Caray, Caray!

Labels: abismo

-ULP!-


That's the sound of Helena swallowing the Argentinian BS hook, line, and sinker! This is still funny, but it's getting a little hard to watch. However, JC does begin to wince - it's his gastritis - is his conscience attacking his stomach? Or maybe it's his pride as a womanizer, and he can't believe he's hanging with a single mom? Anyway, she brings him in her house to get her mom to give him some tea and call the Doc, who gives him some powerful meds and tells him to get sleep and less stress. Fat chance, right?

 Lalito walks on in! He pouts, but looks like's about to crack up. He runs to his room and thinks his mom won't love him anymore. Nonetheless, Juan comes up and wants a man-to-man!

Dude, Plutarco is a jerk - he claims he's too tired to give his wife a hug. WTF?? She cheers up, though, when she finds the stolen plan de playa majagua - she did her thesis on it, which Plutarco never read. Looks like like he's gonna steal that, too. She's pleased by the attention and tells him he's so moral. You're so generous, so kind, etc, and Plutarco looks pretty disgusted.

Man-to-man, Juan is great fighting it out with the kid. He threatens that Helena will be miserable without him.  The kid eventually relents, saying "my mom is really great, so I guess you must be all right if she likes you. "I'm glad," says Juan. Lalito says you better not hurt her, menso. Helena comes in, is happy to see the issue resolved, puts the kid to bed. As they say goodnight, Juan's eyes bug out when he sees a file named "playa majahua" on the computer in the kid's room.

In the morning he overhears about the mortgage and the lack of money to pay for Lalito's school. You can see his conscience rolling around behind his eyes, but it isn't really connecting with his brain. He's pissed that everyone will be leaving the house for Lalito's game (a perfect opportunity for snooping), but he has to go with them. He winds up getting excited, though, when Lalito scores a GOOOOLLL!

That night, Juan will cook dinner. Lalo says hey, that's for girls, but Juan begins to indoctrinate him with chauvinism - none of the best cooks are women!

And the result of their hard "manly" kitchen-work: a lasagna. "I didn't know it was so hard," Lalo says. Juan: "That's why it's a man's job!"

Lalo has fallen for Juan just as fast as his mom did! He now wants him to come to the father-son soccer game and to come meet all his friends at school. At dinner, Juan impresses the ladies with his story (possibly true) about his mother who still thinks he's 10 years old. (Juan's mother was a well-known actress before she married - now she has memory problems which may or may not be Alzheimers.)

Speaking of Juan's mom, Plutarco's mustached flunkie Onesimo pays her a visit on his boss's orders! He chats with her, realizes that she's kind of stuck in the past, and starts telling her what a fan he is (she was a famous actress or something)... He winds up leaving with an autographed photo from her glory days! Plutarco has a plan to use it against Juan...

Juan is back to snooping around on Lalito's computer... but the playa majagua file loads super slowly and he reaches under the desk to curse it and fiddle around with stuff to make it go faster (?) "This machine must be from the 1970s!" Just then, Helena's mom comes in with some tea for him, he jumps to attention to pretend he wasn't snooping, and slams his head on the underside of the desk! He stammers some nonsense about dropping his pills and looking for water, but fortunately Helena's mom is just as easily-fooled as her daughter and grandson, and launches into that familiar I love Helena, she's a great woman, and you mustn't hurt her again speech. She also mentions that they took out a mortgage on the house to support the Majagua project. All of this guilt-inducing stuff proves to be a bit much for our slime-ball antihero, and his gastric conscience acts up pretty severely.

Onesimo fills his boss (Plutarco) in on his chat with Juan's mom. He mentions that there are some money troubles and her husband is at work all the time (Onesimo says he's an "anotario," but I think he means "notario," notary, and this is just supposed to show us what a dunce Onesimo is).

Next week: see what happpens when Helena's dad comes home to meet his daughter's new man!

