Caray, Caray!

La Esclava Blanca... 31/61
part 1

the house slaves talk about Miguel being the master's son, Hilaria not surprised, Sara was pretty but sneaky and manipulative, and later reminds them how the Master gets when he's challenged.

Felipe takes his case to the General and Alonso, showing the law that a slave has the right to buy his freedom, the General comments that you don't have to sell, Alonso says as it's written it could apply to real estate, and Felipe adds yes, but we are talking about people.

the General goes to Nicolas and asks him to forget it all, but Nicolas says it goes beyond a financial matter, we can't be weak because it creates cracks through which change takes place, imagine if rumors spread that slaves could challenge their masters as a way to obtain their freedom, they agree it would contribute to the regions instability, and the few attempts at rebellion were terrible, Nicolas says he doesn't want to do this but they have left him no choice.

the slaves come in for the night, it's time for Miguel's punishment, Julian isn't very good with the whipping so Nicolas takes over, and thrashes Miguel, and afterwards orders him to the stocks for the night, no food or water, and then to the pit, Victoria who watched, now watches from her window, and cries.

Trinidad tells Tomas he could have taken a gun and stopped it but it would have ended in a slaughter, yes if it was just you against them, Tomas adds, but if it was ten, a hundred, or thousands, a long time ago it was me that said to not take up arms, but not anymore, we need to revive the cause.

Adela takes charge making her son a fine dinner, but he doesn't eat

Adela asks Nicolas about Miguel, how long have you known, since Sara came back, he didn't say anything because he doesn't like talking about her, he loved her more than life itself, but she rejected him, Adela is appalled, she wants to pretend this never happened.

it's morning, and the slaves are off to work

Julian looks like he will give Miguel some of his water but Nicolas appears on the balcony watching, so he pours it on the ground in front of Miguel instead.

as the family eats breakfast, Isabel wants to know if they are going to pretend nothing happened, Nicolas doesn't want to talk about it, Isabel grabs some food and water and leaves, Victoria sits silently, Isabel takes it to her brother.

Isabel back in the house demands Nicolas give Miguel a room in the house, Nicolas flips, and says Miguel's punishment isn't over, he's going to the pit, understand, and now Victoria is in it, she threatens to free Miguel, Nicolas slaps her down, she rebounds putting a knife to his throat, she's not afraid of him,

Reme hears the screaming but can only crawl.

Isabel pleads with her father, which allows him to grab the knife away from Victoria, and starts with Isabel, carrying her to her room, as she screams, where is my dad, I'm your dad he says, you will respect and obey me, he wants a lock put on her door and puts Hilaria in charge of seeing Isabel doesn't leave her room.

Victoria goes to her room and bars the door but Nicolas crashes through, I've tamed wilder beasts than you he says, and you'll give me a legitimate heir, but not now, and locks her door. (remember the bars Victoria had Tomas put on the windows so she could talk to him)

 

La Esclava Blanca... 31/61
part 2

Nicolas is leaving to file some paperwork for the transfer of Arturo's assets, when he runs into Adela, she suggests a dissolution of the marriage, she will testify the Marquise is insane, he says no, he wants children and the title of Marquis, and what is taking so long.

Spain- the mother of the convent finally gets Adela's letter, this can't be, and figures out someone is there pretending to be the Marquise, and that it's probably Victoria.

Milagros decides to free Victoria, but is stopped by Adela.

Miguel is taken to the pit, and lowered down by a rope tied to a nearby tree for that purpose, but the old rope breaks and Miguel drops, Julian asks if he broke any bones, Nicolas doesn't think so, want to go down and see?, no one is to approach him and no one is to give him anything.

next day, Isabel refuses to get dressed or eat or drink anything while her brother is in that pit, feed on air, Nicolas says, and leaves.

Reme wants to help Victoria, but can't.

Felipe is packing to leave, Cata is upset he didn't consult her, he feels there is nothing more he can do here in this backwards town, he feels powerless and can't watch them hurt Miguel.

Siervo is off to town for supplies.

