Claudio brings Valentina flowers. He declares his love (whoa!) It is all very sweet and innocent. She tells him, understandably, that her boyfriend has just died and it's like, a little soon... (ya know????), but that's he's really wonderful. It's all sweet and lovely and even I am, like.... awwwwww..... :-(
Leonardo is talking to someone about Helena's business..... We do not know who this person is. Ominous music plays in the background..... (Obviously he is a double agent. Dun-dun-DUNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!)
Claudio and Valentina talk about stuff and family stuff that explains to we viewers why, in the end, they will be perfect together.
An epic battle of the titanesses (Helena and Patricia) continues. Helena, of course, has the upper hand, what with the debt that Patricia's father owed to Helena, unbeknownst to Patricia. We mortal viewers are graced with back-history, explaining the enmity:
(To recall you all as to how we all got here, and why Helena (who is usually- I think- a NICE character, is on such the attack here against a woman who just lost her husband, father, and brother...)- Helena was just repulsed at her beloved brother's funeral by her father (Guillermo) and sister-in-law (Patricia). Before she left, she told Patricia, she wanted to see her, to discuss a legal matter. This legal matter was apparently a huge loan of money that she (Helena) lent to Patricia's father, just before he died in a plane crash. Helena now is expecting Patricia to cover that debt.)
Anyway.... Patricia goes on high defense by playing by playing the grieving dead wife, saying she loved Alfonso with all of her heart and soul, and how can Helena not believe her? She is doing a good job, too... If it weren't for the high neck on her outfit, I wouldn't have been surprised if she were to have pulled out a strand of pearls containing a locket with Alfonso's picture in it to clutch throughout her conversation with Helena for added effect. Helena parries that easily by saying that they both know otherwise. Patricia then acknowledges by saying that, well then, okay, the two of them were very happy throughout their entire marriage together, and tries to pull the "I tried and tried to bear him a child, but my womb remained empty, now I'll never be a mommy, WAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!" card (may I say here... I LIKE Patricia.... I mean, I like CHARACTERS like her. I LIKE villains like this- she is SHREWD. A true ANTAGONIST! FINALLY!!!!)... Helena is having none of this either. She tells Patricia that the reason she couldn't have children with Alfonso was maybe because SHE didn't love HIM as much as HE loved HER, because SHE was too busy screwing his BEST FRIEND!!! <GASP!!!>
Patricia does not even bat an eye. She denies it, and calls Helena crazy, but in a calm and even voice. Then she admits that, no, she never loved her husband, but she did care about him very much, and she spent every day of their marriage wanting to make him happy. Unlike Helena, who doesn't love or have anyone to love or care for, which is why she is completely alone. Ana Belena again shows how great she is with her facial expressions. Patricia's remark cuts her to the core, and both know it.
And with that, Patricia turns on her heel, and walks out, having won this round. Martha Julia should win an award for the triumphant smile of villany on Patricia's self-satisfied face.
(The tense music was great in this scene, too!)
A great scene where we, again, get a glimpse of what a truly horrible person Nora is. I'm not sure if the character is supposed to be 15, but, really, it's the only way I could think to.... well, no, even THEN, there is just NO excusing her absolute LACK of sensitivity for.... EVERYTHING! Here, she doesn't understand why Valentina can't forget Ricardo (just like she can't understand why Valentina can't forget their father.... like, WHAT, NORA?????? Do you HAVE a SOUL??????) I guess she IS trying to console her weeping sister and give her her own brand of.... uh, 'advice'? But.... let's just say if this were a telenovela of the 90's Nora would be played by Cynthia Klitbo and she would win an award for villainy just for being a horrible bitch. I hate to say that I wish Nora would just meet a shady boyfriend who would lead her to the bad end that she deserves. Because, surely, means no good to anyone of good heart and pure intentions...
Now a scene where Patricia and the aforementioned Enrique (Armando's best friend) are going through what they know.... over a glass of wine <AHEM!>.
Enrique reveals to Patricia that the deuda involves.... the ranch. Patricia is incredulous at the possibility that Helena might now own the ranch....
Helena is fuming to Maria Jose (characters like Maria Jose I usually find immensely annoying, BTW, just as a side-note... yes, I GET that you are 'simpatico'. I DON'T need it rammed down my throat ad nauseum, thank you... Anyway...), Helena is fuming about her run-in with Patricia. We get some further back-story as to why Helena (who, remember, is the 'good-girl' in the story) has such a hate-on for Patricia: It seems that, for all her "I loved him! I wanted him to be happy!" sob stories, Alfonso actually ADMITTED to Helena that Patricia TOLD him that she didn't love him, that she was in love with Enrique, but that he loved her so much, he forgave her for everything and always would. And, Helena tells Maria Jose, that's why, now, Patricia is going to pay. Oof!
Back to Patricia and Enrique and their wine and discussions. Enrique is reassuring Patricia that will be there for her, no matter what. They kiss. Well! Apparently, Helena was right.
