Friday, March 23, 2018

Por Amar Sin Ley, 3/22/18 Chapter 14: Gustavo—Front and Center and It’s Not Even His Birthday

Anita here. I will be your occasional Court Reporter (and I get the run of the office, too). To start you off, here is a reprise of each attorney's specialty along with his, her, or their cases.
Part 3 is now up.

Vega & Associates, Mexico City’s Most Prestigious Law Firm

Vega invites you to follow them on CaraLibro, or better still, follow their cases (and personal lives), as featured on CarayCaray at 10 pm EDT.

Our Mission: “We will take on anything life can throw at you, as long as you are not guilty, not an abuser, nor a defrauder. In the event we decide you are guilty, an abuser or a defrauder, we will throw the book at you*.”
(*Err, disculpe, we will ask the judge to throw the book at you.)

Attorneys, clients and cases so far:
The Opposition
Carlos – first – mainly criminal cases
Saúl Morales (David Ostrosky) is a prestigious businessman who comes to Carlos for help with a sexual harassment accusation. Carlos can’t continue with his case after he’s jailed for suspicion of murder and Sr. Morales doesn’t want Alan to take over. He takes his case to Vega, but Leo won’t take it because of contradictions in his statements and decides Morales is lying. Morales threatens Leo and all of Vega.

Alan – partner in Carlos’ firm
He volunteers to take on 1) the Morales case and 2) Carlos’ murder rap; Morales shows up and tells him he’s taking his business elsewhere.
Another client of Carlos’ shows up. He’s taking his business elsewhere.
Carlos, already in prison, awaiting trial, asks Alan to give his defense to Leonardo.
Alan tells Carlos he's taking on all the cases Carlos left behind.
 
Alejandra – first – family law, international law (before joining Vega)
Ale is representing the husband, a Mr. Reynoso in an alimony case.
Inés Reynoso (Gloria Aura) is now divorced. She was supporting her stay-at-home husband and when he tried to go back to work, ageism was an issue and is seeking alimony. (See Vicki’s case load)
 
Transition Caseload
Ricardo and Alejandra – as opposing counsel on the same family law case
Nuria (Andrea Torre) is the mother of an 8 year old whose transgendered father has just shown up. Alejandra was Nuria’s attorney before joining Vega.
Daniel/a Segura (Gilberto Romo) is a transgender who struggles to have the paternity of her son recognized and to have visitation rights. Ricardo was Daniel/a’s attorney.
Nuria’s father (Oscar Bonfiglio) shows up in Ricardo’s office and threatens him.
Ric and Ale reach an amicable decsion in this case. Daniela will wait to meet his son until he reaches 18, pay for upkeep, as long as Nuria sends him updates on school, etc.
 
Vega & Associates Caseload
Ricardo – family law – partner
Alonso gives him a dementia/elder abuse case. Lina (Ana Patricia Rojo), daughter of a 78-year-old woman, Virginia (Jacqueline Andere), has come to him asking that she and her brothers be given power of attorney over their mother’s business and personal affairs. Lina claims the people around her are taking advantage of her as she’s quite wealthy. Ricardo visits her psychiatrist. At first Ric tends to agree with the doc’s diagnosis that she’s paranoid and should be declared incompentent. Ric then doubts the diagnosis after the doc mentions the woman is his aunt. He goes to visit her and suggests she get her own lawyer. He suggests Alejandra. When they make a return visit, he accuses them of greed as his investigation has uncovered the fact that Virginia is actually the owner of the facility where her nephew, the psychiatrist, practices.
In episode #9 Ric is given another custody case of a Sr. Perez (Fabian Robles), who was given sole custody of his son, but now is prevented from getting him or even seeing him by his ex-wife, Marcela. The excuse is he has measles. Ric gives the case to Ale.
In episode #11 Mariana (Lisette Morales), his old girlfriend, shows up with a request that he handle her divorce. He hands her problem over to Ale because it was a quickie wedding in Las Vegas and requires international know-how. Mariana, though, has expectations of rekindling their old romance and lets Ric know.
 
Alejandra – family and international law (after joining Vega as a senior attorney)
She takes the case of Virginia (see above). Virginia tells her she’s decided to marry her young caretaker, Fermín (Joshua Gutierrez), to protect them both. After listening to her reasons, Ale says she’ll do what she can for her.
She takes the case of Mariana and her divorce (see above).
She takes the case of Sr. Perez (see above).
 
Gustavo – family law
He was going to meet with the Riveras regarding the details of a separation agreement.
He has a client who was unfaithful and got a bloody nose for his effort (don’t know if this is the same case as the Riveras).
Lupe Sanchez (Gabriela Zamora), whose little boy, Paco, needed shoes and Grandaddy’s bakery was doing very well, while his son is a dead beat.
Armando (José Carlos Ruiz) is the grandfather with money. Gustavo wins support for Lupe. At first Armando is angry with Gus, but silently acknowledges he didn't raise his son properly. Gus later tells Lupe the case was pro bono (no charge).
 
Roberto – white collar crime
He is working on a fraud case.
He gets a case of a plastic surgeon whose partner wants to claim all the “hand-i-work” as his. Doc’s reputation is at stake. He brings in a sample of his work. Roberto likes what he sees and makes a date with the DD girl. She’s the one he takes to Leo’s welcome back party. Her name is Monica, but we probably won’t see her again.
He gets the case for the firm’s lawsuit against Morales.
He gets a visit from a friend of his aunt’s, Jimena (Dobrina Cristeva), and her daughter, Anita (Natalia Juárez), accusing her employee of 15 years, Silvia (Zaide Silvia Gutiérrez), of robbing her of a pearl necklace. He takes the case.
 
