Caray, Caray!

Labels: eva

Friday: Eman tells MariVicky that he’s written all of Max’s inheritance over to her, but MV still tells him he’s a jerk. Showing his dad her diary, he weeps that he still loves Mari, and Emil tells him to go find her, and is sure he (Emil) can get her address out of Vicky. Axel tries to persuade unmasked (but re-masked, or rather, re-mustachioed) Gretel that she should tell Oliver and Emil and Eman because they can protect her. She explains that Fedra wants to kill Oliver. But it’s so hard to be so near to Oliver, yet so far away! They hug, and just then Emil opens the door, Eman behind him. They stare goggle-eyed.

*****

Mano (who is Gretel, of course) and Axel try to stutter some kind of explanation, but Emil lands nimbly on his feet, telling Axel he’s not going to make the same mistake twice, and it’s all cool. Why, they make a cute couple! Eman mentions Lorena, but of course now that Axel has his memory back, of course….well…. Emil rattles on, saying how everyone loves Mano’s sister Vicky at the office and um, welcome to the family! Everyone feels awkward, most of all Axel whose expressions are priceless as he tries to be game.

Emil hands them some money to go out to dinner, and to have some lovely wine too. He reminds Axel to be a gentleman, and Eman hustles him out as he’s definitely overdoing the accepting dad bit. Emil takes one last wide-eyed gander as Eman shoves him out. Eman gives Axel the you-go-guy fist and closes the door behind him. Mano and Axel burst out laughing.

Garduño is in a suit, sitting in a leather chair in what looks like a gentleman’s club, wine in hand, thoughtbubbling. That Fedra certainly is efficient, he muses, and he’s darn glad to be out. Now Mauricio is going to have to marry Kristel.

At the pension, Gladiola is telling Oliver he’s supposed to have absolute bed rest, so get on upstairs. Oliver complains he can’t stand all that rest and look! His cheeks (the rear ones) have turned into pancakes. Mano comes in and says he’s going out with some friends, so bye! Oliver wants to know who he’s going out with. Mano plays it for all it’s worth, and after he’s gone, Gladiola teases Oliver about being jealous.

Eman comes home and slips the diary into the back of his pants, under his jacket to hide it. Ilitia comes down and wants to know where he’s been all night, why didn’t he call, though she isn’t a shrew about it. Blablabla he says rudely, I’m too tired to talk. I had a lot of work, okay? There was the robbery and everything.

This galan is not the most perfect ever. Not only did he take up thieving as a hobby, now he’s being a jerk to his justifiably worried wife. Anyway, she catches hold of his shoulder as he starts up the stairs and he winces. She looks worried.

Consuelo and Gladiola are having a laugh at Oliver’s expense when Brandon comes in and tells them to behave. He assures Oliver that he’s not mad anymore, they’re like brothers. The ladies applaud their reconciliation, and Brandon says the two ought to go hang out like old times. He assures the ladies he’ll take good care of Oliver.

Kristel is on the phone with Mauricio, trying to get him to go out with her to some event, but he says he has something on that he just can’t cancel. She’s furious, then has another idea.

Lorenzo is trying to get Christian to play with him. He’s made a paper airplane and finally gets a smile out of the kid. He kneels down to hug Christian and his back twinges. Muñeca comes in and he explains that he fell at work and now he’d like to go lie down. Muñeca scoops up Christian so they can join Manzanita and Flora in the kitchen. Lor is mad that she takes him away whenever they’re getting along. They’re gone and his cell rings – it’s Kristel wanting to know if he’s busy that night. He brightens.

Ilitia feels Eman’s shoulder again and he pulls away. She pats him and finds the diary under his jacket and demands to know how he got it. He wearily tells her he doesn’t want to fight – she can read it and find out that Mari doesn’t want anything to do with him. I guess he’s unconcerned that he’s showing Mari’s diary to her enemy. Of course, we know Ilitia has already seen it, but still! As I say, not a perfect galan.

As he trudges upstairs, he passes Fedra on her way down. She reproaches Ilitia for fighting all the time, and Ilitia hands her the diary. Fedra realizes that that means that Mari gave it to him – she’s in Mexico!

MariVicky comes back to the pension and sits heavily on the couch and tells Brandon she’s had a horrible day. He tells her what she needs Brandon Therapy - she needs to powder and perfume herself and come out with him and Oliver and Doris. She’s not in the mood so he tells her life is too short to moon about all miserable. She decides he’s right. Just then Gladiola brings her a note from Mano. In it, Mano tells MV to come to La Mala Noche to see the real Fedra Curiel, and to bring Oliver and Brandon for protection, because Fedra’s capable of murder.

She tells Brandon that she has just the place! Mano recommended La Mala Noche.

Pirate-clad guys are setting up La Mala Noche beforehours. Mano has come to see Bernardo (is he the manager?). I think Bernardo offers money to stop the articles. Mano says what he wants Bernardo to do is to hire a friend who’s really good, but she dances with a mask because she’s from a good family and doesn’t want anybody to know it’s her.

Okay, says Bernardo, we’ll try her tonight. He leaves, and Mano thoughtbubbles that it will be the debut of La Sirena de la Noche, and everyone is in for a lot of surprises.

Emil is down in Max’s basement digs, lamenting to him about Gretel’s having been in that wine cellar for two years. And now she’s gone missing! Max decides to tell him that Gretel escaped with his help. He tells how she was physically in bad shape, but that she had the strength to get through it. (We might even say it was great therapy – she used to have bad spells, but now she’s sane as a brick, deftly playing the part of a young man, a reporter, no less, while being tantalizingly close to the amor de su vida. And she’s about to treat us to a racy dance number. Not everyone could pull all that off, that’s for sure.)

Emil is shocked Max didn’t tell him about Gretel, but Max says he couldn’t risk Fedra knowing. Max says he’s protecting Gretel, basically being the father Emil never seemed to be able to be. Emil demands to know where she is and Max says he’s not telling, even under torture. Gretel will come to him when she’s ready and he’s just going to have to hang on. Max assures Emil she’s fine. Emil begs him to tell her if she calls that he loves her and misses her.

Emil leaves and Max sits at his desk and ponders Emil’s situation. Poor guy! He doesn’t know that Gretel isn’t even his child and neither is Eman. And who knows about the other two? It won’t be until the day Emil finds out that he’ll realize what a horrific mistake he made hooking up with Fedra Curiel.

Wow!!! Doris is just finishing giving Gretel a major glam makeover and Gretel looks stunning in heavy makeup, a huge wig of tumbling curls, and fake eyelashes. Axel is there and is impressed at the transformation. He doesn’t get why Gretel is going to such a place, and insists on coming. She says he can’t, Bernardo and Fedra will recognize him. He can’t figure out what those two have to do with it. Both Gretel and Doris tell him not to treat Gretel like a kid and to stay away.

Kristel and Lorenzo are at a busy, but very lame-looking club. Lots of young people are dancing and somebody apparently has switched on the fog machine. Kristel yells over the din that her friend owns the place, and they got the best table! That best table is right near some empty benches and a blank wall, apparently. Big whoop. Lor complains about it being too loud to hear, and couldn’t they go somewhere else? But this is happenin’ place according to excited Kristel, and she wants to dance.

She drags him out on the floor where some young thing comments to her partner that it’s so cute how that dad brought his daughter and is even going to dance with her. Even though Lor could hardly hear Kristel before, he sure hears the young woman’s comment. He tries to do a few moves, but has to grab his sore back. He tries a few more easy moves and is managing to look sort of okay on the dance floor until Kristel takes his hand and tries to give him a spin. He falls out into the room, taking down dancers like bowling pins, and ends up on the floor wincing and wailing that he hurt his shoulder. And his back, ow! Help me, Kristel! Kristel is mortified.

Mauricio, with nobody at hand to rape, is lying on his bed fully clothed in a suit (at least he’s a sharp dresser) thinking about how he’s going to devour that delicious Victoria de la Garza, inch by inch. What a body! Into his room comes the equally sartorially splendid Garduño, startling him. He’s surprised Garduño got out so fast. I’m surprised that Garduño has wandered into Mau’s bedroom, but maybe Mau’s choice of social interaction doesn’t require that he have an actual living room. Bed, bar, some décor, what more does a young rapist-about-town need, anyway?

