Caray, Caray!

Tonight's my recap night. Up late.
 

loli

La Suerte de Loli – Jueves – Parte 1 de 3

We begin with Nicky sobbing, having overheard that Octavio has gone on a trip. “Why didn’t he say goodbye to me?” Loli, Sam, and Nora try to comfort him. When Nicky leaves the room, Loli tells Sam that Octavio is not the bio dad. That Octavio found out and didn’t tell them. Loli says she doesn’t know how to tell Nicky that his adored father is not coming back. Sam agrees that Loli’s lie is for the best.

Loli then embraces Sam and tells her that she must have done something good in a past life to have been lucky enough to have Sam.

Christie is suspicious of Octavio’s motives in helping Gabriel. He assures her he’s a good guy. She jokes that he might have lost some brain cells from all the times she hit him when they were little.

In her kitchen Melissa is counting cupcakes, does some higher math, and decides she’ll need to sell 6,322 of them to cut into the debt.

Vicente is meeting with “Terrible” Cortez [a real guy, featured on the radio as Al Aire con El Terrible]. Chente is trying to convince him to move from another station to Global Radio. Terrible, hereafter TC, tells Chente that he already has an established audience for an afternoon show and that’s when his program must air. Vicente tells him about Pau’s fantastic ratings and offers more money. [Chente would starve selling used cars.] TC tells him no dice and leaves. Chente calls Rafa on the intercom and orders him to close the deal with TC.

Octavio tells Apolo he doesn’t want the burden of Nicky gone after Apolo has tried to tell him he’s better off. O says he feels like a bad person. Apolo reminds him of his good deeds: Gabriel, Bruno; and, if it were not for all those hearts he broke, Octavio would go right to heaven, Hunky Bar and all.

Loli runs into TC when he’s leaving. They embrace fondly. Loli asks if he’s coming to work for Global Radio. Just then Rafa texts her to delay TC’s leaving. Loli convinces him to have a coffee with her.

On Despierte, LA Rox is telling her presumably female audience that women should not have limits. Cesar calls in. She gives Mati the hand across the throat gesture. Then Cesar tells her that this will be the last time he bothers her. He wants to thank her for teaching him that lies don’t result in anything good. He says that, from now on, he’ll never pretend to be what he’s not. He’s going to be happy with himself just as he is, even with his homely face and body, he’s sure he’ll meet a woman who would love him just as he is.

Rox is moved and tells him not to hang up. And that what he said is beautiful. She’s not perfect either. She’s going to think it over and…maybe she’ll call him one day.
 

loli

La Suerte de Loli – Jueves – Parte 2 de 3

Casa Loli [I notice that, as Nora thaws out, she’s wearing more makeup and a more attractive hairstyle.] She and Nicky are doing a crossword puzzle. He’s still very glum about his papá. Rogelio shows up with a gift for Nora and some sweets. I think he wants to take her to lunch, but she says she can’t leave Nicky. Rogelio pitches in to help with the puzzle. When Rogelio notices that there’s a puzzle piece from a different puzzle, Nicky’s lip quivers as he mentions it was from when his papá worked on that puzzle. Nora tries to make an analogy about the puzzle piece not fitting into this particular puzzle.

Apolo, as always, seems to spend more time giving advice to Octavio than working. This time he’s telling him he thinks Gabriel is behaving oddly and Octavio should get rid of him. After some back and forth, Apolo and Octavio decide to look for Gabriel’s parents.

Terrible Cortez tells Loli he really likes that Global Radio is a family business. Loli tells him how much effort Rogelio put into it. TC: “Then why did he give it to Chente. He has no experience and he knows as much about programming radio as I do about being an astronaut.” He goes on to say that he tells it like he sees it, no tengo pelos en la lengua (lit. not to have hairs on your tongue or to be blunt).

Rafa shows up, offers to get TC another coffee. TC notices how Loli looks after Rafa and makes a comment.

Just then…Wow! A Pepto Bismol commercial. So those tummy aches were product placements.

Loli and Rafa double team TC, convincing him to come on board and take a different time for his show.

