Caray, Caray!

This is my swan song, folks (imagine Bob Hope singing it, o.k.?). It's been fun. But I'm done. Hope your telenovelas to come will be passionate, exciting, full of broad-shouldered hunks and bodacious babes, fresa-speak and funny moments, and lots and lots of opportunities to learn more about Latino language and culture. I've learned a lot working alongside you all-- teammates and commenters alike. It's been great . But now it's time for someone fresh and enthusiastic to step up and take my place. Enjoy!

Labels: llena

Greetings all. Judy and I traded nights this week. This is most likely my last Llena recap and I just want to express what an extreme pleasure it has been recapping with this entire team of recappers and commenters. The telenovela started off slowly, then got absolutely delightful in the middle, somehow lost its way partway through, got better again, then was nearly destroyed by Loonivision's horrendous editing. That was definitely not fair to the talented cast nor to we, the viewers. Ah well, these shows are roller coaster rides in the best of cases and that's exactly what we've gotten. Bad things are still happening but I'm hopeful that we will come to the end seeing one, two, three, possibly four, maybe five, could even be six or seven or eight weddings before this one is over. I wouldn't be surprised if we get rewarded with one or two well-deserved demises as well.

Tonight's title is in the recap originally for Gretel but it could also apply to most all of our characters who relentlessly insist on banging their heads against the wall, withholding crucial information, keeping self-destructive secrets, and doing the same stupid crap over and over. Heck it could also apply to those of us who gripe about recapping yet can't seem to give it up for whatever reason. My friends, I raise my glass (a California Rhone-style from the Central Coast) to the human condition. Let's see what our beloved characters are up to tonight...

Capítulo 198 - The window, the window, the second story window.

Usually I find the mini repeats from the previous night annoying. However we get to see a bit of Brandon’s avowal of love for Ilitia and this is OK by me. Also not annoying, Fedra is aghast that her legs have no feeling. Serves her right that her long-suffering lap dog is torturing her like this, whatever his reasons are.

Fedra rubs her legs in despair while her Saint Bernardo feigns sympathy. She still doesn’t want him to touch her. Ha ha Bernardo. She wails she’d rather die than spend her life in a wheelchair. Bern wiggles his eyebrows diabolically.

I love this next scene. Brandon admits that he’s been in love with Ilitia for more than two years but don’t worry LydT, Ilitia’s not in love with him. Uh, actually she is, corrects Emanuel, she loves you man. Ilitia becomes sad and tells Eman she was his girlfriend, then his wife, but no matter what she did it was never enough. She only wanted a little love. Even cranky Mari appears touched by Ilitia’s words. Brandon whips off his jacket and invites Eman to punch his face in half, he won’t even try to stop him. Eman gives him a man-hug, thanks him, and jokingly calls him delinquent (what Brandon always calls El Lirio, hee). Eman tells Ilitia at least he never hid his feelings for Mari and Vicky, blah blah their marriage was a joke.

Gack. At the hospital Axel grabs Dee and fervently kisses her. He’s such a schmuck. She pushes him away and says they are over! He grabs her face and refuses to believe. She pushes, he grabs, she whacks, he defies and says they will end up together. The happy couple music plays and I despair.

Ilitia turns on Mari and tries to blame her but Mari reminds Ilitia that she used lies and trickery to get Eman. Ilitia played dirty and should accept it. Eman puts his arm around Brandon and asks Ilitia, is the baby you’re expecting mine or my compadre’s? Mari who has to butt into everything begs Ilitia to tell the truth for once. So what if Brandon isn’t rich? He’s a great guy with a good job, he loves Ilitia and will take care of her. The father of the baby deserves to know. Eman agrees, they all deserve to know. Brandon asks, did you get pregnant to keep your husband? Could you do such a thing? Is the baby mine? OK Ilitia, they’re all ganging up on you. It’s truth time.

Emiliano and Netty are having coffee or dinner somewhere and he admits to her that for a moment when they were in hospital he hoped Fedra wouldn’t survive surgery. He wanted the nightmare to be over. Netty gets it. Emi we all get it. More lamenting about Juana Felipa the prostituta, he finally understands all the torment she caused the family. Netty pipes up about Gretel, poor girl, who has had to put up with so much and who is now in crisis about everything that’s happened. Emi is all “que?” what doesn’t he know about Gretel? Dude, you know she was locked in the cellar for two years, isn’t that enough?

Uh...Netty replies that Gretel needs everybody’s love more than ever, especially Paula, Tio and Oliver. Yeah sure, agrees our dense papa, especially Oliver. She also assures him she has a Very Good Reason for protecting Jose Maria Sevilla’s secret. Emi’s little hamster is trying really, really hard to run. Emi asks Netty, does Eman know what JMS and Fedra are hiding? Ask him, she replies, she can’t say anything. It’s the law of telenovelas, what can be revealed in one simple sentence must remain hidden for no good reason.

Now Brandon is getting on Ilitia’s case. He gets a brief smile out of Eman when he accuses her of just using him to “bump cars” and use his body to have a good time. Ilitia’s in tears and admits she didn’t mean to lie to them but Fedra put her up to it to keep Eman. Fedra wanted the world to think she was pregnant with Eman’s baby and paid a doctor for a positive test. But when Eman carried her in to another doctor she was as shocked as everyone to find out she was pregnant. Eman is fatigued to hear yet another rotten story about his mami.

Fedra is still in a panic about her legs. Lowrenzo arrives and yells at Bernardo to “Move it, get out!” She takes a time out to spit some venom at Emi and Netty who have just arrived. She wants them Out! Raus! She calls Netty a liar, hypocrite...bad actress! This last one gets a raised eyebrow out of Netty. Emi says he’s sorry for what happened and he hopes someday he can forgive her. However the woman he married doesn’t exist so he doesn’t need a divorce to be a free man. She'll be in good hands with Low. Goodbye forever Juana Felipa Perez. She hurls epithets his way but alas, nobody cares.

Ilitia tells the group that the way the dates add up the baby is Eman’s, so sorry for him. Yep, I’m sorry for me too, Eman says. And when the baby is born he’s going to have a DNA test done. Fine, says Ilitia, hitching herself up, but until then Byeee divorcio because she’s not going to sign anything. You never loved me, not even a little? asks Brandon. He looks tortured and so does Ilitia.

The phone rings. Mari tells Eman that a terrible thing happened to Fedra at the hospital. He and Mari run out leaving Brandon and Ilitia to gaze painfully at each other.

Back at the hospital Fedra rants, Lowrenzo tries to soothe, and the shady doctor tells him that Fedra will never walk again.

Eman and Mari rush into the hospital. Bernardo tells Emi and Eman that Fedra needs them now more than ever. She’ll never walk again.

Brandon is tired of being jerked around by Ilitia. She tells him playing around with him was her favorite pastime. He asks her how does it feel to destroy the heart of a man like him? He had a stupid dream that one day she would realize all this money is nothing when there’s no love. In Acapulco he thought they were in love but it was a lie. She says she wasn't born to be poor. He brings up that she was an orphan. She says nope, she has a name because her dad is Lowrenzo. That guy? laughs Brandon, he’s a delinquent, a loser, a playboy and you’re the spitting image. And worst of all Ilitia Porrrta Lopez is that you’ll be alone; you've lost your husband and you’ve lost me forever. He wipes a manly tear from his eye and says this is the last time she’ll see him.

Ilitia sarcastically says, thanks a million, I’m shattered, and the one who is leaving is me. Which she does with her best Top Model sashay.

“Whoaaaa whoaaa whoaaa, Brandon Brunette Moreno,” we hear Kristel slobber as she stumbles down the stairs, bottle of wine in hand. With her best drunken baby voice she mocks his frowny face. So he’s got a broken heart, she has one too, she puts his hand on her chest and heaves up and down, thump thump, thump thump, thump thump, see? Another Kristel tour de force, edited out.

Brandon insists he’s there to see Gretel, he brushes her aside and is on his way upstairs when he is stopped by...Hooray!! Doctora Chelatina! S/he shakes her finger at Brandon and a flummoxed Kristel and chimes “Heyy heyyy, I've come to talk to MY patient, hokay?”

Eman kvetches about Fedra and Mari tries to comfort him. “Hypocrite!” Bernardo shouts at her. “Bad dog!”, retorts Eman. (OK, so I paraphrased that last part.)

Paula kvetches to Maximo about Gretel. She’s afraid she might be going craz... “Shhh!” commands Maximo, “my daughter’s not crazy!” Well not with Doctora Chelatina to the rescue. She enters and Max the old goat coos it’s a pleasure to meet a lady so distinguished, so refined, so cultured, and he is (drum roll) Maximo Ruiz y de Teresa at her service (kisses hand)! Paula stands by giving him the stink eye. He kisses Chelatina’s hand once or twice more before Paula manages to push him out.

Chelatina sweetly comforts Gretel, tell Chela what you’re feeling. Gretel says she wants to die. Chela assures her there are solutions to every problem. “Help me Chela,” begs Gretel, “save me from this darkness.”

Eman and Mari mope by a sleeping Fedra. How will they tell her? Low enters and mutters that Mari has no business there and his mother needs him now more than ever. Fedra awakes, happy to see Eman, Mari not so much. Low kicks Mari out. Eman kicks Low out. She asks Eman why can’t she feel her legs? He starts crying and tells her to be calm. I don’t know about you but when I see someone crying over me “calm” is the last feeling that comes to mind. In short, “You’ll never walk again Mama.”

Chela tells Gretel that she must be completely honest and tell her everything. Gretel starts off by saying she took Chela’s advice and got back together with Oliver, the best guy ever. “Yes you make a beautiful couple! Uh, I imagine,” gushes Chela, nearly sobbing at the news. But Gretel weeps that she’ll never be happy with anyone because she has to pay for everything she’s done. It’s her fault that Fedra is in the hospital on the verge of death. Chela insists no no no, sooner than later something bad would happen to Fedra. I think Gretel says something about doing nothing about her uncle’s death and now he’s going to punish her.

