Caray, Caray!

Well, the good news is that Gambino's lovely daughter came out of her coma and Santiago is not only saved, he negotiates safety for his family and Patricio's family. The bad news? Paulina didn't get popped like we hoped. Oh well, it's a comedy. No real bloodshed, right? Not so far anyway.

So here's how it went (Just in case you got a big phone call during the show and missed all the drama.)

We begin with the big threat. Gambino's in Santiago's office, telling him if his daughter doesn't recover, nothing in the world can save the good doc. And evidently that goes for Hortensia and Eduardo too. They try and leave, pretending to be man and wife, and with a passel of kids waiting at home, but no dice. Nobody leaves until Gambino gives the word.

Santiago, meanwhile, is tenderly talking to the comatose patient. He gently tells her that he has a daughter her age as well, and if anything happened to her, he would be crazy with grief. She's a very special being and he and her dad both want her to get better. As he gently strokes her finger, she moves hers in response. Can you hear me? he asks, if you can... move your finger again. She does. Can you open your eyes? In spite of some very heavy eyelashes (I'm jealous) she does.

Bingo. Gambino goes in (after heading into an empty room first...a little suspense there) and reassures his daughter that she's going to be just fine. Happy ending no. 1.

Back to more mundane matters. Isabella is worried about Santiago. It doesn't make sense that he's been incommunicado all day. Donato tries to calm her down (no es para tanto= it will turn out to be nothing) but she's worried. So off they go together.

When they arrive at Meño's house there's still no word. Candy is out trolling the streets for her little guy. Santiago isn't with her. The mystery deepens. Mama Gregoria wants her to come home and eat before searching more but Candy won't hear of it. Well in that case, have faith, ask God for help and go to the Virgen as well. Good advice as it turns out. No sooner does Candy kneel at the feet of the Virgen, then she has a vision of Chava falling out of the treehouse and...Bob's your uncle! (a British expression) she finds him.

In the meantime, we have a little drama going on with Santiago and Gambino. Our Señor Mafioso is no longer concerned with Mario. What the good doctor did for him has no price, adds our grateful father. Here's a piece of paper, write down what you want me to pay you, he suggests. Santi writes a big fat zero. ¿Qué? That's right. He's a doctor. He saves lives. There's no cost for that. But what he does want is peace and safety for his family and for Patricio's family as well. "Ah, ya apareció el peine" (now it comes out!) smiles Gambino. But he concedes. From now on, he'll leave both families in peace. Happy ending no. 2.

Chayo and the sexy tutor arrive home to find Eduardo's table set for a romantic dinner (although the tutor qvetches that HE would have put out candles as well). But no Eduardo! Well, we shouldn't let this dinner go to waste, let's eat it ourselves, advises the little snake. Chayo looks conflicted but she goes ahead. Fortunately the soup poor Lalo slaved over is horrid. Neither one can really choke it down. Serves 'em right, sez I. For some reason, I like the little rat bastard Eduardo. Go ahead, throw tomatoes. I like him.

Santiago finally drags home. Let's not forget that he's been beaten badly, scared out of his wits, and performed major emergency surgery. Without giving any details, he admits he's had a horrible day and is bewildered when Donato tells him he found his cellphone under a chair. Our portly butler is also clamouring for an escalator in the house but Isabella tells him a diet would be a lot easier.

Outside in the playhouse, Rocio is putting arnica on Chava's wound while he winces and carries on a bit. (My new age friends always recommend arnica for all kinds of problems. I've never used it but it seems to be a favorite remedy south of the border.) Candy arrives, following her virgencita vision, and wants to take him home but the unrepentant little punk refuses, loudly shouting NO!!! After a brief hug from Santiago, Candy gets ready to do battle with her offspring.

We break for a short scene with Gambino and Arturo. The latter can hardly believe that Mr. Mafia is going to let him off the hook but the jefe assures him it's for real. He'll look for other associates, thanks to Dr. Santiago Lopez Carmona. They shake hands and it's a deal. Happy ending no. 3.

And now our poor Eduardo arrives home, having had a big scare himself to find, yowsa, the sexy tutor sitting in HIS chair, eating HIS soup, with HIS wife! Ay yi yi, our little doc is not having a good day. And let's not forget, it's been TWO weeks since he's had any lovin' from his beloved mujer. (I know, you're thinking the little rat bastard deserves that kind of punishment and more, but I can't help it...I like him.)

Gambino's having lots of conversations today. This one is with Paulina. A few kisses, a passing reference to philosophy and then the real goods...He has a question. What would she do if someone betrayed her? P- "Vengarme" (avenge myself) she quickly answers.G- Okay, and where did you bury Mario?P- I told you where, Lozano and I did it, per your orders. G- Fine, I'll see you tomorrow and you can help me pay back that person who betrayed me. Some ads come on and I suppose we're supposed to be worried about our little Paulina, but are we really?

Santiago and Candy have brought Chava home, dragging his heels all the way...until he sees Patricio. Then it's hugs and happiness and all kinds of joy. Candy looks like she swallowed a frog. But she finally asks Santiago about the cut on his face (she'd like to take care of him but maternal duty calls elsewhere) and he brushes off his tangle with Gambino as "I fought with 15. Killed two." There's a little teasing back and forth, he calls her "pilla pilla" (you rascal you!) and exits.

Upstairs Patricio's having a heart to heart with Chava, telling him how worried he was about him and asking him to never do it again. Chava, all cozy and nice with dad, asks forgiveness. When Candy enters, Patricio says they need to talk. You know a big confrontation is coming when you hear those words!

But the writers keep us waiting, switching us back to Eduardo, who's still bemoaning his busted romantic meal. He worked all day, slaved over the stove, burned himself and for what! to find another man in his chair eating his food, and let's not forget, no sex for the past two weeks. Chayo suggests a "do-over". But with different food this time.

Okay. Big storm building here. Candy sends Chava to his room and lights into Patricio big-time. How dare he imply that Chava is not safe with her! She's been mother and father to this child for 7 years, provided for him, been "pendiente" (devoted) to him, and Patricio has absolutely NO IDEA how she feels! For my son, I'm capable of anything! So this was Candy's big scene. Pretty intense. She pulled out all the stops and evidently it impressed Patricio. However, upstairs, Chava is being as much of a brat as ever. When Candy tells him no more running away, he smarts off and snarls that she can't make him live with Santiago. At this point, she decides to leave the rest of the discussion 'till morning. Probably a good idea. Otherwise real mayhem could occur.

But on to happier scenes. Arturo and Gregoria have met at a restaurant to "brindar" (toast) the happy ending. Arturo is off the hook with the mafiosos and Gregoria's grandson has been found. Happy ending no. 4.

And Patricio arrives home to find Alicia snacking again and pretending to be interested in Chava's welfare. You didn't care before, he snaps, and besides, I'm not in a very good mood. A- Oh, did you fight with my sister? What did the model mother say? P- You're right about one thing. She IS a model mother...the best mother there is. Pow! Take that Alicia. She looks like she's choking on her snack. I'd call this happy ending no. 5. Alicia deserves a little payback.

Santiago is having better parental luck with Rocio, up to a point. They've read a cozy little prince/princess "happily ever after" story even though he's sure she must be bored with the same old thing. Nope, and she's not bored telling him she loves him either. Awwww. But the mood shifts when he brings up the idea of a trip. With mom? No. With Chava and, er, Candy. No no no...won't go with Candy. No how. No way. Checkmate. Santiago is left muttering about "un par de nalgadas" (a couple of spankings) but we figure he's really not up to it.

