Caray, Caray!

We open with the non- Mau and non-Beto giving a really good lucha show despite being improper in that the cabellera shouldn’t put on a mask, as Judy astutely observed this is of course so they could animate much better with stunt doubles. After Beto hits Mau with the chair Sal yells that it’s illegal, and so it goes. Ciber enters the ring to defend his protégé as does Costeno and it turns the match into a tag team fight.


Back in the dunking room Cris is appalled that his pupil learned so well. He says he was taking his sister around who just got here and he didn’t tell Pau he was back because he thinks she loved her work more than him. She tells him, no, you didn’t ask me to marry you. Yeah, take that. He never responds to that directly, only now Christian tells Pau never, after this he does not even want to see her. The fight continues and Pau takes her seat sadly glancing his way..

OK, now why Ciber and Costeno grab up Lalo I don‘t know, I guess Xime thinks it‘s a good macho lesson for him.

Alicia is with Isabel who is getting some sort of medical treatment in a hospital telling her she’ll be out tomorrow and even though she wants to go home she has to stay to speak with her daughter because Val needs to know what is happening with her.

The fight continues and Lalo exits all tussed up saying they will never see him again. Ximena check Jero’s opinion on whether he passed the test. Jero says no, he looks as stupid as you do. She wanders off to go molest Rolu some and wedges her way right in-between him and his new chica. Ximena real forgives him and tells him to send the Ximena wannabe packing. If I were Xime 2, I’d start side show fight number three over there. I don’t like being shoved around by strangers.

The fight continues with various folks cheering and this my favorite move. Mona then realizes Coni is not cheering for her desired novio rather for Beto. Coni tells her it’s because she wants Mau to pay for what he’s done to her. They go after each other again.


Alicia talks to the doc about trying to force Isabel to stay, and fight for her life, the short of this chat is that she needs a bone marrow transplant (of course, come on now, this is still a telenovela even if it’s less traditional) and so we now know the reason that the Mom must chat with the daughter. Sheesh, some plots die hard.

Nieves begs Cesar who looks like he electrocuted himself with gropes galore to do something to stop the fight. He reminds her he is married. She isn’t really listening and puts him into a choke hold so his face is forced into her breast. He and the Panda purse get a nice few jiggles.

We see Dani cheering for Mau and ten minutes into this show FINALLY the fight is over and it’s a draw, or is it…Conni spills that they can’t draw, they bet over you. I knew this would happen so in true triumph of good over evil, Mona goes up there furious with both of them, hears their respective spoils if each wins, chews them out that she is not an object and punches the lights out of both of them sending them to the floor and prompting the ref to declare her the winner. Hurray for female power!!


Estre chats with Mona about the boys. Mona doesn’t want to see either of them, but Estre finds it more romantic than she does and that they were fighting for love, and Mau did this not to lose you. Moni can’t be convinced to forgive them.

Now hears a pic, a grand executive unable to even sit at his desk because he dressed up in a skin tight costume and slugged it out with a commoner all night. They discuss that Mona is furious because of his bet, but he seems oblivious. Mau says he enjoyed being in the ring and wants to do it again. Ha, funny Sal says exactly what I’m thinking, that a highpowered business man like him can’t be doing these kinds of things. He doesn’t listen and promises he’ll get back into the ring.

Pau and Gaby chat about the bet taking sides and Pau tells what happened with Cris, when Lorenza shows up. When Gab tells her this are is for employees, she says she the new presidential secretary.

We flash to Jero chatting with Sal about this very thing. Ah it’s Jero behind Lorenza’s contraction. …said women then come in to the office and want ot know what is up. Jero says there are two presidents so Lorenza is mine and you can stay where you were. Sal of course flips out and says Jerry will Not drive him crazy with this. Jero tells him if he doesn’t like it, to vamos.

The chicas outside argue about where to put some weird horse hitch pipe thing.

Beto runs into Mona in the courtyard and she tells him he’s a child clingin to his Ma’s skirts and she’s maintained him and he’s not done nothing’ for her. To prove he is loyal to Mona above all his he opens his mouth - Y tu mama tambien…well sort of. He tells her that Nieves knows where her Ma is but doesn’t want to tell her. Impact face of course.

Alicia shows up to see Mau. Lor and Gab fight over attending to her. Like kids they make faces at each other across the lobby.

M & B waltz into Nieves room and she thinks they finally talked, but Mona outs with it. What do you know about my Ma…she tries to say nothing and curses Beto for being a traitor. Nieves, in her finest Shitzu (thanks Carlos) regalia says she’ll tell but wants her to know that she’s done everything to protect Mona. She tells her Ali came by to see if Mona would be willing to forgive her Ma if she came back. To this Mona replies with a firm NO.

Funny now Ali asks Mau the same question. He knows she didn’t tell them everything. Before he can get the scoop, Coni busts in and interrupts Mau’s chat.

We see a looming short ponytail shadowing into the courtyard up to Estrella who is washing her ver fine clothes. Estrella fingers her right away from photos, she’s Mona’s mom! And, we finally see her face.

After commercials Estre can’t stop running her mouth about her acting, about Mona being a boxer and not there and so forth but she’ll take Ma to Mona only begs her to wait so she can put away her clothes such that they won’t get stolen, they are her acting wardrobe essentially. We know where this is going. Ma tells her self she can’t do this and runs off.

While Conni and Mau argue about when he will pay attention to her, Ali also has second thoughts and runs off somehow undetected.

Mona continues crying about why her Mom left. Nieves thinks it’s best if she doesn’t forgive her Ma and the furthest away from her she is the better off she is. Mona thinks Nieves knows more about her Mom leaving but she swears not. Mona says that if she is lying, well Mona will never forgive her, ever. Just then Estre runs in screaming her Ma was here but she couldn’t keep her around.

Mau follows Alicia with his covered up Audi emblem car.

Estre thinks Nieves only acted in her best interests. Mona actually defends her and is all excited her Ma came looking for her. She thinks since her Mom knows where to find her, she should come back and show her face.

The meeting of the evil trio commences again with the same banter, Mau left me how are we going to fix it, Jero offers himself to fix her. Lor enters with coffee and the boys drink it but Coni thinks this woman has designs to kill the whole world, so she’s not drinking the coffee, it could be poisoned. The boys spit theirs out. They talk about getting rid of the kids or something.

Mau follows Ali to the Hotel del Parque and spies Isabel going in too. (Trip advisor gives it one star...these are country folks after all)




Ok talk about bedfellows, Lor comes in to talk to Paula, she decides she needs some friends and they bond over the torture topic of what she did to Cris. Lor has a better suggestion to use chains. They decide to throw back some Joe together


Ma throws Beto’s meal down at him and yells at him for making her look bad to Mona and the whole neighbor hood will think she’s a louse, and how could he do this to his Ma who gave him her breasts (for feeding) until he was eight.
He retorts that was her obligation as Mother. I’m not liking this thought actually. She makes a crack about Coni and he says she only wants him as a sexual object and she doesn’t think he should tell his Ma such things. Beto doesn’t need his Ma’s help. Actually, he’s going to work and rent his own room. He’s leaving this house.


Ali and Issy chat about her going to see the Mona. Issy says she can’t because Mona will think it’s only for the marrow. And well it is, and she’ll be expected to act like a Ma, and she doesn’t know if she can.

Estre and Mona are chatting and Mona doesn’t want to talk anymore about any of it, she’s going to the gym. Estre plays devil’s advocate and chides her that Mau looked good and oh, here’s Mau silently walking in unbeknownst to Mona. Estre sees him and keeps up with the suggestive prompts getting Mona to say he looked great and she would love to kiss him all over and more and still loves him and so forth and he finally speaks up that he didn’t come to hear her fantasies about him, though he will later but he says he found her Ma. He impacted face is what we are left with.

Labels: gancho

Or: Who are you people and what are you doing here?

Welcome to yet another exciting TN. I'm 5ft Latina, your cruise director. Everyone got their beanies on? A giant whiteboard to map out character relationships? Snacky cakes? Good! Then let's begin right after the theme song by Il Divo…

A couple is hanging out in the woods in or near Merida back in 1977. And they've got the fashions to prove it. Oh, the horror of that headband! The woman is upset because it won't be long before "Samuel" finds out that she's pregnant. The couple argues over who will be the one to tell him about it. He finally agrees to let her do it.

Later, inside a house, our "embarrazada" (pregnant) hippie chick tells Samuel (who looks non-hippieish to me) that she's pregnant. And right off the bat, we can check a classic phrase off our Telenovela Bingo cards…"no puede ser!" (it can't be!). She realizes that, but it happened. He assumes there's another man, which she doesn't deny, and wants to know if he knows the guy. She breaks it to him that the baby daddy is Antonio Lombardo.

Samuel (not the baby daddy) goes over to Antonio Lombardo's (aka Baby Daddy) house to yell at him that he's they've known each other for a long time, been guests in each other's homes, and this is how he is repaid--Antonio slept with his wife! His righteous indignation would be a little scarier without the toupee and the bright red polka-dotted and ruffled shirt. You gotta be way manlier than this man to pull of ruffles. Antonio, meanwhile is sporting a white satin shirt with some lapels that might just spontaneously take flight on him. Antonio's defense is that he and Victoria (aka hippie chick) fell in love. Yeah, yeah, they all say that. Samuel tosses some stuff off of Antonio's desk. He doesn't want to hear about love. He thinks if Antonio really felt love for Victoria, he would have "respected" her. Antonio says it was "algo más fuerte que nosotros" (something stronger than us). Samuel wants to know how many times they were together. Antonio starts to swear that "since we've been together," but Samuel cuts him off. Antonio tries to explain that now that there's a baby on the way, he's going to divorce his wife. Samuel tells him to forget it--he'll never see his kid in his life. Antonio pulls out another oldie but goodie "en el corazón no se manda" (you can't tell your heart what to do). He loves Vicky and the baby. Samuel threatens that if Antonio comes near his wife again, Samuel will kill him.

As Samuel storms out, Antonio's wife comes up to ask what's going on…she heard Samuel was there. She wonders if they argued, but he says it's nothing to worry about. I call set reuse--isn't this at least part of Santiago's house from Tontas? That staircase looks awfully familiar. Wifey says that someone named Hernán just told her that there's a new fertility treatment available in Canada. She feels like they've tried everything, but now that science has advanced, she wants to give it another go. She hugs and kisses him while he looks worried.

