Caray, Caray!

did anyone watch? There were some great moments, but I don't have time to recap in total.

First Cesar came out, and we also got to meet his family. Laura Flores could not come, but she will come in two weeks.

Cesar is somewhat modest and says he's not very handsome and often plays villains. We got to see a scene of him wearing a weird hairstyle and an eyepatch (Mundo de Fieras? which I didn't watch, but I gather many of you did) and watching Laura Flores go out with some cute blond guy who I didn't recognize.

We got to see Mili and Al singing. Rocky did part of his standup comedy routine (he has a background in that).

Allison was asked about being only 15 and never been kissed and how she played the role.

Cesar was very complimentary to the young actors. It sounds like they had a lot of fun doing the comic scenes. They showed Al taming tigers on that other show he did.

Labels: guapos

-W. Somerset Maugham

Hola Guapistas! Here we are at the final recap. Thanks to all my fellow recappers who shared their talents in this mix of translation and snark that is recapping. Thank you also to those faithful readers who stuck it out with us to this, the bitter end. Now settle in with your tequila or your hot chocolate, cause we've got a bumpy road ahead!

Karla lies in the hospital bed remembering talking to Hugo after sex that one time…okay, after one of the many times…about how she's really in love with him and doesn't care that he's using her for sex. Socorro walks in and Karla wants a hug. She cries about having her heart broken. Socorro says that Hugo really loves her and said he'd realized how she really is a nice girl. Socorro says she always knew it, but Karla always tried so hard to hide it. "Hugo just wanted to know if he could give you his heart." Socorro begs clemency for Hugo. She says she always prayed for a good man for Karla and she feels like her prayers have been answered.

Constancio gets wheeled in and Alejandro begs Dr. Aro, aka, the only Doctor in Mexico City, to save his daddy. Hugo and Horacio are in the same waiting room and Alejandro tells them what happened. Now everyone else comes over from the Rodeo. Alejandro explains to Hugo that Rigo was really trying to kill him. Valeria passes on the news that Rigo killed Florencia.

Break for PSA:
In the US, four women and eight children die each day as a result of domestic violence. Most domestic-violence related homicides, at least in the US, happen when the victim is in the process of leaving. We should not put the focus and the blame on the victim by asking "Why doesn't she/he leave?" What we should be asking is "Why does the abuser abuse?" The answer is power and control--it's not about anger management. Leaving is a dangerous business because it challenges the abuser's sense of power and control over the victim. The number for the National Domestic Violence Hotline is 1-800-799-7233. For more information about what constitutes domestic violence, go to http://www.ndvh.org/educate/what_is_dv.html. End of PSA

Karla tells Socorro that she needs to think about the Hugo situation, but really right now she wants to get out of there. Socorro tells her that the doctor wants her to stay overnight for observation. A nurse comes in with a wheelchair to take Karla to her room.

Hugo tells Mili and Alejandro that Karla's there also and that she lost the baby. Mili is surprised to hear that Hugo always knew where she was. Hugo fills Mili in on what's up with him and Karla. Mili looks either confused or constipated. He's all excited that Karla really fell in love with him, but sad that she rejected him. Mili gives Hugo a big hug while Alejandro looks on suspiciously. Dr. Aro comes out to tell them all that Constancio's going to live. Everybody's happy.

The next day Karla and Mili have a heart-to-heart. Karla says she used to hate Mili…did she, really? I never noticed…because she thought that Mili had everything and she had nothing. Karla appears to have decided not to give Hugo a chance mostly because she doesn't think he can ever love her the way he loved Mili. Um, you mean in that obsessive, controlling, potentially homicidal way that calls into question his use of the word "love"? I should certainly hope not! Karla doesn't want to feel like seconds. She tells Mili about Hugo's dress up games. She says Hugo will never forget Mili and she can't live with that. With Mau, however, she didn't have to fight to drive some other woman out of his heart--he was all hers. Mili has gone back to that confused/constipated look. Karla mourns the loss of her beloved Pandroso: "I never felt this before. I've never missed someone so much. I've never counted the hours to see someone again." Mili approaches cautiously, and gets up in Karla's face, as if she's trying to see if the tears are real. She hugs Karla and then says that Hugo told her that he was in love with Karla. Karla's surprised that Hugo said that to Mili. Mili says that he fell in love with her sincerely and feels bad about hurting her. "I've never seen so much love in his eyes as when he told me about everything he did to be with you." Karla looks a little more hopeful now. Hugo walks in.

Valeria and Rocky go to visit Constancio. Everybody makes up. Constancio even wants to hug Rocky. He tells them he quit politics because he loves and misses his family…and that's going to include Rocky. Constancio says he's going to show them that he's not the same guy he was. Constancio tells Rocky he wants him to be a prince because Valeria deserves no less. Rocky says he'll be a king.

Mili leaves Karla and Hugo alone. Hugo asks for forgiveness and says he should have done things differently. Karla says she started to feel things for him back when they were sneaking around. She didn't want to feel alone, but she felt alone every morning when she left his room. With Mau she felt loved and she thought she was getting the relationship she'd always dreamed of. Hugo says it was real, he is in love with her, and it's his fault that she fell in love with a disguise. He's sorry he threw it all away. He promises he'll never bother her again. Karla asks him not to leave quite so fast and to give her a kiss. It's one of those weepy desperate ones. She pushes him away and looks like she's going to cry some more, but then she says "hey, you really do love me!" Hugo jumps her on the hospital bed and they get to making up for lost time.

Alejandro and Constancio chat. Constancio jokes that "mala yerba nunca muere" ("bad grass never dies" in other words "I'm too much of a ratbastard for Satan to want competition"). He calls Alejandro "son" and says there's a part of him that still thinks of Alejandro as a son. Alejandro says there's a part of him that still thinks of Constancio as a father, and oh, by the way, thanks for saving my life. Constancio says he couldn't let Alejandro be taken out like that. He says he never hated Al, he hated what Al represented--a young man with courage and intelligence and the "garra" ("fighting spirit") and guts to confront his father--everything Constancio wasn't in his youth. Constancio wants Al to know that he was always proud of him even though he didn't say so, he admires him and loves him, but his arrogance ("soberbia") kept him from admitting it. He asks Alejandro not to stop calling him Dad. They hug and cry. Mili walks in and sees them and Alejandro asks if she doesn't want to join in. They all hug. Constancio jokes that he's going to be Alejandro's father AND his father-in-law. He wants to know when he'll have more grandkids on the way. Dude, recover from your gunshot wound first!

Mili goes to church to bring her Cuatacho some vino. She thanks him for giving back her mom and for her dad being ok and for her having her family back, all thanks to Cuatacho. She says the vino isn't a bribe…well, only a little one…she wants Alejandro to be happy. Alejandro brings in his own glass of vino. Cuatacho says, "hey people, I like a little nip now and then, but what kind of lush do you think I am?" Alejandro tells Cuatacho thanks for Mili and sorry cause he's going to need to borrow her for a minute. He takes her outside the church.

A: I love you Carlitos
M: Carlitos las pelotas!
A: See, that's why I took you outside! I didn't want you to say that in the church. What would Cuatacho say about you?
M: That I'm a crazy, crazy woman!
A: Oh, so you are a woman? [he kisses her] That was to prove whether you're a woman.
M: Oh, yeah? Want me to prove whether you're a man.

Heh. That was fun while it lasted, but Alejandro remembers what happened the last time she said that and he's going to need his equipment intact if he's going to give Constancio all those grandchildren. He swears he's a man, so Mili kisses him. Padre Manuel and Sor Cachete come outside to ogle. PM says the story isn't over, it's just beginning.

Days later, Damian is being wheeled around the pool by Erika. In a bikini. He's pissed that he had to give Luciana all her money back. And that Hugo forbid him from coming to the wedding. And that his relatives are getting married to members of the unwashed masses and are happy about it. Erika says it's not so bad, it's like the two of them--she's a secretary who's going to marry her boss. An optimist, that one. Damian says he's fine as a bachelor. Erika starts yelling at him about everything she's done for him since the accident including certain personal hygiene tasks that shall remain nameless. She's aiming him at the pool and it makes Damian nervous. She says she can have any man she wants, but she stayed with him because she thought marriage was in the offing. She demands that he tell her right now that they're getting married and when he won't say it, she dumps him in the pool and walks off.

We next find ourselves at the wedding site, Estadio Azteca, home of "El Tri" (the Mexican national team) and Club América. This, my friends, is where the infamous "Hand of God" goal was scored by Maradona. They have the wedding tent set up at one end of the field. I wonder which one. The guests mix and mingle.

Padre Manuel tells Constancio he's gratified that all his prayers for Constancio's salvation have finally been answered. Well, his and Mili's.

Paolo asks Braulio what he's going to do now that he's not working. Braulio's feeling a little odd, having worked all his life with no vacations (except for that time he went fishing) and not knowing what to do. He says he's at least had Paolo's excellent company. He mentions that he's never been out of the country…he's never even seen the ocean! Paolo invites him, breathlessly, to travel the world with him. Braulio says that would be maaaaaaahvelous as they clasp hands and wonder how soon they can reasonably blow this pop stand and get to the hot monkey love.

Rosario I tells Constancio that the girls are on their way. She says she's happy he's better. After all, he is her baby daddy. Constancio would like it to be for more than just that reason, but Rosario I says he was very important in her life back in the day. Constancio says he still loves her, but he thinks now she must hate him. Rosario I says she no longer either loves or hates him. Constancio says maybe with time…but Rosario I shoots him down. "We've been down different paths." Constancio says that now that their paths have crossed again, maybe they only have one path left --together. He kisses her and I finally see that the miracle of miracles has happened. Yes, my friends, it took a long time to get to this point, but at long last Rosario I isn't wearing that same pair of FM heels! I'd like to thank the costume department for collecting that $10 and rushing to Payless five minutes before closing just to bring me this long-awaited moment. Rosario I tells Constancio that the kiss has confirmed that she no longer feels anything for him. She leaves and Luciana comes up and tells Constancio he still has a chance and don't give up. They laugh and hug.

Back at Casa Belmonte we see several wet spots on the carpet, leading to a drenched Damian who grins at his recovered ability to walk.

At the wedding, a horse-drawn carriage pulls up with Karla inside. Horacio waits for her. They're both carrying umbrellas and the path to the tent is lined with little trees and soccer balls. Horacio helps Karla out of the carriage and walks her into the tent. She's in a long, blue dress with a little sparkle around the bodice. It's got one shoulder and some gathering at one hip, but basically falls straight to the floor. I'm not usually a fan of asymmetry, but this works. She could wear it to the Oscars, I think. No veil, but a light blue flower in her hair. Horacio walks her in and hands her off to Hugo. She's all yours now, dude…no returns, no refunds.

Next comes Valeria's carriage. She steps out in a different wedding dress that we don't get a look at right away, since Constancio also has to wait for Mili. Or is it Vanilli? Mili's wearing a big white poufy dress with, I kid you not, a white pimp hat with a flower on one side and some tulle hanging off the back. As her carriage arrives we see that Valeria is wearing a pretty simple long satin-y pink dress with minimal bling and no pouf whatsoever. Oh, I get it, this is Mili's world and the rest of them are just living in it. Constancio helps Mili and her big pouffy off-white dress out of the carriage. Her skirt has a bunch of layers that I don't quite understand and some of the layers look wrinkled. And, oh my…the pimp hat is pinstriped with sequins. I need a moment.