No how. No way. That's Eduardo's evening also. When he bounces in the door with a pizza and big plans, he finds his wife asleep on the couch. Can't rouse her. Does pick her up and carry her off to bed, but one gets the impression there won't be a lot of action tonight. Poor baby. (Awright, kill me. I can't help it. I like the guy.) No happy ending here. Or is there?

Arturo, meanwhile, is giving Patricio the good news about Santiago saving not only his family but Patricio's from the menace of the mafioso. Pat looks conflicted. And puzzled.

Gregoria is trying to get Meño to drop the George Michael look but he's partial to his black leather jacket. The squabble could have gone on for a while but first he opens his bill and finds that horrors! that snake Christian has used his credit card number to order a ton of items over the phone. Meño's in debt up to his ears.

And Chava is up to his ears in bed. Won't come out from under the covers. He's in full rebellion against mom. She's losing her patience and losing her temper and telling him he'd better get up now "y de buenas!" (I mean it!)

And another mom seems to be in trouble. Gambino has brought Paulina up to a rooftop, ostensibly to "show her the city" but she isn't fooled. Something's up. Right, he knows she didn't kill Mario. And he's not going to forgive that, he adds, pulling out a gun.

Okay, who didn't want to see Paulina blown away? Granted, I'm not for violence but still..... However, our smart little witch, sensing that something was afoot, alerted the police and they're there to haul all the bad guys away. Hard to believe these guys are so easy to trap. Paulina must be better in bed than we suspected.

Patricio's still worried about Santiago but Arturo assures him the good doc is not involved in any illicit way with the mob. He saved Gambino's daughter's life and negotiated safe passage not only for his own family but for Patricio's as well. Now Arturo can retire, be peaceful and happy and live!!! Happy ending no. 6.

Patricio is remembering Candy's passionate defense and how she was "pendiente de todo"( took care of everything) and says to himself that she's an admirable woman. His mom catches him talking to himself and does a quick analysis of his feelings. He's remembering the adolescent Candy he fell in love with, but now he's dealing with a strong, mature woman. Motherhood will do that to you. Yes, all that's true, he concedes, but he's still worried about Chava. The little tyke is terribly unhappy at the prospect of his mother marrying Santiago. And it's killing Pato to see his son suffer.

Back to Meño. He finds Christian at his apartment and confronts him over the credit card bills. Our smarmy ratero denies everything (in a much deeper voice than he used before) and suddenly a protective woman emerges from the kitchen. And who is she? Why, Madeleine, his WIFE. Okay, did anyone else see that coming?

Our three little musketeers are at school and it's lunchtime. However that detestable little churl Chava refuses to eat his lunch. He's not touching anything his mom made. First, he demands Rocio's lunch. Nope. Then Beto's. Nope again. So he fights him for it.

While this is going on, Candy's consulting with Barb. She feels bad about taking a tough line with Chava but really!.....No, you have to be an authority figure, advises Barb. It's all very well to be affectionate and build up your child's self-esteem but you also need to "marcar limites" (set boundaries). Hear hear! Well, he's never been like this before, muses Candy. I think someone's getting to him....Alicia maybe, or Paulina.

The episode ends with Patricio arriving at Santiago's office saying one of our favorite phrases. WE NEED TO TALK.

Previews: Pretty scanty. Guess they're busy advertising the show to come. All we know is Patricio's telling Santiago that his son is suffering and papa ain't happy about it.

And must add, I started a lot of sentences with conjunctions tonight. A big grammar 'no-no" that was discussed over on the Mañana line. As the country song goes, " I ain't sad, I ain't sorry, and it'll probably happen again". Sorry grammarians, I just have a very casual writing style and I'm as unrepentant as Chava.

Vocabulary:
ya apareció el peine = lit. now the comb came out. Aha, now we get to the heart of the matter.
no va a ser para tanto = it's going to turn out to be nothing, no problem
brindar = to toast (as with a drink)
un par de nalgadas = a couple of spankings
y de buenas = for real now! or I mean it!
estar pendiente del niño = to be devoted to the child (Candy with Chava)
a estas alturas = by now, at this stage of the game
pilla, pilla! = you rascal you!
marcar limites = set boundaries

Dicho of the Day:
Dime con quién andas y te diré quién eres = lit. tell me who you go around with, and I'll tell you who you are. One is known by the company one keeps. (Take that Paulina!)

Labels: Tontas

Oh goody! A lot happened tonight! Lucky me!

From yesterday: Barbara tells Cadmilo: "we've been unfair with you. Now - what you did once, do it again - go find stuff in Franco's house. I need to know all about his life, his women, where he's worked... don't involve anybody else, that was a disaster with Lucio."

Cad is all happy playing spy, he sighs, "Mission Impossible! But what if it goes wrong?" "I'll take all the responsibility." [Anybody believe that?] "When?" "Tonight!"

• Esteve eggs Fr/Ed on, assuring him Fer will be eager to make things right, and she doesn't think like her torpid (heh) brothers, so ask her out already!
  
  After getting a safe installed in a closet in order to protect his precious stuff, Fr/Ed asks where his mother's things are. Jacinto sez they're in Gardenia's closet.
  
  Then Fr/Ed calls Fer and asks her to come over for dinner. She reminds him their relationship is just biz, so why not meet at the office? He sez no, there are special things, only about you, which must be told in a private way.
  
  She gets all hot and flustered when he turns up the sexy. We don't get her answer.
  
  
• Vlad tells Prisila: Anibal interviewed him for only five minutes, asked only two questions, and then gave him the job. So now Vlad can spy around and find the papers pertaining to Prisila's squandered fortune.
  
  Pris sez, I complied with my end of the deal, now tell me: who told you about all this?
  
  Vlad is such a pathetic liar. He tries to distract her, first with a french fry and then with chocolate, and then by calling her gordita [which means little fatty, and I myself would not care for that endearment one little bit.] Pris persists and says, "It WAS Damian wasn't it! He's your best friend."
  
  She hammers away and Vlad stammers away and finally he very unconvincingly says, "It wasn't Damian it was uh, uh, uh, Flor! But she thinks the world of you so don't make trouble for her." Pris doesn't believe him and flounces out.
  
  
• Gardenia is curious to see what Fr/Ed has in the small bundle sent from America. She is surprised he has so little stuff. "Oh this isn't all my things, it's just the most important things..."
  
  He shows her a pic of him with his mommy; the letters from mommy; a picture Margarita drew for him; one of those Lone Ranger mementos from Jacinto; and - and - of course, the letter Gardenia wrote him. "See, the letter you gave me the day I left, I kept it all this time, now do you believe you are very important to me?"
  
  She cries and reads it: "... and when we're big we'll be sweethearts - and your ma will live with us till she's way old - don't forget me." She cries some more and asks if it was really important to him. "Yes it helped when I felt so alone. I didn't forget you. But understand, not all loves are equal. The soul chooses - and my soul chose that you would be my little sister. I'd give my life for you." [This was a very sweet little speech.]
  
  She asks about Fer. "She was the love of my childhood, but it's over, she's married." "But her husband abandoned her." "But she's married." I think Gardenia said, "but things are different in Gringolandia...?"
  
  He changes the subject and asks her to bring him his mother's things. He tells himself after Gardenia leaves (as if we could have forgotten): "Oh, how I long to find Fer's old letters."
  
  
• Santiago and Aurora do a lot of sweet gambolling about on the fake grass. He spouts about princesses and castles, and having her ride a horse to the wedding; she says she'd rather walk, and moans, oh how she wishes she had some family to walk her down the aisle at their wedding.
  
  He suggests they invite Dominga. She shudders at that notion, but thinks Dominga knows where her mother is.
  
  Oh well. Santi and Aurora say they'll be in love till they're way old and cuddle on the Astroturf some more.
  
