Caray, Caray!

We left Emilio at the Bus Station, just having lost sight of the kidnapped Gaby, with the police following closely behind. He yells that they have to find her before she gets on a bus. [Actually he says camion, not autobus which I thought would be truck, but a camioneta is a van so maybe camion can also mean bus?]

Dra. Loca, Sleazy Lawyer and Don Loco are in a meeting room in the jail. Don Loco and Dra. Loca both have tears running down their cheeks, at the magnitude of Don Loco’s pain at discovering that he’s been wrong all along about Alina and Soledad. Don Loco asks out loud how he could have been so cruel to his own daughter. SL says what’s done is done and can’t be undone. The only thing now is to salvage what he can out of this situation. Dra. Loca says she doesn’t get what he is saying. SL says we can now prove that he was out of his mind and can’t be judged as a criminal, but as mentally ill. “You’ve said it yourself! Now I can appeal his sentence so that he doesn’t have to serve his time in jail, but in a mental hospital.” He puts his arm on Don Loco’s shoulder, DL shrugs it off and looks balefully at Dra. Loca.

Back at the bus station, Emilio is racing on and off buses, frantically looking for Gaby. A security guy runs up and says that a bus did leave and a girl matching Gaby’s description was on it!
DL is has been brought back to his cell. He’s not on board with SL’s plan to put him in a mental hospital with a bunch of lunatics. SL tells him to relax, he has a plan and he wants DL to be patient and not wreck it. DL tells him he can’t possibly know what it feels like to know that he has behaved like a monster, destroying the love of the only woman he’s ever cared for and making his own daughter curse him.

Over at the hospital, Ricardo and Mariana are trying to make Malena more comfortable. Malena is going to be discharged tomorrow and they can all finally blow town. Mariana reflects gravely that if she hadn’t come here and tried to tell her brother the truth, she would never have risked all their lives. Ricardo says to not think about that now. Tomorrow they will get out of there but first he has to help the woman in the next room with her son, who needs a kidney. He describes her as a poor woman, with folk beliefs, in miracles [or Milagros? Those healing charms?] “She heals people, like me!” Mariana exclaims that she once knew a woman like that who took care of her mother.

We pan over to the other side of the privacy screen and there is that woman, Luba, hunching over poor sick Gaspar. Gaspar is murmuring that he wants to see his little cub. Luba tells him that he has to get well. Gaspar says yes! So that he can play with his little cub and swim in the river. Luba gets up and tells him that she wants to speak to the doctor who will help them. Just as she’s about to cross to the other side of the screen, she hears Mariana telling the others that she’ll never forget the woman’s face or her name “Luba!” Luba is impactada—that woman knows her real name!

Back to the jailhouse with SL and DL “Now more than ever, what you’ve got to do is think of yourself” says SL. DL disagrees. “All these years I did nothing but think of myself and look what I got!...I lost my family and let my thoughts consume my soul…no, I cannot even forgive myself. “ SL says he doesn’t know how he can move forward. DL says he needs to see Mariana, to speak to her and clear up a lot of things. He grabs SL’s shoulder through the bars, earnestly and not violently for once.

On the streets of Puebla, Emilio rides with a state police trooper chasing the bus that carries Gaby and her captor. [Gee whiz those cars are tiny! I think the campus parking cops where I went to college had bigger cars! Emilio and the policeman barely fit in this toy car. ] Emilio dramatically suggests that they cut the bus off at the pass. The police guy says no, it would unsafe for the rest of the passengers. He’ll just put on his lights and pull the bus over. The bus driver still doesn’t stop so the police car crosses the center line and passes the bus. [Good thing no oncoming traffic on this narrow road! Also a good thing that everybody on this road seems to be doing about 10 miles an hour. Now where in Mexico do they do that?] The cop signals to the bus to pull over but apparently since there is no shoulder, they have to drive for awhile before they get to a place where the bus CAN pull over. [Going 10 miles an hour. Some chase.] They stop the bus, they give a cursory look around and decide that the little girl that they see on this bus is not Gaby. Meanwhile, a black and white local police car drives up.

Back at the hospital, Luba is still worried about who that woman is who spoke her name. She’s worried that it’s someone from SE who will tell the police and they’ll nab her and Gaspar. She’s got to see find out who this lady is. [Great worried facial expressions from Ana Martin here.]
At Rodrigo’s apartment, Rod is talking to Alina. He’s afraid because they haven’t heard anything. Alina tells him not to despair. Tina butts in to add that she’s been waiting by the phone and nobody has called. Alina continues with her Pollyanna act by saying that if they haven’t heard anything that is good news because it means that she’s probably lost and that nobody has kidnapped her. [Huh? Whatever] The doorbell rings. It’s Emilio. He’s come to give them an update. They spotted Gaby at the central bus station. Alina starts to ask why they didn’t bring Gaby with them. Emilio explains that she and her captor got away. Rodrigo starts screaming at him about why they didn’t stop them, etc. Emilio just looks tired.

[commercial break—we are treated to a brand new transition featuring a very odd looking woman who looks sort of like Alina but older, with a much rounder face. Great, that’s just what we need in the final windup, yet another new character.]

Emilio is in the middle of a big and unsatisfactory explanation when we return. He says that Gaby has been captured by a child trafficking ring and that now these people know we are after them and they have the advantage. The important thing is that they are still dragging her around. Rodrigo is flipping out, “You had her so close!” Again, Alina tries the Pollyanna thing. “At least she’s OK!” Rodrigo flips out some more—“OK? OK? Can you imagine how scared Gaby must be, having to spend the night with that vile wretch! “Don’t get mad,” says Alina. “I’m with you.” “You should be happy Gaby is alive.” [Ugh!] Emilio says that Alina is right. [Double Ugh!] Rodrigo apologizes and says that his powerlessness and desperation make him say things he doesn’t mean. Emilio says he understands. He adds that he thinks that Gaby and her captor never made it out of the city. He clarifies after being asked that there was a watch put on all the busses leaving the city and nobody with those descriptions has made it out. Tina interrupts to say that at least they now know that Gaby is not lost. Rodrigo says ruefully that now that her captors know they are looking for her, they’ll try to hide her.

Over at Coral’s boutique, Soledad is worried about Alina, who still hasn’t called. She’s worried that this situation will only intensify the situation between Emilio and Rodigo. Coral sounds a little fed up. “They are all adults, they know how to resolve this situation.“ Coral says. [Bravo, again, Coral!] She tells Soledad that they should go to lunch and then they have to acquire some more merchandise since the store is doing so well.

Emilio, Rod, Alina and Tina are still in Rod’s kitchen. Tina is fretting that if Gaby’s captors try to hide her how will they be able to find her? Rod asks Emilio if he has anything to go on. Emilio answers that he is following a line of investigation. He thinks that the guys who he was tracking before, the ones who beat him up, are involved. Rod asks him what he plans to do. Emilio says he has a plan, but that he’ll need Rodrigo’s cooperation to make it happen. Can Rod give him that assurance? Rod clenches his jaw.


Over at Casa Valtierra, the phone rings and Thelma goes to answer it. It’s General Ochoa. He’s looking for Emilio. Thelma says she hasn’t seen him, she thought he’d be at the base by now. Ochoa tells her that Emilio joined the search for the missing little girl. Thelma tells the General that she’ll look for Emilio and have him call. Thelma puts down the phone and thought bubbles that that brat [escuincle] ought to have been delivered to Rodrigo by now. Anyway it’s not her problem. Her problem now is Orlando. [Wow, this is cold, even for vicious old Thelma!]

Ochoa is in his office and there is a knock at the door. It’s Orlando now dressed in his uniform with his hair slicked back, looking more like an officer and less like beetle bailey, busted down a few stripes as he was previously. He’s come to present himself formally to the General, for his new orders. The general has nothing for him at the moment, so Orlando suggests that he could go back to SE to wind up the final oversight work on the road construction. Ochoa points out that that is Capt. Valtierra’s job. Orlando says yes, but since SE dredges up bad memories for Emilio…Ochoa says pointedly that Orlando was responsible for a lot of those bad memories. Orlando agrees. He says that for that reason, he’d like to spare Emilio the horror of reliving those days. Ochoa sees the logic. He agrees to let him go. With a click of his heels and a snappy salute, Orlando is gone. Once outside the office, Orlando says to nobody in particular, that now he can go to SE, grab up Gaspar, and put him in front of Thelma. [Oops, so far it’s not looking like that’s going to happen. And too bad too—it means that Orlando will be delayed in getting his important news to Emilio. Why should Emilio believe Gaspar over a DNA test? Or even Gaspar over Orlando for that matter? Will I have any hair left from tearing it out after this show?!!!!!]
Sleazy Lawyer is at the front desk of a hotel. He tries to find out if Mariana is staying there. The clerk actually has some ethics and says that he can’t tell him. Even when SL offers him a wad of cash and he still doesn’t budge and threatens to call security. No matter, SL says he’ll find someone whose price he can meet. He picks up a newspaper and pretends to read it. Who should come wandering in at precisely that moment but Ricardo who is asking for the hotel bill for himself and Mariana. SL sidles up, introduces himself and says that DL wants to talk to her. Ricardo says that Mariana has no interest in talking to him again. SL tells him that DL deserves another chance. He’s seen the results of the DNA test and knows that Mariana told the truth, that Soledad didn’t cheat on him and Alina is his daughter. Ricardo is somewhat impactado.
Back over at Rodrigo’s apartment, Rod, Emilio and Alina are all sitting talking about Emilio’s plan. [By the way, was there ever an odder collection of ornaments on a coffee table? Two glass hockey pucks and a bunch of eggs? What’s up with that? I guess they aren’t going to tell us what the plan is because Emilio is already asking Rod if he is going to agree to it.] “It’s like putting out bait for the animal who took the little girl. We could get her back faster than you can imagine.“ [Boy, I am really not following this. What is he going to do, make Rodrigo stand on a street corner dressed like a little girl?] Rodrigo is worried that the plan will fail and so is Alina. Emilio tells them that if this plan fails they will make others. The police are already interested in this ring and they won’t let this opportunity pass them by to get them. Alina is on board with the plan. She thinks it would be good to bust this ring so that not only Rod but other parents can find their children. Rodrigo, pantywaist that he is, says “If Alina agrees to the plan so do I.” Alina wants to know how they will know that the plan is working. Emilio tells her that he’s going to have Frank conduct surveillance of their headquarters and report when they have Gaby. He’d go but they already recognize his face.

