Caray, Caray!

TELEMUNDO WEEKEND EDITION (continuación)
Here's Page 2 for the week. The current telenovelas are as follows (all times are Eastern Daylight Time):

9-10PM - Hercai: Amor y Venganza 2
10-11PM - Pasión de Gavilantes 2
12-1AM - Parientes a la Fuerza (Tuesday thru Saturday)

Everyone is welcome to join in the conversation. Since discussions of all the novelas share the same page, please remember to put the name of the telenovela you're referring to at the top of your post, so readers can easily find the conversations they're looking for.

By common agreement, this group DOES NOT discuss previews, trailers, or any other plot information not found in a current or past episode of the current production. Spoilers WILL be removed by the admin. This includes reference to earlier productions of the story, and even the original novel. Thanks for your cooperation!

Labels: herc, pari, Pasion, telemundo

Welcome to Page 1 (Monday edition) of the Telemundo y Más page, issued twice a week: Mondays and Thursdays at 8:00 PM.

Here are the current telenovelas (all times are Eastern Daylight Time):

9-10PM - Hercai: Amor y Venganza 2
10-11PM - Pasión de Gavilanes 2
12-1AM - Parientes a la Fuerza (Tuesday thru Saturday)

Everyone is welcome to join in the conversation. Since discussions of all the novelas share the same page, please remember to put the name of the telenovela you're referring to at the top of your post, so readers can easily find the conversations they're looking for.

By common agreement, this group DOES NOT discuss previews, trailers, or any other plot information not found in a current or past episode of the current production. Spoilers WILL be removed by the admin. This includes reference to earlier productions of the story, and even the original novel. Thanks for your cooperation!

Labels: herc, pari, Pasion, telemundo

 TELEMUNDO WEEKEND EDITION (continuación)

Here's Page 2 for the week.  The current telenovelas are as follows (all times are Eastern Standard Time):

• 12-1AM -  Parientes a la Fuerza (Tues through Sat)
• 9-11PM -  Hercai, Amor y Venganza 2
• 10-11PM - Pasión de Gavilanes
  

Everyone is welcome to join in the conversation.   Since discussions of all the Telemundo novelas share the same page, please remember to put the name of the telenovela you're referring to at the top of your post, so readers can easily find the conversations they're looking for.

By common agreement,this group DOES NOT DISCUSS previews, trailers, or any other plot information not found in a current or past episode of the current production.  Spoilers WILL be removed by the admin.  This includes references to earlier productions of the story, and even the original novel. Thanks for your cooperation!
 

Labels: herc, pari, Pasion, telemundo

Welcome to Page 1 (Monday edition) of the Telemundo y Más page, issued twice a week:  Mondays and Thursdays at 8:00 PM.

Here are the current telenovelas (all times are Eastern Standard Time):

• 12-1AM -  Parientes a la Fuerza (Tuesday through Saturday)
• 9-10PM -  Hercai: Amor y Venganza 2
• 10-11PM - Pasión de Gavilanes
  

Everyone is welcome to join in the conversation.  Since discussions of all the Telemundo novelas share the same page, please remember to put the name of the telenovela you're referring to at the top of your post so readers can easily find the conversation they're looking for.

By common agreement, this group DOES NOT discuss previews, trailers, or any other plot information not found in a current or past episode of the current production.  Spoilers WILL be removed by the admin.  This includes references to earlier productions of the story, and even the original novel.  Thanks for your cooperation!

Labels: herc, pari, Pasion, telemundo

TELEMUNDO WEEKEND EDITION (continuación)
Here's Page 2 for the week. The current telenovelas are as follows (all times are Eastern Standard Time):

9-10PM - Hercai: Amor y Venganza 2
10-11PM - Pasión de Gavilantes 2
12-1AM - Parientes a la Fuerza (Tuesday thru Saturday)

Everyone is welcome to join in the conversation. Since discussions of all the novelas share the same page, please remember to put the name of the telenovela you're referring to at the top of your post, so readers can easily find the conversations they're looking for.

By common agreement, this group DOES NOT discuss previews, trailers, or any other plot information not found in a current or past episode of the current production. Spoilers WILL be removed by the admin. This includes reference to earlier productions of the story, and even the original novel. Thanks for your cooperation!

Labels: herc, pari, Pasion, telemundo

Welcome to Page 1 (Monday edition) of the Telemundo y Más page, issued twice a week: Mondays and Thursdays at 8:00 PM.

Here are the current telenovelas (all times are Eastern Standard Time):

9-10PM - Hercai: Amor y Venganza 2**
10-11PM - Pasión de Gavilanes 2**
12-1AM - Parientes a la Fuerza (Tuesday thru Saturday)

**There is some uncertainty about the offerings for this Tuesday, March 1. According to Zap2It, Hercai will be shown at 10 PM and Pasión will not be shown. However, Telemundo's online program guide indicates that neither program will appear on Tuesday because of President Biden's State of the Union address. Your guess is as good as mine.

Everyone is welcome to join in the conversation. Since discussions of all the novelas share the same page, please remember to put the name of the telenovela you're referring to at the top of your post, so readers can easily find the conversations they're looking for.

By common agreement, this group DOES NOT discuss previews, trailers, or any other plot information not found in a current or past episode of the current production. Spoilers WILL be removed by the admin. This includes reference to earlier productions of the story, and even the original novel. Thanks for your cooperation!

Labels: herc, pari, Pasion, telemundo

 TELEMUNDO WEEKEND EDITION (continuación)

Here's Page 2 for the week.  The current telenovelas are as follows (all times are Eastern Standard Time):

• 12-1AM -  Parientes a la Fuerza (Tuesday to Saturday)
• 9-10PM -  Hercai, Amor y Venganza 2
• 10-11PM - Pasión de Gavilanes
  

Everyone is welcome to join in the conversation.   Since discussions of all the Telemundo novelas share the same page, please remember to put the name of the telenovela you're referring to at the top of your post, so readers can easily find the conversations they're looking for.

By common agreement,this group DOES NOT DISCUSS previews, trailers, or any other plot information not found in a current or past episode of the current production.  Spoilers WILL be removed by the admin.  This includes references to earlier productions of the story, and even the original novel. Thanks for your cooperation!
 

Labels: herc, pari, Pasion, telemundo

Welcome to Page 1 (Monday edition) of the Telemundo y Más page, issued twice a week:  Mondays and Thursdays at 8:00 PM.

Here are the current telenovelas (all times are Eastern Standard Time):

• 12-1AM -  Parientes a la Fuerza (Tuesday to Saturday)
• 9-10PM -  Hercai: Amor y Venganza 2
• 10-11PM - Pasión de Gavilanes
  

Everyone is welcome to join in the conversation.  Since discussions of all the Telemundo novelas share the same page, please remember to put the name of the telenovela you're referring to at the top of your post so readers can easily find the conversation they're looking for.

By common agreement, this group DOES NOT discuss previews, trailers, or any other plot information not found in a current or past episode of the current production.  Spoilers WILL be removed by the admin.  This includes references to earlier productions of the story, and even the original novel.  Thanks for your cooperation!

Labels: herc, pari, Pasion, telemundo

TELEMUNDO WEEKEND EDITION (continuación)
Here's Page 2 for the week. The current telenovelas are as follows (all times are Eastern Standard Time):

9-10PM - Hercai: Amor y Venganza 2**
10-11PM - Pasión de Gavilantes 2**
12-1AM - Parientes a la Fuerza (Tuesday thru Saturday)

**Starting this past Monday (Feb. 14), Hercai: Amor y Venganza 2 returned to one-hour episodes, 9-10PM. Season 2 of Pasión de Gavilanes began in the 10-11PM time slot. The second season takes place 20 years after the events of the first season, which aired in 2003. According to a brief account on nbc.com, "Twenty years later, the life of the Elizondo Kings is prosperous and for the most part quiet. But peace does not last forever, because everything is shattered after a murder charge against Eric and León, the 23-year-old twin children of Juan and Norma. This is the first of a series of events that will also affect Oscar and Jimena, also Franco and Sara, and even the new generations of one of the most influential clans in the city of San Marcos, who face challenges that will change their lives." Danna García, Mario Cimarro, Paola Rey, Juan Alfonso Baptista, Natasha Klauss and Michel Brown will return for the second season. Read more »

Labels: herc, pari, Pasion, telemundo

Welcome to Page 1 (Monday edition) of the Telemundo y Más page, issued twice a week: Mondays and Thursdays at 8:00 PM.

Here are the current telenovelas (all times are Eastern Standard Time):
9-10PM - Hercai: Amor y Venganza 2**
10-11PM - Pasión de Gavilanes 2**
12-1AM - Parientes a la Fuerza (Tuesday thru Saturday)

**Starting this Monday (Feb. 14), Hercai: Amor y Venganza 2 returns to one-hour episodes, 9-10PM. Season 2 of Pasión de Gavilanes begins in the 10-11PM time slot. The second season takes place 20 years after the events of the first season, which aired in 2003. According to a brief account on nbc.com, "Twenty years later, the life of the Elizondo Kings is prosperous and for the most part quiet. But peace does not last forever, because everything is shattered after a murder charge against Eric and León, the 23-year-old twin children of Juan and Norma. This is the first of a series of events that will also affect Oscar and Jimena, also Franco and Sara, and even the new generations of one of the most influential clans in the city of San Marcos, who face challenges that will change their lives." Danna García, Mario Cimarro, Paola Rey, Juan Alfonso Baptista, Natasha Klauss and Michel Brown will return for the second season. Read more »

Labels: herc, pari, Pasion, telemundo

Read more »

Labels: abismo, Alborada, familia, Pasion, salvaje, telenovelas, weekend

I'm going to ask for some help here as there aren't a lot of novelas whose heroes (or villains) are military officers, cops, or other men who wear uniforms.  If anyone can think of any beyond this list, please assist with a link!  This entry will be considerably shorter than last week's, so there will be multiple photos of those gentleman who wear uniforms well.  Starting with.....

Read more »

Labels: duelo, Pasion, stars, telenovelas, weekend, Zorro

in case you missed the latest episode of the Univision program, "La Rosa de Guadalupe", here's my photo capture of Marcelo Cordoba as the handsome hero, in modern suit and glasses. His character's name is Esteban, who is the colleague and best friend of Zaida, played by Eugenia Cauduro. -- Jody :)

Labels: Alborada, amar, enemiga, Fuego, guapos, Pasion, stars

I half-watched this, but had a lot of difficulty following it, especially since I was supposed to be doing the Fuego recap at the same time. Here's what I was able to catch - hopefully you guys can fill in the rest:

• I couldn't help noticing that Fernando Colunga smiles a lot more in real life, and a lot more broadly, than Ricardo ever did!
  