  From his ogling-post in the giant ferns, Cadmilo looks up Aurora's skirt. He puts his sunglasses up and then down and then up again to see which way results in a more penetrating perspective.
  
  If Becky were still recapping she'd point out there's an anvil over this sweet scene...
  
  
• Relatives? Anvils? Be careful what you wish for. Turns out Aurora left her (white) pocketbook in the dining room, so of course Barbara rooted through it. She found coins, opens Aurora's lipstick(?), then of course finds the "R. S." handkerchief, breathes, "Rebeca Sanchez," folds down into a chair muy impactada into the commercial, cries, stuffs the handkerchief into her (black) pocketbook and rushes off to see Cigarman.
  
  Cigarman asks where she got the handkerchief. "From a girl who's at the hacienda. You gave this to me when I was 15 years old!"
  
  Cigarman refuses to answer any questions, suggests theft and coincidence. Barbara entions the girl's name is Aurora and Cigarman is impactado. "Yes, and she's 20 years old, the age my child..." "Your child died at birth!"
  
  Rebeca: "Then how do you explain her having it?" "Somebody who was in my service... you don't get to make any requests or demands. I'll investigate." "You told me there were no remaining traces of Rebeca Sanchez!" "OK, I was wrong. But I'll correct it. Just get her out of the hacienda and I'll take care of her." She wrinkles her nose and leaves. He swears furiously and slams the table.
  
  
• Dominga is dumping Aurora's laundry all over and swearing when - ruh roh - Cigarman calls. He asks her where Aurora is, but before she has time to make up a lie he says: "I know where she is, she's at the Elizalde hacienda, go get her." "I'm so embarrassed. I'll get her back and then bury her in stone and mud." [It went by sort of quickly, I'm not sure if she actually meant bury her or just lock her up again.] "Do it, or you'll be the dead one."
  
  
• Aurora comes back in the dining room and is glad to find her pocketbook. Cadmilo appears, he is SO disgusting, he tries to whine his way into her good graces, obtain her sympathy: "Nobody loves me around here, only mama loved me, but now you're great, it's so nice to have somebody to talk to, you can count on me for anything."
  
  Santiago enters and hugs his fiancee. Cadmilo: "Oh you two are just the sweetest thing." He's surprised to hear they're getting married but makes a show of being nice. Santiago is suspicious.
  
  
• Villa Madero: Fr/Ed has come to find Jairo in the Bad Love Bar. Jacinto joins him so he doesn't have to beard the lion alone. [Why is Fr/Ed wearing this dumb striped shirt? My brothers wore these shirts when they were 8 years old.]
  
  A whore shows them into Jairo's office. Jairo's tippling because, well because he's a drunk but also because Cigarman has just threatened him hard, croaking "You've got twelve hours, no more, to tell everything that Manzanares investigated."
  
  Jairo bluffs to himself that he's not afraid but jumps guiltily at Fr/Ed and Jacinto's entrance.
  
  He tells them he's very busy. Fr/Ed: "Yes, your time is pretty full, what with all that violating of houses and women. Something of mine is lost, and I think you have it. I'll come to the point, you and Lucio and Manzanares robbed me and almost raped my assistant, then you killed Manzanares." "What are you saying," Jairo manages feebly.
  
  "Jairo, you have too many problems not to cooperate, homicide's no small matter." "Collaborate? You're not the police." "No, if we were the police you'd be in handcuffs."
  
  Jairo pulls a gun and waves it around in a couple of scenes and refuses to tell them anything. "Don't shoot the only person who can help you, I haven't filed a complaint, what was taken from my house?" Jairo suggests he'll make problems for Silvestre and Fr/Ed says he'll be a dead man if he does.
  
  They leave, Jairo staggers, it appears this was all just so Fr/Ed could find out if Jairo knew about his real identity. Conclusion: no! And neither does Cad, because if he did, the Hyena would know too. Fr/Ed has dodged a bullet, or quite a few.
  
  
• Silvestre is discharged from the doctor's care with Margarita to take him home. This is the doctor who's sweet on Martina and he sighs thinking about her. And why do we care about this?
  
  
• Martina is trying to interest Lili in crocheting but Lili, sitting on her insane asylum bed with her legs pulled up tight, just says "Eduardo, Eduardo..."

Labels: manana

Note, this cap is #118 by Mexican numbering, and #120 by US numbering. The series as 139 caps (MX), plus #140 which is almost an afterthought. As we're counting down to the end, I thought the Mexican cap numbers would be more useful.

Rocío brings her X-Box out to the treehouse for Chava to play with. That idea has a few minor problems:
A. It’s useless without a monitor.
B. It’s useless without electricity.
C. Girls, even rich girls, don’t usually have an X-Box. If Roc did have one, what games would she have for Chava? Hello Kitty’s Island Adventure?
They plan how to keep him hidden.

Santiago grabs his orange sweater and heads out of his room. We see his cell phone which Pau has hidden under his chair. This has to be a happy episode if he wears his orange sweater. It sure makes me happy!

Pat and Meño are at the police station (or possibly a neighborhood government office, like a courthouse extension office) to report Chava missing. Pat is at his wits’ end. The clerk tells him that if the boy doesn’t appear in 48 hours, they will start to investigate.

Candy goes to Santi’s house and talks to Isabel while Pau spies. Then Candy looks for Chava at school, but he didn’t show up today.

Santiago, looking fabulous in that orange sweater (I think I’ll thank Wardrobe with a box of See’s chocolates), has breakfast with Raúl. He’s astounded that Raúl is talking marriage already. But isn’t Santi getting married? “Yes,” he answers, “but if this were a TV show, Candy and I are at Capitulo 80, and you and Sol are at Cap 5.” By the way, about 80 cap’s ago, Candy told Santi, “I’m in love,” and Marissa burst into the room and said, “I’m pregnant.” Also about 80 cap’s ago, Santi was wearing my favorite sweater. Raúl and Soledad started their romance 18 cap’s ago.

Santiago waxes poetic with advice for Raúl. He says a woman is an exotic fruit whose texture should be enjoyed with every bite. Because if you don’t have a mouthful, you won’t understand anything. Okey-dokey. Raúl notes that Santi is quoting a Mauricio Garcés movie, and Santi confesses that he has the complete Arroz collection.. Then he realizes that his cell phone isn’t in his pocket.

Note, Mauricio Garcés, who looks like Clark Gable, was a very popular actor during a low-quality phase of Mexican cinema. He typically made six movies per year between 1959 and 1971. This picture indicates his style of film. According to Wikipedia, Angelica Vale’s grandmother, Angélica Ortiz, helped launch his career. Interestingly, while Tontas was filming last year, Jaime Camil announced that he was in talks with Sony to remake Garcés’ Arroz trilogy. I think that project never materialized, but I’m sure this scene with Raul was prompted by those talks. I rather wonder if it was just an invention of Tontas’ publicity department.

Sad violins play while Pau hustles Chava out of the treehouse because his mother might find him. Chava is starting to feel homesickness and regret for running away, so Paulina recharges his fear with another dose of propaganda.

Pat calls Candy and finds out there is no news. Art tells Pat this is the time to call favors from his good buddy Gabino who has powerful connections everywhere. And besides, this should strengthen Pat’s case for custody. Pat tells Art, “No way, no how.” Art insists. Pat forbids it.

Candy’s household and friends are searching the neighborhood for Chava and asking everyone they see.

Pau is at Gabino’s office, very satisfied with herself for being such a good mama. Gab isn’t sure about that, but he knows she’s a great mistress. A call comes on her cell, and Pau says it’s from Candy, but Gab sees it’s actually from Mario. He doesn’t let on. They start to get busy on the couch, but Gab stops suddenly and sends her home.

