Caray, Caray!

4/22/15 Capítulo 18 María and Facundo Fall in Isabel's Trampa

Part 1

Rocío runs out of her house to meet up with Beto who is still in the city. Kissy face time. It turns out that Facundo didn't want to send Beto to the country. Beto will show Rocío where he has been staying.

Santiago is in his bedroom looking for his gold Swiss watch. Isabel explains that she hid it along with any thing else of value so he can report it as stolen and in that way save it from being seized. Santiago asks her if she is crazy because if the bank does not get their material good they will seize the house. The bank is not going to lose. She didn't know the house could be taken and is afraid she will end up in a tent in misery. Santiago begs her to calm down and think for once in her life that they still have their health, family and the love between them to support them. Isabel says that is no good if they lose the house and if they do lose it all, he can forget about the family and that he ever knew her. She calls him a loser.

Isabel goes on a misery tour of the children's rooms as they are sleeping. First stop: Ale's . She always wanted the best for all of the children. In her heart they, even her niece and nephew, are her children. She worries what will happen to them. What will happen to Ale? Second stop: Felipe's. She wanted him to grow up being a "nice" boy not delivering pizzas. Last stop: Rocío's. She blames Beto for Rocío's rebellion and wonders where Rocío is.

Rocío is at a nice notel where Facundo set Felipe up. Felipe is upset and nervous being away from his family. She wants to go swimming. He is not up for it Rocío has an idea: use the time at the hotel as a vacation and she can show him around the city. They end up at a club where Felipe really feels like a fish out of water with the strong drinks, girls dancing with girls and Rocío's plans to move on to another club "After" . She plans to get in around 5 am and sleep to about 3 pm. Felipe just wants to go back to the hotel and expects her to go with him. That does not work for Rocío who tells him it is the 21st century, she is a modern woman, she has enough drama at home and they are just too different. He tries to go after her.

Santiago sleeping alone in his bed, gets a call from Estefany in the middle of the night, does not answer it and wonders what else she wants since he already told her about the apartment.

María is crying at night over lost Beto and Facundo thinks that he really needs to apologize to María for hiding Beto but Beto needs him more than ever and he cannot let him down.

At breakfast, things get worse when granny Perpétua announces that she got a phone call from tía Humilde and that when they went to pick Beto up at the bus station, he was not there. Everyone is hysterical. Facundo says he is sure that Beto is fine. Grandpappy Porfirio says that the Carmona's are like cats with 7 lives Facundo has to remind him it is 9 lives.










 

Part 2

María is heading next door to see if Rocío can tell her where her son is. Isabel and Rocío are arguing over where Rocío was last night when María and Facundo arrive. Rocío tells them she does not know where Beto is and even if she did she would not tell them. She asks Isabel to please let her know if Rocío tells her something.

Back at the house, María is hysterical and overwrought and Facundo tries to calm her down. She explains that she wanted to sent Beto away so he would not end up with Rocío. Finally Facundo cannot take her suffering anymore and finally admits he knows where Beto is.

María and Facundo are off to the hotel where they find Beto . They tell him it is time for him to come home; that his place is with them. María is so happy to see him and that he is okay but thinks he was drinking and is blaming Rocío. Beto grabs his stuff and they take him home. Facundo says the Carmona's will never be separated again.

At the University, Francis sees Diego and has an offer for him he cannot refuse. She wants him to put the moves on Carmen so Felipe will see that she is taken and so that he can get back at Beto. Diego is up for it.

María and Facundo are having a private discussion in their room. She lets him know how upset she is that he had hidden Beto. Facundo does not lose a beat and turns it back on her: if she was not neglecting her family and home ( with her knitting venture) she would have been up on Beto's activities and it would have never gotten to the point where she felt she had to send Beto away.

Rocío comes over to talk with Beto as he is out with his horse. She was worried about him and had tried looking for him. María does not miss a beat coming out to chase her away to keep her from breaking up her family. Beto sides with his mother. Rocío lets him have it telling him that since she quit Diego she would have expected him to fight for her. She was wrong. She leaves calling María "suffocating."