Labels: por-ella

Por Ella Soy Eva July 24, 2012

The show began with a bit of the conversation between Juan Carlos and Helena.  Helena asks him not to play with her feelings and to be honest with her.  She poured out her heart to him, and you can tell that Juan Carlos is beginning to feel compunction for some of what he’s doing and how he’s treating Helena.  He’s falling.

We begin our actual show with Juan Carlos daydreaming about Helena.  The guy is falling fast.  Fernando interrupts Juan Carlos and informs him about how Plutarco is withholding his and Santiago’s salaries.  Juan Carlos confronts Plutarco and lies about the project being finished.  Plutarco demands to see it, and an argument begins.  Adriano walks in, puts an end to their argument, and reminds Juan Carlos of their deal.  Juan Carlos is in quite a bind.

At the same time that’s happening, Helena and Lalito are about to have lunch, but first, a mother/son talk takes place.  This was a good scene because it showed an honest talk between them.  She basically said that despite any jealousy, anger, or hurt feelings, Lalito can always talk to and confide in Helena, and that their bond of love and trust is very strong.

They eat lunch, and Lalito notices that his mom is somewhat distracted.  She TELLS HIM THAT SHE’S DISTRACTED BECAUSE OF WORK RELATED STUFF.  He, in turn, asks her if she’s told Juan that she won’t be his girlfriend.  Lalito’s grandfather’s influence is very obvious in how he talks to Helena, quite demanding and authoritative.  Why Helena hasn’t put her son in his place is still a question.

Back at Grupo Imperio, Plutarco and Rebeca are talking.  He wants more information on what she knows regarding the project.  She doesn’t give in so easily and lets him know that she doesn’t appreciate when he takes advantage of her.  He doesn’t even compensate her with any type of gift, jewel, trip, etc.  This gal knows how to manipulate things to her advantage.  She gets her way…so far.

Helena continues to think about Juan and is pretty bummed.  She asks her friend Lucia id he’s called yet, and she says no.  I love these two friends’ interaction.

Plutarco and Onesimo talk.  Plutarco’s just purchased two pieces of jewelry for Antonia and Rebeca.  He wants to get them off his back.  He asks Onesimo what he knows regarding Rebeca seeing other men.

Plutarco gives one of the pieces to Antonia.  They talk, and she says that rather than buying her expensive gifts or meals at fancy restaurants, he should just show her love.  She misses and wants Plutarco to be intimate with her.  He’s not happy with this but has no choice!

We then have some nice family scenes with Juan Carlos and his parents.  It seems to me that his mom might be beginning to have some kind of illness.  She talks to and thinks of Juan Carlos as a little boy.  She’s smart though and perceives that her son has trouble with a girl and flat out asks her son if he’s in love.  Juan Carlos’s dad is a different story.  He’s tougher and seems to be somewhat of a macho type of man.  He thinks it’s time for his son to find a woman who can take care of him properly.

At the Moreno home, the family is eating dinner.  Eduardo is mentioning a trip he’s going to take to reunite with some of his military buddies.  He lets Lalito know that he won’t be at his upcoming football game.  They talk about an upcoming father/son game that they will be in, and Lalito lets it slip that he played football with Juan on the beach in Acapulco.  Eduardo has a fit and grills Helena over who Juan was and why he was playing with Eduardo’s grandson.  Helena fibs, but Eduardo is not very happy with her answers.

Juan Carlos continues to try and be Don Juan and call one of his many girlfriends.  However, even though he makes plans with her, it’s obvious that he’s somewhat distracted.  He’s probably thinking about Helena.

Helena and her mom get to talk.  Her mom wisely advises that Helena take things slowly and to be careful with what she does.  Silvia asks Helena if she’s falling in love with Juan.  The answer is avoided.  That parallels what happened with Juan Carlos and his mom.

Plutarco gives Rebeca the same gift he gave Antonia.  Rebeca loves it and can’t really focus on much else.  Plutarco uses this to his advantage and threatens to take it away from her if she doesn’t spill the beans regarding the project.  She lets him know that the Canadian competition is going to sponsor a small travel agency called “Viages Moreno.”  Plutarco begins to remember his conversations with Felix and what happened with the cancelled tour and how it went to “Viages Moreno.”