When she’s gone, Gabino tells his goon, Augustine, that Mario isn’t dead and that Pau lied to him to protect Mario. Augustine the goon actually answers and his face doesn’t crack, so I guess his face isn’t made of plastar. Gab is determined to find Mario and make him pay for killing his father. He won’t ask Pau because he doesn’t want to alert her to the kind of death that awaits her after he finds Mario. And how will he find Mario? He knows of someone who is sure to know his whereabouts.

Gabino shows up at Santiago’s office and asks where to find Mario. Santi looks nerveous. He clarifies – we quit being friends. Gab can’t believe that such a long, close friendship would suddenly end at the stroke of a pen (de un plumazo). Santi says Mario left without saying goodbye. Santi doesn’t know where he is and doesn’t care. He also suggests that Gabino not walk into his office as if he owns the place; it might disturb the patients. Gab suggests that he doesn't care what Santiago wants.

Candy meets Beto and Rocío coming out of school. In tears, she begs them for any info they have about Chava. Roc is nerveous about lying to Candy.

Santi is consulting with a new patient and, putting on a gringo accent (note the drawn-out vowels), he asks where she’s from. Las Vegas. He gets a phone call from Gregoria and first learns that Chava disappeared. He tears down the road, chiding himself for not having his cell phone whan Candy needs him most. Looking in the mirror, he realizes he’s being followed. He pulls some evasive maneuvers. (Note, early in the series, Pat was taking anti-kidnapping driving lessons. I suppose it’s a wise precaution for those with money in Mexico.) Despite Santiago’s evasive driving, they box him in. It’s just like Jaime Camil’s scene from “7 Dias.” I hope this one turns out better for him. Gabino’s goons, all guns drawn, throw Santiago into their car.

They take him, blindfolded, into a smokey concrete cellar with bright naked lights, and force him to his knees. When they saw Santi tear down the street, they assumed he was trying to hide from Gabino. Santi still says he doesn’t know where Mario is, and Gabino still is sure he does. His boys will help Santi’s memory. They strap him into a chair in another room with bars on the door. Gabino rolls up his sleeves to start to work.

Another of Gab’s boys comes in and says Arturo Lizarraga wants to talk to him. Gab steps out to talk to Art, but first he gives the still-blindfolded Santiago a surprise whack in the face to help him decide to cooperate. That was hard to watch. Santi is stunned to realize that Pat’s dad has mafia ties, as he overhears Art tell Gab he owes him a favor for all the work Art did for the family all those years.

In what feels like the other side of the world, Raúl walks into Santi’s waiting room with a bounce in his step like a man in love. Hortensia reports that Santi left quickly when Greg called, and he’s not answering his cell. Another patient shows up. Horti tries again to locate Santi, this time by calling Isabel. Isabel assumes he’s with Candy. She’ll ask Santi to call the office when she talks to him.

Candy is back at the house, devastated. She goes back out to look for him. Isabel calls and is surprised to hear that Santi isn’t with Candy.

Art goes to Family Court and informs the judge that Candy is a bad mother, as evidenced by the fact that her son disappeared.

Raúl and Ed are at Bar Bonker. (What a name! I guess their motto is, “Liquor’s Quicker.”) They are talking about their women. Ed’s getting nowhere with Chayo. Raúl tells him to be romantic. Ed says that’s not his style.

Roc and Beto bring Chava some food. They say his mom was looking for him. Chava intends to live in the treehouse forever. Isabel asks if Don knows where Santi is. She’s starting to be concerned. As she should be.

Back in the cellar, Gab can’t get any info out of Santi so he tells his goons to work on him. You see the first punch in the gut, and you hear the sounds of spitting blood. Gabino returns and tells Santi this is his last chance to fess up. Gabino picks up his pistol and cocks it. Santi, still blindfolded, looks desperate at the sound. Gabino puts the gun to his head and Santi pulls away as much as his bound wrists permit. Gab gives him five seconds to answer. The camera shifts to the goons in the other room of the cellar, and we hear the gunshot.

Lucía wonders why Isabel looks so worried. Isa explains that Candy can’t find Chava, and now nobody knows where Santiago is. Luc suggests that she is exaggerating (exegerar) the situation.

Back in the cellar, Santi is still alive. Gab tells him the games are over. The next bullet has Santi’s name on it. Gun at the temple, he demands to know where Mario is. Just then Gabino’s phone rings. It’s the governor! Gab says, “Sorry, wrong number” and hangs up. Oops! Wrong movie.

Gabino decides to take the call before terminating Santiago. He finishes the call and says, “Doctor, I need you. Release him.” In the car, Gabino tells the caller to meet them at Santiago’s clinic. With Augustine’s gun still at his neck, Santi asks Gab why his clinic. Gab tells him to shut up. But Gab does address him as “usted.” Nice to know he’s a polite murderer.

In the treehouse, the kids have a globe and they’re looking for a place for Chava to live. How about the Yucatan Peninsula. No, that might take five hours to walk there. Chava decides he can only walk that long if he’s kicking a soccer ball.

Ed calls Horti from his kitchen. He’s trying to make a dinner for Chayo, but he can’t read the recipe, he doesn’t know which knife to use, and he doesn’t even know what to do with a carrot.

Horti hangs up. Santi staggers in, holding his side in pain. He tells her to prepare an operating room for emergency surgery. Two orderlies bring in Gabino’s daughter on a stretcher, surrounded by his goons. Gab grabs Santi and says, “Save her. Please. She’s just a child.” Now it’s Gabino’s turn to look scared and helpless. Santi stumbles down the hall to his surgery, cringing in pain with every step.

Ed gets the table ready for his romantic dinner, when Horti calls. He needs to return to the office for an emergency surgery.

Gabino asks, “How is she?” Santi says she’s okay. She has cuts to the face and embedded glass shards. She probably went through the window. Gab wants him to hurry, but Santi explains that she lost a lot of blood. They have to stabilize her before they can operate. Gabino is used to getting his way. He orders Santi to save her life, or Gabino will kill him.

Gabino was god back in his cellar, but they are not in his kingdom anymore. Santi the victim is replaced by Santi the doctor, responsible for the fate of his patient, and he isn’t going to let Gabino interfere with that. Santi asks Gab, “Are you threatening me?” He is. Santi continues, “I don’t think you are in any position to threaten me. I’m a father too. I understand the pain you’re going through. Don’t fear.”

Pat finds Candy at the soccer field. He ponders, “Where is our Chava? Why is this happening? Don’t you think you did something wrong?” This does not endear him to Candy. She goes to the police station, cuts in front of the people waiting in line, and demands that they start looking for her son now instead of waiting 48 hours. This does not endear her to the clerk. He tells her to wait her turn like everyone else. He apparantly doesn’t know that Candy is Miss Centro Universo.

Pat gets home and asks Ali if anyone came to the house. She wouldn’t know; she went to the salon. This makes an impression on Pat, but not a positive one.

In surgery, Ed asks what’s going on? Why don’t they have nurses? Who is this patient? Santi says it’s better if he doesn’t know. When they finish surgery, Ed should try to leave and take Hortensia with him. Santi’s nerves, and several blows to the gut, are making his hand shake as he fixes the girl’s face. He takes a breath, stretches his hand, and reassures the unconscious girl that she will be fine and she won’t have any scars (cicatriz) from the surgery. You get the feeling that he’s talking to himself as much as to her.

