Caray, Caray!

Since I'm recapping Lo Imperdonable tonight, I won't even see Celia until late tomorrow. Anyone feel like doing a "highlights" post tonight? Hey, it's fun!
 

PERLA--
Mon, Oct 19 Part I

Bring on the Bubbly, it’s New Year’s Eve in Rio (Where it’s Too Darn Hot)

Franz has just found out the annulment is annulled. He gets down on his knees in front of Amelia to tell her he’s declaring his love for her and wants to live with her the rest of their lives. Then he turns to Perla and the two monks sitting on the sofa and says…and all the other lives, as well. (It’s a joke and they all get it.) Franz picks Amelia up and kissing her, swings her around in an embrace.

[ed. There are several gatherings going on tonight. I’ll start with the simplest ones, and build up.]

At their secret Hotel room, Yolanda and Mundo are spending New Year’s Eve by themselves. They are watching from the window. She wants to watch the fire works. He wants to make their own. He pulls her away from the window and says he wants to start the new year by making a baby. Yoyo wants to know if he’s serious. Mundo says he’s never been more serious. They get busy.

At the Mansion, Manfred is as excited as a 9 year-old-boy seeing his parents dressed up and ready to go to the Club. [ed. I purposefully made him younger than Perla.] This is to be *his* night. He’s singing “Here Comes the Bride,” knowing Ernest will be asking for Gertrudis’ hand in marriage. Gertie is radiant. Before they leave for the Club, Manfred makes Ernest place Franz’ ring with the family crest on it on his finger—as now the true first-born.

At the Cabaret, they are preparing for a special charity show, the one the Buddhist monks had proposed. Lama Sonan stays behind to take a shower before he joins the others. Cleo plays a prank by removing his robes from the bathroom. Matilde helps him by finding some Western-style street clothes he can borrow and is moved to kiss him. He shocks himself by kissing her back and decides, to himself, the temptation is too great and he must return to the monastery. Matilde, meanwhile is thrilled that Lama Sonan is coming to watch the show. Finally on stage, the chorus line is delivering a smashing rendition of “It’s Too Darn Hot.” Matilde sees him and he’s suddenly transformed from his orange monk robe into a man in street clothes who jumps on stage, takes her in his arms, kisses her and dances around with her. Except for her glitch, which the patrons probably didn’t notice, it’s a hit. They pop champagne and usher in the new year with lots of BESOS and one pinched fanny. Even Joel gets kissed.
 

PERLA--
Mon, Oct 19 Part II

At the Club of 100, Ernest, Manfred and Gertie arrive to raised eyebrows from Walter, Laura and Decio, especially when Manfred introduces them as the new Hauser family. After an awkward dining experience, Manfred says it’s getting close to midnight and Ernest has an announcement. He nudges Ernest. Ernest says this is his son, with all the rights and privileges of a first-born. Manfred nudges Ernest again. Ernest grudgingly asks Gertie to be his wife. The raised eyebrows turn into eye rolls of disbelief. Ernest goes through all the motions with no enthusiasm, followed by a lackluster toast. [ed. Can you blame him? I do have to admit Gertie looks more elegant in that brown dress tonight with her hair done differently and wearing lipstick.] Rings are exchanged, Gertie gets a peck on the cheek. Manfred orders a toast to the novios. [ed. Blech.]

Then Manfred announces his own upcoming nuptials, although he won’t say who the lucky bride is to be.

A club staff member whispers to Walter there’s trouble at the front door. Three men want in. One of them is Artur. [ed. I think the other two, or at least one of them, are Cicero’s sons.] The staff won’t let them in and have told them to leave. They begin to trade blows. Walter arrives. The men complain is it their skin color that prevents them from entering? They do have money. Walter says, of course not, but this is a club for special people. [ed. Whatever that means, but I suspect the color of their skin has a lot to do with the Club’s exclusivity.] Laura sees Artur and approaches. She’s offended Walter would treat them like that. He tells them to leave. Laura speaks up (courageously) that if they leave, she leaves. And she does—ahead of the trio.

Laura and Artur have gone to a bar nearby. [Oooh La La, taking a second or third look at Artur, I would trade anyone on Preciosa Perla (except David) for Artur. He’s a keeper.] Artur is still a little woozy from the blow to his face. He wants to know why Laura has stayed married to someone like Walter. She was young and she chose to overlook all his intrigues and transgressions. But no longer. They trade sweet-nothings and then Artur leans in for a kiss. She knows it’s coming. She accepts it and returns it. Things get quite passionate before she pushes herself away from him saying she can’t, she just can’t. He begs her pardon as she flees. His winning smile lights up his whole face. [ed. He’s probably not sorry he kissed her after all.]

Back home in the vecindad, Perla tells her parents she noticed Lama Sonan was very sad. She’s going to bed. Franz tells Amelia that he also noticed a strange change in Sonan.

Back home at the pension, Lama Sonan and Matilde speak to each other, but each is oblivious of the double meanings. She thinks he’s talking about loving her and he is talking about appreciation for all she did for the show. He goes back to his room, leaving Matilde confused and disconsolate. Tenpa thinks Sonan is fleeing from something here.

Back home at the mansion, Manfred congratulates Ernest on his good behavior. Ernest goes up to bed. Manfred and Gertie congratulate each other. They flick their new rings at each other and giggle. Gertie goes up to bed. Manfred has a flashback to Amelia’s rejection of his amorous attack. Amelia is all he needs to make him a completely happy man. She’s *going* to be his. Franz will no longer be in the picture (literally) as he smashes Franz’ photo, then steps on his face.

 

PERLA--
Mon, Oct 19 Part III

A few days later, Manfred shows up at the vecindad and pumps Perla for information on Amelia’s whereabouts. When he learns she’s out with Franz picking out a wedding dress, he goes to find them and spy on them. Franz and Amelia are happy, madly in love, looking forward to renewing their vows and oblivious to the danger near them. Manfred tells Benito to keep an eye on Amelia’s every movement 24/7—even if he has to get more guys to help. He wants to catch Amelia alone.

Lama Sonan tells Perla he’s leaving. Tenpa and Jampa will continue her studies. Perla tries to pull rank on him, telling him that as Ananda Rinpoche she’s not letting him leave. He tries to explain that if he stays, his vows as a monk are in jeopardy. Perla tells him in time he’ll learn he should not have left.

David sighting – short but sweet. Aurora and the pension gals are in the lounge discussing Aurora’s wedding. She wants glamor, glitz, pomp and circumstance. David, who is watching, is amused and embarrassed. He tells Dalia good naturedly this talk scares him. Aurora is telling the girls it’s her wedding and she decides. There’s going to be singing and dancing—and they do just that. Joel sees what’s going on. He races to the bathroom and swears to himself this marriage is neva gonna happen. Cleo follows him in and tells him she has an idea how to make that not happen. He’s interested.

Viktor is praying in church for the strength to carry on with his life and to raise his son (who is barely visible in a perambulator next to him). He asks for a sign. Suddenly, a wind blows through the church bending the flames of the candles. Then he sees Silvia again. Again, it’s an illusion. Silvia, meanwhile is still shacked up (again, in the literal sense) with Baldo and Liliana, eyes closed, immobile.

Matilde has had a hard time saying goodbye to Lama Sonan, but finally she joins the well-wishers who are out on the sidewalk saying goodbye to him. She is able to give him a hug. [ed. Does anyone know the name of the song or the artist for the song playing in that scene for L.S. and Matilde?] Perla goes with the monks to see Sonan off on the ship. Franz goes back to work. Amelia has laundry to do and starts back alone to the vecindad.

On her way home with Tenpa and Jampa, Perla is beginning to understand Lama Sonan’s urge to return to the Himalayan monastery. But then she’s suddenly aware of the sound of her mother’s voice. She tells the monks her mother is in trouble and is calling for help, over and over.

Manfred has seen his opportunity to grab Amelia right off the sidewalk in broad daylight. Amelia has enough time to scream before he pushes her into the car. He’s not quick enough to take off before Franz comes flying back to rescue Amelia. Benito and his Thugs get out of the car and knock Franz senseless, as Mundo and Fabricio race to his side. With Fabricio at the wheel of Franz’ car, the three take off after Manfred and Benito. Amelia is still fighting Manfred. He gags her, pulls her against him and tells her everything will be alright; he won’t let Franz separate them; he calls Amelia, “mi amor.”
 

Bajo. Flag is back! And comforting Luis.
 

BAJO EL MISMO CIELO – Lunes – Parte 1

From Friday’s episode we see poor Jimena being beaten by Willy after trying to get some money with which to escape. Later we saw Gacho wrapping her up in plastic grumbling about his menial jobs with the gang. We see Débora slapping Luis at the police station. We see some of the very tense scene with Carlos and El Colmillo in the men’s room at the bar. Later, and I’m sure this is related, EC tells Rod he’ll kill his father if Adela Morales isn’t found within 48 hours. I think it’s related because EC twigged to the fact that Felicia still had feelings for Carlos, although he also twigged that Carlos no longer reciprocated. So EC would love it if Carlos died: because of Felicia and because he’s also jealous of Rod loving his father.

Débora and Jacob don’t even let Susy say goodbye to Luis when they leave the police station. Cristóbal allows Maria to sign the papers to let him leave.

Carlos takes Feli home from the club and is tucking her in. He says he realizes that she was trying to get him away from that guy who wants to buy the bar. She whines to him that she’s afraid of losing the baby. She says that she needs him, moves closer, and touches his face.

At Casa Martínez both Maria and Adela tells Luis that he’s very young to be with someone. Adela tells him that they have to tell Carlos what happened.

At Casa Sanders Débora’s friend Stephanie, who was tasked with dealing with the house full of guests, tells her that her daughter Mariela told her what happened at the beach. She says she won’t permit her daughter to be friends with Suzy any more. D tries to make nice. She doesn’t want her daughter to lose a rich friend, of course. Steph isn’t having it and also says she’ll tell the other parents what a danger Susy is.

Flag sighting! Luis is in bed with the dog telling him that he’s his only friend.

Carlos tells Felicia that he’ll always be around for her, but as the father of her child, not as her partner. They will raise the child together, but not under the same roof. Very gently he asks her why she wants a man who’s in love with another woman anyway. She gets huffy at this and asks him to leave. [I could have explained this to you, Carlos. The other woman in a telenovela never, ever gives up.]

Débora has decided to send Suzy to France to study and not to tell her until the last minute. Jacob has agreed to this.

Gacho tells EC about Jay being in jail. We see EC remembering when Rod told him he’s not his father. EC tells Gacho he’s not Jay’s father, and he can spend the night in jail.

Carlos has come home and is all over Luis for sneaking out with Susy. He tells him that the gang could have killed her. He prohibits Luis to see her again. The argument gets louder and louder, and Maria and her children can hear. Luis lashes out verbally at his father, saying he’s hard on his sons, but not on “Mati” even though she was in La Colonia. She gets away with it because she’s his woman. Adela leaves the room in tears.

Maria comes into the bedroom. Adela has been crying saying she’ll never get La Colonia out of her life. Maria has overheard what Luis said. But she tells Adela that, since she’s lived with her, she has seen how much “Mati” loves her brother, and knows what a great woman she truly is. They hug.

Cristóbal has come to check up on Alex and finds Chabela with her chest half out, as per usual. She talks him into staying for dinner: a sandwich and some red wine. He spills some of the wine. She insists he take off his shirt so she can moisten the stain and we get a look at that fine upper body. More sexual vibes pass between them, but he rushes out. [I really expected Rodolfo to come in when he had his shirt off and Chabela had on some nightie.]
 

BAJO EL MISMO CIELO – Lunes – Parte 2

Carlos sits on the sofa remembering the two scenes with his sons: Rod telling him to leave the restaurant as he had work to do and Luis yelling at him. He says, quoting his father: ”Pa’ todo mal, mescal” and helps himself to a shot. He says he’s failing as a father.

We see an odd scene. Carlos has gone to bed and Adela has gotten over her hurt feelings and she and Carlos are talking and kissing. Rod sneaks up to the house and the way they shot it, it appeared he could see and hear. Not sure. Very odd.

Luis has gone to talk it over with Nick. Nick still has a thing for Sharon, and Luis tells him straight up that she’s not for him. Hope he listens. That girl is poison. Luis says he’s very sorry for the things he said about “Mati”. He asks Nick for some paper for an apology.

In the morning Adela is delighted when she finds a note under the bedroom door. Luis has drawn a caricature of himself on his knees with a bouquet of flowers presenting them to Adela. He also writes an apology on the drawing. He’s made breakfast as well and apologizes also to his father. Adela calls him rascacielillo (little skyscraper??)

