Caray, Caray!

You know how in these shows people hide their feelings and never show what they feel? Well tonight sure was the exception. Almost everyone said or showed their true feelings, maybe not at the beginning, but by the end things started sorting themselves out. Will it last? I wonder…


Last night we left with Her Highness Fedra entering the boardroom and Vicky making mysterious implications about seeing her the previous night.

Meanwhile a few doors down El Lirio, a slightly more clumsy version who smacks himself in the huevos with the safe door (nice touch, that!) is burgling The Case of Money that’s in Lowrenzo’s office.

Forget what I said about implications. Vicky starts the meeting off by telling Don Emiliano that she ran into Fedra in a bordello last night! Caras impactadas all around the table. Fedra’s flimsy excuse is that she was looking for Gretel. Oh, and Vicky was just there with a couple of pals out of curiosity to see the worst of the city, but the star dancer, overaged, vulgar and flabby (fláccida), wasn’t much to her liking. Lowman wants to know the address.

Licenciado Pacheco is also at the table. He announces to that all that Mari just inherited Don Max’s entire estate. Fedra steams but Eman backs MV up, yep he gave it all to Mari.
Vicky snottily tells them with Felipe’s inheritance given to her by Emiliano, and Max’s estate, Mari is now the major shareholder of the agency.

Over at the happy, colorful house Netty is crying that Mari is back in town and hasn’t even called. Gladiola is mostly just curious about Mari’s vengeance and is pretty happy that the tortillas have turned in her favor. Netty frets about Mari hating Emanuel. She knows that they were separated by a diabolical plot. Her intuition tells her that Eman is innocent.

Not surprisingly Fedra is busy self-destructing in the board room while Eman tells Vicky to keep her hands off Mari’s money. This pleasant scene is interrupted by Mauricio entering and trying to look all professional with a portfolio. Vicky tells him to beat it, shareholders only. We get a second round of caras impactadas when he announces that Low sold him ten percent of the company and he throws his portfolio of contracts on the table.

Down at the police station Axel and Gretelman are fervently discussing Axman’s love for Delicia and standing about one inch from each other. Their inevitable sibling clinch is spied by Oliver who doesn’t even try to hide his jealousy and indignance. He throws Axel around a bit and there is some pretense at chest thumping until Gman pulls Oli off of Axel, clenches his feminine fist and tells Oli to lay off or he’ll be swallowing teeth. “And you defend him?!” cries our incredulous arm of the law.

Nearby, El Comisario and Brando review Gman’s excellent photos of El Lirio and comment the mysterious thief hasn’t been seen in a few days. Ilitia, looking for a 6-pack, er…I mean Brandon, peeks in and can’t hide the fact that she swoons for the suave stealer.

Her papi’s not faring too well in the boardroom. It looks like Mami Muñeca plans to revoke his power of attorney as punishment for his perfidy. She stomps out as Pacheco does a two-second scan of the docs and announces all is in order, Fonseca is a shareholder. Eman’s in a snit, first bitchy Vicky thinks she’s in charge and now a criminal is on the board!

Emiliano calmly announces if Mari trusts Vicky then they should too. Vicky can’t hide the fact that she’s thrilled she’s sticking it to Fedra and Eman and gleefully announces that nobody will get in the way of her taking the reins of the company.

This Faux Lirio isn’t nearly as quick as the original. He is STILL in the office stealing the money and Muñeca is outside the door wanting to get that case. Screw Lowrenzo and his money, she’s taking it back. She bursts in the office and sees she’s too late, the safe is empty. She turns and sees FauxLirio behind her and scoffs at him. “I’m El Lirio de Plata,” he announces. She calls bull and snickers “no you aren’t”. “Oh yes I am!” “Oh no you aren’t!” FauxLirio cocks his gun, points it at her head and settles the matter.

Brandon and El Comis find out Ililitia saw El Lirio at her house and they think Muñeca is just a bit too familiar with this mysterious thief.

Let’s go back to the bored room. Emiliano advises his disgruntled wife and irked son that this was inevitable and they have to trust Mari’s decisions. Blah blah, shriek shriek, whine whine, “my vote counts”, squeaks Mauricio as if they care. The door bangs open and in stumbles Muñeca followed by FauxLirio.

Looks like it’s time for Ilitia’s shooting lessons out on the range. Brandon demonstrates the proper technique for holding a gun, and he’s got quite a pair of them himself. When it’s her turn Ilitia frets and flinches until Brandon tells her to imagine it’s that disgrace Fonseca. She pumps seven rounds into the dummy’s heart. The girl’s a natural!

I’m not a fan of hostage situations but if that’s what it takes to mix things up in the bored room I’m all for it. FauxLirio croaks a word or two and Vicky pipes up he’s an imposter. FauxLirio actually points his gun at the silver pin on his own chest, “I’m El Lirio de Plata!” OK sure fine, they all nod. Eman’s in a snit because he knows this guy’s a fake, Pacheco hides behind Emiliano, Lowrenzo busily fiddles with something around his neck and the others throw their valuables onto the table while FauxLirio starts scooping up the goods. Gosh that heavy gun must weigh a lot because he sets it on the table to free up his hands for scooping. Eman calmly pick up the gun, uses it to push a couple of bracelets over to FauxLirio and then tells Fauxman it’s time to find out who he really is. Dang he looks hot in this scene.

Mauricio begs Eman not to shoot FL so I think we can safely assume the imposter is Dandy.

Brandon’s self defense class continues and now it’s time for boxing lessons so Ilitia can defend herself from a body to body attack. Body to body? She bats her eyes at him and starts her jumping jacks.

Stupid Fedra runs into FauxLirio giving him the opportunity to steal the gun back and take Vicky hostage. Eman postures, FauxLirio threatens to kill Vicky, Fedra urges him to do it, and finally Eman announces that FauxLirio will take him too.

The boxing lesson is just about the sexiest sparring I’ve ever seen. Ilitia left hooks Brandon in his tight little behind, sticks her cute little tongue out at him, and finally lands a hard punch on his kisser when Brandon tells her to imagine he’s Fonseca.

FauxLirio makes an anemic threat about calling the police and Lowman thought bubbles that he sent them a message from his cell and they’ll be there any minute. That must have been what he was doing with his neck earlier. Whatever. FauxLirio commands them to remove their clothes. Que??

Lesson #3 at Brandon’s academy is hand to hand combat which eventually turns into chest to chest then knee to nut contact. Oops! Did I say Ilitia is a quick study?

The Polis (and Gman with camera) arrive at the board room to find those left behind in their skivvies and tied together in a circle.
My, my let’s see what our friends wear underneath their clothing… Lowrenzo and Emiliano are doing the frumpy businessman thing in boxers and t-shirts, Muñeca is tastefully attired in a simple white slip, Fonseca actually looks mighty fine in his Calvin Klein boxer briefs, and Fedra sports a look we’ve seen before, the gartered dominatrix. I like it, bondage in bondage.

Ilitia tries to comfort Brandon, stopping short of petting his package. Things are heating up quickly for our duo in denial. Brandon leans in for a kiss…doh! Interrupted by the radio. Emergency situation at the Agency. El Lirio de Plata has taken Ilitia’s ‘baby’ hostage. They arrive to find the agency in pandemonium and Brandon promises Ilitia that he’ll find them safe and sound.

Netty is on a tear to find Mari. She calls the long-suffering Almudena in Spain who sticks to her story, not a word to anyone. But she does let slip that the RydTs are very dangerous, Fedra tried to poison Mari. QUE??? Almudena tells Netty to get the rest of the story from Victoria, her lips are sealed.

Eman’s drives while FauxLirio holds a gun to his head. He lisps to Vicky that she’s his little gift. “Ewwww, don’t be gross,” she sneers. Eman’s cogs and sprockets start turning. “You all right Victoria?” he asks. “Muy all right!” FauxLirio leers. Vicky sneers again.

And here comes the cavalry, except there are no horses and its Brandon and Ilitia in his jeep. I sure hope she paid attention in class earlier. Ilitia gets jealous that Brandon is worried for Vicky, but then they spot them up ahead.

FauxLirio has Eman stop the car so they can get out, not sure why, and Brandon pulls up behind them. The two men face each other and it’s a Mexican Standoff.

Ilitia, hiding behind the jeep, keeps waving at Eman, “hi baby!”. FauxLirio, confused as to exactly where to point the gun, loses focus and Eman pulls Vicky out of the line of fire. Ilitia runs to her and they hug. Huh?


They have the same reaction and push each other away. Eww, I forgot I hate you.











Vicky starts gasping and Eman instructs Ilitia to help her out, so Ilitia decides to slap Vicky across the face several times and yell “breathe, breathe, breathe!” Eman and Brandon shake their heads in disbelief.

Now we’ve got a rather long scene where Muneca swears to El Comisario that this guy was NOT El Lirio de Plata. The real ELdP is noble, a gentleman, he takes from the rich and gives to the poor. He doesn’t keep the money. She asks El Comis what would he do if he someone gave him a lot of money so that orphans could eat? He wavers momentarily before declaring she knows just a little too much about El Lirio and she’s under arrest.

This will likely be good news to Lowrenzo who has his hands full at the moment dealing with his sadistic and insatiable girlfriend Fedra. She’s not sympathetic that his money is gone or that his neck hurts and she’s still on the subject that he won’t kill Vicky to please her. He throws back what has she done for him? She wouldn’t loan money to him, remember? And he’s still mad about her lackey Bernardo beating him up. Fedra gets back to the case in point. Pretty soon Vicky will get rid of all of them and it would be very convenient if she were dead.