At the office, Lucia tries to get a distracted Helena’s attention.  She succeeds, and they talk.  Helena can’t hide that she’s thinking about Juan.  She lets Lucia know that if she were to start a relationship with him, it would have to be very serious.  They’d share a lot and he’d incorporate himself into her work projects.  She’s fallen hard, and Lucia razzes her about it.

At work, there’s a scene between two best buds…Juan Carlos and Santiago.  Santiago is razzed about getting married and about the women he chooses.  Santiago then brings up the project and lets Juan Carlos know that he doesn’t see how things are going to work out if Helena isn’t saying a word to him.  Juan Carlos has a plan!  It is also noticed that Juan Carlos seems a bit conflicted or guilty about what he’s doing to Helena.

Plutarco asks Onesimo to be a sort of spy or informant regarding Helena’s travel agency and her relationship with Juan Carlos.  He goes to the agency and charms Lucia.  When Lucia goes to get him some coffee and cookies, Onesimo takes the opportunity to take the information directly involved with the project.  He will charge Plutarco double for this particular favor.

Things continue to get rough for Plutarco.  First, his wife goes to Grupo Imperio to kidnap him for the day.  He tries to say no, but Antonia knows the right things to do.  She asks her big brother permission to take her husband.  Adriano is glad to oblige.

Rebeca and Antonia see one another, and Rebeca notices Antonia’s bracelet.  Another strike for Plutarco, because Rebeca noticed that it was basically the same thing.  She’s NOT happy about that.

Finally, Adriano thanks Plutarco for being such a good husband to his sister and for making her happy.  He does threaten him that if he does anything to hurt her, he’ll kill him.

Just as Antonia is happily looking for her husband, she overhears Juan Carlos and his buddies make some pretty insensitive comments about her and her weight.  She goes into a depression and calls everything off with Plutarco and their date.

Plutarco doesn’t really care what might have upset Antonia, but Rebeca comes in, upset and ready to let him have it.  She tries to be a drama queen and get her way with him, but he’s smart and lets her know that he’s aware of her little fling with Juan Carlos.  That kind of puts Rebeca in her place, and she takes it easier on Plutarco.

At the travel agency, Helena notices that the information for her big project is missing.  She is puzzled, as is Lucia.  Right then, Juan calls but doesn’t ask Lucia for Helena.  She’s bummed but thankful for Juan’s indirect honesty.  Lucia knows that her friend is suffering and decides to take that opportunity to invite her for a girls’ night out.  They intend to celebrate the new agency.  Helena finally relents and goes with Lucia.  Lucia’s idea is to go to a play, and that puzzles Helena because she knows that Lucia is not really into theater.

While that happens, back at the Moreno house, Eduardo leaves for his trip but says he’ll call in a few hours.  Helena better be home.

Plutarco gets the information from Onesimo.  He’s happy with what Onesimo discovered and remarks that he’s going to use the information to harm Juan Carlos.

Lucia takes Helena to an empty theater.  Helena is very puzzled, and Lucia decides to check with the ticket people regarding time and such.  The lights go out, and Juan puts on a show of his own for Helena.  Oh man!  Nice plan, all in all.  Lucia did a nice job of going along with things.
During the song, he asks Helena to be his girlfriend, and she gladly accepts!

Labels: por-ella

Labels: abismo

Well, if secrets make us sick, clearly we have a lot of very ill people in this fascinating love story..

  Violeta has kept the secret of her employment from her mother.  Mother Magda has kept the secret of Violeta's parentage from both her and Don Aquiles.  Paz has kept the secret of Luciana's parentage from both her and Licenciado Linares. So has Mati. Rosaura has kept the secret of giving away Luciana as a baby from...well...everyone except Padre Honesto. Maximino is keeping secret the framing of Linares, his silent partnering of the Inferno and his sadistic affair with Vicky, Vicky is keeping her affair a secret from her worried papa,  Gala and Julie have kept secret the fact that they only want Rodrigo for his bank account. Jana is keeping secrets from herself....that she's really in love with Lorenzo, not her official novio, Brigida is keeping secret her  vicious monetary dealings with Gala and Julie.  Both Luciana and Rodrigo are keeping secret from themselves and each other that they're still madly in love and really want to be together.

