it much importance. Please don’t tell him I told you but I feel as his sister, you had to know.

Next, some unexpected comic relief. In the beauty shop Luce has read a story about Omar’s funeral. (Her former agent, lover, father of Caesar whom she murdered). The magazine says she’s the only one who said anything good about him, that he helped launch her singing career. Probably because they are the only two who thought she was a great singer. She sang in only one note. The article continues that Sra. Montesinos claimed she cut short her career to marry the coffee magnate, Mauro Montesinos, but the fact is her career was a big flop. Where she was smart was to snag a millionaire like Sr. Montesinos. Lucrecia’s horrified expression is hilarious! She threatens to sue the magazine for defamation of character! Juliana very evenly and matter-of-factly says, well, sue if you like but they’re just telling the truth! The truth? Gasps Lucrecia! I thought we were going to the party in peace? Juliana answers, oh, we are, but the truth is still the truth and the truth always comes to light. Juliana walks away with a priceless expression, Constanza raises her eyebrows and does the same while ever faithful and decent Eloisa gives Lucrecia a comforting touch on the knee.

Manuel and Genoeva in her apartment. She knows she can’t go the engagement dinner but wants to go to the wedding. Genoeva protests that she does not have family, nor friends while he enjoys all these while she is isolated so that I can be with him. Manuel reminds her that she knew when she met him he was married and it would have to be that way. She presses her case. He agrees to have Max invite her to the wedding and they’re going to act like they are just beginning their relationship at that moment. Genoeva is happy.



 

11-17 Part 5

Amaya finally arrives at Max’s office. She lights right into him about the threats by his family against her Madrina. Max wants to be clear, it was not his family that threatened her and lied about her lands, it was the lawyers who were working for his family, for his father. We were kids. That is no excuse Amaya shoots back. I know about your father’s depression and that he thought I had died along with my mother, but your mother, instead of investigating just washes her hands of the whole thing and blames it on the lawyers. Max admits this was an injustice and a grave error.

Error? Can you imagine what would have happened if your family did the right thing? My Madrina had to fight with her husband for taking care of me, he only saw me as a disturbance in his life, another mouth to feed. If not for her Nena she would have been homeless, without food but more importantly without love. Hey, I understand but I am not responsible for what my parents did nor can I change it. I am only responsible for the present and the future by trying to compensate for the damage done to you in the past so please do not get defensive with me but rather let me try to make up for the damages and harm done to you.

Amaya begins to calm down and reflects on how ever since she met him she has been confronted with long forgotten memories of her past when her parents were alive: these are mixing with dreams and facts and such that she doesn’t really know where she is emotionally right now. Max understands, she is slowly learning secrets and things she never knew. Amaya is not the only one. She tells Max she learned that in the past his father was a tremendous support for her mother. Max reacts with great surprise. Yes, he offered support when her mother decided to leave her father because of his abuse. Amaya confesses tearfully that she grew up hearing and believing the town gossip that her mother ran away because she had a lover. Flashback to the overheard ham radio conversation between Lucretia and David, her warning him that her husband planned to send a plane to his wife, Florencia, so that she could escape to be with her lover. David vows to stop it if it’s the last thing he does. He was dead right. Max asks who is the woman? Amaya doesn’t know but she does know her mother did not have a lover, she was escaping abuse, Mauro helped her and this is why they were accused of being lovers. Well, as the saying goes, “Pueblo chico, infierno grande.” Yes, that call started all the gossip. He was trying to help but the help came too late and she died trying to escape and he was killed that same day when the plane exploded.

Amaya concludes that perhaps if it had not been for the accident that he rescued her from all these memories would have not surfaced and these injustices would not have come to light but rather would all be lost in the forgotten past. She cries and here comes the real moment we’ve been waiting for. Max gets up to comfort her and she cries into his hand as he stands over her. It’s okay, it’s okay. You and I met for a reason. She continues to cry and finally Max gently lifts her to her feet gently whispering “ven, ven” “come here, come here” and embraces her as she cries. He even plants an innocent kiss on her hair. Max is tender but it is clear he is trying to restrain himself, really holding back from getting into the embrace. Before Amaya can really dissolve into the comfort of his arms Sal comes around the corner and ahems loudly, breaking the embrace. Dang it!

 

11-17 Part 6

Sal asks for an introduction. Oh, so this is the woman you rescued from the river, right? Yes. Well, I thought you and Max weren’t seeing each other any more, or at least that’s what you told me, isn’t it, Max? What do you want, Salvador? Salvador brought him some music discs that belonged to him. Who is he? A friend. Doesn’t seem like a friend. Well, he was a very good friend but when I was away in Italy he fell in love with Constanza and I am just finding out. Wow, that’s pretty strong. Well such things happen in life. Sometimes somebody comes along and touches your heart and moves you, like what happened with you and me, Max says.

They suddenly remember what she came there to talk about. Max gives her the proposal for the debt owed on the land. She takes it to review later and states she will get back with him and his Dad with her response. He sees her to the door. Things go slow mo’ as he approaches her for the obligatory cheek kiss. They look at each other with a combination of questioning and longing, you can almost see their lips quiver but they recover and part.

Meanwhile the Montesinos have arrived at Constanza’s for the engagement party, but where’s Max?

Ahhhh. Where is Max, indeed? Max has gone after Amaya in the parking lot. Before Sal interrupted us I was going to tell you . . . tell me what? With a look of surrender he explains “Prefiero arrepentirme y harcerlo una vez mas a no volver a besarte nunca” Help me here, please. I think he said, “I’d rather chance having to ask for your forgiveness instead of never having kissed you again”. Now this part I’m sure of, he gently but commandingly takes her face between his hands and draws her into a deep kiss, they writhe with unmistaken ardor as each tries to pull the other closer, ever closer and they realize the passion that only hours earlier was fantasy.

Ahhhhhh.

Missed the previews but I don't care. Gonna rewind the hell out of the KISS>

 

Yes, Lila,

It was wonderful and you described it ever so beautifully.

Thank you for the entire recap, but I really like the way you recognize how much we viewers enjoy these ideal scenes. I am completely on the same wave length.

Disappointed, however, in Max's proposal.

Vivi, I didn't realize that you had been sick. I am so glad you have signed on to this TN. It may help in the recovery process. I hope you record this once you go back to work. I am ignoring all evening TN's and watching this in the evening. I trust you are on the mend.

Thanks again, Lila.
Wholeheartedly appreciate your efforts.
 

Anita,


Enjoy your family. We'll be in touch later.
 

Well if that kiss doesn't cure what ails you, nothing will.

Thanks, Lila, for the help. I missed all that with Cesar and Aaron. It looked like Whoracio (ha!) was trying to cross Cesar, not knowing that Cesar was doing the same to him. But looks like Cesar is a couple steps ahead. Whatever. As long as Whoracio suffers.

I want all of Dolores' clothes. If I'd had a bigger suitcase and a much bigger budget, I would have brought back all the embroidered shirts. Saving up for a trip to Chiapas, starting right now! Also, pretty sure there's better coffee down there than Nescafe.

Kelly
 

Good morning Anita and all! You are welcome Floridia and Kelly! Welcome Stevie and Vivi!

You will see there are some glaring errors in this. I wanted to get something up before I went to bed and didn't do such a great job editing. As you see I'm all about the passionate kisses especially when there's been a dry spell. Ah! It was worth the wait. Sal was majorly pissed to see Max embracing Amaya! What is they always say "esto no va a quedar asi!" I hope Sal figths for Constanza's love!

Back to the kiss. Can somebody tell me what Max says before he swooped Amaya up in that big smackeroo last night? The translation engines don't make much sense:

"Prefiero arrepentirme y harcerlo una vez mas a no volver a besarte nunca."

Lila
 

Excellent recap, Lila! Thank you for telling me what I missed.
 

Why does Lucrecia hate Florencia ?

I mean, she killed Florencia's mother years earlier and now this is way too extreme.

 

“Prefiero arrepentirme y harcerlo una vez mas a no volver a besarte nunca."

I prefer to do it once again, and regret having done it, than to never kiss you again.
 

Thanks Vivi! I was pretty close, I knew it was something like that!

Alecia, short answer: because Lucrecia's a Bitch.

Long answer: Lucrecia hates Florencia because back when they were young Luce knew that Florencia and Mauro were deeply in love and were going to marry. Luce was pregnant with Omar's child but Omar rejected her and the child and suggested she have an abortion or pin it on someone else. Lucrecia pinned it on Mauro. Apparently he had reason to believe it could be his and being the honorable man he was, he married her. He didn't know at the time that Florencia was pregnant with his (Mauro's)child. Florencia married Mauro's (former) best friend, David, but Florencia never loved him, etc., etc. Lucrecia never loved Mauro either and probably also married him because he was an up and coming coffee magnate.

Now if you mean why does Lucrecia hate Amaya it's because Amaya is Florencia's daughter and she wanted to keep both Florencia and Amaya away from Mauro forever because of the love connection and because Florencia owned the most valued Zona Estrella and even if Florencia is dead Amaya inherits these lands. Luce has paid through the years to have lawyers and investigators lie about the two women's whereabouts or even if they are alive. That's why she had the lawyers lie about the land having been sold to the Montesinos and threaten Delores (who raised Amaya) family if they ever contacted the Montesinos.

I don't think Lucrecia ever saw Amaya again since she was a little girl and doesn't know "our Amaya" is the Amaya of old.

Anita has wonderful recaps of the past shows if I've confused the issue.
 

"at the time that Florencia was pregnant with his (Mauro's)child"

Wait! Who is the child of Florencia and Mauro?
 

Vivi,

Excellent question.

The child died shortly after birth - possibly lived a few months - it may have been a boy. Other viewers will know. There is a flashback when Mauro meets Florencia praying in the cemetery at the tomb of their child.
She had never told him that she was pregnant because he was called to fulfill his alleged obligation with Lucrecia. I believe he had a brief loveless encounter with Lucrecia before he met and fell in love with Florencia.
 

Thanks, Floridia! For a guy not in love with someone, Mauro sure had no problems in the bedroom with Lucrecia-- four kids together (even if the first one isn't really his).
 

Right Floridia! Interesting that Mauro is so clueless about Lucrecia in a number of ways. Yesterday he told Manuel that Lucrecia never knew of his love for Florencia and that was why he wanted to raise Amaya as his own. He thinks Lucrecia interpreted his motives as purely feeling indebted to David's family because it was his plane on which David died. Finding out what Lucrecia is really made of is going to be a shock for everyone accept the twins, Flavia and Lucio! oh yeah add Juliana and Eloisa. .Ok. . .see y'all later!
 

Vivi,

One more thing. When it is reported that Mauro and Florencia were not Lovers, that refers to the time when both of them were married to others.

Last night, Amaya told Max that her mother did not have a Lover -- that Mauro was merely helping her to escape an abusive marriage. Amaya was and still is clueless about Mauro's relationship with her mother.

Also when Mauro was talking to Delores, he told her that he and Florencia were NOT Lovers (meaning while they were married) -- conveniently leaving out the back story.
 

Vivi,

Simply a few moments of weakness --

 

Vivi -- hee hee re Mauro and Luce. . .somehow I bet it's been a wasteland in that bedroom for a long time!

Great points, Floridia! Neither Max nor Amaya knows their Parents were madly in love with each other. It sure did get Max's attention even more when Amaya said that at one point in the past Max's Dad had been a great support to her Mother.

I love them learning slowly about one another and growing in the feeling that they were destined to be together. Gosh! Love these mature characters!
 

Lila,

Estoy completamente de acuerdo.

I guess the big surprise last nite was the double double cross re Cesar, Oscar, y Aaron.
 

OK. Got home early and just watched today's recording. Glad I got to see the tail end of the kiss. :)

Questions: Is Cesar Amaya's divorce lawyer? Is he a real lawyer? Does she know he's Max's bro? What does he want with her?

Is campesino guy (Dolores' hubby?) trying to pimp his daughter (Mariana?) out to the young slimy hacienda owner (Ivan?)?
 

Vivi, Ivan isn't the slimy one. The slimy one is Ulises, played by Diego Amozzurutia. Ivan is the sexy young galan played by Andres Mercado.
 

