Caray, Caray!

Beginning countdown 5, 4, 3, 2, 1...and five minutes of a montage of dramatic scenes presumably we'll see in future episodes: lots of gunshots and smoking revolvers, horses at full gallop, men slapping women, women slapping men, women crying, a woman falling into a river looking like she is drowning, men vowing they love women, men vowing they'll never trust another woman again. More scenes of a pretty girl bathing in a river water up to the neck. Presumably the heroine. (A familiar shot to fans of Heridas...)

The novela opens and It's dawn. Don Alvaro Montellano is in a rage. Dressed all in black he rides up to his hacienda and dismounts, pistol in one hand, whip in another. He goes from room to room looking for his wife, Soledad. He storms into a chapel where a young boy is placing a vase of callaliliess on the altar. He waves his gun in the air. Frightened, the boy drops the vase and it smashes on the chapel floor. [I think this means something bad is going to happen.] A little later, a gunshot is heard. The boy runs away to fields and finds the manager. "The owner has killed the Lady!" "I heard a shot, he killed Senora Soledad!" he cries hysterically. The manager (whose name I am not sure of, so I'll call him bandana guy) grabs him and shakes him. He doesn't believe him but goes to find Don Alvaro.

Meanwhile Don Alvaro is in a room with his spouse Soledad both afraid of him and angry. "I want you alive so that you can pay for your betrayal!" he says. There's a bullet hole in a portrait of her on the wall. Don Alvaro has a letter crumpled in his hand. It's a love letter from a guy named Jose Gomez who works at the hacienda and it says as soon as he can make some money he will come and get her and THEIR daughter. He says, as soon as he can he will get her out of that prison and it's jailer [verdugo=hangman, executioner?] Alvaro Montellano.

Alvaro is in a rage not only because Soledad has been unfaithful but also because he thinks that Alina (who we haven't met yet) is not his daughter. Soledad tries to defend herself but Alvaro isn't listening. She tells him that she is tired of his continual jealousy and suspicion of her and is offended that he would think that Alina is not his daughter. He grabs her arm and a piece of jewelry falls on the floor. [an earring? a charm from a bracelet?] He yells at her that she is Jose Gomez' lover and who knows how many more...and he is sure Alina isn't his daughter. Soledad says he's crazy.


Meanwhile, somewhere else, another couple are in a panic. The woman, Mariana is telling the guy, Jose, "Why did you have to write a letter!" "You shouldn't have done it. My brother will kill you!" Jose says "because I needed to tell you that I was going away and to wait for me to come back for you and our daughter." Mariana is shouting. "How are your going to abandon me? Me...and your daughter?!" "Don't leave me!" "Don't go!"Jose's plan is to go to El Norte and make some dolares after which he can come home and they will live happily ever after. Mariana wants to go with him. "No, no! The crossing is too dangerous" says Jose. "Wait for me in Mexico." Mariana tells him that she'll leave right away for Mexico [City]. They are all lovey dovey kissy kissy again.

Alvaro locks Soledad up in the room, which has Spanish style barred windows. It's like a jail cell. She begs him to let her out. Through the window she sees him grab some string or wire? and hold it like he's going to garrotte somebody with it. He gets back on his horse and rides away.

The scene changes to the city of Puebla where we get the slow feet to head shot of the pretty young Alina who is looking in a mirror. Someone calls her name and she turns around in slo mo so we can see her face.

[Editorial comment: Ludowika Paleta is not what I would call beautiful. She doesn't have the model good looks of Jacky Bracamontes nor Africa Zavala. I think she's cute, maybe elfin? with a button nose and kind of unusual blue eyes. They are so light colored she looks like she could play a blind person. I can see why she was a child star. ]

Alina is getting ready for a goodbye party for a friend, Sofia. She lives with her godparents who arefriendss of her mother's in Puebla. The wife, Blanca brings in a bright yellow dress which has just arrived for her. Blanca says that she's going to be the prettiest one at the party. Alina says no, the prettiest is going to be Sofia because it's her party. The party is to celebrate her going away to school. Theyreminiscee about Alina's going away party back in Veracruz when she came to study in Puebla. Alina says yes, and remember how my Pop got into a big fight with Mom? Fortunately, he went back to being his same old sweet lovable self.... [ha ha ha] I miss my mom and dad, Alina says.

Back in Veracruz at the Hacienda, Alvaro sees some workers standing around chatting and he imagines they are talking about how Soledad cheated on him. It stokes his rage. He keeps going and says I always knew this would happen. Suddenly a woman comes up to him. It's Alfonsina, the maid. "Are you sure that the letter was written by Jose for Soledad?" He asks her. "Si, Patron, she says. "Jose gave it to me to give to your wife." Alfonsina asks tentatively if the Patron has killed his wife. "No, but you'd like it if I did, wouldn't you?" It seems pretty clear that the two have some history. Alfonsina protests and Don Alvaro dismisses her and rides on. Alfonsina looks back at him and thought bubbles: "Your jealousy is your worst enemy, Patron."

Back in Puebla, Alina is talking to her madrina, Blanca, thanking her for taking care of her in Puebla. She remarks that she has not been able to reach the hacienda inperjuresz by phone and nobody has called her from there.

It looks likemarinaa and Jose have just had a last roll in the hay.marinaa brings out some pictures from their little girl's birthday. Her name is marianita and she's a real cutie. [But hey, she looks like she's about 3 or 4 years old. How long have they been hiding this relationship anyway?!] More kissing.Suddenly, there's a shout from outside. "It's my brother!, "Quick! let's hide in the closet!" They hide and in comes Don Alvaro kicking the door down. Marinana is his sister and this must be Jose's place since Don Alvaro has come looking for him since he still thinks that he and Soledad are the ones fooling around. Alvaro is about to open the closet when he hears someone shout for him outside. It's bandana guy. He comes running up and says what are you doing Alvaro? Put that gun away! he tells Alvaro says that Jose is no longer working in the Canefields. Alvaro says, "then let's organize a search party for him. Quickly!"Mariana sends Jose out the back door. He gets on his horse and heads down the road at a gallop. Alvaro takes a few shots at him but he gets away.

In Puebla, Alina still can't get through to the hacienda.Blancha says not to worry, it's probably just the rain. Alina is worried but Blanca says she's just thinking about what her father would say if he knew she was going to a party at night. "Also the trip," says Alina. She expresses doubt about going...[Apparently she has a vacation to Cancun also planned with her friends Blanca gets mad and says that she can't remain a prisoner forever and that she should get out and enjoy herself.

InVeracruz, Soledad is getting hysterical, holed up in her cell and the phones aren't working. Mariana talks to the housekeeper Adela. She finds out that Alvaro is fighting with Soledad and still doesn't know about her and Jose. "I am going back to Mexico to stay with my cousin (Malena?) "Take good care of Soledad." she says. "Tell them to get the coach ready for me to go to the station."

Alvaro is in the local bar doing tequila shots. He is having an orange flashback of when he was a little boy and his mom cheated on his dad and left him. His dad tells him "this won't happen to you son, you'll find a wife who respects you." Bandana guy sits down at the table with Don Alvaro and pulls the bottle away from him and tells him he should stop drinking. Alvaro pulls it back and says this is a big deal, since his father too was cuckolded. Bandana guy tries to argue with him that maybe the letter wasn't meant for Soledad. There is no mention of her name in the letter. No, Alvaro is sure they were lovers. The thing that hurts him most is that Alina isn't his daughter.Bandana guy says he needs proof. Alvaro thinks the proof is that Jose took off running. Also Alvaro has another orange flashback of himself and Soledad eloping to get married. Soledad's brother is running after them yelling that Alvaro is making a mistake, that someday Soledad was going todeceivee him just like shedeceivedd her father. Bandana guy suggests the letter might be for someone else in his household. Maybe it could be for Mariana? Alvaro shakes his head in disbelief.

Mariana asks Adela if her brother is back yet. No (he's still drowning his sorrows at the bar). She gives a letter to Adela to give to Alvaro. She tells Adela to make sure that Soledad has something to eat. She pauses and says, "Tell Soledad.....no, don't tell her anything." She leaves for the station.

Alina has put on her party dress and is sitting in front of the mirror. She thought bubbles about the romantic possibilities of the night to come. Switch to tall, handsome Emilio, shirtless getting ready for the same party while his runty, sickly unshaven brother Angel is watching. They exchange something like this: Angel: "All the women are gaga over you. Nobody ever looks at me." Emilio: "Angel, you know I don't like it when you put yourself down." Emilio thought bubbles that maybe he'll meet the woman of his dreams tonight.

Now we are at the party. Sofia, the guest of honor stands up to a microphone asks Emilio to sing a song. He's wearing a military uniform, dress whites, I guess. He sings a jazzy, classic ballad with a complete orchestra just as Alina walks in in her pretty yellow dress. It's love at first sight although she isn't the only woman in the audience swooning. Alina daydreams about them dancing together. Alina asks Blanca who he is. "Why he's Emilio Valtierra, son of a rich and important family in Puebla."

Back at the Bar in Veracruz, Bandana guy and Don Alvaro are still smoking, drinking and talking. Alvaro is starting to show the results of the empty booze bottle. Waving his cigarette around he says that the letter couldn't be for Mariana, she's too decent to run away with the likes of Jose Gomez. Also the letter talks about a daughter and Mariana has none. The only woman with a daughter in his household is Soledad. Bandana guy is still skeptical. He reproaches Alvaro for treating his wife like he treats other people [badly, I would guess]. Alvaro starts to get mad and Bandana guy talks off his hat and shows his bandana underneath. He apologizes. Alvaro goes back to feeling sorry for himself.