Melissa is selling her pearls to a friend, while Bruno negotiates (badly) with some guy at either a jewelers or a pawnshop, I’m not sure which. He shows him a wristwatch and a pocket watch and gets $300 for both, despite overacting about the watch being his dead father’s.

Melissa then sells a designer bag and tries to sell her diamond engagement ring to the same guy Bruno was working on earlier.

Pau tries to get Rafa to give her some information about what’s going on with he and Karen. Chente is eavesdropping. When Chente overhears that Pau is about to tell Rafa about the two of them, he interrupts. After she leaves Chente queries Rafa about whether Pau is jealous of Karen.

Sam comes to Hunky Bar (but only to Bruno’s office) and chews him out royally for hurting Nicky and lying to them. She accuses him of only using Nicky to get close to Loli. And, just like Loli, she never lets him explain himself and leaves in a huff.

While Nora is talking to Rogelio about Octavio and her distrust of him, Rogelio asks if she knows anything about the whereabouts of Domingo, Loli’s father. Nora tells him that the last time he was around was when Loli and Mariana were in college. Rogelio tells her that sometimes the past returns. [Lots of foreshadowing here.]
 

loli

La Suerte de Loli – Jueves – Parte 3 de 3

Arturo is explaining the plans for the office expansion to Vicente when the doll passes gas. Art assures him it was the baby. Chente is disparaging of this method of preparing oneself for fatherhood, saying that he learned to be a father when his firstborn arrived (why am I not surprised?) Art tries to get Mati to take Guevín while he’s having the meeting. Nope. The doll begins to cry loudly while Art goes back into Chente’s office.

Gabriel catches up with Sam on her way out of Hunky Bar and tells her that Octavio does love Nicky and…if only he’d had such a father.

Loli, Mati and Rox are eating some of Melissa’s cupcakes somewhere. Rox tries to get her to forgive Octavio. Mati to Rox: ¡Ahi va la burra al trigo! (lit. the donkey is back eating the wheat again or you’re beating that dead horse again.) He says he brought sugar bombs to take Loli’s mind off the Octavio situation… Just then Chente arrives and announces that Karen, who’s with him, is the new VP of Marketing. [Before he was pushing Rafa and Loli together to get to Pau, and now it’s Rafa and Karen.]

Rafa tells Karen that he just went through a big mess mixing his personal and his business lives and now… She assures him confidently that, with her, it will be different.

Bruno is mixing drinks, gets paid for a couple and gives in to temptation. He takes money from the cash register.

Loli is outside and on the phone with Rox. She doesn’t plan to attend the “welcome, Karen” dinner. Just then a man walks up to her. They don’t explicitly say, but I’m sure it’s Domingo, her father. She refuses to talk with him, gets in her car, and leaves.

Mati has to explain to Rox why Loli isn’t thrilled about the Karen hire. Rafa comes looking for Loli and Rox sarcastically lists all the VP’s they have.

Romeo and Octavio are putting away some boxes in the storeroom and discover Christie and Gabriel. Gabo hastens to assure him that she’s his sister. As always, Octavio’s first reaction is to get mad.

Bruno is agonizing about whether to put the money back in the cash register when Apolo comes up behind him and says he’s caught him. Bruno is terrified, but Apolo just wants to tell him he put the wrong liquor in a mixed drink.

Pau and Vicente are talking in his office. She’s asking him about his hiring Karen. He admits that having Karen here will be perfect. If Rafa is over the moon about Karen, it won’t bother him so much when he hears about the two of them. [Terrible Cortez is SO right about Chente; trying to fix his love life by sticking the business with more overhead.]

When Octavio says that he’s going to report Christie to child services, she says Gabo was wrong about Octavio and she’s leaving. And Gabo says he’s going with her. And, as always, Octavio softens a bit and tells them to wait right there until he gives this some thought.

Loli comes home, probably not in the best mood (Domingo…Karen) and is bombarded by Nicky, Sam, and Nora wanting her to handle something. She tells them she needs to rest a moment.
 

Loli

I really enjoy your recaps novelera! Thank you for the translation of some of those fast-moving conversations.

