Friday, July 29, 2011

Triunfo del Amor #169 7/28/11 #who cares: A triumph of I'm DONE!

Burnie claims she was only carted off to the po-po because of a stupid woman who confused her (with?). She's just upset it happened in front of the bishop. Ji says it's no fair that decent bitches like them could be turned in by the riffraff. Burnie calls Ji and Rox leeches, capable of selling their souls to the devil for a few pennies. "Do you think I opened the doors of my house without knowing what kinds of women you were? Ji--I have a full list of your misdeeds and I'll be using that against you as soon as it's convenient." Ji looks nervous. Heh!

Os shows up at the hospital and Leo fills him in. Os tells Leo that Mama Lulu got spooked and took back her testimony in front of Burnie. The wheels in Leo's head start turning. Os asks how the kids are and Leo tells him Max caught the love bug.

In the caf, Fer complains she wants to see her sibs. Everyone wants to see Max and Maria and Cruz grins and says they can. Toni gets huffy and takes off while Pip flirts with Cruz.

Leo tells Os Max is in PHASE 2. O noes! Os sounds like he's blaming Dr. Voice when he asks him how this happened. Dr. Voice says Max did it on purpose.

For comic relief, Cruz leads the show's backup dancers in commandeering a window-washing rig so they can sneak a peek at Max and Maria. Free show!

Max is worried about Maria and how alone she must feel. When what to his wondering eyes should appear? The strangest window-washers ever. I'm waiting for the "OMG, am I already dead?" thought bubble.

Maria begs the Virgen to care for Max. She grins at her bizarre hallucination and Dr. Voice comes in to yell at them from inside his Tyvek suit and gas mask.

Vic and Os cry together over the kids. Vic doesn't want to talk about "them" now. Big whoop. Only Max and Maria matter. Weep, weep, weep!

Dr. Voice yells at Cruz, Fer, and Pip for not considering that they could have started an epidemic if they'd asked Max or Maria to open the window. I think my beanie just disintegrated entirely. Because wheeling a passed-out Max through the halls of the hospital wasn't going to start an epidemic? Because Maria modeling at that show in front of hundreds of people wasn't going to start an epidemic? Because Alonso walking around the whole DF with his camera of DEATH wasn't going to start an epidemic? Pobre del doctor…I think he must be the next one to fall victim to this terrible virus!

He continues his diatribe, threatening to have them barred from the hospital. Pip hilariously says he loves the hospital and spends more time there in his own house. Fer promises it won't happen again.

Ji gripes about how Burnie's got her and Rox by the pocketbook. Eva criticizes their choice of words…"aguantar no quiere decir lo mismo que soportar." (holding on doesn't mean the same thing as put up with). She suggests they team up for revenge and threaten her with what she fears most…hell! They're vaguely interested.

The cure has arrived via FedEx! Vic and Os have to give consent. Vic agrees, but Os doesn't want to risk Max with an experimental medication. Heri wants to honor Os' veto. Leo comes in and overrides his veto. Os thinks Max can beat this virus on his own! Um, wait, how is the vaccine for a virus going to cure them? If I already have the flu, getting vaccinated for the flu isn't going to cure me…or is it? Vic tells him to go shoot up Maria. With the vaccine, that is.

Barrio hijinx. Time to plan Don Napo's bachelor party.

PJP shows up at the hospital asking how the kids are. Maria's doing the same, but Max is doing worse than she is. The Swiss Vaccine arrived, but Os didn't want to let Max have it. Leo wants Max to have it. PJP repeats Os' objections, that Max is young and strong and looks damn good in a kayak, so maybe he can beat it on his own. The menfolk retire to the chapel to confab.

Napo serenades Mili with Si Nos Dejan. Seriously, dude, SERIOUSLY?!!! How long was that woman batting her eyelashes at you and you're going to sing her a song about how the two of you can go live on your own personal cloud if only the cruel world will let you? Does anybody know a serenata song for "Hey, babe, sorry I was being such a dumbass--I'm ready to commit now"? That's it! I'm riled! I'll let you know when my cover of Si Nos Dejan is posted online.

[Here's my cover]

The dads and the moms commiserate with each other. Vic wants to talk about Os. Os wants to talk about Vic. Good golly gosh. I don't know why those two crazy kids can't make it work. Os is convinced Vic loves him.

Cruz and Papa sing a mariachi song of their own. This one I don't recognize, La Negra Noche.

Burnie mockingly calls Vic to let her know that her grandson is doing ok. Jpito is playing and Burnie hasn't left him for a single second. "That's all. Good night," she says, and hangs up. Leo thinks it was a kind gesture. Vic corrects her--Burnie is just needling her. The first chance she gets, she's taking Jpito home. Vic admits she was pondering the many facets of love. "How many times have you been in love, Leonela?" Leo says she's had a lot of relationships, but love? She thought she was in love with Gui once, but the real love of her life was Os. She's only ever loved the father of her children. "Then why did you stop loving him?"

Mili says the last time she was awakened by music it was the…apilador? Afilador? I was expecting it to be the alarm clock, but that's "despertador." Somebody help me out here. Well Napo says she won't be awakened by the "apilador" or the "cartero" ever again, only by him singing in her ear. The "cartero" is the mailman. Maybe the mailman and the "apilador" (stacker?) like to sing while they work? Juanjo teases Napo about picking him to be his stepdad.

The mechanic hasn't found Ofelia's rotting corpse yet. Ji orders him to dig all night. That's not a euphemism. If he doesn't find anything, then he's gonna dig tomorrow night, and the night after that, and the night after that, until he finds something! And no, that's not a euphemism either.

Time passes.

Not that much time. No one at the hospital has changed clothes. Cruz and Fer arrive bearing caffeine. There's no news. Fer gets the news that Os vetoed the vaccine.

Max asks doc for news. Doc calls him a medical miracle for surviving the virus. I think he's a medical miracle for those abs. And the ability to walk and chew gum at the same time. And the fact he's still breathing with that massive hole in his head where his brain's supposed to be. And the fact that he's somehow never drowned himself in the lake while kayaking, again due to said cavity in skull. Need I go on? Max asks why Lon didn't survive. "Well, Max, I hate to break it to you, but the writers just didn't think Alonso was as pretty as you are, so he had to die." The doc says it was Alonso's poor diet, sedentary lifestyle, and the fact that he didn't treat his disease quickly enough. *cough* ItwasMaxandMaria'sfault *cough* Max is sure Maria is all better by now, right? Right? Commercial break outro music says.

Os paces dramatically in the waiting room. He gripes that no one has come to give them an update. Fer tells him to take a chill pill. Leo joins in on the pacing. Cruz offers to take her outside and walk her like a horse. Leo doesn't want to leave. Vic says it won't do them any good to raise a fuss, they just need to put themselves in God's hands.

Max asks again how Maria is. Doc says she's not doing as well as he is, but she's not worse either. She's still in Phase 1, but he's sure she'll be out soon. "Tell her I love her and I haven't stopped thinking about her and soon we'll be together." Riiiiight, because there are no phones in quarantine rooms?

Did we just bust Cruz's dad smoking?! Oh, it's a full-barrio intervention! Milagros whacks him with a flyswatter. I'm pretty sure that's not a therapeutic technique I learned in grad school. She tells him next time she'll beat him with a broomstick and hauls him off by the 'stache.

Luci and Fab come to the hospital. Cute dress, Luci. Fab asks to speak to Vic out in the hallway. He tells Vic he's grateful for all the time he's been working with her, but he's leaving. He and Luci are leaving together. Fab and his brothers inherited a fabric factory in Puebla and he's got to go take charge of it. He promises to keep tabs on the situation and come back for Max's wedding. Luci tells her not to worry, everything will be fine. Vic is a woman of faith and faith moves mountains.

O noes, there is a disturbance in the force…digo…the test results. No puede ser!

Heri comes in and Os bitches about how long they've been waiting for an answer. Heri says it's a fair criticism, but he couldn't give them any info until now. He says Os was right and Max is getting over the virus on his own. He's all better now. Well, give him a lollipop and free up that hospital bed. Os thanks Heri for everything. Heri wants to observe him for a few more days, but he doesn't want anyone to see him for now. Maria is also getting better, but before they gave her the vaccine, the virus had already affected one of her…organs? Is that what he said? Whatever the hell he said, everyone is horrified. Mi hija no!

And the winner is…kidneys. "We've got donors!" says Mr. 5ft. One's operating at 50% and the other one is kaput. She'll need…dun dun dun…a transplant! Vic insists they're compatible and she's ready to strip down and get on the table. Not like that. Heri says they've got to run tests first. Well, Vic doesn't want to wait. Oh, just sedate her already! Fer tells her to calm down. Vic feels the need to tell Fer that she wouldn't just do this for Maria, she'd do it for Fer or for Max too. Fer says she knows Vic would sacrifice herself for them. Vic goes to ask Os to take care of the kids. "A lot is over between us, but that doesn't mean you're done raising the kids!" Os is sure nothing will happen, but if it does, nothing is more important to him than their kids and grandkids. Vic is ready now. Heri says he'll take her to the operating room to prep. What happened to the tests, Heri? On top of Alonsitis you now want Maria to deal with an incompatible organ? Tears and goodbyes in the waiting room.

Maria gets wheeled down the hallway.

Doc looks like he's macking on Vic on the operating table before she gets knocked out. Maria is a little woozy and asks where she is. Doc mumbles something reassuring. Vic tells him if it gets to the point where he has to choose between one of them…save Maria. He promises as the probably overreacting anvil of doom falls. Heri joins their hands between the operating tables, but Maria's so out of it I don't think she notices.

Time passes. Oh, BOO! No gross surgery fx for the fx team! No fair! Maria comes to in her room, with no plastic tent, remembering stuff that happened while she was half asleep. She remembers Vic telling Heri to save Maria if he has to make a choice. A nurse with way too much makeup comes in and tells Maria she's had a kidney transplant. Another nurse runs in to say the donor, Victoria Sandoval, isn't doing too well. Maria pries herself up out of bed and into the conveniently placed wheelchair.

Vic is snoozing peacefully when Maria busts into her room…and my DVR cuts off. Lovely. No Sweet William Levy in a Kayak for me tonight…or ever again!

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Thursday, July 28, 2011

Triunfo del Amor #168 7/27/11 PJP, Vic, the Bishop-Full of Fail;Lulu-forced into Fail; Padre Jer-Full of Win

It's been a long, crazy bumpy, unpredictable (thanks, Looneyvision) ride. I got a little teary as I heard "Oye la confesion" for the last time as a TdA recapper.

Bonus Link: Have ya'll heard about The Tinfoil Hat Song? Or am I way late on this?