SL is explaining to Ricardo all that has transpired since Mariana last saw DL. He begs Ricardo to help him convince her to go back and talk to DL.

In jail, DL is trying to sleep, but instead is having orange flashbacks of the letter and the day he took Alina to the cave. Also Alina confronting him and insisting upon her mother’s innocence. DL begs Alina from heaven (he thinks) to forgive him. [Ave Maria playing in the background] He reflects that he was so afraid of sharing his Father’s fate as a cuckold that it blinded him. He asserts his love for his daughter. He knows that although Alina can not longer do it, Soledad must hear him and he won’t be able to continue living if she doesn’t forgive him. Tears are streaming down his cheeks for the close-up.

Coral and Soledad are back at the shop. Coral points out that Alina spent the night at Rodrigo’s. Soledad says yes, she was waiting by the phone. Coral cuts to the chase and says it’s a good thing that Emilio doesn’t know that Alina spent the night there or he would have shown up to drag her out of there. Soledad makes some noises about how Emilio knows that Alina is “a decent girl.” Coral says yeah sure but he doesn’t trust Rodrigo. Soledad mews some more about how Rodrigo is a gentleman while Coral just rolls her eyes at her dimwit business partner. At least she can pick clothes. Just then the phone rings and Claudia goes to answer it. It’s Angel, he wants to see her. Claudia says no, it’s better if she not see him. Angel insists and suggests it’s because of her stepfather that she doesn’t want to see him. Claudia says no some more and then hangs up on him. [Gee she’s wearing a lot of makeup today!] Angel says out loud that he’s not going to abandon Claudia. He knows that she needs his help!

Frank jumps into Emilio’s car. He tells him that General Ochoa told him to report to Emilio, wearing his civvies. [I said civvies not skivvies…down girls!] Emilio fills him in on the plan. They are going to follow the child-trafficking gang around. He wants Frank to spy on them because he (Emilio) can’t, he’s already been identified by them (and beaten up). The gang runs out of the HQ, including Mr. Shiny Baldpate. Emilio engages the car to tail them.

Meanwhile, we finally see Gaby in a small cell like room sitting on a cot. The mute giant guy is asleep on another cot. She thought bubbles that maybe now is her chance to escape. She gets up and tries the door. Locked. She goes over to the MGG and sees the keys. She tries to take them and he stirs. She tries again and gets them. It takes her an eternity but she finally finds the key that fits the lock and runs out. The sound of the door wakes up the MGG. He gets up and runs out after her.

At a café, Mariana and Ricardo are chatting with SL. Looks like it’s in or near the hospital because there’s a nurse sitting behind them. He’s trying to convince her to talk to DL again. “Only you can clear up some of his remaining doubts” says SL. Mariana is dubious because DL isn’t going to like what she has to say. Also there were a lot of people who fed his jealousy. “He’s going to want to seek revenge on those people and commit more crimes” frets Mariana. [What a goody two-shoes you are, Mariana. Don’t you kinda want to see Alfonsina and her pal Hugo maybe burn to death in a shack?] SL says so what, they deserve it and anyway, is it fair that Alvaro was taken advantage of by these people? Mariana is adamant. “Alvaro should have believed his own wife, before anyone else. Justice will take care of those other people. NO, I’m not going to talk to my brother.”

At Rodrigo’s Tina and Alina are talking. Tina still feels guilty about losing Gaby. Alina comforts her. I wonder where she is. Blah blah blah.

Back to the café, Ricardo points out that Mariana was nearly killed by “those people.” SL is surprised after he is filled in on the attempted murder. He thinks that this is an excellent reason that they should talk to Alvaro and report this to the authorities so that justice can be done. Ricardo says they’ve already given a statement to the police. SL grins and says, in effect, “you don’t know how this works.” “If Alvaro denounces them, it will carry more weight with the police. “ [Maybe somebody can help me with this phrasing here. Why should they believe a jailbird over 2 innocent people?] Mariana isn’t buying what SL is selling anyway. She wants to leave town. Ricardo jumps in to say that SL has a point, Alvaro should know who his tormentors were. And that if he accuses them of all the bad things they did to him as well as to Mariana et. al. they are more likely to end up behind bars and faster too. Mariana finally relents.


Gaby is still on the run, she runs through a market and very intelligently upsets some apples on a stand to slow the MGG down. He trips and she continues running.

Over at Coral’s Boutique Claudia is leaving for the day. Soledad lets her go and says she has a whole bunch of paperwork to do. Coral is going to eat [for a chick as slender as she is, she sure likes her vittles. What’s she going to do now that she no longer burns off all those calories with dancing and sex?] and go to the salon on her lunch hour. After she takes off, a red rose is thrust into Soledad’s face and a voice asks her if she’d like to go out to eat. It’s supposed to be mysterious and romantic but instead it’s dorky because the voice is Elias’ and we know that it’s him immediately. Soledad is pleased anyway and puts the rose in a vase but says she’s busy and can’t go. Elias tries to convince her that they can order a pizza and he’ll help her with the paperwork. Soledad hears DL’s voice in her head warning her that if she goes with Elias, sooner or later, he’ll wind up dead. Soledad takes Elias’ hand and tells him she’s grateful for all he’s done for her but she’s been thinking…they should distance themselves from one another. [Brief Elias impactado here.] She’s been thinking that this…friendship…is creating other feelings…that will only wind up hurting both of them. Elias interrupts to say that she knows how he feels about her but she cuts him off. She tells him that she doesn’t want this friendship “so pretty and clean” to end up badly. “I feel so bad but I have to ask..to beg you that we distance ourselves…that we separate ourselves.” A tear rolls down her cheek.

Elsewhere, Angel is accosting Claudia. He needs to talk to her. Claudia is equally insistent that he leave her alone. Angel tells her he knows that her step-father is hitting on her. Claudia is impactada.

Alina is alone at Rodrigo’s apartment, napping on the couch. She dreams of Emilio’s mariachi serenade. She murmurs “Emilio, I love you so much.” Just then [a little too late to hear it] Rodrigo comes in and sees her sleeping. He kisses her and she wakes up. He tells her that he is so happy that she is by his side during this terrible time. She puts her head on his shoulder
.
Back to poor Gaby who is still running, spilling things, trying to get away from the Mute Giant Guy. Somehow nobody is noticing any of this. A huge black man, dressed like a friggin pirate is chasing a schoolgirl who is dumping stuff all over the market and nobody is noticing anything. What are they all smoking weed or something? Gaby manages to get out the door and she scrambles inside some kind of oil can. MGG arrives and is perplexed not to see her. Just then another guy comes with a dolly and loads up the oil can. Gaby jumps out and yells. MGG is right there and sees her.

Back to Angel and Claudia. Claudia tries to deny that she knows what Angel is talking about. Angel tells her that he overheard her talking to her mother. Claudia tells him that she doesn’t want him to get involved. Plus, she’s afraid of her step-father. If he found out that she’s been talking to him, he could attack her or hurt her. Angel tells her that she can’t risk her life like this. She has to report him to the police. Claudia says she can’t, she can’t win. And her mother is blindly in love with him, she doesn’t believe her. Finally, she relents and rests her head on his shoulder. Angel tells her that he loves her promises to help her. Claudia admits she loves him too and she comments that he is so different from all the men she has ever known [like her step-dad and all his sex criminal friends.] She feels that he will protect her. BIG BESO. And it’s a OK one, no sucking face, although a little off kilter.

Back to poor Gabby. MGG is enraged and grabs her out of the can. When the guy with the dolly tries to intervene, MGG makes nasty guttural noises and waves a knife at him. Even if this guy is high he must think that this is not right. MGG runs away holding Gabby.

Next we find ourselves in General Ochoa’s office. Where Thelma is there, still dressed skankily in her sheer top and spangly necklace. She tells him she still doesn’t know where Emilio is but she wants to find Orlando. He came to see her the other day, she says innocently but she wasn’t there and she wanted to know what he had wanted. She’s looked for him at his apartment, etc. But she can’t find him. Ochoa tells her that Orlando has left for Sierra Escondida.


Finally, we’ve made it back to the hospital. Luba is talking to the lucha manager next to Gaspar’s hospital bed. Luba is frantic because she heard a woman mention her name. She’s still worried that this woman will tip off the police to her whereabouts and make her leave Gaspar’s side. The fight manager says maybe she’s mistaken about who she was referring to. As if there were any other “Luba” Luba points out. It’s not exactly a common name, apparently. The fight manager tells her to calm down. He’ll find out who those people on the other side of the screen are.

DL is in his jail cell remembering Soledad telling him that she doesn’t love him anymore. DL is awash in guilt telling himself that he gave Soledad plenty of reasons to hate him. “I was stupid, I hurt the woman who I loved the most. Why was I so blind?” Tears fall from his eyes. From the darkness, a guard announces that he has a visitor. “A visit at this hour?” asks DL. The guard lets him out and they walk down the hall.

Over to Gabby and the MGG. He throws her back in her cell. She tries to argue with him but MGG motions with his knife at his own neck like next time she tries to escape he will kill her.
At the jail, Mariana is talking to Alvaro. [Damn, I thought they would surprise us and have Alfonsina and Hugo standing there] He is holding her hands. [I thought that wasn’t allowed.] She tells him she is there only because SL asked her. DL remarks that that is the only good thing that SL has done. DL wants to know a few things. Mariana goes through the whole “Soledad was innocent” routine. But she confesses that she herself was a coward because she never had the guts to tell him that she was in love with Jose Gomez, and that they had had a child together. DL says that alas, none of that can be undone. He tells her that he never believed that the DNA test would prove him wrong. I have wronged my wife, and even more, my daughter. Mariana reaches out to comfort him.