Garduño spots Mauricio’s bar and makes a beeline for it, pouring himself a drink. He tells Mau that he wants his money now, or he’s going to call his goons who will off Mau when he’s least expecting it.

Eman is sitting in the living room, thinking to himself that Mari doesn’t want anything to do with him and he’s just going to have to rip her out of his heart, but he doesn’t know how. Benigno comes in, looking cheerful. He mentions about Eman now knowing about Gretel and apologizes that he couldn’t tell earlier, or Max wouldn’t have his head. Eman says it’s okay and shakes his head over the thing that go on in the house. Beningo tells him about the snake and the note from Mari that came with it.

Mauricio tells Garduño that it wasn’t his fault that the Lirio took the money. Garduño snorts that he read the newspapers, that it was a faked robbery to make him look bad. Mauricio tells him not to believe everything he reads in the papers. Garduño’s not buying, though, and says he tried to make it easy for Mau and Lorenzo to pay him back, but that’s over now. Mau pays or he gets it, get it?

Mau complains that he put half of the money into the merchandise, so the Lirio stole from him too! Garduño wonders where Mau got the money he’s paid so far, and Mau says he was able to convince Fedra to loan him some. He can sell ice to Eskimos, you know (yo le puedo vender helado hasta a los esquimales – I love these handy sayings). Ah, Fedra! says Garduño. I’ve a mind to do business with her myself.

Eman tells Benigno about Mari sending him a package too, this one with her diary in it. Weird. Sometimes he feels like she’s so close. Maybe he’s losing it.

Benigno brings up Vicky, and Eman says he can’t get Mari’s contact info from her, plus Vicky hates them all because of what Mari told her. He agrees that Mari has plenty of reason to be furious about what happened to her in this house, but that’s why he wants to see her, to talk to her. Ilitia, coming down the stairs, asks if they want to know what’s going on with la gorda, because she knows.

At the hospital, Lorenzo is in a neck brace. Kristel says she’s sorry, but she’s embarrassed too about the scene at the club. She teases him that he looks hot in the neck brace. He tries to suggest he has energy for more than just the club. She exclaims about what would happen if her mother saw them together. Does he love her mother? He says Fedra is important to him, and how about her, does she love Mauricio? She unleashes a cascade of superlatives, punctuated by her wonderful mannerisms. (She’s so effective as a ditz that we forget to notice how talented this actress really is.) Lor has bad news for her – men like Mauricio never, but never, marry, and there’s nothing she can do to make him.

Garduño reminds Mau that he sold him his soul a while ago, and if does what he wants, he’ll settle for the money he’s already received and forget the rest. Mau assures him that Garduño’s slightest wish is his command (para mí, sus deseos son órdenes). Tell him what he wants, and he’ll do it. Garduño says he’d been checking up on Fedra and found out she’s in some multimillion-dollar deal that they could use to launder money. He’d like him to get Fedra to work with him. No problem, says Mau, I’ve got her wrapped around my little finger! Not only is her daughter my girlfriend, but I know her little secret. What secret? Garduño wants to know, but Mau’s not telling.

Garduño says he owes Fedra, and of course he has to honor that. Mau completely agrees. Garduño proposes a toast, and when their glasses are up, he tells Mau they’re celebrating because this is his bachelor party. Their future business with Fedra depends on Mau marrying Kristel. Mau bugs his eyes and takes a swig.

Ilitia, whose manner is much more reasonable than it was some months ago, is talking to Eman about his obsession with Mari. She realizes that here she is trying to save their marriage and he’s been thinking of Mari all this time. He points out that Mari is gone and anyway is married and he doesn’t know where she is. Yes you do, says Ilitia, you know she’s in Mexico. Eman is bewildered.

MariVicky, Doris, Oliver and Brandon arrive at La Mala Noche, but the captions have disappeared and there is a lot of background noise. Anyway, it seems to be early in the evening, and the ladies balk a bit at the door. The group is shown to a table. The announcer is on stage, heralding the arrival of the one, the only, La Reina! Here comes Fedra, in a small glittery mask that just covers her eyes, a bustier, boots, etc., her curls tied up in a bun (not her best look, and certainly not seductive), and she starts in on some sword and then whip action. Somehow she looks slightly tipsy, but I’m sure that’s inadvertent. While she clunks around, the four at the table have no flicker of recognition, though she has quite a distinctive smile. She spots Mari and hesitates. Mari keeps her in her laser beams. Fedra hesitates again.

Aw, too bad! We have left that scene and instead are with Eman and Ilitia. He’s asking why she thinks Mari is in town, and she tells him not to play dumb. He swears he hasn’t seen her in two years. Ilitia, tears welling in her eyes, begs him to come clean. She’s been fighting to save their marriage, while he’s been seeing Mari. He starts to get mad, saying Mari lives in Paris and doesn’t want anything to do with him.

Ilitia tells him Fedra found out Mari had arrived not long ago. Eman is so surprised, Ilitia realizes he doesn’t know. She hugs him, begging him not to leave her for Mari. Poor kid.

Goody, we’re back at La Mala Noche. MariVicky is remembering Gretel telling her that she’ll be surprised to see what Fedra does at night. Fedra for her part is disconcerted by MariVicky’s presence and Oliver and Brandon’s too, and stalls, staring at MV. The master of ceremonies, the aproned pirate, has to come nudge her back into activity. The audience starts doing the slow clap. Fedra rouses herself.

At the table, the guys wonder why Mano recommended a place like this, and wonders if they should leave. Doris says it’s interesting. Fedra is back in action, swinging her whip, and realizes MariVicky has probably recognized her. MV continues her stony staring.

Mau tells Garduño he’s not the marrying type. Garduño pats him genially and tells him it’s an order. Mau laments all the lovelies he sees in the street. Is he to give them up? Garduño says he can do whatever he wants, but they all have to sacrifice for business. Mau feels like he’s being strangled. Garduño enthuses about how great the money-laundering will be using Fedra’s connection, and then he and Mau will end up with everything. Neat huh? Mau seems not to be paying attention.

Ilitia is sure Mari came back to ruin their marriage. Eman says he’s equally sure that’s not true, because Mari hates him, and it’s Ilitia’s fault. He says he knows about how she got him drunk at his bachelor party then crawled into bed with him for Mari to see. Ooops, thoughtbubbles Ilitia. He notices her silence, but then she says she had nothing to do with it. But you did, didn’t you? insists Eman, and we are left hanging at that.

Avances: Ilitia tells Kristel her marriage is doomed with Mari back in town. Mau demands that Netty tell him where Mari is, but Netty says only Vicky knows. MariVicky is in Fedra’s dressing room, and Fedra grabs her and holds a knife to her throat. Bernardo bursts into the room.

Labels: llena

Outside, the snow swirls through the frigid night air. Inside, the Mavens snuggle before the warmth of the electronic hearth. The music swells. The opening titles appear on the screen: The Adventures of Ozzie and Harridan … and Mr. Maven makes a hasty retreat, muttering: I can’t believe you’re actually watching that crap… ( Bah. Let him go, damn cultural elitist.)
María Desamparada is where we left her last Friday – sobbing in Juan Pablo’s arms. He will be her father, just as he is a father to all his flock, and he will take care of her. She will be his daughter.

Victoria is still convinced María will come back to work as if nothing had happened. Toni’s not so sure.

Juanjo is involved in a daring rescue. A young boy is trapped in a high balcony in a burning building.

La familia Sandoval is chatting at the dinner table. Victoria tells Fer she likes the dress she picked for her birthday party and Osvaldo tells his daughter the garden, as promised, will look just like a disco for the occasion. When Max asks if anything’s new at the agency, V drops the bomb: I fired María D. He is taken aback but Fer nods approvingly. You did good, Ma, she tells her. Max tells her to shut it.

Juanjo carries the boy to safety. He looks pretty beat up. The rescue is being televised and at home, Milagros and Nathy are watching anxiously. Linda is leafing through a magazine. He’s such a hero, swoons Nathy. Yeah right, like something out of the movies, says LindaHo. At the scene, the boy’s family thanks Juanjo effusively. Aw shucks, he says, he was just doing his duty as a fireman. (bombero).