Leonardo – criminal law
He is working on a forgery case.
He refuses to take the Morales case when he catches him in contradicting statements; no amount of money offered will make Leo change his mind. Morales is pissed.
Carlos tells Alan he wants Leo to take on his defense in his murder case. Leo wants to meet with him first and look him in the eye. After visiting Carlos and talking to him, he “feels” Carlos is innocent and takes the case. He tells Ric he may need Rob and an assistant to help as it will be a long dragged out case with no other suspects lined up besides Carlos and they need to investigate and find proof of his innocence and the missing motive (which we all now think Alan has something to do with).
Oli asks Leo to take the case of the child-beating dad. He agrees to take it.  She wants to put the guy behind bars and give custody to the mother. All pro bono.
 
Olivia – family and labor law
Leticia – family law
They are working together on a child support agreement. Letty wants to go by the book, Oli wants as much out of the father for the children’s sake. When Oli loses, Letty derides her for being greedy because she asked for too much.
Oli gets a case of a man, Sr. Lara (Pepe Olivares), who was fired just before his retirement eligibility when the company claimed his accounts had errors. He denies it. The case goes before the judge and a surprise testimony is allowed by the father of the present owner and original owner of the company, Sr. Gutiérrez, the elder (Luis Xavier). The testimony swings the judge to hand down a favorable decision.
They have a case involving child beating.  Oli wants to bring in a criminal lawyer. Letty says to get Rob. Oli says no, she wants Leo. She checks in on Leo about the injunction against the father.
 
Victoria – family law
Vicky says the firm is representing both husband and wife in a divorce case. The husband began to be physically abusive. Vicki told him that no one in the firm would legally defend his abuse. (It’s not conflict of interest for the firm to represent both parties in a simple no-fault divorce.)
Vicky is representing Inez in the Reynoso case (Ale's case before she joined Vega).
 
Benjamín – family law
He represented Sr. Mendez’s wife in a divorce case. They won and he laughed in Mendez face.
Mendez (Ricardo Fastlicht), a businessman with no criminal past, goes crazy because Benjamin won and shoots Leonardo by mistake in the parking garage. He’s adjudicated and sentenced to 6 yrs. 6 mos. in prison. Benji gloats he may not last even a couple of weeks in prison.
In episode #8 Benji seems to also have a fraud case.
He has claimed that he generates most of the firm’s income (though the Patio needs proof) and will undoubtedly be made partner soon.
 
Alonso – head of the firm
He and Ricardo meet to discuss prosecuting Mendez. They give the case to Roberto.
They confer on which candidate to hire for the senior attorney position.
 
Other Legal Representations
Juan Lopez, a courthouse beginning lawyer, agrees to take the case of his mother’s friend Silvia (see Roberto’s caseload).
 
PART 1 of 3
Previously on D.F. Law
At the staff meeting, Benji is not up with Vega defending a murderer, especially when his fiancée is a new hire. Leo stands up to defend Vega--he believes in Carlos' innocence, along with Alejandra. Ric warns Benji for coming to hasty conclusions. Alonso steps in to defend Ale as well. She has nothing to do with the Carlos affair and in fact it was Carlos who asked for Leo. Letty aims some barbs at Ale accusing her of freeing herself up so she can spend more time with Carlos. Alonso puts a stop to all this. Ale answers for herself and says she knows how to separate her personal life from her work.
 
Currently on D.F. Law
Alan comes to visit Carlos in prison. Carlos is a bit upset. It's taking too long. What's up? Alan says he's wiped his hands of the affair. All the documents are in Leo's hands. What else does he want? Carlos is pissed because nothing is happening. Al tells him to complain to Leo Morales, then. It seems to Carlos that Al didn't do anything all this time. Carlos blames Alan for getting him into this mess by inviting those girls. Alan won't take the blame for what happened between him and the girl. Oh, and by the way, he adds, I'm taking over the cases you can no longer handle--the ones that are left, that is. Carlos barks back, don't you dare, without my authorization. I'm the boss here. Carlos doesn't wait to see Alan's back as he leaves before storming out (but does watch through the glass in the metal door).

 
Still in the staff meeting, Ric explains to Alonso that he handed the case to Ale, who is actually going to represent Virginia. Ale says the woman is lucid and competent, but there's a small glitch. She wants to marry her caretaker, who is 30 years younger than she is. Benji reacts--lock her up, she's got to be crazy. Ale explains why she wants to do this--to protect her nest egg from her greedy children, to avoid ending up institutionalized and to protect her faithful caretaker from being thrown out of a job. Meeting over.
 
Gus invites everyone (w/ or w/o children) to his son, Luis' birthday party. Rob declines, so does Vicky. Oli accepts and so does Ale. Benji accepts on behalf of himself and his son (as Letty's face goes as sour as a green Jolly Rancher).
 
Benji and Letty agree that Ale is making a big mistake siding with the missus in the incompetency hearing. The judge will also wonder why. They hope Ale won't take note, although they hope Alonso will. They both hope this will be what puts one of Ale's feet out the door. Benji whispers that they'll be sorry they didn't give Letty the post.
 
Milena shows up in Gus' office unannounced. He freaks out. She's very calm as she tells him he can't leave her. She loves him. She can't live without him. He's only thinking of himself. His dumb-assed-let-down is that this is better for both of them and she's young and with time, she'll see ending this is for the best. She, on the other hand, sees that his wifey is more important to him. Well, he avers, the day she gets married, she'll understand. Milena repeats the words sarcastically, the day she gets married, ha! She's never going to forgive him. And oh, by the way, no one EVER leaves her.
 
Elena and Natty arrive home (from gymnastics, probably). They have a sweet(ish) civil conversation in which El explains why she and Fed won't be seeing Ric. Natty reminds her she told Fed if they behaved nicely towards her, they could. El only wants them to be the loving children they used to be and they nuzzle, but won't confirm what Fed said.
 
Isabel calls. Elena lets her know how busy she's been with events at her job (so she DOES work), the kids, etc. At first Elena turns down the invitation to the birthday party, but then Isa talk some sense about not punishing the kids for something that's going on between the adults. El relents.
END PART 1

PART 2
Although Ric apologizes to Ale for her having to hear the comments of her colleagues, he does wonder if she is handling Virginia’s case correctly. He also wonders if it is her concern for Carlos that is clouding her judgment. She’s sure it isn’t. A real crazy person, she says, would not be resolving economic, legal and family issues with one stroke. She trusts her intuition. He needs to trust her. He does and asks her out on a date that evening—sort of to settle up the unsettled lunch affair. Ale and her dimples agree and will meet him in the bar—she needs to stop by the prison first, you know.
 
