Caray, Caray!

Capitulo 67.
Read Julie’s original recap which covers Cap’s 65 to 69. Then come back here to discuss it.

1. In the parking lot, Lety wants a kiss but Fernando says they can’t because Celso might see them. Veterans, remember that scene? Alicia is a stowaway in Omar’s car. She begs, and he throws her out. He alternates between calling her “mi amor” and “lichita.”

2. Fernando drops off Lety at Megatron (MT). She calls home to tell Pop she’ll be late and Fernando will bring her home. He doesn’t like that one bit. She says, “It’s because we’re novios.” He doesn’t like her joke either. After she hangs up, Lety says, “You can’t say I never told you.”

3. Fernando tells Omar that in 20 minutes, he’ll greet and be seen at IdeaStock (IS), go back to Lety and kiss her, and then this awful night will be over. Lety is bored and uncomfortable at MT.

4. Marcia goes to IS. She knows he went there to escape her, and he knows she went to spy on him. She insists that he’s there with one of the honeys, so he marches her over to the two honeys and asks them, “Which of you did Omar arrange be with me tonight?” This does not improve Marcia’s mood. He asks her if she’s finished spying or if he should ask every woman there.

5. Jorge, the accomplice, wants to know who Fern is ducking out to see. See the transcript. Jorge insists that Fern introduce him sometime so he (Jorge) can die with envy. Fern answers, “Yeah, you’d die alright.” Omar says, “You seem more worried about Lety than Marcia.” Fern completely agrees – Lety doesn’t deserve to be stuck at a place like that. Omar is stunned.

6. Erasmo fumes. Julieta says he’s acting like he did when his best friend tried to take her (Julieta) from him. She assures him, nobody is trying to take Lety from him, much less her boss.

7. Fern is really having fun in the conga line. See the transcript. He says he practically lives at Marcia’s because otherwise she obsesses. Lety says that if he’s engaged, it’s reasonable that Marcia thinks he’s in love. Fernando says that his commitment isn’t for love, but for family, business, etc. He makes her swear that she’s his, all his. She does, and he needs the Paty photo so he can kiss her.

8. Again Sanchez asks Tom why Lety isn’t proceeding with the demand, and why Conceptos’ attorney isn’t fighting it.

9. Lety wraps around Fernando like a python and catches every kiss she can, while Fernando looks very uncomfortable. Marcia is mad that he turned off his phone, so she tries to call Omar.

10. Fernando apologizes for taking Lety to such a dive. Her response is beautiful. “It’s not important to me. I understand. Besides, for me any place is marvelous if I'm with you. I will always remember this club however ugly or beautiful or average it is. For me, it's a very special night. I’ll go with you anywhere. I'll never feel uncomfortable because .. What I want is for you to be calm, that nothing bothers you, that nothing makes you nervous. What I want, is that when you are with me, you’re at peace.” After a declaration like that, I won’t say he wants to kiss her, but this time he doesn’t need the Paty photo either.

---

Capitulo 68.
Read Julie’s original recap which covers Cap’s 65 to 69. Then come back here to discuss it.

1. As Fernando kisses Lety, Omar Chaparro, the MC, selects them as the No. 1 in-love couple of the night. So much for a discreet place! All Fern wants to do is get out of the spotlight. He fumbles for a false name and says “Fernando Colunga.” The MC forces them to sing. Lety sings so badly that Fernando takes the mic from her and sings beautifully. Can you hear the laughter in his singing voice, especially in the first bars?

2. Tomas doesn’t want to go out with the HaHAs but Sanchez says “Te invito” (which means he’ll pay), so Tom agrees. Once they have him drunk and bring on the honeys, Sanchez say that Tom is the one doing the inviting, and by then he’s too far gone to protest. One of the honeys borrows Tom’s cell and leaves with it.

3. Fernando takes Lety home, and it sounds like he says, “I liked it. I’ve never had a night this good.” Can that be right? He completely enjoyed being with Lety tonight, except for the fear of being discovered, and having to kiss her. He drives home singing.

4. Erasmo yells at Lety for working late again. He warns that she’ll have trouble with Fernando’s fiancé if she’s out with him (for meetings) at night. Lety says she won’t have any problems with Marcia (Liar, liar, pants on fire.)

5. Lety recounts the day to her diary. Fernando being jealous about Tomas, the card and candy, and the fact that he ditched Marcia to be with her. She’s afraid of what the future holds, but she’s not willing to walk away from her dream.

6. Marcia tells Alicia that Fernando is going out with someONE, and she is robbing him from Marcia. She’s got a feeling about it. Marcia is determined to find her and deal with her. Marcia tells Ali to call IdeaStock and ask what time Fernando left so she can catch him in a lie. Marta overhears.

7. Fernando rehashes with Omar. Omar notes that he doesn’t seem as horrified by the kisses. Fernando says it’s like a boxer. After a few rounds he doesn’t feel anything anymore. Lety puts a love poem on Fernando’s desk.

8. Marta reports to Lety that Marcia knows Fernando has an amante. Lety is disturbed by the word. She insists, since Fernando isn’t married, it would be “la otra” instead.

Labels: fea-2010

Update: Wikipedia now says that because of an unprecedented ratings surge in Uzbekistan, Tanzania, and across a broad swath of western China, El Clon has been extended to 263 episodes. In the United States, it will run through Groundhog Day 2011. Hahahahah!!! October Fools!!!

Before the new episode begins, we get one more chance to enjoy the incredibly satisfying bofetada: Slap! Again, we imagine Cris’s hand print on that rodent face.

Now to the business of the evening:

Faced with the prospect of living in Fez at Tío Abdul’s mercy, Samira does what any sane person would do: she runs away. The Naz blames Mohamed for threatening Samira with such a hellish fate. Abdul takes umbrage at the idea that living with him is an infierno. Then, to his family’s immense relief, he scuttles off to catch his plane.

The Naz turns to Latifa next and blames her for supporting Mohamed’s plan. But Mohamed, surprisingly, assumes responsibility for what has happened.

Things are looking grim at the Del Valle home. Lucía’s not buying Roberto’s protestation of innocence. Andrea suspects that Consuelo is mixed up in all this, but she doesn't know how. Roberto is having the DNA test repeated: he’s sure the positive result was an error or a scam.

Let him repeat the DNA test as often as he likes, crows UbersKank. It will turn out the same. Still, Karla is worried about all the money her mother is spending in anticipation of their windfall.

Alí and the Naz take to the streets in search of Samira.

Gloria tells Alí that when a girl runs away, it’s always because of a boyfriend. While Alí is explaining that in his culture there are no novios, just esposos, Ramón comes along and tells them just by chance he saw Samira tiptoeing out of her house, carrying a suitcase early this morning. He just happened to see her meet up with a boy.

Here's how the Naz searches: She walks along the water screaming Samira’s name, and growing ever more frantic. By an amazing coincidence, Pablo is in that same spot. The second bofetada of the evening: Pablo slaps the hysterical Naz to bring her to her senses. Ay, me pegaste, Pablo! (Oh, you hit me, Pablo!) The shock on her face turns to a delirious smile and she gives Pablo a long, passionate kiss, while Diana and Pedro look on in amusement.

The unpleasant Albieri’s finally confront one another. He can’t understand why she turned on him. His only sin was giving a reporter an interview. But according to Luisa:
¡Me excluiste! Eso es lo que no perdono!
(You excluded me! That’s what I can’t forgive!)

He doesn't understand why she's so mad. He isn’t in love with Amalia, although he does love her admiration, her interest, her questions.

And finally, Luisa storms out with her suitcase and her rage in tow. [And given her wardrobe, for once we can believe that everything she owns is in that one bag.]

At Dora’s apartment, Daniel vows to follow Jade wherever she may go. Not if Dora can help it!
She implores Jade to stop putting ideas in Daniel’s head and accuses her of trying to get from Daniel what Lucas owes her. (Tú quieres cobrarte con todo lo que te debe el otro). Besides, what are you going to live on when Daniel can’t even support himself?

Jade remembers the young Lucas promising to go away with her. Then she hears the present-day Daniel say:
Yo voy a estar contigo siempre; yo no te voy a dejar nunca.
(I’m always going to be with you; I’ll never leave you.)

Responds a saddened Jade: I waited all my life to hear those words. And now it’s too late.

With no explanation, Daniel hurries out of the house.

Once he’s gone, Jade tells Dora not to worry; she’s going to a place where Daniel won’t find her. But she takes off her jade pendant and gives it to Dora. Please give him this and tell him I lived the most beautiful time of my life with him.

She explains that through Daniel, she came to realize that her experience with Lucas was real and beautiful; that she didn’t throw her life away.

She gives Dora a parting gift, a filmy orange veil [clearly, the Naz gives better presents], and leaves, pulling her magic telenovela maleta behind her [because unlike Luisa, Jade, even in exile, maintains an impressive closet].

So that’s where he was going!
Daniel shows up at Casa Ferrer. You said I could ask you for anything, he tells Leo. Well, I’d like a ticket to Morocco. Leo is amused that his sons are so attracted to the place. He promises Daniel his ticket.

And Jade shows up at Zein’s place – he said she could ask him for anything -- requesting shelter (posada) for the night.