 

Part 3

In the kitchen, granny Perpétua tells María that anyone looking at Beto can trll he is really in love. María is upset it is with Rocío and starts going on how she wants him to find a nice girl who can take care of him and then is interrupted by Facundo who is in search of a clean ironed shirt. Granny Perpétua apologizes but he says she has nothing to apologize for since it is not her job but is María's. He then goes into how critical María had been of Isabel who didn't wash or iron and used that as the criteria for her being a bad wife. He didn't think so, but she did. So now that she is not doing her washing and ironing did that make her a bad wife? María is neglecting her family is the message again.

At the office Esteban tries to talk Santiago out of buying the apartment but can't. Esteban calls the purchase an atomic bomb and Santiago calls it his salvation. They end up at the notary's office where Santiago signs the papers.

Back at the house, Facundo is out on the lawn doing physical labor with an open shirt. Isabel comes over and invites him over to her house because she wants to talk to him. She stares at his chest and then tries to cover it up so she can't see it. He agrees to come over. The trampa for Facundo has been set.

Isabel gets Facundo to sit on the sofa with her but she is the only one drinking. Facundo is uncomfortable. It seems that her only purpose is to undercut María. She starts out with saying how happy she is as a mother that Beto is home but it was not right, in her opinion, to send him away in the first place. She knew it wasn't Facundo's idea. Facundo talks about how ever since María got involved with her knitting and the fashion show, things are not running as smoothly as they used to at home. He wants things just to go back to normal. Isabel knows how excited María is and says(lies) that she has warned María many times about thinking before she accepted the job. She chose the knitting and fashion show. Isabel has seen what has happened to marriages when wives start a career and change so quickly when they are earning their own money and feeling independence. The family becomes second in importance. Facundo says that María would never let that happen. Isabel says she already has. She even offers to do his laundry saying he wouldn't be walking around looking like he does if he had a clean shirt. In spite of all of the advice she gave her, María is neglecting the house and turning into a stranger. But to help out Facundo and save the family she wants him to tell María she can't participate in the fashion show. He is not so sure he wants to do that but Isabel talks him into it saying that the family is the most important thing a person has. She keeps drinking. Facundo thanks her and kisses her hand. She is all hot and bothered. It will be their "secret."

At the university, Felipe sees Carmen from afar and wonders if she was the one who kissed him in the dark at the party. As Francis and her gang watch, Diego puts the moves on Carmen telling her she is different from the stupid girls at the university. Beto arrives just in time to pick her up as Diego touches her hand and tells her she is real pretty. Beto wants to know what she is doing talking to Diego such a bad guy. Carmen insists she is okay and can take care of herself.

Facundo goes home and tells María the fashion show is off and he does not want her working with Isabel. The family comes first. He even unravels her knitting.
María is visibly shocked and her mother granny Perpétua tries to stand up for her but María gives in to keep the peace.


 

Part 4

María goes over to Isabel's and falls into a trampa with her name on it. She tells Isabel she has to pull out of the fashion show and stop doing business with her. Isabel starts to put the old guilt trip on her and won't listen to María trying to explain about supporting her family. She tells María she was depending on her. She is leaving her in the lurch with so many people working and so many salaries. She tells her it is the 21st century and not caveman times. Also, it is because of people like María that men like Facundo exist. Isabel "wistfully" says that María's husband is a "macho"!!!!!!!!

Jarifa
 

Sure got to see another not very attractive side of Facundo. I did not like that he hid Beto from María (Betrayal #1) or his "secret" with Isabel (from María but all about María)(betrayal #2.).

What a collision course Isabel has planned for Facundo and María.

Jarifa
 

Gracias Jarifa! I will savor this while I drink my morning coffee!
 

Thanks, Jarifa! Is a sure is being more successful with her trampas than Santi was.

Gotta run. More later.
 

HE UNRAVELED HER KNITTING??!!! Oh not cool, Facundo. Not cool at all!

Vivi wins the first round. I'm not pleased with Rocio's behavior.

I think it would be hilarious if Diego actually fell for Carmen.

Ok. Off to watch the episode. Thanks again for the recap, Jarifa. It's so detailed that I don't really need to watch the episode, but maybe I should check to make sure I really understand the shirtless Facundo scene.
 

I'm really disappointed that the fashion show seems off for now. I'm even wondering if it was for real to begin with.
 