Constancio walks his girls into the tent and does the handoffs. I'm distracted by the pimp hat. And the ponytail on one side and pulled over one shoulder. *sigh* No one else seems to care and they all smile and get weepy. Lina holds a blanket covered bundle that we're meant to assume is her offspring, but is probably just a ten pound sack of flour. We don't get any words in the ceremony, just the visuals of rings being slipped on, then Padre Manuel declaring them all husband(s) and wife(s). Rocky gets all excited and asks if he can kiss Valeria now. Alejandro says they all want kisses and Hugo adds "lluvia de besos" (a rain of kisses). To that I say, what you do in the privacy of your own five star hotel suite in Paris is your business. Padre Manuel gives them all the green light. Everybody sucks face. But first, Mili has to tell Alejandro she loves him. The band from the Rodeo starts up and everybody dances. Then they start trickling out of the tent in pairs…like going into the ark. Unfortunately, it appears that Rosella's FM shoes migrated to Socorro. Curse you costume department. Mili and Alejandro stay behind after everyone else leaves so they can mack some more. Oh, the pimp hat. What were you smoking, costume people? Now they head out, slowly. Alejandro stops outside the tent and picks up one of the soccer balls. "Jueges o te rajas?" ("Play, or are you too chicken?") Mili says she'll play and tosses her bouquet. Once again, I question the costume department's choice of mind-altering chemicals. Mili hikes up her (voluminous) skirts and we see that she's wearing white lacy knee socks and silver cleats. The run off to the goal area on the other side of the field. Mili tosses off the pimp hat and puts on a white baseball cap. Alejandro sets up in goal and Mili, of course, scores (as long as you ignore the angle of the kick, which, as Mr. 5ft informs me, would have gone waaaaay over the goal…actually Mr. 5ft has been complaining about Mili's bad technique, as aided by the editing department to look like she knows what she's doing, through the whole show). And Fin.

Well, all good things must come to an end. Thanks for all the comments and I'm sure I'll be seeing you around.

What?

Well, that's where they should have ended it, but it wasn't only the costume department who was getting out of hand. Mrs. Sanchez' 8th grade class had already handed in the final episode, but then, since Josh Lowenstein, aka "Josue," invited the whole class over to a party at his house while his parents were out of town the weekend before finals and they all raided his parents' liquor cabinet and ate too much pizza…

Five or fewer years later: There's a family reunion on the lawn of Casa Belmonte. Rosario II is old enough to walk and be tossed around by Constancio. Mili and Alejandro have a second baby. Rosario I is also there. Valeria and Rocky have a couple of toddler boys--twins, perhaps? Nestor and Luci are still into each other. Karla pushes Damian in his wheelchair and then lets him roll down a hill when Hugo distracts her. He crashes into a tree and everybody laughs--no one louder than Karla and Hugo.

Ten years later: People have aged to an alarming degree that only 8th graders would imagine is realistic (seeing as how they tend to think that 25 is "old"). Alejandro has grown an unfortunate moustache. There's a picture of him, Luciana, and Valeria, where they all look sad. Luciana's wearing a depressing grey jacket and glasses that are way too big for her. There are also pictures of Luciana with the grandkids (in that same hideous jacket and uncomfortable smile). I would guess the two in front are Rosario II and her younger brother and the two in the back are Rocky and Valeria's boys, who look less like twins in this picture. Luciana is dying of one of those vague diseases that afflict people in their fifties, cause, you know, that's ancient. It may be possible that all those years of drinking caught up with her, but once she stopped, her liver should have either healed or at least stabilized, unless it's from some disease she caught while living out on the streets. Mili and Valeria weep. Nestor has also grown an unfortunate moustache and gotten tanner than George Hamilton. Luciana dies.

On the soccer field, it's time for the next generation to play while Mili, Alejandro, Lina, Bobby (another one who grew facial hair for no apparent reason), Valeria, Rocky, Gloria, Chamuco, Karla, and Hugo coach. Yikes! It's not clear whether Karla and Hugo have a kid of their own or if they're just taking a picture with one of their many pseudo-nieces/nephews. Gloria and Chamuco have a boy.

Twelve years later: Karla somehow has a daughter older than twelve…or else she shouldn't be letting her twelve-year-old dress like that. Karla scolds Nameless Daughter that she doesn't care if she's got a party, they are staying here at Dad's gallery show. Karla helps an exhausted-looking Socorro onto a bench. Socorro's probably thinking "Like mother, like daughter" as Karla complains about how Nameless Daughter talks to her. Heh. Hugo and his moustache come over to give Karla a glass of wine and lead her over to a painting he wants her to see. I think it's a painting of Karla on velvet. What? That's what it looks like. Socorro sees a light come down from above and coalesce into Angel!Horacio. He flirts with her, as usual. She responds in a croaky voice and puts her head down in his non-corporeal lap. Karla cries over her dead body.

After re-thinking the math, they must mean another twelve years after the original ten, for a total of 22 years later, otherwise people's ages really don't make sense.

Alejandro and Mili are at Padre Manuel's church, all dressed up for their daughter Rosario's wedding, at which her Nameless Brother will be officiating. Alejandro now has grey hair in addition to the unfortunate moustache. Mili just has her hair pulled back into a giant knot. Rosario comes up in her wedding dress and gets hugs from her parents. Everyone walks into the church.

Five years later: okay, so 27 years total. Casa Belmonte has completely gone to seed. Constancio hasn't cut his hair in years and has grown a beard. Damian still lives with him and is still pretending to be unable to walk. A nurse comes in and gives Constancio his medicine. Damian takes advantage of his back being turned to shuffle over and steal Constancio's concha (a type of sweet bread, really good with coffee). Constancio busts him walking and gets pissed off. They shuffle around the couch and then Constancio clutches his chest and falls over. Damian freaks out. Constancio laughs at having faked Damian out, but now he dies for real. Damian begs him not to die because he loves him. Where's the nurse? And why did Constancio end up alone? And why is the house in such bad shape? What happened to the construction company? And why, in 27 years, does it look like no technological advances have been made? No robot butlers? No new, younger bodies?

Seven years later: 34 years total. Casa Belmonte is restored to its former glory, and no longer full of angry, bitter people. Valeria and Rocky watch their grandkids open Christmas gifts. There are four adults around, the parents, one presumes, but no way of knowing which grandkids belong to whom. Rocky has taught the grandkids to say "ay, papantla!" Aw, granddad, that's slang from, like, forty years ago. Valeria gives a grandmotherish "obvio, si!" They hug all the grandkids.

Many years later: in other words, enough to get to 90. Mili and Alejandro shuffle up a sand dune. Once again, I am amazed at the lack of technological advancement. No hover scooters? We get flashbacks of their time on the beach the first time. Meanwhile, future Mili and Alejandro sit down on a conveniently placed wicker bench in their love den (which is still there, for some reason). Future Mili's face seems to be stuck on one expression--slight confusion with an open mouth--including when she kisses Future Alejandro. More flashback to Past Mili and Al macking on the beach. Future Mili and Al look rather shocked as they remember having sex right on this very spot, many, many years ago. Alejandro dies. How ungentlemanly of him to go first. A few seconds later Mili dies. The screen reads "Un amor que perduró mas allá del tiempo" (a love that lasted beyond time) below "FIN."

Okay, people, that's all they wrote. If you missed it the first time around, it looks like there's a repeat next Sunday (check your local listings). Also, the cast will be on Cristina on Monday night.

Labels: guapos

At the end of the last episode, Damien produced Andrea's ashes, and Karla was under attack by the attempted rapist. Sylvester and another guy fight him off (did Mono have the day off?), but Karla is in pain. Looks like she's going to lose the baby . . .

Flo is in the mansion with Connie, who is going off to fix some dinner if he can figure out how to use the microwave. Flo picks up the phone. Who is she going to dial? We hear the phone ringing--it's Rigoberto's cell, and he is walking right in the door. "Hello, my love," he says.

He drags her outside with the gun. He says her place is with him. He tells her not to make a sound or he'll shoot. She calls him a sicko. She does not want to go back to him.

Meanwhile, Connie is talking to Damian and Erika, the secretary-"nurse." Connie looks sad about Andrea. Damian is consoling Connie in his inimitable way: Yes, I too will miss her killer T and A (he says "caderas"--hips--and "pechos"--chest). But dust to dust, you know. Connie doesn't believe she's really dead, so Damian shows him X-rays and pictures of the accident. It's a miracle he's alive, Connie agrees. (Raise your hands if you think Damian is really paralyzed). Anyway, Connie goes on, if you're going to be a paraplegic . . . what are you going to do for love. Damian wriggles his fingers and shows he has other ways to satisfy a woman (yuck). He says it's a great irony, isn't it, knowing how he is.

Back at the club, Macarena is singing, while Socorro, Horacio and Homeless Hugo arrive for the big showdown with Karla. Horacio predicts that Karla will be angry when she learns the truth.
Socorro thinks she will be happy.

In front of the mansion, Rigo continues to torment Florencia. She says no one could love a creep like him. He asks how she could go looking for Alex, that creep who humiliated her and traded her in for a servant. She says she didn't come back to Mexico to look for Al--she came to get away from Rigoberto. She first had high hopes. She wanted a tender lover who would love her and caress her. He repeats that he loves her. She says if he loves her he must let her go.

Cut to Connie and Damian. Erika is giving Damian a sensuous shoulder massage while Connie looks deflated. Damian says he's going to return the 20 percent of shares he still has and apologizes for Connie's losing control of the company. Connie says that's the least of his problems--he resigned from the party too. For his family and Mili. Damian is touched, but he doesn't understand about Rosella, the enemy. Connie reveals the truth about Rosella. Damian says he's impactado, making this the first time I actually heard a character utter that word.

Connie picks up Andrea's ashes, looking mournful, and walks up the spiral staircase. Suddenly we hear a toilet flushing, and we realize that he has sent Andrea to her final resting place. Damian and Erica look shocked as Connie emerges from the upstairs bathroom, rubbing his hands to show he is finished with a dirty job. Back downstairs, he sits down and says, "Now, where were we?"

Macarena is trying to coax Karla out of the dressing room, and she learns that "Amparo" has arrived. Quickly, get her over here to talk to her daughter!

Back to the mansion, where there is more repetitive dialog between Rigoberto and Florencia. If she won't take him back, he won't let anyone else have her. She wishes him dead. He walks away, but holds up the gun blindly behind him and fires, striking her in the chest. (Jeez, couldn't he have missed? I really don't think Flor deserved this. Every few weeks we see one of these horrible murder/suicides in the news, and it always follows the same pattern.)

Connie, Damian and Erica come out to investigate while Rigo hides in Connie's car. Flor's last words are to tell Connie who did it and warn him that Rigoberto wants to kill Alex--save Alex! Connie drives off, leaving the others to call the police. Damian, ever the philosopher, says "See, just as I said, dust to dust."

Socorro now pleads with Karla through the dressing room door. This is another heartbreaking scene of resolution a long time coming and very well done by these actresses. She starts by saying that there are good men and bad men. She's known all kinds. She was hurt in her life too, in the same way, so that she didn't want to live. She know what it's like to have someone touching her all over and having their eyes all over. She knows what it's like to scream No a thousand times. She begs Karla to open the door and let her help.

She says she hasn't always been the best mother but she tried to do her best. When she had a baby it was the best thing that happened to her. And when she became a cook it was the best thing for them, even if her hands always smelled of onions and her world was three pots and a frying pan. She had to be strong to go out alone. "Your father didn't abandon us, she finally reveals. I was never married. Someone attacked me . . ." Suddenly the door opens, and Karla comes out and continues " . . . and I was the product of that violation?" She asks forgiveness, because she never knew. Socorro says that she is the one who needs forgiveness. Together they will now overcome everything. But Karla winces in pain--she thinks she lost the baby . . .

Cut to Rodeo, where the gang is dancing. I'm glad they went back to Rodeo for the finale, as they hadn't been there for a while. Valeria remembers how they used to have to cook while everyone else was having fun. Rocky says he liked that better, when she was helping him. Al and Mili dance with their hands. Mili is worried about Florencia, but Al continues to reassure her that whatever happens they will be one big happy family. The family is growing, Mili says, as they now have mothers and fathers. It's time to knock on wood. Mili worries that things are going too well. As the cuatacho says when things are going well, watch out. Alex says they will be together till they are 90, as they have always promised.

Back at the orange house, Nestor is cuddling the baby. He finally persuades Luciana that they have a future together.

Hugo and Horacio are now in the ER waiting room, where Karla is presumably in a treatment room. Socorro emerges to tell them she lost the baby. "Mi hijo," Hugo says sadly.

Nestor and Luci are basking in their newfound contentment when someone pounds at the door. It's Connie looking for Alex. Who is Rigoberto? he has to ask. They fill him in, and they scramble to protect Alex. Connie will go to Rodeo while Nestor and Luci remain with the baby. Luci calls Alex on the cell phone.

Cut to Rodeo, where Mili is now on stage, singing. Braulio is kvelling and pointing out to his sister that not only did Mili inherit her beauty but also her great singing voice (who knew?). He pushes Rosario to go on stage for a duet. Mili is thrilled to sing with her mother, and it all sounds okay, but we have to avert our eyes from the train wreck that is Rosario's trashy white dress with more giant black splotches. Did Gateway Computers open a clothing chain?