Ben stops by Leo’s office to let him know that 1) it was a bad idea to take Carlos’ case and 2) it was a bad idea to bring Ale into the firm. It’s obvious to him that she doesn’t know what she’s doing. Leo isn’t worried. Ben continues, the only reason Ale is here is that Ric likes her. She’s not at the same level as the rest of the attorneys. (Well, Ben, if you put it that way, she’s way above you and Letty—at least personality-wise, we haven’t seen any of your work product.) Leo cuts him off and sends him away.
 
Oli is in court pleading the case for Sr. Lara, who was dismissed for a clerical error a week before he could retire on full pension. Oli introduces a surprise person to testify in Gregorio Lara’s favor. It’s his old boss, the defendant’s own father, Sr. Mauricio Gutierrez, who was the original firm's owner. The son is reminded that when he ran the company they were fair and treated their employees well. It hurts him to see Gregorio treated this way. Oli demonstrates that the error that Lara made was actually corrected before there was any financial harm done. Lara gets up to say he needs his pension. The opposing attorney says the clerical error and Lara’s retirement were just a coincidence. Then Oli gets up and states (without back-up facts, but never mind) that actually there is a history of dismissing older employees before retirement and harassing others to quit so they could be replaced by younger employees at lower pay and less experience. The judge finds this compelling and rules in favor of Lara. Everybody is happy, except perhaps the unrepentant son and his attorney.
 
Ale checks in on Carlos. He’s all lovey-dovey, thinking of her and dreaming of her at night. He’s sad she doesn’t come daily to see him. She claims she’s busy in her new job, but he urges her to take time to come. In fact he’s willing to help her in any way, legally, and definitely will when he gets out. She tells him about the dementia case Ric gave her. Carlos blows up. Why does Ric’s name have to come up in every conversation they have? Ale wonders if he’s jealous. He’s not sure; has she given him a motive to be jealous? Now it’s Ale’s turn to blow up. He has no idea what it’s like out there, to support the whispers of others or bearing the pain he has caused her. He backs down and begs her pardon. He only sees it in terms of her being so beautiful that any man would be interested in her. He wants her to determine whether Ric is interested in her as a woman or a colleague. (Ah, Miss Cupcake, you’d better hope Carlos doesn’t get out until you are safely bedded and wedded by Ric.) Carlos makes her promise to find out, even when she insists Ric is only a work colleague. (Ah, Miss Cupcake, and where are you going after you leave? Back to “work” to discuss cases with Ric [over drinks and dinner]? Huh? Huh?) Carlos insists she promise to stay true to their love and for people out there not to think she’s “free” as in free for the plucking by another galán. She leaves after promising (fingers crossed behind her back). He’s so pitiful in a prison jump-suit and low lighting.
 
Gustavo arrives home and hugs his wife, Isabel. All is lovey-dovey with them. She gives him an update on Elena and the kids and then Milena calls. Gustavo takes the call in the kitchen and tells Isa that he’s got it. She hangs up. (I’m surprised she didn’t listen in—but that’s for another occasion, I guess.) Milena pleads her case to deaf ears. He asks her not to call again. Isa comes in to call him for dinner. Gus explains this woman is a nervous client. For now, Isa believes him.
 
Elena gets a visit from Letty. El updates her on Ric’s misbehavior, which then affects the kids misbehaving toward her. Letty reminds her that Ric has always seen himself as the kids father. Yes, but, says El, since he’s the one who decided to leave, it shows he could care less about any of them, so he has to suffer the consequences. It all boils down to Letty planting a fairly big seed of the Jealousy shrub, suggesting that this is the time to make nice with Ric, keep him close and let him see the kids. She sees that Ric and Ale are working very closely together. She’s never seen Ric so attentive to anyone in the office before. (Well, look around at who’s left, Letty. You, Oli and Vicky. Not much to pick from, from his point of view.) Letty adds fertilizer and waters the seed. He’s every bit the gallant caballero, they spend a lot of time together “working," sharing an office, and now they are going out to eat together. El wants to know details—is something going on between them? Letty doesn’t know.
 
El is back to feeling sorry for herself and the way the kids are gravitating to Ric. Letty tells her that one sure way to have them realize what a great mother she is, is to let the kids see how quickly Ric forgot her when they see him with a new girl. El doesn’t think that’s a good strategy.
 
Ale finds Ric (why didn’t they name her Ilsa instead of Ale) at the bar and begins her woo-pitching—flirty eyes, dimples on display, and the best of small-talk. Then she has to add that meeting him was the best thing to have happened to her. Really, a surprised Ric (NOT) declares, humbled. He denies it. He turns it around and tells Ale that she is the best thing to have happened to him in a long time. She humbly denies it, too. He amplifies his remarks by telling her the reason for his divorce—infidelity. If they had stayed together, they would be arguing and fighting all the time and he didn’t want the children exposed to that kind of relationship. Now, Elena is being vindictive and trying to keep him from seeing the children. He believes that when there is infidelity, something in the relationship broke. Ale ponders his words. Then she adds a dicho that her mother (and many around the world) uses, “Things always happen for a reason.” Also, “Life can change in a moment’s notice.” They toast to that.
 
Poor Gustavo. He had no idea whom he has gotten himself involved with. Some women take rejection and head for the booze or ice cream or a bestie. Others redouble their workload or take up something new, like hiking the Appalachian Trail. Still others, like Milena, wallow in what was and decides that revenge is the bitterest/sweetest solution. She puts on her favorite X-Rated video starring herself and Gus. It’s erotic and explicit. Deadly serious she declares that if she can’t be happy with him, he’s not going to be happy with anyone. No one, she repeats. Ruh Roh!
END OF PART 2

PART 3
Elena wakes Fed up, knowing he wasn't really asleep (he's really a cute kid). She doesn't want to fight with them. (She thinks) what she's doing and saying is for their own good, because she loves them. Fed just wants her to let them see their dad. She realizes she's been selfish. They'll go to Luis' party. They hug, yet she wonders over his shoulder if this is the right move.
 