Emilio and Frank are still tailing Rosendo and his gang. They are now on foot and see them go into an alley neighborhood. [OMG, it’s Starsky and Hutch! Look at those clothes and tell me they don’t scream 70s cop show!] Frank asks if he thinks Rosendo lives there. Emilio says they’ll find out. [Hey, I thought that Frank was supposed to be doing the spying?]

Back to the jail again. DL is still trying to figure out why Alfonsina would lie about the letter and the bracelet in Jose Gomez’ bed. Mariana tells him that Alfonsina confessed all her crimes to her, when she thought she would never speak again.

Back to Emilio and Frank. They see someone coming and they hide around the corner. It’s Angel and Claudia. Apparently he’s decided to head right for the flames by walking Claudia home to her jealous stepdad. Emilio sees Angel and is impactado or as much as Pablo Montero can muster. “What is my brother doing here?” he asks.

Mariana continues her blistering accusations of Alfonsina. "She knew perfectly well that the letter that Jose Gomez had written was for me." She goes on to explain that Alfonsina was always trying to wreck his marriage because “she was obsessed with you.” “She wasn’t content with being your lover.” She tried to kill me so that I wouldn’t talk. “That woman made a fool out of you.” What’s more , “she has some kind of box that has a dark secret of some kind. She’s going to try to blackmail you with. “ “You are in her power.” Don Loco curses Alfonsina’s name and swears he’ll kill her. Superslomo closeup of DL and scary music!!!

Advances for next time: DL swears revenge and cries some more, Elias presses his case to Soledad some more. Rodrigo and Emilio argue over Alina some more.

Labels: duelo

Wow I haven’t been this tense since I spent fifty minutes waiting for Tony Soprano to get whacked in the Sopranos finale…

Our episode starts out with Rod (who looks awfully fine in his sweater) and Gavi sharing tacos & besos in an eatery…I love you…no I love you more…we will live on our Island of love…I must work…you can sell coconuts…yadda yadda yadda…then once the whole family is on board we will settle at the hacienda & be happy forever…This land is your land…this land is my land…this land is our land! Every Saturday night we will go to the cantina and Wow, the locales with you singing Gaviota…I bet the locales can hardly wait. I hope Rod plans to buy plenty of rounds….
(Mean while somewhere in DF a dog howls and Pilar sits up…not fully alive, yet not fully dead..)
Okay I made the Pilar part up.
Seriously, if I was another patron in the house of fine Tacos, I would soooo know Rod was boinking his assistant, secretary, amante, whatever, cause this is TeleNovela land not the freakin Twilight Zone, it would never cross my mind that this guy was a repressed sixteen year old with his first love. Dude get a room.

Sofie is out in front of Rod & Isa’ s apartment…her SUV won’t start and after Frankie looks under the hood & pops off a battery cable…it really won’t start. Frankie offers to be Sofie’s taxi, which is kind of okay since he has been giving Isa some pretty good rides. Sofie tells him she is Rod’s sister and TWB’s sister-in-law & thus the keys to a possible fortune as well as all the Tequila you could ever drink.

Clarita & Dona Jose are sitting around the Gavi household eating and discussing Rod & Gavi’s amor…How someday they will all head to the hacienda..in Tequila. This prompts Dona Jose to question Gavi beinging the new La Patrona…Clarita worries, I’m not really sure why, I think it may having something to do with the locals accepting the Clarita family as the new Patrons. Well anyway, Clarita will be glad to get back.

Now Frankie & Sofie arrive outside the Palace of Pilar, where Sofie says she lives with Granny & her sister. Frankie is all flirty with her, swooping in like he is gonna kiss her neck etc…He will contact a mechanic and call her. When he asks to call her, she whips out a business card, ah Sofie…(I know she lost it to some guy named Wellington Wadsworth Wellington III, back in finishing school), Frankie continues to flirt and in payment for taking her home he asks Sofie for a little beso. She gives him a chaste kiss on his cheek; she is just so damn grateful for any attention that she is just short of peeing her pants and falling on the ground to get her stomach scratched, yes she has become my terrier. While standing on the sidewalk moonstruck, in her little chunky loafers, black hose, skirt and sweater, with her little satin navy blue tie up granny blouse….I am having a "Where the boys Are", flashback, oh Sofie dream on…you will get stuck but it won’t be with his Sigma pin.

Gavi gets back the house & tells Clarita, the plans are set…they are to take off for the Island of Love..and Rod will take care of getting all the stuff packed up, they are only to take their clothes. Clarita is all upset that they have to leave her awesome new Big Screen Television…but Gavi promises all will be taken care of, (somewhere in the distance you hear an anvil fall).

Isa is pacing in the living room wearing her little satin red robe, a great favorite of Aaron, Frankie and Hilario, however not so much with Rod. "What are you doing up?" he questions her…Well I called the office and no-one answered…They have the usual minor MariAnna Franco word scruffle and Rod blows her off and Isa is left to look perplexed and alone in the living room.

Next Day at Work & Rod is toiling Away

Next day, Rod tells the HR stoolie to draw up papers to cut MariAnna her final check, plus a little bonus…he tells stoolie guy to keep it on the quiet. Gavi comes in and Rod tells her the plans are in the works, she & Ma are to go to the isle, he will dump Isa over dinner & fill the family in tomorrow…(I am seeing a flaw here…he if dumps Isa tonite, gee the news tomorrow will be like an Uber surprise right, cause you know Sofie is on speed dial)

Anyway, he calls Elvira in and has her take a memo: Attention: "Hola Sr. and Srs. Mexico and all the ships at sea." Big family junta tomorrow and yeah, the topic is a surprise…
Isa/TWB is at home talking to her father, the news about Rod forgiving the debt, Pa urges her to get Rod to sign the papers and get them to the bank as soon as possible. Isa promises Pa she will talk to him tonight.

Primo Aaron comes in to the office to see, Primo Rod…the salutations, the hugs, geez this family is tight.
Rod tells him to cancel his trip to Miami, Aaron is none to happy about this. Rod says there is a meeting tomorrow and he needs Aaron to be there. As Aaron’s one eyebrow is going up you can see his Crapdar is going off and he is a bit, not a blatant full muy impacted, but a subtle muy impacted. What the hell are you thinking Aaron wonders. Rod won’t give Aaron any details. Rod pulls out the contracts and starts reading hem and Aaron’s eyebrow is now in full arch.

Now Gavi is in her office having one of her heart to hearts with the Virgincita, which is good for Gavi, but probably a bit much for the Virgincita…oh tonite Rod will give the news to Isadora, she will suffer…but our love is true. I bet the Holy Beings, just hate this kinda stuff, "yeah I know I’m kinda committing a sin, but if isn’t too much trouble will you bless it and I’ll never sin again?" Anyway, Gavi hopes Isa is spared too much suffering, Ahhhh little Gavi, I think Isa will be able to find something to distract her.

Aaron comes outta Rod’s office and asks Elvira where Onate is, Elvira doesn’t not know, Aaron orders her to have Onate call Aaron at home.

Onate is busy at the Aeropuerto, totally creeping some poor counter attendent girl out. He wants the list from the 31st of Dec, as he is doing crazy ass Minerva’s detective work for her. The girl won’t give up the info.

Elvira, who I might add is wearing some scary "Oprah said don’t" blue eye shadow and she happens into the HR stoolie’s office, of course it takes about two nano seconds for her to scope out MariAnna Franco’s file open on the desk, with very little arm twisting she gets the info outta HR guy.

Aaron arrives back at his apartment and tells Minerva that the trip is cancelled and he has to go to a Rod meeting with the family the next day. Of course she thinks she is going and Aaron is like no way, my BSC bride. See I don’t understand why Aaron keeps crazy ass Minnie around, hell Michael Jackson spawned kids with less trouble and way less commitment. Words are spoken, ugly word and Minerva grabs up her little purse and leaves.

Rod calls Isa and invites her for dinner, "Me, seriously you want to break bread with me?", Isa is thrilled. "Yes, I want to talk to you". Isa is thrilled. (She has on seriously bedazzled jeans…glimmering crystals everywhere)

Knock Knock….Oh no it is crazy ass Minerva at the door; she starts in on MariAnna Franco, "the Husband Robber", please you are preaching to Isadora, the husband boinker…well Minnie spreads the venom, thick and green, Isa doesn’t want to hear it…Minnie is trying to convince her that Rod & MariAnna, were together…Isa is trying to fight it off, but like screaming fire in a crowded theatre the panic is spreading…this is increasing my panic too. OMG, Isa cries Rod is gonna abandon me….ahhhhhhhh.
Minnie tries to calm her down…nice after thought. Minnie calls Eliva looking for Onate who is still stalking the poor girl at the airport. Eliva tells Minnie that they are cashing MariAnna out…"Que the Hell?" our two besmirched wives query. Off they go.

Meanwhile over at "Gigolo Gardens", some guy named tossing Frankie around the hall…No it is not his pimp. Why it is Esteban, the real owner of the apartment and said automobile…Frankie convinces him that he was just watching over things while Esteban was gone.

Sofie and Dani are climbing some gigantic flight of steps that would rival the Aztec Pyramids, this is giving us a view of "The Club". You know the club, that place rich people go and they just call it the club, cause if you were one of them you’d know it and there is no need to waste syllables on the rest of us, the people who might wash the towels there. Dani is teasing Sofie about the new guy…Sofie giggles, she is quite smitten, she says he is handsome. Dani asks, "As handsome as James?" "No," Sofie says wistfully, "handsome in a different way". I rolled my eyes so hard at this, I had to tap my head to get them to drop back into place. I am totally Sofie running out to by the fun-pak of "Lety Glitter Pens", Dear Diary, Francisco with a heart dotting the i.

