Caray, Caray!

Labels: no-podia

Note: Due to events in tonight's episode I hope everyone will understand that I was light on the snark. It just didn't seem right.
El Refrito without benefit of the tema (grumble grumble)
Rosendo leaves. Damián cries and knows he’ll never see his dad again. Elisa comforts him. Fina storms into Augie’s office and she is pithed. They have have to stop their spouses from running away!

Lo Nuevo
Augie is tired of Fina’s fabrications and asks if she doesn’t have anything better to do than invent stuff. She wishes she was just inventing stuff! She waves the bill for a flight for two from Mérida a Nueva York under Augie’s nose. Auguie refuses to believe what Fina is telling him. She insists the two wayward spouses are headed out of town for a luxury trip to the Big Manzana. Augie tells Fina that Estefania is at home with their daughter. His wife is not having an affair with Rosie and to prove it he is going to take Fina to his house. You know this is going to go all kinds of wrong, right?

Carmina Dorada (dressed in a lovely shade of coral) comes in a hurry to leave. Steffie offers to take her to the bus. Carmina says there is a car waiting for her and exits as Elisa enters with her cage o’ birds. She tells Steffie her buddy Damián is sad because his dad is leaving and not coming back. Steffie connects the dots. She grabs some keys from the sideboard and heads for Orangina’s room. Steffie confronts her sister. She knows she’s running off with Rosie. La Naranja plays dumb, but Steffie persists. Sure, her sister may say she’s leaving to put distance between her and the Hot Sauce King, but Steffie knows they are running off together. La Naranja finally tells the truth: that Rosie is taking her out of the damn Pueblo. Steffie begs her sister to reconsider and also to consider all the harm it will cause not only will it destroy Rosie’s family, but Carmina as well. Carmina says on the contrary, she will finally have the happiness she’s been unable to find. Steffie tells her she can’t be happy if it hurts others. Carmina Burra says she certainly can and tries leave, but Steffie blocks the door. Steffie tells Carmina she is not letting her go anywhere and that she’s putting a stop to the situation. She locks Carmina in her room. Carmina screams and beats on the door. In the hallway Steffie looks pained and Elisa asks why Carmina is screaming. Steffie tells her she’ll explain later; she has to leave for a bit and not to open the door for any reason. She’ll be back soon and if daddy arrives before she returns (he will), tell him the same. Elisa turns back and gives her mother a big hug and I’m already starting to cry. The succubus continues to screech from behind door #1

Night falls and Rosie waits. A storm is brewing.

The storm begins and we spy Padre Lupe and Gael as the Padre tells a tousled Gael about school, learning, being prepared. Maybe he could grow up to be a farmer and work at the procesadora. Gael reminds Padre that Damián's mother would probably never allow him in there. Padre reminds him that Rosie is the one in charge at the plant. Gael tells Padre that he likes Rosendo and that he would like to have a father like him. Padre Lupe agrees that Rosie is a good father. Padre changes the subject and asks why Gael didn’t go out with his friends today. Gael mentions Fina being sick and Padre asks why he didn’t tell him. Gael gives the typical kid response: “’Cause you didn’t ask” and a little comedy ensues.

Fina and Augie arrive at Casa Castañon. Fina immediately notes that no one is home. Augie again insists that Steffie and Elisa are home and must be in their bedrooms. Elisa appears and informs the two groan [sic] ups that mamá in indeed NOT home; that she left after locking up Carmina and leaving instructions not to let her out. Fina considers this definitive proof that Rosie and Steffie are fleeing together. When questioned, Carmina acts like she has no idea what is going on or why her sister locked her up. Fina needles Augie. Rosie and Steffie have run off together and they have to stop them. If they get to the airport in Mérida on time they can stop them! They can’t let them make fun of us! Augie is convinced that Fina is right and will not let Steffie do this to him. He leaves telling Fina to stay there. Elisa enters in time to hear Fina accuse Carmina of knowing about the plan all along. Carmina denies knowing anything. Elsia runs out of the room.