All these secrets are eating away at hearts and souls, corrupting motives, destroying peace of mind, betraying integrity  and blighting caracters.  So hang on tight as we watch some of these secrets worm their way to light,  while others still remain hidden....and quietly poisonous.

I'm going to consolidate the scenes for (hopefully) brevity as Melinama wants us to scale down the length of these.

THE BARRIO

The barrio plans for the tacos de canasta business is going swimmingly.  We see the posse stocking up at the colorful mercado, having their fortunes read by the “pajaritos de suerte” (suerte can mean luck, but also fate, chance or providence).   Estelita's granddaughter hears that she's going to get a good surprise (mom coming back?), Lorenzo: that love is on the way (Jana?) and Ariche: that he will soon get to know or meet up with (“conocer”) the sky. (I'm in a cold sweat thinking he's going to meet his Maker but actually he just goes on an exciting plane ride with Rodrigo).  Then it's off to home where all the females gather around the table to chop, peel and prepare the veggies while the boys go off to see about the bicycle tire, and Marianita, quickly bored with it all, goes out to play.  Paz throws a small hyperventilating hissy fit when she learns Lorenzo plans to stay in Mexico City to “probar suerte” (try to make his way) but that soon passes.  She's got other things to worry about; namely her own date with destiny revealing the truth about Luciana to Licenciado Linares.

No, Paz hasn't told him yet.  She had the chance for a face to face truth telling when he walked in the door earlier, but she lost her nerve.  And in the meantime, she seems to be having heart palpitations every time she thinks of the confrontation and the possible “desprecio”(disdain, scorn, contempt) that Luciana could feel for her, finding out Mama Paz has lied to her all these years about her true origins. (Yep, Rosalena, your diabolical Fear Fest had its effect.) At episode's end, she finally gets up the nerve to call Linares and request an urgent meeting.  But no, she can't tell him over the phone.  So we're left to bite our nails, wondering what will happen to torpedo this important meeting.  For sure, it will be something!

So what secret did come to light?  Violeta's.  Magda and she have a big Come to Jesus meeting the next day with Magda proclaiming it's not so much the degrading work as the fact as the engaño (deception) and las mentiras (lies) that Violeta's been spinning all these years.  Lots of perdoname's and what kind of mother have I been, and no's youse the best, and more perdoname's until finally they come to affectionate peace with each other and heartfelt hugs are exchanged. (Have we already mentioned that Violeta respectfully addresses her mom as “usted” while Magda uses the “tu” form when talking to her daughter?) Paz walks in and sees the happy ending and seems to be wondering if her own High Noon meeting with Linares and then Luciana will turn out as well.  Key reveal: Violeta assures her mother that though some of the girls do a few other things in addition to waiting tables, she NEVER has.  She's still the good girl mama raised in the Het Het pueblo. Key reveal for Magda: She's no saint and really shouldn't judge Violeta.  (Glad that's settled.)

THE BUSINESS WORLD

Rodrigo is continuing with his business plan involving saving money on the cost of plane fuel  by using “biocombustibles”(biofuel)--in spite of the fact that Boss Dad Maximino hasn't given his approval.  His two buds, as well as Oscar and Pato are all for it.  Maximino, when he learns of it, is totally against.  Rodrigo is the son and employee, Max is the papa and the boss.  If he wants to go rogue, he can leave the company. (What happened to our understanding, sympathetic father?)

