Caray, Caray!

reina3

I'll put up a recap later tonight.
 

reina3 Ep 37 p. 1 of 3

The episode opens in Peru. TeamP has killed the men who captured them. Only Matos has been left alive. Oleg tells him he won't be hurt if he cooperates. Eloy Bravo arrives. Oleg goes outside to greet him and gives him an envelope. Eloy looks inside. I'm not sure what's there--probably the metal piece the archaeologist is supposed to examine. Suddenly, there's a noise from the house. Matos kicks over something in attempt to indicate he's inside. Eloy hears the noise and wants to investigate. Oleg tells him, "I'd rather not waste time, if you don't mind. I'm here to work, not to sightsee. I'm sure your boss agrees. Eloy hesitates, then decides not to delay. They all get into the truck and drive off. Matos cries out, but he's too late. They've left.

A jubilant Delio comes to see Epifanio. He tells him that the Intelligence Center has found a record of complaints against Cardenas. "The SOB is a pervert who likes little boys. He's an expert at making files disappear, keeping victims quiet, and buying off the press." Delio asks Epifanio how he's going to threaten him. Epifanio tells him, "No, no. These are tolerant times. And what's most important right now is my reelection. He's going to work for me." "How?" "You'll see."

Back in Peru, Sofia, Paloma, and Mateo arrive by taxi at the place where Faustino is holding Matos. They're taken aback at the sight of dead bodies. They then see Matos tied up. Sofia is somewhat stunned. Matos calls out to her. Faustino brings her and the others up to speed on what happened. (I'm surprised that they speak so openly in front of the tied-up Matos.)

On the dirt road in Peru, it looks as if Eloy et al. have stopped to pee. He then tells Oleg that the other archaeologists they've used were younger. Oleg observes, "That means they didn't know as much." Eloy responds, "But they could take [aguantan] more. I hope you can, too." Anton says to Oleg in Russian, "one Russian can take care of more than 20 German soldiers." Eloy tells them he doesn't speak German.

Back in Buenos Aires, Gallardo, the hotel's security guy, is explaining to Julieta, the hotel manager, his uneasiness at the things that have been happening. "The guys erased the security camera footage. They're not amateurs. And then there's Luciano. He disappears, and instead of reporting him missing, his family ups and leaves town the same day." Julieta doesn't believe there's a problem. Pablo then calls her, and they arrange to meet.

In Peru, Faustino enlists the others to help move the corpses into a truck. He closes the eyes of one of the corpses. Sofia and the others are not happy about this situation. Mateo is especially upset, both at the killings and at the way Matos is being treated. He has refused to tell anything to Faustino, and so Faustino has tied him to a pole, blindfolded him, and denied him any food or water or opportunity to use the bathroom.

Eloy and the others are still on the road. Occasionally Anton says something to Oleg in Russian. Eloy says it's rude to speak in a language others don't understand. However, he tells them, Mr. Ruben understands German. You'll be able to talk to him. Eventually they arrive at their destination. It turns out that Oleg and Anton are told that Mr. Ruben isn't here. Eloy says he'll get them set up while they wait. The place is pretty grim-looking. Some people seem to be making artifacts, or perhaps cleaning real artifacts. The workers do not look happy. We see a body on the ground and a very sad-looking woman near the body.
 

reina3 Ep. 37 p. 2 of 3

Delio meets with Cardenas to try to get him to meet with Epifanio. He tells Cardenas that being a friend of the president is in anyone's best interest. Cardenas says he has no intention of supporting Epifanio's reelection. Delio points out that it might be in his interest. "Your conservative, values-based agenda doesn't have many supporters these days. But imagine the President taking up your cause." Cardenas replies, "OK, but the meeting doesn't mean I'll change my stance."

Delio reports to Epi that it wasn't easy, but Cardenas will meet with him. He then asks whether Danilo will do his part. Epi says, "He'll help us, but he just won't know that he's helping us."

Back in Buenas Aires, Pablo knocks on Julieta's door. We see a quick flashback of Batman's giving something to Pablo. Julieta opens the door and almost jumps into Pablos's arms. "How about a drink first," suggests Pablo. "After," responds Julieta.

Faustino ties Matos to the post and blindfolds him. Mateo suggests that they feed him. Faustino says no, we need to pressure him so he'll talk. Faustino tells the others that he doesn't like this either, but they need to be a team. They all more or less reluctantly agree.

