Caray, Caray!

Dear Readers: Mil disculpas in advance because I’m giving you a slightly irregular recap tonight. I’m going out on travel for the next two weeks, half for business and half family visit. I’ll be reading, though, so I can keep up. Cheryl NM will be your sub, so thank in advance, Cheryl!

Poor Delirio, he don’t get no respect. No respect at all. He’s still in that elevator with Pastor and Ivonne behind him, and Pastor is commenting on how he’ll have to tell her more later because of the undesirables on the elevators. What’s more, it’s smelling pretty bad in this elevator, so he’ll have to get a memo sent out about bathing daily to all the staff, though he knows how much work it is for some of them. Delirio alternately rolls and closes his eyes and does his level best to ignore while Ivonne tries hard not to bust out laughing. Oops, too late. She’s busting out. The bell rings and she leaves, then Pastor shoves Delirio aside with a snide comment and leaves.

CL is at his slick best as he tells Paula she’s hallucinating. She’s the one who told him to quit pressuring him, poor schlep that he is. But, since when has he paid any attention to what she’s told him? He asks her permission to tell her she’s insufferable. [You don’t need hers, CL—you have ours.] They just need to stop talking, he thinks. They fuss a while, and then she escalates to screeching. Our suave CL keeps his cool. [He’s a pro, Paula, why are you working so hard at this?] He tells her she’s upset, and saying things he doesn’t like. Well, she’s saved the best for last. It’s best if they break up, forever. CL sighs, hangs his head mournfully, and generally gives an Emmy-worthy performance. That’s best, he thinks. They’ll do it her way. It’s pretty clear she can’t handle this situation. [Not his fault, por supuesto.] So, she’s right, they have to take radical measures. They agree it’s best for everyone and bid each other goodbye. CL turns toward the door and turns back (sort of like Columbo, the funky detective who always has one more innocuous question that trips up the killer later). He’s hoping this won’t affect the work. He wouldn’t, for example, like to find her fourth letter of resignation on his desk tomorrow. No, this ain’t gonna happen, she assures him with a pasted-on smile. Good. He leaves, and Paula picks up her desk blotter and throws it around a little, muttering about CL. He stands outside and throws a kiss to heaven, congratulating himself on this coup. Paula realizes she could have made a strategic error. [Ya think?]

Yadi is sitting in the living room, enjoying the day like any stay-at-home leech. She answers the phone and Gutis asks who he’s speaking with. Yadi wants to know who he wanted. He realizes it’s his quarry and says her name. He stammers and stutters and tells her it’s him. Bored, she asks how it’s going. It’s bad and it doesn’t please him a bit. She tells him Perafán is at the office. He wants to talk to her, though, because he’s heard she’s getting married. He wants to know if it’s true or not because he thinks that cockroach Perafán invented it. Gutis figured her for a decent girl who wouldn’t have to get married. She fusses at him and tells him not to bother her. He just still hopes he can convince her not to make a mistake. Yadi is incensed and hangs up. Wow, what timing, Mami’s getting home! Yadi is thrilled to see her. Nidia is not her usual bouncy self. Yadi wants to know if she gave out all the invites to the wedding, how’d it go? Nidia tells her “more or less.” Yadi knows something’s up here. The phone rings, and Nidia wants to know why she’s not answering. Yadi says she knows who it is, and asks her Mamá guess who it is. Nidia’s not for guessing games; she has a headache. What’s more, if it’s for her, she’s gone. The phone keeps ringing and Nidia goes upstairs, with Yadi trying to get her to talk. Later! Yadi is puzzled and the phone rings on….

Nidia sits down on the side of the bed, looking like she’s seen a ghost. [Well, she actually has. The ghost of Christmas Past, who may have left her a gift?] She remembers bumping into Angarita and looks like she’s close to tears.

Juan and Fern are discussing the bar for Kike’s wedding. It’s a special day, and Kike should have the best, Juan tells Fern. Nope, Fern tells him, half beer and half tequila. He’s adamant. Juan accuses him of being a skinflint (codo-stingy, from Sylvia’s list today), and Fern reminds Juan that Fern always ends up paying. Suddenly there’s CL, bright-eyed and busy-tailed, greeting Juan warmly. Juan is puzzled. He greets CL, and asks how’s it going. Never better, CL tells him with a wide smile. CL goes off and the smile turns to a disgusted scowl; Juan is just perplexed. He thought bubbles about the conversation, which doesn’t please him the least bit. Something’s fishy.

Kike runs up and asks how it’s going. They have to go to night school. Juan points out he has to wait for the Licenciada, what can he do if she hasn’t come down? Kike thinks Juan should ask her, otherwise he’ll have to go alone. Juan tells him to calm down and goes to ask.

Yadi is still sitting in the living room, waiting for whatever, when Marely gets home from work. She tells Marely she’s been waiting for her. Marely wants to know why. Yadi asks about Mami’s visit to the office; she came home muy strange and is now closed up in her room. Marely tells her about the guy Mami saw, and how Mami said she owes the guy money. Mami lost all her color when she saw him! Yadi isn’t buying it since they seem to have plenty from Papi’s inheritance. Marely thinks it could be, and explains that she thinks they’re living on Juan’s, hers and Delirio’s salaries. Now it’s all catching up with Nidia. Who knows who she got mixed up with and now has to pay the consequences, Marely tells Yadi. This guy came looking for her at the office. [Marely, honey, for a smart girl you aren’t thinking clearly on this.] Yadi doesn’t think this is it. She has a gut feeling (intuition) about it. She can’t say why, but it’s not a money problem; it’s just a hunch (corozonada) that Yadi has.

Juan bounds off the elevator, thought bubbling about how he needs to get to school on time. But, he’s about to be surprised. Paula looks disgusted to see him. Juan excuses the interruption but he wants to know how long she’ll be. He has class. She tells him to go to class, and she’ll take a taxi. He won’t hear it. He babbles on and she cuts him off and starts to screech. She tells him again to go to class. She wants to be calm, and be left alone. She especially doesn’t want to talk to him. He thought bubbles to himself about this turn of events, and tells her excuse me, but there’s no need talk to me like this. She yells at him, he’s just trying….she yells yet again and cuts him off. They fuss back and forth; she accuses him of playing the victim and he retorts that she can just stay with her venom and bitterness. She throws him out but tells him he has to stay until it suits her to come down to the garage and go home. He squares his jaw and tells her he’ll wait. Paula shakes her head as he leaves, like she’s not sure what she just did.

Juan goes back to the basement, where Kike waits nervously. Kike tells Juan let’s go, but Juan informs him that he can’t go until his boss decides to get her sorry okole down there to go. Juan is yelling up the stairs and Kike shushes him. Juan is not deterred and fusses about that woman. She’s just too high to deal with a lowly chauffeur. Kike reminds him they are friends. Juan says they WERE friends. He was necessary while she could use him, but when that’s done, there’s a dagger in the back. Kike tries to calm him and get Juan to explain what happened. Juan tells him nothing, except the Licenciada just made him remember the law of life, that she behaved like any big boss would with an overconfident (confianzudo) lowly chauffeur like him. The only person who lost his place was Juan. Kike looks mystified by this turn of events. Juan swallows hard. Real mean don’t cry.

Paula is still at work, and it’s dark outside. She’s talking to a doc on the phone, and finalizes an appointment for a consultation. Paula no sooner hangs up than her phone rings; it’s Ana, worried about her baby girl. Paula just says she’s awfully busy. Why? Ana wants to know if she should wait dinner for Paula. She says Paula should calm down, and Paula agrees; she’ll come home and they’ll talk. Ana’s happy.

Juan is still pacing the garage and stewing about the treatment Paula gave him, thought bubbling and scowling. Here he is, all overheated like a penguin in Acapulco. He’s confused and VERY angry. Could it be he’s lost all the ground he’s worked so hard to gain? Or, could he have miscalculated the real distance between him and her? What to do, what to do? Go into reverse? Nope. He’s not going to lost his dignity. Paula interrupts his reverie, polite for a refreshing change. She thought he’d gone to school. What? Didn’t she tell him to wait? But what about his class? He tells her that’s his problem (asunto mío, my business). They exchange chitchat, and Paula offers an apology. He tells her she doesn’t need to give explanations (and calls her Señorita). She’s frustrated and he thought bubbles about what she’s trying to do. It clearly won’t fly with him.

Kike is doing his level best to get Juan off the hook with the maestra, give him one more chance. She’s says Juan’s done well enough at times, but he’s not consistent. He didn’t leave her much latitude, though. Kike whines and begs prettily. [Does Juan have ANY idea how much he owes Kike? Probably not.] Okay, the maestra will listen to Juan, but no promises. Kike beams like a niño.

Juan lets Paula off at her home, going around the car and opening her door with military precision but no eye contact. She thanks him, and he tells her he’s at her orders. She’s going to take her own car in the morning, no need for him to come by for her. Whatever she’s arranged. She awkwardly tells him goodbye. He stands like a statue.

Later, at Ana’s and Paula’s dining room table, Paula tells Mami about her frustrations. In summary, she doesn’t understand men. [You could have asked any of us, we would have told you that around July 1]. Ana notes that she realizes this is the story of her life. But, has Paula ended everything with CL? Paula assures her mother she has. Period. Ana expresses her sorrow and Paula yells at her not to lie. They talk about Paula getting her calm back. [Just a thought: Paula’s usual “calm” has me convinced she took acting classes with Emilioooo. I’m just saying.] Paula hopes so because she doesn’t like the carousel of emotions. [Probably because you tend not to have any. Ever. Of course, emotions would give you frown lines.] Ana asks what about Juan. Paula sighs. It’s such a complicated topic. She tells Ana they had a little fight.

Kike tells Juan that finally, the teacher said she’ll listen to Juan. Judging by her tone of voice, she really wants to bounce you out (dar cuello-eliminate). Juan, who has always gotten by with his delightful looks and charming personality, is muy impactado.

Nidia is lying on her bed, breathing deeply as Yadi comes in to find her. Yadi strikes her pose with crossed arms and all, and wants to know who she ran into at Farell. Oh, you talked with your sister? Yup. She tells Mami that Marely related a strange story about Nidia running into someone she owed money to. It’s the truth, Nidia tells her. Yadi isn’t buying it. It may work for her clueless (pasmada - bewildered, astonished) sister, but not for Yadi. Nidia retorts and tries to divert Yadi’s attention—it’s all a drama with these girls, but Yadi won’t let her and wants to know again what’s going on. She pleads with Nidia to confide in her, trust her. Nidia looks startled and then resolute.

Juan and Kike are at the school, but out in the commons. Juan yells at Kike about the unfairness of it; Profesora Sabogal is bitter. He rails about the situation. Kike counsels him in how to behave. Juan will need to grovel and apologize. He fusses at Juan about how Juan’s fixation on the Licenciada has brought this about. Juan doesn’t want him to rub lemon in the wound. Kike talks at him some more, telling Juan he’s acting like a high school kid. Juan wants to know what he’s supposed to do now. Kike tells him to use his lip, and describes all Juan’s verbosity and charm working for him with the Profa. Juan’s not sure. He’s fed up with begging everyone.

Nidia wants Yadi to cease and desist. She owes a guy money, that’s it. Yadi scoffs. She tells Mami to watch out, she doesn’t know what mess Mami’s involved in, but watch herself. Nidia says nothing’s going to happen; she just needs to pay the guy and that’s that. Yadi wants to know about the wedding that Nidia’s putting on for her. Everyone’s going to wonder about the money Nidia had to make it happen. Nidia breaks the new gently to Yadi that they’ll need to make it a bit simpler. Yadi is totally incensed and they fuss about their vastly differing expectations for The Wedding. What, Nidia asks, you can’t tell me you didn’t suspect this? Nidia pontificates that marriage is a sacrament and the celebration is of lesser importance. Fat chance Yadi’s going for that. She’s feeling Deprived. Nidia tells her not to raise her voice to her mother. Yadi is righteously indignant because she Can’t Believe Her Mother Would Do This To Her. Her mother is going to have to do better than that (pasaste, from pasar, one meaning is do better than that.) Yadi runs out crying and slams the door.