There are just no words for tonight's basura. What an episode to end my recaps on.
Refrito

  • Burnie diapers.
  • Os transports Lulu. 
  • Max bleeds and faints.
  • Heri barks orders.
  • Pip whines.
Tonight's crimes against humanity.
  • Vic and Leo cry about their children and go to the chapel to pray to the Virgen of Guadalupe.
  • Toni offers to take care of the babies and Fer has to break the news to those waiting in the Alonso del Angel Memorial waiting room that Burnie took JPito from the caretakers of the Vecindad.
  • Vic can't believe it! She's gonna go to Burnie's and get her nieto back! Toni asks if she wants her to go with her. No, says Vic. I have to take care of this personally. Vic leaves Leo in charge of Max and Maria while she's gone.
  • Burnie is begging PJP to intercede for her with the bishop. She wants the excommunication lifted. PJP it's only a matter of her truly repenting and asking for forgiveness. She swears she is repentant. She has to be able to take communion again. Christ is so far from her. Her life has no meaning without him. PJP says if she is sincere he will help her all he can. He will go to the bishop today. 
  • At this point Vic barges in and demands the baby. Burnie is offended that Vic is treating her like a delinquent. Vic asks for back up from JP. "you know she took that baby by force." PJP in a stunning turn of stupidity defends his mother. He says she was just caring for the baby. Vic says it's not necessary now because Toni will do it. Burnie objects. Toni isn't even family. PJP still defends his mother. Toni won't take better care of the baby than Burnie. Burnie calls Vic prideful and begins an offensive. Vic says she's not as evil as Burnie. PJP starts up with God gives second chances. Vic is all dude you are blind! Blind I say! Your mother will never change! Ji overhears all this and hears them talking about Max and Maria's condition. Burnie starts up about signs from God and is is superseded by Ji's thought bubble. She compares Max and Maria's grave state to Romeo and Juliet and hopes they die together.
  • Gui is at the theater wanting to start the rehearsal and wants to know where Leo is. No one knows. From the balcony (5ft...help me out, you know theater terms-- isn't that the peanut gallery?) Ji asks if he needs an understudy. Gui asks if she knows Othello. Why yes she does. She's read it and knows all the lines. Well the costume is in Leo's dressing room. Suit up. You're going in, Ji!
  • Vic is still angry. She doesn't care how repentant Burnie is, she wants her grandchild back. She fusses at PJP and says he should be on her side. He can't deny a soul their return to God. Vic insists that is not his mom's true motive. Burnie interrupts. So what *is* my true intention? To hurt JPito? Of course not. Everyone knows he's with me. If something were to happen I would be the first suspect. You really didn't think about this. You are so  stupid. Burnie knows Vic hates her and the feeling is mutual. She hates Vic. She wishes Vic would disappear. It would make her life easier. PJP has a headache. He blathers about reconciliation and I stopped listening for a bit. He ASKS VIC TO ALLOW BURNIE TO TAKE CARE OF JPito AND VIC AGREES! Asshats. 
  • The death scene from Othello. Gui complements Ji. She is a natural (the selfish, manipulative ones usually are.) Ji hints broadly that he should ask her for a drink. Gui takes a rain check. Ji takes it graciously and excuses herself. I didn't catch Gui's thought bubble but I believe is was along the lines of Ji didn't do anything BSC. This can't be good.
  • Vic returns to the Sandoval Pavilion and fills everyone in. Burnie has just as much right to the child as she. Everyone looks dubious. Including Viewerville
  • Burnie is meeting with the bishop. She is begging for forgiveness. She knows she was wrong. blech.
  • Ji watches Gui talk to and pay  a mechanic outside the theatre. She is suspicious.
  • Burnie repents and repents and repents. She will never sin again. The Bishop asks all the required questions and Burnie gives all the "right" answers (not necessarily the "true" ones.) The bishop reminds her that if she's lying her soul will suffer eternally. Burnie slips him a little check for the priests. Suddenly the Bishop is praising the day. Heaven has opened up.
  • Ji wants to talk to the mechanic.
  • The bishop is blessing Burnie. They are color coordinated! Jer looks sick. Burnie turns to the santo bebé that has brought peace to her heart and just as the bishop blessed her, she will bless the baby. Hot cross awesomesauce! The po po arrives and they want Burnie!! She has a date with justice!
  • Burnie is pretty smug that she is going to weasel out of whatever trouble the cops thinks she's in. Jer asks for a moment with Burnie and tells her straight up that he didn't believe a word she said to the bishop. Cajones-Jer haz them.  Burnie says they have a debt to settle and one day, God willing, they will settle it. Jer asks, what are you going to do, kill me? (Uh-oh. The sword of Damocles has been over his head since, what...February?) 
  • Ji asks the mechanic why Gui paid him. To fix a car of course. He starts to leave. Ji says she'll pay double if he will do a job for her.
  • At the police station Os is assuring Lulu that everything will be fine. Burnie walks in and hoo boy if looks could kill. Lulu cowers. Os says the cops want to know all about her badness.
  • Burnie watches the video and denies everything. It's all lies! There is no proof! Lulu was always jealous of Burnie and her fine clothes and jewelry. She browbeats Lulu into recanting her statement. 
  • Did I hear right? Ji wants the mechaninc to look for human remains in Gui's Garden?
  • Lulu and Os are alone in the police station. She is sorry for letting him down. He understands. Burnie is crazy dangerous. He gives Lulu cash and a check to help her move and get as far away from Burnie as possible. Um...weren't the Sandovals broke when Vic and Maria were kidnapped? That check is gonna bounce, Lulu.
  • Burnie is explaining to the bishop that is was all a misunderstanding. This latest accusation is a complete lie! I woman was jealous and accused me falsely. Sure, they thought she kidnapped JPito, but why would she do that? Kidnapping is terrible! PJP himeself can tell you that Vic herself said she could take care of JPito (um, does she realize Lulu was talking about the first kidnapping?) PJP backs her up. Burnie asks, do you think Vic would let me take the baby if she had any doubts? Poor Jer is is disgusted throughout this whole exchange. Btw, when did PJP get the lobotomy. The bishop has had the Kool-Aid and totally buys her crap. He blesses her as she leaves. She is so relieved that her soul has nothing to fear. She tells Jer she doesn't have hard feelings against anyone, even if they don't feel the same.
  • Everyone is waiting to find out what is up with Max. Heri comes in with the results. Max has the mystery Alonso virus. Vic asks him to confirm that they've caught it in time and the children will survive. Sadly, virulence and intelligence are inversely proportional. Max has the intelligence of a burrito and is already in stage two of the disease!! (Off topic: Leo is still in her clothes from the bienal, but Vic isn't...huh?) Max's situation is more delicate and dangerous than that of Maria Desamparada. They are doing everything they can. Suddenly there is some Swiss lab specializing in the virus and they are even working on a vaccine, but they don't know the side effects. It's all they have. Vic trusts Heri completely. When the vaccine arrives, they will treat Max first then Maria, but no one knows how they will react to the vaccine. They may each react differently. Heri leaves and Leo and Vic tell each other their children won't die and cry. 
Cue the kayak!

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Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Triunfo del Amor #167 7/26/11 Insert Witty Title Here

Refrito
  • Millie and crew commiserate.
  • Burnie is berobed.
  • Max exposes himeself.
Hoy por la noche
  • JPito will be Brunie's salvation. He will grow by her side and this time she won't fail because she won't allow it.
  • Big JP is downstairs waiting.
  • Os wants to press charges against Burnie.
  • JP yells at momma B. She had no right to take the baby. She plays innocent. "Who would you rather have taking care of the baby?" JP says he understands but there was a better way to handle it. Burnie claims he taking care of the baby is for just a few days until Maria is better. Now JP can focus all his energies on taking care of Maria. JP reluctantly agrees and leaves. Burnie continues her previous monologue vis a vis the redemptive powers of TCBIM (the cutest baby in Mexico.)
  • In the vecindad Millie and Napo discuss Maria and the virus. Napo says that Max wouldn't leave her side. Both of them could die.
  • At the Sandoval Pavilion (Brilliant, Novela Maven!!), Maria is telling Max he shouldn't be risking his health. Max snuffles and says if she goes (as in kicks the bucket), he will go with her.
  • The comandante is watching the phone confession from Mama Lulu. Afterwards he explains to Os that really it can't be used in court. Burnie's lawyers could argue she doesn't even know Lulu or that Max threatened Lulu. Os is offended. El Comandante knows the Sandovals are honorable, but lawyers gotta do their jobs, right? He suggests Os go get Lulu, the fuzz will pick up Burnie and they can question the two. (Did I catch that right?)
  • Dr. Todo (more brilliance) and Leo talk about love... you know, 'cause he doesn't have anything better to do. All you need to know is that despite thinking he would never find love again, he has in Victoria. Leo is jealous and asks if he lerves her a lot (like Jr. High School...sheesh.) He says yes, but he feels like an intruder.
  • Max and Maria talk the lerve talk.
  • Leo wants to know what's stopping Dr. Todo. Vic can't make up her mind.
  • Os is looking for Mama Lulu. He has been driving randomly, but decides to pull over and try to remember the name of that pueblo Max told him about. A ha! San Somethingorother!
  •  Leo swears to Dr. Todo that he came along right when Vic needed him. Leo yammers about Os and Vic and that they just hadn't realized it was over. They just kept hanging on. Vic and Os just have a long history and this is why it's taking forever for them to cut ties with each other. Leo encourages Doc not to give up. Whatevs. TEAM OS!!!!
  • Os has located Lulu's Lair, but he has just missed her! No puede ser! Where could she have gone?....
  • Toni. Vic. Mi hija's. FFFTL (fast forward for the love)
  • Where is Lulu? Why, at TOBSIAOM (The only bus stop in all of Mexico!) Os begs and continues to beg as we cut to commercial.
  • Aaaaand Os is still begging! Lulu boards and the bus pulls out.
  • Burnie is back in black and still monologuing about about her salvation and JPito remaining clean and pure. He will dedicate himself to....I am distracted by TCBIM. Burnie even smooths JPito's brow!!
  • Jimena is complaining that she had a terrible night's sleep. She kept hearing a baby crying. Rox assures her that isn't possible. No babies here. Al contrario, says Eva and she spills the baby beans. Jimena has a fit.
  • JPito has finally understood Burnie's plan and he is making quite a ruckus! Burnie panics and can't figure out what he wants. She puts him in bed, surrounds him with pillows and leaves.
  • At Sandoval Pavilion, Max and Maria are missing the babies. Maria says she left JPito with Alma and is sure Nati and the vecindad crew are helping take care of him. Maria begins to talk about if "something happens." The babies will need Max. They are so small. Max shushes her. He's sure things will be fine. (BTW--No mention was made of Osvaldito's location.)
  • Ji, Burnie and Rox discuss the loss at the bienal and somehow Rox is offering to leave. Burnie asks where they would go and Ji mentions Gui. Burnie says no way. He is my enemy! Rox tells Burnie they wouldn't live with her enemy. Burnie remembers the baby and tells Ji she needs help with the baby. Ji says she doesn't know about taking care of babies! They are a pain/annoyance (Son latas!) She is dragged away to help anyway.
  • JP and Jer discuss Maria's imminent death and the virus
  • Burnie explains to Ji she's done everything and can't figure out why the baby continues to cry (oo! I know! He knows evil when he sees it!) Ji suggests a diaper change. Of course! Burnie didn't think of that! Burnie leaves to get a diaper (pañal.) While she's gone, Ji considers infanticide. It's the baby's fault she couldn't have happiness with Max. The baby and that mom of his made her lose her happiness. Well, if Ji ain't happy, Maria and Max won't be either. She raises the pillow menacingly. Burnie catches her and screeches. Ji makes up a lame, "trying to prop him so he won't choke" excuse. Burnie says something snotty and they commence with the diaper change.
  • Apparently Lulu has had a change of heart and is now going to to go with Os. She just can't believe that they are talking about the same Burnie. The one she knew was so noble. She raised her son to be a priest. What could have changed her? Os assures Lulu that Burnie is indeed EBIL, but Lulu need not worry. Nothing will happen to her. Some folks just want to chat.
  • Maria awakens from a nightmare in which JPito is in danger. Max assures her the baby is fine. He's going to go get some water. He gets up and his vision is blurry! His nose is bleeding! (QTH? What took WEEKS to manifest in Alonso takes 25 minutes in Max? Ah! Virulence must correlate with stupidity!) Max faints! Maria screams! A nurse gets Dr. Heri! Everyone runs! Heri barks orders! As he leaves the room he barks at Vic and Leo for being in the hall! They cart Max away on a stretcher!
  • Oh, Toni and Pip talk about how unfair this all it. 
Kayak and TFAIAOM (the fastest avances in all of Mexico)