Spain- the nuns tell the real Marquise, she flips, that girl stole everything from me, my name, my husband, a life that was meant for me, and faints, when she recovers she says she is going there herself, on the next boat. (and we find out it will take 2 months)

 

Eva. Whoa! The plot really thickened last night! I thought it was very sweet when Diego offered to help Pablo raise baby Cecilia. I also loved the way he said that at least the 2 of them have a good father. And yay! I loved the cemetery scene! Thanks to Leila's and sleazy lawyer Alberto Silva's efforts to get Sebastián's body cremated the judge issues an exhumation/autopsy order quickly and Marisol and the police arrive at the cemetery in the nick of time as Leila, Silva and some cemetery employees are digging up the body. Loved the way Silva tried to bluff their way out of it, but Marisol would have none of it and flashes her badge and the order. Leila has done herself in by trying to save herself. I also loved how Virginia knew exactly which veterinarian drugs Leila was apt to have gotten from Raúl and Raúl's turning himself in to confess his role. It was also great that the police stopped Leila from leaving just as she was loading up her van to flee the country. Yay! Another victory for the Furias!
 

Eva. Andy actually seems to be having regrets and wants to withdraw from Marlene's operations and move far away. Maybe Camila has made him a better person!
 

Esclava

Many thanks, deb, for this very detailed and helpful recap. I haven't been able to see the episode yet, and I won't be able to see tonight's, either. To be honest, given your excellent account, I may skip last night's episode. I'm not really up for watching Miguel get punished.

So the real Marquise has finally learned about there being an imposter. I'm glad it will take the Marquise two months before she can get to Santa Marta. With any luck, that will be enough time for Victoria to carry out her venganza. But I do wonder at what cost.
 

Eva

Great comments, SpanProf. I had thought of putting up a brief recap last night, but I worked late. Then I was watching the Warriors game I'd DVR'd. So I didn't have any time left to put something up.

I wonder what Armando is going to do with his knowledge of Marlene's embezzlement. He should NOT have punched Gusano because that let the cat out of the bag. Since he has so many crimes of his own - at least as an accomplice - he can't just call the police and have her dragged off in handcuffs for stealing from his company.

What's up with Rebeca's hair? It looks like a wig now. She had long, straight hair before. Now it's shorter and styled.

I thought they wasted time with Federica's ridiculous blaming of Rey for sleeping with Leila.

And Dr. Ana did NOT cough up Betty's letter last night.

I also loved the cemetery scene. They left us with the cliffhanger of whether Raúl the vet was going to tell all about Leila.

I wonder if Federica is now going to move out of Casa Furias and into her old home. Probably not right away.

I agree that loving Camila has moved Andy toward a tiny bit of redemption. Maybe he'll die trying to save Camila from Rebeca. He certainly has to have big-time punishment. And, as I've said all along, I don't want them to kill Marlene. I want her in orange prison clothes in the same cell as someone even meaner than Rebeca.
 

Eva

thanks SpanProf!

and how about Virginia slipping Marta the info on Marlene's off shore bank account, who takes it straight to Armando, who declines to help Marlene with her Mexican route, punches Gusano, and meets with Evencio, as he is feeling all alone.

will Marta get pegged as the mole?

Elsa can see the writing on the wall so her and Gusano beat feet out of there, so Marlene sics Andy on them, but wait Andy's not taking any new job offers, but before Elsa and Gusano can get on the road, Marlene shows up with Rebeca and some bruiser.

 

Eva

Muchas gracias, SpanProf, for your account--really a mini-recap. I too loved Diego's remarks, and the apparent thwarting of both Leila's attempt to prevent an autopsy of her husband's corpse and her trying to flee.

So Dra. Ana still hasn't passed along Betty's deathbed message to Eva. She clearly wants to be the person Pablo turns to. I suspect that the Unwritten Telenovela Rules will ultimately be her undoing. ¡Ojalá!
 

Eva

Great comments, novelera and deb. It was really dumb of Armando to slug Javier, thereby letting Marlene realize that there's more of a problem than she thought.

I was glad that Andy stood up to Marlene, but whatever redemption that may buy him won't really suffice, given all his previous evil. I like your suggestion, novelera, that perhaps he'll die in an attempt to save Camila from Rebeca. I doubt that anyone will save Elsa and Javier, however. IIRC, Wiggy Rebeca has a knife in her hand when she confronts them, and I suspect she'll be happy to show her prowess at using it (not to mention the $ she'll get from Marlene).
 