Fedra rants and rails against the injustice of it all. No way will she be a useless! Low runs in and she tells him she can’t walk, she wants to die. Eman reminds her that he once had an accident too and he couldn’t walk, she needs to be strong, they’ll see the best specialist, he’s there with her.

Axel and Dee are in Licenciado Eugenio’s office. Axel has changed his mind and wants to retract his signature. Eugenio, speaking with his mouth full of Danish, announces his congratulations or his condolences, the divorce is a done deal. Dammit, Dee looks stunned.

Gretel is having a breakdown, sobbing that she saw Fedra kill him but she can’t say who. Chela keeps urging Gretel to tell the entire truth until finally Gretel starts blubbering the story she’s been hiding all her life. “I was in the closet. My uncle was with her, said he knew all about her. She attacked him and attacked him and threw him out the window. Fedra killed Marianela’s father, she killed my uncle and I saw it all!”


Capítulo 199 - She'll never walk again. I need/she needs you more than ever. Get out! All said about 50 times tonight.

Gretel continues her melt down and cries that when murdere Fedra found out Gretel knew everything she threatened to harm her father and Oliver. She couldn’t tell anyone.

Chelatina slips up and, in Oliver voice, tells his venenito that everything will be OK. Gretel looks around in a panic, Oliver where are you? Paula comes in, Gretel is still sobbing and Chela is also in tears. Paula and Chela try to calm hysterical Gretel.

Axhole follows Dee around begging and whining like a prat for her forgiveness. Why is she crying? She wanted the divorce. She says it still hurts. He begs for another chance. She’s all no way, it hurts too much. OK how about just friends then, he suggests, then maybe someday... She relents and reluctantly nods. He hugs and looks hopefully over her shoulder. Blech.

Eman and Low stare at Fedra as she sleeps. Eman says he doesn’t know this woman, she lied all the time but in spite of it he doesn’t want her to suffer. Low says she’s your mother and she gave you life. Eman says little by little she destroyed everything. “Why is there so much bad in you mama? You're paying for all you did. A woman like you, so vital, not being able to walk will be like a prison sentence.”

Eman asks Low does he really love Fedra? If so please don’t leave her alone. Low says he promises not to leave Fedra but Eman has to promise him the same thing, that he won’t leave Ilitia.

Eman sez sorry Low, but your daughter’s happiness is not by my side. Your daughter doesn’t love me and our marriage was just her whim, a fantasy. When I married her I loved another woman and she’s in love with another man. Low knows it’s that imbecile policeman and tells Eman to forgive her because there’s a baby on the way.

Eman firmly states that this baby is likely Brandon’s, not his. Iliita, with his mother’s help, tried to manipulate his life. To clarify, the marriage if over and nobody can change that. Low makes an evil face like “Oh yes I WILL change that.”

Ilitia comes home all mopey and weepy and tells Muñeca that her marriage is over. She’s lost Eman forever because he found out about her slip up with Brandon.

Muñeca is, “Uh, I’d hardly call him a slip up because you’re in love with him.” She urges Ilitia to use this opportunity to be happy with him. Never, says Ilitia, because she worked too hard to be the most famous Top Model and be married to Eman. She doesn’t want to be poor. I’m thinking if she’s such a famous Top Model why doesn’t she have a little money in her bank account? What happened to having a career and paying your own way? But I digress. Muñeca tells her to stop playing this stupid game with the baby. Brandon should know that he is the father and Eman deserves happiness. Ilitia listens to the devil on her shoulder and vows that she will do whatever it takes to separate Eman from La Flacucha and La Gorda. She flounces off for daddy who will help her make Eman pay for what he’s doing to her.

Jairo visits Brandon at Netty’s, he’s looking for Oli and Gretel for an exclusive on ELdP. Brandon advises that something went down at the RYdT casa but if Jairo wants he can cooperate with the police and get his exclusive when they capture Mexico’s Most Wanted.

Gretel wakes up and Oli is at her side. He tells her that everything’s fine and Chela took off. Was he there when she told Chela everything? He says he heard her horrible admission, that Fedra killed Mari’s dad. No no, Gretel denies it, she wasn’t herself. Please don’t repeat what he heard because it isn’t true. Ay! Otra vez la burra...

Speaking of otra vez, Eman is at mami’s side again. Mari is still hanging around lending her support. She says some stupid stuff, the usual platitudes. Eman hugs her, thrilled to have her support that means so much to him. She’s the most noble woman he’s ever known in his life. Gag. He moves in for a kiss. Sure, great idea in your mother’s hospitable room. She pushes him back, it’s not right. He doesn’t care because he loves her and Ilitia is expecting Brandon’s child. Mari steps away for a private thought bubble: “If you only knew that I’m pregnant too. So many times I wanted a baby with you but here I am, expecting another man’s child.” No Mari, if YOU only knew.

Eman’s all “whatcha thinkin’?” Oh, just thinking of Vicky, lies Mari. Eman sez, funny how I love both you and Vicky equally, don’t you think? No, she thinks it’s a disaster because the same sort of thing happened to her.

Gladi comes home crying to Brandon about Doris who is more foolish than ever. She pleads for him to save his sister from That Man. So glad they edited this out.

Eman wants to know who the other guy is and don’t say it’s Jorge because he’s convinced they are only friends. Mari changes the subject, says they’d be better off keeping their distance, and then does that thing she always does, exits.

Fedra wakes up and moans she needs Eman more than ever, never leave her.

Mari joins Axhole and Dee and gets Axhole all upset about Gretel. He’s about ready to hothead over to La Mala Manse when a terrible yowling permeates the room. It’s Kristel, staggering through the halls and bouncing off the walls with her bottle of wine, headband slipping down over her eyes. “Wau, que cool, it’s a fiesta, a family reunion!” She’s not leaving before she visits mami and gives her a little snort of wine. Dee scolds her that’s no way to act when your mother is an invalid. Kristel’s all what’s that stupid servant talking about? Eman confirms it, mom will never walk again. Kristel cackles drunkenlyand proposes a toast to the eternal rest of mom’s legs.

Jose Maria grabs his chance, he thinks, by bringing Netty roses and proposing marriage. He wants to spend the rest of his (very short) life with her. Oopsie, Emiliano’s in the house and informs JMS that he should congratulate them on their impending marriage. Emi twists the knife, it should interest him to know that soon he’ll find out all he wants to know about JMS hoe he's connected to Juana Felipa. Oh, by they way, she took a header off the balcony is now in the hospital and paralyzed.

Kristel babbles some more that her entire family are a bunch of fakers. Fedra is really someone else just like Marianela! Eman says he wants to go hook up with Vicky, everyone else leaves, and Mari mutters Ay Dios she’s got to get to Netty’s before Eman gets there.

Bernardo tries again to tell Fedra he’ll be by her side always. She asks for Eman and Lowrenzo. Bern lies and said Low left at the first opportunity. This dismal conversation is saved by drunk Kristel who s-turns into the room waving that bottle, “Helloooo mami!”

Doris is in a morgue cheerfully promising a corpse that she’ll make it very handsome. She pulls back the sheet and it’s Andre with cotton stuffed in his nose and ears. Yikes, bad dream. Andre rushes in to comfort her. Yikes, not a bad dream, it’s Brandon yelling and pounding on the door.

Low meets with Orangey to tell him he has a little job for him and he’d better not fail. Eman wants to divorce Ilitia. Mau laughs, you don’t say, she deserves better than Eman and I’m the man for the job...after I kill him. Not exactly what Low had in mind. He opens a case full of money, he wants Mau to kill Brandon Moreno. And right on cue Ilitia as come into the room and hears the whole thing. Cara impactada is an understatement. Low adds that because of Ilitia’s affair with that policeman her marriage is in jeapordy. He wants that infeliz out of the way as soon as possible, is that clear? Mau nods his head and Ilitia, unseen, shakes hers.

Eman arrives at Vicky’s room first and starts a conversation with the dolly that holds the secrets. He immediately finds the documents about the investigation by Tio Felipe. No puede ser! He knew that Fedra was Juana Felipa Perez! A sailor’s prostitute! A dancer and stripper for the pleasure of men!

Mau is pressing his case, let him protect Ilitia, but the stupid Top Model pipes up “No! No!” Mau grabs her as she implores daddy not to hurt Brandon. She's a huge big mouth lets slip that she is pregnant by Brandon. That’s great info for Mau and he runs to shut the door to keep things quiet.

Brandon busts through the door, pistol aimed at Andres, shouting threats and pounding his chest. He doesn’t care for words so he punches Andres in the face then drags Doris out the door. Something tells me this isn’t going to have the desired effect.

Mari rushes in and Consuelo tells her that Eman is already upstairs. She sneaks upstairs to Doris’s room to change her disguise.

Ilitia is fighting with dad about Brandon. Low insists that Brandon will die. The doorbell rings and Low passes her off to Mau for hiding in the bedroom. Oh Low, if you only knew. It’s Mayela at the door; great timing!

Eman continues reading the documents. The 15 years that Juana Felipa knew him JMS was a Spanish smuggler in the Caribbean. He recalls Fedra telling him that JMS killer her parents. “Lies, all lies!” sobs Eman, “That man was your lover.” He read that JMS’s boat was El Lirio de Plata. All the stories that Bernardo told him were about his father. (Did we ever hear those stories?) El Lirio de Plata burned up with the Curiel’s aboard. Eman mutters that his mami robbed the Curiels.

Eman recalls Mari accusing Fedra of killing Tia Carlota. Eman’s little hamster is running a marathon and the pieces are falling into place. Who are you mami? Did you kill anyone? That's something I can never forgive. He also recalls Jorge saying he was trying to find Juana Felipa and he knows Fedra killed Tia Carlota. Quick change artist Vicky finds Eman sniffing and snorting in despair.