Ric sees Ale to her door. They both had a good time and say so. He still owes her for a meal so that means they'll do this again. They stand apart, looking at each other, thinking up things that could possibly keep them together a bit longer. Ale is ready for a kiss. So is Ric, but he takes the high road, moves in for a chaste peck on the cheek and a see you tomorrow at the party. Nevertheless, Ale is in seventh heaven. (Hmmm. I finally noticed her sheer red petticoat top. Did she borrow it from Alina in CET? Is this the new fashion?)
 
Luis’ birthday party is in full swing. Gus is congratulating Isabel for everything being perfect (except her fashion choice of bold stripes for a blouse with large print skirt. Maybe I’m old fashioned, but in 8th grade home economics class that was a no-no.) Isa says that thanks to him—famous last words—he’s perfect and has never failed her. He sort of smiles, guilt-free for the moment, kisses and hugs her.
 
Paula is working on her adult coloring book (visualize the difference between the cross-word puzzle in Highlights for children and the NYTimes Sunday crossword). She sees Ale descending the staircase. She looks ravishing. She had such a good time with Ric, she tells her mother. He seems so…..normal.
 
There are enough party favors for 25 kids, but only a handful are making noise and running around. Maybe the adults get gift bags, too, as they now start to arrive. Oli and Letty arrive together. Oli is properly dressed for the occasion of a child’s birthday party. Letty’s huggy red knit, which couldn’t be any shorter should have been left in the closet for her next trip to a disco. She definitely won’t be leaning over to pick up a dropped fork or plate today. Letty already looks bored. Ben, Karina and their son arrive. After a few words with Karina, Letty fades into the background, totally ignored as Ben makes introductions. Elena and the kids arrive. Letty is reanimated.
 
Milena is up to something. She slips a disc into an envelope and addresses it to Isabel. (Could it be what we think it is? Of course.) She grabs her purse and heads out.
 
Ric and Ale meet outside Gus’ house and go in together. Fed and Nat spy him and come running to greet him. He introduces them to Ale (instant rapport). They ask if she and their dad came together, but Ric says no, they just ran into each other out front. He explains that they are friends, of a very short time, from work. If that changes, he’ll let them know. (Honesty is the best policy, you go, Ric.) Elena takes a long look at her competition and doesn’t like what she sees. Letty comes over to see how that Jealousy plant is growing.
 
Ric greets Elena amicably. She also wants to know if he and Ale came together as a pair. He has to explain the chance meeting again. El wondered if he really wanted to give the children the impression that he was accompanied. Ric doesn’t understand. El says never mind.
 
Oh, oh, here comes trouble. Milena rings Gus’s doorbell. The maid asks if she’s there for the party. No, she declines to come in but hands her the envelope and asks her to be sure to give it to Mrs. Isabel. Well, there goes trouble. She turns to leave, satisfied with her errand—or not. We shall see. If it’s the video, Gus can’t go with the "he said, she said" defense. Mmmm, more imbroglio.

Labels:


Permalink posted by Anita @ 1:28 AM
Comments:
Anita, thanks for summarizing the current caseload. There are so many pending cases here that someone needs to keep track of this.

Milena is going to be major trouble, as we saw later in the episode. It's gone far enough that I won't even try to predict how many episodes that story will run. Mexico is only 20 episodes ahead of us, BTW.

Benjamin should never make partner because of his attitude and this episode should be adequate evidence that he is not fit. In his nasty little act during the staff meeting he demonstrated that not only does he have no empathy he is questioning his colleagues' judgement. I hope Alonso calls him into his office in the next episode.

Olivia has great empathy for her clients and I think Alonso was hoping that Leticia would learn that from her. Obviously she hasn't and that she is doing the beast with two backs with Benjamin is not helping. They need to get caught.

One prediction for the moment: There has to be a reason that Federico, Luis, and Benjamin's son (whose name we don't know yet) are all the same age.

More later.
Permalink posted by Blogger Urban Anthropologist : Friday, March 23, 2018 at 7:08:00 AM EDT
 

What fun Anita! Thanks for the nice summary on all the lawyers (and tidbits of personal life) and then a preview of the episode to come. (Or did it run last night?) Padre a toda Madre did not.

Did not expect to find anything new this morning so this is a rare and welcome treat. Muchas gracias amiga.
Permalink posted by Blogger JudyB : Friday, March 23, 2018 at 7:21:00 AM EDT
 

Thank You Anita. Nice to have the Cliff's Notes. I think I will print this and keep it as a reference.

Man as soon as I saw Milenia watching her sex tape I thought :
1. Gus is far dumber than he looks
2. How long until his wife sees it?

And Bingo, hand delivered.

I guess Gustavo got some Splaino to do.
Permalink posted by Blogger Kirby : Friday, March 23, 2018 at 9:03:00 AM EDT
 

I hope there are no pets in that house. We've already had one casualty.

Predicting that Gustavo will find that envelope first and will have anxiety attacks keeping it away from Isabel. It's too soon for him to end up in Divorce Court.
Permalink posted by Blogger Urban Anthropologist : Friday, March 23, 2018 at 9:12:00 AM EDT
 

Well, let's see, the way TNs are going lately the Gussy sex tape should have just been put on YouTube anyway.

Why just give it to the wife when you can give it to the world?
Permalink posted by Blogger Kirby : Friday, March 23, 2018 at 9:56:00 AM EDT
 

Thanks, Anita. Fun reading.

He brings in a sample of his work. Roberto likes what he sees and makes a date with the DD girl. She’s the one he takes to Leo’s welcome back party.