Back at the Sandoval table, V explains that María’s offense was disobedience. She showed up at work with the most vulgar makeup and hairdo you can imagine. Osvaldo immediately gets it: María was just trying to please you, he tells Victoria. He is disheartened at V’s lack of patience and compassion for María.

María, back at her apartment, tells the roomies how V humilliated her. Now her dream of being a model is kaput. She never wants to see Victoria again.

Osvaldo leaves the table. Victoria’s cruelty to María has made him lose his appetite. Now it's Max's turn. He tells her how upset he is by her inhumane treatment of her employees. They are only flesh and blood (carne y hueso, literally, flesh and bone). They make mistakes. Not everyone is as perfect as you, he says pointedly. One bright spot for V: Fer is cool with her cruelty.

The roomies are still hashing over the María-Victoria incident. Luckily, a little time under the shower was enough to banish LindaHo’s MiniMe look and we have our heroine back. Max comes to the door and this time he doesn’t get turned away. MD falls into his arms.

MD and MS have found a place to talk. He warned her that Victoria was exigente (demanding), he says. She replies:
Una cosa es la exigencia, otra es la prepotencia.
(It’s one thing to be demanding, another to be arrogant.)
Her modeling career is over (se esfumó, it vanished), she says. She’s not going back to the Casa de Modas. And now she wants to change the subject. Tell me about your family, she says.

The relentless LindaHo calls Osvaldo on his cell and won’t listen when he tells her it’s best if they don’t see each other. In her breathy little voice she tells him that phone conversations aren’t enough. And she just wants to make him happy.

Back to MS and MD. He turns the conversation away from the dangerous topic of his family (she still doesn’t know who his parents are) by asking her what happened to her parents. They abandoned me, she tells him. Her mother didn’t want her. And for a long time she felt guilty – she must have done something to make her mother reject her. What would happen if you found your mother now? asks Max. Would you forgive her. Never, says MD, never.

Clueless Victoria sits before her mirror thinking how Max and Ozvaldo judge her too harshly. This whole María thing will be over by tomorrow when she comes back to work.

And Max is at that moment saying to María:
Entonces, ¿has decido no regresar a la Casa de Modas?(Then, you’ve decided not to go back to the fashion house?)
Yes, she has made up her mind. She’ll find another way to support herself. She’s not afraid of honest work. Now Max is completely convinced that she is unlike any girl he has met. They lock Bambi eyes. Romantic music. Lean in for a kiss. Sigh. Let’s move on.

Vicki comes down to the breakfast table and finds Fer seated alone. Max and Os left early. Os said to remind her that tonight is the premier of his movie and he hopes she can go (que ojalá pudieras ir) – but if not, well it wouldn’t be the first time.

It turns out Os is having breakfast with LindaHo. When Vicki calls him on his cell to make arrangements for the evening, he blows her off. Estoy ocupado (I’m busy) he says and hangs up. LindaHo is delighted.

Victoria, who is calling from her office, tells Toni what just happened. Osvaldo probably is very busy, says her friend. V is still expecting MD to come back to work and Toni is still thinking that’s not likely. V’s secretary announces via the intercom that a priest (it’s JP) is there to see her. She can’t receive him now, she says. It will have to be some other time. JP assures the secretary that he’ll be back.

We step away from the miserable ricos for a moment to spend some time with the poor folk who can smile through their adversity. María, Milagros, Juanjo and Don Napo are setting up some eats at a long table outdoors, a stall at the neighborhood market.

Speaking of miserable ricos, Fer is in a snit because she hasn’t been able to reach Scuzzy Tattoo Boy all day. She doesn’t know he’s still in jail.

Just when we thought St. Bernarda couldn’t be any worse –-
It turns out she is – what? a usurer? a heartless landlord? In any case she is demanding payment for back rent from none other than Rodolfo Padilla, Victoria’s old abuser and Scuzzy Tattoo Boy’s father. ¿Qué casualidad, no? He tries to tell her his problems but she cuts him off:
A mi me importa muy poco que tu hijo está en la carcel.(I don’t give a rat’s ass that your son’s in jail.)
He’s not looking for compassion, just a little more time. Look, she says, I’m a poor widow who has to look out for herself. I’ll give you a week. Pay up by then or you’ll be keeping your son company in jail. Got it?

That evening Max is playing pool and gets all mushy and sentimental just thinking about María. He says to himself:
Ay, Max, Max, se me hace que te estás enamorando.(Ay, Max, Max, it seems to me you’re falling in love.)
When Fabián comes in and wonders why he isn’t dressed for his father’s film premiere, he tells him he’s not in the mood. Say, could you do me a favor-- says Max. Would you mind escorting my sister tonight? No need to ask twice. We all know Fabián has a thing for Fer.

Fabián watches as Fer comes down the stairs in a bizarrely matronly get-up. (Did she borrow a costume from the set of Alicia en el país de la Meravillas?) In the rudest possible way, she accepts his offer to accompany her for the evening.

We see Padilla selling the car that Scuzzy Tattoo Boy thought of as his own. Nice. One less moron on the road.

At the premiere of Osvaldo’s film, fancy people are arriving in their fancy wheels. We see Toni and Pipino, Guillermo and a woman in red, and Pedro and Ofelia.

In somewhat less fancy wheels, a public taxi to be exact, Padilla rides with Tattoo Boy. He bailed him out with the money he got for selling the car. Padilla is mocking his son’s band – You think you’ll get rich from that? No, admits Tattoo Boy. But he does have a millionaire girlfriend and she’ll be their ticket to the big money. Padilla’s ears perk up. Yeah, continues Scuzz Boy, her father is the famous actor, Osvaldo Sandoval.

Back at the premiere, Osvaldo and Victoria are climbing up the stairs of the red carpet and are confronted by LindaHo coming down. (Who knows how she got in.) She smiles boldly at Os.

Tattoo Boy continues: Her ma is a big deal designer with her own fashion house. Padilla wants to meet the suegros, natch. He’ll get his chance at Fer’s birthday party, sonny boy tells him.

LindaHo asks for Osvaldo’s autograph. He signs and the matrimonio Sandoval moves ahead as Victoria remarks: Vaya manera de pedir un autógrafo. (That was quite a way to ask for an autograph.) It looked like you knew her. Don’t make a scene, says Osvaldo, not tonight.

Padilla is back at Bernie’s to pay off his debt. (I guess he got a good price on the car.) He leaves and she is counting her money when Tomasa comes in with a message: A volunteer called to remind her she has promised – apparently grudgingly – to visit the children’s hospital tomorrow. (Just what those poor kids need – a visit from the Bride of Satan.) Tomasa asks where the money came from. What money? says Bernie as she stashes the roll of bills and reminds Tomasa of her oath to Christ to keep her piehole shut.

Padre Juan Pablo can’t sleep. He is worried about María D and determined to talk to the woman who humilliated her. He’ll keep trying until he gets through to her. Meanwhile, he is sanding little crosses. It helps him relax.

LindaHo comes back to the apartment all excited about her daring ambush of Osvaldo at the premiere. Her roomies disapprove.

The premiere is over and when Osvaldo walks out, he seems to be looking around (perhaps for Linda?) Fer, arrogant as always, orders Fabián to take her to dinner. He, poor idiot, is only too happy to comply.

The three roomies sit at the table scarfing down sandwiches. They’re delicious, Nathy assures María. You’ll sell them all very early. I hope so, says MD, because tomorrow afternoon I’m going with the nuns to visit the children's hospital. (Those kids may be in for quite an afternoon!) Then the doorbell rings. It’s Max.

What a horrible place this is, whines Fer to Fabián when the two are seated at a restaurant. Gosh, he thought it was a pretty nice place. Poor fool keeps trying. He says gamely, if lamely:
Te han dicho que eres muy bonita?(Has anyone ever told you you’re very pretty?)
Muchas veces (many times), she spits back at him. And then she says dismissively:
No me estarás echando los perros – ya tengo mi novio. Y además, tú no eres mi tipo.(I hope you’re not coming on to me – I already have a boyfriend. And anyway, you’re not my type.)