Ilitia runs behind Brandon for protection and Vicky gasps to Eman to help her. I guess she can’t reach into her own purse. Eman pushes FL aside and runs to Vicky. FL runs to Ilitia and grabs her from behind. Brandon coaches her, remember the kick! A bite on the arm and a kick in the nuts sends Ilitia into Brandon’s arms and FauxLirio driving away in a car that mysteriously showed up out of nowhere. But no matter about that now, the right people are finally hugging! Brandon is with Ilitia and Eman is with MariVicky.


Mañana: Netty confronts Fedra and tells Eman that his mom poisoned Mari.

Boo hoo, I couldn't get my screen shots to upload! I'll try again tomorrow.

Labels: llena

*Elsa tells Ulises she broke up with Mauricio and also quit her job, therefore she’ll have to find another flat. But don’t worry, mi reina, Mau paid the rent for 6 months in advance. As for the new job, Zaida has connections and Ulises will ask her to help. Anyway, he’s sure one day Elsa and Mauricio will get together again. No, says Elsa, she likes him very much but she isn’t in love with him, and she can’t play with his heart. But Ulises, who’s the founder of the Mau Fan Club, gives her a some love advices. Outside he meets Zaida and Édgar, who apologizes for his horrible behaviour. He thought he was harassing Zaida and his job is to defend her, that’s why he hit him. Sorry, sorry, sorry. All right, all right, Ulises forgives him because he likes Zaida so much.



* At JJ’s Elsa shows up to take Caramelo home. Asunción pulls a beaten dog again: but it’s too early, Señorita Elsa! However, now that she has no job she has more time to spend with the girl. Naturally Asunción may meet Cara anytime… at her flat. But he doesn’t want to bother her or the architect… No, don’t worry, she and Mauricio are over. In Michoacan Dora and her dearest old friend Jorge talk about her fears and hopes. She couldn’t put the members of the Stupendous Six and their families into lethal danger, that’s why she left. She thanks to Jorge for treating her so kindly.

* While David and Gaby are walking (!) in the sunny garden of the Genovés villa, they’re talking about their favourite villano, Adolfo. Although Dolphie tried to hurt them, all he’s achieved is to make David braver and more determined. Gaby is content because finally she realized David truly loved her and she’s already forgiven for the fake marriage. However, David’s very worried about his poor mother who is alone in the world without a penny; hopefully Leonardo will find her soon.



*At the bazaar Chicles falls in love with a cute party mask, a giant nose with glasses and a moustache, but it costs 30 pesos. Lucha doesn’t give him money and she doesn’t let Asunción buy the mask either. The kid has to learn he can’t get everything he wants. Bertha visits Carlos to say goodbye, she’s going to have vacation by the sea. With Adolfo? No, with Jimena. When Carlos learns his father gave an apartment to Bertha his brain explodes. Bertha objects to his tone: she never slept with Adolfo and he always treated her very well! Carlos tries to make his stupid lover realize Adolfo doesn’t give gifts out of charity and she’ll have serious problems with him later, but she’s a stubborn little mule.



* When Juan José arrives at home he finds a very depressed Limón *Viewerville: baby, seems like everywhere I go I see you…*, who tells him Elsa took the kid. JJ swears he won’t swallow that insult, Caramelo is theirs and he’s going to speak with Elsa right now! *Viewerville: baby, I swear it’s déjà vu* Twenty minutes later the hell breaks loose at Elsa’s. Why did she come for the kid so early? Because she had every right to do that and she wanted Caramelo to be with her. Oh really? He and Asunción also have every right to be with her and he will pick up Caramelo every day. No, she doesn’t want JJ to come to her flat. And why not? Because I don’t like it, says a voice behind JuanJo. Hi, Mauricio. The guys continue the peacock fight outside the flat, and in the meantime Elsa tries to calm upset Caramelo down.



Get the hell out of here! - You don’t tell me what I can’t do! - If you keep harassing Elsa you may get back to the prison! - I don’t care for Elsa, I want to see Caramelo! - I’m going to break the contract, because I’m fed up with you, JuanJo! - You can’t! And by the way, who was the one who introduced me to that blackmailer Garnica? - How dare you assume that of me! – Oh really?!
Ulises and Elsa join the Fight Club which leads to more insults and shouts. Finally Juan José and his loud voice leave but he’s determined to pick up the girl next day. Poor Ulises doesn’t understand what happened to people lately, this calm house is filled with violent men… Though they are very handsome… Back in the flat Mauricio says Elsa’s problem would be solved easily if she married him. Anyway, she’d better spend a few days in his condo; therefore JJ won’t be able to harass her and Caramelo anymore. But no, Elsa wants to stay. After Mauricio leaves the girl collapses and Ulises tries to comfort her. I smell a new friendship.



* Fausto is worried about David’s plan, it’d be a disaster if Adolfo found out he can walk again. Yes, but they have to do something. He only wants to confuse Adolfo and force him to commit an error. Fausto says at first he found David’s plan of playing Q frightening but lately a stunning idea has come to his mind… David should transform into another person! What? At first David finds the idea embarrassing, he isn’t FaustiMario, he can’t play someone else… But eventually Fausto’s enthusiasm convinces him.



*Valentín gives back the content of the safe to Sevilla. But where’s the letter? Oh no, it’s surely in the ocean with Garnica. Never mind. Sevilla thinks he can use the content of the letter anyway, it won’t be hard to scam that naïve Victoria, and if Valentín behaves well he’ll be given another opportunity.

*In Zaida’s apartment Ulises flirts and chats with Psycho Eddie, who’s suddenly very friendly and humble. Their bromance is interrupted by nervous Zaida, from whom Ulises asks a favor: that lovely girl from the next door has just broken up with Mauricio and needs a job. Zaida says she’ll try to help her, but hey, what happened between her and the architect? Ulises doesn’t know, but it may have something to do with the hunk with whom Mau had a fight a few hours ago.



* David and Gaby are woken up by the phone call from his upset secretary who has to bear Adolfo’s presence in his office. David tries to tell Gaby about his great plan and her future leadership of the hotel chain but she doesn’t want to listen to him. Oh, mi amor, you’re crazy, I don’t want to do that!

* Zaida shows up at Garnica’s office to ask him a favor. *Viewerville: Zaida, we beg you for a favor. Please buy a bra.* There’s a girl who needs a job. Is she a tigress like Zaida, jokes Sevilla. Zaida feigns ignorance, she doesn’t know what he’s talking about. But Elsa doesn’t seem to be a very intelligent girl, she’s rather naïve. Well, then she could serve Sevilla well. Ewww.



*At JJ’s Chicles tells Caramelo he has got a letter… the letter she wants so much, but it costs 30 pesos. Caramelo asks JJ for money who gives 30-30 pesos to both kid. Now Caramelo can buy her favourite letter that she puts it into her backpack. *Viewerville: scream and scratch the wall*

* After learning that David can walk again and the Genovés men have another mysterious plan, ruminating Alejandra confesses to Gaby she broke up with Juan José. Gaby feels very bad for telling David about the kiss but Ale assures her it wasn’t Gaby’s fault but JJ’s. Actually, she’s grateful for Gabriela. In the meantime the Mini Goon of the Victoria household buys the cool mask which makes poor Lucha very angry at him, but JJ convinces her to let the boy keep it. The family plans to go to the cinema.



* Guess who shows up at the Genovés villa? The Guy With Real Moustache who’d like to talk with David privately. Qué the hell? David sits back to his wheelchair and asks Carlos if he came to help his pig of a father to steal their company. Believe or not, Carlos came to give him something that may help him. He puts the ring on the table and leaves without a word. Cool.

Viewerville: Mau in a kayak.



Aribeth

Labels: verdad

Capitulo 177.
Read Julie’s original recap, then come back here to discuss it.

Everybody's talking about love today.

• Julieta realizes Lety loves Fernando.
• Marcia tells Teresita that Fernando loves Lety.
• Teresita gives her definition of love.
• Omar thinks that the cure for a broken heart is a callgirl.
• Fernando tells four people that he loves Lety (Bartender 1, Paulina, Bartender 2, Taxista).
• Marcia asks Fernando what makes him fall in love with a woman.
• Marcia shows her "love" by crushing Fernando into even finer powder. She implies that Lety's actions demonstrate that Lety doesn't love Fern, while her own actions demonstrate that she does.
• Lety asks Aldo what love means to him, and he tells her.
• Aldo tries to weaken Lety's love for Fernando by listing how terrible he is.

1. MamaJ wonders why Lety did dirty business. She realizes Lety fell in love with Fernando.

2. Marcia tells MamaT that Fern fell in love with Lety, and Marcia knows she’s lost. MamaT tells her not to give up. Lety is NOTHING compared to Marcia, Fern had temporary insanity, and if he sees Lety again he’ll come to his senses.

3. Omar tells Fern he should spend his energy recovering Conceptos. Fern says he can’t think of anything until he resolves the Lety matter. Omar warns she’s going to come back transformed.

4. Lety refuses to let the hairdresser do anything. She has a meltdown, remembering the green nightmare. She Aldo tells Caro Lety is too fragile right now, and Caro shouldn’t have pressured her.

5. Tom tells Lety the papers were inadequate. The board is furious and Fern begged Lety to call him. She’s refuses to jump for the board; they need to respect her. If Fern is distressed, that’s his problem.

6. Omar hires a honey to tempt Fern back into his old life. He says, “Ay, Fernando, tonight you’ll forget all about your gargolita, I assure you.”