I didn’t even realize DD girl and Roberto’s date at the party were one and the same. The woman at the party had a very pretty face and, well, I guess all I noticed in the meeting earlier were the DDs.

Benji accepts on behalf of himself and his son (as Letty's face goes as sour as a green Jolly Rancher).

It’s going to be fun knocking Letty throughout this run. Not one redeeming quality, except she gives Elena good viper advice.

Elena lets her know how busy she's been with events at her job (so she DOES work),

Hmmm, must be a job that she can do at home completely by phone.

JudyB, both Papá a toda madre and Por amor sin ley ran last night in my area.
Permalink posted by Blogger Niecie in MD : Friday, March 23, 2018 at 10:17:00 AM EDT
 

Putting that sex tape online would not be very smart because it would destroy Gustavo's career. Milena still thinks she can get him an that would put the kibosh on that para siempre.

Leticia has no redeeming qualities and it's high time someone gave her a fair warning that any more nastiness earns a pink slip.
Permalink posted by Blogger Urban Anthropologist : Friday, March 23, 2018 at 11:40:00 AM EDT
 

Urban, yeah I forgot about that. I was thinking she just wanted revenge for being unceremoniously dumped.
Permalink posted by Blogger Kirby : Friday, March 23, 2018 at 11:50:00 AM EDT
 

It's so tiring watching Elena always using the kids card. She probably chose not to have any kids with Ricardo too.

I'm surprised she actually works.

Regarding making the video public, I used to know someone who used facebook to post photos of herself with the man, and of the wife with the man. She asked people to rate who looked better with him. The wife still didn't leave the husband, and he had no intention to leave her either. Then the lover got pregnant. He still didn't leave his wife. The final straw? He discovered his wife cheating on him (when he had been doing so for years with many women). Hypocrisy at its best. That's the only way the lover got him. And now she doesn't rest easy. Just desserts I guess.

Alejandra should be honest with Carlos and cut him off. Just the fact that she feels free going out with Ricardo shows she doesn't romantically care about Carlos anymore.

anon1146
Permalink posted by Anonymous Anonymous : Friday, March 23, 2018 at 11:53:00 AM EDT
 

Anon1146: Alejandra loves Ricardo too much because she's self-centered.

UA: This TN is Mexico's version of "LA Law".
Permalink posted by Blogger Steve Boudreaux : Friday, March 23, 2018 at 12:14:00 PM EDT
 

Anon1146 I am mystified too why she bothers going down to the creepy jail to see the creep.

Steve that is why UA calls it D.F. Law @ the beginning of every recap?
Permalink posted by Blogger Kirby : Friday, March 23, 2018 at 12:24:00 PM EDT
 

Elena pisses me off, but her jeans have 'Spank Me' written all over them.

Maybe invisible ink, only seen with woofervision.
Permalink posted by Blogger Kirby : Friday, March 23, 2018 at 12:25:00 PM EDT
 

Re Ale cutting Carlos off. She's a softie and would feel guilty about what it would look like to the outside world. Near-miss hubby goes to jail, she dumps him. They'd think, how could she not be supportive of someone she loved 24 hours ago and was about to marry and dump him the next. I'm on her side for now, but how long can this farce go on? If too long, Carlos will have HIS revenge on Ric.
Permalink posted by Blogger Anita : Friday, March 23, 2018 at 1:24:00 PM EDT
 

Is it me or my imagination that the avatars have all gone mini-postage sized?
Permalink posted by Blogger Anita : Friday, March 23, 2018 at 1:25:00 PM EDT
 

Yes, I think they have. You can barely see the eyes on my Figaro.

I have one piece of advice for Alejandra and Ricardo and that is to watch seasons 4-6 of Law & Order in which Jack McCoy and Claire Kincaid have an affair that is never detected in the office.

More Later.
Permalink posted by Blogger Urban Anthropologist : Friday, March 23, 2018 at 1:49:00 PM EDT
 

PART 3 IS UP and I'm done for now. Gotta run. Can't wait to see what Urban has for us tomorrow.
Permalink posted by Blogger Anita : Friday, March 23, 2018 at 2:52:00 PM EDT
 

Can't believe Gus recorded sex tapes with Milena,he's pretty stupid for someone who's been practicing law for more than a decade.

Seems the party will be over before it even starts if Isabel receives that envelope,or even worse if their son sees it.

Ava
Permalink posted by Anonymous Anonymous : Friday, March 23, 2018 at 3:11:00 PM EDT
 

Thanks, Anita. Parts 2 and 3 are terrific.

She’s never seen Ric so attentive to anyone in the office before. (Well, look around at who’s left, Letty. You, Oli and Vicky. Not much to pick from, from his point of view.)

Anita, you made me laugh out loud at work! Yikes, my coworkers were looking at me! (Of course, both Oli and Vicky are smart, gorgeous gals.)

Ale wonders if he’s jealous. He’s not sure; has she given him a motive to be jealous? Now it’s Ale’s turn to blow up.

At last, Ale shows Carlos some steam. She’s been suppressing her feelings to spare him while he’s stir-crazy in lockup. Assuming he gets freed, I’m looking forward to her really blowing her top and kicking him to the curb.

He’s so pitiful in a prison jump-suit and low lighting.

I’ll fess up that I like those prison scenes. The cinematographer is doing some interesting lighting on Carlos’s face and angle shots from above on the holding area. More like a movie, than TN.
Permalink posted by Blogger Niecie in MD : Friday, March 23, 2018 at 3:26:00 PM EDT
 

Great stuff, Anita. This is indeed a pivotal episode.

Love the fashion comments. I remember the same statement from my youth about mixing patterns being a no-no. It's nothing new; we've seen it before in novelas but usually not on women of Isabel's class. It looks like there will be a number of Fashion Felonies in this series.