Rodrigo comes back to the basement and finds that the homeless woman has hung herself. He takes hold of her hand and says: Gracias. Por ti Adela va a vivir. Si existe otra vida te debo una muy grande. Nos salvaste a Adela y a mí. I suppose he’s saying that, if there’s something beyond this life, he’ll owe her there as well.

Poor little Pedrito asks Carlos if he’d stop loving Luis if he didn’t see him any more. Carlos assures him that you love your children forever and ever.

Carlos tells Maria that “Mati” saved him. She showed him that, even if someone grew up in the black world of the gangs, they could preserve their goodness and be ready to do anything for the ones they love. [While he’s saying this, we see Rod placing the homeless woman on the bed.]

Susy tells Ramona that, even though she has no phone, no car and no computer, she still won’t give up Luis.

Adela tells Carlos that they’ll probably lose their jobs with the Sanders. He agrees. Adela finally tells him that it was Débora who turned him in to Immigration.

Felicia is worried about Jimena. Her brother in Chicago has told her that J said she’d be on the next flight, but she never got there. She calls Gracie, who wonders if La Colonia could have done something to her.

At the gang hideout we see EC reading the newspaper and gloating over the fact that the businessman who refused his cash investment in the casinos has been shot down in the street. He praises Willy, calling him “Willie Mays”. Just then Rodrigo calls him and tells him that he’s found Adela Morales. We see EC’s big, wolfish grin. [I've been wondering for a while now how EC will take the fact that she's dead. He wanted her brought to him alive.]
 

Bajo
Gracias Novelera for a super recap
Once again Rod demonstrates what a sweet guy he is by talking Vanessa into hanging herself so Fang doesn't torture her.
 

Bajo. Excellent recap, novelera! The encounter between María and Adela shows what a wonderful woman María is. That scoundrel Rudolfo doesn't deserve her. I thought the scene between Cristóbal and Chabela was hilarious! Chabela seems to be incompetent at anything practical, but Cristóbal seems to be attracted to her for obvious physical reasons. If they do get together, we know that the person doing the cooking and washing is not likely to be Chabela. The odd scene with Rodrigo observing Carlos'house may be because he wants to protect Carlos from El Colmillo's thugs (after all, look what happened to Iriarte), or because he's attracted to Adela, or a bit of both. Maybe Adela calls Luis rascacielillo because he's tall but young. :)
 

Bajo

thanks so much novelera !!!
for another wonderful recap.

still no captions so I probably won't be doing any more recaps, I'll try to rewatch the show today online.

evil Colmillo has a way of totally ruining everything he touches,
except for Willy who seems to be really getting into this,
irregardless of what he tells Felicia.

some things on Friday's show,
didn't Carlos notice that both Rod and Colmillo had beat up faces,
and Allan, Juana's boss, was at the dinner party which surprised Estefi,
because he usually keeps to himself.

and we didn't get any of Maria's good cooking.

 

PERLA--
ForWhatIt'sWorth: I think there is more to the Manfred-Gertrudis story.

In reviewing the October 5 episode (which I barely recapped), I didn’t cover this incident. I’m sure it has some significance. Wenceslau came to the Hauser mansion to try to extort more money out of Ernest and Manfred. He gets thrown out for his trouble and lands on the pavement in the courtyard. GERTRUDIS comes running out of the house to his rescue, helps him up, checks him for bruises, holds onto him and takes him back to his place where she ministers to him.

Wencie, now lying in bed, says to Gertie he still knows many secrets about her and Manfred. He doesn't say just Manfred (i.e. skimming profits) He's been around Ernest long enough to know about Manfred's origins, I suppose, but he's comfortable enough invading the Hauser kitchen to help himself to cake and ask for money. Think, folks, Gertie has been giving him money, aside from what Manfred gives him as a monthly stipend. She chides him on his gambling habit. She behaved toward him with a certain familiarity (and the first time we've witnessed it). A clue? Hmmmm. Could there have been something between them at one time?
 

Perla: Thanks for the recap. You hit all the important points. I guess the only "good" thing about Amelia's kidnapping is that Frantz and the neighborhood saw it and knows it's Manfred. Now, maybe there's some hope it won't last long enough for him to violate her.
Romy
 

PERLA--
I'm with you there, Romy. I so don't want any Manfred-like spawn invading the earth. I wonder where he is going to hide her? Haven't watched today's episode, but will do so soon.
 

Bajo
I noticed Alan the pervert at the dinner party also. I hope Juana's novio gets her out of Alan's house before she disappears. He is distrustful of him. Romana told Adela about a previous criada disappearing, why didn't she tell Juana? Probably they should start digging in Alan's cellar.
 

Bajo

Variopinta, I thought I remembered Adela indeed telling Juana the fact that some previous maid of his had disappeared and Juana just blowing it off.
 

GENERAL

Re captions. I usually leave the Spanish ones on for novelas. If the speech is easy for me to understand as in, say, Bajo el Mismo Cielo, they are there but I don't really read them. If something confuses me, I back up the recording and read them.

Now...the novela for which I really need them is Celia. Don't know why, but the captions for that one are terrible. They are either not there for most of a scene or they are oddly placed at the top of the screen and irrelevant, or they are so far behind in what's actually happening that it drives me crazy.

With Celia I feel like the barely intermediate Spanish student that I was when I first started watching telenovelas. At that time I had to back up the recording (they were VCR cassettes!) and re-watch several times to get the gist.

The Cuban accents are SO difficult. I had no idea until I read NovelaMaven's fine recaps that Eliezar was Lola's stepfather.

So, does everyone else's captions work fine with Celia? Is this a problem with my TV and/or my DVR?
 

CELIA

Novelera, my captions work pretty well for Celia. I'm not sure why you are having a problem.
 

Celia, Episode 5, Monday, October 19
Los Barbudos

Pedro comes clean with Rogelio and asks him to take him back into La Sonora. He explains how he hurt his hand when he fell from a roof while he was trying to escape from the cuckolded captain. He also tells him he met a girl named Celia and she touched a chord in him with her sweetness and her authenticity. Rogelio agrees to give Pedro one last chance. Their next gig is in a paradisiacal place called Pinar del Río.

The creepy captain turns out to be mixed up with scuzzball Eleazar. Eleazar gives the captain a special job...

We see weepy Celia with her Aunt Ana on the train to Pinar del Río where Celia will be spending a few days while the uncle is away. Celia's funk about her father's rejection doesn't lift even a little until Ana tells her the big surprise: La Sonora will be playing there tonight and Ana's godson will get them in free.

Lola and Marcos stroll happily down the street. Eleazar lurks in the background watching them. They meet a group of carnival dancers in blackface. At first, Lola smilingly joins the dance. Her smile turns to terror when they separate her from Marcos and beat him to a bloody pulp. A masked figure – the captain himself – looks on approvingly. Then the band disappears and Lola is left with Marco stretched out on the ground and unconscious. She screams for help. Eleazar smiles smugly.

Simón is still in the hospital ranting to Ollita about Celia's betrayal. Noris is still there playing with her feathers. Alberto has joined them at the bedside and apologizes for inviting Celia to hear La Sonora in the first place. Simón says it's not his fault. Besides, he SAW Celia kissing that guy. He SAW them!

Celia and Ana make their excited way into the club where La Sonora is playing. Inevitably, she and Pedro spot each other. "Martín!" she says softly (because Pedro gave her a fake name when they met). Quick-witted Pedro slips Rogelio a sheet of music and asks him to sign it.

Lola waits in the hospital for news of Marcos. Eleazar arrives and says he heard about his brother. Lola says she knows all about it because she was with Marcos at the time. They practically killed him in front of her. Eleazar starts cursing those damn barbudos who have turned their country into a living hell. (Los barbudos, the bearded ones, was what the revolutionaries were called.) Lola is bewildered. "What barbudos?"

Eleazar joins Lola at Marcos's bedside and puts on a show of grief and concern. Marcos hurts all over, but he's going to be okay. He's puzzled. He knows the beating wasn't random, but it doesn't make sense because he has no enemies. Eleazar does, of course, and he pretends to blame himself.
 

CELIA Part 2

He makes a quick call, perhaps to the captain, to say all is well – Marcos didn't recognize anyone.

While Eleazar is on the phone, he sees the injured revolutionary wheeled by on a stretcher. He comes back to Marcos's room and starts muttering about the barbudos. Marcos explains: he means anyone who disagrees with him. Eleazar gets upset. He says they are human filth who want to destroy the country. He's going to denounce them to the authorities. Marcos says they are only trying to make the country better. They've treated him well, and a lot of people in the neighborhood are on their side. Eleazar lives among the powerful so he doesn't know about the inequality that the rest of the country suffers. "The rich and the gringos are living it up at the Tropicana while the rest of us are eating dirt." Now Eleazar raises his hand to strike Marcos. Lola stops him. "Violence is how my brother deals with things," says Marcos furiously. "Just like the Batistas treat the peasants – oppressing them, squeezing them dry and then leaving them in misery. But Cuba is living in different times, my brother." The barbudos will put an end to the inequality and the privileges of power.

In the hallway of the hospital, Alberto and Celia's cousin are also talking about the revolutionaries. The cousin is worried that by donating his blood, Alberto may have unwittingly involved himself with them. And in fact, at the moment, a barbudo approaches him and asks to talk to him. Alone. He takes him into the room of the wounded man, who introduces himself with pseudonym, "Lilo Candela. The man thanks Alberto for saving his life and offers to reward him for his valor.

Outside the room, Eleazar tells the little captain that Lilo Candela is in the hospital. He wants him found and shot. And he wants his men shot too.

Celia has her suspicions that "Martín" may in fact be the womanizing trumpet player, Pedro Knight. And if she finds out he's been lying to her, she will want nothing to do with him. Pedro pulls out the autographed music. It bears the signatures of all the band members, not just the leader's. Pedro says he collected them for Celia. Would the real Pedro Knight be an autograph hound?

Celia is almost persuaded. She is going to ask Rogelio herself if "Martín" is the famous trompetista. Pedro, in his desperation to keep Celia from learning the truth and therefore rejecting him, runs to the bathroom and asks his friend Mario to slam a door on his hand so he won't be able to play the trumpet tonight.

But when Mario then tries to convince Rogelio that Pedro's injured hand is acting up and he won't be able to play, Rogelio sees right through him. He knows he's trying to cover for Pedro, as usual. And, as usual, it has to be because of a woman... Mario begs Rogelio to go along with the ploy, just this once.

Pedro takes a deep breath. Then he and Celia walk up to Rogelio and he makes the introductions. Celia gushes over Rogelio and La Sonora in her innocent and engaging way. Then she asks the question: Is this man Pedro Knight. Rogelio asks her to come with him...
 

CELIA Part 3

Lilo Candela presses Alfredo to tell him his dreams. Alfredo confesses he longs to marry the girl he has always loved and raise a family with her. Maybe you can't buy love, says Candela, but women love a man who stands out from the crowd.

Suddenly a knock sounds on Candela's door. "Medication check," says a voice, but everyone knows there's trouble. We see armed soldiers outside the door. Inside, someone hands Alfredo a pistol. "It's Batista's men!" someone else says. Since they don't know Alfredo, he goes to the door and distracts the soldiers long enough for the barbudos to escape out the window. But now Alfredo is under suspicion.

Rogelio tells Celia that Pedro Knight is a fine trumpet player but a scoundrel when it comes to women. Meanwhile Pedro and his buddies watch and fret over what Rogelio may be saying.

Alfredo tells his friend Gamita (and Celia's cousin) that he acted on an impulse when he helped the barbudos, but now he's done. And the next day, he's going to follow Celia to Pinar del Río. He won't rest easy until the two of them are together.

Rogelio tells Celia that "If you ever meet Pedro, you'll discover that there's a great man behind that shield (coraza) of lies, there's a great man."

"Does that mean that that guy isn't Pedro Knight?"

"It means that man is not the Pedro Knight I know."

Celia breathes a huge sigh of relief. She tells Rogelio how "Martín" convinced her to hold on to her dreams – she wants to sing – and to believe in herself.

Eleazar is sure that the man he saw was Lilo Candela. He tells the captain to follow the man the soldiers found in the room (that is, Alfredo). As soon as Marcos is well enough to go out, they will follow him too. He is sure to lead them to Candela. And when they find him? Shoot him.

Rogelio tells Celia that Pedro Knight is a good man who just needs a steadying influence, someone like Celia, for example. He promises to continue their conversation after the show. They can talk about her singing...
 

Celia

I so love your recaps NovelaMaven !!!
you sure can bring out all of the color and spice.