At least Patricia has someone to comfort her in her grief, I guess. :-/
What is THIS???? Nora is actually DOING something for someone ELSE??? YES!!! She is bringing a TRAY with TWO CUPS of something Nora is bringing a tray with two cups of something to someone!!!!
Oh, wait.... it's to Claudio. I should have known.
Claudio has it bad for Valentina. Poor Claudio. Nora can't understand why. She says it's much easier and better to do things and go through life without complications or promises or anything. She offers herself in Valentina's place. There is a literal bang of a drum <BOOM!> for effect when she does so, which I quite liked. She goes on to say that every guy back at the ranch that she liked only had eyes for Valentina, and then the same thing happened with Ricardo. She just wanted him to know that she is ready, open, and available, okay? Some people say our Nora doesn't have the morals of an alley cat, but I say that she does. Claudio says he needs to go and find his father, and, uh... how about those local sports teams, eh?????
The credits roll...
After credits....
Valentina is crying... Nora enters, wondering what is wrong. Valentina had a dream about their father. Nora (who surely should look into a career in managing a crisis center or suicide hotline....) rolls her eyes and eats her banana. They have a brief discussion about death that is rather interesting. Suffice it to say, I think Nora's real mother might be Livia Soprano. In the end, however, Nora DOES give her sister some good advice: "They're DEAD, YOU'RE alive. You have your dreams. And (even though it's because I want to sponge off of you), GO LIVE YOUR LIFE". She's horrible, yes, but... in this case- Go, Nora. Valentina looks like she may have gotten it.
The galans and the familia humilide are eating and making me wonder why Maria Sorte hasn't been cast as the Mama Luchona y Sufrida more before- she looks and acts the part perfectly, and I think much more honestly than even Victoria Ruffo does at this point in life. They are discussing how great it was that Mama Luchona Consuelo didn't sign anything. Mama Luchona Consuelo is just glad that Camila is alive and has opened her eyes and still has skin that is skin.
Guillermo (Sergio Goyri), his sister Adelaide (Norma Herrera), and their daughter-in-law Patricia are eating. Patricia advises them that she has to go back to the ranch and resolve something. Guillermo and Adelaide say they will arrange for her to go back there. Patricia (aware that Guillermo hates his only surviving daughter, and with his only other child now dead), asks about the news about this NEW daughter, either Nora or Valentina, and what he is thinking of doing.... she plants seeds of doubt, recognizing that she also needs to protect what is hers (and the music gets ominous here. I like that. This time- repeated low stringed instruments... very good!) Patricia bids them good night, and Guillermo and Adelaide have a moment together where she pleads with him to talk to Helena. He is obstinate against doing that, and says if she decides to do take matters into her own hands, they will have a problem. They then share a touching fraternal moment and it is obvious that both care deeply about one another.
Next scene...
Familia humilide being familia humilde. Osvaldo de Leon calling about his sister whilst Maria Sorte polishes family photos and they embrace lovingly. Then, Jose Elias Moreno and and Juan Diego Covarrubias talk outside about how he fell in love with Gala Montes's character at first sight, but her Chris Pascal's character just died so what does he do? It is wonderful and loving, but my Dad just died so I have to <<FF<< But, in essence... Love and goodness, the music is high strings and yadda yadda....
Valentina is up early and dressed for her audition with Yolanda Pratas to show her designs. Nora is in bed. Consuelo knocks and I wish she would be my Mom. I think everyone wishes Consuelo would be there Mom. Claudio tries to apologize to Valentina, then she tries to apologize to him, it is all very sweet, but feels very right, and is all very well done. I don't want telenovelas for the love and the 'Happily Ever Afters', I watch them for Serial-Killing Aunts, and am always very disappointed if a telenovela doesn't have one... but I am really enjoying this sweet couple right now!!! :-)
Everybody who watched 'Medicos'.... was there a Doctor on there who was more beautiful than Mariluz Bermudez is here now? She is speaking lovingly to Chris Pascal's Ricardo, telling him that he is out of danger. A little.... TOO... lovingly???
We get a scene with Helena and Majo where Helena is stressing. We find out that Helena was fat, interestingly, and we find out that, as stressed out as Helena gets- fat or thin- Majo loves her no matter what. THEN... we find out that Yolanda Pratas plays dirty. She is scheduling the same thing on the same day as Helena.
Patricia is back at the ranch, looking for clues, info, or SOMETHING.... she finds a picture, and thinks back to a phone call....
Later, she greets her lawyer. She asks the lawyer about, just immediately before leaving for the flight, her father got a phone call that made him very, very angry, it confirmed that someone stole from him. She wants to know who it was. The lawyer doesn't know anything.
Helena and Claudio are talking. Helena has told him that she is now the owner of the ranch, apparently. Claudio is talking about Valentina, they are talking about Patricia, Ricardo. "Getting caught up", basically...
LITTLE GIRL IN THE BIG WORLD!!!