Carlos' jealousy really needs to get a stake put in it. Alejandra is not taking him back even though she doesn't believe he killed the prostitute. He needs to know that. As for whether he thinks Ricardo is a rival, so what? He boinked a prostitute the night before his wedding and therefore deserves to lose her.
Permalink posted by Blogger Urban Anthropologist : Friday, March 23, 2018 at 4:18:00 PM EDT
 

Anita, thank you for your very detailed and humorous recap.

I hate Gustavo more and more with every passing episode.
He is such a horrible hypocrite. To have the gall to tell Milena that it is for the best for her and that she will understand when she gets married was beyond despicable. Yes, she is a bimbo, but he totally led her on, used her and discarded her like a used tissue whenever the relationship with her stopped suiting him.He deserves everything he is going to get.

Irene


Permalink posted by Anonymous Anonymous : Friday, March 23, 2018 at 4:19:00 PM EDT
 

I have the feeling that Gustavo didn't know he was being recorded. He's not a stupid man so I can't imagine him being unaware of the danger of such a recording. Even if she could be trusted to not share it with anyone it could still fall into the wrong hands anytime.

It shouldn't take much longer for us to find this out. I hope at that time we can get some information about why he has been cheating on Isabel.
Permalink posted by Blogger Urban Anthropologist : Friday, March 23, 2018 at 4:36:00 PM EDT
 

On Gustavo's end, the affair = hot sex. Milena opens the door near buck nekkid and their horizontal the whole time. On the other hand, his wife is very appropriate acting. I vote Gustavo was hankering for some inappropriateness. Too bad he didn't simply buy the wife some new undies and whisk her away on a tropical vacation to rekindle embers.
Permalink posted by Blogger Niecie in MD : Friday, March 23, 2018 at 4:49:00 PM EDT
 

That could be. I once said Isabel needs to do something with her hair. The color looks awful, particularly in view of the fact that it's also dry and fly-away. We have no evidence that Isabel has a problem with sex and if Gustavo has the Madonna/Whore thing going on he needs to be yanked into the 21st century.
Permalink posted by Blogger Urban Anthropologist : Friday, March 23, 2018 at 5:03:00 PM EDT
 

Irene with rare exception that's what cheaters do. By definition they are dishonest, and AFAICT selfish.

OTOH, Melenium appears to be something comfortably past fifteen years old, so she should know better. It takes two to tango. I'm not defending either one of them, but I feel no sorrow for them either.

Hmmmm, how old is their oldest kid? Anywhere in the vicinity of seven?
Permalink posted by Blogger Kirby : Friday, March 23, 2018 at 5:35:00 PM EDT
 

I agree with Niecie that it might very well be that the tape was recorded of mutual accord. Gustavo basically has a totally different personality when he is with Milena. He is all hot and bothered and sexed up whereas with his wife he is Mr. Nice guy, so I would not be surprised that his family jewels were dictating his behavior and making him throw caution and common sense out of the video.

Irene
Permalink posted by Anonymous Anonymous : Friday, March 23, 2018 at 5:46:00 PM EDT
 

Kirby, I agree that they are both guilty, but the hypocrisy of Gustavo really gets on my nerves. He knew that she expected some level of commitment from that relationship and he still used her for sex for god knows how long and then unceremoniously dumped her "for her own good". While of course she should have known better, she is after all a single, relatively young woman who probably fell in love and he is a middle aged, married lawyer who obviously used her just for sex. I think he is much more guilty than she is.
Maybe I missed something, but we don't know how their relationship started and whether she always knew that he was married.

Irene

Permalink posted by Anonymous Anonymous : Friday, March 23, 2018 at 5:59:00 PM EDT
 

Oh I agree Irene and Niecie. His involvement had the capacity to do a lot more damage, notwithstanding the fact that he knew what he was doing. Mil did not have a spouse of kids to explain her actions to and hurt.

I think they should take all the adultery out of TNs.

Oh wait, what? Then no more TeleNovelas...nevermind.

:-)
Permalink posted by Blogger Kirby : Friday, March 23, 2018 at 6:33:00 PM EDT
 

There was a scene in which he told her that he was never leaving his wife or breaking up his family. She should have taken that at face value and ended the relationship for her own sake. However, she didn't do that. As for whether she always knew he was married, we still don't know that.
Permalink posted by Blogger Urban Anthropologist : Friday, March 23, 2018 at 6:37:00 PM EDT
 

Anita, what an impeccable recap. Very
Detailed. You'd make a good attorney.

That could turn into the birthday party from hell. Elena could go life
Time movie Channel on Ricky and ale.
But most likely that will be RD lady.

I like what you said about some ladys
Turnin to booze or ice cream or even a
Bff. But milena is going for the vein
In the neck. And me thinks she's crazy
Enough to get really bazaar like the
Crazed freakzoid women inthe lifetime
Movies. But then the nice quiet type
Like Isa could shock us all too. Mel
May not know what she's gotten into.

I don't like letty. Or her Mineless Minion bennypoo. She's never seen RIC
So attentive,that's cuz he has finally
Found someone that is balance and has
A brain.

Carlos is clearly absessed with ale &
Waaay to dependent on Her to hold him
Up. He gonna be kookoo crazy.

She wants to marry fermin. I gotta see
That. People are willing to kill over
Money. They could kill her and frame
Fermy. Greed is an adrenaline rush. So
Is The desire to be partner in A law firm.

Thank you Anita. Have a warm weekend
Patio.Well some of us will, it's gonna
Reach 80°in North Florida tomorrow. It
Probably won't feel like it.


Permalink posted by Anonymous ♡Nina : Friday, March 23, 2018 at 9:42:00 PM EDT
 

Its suppose to be " that could be DD lady".
Permalink posted by Anonymous ♡Nina : Friday, March 23, 2018 at 9:44:00 PM EDT
 

I also want to say that because it reflects something seriously horrible I'm glad that this series took a swipe at age discrimination.

