Caray, Caray!

Friday: Paloma goes to Gabriel in Mexico City. He doesn’t want her to stay out of pity and then see him croak. She says she really cares about him and wants him to come back to Real del Monte. Em looks at the photo on his cell phone and leers. Lili was right, he thoughtbubbles. His friend is betraying him, the baby must be his. Why oh why did he marry Romina?

Last week was a doozy, and this one promises to be, too, so strap yourselves into your seats and awaaay we go!

Carlota’s doorbell rings. It’s Don E, who won’t be brushed off. Steamed, he demands to know why she told Paloma that Gabriel is dying. She says I didn’t know it was a secret, plus you told me yourself. I never did, he growls. How else would I know if you hadn’t? she says. Don E says I talked to Gabriel’s doctor on your phone - you must’ve been listening on the extension.

Oh no no no, she assures him. I could never do anything like that. Don E is frustrated and says you’re so persuasive when you lie. You really are an amazing person, so okay, I agree to be your lawyer. Carlota is surprised. Don E says there’s a sunny side to your indiscretion - it benefits Gabriel.

He strides out and Carlota looks amazed.

In the hospital waiting room, Em shows Rafa the photo of Romina and German in bed. We know it’s not nice to kiss and tell, but of course he wasn’t the one doing the kissing. Rafa is amazed that he didn’t do anything. Em says he wanted to punch out German and maybe Romina too, but he realized that the photo was what he needed to get his divorce. Smart! Says Rafa.

Chris shows up and Em goes to have a coffee with him. Rafa will hold the fort.

Rafa’s cell rings and it’s Diana crying and begging him to go to Pachuca with him to confront Samuel about the house. Rafa says we’re divorced now – you’re responsible for your own decisions. Diana wails But he robbed me! Aren’t you going to help meeeee?

Rafa says you’ll still get your alimony. Rent some place and get a job. You’re horrible, says Diana. Probably, says Rafa, and, since you called, you should know that your grandchild is very sick. You should come to the hospital. Diana says I have more important things to do right now – he’s been sick since he was born. Whatever, says Rafa, disgusted, and he hangs up.

Romina comes home from the hospital and finds German asleep in her bed. She says I told you to get up and go! He asks about the baby. Romina says it has something, but I don’t understand what it is. She assures him Em doesn’t know about them – he’s too worried about the baby. She says she’s going to take a quick shower and he needs to get out of there.


Em apparently has told Chris about German and Romina. Chris admires his restraint. Em says the reason he asked Chris to come is that he wants to get the DNA tests but he doesn’t have the receipt for them, Dr B did when he disappeared. He wants Chris to try – he’s so respected. Of course, an angry crowd was throwing tomatoes at Chris just a few weeks ago, but maybe his reputation has healed up quickly. Chris says count on me.

Carlota is sitting around in her slippers in the darkish living room when Rufi comes home. As usual, Carlotta’s not reading or anything. Maybe she just is tanking up on darkness. Rufi wonders why she’s there and not in bed and she said Don E rang the doorbell. She wants to know where Paloma is, but Rufi doesn’t know.

Carlota says if Paloma thinks she doesn’t have to answer to her anymore just because she turned 18, she’s sorely mistaken. Carlota then asks what the news on the street is. Rufi says all people can talk about is Dr B disappearing. Carlota says they think he’s dead, right? Rufi says they don’t know. One flower lady said that she’d seen him that night.

Really? says Carlota, her eyes narrowing. Rufi says he appeared to the lady, like a ghost, but I think the lady was just trying to get attention.

Carlota thoughtbubbles: Could it be he’s alive? Is that why I got that call yesterday?

En cambio, no…. and we go to ad. There’s Aracely Whatshername with abundant crimson curls, her surging bosom trying to escape a period dress, and Eduardo Yanez with long flowing locks blowing in the wind. Hmm.

Camila is just doing up a red pair of those high-waist trousers that look so good on her. She tells Orlando that she just can’t go to Houston now with the baby so sick. He understands, he says. Camila says they’re going to baptize the baby. Orlando says he prefers not to go alone, but he has to go.

Gabriel has cooked up a nice lunch and he and Paloma are eating at a table in the yard. She notes that they both have been around death a lot, but in different ways. He says her experiences have given her art maturity and depth.

Gabriel tells her that his parents died young and he learned you could either spend your life crying in a corner, or you can use every moment to the max. She says she loves that about him.

She has to get back, she says, Are you coming with me? He says no, he wants to stay, but he takes her hands and says You’re not going to leave just now either. You wanted to enjoy the time we have together – then let’s do that, even if it’s just for now.

Don E arrives at Gabe’s Real del Monte studio, where the maid is still cleaning up. That must’ve been one helluva party. His cell rings and it’s Natalia telling him she has “him” at her house now. Don E’s glad. Natalia says he’s not any better. Don E thanks her for her help and she says it’s her great pleasure – she’s at the head of the long line of people who are thirsting for justice.

The baby is getting baptized by Padre B in scrubs while a nurse in scrubs holds him. Em, Romina, Camila and the two granddaddies watch from behind the observation glass. Romina says he’s so cute, he looks just like you, Emiliano. Em looks away from her in disgust.

Em asks a passing nurse if the test results are back yet. No, she says. Romina says to him, don’t worry, we’ll have him at home soon. Em stomps off angrily. What’s with him? asks Romina. I need him to console me, support me, or something. Camila soothes her.

Paloma and Gabriel are in the open-air top seats of what is probably a tour bus, riding around seeing the sights in Mexico City. Apparently the city is a hoot, because they’re both pointing and laughing full-out for hours. They play around, getting more touchy as the tour wears on. Pretty soon he has his arms around her and she puts a friendly kiss on his face. He says so this is your first time here? She says can’t you tell?

He says you are my life. She says but just for now – you said so. After a while, the shadows are lengthening and they’re still riding on top of that bus, her head on his shoulder. Nobody else has been in the top level, and I wonder if the driver even knows they’re still there.

Chris is talking to Dr. B’s secretary. She tells him the police came by, but there wasn’t anything suspicious. Chris wants to know if Carlota came by, and the secretary says not since he was going with her sister.

She finds the envelope with the results and says if I didn’t know you so well, I wouldn’t give them to you. Chris thanks her and says he’s sure the doctor, wherever he is, would appreciate her doing that. She says she hopes the doctor is okay.

German has come to see Carlota – Rufi’s surprised about that, and also didn’t know about the baby. He heads for Carlota’s office.

Carlota snarls finally! What did you find out? German says nothing – the earth seems to have swallowed him up. What makes you so sure he’s dead? Don’t ask stupid questions, she says. German tenses up and says Don’t insult me. Oooo, says Carlota, smiling, getting up and circling him. Aren’t we indignant? Not everyone would give you a second chance. So deliver.

He says You haven’t told me what you want me to do. She stands close and says What would you like? He grabs her and kisses her forcefully.

On the phone, Natalia asks somebody if “they” are coming. Great! It needs to be on those dates. I’ll call again, and remember, don’t tell anybody. She hangs up and smiles.

The lady doctor has come out and is telling our group that the baby has cystic fibrosis. She has to flip her head back and forth to do her announcement as, in typical telenovela style, half the group is lined up on one side of her, and the other on the other half, so they show their faces to the camera.

She says in a preemie, anything can be serious. Also, the results from Em and Romina have come back, but….

But what, doctor? Both parents have to be carriers and Romina is but…. Emiliano isn’t. Em glares at Romina, who cuts a look at him, then looks away, like a dog caught with a chewed shoe.

The doctor says either the results are wrong, or Emiliano isn’t the father. Jeez, why not announce it over the loudspeaker? All eyes on are on Romina. Em yells at her Now is the time to tell the truth! Who is the father of the child? You, says Romina. Only you.

Chris arrives with the envelope and hands it to Em, telling him You aren’t the father of the baby. Romina darts her eyes back and forth between him and Em and realizes what’s up. She stares at Em.

It’s not true, she says. I had a test done before the baby was born, remember? And it proves you are the father. No, it doesn’t, he snarls, and this explains why Bernando was born “premature.” Rafa grabs his shoulders and says fighting won’t solve anything.

For her part, Camila, takes Romina’s shoulders and says Who is the father? It’s Emiliano, Romina swears.

The doctor says If we don’t have the real father, we can’t do the treatment. (Hands up if you think this is true. Anyone?)

Chris says Romina, nobody is judging you. (Ha!)But the life of an innocent child depends on you and the real father. Romina says Emiliano is the father.

Liar! explodes Em as he lunges at her. Rafa grabs him and pulls him back. Em leaves to get a little fresh air, and Camila grabs Romina roughly by the arm and drags her off, saying You and I have to talk.

Emiliano is outside the hospital, panting from adrenaline, scowling. He’s a much better scowler than he is a mooner – he might have a bright future as a telenovela bad guy, maybe curling his lip as he murders somebody. And now guess who runs up? Anamar, who just happens to be strolling near the hospital. Is something wrong with your baby? she wants to know. Em snaps that it’s not his baby.

Paloma is about to leave. She’s tearful and says Mexico City is beautiful – she would have loved to live there. Gabriel says then stay – I’ll help you.

No, she says. You wanted this to be our last time together, right? I don’t get it – it seems foolish, a waste of time. We could have more days like today, but if you don’t want that, there’s nothing I can do.

She throws her arms around him. They both anguish. She tells him she’ll never forget this day. She gets into the chauffeured car. He walks to his front door, then turns. He anguishes for a nanosecond. Usually a moment like this would get a huge long take, with a closeup of his eyes brimming with tears, and violins swooning in the background, but hey, we’re in ultimas semanas.

He runs back to the car, grabs the door and pulls her out. Don’t go! I’ll go with you! Really? says Paloma. He says For the rest of the time I have left. But I don’t want you to see me die. When the time comes, I want you to let me go. Okay, she says, but only at that last moment. They kiss, a real kiss this time.

Whadda job sighs the chauffer. But they don’t show that.

Carlota is at home and sees a big manila envelope has been slid under the door. She opens it. In cut-out letters it says I’m alive. Look out. Her eyes pop wide.

Who knew a Yorkie could use scissors?

Camila is telling off Cleopatra, the Queen of Denial big time. She tells her the gig is up, the tests are in, and she just set up this whole thing to trap Emiliano. No no no, says Romina, I don’t want to hear any more! She claps her hands over her ears.

Camila yanks them off and tells her she’s not a kid any more, that the life of the baby is hanging in the balance, and she’d better get the father of the child, German or whoever it is, and get him in here. No, no, says Romina, running off.

