Caray, Caray!

(Note: I still have house guests so my recap is more rushed than it should be; my apologies for omissions.)

At Raquel's ranch: Raquel confronted Luba and Gaspar with a shotgun. Luba said the local people wrongly thought she had made a pact with the devil.

Raquel immediately offered them jobs, saying, "With me nothing will happen to you, but you'll have to work a lot." Luba happily agreed, "You're going to have four hands that are going to help."

Back at the Valtierra hacienda, Vera told the other servants they would continue hunting for Luba and Gaspar tomorrow. Ifigenio said maybe they should go to the police, but Vera said, "No, they are ours," that they had to avenge Flor's death. (Who knew Vera was so bloodthirsty?)

In Emilio's tent: Karla woke up and and saw Emilio sitting in his chair. He told her to be ready for work in 15 minutes. Outside, he told Frank he hadn't slept all night.

Then Frank and the other soldiers saw Karla emerging half-dressed from Emilio's tent. Frank said, "Now I understand why he didn't sleep."

(Is it just me, or does Karla seem to be the reincarnation of Jose's girlfriend Felicia -- you know, the bandit who pursued him and got pregnant and then died? I hope we're not going to see that same plotline all over again.)

Meanwhile: Rodrigo, Alina, and Tina took the cowering Gaby to school. Gaby spotted a woman and became terrified, exclaiming, "It's her!"

Alina approached the woman. When she turned around, Gaby saw that it wasn't Thelma. She was still scared but she let Tina take her into the school.

At Coral's house: Adela answered the phone and told Soledad it was Mariana. Soledad took the phone and said, "You have good news? You're married? Congratulations!"

(I guess that means Mariana and Dr. Love have joined Santos and Rosita in the Honeymoon Land of No Return. Dr. Love, you turned out to be a real hero and I'll miss you.)

At the jail: Alvaro (better and more accurately known as Don Loco) told his lawyer, Mauro, that he didn't want to spent the rest of his life in a psychiatric hospital. Dr. Vargas arrived to take him away. Don Loco insisted on saying goodbye to his lawyer first.

I was distracted during this scene, so I don't know exactly what happened, but Don Loco was taken away by attendants dressed in white, and then Mauro read a piece of paper where Don Loco had written that he wanted to go to Veracruz when he was free because he had unfinished business there.

At nursing class: Alina's teacher asked for volunteers to do social work, saying it was sometimes dangerous but that was part of a nurse's career of service. Alina volunteered.

Some big barnlike place: Hugo argued with Alfonsina, who was tied up. She told him, "I prefer to die of hunger before I tell you where the money is!"

Raquel's ranch: Luba and Gaspar ate breakfast with Raquel. Gaspar commented that he'd never had so much food before. Luba told Raquel, "You are good people, with a great heart." Raquel said she needed them well fed so they could work hard, since they would be the only workers on the ranch. Luba said she wished all employers were like Raquel.

Bernal arrived and Raquel told him Luba and Gaspar were working for her now. (Good way to get them killed!) After Bernal left, Luba said something about there being a lot of vipers in the area.

At the nursing school: Alina told her nosy teacher that she'd rejected Rodrigo's proposal because she loved someone else. Later she told the teacher that she missed Emilio, saying wistfully, "Destiny always separates us."

At Emilio's army camp: Emilio warned Karla (who was dressed, for once) to be careful because the ground might give way beneath her feet. Karla snapped that he didn't have to treat her as if she were fragile.

Naturally, she immediately fell into the river and had to be rescued by He-Man Emilio. She immediately began kissing him. Emilio didn't react one way or another, just stood there in his usual indecisive way.

(At least he didn't have one of those telenovela delusions, thinking she was Alina. You know where that would lead: Karla would get pregnant, and then he would have to marry her while he was in another coma... and then this show would never end.)

Eventually Emilio asked Karla, "Why did you do that?" (A stupid question, even for him!) Karla pointed out patiently that she'd made no secret of the fact that she liked him. It finally occurred to Emilio to reveal that he was married. Then he told her to get back to work.

Karla asked if he was afraid of her. He said no, but he didn't want to do anything he would regret. After he left, Karla smirked and said, "You won't regret it, I swear."

In Dr. Vargas's office: Another boring argument between Vargas and Aida, aka Dr. Loca. As always, Dr. Loca told Vargas that she was a PROFESSIONAL.

He retorted, "I always thought it was strange that you were so interested in Montellano, and now I know why" -- because she had become Don Loco's lover.

In the ambulance: Don Loco started yelling for the attendants to give him a sedative. Then he grabbed a gun and warned them not to move.

The ambulance stopped near a car containing an armed man and Mauro. Don Loco left the ambulance and got into the car.

After they drove away, he said, "At last, I am free again." Mauro said, "I have an escape route that won't fail us." Don Loco said he wanted to go to Veracruz. Mauro didn't seem happy about it but said he would take Don Loco there.

In Vargas's office: Dr. Loca cried and told Vargas she tried to resist Don Loco's crazy charms but just couldn't help herself. Vargas said he would have to tell his superiors about it because her diagnosis of Alvaro wasn't credible. Dr. Loca insisted that Don Loco really was sick and needed help.

The phone rang. Vargas answered, listened, and then told Dr. Loca that her beloved Loco had escaped.

At Coral's Boutique: Soledad and Coral told Elias about the robbery. They all agreed that Alvaro was probably behind it. Claudia thought, "They are blaming a man who didn't do anything, but if I tell them I'll be fired, and I need this job."

General Ochoa's office: The general told Rodrigo he was being deployed to help Emilio in the flooded zones.

In Sierra Escondida: Orlando told Vera he was sure Luba and Gaspar hadn't left the mountain, and he would turn over every rock until he found them.

Elsewhere: Mauro gave Alvaro a gun and they got into a different car. Alvaro said again that he had business in Veracruz. Hmm, I wonder if he has business in Veracruz?

Back in Vargas's office: Dr. Loca said Alvaro must be very upset, and in that state he would be dangerous. She told Vargas to warn Soledad because she would be his "primer blanco" (I'm not sure what that means --"first goal"?) Dr. Vargas picked up the phone.

At the boutique: Claudia said to Soledad and company, "I have something to tell you." Assuming that she was going to quit her job because of the robbery, Soledad and Coral begged her to stay.

Claudia worried to herself that they would think she was Rosendo's accomplice if she told them the truth. She solved the dilemma by fainting. They picked her up and started to carry her to a taxi. Of course, the phone rang (Vargas's call) after they left.

Vargas told Dr. Loca that Soledad wasn't answering. Dr. Loca said Don Loco was obsessed with his wife and would probably go after her first.

At Raquel's ranch: Luba and Gaspar helped Raquel do something involving moving around bales of hay. Raquel later said something about feeding the lambs, so I guess lambs eat hay? You can tell I'm not a rancher, can't you.

While they worked, Luba chatted with Raquel, asking about her pregnancy and telling her, "You're a real little doll" (muñequita). I was surprised to hear Luba use that word -- you would think she'd be so sick of it by now.

Gaspar mentioned his "little cub" and told Raquel that his muñequita had turned out to be a bad woman.

Luba then pointed out to Raquel that Gaspar was "a strong boy," and handsome too. (Is she trying to fix him up with Raquel??? Wow, Luba, you are nothing if not ambitious.)

Meanwhile, Raquel's enemies Bernal and Fidencio were secretly watching them work and muttering about Raquel giving Luba and Gaspar breakfast. (Not sure but I think they are plotting to poison Luba and Gaspar's food?)

Thelma went to see Mauricio (Emilio's divorce lawyer) and said she knew he was Rodrigo's friend, that Rodrigo loved Alina and Emilio was determined to win Alina back, so Mauricio should help Thelma prevent that.

In Emilio's tent during a rainstorm: Frank told the frustrated Emilio not to blame himself because the river was flooding again. Karla arrived and Frank left. Emilio told Karla, "It's not easy to resist your provocations." Karla said, "Kiss me, kiss me." Frank ran in and told Emilio something, and they left with Karla.

Meanwhile: Rodrigo told Alina he was being sent on a dangerous mission to help Emilio. Alina told him she was going to a rural community that weekend as a volunteer.

At a doctor's office: Soledad told Claudia that the doctor had said she (Claudia) was just nervous. Angel arrived and Claudia said she felt better now. Angel agreed to take Claudia home, so the others left. Claudia told Angel, "I have something to confess. Rosendo was the one who robbed the boutique."

Elsewhere: Emilio and his soldiers rescued people from the flood. Too bad we didn't have them here in the U.S. during Hurricane Katrina. I'm just saying.

Later, Karla told Emilio that one of the flood victims was sick with something highly contagious. (I didn't catch what the disease was, but something tells me Alina will show up in time to catch this illness, whatever it is. Or maybe Emilio will catch it and Alina will nurse him to health -- yes, that's it.)

Vargas went to Coral's house and told Alina that Alvaro had escaped.

Dr. Loca did some research about pathological jealousy. (Good idea, Dr. Loca!) She told herself, "There is no doubt. Alvaro will be looking for Soledad" (or words to that effect). Just then Don Loco himself burst into the house and said that fortunately his lawyer had been able to give him her address, so he was there for a visit. (Dr. Loca is such a lucky girl!)

Words from this episode:
pobladores = residents
insalubres = unhealthy
delicadeza = gentleness
redes = networks
piedra = stone
poblacion = population
borregos = lambs

Labels: duelo

Dear readers and bloggers: Here is Tuesday's recap after the earlier technical difficulties. Thanks for your patience...

Friday: Alina drops the bomb on Rodrigo...she cannot marry him. Thelma rips up the divorce papers that Emilio served her. Naked Karla shows Emilio her wet chi-chis.

And now, on with the show!

Alina tells Rodrigo that he is not the man she wants to look at first thing in the morning for the rest of her life. Or something like that. His eyes get watery, he actually looks like he might cry (sniff sniff). He says he understands, it has to do with Emilio, right? She can't deny it. Rodrigo tells her it will be hard, but agrees to be 'just friends.' May I say that this guy handles bad news a whole hell of a lot better than Emilio?

Emilio doesn't succumb to Karla's invitation to bathe with her. After he walks out of her steamy tent she smirks. This piece of work is used to getting her way.

As Soledad and Coral cluck over the beaten Angel, Claudia tells them she believes the bad guys weren't regular robbers but were acting under orders from someone else. Soledad assumes that the 'someone else' is Alvaro.

Rodrigo and Alina worry about the impact her refusal of marriage will have on Gaby.

Emilio's lawyer Mauricio tells Thelma he doesn't remember ever meeting her. Moving right along, Captain Valtierra has serious reasons for filing divorce. She is an unfit mother. She endangered the life of her child by dangling him over the river Michael Jackson style and using it to blackmail Emilio. Thelma sneers that Emilio won't get rid of her so easily.

Amidst the flurry of the rescue operation Emilio scowls, smokes his cigar, and tells Frank that it won't be easy for him to work in this place.

Vargas or Vasquez the prosecutor/administrator/whatever (I'll say Vargas and y'all will know who I mean, OK?) visits DonLoco in jail. DonLoco tells him to go to hell, he doesn't believe he tried to kill Dra. Loca. Vargas tells Loco that the Doctora recommended sending him to the nut house. "You're loco, Montellano, loco with no cure."

DonLoco says he's NOT loco, Vargas doesn't know what went on between the Doctora and him. In fact, Aida is in love with him and they had something going on.