I know Noris is a bad girl, but I love listening to her talk, and her dresses, and her feathers.

Abierto and Los Barbudos, these surely must be the Castro brothers, and he keeps timidly putting out a hand, so to speak, but wasn't expecting a gun.

Rogelio sure is a neat guy, and I'm loving all of the easy-going accents,
and the music sure is being driven home for me,
can't wait for Celia to light the place on fire.

 

PERLA--
Tue, Oct 20 Part I

Laura & Yolanda, Intrepid Investigators: Laura and Yoyo go to the orphanage they suspect received Otavio and then was given to Walter’s family to adopt. Laura is no longer wearing her severe mourning clothes for Euracio and has let her hair down. Even Yoyo suspects it has more to do with Artur than anything else. They talk to the director of the orphanage, who is more than accommodating while a grim looking woman attendant stands by them. Regretfully, the director can’t help them. There were just too many babies dropped off and too many donors over the years and no, she didn’t know Ernest Hauser personally. The two leave, convinced the director wasn’t telling the truth.

They are surprised by the woman attendant, Celina, running to catch up with them. She says she knows the true story and wants to tell them. The baby was the child of political prisoners. Ernest Hauser did deliver the baby to them. A few days later, the governess (Gerturdis) came and got the baby. Celine will try to get Otavio’s file for them.

Laura and Yoyo go to fetch Otavio from the vecindad. They greet Gaia. Gaia says being around Otavio makes her feel close to her son. They would be about the same age. Yoyo and Laura both begin to wonder about Otavio’s real parentage. It shows in their faces.

Yoyo returns to Mundo and tells him her theory of Laura’s son being the child of political prisoners. She knows it’s crazy, but could Tavito be Gaia and Toni’s son, Giuseppe? It was well known by them that Ernest was behind putting Gaia and Toni in prison. The children of other political prisoners were brought to that same orphanage. It’s a stretch, but Laura said it was Ernest himself who persuaded Walter to adopt the child. Mundo doesn’t want Yoyo to say anything to either Laura or Gaia until they have more proof.

Celina gets the file and brings it to Yolanda to keep from running into Laura’s husband. Yoyo brings the file to Mundo where he is with Amelia. The documents tell them Tavito is most probably Gaia and Toni’s lost child.

Perla, Rescuer Extraordinaire: Perla, Jampa and Tenpa are in a taxi on their way home to the vecindad. Perla persuades them, urgently, to go in a different direction, away from the house. The monks tell the driver it’s ok.

Manfred’s car, with Amelia inside, is suddenly cut off at an intersection by Franz’ car. They all get out and a three against three knock down, drag out begins. Amelia gets herself out of the car even though her hands are bound and she is still gagged. Just as it seems the kidnappers might be winning, Manfred grabs Amelia and starts to spirit her away. His way is blocked by Perla who orders Manfred to back off and let go of her mother. The two monks stand behind her. Manfred is so startled he lets go of Amelia. Franz catches up and throws one more punch at Manfred, then he hurries to Amelia’s side. Police sirens blare. Manfred runs away. Mundo will take Amelia and Perla home while Franz and Fabricio go to file charges at the police station.

Mundo is very upset to have discovered Benito, a party member, was the one betraying them all along. He’d always had a bad feeling about Benito. The monks tell Amelia how it was Perla’s premonition that took them to where Amelia was. Perla asks her mother why Tio Manfred was behaving like that. He seemed a different person. Amelia says she can’t explain it. [ed. Manfred’s obsession] She asks Perla to stay away from him. Perla asks the same of her.
 

PERLA--
Tue, Oct 20 Part II

Manfred Does Crazy for his Father: Manfred crashes into Ernest’s boarded up bedroom, where Ernest is standing. He is running back and forth swearing he’s going to get Franz. He’s nearly incoherent. Ernest is bewildered by his behavior. Manfred spits out he *hates* Franz. Franz took everything from him, his father, the woman he loves... A light bulb goes off in Ernest’s head, is Manfred in love with that laundress? Manfred swears she will love him, he is going to bring her to the house, make her the mistress of the mansion and get rid of Franz. Ernest thinks he’s crazy.

Now Manfred is off his food. He’s grumpy to his mother. The police knock to order Manfred to come give a statement in the death of Silvia. Ernest learns Viktor will be there giving his statement, too.

Chief Cavalcante Gets an A-List Rogues Gallery to Interrogate: Viktor is first up to give his statement to the chief. He is straight-forward and believable in retelling his relationship with Silvia, even the part where their affair bothered Franz, but was relieved to know the child was not his. Franz never loved Silvia and had been forced into that marriage by their father, who had never approved of Amelia’s working class background. He explains the discrepancy in Silvia’s last name and recounts the whole Zampari affair. He, Viktor, would never have killed Silvia for any reason; he loved her. As Viktor leaves, he runs into Manfred, Gertie and Ernest waiting in the hallway. Ernest asks about his grandson. If they need anything, let him know. Viktor, though civil, does not tarry and says they need nothing from him.

Next up is Ernest. He doesn’t change his story about Hector Zampari being the assassin of his wife. Silvia would not have found any proof to the contrary. Zampari had been found guilty in a court of law. Ernest is satisfied with that, although that doesn’t really answer anything about Silvia’s death or any motive.

Franz and Fabricio have arrived to press charges against Manfred and there he is with his mother. A scuffle ensues, the two trading accusations. Ernest is excused and he and Cavalcante come out to see what’s going on. Manfred says Franz’ accusations are all a lie. He was trying to save Amelia from those communists who have her under their control. Ernest can only look on, mute. [ed. I wonder which son he’d rather believe.]

Manfred is called to give his statement. Cavalcante tells him before they start, that he has a witness that makes the accident not an accident, but an assassination attempt. Without knowing what Viktor said, Manfred twists himself up tightly in lie after lie he assumes Cavalcante believes. He claims it had to have been a crime of honor. It could only have been Franz who killed Silvia in revenge for having betrayed him with his own brother. It had to have been jealousy.

Cavalcante brings in “the witness,” none other than our friend Clever. Manfred, of course gets a full frontal view of Clever. Clever tells the chief what he saw. On leaving the station, he’s motioned over to a car. He doesn’t know the occupant, but we see it’s Manfred, offering him a lot of cash to amend his statement. He accepts. When he goes back in, he helps the sketch artist compose a likeness of the man he saw in the car that was following Silvia. It is an excellent likeness of, wait for it---Franz. After he leaves, Cavalcante wonders how it is Clever couldn’t remember what the person looked like when interviewed at the crash site, except he was tall and thin [ed. I wouldn’t call Manfred thin, but Franz is not tall] and now he comes up with an accurate description. At least it puts some doubts in Cavalcante’s mind.

Cavalcante brings Franz in to give his statement in Silvia’s death. With all the testimony he’s gathered, the chief tells him he’s the prime suspect. Franz looks at him incredulously. [ed. Please, Franz, please have an alibi for that day.]
 

PERLA--
Tue, Oct 20 Part III

Back at the Manse: When they get back home, Ernest tells Gertie that Manfred is off his rocker and she needs to control him. Gertie’s theory is it’s all Amelia’s fault for sowing discord between the brothers, by leading them both on. Ernest doesn’t care. He warns her Manfred is not to touch a hair on Franz’ head.

Gertie gets a call from the director of the orphanage. She wants to see Gertie. She finds out Laura was there asking questions about Otavio and Yolanda was with her. Ernest sends for Walter and tells him to control his wife. This story has to stay buried. Walter admits he can no longer control his wife. Then he asks about Ernest. He’s so changed. Is he being blackmailed by Manfred? Of course he is unable to answer truthfully because Manfred walks in, so the blackmail continues.

When Walter gets home, he’s pithed at Laura. Laura says she went to the orphanage because she has a right to know the origins of her child. Walter tells her she must stop looking into this. Or what? He tells her she has far more to lose than he does.

David Sighting: Aurora and David have gone to see the priest to arrange for their wedding. They choose a date. They are not aware Cleo and Joel have hidden themselves in a confessional booth. At least now they know the wedding date. Joel corrects Cleo, now they know the date of when the wedding will not take place. He giggles.

Miscellany: Amelia wants to know what happened at the police station when he went to press charges. Franz tells her he didn’t have a chance to talk to Cavalcante because he was taking statements from others about Silvia’s death. He tells her Manfred is acting crazier every day. She is never to be alone. She is to have either Mundo or himself with her at all times.

Perla has another dream involving a crushed rose. This time it is her father who hands her a white rose while she’s lying in bed. She’s pleased with the gift. Then a hand reaches down and crushes the rose. It is Manfred, chuckling maliciously, as she shouts at him she won’t let him hurt her father. Her parents comfort her.
 

BAJO


Novelera,

Thanks for all the work you put into the Monday recaps. I missed some important details. EC is a very scary character. No matter what he says, he cannot be
believed.

Rod had taken Vanessa's body down, but last night she was hanging again for all to see. He obviously put her back up there? ? ?

In Tuesday night's episode, Carlos told Santiago that Mati's name is Adela, and from then on her name was used freely. This is worrisome to me. Santiago may cross path's with EC and inadvertently blab.


Still a riveting show with Rodrigo as the focal point. Excellent acting.
You can feel his anguish as he tries to act totally cool and in control with EC.

All the best to all.







 

BAJO

FORGOT TO USE MY ALIAS IN THE ABOVE.
 

Bajo

Floridia, what I believe happened is that Rod took Vanessa's body from the cellar where he had kept her to Adela's and Laura's old house. He told EC that the way he found her was that she returned to her old home. So he then hung her there and presented it to EC as he'd been trying to catch her alive, but she hanged herself before he could grab her up.

Wait until Willy finds out about Sharon's "initiation"!
 

Bajo. I loved it when Carlos called Débora a "planta carnívora!" Venus flytrap anyone? Also I liked how his threat for him and Adela to quit gave him a sort of upper hand with Débora. I like the way María is being strong with Ridulfo. She's kicking him out of the house and she, her 2 kids, Chabela and Alex will all live there. Way to go, strong kind decent woman! One criticism: You would think that with all the clues Felicia is dropping that Cristóbal would check out the bar for gang activity. I certainly wouldn't buy her denial that anything is going on there--especially after Jimena's murder. Btw, Adela and Carlos are getting ever cuter together. And that's a nasty, snobby school Susy attends.
 

Bajo. Has anyone else notice how much María Elisa Camargo, i.e., Mati/Adela looks like Kate Middleton, wife of Prince William of Great Britain?
 

CELIA – Highlights from Ep. 6, Tuesday

In Pinar del Río...

Myrta Silva chooses tonight to announce that she will be leaving La Sonora because of a long-desired pregnancy. She will be going back to Puerto Rico for good. With remarkable grace, she wishes the best to the band and hopes that her successor surpasses her because they deserve it.

Rogelio decides it's not such a good idea to talk to Celia tonight. Besides, the evening is really all about Myrta.

Pedro maintains his fictional identity as Celia's friend 'Martín Leon,' only now Rogelio has reluctantly become a party to the lie.

'Martín/Pedro' tells Celia that this is her big chance: she can be the next vocalist with La Sonora. But she needs something to show to Rogelio so that he will take her seriously – she needs a win in the singing contest.

Celia had already given up on the contest and had been planning to go to Holguín with her family on Wednesday. Pedro tells her Holguín can wait, but she can't pass up this opportunity. He even offers to set up a practice studio for her.

Havana

Eleazar has taken his brother Marcos to his house to recover from the savage beating that he himself ordered. The plan is to have Marcos followed as soon as he is well enough to leave the house in the hopes that he will lead the government to the Fidel Castro-like revolutionary, 'Lilo Candela.'

We learn that Marcos isn't Lolita's boyfriend, though he would like to be. He declares his love. She rejects him. He isn't a blood relative, but he is Eleazar's brother, and therefore her 'uncle' in a way, and she feels it wouldn't be fair to Eleazar. Even so, she does seem to reciprocate Marcos's feelings.

While Eleazar is feigning sympathy for Marcos, he lets slip a detail about the attack that suggests inside knowledge. He and Marcos come to blows. Marcos has had enough of his hospitality. As weakened as he is, he dresses and gets ready to leave...

We learn that Lolita is younger than Celia, though we don't know her age exactly.

Alberto is also being following by the government in the hopes that he will help them find 'Candela.'

When Alberto learns that Celia is in Pinar del Río, he decides to follow her there. He considers her the love of his life.

Noris is as resentful as ever. She tries to bad-mouth Celia, but Alberto turns a deaf ear to her.