The storm continues to rage as Steffie arrives in a taxi where Carmina was supposed to meet Rosendo. The taxi driver offers to stay, but Steffie informs him she will be going back to the pueblo with someone else. She runs and hops into Rosie’s car. He is surprised to see her. She tells him Carmina is not coming. Steffie is determined to stop him from doing such a crazy thing. She can’t believe he could abandon his wife and child. There is no justification for what he’s doing. He reminds her that living with Fina is hell. Steffie thinks that still his family doesn’t deserve to be abandoned. She didn’t think he was that kind of guy. He just wants a little happiness. He’s drowning and just wants to breathe. She questions if he can be happy with Carmina in such circumstances. He swears he loves her and doesn’t want to lose her…he would rather die (anvil alert.)

Padre Lupe pays a call on his sick (take that as you will) sister. He’s informed that she’s been out since mid-day. He also finds out that Rosendo has left on a “trip” and that Damián is very sad and won’t eat.

Fina wonders if Augie has caught up with Rosie and Steffie. Carmina wonders why Fina doesn’t just go home already. Fina won’t budge. Carmina wants to know how Fina found out Rosie was leaving with another woman. Fina explains about finding the bill for the flight. When asked how she knew the other woman was Steffie, Fina says she always knew. Fina accuses Carmina again of protecting her sister. Carmina acts dumb. Fina questions her about the packed bags she saw in Carmina’s room. Was Carmina thnking of going with Steffie and Rosie?

Padre Lupe talks with Damián about his dad’s departure. Padre tries to convince the kid it’s nothing, but Damián is no dummy. Papá’s good-bye was way too final. Little Damián wants to know why his dad left them.

Ramona passes by on her cart as Steffie and Rosie continue to argue. Steffie wants him to reconsider what he is about to do. He and Carmina will never be happy if it’s at the cost of his wife and child. He has to try, but Steffie doesn’t think it should be done by running away like criminals. Rosie starts the car. He is going to get his Orangina and they’re leaving this very night!

Back at Casa Castañon Carmina is telling Fina she’s crazy. Fina asks again about the packed suitcases. Carmina feeds her the “going to Europe” story. Carmina says you would think, living in the same house she would have noticed if her sister was planning to to leave her husband and child. Fina thinks the burnished one always knew Steffie was rolling around in the hay with her husband (revolcarse.)

Steffie asks Rosie to slow down and not drive like a maniac in the rain. He is a man with a mission, he is going to get his juicy little Orange no matter what it takes. He speeds up. Ramona’s cart appears out of nowhere. Steffie grabs the wheel again. The car goes airborne and flips as it hits a cinder-block wall. Ramona throws up a prayer to the Virgen Santísima. Steffie and Rosie have been thrown from the vehicle. Steffie is barely alive next to the car. She tells Ramona that she has to stop them. Rosendo has passed away. Augie arrives and Ramona flags him down. Cue the heart wrenching music and sobbing from Augie. Steffie dies in his arms.

Carmina offers Fina some coffee and notices Elisa in the corner. She asks if the child always makes a habit of spying on adults. Elisa says she just wants to wait for her parents. Tia Naranja tells her they won’t be home until much later and she should go to bed. Elisa’s got spunk and stands her ground. Eventually she has to back down when the Orange terror orders her to obey and skedaddle.

Augie beats on Rosie’s dead body and screams ¿Por qué? Ramona tells him to leave the man in peace. He can’t tell you anything; he’s dead! Augie gets in his truck and leaves. Ass. Ramona freaks out and who can blame her? “We can’t just leave them!”

Fina wants to do something. She can’t just sit there, but Carmina says they can’t do anything. Augie returns and informs them of the death of Estafanía and Rosendo.

Half-time (grumble grumble) credits

Fina at first thinks Augie has killed them. Augie explains about the accident. Fina can’t believe it. Augie tells her to go to the accident site and see for herself. She cries. Augie locks himself in his office and Carmina tries to get him to open the door. The wailing wakes up Elisa. Fina can’t believe her Rosie is dead and Carmina keeps moaning that Steffie was her sister (you almost feel for her. Well played, Ms. Moussier.) Poor Elisa asks where her mom is. Carmina just blurts out “Tu mamá se murió, Elisa” and Elisa cries and screams. It’s a lie! Where’s my mom! I want to see my mom! Ok. I have to compose myself.....