Max and María are out together. He says: So you’ve definitely decided not to go back to the agency. What exactly happened? María prefers not to talk about it. Ok, he says, only I would have liked a chance to defend you. (Me hubiera gustado defenderte). And he gallantly kisses her hand.

The premiere, it seems, was a disappointment. Guillermo is having a drink with Ofelia and Pedro, trying hard to disguise his pleasure at the lukewarm reception Osvaldo’s film got at the premiere. Pedro says it wasn’t Osvaldo’s fault; the role just wasn’t a good fit for him. You can’t fool the public, says, Ofelia, and this film is a stinker. Salud!

At home, Victoria consoles Osvaldo but he has been in the business long enough to know how to interpret an audience’s silence. The film is a flop. Even so, he is grateful she was there with him. He needed her at his side. And he loves her.

María explains to Max how she’s going to earn her keep. The nuns in Guadalajara taught her how to make tortas ahogadas (literally, drowned sandwiches). So she’s got herself a stand in the market and she’ll be preparing them and selling them. And why not? It’s honorable work. (trabajo decente) He promises to be her number one customer. He bats his beautiful long lashes at her and apologizes for the way he treated her before. He has no doubt now that she is a wonderful, sweet girl, as pure as her eyes. And there’s something he has to tell her… Before he can complete the thought, the owner of the café approaches with the bill. It’s closing time.

The following day, Osvaldo reads the scathing reviews of his film in the newspapers. Victoria tells him his work was impeccable; it’s not his fault if the project failed. He still feels responsible. Yet he is again grateful that V is standing by him – she makes him feel he is the happiest man in the world. And the luckiest. Stay with me all day, he begs her. She refuses. She has a meeting with Oscar. But don’t lose heart (No te desanímate) she says. And she leaves as the phone rings. Osvaldo picks up the receiver. We all know who will be on the other end: the indefatigable stalker, LindaHo.

Max is totally into the market stall experience. He helps María set up her table, and prepare the tortas. Then he tastes one and declares (in English): Oh. My. God. He is her front man, her promoter, her assistant. Between the two of them, the tortas ahogadas sell out in no time.

Linda has persuaded Osvaldo to meet her in a restaurant. She’s telling him she, for one, looooved his film (me fascinó). He’s glad to hear it. After all, artists work for the public, not for the critics. She swoops in for a landing on his face but he pulls away. No, he tells her. This is a dangerous game. Let’s leave it alone.

At the Casa de Modas, Toni tells Victoria that it’s time to face facts: María Desamparada isn’t coming back. They have to find a new model.

LindaHo is swooping, swooping, swooping… and she hits her target. Prolonged lip lock. Then, ever so breathily, she purrs:
¿Porqué no me invitas a un lugar más íntimo donde podamos estar solos?(Why don’t you invite me someplace more intimate where we can be alone?)

María is telling her roomies what a mensch Max is turning out to be, how he helped her sell her tortas… the tale is interrupted by the doorbell. ¡No puede ser! It’s Queen Victoria! Deadpan, she asks María:
¿Porqué no te has presentado a trabajar?(Why didn’t you show up for work?)

Levy in the kayak.

Labels: triunfo

Adolfo not only knows about the tumor but concludes it's why "Mario" is pressuring him to end the contract. When he then insults Gabriela's efforts to step into management, Leonardo and Abelardo must prevent "Mario" bounding over the desk to throttle Adolfo.

As "Mario" exits, he promises that his children will save the company. At Leonardo's admonition that Adolfo take care, considering the deck already stacked against him, Adolfo laughs and demands proof. Leonardo warns him he doesn't belong in the director's chair: the only place he belongs is a jail cell.

At Elsa's, once again Caramelo can't locate her special letter. A happy call to Asunción confirms its whereabouts -- and Elsa's regrets that Caramelo wants them to all live together, which is impossible now. Back at Juan José's, Asunción's jacket needs dry cleaning; and Chicles uses the chance to steal back the letter out of the pocket.

Across town at dinner, Mina rhapsodizes to Alejandra the shame that David's gorgeous bod is confined to a wheel chair -- and wonders when love will ever come to her. Alejandra concludes very personally that looking for love, it never comes; and when it does, then you're sorry it did.

In the kitchen at Juan José's, Asunción notes to Lucha failing to find Caramelo's special letter among his removed pocket items. Across the way in Mario's office, agitated Santiago admits he should control himself; but gets David geared up to sock Adolfo over insulting Gabriela, too.

Abelardo calms them and reveals to David Adolfo knows about the tumor, and they angrily figure Bertha snooped in Mario's planner to discover his doctor's name. Outside in the hallway, Gabriela's first to question the absence of Dora, without alarm as yet.

As David's stunning wife heads out to study with Juan José, Santiago counsels David first hand about the hazards of his jealousy peeking out. Bertha visits Alejandra's office, where Alejandra offers to help her sister with an apartment, relieving Bertha greatly.

Sure enough, Abelardo learns and tells David and Santiago about Bertha's visit to Mario's doctor, and now there's no way David would welcome that twit back. Abelardo goes to check for Dora, and David is just concluding he'll have to somehow return to work to thwart Adolfo when Abelardo rushes in and reports Dora missing!

They decide to summon Leonardo over there to help. At Juan José's, Lucha wrote out a fake replacement letter, which fools Caramelo not for a second. Caramelo's letter was written so nicely, and the fake one's not. Frustrated at Chicles again, she falls into Asunción's arms, crying she wants to stay there with him.

Half-clothed Zaida visits Juan José at the hotel and is just clamping him suddenly in her grip when Gabriela enters, shocked to witness the kiss. Zaida exits and despite Juan José's protests, Gabriela politely follows. Leonardo arrives at Mario's and denies Dora's disappearance would be due to Adolfo's threats or kidnapping.

Adolfo doesn't know she's a murder witness or David's mother. Leonardo admits he's the one likely scared her off. He grilled her forcefully on his last visit. Her testimony would solve all their problems, without the letter, which apparently Susana stole -- not Bertha, Leonardo reveals to the men.

Her convict husband confirmed she took the letter, the picture, the shoes and the diamonds and disappeared. But most urgently Leonardo wants to find Dora! And unfortunately no one thought to ask her where she returned from the last time, in the emergency of the shooting spree.

At a cafe, Bertha's friend can hardly believe Bertha's sugar daddy only asks her a few platonic -- albeit dangerous -- favors. Still, Bertha's certain if Adolfo knew about her and Carlos, he'd murder them both. Her friend concludes to risk so much, Bertha must care about Carlos; and Bertha dreamily admits she does and he's the only one cares about her without wanting something.

Lunch time at Mario's, Gabriela raises Alejandra's suspicion asking if things are good between her and Juan José, but won't elaborate. Across the alley at Juan José's, he breaks up a fight between Caramelo and Chicles about a stolen letter and briefcase. He's shocked Chicles robbed Garnica and learns a letter supposedly went to the dry cleaners.

Back at the lunch table, David angrily brings Alejandra up to date about Dora, the tumor -- and Bertha's treachery at the doctor's, which propels Alejandra backwards on helping her sister. After Alejandra's exit, Gabriela reveals to David that she encountered Juan José kissing another woman.

Across town at Elsa's, Asuncion explains to her with barely restrained enthusiasm that Caramelo wants to return to Juan José's; and when she reports in frustration she can't legally renege on the adoption contract, he posits that she should inquire if he might get serious and learn how to read and adopt her himself.

In Mario's office, David regretfully reveals to Alejandra what Gabriela told him. When Alejandra hears Juan José was kissing another woman, she shrieks Elsa's name in shock; but then learns it must be the business associate, Zaida, instead.

Juan José lays down to the law to Zaida at a business dinner before Mauricio arrives; and she apologizes, promising she's more interested in business and will stick to that. Meanwhile in her room, Alejandra agonizes in devastation past one delicious memory of Juan José after another through her tears.

Adolfo waits in Carlos's office to hear from Zaida; and when Carlos appears, he grills Adolfo about the ring. Why did the policeman want it as evidence? Why did Adolfo want it back? Adolfo doesn't care about it now, though, and rudely orders Carlos scram for his meeting with Dante.