Mau’s got Ilitia right where he wants her with daddy’s permission. She begs him not to hurt Brandon. Mau is incensed that she would let herself become preggers by that low life. She says she’ll pay anything. Guess what? He doesn’t want money, but her body yessssss. He starts with a kiss and tells her to convince him that she likes him. No? Then Brandon’s a goner. Mau repeats himself, this kiss had better convince him. OK she’ll do it, if she kisses him he won't hurt Brandon. He lays a slimy one on her and she can’t help but pull away. That’s it, he says, you just killed Brandon Moreno.

Mañana: Wow, looks like Andres comes through with an impressive door kick to save Ilitia and she admits that Brandon is the father of her baby.

Otra vez la burra al trigo = Once again she’s up to her bad habits (Lit. Once again the she-donkey’s in the wheat)

Labels: llena

Maggie here. Because of Llena’s not being shown on Monday, I’m recapping today and Julia is having a well-deserved rest.

This is my next-to-last recap (penultimate, if you like Latin-y words, and I know you do, because heck, you’re studying Spanish!), and I wanted to take a moment to thank you all for what has been for me a prime Caray Caray experience here at Llena. Yes, this was a really fun show with a terrific cast and intricate, if totally implausible, plotting. I am grateful for the performers’ wonderful diction. I mean, say what you will about Mari/Vicky, at least she speaks very clearly.

But what I’m really grateful for is the splendid time we’ve had here. I felt very honored to be part of such an amazing recap team, all of them astonishingly talented superstars. In fact, my only complaint during this show (except the chopped up last capitulos, natch) is that I completely ran out of superlatives when I was commenting on my fellow recappers’ posts. There was no way to express appreciation for every funny bit, for every beautifully turned phrase, because there was such a superabundance of them. I just want you all to know that nothing went unnoticed or unappreciated, and that if you had fun writing it, I definitely had fun reading it.

The same can be said for the marvelous commenters. What an amazing group. You made me laugh, and you sure made me think. I just loved the tone and content of all the comments. You rock.

I will be taking a break from recapping after this, as I’ve done 5 novelas in a row (3 years). A note to those who are considering recapping: Do it! I just love it and will miss it terribly. It’s a wonderful creative outlet, and it’s fun to be part of a recapping team. It’s just one evening a week, which is a reasonable amount of time to spend on a hobby.

I’m not at all burned out on recapping, what I’m burned out on is telenovelas, or at least having to religiously follow the novela the other 4 nights a week. Just an overdose, I guess. So now I’m going to peek around at various ones, or maybe just attack that stack of books by my bed.

Capítulo 196 She flies through the air with the greatest of ease

We left off Friday as Ilitia let slip to the Lirio that Brandon is the love of her life. The Lirio, a full-service kinda guy, provides some family counseling. If she doesn’t love her husband, why doesn’t she just tell him she’s been involved with someone else? Ilitia doesn’t figure she could live in a big house like this on a policeman’s salary. Money doesn’t buy happiness, she knows, but it sure helps. The Lirio realizes she married for money. He offers her a deal – if Brandon is the father of her child, he promises not to hurt him.

At the dollhouse, Muñeca gets plenty het up as the whole idea of Mayela being Ilitia’s mother sinks in. She thought she and Mayela were friends! Not really, says Mayela icily. Muñeca just can’t understand how Mayela’s been around all the time, how Ilitia filmed her first commercial with her when she was 12 years old, and all this time she never gave any sign. How could she be so near her daughter all the time, and not show anything? And why is she telling her now? Mayela stares at Muñeca coldly like the hardened career woman she is, and says Money, money to pay my debts. I was about to get it, but Ilitia intervened.

Lorenzo is mad that Mauricio talked to Mayela, but Mau insists that he just happened to bump into her in a restaurant and they got to chatting. Lo suspects Mau gave her money, but Mau pretends that he never would without asking Lo. Lo smells a rat. Mau offers to off her, but Lo waves that off, telling him to let him know if she contacts him.

Ilitia thinks the Lirio will blab to Marianela if she says anything, but the Lirio says he just met Mari briefly in a hospital room, and gives himself a plug for having paid for Javier’s operation. Ilitia insists Eman is the father.

The Lirio takes her by the shoulders a bit roughly and tells her not to lie. She starts calling for help and he claps a gloved hand over her mouth, and takes her like a hostage downstairs, where Benigno, Paula, Emil and Max all stare. Max pulls a gun and Benigno and Emil beg him not to shoot.

Mayela tells Muñeca that Lo paid her to make Ilitia a Top Model because it was his princess’s big dream, and she did, but after that she had to put up with her little whims, her moods, her drinking. So she fired her, but Lorenzo paid her to take Ilitia back. Ilitia didn’t make any effort to change, and now Mayela stands to lose the business it took her her whole life to build.

Muñeca furiously tells her she’s not getting any money from her. Mayela maintains she did Muñeca a huge favor, giving her the child she could never have, and never interfering. Muñeca fires back that Mayela just dumped Ilitia at the orphanage. Muñeca always thought that Ilitia’s mother was some street person, and she was afraid for Ilitia to find her.

Mayela proclaims that she’s not a monster, that she never wanted to have children, unlike Muñeca, who was always praying to have a child. Muñeca yells at her to get out, but Mayela says all she wants is some help from Muñeca, she doesn’t want a gift, just a loan that she’ll pay back over a couple of years.

Muñeca snorts how it’s always about money. She’ll give it to Mayela outright, if she’ll just get out of their lives, and never tell Ilitia. Mayela scoffs that she doesn’t give a rat’s little fuzzy hiney if Ilitia knows or not.

Emil talks Max into not shooting. The Lirio apologizes, throws his smoke screen and evaporates, leaving Ilitia behind, and everybody coughing.

Gladiola and Netty are weeping on the couch and Mari tries to sort them out, telling Gladiola that Doris will be fine, and that Netty needs to tell Eman the truth about what was in those papers. Netty says she kept Mari’s secret, and Mari has to keep this one for her.

In the big house kitchen Nereida puts some of Bernardo’s drops, the ones that make a person crazy, not the sleepy-time ones, in one of the drinks for the family gathering. When she goes in to serve them, she says that she hates it at Fedra’s and can she please still work here? Emil says sure.

Nereida gives the tainted drink to Gretel, and Emil starts in on a big announcement. He had hired a detective who went to Greece to investigate Fedra’s past (the family is stunned) and he found out she wasn’t the Curiels’ child. She was born in Veracruz, but he doesn’t want to get into her past because it’s distasteful. He plans to confront Fedra, and demand to know why she came into his life pretending to be another person, and who Jose Maria is, because he thinks he’s hiding something too.

But there JM is, walking into the pension where Gladiola is still a river of tears over Doris. She fills him in on why nobody’s home, mentioning that Netty’s engagement has been called off. That sure grabs his attention.

Eman’s finding it hard to believe his mother isn’t who she says. Emil hands over the investigation for him to read. The drops must’ve kicked in because Gretel is coming unglued, and hysterically repeats that she doesn’t want anything bad to happen. She has a vision of ghostly Luis Felipe (in black and white because that was cheaper to develop years ago, I guess) holding a silencing finger to his lips.

Speed-reader Eman reports that yup, Fedra wasn’t the Curiels’ daughter, and also that Jose Maria was in prison for murdering them. Everyone marvels and wonders. Eman implores his father to tell them who his mother was in Veracruz. He must’ve been skimming when he read the report.

Netty shows up with Marianela and tells Emil that she wants him to listen to what she has to say.

Bernardo and Fedra have pulled up outside and Fedra wistfully notes how lovely the big house is all lit up at night. Nereida comes up to the car and tells them who all’s inside. Bernardo thinks it’s going to be hard for Fedra to return to her throne in the castle. She says thinks Eman will stick up for her, Max and Emil could be a problem. Her main fear is that Gretel will blab what she knows. She tells Bernardo to keep his mouth shut. He makes sure Nereida followed his orders about the drops.

Emil tells Netty that his marriage started out with secrets, and he doesn’t want to make the same mistake and start another when he knows she’s hiding something. Mari begs him not to be so harsh. Netty swears that she loves him, and that’s her only truth. Benigno, a secret romantic, lets out a long sigh.

Emil explains to Eman that Netty knows what Jose Maria’s secret is, and she won’t tell him. Eman can’t stand that they’re fighting, their whole happiness is at stake. He asks his father to come talk to him alone in the office, but Netty begs him not to do that to Emil. Eman doesn’t want a breakup because of JM, while Netty pleads that Emil’s whole happiness is that Eman is his son. Emil of course is getting very confused.

Netty, deciding it was a mistake to come and that she’s going to leave, tells everyone that they should be very proud of their father – he saved her from the kidnappers, saved her life in fact. Emil grumbles that JM is more important to her than he is, so Eman insists they go talk alone.

Fedra comes in looking looped, Bernardo behind her, and demands to know what Netty is doing there in her house. Emil tells her she’s the one who’s going to do some explaining. Emil knows she isn’t Fedra Curiel, Max adds that the Curiels didn’t have any children, and then Mari, Ilitia, and Netty all take turns letting her know that the jig is up.

Emil says he knows her real name, now she’s to say it in front of everybody. Gretel, standing in the back, is freaking out.

Back at the pension, JM is very understanding to weepy Gladiola and she leans on his shoulder. Brandon and Oliver come in and are shocked. Gladiola tells him that she needed comforting because Doris ran off with Andre.

Fedra, slurring her words, says that it’s true she wasn’t the Curiel’s child. She was an orphan they took in, but they treated her like a servant, not their child. Emil demands to know why she didn’t tell him from the get-go. Fear, she says, that you would reject me.