New day, or at least new outfit. Antonio (Baby Daddy) is now in hot pink stripes. He calls Vicky's house, but the maid tells him she doesn't know what happened--a moving company came in last night and cleared out their stuff. The un-happy couple caught a plane this morning. They told her they were going to Europe, but they didn't even tell her which country.

Now there's a Grey Haired Guy in play. He tells Antonio that they went to Paris first, but no idea where they went after that. Their stuff got to Barcelona, but from there the trail goes cold. Ah, Grey Haired Guy is Hernán and Antonio wants his help to find Sam and Vicky. Hernán says he'll do everything within his reach. He then excuses himself.

"Months" later, we are in "Londres" (London), where Vicky has given birth to a boy and a girl and Sam is promising to love them. Vicky thanks him.

Now we go back to Merida, but in 1981 (about three years later). A doctor informs Antonio that his wife is pregnant. Antonio and Wifey are happy, but the doctor says that Ms. Adriana (Wifey) has to be careful. It won't be an easy pregnancy. She's got to get lots of rest, avoid upsets, and eat well. The doctor asks her to please be careful.

Over on the other side of the pond in London, Samuel, now in a wheelchair, talks to Vicky about his feelings after, you know, the thing that happened happened. "I felt an immense rage, not towards you, but towards Antonio. He was my best friend and I couldn't imagine that he had done this to me." Wow, I'm thinking they forgot to tell us some years passed, cause these two are looking considerably older now. Vicky reminds him she done him wrong too, but he's not interested in playing the blame game. He realizes there were things he couldn't give her. He says he was only a man "a medias" (halfway). He understands that she fell in love with Tony and she fell in love with him, because she's always been a special woman. She doesn't want to hear this anymore. He asks her, once he's gone, to go back to Merida and find Tony and, if she should find him not married, marry him. Aw, that's generous. Mr. 5ft, you are NOT given permission to find any of your ex-girlfriends in case of my timely or untimely demise. Just putting that out there. He says that Antonio is Bruno and Raquel's father. He thanks her for her "cariño" (caring), "devoción" (devotion) and "sacrificio" (sacrifice). Vicky denies that there was any sacrifice. Sam says he won't be around to see her and he'd be happier knowing she was going to be happy.

Back in Merida, in 1983. A bunch of kids and their parents are at a party watching a magic show. Antonio holds a very curly haired almost-blonde boy. Hernán comments that he's really handsome. Antonio says that even though he was born premature, he's grown up "sano y fuerte" (healthy and strong). Hernán has something he wants to talk to Antonio about, so Antonio hands the baby off to the woman standing next to him and walks off with Hernán. Hernán's big news is that Vicky is back, a widow with two kids, a pair of twins, a boy and a girl, about six years old. Antonio says those are his kids, the dates match up, and besides Samuel couldn't have kids because of his illness. Hernán wonders what he plans to do. Well, go find them, of course.

At a big pink house, a woman approaches the gate and asks to see La Señora Victoria. She is let in and talks to Vicky, who looks like she's had a cut, color, and style since she became widowed. Felipa got Vicky's telegram and came right over. Vicky is glad, because the house is so sad and empty. Felipa has agreed to come back to work for Vicky. Raquel, the female Wonder Twin, comes running in to announce that the bed in her room is ugly. Vicky says they'll get new furniture delivered tomorrow. Vicky introduces Raquel to Felipa, who is surprised to learn that Vicky has not 1, but 2 kids, and twins at that. Raquel takes her leave and goes running down the hallway. Vicky now piles on the impactos by telling Felipa that these are not Samuel's kids, but they don't know it. Felipa guesses that these are Tony's kids. Vicky wants to hear how he's been doing. Since Felipa went back to her pueblo, she doesn't know, except that his wife died when their son was born. Vicky seems kind of happy to know that Tony "finally" had a kid (well, sure if you don't count the wonder twins).

In a fit of TMI, Tony paces his bedroom with his robe flapping open. He's a briefs man, in case anyone was wondering. He thought bubbles that Vicky's back, but she didn't get in touch with him. Does she know his wife is dead?

The next morning, he introduces himself to Bruno outside the pink house. He starts to give off a creepy stalker vibe, but then asks the kid to go get his mom. He walks down the drive a little and then turns around to see Vicky, who runs back inside the house. He chases her and Bruno looks on, confused. Vicky runs right into her room, Tony on her heels. He locks the door and starts to put the moves on her. They give the obligatory "sorry about your partner, I never wished it," Tony brings up destiny, and then the two make up for lost time. Tony hasn't gone a day without thinking of her and neither has she. The clothes go flying.

In the afterglow, Tony wants to hear about his kids. Vicky calls Bruno "voluntarioso" (willful) and Raquel "caprichosita" (capricious), and says Sam spoiled them both. Tony's other kid is only 2, but he's a good and laughs a lot. And btw, he needs a mother, which Vicky is only too happy to be. Tony thinks this is all quite miraculous. Vicky remembers that Sam used to say that life goes round and round and puts everyone in their place. She lets him know that Sam wanted them together, in his last days. Tony thinks they've got to tell the kids that he's their dad, but she doesn't want to do it now. Tony promises he'll do everything possible to earn the kids' love.

Months later, Vicky breaks it to the kids that she's hooking up with Tony. Bruno wants none of it. Vicky goes off an a spiel about how their money's running out, Tony can give them a better life, better education, etc. Bruno doesn't care, he doesn't like Tony. Raquel wants to know about the room/clothes/toy situation and that's enough to win her over. Vicky tells the kids it's going to be a big change, but she promises it will all go well.

And so, at long last, Tony and Vicky get married in a small lakeside service. I'd be more excited if she'd gotten to wear a big pouffy 80's dress, but alas, she wears a white suit. I know, I know, second wedding and all that, but a bride is a bride is a bride and no woman should be prohibited from wearing the meringue of her choice, should she have the available funds, and tradition be damned! They sign the papers, as do the witnesses. There are lots of kids in the crowd. Margarita, who I guess is the nanny, brings up Alejandro (curly-haired baby), then Tony calls Bruno and Raquel up. He tells the kids that from now on, they're all siblings and introduces his kids to the crowd. Everybody claps and Tony and Vicky kiss some more.

Flash forward again, to 1991 this time. A bunch of boys are playing fútbol. One gets knocked over and gets a bloody nose. This is apparently Alejandro (someday to be William Levy, but not tonight at the rate we're going). As he and, presumably, Bruno walk home, Bruno bounces the soccer ball off Alejandro's back and tells him not to cry. Vicky, who gets younger looking as time passes, is shocked to see her little Alex all bloodied up. She hauls him inside the house as Bruno complains that it's Alex's fault for insisting on playing when he doesn't know how. Felipa is also shocked to see Alex's face and gets him inside the house as Vicky gives a dirty look to Bruno.

Later, Bruno complains that Alex is a "metiche" (busybody; from "meter" to get in, or put in, or get into; i.e., someone who sticks their nose in everything) Vicky gripes out Bruno because "le metiste una zancadilla" (you tripped him). Bruno says that (a) he didn't and (b) if Alex wants to play, he'll have to deal with the consequences. (According to my in-house fútbol expert, Alex was indeed tripped, as Bruno made contact with his feet without coming into contact with the ball. He advises me that it was "just" a trip, not a yellow or red card offense, except for being from his own brother.)

A moment to talk about the captions…they were confusing Mr. 5ft as he kept seeing "# años" and wondering why the kids didn't look anywhere near that old. The full caption reads "hace # años" meaning, "years ago" rather than years old.

Vicky tells Bruno that it's his job to protect his little brother, but Bruno objects that Alex isn't his brother. Vicky brings up that it's always something, a push, a trip, Bruno is always "aggrediendo" (attacking) his brother. Bruno gets pouty as he complains that Alex "me cae gordo" (can't stand him, he gets on my nerves, etc.; can anyone explain where they get that from a literal translation of "he falls fat?") because they pay more attention to Alex than to him. Uh, oh. Never did have that talk with the kids, did you. Vicky claims to treat them all equally, but Bruno thinks he and Raquel should be treated just a little more equally since they're Vicky's kids and Alex isn't. Vicky's final try is to say that Alex is a nice kid. But Bruno doesn't care, he just doesn't like him and now he's got to get dressed because he said he was going out to eat with his "cuates" (buddies; although the literal is "twins"). Vicky walks off, upset.

She goes into Alex's room to console him a little. She tells him the swelling will come down in a few days. She tries to explain that it's not that Bruno doesn't like him (um, no, I'm sure he was pretty clear that he doesn't) it's just that he's a big boy and Alex isn't. Alex complains that Bruno always pushes him, makes fun of him, and gives him "coscorrones" (knocks on the head). Vicky praises Alex's big heart and says that with time he and Bruno will grow closer just like two "real" brothers. Oh, Vicky, honey, take the blinders off.

Flashing forward again, to 1999. Tony, walking with crutches, asks Vicky if she now understands why he decided to put the company in Alex's name. Vicky doesn't, since Bruno is the elder. Tony says he's heard rumors that Bruno is a good-for-nothing. Vicky doesn't believe it, but even if it's true, she thinks they should give Bruno another chance. Well, that's why Tony has called this meeting, to find out the truth. Vicky says that Bruno has assured her that he's doing all his work, that he's doing well in his classes. Ah, so this would be Bruno's college that they're going to? And since when can parents of 22-year-olds request parent-teacher conferences? Tony says if they find out that's true, he'll call the lawyer and change his will.

Inside, Bruno tells "Conchita" that he could swear he just saw his parents. Conchita says they're talking to the "coordinador" (coordinator) of his "carrera" (degree--his department head? His academic advisor?). Bruno looks worried as Vicky, in voice over says "expelled? Since when?"

The coordinator says since three months ago because he's not following his degree plan or the school rules. He's been disrespectful to his teachers and he still dares to come and go as he pleases, bothering the other students, especially his brother, Alex.