Valentina enters Olimipo Pratas. There are a bunch of other aspiring fashion designers and models there talking about themselves, and how magnificent they are. I hate them all. Without exception, they are all nothing but pretentious douches and disgusting human beings. Full stop. I want to pull Valentina aside and say "DON'T LET THIS BE YOU!!!!!"
Patricia is now meeting with all of the Upper Employees. She is demanding to know who it was who must have been the one who stole. The employees point out that the only ones who had access to those funds were, Patricia and her brother. They point out, as delicately as possible, that they would be happy to walk her through the process.... I think it is obvious to all of them what happened. I am kind of feeling bad for Patricia. If she were to know her brother were alive right now, I would ABSOLUTELY not blame her for visiting him in the hospital and pulling a #PillowOnFace #BreathingIsOverrated.
Mama Luchona Consuelo is visiting Camila in the hospital. Camila is reflecting on meeting Juan on the plane when he was talking about his daughters and their dreams. She is wondering why she had to live, and he had to die. Then all of a sudden.... she starts to feel bad and passes out. Consuelo runs for the doctor! :-(
Leonardo and Majo are stressing over the models.
There is a scene I don't like here. Helena is being a white bitch to Indigenious Mexican women (this is how the scene looked) because they weren't good enough seamstresses. I know this is just to show how utterly shafted Helena was by Yolanda Pratas today but, I'm sorry, I don't care how stressed out you are, you don't treat people this way. Even though I know she's the villain, personally, I'm #TeamPatricia in terms of THIS triangle... (ok, not really, but....)
Moving on...
Camila is fine. Doctor with a great voice is explaining things. All is well.
NOW...
This is probably one of the greatest entrances for ANY character, EVER, in the history of telenovelas. Meet Yolanda Pratas.
Mean Girl from Olimpio Pratas is doing a brief introduction about a designer, into the frame walks an incredibly severe looking woman with Incredible Hair who looks like she would eat Cruella deVil for lunch. She has a look of abject disgust on her face that I imagine never leaves it. Within two seconds of being in the frame, she has already waved her hand to dismiss the prospective designer in the most dismissive way possible (she even gives fierce side-eye to the girl AFTER she dismisses her!!!), lets the Mean Girl know how BITTERLY disappointed she is with her, let we viewers see her Impressive Profile, and I am alternately absolutely in love with and terrified by her. This is Yolanda Pratas. She has been on the screen for two seconds now, and she has already made her mark.
The now, not-quite-so Mean Girl goes to the next prospective designer, or tries to... as they are walking towards her, Yolanda looks her up and down looks at her assistant and with one intake of breath, a hand gesture, and a glare... that is it. The girl is dismissed and I am happy, for these are the same idiots that were bragging about themselves so shamelessly in front of our humble little Valentina earlier. :-) :-) :-)
With each of these dismissals, of course, Yolanda doesn't make eye contact with the lowly losers. (I would have LOVED to have had flushing sounds to follow them, which I think would have been terrific, considering how obnoxious they all were, but, I guess... hardly fitting the medium.... ;-) ), all she does, is fix a horrible, steely, disgusted GLARE at the Mean Girl assistant that just SCREAMS "I am SO, SO, SOOOOOO disappointed and disgusted with you right now." Frances Ondiviela, in just these few minutes... is just PERFECT right now. lololol
Next up is Ludivina. We hear Yolanda speak. She tells the poor girl that the only 'Divina' is the 'tela' (fabric) and... well.... this continues a couple more times. We hear her utterly destroy people, until she finds someone she wants to just have coffee with in her office. Valentina is, like, "Um... Wait! I wasted this afternoon for nothing??????" Yolanda is like "You wanna talk to ME like that???" Valentina is, like "I just came to have my designs looked at!!!"
Yolanda looks at her designs..............
Leonardo and Helena are stressing out. WONDERING how... oh, HOW, Lawd??? HOW could they have gotten such muerte de hambre second rate people..... and HOW could it have been POSSIBLE that Yolanda Pratas managed to sneak in and steal their thunder and spoil their show???? Hmmm........ Claudio and Majo come in with more bad news. Why does Yolanda always just play so..... DIRTY, Helena wonders???? Majo then gets a message- Yolanda's newest protege is a young girl, new to the city. Helena has nothing but sympathy for the girl.
Back at Olimpio Pratas, Yolanda is looking out. Her Mean Girl assistant is prattling on, saying "she is Naca, what are you doing???". Yolanda, of course, isn't paying any attention.
As the music gets more dramatic, she smiles. It is not necessarily a NICE smile, though (I don't know if she is capable of those...) Yolanda turns, and waves her hand.
She walks towards Valentina, who is standing towards the back with her arms folded across her chest.
"Down there is where mere mortals live", Yolanda says. "But up here, live the GODS of fashion."
A waiter appears with two glasses of champagne. Yolanda takes two, and gives one to Valentina. The Mean Girl in the back can do nothing but fade into the background, with her mouth agape.
Yolanda clinks champagne glasses with Valentina. The music gets more dramatic.
"Welcome to Olympus!" says Yolanda.
Valentina looks stunned.