Caray, Caray!

DISCLAIMER: If parts of the recap make no sense it is not this recapper's fault. This "combo platter" of 86 & 87 could have been better edited or not edited at all . . . but I will not go down that tired track again. I have recapped what Univision deigned to give us to watch and I have included plenty of my own observations labelled as such in the text.

We pick up the story as Blanca enters her English class. She asks if it is "Basic English". One of the guys in class asks if they are going to have two teachers. All of the students laugh. Blanca scowls. (Observation: I would not want to cross the new and improved Blanca.)

The next thing we know . . .

Robert and Julieta have returned to the classroom with Dave to explain Dave’s situation to the students. They explain David's story and how accidents can happen to anyone, etc. He is just like all of them and likes to do the same things. Diana chimes in on how the principal, she and all of the teachers are there to support him. If there are any problems, their parents will have to be contacted. . . Dave is thrown back in with the sharks as all of the adults think that everything is hunky-dory fine and one brat from the group actually says to David that they didn't want to make him feel bad. (Observation: It was really a great PSA and even though this makes total sense to mature adults, the kids basically pay them lip service nodding and agreeing while the little brats in the group are already planning on how to use this info against Dave. "Parents being contacted" is going to stop them from having some good old bullying fun in the here and now??? . . . don't think so).)


Not only are the little kids brats but clearly they also grow up to become college age  brats. In Blanca's class, the teacher introduces her and the same immature jerk find it necessary to make ignorant comments because Blanca is so much older than they. He says it will be like studying with granny. The teacher tells him pay some respect to Blanca. Blanca says that's okay and gets into his face saying it might be like studying with his granny but he will learn something from her. The teacher likes her attitude. She asks Blanca to introduce herself in English (Observation: If this is a basic English class, Duh, why would the teacher expect Blanca to know any English and put her on the spot in an already proven hostile environment???)The teacher has Blanca repeat an introduction from the chalkboard. Blanca says she does not understand very well (Observation: who would learning a new language?) Blanca tries her best. The students laugh. Blanca gets another laugh asking if it is really English because it seems like Chinese. (Observation: only a male student seems interested in "bullying" her but they all readily laugh at her)

Daniela has arrived at the monastery and screams Gabriel’s name. Gabriel hears it and wants to go to her. He looks for her through the bars on the window of his room. He yells out "Oso" just loudly enough but also runs back to do him meditation "hum" so nobody will find out what is going on. (Observation: Gabriel needed a Rapunzel wig at this point).

Back in class, Blanca has problems with her pronunciation of "your". The rude jerk takes it upon himself to correct her and they all laugh again. (Observation: Wow! What weak teachers across the board! Unbelievable that nobody has control of her classroom) After the same jerk makes a comment about Blanca beating them with her cane and calls her stupid, the "teacher" "threatens" to" throw the jerk out". At that point, Blanca confronts them all, lectures them all and shows no fear but only spirit and confidence in the face of the ageism. She tells them she is not going anywhere so they better get used to her. She knows she can do it.(Observation: At least the jerk was silenced for today. Bullies only understand equal or greater power. After her "Eugenio experience", Blanca was ready for the fight.)

Dave’s mother Yela has returned to the neighborhood. She has a suitcase but looks like she has been living out on the streets. She remembers taking Dave to the hospital and we get to see the full extent and the severity of his burns. She was afraid he would end up looking like a monster. Dr. Robert told Dave that he could make it. He called her son "Dave" because that was her special nickname for him. She is brought back to the present when a neighbor recognizes her and lets her know they have been looking for her because of her son David.

Aristóteles is leaving for school and Rebeca is outside waiting for him. She notices that he has been brought up very well. She asks him about his family especially about his maternal grandmother. Aristóteles makes it clear that she has never cared for them and it is as if she were dead. His mother has suffered a lot because of her. He doesn't understand how people can be so mean. Rebeca excuses herself and leaves ASAP.