 And while he's on a tear during this episode, Max also humiliates Vicky-- keeping her at his feet while he sneers into his drink, demanding that she give up her work if it conflicts with his whims of a nooner-only-sooner or any other shagtime he wants.  When she pleadingly bleats that she needs to work during normal hours, he knees her in the jaw and  slams out saying that he's through with her.  She creeps back to work and I just hope she realizes how lucky she is to be shot of that old fiend.  Nicole rags on her about the purported excuse to leave to see about her ailing father, but doesn't look convinced.  Methinks Vicky might lose both work and Osito in one fell swoop.

But hey, there's always time for more domination games.Back at work after the Vicky beatdown,  Maximino grabs Aldo roughly in the hallway, reminds him not to “pasarte de listo conmigo” (get too clever with me, try to get away with something) because you don't know what I'm capable of when people bother me!   But I'm going to test you, Maximino continues, I'm going to take you to the Inferno with me tonight and I want you to pay close attention to what I want you to do.

THE HIGH RENT SKANK WORLD

Rosalena, Julie and Gala are having a Tea and Scheme party on the veranda.  Julie's mouth, as usual, looks like a bloody scar. Like she just feasted on raw flesh. Rosalena is her usual pale, monotone , beige-on-beige, cool ,demented self.  Gala...impeccable, but heavily made up.  They're trying to get their stories straight on the going-off-to-Columbia gambit to try and snare Rodrigo back when Julie can't resist dropping the news that they know about Rosaura's betrayal of Linares (and Luciana).  Gleefully thinking they have her by the short hairs, Rosaura cooly informs them that she's glad they know she's capable of anything if someone gets in her way (si alguien se interpone en mi camino) so then they realize that if they drop the dime on her, she's capable of saying that the whole Luciana humiliation in the library was engineered by Julie and Gala.  She was only there as an innocent but concerned mother.  Pow! Zap! And Checkmate!  Nice to see the gruesome twosome momentarily defeated.  Back to being under Rosa's thumb for our scheming duo.

INCIDENTALS, AND DIFFERENCES IN PHILOSOPHY

 Earlier, Rosalena, on her endless mission to control the universe, starts in on Connie about her weekend romance plans with Oscar.  How can she...a woman of a “certain age”, and a mother, even consider going off on a juicy weekend like some oversexed adolescent!!!??  I mean, look in the mirror sis!  Look at your body!  You're going to let him see THAT!!??? We both know Men prefer Young Women. Connie looks appropriately deflated and manages to whimper that Rosa has really wounded her.  I know, Rosalena blissfully acknowledges, forgive me. The truth hurts. And, dirty work done, she breezes off.

With that painful “truth” in mind, Connie later sees Melissa walking on air, first, because she's on her last chapter of the thesis, and because her mentor is the oh-so-wonderful Licenciado Linares.  Now there's a May-December pairing for sure.

So no suprise that when Oscar calls later, champing at the bit to leave on the weekend with Connie, she hesitantly says, “But first we have to talk.” (Trust me, those are words no man wants to hear.)

These very painful scenes, and their aftermath (particularly for us women of a “certain age”) were prefaced by Connie elaborating to Rosa her philosophy of parenting.  To wit, she lets her adult children live their lives, and she lives hers.  “Asi de simple”.  Clearly, she and her sister are polar opposites.  But Rosie remains convinced that she's the  one taking the High Moral Road.  (another secret she's keeping from herself.)

THE LIGHTER SIDE

Back in the pueblo del norte, Procopio and his other funeral home buddy are speculating on the expected demise of the local Padre Serafin.  He needs to die soon so the funeral home, and Procopio's funeral wreath (“coronas”) concession can finally have some business!  Otherwise, they'll be soldiering on   “con una mano  atrás y otra  delante” (without a peso to their name)  Later, the metiche female duo gloat to the chubby clothing seller (I've forgotten her name...ah, it's Luchita, thanks jlk) that she's probably lost her deal with Procopio (“se durmió el gallo”) because he's about to do land office business with those self-same funeral wreaths.  The Padre for sure is bound for heaven soon.