Juan stands in his best Humble Stance, apologizing to the Profa. She is not interested and fusses at him. He tries to interrupt, but she tells him everyone has a special case. You think you’re the only one? They go back and forth and finally she hammers in the final blow; Why do you think students come at night? Because they have day jobs, and lots of them have children to boot. They work all day, leave the children at home and get to class on time so eventually they’ll have a better future. She tells him he’s lost out for this semester, not to stay for this period, and she doesn’t want to see him around these parts again. Juan is very, pero very, downcast.

Yadi isn’t sitting on a chair in the living room any more. She’s on the steps instead. Delirio greets her warmly, as always, as he comes in from work. She is not in the mood. There’s nothing good about the evening. She scathingly tells him to get Gutis off her case. Tell him not to call, not to look for me! Delirio tries to pacify her. He’s not in charge of this guy’s wishes. She yells that she doesn’t care how he does it, but he’d better convince this guy or he’ll have consequences. He’d better get this little problem resolved or she swears this house will become an inferno for him. What? More than it is? Yep, more! She calls him ridiculous old man and he mutters as she stalks off upstairs.

Soon after in the master bedroom, Delirio attempts to take control of his life by greeting Nidia. Since she’s lying on the bed with an eye mask, she’s not making eye contact. She doesn’t know what’s good about the evening, either. Delirio comments on the atmosphere in the house; it’s cloying. He tells her he had a problem with the daughter. Nidia takes the mask off and wants to know which daughter. This time it was Yadira, the epitome of feminine tenderness. He points out that her daughters don’t give him the least bit of respect. Nidia points out that respect has to be earned, it cannot be demanded. She asks him to respect her headache. He assures her with pleasure he’ll respect her headache, but who’s going to respect his heartache? Everyone in this house wounds his heart! Nidia gets up and goes to lock herself in the bathroom. Perhaps it has a loud fan.

Juan complains to Kike that everything is going badly for him. Kike tells him that it’s all because of his love for Paula. What good has it been for him to be at this woman’s back? Only for him to suffer. Juan argues there have been moments of great joy, lovely times. Kike points out they’ve been d*** few moments. Every time it hits Juan harder. Juan realizes he’s right. This woman has stolen all his joy. Kike wants to know why he doesn’t forget her once and for all. Let everything get back to normal in a flash (en un tris, in a moment). Juan reminds him of a talk they had one night (in a bar, IIRC) when Juan told Kike exactly these words and Kike told Juan that you can’t choose to love. Love comes when you least expect it, not according to a specific hour or date on a calendar. When you fall in love you become a slave. Kike tells Juan he’s right, and we hear Palomita in the background.

Fern is in a bar, asking the girl who’s tending the bar to call and ask for Nidia. Delirio answers the phone in his striped jammies with his socks on. The bartender asks as requested, and Delirio wants to know who’s calling. It’s a friend. Delirio tells her to hold on, because the Sra. is indisposed. [My hubby would just tell the caller I’m in the bathroom. That’s how deaf culture works.] He goes to call Nidia to the phone. Nidia wants to know who it is. “A friend (female).” Why, Nidia, were you expecting someone? The bartender hands Fern the phone. Nidia tap-dances her way through an awkward moment. Fern is puzzled, and irritated because they won’t see each other as planned. Nidia says goodbye in English with a “besote” (I kiss you). She looks sideways toward Delirio who is still standing, hands on hips, listening and watching suspiciously as she hangs up on a not-too-happy Fern. Delirio asks who it was. Nidia rolls her eyes and tells him it’s a lover of hers, calling from a bar. He asked a waitress to ask for her. Well, it’s that we had a date, but since you got home early, I couldn’t go out. She shrugs sarcastically. Delirio, equally sarcastic, tells her how amusing the Sra. is. At your age, making jokes about such a serious thing. He scoffs. She shrugs with a “qué, Yo?” look.

Monica is telling Laura about how Paula got all involved with a chauffeur (and here we thought she was so egalitarian), and imagine her involved with CL. In the beginning, he did it half as a game, half serious. But she was involve with a chauffeur. Laura can’t believe it. Moni continues: imagine this, she’s confused about her feelings. She doesn’t know how to decide between CL and a chauffeur. Laura scoffs at this incredible truth. Moni has decided to get Juan on her side. He’s just as much a victim here as she is. Laura wants to know how she’s going to go about it. With patience. She’s in no rush, Moni tells Laura. Moni thinks that with Juan on her side, things are going to be much more difficult for Paula and CL. And Much Easier for Moni.

Paula is having her blood pressure checked by the silver-haired doc, and describing her anxiety and tension. No examining room here, just his office and she’s in the chair across from his desk. Is this how it’s done south of the border? He’s got all his degrees and certificates on the wall, too, so we know he’s legit. He remarks that she’s had strong emotional changes she hasn’t had time to process. He goes back to his seat and tells her she needs therapy [and we hope she isn’t paying too much for what we would have told her for free]. He can help her assess her situation. He’s going to give her a scrip, too, but one thing: no booze. By gosh, she’s got a cami on and almost no serious décolletage. How did we miss that under her suit jacket at the office?

Juan is in his workout clothes, doing rapid pushups military-style. Whew, be still my heart. He thought bubbles that back home in these situations exercise always helped him. [Juan, rest assured your exercise will help calm me, too].

CL is still at the office or is it tomorrow? No, we find it’s Juan thought bubbling while he does pushups about the following weeks when a tense kind of calm prevailed. As he thinks about those times, we see our lives—or someone’s lives—passing before our eyes. CL tensely meeting Paula in the lobby at Farell, never speaking, and turning away toward their offices….Monica looks down from the mezzanine above worriedly as Juan continues to describe those weeks.

Juan’s reverie continues as he muses in the Farell garage that some days he brought the Licenciada to work, and others she drove herself. [Lots of time on his hands, but apparently downsizing to create efficiencies isn’t a problem at Farell.] Juan and the boys watch Paula pull away.

Sometimes Juan drives, and the next passing scene tells us that Paula works in the car instead of talking to Juan so he can keep telling us how those weeks went. Since the night of the discussion, he advises us, things have definitely chilled between them (enfriaron). He had no way to pick them up again.

He continues that Yadi and Nidia were engaged in a war to the death….and we see he means they’re pretendercizing with Yadi grabbing Nidia’s ankles as Nidia brings them up into the air off the bench she’s lying on. Meanwhile, Juan tells us, Delirio is still training and exercising, while Juan has no idea the enemy he wants to deck is Pastor. Back at Farell, Juan continues, Fern is a growly bear (peor genio – worse temper). The boys are aware that Nidia had something to do with it—she hit him hard. But Juan’s blows were worse.

Kike’s bachelor party, Juan confides, was a disaster. We see him with Fern on one side and Kike on the other, watching a stripper who’s up on a coffee table doing her thing, and the boys are totally unmoved by the scene in front of them. Empty glasses and full bowls of snacks litter the table with bottles of beer. This group has about as much joie de vivre as the group on the front porch in Hee Haw used to have. Maybe even the dogs on that porch had more than these three.

Finally, Juan is home in bed, crossing himself, and concluding that he felt his story with the Licenciada had gone sour (en picada). It was only a matter of time before this noble love (amor sublime) died a natural death. He turns out the lights.

Oh, Juan’s not done yet. As we stand outside the court building, he tells us that there were still lots more things to happen. and one was going to be the best thing, or better said, the worst. We see CL and Moni sitting in front of the judge’s desk. The judge is advising them of the law, and telling them because of their business partnership, he’s compelled to ask them if they really understand the implications of a permanent separation. If their differences aren’t too great, there’s still time to save their marriage. CL looks like he has heartburn, and Moni bites her lip. CL looks away, off into space.

The judge continues –he wonders if either them has anything to say. CL starts….”yo….” Moni snaps her head to look at him. “No.” Moni looks back a little sadly. CL says the decision is made, and Moni says she does have something to say, even if it won’t change a thing. She wishes him peace, and tells him she thinks he’s committing the worst error of his life. Sooner or later he’ll realize. He looks like a block of wood. After the life they have built, she continues, he’s going to leave it all behind for a passing adventure. And the worst of it is, there’s no going back, because he’s causing wounds that no one, ever, can heal. His face is blank but we know him well enough to know he might be a trifle uncomfortable. She finishes by hoping that he will realize before it’s too late. CL recovers whatever bit of discomfort he may have had for a nanosecond and asks if that means she isn’t signing off. No, she will sign. She’s a woman of her word, although her entire world is crumbling (derrumbando, collapsing). He looks off at the side as she looks down in front of her. “Where do I sign?” The judge gives her the papers; she signs (left-handed), then the judge indicates where he needs to sign. CL hesitates, looks at Monica, sighs, then signs. Monica is close to tears again.

As some marriages end, others begin. Kike and Juan are at the church and Kike comes bounding toward Juan, humming Lohengrin: Act 3: Treulich gefuhrt ziehet dahin (Bridal Song, just thought you’d like that trivia). He tells Juan there are only last minute thing left to arrange, and he’s jubilant as the Mendelssohn Wedding March starts in the background (they’ve got it coming and going in just two bars here). They exchange chitchat about the impending wedding, and Juan assures Kike all will be well. “Look who’s talking! Pessimist number one.” Okay, Juan tells him, but Juan’s made a decision. What? Is Juan finally going to forget….and look someplace else? No, on the contrary, if Paula doesn’t make the first step tomorrow, Juan will. He just can’t keep playing this infantile game. He’s dying to be with her, to talk with her. Kike tells him to stop that already. Well, at best she might be thinking like me, Juan tells Kike. The uncertainty is killing him. If nothing happens today, tomorrow at Kike’s wedding Juan Dominguez, native of Chichipico, is going to bite the bullet (let his guard down).

At the lobby desk in Farell, Julia is spilling her guts about the guy who ran into Marely’s mother. The other lobby lizard is behind Julia’s desk listening, and Marely is standing in front, getting the full scoop. Julia tells Marely he’s Pastor’s brother. Moni and CL get off the elevator and we hear Julia’s chisme fade into the background as Moni remarks that like she said in court, she hopes he’s made the best decision. He abruptly says he’s made it. She congratulates him on the indifference he’s adopted. He tells her it’s difficult for him, too (no eye contact). Does she want Fern to take her some place? No. She’s got some things to do in the office, then she’ll go. She wants to walk a while. Monica starts away and CL takes her wrist to make her turn back—is she going to be all right? She points out it’s not like she finalizes a divorce every day.

Marely realizes something’s up; she cuts Julia off mid-sentence and runs to Paula’s office. Paula whines that Marely startled her. Marely says CL just arrived with Monica, and Paula thinks maybe they’ve reconciled. No way! Marely overheard them say they’d finalized their divorce!

Yadi’s getting a final fitting for her wedding gown. Yadi wants to know who’s taking her down the aisle. Well, Alirio, of course. He’s the man of the house, Nidia scoffs. Yadi’s not having any of that. This guy leaves her cold. If we want the man of the house, that’d be Juan. Nidia looks worried—how could they be so rude to Alirio? [No problem at all with that, if you ask me]. Yadi offers to tell him. Nidia says thanks, but no thanks and begs a little for Yadi to get with the program. Yadi says if it’s Alirio, she’s not getting married.