After surgery, Santiago drags himself down the hallway to talk to Gabino, with all the burdens of his sleepless night and horrendous day pressing on his shoulders. He starts to give the anxious Gabino a report: “The reconstruction went well, the injuries were major, it could take months to heal..”
Gab cuts him off. ”HOW IS MY DAUGHTER?”
Santi carefully begins, “There are times..”
Gab grabs him by the collar and yells in his face, ”¿CÓMO ESTÁ?”
Santi finally answers, “She went into a coma. She had a reaction to the anesthesia.”

Labels: Tontas

Here's my selection of the hunky guys. Any that I missed?

The star: Christian Meier as Santos Luzardo


Antonio - Arap Bethke with Santos





The Altamira vaqueros-

Carmelito





María Nieves
Pajarote & MN


Pajarote


Pajarote & Leon

Melquíades


Lorenzo


Gonzalo

The El Miedo Vaqueros-
Leon, Balbino Paiba, Tigre


BP

Others:

Capt. Delgado

Lieutenant Guerrero


Orestes Prieto
Mauricio



Florencio Quita Dolores


Néstor
Dr. Arias


Asdrúbal (JenCarlos Canela)

Labels: barbara

Capítulo 69

As we begin at Las Animas, it is some time in the morning. Eduardo and Padre Bosco are still arguing the merits of the Mexican caste system. Eduardo, having been schooled in America and having achieved yuppiedom, is facing the fact that he’s on the losing end of the stick now that he’s back in ol’ Méjico. Padre Bosco reminds him that Fernanda is, and forever will be, off limits for the likes of an indigenous upstart like him. Yes, Gonzo Elizalde, and those like him (though the padre heartily disagrees), would never accept a liason between their daughter and the son of a poor cook. (Ha! That means Augie and Dolly are going to have a major fecal fit when Err plays guess who’s coming to dinner with Fr/Eddie.) Better an absconded criminal with a lineage for Gonzo’s little girl than an indigenous cook’s kid.

Over at Vlad’s, Damian is giving Vlad final instructions on how to nail the interview with Vlad’s nemesis, Anibal Elizalde. Vlad is rankling at the very thought of having to meet with the guy. Dam reminds him that everything has its price and this is his for protecting Pris. So, when he goes for the interview Vlad must tell AB that for the past two years he’s been working for Prolasa, Pris’ family’s business and Grupo’s major rival. Naïve Vlad has to be clued in that Dam has purposely “enhanced” his resume with a supposed stint there as it’s the only way Any Balls will ever consider hiring him.

Nobody will bother to check this out, says Dam, because the Alvear’s and the Elizalde’s detest each other [odiar a muerte]. All Vlad has to do is say that he left Prolasa because he loathes Rolando Alvear. Vlad asks who Rolando Alvear is. “Well, if all goes well he’ll be your brother-in-law.” Dam advises him to make sure he gets in good with Florecita, too, the president’s receptionist. That will be key if their plan is going to succeed.

Meanwhile, Padre Bosco counsels Eduardo that it’s no use looking back. His rage, justified as it might be, will only paralyze him and Ed has a mission to complete. Still, Eddie asks Bosco if he knows if his mother might have hidden Fernanda’s letters somewhere, but the padre tells him that that part of his past life is now closed. Only when Eddie has accomplished his goal, he tells him, will he find the peace he deserves. Eddie suffers a sudden, shocking moment of self-doubt (through which, I might add, the whole of female Viewerville would love to console him). With a crack in his voice Ed admits he feels terribly alone. Bosco tries to reassure him. He tells Eduardo that he does not agree with this false identity business and wants no part of it, but with everything that’s happened the two of them do need one another, even though it’s best they avoid seeing one another again. However, Bosco adds, he is very aware that the enemy they have to defeat is powerful, so if Eddie needs him he should come get him.

Lucio, meanwhile, is thrown into a jail cell and finds out the hard way that BOW has double-crossed him. One of the policemen tells him that she has brought charges against him “for theft and several other crimes.” Lucio, it seems, is out of options.

Padre Bosco asks Jacinto and Margarita to go back to Sole's house with him. Since he already reported the crime he now wants to see what’s going to happen with the dead man's body. Eddie agrees.

In town at Mud Wrasslers Cantina, Jairo has apparently been on an all night bender [empinando el codo= propping up the bar, bending an elbow]. The bar girls razz him about it so he heads outside and gets buttonholed by two guys in Roto-Rooter uniforms (what supposedly passes for certain cops’ uniforms in Mexico). It’s Aremtio Bravo’s men, Carpio and Nestor, in disguise. They force him into their truck and demand to know what Manzanares found out about Franco Santoro when the guy searched his house.

Cinto, Margarita and Padre Bosco finally arrive at Sole’s old house just as the really real police are driving up. Bosco tells the two to let him handle things and then proceeds to tell a little white lie to the cops. He tells the detective that he got an anonymous phone call from a parishioner saying there was a dead man there. Cinto and Margo, he adds, simply offered to walk with him to the house. (At least this priest knows when to tell a decent fib in the battle between Good and Eeevil.) Everyone heads over to the grave but they find that it’s completely empty. Manzanares’ body is gone! Wide-eyed impactado all ‘round.

Jairo denies to Artemio Bravo’s strong-arming tag-team that he knows anything and he insists that Manzanares told him he hadn’t found anything there. Neither one believes him so Nestor chokes Jairo to make the point while Viewerville cheers at the local bully in chief getting a taste of his own medicine. Bravo’s heavies want answers! Carpio gives Jairo 12 hours to get the information they want and then throws him out of the truck.

Bosco tells the detectives that he figures the person who called must have been nutty. Margo whispers to Cinto meanwhile, that she’s worried whoever took the body will be coming after Denia, too. Cinto reminds her that Tomasa said Lucio had split already. Margo says, sure, but Jairo Roca is involved and he’s capable of anything. Cinto tries to comfort her and promises to turn the tables on Roca before he ever has a chance to try anything with Denia.

Back at Las Animas, Eddie questions Denia as to whether either Jairo or Lucio really didn’t know about his true identity. Denia doesn’t think either one knew anything. She admits to Eddie that she feels guilty about nearly spilling the frijoles to Lucio [despepitar = literally “to spit out seeds” ] but she was terrified that he was going to kill her.

In town, Berguer hands over the necklace to Bitch-Barbie who is now very pleased with herself at the smooth way she got rid of that louse, Lucio. She gets ready to drive off but has to take another call from Artemio Bravo first. He informs her that Manzanares' body has been taken care of, then orders her to find a way to get into Fr/Eduardo's place to find some clue about whatever it was the man found out about Santoro. The Barbinator starts planning her next move.

Vlad shows up at Grupo Lactos for his interview. He flirts a bit with Flor who is apparently taken with Vlad’s good looks. (Vlad may not be leading man material, but he ain’t exactly shabby in the shagging department, either.) Even though there is no appointment written down in the book for him, flustered Flo’ decides there must be a mistake and manages to get AB to see him. (Chalk one up for the Vladster.)

Across the hall, Fernanda and Gonzo discuss the visit she and Santoro made to the old warehouse and her suggestion about putting in little artisan studios. He asks what Fr/Ed thought about the site. Fer stops to remember Fr/Ed’s hunkalicious smile and the way his stare made her (and any of us females with blood still running in our veins) tingle. She tells her daddy that he loved it and is ready to begin construction. She adds she feels it could be a way to get past all the damage that Dam had done to the family. Gonzo decides to tell her about Babs' doubts and says that he is considering cancelling the entire negotiation with Franco Santoro. Babs has always had such a sharp business sense that now he’s having second thoughts. Fer is fit-to-be-tied impactada.