Netty tells her she’s making it all up. Flipped out Gretel keeps repeating “don’t believe her, don’t believe her.”

Emil wants to know how she made a living in Veracruz, and adds that his brother had uncovered all of this long ago, and Mari has the report. Right, says Mari, the moment of truth has come. Tell everyone your real name, or I will. Fedra ambles up to Mari, gets right in her face refuses, and bolts.

Looks like we’re in the pre-boda home stretch now, that magical, deeply gratifying time when the telenovela gods wield their terrible swift swords, smiting the evil, so it’s time for a little ditty.

The moment had come
I swallowed my gum
I knew there’d be blood on the sand
Pretty soon.
(Tom Lehrer)

Fedra has fled to a bedroom, and Gretel, not seeing her, comes in. Fedra quick locks the door and gives Gretel a slap. Max and Eman pound on the door.

This is quite a pair of the impaired, Fedra sloshed and Gretel nutsy from the drugs. Gretel tells Fedra that she saw! Fedra mumbles that that Luis Felipe was going to uncover her past. She curses Emiliano and Mari, and shoves Gretel onto the bed. The guys pound some more outside.

Tell them! Gretel shouts. Fedra leans on the door and slobbers to Eman outside that she doesn’t want anybody to put her in jail. Eman is puzzled. Fedra goes to Gretel and sentimentally strokes her leg, sadly saying she couldn’t stand it if Eman didn’t love her. I love you! she calls out to him. The guys pound some more and demand to be let in. Fedra blocks the door with an office chair with wheels (that oughta work…not). She looks for a way out, and we see that the balcony is pretty high up, above tree-level.

Fedra is remembering how it all happened. She remembers the balcony was just there… then, taking Gretel to the closet and placing her there, you were just there, hiding like a rat.

Fedra is definitely weirding out, but Gretel foolishly yells at her that she knows that she was a prostitute. Fedra goes back to reenacting that moment, and runs to the balcony and shows how she pushed Luis Felipe, remember, mi vida?. Gretel sobs that she couldn’t do anything. Fedra tells her she’s not going to be able to do anything now either.

Fedra climbs onto the balcony rail and stands there, back to the yard, arms held out straight on both sides, while Gretel begs her not to do it. Below, Nereida sees her and starts yelling. The family rushes out and pleads with her not to jump. I love you, Emanuel, she calls down.

Gretel begs her to come back in. Fedra tells her it was her fault Luis Felipe died, and now it’s her fault that she’s going to too. The others are yelling Don’t do it! Fedra allows herself to fall, arms still held out.

Ka-thunk! Boing, boing boing.

I made up the boing boing boing part. Looks of horror on everyone’s faces, Gretel screaming Nooooooo! Max looks a little urpy, Eman calls out Mama, no! then he and Bernardo Eman run over to her. She is unconscious, blood running from her mouth, her hair spread wide. Kristel clings to Ilitia and rambles over the horror. Tranquila, comforts Ilitia (like that would help for heaven’s sake). God knows why these things happen, adds Ilitia who now has a death sentence lifted off her after all.

Netty says she always wanted to see Fedra brought down, but not this way. Eman realizes that Fedra’s still breathing and Emil calls an ambulance. Max spits curses at her.

Shut up! yells Bernardo. All Fedra has done all her life is worry about all of you, about her kids, he raves at them. And this is how you repay her? You’re all responsible for this!

Max begs to differ. Actually, he’s yelling that no way can Bernardo defend her, and the only people who have paid are her victims. Axel asks if Bernardo’s forgotten what she did to him, and Ilitia chimes in on how evil she was. Max tells Bernardo to get out. Kristel gets hysterical and screeches that everyone should shut up. Mari tells Bernardo that he was instrumental in constructing the lie, and he’s going to pay.

In her room, Gretel is rocking herself and repeating that it’s her fault. Outside, Paula is pounding on the door while she and Netty try to get her to open up. Netty calls out to her how awful Fedra was, and how she always said Eva was an alcoholic, when she’s the one who really was. Bernardo has wandered into the foyer, and hears Netty and mumbles that Gretel’s the one who was responsible for killing the woman he loves and she’s going to pay, in blood.

Eman has been at his mother’s side all this time, and he can’t wait for the ambulance, he wants to take her to the hospital himself. Ilitia goes over to him and softly tells him she’s going to die, and to let her go. He yells at her to shut up. Emil is sure she’s going to die, but Eman, in tears, sobs that he knows they all hate her, but she gave him life and he’s going to fight for hers.

Mari sadly tells him that it’s better to wait, it’s not safe to move her, and Emil backs her up. Ilitia looks slitty-eyed. Mari wishes her off the planet too.

Gladiola is hanging on hard to Brandon, who wants to go after Andre. Oliver tells him he’s too overcharged, that he (Oliver) can talk with Doris. Gladiola tells Brandon that Doris is upset about having to spend a night in jail, and she doesn’t want to lose her forever.

Brandon’s cell rings and it’s Ilitia pleading with him to come, she feels really alone and bad. She leaves out the weensy detail of Fedra’s having flung herself off the balcony. Brandon tells Oliver to talk to Doris, and bring her on home, and tells Gladiola everything will be fine and off he goes. Oliver asks to have the cell phone and Brandon hands it over. Hmmm – what was that all about?

Poor Gretel is still rocking herself when her eyes widen at the sight of Luis Felipe, in shades of gray and all shimmery, telling her it was her fault, she didn’t do anything and she let him die. Shimmery gray Fedra appears beside him and agrees.

This calls for a bit of the Bard!

I think it is the weakness of mine eyes
That shapes this monstrous apparition.
It comes upon me. Art thou any thing?
Art thou some god, some angel, or some devil,
That makes my blood cold and my hair to stare?

The music is too loud to make out what they’re saying, but they lay some more guilt on Gretel, who begs them to leave her alone. She backs into the closet and closes the door and screams. At the pension, Oliver feels a sharp pang in his chest. Gladiola is afraid it’s a Doris pang, but Oliver knows something has happened to Gretel.

Netty calls the pension and tells Gladiola that Gretel’s bad off due to Fedra jumping off the balcony. Oliver knew something was wrong! He tells Gladiola he’ll go talk to Doris later and he bolts out.

The ambulance comes, Fedra is loaded in and Eman gets in with her. Others follow in the car, leaving Max, Paula and Benigno and Kristel. They go in, and then we see Bernardo beside the house with a ladder, threatening that Gretel’s going to pay.

Outside Gretel’s door, Mari has joined Paula and Netty. They wonder why Gretel is so bad off. Netty thinks Fedra would drive anybody nuts, but Mari looks thoughtful. Max shows up. The keys haven’t worked, they tell him, they push but can’t open the door. He pounds on it and calls to Gretel.

Gretel cracks the closet door open only to see the two spirits again, Fedra telling her it’s her fault and Luis Felipe demanding to know why she let him die.

Bernardo has made it over the balcony and now comes into the cobwebbed room, evilly saying he knows she’s there. He spots her in the closet. She cowers. He tells her she’s killed the woman he loves. Gretel blubbers that Fedra pushed Luis Felipe, not her.

Capítulo 197 Not really Fedra Curiel, not really dead

Mari wants to wait for Oliver – he’ll lure Gretel out. Mari and Max send Paula and Netty down to the kitchen. Inside the room, Gretel tells Bernardo that she’s was a witness to all his crimes, and she’s going to testify. He laughs. He’s getting as nutso as Gretel, and he didn’t even drink the magic drink. He growls that she’s taken Fedra away from him, and she doesn’t deserve to live.

He shows her a gun – it’s Fedra’s. Nobody knows he’s there, so everybody’s going to think that Gretel had it and - boom! - shot herself because she couldn’t take it. He holds the gun to her head while she trembles.

Netty and Paula are having a tea, and Paula tells her how Gretel is her child, and if she’d known, she would have defended her tooth and nail. Netty is amazed that Eman wants to save his evil mother, but Paula points out good or bad, that’s his mother. Netty thinks that Fedra jumping off the balcony is justice, but she apologizes to San Antonio.

Ilitia drags Brandon into her bedroom and hangs on him and delivers what for her is the headline of the day, namely that the Lirio was there, Mari’s surely in cahoots with him, and that she could’ve lost her baby, which she knows would be particularly upsetting to him. He wonders why. She pounds on his chest and tells him he’s too taken up with chasing criminals and doesn’t pay attention. He grabs her and kisses her, leaning her onto the bed.

Of course Mari walks in and demands to know what’s going on.

Kristel is talking to Nereida about being the Top Model when Oliver comes in looking for Gretel. She calls him “corazon” and grabs him by the hand and they run upstairs. They go into a bedroom and she closes the door and says she needs him too, then throws him on the bed.

Bernardo menaces Gretel, telling her she’s worthless. She ends up clinging to him, begging. He holds the gun to her head again, saying nobody will doubt that the family nutcase pushed Fedra, then shot herself. He keeps repeating how Gretel took her away from him, how she killed him, then he breaks down, leaning his head against hers and weeping into her hair.

Gretel has another vision of Fedra and Luis Felipe and tells Bernardo to look. Forgive me! she says to the watery spirits. He looks, sees nothing, and passes his hand in front of her eyes. What’s wrong with you? Gretel begs them to forgive her. Bernardo is confused, then laughs that she’s crazy, but looks like he’s coming unhinged too because he hands her the gun and tells her to shoot him; his life is worthless without Fedra.

Mari tells Brandon and Ilitia off for kissing – and in her bedroom, no less! Brandon tries to tell her it wasn’t what it looks like, and Ilitia tells her she’s nobody to talk. Brandon said she made him mad, so he kissed her. Ilitia pretends to be mad, then slaps him, saying he wanted to rape her.

Gladiola shows up at Andre’s apartment where Doris is staying and announces that Doris can’t go through with this mistake.