Back to Em and Anamar. He wonders how he could have been so stupid. She says he’s not stupid, he has values. He snorts Values? I must run around looking like a sucker. No, she says, you thought the child was yours and did the right thing. It’s the child’s mother who has no values. Your values are what made me fell in love with you

Luz tells the social worker about the mean guy holding a knife to her throat to scare her into giving the little girl back. She looked tough, she said, but she was plenty scared. What to do? They’re going to file charges.

Diana is at the visitor’s room of the prison, asking Samuel about her house. He said the business deal went south, but don’t worry. When he gets out, he’ll get it back. Diana says How could I have been such an idiot? You’re a crook, a user, a loser. He says don’t insult me. He tells her she’s a grasping ugly woman. Etc.

He tells her how could she think she could compete with Camila, who is beautiful and classy? She lunges across the table and grabs his neck. The guards pull her off, and all the other prisoners and visitors swivel their heads to enjoy the show. He calls after her You don’t know how revolting it was to get in bed with you!

Rufi is cooking and is surprised when Madeleine is rolled in by her manservant. Madeleine says she came to have a tea with her there in her kitchen. My kitchen? Says Rufi a bit shyly. Madeleine says the kitchen is the best place to have tea and talk.

At her house (or wherever she it is she’s been staying lately), Natalia is talking to a man I don’t recognize. She’s filling him in – seems like he didn’t know that Alonso died until just recently. She says that Roberto (Alonso’s business friend) was out of town on his honeymoon, and she didn’t know anybody else. They told her he’d gone to Columbia (read: has a job on another telenovela), and that this guy was taking care of things.

The guy says that the Alonso’s death must be connected to the information that Alonso had about the will. He believes, from the information Alonso gave to Roberto about the will, that apparently Paloma originally was supposed to get her inheritance at 18, and you can’t change a will after the people who had it drawn up have died.

Natalia sighs that it looks like the investigation will have to continue. Too bad Alonso died before finding out the results. The fellow says probably his death was caused by the investigation. If it has to do with Inaki being murdered, then probably the same person altered the will.

Natalia says So you think Alonso wanted to kill Carlota? If that woman is the she-devil you say she is, it’s possible, he says. We need to find out where Carlota was during the time that Alonso disappeared and was found dead.

Whoa, says Natalia, holding her head.

Rufi and Madeleine are having their tea. Mad tells her sweetly not to be jealous of her. Rufi says me? Jealous? Mad says down through the years she’s learned to read people. She says Rufi and she are co-grandmothers. Tears come to Rufi’s eyes. Mad says I thank you so much for all the love you have given Paloma all these years. Rufi says I’m just a servant. Por favor! says Mad tenderly. Mad says we are all different in our values and our feelings, but our social class doesn’t matter.

Glad you cleared that up, Mad.

Mad says even if you’re not a blood relative, you’ve given Paloma much more love than that horrid aunt of hers. Rufi says I don’t want to be separated from Paloma. Mad says How can you think you would be! Look, I don’t want you to call me Senora, call me Madeleine. I want you to help me by bringing Paloma to feel a little tenderness towards me. Now it’s Mad’s turn to be tearful.

Rufi says as soon as she learns you are her grandmother, she will love you. Mad says I want her to love me because I’ve earned it like you did. That’s the love that really counts. Tell me what’s she’s like, how I can win her over. They smile happily at one another.

German is strutting happily down the street and spots Em moodily leaning on a tree branch. What’s up, homie? he says. Em slugs him, and tells him he needs to show up at the hospital right now because the baby is sick and they need its father.

You’re the dad, German protests. Em says they did tests and it’s not me. German swears he’s never had anything to do with Romina. Oh yeah? says Em, whipping out his cell phone. Check this out.

German says oh. That’s not me. Em slugs him in the stomach, then throws him against the tree trunk. Ouch! Slo-mo, with Em’s hair swinging dramatically. German’s on the ground, the wind knocked out of him, blood streaming from his mouth. He holds his hands up to tell Em to stop.

Romina is coming down the hospital hallway alone and Chris intercepts her, telling her he wants to talk to her about her relationship with Emiliano, the baby, and herself. She says Look, Padre, or ex-Padre, whatever you are. I don’t want to hear your sermonizing. He says he cares about Emiliano, and…. She says then give him your advice, not me. She flounces off.

Distraught Camila is a coffee shop with Meche and Monica, telling them that Romina ran off and she hopes she went to look for the real daddy. Camila figures that the first test was faked, and who would do that? Meche says somebody who wanted Romina to marry Paloma. Camila says Who would that be?

Meche flashes back to that day at the lab when somebody in a big coat and hat handed a fat envelope to the receptionist at the lab. She tells Camila she saw Carlota that day, dressed to be unrecognizable, handing over the envelope. A bribe!

Em has dragged bleeding German into the waiting room and tells Romina, who for once hasn’t fled the scene to go shoe shopping, that here’s the daddy. She denies it. Em dramatically whips out the tiny phone. She looks at the picture, bobbles for a moment, and then says I don’t know who sent you that – it’s been photoshopped.

Em grabs her and says I took it. I was coming by to bring you to the hospital. I want German to take a test. No! says German.

It’s not necessary, he says. I don’t want to keep lying. Behind Em’s shoulder, Romina gestures for him to shut up. I was afraid to get a paternity test, even when Dr B offered.

Romina runs over and gives him a shove. Shut up! she says. You shut up, says Em.

German says my mother died of cystic fibrosis. The child is yours, Romina, and mine.

If German is Em’s friend since childhood, how did Em not know this already? Sigh.


Avances: Paloma tells Carlota she was with Gabriel, and Carlota slaps her.

Labels: amor

Jorge announces to his clinic staff, which apparently consists of one shady-looking guy in a lab coat, and one nurse, that they've got some serious financial problems at the moment. He says they can't close, so they have to get Porfirio to put a clause in his will that will say that the clinic has to stay funded. Jorge wants these two to witness the clause.

Porfirio signs his will in the presence of lawyers, or so I assume, just as Jorge's posse approach the door. Isaias announces that Jorge, Elena, Dr. Skeezy and Nurse Weak-willed are there to give him a checkup. Porfi is annoyed, but asks Isaias to walk the lawyers out. They go out by a different door than the one Jorge came in and Jorge's posse don't see the lawyers leave. Perhaps this will be significant later…one hopes! Porfi greets his unwanted guests and tells them not to blow smoke…he doesn't think they give a rat's culo about his health. He supposes that since he's no longer supporting the clinic financially, they must hate him. Porfi leads them all back to his bedroom. Jorge orders Isais out and tells Porfi to let the order stand, since they need to talk about MaryJo. Once Isaias leaves, Jorge pushes Porfirio into a chair at his desk and says he needs to write out a new will leaving them half of his money…"We're not so greedy." Porfi says he'd rather die first. Jorge motions to Elena, who hands him a pillow. And then she has the gall to look freaked out when Jorge uses it to start smothering Porfi. Jorge lets up after a while and tells Porfi if he doesn't do as he says, he will die. Porfi agrees to do it, but says it's going to surprise everyone that he changed his will at the last minute. He guesses that Jorge will drug him and kill him, so really, what does he have to gain? He's going to die anyway. The other doctor and Elena both look worried.

Emiliano approaches the house. When Isaias announces who all is with Porfirio, he gets suspicious.

Jorge now threatens to harm MaryJo or the baby if Porfirio doesn't do it. Elena comes up behind him and very gently says that even if he wanted to warn them, an accident could happen to them at any time. Porfirio says he'll do it. He starts writing, but the pen is out of ink. Jorge gripes and asks the other doctor for a pen, leaving the desk. Porfirio reaches into a cubbyhole and pulls out a gun. I have to pause and cheer for Porfi. I don't even know what's going to happen at this point, but I'm just glad that he's fighting back. Porfi points the gun at Jorge and shoots him in the chest.

Isaias and Emiliano hear the shot and come running, but the door is locked.

Elena goes over and turns Jorge over and puts her hands over the bloody hole. Porfirio yells at the other doctor to open the door. Emiliano and Isaias come running in and Porfirio tells them to call the cops on those miscreants who thought they were smarter than him. Haha! Elena begs him not to and Porfirio laughs a laugh worthy of a villain. He says he wanted to see her begging. Emiliano tries to take the gun away, but Porfirio keeps laughing and won't let him. Porfirio ends up crying and collapses. Emilio tells Elena that they killed Porfirio and they'll pay. Isaias ends up holding the gun on the doctor and nurse.

Vicky didn't exactly enjoy seeing Fernando with his new girlfriend, but she supposes the other girl is better for him. Felipa isn't buying it. Felipa keeps calling her a "pera" (pear) instead of a "terapeuta" (therapist). She mocks Vicky and says she's taking work away from Cupid, putting couples together like that. Vicky tells her to cut it out. She goes into not being able to offer Fernando a "family" (hey, lady, having kids isn't the only thing that makes a family, and even so, having biological kids isn't the only way to do it) or the opportunity to grow old together. Felipa says you can't spend all your time thinking about the future, life is happening right now.

Alex and MaryJo are enjoying life. He carries her into the bedroom. She says she's all his…or at least she doesn't remember wanting anyone else. Ah, amnesia humor. Alex says now she's his wife and they're married "for real." The phone rings, but she begs him not to answer it. Alex says he should see who it is--Ezequiel will be busy cleaning up downstairs. It's Emiliano. He says a tragedy occurred and Porfirio died. Alex offers condolences. Emiliano says Elena and Freddy Krueger did it. He says the bodies are being taken away now for autopsy. He asks if MaryJo will come to the funeral. Alex says he will and they'll see each other there. Alex passes on the news to MaryJo. He doesn't yet answer her question of "how?"

The cops question Elena. She says they were just there to talk Porfi into giving back the money. She says that Jorge got desperate and tried to pressure Porfi and Porfi took out a gun and killed him. The cop asks if she wasn't aware of Jorge's intentions and she denies it. But the cop doesn't look like he's buying that. I wonder what the doctor and nurse are saying.

Ah, same cop, now questioning the other doctor. He says that Krueger was like a God to them, he was brilliant. The cop says they knew what they were doing. The doc says that Krueger talked about "convincing" Porfirio, but he (doc) got scared when Elena handed Jorge the pillow and Jorge used it to suffocate Porfirio. And the reason he didn't do anything to stop it was cause he was paralyzed with fear. The cop confirms that Elena gave Jorge the pillow to suffocate Porfirio with. Now the doc says that he didn't think Jorge was going to kill Porfi…just scare him a little, yeah. He has no idea what would have happened if Porfirio had refused to change his will.

Alex tells Vicky he doesn't know exactly how Porfi died. MaryJo cries and gets a hug from Vicky. She says her mom was arrested. Alex forgoes his honeymoon and says if MaryJo wants to go see about her mom, he's ok with it. MJ says she wants to "after all, she's my mother"…what the hell has that got to do with it? Honey, animals who eat their young have more maternal instinct than that woman.