Videgaray comes by to tell Rod that he has purchased the land on the Island of Anvil, oooops I mean the Isle of Gaviota, 10% down and the rest later…Rod is soooooo excited. He packs up his little briefcase and stops off to tell his little Gaviota, it is smooth sailing from here on in, just gotta go dump Isa, send Pilar into life support, (well that won’t be much of a stretch). They hug, they kiss, they make me want to write bad checks…anyway if the blood wasn’t pounding so hard in their ears right now, you know they would hear it, you know the anvil sound…Rod takes off, leaving Gavi’s door partially open.

Gavi is sitting at her desk belting out the Gaviota Song; no she isn’t humming or doing that kinda whisper voice thing, no she is belting it out. Minnie & TWB are coming down the hall, if Gavi wasn’t crooning so loud, she wouldn’t have heard the squeal of TWB’s boots coming to a halt. WTF? This is a Super Terminal Case of Muy Impacted. TWB recognizes the voice…it is her, MariAnna is Gaviota. TWB is so taunt with outrage, that it is only an act of God that keeps one of those giant crystals from flying off those jeans and impaling Gaviota. "You are crazy," Minnie says, "It is a popular song, I hear it all the time."
I am laughing like yeah, strangely when you are sitting in your apartment or at Pilar’s that song always in the background, ya think?
***The song might be in Spanish, but all I am hearing is "I hear the train a comin´it´s rolling round the bend" Wile E. Rod, that Acme Train is coming thru the tunnel ***

Minnie, for once does the prudent thing and drags Isa off to the Meeting Room, they close the door. Minnie is trying to calm her down. MariAnna can’t possibly be Gaviota, Gaviota was some migrant worker who shoveled Agave, what was her name? Teresa Hernandez? Well see now…Isa is all shades of hysterical, everything must be falsified cause Isa knows that voice, good gawd she had to listen to that freaking cassette often enough. Good point Isa. They call HR stoolie and have him bring the MariAnna Franco file of deception.

Poor, poor Rod is busy telling Videgaray how awesome life is gonna be, not hearing the anvils over the sound of the traffic in Mexico City.

Minnie and Isa are grilling HR stoolie so hard, he is about to cry like a little girl…at every question, he thought bubbles….yes he remembers her stories about her European work and schooling and how she was gonna get him references and letters…In the midst of ripping him a new and unnecessary orifice…it comes to light that stoolie guy passed MariAnna through so quickly on the orders of Aaron. They boot stoolie out.

Minnie grabs the phone and in her best English, calls the numbers…nope nada, no one has ever heard of MariAnna.

Gavi is having a snack with her friend Margarita and telling her how grateful she is for all the help Margarita gave her, Margarita is like you make it sound like it is over….

Minnie and Isa are having it out in the meeting room, this almost turns into a "Girls Gone Wild" wrestling match…It is so loud Gavi & Margarita hear the noise. There was less screaming in Gone With the Wind as Atlanta burned. Elvira is banging at the door… Minnie says everything is fine…and locks the door, Isa is so one hard slap away for her own good….

Minnie calls Aaron and tells him that MariAnna is Gaviota….now Aaron is Muy Impacted….
& I don’t know about you, but I am muy Impacted…I so want a Isa/Gavi slap down.

Stay tuned….

It looks like the family is gonna have a Gavi-vention tomorrow and try and save Rod from himself…

Labels: Destilando

Well, I guess we're jumping right in today without reviewing the end of Friday. That was a bit disconcerting…I thought I'd missed something! Plus, things are moving fast today, so hang on to your ice cream or your tequila or what have you. Anyway….

Fernando comes into Lety's office and jokes with the señorita that he must have walked into the wrong office (aww, she looks so cute! That's going to take some getting used to.). Lety turns around and reassures him that she's "Hola! Leticia Padilla Soliz" in her best Lety voice. Fernando laughs that he knew that (and points at her with handfuls of yellow pencils).

Aldo's back. He tells Celso there's just something about the place that keeps bringing him back. Celso asks if Aldo is there to see Lety and tells Aldo he doesn't know how Lety looks today, "mmmmm". Aldo is confused and Celso says "of course, if you haven't seen her yet then how would you know how she looks." Ja, ja, ja. Celso says Aldo should go check her out and that he's going to be surprised. Aldo says he never understands Celso and walks through the gate as Sanson catches the belt to Aldo's jacket in his teeth. Sanson is obviously on Team Fernando.

Fernando is grinning like a loco at Lety. He tells her she looks pretty, or as Omar would say *growl*, she looks beautiful. Lety thanks him, but wonders if he had something to say to her "aparte de chulearme" (besides paying me flirty compliments) because he's embarrassing her. Before he can tell her, Aldo walks in and tells Lety she looks pretty. Lety wants to know if he really likes it, which he does. She comes around to the front of her desk as Fernando attempts to cough up a hairball. I think that might have been his secret signal to Aldo not to mention that he'd been to Acapulco, but Aldo doesn't get it. Aldo asks Fernando if he told Lety about it (Lety: Really, you went to Acapulco?). Aldo says Fernando explained what really happened with Aurora (Lety: Really, you did that?). Fernando excuses himself to go to the Bat Cave and Lety thanks him, but she looks like she's not sure whether she should. Aldo says "Now you look beautiful on the outside, but you're much more beautiful on the inside. Do you think you can forgive me, Leticia?" Lety says, "On the contrary, my love, forgive me." She says she's so happy he's there. Aldo says he can't wait any more and why don't they get married right away. Lety agrees that she wants to get married ASAP too. As they giggle and coo at each other, we see Fernando in the Bat Cave staring the stare of a man who has just discovered that his heart can, in fact, break into even tinier pieces than it already had. Pobre de Don Fernando!

The Moras: Alicia has brought her suitcase into Tomás' office. Doubtless it contains an industrial strength hairdryer which she can't live without. She's all broken up about leaving, but asks Tomás to take her suitcase down to the car (since she was so distraught that she brought it up there by mistake). Once he leaves, she uses Tomás' computer to transfer $1M to her Swiss account. And let that be a lesson to all of us about using good passwords…or about not marrying gold-diggers, whichever. Tomás comes back in just as she's hitting the last key she needs (having asked Celso to take the suitcase down for him) and he's brought tissues, as there will be many tears. Alicia takes a wad of tissues and they both exchange "I'll miss you"-s. Alicia is so broken up about it that she kisses him…voluntarily…on the lips…twice! She can't resist a last look back as she closes the door.

Fernando calls Lola and asks her to get an emergency board meeting together to pay Aldo the rest of the money they owe. After he gets off the phone he says he's got to finish this so Lety can leave with Aldo. Not that he wants her to go, just that the longer she's there, the more it hurts him to see her and the more he builds up false hopes. He wants her to go now and be happy.

Tomás comes into Lety's office hyperventilating and declares that he wants to die. Because Alicia is gone, you wonder? No, because the $1M is gone! (See, I told you we were moving fast today!) Lety gives a "Que the hell?" (actually she asks what Tomás is talking about, but I thought that might be a good time to throw in a "Que the hell" seeing as how I don't know how many Fea recaps I have left *sob*). Tomás says that the $1M JR gave them is gone (which isn't advancing the conversation much, but Tomás is in shock, so we'll overlook that). Lety starts twitching like she's never twitched before. She says "It can't be! Who did it?" Tomás says he doesn't know, but he's now got to cook the books to buy them time while they find out who did it. Lety says they're never going the lying route again, they've learned their lesson and they can't make that mistake again. "Then what do I do boss?" Tomás asks, but his only reply is more twitching on Lety's part.

Alicia is traveling tonight on a plane. I can see the red taillights heading for Switzerland. The guy at the counter will have her boarding pass printed up in a sec.

Tomás tells the assembled execs that he doesn't know how, but $1M has disappeared from Conceptos' account. Now there's a whole "Que the hell?" chorus, which is kind of like the Hallelujah Chorus, only not so much. Ariel says he has even worse news: since Tomás is the one ultimately responsible, he's going to jail. (Do not pass go, do not collect $1M.) Luigi thinks this must be a joke, but Tomás confirms that it's not a joke. The $1M from JR has disappeared from the account. (Check out Aldo and Fernando with their identical postures behind Tomás!). Luigi is mimisqui-ing. Ariel is glowering. He says he's very iluso (gullible) as he thought the debt was going to be wiped out today (and there go Aldo and Fernando again!). Tomás says he thought so too and was preparing a financial report, etc. Marcia wants Tomás to explain what happened with the money. Lety says that when Tomás went to transfer the money to Aldo's account, he found it was missing. Tomás says that he checked, and someone got into the account through the computer, used his password, and transferred $1M to a Swiss bank account. "But who?" asks Marcia, "Who would be capable of making that error? Tell me, who?" Please note, "error" is her word, not mine. Also, please note, Aldo and Fernando are doing water ballet behind Tomás almost every time we see them.

Alicia is traveling tonight on a plane. The guy at the counter is getting her a window seat as close to the front as possible. But wait! There seems to be a problem with her passport. It seems that Señora Ferreira de Mora did indeed have a bit of a demora (ha! I've been waiting to use that one too! demora = delay) in renewing her passport…as in, she should have renewed it five years ago! No way out of this one for blondie. She faints at the counter and is caught by the two guys waiting in line behind her.

It's massive freakage in the boardroom. Aldo gets everybody's attention and says they've all got to calm down until Tomás finds out who made that transfer. Ariel blames it all on Fernando, Lety, and the new "compinche" (buddy, accomplice; I'm not sure this is the most polite word, though, can anyone confirm?) Tomás. Fernando tells Ariel not to go making accusations without proof. Luigi says Tomás' hands are clean. Lety says Tomás is incapable of doing anything like that. Aldo and Fernando both vouch for Tomás. Fernando's dad reminds Ariel of how hard Fernando has worked in the last few months. Fernando's Bozo, digo, his mama chimes in as well. Papa says Fernando and his team have everybody's support. Ariel walks out without saying anything. Fernando goes to clasp his dad's hand while Luigi does a little silent cheer/dance in the back.