As they walk back out of the school, Tony tells Vicky that he's not going to leave Bruno or Raquel unsupported, even though she must agree that they deserve it. Vicky just wants him to think about it, but he has and if he leaves the company in Bruno's hands, there won't be anything left of in within a few years. Bruno has already shown how irresponsible he is and this isn't a game. He reminds Vicky that this is about his "patrimonio" (assets, wealth) and hers as well. Vicky begs for another chance for Bruno. She thinks he can still change. Tony refuses. Vicky chooses this moment--right in front of the kids', er, young adults' school--to bring up that Bruno is "their" son and Alex isn't. Burn. Tony says Alex might not be "theirs" but he is "his". Vicky's sorry she brought it up. Tony wants her to calm down. He says they have to accept that Bruno wouldn't be able to handle that much responsibility. Vicky thinks he doesn't love Bruno because Sam raised him. Maybe Tony thinks that Bruno isn't like him, but he can't do this to Bruno. Bruno will only become more rebellious and he won't forgive Tony for preferring Alex. Tony insists that he's never made any distinctions between the kids up to now. "Ni modo" (it can't be helped). It's time to recognize the limitations of each of their children. Bruno isn't what they would like him to be. "Because he's felt your rejection, that's why he behaves that way," says Victoria. Tony resents her accusing him of rejecting Bruno. Bruno watches them argue from behind a column. Vicky says they're both responsible in any case and it's not fair for Bruno to pay for their mistakes. She won't support his decision because she doesn't agree with it. She won't keep arguing over it, he knows her opinion and she doesn't support him in this.

Now the crutches/anvils come into play as Vicky walks off and Tony sticks a crutch right into a hole next to a drainage grate. This causes him to fall over a motorcyclist and bleed profusely from the mouth.

Vicky frantically screams for someone to get an ambulance. The bystanders stand by. We see Bruno pull out a huge cell phone and start dialing.

Bruno, with horrible emo hair and dressed all in black, throws darts in his room. Little brother Alex, also funereally attired, comes in to talk. Bruno asks if it's fair that after all this time, claiming that they were like kids to him, he and Raquel were left in "la miseria" (poverty). He guesses it's something Tony said to get Vicky to sleep with him. Alex says he'll forgive Bruno for saying that because he knows Bruno is hurting right now, but it's not true that his dad left them nothing. He left Bruno a house in Cancun and Raquel one in Pedregal. But Bruno objects to Alex having been left the company. Alex, kind-hearted sucker that he is, promises that he'll keep giving Bruno and Raquel a monthly allowance so that they can keep living in the manner to which they've become accustomed. He even offers Bruno a job, and not as a "criado" (servant). He says that if Bruno wants to keep living in the house and just rent out his new place in Cancun, he's welcome to do that too. Alex wants it clear that his dad wasn't an "infeliz" (wretch, poor devil, rat bastard), but a good and fair man. Exit Alex. Once he's gone Bruno says he'd die first rather than accept Alex's "limosna" (alms), and Alex is going to be the one who dies, "fíjate" (just you watch).

Back in the study(?) Vicky asks Alex what happened. Alex says that he explained it to Bruno, but Bruno's very angry, and with good reason. His dad shouldn't have done it. Vicky says if what happened hadn't happened, Tony might have changed his mind. A pretty girl, who I presume to be Raquel, asks Alex what he's going to do now that he owns everything. Alex says nothing is going to change. "Besides," he says, "you know I love you." He hugs the girl as Vicky looks on and smiles sadly.

Ten years later (that would be 2009) church bells ring and a young woman in a bright yellow t-shirt happily greets Candi from Tontas. She's there to do an inventory, since she's leaving her job soon. She tells yellow t-shirt girl to leave the postcards or Candi will be charged for them later. Yellow t-shirt girl is off from school since the computer teacher wasn't there today. Did Candi go pick up her dress? Sure did. Nothing fancy, but yellow t-shirt girl is still jealous since Candi will be marrying a hot guy who will take her away from work. But Candi objects that just because it's future hubby's plan, doesn't mean it's hers. She still has to support her dad and yellow t-shirt girl until ytsg finishes school and gets a job. Besides, "Alejandro" isn't rich. He has a good job, but he's no millionaire. YTSG says he has more money than them, and a nice apartment. She wonders if his family are coming to the wedding. Candi doesn't think so since his mom and sister live in the US. Doing who knows what. Candi figures if he didn't tell her, he must have his reasons. She says maybe they're servants and he's embarassed to tell her. YTSG wants to know if she gets a dress for the wedding, but Candi says it's only a civil wedding, and besides YTSG looks good in the green one. But YTSG wants to "estreñar" (wear something new, debut something). Candi says she'll see what she can do. YTSG says it's so exciting that in less than a week Candi will be "Mrs. Lombardo." Sounds fancy, but "Alejandro" is a simple guy. Candi crows that they're both in luuuuurve. YTSG asks for a cell phone for her next birthday. What? You can buy them "en plazos" (in installments) and some places even give them away. Sure, says Candi, but then you've got to buy the cards, etc. She promises that if YTSG passes her classes and if she can afford it, she'll buy her the cell phone. YTSG is ecstatic.

In a cantina, a white-haired guy tells Pedrito that he done good. Pedrito doesn't like hiding things from his daughter, like the time they hid the bootlegged merchandise in the warehouse. WHG says that's just what he wanted to talk to Pedrito about…Rufino wants to do bidness with them again. "Again, with bogus stuff? You know how risky that stuff is!" WHG says Rufino's going to pay twice what he did the last time. Pedrito points out that it won't be enough money to get them out of jail, plus the cops would confiscate the merchandise and then they'd end up owing Rufino.

Back to the two sisters, strolling through the plaza of an evening. Candi says they'll live there at least for a while, but she thinks "his" bosses really like him and they might give him a bigger and better job. "Oh, Paula, I'm so happy!" So now we know Yellow T-shirt Girl is Paula. Paula says her sister's boyfriend is ok and all, but he needs more money before he can be perfect. Ah, says older sis wisely, money isn't everything and besides, "Alejandro" is perfect. They stop to listen and clap along to the music.

Pedrito tells WHG the money wouldn't be bad. WHG says Pedrito could even buy his daughter a wedding present with the money, but the girls don't like daddy getting mixed up in dirty dealings. He doesn't want problems with them, especially now when the elder is marrying a decent guy. If people find out, she'll be embarrassed of him. WHG swears nothing will happen. Pedrito keeps trying to beg off. WHG starts planning.

Candi tells Paula that she's serious about Paula getting a job. It's hard for Dad, as an older man, to get a job, and besides he's got a bad leg. Paula says he sure is sick, but from…she mimes drinking. Paula can't understand why "Alejandro" doesn't want a party. Big Sis explains that there will be a party, but after the church wedding. Paula is disappointed that they can't even invite a few friends, but "Alejandro" doesn't want to. Paula goes off to Big Sister's room to sneak a peek at the wedding dress. The phone rings and Big Sister answers it, delighted that "Alejandro" has called. She misses him too and wonders when he's getting here. Paula comes into the room, saying loudly "Ay, no Maria José" (which I presume is the Big Sister's name and not that Paula is cursing), "this is too big!" When she figures out it's "Alejandro" on the phone she asks Maria José if "Alejandro" is okay with her wearing "típica" (traditional) clothing to the wedding. So Mary Jo obligingly tells "Alejandro" that she's planning on getting married in a "huipil" (http://www.anthro.fsu.edu/wovenvoices/weaving/huipil.html a google image search also brings up some nice pictures), if that's ok with him. She pumps her fist in victory and tells him she loves him too, "and thanks for doing this for me". She tells him not to delay his plane since she doesn't want the judge to get there before the groom. She laughs giddily.

Back in Merida, Alejandro stops Bruno on his way out of the house. He's heard that Bruno authorized the construction of the "fraccionamiento" (subdivision or housing development) of San Felipe. Yep, he sure did. Even though there are "minas de arena" (sand mines?) on the land? "Who told you that nonsense?" Fernando, and he knows what he's talking about. But Bruno says Fernando is a poor devil who makes up stuff to make himself look important and justify his job. Alejandro tells Bruno not to pull that crap, he knows Fernando is a good "topógrafo" (surveyor). Besides, says Alex, "building on that land"…"is cheaper," Bruno finishes. Alex is astounded. He always knew Bruno was a big fat liar, but he didn't think Bruno was stupid too. Bruno takes offense. Alex says that he's not going to let Bruno keep working in his business if he pulls another stunt like this. He orders Bruno to call "Martinez" and cancel the work. Vicky comes down the stairs and asks, "Are you arguing with your brother again?" Bruno says not to call that dog his brother again. "The fact that you married his dad is just a disgraceful coincidence." Vicky (sporting a nice blingy V necklace to make her more easily identifiable) wonders why they were fighting. Bruno claims it's because Alex tries to act like the good little boy when really they both hate each other. Vicky tries to say that Bruno has a "carácter" (character) that…but Bruno doesn't think Alex is such a saint. He complains, for what I suspect is about the millionth time, that Vicky shouldn't have let her husband leave everything to Alex. "What are you complaining about? After Alex you're the most important person in the company." Bruno says he's nothing more than a servant and it has to end. With that ominous utterance, he walks out, leaving Vicky calling after him that if maybe he were just a little friendlier…. But he is outta there!

Pedrito sneaks into the house, tripping on a chair. He brought home some leftovers, too, which he hands off to MaryJo. In the process, she smells the alcohol on his breath. Pedro claims he was celebrating her upcoming wedding and asks if she's happy about that. She is, of course. He tries to give her a statue that maybe she can sell at the store. But MaryJo has told him before, the owner won't sell stuff without a "factura" (invoice). Pedro says he bought it off a poor old lady who needed the money, so where's she supposed to get an invoice from? MaryJo agrees to try to sell it and give Pedro his commission. Now he puts a bracelet on her wrist and says he's going to miss her when she gets married. Pedro says the bracelet is "full" of saints to take care of her. That "Alejandro" seems like a nice boy, he says, and MaryJo agrees.

Bruno sits in a darkened room, with a projector on, practicing Alejandro's signature. Or so I suspect. There's a knock on the door from someone named Erick, last seen as Manzanares on MEPS. He comes in and confirms that Bruno is practicing "the signature." "So, when are you getting married?" Saturday. Bruno wants him to get him a plane ticket in Alejandro's name. "In the name of that disgrace!" And after? What they've planned. Alejandro has to go to Zarco. The road is "sinuosa" (sinuous, winding), and that's where he will die. And Bruno will get the widow and the money. "And will the girl agree, sir?" "Of course! I have her eating out of my hand."