CUPID TAKES A PLANE RIDE

Well, sure.  We all know Cupids fly, right?  So it's only fitting that Ariche gets his plane ride with Rodrigo.  He gamely tries to get Luciana to come along—a threesome would be so nice!  But she has studying to do for her prepa exam.  And Rodrigo is already looking daggers at her because he came upon her and Linares looking friendly and assumed the worst.  She manages to throw a dagger herself, assuring Rod that yesssss, Licenciado Linares has always been very loving with her.  A Very Good Man. (Take that!  And then some....)

So, off to the friendly skies of Rodrigo's business plane. The ride goes off without incident, in spite of my worries about Ariche's “suerte”.  His stomach is up in his throat, he's giddy with nervousness, but assures Rodgrigo that he's “muy valiente” just like him.(yes, Vivi, your word did come back) And they both decide Ariche is going to be an airline captain himself when he grows up (if he works hard and really makes the effort, of course).  PSA for education and hard work.

SO WHAT DID WE LEARN TONIGHT?
1)Oscar and Connie have the same philosophy.  Oscar wants Maximino to let Rodrigo have his head. If his proposed business venture is a loss, well, it won't be a big loss.  Let him try.  Connie's philosophy with her children is the same.  Let them make their own decisions (Melissa/Linares? Aldo/Vicky?) and their own mistakes.  And learn from them.  Oscar and Connie are the Modern Caring Liberals. And clearly meant for each other.
2)Maximino and Rosalena also have the same philosophy.  Control those around you, take vengeance on those who cross you, and never ever forgive a betrayal.  They're the False Uprights, guarding their power and prestige at any cost.  And basically bitter and unhappy.
3)Julie and Gala are consummate schemers, but so far haven't been terribly successful.  Both are divorced.  Both want more money than they have, and both are endlessly envious.  And unsuccessful in relationships.
4)The barrio folks have had their ups and downs, their personal losses, and their misunderstandings.  But all of them value family above all else and are ready to forgive and start over, in order to safeguard and maintain relationships.  And work together so that all can be moderately successful, in spite of their lack of education and financial backing.
5)Luciana and Licenciado Linares are both capable of everlasting love; and both are drawn to each other (el llamado de la sangre! The call of the blood) and seem to blossom in each other's presence. Furthermore, Linares is accumulating further proof that he wasn't in the country when those criminal money transfers were made.  So another secret is on its way to reveal.
6)And Rodgrigo...well, he's still a dunce.  But there's hope, readers, there's hope!

PREVIEWS:

Rosalena is on her knees begging Rodrigo's forgiveness.  And it seems to work.  Looks like the big dinner with Rodrigo in attendance and Gala springing her plot, is going to happen. Aaaarrrgh!

DICHO OF THE DAY

A Dios rogando y con el mazo dando. (lit. Praying to God while hitting with the mallet.) fig. God helps him who helps himself.
A phrase that typlifies the work ethic of our barrio folks.  Whether it's making pottery in the pueblo, hawking clothes and baubles from China, or flogging tacos in Mexico City, the humble folks are willing to pull themselves up by their bootsraps in order to make a go of it.  They can't...and won't coast on family connections.

Labels: refugio

Flor arrives at Doc Tovar's office to pick up the results of some tests. Pal tells her no results from Mérida have arrived. Flor talks about flowers for her upcoming wedding and Pal tells her not to play the victory march just yet. Flor says Dam's little sister Elisa will be sure to get an invite. Pal makes a crack about how behind Flor is in the latest happenings of La Ermita, but won't explain herself. Flor makes a dig that Quique is only flirting with Pal because he can't have Flor.

Doc and Fina snipe at each other about Be-gone-ya, Carmina and Fina's loose lips. They get around to the test results in his office. They go to get them and encounter....

Girl Fight!!! They pull Pal and Flor apart. Order is restored and Doc hands over Dam's life sentence the results to Fina. Fina is thrilled. She wants to get these to Dam ASAP.