Homeless Hugo has gone in to talk to Karla. She says life isn't as good as he says, but he says don't worry, he speaks from experience. Things will get better. He has lost many things: "number one" lovers, "number two" money (or slang, villano?), and "number three," the trust of his band. But he's seen the light. He sees the world with new eyes, new glasses. They can have more children. But most important, they should be together. He asks if she loved the father of her "morro," and she says it was an illusion. It's too bad she lost the baby, because she was getting to like the idea of being a mother. He turns and says she has found the real Hugo and starts to pull off the wig and glasses but not the beard. Karla says don't pull off any more--I can see it's you. Hugo pulls out a big ring and asks her to marry him.

Cut to Rodeo again, where Alex is now singing to the "woman of his life and the woman who gave her life." Connie comes in looking around axiously, followed by Rigoberto. A strobe light flashes and Rigoberto fires at Alex, but Connie steps in front and takes the bullet for his son. Then Rigo shoots himself. The climactic doom music plays as we cut to a commercial.

After the break, everyone gathers around while Alex says that Connie gave his life for him. The EMTs say he still has a pulse, so there is hope.

Back at the hospital, Karla is berating Hugo for mocking her, so it was all a joke. No, he says, he had to find out if she could love him for himself, and not money. (Well, that's not was I thought yesterday. I am surprised. I still think he crossed a point where he realized she didn't want money but he still had to win her in a disguise.) Karla sneers that she supposes she passed the test. She throws him out. He and Damian were always mocking her. The first time she finally finds love it's another cruel joke. Pandroso and Mauricio don't exist.

Val calls Luci to tell her the news. She finds out about Florencia.

Hugo tells Soco and Horacio that Karla was furious, and Horacio says "I told you so," but Socorro is going in to talk to her daughter.

This is the end of the first hour. I will leave you in the able hands of 5ft for the rest.
I thought this was a great finale, but it seems that early returns are not unanimous. I'm sorry to hear that some people didn't like it.

P.S. Don't forget to watch Cristina on Monday. I think it will be good. Someone on Telenovela World managed to post photos!

Labels: guapos

And now, gentle readers, we arrive at the penultimate chapter in the story of our plucky orphan, a story where evil is punished and good rewarded.

We open with our no-longer orphan returning to the little orange house after having confronted Connie. Everyone is standing around looking tongue-tied. What’s up? asks Mili, worried. They tell her that Flor is back. Mili is scared – for my baby? They say they don’t know, they’re waiting to hear.

Meantime, Rigoberto is menacing Flor. He says he’s not stupid, he knows she was with Alex. He tells her that he almost scored the baby, and when he does, she and he and the baby can be happy together. He says he can’t trust her and he slugs her a few times.

Alex to the rescue! He comes flying in the open apartment door, shoves Rigo on the couch and gives him a righteous pounding (actually, if you look closely, he’s pounding the couch). He grabs Rigo by the hair and tells him to stay away from Flor. Rigo’s face is bleeding heavily and he pleads Don’t hit me! Don’t yell at me! Coward, says Alex, who tells Flor to get her things and they’ll get out of there. Flor runs off and within seconds is rolling a suitcase out the door. Rigo shouts Flor! Don’t forget what I told you! He laughs maniacally.

Now Alex is at the orange house, telling Mili and her ma what happened. The two ladies heap scorn on wife abusers. Luci comes in and says that she’s given Flor a sedative, but shouldn’t she be taken to a hospital? Nobody thinks of reporting this to the police, apparently. Alex says he’ll call the good doctor to come see her.

Mili is worried about the baby. Alex reassures her that everyone will protect her. Mili says she worried Flor will want to take the baby, she’s her mother and all. Alex says he doesn’t know what’s going to happen, but Mili will always be part of little Rosario’s life. Big Rosario simps.

Alex says so did you go see Connie? Mili says yes, she talked to him plainly and said she knew she was his daughter. Luci says and..??? Mili angrily says I couldn’t wait all my life for him to confess it. I told him I won’t disturb his precious political career, but he has to leave us alone. Whoa, Mili! says Alex admiringly. Mili says I told him not to work against you, or he’d find out who he’s dealing with. You go, girl! says Alex.

Rosario says I dunno. She says when Connie gets sworn in as the new president of his party, she’ll be there. She’s reserved a seat. Mili is impactada. Rosario says you confronted him and now I will too, in order to defend all of you, my new family.

Connie is a rumpled bleary-eyed mess, slouching on the couch of the foyer. Here comes Hugo down the stairs, hauling a big suitcase, probably full of disguises. Connie says You leaving too? Hugo says tomorrow I’m going to rent an apartment, and I’ll just need to take this suitcase. Connie says how about we talk? Hugo says he doesn’t have anything on his mind, except please leave Alex and Mili in peace. Connie says Mili was just here and she asked the same.

Connie says she told me she knew she was my daughter - she didn’t find out from Damien, did she? She found out from you. Yes, says Hugo. Hugo says I’m very glad you told her, you have no idea how much she suffered that you wouldn’t acknowledge her. Connie tries to say something, but Hugo says don’t lie! She was working in your house as a servant and you never did anything for her. She was just an impediment to you. Hugo says I’m sorry… I’ve gotta go.

Connie says you know what? In a couple of days I get nominated as the party president, the greatest day of my life. Hugo politely says congratulations, says goodbye and rolls his suitcase out. Connie talks to himself, saying the greatest day of my life and nobody will be with me. Nobody.

Rigo meets a thug in a dark alley. He gives him a thick wad of bills and the thug hands over a big handgun. Rigo tucks it into his belt and walks off, looking around him.

It’s a few days later. We’re at Connie’s big day and Peralta is saying A big round of applause for Constancio Belmonte! Connie steps up to the stage. The somewhat small crowd applauds. Connie starts up his speech and we see Mili and Rosario coming into the rear of the room, but he doesn’t see them. Connie’s speech is subdued. He thanks everyone for the nomination and then – ta dum! – says he cannot accept it. Everyone is impacto, especially Mili and Rosario. The crowd murmurs.

Connie asks for their understanding and respect, then he launches into his explanation: Many years ago I renounced love. In order to save my business, I left the side of the woman I loved even though she was carrying our baby. She was… my servant.

Peralta wrinkles his nose and looks like Oh, man! Don’t do this! The crowd rumbles a bit.

Connie says you may have heard rumors, which were denied, but they were all true. I fell completely in love with her, Rosario, but I abandoned her and my child out of ambition, for power, and because of a sense of obligation to my mother. I couldn’t sleep and I spent the nights thinking that if I could turn back the clock, might I have made a different choice? Maybe, I don’t know. I was a very different person back then. But now I don’t want to keep being the wretch that I have been since then.

Now I find myself in the same situation, needing to make a decision between my career and my family. I feel that with my experience and capability I would be a great party leader, and bigger and better posts would follow, but I’m not interested. I’ve lost so much to get to where I am now, and I don’t want to lose anything more. This time I’m going to listen to my heart, not my ambition. I’m choosing my daughters, Valeria and Milagros - Mili begins to sob quietly - and my son, Alexandro. And my granddaughter, Rosario, and all the grandchildren to come. I will put all my energy into them.Connie is getting tearful. The crowd seems sympathetic. Connie says I’m sorry I deceived you all, but the person I deceived most was myself.

His speech is over, the crowd applauds politely and photographers get a few shots. The room falls silent and Mili walks through the crowd who part like the Red Sea. Connie is stunned and deeply impactado. Milagros! He tells the reporters and the crowd This is my daughter, Milagros. Mili says Papa! and they embrace. Both are crying and heck, so am I. Flashbulbs pop and the crowd applauds. Forgive me, says Connie, forgive me. Forgive me for being so blind and so stupid. Forgive me, my daughter! He is blubbering.

Rosario walks up but he doesn’t notice her. She says I never thought I’d hear you talk like that, Constancio. He looks up and is stunned. Rosario? he stammers. She says yes, but stands there good and straight so her mighty bosom thrusts out just right. Who needs acting classes when you’ve got those two babies?

Mili says to the crowd This is my father and this is my mother! This is my family. Tearful Connie looks at Rosario and I want him to say bodacious ta-tas, but he says you are as lovely as I remember. It’s late, I know, and I should have made that speech to my father 20 years ago, but I didn’t have the courage.

Rosario says but you did it today. I thank you for my daughter. Our daughter, Connie says. Mili says Mama, Papa, let’s go now. They start to leave, but Peralta says wait! Where are you going? Connie says I’m going home to get my family back. Peralta says but you can’t resign now, didn’t you hear the applause? The people are going nuts! You’re on a roll! Connie says I don’t care. Peralta says you can’t leave the party without a leader! Connie says you’re the idea person - Peralta is very flattered. Connie says I can’t think of a more disreputable person than you – you’re perfect. He and his new family walk out. The crowd applauds and then reporters swarm around Peralta who preens and smiles.

At Bobby and Lina’s apartment, Gloria, Lina and Socorro are anxiously awaiting someone. The door rings and it’s Hugo who greets all with little cheek kisses. Kimberly the super-efficient maid positions herself so she can hear.

Socorro thanks Hugo for coming. He tells her to use “tu” with him. She says she’s not sure she could get used to that. Socorro asks if the two girls can leave her alone with Hugo and they willingly go to another room.

Over at the new construction business, Horacio and Chamuco need job assignments and the guys figure that Horacio can do landscape design and Rocky says Chamuco can be his assistant. He hands him some cash to go run get them lunch and Chamuco looks none too happy. Rocky tells him to call him Licenciado. Chamuco looks even more displeased and says as you wish, using Usted. He leaves and the others glare at Rocky who says what? He gets the hint and runs off to make it up to Chamuco, saying let’s go together!

Back to Hugo and Socorro. She says she has some stuff she wants to tell him, but first she wants to thank him for watching out for her daughter, in spite of everything. She says when she first heard Karla was pregnant she was mad at Hugo, and at Damien who was always ridiculing her. Socorro says I knew she was going to your room, like she had gone to your fathers. Hugo tells her to not be afraid to tell things like they are. He says that he could have turned her away as he should have, but he felt very alone and very lost. Socorro says and Karla took advantage of your painful marriage.

Hugo says Karla was feeling very alone too, we had that in common. Socorro says I know why she got pregnant by you, to entrap you. She never wanted to be a servant, she wanted to get a rich man. She never liked to work.

Hugo says if you could see her now, you’d be so proud. She has learned that money isn’t everything. She’s fallen in love with a poor man who lives in the streets, who sings in the parks. Socorro says she’s fallen for a man who starving? Yes says Hugo, he doesn’t have a cent, all he has to offer is his heart, and she has accepted it. Socorro says and does he really love her? Hugo says like I never would have imagined possible. Socorro is weeping and takes his hand and says thank you so much.

Hugo says this fellow loves her because he found strength, tenderness, nobility in her. Socorro says I’ve never lost faith that she would find the right way. We see Gloria, Lina and Kimberly, arms around one another, listening secretly out of sight.

Hugo says bring Horacio and let’s go see her. Socorro says I’m dying to see her but no, I can’t, she’s angry with me. Hugo says I need you to come tonight when I tell her that that street guy is me! And that I love her with all my heart. Socorro is surprised and happy. Hugo says you have to be there when I ask Karla to marry me. Socorro is pretty much a puddle of tears by now. The watching girls rush in, Gloria and Lina hug Socorro and Kimberly hugs Hugo. We hear happy guitar strumming.

Karla is happily putting her makeup on in front of a light-ringed starlet mirror while Macarena’s assistant ribs her a bit. She says her guy says he has a surprise for her tonight. He says probably he’s going to ask you to be his novia. You think so? says Karla. Sure as I’m called Sylvester, he says (oh, so that’s his name!). They imagine some great kisses. Syl says your eyes are so happy, but when you first came here those eyes were full of sorrow and pain. Karla says I’ve never felt anything this wonderful, but I’m scared too. I’m afraid it’ll all end, that I don’t have the right to be happy.