Thanks Jarifa!!

Best part, Santi waking up with a hair net on! If he's worn it before I've missed it.

Rocio reminds me of my ex roommate who was an LA party girl. Kept the same schedule. She has no purpose in life.

I feel bad for Maria. She is being twisted into knots. She tries to fit in and takes the knitting job and is getting abuse for it. She tries to stay the same and gets abuse from the kids. Can't win.

I thought I saw Esteban smiling when Santi finally signed the papers.

Must admit Francis' idea for Diego was a good one. Though I kinda hope Diego actually falls for Yoya and changes for the better.
 

Carvivlie - I'm watching right now and just saw the hair net! Hilarious. Ernesto is killing it!

And I am really not cool with Rocío right now. I take back everything I said yesterday.
 

Sara, I can't believe he is 55. He looks so good for his age. Maybe he has had some work done but I don't see any of the tale tell signs.
 

Wow! Really? He does look great! I am loving him here. Has anyone else noticed the lapel flowers he wears? They crack me up!
 

Sara- I have noticed those lapel flowers and love them.

I'm with you guys in hoping that Diego really does fall madly in love with Carmen. That would be a nice turn around, and would drive Francis crazy.

Rocio just totally screwed up her alone time with Beto. It almost felt like she did it on purpose to drive him away. Drive him away now, before he really finds out she's not worth it. I'm not saying that's what I think of her. I think that's what she thinks of herself. There are some many wonderful, and romantic things in D.F. that she could have shown Beto that evening.
 

If Diego falls for Carmen and he makes a turn for the better, maybe Carmen will make a turn for the better too. She is my least favorite character. Her fighting, whining, and the car crashing stunt did it for me.
 

Anon 12:46: I agree, Carmen is very immature and she gets on my nerves too. There was a certain Fried Green Tomatoes aspect to the car stunt that I enjoyed. Carmen deserves what she gets as long as she continues to pursue a taken guy, and even after he told her to back off.
 

Thanks Jarifa. So much detail :-)
One might think that the writers are exaggerating Facundo's machismo, but this is a pretty accurate depiction of how a macho husband gives "permiso" for his wife to work, i.e. "You may work as long as I don't notice any reduction in the services that I am used to receiving from you."

Denise
 

Thanks Jarifa. So much detail :-)
One might think that the writers are exaggerating Facundo's machismo, but this is a pretty accurate depiction of how a macho husband gives "permiso" for his wife to work, i.e. "You may work as long as I don't notice any reduction in the services that I am used to receiving from you."

Denise
 

Isa seems to resent Rocio--and not just because of her attitude. Know I've probably entered No Way land, not good at figuring out timelines, I was thinking Rocio could be Isa's daughter by Esteban.
 

Denise, I think it is pretty accurate, too. The "notice" part is where the rub is. It will be intersting to see where their marriage ends up by the end of this.

I am enjoying both Rocío and Carmen. I can easily chalk up their goofy behavior to their immaturity. Nobody is getting on my nerves too much yet; even Francis. She is just one silly scheme after another.

Carvivlie, Sara, so that was a hair net I saw. Does he need it to keep his coiffure under control? :). Too funny. I, too, am getting a kick out of Santiago. He is on my list of faves second only to Margarito.

Just saw Nora Salinas this a.m. as Carolina Ángeles in LFMB. I like her better as a villainess.

Jarifa





 

Thanks, Jarifa. Great storytelling. My favorite: Isabel goes on a misery tour

I don’t blame Facundo for not letting Beto go to Tia Humilde. My guess is he figured Maria would cool down and recalculate, and she was. And Facundo calling sweet Maria on her hypocrisy about Rocio when Maria herself didn’t even have a fresh shirt for her husband – Ouch!

I too am jumping off Team Rocio. Girls who think sex is the only thing they have to offer a man is a mother’s nightmare. Rocio was dancing way too sexy on the dance floor for Beto. I give him credit for realizing this wasn’t his scene. I’m siding with Maria now, but of course Maria needs to step back and let her grown son make his own decisions.

Isa may be shooting herself in the foot. I’ll bet Maria’s shawls will be a hit at the fashion show and bring in a lot of dough. I have my fingers crossed that Maria and Facundo will get it together. They get angry, but do wind up talking about it.