Looks like instead of Switzerland, Alicia has been taken to a clinic. She comes to with a doctor asking if she feels better. Alicia asks after her passport and says she has to leave. Then she really looks around and wonders where she is. The doctor says they brought her from the airport to this hospital. They've done all the tests and they know what's up. Ja, ja, ja, I bet I do too! The doctor congratulates Alicia for having a little Tomás in the oven and Alicia faints again. I don't know whether to laugh or feel incredibly sorry for poor little Tomás Pancracio.

As Marta talks to the gals about decorating her new house, a silver fox walks off the elevator. Wow, there's just all kinds of stuff happening tonight! The silver fox asks the assembled ladies where he can find Marcia Villaroel. Oh, I just caught sight of the elbow patches…I'll forgive him those if he turns out to be a Literature professor and he does it as an inside joke. They fall all over themselves telling him Marcia is in her office. The shoes, cameraman, show us the shoes! He introduces himself as Octavio Serrano. Sara asks why he wants to see Marcia (Sara! Don't you remember yesterday's email?!) and he says he owns a computer company and wants to offer her his products. Oh, is that what the kids are calling it these days? Everybody but Marta goes off to tell Marcia that Octavio is there to see her.

Meanwhile, Marcia gets an email. With all that's happening she's not in the mood for love notes. The gals all swarm in to tell Marcia there's a hottie out there waiting to see her. Marcia's like, duh, then tell him to come in. Juana tells the hermoso mozalbete (pretty young man) to come in. Octavio introduces himself and shakes Marcia's hand. Lola hustles the gals out of the room while Sara gives a really subtle thumbs up to Marcia. He drops his "I'm selling computers" pretext and asks her out. No answer is forthcoming before the commercial break.

Fernando and Lety are in Lety's office. Fernando is complaining to Lety that he's doomed to failure and the worst part is that they still owe Aldo money. Lety says that until this gets resolved, she has no choice but to postpone the wedding with Aldo. Oh, right, because of a little embezzlement, a likely story. Fernando says that's enough of that and he thinks she needs to think of herself first and forget Conceptos. He says she should get married according to plan. Lety says that's a relief because she only offered to postpone the wedding as a show of solidarity, but she really does want to marry Aldo ASAP. Funny, I'm not buying that either. Fernando says he wants her to marry Aldo ASAP too since he's stopped thinking he has any chance with Lety.

Marcia is telling the gals that she's torn between Octavio and her email lover. Okay, I have checked the recaps and confirmed that Marcia does know her email lover's name is Octavio. Apparently Marcia needs to check the recaps, as she has a very bad memory, as do the Cuartel. Juana votes for the hottie. Lola votes for the romantic. Sara votes for the "internet frog". Irma doesn't vote. Marcia is afraid of making the wrong choice. Irma says she should follow her heart, because the heart is never wrong.

Tomás is on the phone to Tomama talking about the missing $1M. He says he hasn't been able to get hold of his Chiquita to tell her about his tragedy. This apparently sets off Tomama, though we thankfully don't get to hear her side of the conversation. Just as he says this, Alicia comes in, sets down her bags, and closes the door without Tomás noticing. He tells Tomama "I've told you a thousand times, my Chiquita is marvelous, I need her." He thanks Tomama for calling, says he loves her, and hangs up. Tomás notices Alicia and is happy to see her, but then says he's devastated. Alicia says he's not the only one. Tomás says Conceptos' account was robbed. Alicia says, "really?" Tomás says, "yes, and we have no idea who it was," as he rests his head on Tomás Pancracio's future lunch. He swears he'll find out as Alicia cries and cries. He says it's good that she's there as she's his only consolation.

El Cheque has come to take the kids out for dinner. He uses the kids to convince Lola to go with them.

Lety and Aldo are walking by a fountain. I swear, it takes me a minute to figure out it's Lety in each of these scenes. She was wearing a black suit at work and now that she's out with Aldo, she's wearing a calf-length white sort of trench-y jacket, but with a little bit of quilting to it. She tells Aldo she talked to Fernando and he told her to forget Conceptos and to marry Aldo. Aldo says that's good, but what does Lety want to do? Lety says yes, she wants to marry Aldo. Aldo wants to know if she's, like, sure, like really sure, like really really really sure. Lety says, "let me think about it…yes, I'm completely sure." Aldo says, in that case, they should get married wherever, however, but now, because he loves her. Lety says she loves him too. Blech! Sorry, hairball.

Tomás lifts his head and tells Alicia not to cry, that he doesn't want her to be afflicted, he's going to fix it, he's got to fix it. Alicia goes off into the bedroom as Tomás keeps chanting "I'm going to fix it." Alicia hears the voices of the ticket agent saying her passport is expired and the doctor congratulating her on her pregnancy and cries herself a river. She says "pregnant" a few times and does this sort of smile/grimace so that I'm not sure if she's horrified or happy in spite of herself. She remembers Tomás saying she's his only consolation. Tomás comes into the bedroom apologizing for telling her about the theft just like that. Alicia says it's not that. Tomás wants to know if something went wrong with the treatment. Alicia says she needs to tell him that she's upset because of the theft and Tomás beats himself up some more for telling her since he should have known she would suffer knowing that he's having grave problems. Alicia agrees that the problems are the gravest. She tells him he's so good. We end on Alicia's sad little crying face.

No idea what we'll get tomorrow, but the announcer would like y'all to know that next Monday we'll be having a two-hour grand finale! Then again, you already knew that :)

Labels: fea

In the opening scene, Diego has Max at gunpoint and Max is telling him to go ahead and kill him. Diego cracks him in the mouth to shut him up.

Next we move to the only happy couple on the show - Rene and Yolanda, who are discussing their wedding plans. Since the Irazabals have been dethroned, they have no friends so it will only be family. Rene's family has just left for a 3 month vacation in Germany, so they won't be there for the nuptials. Larry arrives and asks if they've heard from Max, and Yolanda responds that she hasn't, but she's sure that he's at the fabrica.

Meanwhile, as usual, Diana is crying as she thinks about her impossible love for Max when Fedora interrupts to let her know that it would be best if she just forgot about him and let Fedora find a suitable man for her. If she doesn't, she will lose her position as president of the fabrica.

Back at Ignacio's place, Fiona is telling Eduardo that she would like to host a small party, but Eduardo has an important business dinner planned. He will have dinner with her on Saturday - this really puts Fiona into full fiera mode! She tells him that he forgets that he has a wife monday - friday, and maybe she should get herself a hottie on the side. Needless to say, this doesn't sit well with Eduardo.

Back to the torture of Max, where Max tells Diego that he better kill him because if he doesn't, he will kill Diego. Diego walks out and Max swears to himself that Diego will pay!

At the mansion, Fedora's telling Diana that she will be a simple employee if she doesn't give up her love for Max. Diana tells her that her love for Max was before her presidency at the fabrica. Fedora tells her that she will resume the presidency and the first thing she'll do is fire Max. Diana runs to her room to cry like a school girl, and Miguelina follows her to see why she's crying. Diana tells her the story, and Miguelina is sympathetic that Diana has so much love for the father of her child, but he's caused her so much pain already, and he's the son of Octavia. Diana says that's not his fault. She loves him and always will. blah blah blah. We've heard it all before.

Fiona the fiera is still screaming in Eduardo's face about how Eduardo forgets that he has a wife every day but Saturday. He tells her that they will discuss this later and walks out. Camila comes in and lets Fiona know that she knows that she has her sights set on Max. Fiona tells her to stay out of her business.

Silva is still at the beach wearing her blue mermaid getup when Rene calls her cell to tell her that he's worried about Paola because Octavia has her locked up at Paco's apartment and won't let her leave. Sylvia agrees to go see her the next day and she'll call him afterwards with an update.

Diego arrives at Lala's and Lala wants to know why he hasn't let Diego go yet. She tells him that he has to do it so that she doesn't have to report him and Pancho to the police. He lets her know that if he lets Max go, Max will kill him. Lala is impactada.

Gaby, Caramelo, and Sylvia are trying to comfort Diana, who's heartbroken over losing her job as president. Little does she know that the love of her life is being beaten and tortured by Diego! Caramelo is distracted and excuses herself. Diana is still babbling about her impossible love.

Eduardo summons Fiona into the living room to tell her that she better not repeat what she said earlier in the day. They're not in their home and they don't need to be putting on a show. Eduardo retires to the bedroom and Fiona calls Max and leaves him a desperate voicemail that she needs him.

Larry is still worried about Max, and calls Diana to see if she knows where he is. She tells him not to worry - she's sure that he's taking care of the employee who was hurt on the job. Larry tells her not to give up on Max, and she responds that she doesn't want to talk about it, and hangs up.

Rodrigo has arrived at the mansion to join Fedora and the rest of the inhabitants of the house for dinner. She looks a little overdressed for a family dinner in her glittery sundress and white bow around her neck. She tells Rodrigo that he should marry, as a man is not born to be alone. He responds that he's been waiting for the right woman to be by his side for always.

Caramelo managed to sneak off and call Lala for an update and learns that it's true - Diego and Pancho have kidnapped Max and Lala doesn't know what to do about it. Diego has told her that before the police catch him Max will be a dead man. She doesn't know how she will come to work in the mansion in the morning! Caramelo agrees to cover for her - she'll says that Lala is sick.

Little do they know that as they speak, Pancho is taunting Max, telling him that he's not going to release him because he knows that Max will kill him if he does. And it doesn't matter that Lala knows because Lala is his mom and she won't turn him in. Cut to commercial.

Back from commercial, Fedora is introducing Rodrigo to the odd group of people living at the mansion, including Dona Santa, who tells him that she's been looking for a husband for one of her dolls, and a lawyer would be perfect. Gaby tells them that Diana won't be joining them for dinner because she has a headache, and Fedora seems surprised to hear this.

Diego arrives to harrass Max, and Max tells him to let him go. Diego has a plan - he will let him go if Max agrees not to try to do anything to Diego, including calling the police. He's the owner of his destiny, he just needs to think about what he wants. Max is still hanging from the ceiling covered in blood as Diego turns and leaves.