Break for a rather hot commercial for Amar Sin Limites. The cute galan has his head buried in some babe's breasts and they are about to get it on. Wow.

Back at the jailhouse, smarmy lawyer Mauro shows up and tells DonLoco that everything is going according to plan. "What's this about me being loco?" DonLoco demands. Mauro says he knows DonLoco is NOT loco, but they want everyone else to think he is so that he will be able to escape from there.

Alina gently breaks the news to Gaby that she won't be marrying her papa and leaving town with them. "Save me Alina, save me," begs Gaby. Alina wants to know from whom Gaby needs to be saved. Gaby can't tell, she's too afraid they will steal her from school. Her daddy's always working and Tina can't run fast enough to save her. Also, she's bummed that Tonqui (back to the -qui) won't be her doggie and who can blame her? Alina tells Gaby that she can run fast and she will take her to school everyday, OK? They hug.

Montellano Cane Fields/Veracruz: The distrustful pair of Hugo and Alfonsina make their booty trade under the threat of Alfonsina's gun...Hugo's fake cofre for her attache case, probably empty. "At last," she smirks, just before he clocks her with the case. She's down for the count and he gives the classically evil Gasca chuckle.

Frank tells Emilio that he's awfully quiet, what's up? Emilio fondles the heart necklace. He admits that Karla is interested in him. She's beautiful and intelligent but he's not in the mood for affairs right now. He kisses the heart as the Emilio/Alina song crescendos.

Hugo ties up Alfonsina. She calls him a traitorous pest. They argue back and forth as to which of them is the biggest traitor. Hugo finally decides to open the case and of course it's empty. "You didn't think I'd be stupid enough to trust you, did you?" she taunts. He tells her she won't be the winner.

At Rancho Viejo (the newly introduced plot line) the faithful but rather dense farmhand Lauro runs and yells for Fidencio, whoever that is. He's met by a group of nasty-looking men wielding machetes. He tells them he meant nothing against them, he was just trying to help Doña Raquel. The evil administrator Hernan rides up. Lauro asks him for help convincing the machete men that they should come back to work for Doña Raquel. Mean administrator guy tells poor Lauro that the employees are saving themselves for when the ranch belongs to him, bwahahaha. The men attack Lauro with machetes and hayforks.

Thelma is telling Singing Auntie about her meeting with the lawyer when she suddenly remembers where she met him. It was at Rodrigo's house. "Mauricio doesn't know the pain he is causing his friend Rodrigo by helping Emilio. When Emilio gets home he'll find he has no lawyer for the divorce." I don't quite see the logic in this but undoubtedly Thelma will work an angle.

Orlando buys a bus ticket in Puebla and says he'll look for Gaspar at the AAA wrestling match. He walks off to reveal Luba and Gaspar standing behind him waiting for a bus to Escondidaville. They don't see each other.

Coral, Soledad, Claudia and Angel are picking up the pieces of the boutique. Alina arrives and is impacted by the news of the robbery. However it is all about Alina as usual and she changes the subject to her news: there will be no wedding. Coral gives Soledad an "I toldya" smile.

Vargas gives Mauro the release papers for DonLoco who will be transferred via ambulance to the local snake pit. Vargas isn't happy about DonLoco going to the psych ward but he says at least he'll fit in perfectly. Mauro smirks unctuously and tells Vargas it was a brilliant move to transfer him ha ha.

Luba and Gaspar are back in Escondidaville making their way to the cave in the darkness. They tiptoe through the woods hoping that nobody from La Rinconada will see them. Luba wants to get The Cofre and take it back to Don Loco. The camera pans up the hillside to a local who just happens to be clinging to the steep hillside and who has spied them. If he manages to survive the climb I'm sure he will rat them out to Vera.

Coral and Soledad want the chisme on why Alina refused Rodrigo's proposal. Alina tells them her heart is still with Emiliooooo and when he returns she'll tell him she loves him. Yawn.

Cut to Emilio sleeping on his cot. Somebody must have called 1-800-I'm-A-Skanky-Ho because Karla creeps into his tent just as he mutters "I miss you my love." She kisses him and he sleep-kisses her in return.

After the commercial he sighs "Alina my love." She answers, "I'm not Alina, my name is Karla, Alina left you, loooong ago..." (Just kidding. Remember that stupid song?) Emilio finally wakes up. She tells him she wanted to jump his bones from the first day they met. (Which I believe is still today in telenovela time even though we haven't seen them since Friday.)

Orlando goes to the wrestling match and approaches, of all people, the announcer who is in the middle of excitedly narrating the match. "Hey buddy, yeah you, the busiest guy here except for the luchadors. Where can I find Pepe Tropicasas?" The announcer finally points to Pepe. Orlando tells Pepe he is looking for the luchador named Gaspar. Pepe is impactado.

The evil administrator Hernan reports to Raquel that evening after a hard day at work engineering the slaughter of honest employees. Raquel's pissed because she really could have used his help that day. He reminds her that his arthritis prohibits him from doing actual work. "Of course," she retorts, "It's no problem for ME to work, being pregnant and all." He has more bad news, he happened to run across Lauro who is dead. She is muy impactada.

Luba has a bad feeling. She tells Gaspar she feels the icy coldness of the dead walking by.

Skanky Ho Karla refuses to leave Emilio's bed. She's in it. He's not. She tells him she's not after anything serious, (ya think???), just a little whoopee. She refuses to go back to her own bed because she's cold, then she hunkers down in his cot.

Alina, in her bedroom, prays to the Virgencita to protect Emilio from all dangers that come his way.

As the luchadors thump and tumble Orlando continues to press Pepe for info on Gaspar. He finally tells Pepe that he knows the police are looking for Luba and Gaspar and if Pepe doesn't tell him what he knows he will be an accomplice. Pepe tells him they went somewhere called Sierra Escondido. "Again with the damn Sierra Escondido," Orlando mutters.

Luba and Gaspar finally make it to the cave. In the torchlight they see it is trashed. "They were looking for The Cofre," she growls, "Let's get The Cofre and get out." Then without warning "se pone un energúmeno" (she goes ape-shit). She curses those who trashed her cave and says they'll all pay.

*Warning - Idiot Alert: Dra. Loca drinks tea and weeps. She was wrong to think she could love DonLoco and cure him at the same time. She didn't think he would try to kill her. She actually calls Mauricio. (Dude, do not fall for that crap.) She tells him she can't sleep due to problems at work. She needs him. We don't hear what he says but he really made her brown eyes blue because she says, "Oh, OK, I understand, you're tired. See you tomorrow then." She's pathetic. "Dear God, why did I fall in love with an impossible man?"

Duhmilio tries to sleep in a chair in his tent but he's uncomfortable. He tries to wake Karla and kick her out but she ignores him. He goes back to his uncomfortable chair. He's clueless about how to handle this. He should bunk up with Frank. I know I would.

Cut to Claudia's house. Her mom is thrilled because her fabulous husband the pedophile and rapist is showering her with an array of "hot" dresses. She asks where he got the money but she doesn't really want to know. She can't wait to show Claudia what Rosendo procured for them.

Claudia looks at the dresses, "No puede ser! These are all from the Boutique!" Mom looks at Rosendo and seems impactada.

Back in the cave, now lit, Luba yells at Gaspar to hurry up, they have to leave. He comes out from behind the curtains showing off his new clothes (a skinny tank top, thank-you Virgencita!) and his incredible triceps. "Do you think my little cub will call me daddy?" he asks.

As they try to leave they are accosted by torch-bearing villagers led by Vera the stupid. Luba goes into Bruja mode, hissing and stalking. She frightens Vera then whips around and glares at Ifigenia, calling him pimply (I think). She knows why they're there but she has news for them. Flor is alive!!

The villagers don't believe Luba. They saw with their own eyes that Flor was dead and buried. Gaspar pipes up that he dug her up and his Ma revived her! Oops, too much info. Vera calls Luba a demon from hell. Luba calls them blockheads. Vera calls her blasphemous and riles up the others. They shout all the way into the commercial.

Stupid Denial Mom tells Claudia that she refuses to hear such awful accusations against her perfect Rosendo. Claudia fills mom in on the boutique burglary. Rosendo whispers into mom's ear not to believe Claudia, she has been after his hot chinless bod for some time now, always chasing him, always touching him. Mom calls Claudia a cynic/shameless hussy and slaps her face. Rosendo grins at his victory.

Alina asks Soledad, "Will I ever be happy?" Bah.

Luba tells Vera not to do something she'll regret. Luba whips out her big old knife. Will she finally stab something besides the trees and her table? Vera says before they kill her they want Flor's body so they can rebury it in hallowed ground. "Very well," answers Luba, "Flor's body is back there on the cot."

The group runs into the back of the cave, Luba graps Vera's torch and sets the curtain on fire, snatches The Cofre, and splits. Iffy puts up his dukes in an attempt to stop Gaspar. Ha! Gaspar gives him a quick pop in the kisser and Iffy drops like a noodle.

Pandemonium ensues in the cave. Vera yells "Fuego! Fuego!" as if she is the only one around who notices the fire. Sheesh Vera, everybody is trapped in flames except you and all you can do is yell "Fire!" I think they know they're burning up.

Luba and Gaspar make their way through the forest with The Cofre and a bag of their stuff. Luba points into the distance, "Let's go that way. No one ever goes toward Rancho Viejo." Luba, followed by the stud Gaspar, make their way toward the rancho." Good call to whoever it was suggested they would end up at Rancho Viejo!

Claudia begs her dysfunctional mom, "How could you believe Rosendo over me? I hate him. He's always hitting on me and I would NEVER go for a guy as revolting as he!" Mom calls her a brat and kicks her out. Rosendo comforts the stupid mom.

Luba and Gaspar arrive at Rancho Viejo. Raquel greets them with a glare and a shotgun, "Who are you and what are you doing on my land?!?"

Advance for tomorrow: DonLoco escapes from the transport ambulance (shouldn't he be transported in a paddy wagon instead of an ambulance???) and Alina is impactada to hear the news of daddy's escape.

alimaña = pest
catre = cot
cínico = shameless person, a cynic in the sense of being motivated purely by self-interest
tlaconete = pimply one

Labels: duelo

THE COFRE is still missing, right? On my recent vacation I found many possible locations, as well as many other choices Hugo/Gasca could have used for his fake cofre. Do you think THE COFRE ended up in Disneyland or Legoland? Here is the evidence, I'll leave the sleuthing up to you -

Labels: duelo

Anita wrote:

Ok people I have confirmed news... I hope someone can put it as a main topic.

Duelo de Pasiones will not be shown tomorrow because during 7 there is going to be like a re-hash of LFMB then the 2 hour finale and finally following Cristina. This is confirmed because in a newspaper that Diane from Telenovela-World posted from a newspaper called El Nuevo Herald and it only says that Duelo this week will be seen on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.

*Extra news: Duelo de Pasiones and Destilando Amor will not be seen this Wednesday the 27th due to soccer, but Juan Querendon will be shown at 7pm/6c (east & central) and at 8 (west coast) and going further ahead to Wednesday, July 4th, Duelo & Destilando will not be shown either due again because of soccer, but Juanito Querendon will and these are the times, 9pm/8c (east & central) and at 7 (west coast).

Labels: Destilando, duelo, fea, Juan, schedule

It has finally been posted on the Univision site. Looks like the only ones out are Querendon fans. No rest for the wicked Monday night recappers.