Dam finds out that Elisa caught him nekkid and sleeping with Flor a few days back. Elisa blames herself. Dam explains he was drunk and miserable and had to find a way to get Elisa out of his heart. Elisa talks about  50+ episodes left consequences for every action. Dam wants them to start a new life together. Elisa thinks that's unfair to Flor. Dam says he doesn't love Flor and that Elisa needs to get away from the house of painful memories. Elisa agrees to go away with Dam.

Carmina goes to Horacio's House o' Meat. He tells her someone knows he had something to do with Blanca's death AND someone saw them leaving the night of Augusto's death.

Padre Lupe goes to see Ramona. He wants her to tell Elisa what she told Augusto the day he died. She is not saying a word about it ever again. Padre wonders what if Augusto didn't kill himself and he died other way? Ramona asks "other way?"  Padre says that's what he's trying to figure out. Ramona wants to know why he doesn't tell what he knows.  Ramona remarks that's it's easier for him if someone else gets their hands dirty. She ain't talking.

Sabrina nags Paolo about marrying her. He sees Carmina and drools. Sabrina tells him it was Carmina's recommendation that got mommy to let Sabrina date him.

Dam packs Elisa's things.  Elisa doesn't want to leave yet. She still needs to say goodbye to Lolita and take care of the greenhouse and find out what's going to happen to the hacienda and Cielo Abierto. Dam asks about her dad having a will or not. She doesn't know. She begs for a couple of days to get things arranged. Dam won't wait. Lolita catches Carmina listening at the door. Later Lolita comes in and there is a llorafest. Elisa tells her she can't stay and get all crazy and bitter like her aunt. Lolita agrees and helps them pack. Lolita makes Dam promise to always take her of "her niña". Elisa makes Lolita promise to leave the hacienda, too.

Chente recovers at the hospital. Chente asks if Gab was worried about him.  Braulio lies and tells him Gab came to see him. Chente tells Braulio he doesn't care for him one whit. Brau goes to Tonia and tells her he is leaving. Raise a glass, everyone!

Gabino is being all Eddie Haskell with the little old lady owner of the hacienda he wants to buy. They will settle everything in a couple of days when the certified check comes in. But until then, does his little chula reina mind keeping her little chula boca closed?

Flor wants Fina to uphold her end of the bargain. Flor wants Gweedo out of jail ASAP. Fina says Dad will be released, but first she wants to clear the Landucci name so the town doesn't think Dam is marrying the daughter of a thief. Alone, Fina gushes about HER nieto when she in interrupted by a phone call. She looks pithed.

Horacio remembers Padre Lupe's words about confession. Lolita comes in crying. He comforts her. They can run their business and start a family. Lolita thanks him for his love and support.

Paolo primps and Flor enters. She tells him not to mess up their plans and their future. He notices the bruises and she tells him about her fight with Paloma. Paolo warns that Flor's feelings for Quique are dangerous to their plan too. She better not screw up, either.

Dam and Elisa are almost out the door when Carmina stops them. It seems she was the phone call to Fina, who has arrived at the hacienda. Dam tells her not to waste her time. Nothing will stop him from being with Elisa. Fina gives a speech about a parent's love and sacrifice and hands Dam the results of "Florencia Landucci's" pregnancy test. Fina guilt trips. "You would leave your child? Abandon him like your father abandoned you?" "Elisa, you would allow that?" Dam still won't give up Elisa. He thinks he and Elisa need to discuss it and Fina can butt out. Dam and Elisa retire to Augusto's office and Fina snipes that Carmina looks good in black.

Elisa yells and cries about consequences. She loves him but they are never going to be happy. She tells him to go with Flor and be with his child. The can't make the same mistakes as their parents. Dam refuses, but Elisa tells him that she is putting an end to things. They are over. His mom and Flor are no longer the obstacles. Elisa herself is going to oppose them being together.