....
I’m back. Fina is evil. She tells Elisa she will never see her mother again just as Damián will never be able to see his father and it’s all the fault of Elisa’s mother! Carmina tells the cow to shut up and leave. Elisa begs her aunt again to tell her her mother isn't dead. Carmina says she doesn't lie, her mother is dead. She tells Elisa to go talk to her dad; maybe he will open the door for her. Elisa begs her Papito to tell her her mother hasn’t died. She asks repeatedly where her mother is. She begs him to open the door. Augie sits at his desk and cries while his child begs him to open the door. Keep it together for your baby, dude. She needs you. I have to go cry again. Excuse me.......

....
Police arrive at the accident scene. Assured that the proper authorities have arrived, Ramona leaves the scene.

At the procesadora, Gabino is packing his things. Don Lucio hopes Gabino's leaving isn't because Don Lucio was put  in charge. Things will go back to normal when Rosendo comes back. Gabino says Rosendo won't be back for a while and that's exactly why he's leaving.  “They won’t have Gabino to kick around anymore.” (Loose translation.)

At the cantina Lolita and Braulio make like tórtolos. He’s trying to convince her to stay a little longer. One of the locals, one Jacinto, runs in and announces that there has been an accident with two fatalities and it’s Don Rosendo’s car!

Ramona returns home agitated she talks to herself about hoping the bodies are taken care of. She feels she couldn't stay or she would have been blamed. She informs Paloma of the death of her friends mother. Paloma cries for her friend.

Padre Lupe has calmed Damián down and the child is asleep. Padre Lupe confesses to Antonia that he is worried about Fina and Rosendo. Fina comes in. She informs her brother that Rosendo has died and that she always knew Steffie would snatch him away from her. She blames everything on Steffie. She explains to Padre Bro that the two were running away together and crashed (estrellarse.) Fina wonders what she will do without her Rosie. She can’t live without him and she curses Steffie and says I hope you rot in hell (¡Ojalá que pudras en el infierno!) Lupe begs her to calm down lest her son hears. Fina doesn’t care, she wants the world to hear (Qué oigan el mundo entero) and for everyone to know (que todos sepan) that Estefanía killed her husband. She stole him from her and now Rosendo is dead, dead, dead, dead, dead (got that?) Damián has awakened and overhears this.

Lolita returns home and finds Elisa crying in the kitchen. Elisa tells Lolita about her mother’s death. Lolita comforts while Elisa talks into her shoulder.

Braulio informs Don Lucio and Blanca about the death of  Rosendo and Estefanía.

The Funeral/Las exequias/El velorio
Gabino arrives at Hacienda Arango to pay his respects. What the heck is he wearing? Bandana wrap on his hand, one sleeve rolled up, the other unrolled and unbuttoned. Gabino offers his help to Padre Lupe and is a little miffed to find out Don Lucio has everything under control. They talk about veiling Rosendo's body. Padre Lupe mentions the body of Estefanía and Gabino is quite confused. He is one of the few people who actually knows that Carmina was the Rosendo’s ho on the side. Lupe continues to explain that no one knows why the two were together and unfortunately they both died.

Damián wants to take his horse to see Elisa, he knows she must be unhappy if her mother died. Antonia asks him to please not go. Fina will be pithed and take it out on her. He has to see her. He asks the help to just say she didn’t see him leave. He promises he won’t be long. He wants to see Elisa.

Elisa remembers how her mom combed her hair every morning and now that won't happen. Lolita tells her to be strong. She knows Elsia will miss her mother, but Lolita promises never to leave her and that Elisa will always have her. Besides, her mother will be in heaven and will always take care of her from there...like a guardian angel. Elisa asks if Damián's dad is also in heaven and will also take care of Damián. Elisa talks about the ugly things Fina said. Elisa begs to see Damián. Lolita thinks she should wait until tomorrow. She offers to go make Elisa some tea. When Lolita leaves, Elisa says she needs to see Damián and heads out.

