Caray, Caray!

MONTEVERDE #70 Notes from the Couch . . . página 1

The Great Escape
Celeste tells Carolina that she has gone crazy and that their switching identities again is not happening. Celeste understands her frustrations but they both could end up in jail!

Oscar prefers to not talk about what happened the night before with the kiss. Carolina tells Oscar again how much she loves him, never wanted to hurt him and only wants to see him happy. He assures her he will care for Andrés as his own. She asks for a hug, they almost kiss and, of course, are interrupted by Celeste with news . . .

The lawyer tells Carolina that Padilla has been spying on her. Oscar quickly concludes that Padilla cannot see Andrés leaving the convent. No, there are no other entrances to the convent grounds other than the front gate. Celeste has an idea. They hide Andrés in a piece of luggage and put it in the back of a SUV as Padilla watches. When they are out of the area., Andrés is freed and they head to the bus station.

Padilla calls Carlos to tell him that Andrés never left the convent. Carlos heads to the convent.

Carolina and Oscar make peace. She mentions that she saw him the night before with her sister. She makes it clear that she is not judging him. She only wants to pledge her friendship to him. If he needs somebody, he knows where to find her. Oscar says there is not much to say. He and Carolina let their emotions get the best of them. The important thing is that Carolina doesn't deserve to be in the situation she is in. He asks her if they can trust the lawyer. She answers that they can. He tells her he is willing to pay for or do whatever Carolina needs to be reunited her son. She smiles and says she will keep him up to date.

Carolina calls Andrés to make sure he is okay. He tells her he is fine and it was exciting! In a subsequent call, he asks her if they can live in Monteverde when she is free. He saw her the night before with Oscar and thinks that Oscar will forgive her. She hopes so. Andrés would like it if they all could live together.
Moisés would like it too. He confesses that Moisés was faking being sick at the convent. She laughs and declares him the best son in the world. She is the best mother in the whole wide world.

Carlos shows up at the convent demanding that Carolina turn over his son. All that Carolina can do is laugh and tells him that his son is not there nor in Monteverde with her sister. He is in a very safe place where he will never be found. He insists that his son is there. He was seen going in with her lover from Monteverde. She tells him he needs a new informant because he gave him the wrong information. She adds that Oscar is not her lover but is the one and only love of her life. Mother Gustava appears and as Carlos advances to search the convent, she tells him to sstop and leave before she calls the police and files charges against him. Mother Gustava and Carolina close the gates on him as he rages on.

Carlos attacks Padilla accusing him of lying to him. Padilla insists that he didn't see Andrés leave the convent. Maybe they snuck him out somehow. Carlos tells him to call his contact in Monteverde to see if he is son is back there. Padilla reminds him there is no cell service, so it will take a while for him to contact her.
 

MONTEVERDE página 2

Erika the Flip-Flopper or Oscar's Nightmare Comes True
Celeste informs Erika that Moisés is back and that he had a stomach ache but is okay now. Erika cannot wait to go and see him tomorrow. Celeste says she understands how hard it must be for her to be away from him after just finding him. Erika says that is how it is and she needs to adapt.

The next day, Lucía and Celeste discuss Erika. Celeste says she had an interview and left very early.

Erika goes to see the good father. She went for a job interview in La Palma and got it. She will be making twice as much as her last position so she can support her son. He is confused since she told them that she would not be taking her son away from Oscar and La Palma is very far from Monteverde. She knows that is what she said but this is a great job opportunity that she cannot let get away. She is also not going to be separated from her son ever again.

Erika and the good father go to Oscar's to give him the news. Moisés hears that she wants to take him away with her and tells them he doesn't want to leave his godfather and reminds her that she said she was going to be staying in Monteverde. A very angry Oscar tells them to leave so he can talk to Moisés as Erika tries to justify her actions.

Oscar tells Moisés he is not going anywhere he doesn't want to go. He will not force him. Moisés doesn't want to go but he loves his mother and suggests that Oscar give her a job on the ranch so she doesn't have to leave town. Oscar is reluctant since they never have had women working on the ranch.Moisés argues that Erika is not just any woman. She is his mother.

Celeste lets Trinidad know that her boyfriend is not the author she thinks he is. He is a private detective and has been using her to get information on Carolina and Andrés.