7. Aldo gives Lety a broken shell. She feels like he understands her. He says Caro wants to help her, but he likes her just as she is with her hurts and pains. Aldo says she thinks she’s fea so that’s what she projects. It’s her identity and she’s afraid to change because she won’t know who she is.


8. Lety asks Aldo why the wreck upset him so much, and he refuses to answer. She says his pop philosophy is a lie because he’s not happy either. He likes that she stands up to him like that.

9. MamaJ asks Tom what Fern did to Lety. Tom can’t answer; it’s too personal.

10. Omar says he has a surprise for Fern. Something he lost some time ago and misses very much. Fern concludes it’s Lety and Omar doesn’t argue.

.

.

---

Capitulo 178.
Read Alma’s original recap, then come back here to discuss it.

1. Fernando thinks it strange that Lety would agree to meet him at a hotel. But he’s thrilled and he forgives Omar for all the stupid things he’s done.

2. Marcia tells MamaT that if Lety comes back to sign the papers, Fern won’t let her go and Lety might try to win him back too. MamaT says Marcia should fight for her man.

3. Aldo tells Lety that he renounced his family because his father insisted that he become an engineer. His mother died when he was an adolescent. He’s unwilling to tell Lety what upset him today.

4. Fern looks for Lety in the hotel bar, and he describes her to the bartender. Paulina the working girl starts working him but all he wants to talk about is Lety. He says his friend located her and set up this date, then her realizes Omar duped him.

5. Lety and Caro mutually apologize for what happened at the hairdresser. Lety says the board ordered her to attend the meeting tomorrow, but she won’t go. Aldo invites everyone to his fiesta for Lety.

6. Fern lets Paulina kiss him while he looks at Lety’s photo, but it’s not working. She discovers the photo and leaves. Fern says her kisses don’t have the magic of Lety’s.


  .

Pardon me, I’m going to take a little space to detail Marcia’s two usual rants, so in the future I can just refer to them by name and not repeat myself every time Marcia does (remember “Juan’s Lines” and “Sofia’s Lines”?).
7. Marcia asks Fern what he’ll do if Lety doesn’t come back or doesn’t want him. Fern’s unwilling to discuss it. She asks him what traits make him fall in love with a woman. She gives what I will hereafter call “The Marcia Taunt”: Lety delivered his head to the committee; she gave Marcia his cards and letter, the proof of his treachery (Marcia leaves out the part about calling Security); she sends a stand-in when he asks her to meet with the board; and she acts like she doesn’t feel anything for Fernando (that last one was a dagger to the heart). He’s in water up to his neck and Lety left him. Fern says he hurt Lety, but Marcia counters with what I will hereafter call “The Marcia Pitch”: even though he hurt her, she’ll always stand by her man (right beside Tammy Wynette). She could never abandon him like Lety did.

8. Aldo says love means being able to give up everything for love, and to love the other person’s defects and weaknesses. He says a man feels protected and supported with a woman like her.

9. Aldo must’ve taken lessons from Marcia. What shall we call this? “The Aldo Accusation”? He tells Lety, “I know how much you love Fernando, but he doesn’t deserve you. He deceived you and used you. You gave him all your love and he didn’t give any back. You know how to love and he doesn’t.” To change the subject, she asks him to dance.

Too bad the band doesn’t play Save the Last Dance for Me. (Laugh and sing, but while we’re apart, don’t give your heart to anyone.)

Labels: fea-2010

So before I begin tonight, lets have a few moments of silence for our dear departed Don Julio. Now you will just have to suffer through a few pages of what happened tonight before we get to the best part. Which happens to be the previews for tomorrow.

Marisol is visiting Carlos in Prison. The stubble does do him justice.
The story line is still boring. He tells Marisol he is not the same man. Marisol wants to know if his family has been there to see him. He tells her his mother became sick after he went to prison and is now living with his uncle. He tells her it is just as well because he would be embarrassed if they came to see him. She tells him not to be so hard on himself. After all what he did he did for love. I don’t think Carlos is feeling the love anymore. He tells Marisol he will go find Alicia himself once he is free and collect what his due him for her indifference (desamor/coldness or indifference.)

Renata enters Don Julio’s quarters and finds him having one of his severe attacks. He tells her to call Dr. Garcia. She calls him and tells him to come over immediately. She has never seen Julio look so bad. She hangs up and runs over to an unresponsive Julio and slaps him repeatedly on the face to revive him. Things don’t look so good.



Alicia is on the phone with Aunt Matilda. Matilda inquires about Eva. Alicia lies and tells her she is fine. Matilda knows better because the cards told her something bad was going down. Justa asks Alicia if she thinks she did the right thing lying to her Aunt like that. Justa tells Alicia she won’t tell Matilda what is going on. Alicia tells her that Eva is not cable of doing what she is accused of.

Next we go to Giorgio who is dressing up the models. Alicia shows up and tells him she is looking for Leo. He haughtily tells her to go look somewhere else because he hardly ever shows up. Alicia looks stunned and asks if he isn’t the owner of this place. Giorgio tells her he may be the owner but he has nothing to do with this part of the agency which is new. Alicia now disappointed says she had an appointment with him for a job interview as a make-up artist. Giorgio is all “What?” and just then Leo shows up. Alicia gives a cheery face, Giorgio scowls and Leo grins sinisterly.

He tells Giorgio to relax and remember who is who at this agency. Giorgio asks if he is telling him he has to interview her. Leo tells him whether he likes it or not he has to at least give her a trial. Giorgio tells him it is not a question of whether he wants to or not, the question is whether she can do the job. Leo tells him he knows this girl has lots of talent or does he doubt him. Giorgio then asks him if he has forgotten about the last person he tried to help (Eva). Leo assuredly tells him he hasn’t forgotten. Giorgio goes on to explain the last person turned out to be a disappointment and a delinquent Alicia looks very confused as Leo tells Giorgio that Alicia is very different and is pure talent as he looks at her and says “or am I wrong.” Alicia shakes her head no. She thanks him for the opportunity and he wishes her luck as he gives her a perv kiss on the cheek.

Who knew, it turns out Alicia actually has talent for this as she skillfully makes up one of the models. Giorgio is impressed with her work. He asks her where she was trained. She tells him it was from reading magazines. He says “Then you have never had any formal training/” She tells him truthfully no. Giorgio, pauses looking at himself in a mirror then says “Maybe Leo was right after all. You really are talented.” Alicia asks him what that means and he tells her she has the job. She practically knocks him over as she rushes him to thank him. He tells her to settle down, don’t cause trouble and just do her job. But he is actually quite sweet about this.


Ricardo encounters Adrian in the kitchen and asks him if he needs help with his homework. Adrian confesses that his father chewed him out for wasting his time with school. Thomas shows up and starts yelling at the both of them. Ricardo threatens to call the police to report him as an abusive father. Nasty words ensue and poor Adrian is caught in the middle.

We have Victoria getting fitted for a dress and Daniel shows up. He tells her he needs to talk to her. She is all charm, but we know she is all vermin.

Leo is now behind his desk and Tony walks in. He tells Tony he needs to find someone for him. Tony asks who. When Leo tells him it is Eva, Tony acts all dumb (again not a far stretch. At least he has lost the lollipop.) He asks Leo to describe what she looks like. Leo gives him a picture. Just leave it to Tony he will find her. Leo warns Tony to not try anything with her. Tony seems offended by this remark. Leo tells him he needs to find her before the police do.


We are back to the Arismendi household where we see an ambulance parked outside. Along comes Marcella in her black Escalade as she runs frantically towards the house screaming “What’s going on?”
She is dressed in black pants a ridiculously red poncho and has a pair of aviator sun glasses on. She runs up screaming at Renata asking what happened. Renata is crying and trying to tell her what happened and Dr. Garcia chimes in and tells her Don Julio is dead. We get a performance fitting our Doña from the dark side as she puts her hands to her face in “utter disbelief.” (Got to love the shades though)



Still at dooms day manor Marcella continues her charade as the grieving widow as she asks Dr. Garcia what happened. He tells her it was a heart attack. Then she goes off on poor grieving Renata and yells at her saying “You let this happen. You were suppose to be watching over him.” Renata truly distraught and crying tells her she tried to but he wouldn’t listen to her. She tried to get him to rest because he didn’t look so good and he even asked her to give him his medicine. Marcella asks her if she gave it to him. Still crying she tells her yes and she saw him take it and she just can’t understand how he could have had another attack. Marcella is going on about how he had stopped taking it for a while and his heart had to be very weak. Dr. Garcia tells her that they will have more clear answers once they do an autopsy. This quickly catches Marcella’s attention as she looks up saying “Autopsy, oh no Dr. you can’t do that.” and starts rambling on assuring Dr. G. that it has to be a heart attack no question about it. “He never took care of himself and sooner or later death was going to catch up to him. An autopsy would be just horrible.” and pleads with Dr. G. not to do one. She tells him she has confidence in is diagnosis. Dr. Garcia tells her if that is what she wants all she has to then is sign the death certificate (acta de defuncion) and start the funeral process. She thanks him profusely and as she gives him a phony little hug. Dr. Garcia looks repulsed.

She releases her hug and crying says in these times the only consolation is to know that her husband can finally rest in peace. She turns and gives a truly over acted performance as she looks to the sky and says “Why Julio. Why did you have to leave me alone. What am I going to do without you my love. I am going to miss you.

More Dan and Vicky stuff. She has changed and approaches him all smiles and asks what he needed to talk to her about. This was all putrid as he thanks her for being so swell during his time of need.