I already like TC a lot! “Then why did he give it to Chente. He has no experience and he knows as much about programming radio as I do about being an astronaut.” He goes on to say that he tells it like he sees it, no tengo pelos en la lengua (lit. not to have hairs on your tongue or to be blunt). This is the best way anyone has described Chente so far, hairy tongue or not. 😊

Octavio and Apolo are like an old married couple with their arguments. So disappointing the Bruno pocketed that money. Octavio has only been great with him, such a betrayal.

I agreed with Rox for the first time in a few episodes, just how many Vice Presidents are there going to be at Global Radio and how many are ex-wives, ex-novias and novias to Rafa? Clearly Chente has no clue how to truly work with people and have those tough conversations.

Karen is getting a bit intense with Rafa, I don’t think this is going to go well.

Poor Cesar, his comments were sort of sad. I hope he really does look for a nice lady who loves him for who he is. I don’t think Rox fits that bill.

I am just not into the baby story lines, fake or in the oven (Mel).

Poor Nicky, hopefully the adults will be able to figure this out, the only problem is, who are the adults in this story? 😊

Nora is looking less stern and a bit softer. I think you are correct, novelera, more make up and some more true smiles that make it to her eyes helps. This new story line with Loli’s dad and what role Nora and Don Rogelio play in that is an interesting look back into Loli’s earlier years.

Appreciate the recap novelera!



 

loli

Thanks so much, novelera, for this wonderful recap. I'm most grateful for the Spanish phrases, which tend to go right by me when I'm watching. And your asides were mostly right on target. I say "mostly," because I'm not sure why, when Chente says he learned to be a father when he had his first child, you say "(why am I not surprised?)." Isn't that the way most people learn how to be a parent? That's certainly how I learned (to the extent that I ever learned :-)  ) And I loved your snark re Melissa's "higher math."

I had no idea that Terrible Cortez is a real person and a real radio personality. Thanks for that info.

I too noticed the Pepto Bismol commercial, but I'm not sure I see it as a product placement. It may have been meant that way, but given the fact that both Nicky and Nora hold their nose when they take the foul-tasting pink stuff, it doesn't seem like a well-though-out placement.

Arrgh, Bruno! He looks up to the ceiling and tells God and/or the light bulbs that "it's only a loan"! Yeah, right. I am continually amazed that Bruno somehow managed to make it to (chronological) adulthood.

Yes, Nora does seem to be taking more pains with her appearance. I assume Don Rogelio has a lot to do with that.

The sudden (foreshadowed) appearance of Loli's father seemed strange. I wonder whether it will somehow tie in with the Octavio/Nicky thread. Fathers do return, yadda yadda. Or not.
 

loli

VVS, I really enjoyed your comments on novelera's recap. Especially, "Octavio and Apolo are like an old married couple with their arguments" and "the only problem is, who are the adults in this story?" Yes! And I too am not into the baby threads, neither re Mati/Arturo nor "Mel (in the oven)." I think it's highly unlikely that Mati and Arturo will adopt; I'm not even sure they'll stay together. As for Mel, arrgh, she's done a pretty poor job with her first child, and it seems likely that a second would be an utter disaster. Perhaps fate will intervene.
 

loli

Thanks for the kind remarks.

VVS, I probably could have phrased it better, but the one who no tiene pelos en la lengua is Terrible Cortez. He said it right after he sharply criticized Vicente and meant that he (TC) doesn't pull his punches, tells it like it is, etc.

Juanita my aside about Chente's fatherhood was how I interpreted his remark to Arturo. I thought he meant that he didn't attend any birthing classes or any of the things prospective fathers do these days; i.e., too self absorbed to prepare for his child. And was this the first time they mentioned his having children? Two prior wives I remember, but not children.
 

loli

Hi novelera,
I understood that Chente was implying that he didn't need fatherhood classes, unlike Arturo and other lesser souls. But Chente is about the same age as Rafa, so it's quite possible that he, like Rafa, had a child about 17 or 18 years ago. Whatever is the fashion now may not have been so then. (Or perhaps it was. My experience dates back a lot more than 18 years! :-)  ) And back then, in the Middle Ages, there were childbirth classes but none that I was aware of for prospective fathers. Certainly my husband and I learned how to parent (and how not to parent) through trial and error. The one thing that gave us some confidence was reading books about raising a child. Each one had a different theory and often contradicted what the others were saying. We figured that if there were knowledgeable proponents for all these different and at times clashing theories, we could muddle through on our own. And we did.
 