  
• There was a segment about what a great kisser Colunga is, and a brief montage of him kissing previous costars and them endorsing his kissing skills.
  
  
• Colunga likes extreme sports.
  
  
• Susanna Gonzales (Camila) had to wear a flesh-colored bodysuit for the love scenes... and with each love scene being more revealing than the one before it, they had to cut away more and more of the suit, until finally it was practically falling apart.
  
  
• Daniela Castro (Liz), who sang on the Cristina show maybe ten years ago, did a lot of talking... she strikes me as extremely chatty, but likable. Gonzales said that Castro doesn't have a mean bone in her body.
  
  
• Castro talked about - among many other things - how great motherhood is. She also revealed that Colunga has a thing for cucumbers. He eats a lot of them and is constantly trying to foist them off on his costars.
  
  
• Castro talked about the rape scene with Lafont. I'm sorry to say that as much as I wanted to understand this, I could not follow it. I don't think she talked about the scene in the carriage or her crawling through the desert.
  
  
• I thought she said something about putting her hand on someone's "miembro," and there was a lot of laughter - apparently she didn't mean it the way it sounded. I don't know what she did mean, though. Sorry.
  
  
• Sadly, Sebastian Rulli (Santi) barely said a thing, and I didn't catch what little he did say. I was out of the room for a while, which was probably whatever time was devoted to him.
  
  
• There was some discussion of how the episodes don't get censored in Mexico, but do get censored in the US. I didn't catch most of what they said about this, unfortunately, but the general tone was that the things you see on TV are tame compared to what happens in real life. (It seems to me that we weren't spared any of the violence, just some of the sex.)

Labels: Pasion

I am already into Pasión withdrawals and Fernando withdrawals but on with the finale -

As I watched the introduction one last time I appreciated the intriguing combination of present, past, future, and fantasy then they added a big dollop of TEASE for us to puzzle over every night throughout the telenovela's run. The Estrada crew must have had so much fun putting this together.

The replay scenes: The archbishop, Gaspar is arguing with Col. Jose Maria that the loss of one more working man in this cellar inside a cave (SanFer is certainly the pits) is injust. JM sticks to the LAW is very clear, but Gaspar chides him to think that the laws are made by men to suit men, what of the higher law which includes piety and compassion. He finds Sebastian a good man and how should they give credence to the vengeful act of LaFont to condemn him. Why should an innocent, perhaps weak, man suffer for the rest of his life. JM resists letting an additional man go free. Gaspar advises him that the wise learn to correct themselves and he leaves.

Once more we see the executioner arrive and swing his axe like a champion batter loosening up at the world series. The unrepentant LaFont curses his daughter and her progeny for seven generations, Ascanio and Nanny comfort her but the great battle axe comes down on the grossest villain known to telenovela land. Great filming with desperate music to accompany the only undeserved lament coming from Manuela. Gruesome but a satisfying finish for this reprobate who did so much damage right up to the end of his days with a head still attached.

Ursula worries that they have lost everything. Sofia corrects that to they have only the dowry she came into the marriage with. She adds that when the new lord of San Fernando arrives they will have to leave the palace. Ever cheerful, Fortunata adds that they will be cozier in a smaller house. Ursula gives her a withering look but Sofia just looks sad. Knocking, the majordomo informs Sofia that Santiago has escaped the prison, he simply disappeared.

One probable causer, make that Ricardo, is bidding the archbishop goodbye in his carriage. Gaspar tells him to behave himself and to get married like God commands. He asks to be advised in time so he can celebrate the betrothal mass. They chuckle good naturedly, Ricardo assures him this will come to pass, while Mario says his goodbyes and thanks his brother telling him that without him this outcome would not have been possible. Jose Maria grins that this is the first time he has organized the escape of an accused man. But who can resist the arguments of the monsenior. He tells Mario to get his life straightened out too. JM mounts his horse, leaves his Criollo Captain in charge at SanFer and off they go. The eager faced Captain asks Ric and Mario if they think Lady Ursula would welcome a visit??? The boys giggle good naturedly, for sure.

Ines is delivering the message that Ofelia has left town early that morning to follow Santiago and she has left the baby Ana Maria in Camila's care since that was Rita's deathbed wish and Santiago's too. She asked you to raise her. Camila is glad to agree with all her love. The Jemena, Ines and Camila all laugh and hug. What happened with Santiago? Was he released, did he escape?? We don't know for sure but it was with a lot of help from Ricardo. Oh Ricardo, of course adds Camila with joy and tears. Ines says, I'll go get Ana Maria.

Camila bursts into Ricardo's room to thank him for what he did for Santiago. Ric demurs that it was justice done. He and Santiago may have fought and struggled for what they wanted but he never bore him resentment. Expressing their mutual love, there is very sweet kissing. You have a new daughter. Who? Ana Maria! How wonderful, welcome to her.

Jimena prepares her bed later that night, she responds to the knock on the door to find an agitated Mario on the other side of it. Is something going on? Well, not anyone else, but yes with me.... She cocks her head knowingly, now you have repented? No, so many people here we haven't had time to talk but if it's too late, I will go. (not so fast buddy) She invites him in, puts on her robe to assume a bit more modesty and he stammers out his love words, he loves her manner of being, her character, her... and he's not poor they can buy lands, start business... his stammering is so endearing. She jumps to guess that, But you're married? No, he steps forward, I was married to a woman who I loved greatly but she deceived me, and I killed them both. For this I had to escape and I joined with pirates. I was very young, Jimena, I couldn't control myself and I couldn't stand it. I resolved never to commit my self seriously to another woman, but you Jimena... She hesitates then tells him he doesn't know what her life has been like. But, I know you are a woman that is valiant, honest and loyal. And you?, she returns, as they sit on the edge of the bed. Will you be valiant, honest and loyal with me?? I swear to you, my love, I swear to you. And we are going to marry?, she presses on. He answers fervently, in front of God, in front of the whole world. And you're never going to abandon me? No never, never, never. I swear it. They start to rip off clothes as we are the lucky voyeurs to the hottest, most joyous love scene. Alas too short....(Our viewing time, that is.)

Sofia is entering the eBasement with the majordomo. They open a door, she tells him to open the large trunk. A treasure, Doña Sofia! But it isn't ours. Bring it up to my husband's office and later go to look for Ricardo.

A now constantly smiling Ricardo, sitting in the outdoor cafe is asking Josie-Jay if he is returning to Japan now? And you are not staying for my wedding? Unfortunately, no, I have a boat to catch but I wish you both the best and I am happy you have recovered your son. Just then Sofia's majordomo advances to announce that Sofia wants to see him. He stands and gives that great pirate farewell, arms crossing to opposite shoulders. They wish each other luck and good fortune. See you soon.

Next we find Ricardo viewing the big trunk full of jewels in Jorge's office Sofia says I suppose this is yours? He fingers a truly large green gem and admits it is. He figures that her husband and LaFont divided up the treasure because he saw Lisabeta with the necklace that he recognized. Sofia generously says, carry it away. He says it is better if he leaves it for her to divide among her poor. She says, but it belongs to you. Not any more he avers. I want to give it to you for your sorrow of losing your husband. She graciously says thanks. He tells her she is a great woman, noble and generous and it would be an honor for him if she would attend his wedding to Camila. With great pleasure, when will it be? Within one month. He kisses her hand gallantly.

And what grand finale can avoid a grand wedding? Certainly not this one. The next scene a month later shows Camila descending from a flower laden open carriage in a honey and crimson gown so beautifully complementing her hair. She walks the short distance to Ricardo with triumphant and joyful waves to the adoring crowd. She joins Ricardo in front of the church. The archbishop conducts the ceremony. The smiles and the radiant bride and groom and the grinning children, friends and family are touching. They conclude by going into the church for a mass.

Ahhhh, the wedding boudoir dripping with white flowers and candles. He is the happiest man in the world. She tells him she never expected from that day when she arrived captive on La Mariana and the first time she saw him and the pirate that looked at her with so much persistence would become the love of her life. He agrees that he maybe he didn't think it would happen but she moved many things in him and now they are to be together for life, for destiny and for God. You are my wife and I love you, I love you. Unfolds the hottest most passionate love scene between these beautiful people. What sweet dreams they created for all...
************

Ursula is draping herself in the doorway when the majordomo tells her she has visitor. She says sulkily, if it's Captain Enrique, tell him I'm not here. No, it is someone else who came to call on your father, he calls himself John Foreman. Ursula nearly knocks over this gentle giant of a servant in her rush to primp and spray herself with enticing scents. Love the way she dotted each breast. She stops the run down the stairs in time to see John smiling up at her. She tells him if he came to see her father, he died months ago. John responds with condolences, but adds that he came to search for her. For me she says coyly, why? Didn't you tell me that you would love to travel see other lands and live adventures with me? There is a momentary blur of blondness melting together but we shift to Sofia's hands taking the fateful birthday necklace from the birthday jewelry box then see her sad fond smile. Ursula bursts in with teenage exuberance, John Foreman has come for ME!! Mother, I think he is the man of my life. Don't oppose it. Remember that Father gave me the liberty to choose my own husband. Sofia hears Jorge's voice saying those exact words. Yes, Sofia agrees. And Tita?, asks Fortunata. Ursula cries, she has never been a good mother, you know that better than I, Mother. Tita would be better off staying with you two. I am going to ask her if she wants to come with me but if she prefers to stay with you, could she? Sofia, cries, yes, it would give them something to live for. Thus the third great love scene of the night progresses as mother and daughter hug in tears and Fortunata looks lovingly on nearby.

Downstairs John waits. The three ladies come down. Sofia starts right off, so you want to carry my daughter away. John tells Sofia that he knows she doesn't have a very good opinion of him but now he has retired from the life that he had. Pragmatic as always, Sofia says let's sit and discuss this. You are not a very recommendable son-in-law, she challenges. Yes, but I have money, I own my ships and a rich sugar plantation. Ursula is the only woman I know that will never bore me. Sofia advises, Ursula is not an easy woman. He takes hold of Ursula's hand and says he has always liked challenges and that is precisely what has always attracted him to her. Impatiently, Ursula, please Mother, what am I going to do here in this village? Let me go to live my life. It's what I want. Are you sure? Yes, I am sure. Fortunata is still beaming smiles, a loving aura floods the room.

Babies and nannies are strewn about the lawn in a happy array of gentle chaos as Camila and Jimena chat and eat fruit in the sunshine. Jimena asks, does Conchita still think she is Pedro's mother? No. She loves him so much but she loves the others too. And does your husband know what has become of his cousin and auntie? NO and I don't think he wants to. It was their fault that we almost lost our son. Jimena says if it had been up to her, they would have been cast into jail. Camila laughs and says God will judge them.