Marcella is still playing the grieving widow to the hilt. Renata offers her a glass of water and tells her to try and calm down. Marcella yells, “I can’t. He was taken so suddenly and this is too much for me.” Renata offers a comforting hand and tells her she understands her pain. Marcella turns sharply and snaps at her “You don’t understand anything. He was my husband, not yours!!” A hurt Renata tells her that she also cared for him. Marcella mellows her tone a bit and apologizes telling her she is really anxious. She continues and says “Lately we had our differences but that’s just the bread of life (El pan de cada dia) that every marriage has. But deep in his heart I know he cared about me. The same as I cared for him.”

Warning, not so subtle dominos pizza product placement coming up. Four women in various shades of yellow office befitting dresses have dominos pizza for lunch and discuss absolutely nothing.

Dr. Garcia hands a folder over to Marcella telling her they are the documents he has to give to the authorities and asks her if she would kindly sign them. She grabs them from him and asks them what they are. He tells her she can read them if she wants. She seems all flustered and tells him “At this moment I just don’t have my head on straight to review these papers.” A most understanding Dr. Garcia tells her it is just probably a routine step ( trámite de rutina) they have to take since they won’t be doing an autopsy. He just said the magic word as Marcella quickly takes his pen and says “Where do I have to sign?” you can just barely see a snicker appear across Dr. Garcia’s face as he watches her sign.



More Daniel and Vicky craziness. She is all sweet and loving and he is acting like he has just been turned into one of those “Stefford wives” as he thanks her once again for being so understanding. She tells him they both did some absurd things. He tells her he realizes after all these years what fine qualities she has. Enough already!!!

Poor Eva is walking the streets and clutching her stomach in hunger. She wrestles with the thought of stealing an apple from a street vendor and hunger wins over as he she grabs one and runs. A chase ensues as the vendor drops the paper he was reading and we see her picture on the front page.



She ducks into a bathroom or something absconding from the vendor. He walks away chiding himself that he lost out on her reward (recompensa.) We see Eva leaving her hiding place and happily giving her apple over to some women thanking her for her help.

Marcella continues with her theatrics as they wheel out Julio’s body and she asks to say goodbye. She pulls the white sheet down and gets nose to nose as she whispers with pure hate



“ Julio you can’t imagine the number of times I have dreamed about this moment my love. You are a total nuisance (estorbo/ nuisance or obstacle.) Now as they say, alone at last, your money and me. Good bye Julio Arismendi. I hope you rot in hell.” (pudras/rot) Then she gives him her kiss of death pulling the sheet back over his face and continues her bad acting of the grieving widow.

We go to the fruit orchard where Matilda is talking with Jose. I think he was the orchard foreman from the first episode. She is telling him she doesn’t like any of this. Jose reminds her that she just talked with Alicia who informed her everything was fine. She says Alicia sounded really strange. He wants to know what the cards said to have her so worried. She says it was really ugly. She saw Eva up to her neck in trouble. Jose wants to know how. Matilda tells him it is hard to explain but she sees a women who wants to harm her. Jose tells her he doesn’t know about these things but he understands her anguish. She tells him she won’t stop worrying until she can talk with Eva. He asks her if she has any idea who the people are that she is messed up with. She tells him she read the cards again and this time saw two women that were both very dangerous. They were “enemies to the death” for her niece.

Leo is talking to the detectives. He is asking them if they have any information about Eva. They have nothing new to tell him. He thanks them and tells them to keep him informed and hangs up. He says out loud “Tony has to find her before they do. I want Eva for myself. How can I convince my mom and Daniel to drop the charges against her? I am sure dad will help me with this.”

Just then he is interrupted by his secretary telling him he has an urgent phone call. It is Renata who informs him that there has been a tragedy. Leo immediately stands and asks what has happened to Victoria. Renata tells him it isn’t her and informs him that Julio is dead. Leo drops to the chair at this news.

Eva is still out wandering about. She is thinking about her Aunt Matilda wishing she had the money to return home. She has to leave this city as soon as possible.

Matilda and Jose are also missing Eva and Don Ismael (Eva’s father). Matilda wishes they had never left for the big city. She tried to keep him from leaving. Jose was surprised that they left. Matilda tells him they were only gone a few days when her poor brother was hit by a car and killed. Jose wants to know why he would just suddenly up and leave to go to LA. We get a flashback of Matilda talking with Ismael asking what the policemen told him. He told him he saw an article about Deborah in one of the newspapers. This was the clue that they needed. He tells her his contacts in LA have her address. He has finally found the mother of his daughters. Jose snaps her back from her flashback and she tells him she just remembered a conversation she had with her brother. The only thing she has to say about this is he decided to leave because he was stubborn. To go and look for someone that he was never able to find and she hopes to God she is never found.

More Dan and Vicky, she asks him to join her for coffee. He agrees but first she has to go retrieve her purse from the models trailer.

Matilda is looking at a magazine cover pointing to it and saying “Deborah Aldana, you are the reason my brother is dead. It is your fault he went to Los Angels. And this he will take to his grave. Your punishment will be that you will never get to know your daughters. Eva nor Alicia will ever know anything about you.”

Giorgio and Alicia are hitting it off famously. She thanks him for the opportunity and they talk about the money she will earn. Or something like that.

Renata enters Julio’s quarters and looks around. She walks over to the leather sofa and slowly beds over and stands there sniffing it. (What the heck?)



Victoria and Dan have gone to retrieve Vicky’s purse as Dan almost has a close encounter of the Alicia kind as he sees her standing with her back to him talking to Giorgio. He ponders for a moment and before he can verify it is Alicia Leo barges in asking him where Vicky is. He takes her by the hand and leads her away with Daniel trailing behind.

Renata is lamenting that Julio died without knowing the truth. The truth about what she did. Victoria was his daughter. The daughter he had with Justa. Marcela didn’t get her from an orphanage. She went and stole her and now she is very sorry for what she did.

Leo finally gets Victoria alone. She is ticked off because her and Dan were just about to get coffee. He breaks the news to her that Julio is dead. Victoria is quite distraught and Daniel is ever the sympathetic ear. More family dramatic tragedy as Leo fills her in on the details. Victoria wants to know if her mother knows. Leo tells her yes. She is at the house. Daniel is comforting Victoria telling her he was very ill and this was bound to happen any moment. Victoria is all upset because she never told him she loved him. (I doubt very much if she loves anyone but herself.) Leo tells her to calm down. Julio knew she loved him.
Daniel tells her they need to go to her house to be with Marcella. Now Victoria is all torn up saying that her father died thinking she hated him. She clings to him tightly and Leo goes in to complete this very strange group sympathy hug.



We have Marcella alone at the house toasting to herself about her good fortune of finally being the owner of everything. After all she deserves it. Life owes her. With the death of Julio she killed two birds with one shot. Now there is no one left to defend Eva. And she will finally be rid of her as well.

Eva is still out looking for work. She runs into some guy who sells “meat” and she looks like some fine meat. He could really sell her. Not certain but do you think he was a pimp? Eva walks away in disgust.


The infamous Deborah gets out of a car and as she is checking her cell phone we see Eva walking in a huff still insulted by the pimp man’s offer and the two bump into one another. Apologies are shared as they excuse one another. They stare at one another for a moment and Deborah asks if they have met before.


Eva tells her no and smiles brightly as she apologizes once more and leaves. Deborah is left pondering this for a moment thinking that she seems familiar. She then shrugs it off and leaves.





Marcella is still congratulating herself on finally being the owner of all. She picks of Julio’s picture and tells it she has won it all and quickly drops it face down. She holds her glass high and toasts herself. This celebration is abruptly ended as she hears Victoria’s shrill cry and once again turns back into the grieving widow. Leo and Victoria run to her for comfort. Marcella fakes the ever comforting mother and I am left with an uneasy feeling at watching the three most evil people in telenovela land grieve.

More fake grieving from Marcella as Daniel looks on uncomfortably. Victoria is crying and going on that he left them all alone. Marcella hugging them tells them they are not alone they have each other and she reaches out for Daniel and says “and we have Daniel and soon he will be your husband my love.” as she takes Daniel’s hand. He is now left standing there with a most dreaded look on his face.



Eva has now entered a restaurant looking for a job. The owner seems eager to hire her. He tells her he may be the owner but his wife is the boss. Or something like that. Any way the wife has the final say and agrees to hire her. Only she feels if someone as pretty as Eva were to work closely with him he might be tempted to stray. So the wife ends up giving Eva the job, but instead of being a waitress her job is to clean the bathrooms.

Now Renata is joining the family and the grieving continues. I am beginning to think the only one who sincerely misses him is poor Renata and I actually feel sorry for her. Giorgio enters and offers his condolences. Daniel tells Marcella that he will take care of all the arrangements. Marcella thanks him because she is just so grief stricken she can’t do it. But lets get this done and over with. She is certain Julio would not want a wake (velorio/ wake or celebration.) Renata isn’t so sure about this, but Marcella insists that he would want to be buried as soon as possible. Like maybe tomorrow. Leo and Daniel take off to make the final arrangements.

Leo and Daniel are outside and Daniel calls him his brother as he tells him he knows what he is going through. Leo comments that it has been a long time since Daniel has called him his brother and thanks him for being there for them.

Renata is gently caressing Julio’s photo and says “Julio I loved you so much. And you never knew it.” as she clutches the photo ever so tightly and sits down.