Loli

There’s really nothing for me to add to novelera’s fine recap and the great comments from VVS and Juanita. Thank you all.

I figured TC was a real guy. I hadn’t heard of him before this. I liked all the stuff he said about Vicente.

They hired Karen????

Very disappointed in Bruno.

Yep, I also thought---Vicente has children? Wonder where he keeps them hidden.

Nicky and Octavio are heartbreaking. That’s still the storyline that grabs me the most.

dondi356

 

Loli

I'll have a recap up later today. I just got a call we can get vaccinated, so I must go!

dondi356
 

General comment:

Go, dondi356 go! Vaccinations are much more important than recaps! Hopefully you receive the J&J one so you don't have to go back, but any one of the vaccines are great!
 

Loli #39 part 1

Octavio sets makeshift bed for Chris in his apartment. All he asks is they put everything back how it was. This isn’t a shelter he says. She makes a crack saying if this was a shelter, they would have fed us. Yes, Octavio backtalk runs in this family. Gabe promises that everything will be ok. Chris tells Octavio that she’s a hard worker, too. Let me stay here a few days and I’ll work it off. Are you serious, says Octavio. He says he’s calling Child Services tomorrow! He tells Chris there’s food in the fridge, take what you want.

Mati arrives home and asks what’s for dinner. Salad. Art tells him the proposal went over well and they will start remodeling next week. They sit to eat. Mati asks, how’s Huevin? What? Don’t you have him asks Art? They laugh. How could I have him when you had him, Mati says. Uh, oh, wait. Art realizes he had Huevin when he went to make copies. Ay! You left the baby at Global!?!

Bruno is talking to the money he stole from Hunky Bar. He swears he will pay back every penny. Mel comes in and he stashes it in his pocket. Mel has something to tell him. She has the money that’s going to save the house. She saw the eviction notice. What? He plays dumb and says, what are you talking about? She tells him I know you think I’m a porcelain doll but this is a marriage, we are in this together. He tells her he was taking care of it.

She gives him an envelope. Open it. It’s a lot of money. Bruno doesn’t want to be owing the family any money. They don’t owe anyone. Mel tells him she pawned a few things including her engagement ring. He wishes she wouldn’t have done that. Mel says that’s what possessions are for. To help you in the bad times. Bruno promises he will get back everything she pawned. They hug. Mel actually seemed human. I like this Mel and I hope she sticks around.

Karen is at Rafa’s. (Someone tell me, were they coming back from Karen’s dinner?) He tells Karen he has a very important meeting in the morning. She wants a little kissy face but Rafa backs up. He doesn’t want her to take it the wrong way. She says it’s fine. He offers to take her home or get her a Mover. Not necessary and she leaves. (he looked relieved, didn’t he?) As soon as she goes, Rafa takes out his phone and looks at Loli’s number. He doesn’t make the call.

Loli helps Nicky and Sam with schoolwork. The doorbell rings and Nicky runs to get it. Loli leaves the room for a moment. It’s the man we think is Loli’s father. I’m here to see Mari, he says. Nicky tells him she’s my mom, but she died. Ay, he’s sorry, no one told him. Are you her son? Loli comes back, You? Nora comes downstairs, well look what the cat dragged in. Sam and Nicky want to know who this man is. Nora says, it’s Domingo Aguilar, Loli’s father.

What the heck? Bruno scratching his rear? Mel asks, your hemorrhoids again? (was this necessary?) Bruno asks why she want to help pay the bills? The cupcakes aren’t enough, Mel says. She saw an online cosmetology course—but then she says she’s never been interested planets and stuff. Carol pipes up, mom you never worked in your life. You’re going to start now? Besides, you’re pregnant. Bruno tells Carol her mother can do what she wants. She will be a big success at whatever she does. But then he says Carol is right. There’s too much going on right now. She says we need the money What are we going to do, steal? Gulp!

dondi356

 

Loli #39 part 2

Rafa goes to Pau’s to take Jess to school. How are you Pau asks him. Are you happy about Karen? He says she will be a good partner. She has a lot to contribute. Pau gives a dig: It won’t be weird for you and your girlfriend to work together since you’ve already done that before. Jess comes in and asks, Karen is working with you? Jess knows Karen Pau asks? Not really, Jess says, but she was there for the Pete incident. How nice, our daughter approves of Karen, says Pau. Pau’s not happy.

