Caray, Caray!

The angry townspeople threaten Soledad, Ursula and the baby. Hugo and Boris come running, guns drawn. Hugo is shouting that this is his wife and child and no one is going to threaten them. Hugo asks the mob how dare they attack two defenseless women and a baby? What kind of people are they? They demonstrate that they are ignorant people by saying that someone who dies and comes back to life is possessed. Paquito is watching all this from the bushes. Vegetable start to fly again and Hugo has to fire his gun. He says that is rubbish. His daughter is a normal person like any of you and she has a disease like any other. He tells them not to mess with her because if they do, they'll have to deal with him. Paquito is frustrated at how things are going. Hugo has to fire shots over the angry crowd to let him and his party escape. In the carriage, Soledad asks if Hugo really cares about them that much. 'Of course," says Hugo. "Then you should let me open up your brother's tomb,' she responds. Hugo says that they have already discussed that and he doesn't want to disturb the memory of Hugo. Hugo also tells Soledad not to go out without an escort. It is too dangerous.

At the House of Sadism, Beatriz tells the unconscious and re-chained up Alcides that she should kill him. She is already a murderer and it wouldn't cost her anything to kill him. But no, she won't do him that favor. On the outside he is just like her beloved Hugo but inside he doesn't have a soul. That's why he abused her. He has a rotten heart. Beatriz is rolling all over Alcides and says him, "I'd love it if you had been Hugo. If you had been in me even once, I would have been your woman. I would have been so happy." She nibbles his ear and Alcides wakes up. With the lightning change of mood of the truly loca, Beatriz leaps up and asks herself what she is doing. This is not Hugo, it's Alcides, the man who raped her. She grabs the whip and starts flailing away at Alcides. He begs her to stop, "Enough, for the love of God. Isn't what you've done to me enough already?" "No," says Beatriz, "there's much worse to come," and she lays into him with the whip again.

Guillermo is so happy to have Elena back but it turns out that she was faking getting her memory back and when Guille and Enrico go to get her more food, she escapes and leave Guille a note saying that she is going back to her dear husband Max.

At the Obregon house, Soledad tells her parents and Antonia that Hugo had the same disease as Aurora. Ester says that now she understands why people said bad things about the Medina family. She thought Hugo was despicable but that was an error. (Nice going Ester. Now if you would just stop giving Soledad such bad advice.) Of course, Antonia has to say that the afflictions of the Medina family must be the result of some sin they committed. Lucas tells her to shut up and have some consideration for the suffering of this family. Soledad tells her family about her concern that Hugo was buried alive and asks their help in having his tomb opened. No help there. Lucas, Ester and Antonia think opening Hugo grave is a bad idea, is illegal and a sin (Antonia). Soledad says that she doesn't want to live with this uncertainty and Ester responds that she'd better get used to it. Finally Ursula pipes up and says that she will help Soledad. This gives Antonia the opportunity to say once again what a bad influence she thinks that Ursula is on Soledad.

At the Hacienda, Hugo expresses his displeasure with Paquito by hitting him. He accuses him of writing the story on purpose and disguising his intent. Paquito says that he didn't do anything. He says that because of what he did Soledad and his daughter could have been killed in the plaza. Who told him about his daughter's illness? Who told him what happened last night? Hugo tells Paquito that they had a deal. He was to publish only what Hugo wanted him too. Paquito says that he did what he was supposed to do but there are other reporters at the paper. Hugo hits him again and Marina interrupts to say that the men have come for the mine meeting. Hugo says that he will be right there.

Ursula tells Soledad that she will help her with her crazy stunt of this episode, this very night but what are they going to do about Aurora? Soledad wants to take Aurora with her (you're never too young to see your father's grave dug up!) but Ester agrees to stay with the baby to prevent that from happening.