Simón is still in the hospital.
----------------------------------------
Okay, that's what I remember. Please feel free to chime in with additions or corrections!
 

PERLA--
Wed, Oct 21

There was no broadcast today. The schedule seems to have settled into 1-hr. episodes, thank goodness.
 

Bajo

I think it's Sharon's 18th birthday, and she is celebrating with Jay at the clubhouse, but wait, mister Colmillo as he has been calling himself lately, says you need to be a member to be here, as he is pawing Willylita, saying her cheap jewelry will be replaced with some made of gold. (hmm, both Rod and Willy were beat to a pulp when they joined, wonder what it's like for a girl), and it's convenient that Willy just left for the restaurant.

was Rod banned from Carlos' place after the Luis/Susi thing, is that why he can't stay away, as he always waits till Carlos' truck is gone, so he tells Mati it's over and the Colonia are no longer looking for her, but she is wise to his nonsense when he tries to explain it away with some false paper work about her being deported, and as she rants on him I don't think he minds as long as he can be near her, is it the part where he is an active gang member that he wants Mati to hide from Carlos?

 

What a pleasant and welcome surprise to see your recaps and highlights this week, NovelaMaven. Thank you, thank you, thank you! They are so helpful. I just watched Monday's capítulo so I'm two days behind on the series. I'm very tempted to read your Tuesday highlights right now, but I'm going to try watch both Tuesday and Wednesday's shows before I do.

I feel your pain, Novelera. Those Cuban accents are throwing me for a loop. My cable company doesn't do English subtitles for Spanish shows, only Spanish. Even though my Spanish is fair, it's challenging for me to read and watch the action. I just don't have the time to do a whole lot of rewinding. The Spanish captions are word for word to the script but they fly by so fast that it's difficult to keep up. Total immersion and focus seem to be working better for me.

It's driving me crazy that Pedro doesn't just come clean and tell Celia the truth and that he also has others running interference for him. Since he's completely smitten with her innocence and sincerity, it would seem that perpetuating the "Martin" lie would make things worse, especially since Celia asked him for the truth point blank! Since he's a member of La Sonora, she'll eventually find out. Then there's the matter of his wife and kids ... He sure has confidence in his ability to charm her (and everyone else for that matter), but despite that, I guess we already know how everything will turn out in the end.

@deb I like watching Noris, too. She's not deep at all and totally self-absorbed with no filters to the point of hilarity. I don't like the way she treats Celia, but we know Karma will get her. I also agree about Rogelio's easy manner.

Others I like are Tia Ana, Celia's Mamá, geeky Mario, and Marcos. Does Marcos know that "Sleazy" has been a long term abuser of Lola? If not, I hope a bloody beatdown by Marcos is in that douchbag's future as payback for Lola and for being a traitor to his own brother. I like Alberto, too, poor thing. We know that fate will intervene in his relationship with Celia.

Overall, I'm really enjoying this novela so far. I'm even glad they're weaving the Revolution into a side story instead of just acknowledging that it was going on at the time.

 

CELIA

Deb and NovelaNewbie,

Thanks for your terrific comments! Here are some highlights from tonight's show:

CELIA - Episode 7, Wednesday: ¡Ya no mas!

Lola has been carrying her burden silently. She has never confided in Celia, even when Celia knew that something was very wrong. Tonight Lola finds the courage to say no to Eleazar. She wants to be normal – she doesn't want to go to bed with her stepfather! Did she tell Marcos about "us"? No. But she did tell Marcos she has feelings for him. Eleazar responds by slapping her and then forbidding her to leave the house. He locks every door and window.

Pedro finds the courage to confide in Myrta about Celia. He asks a special favor of her...

Celia, with a little help from Aunt Ana, finds the courage to follow her dreams, despite the pressures of her parents to go to Holguín on Ash Wednesday. She will keep her appointment with "Martín" at the studio where she is to sing for someone whose opinion he values; and she will sing in the contest on Wednesday.

Alberto arrives in Pinar del Río in search of Celia. We see two men following him everywhere he goes. He gets to Ana's house too late – Celia has already left for the studio. Ana begs him to back off: Celia will find him when she's ready to talk.

Noris comes home after a night on the town and gets into an argument with Ollita. She feels her mother has always shunted her aside and favored Celia. Ollita says that's not so. And it's time to tell the truth if it means getting back her daughter. So why did Ollita kick Noris out of the house? It has nothing to do with Celia, her mother says. She did it because she was afraid of losing Simón. Noris seems taken aback...

A woman wearing a picture hat slips into the control booth of the recording studio just before Celia begins to sing. It's Myrta, of course. We are all – she, Pedro, Mario and those of us out here on the Patio – blown away by Celia's a cappella rendition of Bésame Mucho. Later, Myrta introduces herself to Celia and even sings a duet with her. She is convinced – in Celia, she has a worthy successor.
 

CELIA
Novela Maven: Thanks for recaps. Haven't been able to watch past episodes but certainly enjoyed and got caught up reading your recaps. As deb wrote, can't wait for Celia to "light the place on fire" when the time comes.

PERLA
Anita: xoxo Thanks so much for summary. It's too darn hot! :-)
Manfred and his mom were so pathetic when they gushed over their rings, but they were so very happy. Their dreams coming true.

I agree about Artur and David.

When will Silvia reappear and return to Viktor and their son, I wonder?

I don't know Sonan and Mathilda's song. Talk about songs, what is the name of Mundo and Yo's song? There's something about it that throws me off... Like it shouldn't be a lovers theme song.

Hmm... Now that you mention it about Gertie and Manfred, they probably do have more of a story. I'd love to know more.

Yes! Perla Rescuer Extrodinaire. She was even polite when doing the rescuing. She said, "Please", when she asked Manfred to release her mother. Said it calmly, yet firmly."

I'm glad Mundo now knows about Benito.

I can't beleive Franz didn't report Amelia's attempted kidnapping. Can't believe he didn't do it immediately after it had happened.
 

BAJO

Novelera, Thanks for explaining the double hanging. I wasn't paying close attention.
 

PERLA--
@Paz--Actually, Franz did try to report the kidnapping AND rescue. I think the three guys thought they could do it on their own while they had Manfred's car in sight. This is still 1947, so no cell phones to call police. But someone must have called it in because the police sirens were heard as Manfred was trying to take off on foot with Amelia.

When Franz went to the police station to file charges of kidnapping against Manfred, he told Amelia later he wasn't able to talk to Chief Cavalcante because the chief was busy with the Silvia depositions. Maybe it's just a telenovela plot device, but surely he should have been able to report the crime to a desk sergeant.

Silvia will reappear when we AND Viktor least expect it. Weeks, months, years? I don't think we'll have a big time-jump now. Perla is central to this whole story and I don't think they will have her age into a teen-ager or young adult now.

Do you know if this is half over or more? The xFinity numbers don't correlate with 1-hr episodes and I hate to check Wiki or Imdb for fear of getting spoilers. I do check when it's over to get the names of all the actors. (That's why I didn't know who played David. I'm dying to know if he has any more telenovelas lined up.)
 

Bajo. Awful episode of gang sexual assault of Sharon! Technically not rape because it was her 18th birthday(!) and because she "consented"--but was horribly traumatized anyway.
 

Bajo

Yes, SpanProf, that was truly awful what happened to Sharon. Now I'm wondering if they'll go with Willy killing EC and maybe, just maybe Rod somehow survives. He's seemed doomed since the beginning. He's been so endearing lately that I have a small hope.

I love the way this novela reveals secrets sooner. Willy now knows Feli is pregnant. He says he knows the baby is his. Are the writers going with mystical DNA calling out to Willy? I hope it is his baby, although the child, any child, certainly would be better off with Carlos as a father.

I find the surprise of the not-really-wedding a bit corny. It doesn't seem to be up to the quality of the rest of the novela.

Should we start a betting pool on who kills El Colmillo?

Maria hung tough on Rodolfo. He's right, though, I don't think she can force him to move out unless he's abusive physically. I felt like slapping Lupita when she said those repeated nasty things to little Alex. I know we have to understand how upset Maria's children are, but they've been told more than once not to treat little Alex that way.
 

Bajo. My money's on Willy killing El Colmillo (up to 5 cents), and maybe Rodrigo will die heroically defending Greicy and his unborn child, if not Adela and Carlos as well--ah, throw in Luis along with that too. R. seems to have committed a few too many terrible crimes to escape the poetic justice of telenovela-land. I hope I'm wrong. I suppose Carlos' and Adela's "wedding" will be a bit like those commitment ceremonies gay people used to have before they were allowed to get married legally. I still think María and Isabel should find a way to kick Rudolfo out and live in that house with all 3 children, assuming the other 2 can start treating Alex decently.
 

Bajo

so Adela goes to see Juana, they talk, Juana says it looks like your mother (Laura) may be right, what's that Adela asks, that Rodrigo may be your perdition.

 

Ciela,

thanks ever so much NovelaMaven for the your highlights,
you are very good at hitting the high spots and I sure do appreciate it.

 

Perla

Anita- wiki says there are 173 original shows but the international release has only 110, but who knows how short Telemundo will make it.

yes, some of the cast lists HAVE spoilers, esp the ones in wiki.

I 'think' David is played by Leandro Lima.

 

PERLA--
@deb--Leandro Lima--mmmmm 'n mmmmm. Yes, I think someone told me after I asked the first time I mentioned him. To my consternation, there is a FAMOUS footballer with the same name. But when I went to Google images, I found his gorgeous face. He used to be a model. Not all models cross over to become good actors, but I think Mr. Lima is on his way (at least in my book).

On with today's recap.
 

PERLA—
Thu, Oct 22 Part I

Franz is being grilled by Chief Cavalcante who strongly suspects him of being implicated in Silvia’s death. Franz’ alibi is full of holes (--he was alone, his car broke down on a deserted highway and no one to corroborate the time before Silvia’s accident and he had plenty of motives). There is a witness who is prepared to identify him. Franz is put in a lineup and Clever quickly points him out as the person he saw stepping out of the car that had been chasing Silvia’s car. Cavalcante lets Franz walk free for now, but he can’t leave the area. Cavalcante thinks Franz is telling the truth, but if so, why is Clever lying.

Manfred pays off Clever for his false identification of Franz. [ed. Yup, money talks, no matter the eon, century, decade, year.)

Yolanda has the documents that pretty well prove Otavio is Toni and Gaia’s son. [ed. This was such a big red herring for so long. Pellezquito has very dark hair, big, dark brown eyes and built like Toni. Tavito is blonde, blue eyed and more delicately built—more like a younger brother of Hilda’s.] Mundo wants to take the information to Toni and Gaia right away.

Meanwhile Laura has figured it out and Walter confirms how he got Otavio. Walter didn’t know who the parents were, only that they were political prisoners, friends of Mundo and Amelia. Ernest claimed he had felt sorry for the bebé and asked Walter to adopt him. He warns Laura that if she opens her mouth about this, she’ll lose Tavito for sure.

Laura ponders this for one hot Rio minute and decides to flee—without any advance planning. She gets Tavito, packs bags and makes Fatima, their maid, promise not to say anything to anyone who asks and not to say anything to Walter until after he gets home. She tells Fatima she doesn’t want to lose her son. Fatima reluctantly says goodbye to both of them.

The only thing she can think of to do is find Artur and ask him for help. He’s willing to help her go into hiding, but doesn’t think this is a good long-term plan. Artur asks for time off from the bookstore. Franz happens to see him get in Walter’s red car with Laura behind the wheel and Tavito in the back.

Toni and Gaia have returned to party headquarters from the last orphanage empty handed. The director *seemed* very accommodating. Although it was a long time ago, 1935, she does check the files. Of course the one file she would need is gone. It’s the one Yolanda has now. They are discouraged. Fabricio and Mundo tell them their search is finished. No more looking, then tell them why. Toni and Gaia are beyond excited. They’re deliriously happy. Toni, Gaia and Yolanda head to Laura’s house to tell her about Tavito’s real parents. They discover she’s gone on vacation, taking Tavito with her. The trio suspect she’s fled the area.

They head for the club to speak to Walter. He knows nothing about Laura and Tavito going on vacation. Toni gets testy. Gaia stops him. They leave.

Franz pays Viktor a visit to see how he’s getting on. Vik says not well; he keeps seeing visions of Silvia. Vik learns Franz is now the prime suspect.
 

PERLA—
Thu, Oct 22 Part II

At police headquarters, an officer brings Cavalcante the box of evidence from Silvia’s case. He starts to go through it and finds Franz’ un-burnt identity card, and later the rest of the bill fold. He concludes it must have dropped out of his pocket when Franz got out of the car at the crime scene. This is enough to put Franz behind bars. Cavalcante and several officers head for Franz’ hotel room to take him in. Franz tries to explain that he lost his bill fold before Silvia died, but with so much going on in his life, he forgot to report it. Cavalcante thinks that’s a likely story.