The next scene only shares the bright sunshine. The doll in tatters is pulled by a string by the disheveled Fran with a broken umbrella, streaming filthy hair with no trace of the prim roll we have come to expect. She looks like she just stepped out of a Fellini movie. Madness flares from her red eyes, her parched lips repeat a forlorn Lisabeta, Lisabeta. She approaches a small family of country folk with a burro and wagon. She asks them if they haven't seen her niece, a woman very pretty, she is blind. Have you seen her. No Lady, the woman says. The man repeats we are sorry but we haven't seen her. The woman kindly offers her a taco from their little cooking area in the dust. Fran can just muster a look of absolute disdain but she grabs the taco and turns so they cannot see her cram it ravenously into her mouth. She trails off stumbling and still calling Lisabeta, Lisabeta.
******************
Tita runs into the room ahead of Ursula followed by Sofia and Fortunata. Ursula gets on her knees to ask if she saw the gentleman that came to see her. Tita says, yes she saw him pacing on the patio. Ursula pushes on, I am going with him very far from San Fernando because I believe he is the person that can make me truly happy. That is to say, I don't want to influence what you say but I want you to do what you feel. Do you prefer to come away with me or do you prefer to stay here with your grandmother and your aunt Fortunata? The wise little child says, I want to stay here. Ursula grasps Tita in a hug and says, it's fine, it's fine. So it will be. This is a world that is very unjust to women. Even though men can live in whatever way pleases them, women must fulfill the man's desires and serve them. But I want you to know, it is important that you always fight for what you want. My love, I know that now you don't understand what I am saying to you but one day I know you will. I am going to write you long letters and speak to you of many things. When you want to come to me, the doors of my house will always be open to you. I will understand you, and support you. They cry and Sofia comes forward to add that all that all these words apply to her and Ursula too. They all cry and hug.

Now the misfortune and hand of destiny that should have tasted so sweet is snatched from us as the tragic figure of Lisabeta crawls barefoot, still in her fancy light green grown now grimy, dried blood streaked across her face crawls in blind helplessness in the desert. She calls out pathetically over and over for Tia, Tia...

Camila is packing the babies' clothes as Ines comes into the bedroom carrying a letter from her mother Ofelia. She asks Camila to read it calmly. Ines quickly leaves. Camila unwraps the letter which contains the green scarf all clean and neatly folded. The letter read to us in Ofelia's voice says Dear Camila, I know this letter won't be a surprise to you because Ines will have brought it to you. Santiago has left the penal colony in San Benito largely thanks to Ricardo's efforts and by the kindness of Gaspar. Santiago is in a congregation near Santiago de Compostela. I live in a village very near but I can visit him every day. We see Santiago in monks' habit in a beautiful monastic setting in the Gallician countryside. He has devoted himself to the care of the vegetable garden. He likes it a lot. I pray and believe that truly it has always been his desire and his destiny to serve God. He loves to attend to the people, talk with them and teach the word of God. Now he is a novice but in a little time he will be consecrated. I feel that he is happy. Back to Camila and the letter in hand she takes up the scarf and wistfully remembers the innocent love she felt as she put that green scarf around Santiago's neck so very long ago. She folds the scarf with care as if to gently but forever put away that chapter of her life.

Camila is sleeping beauty as Ricardo comes in and takes off his sword and coat, washes in the basin while she wakes up to greet him with laughter and kisses. You have returned. Guess what? I have bought us a plantation with a beautiful house for you and for our children, like we have dreamed of. Do you regret leaving your town and your family. NO. She giggles then tells him she is pregnant. He is happy as he says well, we augment the family. They tumble happily into another love scene.

The impressive looking carriage arrives with a splendid retinue lead by standard bearers. Ohhh, could it be? Who is this solemn young man sitting in the carriage leaning forward with uneasy anticipation? Quick switch to our favorite majordomo bringing in the news that the new Lord of San Fernando has arrived. The ladies come nervously down the stairs. Sofia observes that he is just a boy as Fortunata says he is the young man who killed Don Alvaro Fernandez de la Cueva. Just then they are addressed by our favorite young galan who gallantly introduces himself as Claudio Fernadez de la Cueva. Once more majordomo approaches to announce that Ascanio Gonzales has come from the administrative palace to see her urgently. Sofia says to explain to him that I can't receive him at this moment. Claudio speaks up and says please tell him he can come in. Ascanio comes in and rushes to embrace Claudio. Claudio explains that he was jailed for his crime but he appealed to the king and was not only freed but given a position of honor and the dominion of Salvatierra was returned to him as well as adding San Fernando. The ever gracious Sofia takes the staff of San Fernando and says we knew a new Lord would be coming. It makes me happy that at least you are someone who knows this village and its people. She hands him the staff. She adds and don't worry about us. I have another property and we can move there today and leave you the palace. No, I am not throwing you out. On the contrary what will I do with this huge palace all alone? Fortunata, asks, do you want us to stay? Well, I have no one. I have lost my mother and brother there is no other family. And I don't know how to recieve people, here, they know you, respect you and love you.
Sofia responds there is only me, my neice and my ten year old granddaughter. My daughter has gone away with her fiance. But if you want... Yes, yes.... they hug and Sofia says it will be as you wish. Ascanio and Fortunata look on beaming smiles. Fortunata adds the warm words, we are going to be like a family again.
**************
The celebration party for the new Lord. The palace gardens are full of people we have never seen before until Fortunata questions Manuela and Ascanio about their wedding. Manuela says it will be in six months when the mourning period ends. Ascanio confirms that it will be hard work for him to wait that long. Justo comes down the stairs with Sofia as they discuss how very young Claudio is, too young to live alone and Sofia says they are happy to have him in the house. Fortunata starts to ask if Justo has news from Ofelia and Santiago... but we pan instead to Ines and Vasco who are bombarded by Pacho and other children. Ines laughs at the mischievous children, she and Vasco grin and hug and Ines, says I have a surprise for you. Huh?? She whispers into his ear, he reacts with joy, Are you pregnant? Oh woman, my woman! He whirls her around.

Pancho tells La Paisana that he knows she has wanted to retire. She asks if he has forgiven her yet. He hugs her, telling her that there is nothing to forgive. The three Salamanca babies are paraded through the party and Ricardo beams when Claudio makes comment about his numerous family. Ricardo counters with telling Claudio he salutes him for his decision to take in Sofia and he assures Claudio that she is a kindly woman who will help him greatly grow into his position.

Mario and Jimena stand as if alone like lovers in the moonlight hardly able to wait to escape from the obligations of this big party.

Ricardo stands with Justo and Claudio and Camila telling that he and Camila will leave very soon for the plantation in New Orleans. Justo says it pains him that they are going so far away. Ricardo doesn't look pained but graciously says they will come to see him and certainly he is welcome to visit them. Claudio wishes they could all stay in San Fernando too. Such is life says Ricardo, each person has to continue his own family. Paco runs up to break up a stiff scene and flings himself against Ricardo reminding him of that ride on the ship he has been waiting for. Ricardo picks up his nephew and tosses him up in the air telling him now he is going to complete his promise and magically he comes back down to Ricardo's arms and they are transported to the ship sailing toward New Orleans (gee I hope they told Paco's parents they were kidnapping him). On the beautiful ship, on the beautiful sea, Ricardo lets Paco steer while he walks along kissing and hugging his children. Camila holds little Pedro and remarks that now she sees why Ricardo loves the sea so much. He waxes philosophic that all life comes from the sea and they have to love it and respect it. And when their son is old enough he will tell him that it is really love that moves the universe, for sure. The nannies bring little Manuel and Ana Maria for Ricardo to hold. The five of them sparkle in the setting sun as we fade with the Pasión ballad to - FIN -


BUT WAIT, There is more: Below are the final comments from some of your intrepid Pasión recappers:

1.) From Jardinera -
What a wonderful excursion into Fantasyland! Disney has nothin' on Carla and Company this time around. I've not read the original in Spanish, but this Maria Zarattini yarn might be considered right in league with good ol' James Fenimore Cooper's for my money; and neither dreary Daniel Day-Lewis nor the likes of Johnny The Drip Depp can/could ever compare to Fernando Colunga's on-screen and larger-than-life heroic personage of Ricardo de Salamanca –even if they could speak Spanish! Jollywood execs, call your office. We have a blockbuster of a story here if you could only get your worthless, proverbial act together.
--Thanks, the Jardinera!


2.) From Capitana J.R. -
* With most soaps and novelas I've watched, they go
with the rule of "miss a week, don't miss much." With
Pasion, it was totally reversed "miss a day, miss a
lot, miss a week and I'm totally lost."

* Wondering why we were tortured for so long with
Rita and her complaining before she died and then, in
the end, our main villian men Jorge and Alberto are
arrested and killed off in the same episode?

* Watching "Pasion" has been one amazing, wild
adventure, one that won't be forgotten for a long
time.
Jody "J.R./Capitana J.R." :)


3.) From Margaret -
I looked back at some of the old posts and discovered that we have been waiting for this novela for A YEAR! And I think for the majority of us, it didn’t disappoint. The acting was not uniformly strong but there were enough excellent actors in a variety of roles and the production values were so much better (on location shooting!) that it just rises way above the quality of most of the telenovela productions I’ve seen.

Another of the marvelous things about this show was how much detail went into it. Every outdoor scene is teeming with life—tons of extras who aren’t just standing around--they are doing something. Although there were some anachronisms, there weren’t too many. Lots of research seemed to have gone into this and it will be fun to watch it again sometime just to notice all the little details. I loved how all of these ex-pirates ended up plantation owners in New Orleans. That’s pretty historically accurate too.

The last episode was a solid effort at tying off the loose ends. So many times, they ruin these endings with last minute fake drama. Nice touch to have Claudio back as the lord of SF. (I would guess he hooks up with Tita in 7 or 8 years. Say he’s 18 and she’s 10. That was no problem back then.) Ursula’s fiery feminist speech was a good antidote for all the abuse of women on this show. Somehow, though, I think Tita is going to be less wild than her Mom. She clearly loves her mom but if at 10 she already knew she’d be happier with grandma and auntie, she’s one wise child. Lis and Fran still alive but crazy and penniless? I wonder if they will ever run into each other. Santiago is one good looking monk and seems happy, finally too. They said he was in Santiago de Compostela. I would guess they mean the original one, in Spain. That’s a long way away! And the scarf even makes a final appearance! When Camila unwraps it--that was a tear jerk moment.

So, from pirates to babies! That was so sweet! It really seems like the fulfillment of a lifelong dream for a lonely guy who had no real family (and a dysfunctional extended one at that) to having a houseful of kids. It would be funny if they did Pasión: the next generation. We could see what became of LaFont’s curse.