7:00pm - 8:00pm
Duelo de Pasiones
8:00pm - 9:00pm
La Fea Más Bella
9:00pm - 10:00pm
Destilando Amor
10:00pm - 11:00pm
Cristina

Labels: Destilando, duelo, fea, Juan, schedule

Here’s schoolmarm Jeanne for Ferro, who is still enjoying a well-deserved rest.

We join Don Loco in his cell, glaring into Dra. Loca’s face. He turns away scowling [Ed. Note: my mommy always told me that if I scowled like that too much my face would freeze like that] and she follows him, saying that if he keeps thinking like this, the only thing that will happen is he’ll keep suffering. Better to face reality, his reality. Maybe Soledad has rejected him, but there’s another who might just want to love him. She lays her hands on this shoulders, smiling seductively. [It’s lost on him, sweetie, he’s not even looking]. We note that DL has a band-aid not quite covering his latest bobo, the result of him banging his head on the bars until he bled.

DL turns and gets in her face. “And that other person, by chance, might be you?” Perceptive, DL. “How do you dare to compare yourself with my wife?” Her seductive half-smile slips. “It’s your fault I’m locked up in here.” “I’m sure you and the judge worked it out so I couldn’t leave here, true? You had the force with you.” (A nod to Star Wars here, which is based way more in reality than Duelo). He grabs her around the neck and begins to choke her.

Dra. Loca, impactada that her seduction plan is going awry, begs him to calm down and not talk like that. She tries to pull his hands away. He calls her “damned,” chokes and shakes her by the neck while she gasps and whimpers. [What part of his treatment of Soledad did you not understand, Dra.? You haven’t done your homework. Tsk.] “You poisoned Soledad in order that she wouldn’t forgive me, didn’t you, damned traitor!?” [Sheesh. As if more than two years of cruel and unusual treatment wasn’t going to set the stage for Soledad to never forgive you!] She calls for the guards [Ed. Note: if you play this part back, you’ll see that his fingers aren’t actually pressuring her around the neck. Very convincing, DL.] He yells a question at her, asking if what she wants is that they throw him into the punishment cell (solitary?). The guard comes and he drops her and backhands the guard, who drops to the floor. [Well, we already knew the guards here weren’t too sharp]. Another guard runs in behind him, and DL elbows him back against the cell; two more guards finally come and drag him off, presumably to the punishment cell. Dra. Loca just stands there with her teeth in her mouth, crying and rubbing her throat.

In the nursing school, the students are lined up in rows of desks. Alina speaks to the nursing instructor while others pack up their materials. She apologizes for being distracted during class. She’s thrilled with the school, but has a lot on her mind and couldn’t concentrate. The instructor understands, but thought for a moment she found the lab work tedious. Alina assures her that the opposite it true, really. The instructor tells her if she needs anything, Alina can ask her.

Alina thought bubbles that she cannot let herself get distracted; this is too important for her. [Ed. Note: if one looks around the room, one cannot help but wonder why the other trainees in their perfectly clean, starched white uniforms have their tops zipped up to their eyeballs, but Alina looks like she got her uniform where Nurse Susy shops. Maybe the room’s hot? Her zipper’s stuck half way up? OTOH, this uniform meets all of Ferro’s requirements.]

Gaby is coloring on the coffee table in the living room. Tina comes in and asks her to “tell me about your drawings.” [Ed. Note: every schoolmarm on earth and most mothers know that you never remark on what a kid is drawing, because inevitably you’ll get it wrong and there’ll be a disgusted kid stare in return. Instead, you ask the youngster to “tell me about it.” Bravo, Tina!] Gaby tells her that this is a picture of the bad lady who “wants to kill me.” Gaby looks really afraid, and Tina is impactada. Gaby has another, of herself locked in a cage by the bad lady and she’ll never get out. Tina holds out her arms and asks if Gaby wants to tell her about it. Gaby runs off to her room, “no, I don’t want to talk about this!” Tina follows.

As the nursing class wraps up, [stereotypically, they’re all muchachas] the instructor compliments them on organizing their instruments perfectly. They’ll be moving into a sterile field (environment) as they continue their work. From the middle of the room there’s a cry of pain. One of the student nurses has cut herself. Alina, who read ahead in the book while she lived in the cave, applies a rubber band tourniquet perfectly and stops the bleeding. How fortunate for her fellow student! Equally fortunate is the rubber band tourniquet that just happened to be in pile of instruments they were learning how to organize today! Alina explains exactly what she is doing. Soon, she’ll be team teaching with the instructor. The instructor compliments her on technique and speed. Alina mops up the excessive bleeding. One wonders qué the heck the pile of instruments contained on the first day to cause such bleeding.

Gaby is lying on her bed, back to Tina, who is trying to talk to her and comfort her. Tina’s worried about Gaby’s preoccupation that someone’s coming back to hurt her, which isn’t going to happen. Gaby assures her it WILL happen and they’ll all die. Rodrigo comes in and says he’ll talk to her. [This dude looks good in uniform!] He holds her and asks about her fear. She doesn’t want to talk about it. He wants to know if someone threatened her. She lies and says no. She begs him to marry Alina fast and get them out of Dodge. He promises he will, but she needs to calm down.

Aha! Here we are at La Rinconada, where a uniformed Orlando is talking to Vera and Iffy. They exchange chitchat about breakfast and he gets to the point: he’s going to Luba’s cave. Vera is impactada. Luba’s not there. It’s her fault that Flor died, the police are looking for her, and she’s blown the joint with Gaspar. Orlando is PO’d.

Raquel is taking a lovely afternoon stroll with Hernán at her Rancho Viejo in Sierra Escondido. [Everyone already has noted that Raquel is really out-of-context given that we’re in Últimos Capítulos, so I won’t elaborate, but I’m just saying]. He remarks that the funeral was calm, and she notes that it was calm and quiet because none of the employees showed up. When the workers bailed from Montellaño’s ranch to work for her husband, he paid them a good wage. She doesn’t get this, why no one came, why this is how they treat him. She wipes a tear. “Why are they so ungrateful?” Some of the workers come running up to them, led by Fidencio, who has had secretive interactions with Hernán in the last couple of episodes. (They are apparently trying to get her to sell Rancho Viejo at a loss]. The workers want to talk with her. Hernán tries to send them away, but Raquel will hear them out. The workers are not confident that she’s going to follow through with the work they’ve counted on. They want a raise. She tells them the wages are fair and they won’t get a raise. They’re going on strike. The workers, led by Fidencio, yell “Strike! Strike!” (Huelga=strike or work slowdown) Fidencio stands there, quiet, and sneaks a glance over at Hernán. One wonders if this is a set up. I’m just saying.

Alina is talking in the small office with the instructor. She explains why she is so skilled at these things already. The nursing instructor notes Alina’s previous distraction again and offers to help. Alina tells her about Rodrigo’s kind offer of marriage and her doubts.

Back at Rancho Viejo, Hernán has Fidencio by his shirt, shaking him and asking how he dares to speak this way to Sra Raquel. Fidencio tells him that women don’t have the head for business. Raquel intervenes. She makes Hernán let Fidencio go, and the boys glare at each other. She asks Fidencio to have a little faith in her. She reminds them the ranch is important to her, too, and the one thing she has for the son she is expecting. He tells her that without a raise, they’re not going to have faith in her and she says, “okay, there’s no solution for this because there’s not going to be a raise.” Fidencio tells her “okay, we’re going on strike.” The crowd yells again about striking. One young man comes forward and tells her he’s going to have faith in her and work with her. She asks his name: Lauro Ramirez. She says fine, they’ll work together on the ranch. Hernán and Fidencio are mildly impactados and uneasy.

Alina has just finished telling her tale of woe to the instructor. She doesn’t think it’s a good thing for her to change her own future so Gaby can be calm. She just wants to start a new life and find happiness. The instructor encourages her to forget the past and points out all the obstacles to pursuing a relationship with Emilio, and that Rodrigo seems to really love her and will do everything in his power to ensure her happiness.

At the Boutique de Coral, she, Soledad and Elías are hashing over the jail visit. Soledad remarks that he was just so sure she would forgive him as if nothing had happened, but it’s not easy to forget all this. Elías asks if he really seemed sorry. Yes, and he seemed to think they would be reconciled, maybe if he behaved well, after he leaves jail. But, she has stopped loving him. Coral comforts her.

Emilio has arrived at his new post. Several workers are waiting for him, wearing ponchos in the rain. The lead muchacha has a grin from ear to ear. She likes what she sees (the Jeep? Frank?) They introduce themselves, shake hands, [what’s with the fat cigar in his other hand? Looks very professional], and he tells her they are going to make sure the locals aren’t in danger by stabilizing things. She’s Karla Sanchez, the head of Civil Defense in the area. They have everything ready, including stuff like insect repellant so no one gets Dengue Fever [Ed. note: this is very bad stuff. It’s prevalent in tropical zones, carried by mosquitoes. Once you get it, you can’t get exposed again for at least seven years because the second time can be truly life threatening. I had a friend in Hawaii who went somewhere in Polynesia and got it. She had lots of restrictions for a long time. Then, a hula troupe from Hana, Maui went to Polynesia and brought it back. There was a bit of a local scare. I have heard it called “bone break fever” because it makes one feel like all the bones in the body are broken. Here’s info from Wikipedia: “This infectious disease is manifested by a sudden onset of fever, with severe headache, muscle and joint pains (myalgias and arthralgias — severe pain gives it the name break-bone fever or bonecrusher disease) and rashes; the dengue rash is characteristically bright red petechia and usually appears first on the lower limbs and the chest - in some patients, it spreads to cover most of the body. There may also be gastritis with some combination of associated abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.

Some cases develop much milder symptoms, which can, when no rash is present, be misdiagnosed as a flu or other viral infection. Thus, travelers from tropical areas may inadvertently pass on dengue in their home countries, having not been properly diagnosed at the height of their illness. Patients with dengue can only pass on the infection through mosquitoes or blood products while they are still febrile.”]

She tells the muchachos to walk this way. Frank grins at Emiliooooo and tells him she’s not just beautiful, she’s well-prepared. Not bad on the eyes. Emilio gives him the hooded-eyed-lizard look. They follow.

Alina thanks the instructor for listening, and the instructor tells her that there’s no need for thanks, they are friends. [Every schoolmarm knows it’s not good to be too close to your students, especially in a college situation. Tsk.] She’ll help Alina with things. She leaves and Rodrigo comes in. He’s taking Alina to dinner and will get her response. He gives her a single pink rose. She’s ready with a response.

At Mansión Valtierra, Rebeca is cuddling the baby and Thelma demands him. The doorbell rings and Rebeca runs to get it. There’s a document for Thelma, who rudely retorts that she’s busy with her son. She tells Singing Auntie to open it. It’s the divorce papers. Thelma apparently thought he wouldn’t file them. She is impactada. After the commercial break, she takes the papers to read them and hands the baby to SA. She’ll never accept this. She rips it up. She’ll get Alina married off to Rodrigo. SA asks what if this plan doesn’t succeed? Thelma will find another way to blackmail Emilio. [Well, it beats murder.]

Rodrigo and Alina haven’t left the nursing school. He’s going to take her to a lovely restaurant. He’s anxious for the reply. She needs to go by Coral’s store and change her clothes.

Dra. Loca busts into Vargas’ office. ;-) She has to tell him something very important. [She looks good in red. That cleavage, though. Sniff.] What’s up? She wants Alvaro transferred to a mental hospital. Vargas is impactado.