We have a few more minutes to go and lets waste a couple of them with Marisol and Fran. They are out and about eating ice cream cones. They are discussing where they should live. His fake mansion or her bogus penthouse. Well that’s a no brainer. Why not buy a new house. Marisol is all delighted at the possibility of a lovely grand house. Fran is horrified at the prospect of having to buy a grand lovely house.

Leo thanks Daniel for not leaving him alone in his hour of need. Daniel tells him he isn’t alone. Leo then says for a while there they were cats and dogs. Daniel agrees. Leo adds but it wasn’t our fault. He said they were both betrayed by Eva. Daniel shaking his head tells Leo it is best if they don’t talk about that. Leo tells Dan that they both survived her. He tells Daniel that he has forgotten her already and that he needs to do the same. Daniel looks down then looks up and tells him, “You don’t have to tell me, She doesn’t even exist for me.”

This was a sad little scene. Thomas is hiding behind a tree and poor little Adrian is out trying to sell the stolen merchandise. He almost has a bite, but the man is spooked and takes off. Thomas comes out from behind the tree to yell at Adrian. Adrian tells him he got scared and thought the guy was a policeman. Or something like that. Thomas continues yelling at him and suddenly we hear police sirens in the background.
He tells Adrian they have to get out of there quickly.

The restaurant owner and his wife are talking. He can’t believe that she has Eva cleaning the bathrooms. She tells him she needed a job and that’s what she has. She didn’t want her up front so he could make eyes at her. He huffs and quickly picks up the paper to avoid her and we see Eva’s picture on the front page as the wife looks at it closely. That’s where we end. But I wanted to leave you all with one important picture from the upcoming previews. I told you it was the best part. Life gives you surprises.

Labels: eva

Well, the frijoles have been spilled now. Don't worry, though, this story is still full of beans. Max agrees with Mami that Maria is very beautiful. He thinks Mami made a good choice. Vicky is excited to send Maria to do their runway shows in Miami and New York. Maria asks to be excused and Vicky sends her back to the design studio. Vicky comments to Max that Maria's got a promising future and her character reminds Vicky of herself. Max is looking like "Yep, she's about to bust my balls as bad as you do when I'm late to a board meeting. I'm so screwed!"

Maria runs into the bathroom to cry that Max lied to her again.

Vicky notices Max's mood, but he says it's nothing.

Maria ends up out in the hallway, where Antonieta comes over to ask what's wrong.

Nathy rattles her teacup against her saucer terribly because she doesn't think her mail-order lover is going to like her. Milagros says it's either she grow some self-confidence or "vestir santos" (dress saints; idiomatic for "be an old maid" as the stereotype of old maids is that they end up spending a lot of time in church). Milagros instructs her to think positive, remember to look for a guy holding a red rose, and carry three red "cuarcitos" (We've spent the last 15 minutes looking and still can't determine whether it's quartz, quartzite, or some other stone, but it's a very deep red that I wouldn't normally associate with a quartz. Mr 5ft further objects that it looks smooth, rounded, and polished, also not normal for quartz. We give up) in a little pouch and stick it in her bra. They see on a chat show that Guillermo is replacing Osvaldo in the miniseries.

Osvaldo watches the same program, where the hosts blame it on both the failure of the movie and on the incident at his house. They kindly encourage him to call the program to discuss things, so they can offer their most sincere support. Not.

Antonieta assumes Vicky must have made Maria cry again. Maria says that Vicky has been behaving herself. Antonieta next guesses it's something to do with Max.

Max thought bubbles that he wouldn't blame her if she never believes in him again, after all the lies he's told.

Pippin finds Antonieta and Maria in the hallway. He starts to tear into them, but Antonieta tells him to back off. Maria says she's not feeling well and asks him to forgive her.

A tall gorgeous hunk of Afro-Latin male enters a café with a pink rose and asks Nathy if she's Nathy. Say yes, say yes! She says no. (Boo! Hiss!) Hot Stuff breathes a huge sigh of relief and says that's good, he was supposed to be meeting some bodacious babe. Suddenly he's a lot less good looking. And that's a pink rose, you wanker! Way to follow directions. He decides he'll wait, since hot babes always make you wait. Yeah, you just hold your breath until I call. Nathy runs out crying and he wrinkles his forehead like perhaps he had a split second of awareness that women who don't decorate the interiors of magazines might also have feelings.

Max runs into Maria outside work. He wants to talk, but she says there's nothing to explain. He just needs to leave her alone and she doesn't want to see him again. Max's logic is that he didn't lie because Victoria isn't his mother. Oh, so she's only your mom when it's convenient? You just spent a very bad day being heartbroken because your extremely bratty sister threw it in your face yesterday! Max, you are a rat bastard. I'm breaking up with you!

He continues to argue that she's his stepmother, his mom died when he was young, and he barely remembers her. Maria doesn't believe him and gives back his rhinestone-encrusted heart. She gets into a taxi.

Os tells Vic that it's been all over the news, but he's not going to drown himself in a water glass over it. Vicky gives him an "atta-boy!" Ossy has been thinking of getting his little hellspawn a gold watch for her birthday. Vic reminds him that Fer was hoping for a new car. Os has finally caught a clue and says Fer is too immature for a new car and he's already made up his mind. She's getting a gold watch. He fails to realize she's also too immature to appreciate that and will throw it on the ground and stomp her foot. Mark my words!

Bratzilla is up in her room, talking to her boyfriend on the phone with the music up too loud bragging that she's getting a new car for her birthday. She wants tattoo boy to bring his dad, aka, her mother's rapist (just in case anyone's forgotten) to the party because her mom is just dying to meet her bratty daughter's loser boyfriend's family. Wow, you know, I think I might have some issues with spoiled rich girls.

Victoria is an idiot. She tells the accountant to go buy Fer a car as a surprise. He's more than happy to carry out her stupid bidding. Antonieta points out that this is bound to cause trouble with Osvaldo. Vic says that Osvaldo will just have to understand that the car is Fer's dream and he'll get over it. Wow. Just. Wow.

Osvaldo's driveway is being staked out by reporters. He stops to talk to them. He denies that his career is over. He reminds them that it's the investors who get final say over casting and says his career will continue just as it has for the last 20 years. Having stopped long enough to be polite, he then asks them to let him by, as he's in something of a hurry.

Linda blames Nathy for not giving the Veracruzano a piece of her mind. And also for not bothering to fix herself up, dressing badly, and wearing huge glasses. She tries to talk her into getting some color contacts. Maria comes in, crying, and says that Max lied to her again, and he's Victoria's son. I can't dignify Linda's lack of facial expression by saying she's impactada. I don't even think she's calculating at this point, unless she punched in "2+2" and then couldn't remember where the "=" is located.

Fabian tells Max "I told you so" and Max agrees with him. He's going to go find Maria and convince her that what he feels for her is real. He admits to Fab that he loves Maria, like, for realz!

Linda found the "=" button, and tells Maria to make up with Max. She also realizes that Max will one day be her stepson. Osvaldo calls from outside the apartment and Linda takes off, but not before she tells Maria that while Maria might like sitting around and crying, Linda prefers to go have a good time with Ossy. Linda hopes she can get something out of this date. Besides a reputation as a skank?

Antonieta thinks it might be a good idea to at least give Fer the car for some other occasion, rather than risk upsetting Osvaldo. Vic cries that she wants to give Fer what she can't give to her other daughter. Her little MARIA. What has become of her? Is she loved? Is she mistreated? Vic can't bear to think of her out there, DESAMPARADA. And so she's going to fix it by giving Fer a car. Makes perfect sense. She repeats again DESAMPARADA. Ooh, who gets the award for most stupid this episode? Max or Vic?

Nathy can't stand to see Maria this way. Maria can't stand to feel so DESAMPARADA. She wishes she had her mother with her right now, so Mami could tell her what to do and console her. "Why didn't they love me? Why'd she throw me out of her life?" Maria can't understand it.

Bernarda closes the curtains and hides her stash of cash in her safe. Bernarda the loan shark. That's fitting. I wonder if she does the kneecap busting herself? She chats to God that she loves her son, but she's not going to finance all his helping of people who actually need it. Pfft!

At the hospital, a doctor checks on the sick kid and tells Padre JP they need the equipment to operate. Padre JP is heartbroken that he can't get the money for it. His mom was his last resort and she's flat broke.

Tiburonarda (that's "tiburon" [shark] + Bernarda) evicts some poor people for not being able to pay rent. She's got a couple of suits behind her with paperwork. She tells a crying woman that she's not a charity! She tells the woman's kids (?) to hurry up as they walk by her carrying stuff out of the house.

Osvaldo takes Linda to a jewelry store. Wait, wait…he's taking his wanna-be gold-digger girlfriend on a shopping expedition to buy his daughter a gold watch for her birthday. Show of hands--who thinks Linda's going to parlay this into some bling for herself? Linda says chicks dig Ossy way more than Guillermo. Os says Guillermo has his fans. Os feels like Linda is encouraging him a lot. Linda is falsely surprised that Vic doesn't "echar porras" (cheer him on) and says it means she doesn't love Osvaldo as much as she says she does. "If I were your wife, I swear I wouldn't leave your side for a moment! Especially not now when you're feeling so sensitive." A store employee comes over and asks to help them. Osvaldo points out a gold watch and asks the guy to wrap it up as a present. Linda oohs and aahs over it and says his daughter will just love it! She oohs and aahs over a little charm bracelet and acts surprised when the sales guy allows her to touch it with her own dainty little hands. Osvaldo says she can have it as a present. She coos a lot and throws her arms around him in thanks. Now, I ain't sayin' she a gold digger. No, wait…I am.