Fernando gets tucked in to bed by Irene. Katia and Sami lounge about in bed with him. Katia says he really needed a younger woman. The phone rings and Irene answers. It's Emiliano, passing on the news. Fernando is concerned about Emiliano. Emiliano is really upset. His best and only friend died. The funeral is the day after tomorrow. Fernando wishes he could be there, but Emiliano says it's ok. He understands that Fernando can't be there, but he at least wanted to tell him and talk a little. Fernando says once he can walk, he'll go see Tio. Katia asks if Emiliano wants her to go. He refuses. Right now he just wants to be alone. He doesn't want to talk to anyone. Awwwwwwwwwwww.

Roberto reports that the Brazilians looooove the project and they want to start right away. Alex thinks this can revitalize the company. Roberto says they need to transfer 200 million pesos to an account, then the Brazilians will double it and they can all get started. Alex calls their account exec at the bank to let them know that Roberto is going to be making a transfer. Alex doesn't think the transfer will be a problem. They have an arrangement with the bank to move millions in smaller chunks. Alex tells the account exec the transfer order will be on its way soon. Alex says once the accountant is back, in two or three days, they'll make the transfer.

Maura calls the bank, claiming to be MaryJo's assistant, asking if her permanent checks are ready to be picked up. She tells Bruno that the checks are ready to be picked up tomorrow. Bruno tells her to offer to go with MaryJo to pick them up and he'll take care of making sure it will be possible to make the transfer. Maura is hesitant, but not hesitant enough.

Bruno calls and asks Roberto how the Brazil business is going. He's thrilled to hear that it's going to be so many millions and that Alex already called to let the bank know they'd be making such a big transfer. Bruno says he'll be in touch. Have they not already sent out a memo that says "Don't give Bruno any information about how the company is doing?" No? How about "Don't let Bruno in the building unless he's escorted by security and attending a scheduled board meeting?" Maybe somebody should get on that?

Porfirio's funeral. There aren't a ton of people there. Several of them look like they're his staff.

MaryJo visits Elena in jail. She asks why Elena did it. Elena's excuse is "Jorge made me do it." MaryJo isn't interested. She also doesn't want to hear about how Jorge is also dead. She asks what the cops have told her. Elena says she'll get a public defender. She cries and asks for MaryJo's help. She says she's sorry for abandoning her, but she fell in love. MJ's not interested in talking about that. She says they need to make sure that she pays a fair penalty, so she'll ask Alex to have his lawyer to do what he can. She lets Elena take her hands, but we don't see her face to see how she takes it.

The next morning Maura makes the call to MaryJo and tells her that her checkbook is ready to be picked up. She suggests that she swing by MJ's house and get her to sign a permission slip and then Maura will pick up the checkbook for her and give it to her later. MaryJo thinks that's silly. Maura politely insists, then suggests, "If you prefer, I'll come get you and we'll go together." MaryJo flashes back to Maura picking her up on the day she was kidnapped. MaryJo says she'll meet Maura at the office and they'll leave from there. Please, someone, think this is unnecessary. The bank is right across the street from the office. Please, just let MaryJo change her mind and pick up the darn checks herself.

No such luck. Maura offers to inspect and count MJ's checks while MJ signs the paperwork. She highly suspiciously gets up from the desk, turns her back to MJ and the bank officer, and calls Bruno to tell him she has what they need. She asks him for the millionth time if he's sure. Bruno says he'll take care of the rest and she shouldn't worry her pretty little head about it.

Alex's lawyer calls Alex and tells him that there is very little chance of Elena going free. We don't hear why. Alex asks what else they can do. Hey, come on, MJ said fair punishment, she didn't say "get her off."

Erick screams at Bruno for leaving him behind. Bruno uses Maura as an excuse. Erick asks about his money. He wants it tomorrow! But he hurts himself screaming about it. Bruno tells him to chill and reminds him, and the cousin's wife, that if he goes down, they're all going down. Bruno leaves. Erick has to remind the cousin's wife why they're all going down--the truck, the suborning of Gabriel and Meche to get Paula in trouble. The cousin's wife doesn't think it's fair for Bruno to do this to them. Erick says Bruno doesn't know the meaning of fair. He'd really like to make Bruno pay.

Lisette came back from DF and didn't even bother calling Maura to pick her up from the airport, knowing that Maura doesn't really care about her. She's feeling really good about helping Lety and Maura is as disinterested as always. Lety gets a call from Sergio and she's all flustered. She agrees to go out with him, just so he can thank her for helping Lety, of course. Maura gripes about him being a little nobody. Lisette blows her off.

MJ tells Pedro that Elena is in jail. Paula's glad, "That's what she gets!" Pedro reminds Paula that she's talking about her mother. So does Chucho. He says regardless of what your parents do, you ought to be grateful just that they brought you into this world. Well, fine, she can be grateful for being alive and also think her mother is a lousy creep, what's wrong with that? MaryJo is feeling pity for Evil Mommy knowing that she's going to jail. Pedro remembers what jail was like and how alone he felt, with nothing but his guilt to keep him company. Well, good, I say. She has at least that coming.

Vicky is still trying to convince Raquel to go to rehab. Raquel thinks it's no big deal, especially now that Vicky has custody of Little Vicky. Vicky reminds her how hard it is to stay sober and she doesn't think it's a good idea to wait for something to send her back to the bottle. Raquel says she'll go back to rehab tomorrow. Vicky thinks it will be a quick rehabbing, given that Raquel hasn't had a drink in a while. Vicky fills Raquel in on how Roberto is doing. Raquel cries, saying she wasted her life. Vicky says there's always a way to fix your mistakes. She points out how the baby is looking at Raquel and says she needs Raqui. Raquel takes her for a little while, but she doesn't really know what to do with her. She tries saying hi and she gives her a kiss.

Alex tells MaryJo that Porfirio left her money. He supposes that since Porfi left it to "Maria Jose Samaniego" it means that Porfirio knew she wasn't really his granddaughter and that he didn't care. MJ balks at taking the money. Vicky reminds her that she can always accept it and then give it to charitable organizations. MJ says maybe she could give it to the indigenous community (you know, the ones from way back, from the project that Fernando kept taking Vicky to?) Maybe this means she remembers that she was supposed to be doing something to help with that project? How likely is it that it would have come up in the midst of all the other information they gave her about herself?

Night falls. Bruno comes to Maura's office. Maura, like an idiot, logs him in on her computer. He takes MJ's checking account number from Maura and asks her how much to transfer…20, 25 million? Maura leaves it up to him and he opts for 25. Bruno says he'll erase the history from her computer. And for good measure, he gives her computer a virus. What are the chances that plucky Pau will end up being the one to dig out the information? Maura is hopeful that by tomorrow, like Bruno says, everyone will think that MJ embezzled money from the company to try to help out her loser dad. Bruno says from now on, it doesn't matter what happens, if she ends up in jail, too bad. Maura says if that happens, Bruno won't get her, so what was the point? To piss off Alex. Again. Bruno starts crying as he says "He didn't just take away MJ. He always got what belonged to me…my part of the inheritance, the presidency, my parents' love, everything. But he'll pay, with interest. I can watch him suffer as his little wifey gets sent to jail." Seriously? Crying? I don't care, man, I'm not going to feel sorry for you when that piano falls on your head. Bruno smashes his glass on the coffee table. As I'm typing this, Mr. 5ft opines, "Poor Bruno and his persecution complex. If it wasn't for his persecution complex, no one would be out to get him." From the mouths of people who don't understand Spanish.

Lisette is all disco-queened out for her date with Sergio. I dig the gold head scarf to coordinate with all the yellow and gold in her outfit. Sergio brought her roses and some kind of present. He asks if she's ready for dinner, but she invites him to have a drink with her first…just the one for her, though. He tells her she's obviously recovering well…or at least she's looking good. Awww. That's sweet.

Alex asks MaryJo if she still wants another house. MJ think its getting a little sparse around there, with Bruno and Raquel being gone, or soon to be. She doesn't want them to leave the house that Alex's dad built for him. Alex pulls out a picture of Big Tony and says even after 18 years, he still misses his dad. MaryJo does want to buy a house for her dad and a car for Paula. Alex agrees. He asks what about a present for him…hm? She comes up with a suitable idea for the man who has everything and to whom she is at least married in the eyes of the law. Drat, that's all we get, though.

Next morning, Raquel says goodbye to Alex and asks him to wish her luck. Alex says they'll all be waiting for her when she gets out. Raquel thanks MJ for being there and asks her forgiveness for always being so rude. She realizes that MJ makes Alex happy. MJ tells her not to worry about it…it's already forgotten. Ah, more amnesia humor. Raqui hugs Alex again and then leaves with Mom. MJ feels bad for Raquel, but Alex says it was time, and at least now she's doing it of her own free will. Alex says he needs to go to work. MJ says she'd like to go visit her dad and have a nice, long talk. Maybe if he tells her more about her life, she'll remember. MJ distracts Alex with kisses, even though he keeps saying he has to go to work. I know, sister. It doesn't work for me either.

Mr. 5ft and I are having a moment of beanie slippage, here. For me, I have a problem with Bruno transferring the money to MJ's account and that's it. It's her company, so who, realistically, is going to press charges? Plus, if the money is still sitting in her account, all she has to do is put it back. Alex isn't suddenly going to think she's lying when she says she has no idea how it got there. For Mr. 5ft, the issue is that it doesn't matter if Bruno wiped out Maura's computer, the bank's computer still knows where the request came from. He also finds Pau as tech support improbable, but he also thinks she'll end up getting the info out of Maura's computer. So, will this be another of Wile E Bruno's stupid plans that just fizzles, or is this the one that will work until someone steps in and saves the day?

Vicky and Roberto drop Raquel off at rehab. The doctors remember her. Raquel is concerned about phone privileges. The doctor tells her that since she's not coming in in a crisis state and she hasn't had a drink in a while, they'll let her make calls. Roberto wants a word before they take her to her room. The doctor and Vicky leave to sign papers. Roberto puts his arm around her and says he wishes he could stay there with her to cheer her on every day. Raquel says she doesn't deserve it. She hasn't been a good wife. Roberto says neither of them were good to each other, they just got into a bad cycle of trying to get revenge on each other because their lives didn't turn out the way they wanted. Roberto says he was only thinking about himself. Raqui says it was also her fault for not giving him a child and having one with someone else. Well, enough blame, says Roberto, "I just want you to know that I'm always here for you, whatever you need." Roberto figures it's never too late to start over, and at least they know their mistakes and how to fix them. Raquel agrees and says that's why she's checking back in to rehab. Roberto tells her that if she wants to try again, he'll be waiting for her, and this time she can count on him to be honest. He kisses her on the forehead and wishes her luck. She gets halfway up the stairs and then turns around to blow him a kiss. OK, ok. I'm a sucker. I'm cool with them getting back together.