Domingo’s desperate to speak with Loli. He won’t let her leave to take the kids to school. He just needs a minute or two of her time. Nora volunteers to take the kids. Nicky says if you are Loli’s father, that means you are like my grandfather. Nope, he’s not your grandfather.

Loli starts in on her dad. You’re two months from completing treatment. Are you going to give up again? If it’s about money, he says, I’ll pay it back. No, it’s not the money. I just want you cured and to leave me alone. Maybe you forgot what happened? You abandoned me, she says. Domingo says he could never forget; it’s always on his mind. He knows he hurt her. It hurts him, too. Imagine how I feel, she tells him, it was your responsibility to look after me and protect me. Instead, you chose to forget about your daughter.

Forgive me, he asks. I didn’t know what to do after your mother died. I didn’t know how to handle things. I want to fix everything. So much time has passed, he wants to make peace. Yes, that’s right, too much time had passed, she says. Loli doesn’t have the desire to make up with her dad.

Octavio is playing with his phone, blocking and unblocking Loli’s home phone number. Apolo comes and they talk about Chris. She ran away, Octavio says, and her idiot brother hid her in the pantry. I almost called Child Services. But you didn’t, says Apolo. No, the poor thing. They are both sleeping upstairs. Apolo tells Octavio to call the Vatican. Now that the Pope is Argentine maybe he can make you a saint.

Apolo really came to say that money was missing from the register last night. Apolo forgot to lock it. He asked around if anyone saw something. Apolo wonders if it could have been Gabriel or the little sister. Octavio says to stay calm. He doesn’t want the kids to think they don’t trust them Apolo says to call CPS to pick up the brats. You’re going to get into trouble, he warns.

Loli’s got a problem. She has an important meeting in 30 minutes. She doesn’t want to leave her dad alone. She tells him she won’t let him mess up her life or the kids’. She brings up the abandonment again. He tried calling her yesterday, but she didn’t answer. Loli reminds him he’s not allowed to call. If he wants to contact her, he has to do it through the doctor. Domingo drops the bomb: he was kicked out of the residence. She is angry but doesn’t have time to argue. He has to go to work with her.

Bruno tries to return the money to the register. Apolo comes up behind him. What are you doing here so early, he asks? Then he asks Bruno if he noticed anyone near the register last night. Bruno’s nervous but Apolo doesn’t suspect.

Mati and Art rescue their baby from the copy machine. The baby is crying. Art isn’t taking this seriously. Mati is upset. You’re the one who wanted to adopt he tells Art. Good grief, Mati wants Art to apologize to the fake baby.

Mati complains to Rox about Art’s parenting skills. Their baby could have been kidnapped and held for ransom! Rox reminds Mati this is just a plastic doll.

Rox asks Mati if he has seen Loli. Yes, and she’s in her office with a man.

dondi356

 

Loli #39 part 3

Loli tells her father she has a meeting, and he is not to move from her office. Please don’t get me in trouble, she says. He sees her nameplate on the desk; You’re a VP? He sees a pic of Mari. He remembers they were inseparable. He asks when did she die? Recently. And the kids are hers? No, says Loli, they are mine now. Domingo asks, are you married so you have someone to help take care of them? I was taught you didn’t need a man to raise children, she states. She has to leave for her meeting. She makes sure to take her bag. Domingo promptly starts looking though her office.

Bruno sneaks around the storage room and hides the money under a barrel.

Domingo does not stay put. He runs into Rox and Mati. She introduces herself…and you…how do you know Loli? Oh, we go way back, it’s a long story, he says. Rafa appears. Rox is quick to tell Rafa, this man is with Loli. Finally Domingo announces himself as Loli’s father. Rox says Loli never told us about your existence. Mati ushers Rox away before she causes more embarrassment.