Hugo asks the assembled men which of them are interested in investing in the gold mine. Manrique goes first and puts down a big pile of cash (I guess they didn't have checks back then) Others do likewise and Arturo follows suit. Finally, the judge puts his money down but Hugo says that the judge can't participate in this business. He doesn't have the profile of the investor that Hugo is looking for. The judge is offended and so is Arturo. He says that if the judge can't invest, neither will he. However, the judge says that he understands that this is payback for ruling as he did in the matter of the inheritance of Hugo's fortune and he withdraws his offer to participate. (Following that logic, Arturo should be even more suspicious that he is being permitted to invest because of all the bad things he did to Hugo/Alcides.) When the investors have gone, Boris and Hugo congratulate themselves on how well the meeting went. Boris says that he was a little concerned that Arturo was going to back out when the judge withdrew. Hugo says that he was nervous too. Hugo says that the judge is an honorable man who doesn't deserve to lose his money. He says that they will follow the law and embezzle money from these bandits.

Fulfilling his promise to blab all the personal business of his family to Rebeca, Lucas tells her about Aurora's diagnosis and the fact that Soledad is obsessed with the idea that Hugo was buried alive and she is planning to go dig up Hugo's grave.

Back at the House of Sadism, Alcides gets a lunch break and then it's back to torture. During a break, Alcides says that he has tried but he doesn't remember her. He says that there must be something he can do to change her mind. "Nothing," says Beatriz, "nothing can change all the damage you did to me, Alcides." Alcides tries a different tack, "I'm Alcides," he says, "but I'll become Hugo for you, just for you. Make me into Hugo and I'll do whatever you want."

Rebecas runs home and tells Paquito about Soledad's crazy stunt.

Lucas, who sounds like he's been drinking, says that he will help Soledad dig up the grave. Soledad thanks him and says that they just have to be careful that Aunt Antonia doesn't find out. Of course, she listening to the whole conversation.

Eloisa has found out that Soledad isn't going to be home so she has Hercu-less take her to the Hacienda. He is concerned about Arturo finding out but Eloisa won't be denied.

Alcides' men are watching her parents' house so they can't take a carriage to the cemetery. Up pops Enrico at their service.

Hugo comes into his bedroom and who should be posed suggestively on his bed in sexy underwear but Eloisa. She says that she heard Soledad was away for a few days and decided to take advantage of the opportunity. She says that no one saw her come in. She used the secret door. "Get dressed and get out," says Hugo. Eloisa asks him to make her his like he did before. Hugo says that what happened between them was in the past. As lightning flashes (a sure sign that graves are being dug up), Eloisa slithers forward and pulls Hugo down on top of her. There's a knock on the door. It's Aunt Antonia. She has to speak with Hugo. It's about Soledad. Hugo tries to keep Eloisa quiet.

At the cemetery, Soledad asks Hugo's forgiveness but she has to know. Thunder crashes. Soledad has flashbacks. Paquito is observing this from a hiding place in the Spanish moss.

In response to her knocks, Hugo tells Antonia that he was going to bed and he has to get dressed to speak to her. He comes out of the room, closes the door behind him and asks what is going on. She tells him that Soledad is convinced Hugo was buried alive and want to open his tomb. Alcides/Hugo says that he refused to do this. Antonia reminds Hugo that once Soledad gets an idea, she doesn't give up. She begs him to prevent Soledad from committing this sacrilege.

At the cemetery, Lucas has dug up the grave. Owls hoot in the distance. Soledad insists on opening the casket herself. The body in the casket is turned over. Now she knows that Hugo was buried alive. (It's interesting because Hugo was at the point of death when he was dug up and if he had died then, he wouldn't have looked any different in his coffin than when he was buried. He was a very calm buried-alive person, thankfully for us.) Soledad is destroyed. She blames herself that she didn't do something.

Eloisa tells Hugo that his wife is crazy. Only crazy people want to unbury the dead. Hugo tells her to leave the same way she came in.

The unburying party leaves the cemetery. Enrico says that he will cover up the grave. Ursula tries to comfort Soledad. She tells her not to blame herself. She couldn't know that Hugo had that terrible illness. Soledad says that now she understands why he was always so tormented. Ursula says that Hugo didn't say anything because he was trying to protect her. Soledad has a flashback to her 'Hugo slipping into the tomb' dream. She says that the dream was Hugo asking her to get him out of his grave. She says that it is all her fault. She let die the only man that she has ever loved in her life. She runs off and they all follow. Paquito comes out of hiding and takes something out of the coffin saying that he has to make sure that Hugo is dead.