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Monday, July 25, 2011

Triunfo del Amor #166 7/25/11 Oops! She Did it Again!

Heading into the final stretch All That is Good and Holy takes the lead...Now Forces of Evil comes from behind... All That Is Good And Holy and Forces Of Evil are neck and neck... and ladies and gentlemen, you won’t believe this, they’re just seconds from the finish line and Forces Of Evil is pressing for the lead ... Now Forces of Evil pulls out in front...

Reprise: María comes forward to join Victoria on stage and collect her prize as best model. Vic is alarmed by María’s sudden nosebleed. An instant later, María, still holding a red rose, falls in a dead faint at her feet.

Blood and Roses
María lies unconscious, her skin pale against the red of vividly painted lips, fresh blood and rose petals. The shocked Casa Victoria gang rushes forward and Max gathers her up in his arms.

Of course not everyone is upset. Ximena brays to Rox that she’s glad that whore fainted – now she won’t even be able to enjoy her prize!

Max sets María’s still unconscious form on a white couch backstage. The family crowds around, nearly hysterical. Give us some space, barks Dr. Sabelotodo, and he begins a perfunctory examination.

The vecindad folks watch uneasily from the audience. Is this a pregnancy thing? Should they go to María? Juanjo and Leonela convince them to stay out of the way and wait to hear what the doctor says.

Dr. Todo doesn’t have the equipment he needs to examine María properly. Then let’s not waste any time, says Juan Pablo. Let’s take her to the hospital. Max once again sweeps up the alarmingly unresponsive María and he, Todo, Vic, JP and Fer set off. Luci, Pipino and Fabián will stay behind and pack up after the show.

Curses! Foiled!
Bernarda rides through the city night brooding over her defeat and blaming her incompetent staff: ¡una bola de ineptos! ¡estúpidos! She should never have trusted Ximena... The sound of her cell phone ringing interrupts her blame rant. It’s Eva with the latest about María: Hah! The winners didn’t even get a chance to celebrate! One way or another, the scandal is going to end up hurting Casa Victoria.

To the tune of Edelweiss: ♪Schadenfreude, Schadenfreude♪
María’s – and of course, Victoria’s – sorrows are more delicious to Bernie than the finest sherry. Eva’s tidings have just confirmed that, as always, divine justice is on Bernarda’s side.

Osvaldo, a Lear-like figure in his lonely room, figures the fashion competition must be over by now and wonders about the outcome. He switches on the tv and sure enough, there’s a reporter announcing TONIM (The Only News in Mexico): Casa Victoria has won the biennial! Os jumps up happily but his joy fades as the reporter continues: The winning model, María Desamparada, fainted right on the stage (en pleno escenario) and was taken to the hospital. Os grabs his jacket and rushes to TOHIM (The Only Hospital in Mexico).

The vecindad gang gathers at Mili’s place. Napo saw María’s nosebleed. Ah, caray, says Chente, unwittingly delighting everyone who reads this blog. He remembers very well:
Así se ponía Alonso cuando se daba una de sus crisis.
(That’s what used to happen to Alonso when he had one of his attacks.)
Maybe she caught what Alonso had, suggests Juanjo. Don’t even say that, says Nati, horrified. Mili voices everyone’s fear: Is she going to die like Alonso? Noooooooo!

At the hospital, Max sets María on a stretcher and as the attendants escort her to the treatment area, Dr. Todo tries to get everyone to calm down. This might be simple exhaustion or stress. He tells Victoria – hands clasped, eyeball to eyeball -- she has to show strength and the others will follow her example.

The vecindad gang continue to wring their collective hands. Alma had been watching little Juan Pablo during the show but now Nati takes charge of him. All the gang can do is wait for news. And when the Jarochas get up to make coffee for everyone, we learn – crash! – that in Spanish, you don’t have butterfingers, you have butterhands (manos de mantequilla). They talk about Cruz’s father’s illness. He never smoked, he tells them, but breathing in the smoke of a coal-burning stove all those years was probably what made him sick.

Finally Cruz gets a call from Fer. María is in the exam room (area de exploración), she tells him. Fer hopes there are no problems with this pregnancy...
....Cruz tells the waiting group: She thinks it’s a complication of the pregnancy.

Cruz tells Fer he’s on his way to the hospital. And don’t worry about your nephew, he says. Nati and Alma will take good care of him.

In the waiting room of the Sandoval Pavilion
Max paces restlessly. He wants to press the staff for news but Juan Pablo prevails on him to be patient. After all, Dr. Todo did promise he’d talk to them as soon as he knew anything.

Victoria, flanked by Toni and Fer, encourages them all to pray that the doctors are on their A game (que Dios ilumine a los médicos, that God enlighten the doctors). Not a bad prayer.

Next on the scene is Osvaldo. He does his best to reassure Victoria. Max and PJP fill him in on what is happening and then PJP heads off to the chapel.

Now Leonela makes her entrance. She explains carefully that she has no intention of getting in anyone’s way. She just wants to be there for her son. Then she turns to Fer and asks for two minutes alone with her. Fer refuses at first but when Os nods his encouragement, she follows Leonela out.

In the chapel, PJP prays for his daughter.

Fer and Leo make nice
In case you’ve lost track of snits, Fer has been in one ever since she caught Leonela stealing a kiss from Osvaldo some time back. Now Leo pleads ... er ... confusion. When she kissed Osvaldo, she was feeling alone and unprotected; in her confused emotional state, she thought she was in love with Os. But Os immediately set her straight: he loves Victoria more than anything in the world. And ever since that time, she has only looked at him as a dear friend and the father of her son. Nothing more.

These days Leo is struggling hard with her recovery. She has no desire to cause suffering or break a family apart.

Fer listens, believes Leo’s words, accepts her apology and offers her forgiveness.

Cruz arrives and joins the family in the waiting room. When Dr. Todo walks up, everyone starts talking at once but Os quiets them so Todo can speak. He gives them the grim news: It looks like María is infected with a virus. And according to their tests, it’s the very same one that Alonso had.
Vic buries her face in her hand and looses a handful of restrained “Mi hija nooooo’s

I’m as surprised as you are, folks. Who knew an infection could be infectious?
What can we do? Os asks Dr. Todo. Todo -- or maybe we should call him “CasiLoTodo”? -- doesn’t really have an answer for Os. He acknowledges he is also surprised and worried by this turn of events. There’s no question that María has the same symptoms Alonso did. Their tests have confirmed the diagnosis. The one good thing he can say is that María is just in the first stage of the illness.

So how many stages are there? asks PJP. Three, answers CasiLoTodo. And it is essential for her to be kept in isolation. The virus is poorly understood and there is no cure. The only thing they can do is try to control it. We want to keep the illness from progressing to the second stage. The effectiveness of the treatment depends on her body’s own defenses, as well as on her desire to live, on her faith and on her love. [And most of all – on the will of the writers.]

[Apparently we are the only ones wondering why CasiLoTodo never considered that Alonso’s illness might be contagious. But I bet if he were here, clasping our hands, fixing us with his hypnotic gaze, lulling us with his basso profundo, we wouldn’t be asking any questions either.]

The Wicked Queen is at the Door
In María’s apartment, only little Juan Pablo, in his whimsical white polka-dotted jammies, seems unconcerned. Nati and Alma are worried sick about their friend. Well at least they can take care of her son until she is well again. Suddenly, the door opens and a gust of evil fills the small space – it’s Bernie! And she has different childcare arrangements in mind. She demands that Nati hand over Juan Pablo at once.

Alma rushes out for help. When she comes back with reinforcements a moment later, somehow it is Bernie, not Nati, who holds the baby. What the...! How did tough, smart Nati let that happen? Have her pregnancy hormones turned her soft and stupid?

The vecindad gang lose their collective mind
Bernie claims that as a blood relative, as his great grandmother, she has a legal right to the child. When Milagros objects quite reasonably that María Desamparada wouldn’t want her son in the hands of a murderous psychopath, it is Napo who dismisses her objection. Bernie is right, he says. She may be a crazy psycho bitch but she is family. [Are you sure you want to marry this guy, Mili?]

Bernie marches out triumphantly, babe in arms, leaving them all staring stupidly after her.

The only thing we can do is call Padre Juan Pablo, says Juanjo.

Once more Bernarda rides through the city night but this time, with little Juan Pablo settled in her lap, she is gloating. You’re mine, she tells him, and I’ll fight to keep you forever. God has given me a chance to raise another Juan Pablo Iturbide!

Pause to cue the chant.

Now we have a glimpse of the driver. Is he listening? Will he have a role to play later?

Bernie rants on: A pure soul and body to save my soul! Your only destiny is to save me!

From the hospital, Toni calls Pip and tells him they’re still not sure of anything. Pip’s face, notwithstanding the giant pink feather hat which frames it, shows his concern. He and Luci and Fabián will be at the hospital as soon as they are done at the show.

Isolation Shmisolation
Dr. Sabecasilotodo pleads with Max to understand: since María is in isolation, only members of the medical team wearing adequate protective clothing can be near her. Meanwhile they are continuing to do tests in the hope of keeping her illness from progressing to stage two. Isolation, shmisolation, says Max. I need to be with her regardless of the danger.