4.) From Julie -
I feel like I just stepped off of a roller coaster -
overwhelmed and disoriented, but wishing I could get
back on and ride it again right away instead of
having to wait for the next great telenovela roller
coaster to come around.

I have plenty more to say about the last episode, but
I suspect we'll discuss that in the comments; what
I'm nearly speechless about is what a pleasure it has
been to recap this show. It was often a challenge,
but it was worth it! And it was just as much fun
reading the other recaps and all the comments.
Nothing in the story ever happened the way I expected
it to, and our conversations brought so much more to
the experience than I could have hoped.

And as rewarding as this experience has been, it has
also been intense. These 20 weeks of Pasion have had
more action than all the other telenovelas I've
watched put together, including the 50 or so weeks of
La Fea that I saw (and the first ten weeks I missed).


But with fun comes exhaustion. I am pooped! I don't
know how or if Fuego will measure up to Pasión, but
if it's lighter and fluffier, I won't mind at all.

I know some of our readers will wander away in
despondent Riclessness, or they'll be off enjoying
summer plans, or watching something else on
Telemundo, or rewatching Pasion on DVD. I can't say I
blame you, but I'm going to miss you. I've
appreciated all the wonderful, thoughtful, and
supportive comments, and I thank you for reading my
recaps that always seemed to grow longer the more I
tried to keep them short.

I'll also miss the recappers who are going on break.
It has been a great pleasure being on your team, and
I hope you will join us again soon!

And to Carla Estrada, wherever you are: Thank you for
a spectacular masterpiece of telenovela art!


AND From CherylNewMex -
See you all around the Blog. This has been a wonderful story
Actually, I have decided to let Willa have the last 1000 words:

Labels: Pasion

[This is my last Pasion recap--and my last recap for awhile. Thanks for all your splendid comments and help. It's been a wild ride and I have various thoughts on the show which I will post to Cheryl as she requested. On with the show!]

We start way back with La Paisana’s arrival , with the little orphan boy. Paco runs right over to him and gives a ball to the bewildered child. Like any other toddler, he’s already learned his first word—“no!” when they try to get him to give it back. Camila hands the little boy off to Ines, while Paisana gives her Foreman’s logs which contain his dealings with LaFont, which Foreman had promised Ric.

Next we get the dramatic carriage scene with Ric, Mario and LaFont chasing the carriage with Lis, Fran, Clotilde and the baby. LaFont shoots at the carriage and wounds the driver which causes the carriage to careen dangerously. (I agree with Jardinera—it’s amazing that LaFont hit the guy at all). Ric jumps aboard heroically and gets control over the horses and stops the carriage. Al demands that Lis give up the baby but she refuses and Al tells her to never come home then and she’s pretty much OK with that. He demands the papers of Ric and Ric throws them at him. I am not sure if he catches them and drops them or lets them flutter away in the wind. (Either way, seems like he would be wanting to make sure that they were destroyed or at least verify that they were in fact the docs, not just some scrap paper or something.) He rides away like the devil he is. Ric then demands the baby of Lis and she gives him up to him. Mario tends the wounded driver.

Ric holds the whimpering baby while Fran complains that “They wanted to kill us!” “They wanted to kill us!” referring to LaFont, I guess. Ric ignores her and asks Lis simply “why? Why?” Lis explains choking through tears that she thought he was dead and she wanted something to remember him by. And she says that for sure Camila would have gotten rid of him. He asks how she did it and she tells him the whole story—Fran took the money to the midwife, who substituted the baby with a dead one and gave Ric’s baby to the dead baby’s mother to nurse. Then when the baby was 2 months old (weaned?) they brought him to her (Lis). She finishes up that she did it for his sake (the baby’s).

Ric notices the elaborate pearl necklace with a cross around her neck and asks her where she got it. She tells him it was a wedding present from her husband. He says nothing but obviously recognizes it from his collection.

Fran breaks in to make a pitch for letting them go. She says if he denounces them, they’ll go to jail or worse, end up back with evil Al, who will kill them for sure. Ric asks Mario about the condition of the coach and Mario says it’s drivable. Ric tells them to go now. He turns away from the women, to hug his son close. Lis bursts into tears and reaches out for him once last time but he steps away from her and Fran and Mario drag her away from him. She yells that she always loved him, she never meant to harm him and “that woman that you chose is bad! She never loved you. She doesn’t deserve you!” Mario gets her to step up into the carriage. She keeps screaming “I love you, Ricardo!” over and over and Mario taps the carriage door after he puts her inside and gives a sign to the driver that it’s time to hit the road.

Mario turns to Ric after they’ve gone and asks “did you find out…?” Ric kneels to the ground with the baby and sobs: “It’s my son.” His tears turn to joy and he laughs and says to the bewildered baby “You’re OK! You’re OK.” Mario kneels beside him and helps him hold the baby.

Back in San Fernando, Col. Jose Maria Valencia is a man on a mission. He and a group of soldiers stride up to the government house. They meet Ascanio outside his office. The Col. asks him if he is the intendente named by Don Jorge Mancera. Ascanio says that the post was offered to him but he never accepted it. The Col. asks why “pangs of conscience?” Ascanio remains silent. The Col. continues that he’s come to investigate the veracity of some permits for importation. Ascanio ushers him and the men into his office.

Over at Mansion Mancera, the Manceras (Sofia, Jorge, Santiago, Fortunata, Ursula and Tita) are having a nice birthday dinner for Sofia. Jorge is up walking around with a glass of wine and expansively tells his wife that he has her to thank for opening his eyes about Santiago. He says he’s proud of his son and pats him on the shoulder. Santiago looks less than enthusiastic. Jorge next turns to Ursula and says that he’s also proud of her. All of her faults she’s inherited from him but he knows that along with those there are a lot of good qualities within her as well, thanks to her mother. (Sofia smiles proudly.) He tells her she’s free to pick who she wants to marry, only that he be a good father for Tita. Ursula smiles broadly and claps. (Tita looks happy at this news too.) He thanks Fortunata for the fine meal since she apparently organized it. Jorge remarks that it’s been years since they’ve had a family dinner, without guests. Sofia agrees and thanks them for it.

Back at the government house, the col. stands over a crown official wearing a powdered wig who examines the accounts. He pronounces the docs forged. The Col. asks Ascanio if he noticed this and Ascanio says he did. The Col. asks why he didn’t report it and Ascanio says “Report it to whom? Don Jorge?” The Col. nods and announces that they will go arrest Don Jorge Mancera and Alberto LaFont. He leaves. The crown official says he’ll stay and keep on examining the records. Ascanio follows the Col. to LaFont’s house. There he tells Manuela that they are looking to arrest her Dad. She tells him that he’s not there, she doesn’t know where he went. She asks him if he was the one who turned in the documents. He says no, although he is responsible. Manuela tells him not to worry, it had to happen. They embrace. The Col. comes into the room and orders half his men to stay there and the other half to come with him to arrest Don Jorge. Manuela sobs into Ascanio’s shoulder.

The Col. and his men show up mansion Mancera and he announces loudly to the guards at the door that he’s there to arrest Don Jorge Mancera y Ruiz for fraud against the crown. They open up immediately and inside we see the Mancera family still enjoying their meal. Jorge tells them that that very morning he awoke to a good feeling about the day (not just because it was his wife’s birthday) no, he woke up thinking about the new day and the future in front of them. (Fortunata says that sometimes that happens to her too) He tells them to raise their glasses in a toast to the family and he calls them each by their title, wife, daughter, son, niece and granddaughter and they clink glasses. All of the sudden, we hear the magnified sound of his heart beat and see him grimace in pain and clutch his left arm in the unmistakable sign of a telenovela MASSIVE CORONARY. He grabs at the table, pulling the cloth and goes down before his shocked assembled family. Even Santiago cries out “Papa!” and kneels beside him. “His heart isn’t beating!” he says. (Sofia’s look is anguished.) “He’s Dead!” says Santiago unbelievingly. Ursula screams “Papa!” His whole family runs to him, crying and screaming, including Tita. The female servants come in, one drops a tray in surprise and they too begin crying. The male servants, come in and make the sign of the cross. Finally Col. Jose Maria comes in and upon seeing this tragic tableau, doffs his hat out of respect for the dead as does his lieutenant. A flood of tears and wails ends the scene.

Ric finally makes it over to Justo’s house where he is greeted by Paco. Paco tells him that his cousin arrived. Ric says, yes, I’ve brought your cousin. “No,” says Paco. A lady came and brought him and Aunt Camila says he’s my cousin. Ric then says this is also your cousin! Inside, Cami is with Ines bathing baby Mijo—short for “mi hijo” (That’s what LP called him since Ric hadn’t given him a name). He is chatting up a storm, saying “mama.” Camila explains to Ines about his Mother dying in the plague and her intrusting him to Ric. Ines makes appropriate noises. Camila remarks that the baby still seems afraid. (He looks more rambunctious to me.) In any event, he starts to scramble away when they put him on the bed and they have to catch him. She picks him up and gives him to Ines when they hear a knock at the door and Ric says it’s me. Camila is excited and runs to the door—instantly impactada by the sight of baby Pedro in Ric’s arms. “You did it!” She exclaims and takes the baby from him and kisses him. She breathlessly asks if he’s really their son, “if it’s him.” Ric says “Yes, it’s him.” Ric says Lis “told him some things.” “Later,” he says, “he’ll tell her.” The coo and fuss over the baby, while Ines tearfully stands back and watches the happy scene of the reunited family.

Meanwhile, LaFont rides back to his house. While still on horseback in his own courtyard, soldiers, led by the lieutenant, surround him with guns and announce his arrest for fraud. La Font is impactado.

Next we see that Camila has found Conchita and is having a talk with her. She tells her about Ric’s house on the edge of town, that it’s big and if she wants, she can come there to live with them. And Ric is back and he has the baby! Now for the bad news. She asks Conchita if her baby was full term. Conchita says yes and Cami explains to her that the baby they have was premature. She gives her the rest of the story—that Auxi switched babies so that Cami and Ric’s baby would have a wetnurse and so that she could later give the baby to Lis. Conchita isn’t listening or buying any of it. She insists that they are trying to take her baby away from her. She collapses on the ground crying. Camila promises her that they can take care of the baby together but she wanted her to know the truth. She thanks her for taking care of her baby and nursing it. Conchita wails that it’s not true. She says her baby can’t be dead but she sounds like she’s softening up. Camila holds her and tells her she knows what she’s going through.

La Font is now in a jail cell in San Benito prison, propped up on his crutches. He’s also lost his stylin’ eye patch. He claims that He was only following orders—the orders of Don Jorge Mancera. Col. Jose Maria tells him unfortunately for him, Don Jorge isn’t available to corroborate his story. “He passed away.” La Font is impactado—“He’s dead….how?” He asks. Col. explains the heart attack. LaFont laughs sardonically and says “the bastard (maldito) escaped!” The crown official points out that he may have escaped jailtime but not the fiery furnace of hell. LaFont spits in disgust at the official’s religious reference. The Col. asks who else was involved in the fraud besides Uriel, Mateo, Marcellino and himself. LaFont says without hesitation that Santiago knew and covered it up.