Paula is leaning against a credenza behind her desk, décolletage in full bloom. What does she care if they got divorced? Don’t mess with me, Marely tells her. Marely knows she’s plenty interested. Paula says she’s Wrong. Are you sure? Marely wants to know, arms crossed and looking doubtful. Yep. She explains her position to Marely, which we all know is totally bogus. Marely gives her a look. Paula tells Marely she wants to stop this chitchat and get back to work. Marely gives up for the moment.

Kike is worried that if they don’t buy the suit (tacuche, from my Mexican usage dictionary), he’ll never get it. Time’s running out. Juan wants to know why he just can’t use the suit he used for confirmation? Nope, Kike wants to wear it for the first time (estrenar). Juan’s mind is on if the Licenciada may need him. Kike wants to get the suit, accessorize, and make an impact. Kike talks him into calling for permission to be gone a while to help Kike get his suit. Juan goes to call upstairs while Kike beams and babbles.

Paula and Marely work on some documents; the code doesn’t belong with another, why? Because one’s a quotation and one’s an actual invoice. Paula isn’t concentrating; she has no head for it. Marely wants to know if it’s because of what she’s thinking it is. The phone rings. Paula doesn’t want to take the call but tells Marely to tell Juan he has the afternoon off. Kike is bouncing up and down like a puppy. Juan knows that Paula is avoiding him, he’s not stupid. Kike tries to calm him and reassure him, he doesn’t want Juan to get depressed now. What does he want? Juan is hurting a lot. Kike tries to get Juan to go, and Juan snaps at him because Kike isn’t helping with his suffering. Fern comes along and wants to know what’s up. Kike says they’re going shopping. Kike is getting muy anxious. Couldn’t this wait till later? Fern tells them the latest: CL and Monica finalized the first paperwork things for their divorce. Fern describes the tears. He’s never seen her cry before. Juan thought bubbles that he divorce is real now. He asks God to give him strength.

CL tells Pastor he’s not sure if he’s taken the most important step of his life, or made a world-class mistake (stupidity the size/tamaño of the world). Pastor empathizes, and CL says he’s left with neither of the women. Pastor wants to know what his hard line and indifference with Paula have brought? CL says she’s tougher than he thought. She’s arrogant (soberbia), proud, and doesn’t seem to bend. Pastor gives more of his excellent advice, which so far is working so well.

Juan and Kike are walking around in the store, and Juan is complaining that his soul is giving up. He thinks CL’s divorce is dangerous for him. Kike isn’t understanding, and Juan explains there is no obstacle now to Paula ending up with CL. Now that he is free, he’ll enter the fray full force. [Gee, Juan’s tie is almost the right length tonight, but it wasn’t earlier in the capítulo. Is this a sign of something? A social statement?] Kike advises Juan that she just doesn’t suit him. She’s made Juan suffer and she Doesn’t Love You, he tells Juan. Kike wants to know what he has to do to convince Juan. Juan fusses at Kike that no one, since he was born, can tell Juan Dominguez about women. Kike says he can’t discuss it with Juan more. Juan grabs him back and dares Kike to tell him what an imbecile, romantic, he is, a miserable chauffeur who looked too high. Juan babbles on and Kike stops him. Juan lightens up and takes a kid-size tux; he tells Kike it’s probably too big.

Pastor is still advising CL. Hablablablabla. CL should take his game to an extreme. Compel her to give up her pose as a dignified woman. How? Take a risk. What risk? Pastor stands up, takes a deep breath, and prepares to give him the Plan du Jour.

Laura lets Monica into the apartment. Moni is crumbling. [I’ve been there; I recognize the signs.] Moni is crying that she shouldn’t have done it, shouldn’t have signed. She still loves him. [Qué the heck for?] She collapses on Laura’s shoulder, and Laura comforts her. Moni says all she needs now is the wedding—the wedding of CL with this stupid woman. Laura puts her arm around her friend and holds her while Moni cries.

CL comes into Paula’s office, wanting to know if she’s very busy. No, it’s fine. [Interesting how her suit matches his tie. She could borrow his tie to cover that décolletage.] He wants to talk to her. About what? CL supposes she’s heard about his divorce. They met, etc….he’s just waiting for the documents. She tells him she didn’t know. CL says “I did it,” and looks at her meaningfully. She tells him she’s sorry. CL replies he’s made a decision he thinks she should know—he’s leaving the country, going to Spain. Paula is Impactada, of course.

Monday: Paula tells Ana about CL’s divorce, and Ana is Impactada, too. Must be genetic. Ana wonders if Juan has another chance. Juan wonders if Juan has another chance.

(Vocabulary is in the text, and I may have time on the road to edit it and put it down here, if not, more disculpas).

Jeanne

Labels: Juan

Labels: Destilando

Missing Recap 36: Lety gets a phone call FROM A BOY!!
Marcia once again wants Lety's head and complains about her helping him to hide Fatima. He says he can't fire Lety and she says can't or don't want to? At first he replies that he doesn't want to, then he changes it to can't. She's pissed as he tells her Lety's fundamental to the job and they go back and forth for a while. Finally she says I don't care what you say, I want a head! If you can't fire Fatima, you have to fire Lety.

The next day Lety is telling her parents about the upcoming commercial preview and launch party. Tomas comes over and eats her breakfast and she takes him to her room to chat. Tomas asks her for a favor and wants her to call him on his cell phone from now on. It's a dumb conversation having nothing to add to the general storyline, so I ignore the rest of it. Lety leaves.

At Conceptos, we're still getting Garnier commercials as Luigi holds up a basket of red apples and admires the ad he did for the Nutrisse red hair color. He and Irma discuss it, bleh! How they're able to do those conversations with straight faces is beyond me, but I guess that's why they're the actors and not me. Anyway, Fernando comes in and wants Luigi to fire Fatima, but naturally Luigi refuses. They discuss much with Fern telling him Fatima is sick and might cause a scandal during the launch, but Luigi replies that if Fatima is ill it's Fernando's fault for seducing her in the first place. In the hallway they're still arguing about it when Jazmin comes up and starts flirting with Fernando. Luigi blocks her from reaching Fern and tells her to leave. Marcia comes up and Luigi complains to her and leaves. She wants to know what's going on and Fern complains to her too and she leaves.

Lety comes in and says hi and he jumps down her throat for being late. She gives some lame excuse that she's not THAT late and oh look, Alicia's not there either (yeah Lety, compare yourself to the biggest loser in the company, that's smart!). He starts yelling about Alicia as Lety walks away. Marcia comes up and, after Fern points out her friend isn't there, covers for Alicia. She goes into Lety's office and asks her something about a check. Lety takes the paperwork from her and goes into Fernando's office. She smiles at him and he smiles back at her and Marcia gives them an ugly face, then she and Lety leave.

Marta comes in and gives him some contracts just as Lety's phone rings. He asks Marta to answer it and it's Tomas; she's excited to be talking to him. Lety comes in with paperwork and Marta tells her that her boyfriend, Tomas Mora, was on the phone. Lety's eye twitches as Fernando looks upset. She leaves with Marta and, out in the lobby, tells her she shouldn't have mentioned Tomas in front of Fernando. Marta wants to know why and Lety tells her Tomas isn't her novio, he's just a very good friend. Marta leaves and Lety talks to Lola about the papers in her hand.

Omar goes into Fern's office and Fern tells him Lety has a boyfriend. Omar can't believe anyone would be attracted to Lety, she's too ugly, and is impactado when Fern tells him it's Tomas Mora. They discuss it a lot, with Omar thinking they should have investigated Lety more before turning the company over to her. What bothers Fern more is that now they don't only depend on Lety, they depend on Tomas as well. Omar teases him about being jealous and Fernando is feeling no love for Omar's humor.

Alicia finally gets in and Marcia tells her about her current problem with Fernando, and that she's demanded a firing, either Fatima's or Lety's. Juana and Sara are listening in and Lola and Marta come up and listen in too. Marcia gives Alicia a bad time for coming late. Alicia uses her pregnancy as an excuse but Marcia says it's not good enough. She leaves and the cuartel begin to discuss what they've just heard.

Fernando and Omar are teasing each other when Marcia comes in looking for Lety. Fernando yells for her and she comes out of her cubbyhole and gives some money to Marcia and wants her to sign a receipt. Marcia doesn't feel she should have to sign, but Fernando backs Lety up saying it's just a formality (and just salt in Marcia's already wide open Lety wounds). Marcia signs and leaves and Lety goes back to her office. Fern tells Omar how Marcia's pissed about Fatima and told him if he can't get rid of her, he has to get rid of Lety, but he says he's not going to allow her to touch a hair on Lety's head, not even the ones in her moustache. Lety's listening in, of course, and his comment makes her swoon with happiness, and while I'd also be glad he stuck up for me, I'm not sure I'd be so fond of the moustache crack. Anyway, Fern complains about Luigi not being helpful and he starts drinking as he and Omar continue to discuss the Fatima situation, then they discuss Tomas some more.

Lety calls her house asking for Tomas. Mom answers and he asks her to tell Lety to call him on his cell phone, but mom forces him to take the house phone. Lety also tells him to stop already with the cell phone crap! Tomas reminds her that the first payment to the Bank of Americas is due soon. Lety comes out and talks to Fernando about the upcoming payment. Fernando asks her about her "novio" Tomas, her friend who works at Filmo Imagen. She explains that Tomas isn't her boyfriend, she just invented the story for something to tell the cuartel, but it's not real. He tells her "fine" and she leaves.

Lola and Lety are getting ready to leave for lunch and convince Marta to go with them. The rest of the cuartel joins them and Saimon comes up but they all ignore him because of his ties to Jazmin. Then they all decide to hit him, then they leave. Saimon spies Fern and runs up to him, but Fern knows what it's about and again tells Saimon he can't help Jazmin. Fern leaves and Saimon is sad.

Fern goes to Omar's office for a change and happily tells him that Tomas isn't Lety's boyfriend and what she said. Omar's still cautious and says when a woman claims she doesn't have a fiancé, she usually does (what? Let's see if that works... I'm NOT engaged to George Clooney, I'm not! I'm really not! Honestly! Hhmmm... nope, still no ring on my finger and half ownership of a villa in Italy, so there goes Omar's logic down the toilet!). Fern and Omar decide to find out everything they can from the cuartel about Tomas. They argue about who should have to try to get the intel, and Omar points out that it was Fernando who created Filmo Imagen, set up the embargo, and put it all in Lety's hands, therefore he should have to do the detective work. He leaves his own office and Fernando talks to himself like an investigative reporter checking into Tomas Mora.

As always, the garbage is flying in the bathroom between Alicia and the cuartel, including Lety. They tease Alicia about the clothes joke and she tells them her dress is exclusive. She then brags that she's going to the launch party tonight because she's special and they aren't going because they aren't special, and Lety brags that she's going to invite the cuartel to the launch. Naturally, Alicia runs to Marcia and whines (aaaayyyyyy Mmaaaarrrrcccciiiiaaaaa) about what Lety said and once again steam issues forth from Marcia's ears and nostrils. Marcia confronts Lety in front of everyone and tells her it's not her place to invite anyone anywhere and who does she think she is to disrespect herself (Marcia) and the company. She then rants about this special power Lety THINKS she has but doesn't. She and Alicia leave and Irma comforts Lety while Sara does her usual amazon-roller derby-hold-me-back schtick.

Lopez calls Marta and asks her for the dancers' contracts. She tells him Fernando has them and he tells her to go get them. She goes into Fernando's office to get them and Fern asks her to sit and starts pumping her for info about Tomas. They begin to trade gossip like two old women as she tells him about Juana and the shells and what she saw. They get really comfy and really start chatting.