Sofia sees Alina outside on the terrace. Alina says she just went outside to get some air. Emilio pops in to tell Sofia he's leaving and sees Alina and stops dead in his tracks. Suddenly he's not leaving. Sofia hands Alina a shawl and warns her to be careful, that Emilio is a little wild. They chit chat while staring and smiling at eachother.

Adelea takes food to Soledad. Soledad tells Adela she's not hungry. She must get to Puebla to talk to her daughter.Adelea tells her not to go, it's too late to travel. Adela says to help her pack a suitcase, she's going to leave in the morning.

Back at the party, more dewy eyes and staring between Alina and Emilio. Emilio wants to know when he can see her again. She explains that she's going to school in Puebla but that her real home is in Vera Cruz. And she's going to Cancun with some friends. "What a coincidence says Emilio, I'm going to Cancun too...!"

Emilio's sickly brother Angel is at the party. In contrast to his brother wearing his manly uniform, Angel is wearing suit that looks too big for him, and a dress shirt with a foppish looking cravat around his neck. He bids Sofia goodbye and says he's feeling ill and needs to leave.


Bandana man is back at the house talking toAdelea, he has brought Don Alvaro home to sleep off his drunk. Adela is concerned about what the Patron will do when he finds out that Mariana has left for Mexico. And what about Soledad, Bandana man asks. Adela pauses and tells him that she has left for Puebla. (Actually, she's still at the house packing a suitcase and waiting to leave the next day). Bandana man thinks that this is really bad. It makes Soledad look guilty.



Back inside the main house, Alvaro isn't sleeping off his drunk. He's wide awake and fully dressed. He takes the portrait of Soledad off the wall (the one with the bullet hole in it) and smashes it frame and all. He pours himself another drink. The flashbacks about his Dad and Soledad's brother's words come back. He shakes the letter around some more and throws it on the floor.

Soledad is alone in another room. She vows that she has had enough of crazy Alvaro's jealousy and she shakes a photo of them together at a happier time.

Cut to another scene. Two women are talking. One of them, Telma is walking around sulking and demanding to know where Emilio is, like he stood her up. The other woman, who is her aunt, snarkily says that her relationship with Emilio isn't going anywhere. As Telma stomps off, the Aunt says, "she's never going to marry Emilio Valtierra."

Back to Emilio and Angel. Angel is trying on Emilio's uniform jacket. He looks like a hippy with a nehru jacket. The briefly discuss his illness. He has some kind of mystery bacteria which has infected his lungs. Emilio is confident that Angel will get better and with time and exercisee, he get stronger again. Angel is not so sure but he bids his brother goodnight and hands him the jacket.

It's the early the next morning, at the hacienda. Soledad is struggling down some steep stairs with a huge suitcase. At precisely the same time, Don Alvaro comes outside and spies her and shouts at her. "Soledad, where are you going?"

Labels: duelo

I'm happy to say we have a new blogger premiering tonight with the grand opening of "Duelo de Pasiones." Margaret was following Heridas at her own blog, here is her final post on the novela, which includes some praise of our own little operation here. Hurrah!

And a big, big thank you to Jardinera who has been pulling down two slots a week for untold weeks! I bet she's relieved to be down to one...

Labels: duelo, heridas, recapper-intro

I'm in finally! I had to create a separate account on blogger for this blog but at least I can post now. Caray! Caray! is the 4th blog I am an author on. I am the primary author on a blog about Minneapolis Crime (I live in an area of Minneapolis which has always had some crime problems but has experienced a boom in crime lately.) I also have a personal blog with my husband, Our House, which is how Melinama found me, I occasionally posted reviews of telenovelas there. The third blog is a political discussion blog called State of Nature, although I owe them a post.

Here's a list of all the novela's I've watched, at least the ones I can remember. I was in Venezuela off and on in the 80s and early 90s while I worked on first an undergrad then a grad degree in Poli Sci. My first novela was Topacio, with Grecia Colmenares and Victor Camera. Later I watched Por Estas Calles, which was a smash hit over there for while since it was very political at a very difficult time in the country's history. I think it was too political , too local and too long! so it's likely that it never got shown outside Venezuela. When I got back, I mostly watched the Mexican novelas on Univision: Agujetas de Color de Rosa, Marimar, Maria la del Barrio, Canaveral de Pasiones, Esmeralda, Prisionera de Amor, Sentimientos Ajenos, Vivo por Elena (then after a hiatus) La Madrastra, Sonar no Cuesta Nada, Peregrina and last Heridas de Amor, during which I started reading this blog.

I don't have the Fernando Colunga fever that other people seem to have here but maybe I will develop it when he is next on. Guy Ecker was more my speed and I'd like to see more of him.

Labels: recapper-intro

If you're interested in recapping Duelo or picking up a day of Mundo, write me. caray@mappamundi.com - thanks! Melinama

Labels: duelo, mundo, recappers-needed

Carmel wrote: I did find the Nati scene ridiculous. I think the writers of this episode (a) hated the actors (b) hated the show's producers, and/or (c) hated the audience, because this is the most idiotic ending to any show I have ever seen.

Cesar getting killed in a random car accident? Gee, why didn't George Lucas think to kill off Darth Vader that way? Just have a space ship accidentally fall on his head. And Sauron, maybe he could have tripped on a pebble and broken his neck and saved Frodo the trip to Mount Doom!

This episode made even silly "Peregrina" look like Shakespeare. What a letdown. Oh well.


From J. Landry: "Chris, I wanted to personally thank you, Gloria, Sylvia, Lynn, and Jardinera for doing such a fabulous job recapping Heridas, and sticking with it even when the novela got particularly dull and/or stupid.

Thanks, and good luck with Duelo. I don't really find the previews all that enticing, but if anybody can make it interesting, it's you bunch!


Good work, crew! Our first start-to-finish novela! On to the caves!!

P.S. We will hit the 63,000 mark for visitors sometime today...

Labels: heridas

Juan Cristobal and Paulina get home from the polices station and are discussing Little Lui's untimely death. She tells him the doctor says she can get pregnant again, but he tells her to stop obsessing about the baby. They must learn to wait.

Miriam is remembering Jos telling her that she doesn't care about the baby in her womb, or Little Lui's death since he simply was the last tie she had to Gabe and their former life together when Leo calls Miriam to thank her for donating her blood to save him. She remains rather cold and indifferent in response to this. "I did it because Candelaria came and asked me." Leo tells her he owes his life to her now.

Leo convinces Elsa to come back home to live with them. Elsa only has one condition, and that is for him to shut up about her entering a clinic for alchoholics. She says she will still be a dancer at the strip joint.

Karen comes back home to Mexico City and finds out from a tearful Jos, in shock, that her little step-brother has died.

Ti and Rogelio are upset that JC is out of jail and are griping about it in the office when Pau and he walk in. Rog apologizes that he was unable to find out who got the second rate materials for the project. Pau assures him that whoever it was will eventually be found out.

Rogelio tells Demian he refuses to take the blame for the second rate materials since he had only done what he'd been told to do. Demian tells him never to threaten him and makes it very clear to Rogelio that Juan Cristobal and Regina are untouchable and are not to ever be involved in his shady dealings. He tells him to throw the blame onto the sellers of the construction materials somehow but to keep his son and his wife out of it. Rogelio realizes who is top dog here and obeys, with his tail between his legs.

Regina visits with her son and tells him that Paulina is obsessing with getting pregnant because she is afraid JC wants a baby so badly he will have one with another woman. JC tells his mother that that would be the last thing he would ever do. The only woman in his life is Paulina. He is worried that if she keeps this up they will end up tiring of one another.

Nicolas tells Dolores that her son, Tiberio, along with Rogelio, are owners of nightclub, a strip club. Naive Dolores is impactada.

Dolores intends to make Ti understand that the business he owns is both dangerous and beneath him. Why, he could become involved in drugs or, who knows what! Tiberio tells her to stick her nose out because she, as Nic's lover, has no moral leg to stand on and walks off.

Miriam takes El Coyote his blackmail money and almost begs him to leave her alone from here on out. El Coyote says fat chance. What he knows about Jos is worth too much to him. As soon as this packet of cash is finished with, she can expect another call from him.

Jos has another private nervous breakdown and repeats over and over to herself that she is not to blame for her son's death. It was his for carrying on with David. She determines then that she is not about to wear mourning clothes for him.

Months pass. In fact, nine of them do and we see that life goes on. Otilia dislikes Karen's work and she returns to her grandmother's design studio to work for her. Paulina is still obsessed with having another baby. Jos continues to party and to drink, even during the afternoons, while Mayeya looks on in dismay for the baby Jos is carrying. Miriam's fashion house has not been able to compete against Otilia's and financially she is barely keeping out of the red. Both pregnant woman never bulk up and continue to look like beauty queens simply wearing basketballs under tight-fitting outfits. (Oh, to look that way during pregnancy!)

Eventually Mariangela begins to have her contractions and Leo and Candy take her to the hospital where Leo works.

Jos is disappointed that she's been pregnant all those months yet Gabe hasn't regained consciousness to tell him. Miriam tells her that at least she was able to win her battle with Mariangela. Just then Jos also goes into labor and Miriam and Karen accompany her to the same hospital to deliver her baby.