For Triunfo fans ... when the tinfoil beanie isn’t enuf: I find the discussion of isolation very muddled. Sometimes CasiLoTodo seems to be talking about protective isolation, for María’s sake; and other times he seems to be talking about protecting the people who come in contact with her. And if this virus is SO contagious and SO virulent, why isn’t Todo ordering tests on all María’s (and Alonso’s) contacts?

We did the best we could
Napo tells Mili not to be upset. There was no way she could have kept Bernie from taking the baby. Nati says María will be worried to death when she finds out Bernarda has her son. So far no one has been able to reach Juan Pablo.

Now the super comes by to say Cruz is on the phone.

Back at the Sandoval Pavilion, Fer begs her brother not to make things worse. If he goes to María’s bedside, the family will have two people to worry about instead of just one. Victoria and Leo chime in with their agreement. Max, whose beard seems to be growing along with his anguish, tells them he doesn’t want to cause them suffering. But this is something he has to do.

Then he takes Leo, Vic and Os aside and asks them to look after his children in case anything happens ...

I’m her mother! Let me be with María, begs Vic tearfully. Max pleads with her not to deny him the chance to be with the woman he loves. Now Leo advocates for him. Let him follow the dictates of his love, she says. Victoria and Leonela look to Osvaldo and he nods his approval.

Chente, Juanjo and Napo come back to the apartment after their phone call from the hospital and share the glum news: María isn’t pregnant. She is sick with the virus that killed Alonso. They’re keeping her in isolation but Max wants to be with her.

They also report that Napo was finally able to tell PJP that his mother took the baby. What did the Padre say? Nothing. He was strangely silent for the longest time. Then he said he’d go to his mother’s place right away. He’ll most likely take care of the problem, don’t you think?

Victoria won’t stand in Max’s way. He is the one who deserves to be with María. Max thanks her and asks for a moment with Osvaldo.

Max slips Osvaldo the cell phone with the video testimony proving Bernie was behind little Juan Pablo’s kidnapping and asks him to get it to the authorities as soon as possible. He’s afraid the woman who testified might get cold feet and run away. Os understands the urgency and he’ll see that the video gets in the right hands. He wants Bernarda to get the punishment she deserves. Victoria is watching father and son. Does she hear their words?

Victoria gives Max her blessing and then CasiLoTodo takes him to suit up for the isolation room.

The mood in the vecindad is mournful. Mili is sure Bernie will take good care of the baby but Bernarda is such a fanatic, she’s afraid she wants him for “religious practices”...

Did somebody say fanatic?
Right on cue, there she stands before her giant crucifix, little JP in her arms. She is a vision in white wearing either a) a hooded bathrobe she stole from the Hilton; b) her KKK costume from last halloween or c) a monk’s habit. She offers up the baby to the priesthood and to God. Just like the lamb of God, he will save her soul. Little Juan Pablo spits up placidly and studies Bernie’s fingers and his own.

Cut to the isolation room where the white infection control suits are a visual echo of Bernie’s habit. Max suits up in bulky coveralls, hat, mask, and gloves and then joins María in the confines of her plastic tent. María, with her lovely dark hair spread out on the pillow, looks a bit like Snow White in her glass coffin. Well, if Snow White had a tube in her nose. Then her eyes open, she looks around and asks, in confusion: What happened? Where am I? Why are you dressed like that?

A doctor, not CasiLoTodo (And is it too much to hope that this guy is actually an infectious disease specialist? Well yeah, it probably is.) answers from outside the plastic tent: You most likely have Alonso’s virus and you need to be in isolation.

But my son...my son needs me, says María.

Don’t worry, says Max. Everything will be fine.

Max defies the doctors
He steps outside the plastic tent and under the doctor’s disapproving eye, he removes his mask and hood. He is sweating and his hair is matted down. His face is a mix of despair and resolve. He continues to strip off the protective clothing, stepping out of the coveralls and peeling off the gloves. Finally, now in shirt sleeves, he lifts the plastic barrier and steps back into the tent with María. He takes her in his arms and kisses her.

Sweet William Levy in a kayak. Ah. Those were the days.

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Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Triunfo del Amor #165 7/18/11 Victoria triumphs, Bernarda gets trounced, and María takes a nosedive.

In brief:
Casa Victoria wins the biennial competition and María wins a special award as best model in the show.
She’s not pregnant, she’s sick, you bozos! To judge from her symptoms, it appears that María is suffering from Alonso’s Curse.
And as a great rabbi once said: All the rest is commentary
.

Reprise
At the new Casa Victoria, the rumor of María’s pregnancy reaches Max. Now he’s excited too. María tells him to cool it until they know that it is true. [I don’t want to be crude or anything, but how is it that no one asks if María is ... er ... late?]

Fer gets a call from Cruz. He’s back with his dad and she sets off to meet them at the doctor’s office.

You’ll never work in this town again
At Televisa, the director fires Gui. I know we saw this before but I could watch it over and over. One minute Gui is telling the crew to peel him a grape and the next, he’s needing a cardboard box.

Tonight
The pregnancy rumor makes its way to Victoria, too. She gets a little mopey about not being able to enjoy the excitement with her daughter. Toni tells her to snap out of it – she has a Bienal to wrangle.

Cruz and his father, Dionisio, are finishing up their consultation with Dr. Sabelotodo (know-it-all), aka Heriberto, in his office at the rehab center. Don Dionisio agrees to use his inhaler and follow Sabelotodo’s instructions while they wait for some test results to come back. Then Fer, waiting just outside, joins them. After a brief introduction to Papa Robles (who turns out to be as gallant as his son), she asks for a few moments alone with Sabelotodo.

Sin pelos en la lengua
Fer lays it on the line. She’s grateful for what he’s done for her as a physician but that doesn’t give him the right to take over (apropiarse, to appropriate) her family. And he had his nerve ruining the plans she and Max made when he barged in on her parents’ evening...

...Here Sabelotodo tries to deflect her outrage, telling her she still has a lot to learn about love.

But Fer is undeterred. It’s time he realized he can’t use the familia Sandoval as replacements for the wife and children he lost. And he can’t condemn her father – a very good man -- just because he made a single “mistake”.

[We can forgive Fer a bit of rhetorical excess. A “mistake” would be washing the reds with the whites in hot water and turning the undershirts pink . But Osvaldo’s relationship with LindaHo involved a series of choices and a chain of deception and lies over several months. So please don’t tell me adultery is a “mistake”. Whew. That rant was a few months and several telenovelas in coming.]

Sabelotodo tells Fer she doesn’t get it. The only feelings that count are Victoria’s and the decision is hers and hers alone.

Well. Dr. Know-it-all may believe what he’s saying but no one in the Maven house is buying it. He seems to be working hard to manipulate Victoria’s feelings and keep Osvaldo at a distance.

Check it out. The big night is here and there’s his big smarmy self, settled in like Jabba the Hut, accompanying Vic and cheering her on on the night of the big show.

Where’s Osvaldo?
The seat next to Juanjo is empty. Yeah, like that’s a surprise. Oh, wait ... Turns out the seat is reserved for Osvaldo but Os isn’t coming because he doesn’t want to run into Heriberto.

The precompetition entertainment begins. It’s a celebration of the roots of Mexican culture. The runway fills with native-costumed dancers moving to the sound of drums and flutes.

Backstage at Casa Victoria, an amazingly relaxed Vic rallies the troops telling them to enjoy themselves and be proud of their achievement. Max and María reassure Fer, who is, after all, a rookie at this game.

[Anyone who has been watching this show from day one will be struck by the contrast between this Victoria – generous, encouraging, comfortable in her own skin – with the one we met at the big desfile de modas at the start (it was sometime during the Reagan administration, I think. I distinctly remember Nancy telling us to “just say no”). That Victoria was tormented by her past, and by the loss of her daughter. She was controlling and rigid and her people cringed when she approached. From the crucible of her suffering, a new Victoria has emerged. I forgive you, Vic. ... sniffle sniff...]

Backstage at Casa Bernarda, a predictably frazzled Bernie -- and here’s someone who has not changed at all since we first met her -- abuses, browbeats and belittles her troops. We see Eva in action so at least we know Bernie hasn’t chopped her up and eaten her for breakfast.

Happy chaos reigns in Casa Vic’s hair and make-up area.

On Casa Bernie’s side, it’s all raw nerves and bickering. In the absence of a small dog to kick, Bernie makes do with inanimate objects.

Vic and Bernie talk trash.

Vic tells Fer she is bellísima – and she really is! It’s her moment, her mother tells her. Enjoy it!

Casa Victoria is up first with the Armando Mafud collection, his fusion of high fashion with Mexican traditional. Fer struts with perfect confidence. [Also with a perfect gait. How much time has passed since her surgery, anyway? Shouldn’t the babies be walking too? And talking? And starting to wonder why their parents are still not married?]

The vecindad gang chatters in the audience. Never mind the Upstairs Heri-Vic-Os dilemma. Jarocha-Joel-Jarocha have their own Downstairs triangle going on.

Luciano and Pipino talk trash.

Now it’s Casa Bernie’s turn. After Armando’s fantastical, Fridaesque creations, Bernie’s dresses look dull and borderline ugly. We’re off to a bad start, says Bernie.

Victoria and Bernarda glare at each other backstage.

Team Os weeps
Far from the glitter and excitement, Osvaldo sits alone and hopes that things go well for Victoria. He’d be there too if it weren’t for Sabelotodo.

María continues to feel weak and dizzy. Max, Toni and Vic all fuss over her. Max offers to take her home. Vic thinks maybe Dr. Sabelotodo should examine her. But María is a trooper and she tells Vic she’s fine. She made a promise to Vic and she intends to keep it. Vic moves in to hug her daughter and María ... hugs her back!

The cocktail dress portion of the show is coming up. These designs reflect the work of Pipino and Luciano and their respective bosses, Victoria and Bernarda. [Seriously. When did Bernie become a designer? When did she ever show taste or talent or interest in fashion? Or is it that in the current True Blood craze, her taste for the Inquisition is suddenly seen as panache?]

Backstage, Ximena is looking for a drink.

Cruz’s father has a coughing spell and Heri and Cruz lead him outside. So, romance aside, maybe it’s not such a bad idea having Dr. Know-it-all there. After all, when was the last time you heard someone stand up and ask: Is there an actor in the house? I mean, someone who wasn’t watching a telenovela.

Here are Victoria’s Phase Two creations. I’d never recognize them as cocktail dresses, but what do I know? There are some cool designs with calavera prints – you know, those iconic death’s head images -- and painted figures looking like they stepped out of a mural. No unibrows though.