Maura is antsy that it's been days and no one has figured out anything's wrong yet. Haha. Bruno says to chill, the accountant only went back yesterday. She gripes that she can't even work since her computer is busted. Bruno tells her to just get tech support to come get it and bring her a new one. Maura doesn't want to risk them fixing it and finding out what happened. Bruno reminds her that in order to do that, they'd have to get into the deleted files, which were on the hard drive, which he toasted. So, she should chill. Maura is not chilling. And I think the music people want us to know that yes, Bruno is an idiot and someone is going to fix that computer and find out who moved the money. Let that be a lesson to you, boys and girls…don't listen to Bruno when he says "no one will know." And also, don't let people do crime on your computer. Tell them to use their own. This has been a public service message from the "Ok, be a criminal if you want to, but at least be smart about it" foundation.

The accountant visits Alex. He made the transfer to Brazil, but he also realized that someone took 25 million pesos from the company till. It would have to have been a partner in the company. He shows Alex the paperwork. He tells Alex that he'll have to find out where the money went and leaves to do just that. Alex supposes it was Bruno. He calls him on his cell phone and accuses him of embezzling. Bruno calls him crazy. He offers to meet Alex at "his" mother's house.

Maura tells the tech guys that she doesn't know what happened, it just stopped working. Maybe she got a virus from an email or something. The tech guy tells her not to worry. They'll figure it out, and in the meantime, here's another computer for her. Maura thanks them and they walk out. She gets a call from Bruno on her cell phone. He tells her that they've found the embezzlement and Alex is furious and suspects him. He assures her, yet again, that it can't be traced back to her.

Vicky tells Felipa that her editor has lined up a bunch of interviews for her and is moving up the release date for her book. She would have liked to wait for Raquel, but she's ok with it. Bruno comes in, Cuco barks at him, and Bruno yells at him. Felipa says "don't worry, dogs don't eat other dogs." Vicky rolls her eyes and says she wasn't expecting to see Bruno today. Vicky tells him that Raquel went back to rehab. Bruno says he's just there to see her and Alex wants to talk to him because he thinks he stole 25 million pesos. Alex comes in and tells Bruno to show his latest account balance. Bruno refuses and laughs at Alex. Vicky tries to say that maybe it's a bank error. Bruno says they do have new partners now…Maura, Maria Jose…. Alex gets a call from the accountant and goes into the "salón" to answer it. Vicky asks Bruno again if he's sure he didn't have anything to do with it. Bruno reacts predictably. "Come on, mom. He thought I kidnapped Maria Jose and I didn't do that, did I?"

The accountant tells Alex that the money went into MJ's account. Alex tells him there must be some mistake, so have the bank review the transaction. Again, I maintain that all they have to do is put the money back and wait for Bruno to start foaming at the mouth. We'll see what happens tomorrow. Only two days left, so they can't drag it out long!

Labels: sortilegio

From Friday, Beto has his hands full dealing with the visitors to their apartment as he is trying valiantly to get rid of Isabel who is hiding behind the beads polluting the atmosphere with her own unique perfume which everyone seems to recognize. Monita has come to retrieve some plates to serve Nieves' exquisite mole on, as her keen olfactory endings pick up Isabel's distinctive spoor. To throw her off the scent, Beto admits to backsliding on his recent vow of celibacy. Moni has no trouble believing this but as she leaves she notes that it is the same perfume her mother used. Isabel steps out from behind the beads, but warns Beto that she has unfinished business wit Nieves. She'll be back.

More repeat of Friday with Aldo dealing with Jero who is hiding in his room after borrowing a few items of Coni's clothing that Oscar has requested. He asks Jaqui who has interrupted them to leave and Jero pops out of the closet in which he has been hiding while Jaqui was offering counsel to Aldo. He takes a quick sniff of Coni's blouse which is extruding from the top of his shirt and then lauds Aldo for the way he put his abuela in her place. She deserved that and more for rejecting Jero, the most desirable man around.

Meintras tanto, Beto escorts Isabel to her car. He orders her not to return but she needs to talk with Nieves about the man who abandoned her at the altar who just happens to be Marcos, Coni's daddy. Beto is stunned, "More of your lies." She gives him a card. "Here's where you can find him if you'd like to talk with him." As she drives away Beto holds his head, "¡No, no puede ser!"

Jero notes Aldo's and Estrella's upcoming parenthood. Aldo tells Jero that he doesn't want to discuss it with him but needs to talk to Oscar. Jero just happens to be going to see Oscar next. Aldo insists tha Jero take him along or he will alert Jaqui and Coni that he is there obviously stealing, indicating the clothing of Coni's cascading out of his shirt. Jero reluctantly agrees, Aldo checks and out they slink. Once more Aldo seems to have made a less than wise decision.

Arnie is disinfecting his scissors as Rolu paces. Rolu is concerned that Ximena has not returned an Arnie's concerned about the germs Rolu is stirring up. They quarrel, phone rings. Rolu answers. It's Lalo. "Tell him I'm not here." Yet another budding romance on the rocks? However, when Rolu is curt, Arnie chides Rolu for being rude to Lalo. Maybe a flicker of hope?

Mao walks in on the ladies in Moni's apartment enjoying the mole de olla. Ximena is happy to see him and jokes that he is like a squirrel among the acorns with all these women. Nieves jumps up to fix him a plate. Estrella asks Ximena about married life. Ximena wonders why she is so curious.

Jero pulls up in front of an imposing cold looking mansion that I swear we have seen before in other novellas. Aldo gets out and Jero grabs a pistol from the glove box and secrets it in his jacket. He follows Aldo to the door. Oscar wonders why Jero has brought along Aldo. Aldo needs help and hasn't been able to contact Oscar. "Yeah, have a new cell phone," Oscar explains. Aldo needs fake ID and a fake birth certificate so he can get married. Oscar'll do better than that, he knows a judge who will marry them, now he needs to talk to Jero... alone. Jero gives Aldo the keys, then draws his pistol and confronts Oscar, who pulls out a pistol of his own.

Oscar wonders if Jero's gun is even loaded. "Of course it is." He points out that it was bad manners for Jero to have brought the gun. Jero accuses Oscar of arranging Sal's unfortunate accident in Venezuela. Oscar reminds him of a past similar crime. They both stand there pointing pistols. Dare I say it? A Mexican standoff.

In the kitchen we have another confrontation, but without the guns. It's Jaqui and Katia. Jaqui pounces on Katia warning her not to go blabbing about Estrella's pregnancy. Katia has no intention of doing that and is genuinely sorry for what she has done, and seems to realize that her love for Aldo is hopeless. Jaqui softens and even admits to not having been the best of moms nor Marcos the best of dads. Neither Katia nor Coni learned to take rejection well. Katia doesn't want to be like Coni nor her mom. What she wants is to get out of town.

We rejoin our spatting couple still pointing their pistols at each other. Jero looks a bit ridiculous with articles of Coni's clothing hanging from both pants pockets. Jero accuses Oscar of betrayal in selling his part of the company. Oscar says that he did Jero a favor, he would have never agreed to the sale, the company would have gone broke with Coni and her dad in control, and Jero would have been left with nothing. "There's your half of the money in that suitcase. Check it." Jero does and is delighted. He smiles and confesses that his gun isn't loaded. "But mine is," Oscar smiles malevolently and pulls the trigger of his pistol. Jero cringes as the hammer repeatedly clicks. Surprise, Oscar's gun is empty.

More Katia and Jaqui. Katia wants to go back to Rome and resume her studies in the school there. Jaqui is concerned that it's another of Katia's tantrums, but she assures her it not. She just needs to get away from here. Fine, they'll make the arrangements. Katia kisses her mom's cheek and scurries away to pack her bags. Jaqui rubs her cheek and ruefully observes, "Above all, to get away from me."

"Look, look!" Jero brags as he hands over Coni's clothing, sniffing each piece as he offers it to Oscar. Oscar beams. He explains that he has a plan to get even with Coni. Jero wants to include Jaqui in this revenge. Oscar is amused but they will deal with Jaqui later. Using these and Sal's cell phone with Coni's fingerprints he will frame Coni for the murder of Sal, who by the way is still alive. Jero is speechless.

Jaqui enters Coni's room to tell her that Katia is going to Rome. Coni seems disinterested and suggests that Jaqui go with her. Jaqui apologizes for being a poor mother.

Jero is confused. Oscar explains. Jero is impressed. He almost forgets his money. Oscar reminds him.

Coni tells Jaqui that it's a bit late to be apologizing. Jaqui insists that she will stay. Coni needs her now more than ever. Coni looks... troubled.

Mao and Beto enter the bat cave. Mao had been enjoying Nieves' food when Beto pulled him away. "My mamá spits on her hands before cooking," Beto consoles him. Beto is troubled. He tells Mao of his encounter with Isabel.

Now a sweet scene between Gabi and Moni. Gabi praises Nieves' cooking. "Ah the taste of lard, lipsmacking good." They reminisce over their first encounter when Moni came to work at Groupo Sermeño. Gabi looks great in white pajamas borrowed from Pau. Moni is cute as ever in a short pink robe. They crawl into bed and Gabi tells Moni that she thinks that Loriloca should be told of Sal's demise. Yes, now there's an idea to get this plot rolling.

Beto and Mao are discussing Isabel. Mau is determined to keep Moni from discovering the truth. Beto offers to help.

Gabi thinks that she should be the one to break the news to Lorenza. Moni offers to go along. First thing tomorrow it's off to the manicomio. As the light is switched off, Gabi asks, "What if they don't let us leave?"

It's morning and Mao has brought Alicia and Nieves to the bat cave for a briefing. They are impressed with the place. You know, Mao certainly has a nice hideout. I wonder if he had an interior decorator fix it up for him. They wonder why he's brought them here and why he looks sad. Has something happened to Beto? Monita? He says that it does concern Moni... in a way. "Isabel is alive."

They doubt it then become angry. Mao had to be part of this ruse.

Things don't go well at the manicomio either. Lori is sitting with a catatonic Sal. The nurse tells her that she has visitors. "Must be Oscar." Uh, no. She spots Gabi and Moni and goes nuts. Well, even more nuts. She is convinced that they have come for Sal. We wish.

Mao tells the two ladies that he had a deal with Isabel. Nieves can't believe he made a deal with that tarantula. Alicia, who clearly still has feelings for Isabel objects to that. Nieves agrees. Not fair to tarantulas. They get into a mini side spat. Nieves is livid. Mao looks helpless.