Karla Sanchez is making sure Emilioooo and Frank will be cozy in their tent. They talk about the difficult situation: dozens of families have been rescued from rising waters/floods using amphibious vehicles. But, there a still a lot of folks who haven’t been evacuated. Frank wants to know the plan (give Emiliooo a minute, muchacho, because he just sat down with the map. He doesn’t think that fast on his feet OR sitting down.) Emilioooo tells them they’ll organize a team and begin getting folks out of their homes. Karla leans toward E and grasps his forearm lightly but thoroughly; she’ll find the folks he needs. Emilioooo looks down pointedly at her hand, moves a little, and she draws back as he tells her he appreciates the help. She leans back to her chair, looking only slightly embarrassed. She stands to leave and hopes they’ll be comfortable. If they need anything, they shouldn’t hesitate to call her. She lets them know that her tent is just next to theirs, but she’s not talking to Frank. She’s got her back to him. She wonders if Emiliooo wants a little hot coffee, her hand caressing his back at the shoulder. [Ed. Note: What about Frank? Is he chopped liver?] Emilio looks evasive and thanks her. Frank grins at him slyly and says, “Well, a little hot coffee for your pleasure, Captain…..” Emiliooo looks down at his rolled-up map. Frank makes another crack about Captain Valtierra on attack. Emilio purses his lips at Frank.

Speaking of campers, Vargas is not a happy one. “Transfer him? What does this mean?” DL is not in his right mind and dangerous to have in the general jail population. [Ya think?] Vargas thinks this man is perfectly capable of faking loco so he’ll have a get-out-of-jail free card. He thinks this is ridiculous; she knows how clever this guy is. She points out that people with celotipia have a different reality than the rest of the world; it’s their fantasies. She knows he’s intelligent, but she wants this transfer because he tried to choke her. She wants off his case.

Back at Coral’s store, Elías is ready to leave. Soledad thanks him for talking with her; she’s calm now. He wants to remind her that not all relationships are so conflicted and destructive as hers with DL. She knows. He apologizes again because he’s never hid how he feels about her, and she tells him he doesn’t need to. She thinks that maybe….sometime…..she and he could….Alina and Rodrigo interrupt this moment. Elías compliments her uniform. She goes to change so they can go to dinner and Elías leaves. Alina wants to talk to her Mamá, so they go off to the changing room.

Vargas tells Dra. Loca that what she is saying is very serious. [Duh]. Yes, and DL will get worse if he doesn’t get the treatment he needs. [Ed. Note: One supposes that a good, hard slap to the chops probably aren’t part of the treatment, right?] Vargas still thinks DL attacked her to get sent up the river to the other kind of institution and lessen his sentence. Dra. Loca isn’t so sure of that. And almost getting killed by a patient is just one of the necessary risks of her profession. She’s just devastated because their relationship was so cordial. Vargas reluctantly agrees to the transfer.

Luba and Gaspar are with the doc, who tells them he has never seen a case like this, and he’s impressed with the inexplicable spontaneous healing. Luba waxes eloquent about miracles and how the Virgen works. She knows it in her heart. Gaspar tells him now he can see his cub. Luba puts her hand over Gaspar’s mouth to shut him up. She covers up a bit. The doc tells them he’s getting the papers ready for dismissal. Luba goes to hug him. She tells him how handsome he is and follows as he leaves. Gaspar gets a puzzled look on his face. He didn’t like Luba telling the doc that his “cub” was a puppy. She tells him not to be so foolish. He shouldn’t be announcing to the four winds about this child. He says the doc told him he could go look for the boy. Luba tells him to go already. She lays a guilt trip on him that she has to go to look for the cofre and they’ll kill her, but he doesn’t care. He’s bending.

In a police office, Orlando (in street clothes) is looking for info about Luba and Gaspar. The police aren’t giving it, but he flashes his military credentials. That’s a different story. They tell him about Gaspar fighting as “Intocable” and he had an accident; he’s been in a public hospital in Puebla. What good luck for Orlando!

At the Rancho Viejo, Hernán is angry that Raquel thinks she and this one employee can run the ranch. [So, where’s YOUR volunteer spirit, Hernán? Aren’t you like the jefe or something?] She argues back. She’s not just going to stand there with her arms crossed; something is better than nothing. He points out she’s about to pop. She tells him that she can do whatever is necessary for the sake of her son. He tells her that’s nuts. He wants to know why she just doesn’t sell this ranch. He can find someone interested (of COURSE you can, you scumbag!) She finds it strange that he’s proposing this. He knows how important this ranch was to her husband and is to her. She has no doubt that if she has to spend the rest of her life working her tail off, she’ll do it, but sell, NEVER. She tells Lauro they’re going off to work. Hernán protests and she tells him, “I have spoken!” Hernán mutters “damn you” to her as she walks off with Lauro. [Ed. Note: I like Raquel, even if her appearance is darn untimely. She’s got spunk.]

Soledad looks Alina over in her lovely outfit. She wonders if Alina seems nervous, or is it just her imagination? Alina admits she is nervous about the response Rodrigo wants. They hash over Emilio and Rodrigo, compare and contrast. Same old, same old.

Karla is seeing a patient, presumably who has Dengue. She’s giving the vieja something to lower her fever (important in Dengue). She gives her instructions. She notes that the woman has an elevated temp, body aches, and shivers. Emilio comes into the nursing station tent and has an orange flashback to when he was injured and unconscious in Luba’s cave (dunno how he can flashback to being unconscious, but that’s Emilio for ya), with Alina caring for him. Karla notes to the patient that she also has a bit of rash (captions spelled it “salpullido” but it’s “sarpullido m. noun- rash”). She gives her some papers to take to another place.

Karla sees Emilio, who tells her he was remembering someone who had cared for him. Karla notes “ella? “ She asks if it was a girlfriend and looks relieved when he says it’s not. She talks a little about Dengue, and the medical services bring much comfort to those who have it. She offers Emiliooo that cup of hot coffee, which he agrees to take while they talk about work. He sits on the cot and they eye each other while they drink. She looks hopeful.

Back at Coral’s, Alina and Soledad are stilllllll discussing Alina’s decision-making dilemma. She hasn’t forgotten Emilio but she cannot have him and will forget him eventually. Soledad reminds her that he’s divorcing, but she says it’s too late. She’s worried about Gaby and Rodrigo. Her mother tells her to think about it well. She doesn’t want to break Rodrigo’s heart; her mother points out that hers might be broken. Alina says the past has to be past. She’s going to accept Rodrigo. [Ed. Note: Alina’s enthusiasm here is underwhelming.]

At the Puebla hospital, the Lucha Meister is meeting Luba and Gaspar. He’s thrilled at Gaspar’s recovery and has such a deal for them. It’s for training the newbies, not to fight again. Gaspar doesn’t want it. The Lucha jefe wants to know why not? They’ll be in San Mateo and there’s less possibility they’ll be found. Gaspar wants to go with Luba to SE and make sure nothing happens to her.

Back in his lonely cell, DL is talking to himself and begging Soledad’s forgiveness. A guard brings a sedative med with a cup of water. DL doesn’t really want it, and flashes back to forcing meds down Soledad’s throat with her crying that she doesn’t want it. He just takes it. “Why didn’t the doc come?” “She’s dropped your case.” “Why?” “You don’t remember? You choked her.” The guard walks away, disgusted.

After commercial break, DL’s standing at the bars, yelling to see Dra. Loca. He mutters to himself, shaking his head, that he tried to kill her. He says they’re a bunch of damned liars and he never did anything of the kind. She’s the only one who understands and can get him out of there. He yells to see her again.

Claudia is offering a drink or snack to Rodrigo, who is still waiting for Alina to solve her life problems while she changes. Coral comes in to introduce Alina’s grand entrance. She and Soledad glide into the room. Alina and Rodrigo excuse themselves and Coral wants to know if Alina is going to give him a response. Soledad affirms it, and Coral is sorry for Emilio.

At Mansión Valtierra, Angel is talking to SA, who has the baby. Does Thelma know that Emilio is gone? Yes. She’s depressed, and the divorce papers arrived. Yes, Angel knew something about that, but she was just asking for it. SA wishes there was a way to save this marriage. She goes to put the baby in bed. (“My baby”) Angel is left to mutter to himself that he understands Emilio’s anguish at being so far from the one he loves; Claudia’s stepfather is keeping them apart.

Karla asks Emilioooo if he wants more coffee. She plays with her hair coquettishly. No, he needs to sleep well in order to work tomorrow. Karla tells him that she, on the other hand, has insomnia and if he can’t sleep, she’ll be waiting there to chat……she fidgets with her belt and sways a little. Frank comes in abruptly. “Captain, pardon me, but the General’s on the radio for you.” Emiliooo makes a quick an exit as he can, thanking her for the coffee. Frank smiles at Karla and tells her what a great guy his Captain is, and that she should get to know him better. She tells him that for sure she is interested in knowing him better……. She leaves. [What the heck is Frank? A yenta? Is that under “other duties as assigned?”]

At the boutique, Coral is talking to Claudia and Soledad. They invite Claudia to go to dinner with them. She has to work on the clothing displays, etc. Angel comes in. He came to see her and help. Suddenly, several guys wearing ski masks and carrying guns, burst into the shop. Angel pushes Claudia behind him. The gunmen yell “nobody move and be quiet!” Angel and Claudia are super impactados. Some of the gunmen move behind them, maybe looking for the day’s earnings. [Didn’t look like anyone was taking deposits to the bank, either, when Coral and Soledad left. Tsk.]

In Emilooo’s tent, he’s working on a map and notes. Frank comes in and asks about the call with the General. Emilio gives him details; they need reinforcements. The locals are in no condition to help, so Emilio asked the General. Frank makes a comment about Karla; she likes to see Emilio. Emilioooo tells him this isn’t a joke. The mission is serious, don’t forget it. He leaves. Frank smiles to himself and mutters that Karla doesn’t see it that way; she has another mission for Emilioooo. [Okay, maybe he’s not a yenta, he’s a panderer].

Angel hotly tells the gunman who is guarding him and Claudia while the others grab the money that the folks who work here work hard and honorably; they should do the same. The gunman tells him to shut it. [Good advice, Angel, he’s the one holding the gun.] One of the others tells him that instead of a sermon, he needs to look after his girlfriend and hope for the best. Angel settles and assures him everything’s cool. The guy holding the gun on them wants the cashbox open. Claudia can’t open it, she has no key. Angel lunges at him and they struggle. Claudia yells at them to leave him in peace, and the others rush to help their comrade. Angel takes a lot of punches. The gunmen grab what they can and run; Angel is bleeding and bruised on the floor. She kneels and tries to get him to respond.

Raquel finds Lauro working and asks how it’s going. Lauro tells her not well and lists the problems. There’s not enough food for the sheep and two of the machines don’t’ work. They need at least three men to help move things. Two aren’t enough? They make a decision and Raquel tries to pick up one of the bags that is propped near a wall. All by her pregnant self. She groans. [The bag must weigh at least 40 lbs.] She’s hurt herself. ¡Ay, Caray! [I guess there’s no need to point out we could have told her so.] He helps her sit. He’s going to try to get some buddies of his; she warns him to be careful and don’t let them turn on him [she’s smarter than we think, maybe]. He goes off.

Angel is sitting up and holding a cloth to the bump on his forehead. He just needs some air and he’ll be all right. Coral and Soledad come back in. Gee, that was a short trip. They are impactadas as they hear about the assault and robbery.