Gael is looking for Padre Lupe. Paloma tells him about the accident. Gael runs off to see Elisa.

Fina will not cry another tear for Rosendo. Antonia informs her that Padre Lupe is tending to last minute details and that Gabino is helping with the wake. Fina asks for her son. Antonia tells her she can't find him. Fina tells her to keep looking.

Lolita finds Elisa's room empty and knows she went to look for Damián.

Damián rides for Elisa. Gael runs for Elisa. Paloma follows.

Carmina is crying. Lolita tells her some men have arrived to make arrangements for Estefanía's body(?) and Lolita wasn't sure what to do. Carmina asks what the boss said and Lolita explains he is still in his office and she didn't want to disturb him. He is destroyed by the death of Estefanía. Carmina says she will see to the men.

Gael runs after Elisa, Damián arrives. Damián and Elisa hug. Paloma takes Gael's hand. Forshadowing.

Augie takes a shotgun from the closet. He loads the weapon. He cries.

Cut to shot of Carmina. Gunshot. Augusto?

Cue the synchronized swimming (in jeans?)
Avances:

• Fina prohibits the friendship of Damián and Elisa
• Separated by treachery
• Carmina looks in the mirror

Labels: abismo

...and everybody gets new outfits!

Elvira has a brand-new fake-designer surprise-wedding dress; now she wants Armando to call up Renato and tell him she doesn't have a thing to wear with it and he needs to buy her some accessories. OK then, Armando makes her call Fabiola and tell her he can't come over coz he's got a tummyache. Srsly! These two get weirder all the time.

Sarita has a Little Red Riding Hood outfit: enough said.

Lulu waltzes into the upstairs hall in a brand-new red bustier and high-heels, drops a vase of flowers on the ground, and when Camila comes out to investigate -- she jumps into bed with Pedro! Camila for once is not buying it, but they have a big ol' screaming match anyway.

Oscar the Butterball buys Rita a little French maid's outfit. Enough said about that as well, although the expression on Rita's face is pretty priceless.

Madame B's girls are tarted up as usual, but this time they're just scenery as Antonio and the Pig nearly come to blows in the foyer. Both of them want "Catherine," but she tells them she's with someone else. The management finally breaks up the fight by pouring more cognac into Tony and sending the Pig home where he is promised "a surprise."

Meanwhile, Armando is lounging around barefoot, and God, his feet are uglier than his doofy tennishoes. Put them back on, please!

Renato seems to have an infinite number of pairs of white pants, all of which he is wearing after Labor Day, gauche that he is.

Big ending: "Catherine" shows up in the Pig's bedroom and lays one on him. She's wearing a tiny little eye-mask that even he can see through -- and he does. YUCK, IT'S YOU! He freaks out and wipes his mouth. She says she has tricks that will make him forget she's his daughter-in-law...and, judging from the previews, she gets to use them.

Labels: Talisman

Labels: no-podia

!Hola a todos!

I will get the ball rolling with Friday's CORAZÓN VALIENTE episode:

In her confrontation with Isabel, Ángela admits her love for JM. But, she says that she respects marriage vows and she loves Génesis and would not do anything to get JM for herself. Isabel doesn't believe this of course. She tells Ángela that JM will never divorce her because if he does, she will kill herself.

One of the things that Ángela accused Isabel of is that Isabel doesn't care for her own daughter because she never spends any time with her. After the confrontation, Isabel goes to see Génesis (who always seems to be going to bed) and tells her that she loves her in her own way  but she can't demonstrate it that much.

When Violeta comes in to see Génesis, Isabel tells her that she can't be friends with Génesis and if she wants to know why, she should see if her mother has the courage to tell her.

Isabel decides that she has to get both Ángela and Renzo out of her house. So when Ángela gets a note to meet JM in the garage at a certain time, we know what is going to happen.