Roxana has some chisme (gossip) for Bernie: Victoria’s star model is feeling sick and it’s possible she won’t be able to close the show. Gracias, Señor, says Bernarda with a pious upward glance. Me, I think she’s directing her thanks in the wrong direction.

Gorgeous Fer walks again in a long black floral-printed number.

Then we see Casa Bernarda’s entry: a lot of tall skinny girls in short sparkly dresses, some with leggings.

Backstage, Ximena, drink now in hand, overhears Luci and Fabían refer to María’s pregnancy. ¡Estúpida! she sniffs. ¡No puede ser!

Roxana catches Ximena holding a pair of scissors. She’s ready to run off and slash Victoria’s collection. (It wouldn’t be the first time!) What’s got her so unhinged? She tells her mother that María is pregnant again. She and Max are going to have another baby.

Things don’t look too good for Casa Vic.
María is fading fast but no one can take her place as star of the show because her dress was tailored just for her. Max reminds her that hateful Xi will be her competition on the runway. That seems to stir María’s fighting spirit.

Max and María become uneasy when they hear generous applause for Bernarda’s phase two collection.

An announcement is made: the competition is now a tie. Casa Victoria has won the first phase and Casa Bernarda the second. The winner will be determined in the third and final phase: evening gowns (los diseños de gala). Also, the judges have decided that in addition to the main prize, there will be an extra award given tonight.

Ms. Bottomless-Pit-Of-Need and Dr. Know-it-all: a match made in rehab
In the audience, Leonela asks Dr. Sabelotodo if he has plans after the show. He tells her they’ll all be going out to celebrate with Victoria. If she wins, that is. And if she loses, asks Leo? The two agree that after a loss, Vic probably won’t be in the mood to go out. So how about dinner, persists Leo. And the good doctor accepts, but tentatively.

The two houses show their evening gowns. Casa Vic continues with the Viva México theme; and Casa Bernarda’s stuff is a big yawn.

Now Ximena takes her star turn on the runway. She may be nicely buzzed but there’s no detectable stagger. Her walk is professional and well-received.

And then the last model of the the evening is announced: María Desamparada Iturbide. Here’s María standing as tall as a little girl can, radiant smile on her face. She wears a mariachi hat, and a long strapless sequined gown. We hold our collective breath as she descends the steep stairs, walks the length of the runway and back, and then climbs the stairs, turns, and exits uneventfully.

And the envelope, please:
The winner is – Casa Victoria!

Sore-loser Bernie prepares to leave immediately. Isn’t she going to stick around for the best model award? asks Rox. Answers Bernie with a sneer:
Me importa un rábano aunque gane la imbécil de tu hija.
(I couldn’t care less – even if your idiot daughter wins. Literally, It matters a radish to me...)

Once again, the envelope, please:
The best model is – María Desamparada Iturbide! (Meh. I voted for Fer.)

Great Galloping Ghost of Alonso! Are they really setting us up for another llorathon in intensive care?
María strides out, still wearing her game face -- although she left the hat backstage. She takes her place up front with Victoria and accepts the award. Then Victoria looks at her closely and says with alarm:
Hija, te está sangrando la nariz.
(Daughter, your nose is bleeding!)

And then, as Victoria looks on with horror, María collapses at her feet.

Sweet William Levy paddling a kayak rumbo al gran fin

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Friday, July 15, 2011

Triunfo del Amor #164 7/14/11 A triumph of jumping to conclusions

This just in: Jimena does know how to read. Shocker!

Gui thinks he's got Jimena by the, uh, ovaries?

Fer can't get anyone on the phone. Jerks.

Heri takes advantage of it being, in his words, a bad moment to pressure her, but hey, what the hell…"If you decide to stick with me, I need you to be 100% sure you'll be happy with me." He doesn't want her complaining later about separating her from her family. Love's a gamble Heri. And Vic's no Lady Luck.

Max shows Maria D the cell phone video footage. Ta-da! Proof that Burnie kidnapped the baby. Maria says only the cops can see this. Well, Max is looking forward to surprising Burnie.

Leonela is hanging out in the hallway at the hotel. She confesses she got fired from Televisa, and therefore doesn't have an early call. And all because of her damned alcoholism! Leo says she had it coming.

Vic wants Milagros to know that she's grateful to the 'hood for raising the ransom money. She also wants some advice from Mili, mom to mom.

Leonela says she hates and despises Gui, but at least with her job at the theater she can support herself. Doc's ears perk up when she mentions Othello. Leo waxes rhapsodic about how much one clings to something or someone when one thinks it's all one has in one's life. Doc advises her to reflect on that. Leo says loneliness is a bad counselor. She figures Doc has submerged himself in his work the way she has submerged herself in alcohol. And she doesn't think she'll get out without the hand of a friend. Or a friend with benefits.

Mili and Vic are going to talk about Maria.

Maria wants Max to spend the night, but that bed's too damn small. No, he just says he's got to go and soon they'll be together and no one can separate them.

Mili says Maria is a good kid with a good heart who's suffered enough already. Mili's sure at some point things will get straightened out between Maria and Vic. Vic feels guilty for being the fault of Maria's suffering. Mili says no one can teach you how to be a parent. You've just got to try, fail, send your kid to therapy for years…it all works out in the end.

Leo feels like Doc is the only one she can talk to, the only one who understands. Max is a grown man with his own problems and she doesn't want to unload on him. Doc tells her to rest up and tomorrow early, he'll help her find a solution to her problem. She kisses him excitedly and then apologizes for it. They take way too long to say goodbye.

Mili says she got married young, got pregnant, then her husband died young (he was a firefighter too), she devoted herself to her son. Now Juanjo's a grown man and she has to share him with Nathy. But it's cool, Nathy's like a daughter for her. And now, here she is, about to get married again. To Napo. Vic says he seems like a good person who's crazy about Mili. Mili says she accepted so she wouldn't be alone, but Juanjo will always be the most important thing in her life.

Nathy comes to visit Maria because Vic is over at Mili's house chatting. Maria gets dizzy and has to sit down. Probably because the boys are getting a sibling. Maria says no, it was different. Probably nerves.

Vic takes her leave, advising Mili that the 'hood peeps are invited to the runway show.

Now Nathy goes to visit Doc. She isn't going to give up on her degree. She's always thought women, even if they're wives and mothers, should be self-actualized. She pulls out her latest thesis revisions. She's added a couple of chapters.

Vic goes to visit PJP at work. He tells her that he went down to the registrar's office and Maria is now "Maria Desamparada Iturbide." Vic thanks him and figures Maria is happy. Vic laments that she hasn't been able to get close to Maria. PJP says she should trust in God's mercy that Maria will come around.

Os gives Fer a hard time for standing him up at dinner. Fer wants an update. Os says dinner was "fine" but he and Vic are just good friends. And also Heri showed up. Os isn't sure why. Fer is pissed that Heri screwed up her and Max's plans. Os tells her she and Max need to butt out. Fer wasn't trying to butt in…just give them a little push. Max says it's up to Vic and she'll make a decision when she's ready.

Doc takes Leo down to the director's office to convince him to re-hire Leo. She's a good actress, he hasn't reported her firing because he figures no one will watch. But he doesn't want to re-hire her either. Soooooo…..? He's just going to leave her out of the production and hope no one notices she's not there? Wow, this guy's brilliant! Leo begs for her job back. Doc says alcoholism is a sickness, but one that she can recover from with the proper treatment.

Juanjo has a surprise for Nathy. They're going shopping for baby stuff. Nathy is excited. They're going to fill the place up with kids. Please, please, please don't make me watch! Nathy announces giddily to Juanjo that Maria was dizzy yesterday. Juanjo jumps to the same wrong conclusion.

Leo swears to stay off the hooch. Doc promises, as a doc, that he'll take responsibility for Leo. She gets her job back, though the director looks like he's already regretting it.

Max shows Os the video. Just put it on You Tube, dude. It's easier. These two numbnuts decide not to tell the cops until after the runway show.

Maria gets a package…it's Alonso. Looking like crap. He doesn't want her to be sad. Uh, then don't put your deathly visage on screen telling her you're dead, you dumbass! She made him the happiest man in the world, he didn't really exist before he met her (*dying coughs*), he thought he'd be with her for the rest of his life, and it made him happy. He carries her and the baby in his dying heart. He always loved nature, so he put together a slideshow of all the pretty places he's visited. He wants her to thank Max for attempting to sacrifice himself for Alonso's happiness. He'll see her on the other side or some nonsense. (Mr. 5ft wants him to keel over already). He loves them all. Slideshow. Yeah, I'm supposed to think he had a camera on a timer everywhere they went to take pictures of the two of them together? Dude, if I promise to miss you, will you go away?

Nathy and Juanjo go baby shopping. That didn't come out right. You know what I mean. Juanjo invites her out for an ice cream. Offering a pregnant lady ice cream? Man, talk about a sure thing.

Os asks what Doc was doing at Televisa and the director fills him in. Os asks to show him something.

Fab and Luci walk in together. It's official. Finally. Too little, too late. Pip will get to work on the dress. Luci says there's no plans yet. Very sensible, says Vic. Pip says they've gotta get to work for tonight.

At Casa Burnsdown, Herself is very displeased with the designs. "Who made this?!" Jimena says Luciano doesn't have a clue about accessories, so she just whipped it up. Burnie says she's a mediocre model, not a designer. "Don't touch other people's stuff!" Rox says Jimena has tons of experience and so does she! She was a designer for Casa Victoria! And no wonder they went under, says Burnie.

Juanjo and Nathy return home with their purchases. The place is full of neighbors. Maria, Fer, and Jpito come over. Juanjo announces that Maria is preggers. She says she was dizzy yesterday, but that doesn't mean anything. Napo agrees--he's been dizzy before too. Mili says it will be Fer's turn too and there will be a ton of kids all over. Prof and Jarochas dancing FF>> Blessings for Fer and Maria.

Doc has been upgraded. He's not only the only doctor in the DF, he's the only doctor in all of Mexico. So Cruz has brought his dad to see him.

Mili fills us in on his symptoms: breathing trouble. Probably because of smoking. Not that he smokes.

Doc tells Cruz he doesn't want to say what's going on until the test results are in. Obviously it's something respiratory and Cruz needs to be patient. "So there's nothing to do?" Doc repeats they need to wait for test results.

Flurry of activity at Nueva Casa Vic. A Pippy pep talk. Maria adds a few rah-rah's. Go team!

Vic loves Armando's designs. Toni comes in to tell them they're missing the pep rally.

Os and the editing guy show the director the footage of Gui releasing the line.