Dante enters as Carlos exits; and upon learning he's Adolfo's son, Dante assumes from his recollection Carlos is the maid's murderer -- which Adolfo angrily denies, pointing out the murderer is fortunately toast. Dante informs Adolfo he has a meeting with the beach investors, including Juan José.

And when Adolfo reveals he wants to ruin Juan José, they both enjoy a belly laugh realizing ruination is their specialty!

Labels: verdad

Capitulo 171.
Read k-Fuego’s original recap, then come back here to discuss it.

1. Lety tells Caro she’s returning to DF tomorrow because she feels out of place. Caro didn’t expect Lety to betray her like this. That touches a nerve.

2. Irma and Luigi talk through the night. She realizes she needs to let Rafael stay and die with dignity.

3. Lety finds a ring and marries the ocean. She writes “Fernando” in the sand so a wave will wash it away. She wants to touch the ocean and she wades in up to her waist, but a rogue wave knocks her down. The shock awakens Fernando in DF. Aldo rescues her from drowning.

4. Poor Marta. La reina de las chismes was out sick one day and missed everything: they fired Lety, removed Fernando as president, and canceled the wedding.

5. Fernando arrives at work without a tie (ain't he cute?), much like when Chuck Conners was stripped of his epaulets in Branded. His first question: “Have any of you seen Lety? Tell me if she calls.”






6. Fern chides Alicia for arriving late. Ali: You can’t yell at me because you’re not the president and you’re not my boss. Fern: I’m still a stockholder which outranks a secretary. A: Stockholder of what, since you left the company embargoed? F: You could sacrifice anything to get possessions, and yet you never attain them. Luigi also refuses to listen to Fern.

7. Saimon tells Fernando, “To me, you’re still the president. You’re my idol.” Fern tells Saimon to be loyal to Humberto, but Saimon has enough loyalty to fit them both. He says, “I’ll carry your badge on my heart until you return, Don Fernando.”



8. Aldo gives Lety CPR. She’s upset about her glasses, but he tells to be glad to have her life and a chance to enjoy life, struggle, and be happy. Aldo notices she wrote “Fernando” in the sand. Beyond rescuing a body, Aldo wants to relieve a heart (from its owner?) because he heard her pain. Because he saved her life it unites them, and he says she’s a beautiful person.

9. Lety tells Caro what happened and she’s not going to quit because he made her value life. Caro tells Lety the problem is her pain over Fern, and that pain will follow wherever she goes.

---

Capitulo 172.
Read Chapel Hill Fiddler’s original recap, then come back here to discuss it.

1. Lety and Aldo hit it off wonderfully and each is charmed by the other. Lety says things that could sound like flirting and Aldo leans toward her, but then she gets embarrassed and tries to correct. Aldo has nobody – the relationship with his father is broken because of his career choice. Lety asks if it was worthwhile to lose everything for his freedom.

2. Fernando tells Julieta to ask Lety to call him. Erasmo wonders what Lety is hiding.

3. Aldo tells Lety she could live here in Aca, a place big and free. Lety says no, she lives in a very little place. Aldo suggests that her world is limited by the existence of Fernando. Lety lets him know he’s shaving too close.



 
4. Lety admits that maybe she did want to drown. Aldo crowds her both physically and emotionally and she tells him to back off. Again she’s charmed by his smile. She wants him to see her as normal, not an ugly woman. She says looks matter because it’s how everyone judges her, and they do horrible things to her. She tells Aldo her story.

5. Lety says when a woman like her meets a charmer like Fernando, it’s not a story of love but a story of pain. Despite the letter, she never stopped loving him.
Note, the tango Historia de amor runs very close to Lety’s story. I suspect they used that phrase on purpose. Snip:

Its the story of a love like none that will ever again be
That made me understand all the good and all the bad.
... That gave light to my life, turning it off again
Oh what a life so dark. Without your love I cannot live.

6. Marcia tells Alicia that she intended to forgive Fern, but she can’t because what he did is too disgusting. Lety deserves what she got because she dared to think she'd end up with Fern - Puh-LEEZE! She takes Fern the trash bag to torment him with his crimes and failures, and asks whether the romance was only to get back Conceptos, or was there another reason? He doesn’t answer and she suspects the worst.

7. The Conceptos lawyers say that Lety’s paperwork giving FI back to them is inadequate, and they need Lety in the meeting. Humberto assigns Fernando to tell Lety to be at tomorrow’s meeting.

8. Aldo asks Lety how she defines herself, and her instant answer is her ugliness, but she also recognizes that she’s loving, sweet, and loyal. He says she has to learn to love herself, and when she does, that man or any other will love you without deception. She doesn't know how. When Lety’s gone, Aldo says, "I myself once made the mistake of loving another more than myself."

9. Rereading the letter, Fern understands why Lety acted as she did (both the rejection and the board meeting). He says, "This letter ended my life. For this letter, I may lose her forever." Omar answers, "You lost her. Forget her. After that letter, she should hate you." Fern says, "I believe she still loves me. And that gives me hope. It’s the only thing that keeps my dream alive."

Labels: fea-2010

Tony sees the pictures that Leo took of Eva and himself in a compromising situation.

Julio asks Renata where Eva is. Renata tells him that she hasn't come in today or called. Perhaps Marcela is right and Eva he did steal from her. Julio wants to go to Eva's house then to see her. What?! No replies Renata. She thinks to herself that if he goes then he'll see Justa. Julio says he's going because he believes all this was made up by Marcela. In walks Marcela and insists it's all true.

Tony plans on showing Alicia the photos and laughs.

Julio tells Marcela He didn't believe her yesterday and he doesn't believe her now. So go to work in your car, because the chauffeur is staying at my disposal. Marcela insists that Eva falsified Daniel's signature and cashed the check. Those are lies replies Julio. Would you like the proof of Eva cashing the check at the bank asks Marcela? Or a copy of the police report. What?! asks Julio. You denounced her? Yes replies Marcela. And I will make sure they give her many years in prison.

Leo tells Eva that Alicia's advice about hiding herself is the best thing. If the police question her it will just complicate things.

Now you know everything replies Marcela. Think what you want. Julio tells her she's garbage. When they lock up your little confidant then you will realize the garbage is her yells Marcela. Nothing in this world will convince me that Eva would do this. You are behind all this replies Julio as he starts to breathe heavily. Marcela sarcastically responds by saying why would she spend her time on a lowly servant.

Eva asks Leo how can she defend herself. He advises her to let things settle. He will take care of her.

Julio tells Marcela that he will not allow her to hurt Eva and starts having an attack. Renata rushes to his side while Marcela just stands there. Renata asks Marcela what to do. She tells Renata nothing. He's just having a spell. It should soon pass. And since I doubt that you will need the chauffer, I will take him. Just bring him a glass of water and she leaves. Renata tells Julio to just breathe. He tries to get up off the couch, but Renata pulls him back. Julio says that trash is who I married. Now she wants to kill me.

Eva asks Leo if he is willing to testify in court all about Daniel killing her father. Of course replies Leo. But don’t you think that he will deny it all? And perhaps put all the blame on me? Do you really think that asks Eva? He is capable of that and a lot more.

Daniel is late for a meeting at work.

Eva is looking for her luggage. Suddenly there’s a knock on the door and Leo tells her to stay in the room and not to come out until the coast is clear.

Daniel finally comes to the meeting, but is a bit drunk and disheveled. Sorry for my tardiness says Daniel. How is everyone? He starts acting up in the meeting. Pretty much acting like a jerk.

Eva is worried about who is out there. Hopefully it’s not the police. Turns out its Tony bringing the pictures. Leo asks if he opened the envelope. Of course not replies Tony. I just complete orders. He looks around the room and Leo tells him to leave.

Marcela has Bruno start his presentation and Daniel interrupts saying he needs some coffee. Anyone else? Marcela gets annoyed and asks Daniel if we can get on with business. Daniel says that’s the problem. I allowed you to start this side business when it doesn‘t suit us. It’s time to stop. Bruno is pissed and Marcela is shocked. Where else can she find a boy toy?

Laurita and Adrian talk about Eva.

Marcela tells her customers not to listen to her disagreement with her associate. Bruno says he can explain his plan further. The customers want to study the plan more in private and leave.