The next morning at breakfast, Vicky swans in, announcing that Maura called. She wants to come to dinner tomorrow. Alejandro laughs, saying she can come over if she wants to, but he's not going to have time for her. He's got a very busy weekend. He says he'll go to Zarco the following week. He needs to check out some wild land that Dad bought a few years ago. He's thinking of building a hotel or a spa. Bruno announces he's on vacation as of tomorrow, maybe to Cancun. Then he gets offended when Alejandro asks if he has any pending business at the office--"Of course not! And if I did, your brilliant brain would take care of it all!" Bruno storms off and Alejandro and Vicky try to laugh it off. Vicky asks him to be patient, but Alejandro says he's been too tolerant with him. Vicky reminds him that he's jealous and feels humiliated because everything he has, he owes to Alex. Alex agrees, but what can he do about it, "I wasn't going to reject my father's inheritance just to please him!" Vicky says Bruno had gotten hopeful, and deep down is a good kid. Alex says it must be way deep down. He reminds her that she's seen him do his best to make friends with Bruno, but Bruno has always hated him, ever since she married his dad and came to the house. "Besides, he doesn't do anything so that we can get along better. And if I put up with him, you know perfectly well it's for you." He excuses himself to go to work. He says he won't be home for dinner and he'll see her later tonight.

Outside, someone's getting Alex's convertible ready. Alex drives off, top down, while Bruno watches from the lawn. Erick approaches Bruno and says he's talked with the judge, everything is ready, the witnesses too. He'll bring over the plane tickets this afternoon. Bruno says that Alex has to go to Zarco the following week. He instructs Erick to pay attention to the day and hour of Alex's departure. Erick agrees.

MaryJo and Paula watch some folkloric dancing and gossip. Turns out MaryJo is pure as the driven snow, despite many visits to "Alejandro's" apartment. Paula would never be so puritanical. Of course, "Alejandro" has asked MaryJo for a sample of the milk before he buys the cow, but MaryJo refused. And she doesn't feel she's missing out on anything. She'll get some of his sweet, sweet loving once they're married. She thinks that Paula, on the other hand, will end up doing something she regrets. Just out of curiosity, MaryJo asks if Paula's "noviecitos" (little boyfriends) are using "preservativos" (and no, that's not preservatives, it's condoms). Paula laughs off the idea of boyfriends.

Bruno packs. There's a knock on the door. It's Vicky. She wants to know why Bruno didn't tell them earlier about this sudden trip. You know, despite the fact that it covers her up too much, I really like the flowiness of her dress. And maybe the belt at the waist to cinch it in makes it ok. Still, awfully formal for a family breakfast and just hanging around the house, no? Bruno gripes that he's old enough to not have to inform her about everything he so much as thinks of doing. Besides, he needs a few days away from there so he doesn't have to look at that "imbecíl presumido y autoritario" (presumptious and authoritarian imbecile). Vicki objects to his description. She reminds him that Alex has always tried to be his friend and of course, he was bound to get tired of it sometime. Bruno says he's tired of Alex too, and if she hadn't contributed to "the old man's" death, maybe things would be different now. Vicky says it was an accident, but Bruno asks her if she's sure. Vicky says, sure, they were arguing, but…. Bruno says if she'd been at his side he wouldn't have died, or at least not so quickly, and she would have had time to change his mind about the will. "So, you see, it's all your fault." Go on, Vicky, give him a kick on the way down the stairs. Ungrateful little brat, making his mom cry like that. Bruno takes his luggage and leaves. Vicky sits down in his chair and says that he's right, it was her fault Tony died. She tells Dead!Tony that she's sorry and that without him the family is a complete disaster.

A few days later, MaryJo and Bruno, calling himself Alejandro, get married. He has a little trouble signing the document, but then pulls off what we can only assume is a passable imitation of the real Alejandro's signature. As they kiss, Fake Alejandro tells MaryJo that whatever happens, she needs to remember that he loves her. She's curious, but he says he's just saying it because he loves her and he's happy. The judge says he'll give them a "comprobante" (receipt) so that they can pick up their marriage certificate. Paula congratulates them and hands out wine.

Out on the street in front of the house, MaryJo tells Paula and her dad that she'll be back for her clothes tomorrow before she goes on a trip with Fake Alejandro. For now, they're going to his apartment to do the nasty. What, isn't that what all newly married couples do? In the car, Fake Alex won't tell MaryJo where they're going. He says it's a surprise and it'll only be for a few days and when they do their church wedding, they'll do a bigger trip. They bump fenders with another driver, but when Fake Alex gets out of the car, the other guys drive off fast. While he's out of the car, his cell phone rings. It's Erick telling Bruno that Alex is going to Zarco the following day. Bruno gripes and Erick suggests scrapping the plan. He looks back at MaryJo waiting for him in the car and tells Erick that he'll take the next flight. MaryJo is surprised to hear this. Bruno/Alex gets back in the car as she asks, "you're leaving?"

And tomorrow: Felipa wonders if it's not about time the kids learned who their BioDad really is; Alex takes the long and winding road to Zarco, with disastrous results; Vicki cries over Alejandro.

Finally! I think I got a little long winded, but they really crammed a lot in there to set this story up. Just as a review, the list of players:

Antonio=Tony=Baby Daddy=the father of all three kids
Samuel=Sam=Non-Baby-Daddy=the guy who raised Bruno and Raquel, now dead
Victoria=Vicky=lover of Antonio, later his wife; first Samuel's wife, mom to Bruno and Raquel, stepmom to Alejandro
Hernán=Antonio's friend who we may or may not even see again
Bruno=Fake Alejandro=snot nosed brat with a huge chip on his shoulder
Raquel=no impression yet
Alejandro=Alex=dumbass guy too nice for his own good
Maria Jose=Candi from Tontas=MaryJo=virginal bride of Alejandro, or so she thinks
Paula=MaryJo's not so puritan younger sister
Pedrito=Pedro=MaryJo's dad; bound to get in trouble with the law
Erick=skeezy accomplice of Bruno

Labels: sortilegio

Carlota sits in severely unflattering light and sobs wretchedly over the failure of her seduction attempt. “Eh, uh, uh, uh,” say the captions.

Cristóbal kneels in glowy holy light and prays, saying he’ll still be faithful to the church’s teachings, but as a regular dude now.

Carlota now paces in her room so we can see her horrid unflattering pants. Rufi graciously comes by to offer her tea, and gets yelled at for her trouble. Carlota sobs some more and looks more pale than purple. She might really be broken.

Mac gets the report from Command Central, i.e. Rufi in the kitchen: Paloma is still at painting class, and Cruel is “cerrada a piedra y lodo” (locked up tight). They guess that Cruel must have spoken to Cris; it’s the only thing that would explain her attitude. Rufi is just worried that now Cruel will hate Mac even more. Mac thinks she’ll have to go far away to live in peace, and Rufi says if only Cris wasn’t a priest, surely he would be courting her all over again. Mac is about to fill her in on the latest juicy development, but Paloma arrives. She’s carrying the gigantic stuffed rabbit and says Aaron gave it to her as a gesture of friendship. Rufi looks skeptical.

Orlando is waiting around for his party to start. Cris is the first to arrive, quite conspicuously in a regular suit with no priest collar. Orlando doesn’t seem to notice. Cris congratulates him on the business success.

Mac and Paloma talk about her art, and Mac says maybe she’ll start painting again herself. Somehow this involves bringing the birds into the living room. Paloma is excited about learning more but wonders whether her relationship with Emiliano will survive if she moves to México City. Mac says time and distance can’t destroy true love. Paloma notes that Mac seems really happy but Mac won’t tell her why.

More people are at the party. Joel asks to be introduced to Angélica. Rafael looks around anxiously for Camila until she finally arrives. He commiserates with her about her search for Romina, but is interrupted by a possessive Orlando. Rafa is trying hard not to let his jealousy show, and pretends for Emiliano’s sake that he’s having a great time.

Paloma is still giving the birds a tour of the house. Now she puts them down in the kitchen, and she, Mac, and Rufi all sing wordlessly for awhile. “Lararara, lara, lara,” say the captions. Paloma notes how happy they all are and will be in the future. Rufi says maybe Edmundo will return and serenade her again. What a coincidence that they all found love at the same time, says Paloma. Rufi with Edmundo, Pal with Emiliano, and Mac with…(Mac looks nervous)…Dr. Bermúdez, of course! Cruel comes to spoil the party. She says the doc is in the sala to see Mac. When Paloma and Rufi start humming again, Cruel gets furious and tells them never to sing that song again. They are baffled. Paloma guesses that song must remind Cruel of her unrequited love. It’s anybody’s guess how Carlota could recognize a song from that tuneless humming.

Back at the par-tay, Emiliano calls Diana and finds out that she is indisposed, but has sent a representative in her place. Said emissary arrives and plants several lengthy smooches on Emoo’s cheek while dozens of flashbulbs fire and everyone stands around and stares. Em looks disgusted but lets Romina do the ribbon (listón) cutting. I don’t know why a new business partnership requires a ribbon, but the gazillion photographers seem to think it’s quite the Kodak moment.

Everyone is back to normal partying. Emiliano is furious at Romina, but she tries to convince him she’s the perfect proxy for his mother. Ugh, Romina, no one wants Oedipal overtones in their futile romantic entrapment attempts, you creep. Emiliano storms off. Germán remarks that the dress Romi is wearing is one he bought in the D.F. Camila finally gets a chance to talk to Romina and asks her to come home. Romina says she doesn’t want to go back, even after she finds her father.

Rodolfo has visual aids for his Marry Me presentation: photos of the house which could be Mac’s for the low, low price of marrying him. Mac starts to say she needs to talk to him about something very important, but then she sees Carlota eavesdropping from the hall and just says she will have to think about it. He encourages her to overcome her fear and tries for a kiss but is denied.

Once he’s gone, Mac reams Carlota for the pathetic skulking around. Cruelota refuses to play defense and goes straight to offense, saying that everyone knows about Mac’s scandalous interest in the priest. The D.F. won’t be far enough to escape her shame; she’ll have to go to China. Mac retorts that she’s not ashamed and she’s not going to let Cruel stop her. “Oooh, I’m so scared!” mocks Carlota. Mac says Cruel is just jealous because Mac has what Cruel can’t have: love. “With your daughter, or with the priest?” asks Cruel, making a face to imply that only stupid people want love. “Both!” zings Mac. Cruel is out of ammunition and resorts to her default “Imbécil!” as she flounces back to her room. She hisses that she hates Macarena.

Camila is still upset about Romina, but Orlando tells her to forget it and just enjoy the party. Rafa and Emiliano join them in a toast, and Romina horns in and hangs on Emiliano’s arm.

Paloma tries to convince Mac to accept Rodolfo’s offer. Mac says no way; she is not in love with him.

Cris calls Mac from Ange’s desk and they arrange to meet. Nosy Inés comes along and almost-ex-padre Cris totally lies to her about the call. After he walks away, she picks up the phone.

Joel hits on Angélica. She’s amenable.