Back at Las Animas again, Eddie tells Denia he doesn’t fault her for anything because he knows her life was at risk. (¡Qué considerado!) He asks if by any chance she happened to overhear who might have sent Manzanares to dig up something on him. Denia says no, but after a minute to consider, says she thinks it had to be Cadmilo Elizalde. Just then Jacinto shows up at the door to tell Ed that Manzanares’ body is missing from the grave. More looks de impactado.

Fer gets angry at Gonzo’s 2nd-guessing. After everything it has cost her in time and trouble to get this deal finalized, she argues, there is no reason to turn everything on its head for some silly notion of Babs’. Besides, she adds, Barbara has nothing solid to base it on and the company’s salvation depends upon this agreement going through. Gonzo counters and says he doesn’t know what has caused Babs to feel this way, but her 6th sense in business is always on target. The thoroughly pussy-whipped Gonzo insists that his wife’s opinion should be taken into account. Fer digs in her high-heels and says that as far as she’s concerned Franco Santoro inspires absolute trust in her; that her sixth sense is just as accurate and it tells her that she can trust Franco completely.

We beam back to Las Animas where Eddie now tells Cinto and Denia that whoever hired Manzanares is the same person that had his body carried off. (Do ya think?) Cinto agrees with Denia that perhaps it was Cadmilo Elizalde. Denia goes to open the front door then to let in Estev. Ed quickly whispers to Cinto that they cannot risk Denia’s safety any longer and says he’s going to take some drastic measures to prevent it.

Duckworth has picked up some of Eduardo’s personal things sent to him from Ed’s old apartment in the States. He also got a portable safe to store everything that might give away Eduardo's true identity in case anybody starts nosing around uninvited again. Estev adds that Jacinto had filled him in on what had been going on the last day or two around there. They’re going to have to think of a very good hidey-hole for it says Ed. He mentions to Dewey that they think Cad might be responsible for what’s going on, but even so, somebody else would have been directing him and he believes that person has to be their “mysterious enemy.”

At Grupo Lactos, Vlad lies to Any Balls about having worked at Prolasa and says things went badly there for him, so no, he won’t be getting any decent references from the place. Rolando Alvear didn’t exactly treat him fairly and Vlad left on bad terms. AB says that’s enough to convince him not to hire him, because if he dislikes the Alvear family so much, then why would Vlad be so anxious to take care of Prissy’s finances? Vlad says that Prissy was the only one who supported him there and so he feels obligated to return the favor. AB thinks to himself now that his air-head wife has picked a real loser to audit her money.

Anibal brags to Vlad that Grupo Lactos is a stronger competitor in the market than Prolasa. Vlad flatters AB by saying that’s pretty much why he wanted to come work for them, to learn from the best. This gets AB thinking that Vlad wouldn’t be such a threat to him and the company after all. He hires him on the spot. (Chalk another one up for the Vladster.)

Santiago and Aurora arrive back home. They see Pris on the stairs and Rory tells Pris that she has bought some yarn to knit a little jacket and booties for her baby. The nuns (of course) taught her how….. Pris gets very excited at the idea and asks Rory to teach her how to knit. (What gives with all the knitting references in these scenes? First Martina and Lili, now Rory and Pris? I guess Uni must have snagged a couple major yarn manufacturers to help underwrite this novela. Of course, I prefer to crochet, but what the hey.) Rory asks her what AB wants to name the baby. Pris says AB isn’t really interested in anything to do with the baby. Santi’s hungry so they go merrily off to the kitchen for a snack. FF>>

In Puebla Purificacion meanwhile, Dominga The Drunk is pouring the last of her remaining rot-gut when she gets a surprise phone call from Artemio Bravo. She is forced to admit to him that Rory has escaped from her. He is furious and orders Dominga to find her. Until she does, he says, don’t bother going to the telegraph office to pick up any more money-grams. Bummer for our besotted Dominga.

Fer now runs into Vlad in the reception area at Grupo Grand Central. She is surprised to find out he works there. He says he was working at Prolasa. Fer says she thought he worked for an insurance company and that Dam never told her he’d ever worked for Prolasa. (Ruh-roh!) Vlad stumbles a bit with his faux pas, but recovers quickly enough. He “explains” that the Alvear’s were his clients for a short time. She invites him into her office for coffee and a chat then whispers a question to him about whether he’s seen Damian lately. Vlad swallows hard and searches for a safe response. (We won’t hold our breath.)

At the same time Ursula is visiting Sonny Boy. Damn says he can’t call Fernanda because the cops would trace the call right back to him and put him in jail. She says that Fer really wants to speak with him and warns him that if she doesn’t hear from him soon she will divorce him. Damn stops to consider the implications.

Back at Grupo Lactos, Fer explains to Vlad that it was Any Balls who launched the media blitz against Dam and swears that neither she nor her daddy consented to it. She hopes he understands how important it is for her to speak with Damian and find out exactly what happened. She asks Vlad to let Dam know this if he happens to speak to him. He nervously agrees and then asks what exactly her job is there. Fer describes something that sounds like it’s Public Relations. She asks if he’s there to take Damian’s job. Vlad says no, he’s just there as an auditor.

Back at the apartment, Damn tells his mama that he is certain that Fer loves him (oh so wrong, Arrogant One) and will go back to him again once he proves his innocence. (If she does, it won’t be for love. That’s for darn sure.) Mama wants him to save their good name and even more, their current income level. She can’t stand the thought of anybody looking down on them. Dam says that the Elizalde's will find out what a serious mistake they’ve made and then they’ll be on their knees begging him to be forgiven. (I guess bad intentions don’t count here. The fact he was a louse who had actually intended to abscond with the $3 million which Babs cleverly bilked him out of is a minor detail and one easily forgotten.)

Once again at Grupo Lactos: Any Balls hands Prissy’s financial information over to Vlad and tells him not to bother Pris with anything. They will handle it all between the two of them, especially now that Pris is pregnant. Vlad plays dumb (not a reach for him, I admit) about the pregnancy. He agrees to keep her finances just between the two of them. Then Vlad dutifully listens while AB puts on airs and gives him a line about “nothing being more important to me than the welfare of my future child or my wife’s peace of mind.” Vlad, to his credit, manages to keep from spitting in the guy’s face.

Back at the hacienda, Babs finds Cad putting his horse through the paces. She confides to him that she doesn't trust Franco Santoro and needs his help with something. He admits that he doesn't trust the man either and explains that’s the reason he entered Santoro’s house the other day and searched it. How else, he brags, could he have known that the guy came there to find himself a rich woman to marry? Babs asks him to sneak in again.

Across the way at Las Animas: Estev says he has a plan to get Eddie back with Fer. He and Ed agree that she’s very different from her two brothers and would welcome anything that would allow her to reconcile with her “new friend.” That friend, of course, is Fr/Ed. Since she is very interested in the association between Powhere Meelk and Grupo Lactos, Dewey suggests that Eddie should “give her an opportunity” to straighten out whatever Cad is spoiling through all his meddling.

Babs tells Cad now that what she needs is for him to find out all the intimate details of Franco Santoro’s life: his past, his friendships, the women in his life, the places he has worked, absolutely everything. She warns him that not a single other soul is to be involved in this, either. Cad is definitely up for it.

Vlad meets Pris for lunch in the city. He has the files with him. Pris wants to know how the interview went, whether AB asked him any questions, and if he offered Vlad the job. Vlad says her hubby was very friendly and that he didn’t ask him a thing. He just gave him her files and had him start that very day. Pris shuts up to process.

Babs continues discussing her plan with Cad. This time, she says, he has got to be much more careful and avoid making a fool of himself in front of Jacinto or Gardenia. Cad says sure, sure, and cackles a bit about it being their “Mission Impossible.” Barbie allows herself a frown. Cad asks her what happens if something goes wrong. Babs tells him in that case, she will assume all the responsibility. (Yeah. R-i-i-i-ght. We’ve seen this broad in action before.) Cad chuckles conspiratorially. Babs, though, isn’t smiling.