Maria gets dizzy again and sits down. Everybody picks up on the whole "dizzy" thing…except Fab, who doesn't get it. Fer is excited about the dizziness and says they all think she's preggers. Pip says this means they'll be lucky. Because…she got lucky? Maria tells Pip to stow it! Fer says she's done a lot of reading and just because Maria's had one baby doesn't mean she's going to feel exactly the same with all of them. Max comes in and asks what's going on. A whole lotta speculation, that's what. Maria tells him that they're all jumping to conclusions. He gets all excited. ("Dumb Ass!" says Mr. 5ft. I concur) Hugs and congratulations, while Fer's feeling left out. Maybe it will turn out that Maria's getting sympathy pregnancy symptoms because it's actually Fer who's pregnant. She gets a call from Cruz and leaves.

Gui demands that someone bring his breakfast and the paper to his dressing room. The director wants to talk to Gui, who assumes he wants to tell him that the novela has been extended due to the popularity of his character. Gui, don't you even THINK the word "extension" around me! Nope, he's fired. Ha ha! "Me? Fired? Why?" The director starts to say he just saw…and then my DVR cuts off. No Sweet William Levy In a Kayak for me tonight!

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Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Triunfo del Amor #163 7/13/11 Just Decide Already!

Today has been one snafu after another, not to mention Hubs had the day off and was all kinds of in my hair ;-) This might possibly be the worst.recap.ever. Luckily absolutely.nothing.happened.

Refrito

  • Os sees the tape proving Gui really did try to kill him and it weren't no accident.
  • Maria makes the "this is my family" speech, tilts her head and produces a single tear.
Tonight
  • Cruz is off to help dad who is in a bad way. Fer will stay in the DF.
  • Vic says she doesn't deserve to be happy. PJP says everyone deserves to be happy. She is seeking his counsel to help with the Os/Heri conundrum. 
  • Max seeks out Mama Lulu.
  • Vic offers Maria a designing gig. Maria balks at first. Vic explains (and I paraphrase) that when the young and the pretty wears out, she won't be able to model. Vic wants her to have other means of making a living as well.
  • Xi and her mom talk (I can't understand Rox for now.) Xi is whining that Max doesn't want her. And the conversation turns to Xi's choice of reading material. Did I miss something important about the book. Rox sure was interested and Xi got all upset that mom was being to nosy about her reading Shakespeare.
  • Fer arrives and Casa Vic Redux and gets down to work with Pip. Maria can't resist and takes up Vic on her offer to design. Toni and Vic "squeee" in the corner and then leave the kids to play with their fashion plates.
  • Fab waits for Luci. All he gets for his trouble is the neighbor coming by to give him some mis-delivered mail.
  • Vic arrives at restaurant. Os arrives at restaurant. They both figure out they've been duped, share a laugh, order martinis and reminisce while the classical guitar group plays an awesome rendition of "Oye la confesion." Os toasts "this perfect moment."
  • Max has located Mama Lulu and wants to talk to her about the kidnapping.
  • Luci shows up. Smoochies.
  • Os and Vic yammer. She's still confused. He had her on a pedestal but she was replaced by Linda.Something about broken jars that can't be fixed. Lo and behold Heri shows up. 
  • Max wants deets about Burnie's role in the kidnapping. Lulu is really upset. She (rightfully) fears Burnie. She's the only person her grandchildren have. She'll talk, but he can't record it.  
  • Fab and Luci. Smoochies and shagging on the shag.
  • Max convinces Lulu to talk and have it recorded.
  • Heri is yakking. Vic is still undecided. I am decidedly bored with this story line. Repeat after me: De tin marín de do pingüe....
  • Now we get a rehash of the kidnapped JPito story but from Lulu's point of view.
  • Vic still can't decide. But she and Heri hold hands and share a moment.
  • Lulu continues to sing like a bird.
  • Vic tells Heri any woman would be lucky to have him. She thanks him for putting up the ransom.
  • Fer is trying to get in touch with anyone to find out how Operation Parent Trap worked. Os is in his apartment flashing back to Vic's indecision. He won't answer Fer's calls. He doesn't have anything good to tell her anyway.
  • Xi is laying plans for Gui at Casa Burnie.
  • At home, Gui is scheming to put Xi in jail.
  • Still no one will answer Fer's calls.
  • Heri kind of pressures Vic. He wants her firmly by his side. He wasn't her sure. No changing her mind. He'd rather give her up than have a waffling Vic.
William "Abs" Levy in a Kayak.

Avance
  • Parting words (again) from Alonso via DVD.

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Monday, July 11, 2011

Triunfo del Amor #162 7/11/11 ♪♪If I only had a heart (check), da noiv (check), a brain (working on it)♪♪

In which Bernarda’s lies lose their power over María;
little Juan Pablo makes a fashion statement;
Xi and Gui are closer to being unmasked;
Fabián finally realizes that Luci is smokin’ hot;
Fer and Max set the groundwork for an Os victory (Go Team Os!);
there’s a hint of trouble for Cruz;
and María begins to feel the pull of family.


Reprise: María is ready to hear the truth.
In the visiting room at the reclusorio, Fausto tells María that it was Bernarda de Iturbide who killed Tomasa. That woman – the woman who claims she is acting in the name of God -- is evil incarnate. Does María really want to know everything she has done, as horrifying as it may be? Yes, she does. To defend herself and her father, she has to know the enemy. Fausto begins:
Ella mató a golpes a Tomasa.
(She beat Tomasa to death.)

Triunfo de Moda at the New Casa Victoria?
The fashionista gang – Vic, Pipino and Toni -- is excited about Pip’s idea of bringing Mexico itself to the world stage with their fashions. For the big biennial show, Victoria wants to collaborate with the great designer Armando Mafud, a man known for combining the flavor (sabor) and color of Mexico with the glamour and sophistication of international fashion.

Mr. Mafud has been waiting in the reception area and now Luci escorts him into the office. He smiles graciously while Pip dances and fawns over the dignified 60ish gentleman. The ladies look pleased.

[BTW, Armando Mafud is a real person, a Mexican designer born and raised in Oaxaca, son of Syrian immigrants. He practiced dentistry – yes, dentistry – for ten years and then turned to fashion design. Google him and you’ll find lots of his stuff.]

More video evidence?
Angel, a guy on the Televisa lot, runs to catch up with Osvaldo. There’s a cassette in the viewing room that Os needs to take a look at, he says. It’s important. Os is kind of busy right now but promises he’ll look at it later.

Who let you in?
Max can’t figure out why Ximena is in his office. Is she looking to steal their designs for Casa Bernie? Not at all, she says. She only wants to see him. After all, they do have a child in common. Puhleez. Max blows that pretext off with a recital of the sad history of little Osvaldo. Bottom line: she gave up any rights to little Os long ago.

Xi switches tactics from wheedling to needling.
She can’t understand why – after all she did to try to save their marriage -- he traded her in for a simple little nothing (simplona, literally simpleton, simple soul) like María Desamparada. Better a simplona than an asesina, retorts Max. Xi is incensed. Who’s been spreading lies about her?
She thought-bubbles: Grrr....that damn Guillermo!
Max thought-bubbles: If she only knew it was Fausto ...

The devil is in the details
Indeed. Back at the reclusorio, Fausto is making like Placido Domingo, singing out for María all the details of Bernarda’s evil past. María finds it hard to believe that a MOAP (Mother-of-a-Priest) could be so wicked. But the pieces all fit together:
So she meant to burn all those people alive when she set the fire at the old vecindad ?...
...Just like she killed my parents, confirms Fausto sadly.
Now María is truly appalled:
¿Quemó vivos a tus padres? Ay, Dios mio!
(She burned your parents alive? Oh my God!)
But there is something else María has to know, something crucial – so she can take precautions:
Doña Bernarda...ella fue quien se robó a tu hijo.
(Doña Bernarda... she was the one who stole your son.)

Così fan tutti – Así son los hombres
All that evil got you down? Let’s pause for a little Milagros-Don Napo shtick about the silliness of men. Napo goes off to bathe and change out of his schmatas (fachas) so he can accompany the gussied-up (arreglada) Mili to Casa Victoria. While Mili waits for him, she sits on a bench and shares a laugh with a real person extra (Is it me or are they giving more lines to real folks lately?). The three J’s (Jarocha, Joel, Jarocha) dance on tirelessly in blissful hypomania.

Si la belleza doliera, usted andaría en un grito.
(If beauty hurt, you’d be walking around screaming (in pain))
Napo finally steps out all duded up in a suit and tie, wet hair slicked back, and he and Mili exchange piropos (flirty compliments). Juanjo and Chente rib Napo on his new look.

Helping is different from interfering, right?
Fer phones Max. Yes, it’s true that their parents are adults and the kids shouldn’t meddle in their lives but she has an idea...

Who cares what they’re saying? Check out little Juan Pablo!
Oh man! In his little plaid shirt and baby jeans, he looks just like tío Cruz. Precioso, ¿no?

Ok, back to business:

María, with aforesaid bebé in arms, reports back to Max:

Bernarda was the person responsible for little JP’s secuestro.

Max is incensed and wants to confront the Bernster immediately but María argues that she’s the one who should do it. Alone. As strange as it sounds (parece mentira, literally, it seems like a lie), having her official apellido makes her feel, somehow, more powerful. She’s ready to stand up to anyone now. She hands over little JP to his papi and leaves to confront the BernMonster in her lair.

After she leaves, Max snuggles little Juan Pablo and vows that Bernarda will pay for all the harm she’s done.

Luci can’t help falling
Pipino has sent Luci and Fabián to look for some accessories in the storeroom. There’s one box left to check and it’s on the highest shelf. Brushing aside Fab’s offer of assistance, Luci, wearing absurdly high heels, climbs up, stumbles and falls – right into Fabián’s arms. Are you okay? he asks, his face inches from hers. Music swells. ♪Bésame♪...
And he does.

La Desamparada vs La Demente
All haughty sarcasm, Bernarda spews venomous lies and distortions designed to make María doubt the truth about her parents’ history and the Bernster’s crimes. María hangs tough.

To Bernie’s rant that calling a priest “papá” is heresy, she counters that when she was conceived:
Mi papá era apenas un seminarista y no había hecho sus votos.
(My dad was only a seminary student and hadn’t taken his vows.)

When Bernie mocks María for her naivete and tells her Victoria is manipulating her like a puppet, María replies:
Aquí la única manipuladora es usted!
(The only manipulator here is you!)

Bernarda’s pretense of affection, says María, kept her from seeing the type of woman la Demente really is: Malvada. Perversa.

Bernie goes all Miss Piggy, feigning wounded innocence: Wicked? Perverse? Moi? Where did those accusations come from?

From Fausto, María says. He told her the whole story.

Luci and Fab are still on the storeroom floor.
Looks like Fabián’s kiss is being returned. With interest. And it looks like Fabián is finally coming to his senses about the lovely Luci. He realizes now that she’s the one he loves. He can’t live without her! He begs her to come back home. He’ll be waiting for her tonight – and if she doesn’t come back... Well, he’ll have to resign himself to losing her.