While it is probably the writers' rush to get to the cliffhanger of this episode I want to think that this judge had heard multiple cases like this and felt he didn't need to demand proof that Olivia's client's company ha done this before. This is an issue that is probably affecting most of the developed countries of the world and it needs to be shown up for the nasty thing that it is.
Permalink posted by Blogger Urban Anthropologist : Saturday, March 24, 2018 at 11:34:00 AM EDT
 

Urban, I very much agree with you about age discrimination. Unfortunately, the kind of scenario that we witnessed on PASL is very common in real life. Also, there is a horrible practice of dismissing employees just days before their severance payment is due: employees are normally entitled to statutory redundancy pay if they've been working for the same employer for a certain amount of time and the employers dismiss them days before the end of this period of time in order to avoid paying compensation. Several countries have passed laws that establish that a dismissal in such circumstances is considered to be wrongful unless proven otherwise, shifting the burden of proof to the employer.

Irene

Permalink posted by Anonymous Anonymous : Saturday, March 24, 2018 at 1:00:00 PM EDT
 

Thanks everyone for stopping by. Since everybody in this tn, has some sort of storyline it should keep our interest. I wonder if they've picked certain legal topics to showcase--like Sr. Lara's. Virginia's and Jimena's are the stuff that tns are made of, whereas the employment discrimination (wrongful dismissal, thanks, Irene) and the transgender cases are something new to tns.

Loved the comments sparked by the episode. I'm glad, so far, for the mix of legal cases with intra-staff and family member intrigues in each episode.
Permalink posted by Blogger Anita : Saturday, March 24, 2018 at 1:25:00 PM EDT
 

We didn't get it here.In North florida. Maybe it will be on demand tomorrow. It
Takes about 24 hours to get there.
Permalink posted by Anonymous ♡Nina : Saturday, March 24, 2018 at 9:08:00 PM EDT
 

See, shez afraid he'll cheat on
Her(and he most likely will)like
He did on his wife with her. See
What goes around usually comes
Back around. Worse.See, the only thing that comes from cheating is more cheating and more deadly heartache, but people will never learn. Some people.
Permalink posted by Anonymous ♡Nina : Saturday, March 24, 2018 at 9:16:00 PM EDT
 

They both will get what they deserve.
Permalink posted by Anonymous ♡Nina : Saturday, March 24, 2018 at 9:27:00 PM EDT
 

That's some good advice for Letty
And bennypoo. Emphasis on "poop".
Permalink posted by Anonymous ♡Nina : Saturday, March 24, 2018 at 9:30:00 PM EDT
 

Irene, you're forgetting something, this woman knows how to say NO,just like he knows how to say NO. And neither one of them did. And even though she may not have known he was married, when she found out shes still trying to get him away from his wife and she might get him away from his wife, but that doesn't mean he's going to come back to her. This whole mess has
The potential for blood spillage
Adultery is a nasty business. I
See equal blame here.
Permalink posted by Anonymous ♡Nina : Saturday, March 24, 2018 at 9:47:00 PM EDT
 

Yeah Kirby if they did that no
More telenovas. What gas is to a car, adultery is to tns. Runing out Of gas, it just stops.
Permalink posted by Anonymous ♡Nina : Saturday, March 24, 2018 at 9:53:00 PM EDT
 

Hi Guys: The sad reality in adultery cases is that if the single one manages to pry the married one away from their spouse, the newly single one goes and finds someone else as they are now more marketable as a single person than as a cheating married person.

IE: Careful what you wish for.

Or my favorite: The rule of unintended consequences.

Dr. Johnson :-)
Permalink posted by Blogger Kirby : Saturday, March 24, 2018 at 11:05:00 PM EDT
 

Nina and Dr. Johnson, you are totally right that even if Milena succeeds in separating Gustavo from his wife, he will not stay with her. But I think Gustavo will do everything he can to avoid separating from his wife.
I will go ahead and guess that a lot of "I only love you" and "it was just sex, it meant nothing" will be uttered by that phony douche, probably while crying hypocrite crocodile tears.

Irene




Permalink posted by Anonymous Anonymous : Sunday, March 25, 2018 at 5:52:00 AM EDT
 

Let's keep this real: Most married men / men in relationships ARE NOT going to leave their wives/girlfriends for the other woman.

I only feel sorry for those other women who did not know the man they are with is involved with someone else.

We see here that Milena does know Gustavo is married and she keeps playing competitive pick me games so Gustavo will dump his wife and come to her. That's the thrill Milena gets out of the relationship, to think she is so special that Gustavo will dump his wife and his life to be with her.

What Milena is doing is twofold: she wants revenge on Gustavo for leaving her and she wants to hurt the wife so the wife will dump Gustavo and she can have him by default.

But because Milena will have destroyed his relationship with Isabel, Gustavo will NEVER want to be with her again. Gustavo will hate Milena.

Isabel may or may not leave Gustavo. What if she doesn't leave Gustavo? Because they hadn't been having problems and he's been a pretty good husband to Isabel (besides the cheating). If she does stay with Gustavo, she will never fully trust him because she knows what he's capable of.

But even if Isabel leaves Gustavo and he takes up with a new woman, 99% guarantee that new woman WON'T be Milena.

Gustavo cheated because hot sex presented itself to him and because he thought he could get away with it. Sneaking around on Isabel was part of the thrill for him. I do think Gustavo loves Isabel dearly but he's got issues within himself he needs to work on before repairing things with Isabel (if he's even able to).

I'm interested in knowing why Elena cheated on Ricardo and with whom. I think Elena's probably bored being a wife and mother and decided to have a thrill (just like Gustavo was bored & decided to have a thrill).

I think Elena works as an events coordinator of some sort.

At any rate, Milena isn't some doe-eyed Bambi, just innocent and lost and the big, bad Gustavo preyed on her. She knew she was sleeping with another woman's husband and she didn't care because she thought she was so magical & sexy she could take Isabel's husband away from her. Now she's pissed she didn't get her way, so now Isabel has to pay the price.
Permalink posted by Anonymous Anon207 : Sunday, March 25, 2018 at 12:50:00 PM EDT
 

Isabel & Gustavo may separate but that doesn't mean Gustavo will go running to Milena and if he does, it's only as a Plan B. As soon as Isabel says she'll take him back OR the moment he meets another woman, he will leave Milena in the dust. Milena has no one to blame but herself.