Ahh, thanks Corazon. From what I've seen, it seems like Ulises is ready to pounce on Mariana at any moment, and hasn't been subtle about his intentions. Does her father really not see this, or does he think Ulises is really "in love" with his daughter and eager to make her his wife-- not just his lover or rape victim?
 

Well it takes one to know one so when it comes to negligent/perverted jerks, Cipriano and Ulises are one and the same. The way he abuses Dolores in the theme song shows he doesn't care about her so I guess his negligence of Mariana isn't far behind which is why he'd pawn her off to Ugh (nickname for Ulises here)
 

It's sad since they were a sweet couple in Amorcito Corazon (Juancho and Marisol meet Mariana and Ulises.)
 

Vivi,

Ceasar is not a lawyer. He is the oldest (he thought) Montesino son and an astute and aggressive businessman who unfortunately has his parents' penchant for dirt and double crossing.

No, Amaya does not know he is Max's brother. Caesar also does not have his facts straight. He thinks Amaya is his "father" Mauro's lover. Before all this about the land came to light he seemed to just want to mess with "his father's lover's" head and savor the secret he thought he had now and perhaps for later use.

Caesar does not know that there is a connection between Max and Amaya either.

So now with the whole Zona Estrella thing, Caesar will probably think Mauro is trying to "give" this land to his "young lover, Amaya."
 

Thanks Lila. Well, Cesar is just all twisted around, isn't he? Why was Amaya calling him about changing what she's demanding from her ex husband, as if he's her lawyer?

She needs to take that back rent money, and run, not walk, to get a new place away from her ex husband. Are the divorce papers already signed? Is there any way he can claim a portion of her new windfall of money?
 

My take on Cipriano is that he is a servile, shuffling campesino who likes to suck up to whomever is the Patron for whatever favors he can get. Ulisis wants to use Cipriano's family as the model finca family, all happily working for the harvest to show the other workers what they should aspire to. He told Cipriano he wanted them all to work, Delores cooking, Mariana teaching the children and Cipriano being the flunky, or over the migrant workers or something. Well, Mariana is happy working at El Paraiso and doesn't want to work with Cip and Mom. Oh, I think neither of them will be paid, just Cip. So Cip wants Mariana to explain for herself to Ulisis why she doesn't want to work for him but Cip is so sick he probably wouldn't mind if Ulisis tried to "persuade" her. Cip would consider this an honor that the boss man wanted his daughter.

And yes, Ulisis wants Flavia as a means to meet and schmooze with the upper crust and he wants Mariana for "hours of pleasure" in his own slimy words!

Just my take!
 

Caesar set up a car crash with Amaya and played the gallant gentleman, paying for the repair, a rental for her use while it was in the shop and gave her a phony business card claiming he was a real estate agent. She called him to help her find an apartment after the express divorce came through. He came to her apartment and took pictures of it, and her, which I'm sure is going to be used in some sort of dirty way in the future.

Anyway, she fell for it and thinks he is a really nice guy, enough that she wanted to introduce him to Carolina! Yikes! She started confiding in him about the divorce and unfortunately trusts him enough to seek this kind of advice. Damn shame!

Meanwhile, Caesar knows that the husband she is divorcing, his fall guy and flunky, Whoracio is going with his secretary. They were even indelicate enough to get it on right in the office which Caesar watched with relish from his hidden camcorder. Both those guys are nasty pieces of work!

They had an express divorce, it is final. I don't think he can touch any of her money but please anyone else out there in QA land please chime in. Not sure about this!
 

Well, I'll happily watch Cesar take Whoracio down. And it will be sweet when Cesar realizes he got the Amaya thing all wrong. But I'm sure he will find other ways to create mischief for her.
 

Cesar and Max just got in a fight while from above Lucio witnessed and once Sour (nickname for Cesar) kicked him down, he came running down to save Max from further beatings but got beat himself and it appears Sour is about to crack a lamp on Max's head ):
 

Whoa Corazon! Is this from today's show? Haven't watched it yet! Jeez, didn't see that coming!
 

Hello One & All,

Explosive chapter yesterday!

For excitement, I follow José José
and learned that he was recognized yesterday in the Mexican Senate along with several others of our beloved artists for the work they do in spreading Mexican culture. Just for this show alone were Armando Manzanero and Diana Bracho.

They also have great interest in an international treaty involving copyright for the works of these artists.

See part of article below:

Senado reconoce a actores y cantantes por difundir la cultura mexicana.

En representación de los galardonados la actriz y productora Silvia Pinal reconoció el trabajo realizado por la Organización Mundial de la Propiedad Intelectual (OMPI) y consideró fundamental el trabajo del Poder Legislativo para que los derechos de todos los artistas sean reconocidos y reciban la remuneración que les permita una vida digna.

Este reconocimiento, organizado por Asociación Nacional de Intérpretes, incluyó a otros famosos como Héctor Bonilla, Rogelio Guerra, Diana Bracho, Amparo Garrido, Manuel "El Loco" Valdés, Jacqueline Andere, Pepe Bustos, Ignacio López Tarso y César Costa. EFE
•
In another spot Eric del Castillo was mentioned.

I find all of this fascinating.

Will comment later on episode.




 

Anybody doing a summary of Tuesday, 11-18? Great ep!
 

If I actually knew who half the characters were, I could help. But even I was alarmed by how violent Cesar got with his brothers. Wow! That guy is a nutcase. No way he'll be invited to any more family gatherings. It was bad enough that he blatantly tried to ruin his brother's engagement party, but there's no coming back from trying to murder your two younger brothers, one of them disabled, with your bare hands!

Max didn't seem to have any problem going from laying that hot kiss on Amaya, to asking Whatshername to marry him.
 

Okay guys. Here's a skeletal summary. I know we had a show today and unless someone else does so, I can do the same for today's show. I recap La Gata so I'll be working on that tomorrow. So, here we go and please feel free to correct and/or add.

Rerun of he kiss. . .mmm mmm good! They finally part to breathe, Max picks up something Amaya had dropped (don’t blame her) he apologizes, they are both visibly shaken. Amaya fumbles for the keys and drives away.

Cesar overhears Const thanking her father, Manuel, for supporting Max in his project. (Max had pitched this project before Mauro, Cesar, Manuel and other members of the board at Nescafe earlier and it had been rejected). Max asks Constanza for her hand and before they can toast, Cesar sarcastically interjects that Manuel bought a husband for his daughter. Max asks Const is this true, she affirms she did ask Manuel to support his proposal. Max does not retract the proposal but dissolves the partnership. Mauro buys Manuel out and forms a new partnership with Max. Three in One coffee will be produced at Nescafe.

Cesar continues to instigate and crack wise. Juliana, the oldest of Mauro’s daughter (not Lucrecia’s) congratulates Cesar because he has actually brought about something their Dad always wanted: to work with Max. Cesar leaves the party majorly pissed. Max and Constanza announce they will still marry in two weeks.

Amaya joins her Godmother, Delores and best friend Carolina and finally looks at Max and Mauro’s proposal for the amount they will pay her for 35 years of back rent plus interest. Amaya is gobsmacked and very rich. Delores and Carolina encourage Amaya to use the money to fit her needs and life, not what she thinks her Mother would’ve done.



 

11-18 Pt. 2

As I predicted, Sal (who is madly in love with Constanza) is very pissed about having seen Amaya in Max’s arms. He meets with Constanza’s best friend, Nora, to tell her about it and she agrees reluctantly to tell Constanza about it. In a later scene after Nora has left Salvador tries to call Max who is busy proposing to the woman Sal loves so he doesn’t answer. That’s just as well Sal hisses, he needs to confront Max to his face!

Whoracio moves in for a week with the chick from the office he’s whoring around with, can’t think of her name. He wanted to stay indefinitely but she put the kibosh on that. We don’t blame her.

Amaya, still with Delores and Carolina calls Cesar to tell him she wants to buy a small house instead of an apartment. She has come into some money unexpectedly and doesn’t have to depend on Whoracio’s “generosity.” After the conversation Cesar is psychotically angry and fumes aloud to himself about Whoracio’s robbing him, Mauro and Max trying to take what is his and he’s not going to allow it! Everything belongs to me and he’s not going to let anybody take it from him!

Cip delivers his daughter, Mariana, to the lair of Ulisis. She remains firm about not leaving her current job but he informs her that he needs the entire family working for him and if she doesn’t teach in the school, then her parents cannot work for him either. He proposes she work Saturday at the school and then increase the time. When she gets home Cip harangues her and begs until she reluctantly agrees to work Saturdays only but Cip must stop drinking and treat her mother (and his wife) Delores, better. He agrees, she calls the slime ball to tell him and Cip immediately breaks his promise by going off to the cantina to drink in celebration.

Slimy Ulisis goes to the cantina where Cip bows, scrapes and grins with pleasure that El Patron will drink and play poker with him and his buds.


 

11-18 Pt. 3

Ivan decides he’s going to ask Mariana to be his novia. Mariana agrees to accept a ride to the airport to pick up Delores. Delores likes Ivan and is glad they are friends. I’m sure she won’t mind their being novios, either!

Flavia shows a friend pictures of the two hunks she met at the finca. Ivan and Ulisis. Ivan is a hottie and Ulisis fascinates her because (her words) he devoured her with his look. She plans on being a busy girl!

Back at the Montesions mansion Max confronts Cesar about his insults, accusations and aggression at the engagement party. Max really gets all up in his grill and warns him to lay off, he’s warning him to stop messing with his life and that of his sibls. As Max walks away Cesar pushes him down and stomps on his back. Max is temporarily dazed and this gives Cesar a chance to break a light vase over his head. Lucio sees the fight and begans to scream Max, Max and run down the stairs to try to stop Cesar from hitting Max with a heavier vase. Cesar roughly elbows Lucio, knocking him down hard onto the marble floor! Lucio is hurt! Cesar draws back with the heavy glass vase and we cut to the Televisa rising sun!

 

Gosh, I am enjoying this show! I guess Max does love Constanza in his own way, maybe out of habit. I could see some people not liking him going ahead and proposing to Constanza. I guess we're supposed to see him as making the best he can out of his life. Although he's attracted to Amaya she is out of reach for him. Even though that was an intense and passionate kiss I guess it was like a compact bachelor's party. . .the last fling. . .before his marriage to Constanza.

I certainly understand Salvador's anger. He loves Constanza and would marry her and be faithful to her and here is Max (from what Sal can see) reassuring his lover on the day of his engagement party.

Hoo boy. Well. I've seen today's but it's late and I hope some folk will discuss this show as well. See y'all tomorrow.
 

Thanks Lila, much apperciated.
I don't get to watch in real time on Uni very often, and thank you for stepping up to keep the context coming so that I have some chance of following when I do catch an episode.

I hope you will consider continuing to recap at least from time to time so as to help make Anita's load more manageable.


Why don't I dvr or view online? Too dangerous. I've lost serious time to "binge watching" before, so my Dvr-less state is intentional. I do watch a bit of Quiero online, but I'm tracking enough evening shows that I started following before I realized there was an active community with which to share the QA experience.

Chris in FL
 

Welcome Chris and thank you! Anita is amazing and I'm so grateful to her for covering this show every day. I'm glad you find us and I hope others do too. Even though I'm sure Anita must love this show as do I, it is gratifying to know people read and find value in your recaps. I especially want Anita to know what is going on during this week that she is with her family. I don't mind doing light summaries to keep her, you and everyone else up to speed.

So. I'm going to try to put together something for Wednesday, 11-19 but dern it, the pesky job might interfere! See ya later!
 

Wednesday, 11-19 pt. 1

We get a review of the fight and see that Max recovers in time to keep Cesar from bustin' his head open with the vase. Mauro, Lucrecia and Eloisa come running down the stairs and separate Cesar and Max and tend to Lucio who is hurt and beginning to go into a "crisis." Mauro is red-faced-vein-popping livid as he lights into Cesar while Luce only wants to know if Cesar is hurt. Cesar tries to say Max started it but Mauro is blowing his stack! He will not have his sons fighting like wild animals in his house! Luce takes Cesar’s part. . .you always justify what Max does. You always preferred him to me. Mauro ain’t buyin’ it, he wants an apology to his brothers from Cesar.