Syl is a bar-guy philosopher. He says everybody has the right to be happy. (He’s never met Andrea.) We get second and third chances so we can right those wrongs we’ve committed. You don’t know what a long list of wrongs I have, says Karla. I’ve hurt so many people, worst of all my mama. Do you think she’ll forgive me one day. Syl says I’m sure of it.

Alex and Nestor are having lunch at a café. Nestor is reproaching him that he didn’t call him to help out, since Rigo is a dangerous guy. Alex figures Rigo won’t try anything now, but Nestor says the main thing they have to do is to get Flor to break off from him. Nestor says he’s proud of Alex, he helped out the mother of his daughter. Let’s go talk to her, he says. Like a good daddy, he signals for the bill. The waiter walks by some other customer, and guess what it’s Rigo with his back turned. He’s in a suit, but he stands and opens his jacket so we (and all the patrons in the café?) can see the gun tucked into his waistband.

With Connie and Rosario standing by, Mili and Vale call each other sister and say they love each other and embrace. Luci comes in and says thank you Connie, and thank you Rosario for coming into all our lives and putting a stop to all the secrets. Rosario looks sainted.

Connie says to Rosario We have to talk. Rosario looks sainted some more. The others clear out politely. Mili goes to her room and guess what there’s Flor sitting on the bed holding little Rosario.

Mili says she’s your daughter. Flor says you and Alex picked a good name for her. Mili says actually it was Luci. Flor says she’s met Rosario and she’s a beautiful woman, like Mili. Mili says she came to her room because Connie and Rosario are having a private talk. Flor says did he finally acknowledge you as his daughter? Mili says yes. Flor says you grew up an orphan and now you have two parents. I lost both mine - my father was murdered. And you find out that your mother is alive. What irony life hands us! And you have a man who loves and respects you, and I have nobody.

When Rigo came back, I thought he was rescuing me, but he ended up hurting me even more. When I first met you, and found out you were a servant, I thought I was superior to you in every way. And now, I’d give anything to be in your shoes, to be surrounded by love like you. She gets up and holds the baby out to Mili. Take her into your arms, she’s your daughter. Mili takes her.

Rosario is taking a hard line. She says that speech you just made doesn’t change things, it doesn’t change the past. Connie says I understand, I deserve your anger. I know I hurt you terribly. Rosario says you separated me from my child.

Connie says I kicked you to the curb, yes, I knew you were pregnant, I was a coward, a wretch, but I wasn’t the one who separated you from Mili. Rosario is starting to get mad. She tells the story about the final words of the Mother Superior, and says that the MS said he was the one who made her say the baby had died. Connie said what did she say exactly? Rosario says it’s burned into my brain, she said Senor Belmonte made her do it.

Connie says my papa. That Senor Belmonte. It’s Rosario’s turn to look impactada and bewildered. Connie says after you left, I had no idea where you were or what had happened, until Padre M told me one of my servants was your child. He told me you had died in childbirth and that you had been buried in an unmarked grave at the convent. I’ve never had reason to doubt his word. I went to your grave to cry over you and to beg forgiveness.

Mili is holding the baby and Flor is standing by the door telling her that the baby is better off with her, she hadn’t changed her mind about child rearing. She says I’m not here to cause trouble for you and Alex. Mili gets weepy with relief. Flor says can I see Rosario time to time? I don’t want to be a stranger to her. Mili says of course. Help me change her diaper!

Connie is saying to Rosario that that’s what the MS told him, and that’s the actual truth. His father said she and the child had disappeared forever from his life. He says he’s not trying to justify himself because he never stood up to his father, or confronted him with the love the two of them had.

I loved you says Connie. Rosario finally has a reaction and stops him to hold a manicured hand to her face. He says let me finish. My father set a price on my soul, and I sold it. I wish I could have torn out my heart to get rid of the pain, every beat shook my very bones. Over the years, I got used to the pain, and I forgot I had a heart. And that’s the miserable fellow you see before you now.

He holds her hand to his chest and says tell me what you feel. Tell me you can feel my heartbeats, tell me that I have a heart in there, because I can’t feel it. Rosario puts his hand on his chest and says today you can feel it, today after what you did. Feel it? she says. It’s beating strongly. Connie says And yours? He falls to his knees. Forgive me Rosario, please forgive me. She weeps and her lip gloss glistens.

A car pulls up to the orange house, Alex and Nestor get out. Another car pulls up behind them and we see Rigo’s face in the rear view mirror. Alex and Nestor walk in on Connie down on his knees. Oops they say. Connie gets up and he and Rosario step back and wipe tears away. Rosario says it’s okay, we don’t have anything further to say to one another. Connie looks surprised.

Alex indicates Rosario and says what do you think of my lover? Connie says I was stupid. Connie says can we talk? Alex says no. Rosario says talk to your father. Alex says Nestor Miranda is my father, this man is nothing to me. Harsh, Alex.

Mili and Flor walk into the room. Flor is pulling her suitcase behind her. She says to Alex that it’s better that she leave, there’s no room in the house and she doesn’t want to be a bother. Alex says he and Nestor want to take her to the police. Flor says tomorrow, and Alex and Nestor try to get her to go now. She says tomorrow, she promises, and she wants to go to a hotel. They try to get her to stay, but she says no. Connie says you can stay at my house. Flor says okay, let’s go and she heads for the door.

Connie says to Rosario I hope I see you tomorrow. Rosario shrugs and says maybe.

Connie goes to Milagros and says thank you and kisses her hair. She says bye, Papa, and he says I really like it when you call me that. Connie tells Alex when he comes for Flor tomorrow to please bring Vale along, he needs to talk to both of them. He heads for the door and for what fate?

Rosario presses a hand to her bosom and breathes deeply. Alex and Mili lean against one another. Nestor knits his brow.

Karla is working the pole and a drunk patron waves some money around and talks a bit lewd to her and approaches the stage. She makes frantic eyes at Macarena who signals Syl to go take care of the guy. Syl tells the guy if he wants that kind of entertainment, he’s in the wrong place, this is a decent bar. The guy subsides, but murmurs some remarks and Karla looks a bit disturbed.

Well, looks like Rigo didn’t shoot anybody yet. Connie and Flor pull up in the dark to the deserted house. Connie gets Flor’s luggage out of the trunk while she waits in the car. They go in. Somehow Rigo has read their minds and has arrived there before them, because he’s lurking in the bushes.

They are in the foyer when somebody rolls Damien in in a wheelchair. He’s dressed and doesn’t look bruised. In his lap, he’s holding a gold-colored urn. Hello, Cunado, he says apologetically and holds up the urn a little.

In the dressing room, Karla is telling Macarena, who is draped on the couch in an impressive blue number, that that man scared her the way he looked at her. Macarena says she knows what it’s like to have a man gobble you up with his eyes. Syl comes in and says it’s time for Macarena’s number. She and Karla tease a little and she takes off. Karla starts removing her makeup when the door opens and the drunk patron runs in and grabs her from behind. She manages to shove him off, and yells at him to leave. He throws some money at her and grabs her again. They struggle.

Connie and Damien, in his wheelchair, are in the study. Connie is smiling wryly and says so you were in an accident, huh? Damien says attention! A terrible accident. Connie smiles some more. Then he lunges at Damien, grabs him by the lapels and shakes him, saying how dare you come around after everything you’ve done to me? Cut! Cut! says Damien. I’m an invalid!

Connie backs off and says you ridiculed me, you sold 60% of my company, you were lovers with Andrea, and then you ran off with her. Damien says yes, but I’m returning her, and he holds up the urn. Connie looks like eeeeww.

Karla is still struggling with the would-be rapist. Slo-mo he hauls off and slugs her big in the side. The two bouncers burst in and subdue the guy, but she is in terrible pain. Are you okay? Sly asks. Apparently not.

In the foyer, Flor decides to dial Rigo. She hears a cell ring and looks up. Rigo walks into the foyer, gun in hand. She is terrified and freeze frame.

Labels: guapos

I'm sorry this is late--once again, life intervenes. I salute the recappers who can do their recaps at night. Every time I start to do it, I fall asleep (like last night). Then today, I had a meeting all morning.

Cross-cultural excursion, right here in NYC. About an hour ago, I went down to the Korean deli to get a snack. It was time for the various Mexican counter clerks to have their lunch, and I asked one of them what they were eating (it looked like a very interesting meat and vegetable stew), and why they didn't offer it for the patrons. He said it was too spicy! (Mexicans and Koreans both eat very spicy food.) Anyway, he then began to ask his compadres (in Spanish) if they wanted some food, and they each replied yes or no or whatever (and I was so proud of my comprehension!). Then he started joking with his friends in that singsong accent just like Chamuco. It was so funny how he could turn it on and off at will.

Now, back to our story.

Well, last night's ending brought a big surprise. Floreeenda is stalking the baby . . . or is she? This plot twist is one big gaping black hole. When we last saw Florencia, she was going off to that big Disneyland in the sky with her newly restored love, Rigoberto. Now she's back, if they ever left, and there's no satisfactory explanation of why. Moreover, Thuggy-Bear has developed a really mean streak. Welcome to the Twilight Zone, better known as Guapos, ultimos capitulos, T minus 3 and counting, when all plots must be resolved.

So Florencia popped out of the bushes to cuddle the baby. Why in the world would they leave a baby untended for even a second? Then back at her apartment, Rigoberto punches her viciously.

Now the "real" family is assembled at the little house. Rocky and Val have no room, so they are going to a hotel. Nestor toasts Al and tells how happy is that Al finally called him papa. Luci looks on tearfully. Val tells Mili how much she loves her and how happy she is that Mili will be happy. Here's another bit of exposition that got lost, I think--all of a sudden Val and Mili are openly acknowledging their sisterhood, but I think we missed the scene where that would have been discussed between the two of them. Oh, well. (At one point the captions had Mili calling Val "Andrea," but the voice said "Valeria." I had to rewind to make sure.)
(Previous night: Wasn't it funny when Braulio went into the kitchen to tell everyone that Rosario was still alive--impactada looks from Socorro, Horacio and Gloria--but then he adds that Connie is Mili's father, and Gloria says, oh, yeah, I knew that . . .)

Dingdong. Who's calling? Why, it's Preppy Hugo. He sees Rosario for the first time and smiles in recognition when he realizes she looks like the painting that he psycho-slashed. All is explained, Hugo is happy for Mili, and his Norman Bates act is forgotten by all.

Back to the apartment, where Rigoberto continues to treat Flor like a punching bag. What were you doing with that infeliz Alejandro? She says he should get out and leave her in peace. No, and more punches. Rigoberto is completely delusional and wants to return to the wonderful relationship they had, but Flor says he can't possibly think things were ever good. (They've actually made me feel sorry for Florencia.) He reminds her that her father was an obstacle between them and now Alex is a new one. He has to stop it. It's not clear if he is saying he was involved in killing her father. Anyone? Rigoberto wants to get the baby back and run away so they can be a happy threesome.

Back to the little house. Hugo meets Rosario, and he says that Connie and Damian were always talking about her, because they thought Al was involved with her. He tells everyone that Connie and Damian had a fight--Damian ran away with Andrea and the money. No one knows where he is. Someone says good riddance to Andrea. Mili says Hugo should try to be happy, he deserves it. He will be, he tells her. Hugs all around.

Quickie setup scene in which Mili and Al lay in bed together (so cozy). But Mili is worried about Connie. She is going to go over there and make sure he's okay. Al doesn't want her to go alone, but she insists.

Preppy Hugo comes to talk to Karla at the club. Macaroni spots him and gives him the once-over. She never forgets a cute guy.

There's a slumber party over at Lina and Bobby's. Soco, Horacio, Gloria and Chamuco have all been ousted from the mansion, so they have dragged their Mexican shopping bags to the apartment (Braulio has gone to stay with his sister). No worries: Lina and Bobby will find room for them. Socorro is sad about Karla, but Lina still can't tell her the whole story.

Back at the bar, Sylvester is singing. Karla spots Preppy Hugo. He wants to talk about the baby. He wants them to all be together.

Comic relief segment: Connie tries to cook, but he can't even light the stove.

Hugo is still wooing Karla with a surefire line that every girl wants to hear: "It doesn't matter whose baby it is--I want to be its father." (Remember, we still don't know if this baby is Hugo's or Damian's.) Karla is not buying it: why are you doing this? she asks. Finally, she turns him down. She says she used to want money and a big house and jewelry, etc., and now she realizes she doesn't. She says she found someone else. Preppy Hugo asks if he knows the suitor, and she says no. She says he's tender, kind, and more attractive than Preppy Hugo. He's a good soul. She and her child do not need the prepster.