Natalia and her baby come home to Casa Ferrer. Leo and Lucas have gone to the hearing and Daniel has just left. When Nati takes the baby upstairs, Marisa confides to Rosa that even though Nati is abstinent now, she’s on shaky ground.

Because Marisa is also on her way out, she asks Rosa to call Gloria to come to visit Natalia and the baby.

I guess Marisa is truly changed, broccoli band dress notwithstanding. She is in a support group for parents of addicts. She listens respectfully to the other parents and speaks with some humility of her own problems, her losses and her failures.

Back in Casa Ferrer, Nati looks very depressed. She seems uninterested in the baby, doesn’t even want to look at him. Marina comes in with a breast pump: Natalia has to empty her milk or she’ll have problems.

Gloria arrives and fills the room with her energy. As she holds mega-baby (He looks just like her baby, she says), she announces she’s there to take Nati and her grandson back to her place. She’s the one to supervise his care. Rosa defends the home team: The baby looks like both parents, she says stoutly; and she and Marisa raised Natalia – they can surely take care of little Alejandro. And Nati assures her suegra that she’s going to take very good care of her grandson.

In the courtroom, Roberto is advocating on Leo's behalf. The DNA results show clearly that Leo and Isabel Ferrer are Daniel’s biological parents. And furthermore, both Lucas and Daniel share a genetically transmitted trait, the famous mancha, that they could only have inherited from Isabel. Both men are called up to show their manchas to the judge.

At Empresas Ferrer, Clara gets another bouquet of flowers from Escobar. Caro thinks his courtship efforts are kind of sweet, but Clara says he’s the same clueless idiot as always.

Enrique breezes in looking happier than we’ve ever seen him (well, except when he’s making fun of Roberto). He has made up him mind, he tells Caro. Tomorrow he’s going to look for his family. Now that he has Carolina at his side, he’s ready to face his past.

Mohamed’s house is still in turmoil. Samira’s friends haven’t seen her. Mohamed refuses to believe Ramón’s story about seeing his daughter with a boy. And he thinks the circumstances are too shameful to involve the police. Suddenly Alí realizes the Naz is missing. She went out looking for Samira, says Zoraida, and she never came back.

Apparently the Naz has spent the day with Pablo. Maybe they were looking for Samira together? Now he has brought her home and before saying goodbye, he tries to kiss her. She refuses. Kissing is for married couples. The earlier kiss? That was in the heat of the moment. Say, she says, why don’t we get married and live in Morocco? Think about it! And off she goes leaving Pablo with a silly grin on his face.

Diana, who has just witnessed this exchange, can’t believe it. Neither can I, says Pablo. But did you see the powerful chemistry between us?

Once upstairs, the Naz announces blissfully:
¡No encontré a tu hija pero encontré a mi marido!
(I didn’t find your daughter but I found my husband!)

Zombies Paula and Fer are hanging out on their favorite ledge when Paula spots a police car and runs away. Fer, stretched out dopily, reacts too slowly. The police question him, find the gun he got from the Scary Drug Guy, and take him in to the station. Fer calls Clara and tells her he’s been arrested.

At Casa Ferrer, our third zombie’s recovery is wearing thin about now. Ahora comienza el infierno (now the hell begins) Natalia tells Rosa. She asks her to take care of the baby. And she says: Don’t let me go out -- even if I scream or kick or make a scene.

Gloria expresses her doubts about Nati’s recovery (Me cuesta creer en la rehabilitación de Natalia), but Alej believes in her. And he is on his way to visit his son.

In Said’s house, Jadiya is talking to Jade on the phone. They are planning the details of their escape. Jadiya has her suitcase packed. She diverted suspicion by telling everyone it was full of doll clothes she wants to bring to school to show her friend. As Jadiya talks, Rania is approaching ever so quietly. She catches Jadiya saying: But where are we running away to, Mommy? To Fez? Okay.

Rania can hardly contain her joy. She whispers the good news to Amina and swears her to secrecy.

Clara spends another miserable evening in the police station. Fernando was caught with a gun and he had drugs in his pocket and in his bloodstream. Clara has no money for bail, so he’ll have to spend the night in jail.

Lucas shows up at Salamandra. Why? Who knows. But Zein spots him in the crowd and we get to enjoy a few seconds staring at beautiful Zein staring intensely at Lucas.

When Daniel gets back to Dora’s apartment, he learns that Jade is gone. And once again, he rushes out without telling Dora where he’s going.

Just as before, he lands at Casa Ferrer. This time he is here to see Lucas. He prefers to wait outside.

As soon as Lucas drives up, Daniel asks him accusingly: Where’s Jade? Where did you take her? Lucas is puzzled: Isn’t she at your house? No, says Daniel, she left and she took her luggage.

We see Jade sitting in a yellow taxi.

Jadiya is ready for school. Said wants to know what’s in her suitcase. Doll clothes, says Jadiya. Said would like to see them. [Really? Said wants to see Jadiya’s doll clothes?]

To keep Said from discovering what is really in the suitcase, Rania tells him the doll clothes are carefully folded; he’ll get them all wrinkled if he opens the suitcase.

Then Rania can only watch in mute admiration as Jadiya gets Said to sign a paper for her by telling him it’s a permission slip for a school trip to the zoo. [I suspect it's a permission slip for a rather longer field trip.] When Jadiya finally leaves, Rania smiles and smiles and smiles.
She would probably break into her awkward emu dance, but it might arouse Said’s suspicions.

At Mohamed’s place, however, the Naz feels quite free to dance with joy. She looks about 15 years younger than she did the day before. She and Zoraida agree on one thing:
Es muy triste el destino de una mujer sin marido.
(The fate of a woman without a husband is a very sad one.)
Alí, unobserved, is listening to this conversation and seems surprised to hear Zoraida’s sadness at her life without husband or children or her own. [So maybe Zoraida will get a husband after all].

Amin rushes in with the latest: They found Samira. There’s a boy downstairs who wants to talk to Mohamed.

Mohamed finds Carlos standing at the front gate. He tells Mohamed that Samira is fine; she’s staying with a girlfriend. And he explains that he is Samira’s boyfriend and is prepared to convert to Islam for her. Mohamed says, as if in a trance state:
Tu… Carlos… occidental… musulman… novio de Samira…
And then he faints dead away.

Back at the clone trial, Dora’s lawyer gets her turn to speak. She tells the judge that not only is Leo’s paternity claim morally repugnant, there is no solid legal or scientific basis for it. Dora gave birth to Daniel, she raised him, gave him a home and a family.

Furthermore, if Daniel were shown to be a clone, why would the court assume that Leo is his father? Why not Lucas?

Mohamed has been helped up to bed and Zoraida now serves him a calming tea. He tells the family he had a terrible nightmare.

Carlos takes Alí to the house where Samira has been hiding. He convinces her it’s safe to come home.

In the final scene, Jade is still sitting in the yellow taxi. At last, Jadiya arrives at school. And when the coast is clear, she gets in the cab with her mother.

Credits roll.

Labels: clon

DISCLAIMER: I am not pretending to have perfect comprehension, so I rely on all of you to fill in the blanks and please PLEASE correct any errors I make! Thank you!

Review of yesterday:

Oliver has brought home a zoned-out Gretel and is explaining tearfully to everyone in the pension that he loves her so much, that if he loses her, he has lost everything. He says he’s got to disappear with her. Netty says that they’ll support him—true love and all. Off he goes with a barely upright Gretel as Netty, Brandon and Doris bid him farewell.

Kristel and Mauricio (Orange Boy) are talking about the recent extraction of Gretel from their domicile. They start squabbling (I think about Kristel’s “situation”) and in comes Nereida , taunting the “happy papa.” “Lower your voice, minimum wage!” Mauricio responds. (That’s what it looks like he’s saying!) Whoa, dude, way to alienate the person who would be quite eager to blow your whole secret. Nereida responds with a veiled threat. Orangey returns with a threat of his own: “Salaria minimo o muerte natural!” He punctuates this sentence with a “cut throat” gesture. He’s such a prince. As they are talking, Fedra walks in and asks what’s going on. (Naturally no one thinks to have this conversation somewhere more private in the first place!)

Now we come to Emiliano and Emanuel, and Eman’s uncomfortable question about his parentage. Emilano is saying, sure, he knows Eman’s his son. He was just a little premature, that’s all. Eman was stubborn (“muy terco”) in getting born early. Eman suggests that maybe—just maybe—Fedra was already pregnant when Emiliano met her. This changes Emil’s tone. He declares that Fedra is capable of many things, but he’s sure that Eman is his son! “You are my pride, my first son!” he says, earnestly. They hug, and Eman does his little nose-scrunchy-up thing which denotes emotion. (I’m not trying to be hard on Valentino Lanus, who I think is fantastic, but he does scrunch up his nose now and then, you have to admit.)