Labels: manana

Permalink posted by Jardinera654 @ 12:31 PM 114 comments

Santi and Candy have been doing a pretty good job of supporting each other while trying to persuade their kids to accept the upcoming marriage. But that’s all out the window tonight, as Paulina takes off the gloves, and aided by some amazing luck, skill or maybe just creative writers, gives our love wagon a possibly fatal push. It’s like a perfect storm, as the brakes have come completely off the wagon, it’s picking up steam, and careening out of control towards the cliff (hanger). (Sorry for all the metaphors :))

Things begin quietly enough, as we revisit the scenes in which Candy and Santi were telling their respective kids (fast asleep at the time) that the kids would always be the most important things in their lives.

We also see the tender scene between Raúl and Soledad, where they both say “te amo”. At least someone’s lives are looking up.

Morning in Guadalajara. Candy fell asleep on Chava’s bed. She wakes up, tells Chava to hurry, get ready quickly ‘cause he’s a little late for school. Come right down for breakfast, she adds. As soon as she leaves, he says to himself, not right now, I’m mad at her (Candy).

At Santi’s house, he apparently didn’t sleep too well, as Donato has to rouse him with a rooster imitation. They have their usual banter, Santi saying turn out the light, Don saying it’s millions of miles away (referring to the Sun), Donato noticing Santi’s red mustache, Santi telling him he’s a cat.

In the restaurant, Meño is looking for something, while Christian is complaining about the noise, and the sound of the gas being delivered in the restaurant where he’s been living, can’t Meño do something about it? Meño is mainly worrying about the woman on the phone he’s talking to, but tells Chris he’ll see what he can do. Chris smiles in evil glee.

Chava tells Pat he didn’t even give Candy a goodnight kiss, he’s so mad at her. But why? Pat wants to know. Because she’s going to marry Rocío’s papá! Pat is impactado.

So Meño the softy is inspecting a vacant apartment, asking the landlord if it’s quiet there. It is, and there’s no problem with the gas delivery, because they use hot water heating. The landlord thinks Meño’s “friend” is a little demanding, and Meño doesn’t like this guy’s attitude.

It’s time for the kids to solve the world’s problems with their little cabezas. Rocío and Chava agree that they don’t want their parents to marry each other.

Candy is at work when a single rose appears at her office door. It’s followed by another, then a third, then Santi. Candy appreciates the thought, but confesses she didn’t sleep well. She’s still worried about the kids, and suggests postponing the wedding. Santi reassures her the kids were just having a tantrum (berrinche), and eventually they’ll see how happy the adults are, and the kids will be happy. Candy never thought being happy would hurt so much, but Santi sneaks a little kiss to cheer her up.

Christian informs the staff he has invited a group of friends to the restaurant, and will close the restaurant for their private party. Lulu, Gregoria, Zamora and Toño try to protest, but Christian claps his hands, tells them of course “Don Manuel” knows about it, it was even his idea! He tells them they’d better get to work, or he’ll fire them all, and they nervously scurry away like little mice. Christian gives a whistle, and a parade of completely over the top stereotypes of gay guys enter jumping, hugging and spinning their wrists.

In a hotel room, Paulina puts her earrings back on and coolly reapplies her makeup as her sexual blackmailer Gabino reads the morning paper, drink in hand. What’s her hurry? Well, she has things to do. She has to stop Santiago from getting married. How? asks Gabino. By killing him, as with Mario? No, it’s much easier. All I have to do is put his kids in opposition to him. Oooo, what a bad girl you are, says Gabino, showing her with a little kiss on the cheek that he likes her style.

The outraged restaurant staff has retreated to the back steps of the restaurant, all complaining at once about Christian. Meño comes up, signed lease in hand (from an apartment he has rented for Chris), and wants to know what’s going on. They say they needed some air, it’s polluted inside, and although he says let’s get back in there and work, they agree to let him find out for himself. Inside, Christian’s friends are dancing on the tables, swinging napkins and drinking as Christian tells a buddy that first he got free clothes, then an apartment, and guess what’s next? A new car, then a round the world trip! It’s like winning the lottery! You know what, with this fool, it’s as if I have a chicken who lays golden eggs! In the shadows, Meño heard everything. He rips up the lease in disgust.

Santi has his first patient of the day. This time it’s not a luscious lady seeking a lift, but a bald guy with a big beak and a long black beard. He gives Santi a profile shot, of course you know what I need, right? Santi says sure, a nose job. Not at all, it’s his chin (note, the word barba means both beard and chin. Another word for chin is mentón). He has to wear the beard to hide his weak chin. Imagine all the nicknames (apodos) he has to suffer because of it. Santi can imagine. Superchin (mentón superhéroe), Johnnie Bravo, Barba de Pompa (bubble chin), the guy shushes him, and Santi’s phone rings. It’s Agent (I forget his name, something like Abrosino, but Santi calls him Barbino), and trying not to laugh, has to cut off the name so he won’t offend the patient. The patient asks if Santi can help him. Of course, first cut off the ridiculous beard, it’s totally out of style, the days of peace and love are long gone. Then, I’ll operate on your nose, which will result in your chin looking better, because your face will be more balanced. The guy pushes up on his nose and scrunches up his beard, trying to imagine his new look.

Back at the restaurant, Zamora, Toño, Gregoria and Lulu are reviving a dazed Meño by fanning him with a little straw basket. He finds out that they all knew Christian was using Meño, but Meño never noticed it. Greg asks what they’re going to do now. Fire him, of course! However, Meño doesn’t want to do it, and sends his two greatest amigos (Zamora and Toño) in to do the honors.

Agent whatever his name informs Santi that before he died, Leonardo had found Marissa. Well, let’s go, says Santi, filled with hope. Unfortunately, when they went to the location, Mari must have known they were coming, and has now vanished. Also, no news in finding the baby, but they’re working on it, he says to a now deflated Santi.

Zamora and Toño go back into the restaurant, not sure how they’re going to deal with stopping the gay parade and fire Christian. Zamora thinks these guys could beat them up, but Toño thinks they’re pretty harmless. The two summon up their courage, Zamora taps Christian on the shoulder, and presents him with the bill. Christian says we’re not going to pay, this party is on the house. Toño gets tough (after all Christian’s only about 3 inches taller than he is), puffs out his chest, and says Meño said you’re fired, and you’d better leave now. Zamora adds, or we’ll call the police. Meanwhile, outside, Lulu, Greg and Meño are awaiting he results with baited breath, taking turns fanning themselves with the little basket.

At the Institute, receipts are down, expenses are up, and Chayo and Candy are juggling bills. Candy is worried, but Chayo reassures her that they have several things coming up, and they have three more days before the rent is due, they’ll be okay. Candy, of course, is not just worried about the rent. Chayo sees her ashen face and assumes it was a fight with Santiago. She tells Candy about the argument with Ed about choosing between school and marriage, she chose both, so what was Candy’s fight with Santiago? No, it’s Chava. He didn’t say one word to me this morning, just went directly off to school with Patricio. She touches a photo of herself and Chava with a trembling finger, and the tears start coming.

Meño and crew have recovered enough to reenter the restaurant, where Meño finally gives Christian a bit of his mind, Christian is sent packing, and Meño says they’ll celebrate with the food and drinks those (he uses a cussword for gay guys or freeloaders, I think, it was bleeped out) guys left behind.