Linda is visiting Catalina massaging her feet and sending photos as proof to Julieta that she is fulfilling the assignments on the list. Catalina is not too happy with the massage and Linda is not too happy having her feet in front of her either. Linda ends up tickling her feet which makes Catalina laugh. Bruno tries to convince Linda not to do what Julieta has had her agree to but with no success. He does not want her to do anything on the list. Well, Linda is not about to let any of them get between her and Bruno. Bruno tells her that life should not revolve around his. She loves him and wants her life to revolve around him. She kisses him and leaves. He just stares. ((Observation: Foot massage really? Yuk! Linda must really have it baaad for Bruno. Looking at Bruno's expression in the final shot, does he have it that baaad for Linda?).

Amalia pays Enzo a visit with a bottle of mezcal and some other things. He shows up at the door of his apartment bare chested and wrapped below the waist in only a towel. He invites her in saying he is going to get dressed. She enters his apartment happily all hot and bothered. She says she is going to cover her eyes when the bottle of mezcal falls out of the bag, crashes and breaks on the floor.

At Gabriel’s initiation into the "order" which is taking place outside, all of the monks have their hoods up. Gabriel notices that "their"(his and Daniela's) song is playing. One of the monks is out of place so the"monk master" asks why he is interrupting Shanti's initiation. Daniela turns, removes her hood and reveals herself. It turns out that one of the monks is Daniela!!!! She jumps into her martial arts stance and then stops answering the original question: it is because she loves Gabriel.

Enzo is down on the floor with Amalia cleaning up the mess. He asks her is she knows that she has won his heart. They can learn together hand in hand. When they get up, he drops his towel by accident. Amalia swears she has seen nothing. He just laughs. The doorbell rings and it is his mom. What to do? (Observation: Unfortunately we never find out what happened with "mom".)

Daniela has come to fight for Gabriel and she is not leaving without him. He is the love of her life. The monk master says Shanti will not be leaving so easily. They end up having to make a run for it with Gabriel still clutching his stuffed bear.(Observation: Julieta sure picked out the right gift for Gabriel from Daniela. He clearly loves the thing and her) They get to the gate, run through it and then close it so all of the pursuing monks pile up behind it.

Dave’s mother sees Robert on the street and starts to follow him.

Julieta is driving Dave home and she asks how school is going. He says fine. She asks about it only being fine. She continues to ask if anybody said anything to him or bothered him. He says no. She tells him that she hopes he knows that he can tell her everything. He knows. She asks if he will come to the office with her for a while after they eat. What he is thinking about? He is thinking about his mom. He misses her and wants to see her again. Julieta tells him it is totally normal for him to be missing his mother and if she turns up, he will see be able to see her. She and Robert only want him to be well. Dave thanks her.

Robert calls Julieta from the street unaware Dave’s mother is following him. He is just leaving the burn foundation. He asks Dave how school went. Dave says okay. Robert will not be home right away he has some things he needs to get done but he left them something in the fridge to eat. He is sure that his special "Cooper seasoning" will make Dave feel right at home. As he ends the call and walks on, Yela is still on his trail.

Polita gets a box of bananas from her mother. She starts to cry remembering how her mother used to give them to her when she was a little girl. There is a message from Rebeca: These are only some of the bananas I didn’t give you in all of those years. Polita just sobs.

Robert got a little too creative with his soup making and it is not a hit on the home front so Julieta decides to make Dave something else. Much to Julieta's relief Dave likes quesadillas. She is going to add a little ham to make them more nutritious. Dave says what he really likes is being with her. He really likes being in her home. She tells him he doesn't know what it means to her to hear him say that. She wants him to get to know her at her best. Dave thanks her for inviting him to her home and wanting him like he is. She asks him how could she not since he is the greatest. They hug.

Robert talks to Ana at her home. He wants to know what she wanted to talk about. She does not want to escape reality through pills. She wants Robert to fulfill the coupon that he gave her as a gift (the coupon would grant her his forgiveness). She hands it to Robert. She wants to be forgiven for all of the mistakes she made. Robert asks why she wants his forgiveness. She needs it to get out of the hell she is in. Robert can understand that maybe she was mentally unstable when she abandoned him, but what about the other 34 years???? She turns it back on him asking if the gift was all a lie. (Observation: She really needs help if she thinks that that lame excuse is going to work. It sounds like she is herself a child. I am so happy he asked about the 34 years.)