About this time Gabe, unsupervised and unattended for once, begins to show brain activity and registers higher vital sign readings on the nearby monitors. He starts to wiggle his fingers a bit.

Jos gives birth to a son, but he doesn't cry after birth. She begins screaming at the doctor and asking why her child isn't crying. He looks worriedly over at the nurse who looks back at him and shakes her head and frowns.

In another delivery room at exactly the same time Mariangela gives birth to her baby and he is healthy. They put him in her arms for a couple of minutes so that she and Leo, who attended her during the birth, both see him and she cries and praises God that he came out safe and sound. Later she tells Candy and Leo that she is anxious to hold him again because she barely got a good look at him.

Gabe wakes from his coma just before Regina and Dolores enter his room to attend to him. They are shocked and delighted to see him awake. He continues to look around him while the two women try to explain about his coma and the length of time he was unconscious. They avoid anything abuot the pregnancies or his son's drowning to death. Regina later asks Rogelio to keep quiet about that also and even he agrees.

Jos' doctor advises her that her child has a heart defect. In the meantime, Miriam runs into Candy in the maternity lounge and she finds out that, as chance would have it, Mariangela just gave birth too. Later Candy and Leo are at the maternity ward nursery and looking at Mariangela's new baby boy. They have a discussion about a baby always having distinguishing characteristics despite it seeming that one baby looks like every other. Just then Miriam joins them and she learns which baby is Mariangela's.

Gabe begins to ask to see all of his children and Mariangela as well. JC, Pau, Regina, and Dolores surround his bed.

Miriam returns shortly and is with Jos when the doctor explains that poor care and nutrition by the mother can and did cause this defect in her baby. He is barely hanging on to life and will probably die in a few days or so. When the doctor leaves Miriam tells Jos that Gabe has just now woken from his coma. She warns her that she can not allow Gabe to remain apart from her as Mariangela has just had a healthy baby boy right there in the same hospital at the very same time. Since he loves Mariangela, as soon as he finds out about the baby he will go after her. That baby, if it dies, will be the last link to Gabe and all will be lost. So Miriam tells her of a plan she has.

Everyone is at Gabe's bedside when Jos comes in, all smiles, literally dragging her I.V. bag and pole behind her in order to make another one of her grand entrances. She greets Gabe oh so lovingly from across the room with the most euphoric look on her face and tells him (and of course her audience, everyone in the room) that she just gave birth to a boy, his boy. She has just had his son. Gabe is probably wondering about then if he is still asleep, stuck in his own personal coma nightmare, and wanting to wake up..... He replies, stunned and confused, "That can't be. How can that be?"

Labels: mundo

When Al interrupts the kiss, Fab gets up and asks Al what he is doing here. Al says I guess nothing. He asks to talk to Miranda alone. They snipe at each other about Fab and Babe Lawyer, Al wants to talk about ‘us.’ He says he came to get her back but it looks like a wasted trip. She says it was. She is getting her contractually obligated crying out of the way early today, by the way. They agree that they have suffered much pain and many heridas. Al says she deserves to love freely, or something, then says he’ll give her a divorce if that’s what she wants and leave her the company too. She says what are you talking about? He says it’s a gift, Gonzalo would have wanted it that way. Cry cry cry. She asks what he is going to do next, he says go back to Italy I guess, back to his other business. He says they have come right back to where they started. She’s with fab, he’s alone, he always thought maybe it would end this way. He stands up and says goodbye and leaves. She thinks to herself “tell him stupid! Tell him you love him!” But she just lets him go. Fab stomps over and wants to know what’s going on. She tells him the very short version, Al is leaving her. Fab says to run after him, she obviously loves him, she says no, “I already have an agreement with you.” I had to pause the recording right here from the sheer stupidity of that statement. Her agreement, which I don’t remember her making really, is more important than her HUSBAND? The show is ending and she is just as stupid as the first episode. Al is right, we ARE right back where we started. Jeez. Anyway, Fab says he knows she’ll never look at him like she looks at Al, Fab runs off to go stop Al.

Slutty and Renata discuss that Miranda will be rich from the Chocolate, now she takes the servant to Puerto Vallarta, who will help around the house now that everybody is pregnant? Renata says how they have learned to keep house a bit by themselves, etc etc. Boring conversation. They are trying to cook something but it doesn’t look like they know what they are doing. Slutty finally wants to know who the father of Renata’s baby is, she says she doesn’t know but Juan will the father either way. What is important is that the baby is hers, the baby will be raised to be like Juan. Then she holds her stomach like she’s having pain, uh oh baby trouble.

Back to Bertha and the dead dolls – Bertha is passed out, Guapo takes out her gag. She says “why?” He asks how can she say that, hasn’t everyone else asked that about her as well? He proceeds to name the entire cast of the show. Finally, he says, is me. He prattles on about something, she finally asks him to kill her. He says no, for her dying would be a prize. She asks, “then what?” He says he is going to keep trying to make his smell of fear perfume. Perhaps he’ll keep cutting body parts off. She calls him the angel of vengeance. He traces the cutters over her chest then puts the gag back in her mouth. Then he gives her a good sniff and leaves the room. She whines and groans.

At the mansion, Renata is laying down and in pain, praying that everything is all right. Begging the virgin to save her baby. We’re 1/3 of the way through and not much is happening, when will we get something here? My wife predicts that at the ¾ mark, it will suddenly be “3 years later” and everyone will be happy with ten kids. Perhaps. She knows more about these shows than me. Slutty had run off to get Juan I guess, the two of them come running in, Juan says she may be having a symptom of a miscarriage. Renata says no way, the baby has to be born. She says if it’s a girl she wants to name it Maria, like the virgin. He says yes, and if it’s a boy they will name it Jesus. Suddenly her pain vanishes. She gives Juan a hug and says thanks to the sky. Oh. My. God. Whoever wrote this episode is mailing it in like I’ve never seen before. You have got to be kidding me. I don’t even know what to say. Yes, it was as ridiculous to see as it sounds.

Al tells Fab that he (Fab) won, so what can he (Al) do? Fab says don’t be stupid, Miranda loves him. They argue back and forth “she loves you. No, you.” Finally Fab tells Al that Miranda is pregnant with Al’s child. Al is so happy that he hugs Fab and says “thank you” before running back to Miranda. Fab dramatically says “Goodbye Miranda, my love” to the open air. Al finds the table empty and asks the waiter where Miranda went, the guy points off somewhere. Al has a non-green flashback to Nati giving him some advice earlier. He runs after Miranda as Fabricio comes back to the table to get his phone, which starts ringing. It’s Cesar! Fab says “Where are you, I was waiting for you back at the hotel.” What? They are up to something? Cesar says he couldn’t wait, he has something important to finish up with Miranda. Fab says no way, and he has the money Cesar asked him for. They agree to meet later where Fab will give the money. Fab tells him after that to forget all about his existence and Cesar promises.

Renata asks Juan, “what are we going to do?” Juan doesn’t say anything. She asks, “what life awaits us?” He says a life of love and work, that will get better. She asks if he will always be with her, he says his whole life. She says she hopes he always looks at her the same way and will protect her and their kid with his strong arms. I guess that wraps up the Renata/Juan story. They talk some more mushy love stuff, lots of declarations of love, etc etc. So Bertha is done, Juan and Renata are done, I think all the minor characters (Luciano, Pamela, Babe Lawyer, and the like) are all wrapped up.

Miranda walks along a balcony deep in thought. She cries some more, I’m sure they asked her to give a little extra for the grand finale episode. She has a flashback of yelling at Fab when he dumped her and Al came up and kissed her. In the flashback he says that one day she will tell him she loves him. Some stuff about stealing a kiss, back in the present she says to herself he stole her soul and heart too. As she looks out on the coasts, suddenly the music skips as a hand covers Miranda’s mouth and pulls her away. !!!! Normally this would lead to a month’s worth of kidnapped episodes but we have about ten minutes to wrap this up. I expect Al to find her pretty quick this time. I hope he has a gun on him.

Mophead is waiting by a car mumbling about “Cesar where are you?” Fab sees her and asks what she is doing here. She says that Cesar is here, he knows, he’s giving him money so he disappears. She fusses and whines that Cesar is still her son. She is disappointed to hear that Fab didn’t hook back up with Miranda.

Up in a room, Cesar is trying to rape Miranda as she yells at him to let her go. He says hateful things and tries to keep kissing her. She says she hates him, he says he hates her too. She wakes up with a start. What the hell? There is an envelope on the bed, the note says “if you want to be free put on this dress, if you don’t, you will suffer the consequences.” I’m getting lost. There is a big red dress on the bed for her. She says “it’s Cesar, but I have to do what he says, I’ll find a way out.”

Back to Bertha, I thought we were done here? Guapo takes off the gag, she mumbles “kill me already” over and over. Guapo has a vial, he says he has the scent of fear now. He puts some on like cologne. He gets close and tells her to smell him. She doesn’t say anything. Guapo says “here we are.” He puts a gun to her head, she says “kill me at once.” Instead, he puts the gun under his chin and shoots himself. She says “no… not you…. No. I was the one who should have died.” So I expect that she will just stay tied to that chair until she starves to death?

Nati is stumbling around outside the hacienda thinking “cocolbosh…..cocolbosh…” in her head like some kind of drunken zombie. I had to pause to have a good laugh. She ends up walking into the forest, managing to keep her clothes bleach-white. She listens to the birds. Finally she sits down and listens some more. Then she starts up again in her head “cocolbosh…..cocolbosh….” She slumps over forward, did she die? We see a white bird wake up and fly away, perhaps that was supposed to be her in her next life now.