Rafa introduces himself and Domingo is quick to ask a favor. Can you lend me $50? I forgot my wallet and I have to pay for my ride here. Sure, Rafa will lend the money. Ah, says Domingo, could you make it 100? And Domingo grabs the money. Rafa gives him a strange look but lets him take it. I’ll pay you back, he tells Rafa.

Loli meets with Karen, Vic and Rafa about programming strategy. Rafa tells Loli he met her dad. Loli does not want to talk about him now. Rafa says tell him he doesn’t owe me anything. What? I loaned him money. Loli explodes, you loaned him money! She runs out and Rafa follows. Rafa says he thought it was weird, the way he said I’m Loli’s father, can you lend me some money. Loli tells Rafa her father is a gambling addict. They set off in the car to look for him.

Mel is with Lupe. Mel is unloading her troubles again. She whines, I hope I can get My engagement ring back soon. What Lupe really wants to know is who is the man is with Loli.
Angie and Pau walk nearby. Angie says she needs an assistant, someone to organize her schedule, someone bilingual. Mel pops out from behind them. She overheard. Remember me, she says in English. I’m Melissa Quintero and I’m interested in the job. When do I start?

Sam explains the Octavio situation to Jess. Now she and Nicky are back in the same boat again--no father. Well, at least Nicky was happy for a little while. Jess tells her it’s odd that he would lie about being Nicky’s father when he really wasn’t. Usually, it’s the other way around. Sam wonders why Jess is defending Octavio. No, she isn’t. All I’m saying is if he loves Nicky, he can’t be as bad as you say. Food for thought for Sam.

Rogelio is visiting with Nora. (they are really hitting it off, aren’t they) She tells him Loli’s father showed up. He chokes on what he’s eating. (I wonder why he had this reaction?) Where has he been? At a rehab clinic. Nora recounts, when Loli’s mom died, he started to gamble, and he lost everything. Eventually he lost the house. So Loli had to live with us. How terrible, Rogelio interjects.

Nora continues, he got worse and began to see Loli less and less. Mari told me when Loli started working at Global, she put aside savings for him. But he would gamble away whatever she gave him. Loli had no choice but to put him in rehab. Now he shows up out of the blue! Rogelio figures he must have a good reason to return. Maybe he’s sorry or wants to make up for lost time. Nora hopes he doesn’t cause more problems for Loli.

dondi356

 

Loli #39 part 4

Domingo is back at the office. Loli is angry, he is sorry. He apologizes to Rafa. Loli tells her dad to go sit in the cafeteria and do not talk to anyone. Rafa asks Loli if he can help. it’s complicated, she tells Rafa. Then she asks him if he is happy and at peace. Knowing that would help me…. she cuts herself off and quickly walks away.

Bruno goes back for money. It’s missing! Chris sneaks up on him and says, looking for this? She’s got the cash! Who the hell are you? I’m Christina, who are you? Why are you so nervous? I’m not nervous, I’m Bruno, he answers. He grabs at the money, give it back. She says she found it so it’s hers now. Bruno tells her it’s not hers or his. It’s Octavio’s and I have to give it back. Give me the money. What was it doing here, she asks. What are you a cop, Bruno says? You’re stealing from Octavio, she says. No, I just borrowed it. They threaten each other with going to prison. All Bruno wants is to return the money. He pleads with her.

Rox can’t reach Loli. She wonders why she didn’t tell them about her father. You know Loli, she doesn’t talk about her personal life (no, but she makes great videos in the broadcast booth) Mati says he only knew about him because he would take care of the monthly checks she sent.

Rox puts on her sunglasses and gets ready to leave. Mati asks her where she is going. Rox says she has her secrets, too.

Gabe has made breakfast for himself and Chris. Apolo comes up and straight out asks Gabe if he was at the bar last night. You know I don’t go there when it’s open, Gabe responds. Well, since you lied about your sister and snuck her in... any other questions, Gabe asks. No but someone is here to see you. It’s Sam! She tells Gabe, this might sound weird, but the other day you said you wished you had a father like Octavio. I need to know everything that has happened for you to think that way.

Loli and Domingo arrive home. He goes to use the bathroom.