Luz calls Julieta as they are eating their quesadillas. Julieta has to go to work and Dave will have to go with her. They pack up the food in their "Operation: we are eating in the car". She says she will pay him back later. He says with not going to school. She says he can do his homework in her office and they are off.

Robert explains that when he gave her the coupon he never imagined that she had done something so serious. He wants her to know he is leaving the resentment and the hatred he has felt for her behind. He really wants to see her rehabilitated. He has never wished her ill. Now he has a chance to heal from all of the pain she caused him. Julieta and he are about to adopt Dave and with him he hopes to get the happiness of a childhood back. He is not the one to forgive her. He hands her the coupon back. She needs to ask for God's forgiveness and her own.

Dave helps feed Julieta in the car as they drive back to the office.

Amalia and Enzo have a cup of tea that somebody at the market recommended to her. It is supposed to make everything "magical". He only wants her to feel comfortable. Is she sure she really wants to do "it." Yes she does. He is her Prince Charming. They start to kiss but there was something in the tea and their mouths are suddenly numb amd they are not talking clearly. They are feeling strange. There seems to be a bit of hallucinating going on, too. Amalia sits on the bed and apologizes.

Ana tells Tulio he needs to get out. She has started the divorce proceedings. Tulio looks surprised. (Observation: So sad, too bad)

Julieta and Dave are at work. He will do homework amd she will work with Luz. Linda shows up and per the "list"of conditions. has to help Julieta out and does so again to win Julieta over. Julieta gives Linda a job photocopying 1500 pages and collating them into 10 notebooks while she sits and works with Dave. When Linda complains, Julieta points out that that task fits in with condition #8 of (what I am calling) the "contract."

Dave’s mother shows up at the burn foundation and talks to Max. She is looking for Dr. Cooper to ask about her son. Robert comes out to talk to her but then she decides it is better for her to just go. He asks if she is leaving again just like when she left Dave. In tears, she says she was afraid. She tells him not to follow her. She leaves.

Eugenio gets a sample of Blanca’s driving. He is quite vocal about her all too obvious deficiencies. Blanca insists this is first and last time she will be driving with him.(Observation: That was a great decision on Blanca's part: not to put herself in situations where the critical side of Eugenio might appear but also not to quit those situations either because of his opinion.)

Marisol has stopped by to invite Julieta and company to Xavi’s concert. To be honest. Marisol does not know if she is up to being a famous guy's girlfriend. Dave asks why not. Marisol says there are comments, criticisms and jealousy which was never there before with his fans. Dave accidentally knocks over a cup of coffee on Julieta's carefully drawn designs. Julieta is quick to let Dave know it was not his fault.Julieta is going to have a lot of drawing to do to replace the designs.

Robert goes to see Carmelo the orphanage director about Dave’s mother coming to the foundation. She has not come to the orphanage and the authorities have looked all over for her. He wants to know ASAP if Dave's mother comes to the orphanage. Carmelo explains that many times biological parents just stop by the orphanage to make sure that their children are fine. Robert just don't want Julieta or Dave to suffer. Robert just needs to be ready to fight for Dave. Robert knows how it is with the rights usually going to the biological mother no matter what. . . and in this case even abandoning Dave when he needed her most.

Later at home, Dave wants to dance so he and Julieta have a dancing good time. Robert comes home and joins in the fun.

Robert tells Julieta that Dave’s mother has reappeared.

Back at the Córcega's, Frida is missing. Where is she? They suspect she is with Ignacio. Imelda insists that he has to follow the terms of the divorce. He must follow the law. Eugenio thinks they need to file charges against him. Frida finally arrives with Ignacio. Ignacio had told Frida that Marisol already knew about them going out after school. Ignacio threatens to take Frida away if Marisol continues with Xavi. (Observation: the time has come for Marisol to contact a lawyer to put that jackass Ignacio in his place)

The next day, Aristóteles is leaving for school and Rebeca is there yet again. He asks why she is there so early. She says sh just came to buy some bread. She offers to buy him some. No, he turns to go to school. She says he looks sad. Is everything okay? He says it is a long story. She offers to take him to school and they can chat. (Observation: Did not anyone ever teach Aristóteles about "stranger danger"?? Apparently not that he just takes a lift from a woman he really does not know)