Some woman calls Lorenzo, calling him Senor Lorenzo, and tells him Fedra’s at death’s door and is on the way to the hospital.

In the ambulance, Eman tells his unconscious mother that she’s strong, and begs her to hang on. He kisses her forehead. She comes to a little and says she’s going to die, and that she did it for him. I love you. He tells her he loves her too. She passes out again, and Eman panics. The paramedic leaps into action.

Kill me, laughs Bernardo. Wraith Fedra tells Gretel she should pay with her own life. Bernardo thinks she should kill him, either that or, with a single shot, she could put an end to her own suffering. I’m afraid! Says Gretel. Kill me, then, says Bernardo.

Four-way split screen of all the family groups quibbling. A shot is heard.

Brandon and Oliver appear at the doorway, along with others, and Oliver begins pleading with her to open up. In another room, Ilitia and Nereida find Kristel tied up with bedsheets, cursing Oliver. “I don’t get it!” says Kristel.

At Andre’s apartment, Gladiola begs Doris to come on home and not waste her life, and slaps Andre.

Oliver tenderly and desperately talks to Gretel, trying to get her to open the door while the others listen and hope. Finally the door opens, and Gretel, looking like a wraith herself, opens the door and says that he said he wanted to be with Fedra. She killed him.

Arms surround her and she is taken to her room. Max, Benigno and Oliver burst into the room and find Bernardo on the floor. He’s still alive. Max figures he was trying to hurt Gretel. Brandon decides he has to arrest Gretel. Over my dead body, says Max. Bernardo, who is only wounded in the arm, says she tried to kill him.

Doris tells Gladiola that Andre is her guy and that’s that. Andre swears he loves her and that she’s in good hands, and he lets drop that he doesn’t have any family, they left Mexico. That hits Gladiola’s tender spot.

Fedra’s being rolled into the hospital and rushed to emergency. Eman is frantic.

Gretel is hysterical and Paula, Netty, Oliver and Mari are puzzled. Netty thinks she seems crazy. Gretel says something about having seen something, and everyone wonders what she’s talking about. Max comes in with Bernardo holding his bloody shoulder and demands that she tell them what happened, but Gretel is too freaked out. Bernardo says she was all nutsy and wanted to kill herself, and he took the pistol away and it went off. Gosh, he was just trying to prevent a tragedy. Tell them the truth, he says to Gretel.

I can’t! she says. I know the truth, but I just can’t say it. Brandon thinks he has to arrest her (his universal solution to all problems), but Oliver, who is sure Bernardo is lying, forbids it.. Brandon decides to take Bernardo to the hospital first, and then he has some big-time questions for him.

Gladiola tells Andre to look in the mirror – he’s paying the price for his wild ways, and he’s probably infected a legion of women. Andre says he’s paying the highest price there is. Doris proclaims her big love again, but Gladiola swears by the memory of Doris’s dead daddy that she’s going to separate them.

Oliver asks everybody to leave so he can calm Gretel down. She sobs against his manly chest.

Emil is trying to calm down Eman, who says that his mother is dying and he doesn’t even know who she is or her real name. That sets off the mournful violas, and Emil repents that he confronted Fedra like that. Eman knows that she couldn’t face up to her truth in front of everyone, and it’s not Emil’s fault.

Gretel is afraid she’s losing her mind. She hasn’t heard voices in ages, or seen visions, and now it’s happening. She begs Oliver to ask Netty to get that psychologist lady to come.

Emil says his sons (Axel is there too) have the right to know the truth about Fedra. Eman tells him no, he wants to hear it from her own lips. Axel says no matter what, he doesn’t want her dead. He always hoped that she’d have a turnaround and tell him how proud she was of him.

Eman wants Emil to go solve his problems with Netty, but Emil wants to be with boys through this. Group hug.

Paula and Netty are back in Gretel’s room. Gretel is terrified of being crazy again, she just can’t take it. She begs again for the psychiatrist. Netty promises she’ll deliver and everything will be fine, and drags panicked Oliver out of the room.

Eman comes home to talk to Marianela, and Ilitia gives him grief about not greeting her first. Mari appears and Eman asks her if Fedra can recuperate in the house. Of course, says Mari, you know I have a good heart, and I’ll do it for you. Ilitia imitates her sarcastically. Suddenly the gloves are off – Eman says that the whole marriage is a farce, that her big love for him is fake. Mari says she saw her kissing Brandon, and she should fess up that she’s in love with him.

Lorenzo has managed to get into Fedra’s hospital room. She unconscious, but he begs her to fight, that she’s all he has left. He starts crying, saying that he loves her and that she has to live so they can be married. They can wipe out everybody who’s against them, so she needs to live to get her vengeance.

Bernardo, his arm in a sling, opens the door, sees Lorenzo there and closes it again. Next a cheery doctor comes in and tells Lo that the operation was successful, and they’re just waiting for her to come to so they can check her out. He asks Lo to leave so he can tend to Fedra.

Ilitia protests that Mari’s lying, but Eman tells her to come clean. He’s sick of being lied to. His mother, Ilitia (he flicks his eyes at Mari), all these lies. Mari looks a bit abashed. Ilitia weasels some more without any luck. Eman just wants to know who the baby’s father is.

Bernardo pops back into the hospital room. Now we find out why the doctor is so smiley – Bernardo has paid him to inject her with something (but I don’t know what, as this section wasn’t shown, so no captions to clarify). Bernardo is thrilled he did it and tosses the giant syringe into the trash. Now she’ll realize who really loves her. The doctor smiles that each injection will be just as expensive. They shake on it.

Netty has come to the hospital with Delicia. She asks Emil to come on home with her. That leaves Delicia and Axel, who doesn’t believe that Delicia came just to keep Netty company. Delcia fesses up that she knew he’d be there worrying about his mother. Axel gushes that she’s an amazing person to be worried about Fedra, who has done so much to her. Delicia, softening, says she wasn’t worried about her but about the man she…. um, had the back luck to marry. Axel swears he’s going to luchar for her love and not stop lucharing until he’s won her back.

Bernardo is petting unconscious Fedra and swearing if she dies, he’ll die too and they can be reunited to burn in hell together. He swears there’s nothing he wouldn’t do for her. Everything changed as of today – people know now . Maybe they’re lost. Fedra mumbles to him that nothing is lost, because she’s still alive; no force in the universe is stronger than Fedra Curiel. He kisses her hand frantically, and tells her everybody knows now that she’s not Fedra Curiel. She asks who couldn’t be moved by the story of a penniless orphan who had to fight to survive?

If they believe it! says Bernardo. They will, Fedra assures him, didn’t you see Emanuel’s face, how sad he was? She swears she’s going to stick with that story, get back in her house and wreak revenge on everybody.

She tosses off her cannula saying it bothers her and sits up. Oops, can’t feel those legs!

Ilitia is still lying up a storm when Brandon walks in. She tells him Mari made up some story about them kissing, and she wants him to tell the truth about how he’s obsessed with her and how she keeps shoving him off. Brandon apologizes to her, and admits her was kissing her, and he would never force anybody, he’s not that kind of man. It’s just that she doesn’t want to lose the family name, the money, the house, the power. Ilitia holds a finger to her lips.

He tells her that even though she calls him a naco, a gorilla and all kinds of things, he gave her his heart and soul, but that didn’t mean anything to her. Don’t say that, Ilitia says, looking stricken and near tears. Yes, I’m her lover, her toy, her penniless policeman. I can’t give her what she needs, but I can tell her I love her her right in front of her husband, right in front of the whole world. I’m crazy in love with you, Ilitia Porta Lopez.

Avances: Lorenzo slaps Ilitia, and offers Mauricio stacks of dough to off Brandon. Eman tells Ilitia the marriage is over, and tells Mari he’s going to make everything clear.

Labels: llena

We are at the hearing room waiting for La Gartha who shows up 20 minutes late looking like she’s going clubbing…they start by calling Brandon as witness who whispers to Mau he will undo him.

Jose Maria is thanking Emi for the rescue; apparently JM had friends in low places from his jailed up days who were able to locate Netty? Eman walks in congratulating everyone, Emi won’t be away from his wife to be ever again. Glad notices how upset JM must be that his love is unrequited, she consoles him. He swears he’s not given up yet…Hmmm let’s ponder this shall we? Drifter, post jailbird, man o’ the sea scruffy type versus wealthy, stable, socialite powerful polished business type with a mansion and servants…yeah JM you are still in the running for sure…. Well, actually JM type sounds a bit familiar to me, so maybe we shouldn’t count him out just yet….;0)

Fedra yells at Bernardo for somehow letting Netty escape, he plants that Low must have betrayed her, Mau was with him…

Back at the hearing, BranMuffins testifies that Orangemau tried to sexually assault Vick several times…yesiree judge…of course Mau’s counsel objects claiming all B is trying to do is smudge Mau’s character and B’s only objective is to free La Gartha, besides they have a pretty lengthy history themselves. Not sure these are accepted objections in our system, but what the hey, we are in the court of the terminally idiotics so anything goes. They get into a match here about what the relationship was, and V’s counsel calls Doris to testify she saw Mau advancing himself on her. Next Low is called and testifies V offered her bod in exchange for shares in the PR agency and to screw up the marriage of his daughter to become Eman’s lover, even then that she offered herself as Low’s amante…ok, I know I’ve missed things not watching much lately, but what is she on trial for here? Being someone’s lover is actionable in MX? Interesting!! So the judge in his infinite fairness asks Vick if there is a witness with whom she has not had a relationship. Nice impartiality there…she of course rolls her eyes.