Santiago is with Ofelia telling her of Jorge’s death. Santiago remarks that by dying this way, he saved himself and his family the disgrace of being arrested. Ofelia asks after Sofia and Santiago says that she’s inconsolable. He himself came to feel real affection for him. Ofelia says she understands and says at least he was able to make his final days happy.

Ascanio is with Manuela who is upset and wants to know what will happen to her father. Ascanio explains that he’s in prison. She wants to go visit him and he says tomorrow he’ll see what he can find out. Ascanio says he feels guilty but Manuela assures him that it’s not his fault. He says what he really means is that her pain is also his. She says that although LaFont never been a good father and she knows that he deserves what he’s getting; it’s still making her very sad. He tells her to be strong and accept fate. She says “At least I have you.” He tells her that she can always count on him. Always. They kiss.

At Ric’s country estate, Cami and Ric are settling in for the night. Cami asks about Lis and Fran and Ric says that they went on to Veracruz and from there, they will probably sail to Mariana. They won’t lack for money because he saw that they brought their money chests with them. Ric says that tomorrow he must go to San Benito and turn himself in as he promised. Cami says maybe not for long—she shows him the logs that Foreman gave to LaPaisana. Ric looks them over and is pleased. He says it’s his salvation. He says “Thanks John!” There’s a knock at the door. It’s Mario. They start to make out anyway but Mario insists through the door that they come into the great room quickly, there’s something going on. When they get there, Ofelia is there with Vasco and she tells Camila that Don Jorge died and they’ve arrested Santiago. Cami asks why and Ofelia says they don’t know.

Ric and Mario ride again. Ric complains that he’s exhausted. Mario urges him on saying it’s the last swig from the bottle. (jalón)

The visit is to Ric’s padrino, the prelate. Ric explains that Santiago had nothing to do with the criminal activities of his dad. Don Gaspar says it’s a problem that he knew about it. Ric points out that it was his father. Don Gaspar says just relax and wait. They’ll get to the bottom of it. Ric says that there are two anguished families waiting. Don Gaspar asks if he found his son and Ric smiles and says yes. Gaspar is happy to hear this. Ric takes advantage of the moment to hand over Foreman’s log that has details about the stolen silver and the money paid out. Gaspar is excited when he looks at it and exclaims that this is Ric’s ticket to complete freedom. Ric turns the subject back to Santiago and says that although he’s never been a fan of his (santo de su devoción) Santi’s not guilty and it’s not just for him to pay for something he didn’t do. He turns away. Gaspar asks about Lis and Fran. Ric says he let them go. He bids his godfather goodnight and leaves. Gaspar returns to his bedtime reading of Foreman’s log.

Speaking of Lis and Fran, they’ve arrived at an inn in Veracruz, now in the darkness. The carriage driver says that he’ll go find out if can catch a boat for La Mariana tomorrow. Fran urges him to come back soon. She turns to Lis and tells her to stop crying—Ric let them leave, they should be grateful. Fran says that she wants to get out and see if they have room at the inn. Clothilde says she will get out too, she has to pee (desaguar). Lis is left alone and crying. As the women leave the carriage, dark figures lurk around. As soon as they are out of site, A band of cutthroats descend on the carriage. One of the men gets inside and begins to assault Lis while another drives the carriage away. Lis struggles and the rapist ominously tells her not to worry—in a little while, she’ll be dead. In her struggle, she drops her doll which rolls under the wagon wheel. A little while later, Clotilde and Fran come back discover the missing carriage and broken doll. Fran screams frantically for Lisabeta and clutches the broken doll. “Lisabeta—don’t leave me!” she cries. (Boy her face looks scary in the moonlight!)

Ric has returned home and explains the case against Santiago. They’ve accused him of covering up the fraud complicity. Cami says that he’s not guilty of complicity. Ric says there will be a hearing and judgment. They will have to see what happens. Ric asks if she is going to Don Jorge’s funeral. Camila says yes, for Dona Sofia’s sake. Ric says he’d like to go to but he wants to stick around to find out what happens with the hearing. He tells Camila to give his condolences to the family. They agree that what’s happening with Santiago is a great injustice.

The next morning, Santiago is giving his testimony in the hearing. He says that he found out about his Dad’s illegal activities but he believed that his Dad could make it right, (following the parable of the good shepherd, bringing back the lamb that had gone astray.) The Col. points out that his Dad’s sin isn’t a little one but grand theft against the crown. He asks whether Santiago shouldn’t have considered it his responsibility to turn him in instead. Santiago says that it would be hard to turn in somebody who gave him life. The Col. asks whether, if instead of (conveniently) dying, Don Jorge had gone on robbing caravans, if Santiago would have continued to support him. Santiago says he wouldn’t have supported him, because he never had. Gaspar asks if he would have turned him in. Santiago says He doesn’t know but he doesn’t think so.

Jorge’s funeral is an elaborate affair. He’s laid out in full dress on a bier surrounded in flowers. All the townsfolk are there and the padre says that Don Jorge left them and they aren’t there to judge him, only to say goodbye. He’s a member of the human family and they should all pray for his soul. Sofia and Ursula are silently weeping. The padre announces that Don Jorge’s body will rest in the church of San Fernando. (A crypt in the church rather than burial?) More shots of the townsfolk, Ursula, Sofia and Fortunata. The priest says the “Our Father” in Latin. A shot of the Darien extended clan in black, looking sad.

Back at the hearing, LaFont is giving his testimony. He’s standing on crutches but he’s got a rope around his neck. He says that he knows that he is guilty and will be judged but this guy he says, indicating Santiago, is a “sanctimonious hypocrite!” spitting out the words. He relates how after Santiago was recognized as Jorge’s son, he turned to a life of dissipation and vice, just like the rest of us. Jorge escaped judgment through the back door but “this one is as guilty as I am and deserves the same as that wretched pirate!” LaFont is screaming now and claims that the only reason that Ric isn’t going to hang is because he’s Don Gaspar’s godson. (Way to go bouffy! Insult the most powerful guy in the room). The representative of the crown tells him to pipe down. La Font yells that he knows that they are going to kill him but if he has to go, he’s not going down alone. He wants to take Santiago with him, in place of his father (that disgraceful coward!) who should be standing there with him. After this outburst, the Col. commands the guards to take the prisoner away. Even then LaFont continues screaming insults at Santiago and tells him that he’ll be waiting for him in Hell.

Don Gaspar has been pretty much grimacing all the way through this.

Next we turn to the mourning Mancera women. Ursula kneels before her mother and says she knows that she’s never been a good daughter. Sofia says she would have preferred her character to be different—but if she was happy….(being a ramera). Ursula says that she hasn’t been happy either. She would have preferred to have found a man like her Father. Sofia asks “in what sense?” Ursula says somebody refined and educated—who made her feel protected and safe. Fortunata adds that he was always a gentleman. She asks her mother if she loved her father and Sofia says very much, in spite of everything, she loves him still. She tells Ursula that they will have to resign themselves to this disgrace. Ursula asks her mother if she loves her. Sofia replies unhesitatingly that she has loved her since the day she was born. Ursula laughs and cries, as does Sofia and Fortunata.

Santiago is in jail when he gets a visit from his mom, Ofelia. He tells her that she shouldn’t have come, even if it is a great consolation to him. He tells her that he told the truth at his hearing and now must await judgment which he will accept. He did wrong, out of jealousy and pride. And he feels guilty about the death of Camila’s child. Ofelia fills him in on that—they found the baby. It’s the child that he baptized with Lis. Santiago is emotional at this news and drops to his knees to thank God. Now at least he has one weight off his conscience. He adds that he would hate to leave her and his baby daughter but if it’s his destiny to die here, let the will of God be done. Ofelia and Santiago embrace. Tears roll down her cheeks while he sobs on her shoulder.
Next we skip ahead to the charges being read by an official in the town square. Don Jorge and LaFont are guilty of the robbery of the crown’s silver and contraband. Santiago is guilty of the cover-up. Capital punishment is indicated for LaFont and will occur within 3 days. For Santiago, 10 years of breaking rocks at San Benito prison. All of the properties of the LaFont and Mancera families will be confiscated. San Fernando will get a new Lord. The families are stricken. Cami who is there with the baby asks Ric to do something. He says he will.

Candida is out in the crowd and spies her Aunt Clotilde, who is trying to disguise herself with a shawl over her head. Candida asks what happened, she thought she had left town with the ladies and Clotilde explains about the carriage robbery and kidnapping of Lis. Fran went crazy and had no money so Clotilde decided it was time to head back home. She warns her niece not to tell anybody she saw her and sneaks away.

Ric has gone to plead the case of Santiago to his godfather. He complains that they are punishing him for following the commandment about honoring his Father. He asks why the pirates who did plenty of bad stuff could get a pardon, but not Santiago who was trying to do the right thing. Gaspar explains that the pirate pardon was an act of diplomacy—piracy was a problem that affecting a bunch of different countries economies and ending it benefited them all. Ric romantically asks why isn’t the fate of one man as important as the fate of a bunch of economies? And why should Santiago pay (such a heavy price) when plenty of corruption (porquerías) happens all the time today. Don Gaspar tells Ric that he’s right. Ric says “Do something…OR I will.” Don Gaspar gets angry at this and tells him not to dare risk his freedom again. Besides, says Gaspar, this guy was your rival, he persecuted you and tried to steal your woman. Ric says he might have tried to do the same in his shoes and besides, he saved Ric’s life once. Ric begs him to save Santiago from hard labor.

Next we see Don Gaspar in Col. Jose’s office telling him that he’s not in agreement with the sentence on Santiago. He says that he’s sure that LaFont’s motivation was revenge in implicating Santiago. The Col. agrees that , with Jorge being dead, LaFont decided to attack his son. But the law is still the law. Gaspar says that there is a law above the law of man, the law of God, where they weigh virtues like compassion and piety. He thinks it’s wrong for them to use the obviously motivated testimony of a demon like LaFont. Even if Santiago is weak, it’s not right to make him pay such a heavy price. Col. Jose complains why didn’t he speak up during the trial? Don Gaspar says simply that the wise man knows when to go back and fix things.