Fedra still wants to know what’s the deal with Kristel, Orangey, and Nereida, and she’s making them squirm. Orangey tries to blow it all off as nothing, but Fedra isn’t buying. They come up with an explanation—a “cenita sorpresa” (I think a surprise party?) and say they were discussing it with Nereida. Fedra does not like this and (I think) warns them that she wants to be the one to plan such things. (I sort of lost the direction of the conversation here.) She surreptitiously gives a hilarious/scary stinkeye “warning” to Mauricio, like she’ll snip off something essential if he steps out of line. Bernardo (Spiderus) interrupts them with something about taking a car, and as Fedra leaves, Orangey and Kristel almost collapse in relief.

Mari and Paula are in the kitchen, and Marienela is saying that Oliver look after Gretel because he adores her. Paula says she knows, and that Gretel loves Oliver a lot too. Delicia runs in to tell them that Fedra and Bernardo have left the building and are on the way to the pension. Mari immediately calls Netty to ask if Oliver and Gretel are there. Netty says no. Just then Axel rushes in, grabs the phone from her hand, and tries to admonish her. Both Marianela and Delicia try to tell him that he doesn’t know what’s going on. (You think? Amnesia might have that effect.)

Lorenzo and Begoñia have returned to her apartment. He’s still fussing over the baby, acting as if all is cool and he is The Perfect Doting Father instead of the lowlife deadbeat that we know he is. Begoñia doesn’t seem to be eager to buy what he’s selling, and he feigns shock at this. She also says she doesn’t want another scare, like the one she had at the park, where he (Lorenzo) was out of sight for a moment with the baby. He starts in with a “sincere” talk about how he wants to do right by the kid, and he wants to “register” the child (I think claim parentage?). I smell a rat here. He rattles on for a while as Begoñia looks suspiciously as him.

Marianela is talking to herself about poor Netty having to deal with the impending visit of the Witch Fedra. Then in comes an irate and clueless Axel who is angry with Mari and who claims that his mom is a good woman. (Qué? NOT!) Marianela tries to point out that he just doesn’t remember all the cr*p she’s done. (It’s called AMNESIA Axel. Connect the dots here and consider the concept that maybe the amnesia has left you bereft of some facts?)

Fedra has invaded the happy pension with Spiderus looking creepy in the background, as Netty excitedly tells her that she is a snake and then orders them out of the house. Fedra then proceeds to bring in several “gorilas” who are friends of Bernardo’s. They’re going to set fire to Netty’s “hovel” if she doesn’t help them out.

Axel is still arguing with Marianela about what a witch Evil Aunt Fedra is. Some back and forth arguing. Marianela finally just says that she hopes he (Axel) will return to the boy he was before. (I agree. Does amnesia make you this clueless? I ask you.)

My favorite naco gentleman (Brandon) comes in and says that he must talk to Marianela.

Oliver is struggling to drag a still listless Gretel into a hotel room. He gets her on a bed and fusses over her as she is still out for the count.

Brandon has finished telling Marianela that he’s got proof that her mom was murdered in the helicopter crash. She blames herself because if only her mom hadn’t flown in to attend her graduation . . . Brandon hugs her and tells her he won’t rest until he resolves the case. He also urges her to leave the house for her own safety.

Bernardo’s gorillas and Bernardo himself are roughing up Netty and the other residents of the pension as they tear through the place, looking for Gretel. Fedra grabs Netty by the wrists and threatens her. Netty says that (I think?) the end is very near for Fedra! (We can only hope. But no, wait. This telenovela has many more episodes, so my guess is that Fedra will slither around for a while longer.)

Marianela is telling Brandon that she can’t leave now, Axel is so confused, Tio Maximo needs her, Tio Emiliano, her primo Emanuel . . . Oh yeah right, Brandon isn’t buying this bit about Emanuel. They continue to bicker a bit more about how she ought to leave. She then says that she wants to stay to prove that she’s not afraid, and she relies on him to be a friend. He says she can count on him and gives her a hug. Just then Emanuel and Jackie (Ilitia’s rival) walk in and see the embrace. Emanuel looks peeved and says in a tight voice, “Marianela” as she and Brandon pull apart and she looks guilty and busted. Commercial break.

We return to Brandon, Mari, Jackie and Eman. Jackie comments that Brandon is Mari’s boyfriend, but Mari says, No, we used to be novios, but now we’re just friends. Yeah, Eman still isn’t cool with this and is giving them the stinkeye. Thus starts a p*ssing match between the four. Eman pulls Jackie close and says that he’s “just friends” with her. Yadda yadda yadda. Brandon looks at Mari as if to say, “See what he’s like?” as Mari returns a stinkeye look at Eman.

More with the turmoil in the pension, as Fedra’s gorillas have the pension residents in their clutches, as a very colorful couch (how many colors can a couch have, anyway?) sits at center stage, drawing our eyes away from the drama. (Well okay, maybe it was just my eyes that veered towards that incredible couch.) More threats and hysteria (and some big burly guy manhandling the little son of the one pension resident) as Netty insists she doesn’t know where Gretel and Oliver are.

Brandon and Marianela are sitting outside the house and Brandon is telling her to open her eyes—a week after breaking up with Ilitia and Eman has taken up with this other girl. He must be laughing, Brandon says. Marianela has another dizzy spell thanks to the poisoned chocolates. Brandon is instantly concerned, but Mari says it’s due to her diet and her worry over Gretel and Oliver. Emiliano drives up just then and asks Mari where Gretel is. Mari looks impactada.

Back to Jackie and Eman inside the house. Eman is arguing with Jackie about her behavior in front of Mari. She doesn’t know what the big deal is. He’s worried that Mari’s going to think that they (Eman and Jackie) have something going on. Jackie is wondering why la gordita would care anyway, or why he cares. He stammers.

Emiliano is still wanting to know where Gretel is. Brandon tries to calm him down, but no go.

El Comisario is talking on the phone at the police station about Eva’s death in the helicopter crash as Fedra rushes in, rudely pushing an officer out of the way in the process. She claims that one of his officers has taken her daughter. El Comisario looks impactado.

We go to Gretel, who wakes up, finally fully conscious, but confused and not knowing where she is. She proceeds to freak out, apparently delirious, as poor Oliver tries to calm her down.

Nedra is spinning quite a yarn with El Comisario. She claims that Oliver took Gretel against her will and injected her with something. Whiskey Tango Foxtrot! The woman has no shame! El Comisario is very concerned and outraged by this claim and wants to find Oliver.

Poor Gretel is having delirious flashbacks of Tio Luis Filipe’s death. Oliver is still trying to calm her down as she beseeches him to help her uncle. She then passes out in Oliver’s arms.

Everyone in the pension is gathered in the living room (sitting in—and therefore covering up—the colorful sofa, so I can concentrate better). They are talking about the scare they had with the gorillas. Even Netty’s incompetent lawyer is there. Netty appears, dressed to go out. The lawyer says she’s dressed like Mata Hari. She says she’s going to go face Fedra.

Back at the Ruis y de Teresa household (aka Dysfunctional Domicile), Mari is trying to explain that Oliver didn’t take Gretel against her will, that she was eager to go to escape the bad treatment she got in that house. Emil is shocked when Mari says that Gretel was ill-treated in the house, and confronts Fedra. But of course Fedra blithers on and lies and plays the misunderstood victim.

Back to Oliver and Gretel. She wakes up, apparently her fever has broken, and she’s back to some semblance of normal. Oliver fusses over her as she asks him never to leave her. She never wants to return to that house.

Mari is in the kitchen, drinking some water. Eman walks in and they start to bicker, at first about Oliver taking away Gretel. Mari says that Oliver is a man in love and he wants to be with the one he loves. (The closed captions go by too fast here, but I think Eman asks her if this is what she expects of every man? I think he believes she’s making a little dig here, because he’s been wishy-washy in declaring himself?)

More with our lovebirds Oliver and Gretel. They will always be together and be happy. He pulls out a pocket knife and cuts his thumb and she kisses his hand and I’m a little lost here. Apparently it is another gesture of devotion.

The conversation continues after the commercial break, and yep, it’s all about fighting for love. She fights for the memory of her parents by sticking around in that horrible house, after all. Eman takes her hand and says he’s not talking about that kind of love now. He wants to know—is she capable of fighting for the man she loves? (I’m pretty sure that’s what he says!)

And here's a screenshot:


Back at Casa Unhappy, Fedra, Axel and Kristel are trying to convince Emiliano that everything was great before that horrible gordita came into town. Emil isn’t buying it. Then in sweeps Netty, in her fetching black hat . . . looking fetching! She has a paper that was written by her brother-in-law, Luis Felipe, saying that he knew that Fedra was living a double life. Fedra looks impactada, as does Emiliano.

Back at the pension, Begoñia is talking with our incompetent lawyer, who is scarfing down coffee and some sort of pastry and seems really into that. Begoñia is asking him for a recommendation of a registry (I think?) to formally register her son with the last name of his father. Lawyer is really into his food and asks for more.

Mari and Eman continue their conversation. She talks on and on about her love for family and friends, and Eman gestures like blah di blah di blah, get on with it. Then he asks again—what about fighting for the man you love? She gets ticked about this and reminds him of Ilitia and now Jacqueline.

Emiliano sees that things are getting heavy with Netty and the paper written Luis Felipe, so he asks Axel and Kristel to leave. Fedra immediately starts in with whining and trying to distract him, but no, he listens as Netty says that this paper will prove that Fedra is a liar.