So here's what all of Linda's eye batting and chest thrusting brings up for me (skip this paragraph if you have no interest in my personal life): I have a strict policy of maintaining my marriage by means of never forgetting to date my husband. I do my best not to take him for granted. I roll my eyes and smile fondly at his love for zombie movies and bad sci-fi. I at least point out to him when certain metal bands come to town and offer halfheartedly to accompany him to their concerts (and I'm ever so grateful when he turns me down). I pick up things at the grocery store that I know he likes, but he never picks up for himself because he knows I can't eat them and he doesn't want to leave temptation lying around. (Of course, after seventeen years of being together, when it's the millionth time those damn little hairs are left around the sink after he shaves…what can I say...I'm no saint!) I'd like to think my efforts pretty much guarantee that some little Linda-esque tramp with a fetish for hot nerdy guys with nearly-six-figure incomes (shh, let me dream) is not going to steal my man. It also helps that he's kind of clueless and if someone cooed at him about how pretty a piece of jewelry is he'd probably look up from playing Sudoku on his phone just long enough to say "mhm" and that would be the end of it. Believe me, I've tried! And that's all for this installment of "5ft Latina's Guide to Marital Bliss."

Max catches up to Maria near her place to tell her he can't live without her. She doesn't want to hear it. He accepts that he screwed up. He loves her, he adores her, he needs her forgiveness, but she can't forgive him. He lays a guilt trip on her for not being able to forgive him and says maybe her soul isn't as big as he thought it was. Oh, shut up, you big lying liar!

The sacristan comes running to Padre JP and the other guys in Wood Shop that the kid in the hospital has taken a turn for the worse. Padre JP says all they can do is pray. He tried to raise the money, but he just couldn't and they can't save Manolito with out the machine. He goes off to change clothes and visit Manolito and tells the other guys to keep working without him. Once he leaves, the sacristan suggests to the other guys that they start making some tables, chairs, whatever they can, and sell them to get money for the equipment to operate on Manolito. The guys get to work.

Max won't leave until she listens to him. Maria is too upset and says she promises they'll talk another day. She runs to get on the bus and he screams that he won't quit till she listens to him!

Padre JP has just missed that same bus to get to the hospital to see Manolito, but he runs into Max, who offers him a ride in his silly plastic car.

Bernarda is disturbed (period, end of sentence) by the insistent ringing of the doorbell. She remembers that Tomasa has gone to do the shopping and grumbles that she'll have to answer it herself. Before she can, Maria comes running in, telling Bernarda that she needs a mother's advice and only Bernarda can give it. Before Bernarda can warn her off, Maria grabs her in a giant hug. And then Bernarda's heart grows three sizes, she fesses up to all her evil deeds, Maria is reunited with her real parents and the show's over. The end.

Or not. Vic tells Antonieta that the other day at church, she saw JP AND his evil mother (said as if there's another word after it), and so she ran out. But Maria Desamparada saw her. "What relationship could be between them and that girl?" Well, Vic is going to find out.

Maria changes her mind and says that Bernarda is sick and she shouldn't be burdening her with her problems. Bernarda tells her to sit down. "It's a man, right?" Maria has to confess that it is. "I gave him my love and my trust and he deceived me." "Yeah, guys suck like that." She advises Maria to burn his house down. Kidding, kidding! She says those men need not only divine punishment, but punishment on earth…even if one has to deliver it with one's own hand! Okay, seriously, I did not think she would go there! Maria is shocked. Bernarda says she's only telling the truth. Careful, your crazy is showing.

At the hospital, Max and Padre JP finally introduce themselves to each other. Padre JP wants to chat more, but right now he has to see how the kid is doing. He asks Max to pray, because only a miracle will help. You know, Padre, sometimes asking a different rich person for money helps too. Like, perhaps, the nice boy who gave you a ride in a car that clearly screams "I have a substantial amount of disposable income!" Just a suggestion.

Bernarda tells Maria that she has to be careful and never trust men or their sweet words. Once they get what they want, they sneak out in the night. All they do is lie and deceive! She says she never had a bad experience, but, um, her best friend, yeah, had her heart broken by a married man with a kid who abandoned her while she was pregnant. Yeah he was a bad man…WAS because he died in a fire with his wife and kid and he's definitely rotting in a fiery HELL. Or so she thinks.

Manolito asks Padre JP if he's going to get better. Padre JP advises praying to God, the Virgen, and his guardian angel. Manolito agrees that will help because he's a good kid and only bad kids get punished. Oh, Manolito, I don't know what to wish for--if you live long enough, you'll find out that's not how the world works. Padre JP excuses himself and cries in the hallway.

Maria figures that despite Bernarda's talk, she must be a saint to be the mother of a priest. Tomasa comes back to the house. Maria reminds her of someone, but Bernarda says that can't be. Maria takes her leave and says she's got to go visit sick kids. She agrees to come back and visit Bernarda often. "If you're looking for a mother, you've found one in me." Maria gives her another hug, further infecting Bernarda with her sunshine, rainbows, and happy puppies vibes.

Back at the office, Max tells Fab he's going to finish up some work. Fab hasn't seen Max suffer like this over any other woman. "Do you think she'll forgive you?" Max has some hope, since she said she'd talk to him later and she always keeps her promises. He calls the apartment and one of the gals tells him that Maria is at the hospital. Max goes running out. Dude, are you gonna donate a bunch of money to get back in her good graces? Well, worse things have been done.

Padre JP prays for a miracle to save the kid (is it Manolito? Manuelito? Martincito?) The kid gasps for air, telling Maria that he doesn't want to hurt anymore. She says the meds will kick in soon. Max watches from outside the room as she sits in bed holding him. The kid asks Maria if she'll be his mom. She agrees she'll be his mom and take care of him and never leave him.

Max sees the doctor and asks to speak to him.

The guys from the church sell their wares. They explain that it's to help a sick kid and a customer coughs up some more cash.

Max gives the doc money in exchange for anonymity and being kept informed of the kid's progress.

Padre JP comes back to the kid's room. He finally got to sleep. Maria doesn't want to leave him and says she'll stay all night. She's afraid he'll get worse. Padre JP says he's been praying for a miracle. Maria is sure his words get straight to heaven, since he's on the guest list, and his prayers will be answered. Padre JP kneels at the foot of the bed to pray some more.

The doc comes in and tells Padre JP he has to see something. They leave the room, leaving Maria with the kid.

The machine has just been delivered. It's in a cardboard box outside the hospital. Padre JP is in shock and cries with gratitude.

Maria can't resist and sneaks out to see what's going on.

Padre JP is thanking the Virgen for her "bondad" (generosity), and God for granting them a miracle. Maria is tiredly grateful to see the big cardboard box.

Maria sneaks into Musketeer headquarters, stopping to pull the covers up over Linda. As she's taking off her shoes…

Max is working on his laptop…

She looks at the picture of them…

He looks at the picture of them…

She turns the picture so she can't see it? Thanks God, and pulls the covers over her head.

Max works.

Maria sleeps.

The next day, Maria and Padre JP wait anxiously for the results of the operation. Padre JP is sure after the miracle, the kid will be ok. Padre JP doesn't know how they ended up getting the machine. They just need to be grateful and that's it. All the parish kids come running in with the sacristan, asking how Martincito is doing. They show him what they earned selling their furniture. Padre JP is glad to see all these punks demonstrating generosity and a community spirit. They say it's all down to him. They're all struggling to keep the volume down.

Max is in an adjacent hallway. He sees the doctor, who gives him a nod and a smile as Martincito is wheeled by.

The doc tells the Padre, Maria, et al, that Martincito has been saved. Hugs all around.

Sweet William Levy in a kayak…that's the end of this episode

Tomorrow: Max wants to propose marriage; Fer has her party; Linda is eaten up with jealousy and plans to crash the party.

Labels: triunfo

Chicles quickly tires of pretending to write vowels with Caramelo and grabs the chance to disappear with Juan José on a visit to Santiago at the tunnel house. While the two men joke in wink-wink, nudge-nudge fashion over the unsolicited kiss from nevertheless hot flirt, Zaida, Chicles alleviates boredom by snooping in the makeup room.

And with truly hilarious results that must mollify Santiago when Chicles reappears as a pint-sized version of Mario, because he's patient with the boy. Embarrassed Juan José absconds with him quickly, but not before Santiago reminds Juan José to phone Alejandra -- and that some guys indeed can remove their faces like Chicles saw in the movie.

Ulises visits Zaida in her new apartment, where she learns from him that someone she already knows lives across the hall: Mauricio's girlfriend, Elsa. He exits when she receives an irritating call from Édgar with information he's supposed to "take care" of her, and Zaida reluctantly gives Édgar her address.

Mario's resident techno-geek revisits David and Abelardo in Mario's office and explains if they want to install high-tech, covert communications in David's hotel office, the base location will have to be nearby for sufficient signal strength. David's sold on this solution due to his furious vengeance to make Adolfo eat his insults to Gabriela, in whose fortitude and intelligence he has the utmost confidence.

Édgar arrives at Zaida's, where she accuses him of spying rather than caring; and as he's exiting, Zaida encounters Elsa and Caramelo. Zaida smiles particularly at Caramelo; and Caramelo takes particular interest in Zaida, smiling and asking her name -- which Zaida also does in return, remarking with a grin that "Caramelo" is sweeter than "María del Carmen."