What’s truth got to do with it?
Bernarda, undaunted by a little thing like the truth, rants on about her God-given authority to punish sinners. She is Bernarda de Iturbide, Mother-of-a-Priest – and her son is practically a saint. And now that María carries the proud Iturbide apellido, she’d better make sure her behavior measures up to it.

María has no intention of changing her behavior. Why should she? She’s never hurt anyone. As for Bernarda – the list of her crimes is enormous. For starters, she’s the one who ran over María and Victoria. That’s why Victoria lost her daughter. That’s why María grew up in an orphanage.

Close-up of Bernarda giving a little harrumph headshake and twisting her lips.

Things are looking rosy at Casa Victoria
The great Armando Mafud has signed on for the biennial show. His designs will be featured in the first phase, but in the second and third phases Pipino will be in charge with both Victoria and Toni contributing their design talent. It’s going to be a real team effort.

Here’s what comes out of Bernarda’s twisted lips and even more twisted mind:
She accuses Victoria of using Bernie’s own favorite strategy – repeating a lie so often that it becomes a kind of truth.

Bernarda uses what she overheard in the rat-infested warehouse and what she heard and observed on Gui’s doctored film to challenge the truth of Victoria’s story. She even accuses Vic of arranging the mother-daughter kidnapping just so she could look like a hero when she came to María’s rescue.

But Bernarda takes it too far. Eventually our feisty heroine connects the dots:
Just a darn minute there, Señora...How do you know what Victoria told me when she and I were alone together?

That’s what I’m talkin’ about, insists the Bernster. What she told you were the same. old. lies. As I said, repeat a lie often enough and it becomes the truth.

María and Bernarda, eyeball to eyeball. Has Bernarda planted a seed of doubt?

Ximena knows the death scene by heart
Ximena seems to be making the rounds tonight. She has found her way to Guillermo’s theater and now sits alone in the darkened hall watching the actors rehearse, mouthing Desdemona’s lines along with Leonela; she clutches at her own throat when Guithello chokes Leo’s Desdemona. Bravo! she cries and applauds enthusiastically. Gui leans in her direction: Stick around after rehearsal, he tells her. He has something very interesting to show her.

Casa Victoria looks to the future
Vic has a project in mind – don’t talk about it yet, ok? – but after the big show, she’d like to start a new line for young women. María would be in charge of it and they’d name it after her -- "María Desamparada"... Having María working with them would be a way to keep her close without putting too much pressure on her.

Pip loves the idea. Toni thinks it would be even better if Fer were included – besides, that way María would have a hard time refusing to sign on.

...While María gets another job offer
Listen lady, says María. I’m not here to talk about you or me or Victoria. I’m here to ask a question: Why did you steal my son?

This question triggers another Bernie rant that culminates in a shouted challenge: What motive could I possibly have to steal my own great grandson?

That, says María, is what I want to know. Why are lying? Why don’t you assume responsibility for what you’ve done? How can you live with yourself after all the harm you’ve done?*

*Rhetorical question: A question to which no answer is expected, often used for rhetorical effect.

Usted tira la piedra y esconde la mano.
(You throw the stone and hide your hand, you do harm and then act innocent.)

The ever magnanimous Bernie is willing to overlook what her granddaughter has just said. Obviously, María is confused. And it must be hell working for Victoria. Say – why not come work for abuelita at triple the salary? Bernie will treat her like a queen!

No dice, Bernie. María won’t betray Casa Victoria or go back on her word. Never.

María leaves Bernarda alone with only her pectoral cross to keep her company. She hasn’t thrown her last stone...

Now comes the real drama
The rehearsal is over and Gui and Xi are alone in the theater. Guillermo shows Ximena the cellphone video. Yup, that’s Xi pushing Linda Sortini into the great beyond. Xi grabs for the phone and the two struggle in their usual creepily erotic way. I’ve got you in my hands, says Gui. Xi thought-bubbles: Memo to self – Must kill Guillermo.

Other dramas are being staged at the Televisa lot
Fer, now walking with more confidence, showing just a bit of stiffness in her gait – say what you will about his ethics, that Dr. Voice sure has a way with a scalpel! -- goes up to Osvaldo and gives him a big hug. She’s come to invite him to dinner at 8 at the restaurant they like so much. He accepts happily but then has to split. He has a busy afternoon ahead.

As soon as Os walks away, Fer calls Max. With a conspiratorial smile she reports:
Todo salió bien. Ahora nada más te toca hacer tu parte, ¿no?
(Everything went well. Now all that’s left is for you to do your part, ok?)

Antonieta’s sweetness -- a welcome antidote to Bitter Bernarda
Toni holds little Juan Pablo and talks to María about the past. She tells her how she, Vic and María lived together in a rooftop room. Early every morning she and Victoria would set off to work carrying María in her cajita (literally, little box). In the workshop, María was very quiet, as if the sound of the sewing machines put the little girl to sleep.

Toni adds dreamily:
Ay María, eras una bebé tan querida. Practicamente tenías dos mamás porque tú también eres parte de mi vida.
(Oh Maria, you were so loved as a baby! And you practically had two mothers because you're part of my life too.)

She reflects: Those were difficult times, it’s true, but there was no sacrifice Victoria wouldn’t have been willing to make for you.

A Heri hug
Max walks into Victoria’s office just as she and Dr. Voice are breaking away from a fairly restrained hug hello. Max – going along with Fer’s Parent Trap plot -- invites his mother to dinner at 8 at their favorite restaurant. He pointedly excludes Heri from the invitation. She accepts but after Max leaves she smiles apologetically at Heri. Dr. Heri understands. Vic and Max need some alone time, time to clear the air and dispel doubts.

Who knew he even had a father?
The new old guy in the vecindad takes a call for Cruz. It’s his father, he tells him. Cruz picks up the receiver: ¿Cómo está pa?
His expression turns serious...

Another visitor for Fausto at the reclusorio
Now it’s Max’s turn to question Fausto. What happened to the woman who had been taking care of the stolen baby for Bernarda? Max learns that Alonso gave her enough money to escape from Bernie’s clutches. The last he heard, she was living in a little town just outside the city, San José Actipan.

The Screen Actor’s Guide to Murder
Rule one: Don’t do anything hinky when the cameras are rolling.
I guess this page is missing from Gui’s copy because the film clip that the Televisa guy, Angel, has been so anxious to show Osvaldo clearly demonstrates that Os’s recent “accidental” fall was no accident. Gui deliberately loosened the line holding Osvaldo and caused his fall.

Os asks for a copy of the film so he can study it more closely but Angel can’t let him have it – it would cost him his job. That’s ok, says Os, he’ll figure out what to do about this.

♪♪How many little stars...♪♪
María comes back for little Juan Pablo, and finds Victoria, rather than Toni, holding her son. Vic is singing him the lullaby she used to sing to María (Cuántas estrellitas...), and María’s eyes fill with tears. She steps away to regain her composure. When she comes back a moment later, Padre Juan Pablo has joined Victoria and now he is holding his grandson. María reflects:
Esta es mi familia, la familia que me dio Dios y de cual no debería renegar – sobre todo no debería renegar de mi madre.
(This is my family, the family God gave me, and I shouldn’t turn my back on them – above all, I shouldn’t turn my back on my mother.)

Sweet William Levy in a kayak!

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Saturday, July 09, 2011

A little chiste for Triunfo fans



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Friday, July 08, 2011

Triunfo del Amor #161 7/7/11 A triumph of PJP over his mother's will.

I'll admit, I was going to FF through the "last night on…" but I had to stop and watch the slap again.

That's a tiny, tiny bed…reminds me of dorm days. Max and Maria smooch postcoitally and declare their luuuurve.

JuanJo and Nathy smooch. Ewwwww. She whines about being left behind, but he wanted her to be where the baby could get care, just in case.

Fer and Cruz fight to feed each other food…and keep their hands off each other. EPIC FAIL!!!!! I need popcorn. And a cold shower.

Party at Mili's. It's taken her days to give back all the money. Now it's "form an orderly line." Good grief! One of the Jarochas suggests they donate the money to a good cause. The other one suggests the telethon for I don't care enough to go back and figure out what.

Leonela is sublimating with ice cream. I could go for that. She starts to head out the door, but stops herself.

Vic is channel surfing. She gives up and tries to get comfy in her cold lonely bed.

Time passes.

Maria walks into the dressing room at Nueva Casa Vic, which is filled with pale yellow (or maybe cream?) roses from Max, por supuesto. He's buttering her up to beg forgiveness for Victoria. Maria's having none of it. She is sick to death of the pressure and wants everyone to back off. Max changes the subject and suggests a fun family outing with the babies. Maria has an idea.

Fer wants Cruz to dress a little differently for classes, but Cruz is ranchero and proud. He tells her she needs to take care of herself while he's gone--get some exercise, but not too much. He's going to go tell the neighbors to keep an eye on her. Fer starts on her PT, but there's a knock at the door. She assumes it's Cruz... which means it's actually Dr. Voice.

Maria arranges a picnic lunch on a blanket while Max manfully brings over both babies. That's right…real men parent their children. Be a good dad and you too can be as hot as Max. Rock hard abs and a kayak don't hurt either.

Dr. Voice begins his house call, following up on Fer's progress. I really wish they'd given her a cane or something. He tells her to keep taking her meds, doing her exercises, and going to CRIT once a week for strengthening exercises. He reminds her the she never answered his question--does she resent him for what happened with her mom? Damn, Dr. Voice, the world doesn't revolve around you, you know! Fer says she's over it. Her mom has a right to do what she wants. Os walks in and backs her up. It's all in Vic's hands and no one should pressure her.

Vic admires Max's additions to the dressing room. Toni walks in. I love her dress. Vic gets a little whiny about Os having left the house. And left her a free woman. And said he respects her decision.

Since both of her mom's suitors have invaded HER house, Fer is now going to let them have HER living room in which to have a private conversation. Os talks about how Fer has matured. Dr. Voice cuts to the chase, "I hear you've left your house." He says it was never his intention to be a home wrecker, it just happened.

Vic feels a little sorry for herself for being alone in the house. She figured everyone would move their families into the house and it would be full of her grandbabies. Toni reminds her that she didn't neglect her family for nothing--she did it to build her empire, so she could find Maria…who now won't speak to her, but hey, 2 out of 3.

Maria sings the lullaby to the boys. She tells Max that Vic used to sing it to her. Maria is glad the boys are growing up together as brothers. I wonder when they'll be getting another sibling. Max talks about how awesome it is to have sibs. Maria agrees, she likes having Fer as a sister. Max brings up Vic AGAIN. These people have no boundaries.

Vic whines some more about how she neglected her family and now she's alone. Whine, whine, Fer's accident, whine, whine, Osvaldo cheated, whine, whine. Toni says it's time for Vic to just be herself and stop hiding her emotions. It's never too late to find happiness, and Toni is always there for her. She'll support her if she wants to shag Dr. Voice. Ok, I embellished a little.