In the bathroom the cuartel are waiting for Marta and talking. Irma says she has to go but they talk her into staying, but Marta and Fernando are still gossiping. She asks Fernando to promise not to fire Lety and for some reason she wants to do it in English, so she has him repeat after her: "cross my heart, ok". Fern asks if it isn't supposed to be "hope to die" but she says no, it's "ok", so he repeats what she said. I mention it in detail because it was actually kinda cute and I just love it when Fern speaks English no matter how short the conversation. *sigh*. Let me try that thing again... I'm NOT engaged to Jaime, I'm not... hhmmm, never mind. Where was I? Oh yeah... we get a flashback to the shell reading, and Marta continues to gossip. Lopez butts in looking for the contracts and Marta takes them and leaves. Lopez sits in her chair also wanting to gossip with Fernando, but Fern puts him down and Lopez leaves like the song, only with a lick and a squeak instead of a wink and a smile.

Marta gives the contracts to Saimon to take to the dancers for their signatures. He spritzes himself with cologne and dances for joy and leaves. He runs into Marcia and Alicia and tells them where he's going and Alicia teases him unkindly about Jazmin. Marcia wants to know if that's the woman who caused Lola problems and he agrees that it is. She tells him everyone has to try to get along at work, then tells Saimon she wants to see Carolina so she'll go with him (apparently everyone's over at the place where the show will be held). Saimon and Marcia leave.

Marta goes into the bathroom and tells the cuartel she was late because she was with Fernando. Lety wants to know why and she tells her it was about the contracts. Marta goes back to her desk and Fernando comes out and pretends to yell at her about something but actually wants to continue with the gossip. They go back into his office and continue the Tomas discussion. We flash back to Juana's second reading of the shells and Lety tells them more about Tomas. Fernando wants to know if Tomas is Lety's novio, yes or no. Marta tells him no and he thanks dios, but then she adds that he's her great platonic love and Fern's upset again. Then Marta mentions the second reading and how Juana said Lety's novio would bring her fortune. Now Fern's REALLY upset!

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Missing Recap 37: Our Lady of *belch*
Again with the Fernando/Marta gossip session, and again Marta tells him that Lety's novio is going to bring her fortune. Fern ends the session, now more worried than ever. The cuartel are at lunch chatting and Marta joins them. She tells them she should be getting the results of Alicia's blood test soon, then they talk about Fernando and Tomas and she tells Lety she told Fernando that Tomas was just a friend. They all tease Lety about Tomas.

Fernando calls Omar, who's at Bella Life preparing for the launch, and tells him what Marta told him. They discuss, Fern's worried, and Omar tells him to calm down and hangs up. Saimon arrives with the contracts and Omar talks to him while looking for Carolina.

Luigi gives the dancers a rest and Saimon dances for him and suggests choreography changes. Luigi pretty much tells him to piss off. Saimon then tries to give him the contracts, but he tells him to give them to Irma instead once she gets there. Saimon leaves and Luigi calls for Carolina. Backstage Saimon gives the contracts to the models to sign, and notices that Fatima is drunk. He finds her flask and tries to talk to her about it, but like Luigi she pretty much just tells him to piss off.

Back at Conceptos, Fernando goes into the lobby trying to chat with Marta again. Jazmin comes up and kisses his hinder still hoping he'll come through for her, and wishes him luck tonight. He thanks her and leaves.

Meanwhile the cuartel are still rehashing at lunch. Marta excuses herself to go to the bathroom and Sara discusses wanting a man for herself. The waiter comes and complains that Marta stole some food, and the cuartel have to wrestle it from her.

Carolina is giving the chef instructions for tonight and Omar comes up and starts flirting with her. They leave together while Omar continues to flirt and she's trying to get him to stop. Finally she puts him in his place mentioning pregnancy, and he hears a baby crying in his head. He asks her not to use that word, so of course she uses it again.

PM signs for Alicia's test results. Lety apologizes to Fernando for coming back late from lunch, and he's very cool to her as he tells her it's ok and heads into the lobby. She's wondering que the hell is up with him?

Saimon dances by Fernando and tells him he got all the dancer's signatures on the contracts. He also tells him that Fatima is asking about him. Saimon then gives the contracts to Marta, as well as the envelope with Alicia's test results, then he dances off like the little dancing machine cricket that he is (I like Saimon, he's so cute and upbeat. I do wish he wasn't so p-whipped, but other than that I think he's adorable).

The cuartel debate on whether or not they should open Alicia's test results, but just then Lopez walks by. He sees the results so Marta has no choice but to give it to him. He lick/squeaks and leaves and they're upset they weren't able to open it. Marta's daughter calls, more kid crap and I'm sorry but I just don't care.

Back at Bella Life, Fatima is still on her binge. Luigi comes in to talk to the models and two of them cover for her so Luigi doesn't catch her, then the rest of the models join in as well.

Omar and Carolina have a conversation about the dancers. Marcia goes to Luigi, angry that Fatima is still there. Luigi begs her to be reasonable, he simply can't fire her on the very day of the big presentation. He's also upset because Irma hasn't arrived yet with the costumes. Marcia gives in about Fatima and leaves. Meanwhile we see that Fatima is still hittin' on her flask and is now even more drunk.

Fernando comes in and there's chat between him, Omar and Carolina about all kinds of things, the dancers, the booze and food... Fernando's very nervous and Omar and Caro try to calm him down. He and Omar leave the area just as two models run by. Fern starts to chase them but Omar pulls him back, and the girls run to Fatima to let her know that Fernando's arrived. They try to get her to stop drinking but she's on a party-till-I-puke mission and won't stop.

Fern goes to the bar with Omar and tells him that Tomas is the platonic love of Lety. He tells him about Juana and the shells and remembers back to the time in the car when Lety had asked for a job for Tomas. He asks Omar if he thinks Lety's trying to conquer Tomas with money, and is worried that Tomas will be able to manipulate Lety.

Back at Conceptos, Jazmin is helping Irma pack up the costumes. Saimon comes in and tells her what Luigi said, doing a very funny imitation of him. Irma leaves and Saimon hugs Jaz, they chat, she pouts, they dance, typical Saimon/Jaz stuff.

Omar and Fernando continue their Lety talk and are working themselves up into a paranoid lather all based on something someone reading snail shells said. Go figure! I think for the first time Omar floats the idea that they have to make Lety coo coo for Fernando's coco puffs. At that comment, we get a shot of Lety in her office dreaming of those very same coco puffs. Fern is impactado at the very idea and tells Omar it's ridiculous. Just then Marcia comes up and makes a nasty crack about the dancers and Fern tells her she's paranoid.

Irma finally gets there and Luigi reams her out for being late. Meanwhile Fernando is still giving Marcia crap and she's tossing it right back at him. He's also still drinking heavily. Luigi comes up and listens for a bit but finally gets tired of it and interrupts and tells everyone there's a disaster. Omar offers to deal with it so the two of them leave so Fernando and Marcia can keep on keepin' on. He's telling her there's nothing going on between him and Fatima and she ain't buying. I finally get sick of Marcia and fast forward.

Luigi's disaster is that the sound isn't working, there's a very loud annoying hum. Omar tries to help Luigi but the sound guys can't find the problem. Omar convinces Luigi to go away and continues to work with the sound guys on the problem. Eventually he leaves as well and we're back to Fern and Marcia fighting. Thank god Carolina interrupts and asks Marcia something and they both leave. Omar comes up and he and Fern continue to discuss Lety and Marcia and the dancers. Omar then tells Fern about the sound problem.

Fatima is now very drunk and everyone's still trying to keep Luigi from finding out. Carolina comes in and tells everyone to get ready.

Fernando and Omar are now at the sound machine, a now slightly drunk Fern is trying to fix it and Omar's trying to stop him, afraid he'll cause even more damage. Fernando thinks the machine has gotten too hot and fans it and, sure enough it works, much to Omar's surprise. Fern brags a little and they leave.

It's later in the evening and we're at Marcia's crib. She's talking to Alicia about Fatima and Lety and we get a shot of Alicia at the office, dressed to the nines. They hang up and Alicia brags to the cuartel that she's off to the ball, I mean launch party, and leaves. The cuartel complain and plot and twirl their moustaches and tell Marta to go get the test results.

Marta goes into Lopez's office and starts to flirt with him (ew!). He's reading the results and is surprised a pregnancy test was requested. Marta tells him she'll file it away for him, so he gives it to her and she leaves. She goes back to the cuartel and they fight over it before finally learning that Alicia is not pregnant after all. They hide it as Lopez comes out to leave, then go back to their plotting. Naturally something this important couldn't possibly wait until tomorrow and they must immediately intrude on the evening's festivities to warn Omar. They want Lety to get them into the show and she agrees.

Fernando's talking to Carolina and a reporter comes up and snaps their picture. Meanwhile back in the dressing room Fatima is really blitzed and Luigi finally catches her. He yells at her and calls Irma over and tells both of them that Fatima can't dance. Irma yells at her too for good measure. Fatima insists on talking to Fernando so Irma runs to get him.

The cuartel are all down in reception and Lety asks how they're going to explain to Alicia why the CONFIDENTIAL results of her blood test came back in Marta's name.

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Missing Recap 38: Pregnant anticipation
Marta gets the test results from Lopez again and we discover Alicia isn't preggers again. Lety says she'll get them into the show again and Fernando is schmoozing with reporters again. Luigi discovers Fatima's condition again too. Irma goes to get Fernando to keep Fatima from going out after him. Lety once again wants to know how they're going to explain to Alicia that her confidential test results got to be in their hot little hands. They discuss some kind of lie they'll come up with, tease Saimon about Jazmin, and catch a taxi.

Back at Bella Life, Fernando and Omar are meet-n-greetin' when Irma runs up and tells Fern about Fatima. He appears to be pretty well on the way to toasted himself. She warns him he needs to go see Fatima or she'll come out here and raise a stink. Fernando excuses himself from the people he was talking to and fills Omar in on what's going on. Fern and Irma then head backstage as Carolina greets Teresita, Humberto, Marcia and Ariel. Teresita asks for Fernando but Carolina doesn't see him. Ariel suggests that he's probably back with the dancers and T and H chide him for the comment, not knowing how right he is. Marcia goes to find him.

Fernando is trying to talk to Fatima and she's climbing all over him. He's trying to keep her off and Luigi comes up all angry and whiney. Fern tries to convince Fatima to leave but she doesn't want to. He reminds her how important this night is and just then Marcia comes in and sees Fatima all over Fern and gets pissed. I'm not sure why, just what does she think Fern's going to do with Luigi and Irma standing right there, but oh well, that's our Marcia. He finally manages to shove Fatima onto Irma and asks her to pour her into a taxi and send her home. He then tries to explain what's going on to Marcia. Luigi tells the choreographer they're short a dancer and will have to make it work, but the guy throws a hissy diva fit and refuses. He's really kind of too big and beefy and boxer-looking to pull it off well but it's still funny and apparently Marcia thinks so too because you can see her laughing. Fern gives the guy his drink to calm him down.

At Marta's house, Paco is watching his daughter and PM's son Jaimito. I ever so don't care about their conversation, but they have to get down to Conceptos.

Back to Conceptos, Saimon gets a call from Fernando telling him to get Jazmin on the phone, so he does. Fern himself breaks the good news that she gets to be in the show. Luigi takes the phone and tells her what to do and to get there immediately. She squeals with delight and Saimon offers to drive her there. Luigi hangs up and starts blaming Fernando, but he says it's not HIS fault. Marcia also decides to continue giving him crap. Luigi comments that Jazmin isn't a good dancer but you do what ya gotta do. Meanwhile Saimon and Jazmin waste a whole lotta time chatting and dancing in Conceptos' reception.