Cris and Mac meet up in the park. He tells her he’s given up his vestments and he’s now free to pick up where they left off. Passionate lip-lock ensues.

Inés calls miserable Diana and reports that the op is a great success. Orlando is strutting around like a peacock with Camila. Inés thinks he’s in love with her, which disappoints Diana because she’d like to think she’s harder to forget than that. After 25-odd years. And abandoning him. And leaving him wondering about their child. And stealing all his money. Yes, how dare he fall in love with someone else?

Cris and Mac take a romantic stroll and marvel that their remotest dreams have come true after all this time. Cris says he wants to get married; they just need to wait a few days until someone can come to replace him in the parish. Mac accepts with one condition. She wants to take Paloma and Rufi and go far away from Real del Monte and not tell anyone where they are going. He agrees it’s best to get away from Carlota.

Emiliano has a big foolish grin on his face, so the text message he’s writing must be to Paloma. Romina rudely interrupts him but he’s having none of it.

Cris says they’re back in the same place they were twenty years ago: wanting to get married, and no money. He thinks he can get a teaching job, though. Mac says she can sew or sell jam or paintings. She’s just worried about separating Paloma and Emiliano. They agree they won’t let P&E end up like them. Cris says he really likes Emiliano, but there’s just something special about Paloma. It must be that she’s so much like Macarena. Mac does not take this obvious opportunity to tell him that Paloma is his daughter. Cris gives her a diamond engagement ring. I wonder how he acquired that on a priest’s stipend. I think the twinkle sound as he puts it on her finger indicates that it is magic, provided by his fairy godmother. More mad making out.

Paloma reads the text message from Emoo and sends one in return. She hugs the phone.

Turns out Cris has been holding onto the ring for nearly twenty years. Smoochity smooch smooch. Odd that no one seems to be out and about tonight to see them. They must be in the same park where Emiliano could bellow about being Paloma’s novio, yet keep it a secret.

{Aside—I hate the ad bumper where Emiliano is licking his lips. It looks lewd. Can’t they get rid of that?}

Orlando has pulled Camila into another room to try to get the afterparty started early. She thinks they should get back to the guests, but he just wants to get busy. They kiss and giggle.

Mac swoons into the house with her lip gloss miraculously intact. She and Rufi blather about Carlota’s goings-on. Rufi offers dinner, but Mac says she isn’t hungry. I guess she’s getting an early start on living on love, since she hasn’t bothered to OPEN THE FREAKING ENVELOPE. Rufi is frustrated that no one in the house wants to eat. Don’t diabetics have to eat on a regular schedule whether they want to or not? No wonder Mac is always sick.

Cris tries to talk to Padre Mateo, but PM is already in bed snoring so Cris just tucks him in.

Macarena admires her ring and is nearly floating. She goes back to the annoying singing but is mercifully drowned out by the soundtrack.

Joel and Ange are still chatting. She gets a call from Dario, begging her to return, but she hisses at him to leave her alone and stop calling. Joel overhears and is concerned, but she tells him it’s nothing.

Paloma asks Macarena just where she has been at this time of night. Mac says she’s not telling, but everything is going to be different now.

Rafael corners Camila and says they need to talk. She says not here. They agree to meet in the cafeteria in the morning.

The next morning, Mac is up early cooking breakfast and singing again. Rufi asks her if she’s read the papers Carmen brought yet. “Oh, right, those…Carmen said they would change everything,” says daffy Mac. Rufi goes to find them. Paloma appears for breakfast and a magical twinkly hug with her mama.

Carlota has taken to her bed to cry and relive the humiliating rejection by Cris. Enough tears, she decides.

Rufi and Mac can’t find the envelope. Rufi thinks Mac is just absentminded, like she’s in love or something.

Paloma is about to leave for school and notices the envelope in her bag. She sticks it in a drawer and leaves.

Mac is searching her bedroom, to no avail.

Padre Mateo is sick and hacking all over. He has the flu and will have to stay in bed for days. Cris still wants to talk to him about his important business, but PM says not now, just manage the church for a few days. Cris looks really disgusted, either at all the coughing or at having to share a scene with this heinous overactor, and he finally gives up.

Mac wonders why Carlota is still in bed and asks if she’s seen some papers. Carlota has not. Carlota says Cris is not allowed in their lives or their house. She really has no footing in this argument yet Macarena still looks cowed. Years of conditioning will do that.

Avances: Cris is back in his priest duds, but sweet-talking Mac on the phone. Carlota eavesdrops and goes ballistic. Does Mac get pushed down the stairs?

Labels: amor

Well, we start off with a real cliffhanger. Will Beto shoot? And if so, whom? Monita and Mauricio react in typical fashion. She's pugnacious and dares him to shoot but tells him he'll have to kill her first before getting her novio. Mau's trying to gradually talk Beto down, "using his words" as we've all been taught to do. Connie...well, she's mostly in self-protective mode. As usual. Clearly Beto hasn't thought this out very well , and when he finally "kidnaps" Mauricio, he doesn't know what to do next. Strategic planning is not his forte. What the heck, let's drive around 'till he thinks of something. Connie and Moni vow to follow in Connie's car. Strange bedfellows indeed.

Ah ha...perfect segue! " Strange bedfellows "and next we have Ximena and Lalo. Are they jogging or is he simply trying to run away from her? Not sure. She draws him close and asks him what he feels. That she need some breast augmentation. Undeterred she grabs his hand and asks again...what do you feel? That you're in need of a manicure. He DOES notice her nice skin and asks about her depilatory...because his skin is soooo rough, like a crocodile. Ximena, our eternal optimist, is encouraged that at last they've found an interest to share.

Okay. Strange bedfellows no. 3. Oscar and Jerry. Up to no good planting a letter outside Sal's door . Supposedly it's from Gaby and she wants Sal to meet her in 20 minutes in the photocopying room. If the lights are out, don't turn them on, JUST TAKE ME! Whew...who can resist an invitation like that?

Strange bedfellows no. 4. Gaby and Paula meet first to discuss the new noviazgo. Gee whiz, they've both worked at Sermeño Group for years and nary a nibble from Mauricio. Now Monita waltzes in and he's hooked. Clearly though, our two gals are entranced with the romance. But it reminds them of their own solitude. Taking it as a call to action, Paula vows to go looking for Christian and Gaby will go after Salvador. Anybody worried?

The evil Oscar/Jerry plan works to perfection. Sal, loins aflame we presume, charges into the photocopying room and gets down to work with mystery woman...who alas is his crazy wife Lorenza. Gaby barges in (at Jerry's instigation) and finds them getting busy...the preliminaries anyway. Strange bedfellows no. 5.

Sal is horrified to find out whom he's with...but not horrified enough. After Lorenza explains how she came to be there, they go into another clinch. Dang. I know I should be rooting for the sanctity of marriage, but I'm a Gaby fan. And for now, anyway, she wants our oh-so-married Sal.

Gaby consoles herself with cookies. (Brownies were always my drug of choice.) The first, because she's an idiot, the second, because she's immature, the third, because she's gullible (creida), the fourth because she's a glutton (tragona) and the fifth cookie...just because she wants to! (Ah the memories, sweets are a great anaesthetic and don't we gals all know it). Paula's going to need a little anaesthetic herself since she stakes out Christian's address, only to find him with what looks like two little kids and a wife! Ay yi yi.

After we break for ads (and I was tempted to head to the fridge) we come back to find the Moni/Connie alliance breaking down. Moni's shrieks are annoying the bejesus out of Connie (have to agree) and they bicker so much they actually lose sight of our fleeing hombres.

The boys are bickering too. Persnickety little Mau , who has gotten the gun away, is complaining that he didn't give Beto permission to "tutear" him. Naturally Beto pays no attention. He's more focused on the problems posed by Mau's handsome face and shampoo-commercial hair. Unfair competition! Mauricio's taken his job, his woman and his gun. What's a poor bestia like Beto to do? Oh nooo...Mauricio, clearly dropped on his beautiful head at birth, finally agrees to give Monita up if Beto beats him in the ring. Gaaaahhh...can you believe that? Well, sure. After all, we've got months to go. Sit back and relax.

Whoops...hard to relax when we see what's going on back at the office. Lorenza is leaving, but not without a few more kisses from Sal and some heartbreaking hugs...plus plans for dinner before she has to go back to the clinic! And Sal and Gaby are at daggers drawn because each one thinks the other is behind the wretched photocopying room trap. Have our would-be lovers learned nothing? Guess not.

Back to our other feuding couples. The gals finally catch up to our two lunkheads. Monita and Mau want to continue with their breakfast plans and Beto is only too happy to join them but no, it's just two to tango. Get your own. Well, Beto wanted birria *anyway and he drags a reluctant Connie along with him, promising that it's really good and doesn't give you gas, honest!

Our last scenario before the next round of ads is wee Ximena begging Jerry and Oscar to give Lalo some macho lessons. Oscar tries to explain that one "nace viril" (is born a "guy) but Xime reasons that sometimes lost dogs are found, everyone deserves a second chance and well, give it a try fellas! (did anybody follow that line of reasoning?) It isn't "mission impossible", she adds. Enter Lalo, stage left, whining and fussing. No one's on board with this idea except Ximensa.

More ads and then we're back in the coffee room with our sadder but wiser gals Paula and Gaby. Paula's not a stress eater, more of an incompetent assassin. She's waving her plastic knife around with mayhem on her mind but Gaby counsels a different approach. Why dwell on losses? Look at what we've gained!...a deeper soul sister friendship by sharing our romantic setbacks. Okay...I've used that approach myself at times. But let's face it, they'd much rather have their galans back!

Mientras tanto, how's breakfast going with our loving couples? Beto's spilling the beans about the macho contract he and Mau agreed on. Connie's so heartened by this, she orders some birria herself. Monita is quizzing Mau about the agreement as well but naturally he's mum. Maintaining that it's "cosas de hombre" instead he chides her for not using the "tu" form with him. Well, she'll try to make the transition from "usted" but just remember, she loves him with all her heart. Sweet sappy grins and Mau's declaration that nothing and no one will separate them. Another heavy duty anvil alert.

We're back at the Workshop of Lost Causes. Jerry, Oscar and Lordy! even Ximena, are trying to show Lalo how to walk wide and claim manly territory. Failure. Well, how about sitting, with legs spread wide, slugging down a beer and belching? Uh oh, prim legs together, pinkie extended, teeny burp quickly covered up with dainty hand. Not going well.