Anton and Oleg are eating what looks like very unappetizing food while waiting for Mr. Ruben to arrive. Then Eloy comes, says he's just spoken with Mr. Ruben, who sends his apologies. They'll have to stay here. Oleg asks, "He won't be coming? I thought our visit was important to him." Eloy explains that Mr. Ruben has a son, who has a temper like his father. " When he doesn't like something, he takes out his gun and bang, bang, bang. He's especially mad when someone beats him at cards. [Uh oh!] His father coddles him. But this time he went too far. He killed his second person in less than a month. So Mr. Ruben took him to keep the people from getting riled up."
Oleg asks when Mr. Ruben is coming back. "Who knows?" replies Eloy. "You just worry about doing the tests and analyses."

Oleg phones Faustino and tells him he needs to get Matos to tell him what tests and analyses the archaeologist was supposed to perform.

Pablo puts something (whatever Batman gave him) in Julieta's drink. Then he starts to kiss her. "What do you feel?" he asks her. "Nothing," she replies. He tells her to get dressed. Mortati tries to call her. She's drugged, and Pablo tells her not to answer. He then sets up a video call so that Teresa can ask questions. Teresa asks what she knows about the three men, Samuel, Hugo, and Gregorio. At first all she says is that they're clients of the casino and the hotel. She's asked whether any of them every goes by the name El Jinete Bayo. She says no. She's asked whether any of them have contacts in the DEA. 'No, not ask far as I know."

They then ask about Estafania Oliveros. Julieta replies that she was a waitress at the hotel, but she doesn't work there any more. She then says that Estafania was raped by the three men. It happened ten months ago. They had too much to drink and tricked her into coming into a room where they raped her. All three gave her money not to report it. Lorenzo handled everything.

During this video session, Lorenzo comes up to Teresa's suite looking for her. They tell him she's not there. He's surprised--he thought he heard her voice. They convince him that what he heard was her voice on a video. He leaves, saying "When she gets back, tell her that I'm looking for her." Everyone lets out a huge sigh of relief.
 

reina3 Ep 37 p. 3 of 3

Pablo walks Julieta out of the hotel and puts her in a cab. The cab is driven by someone he knows. "You know what to do," he tells the driver.
The driver says he does.

Faustino asks Matos about the tests and analyses. "We can handle this the easy way or the hard way," Faustino tells him. Matos is uncooperative. "Who are you?" he asks Faustino. "You don't know what you've gotten yourself into. Ruben won't like your killing his men. He'll find you and not kill you, he'll have fun with you, especially with the girls."

Danilo, Susana, and Bebita talk about a plan to get her and her son away from Epifanio. Danilo says lots of people want to interview Bebita, perhaps that can be a way. The most insistent is Chanel 67, which has a live program in the morning. Bebita says Epi would never permit that. The channel often criticizes him. But then Bebita wonders whether Chanel 67 would ask Señora Cardenas to join her. Danilo says that's an excellent idea. The discussion is interrupted when Guicho rushes in and hugs his mother.

Teresa, Sheila, and Batman go to see Estafania Oliveros. Teresa knocks on the door. Estafania comes to the door. Teresa says they'd like to talk with her about a delicate matter: Samuel Graeber. Estafania shuts the door. Teresa says "We don't want to hurt you--just the opposite. We know that they did to you. That's why we're here. We want to do something about it. We just want you to hear us out." Sheila adds, "And if you don't like what you hear, we'll leave and not come back." "May we come in?" asks Teresa, as the episode ends.
 

reina3

Gracias, Juanita. I’m always amazed how you connect all these dots.

Faustino must've told the junior team (Sofia, Paloma, and Mateo) to bring oversized cloth because each was carrying some when they arrived, but judging by their faces they weren't expecting dead bodies.

Faustino tells Mateo how long Gandhi did without food and water in response to Mateo worrying about Matos dying. Matos must be totally terrified of Ruben not to spill his guts yet.

Looks like Eloy thinks Anton's Russian is German. Anton never says a whole lot but there's no mistaking that "This is a fine mess we're in!" look he gives Oleg.

Ruben's son could be one of the three amigos?
 

"REINA 3"/OT:

Novelera: Any chance we get to see a crossover between "REINA 3" & "ESDLC" in Spring 2023 ?


 

reina3 - OT

Steve, that's an intriguing idea. It's probably the only way I'd ever sit through another El Señor re-boot. I saw the first two and then called it quits.
 

reina3

Thanks so much for another excellent recap, Juanita! Lots happened, and you definitely got it all.

I liked the way Oleg tested the waters with his Russian and discovered he and Anton could say what they liked in front of Eloy and his henchmen. As always, language fascinates me. I'd love to hear from a Russian person watching this and letting us know how well the Oleg actor speaks. Of course, Dmitry Anismov, who plays Anton, is Russian...so they have a built-in language coach. I tried to find out something about Dmitry, but Google let me down.

I keep waiting for Mateo to screw up the works. Faustino should tell him how quickly his relationship with Sofia goes off the rails if his misplaced sympathy for Matos ruins their plans. And the result of his screwup would be Epifanio stopping the flow of cash and the DEA putting Sofia's mother back in the super max.