It’s execution day at the San Benito Prison. In a blowing wind, Manuela, Agata and Ascanio wait for LaFont to come hobbling out. He does and pauses to curse his daughter “and her next 6 generations” of offspring. He hobbles away leaving the women in tears. The soldiers make him kneel before a big tree stump and bind his hands. Manuela screams and tries to run forward but Agata and Ascanio restrain her. LaFont makes muffled screams like some kind of animal. An executioner in full medieval attire (black balaclava) comes forward with a giant axe. He orders two soldiers to pull the ropes binding his hands so that they cross around the stump (to expose his neck). With a mighty chop, LaFont’s head goes flying and blood spurts across his still crossed hands. Manuela wails, “Father!” still held tightly by Ascanio. Ascanio looks stoic.

------------------------
Next time: GRAN FINALE!

Labels: Pasion

[We begin with the final scene from the last episodio, and a darned good one! --ed.]

On his way from the palace, Sancti runs into Ric and they argue. Sancti says “So, they pardoned all your sins.” Ric looks at him. “—God pardons those when you finally face him. But if you’re referring to the amnesty, then yeah, that’s right.” “ --Evidently ruffians have more luck than decent folk,” Sanctiago sneers. Ric jumps off his horse and lets him have it about leaving a woman like Cami. “--So you think yourself decent folk? Have you ever once stopped to reflect back on your life? You had a marvelous woman whom you lost by chance. Instead of searching the world over for her very quickly you found consolation in her sister’s arms.”

Sancti tries to justify that. “I thought she was dead!” Ric hisses at him signaling to shut his trap. “As soon as you saw that wasn’t so, despite her being your sister-in-law, you tried to get her to become your lover.” ”—I was just trying to protect her from getting involved with you roping her in with a false name in order to turn her into your whore!” “—Don’t you call her that again!” The two end up fighting in the dirt like a couple of boys in a playground brawl. All that's missing is the nanny-nannie-boo-boo!

Sancti spits out at Ric, “It’s true! You made Camila change!” Ric screams back, “If you lost her it was because of cowardice—“ “--because you are the spawn of Hell!” Sancti yells and rolls on top, choking Ric. Ric then pulls his knife on Sancti who stops short. “-- I’ve put up with way too much from you, but now I’m fed up,” Ric threatens him. The knife is now only a hairsbreadth from Sancti’s throat. Ric rolls out from under and gets up on his feet. “Perhaps you’ve caused the death of our child and if so you don’t deserve to live.” “—Do it then,” Sancti dares him in a weak attempt to have Ric put him out of his mysery. “Do it so Camila hates you for the rest of your life for killing me.”

Ric (oh so artfully) puts away his knife. “—No, Santiago,” he answers with a righteous shake of his gloriously dark locks. “If you’ve killed our child you will be the one she abhors.” Righteous Ric then gets back onto his horse and looks over at Sanctiago. “One of these days you’re going to have to learn that when you let a woman like her go, you lose!” (What a class act!! Be still my heart!) Ric’s figurative aim with a knife has been just as deadly accurate as the real thing. Sancti, now hyperventilating from a combination of rage, frustration and self-hatred, has been seriously wounded with the truth. Ric rides away as his horse kicks sand at poor Sour Grapes Sanctiago’s sanctimonious backside.

At the same time El Chino, Mario, Pablo, Guerro and Jesus are all escorting their share of the money from the last raid and making their way back along the road to San Fernando. El Chino explains to Mario that while they were in Puerto Paraiso word of the amnesty from the Spanish Crown arrived and they eventually signed the papers. Afterwards, he says, the news reached them that the Camila had sunk so Chino left his encampment to get to La Iguana to find out if El Antillano had survived. Mario replies that he did but is now being held prisoner. Chino says considering the amnesty there is no reason he should be in prison. Pablo then asks Chino if he’d seen his mother and Chino says yes, and that she’s pretty worried about him.
==========

Back in San Fernando at Cami’s former townhouse Lis is frantic, yelling to Fran that Ric is alive after all. Fran reminds her that she told her so but Lis isn’t in the mood. She tells Fran that Ric asked her about Pedro and she’s certain he suspects it’s his son. So, no matter what they’re high-tailing it out of there the very next morning.

Over at Justo’s Ric has just told Cami his plan to hand over to LaFont the incriminating letters in exchange for the baby. Cami is against it because she doesn’t want him to be sent to the gallows because of it, but Ric says he told her before that if he had to die then let it be for a good reason. The return of his son is as good a one as he could want. She says she shouldn’t have to choose between them and he should trust in the courts to get the baby back from Lis. Anyway, she doesn’t trust LaFont. Ric says he doesn’t believe in them even though she might.

At the prison the guards are marching the pirate prisoners to the rock quarry, beating them along the way with their whips just for grins. Mario is asking Pablo for the name of the colonel in charge but he doesn’t know. Just then they come to the top of the quarry. The pirates see them and yell up at them. Mario waves back and tries to signal for them to keep quiet.

Finally Mario arrives at the prison barracks and asks to speak with the colonel in charge but says he doesn't know the man's name. The soldier informs him that the colonel's name is Jose Maria de Valencia. Mario is visibly impactado to hear the colonel’s name. Inside his office the colonel is told a Sr. Mario is there representing Ricardo de Salamanca. He gripes to the captain and says he wonders what lie this one has concocted for him. Mario is taken before Col. De Valencia and realizes he was right. He knows him personally. “How are you, Jose Maria?” The colonel turns around at the sound of his voice and is shocked to see it is his brother. He sends the rest of his men away and Mario and he share a bit of strained small talk with each other.

Mario asks if he’s going to listen or hang him now even though there’s an amnesty in effect. Then he asks about their father and if he ever forgave him. Jose Maria chokes back tears and tells Mario their father died 5 year ago, but he had forgiven him. He puts his hand on Mario’s and Mario also fights back his tears and offers his hand to his brother as well. The two pull back from any further display of emotion and Jose Maria asks for the proof that incriminates LaFont and Mancera in the theft and sale of the crown’s stolen money.

Mario explains that he brought proof, but he will not give it to him until he sees Ric. Jose Maria says he escaped and Mario has a great chuckle at his brother’s expense. Jose Maria tells him that if he was in Puerto Paraiso then his amnesty is canceled. Mario denies knowing anything about Puerto Paraiso and then asks if he plans on arresting him. Jose Maria avoids answering and asks again for the documents he brought. Again Mario refuses until he sees Ric is alive and well. He says he’s leaving then and dares his brother to shoot him in the back for it. As he races out of the office Jose Maria yells after him and the guards start to grab for Mario. Jose Maria stops them and yells to Mario that it would be best for both he and Ric to hand it all over to him now, but Mario turns around and asks if he’s ever heard of something called loyalty and camaraderie. If he has then he should understand why that isn’t going to happen just yet. Then Mario races off as his brother yells uselessly for him to come back.
=================

Sancti walks over to Justo’s after his dust up with Ric to tell him that his father has decided to give him back the concession for the store. They’ve overheard him tell Paco he was fighting and got dirty so Cami asks if it was with Ric and why. (Get real here, Cami. You have got to know the answer already. Is this an ego boost or what?) Sancti, exasperated with such a dumb question refuses to answer and leaves. Cami wonders with her father if the two despite irreconcilable differences might ever become friends.

Mario, El Chino, and company make their way towards San Fernando. They run into Ric on his way to San Benito prison and in a snit. Mario tells him that he did not hand over the letters yet since he’d escaped and Ric says to keep them safe for now. Mario tells him they’ve brought the money with them. He tells him to rent out the same house then they had leased before in San Fernando and rides off in a hurry.

Ric signals his men that he’s back as promised then goes in to the barracks to meet with Don Gaspar. He mentions he’s just had a fight with some fool and Gaspar laughs asking if the fool might actually have been Ric. Don Gaspar tells him that he’s found out what happened to his child. Antillano tells him about the deal he made with LaFont to hand over the letters in exchange for his son. Gaspar gets frustrated and tells him that with these letters he could get an additional pardon from the Crown for his participation at Puerto Paraiso, since the other crimes of piracy have already been pardoned. Ric explains that he’s not willing to risk LaFont warning Lis and the baby and her disappearing. Ric then tells Don Gaspar what he really wants is a pardon for his men who were only following his orders.

After Ric leaves Jose Maria has an afternoon sherry with Don Gaspar. He complains that if they let Ric trade out those papers for the baby they will be left empty-handed and unable to prosecute Lafont and Mancera. The archbishop suggests he should be patient long enough to let Ric work out a solution to the baby problem. Maybe if he searches the Mancera palace something will show up, some servant may decide to talk or something. The colonel says he’s got the permission to examine every corner of it and is certain that before Mancera agreed he probably had already destroyed anything compromising. Gaspar thinks something may still have been left unwittingly around there somewhere.

Gaspar then brings up the business with Ric’s men. He suggests the colonel let them sign the amnesty letter also. The colonel agrees, but as for Ric, Mancera’s daughter told him herself that Ric was seen at Puerto P. Gaspar says that maybe she might retract or say she was mistaken. Jose Maria says he wants to follow the letter of the law. The curate uses the kind of twisted logic only a consummate politician or diplomat could to suggest that if it took months for word of the amnesty to reach those parts that obviously the pirates wouldn’t have known they needed to stop their raiding. He adds that if he doesn’t have any proof they were actually at Puerto Paraiso, then by all means let the men go free and they’ll figure out something for Ric later.
==============

In town Mario sees Jime walking in the plaza and they embrace all smiles and kisses. She goes over with him to say hi to El Chino and then tells Mario about the papers that Ascanio recovered dealing with the contraband. She says she’s not really sure what they’re all about since she can’t read. He gives them over to Chino to have a look at them. Ascanio arrives just then and asks Jime where she got his folio from and what gave her the right. She says that she took them from his room, but she only did it in order to free him from being responsible for having to accuse Manuela’s father directly. After all he took them in order to give Camila anyway, but now has cold feet because of Manuela. She’s not beholding to anybody and what’s done is done. So Chino scans them and recognizes that they are the falsified importation permits that Jorge told him he’d come up with and Ascanio confirms it’s all been done in Marcelino’s own handwriting.

Late that night Antillano arrives and tells Mario he’s decided to exchange the letters with LaFont for the baby. He doesn’t know for sure if it’s his child, but he needs to know. El Chino, who has just told Mario he’s got a wife and two children back in Japan, tells Antillano not to worry, that he can understand and he should go ahead with his plans. They do not tell him about the folio of falsified permits they got from Ascanio though. Ric goes to bed and Chino suggests that since LaFont cannot be trusted and since he’s a pirate captain of equal rank not beholding to Antillano, he’ll hand over the falsified permits himself to the authorities and if Antillano gets mad they can throw the blame on him. Mario thinks it over.