Willy decides that he is going to work at his father's company and his first act is to interview a bevy of voluptuous secretaries while Sam waits outside.

It's Renzo who meets Ángela in the garage and forces her at gunpoint to take off most of her clothes so that they appear to be en flagrant delicto when JM and Isabel come into the garage.

I think Nelly, the maid let it slip to Emma that she knows about Emma's bipolar condition and that she found this out from Pablo.

Perla and Bernardo are having sex when Bernardo collapses.

JM fires Renzo and Ángela.

Fernanda asks why Willy doesn't want to work for their father's company and Willy says that he is not sure his father is really ill.

JM leaves a note and check for Ángela. He will continue to pay for Violeta to go to Génesis' school. When Ángela and Renzo comes downstairs, he hides in the closet. Ángela and Renzo conveniently recap the whole plot - "Why did you hold me at gunpoint and make me take off my clothes?" When Renzo leaves, JM tells Ángela that he heard everything and now he wants the truth about what she saw. Ángela doesn't want to tell him but he says to her, "I have to believe in someone and that someone is you."

Willy asks Sam if it was their sexual encounter at age 15 that made her prefer women over men. Sam says that is true. But when Willy protests that they were only 15 and it was the first time for both of them, Sam confesses that the sex was wonderful. She tells him that her problem is that afterwards he never attempted to contact her.

If Emma believes that Pablo revealed her secret to Nellie, she ought to be mad but instead she tells Pablo how much she respects his discretion and devotion to duty and then she tries to kiss him. He pulls back and says that he can't get involved with a client.

When JM continues to demand that Ángela tell him what she saw, she replies that she wishes she didn't have to hurt him any more.

When Renzo gives Isabel his card and suggests that they get together sometime, she tells him that she isn't interested. She loves her husband.

Willy tells Sam that he wrote and tried to call her many times but heard nothing and concluded that she wasn't interested in him. At first Sam doesn't believe this but Willy convinces her that he is speaking the truth and they wonder which of their parents intercepted all the attempts at communication.

Perla calls the paramedics for Bernardo. His eyes were rolled up but when Perla is looking the other way, he looked normal for a second and I thought he was faking the whole thing.

Isabel calls Bernardo but of course he isn't there and she leaves the world's longest phone message. She says that she got what she wanted but she still isn't happy - no surprise there. Happy isn't in her emotional repertoire.

Fernanda fantasizes about killing Isabel.

If Isabel wasn't happy before, she really isn't happy when JM tells her that he knows about her and Renzo and that this is the end of their marriage. When JM leaves, Isabel is attacked by memories of her abusive mother.

Willy rushes to the hospital when he hears about his father. He is told that Bernardo is in intensive care with a heart attack. [So is this real?] Fernanda calls the hospital and wants to know whether it's worth the trouble of going there - is Bernardo dead already?

Perla tells Sam that she and Bernardo have been lovers for many years. Sam asks if it was Perla who tried to keep her an Willy apart. Perla denies it.

JM tells Isabel that she has to leave the house. He will support her is a luxurious apartment and she can spend all the money she wants but Génesis is staying with him. Isabel refuses to accept that. She says that she will go to court and get custody. Finally, she tells JM about Ángela's confession that she loves JM.

Over to you!

Labels: relaciones, telemundo, valiente

They're calling themselves "Team Fuego" (Team Fire). Click the picture to see video of an interview with Cheryl Burke and William Levy (and hear William Levy speak English!)

HELP! Is anybody going to be recording Levy's portions? If so please contact me at caray@mappamundi.com - thanks...

Labels: entertainment-news, stars

The Arangean Stables: or -- a Harlot, a Shrew and a Knave walk into a barn ...

The TangeloHo crouches in a stall – perfectly camouflaged in the horse dung – while Alfonsina sniffs. Rosendo reeks of perfume. And she knows whose it is! Hah! She’ll never give him a divorce. He’ll never be free to marry Estefanía.