Gallardo...pfft! What is the point of this evil looking guy continuing to be suspicious of Teresa and TeamA? Don't they already have enough threats against them?

It almost seems as if the people at the dig are slaves. I have a feeling all the armed guards may be to keep them from walking away as much as to protect whatever they're digging up.

I wish they hadn't gone with Teresa being jealous of Pablo. She should have remembered when she slept with the Moroccan military guy to help El Gallego.

That bit about the son of Rubén liking to play cards and hating to lose was intriguing. One of our three anchor tattoo guys? Is Rubén old enough to have fathered one of them? If so, then my money is on Sami.

Again, thanks so much for the terrific details and well-written recap, Juanita.
 

reina3

I will do a recap tonight, Tuesday.
 

amor-trai

I am on my last gasp with this one. There's no question that TNs/dizis are designed to be addictive. It's always hard to bid farewell to one, unless maybe in the first two days if it's that awful.

Akin (Cemal) is driving me nuts. I know the role is written that way, but the insane plot of his pursuing his abandoned wife and angry glares (his acting stock in trade) at the kind Mahir because of jealousy are just too much. And the camera keeps lingering on him in every scene, making it worse.

I was enjoying the daughter (forgot her name already) when she despised the father who left her, but now that she's giving those defiant looks at the innocent Mahir, I feel like slapping her. Very bad writing for her to have forgiven Cemal so quickly, and having her conspire with him against her reluctant mother.

And to top it off, the Mukkades actor in Fatmagul (Esra) is here as another despicable character and very, very overweight.

Her husband, the legitimate son of the patriarch, is as annoying as the actor playing his wife. He's just over the top greedy and envious. And the patriarach's wife, Nedret, is beside herself with anger about her husband now recognizing his illegitimate son, Mahir.

To put the cherry on the cake, they've written another antagonist into the plot. He's some guy from Amasya, from whence Asiya and her children fled. Of course he found a photo of Ugur, the boy, in a magazine and is preparing to arrive to blackmail her.

TOO MANY BADDIES
 

reina3

MANY thanks, Niecie in MD and novelera, for your terrific comments.

Niecie, yes, all three of the young people seem extremely uncomfortable with dead bodies and with killing in general. I would expect that of Paloma, but Sofia and, to a lesser extent, Mateo have been exposed many times to violence. I guess it's saying something good about them that they haven't become hardened or blasé about what they've seen/experienced.
And you raise an intriguing possibility about Ruben's son being one of the 3 amigos. I would have thought the amigos were all a bit too old to be Ruben's son, but of course we have no idea how old Ruben is.

novelera, I too felt that the workers at the dig seemed to be slaves, and that the guards were there in part to prevent them from leaving. I'm still not feeling it for the Pablo/Teresa coupling. And yes, I remember well her willigness to sleep with the Moroccan colonel in order to help Santiago. And perhaps also because Colonel Abdelkader Chaib was HOT!
As for Rubén, we don't know how old he is. It's quite possible that, if he's in his late 40s, say, he could be the father of one of the 3 Amigos. In which case, if Teresa somehow manages to beat the son at cards, she may be in danger from an impulsive, homicidal maniac. And if the son is younger than the Amigos, Fedor could conceivably be in danger. My "Uh Oh" comment in the recap applies either way.
 

reina3

Sorry so late. This was a great recap, Juanita. Thanks so much.

Delio said Cardenas “le encantan los chavitos”—little boys. Is Cardenas gay or is he a pedophile? Wonder how Epi plans to use Danilo.

I have to laugh at Teresa’s jealousy and double standard.

Very interesting theory, Niecie, about one of the three amigos being Ruben’s son. They didn’t like losing to Teresa. And now we know they are rapists.

Looks like they killed one of the “workers” at the archaeological site. Did he try to pocket something he found?

Thanks again, Juanita.

 

amor-trai

Now you know why I couldn't watch more than 5 Turkish eps of this. I was surprised to hear it even made it to #26. Probably because it had some international sales. Akin is popular outside of Turkey. I don't get it.
 

reina3

Thanks, dondi356, for your comment. I think Cardenas' liking little boys makes him a pedophile, and not necessarily gay. I wonder what his wife knows or doesn't know about this.

Yes, I think the guy whose body we saw at Eloy's encampment (I don't know how else to refer to it) was very likely killed by the Powers That Be, perhaps because he tried to keep something he found, or perhaps he simply tried to escape.