Os tells his rival he screwed up by getting involved with Linda. He figures he'll focus on his work and spend time with his kids and grandkids. And Dr. Voice's plans? Cause, you know, Os and Vic have been divorced for a while. Thanks for the reminder, Os. Doc says Vic asked for time and he's going to give her time. Os is grateful to Doc for what he's done for Fer, but he hopes Doc understands that they can't be friends. Oh, no Os/Doc bromance? They are just heaping the compliments on each other and being hyper-civilized. Oh, shut up already! They can't even say they're both leaving Fer's without taking five minutes to say goodbye. It's like fighting over who's going to hang up the phone first! They both flash back to their conversation just to prolong the moment that's already gone on far too long.

The hoodlums with the footage of Linda's death: The one guy is looking for Gui. It has something to do with him promising his mom on her deathbed that he'd straighten up and fly right. And once he turns the footage over to the cops, he'll have kept his promise and his mama can rest in peace. And so he's looking for Gui why?

Max tries to have a conversation with Maria about home improvement, but one of the boys is fussy. Maria says she wants to fix up the boys' room first. Max talks to the baby about making lots of food to make Maria get fat. Ah, that's romance. Smoochies.

At the theater, Gui and Leo rehearse. Leo says she won't follow him blindly anymore. She brings up Doc and Gui, in a ridiculous beard, gets upset. He threatens to test her resolve with a bottle of vodka. She points out that if she gets drunk again it's not going to help his career. The hoodlums are sneaking in. Gui threatens her not to screw with him. He thinks he's pulling her strings. Leo whines that they need to quit wasting time and rehearse already.

The boys are all strapped in and the baby paraphernalia is loaded into the minivan. Max and Maria take off.

Leo and Gui rehearse, but Gui is distracted by the hoodlums. He tells someone to turn on the lights, but he can't find them. He finds an envelope with the cell phone in it. He thinks himself a lucky bastard for having the footage. Stupid hoodlums. If anyone knows why they thought they should turn it over to Gui instead of the cops, please explain it to me!

Bernarda denies PJP her permission to…what? The same old arguments about filial piety. Oh, he wants to formally recognize Maria as his daughter, but Burnie says it would be too shameful for her. Bite me, Burnie. Maria walks in and greets PJP as Papa. I swear, I can see the steam rising off of Burnie. She just can't stand it! It's sacrilege! (You keep on using that word…I do not think it means what you think it means!) PJP is ready to start fixing the mistakes of the past.

Leo asks what's going on--are they going to continue rehearsing or what? Gui gets back to work. In costumes and still holding scripts? Seriously?

PJP takes Maria down to…if it were the US, I'd call it the county clerk's office. The documents are ready. It's an "acto de nacimiento extemporánea" (an after-the-fact birth certificate). PJP presents his ID. He wants her name to be listed as Maria Desamparada Iturbide. Hugs and tears. The official presents Maria with her birth certificate. She says she finally likes her name. She's just a girl like any other, with a last name. PJP says she can now confront the world with no shame and without feeling bad about herself. I think she could have done that before, if she'd made up her mind to, but ok.

PJP and Maria talk about the whole Alonso thing. Maria needs to go visit someone and thank them. PJP is on his way back to church.

At Casa Bernarda, they talk fashion. Burnie hates everything she's looking at.

Maria visits Fausto in jail. He says he's paying for someone else's crime. He admits burning Tomasa's body, but he insists he didn't kill her--Burnie did. Maria says she'd heard that, but she has a hard time believing her sweet old grandma would kill someone. Fausto says he's paying his debt to society so he can become a priest.

And there my DVR cuts off, so no kayaking for me.

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Wednesday, July 06, 2011

Triunfo del Amor #160 7/6/11

Woo hoo! We get to relive Fer's miracle! It never gets old. I was back on the edge of my seat, silently cheering and begging the bus driver to open the door.

Fer and Cruz marvel that she is standing and walking. Fer says she did it for him. Smoochies and mi riqueza. The crowd applauds. Fer says she loves him. Please forgive her. Cruz says all that matters is their future. They will be together and no one will separate them. (Now if she will get preggers my happiness will be complete.) As they are leaving a bus station employee asks about the chair. Fer donates it for future passengers who may not be able to walk. She is praised for her generosity.

Maria walks into the hospital room and discovers Fer is gone. She makes like a tree and leaves.

Leo thanks Dr. Voice for confessing that he was once an alcoholic. He says the hardest thing about being an alcoholic is accepting that you are one. Leo starts to make excuses..."pero..." No no, says Voice. No buts. You won't be able to move forward until you admit it.

Maria informs Vic and Max that Fer is gone. Momentary panic and OMG Vic says "¿Dónde está mi hjia? I didn't think we'd hear that again. But all is well, Fer and Cruz walk in and everyone stares at each other happily. There are tears and happiness. Where the hell is Os? It's a miracle Vic proclaims. A miracle of love Fer confirms. Group hug.

Nati and Millie blah blah. Nati fills Millie in on the Cruz/Fer reconciliation and subsequent walking miracle. She also tells Millie that Cruz is giving up the gig as the next Ranchero Idol. Millie thanks former popes, the virgencita and all the saints.

Vic is yammering about Fer and Cruz coming back home and Fer lets her know that she'll be moving back to the vecindad. Max says mama has to cut the apron strings. Vic says she'll be lonely. Fer reminds her that papá is still there. Vic lets her know that Os left for reasons she doesn't want to discuss. Vic says Max is right. Fer has to live her own life.

Napo comes in search of an answer to his proposal. In the course of conversation, he and Millie discover the JuanJo/Cruz postal matchmaking plan (remember that?) FF>>

The random dude who conveniently recorded Linda's death on his phone is playing pool with a buddy when he sees Gui being interviewed on TV. He recognizes him as the dude that was with the lady with the wig. An aside: I am thoroughly confused. Last night this guy was saying he would recognize the chick who pushed Linda 'cause she looked like the blonde hailing a cab in front of him. I thought Xi was wearing that black wig at the time. Tonight this guy even says she was wearing a wig. Help please? So guy moves closer to the TV and at that moment Gui says his full name. It's the interview after the theater failure so he is saying that he, Guillermo Quintana will personally make sure blabbity blabbity. So random guy blabbity blahs and I don't catch it. I assume blackmail is afoot.

Napo is trying to get an answer out of Millie. Millie accepts, but Napo heard "no" and continues to yak. Nati has to shut him up to tell him Millie said yes. Napo channels Gomez Addams and sings a little Florecita.

Cruz and Fer go to the church and thank the Virgencita for Fer's being able to walk. Fer thanks her for her marvelous man. Marvelous man thanks her for Fer and says he doesn't need anything for himself.

Millie, Napo, Chente and Nati dine FF>> oh. Blockhead is home.

Pip spreads the good news about Fer and pushes Fab and Luci together.

Burnie is not happy with the designs that were done during her absences. Xi argues its the latest stuff. Burnie says Casa Bernarda creates the fashion, not follows it. Xi says she knows what she's doing and wants Burnie so trust her. The designs are fresh. She has been the top model in this house for a long time. She tells Burnie that the fashions she likes are a little de passé. They need to be more innovative. Xi reminds here that the best and brightest will be at the bienal. Burnie broods.

JuanJo and crew. Don Joel tonterías. JuanJo finds out Napo is gonna be his stepdaddy. Millie wants a Jalisco style wedding.

Burnie tells Xi she'll trust her, but Xi better not fail her.

Pip lets the crew know that Oscar is in New York taking care of business-y stuff. The crew decides they are going to kick arse and the fashion event and Burnie needs to watch it.

Ok....here it comes!!!!

Cruz and Fer have returned to the vecindad. Everyone is thrilled that they are back and that Fer is walking. Cruz tells them all he is giving up the singing career and continuing his studies in veterinary medicine. Don Tonto and his Jarochas do a dance for Fer but it is interrupted by Diana-ho. She knew he wasn't going to leave. Cruz wants to know what she's doing there. He told her he doesn't want to see her again. She tells him to think. Doesn't he realize he has a brilliant career ahead of him. How many people would love to be in his place. No. He would rather throw it all away for this woman who doesn't support him. That just brings him shame or was that Fer was ashamed of him (?) Fer jumps up: Basta! Oh, are you surprised I can walk? Fer says the only shame she feels is being in front of a HO like Diana. THWAAAP! (I wish we could have gotten an echo on that)  and then a back-handed THWAAAAP!  for good measure. Yeah!!!!

Fer throws Diana-ho out of the vecindad and everyone joins in with jeering. Cruz declares Fer the winner.

Vic reminisces about her big braid days, her labor, Padilla, getting hit by a car, Linda-ho, Fer's accident and cancer. She returns to the present. She is Victoria Sandoval. A strong woman, maybe a bit down but not beat. She's gonna get her life back and her position back in the fashion world.

Max and Fer talk bout the 'rents. We have to let them live their lives. Cruz brings dinner. Fer is sad about her parents, but Max is right. The kids can't interfere with the parents. Let them live their life.

Millie and the vecindad are talking about the money they collected for the ransom but I can't figure out what they decide. Max comes and thanks them all for their help and support.

Commercial break: no TdA on Friday. They are dragging this out.

Fer is eating dinner with Os. He is tickled pink that she can walk. She thanks him for supporting her. She is sad he's not at the house any more, but like Max says, they have to respect the decisions they made. Os says she knows he loves Vic with all his soul, but his heart can't control her. Life is like that.

Voice is paying a call on Victoria. They make small talk about Fer for a bit. Vic explains it was love that did it. Fer heard Cruz was leaving and she used all her might to walk so she could stop him. Voice says love is the strongest medicine. Voices excuses himself, sure that Os wouldn't be happy. Vic tells him Os doesn't live there anymore (hey, did I mention I'm team Os?)  Vic explains that she told Os herself about the smoochies. She tells Voice that Os left her free to decide. Dr. Voice wants to know what she decided, but right now she doesn't want to talk about her personal life. (When this convo started I thought it would be a little more important. It really isn't. ) Right now, Vic is all about the hijos and their stuffs. Dr. Voice takes a moment to advise Vic how to deal with Maria Desamparada. Give her space. Vic says she's decided to back off. Voice says Maria has always been alone and persevered alone. Vic's need to be forgiven could overwhelm her. Vic isn't going to pressure her. Dr. Voice says look at Fer, her passion for Cruz helped her walk. Maria needs to face a similar situation and that will bring a reaction.QTH? I'm not translating it well, but even in Spanish it makes no sense to me. Weren't they in a life threatening situation together? Didn't that soften Maria at all? Anyway. Voice leaves.

Max and Maria smooch and make lovin'. Why exactly are they not married yet?

No cliffhangers tonight.

Max in a kayak with his six-pack.

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