Cesar, Fab, and Mophead are sitting together. Fab and Mophead tell him he can’t leave the country, Cesar says he has to, he’s leaving soon with Miranda. They tell him that every way is being watched, he won’t be able to get out. Mophead tells him, “Open your eyes, Cesar!” He replies, “you open your eyes, stupid!” Fab gets up to defend his mother’s honor but Mophead shouts them down. Cesar says he doesn’t know the word ‘limit.’ Mophead says he will run into the law. He says the only he knows is his own. Nobody understands. What a whiner. Only one person understood, that was Bertha, and he’ll never find out where she is. The others go on about the police again. Cesar says if anything happens to him, it will be Fab and Mophead’s fault. Fab says they won’t play in his game. Cesar asks for his money. Mophead finally says that she called the police herself, they know where he is! “They knowwwwwww!!” she cries. Cesar is IMPACTADO. He’s busy looking in the money bag and this admission from his mom stops him cold. He can’t believe it. “What did you do? Imbecile! What did you do?” He gets up and leaves. Mophead begs him to come back, he stops in the street to look back at them, then starts to walk again. Just then, some 1990 Mercury Cougar or something like that, baby poop brown too, plows into him and leaves him dead and bleeding in the street. Really. This is the weakest grand finale episode I have seen. I guess I haven’t seen too many, but jeez, all that and he just gets hit by a car? That’s IT? Cripes.

Miranda is wearing the red dress, all sexed up, and comes out the door onto the deck of a yacht. Yes, somehow she got on a boat. She finds Al driving the boat, she says it can’t be! Yes, it’s him! She asks him why he took her the way he did, he gives her a ring and asks her to be with him forever. She starts to go on about something, he says be quiet, he just wants to hear the secret from her mouth. She tells him that they are going to have a baby. He says strong like him, beautiful like her. They start making out. Who is driving the boat now? So I guess he is the one who grabbed her earlier, but what about the Cesar thing? If it was a nightmare, ok, but that means she never saw who grabbed her. Did he knock her out? Did he drug her somehow with Cocolbosh? What the hell? I am so confused about the logistics of that whole thing. And how did he get an unconscious woman onto his boat? Doesn’t that scream “CRIME” to anyone who might have seen? I am at a loss for words. I am simultaneously let down and thrilled at this episode. It is horrible, which sucks, but it is so horrible I can complain and mock to my heart’s content.

Some medics are loading Cesar into an ambulance. Mophead says maybe he is still alive, the medic rather coldly tells her no, he’s brain dead. So we get brain dead Cesar as our ending for this. What a ripoff. Fab says he’s going to get the baby and they’ll go back to Mexico. Mophead says to tell Miranda and Al what happened, Fab says no, it’s none of their business. Whatever Fab, you have been such a great decision maker so far, again I say WHATEVER. Mophead says fine, then call Fern. She whines fabulously. She tells Fern that Cesar will be able to donate a heart Julio for transplant. Hmm, maybe something came from that ending after all. I didn’t see that coming. What would be better though, is if somebody shot Cesar and ripped his heart out to give to Julio. Or something like that.

Back on the boat, Al and Miranda are making out in slow motion while nobody drives the boat. It’s zipping along pretty quickly Then again, now that I think about it, Al does nothing for himself. I guess he wasn’t driving the boat when Miranda found him, he was just standing at the railing. Well anyway, he proceeds to get busy with her right on the front of the boat, right in front of the window where the guy who IS driving the boat is. The clothes don’t come off yet, but the pilot/driver (what do you call a yacht driver?) gets a show. Al tells Miranda that tomorrow is another day, she kisses him. He asks what she is doing and she says she’s stealing a kiss. They have the conversation from the flashback again but in reverse. Haha ha ha oh those clever Luque/San Llorentes. They make the rest of us look so pedestrian. They declare their love for each other and make out in slow motion some more while the theme song plays along, the long version.
The end.

I would go into some of the unanswered questions or loose ends, but I don’t have the energy for it. I’m wiped out. I’m sure the comments will cover those topics. That’s all folks, Duelo starts on Monday!

Labels: heridas

Fern and Omar

Fern tells Omar that Lety's mom knows everything, he doesn't know how, and she hung up on him. RoboPop doesn't know anything, and Julieta told Fern he'd better not say anything to him.

Omar is standing motionless, like a robot whose battery has run down. He says he's just thinking. Yes, he's come up with a brilliant idea - Lety's afraid of her father, right? Fern doesn't follow. He says sure, but he's afraid of talking to him too. Not only would he have to tell RoboPop about all the stuff that happened with the business, he'd also have to explain some other things that he really doesn't think would be wise to discuss with him. No, he'd rather pursue the legal route.

Omar says if they do that, they'll lose the business for sure. Anyway, he says, if Fern doesn't do it, then the smiling fair-haired boy Ariel will do it anyway, accompanied by his entourage of lawyers.

Fern says he just wants to solve this in the best manner possible, without having to fight with anyone; he's tired of meeting with conflict at every turn. Omar asks Fern Lety ever really loved him.

Fern takes a swipe at Omar, but hurts himself in the process. Omar backs away and warns Fern not to hurt himself!

Omar treats himself and Fern to a special lunch in the boardroom. Dully, Fern admits that his anxiety over Lety is dwindling, and he's accepting reality. He needed to hit bottom, and he did. He went to Acapulco to get killed. Omar calls him his "dear kamikaze" and says if it'd been him in Acapulco, he would have gone looking for the bonbons, the cupcakes, the contestants at the Nuestra Belleza pageant. Irritated, Fern continues, saying he felt yesterday like he couldn't go on; he wanted to disappear; but, thank God, something opened his eyes.

Something? Or someone? Omar asks.

"Marcia," Fern admits, with embarrassment. Omar is impactado. Fern is pensive. We are spared the complete rehash of Fern's bad, awful, terrible night, but after lunch they are still talking about it in Fern's office. Omar is surprised that Marcia went to Acapulco for him. Fern says she rescued him from the bar, took him to her place, tended to his wounds, and listened to him. It was special. Tough, cruel, but also somewhat beautiful. All of his things were still there, just as he had left him, as if Marcia hadn't wanted to forget him. He thinks Marc might still be in love with him. Omar wants to know if this means Fern's thinking of getting back together with her. Omar asks, with all due respect, did they make love? Fern says it was a MOMENT of love, but not like the perverted kind that Omar imagines. (Sad to say, Omar can really only wrap his mind around one kind of "love.") It was all for him last night - she is still in love with Fernando.

Hours later, Fernando says he still doesn't know what next. Marcia left him a bag and told him to pack up his things. Omar impatiently wants to know what Fern did. Fern says he wasn't able to pack anything. (He doesn't clarify whether the impediment was physical or emotional.)

Omar suggests that Fern go to a doctor. Fern gets up and says he'll feel better after he walks around a little. He says he wants to explain what happened to him. Everyone in the world was mad at him. Out in the city, too. It was traffic, stress, the lawsuit... he fell to the floor, and then fifteen people were beating him savagely.

At this point he is standing next to the cabinet in his office. Alicia throws the door open without knocking, pinning him between the door and the cabinet. "Where's Fernando?" she demands. "Isn't he here?" She finds him moaning in pain and asks him why he was hiding! She asks him if she wants to scream, and complains that she can't understand him. Omar explains that Fern would like to scream in pain, but she nearly killed him with that hit. She sorta apologizes, then happily notes that he didn't yell at her. She says they should talk this way more often. She remembers to tell him that his lawyer is on the phone - she says she's just telling him that as a favor. She goes on and on about the bruises and how much they must hurt until, at Fern's behest, Omar finally kicks her out.

Later, Fern tells Omar that the lawyer said everything hinges on getting together with Lety. It'd definitely be better to work something out than to try to prosecute. Omar's like, that's fine, but where the heck is she? He tells Fern that if he really wants to reclaim Conceptos, he's going to have to talk to his "in-laws." Fern looks offended.

Marcia and Darth Teresita

Luigi is telling Marcia, Teresita, and some man in a necktie who doesn't look like Ricky Armstrong about the lemon soda commercial - something about a sparkly swarm of bubbles. Marcia isn't listening - she's wondering if Fern took his things away. (I think the hair is okay, but I liked it better curly; the pink eyeshadow isn't very flattering, in my opinion, but it's a huge improvement over that coral stuff that made her look as if she'd been crying even when she wasn't.)

That evening, Marcia and Teresita go to Marcia's office. Mar tells Ter that meeting with Luigi was taking forever; she couldn't concentrate; she was dying. She wants to go home. Teresita invites Marcia to her place and watch the beauty pageant with her and Humberto; rest and relax. But Marcia wants to be alone. And she wants to see if Fern took his stuff. Teresita suggests that she simply ask Fern, but Marcia says she doesn't want him to feel pressured, nor does she want be too obvious. She'd like to have some dignity, and she doesn't want to get her hopes up. And, he's confused and is feeling betrayed. And, she wants to see how he reacts when Lety comes back.

Teresita thinks Lety will never show her face around there again. They have declared war against her. This is Marcia's big chance to win Fern back. Anyway, who knows what kind of sordid mess that woman is getting herself into right now? (At the moment, in fact, Lety is preparing for the Nuestra Belleza pageant.)