One might think that the writers are exaggerating Facundo's machismo, but this is a pretty accurate depiction of how a macho husband gives "permiso" for his wife to work

Denise, I have to compliment the writers. Facundo and Maria’s arguments sound authentic to me, well done.
 

One thing I continue to like about this show is that our characters are genuinely human. Some days I like them and some days they make mistakes that make me cringe (I'm looking at you Rocio.) Like Niecie in MD mentioned...the writers have given us some authentic dialog, mainly with the arguments, but still authentic and human.

Nanette-There *has* to be something more to the Isa/Rocio story. I completely agree with you.

I do like Carmen, but her car stunt was not smart...though I did enjoy the shades of Fried Green Tomatoes (Love that movie!)
 

Thanks Jarifa, Sara and Marta for the recaps this week.

The only thing about this TN that irritated me was the constant in Carmen's face thing going on every time she went to school. That seems to have stopped, thank goodness.
 

I just caught up to last night's episode and what is now becoming supremely irritating to me is that city girls are all blonde, stupid, and mean while the campesinas are all dark-haired, smart, and good.

And I don't like how Facundo is pulling the machismo number, either. It seems that the city is bringing out the worst in him while it's starting to fracture the rest of the family.

 

Good to hear from you Urban!

I am really hoping that we see a lot of change for the better in Carmen and some others.
 

Urban, I am hoping that Facundo will be brought down from his machista pedestal some where along the line and become a better person. María has a lot of room for growth, too.

Jarifa
 

I don't know why I didn't think of this before, but I will be out of town starting tomorrow morning. I won't get to watch tonight or Friday's episode until Saturday. :(
 

4/23/15. Capítulo 19. "Recomciliations and mischief"

Since I have some time tonight, here is what happened. It just was too good to not write about.
Jarifa

Part 1

Isabel talks María into sneaking behind Facundo's back to finish her obligation to the fashion show. She wants her to "shine". Isabel has a plan.

Granny Perpétua and Carmen complain to Facundo about making María quit the fashion show.. He tells them that the decision for her to quit was one made between husband and wife. No more discussion.

Facundo goes to the market to buy all sort of good food for what Carmen calls a "reconciliation dinner". The highlight is a nice fresh turkey for granny Perpétua to cook.

Everyone is around the dinner table eating when Facundo bellows that they need more tortillas. María is making tortillas in the kitchen and thinking about what Isabel said: Facundo wants to keep you trapped in your house all day long.

Facundo notices how sad María is. She says she will get over it. Yes, family is the priority. News: Carmen has her driver's license. Facundo decides he has to find a way to make María happy again.

Santiago brings Estefany to the new apartment. She is impressed. They have a workout in the bedroom.

Following Isabel's plan, María tries to sneak out on all fours past Facundo and grandpappy Porifirio watching tv. Facundo asks where she is going. She is taking a cab to the grocery store. Instead, she goes to the photo studio and knits while Conchita the maid goes to the super to do the grocery shopping. When she gets homw it turns out that Conchita has mixed the groceries and María has the decaf and Irish whiskey while Isabel has the "moronga" (pig blood sausage" and the pigs feet. Conchita comes over to correct the situation.

Beto and Rocío get back together. He admits he didn't know what to say in front of his mother since he didn't want to end up beong sent to the country again and that he is "old school".
 

Part 2

Isabel has Facundo come over to talk about how María is doing and ends up complaining about Santiago wishing he were a "real man" like Facundo. Then she complains about a pain in her neck, takes Facundo's hand so he can feel her chakras all over her body. He is uncomfortable but ends up fixes her neck by cracking it and her back just as Santiago is walking in.

Facundo excuses himself and leaves. Santiago tells Isabel he wasn't happy to see Facundo with his hands on her since she is his wife and seemed to be liking it. Isabel could not care less. She has it all under control. She tells him (as she has said before) that the real problem is María. When she is removed from the situation with what she has planned, Facundo will make the investment. Their days left of their marriage are counted.Santiago still cannot understand why she needs to separate them. She says so they will go back to where they came from. Santiago does not agree. For him the real reason is so that she Isabel can end up with Facundo. She protests. He tells her she is capable of doing anything for a peso. She is like a mafiosa and wasn't her paternal grandfather from Italy more specifically from Sicily? She counters with no, the relatives were all from Milan, the first world, relatives of the Medici.He makes fun of her. After it all, he says to himself: "how different you are with Estefany."