The good father tells Erika she has to give the situation some time. She says she has given the situation nine years of her life already! What is more, she is running out of money. She has to find a job. He tells her she can stay there until she finds a job. She smiles. He suggests she talk to Moisés the next day to tell him it was never her intention to take him away from Oscar. She concludes if she cannot find a job, she will have to come and visit Moisés on weekends.

Moisés asks Erika if she wants to work for him on his ranch.

Election Shenanigans
The good father suggests that Juan David take advantage of being at church on Sunday by campaigning after mass is over. He can ask the people for their ideas to make the town (aka the future municipality of Monteverde )better. Of course, Gloria and Doris have the same idea of campaigning at the church for Manuel and Cárcamo. Cárcamo's and Manuel's displeasure with running for office becomes more and more apparent. Juan David decides to concentrate on the efforts he has made already to help the town. Manuel has had it and tells Gloria he is not going to run PERIOD! Gloria decides that will make her take a drastic measure. She will run herself!

The Short Goodbye
Diego tries to make things better by offering to buy Lucía a horse so she can have one there in Zacatillo to train. She is appalled by the idea accusing him of always wanting to do things his way and there being no trust between them. She is done with him and tells him to say goodbye to Belén for her. She packs up and goes back to live at the inn. She is introduced to Erika who is her new roommate.

From Monteverde to Lima
Franco calls Julieta, who is suffering from swollen ankles, to tell her he is leaving Mexico tonight and will be in Lima the next day. He has already booked a hotel room near her home. He asks Lucas to take him to the airport. He tells him and Rosalía he wants to be in Lima for the birth of his baby.

Rosalía tells Lucía that Franco has left for Lima. Lucía admits to Rosalía that she would like to reconcile with Franco but at the present time, they are on different paths.

FIN
 

Domenica - I’m doing the recap for last week now! I haven’t seen Monday’s episode yet, I’m going to get through this first. It’s probably going to be even abbreviated than usual for me, so like always, fill in blanks and ask questions, correct my mistakes! BRB
 

Domenica Montero capítulo 44-48 in brief! Part 1

Mercedes confesses to Luis the deal she had with Max, that he’s also Martin Gonzalez and that she agreed to drop charges because he paid her back with interest. She also admits that she hoped or expected that Domenica would choose Max sooner or later, and that suited her just fine, as she wanted Domenica out of Luis’s life. Luis is pretty pissed. When he presses her with, “Is that all?” she gets shifty-eyed but says yes, not telling him about her collaboration with Kiara.

Domenica, weirded out by the creepy vibe she got from Genaro when he rescued her (when she fell into the Laguna), wants to fire him. She suspects he kissed her when she was out (though she doesn’t say this to him). He gets all self-righteous and “wounded” and guilts her into not firing him.

Adelaida wants to reunite with Simon, but he continues to be stand-offish and even invents a girlfriend in the neighboring pueblo to make her jealous.

Luis and Domenica exchange notes about all the lies Max told. Domenica is indignant that Mercedes was willing to cover for Max’s scamming (as long as she got her money back) and not let anyone else know what kind of delincuente he was. Luis presumes to think that Domenica is willing to forgive Max, but says he won’t sit back with “brazos cruzados” (crossed arms) and let Max get away with it. He wants Max in jail!

Pedro and Prudencio continue to surreptitiously investigate Genaro’s crooked doings. Pedro is told to work alongside Genaro with accounting, and is always looking for clues and proof of corruption.

Max is getting more and more desperate about being exposed as a liar and losing his chance with Domenica. He tells Kiara that he’ll spill all the beans about her betrayal. Silvi and Kiara are worried about what Max might say and Silvi says maybe Kiara should pack her bags and get out while she can.

When Luis Fernando retrieved a gun from Osvaldo (a gun gifted to Osvaldo from Genaro) he gives the gun to Gabriel, warning him about his son. Gabriel, in turn, doesn’t even want the gun in his house because he knows Osvaldo will search for it and never give up until he finds it. He gives it to - guess! - Kiara. Kiara seems indifferent about the gun but sure, she’ll hang onto it.

Ernesto, who has never ceased investigating Max behind the scenes, offers to collaborate with Luis and San Genis in seeing justice against Max. Luis is immediately defensive and assumes that Domenica just wants to find out what’s going on in order to protect Max. Ernesto loses his patience and rips into Luis, saying that they’re all on the same side against Max, only Luis is too stubborn to listen.

Prudencio and Pedro try to get some dirt on Genaro by questioning Roque (former “helper” of Genaro) but Roque isn’t talking.