Adrian tells Laurita that the police are looking for Eva. Laurita says then what my father said was true although she doesn‘t believe it. Eva is a thief. So it must be true then replies Adrian. That is so sad.

So the meeting is done says Marcela. Can you leave me alone with Daniel? JoJo and Bruno leave. Marcela asks Daniel what the hell is going on. Daniel says he’s ashamed and now understands that Eva was just playing with him. Marcela says well I’m glad you’ve come to your senses, though you need to apologize to us all that have warned you. Yes especially to Leo who warned me several times replies Daniel. I’ll forgive you for what happened today says Marcela. I understand how you feel. Now go home and take care of yourself.

Laurita cries. Adrian hugs her and tells her everything will be okay.

Daniel goes to see Leo and finds out he’s out of the office.

Bruno follows Marcela into her office throwing a hissy fit about Daniel’s behavior in the meeting. Marcela says it’s okay. Now things are going to be better for me. He will no longer be an obstacle for me. When he marries my daughter, he will be the key for me to be the owner of all this. Bruno doesn’t understand. Marcela tells him not to worry. Just trust me, be faithful and love me a lot.

Fernando finds out for Daniel that Leo did not return home to sleep. Daniel tried calling him, but his phone goes directly to voicemail. Perhaps he is with a woman says Fernando. Daniel thinks and then says I think I know where he is at.

Alicia is looking for a job in the paper. Tony is in the room talking to her. BLAH, BLAH, BLAH.

Leo brings out a bottle of champagne so they can celebrate their friendship. Eva thanks Leo again for all his help. She goes off to shower and there’s a knock on the door. It’s Daniel and he barges on in. Leo stops him What you have company asks Daniel. Well you know me says Leo. Well since you opened the door, I thought you were alone says Daniel. I just wanted to tell you that I should have listened to what you said about Eva. What happened now for you to tell me that asks Leo? She fooled me says Daniel. She was fooling everyone. I asked her to marry me, but all she wanted was my money. That’s why she robbed me. Are you sure asks Leo. Well when I went to her house, they told me she left forever replies Daniel. On one side I can’t believe it says Leo. But then I can’t believe this would happen. What do you mean asks Daniel? Leo lies to Daniel and says that Eva also fooled him. Did she also accept to be your wife asks Daniel? Not really says Leo. I tried to tell you. Wait here and I will show you why we fought the other day.

Tony and Alicia fighting. Tony baiting her.

Leo shows Daniel the pictures of him and Eva together. Daniel is distraught. You and Eva were lovers asks Daniel. I know this is a hard blow replies Leo. I know you always believed her as the good girl. So did I. That’s why when I found out you two were together, I felt deceived. Just like you feel now. Why didn’t you tell me before asks Daniel. Why wait so long? Because I needed proof replies Leo. You were blind for Eva. You left my sister for her. It all happened to us. We all fell for it. We committed errors. But its done. Let’s move on. Go back to my sister. Listen to me.

Alicia asks Tony to tell her what he knows. Tony still taunts her.

Daniel can’t believe how stupid he was. How he could have believed her. Now he hates her for what she did to him. He will never forgive her. I won’t either replies Leo. That woman played with us both. Luckily we found out on time.

Alicia begs Tony to tell her. Fine replies Tony. I found out that Eva is mixed up with another man.

Julio doctor friend checks him out and will prescribe him some pills. Julio tells Renata that his illness is called Marcela. His doctor friend tells him to come to his office for a visit. He could have another episode and could be fatal.

Eva gets out of the shower and hears Daniel yelling at Leo that when he finds Eva he will have her put in jail for being a thief.

Julio sends Renata out. He tells is doctor friend, Marcos, that the new medication he has probably has poison in it too. Marcos believes someone is trying to kill him. Julio believes it’s Marcela.

Eva is still listening as Daniel tells Leo he believes that if he doesn’t pursue it, then she will destroy him. Leo tells him to calm down. Daniel says he can’t help it, he hates her. Yes, I know replies Leo. I know you will turn her into the police right now if you saw her in the rage your in. Yes of course replies Daniel. So go home, calm down and think things through says Leo. No yells Daniel. I won’t calm down until I see her in jail. Leo offers to give him back the money that she took if it makes him feel better. No yells Daniel. It’s not about the money; it’s about her knowing that she cannot get away with it. That I will be happy with the life that I should never have left. With that he storms out. Eva chooses that minute to come out of the bedroom, but Leo stops her.

Julio tells Marcos that it’s Marcela because he has asked her for a divorce. I want her totally out of my life. She has distanced Leo and Victoria from me. She wants to be left with my business, my properties and even this house. Especially all my money. So what are you going to do asks Marcos?

Leo tells Eva that he won’t let her make a ridiculous mistake when he stops her from following Daniel. Eva asks him why he called Daniel. I didn’t replies Leo. He knows I come here for a break every once in awhile. He came here to talk about you.

Julio tells Marcos that he has a plan and he needs help. But he doesn’t want to talk about it right now. Right now he’s trying to stop Marcela from causing problems for a very noble girl. Marcos tells him that he is more worried for him. He wants to draw blood to see how much poison he has in him. Let’s hope it’s less then what we think.

Leo wants to know how much Eva heard. Enough to know that he hates me and wants me in jail replies Eva. Did you hear me say that I would pay the money back to him asks Leo. And he turned me down. That’s proves it’s all false. he just wants to get you in trouble with the police. I hate him shouts Eva. Leo tells Eva that Daniel threatened to call the police on Leo if he was hiding Eva. Eva responds by saying let’s see who ends up in jail. Me, for a theft I did not commit or Daniel for killing my father.

Julio vows to defend Eva.

JoJo tells Victoria about Daniel’s behavior at the meeting.

Eva calls and wishes to speak to Julio. Renata answers and tells her off. Luckily Julio walks up and takes the phone away from Renata and tells her to get out. Eva swears to Julio that she did not do anything. Julio says he believes her. He wants to talk to her in person. Eva agrees and is about to tell him, but Leo walks in and yanks the phone away from her. Leo tells her that no one should know where she is at. No one. She tells him that she was speaking with his father. Did you tell him about me asks Leo. No but just like you he cares about me and believes me replies Eva. Give me the phone.

Marisol and Fernando shop for house stuff.

Eva calls Julio again, but Leo says that the phone can be bugged by the police. She quickly hangs up.

More shopping with Marisol and Fernando.

Leo convinces Eva that all she has is him.

Julio calls an attorney friend to come over right away.

Sales clerk gives Fernando the grand total. Over $3000.00. He’s not too happy.

Daniel remembers how his happiness fell apart and his happy moments with Eva.

Fernando pretends he forgot his wallet and they leave the store.

Leo tells Eva she must forget about Daniel.

Daniel recalls his conversation with Leo. Victoria walks in.

Alicia calls Leo.

Monday: Marcela finds out that Julio talked to Eva and she confronts him about it; someone breaks into the house with Eva alone in it.

Labels: eva

Tonight, Giselle Blondet is "Luz, Arrolladora" (Luz, who runs over).

Luz Mercedes, aka Mercedes, played by Cynthia Klitbo, is driving down the street saying, "You and I are going to be very happy together. You'll never leave me, you'll never cheat on me. And I'm going to decide when to trade you in for another." She kisses her steering wheel. Having just purchased a new Latinamobile two days ago, I know the feeling.

Meanwhile, Amado is in bed, passionately kissing Vera, played by Margarita Magana (the feisty and financially motivated Karla on Guapos). Amado calls a halt, as things are not working. Oh? Which "things" exactly? Vera's reaction to this declaration is to tell him she wants an identical car. Amado says he'll think about it.

Mercedes calls him as he and Vera are walking through a lobby or foyer. He asks if she's happy with the new car, and while she says she is, he doesn't think she sounds like it. Well, that's cause last time he gave her a car it was because he was cheating on her with "Lucha." She demands to know who he's cheating with this time. He says they've already talked about it, and he gave her that car because it's the one she deserves. So, he's riding a bicycle? Roller skates, maybe? As soon as he gets done with this "meeting" he's having at the "hospital" he'll head directly home and they can talk. She doesn't answer and Vera walks out without him.