Isabel should blame Gustavo 100% and not focus on Milena, BUT Milena is a co-conspirator in Isabel's pain and should be held accountable accordingly. While it makes for good drama, Isabel should not go to confront Milena but if Milena comes at her, feel free to let her have it. Don't be like the president's daughter in law putting Luis on the phone to tell Milena to leave his daddy alone. Just regard her as the insignificant peon she is, and that goes for Karina as well.
Permalink posted by Anonymous Anon207 : Sunday, March 25, 2018 at 12:56:00 PM EDT
 

Anon 207, I am totally in agreement with you that Milena isn't a saintly and virginal innocent and surely by the end of this storyline she will wreck havoc in Gustavo and Isabel's lives. The only innocent party here is Isabel, and I can't even imagine how hurtful it will be for her to receive the sex tape starring a husband she worships.
I personally would never have been able to forgive such a betrayal and I believe very few women would. And that is the reason why, though I dislike Milena intensely, I find her much less guilty than Gustavo. He knew full well that he is betraying a woman who adores him, a mother of his child, and he simply did not care, his only concern was not to get caught.

I wonder how long this affair lasted. Milena and Gustavo seemed to have a kind of routine regarding their encounters, so I guess it is not a recent development and this makes Gustavo even guiltier. He wanted to eat the cake and keep it too, and now he will probably pay dearly for the fact that he was not thinking with his head.

Irene





Permalink posted by Anonymous Anonymous : Sunday, March 25, 2018 at 1:18:00 PM EDT
 

Milena is equally guilty in hurting Isabel as Gustavo is. However, Gustavo is more accountable to Isabel than Milena is...Milena has ZERO obligation to Isabel. Isabel should take up her issues with Gustavo, because Gustavo is the one who brought the turmoil into their home. He didn't protect Isabel. That doesn't absolve Milena from her part in the destruction of Isabel, though.

The person Isabel should address her issues with is Gustavo. HOWEVER, if Milena decides to confront Isabel, contact her or harass her in any way, Isabel is well within her rights to blast Milena back. I would not advise Isabel to seek out Milena, though. IMO the person who reaches out is the person who doesn't have the power in the situation, and reaching out to the other person is a sad attempt to reclaim power.

In this situation, Milena felt used and was angry that Isabel had the upper hand in the triangle, so to stake her claim and show Gustavo SHE was the one with the power, Milena sent the sex tape to Isabel.

Isabel would be showing herself not to have any power if she in return, reached out to Milena to tell her to back away from Gustavo.

I enjoy reading relationship forums, and the other woman tells/wants to tell the wife for the following reasons:

1) The man dumped them, so they want to punish him by hurting his wife (Milena)

2) The man won't dump his wife, so they want to "help him along" by telling his wife so the wife can make an "informed decision" aka leave the man so the other woman can have him to herself (This will be Leticia unless Ben dumps her, then she will be Category 1)

3) They are too weak to end the relationship themselves, so they figure if they tell the wife, she will end the relationship for her by lowering the boom on the cheating man (I think Carolina of CET would've been in this category if she didn't have her own marriage & family to lose)

The wife/girlfriend is just a tool to be used by the Other Woman to get what she wants, she doesn't particularly care if the wife/girlfriend is hurt.

Even on Sex & the City, when Carrie confronted Natasha to tell Natasha she was very sorry for being the other woman and breaking up her marriage, Carrie wasn't really sorry for being a co-conspirator in hurting Natasha. Carrie just wanted Natasha to confirm that Carrie wasn't a bad person. Natasha would not confirm Carrie was a good person but Carrie had the satisfaction of knowing Big was alone. I think Carrie would've been in Category 1 (happy Big was punished by being left by his wife) and Category 3 had the affair continued (telling Natasha about the affair so it would be ended b/c she didn't have the will to end it herself).

Anyway, to sum up: the only person responsible to Isabel is Gustavo, but Milena is equally guilty. Isabel should not have any contact with Milena unless Milena comes for her.




Permalink posted by Anonymous Anon207 : Sunday, March 25, 2018 at 2:39:00 PM EDT
 

Gustavo's cheating is especially sad because Isabel is lovely, kind, and values him and their family a lot. I'd understand if she tried to forgive and stay together. Questions I have: Is this Gustavo's first time cheating? Did he try to tell Isabel what was going on inside him (tired of the routine and feeling inadequate or old? etc.)

Carlos's cheating is an open and shut case. Alejandra has no reason whatsoever to take him back. Unless maybe he were drugged with a roofie or something that clouded his ability to resist. Leo asked for toxicology tests.
Permalink posted by Blogger Niecie in MD : Monday, March 26, 2018 at 10:17:00 AM EDT
 

I'm interested in the outcome of Benjamin cheating on Karina with Leticia. I think Benjamin thinks Karina is dumb, has no other options and will stick around if she catches him cheating (but because she's dumb and in love with him, she won't).

But I think Karina will have other plans for Benjamin and his side ho when she finds out.
Permalink posted by Anonymous Anon207 : Monday, March 26, 2018 at 12:30:00 PM EDT
 

Niecie, didn't we see her put something in Carlos' drink in a shot glass right before he swigged it down and threw the glass into the pool?
Permalink posted by Blogger Kirby : Monday, March 26, 2018 at 4:41:00 PM EDT
 

Kirby, yeah I saw that too and he sniffed or licked something off her chest. Unlike the other dancers, loose and strutting their stuff, Patricia came in there like she was on a mission.
Permalink posted by Blogger Niecie in MD : Monday, March 26, 2018 at 5:41:00 PM EDT
 

How long has he been in the prison now? Shouldn't the toxicology reports have been presented ages ago? Or did Alan bribe somebody to falsify or destroy them?
Permalink posted by Blogger Urban Anthropologist : Monday, March 26, 2018 at 6:48:00 PM EDT
 





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