There is some negotiation between the two of them about arresting him just then. Franz wants a delay until after he and Amelia renew their wedding vows. Cavalcante says it’s highly irregular but Franz’ story about the years of separation from Amelia, waiting to be together again, not wanting to disillusion her at this precise moment, touches Cavalcante and he agrees. Franz turns in his passport and says on his word of honor, he won’t flee and furthermore, he’ll turn himself in the morning after the ceremony.

David Sighting – At the clinic, Doc Rubens is teaching David to stand and take a few steps using the parallel hand rails. David takes a step and practically jumps for joy. Doc is excited for him and knows it will be a wonderful surprise for Aurora. David wants to keep it a secret until his wedding day. He wants to arrive at the church walking. Regrettably, Cleo and Joel are planning to kidnap the bride and take her to Cleo’s little house in the country. [ed. And what on earth do they plan to do with her or for how long. Aarrrggh.]

Manfred gets Ernest out of bed. After they registered Manfred as his son, Ernest holds a press conference to make his new family relationships public. It makes the newspapers.

At the Cabaret, Arlindo and Odilon hear a beautiful voice off stage. It is Hilda singing while she works. They give her an audition. She freezes as stage fright overpowers her. Later she tells Toni how frustrating that was. She and Toni both realize Ernest has had his hand in every perverse and wicked thing that has happened around them and to them. She’s ashamed to be his daughter. Toni reassures her that she is not to blame.
 

PERLA—
Thu, Oct 22 Part III

Later the next morning, Franz remembers seeing her with Artur. Mundo is going to go tell Toni right away. Perla comes in with a package for Amelia. It contains their wedding invitations. She wants to take one to abuelo Ernest. Reluctantly, Amelia and Franz agree—it will be right to invite him even though he probably won’t want to attend.

Franz will go with Perla. He wants to see what’s going on at the manse. Manfred tries to stop them from going up to see Ernest. Perla persuades him to let her go up. Ernest is thrilled to see her, but not so thrilled with the invitation. Perla helps him see that his heart is thawing. He realizes he’s caused a lot of harm to people. He thinks he's too old to change. Perla tells him he's not too old and it’s not too late to change. Ernest admits his biggest error was in not accepting and supporting the marriage of her parents. He begins to cry. Perla says it’s ok to cry. She loves him.

While Perla is upstairs, Manfred shows Franz the newspaper with the coverage of Ernest’s press conference. Franz congratulates him on getting everything he wanted. Manfred answers loftily, not yet, but soon. Franz wants to know what it is he doesn’t have yet. Gertie arrives and interrupts, but it is unlikely Manfred was going to tell him he’s going to have Amelia.

Manfred shows up in Ernest’s room after Perla leaves. Manfred tells him Ernest would be lying if he said he loved Manfred the way Ernest loves Perla. Ernest says he’s crazy. Manfred says, no, not crazy, just wanting the right to paternal love and all other rights. He snatches the invitation and runs to his sanctuary (formerly Franz’ bedroom) and scatters stuff off the dresser. Gertie wants to know what’s going on. Manfred is livid because Franz and Amelia are getting married, AGAIN. He rages on, is it because they love each other so much they have to get married twice? No, it is just to hurt him. Gertie tries to convince him that can’t be true. She can’t un-convince him. Yes, Franz has lost everything, but he’s still happy. Well, he wants to see just how Franz is after he loses Amelia.

It’s nighttime and Laura, Artur and Tavito have stopped at a hotel somewhere in nowhere to spend the night. Laura has now told Artur the whole story and why she had to flee. Artur says Toni and Gaia are good people. She should talk to them and surely they can reach an agreement. Laura says she just can’t. She can’t live without her child. As she says this, Otavio is listening at the slightly open door.

 

CELIA, Episode 8 – Thursday
Part 1

Myrta gives Celia a combination blessing and pep talk, leaving Celia walking on a cloud.

Ollita shocks Noris by telling her a hard truth: Simón is not her father.

Eleazar cajoles, abuses, threatens, sweet-talks and screams through Lola's locked bedroom door. She holds her ground and says he'll have to break the door down!

Noris is enraged by Ollita's revelation. She accuses her mother of turning Simón against her. "I hate you!" she screams, "and I'm never going to forgive you for always putting Celia first. I'll show you – I swear it – that Celia isn't better than me! You're going to be sorry!"

Pedro tells Celia that the owner of the radio station listened to her singing and was very impressed. Celia tells him excitedly about meeting Myrta Silva, singing with her and getting advice from her. She can't believe so many good things have happened in a single day. Impulsively, she gives Pedro a big hug of gratitude.

Noris walks outside and hears Radio Progreso promoting its Ash Wednesday Singing Contest. She walks right up to the man in charge and introduces herself. His face brightens with recognition: "Ah, you're the sister of the mulata with the voice of gold!"

Pedro offers to travel back to Havana with Celia the next day. She grabs his hand excitedly and then sees him wince. She says she's watched her mother do some healing and she (Celia) would be willing to treat Pedro's hand. He smilingly agrees to be her guinea pig (conejillo de india).

Noris throws herself at the radio guy and begs him to give her another chance to audition for the contest. He tells her to get in the car...

Simón is being discharged from the hospital. He's anxious to get home and oversee the packing for the trip to Holguín.

Noris is at the radio station. She makes it clear that she is prepared to do whatever it takes (lo que sea) for a spot in the contest.

Pedro says if Celia can make his hand better, he'll entrust her with his heart. "Will you marry me?" Celia is flustered. Pedro says he was only joking.

Ollita and her nephew have brought cantankerous Simón home. Simón and Ollita start arguing about Noris and who is responsible for her wanton ways. The nephew is dispatched to find her.

Noris tells the radio guy – Rolando is his name – that two things are important: first, she has to sing in the contest; second, Celia cannot win. He says that doesn't depend on him. She wiggles her tush and says she bets he has influence with the right people.

Lola phones Marcos and tells him that Eleazar has locked her in. She's going to escape out the terrace. They arrange to meet.

Pedro and Mario chew the fat. Pedro insists that Celia isn't his type. Mario knows better – he can see that Celia is winning Pedro's heart.
 

CELIA, Part 2

Ana happily lends herself to Celia's project to "cure" Pedro's hand. She has some herbs that may help...

Pedro asks bandleader Rogelio if he can stay in Pinar del Río an extra day and return to Havana with Celia.

Simón insists that Ollita call Celia and tell her to return to Havana.

Rogelio has no time for Pedro and his murky intentions toward Celia (which may end up reflecting badly on him!) – his big problem now is to find someone to fill in for Myrta!

After Rogelio leaves, Mario remarks that if the maestro won't even listen to Celia, the contest doesn't matter. What's Pedro going to do?

The nephew dutifully heads out to find Noris, but is swept up into the frantic Carnival dancing in the street. A man in a white suit watches closely. He looks pretty sneaky. What's he up to?

Over the phone, Ana tells Ollita that Celia has decided to enter the contest.

Noris and Rolando get caught in flagrante by a woman angry enough to be his wife.

Pedro is at his most gallant when he shows up at Ana's house for his "treatment." Ana has to leave to pick up the dress she has picked out for Celia to wear in the contest.

Rolando blames Noris – she showed up with a bottle of rum and who knows what herbs! "You throw her out or I will," says the wife. Noris finally leaves, still buttoning her dress and running her mouth: "You have to keep your end of the bargain!"

Alfredo sees Ana go into a store. As intently as he watches her, his watchers watch him.

Pedro spots photos of both Celia and Noris on Ana's wall. "So it's true that they're sisters!"

The nephew sees Noris in the street. He tells her Simón wants to talk to her and Ollita wants to apologize to her for the things she said earlier. She blows him off and walks away.

Now the sneaky guy in the white suit approaches the nephew. "Can I have a word with you?"

Oh my. Celia is terribly embarrassed when she steps out of the bathroom wrapped in a towel and sees Pedro waiting for her. She scurries to the bedroom to get dressed.

White suit guy (Rene Leyra) introduces himself to the nephew (Gamaliel, "but you can call me Gamita.") Rene says he has noticed that Gamita dances really well. He's a choreographer who runs several dance groups – Gamita definitely has what it takes (madera, literally, wood.) Would he be interested?

Celia prepares to work on Pedro. She asks him to remove his jacket and then his shirt and tie...

Gamita turns down the offer. Male dancers take a lot of flak, and he is afraid of being ridiculed by society and criticized by his family.

Celia begins to massage Pedro's shoulder with a slightly tremulous hand.

Alfredo tries to get a kid to knock on Celia's door and tell her someone important wants to talk to her. "What's in it for me?" Alfredo offers to buy him a slushy. The kid holds out for Alfredo's watch. The deal is off! But wait, Alfredo will sweeten the pot if the kid will do it. So the kid walks up to Ana's window and peers inside. Then he reports back to Alfredo: If that's your girlfriend, you should go in there and beat up the guy she's flirting with. He's sitting there in his undershirt and she's giving him a massage.

Amorcito corazón... the massage seems to be having the desired effect on blood circulation. Celia moves closer. Her lips are inches from Pedro's. And Alfredo is at the window watching it all.
 

BAJO – JUEVES

At the hospital Carlos grills Feli about the mysterious guy at the bar, but gets nowhere.

Willy packs some heat prepared to go after the guys who had sex with Sharon. Sharon talks him out of it.

María lays down the law to Chabela and Rodolfo. Everyone has to work and contribute to the household expenses since it appears the two miscreants can’t afford to move out. The kids seem to be playing with Alex.

Carlos calls Adela to tell her about being in the hospital with Feli. Adela is not exactly thrilled.

Cristóbal tells María about Jimena being murdered. She cries and Rodolfo comforts her and guides her upstairs to rest. Cris asks if Chabela is jealous and she says she doesn’t feel a thing for Rodolfo any more.

Jacob’s magazine article about undocumented persons and the detention center has turned into a book. He tells Adela he’s calling it “Bajo el Mismo Cielo” because of what Carlos wrote in a letter to him.

Rod brings a big bag into his apartment and explains to Gracie that this is what he “earned” while he was in prison. He explains his escape plan to her. He’ll buy her a ticket to Monterrey, México, but she’ll really go to Camden, Maine. He’ll tell EC he’s going after his wife, will take Jay because EC would be too suspicious to let him go alone, give Jay the slip and join Gracie in Maine.

EC concludes the casino deal with the two surviving guys from the earlier meeting (scared stiff to refuse).

Gracie and Rodrigo come to the hospital. Gracie goes in to see Feli while Rod stays outside and tells his father that he and Gracie plan to escape.

Sitting at a table in the restaurant with EC, Willy cannot disguise his anger. He tells him he doesn’t know where Feli is when EC asks. He gets slapped for his attitude.

Carlos tells Rod he’s proud of him, behaving like the father of a family. Rod says he’s afraid the gang will avenge themselves on Carlos, but Carlos insists he’ll take care of his family. Rod apologizes for having disappointed his mother and father when he was a boy. Carlos gives him a hug and plants a kiss on his head.

The Venus Flytrap grills her daughter about how they treated her at school.

EC finds out Feli is in the hospital and goes to see her. Willy isn’t allowed to come.

Carlos plans a honeymoon to the Grand Canyon for he and Adela. She’s over the moon happy.

Feli wakes up in the hospital to find EC looming over her. Quick thinking as always, she tells him she’s there for nerves because of his having killed Jimena. She tells him to keep the bar, her house, her car, everything. Just leave her her freedom.

Willy finds out which guys had sex with his sister from Gacho. He steals some of the drugs they’re packaging and appears to put some of it in someone’s bag.

EC is on his way out, but reads Felicia’s chart, turns back and says ¿paciente embarazada?
 

PERLA
Anita: Thanks for the clarification about the reported kidnapping. I was going to look at Wiki to see if I could find some answers to your questions. I don't mind spoilers. I do NOT look for them but I don't mind them. Thankfully, Deb has answered the question. Thanks, Deb!

Thanks for summary:
"One hot Rio minute"? LOL! Love that!

I don't think Cleo and Joel have really thought out their plan. I think Aurora will cause havoc for them.

Perla is such a sweet girl. I don't know how she manages to see anything positive in her grandfather.

"Loses Amelia"? What is Manfred planning now?

The little boy listening at the door? Uh oh!

 

CELIA
Thank you, Novela Maven, for the summary.