After Karla walks away, Hugo exults: She rejected me! Hey, this is just like "The Shop Around the Corner" (or "You've Got Mail," for younger viewers). Hugo hugs Sylvester gleefully.

Back at the office of the Three Stooges, Flo shows up. Everyone freezes, and Al asks who punched her. She tells the whole story (except the part where she explains where they've been all these months). She says the baby is in danger. Cut to a scene with the two grandmas (Ros and Luci) and Val walking the baby in a stroller in the park. Rigoberto comes up and praises the cuteness of the baby. I guess none of them knows him, 'cause they are unfazed. Luci's cell phone rings, and Al warns Luci to get home right away. She pulls away, but none realizes how close they were to danger. Whew!

DRUMROLL:
At the mansion, suddenly Mili arrives: Connie greets her enthusiastically. "Mili, I knew you would come back." He promises her the world if she would just move back in. Mili stops : I need to talk to you . . . "papa." (Whoa, what just happened? Yes, you heard correctly. Rewind and rewatch. Rewatch again. This is the climax of the entire telenovela. Everything was leading up to this moment. Pause while we take a deep breath and do it justice. Now we know that the writers left Mili to do the dirty work, 'cause this late in the story Connie still couldn't do it. Wow.)

Now we have the money scene, the one that's going to clinch these two the premios: Both turn on the Niagara Falls.

Yes, I called you Papa. Mili begins to tutear. Why did you never tell me anything? she asks. You never gave me a name, a birthday present, a Christmas present. I kept giving you opportunities to tell the truth and explain why you had abandoned me and my mother. But no. I never thought I'd say it to your face, but now, papa, I am here to ask you one thing--let me be happy with Alejandro.

Cut for commercial.

Now Mili says she'll go back to "usted" form and call him Don Constancio, since he's obviously more comfortable with that. Now it's an exchange: Why didn't you tell me? No, why didn't YOU? he asks. She calls him a coward. Only his political position and career were important. He cries that he has changed. Now he wants the chance to show it. Mili demurs. Just don't hurt Alejandro, she says, and let us live in peace.

Al is meanwhile trying to get the truth out of Flor. How did she find them? She says her sister told them where their new office was. Her life is a hell. Rigoberto hits her and insults her all the time. At first she thought she could handle it, but she couldn't (I suppose she didn't see the fourteen Lifetime Movie Network specials on abusive spouses). She didn't tell Marisela, because she "didn't want to bother her."

Back to our reunited father and daughter. Connie is blubbering helplessly, because he remembers how his mother suffered not knowing about Mili. He feels very guilty.
Mili reveals that Regina died happy. Mili had told her the truth and showed her the necklace with Connie's initials. Her only regret was that she couldn't see Rosario. She asked me and Alejandro to keep looking. She died happy. Connie breaks down, sounding like a little boy crying for his mommy. He caused Regina so much pain, and he can't ask for forgiveness. Mili says that Regina did forgive him, and her last words for that she loved Constancio and forgave him. Mili reaches toward him behind his back but draws away.

Connie begs Mili to come and live with him, he needs her. No, Mili says. She will live where she belongs, with Alex and her daughter. But Alex is cheating on her, Connie says, astonished. No, Mili says: Rosella Dillano is only a business associate. But she bought 60 percent of the company, Connie says. She wants to destroy me. No, she bought the shares for me, she says. She is a friend. Mili is going to give the shares back to Connie. She doesn't want to hurt him. All she wants is that he let her and Alex be. If you hurt him, she says, you'll hear from me. Mili leaves.

Karla looks for Homeless Hugo in the park. She finds out he went to the club.

Lina finally tells Socorro the truth about Karla. Socorro can't believe it. Lina says Karla is like a new person, she has a new face when she's with Homeless Hugo. Socorro hopes the "joven" will really love her daughter. Lina says he does. While the gang is sitting around, the maid is dusting feverishly. Finally, she sits down and says, about Hugo, "What a cute boy!" Lina says "Look, she speaks."

Florencia refuses to stay in a safe place with Al and company and goes home alone. How could they let her do it? Rigoberto asks where she was. To show how menacing he is, he flicks a cigarette lighter.

Karla meets Hugo in the park. She tells him she has arranged for him to sing at the club, but maybe he should clean up a little (just don't hide those arms!). He wants to be with her always. She invites him for tacos, and she says she will name her baby Mauricio, after him. (I thought Homeless Hugo's name was Pandroso?)

Bobby and Rocky come to the little house and make sure the baby is safe. Mili walks in and learns that Florencia has returned. She is panicked, thinking Flor wants to take her baby. No, she is assured--she is trying to protect the baby.

Back at the apartment, Flor is receiving yet another beating. Al comes in and punches Rigoberto (yay!) and tells Flor to get her suitcase. Then he tells Rigoberto to stay away if he knows what's good for him. But he doesn't call the police . . .

I'll just weigh in for my last recap that this show has been great. I like most of the way they have resolved things, but I think this story about Florencia was out of left field. Are we supposed to believe that Rigoberto was a psycho all along, and Florencia's father was right? I suppose so (he did have that weird smile when we first saw him). If that's all they're going to give us, we have to accept it.

As for Connie and Mili, the "papa" scene was just another in a whole series of very well-acted interactions. These have never failed to touch me. I accept Connie, warts and all. This was a magnificent scene.

It's really been fun recapping this story and seeing everyone's reactions.

Labels: guapos

What a long strange trip it’s been, actually not really actually pretty predictable…but it is pretty to think so.

Will Ros leave before ever knowing, hugging or besoing her beautiful daughter…Oh say isn’t so. Paulo that I actually thought was named Pablo calls his crush Brau and gives him the news that Ros is leavin on a Jet Plane and apparently won’t be back again. “No Puede Ser. So here’s the game plan. Drive Ros over to the soccer fields and meanwhile Brau will gather up the posse.

Brau calls Luci who is there with the kid & Nestor. Brau tells Gloria, Horocio & Socorro (Karla’s Ma) that he is Mili’s Uncle, Ma ain’t dead and we all need to get to the soccer field and stop her from leaving.

Meanwhile, somewhere in traffic, Andrea is in one car with Damien who has a big heaping helping of McSmirk on his face. He wish he could see the face of Consti, when Consti watches the video.
Paulo & Ros are in the next car ; Mili & Al are in a beat-up volkswagon bug taxi right behind them. Alas none see the others.

Consti is being driven home by Chamaco. Consti is yelling to hurry up. Chamaco says he is driving the speed limit. Consti says drive faster. Consti will take responsibility if they are caught. As if…

Over in the Park, Bobby, Lina & Hugo are dressed in their street people garb. Bobby is strumming the guitar and Lina is banging the tambourine, so far they have made 15 pesos. Hugo is pretty nervous.

Karla finally arrives and Lina in her ultra naca stoner voice starts giving Karla some jibes. Karla really is trying to be nice to her, but for Lina it is payback time. Oh Lina, you wouldn’t be so snarky if Karla knew who you were. Hugo talks to Karla for awhile and starts singing. Hugo sings some romantic song and he sound really good. As for the lyrics, well you know me.

As Hugo is singing we see…..

Meanwhile Damien & Andrea are driving off on their new life. They are driving to Toluca. I myself have traveled that road. It goes up through like pine forest, the altitude is really high and I think you are above the leafed tree zone. The altitude is 8793 ft. However, our two fleeing lovers never get to enjoy the lack of oxygen and they start kissing and smack in a totally surprising, not used in a hundred TeleNovelas, the car runs into a huge truck. We see Damian through the windshield, but the windshield is smashed up and there is blood all over the inside.

Consti runs inside and starts racing around the house looking for Damien, up the stairs and down the stairs, no one is home. Finally he is panting so bad I think awesome, he is going to have a heart attack. No such luck.

Hugo finishes singing and he and Karla have a big lip lock as the passerbyers, give him a rousting round of applause. You can tell Karla is really enchanted with Hugo. He wants to kiss her again, but she says she can only be friends with him. He asks questions about Damien & Hugo. Karla is so over them, she has no idea where they are. She is a single mom, no time for romance.

Brau & Horacio see Chamaco and tell him that they have to go to the soccer fields. He says he can’t the Patron told him to wait. Nope they drag him off. Consti is rapidly losing any respect anyone still had for him. Consti is so last century.

Consti slams the doors of the study better known as the rent it by the hour sex studio. He sees an envelope on the desk. There is a DVD and he plays it. Now this was seriously the high-light of the show.
Damien and Andrea are in the bed. They say, “Surprise”.
Andrea---When did it start? When you were in jail, you know I don’t like sleeping alone.
Damien---and we are off to a grand life spending the money I got for 60% of the company.
Andrea---Damien is a better Amante than you.
Damien –Attention.
(jeez I was rolling at that).

Moving right along..Karla asks Hugo to let her buy him dinner. Hugo declines, but they are hawt together.

Ros arrives at the soccer field and everyone stands around staring. She is so bonita…
The poor folks are thinking she is the best thing since Pancho Villa & the redistribution of land…
The rich folks are thinking she is the best thing since the PAN party, and 70 years of rule and getting our riches back..Everyone smiles at each other, unware of the parallel universes.

The Paramedics arrive and get Damien & Andrea out. Damien says save --------- and -----------. I can’t remember their names, but dead wife and dead girlfriend of Hugo. Paramedics drag a blanket over Andrea head, there are no other people here, they tell him. Damien snaps out of his DeJaVu only it really isn’t just the sense of having done something before, Dude has had two fatal accidents. They tell him the chic is dead & by the by can we call someone? Folks I’m stunned I guess it really wasn’t true TeleNovela love…Damien doesn’t break down into the real love gritoing, angsty, Oh Gawd Oh Gawd take me…..normal TeleNovela love speak. Instead he says call my son Hugo, it is a local call.

Meanwhile, Hugo is talking love talk to Karla and telling her he is going to come and see her later.

Mili finally arrives the field of dreams and orphans. It is your Ma, it is your daughter, Al tells her to hug her, go…finally they run and embrace each other. Yadda Yadda Yadda, a moment worthy of the LifeTime channel. Actually don’t hate me, but I do think they kinda of look alike and seem to share a penchant for bad fashion and stringy hair. I wonder if they made Mili start wearing that nasty hair cause Ma was coming? Anyway there is not a dry eye on the field.

Consti sits at home ALONE..it sucks to be him. Not as bad as it sucks to be Andrea, but bad still in all.

Back at the field. Everyone is happy. Everyone gets introduced. Nestor introduces himself and Al says he is my Pa. Ya think? As the eyes glace across the uber-Anglo grouping, like yeah and if I was Consti, I’d get Val DNA tested too. Good times, good times. This calls for a party later in the real house, the comfortable house, not the Mansion of lies and bad times.

Everyone leaves and Al, Mili, Ma & baby stay behind to chat.

Hugo is in his room putting on his “The Real Hugo” disguise. He spots a card on the bed. It is from Pa.

Dear Hugo,
I’ve run off with a hawt chick. I sold 60% of the company. By the by, this would be a great time to re-hook up with Mili. Al is doing Ros Dillando (or whatever). Swoop in and she can be yours. Forget about Karla.
Have a great life…
Damien (dude doesn’t even say Dad).

Perleta has arrived to tell Consti, he is a shoe in for the Party President. So it’s not all bad news.

During the sit-down at Soccer world. Mili & Ma lament, each tells their personal story of bad times. Mili does not want Ma to get revenge on Consti. Personally Al hates him and wouldn’t mind kicking his Ass. Me too Al. Mili wants to talk to him, she sees goodness in him. Whatever. Mili does talk about growning up without the love of parents and how she had to watch him lavish love on Val, while treating her as the hire help. They stand up and Al has his arms around both women and the baby is there. Al says they are the three women he loves most in the world. I think I saw something like that once or twice on Springer---okay just kidding, Al is sincere.

The happy group get in the car and as they drive off they are followed by a dark SUV.

Over at the pole dancing palace…hey did you all know, they want to introduce pole dancing to the Olympics? Oh and you thought the ribbon dancing was festive.