That evening, in the executive lobby

The feas are chatting in the lobby. (Alicia is eavesdropping.) They've been invited to Martha's place to watch the beauty pageant, but they won't be able to get there in time. (Sara complains about her height.) And they won't all fit in Mr. Martha's taxi, anyway. Juana gets an idea - they could watch the pageant on the big TV in the boardroom! (Alicia fumes silently.) Irmita worries that if she stays there to watch the pageant, Luigi will make her work instead. They suggest that they sneak into the boardroom now so they won't be caught. They turn and plow right into Alicia. They back off, screaming in terror.

Alicia makes fun of their interest in the pageant and says the boardroom is not for the use of mere employees. They make fun of her poverty. She claims not to be interested in such a frivolous thing as a beauty pageant. She is above such things. But riffraff like them - they live for that stuff. She figures they watch those things and wish it could happen to them. Sara says she's tired of listening to this poor woman and suggests they adjourn to the boardroom.

Alicia tattles to Lopez, who comes out of his batcave to holler NO!!!! at them. He runs through all of his repulsive, housefly-like mannerisms... and Alicia mimics his gestures! PM whines cutely at him (ugh) and says don't be mean.

Marcia and Teresita come out and demand an explanation for all the noise. The feas ask nicely if they can watch the pageant in the boardroom. Alicia protests, but Marcia says sure, PLEASE watch it in the boardroom. Alicia is stunned. Lopez complains. "Lopez, didn't you hear me?" Lopez says he will watch the pageant in the boardroom with them.

Just then, Martha & family (including ALL the kids) show up. Teresita is amused. Alicia complains even more, about this big pack of kids. "They're not kids, they're parents," PM's smartalecky kid retorts. "How nice," Alicia says sarcastically. "This is beyond offensive."

"Alicia, I would like it if at least someone would enjoy this place," Marcia says. The sound of Lopez rubbing his head is almost lost in the din of the cuartel's happy comments as they crowd into the boardroom. Irma thanks Marcia and Teresita.

Teresita says goodnight and says she's going to stay a bit longer. Alicia invites herself to Marcia's to watch the pageant there. Or to her place - it's closer. She doesn't want them to be late. Marcia offers a weak protest but doesn't explicitly say no. Alicia takes this as a yes and assaults Teresita with unprovoked goodbye hugs and kisses.

While Marcia leaves and Alicia scurries for her bag, Teresita stares with dread at the door to Fernando's office.

RoboPop, Ninja-Mom, and Lazybones, aka "Walking Digestive Tract"

RoboPop brings the TV into the living room. (Moty growls at him!) He says he wants to watch the beauty pageant, and he knows that lazybones Tomas will come over and he doesn't want to be in his pajamas, or something. Tomas arrives, I swear his hair is taller than ever, and while RoboPop fiddles with the TV, Tomas discreetly informs Julieta that the lawyers don't want to go to Conceptos. They went ahead and did what they thought they were supposed to do. Now that they know the whole truth about the Conceptos/Filmo-Imagen relationship, they're not happy because they were not informed of everything from the very beginning.

Julieta recounts her conversation with Fern earlier that day, when Julieta told Fernando he'd done enough damage. Tomas is afraid that Fernando will dismember him, and then who will help his mother sort out the bolillos from the teleras? (Two kinds of bread, which you would sort of expect a baker to be able to distinguish!...thanks Rantor for this tip!) Julieta is very, very upset about what Fernando is trying to do to her poor daughter. (RoboPop blows into the back of the TV set and chokes on what I assume is a dust bunny that flew into his mouth.) J and T wonder what will happen if the lawyers won't go to Conceptos. Lety will come back tomorrow, and then who knows what will happen. J is very worried that RoboPop will find out.

RoboPop scolds them for sharing secrets. He says he's going to imagine that like always, they're planning a picnic. He continues to struggle with the TV. Julieta points to the electrical cord and suggests that he plug it in. "What do you know about electricity," he grumps at her.

---

Meanwhile, in Acapulco

Lety doesn't want to approach Aldo. She doesn't know what to say. Caro says it'd be polite just to greet him.

Meanwhile, Aldo is fiddling with the grill and the bellezas are flirting with him, asking if he only invited them there just to watch him cook. Laughing, he says yep, that's it. He tells them where they can find drinks. They all leave, save for one girl who stays behind, apparently to flirt with him some more. Aldo says "okay, it's all yours" and approaches Lety and Carolina, leaving the flirtatious belleza alone at the grill!

Lety panics, and Carolina excuses herself and leaves Lety alone with Aldo. Aldo asks Lety to help him with the food, but Lety says she can't cook. They are interrupted by the jilted belleza and another contestant, who offer to help him instead. Aldo very nicely says "thanks, but Lety is the one whose help I want." Lety is dazzled by this special request and by the blinding sun reflecting off of Aldo's perfect Ultra-Brite smile. The cheeky belleza, Agatha, asks Aldo what does Lety have that she doesn't? (Carolina takes notice and approaches.) Aldo somewhat brusquely brushes her off. Caro announces that this would be a great time to give the girls their gifts - the perfume she bought for them yesterday. (I wonder if it's Secretos from Bella Life? ;-) This lures the bellezas away from Aldo again... briefly.

Lety asks if he wouldn't rather have the pretty girls help him. He says he wants her, and Agatha doesn't even come close to measuring up. (Thanks for the explanation, Judy!) Abashed, she agrees to help, but doesn't know how, since she can't cook. He tells her she can hand him his ingredients, one by one. He just likes being with her. She admits that she likes to be with him too.

He asks, doesn't she want to know why he is so happy? She gets a little bit miffed, saying she doesn't want to talk about that, much less that thing that happened on the beach.

"Oh, you mean that great kiss that we had?" Aldo asks, smiling. Lety clearly does not want to talk about it. She says it was just an accident. He says in that case, it was a very lucky accident! And doesn't she want to know what he's feeling, what he's thinking? He says he knows she's recuperating. She pretends to think he's referring to her hand. He says no, he means what happened with Fern. She tells Aldo that in this very short time, he has become very special to her.

He almost kisses her. She moves away quickly and heads toward the grill, suddenly very interested in helping him cook. He follows and he says she's very special to him, too. She looks at him dreamily.

They commence cooking. She says she feels badly about the kiss. She was thinking about - "Fernando Mendiola," Aldo predicts, with a faintly annoyed look. Lety explains that she didn't want him to - "feel deceived," he predicts again. (I am noticing how good Lety's skin looks. Must be the Acapulco air. I'm going to have to plan a trip.) He says he understands all of that; neither of them planned the kiss; it was without malice or forethought. It just happened. And it wasn't frivolous, either.

This almost seems to appease her; then she asks what did he see in her. He wonders if she's talking about Fernando again, but she says she just wants to know. He lists her good qualities again: she's a sensible, special woman. He's moved by her strong fight to reclaim herself and to be a part of that process himself. He loves her freshness, her ingenuity, her sense of wonderment at all that's happened, at discovering all the world around her. The kiss wasn't her fault or his fault, it was magic. He pleads, "Don't torment yourself over that kiss, okay?"

"Satisfied?" he asks. "Yes, yes, yes," Lety answers awkwardly, clearing her throat and looking hopefully at the bellezas' table. One of them catches her eye and rushes over, complaining that they're all hungry. Aldo makes an official announcement that it's time for them all to enjoy this delicious banquet that he's prepared just for them. They applaud, and he takes a bow. (This never happens at Burger King.) Lety makes a happy face and clinks glasses with Aldo, but she looks troubled as she sips from her glass.

The bellezas flock around the table to compliment Aldo while he's trying to talk to Lety. Caro tells them to go back to their tables. (Is this fourth grade?) Aldo wishes them luck in tonight's pageant. After they disperse, Aldo tells Lety that if it's okay with her, tomorrow he's going to resume construction of his restaurant, The Flavor of Life. Lety approves! Aldo says that all of the obstacles in his life simply vanished last night. Caro discreetly moves to the opposite side of the table and gets her camera ready as they hug. "Smile!" she requests, and they turn to look at her, smiling. Lety's smile disappears when she sees the camera, and she complains after Caro snaps the picture. Aldo agrees, angrily declaring that this deception is unforgivable... unless Caro gives each of them a copy of the photo! Lety giggles.

Carolina tells the bellezas that lunch time is over - they need to be ready at 8 tonight for the grand finale. The girls squeal excitedly, as if they hadn't known the pageant was tonight. :-) Aldo tells them he can't go to the pageant tonight. Lety is crushed. Then he admits he was kidding and he wouldn't miss it for the world.

Ha! Now, how's that for a hilarious joke! He does SO have a sense of humor! He nearly cracks up laughing. So does Lety. Well, that makes two. Caro drags Lety away and says she can tell that Lety is feeling better about the kiss. Lety tries to casually explain that it's all okay now. Carolina says, "I told you Aldo is a very special man" and says she's glad that she's feeling calmer now. "Yes, yes," Lety agrees, with elaborate coolness. "He's special, he's nice."

Aldo is standing right behind them. Lety urges Caro to walk a little faster. As soon as they are out of earshot, Aldo says to himself, "Lety... my Lety."

(DUDE!! She is NOT "your" Lety!!!)