Before they enter their apartment, Zaida makes sure to invite Elsa to coffee later, and Caramelo turns to wave a lingering goodbye as Zaida also waves, smiling. At their departure, Édgar makes a suggestive remark that he's going to "take good care" of Zaida, to which she objects and warns him before stepping back in.

A moment later on the way to see Zaida, Ulises approaches Édgar at his post in the hallway and braces him regarding his identity; whereupon Édgar grossly overreacts and punches him in the gut. The ruckus brings everyone back out in the hall in aide of crumpled Ulises, with Édgar claiming the guy must have a stomach ache.

At the condo, nervous Bertha attempts to escape to bed; but Adolfo's sensing her fear and has a plan to unruffle her feathers. He lies in rationalizing her testimony about his alibi: nobody can vouchsafe her, and he didn't hurt David. In fact, he's the victim of the Genovéses attempt to squeeze him out just when the health of the company is threatened by Mario's and David's incapacitation.

Bertha's coming around, so he invites her to an elegant supper and flatters her "daring" and "intelligence." At Alejandra's office, she's still agitated and won't take Juan José's call; instead she and Mina plan a little carousing by themselves. In David's and Gabriela's bedroom suite, while Gabriela disappears to make a bedtime snack, David tries to push to his feet out of the wheelchair.

Upon her return, he's nowhere to be found; but Gabriela drops the snack tray, crashing to the floor, when David pulls himself around the corner -- on his feet. They celebrate with a joyous embrace. Back at Adolfo's, Bertha descends in the little black dress; but he has room service instead of a restaurant, to the tune of the pop of a cold champagne bottle.

Bertha's a little disappointed; but Adolfo continues with his encouragement plan by dangling the beach condo keys in the air between them, to her surprised delight. And he promises of course to never ask her to do anything risky, as he never has so far, he claims. Bertha is considering.

At a club, Alejandra's not happy with Juan José or any other guys who approach her and Mina. When Juan José calls her there, she blows him off; and on the other end, he angrily commits phonicide. Asunción and Chicles follow behind and pick up the pieces; but the phone is toast, and Chicles gets it to play with.

At Adolfo's safe house, bloody and broken Valentín suddenly becomes creative after Dante's threat of a nice float in the drainage canal and dredges up the idea to phone Garnica's hotel in Puerto Vallarta about his personal effects.

Next morning, Elsa makes a sad conversation with Mauricio at his studio about her uneasiness with him, the apartment, the job and everybody at the office -- and especially the engagement. She returns the engagement ring and resigns her job, regretting she can't love him like he deserves.

In Mario's office, Abelardo is absolutely effusive in congratulation at David's entrance using a walker; and "Mario" is happy, too. David explains to incredulous Gabriela the plan for high-tech, covert communications at the hotel office, where David can hear and see conversations remotely from the floor below and slip Gabriela the answers she needs in an earphone.

This morning at Adolfo's Bertha seems sufficiently diverted and convinced by the vision of her impending beach trip swimming before her eyes to allay her fears about Adolfo for the moment. As she exits upstairs, Zaida enters and reports to Adolfo her progress with Juan José and that Dante pulled him into even more investment and ruinous possibilities.

Zaida's not angered at Dante anymore; but she's furious with that brutal thug, Édgar, who beat up her friend and landlord. Adolfo calls Édgar on the carpet and makes him agree to apologize to Ulises. At Dante's, he and his goons supervise Valentín's phone call to Garnica's Puerto Vallarta hotel, where they will try to retrieve Garnica's effects.

At their studio, Mina and Alejandra painfully toast with gulps of alka seltzer when Juan José enters and can't prevent himself giving Alejandra a hard time about her club trip. Through a nasty headache, she yells that he's in no position to give her a hard time and to get lost. But when he tries to explain Zaida, Alejandra stipulates forgiveness only if he never sees her again -- which Juan José claims he can't do because of business.

Her stipulation flouted, she gives him the boot. After he exits, when Mina thinks Alejandra was being a little harsh, Alejandra exclaims Juan José is rich enough to do business with anybody! The only reason he's doing business with Zaida is because he likes the old hag!

At Yolanda's, Carlos urges her to see a doctor; but she knows she isn't physically or even mentally ill. She has a deep sadness and regret; she's led a cowardly, useless life -- lying to protect Adolfo for hideous things. Carlos takes her hand and begs Yolanda to distance herself and come live with him; and she laments no one leaves Adolfo without him wanting it.

When Carlos asks why Yolanda doesn't report Adolfo to the police, she notes it's for the same reason he does not; but now Carlos is ready to testify, he declares. Pointing up the trefoil ring on his finger, Carlos understands it is evidence in a crime.

Yolanda will not tell him which crime; but she will reveal that the person who needs the evidence is -- Mario!

Labels: verdad

Yep. That's right. The big event of the evening was not Emanuel and Ilitia's make-out scene in the shower, or the hoped-for love scene in Sirena's dressing room. Nope, the Big Event was Mauricio formally asking for Kristel's hand in marriage.....while Emiliano, Emanuel and Axel roared with laughter....Fedra and Ilitia looked nauseated.....and super-fresa Kristel appeared super-miffed.

Frankly, our little Llena plane ran into a lot of turbulence tonight. Consuelo, also miffed, gave Brandon a cold cup of coffee and a mini-tirade about his night out with Victoria. The latter got herself slashed on the arm by a manic Fedra, while Oliver, dazed and confused, continues to have serious doubts about his masculinity, considering his strange attraction to Manolo. Lorenzo was hornswoggled into signing a contract giving Mauricio a ten-percent share in the ad agency, and had to make off with the money Lirio de Plata donated to the orphanage to pay off Garduño. Netty's in high dudgeon because "Vicky" didn't tell her that Marianela's in Mexico and let's see....anything else? Other than Doris jumping around for what seemed like hours because she had to "hacer pipi", I think that about covers it.

Now on to the dirty details: The Comisario isn't fooled by the small amount of money Muñeca turns over. He knows el Lirio must have given her more than that but she feigns ignorance. Lorenzo suggests that el Lirio must have accomplices and he shared the loot with them. Comi wants to know how Lorenzo knows so much about the "modus operandi del hampa" (underworld, criminals). but takes his leave. As soon as he does, Low quizzes Muñeca. Are you chiseling the police m'dear? She swears she's not and leaves him to heave his sore back and twisted neck into a chair, wanting just a night of peace and relaxation. Which lasts a half second till his cellphone rings and Licenciado Ordaz orders him over to Mauricio's apartment. Garduño's orders. Chop chop slavey.

Mientras tanto, Vicky's in peril. Fedra's got a knife at her throat while Vick gurgles that she's not alone. She came with two policemen. Bernardo tries to hold Fedra back.



Okay. Lost part of my recap. How do these things happen? Somehow this bodacious picture of Sirena wiped out about six paragraphs. I'm in noo mood to do it all over again. Briefly, here's what went down. Lorenzo gets a call and has to fetch himself over to Mauricio's house. Garduño wants to see him. Vicky gets stabbed by Fedra. Brandon worries about Oliver and what he's doing with Sirena. Doris explains that Sirena is really Gretel in disguise. Brandon asks the question we've all been asking. Why the friggin' complications. Just take off the mustache, Gretel, and start gettin' busy! Doris allows as how that would be okay with her but they can't rat her out. The truth has to come from Gretel herself. Meanwhile, Sirena, messing with some kind of weird accent, Cuban I think, tells Oliver seductively that she'll be waiting for him all night. Mebbe so but he's gotta run. He rushes out, saying he won't be back. She chuckles and knows that he will. But when the door opens again, it's Axel. And Gretel/Sirena/Manolo ain't happy.

Neither is Lorenzo. Although he makes a game play at checking out the ladies cavorting at Mauricio's place, moving in on one in particular until...Dios mio...it's Garduño himself at his elbow! Suddenly all the starch goes out of the Señor Porta Lopez. I didn't know you were out, stammers Lorenzo. Garduño gets right down to business. He wants the money el Lirio gave to Muñeca. Lorenzo can keep one percent but all the rest goes to Garduño. And furthermore, he wants Mauricio restored to the agency. Not just restored, but as a shareholder with ten per cent of the shares. And too bad if Emiliano doesn't like it. Garduño is Lo's most important partner. And if Lo doesn't sign, his family will be in danger and the news will leak out that he ordered the mother of little Christian killed.

Lo signs.

He's not the only unhappy person that evening though. After he makes a creaky exit, brushing off the proffered Swedish massage by two sexy young women, Garduño turns to Mau and snaps, Now you'll ask Kristel Ruiz y de Teresa's hand in marriage. Indeed he will, grins Mau, I'll "echarme la soga al cuello" (put the rope around my neck) and make her a real princess. Chuckle chuckle. Well clearly nothing really gets our Mauricio down. Helps to be a thick-headed idiot, I guess.

Oliver and Brandon are still clucking about the dual absence now of Doris and Vicky. They suppose it's that endless line in the ladies' bathroom (too true, especially at sporting events) but little do they know. Vicky, at this very moment, is escaping Fedra's clutches with her life, but also a lot of flesh wounds, while Bernardo tries to talk reason to the Reina. And Doris is having to redo Gretel's makeup to become Manolo again. GretelMan's trying to make Axel understand that if Fedra finds him here, he'll be in as much danger of kidnapping and torture as Gretel was. So let's sneak out the back door now! Whoops. Too late. Oliver's back and really weirded out to find not the lovely Sirena, but Manolo and Axel....too close together...and looking very guilty.