Meanwhile at the nuthouse, Lori has precipitated a near riot. The natives are restless. She acusses Gabi and Moni of coming to take Sal away from her. They look confused and a little frightened. Lori threatens to kill Gabi and cure her of the bad habit of stealing husbands.

At Marcos' apartment the former spouses have a truce. He has gotten airline tickets for Katia. Jaqui assures him that it's for the best, though he wants to be close to both his daughters (actually all three, but Jaqui doesn't know this... yet). With the air of cooperation Marcos decides to unburden himself of another nagging guilt, "Umm, I had a child outside of our marriage."

Alicia and Nieves bickering is interrupted by Mauricio, who asks for them to hear him out, let him explain. They both turn toward him with looks that should tell him, this is not a friendly audience. I have faith that he has the ability to bore them to tears and they will soon agree to anything and be begging him to take them home.

Needless to say, Jaqui does not receive this news with equanimity. She breaks into a wonderful rant comparing herself to Nieves and demanding that Marcos refer to her from now on as Señora Jaqueline. Her seems almost amused by this tirade. They are interrupted by Coni who already knows about his relationship with Nieves... or does she? Jaqui blurts out that he got her pregnant as Beto joins them and challenges him over leaving his mother standing at the alter. Now Coni's stunned, Nieves? Pregnant? She and Beto look helplessly at each other.

Sorry gang. I wasn't feeling too good and was a bit late getting started. Help me out with some good snark for this crucial but tedious episode.

Carlos

Labels: gancho

Here are the plot points:

• Rafa's sister, in her sexy little mini-skirt, gets Rafa's friend Jaime to help her take another load of the wedding booze to the customer Peteta found her. He buys the whiskey and massages her thigh and drools over her. She tries to find a safe hiding place at home for the money. Her mom is kind of suspicious. This sister is telling a lot of lies. Her justification: "But what can I do? This booze may be sacred to Rafa, but he doesn't have time to sell it, and we need the money now." She tells Ma that they can afford to get the TV out of pawn.
  
  
• Rafa has not had any luck selling cars. Today it's his turn to go out and meet possible clients at their offices. On the way out he meets up with Marco and they have a testosterone conflict, shouting in each others faces, basically: "You Medina are an imbecile and you haven't sold any cars and you are going to get fired and I hope you putrify." "You Marco are a kept man and you drive around in your car and make your fiance take a taxi."
  
  
• Rafa has no luck on the beat and even gets his pants ripped by a dog. He does find a "live one," ready and willing to buy cars, but it appears the guy knows Marino. Bummer. Back at Auto Siglo, Rafa gets ripped by Marina for trying to steal customers. That's one of the two sacred things at Auto Siglo, the other being your compadre's women (except Marino has been messing around, we hear...)
  
  
• Marco has come to Auto Siglo to try and smooth things over with Ale (after throwing her out of his apartment and making her take a taxi home alone in the dark of night so he can have sex with a bimbo in purple underwear)... He promises to make it up to her this night. Then Chavez calls to say he's throwing himself a birthday party, with fine whiskey and excellent "female material."
  
  
• Ale is as eager to be loved as a puppy. She tells her doubting friend/assistant Suzanna that Marco was very tender that morning, and now she wants to buy him an expensive white gold pen. "But you can't even pay the light bill." Ale grabs Suzanna's little New Age Buddha and pretends Buddha wants her to whip out a credit card and buy the pen. "You have to invest in a man, Suzanna, you're an old maid because you don't do it."
  
  
• Ale needs a credit counselor, but instead she goes to her boss and begs for an advance. He says no way unless the new salesman Medina does wondrous things in the next two days.
  
  
• Ale's dad decides to drive to the club and hang with his ol' friend what's his name. I refuse to go along with these ikky Alzheimer's jokes. He shouldn't be driving - but he makes it to the club and...
  
  
• Dad sits with his friend over an unplayed game of chess discussing the unraveling of the hacienda finances (unwise investment in costly European machinery on credit, for instance). "We had to sell a lot of cows and the ones we still have don't give much milk, they're depressed." His enumeration of the precious, "intact" treasures of his dead wife are interrupted by...
  
  
• Scenes of Marco and Chavez and a large number of girls in bikinis playing in the hacienda's indoor pool, spending the hacienda money and wrecking the precious items left by Ale's mom - the items the dad says are sacred and have been preserved like a museum.
  
  
• Rafa drags his butt back to Auto Siglo saying it was the worst day of his life.

Labels: dinero

In the first episode, we meet the main characters and see the clash of cultures that will presumably be a big part of the story.

Miami- First, we have Albieri, who will play the role of mad scientist. [It drove me crazy for a while but finally I figured out that Roberto Moll, the actor who plays Albieri, played the evil butler, Walter, on El Cuerpo del Deseo. It was his voice that was so familiar. ] Albieri clones animals and dreams of cloning humans.

He works for Leonardo Ferrer, the head of a large company that imports and exports food.

Lucas and Diego are Leonardo's twin sons. Diego is outgoing and good with women.
Lucas is shy and awkward with women.
Both are played by Mauricio Ochmann. Their father has sent Diego to business school and Lucas to law school with a view towards their taking over his business. However, Lucas doesn't want to be a lawyer. He is interested in music. [The housekeeper, Rosa, is played by the actress who was Eustaquia in Doña Bárbara.]

In a less fancy part of town, we meet Jade [pronounced Ha-Day. That is the Spanish word for the green stone, as well.] She lives with her mother and is trying to be a good muslim girl in a town of mostly naked people who go to bars. Demurely covering her arms, Jade goes to the beach to behold the nakedness of the infidels.

When she comes home, her mother has fallen down and is dying. After few words of advice, Mom's dead and Jade is shipped off to Morocco to live with her uncle.

Leonardo sends for his sons to familiarize them with his business. Lucas is not happy. But guess what - Dad is going to Morocco on business and the boys can go too. Dad also has a girlfriend - Cristina - who the boys have never met.

Fez, Morocco: The twins and Albieri arrive before Leonardo and go for a camel ride in the desert. Then we meet Cristina and her picture is probably next to bimbo in the dictionary.

Cristina comes into the hotel bar and sees Diego. It's lust at first sight and without apparently exchanging a word, they go off and have sex.

Jade arrives in Morocco and is met by her cousin, Latifa and Zoraida, whose relationship to Latifa is not clear. [It took me a minute but Zoraida is played by the actress who played Ester, Soledad's mother, in La Traición.] The culture shocks start for Jade - Latifa is engaged to a guy she has never met. Then Jade sees a procession where a new bride displays the bloody undergarments that indicated she was a virgin. Jade asks what happens if the bride isn't a virgin. She is told that the bride is returned to her family or killed. I'm guessing Jade is going to find out about this first hand.
Jade meets her uncle, Ali. He welcomes her but tells her that his household follows islamic law strictly. She should cover her hair when she goes out. Jade can go to university to become a doctor but then Ali will arrange a marriage for her.

Albieri went to University with Ali and they arrange to meet. Meanwhile, Leonardo notices that the moles (manchas) that his sons have on their shoulders are growing. He wants Albieri to check them out. I assume these moles is going to be used in the future as some kind of identification and not as a warning about skin cancer.

Leonardo introduces his sons to Cristina.

Ooops - social embarrassment. Diego and Christina learn that it makes sense to at least ask the name of your partner before you have sex with them. Diego runs off to his room and tells Lucas that he has to warn Daddy about the loose morals his fiancee. Lucas thinks that they can't do that to Dad and have to find another way to get rid of Cristina. We find out that many years ago Albieri was engaged to someone who died. Lucas locks Diego in his hotel room to keep him from telling their father about Cristina. Lucas decides to go with Albieri to Ali's house.

Jade finds a belly dancing (la dansa del vientre) outfit and is told by Latifa that the bride wears it to dance for her husband and no one else. Jade says that her mother taught her to belly dance and Latifa wants a demonstration. While Ali and Albieri argue about the ethics of cloning, Lucas wanders off and of course he sees Jade dancing and ultimately Jade sees him. [The TiVo cut off before the end of the show so I didn't get any pics of Jade dancing. I TiVo'd the rebroadcast at 11pm and they only showed the first half hour of the program! Grrrr!]

Leonardo comes to Diego's room and asks what the hell is going on with him.

The credits roll.

Addendum for Novelera:

Walter in El Cuerpo del Deseo and Albieri in El Clon

Labels: clon

Hi all,

I thought it was just my own bad luck that a visit to Univision.com landed me with a horrible hard-to-eradicate computer virus which called itself "Internet Security Essentials" and locked up my monitor with frozen warnings of doom if I didn't buy "protection" (like the Mafia protects us).

But today my computer guy told me he has a bunch of Mexican customers who have brought in their locked-up computers with same problem, a computer virus gotten at http://univision.com.

The computer tech says it's not univision's fault, somehow their site has been invaded from elsewhere - they don't mean to be giving us computer worms - but till they get it fixed it is NOT A SAFE SITE.

Anybody else had this problem?

Melinama

Labels: announcements

I'm a little late this week. I was out at a charity event on Thursday night and I was completely wiped out yesterday!

Tonight, Susana Gonzales is "Tere, Desconfiada" (Tere, distrustful).

A woman in a blue sweater stands with her back to the camera. Another woman says, "Tere? Teresita?" Tere turns around. Her neck is covered in blood and she's holding bloody scissors. "En que le puedo servir?" (What can I do for you?)

Credits. I admit, the song gives me chills.

A doorbell rings. A man in a suit, carrying a laptop, puts down the laptop and answers the door. It's Eiza Gonzalez, who I last saw as Lola in Lola, Erase Una Vez. She obviously attends St. Britney Spears' School for Wayward Tarts. She's looking for her mom, who she thought would be with Tere. The guy invites her in. Just so we can avoid confusion later, his name is José and hers is Gabriela.

A knitting shop. Gorgeous yarns, sharp shiny needles. Tere puts skeins of yarn into a bin and looks at the clock. She shakes her head and keeps working. She starts stacking skeins on the shelves. She counts the cash in the till. She sighs. She takes a pill out of a hankie in her pocket and downs it. I think the hankie is done in hardanger. I wonder if she did it herself. She leaves the shop and locks the door. The whole time, she's got a dead look on her face.

José offers Gabriela a "refresco" (soft drink), but she'd rather have coffee. He makes her an instant coffee and asks her to get the cream out of a cabinet. He checks out her ass as she does it. Something fell out of the cabinet and she thinks it got her in the eye. He gets up way too close to see if she's ok. The microwave beeps and he hands her the coffee. She pretty quickly puts it down, sits on the counter, puts her feet up on the opposite counter and says there's a place nearby that serves real coffee. Maybe he could meet her there around six tomorrow? He hears the front door and says it's Tere and her mom. But really, it's only Tere. Gabi's mom went to the store. Gabi supposes she'd better go home. She thanks José for the coffee. He and Tere share a look.