Ernesto, San Genis, and Luis come up with a way to finally get Max arrested, but Max already fled. Max is frantic because his “socio” ran off with all the money that Max hoped to repay to Domenica, in hopes of being forgiven. He feels he’s lost everything and is going loco.

Domenica is encouraged to talk with Luis (by Nana, I think), because even though they have all sorts of problems between them, there is still love there on both sides. She drives hopefully to his hacienda, but is blocked on the road by a lunatic Max, who drags her to the ground, kissing her, insisting that he loves her more than anyone. She fights and screams, and that’s where we end cap 48.


 

Domenica 44-48 part 2

In a very disturbing scene, poor Domenica is taped by Max. He screams that she “belongs to him” even though she insisted she’s done with him.

After he finishes, she’s a crumpled mess laying on the ground. She tells him “you raped me” and he seems to finally come to his senses. However, instead of helping her, he runs off. Some time later, her best friend Gina (who we haven’t seen or thought of for most of the novela) happens to drive by and helps Domenica, and takes her to a neighboring pueblo where she is able to file a police report and get examined by a doctor. Gina came out to give Domenica info about the guest list at her boda (to find out who may have picked up Domenica’s engagement ring).

Meanwhile, Luis encounters Max in el campo as Max is running off - they have a brief fight, with a few witnesses to see it all, and Max ultimately is able to run off when he kicks Luis hard in the crotch.

Domenica doesn’t want anyone back in her town to know about her rape. She and Gina stay in town at a hotel. The next morning, Luis finds Domenica sitting at an outside dining area and is able to talk with her. She is strangely distant and cold, but not hostile. She is clearly not bitter towards him but yet tells him that she needs to be alone. He is puzzled and concerned.

Gina sees him leave, and asks Domenica who he is. “The love of my life” she replies.

Backing up a bit, not long after Max and Luis had their fight, an unknown person shoots Max in the chest as he is near the water.

San Genis finally confesses all to Ernesto - he confesses that he swiped the ride, the note, and the gift that Ernesto left for Blanca. Ernesto punches him. San Genis realized that Ernesto was far more sincere and in love with Blanca, and she would be better off with him.

Long story short, Ernesto is able to talk to Blanca, explain what happened, and she reads his very romantic note. She immediately melts and they quickly become a couple. Yay team Cute Lawyer/Ernesto!

Osvaldo and Nieves - there was no “there there” and Nieves eventually sees this. He tries to give her a bracelet, thinking he can “buy” her affection, but she’s super insulted. Later he shows the bracelet (that she refused) to Pedro, insinuating that Nieves loves alk the gifts he gives her. Osvaldo implies that Nieves gives him - let’s say - “lots of embraces” in response to his generosity. Pedro is offended too - doesn’t think a guy should talk that way about his novia.

Long story short again, Pedro and Nieves finally have a proper conversation, reveal their feelings for each other, and they decide to marry.

The representative from Nescafé comes to seal the deal with Domenica. We have a prolonged sponsorship scene, where we hear about how awesome Nescafé is. But I didn’t mind, because the representative was played by one of my favorites, Cesar Evora!

End part 2


 

Domenica—oops, there’s lots of typos! I just want to get this done so I can see episode 49! Perdón!
 

Domenica part 3 cap 44-48

Gina is my new heroine. She has no f’s to give and says what she says. She’s very frank with Luis when she presents him with the guest list to Domenica’s failed boda. She isn’t favorably impressed with him based on what she’s heard and she tells him so. She asks what the hell is wrong with him, getting cozy with Kiara? Gina is also VERY clear that she’s always thought Kiara is phony and very envious of Domenica.

They have a conversation that is somewhat productive. Gina realizes that he truly loves Domenica, despite him being a big dope. Gina, knowing she can’t reveal that Domenica was raped, just tells Luis that something “complicated” is going on, and that he should be patient, and have faith that that “Domenica needs you, you just have to give her time.”

There’s this whole complicated conspiracy with Black Widow (Cosme’s widow), Omar (the agriculture expert), and Genaro. Black Widow and Omar want to ruin Domenica’s coffee crop. From what I can gather, the problem is that Domenica promised to sell her entire crop to one client (I guess Nescafé) which screws things up for our crooks, I think because they’re hoping to measure or weigh the crop and say it’s less than it really is, so they can skim off the top.

Black widow and Omar plan to poison the crop but not tell Genaro. He finds out because Roque’s replacement was approached by Omar, with a bribe to poison the crop but not tell Genaro. Replacement played along with Omar, but told Genaro anyway.