Nicky tells Loli his dad is calling from Australia. We hear Octavio say he’s sorry he left without saying goodbye. He swears he will visit when he comes back. Loli wants to speak with Octavio. She sends Nicky to keep an eye on Domingo.

We agreed you wouldn’t contact Nicky she says. You agreed to that Loli, just you. Please, Octavio, you already lied to him. What am I going to tell him? Don’t hurt him anymore. (I wish Loli would sit down and talk to him, better yet, listen to him)

Gabe tells Sam all that Octavio has done for him. He’s done more than my own parents would. She asks about his parents, but he doesn’t want to discuss them. She wonders why Octavio would lie about being Nicky’s father. Gabe doesn’t know about that, but he’s seen Octavio with Nicky. They smile and laugh together. He loves Nicky very much.

Cesar is hard at work at the restaurant. Rox shows up. He hears her voice and sees her through the kitchen door. It’s her! He’s nervous. He comes out from the kitchen. The music helps set the scene. Hello, says Rox, I was going to call but it’s better to say things like this in person. I decided to give us a chance. Let’s see what happens. (yes!)

Nora and Domingo are having dinner. (where is everyone else?) She gives credit to Loli. She searched heaven and earth to find Octavio for Nicky. Nicky was happy. It’s a shame it turned out to be a lie. Nora must admit Loli has tried her best to make her grandchildren happy. (Nora’s done a 180 on Loli. How did this happen?)

It makes Domingo feel good to hear someone speak well of his daughter. She tells Domingo he can still get Loli back. Tell her the truth. She deserves to know. He can’t because he doesn’t want to break her heart. Nora was upset when he disappeared but Loli has a right to know why he did what he did.

Bruno successfully puts the money back in the register.

dondi356

 

Loli #39 part 5

Cesar and Rox talk. She really seems interested in what he has to say. He names drops clients, Leo DiCaprio, Lady Gaga. Rox thinks he is very nice and he has pretty eyes and a cute smile. She thinks he’s perfect as he is. Awwww. She asks him how he ended up being a chef and a restaurant owner.

He started as a dishwasher when he came to the US. He would watch the cooks and learn the recipes and the tricks of the trade. Little by little he fell in love with the profession. He loves being a chef and he built this with hard work and sweat.

Cesar thinks he’s been talking too much. No, Rox thinks this is the best way to get to know each other. She’s enjoying it. (actually, I am, too) He tells her she needs to try his specialty dessert. Mmmmm, it’s excellent, she says. You really put your heart into this.

Nora knocks on Loli’s door. Can we talk, she asks. Loli says right away, I told Octavio not to call. No, no, Nora says, I want to talk about Domingo. Ok, says Loli, give me a few days to figure out where to put him.

That’s not necessary, says Nora, he can stay if you want. Nora starts, Domingo doesn’t know I’m here. But you need to know the truth and he won’t tell you. He’s not a bad person, but your mother’s death affected him. He didn’t abandon you. What? He abandoned me, I had to live with you, Loli reminds her. In the end, he only sought me out when it suited him. That was because of the gambling, Nora says. Loli says he chose gambling over his daughter. No, Loli. Your father didn’t start gambling to forget you, it was to forget what your mother did to him. Your mother fell for another man and he didn’t know how to handle it. That’s why he did it. He’s not a monster and it’s time you forgive him.

Vicente and Pau talk in his office. I hired a new assistant, Melissa Quintero, Pau tells him. Not a problem for Vic. He pours drinks. They sit on the couch together. Pau mentions the dinner for Karen. It went well, Vic says, but he’s still hungry for dessert. He moves in and kisses Pau and at that exact moment Rafa walks into the room. He stops dead in his tracks. Rafa manages a wowwww. Pau and Vic are busted!

And we are out.

dondi356

 

loli

Wow, dondi356, I'd suggest that perhaps the vaccine has magic recap powers, but you had them even before you got the vaccine. Thanks very very much for another magnificent job!

Like you, I was pleased to see an episode where Mel was a human being, even an admirable human being. I loved her speech to Bruno about not being a porcelain doll, and I enjoyed her popping up to "apply" for the job as Angie's assistant.