Moran comments to the medical guy, who is maybe Gerardo, that it was odd the guy was killed that way. Gerardo thinks what's weird is that Moran thinks it's weird. Aranda, the curly-haired cop, says she's surprised he was killed with this"…whatever it is it's in a plastic bag, so I can't quite tell. Gerardo is surprised the two of them work with him. He asks what else they found and Moran shows the bloody scissors.

Tere heats up two plates of dinner in the microwave and brings them into the dining room. José asks when the maid is coming back. Tere says with only the two of them, there's not a lot for her to do, so despite the maid's absence, she'll manage. José asks for the salt and adds some to his plate. Tere thinks it was weird for Gabi to be there because she knew that Tere wasn't going to see her mom today. José gets nervous and changes the subject. He asks if she sold anything, even an "estambrito" (a ball of yarn). She says a couple of ladies came in, but no, she didn't sell anything. Come on, people, support your local "tienda de hilo" (yarn shop). They start getting into an argument. She thinks business will pick up. He's upset because they're not done paying off the house yet and he's also paying for her mother's medical bills. "And on top of that, I can't count on you for anything…not even as a wife." He tells her that the two of them aren't anything. She says she's grateful for him taking care of her mom and as for the "mercería" (haberdasher's; i.e., the yarn store) it's a business and you have to invest in businesses. She reminds him that he's the one who wanted her to have the store as a distraction. It just hasn't been the distraction he hoped it would be and he thinks she's becoming more depressed. He tells her he doesn't care what hobby she chooses, he just wants her distracted, and if it should happen not to cost anything, he'd like that even better.

Later, in bed, she calls a halt to the action.

The next morning, he's asking about his blue shirt. She starts specifying which one, but he gets pissy. She breaks off brushing her hair and goes into his closet to get the shirt, which was hiding under a jacket. As he puts it on, he reminds her that it's someone's birthday, so he's going out for drinks with the guys after the meeting. She's upset that he hadn't mentioned it before. He doesn't know exactly where they're going and he doesn't know if he'll be home for dinner. She clips her hair up.

At the shop, she looks around, fussing with things, rearranging. Eventually she pulls out a project and starts knitting, almost angrily. I bet her gauge is consistently tight.

José goes into the coffee place. Gabi is waiting for him, smacking gum and smoking. He sits down. He tells her he sometimes goes there after work, but she laughs at him. He accepts a drink of her beer. He asks if she didn't go to school. She says she did, but she went home to change. Ew, is that code for "What happened to the uniform?" She's already underage and wearing short shorts and a top that doesn't cover her stomach. Is that not enough for you, Humbert? She asks if he's comfortable or if he's nervous that they'll be seen. He says they aren't doing anything bad, so she rubs her foot against his leg and says he wants to.

They go to a hotel. We are left to assume that the dirty deed was done.

Tere chops vegetables badly and makes soup. She looks at the clock. She takes some meds. Her hands are shaking badly.

Later, she pulls the hankie out from under her nightgown and takes another pill before she goes to bed.

She's sleeping with the light on and he comes home.

He remembers Gabi asking when they'll see each other again. He tries to suggest the following Tuesday, but she gets pissed off and says they'll meet on Friday at the same hotel. He hedges. He's not sure if he'll be able to make it. She tells him he will be able to.

José turned out the light and Tere sleeps on, while he's still awake thinking of Gabi telling him he will be able to.

Tere and another woman are working on some kind of craft project, decorating what I think are tiny baby bassinets. The other woman, who I think is Gabi's mother, is suggesting that if they were doing this at the shop, people would see them and it might bring in business. Tere says she wouldn't have been able to go to the store, she's got a headache that's killing her. Gabi's mom thinks the projects are cute, but Tere thinks they're awful. Gabi's mom suggests that maybe it's because they're baby-themed and Tere never had a baby. She sees the look on Tere's face and apologizes. Tere asks how Gabi is doing. Mom says she's fine, she always does what she wants. The doorbell rings and Tere goes to get it. Gabi, in full-on tart mode, saunters in. She touches Tere's cheek and says she looks tired. Tere blames it on her headache. She asks Gabi what's up. "Are you happy? Are you seeing anyone?" Gabi says she "more or less" is and mom gives her a hard time for not having mentioned it. Tere says there's nothing wrong with going out with someone, "as long as they're not married." Mom makes a face. Tere asks if the guy lives nearby. Gabi says yes and starts laughing at a picture of José and Tere. Tere tells her the picture is about ten years old. Gabi says José (Pepe) looks exactly the same. José comes home and looks freaked out to see them all there. Tere explains that there wasn't enough room at the shop to work on their project. José asks about dinner and Tere says she'll make some now. Mom says she and Gabi need to be off. She'll take some stuff home to work on, but Gabi needs to get home because she's in the middle of exams. Jose, like the idiot he's already proved himself to be by cheating on his wife with a little tart not yet out of school, says "Really? Exams? You didn't tell me." Tere immediately picks up on this and asks why Gabi would have needed to tell him. José says no reason, just talking. Gabi and mom take off.

Back at the popo, Aranda tells Capellan that the team is brining over the rest of the evidence. Gerardo begins his report to Det. Capellan: "The first thing she did was drive in the needle. She did it with enough force to get it 20cm in and through the liver." Det. C objects that a knitting needle can't do that…it would break. Not so, says Gerardo, not with today's ultra-light, ultra-strong ones. "How long has it been since you last knitted?" Det. C takes the needle from him, points it at his neck and says it's been a long time since she last knitted, but she'd like to practice on him. Moran and Aranda grin.

Tere shows off some yarn to a client. The client likes the yarn, but she forgot exactly what color she used to start her shawl in the first place. I do this all the time--not forgetting the color, exactly, but running out of yarn and not being sure a new skein is going to match. Tere gives the woman the skein and says if it's wrong, she'll exchange it. Gabi's Mom comes in and says she finished (with the project, I assume) and asks if Tere did as well. Tere avoids answering and asks where Gabi is, if she's out of school. Mom supposes so. She doesn't ask Gabi where she's going. And she has no idea who the boyfriend is. She announces that she finished 100 of the decorations, but she doesn't want Tere to pay her. She just did it to keep busy. Tere gripes that all she ever sells are skeins of yarn. Gabi's mom reminds her that José bought her the store as a distraction, not so she would become a millionaire. I wish my husband would buy me a yarn store as a distraction. It couldn't go under any faster than I could knit up all the yarn instead of selling it, I'm sure. Tere immediately starts asking about Gabi again, if she seems happy. Mom is wierded out, now, but she says Gabi is strange, like they all are at that age. She laughs at the suggestion that Gabi may be going out with an older man. Tere winds some ribbon back onto a bobbin at lightning speed. Mom says she thinks Gabi likes guys her own age.

Jose sleeps as Gabi smacks him to wake him back up. She angrily says she ditched school today, so he'd better teach her something new. Ew. "Whatever you like best." He's groggy.

Tere is nervous. She plays with her hands, takes out her cell phone, pulls out a bottle of pills and plays with the cap. José comes home. She was waiting for him. She asks if they should have dinner. She's suspicious that he wants to shower now, at this time of day, but he says he feels "dirty." He comments that she looks nervous, so maybe she should just take the pills already.

Tere examines her face in the mirror. José asks what she's obsessing about and says she's beautiful, young. He asks where his wife is. She shakes her head and says she doesn't know. José's cell phone rings. He eventually answers it, but in a shady way, since he can see it's Gabriela calling. He tells her he'll call her tomorrow.

Tere and Gabi's mom put the little mini-bassinets in a big basket in the shop. Mom reminds Tere that yesterday was her saint's day (St. Teresa…there are a couple of them). Tere isn't used to celebrating it, but Mom got her a gift…of skimpy lingerie. Tere says it's pretty, but she doesn't wear that stuff. Gabi's mom says she'd better. One has to keep one's man warm. Then she says it was Gabi's idea. Tere storms off. Gabi's mom also says to thank José for buying one of Gabi's schoolbooks for her. She thinks that José is just playing daddy (riiight, sugar daddy). Mom supposes that Gabi, being the little "igualada" (uppity) girl she is, probably pestered José into buying it for her and he didn't want to say "no." Tere agrees that must be right, but her heart isn't in it.

Gabi didn't get a call back, so she waited outside his house. José says he couldn't call because he was in a meeting. She bullies him into agreeing to meet her at the hotel at 7 tomorrow, even though he says 7 is too late.

José waits impatiently for the microwave to finish heating his food. Tere comes in. He asks her what's up and she returns the question. He claims not to know what she's talking about. She says she wants to know what's up with Gabriela, with him buying her a book, and when did he even see her to give it to her. He says they just ran into each other and she asked him for money for a book, which he gave her, and what's the big deal, it's Tere's friend's daughter." Tere says she's a girl, to which he stupidly replies, "She told me she was 18." Tere says she's seen the way he looks at her and he gripes that she's not a girl, she's a woman. "Excuse me if I like to look at women." He leaves his food on the table and leaves the room while Tere seethes.

The next day, Gabi's mom comes into the shop and announces that she found some fabric for them to use to make the "duendecitos" (little imps, little goblins). Tere is busy knitting way too tight and she slams down her knitting to ask Gabi's Mom if her daughter is going out with her (Tere's) husband. She keeps advancing on Gabi's Mom, and Mom gets nervous and says Tere has gone crazy from taking so many pills and she's sick.

José tries to explain to Gabi that they can't see each other so often. People are getting suspicious. He says she's very "chiquita" (little). "You didn't care about my age when it came to sleeping with me." She confesses that her mom asked her if they were going out. "And you know what? Tere's the one who told her, so she already knows." José doesn't think so, but Gabi says they "always" end up finding out. "Not if we do things right." Gabi kicks his shoulder and sulks.

Gabi is walking down the street, minding her own tarty business, when Tere comes up behind her, holds scissors to her throat, slaps a hand over her mouth, and drags her away.

Tere drags her into an alley and tells her to shut it. Gabi cries and gasps. She says she didn't do anything. José told her he was going to buy her a book and he took her to their house and raped her in their bed. Tere pats Gabi on the head feebly, puts the scissors away, and walks away. Gabi keeps sobbing and gasping.

Gabi's Mom tells the same story to Det. Capellan, that José raped her daughter. Det. C asks if they did exams, if they reported it. Gabi's Mom says if her daughter says it happened, then she believes her. Det. C coldly says they can't discard the possibility that her daughter is lying. Det. C says she can order a gyno exam and she doesn't need mom's permission to do it. FYI, that will only tell them if she's been sexually active recently, not whether she was raped.