Cesar tells his mother, Lucrecia, that he just lost it, that he was on the verge of killing Max, he was going to smash his head in. I must say these actors are nailing this scene. Cesar’s face and eyes, his body language all communicate that yes, he is furious, but he is truly horrified that he almost killed his brother. In a rare show of motherly concern that even includes Max, Lucretia tells Cesar that he must learn to control his emotions. Max is his brother, it would have been a terrible tragedy to take his brother’s life. You have to learn to keep a cool head, she counsels him. She returns back to her chilling self when she tells him. You were wrong to judge me so harshly for what I did to Omar, with what I just witnessed, maybe now you understand. Don’t compare this, Cesar protests. Oh no, it’s the same. Sometimes we have an urge to get rid of people who disturb us, but the difference is I did it with a cool head. I took into account the circumstances and possible outcomes. You are not! Oh. My. Gosh! What a monster this woman is! She is talking to her son about having killed his (biological) father with a cool head! Max is not a stranger, he is your brother. But he is a Montesinos. But you both carry my blood! I’m not going to defend Max, but I don’t want him dead. You see, I’m not a monster! Don’t try to play innocent, mama, between you and I is a great abyss of difference.

 

11-19 Pt. 2

Interspersed in the “loving” mother-son counseling session is a sweet scene where Eloisa, Juliana, Flavia and Max surround and comfort Lucio who is in bed, his head in Flavia’s lap. Max who is telling his sibs how he warned Cesar not to mess with him or any of them ever again! Cesar is Cesar, Eloisa offers, but he is not a killer! Mauro asks Max to accompany him to Max’s room. Max kisses Lucio on the cheek and leaves.


Nora talks to Constanza, stating she is afraid that Const has put Max on a pedestal. What if he’s not perfect, what if he has another woman Nora asks? Const reminds her that things are not always what they appear like when he caught Sal kissing her but he was understanding then. [When Salvador first learned that Const and Max were going to be married, he drowned his pity in a bottle of booze and went to Constanza’s apartment. Max was upstairs getting something. The usually Bryl-cremed Sal was disheveled and quite hot-looking to me. . uh anyway he layed a big, soulful kiss on Constanza which she actually started responding to just as Max came downstairs!] Constanza fires at Nora, do you have proof? If not, this conversation is so over. Nora admits she does not have proof.

Amaya, Delores and tells Val she’s looking for a little house for them. I got mixed up. It’s today’s episode where Whoracio plops himself into his “girlfriend’s” apartment to stay for a week. Oh well.

I also accidently put in a scene from today in yesterday’s summary. It is of Cip begging his daughter, Mariana to take the job teaching the children on Saturdays. Please refer to that section. What I didn’t cover is Hector, Ivan’s father, warning him about asking Mariana to be his novia, that it’s not proper since they work together. Hector is also suspicious of any woman because of his wife and Ivan’s mother abandoning them when he was ten.


 

11-19 Pt. 3

Mauro is even-handed in his anger over the fight between Cesar and Max and lays into Max with his passionate insistence that his sons not fight each other. Max says Cesar hates him, Mauro is not having it. There is no way he hates you! Max is like, how can I just sit here with my arms crossed after what he did at the engagement party and with canceling Julian’s tickets. [Juliana is Mauro’s daughter by his first wife. Lucrecia was the stepmother from hell to her and Juliana left home and went to live in Italy. There were some rough times but she met and married the love of her life. . .blocking name, and they have a son, Alan. Mauro wanted Juliana to attend his birthday party as a reconciliation gesture but Cesar and Lucrecia plotted together and Cesar cancelled the plane tickets that would have flown all three to Mexico. In a rare act of telenovela justice, Juliana and Max discovered it was Cesar and not Mauro’s secretary who was blamed and fired but then rehired by Max.]

[I am distracted by Max’s beautiful, lightly-haired legs! Hubba! Hubba!] Mauro wants him to try to get along with Cesar, especially now since they will be working in the business together. Max agrees he will try but if Cesar does anything against him or his sibs, all bets are off. Try, try to do your part Mauro urges.

We have a touching father-daughter scene between Manuel and Constanza. He senses something is wrong, she denies it and they tell each other how much they’re going to miss each other.

We are with Salvador now as a sweet song plays in the background “When you Love Someone” as we share flashbacks of happier days with his “friend”, Constanza. Ah, Salvador forgoes the glass a turns the bottle of wine up to his lips. He thinks to himself, he vowed not to interfere in Constanza’s relationship with Max but his head is saying one thing and his heart another: he decides he’s got to fight for her!

Ahhh. Max is reliving his comforting Amaya in the office earlier in the day and his conversation with Constanza after catching her in the hot kiss with Salvador when Const vowed it would never happen again. [Oh, those legs!] Now Max is walking on the grounds of the Montesino mansion. That kiss, he though bubbles, that kiss was full of love. Why does she tell me that she feels nothing for me when that kiss said just the opposite. [Beautiful head shot of Max standing by a tree…swoon! Gotta try screen caps one day!] We are treated with his reliving of that KISS! I gotta stop thinking of you especially now that I have proposed to Constanza, but how can I forget what you made me feel Amaya. Theme song swells in the background.

Okay. Gotta go to work. More later!

 

Thank you so much Lila for both recaps. I missed some of the conversation between Cesar and his mom. I look forward to this show each day when I get home from work. I also love reading all the comments. Thank you again, Lila and Anita what you both have done and are doing for us fans.
 

You're welcome, Bluejean! Can't wait to get home to finish yesterday's summary and see what happens today!!

Lila
 

Lila,

Enjoyed all of the recap but especially enjoyed how you put yourself in the minds of Max regarding a last-fling passionate kiss with Amaya --- and of Salvador
who decides to fight for his true love.


And, yes, Lila, oh those beautifully formed distracting, athletic legs.

Thanks so much for all of this.
 

Thanks so much, Lila! I just watched the last two episode. For some reason Uni in my area blanked out again for over 10 minutes towards the end of today's epi.

Why is Amaya keeping her divorce a secret from Max? It makes no sense.

It's interesting how clueless Mauro is about how evil his wife and Cesar are, when all the rest of his kids and friends seem to know. How is he so in the dark about everything?

And yes, I liked Max in his shorts and his soccer coach athletic wear, more than his rainbow pants look.
 

11-19 Part 4

The next morning at the breakfast table the Montesinos are happily chatting about going shopping in preparation for Max’s wedding when Cesar enters and a curtain of silence descends upon the table. A humbled Cesar apologizes for the events of yesterday, the crashing of the engagement party, the fight, for hurting Lucio and causing him to go into a crisis. looking at Max says beyond an apology, he asks for forgiveness. He actually says you are my brother, I love you, will you forgive me? Lucrecia looks on at her beloved Cesar with pride. Mauro tells Cesar he is pleased with his attitude and wants them to start at zero. They have to be united as they are going to be working together many hours in the business. It takes some prompting but Max finally answers, yes, fine, but I don’t want myself or any of my brothers and sisters to have any strange surprises.
Cesar reaches across the table for Lucio’s hand and tells him how concerned he was about his reaction. Lucio takes his hand but doesn’t look at him and snatches it away as soon as the little speech is done. Cesar asks Juliana what about her. She confronts him about the cancelled plane tickets which Cesar, of course denies having anything to do with and even feigns hurt that no one believes him. Lucrecia jumps in the mix accusing Juliana of making harsh comments to her but Mauro cuts off the discussion and insists they will be a united and great family. Cesar, Max, Juliana, Flavia and Lucio agree.

Flavia gets a text from Ulises. They agree to meet up in the future.

Next Mauro decides to have a man to man talk with Max about his relationship with Amaya’s mother, Florencia. The sit down in the living room as Eloisa is approaching with, no doubt, coffee. Hearing the beginning of a juicy conversation she slows her stroll and listens out of sight. Mauro tells Max that he and Florencia were going to be married. Max is surprised. Why didn’t you marry? Well, he found out that Lucrecia was pregnant with Cesar and he had to leave Florencia. So, you weren’t in love with my mother, you married her out of obligation. No, no, Mauro assures Max that he loved Lucrecia but in a different way than he loved Florencia. This is possible to love two people but each in a different way. Max can totally identify. It’s interesting Max muses that what separated Mauro from Florencia was Cesar, a child. Amazing, Max continues. You fell in love with the mother and I with her daughter. Yes, says Mauro, I loved her deeply. Your mother does not know anything about this, please don’t tell her. Max assures Mauro he has absolutely nothing to worry about. Did anyone else know about your love for Florencia? Mauro thinks only Delores, and of course David. Well, Max says, people must have sensed it because Amaya remembers rumours in the town that her mother was trying to run away with her lover, with you.

We cut to a flashback in Lucrecia’s mind. She is talking to the pilot of the plane that Mauro sent many years ago for Florencia and Amaya. The young Lucrecia has secretly flown down under the pretext of wanting to prepare a surprise for her husband. She’s preparing a surprise all right. After the pilot walks away Lucrecia begins pulling gasoline cans out of a shed. In the here and now Lucrecia thought bubbles her regret that things did not turn out as she had planned. She lost an opportunity to get rid of “all of them” but only David (Florencia’s husband) died in the explosion. This time, she won’t fail. Lucrecia is planning to set up Whoracio’s girlfriend, Emma, to kill Amaya in a jealous rage. Then, there will be no descendants of Florencia Martinez left alive. I guess this monstrous woman wants Emma to kill Valeria (Amaya and Whoracio’s daughter) at the same time, maybe another fire?
 

11-19 Pt. 5

Max continues recounting Amaya’s memory of overhearing a telephone or radio conversation between her father, David, and a woman telling him that his wife was planning to run away with her lover. Mauro asks Max if Amaya knew who this woman was? No, she doesn’t. Mauro understands now how David ended up in the plane when it exploded and thinks the explosion must’ve been planned. Mauro figures it must have been David in his sick jealous rage wanting to kill them all rather than have her leave him for someone else. Juliana walks in thus then and interrupts this intense interchange. Shoot.

Eloisa immediately goes to confront her sister, Lucrecia, that Lucrecia lied to her 35 years ago saying Mauro preferred her because she was more exciting and beautiful when he married you out of obligation because you were pregnant with Cesar. Where did you get this Lucrecia asks. Well, it doesn’t matter. What’s important Lucrecia smugly says, what’s important is that I have been married to Mauro for 35 years. But it hasn’t been a happy marriage counters Eloisa. Lucrecia crows about being a good bed mate, something you wouldn’t know about Eloisa. In marriage, good sex is more valuable than love. Eloisa apparently has the last word but I frankly didn’t get what she said. Sorry.

Also mistakenly put in yesterday’s summary is Ivan’s asking Mariana if he can take her to the airport to pick up Delores.

Well, here’s another scene I put in yesterday’s recap. Ulises coming to the cantina to drink with a grateful Cipriano and his posse.

Uh oh, trouble. Cesar is securing a house for Amaya. [Oh gosh, it’ll probably have hidden cameras throughout!] Cesar ain’t got religion no more. He thought bubbles that the check to pay for the house will probably come from his father and thus he will have something to use against him in blackmail.

Amaya arrives to Don Mauro’s office to tell them of her response to their proposal for payment for 35 years of back rent on the rich and fertile Zona Estrella where Max wants to grow the coffee for his new coffee product. First Mauro offers an eloquent disculpa for the pain and hurt she and her Madrina, Delores, have gone through over the lands. Amaya says yes, she will rent them the lands but only for five years. Max says this is not enough time for the product he is cultivating. He suggests a 20 year lease and that she become his partner, like Florencia (her mother) and Mauro once were. Not only will you get a good rental fee but a percentage of the profits from our project which will be produced by Nescafe. Nobody can make you a better deal than this! We closed with a look of interest and surprise on Amaya’s face as she considers this amazing change of fortune!



 

Thank you Floridia and Vivi! Sorry it took me so long to get the rest of this recap up. I haven't watched today's yet and hope to have it up sometime in the late afternoon. Glad y'all enjoyed it!

Vivi, yeah poor Mauro. He actually thinks Lucrecia has no idea of his love for Florencia and here she is responsible for the death of his former best friend, tried to kill Florencia and little Amaya and is planning now to finish the job! And he has no idea that Cesar does hate Max, Lucio dislikes and is afraid of him and there is tension between him and all the other "kids." Mauro was thrown into a paralyzing depression after the deaths of David and (as he and we think) Florencia. Not only was he thus not minding the family business, he was not up on the family dynamics either and Lucretia and Cesar ran amuck in both. Max went away to Italy for five years and is just returning as the story begins. Cesar resents his return and never wanted him to join the family business. Mauro is oblivious to this as well.