Seems like so much happened in that episode. I wonder how much of this novela is true or fiction about Celia (and Pedro)?

Regarding the show that Alfredo was watching: Oh my! :-)
 

Perla: Thanks for the recap.
Celia: I finally Googled her life story so this serie's is mostly fiction. She was one of 4 siblings, for example. I was curious to see if any of it is true well not so much.
Bajo: What will EC do with the pregnancy info? Lord Jesus fix it, por fa. Great recap, thanks.
 

Bajo. Great recap as usual, Novelera! I thought Susy's answer to her mother was incredibly wise--any "friend" who would shun her at school because of that meeting about her so-called arrest (and I think she and Luis were never actually arrested), was never a friend anyway.I love the way Willy is apparently going to knock off the sexual predators who had sex with Sharon. Each will evidently die in a different way that can't be traced back to Willy. I expect Yei will be next to last to go and El Colmillo the last. It kind of reminds me a little of a British movie from the 1950s (Alec Guinness or someone equally important) about a man who is 10th in line or so for a title and estate who kills off all the closer heirs in different picturesque ways. Of course in that movie it was played for laughs.
 

CELIA
Romy: Thanks for info. If most of the story is fictional, then I wish they called it something else and not promoted is as based on her story. Whatever. *shakes head* When I have a chance, I'll google, too, and read about her real story.
 

Celia -- Yeah, watch it for entertainment, but understand it's almost entirely fiction regarding details of her life. Even important details like her first meeting with Pedro are fudged. Celia Cruz wrote an autobiography (available in English) that's an easy read and should be easily found online for a couple bucks.
 

CELIA
RG: Thanks! Yes, if I continue to watch it, it will be for entertainment purposes. I knew that her autobiography existed but I didn't know there is an English version. Thanks for that info! Good to know.
 

PERLA--
Was I ever creeped out by Manfred today. I've had to watch it on-line, as nothing recorded on my DVR. Did anyone else have this problem from 12-1? I found the episode--I believe it is #68. This must mean that (according to deb there are 110 total) there are 42 episodes to go. Plenty of time for Manfred to go completely insane and end up in a rubber room. Indulge me while I take my time recapping this episode.
 

PERLA
Anita: Umm... I thought Manfred is already COMPLETELY insane. How much more insane can he go? He needs the rubber room now! Thankfully, I had no problem recording today's episode. Take your time with recap. I would like to know what Hilda said to Ernest, if you're able to summarize. She spoke way too fast for me. Thanks in advance.
 

CELIA, Episode 9 – Friday
Part 1 of 3

Here is the disclaimer shown nightly before each episode:

"Este programa es una serie de ficción basada en la vida de Celia Cruz y no es un recuento histórico, noticioso o documental. Aunque inspirado por eventos reales, algunos personajes, escenas y diálogos que aparecen en la serie son ficticios."

(This program is a fictional series based on the life of Celia Cruz, and it is not a historical, journalistic or documentary account. Although it is inspired by real events, some characters, scenes and dialogues that appear in the series are fictional.)

In Ana's house in Pinar del Río, Celia pulls away before her lips touch Pedro's, flustered by what has just happened. Pedro suavely promises that Celia's "almost kiss" will remain their little secret.

Outside, as the watching Alfredo is pulled away by his watchers, he drops his newspaper in the street. We catch a glimpse of a photo of La Sonora on the front page. (The greedy little boy won't get Alfredo's wristwatch after all.)

In Havana, Eleazar gets a call. "So you have him?" we hear him say. He tells the caller to beat the captive until he confesses. And if he doesn't confess, kill him.

While Eleazar is on the phone, we see Lola climbing down from her balcony and escaping.

Celia resumes the massage. Silently, Pedro prays that he won't fall in love; and Celia prays that she won't get hurt. (Neither pray is likely to be answered.)

Lola goes straight to the bar where Marcos is lying low. She wants him to run away with her. He refuses, saying he isn't going to play that game anymore.

Ana returns home with Celia's dress for the contest and Pedro bids them goodnight.

On his way down the street, Pedro notices the dropped newspaper, picks it up and sees the photo on the front page.

Lola tells Marcos she loves him and needs his help. He protests that he is sick of getting caught in the middle of her arguments with Eleazar. "Sometimes you seem more like husband and wife than father and daughter." He wants to know what is really going on.

Pedro continues down the street, apparently without a care in the world.

Ana shares in Celia's delight over her feelings for "Martín" and her excitement about meeting Myrta and Rogelio.

While Marcos keeps trying to get Lola to tell him the truth about Life with Father, Eleazar flies into a rage upon discovering her absence.

Marcos knows that Eleazar used to beat his wife and that she was terrified of him. Lola seems to be in denial about that part of her life and refuses to talk about it – she just wants Marcos to help her get away before Eleazar finds her and drags her back home.

Eleazar picks up the phone and orders a search for Lola.

Marcos holds out for the truth. Lola thinks it should be enough for him to know that she loves him. Then she bolts out of the bar and disappears down the street before he can stop her.
 

CELIA, Part 2 of 3

Ana tells Celia that Alfredo came looking for her earlier. The women marvel over the nature of love: Celia has only known "Martín" for three days and he has already won her heart; poor Alfredo has been in love with her for years and she has never been able to love him back.

While we hear Ana's voice telling Celia to focus on her romance with "Martín" and not worry about Alfredo, we see Alfredo hanging by his wrists from a doorframe and being tortured for information about Lilo Candela. And of course, Alfredo knows nothing.

Eleazar arrives at the bar looking for Lola. He attacks Marcos, who challenges him to explain his obsession with his stepdaughter.

Ana coaches Celia in how to move her hips when she sings:
Buche y pluma, na' más, eres tú
Buche y pluma, na' más

Pedro returns to the hotel where the band is staying and shows Mario the paper with the photo of La Sonora. He suspects someone is after him and asks Mario to find out if anyone was asking for him in Havana.

Eleazar beats Marcos savagely and then threatens to kill him if he tells Lola he was there.

Lola shows up at the Cruz house looking for Celia. When Ollita explains that she's in Pinar del Río, Lola wants to call her, so Ollita takes her to the phone in the neighborhood bar (and out of earshot of Simón the dozing bear). Sadly, Ana and Celia are too busy singing and dancing to answer. Ollita does tell Lola that Celia is going to sing in the contest, though it has to be kept secret from Simón.

Pedro calls Estelita, the captain's daughter, and asks her to come see him in Pinar del Río. Mario doesn't get it – he was just all love-sick over Celia. But it makes sense to Pedro. Estelita is the cure he needs. He is, after all, Pedro Knight, el semental de la Habana (the stud of Havana).

Lola begs Ollita to allow her to spend the night in her home.

Lilo Candela, safe in the rebel camp, talks about the brave muchacho who gave him blood and saved his life and then refused any reward. They should find him – they need guys like him.

Meanwhile, that same brave muchacho, poor Alfredo, continues to be tortured for information that he doesn't possess. Alfredo begs for water, takes a swallow and then spits it into the face of one of his captors. The man pulls out a gun and aims it at his face. "Kill me!" Alfredo shouts. The man pulls the trigger.

We spot Noris dances with abandon, surrounded by a group of men, her apparent joy clouded by the memory of what Ollita said to her earlier (that she wasn't important to Simón). Gamita sees her, tries to rescue her from the men, and ends up punching out one of them. The others get ready to attack when the choreographer Rene Leyra (remember him from the previous episode?) suddenly appears. "Don't lay a hand on him or his cousin!" he orders.

Ana and Celia girlishly relive every second of the "almost kiss". Celia is worried that "Martín" may not feel the same way she does. Ana is sure that he is thinking of her at this very moment...

And he is. As he and Estelita embrace and kiss, he murmurs in her ear: "I don't want to hurt you, Celia." Oops.

Rene tells the other guys to apologize to Gamita and then offers him and his cousin a ride home.
 

CELIA, Part 3 of 3

Estelita is so annoyed that she threatens to tell her daddy. Pedro expertly smooches away her protests. "It's just the two of us – there's no Celia here." But when he continues to whisper words of endearment, Estela breaks away, exasperated. This isn't the Pedro she knows. She wants passion, not corny romanticism. It's clear to her that it's this "Celia" that he really wants to be with. And she never wants to see him again.

Rene drops off Gamita and Noris at the Cruz home. Noris stumbles drunkenly over the threshold and Gamita has to carry her to her bed. Ollita notices that Noris's purse is missing. Simón doesn't care about that. "This is what happens when there are no limits," he says. Does Ollita want that to happen to Celia? That's why they have to get Celia out of Havana. He's going to make sure she goes to Holguín with them.

In the sound booth at Radio Progreso, Rolando notices a pink purse lying on the floor. He picks it up and opens it.

Lola comes out of hiding when Simón has left the room. Ollita explains to Gamita why she is there.

Alfredo sits on the floor, apparently unconscious. His tormentors rouse him with a bucket of water. "That bullet didn't touch you, but the next time, I'll shoot you in the head." Alfredo sobs.

The captain reports to Eleazar that his men continue the search for Lola. He also has one man following Marcos and two men interrogating the guy who helped the barbudos. Eleazar wants the search for Lola expanded. The captain says there are limits to what he can do. Does he want to have the interrogators follow his daughter instead? Although, he adds almost parenthetically, they say that the barbudo sympathizer either doesn't know anything or isn't talking. It might be easier to let him go and then follow him.

"Do whatever you want," Eleazar says. "Just make sure my daughter is back in the morning!"

Pedro is alone, faithful to Celia in spite of himself and wondering what happened to the Havana Stallion.

The torturers dump Alfredo in the street.

Mario calls Pedro from Havana and tells him all the fun he's missing. "You should have come with us." Pedro agrees. Estela's visit was a disaster because of Celia – he can't get her out of his head. He's going to keep his word to Celia and travel back to Havana with her in the morning, but he's going to make it clear that there can be nothing between them.
 

Bajo. I missed the episode last night and was trying to watch it online, but the online episode seems to have skipped ahead and eliminated an episode. Did telemundo do the same thing on Friday or is the online version what will be Monday's episode?
 

Bajo
I'm confused also SpanProf
How did Adela find out that Rod killed a Woman to save her?
 

BAJO

SpanProf and Variopinta, I just took a look at the online episode and it does seem to start where Friday's left off. I'll see if I still have my recording from Friday. If I do, I put up some highlights for you guys.
 

Bajo. Thanks, NovelaMaven!
 

BAJO EL MISMO CIELO, Friday

Part 1

Cornered by El Colmillo, Felicia tells him this high-risk pregnancy is her last chance to be a mother. He insists on knowing the identity of the baby's father. Feli, remembering that EC has lost a daughter, tells him her own sad story in the hopes that he will take pity on her. She says she doesn't even know who her baby's father is – it's hers and that's all that matters. "That makes things easier," EC says ominously.

Before he can explain what he means, Jay comes in and says there are cops in the hall – there may have been a bad accident – and nobody is being allowed out. Felicia points out the stairway exit and they are able to slip away unnoticed.

Carlos tells Adela about Rodrigo's plans to flee with Gracie and his own melancholy ambivalence about their decision. Adela, recalling Juana's words, says their leaving is for the best. Carlos promises to protect both her and Luis from whatever fallout may come. They kiss sweetly. The music swells.

Nick goes to see Sharon. He's worried about her because she hasn't been going to school. She tells him she's part of the gang now and for his own good, he needs to stay away from her. She literally pushes him out the door.

EC is back at the gang hide-out. Willy glances at the backpack where he has planted the drugs...

...We didn't see how it happened, but now one of Sharon's rapist's is dead and EC is waving his gun at the others. "Nobody robs La Colonia!" The only one who suspects the truth is blind Jay, and he confides it to Gacho. If Willy is after the guys who "baptized" Sharon, he'll take him down first. "Uh huh," says Gacho.

A montage of scenes:

Carlos, María, Juana and Santiago are getting ready for the surprise Commitment Ceremony.

Gracie and Rodrigo are getting ready to travel.

EC pushes stacks of money across the desk to his unwilling collaborator.

Willy watches jealously as Carlos spoon-feeds Feli though there is absolutely nothing wrong with her hands.

Nick continues to be the go-between for Luis and Suzy.

Two Weeks Later: It's the day of the party. Everything is all set, Carlos tells Luis, as long as Juana comes through.

Juana picks up Adela and convinces her to go shopping with her. It's Santi's birthday and she needs a dress.

Rodrigo gives Gracie a medal of the Virgin. Carlos stops by and invites them to join them for the ceremony. Rod says they can't because Gracie is leaving today. They want to take advantage of the fact that EC is out of town for a few days. Carlos gets verklempt at the thought of never again seeing Gracie and the grandchild she is carrying.