Rosie says there IS no other woman. It’s their marriage that has gone belly-up. And it’s their son who is paying the price. Imagine. A little boy buying magical amulets, thinking he can repair their irreparably hellish relationship.

(At least Rosie is wearing his boy’s gift. Inside the hacienda, little Damián is saddened to see his mother’s amulet carelessly set aside.)

They should divorce for their son’s sake, says Rosendo.

(On hearing this, Carmina smirks, almost betraying her presence by the blinding flash of overwhitened teeth.)

Rosendo will have to kill Alfie first – she will not be the laughing stock of the pueblo!

As soon as Alfie stalks off, up pops the Sleazel™. “I told you she’s nuts” says the dirty TangeloHo (Well she’s been in the stable muck. What do you expect?). “There’s no point trying to talk to her.” Rosendo is convinced. Carmina can go home and pack and they will leave the next day.

Two and a half women of virtue

Estefanía tells doña Blanca she’s sad her sister is leaving La Ermita. Blanca reminds her that Carmina isn’t a small-town kind of girl. And Steffie isn’t exactly alone – she has her family, Augusto and Elisa.

Right on cue, adorable Elisa bursts in, hugs Blanca, and asks permission to try on the new dress Blanca has made for her.

One self-dramatizing egotist and her victim

Alfie has taken refuge in her room. She hyperventilates, she fumes, she bites off the maid’s head. (No, my dears, not literally. That would be another kind of drama. On another network.). She sobs.

Rosendo proceeds with his plans:

He asks Lucio to take charge of the Hot Sauce plant in his absence – they’ll sign a formal paper in the morning. Lucio accepts. But he knows that Gabino Mendoza won’t like it. And he also knows that Rosendo is involved in something very unsavoury: ¡Ay muchacho, sabrá Dios en que lios andas metido!(God only knows what kind of mess you're mixed up in.)

Casa Castañon

When Blanca has gone, Elisa notices her mommy’s eyes are red, as if she has been crying. Steffie explains that she’s sad about Tía Carmina going away. Elisa wonders why she has no sibs, but then reflects that she is lucky to have her pals. Stef insists, with uncharacteristic insensitivity, that a friend’s love isn’t the same as a sister’s. Fortunately, our little heroine seems too grounded to start feeling sorry for her onlychildness. Or maybe she, like the viewer, is thinking that her mommy would have been lucky to be an only.

Hacienda Arango

Damián finds Alfie flat on the floor of her room. “She looks dead!” cries the horrified child. He hollers for help.

Casa Castañon

While Alfie is playing possum (also known as TrauMatizaKid) in the big house, in their more modest casa, Lolita and Elisa are making a cake to cheer up Steffie.

Stef sees Carmina packing her bags. When she tries to talk her out of leaving, poor Stef gets an earful of Carm’s angry, mendacious “I have to get away from Rosendo right now!”

The Doctor Makes House Calls

New character alert: Doctor Edmundo Tovar (Alexis Ayala)

Dr. Tovar reassures Rosie and Damián that Alfie is going to be fine – just let her rest a while.

Rosendo takes Tovar aside. Alfie has had low blood pressure for a long time but she never fainted before. Could this be serious? Not to worry, says the doc. She’s just really anxious. Keep her meds handy and stay close to her.

Alfie stands straight and tall in her room. Is she straining to hear the conversation? When Rosendo’s steps approach, she scoots under the covers and reprises the role of invalid. She felt she was going to die, she tells him, when he talked of divorce.

She reminds him of all the years, all the difficult fertility treatments she endured, just to give him a child; and how risky her pregnancy was because of her age. And now, after all she suffered to give him his precious son, he is talking about abandoning her?

Cue to the precious son entering with a message for dad. Elisa’s father wants to see him. Alfie holds Damián hostage until Rosendo comes back to her sick bed.

This doc sounds like a bit of a yenta. He has spread the word of Alfie’s attack of the vapours and now Augusto wants to know how she is. “Lo mismo de siempre” (same old same old) says Rosendo -- though the fainting bit did scare him for a moment.