Carmen finds out about María sneaking behind Facundo's back to finish the show and agrees to not tell Facundo if María takes her along on her outings to the photo studio.

María is on her way out to the studio with Carmen and they tell Facundo that they are going to the mall., the beauty shop. As try as they might to discourage him, he insists on going. María goes to her room and calls Isabel who fakes a car problem. They all encourage him to stay and fix her car.
 

Part 3

María and Carmen agree that was a close one.

María and Carmen are at the studio. A man is styling María's hair so it will look like she was at a beauty shop. Federico the designer/photographer has a big problem: his model has dropped out. Carmen jumps at the chance to replace her. Federico recognizes her from the Internet as "the crazy country girl behind the wheel". She's a celebrity and he likes her look. Carmen will model "Mexico Chic" her mother's Items. She will be on the cat walk tomorrow!

Facundo quickly fixes the car that was never broken. What did he do? He says he just spoke to it nicely like he would speak to mares. Isabel is grateful. Facundo wants to leave to see if he can catch up to María and Carmen. Isabel wants to give him a cup of coffee to repay him. Isabel asks what he would do at the mall. That is a woman thing. He agrees and that they could chat.

He asks for her help. She says whatever you want. Unfortunately it isn't what Isabel wants. He wants to make María happy and for Isabel to help him plan a surprise 20th anniversary party for María. When they married they were so poor they could not afford a big celebration. Isabel thinks: "Maldita ranchera, ¡qué suerte tienes" (Damn ranch girl, how lucky you are!") Of course Isabel will help him.

Francis is at it again making fun of Carmen at the university until Carmen announces that she is the main model for the fashion show that Felipe's motherr is organizing. They can call her Carmen the model. Francis is pissed.

María tells her mother that she feels bad about sneaking around and lying to Facundo. Also she tells her about Carmen modeling. Grandma Perpétua tells her that Isabel is a snob and looks down on all of them so her advice is to do the show and then cut off all ties with Isabel. Facundo loves María a lot but she knows how he is about lying.
 

Part 4

Diego calls Carmen saying he heard about the fashion show and that she should call him if she wants to go out for a café. He likes supermodels. She will go far. Francis is with him listening and laughing. He sounds like he is done with the Carmen prank but Francis clearly has other ideas about that: Carmen and her brother need to learn not to mess with them. Diego does not look interested but worried.

It all ends with Francis throwing a tantrum at Isabel's house and screaming that she has appeared on magazine covers, that she has modeled for the most important designers in the country and was Miss Adolescent 16. So why is she not in the fashion show? Isabel says she did not know what her availability was. Francis counters with that ranch girl doesn't even have a modeling career like she has. Isabel tells her she has all the models she needs. She tells Isabel she is the organizer and can do what she wants and that Carmen is a stinky dangerous pig who is after her Felipe. If Isabel makes her into a model it is as if she is handing Felipe to Carmen on a silver tray. Is that what she wants? Isabel looks concerned.

That's it. El fin

Jarifa
 

Thanks, Jarifa! How sweet you are to do a recap.

Some nice funny scenes this episode. Santi absolutely exhausted by insatiable Stefi was one of them.

Things are about to explode when Facundo finds out about the fashion show. But I really hope he doesn't ruin it. The shawls the models were trying out were really cute.
 

Jarifa you are wonderful! Simply wonderful! Thanks for keeping us rolling.

I'm hoping I still get to see the episode, but your recap is just as good. Thank you for taking the time to do it. I've seen your work on the Hasta thread, too. I can't tell how much I appreciate you. Without "as needed" recappers like you shows might languish. Thank you so much for helping to keep the Caray machine running.
 

Let me add my thanks to the recappers here. The Spanish is so over my head in this tn, and I'm really enjoying it. I totally missed the nuances again. Someone said yesterday that these are people made human with "real" situations. The actors are doing a great job; and so far no blood and gore which I don't miss AT ALL. Carmen is just now getting her license? ... was she driving illegally, and wouldn't she have gotten a citation with crashing into Francis' car? Obviously I'm over thinking this. Thanks again for clearing up so much of what I miss.
 