One thing is for sure, when he gets Lucrecia and Cesar's number he is going majorly ballistic. I remember this actor from Pasion wasn't it Vivi? He played a real dirty, heartless guy. Anywho, he can do rage, man!

As for Amaya. She knows that Max is as deeply drawn to her as she is to him. I think she knows if she tells him she is divorced, he will drop Constanza and she doesn't want to be a part of that, she wouldn't want him that way or be a part of hurting someone else.


 

Thanks, Lila, Terrific!

All of you probably know this, but just in case you don't Mauro, José
Elías Moreno is the son of
José Elías Moreno Padilla

Years active
1937-1969, the Golden Age of Mexican cinema, best-remembered for his versatility in playing different characters. He appeared in 184 films between 1937 and 1969.


He died in an auto accident when his son was 13. Julio Aleman became like a 2nd father to the son. Good acting should be second nature to him.

I thought that scene at the table was magnificent. All of the actors did an incredible job and made the scene seem very real.

Are we supposed to deduce that
Eloisa thought she had a strong chance with Mauro before
Lucretia nanbbed him por bebe.
Notice how thrilled she was when he put his hand on her shoulder.

Many thanks for all of this reporting.
 

Don't get why Eloisa thinks that if it hadn't been for Lucretia's lies, Mauro would have been hers. She may not be as twisted as her sister, but she seems almost as delusional.

If it hadn't been for Mauro believing Lucretia was pregnant with his child, he wouldn't have chosen either sister: he'd clearly have chosen Florencia.

He had decided to propose, and was stopped only by the last minute arrival of Lucretia, declaring he was going to be the father of her child.

There is not even a "young Eloisa" in the flashbacks.

Or just how many women was Mauro juggling back in the day?

Thank you so much for mentioning Hector's conversation with Ivan about another mysterious disappearance.
Haven't any real idea how this could fit in with any other aspect of the story, but whether Ivan's mom is in hiding with Florencia, ran off with the surprisingly randy Mauro and is living in a secret house he bought her, or was done in by budding sociopath Cesar in some of that old machinery that's being restored, she's bound to turn up somewhere.
 

Thanks again, Lila! Well, Lucrecia answered my question about how she and Mauro have produced so many kids. Things seem to function well between them in the bedroom. I also wondered why Eloisa thought she could have had Mauro. Mauro sure was in hot demand, back in the day.

Yes, the Mauro actor is excellent at both playing good guys, like here, and REALLY bad guys like in Pasion and Amor Bravio.

Ok. I get that Amaya doesn't want to be the cause of a breakup. But she can tell Max that and also be honest about her status. Oh well. If it were that easy, then it wouldn't be a tn.
 

Anon, Vivi and others. Will look at your comments soon. Want to post this partial skeletal summary and get my hinney off to work.

11-20 Pt. 1
Just watched yesterday’s show. Major events, not necessarily in order.

Delores does approve of Ivan, he seems a gentleman and muy guapo. Mariana confesses that Ivan works at Paraiso and Delores gets upset, she doesn’t like Mariana hiding things from her. She calms down, mother and daughter are cool.

Delores has a serious health problem. She mentioned it yesterday and Amaya told her then she would get her prompt and excellent medical care. Delores doubles over with pain while she is with her friend, Ampara (?) Delores doesn’t want Cipriano or Mariana to know the pains are getting worse.

Ivan finds out that Mariana has accepted a job at the competing coffee plantation, El Deseo. He also doesn’t take this news well just as Mariana doesn’t take his possessive grilling very well. She socks him in the arm but they also calm down. She explains she had to work there so her father would have a job. This arrangement seems strange to them both. She agrees to let Ivan accompany her to El Deseo to discuss her pay with Ulises. Ulises doesn’t like Ivan’s being there and the two grown at each other. He tells her not to bring him back. He gives her an advance on her first week’s pay which is so much she tries to decline but eventually accepts. Ulises thinks unpure thoughts about Mariana as she leaves.

Cesar shows Amaya the house he has found for her and tells her the price. It is a lot of money but apparently still a good deal and the house is perfect for her and her daughter. Amaya talks to Mauro and they agree on a bank transfer for the quantity. Cesar tells her by text that he prefers a check. No problem, she’ll get a check. Cesar feels the trap is set now that her “lover” Don Mauro will write the check he needs for his blackmail scheme.

Low minds think alike. Later in the day Whoracio is at the apartment with Amaya helping Val with her homework and overhears Amaya making arrangements for the transfer. He accuses her of getting this money from her lover. She slaps him and puts him out.

Juliana also looks at a new house. It is the house Mauro has bought for her, her husband and son as a welcome home back to Mexico gift. Jorge and Lucio look at the house with her and Lucio tells Juliana he wants to move in with her to get away from his mother and Cesar. This is painful and worrisome to Juliana because she just doesn’t know exactly what has gone on to make Lucio feel this way. She lets him know he has a room in the house and is welcome to stay whenever he wishes.

Jorge and Carolina (Amaya’s BFF) meet for a getting to know you better little dinner. The interest is mutual and they agree that the topic of Max and Amaya is off limits. I like this couple!

Lucrecia announces she’s going to take Lucio to his first session with the world-reknown psychiatrist that specializes in hypnosis. Juliana, Mauro and Tia Eloisa want to go as well. Need to get more details about this conversation. Remember the “psychiatrist” is an actor Lucrecia has paid to fool the fam. What a loving mother!
 

11-20 Pt. 2

Now. For Max and Amaya. Amaya accepts to become Mauro and Max's partner in Max’s project. Mauro and Max describes the specifics of this partnership. Percentages of the profits are to be worked out later. Okay, girls, we’ve got Max’s MO, following Amaya when she doesn’t expect it. He follows her and corners her, laying those longing eyes on her, breathlessly telling her that when they’re alone he feels she does have feelings for him. Amaya looks for an out and tells him this conversation does not make sense. There are tears in her eyes as he asks, tell me what you feel for me. You are an engaged man and you know I’m a married woman. Oh, but that doesn’t stop us from having feelings for each other. Max presses on, his gaze moving between her eyes and lips as he tells her it’s hard to control what he feels for her, he wants to escape with her where no one can separate them and caress her and kiss her and make love with her. Amaya is visibly perturbed, she tries to move away from Max, her arguments come in a breathy, helpless voice and her eyes belie her protests. When he says he wants to make love with her she gives him a look which pleads for him to stop, she can’t take much more, but don’t stop. .

As we used to say back in the day ladies: His rap is STRONG! Damn!

Tell me you don’t feel the same as me. Tell me, look at me he entreats as she tries to avoid his eyes. Just tell me and I’ll leave everything for you. Amaya finally escapes and catches her breath on the other side of the door.

Okay. Off to work, I'll try to peek at comments and will get the rest of 11-20 up later in the afternoon. Gosh, I love this show. Max, baby, just ooooooh!

 

In honor of flashback Friday, and because I can't get over seeing "Max" and "Mauro" being such a loving father and son, here's a clip of them in another life as "Andres/Daniel" and "Leoncio" in Amor Bravio where they hated each other, and Andres beats the crap out of Leoncio: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gE318L07JeU
 

Oh thanks Vivi! Can't wait to get home and see it! How I wish I could find the whole thing in high quality!

I'm at work now but want to say there are other important Max and Amaya scenes and here's another development I left out:

Lucrecia goes over to Emma's apartment under the premise of looking at some of Emma's dresses. Lucrecia gets Emma to divulge that she has a pistol for protection against intruders. She takes it from her nightstand and thinks it better that she put it away in her closet. Lucrecia just happens to walk to the doorway of where Emma is putting the gun in the bottom drawer of a bureau under some lingerie. Remember folks, Lucrecia is planning to manipulate Emma into a crime of passion against Amaya and this is her first step in sizing up how it's going to all unfold.
 

Floridia! Thank you for that bit on "Mauro". "I thought that scene at the table was magnificent."

Totally agree. As was the scene after the fight, and the engagement party. . .I could go on and on. These actors are all absolutely skilled and create a wonderful illusion that you are looking in on the lives of real people. And you can rewind!! I should look up the young man playing Lucio because he is also absolutely skilled and playing this young man with a developmental disability exquisitely. His affect, his body language. Now. I am not implying all people with a developmental disability look and act the same but as the mother of a young man with a developmental disability I feel his portrayal is authentic and respectful. Bravo to Televisa for this wonderful character!

Re Eloisa, I'm not sure. Eloisa could've been secretly in love with Mauro and he never knew, she'd never declared it. Then as now being the stronger personality Lucretia must have made a move and given up the goods in a way Eloisa never would've dared to. I know it's only a TN but Eloisa is still young, she needs to find her own man and move on!

And thank you!
 

Anon at 6:18. You make a good point. As I said above, I think Eloisa was silently pining away for Mauro back in the day. Now Tia Eloisa is sweet but delusional almost does fit, doesn't it? She heard the whole story about Mauro's endless love of Florencia and his attempt to help her escape and all of this seems to have gone into one of Eloisa's ears and out the other! And you're right, "young Eloisa" never appears in the flashbacks! Never thought of that!

You are so welcome, Anon, thank you for reading these and watching with us. Love this phrase: "the surprisingly randy Mauro". All I can say after watching today's episode is the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. The Montesinos men are HOT and who knows how many other women are out there nursing a flame (or ember) for Max and Mauro! OW!
 

I was pleased to see Yolanda Ventura playing the secretary (name?) in love with Mauro’s friend (name?) in yesterday’s episode. Lila- I’m sure you’ll give us the details on that whole scene later. Yolanda, who is a Spanish actress, has been in every Carlos Moreno tn I’ve seen—En Nombre del Amor as the high school counselor; Cuando Me Enamoro as the town doctor’s abused wife; and Amor Bravio as the hacienda cook. She and Carlos obviously enjoy working with each other.
 

Vivi, looks like you and Anon at 6:18 were thinking the same thing. Yeah, apparently Luce kept the randy Mauro happy in that department. In the man to man with Max yesterday, he even said he loved her. Oh well. Happens every day.

I hadn't seen today's episode when I commented that Amaya knew instinctively that Max would drop everything to be with her and he declared that to her word for word in today's show. I think everything is happening so fast for Amaya. I think she is really fighting to control herself as well but she remembers the pain of hearing all her life her mother was cualquiera and people would absolutely say this about her if she took up with Max so soon after her divorce being finalized. Alas, it is already thought by Cesar and Whoracio. . .I know, consider the source.

But I am looking to Salvador to save the day. There is a scene between he and Flavia. I think when she learns he will be moving to the environs of El Paraiso she warns him not to mess with Max his brother's fiance or he'll have to answer to her. I have to watch it again and include it in the conclusion of my episode summary. Anyway, it will be interesting to see how Sal will fight for, and how long it will take him to win Constanza. Then Max will be free!!
 

Yes, Vivi, I will. Her name is Genoeva and she is the secret love of Constanza's father and Mauro's best friend Manuel! She is damned good like everybody else! Later!!
 

*(Flavia)warns Salvador not to mess with Constanza, her brother's fiance or he'll have to answer to her.

This corrects an error in the post above.
 

Just checking back in to say Hi to everyone. The number of comments has me thunderstruck. I think we've become popular.

The family has left and I'll be engaging in marathon QA and RdC catch up sessions. Lots of reading to do, too.

Lila, what a terrific job you are doing with the recaps. I've loved your story-telling. Would you consider continuing to recap? How about sharing the load--divide up the days of the week and maybe find someone who would like to help us out once or twice a week?

I should be caught up by Monday, but I don't want to promise. How about if I take Tuesday and Friday of next week (Nov 24-28) and you, Lila, take Monday and Wednesday? Please post an answer.

The interest generated on the comments page makes me think I ought to revise our front page and put up a second page for next week.

How long will Amaya keep denying her feelings for Max? Unfortunately, I think she's doing the right thing for the right reasons--he is about to get married to someone else, but of course, the romantic in me wishes they would declare their love for each other now and struggle with their feelings after the fact.

It's just a wish.
 

Thanks to Lila, Anita & all who comment.

Since I detest Lucrecia, (but admire the actress) I prefer to think that Mauro was placating Max when he told him that he cared about his mother when he married her....although he did say that it is possible to love 2 women.