From there we go to a collage of scenes of both Beto and Mauricio training. Us gals get a glimpse of Costeño and Cibernetico and you guys get an eyefull of Constanza's lacy blue bra...serving as both distraction and motivation for Beto. 'Nuff said.

Now we're at the ring, and it's in full promotional tilt. Lots of ponderous announcements, a pair of girls in depressing pink and black outfits jiggling around to the music. Don Cesar's hair is looking wilder than ever....like he's been electrocuted. And all the usual suspects are there, including Sal and Lorenza, Aldo and Katja, Teresa with Dany, Luisa with novio of two weeks Ivan, Gaby and Paula, Rolu and the current Ximena (he can only date girls with that name, thanks to the tattoo on his back!) Tano and Estrella, Christian and his alleged brood, and of course, the nefarious Oscar and Jerry. Our two feuding womenfolk, Valentina and Constanza, find themselves sitting right next to each other.

The announcers warn us that this fight between el Fantasma Vengador and the famous race car driver Mauricio Sermeño will be without "empate" (a tie) or "indulto" (reprieve). A fight to the finish, in other words. Beto bounds in (after a blessing from his mom) and then Mau arrives in a weird green and yellow outfit, complete with green cape. They dance around and wrestle a little bit and then Monita insists on giving Mau a mask, even though it's supposed to be "mascara" against "cabello". We understand the need for a mask as soon as they start fighting again. Clearly we've got some nice muscular stunt doubles going at it, and it's lots of fun to watch. But Lalo is having the most fun, raving to his "study group" about the gluteos and brazos and torsos on view. Indeed. Carry on, Lalo.

Well, the mayhem isn't confined to the ring. Paula spots Christian heading to the bathroom and decides it's time to rumble. She insists that Estrella accompany her. For some reason, she's changed her weapon from plastic knife to fizzy water. When Christian emerges from the stall, she forces his head down in the basin and rubs the water all over his head while Christian warns them about the consequences of assaulting a police officer. This doesn't deter Estrella who's rubbing his leg oh so carefully, just in case he has a gun hidden somewhere. Paula doesn't know who to be mad at first! but Christian finally manages to explain that the mystery woman is his sister and the kids are his niece and nephew.

Back to the ring. More impressive gymnastics from our doubles and then whoops, Beto is thrown from the ring. But he gets back up, grabs a chair, climbs back in the ring and brains Mauricio with it. Is this allowed in lucha libre? Well, maybe we'll find out tomorrow. Stay tuned. "Cause that's it for tonight.

Previews:
Gaby finds out Lorenza is the new secretary to vice-president Jeronimo. Oh no!
Beto tells Monita that Nieves knows where her mom is but doesn't want Moni to find out.
Estrella is face to face with a mystery woman. But wait, she knows her...she's seen photos...it's Valentina's mom!

*birria = a goat dish served with reddish broth. Typical dish of Tlaquepaque, an area of Guadalajara. Eatn in general in the central part of Mexico.

Vocabulary:
empate = tie
indulto = reprieve. Can also mean pardon.
"fuera seconds" = trainers, seconds out of the ring
creida = gullible
tragona =gluttonous
me tira la onda = coming on to me (Gaby complaining about Sal's behavior)
divide y vencera = divide and conquer, Jerry gloating about the success of their plan to break up Gaby and Sal.
testarudo = stubborn, hard-headed (Beto)

Dicho of the Day"
La cosa ya no tiene remedio = The fat is in the fire. (In other words, looks like Mau and Monita will have to break up again. Oh no!)

Labels: gancho

At another hospital somewhere in the area, Estev tells Padre Bosco through his tears that Eduardo’s chances of surviving are slim and none. The surgeons have told him they’ll have to reconstruct his organs, a very complicated procedure, but the only chance Ed has to survive. They’re putting him on a med-evac plane to Houston to have the surgery done, but they can’t guarantee he will survive even with the surgery. Jacinto, Venus, and Padre Bosco are beside themselves with grief.

Fernanda, Santiago and Aurora are chatting in the hospital waiting their turn so see Gonzo when Fer gets word that Barbara Greco was arrested by the police for killing Artemio Bravo.

Estev and Venus prepare to take our dear, near-dead Ed to Houston on the plane. Jacinto tells an unconscious Eddie not to give up because the Jinete Justiciero (“Avenging Horseman”) cannot die. Estev asks for Bosco to pray for his friend. Bosco says to keep him updated. They start to get on the plane with Eddie just as Estev’s cell starts ringing. It’s Fernanda. She tells him she’s been calling Eduardo’s cell phone but he won’t answer. Estev lies and says Ed couldn’t answer because he’d already taken a flight back to the States.

Fer looks over at Santi and tells him that Eduardo has already left the country and never bothered to say good-bye. She’s stumped-over-being-dumped impactada. Santi gives her a brotherly hug while she cries on his shoulder.
That night it’s AnyBalls turn at bat with his now doting daddy. Gonzo tells AB that Eduardo Juarez saved the family. AB says he’s glad to learn that it wasn’t Lili after all who killed their mother and insists that Barbara Greco must pay for all her crimes. Fer knocks on the door and brings in Lili for a surprise visit. Gonzo is relieved she’s back and the two share a tearful father-daughter hug.

At Jacinto’s, he and Margarita pray to the virgencita to save Eduardo. The two cry together and agree that he’s too good and noble a person to end up this way; he just doesn’t deserve such a sad end. Denia comes home from night class and asks why all the tears. Jacinto tells her that Eduardo’s left for good. Denia says she guesses it was useless for her to have had that chat with Fernanda telling her Franco was really Eduardo. Jacinto is hopping mad at her for opening her big mouth again. Denia explains it was not out of spite, but to help Fer and him to get together. She actually wanted to keep him from leaving after she’d realized Eduardo wasn’t ever going to come around. She’s mad that it was all for nothing now and storms off into her bedroom.

Time passes and suddenly the Eizalde’s are in the family chapel at the hacienda. Gonzo is fully recovered and they are having a funeral service for poor ol’ Uncle Art –or what’s left of him in that pretty brown urn on the table. Gonzo makes a big to do about him, accepts him finally as his brother and in honor of this momentous decision has decided to allow his ashes to be buried with the rest of the dearly departed familia. Gonzo says it’s true his brother was a hateful person who was full of resentments, but he also taught them worthwhile lessons about life. Through him Gonzo learned to appreciate those around him. He hopes that God will pardon his brother and allow Art’s soul some peace (a tall order with a devil like Artie). Padre Bosco blesses the ashes and then Lili places his urn alongside Ana Gregoria’s diary inside the vault. “Uncle, rest here where you belong, alongside your family.”

Several weeks later Barbara Greco’s trial is over and she receives her sentence, or rather, sentences for various crimes: 10 yrs. For counterfeiting/falsifying documents; 10 yrs. for the destruction of other’s property during her official capacity at Grupo Lactos; 15 yrs. for her part in instigating Aurora’s rape; 50 years for racketeering? --50 yrs. for kidnapping Lili; 150 yrs. for homicides including Monserrat, Marcario and Artemio Bravo’s. It’s a grand total of 235 yrs.; however the most she can be made to serve legally is 60. (Eh! My guess is she’d be toothless and wearing depends by then anyway.) AnyBalls looks over at Barbie behind bars and thinks to himself, “One less obstacle for me. Now I will be senior partner at Lactos.”

Barbara screams through the bars at Rory that she’s her daughter, she’s not going to lose her, and she’s never going to give her up because she is all Barbara has now. Ah-wah-wah does what she does best and cries. This time it’s from sheer embarrassment. Barbara screams curses at the Elizaldes as the guards drag her away to her cell. Gonzo scowls and hisses under his breath, “My mistake was having met you!” Lili runs up to him and wants to know if that means La Hiena will never hurt them again. He hugs her and assures her she won’t. Dr. Obregon is there in the courtroom and thinks about giving Lili a pat or a hug, but then thinks better of it and just leaves unnoticed.

Barbara keeps screaming all the way down the hall at the top of her lungs to let her go because she has to see her daughter. The prison doctor tells the guards to put her in an examining room so she can give her a tranquilizer. Barbara spits in the doctor’s face as they drag her off.

Cerisola is also in the courtroom. Anibal heads over to his dad and the attorney and makes a pitch that the 60% that Gonzo gave Barbara should now be evenly divided amongst the family. Gonzo tells him this is not the time or place.

Just then Miguel (minus the 5:00 shadow this time) shows up outside the courtroom and finds Fernanda to tell her he is back for good. He says he called at the hacienda and they told him she’d be there. Fer is happy to see him and mentions that so many things happened after he left. He says he’s anxious to hear about them. Lili turns around and wants to be introduced. Miguel turns on the charm and shows those pearly whites to Lili now. Fer notices (no doubt more than a bit relieved). Lili tells Fer he’s got a beautiful smile. (Lili, hon, you and I are tracking on that one.)

Back at the prison clinic office, the guards bring Barbara in on a stretcher. She fools the doctor into thinking that the tranquilizer has already taken effect. The doc tells the guards to come back in a couple of hours and then the doctor sits down at her desk to do some paperwork. Suddenly Barbara sneaks behind her and gives her the same knock-out neck punch she used on Artie. The doc is down for the count while Barb goes wild, screaming and breaking things. She finds a bottle of alchohol and decides to pour it over herself. She takes a lighter off the doctor’s desk, remembers how she poured gasoline on her parents and lit it with a match, and tells herself she’s going to have Aurora come see her out of compassion if nothing else. She flicks the bic and lights a corner of her prison dress. “Aurorahhhhhhhhh! Hijaaaaaaa!!!!!!!” Barbie G is now Barbie-que.

Migui and Fer go to the cafeteria for a chat and coffee. She tells him that Lili will be finishing her therapy in a few months and will be fully recovered emotionally. She couldn’t be happier with the prognosis. Miguel says her eyes say different. He sees a yearning and sadness in them. He asks what’s going on. She hesitates to say because she says she doesn’t want to hurt him, considering how things ended right before he left last time. He asks if it has to do with another man. She says yes; it’s that Eduardo is alive.

Labels: manana

Permalink posted by Jardinera654 @ 2:27 AM 32 comments

Hi, blog mom here saying - thanks all you guys - you are champs. All the recappers here at Caray, Caray are giving their time for free and what an amazing community we've created. I'm very grateful for you all. MEPS was a pretty good ride. Too bad Fernanda couldn't have a prettier wedding dress after all that waiting.

REMINDER: Sortilegio starts tomorrow. I'd still like another volunteer to step up and take at least half the Mondays (I'd rather not have an every-week slot...)