Thelma bursts into Mauricio’s office without knocking. She asks if he is the lawyer for Emilio Valtierra. He says he is. “Well, let me tell you I’m not accepting any divorce, and here’s what you sent me.” She throws the pieces of the paperwork down onto his desk as he stand up. “Listen, Sra.” “Listen, nothing! What is your name?” “Mauricio Rivera.” Thelma tosses this info around. “I know you from someplace else.” Mauricio just looks at her doubtfully.

Oh, my, here we are in Veracruz at the sugar plantation. Hugo and Alfi are “finally home!” Alfi asks if she can have HER cofre now. Hugo clings to it and smiles greasily. He asks her how much she thinks DL might give for this. She thinks a lot, much more than in the briefcase. They exchange veiled insults implying that neither trusts the other. Hugo looks uncomfortable and asks if they’re going to make the exchange—cofre for briefcase. She agrees and moves. He thought bubbles that she has no idea the surprise that awaits her.

Karla is in her tent, and Emilio asks to see her. She says “sure, come in.” We see her back, unclothed and dripping wet clear up to her hair. A small tub of bubble bath is in front of her on the ground. She gets up slowly and opens the drape, turning to face him. She asks him if he wants a bath. He stops writing notes, impactado. [Ferro, what a week for you to be on vacation! Timing is everything, lad. De ninguna manera can I do this justice the way you would.]

At the restaurant, Rodrigo is confessing to Alina that it’s been a while since he felt so nervous. She tells him that makes two of them. He tells her she shouldn’t be nervous. This could be the best day of her life. [Easy for you to say, Dude.] He asks if she is inclined to marry him? She touches her neck and looks impactada. [How come? Did she just realize she gave her heart necklace away?] She flashes back to giving it to Emiliooooo. What timing. She flashes back to when he gave it to her. Rodrigo gets up; he’s going out to the street to look for it. No, she remembers where it is. She tells him she’s always been honest with him, and she cannot accept the offer of marriage. He is muy impactado and sets his jaw.

Next time: (Tuesday) More about Thelma’s betrayals, and will Alina end up with Emilio or Rodrigo?

Jeanne

Labels: duelo

When Gaby saw Thelma in Emilio's living room, she began hyperventilating. Emilio asked her what was wrong. Thelma said Gaby must be hungry. Emilio dashed out of the room.

When he was gone, Thelma hissed at Gaby, "I am capable of killing you. Quiet!"

Emilio came back and put something under Gaby's nose, to calm her down no doubt, then told her she'd soon be with her father.

The doorbell rang. Gaby told Emilio she wanted to leave his house because she was afraid. Emilio was confused (what else is new). Rodrigo rushed in (with Alina and Tina) and embraced Gaby. Alina thanked Emilio.

Gaby begged Rodrigo, "Please, leave here, marry Alina, leave Puebla! Let's go far away from here!" Listening to this, Thelma smirked.

Angel brought food for Gaby, but she refused it and left with Tina. Emilio asked Rodrigo and Alina when they were getting married. Alina said it wasn't the right moment to discuss it.

At Coral's house: Soledad asked Aida (aka Dr. Loca) if Alvaro (aka Don Loco) felt guilty for what he'd done to her and Alina. Dr. Loca said yes, so Soledad agreed to visit Don Loco in jail, saying she'd once loved him and hoped he would recover.

After Dr. Loca left, Soledad told Coral she didn't want Alina to know she was going to see Alvaro because it would worry her. Coral said maybe afterward Soledad would give Elias a chance. Soledad grimaced.

In the hospital: Gaspar had a vision of the Virgin Mary. He told her he wanted to see his little cub. She blessed him in Jesus's name.

Commercial break: Finally we get a promo for what seems to be the next telenovela in this time slot! As predicted by Roseanne and Sylvia, it's "Amar Sin Limites," starring Karyme Lozano, Valentino Lanús, Mónika Sánchez, and René Strickler. "Ambition! Corruption! Desire!" says the commercial. "Muy pronto!"

Back to the show: Two guys in cowboy hats -- Bernal and Fidencio -- discussed buying a ranch (apparently the ranch belonging to Vicente, who just died, and his Alina-lookalike wife Raquel).

Raquel approached and Fidencio took off. She asked Bernal if he'd been talking to Fidencio. Bernal said no. Raquel looked suspicious.

At the hospital: Gaspar sat up in bed, looking healthy, while the delighted Luba fed him breakfast. The doctor said it was incredible, but Gaspar was cured!

Nearby, Mariana and Dr. Love helped Malena out of bed to go home. Luba spotted Mariana and they gasped each other's names.

In jail: Don Loco told Dr. Loca that his problem with Soledad was not a mental problem but a problem of the heart. A guard announced that Don Loco had a visitor. Of course, it was Soledad.

After Dr. Loca left, Alvaro told Soledad, "I know I was stupid, a real imbecile. I don't know how I could have doubted you. I was blind, driven crazy by jealousy."

Soledad said she'd waited years to hear that. Alvaro went on, "You never cheated on me, Soledad." He admitted that Alina was his daughter.

Crying, Soledad said, "I told you! The damage you've done to your own child."

Don Loco knelt beside her and said, "Soledad, forgive me." He admitted he could never make amends for all he'd done but begged her again to forgive him.

Soledad stood up and asked how he could ask for forgiveness. It wasn't so easy. "As always, you're only thinking of yourself."

Don Loco said, "I'm thinking of you, of us. We can begin again as if nothing happened. Forgive me, Soledad."

Soledad spluttered, "How can you want me to forget so many humiliations? How can you want me to forget what you did to your daughter, imprisoning her in a cave?" She pointed out that he'd even threatened to kill their daughter. "No. No, no, I can't, Alvaro. No, I don't forgive you."

Don Loco said other men had always been more important to her than he was. Soledad asked sarcastically if this was his way of asking for forgiveness.

Becoming ever more loco, Don Loco replied that she was a flirt! Her father had warned him about her, and her father was right! Then he had a vision of his bruised zombie father standing behind him, saying, "She never loved you! Kill her!"

Alvaro yelled at his father to shut up. Alarmed, Soledad asked who he was talking to.

Don Loco kept yelling at Zombie Dad. Instead of fleeing for her life, Soledad kept asking him what was going on. (This woman never knows when to quit, does she?)

Finally she got his attention. Don Loco turned to her and asked, "Why can't you forgive me?" and, of course, accused her of being in love with Elias. Again his father ordered him to kill Soledad.

Alvaro warned Soledad to leave (yes, even Don Loco in the midst of a fit of madness has more common sense than Soledad!) but Soledad stayed put, so Don Loco called the guards.

Dr. Loca came in with the guards. As they took Don Loco away, he shouted at Soledad, "You have to forgive me!"

In General Ochoa's office: Emilio told the general he wanted to fight for Alina's love. He asked for a new assignment.

The general said, "Very well, Emilio." I didn't understand exactly what he told Emilio to do -- something about a river and strengthening bridges.

At Coral's house: Alina showed her nurse uniform to Rodrigo, who said she would look beautiful in it. Then he produced an engagement ring and put it on her finger, saying, "With this I ask that you marry me next month. What do you say?"

He explained that he was worried about Gaby, who wasn't eating or sleeping. Leaving Puebla was the only way to restore her tranquility, and he'd be the happiest man in the world if Alina would go far away with them.

Alina said, "I understand your situation, but I don't want to rush things." Rodrigo asked if she loved him. She said yes, but it was too soon for this. Rodrigo asked her to think it over.

She promised to give him an answer that day, then said she had to go to school because she didn't want to be late.

Back at the hospital: Mariana asked Luba if she knew that Don Loco was in jail. Luba said it was about time. Mariana asked about the cofre (coffer). Luba went into Super Mysterious mode and told Malena this was between her and Mariana. Malena dutifully left.

Luba then told Mariana her name wasn't really Luba. (At least, I think that's what she said.) She said she'd been hiding on Don Loco's lands, and Alvaro would go completely loco if he knew the truth. She said it was better he learn the truth from Mariana.

Mariana said Alvaro didn't want to see her anymore. She asked Luba to be the one to tell him the truth (whatever the truth is). She told Luba about Alfonsina and Hugo's attempt to kill her.

Nobly, Luba said she would go back for the cofre and tell Don Loco what was in it. She assured Mariana that nothing would happen to her.

In Claudia's neighborhood: Angel and Claudia discussed Rosendo's arrest. Angel asked Claudia if she wanted to date him now. She said yes. Rosendo arrived and saw them kissing.

Angel told Rosendo to leave Claudia in peace. Rosendo said he was free because he'd told the police that the mute guy kidnapped the girl on his own. He and Angel snarled at each other, but Claudia pulled them apart and said she had to go to work.

In jail: Alvaro banged his bloody head against the bars of his cell, calling himself an imbecile for losing Soledad. His lawyer, Mauro, arrived. Alvaro said Soledad hated him.

Meanwhile, in Dr. Loca's office: Soledad told Dr. Loca she'd never seen Alvaro like that, he seemed to be hearing voices. She asked, "Is he crazy?" (Soledad, if you have to ask that question after all this time, you're crazy, too.)

Dr. Loca took off her glasses and simpered dramatically, then said it would be irresponsible of her to diagnose Alvaro yet. (Since when does she hesitate to be irresponsible??) She asked Soledad what she'd said to Alvaro.

Soledad said she had refused to forgive him, but she wasn't to blame for his reaction. Dr. Loca asked if she still loved him. Soledad said no, she'd stopped loving him years ago, then repeated all the terrible things he'd done to her and Alina.

Dr. Loca said, "You have many reasons not to love him," but said it seemed Don Loco still loved Soledad. Soledad said she'd seen him for the last time, that chapter of her life was now closed.

After Soledad left, Dr. Loca told herself that she doubted Soledad would get free of Alvaro so easily.

In nursing class: Alina, wearing her uniform, zoned out, remembering Rodrigo's proposal instead of listening to the teacher. The teacher asked her if nursing school wasn't what she had expected.

At the Valtierra house: Emilio came home and told Thelma he was going on a mission. She taunted him about being Rodrigo's rival.

Singing Aunt Rebeca came into the room and asked about Gaby. She was glad to hear the girl had been found.

Emilio gave something(?) to the aunt -- I didn't catch what it was -- and asked to her to take care of his son. Thelma snapped that it was her son and SHE would take care of him.

Back in Alvaro's jail cell: Mauro said Alvaro looked strange, like a different man. He told him to sleep, then left, saying, "Till later, friend." Alvaro didn't reply. He appeared confused, his eyes roving around.

Dr. Loca strutted into his cell, wearing her so-professional low-cut red dress, and said, "I know your relationship with Soledad is over. That is very healthy for you."

Alvaro snarled something about not thinking it was so healthy. Dr. Loca said he wouldn't recover if he kept feeling that way, then said coyly that someone else could give him the love he needed.

Bad move, Doctor. Don Loco demanded, "How can you compare to my woman? It's you're fault I'm locked up!" He grabbed her by the throat and started strangling her, saying, "You separated me from Soledad, damn it!" It looks like Dr. Loca is a goner.

words/phrases from this episode:
aferrarse a = to cling to
borrar = to erase
puente = bridge
veneno = poison
trastorno = upheaval
migajas = breadcrumbs
apartar = to separate

Labels: duelo

Labels: duelo

Maldita Alfonsina!! DonLoco curses the damned Alfonsina to his sister. Mariana further reveals that Alfonsina tried to kill her more than once. Alfonsina and Hugo are in everything together.