Karla is telling Chunky Twin & Cuban guy about “Street Hugo” she wants them to give him a job singing. Chunky is not too down with this. I think she likes her girls, tough and money-making. Karla wants to change her life, it all isn’t money anymore.

Hugo comes downstairs and he has the card. Consti has a bad ass case of the crazy eyes. They discuss Damien. He sold the company to Ros Dillano. Hugo is like the one that Al is boinking? Consti is so desperate for his old lauding it over someone, that he says, yes…you can kill Al and get Mili back. Hugo knows crazy when he sees it. He backs off, he says he has been miserable at the house and wants to leave. Fine…Fine leave and don’t come back.

At the good house. Baby is on the sidewalk in the stroller. Someone comes up and starts messing with the blanket, it is Flor. Ros sees her and takes the baby. Flor just says she is such a pretty baby. Ros says she is the grandma. Grandma? Flor gets the CliffNotes version. You are Mili’s Ma? I thought she was an orphan. Not now. Poor Flor is left standing on the street.

The End

As for my assetment of Consti...He is was and will continue to be a RatBastard...we all know he is going to have some huge epiphany. I don't think it counts when you see the error of your ways cause no one can stand to be in the same house with you. He just is scared to be alone. He really is a very small man.
Thanks for reading these...I am going to Fuegodoom - Thurs. except I don't think it is on this Thurs.

Labels: guapos

Mili had words with Rosela (Rosario) and decides she’s had enough. Mili heads home and comes upon Luci with the baby. She takes notice of the necklace little Rosario is wearing and reflects back on what Rosela told her about giving a gift to her daughter and giving the same gift to Mili’s daughter. Mili just can’t grasp the idea that this woman could be her mother…..even though Luci asks her if she’s sure her mother died. Mili can’t believe the people at the convent would lie to her. Luci, following the adage, you can lead a horse to water, doesn’t tell all to Mili. She’s leaving it to her to process it out. (Oh yeah, earlier, right when the show started, Luci tells Nestor that Rosela is really Mili’s mother---and yet another person knows the truth before Mili).

Rocky is upset that he and Val broke up and he bemoans to Horacio that there is no way Connie will let him in the mansion. Horacio says he’ll help.

Hugo goes to visit Bobby and asks for use of Bobby’s guitar playing ability in his ever complicated plot to find out if Karla will fall in love when money isn’t involved (I’m betting for a yes, because we only have so much time left in this novela).
Al talks to Padre Manuel, who encourages him to make amends with Nestor. PM tells Al that Nestor’s his brother, so Al’s his nephew.

Damian and Andrea scheme and plan to take flight the next day.

Val talks to Ramses II and finds out that he had a hand in getting Rocky and the girls together. Val is angry and tells Ramses that even though he’s good looking, she wouldn’t fall for him, even if he were the last man on earth---she loves Rocky and he’s the only one for her.

Mili goes to Padre Manuel and asks for the truth about what happened with her mother. PM doesn’t tell her, but in his not telling, he tells her. Mili goes to the chapel to pray. She doesn’t want this woman to be her mother, because if her mother didn’t die when she was born, then she abandoned her for many years. Al finds Mili in the chapel and alls well between the two of them.

Horacio sneaks Rocky into the mansion, but Connie catches them. Rocky tries to plead his case to Val. She’s willing to listen, but Connie insists on being privy to whatever conversation they have. Rocky doesn’t mind. He tells Val that he was drunk and she says that’s no excuse. He reminds her that after he’s had a few copas, what happens. Val remembers that he passes out, and she flings her arms around him---all is forgiven. Connie is incensed. He threatens Val, he’s going to take her credit cards away and disinherit her. She doesn’t care, she has all she needs in Rocky. They leave and Connie is once again steaming that his daughter is with the chauffer. He goes up to his room to pout. Andrea comes in and tries to play the proper part of a concerned lover, but her heart’s not into it….oh, that would be because she doesn’t have a heart. Connie goes on about how he’s still got Mili and he’ll tell her the truth, that he’s her dad. That’ll make everything better.

Rosela decides that she’s got to leave town. Paolo scolds her for fleeing from her problems once again, but she’s not listening. She decides to go take a gander at the soccer field prior to leaving….that’s where she saw Mili happy.

Mili tells Al that she thinks Rosela is her mother. Al says they need to talk and they head out to Rosela’s hotel. When they get there they find out, unlike the Hotel California, she’s checked out and left. Mili is distraught, she’s been abandoned all over again.

Connie finds out from the lawyer with the icky grandson (can’t remember his name, is it something like Robledo?---well you know who I’m talking about)….where was I, oh yeah, Connie finds out that Damian took Mili’s shares of the company, using that document he had Mili sign. AND, Damian has sold those, along with another 40% of the company shares (I think Luci’s and Al’s/ Hugo’s? can’t remember) to Rosela. Connie is incensed again----this woman has a majority share in his company all to the likes of Damian. He calls home and finds out from Andrea that Damian is home, he tells Andrea not to forewarn Damian, but Connie’s coming home to kick some butt. Unbeknownst to Connie, Andrea and Damian were in the middle of packing when the call came in, they throw the rest of the things in bags and head out…..leaving behind some 100 odd pair of Andrea’s shoes.

Bobby and Lina are disguised as hippies and they meet Hugo (in his bum clothes) in the park. They are waiting for Karla. Lina says she wishes that she could tell Socorrito that Karla is okay, but Hugo says that Karla has her pride (or something along those lines, as I truly doubt that Karla has pride, but this is after all the new kinder gentler Karla, so perhaps she does have some pride now….. I still doubt it, but I’ll just go along for the sake of it). Bobby and Lina compliment Hugo on looking out for Karla every night at the club.

Al suggests to Mili that Braulio might know where Rosela’s gone to. Mili shows some shock that Braulio knew her mom was back in town and not dead. Al tells Mili that not only did he know, but so did Al and Luci, oh yeah and Padre Manuel. They didn’t tell her because they thought it should come from Rosela and PM was sworn to secrecy under the rules of Confession.

Paolo calls Braulio and tells him that Rosela’s about to fly the coop, leave DF. Braulio is impactado. END OF EPISODE

Labels: guapos

Is anyone doing a recap today? I recall there may have been confusion over whether Cathy was able to do it. If not, here is a place for discussions.

Labels: guapos

Hola Guapistas! We have very little rerun from last night, just Mili talking about how great Rocky is and crying, and then Luciana walks in and announces the change of plans (having found out about Constancio's fake judge scam--a ratbastardly move indeed!).

Constancio is fussing about Valeria being late. Andrea tries to calm him down. Ramses II presents Constancio with a mysterious envelope containing, of course, the pictures of Rocky with the models. Not that I expect this to have any effect since Luciana's found out about his fake judge. Constancio positively gloats over the pictures.

Alejandro and Valeria have a nice sibling moment, wishing each other happiness in marriage and arguing about who will be happier. Their faces are reeeeally close, probably so they don't show us the location. When they pull back, we see they're at Padre Manuel's church! Woo hoo! Alejandro walks Valeria down the aisle to Rocky. They both get a little teary as Rocky asks her to tell him he's not dreaming. They're both very emotional about being "man and wife" even though Rocky makes a joke that he's glad they're going to be "man and wife" because the other way around would have been weird. They start to kiss, but are interrupted by Padre Manuel, who reminds them that the kissing part comes at the end. As Padre Manuel starts, Rocky has to loudly blow his nose, he's crying so hard. Alejandro looks giddy, but Mili looks like her puppy just died. As Padre Manuel continues, Mili bursts into loud, nasty tears and claims to be emotional about the wedding. She tries to resist Alejandro taking her hand to comfort her, but gives in. Next, Lina bursts out with "hey, no fair! Mili didn't cry like this at my wedding!" To which I say "Shut. Up. We're trying to have a freaking wedding here, people! Save it for later." Padre Manuel reminds them they don't have all day. Now Alejandro jumps in and insists 2 couples are getting married today…he and Mili are getting married too! Now Mili flips out on him. She says she doesn't want to marry him and covers that it's because it's his sister's wedding day and she doesn't want to ruin it. Valeria, on the other hand, thinks the more the merrier. Nestor wonders what's going on and Luciana reassures him that it's nothing that can't be fixed. Alejandro and Mili keep arguing as Rocky reminds everyone that he'd really like to get this done before Constancio figures out what's going on and shows up with his trusty shotgun. Mili forcefully insists that Padre Manuel should continue with just the one couple. Now Gloria and Chamuco show up and beg Padre Manuel to marry them, like, now.

Back at the fake wedding, Constancio tells Ramses II that he's going to show the pictures to Valeria once she shows up. Finally, Lic. Robledo and the fake Judge have shown up. Ramses II escorts the fake Judge off. Robledo wants to talk about the shares, but Constancio brushes him off. Once Robledo says he talked to Luciana earlier that day, Constancio realizes what's going on. He yells at Robledo that Luciana didn't know!

Now everybody's standing around at the church. Lina and Mili tell Gloria that they're glad she's not going to end up an old maid spending all her time dressing saints--Sor Cachete objects that there's nothing wrong with dressing saints, eh! Rocky congratulates Chamuco. We see that everything's still on hold. Padre Manuel is objecting to marry Gloria and Chamuco. He tries to say that they've got to do pre-matrimonial stuff first, which Rocky and Valeria didn't have to. PM says they didn't because it was urgent. Which, of course, is why they're stalling so much. He finally gives in and starts over, but nooooo, Alejandro is pissed off that Mili won't marry him today. Rocky wants PM to, uh, skip to the end, please. He starts over from the beginning for about the hundredth time, and now, guess what…Constancio and Ramses II walk in. I mourn for the character assassination of Ramses. He might have wanted to bust up the wedding, but Original Recipe Ramses would never have had the necessary brain cells to concoct a scheme like this.

Pause for rant: Dang it! I thought we'd gotten past all the stupid misunderstandings and people not speaking up about stuff they ought to and drama just for the sake of drama. As if Mili's dead mom not really being dead and Hugo and Karla maybe getting married and raising the baby together and Sober!Luci getting back together with the love of her life and Mili and Alejandro living happily ever after wasn't enough drama? Oh, nooooo, we've got to throw a few more roadblocks in there despite the fact that we all know who's going to end up with who, so, frankly, they just need to get on with it already instead of waiting for the last five minutes of the show to wrap things up. *Sigh* Okay, rant over.

Luciana tries to throw him out of the church, but he shouts her down. Alejandro wants Mili to use this opportunity to go outside and talk. Mili says "pelotas" in church. Valeria has had it and says "quit listening to everyone else, I want to get married!" You're preaching to the choir there, sister. Padre Manuel says there's objections, so…. Valeria tries to appeal to her "papá" and now Constancio says "pelotas" in church and calls Luciana a drunk, so Luciana says "pelotas" to that, which greatly upsets Padre Manuel. Constancio tells Valeria if after he talks to her she still wants to get married, he won't have anything to say. She asks PM for a minute.

I've been reduced to screaming at the TV now. Seriously. Why would anyone agree to something like that? What happened to Valeria's spine?

Padre Manuel's patience is shot. Valeria marches out of the church, throwing off Ramses II. She tells Constancio she's not going to forgive him for this whole thing with the fake judge. She calls him on his crap, calling her his "princess" and then treating her like this. She loves Rocky and he's the only man who will make her happy, etc., etc. He tries to give her the pictures even though he must know they're stupidly faked…but all he cares about is having his way, the ratbastard. Who cares how upset it's going to make her.

Mili refuses to talk about Alejandro. He makes the mistake of mentioning her mom's name. She tells him he's never hurt her this much and accuses him of sleeping with Rosario I, basically. I'll take this moment to digress upon the word "engañar" which literally means "deceive," however, in couple situations it usually means "you rat bastard, you cheated on me with a badly dressed woman who only owns one pair of shoes and also happens to be my mother, although I don't know that yet."

Valeria refuses to look at what's in the envelope, then she agrees because she left her spine in her other pants. She is predictably impactada. Constancio says "That was the bachelor party of that wonderful man who claims to love you above all things." And speaking of men who claim to love Valeria above all things, Consti just needs to shut it, the self-righteous prig who's got skankier photos AND video of himself that sure enough didn't have to be faked. Valeria drops the pictures and leaves.