On a totally different matter (your other posting today), I couldn't bring myself to watch even one episode of Amor y traición because I so disliked Akin in Hercai. Seeing his face was enough to turn me off.
 

reina3

#38 – Parte 1 de 3

In Cusco Faustino teases the blindfolded Matos with the sounds of water sloshing in a plastic jug. “And you must really want to go to the bathroom. We have to negotiate before you get anything.” Matos nods that he’ll cooperate, and Faustino gives him a sip. Matos begs for more. “What is that SOB archeologist looking for in the camp? And what is Rubén expecting them to give him?”

We see that Estefanía has four children. [From now on she’s Stefi to me.] After the kids leave the room Teresa asks if she doesn’t want to desquitarse (get back at them). Stefi replies that Teresa has no idea what Lorenzo might do to her or to her children. Teresa pulls out a thick wad of bills. She tells Stefi that they’re hers even if she doesn’t want to work with them. And she’ll have lots more if she helps them.

Teresa tells Stefi that their issue with the three men has nothing to do with what happened to her. They promise her that no harm will come to her or to her children.

Gallardo tells Lorenzo that Julieta has appeared. He interrupts him while he’s chewing out another poor employee about something.

At the camp Oleg is looking into a grave at the dig that has some very old bones and artifacts. Eloy continues to treat him with disrespect. Oleg stalls, saying he doesn’t need his instruments yet.

Just then Anton gets a call. It’s from Faustino, who is holding the phone next to the still bound Matos. Matos tells Anton that the pistol in the briefcase is what is used to analyze the quality of what’s been found. When he hesitates, Faustino tells the guy that HE knows how to use HIS pistol. Matos tells Anton that they should put the pistol near the piece. There’s a button that turns on a laser beam. Then put the battery in the base. Then put the memory card in so the data can be recorded. [What? This whole thing sounds to me like the writers prepared this in Cusco and suffered from high altitude sickness.]

Anton shows up at the ancient grave just as Eloy is ragging on Oleg. [They’ve shot a lot of guys. Can Eloy be next, please? Nice teeth, but a very, very annoying guy.]

Mortati comes to find Julieta. It’s clear to both he and Gallardo that she’s not herself. She doesn’t even know how she got where she was found.

Matos is on the toilet while Faustino keeps grilling him. “What does Rubén have to do with the DEA?” When Faustino asks about the paintings, the penny drops for Matos about their having robbed him. Faustino urges Matos to (something bollo – which means bun). I think Matos is trying to defecate. Matos replies that it’s not easy with someone watching him. After another show of Faustino’s pistol, Matos says that Rubén has a house in Lima, but doesn’t really live there.

Mateo is in the kitchen cooking. He asks Paloma if she’s used to this life, to kidnapping. She says only when Sofia was kidnapped. Mateo surprises me by not asking more about this, but maybe Sofia already told him. Paloma assures him that Matos and his cronies would do the same to them, if not worse. Mateo: “If we do the same atrocities, who’s to say who’s bad and who’s good.” He also says he doubts who he is now. [OK, I’m officially tired of the hints that Mateo is going to free Matos and ruin TeamP’s whole plan.]
 

reina3

#38 – Parte 2 de 3

Faustino wants Matos to ask Rubén to come to the gallery. But Matos looks at him as if he was supposed to ask Joe Biden to drop by. He tells Faustino he sees this guy maybe once a year at a place of Rubén’s choosing.

Mateo brings in some food, presumably a reward for the information. Mateo brings silverware! What a dunce! Faustino gets him to take the cubiertos away. Faustino says he’ll find Matos some pants, snarking that he doubts the pants on his own fine body would fit. [Sounds like Matos might have soiled himself at least once.]

In Buenos Aires Pablo brings a box back to Fedor’s hotel room and asks him to lend a hand. I am enjoying Fedor blossoming under the compliments from these other men. He can’t quite forgive his father, but he isn’t pouting any more.

Pablo approaches Mortati in the hotel lobby and asks him for his phone number so that “Bruno” can send him a photo. Pablo asks about Julieta. Mortati sees the photo. It’s of a rat. Pablo tells him that Bruno is hiding in the bathroom. Mortati is horrified and promises to have the room disinfected, etc.

Teresa and Sheila are getting Stefi ready to go to talk with Mortati. She’s worried, but also angry. Teresa: ”¡Quédate con esta rabia que traes para que te pares con tus ovarios bien puestos en frente de ese hijo de puta!” (Hang on to this anger you have so you’ll be standing there with your ovaries in a good place while in front of that son of a bitch.!)

Fedor tells Pablo he managed to gain access to the contacts on Mortati’s phone when he opened the rat photo. We see that there’s a camera inside a purse that Stefi will have with her.