That evening, while Darth Teresita speculates as to what kind of sordid mess Lety might be involved in now, Lety tries to put on some mascara. She says it feels like she's poking herself in the eye. While she is still rubbing it, Carolina attacks her with perfume. Lety admits that it smells nice, but asks Caro why she's helping her. Caro says it was just business at first, because she was impressed by Lety's competence. But then she also saw that Lety needed a change of scenery. And then, when she got to know Lety better, her business interest grew into a great friendship. Lety beams and says she feels the same way. Caro says she's also rediscovering her own wish to be around someone to care for; someone to protect; someone to count on her. Lety says she hopes someday she'll find the happiness she deserves, beside a handsome man - a man as handsome as herself - who loves and values her, and with whom she can have all the kids she wants - 8, 11, whatever... Caro thanks Lety for wishing such kind things for her, and they hug.

As they wrap up their preparations, Lety mimics Carolina in the mirror. (She's also done that with Alicia, but that was meant mockingly, rather than affectionately.)

Aldo shows up at the pageant in formal attire with a bow tie. Caro's wearing an awesome dress. Aldo says he needs to tell Carolina something. He's afraid he might commit an imprudence. Caro urges him to explain. "I am in love with Leticia," Aldo says.

Carolina is super-impactada. "Don't look at me that way," Aldo says. If he doesn't say it to Carolina, he might blurt it out to Lety instead, and he doesn't want to freak her out. (Someone calls for Carolina, but Caro brushes her off.) Caro says that's a good idea - Lety will take off running if he tries to talk to her about love. He says sure, but that's how love is; Lety knows that; it doesn't ask permission. Love arrives, blah blah blah. Caro says she's happy for him. And also relieved, because the way he came running up to her, she thought his house had flooded, or something. He says that in fact, his heart is flooded. But that's not what he's worried about. He doesn't want to pressure Lety.

Carolina asks what he will do next. He says for now, he's just feeling happy, and he'll give it time and see how it goes. Caro reminds him that she's going back to the city tomorrow. He says that's okay with him. Putting distance between them and letting their emotions rest will be a good test of their love. In any case, he's really happy. It's not just the euphoria of the moment, but also because Lety helped him so much. Thanks to her, he's reunited with his dad, who gave him that letter and now he can get over the death of his wife. Carolina says that's all he needs to tell Lety.

In the dressing room, the bellezas are getting ready in their swimsuits. Lety is wearing a sleeveless dress which is OPEN AT THE NECK!! (Oh boy, I hope RoboPop doesn't see that!) They are all excited about the pageant. Lety jokes that she could get a bathing suit too. She reminds them that one of them will be the winner. Again, they all squeal as if this is new information.

Carolina worries that the event will start late. A cameraman pauses in front of Aldo, who begs off. Carolina says "welcome" to the camera. Alex worries because he can't find Anais (pretty woman who was nice to Lety at the Yuri concert). Caro explains to Aldo that Anais is a TV personality, who will be working in the evening gown event later in the show. Just then, Anais shows up, and Alex takes off to start the show. Caro introduces Aldo, and Anais greets him with a little kiss. She seems VERY charmed! She kisses him again before retiring to the dressing room. Aldo wishes Carolina luck and starts looking around for Lety.

---

Meanwhile, back at Conceptos

Fern and Omar are still talking about the Lety situation. Omar insists that "we" have to speak with Lety's father. They don't have to tell him everything that happened between Lety and Fern. Fern says that man makes him very nervous. He packs a mean punch.

There is a knock on the door (that's how they know it's not Alicia). It's Teresita.

"I'm going to the house. What shall I tell your father? Because you were supposed to talk to Leticia's family."

Fern stares stupidly out of his bruised face, wondering what to say.

---

Next week
Phone calls! Glamour! Desperation!
Ninja-Mom hangs up on Fernando again!
Fern sees something shocking on the TV!

Labels: fea

This is a chance for somebody who's been wanting to join in the fun! Do it in your own style. Editorializing encouraged! If you're interested please contact me! caray@mappamundi.com

Labels: duelo, recappers-needed

Mari’s asking Cande how Leonardo’s doing and reveals that she’s moving out of Casa de las Fieras and back to the neighborhood. Mari tells Cande everything and that Jos is expecting Gabe’s baby. Pshaw…says Cande…as if. Mari says that she’ll continue loving him until she dies (awwww…)

Joselyn is threatening Gabe in his sleep.

Pau is chatting with Regina and Dolores…how did Jocelyn get pregnant with my father’s baby? Well Paulina here’s how it works. Demian arrives with bad news about JC and Regina & Pau leave with him, forgetting all about Pau’s lesson in the birds and the bees.

Tiberio is chatting with Rogelio who makes it clear that if he goes down, everyone goes down with him. Oh goody…something to look forward to.

Jos and Dolores have a threat-fest. Dolores lets her know that despite having the ‘proof’ no one really believes it. Jos doesn’t care and tells her that if Gabe wakes up, he’ll have to return to her now that she’s carrying his baby. Jos continues on with her super-egotistical monologue in which she says no one is her rival at her level because she’s so bad.

JC’s in jail for using second-rate materials in his buildings. Regina’s begging Demian to get him out of jail. Paulina & JC are chatting in the very dark jail cell. JC clinches his good guy status by saying that at least no one was hurt or died when the building collapsed.

Mari tells Cande how much she loves Luisito even though she’s not related to him and she will see him in the future. Cut to Luisito and David playing swords and then deciding to go visit the hospital (um, where is the nanny/bodyguard or whatever…if you live in a target, I mean a house that big in Mexico City, and your kid’s already been kidnapped once, wouldn’t you have a couple bodyguards hanging around?) The kids find a boat and get into it, naturally it starts sinking. Cortito jumps in to save them.

Both Gabe & Mari have a funny feeling in their heart at the same time. Cortito calls that Taxi guy and is crying hysterically. Mari sees the two beds with the flat-lined screens and the sheets pulled up and falls apart. Jos sees her and looks shocked, like what is that feeling she’s expressing?

Dolores tells Mari that Gabe’s heart also acted funny…Mari goes to visit Gabe and tells him that Luisito died and that she’s leaving forever and won’t be there to console him when he wakes up.

JC’s going to have to spend the night in jail—everyone’s very worried about that. JC and Paulina kiss through the bars again—be careful of the germs!!! That night JC can’t sleep and is trying to piece together who could have used the wrong materials.

Paulina goes home with Regina & Demian. Regina gets a call from Dolores about Luisito and David. She breaks the news to Paulina and everyone cries.

Leonardo wakes up and asks about Mari. They whine back and forth at each other about how he’s feeling, what happened in the accident. Later he finds out that Miriam donated his very rare blood for him.

David & Luisito’s funerals take place. Jos is as cold and stony as ice, Paulina falls apart. Mari goes home and sees the boys’ notebooks. She and Cande talk and Mari tells her she has decided to defend herself.

Joselyn is remembering how mean she was to Luisito and feeling guilty about it. She goes bonkers. Miriam tells her to calm down for the baby she’s expecting, Jos tells her now that Luisito was the only thing that still connected her with Gabe.

JC is freed and Paulina & Regina break the sad news to him.

Labels: mundo

Caro can see that something is bugging Lety. Lety tells Caro about her make-out session on the beach with Aldo. Caro is excited for her. Lety says she totally regrets it and now doesn’t want to see him ever again.

In the executive lobby, Mama T tells Marcia that Humberto had a terrible night after learning about Fern’s antics and about the judge’s ruling to give Lety the company. Humby won’t be coming to the office. She thinks they should keep him distanced from all these problems to preserve his health. She asks where Fern is. Marcia doesn’t want the employees to here her answer and takes Mama T to her office. The cuartel watch as Marcia and Mama T walk by and comment that bad luck does not discriminate.

Lety says she feels bad because she kissed Aldo, and she shouldn’t have done it because she still loves Fern. Caro asks if she is thinking of going back to Fern. Lety says “Of course, not, Fern doesn’t love me, he just used me.”

Marcia tells Mama T about her rescue mission the night before. Mama T has hopes that Marcia will get back together with Fern. She is encouraged when Marcia says she still had all of Fern’s stuff at her house. She asks if they “reconciled” [that’s mom-speak for “boinked”… ick!]. Marcia says no, because she still has her dignity. She slept in another room. Still, Mama T says the outlook seems promising. She should give him another opportunity. Marcia says she did. She gave Fern the suitcase and told him to pack his crap, but it was a test; if Fern takes his things, that means he has no interest in staying, if he leaves them, well…

Meanwhile, Fern is getting ready to leave Marcia’s place. He looks at his stuff and the suitcase on Marcia’s bed…. he lingers… he... he… decides to leave it! [Doh! Fern, what are you thinking?!]

Caro tells Lety why Aldo is a good deal. He has no other commitments (i.e. fiancee), he's extraordinary, plus he would never deceive her. Lety says this is not a good time to fall in love. Caro tells her to go for it!

Alicia arrives at work late and the cuartel chide her. Alicia says it’s so hard to get out of bed when you sleep on silk sheets; not like the poor folks, who sleep on lumpy beds and are better off just getting up. The cuartel mock Alicia’s uppity-ness. Just then Marcia yells “ALICIA!”

Lety and Caro are in a shop buying gifts for the bellezas, and they marvel at the convenience of credit cards. Aldo calls Caro on her cell. They discuss something about going to a special place for lunch. After the call, she tells Lety that Also sounds very happy, and says that he has a special surprise for them. Lety looks worried about that.