Since Gabriel has escaped, he is now having breakfast with the Córcega’s to issue an invitation. Gabriel wants them to come to supper at his father's home so the Córcega's can meet his family. His family really wants to get to know them. Eugenio just shakes his head. Imelda thinks that after how his family put down Daniela, it is better that they come to the Córcega’s for supper. Gabriel totally agrees. Eugenio still does not looks happy. (Observation: Good decision and good reasoning on Imelda's part so she can make them feel oh so uncomfortable from her throne)

Robert, Julieta are taking Dave to school. Carmelo the orphanage director calls Robert to tell them that he needs to see them immediately at the orphanage. Julieta thinks that they are going to try to take Dave away. Robert says he is not sure if Dave's mother has been to the orphanage. Robert reminds her it could be good news. Julieta is worried that it won't be good news. Robert tells her they have to face whatever happens for the sake of all of them and their feelings. She just can't see them giving a child bakc to a mother who would just leave him like that and come back as if it were nothing. Julieta and Robert go to the orphanage. Carmelo has good news. Dave's mother has not appeared to regain her parental rights. The legal period for her to do that is just about to run out. Her abandonment of Dave has been declared official. Julieta and Robert have been declared as Dave's adoptive parents. They are overjoyed.

As they ride, Aristóteles explains to Rebeca how his mother was abandoned. If it were him, he would never look for his mother or miss her. Rebeca tells him that people sometimes have reasons for doing what they do. Aristóteles could never forgive that. Right before he gets out, Rebeca tells him that she is his grandmother.

Polita brings some bananas over to the Córcega’s and Blanca invites her to breakfast with them. Linda wonders why Gabriel is asking the two families to get together just now. Is there some important announcement that is going to be made? Gabriel hints there might be something like that but he is giving nothing away. Imelda tells him if his family does not behave themselves, she will finish Gabriel off herself. She points to her bicep.

Rebeca and Aristóteles have a heart to heart and the truth comes out. She finally realized that she was losing the chance to be close with them. When Aristóteles' grandfather died, Rebeca fell in love with another man. He didn't want to be with someone who had a daughter. Today she knows she left behind the most valuable thing she ever had: his mother.

At School, Dave is being bullied regularly by the gang of little brats. Frida comes to the rescue. The brats talk about wanting to pull Dave's hood off. Frida asks Dave if the boys are bothering him. He says no. She tells Dave they are friends and that he can count on her for anything. The gang of brats come back acting all nice until Frida leaves. They continue with their harassment. They call Dave the ”derritido” “the melted one”. Later, Dave is left alone waiting for someone to pick him up. Julieta finally gets there after he is threatened some more by the same little brats and chased around. Julieta tells Diana that she is going to arrange for him to travel with Frida on the bus. Of course, the little brats are oh so pleasant when the adults are around so nobody knows how Dave is being mistreated.

Polita, Audifaz, and Aristóteles meet with Rebeca at a restaurant. Polita can only remember her last meeting with her mother when she told her once again she wanted nothing to do with her. Rebeca realizes she cannot erase all of the horrible mistakes she made but she is here. She made a terrible mistake. Audifaz and ArIstóteles leave the table so Polita and Rebeca can talk in private.

Robert, Julieta and Dave get all dressed up for "the supper." Julieta declares that Dave will be the most handsome guy there. Poor Dave can only remember the gang of brats calling him "the melted one" and that he is a horrible monster that scares Julieta and Robert away. Dave says he thinks he is ugly. Julieta wonders where he came up with that. Julieta and Robert give Dave the good news: they have been accepted as his adoptive parents. They are going to officially adopt him so he can stay with them forever. They are all happy.

Robert walks into Dave's room and finds Dave is covering his scars with stickers because he looks melted. Robert wonders where he got that from. He has a beautiful face. Robert sees Dave as a very handsome boy and the time has come to take his blue suit off for good. Dave wants to keep it on. It is his super hero suit. He likes it because it covers him so nobody will make fun of him. (Observation: With all of his new comments and wanting to get out of going to school, Robert and Julieta should suspect that something is going on at school. How much more will Dave have to suffer?)

That is where my tape ended.

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