Mili tells Alejandro she saw him with Rosario Sr. He tries to explain, but "it's a business thing" doesn't quite work with bathrobes involved. Well, it might in Europe. Mili's asking why he did it and why Rosario Jr. was there. He just stands there with a kicked puppy expression since she of the skanky shoes swore him to secrecy. Dude, if there was ever a time to break a promise….She tells him her love for him is dead. Oh, whatever. It'll be resurrected soon enough. She sees Valeria as she's on her way leaving the church. They both cry in each other's arms, although neither of them knows what the other one's crying about.

Everyone's out of the church now and Constancio tosses the pictures at Rocky. They fall on the floor. Everyone's shocked…except Sor Cachete, who's seen it all before. Rocky's confused and says it's not him. The girls assume he really did it, but Bobby thinks it might have been faked. Rocky remembers that there were some girls in the room. Decent of him not to take the easy way out. Luciana, now that she's sober and has more brain cells working, wonders who took the photos. Constancio proudly says Ramses II took the photos, which is when it all clicks for Rocky. He hands the pictures to Bobby to hold so he can punch Ramses. The rest of the men intervene to pull the two apart, but Rocky's too determined.

Valeria and Mili chat. "Three women!" Dang it, Mili, and you want to run a women's center when you're not even capable of questioning things and applying some logic? What, did Rocky have a complete personality transplant, or is it just that all men are scum underneath it all and he would have cheated with three wannabe Victoria's Secret models eventually? Yep, there she goes "all men are the same, Alejandro cheated on me too." Valeria at least can't believe it. Now Valeria's joining in, "they're all pigs." "They always lie and cheat!" Wah, wah, wah. Valeria then says she can't believe Alejandro would do that. Mili says Rocky loved Valeria and he did it too. Mili now wants to confront "that woman." Valeria wants to confront Rocky. They shake on it.

Padre Manuel bemoans all the drama. Gloria tells Sor Cachete she's given up and asks for an application to Nun U. Well, at least that way she can marry God. Sor pulls her aside and says the nun-hood is serious bidness, not something you do out of "despecho" (spite). Besides, she convinced him to get married once…she can probably do it again! Gloria gets back in the ring. She verifies that no one would object at their wedding, and then asks Padre Manuel to marry them "to get the bad taste out of [his] mouth." Sor Cachete chimes in in support and Padre Manuel agrees.

Rocky complains to Alejandro that he doesn't remember being with three beautiful women…and isn't that the kind of thing a person remembers? Alejandro has no sympathy and asks why he didn't throw the women out of his room. Bad best man! That was your job, you idiot! You guard the dang groom and don't let him (a) do anything stupid or (b) run away! Rocky complains that the guys got him way too drunk. Rocky then gets happy and realizes that he must have fallen dead asleep from being so drunk. Alejandro can't believe it, what with the three hot chicks. Rocky starts to recount the story of the time Valeria got him drunk on champagne and he passed out on her, but Alejandro reeeeally doesn't want to hear that story. He says Ramses II must have waited for him to fall asleep and then took the pictures.

Padre Manuel once again attempts to marry somebody (yes, please, just marry somebody, anybody!) today. He asks if Gloria Sanchez agrees to marry, er, what was your name again, Chamuco? (And remember that "Chamuco" is slang for The Devil.) "Carlos del Angel Caído." Sor Cachete and I both crack up laughing. Go on, get the dictionary, I'll wait. See, I told you! Funny stuff there (ok, if you didn't want to look it up, check the end of the recap). Padre Manuel says he'll just call him Carlos. Gloria giddily agrees. Chamuco also agrees with a loud whistle. Padre Manuel pronounces them man and wife and they smooch like there's no tomorrow while Sor Cachete showers them with flower petals. (Mr. 5ft: "Um, they might want to leave before they conceive right there on the altar.") Finally!

Sounds like Alejandro has just filled Rocky in on the whole "Mili's mother's not dead" thing. Rocky says Al's got to convince Rosella D'Liar to come clean. They're at Casa Belmonte. Constancio, shotgun in hand, instructs Ramses II not to let either Valeria or Mili intervene while he "takes care" of Alejandro and Rocky. The guys approach confidently. Constancio says the two of them aren't getting near his daughters! Alejandro's got the end of the shotgun in his face, but he's not backing down.

Rosella D'Loathsome is putting that ridiculous wig back on. Mili shows up asking to speak with her, woman to woman. That's going to be difficult considering neither one of them is acting mature enough for that. Mili tells her that when they first met, she would have liked for someone like Rosella to be her mom, but now she's not going to be deceived. Rosella is confused. Mili tells her to admit that she's there to steal her happiness.

Ramses II is stalking the driveway. As Valeria shows up in a cab, Ramses II jumps in and tries to convince her to leave. He holds the car door so that she won't get out and asks her to go have coffee. The cab driver, thankfully, is paying more attention to Valeria than Ramses II. He finally convinces her by telling her that Rocky isn't at the house, so they should just go have some coffee and then maybe he'll be there by the time they get back. I liked Ramses I better. He would've been too stupid to pull this off.

Alejandro and Rocky are still holding firm. Constancio hasn't put the shotgun down. Much yelling. Sounds like Constancio is looking forward to living into his old age with his two spinster daughters. Cause, come on, it's not a matter of these two not being "good enough," he probably wouldn't think any man is good enough for them. Alejandro calls him on his years of cheating on Luciana and finally tells Constancio that he's going in the house, so if Constancio wants to shoot him, he can shoot him in the back--"it's what you do best." Now it's Rocky's turn. He just says he's going to look for his Chiquita and walks on by.

Rosella D'Loser is trying to explain to Mili that Mili's happiness is what she wants most in life. Mili: "liar, liar!" She accuses her of being Alejandro's lover. Rosella denies it, tells her that Al loves her, and says she'd never do it with a guy young enough to be her son. Mili asks about the bathrobes. Rosella tells her about the rain. She tells Mili how Alejandro talks about Mili all the time and how perfect they are for each other. Mili says if that's all true, then she wants Rosella to stay the heck away from them. And at this moment, so do I.

Constancio comes into the house with the shotgun. Braulio cries to him that they're all alone and he doesn't even have any staff left. Alejandro and Rocky come back, having searched the house and not found Valeria or Mili. Constancio swears that the two of them won't be with their respective sweethearts as long as he lives. Constancio tells Alejandro to watch his back. Rocky convinces Alejandro they should leave.

Back at the convent, there's a reception going on for Gloria and Chamuco. Socorro and Horacio, Bobby and Lina, Padre Manuel, and Sor Cachete are there. Gloria says that her mom and Romulo would have been there, but they're in Celaya and send their love.

Rosella D'Ludicrous is begging Mili not to do this to her. Mili says they were fine until she showed up and started poisoning everything. Rosella admits that she wants to destroy Constancio. Rosella admits that she also knows Constancio is Mili's father. And that she knows that Constancio left Mili's mother and refuses to acknowledge Mili because of his political ambitions. The glasses are off now as Rosella asks how she can defend a man who ruined her life and her mother's life. Mili says she always prayed for the opportunity to spit in his face, but now all she wants is for him to look her in the eyes and admit he's her father. All she wants is his love.

Ramses II pleads his case over coffee. Valeria's not in the mood. Ramses II suggests Valeria sleep with him to get back at Rocky--"pagarle con la misma moneda" (pay him with the same coin; give him a taste of his own medicine).

Rosella D'Letdown continues trying to convince Mili to hate Constancio. Mili says she's not going to turn into a bitter old hag like Rosella, she's going to defend her daddy and her love and her peeps and Rosella better not get into it with her. Come clean already, you stupid woman. Mili starts to leave and Rosella says "Mili, when we first met you told me you lost your mother and I told you that I lost my daughter. I gave my daughter a gift when she was born and it's the same gift I gave Rosario." Mili's like "Whatever, just leave us alone. " Mili runs out of the room and Rosella cries to the door "Milagros, don't go, I'm your mother." You know, you could have started with that and saved us all the trouble. I have no sympathy for this woman. I feel sadder that she only has one pair of shoes. The mess with Mili she brought on herself. She cries to Paolo.

Monday: Mili finds the medal on Rosario. Luciana tells her the medal didn't come from Alejandro, it came from Rosella. Mili possibly adds two and two together and doesn't come up with the square root of pi. Or at least I can hope so.

One more week to go, Guapistas! If anyone else is interested in recapping a piece of Gran Final night, let's start working that out.

Oh, and that translation is "Carlos of the Fallen Angel."

Labels: guapos

Hi,

Soon Guapos will be over. Beckster will be abandoning the 8 pm time slot so she can ogle and smirk at the unshaven male loveliness of the idiot Reyes brothers. Maggie is staying on in her slot. Guapos team, phone home (either email me privately or write a comment here): are you signing on with the lovely Marichuy and yet another installment of "Who's baby are you?" and if so are you happy with your night?

Labels: Cuidado, guapos, recappers-needed

Connie comes by to tell Mili to look out for herself. Meaning what? asks Mili. Meaning watch out for Alex, says Connie.

Alex meantime is in a park, cuddling the baby. Rosario comes to meet the baby, takes her in her arms and says she’s so happy to hold a baby after having lost her own and she gets tearful. She makes over her, calls her granddaughter. Rosario says she brought a present – it’s a chain with the Virgin de la Soledad, like Mili’s. She smooches the baby and says she’s glad it’s not a last kiss, like happened with Mili.

We’ve arrived at the day before the wedding, and the wedding planner is out in the garden with Luci, Rocky and Vale. A bit late to be doing planning, I’d say, but here we go. She plans a clarinet and harp duo for the music. Rocky thinks that would be boring – why not a band for dancing? The planner lists some gourmet foods a leading chef will prepare but Rocky says the guests will starve, he’d rather have Socorro to whip up some good old Mexican food. The planner tries to get Luci to intervene, but Luci says I just want their wedding to make them happy. It’ll be great, says Rocky and by the next morning you’ll have a new grandchild on the way. Vale tells him to hush up.

The planner says it’s really easier to plan when the future groom is not present. Rocky says are you running me off? Vale sweet-talks him into going to see Horacio. Ever the effervescent, Rocky heads toward the house, but he runs into Nuevo Ramses who remarks that Rocky’s getting married tomorrow. Rocky rubs it in a bit and tells him he’s not invited, so there. Ramses says Connie had me do the invitations and one of them has my name on it, so there. Rocky says come on then, you can die of envy.

Braulio is having a romantic phone conversation in the lobby. He and Paolo set up a date for tomorrow (!), Paolo will pay for the theater and Braulio will pay for dinner. Ramses walks in and hears Braulio say No you hang up first. Ramses rolls his eyes. Braulio says we’ll hang up on three… one, two, three! But he checks and Paolo is still there. He titters and Ramses interrupts.

He wants to know if Rocky is having a bachelor party and Braulio says yes, at Bobby’s house. Ramses says you’re inviting me, right? Brauilio says no, and dramatically tells him that he has another date – there is someone else in his life. He can imagine how Ramses must feel, but sooner or later he’d have to find out. (I’m getting confused about the days – Braulio made a date for tomorrow, but now it sounds like the bachelor party, not the wedding, is tomorrow. I don’t want to back up the tape to find out if I misunderstood during the wedding planner scene.) Ramses is puzzled and tries to say something, but Braulio is on a roll: Let me go, I beg you, just let me go! And he runs off.
What’s up with him? poor dim-bulb Ramses thoughtbubbles.

We’re back in the park and apparently Alex has just told Rosario that Mili has a bad opinion of her. He tells her he can’t keep lying. Rosario, apparently unconcerned by her daughter’s unhappiness, begs Alex not to tell. Tell her the truth, says Alex, that’s the only way she will understand why you hate Connie so much. Rosario says I have to think about it. Alex is that what you want? That Mili grow distant from you because you want to harm her daddy? Rosario says my life blah blah abandoned blah blah knew she was his daughter but still she was a servant blah blah … what kind of man would do that? He’s got to pay!

Alex tells her that he and Mili have been through hell and high water to get to where there are now, namely happy and about to start a family. They want to stay away from negative vibes. Rosario radiates more of them, though. She says Connie hates you and he wants to destroy your business and your love. Alex says their love is tan grande not to mention tan fuerte that nothing can touch it. Rosario says you think so, and you’ve been blinded by the fact that you’ve spent your life trying to attain Connie’s love and respect and you believe one day he’ll change, realize his mistake, and give them to you. Dream on.