Across town that night Sancti has a heart to heart with Ofelia and says he regrets ever having let Ricardo live, but she says he should never regret any good action he’s taken. She tries to make him see that if he and Cami were meant to be then God wouldn’t have put so many obstacles in their way. She tells him that once and for all he should recognize this and resign himself to the fact. Since he’s young he’s certain to meet somebody else eventually. (Yeah, Sancti. I’d say you’ve just about hit rock bottom. Listen to Mom and get over it!)

The conversation turns to Jorge and Sancti tells his mother about Jorge’s agreeing to return the store concession to Justo. He tells her that he still cannot bring himself to turn his father in to the authorities. All the while he is subconsciously twisting Camila’s old green scarf in his hands and looking as pitiful as all get out.

Meanwhile Cami is crying to Vasco and Ines over how worried she is for Ric exchanging those letters for the baby. On the one hand she wants to get her child back but on the other hand Ric could end up on the gallows if he doesn’t hand over those papers to the authorities and save himself. Vasco tries to console her and tells her he’s certain Don Gaspar will intercede for Ric and things will turn out for the good.

The next day early Lis and Clotilde are leaving LaFont’s house with a single suitcase. Luis asks them if they are going away and Lis says that they are only taking a few things over to her aunt at the other house. She asks about Al and the servant tells her he is feeling better and has decided to put on his peg leg and go for a ride. The two women head over to the other house then and Lis orders Clotilde to hire a comfortable coach for their journey since it will be a long one.

Al is looking for his new peg leg when Luis advises him that Ric is looking to meet with him. Ric shows him the letters and they agree to meet up in an hour at the inn in town in order to make the exchange. Ric leaves and Al asks Luis where Lis is. Luis tells Al that Lis has left and that she was going to see her aunt.

Across town, the men load up the baggage and chests of money onto the hired coach.

Ric goes to Justo’s to see Cami and tells her they’ll have the child in an hour. She is worried but Antillano tells her he’s always trusted in his luck and he trusts in it now. Things will turn out just fine. He won’t allow them not to. They kiss.

Lis gives Candida her severance cash and tells her that she’s not to tell anything to anybody about her leaving or where they’re headed.

Mario and El Chino decide to wait a bit to see if Antillano returns soon, but if he doesn’t Chino says he will go to San Benito with the falsified permits and hand them over. Mario is on edge and doesn’t know what to do. He is really losing it.

The women get into the coach with Pedro and head out. Candida, now with her little bag full of her clothes makes ready to leave the premises just as Al arrives yelling at the gate for Lis or Fran and Clotilde to answer and open up. After Al flogs her across the face with his riding crop, Candida tells him that Lis and the others left for Veracruz and took the baby with them. Enraged, Al gallops after the coach in hopes of catching up to it with poor Luis frantically trying to run on foot behind with Al’s crutches.

Ric sees the commotion and asks Candida what’s happened. She explains. Ric races back to his hacienda and yells to Pablo for his horse. Mario runs out of the house. Ric tells Mario what’s just happened. They ride off together to catch up with Lis and the baby.

Ursula, her daughter and Fortunata have a little birthday breakfast in bed party for Sofia.

El Chino introduces himself to Jose Maria and to Gaspar with the falsified documents. He explains that the permits were false because they were signed in San Fernando and not in Veracruz. Gaspar is happy to hear this because he now can now get that additional pardon for Ric.

Meanwhile down in the palace basement somewhere, Jorge picks through the jewels in the treasure chest that was stolen from Ric. He comes to wish Sofia a happy birthday and gives her her present, the jewel necklace and earrings that he took from Ric’s chest. (Charming, huh?). He apologizes for not having been the husband she always had hoped for but tells her that basically he has always loved her. He seals this loving sentiment with a light kiss and Sofia melts.

La Paisana finally arrives from Coralina Island and hands Camila the little boy Ric adopted during the plague. Pablo is excited to have another child in the family to play with. Pasiana also hands over Foreman’s personal ledgers that he promised and sent for Antillano. She explains it has all the transactions between LaFont and Foreman dealing with the stolen silver he bought from Al and Jorge, specifically how much they sold and what he paid them for it and when.

The coach gets a head start. Al catches up to it and races alongside. (Man, one-eyed, a peg-leg, no depth perception and rotten balance, I’d half expected a guy like that to fall off somewhere along the way!) Al threatens to shoot the coachman if he doesn’t stop. Mario and Ric are racing behind Al and trying to keep him from shooting at the coach. The driver speeds ahead at Lis’s command. The women are frightened. Al shoots at the driver and wounds him in the arm. (Great shot, Al, considering the handicap! What are the odds?) The horses bolt dragging the coach with the women and baby inside at breakneck speed. Ric races his horse ahead and jumps on to the coach, taking the reins from the injured driver and eventually pulling the coach to a halt.

Al demands the baby but Lis refuses. He tells her pretty much never to darken his door again if she doesn't. (Not to worry, Al! I mean, gees, she's already packed her bags and headed out of town....) So he turns to Ric and demands the letters and Ric throws them at him. Al races off with them and I think throws them into some field on the side of the road then gallops away. Ric then turns to the women and demands the baby. Lis admits to buying the baby from Auxiliadora and explains how Fran bribed the woman. Just then Ric sees the necklace Lis is wearing and asks her who gave it to her. She answers it was from her husband on their wedding day. He knows it is part of the jewels stolen from him, but says nothing. Fran begs Ric to let them all go, otherwise they’ll end up in jail or Demon Seed Al will certainly kill them.

Ric agrees, turning his back on them and says they should go and that God might pardon them, cuz it’s plain as day from the look on his face that he’s never going to. He hugs the boy to him pointedly ignoring Liz while she screams and cries hysterically that she only took the boy because she knew its mother would just have gotten rid of him anyway, that he’s chosen the wrong woman and she’s the only woman who ever truly loved and cared about him. Fran finally manages to pull Lis off him and get her into the coach but Lis continues to scream at him through the window about her abiding love for him. Finally, mercifully, the coach pulls away, taking them along with Timoteo’s fortune into the sunset.

Mario asks Ric if he’s found him. Ric can hardly speak for the tears and emotion welling up inside him. (Passing around the box of Kleenex here.) El Antillano, totally overcome with tears of joy and relief gratefully looks to the heavens and says a prayer of thanks. He falls to his knees as exhaustion overtakes him and he marvels at his good fortune. He hugs Pedro and smiles at him. “You’re fine! Yes, you’re fine!” He turns to Mario laughing and smiling and nodding. ‘It’s him! It’s my son! My son!”

Labels: Pasion

Permalink posted by Jardinera654 @ 3:13 AM 84 comments

EPISODE 92:
* Santo is leaving Ofelia and Ana at the gate - he is going to the mansion to visit Jorge. Ana cries as Santo leaves. Ofelia does her best to calm the little girl; Jimena finishes getting water from the well and goes inside to clean Ascanio's room.

* In the room, Jimena starts to search and search and search through everything. She gets to the desk. She shakes the table top and something falls from behind to the floor. Jimena grumbles about not being able to read as she looks at the papers in the leather folder.

* Luis helps Alberto put on his peg leg. Alberto grimaces as he tries to stand up on it and the crutches. He grumbles at Luis as he falls back to the bed. Luis helps Alberto up and follows Alberto hobble into the hallway.

* Manuela stands still as Alberto mumbles about Ascanio receiving the note but not coming to visit Alberto yet. Alberto tells Manuela to get Ascanio to come to the house or she will regret it.

* Jorge and Santo are in a meeting in the mansion office. Jorge mentions Rico which gets Santo's dander all tied into knots again. They turn their conversation to how Alberto's doing with his peg leg, and then about Santo's godson Pedro and the cover story that Lisabeta has been telling around town.

* Ines, Cami and Conchita are at the town market. Conchita is anxious about having her son back again and worried about Rico coming through on his promise. Cami assures her everything will work out, be patient. They walk away from the market and Cami asks about the father of Conchita's baby. Conchita tells her he was an ungrateful louse who didn't live up to his commitment. She wishes she had a husband like Cami's. Cami and Ines walk her to the church.

* Lis and Fran talk in the salon as Lis holds little Pedro. Alberto enters and spots the baby and asks what is going on? Lis gets scared and calls Candida over to take Pedro outside to the street for awhile. Candida high-tails it out of there with Pedro. Alberto grumbles into Lis' ear about defying and lying to him about Pedro. Lis spouts off that she can't let her nephew go. Alberto thinks she's lying and crazy. Lis says it's true, Pedro is Rico's son. Alberto goes ballistic. Lis counter attacks with Fran's observations of him, Uriel and Mateo leaving the other night to attack the caravan. Lis is prepared to go to the authorities with the information unless he gives in to her keeping Pedro there at the house - his life is in her wicked little blind hands. She cackles. Alberto swings his mighty crutch and it hits her in the backside. Alberto and Lis both fall on the ground. Alberto calls loudly for Luis to help him. Fran stays beside Lis. They exchange another round of threats. Alberto and Luis leave for the bedrooms again. Lis cries. Fran wonders what to do now? Alberto has a miserable temper. Lis and Fran talk of escaping - but to where? asks Fran. Lis says I don't know, La Mariana, Veracruz, wherever. Fran asks how? What money? Lis has a light-bulb moment and knows what to do.

* In the bedroom, Luis struggles to take the peg leg suction cup off Alberto's leg. Alberto grunts as it comes off. Luis places it on the bed as Lis enters the room. Luis leaves. Lis stands by the bed and apologizes for lying to him about Pedro. Alberto listens. Lis tries to blame the idea on Fran, but Alberto doesn't buy it. Lis agrees to send Fran, Candida and Pedro to live at Cami's old place. Alberto agrees to the plan - if they deceive him again, they die. Lis understands. He tells her to start sleeping in his bed, and says just because he lost an eye and leg, he is still a man and wants to have children with her. She is forced to agree. He starts to kiss and grope her.

* Ascanio is working in his office. Nana enters with a letter from Manuela. Nana waits as Ascanio reads the letter - Manuela writes him to come to the house and meet with her father to formally acknowledge the engagement and marriage. Ascanio writes his response on how he loves her and doesn't want to sacrifice their love or his conscience and dignity for the sake of keeping quiet for Jorge and Alberto's benefit. Ascanio finishes, folds and seals the letter and gives it to Nana. Nana tells him that Manuela will meet him tomorrow at their usual spot in the park. She leaves.

* Colonel visits with Jorge, Santo, Ursula, Sofia and Fortunata at the mansion salon. Ursula and Fortunata ask Colonel about his father, who was a Colonel also. As Fortunata starts to ask questions about Colonel's brother who disappeared from the family, Sofia stops the conversation. Jorge turns the talk towards politics - the end of the war with Britain.

* In the bedroom, Lis explains to Fran her plan. Fran will live with Pedro at Cami's house. Lis will secretly send them money. When the time is right, Lis will join them at the house and they will runaway together for Veracruz.