Carolina's out greeting people and up comes Ricky and the BL People and Isabella. Ricky introduces Caro to Isa and they go into the show area.

Celso goes into Conceptos' reception with Paco and chillens, and they don't get what they need and we reach the whole gist of the setup, that they need to get to Cinderella's ball along with everyone else.

Fernando and Omar are still talking about Marcia and Fatima, then go up to greet Fern's p-units. Humberto compliments the décor but wants to know why they didn't use the studio at Conceptos. Fern tells him it's nice but too small for what they have planned. Fern and Ariel get into it and it's all rehash of their usual arguments, finally Humberto has enough and tells Ariel to shut it, though he's much nicer about it than I would have been. Marcia then comes up and throws her two cents in by telling everyone what happened with Fatima. Fern explains there's another dancer on the way and says it isn't important, Ariel says it is, it's another symptom of Fern's ineptitude and again with the insults. Ah, good times. Finally Ricky comes up and saves the day, dragging Isabella with him.

Alicia arrives and says hi to Carolina, then goes to track down Marcia. Lopez shows up right behind her and offers to give Alicia a ride home later (PLEASE god don't let him explain what kind of ride he means!), but she just tosses her hair at him with disdain and tells him she has her Mercedes. He then tries to hit on Caro, but she's just grossed out, as any normal red-blooded woman who isn't trying to get something out of him (Jazmin) would be. Speaking of Jaz, Marcia comes up and tells Carolina that they're waiting for her to arrive to replace Fatima.

Alicia goes into the bar and orders a drink and sits at a table. Marcia comes in and catches her drinking it and gives her hell for drinking while in the family way. Alicia says she needs it to calm her nerves, but Marcia takes it and drinks it herself and tells Alicia about Fatima, and how she's pissed because now she can't use Fatima as an excuse to fire Lety.

The senior Mendiolas are talking to Ricky and posse when Omar, Marcia and Alicia come up and Humberto introduces everyone to everyone. A waiter comes up with a tray of food and Alicia pretends the smell is making her sick and heads of to the bathroom while Omar and Ariel watch her go. Isabella and Ricky walk away and Teresita asks what's wrong with Alicia. This makes Fernando laugh into Omar's shoulder and Marcia fills her in on Alicia's not-so-secret secret. Ariel looks pissed and he and Omar excuse themselves from the group.

Someone's interviewing Ricky and tries to interview Ariel too, but he isn't interested in being interviewed. Omar's drinking at the bar and Caro comes up to talk to him. They chat and she tries to make him feel better about doing the right thing.

Ariel joins Alicia in the ladies room and starts giving her the usual hell about being pregnant. He finally agrees to take care of her but demands that she leave right away, he doesn't care where. She tells him she wants an apartment in Miami, in South Beach, plus cash to live on. He says no and she tells him she wants what's best for her son. They discuss and he finally agrees to her terms. She wants 5 thousand dollars because it's an expensive place to live, and he agrees as long as she agrees to leave tomorrow. He leaves and she gloats. He passes Omar in the hallway, also on his way to confront Alicia in the ladies room.

The cuartel show up downstairs but the doorman refuses to let them in without invitations.

Alicia's gloating in the bathroom when Omar walks in. He says he wants to go ahead and acknowledge that the child is his and take care of it, but he doesn't want to get married. She tells him no, she's going to go to Miami tomorrow with his child. They discuss it and she tells him she refuses to stay unless he marries her. She walks out and gloats in the hallway... South Beach or Marriage, she wins either way, what a miracle!

The cuartel show their work badges to the doorman, but he still won't let them in. Sara gets rude, so he threatens them with the police. Saimon comes in with Jazmin and they all give him hell, then when they see he's going in, ask him to get Fernando for them. We get a shot of Fern talking to Ricky and Ernesto, aka BL Guy. Saimon and Jazmin are passed through and the cuartel are pissed. Lety wants to leave and not cause a problem with Marcia but the rest convince her to stay.

Saimon turns Jazmin over to Carolina, who takes her backstage. Saimon manages to sneak backstage himself. The dancers are all dressed and Luigi comes in and my oh my he looks really super HAWT! He can be so yummy when he's not sporting dead animals draped over his shoulders. Caro brings Jaz in and he gives her crap for being so late and tells her to go get dressed. She wastes even more time thanking him profusely. Caro goes out front and tells everyone they're ready to start and everyone sits.

Alicia catches up to Marcia and tells her about heading for Miami's golden shores. Lopez sidles up to Alicia and tells her it was a good idea to test for pregnancy. She's surprised and tells him she didn't ask for a pregnancy test and wants to know if anyone else saw the results. Lopez tells her after he read it, it was given to Marta to be filed. Alicia climbs on the clue bus and realizes that the cuartel set the whole thing up and she's pissed. She calls Celso and asks if the cuartel are still at work and he tells her they left. She hangs up and worries that they're going to cause a scandal for her.

Fernando gets up and makes a speech and introduces Ricky Armstrong. Alicia arrives at the table and Marcia wants to know what she and Lopez talked about and she says it was something about her contract. Ricky then gives his speech.

The cuartel are still unable to enter the ball and Lety still doesn't want to cause trouble with Marcia. Lola is, of course, freaking about Jazmin getting to dance. They're still pinning their entry hopes on Saimon managing to get to Fernando. Meanwhile, during Ricky's speech, Saimon sneaks drinks to Fernando and tells him about Lety and the cuartel being there and wanting to come in. Marcia overhears this and gets pissed, saying Lety wants to be in on everything, and Fern calms her down. Omar, sitting two seats away, calls him on his cell phone and tells him he should let her in because it's not a good idea to turn away the owner of the company. Fern tells Marcia he has to pee and leaves. Alicia asks Marcia what's going on and Marcia tells her the cuartel are there trying to get in. Alicia asks if Marta's there too and Marcia says yeah, probably. Alicia's upset, knowing her little not-so-secret secret is about to blow sky high.

Labels: fea-m

Here is a list of the vocabulary words that Juan Querendón recappers have been adding to the ends of their recaps. We all do it but I think Schoolmarm gets the award for most contributions. I hope you enjoy them and find them useful. (If anybody notices errors please comment so I can fix them.)

abastos = public markets

algodón de azúcar = cotton candy

acongojado/a = distressed

apachurrado/a = crushed

apodo = nickname

apoquinar = to fork out

balbucer = to babble

cabezazos = headbutts

cacatuá = old bag, an old, ugly woman (Lit. cockatoo)

camisa de fuerza = strait jacket

chalán/ana = assistant, bricklayer’s assistant, horse dealer

cargadores = dockworkers

chiflado/a = nutcase, crazy, barmy

chiquillo/a = a kid, a youngster, adj. = childish

chorros = loads

chupacabra = goat-sucker, creature that sucks the blood of goats

codo/a = stingy

compromiso = commitment (also engagement sometimes)

conchudo = jerk

contratiempo = setback

cotorres = parrots, gossips

cuate = guy ("cuate" is actually the nahuatl word for "twin." In Mexico, it's generally used to mean a really good friend.)

derrota = defeat

descortés = discourteous

desmoronando/a = crumbling, falling to pieces

desubicado/a = confused

derrumbe = collapse, fall, demolition

díscolo/a = disobedient, rebellious

encajoso/a = creep

entrenador = coach, trainer

espantoso/a = scary, appalling

estropajo = good-for-nothing, rag, dishcloth

farras = party-goers (which I loosely translated as party animals)

fichita, from ficha, = villain or rogue

garras = clutches, paw, bite

golfa barata = cut-rate slut, or street slut

gorrón/ona = sponger, scrounger

guateque = party, fiesta

güerita = used to refer to a person, a blonde in definition but in practice may be used to refer to any light skinned morena. Kind of like saying “Hey, blondie” but not disrespectfully

hervidero = hotbed (of gossip for example)

hiriente = offensive, wounding

holgazán = lazybones

Huesudo/a = Grim Reaper, bony

jarocho/a = from Veracruz

jolgorio = partying down, merrymakinglambiscón = fawning toady

libidinoso = lustful

madrugadora = up so early, early riser

mago = magician

matraca = pain, plague

molido/a = beat, tired, wiped out

moral distraída = slovenly, shabby or untidy morals

naco = trashy, stupid, nerdy

nalgas = buttocks

obnubilado - over the clouds

padrino = godfather, best man or man who gives the bride away, also patron

palancas = ins (Lit. handles) Kike never would have believed that Juan would have so many “ins” with the boss.

payaso= clown

pelagátos = lightweight

pelmazo = bore/pain in the ass

plato fuerte = main course (strong plate, my best guess since it came after the appetizer)

portrero = open field, grassland

primogénito/primogénita = firstborn

pescuezo pluma = featherweight boxer (feather neck, my best guess is featherweight)

premura = urgency

ratonera = mousetrap

regadas = blunders

rollitos = tall tales

rompecabezas = puzzle (Lit. headbreaker)

ruín = contemptible

sobrando = leftover

tartamudear = stutter

traznochar/traznochado = stay up all night, never sleeping, never resting

trompo = spinning top

velorio = funeral wake, funeral vigil

viejo/vieja = old guy, old gal, commonly what spouses call each other, too (regardless of age)

voluntad = wish, will

zangoloteaban = shook (zangolotear = to shake, also to wander around doing nothing)

zopilote ratonero = mousy buzzard, an oxymoron to describe Pastor

Labels: Juan, Vocabulary

Since I don't have a telenovela recap tonight, here's some fun facts I saw on the Latin Grammy broadcast tonight on Univision.

1. Eugenio Derbez and Lucero were the hosts for the event.

2. Pepe Aguilar sang the theme "Destilando Amor" on stage, then later he won the grammy for best ranchero album.

3. Laura Pausini won the grammy for best female pop album for her album, "Yo Canto", then later she performed the Amar Sin LImites theme song on stage. (thanks k for the correction.)

4. Sergio Goyri, Erika Buenfil and Pablo Montero, cast members of the telenovela Duelo de Pasiones, presented Grammys during the broadcast.

5. At three separate occasions during the commercial breaks for the program, Univision aired three different promos for Pasion "Se Acerca" Coming Soon. The first was the "Storybook Fairytale of the Romance of Camila and Ricardo... Pasion Se Acerca"; the second was "the captivating complex tale of Ricardo in Pasion Se Acerca; the third was a replay of the very first promo aired on Univision.

Labels: amar, Destilando, duelo, entertainment-news, Pasion

Labels: announcements, telenovelas

Bits from last night: Arnaldo brings Inés back home; Ceci gossips at work and gets reprimanded by Julio; Burgay tells Julio that Eva's dead; Azul breaks it to Diego that Eva got him his job.

Beach: Diego doesn't believe it. Azul tells him that Eva also bought half the boutique for him, which sounds as ridiculous to him as it probably sounds to the rest of us (except we already know it's true--how this will work out now that she's dead remains to be seen). Azul taunts him with how he must have been with Eva for some reason other than love and Diego's response is to push her back and climb on top of her. (Dear Writers: Kidnapping? Being forcefully grabbed? Being pinned down? You might have gotten away with making that seem romantic a few decades ago, but now we call it "violence against women" and it's NOT a turn-on.) He says he was with Eva to find Abuelo and Paco's killer and get evidence against Mauricio. Azul says he's hurting her and he lets her up. Now a round of "Mauricio's evil", "No he's not".