At the pension, the lawyer is finishing up all the pastry in the house as Brandon and Gladiola enter the living room. The doorbell rings and a VERY unamused El Comisario is there. He demands to know where Oliver and Gretel are.

Lorenzo is at some strip club with the thugs. They are toasting to the big scare they gave Begoñia in the park the day before. Lorenzo is saying that “now is not the time, she lives in a pension with policemen.”

Netty wants to give the letter written by Luis Felipe to Emiliano, but Fedra tries to stop him. “I’m the mother of your children!” she whines. He replies coldly that the blind confidence he had in her has broken. He gets the letter. Just then Marianela comes in, and Netty wants to talk to her. They start to go upstairs and Fedra freaks out in her typical shrewish manner, but Netty sarcastically says that the grand dame of society is a phony! And then she marches upstairs with Mari. Eman has to restrain Fedra as she lunges after Netty. He then says that they’re going to read the letter.

Up in Mari’s room, Netty and Mari start talking about Mari’s forbidden love for Eman. Mari moans that she knows it is forbidden, but what about her being happy? Netty again sings the praises of the Gentleman Naco, Brandon. But Mari says, she loves Eman. Netty reminds her that loving Eman will only bring her pain—he’s not for her.

El Comisario hears an earful from the ladies of the pension about how Oliver didn’t kidnap Gretel, and then they tell all about Fedra and her gorillas and how they roughed everyone up, including a little kid. Comisario freaks about this and then asks a befuddled-looking Brandon about it.

Netty is still trying to work on Mari, emphasizing the hopelessness of loving Eman. Mari says yeah, she’s gonna end it, but she’s sad. Netty carries on about how Eman is the son of her sworn enemy, Fedra, who is bent on destroying the family, and Mari has enough of that. What about you and your forbidden love for a married man (meaning Emiliano)? Whoa, you’re BUSTED, Netty! She looks impactada.

Eman’s in the kitchen chatting with Benigno, talking about his impossible situation with all the women in his life. (I kind of lost track here.)

Netty asks what Mari is talking about, and it comes out that Mari saw Netty smooching with Emiliano in Axel’s hospital room. Netty turns in shame and says it was a mistake, an error. But Mari says she understands. Netty then says that she hasn’t messed with Emiliano all this time, but when she (Mari) visited, Emil and her got to know each other better, and Fedra is such a bad woman and. . . and . . . Mari says that she understands, and that Netty isn’t a bad woman. They both hug and vow to forget about those vexing Ruiz y de Teresa boys.

Emiliano is grilling a nervous Fedra about the contents of Luis Felipe’s letter.

Avances: Fedra is in a bathtub looking evil, recalling Emiliano asking her about his brother’s (Luis Felipe’s) letter. She looks like she’s planning something nefarious. Eman sneaks into Marianela’s room at night, jumps on her bed, and takes off his shirt as Mari smiles.

EDITED TO ADD: Wikipedia's page for Llena de Amor now lists the series as having 205 episodes and lasting from May to February in Mexico. (Before it said it had 175 episodes.) Since Llena started on Univision in August (right?) that would mean it would end in late March or April, right? (think Mexico has some 30-minute episodes and we usually get them fitting into hour-long slots here.) Wow, that's a lot of episodes! But I'm hoping I'm up for it!

Labels: llena

* Juan José visits Alejandra who's just relaxing after the tedious meeting with Roberto. The woman seriously asks him about Medina, to which he responds that the architect may not remember his name but he knows very well who he is. She's not convinced yet and asks for 2,5 million pesos in advance. JJ has no problem with that, he says he's going to give her the money tomorrow morning, then he exits the office, leaving a very confused Ale behind.



* The Guillén sisters whine about men. Julieta became the new, improved Gabriela and tells to her sister she shouldn't hope anything from David - just look how Roberto and Carlos treated them! If David really loved her then he would ask her to be his wife.

* Carlos and JJ visit Elsa just at the same time. Carlos came for have a friendly chat and a coffee, while JJ wants to placate her and gives her back the money she gave to him. But he notices Carlos and the boyz start an alpha male fight. Who's Elsa's real friend and who's not, who's a criminal and who's not, and so on. When Elsa get's fed up with the insulting and threatening she gives Carlos the money and begs him to leave. Then she scolds JJ for his behaviour: how dare he insult her visitors? How dare he tell her who to befriend while he's going out with the niece of Mario Genovés! (Oh, sweat jealousy.) Carlos Ávila is not like his father, and he lent her that money because she needed it much! JJ vehemently asks what did Carlos ask in exchange for the loan? SLAP! Wow, Elsa, that was epic. After JJ leaves Elsa starts to cry.



* Roberto reports the progress of the "Kill Mario" plan to Adolfo. He visits him often and tries to observe him but it's very difficult. Anyway, he plans to provoke an accident. Dolphie assures Rob again that if he succeeds he'll reward him well, but if he fails something very bad will happen to him. As usual, Carlos interrupts them and finds strange that his father and his friend have so many private conversations. The young jerks talk about Elsa and Gabriela. Carlos likes both of them but there's a little problem with Elsa: she's got a beefy, angry friend called Juan José Victoria. Oops.



* JJ visits his friend Pancho and invites him for dinner. In the hotel he introduces him to Asunción and says the ex-beggar is a multimillionaire and JJ works for him. The old friends start to talk about the hotel where they worked together. JJ learns that nowadays Mario's son, David Genovés is in charge of the hotels in Campo Real, and the Ávila family runs the restaurants. After Pancho leaves he decides to visit Elsa again. He doesn't care about the slap, he knows he deserved it.

* Mario has a last desperate plan: since Fausto deceived him the cameras in his office became pointless, but he may use them to set a trap to Adolfo and get rid of him.



* Medina visits Elsa. Romantic music, blush, smiles, and an a cute invite for dinner. A few hours later she's ready for the date, and she looks absolutely gorgeous. The doorbell rings, but instead of a handsome, polite architect she gets a pretentious criminal brother in awful rapper clothes who tries to make her believe he was liberated conditionally. However, fortunately she's not that stupid. Finally Medina arrives and Elsa leaves with him. Marky Marcos is scanning Elsa's drawers and stealing her money when JJ knocks the door. The friends are very happy to see each other again though JJ is worried for Marcos. He had luck but the police surely investigates after him, he should report himself at a police station. And why is he in Elsa's flat? Does he want to cause her more troubles? And where's Elsa? She left with a guy called... wait... Mauricio.



* We get a glimpse at Elsa's and Medina's date which unfortunately isn't stellar at all since she's worried to hell. Back to the ex-jailbirds. Marky fiercely hopes JJ won't report him to police and he threatens him: if he has to return to the prison the big guy will accompany him. We get another peacock fight: you should get the hell out of here, Marcos - oh, you don't know what I'm capable of, brotha - you're wrong, brotha, I know! *Viewerville: yawn* After JJ leaves Marcos runs back to Elsa's bedroom and continues to search after something. At last he finds official papers and an identity card.



* In his bedroom David opens his heart to Dora and tells her everything about Gaby and Carlos. He's so confused, sad and anxious that it's painful to watch (good job, Gabriel). Dora advises him to talk with Gaby first: she doesn't know that girl but does know David, and he's too impulsive. David knows it's a big flaw of him, but Carlos, and Gaby, and she betrayed him... But Dora makes him realize again he fell in love with that girl completely because he feels like he has known her forever. David's very grateful for having Dora. He says she knows him well, like she was his mother, then he hugs her.



* In the hotel apartment JJ tells Asunción he met Elsa's brother who was supposed to be in prison... When he learns from Asunción that recently a bunch of prisoners escaped from a van he starts from his chair coach and leaves the hotel immediately.

* Marky Marcos, who is now Marcella de Vil with blue contact lenses and blonde highlights in his hair, tells Susana he visited his little sister who wasn't happy to see him at all. He shows her the 50 thousand he stole from Elsa, I mean, the money she gave to him.



* In his Sagitario office David finally asks Gaby about what she wants from him, and she admits she wants a serious relationship. She would love to be his girlfriend... and his wife. David is impactada.



* Roberto visits David but only finds Abelardo who brings medicine to Mario. He tries to intrude the study but Bertha shows up and starts to talk about Carlos and the waitress. Is David interested in that woman? It seems so. Bertha tells Rob she likes David much and if he helps her to get Blondie she'll give him everything he wants.

Labels: verdad

Episodes 229 and 230 in Mexico

Yes folks, we have been punked by the writers of Dinero. But few times have I been so happy to have been made a fool of. Let’s go back to where we left off to see where we erred, and the writers had a chuckle at our expense.

Ale and Rafa are on the road to Cuernavaca and have stopped at a rest stop for coffee and refreshments. We see them exit the rest stop, refreshments in hand and happily ready to conquer the world. They strike a happy Rafita Gol! pose. Then we see Pantera traveling the dark, winding road, as a truck coming from the other direction decides to use both lanes to get where it’s going. Too late both vehicles see each other. As impressive as Pantera is, it is no match for a monster truck (as anyone who has driven on a highway knows), and it happens to be on the wrong side of the road (meaning the side with the steep drop). The truck wins and the Pantera goes flying over the side of the hill and bounces and flips the rest of the way down the ravine. The Pantera is no more, but we hope that the same is not true for our (finally) happy couple.