Ok so we are not left without our dose of Fresa, Kristel is rehearsing her testimony outside with the proper prance (something every witness should learn to be the most convincing) when Gretl walks up wondering what evility she’s up to now, and can she dare to speak on behalf of slimy snake. She says true she’s 1000 times better off without Mau, but she was required to testify. By now jolly Olli walks up not so jolly, telling her she should do what’s right for a change…she wonders what the “super cop” will give her in exchange for helping out Vick, he says she’ll get a good conscience knowing she helped out all the other women that Mau hurt along with her. Kris flashes back to pulling a gun on Mau who had pinned down Ilitia. She appears pensive, but I can see the pains the harder thinking is causing our dear Fresa…

Back at the hearing..She goes in “wanting justice”

Bernie is still trying to convince Fedi her love is betraying her, remember like he did when he had an affair with Kris..she noted him nervous this morning and starts to have some doubts, but they are to marry and he will share all his money with her…Berni lays it on thicker now, he’s the only one who really loves her, he’s not just a servant. Esta freaky…don’t say that anymore she says… It looked like she really bit her tongue or gum or something…she continues he’s only her servant he’ll never be more…he finally tells her not to humiliate him. He reaches for her neck, but we know he won’t do it. Yet. My money is on his betrayal eventually that will lead to her coveted demise.

Back at the hearing Kristel accuses Vick of ruining everything for her. Mau smiles. Vick can’t believe she is doing this to her. Kris warns Mau on the way out, she won’t betray him publicly here, but if he touches Ilitia, she’ll make pieces out of him.

Mau’s counsel requests that she be detained, that there is enough evidence against her…she pleads for her freedom, they beg if she must stay to give her bail. Just when the judge says he can’t do that, and she must remain in custody, our super leather hero ELDP shows up to the rescue declaring her innocence.

Fedra tells Berni to get his slimy hands off her. She starts to repent only slightly and tells him he needs to accept his position in her life, he is like a bro, remember? Bernardo gets dissed by Fedra who says he’s good for Nereidas, she’s a bit too grand for him. She leaves and He tells the air she’s turned all the love into hate, and she will pay. Yep, I’m predicting a murder attempt by our jilted one.
Back in court, el Lirio has something to say, he’ll be quick. He’s a criminal but he’s worth hearing…I love Brandon’s attempts at pointing the gun. Also the court reporter is cracking me up, there’s no way she can do this with a computer…
Gret and Doris run into the bathroom. Gret has to change into Manolo to get the story of the century from el Lirio..

Back in the courtroom they fight over whether ELDP should be allowed to testify, he is a criminal and of course MV doesn't want him to jeopardize himself or reveal himself...she begs him not to.


Muneca wonders why ELDP is here and Doris says they want him to turn himself in and take off the mask. She screams he’s hero…Vicki gets a note from Mano…she begs ELDP not to reveal the face behind that shiny vinyl. Brandon wants him to, he says he will do anything for Vik, she says then let me do it and whispers about the gun in Gman’s vest. ELDP takes G-man hostage, blows a smoke bomb and gets away with G-man…outside she begs for an exclusive e-mail but he escapes behind a locked door and G-man is left with nothing.

We go to another plot where Low is turning over a check to Mayela so she won’t talk. Unexpectedly Ili runs in grabs it and tells her she won’t blackmail her Pa anymore. She’s all ears so if there is something to tell her, let her know, she doesn’t care if the woman knows who her real Ma is. Pa is pleased and Mayela is pissed.

Back to the ELDP plot where he now emerges with Eman as a hostage…they yell a bit, and oops more pyrotechnics and ELDP is gone in a flash. Eman grabs Brandon’s leg holding him from chasing claiming he needs help, he was hit…

In yet another plot, Netty is crying to Emi about JM having left, she is worried about his broken heart. She later begs to go to the hearing to help Vick

They were unable of course to catch the ELDP, he vanished in thin air as always. Mau comes out to the stunned after ELDP math and demands Vick be cuffed, and that he’ll get her…Bran dismisses him. Vick thinks Eman needs to be checked out, he’s fine and thinks she still has a little love for him. She just doesn’t want bad things to happen. Seems the judge has stayed the proceedings and she doesn’t need to go to jail yet.

Vick goes back to the house telling everyone she thinks they are going to lose…Doris is getting out and her Ma begs her not to.

G-man wants an interview with Eman about his kidnapping….he seems to be tricking G-man that she is hiding something too, they go in for an interview.

Mayela is approached by Mau at the bar..she knows who he is and blows him off, but he is there to help her, he’s investigated her, knows she owes a debt and wants to know why she is blackmailing him. He will pay her whatever to ruin that guy forever.

Nereida is thrilled they are going back home. Fedra wants to be with her son..Berni thinks once he knows her true provenance, he’ll hate her too. She is blitzed!! Low wonders que the hell he is talking about.

Eman tells G-man he knows the real identity of the Leatherman, Eldp will tell her himself when he interviews, but G-man too needs to take off his mask. G-man is perplexed..Eman pulls out his mask…she is muy impactada…he tells her now take off yours, ok she pulls off the moustache and another one knows he is a she….the bricks are a tumbling…

More to come....I'll be away from internet on Sat, but feel free to comment, I have to finish the second half...195 coming...


Epi 195

Netty is begging Vick to convince Doris to stay away from Andre because of his illness. MV says she is old enough and they are in Loooove.

Emi busts in upset because he can't reach anyone on the phone. Netty wonders what that is all about, MV says you can marry tomorrow, Emi doesn't have ot get a divorce from Fedra. Emi says Gretl and she have been investigating Fedra Curiel and Emiliano's marraiage doesn't exist. Jorge has been protecting the documents that did not burn.. Emi is muy impatacdo and Vick continues to explain Fedra is a watery slut named Juana Felipe.

More bonding over the discovery by G-man of ELDP and vice versa. They praise Doris' talents, and each others acting skills. He notes that she also helps turn a Mar type person into a Vick type person, Gman's eyes get wider than pancakes.

Back at the house Emi is cursing how this could happen and how Fedra could do this to him and the kids etc. How is he going to tell them, and how could he have spent this much of his life with a prostitute. He urges Vick to get him the docs right away. He wants to find out what is up between her and Jose Maria.

We are back to Mau trying to get Mayela to accept his check, she won't, he thinks they can hep each other, he wants her to avenge Low, she says there's someone else involved. He mentions Ilitia, she looks down and says look I still have other ways out of my problems, so thanks but no thanks, adios. He mumbles something about getting with Ilitia after she left.

Back with Eman and G-man she asks him why he thinks that, it's a pretty big accusation that Vick is Mar is Vick. He rattles off all the reasons why, like duh, it took months to notice these things of course...they chat about not trusting Jorge and where did he come from and what not..

More to come

Labels: llena

Ahoy all. A message to our commenters: You folks are the best. You are always very generous with your appreciation of the recaps. Well you know what? We recappers truly appreciate the time that you spend enjoying our labors of love and getting into the conversations, especially during the rough patches. Not only that, a number of commenters have even stepped in and subbed for recappers upon occasion. Tonight I'm happy to present the debut of commenter Kristoise. Last week Kristoise introduced herself and volunteered to help out. Knowing I had a prior commitment today and tonight I jumped at her offer. She's a natural, no doubt about it.

I'll start things off with Capitulo 192: Two, two, two chicas in one

Last night we left our galan asking bitchy Mari can’t they just go back to being friends?

Tonight she’s in a better mood and responds Sure, she’ll always care for him. Smiles, tears and hugs.

That’s it for our two seconds of pleasantries because over at the Animal Farm the masked menagerie is getting out of control. Not only are they loudly calling each other by their first names but they are disagreeing on how to handle Netty (who is currently out cold but could wake up at any moment). In the midst of the cacophony St. Bernardo thought bubbles that Jose Maria spent 27 years in prison for a crime that he, Bernardo, committed. He lost his love, never knew his son, so no way will he let Kitty kill Netty. He tries to reason with Fedra that 1) she is the primary suspect so will likely end up in jail for murder and 2) Mari and Vicky will pay everything they own for ransom so Netty is worth more to them dead than alive. Doesn’t she want her property back? Kitty’s not biting, the actress stole her machos and she’s gotta die. Low protests that he’s Fedra’s only macho and the St. Bernardo insists he’s a pit bull, not just any dog. OK that’s fine but where is the rat in all this?

We get a brief respite courtesy of the two fresas who are griping about Eman hanging out at the pension and going after not one but two chicks. Kristel warns that Iliita had better be careful or she’ll wind up alone. “Like you?” needles Ilitia.

Mau the Ratface is still at the hideout and it looks like Dandy is delivering lunch. We find out that Mau’s secret priapistic weapon is Coctel de Mariscos which helps maintain a rapey snake’s virility you see. He’s got very particular plans for Netty in that regard, revenge for all the wrong that the RydTs and their friends have done to him. I notice Dandy didn’t bring breath mints; poor Netty.

The debate rages inside the bowels of the Animal Farm. Low finally manages to calm the furious feline with the suggestion that a slow, torturous death is preferable to a quick one, not to mention that Netty is the tool for controlling Mari and Vicky. Good enough for the lioness, she’s on board and dashes out for some personal business tossing a quick “Go to hell!” to Mauricio in passing.

Low warns Bernardo don’t even think of betraying Fedra and he makes his exit, instructing Mauricio not to let Netty out of his sight. Ningun problema promises Mau, slurping his shrimp Viagra.

Low gets a phone call from Mayela who demands to speak to him ASAP. She’s got a serious problem and he’s the only one who can help. If he doesn’t agree to meet her tonight then she’ll tell Muñeca and Ilitia who she really is. He grumbles but agrees. Mau overhears Low and instructs Dandy to follow Lowrenzo to get the dirt because Mau still wants to become the Patrón of everything.

Ilitia reassures Kristel that she’s got what it takes to be the #1 Super Fashion Super Cool Top Model of the world and when she is she’ll never be lonely again. Every man on earth will throw themselves at her feet. Kristel’s all “What are we waiting for? Let’s go see Mayela right now!”