Melinama (aka Chapel Hill Fiddler)

Labels: announcements, manana, recappers-needed

Just kidding!

Meses despues -
It's the big day, Fernanda and Gonzalo arrive at the church in a ticker tape parade, in a really nice convertible with the top down.

Inside, Eduardo (he's not Fr/Ed anymore now that the cat's out of the bag) throws up a prayer to the virgin for everything. Has anyone ever actually prayed to GOD ever in one of these shows? It's always the virgin. I don't get it.

Fernanda is walked up the aisle by Gonzalo. In the audience we see: Liliana with Miguel and Santiago and Aurora with new baby (a real small baby this time, not a six month old like Priscilla's 'newborn'). Gonzalo gives Fernanda to Eduardo with some nice words. The ceremony starts. During the ceremony, we see more faces (and hear thought bubbles) in the crowd - Anibal sitting alone (the one loose end, what happened with Pris and Vlad?), Jacinto, Gardenia, Esteve, Flor, Margarita.

Everyone takes communion. I didn't realize that you weren't allowed to use your hands. Each person looked like they were about to lose the wafer, Miguel was doing tongue gymnastics to get his into his mouth and not on the floor.

You may now kiss the bride - hoots and hollers from the crowd. On the way out of the church, they stop to kiss a couple more times.

At the prison - the guard yells into Rebecca's cell that she has mail. I guess she survived the immolation. She puts out her hand for the letter, it looks like Freddy Krueger's hand, all burned and scarred. The letter has a photo of Aurora's baby and a note saying that she will keep her informed of how the baby is doing, but nothing more. Rebecca's face comes into the light and I have to admit I was freaked out. GROSS. I might have a nightmare about how she looked, all red and scarred. Bleah.

Wedding reception - Miguel makes a toast. Anibal has some nice, humble words for the couple.

Jacinto tries to get Margarita to drink a.... um.. margarita, but she won't. I was wondering when she'd finally be pregnant, they started trying six months ago. I guess it happens, it took longer than that for my wife to get pregnant last year. Jacinto jumps up and announces that he's going to be a daddy, everyone is thrilled.

Some hot chick that turns out to be Tomasa out of her servant getup congratulates the couple. I guess they just wanted to show what she really looks like.

Flor is making kissy faces with one of the members of the band, so now we know who she ends up with. Carlos (Mexico's only general practitioner) has his uncle show up, who is really his own age (mom's young brother), he wastes no time getting set up with Gardenia. He likes what he sees (of course) and so does she, but he's kind of dorky, after wanting Ed for so long it's a real step down. Happy ending I guess.

During one of the group shots, we get to see Aurora chomping away on a piece of gum with her mouth wide open. How ladylike.

Lili ends up catching the bouquet, of course. Miguel takes the opportunity to ask Gonzalo for Lili's hand, Gonzalo gives his blessing happily and walks away.

Fernanda and Eduardo fly away in a hot air balloon, that of course Eduardo is flying himself. I guess the space shuttle was booked that day, because I'm sure he knows how to operate that too! He could probably do wheelies in it! The balloon has a big "FE" on the side of it. The balloon floats away, and our story ends.

Labels: manana

(last scene of Part 4 - "Firebug" Rebeca Sanchez pours rubbing alcohol on herself and then takes the cigarrette lighter from the desk and lights herself on fire. As she burns, she runs around the prison doctor's office/exam room crying out for her daughter Aurora. (She hopes that Aurora will stay with her, even if it's out of pity.)

Part 5 (beginning of the third hour of the finale):
* In the hospital cafeteria, Fer and Miguel sit and have some coffee. Fer raves about all the wonderful progress Lili is making with her therapy and that she is so very happy. Miguel notes a little sadness and nostalgia in Fer's mood and vocal tone. Fer admits that she is thinking about someone - Eduardo - she knows that he's alive.

* Lili meets with her psychologist in the office. They discuss Eduardo. Lili is worried about her sister being so sad and lonely because Eduardo went away and hasn't returned. Lili knows her sister loves him, but they have no idea where he is or how to contact him.

* Fer tells Miguel all the harsh words and how she treated him before he left; that she asked him to leave; and so he did as she requested. Miguel tries to say that he will be there and wait for her. Fer stops him. She tells him not to do it. It wouldn't be fair or right to him. He agrees with her, then proposes that they be friends, very good close friends. She likes that idea. He then changes the subject to talking about her community center project - that he has experience in other parts of the world working on project like this. Fer is surprised. He speaks the words "I accept" in Nahuatl (the native mexican language). They laugh and continue talking.

* During the session, Doctor is called out of the office for a moment. Just long enough for Ciro to visit Lili for the last time. She doesn't want him to go. He says, don't worry, soon you will have someone very special enter your life. She smiles.

* Gonzo visits Anibal and Priscilla in the maternity room. Priscilla lets Gonzo hold his grandson. Gonzo gives Anibal his son. Anibal announces the baby will be named "Anibal Elizalde" and will be the next president of Grupo Lactos. Just then -- SURPRISE! SURPRISE! SURPRISE! -- Vladimir enters and wants to see his son and takes the baby from Anibal. Gonzo is totally impactado (stunned). Priscilla tells him it's true, the baby isn't an Elizalde.

* Margie and another teacher bring a line of little children to the front door of the community center. Farmer Jacinto is there at the gate to welcome the little farmers to the school to learn all about agriculture. The kids squeal with joy and excitement. They follow Farmer Jacinto inside.

* In the office of Grupo Lactos, Gonzo scolds and reprimands Anibal for his arrogance and greed and lies and schemes. Anibal is totally impactado (stunned) when his dad punishes him with a complete demotion in the company.

* Short video tour of the completed community center.

* In the office, Gardenia brings Miguel some papers to review. He asks where is Fer? he needs to talk with her about something. Gardenia says she's working with Lili in the conference room. Miguel says he'll wait and find her later.

* Another short video of Fer and Lili and staff in their conference. Fer takes a break and walks outside. She walks to the garden patio where a group of children are having a class. A little girl runs over to her. She hands Fer the necklace with the "FE" pendant and says a man told her to give it to Fer. Fer asks who the man is. The little girl doesn't know his name, only that he is waiting in another part of the patio area.

* Fer walks to the front garden/entrance area. She smiles as she sees Eduardo walk down the stairs, smiling, and come towards her. He tells her that Padre Bosco had written him short letters about the center. He mentions the "Jinete Justiciero" and then he smiles and is honored that they named the center after his mom, "Soledad Cruz". Fer and Eduardo smile and hug.

* Fer is so excited to show Eduardo the center - she takes his hand and becomes his (and our) guide through the center. (Video tour of all the artisans, markets, cooking areas, craft areas, etc.) Eduardo smiles, listens and observes as Fer holds his hand and they tour the center. At the main entrance hall, Fer tells Eduardo that Jacinto is the center's director. Eduardo is happy to hear it. They laugh. Just then, Miguel appears and pulls Fer away to talk to her about center business. Eduardo is a little disappointed and disappears. As Fer attempts to stop the conversation with Miguel, and to introduce him to Eduardo, she looks around and can't find Eduardo anywhere. Miguel is stunned.

* Gonzo visits Camilo in prison. Camilo tells his daddy that he is really repentant for all the harm and malicious things he did. He assures his dad that when he is released from prison, he is totally and completely a new person. Gonzo is happy to hear this. They hug.

* Anibal is hard at work -- in the cattle barn -- with the other ranch hands. (Uh, Anibal, I hope you learned when the tail goes up, you step far away.)

* Eduardo visits his mom's vault at the church. He kneels down and prays to his mom about finding out that no one needs him there; he wonders what he should now do with his life, will he forever be waiting and wishing for something that never comes... Just then, Fer appears in the chapel. She says he forgot something and holds up the "FE" necklace. He says that's yours. She urges him to put it on her. He does so. Then he asks why? He reveals that he is jealous of her and Miguel. She laughs and tells him he's being stupid and jealous over nothing. Miguel is her friend and colleague, plus he's dating her sister Lili. She scolds him for not calling her or keeping in touch. Then she asks him how much longer will she have to wait before he asks to marry her. Eduardo smiles, says, "Fer. my first and only love." They kiss passionately.

And so ends my part of this three hour finale...

Labels: manana

So, here we are at the top of hour 2 of our actual 3-hour final. I'm so excited that we get a whole three hours of new information!

So, when last we left Eddie, he was riding down a bunch of stairs and away from his pursuers. Go, Eddie, go!

Back at Hacienda Elizalde, Esteve hands over Lili's inheritance papers to Fernanda. He tells her it's all there, complete with the registrations for Ciro's patents. Esteve explains that Eduardo was using this money to finance his extravagant lifestyle. The account is now in Fernanda's name, since Lili won't be able to handle it on her own. Esteve tells them Eddie is off getting Obregon to agree to testify against Barbara. Fer says they're going to turn Barbie in to the cops today. Fer asks Esteve for a favor, to give the silver heart to Eduardo and tell him it's his. Esteve says he will as soon as he sees him. Santiago walks Esteve to the door.

Fer calls Eduardo on his cell and begs him to answer, but Eduardo is busy riding through the countryside on his trusty steed, er, dirt bike.

Evil Barbie, in a smokin' hot red dress and smoking like a chimney, discusses with Artie that they've got to get their spawn back. The plan is for Barbie to get Aurora to the lake, where Artemio's helicopter will be waiting for them to take them to the border. In a few days, they'll be off in some foreign country. He can't have his grandchild growing up with the Elizaldes. Artemio won't promise not to take Aurora and the baby away from Barbie, either, since she's been such a terrible mother. Well that's a little like the terrible parent calling the other parent a terrible parent. Artemio gets a call and instructs the person on the phone to let him/her in. Then he tells Barbie they're in luck. Aurora walks in and everyone is impactada (including me!).

Eduardo rides up to Las Animas and does some fancy dismounting (the East German judge still gives him an 8, though). He tosses his gloves around and takes off his motorcycle jacket (to reveal yet another preppy sweater--please, Fer, marry this man and burn all his preppy sweaters). Borja comes out from behind the bushes, calls to him, and after politely explaining that he has his orders, shoots him once in the chest, once in the back, and then about another 3 in the chest (2 of them after he's already on the ground). Eddie lies on the ground bleeding as Borja walks away. Idiot. You always check the body. Hasn't Bravo taught his henchmen anything?