At the fabrica, little doormat is serving Fedora her morning coffee as she mentions to her that taking the presidency from Diana might have been a little harsh. Fedora doesn't want to talk about it, and tells her that she will be firing Max today, so let her know when he's arrived.

Fiona pops into Emilio's office looking for Max wearing a skin tight top covered in cabbage roses with matching jeans - I haven't seen an outfit like this since 1989. Emilio is happy to see her and tells her that she's as beautiful as always. She tells him that her marriage is falling apart and she won't rest until she gets Maxi Maxi back. Diana is at the door and hears what she says. Commercial break.

When we return from the break, Sylvia is standing in Octavia's living room. O doesn't really want her there and tells her to keep the visit short. When O leaves the room Paola begs Sylvia to help her escape.

At the fabrica, Fiona is still talking about her plans for Max when Diana enters the room. Emilio is impactado, but recovers and introduces Diana as the president of the fabrica and Diana quickly adds that she's also the mother of Max's baby and offers her hand. Fiona refuses to take it, and tells her that she's heard about her from Octavia.

Paola is in luck - Sylvia has come prepared to save her. She's brought a huge candleholder that they can use to crack Octavia in the head, then they'll take the keys and leave! They call Octavia into the room and ask her to open the door for Sylvia. Octavia turns her back on Sylvia and Sylvia hits her and knocks her out instantly. They take the keys to Paco's car and sneak out while he's in the shower.

At the fabrica, Lala arrives and tells Caramelo that she needs to talk to Diana because she's the only one who can save Max.

Sylvia's driving Pancho's SUV. They're giggling and being silly when Sylvia crashes into another woman's car. It's a very slow motion crash, showing the other woman flailing around in her car and then we see shattered glass flying, but Paola and Sylvia appear unscathed.

Lala and Caramelo enter Diana's office to let her know that Diego is holding Max captive. Diana is speechless, como siempre.

Pan out to a vision of Max's bloody body hanging as he says Diana's name...

Back to Diana's office, Diana can't believe what Lala has told her. Lala begs her to talk to Diego, because it's preferable to love a man who's alive than a man who's dead. Caramelo tells her that she must do it. Diana gives her usual glassy eyed stare in response.

We return to Paco's apartment, where he's discovered that Octavia's been hit by Silvia so that she could leave with Paola.

Max is still hanging and thinking about Diana...

Diana goes to see Diego. She walks into the living room and tells him that Lala has told her everything and she's come to beg him not to hurt Max. He agrees, but says that first he's going to tell him a small lie - he's going to tell him that she was his woman! Diana is impactada.

Labels: acorralada

This is totally my bad for jumping the gun on the announcement... the La Fea Gran Finale will still be Monday the 25th, but it will only be TWO hours... starting at 8 ET. In other words, it's starting at the usual time and pre-empting Juan Q and Destilando. Sorry for the confusion...

(I know it's no big deal; your VCR/DVR will still grab it, but I just wanted to set the record straight since I blabbed that wrong thing over the weekend.)

Labels: fea

Labels: Zorro

Demento continues to torment Max, as Max hangs from the rafters.

Caramel doesn't know what to do. She saw Puncho kidnap Max, and believes Demento is the mastermind behind it all. If she says nothing, Maxi-Martyr's life could be in jeopardy. If she calls the police, her hubby and brother-in-law will rot in jail. Pobre de Caramel.

Demento is still tormenting Max. He blames Max for Dimwit not loving him. Demento has clearly gone crazy. Maxi-Martyr wants to settle it man to man and calls Demento a coward. Finally Demento takes the rope dog toy and starts lashing Max's back. "This is for crossing me!!!" Max writhes in agony. I'm ready for this story line to end.

Dimwit wants to know why Max didn't call her with a report on the injured worker.

Marfil is trying to get the Big Doormat to talk some sense into Max and convince Max to quit his job at Perfumes 'R Us. Marfil starts making some nasty comments about Dimwit, and Yolanda tells Marfil Dimwit is a good woman. Besides, Dimwit and Max share a kid. Marfil is furiosa, but Yolanda refuses to discuss it any further and walks away. Marfil calls her an infidel.

The two grannies are sitting on the sofa playing with Barbie dolls. Granny DS asks if Granny M is a hairdresser. Granny M says, "I've told you a thousand times, I was a seamstress." Granny DS laments her bad memory and Granny M mentions that Dimwit wants to hire an assistant to tend to her 24 hours a day. Granny DS hopes the assistant is as sweet and marvelous as Dimwit.

Jorge walks up to our blue mermaid, Sylvie, on the beach. There is some exchange in which she says all men on the planet are weak. Jorge says she's bitter because Puncho made a joke of her.

More of the torture. Max begs Demento to kill him but Demento wants Max to suffer the way he (Demento) has suffered. More words are exchanged about Dimwit. Finally Demento announces that Puncho will eventually finish him off. The only way Max is going to leave is feet first. Dramatic music and the camera pans back to show Maxi-Martyr hanging there suffering.

Fidiota shows up at Perfumes 'R Us to have a mother-daughter talk. Fidiota tells Dimwit that Rodrigo is going to assist with Little Doormat's defense. As always, the conversation turns to Maxi-Moron. Fidiota doesn't want him with Dimwit. Dimwit whines that she still loves him.

Marfil is poolside faux crying. Lunkhead, ever the brainiac, wants to know if it's about Max. "Of course it is! He's working side by side with THAT woman!" A boring conversation ensues; just because Dimwit is now a free woman doesn't mean Max is a free man. "He's MINE!!" declares Marfil.

Dimwit and Fidiota are still fighting about Max. Dimwit loves Max and Max loves Dimwit. Fidiota dredges up every evil thing Max has ever done in his life, not to mention the things his evil mother has done and his lunkhead brother. Dimwit isn't backing down. Finally Fidiota spews, "I see you prefer him to your own mother!!!"

Caramel approaches Lala completely agitated. After what seems like forever, she finally blurts out Max was kidnapped. . .by Puncho!!! Lala is muy impactada!

Mommy Dearest and Dimwit are still fighting about Maxi-Monotonous. Fidiota would rather see her own daughters dead than in the arms of an Irascible! Fidiota is rapidly joining the list of psycho, evil characters in my estimation.

Marfil and Larry are also fighting about Max. Lunkhead points out "he's just not that into you! Move on. Let it go." Marfil retorts she spent years sleeping in a bed, and she has absolutely no intention of EVER letting Max go. She and Max need to be together forever!

Lala and Caramel are trying to figure out what to do. Obviously calling the police isn't even on the radar. Lala finally tells Caramel to not say a word. Lala is going to talk to her two malditos hijos! Caramel asks God to help Lala. Suspenseful music plays.

Little Doormat comes into the president's office and sees Dimwit crying. "What's going on? Did something bad happen at Perfumes 'R Us?" "No," replies our hapless heroine. "I just had a fight with mama. She would rather see us dead than happy with an Irascible!" Dimwit states she's made a decision. She is going to fight for Maxi-Moron with or without Fidiota's approval. Little Doormat is awed by Dimwit's bravery. Commercial.

Sylvie is on the beach talking about some book she read. I'm not sure if she's given up on finding love or what (can anyone out there clarify?). At any rate, she fantasizes about a different man for each day of the week. Each man appears on a split screen with a strategically placed sign which reads the particular day of the week. We then get to see some of our "healthier" actors, some of which are supposed to be naked (except for the signs they are carrying). Iggy is shirtless with a pair of black trousers for Monday. Puncho is "naked" for Tuesday. A totally ripped Luscious is "naked" for Wednesday. Loved the washboard abs! He must spend hours at the gym. Jorge is "Thursday" and is supposedly naked and kneeling on one knee. Emili-Oh is "naked" on Friday, and on Saturday, Rene has on blue jeans and a black jacket with no shirt. His contract obviously states he must be dressed.*** As an aside, he used to be a model according to one website. *** When he lets out that little growl, I just went wild!" Sunday we're treated to Diablo with "nothing" on but a long black trench coat. Sylvie opines that Diablo is so bad, that she's not going to devote a full day to him. Therefore, we also see Kike "naked" on Sunday. Sylvie gets all hot and bothered and puts on her Paris Hilton over-sized sunglasses. I'm not sure what this scene has to do with anything. Perhaps it's a lure to keep women watching.

Lala comes home early from work and confronts Demento about Max's kidnapping. Of course he denies it. She finally says if they don't produce Max, she's going to contact the police and turn over her two ne'r-do-wells!

Now it's Puncho's turn to torture Max. He appears with a handgun. Maxi-Monotonous wants to know how Puncho can be so cruel. More words of torment. Finally Puncho tells Max to calm down; Max's death will be rapid when the time comes.

Eugenia and Isabel are hanging out when there's a knock on the door. Eugenia leaves and in walks a woman, hiding her face, swathed in black. Kind of like the grim reaper. It's Debora in a long red wig. Isabel wants to know what the heck she's doing in the house of Isabel's poor dead nephew. "Andres is dead?" asks Phantom Debora. Isabel explains that Andres was killed by Little Doormat, one of Fidiota's daughters. Debora wants to make a deal. She needs Isabel's help and will pay her more than enough to leave this rat hole.

Gaby is babbling on and on to Caramel about how Dimwit stood up to Fidiota. Caramel is clearly distracted. Finally Gaby asks what the heck is going on with Caramel. Caramel says she can empathize with Fidiota.

Granny M is talking to Fidiota about finding a caretaker for Granny DS. Fidiota doesn't really care, "Just hire the best one." Fidiota then pours herself a triple. In walks Dimwit and Fidiota asks Granny M to leave. Fidiota wants to talk to Dimwit alone. Once Granny M has left, Fidiota wants to continue their prior discussion. The Orchestra of Doom plays ominously.

Lala begs Demento to let Max go. At first Demento denies having any knowledge of the kidnapping, but he finally says Max deserves everything he gets after what happened with Dimwit.

Fidiota and Dimwit are still fighting about Max when the doorbell rings. By now Fidiota is on to another triple. It's Marfil. Now SHE wants to speak with Dimwit. Apparently Dimwit can't catch a break today.