Gabi and José sit in his car. Gabi angrily tells José that Tere tried to kill her. She demands that he get divorced and send Tere to jail. José doesn't think Tere's capable of doing anything. Gabi says the only one not capable of doing anything here is him. She calls him "poco hombre" (not man enough) and says he can get into a relationship with a "little girl" but he can't confront his wife. José says they'll settle this right now.

He goes to the shop asks "What did you do to Gabi? You threatened her with scissors?" Tere asks him what he did to Gabi.

Det. Capellan shows Gabi's mom a medical report and says a gyno exam showed no signs of rape (because it usually can't) and Gabi's body doesn't show any signs of violence (which doesn't necessarily mean she wasn't raped). Mom is shocked.

José laughs off the idea that he could have raped Gabi. He says that the pills have made her crazy. Tere says Gabi's the one who told her. Gabi who didn't wait in the car like he told her to. José confronts Gabi with having told Tere that he raped her. Gabi starts crying and asking "Why? Why did you do this to me?" Then she calls Tere a killer and says they're both crazy. She calls José a pig and says she should have called the cops. Tere gets upset and José says "can't you see what she's trying to do?" He calls Gabi the crazy one. He tells Tere that she wants to destroy them. "Didn't you tell me to divorce her and send her to jail?" Gabi keeps up the lie and Tere is beyond confused. José is now telling the truth, about her waiting outside the house for him, ditching school. José tells Tere that he'll admit his responsibility, but he won't let "this girl" come between them. Gabi screams again that he raped her. "Oh yeah? Weren't you the one who asked me to show you new things last night in bed?" Tere cries and holds her head.

Detective Capellan tells Tere that Gabi lied. José never raped her. Her suspicions were correct, they were having an affair. Tere, still a bit bloody, pulls out the hankie with the pills and says, "Then it was good I punished him?" Det. C says no, she shouldn't have punished anyone, much less in that way. Tere wonders when she heard Gabriela and when she stopped hearing and seeing her husband. "When did my sight get clouded with his blood?"

José keeps yelling that Gabi is crazy. Gabi keeps crying that he said he loved her, he said she was the daughter Tere could never give him. Tere comes at him with a knitting needle, stabs him with it, and cuts his throat with scissors. And now Gabi's crying for real. The bloody butterfly flies away. Tere turns to look at Gabi, and then at the camera.

"Tere Alamilla was found guilty of brutal murder, aggravated by matrimonial ties. She was condemned to 14 years in prison. Her lawyers tried to declare her incompetent but they failed. Gabriela Ortega was condemned to 11 months in prison after being found guilty of the crimes of perjury and false testimony."

Labels: asesinas

　
Capítulo 92

On another side of the manse, meanwhile, Victoria gets a call on her cell from Fernando asking her to please visit him the next morning. He has a surprise for her. He says he's also a little hurt that she's avoiding him. Vicki makes excuses about her busy schedule, but then reluctantly agrees to make the effort to see him. She quickly hangs up. Poor Nando is still saying his sweet nothings but to a dead line. As he continues to wax romantic, telling Vicki how much he cares for her and doesn't want to lose her, he realizes Vicki has hung up on him. If his tan weren't so dark, Viewerville could see the fifteen shades of red his face turns.

A bit later that evening up in Alex and MJ's bedroom, Alex tells Mary Jo that he's gotten all the paperwork done for their civil wedding ceremony. The blood test is all that remains and they can be married in eight days. She is thrilled. It will be a simple affair. They'll plan the religious wedding afterwards, of course, once things have calmed down. Mary Jo tells Alex she just had a memory about their going to see a priest before to discuss their wedding. He's thrilled that the old MJ is returning! Oh happy day! They hug and cry tears of joy together.

The next morning Vicki visits Fernando. He shows her his surprise: he throws off the cover and then stands up on his own! Oh happy day again! With her help he begins to take a few steps. He tells her that he's going to be the same as he ever was and now she knows that she has no reason to reject him. Vicki is suddenly uncomfortable as Fer pushes the point. She tells him they've had that conversation already. When he's 40 something she'll be 60 something. (The woman has apparently come to her senses and is now ready to sacrifice her lust/love so that he can have a normal life?) He'll still be in his prime, she says, but she'll be essentially drooling and doddering. He insists it doesn't matter to him, but Vicki says it matters to her. She mentions then how well he and his lovely therapist, Irene, get along.

Nando insists Vicki is lovely too, and they've shared some quality time together also; but more than that, they were lovers. He thinks it's just her insecurities and that she shouldn't let those get in the way. Vicki insists that Irene is more properly suited to him [adecuada] and, yes, a better age for him. This is the reality, she tells him, that he is refusing to see. (Was anybody else out there dying for her to tell him that when he grows up and gets to be her age, he'll finally see she was right???) Just then the housekeeper comes to tell them that Irene is there for her session. Nando's frown hits the ground. Vicki says she sincerely hopes he won't give up his much needed therapy sessions. She greets Irene and then gives him a definitive "Adiós."

Irene cheerily tells Fer about the session she's got planned for him (definitely a gal who enjoys her work) and about a rehab center nearby that has a gym with all the equipment he'll need for his sessions. Suddenly she realizes he's depressed and distracted. She asks him what's the matter but he tells her not to worry about it. He has her repeat what she was saying. FF>>

Once Vicki returns home Felipa asks her what happened with Fer. Vicki fights back her tears and says what happened was what had to happen and not to ask her about or mention Fernando to her again. She then has Felipa call Lic. Quiñones. In a shaky voice Vicki tells the attorney to start the proper paperwork because Raquel has agreed to give her legal guardianship of her baby daughter.

Later that day there is a board meeting at Lombardo, Inc. where all the business partners' new and confidential numbers to their company bank accounts are passed out. Everyone is supposed to memorize their number for security reasons and then to destroy their hard copies. MJ is a little nervous since she's unfamiliar with these sorts of things. Alex says not to worry because they'll teach her little by little everything that she needs to know. Vicki assures her it's a good system. Meowra purrs pleasantly and adds that they'll all be sure to be careful with this information. Raqhell chimes in idiotically, obviously forgetting that her twin is there, that "There aren't any thieves at their company." (Viewerville shares a communal snort.)

Wile E. Bruno notices MJ's discomfort with company procedures. He pays a visit to Meowra after the meeting. Meowra says she is done with being a part of his intrigues. Bruno asks if she'd be game if he actually found a way she could avoid getting her hands dirty this time. Her whiskers come to attention and her ears prick up. Bruno starts to explain that his plan has to do with the secret numbers (pin numbers?) in those envelopes they were all given. Rrrreow??

That evening Alex takes Mary Jo out for a romantic dinner to celebrate her beginning to get her memory back. There are long-stemmed red roses lying on the table. Something's up. He tells MJ she has no idea how much he wishes she would remember the first time they made love. MJ smiles and blushes. Alex says it was marvellous for him and that now, after nearly losing her, he recognizes how much he really loves her. She's the woman he'd always imagined he would spend the rest of his life with. Mary Jo smiles and blushes some more as Alex hands her a long-stemmed rose with a huge 3 carat engagement ring hidden in the center of it. He formally asks her to marry him.

Viewerville oohs and ahhs along with MJ. She tells him he didn't need to do this and that she never expected it!! Alex says they were already married when they first met, so they didn't have a chance to enjoy this moment before. All he's ever wanted to do since the first time he saw her was to love her, and uh, he's still waiting for her answer. Mary Jo says of course she will marry him! She wants to with all her heart. (Not that he --or we-- ever really doubted that she would.) Alex looks more than a bit relieved as he moves in for The Kiss that seals the deal.

Across town at another restaurant, Paula and Gabriel are also having dinner together. Gabe, it seems, has been told that he has talent, but needs to improve his technique. So, his newfound patron is sending him to Mexico City to painting school. Paula says go for it. He says he's excited, but on the other hand, he's going to miss seeing her and that makes him sort of sad. Pau sort of matter of factly says they've become good friends and so sure, she'll miss him, too. He adds that there's something else he has to tell her that he never dared to before because he didn't feel he was on her level; and because he knows she likes the good life and such and now that he's going to be selling his pieces he'll be able to kinda, sorta provide for her now. (Yawn.) Pau's eyes go wide as she waits for the rest of it.

Gabe smiles oafishly and hands her some jerky post card that has "Will you be my girlfriend?" scrawled on the back of it. (Oh. My. Gawd.) Pau smiles nervously--but it's really hard to tell why. She is either A) extremely flattered or B) terribly embarrassed at the way this guy comes across. (I vote for "B".) Pau says she'll have to think about it first. He really hopes she'll give him an answer before he leaves in the morning for Mexico City. She doesn't commit. (Uh, Gabe, that should be your first clue she's trying to let you down gently.) He says he would like to leave with the hope that when he comes back home he will be returning for his girlfriend. He wants her to be that girlfriend. (Pau, the pickin's are not that slim. DON'T DO IT! Give him a peck on the cheek and pray daily to the diosito that he finds somebody at school right away and forgets you even exist!) Pau smiles broadly but says nothing.

Mary Jo and Alex return home late from dinner. First they check in at the nursery and ooh and ahh at the babies. Alex says it's such a marvel that the two of them actually made such a perfect little critter as Tony. MJ says their entire love story was destined to succeed, even though neither of them thought it might. Alex says no, he always thought she was out there somewhere and that eventually he would find her. It was like a magic spell or a charm [sortilegio]. "Yes. A love charm." The two kiss. A minute or two later Alex is taking off his shirt for her (and us). Soon after that... well we know what comes after that. 'Nough said..... Mary Jo willingly, though modestly, gives herself over to her one true love again. FF>>

The next morning Gabe says good-bye to Pedro, Chucho and his big sis. (Viewerville notes with great relief that Paula didn't stop by for a last minute farewell hug or smooch.) Chucho is near tears and tells Gabe not to forget them. Meche is bawling like crazy and Gabe reminds her that it's not forever. He gives her an envelope with money to buy some nice clothes and to find a house for the two of them. It's time they moved out now that they are able to, he says. Chucho and Pedro say it's not necessary and that they like things just the way they are. Gabe reminds them that that was the agreement when Pedro first let them stay there, and he'd always promised Meche "a little roof" of her own.

Chucho gives Gabe his blessing and sees him out the door. Pedro and he try to comfort Meche and tell her this is all part of life and that nobody can stop the young ones from flying away. You can only wait and hope that they come back some day, says the grieving Chucho. FF>>

At the same time, Fernando and Irene arrive at the gym for a therapy session. They're going to start in the pool. She sincerely promises to be there to hold him up and to support him...always..... They spend the entire morning together while Fer works on various pieces of equipment and she lends lots of cheerful encouragement. At lunch Irene tells him that he's improving rapidly. Fer wonders why he seems to be her only patient. She tells him he is a special challenge for her, but more than that, she says as she puts her hand meaningfully over his, he is also her favorite patient. Nando is flattery-might-just-get-you-everywhere-since-I-seem-to-be-on-the-rebound impactado.