Alicia knows she’s in deep doo-doo, so she tries to deflect the scolding by telling Marcia how wonderful she looks [oh yeah, today Marcia is sporting super-straightened hair and has traded her heavy coral eye shadow for heavy rose eye shadow… actually, cotton candy might be a better description]. Anyhoo, Alicia’s tactic does not work, and she gets yelled at for being late. Alicia says it’s easy for Marcia to judge, since she has transportation to get to work, while Alicia can’t even take a taxi. Marcia suggests the bus. Alicia is offended. Ariel arrives with his personality-challenged lawyers. Ariel tells Alicia that she has the perfect man for her. Alicia excitedly looks toward the lawyers. No, Ariel says, not them, what you need is a taxi driver… pa-dum-pum! Before she can retaliate, he orders her to bring them coffee.

The execs head to the boardroom. Mama T tells Ariel and Co. that the judge has ruled in Lety’s favor. Ariel is impactado.
In the exec lobby, Fern strolls in whistling and walking with his head turned toward the wall. As usual, he asks if Lety has called. Sarah replies that she hasn’t. He continues to walk while looking away from them. The cuartel is intrigued by this. Alicia walks in and is in the right spot to see Fern’s black-and-blue face. She screams, which startles Fern. He jumps and turns around. The cuartel see him and scream, too. Fern tries to explain that he tripped and fell, but it doesn't hurt at all.

Ariel tells the rest of the execs that now that Lety has the company, they are bankrupt and ruined. He asks where Fern is; he bets that Fern couldn’t even dare to show his face. Just then Fern walks in. Seeing his beat-up face, Ariel looks disgusted. Insults fly. Mom defends Fern [about time, mom!]. Ariel tells Fern he’s an embarrassment. He asks how it feels to be a loser. He puts his hand on Fern’s shoulder -- which causes Fern much pain-- and tells Fern he feels pity for him. He asks Fern if he is here to defend Lety again. Fern says he’s done doing that. [Doh! Strike two, Fern.]

Julieta cries as she reads Lety’s diary-- the part where Lety writes that she is not capable of keeping Fern’s company, even if he deserves it. Just then Lety calls. Lety asks what’s wrong. Mom says that Lety being gone makes her realize just what a wonderful person Lety is, and that she misses her. Lety tells her not to worry; in Acapulco she is surrounded by people who make her feel important. Mom exclaims “Hallelujah, that’s just what you need!”

Humby has called into the boardroom and lays out the game plan. They need to take drastic measures. They will hire a specialized lawyer to bring criminal charges against Lety.

Meanwhile, Tomas is talking to the happy-hour lawyers. One of them is wearing funky glasses with rhinestones. He explains that he was at one of those restaurants “with poles” [a strip club maybe?] and his friend sat on his regular glasses, so the friend then let him borrow her own glasses… whatever. Tomas tries to explain that Lety doesn’t want to keep Conceptos. He wants the lawyers to find a way to reverse the judge’s ruling.

Humby tells Fern that he needs to call Lety’s family. They might be able to pressure Lety into coming back.

Robopop is doing and interviewing over the phone for an accounting job. He tells the prospective employer that he comes from a noble, honest, and responsible family. He proudly tells of Lety’s high position managing a big company’s finances. Julieta listens in and thinks “if only he knew the truth.”

Caro and Lety bring the bellezas together on the hotel lawn for Aldo’s surprise. The bellezas discuss how hot Aldo is. A they walk away, Caro and Lety stay back. Lety says it’s ironic that the bellezas can’t wait to see Aldo, while she never wants to see him again. Caro tells Lety to get a grip. In Acapulco, you’re supposed to have fun.

Tomas tells the lawyers that if they don’t straighten this mess out, Lety will kill him. He pulls the end of his tie above his head like a noose.

Ariel tells Fern to call Lety’s family. Fern says he will call them in private.

No-personality lawyers have more bad news. In the next step of this legal process, Conceptos will be auctioned off to pay off the debt to Lety. The entire executive board is impactado. Ariel yells at Fern to go call Lety’s family already. Fern feigns panic, then calmly leaves. Ariel observes that, again, their fate is in Fern’s hands.

Tom tells the happy-hour lawyers to go to Conceptos to straighten everything out. The happy-hour lawyers explain to Tomas that in order to take the action he wants, Lety need to be there in person. They ask when she will return. They go into a long unnecessary discussion about when the beauty pageant in Acapulco will end.

In the presidential office, Fern Calls Julieta, who responds very coldly. He says that he wanted to avoid this, but if no one tells him where Lety is, he will have to tell her and Robopop the truth about what’s going on, because Lety is behaving very badly with the company. Julieta, with Ninja-like reaction, responds, “And you? Haven’t you behaved badly?” She goes on to tell him off, asking how dare he have the nerve to accuse Lety when it was Fern who dragged her into that hell. It’s a miracle she’s still alive after all he has put her through. Fern is impactado and asks if Lety told her all of this. Ninja mom says Lety did not need to say anything for her (mom) to understand what's going on. She asks him if he has the pantalones [pants] to tell her husband everything he has done. Fern tries to tell her that Lety is making a mistake by trying to take over the company. Ninja mom says he’s mistaken, she does not want his company and Tomas is working with the lawyers to get that straightened out. She tells him to leave her family alone. Fern says that things are getting complicated. Ninja mom says he made them complicated. Lety made a mistake and she’s paying for it, but he got her mixed up in these problems. She hangs up on him and Fern pretends he’s still talking to her, thanking her and saying it was nice chatting with her.

Happy-hour lawyers finally ask what the pageant has to do with Lety. Tomas explains that she will be back as soon as the pageant ends. Happy-hour lawyers insist that Tomas must tell them all the nitty-gritty details about the case in order to understand how they can help. Tomas is hesitant. They say they can not continue on the case until Tomas spills the beans.

At the hotel, the girls find Aldo’s surprise: a barbeque. The bellezas think it’s the best surprise ever! Aldo has a big goofy grin and immediately asks for Lety. Lety is hiding in the back of the crowd, obviously dreading having to face Aldo again.
Fernando remembers his conversation with Ninja mom. Omar walks in and compares Fern to Julio Cesar Chavez [famous Mexican boxer]. He also asks just how many rottweillers he got into a fight with. Fern rehashes his conversation with ninja mom. He says she knows everything, and she peeee-oh’d. They will stand by Lety, and with good reason, because they are a good Mexican family with values.

Labels: fea

At the island of the dolls in Xichimilco
El Guapo tells Berta he's going to extract the scent of fear and death and cuts one of his fingers and then proceeds to cut off one of Berthas fingers .

Liliana, tells Miranda that she is sorry that without her intention she caused so many problems between her and Alejandro. Miranda tells her that is she wants her to listen to her, to be honest and tell her the truth, that all she did was for her own sake. Liliana tells her she is right.

they argue and Liliana asks Miranda if she would be willing to give Alejandro his freedom, she replies, that she would let Alejandro make his own decisions and that is what love is all about.

In Puerto Vallarta, Miranda plays with her nephew as Charo tells her if she spoils her nephew she can only imagine how she'll treat her own son. She asks her if she still loves Alejandro and she says she does as she recalls her wedding day. Rebeca arrives and tells her that Julio is getting worse but decided to come to take her grandson home.

Liliana, goes to see Alejandro and tell him that Miranda is a great woman and that he should go after her, she says that that will be the last time they see each other and dumbell has the nerve to say that if shouldn't that be his decision.\She tell him that Miranda is letting him decide what he wants to do and not to many women would do that. She tells him that she already called Sofia's dad and that he was thrilled to find out he has a daughter and even ask her to give their relationship a try, Alejandro is happy for her and tells her that if she ver needs anything to call him. When Liliana leaves he calls his chauffer and tells him to have his plane ready ASAP he is going to the hacienda to try to win Miranda back because she is the love of his life and he will do whatever it takes towin her back.

Alejandro arrives at the hacienda and sees Arcadia. He asks where is everyone and she says she has not been home so she has no idea, he looks for Gabino and asks him where Miranda Gabino tells him that even if he cuts his tongue he won't tell him where she is. He asks him if it's an order from Miranda and he says it is. He tells him he loves Miranda like he loves Arcadia but Gabino tells him if he has to be loyal to him or Miranda he'll pick her. He begs him to help him and Gabino finally admits that she is in Puerto Vallarta with Fabricio that the hotel info is on the desk in her office, and to hurry because she leaves for Europe the following morning.

Cesar arrives in Puerto Vallarta and checks into the hotel under Alejandro Luque's name. Charo tells Rebeca she saw Cesar but Rebeca tells him he's on the run and can't be him. Cesar sees Rebeca and says she's going to help him.

Alejandro thanks Naty for giving him cocoa water saying it gave him strength. She tells him to fight for her and listen to her in silence. She gives him some cocoa and says if Miranda turns him down to give it to her and tells her the cocoa bush needs a lot to go thru lots of hands. He tries to talk but she tells him he's loosing strength and tells him to leave as he orders his plane ready to go to Puerto Vallarta.

Miranda asks Fabricio how his project went and he tells her he already signed the contract to put his project forward. He tells her he wants their trip to be a second chance and if it doesn't work they'll remain friends. Veronica tells Renata that now that they're rich again that have no help. Renata says she's learned along the way what is more important. Veronica asks her who the father of her baby is and she says it doesn't matter because the baby is hers and she is going to raise him to have the same qualities that Juan has.

Alejandro arrives at the hotel and asks if Miranda Sanllorente or Fabricio are staying in the Hotel, the man tells him that the Fabricio and his wife are having lunch at the restaurant on the deck.
Miranda tells Fabricio she can't make a decision in the time they had to each lunch. He tells her to think that their love was interrupted by Florencia and then Alejandro. She tells him she doesn't see him as a man and doesn't want to lie to him. He leans over and asks her for another chance and kisses her.