Yesterday's episode was good; gracias, Jarifa.

If Isabela is smart she could get a lot of mileage out of Carmen modeling her mother's designs. However, it doesn't feel like this is meant to go anywhere other than to separate Maria and Facundo with conflict over Maria's growing independence. What if Maria's shawls are a hit? She can't knit a hundred of them per week, so she would have to create a pattern and Isabela would need to hire workers to do that.

BTW, the color of the one Maria herself was wearing is hideous.

Every time I see Francis' eyes I wonder whether that color is real or contacts. It looks highly unnatural.

And the behavior of these so-called upscale urban characters is so low class. They need to watch LSDP to learn from Candela.
 

Interesting and fun episode.

I loved the switcheroo with the groceries with Isabel being so grossed out with the moronga and pigs feet on the one hand; and Grandpappy Porfirio not pleased with the decaf because it tastes like "socks" and not knowing what the scotch whiskey was exactly.

What bothered me but totally was in keeping with the machismo theme was how María lacks any meaningful authority in her own household. With Facundo dispensing "permission" for this and that she seemed to be on the same level as the kids. I did not like Carmen threatening María with telling Facundo about her sneaking around to finish the fashion show. For me it just showed a lack if respect for María and authority. Also it rubbed me the wrong way that María was making tortillas with a press in the kitchen when they were all eating at the table. I am hoping to see a new and respected María by the end of this as the scope of her world grows.

Loved Santiago being manhandled by Estefany.

Jarifa
 

hi everyone. thanks Sara and Jarifa for keeping the recaps coming.
i have been kind of busy and without a personal laptop. so using my daughters do do my job search stuff. but next week will have a laptop of my own again. will do my weekly recap tonight as always.
taking my mom to lunch. will try to read the recaps. have been watching the eps... so i am caught up...
 

i echo the sentiments lately that both Facundo and Porfirio are looking like chauvinistic pigs. although Maria should know better...
 

Jarifa: Thank you for the recap and ITA with your comments. I didn't like Carmen threatening her mother. Maria does seem to have no authority and I don't like how she is being treated. She seems to not have a voice in the house. I guess this is to promote their "backward ways" but it doesn't play well now.
 

Actually, I disagree. Maria does have a voice in the house, as demonstrated by everyone having to suck it up when she decided to send Beto away. But this is a very traditional family, where the man is supposed to be SEEN as the final decider-- however Maria decides about the kids. We have also seen that Facundo and Maria take their arguments to the bedroom, away from the kids, where they hash things out and come to decisions. The issue with Maria working outside the home is that SHE also subscribes to the idea that the home is HER job, and she feels guilty about slacking on that job. Once she decides there is nothing wrong with her working outside of the home, I don't think she'll roll over and let Facundo override her decision. We have also seen how Maria gets on Facundo about his financial decisions (his job) and vehemently disagree with him until he comes around to her thinking.
 

Okay Vivi, good argument. So she does have a voice in the house but I don't think she has a "reasonable" voice in the house. What I mean by that is she has to go bsc to be taken seriously. And her own view of how she views her role is churning. She did tell Fac several episodes back that there were two of them, and two opinions but Fac later threw that under. Maria always looks scared when Fac goes after her. She stands up when its about the kids but not about her personally. That I don't like.
 

Jarifa, thanks a bunch.

Maria is very traditional, but even savvy working mothers of today feel guilty at times and torn between work and home. Agree Maria certainly stands up when it comes to her kids.

I too am disappointed in Carmen. Instead of this college girl -- who is in college, by the way, because her dad thought it important enough to move to the city so she could get a good education -- championing her mom's right to an outside venture, she blackmails her. I'm more incensed about Carmen than Facundo because she should know better. Presumably she's going to school to be in business or something.

Facundo and Porfirio definitely are chauvinists, but they're chauvinists that can be enlightened with a little help. I'm counting on Maria to do it. If not, may be Susana.
 

Oh yeah. I totally agree that Maria has a long way to go before she's singing "I am Woman", but I'm confident she'll get there. And that Facundo will also gain enlightenment along the way.