That night a conscience-stricken Fer makes one last attempt to call Vicki. Vicki refuses to answer. Felipa tells her that whenever a cell phone rings you never know if it might just be the last time. Vicki clicks her cell off and sighs. Her fling is flung.

The next morning Lic. Quiñones is at the manse telling Vicki what he told the judge: that Raqhell had a health problem and that the father of her child died. The judge had no problem whatsoever giving Victoria legal guardianship. Vicki is still worried that the baby won't have a paternal influence in her life. Lic. Q. reminds her that Roberto would and could be that if she allows him to come by and visit from time to time. Vicki smiles and says she's going to call Bobo with the good news. They decide then to register the baby with Raqhell's last name.

At Lombardo, Inc., Bruno is now telling Mau how easy it will be to do what they're planning. It's all a matter of a click on a computer key and wufff! Ready! She really wouldn't be doing anything bad that way. She already has helped Mary Jo before to get her checking account and credit cards set up, he reminds her. All she has to do is go to the bank again with Mary Jo and then memorize the account number from MJ's open checkbook. Afterwards, Mau will give him the numbers and he'll take care of the rest from there. He'll transfer the company funds from the computer to MJ's account and then erase any trace of the transaction from the system. Simple as pie.

Mau figures that then the partners will think that Mary Jo is trying to embezzle funds from the company and will accuse her of fraud. Alex should become "disenchanted" with Mary Jo at that point. Meowra's still got cold paws and doesn't know if she really wants to help him or not. Bruno tells her it's their last chance to get MJ. "Are you in or not?" Mau nods. She is in. (Viewerville considers the fact that Meowra has used up 8 of her lives already. So, either she hasn't learned a thing from Bruno's legion muck-ups or she's become an adrenaline freak.) Bruno says that now all they have to do is wait for the opportune moment and then strike.

Back in Toluca, Don Emiliano pays Porfi a visit. He's amazed at how well his buddy seems lately. Porfi says that seeing MJ and his great grandson has made all the difference. The one thing that the disagreeable Elena did for him was to tell him that MJ was actually Cristobal's. Don Emi suggests it could just be another one of her long list of lies. Porfi insists the baby looks just like Cristobal did at that age. Emiliano reminds him that all babies look like all sorts of people at that age, but Porfi says it doesn't matter. They're his granddaughter and grandson because that's the way he wants it, period. Even if they were not he'd want them to be, and that's enough for him.

At the Lombardo manse, Alex returns home early and finds Mary Jo in the nursery. He tells her the results of her DNA test. (Duhn-duhn-duhn-duhhhhhn!) Yes, she and Paula are sisters and Pedro is their true father. Mama was lyin' like they thought. Alex calls up Don Emi to let him know about the results also. Emiliano says he'd figured as much and that Elena was lying in order to blackmail MJ so she could get some of the inheritance money out of her daughter. Alex says he and MJ don't know what to do because Porfirio still thinks MJ is his blood relative and that MJ doesn't want to hurt him; but on the other hand, there is the matter of the will and Porfi cannot leave money to a person who doesn't exist.

That night Mary Jo tells Pau the DNA tests proved they were really sisters after all. Pau is thrilled not to have to tell their papi something else that's painful. They giggle and tease each other and then MJ asks Pau how things are going at work. MJ wonders what Pau actually does there. Pau explains that she is in "technical support" and works with failures in the computer system. Mary Jo hasn't a clue what that means, but it sure sounds impressive.

In another part of the house, Alex is having a chat with Vicki about what's still necessary paperwork-wise for the wedding. Lic. Q. is handling all of it, he says and assures her he will have it all completed beforehand. As for the guests, they want only the family there. As for witnesses, they thought to have Fernando and Vicki. Vicki is uncomfortable with that and figures that Fer would be too, so Alex suggests having Dr. Hernan instead. She agrees and he leaves to head upstairs to bed. Vicki stays to read her e-mail. Suddenly there's a new one from Fernando. Vicki weeps as she reads:

"Victoria: We've talked before about your qualms [escrúpulos] over what other people might say, and about the age thing, and all of that, but I thought that you had gotten over it [superar]. Later, after my accident I thought that you didn't want to be tied down to a man who was an invalid. But, I am getting better, I swear. Irene comes every day to take me to the rehab center. I swim and do numerous exercises. I also know that you want me to get involved with a much younger woman, but I cannot. I swear to you that I cannot. If that is truly what you want, then alright. Perhaps I'll find another woman; perhaps I'll marry and might have children. But, you will never stop being the love of my life.

Yours forever,
Fernando"

Vicki breaks down and sobs. (Does this give a whole new twist to the definition of "mama's boy" or what? Woe to the woman who has to compete with frumpy old hags to be sexy.)

The next morning at Mengele Manor, Jorrible Jorge gets after Elena to continue her emotional blackmail of her daughter and forcing MJ into agreeing to share her future inheritance with them. Elena immediately calls the Lombardo manse looking for Mary Jo. "--Well, have you considered our little chat?" Mary Jo says yes, but that she wanted to be sure first before she did anything. She and Paula had DNA tests done and it turned out that in fact they were sisters and that what Mommie Dearest told Don Porfi was a lie. Elena swears it was the truth. (Ok. What as a nurse and assistant to the Son of Mengele don't you get about the results of a DNA test being undeniably accurate?) MJ politely disagrees and says tests don't lie.

Elena tries to fudge it with another fabulous fib that Pau was also Cristobal's daughter. Mary Jo finally gets impatient with her and tells Mama to stop making things up. "--That was not what you told Don Porfi! Even if it were, the only father for us both is and would be Pedro Samaniego!" Elena nervously asks if MJ is going to tell Porfi. MJ says she'd rather not in order not to hurt him, but Alex feels that they might have to anyway. She then cuts the conversation short and says there's no reason to keep talking since she now knows that Mama does nothing but lie all the time. Click!

Elena tells Jorrible the bad news. "MJ and Pau took a DNA test and now know the truth that Pedro is really their father." Jorge looks menacingly off into the distance and says the time has come to make a decision.....

Across the way again at Porfi's place, Don Emi and Porfi are having another chat. Porfi notes that Don Emi is looking worried and distracted these days. Emiliano says he's just worried about him. He doesn't like the idea that his friend should be disillusioned if MJ proves not to be a blood relative. Porfi says the more he's thought about it the more he has realized that blood ties are not that important. What is important is the bond of affection he and MJ share. He knows that Mary Jo loves him and he loves her greatly, too.

Don Emi asks if that means he's has finally written his will. Porfi says he had it done a while ago and just made them all think he hadn't. Don Emi says well, supposing that Porfi put the name of his heir as Sandra Betancourt, who is dead, or Mary Jo Betancourt on it, and that since her real name is Samaniego, that then Mary Jo wouldn't be able to claim whatever he leaves her. Porfi says well, she'll just change her last name. Don Emi suggests there is her family to think about. Her father is just a humble, everyday sort. Money isn't everything for some people. Also, people have feelings. MJ might not like hurting her daddy that way. Anyway, she's already married to a wealthy man who has his own set of sensibilities [carácter]. Porfi could risk losing her affection by asking her to do that.

Porfi thinks it through and decides to give MJ a call. During their conversation he asks when she's coming to visit him. She explains she's had tons to do around there for the civil wedding ceremony which is only a few days away. Porfi gets upset thinking she lied about being married. MJ explains they were married and got divorced but are remarrying now. She says she'll leave that story for another day because it is too long and involved. Porfi chalks it up to their being crazy youngsters. Mary Jo invites him if he thinks he's up to it. He says thanks for thinking of him, but he's not able to travel now. He asks her before they hang up what name she's getting married with. She says she's marrying under her legal name, Samaniego. Porfi makes a mental note.

Meanwhile, Irene keeps coaching Nando. One day they're in the pool together and she dares to kiss him on the lips. He starts to object but she asks him to give himself a chance. They kiss again. (If you can't be with the one you love, love the one your with.--My apologies to Steven Stills.)

Across town, Vicki and Raqhell have a meeting with the judge over guardianship of little Victoria. He agrees to give Vicki legal guardianship due to the ill health of her biological mother. Raqui agrees and says she knows that Vicki will be a better mother than she would be; that Victoria always has been. Mother and daughter make their peace and Vicki promises that Raqui can visit with her baby daughter anytime she wants to. Raqui doesn't look that thrilled with the idea.

A few more days pass. Finally it's Alex and MJ's wedding day. Meowra, LIs, Katia, and Raqui are chatting it up with the rest of the guests. Fer and Irene are an item now. Fer introduces Irene to Lis. Afterwards, gossipy Katia tells Lis that she is sure there is something serious going on--like Fer and Victoria are quits--because Irene doesn't seem to be just his therapist now.

Inside the house in the kitchen, we see the hired help preparing the eats for the party. Felipa, Zeke, Art and the housekeeper gossip about how easy the premade hors d'oeuvres were to get ready. Simple, yes, but not as delicious as the ones Felipa would have made herself, says the housekeeper. (Yawn.) Felipa now has two dogs she's playing with. FF>>

Bruno calls home to tell Vicki that he read in a newspaper that Alex and MJ were getting married at the house today. Vicki says yep, that's right. Bruno says great, but why wasn't he invited? Isn't he considered part of the family any longer? (This is too easy. I won't bother.) Vicki explains that since the last few times he's been anywhere near Alex all they've done is fight and this is one day they wanted to go smoothly. Bruno wonders how they could just kick him to the curb so easily. He understands, he says, but then they've got to realize why he is so bitter towards them when all they've ever done is push him out of the way like that. Click!

As Bruno broods he tears the newspaper he's been reading to shreds and grumbles to himself. "Let them get married! They won't have the pleasure for long."

The time has come. The wedding starts as Alex and Mary Jo walk towards the judge through numerous flowered, metal archways to say their vows. A few hundred or so of their "closest family and friends", mariachi band and singer all cheer them on. The ceremony ends and they sign the book. Vicki and Hernan sign the book. A number of what might be Alex's old girlfriends--or cousins--then also sign as witnesses. (As Viewerville checks the crowd, it's hardput to find a single male guest there other than the judge, Fer, Chucho, Pedro or Dr. Hernan.) Alex and Mary Jo seal the deal with another kiss and then greet their guests with very broad grins. It may not be happily ever after yet, but at least this time it is legit and Bruno--thanks be to the diosito--is nowhere in sight.
　

　

Labels: sortilegio

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