It’s time to pick up Chava from school. Candy waits outside the class, as Paulina saunters in. Pau turns the screws, asking if Candy thinks Chava will stay with her, Pau thinks Chava would rather spend more time with Rocío. Pau continues how the kids were so upset about the marriage with Santiago, that a rash broke out all over Rocío’s face (salió una roncha en toda la cara). Here come the kids. Rocío runs to Paulina. Beto greets Candy warmly, but Chava coldly brushes past her, asking Rocío if he can eat at her house. Candy tries to protest, but Chava insists, and Paulina takes Rocío and Chava away, taunting Candy by saying Pau knows what the children really want.

Ed and Santi are comparing problems. They recall the glory days, when they had no worries. Santi sounds as if he’s going a little nuts, forgetting what he’s saying a few times, and holding his sneaker-clad feet up like a kid, while Ed is still obsessed with whether he can have a kid with Chayo, since they rarely do it anymore. Ed leaves before Santi can get his hug.

But we do see a hug between Charly and Meño. Charly is happy Meño finally saw the light about Christian. Meño says he sort of knew all along that Christian was trying to take advantage, but he’s a generous guy who gets pleasure from giving. That’s great, says Charly, since you’re so generous, I could use a motorcycle, okay? In your dreams.

In typical novela fashion, when all else fails, pray. Candy has a bouquet of pink flowers for the virgencita, kneels in the church in front of a candle, clasps her hands, asks the Lord to help with her pain, to give her the balance, the force to make Chava happy. Her cell rings, it’s Santiago, maybe her prayers are answered.

In the garden at Santi’s house, it’s story time, as Paulina tells Rocío and Chava one, which ends up with the lady and the man marrying, but the man was very bad, and made his wife kick the children out, and they were “in the street” (the typical worst punishment for anyone in a novela). Chava thinks it’s “just a story”, but Paulina corrects him, she read it in a newspaper, this is what happens in real life. And you know what, it happens to many children like you two! She leaves the frightened kids to play in the playhouse, smiling to herself. The kids discuss things, Rocío thinking Candy will kick her out, Chava thinking Rocío’s dad is bad, both of them say they’re afraid, as Paulina secretly observes how well her scheme is working.

Santi and Candy are trying to cheer each other up over lunch in a French restaurant. Santi wants to forget the kids for just two hours, and try to be happy with Candy for that short period of time.

Meanwhile, Raúl has brought Beto and Soledad to see some of the color copy machinery that makes his magazine. I think Beto wants his own magazine. They’re having a good time.

Candy is back from lunch, and guess who’s waiting in her office? Pat. He half-heartedly congratulates her on her engagement, he’s glad she’s happy, but once again, he thinks Chava should be with him, there’s no other option, Chava has to be safe. Candy says no way. Pat flashes back to when Lozano told him he was taking pictures of Santiago. He implores Candy, what more can I say? It’s a rhetorical question, as he leaves Candy in stunned silence. Candy is destroyed again (this is about the third or fourth time today she’s essentially been hit with a brick). I guess she is supposed to read Pat’s mind.

We get a little fun, though, as Raúl, Soledad and Beto are now bowling. Raúl shows Beto how to roll the ball down the center of the lane. Beto launches the big bowling ball with two hands, it veers off toward the gutter, but in a miracle of editing, Beto gets a strike! Raúl wants a rematch (revancha, also means revenge), Soledad doesn’t think so, but the two boys beg her, and she can’t resist. Raúl seems to be aiming for a perfect game, this bonding with Beto is right down his alley.

Back to sad. Candy came home from work a little early, but Chava’s already in bed, so she isn’t even going to get to talk to him. Gregoria consoles her, saying things have been changing fast for Chava, give him time.

At Santi’s house, he examines his patient, Rocío’s rash is all gone. He asks if she likes Candy, she responds that she loves her mother. But the question was do you like (or love) Candy? No, not at all, in fact she can’t stand her (me cae gorda). She runs out, leaving Santi frustrated.

At Soledad’s, Raúl and Beto make tiger faces at each other, reveling in their maleness, can’t wait for tomorrow, and Beto goes off to bed. Soledad is overjoyed at how fast Raúl has gained Beto’s trust. And you know what, adds Sole? Every day, I’m liking you more (cada día, me caes mejor). How much more? Raúl wants to know. She answers him with a kiss.

The rest of the episode is like a perfect storm. Each little event is perfectly timed to throw our characters’ lives in turmoil. How did the writers do it? Let’s see.

Step 1. Cut to Chava. I think it’s time for a nightmare. Sure enough, Santi has left him in the street (looks more like a forest, tho) as he screams for his Dad! He wakes up, puts on his shoes, and sneaks out of his room.

Step 2. Candy, unaware of this, is on the phone with Santi. He has an idea, let’s take the kids on a vacation, if the four of us are together, it’ll be fun. Candy wonders how they can persuade the kids to go. Santi says the important thing is to get them all together, even if they have to use force to get them to go on the trip. Candy doesn’t think Chava will want to be taken by force. Guess what – Chava is outside the half-opened door, hears the words Santiago, taken by force, and realizes his fears are confirmed.

In the morning, Candy comes in to wake Chava, and he’s gone! The note on his pillow says “Mommy, don’t search for me, because before you two kick me out of the house, I’m going out on my own. Chava”. Candy is frantic, Charly notes that Chava’s backpack and clothes are gone.

Step 3. So where is he? Apparently he was able to find Santi’s house, and Rocío has him hiding behind the drapes. The coast is clear, and he hides under the piano. Eventually she gets him up to her room (very conveniently, there’s no sign of Lucía, Donato, Isabel, etc.) Chava tells Rocío he’s not going back to his house, and he wanted to go to his Dad’s house, but it’s too far away. He tells Rocío about his nightmare (pesadilla) in which her Dad ran him into the street, and she defends her Dad, but agrees he can live in her room, and she’ll bring him some breakfast. Just then,

Step 4. Paulina comes in (the only person who is NOT going to return Chava to his house). Pau hears Chava’s story, and reminds the kids that she’s the only one who can protect them, but they have to promise not to tell anyone. They do. But Pau says Chava can’t live in Rocío’s room, he has to be in a safe place where Santi won’t find him. Rocío has an idea, and they go off together, as Pau gives her evil smirk again.

Candy has called Pat, but Chava isn’t there, and Pat will come right away to help search. He tells Alicia to stay home, he has to be able to reach her at any moment. She doesn’t care a bit about poor Candy, and after Pat leaves, she tells Patito, let’s go to the beauty salon.

Back at Candy’s, they’re all dressed, Charly has searched the park, and no Chava. Candy figures that Chava must be at Santiago’s house. She calls, and

Step 5. Guess who happens to answer the phone? Paulina, who sees the caller ID, hangs up, then dials and puts down the phone. On the other end, Candy says it went dead, now it’s busy. So she’s calls Santi’s cell, but

Step 6. Santi’s in the bathroom, and Paulina just happens to have walked into his bedroom just in time for this call. She presses ignore, hides the phone under the chair, smiles again, and calmly exits Santi’s room.

Back at the house, everyone is going crazy, Candy is going to go over Santi’s house, but when she opens the door,

Step 7. Pat is right there. He tells Candy that Chava is gone because Candy didn’t keep him from Santiago. Candy, I warned you many times, Chava should have been with me. Why didn’t you pay attention and listen to me! Candy’s eyes get big, as she sees the edge of the cliff approaching at maximum velocity!

Monday: Santi is kidnapped, as we’re not just in últimas semanas, we’re in últimos capítulos!

Vocabulario:

un berrinche - a tantrum
una barba - a beard, or a chin. Other words for chin are barbilla and mentón
roncha - a rash, or measles type spots
apodos - nicknames
revancha - a rematch, or revenge
me cae gorda - I can't stand her

Labels: Tontas