Margot convinces a very drunk Guillermo that there must be something valuable in the Cabinet of the Dead Wife if Dr. Max doesn't want anyone to open it. They agree to go together to find out what is in there and share the proceeds (and rescue Elena) but Guille passes out.

Paquito tells Eloisa about what happened at the cemetery. She isn't interested in whether Hugo was buried alive (she already knows that he was). She wants to know what Soledad's reaction was. Paquito says that she ran as if Hugo's ghost was chasing her. Then he shows her what he took from the coffin - Hugo's skull. (ewww! really gross).

Enrico is reburying the coffin when Hugo and Boris appear. "What are you doing here?" asks Boris. "Where is Soledad?" asks Hugo. Ursula is there as well. She asks Alcides/Hugo to forgive her for digging up Hugo's grave. "Where is Soledad?" repeats Hugo. Ursula says that Hugo asphyxiated in his coffin. Soledad saw that corpse was turned over and ran off into the cemetery, horrified. Lucas is looking for her. Hugo asks Boris to help Enrico cover up the grave. Hugo goes after Soledad.

Paquito tells Eloisa that there is a French archeologist who can make a drawing of what a person looked like from their skull. He is going to send him the skull that was in the coffin to see once and for all if Hugo was buried in there.

Soledad is crying and holding her locket. She has a flashback to when Hugo tried to tell her something after their night of passion in the cabaña. "You tried to tell me and I wouldn't listen," she says, "Forgive me. I wouldn't listen. I'm so selfish. Forgive me." Hugo is behind her. He has a flashback to when his father was buried and hears his mother trying to tell everyone that her husband wasn't dead." Soledad looks around and sees him. They embrace. Hugo says that she disobeyed him and opened up his brother's grave against his orders.
"I had to find out what Hugo's death was like," says Soledad. "I was right, she sobs, "Hugo was buried alive!"
"Yes, I know," says Hugo calmly, "Ursula told me."
"Don't you have anything else to say?" demands Soledad.
"You know that Hugo and I didn't have a good relationship," says Hugo.
"Hugo was your brother!" says Soledad, "How can you be so cruel?" Then Hugo goes back to the script. He tells Soledad that she has no right to reproach him. Doesn't she remember that he and she betrayed Hugo. She agreed to marry him while carrying Alcides' child.
"How can you act that way?" says Soledad. "How dare you?"
"I'm sincere," responds Hugo, "Don't try and make me feel bad. It's you with your lies and betrayals. You are worse than me. Your conscience troubles you. Your tears confirm your guilty feelings." Hugo has a flashback to the Manrique/Ester conversation he heard in his coffin. He goes on to tell Soledad, "Poor Hugo. He knew he was going to die." He reminds her that when a person has a catalepsy attack, they appear to be dead but they can hear what is going on around them. "Why are you telling me this?" asks Soledad. "I wonder what Hugo felt when he realized that you didn't attend his funeral?"says Hugo and goes on, "Hugo loved you with all his heart. He believed in you and you betrayed him. When you heard he had supposedly died, you didn't hesitate to throw him away like a piece of trash."
"You don't know anything," says Soledad (so tell him!!)
"You're wrong," responds Hugo. "I know everything. Your plan succeeded better than you hoped. Alcides de Medina," Hugo repeats his brother's name in a tone of loathing, "Alcides de Medina became master of everything, everything! By my side your future became secure."

At the House of Sadism and Perversion, Beatriz has done Alcides hair in Hugo's style. "Now you are Hugo," she says. "For you," says Alcides, "only for you." Beatriz feeds Alcides so that he can become the strong man that she fell in love with. Alcides asks her to kiss him. Then she tells Alcides that she wants him to make love to her like Hugo. She takes off her corset... Alcides says that he will do it if she unties him. "Do you think I'm stupid?" asks Beatriz (not stupid but really, really crazy). She produces a gun. "We'll do it my way," she says and she starts kissing and caressing him.

Back in the cemetery, Hugo is really laying it on Soledad. He says about Hugo, "His last hours must have been terrible. He knew what was happening to him and the naive fool probably believed that you would save him."
"I don't want to hear any more," sobs Soledad, "Shut up!" But Hugo doesn't stop,
"Your name must have stayed on his lips until his last breath. You were probably the last word he said as his life left him."
Lucas appears and tells Hugo that is enough. Hugo yells at him not to interfere. "You don't know what you are talking about."
"Yes, I do," responds Lucas, "Soledad loved Hugo more than her own life." The credits roll.