DonLoco blows a gasket. He gets red in the face, jumps up and pounds the table, frightening Mariana. "They should have done it," he screams to her, "they should have ended you. It's what you deserve after all the lies you've told!"

Emilio, seeing Angel in the mafioso's neighborhood, immediately wants to confront him. Frank, ever the voice of reason, sends Emilio home to wait for Angel and interrogate him there. Frank will remain at the stakeout.

Meanwhile, Angel tries to convince Claudia to out her ugly padrastro to the police. She says even though her life is hell there's nothing she can do about it. She's afraid of what Rosendo will do to Angel. Angel says he's not afraid. (Does the wimp think he can cough Rosendo to death? Maybe he plans to run behind his brother. Oh, or maybe he could wave his hankie at him and frighten him!) Angel kisses Claudia goodbye. As Margaret says, it's a decent kiss, much better than his lamprey of a brother.

Alina and Rodrigo gaze at each other sadly: "Poor Rodrigo," she thought bubbles, "he's devastated by this, I must stay by his side. Oh Emilioooooo, I'd like to know how you're doing." "Ah Alina," Rodrigo thinks, "thank goodness you arrived in my life, and just in time." Poor sap, he doesn't realize that if he hadn't hooked up with this loser and her sick family Thelma wouldn't have kidnapped his kid in the first place.

Elias is with Soledad, trying to twist her arm into getting 'serious' with him. She's worried about what others will think. Well...not actually others, more specifically what Alvaro will think. She's afraid of what he'll do.

DonLoco shakes Mariana and curses her. He always thought she was a decent woman (a woman in one piece), but she dated the foreman behind his back! She shouts back at him, it was her life! DonLoco says her lies caused all his problems. Mariana corrects him, Alfonsina caused his problems, and all his problems happened because he is Sick In The Head. "Yes, I'm loco," he yells as he breaks a chair. He grabs Mariana's throat and says he'll kill Alfonsina with his own hands. She has a moment of fear wondering if he thinks she's Alfonsina, but he lets go and orders her to leave. He goes into a red-faced fury and rants while the guards restrain him.

Cut to Dr. Love telling Malena that right about now DonLoco must really be feeling bad for behaving like such an asshat all this time.

The lucha manager comes from behind the privacy screen on a fact-finding mission. He introduces himself as Pepe Tropicasas. (I thought that was a cool name so I looked around and discovered that this guy really is in the world of Lucha. His name is Pepe "Tropi" Casas and you can read about him here. He was a fair luchador but a better coach. His sons Felino, Heavy Metal, and Negro, are also luchadors.) Dr. Love introduces himself and Malena. Luba, eavesdropping, doesn't recognize them from Escondidaville. She scratches her head...how do they know her?

General Ochoa has told Thelma that he assigned Orlando to Escondidaville because Orlando wanted to help Emilio. Thelma scowls, or maybe she's just sitting there, or maybe she's smiling, I can't tell because she always looks like she's scowling. Ochoa says she looks "pensive." He tells her not to worry, Orlando paid his debt to society. She thought bubbles, "surely he's gone to look for Gaspar. I hope they lynched that idiot and his witch of a mother. That's my only salvation."

Alina tries to console Rodrigo by telling him she has confidence in Emilio's plan. She's clueless. Rodrigo reacts, of course, by saying Emilio's just using all this as an excuse to be close to Alina. She diffuses him, tells him to think of his daughter and nothing else. It's time to call General Ochoa and tell him to go forward with Emilio's plan.

Elias is STILL following Soledad around the boutique trying to talk her into getting serious. Enough already you drip, have some pride, give it a rest, she has too much baggage anyway. But no, he keeps pressing, "Don't worry about what Alvaro thinks, I already told him I love you." Soledad is impactada, "That must be why he called me from jail."

Elias has a flashback of DonLoco strangling him, he realizes he dropped his address book. "Doh!!!" he says, except in Spanish. Then he actually admits this stupid maneuver to Soledad.

Back to DonLoco who is still yelling at Mariana. Why haven't those guards dragged him off yet? Oh, I see, it's because we are all waiting for Dra. Loca to show up. She arrives in time to see her guy in a rage. After he's hauled away Dra. Loca asks a rather shocked Mariana to explain what happened. Poor Mariana's still in a state, he just went crazy, she's his sister, she came because the lawyer asked her to come and confirm that DonLoco was wrong about Soledad and Alina. "But," she adds, "he didn't seem to care much for the truth."

Dra. Loca assures Mariana that his reaction is normal. (?!?) He's going through a rough patch. They are at the precise point where she 1) has a possibility of curing him, or 2) where he will lose his sanity forever. "No puede ser," gasps Mariana, "my brother is completely loco!"

Rodrigo and Alina are in Gen. Ochoa's office. The General tells them they are about to begin radio and TV broadcasts about the missing Gaby, half a million pesos reward, yada yada. Good gosh darn time on the search asshats! Rodrigo frets, he doesn't want Emilio looking for her alone.

Back at Casa Valtierra Emilio asks Angel where he's been. "At the doctor," answers the man with only one excuse. Emilio calls him on it, he saw him in "that" neighborhood. He wasn't following Angel, but rather Rosendo Luna, a mafioso who traffics minors. Angel stops thinking about Angel and is interested.

Singing Auntie sings and dances for a captive audience, little Emilito who is trapped on a bed and can't escape. He sucks his pacifier loudly, probably to drown her out. Suddenly the radio music is interrupted with the announcement about the missing Gaby.

Angel tells Emilio that Rosendo is the father of his girlfriend Claudia. (Already with the girlfriend.) Claudia told Angel that Rosenda "bothered" her constantly. No doubt he's the type who would traffic minors. Emilio gets angry, why didn't Angel tell Emilio his new girlfriend's private and anguished secrets earlier? He needs to ask Angel's help...

Back at the boutique Elias is like a terrier with a dirty sock. He is still bugging Soledad. (Elias, you are pathetic, be a man and leave.) He says he wants to protect Soledad. (Dude, you are the human piñata, born to be beaten.) He asks her if she wants to stop seeing him. She shakes her head No, but not convincingly.

Emilio tells Angel that Claudia's stepfather might be involved in Gaby's kidnapping. Angel should try to get important info out of Claudia. The brothers leave together.

Luba tells Pepe Tropicasas that she doesn't know those two people on the other side of the screen. Pepe says there was another woman there earlier. It must be she who is from Escondidaville.

Two bald, shiny headed villains go into Rosendo's office and tell him about the Gaby announcements. They're freaking out that there is a half million peso reward. Oh wait, the guy behind the desk isn't Rosendo because he says he needs to ask Rosendo what they should do. I think the bald guys might want to find Gaby and turn her in for the reward.

Auntie frets to Thelma about Gaby. Thelma has more important things to worry about than 'that brat.' Even Auntie is appalled by Thelma's hard heart, so appalled that she's going to tell Emilio everything. Thelma reverts to the usual threat, Emilio will throw them out into the street. Furthermore, she's not going anywhere without her son. They'll have to kill her first. This no doubt portends a future baby-napping.

Alina and Rodrigo get into another tiff about Emilio. She tries to leave in a huff but he pleads that he's just worried about his daughter.

Cut to Gaby asleep on a dirty blanket. She dreams of seeing her mommy playing with flowers in a beautiful field. They hug. Big bad guy roughly picks her up and she wakes, screaming for her mommy not to go. Bad guy tries to say something to her, points to a bag on the table. I think he wants her to eat.

The Bros. Valtierra go to the boutique looking for Claudia. Emilio tells Soledad and Coral they believe Claudia's stepdad is involved in trafficking minors. Naturally Claudia overhears and is muy impactada.

We get another lead-in of the mystery woman after the commercial.

Claudia rushes is, "My father is a criminal?" Emilio introduces himself and explains the situation, the police have been investigating Rosendo for a long time. Claudia is beautifully impactada. She agrees to help the Bros. Valtierra trap her stepfather and put him in jail.

Sierra Escondida- Hugo searches Luba's cave. He throws things and cusses because he can't find The Cofre. He calls Luba a third-rate witch and he'll make her tell him everything if he finds her.

Hugo is interrupted by Vera who just happens to be wandering through the cave. She tells him she works at La Rinconada, is he the police? Hugo remains silent so that Vera can run her stupid mouth. She babbles, has he found that pig of a witch? She hasn't seen Luba since she killed Florecita and split town. Hugo is interested in hearing more. As Vera yammers on Hugo thinks it will be difficult to find Luba if she's on the run from the cops.

At Casa Valtierra Thelma continues to work on Auntie, how could she think of betraying her own flesh and blood? Thelma says her aunt has "gone to the other side." Auntie acquiesces, says she won't say anything to Emilio, but she can't imagine what they'll do if the kid tells her dad it was Thelma who stole her.

Alfonsina, still in her "disguise" of peasant duds, wonders what's keeping that idiot Hugo? She figures if she can only get The Cofre in her hands she can get ten times the amount from Don Loco than Hugo did.

DonLoco is in a cell. He rants for his doctora, somebody call his doctora! Mariana's voice haunts him..."Alina is yours, yada yada everything everybody already knows ad nauseum, Alfonsina and Hugo know what's in The Cofre..." DonLoco tells his head to shut up but it continues taunting him in Mariana's voice.

Dra. Loca and a nurse round the corner. The doctora blabs on about poor Alvaro. She says she's not going to sedate him because he needs to confront the truth. "Oh, and nurse, no way am I going to transfer him to a nut house because...(smug smile on the Dra.) I'm going to cure him myself!" Oh Gawd help us.

Thelma and Auntie argue some more. Thelma accuses her aunt of abandoning her at the worst moment of her life. (What about the worst moment of Gaby's life? Thelma really needs to visit the whirlpool!) Thelma storms out and Auntie sobs. Outside the door Thelma mutters "Little by little I'll get you on my side Tía."

The big kidnapper stuffs his face with a burrito while Gaby huddles in the corner. She says she's not hungry but thought bubbles that she's starving. The guy taunts her and she says her daddy's going to put him in jail. He stuffs more burrito in his mouth.

Rodrigo and Alina arrive at the boutique just as Emilio, Angel and Claudia are leaving. Emilio introduces Claudia saying the main bad guy just happens to be her stepfather. Rodrigo wants to go with them, Emilio says no he's too emotionally involved, Rod says yes he doesn't want to lose another loved one due to his lack of control, they eye each other, Emilio relents, off they go.

At the hospital, Mariana walks by a praying Luba. She cries on Dr. Love's shoulder. Luba hears and thinks it must be the other woman from Escondidaville. She eavesdrops as Mariana relates to Dr. Love and Malena that her brother is a real nut case. The DNA proof that Alina is his daughter only served to drive him over the edge. Luba figures she must be listening to DonLoco's sister, Mariana Valtierra.

Alina tells Soledad and Coral that she has a lot of faith in Emilio. She doesn't mention Rodrigo.

Hugo strides through the countryside with his fake cofre. It looks like a lunch box from the Spanish Inquisition and not a bit like the real cofre. Oh, OK, he says it doesn't really look like the original which is made of wood, thank goodness Alfonsina has a worse memory than he. (What, they couldn't get props to make a cofre that remotely resembles the original?) Hugo adds hopefully it will be enough to trick the traitoress long enough to get all his money from her.

Rodrigo, Emilio, Frank and Angel drop Claudia off at the hood. Rodrigo is ready to rush in and bust the padrastro immediately but Frank talks him down. Claudia needs to go in alone. She kisses Angel.