We switch gears for some more lighthearted scenes. Rubi has brought Jorge back to the apartment after an afternoon out and about. Rubi is so happy to be back with the best man she’s ever known, after all those men who only wanted her for her body. Jorge wants to go right to sleep after she leaves, so that the time will fly between now and the next time he gets to see her. Aww!

At Trancazo, Doña Dolores and Martin have classed the place up and laid out a fine banquet to celebrate her favorite customers, the Siglo crew. They’re all touched, lower themselves into their seats to begin feasting, and… all land right on their backsides. The Trancazo will always be the Trancazo.


Our next scene made me wonder if my dvr had somehow skipped itself back a few scenes. Isn’t that Ale and Rafa, at the rest stop, with refreshments in hand? Wait, this isn’t a rewind. Ale and Rafa never left! They are searching frantically for the Pantera. “This is the spot where I left it! (Aquí lo deje!) We was robbed!”

Want to know who WAS in the Pantera? Really? Are you sure? Well, you’ll just have to wait. In the meantime, we’ll get the resolution to another mystery. Jorge is speaking to the portrait of his lovely wife, Maria Consuelo. He tells her she is the love of his life. But he has been alone so long and he doesn’t do well with loneliness (la soledad). He tells her about this marvelous young woman he’s met (Rubi) and asks his wife if she will give him her blessing to spend the rest of his short days with Rubi. A heavenly glow emits from the face of Maria Consuelo and Jorge knows he has her approval. He happily traces his fingers across her image and then across the canvas to the signature and date. The date, 20-11-75 (November 20, 1975) lights up, and suddenly Jorge remembers that this is the password for the Swiss account! Jorge weeps tears of joy and thanks his beloved wife. Yay!


Back at the rest stop restaurant, Rafa has returned from making a call to Urdiales, who is very understanding about the whole thing. In fact, he’s decided to sign all the paperwork for sale of the trucks without further negotiation, and will messenger them over to Siglo. They wonder who could have taken the Pantera. Ale thinks that someone must have been watching them, waiting for just the right moment since they were in the rest stop for just a few minutes.

We finally get a close up of the Pantera, smoking and groaning at the bottom of the ravine. Wait, that groaning is coming from people. We see a lovely arm hanging from the passenger side window, with a few streaks of blood. Then we see that the arm is attached to…Vicky! The driver quickly comes into view, and it’s…Marco!

Things have come full circle, but in a way none of us envisioned. They are both groaning in pain and Marco asks if she’s ok. She says her leg hurts. Marco insults Rafa and his car, and Vicky is glad that at least Rafa’s lost the thing he loved most in this world (Pantera). Vicky starts being Vicky and shrieks in pain at ever increasing decibels. Marco tells her to shut up as he attempts to exit the car.

The next morning, Rosario tells Ale how Jorge miraculously found the Swiss account password (clave). A bit later he informs them both that he intends to travel to Switzerland with Rubi to settle the account. Rosario tries to talk him out of it, since it might not be the password after all. But Jorge is convinced it is. He goes to the portrait and points to where his dear wife illuminated the numbers for him. Ale, a true romantic, marvels at the power of LOVE.

At the breakfast table at Casa Medina, Julieta tries to get Rafa started talking by saying, “Bueno, estoy esperando.” (Well, I’m waiting. Which can also mean, I’m expecting.) Rafa takes the latter meaning, slams his hand on the table and demands to know what she’s expecting. (Qué estas esperando?!) Julieta looks at him like he’s a mad man. After all, he’s the one who told them he had something important to tell them.

Remember when the writers tried to fake us out about Julieta being pregnant? Those jokesters! I just *love* their jokes. (Said with much sarcasm.)

Rafa spills the beans about the reappearance of Rafa Medina Sr. and Marian’s role in it. He is sure he sent the pictures to them. Leonor wonders if Sr. intends to approach her and Julieta. Julieta immediately declares that she does not want to see that lout, but protests a bit too much. It becomes obvious to Leonor and Rafa that Julieta yearns to see her father. She sadly admits that she doesn’t even remember him, and wonders (hopefully) if he’s repentant.

They leave the Rafa Sr. topic for a moment and Julieta brings up her marriage proposals. Rafa flies off the handle again and forbids her to marry anybody until she’s finished school and started her career (good advice). “You’re not my papa!” “Well I have been for many years!” Leonor tries to intervene and calm her two kids down, but it’s a stubborn, cross-armed standoff. A knock at the door breaks the tension and Rafa orders Julieta to answer it. “Are you listening to me?!” (He sure sounds like a dad.) Julieta opens the door and finds a man there who seems familiar to her. It’s Rafa Sr. “Hola hija.”

He’s not greeted with open arms. And I am disappointed that we do not get a “Qué haces aquí?” Instead we get an even ruder, “Qué quieres?” That would be enough to send me walking back out the way I came, but Sr. asks for some coffee, with sugar, and some coffee talk. Rafa and Leonor glare at him, and Julieta happily runs off for the coffee. He compliments them on their homey and welcoming house, saying it’s something he could not have given them. They don’t know how much he’s wanted to be at their side.

“So why did you leave?” Rafa wants to know. “So that you could be happy. Would you sit and listen to me a moment?” The Medinas all sit for a tearful talk that has been a long time coming. Rafa senior explains the hell of fighting alcoholism, Julieta listens with rapt attention, Rafa fumes, and Leonor listens in pained silence.

Rafa Sr. explains about the daily fight against the sickness of alcoholism. Leonor thinks he should have sought help from professionals and not abandoned them. He says he saw many doctors, tried and failed over and again, was committed to an asylum (manicomio), and even ended up on the streets. He did not want his baby girl to grow up seeing him like that. All he wanted to do was get well so that one day he could see them again and ask for forgiveness. And here they are- healthy, handsome, successful, and above all, happy. They couldn’t have been that way with him around. (I have to say, this is making total sense to me and I’m ready to forgive Sr., just like that. Am I a sucker?)

Julieta makes a show of still being mad and says they thought he had left them for another woman or had another family. They didn’t think he was wandering the streets, drunk. They wouldn’t have been able to stand it. He talks about his struggles to get clean and sober, and the withdrawal pains. He has to fight each day to not fall off the wagon. But each morning he wakes up and thinks of them and thinking of them is what helps him. They want to know why he didn’t let them help him for real. He explains that Julieta was just a little baby and he saw how Doña Leonor, yes Doña because she earned that esteemed title, took care of Rafa, the baby, AND supported her no good husband. “She supported me because I was her husband. She cried and suffered. I couldn’t keep hurting you. I had to fight this battle on my own. Each day I woke up and it was a miracle of life that I didn’t know how long would last.”

He explains how Marian found him, showed him the photos of them, and convinced him he had to seek them out and ask their forgiveness. He wants them to know that he loves them more than anything else in this world and asks permission to see them once in a while. He tells Leonor that she is la madre perfecta, mujer ideal, y esposa paciente (perfect mother, ideal woman, and patient spouse). “I could never have another woman because I could never erase you from my heart.” She cries tears of sorrow, love and regret, but she accepts his words. He bids them farewell and turns to leave.

Julieta, who has not put on a very believable show of toughness, is the first to crack. She runs to him and straight into his arms. “Papito! No te vayas.” She clings to him, while Rafa and Leonor cling to each other with feelings far more complicated and mixed than Julieta could feel for a father she doesn’t remember. She tells him that she has so much to talk to him about. He asks Leonor respectfully if he can talk to Julieta. Rafa tries to convince them all that it’s more important that Julieta not miss school, but Leonor realizes that Rafa Senior is just what her little girl needs right now and gives her blessing.








We’ll take a breather from the emotional happenings at Casa Medina to happily wrap up the stories of three of our side characters. Ovi runs into the salon and excitedly tells her two boys that she’s finally scored a protagonist role in a movie! Yay! Unfortunately, this means she won’t be working at the salon anymore. Booo! The boys are not happy about this, until they realize they can be with their beloved Ovi as her personal assistants. All for one and one for all! Yay! (I’m sure they’ll also serve the purpose of keeping those agent/director/producer/actor wolves at bay.) What about Pepeto, you ask? We’ll just have to wait till tomorrow to discover his fate.

At Siglo, another of our sales ladies is getting lucky in love and business. A well known socialist politician has pompously marched in to buy a truck. The Generala is all a flutter (in her way) and goes to serve him, exchanging socialist platitudes in the middle of a capitalist transaction. A truck is sold, and a romance is born. She gives the details of love, Socialist style, to the other ladies. He thinks she’s a “gran mujer” with a profound analytical capacity. Claudia and Rosaura don’t understand this kind of sweet talk, but they do understand what a dinner date, even if it’s attached to a political event, means. They are all pleased.

Ale and Susana are in her office when Daniel, Todo Yo, calls. He wants to see her and Ale agrees to meet him. At the restaurant, he hands her a large envelope. It’s the deed to the hacienda and it’s in Ale’s name. That’s right, Daniel is giving the hacienda back to Ale out of the goodness of his own heart. Ale actually looks touched, but she can’t accept it. She’s in love with Rafa. “No quiero salir con Todo Tu.” She shakes his hand pleasantly and leaves. Daniel begins to doubt his awesome seduction skills and turns to find a woman to confirm he still has his mojo. His glance happens upon a young voluptuous lass, who immediately rewards him with a wink and a come hither look. He’s still got it.