Rudolfo, Chabela and Alex are still squatting in María's house. At the moment, Rudolfo is packing for a short trip to Mexico. María keeps giving ultimatums which they blithely ignore.

Sharon and Willy each agonize over the other's tragic choice to become part of La Colonia and their bad luck in love. Apparently Felicia has disappeared.

Aha! There she is, safe and sound in Cristóbal's place. She won't tell her brother who she's hiding from or what she's afraid of.
 

BAJO - Part 2

Ramona asks Mr. Jacob for time off to go to the party. Then she slips him the address, just in case...

Carlos, Santi, María and friends happily decorate the patio where the party will be held.

Juana convinces Adela that Carlos gave her money so she could buy a dress. Adela doesn't think it's strange when Juana chooses a long, white dress for her.

Oh no! El Colmillo is back from his trip! He's mad that Willy isn't around. Since he's not there, his sister will have to take over his responsibilities – Sharon and the girls will have to deliver a shipment of guns to The Anthrax gang.

Gracie calls Felicia and almost gives her escape plans away. Feli can tell something is up.

Gacho tells Willy what Sharon is doing. "Nobody can get her out of La Colonia now," he says. But Willy disagrees. He knows someone who can. And he runs out...

Juana is helping Adela with her make-up. Adela doesn't ask why Juana is in a modest knee-length dress and she is wearing the long, white low-cut, backless number and getting the full glam treatment.

Deborah is delighted to receive Suzy's acceptance letter from École Française. She is to start the following week. Jacob wants to tell Suzy now, but Deborah doesn't want to give her a chance to run away with that deliquent.

Suzy has come home from school, and she walks by their bedroom at precisely that moment. She hears everything. She grabs a suitcase and starts packing. "They're crazy if they think they're going to separate me from Luis – they don't own me!"

Everyone agrees that Carlos looks terrific in his blue suit. María hurries off to pick up her kids. Where's the bride?

Suzy finds her car keys. Then she calls Luis, who is in Nick's car and on the way to the party. She says the plans have changed: they have to run away now!

Rodrigo puts Gracie in a taxi to the bus station.

Willy shows up on Carlos's doorstep. When Mati opens the door, he says he's looking for Luis. His sister has joined the gang and Luis is the only one who can talk sense into her. Sharon is in danger and "I don't want her to end up dead like Adela Morales."

"Did you know Adela Morales?" asks Mati, stunned. "Of course not," answers Willy. He even thought she was Adela, but then El Faier took them to Lancaster and showed them Adela's body.

Mati remembers cryptic conversations and puts it all together. Willy keeps insisting that she and El Faier can save Sharon. But then Juana comes in and angrily pushes him out the door, all the while threatening to call the police.

When Juana turns back to Mati, she is gone.

Felicia and Cristobal show up at the church looking for padre Domingo. They are told he is out giving his blessing to Carlos – it's as if it were a wedding. Feli becomes frantic. She can't allow Mati to steal Carlos from her!

Santi calls Juana to find out what's taking her and Mati so long. Juana tells him that Mati has disappeared.

Mati marches into Rodrigo's apartment in a rage. "Who was she? The woman you killed and passed off as me so La Colonia would leave me alone? Who was she? Why did you do it? Why?"

"Why? Because I love you. Because you're inside my head and I have no control over it – that's why!"
 

Bajo. Thanks for the wonderful recap of the first part, NovelaMaven! I can see that I missed a lot, but assuming that Telemundo doesn't correct its website, this + part 2 will me make sense of Monday's episode (which, evidently, I've already seen).
 

Bajo. Now the 2nd part too. Thank you so much, NovelaMaven!
 

Bajo. Hmmm. Rodrigo is very good at concocting lies about everything else, even on the spur of the moment. Why couldn't he come up with a convincing one about how the counterfeit Adela Morales died?
 

BAJO

You're welcome, SpanProf. You, Novelera, deb, floridia, vario and others have been so good at keeping this one alive that I just couldn't let a website screw-up break the chain for you. :)

"Rodrigo is very good at concocting lies about everything else, even on the spur of the moment. Why couldn't he come up with a convincing one about how the counterfeit Adela Morales died?"

Excellent point. Maybe the idea is that he has met his match in Adela and she is the one person to whom he can no longer lie.
 

Bajo. Very likely, NovelaMaven, about Rodrigo, even though it screws things up for nearly everyone else, because it looks as if the end result is going to be another long physical separation between Adela and Carlos!
 

NovelaMaven- you are a sweetheart !!!

 

Aw shucks, deb, that's what I keep telling Mr. Maven. Now maybe he'll believe me. :-)
 

PERLA—
Fri, Oct 23 Part I

There are several major scenarios. They will be grouped together to make sense, even though the timeline may be a bit skewed.

The Renewal of the Wedding Vows—Manfred is all dressed up. He’s going to a wedding. Not his own, but it won’t be long before he is a bridegroom himself. Gertie guesses it’s Franz and Amelia’s wedding and begs him to think what he’s about to do, now that he has everything he ever wanted and she about to marry Ernest. He smiles his Lurch-like smile and leaves.

The ladies in the bridal party are putting the finishing touches on Amelia. Perla thinks she is the most beautiful bride in the world. Maybe not the most beautiful, but certainly the happiest, she tells her child. The men are also getting ready. Toni seems to have trimmed his beard and has put on a dress shirt and tie. [ed. Not BAD!] But Franz looks absolutely dreamy. It is then his friends learn from Cavalcante himself, who shows up in Franz’ hotel room, that Franz is to turn himself in for protective detention on suspicion of being responsible for Silvia’s death. They don’t want him to do this, but he gave his word. He just doesn’t want Amelia to know until tomorrow, after the ceremony and one night of re-wedded bliss.

An altar has been set up outdoors with Buddhist religious objects. Tenpa will officiate. Franz waits there for his bride. Amelia walks up the aisle on her brother Mundo’s arm. The ceremony begins with a few words from Tenpa. Perla has their rings. In a simple exchange of vows, each accepts to renew their vows of matrimony, to love each other and live together as husband and wife. Franz leans in to kiss Amelia, but Perla interrupts and says they are not finished yet. She places a symbolic white scarf, signifying purity, around both of them and tells them to be happy. [ed. See the Wikipedia article titled: Khata, on how the scarf is used.] Now they can kiss. What begins as a chaste public kiss, becomes an impassioned one. Unseen by anyone, Manfred appears at the rear and observes the kiss.

As Franz and Amelia turn to greet their well-wishers, they both see Manfred and all the joy of the moment drains away. They try to get rid of him. A scuffle breaks out. Mundo makes the first move to punch him, but folks hold him back. Even Perla offers to talk to him. Manfred finally speaks. He tells Amelia she’s making a big mistake. She can’t marry Franz; Manfred is the love of her life. He says he’s here to congratulate the couple—until death separates them. He says this so menacingly they are all stunned. He turns and leaves. Perla and Pellezquito start the dance music to help the invitees forget the previous scene. Franz and Amelia start to dance. They aren’t going to let the incident ruin their day.
 

PERLA—
Fri, Oct 23 Part II

Manfred is so upset he nearly has an accident in his car. Manfred gets ahold of himself and pays a visit to the police station. He asks Cavalcante how things are going with the Silvia investigation. Cal wants to know why the interest. Manfred says he cared for Silvia and her killer should go to jail. He gets very upset when he hears Franz is the prime suspect but is still running around loose. He’s so agitated, Cal tells him if he keeps up that behavior, he might have to charge him with disrespecting an officer (=descato, descatar). Manfred offers an apology and continues to smear Franz.

Driving away in his car, Manfred sees the back of a woman with platinum blonde hair get off the streetcar. He’s out of the car and chasing her down. He calls out to her, calling her Amelia. It is Cristina, one of the cabaret chorus girls. She knows him, he pretends to remember her. He persuades her, with his courtly manners, to have a drink with him later. He takes her to the manse and there asks her to pretend her name is Amelia. If she’s willing, he’ll offer her anything; the sky’s the limit. Manfred is deep into his fantasy as he kisses Cristina, calling her Amelia. She’s getting a little creeped out. She gets into the swing of things, though, drawing on her “actress” background, as Manfred professes his love, plans to marry and live happily ever after.

Reception and Post Reception—While the guys are off debating with Franz about not turning himself in, Hilda is standing off by herself. Gaia comes up to her and says some horrible things about her father, trying to make the sins of the father visited on the daughter so as to heap on more guilt. She says it must be difficult for Toni to be married to the daughter of a monster. [ed. Right now I’m not liking Gaia too much.] Hilda assures her (and herself) that Toni loves her. Gaia wonders just how long that love will last. She’s sure one day Toni will wake up, look at her and that will be the end of the marriage. Gaia then turns and leaves. Hilda is so upset she leaves the party without telling Toni.

After discussing not being able to change Franz’ mind, Fab and Mundo go back to find their partners to dance. Toni can’t find Hilda. Gaia approaches and offers herself for a dance. He is nice to her, but goes to look for Hilda.
 

PERLA--
Fri, Oct 23 Part III

Hilda has gone to the Hauser mansion. With no Manfred to block her, she pushes past Gertie and Laertes and heads for Ernest’s room. Ernest hears her voice and revives from his forced inertia. Hilda looks around his room and sees her father’s condition. She wants to know what is going on. He says he’s sick, that’s all. [ed. The following transcription is for the benefit of Paz, Perla’s most faithful follower. It’s not actually word for word, but I think I got the essence correct.]
E. You all abandoned me, left me alone.
H. Not true, you kicked us all out.
E. Because you (pl.) were disloyal to me.
H. No, you pushed us away (=apartar) because you wanted to control our lives, our dreams. Now you are reaping what you sowed. First you disinherited me, then you did the same to Franz and Viktor. The only one remaining is Manfred, a brother you hid from us all our lives, the bastard son, the one most like you.
E. I did it all for love for you all.
H. Love? Love is what made you send Mundo, Toni, Gaia and Amelia to prison?
E. You know nothing about it. (At this point Ernest is quite agitated.)
H. Yes, I know it all, including how you put Toni and Gaia’s son in an orphanage, then gave him to Walter and Laura to raise.
E. Walter was going to give him a better life.
H. He was wrenched from his mother’s arms and she was sent to a concentration camp. Walter and Decio despised (=despreciar) that child all his life. If it hadn’t been for Laura, who gave him the little bit of love he got, he would be growing up as unhappy as we did in this house.
E. I never meant for you to be unhappy. If you did, I was mistaken, I did it for love. Will you forgive me?
H. (She shakes her head.) Not my pardon, nor anyone’s can erase all the harm you’ve done in your life. Maybe this suffering you are experiencing now is all you have to pay for the errors you committed.

Ernest dissolves into tears and Hilda just turns and leaves. Toni is still looking for Hilda. Gaia says she doesn’t know where Hilda went and no, she didn’t say anything to her. When Hilda returns, she asks Toni to take her home. They need to talk. She tells him what Gaia said; it was only the truth. The horrid things her father did to him and Gaia is going to end their love. Toni tries to tell her *she* didn’t do those things. She offers to leave him; she doesn’t deserve him. Toni says that for him, she’s not Ernest Hauser’s daughter, she’s the woman he loves. They kiss and it’s all ok. [ed. I think, for now, anyway.]

Noche de Amor and The Morning After—Franz carries Amelia into his hotel room for their first night as remarried husband and wife. He can hardly stop kissing her long enough to tell her he wants to make another baby right then. Amelia does not refuse.

Franz and Amelia wake the next morning and instead of having breakfast at home or anywhere else, he has to tell her he’s turning himself in, as per his promise to Cavalcante. She can’t believe what he’s telling her. He didn’t tell her before because he didn’t want to spoil their wedding or this night.

At the apartment, Perla wakes from another nightmare-vision. She’s re-living Silvia’s accident, which she did not see. Mundo and Yoyo didn’t know what else to do but call the monks.

Franz and Amelia show up at the police station with Lic. Silveira in tow. The two newlyweds say their tearful goodbyes. Franz tries to assure Amelia that Silveira is going to arrange his release very soon and she must stay strong for Perla. Amelia goes home. She’s greeted by Perla, who has been beside herself with worry about her father. Amelia has to explain what happened to Franz. Perla tells her about her nightmare, the car chase, the explosion, but it was not her father who was standing watching, it was her Tio Manfred.
 