Augusto is worried about his friend and invites him to take him into his confidence. Rosendo will only say that he understands that his family depends on him and he can’t take any risks with their stability. Then he adds ominously: You’re like a brother to me – always remember that, whatever may happen.

Dr. Tovar when he’s at home ... is none other than the spouse of Begoña, the snooty metiche who was so quick to believe the worst about Steffie. The doc not only blabs to Begoña about his visita de domicilio (house call) but offers his opinion that Alfie’s faint was emotional blackmail, an obvious cry for attention. Begoña is miffed – why Alfie would never! The poor thing. Everyone knows that Rosendo is messing around with Estefanía Bouvier. Doc pooh-poohs the rumor: ¿En qué cabeza cabe semejante estupidez? (How could you think such a thing? In what head does such a stupid thing fit?)

At the dinner table, Lucio worries aloud about Rosendo. Blanca reassures him: If his concern is Carmina, well breathe easy. Stef told her Carmina is leaving town.

Hmmm. Curiously, Rosendo told Lucio he’s leaving town too. And he’s not sure when he’s coming back.

HERE’S THE FREAKY PART WHERE EVERYTHING TURNS ORANGE

Casa Castañon

Augusto is greeted by the TangeloHo in a tangerine peignoir. Her sister will miss her, he tells her, and he will too. He doesn’t think she should leave. (Why the blazes not, Mr. Mixed Messages?) He loves her like a sister. Ooooh. Carmina doesn’t want to hear that.

Now Elisa enters and watches silently as a real horror flick unfolds.

Carmina – with her leather-colored face and wild, stringy hair reminding one of a shrunken head early along in the shrinking process – decides to let ‘er rip. “I love you” she tells her cuñado. “I’ve loved you as long as I have known you. You are the love of my life.”

Look away Elisa! Oh no! Too late. Orangina pulls Augie onto her face. Elisa drops her doll. The adults turn to her. Elisa looks her father in the eye and says: “I saw you kiss her on the mouth.”

Carmina blathers about it being a goodbye, brotherly kind of kiss but Elisa knows what she saw and heard. She runs away. Augie follows. He wants to keep her from telling her mom about this scene

Elisa, apparently smarter than either of her parents, just wants the Tangerine One to leave – even if her mom is sad about it. Augie repeats that his wife and daughter are the two loves of his life.

Carmina is still lurking, waiting for Augie – they have to talk. But he turns away from her. He wants her gone! Now leather face is tear-stained and distorted by the pain of his rejection.

Wearing a white towel on her head and a white terrycloth robe, Steffie herself is looking a bit orange, as if, in a spontaneous gesture of sisterly solidarity, she has just stepped out of the spray tan booth. She’d like Carmina to postpone her trip until the weekend so they can drive her to Mérida. Nooooooooooo says Augie. Let her go. Oh and don’t go into Elisa’s room to kiss her goodnight – she’s already asleep.

Paloma sets out for La Ermita with her basket of pan dulce and a cage of “recovered” birds for Elisa. Ramona has errands to run and will see her granddaughter at home later.

Begoña, in a sickroom visit to Alfie, hints that Alfie faked her “attack” as a way to solve her Rosie problem. What Rosie problem? asks Alfie. By the way, you know that blue house near the cenote ...

...Well. Begoña has heard that someone bought it although it looks unlived in. Maybe it’s a place to .... er ... wink wink ... you know...

Begoña leers but Alfie looks like she’s eaten some bad huitlacoche.

A bright cloud of orange fills the screen. It’s Rosendo’s shirt. He rides up to the TangeloHo, herself in an orangina sundress. Her bags are packed and she is ready, freddie! She doesn’t take kindly to Rosie’s story about Alfie’s vapours and the discussion gets kind of heated ...

Remember, children... you are never alone in a telenovela. There is always someone to overhear you. And so it is that Ramona is driving her horse-drawn cart past this very spot at this very moment and gets an earful ...