Quintana is also having a rough time of it. He comes bearing a large bouquet of red roses, which Rosario immediately flings on the table. He then also produces an envelope (this one smaller) and hands it to Rosario. It’s a stack of cash- - all the money he got from the Marco hacienda scam. He’s returning it to Rosario and her family. “Your rejection is killing me.” Rosario says that returning the money does not make up for all his lies. Quintana says he knows she’s also sad. Seems Rubi told him. She loves them all and wants to see them happy. Rosario cracks a bit and admits she loves him. Quintana gets down on bended knee and swears his love, may lightning strike him at this very moment if he’s lying! We hear a loud crash and clatter and Quintana looks like he’s ready to meet his maker. Fortunately for him, it’s just Asucena who has dropped a bunch of dishes in the kitchen. It does give Rosario a good chuckle, however, and she soothes his nerves while he breathes a sigh of relief. She’ll take him back, but if he gets out of line again, she’ll become that lightening rod.


Ale is back at the office and Rafa is recounting the morning visit from his dad and his tales of the misfortune (rayo) of alcoholism. Ale corrects him that it’s not a simple misfortune, but a disease. Rafa doesn’t seem completely convinced yet, but he’s softening. He tells Ale that his mom fell in love with his dad because of his sense of humor and his incredible business skills (sounds like someone we know). Senior stopped drinking a few years back, and is actually now doing pretty well for himself. Right at this moment he’s having coffee and cookies with the Medina women. “And you’re bothered by this?” Rafa admits that he doesn’t know, and has to think about it. Ale tries to comfort him. She tells him that pain is a part of life- - it makes us who we are. And forgiveness is the noblest act there is. Rafa doesn’t seem convinced.

He wonders if she could forgive Marco. Yes, she could. In fact she’s agreed that they will meet him tonight. She’s optimistically hoping for a final signing of the divorce papers and a resolution of the Frank/Leonor affair. Rafa admits that it’s hard for him to forgive. Ale sweetly asks him to think about it and gives him a hug and kiss.

Yet another man has brought a peace offering. This time it’s Jamie arriving at Casa Medina with a big bouquet of red roses, but no envelope, for Julieta. He’s all dressed up in a suit and Julieta wants to know what it all means. He’s been thinking. Julieta is right. He’s not the right man for her. He has come to say goodbye. Julieta looks impactada.

At a fancy restaurant, Claudia and Urdiales are on the same page, unlike Julieta and Jaime. Urdiales has a palm full of rose petals and asks Claudia to blow on them (that’s probably the most decent request to blow something she’s ever received).

A beautiful diamond engagement ring is revealed and our buxom beauty has finally caught her Mr. Big. Her only request is not to have the private, spectacular wedding Urdiales had in mind. Instead, she wants a double wedding with her friends Susana and Dandy (seems they’re tying the knot the more conventional way as well). It will be an opportunity to share this moment and party with her friends, and say farewell to Siglo (no more working girl for our Claudia). Urdiales doesn’t care, as long as she will be all his from now on. She makes that promise seductively.

Another Siglo sales team member is also having a power lunch with a titan of business. Marino is sucking up to Rebeca, La Leona (the lioness). He seems to want a new baby mama and a new job. Rebeca seems amused, but she’s not biting. She thinks he’s a cynic and wonders about his loyalty. Hmm… We’ll have to wait to see where this goes.

We end the evening with our two main couples. Rafa and Ale have arrived at the restaurant to meet Marco. He’s dressed sharply in one of his typical suits, but he’s having some obvious trouble moving about and clutches his side in pain from time to time. Ale demands that he hands over the divorce papers. He does! And they’re signed! Rafa demands the paperwork that will clear his mama of fraud and the deed to their house. He hands that over willingly too! Ale wants to know why he did all this to them/to her. “Do I have to explain? You know I love you.” Rafa scoffs and calls him on his bs. He saw Marco with all those other women. “Can I finish?”, an annoyed Marco asks. “I thought that if you thought Rafa and his mother were trying to swindle you, you’d return to me.”

Rafa calls Marco on his bs again. He points out that Marco started swindling Ale and her family with the hacienda long before Rafa came into the picture. “Eres una rata!” (You’re a crook!) Marco admits that he fell victim to his own fears and insecurities. He tells his life story (and we see animated Young Marco).

He explains that his parents don’t live in the States. Actually, he doesn’t know where they are. They abandoned him when he was a baby and he was raised by his uncle in a poor neighborhood outside of Mexico City. Rafa interjects that his dad abandoned him too, and he didn’t turn out like Marco. “Maybe that’s why Ale loves you, and not me.”

Marco continues with his tale. It was always hard for him to accept the reality of his poverty. He started to invent fantasies. He worked his way through college. He never worked at a fancy law firm. In fact, he was just a messenger at a second rate law firm, where he met Chavez. They started doing scams together, and created this alter ego of a successful lawyer for Marco. When they came across Ale’s family, Marco claims it was Chavez who convinced him to marry Ale, and told him it would put them on Easy Street forever. Marco admits that he did pay for his apartment with their hacienda money, but all the rest of the money went to help her and her family. He didn’t even buy himself a car! (That’s because he always had access to Ale’s car if I remember correctly.)

Ale points out that Chavez says the whole thing was Marco’s idea, not his. Marco then claims that wily old Chavez has MANY more years of experience being a liar than he does. Marco never intended to leave them destitute in the streets. In fact, he wanted them all to move to Brazil together! Rafa’s not buying it (he’s a pretty tough nut to crack today). Marco begs for understanding. They are interrupted when our fourth main player makes her grand entrance.

It’s not really a grand entrance, so much as a hobble, limp, hobble up to the table. A battered, bruised, and be-crutched Vicki has not lost the use of her voice in the Pantera accident. She demands to know why Rafa is trying to make a fool out of her!



Over to you Señor Hombre and Doctor Carlos to wrap up this romp in a neat little bow.

Labels: dinero

Capitulo 65.
Read Julie’s original recap which covers Cap’s 65 to 69. Then come back here to discuss it.

1. Fernando says it was hard to convince Lety he’s crazy about her, and she only said she admires him. Omar says Fern needs to give Lety cards and little gifts. Fern has never written lovenotes and he’s not about to start with Lety. Omar says he’s also never given a woman $40M.

2. We see the divergence between Fernando and Omar. Omar knows dark out-of-the-way places (dives) where they can go. Who cares if Lety doesn’t like it? Suffering is a fea’s vocation. Fernando doesn’t want to hurt Lety. He can feel her love in her kisses. He worries what will happen to her when he gets his company back. Omar says it’s simple – you dump her, then you fire her, then you get her out of Mexico. Fernando is disgusted with Omar, so Omar brutally mocks Lety.

3. Ali begs for her paycheck, and Fern and Lety make a perfect team, like Fred and Ginger.

4. Lety loans the cuartel lunch money. Alicia implies that Lety got the money by embezzling. To defend her, the cuartel cites her rich novio. Alicia, Marcia, and Luigi mock and speculate what kind of loser would have Lety for a novia, and how frightening it must be to kiss her.

5. When Fern joins them, he’s very upset, first because he’s the one they’re ridiculing, and second because he assumes Lety bragged. Luigi jokes that they Conceptos should get a loan from Lety’s rich novio so they can make payroll. That’s exactly what they’re doing.

6. Lety begs the cuartel to stop talking about her relationship. She doesn’t have one because Fernando takes all her time. Juana says the shells say it’s at the point of starting, Paula wants Lety to sleep with him, and Marta wants to use the story to torment Alicia. Paula speculates that Lety wants to hush the gossip because she has her sights on someone at Conceptos.

7. Fernando fumes because he thinks Lety bragged about her rich novio, and he doesn’t even know if she meant him or Tomás. Omar says (loosely), “Might she be seeing both of you at the same time? Are you suffering because she might be playing games with you?” Omar sees he cut too close to the bone, and he pumps Fernando’s ego back up.

8. The cuartel is annoyed with Paula because she lets Saimon buy her lunch, etc., then she spends the night with some rico.

9. Fernando doesn’t notice the nut bar Lety put on his desk because he’s clueless about so much about Lety. He accuses her of telling everyone she has a rich novio.

---

Capitulo 66.
Read Julie’s original recap which covers Cap’s 65 to 69. Then come back here to discuss it.

1. Fernando accuses Lety of telling everyone she has a rich novio. See transcript. She says Alicia implied she was robbing Conceptos, so the cuartel defended her. She begs him to believe her.

2. Ariel ridicules Alicia. She’s broke and she’s got a hot body, so she should start selling it. He could get her customers, or he could pay to visit her apartment. As long as she didn’t talk at all. He looks at her bills and mocks her level of debt.