In Cusco Sofia comes to the gallery. She listens outside the office door while Ana says that Matos never is out of touch like this. He has students here for classes. She calls him Bernardo, the first time I’ve heard the name. Sofia overhears the guard say that they’ll go to Matos’ house and texts Mateo about it. Then Faustino forces Matos to call Ana to make up an excuse. But he lays a trap, saying he’s going to see his mother. Then we hear Ana tell the guard guy that she's confused. His mother died 2 years ago.

Stefi comes to see Mortati. When his flunkies try to put her out, she starts recording them on her phone. She gets in to see him, but he makes one of the two guys take her phone. He is arrogant beyond belief. He gives her 5 minutes to speak her piece. TeamA watches on Fedor’s laptop. Stefi says she needs more guita (dough, cash). [This is a new slang word for me.] Mortati says he’s always amazed by the lack of dignity of una vagabunda (tramp in the sleeping-in-boxcars kind of usage of the word). He says she won’t get another cent.

Stefi threatens to press charges against them. “Who’s going to believe you? You live in a village with a bunch of kids. You have no education. And against…"[Oh boy. He mentions, slowly and carefully, all three first and last names of the three amigos.] She gives up and starts to walk away. TeamA is distraught, but then Mortati overdoes it. He calls her puta y cobarde.
 

reina3

#38 – Parte 3 de 3

Stefi goes back to him. “You’re not better than me. I actually pity you. People hide from you.” Looking smug, he replies: “People love me!” Stefi: “Tell this to your boyfriends!” [It’s quite satisfying to see his face fall at this.] “How long do they stay? Not even a month. You disgust them. If it weren't for the money you have, no one who would___you.” [I think we can guess what was bleeped.] He calls her a zorra and goes on to say he doesn’t understand why Hugo, Gregorio, and Samuel raped her. She’s not even pretty. He tells her she deserved what she got. [We see Teresa's total disgust.] “I was the one who got some money for you because they just wanted to have you put in prison and have your children taken away.” She says several things that are bleeped and throws his wine on him.

Teresa to Fedor: “Tell me you got all that!” Fedor replies: “to the last drop of wine!”

In Cusco we are back at the camp. Oleg tells Eloy that the things are authentic. Eloy is ready to get Oleg hustled out of there, but Oleg says he needs to talk with Rubén. It’s urgent.

Fedor can come help me with my computer anytime. He’s set up a group text application that will go to all three of the guys at once. Sheila suggests La zorra de Estefanía apareció de nuevo. Then we hear Teresa verbalizing as she types the rest of it. “She wants lots of money. I tried to scare her, but it didn’t work. She has a video of what happened that night. I don’t know how the hell she got it. I’ll wait for you at an address I’ll send.”

Fedor has Mortati’s phone hacked to the extent that, if any of the three call him, it will go directly to voice mail without Mortati hearing it ring.

Eloy calls Rubén, addressing him as Don Rubén. He tells him the archeologist wishes to speak with him. First Rubén asks Eloy if the mother of the dead man is still threatening. He’s told all is solved. Eloy sucks up by asking about the young Armando.

We then see Rubén at last. He sort of reminds me of Abel, also mostly indigenous. Said Armando has a virtual reality headset on and is throwing punches at the air. Eloy passes Oleg the phone. Rubén addresses him in German. Oleg goes outside the tent and says something about his accent not being clear. Oleg then thanks him for the real find. Rubén tells him not to tell anyone about it. Oleg goes on to say that he has a buyer, one he’s worked with before. Rubén replies that he already has a buyer. Oleg tells him to look up Elena Bocanegra on the internet.

Oleg says he forgot his notepad and goes back into the tent they were in before. He takes a cell phone picture of a photo on a desk. [I couldn’t see it that well. Rubén and someone else?]

In Buenos Aires the three amigos arrive at an interesting tango club. Salvo, the guy who helped get Luciano out of town, is either really the owner or pretending to be. They go into a back room and are confronted by Teresa, Pablo, and Batman. Their phones are taken away. Teresa gets right to the point. They’re looking for someone, and that someone is one of the three of them.

When she mentions Stefi, they say they don’t even know her. Teresa: ¡Pinche violadores de mierda!” [Think you call can figure this out.] She plays them the recording of Mortati, the part where he says he can’t understand why Hugo, Gregorio and Samuel even raped her. Batman grins. ¡Es chilo, verdad! [Way cool, right!] He goes on to say he especially liked the part with the wine. He apologizes for not serving them palomitos (popcorn).

Pablo: “Any judge would convict on the basis of this, right Your Honor?” Teresa tells them they have one hour to tell them who’s the Jinete Bayo. Or, if not, they’ll become quite famous.
 

reina3

Gracias, Novelera. I appreciate the translations. Some choice dialogue in last night's episode.

So many balls in the air.

An hour seems like a long time to give the three to rat out the Jinete Bayo.