Mercedes sees them both walk out of a building and start having one of those fights you don't have with someone you're not sleeping with. She pulls a gun out of her purse and says this is what he deserves.

This season the background for the opening theme song is red and all the asesinas are in black. Meh. I liked the red dresses better. Ana Brenda declares them all lost souls. The bloody butterflies fly around. I miss Gloria.

A few weeks ago…

Vera sits behind the desk of a medical practice, saying she's nervous. She looks homely, badly dressed, with stringy hair. Meanwhile, Mercedes is all dolled-up and coiffed. She tells Vera that she'll do fine as the receptionist for her husband's medical practice. Well, Vera's sure gonna try. She's grateful for the opportunity. Mercedes warns her that she'll be busy as her husband is very sought-after. "There's never a lack of ugly women with aspirations." Vera looks uncomfortable.

"Luchita" aka, Luz Maria, aka Giselle Blondet, cries to Amado that she's been the perfect receptionist and has even saved him some money, so why is she being fired? Um, cause his wife found out you've been going above and beyond the call of duty? Just a guess. Amado asks her to stop crying before she makes him cry. She pretty much refuses to calm down, since calming down will help everyone BUT her. On top of losing her job, Amado has just informed her that this thing with them isn't going anywhere. Burn! Dude, you are so gonna die!

Back at the office, Vera worries that the Doc won't like her. Mercedes says she'll hit him like a bomb. And if he doesn't like her, too bad, since it's Mercedes making those decisions in his office. Vera wants to tchotchke up her desk, which is fine by Luz Mercedes. She tells her to let her know if she needs any stationery and if she finds anything belonging to the previous receptionist…burn it! Mousy little Vera is shocked! Mercedes tells her that Lucha made some mistakes that she couldn't forgive. Vera hurries to grab a pencil and write down what she needs to not do so that she doesn't lose her job like Lucha. "Well, let's see…she kept the agenda perfectly…she was great with the patients…she kept a close eye on the inventory…she even saved us money!...she did a great job of scheduling the surgeries…." Vera is heartbroken. Lucha was perfect! "Well, yes, but she also screwed my husband." Mercedes walks off as Vera sits there with her mouth hanging open, wondering if she should write "Do not screw the boss" with just one exclamation point or two.

Lucha complains that Amado has used and discarded her. Sure, his wife suspected something was up, but he should have defended her! Amado says he just didn't have any choice.

Back at the office,

Mercedes continues to Vera that Lucha was trying to seduce her husband, so she had to be fired. She was a "buscona" (from "buscar" to look…she was looking where she shouldn't…ho, slut, loose woman, etc.). Vera thinks getting rid of her was the best thing to do. Mercedes can tell that Vera is different. They'll be great friends.

Lucha tells Amado he's a coward. Amado has found her another job, but he tells her not to go sleeping with her new boss. Lucha warns him that if it's not a good job, her tongue just might get loose. Amado doesn't think she'd dare. "I have nothing left to lose." Amado says it's all going to be fine, but he gets nervous when she threatens him. He needs them to cool it while things calm down and then they can pick up back where they started. Lucha doesn't like the sound of that. She blows him off when he sweet talks her again, saying whatever, it's not a big deal. Amado is confused by her change of attitude and says "Who can understand you?" She grabs him by the throat and says probably his wife can understand her.

Mercedes sits in Det. Capellan's interrogation room, asking what's going on. She doesn't understand. It's some kind of nightmare. She's Mercedes Manjarrés, widow! Capellan brings up the car being in her name. Mercedes says her husband was a skirt-chaser, but she never could have…. No, she doesn't know what happened. She doesn't understand anything.

Two snotty brats sit at a kitchen table, the older one playing with a laptop, the younger with a handheld game of some type. The younger brat asks Mercedes when the new secretary is going to come to the house and play with them. She hopes she'll give them popsicles like Lucha did! The older brat tells her little sister that the new secretary is nothing special, and she'll be just another of dad's secretaries. Mercedes says no, the new one isn't just one more, she's staying indefinitely until "se hace vieja con tu padre" (she grows old with your father). Daughter counters, "o se hace la vieja de mi padre" (or she becomes my dad's 'old lady' [wife]). Mercedes is shocked to hear her say it. "Well, he left my mother for you, he almost left you for Lucha, so we'll see." She says she'll have to check out the new girl. "Maybe she's pretty. Dad likes them pretty." Mercedes tells her the new girl is completely ugly, so there!

Lucha is pissed that her meal ticket has gotten away. She is standing in a phone booth in the lobby of a hotel, talking to herself. She says now Amado will bring the new girl here and she'll never be his wife. Damnit!

Amado comes home and is let in by Mercedes. He claims to have forgotten his keys. He looks panicked when she asks him why his phone was going straight to "buzon" (voicemail). He tells her he had to turn it off because of that, um, conference. Yeah, they changed the date and he had to just quickly put something together for it. "What about the patients?" Amado jokes that they had to wait…isn't that why they call them "patients"? Mercedes doesn't appreciate the humor.

A parking garage attendant hears noises and goes to investigate. He finds Lucha crouching by Amado's car. She says she was just looking for some papers. "At this time of night?" Lucha storms off, saying she doesn't have to answer to a "portero" (doorman) but he claims he's a "conserje" (superintendent, or concierge). He goes over by the car, checking to make sure she didn’t install a bomb. He mumbles about terrorists.

Mercedes is really pulling out the big guns. She's got a face treatment on that seems to include some kind of cloth or paper mask, and she's rolling her hair up and pinning it like it's in curlers (just without the actual curlers). Tip: Guys love this. Amado complains that he's tired after the butt lipo he did earlier. He claps off the lights. Mercedes claps them back on and climbs into bed…immediately Amado whines that he's really too tired for it tonight. But Mercedes just wanted to talk. Well, he's too tired for that too! He says if Vera makes her feel more secure, he's really glad. Mercedes asks if he saw Lucha again. Amado tries to pretend he doesn't know who this "Lucha" person is. "Oh, well, why would I have seen her? The only one who's going to be seeing her is our lawyer, if she sues for wrongful termination." Mercedes peels off the mask and says Lucha was trying to steal her husband and let's see what a judge will say when she explains that Lucha was trying to get in the way of her "dicha" (good fortune, happiness). Amado complains that she was just his secretary, a "pelusita" (a little bit of fluff). "I was your secretary. Was I just a little bit of fluff?" Amado whines that no, she's everything to him…everything! But not a bit of fluff. They get it on.

Lucha comes to the office and surprises Vera asleep at the reception desk. She asks where the doctor is and says it's an emergency. Vera says he's not in the office because he's operating. "Don't you mean, 'he's in surgery'?" Vera agrees that yes, it does sound better that way. "And won't he possibly be back in the afternoon, depending on how many surgeries he has scheduled?" Vera supposes so. Lucha comes behind the desk and criticizes Vera's wardrobe, telling her she shouldn't be wearing flip-flops. Vera realizes this must be Lucha and she asks her to leave. "Fine, but I'll be watching you. If you make me lose Amado I will turn you into carne molida with a scalpel." (mincemeat) Vera agrees not to tell Mercedes that Lucha was there.

Amado and his older daughter go down to the parking garage. He's complaining about her attitude and she's complaining about not being a kid anymore. She warns him that if Mercedes gets sick of him she'll go back to her mother. Amado swears he'd never cheat on Mercedes with anyone. "Even your secretary?" Amado tries to sweet talk his daughter, reminding her they're best buds. Daughter is over it. The doorman/superintendent/whateverheis apparently tells Amado about the previous night.

Mercedes fights with the younger daughter, trying to get her to fess up to where her "mochila" (backpack) is. "If we don't find your backpack, they're not going to let you into school!" Daughter sagely suggests they just go to the movies instead, and problem solved. Mercedes finds the backpack and tells the daughter to go down to the car. Daughter had been playing with dad's cell phone and Mercedes looks at it and finds a text message from Lucha that says "You can't just throw me away like an old rag."