Alex says I know he loves Mili – I’ve seen it. Rosario says he loved me, adored me, and when we found out we were expecting a child, he was the happiest man on earth. And then what happened? He told me he was going to marry someone else, and he threw me out into the street like a bag of trash, which is why I dress this way. (I made that last part up.) He thinks he’s invincible, but don’t worry, I’ll take care of him.

Suddenly the rain from hurricane Ike pours down on them. And it was sunny just a second ago! This global warming is making the weather very unpredictable. They make a run for it through the sunny rain, laughing.

It’s pouring on the wedding planning group too. They head for the mansion, but Rocky appears and he and Vale romp around in the rain, then she pushes him in the fountain and later she’s in the fountain too and they romp some more and then smooch. Ah, young love!

Inside, Nuevo Ramses is on the phone getting someone to get him a few gorgeous gals as a surprise for the stag party. He thoughtbubbles We’ll see if Vale marries you now, chauffer!

Connie and Mili are in the car, and it’s pouring rain outside there too. He says he’s brought Mili to meet a person named Rosela di Llano – he got her address from Peralta. Mili says I already know her – she came to see me in the hospital. She’s very pretty. Connie says I can well imagine. Mili says it’s better if we just leave. Connie says no, I brought you to meet her because she’s your rival. She’s very dangerous, she’s your enemy and it’s best to keep enemies close. She came to see you in the hospital to get close to Alex. He and she are lovers.

Mili is beyond impactada – she says it’s a lie. He says it’s true. What’s the best way to get close to a man? Get close to his wife. Mili is badly shaken. She snatches the address paper from Connie and says I want to go alone. She runs through the rain to Rosario’s apartment building.

The door to Rosario’s apartment is open – I guess she hasn’t read about all the rich folks getting kidnapped in Mexico. She’s in her white spa bathrobe with her hair up in a towel and she’s holding the baby. Uh oh, here comes Alex in a matching spa bathrobe. A maid hovers in the background. I didn’t know being in the rain made you want to shower and wash your hair, but apparently that’s what they did. Through her open door we see Mili out by the elevators, studying the piece of paper.
Rosario is saying I’d like to be with the baby every day. Alex says I can’t bring her every day. Mili spies them from the hallway and is horrified. Rosario says it’s important that Mili think our relationship is business and nothing else. She says ah, Alex, and puts her hand on his check. If you bring me the little girl two or three times a week, I’d be in heaven. I love holding her in my arms. Mili looks like she’s been slugged in the stomach and she heads for the elevators. Alex says pretty soon we’ll be a family.

Mili is outside in the rain, devastated. Connie runs out of the car and says what happened? Mili is sobbing why? why? Connie hugs her and says you won’t be alone. (Forgive me, Padre Manuel, but I have hate for Rosario in my heart right now.)

Inside Rosario and Alex are having a nice cuppa. Alex wants to know what her plans are concerning Connie. Rosario says never mind about him, he’s not worth it. Alex says he’s worried what if some tragedy occurs… Rosela says you mean like would I put a hit out on him? I’m not like that. Everything I’m planning is legal. Alex says well I feel a little bit better.

Rosario says Connie wouldn’t give up everything for me and his daughter. I want to see him stripped of everything – his business, his political career, his money. What about his family? says Alex. Rosario says he doesn’t care about that, just money and power.

Mili is sobbing in the car. She doesn’t understand. Why did he do that to her? Why now? Connie says it’s not your fault. Alex is messing in with her to work against me. That’s not for sure says Mili. Connie asks what the woman said and Mili says nothing. I didn’t talk to her. I wanted to talk, I wanted to shout, but my voice failed me. It was like I couldn’t get any air. She melts down. Rosela was there with Rosario. With my daughter!

I’m going to kill him with my bare hands, says Connie. Mili says no, I don’t want you to harm him. Connie says, I shouldn’t dirty my hands. I know some guys who could catch him outside his office…. Mili says no! no! no! Connie says Alex has hurt you and he’s trying to destroy me. I can’t just sit on my hands. You’ll feel better when you see his face all pounded to a pulp. Mili says if you lay a hand on him, I’ll never forgive you.

Connie says you’re very upset, we’ll talk later. Your room is still as it was, you can move right back in. Mili is hysterical and says take me to my house, not somebody else’s! Take me to my house! Connie says I want to protect you. Mili shouts at him Take me or I’ll get a taxi! Connie says okay, we’ll talk tomorrow after Vale’s wedding.

Alex tells Rosario she doesn’t need to lift a finger to destroy Connie. Everyone in the family has withdrawn from him. He sees that all the money in the world won’t buy him the love of a son, or the smile of a baby in his arms. And if he doesn’t do something himself to change, he’s going to end up alone in his old age. That’s what will hurt him most, and that’s what will be his punishment.

Alex says look forward in your life towards love. You went 20 years without your daughter and now is the time to enjoy her and not spend your time on a vengeance that will just leave a bitter aftertaste. Go to Mili, tell her the truth. You both need to start healing the wounds of the past. Let Mili’s love teach you to forgive everything. Rosario looks serious.

Luci sees Mili coming into the house like the walking wounded, but Mili tries to cover up. Luci tells her that Lina will be staying overnight because it’s Bobby’s party night, and Alex won’t be staying. No? says Mili in a tiny voice. No, says Luci, he’s staying over at Bobby’s. Luci says there’s nothing worse than a meddling mother-in-law, but I know you and Alex were arguing and I just want to ask you to try to be happy for Vale tonight for her bachelorette party. Mili says sure. Luci tells her to have a nice hot shower and she’ll make her some tea.

The guys plus Horacio are slugging down beers and whooping it up. All the ladies, including Sor Cachete are at Mili’s house laughing and Vale is having a ball. It looks like they are going to TP her. Now the guys are arm wrestling and drinking shooters, and they keep giving Rocky shots and cheering him on to drink them. The girls have TPed Vale, in a way – she is draped to look like a bride. Rocky is really drunk now and he is drinking from the bottle. He could end up in the hospital this way, but the guys, who are still sober, are laughing it up.

A taxi delivers Horacio and Bobby, who both look passed out, to Casa Belmonte. Nuevo Ramses comes out, smiles craftily and swaggers and puts on some lip balm.
Karla has just finished her pole number and she goes over to Homeless Hugo’s table. She says I thought you weren’t coming back. You ran out and I thought I was an idiot to open up my history to you and then you take off. Hugo says, in his best naco talk, that what she told him touched him profoundly. He says he once was in love with someone who didn’t love him back and her story brought all that back. He gave everything just to hear her say “I love you” but she never did.

Out front of Casa Belmonte Horacio and Rocky are hugging and almost falling over. Rocky says tomorrow I marry the love of my life. I was a chauffer, a gardener, an exterminator, a tire guy, I got beat up, but did any of that stop me? No! He says to Horacio I love you man, and they hug again. Rocky says listen up, because nobody will be more honest, more sincere than I am being with you right now. He staggers. I gotta go pee! And he heads for the bushes.

Hugo is telling Karla that the important thing is that she understands him, that he’s not a bad guy. They seem to be really connecting. She says I slept with a father and his son at the same time. If you think badly of me, I won’t blame you. You’re great, really honest, says Hugo. One thing … tell me the truth, he says. Did you fall in love with either of them? Yes, says Karla, or so I think. But let’s not talk about that. I’m alone now.

Hugo says nobody likes to be alone. Sez you, says Karla, and you a vagabond! Hugo says why do you think I come to visit you? They are leaning across the table toward each other and Hugo bounces his eyebrows. Karla looks lovely when she smiles. She leans back in the booth, chews a fingernail happily and looks at him flirtatiously.

Rocky comes into his room at Casa Belmonte, he is hanging onto the doorknob and the walls for support. We see some impressive cleavage – it’s a woman, and there’s another one. The other one says We are your stag party present and we are here to fulfill all your fantasies. They drop their slinky robes and stand there in their underlovlies. Oh wait, there are three of them! Rocky crawls onto the bed and they stand over him looking like Victoria’s Secret models in their panty and bra ensembles. Rocky says excuse me, but when I see a bed, I can’t help myself. They hmmm appreciatively. Good night, says Rocky and conks out. They try to wake him to no avail.

At the pole-dancing place, Macarena is singing and Hugo admires her voice. Karla tells him that she has a twin who is a nun. No kidding! says Hugo. Karla says I recall you said you sing with your friend who plays the guitar and that you two are the best street musicians in Mexico. Karla asks when he sings, and he equivocates. Monday maybe Wednesday and Friday. Karla says tomorrow is Wednesday. Hugo gets vague.

The models are standing over sleeping Rocky telling Ramses, who is there with a camera, that they can’t wake him up. Don’t worry, says Ramses, when he sees the photos, he’ll think he’s had the best night of his life. Every man dreams of sleeping with three hot models like you. One of the girls says his fiancée won’t see these, right? Of course not, lies Ramses. He tells them to undress Rocky and then pose. They start in and Rocky smiles in his sleep and says wait until after the wedding.

Karla is trying to nail Hugo to a time when she can hear him sing and complains that she works at night. Hugo sets up a daytime time. Macarena is belting out her song onstage and Hugo chair dances a little.

Macarena’s torch song continues and we see an arty shot of Alex looking pensively out the window of Bobby’s apartment with moonlight on his face and then we see Mili bent over in a chair, sobbing. We see Vale in bed, smiling in her sleep. Then we see Ramses getting his shot. The girls are draped over Rocky’s sleeping form, but he isn’t exactly nekkid, as he has a T-shirt and boxers on. Click. Click. Click. At the club, Macarena finishes her song and the spotlight swoops around.

It’s morning at Mili’s little orange house and Luci is telling Vale to come eat a little something. The doorbell rings. Uh oh. Oh, whew, it’s only Robledo who wanted to hand-carry some papers for Luci. He tells her her money is all set. But he says there’s something… naw, he’ll ask Connie later. Luci says what? He says about Mili’s shares, there seems to be another seller and he can’t figure it out, but he’ll straighten it out on Monday.

Robledo says he has to talk to the person who’s going to help (I have no idea what he means, but Luci says uh-huh). He understands Connie’s position about Vale – she needs to understand that marriage is not a whim. Luci says uh-huh skeptically. Robledo says the person who is pretending to be a judge will bring it off beautifully. Uh-huh says Luci . (Oh, now I get it.) She sees Robledo out and heads for the phone, muttering that she can’t believe it! A fake judge! She dials up Nestor and says I need your help.

Chamuco and Gloria are in the kitchen. Chamuco says where that smile I love? Gloria says Vale is getting married, Lina is already married, and Mili has even already divorced and here’s me still single. Peer pressure is a rough thing, even if you create it yourself. I’m your boyfriend, don’t worry says Chamuco. Gloria says she read a magazine article and now she knows he’s one of those guys who’s afraid of commitment. Chamuco says what is it you want me to do? Gloria says let’s get married today!

Rocky is getting dressed for his wedding day and Alex is looking on. Rocky says he thought of kidnapping his chiquita like Alex did with Mili, but he never did because he thought a wedding was the right way to go. Rocky says how much he loves her and he asks Alex if he looks good for her, like a movie star? They joke around.

Nestor comes in and Rocky looks surprised, but Alex rolls his eyes. Nice manners, Alex. Rocky said they didn’t expect him, but Nestor says Luci sent him and there’s been a change of plans. We see Vale in her wedding gown – so lovely. She asks Mili and Lina if she looks okay, she is nervous. They swear she looks divine. Vale says she wants to look beautiful and the girls reassure her. Vale tells Lina to say “tu” for heaven’t sake, they’re friends!

Mili says Rocky loves you like crazy, he’s noble, he would never do anything to hurt you. She starts to break up and Vale says don’t cry, it’s catching. Mili says it’s just that weddings make me sentimental. Lina says you didn’t cry at mine! Luci comes in and exclaims over Vale. Vale says where were you? You disappeared! Luci says there’s been a change of plans. Vale gives her a look and freeze frame.

I wonder how they’re going to resolve all this in a week.

Avances: Mili tells Alex now she knows why he wants to work with that woman. She knows everything! He is cheating on her with Rosela! Alex looks shocked.

Labels: guapos