Coral, Soledad and Alina go home and update Adela on the news. Margaret called it again - Coral the food destroyer is starving and asks Adela to make a plate of sandwiches. They have filler conversation regarding what might happen if the rescue goes awry. I think this is supposed to create tension for the audience. The only tension I have is Where In The Hell Is Tonki?????

Dra. Loca enters Loco's sickroom. He asks why she didn't give him a tranquilizer? Does she think it's better that he hears voices? (Is our crazy guy turning into a little addict?) He tells her nobody can understand what it's like to be a monster like him, a damn beast who hurts those he loves most in his life. "Do you mean Soledad?" asks Dra. Loca? But DonLoco's on a roll and ignores her. He tells her about the pain he will live with all his live, "You have to help me Aida, I have to see Soledad and ask her forgiveness." Dra. Loca caresses his hand and we get a multi-dimensional close-up of DonLoco's head.

Advance - Gaby calls her house and reads (to Alina) a ransom note written by the bad guy. Claudia gives the soldiers a tip. Rodrigo and Frank draw their guns and point them at someone.

cordura = sanity
es de una pieza = she's a really decent person
pacotilla = junk, trash
de pacotilla = third-rate

Labels: duelo

We left Emilio at the Bus Station, just having lost sight of the kidnapped Gaby, with the police following closely behind. He yells that they have to find her before she gets on a bus. [Actually he says camion, not autobus which I thought would be truck, but a camioneta is a van so maybe camion can also mean bus?]

Dra. Loca, Sleazy Lawyer and Don Loco are in a meeting room in the jail. Don Loco and Dra. Loca both have tears running down their cheeks, at the magnitude of Don Loco’s pain at discovering that he’s been wrong all along about Alina and Soledad. Don Loco asks out loud how he could have been so cruel to his own daughter. SL says what’s done is done and can’t be undone. The only thing now is to salvage what he can out of this situation. Dra. Loca says she doesn’t get what he is saying. SL says we can now prove that he was out of his mind and can’t be judged as a criminal, but as mentally ill. “You’ve said it yourself! Now I can appeal his sentence so that he doesn’t have to serve his time in jail, but in a mental hospital.” He puts his arm on Don Loco’s shoulder, DL shrugs it off and looks balefully at Dra. Loca.

Back at the bus station, Emilio is racing on and off buses, frantically looking for Gaby. A security guy runs up and says that a bus did leave and a girl matching Gaby’s description was on it!
DL is has been brought back to his cell. He’s not on board with SL’s plan to put him in a mental hospital with a bunch of lunatics. SL tells him to relax, he has a plan and he wants DL to be patient and not wreck it. DL tells him he can’t possibly know what it feels like to know that he has behaved like a monster, destroying the love of the only woman he’s ever cared for and making his own daughter curse him.

Over at the hospital, Ricardo and Mariana are trying to make Malena more comfortable. Malena is going to be discharged tomorrow and they can all finally blow town. Mariana reflects gravely that if she hadn’t come here and tried to tell her brother the truth, she would never have risked all their lives. Ricardo says to not think about that now. Tomorrow they will get out of there but first he has to help the woman in the next room with her son, who needs a kidney. He describes her as a poor woman, with folk beliefs, in miracles [or Milagros? Those healing charms?] “She heals people, like me!” Mariana exclaims that she once knew a woman like that who took care of her mother.

We pan over to the other side of the privacy screen and there is that woman, Luba, hunching over poor sick Gaspar. Gaspar is murmuring that he wants to see his little cub. Luba tells him that he has to get well. Gaspar says yes! So that he can play with his little cub and swim in the river. Luba gets up and tells him that she wants to speak to the doctor who will help them. Just as she’s about to cross to the other side of the screen, she hears Mariana telling the others that she’ll never forget the woman’s face or her name “Luba!” Luba is impactada—that woman knows her real name!

Back to the jailhouse with SL and DL “Now more than ever, what you’ve got to do is think of yourself” says SL. DL disagrees. “All these years I did nothing but think of myself and look what I got!...I lost my family and let my thoughts consume my soul…no, I cannot even forgive myself. “ SL says he doesn’t know how he can move forward. DL says he needs to see Mariana, to speak to her and clear up a lot of things. He grabs SL’s shoulder through the bars, earnestly and not violently for once.

On the streets of Puebla, Emilio rides with a state police trooper chasing the bus that carries Gaby and her captor. [Gee whiz those cars are tiny! I think the campus parking cops where I went to college had bigger cars! Emilio and the policeman barely fit in this toy car. ] Emilio dramatically suggests that they cut the bus off at the pass. The police guy says no, it would unsafe for the rest of the passengers. He’ll just put on his lights and pull the bus over. The bus driver still doesn’t stop so the police car crosses the center line and passes the bus. [Good thing no oncoming traffic on this narrow road! Also a good thing that everybody on this road seems to be doing about 10 miles an hour. Now where in Mexico do they do that?] The cop signals to the bus to pull over but apparently since there is no shoulder, they have to drive for awhile before they get to a place where the bus CAN pull over. [Going 10 miles an hour. Some chase.] They stop the bus, they give a cursory look around and decide that the little girl that they see on this bus is not Gaby. Meanwhile, a black and white local police car drives up.

Back at the hospital, Luba is still worried about who that woman is who spoke her name. She’s worried that it’s someone from SE who will tell the police and they’ll nab her and Gaspar. She’s got to see find out who this lady is. [Great worried facial expressions from Ana Martin here.]
At Rodrigo’s apartment, Rod is talking to Alina. He’s afraid because they haven’t heard anything. Alina tells him not to despair. Tina butts in to add that she’s been waiting by the phone and nobody has called. Alina continues with her Pollyanna act by saying that if they haven’t heard anything that is good news because it means that she’s probably lost and that nobody has kidnapped her. [Huh? Whatever] The doorbell rings. It’s Emilio. He’s come to give them an update. They spotted Gaby at the central bus station. Alina starts to ask why they didn’t bring Gaby with them. Emilio explains that she and her captor got away. Rodrigo starts screaming at him about why they didn’t stop them, etc. Emilio just looks tired.

[commercial break—we are treated to a brand new transition featuring a very odd looking woman who looks sort of like Alina but older, with a much rounder face. Great, that’s just what we need in the final windup, yet another new character.]

Emilio is in the middle of a big and unsatisfactory explanation when we return. He says that Gaby has been captured by a child trafficking ring and that now these people know we are after them and they have the advantage. The important thing is that they are still dragging her around. Rodrigo is flipping out, “You had her so close!” Again, Alina tries the Pollyanna thing. “At least she’s OK!” Rodrigo flips out some more—“OK? OK? Can you imagine how scared Gaby must be, having to spend the night with that vile wretch! “Don’t get mad,” says Alina. “I’m with you.” “You should be happy Gaby is alive.” [Ugh!] Emilio says that Alina is right. [Double Ugh!] Rodrigo apologizes and says that his powerlessness and desperation make him say things he doesn’t mean. Emilio says he understands. He adds that he thinks that Gaby and her captor never made it out of the city. He clarifies after being asked that there was a watch put on all the busses leaving the city and nobody with those descriptions has made it out. Tina interrupts to say that at least they now know that Gaby is not lost. Rodrigo says ruefully that now that her captors know they are looking for her, they’ll try to hide her.

Over at Coral’s boutique, Soledad is worried about Alina, who still hasn’t called. She’s worried that this situation will only intensify the situation between Emilio and Rodigo. Coral sounds a little fed up. “They are all adults, they know how to resolve this situation.“ Coral says. [Bravo, again, Coral!] She tells Soledad that they should go to lunch and then they have to acquire some more merchandise since the store is doing so well.

Emilio, Rod, Alina and Tina are still in Rod’s kitchen. Tina is fretting that if Gaby’s captors try to hide her how will they be able to find her? Rod asks Emilio if he has anything to go on. Emilio answers that he is following a line of investigation. He thinks that the guys who he was tracking before, the ones who beat him up, are involved. Rod asks him what he plans to do. Emilio says he has a plan, but that he’ll need Rodrigo’s cooperation to make it happen. Can Rod give him that assurance? Rod clenches his jaw.


Over at Casa Valtierra, the phone rings and Thelma goes to answer it. It’s General Ochoa. He’s looking for Emilio. Thelma says she hasn’t seen him, she thought he’d be at the base by now. Ochoa tells her that Emilio joined the search for the missing little girl. Thelma tells the General that she’ll look for Emilio and have him call. Thelma puts down the phone and thought bubbles that that brat [escuincle] ought to have been delivered to Rodrigo by now. Anyway it’s not her problem. Her problem now is Orlando. [Wow, this is cold, even for vicious old Thelma!]

Ochoa is in his office and there is a knock at the door. It’s Orlando now dressed in his uniform with his hair slicked back, looking more like an officer and less like beetle bailey, busted down a few stripes as he was previously. He’s come to present himself formally to the General, for his new orders. The general has nothing for him at the moment, so Orlando suggests that he could go back to SE to wind up the final oversight work on the road construction. Ochoa points out that that is Capt. Valtierra’s job. Orlando says yes, but since SE dredges up bad memories for Emilio…Ochoa says pointedly that Orlando was responsible for a lot of those bad memories. Orlando agrees. He says that for that reason, he’d like to spare Emilio the horror of reliving those days. Ochoa sees the logic. He agrees to let him go. With a click of his heels and a snappy salute, Orlando is gone. Once outside the office, Orlando says to nobody in particular, that now he can go to SE, grab up Gaspar, and put him in front of Thelma. [Oops, so far it’s not looking like that’s going to happen. And too bad too—it means that Orlando will be delayed in getting his important news to Emilio. Why should Emilio believe Gaspar over a DNA test? Or even Gaspar over Orlando for that matter? Will I have any hair left from tearing it out after this show?!!!!!]
Sleazy Lawyer is at the front desk of a hotel. He tries to find out if Mariana is staying there. The clerk actually has some ethics and says that he can’t tell him. Even when SL offers him a wad of cash and he still doesn’t budge and threatens to call security. No matter, SL says he’ll find someone whose price he can meet. He picks up a newspaper and pretends to read it. Who should come wandering in at precisely that moment but Ricardo who is asking for the hotel bill for himself and Mariana. SL sidles up, introduces himself and says that DL wants to talk to her. Ricardo says that Mariana has no interest in talking to him again. SL tells him that DL deserves another chance. He’s seen the results of the DNA test and knows that Mariana told the truth, that Soledad didn’t cheat on him and Alina is his daughter. Ricardo is somewhat impactado.
Back over at Rodrigo’s apartment, Rod, Emilio and Alina are all sitting talking about Emilio’s plan. [By the way, was there ever an odder collection of ornaments on a coffee table? Two glass hockey pucks and a bunch of eggs? What’s up with that? I guess they aren’t going to tell us what the plan is because Emilio is already asking Rod if he is going to agree to it.] “It’s like putting out bait for the animal who took the little girl. We could get her back faster than you can imagine.“ [Boy, I am really not following this. What is he going to do, make Rodrigo stand on a street corner dressed like a little girl?] Rodrigo is worried that the plan will fail and so is Alina. Emilio tells them that if this plan fails they will make others. The police are already interested in this ring and they won’t let this opportunity pass them by to get them. Alina is on board with the plan. She thinks it would be good to bust this ring so that not only Rod but other parents can find their children. Rodrigo, pantywaist that he is, says “If Alina agrees to the plan so do I.” Alina wants to know how they will know that the plan is working. Emilio tells her that he’s going to have Frank conduct surveillance of their headquarters and report when they have Gaby. He’d go but they already recognize his face.