Eva. Excellent remarks, Juanita, novelera and deb! I think among the 4 of us we have hit most of the high (or low) points of last night's episode. I did enjoy Federica's slapping Rey, though. We haven't had a good cachetada in this novela for a while. :) I'm glad Eva convinced Federica to reconcile with Rey, though. I'm also glad that Panchopan is doing well again and all the salaries have gone back to previous levels. I believe Rebeca's new hairstyle is a wig and part of a disguise to keep the authorities from noticing her.
 

Eva. And loved you "Wiggy Rebeca"remark, Juanita. Great pun! (or mayb I should groan loudly out of respect?)
 

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Esclava

Thanks deb for the recap! I may also skip watching the episode since I really don't want to see Miguel getting punished. I'm happy that Isabel cares for him and is starting to see who her father really is.

I have a feeling the real marquesa will finally show up with only a few episodes left. I wonder what else is going to happen and how Victoria is going to protect herself from Nicolas.
 

Esclava

thanks Juanita and J,

but you would have loved seeing Victoria with a knife to Nicolas' throat.

but alas, now Victoria is locked in her room, as is Isabel, Reme can't walk, Felipe and Cata are leaving town, because the General agreed with Nicolas' logicical explanation and blew him off, Miguel is in the pit, and Milagros may face a whipping for trying to free Victoria, but Tomas has turned around and wants to revive the Cause, (which may keep Trinidad out of trouble as he tends to act on impulse).

as Nicolas is trying to bring everything under control,

(abuela Adela isn't going along with the part she has a black grandson).

but I think a seed has been planted when Miguel won his trial, and Tomas is just the guy to cultivate it.

 

EVA – VIERNES

We start with the scene of Marlene, Rebeca and Nameless Thug in Javier and Elsa’s home. This scene was odd. Marlene accuses them of stealing. We don’t really find out if they skimmed any money. But Marlene orders them back to work after having her compinches put knives to their throats.

We get a lot of good acting by the Diego actor. He bathes two times and drowns himself in cologne to meet his sister. Dr. Ana is working Diego for all she’s worth. She actually lets something slip when Diego likes her: “At least I was able to conquer one of the Contreras.” Significant look from JJ to Pablo.

Federica goes to her old house to see Leila arrested and we get a couple of good cachetadas. [SpanProf, these were for you!]

Camila goes off in the convertible with Andy. He’s begging her to go away with him. She finally outright tells him she knows he’s Andrés Palacios. She runs away from him and, only in a telenovela, Esteban is driving by in Soraya’s big car and picks her up. Later, Andy shows his true colors and pulls a knife on Esteban. But he can’t get the best of him and leaves.

Marisol grills the nurses about Betty’s letter. When she finds out Dr. Ana found Betty’s body, she outright asks her what she did with the letter. Ana lies. Marisol tells Pablo later that the letter was for Eva.

Armando likes some idea that Evencio tells him. Federica says she’s going to invest in Eva’s company [after first offering to move them all into the mansion]. She talks down Eva’s reluctance. She wants the company to be Soler e Hijas y Abuela.

Armando comes home with fond memories of when he lived with Eva and his children. He asks Celeste and Noemi to move his clothes to a guest room.

Ana is visiting the Contreras household. She’s courting Diego like mad. Later Diego lets it slip to his father that Dr. Ana has been asking questions about Eva Soler.

We find out that what Evencio was suggesting is that Adriana become a partner in Mon-Sol to work against Marlene and keep the family money for the girls.

Marlene comes home and finds to her fury that Armando has moved his things to another bedroom. When she confronts him, he says he doesn’t plan to sleep another night with her, a thief.
 

Eva

Terrific recap, novelera. I haven't been able to see the episode yet, but thanks to you, I feel as if I have. I can so vividly picture Diego's prep before meeting his sister. And I loved your "only in a telenovela, Esteban is driving by" and the parenthetical "SpanProf, these were for you!"

I like Evencio's idea of Adriana becoming a partner in Mon-Sol to help keep the family money for her and Fabi. Though, of course, that may also put Adri in some danger. Marlene will stop at nothing to get what she wants.
 

La Esclava Blanca – Friday, June 3 – Capítulo 32, part 1/2

Adela locks Isabel in her room. Victoria, also locked in her room, asks Lorenza for help. Milagros opens the little door inside the actual door to talk to Victoria. She can’t unlock the door because only Adela has the key, and it would be too dangerous for Victoria to try to escape. Victoria needs to go see Miguel and asks Milagros to go talk to Siervo.