Marfil begs Dimwit to give up Max; trying to lay a really heavy guilt trip on Dimwit. "If you're truly as good a person as everyone says you are, you'll give up Max." Tears for all! Head tilt and glassy-eyed stare from Dimwit.

Puncho is getting ready to dispatch Maxi-Monotonous. "It's a shame it had to end this way for you!" He puts the gun to Max's head and Max hangs on to his ropes looking pathetic. Suddenly we see Demento approaching from behind Puncho. Demento makes Puncho put down the gun. Max tells Demento, "I see you're not as much of a coward as I thought. You're going to kill me yourself!"

Lala is saying a prayer to the Virgin. "Please don't let my sons kill Max. Save him! Save him!" Still no one is calling the police. Doesn't this make Lala and Caramel accessories?"

Max is telling Demento to kill him, because if he doesn't the first chance he gets Max is going to kill Demento. "Kill me!!! Kill me!!!" Max's lower lip is now quivering. Demento says, "If that's what you want…" Demento then puts the gun on Max's forehead and holds it there for five minutes until…

Credits roll.

Labels: acorralada

(My apologies for how long this took. There was some computer glitch that literally kept it from showing up on screen although it was up for hours. -ed.)

It's New Year's Day. Gavi relays Rod's message that he's looking to get married as soon as everything can be arranged. Clarita looks a bit sternly at Gavi, and says she doesn't want to bust her balloon, but "Just when is this supposed to happen?" and the $64,000 question, "What do you expect to do if his wife up and refuses to give him that divorce?" (Aw, Clarita, what a wet blanky of a sensible mother you are! --It's painfully obviously now, this relationship is gonna be one long hoopty car ride from here on out for our happy couple: bump along and screech. Go. Screetch. Go. Screetch. Heck! Let's just burn rubber and scram owta here already!)

Videgaray assures Rod that he can annul his marriage to Isa, who (speak of the Devil and who should appear?) just happens to arrive home at that exact moment. (RUh-roh! Bus-ted!! Or maybe not. Heart in throat time.) Hearing the end of their discussion her little blond antennae pick up and she says, "What do you need to ask me? " Rod's heart skips a beat or three, but he smoothly ignores her by offering to walk the old legal eagle to the door.(Compose yourself, Rod. Breathe deep. Paste on that brilliant smile and turn around.)

Not to be denied, Isa asks again about their discussion. Rod answers that they were dealing with matters concerning the hacienda and by the way, Videgaray's handling the fiscal year's year-end financial matters, including her daddy's debt. Isa says sweetly that she knows her daddy is behind on the payments, but as soon as he can he'll catch them up. (What a quick save, Burly Bear. Who'd a thunk you had it in ya?)

Rod smiles and in a moment of benificence, guilty conscience, or perhaps as a means in hopes of smoothing the way for their divorce, he tells her he's cancelling her father's debt (and thus, any reason to feel morally chained to this mock marriage. -- Ok, Ice. If you're worthy of even a bit of our respect at this point, I hope this little morsel of reality sinks into that overly peroxided noggin of yours.) Isa is elated. She thanks him and gives him her parents' holiday felicitations. (What? She's not gonna give him another one of those clingy, greasy kissee-things on his cheek? Guess not.)

Rod nervously mentions he's going out with his sisters and Pilar to place flowers near his parents' burial vault at the church. Isa sweetly begs off claiming that this should be a private moment with his family. Relieved, he agrees. Confrontation satisfactorily avoided. When he leaves, she calls to make her pappy happy by giving him this belated X-mas present.

At the kitchen table Gavi and Clarita are continuing their discussion. "If Rod says it'll be easy, then there's got to be a reason, Ma." The phone rings. On the way to the family memorial, Rod, smiling from ear to ear, has called up Gavi. "Hi!" he says. "Have you changed much? I haven't seen you since last year!" "--Yes I have!" she answers. " I love you even more!" (Feelin' it yet, guys? Ain't it wunnerful?)

Rod called from the car to let Gavi know that Videgaray came by to discuss the divorce and is starting the paperwork. He also wants to come by there or to take her and Clarita out to eat to discuss more of the details; but Gavi reminds him that they agreed to see each other only at work to avoid any suspicions. He asks her then how is he going to ask Clara for her hand if he cannot come by and see the two of them. (Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Whoopee!)

Gavi excitedly whispers this bit to Clarita who is beside herself with joy. To Rod: "--But, hey! So how can you ask her for my hand if your not already divorced?" Rod says it's like he thought: he can get the civil annulment right away. They can marry civil and then petition for a religious annulment so that she can be properly married in the Church. Gavi relays this message to her mother and Clarita jumps for joy. (Go, Ma! I'm right there with ya' on this one!)

At the mausoleum, Rod converses mentally with his father and tells him that he's changing his life around but not to think he will be leaving his sisters or grandmother unprotected.

Back at Aaron's place, our she-pup of Cerebus asks her "belov-ed" where and why he's headed out that morning. He lies and says he has an association meeting and NO, she cannot attend this one!! Min, who by now really is getting on everybody's last nerve, has a list of airlines sitting out. "What's this?" he asks her. La-Muy-Enerva (Madam Exasperating) explains she is trying to see if Rod really did fly back on the last flight out of Veracruz. This damned she-male is now like a bitch with its bone; and Aaron, aggravated as hell, tells her that the entire family will think she's nuts if she keeps this up. (What do you mean will?)

Aaron pokes his finger and pecks with it at her forehead. "My cousin and Mariana did.not.spend.time.to.ge.ther!!" "Hah!--I'm going to prove you are all WRONG!!" "Ay! Do whatever the heck you want, then! Just don't wreck your day thinking I'm with another woman." (I don't worry anymore about celestial payback for Aaron's misdeeds. He's obviously married to it. Living with Minnie, Aaron suffers his divine punishment daily like one of Dante's infernal damned.)

Turns out Aaron is headed for his nooner with Pamela, to whom he has so generously and graciously offered the honor of becoming wife #2, IF and only IF, she gives him a son. During their bubble bath (Excuse me, this is sexy? I couldn't tell if the tub was heart-shaped ala "That 70's Show" or not.) Pam tells him how respectfully the Miami servants treat her: like his wife and they even address her as Sra. Montalvo. (Ah, whadda they know?)

Pam asks what Minnie will do once she finds out they're living together. Aaron answers, like he cares. Then she asks if there is anyone Minnie hates as much as her. Aaron says yes, and it's turned into a stubborn obsession for her, but better for them because it now allows them to enjoy their relationship worry-free.

At the hacienda Sayinyawanna? is still giving Hilario the cold shoulder. He tries to apologize, but it's useless. S.J. tells him to forget it and adds that oh, by the way, he's crazy if he thinks Sra. Isadora will ever take a penniless dirt farmer like him seriously. (Another well-deserved knee to the groin come-back delivered by our Miss Loose-and-Lazy!!) Hilario stands there with one of his endearingly doofus, confounded-but-guilty-as-charged, expressions on his face, simulating what passes for being in thought.

Back in her hotel room, Pammy imagines Aaron on the television screen telling her again he'll marry her if she would only give him the gift of a baby boy. Sadly she says, "Ah, Bichi! This is not going to be possible."

Gavi is singing her favorite song while getting ready for work the next morning. Clarita calls her a regular little [songbird] these days. "You haven't sung like this for a long time!" Gavi is in love and feeling every lovely minute of it. Clarita gives her a blessing and warns her to behave sensibly at the office, because one cannot pretend about love nor money. (That anvil is being raised ever so slowly above Wiley Coyote.)

Aaron tells Minnie he's going to be traveling by himself for a while on business to a number of cities up in the U.S. She's worried about the house in Miami being left untended to. He says the servants are very efficient. She has another minute of self-doubt and asks him (Wham! "Before you go-go!") if he loves her. His smarmy answer is, "Of course, and with all my heart!" and then he exits, stage right.

Gavi arrives at the office all excited. Another beautiful bouquet arrives anonymously (from Rod) while she's greeting Margarita. They exchange hugs and she heads up to his office where Margarita has said he's been waiting for her.

Gavi enters and Rod cannot contain himself. He is full of smiles as Gavi shuts the door. (EY's smile is to die for and a shout-out to the cameraman for capturing this bit of Heaven's natural beauty on film so perfectly.) Rod is the "essence of love" in male form if ever there was. In fact, they are both positively beaming. It's effervescent and seeps out and through every inch of him. Gavi cannot help but be enveloped by it. (What can I say? These few scenes are damned good! The sponsors got their money's worth.)

Rod teases then begs her for kisses but she manages to refuse for a bit. She tries to calm him down and begs him to behave himself since they could be caught. Just as she gives in and he bends close to her ear to go in for the smooch, Wicked Witch of the East flies in on her broomstick as once again Elvira has ever-so-rudely barged in to his office without knocking!

Ruh-roh!! Bust-ed!! --And for real, this time. It is definitely the cat caught with the canary. Elvira is as embarrassed as they are and looks at the floor a few seconds. (I half expected Rod to raise holy hell with her at this point, but nooooo!) Rod tries awkwardly to cover up his actions by switching to business talk with Mariana, but Elvira definitely suspects nooky; she says nothing. She relays her message about the tasting school candidates arriving tomorrow in Tequila and exits. (That was sooooo not a smooth move, Rodster. -- I gotta figure he's so close to netting goal he just doesn't give a flip any longer. So, the anvil is winched up a bit higher still.)

Gavi warns him again to behave since they were nearly caught. (Naw, they were caught. Definitely close enough for horse shoes here.) Rod says he's beyond caring what anyone thinks because he really needs her and loves her so much now. He finally gets his kiss and as Gavi/Mariana leaves his office she's singing her special song under her breath. Elvira looks at Mariana like she's lost her mind, but Mariana blows her off and tells her, "Smile, Elvirita." (The pulley on that anvil keeps turning. Higher and higher it goes.)