Boutique: Julio can't believe Eva's dead. Burgay calls it a "work accident". I think Julio's more impactado that this could happen to a classy babe like Eva. That's only because he didn't see some of her stranger outfits. Burgay reminds Julio that the contract gives Diego 50% of the boutique. Burgay says Diego never has to know. In exchange Burgay wants money to keep quiet and he figures now that Julio's had his fashion show, he should have some. Hm, what's going to happen when Julio finds out that Arnaldo told Azul and Azul couldn't resist rubbing it in Diego's face?

Inés': Arnaldo and Inés start mourning Azul early. Somehow this all gives Inés a reason to live and to play the cello again.

Beach: Fifteen seconds of silence while Azul and Diego sit on opposite sides of the fire and make faces at each other. WOW! I wouldn't have thought either one of them could shut up for that long! Azul wants some kind of response from Diego. He says he's done so much for her (ummm, no, the kidnapping wasn't for her benefit, it was for yours) and all they've done is fight. Azul reminds him this wasn't her idea. Diego's pissed that she doesn't believe him, despite his lack of proof, and swears on his mother. He says he can't let her go back to Mauricio because she luuuurves him (Diego). He wants them to talk like two civilized people--because the first step to civilized conversation is kidnapping, as we all know. Azul says she's got doubts about him and he's got no proof of anything. Diego says they've been kept apart by misunderstandings. He thinks it's time to be honest with each other and end the mistrust and luuuurve each other. Azul says she understands wanting to start over. Diego says he wants to have a life with her. Kissy kissy. These two and their beach scenes don't hold a candle to Larry and Gaby on Acorralada. I never thought I'd miss that show, but I'm missing it now. After the commercial, they get vertical again and Azul says now they'll talk and clear everything up. Diego's grateful.

IHoP: Anibal comments to Isela that Clemencia's upset about Diego kidnapping Azul. And also that her husband's a jerk. Okay, I'm paraphrasing, but it's an accurate paraphrase. Isela's not too happy about the carrying and the giving Clemencia rides home, but since Anibal swears he only did it because Clemencia was feeling sick, she's ok with that. She's impactada about the cops being at the house, though. She says Diego needs to get his butt back home and get himself out of trouble. Anibal says he's causing trouble for a lot of people.

Piero's office: Manuel comes over to give Piero news, which Piero passes onto Mauricio via phone. The news is, Efrain lent Diego a car, but he probably has more information. Mauricio doesn't want to offer him money, he just wants to know where to find Efrain and he'll get the information himself.

Love (not!) Shack: Azul says she was convinced that Diego was seducing her on Eva's orders. Diego says he was sure that Azul knew that Andres had killed Abuelo and Paco and that she wanted to hang out with Mauricio anyway. 5ftLatina says these two are both losers and I wouldn't be sorry if the next time they went for a swim they were eaten by sharks (tiburones!). Azul says they've cleared up everything now. Diego says they can start over now. Azul cries that she's married now and that she wants to gather her own evidence. Diego says he wants to find out about the boutique thing. Azul says they have to go back, but Diego doesn't want to lose her now. Azul says she has to go back to Mauricio to get evidence, and also for Caty because now she thinks Caty's in danger. Kiss kiss. She says she won't be alone, Diego will be with her. Kiss kiss. Sharks? Please? Now? Okay, actually, I'm giving them their last chance. IF they stay together until the end of this show without breaking up again, then I'm on their side. Otherwise? Sharks, baby.

Casa S&I&G: The actress who plays Gloria is so fabulously awesome. She sits on the bed Ivan's not lying on and hikes her skirt before she starts talking to him. I cannot even begin to explain how fabulously hilarious I found it. Is no man safe from Gloria? Poor Ivan looks like he'd rather be dead. She flirts about her super-secret job where she learns things about men that even their wives would never suspect. Oh my…she's flashing a bit of belly there too, in addition to leg. Eventually Ivan calls her crazy and she calls him bitter and snits out of the room…but not before saying she'll give him her "hot line" number and see if she can't get him to smile that way. Hm, maybe Gloria will provide motivation for Ivan to heal quickly so he can get the hell out of there!

MM v 2.0: Mauricio's trying to tempt Caty to eat with a glass of chocolate milk and a sammich. This is one tough kid. Chocolate anything will usually tempt me. She refuses since Papi LIED about her new Mami being home soon. He promises she'll be back tomorrow. Caty says if he lets her die like he let her other Mami die, she'll NEVER forgive him. That's right, kid. Hit him where it hurts. Andres comes to collect Mauricio. Mauricio tells Caty he promised to bring Azul home and now he's going to go make that happen. Caty smiles at the food once he leaves. Now, that was a Moppet scene I didn't hate.

GSD's apartment: Emilia tells GSD that now that she's no longer Silvana's therapist she can give him her name. Uh, no, that's not how ethics works ma'am. GSD remembers that he saw Silvana at Mauricio's. Emilia explains that Silvana's pissed of because she didn't know Emilia and Azul were friends, and now she feels like Emilia betrayed her. Well, she kind of did, since she shouldn't have been her therapist in the first place. But, hey, this is Telenovelaland where we don't need no stinkin' ethics.

Casa S&I&G: Silvana looks at a picture of Nico and Caty and cries. Isela comes home and wants to know why she's crying. In the bedroom, Ivan has gotten his pants on (or, well, somebody's pants anyway) and is listening at the door. Silvana says that Caty's freaking out about Azul's disappearance because in her little mind, when someone gets taken away in a car, it's because "they're" going to do something bad to them. Silvana thinks this has something to do with Liliana and Nico's death. She tells Isela that her sister-in-law Emilia, who was her therapist, knows all her suspicions, and is Azul's best friend. Isela makes an "oops" face.

GSD's apartment: GSD tells Emilia this is happening because she can't separate the personal from the professional. Oh, that's so sweet--she sucks at it, he does it too well, maybe together they can find a nice middle ground. Emilia's feeling pretty guilty. GSD tries to nail down the timeline about who was in love with whom and when, but Emilia doesn't want to talk about it, except to say that Silvana wasn't "with" Diego at the same time Azul was falling in love with him. GSD asks about the accident with Nico and Emilia confirms that Nico was Caty's best friend. Then she complains that she didn't want to go into details. Then stop, already! GSD asks why she "least of all" wants to discuss it with him and she says it's because he's Azul's dad and she knows private stuff about Azul as well. She's afraid that Azul will lose respect for her the way Silvana did and she hopes Azul knows that she would never tell GSD private stuff about her. GSD proposes they have some whiskey. Because whiskey makes everything better.

Casa E&G: The scene I've been dreading since yesterday's promos has arrived. Efrain goes to answer the door and Mauricio pushes him into the house, onto the couch, grabs him by the throat and declares that he's going to tell them where Diego took Azul. There's no way this can end well.

Lust Shack: Diego says they can't go back until tomorrow, when he'll have a prayer of finding the car. And the cell phones are in the car. Kiss kiss. Diego pulls her outside so he can carry her over the threshold. He's grateful he got another chance with her and jokes that they're in the "Presidential Suite". I'm a little shaky on my history, but which president kidnapped someone else's wife? Back from commercial, Diego is trying to convince Azul that since they've straightened out all their misunderstandings, they ought to have sex now. At least that's what I think he's getting at. More drivel about how they luuuurve each other, but he's like "ok, then…." Azul says they can't because she's married to Mauricio. She's already done things badly and she wants to resolve their problems first and she'll "give [her]self" (entregarme) to him when she's a free woman. Excuse me while I get my eyes stuck in the back of my head from rolling them so much.

Casa E&G: Efrain's taking a beating from Mauricio while Andres holds his arms. And he'd better, because I bet Efrain could take Mauricio in a fair fight. Mauricio says if Efrain doesn't tell them where Diego took Azul, he'll end up in jail and also Gaspar will pay the price. Efrain begs them not to hurt Gaspar. Creeps.

Boutique: It's the end of the day, but Julio wants to talk to Chucho about Diego. Chucho says he wasn't at work because…well, he doesn't have a reason, but he thinks the important thing is that the work is getting done. Julio lets Chucho go on for a while, then he fires both Chucho and Diego. Julio says they can't stay after what Diego did to his partner's sister. He can't have a delinquent working there. "Rapto" means kidnapped, not what it sounds like. Chucho begs, more for Diego's job than for his. Julio tells him to forget it and pick up his stuff while Julio writes out his last check. Chucho, ever the gentleman, goes to collect his stuff. Julio is SO on my list. Firing Diego I would understand, but what's Chucho got to do with it? Ceci complains that Chucho is paying for what Diego did. Not that either she or Gaspar is attempting to get Julio to change his mind, I notice.

Presidential Suite: Azul sleeps while Diego watches her. He tells her she's beautiful and then does some Reiki on her before kissing her shoulder. Azul gets up for a second, but then drops her head back on the pillow.

Casa S&I&G: Ivan complains about being left with Gloria. Silvana tells him that Gloria wasn't any happier with it. Ivan mocks Gloria's job and her secret identity, which makes Silvana laugh. Ivan tells her she looks better that way and she gets serious again. He says he wanted to thank her for everything she's done and make her forget what she's been through for a little while. Ivan said he never would have thought her look was about her son dying. Silvana says he was listening to her and Isela and Ivan says he already knew from hearing Diego tell Azul. Silvana starts to leave the room, but Ivan grabs her hand (ouch!) and gets her to sit back down. He says they're alike now in that Silvana wants vengeance for Nico's death and he wants vengeance for Eva's.

Commercial for Pasión…coming soon!

Silvana tells Ivan they're not alike. Ivan tells her he knows lots about Mauricio that can help Silvana hurt him. They tomato/tomahto about justice/revenge. Ivan says it's all about bringing down Mauricio. He says she's right, he's no white dove, but he'd never kill a kid. Silvana says only another mother who's lost her child can comprehend what she's gone through. Ivan says Mauricio also killed her joy for life. Ivan says she's been alone in this. Silvana talks about her husband leaving her and then Emilia betraying her. Ivan says he'd never do that. She starts talking about the good things Diego did for her, but Ivan reminds her that Diego's not there. Ivan wants an alliance. Silvana refuses and walks out of the room.

Casa Moron: Manuel comes downstairs and Lidia asks how Clemencia is doing. Manuel accuses her of playing up the drama because her little boy is missing. Manuel thinks Diego's living it up. I hate to agree with Manuel, but I too hope that Diego feels really, really guilty about what his little abduction scheme has done to Mama, Efrain, and Chucho. Let's hope he doesn't have more to feel guilty about before the episode is over. Manuel brags to Lidia that he went to Piero so they could "echar de cabeza" (hand over the head; betray) Diego to Mauricio. Stupid greedy jerk. Even Lidia looks a little disgusted with him, or maybe that's just my imagination.

Outside Casa E&G: Gaspar and Chucho are walking and Gaspar says it's not fair that Chucho should have gotten fired since he "ni velo tiene en ese entierro" (doesn't even have a candle in this funeral; is innocent--for more fun phrases, don't forget to check out the Dichos post). Chucho says if Diego had been fired, he would have quit in protest anyway. Gaspar doesn't think Diego will come back and that he and Azul have found their own corner of paradise like Adam and Eve. They notice the door is open and unlocked, but they don't find Efrain inside. They're both alarmed.

Efrain is in the backseat of Mauricio's car. Andres is driving while Mauricio points a gun at Efrain. Efrain is getting directions to the cabin from his friend. He tells him that the guy he lent it to has a sick mom and he can't reach him on his cell phone. He writes down the directions, then gives the phone and the directions to Mauricio. Mauricio smarms about how easy it was to get his son out of trouble.