Labels: la traicion

Finally! The recap, but first a little rehash copied dutifully from Sylvia’s Thursday recap.

Juan and Paula argue about Ivonne and having to ask each other's permission on decisions. Juan is funny when he mimics Paula. He says Ivonne wasn't feeling well and having a bad day. Paula sets her jaw and says every day is a bad one for Ivonne (true). Paula announces she doesn't want neurotics in the company. I found this statement ironically amusing and so did Juan. He tells her not to sell pineapples ('don't criticize when you are the same', I would love to know where this saying comes from). He says the most valuable asset of a company is its people. Paula scoffs that his perspective is romantic but impractical. Paula begins to lose ground in the argument so she becomes shrieky. Harpy on jet fuel anyone?

Speaking of practical things, she needs to know his argument against acquiring Campeoni! Juan becomes calm. He says he still hasn't had time to... The shrill princess interrupts him, she doesn't care about his hunches because that's no way to run a business! Does he or does he not have reasons? Juan says no he doesn't, how does she like that? She's fed up, she shrieks, fed up with giving him chances. If he doesn't have a reason against acquiring Campeoni she's going to buy it, period! Juan counters with "In that case Ivonne stays, period!" Pau yells, "Over my dead body!" and stomps out of the room.
________________________________

The principal tells Profe Lorenzo that the board of directors decided to fire him. Profe Lorenzo doesn’t understand why they are doing this in the middle of the school year, he is sure that a “compadre” of one of the owners needed the job. The Principal makes excuses; he says that it wasn’t him, and praises Profe Lorenzo abilities as a teacher. Profe Lorenzo says to save it he doesn’t care to be commended; he is only worried about the kids. The principal, feeling a little remorse asks Profe Lorenzo what was it that he wanted when he came to talk to him. Profe Lorenzo remembers about Flor and asks that she is allowed to enroll for free. The principal agrees. Juanito sees him coming out of the office and notices his sadness. He asks him what is wrong; but Profe Lorenzo tells him that there is nothing wrong, and that actually he has good news, he tells him that Flor can come to school. Juanito is delighted.

The principal calls Topete and tells him that the deed is done, he can start working tomorrow. Topete hangs up and starts yelling “si se pudo, si se pudo” It could be done, it could be done. He tells Yadira that he has the job and starts tomorrow. Yadira is not impressed. Topete tells her that Roma wasn’t built in one day and it all started with a brick and this job is the first brick for building their home. Yadira is only interested in the big TV set plasma that he promised.

Pastor is telling Yvonne that he will fight “con uñas y dientes” tooth and nail for her. He tells her that she has dedicated a lot of years working for Farrell and the company should pay for the operation. Yvonne is thankful, but doesn’t want Pastor telling about her sickness. Pastor says that he has to explain why she needs the help. Yvonne tells him ok, but only if necessary.

Juan is telling Fer that he is very upset at Paula (so what is new) “ahora resulta que una de huaraches me viene aqui a taconear” She is accusing me of the same thing she is doing Lit. Now one on sandals comes to clack her heels. On the one side she comes and tells me that she has all the right to fire my secretary and on the other she “se monta en su mula” obstinately wants to buy Campeoni even over my authority. They are interrupted by Pastor that is trying to talk to Juan. Juan is very upset –I already told you to announce when you are coming. –Where do you want me to announce that I’m coming, on the TV? because you don’t have a secretary. Juan realizes that he is right and agrees to listen to him. Pastor starts defending Yvonne vehemently. He tells Juan that the way she was fired was unfair and down right illegal, they are opening themselves to a law suit. He works himself into a state of agitation and starts yelling at Juan. Juan tries to calm him down to no avail, finally Juan yells at him to calm down or the one that is going to end up without a job is going to be him. He tells him to leave the office, but asks him to tell Yvonne to come and see him ASAP. Pastor complains that at least CL would kick him out of the office with style.