In the next breath, he emphasized that he loved Florencia PROFUNDAMENTE.

This brings me right straight to the classic song immortalized by José José, "Amar y Querer."
There is a vast difference between Love & Desire. Don Mauro showered Florencia with both, but I think it is safe to say that Lucrecia did not receive the full package and at best a luke warm offering.
To his credit, he remained faithful to his marital vows and earned a few fringe benefits along the way.

I believe I heard Delores say that she was having problems with her kidneys. That pain can be excruciating.

Another minor point,when the gals were talking about shopping for dresses to wear to the wedding,
I believe that Lucrecia told them that she wanted to get a dress that had been made in Europe -- it would be ever so much more fashionable. Evidently, Emma has a little sideline peddling the latest European fashions.
 

Welcome back, Anita! Yes, now that I got a taste of QA, I'm totally in. Not sure I'll be able to watch my recording every day, but I shouldn't fall too far behind.

I get what you all are saying about why Amaya isn't telling Max that she's divorced. Especially in light of the rumors about her mother.

Does she know that her ex was having an affair while they were married?
 

11-20 Pt. 3

Okay folks. Just had to say I rewatched the scene of Max and Amaya after he followed her to declare his love and desire for her. My man said, “I feel like just kidnapping you, running away with you where we can be somewhere where nobody can separate us so I can kiss you and memorize every centimeter of your skin and make love with you and forget about everybody else.” It’s kinda funny, Amaya is looking like “Dios mio, I can’t believe he’s saying this to me. . .I gotta get out of here.”

So, Anita, the answer to your second question: “How soon do Max and Amaya finally declare their love for each other?” Well, for Max it took 4 novela days. Max discusses this with Mauro. Mauro sees the animal magnetism between Amaya and Max. Even though Amaya’s mirada says differently, Max is going with her words and doesn’t believe Amaya feels the same for him. Mauro warns Max, you have a woman near you who provokes something very strong in you Max, you are playing with fire! Think about it Max, we can change the partnership, no Max says, how are we going to change the partnership? Ok, how about this Mauro proposes. We will write it in the contract that only Jorge or I can “tener tratos con ella” (?) “sign contracts with her” (?) or else this partnership could turn into hell.

Now Amaya is confiding in Carolina that she loves Max with all her heart and it breaks her heart that he is about to get married. Well why don’t you tell him your madly in love with him and you’re about to get a divorce. Perhaps he’ll cancel the wedding? No, Amaya doesn’t want to get in the middle of a mess like that, to take risks which might blow up in her face.

Meanwhile in Salvador’s classroom it is announced that Salvador has a new position at Universidad De Tuxtla Gutierrez which is in Chiapas. Many students shake his hand and bid him farewell. The University is near Paraiso. What’s up Flavia asks? I thought you were going to put distance between you and Constanza? I’m warning you, if you did this to be near Constanza so you can continue to see her and ruin my brother’s happiness, you’re going to have to deal with me! (For our new friends it’s important to know that Flavia had the hots for Prof Sal and used to sit in the front of his classroom trying to display her assets. He turned her down cold, thus the edge in her relationship with both him and Constanza. In all fairness though Flavia does love her brother Max, is fiercely loyal to him and does not want to see him hurt).

Mauro tells Cesar about the heir to the owner of Zona Estrella appearing and their having to pay her 35 years back rent with interest. Cesar feels excluded and, predictably, gets pissed off and stalks off.

Jorge and Max discuss the partnership with Amaya at the soccer field. Max says it seems their lives were intertwined even before they were born. Had things worked out differently Max says, they would have ended up being raised as brother and sister. Oh, no, no says Jorge. Val arrives for soccer practice accompanied by the radiant Carolina. It is here that she and Jorge make the dinner date I describe earlier. Dang, Jorge is tall! Lucio is also on the field and is going to be the goalkeeper. I’m glad they’ve gotten the lad out of the house!
 

11-20 Pt. 4

Manuel is meeting with Max’s secretary (his secret lover), Genoeva. Manuel tells her about Mauro having bought him out of Max’s 3-in-1 coffee product thus Max will be moving back to the Nescafe building. Genoeva is surprised. Max didn’t say anything. She feels left out of the loop. She has enjoyed working in an office without Cesar and, of course, being close to Manuel. Then, no worries, just resign and retire. You know you don’t have to work, I can take care of you. Genoeva protests that she’ll be bored without work. I like coming to the office, feeling useful. There is a knock at the door, it’s Constanza coming to get her Pop who forgot they were supposed to pick the china for the wedding. Manuel’s tone goes formal as he introduces Genoeva as Max’s secretary. She excuses herself after the introduction and nearly bursts into tears in the hallway. That’s all I am, a secretary. How she longs to take her place in his life in the open, before his daughter, before everyone!

As Manuel and Const leave to go china shopping they discuss Genoeva. Const doesn’t like her, she gets a weird vibe from her, feels like she was hiding something. Manuel defends Genoeva. He likes her, she is “Linda, noble”. I think then Manuel asks if Lucrecia and Max are going to meet them to pick out the china? No. The best way to deal with Lucrecia is as little and as seldom as possible. Didn’t quite get this interchange!

Back at the soccer field practice is over and Amaya arrives to pick up Valeria. At the same moment Whoracio appears with an exaggerated display of paternal affection. Val runs to his arms and Max is stunned. It’s him, Amaya’s husband is the guy that hit me (with his car) in Chiapas. Max looked up from the ground and got a good look at the sneering Whoracio before he drove off. There is no doubt! He was there when we (he and Amaya) met in Chiapas. Why did she lie to me, why?

Amaya and Max walk away a few steps. She asks him about needing a large sum of money immediately to buy a house she has found. He agrees to talk to Mauro. Max asks is that her husband. Yes, you saw us together in that restaurant that time. Isn’t that the man that did the hit and run on me? (Now. Frankly I don’t know how he expects Amaya to know that Whor ran him over. Not sure what show it was but she was not there that I remember. Anita or somebody, can y’all help me out here). No. That’s not the man. He was not in Chiapas. Why you lyin’ to me Amaya? Max asks. I don’t know why you’re accusing me of lying. I think we need to not talk about personal matters.

Whor says he’s taking Val, they argue about coordinating her pick ups and Whor insinuates that she and the coach (Max) got a thing going on. Max is griping to Jorge, this guy is a jerk, he ran over me with his car and took off, leaving me lying on the ground! What is Amaya doing with a fool like this Jorge asks? Max shakes his head. I don’t know why she is protecting him and defending him.

“estoy seguro que ese era el hombre del que ella huia” Max says this about Whor. Vivi, what does this mean? Thanks.

Regarding Delores pain, her Dr. is in Tuxla and Amaya was supposed to take her. Delores’ friend, Amparo, has to pick up some tables in Tuxla and Delores will go with her under the pretext of helping her so no one knows she is going to the Dr. They will go tomorrow.

 

11-20 pt. 5

Max can’t get the jerky husband out of his mind and brings it up to Mauro. He wonders what this sudden anxiety and rush to buy a house is all about. He thinks jerky husband is behind it. Max says the husband is weird and aggressive. Mauro advises him that they butt out of Amaya’s personal life, especially you Max. What she does with her life, pardon me for saying, but it’s none of your business. Max looks sad.

Oh yes, during the discussion at the dinner table about Lucio’s pre-evaluation for hypnosis appointment Mauro, Eloisa and Juliana wants to go. This means she has to change the appointment for closing on her new house. Lucrcia learns to her horror that Juliana and her family are moving back to Mexico permanently! Que horror!

Max is in bed thinking about his search for Florencia, their finding her car in the river, his identifying David’s charred remains at the site of the plane explosion. With a silent cry of agony he sits up and cries. Lucrecia stirs.

Our final scene is with our lovers-to-be, Max and Amaya. She has come to Max’s office to get Mauro’s check for the new house. Here you are, Max hands it to her. Max stops her as she is about to go out the door.

“Excuse me for meddling in your life but I know you’re lying to me and I don’t know why. Why are you denying that your husband was in Chiapas?”

“For God’s sake, why do you insist that he was in Chiapas?”

“Because I saw him. Because he’s the man that ran over me and left me lying in the middle of the street when you and I were in Chiapas. He’s the man you were running from though you deny it! What did your husband do to you that you didn’t want to see him but stay with me, a stanger, instead of confronting the father of your daughter. Amaya is stunned into silence.
*********************

Haven't seen today's episode yet. Will get up a summary sometime tomorrow. Now. Let's see what y'all been talking about!
 

Anita, hi girl! Hope you and your family had a blast!

"How about if I take Tuesday and Friday of next week (Nov 24-28) and you, Lila, take Monday and Wednesday?"

I would be honored! Yes, thank you! As long as people know sometimes I might only get half of the summary up before work and half up after. Any thoughts, Anita?

Floridia! I was surprised also to hear Mauro say he loved Lucrecia. I guess he would be too much of a gentleman and good father to say "no, she meets my needs and I tolerate her." You are right! Luke warm offering probably sizes it up. Okay, and thank you for that on Delores's kidneys and the dress connection. I missed that! I didn't think the snobby Lucrecia would want to borrow another woman's dress!

Vivi! Yes, Amaya knows that Whoracio has had several affairs while they were married. At the beginning of the show it seems she was going to try to make a go of it again, they were going on a trip but the dog had a tryst with Emma the night before! He's a nasty piece of work, he is. I can tell Max wanted to rip him another one!





 

Lila, you asked about "...estoy seguro que ese era el hombre del que ella huia” Max says this about Whor.

Remember when Amaya was first hospitalized, she heard Whoracio's voice, loud, arrogant and pushy? She hadn't seen him yet, but she panicked and asked Max, who was with her, to take her away somewhere. That's how they ended up in the cabana.

In that phrase, Max is asking himself if that's the guy she was running away from (literally: I'm sure that was the man from whom she was fleeing).

In the two instances Max has met him, Whoracio has been an arrogant jack-ass, so no wonder he is puzzled by Amaya continuing to stay with him and defend him.

Lila--Summaries are good! Especially yours. I wish I could write effective summaries. You can call them "before and after" summaries. We can cope!
 

Oh, yes, I had totally forgotten Anita! Man, I had totally forgotten that! Apparently Amaya has too! Can't wait to see today's show to see how she answers this. Thanks, Anita!
 

Vivi-
I knew I had seen Mauro before but I didn't realize he was that horrible man from Amor Bravio until I saw the clip you posted. Wow. He really is a good actor. I hated leoncio so much! And I love Mauro.
You have such a great memory.
Sue in Miami
 

Sue- I hated Leoncio so much that seeing Daniel beat the stuffing out of him again was deeply satisfying. :) But I am loving Mauro, even though he seems so clueless about so many things.

 

...and everytime Mauro gets really apoplectically angry, I hold my breath for fear he's in for another heart attack. I'm loving him, too, so I hope he lasts till the end of QA.
 

QA 11-21 Pt. 1

Good afternoon y’all! Ah. . .where’d we leave off. Max confronting Amaya about Whoracio being the one who ran him over in Chiapas and that she was running away from him for some reason. Amaya denies Whoracio did anything to her. She takes the “jumping bad” defense. My husband didn’t do anything to me, why are you meddling in my life? Why don’t you leave us in peace. What I do or don’t do with my life is MY problem, not yours!

What you do IS important to me, it was when you plunged into the river when I didn’t know you and it certainly does now that we know each other.

She softens, I’m sorry, I thank you for your interest but please don’t worry, my life is getting better. Please, look at me, having you near makes causes me many problems. With your husband, he asks? Yes. It’s best that we have as little contact as possible. She proposes the exact same thing Mauro did, that she only have dealings related to their partnership through Mauro or Jorge.

Max admits that being near her causes him conflicts, too. Well, good that we put our cards on the table. He wishes her well in her new life and in her life with her husband and daughter. She leaves.

Max, despite the biceps bulging from the short sleeves of his white tee collapses into his chair and laments to himself: Why do I always lose with you Amaya? This has never happened to me in my life. I’m doing things that aren’t like me, losing my will, my good judgment. I hate feeling vulnerable and helpless. I’m being dishonest, and all for you, for your presence because I care more for you than I want to.

Amaya is back in her office crying. She closes her eyes and relives the words Max said before THE KISS. . .and we get to see it again!