Presidential Suite: Diego sleeps on his chair while Azul watches. She's no Reiki master, though, she touches his hair and wakes him up. He begs her not to resist him…he luuuurves her, he needs her, etc. Azul says they've got to control themselves, not for Mauricio, but for them. Diego says he respects her wishes. Oh, sure, now he respects her wishes. They hug. Diego says he just wants to sleep with her, spoon a little, and wake up with her. Azul agrees.

MM v 2.0: Chonita tells Ceci that there's been no news and no one's home but the two of them and Caty. Chonita offers to fix Ceci dinner, but she turns down the offer. She says she's got to go to the casita and find a watch that her boss left while he was spending the night. Ceci snoops, looking for a key.

Presidential Suite: Diego says he wants to start imagining what their life will be like when all this is over. Azul says she's got to get proof of all his allegations on her own, and after that she'll divorce Mauricio. Diego says, "and then…" and pulls Azul to her feet as one of her boobs threatens to fall out of her dress. He puts the corset on her head and says after that they'll get married. She looks like a lingerie pilgrim. Then he stuffs the bikini bottoms he made her under the dress (to make a belly) and says after that they'll have kids. Kiss kiss.

MM v 2.0: Ceci finds the key she was looking for and hastily stuffs clothes back in a drawer. The key unlocks the top drawer of the chest she was looking in. Stupid place to hide the key, then. She looks through some papers and accidentally knocks a passport out of the drawer. Ceci says that Leonarda couldn't have gone "abroad" without her passport. Okay, I agree, but isn't there a possibility that at one time Leonarda thought she'd lost her passport and applied for a new one? Let's see if that's the excuse Andres and Mauricio come up with.

Car: Azul reminisces about kisses on the beach as Diego drives them back to DF. Diego says they're going to go to his house first because he's worried about his mom.

Mauricio's car: It sounds like they've been to the cabin and found bits of dress, so Mauricio believes Efrain was telling the truth, but he points the gun at Efrain again, demanding he tell them something useful. Mauricio's phone rings. It's someone telling him that Diego and Azul are back and have been cornered by the cops. Mauricio crazies about how Azul will be his again and Diego will rot in jail for life.

Tomorrow: Azul says she ran away voluntarily. Mauricio says "Get your hands off my wife!"

Labels: amar

I neglected to push record this first segment and also the fourth segment so those are from memory, and I thought I was recording, so didn’t note everything, so if you have more details to add, please, I welcome them.

Pau is whining to Mar that she doesn’t understand what’s up with these folks. She says that Cl swears his eternal love, proposed marriage, and didn’t even call all weekend but he followed Moni after she said two words to him. She complains too about Juan’s treatment of her.

Mar tells her that Juan is just trying to let her enjoy her relationship with CL and to stay out of her way and to avoid getting hurt more too. They continue on this path for a bit. Paula ends up declaring in disgust that she spent the weekend bored, confused and alone.

Marely does tell her that if it helps, Juan asked about her all weekend. This actually angers Pau. Marely kind of yells at her and says maybe she needs to figure out who does she really want.

Moni is telling CL that she talked to her lawyers and because it’s a no contest divorce he’ll be free in 3 months. Cl reveals that he is not that excited and that maybe the idea of being a part from her has caused him to see things in a different light. He confesses to Moni that Pau isn’t so sure she wants him and that she wants some time to think.

Mar and Pau continue discussing the two galan situation and Pau I think was wondering what CL really wants. DUH. Mar tells Pau she needs to see things more clearly that he wants her right where he has her. The more he moves away, the closer she wants him. She essentially tells her that he’s playing a game with her to get her begging.

Cl continues telling Moni that he is going to be by himself for a while. Moni doubts he could stand being alone. She tells him she thinks really he’s afraid. Moni thinks he’s afraid to end up alone, that after everything he’s done he’ll end up with neither of the two. He tries to dissuade her from her ideas but she‘s not buying his bull, so wants the divorce and fast.

Guti shows up and wants to know if Ali has his money. Ali tells him he has some of it but that Guti needs to forget about Yadi because she’s getting married and “she’s gone out with the award” (salir con el premio). I think he’s implying about her pregnancy.

Pastor and Ivy are chatting about the weekend happenings. Ivy is telling him about her tryst with CL and how she stupidly agreed to see him. Pastor wonders why she can’t just say no,no,no,no. She says next time will be different. Pastor thinks she’s a lost cause.

Moni goes in to see Pau who at first thought it was Marely knocking. Moni asks if Pau has the report ready and she says she did, Mar’s copying it, Moni wants them to do the presentation together, and Pau agrees. They then sort of pause and have a stare fest. Finally Moni says she talked to CL about their divorce and that he’ll soon be free. Pau shrugs that off that Moni owes her no explanations especially when it comes to CL and Moni just wants the air clear between them.


Pastor and Ivonne are still chatting and Pastor says he doesn’t worry about Juan; there will never be anything between him and Pau. Ivy wonders what he’s planning. He says they don’t need to plan anything, he doesn’t need to exploit this he’ll just give a little push so Pau does it herself. She will end up married to CL, Ivy says never, but Pastor is a bettin’ man and he offers a wager that that will happen.


Juan takes Monica and Pau to the presentation. He gladly opens the door for Moni, but is less enthusiastic about opening it for Pau, though he does. Pau begs him not to leave her alone with Moni for a minute. Juan wonders to himself what this is all about. Moni yells at her to hurry or they will be late. Juan tells himself a few things along the way including that Juan el Bobo se acabo (he’s finished being the fool).

Cl has insisted that Pastor and he now celebrate because Pau will fall in his trap. Pastor thinks he’s nuts. CL proclaims he's more cuerdo (sane) than ever. He says all because of Ivonne, she’s a genius because she gave him the key to getting Pau. He says the less I look for her the more she wants me to, and soon she’ll fall right into my arms. He proclaims that the strategy of well- administered indifference is the way to go.

Juan, thinking to himself while driving, says the same strategy is what he needs to follow and that he needs to be strong.

Moni confronts Pau in the car and asks why she’s so pensive. She answers her own question that it’s because of problems with CL. Mon says he told her about it and that Pau needs some time to decide if she really wants him. Moni wants to know why?


Nid sneaks up behind Fer and he plants one on her lips in the parking garage. She is surprised at his forwardness because she had to wrench kisses from him before. She gives him a wedding invitation. Fer wants to know when they will escape. She tells him you say when and I’ll be there, but she reminds him not to be so open because her husband does work there after all. She agrees to see him tonight I think.


Pau and Moni continue their discussion in the waiting room that everything has happened so fast that she just needs some time to reflect. Moni wonders if Juan has something to do with this crisis. Pau says if Juan has something to do with this, Mon’s the last one she’ll get tell about it.

Juan wonders to himself after hearing the part about Pau being unsure, if he’s hallucinating, and that maybe Pau really is having second thoughts. He ponders that maybe Nid’s advice is giving him some results and Pau will return to him.

Anga shows up and wants the boss to see him and asks Pastor to get him the appt. Ang won’t tell Pastor why, he just says it's about a business deal. P agrees and calls Ivy.

Nid, walking with her invitations, bumbs into Ang and it appears that they know each other and are impactada but hopeful and somewhat happily surprised to see each other.

Nid runs in circles in Pau’s office with Marely and wants to know why Anga is here. Mar is completely confused and doesn’t know que the heck. Nid tells her she wouldn’t understand.

Ang acts the same in CL’s office. He even accepts a whiskey to calm himself. He slams down not one but two whiskeys and explain that he saw someone who surprised him. Cl wants to know who he saw, but finally Ang changes the subjects to the work.

Moni apologizes to Pau for meddling in her life. She says she sometimes doesn’t know her limits. Pau says she thinks as long as the subject of CL isn’t discussed they should be fine. Moni says she’s just going to tell her one more thing as a friend because she considers Pau that, that CL is tired of Pau’s doubts with him, and today he looked very angry. What I found hysterical about this scene is the two of them who can barely stand each other underneath all the niceties are sitting so close together in the center of the car, between the two headrests practically on top of each other. In reality these two would be clinging to the doors to be as far away as possible from each other! I guess it’s too much to add a second camera and two different backgrounds so they don’t have to use that view!!


Nid doesn’t want to tell Marely what the problem is yet, she says it’s something very important to her but she’ll have to tell her at a better time, because she’s not even prepared to discuss this whole thing. Nid tries to leave but sees Ang leaving and decides to stay. Mar requires her to tell her what’s up or she’s going to ask the guy herself. Nid tries to cover by saying she owes him money. Mar thinks that it’s stupid to run from him in that case and the least she could do is show her face.

Ang, on the outside of the loca room, asks Julia who Nid is and finds out from her that Nid doesn’t work here, instead it’s the daughter. He is satisfied knowing this and doesn’t want to see them just now.

Nid and Mar watch as he leaves and duck when he turns around. Nid cries to the virgin why did she have to see him again.

Ang sees Juan in the garage tells him he’s here for business. Ang decides to ask Juan if he knows Mar. He says he lives with her, but not the way he thinks, he lives at the Cachon house. Ang confirms that Juan knows Nid. He says yeah, she’s like my mom. Ang admits he knows Nid. Juan asks how, and Ang says from life. He wants to give her a surprise but don’t tell anyone. Juan promises.

Just then Kike comes along sees Ang and gives him an invitation to his wedding even though it didn’t have his name. Juan says yeah, he’s getting married to Nidia’s daughter, oh not Mar, but the other one, Yadira. Don Ang gets a curious look on his face at this news. Kike is surprised he knows Nid. Me thinks me knows what’s up here. Could there be an explanation other than actress choice as to why Marely and Yadi look nothing alike???

In the elevator Pau finally unleashes at Moni that she thinks it’s incredibly absurd that they are friends and keep talking about this subject and that Pau doesn’t feel she should confide such things in Moni because she’s really not sure of her intentions. Moni again takes the high road and tells her she’s right, and that from here on out they won’t talk about it ever again.

CL tells Pastor about his brother’s strange nervous affliction and charges Pastor with finding out what the cause was. Kike and Juan too are talking about this new development and speculating about how Don Ang might know Nid. Kike thinks maybe they should tell Nid about this coming surprise in case she’s in danger. Juan says nah, he’s not worried about it.

Nid gives Pau an invite to the wedding, very elaborate by the way, complete with a pop-out bride and groom, and then leaves in a hurry. Pau wonders what’s up with her. Mar tells her to forget her and wants to know what happened with Moni. Pau says it went badly she’s on pins and needles.


Juan tells the boys about what happened in the car. Kike doesn’t understand it he thinks it’s weird for the wife to talk to the lover like that. Juan says that’s how cultured refined people act; they solve things with dialog and not with blows. Kike isn’t convinced and Juan jokes at him something about his stomach not giving his head enough room to think or something along those lines. Fer says actually you are only part right and he agrees with Kike. Really what happens is the cultured people tolerate things for a while to make their enemies their friends and then when the enemies least expect it, they twist the knife in the back. Those people are hypocrites and traitors.

Pastor asks Julia for info, he asks if she saw a tall guy etc, and she right away knows he’s talking about his brother. He’s surprised that she knew he was a brother. She continues that they look almost exactly alike so how could she not know this. She gives up that Ang asked about Nid and Marely. Pastor finds that very interesting.

Moni tells Cl that he will have to find another messenger for his clandestine messages to Paula because she and Pau agreed not to discuss him anymore. He says he’s not that Machiavellian, but she says she knows him better.

Juan talks Fer into lending his apartment for the bachelor party that they have to give Kike because they are his brothers and he can’t do it at the Cachon house, obviously. Fer reluctantly agrees only if he spends not one peso of his own money.