* As Santo and Sofia talk about how much Ana Maria is growing and Tita is dancing with her Nana, Colonel and Ursula walk to a quiet corner for a private conversation. Colonel asks her why she lied about when they left Puerto Paraiso. Ursula says that was Sofia's decision - it was to cover up for Cami and her lover, the pirate known as Antillano. Colonel is very intrigued. Ursula tells him about the gossip that Antillano may have had something to do with the caravan assaults also. Ursula asks him about his investigation and if he has other suspects. He only says that he will be conducting a thorough investigation of the matter. The mansion guard interrupts to tell Colonel he has an important messenger at the door. Colonel excuses himself. At the door, Captain tells Colonel that Don Gaspar has requested an urgent meeting right now with him - Colonel is reluctant to leave but Captain says he has to meet with Don Gaspar now. Colonel makes his formal excuses and leaves. Jorge is curious about this urgent business - the guard doesn't have any specific information.

* At the church steps, Cami is seated. Ines and Conchita are next to one of the carts. Ines spots Candida walking Pedro into the square and whispers and points her out to Cami. Cami is excited and tells Ines to keep Conchita distracted. Cami runs out to greet Candida in the square. Cami holds and kisses Pedro (AW!) as she talks with Candida about the baby's mild demeanor and that Lis is taking excellent care of him. Conchita and Ines are across the plaza - Conchita sees Cami with Pedro and goes crazy. Conchita runs over and tries to take Pedro from Cami. As Conchita screams for them to give her son to her, Cami and Ines hold Conchita back as Candida takes Pedro away.

* On the beach, Auxiliadora washes her hair. Rico stuns her by yelling "Where in the devil did you take my son?!?!?" Rico walks towards her and asks her where is his son? what did she tell Cami and Conchita? Did she tell the wrong person that her son was dead? Auxiliadora has no choice but to tell the truth - Rico has a firm grip on her arms.

* Cami comes down to the yard to talk with Ines, she left Conchita in the room to calm down. They need to be more careful with Conchita from now on. Cami hopes Rico has found Auxiliadora by now. They discuss the possibility of Jimena, Ascanio and Vasco finding something, anything to help them also.

* In the room, Don Gaspar is furious with Colonel Jose Maria, another of his godsons, for not abiding by the orders and letting Rico go free when he knew who he was. Colonel knows about the orders, but he says with Rico there are extenuating circumstances being considered in his remaining under arrest. Colonel tells Don Gaspar about Ursula's accusations of Rico being part of the attack on Puerto Paraiso; as well Rico told him about some papers that will officially link Alberto to the caravan assaults. Don Gaspar is intrigued.

* Ursula is reading her poetry in her room. Jorge enters and grumbles about the sad state of affairs he is in right now. Ursula tries to cheer him up and reminds him about mom's birthday. Ursula thinks they should have a huge surprise party for her. Jorge thinks they should just have something small with family only. Ursula agrees. Jorge looks at her and says he wants her to marry someone honest and caring. He leaves.

* In the courtyard, Ursula and Fortunata talk about the surprise birthday dinner for Sofia, and they will probably have to invite Santo.

* Ascanio reads Manuela's latest letter in his office. She cries as she writes the words, begging him to reconsider and just meet with her father. She reminds him that they will see each other tomorrow.

* Paco runs upstairs and yells for Cami. As Paco brings Cami down to the yard, Don Gaspar is helped out of his coach. Don Gaspar wants to talk to her about Rico. Paco says his uncle left awhile ago and he hasn't seen him since. Don Gaspar wonders about Cami. Cami gulps and says she has seen Rico.

* In the salon, Don Gaspar tells Cami he needs her to tell him everything she knows about Rico and where he may be now. Cami looks at Justo and then kneels and starts to confess everything from the moment of her son's birth when she heard the baby's cry and everyone was telling her he was dead - everyone but Rico that is.

* As they get settled back in Cami's house, Lis and Fran start to argue about the plan. Fran raises her voice too loud and it scares little Pedro. Pedro starts to cry and Lis has to console him - saying his great aunt is a horrible person.

* Cami continues telling her confession about why Rico escaped from the prison - he had to locate Auxiliadora the midwife. Don Gaspar tells Cami and Justo that when Rico returns, they are to advise him as soon as possible. Don Gaspar explains that Spain has sent down the edict that all pirates have been pardoned. Justo and Cami are pleased, Rico is free. Don Gaspar then talks with Cami about the important papers Rico had sent for that show Alberto's role in the caravan assaults. Cami says that Mario will be the one who will bring them. Don Gaspar will also help.

* In her bedroom, Nana brings Manuela the news that Ascanio has arrived at the house to speak with Alberto.

* In the office, Alberto looks at his papers and food as Ascanio enters and stands at the desk. Alberto says he has permission to marry Manuela, but there will be no dowry or money or nothing. Ascanio doesn't care about that, only that he and Manuela love each other. Alberto laughs. Ascanio repeats and adds that he will marry Manuela for love and not in exchange for his silence. Alberto goes ballistic and tries to order Ascanio to sign the contract and agree to the terms. Ascanio puts his foot down and adamantly refuses. Alberto goes crazy and threatens Ascanio's life.

* Ascanio finds Manuela in her room and tells her that Alberto has lost all sense of reason, he has to escape for a few days and will return soon. He kisses her and leaves quickly. Alberto enters the room and corners Manuela. She's nervous as he spouts off that she will be sent to the convent for the rest of her life.

* Conchita is playing catch with Paco near the well. Rico rides up with Auxiliadora. As they dismount, Paco runs around to the yard and greets Rico. Paco starts to babble on to Uncle Rico as Conchita spots Auxiliadora and runs over to choke her and get her to tell the truth about her son. Cami and Ines have to run out and hold Conchita back. Justo pushes Auxiliadora towards the house. Cami asks Paco to go with Grandpa. She and Rico hug. They walk to the dining hall to talk. Paco and Justo join them.

* Ascanio and Manuela meet at their designated special park bench by the lake. They talk about Ascanio refusing to sign the marriage contract. Ascanio is really frustrated, he knows the right thing to do but if he does some people he cares about will be hurt. Manuela asks, if that has to do with her and Santo? Ascanio says yes. Manuela tells him to go ahead and do what he needs to do, don't worry about her. They hug.

* Rico has lunch as he talks with Cami and Justo - he will deal with his own situation and Don Gaspar later, first he needs to take care of Auxiliadora and Conchita and find their son. Justo apologizes to Rico. Rico listens and says that's not really needed, it's all past history now. Justo has tears in his eyes. Cami does as well.

* Cami and Rico lead Justo, Conchita, Auxiliadora and the farm hand on the walk towards town. Cami and Rico discuss Auxiliadora and Conchita's declarations; Cami tells Rico that Lis has a baby boy and she had it baptized Pedro, after Rico's dad. Auxiliadora has to be restrained by the farm hand so she can't escape. Cami tells Rico how it felt to hold Pedro in her arms in the square. Rico tells her that they will get him back, pase lo que pase (no matter what).

* As Cami, Rico and the group round the corner into town, Cami and Rico continue to talk about the declarations. Ascanio is excited to greet Rico back in town again. Rico explains they are on their way to see Don Eustaquio in the municipal building. It's so Auxiliadora and Conchita can give their testimonies about which baby died, theirs or Conchita's. Ascanio volunteers to escort them inside the building.

* In front of Don Eustaquio in the chambers, Auxiliadora starts to give her declaration about the births. Conchita yells her objection and starts to argue from her own point of view. Ascanio has to hold Conchita back really tightly. The ladies argue. Rico has to calm both of them down. Rico tells Don Eustaquio about Lis having his son baptized with his father's name (Pedro de Salamanca).

* Jorge and Santo meet again in the office. This time, Santo is inquiring about when the market will return to Justo's family. Jorge says be patient, he has to meet with Uriel's family first. Don Eustaquio enters to talk with Jorge about the meeting he just had with Justo, Cami and Rico. Santo is livid with the knowledge that Rico is back in town. Don Eustaquio explains that Spain has actually sent down the edict granting full pardons to Rico and the other pirates. Santo is furious. Jorge tells him to shut up and let Don Eustaquio continue. Don Eustaquio tells them about the declarations of Auxiliadora and Conchita in regards to the birth Lis and Santo's godson.

* Rico arrives at the front door and asks Luis to speak with Alberto now. Luis replies and walks him inside.

* In the salon, Lis asks who is it? Rico announces himself. He has to grab her as she faints from impactado. Lis cries how she missed him and thought he was dead. It's a miracle! she declares. As she tries to hug him, Rico says he's there to speak with her husband and holds her back. Lis tells Luis that she will meet with Rico instead, don't bother Alberto. Rico pressures her about why she baptized his son, Pedro de Salamanca. She says it was a tribute to him. He asks her about why she's nervous. She says she's just excited to see him again. He asks where his son is, she says not here, they're with Fran at the other house - go and see if you don't believe me. She goes in for a hug, but he holds her back and says he's going to visit her husband. He leaves down the hall. She follows calling "Rico! Rico!"

* Rico enters Alberto's bedroom and locks the door behind him. Lis is locked out and attempts to eavesdrop on the conversation inside. Alberto sits up in bed. Rico assures him that he isn't going to kill him now. He makes a pact the incriminating letters from Molinar Pastor in exchange for his son. Alberto says they will make the exchange in a public place - Rico agrees and says the condition is, if Lis finds out any of this, the deal is off.

* As Rico unlocks the door and leaves, Lis stands off to the side as he passes by and pushes her over to the other side of the hallway without any word. Lis chases him out to the salon but Rico doesn't stop. Lis walks into Alberto's room and over to the bed. She demands and grabs him to force him to tell her what they talked about. Alberto grunts, shoves Lis across the room and into the table, crashing her and the silver to the floor. Alberto takes another swig from his medicine bottle.

* Jorge and Santo have an argument about Rico being set free. Santo says Jorge has to do something to keep Rico in jail. Jorge explains again about Colonel's orders and the pardons from Spain. Santo is still really upset (he's having a really crappy day.)

* Out on the street, Rico rides up to Santo. Santo confronts Rico about receiving his pardon; however Santo won't forgive him so easily about lying and turning Cami into his pirate wench. Rico dismounts. They argue and get into a fist fight. Rico holds his dagger up to Santo's neck, demanding Santo take that back. Santo dares Rico to kill him, then Cami will hate him forever. Rico refuses and says if it turns out that his and Cami's son did die, Santo will be the biggest loser of all. Rico leaves. Santo makes his best "Oh Crap!" face.

ADVANCE: Alberto is desperate to find Lis.

Programming notes: don't forget 'la Pasion de Cristina' on Monday night; then on May 4 Univision will air the TVyNovela awards 2008.

Labels: Pasion