“I can’t believe you’re stupid enough to fall for her blackmail” screeches Carmina Burra. She’s not waiting, not even a few days. It’s now or he’ll never see her again! (Pick door number two, for the love of God!)

Elsewhere in the countryside, a figure on horseback rides smartly up to the famous blue house. It’s Alfie! Looking in the pink! (Didn’t she get the memo about orange?) When a domestic comes out the door, Alfie learns that Gabino Mendoza hired her. But the woman can’t say who actually lives there.

Rosendo has, unfortunately, opted for door number one. When he gets to the procesadora, he informs Gabino that his plans “siguen en pie” (are continuing as planned). Gabino has the plane tickets and hotel reservations. Should he charge the costs to the business? Of course not, Rosendo tells him, just throw away that statement from the travel agency.

Oh and by the way, he’s leaving don Lucio in charge. Gabino doesn’t like that? Well he can turn in his resignation – to don Lucio.

Elisa, despite her bright red-orange dress, is in a funk. She confides to her mother that she wants tía Orangina to leave. Why? Well ...

Hey! Paloma’s here! And she has a cage of lively, healthy birds. Why are there four when the kids only left three with Ramona? Um. Paloma thinks fast – the fourth is a gift, like the doll Elisa gave her!

Paloma has her pan dulce to sell and Elisa accompanies her. Steff is left behind, a bit disconcerted by what her daughter has just said about tía.

It’s Lolita’s afternoon off. She noticed that Carm’s bags are still in her room so she must be coming back to the house. Would Steffie say goodbye for her? (Actually, Lolita’s skirt is sort of orangey too.)

Carmina makes one final run at Augusto, this time in his office. She can’t help the way she feels – yes, she’s crazy! Crazy in love with him.

But Augie has finally decided to stop with the mixed signals. He tells her: “You can’t stay in my house. I won’t allow my wife to suffer.”

“One day”, says Orangina, “you’ll see that my sister is no better than I am; and then, I swear, you’ll be sorry you humiliated me.”

Rosendo in his giant orange shirt is greeted at home with splendid news: Alfie is feeling better so she went out to get some fresh air. He rushes to pack his bags.

Alfie has followed the trail of the blue house straight to Gabino’s office. She riffles through the papers on his desk and finds ... the travel agency invoice showing charges for a flight out of Mérida that very evening and reservations at a hotel in New York!

Gabino walks in on this scene and sees his chance to get even with the boss. When Alfie interrogates him, he admits, with a show of reluctance, that his boss is traveling with a woman. But he denies knowing who the woman is.

That’s okay. Alfie can fill in the blanks. He’s leaving with that damned Estefanía Bouvier. (She really is maldita, pobrecita.)

They’re leaving at nine, adds Gabino helpfully.

Once Hurricane Alfonsina has stormed out, greasy güero Gabino grins:

¡Vamos a ver de qué cuero hay más correas Rosendo! (Let’s see who comes out ahead, R! /Let’s see which leather makes more straps)

Damián catches orange-shirted Rosendo, suitcase in hand, (cuz really, it would be hard to miss him) and asks innocently if they are going on vacation. Rosie says no, it’s just a boring work thing. And then he says goodbye to his son so emotionally that all of us just know they will never see each other again: “Quiero que sepas que te quiero con toda mi alma” (I want you to know that I love you with all my heart.)

Damián runs after his father and cries out: ¡No te vayas! The two exchange stricken looks. Rosendo gets in his car and drives off.

Elisa comes along eager to show her friend the birds Paloma brought them. But he can’t share her pleasure. He tells her:

Mi papá se fue y nunca lo voy a volver a ver. Se fue para siempre. (My father left and I’m never gonna see him again. He’s gone forever.)

She sits beside him on the front step of the huge hacienda and puts her arms around him to comfort him.

Hurricane Alfie touches down in Augie’s office. “We have to stop them!” Augusto looks at her uncomprehendingly. “Rosendo and Estefanía are running away together! We have to stop them!”

Avances: Estefanía locks Carmina in her room. Rain. Night. A fiery crash. Aquí cambia todo.

Labels: abismo