Amado and the portero check out the car, which has had "Amado es pu" (Amado is a pu… "puto"? Male slut?) scratched into it. The portero hasn't been able to get rid of it even with some stuff that's supposed to come from China, so you know it works. He suggests they complete the word so it reads "Amado es PUMA" like the university mascot. Amado doesn't like that suggestion. He gets in the car with the daughter and says they'll be on their way in a just a minute. He's about to run into the other car, but the portero gets in the way. Amado tries to explain that if he hits the other car, problem solved, but just then Mercedes and Lupita, the younger daughter walk up. Amado says he'll drop everybody off today, since he'd asked the portero to clean the car for her and it isn't ready yet. The portero obligingly stands in front of the scratched door. The two daughters look at each other, agreeing that dad is craaaaazy!

After they drop off the girls, Mercedes confronts him about the text message. "Who did you throw away like an old rag? It's Lucha, right?" Amado says yes, but she's crazy and he didn't want to worry her. She's been bugging him since they fired her and she's been doing some really strange stuff. Really. Strange. Stuff. He still denies sleeping with her. He says she came on to him, but he resisted and she is crazy…not a little crazy but CRAZY! Just then, Lucha comes out of the building, pulling on a pair of black elbow length gloves and glaring menacingly at Amado and Mercedes. Way to look sane, there, sister.

Capellan asks Mercedes how many times Amado cheated on her. She says he always denied it and she always believed him until the day she caught him with Lucha in the office. She says he was enjoying himself like he never did with her and his face just looked so happy. "And why did you forgive him? Because he bought you a luxury car?" "No. And it wasn't that much of a luxury car…not like the last time."

Months before...
The girls run down the steps and get into Mercedes' new SUV. She tells Amado she's forgiven him partly because he got rid of Lucha, partly for telling her the whole truth, and partly because of her new car. Amado keeps trying to talk to her and she keeps saying "el horno no es para bollos" (the oven's not ready for rolls; not now, leave me alone). She drives off with the kids and Amado and the portero exchange a look.

Mercedes tells Capellan that she thought he was going to change and that’s why she forgave him. Capellan wants the truth. "What truth? I don't know anything. It was all so fast!" Mercedes says they stole her car. "Then why are your fingerprints the only ones on the steering wheel? He cheated on you, you forgave him, he did it again and that's why you killed him." Mercedes says she didn't kill him.

Down in the lab, Forense Gerardo, Aranda, and Moran are waiting to check out the body. Capellan walks up and says the wife still denies having run him over. Gerardo says the woman's body was found about 50 meters away, with 2 bullets in her. They haven't found the gun yet.

Amado is doing a post-op on a patient. He tells her she's healing nicely and she looks about 40 now. "I'm 42." Well, that's ok, he was just joking. Go see the nurse for some antibiotics. Vera comes in to talk to him. She fell and hurt herself yesterday and while it's nothing serious, she'd like him to check her out. She sits on his desk and says his 4 o'clock isn't there yet. "Well, let them wait. That's why they call them 'patients' ja, ja, ja." He looks at her knee and says it looks fine, but he's got to check all the bones and make sure nothing's out of place. We all know where this is headed. Vera's been waiting for this for a long time.

Gerardo and Capellan talk behind the glass. She's sure the two murders are related. Gerardo says they didn't find any gunpowder residue on the dead guy. Capellan asks him to see if he can match Mercedes' prints to the gun and to check her for powder residue.

At the office, Mercedes asks if she can trust Vera. She doesn't think Amado loves her anymore. He's still being very loving, but they haven't had sex in weeks. Vera says that's normal in some couples. But she agrees it's weird for a man who loves you not to want to have sex with you. Mercedes is convinced he's cheating. "When? He's always working. When would he have another lover?" Emphasis on "another" and Mercedes hears it. Vera says she meant another aside from the many Mercedes has said he had. Vera says they have to investigate. Mercedes says if it's Lucha again, she'll kill her. Mercedes finally realizes that Vera is looking a lot cuter than she used to.

Gerardo and Aranda inform Capellan that they have the results back and it looks like the doctor's secretary is the one who fired the gun. Capellan figures he must have been sleeping with her too. The wife ran him over and the secretary killed the lover.

Lucha grabs Amado by the neck and asks if he's going to leave her. They're sitting in the backseat of a car. He says he won't and they get to mackin'.

Amado hangs out in a hotel room with Vera. She's complaining about Mercedes getting suspicious and accusing him of not sleeping with her anymore. "Well, that would be like cheating on you. And I'd rather be touching you anyway." Vera is worried and she doesn't like the implication that there's a time limit on their relationship. Amado says it's no problem. He's done paying off the car and they offered him a discount on a new one, so he'll buy her a new car and that'll be the end of it. Vera says that Mercedes thinks Amado is cheating with Lucha and she said she'll kill him. Amado looks worried and says Mercedes does have a gun. "Maybe I should hide it?" Vera says if it's true, Mercedes will kill him and so will she. "Damn, all that's left is for Lucha to kill me!"

Capellan shows Mercedes a picture taken by the hotel security cameras after her husband was shot. "There's a woman getting into a car. Do you recognize her?" Mercedes does recognize her, but doesn't answer Capellan's questions about who she is or where she lives. She just keeps repeating "She killed him." Capellan takes her iPad back and gives Mercedes a meaningful glance.

Lucha gets dragged into the police station. She cries to Capellan that what she had with Amado was more than just a relationship…she was the love of his life! And now she'll miss him more than anyone.

Lucha pulls on her gloves as she looks around a corner and sees Mercedes' car.

Lucha tells Capellan that she was angry at that moment because Mercedes had everything. But she says she didn't do it. "She left the keys in the car and after than I…I don't know."

Lucha watches Mercedes sneak into the building and she runs out to the car and gets in. She drives off in Mercedes' car.

"You know perfectly well what happened! You got into Mercedes' car and you ran over Amado!" Lucha says Mercedes was smart to marry Amado, but really she was like all the others. He didn't love Mercedes, but he did love her, Lucha. "If he couldn't be mine, he couldn't be anyone else's either."

Lucha is surprised by Amado walking out of the building. She screams and hits him with the car. He rolls off the hood and lies there for a few moments and then she turns the wheels for a better angle and drives over him. No butterfly so far.

Capellan tells Mercedes that they have her husband's killer. And also the killer of her husband's lover. Mercedes fusses with her hair and asks "Who?"

The portero polishes the car. Mercedes comes out and the portero tells her it's a really nice car. She gets in and drives off, with no message for her husband. She pulls up in front of the hotel and calls her husband. We get a repeat from the scene near the beginning. This time, Vera tells him she's pregnant, but no worries, she'll get an abortion tomorrow. Amado is shocked. Mercedes hides around the corner and then follows Vera.

Capellan points out that four lives have been lost--Amado, Vera, and the two killers. Gerardo adds the unborn baby as #5. Mercedes says she didn't kill him. She wanted to, but she didn't. Her, yes. She was a piece of fluff trying to steal her husband. It was fair, wasn't it?

Mercedes catches up to Vera and shoots her twice in the back. The bloody butterfly flies away.

Lucha gets out of the car and another butterfly flies away.

Mercedes drops the gun in a nearby trash can, then sees that her car is missing. She sees it parked around the corner and looks inside first, then sees Amado lying dead under the front of it.

Mercedes and Lucha are walked down the hall in handcuffs. They stop to look at each other, then turn and face the camera.

"La parte investigadora demostró que Luz María arrolló, con un lujoso auto, a Amado Manjarrez pasando un par de veces por encima de su cuerpo. Fue diagnosticada como maniaco-depresiva y recluida en una clínica psiquiátrica de la capital. Luz Mercedes confeso haber baleado a Vera, la última amante de su marido. Fue condenada a 45 años de prisión. Las dos hijas de Amado, Elsie y Lupita quedaron al cuidado de su primera esposa, madre de Elsie."

The investigative department showed that Luz María ran over, with a luxury car, Amado Manjarrez, passing over his body twice. She was diagnosed as manic-depressive and interned in a psychiatric clinic in the capital. Luz Mercedes confessed to having shot Vera, the last lover of her husband. She was sentenced to 45 years in prison. Amado's two daughters, Elsie and Lupita, stayed in the care of his first wife, Elsie's mother."

Next week, Zuria Vega is sold to an abusive old guy.

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