Emiliano is hanging out at the pension kvetching to Gladiola that this mess is all his fault for putting Netty in a vulnerable position. (Yep, true.) He apologizes ad nauseum (and they left it all in!) to Gladi, to Mari, to Emanuel and now he wants to apologize to Victoria. Uh, she’s got a headache, lies Mari. Eman volunteers to get her and when Mari jumps up in a panic he eyes her suspiciously. Gladi also jumps up, “no people in the rooms”. Emi scoffs and orders Eman to run upstairs this very minute.

Eman is halfway upstairs when he changes his mind (or decides to give Mari an out). He sez Vicky’s such a crank he doesn’t want to bother her, better her best friend go up, ya think? Emiliano asks why they are all acting so weird, he himself will go get Vicky. “No no no!” they all yell. Gladi will get her headache remedy and Mari will go upstairs. Emiliano’s little hamster wants to run but it just can’t find the wheel.

Netty wakes up and realizes she’s in the doghouse. I wonder, did she hear Bernardo whispering that he wouldn’t allow Fedra to kill her? “Please Mr. Dog,” she pleads, “get me out of here, I didn’t see your faces. Please Mr. Dog, Mr. Dog? Bowow?”

Comisario Tejeda’s got Jose Maria in interrogation and wants to know about JMS’s connection to El Lirio de Plata, the thief who bears the same name as JMS’s boat. JM speaks in bullet points: 1) Dunno the thief, I was in the hospital with a heart attack; 2) I’m in love with Netty and I know you like her too; 3) Netty’s life is in danger and you should be spending your time trying to find her, not questioning me.

Nearby in her lonely cell Doris, fake flesh clinging to her face, weeps for Andres. In his own cell Andres, also looking like a flesh-rotting zombie, recalls Gladi’s words, if he loves Doris he’ll leave her alone and let her live a normal life. Yeah, what she says, adds flashback Brandon.

Aha, I knew Jacqui was a zombie! She’s also got fake body parts and doesn’t notice that Andres’ face appears to be melting. She’s paid his bail, Doris is back with her brother (lie!) and Andres should leave with her. Friends, OK? Let’s go to your house.

It’s nighttime at La Mala Noche and the leather-clad avenging duo of Oliver and Gretel has arrived. Gretel assures Oli that this is the place where Fedra transacts all her dirty business. After a brief discussion about the memories, pros and cons of Gretel being La Reina de la Luna they bust in on Fedra drinking champagne in her dressing room. “Drunk again!” accuses Gretel. “Tell us where you have Netty Pavon!” demands Oliver. I’m not sure but I think Fedra tells them she made mole out of her.

Lowrenzo, wearing his real pig face, not the pink one, arrives at Mayela’s in a snit because his time is precious. He warns her not to use the truth of Ilitia’s birth against him because she doesn’t know what he’s capable of. Uh, yes she does, she remembers her model Begonia who got pregnant to trap Low and then poof, she disappeared.

A breathless Vicky runs downstairs, apparently poor Mari is upstairs resting from her mad dash to get Vicky. Emi is suspicious, poor little hamster, and Eman tortures Vicky by pretending to run upstairs. He twists the knife by gloating that he and Mari made up.

Gretel insults Fedra (Cualquiera!), Fedra throws champagne in Gretels face and vows she doesn’t know where stupid Netty is. “Are you sure Fedra?” demands a just-arrived Jose Maria, “you know nothing about the woman I love?” Big eye roll from Fedra. This is NOT how she likes to warm up for her nightly chair dance.

The shrimp-breathed rapey snake excuses Bernardo from guard duty so he can have some alone time with the lovely victim. He smells her (again with the smelling!) and unbuttons his shirt. Yikes!

Mayela gripes that she’s got no contracts and she’s about to lose her business, her life, she needs money. Kristel and Ilitia walk into the apartment just in time to hear Lowrenzo yell “It’s just money you want? I paid you for many years to make sure that neither Muñeca nor Ilitia ever knew the name of Ilitia’s real mother. I won’t do it again.”

Oopsie! Low and Mayela notice the top model and wannabe, get tongue-tied, and Low demands to know what they heard. Ilitia’s about to blow it but Kristel butts in, “Zero minus zero is what we heard. We just got here, why what did you say?” The fresas quickly add that they want Mayela to turn Kristel into the next top model. Great idea, gushes Lowrenzo. Sorry, the agency is having money problems, corrects Mayela. No worries see me in the morning and I’ll inject some money into the biz promises Lowman. After he leaves Ilitia says she’s all for discussing Kristel as top model but first she wants to talk about her mother. Yep she heard, who is the woman?

Eman and Vicky: She tells him he’s not important to her and he goes all sarcastically bratty (I love it!), pretends to cry boo hoo, but that’s OK because he doesn’t care about her either, nyahhh. He’s decided Mari always was and always will be the love of his life, so there. Vicky’s one expression is mad, or maybe bored, but probably not glad. After some more he said she said she finally succeeds in pushing him out the door. Vicki mumbles something about “I don’t know your name but I remember you well, El Lirio de Plata.” Hey folks, I don’t write this crap, I just report it.

Fedra is loaded and denies all knowledge of that low-life Netty. Oli and Gretel stumble out of the room amid emptry threats and in frustration. After the young’uns leave JMS grabs a wobbly Fedra and threatens she WILL tell him where Netty is.

Gross, the rapey snape starts fondling blindfolded Netty. She begs him not to touch her as he replaces his mask and approaches his prey.

A dreadful ending, or would be if we didn’t have part two at our fingertips.

Take it away Kristoise:

Capitulo 193: Scenes have been merged/reorganized into 3 main plotlines

The short version
1) Low paid Mayela to keep the identity of Ilitia’s mom secret; Ilitia used to care, but now she realizes Muneca is all she needs. And our two fresas are going to start their own modeling agency, so take that, Mayela!
2) Doris and Andre are shacked up even though everyone but Doris realizes that she is better off without him.
3) The meat in this plot sandwich: Netty is rescued by a) Dandy, who accidentally
food poisons the rapey snake, b) Chema, who has been tipped off by Bernardo; and c) Emiliano, who has followed Chema. Emil gets a clue that Fedra is not who he thinks she is (but don’t worry, clues are like water off a duck’ s back for him). Fedra pulls a doozy of a guilt trip on Eman for thinking she kidnapped Netty; they reconcile.

Now, the long version:
ORIGENS: ILITIA
Mayela’s apt:
Ilitia wants Mayela to tell her who her verdadera madre is, but she ain’t sayin. Kristel interrupts (“ stop it!”) to chastise Illy for being so selfish as to take over the meeting that is supposed to be about launching her super top model career just so that she can find out who actually gave birth to her. (Maybe that’s why she said gynelogical instead of genealogical?) Ilitia powers on, though, as Kristel sits back and sulks. Mayela has no info for Illy. Her birth mother left years and years ago, current whereabouts unknown. So why drag this up now? Better to just leave it be. Illy ain’t buying it. For some strange reason, she just wants to know who her mother is.

Illy gives Mayela one more chance to reveal her mother’s name, and then threatens to withhold Low’s money from the modeling agency until the truth is revealed (can she do that?). Mayela points out that Illy works there, so that’s a bit short sighted. Clearly Mayela has never paid much attention to how Illy thinks. Kristel, however, knows exactly how short sighted Illy is, and pulls her aside to remind her super amiga that Kristel needs the agency for her own career. Illy’s not worried though, they will just take daddy’ s money and start their own super top model agency and what’ s more, Illy will personally manage Kristel’s career. Now those are two up and coming young businesswomen that I would feel safe investing in. With much swishing of hair, the dynamic duo flouncily flounces out of Mayela’s apartment.

Next day, Chez Muneca:
Ilitia, in a surprisingly mature moment, tells Muneca that she has a right to know who her real mom is. Muneca recounts her tale: she was unable to conceive, Low knocked up this girl who didn’t want a baby. But M doesn’t know her name, just that she was really young (15 anos! even for Low, that’s low), and had to leave the agency. So, Illy was god’s gift to M. Illy very sweetly tells M that she always wanted to be like her, and they have some hugs. This is why you just can’t hate Ilitia.

Muneca says that she is Illy’s mom, even if she didn’t incubate her for 9 months.
Illy agrees and says she doesn’t even want to know who her real mom is, Muneca is
all she needs. They are so happy. ‘But out of curiosity’ , says M, ‘why the sudden
interest?’ ‘Well’ , says Illy, ‘ I overheard Mayela and dad talking about how he had paid her not to tell you or me who my real mom is. But whatevs, I don’t care anymore’. It looks like Muneca might still care.

AGAINST ALL ODDS: The Doris and Andre version
Back at the pension, an oddly cheerful Brandon assures Mari and Gladiola that Netty is sure to be found soon, no need to worry. Right, because those coppers always get their man. Except for the lirio, fedra, bernardo, garduno, low, mal. Am I forgetting anyone? Well, Brandon does point out in his defense, that they have caught that well-known serial vacationist Doris, who was locked up overnight for attempted romantic getaway in the first degree. Que? ‘You can’ t do that’ says Mari. Glad explains that they are just worried about Doris taking up with that walking virus ese. Mari counters that it is one thing to worry and another to put her in jail. By the authority vested in Mari Vick, Brandon is ordered to release Doris so that she can come home and worry about her madrina with everyone else. ‘Don’ t worry; I already released her’ sez Brandon.

Breakfast Chez Andre:
Andre is sad. Jacqui is mad that Andre is not appreciating her for paying his fine and making him breakfast. Plus he gave her HIV, in case he forgot. Doris bursts in and says she is nunca! going back to the pension with her stupid brother.