I’m capping this as I watch. . .HOT DOG!!! We didn’t see this before. Amaya jumps out of the car, calls to Max, runs to him and initiates a full body press, and a devouring, open mouthed kiss, caressing his face and hair, pulling him closer!! Hot damn! Send the kids away!!! They continue mouth to mouth resuscitation. Max is the first one to breathe and he looks at her with a question in his eyes. . .

. . .You’re right Max, I was lying to you, I love you with all my heart! I knew it, he smiles brilliantly and resumes the lip music. But our love can’t be, she pleads. Oh yes, yes it can. When two people love each other the way we do, anything is possible. Even though you’re married and I’m engaged we can fight for our love and begin a life together! Yes, Amaya agrees, there’s nothing that love can’t achieve!



[If you love this scene people, inhale deeply as you begin to watch it. The yummy warmth and magic will glow deep inside you and that’s good for what ails ya!]

Amaya is still touching her lips as tears roll down her cheeks. She wonders how she got the strength to stop kissing him and leave when her heart wanted to stay by his side. She finally exhales.

 

11-21 Pt. 2

Manuel breaks it to Genoveva that it probably isn’t a good idea that she come to the wedding. She would be the only Secretary there. He wants to wait until they’re married before making their relationship public. He also wants time for Constanza to warm up to her. Poor Genoveva is crumbling inside. But wait, she grows a spine. You know what. I’ll make it easy for you. I’m not going to the wedding and I’m not continuing with this farce. I’m tired of feeling like I’m not good enough for you or your family to be a part of your life. Oh baby, don’t be that way. Yes, I’m this way because I don’t deserve this kind of treatment! You can go on with your double life but I’m thorough, right now! She walks away!

Mauro, Lu and Eloisa meet with the phony Psychiatrist. They all are concerned. Mauro states he knows that his condition is irreversible but there is something that bothers them and they want his help resolving it so Lucio can have a better quality of life. Eloisa shows the “Dr” the latest studies from the Neurologist which indicate there had not been any neurological insult after birth but they believe he must have had an experience that greatly impacted him in a negative way which caused a regression. Fake Dr. says yes, we will examine him to see if Lucio suffered a traumatic emotional or psychological event or if he has simply reached the limit of his capacity. Yes Dr., hisses Lucrecia, smiling, this is why we consulted you. We want you to intervene so Lucio can make a marked improvement.

In the garden Juliana is trying to convince Lucio to go along with the hypnosis. No, no, Lucio protests. I don’t want to talk to the Dr. Ok, look Lucio, if you clearly remember what broke your heart and you tell me, you probably won’t have to speak to the Dr. [For our new friends, Lucio is the only one who knew that Omar used to call the house and come and pick mommy up for play dates and he walked into mommy’s bedroom and witnessed mommy wrestling with uncle Omar]. Lucio begins to get agitated repeating no, no, I don’t want the Dr. to know my heart! Eloisa tries to convince him as well.

A composed Amaya is debriefing with her bestie, Carolina. Yes, she knows she lied to Max about Whor not being in Chiapas and for that reason she asked that they have as little contact as possible with each other, interacting mainly with Mauro or Jorge.

The lying Dr. is spewing his schpiel about not knowing how long the treatment will take and that this depends also on Lucio’s reaction. Eloisa has succeeded in bringing Lucio to the slaughter. . .I mean into the living room. [I have a son like Lucio, just about his age and I know Lucio knows this Dr. ain’t kosher. Poor kid, I hope they don’t drag this deception on too long!] The Dr. wants to start right away. Lucio hugs his father like it’s the last time he’ll see him!

 

11-21 Pt. 3

Amaya calls Cesar. She’s got his check. Soon she can close on the house and move in right away! Cesar says aloud to himself that it appears Amaya has “Mi Papa comiendo de su mano” my papa eating out of her hands. [So good to see a baddie be wrong!]

Genoveva has recovered as has Max, she brings Max and Jorge big cups o’ Jo. In a warm, gentlemanly and humorous gesture, Max as her sit in his chair and Jorge calls her “jefa.” [Chief, boss, not the American heifer or, as I like to say it, heffa] Max tells her about their new association with his Dad at Nescafe and the dissolution of the partnership with Manuel. Had you thought of coming to Nescafe? No. Not for you, it’s just difficult for me to work in the same business with Cesar, he can make life difficult for me. Please, don’t worry about Cesar, I’ll handle him. What do you say? Jorge injects further humor. Please Genoveva, all the women in my life have abandoned me, please don’t you do this to me too! They both get on their knees in front of her desk and clasp their hands in supplication. Please. Please stay with us. [My gosh, can this man do anything that doesn’t come off sexy!!] Of course she says yes!

Fake Dr. is showing Lucio some Rorschach inkblots. I don’t see anything, anything Lucio says, looking away, his body and fists tense. Oh good, Eloisa is in the room. Okay, good, we’ll see you next week. The “Dr” comes to the brilliant conclusion that Lucio is very tense because he doesn’t know him and will open up little by little. He has a lot of experience with these kind of youth, he lies. He wants to be alone with him next time. Eloisa agrees but I hope Cesar isn’t the only one with hidden camcorders!

Ivan understandably doesn’t like Marian’s arrangement with Ulises at El Deseo. He’s got a surprise he hopes will brighten her day.

Delores and Amparo listen to the Drs. Report. Her kidneys are in a delicate condition. He describes the structure and function of the kidneys. She has kidney stones! They can let the body pass them naturally or they can be pulverized using lasers. If this doesn’t work, surgery would be necessary to remove the effected kidney. Delores says she just started a new job, she can’t have surgery. The real Dr. reassures her this is a last resort. They first have to do tests to see which treatment is indicated in her situation. For now she has medications she must take, and she must rest. Delores makes Amparo promise again that she won’t tell Mariana or Cipriano about her condition. Delores wants to wait until Cip has proven himself with the new boss, then she’ll tell him.

Speak of the devil! Cipriano is in his glory. Ulises introduces him to the crew of workers he will be in charge of. Ulises wants no slackers cause this plantation is going to be better than El Paraiso and all the others in the region. Is that clear?! Cip commands his drinking buddies. . .er finca workers to get to work!!

Speak of two other devils. Cesar opens the envelope with the check for the house and quick shift to a restaurant where Lucrecia steals keys out of a purse. She must be having lunch with Emma. Let’s see. Yep. Hoo boy!

 

11-21 Pt. 4

We’re back with Max and Jorge who suggest they go get lunch and then finish working. Max wants to know how the date went with Carolina. Fabulous! Carolina es una Chava Espectacular! He tells Max about their agreement not to discuss him and Amaya.

What’s going on? Lucrecia is walking with determined steps to the parking garage where she commands an attendant to go make her copies of Emma’s keys rapido!!

Back with the devil’s spawn. Cesar walks into Mauro’s office looking smug and the closest thing to happy as I’ve ever seen him. Something is bothering him. He tells Mauro he just received a check from an employee for the purchase of a house for sale through auction. The check is in your name for Amaya Serrano. Mauro continues studying his monitor. Amaya is buying the house through your business. Yes, isn’t that crazy, but count on my discretion. Hold it, hold it Cesar, what are you talking about? What the devil are you talking about? I understand Papa, you can count on me! Nobody is going to know that Amaya Serrano is your lover and you bought her a house! I won’t tell anybody.

Okay. I’m watching this as I cap. Let me guess. Mauro is going to go through the roof and once again Cesar, foiled in his eevil, will leave the office in a pissy snit. Let’s see.

I don’t have any lover, this house was bought with her own money, they money I owed her mother. Amaya Serrano is the daughter of David, my friend and the Administrator of El Paraiso! Cesar finally gets it and stands up. Amaya Serrano is the Owner of La Zona Estrella. Sí Señor! And the check is from me because she asked me for an advance on the money we owe her. No. I don’t believe it. He refreshes Cesar about having told him the other day that the owner’s daughter had appeared and she was owed 35 years back rent plus interest. Cesar is not smiling or smirking. Mauro is indignant that he has accused him of something that he is incapable of doing. Mauro’s rage is certainly somewhat controlled while Cesar has had the same expression for the past full minute! How was I to know. Men your age have lovers all the time and most of the time they’re younger. But not me Señor! No, never!! I have never lived by a double standard! I have always tried to be a good example, especially for all of you, my children!! Forgive me, I was wrong.

Cesar continues to beg Mauro’s pardon, sincerely I think. Mauro is calming down. Please. Let this be the last time we talk about this idiocy. You are offending me, I am your father and more than than you are offending a woman and I am not going to let you speak ill of a woman, least of all her. Do you understand? I understand. It won’t happen again. [Another successful anal orifice augmentation surgery performed right in the office. . .go Mauro!]

Cesar once again apologizes and promises to handle the sale with discretion so that no one will get the wrong idea about him and Amaya. Cesar doesn’t get it and this sets Mauro off again. I don’t give a rip what people think! I care what my son thinks! A lot. Cesar looks puzzled. Ok. It won’t happen again. Why didn’t you ever talk about Amaya all these years? Because I didn’t know they belonged to her. That’s a lot of money and a lot of years. I know lawyers that can. . .Son, for God’s Sake! Mauro is about to rip his hair out. No Sir! No Sir! I’m going to pay her to the last cent what she is owed! Ok. Ok, fine, calm down Papa.

 

11-21 Pt. 5

Brief Nescafe product placement and BFF bonding scene between Amaya and Carolina. Amaya get’s an inspiration from something she heard Don Mauro said will be perfect for the 3-in-1 campaign: Justo el ahora esta despertando en la vida. . .in a way I feel the same. Let’s carry this idea into the coffee. . .this is the feeling the coffee awakens every morning. . .when you drink 3-in-1 it’s like coming alive every morning. . .like awakening all five of your senses! Wake up, be conscious, don’t live life in automatic but enjoy everything around you. .and they go on like that . . .they’re on a creative roll! Amaya takes Carolina out for lunch.

Cesar tells Mauro he was just looking out for their interests. Mauro assures him they are safe with Amaya and her mother. Her mother? Mauro sits down. I mention her mother because the original contract was with her mother. Uh oh. Cesar, I want you to be very clear. The family Serrano Martinez is very important for me. Do you understand? And I demand you treat them with respect. Cesar finally leaves.

Uh oh. Here comes Max and Jorge going out to lunch, too. I bet it’s the same restaurant as Carolina and Amaya! Oh goody! Max walks up quietly behind Amaya and says “Hola!” just as she turns around with her coffee drink and spills it all over Max. I hope it was a cold drink! Ay perdoname she says over and over wiping his body down with napkins. It’s ok, it’s ok! [This is probably getting stimulating and not because of the caffeine content!] Yes, it’s a cold drink and uh oh again, here comes Constanza into the coffee shop! Oh no! The wiping slows down and Amaya is looking at Max’s lips and he at hers and the space between them warms up and time has just slowed down for them! Let’s see what the space-time continuum is like for Constanza!

Hola, mi amor! Am I interrupting something? Ooops. Neither Max nor Constanza are smiling. Amaya and Carolina aren’t either. Awwww-ky!

Okay. Cesar is back in his office untouched by the intense display of his father’s integrity. What does he do? Call Mommy. He leaves a message. He remembers seeing Amaya visiting Mauro in the hospital. He doesn’t believe Mauro and is convinced Amaya is his lover! [For our newer friends the first time Mauro saw Amaya he thought it was Florencia and had a heart attack right on the spot. She rode with him to the hospital and he asked that she be brought in to see him to thank her. Plus, it was the first and only proof he had that Florencia’s daughter had survived the plunge into the river.] Well, Cesar is incapable of thinking outside the narrow confines of his own moral depravity.

Back in the coffee shop the awkward explanations and disculpas continue. Constanza of course is very demonstrative of her ownership of Max. Jorge and Carolina look on, Amaya tries to look away.

 

11-21 Pt. 6

Whoracio has some papers for Cesar to sign. Cesar asks Whoracio to sit down. Cesar wants to invite him and his wife for dinner. Whor explains that he is divorcing, that actually it’s final. He pokes around until he gets Whor to spew his lie that Amaya has a lover. The putrid leading the putrid. Cesar grins.

Constanza continues to chit chat and works her way around to inviting Amaya to the wedding. Can’t Const see the identical stricken looks on Amaya and Max’s faces?