If Ana acts on Matos' clues, Team Peru is in trouble.

Will Julieta remember anything when the drug wears off?

Will Sofia have to drop out of art class? Surely Matos will need to be disappeared.

Ruben's son is young and likes to pay games. Will he and Fedor wind up in a game together?
 

reina3

¡Muchísimas gracias!, novelera, for this superb recap. You've captured everything, including some, um, helpful Spanish.

I confess that I became nervous when Teresa assured Stefi that nothing would happen to her or her children. In this novela, that almost guarantees that there will be problems.

I know you're not a fan of Gallardo, but I feel somewhat differently. Yes, he's a bad guy, but time and again he recognizes dangers and schemes. His knowledge and his instincts are impressive. When he smells a rat, there almost surely is one.

As soon as Faustino let Matos call Ana, I knew he'd find a way to signal that he was in trouble. Geez, hasn't Faustino watched any crime movies or telenovelas?

I didn't know his name, but Salvo looked like the supposed taxi driver who drove Julieta away, following Pablo's instructions. Did he also get Luciano out of town, or did you mean Julieta? I have a hard time keeping all these people straight.

Teresa seems sure one of the 3 Amigos is El Jinete Bayo, but what if she's wrong?
 

reina3

Juanita, I'm sure Salvo was the guy who was in the room when Luciano was paid off by Pablo. Pretty sure he was the one who told him to never come back, not Pablo. For some reason I remember him wearing those patterned combat fatigues. Obviously, they wanted Mortati to think he'd been killed by Batman so his being seen in town would be bad for TeamA. I think you're right about his driving the cab. I just tend to notice him because there aren't many grey-haired guys in TeamA.
 

reina3

Thanks, novelera, for confirming my recollection that Salvo was the taxi driver. (As you say, there aren't many gray-haired guys.) I do recall Luciano being paid off and being told to leave town and not come back. I didn't remember who said that, but I suspect you're right that Salvo was the one who said this. What confuses me now is your saying "they wanted Mortati to think he'd been killed by Batman." When you say "him," are you referring to Luciano? Mortati and Teresa were walking on the bridge when Luciano came upon them, and Teresa shot him (of course, he was wearing a bullet-proof vest, but Mortati didn't know that). Mortati was stunned both by Teresa's amazing self-defense skills and by her shooting Luciano. Why/how would anyone think that Batman had killed Luciano?
 

reina3

Juanita, between the two of us we're unraveling this. Batman assured someone (Gallardo?) that Luciano would never be seen again. You're right that Mortati and his henchpersons were to think that Teresa killed Luciano. What Batman said was to assure the person he was speaking with that Luciano's BODY was not going to turn up.
 

reina3 Ep. 39 p. 1 of 2

I'm afraid this is going to have to be considerably shorter than it needs to be. I hope other people will fill in the incidents and details that I fail to mention.

The episode opens with Teresa telling the 3 Amigos that in 29 minutes, she'll post the video. "One of you is El Jinete Bayo. The other two of you are getting screwed."

Scene changes to Gallardo and Lorenzo in an elevator. Lorenzo is unhappy about Estefania Oliveros (from now on, Stefi) coming to see him and throwing wine at him. He wants Gallardo to seriously scare her. The conversation then shifts to Julieta. Gallardo has put her up in the hotel, since he couldn't take her to a hospital. They come to see her. She has no idea what happened. She tells them that lab tests revealed a narcotic in her blood: scopolamine.

Later, Gallardo looks at the hotel's security cameras. He sees Julieta leave and be put in a taxi. He gets the license number of the cab.

Epifanio wants to know why Bebita is going to appear on a cooking show. She says she wants to help his re-election, and so she has asked that Sra. Cardenas appear with her. Epi also finds out that Guicho will be with her. He objects. She asks, doesn't he want her to project the image of a happy family? Eventually, Epi agrees.

Epi tells Montaño to put both Cardenas and Danilo in the same room. "Tell them I've been delayed. Ply them with alcohol." Danilo apologizes on behalf of the president for the delay. Cardenas says he shouldn't apologize, Epifanio should. He adds, "At least I can't complain about the company." He also reminds Danilo that he should call him by his first name and use "tu." [It's clear what Epifanio is trying to set up.]

General Garrido is talking to a younger officer who is helping him. The younger man shows him a drawing and tells Garrido that a hotel employee said he saw this man in the same area at about the same time that Alcalá and Vanessa were there. And witnesses say he drove a car like the one described as being near the accident. "Where are the witness testimonies?" the General asks. The younger officer says, "They were thrown out. Orders from the top." The General then sees a photo and recognizes Montaño, Epifanio's head of security. Garrido now thinks he knows what happened: "Vargas gave the order, his head of security executed it."