Doris and Andre discuss their relationship and how everyone thinks they shouldn’t be
together because they can’t have a future. Jacqui agrees. And so does Andre, because he luuurrves her too much. Doris is the lone holdout because of her grand amor. Their sappy declarations push Jacqui over the vomit edge, and she takes off with a ‘don’t come looking for me when she dumps your sorry a$$” . More sweet talk where Andre tries to be noble but his resolve is weak and Doris won’t take no for an answer. They will be juntos and happy. But seriously, folks, Doris is still sporting the faux-hunchback of her vieja costume.

Later, Chez Andre: Doris is settling into Andre’s place and Andre is treating Doris like a queen, fixing her meals, buying things girls like, like shampoo. And he is caballero enough to sleep on the couch as well. He has never has such a loving relationship before, and he wants her to be super comfy and at home, and he wants to do everything to make her happy. Doris notes how much Andre has changed (and I wonder if she'll still like him, since, yes, he is basically a completely different person now). They are sweet nothing-ing again, and, although I am happy for Doris, I am with Jacqui on the asco. And now we are well into the next day and Doris is still wearing the fake hunchback.

THE MAIN EVENT: NOT WITHOUT MY NETTY
Criminal lair:
A blindfolded and bound Netty is begging Malicio not to touch/hurt her. After sliming
on her a bit, Mal masks up, tells her to shut up and is describing what fun they are going to have when Mal starts itching like mad. Netty points out that he’s breaking out in hives and he should go to the hospital. The dodgy street mariscos? Nope, it’s good ol’ San Antonio (bendito) putting in some OT for his most loyal gal.

La mala noche:
Chema is all up in Fedra’s seriously sloshed face. She manages to slur that she doesn’t have Netty, “get it through your thick skull, yo!” And furthermore, she doesn’t care if Chema loves her, or who Netty marries or whatever. Chema ain’t buying it. Fedra slinks away to demonstrate that Netty’s got nothing on her assets, but Chema disagrees, says that a woman as beautiful and noble as Netty can’t even be compared with a hussy like her, which brings us to today’s coup de grace—Fedra throws her drink in Chema’s face only to discover that she already drank it all. Whoopsy.

Chema again demands to know where Netty is. Fedra pleads ignorance, but refills her drink and invites Chema to stay and have a look around, presumably hoping he’ll check under her dressing gown.

The next morning at the pension, Gretel and Oliver are telling Emil that they found
Fedra, but she denied knowing where Netty is. Por supuesto. I mean, did they really
think she would just fess up? Emil can’t take it anymore and has a bit of a hissy fit. Mari comes in to calm him down. Brandon and Oliver head off to work and Olli promises to find Netty. Emil, Gretel, and Mari discuss how surely Fedra has Netty and is a woman with no limits and they shudder to think what she might be up to. Emil says it is time for them to share with him the dirt that they have on Fedra.

Gretel agrees with Emil, they should tell him all they know, that he is married to a
woman who doesn’t exist. Como? Emil is shocked. Mari says she will tell all. But of
course, she has to wait just one quick minute. The flashiest of flashes, if you will. First she has to go get the papers from her room, and needs Gretel to help with those heavy papers.

Up in MV’s room, Mari and Gretel debate telling Emil all about Fedra/Juana Felipa. Pro: he can marry Netty right away, as his marriage is a sham. Con: he’ll find out that his wife was a prostitute and Eman isn’t his son. Que lastima. The pros have it.

Bernardo has called Chema from a payphone and Chema with the 411 on Netty. B
unburdens his guilt for ruining Chema’s life, what with the 27 years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit and all. But he won’t be responsible for him losing the woman he loves again. B wants Chema to rescue Netty to win her affection away from Emil. He’ll tell him where she is, but Chema has to promise never to tell Eman that he’s his verdadero padre. Chema’s like ‘sure whatever’ and writes down an address as Emil peeps around the corner.

Mari and Gretel come back downstairs to find Gladiola there, but Chema and Emil both gone. Obvio, they must have found out where Netty is and gone to fetch her. Really? That’s the only reason you can think of that they aren’t in your immediate range of vision? Everyone prays.

Criminal lair:
Mal yells at Dandy about the dodgy mariscos. He spent the night sick in the hospital (I have to admit, I smiled at his description of his pain). Dandy makes up for the food poisoning with the juicy gossip about where Low went last night—to Mayela’s and Illy and Kristel were there too. Mal is stoked to potentially have some dirt on low. Bernardo arrives all in a state and whips the gang up, something about having to move Netty right away.

Chema appears as they are moving Netty, but Emil has beaten him there. Everyone has guns, and the bad guys are in masks. I think Mal shoots at Chema, and B knocks out Dandy. We have a standoff, Chema vs Mal and Emil vs B, which is a better position, hero-wise, because B has Netty. Emil grabs Netty and the good guys all back out of the lair, Chema clutching his chest as he powers through his latest heart attack.

Chez RYT: Dee is heading out and Axhole wants to know where she’s going. Dee
awesomely reminds him that they are DI-VORCED and she doesn’t have to tell him
nada. He humbles himself and asks nicely and she says she’s going over to the pension. He wants to go with, but she ain’t havin it. Good for you, Dee; stay strong. Eman comes in as Dee leaves, and the fellas commiserate, then decide to head to Low’s to see if they can find Fedra and get some info on Netty's dondeabouts

Speaking of the departamento de soltero, Fedra is cranky when she’ s hungover, snapping at both Nereida and Low over breakfast. Fedra gets a little of her mojo back by planning her tortures for Netty, but Low is sick and tired of the whole kidnapping business.

Axhole and Eman come in and demand that Fedra tell them where Netty is. I think F
suggests she’s off getting plastic surgery. But really, what does she care about Netty? She loves Low and Emil loves Netty, and they are both just going their separate ways. She admits that she is going to fight for some cash in the divorce, but that is only fair. It’s Emil that’s playing dirty by signing over his fortune to Netty. Fedra only wants her fair share from a long marriage. Eman counters that she played dirty (if he only knew) with her long affair with ese imbecil (another gem as Fedra assures Low that he isn’t an imbecile). Argument interruptus as Eman’s phone rings with the news from Emil that they have rescued Netty. Axhole runs out to spread the news.

At the pension: Vicky gets ready for her 2nd hearing for the most frivolous lawsuit ever as Glad receives a call telling them of Netty’ s rescue. Gracias a dios and good feelings all around. Axhole arrives with the news and gets some well-deserved sass from Dee about how they already know, but then she gives him an undeserved smile. We an only hope that the smile was for us and no the Axhole.

The lady herself arrives with her 2 rescuers in tow to much cheering. Of course, they will not be taking this up further with the police, as this is a telenovela and everyone would rather just forget about it now that we have other plotlines to move onto. Plotlines like the most frivolous lawsuit ever, which is where half the gang heads. As Netty and her rescuers settle in a bit, neither she nor Chema want to go to a doctor despite his apparent heart attack, and her being held hostage overnight. Chema is really grasping at straws by pointing out that they have that in common. Oy vey.

Back to Low’s former bachelor pad: Eman has stayed behind to apologize to his mom for thinking she had kidnapped Netty. In a truly virtuoso performance by our dear villainess, Fedra turns it all around. She isn’t going to let him get away with an easy ‘disculpa me’ and let bygones be bygones. Oh no. Here’s the gist of her guilt trip:
“How could you treat me this way, when I have done everything for you? Even though you were a result of Chema raping me, and most women would reject that child. But I, on the other hand, loved you even more because I was so alone (after Chema killed and burned her parents, natch) that having you was the only thing I had to get over the horror of what happened to me. And this is why I have always loved you more than your siblings, because you brought me back to life. I never told you the truth to protect you. But now you know everything,. Now go and celebrate Netty’s return with your dad and everyone else that she is taking away from me. Just leave me here alone to cry into my whiskey.” (ok, she didn’t say whiskey, but I made an educated guess)

At this point, Eman forgets to check if his mother’s lips were moving, so he doesn’t
realize that she may, just possibly, be lying. And to be fair, his little hamster has been doing an awful lot of work these days figuring out the whole Mari/Vick thing, so he probably is taking some time off. In any event, the man actually gets down on his knees and begs Fedra’s forgiveness. Seriously. On. His. Knees.

They make promises to each other: he will never abandon her again; he forgives her for keeping the secrets she did in the past and she swear that she has no more secrets (!!!) from him. She just wants to be a better person so that he will be proud of her (awww). They love each other sooooo much. Low comes in and tries to horn in on the love fest. Fedra knows that Low will stick his foot in it, so she ushers Eman out, trying to be gracious about Netty and la gordita. Low outwits her though, and manages to get in an awkward, ‘I love you too, hijo, I mean, Emanuel, I mean….’ as a puzzled Eman is leaving and a visibly annoyed Fedra looks on. As soon as the door shuts, Fedra drops the tears and relishes her triumph, “ didn’t I tell you I would have him on his knees asking my forgiveness?! I’ve got my son back where I want him, right in the palm of my hand. Bwahh-hahaha!”

Avances: Emil quizzes Chema about his mystery phone call; Low gets involved in the
most frivolous lawsuit ever.

Folks, after doing this, my appreciation for these awesome recappers increased mil ocho mil veces. They truly rock.



Dichos (from Sylvia):
I didn't have time to keep track of any good vocab but when I was in Mexico a few weeks ago I got some cool "dicho" mints, after dinner mints with a dicho or frase on the wrapper. Here are a couple that I thought might be appropriate to our show:

Los buenos recuerdos duran mucho tiempo, los malos más = good memories last a long time, but bad ones last longer.

El que se va a la villa, pierde su silla = Don’t change horses in the middle of the stream, or maybe it’s If you snooze you lose. (Lit. he who leaves the manor loses his seat)

UPDATE: Here's one from JudyB:
Del árbol caido hacen leña = everybody jumps on you when you're down (lit. everybody makes firewood out of a fallen tree fig)

Labels: llena