PERLA--
Fri, Oct 23 Part IV

David Sighting—Dalia is making his bed at the pension. He and Doc Rubens are heading for the clinic. He tells Dalia the clinic has equipment he doesn’t have here. He’s able to stand and take a few steps, with the help of the handrails. Dalia is thrilled for him. She’s sure Aurora will be, too. David says he wants to keep it as a surprise, so he doesn’t want Aurora to know. Of course, Aurora chooses that very moment to walk in and insists on knowing what it is she’s not supposed to know about. They fumble and mumble, but Aurora looks at David and tells him she knows he’s unable to lie. They confess so she wants to come and watch David in his therapy session and supervise. At the clinic, he is able to take a few more steps. Aurora is so thrilled she ducks under the handrail and flies into him to wrap her arms around him. David has tears in his eyes. They are both standing while they kiss that way for the first time. She’s so enthusiastic she knocks him back into his chair and lands in his lap (all the while, the doc is watching, pleased with his patient’s progress). David tells her it was to be a surprise. She’s beaming with pride—for him.

Viktor—He has another vision of Silvia, hunched over baby Hector’s bassinet, smiling up at Vik. He’s looking haggard, worn and sad. His only joy is baby Hector. They’re going to make it, just the two of them. Vik is also looking more mature with a bit of facial hair. He feels Silvia’s presence. In the country shack, Silvia stirs, but still does not speak.

Tavito and Laura—Otavio faces his mother in their hotel room somewhere on the road to S. Paulo. He heard her and Artur talking. He wants to go back home. He wants to meet his bio-parents. Laura tells him she was afraid of losing him, she loves him so much, she can’t live without him. Tavito answer that he loves her, too. No one will separate them; he’s *her* son. [ed. BTW, he no longer looks as blonde as he once was and in a close-up it’s clear, he has brown eyes.] Artur finds out the change in plans, approves, and they head back to Rio. Once in the house, Walter and Decio cause an uproar because she is accompanied by Artur. She stands up for Artur, calling him her friend. Walter sends the two boys away so he and Laura can talk. She declares her independence from Walter. She only came back because Tavito asked to meet his bio-parents.

Laura and Tavito go to meet Toni and Gaia. Hilda and Fab are there with them. There is a tender mother-father-child reunion. Laura looks pained but stoic. Hilda is emotional, but stoic. Tavito wants to know his birth name. Gaia tells him it is Giuseppe, after Garibaldi [ed. Garibaldi, the military hero, was instrumental in Italian unification. He has been called the "Hero of Two Worlds" because of his military enterprises in Brazil, Uruguay and Europe. See Wikipedia for more. Montevideo is one of many countries with streets and avenues named after him.] Tavito says he was given the name Otavio. Gaia tells him it’s a nice name and he can continue to use it if he wants to. There is a three-way-hug. [ed. I feel awful for Hilda having to watch this, as satisfying as it is for Toni and Gaia to have found their son.]
 

PERLA--
Fri, Oct 23 Part V

‘Gertie’s in the Kitchen with Wen-ce’—He wants to know what Manfred has over Ernest to have changed their circumstances so dramatically. How is Manfred now the boss? Before Gertrudis can answer, Manfred shows up. He speaks sharply and derogatorily to Wenceslau. Wence resents the tone he’s using. Manfred resents the familiarity he seems to have with his mother. Wence says he knows more about him and Gertie than anyone. He wants his job back, a better job. Manfred calls him a useless drunk Ernest only kept around because he liked Yolanda. Wence turns to Gertie and says, see how he’s treated? If it weren’t for Wence, Manfred would never have reached his lofty position nor would Gertie be marrying old Hauser. She tells him to leave. Wence says something smells bad in this house. Gertie follows him outside to the courtyard calling him irresponsible. Does he want to ruin everything? [ed. Spoiler Alert (ha ha)…Out of Wenceslau’s and Gertie’s mouths to our ears.] Wence says he only wants what belongs to him. Manfred had better give it up or he’ll bring this fiesta to an end. Gertie gets rid of him, but not before it is clear Manfred has heard everything, standing in the background.
 

BAJO

1. Thanks, Novelera for Thursday's recap.

There's usually some detail I missed that you flesh out for me.


2. NovelaMaven, Great to see you back in action if only temporarily for this TN.

I've seen your posts for Lo Imperdonable and Celia and know that you are busy.

I thought you might have taken a brief vacation to see the newlyweds because I did

not see your postings for awhile. I always enjoy your recaps and got a kick out of

the humor that both you and novelera used.


I am from Boston and intrigued by the introduction of Camden, Maine to this plot.

Rod told Greicy she can have plenty of lobster while she is there. I would be

excited about that, but she obviously doesn't give a hoot. I hope Rod has selected a

scenic and cozy place for her to wait for him. She has always thought

there was chemistry between Adela and Rod and even though she may have gotten it

backwards, she was indeed right. She demonstrates unconditional love for Rod. He

cares about her but has never told her that he loves her. Felicia has been a good

friend, and Weird Willy does have a very sweet side to him.


Wow! Friday's ending was highly dramatic and riveting.

Many thanks again, novelera and NovelaMaven!!



 

PERLA--
Regrettably this is your last recap from me. I will be traveling for two weeks to a location that has no Spanish language tv channels (and limited time or opportunity to catch episodes on line). When I return, it will be some time before I catch up. Be assured, that I will be watching all the episodes I've missed very closely, for all the intrigue and passion among our various couples and characters. I don't think I've ever seen a telenovela where so much kissing, embracing, caressing and potential baby-making has gone on. I'm just loving it.

SALUDOS Y DESPEDIDAS A TODOS Y HASTA LA VUELTA.

 

BAJO

My pleasure, Floridia. What can I say? I wish. :-)

That shock of recognition really IS fun, isn't it? I have to admit I don't see our Gracie eating Maine lobster any time soon, but it would be a hoot to see what the Telemundo writing crew would do with a New England setting.

Yes, definitely a dramatic ending on Friday, that confrontation of the novela's yin and yang. I'm tempted to watch ahead on the website because I won't get to the actual show until later in the week... oh well. Anyhow, it's always good to hear from you.
 

Perla
Thanks for the recap. Anita, enjoy your trip and come back safe and sound. Wow Manfred has succeeded to separate Franz and Amelia. Let's see for how long. I never liked Gaia since she made it clear she'll fight dirty for Tony. I get her but what she's doing is not cool. I am guessing Wence is on his way out courtesy of Manfred.
Bajo: Lord Jesus, things are about to get real complicated for the main couples. Feli still thinks Carlos is hers? But now she has ammunition with Rodrigo's love confession. I guessed Mati and him should deny, deny, deny. What's the point of confessing it if nothing will come from it?
Romy
 

Bajo
Great recap Novelera, gracias for filling in where I think telemmndo left out some important things

Celia
While channel surfing, I ran across Godfather II, just happened to be in Cuba during Celia's time. At least you can say Fidel got rid of the mafia in Cuba.
 

Romy--I don't think Manfred will off Wence until he finds out what he's talking about. I got the impression Manfred has no idea. He was upset on another occasion as well, finding Wence and Gertie behaving more familiarly than he would have expected between two who ordinarily would not have crossed paths (unless it was a long time ago, when Gertie was still a factory worker--hint, hint[those are my hint, hints]).
 

Bajo

Thanks so much, NovelaMaven, for putting up a fine recap of Friday's episode. This novela continues to be riveting for me and with really fine acting.

I'm so sad for Carlos, as it doesn't seem that his carefully prepared almost-wedding is going to work out.

Trust Willy to gum up the works every time he appears! He had to let slip the fatal words about Adela Morales' death to spoil Carlos' plans.

I got a kick out of Chabela racing off to a job interview wearing a skin-tight top that looked like it might be a bathing suit and a skin-tight skirt for the rest of her interview outfit.

More terrific acting by Luis Ernesto Franco when he tells Adela that he loves her. It bursts out of him almost as if he's in pain. He fully recognizes the good and true love between his father and Adela, but he can't help his feelings. The mild and fearful Gracie will bear his child, and he certainly cares for her. But a strong woman like Adela would suit him much better -- but she's taken.

Wow, Débora has the most sinister smile I've ever seen. I've called it a shark's grin in one of my recaps. A big part of wanting to get Susy away from Luis is also the thrill she gets at having her daughter accepted at an apparently prestigious French school. I wonder if they'll ever come out with what's at the bottom of all this hatred of ordinary Mexicans. They've alluded to something to do with her tía, but haven't said what it is.

Hoping to catch up with Celia one of these days so as to be able to read NovelaMaven's no doubt terrific recaps. I've got 5 recorded and can't seem to get to them.
 

Ceila

terrrrrrific recap NovelaMaven!

young Noris, from the other day, looked like a sweet young girl, I'm going to have to go with her viewpoint, that Ceila got everything, and although Olitta is a very nice person, she always seems to bend to Simon, on whom she is economically dependent.

Ana sure is a neat aunt, she even looks the same age as Celia, wonder why she is living alone, and I wonder if she thinks of Celia as her daughter that died.

while Sleaze was ranting and breaking thinks in slo-mo, I noticed they had a nice little pond in the middle of their living room, I wonder how many times I would have fallen in there if I had one.

some of these scenes, like with Lola/Marcos, it's like a silent movie, with someone watching and following along on the piano.

I think Alfredo is actually Alberto, I hope we didn't jinx him by using the wrong name.

ah, so the the Barbudo guy (Lilo) talked to his Comandante, is that Castro?

btw, it may be early for this but here is an excellent link to a short history of the early Cuban Revolution, which explains how a small group of people led by Castro could have pulled this off.
http://www.historyofcuba.com/history/moncada.htm

 

Ceila

the theme song is "La negra tiene tumbao" by Celia Cruz


hmm, tumbao, would this mean a sensual swagger?

or a longer definition from the internet,

"For decades, the Cuban people have created fantastic, original music to express the joy, exuberance, passion and love of life. This salsa rhythm enables you too to share in the creative flow of life and get connected to the beat! This tumbao rhythm is part of the Afro-Cuban "rumba" ("room-bah") folklore. Traditionally, there are three types of social rumba rhythms: Gauganco ("wow-won-ko"), Columbia ("ko-loom-bi-ah"), and Yamboo ("Yahm-boo"). Columbia is a very fast rhythm and dance showcasing male athleticism and bravado. Yamboo is a much slower, softer rhythm that demonstrates the subtlety and finesse of a male/female courtship dance. The gauganco's tempo lies somewhere in the middle. It's a courtship dance where the male is continually trying to vacanao ("vac-ooh-now", spanish for "vaccinate") the female, who warily covers up when needed.

The tumbao rhythm is the bass line or bottom rhythm (lowest pitch) played in the gauganco. (It is also one of the names for the lowest pitched conga drum.) While not a "salsa" rhythm in the music today, the influence of tumbao, rumba and Afro-Cuban music folklore on the development of salsa is undeniable. Enjoy the Tumbao rhythm and let it's creative energy inspire you!"
http://www.spanishdict.com/answers/216722/what-is-the-meaning-of-the-word-tumbao

 

CELIA

Thanks so much, deb!

"some of these scenes, like with Lola/Marcos, it's like a silent movie, with someone watching and following along on the piano."

Nice! Yes, this show has a very cinematic look to it.

Oh man, I messed up Alberto's name. Sorry.

I think the Castro brothers are among the barbudos, but I'm not sure who is who. Thanks for the link to the real world!

Actually Aunt Ana has a husband. He's just away on a trip for a few days, so she took advantage of his absence to invite Celia to visit for a few days. (She apparently also had Noris living with her when Ollita was afraid Simón would kick her to the curb if he had to support another man's daughter.)

I think that Ana does see Celia as a daughter (Does she sees as the reincarnation of her dead daughter? Or does she just feel a special emotional connection to her? Either way, theirs is a special relationship.)

I just saw the info on the theme song and the word 'tumbao' – wonderful stuff! Thanks again!
 

BAJO

Thanks for commenting, Novelera. I read your wonderful recaps regularly but as I've said before, I'm almost always a day or two behind the show and the comments. You've done an amazing job with this one.

I was also amused by Chabela's interview outfit – perfect for an opening at the local brothel, perhaps.
 

BAJO,

Or how about Pole Dancing for Chabela?
 

Bajo
I'm sure LA has a Hooters
 

Bajo. I feel bad because I have seen Monday's episode on the Telemundo site (placed there accidentally, I presume), and I know what comes of Chabela's interview but can't say. Watch for her post-interview conversation with Maria, though; it's hilarious!
 

PERLA
Anita: OMG!!! Thank you so much for another excellent recap WITH the dialog for me!!!! Thank you! You made my weekend!!!! Have a safe and a fun trip. See you here, when you return. xoxo