3. Fernando catches Marta binging under her desk and he swipes her sandwich. He tells her, next time bring proscuitto.

4. Omar shows off the “detalles” for their project: cards, chocolates, little gifts. He says the cards will just kill her! Even José José ballads. Fernando says he looks just like Lety’s father! They sing a few bars of Amar y querer. Omar also says that will just kill her. As in, she’ll be overwhelmed by it.

5. Ariel asks Lety if she looks scared because he might find Conceptos’ true balance. She says it’s because, when he’s at Conceptos, the cuartel always says, “Bad news! Ariel is coming!” Ariel demands his monthly deposit. Lety tells him that won’t be possible until tomorrow.

6. Ariel tries to manipulate Marcia by asking if she’s powerful enough to make Lety pay his monthly deposit. Marcia says, “Are you implying Lety is above me?” [The next part, I can’t make it out. MARTA? Can you help?] I think Marcia says, “If Lety does XYZ, I throw her out on her sorry butt.” Ariel says, “If you do that, the next butt thrown out will be yours. He’ll remove you from the company and from his life.”

7. Lety finds the card and chocolates the boys left on her desk, and she’s ecstatic. She goes out to thank Fern, but the models are flirting with him.

8. Per Omar’s instructions, Fern tells Marcia he’s going to an IdeaStock launch where Marcia can’t stand the president, nor can she tolerate Omar’s date. She says she’d rather spend the evening at the police station (delegacion) (can anyone imagine Marcia spending an evening at the police station?).

9. Marcia fumes to Ali that Fernando is escaping her tonight. Ali says she should follow him, but Marcia says she has dignity and would NEVER sink that low. Note, Marcia says, “Right now Lety’s not the problem; Fern is escaping to meet a woman.” Fernando knows Marcia is suspicious, so he’ll make an appearance at IdeaStock so her spies will report he was there.

---

Spanish Lesson. You told the whole world.
L: Are you mad at me?
F: Why should I be mad? Because you told the whole world you have a rich boyfriend?
L: Don Fernando, I swear I didn’t say..
F: (sarcastically) No, it was me. I’m the one who told the four winds
L: I never said that.
F: You said it. You told Ali and she told the company. How could you not know she’d do that. It’s proof of your indiscretion. Don’t say you didn’t. That’s a betrayal. We promised we’d keep it private, and you deceived me. You betrayed me.
L: That’s not true. I invited the cuartel to lunch because they were broke. I got the money from FI. But Ali implied that I stole it from the company. You know the cuartel. They’ll do anything to defend me. They told her I have a rich novio, Tomas Mora. (This sentence and the next one could be slightly off.)
F: That’s because you told them Tomas was your novi. Or what’s going on? How should I react?
L: But it’s true. I’m not going out with Tomas. Marta just said it to disturb Ali. I swear, there’s nothing between us.
F: Whatever. But still a danger, talk of novio rico, they’ll associate w/ me.
L: I’ll tell them to stop and I’m sure they’ll abide by it. Because it’s true. I don’t have a novio. Whatever the case, I ask that you believe me. Trust me. I gave you my word. I’d die before I broke it. I’m not capable of betraying you DF. Incapable of destroying something so sacred to me. Do you believe me?
F: Yes. I believe you.

Labels: fea-2010

...I don't want to step on toes here, but I'm not sure whether there's going to be a recap and thought people might want to discuss the episode.

Cathy, I hope you're doing well!

So, the major action:

Oliver rescued Gretel from the house of horrors. In the process Fedra got his gun at one point and threatened him. Axel is maybe starting to wonder about his mother a little, especially since Marianela told him that the only reason he doesn't hate her is that he doesn't remember the horrible things she did to him.

Brandon got the evidence that showed the helicopter explosion was no accident.

Carlota headed back to Spain.

Emanuel told Emiliano that he believes he is not his biological son.

Ilitia's back. Emanuel told her he is not going to marry her (AGAIN).

Labels: llena

Yes, you guessed it. Our mystery man confirms it saying “I am your father” in an eerily Star Wars Darth Vader fashion. Rafa Junior is none to pleased to see him. Rafa Sr. is there to ask for forgiveness. He tells Rafa he had an alcohol problem and didn’t know how to resolve it and had to leave or things would have gotten worse if he stayed. Rafa tells him he doesn’t want any thing to do with him. And he doesn’t need him. He tells him to leave and never return. He is dead to them.

Rafa Sr. tells Rafa he will go but hopes one day they will forgive him and leaves. Rafa quite disturbed is left behind stating, “after so many years, that was my father.” Ale is attempting to comfort him.




We go to the fiesta where Ramirez is talking with Milagros. She tells him it is shame that he was only interested in the superficial because she did feel something for him. He starts to tell her that their relationship started out bad and was afraid it would end bad. Milagros won’t let him finish his sentence and takes this to mean that he thought they could never have a relationship. Ramirez scratching his head is stammering “no that’s not what I mean” and Milagros leaves in tears. Ramirez is left behind berating himself saying “now my words fail me.”


We see all our Siglo employees dressed sharply in white discussing what a lovely fiesta it is. What would a Siglo group gathering be without the General talking about the proletariat and Rosaura talking about Miami She laments that there are no celebrities around. Marino tells her she is exaggerating but points out the cast (coladas) that just arrived. We see Marco, Vicky, Marian and Daniel parade by dressed to party


Dandy is a little concerned by their arrival but Susana reminds him how lucky they are to have each other. Susana looks extraordinarily glorious in white with dainty pearls in her braided hair, while dapper Dandy gives her a quick kiss.



Bebe wants to know when will their Crescent Moon wedding (Boda de luna menguante/literally means waning or decreasing moon or the crescent moon) finally happen. Marino isn’t impressed and thinks this is just a stupid thing to do. Ramirez steps in and says a stupid thing to do would be to have lots of children with so many women and not attend to them. For once Jimenez has said something quite intelligent! Marino tells him not to meddle in his business and when he has his baby girl they all will know a different Marino and snarling walks away from them.

Daniel is kissing up to Doña Arcadia with Marian at his side. Marco Vicky and Chavez are at her other side. It turns out (I think) that Doña Arcadia had invited them to share in the celebration. They all congratulate her for having the number one auto dealership in the country. Vicky tells them it is mostly because of her Pajarito. Doña Arcadia asks “Who” and Vicky beaming repeats “ Rafael Medina.” Doña Arcadia pointing now to Chavez wants to know who he is. He looks around then sheepishly introduces himself as Marco’s friend.

She thinks about this for a moment and tells him he reminds her of some actor. Chavez pipes in “Jorge Rivero” ( a popular matinee idol in the fifties or sixties.) Doña Arcadia says “No, no more like el Vaselinas” and tried as I might, could not find out who this was or what it meant. From the looks of Chavez, however, it had to be some sort of an insult. He did not seem impressed.

Doña Arcadia now approaching Vicky and poking at her tells her she doesn’t want any yelling from her or Marco. She knows how they get when they are mad. Marco assures her they will behave. She tells them if that is the case they can stay and tells them to go have fun.

Rebecca the lioness is carried in by her body boys. Doña Arcadia invites her to share in the festivities, and to make her self at home. Marino approaches the lion queen and wants to talk with her. She calls him the “modest” salesman of Siglo and he corrects her. He takes her by the arm and starts walking with her telling her he has something important to talk about. She calls him muchacho and Marino smiles and takes it as a compliment.


He starts pouring on the charm, and it certainly seems to be working. She is quite taken and before we leave them we get quite the kiss. (No sterile peck there huh Judy?!)






Back to a morose Rafa and Ale, discussing the return of his father. He has tears streaming down his face and Ale is kneeling beside him giving comforting words.

Lets go to a happier place where we have Claudia on her phone with Urdiales, and I don’t think she is selling him any trucks. He wants to know when she is returning and would like to see her. Claudia in a very “Marilyn Monroe” like pose tells him “Wherever and whenever you want”


Rafa has left his funk behind for a while as he strolls arm and arm with Ale telling her he will celebrate the firms triumph now and deal with his worries tomorrow. Good thing because they are approached by Dandy and Susana who are ready to start their ceremony under the crescent moon. Every one is circled around them hand in hand held high to the sky and the ceremony commences.



Marco smart mouths to Vicky on the side line telling her this won’t count for anything if she can‘t invoke the great spirit of her pajarito. In unison Dandy and Susana give a touching little chant to the moon asking for it‘s light to shine in their hearts. This next part was a little strange, instead of exchanging rings they rub a little oil on their hands and behind their ears and place their hands together. ( I guess it was touching but I got the giggles remembering when Dandy was using the motor oil to seduce Susana earlier in the show and that‘s all I could think about.) Marino was not very impressed either as he looks on with bewilderment and asks “Is that it?” He leaves and a teary eyed Susana thanks everyone for being their and we get chants by every one else of “Beso! Beso!” After wards Dandy says “In the words of Ale, lets party!!”

As everyone is off to groove to the music Marian approaches Rafa and Marco approaches Ale. Neither Ale nor Rafa seem to excited to talk with them. Ale tells Marco all she is interested in is a divorce and she wants it urgently. He tells her he has a surprise for her when they return. Ale tells him she doesn’t want any thing to do with his surprises.