Labels: abismo

• JC's two stooges want to talk salary with their boss Adriano but he says no more salary till Playa Majagua is all set. They admit a few details of the plan are not yet nailed down.
JC's married stooge's wife shows up. She gives him money, he's embarrassed, she says she married him for better or worse.
• On the beach: Juan makes up seasickness in order to get back to shore (to deal with the disappeared Lalo). Helena hears about a drowned boy on the elevator; she runs to confront Juan, faints clutching her son's shirt.
  
  Lalo reappears just as she's being taken off to the hospital. Lalo says: "Mom, I have to tell you something bad about Juan!" but doesn't get to say anything.  JC takes care of Lalo that night while Helena is under observation.
  
  JC makes a man's pact with Lalo: Lalo is not to tell his mom about "Operation Honeymoon." Cannily Lalo says: "If it's bad for my mom I'm telling her. And you have to promise never to be her boyfriend." JC promises (on various virgins). Then Lalo extracts a bedtime story. In the midst of an extravagantly Argentinian retelling of Robin Hood, Lalo falls asleep. JC is warming to the squirt.
  
  Next morning, as JC enters saying "Hygeine is primordial! Time for ablutions!" Lalo has disappeared again. Distracted along the way by bimbos, JC nevertheless finds Lalo, who blackmails him into joining the sons-and-fathers ball game on the beach. Helena arrives in time to see this cute scene. Bonding takes place.
  
  Back home, her mean Dad is yelling that Helena isn't home yet. She calls to say they're on their way. JC gives her a dvd to watch when she's alone. She and Lalo sing a Latino version of 99 bottles of beer on the wall as JC drives them back. He's nauseated at first, then joins in lustily.
  
  With her girlfriend Helena watches the dvd from JC, which typically lays it on thick. She's buying it - she likes him plenty. BUT in the next room Lalo overhears the word "novios" and comes in to tell her everything: "I heard that he wants to seduce you and leave you with a broken heart. That he makes women cry. He promised me he'd never be your boyfriend if I didn't tell, but if he doesn't comply I don't either." Lalo orders his mom not to see JC again. She cries.
  
  Juan (after a macho chat with his stooge about his "bonbonsote" and how they'll find her project and copy it) calls her - he wants to meet that night but she says, tomorrow morning. He arrives with flowers -- she slaps him and is in a towering rage. He has to blab falsehoods a mile a minute to sleaze himself out of the trouble he's in. Ludicrously he shouts: "Trust me! Trust me!" She softens, saying "I like you a lot but there are things you should know about me..." to whit:
  
  When she was 21 and she and her boyfriend were just getting out of college, she got pregnant. He reluctantly offered to marry her. Her father paid for a wedding and gave them money for an apartment. Shortly before the wedding her fiance went off to the U.S. never to return, taking all the money with him. Her dad was so furious he had a heart attack. To keep dad from keeling over, she now does everything he tells her to, and swallows the humiliations he dishes out. He's told her if she gets betrayed by a man again she is out. "It's hard to be a single mom." JC listens with sympathy, he's softening too. He says he wants a serious relationship with her. She says he'd have to accept Lalo being number one.
  
  
• Plutarcho has two stooges. He offers one of them money to kill JC. The stooge convinces him out of it. He says he'll find another way to destroy his rival. Felix snoops and says JC's team hasn't made much progress with the Playa project. He hears about the connection with Helena.
  
  Pluto is furious that Rebeca was in a hotel with some guy (when she came out she crashed Pluto's car a little bit). He doesn't know that guy was JC. He hires one of his stooges (Onesimo) to be her chauffeur (to spy on her).
  
  Rebeca gives Pluto another endless massage. His wife pops in, asking him to play hookey with her. He refuses. There are fat jokes. She says she's at the limit of her patience and leaves. Pluto is tired of everything and everybody. Rebeca tells him there's a competition for the development at Playa Majagua and he could enter, and she has lots of info but he won't get it unless he's nice to her.
  
  Ez and I can't figure if the stooge who is showing Pluto how to break into JC's computers is the same as the first one. The computer stooge is Felix and he's cracked the code: Pluto is in like Flynn.

Labels: por-ella

Labels: refugio