Isa pays a visit to Daddy Ricardo. She has obviously misinterpreted Rod's gesture, 'cuz she tells her daddy that Rod's discharging the debt must mean that he intends to strengthen their marital relationship. So Ricardo advises her to get pregnant to insure her marriage is set in stone, but not by artificially inseminating herself. He encourages her to do it the old fashioned way and to use her wiles. (Gees, I never had father-daughter chats like that.) "Princesa" reminds him that it won't be easy since Rod always rejects her advances. Daddy says he has faith in her, and they both know she always gets what she wants once she sets her mind to it.

Meanwhile, back at Montalvo Corp, Rod runs into Gavi's office to tell her that Videgaray just called. He found them some property on their island and it's now just a matter of signing the papers. Also, he's suggested to the old guy that Mariana be named Assistant Director of the Corporation. Vid says that a woman could be named in that way, though it might be turned down. They are not sure who will take over the reins of the business afterward, but Rod is beyond caring. "Let Aaron or Bruno figure it out." He assures her that very shortly they will be free to express their love publicly, since the only reason that a separation would be complicated would be if he and Isa had children...... (Damn, I want to cover my eyes so badly about now.)

Dani smooths things over with Grammy P. She's come back to live with them and will abide by the House rules. Just please return the favor and treat Elvis with some respect when he visits her there, she asks. When Dani leaves for her rehearsals, Grammy wonders how she can be tolerant when she feels exactly the opposite. Sofia suggests to Pilar that they conceal their disgust of Elvis just as long as it takes for Dani to eventually get bored with him.

Gavi comes in with more book work. Rod wants her to join him for a couple of days at the hacienda, but she refuses point blank. She has been gone a couple of years now and has no intention of returning, especially with all the details she's got to clear up for Corporate. She tells Rod they can be done with the most immediate business needs within a couple of days, if they work overtime. He's excited to hear that they could be on their way by the day after tomorrow. He wants her to get them plane tickets right away.

Gavi is caught by the quick timing of it all. Rod wonders if Clarita is willing to join them and Gavi says it will be difficult for her to leave her volunteer work at the hospital, but she's definitely coming with them.

While all this is taking place at Montalvo Corporate Offices, Isa gets an unexpected and unwanted visit from Frankie Gigilo. Isa icily tells him not to darken her door again. She's married and wants to keep it that way. In fact, he doesn't have to even worry about repaying her for their fun times together. Not one to take no for an answer, Frankie successfully seduces her again, and drags Isa back over to his place for a little afternoon delight in, and out of, the jacuzzi. (Damn, ever notice that woman never really needs much persuadin'?)

Gavi discusses needing to finalize her severance package in order to pay off her remaining debts. She adamantly refuses to allow Rod to pay them for her. She tells him she also will want to continue working because she cannot live in idle luxury. He tells her fine. "One last thing," says Gavi. "When do you plan to speak to Isadora?" He says the following night he'll tell Isa about the divorce, but obviously not that it's because of wanting to be with Gavi/Mariana; then he'll tell the family once everything else is completed.

"She is going to be so hurt by all of this," Gavi says. (Wasted sentiment.) He agrees, and neither of them wants to hurt Isa, nor to enjoy themselves at Isa's expense. Rod says he feels just as badly as Gavi does about it. "Life, though, is like that. If we are ever to live our lives out in the open we have to be ready to give up everything and everyone." (Yeah, Isa is really feeling some pain about now. Not!)

Lacing their fingers together, Rod and Gavi take a pledge that whatever happens, God might give them the strength to cross through whatever obstacles necessary to keep from ever being separated from each other again. Just then Elvira barges in a second time. (Is senility setting in or what?) This time Rod does put her in her place and she apologizes, saying it will not happen again. (Yeah, and I have a bridge for sale in Brooklyn.) Elvira tells him a James O'Brian has called a number of times to discuss the new school of tasting trainees.

Gavi/ Mariana exits from Rod's office and Oñate unctuously greets her. When Gavi is gone he strides over to Elvira and asks whether Videgaray had come around. Elvira says she hasn't the foggiest, but he did call. "What about?" She doesn't know. He suggests that next time she might (skin crawl alert) literally "put her pretty little ear to the door" and find out for him, since he presents a danger to the company.

Rod talks with James to let him know the students for his tasting school will be arriving the next day. They kid around a bit about Rod and "La Gaviota" getting back together again. James wants all the dirt, but Rod laughs and puts him off a while, telling him "all in good time." "--And James, don't ever refer to her by that name again. She doesn't think anyone is aware of her true identity."

Minnie gets shut out and shut down by the airlines, so she decides to enlist Oily Oñate to get the skinny for her. She comes by the corporate offices to speak privately with him since she knows Aaron is out for the afternoon. She explains her suspicions about Rod and asks him for the list of passengers from Veracruz the night of the 31st of December as well as those from Manzanillo. She demands and he promises total discretion --not even her husband can know. "Lawyer's honor, he-heh". (Ri-i-i-ght. Ok. Do any of you feel awkward admitting one of your relatives is a lawer right now? I know I do. Sorry, Bro'.) Minnie says she'd prefer it was on a Bible, but hey..... (In a perfect world, right?)

Rod's plan is to work late with Mariana to clean up whatever is pending with the company and to use Elvira as their "chaperon". He informs Elvira that they all will be working until rather late in the evening.

As Minnie is leaving Oñate's office, Rod bumps into her in the hallway. He goes into Mariana's office to let her know Minnie's been there and that he is suspicious of Minerva's true motives. This does not sit well with him, particularly since they're trying to finalize all their personal plans. They wonder what business she could possibly have with the man. So, Gavi suggests he work that night at home to keep Isa from suspecting anything. He says no, he's certain that Elvira will call his wife and assure her that they're all legitimately working late there. He wants more kisses and swears that for every kiss she's been refusing him she'll have to pay them back with interest, 300% worth!! Not a problem for Gavi.

At the same time, Elvira pulls Minnie aside to tell her how she caught Mariana and Sr. Rodrigo "very chummy" in his office earlier. She is certain that Mariana was even going to kiss Sr. Montalvo! (--You know, life must have been a real treat for Elvira's defunct husband. Ever wonder why he died so early??? I bet he was more than ready for that sweet chariot to swing a bit lower just so's he could be carried home that much sooner.) Minnie says not to worry; she's about to get exactly what she needs to expose the two of them, and particularly Mariana, in front of the whole Montalvo family. (Pulley ropes keep squeeking. The anvil is rising higher and higher.)

Aaron meets with his lawyer and tells him he wants his divorce to go through ASAP! His wife has become an anchor around his neck. His lawyer has arranged the documents to be sent to her at the house in Miami. If she refuses to respond, then after the third notice by the courts she will be automatically divorced by default and considered in contempt of court. The sooner the better says Aaron!! (Trust me, Aaron. It's not soon enough for any of us, either!!)

Isa heads back from Frankie's apartment and he runs after her. She tells him they ought to have ended their little romance back in Alcapulco. She is not going to risk her marriage and that is that. It is over for good. Don't come looking for her ever again, period. Frankie wants her to swear she doesn't ever want to see him again. Coldly, dare I say, icily, she looks him straight in the eyes and says, "I swear it."

At the office, Rod and Gavi are talking via their phones. She's worried that he didn't leave a message and Isa will come by to complain to them; if so, she won't be able to withstand the pressure. She hates thinking of herself as a home wrecker, literally, "a husband-robbing female". "No, my love. You aren't stealing anything. I was never anyone's but yours." (Aw! Just feel the love, guys. This is the real thing, I'd say. But I still hear that pulley rope squealing in the background.)

Later that evening Oñate calls Minnie from an untraceable public phone, with the passenger information she wanted, and says she was correct. Rod was not on the list of passengers who flew out of Veracruz that night. However, he won't have the Manzanillo list till sometime tomorrow. She hangs up and Aaron wants to know who it was. "Like you should be the one asking me? Don't even bother!" She struts her stuff and walks off.

Belisario, the concierge, mentions to Frankie that his friend got back from his trip and was upset because Frankie's still living in the apartment. Isa meets her daddy for supper and is out when Sofia comes by the reception desk to have the concierge call up to her apartment. Frankie approaches her as she's leaving and re-introduces himself. She remembers him from the phone call in the apartment and he turns on the charm spiggot. Sofia smiles to herself ("Hot-damn!") as she leaves the building. She gets back into her SUV but the engine won't start.

Daddy Ricardo tells Isa how pleased he was with the news that her husband had cancelled the debt. He tells her that he has grand ideas to improve the textile factory now. Since the debt has been erased and forgiven, he can do exactly that, but only with another infusion of capital. So he has gone back to the bank to get another loan. Daddy wants her to persuade Rod to co-sign his loan and back it for him. "It's only a signature, not cash."

Isa is vexed by this request and says it will not be an easy thing for her to ask again, particularly so soon after the other. She is really feeling uncomfortable. (Does anybody else see the similarities here between Frankie and Father with their manipulative machinations? They say a woman always goes for a man like her daddy. Hmmm.) Ricardo says that's silly and of course Rod will help her out. She'll see. He'll send her the papers tomorrow.

Sofia's SUV won't start and Frankie drives out just then in what is apparently his buddy's hot red Alfa-male Romeo. He stops to give his newest damsel to be dis-dressed some help.

It's late and Elvira snidely asks Mariana what she is trying to prove by working so late with them both that night. "Elvira, don't start, ok? Lots needs to get done." Elvira leaves. A bit later, Rod and Gavi finally finish their work. As it's getting late and they're hungry, they decide to go out for dinner together and to finish the rest of it early the next morning.

Meanwhile, Isa returns home from dinner with Daddy and decides to check on Rod with a call to his office. Of course he's just left so he doesn't answer his phone. She immediately suspects he's lied to her about working late.

At the restaurant Rod tells Gavi that once they're married he wants them to return to live in Tequila at the hacienda. Agave farming and Tequila is their life and the land is their essence, their entirety. He tells her how he thinks about her running to him through rows of planted mescal. She envisions them riding together on horseback as the sun sets.....

Labels: Destilando