Mel may have suddenly improved a lot as a person, but she's still not exactly the sharpest knife in the set (hmm...maybe in that set she is!). I confess that I missed the great line you quote about her seeing an ad for an online cosmetology course, "but then she says she’s never been interested planets and stuff."

Yikes, apparently that wasn't the only great line I missed. I also missed Apolo's terrific remark to Octavio about calling the Vatican: "Now that the Pope is Argentine maybe he can make you a saint."

I guess I can't say nasty things about Mel, but Carol is still a perra. What gall to say to her mother, "mom you never worked in your life. You’re going to start now?" I was ready to strangle her.

When I heard Cesar tell Rox how he started as a dishwasher and eventually got to be a chef, all I could think of were some of the ads Telemundo runs. One or two of them were very similar to Cesar's account.

Looks as if both Jess and Gabe are going to help Sam see Octavio in a much better light.

I found Nora's account of why Loli's father became a gambling addict and essentially abandoned her interesting, and it was also interesting that Nora was the one to tell her, not Domingo. I wonder whether Don Rogelio was the man Loli's mother had an affair with. How else can we explain Don R's violent choking on his food when he hears that Domingo has turned up?
 

Loli

Thanks, Juanita. Great comments as usual!

VVS, we got the one shot J&J vaccine. Feeling fine today. Thank goodness that's done.

Apolo’s digs at Octavio’s Argentine roots are a hoot.

Carol is awful. She also mentioned her mother’s pregnancy as a reason she shouldn’t work. I realized I left this out of my recap.

Cesar’s story and the ads. There are beer commercials that talk about successful people who started from humble beginnings. Are those the ones?

I hope Sam comes around in her opinion of Octavio. Maybe she can talk some sense into Loli.

Juanita, I like your theory of Don Rogelio being involved with Loli’s mom. I thought it was so strange he would have such a reaction. Do you think it is even possible that Rogelio could be Loli’s bio dad? He has such an interest in her.

dondi356

 

loli

Yes, dondi356, at least one of the commercials was for beer. I think the person may have started as a dishwasher, I'm not sure. There were several commercials. One may have even depicted someone who worked his way up to chef or perhaps even owner of a restaurant.

And yes, I too wondered whether Don Rogelio could be Loli's bio daddy. As you've noted, that would explain his strong positive interest in her. What stopped me from adding this in my comment was my uncertainty about dates. My assumption was that the affair between Loli's mother and Don R started sometime after Loli was born. But perhaps not. Hmmm...
 

Loli

Thank you dondi356 for this awesome recap and I am so glad you are feeling well after the J&J vaccination! I am so late to the commenting party as I spent the weekend at the hospital staffing another one of our mass vaccination events on the reservation. So grateful to have vaccine and so many people taking it!

Juanita and novelera have already provided just great comments and possible story line clarifications, I just have a few things to add. (Okay, a few more than a few). 😊

First of all, so happy that Chente and Pau have been discovered red-handed by Rafa, no Chisme this time, but actual first-hand proof!

That very unnecessary Bruno’s butt scratching scene was just weird, but I thought I heard Mel say he had sensitive skin and she was using sensitive laundry soap for just that. Nut allergies, butt allergies and theft. Bruno is a piece of work.

I do think Karen and Rafa were coming back after the Chente forced fun dinner of welcome. Rafa told Karen he thought Chente went a bit overboard, like he was going to give them bad news. We that sure saw that happen in the last scene.

I am glad Sam is listening to the people around her. I also hope she can talk some sense into Loli about Octavio.

“You know Loli, she doesn’t talk about her personal life (no, but she makes great videos in the broadcast booth)” made me bust out laughing! That was a lot of story going on about her dad. Not sure how to feel about it yet.

I loved listening to Cesar’s story and for the first time it seemed Rox was actually listening to someone and not just hopping in bed with them!

Apolo teasing Octavio about becoming a saint quickly since the Pope is Argentinian as well was very, very funny. 😊

What did make Nora do a 180 about Loli? Was it her drunken confessions to Octavio?

Looking forward to the episode tonight and doing the best I can to provide a recap even close to this one dondi356! Thank you!

 

is anyone writing about Frida? can't find anything