Padrino guesses something is up with Domenica and finally coaxes her to tell him what happened. He is horrified and enraged. They both dissolve in tears and hug. Domenica tells Padrino that he is such a comfort to her.

Omar also ends up being a “replacement” for Genaro in more intimate matters with the Black Widow - though if we’re measuring who is hotter, Genaro wins if you ask me.

Genaro is blackmailing Gabriel and wants $350,000 pesos (I think around $90,000 usd?). Gabriel is worried about Osvaldo and doesn’t want his kid involved in this dirty mess. I’m still not completely clear as to WHY Genaro feels entitled to so much money, but it appears to be the price Gabriel must pay to be free of his corrupt socios.

San Genis has heard about Gina and is already intrigued. So much for his great love for Blanca! Luis is amused. San Genis goes out of his way to introduce himself to Gina, to confirm that her “eyes are as beautiful as he was told” and she is amused, is totally onto his BS, but also favorably disposed towards him and compliments his pretty eyes too. It seems they are kinda sorta seeing each other but also “just friends.”

There’s a brief thing where an age-appropriate lady agent is talking to Godfather about Max’s case, Tia sees them and gets jealous, Godfather is flattered and amused, they clear everything up, and it’s much ado about nothing.

Pedro was snooping through the office he shares with Genaro and Osvaldo and was going through papers - someone approaches and he’s worried he’s busted. It turns out it’s just Silvi. He doesn’t want her to tell anyone she saw him snooping, so she tells him he can buy her silence by taking him swimming at the Laguna or whatever.

When they are there, she swims alone. All of a sudden she screams because she felt a body in the water. You guessed it, Max!

End part 3

 

Domenica ep 44–48 part 4 (I may be getting some of these events out of order, as I’m just doing a stream-of-consciousness recollection.)

Poor Silvi was freaked out by finding Max’s body, and Pedro being with her at the time causes gossip (though he is eventually able to clear things up with Nieves which is why they decide to marry).

Domenica is briefly considered a suspect in Max’s murder, but she was in the neighboring town with Gina at the time and there were lots of witnesses.

Kiara and Genaro both talk to each other as if they think the other killed Max. Genaro says he “knows” Kiara killed him, but I’m not sure he knows as in he saw something, or just his gut says so or he’s strongly suspicious. In any case, he’s right, we have a flashback where Kiara uses the gun that I assume Gabriel gave her. Max is prone on the ground, asks her why, she says because he was supposed to be hers, blah blah, basically she’s butthurt that once again Domenica “won.” Max, with his dying breaths, tells Kiara to ask Domenica to forgive him. He also tells Kiara that Domenica is worth much more than her, Kiara, and this angers Kiara so much that she pumps several more bullets into him.

With Domenica cleared as a possible suspect, the eyes of the law fall upon Luis, since he was in a fight with Max shortly before his death. Genaro’s replacement “helper” was told to tell the police that he suspects Luis. Luis is taken into jail.

Kiara visits him, and acts all outraged that he’s in jail. He vows to find the guilty party. He hated Max, but never wished death on him.

Black widow tells Gabriel to let his wife have a divorce. Later Gabriel, seemingly repentant and ashamed, apologizes to his daughter and say she can work as an assistant for Luis if she wants. He seems very sweet with her and she’s touched.

Roque was a witness that when Max and Luis fought, he saw that Luis went his way and Max went his way - Roque is very willing to be Luis’s alibi.

Kiara is acting all high and mighty as Luis is in jail. When Domenica comes to visit, Kiara blames Domenica for him being there in the first place! Doménica isn’t having it any more and is tired of Kiara’s crap. Kiara tries to imply that Domenica probably killed Max.

Bartolo is so pissed at Replacement (Pánfilo) for falsely accusing Luis that he punches him. He says it was all for nothing, because Roque will be his alibi!

Domenica visits Luis. She instantly assures him she believes in his innocence. They have a somewhat unromantic but very tender sort of reconciliation. She’s trying to explain a bit about what she feels, but Mercedes interrupts them, angry that Domenica is even there. Domenica leaves. Luis is sick of Mercedes’ crap and has her kicked out.

There’s a lot of going back and forth, finally Luis is released from jail and leaves with Domenica - Kiara is upset because, once again, Domenica “wins.”