Jacinto and Esteve scream about Eduardo having been shot. They send Venus into the house to call an ambulance. Eddie tells them to take him far away to die. He mumbles that his last wish is that Fer doesn't find out. He doesn't want her to suffer. "Tell her that I already left." Then he shuts his eyes as Jacinto and Esteve cry.

Aurora tells her parents she had a feeling she would find them there. She wants to talk to her mommy and daddy. She says despite everything, she's happy they're not dead, even though she never imagined she'd see them. Then she starts screaming at them…"Why did you even have me?" Barbie says it was her choice. Aurora was her greatest hope after having lost everything. "You mean, after burning your parents to death!" Aurora says, "you said that was an accident." But Barbie defends herself, saying she burned down the house with her parents inside. She was only twelve and it was the only way she could think of to free herself from their abuses and punishments. She talks about how they used to drink a lot and that the only reason she didn't have scars was because while her father would torture her, her mother would constantly remind her father not to scar her. They had plans to sell her off later. That's why she burned the house down with them inside. The only thing she's sorry for, though is hooking up with Artie. She brings up that it was Artie who took Aurora away from her. Artie says Aurora's life would have sucked with Barbie for a mom. Aurora then talks about her lovely life with Dominga. Artie and Barbie both look pretty sad and guilty.

Fer tells Santi she's given the cops Artie's address. Santi tells Fer he can't find Aurora. He's sure Barbie has her and he wants to go looking for her. Fer tries to call Eduardo, so Santi doesn't go alone. She ends up leaving him a message asking him to call ASAP.

Aurora reminds Barbie about how she treated her when she first got to the hacienda. She brings up having Camilo rape her. Artie takes offense, but she calls Artie on having no right to be upset since Dominga intended to sell her off. "Who gave you the right to go around killing innocent people like Montserrat Elizalde?" Barbie's defense is that Artie made her do it. Aurora is terrified to be their daughter. Barbie tries to pull an "I'm your mother and you owe me your life!" But Aurora says she can't be the daughter of a pair of murderers. She wonders what she's supposed to tell her kid about its grandparents. She hopes she can get rid of their whole cursed inheritance. Artie reminds her the grandchild has his blood. Aurora says it's not blood she's worried about, but soul, and at least the baby has his/her own. Aurora leaves, telling them to leave her alone. Barbie tries to stop her, then appeals to Artemio to do something, but he says they have no right to keep her. He calls downstairs and gives instructions to "let the young lady go." Once he hangs up, Barbie whips out a guy with a silencer and pops him one right in the middle of his forehead. Artie drops to his chair and his head hits the desk. Barbie tells him to rot in hell and then takes a seat. Yep, just like that.

Eduardo is being wheeled into the hospital.

Fer is praying to the Virgencita, wondering why Eduardo isn't returning her calls, especially now that he's gotten the necklace back.

Eddie is in surgery.

Fer tells the Virgen that she doesn't hate Eddie and she needs to tell him that she doesn't hate him, she's just afraid of what will happen, since she knows Artemio won't quit until Eddie's dead. Fer would rather him be far away than dead like her mother.

More surgery, a rib spreader, one extracted bullet, some stitches, machines beep.

Fer wonders why she has the feeling she's not going to see Eduardo again.

Aurora comes back to the hacienda. Out on the lawn, she runs into Santi and she tells him her name is Aurora and that's all she wants to know about her past, but she has a question about her future. Is there room for her in the Elizalde family and in his heart? He says there's been room for her in the family since the beginning and there is only room in his heart for her. He'll love her forever. They hug. And kiss.

The cops have come to collect Artie. His body is lying on a stretcher in front of Barbie as Barbie still sits in the same chair. Comandante Lozoya asks Barbie if she found the body. She says she did, and she heard the shot too. "And where were you at that moment?"
"In front of him."
"You were in front of him?"
"Yes."
"So you're saying it was suicide, then?"
She uncovers his face and looks at it. "No. I killed him." She looks down at his face and looks completely blank.

At the hospital, Anibal tells Pris he went to Damian's funeral. He wanted to make sure Damian was really dead. Now no one can blackmail them anymore and their kid, rather than Santi's, is the one who will be the heir. Pris tells him he's going to get lost in his ambition. He tells her he finds her comments irritating.

In another waiting room, Padre Bosco asks what the doctors have to say. Esteve says they have to reconstruct some organs, it's complicated, and there are few possibilities he will live. Padre B, Jacinto, Esteve, and Venus all cry. Esteve says they're going to fly him to Houston. That's they're only hope to save his life.

Fer gets off the phone and, shocked, tells Aurora and Santi that Barbie has been detained for killing Artemio. Aurora loses her balance briefly.

They take Esteve off an ambulance at an airplane hangar. Padre Bosco gives Eduardo a blessing, then they load Eduardo into the plane. Jacinto also stops them to remind Eduardo that the Lone Ranger can't die. Esteve asks Padre Bosco to pray because he's sure only the Padre's prayers will save Eduardo now. Before he can get into the plane with Venus and Eduardo, Esteve gets a call from Fer. She's sitting in the hospital waiting room. She asks him about Eddie, but he says he can't really answer her because Ed already got on a plane for the US. Fer thanks him and hangs up. Fer starts to cry over Eduardo leaving without saying goodbye. Santi and Aurora console her.

Padre Bosco and Jacinto cry as the plane takes off.

And thus endeth my part of this recap. Y'all have been a fabulous audience. Hope you enjoy the rest of the show and I also hope you'll be joining us for Sortilegio. Hasta mañana!

Labels: manana

Ditto what Melinama said about recapping while watching. Therefore, I'm posting this hasty rendition for now, and I'll polish it up afterwards.
Polished!

Much to Babs's surprise, no one is moved by her pleas. Santi says he doesn't want this murderer to ever meet his child. Ed reminds him that the only way to prevent Babs from doing more damage is to let Aurora decide if she wants to go with her mother. Fer says it's not up to them to decide without consulting her.

Santi refuses to deal with la Hiena and storms off. Ed reminds Babs that her freedom is in the Elizaldes' hands. Babs looks confused. "Did you forget you killed my mother?" Fer asks. Babs blames that on Lili, and Fer gives her a fantastic slap. Ed separates them while Fer screams at Babs for having Lili committed all those years. Ed says they're not referring to Lili's testimony, but to Bravo's.

Babs scoffs at the notion that Bravo would ever side with them and laughs like a hyena. "He's not going to change his plans just because you ask!" Then she tries to drop the big bomb about Franco being Ed, and gloats over what an effort it must have been for him to pass himself off as a gentleman, but Ed says that this was much easier for him than it was for her to pass for a lady!

Babs tries again, saying that he's just a cook's son in fancy clothes, but this effort fizzles as well. Fer says, "speaking of origins, why don't we talk about Rebeca Sanchez?" Babs tells them to mind their own business! Fer tells her to leave. Bab claims it's her house as long as she's married to Gonzo and she wants to see Aurora. Ed taunts that she's in no position to demand anything. Fer says tomorrow Aurora will decide whether to go with Babs or not. Barbeca Grec-chez whips her housekeys out of her purse, flings them onto the floor, and leaves. Wow Babs, you sure showed them!

Aurora and Santi have a happy reunion with essential kisses.

Ed visits Gonzo at the hospital. He says he's Franco Santoro and wants to say goodbye before going back to the EEUU. Gonzo thanks him for being the family's guardian angel... he inherited that noble quality from his mother Soledad! Gonzo apologizes to Ed for sending him away and credits his brother for opening his eyes to the truth. (Sure, after several decades' delay...) Now he can die! Ed says no, your family needs you. Gonzo says that if God gives him another chance, he promises to fix all of his errors.

Santi introduces Lili and Aurora. Lili (wearing regular clothes for the first time in forever!) says they will have the happiest baby in the world.

Ed is saying goodbye to Jacinto before leaving for the US. (Apparently, going by his jacket, he will morph into some kind of magical zord for the trip home a la Power Rangers. Thanks Doris for pinpointing what he looks like!) He leaves a ton of documents with Esteve and takes off.

Esteve tries to cheer Jacinto up, but Jacinto is uneasy. "I've got a bad feeling about this."

Meanwhile, Bravo is on the phone with his henchmen who are following Ed. He tells them to stand by for his order.

Santi tells Aurora all about how Babs murdered his mother, framed Lili for it, had her committed at Miraflores for 15 years, etc. And the person who was behind it all? Artemio Bravo, Aurora's father! And Babs put Camilo up to the rape, too and even supplied the knockout drops.

Aurora is horrified and doesn't want to hear any more. Santi tries to calm her down, but Aurora says she needs time to think. Santi agrees to wait for her decision.

Ed takes his bike to a nightclub, where our long-lost Dr. Obregon is - I kid you not - choreographing a cancan act. In a red feather boa. Somehow he looks at home. The henchmen wait outside.

Fer and Santi talk about Aurora being upset. She waited her whole life to meet her mother. But they have to wait for her to decide before they turn Babs in.

Obregon eagerly agrees to testify against Babs - he wants her to pay for all her crimes. All he asks for is a little immunity. He will be overjoyed to see her rot in a ditch (rough translation of "pudrirse tras las rejas").

Santi asks Fer why she she was so hard on Franco when they met in the elevator in the hospital before. She tells him that Franco's really Eduardo Juarez. Santi is impactado.

Henchman tells Bravo they're ready for Ed, just waiting for the right moment. Bravo tells them to do away with him. Ed comes out of the nightclub, but his Spidey-sense warns him of danger and he takes off before the guys can get a shot. He leaves in such a hurry that he drops his helmet, but that's the least of his worries now!

Fernanda rants and raves about how awful Ed was, he had a thousand chances to tell her who he was. Santi thinks she's being unfair and points out that although his name was false, his desire to help the family was real and since she still loves him, she should forgive him too.

Ed, the bad guys, and a bunch of other stunt drivers go on a spectacular chase during which he pops some seemingly gratuitous wheelies. He dodges into a parking garage, then straight into a hotel lobby... two bad guys follow him on foot, tripping over chairs in a seminar room.

Now he's riding down an access hallway and emerging out the back of the building, the two guys still following him on foot, and the bad guy car is waiting for him, but he evades, goes down a narrow street where there's an unrelated car blocking the way. He does an abrupt U-turn, but the guys on foot are right behind him, and their car is there too.

So he turns around again and looks at the parked car blocking the narrow street. The car doors are open; people are obliviously getting out of the car. The way is completely blocked.

No problem. Eduardo jumps the car with his bike! The other guys climb over the car, the badguy driver curses, and Ed rides down a long outdoor stairway to safety!

For now...

Labels: manana