SL is explaining to Ricardo all that has transpired since Mariana last saw DL. He begs Ricardo to help him convince her to go back and talk to DL.

In jail, DL is trying to sleep, but instead is having orange flashbacks of the letter and the day he took Alina to the cave. Also Alina confronting him and insisting upon her mother’s innocence. DL begs Alina from heaven (he thinks) to forgive him. [Ave Maria playing in the background] He reflects that he was so afraid of sharing his Father’s fate as a cuckold that it blinded him. He asserts his love for his daughter. He knows that although Alina can not longer do it, Soledad must hear him and he won’t be able to continue living if she doesn’t forgive him. Tears are streaming down his cheeks for the close-up.

Coral and Soledad are back at the shop. Coral points out that Alina spent the night at Rodrigo’s. Soledad says yes, she was waiting by the phone. Coral cuts to the chase and says it’s a good thing that Emilio doesn’t know that Alina spent the night there or he would have shown up to drag her out of there. Soledad makes some noises about how Emilio knows that Alina is “a decent girl.” Coral says yeah sure but he doesn’t trust Rodrigo. Soledad mews some more about how Rodrigo is a gentleman while Coral just rolls her eyes at her dimwit business partner. At least she can pick clothes. Just then the phone rings and Claudia goes to answer it. It’s Angel, he wants to see her. Claudia says no, it’s better if she not see him. Angel insists and suggests it’s because of her stepfather that she doesn’t want to see him. Claudia says no some more and then hangs up on him. [Gee she’s wearing a lot of makeup today!] Angel says out loud that he’s not going to abandon Claudia. He knows that she needs his help!

Frank jumps into Emilio’s car. He tells him that General Ochoa told him to report to Emilio, wearing his civvies. [I said civvies not skivvies…down girls!] Emilio fills him in on the plan. They are going to follow the child-trafficking gang around. He wants Frank to spy on them because he (Emilio) can’t, he’s already been identified by them (and beaten up). The gang runs out of the HQ, including Mr. Shiny Baldpate. Emilio engages the car to tail them.

Meanwhile, we finally see Gaby in a small cell like room sitting on a cot. The mute giant guy is asleep on another cot. She thought bubbles that maybe now is her chance to escape. She gets up and tries the door. Locked. She goes over to the MGG and sees the keys. She tries to take them and he stirs. She tries again and gets them. It takes her an eternity but she finally finds the key that fits the lock and runs out. The sound of the door wakes up the MGG. He gets up and runs out after her.

At a café, Mariana and Ricardo are chatting with SL. Looks like it’s in or near the hospital because there’s a nurse sitting behind them. He’s trying to convince her to talk to DL again. “Only you can clear up some of his remaining doubts” says SL. Mariana is dubious because DL isn’t going to like what she has to say. Also there were a lot of people who fed his jealousy. “He’s going to want to seek revenge on those people and commit more crimes” frets Mariana. [What a goody two-shoes you are, Mariana. Don’t you kinda want to see Alfonsina and her pal Hugo maybe burn to death in a shack?] SL says so what, they deserve it and anyway, is it fair that Alvaro was taken advantage of by these people? Mariana is adamant. “Alvaro should have believed his own wife, before anyone else. Justice will take care of those other people. NO, I’m not going to talk to my brother.”

At Rodrigo’s Tina and Alina are talking. Tina still feels guilty about losing Gaby. Alina comforts her. I wonder where she is. Blah blah blah.

Back to the café, Ricardo points out that Mariana was nearly killed by “those people.” SL is surprised after he is filled in on the attempted murder. He thinks that this is an excellent reason that they should talk to Alvaro and report this to the authorities so that justice can be done. Ricardo says they’ve already given a statement to the police. SL grins and says, in effect, “you don’t know how this works.” “If Alvaro denounces them, it will carry more weight with the police. “ [Maybe somebody can help me with this phrasing here. Why should they believe a jailbird over 2 innocent people?] Mariana isn’t buying what SL is selling anyway. She wants to leave town. Ricardo jumps in to say that SL has a point, Alvaro should know who his tormentors were. And that if he accuses them of all the bad things they did to him as well as to Mariana et. al. they are more likely to end up behind bars and faster too. Mariana finally relents.


Gaby is still on the run, she runs through a market and very intelligently upsets some apples on a stand to slow the MGG down. He trips and she continues running.

Over at Coral’s Boutique Claudia is leaving for the day. Soledad lets her go and says she has a whole bunch of paperwork to do. Coral is going to eat [for a chick as slender as she is, she sure likes her vittles. What’s she going to do now that she no longer burns off all those calories with dancing and sex?] and go to the salon on her lunch hour. After she takes off, a red rose is thrust into Soledad’s face and a voice asks her if she’d like to go out to eat. It’s supposed to be mysterious and romantic but instead it’s dorky because the voice is Elias’ and we know that it’s him immediately. Soledad is pleased anyway and puts the rose in a vase but says she’s busy and can’t go. Elias tries to convince her that they can order a pizza and he’ll help her with the paperwork. Soledad hears DL’s voice in her head warning her that if she goes with Elias, sooner or later, he’ll wind up dead. Soledad takes Elias’ hand and tells him she’s grateful for all he’s done for her but she’s been thinking…they should distance themselves from one another. [Brief Elias impactado here.] She’s been thinking that this…friendship…is creating other feelings…that will only wind up hurting both of them. Elias interrupts to say that she knows how he feels about her but she cuts him off. She tells him that she doesn’t want this friendship “so pretty and clean” to end up badly. “I feel so bad but I have to ask..to beg you that we distance ourselves…that we separate ourselves.” A tear rolls down her cheek.

Elsewhere, Angel is accosting Claudia. He needs to talk to her. Claudia is equally insistent that he leave her alone. Angel tells her he knows that her step-father is hitting on her. Claudia is impactada.

Alina is alone at Rodrigo’s apartment, napping on the couch. She dreams of Emilio’s mariachi serenade. She murmurs “Emilio, I love you so much.” Just then [a little too late to hear it] Rodrigo comes in and sees her sleeping. He kisses her and she wakes up. He tells her that he is so happy that she is by his side during this terrible time. She puts her head on his shoulder
.
Back to poor Gaby who is still running, spilling things, trying to get away from the Mute Giant Guy. Somehow nobody is noticing any of this. A huge black man, dressed like a friggin pirate is chasing a schoolgirl who is dumping stuff all over the market and nobody is noticing anything. What are they all smoking weed or something? Gaby manages to get out the door and she scrambles inside some kind of oil can. MGG arrives and is perplexed not to see her. Just then another guy comes with a dolly and loads up the oil can. Gaby jumps out and yells. MGG is right there and sees her.

Back to Angel and Claudia. Claudia tries to deny that she knows what Angel is talking about. Angel tells her that he overheard her talking to her mother. Claudia tells him that she doesn’t want him to get involved. Plus, she’s afraid of her step-father. If he found out that she’s been talking to him, he could attack her or hurt her. Angel tells her that she can’t risk her life like this. She has to report him to the police. Claudia says she can’t, she can’t win. And her mother is blindly in love with him, she doesn’t believe her. Finally, she relents and rests her head on his shoulder. Angel tells her that he loves her promises to help her. Claudia admits she loves him too and she comments that he is so different from all the men she has ever known [like her step-dad and all his sex criminal friends.] She feels that he will protect her. BIG BESO. And it’s a OK one, no sucking face, although a little off kilter.

Back to poor Gabby. MGG is enraged and grabs her out of the can. When the guy with the dolly tries to intervene, MGG makes nasty guttural noises and waves a knife at him. Even if this guy is high he must think that this is not right. MGG runs away holding Gabby.

Next we find ourselves in General Ochoa’s office. Where Thelma is there, still dressed skankily in her sheer top and spangly necklace. She tells him she still doesn’t know where Emilio is but she wants to find Orlando. He came to see her the other day, she says innocently but she wasn’t there and she wanted to know what he had wanted. She’s looked for him at his apartment, etc. But she can’t find him. Ochoa tells her that Orlando has left for Sierra Escondida.


Finally, we’ve made it back to the hospital. Luba is talking to the lucha manager next to Gaspar’s hospital bed. Luba is frantic because she heard a woman mention her name. She’s still worried that this woman will tip off the police to her whereabouts and make her leave Gaspar’s side. The fight manager says maybe she’s mistaken about who she was referring to. As if there were any other “Luba” Luba points out. It’s not exactly a common name, apparently. The fight manager tells her to calm down. He’ll find out who those people on the other side of the screen are.

DL is in his jail cell remembering Soledad telling him that she doesn’t love him anymore. DL is awash in guilt telling himself that he gave Soledad plenty of reasons to hate him. “I was stupid, I hurt the woman who I loved the most. Why was I so blind?” Tears fall from his eyes. From the darkness, a guard announces that he has a visitor. “A visit at this hour?” asks DL. The guard lets him out and they walk down the hall.

Over to Gabby and the MGG. He throws her back in her cell. She tries to argue with him but MGG motions with his knife at his own neck like next time she tries to escape he will kill her.
At the jail, Mariana is talking to Alvaro. [Damn, I thought they would surprise us and have Alfonsina and Hugo standing there] He is holding her hands. [I thought that wasn’t allowed.] She tells him she is there only because SL asked her. DL remarks that that is the only good thing that SL has done. DL wants to know a few things. Mariana goes through the whole “Soledad was innocent” routine. But she confesses that she herself was a coward because she never had the guts to tell him that she was in love with Jose Gomez, and that they had had a child together. DL says that alas, none of that can be undone. He tells her that he never believed that the DNA test would prove him wrong. I have wronged my wife, and even more, my daughter. Mariana reaches out to comfort him.

Emilio and Frank are still tailing Rosendo and his gang. They are now on foot and see them go into an alley neighborhood. [OMG, it’s Starsky and Hutch! Look at those clothes and tell me they don’t scream 70s cop show!] Frank asks if he thinks Rosendo lives there. Emilio says they’ll find out. [Hey, I thought that Frank was supposed to be doing the spying?]

Back to the jail again. DL is still trying to figure out why Alfonsina would lie about the letter and the bracelet in Jose Gomez’ bed. Mariana tells him that Alfonsina confessed all her crimes to her, when she thought she would never speak again.

Back to Emilio and Frank. They see someone coming and they hide around the corner. It’s Angel and Claudia. Apparently he’s decided to head right for the flames by walking Claudia home to her jealous stepdad. Emilio sees Angel and is impactado or as much as Pablo Montero can muster. “What is my brother doing here?” he asks.

Mariana continues her blistering accusations of Alfonsina. "She knew perfectly well that the letter that Jose Gomez had written was for me." She goes on to explain that Alfonsina was always trying to wreck his marriage because “she was obsessed with you.” “She wasn’t content with being your lover.” She tried to kill me so that I wouldn’t talk. “That woman made a fool out of you.” What’s more , “she has some kind of box that has a dark secret of some kind. She’s going to try to blackmail you with. “ “You are in her power.” Don Loco curses Alfonsina’s name and swears he’ll kill her. Superslomo closeup of DL and scary music!!!

Advances for next time: DL swears revenge and cries some more, Elias presses his case to Soledad some more. Rodrigo and Emilio argue over Alina some more.

Labels: duelo