Cl goes in to say goodbye and see you tomorrow to Pau and she makes a snide “see you never” ok, are we in primary school here????? This time I’m actually on CL’s side. He wonders why she’s speaking to him that way, if something is wrong with her. She says she’s not always in a good mood. He says in that case he’s going to leave so he doesn’t make it worse. She accuses him of running away like always. He says he doesn’t know what she talking about. Pau finally says she’s pissed because he never called her yesterday, and that maybe he had something better to do or was with someone else. He is a little impactado.

In the elevator Pastor and Ivonne are also speculating what Ang might have to do with Nid. Perafan gets on and Pastor says he’ll finish later because there is now a horrible odor and makes cracks about him not following recommendations that one bathe everyday. Ivy cracks up in the background and gets out of the elevator. Pastor executes his insult with perfection and then exits the elevator.

Back in Pau’s office Cl says that she’s the one who asked him not to press her and now she’s being intolerable. Pau asks if it was finding out about Juan that changed his behavior or his wife. He says ex-wife. Pau says whomever, she’s sick of her meddling in her life. Cl asks why she doesn’t complain to her, and Pau says why, when you are the one that sets her on the course of getting involved because every time something happens between us he runs and tells her. She says maybe we should end this once and for all. CL nonchalantly says, well, if that’s what you want then fine that’s what will do. Pau is impactada and the credits roll.



In honor of the approaching Pirates and the first trailer I've seen in the US appearing tonight during Juan I've included this wonderful photo that I found. It's coming soon mateys!!!!

Labels: Juan

Rerun: Gav's jealous, sarcastic hissy fit confronting Rod and his "best psychologist in the country," said psychologist caught with her hands in the masa, in a sexy dress and tons of makeup. "Ah, Doctora, I so appreciate your excellent professional techniques, which have included long weekends away with your patient, and dinner in expensive restaurants. And Rod, y'oughter marry this woman who cured you of me." Erika looks embarrassed.

Gav flounces out, Rod in pursuit, and there is another tedious rehash of grievances. He says he lost a piece of his life that day she told him to get lost. "I thought I'd died, I needed Erika so I could heal, I was going to hell, I kept asking 'Why, Gaviota?' but gradually I saw I didn't know how to love you, I made so many mistakes, I made so many wrong decisions in my demented jealousy. I was a romantic imbecile, I hurt both of us."

She taunts him: "Changing your life must have been easy with her." "You think it was easy to stop calling you? To tell myself you were better off with Blandie, that smart, cultured, successful guy with a great future, a guy who doesn't make scandalous scenes? Your life is all set and mine is in pieces, I can't pick them up. Remember when I said I'd be back when my life was together? That moment seems farther away all the time..." (she cries)

This tiresome exchange is interrupted by the waitress: "Lady, you didn't pay your bill." Rod says he'll pay, Gav says no, he says don't be stubborn. He pays.

In relentless resumption of the never-ending dispute: Gav says she's giving the hacienda back to the Montalvos tomorrow. "No, keep it, don't let Aaron have what's yours." "I want nothing from your family. Anyway, in conclusion, I'm glad you have a good companion. I'll pray you find the peace you seek." She leaves.

Rod drags hisself back into the restaurant where poor abandoned Dr. Erika is paying the bill. She says she thought he might not have been coming back, and that she understood Gav's outburst. "We better think everything through carefully." He agrees.

At the hacienda, SanJuana is agressively rehashing the latest gossip from the Big House with James, Roman and Ofelia as unwilling audience. She gleefully blabs that Isa cuckolded Rod with Hilario, too, and that Hilario asked her to go away with him.

Conversations between Clarita and Gaviota never advance the plot. "It's all over, he's exchanged me for another, como asi" is plenty of recap for the first bit. Second bit: "L'il Ricky is Jose's grandson. Aww screw it, let's move to London." "What about my hacienda?" "Clarita, it's not like I want to tell you what to do with your stuff, but - we'll give it to charity. As of today, I bury Rodrigo."

Gav imagines Rod and Dr Erika as having a romantic night; actually each is brooding alone in a dark room.

In his dark room, Rod summons Enriqueta, the maid, and summarily fires her because he is closing the apartment and selling it - and everything in it - to erase all traces of Isadora. "Your check's in the envelope. If I ever get my life back together, I'll give you a call." Thus do the lower classes suffer when the upper classes boink irresponsibly.

Next morning, Gav does not arrive at CRT at 6 in the morning as she'd promised Blandie (he'd wanted another all-nighter to finish some of his always-top-priority lists lists lists of whatever). Blandie is running around all peeved and yelling NANCY NANCY NANCY!! Nancy whispers to Gav, "He's wearing yesterday's clothes, he's been working all night." "Nancy, I had a dog's night, I didn't sleep, ok, where are those numbers?"

Suddenly, here's Aaron, all menacing! He sends Nancy away. Gav says she knows what he wants but she still refuses his demand that she sign over the hacienda to him. He says he knows Rodrigo wants her to have Mirasoles as compensation for her "services." She says "Your tongue is longer than an iguana's."

Aaron: "Y'all have no rights to any of grandfather's property. I guess HE was compensating your mother for HER services. I'll sue! I'd forgotten how unscrupulous and voracious you are."

She slaps him and says "Bring on the lawyers, you'll never get Las Mirasoles." He slaps her right back and glares izpodlobya which is a cool Russian word meaning "out from under the eyebrows."

Gaviota's in the midst of a furious fantasy, involving hair pulling and worse abuse, when Blandie blunders in nattering about xeroxes. He inquires rhetorically: "Do I have to do everything myself?" She says she had a bad night and snatches the notebook. "I had a bad night too," complains Blandie accusingly. He interrogates Nancy: "Gav saw Rod last night, didn't she, did she talk to him?"

Rod to Videgaray: "Sell the apartment, the furniture, I want nothing to remind me of her." "Duarte called, he knew nothing about Isa's doings and was indignant at her behavior, he gave me a message for you - he's sorry, but he can't keep his word, he can't pay you back now, but he'll pay every cent some day." Oh, yeah. Rod will give a good chunk of change to Isa in order to keep legal rights to L'il Ricky, for whom his love is unchanged. He wants to keep being Rickie's legal father.

Simultaneously, Isa is telling her lawyer she wants L'il Rickie to have his Real Father's name. The real father is sitting next to her in sunglasses and a mostly-unbuttoned shirt, looking like a juvenile delinquent wannabe. She says that, since L'il Rickie is a pawn in the Montalvo winner-takes-all varon sweepstakes, the Montalvos would end up stripping him of their name anyway. She'd rather have the lawyer concentrate on grabbing for her the biggest possible share of Rod's goodies.

Frankie interrupts to ask about fees. The lawyer requires a goodly sum up front and a percentage of the take. Frankie offers lists of all the income the hacienda produces, the better to divvy it up between man and ex-wife. "When you have the list for me, we'll contact Rod's lawyer." "Please hurry," pleads Isa, "our financial situation is desperate."

Then she takes L'il Baby and Big Baby and goes to a jeweler to sell her baubles. The jeweler says "They're great, but I can give you only half the price you paid." She acts all surprised. [Somebody with better eyes or a bigger tv, tell me - what exactly is Frankie looking at inside his unbuttoned shirt? HIS jewels? Is he admiring his own nipples? -Ed.] Isa's for leaving to find another jeweler but Frankie stops her, saying, "This is the third jeweler who's told us the same thing. We need the money. Tomorrow, I promise to get with my 'contacts' and find work. Trust me." They take the dough.

Rod is concluding with Videgaray, asking him to find Clarita and Gaviota, when Aaron bursts in shouting "Gaviota said she doesn't want Las Mirasoles, so when can I have it?" "No, Aaron - Grammie, my sisters and I all want to comply with Gramps' will." "You may have that stupid romantic idea, but I think completely differently, completely rationally!" [Aaron screams in non-rational fashion. I look around to see if there's a cellphone he could throw. -- Ed.]

"Anyway, why give Mariana Franco the hacienda if she's going to live in London?" Rod is impactado. Aaron, delighted to be the one to give the news, says she's going with her gorgeous boss.

Jose hyperventilates when she hears that Li'l Rickie is her grandson.

The Doctorcito is having a temper tantrum against Gaviota, which he shows by addressing all his annoying orders to Nancy instead. "I want to work with somebody who isn't tired," he snottily explains.

As Gav follows him into his office a cascade of complaints and resentments ensue, throttled only by her second iteration of this dramatic vow: "I'll go with you to London!" [Now folks, as a former child-rearer and current donkey trainer, I have skills applicable to dealing with the Doctorcito! I say Gav should not reward his bad behavior. She should wait until he behaves nicely before rewarding him or he'll think tantrums are good. --Ed.]

With Gav's announcement, the sun comes out! Blandie is all smiles and running around in a happy dance and "NANCY NANCY NANCY tell Av* the good news!" He inquires in an annoying, falsely self-deprecating manner: "Do you really want to go away with your inhuman, bad-humored boss?" "True, sometimes I want to strangle you." He promises to improve.

He tells Nancy they'll bag the rest of their work and go celebrate, but she starts crying (get that girl a Paxil) and says she doesn't have any reason to celebrate.

I especially wanted to punch him when he concluded, "Gaviota, you've made the best decision of your life." Later he tells her she can't change her mind at the last minute this time. "Doctor, there's nothing keeping me here - my thing with Rodrigo is over."

Rod gives Margarita a bunch of work and then tries to find out how Gaviota knew which expensive restaurant he'd be in with Doctor Erika. Margarita admits it was she who spilled the beans and promises not to do it again. He's pleased to hear how very interested Gav had been in all things Erika.

Gav tells Clarita what's been going on. Clarita suggests they give the hacienda to La Beneficion (a nunnery maybe?).

After the commercials Minerva shows up at Aaron's office with pictures of her sonograms - she is 16 weeks pregnant with Aaron Jr.

Aaron Sr. thinks it's a joke, or that she bought these sonograms, but no, they're the real thing. She says they have to be very careful because the doctor told her this was the last pregnancy she'd ever have. [Que the hell?]

Then Aaron has two surprises for Minerva. Number one: As of the next day his old man is signing over the corporation and Aaron will own it completely. Number two: Aaron Jr. has no competition in the Montalvo Varon Sweepstakes.

Minerva immediately assumes that Aaron has murdered L'il Ricky. However, she's just as happy to hear the real reason Rickie's been scratched from the race: "Isa wasn't inseminated, she got pregnant by more - natural - means, it was Pancho de la Vega, the both of them have been thrown out."

By habit, Minerva starts complaining: "With Isa out of the way, Rod can run to the husband-robber!" Aaron says no worries, the home team now has an unbeatable head start, and anyway, Gaviota is off to London with Blandie.

Then Minerva worries Aaron Jr. might turn out to be a girl but Aaron Sr. sez "NO! Cause we're on a lucky streak."

Showing some sense, Isa is telling Pancho they need to conserve their resources but he, hypnotized by the wad of cash from the jewelry store, wafts past her to the phone and orders a bottle of the best champagne to celebrate. [Frankie's time horizon is short. -Ed.]

Finally Rod arrives at Dr. Erika's place and starts telling her what a great gal she is and how she restored him and [I think] proved to him he could get it up for another woman, and she's just the woman he'd fall in love with, but he's already in love - with Gaviota.

Thursday: Latin Grammies. Friday: Rodrigo, in fine old style, yells at Aaron: "Tell the whole family what you said about Clarita and how you threatened her!" and later whacks and smashes a vase of roses, multiple times, over a car window, snarling and shouting; Dr. Blandie tells Gav he'll teach her to love him, and kisses her; in response Gaviota looks like a cockroach flew into her mouth.

Labels: Destilando