Alejandro arrives at that moment and sees them and says they have taken great advantage of their time together. Fabricio asks Alejandro what he's doing there as he and Miranda stare at each other. He says he has nothing to do there as he asks Miranda if they can talk.

OK everyone... this is my last recapp, tomorrow is the grand Finale... I hope you like it....Its been a pleasure meeting all of you and see you around!!

In the mean time I will leave you my fundraising webpage in case anyone is interested in donating to the Save The Children charity for which I need to raise $5000, and for whom I'm doing the trek to India.

http://www.justgiving.com/gloriasindiatrek

Labels: heridas

I found sunrise above, and sunset below. I wouldn't mind being there!!

Labels: fea

As MA struggles to comprehend Joselyn’s test results, Josleyn lays it on thick. MA was only a toy for Gabriel and that he deceived her and that Joselyn is better than MA. MA asks her to leave and she does with a nasty little wink.

Leo is driving his taxi and having a flashback to Elsa telling him about being raped. Then he starts driving like a lunatic and crashes his car. With his face covered with blood and grasping his dashboard crucifix, Leo tries to get out of car but collapses half in and half out of the car.

Paulina tells Regina that the gynecologist has told her that she can get pregnant again. Regina is pleased and tells Paulina that she has to be patient. Paulina says that she is afraid that if she doesn’t get preggers soon, JC will leave her for another woman. Regina says her son wouldn’t leave the love of his life because of that. She asks where is the valiant Paulina who fought for her love. Paulina says that that part of her died the day she lost her baby.

Silvestre tells Candelaria that Leo had an accident and is in bad shape. She is impactada.

MA recalls Gabriel’s words of love and then asks him over and over why he betrayed her.

Soraya tells Otilia that Diana is having a good time on her trip and Pedro is very attentive. Otilia asks when they will be back. Soraya says that they will be back in time for the march of women who have been cheated on. Then Otilia reads to Soraya the 10 fundamental statutes of the club of deceived women:

1. Love your fellow man but first and foremost love yourself;
2. Don’t blame yourself for nothing “no te culparas en vano”;
3. Have a good time at all parties;
4. Don’t be a jailer for your children and don’t make your sons into macho pigs;
5. Don’t lie; be faithful to your ideas and your passions;
6. Don’t kill. You want to love and be loved;
7. Don’t have sex with people you don’t like. Only do it if you want to.
8. Don’t ever let anyone treat you badly;
9. Don’t covet your friend’s man; and
10. Don’t complain about your life; enjoy every minute of it.
Epilogue: Love your man but don’t trust him. Men are all the same – they are the worst.

[I have to say that Otilia is the most amusing character on this novela.]

Candelaria comes into the emergency room and asks about Leo. The doctor says that he lost a lot of blood but he has a rare blood type and they need an emergency donation. [We can guess who that is going to be, can’t we.]

JC tells Tiberio that he can’t understand why there are problems with the construction of the houses. Tiberio says people are making complaints and at that moment two official guys come in and say that JC has to come to the ‘delegacion’ with them. He is impactado.

Candelaria comes to beg Miriam to give Leo a blood transfusion and save him. [How Candelaria knows that they have the same blood type, I don’t know.] Miriam says that now she will demonstrate that she is a bad mother. She doesn’t care if Leo lives or dies. He is nothing to her. She will not go to the hospital with Candelaria. Candelaria gets on her knees and begs. Miriam tells her to get out. Candelaria says that Leo will die because of her pride, egoism and cruelty. Miriam says that Candelaria can shout insults at her all day. If Leo dies, it is Candelaria’s fault for taking in babies that she found in churches. Candelaria is Leo’s mother and his situation is her problem. Candelaria keeps on begging, which just seems to make Miriam madder and she finally throws Candelaria out.

Back with the comatose, MA has more memories of their love making and asks the same questions about why he betrayed her.

JC calls Demian and say that he has been arrested because walls fell down at the construction site. Demian is impactado.

Regina asks Paulina if she feels better after their talk. She says yes, a little but her sadness won’t go away. There is also the situation of her father, Gabriel. She feels alone. Regina says that she is surrounded by people who care for her. Then we have basically the same conversation between Paulina and Regina that the had before. Paulina must be strong; JC loves her, etc. etc. Paulina doesn’t appear to be convinced.

Tiberio is enjoying the fact that he has gotten JC in trouble when Demian comes in. Tiberio claims that he knows nothing about what happened to JC. Demian leaves to go to the police station and tells Tiberio not to tell Regina what happened and to stay at his desk to take phone calls.

Back at the hospital, the taxi drivers are keeping vigil. Silvestre tells Candelaria that Leo’s situation is the same. He needs an operation but he has lost so much blood they can’t risk it without a transfusion.

Karen, who is in Paris, calls Miriam to say that she coming home to Mexico very soon. When Karen asks where Joselyn is, Miriam says that she doesn’t know and makes some unflattering remarks about Joselyn’s behavior. Karen tells her grandmother not to criticize her daughter, ‘mothers should support their children in all things.’ After the call, Miriam flashes back to Candelaria’s entreaties for Leo.

Candelaria is praying for Leo in the hospital chapel.

At the police station, Demian is trying to make the construction problem ‘go away’ by greasing the palm of the inspector but he isn’t having any.

Candelaria is telling one of the cabbies that to save Leo, they need a miracle and what do you know, in walks Miriam. Candelaria is all over her weeping with gratitude.

Regina comes into Gabriel’s hospital room and MA says that she is glad that someone will stay with Gabriel. She isn’t coming back. Regina is puzzled but MA does not tell her what is going on.

At the police station, Nicolas tells Demian that he does not understand how this has happened. The company never purchased substandard materials. Demian says that he doesn’t know what happened either. Nicolas says they have to investigate and find out who actually bought the bad stuff. Demian says that he will investigate but the first thing is to get JC out of jail. Nicolas says it won’t be that easy; the victim is insisting that JC pay the penalty for what happened. Demian says that he will pay any amount of money to spring JC but Nicolas says that it is not a matter of money, but justice. ‘Whatever,’ says Demian, ‘I just want it to happen right away. I don’t want Regina to find out that JC is in jail.’ Nicolas says that may not be possible. JC may have to spend some time in jail. ‘How long?’ asks Demian. Nicolas says that he doesn’t know but JC isn’t getting out of jail until his innocence is shown.

At the hospital, the doctor thanks Miriam for donating blood for Leo. She asks to see him. The doctor hesitates but then takes her to his room. Looking at the unconscious Leo, Miriam tells herself that once again she has given him life and has no idea why. She has no feelings but there is something in him that moves her. Why? Why does he have the power to move her to wake up her maternal instincts, blah blah blah. She doesn’t want to take over Candelaria’s place as Leo’s mother so things will just continue as they are. She kisses Leo and leaves.

Regina tells Dolores about MA’s strange behavior with Gabriel. They neither of them understand it. MA has gone to her parents’ grave and once again talks about how she believed Gabriel was a good guy and now he has betrayed her, etc. etc.

Joselyn is waiting for Miriam in the office of their fashion house. Joselyn wants to tell Miriam about her encounter with MA in Gabriel’s hospital room but Miriam isn’t interested. Joselyn says that she isn’t holding a grudge because Miriam sold her jewelry. Once again, Miriam isn’t interested. She asks Joselyn to leave. She says that she is having a hard time dealing with her feelings. She doesn’t like it. It makes her feel weak and she is eager for it to pass. Joselyn doesn’t understand and Miriam says that it doesn’t matter.

Back at the hospital, Elsa and the taxi drivers are in the waiting room while Leo is in surgery. They are surprised that Miriam was willing to donate blood for Leo while Candelaria tells herself that they wouldn’t be surprised if they knew Miriam was Leo’s mother.

Rogelio tells Tiberio that it was he who purchased the substandard materials at Demian’s orders. Tiberio tells him to relax. No one is accusing him – yet. Rogelio says that he isn’t going to be a scapegoat for this mess. If he is accused, Tiberio and Demian will go down too.

Back in Gabriel’s hospital room, Joselyn tells Regina and Dolores about her pregnancy. Wild beast growling is heard in the background.

MA is packing up to leave. She can’t face seeing Joselyn’s triumphant face every day. She will go somewhere far away with David. She has another reason too. Her baby. It is hers, only hers.

Miriam calls the hospital about Leo. The nurse says that he is being operated on and gives the phone to Candelaria. Miriam says that she didn’t want to talk to her but Candelaria goes on to thank her profusely for what she did, etc. etc.

MA tells Luisito that she is leaving the mansion. He doesn’t understand. ‘Does this mean you aren’t going to marry my papa?’ he asks. MA says that someday he will understand everything. She will continue to see him.

Regina and Dolores don’t believe Joselyn at first but she shows them her papers that say that the baby is Gabriel’s. [I don’t believe you can do a paternity test this early in a pregnancy but hey, this is a novela.] Regina and Dolores are impactada. They suggest that the proof has been forged but Josleyn just smirks and pushes past them.

MA goes to the hospital where Leo is. Candelaria tells her that the doctor has told them that Leo is out of danger. MA tells Candelaria that she has returned to the neighborhood and Candelaria asks why.

Josleyn once again is in Gabriel’s hospital room and says one again that she will never allow anyone to take Gabriel away from her and that he will be hers forever whether he likes it or not.

Labels: mundo

Labels: heridas