Whor starts to bemoan having had the horns planted on him by Amaya. He suddenly becomes self conscious and tries to leave. No, no, count on me Cesar intones, his brow furrowed with “concern.” Yes, she was unfaithful and the worst of it is she’s still going with him. Cesar is convinced now.

Oh, look, Constanza has the actual 81/2 by 11 invitations right in her purse! Amaya protests but Const will get her one.

Whor tells his version of the Chiapas story. Remember they were going to make together but Amaya refused to go on because she found out about him and Emma. He twists it around so that he is the injured party, shocked to find out about her infidelity. He even has the nerve to say that she then accused him of cheating to deflect guilt from herself. He must have a lot of money because now she’s buying a house!

Back with Lucrecia who has kept Emma waiting while she had the key made? She makes up a lame excuse. Emma has to get back to the office. Lucrecia slips her keys back in her purse as they hug goodbye.

Cesar reworks memories of bits of conversations and past events to reconstruct his “Amaya is Papa’s lover” fantasy. He gazes at the images in his mind as he convinces himself of the truth of this. I’m going to unmask you, Papa, I’m going to confront you and you’re not going to be able to deny it because I’m going to have proof.

Amaya and Carolina leave the restaurant. Amaya thought she would smother in the presence of Max and Const. She tells Carolina to don’t worry about her, to go to the wedding with Jorge and enjoy it. Besides, I think he likes you!

 

11-21 Pt. 7 and the last til Monday!

Oh, finally Ivan and Mariana. Ivan tells her he is deeply in love with her. Mariana’s brow is now furrowed. Seems she had no clue! He closes in for a kiss. Their lips touch. . .and she pushes him away with a NO! No Ivan, don’t kiss me again! I don’t want to fall in love with you or with anyone!

Flavia and Ulises talk via cell agreeing to meet for the traditional festivals at the finca.

Wait, wait, Ivan wants to find out what’s up with Mariana! She doesn’t want a novio because she doesn’t want to suffer, she doesn’t want to fall in love and be put in a box and made to suffer. All men start out talking pretty but look what they turn in to. Look at my Papa how he treats my Mama, and look at Whoracio how he mistreats Amaya! [Girl got some good points] and I had a boyfriend who treated me badly. I’d rather be alone rather than with a bad companion! Things will be different with him and. . .you get the drill, she answers that all men are alike! No, women aren’t alike either. He reminds her of his mama having run away.

Cesar finally connects with Lucrecia. He tells her Amaya Serrano, the woman you have hated all your life is my Papa’s lover. Cara impactada de Lucrecia.

Mariana is hurt and frustrated. She was just getting used to having Ivan as a friend and liking the idea and now he had to go and spoil it all by saying something stupid like “I love you”! This was not in her plans! Take a chance on love he pleads, you have to take risks in life, you have to do different things Mariana. You can’t renounce love. I know I can make you happy. Ivan does not fathom the pain behind her expression of defeat and horror. You can not guarantee me this, Ivan. Don’t insist! She runs away.

Amaya and Val are at the mall. The impactada Lucrecia is still on the cell quaking from the news that Amaya. . .BAM! they run right into each other! Lucrecia recognizes her of course because she is the spit and the image of Florencia. She is deaf to Amaya’s disculpas. Freeze!

************
See y'all in a bit. Got some chores. :D
 

Lila,

Terrific report. I am assuming that the "Getting out of the car scene" and returning for more of Max was another wishful thinking rhapsody, but it was wonderfully passionate and romantic. Ojalá.

Vivi, I recognize the actress who plays the secretary in all of those novelas you mentioned, but I didn't associate her with the producer/director. With regard to her name, I looked up Genevieve, and here is what I found:

Its origin is "Portuguese and Spanish variant. Genoveva is a form of Genevieve and is generally pronounced like "he no VE vah" and " zhe noo VE vah".

Max's friend's name is more mundane, Jorge.


Thanks again to Lila and Anita
 

Thanks so much Lila.
I hadn't sorted out Cesar's alternate reality. I guess it does make internal sense.
Thank you for the extensive and detailed recaps. But please, don't burn yourself out!
If you and Anita are going to be handling multiple days a week, don't let this become a burden.
As a "user" I like to think of "my recappers" as happy, using the writing as a chance to sharpen their Spanish skills and exercise their own creativity in crafting elegant (and snarky) renditions of the stories.
But when I come across someone like Anita, shouldering the load alone, or you, jumping in the deep end, I feel like I'm taking advantage of more of someone's time and effort than I have any right to enjoy.
Of course it helps if it is a good story. I felt like I was exploiting everyone who spent even a few hours of their lives recapping Corazon Indomable so that I could peek in from time to time and confirm that it was still inane.
So, anyway thanks so much, and keep up the good work, but only as long as you promise that you enjoy doing it.
Chris in FL
 

Lila,

My first comment referred briefly to Thursday's recap.

This one is to give you more well deserved praise for your ever so detailed coverage of Friday's episode. I had missed some important details, and I really appreciate all the time and dedication you put into this.

Additionally, you have true insight into the character of Lucio through your own son.
That is an amazing coincidence.

You write beautifully with a delightfully humorous touch.

Your cleverness contined: and then you go and go and spoil it all by saying something stupid like “I love you.

Shades of the Sinatra siblings.....

Many, many thanks, Lila

I look forward to more from you and Anita. I am glad that one person will not need to bear the entire selfless burden for our hungry viewers. Both of you take excellent care of our TN needs.


BTW, has anyone ever heard of a parking garage attendant making duplicate keys for patrons?
 

These recaps are going to be so helpful!! Thank you!

I'm hoping to watch most of this week's episodes this weekend.

This is such a good story.
 

Chore break!

Floridia, that second kiss was so great! Since Amaya was reliving it, it had the same misty character as the first. If it was real then we have a mutual declaration of love. But the other day when Max was remembering THE KISS, I can't imagine he'd leave that part out.

And thanks for that bit on Genoveva's name. We need to find her an easier handle!

And thank you, Floridia, for your kind comments. I watched this show from day one and was sad that it didn't have a recap feed and then I found Anita's wonderful recaps! And I found it on hulu+ Yaaay! I'm glad to help Anita help all of us enjoy this quality show! Re the garage attendant: somehow eevil people can always get folks to do stuff for them. Ain't that a kick?

Chris in FL! Thank you darlin'! It's a lazy Saturday, I had a little extra time and I do love this show. Seriously, thank you and bless you! As long as they turn out quality episodes like all of these have been, I WILL enjoy it! What we appreciate is knowing folks have read them, share their thoughts and enjoy the story with us!

Hey Sara! Enjoy girl, this IS a good story!!




 

Lila et al,

Let's fervently hope that this show maintains its high quality and does not deteriorate into a colossal fiasco toward the end as several others have done.

Even though I find Cesar completely repugnant, I must admit he is doing an excellent job -- especially when he was "sincerely" repentant and apologetic to Mauro in the last episode.
 

Amen, Floridia! I agree. I just got through gripin' and moanin' with my friends on the board of a show that shall remain unnamed about sorta the same thing. The show has deteriorated but it was never this fine!

And yes. The "Cesar" actor is bringing it! Did you see his face in that scene where he's sitting in his office, he is entranced as he adds up all his distorted images and cherry-picked sound bites to convince himself that Mauro is having an affair! I'm not sure what happened to Lucio, but Cesar has some cognitive challenges of his own! He is wholly Lucrecia and Omar's spawn! Yikes!
 

Lila- I'm in the middle of watching my recording from Friday, but wanted to jump in before it got too late to add my thanks to the chorus, for your wonderfully detailed recap. Thank you as well for providing background info in the recaps, for those like me just joining the party now. I concur, that although I love the detailed recaps, I prefer that you not burn yourself out.

Flavio Medina/Cesar is an amazing actor. His work in Para Volver Amar and Amor Bravio is not to be missed. Just fantastic.

I just remembered that Olivia Bucio has also been in all four Carlos Moreno tns, like Yolanda. In ENDA she was the bitchy mom of the galan; in CME she was the loyal BFF of the heroine's real mom; and in AB she was the heroine's gullible mom. It's funny seeing her here as a humble campesina with her dark hair, braid, and ethnic clothing, while at the same time we can see her as the blonde, short haired, rich snobby mom of the heroine on Hasta el Fin del Mundo each night. I really just love how versatile telenovela actors are.

Back to the show...
 

Could Max have looked any more guilty when Connie came upon the spilled iced-coffee scene? She might as well have caught him kissing Amaya.

How lucky is Geno to work with two nice, cute hunks like Max and Jorge?

Max was looking really good in his khakis and white t-shirt in the office. Hubba hubba!
 

Vivi,

Glad you're recovering from your surgery and back to work.

Yolanda Ventura plays Genoveva, secretary to Mauro's friend and sometime business partner, Manuel. So she was Piedad the cook on AB? Yes, indeed. I guess I didn't recognize her without the bare shoulders.

She's Manuel's long time lover and he is disappointing her greatly by insisting on keeping his relationship with her on the downlow. By saying she shouldn't come to the wedding, he is backing off from even his reluctant offer to "meet" her at the wedding and "start" a public relationship, so it is more than just another time she's been left behind.

Now, he was widowed 5 years ago (Constanza stayed with him rather than mary Max and go to Italy with him to see him through his loss) and he's still hiding Genoveva? Pretty scummy.

Yolanda's holding up very well, she was in CS 93 as a spunky member of the group of smugglers led by Juan de Diablo, right?

In another borrowing from the AB cast, I think Licenciado Salomon from AB, the sleazeball who knew about Alonso's true parentage and who later helped Isadora with the will that gave her the ranch, is the fake shrink for Lucio.

As for Lucrecia getting the keys from the valet, she seemed to call him by name ("Abel"?) So, my first guess is that he wasn't a valet, but her own chauffeur, waiting for her to need the car again after lunch.

But if he wasn't her own driver, and if she had invited Emma to dine at one of her regular hangouts, it is entirely possible that that she'd treat the staff as her personal help.

She said something to the effect of "you've got enough money?" suggesting that he knew her well enough to front the cost and expect reimbursement, with tip, upon completion. If he was a valet at an elite hotel/restaurant, I suspect he has been well compensated over the years for running odd errands for ladies like her. I doubt it would be that unusual that a "lady" like Lucrecia wouldn't be caught dead in a grocery, a drug store, or a hardware store. Indeed, it might not even be particularly safe for a tempting target like her to go tottering around the kinds of neighborhoods in which one would find a locksmith's shop or the like.

But again, my bet is that he was her own chauffeur.

Chris in FL
 

Lila, you have delivered another winner. You have certainly gotten into the tempo of the action. Can't believe you write your recap as you watch it live. You have a gift of making us feel we are watching it with you with your comments, reminders and asides.

Sadly, I also believed that Amaya's post-kiss, kiss-Max-back scene was her fantasy. I wish they had made it clear it WAS really a fantasy, with fuzzing the borders or something. They would have behaved a lot differently the next day. Max's daydream would have been about planning "their" wedding and honeymoon.

Also, the young man Luce gave Emma's key to, wasn't an unknown parking attendant. He's Abel, her driver. I can't imagine Luce doing her own driving (except when chasing down Florencia and running her off the road, oh those many years ago).

I just had to laugh as Cesar got himself deeper and deeper in his own delusional doo-doo. He's determined to bring Mauro down a few notches. His attire, crowned by a bow-tie was also laughable. He ought to know better. Better no-tie than a bow-tie if you want to be taken for a successful businessman (I apologize to all those bow-tie wearers out there; this is strictly my opinion.)

It was way too early for Ivan to make noviasco overtures to Mariana. They've never even been on a real date, held hands, sat close together in the park to talk, or kissed each other as if they meant it. They've only looked in each other's eyes as a bit more than friends.

But what Mariana was feeling for Ivan was not just as an amigo. She claims she had a boyfriend once that hurt her, so she knows what the sensation of attraction is like. She needs to realize that or she will end up frustrating Ivan's feelings for her.

Ivan is in for a tough time. If he so much as looks at Flavia again, it will be enough to prove to Mariana that "all men are alike."

As I watch Cesar, Lucrecia and Horacio, I wonder how the actors deal with being cast as lead villains so much of the time. Then I watch Mauro and am amazed that he can play such a wonderfully lovable, positive character (with a glorious temper, however) after being cast lately as a villain we so detested.