Hmm..before we can get too worried about this ,Doris exits, still jiggling, runs into Brandon in the hallway, and then they locate a semi-swooning Vicky, who needs first aid and some bandages pronto.

And speaking of bandages....we have Emanuel in the shower (not quite a Fernando Colunga moment but hey, I'm not complaining) when suddenly he's joined by little Ilitia, in the buff, ready with passionate kisses. And he responds. The lad is into it. Realllllly into it.

So worry a little while we have a slew of ads.

We're back. And they're still kissing. But wait...now she's kissing his neck. Now moving down to his shoulder where she sees....ahem, a big old bandage (which he's getting wet...don't they have to cover those with plastic?). Anyway, the passionate moment gets stopped by some suspicious questions. Like whassup with this serious wound?


Vicky's wounds, on the other hand, don't look too critical. But Doris does. She's still jiggling a mile a minute and Brandon sends her off to the can 'cause she's making him nervous. But Vicky is also nervous when one of the Pirates tells her she's in the Reina's dressing room. Forget the first aid and let's just get out of here! she tells Brandon.

Trouble back in Sirena's dressing room. Oliver doesn't like the fishy stories he's hearing. He's beginning to suspect that Manolo and Axel are dating and he's not happy. If that's so , he's going to be watching Axel very closely, right down to his horoscope chart if need be! There's some contrived suspense over Sirena's little suitcase which Oliver finally opens but Manolo explains that she left so quickly she forgot it....but maybe if Oliver leaves now he can catch up with her. And as for Manolo, he's old enough to choose who he goes out with. So go! And zip, Oliver's gone. And then double zip, Manolo and Axel sneak out.

Back to Eman's wound and the chilled romance. He's claiming it's just a scratch (rasguño). She's saying she's not stupid, it looks like a bullet wound. He tries another story. A piece of scenery fell on him at work. She tries an end run: Baby, I'd die if anything happened to you. Be careful. And by the way, I'm not afraid anymore. I'm ready. I'm....

Well, she's ready but he's not. Why won't you consummate the marriage? she pleads. How romantic, he observes drily. And shuffles off, claiming he's not able to trust her yet. Coward.

Well, trust is an issue at Muñeca's house also. She's holding the valise with the rest of the Lirio money, still debating with Flora whether it's right to use it or not. Our slimy Lorenzo has oozed in the door but they haven't noticed (these people never have any peripheral vision)....and he hears all about the cash and gallantly steps forward to claim it...in order to "protect" Muñeca. And don't worry about the children's hospital. That's why the agency is throwing the charitable bash for gosh sakes. He'll just burn the cash and that'll be it. After he goes, Flora, another smart chacha in the Delicia mode, opines that probably he's going to spend it on other women. Gracias, sniffs Muñeca.

Vicky and Brandon are finally back at the boardinghouse, where she's telling a bunch of lies about her injury. There was this aggressive woman (well, that part is true) who attacked me in the bathroom and that's how I got cut. For some reason, Brandon, with his famous policia nose for lies, swallows this contrived tale hook line and sinker. Maybe he's distracted by his hormones, because he murmurs that he really didn't want to go to this kind of bar. What he had in mind was a quiet restaurant with candles and music and....well, kisses like the one he plants on her....and moving on to becoming The Man in her Life.


Oh my, all the wrong people are kissing all the wrong people. How shall we sort this out? Think about it during the ads.

We're back. And Eman and Ilitia, fully dressed now, are chatting on the steps outside the mansion. She's making some unredeemed snotty comments about Marianela's one thousand pounds of flesh being back in Mexico and messing up their marriage. He's sniveling that he just wants to forget her and needs Ilitia's help. Whine whine, whimper whimper. (Man up Emanuel, I hate you when you're like this!) He finally lays his head down on her lap and she strokes his hair mommy-style and looks seriously worried.
She should be. This is no way to start a marriage.

Vicky puts an end to Brandon's smooching, reminding him that she has no time for Amor. Fulfilling Marianela's vengeance is a full-time job it seems. Brandon points out that no one can live without love (Alas, one can, Brandon; it's just no fun.) but this tête-à-tête is interrupted by the news that Licenciado Pacheco is waiting. He's stuffing his face as usual (remember out new verb "zampar", that's what he's doing with the breakfast rolls) and while he chomps and slurps and thoroughly masticates, he also manages to wonder how Vicky got Marianela to sign these papers so fast. I'll tell you how, shrieks Netty, storming into the room. Marianela is actually IN Mexico and I want to know why you kept this from me Miss Vicky! Vicky tells her to calm down and Netty tells her to stuff it. So Vicky tries another lame lie. I kept it a secret in order to protect you, to keep you safe.

Well, breakfast at the boardinghouse is pretty stormy. And the tension is thick at the Ruiz y de Teresa breakfast table as well. Emiliano wants to know where Fedra was all night. Out looking for my daughter, she sighs. Who knows where she might be, sleeping under a bridge or God know what, sniff sniff. Don't cry Mom, smiles Eman as he arrives. We all know you're a strong woman. Wait, that's not the word. How about INHUMAN!? We know how much you "care", keeping her in the wine cellar for two years while she desperately scratched out her name with her fingernails in a wine cask. She was very well-attended during that time, sniffs Fedra virtuously. I was just doing what the doctor suggested. After casting a few slurs on Tio Max, she's about to launch a new approach when Kristel, wearing a ridiculous mini-skirt, and Mauricio, dressed to the nines, arrive with the Big News. He's here to formally ask for Kristel's hand in marriage.


Raucous laughter. Really really great laughter. Emiliano is rumbling. Emaunuel is guffawing. Axel chortling away. Fedra looks like she wants to shoot herself. And maybe a few other people besides. (Start with Mauricio, Fedra!) And our lovely couple? Puzzled and miffed. Seriously.

Puzzled and miffed. Seriously also is Consuelo. She's made her point by serving Brandon cold coffee at work. 'Cause maybe she made it last night. Y'know, last night when you were OUT with Vicky. Lord, you can't even take me to the park but you're off gallivantingg with her 'till all hours. Well, we have the old sad scenario. Consuelo is sure Brandon could love her, little by little, if he just gave it a chance. Brandon is sure he could not. She has his affection. But that's all. And that's all it will ever be. Exit Consuelo. No hot coffee for you Brandon.

And no Congrats for Mauricio. Papa Emiliano points out that Mauricio doesn't love Kristel and she has already suffered greatly (the abortion) because of him. He counters that he's here to make up (enmendar) for that and ready to render Miss Kristel the happiest woman in the world. (Another whopper of a lie.) The fibs continue with Ilitia wanly wishing them happiness and Fedra, dead-eyed and depressed, adding that she's "fine" with the marriage plans. Mau, playing his part determinedly asks that the family give him a vote of confidence and he'll fulfill his commitment.

Now back to Manolo and Oliver. He's still fuming over the supposed bromance with Axel. Manolo's opines that he's jealous and wonders if he wants a little kiss, haha, just kidding, and scoots out. Leaving Oliver with lots of questions and worries which he wants to address with buddy Brandon. He thinks Manolo's "cheating" on him. Qué!!!?? snaps Brandon. Well, yeah, he told me he was going out with some buddies and instead he was on a date with that rich kid Axel. What's happening to me, Olly moans, slapping himself right and left. Do I have that "gene"? You know the one.....

While he grapples with that question, we find ourselves back at the agency where slimey Lorenzo is hiding away the Lirio cash in the safe, keeping out his one percent...or maybe he could keep ten percent!...for, well, whatever. Muñeca enters and lays down the law. If I find you spending ANY of that on women, I will....He interrupts her and reminds her he did it only to protect her. Now onto the stock holders' meeting. Is Mauricio here, asks Low? Why do you ask? he's not a stockholder, glares Muñeca. Okay. She's plenty worried. And so are we. Hate seeing Mauricio gain the upper hand, even for a minute.
Cue Vicky.


She's seated at the meeting table when Emanuel arrives. He asks about her wounds. She tells him it's none of his business. Rude as usual. Emanuel then asks why she didn't tell him Marianela was in Mexico. More rudeness. Because she hates you. Well, she'll have to tell me to my face, blusters Eman. Enter Fedra. Who snarls when she sees Miss Vicky. Victoria smirks and coos, You looks just like a queen, Fedra. Shall I tell them about our encounter last night? And on that cliffhanger, we end.

Previews:
Vicky states that she has total control of the agency now.
An el Lirio imposter crashes in, holding Muñeca, and then threatens Vicky.
Fedra snarls, Let 'er die. (We're inclined to agree with her)

Vocabulary:

hampa = criminals, the underworld
echarle la soga al cuello = to get married, or to get oneself in a fix
rasguño = a scratch
a poco sin ofender es un bar de alto prestigio = really, without offense, this is a high-class bar (the Pirate to Vicky and Brandon, when he's tending her wound)
trae acá = give it here! (Oliver asking for Sirena's little suitcase)
teibolera = table dancer, bar girl
zafada, zafado = crazy fool (Fedra, talking about Gretel and Tio Max)
haciendo las cejas - raising one's eyebrows, passing judgment
que poca! =how rude! (Kristel to her family about their reaction to her marriage proposal)
agarre en la movida = catch someone 'getting busy'...Oliver talking about finding Axel and Manolo together behaving suspiciously)
zampar = review and learn new...zampar means to scarf down or stuff down (food)

Dicho of the Day

Antes de que te cases, mira lo que haces. (lit. look at what you're doing before you get married. Are you listening Kristel!?)
(fig. Look before you leap.)

Labels: llena