Bebita calls the General to tell him about the TV interview and the possibility that it may offer a chance for her and Guicho to escape. The General tells the young officer that he's now in charge of the Alcalá investigation. No one must know about it.

The 3 Amigos are fighting among themselves. One of them, Gregorio, points out that that's what the woman is tryng to incite. The arguing continues, and finally Sami says "I have no idea what kind of evidence they're talking about." One of the others asked, "Who said anything about evidence?" Hugo and Gregorio now accuse Sami of being El Jinete Bayo. Suddenly, Sami takes out a gun and shoots his two Amigos.

Teresa is on the phone with Oleg, who has just told her that Rubén has agreed to meet with her. She'll have to leave Argentina tomrrow. She's upset--she's just on the verge of identifying El Jinete Bayo. She hears the gunfire, tells Oleg she'll call him back, and runs to where the 3 Amigos were meeting. She sees the two dead Amigos. Sami then asks for "$30 million in cash within 72 hours, and the key will be yours." He adds that he also wants a plane. He'll arrange for the pilot.
 

reina3 Ep. 39 p. 2 of 2

Teresa tells Sami he's not in a position to negotiate, since she has the video. He laughs and says that the video doesn't mean anything now. He has nothing to lose. Pablo says that the key isn't worth what Sami is asking. Sami replies, "The evidence that the White Horseman left behind is worth a lot, and you know it."

Meanwhile, Gallardo contacts the taxi company that took the drugged Julieta from the hotel. He gives them identifying numbers and asks for information. He's told the cab is not one of theirs.

Danilo is getting quite drunk. He learns that Epifanio will not arrive for the meeting with Cardenas for another 2 or 3 hours. We then see Epifanio and Delio laughing at the situation they've set up. Delio asks what happens if Cardenas doesn't get "freaky" with Danilo. Epi replies, "Are you kidding? He'll take what he can get."

Teresa asks Sami why he killed his friends. He tells her that when he heard that the White Horseman had been killed, he knew someone was bound to come for him. He adds that Hugo and Gregorio couldn't have dealt with something this big. "And one can't leave loose ends if one is starting a new life."

A drunk Danilo tells Cardenas "I love your laugh." Cardenas kisses Danilo. He then asks two questions--one is about the security cameras (Danilo assures him that in the private rooms there are no security cameras). The other question is how long Epifanio said he'd be away. 2 hours. "Perfecto!" And they start in. But though there may be no security cameras, there is Montaño, camera in hand. He takes one or more photos and sends them to Epi.

Teresa is not sure how to find a pilot for the trip to see Rubén. It's 6 hours and then a car ride. Oleg tells her to go to the hotel and pack. He'll call her when he has a plan.

Susana reminds Bebita about her appointment with the psychiatrist. Bebita smiles and says, "this is the last one."

Pablo calls Epi to say he's identified El Jinete Bayo and needs $30 million. Epi isn't pleased, but Pablo tells him there's no way to get the information without paying him. Pablo reminds Epi of his loyalty and then asks him where his father is being held in Nicaragua. Epi simply replies, "I'll let you know when I have the money."

Faustino is leaving Peru with Paloma to help TeamA (I think). Sofia and Mateo are being left in charge of the kidnapped Matos. [IMHO, this arrangement spells disaster.]

We see Teresa and Batman waiting in the middle of nowhere for the plane to arrive. Oleg and Anton are leaving the grim place they've been, but they're in a car with Eloy and some others. I'm quite confused. It looks as if both Oleg & Anton and Teresa & Batman are heading to see Rubén. Fortunately for me and for anyone reading this account, the episode ends here.
 

reina3

thanks so much Juanita for your 2 recaps this week, and thanks to novelera for Tuesday!

I was wondering where Tesa got Estefania Oliveros' name to begin with, was it something in Julieta's laptop.

and I did not see the big deal about the anchor boys revealing the bay horseman, certainly not enough for Sami to kill the other two, now they are going to give this guy $30 million so he can disappear forever, wait... you forgot to tell us...

our high altitude writers aren't really good at smoothing out the wrinkles, but I took it that Tesa has already flown to the meet and was instructed to walk to where they now are.

there was an interesting phrase used in the english caps, about Danilo not being a person that "bites the pillow" of just anyone.

 

reina3

Thanks so much, Juanita, for your recap. You got the high points and with style.

Expanding on the hotel part of the episode, Mortati again shows how despicable he can be. He wants the reluctant Gallardo to threaten and/or beat up Stefi. I'm coming around to your opinion, Juanita. Gallardo has no intention of harming Stefi. And, when Julieta tells him that she was recommended to have 3 days off to recover from being drugged, he stonily said she could have one.