It is Marian’s turn as she asks Rafa how he liked his little surprise. Rafa tells her he met with him and was not pleased. Marian is taken back a bit that Rafa was not pleased to see his father. Rafa wants to know where she got the idea that he would be happy to see the man that caused so much unhappiness to his family and abandoned them. He tells her she doesn’t know how much they suffered because of him.

Marian tries to defend her actions by telling him “A father is a father no matter what.” A frustrated Rafa tells her she may have had the best intentions but she was wrong. And he doesn’t want to have any thing to do with him. As he leaves we see Marian realizing she made a big goof and her plan backfired.

Our fiesta continues as we hear “Vamos A la Playa” being played in the background. Daniel is taking his turn at attempting to woo Ale. His best approach? Cut down his competition “the car salesman.” While he is talking it looks as if he is accidentally spitting at Ale as she keeps wiping her face.



He continues to drone on promising her something she will never in her life forget. Ale does not seem impressed as we pan to the rest of the crew happily dancing to the music.

So it looks like a couple of ladies might have had a bit to much to drink as we go to Rebecca and Doña Arcadia. I am not certain but I think Rebecca tells her that she has thought about having her lion eat Arcadias precious pups. But she is happy that it was her that won and not some other agency. Poor Chato is a bit concerned for his Queen as he tells her she might have had a few too many. She tells him not to meddle. Rebecca offers another toast and tells Chato to take advantage of the party atmosphere and we see him downing a drink as well.

Now it is Vicky’s turn to try and break up our happy couple as she talks with Rafa. Her pleading is on deaf ears as Rafa tells her that the two of them are over. It is just a whim of hers. They will never get back together because, now listen closely Vicky, RAFA LOVES ALE!!! And when they are able they will get married. We get a classic “Que?” from Vicky.

She warns him, that if they don’t get married she won’t be responsible for what happens to his mother and we get a very dramatic wedding march sounding more like a funeral march as she walks away humming to herself leaving Rafa shaking his head.

Doña Arcadia, being held up by Chato on one side and Rebecca on the other offers a toast to her loyal crew. And using my favorite word “titipuchal” thanks them all for selling a “truckload” of cars, trucks and bikes with a jubilant Rebecca cheering her on. She tells them to keep on dancing and we see the crescent moon once more as we hear the music fading in the background.

It must be the next day, but I didn’t see any rooster, as Doña Arcadia is leading her crew to the hotel check out desk. Claudia points out that Rafa and Ale haven’t shown up yet and just then we see our happy couple kissing. Marino questions Doña Arcadia asking if fraternizing with co-workers isn’t prohibited. Dandy chimes in “It was. That was before and not now” as he nuzzles Susana’s neck. Marino tells Doña Arcadia that when he is the new general manager he will implement it once again.

Ale asks Rafa if he has talked with Urdiales and Rafa tells her the meeting will be tonight. Ale rushes him as they barely have time to get back to the city and get to Cuernavaca. She tells him it is very important to close this deal, after all it will be their first sales together and Rafa adds it will be their first commission for their future together. Ale adds “Together?” and continues “until death separates us.” We get a kiss and our familiar theme song.

That was a quick trip back as we see Rafa being greeted by Lenora and asking how things went. He tells her they won the title of best car sales force of the year. Lenora is not quite as excited as Rafa asks her what’s wrong. She tells him that someone has been watching them and was taking pictures of them. Rafa perplexed at first tells her he thinks he knows who was doing that but he doesn’t want to worry her. He tells her he has to leave for Cuernavaca to close an important deal. They will talk tomorrow. He tells her to let Julieta know they have something very important to talk about. Lenora wants to know what it is about and Rafa assures her it isn’t that serious but he wants to talk with them all together. A reluctant Lenora agrees. Rafa tells her he has to get going and pick up “Mi licenciada.” He tells her from now on nothing will separate him from his licenciada.

Marian is face to face with Rafa Sr. He is telling her that his family hates him. Marian is encouraging him not to give up so easily. She tells him it is only logical that after so many years that they would not welcome him with open arms. He tells her he doesn’t know how to explain to them what he was going through. He continues that he is afraid that they will reject him and never forgive him. Marian continues encouraging him, saying she knows she did a good thing and that they can all be a great family. He thanks her again but tells her he doesn’t have a chance and asks the waitress for a cognac much to Marians horror. She pleads with him not to do this.

Ale has returned to her modest apartment to a curious Rosario asking her how things went. Ale beaming from ear to ear tells her it was great. She inquires after Jorge and Rosario tells her he is out with Ruby. Ale tells her they will have to get use to having this woman around.

Rosario wants to know if she will be eating with them and Ale tells her about the Cuernavaca trip. She tells her it will be the first sales for her and Rafa. It will be their money for their wedding and does a little Beltran money dance. Rosario with more excitement than expected wants to know if they are going to get married. She excitedly tells her to get ready for the big party. Once she gets back from Cuernavaca and Marco signs the divorce papers, she and Rafa will get married. We get a genuine enthusiastic hug between Rosario and Ale.

We have a little ford placement ad with Muskrat and Marian. Who would have thought you could get a car that could park itself. “no que no corazon de melon?” (I just added that because I thought it sounded cute when Marian said it)

Back at Siglo central Marino is telling Ramirez that it is only a matter of time before he will be general manager. Marino wants Ramirez to smell the calmness and no sooner than that is said it is disrupted as we see poor Trapito trying to keep the fruit of Marino’s past adventures at bay.



This does not go undetected by a disgusted Doña Arcadia as she watches the chaos unfold in her office. She takes this opportunity to teach her beloved animals Chester and Camila not to behave like that and whistles at them to come over and watch the monitor. Chester nudges her bright red hat just a tad to close as he tries to get a look.


The Siglo crew are watching as well as Dandy wants to know where Sandra is. Claudia points her out and they each add their two cents to the circus before them. We see Ramirez yank a cowering Marino from his hiding place like a marionette telling him his ultimate victim is there as well. Marino continues to cower behind Ramirez as Sandra gets front and center of the crowd of women with poor Trapito falling to the floor. She wants to know what is their problem with Marino. She gets an earful as they tell her what he has been up to. They are all in poor financial straits and he has abandon them. Sandra tells them that she is going to marry him and that she is expecting his child. This is met with a unison “What?”





We see Marino continuing to futilely hide behind a petrified Ramirez.





Ale and Marian are making their peace and Marian has finally accepted that Rafa will never be hers. They agree to be friends and Marian promises that if she ever needs any further sales help she will only go to Ale.

Back to our out of control mob. All I can say about this is things have gotten out of hand and a circus performance fitting our final week ensues as they all chase after Marino. So if you were wondering what the mop bucket was doing in the middle of the floor, it was there to enhance this crazy scene as it assuredly gets tipped over by Trapito and Marino is left slip sliding away. Can this get any crazier? You bet as Elvira and Mother-in law are added to the mix wondering what all the women are doing hanging around Jimenez and starts yelling at him.



He manages to crawl through the crowd of angry women to face the ugly pair. Elvira grabs another conveniently placed bucket of water to throw at him but unfortunately her aim is poor and drenches the already enraged Marino harem. Another crazy chase ensues and ends up in a pile up as all are slipping to the floor. Finally the voice of reason, our Queen has arrived to put an end to the nonsense.

She demands to know what is going on as Marino tries to explain. She angrily tells him he doesn’t need to explain anything. She knows exactly what he has been up to and she is on their side. She continues chewing him out and tells him to straighten things out with all his women!! “Do you hear me!!!“ and a defeated Marino remarks “She’s like my mother.” and takes the women off to settle things. She calls him back and tells him that every thing that has happened here has been a stain on his career and he will never be the general manager.

Now it is Jimenez’ turn to take well advised words of wisdom from the queen She tells him it is time to put an end to the chatting cockatoos. After she leaves Elvira starts in and Jimenez grows a spine as he throws his pepto bottle to the floor and tells them he has had it with the two of them calling them witches and orders them out as we see mother-in-law sipping from the discarded pepto bottle. This is met with adoration and praise from all his co-workers.

We are into the night now as Rafa is rushing to his car with Ale urging him to hurry up as we see them leave Siglo. They take a little pit stop as Rafa explains they have a long ride ahead of them. Ale tells him he is never going to change as Rafa tells her he is thirsty, pointing to his tongue. She can’t stay mad for long as she gives him a peck and tells him smiling the whole time that after this sales they will be together for ever. Rafa wants to know if she has talked with Marco about signing the divorce papers. Ale tells him not to worry, she knows they are going to be very happy. Rafa tells her that since he met her his life has changed and he knows he will be very happy at her side. We get cute little ira ira iras from the both of them as well as smooches. But sadly nothing like the Marino kiss. Rafa then urges her to go inside, after all he is thirsty.

Rafa and Ale, with coffees in hand are leaving the little way side coffee shop. Ale stops him to tell him he is the love of her life. She tells him she knows they will be very happy repeating their mantra in unison “Until death do us part.” They do the “Rafita Goal” together and walk off.

Our final scene is none other than a little déjà vu as we see the “pantera” heading down a dark highway with an approaching campers blaring lights and honking horn. We see the black panther flying through the air.




Oh my!!! Who knew that Panthers could fly!! We finally see it tumble and crash as it lies fatefully in the gully below.

Labels: dinero