 

Chris--Not only has Manuel been widowed for 5 years, but I thought I heard them admitting their affair started before Manuel's wife died.

Yep, we've both nailed Abel as her chauffeur.
 

whoops

I spliced two sentences there.

Genoveva is not Manuel's secretary, she's his amante. She did work as CESAR's secretary before being fired in his failed attempt to divert blame from his attempt to keep Juliana and Mauro from meeting/reconciling.

Sorry bout the confusion.


 

You are welcome Vivi! I take your caution to heart. I know you re a veteran recapper and novelista and I am very happy to be able to fill you in on some of the back story and have you join our little group!

Thank you for the information you share on the actors. Please let us know if you hear of AB being rebroadcast. Wasn't Olivia Bucio also in Destilando Amor? All these actors are making this so absolutely enjoyable!
 

Oh, just saw this second comment. Yes, Max did look totally guilty! That's a great scene. He and Amaya were really lost in each other's eyes! And Geno (thanks for the nickname) is lucky indeed.

Love me some Max! Amaya's got some will power!
 

Chris, thank you for that background on Manuel and Geno. Yah, scummy indeed.

And yes! CS 93, I watched that online and it has taken the number 1 spot for me as the best novela of all times. Yes, she was Juan de Diablo's young lover actually and I think a "working girl."

Ah, the chauffeur making the keys, that makes sense!
 

Thank you Anita! Yes, alas, I think it was a fantasy. . .a nice, hot fantasy!

Ah yes, you and Chris are right, Abel, have to remember that. And yes, Cesar is totally in an alternate universe.

Poor Ivan and Mariana. She has always had a buddy-buddy vibe with him, socking him in the arm and such. I also think she was beginning to see him as more than a friend, that's why she protested so much: I think she feels herself falling and perhaps she's a little miffed at herself!
 

Cesar looks like a clown on break with the bow tie and his nose clipped to his suit pocket. I keep waiting for him to be wearing it.
 

Note to all,

Yes, Olivia Bucio works NONSTOP.
That's right, I think she was the
mother of Aarón Montalvo aka Sergio Sendel in DA.

Thanks to all of you who set me straight about Lucrecia's driver.
That makes perfect sense. I need to pay closer attention. She is a woman who sets out to get what she wants at all costs. I am wondering why she bothered to have so many other children after Cesar. She is certainly not the motherly type.

Yes, Manuel reminded Genoveva that she knew he was a married man when she met him. It's about time she wised up. So, Manuel is a model father but apparently was not such a model husband.

It's funny that Mauro is so vehement about his faithfulness to Lucrecia when he has been fantasizing about Florencia for 36 years.
 

Forgot to mention that I agree with all that the young actor playing Lucio is doing an amazing job. I'll be looking out for that young actor in other tns.
 

An extra special thanks for Friday's recap. There was a special news report that preempted several scenes on my recording. Your recap was a lifesaver, Lila.

So I've watched the last two weeks of episodes and I've seen up to episode 12. There are still a few holes in my knowledge, but I don't feel completely lost. I'm still going to try to watch some of the early episodes on hulu+

I agree with all that the actor playing Lucio is doing a great job.
 

Hey Vivi and Sara! It's a great novela to have to catch up on. You'll love it!

And Vivi, let me know if you've seen the Lucio actor before. He is so on point it's incredible. When I first saw the actor, or the character, I wasn't sure I'd be able to watch it because I didn't know developmental disability - DD - would be portrayed but not only is he doing a great job, the loving and respectful support and affection he gets is very realistic as well.
 

Anon at 7:30 pm (unless it was Chris in FL)--

Geno worked at Nescafe, but she was Mauro's secretary, faithful secretary for many, many years. He had total confidence in her.

It was after the ticket cancellation flap that Cesar, well within his authority, fired her, so Mauro couldn't talk to her about the ticket. I guess if you are the vice president in charge of things under your CEO father, you can hire and fire at will. He had Emma (the HR person) give her a substantial severance pay to keep her quiet.

Cesar did this while Mauro was in the hospital--or at least he wasn't at work, so he didn't notice until he got back to the office. He was furious with Cesar, but wasn't able to re-hire her or find another position for her. When Geno told Manny her side of the story, he believed she had been dismissed unfairly, but got her an interview with Max as their all-purpose assistant with his coffee project.

Max knew her from the old days, believed her when she said she had nothing to do with cancelling Juliana's ticket and hired her on the spot.

Max and Juli only have Geno's word that she didn't have anything to do with the cancellation. That would leave Mauro and Cesar as the guilty party. Obvio it wasn't Mauro, he wanted her to come. For a short while, Juli thought it was Lucrecia that had cancelled the ticket. Of course, she was the one egging Cesar on to find a way for Juli never to return.

It wasn't clear to Max, Jorge and Juli why Cesar would do such a thing, because he came across as wanting to reconnect with Juli and looked forward to her coming. So, when they confront Cesar, he can deny, deny, deny and they can't do anything about it.

Geno remembers Cesar taking photos with his cell phone, but of course, Cesar was deft about it and they don't have his phone to verify. They are stuck with he accusing/she defensive.

About Mauro, I think he's allowed to fantasize after having to sleep next to Lucrecia for 30+ years. She has not been easy to live with, always putting him and her children by him down (Juliana especially). She, meanwhile got her jollies with Omar--and he accused her of how many others while he was "doing" her (when she showed up pregnant with who was to become Cesar).

As for Luce's pregnancies. Yes, randy Mauro probably needed a physical outlet and he tried to make his marriage work, I guess. Lucrecia only got pregnant TWICE after Cesar. Flavia and Lucio are twins, so that only counts as one time.
 

Anita. Juliana is Mauro's by another woman. Did that wife and her parents die in a plane crash? When the family got to the Finca they were looking at pictures of Juliana's mother and grandparents. I can go back on hulu, just wondering if you recall the backstory. Thanks!
 

Lila--I saw my mistake after I posted it. I didn't mean HER children, exclusively. I knew Juliana was Mauro and Elena's child. She was the one singled out and targeted for abuse by Lucrecia. She doesn't like Max or Flavia very much and she ignores Lucio, since Eloisa is there to take care of him.

She claims she doesn't understand why Lucio rejects her and is afraid of her, but she knows very well. We got to see her in a flashback threatening him with abandonment if he told anyone he saw her in bed with Tio Omar. Her rationalization to Mauro is that sometimes such negative behavior is shown to the one Lucio loves the most (yeah and give me a shovel to remove that bull crap). Of course, she says to Mauro, she's only ever given him unconditional love (more crap to shovel).

Elena's parents originally owned the lands that made up El Paraiso (except for the lands owned by Florencia Martinez, Amaya's mother).

They died a natural death. They and Elena are buried in that mausoleum we saw Amaya visiting.

Elena died when Juliana was quite young. I think it was probably an illness like cancer or influenza. I remember Mauro and Juliana talking about how young she was. Flavia mentioned it too, while they were looking at the pictures.

Mauro met Florencia when Juliana was about 4 years old and Elena had been dead awhile. That's as far back as the flashbacks have taken us.
 

Floridia--You asked early in the week about the double double cross of Cesar, Aaron and Whoracio. It could use a little additional explanation:

Cesar picked Horacio as the target to pin an embezzlement charge on early in the novela. First he tested him out to see if he could strong-arm some poor coffee grower into selling Cesar his coffee production at the same old price for a five year contract. Horacio succeeds.

Cesar then gives Horacio a more important position as head of the export division (or some such) in order to carry out this fraud. Why Horacio was picked is still a mystery. And why Cesar wants to play this little game is also a puzzlement.

Aaron is Cesar's accomplice. Cesar was to make sure Horacio falls for the fraud.

Horacio, being a greedy s.o.b. agrees readily, once Aaron shows him how easy it will be to divert some of the coffee being exported and report less, forging Cesar's signature on the export documents. The diverted coffee will then be sold elsewhere and the profit divided between Aaron and Horacio--so Horacio thinks.

Aaron tells him that his predecessor took part in the scam and it was very beneficial. Horacio falls, hook, line and sinker--easy money and he was able to reproduce Cesar's signature after practicing.

So the only one NOT "in the know" is Horacio himself.
 

I guess you could argue that Cesar recognized a fellow greedy slime-ball and knew he could take advantage. Did he target Whoracio (great name) before he knew that he was married to Amaya?
 

Wow, thanks Anita. I knew you'd fill me in on it. My novella memory is not as good as it could be. This will be great practice: sharpening Spanish and memory skills all at once. Great for us ripening Boomers!
 

Well, those of us who are. I know there are some youngsters on here! :D
 

Anita,

Many, many thanks for the detailed explanation of Cesar's shady dealings. Por supuesto, he's got many irons on the fire and all diabolical.

Obviously, we have intrigue on several levels here along with a delightful romance.

Much appreciation to you, Lila, and all commenters.
 

Re: Lucio

Ok, he was "scarred for life" between seeing his mother, Lucrecia, in flagrante with Cesar's biological daddy, Omar, and the intense intimidation from Lucrecia.

But was he actually somewhat developmentally disabled before that? Is is present situation an aggravation of pre-existing oxygen deprivation, or wholly a psychological response, a la "deaf, dumb, and blind" "Tommy" in The Who's rock opera of the same name?

For all the "realism" as a portrayal of someone with a certain type of organic developmental disability, I'm not sure that repression in response to the big secret is a plausible explanation for his behavior.
 

Anon, it is a novela and the horror of the depravity of the often "sainted" mother figure is starkly demonstrated by the device of her having scarred her child who was a witness to her infidelity.

The etiology of developmental disability is many-faceted and while I shall not go into detail about my son's own variety, the affect, the sensitivity to others' emotions and body language, the exuberance, the innocence and presence of a brilliant splinter skill such as Lucio's artistic ability is VERY realistic. He may well already have had a diagnosed developmental disability but an emotionally traumatic event punctuated by a threat from one's primary caretaker can certainly occasion regression and withdrawal. Again, in the novella we are shown that Cesar and Lucrecia are mocking and contemptuous of Lucio's talent and there was even a scene in which she was taunting him using chocolate. Also, Omar would often come to pick Lucrecia up from the house and Lucio knew about this. Just the sound of his voice on the phone sent him into a "crisis" as he wailed, "el mentiroso, el mentiroso", the liar, the liar!

So, it's not one event, it's also a pattern of subtle emotional abuse to which Lucio is even more vulnerable as the abusers often think the person with DD is "too dumb" to recognize the put downs, slights and verbal abuses and are dismissive of his/her feelings.

I maintain, it is an effective and realistic scenario. Now, if Luicio is "cured" and becomes totally free of the behavioral manifestations of his particular developmental disability I will be happy because it IS a story and a story well told. I won't worry about realism.
 

Lila--What a heart-wrenching description you have given us on what Lucio is going through, based on your own son's behaviors.

My daughter is not DD, but she is hyper-sensitive to other people's actions and looks and words. She's hurt easily, making her a perfect target for bullies all through her school years (the same ones for 8 years--a long time in a kid's life).

She gets emotional and will tear up when things affect her that don't affect others in conversation. Yet, she leads a normal life (thank goodness for her and for us).

She wasn't even aware of how different she was until her husband started pointing it out. The shocking thing to me was that her father was very much the same way--overly sensitive to any stimulation, positive or negative. (We were divorced when she was 5 and her brother was 6 1/2, if that tells you anything.)

I had NO clue while she was growing up, other than she was smart, alert and curious from the time she was a baby. We have had some great revealing conversations since then.

My heart goes out to you and your family, Lila.

I got the impression that therapy when Lucio was young was helping him, but after that traumatic incident with his mother and Tio Omar, he regressed to a more infantile stage and that's where he is now. We saw that after the crisis he had after the phone call, his therapist came to see him at home but he wouldn't tell her anything.
 

Anita, thank you and bless you my dear! As we discuss the goings-on in these little fantasy worlds they can be like little mirrors on our lives which is why I appreciate one that is so well done as this one is. Didn't mean to get mushy!

Anita. Will you put up a header for this week. Confirming that I will do today and Wednesday. Have a great day, everbody!!

:D Lila
 

To our readers: Week 10 will be posted forthwith. Continue commenting on the new front page.