I don't have much hope that Bebita and Güicho will be rescued this soon. That's sort of been a major plot point, and those don't get wrapped up halfway through.

I actually sort of thought the judge was the Bay Horseman, but my feelings about Sami as really, really evil were borne out. Wasn't expecting THAT to happen. My fingers are crossed he won't get his $30 million and, after he forks over the key, meets a dark fate.

I was a bit surprised Danilo went for Cárdenas' overtures. He didn't seem like the kind of man he'd go for, being a hypocrite and all. And I know that sounds odd because he was head over heels about Alcalá, but those two were really in love. Wishing for some prison time for Montaño. That guy gives Sami a run for his money in looking bad to the bone.

When Epi balks at the $30 million, Pablo says something about getting it where he usually gets his money, i.e., the narcos they've been hinting at all along.

deb, Teresa and Batman said something about a pista (landing spot), and they kept looking up at the sky. So I had the impression they were still in Argentina and awaiting a plane to take them to meet with Rubén.

Amen on the disaster in waiting with Mateo being half of the guard team for Matos. I think Sofia is tough enough and loyal enough to her mother to keep Matos chained up. Mateo, not so much. I can see him setting him free when Sofia takes a nap.
 

reina3

Thanks VERY much, deb and novelera, for you exceedingly interesting and helpful comments.

deb, you raise some important questions. I don't have answers for most of them, but I can explain, I think, why Sami kills the other two. As soon as Sami talks about the "evidence," which no one had mentioned, the other two Amigos immediately jump on this and (rightly) accuse Sami of being the Bay Horseman. Sami kills them for several reasons, two of which he explains. First of all, he doesn't think either of them could deal with an issue this big. Also, he believes one should not leave any loose ends (los cabos sueltos) when one is starting a new life. Though he doesn't say this, my guess is that he also didn't want to share the $30 million he hopes to get.
The business at the end with Teresa and Batman puzzles me as well. Last night, I assumed they were waiting for the plane. After reading your comment, I took another look at the scene and decided that you're right, it looks as if they've already had their 6-hour flight and are now waiting for a car to take them to Rubén. But no car has come, and they have no phone signal. They're supposed to be at Rubén's in 45 minutes. Batman asks her--perhaps not wholly in jest--whether she can ride a llama!

novelera, thanks for adding so many important details! I too am VERY doubtful that Bebita's current escape plan will work. As you say, it's really too soon for such an important part of the plot to be resolved. And, for me, the clincher was Bebita's saying that her upcoming meeting with the psychiatrist would be "the last one." And yes, I too was very disappointed that Danilo gave in to Cardenas' advances. It just seems to confirm Epi's neanderthal notions. Add to that the portrayal of Mortati and I have to wonder whether the writers are bigots. Finally yes, I agree with and fear your suggested scenario of how Mateo will behave toward Matos.

Thanks again to both of you!
 

reina3

I'll put up something bare bones tonight
 

reina3

Thanks, Juanita. Your amazing explaining came to my rescue. I guess I'm full of dark humor today because your references to "amigos" made me laugh. "Sami takes out a gun and shoots his two Amigos" ... "She sees the two dead Amigos." Disgusting, lowlife amigos. Good riddance.

Deb, you asked how Team A knew about Estefania. Fedor hacked into Julieta's computer and there were equal payments from each amigo for Estefania. Drugged, Julieta confessed the payments were for Estefania's silence about the three amigos' gang rape.

Danilo knows how treacherous Epifanio is, so he should've realized this was a setup WITH camera. He's a hot, good-looking guy and should've had enough of closeted guys after all he'd been through in R2 with Bebita's brother, so I'm surprised he hit it with Cardenas. Plus Cardenas is a pedophile (though Danilo doesn't know this). General, your inside the palace team has a crack.

Sami grabbed Batman's gun when Batman moved in to break up the amigos' fighting.

Faustino has that light-hearted attitude on the outside even when things get rough, but when he talked Oleg on the phone he reasoned with business-like clarity on the issues of his junior team. On Mateo, although he didn't take the gun, letting Sofia have the honors, I'm betting he will do what he has to do to protect Sofia.
 

reina3

Thanks VERY much, Niecie, for supplying so much useful information. I had a brain freeze when it came to how TeamA knew about Estafania. Thanks for reminding me.

I too was hoping that Danilo would not succumb to Cardenas' advances. And he probably wouldn't have, had it not been for the alcohol, which had the effect Epi wanted.

Did Faustino offer the gun to Mateo? I had the impression that he handed it to Sofia, perhaps knowing that she'd be more likely to use it if the need arose.
 

reina3

Juanita, the way I saw it, Faustino held out the gun, but not particularly to either one, and there was a pause. Mateo looked hesitant, and then Sofia took the gun.