There’s a scene in here somewhere where Silvi implies that Domenica has an edge over Kiara, and Kiara is so outraged that she yanks her hair hard and warns her never to say something like that again. Silvi is visibly scared.

Tia is becoming increasingly suspicious of Kiara and her actions and motivations. She sees suspicious text previews on Kiara’s phone, is able to guess her password, gets into the phone,,sees Kiara’s texts to Silvi, and also sees selfies that Kiara took with Max which basically confirm that Kiara and Max conspired to scam Domenica. Tia is heartbroken.

Genaro finds out Roque and threatens his wife and kid (who live in another town) if Roque says anything. Roque promises he’s loyal and won’t snitch on Genaro.

Later, Luis tells Mercedes that basically, if she wants to be in his life in the future, she’d better be willing to suck it up and sincerely apologize to Domenica. Mercedes is super offended at the thought. Luis also tells Mercedes that he expects her to sell her share of the hacienda to San Genis, like she was going to before.

End part 4


 

Domenica part 5 eps 44-48

Tia confronts Kiara, who is super angry that Tia snooped in her phone. She admits what she did, saying that she was always second best to Domenica. Tia says no, it was never like that, and reminds Kiara that they were always careful to raise the two girls equally. Tia says, this time I’m not covering for you, I’m telling Domenica and everyone. Kiara threatens to kill herself. Tia replies, that’s not working this time, I now know you faked the previous suicide attempt, and the supposed broken heart you had over the gringo boyfriend breaking up with you - well, it turns out you cheated on him. (This is what I think was said - not totally sure.) Kiara is so angry that she pushes Tia and she falls backwards and is unconscious.

Just as Tia is knocked out, Luis comes to the door, so Kiara has to pretend that she’s worried about her mom. Luis checks Tia - her head is bleeding.

At some point during these episodes Silvi freaks out and wants to escape. She seems to realize that Kiara is more involved in things than she’s letting in. Kiara says, you gotta stay, you’re my alibi. Silvi says, I’m doing you a favor by leaving now, if they pressure me, I’ll tell them everything I know. She adds that while she always has stood by Kiara, she’s not going to get mixed up with a lot of stuff that she had no knowledge of. She’s out!

Tia is unconscious in the hospital. (She ends up being okay.) Kiara is already creating “plausible deniability” out in the waiting room, saying that she’s worried about Tia’s memory. (Gina heard this and frowns - like she recognizes BS.)

Tia breaks all telenovela tropes by remembering what happened to her, by refusing to see Kiara (tells the hospital staff to block her) and immediately telling Domenica EVERYTHING. I was so sure Kiara would try something to shut Tia up or hurt her, but no! Domenica hears it all.

Domenica confronts Kiara alone (again, I was worried that Kiara would pull something) but no again! Domenica kicks out Kiara, drags her by her hair, cancels all her credit cards, she is OUT. Kiara tries to get back in to “at least get her things” but Nieves was ordered not to let her in, so she’s on her own.

Kiara first runs to Genaro for help. He doesn’t care. She runs to Gabriel. He says no (though his wife overhears, knows he cheated, and tells him later that any softening she felt for him evaporated at that moment). She finally calls Mercedes, who says she will help.

Adelaida and Simon: She’s trying to win him back but he’s being cold and rejecting her. Prudencio and Nana want to step in and play matchmaker. What Prudencio does is yell at Simon, saying that he broke Adelaida’s heart so bad that she’s taken a job in the city teaching cooking, and will be leaving on the bus that day. (Simon also confirms to Prudencio that he made up the thing about having a novia in the next town.) Simon is frantic and rushes to the bus stop to get to Adelaida, but the bus left! He’s distraught and talks about getting a taxi so he can catch her at the next town’s bus stop. He tells Maria this in passing, so imagine Maria’s surprise she she immediately sees Adelaida shopping in town, having no clue about any teaching job. Later Adelaida finds out more the matchmaking from Prudencio and Nana, and hugs them.

Blanca accidentally busts in on Black Widow and Omar making out in Black Widow’s office. Black widow later explains to Blanca that it’s tough being a beautiful widow, blah blah. Blanca and Ernesto are going to marry and live in Puebla, and of course Ernesto is going to be a loving son-in-law, as Blanca’s mom will be staying with them.

We end episode 48 with Omar and Pánfilo (Replacement) preparing to poison Domenica’s coffee crop. Genaro puts a gun to the back of Omar’s head and Pánfilo backs off - he was never on Omar’s side.