Bernal takes Remedios outside but Adela stops them. Remedios says she knows that both Victoria and Isabel have been locked up in the house and she wants to get some fresh air.

At the port, Eugenia and Bunme are buying new fabric. Bunme warns her not to spend all her money since she’s running out, but Eugenia says it’ll be fine with her new business and that *they* need new dresses.

Siervo follows Angela around the market. He gives her an urgent message to deliver to Felipe. Angela implores Felipe to not leave because the slaves want to revive the cause. Although it’s difficult to get messages out to all of the slaves at the various haciendas, if they are united, Felipe thinks una huelga de brazos caidos (a sitdown strike) is a good strategy. It would put pressure on the slaveowners and hopefully change the laws. Es que, para ellos, perder plata, eso es mucho más convincente que cualquier argumento legal (for them, losing money is much more convincing than a legal argument). Angela says this is why they need Felipe to stay; they need a leader since Miguel is isolated from them. Felipe asks Catalina what she thinks.

Julian pours water on Miguel in the pit, and throws him some bread. Julian seems really conflicted.

Remedios wants to be alone outside. She tells the slaves to come back in a few hours. She prays.

Eugenia receives a letter from England. She finds out her stepsons fought her inheritance, and she is left with absolutely nothing. Alonso confirms that since Eugenia’s marriage to Edward was never actually legal (he was actually still married to his previous wife), she has no right to anything. When he asks if she has other money or if she was depending on this inheritance, she lies and says no, she has savings and her business, their business.

Candela is being chismosa (gossipy) again about the marquesa and Remedios, saying that Bernal called them más chifladas que su señora (crazier than his lady). She mentions someone falling off a horse and hitting their head, but I’m not actually sure who they are talking about here... Trinidad wants to know more, but she won’t tell him.

Remedios tries to get out of the chair. She is in a lot of pain.

Trinidad asks Bernal if he brought Remedios back already. Bernal says she wanted to stay out for a few hours, and that she’s terca (stubborn) and bruta como un chorlito (not sure how to translate this, but cabeza de chorlito means scatterbrain/airhead). Trinidad gets angry at him for talking about her like that, and wants to know where she is so he can bring her back.

Milagros and Hilaria are bringing food up to Isabel and Victoria. Adela asks Milagros if she put something in the marquesa’s food. She accompanies Milagros upstairs to make sure Victoria eats. Milagros asks her to open the door since the plate won’t fit through the little door, but Adela just puts the food in the napkin. Desde que la vi con un cuchillo, prefiero que se muera de hambre antes que abrirle la puerta (Since I saw her with a knife, I’d prefer for her to starve rather than open the door). Adela tells her to eat anyway; her son is worried about her constant headaches and they don’t want her sick. Victoria says nothing, shuts the little door, and throws the napkin on the floor.

Eugenia gets mad at Bunme for offering to return what they bought that morning. Eugenia feels bad, calls her mi amor (my love), and tells her that she has something in mind with Nicolas. Besides, he doesn’t love his wife, which made Eugenia realize that what they have between them is real love. Bunme doesn’t believe it, saying she finds it hard to believe that he could love anyone who is not like him.

 

La Esclava Blanca – Friday, June 3 – Capítulo 32, part 2/2

Trinidad finds Remedios but she doesn’t want his help. He pushes her to try harder to stand up, and she does! She falls into his arms, happy that she took a few steps for the first time in months, and they kiss. Trinidad wonders what they are doing. She says just kissing; they haven’t committed any sins, at least not yet. [LOL I love Remedios!] Trinidad looks nervous. Pero esto no tiene ningun sentido y ningun futuro tampoco (but this has no sense and no future either). He sits her back down in the chair, and goes to leave to find someone else to carry her back. She doesn’t want him to go. She says she won’t tell anyone what happened. Trinidad says it’s not possible for someone like her to be with someone like him.

Catalina asks Felipe what he’s going to do with the cause. What if they (the slaveowners) find out what he’s doing. He tells her that he won’t get her involved if she doesn’t want to be, especially since it will be dangerous. She should go back to Antioquia. Y dejarte aqui solo para que cometas burradas? Ya quisieras vos (and leave you here alone doing stupid things? You wish) she retorts. He asks if he should set a date for the first meeting, and she replies, no, I’ll do it.

Isabel didn’t eat her lunch, nor the dessert that she usually loves. Adela is worried about her since she hasn’t eaten or drunk anything in a day and a half. She is also worried about the fact that Nicolas doesn’t seem to care what is happening. She wonders what he’s doing in Santa Marta that is so important he had to leave at that late hour.

The answer is Eugenia. She has prepared a surprise for Nicolas. He can choose between two white girls (“friends” from Santa Marta) to accompany them, or not choose anyone else at all. Of course, he doesn’t want either of them and chooses Bunme instead. She looks away, but Eugenia tells her not to be selfish and to do it for nosotras (us – referring to Eugenia and Bunme).

The first meeting is taking place at Felipe’s, but only four freed slaves (including Angela) are there.

Victoria is constantly shouting and Adela hates it. She can’t eat; she’s too stressed. Milagros suggests something to Hilaria to calm Adela’s nerves: a relaxing bath. While she’s in the bath with Hilaria helping her, Milagros makes a wax mold of the key, and Tomas makes a real one.

Miguel manages to start a fire in the pit, but it goes out quickly. He discovers a gust of air coming from a hole in the wall and starts digging. Looks like there’s some sort of room underground next to the pit.

Adela and Hilaria talk about family. Adela says she just wants order and obedience in the house and in her family. She knows that Hilaria misses her family; they are slaves in the mines in the south. Adela again complains that Nicolas doesn’t care what is happening. Then she gets bored and wants out of the bath. She tells Hilaria to lock all of the doors and not let anyone in or out.

Milagros unlocks the door to Victoria’s room and helps her get out to see Miguel. Siervo “helps” Hilaria with locking all the doors by not locking the kitchen door, so Victoria can leave, but she needs to come back quickly.

In the meeting, Felipe says their strategy will shake up the slaveowners who think they are so untouchable with something that will marcar sus hogares sino tambien sus mentes (leave a mark on their homes but also their minds).

At the orgy at Eugenia’s, Nicolas is más tranquilo (calmer). He wants Bunme again but she gets up and leaves looking really upset, so he says tu te lo pierdes (your loss) and settles for the white girl already in bed.

 

Eva

thanks so much novelera for the wonderful recap!

hmm, Ana is in the business of saving lives, lying about the letter doesn't seem to be in character for her, and detective Pablo is taking notes.

are we to surmise that Eva, knowing about Evencio meeting Armando, had him make the suggestion of adding Adri as a partner, is Marlene's only claim to the company that she is married to Armando.

I guess Camila is having trouble breaking away from the abuse of her past, Esteban sure is a gentleman, but what about Noemi.

 

Eva. Excellent recap, novelera! Chuckle chuckle about the cachetadas. This time they were well deserved, but it's a good thing that Federica was reined in before she could do anything to jeopardize the case against Leila. Dra. Ana Maria would have been better off in the long run if she had just given Eva the letter. This way it is definitely going to come back to bite her! I also think that concealing it goes a bit against character. And we might have known that the idea of making Adriana a shareholder in Mon-Sol came from Eva and wasn't original with Evencio--much as both he and Armando loved the idea. Andy seems to be beginning to realize all that his alliance has cost him--the "normal" life he tells Camila he wants with her. He also tells her how much he fears death. It will be interesting to see how that plays out. Maybe he will die doing something noble to save Camila.
 

Esclava

thanks so much J! you do such thorough and well put together recaps.

I think the english captions translated Bunme's remark about Nicolas as "she finds it hard to believe that he could love anyone other than himself".

I wonder if Julian will be at the pit.

 

Esclava

Thanks for the clarification, deb! Nicolas only loving himself makes more sense. ha! I was doing this one faster than normal and trying to make it slightly shorter. I feel like not a whole lot happened in this episode, except the Trinidad/Remedios kiss!
 

Escalava" Thank you for your recaps J and deb. I have quiet but reading when I can. I actually came to love the show even if I still hate the abuse and injustice of that era. Nicolas es un cochino. Adela is a witch.
Romy
 

Esclava

Thanks very much, J, for another superb recap, detailed, well-writen, and filled with well-chosen Spanish. I'm finding your recaps very helpful!
 

Eva

thank you so much for the recap