Marely goes into Paula’s office and tells her that Yvonne went into Juan’s office. Impactada face from Paula

Cut to Juan’s office. Juan is telling Yvonne that she has to recognize that she made a big mistake. Yvonne accepts her responsibility. Juan asks her if she is willing to behave and not to fight with Paula. Yvonne says yes. Juan tells her that in that case she has her job back. Yvonne is very grateful and tells him that getting her job back means a lot to her. She leaves the office while Juan wonders what happened to Yvonne that made her change so much.

Outside the office Pastor has been waiting for Yvonne, and when he sees her come out, he asks her what happened. Yvonne tells him that Juan gave her her job back. Pastor is very happy and tells her that he is glad she is back because the office wasn’t the same without her, Fernando has been listening to their conversation and mumbles that of course the office was not going to be the same; it was going to be better. When Yvonne hears Fernando, she starts crying and runs to the bathroom. Fernando doesn’t understand why Yvonne is so sensitive all of the sudden. Pastor tells Fernando in a very authoritative way that they need to talk right away. Fernando doesn’t like the way Pastor is talking to him and reminds him that he is not longer the driver but an executive. Pastor turns the attitude down, but just a little and insists that he needs to talk to him. Fernando follows him to his office.

At Flor’s house Juanito and Profe Lorenzo are giving Flor the good news that she can go to school. She is very excited and can’t wait to start, however she is a little hesitant because she doesn’t know if her mother will let her go. Profe Lorenzo tells her that he could talk to her. Flor agrees and goes inside to tell her mother that Profe Lorenzo wants to talk to her. Juanito is worried that Flor’s mom won’t let her go, but Profe Lorenzo tells him that all mothers want what is best for their children and Flor’s mom won’t be any different, he goes inside and talks to the mom while Flor and Juanito wait outside.

At Farrell, Paula is once more on the phone with Campeoni. She confirms the meeting and reassures whoever is on the other side of the line that she is VERY interested in that company. As she hangs up she tells to herself “We’ll se who is the boss here”

At Pastor’s office, Pastor is trying to tell Fer about Yvonne sickness; however he doesn’t know how to approach the subject. Finally he tells Fer, but asks him not to tell anybody and to be very careful because Yvonne doesn’t want everybody to know. He tells him that the only reason he is telling him is because Yvonne is still in love with him and she needs him. –Please remember not to tell anybody, is that clear? –As clear as water, answers Fer.

Yvonne calls her doctor and informs her that she is back at work, therefore she is covered and to please schedule the operation. The doctor says she’ll do it right away. She’ll call her back with the date.

Marely enters Paula’s office again. This time she tells her that the Feds are looking for her. Paula tells her to let them in. The officers introduce themselves. The joke is that the white dude’s name is Lt. Blanco, and the black dude is Sgt. Moreno (Ha, ha…really funny...Not!) Anyway they tell her that CL is missing, he hasn’t been seen since that episode when he was about to jump from the ship, they ask her if they were having trouble in their marriage. She tells them that they were separated. The Officers share an insightful look and Officer Blanco tells her that they have reports that he was drinking heavily and maybe he fell off the ship, of course there is always the possibility that he might up jump off. Paula is very disturbed by this info. The officers tell her that they will contact her if they get new info and they leave. As soon as they are out the door, little Marely enters to find out what happened. Paula is in state of shock and all she can say is that they told her that CL is dead. Big Impactada face from Marely.


Profe Lorenzo comes out of Flor’s house and tells them that Flor’s mom gave her permition. Juanito is delighted, but notices that Flor doesn’t look too happy. Profe Lorenzo wants to go, but Juanito asks to talk to Flor. He asks her what is wrong. Flor tells him that she hadn’t thought about her mother, and now realizes that she can’t go to school because her mother won’t have somebody to help her, and they need the money she earns selling gum in the streets. She decides she won’t go to school, and will tell her mother she didn’t want to go. Juanito is very sad.

Paula and Marely are now at the bathroom, the news was a little to much for her and her tummy hurts. Marely offers her tea. Paula can only cry.

Juanito told Profe Lorenzo what Flor told him. Profe says he understand, he says that it is more important to fill the stomach than to fill the brain, Juanito wants to help her friend and knows exactly who would be able to help them. His dad!

Fernando asks Yvonne out, he is so obvious that Yvonne realizes that Pastor must’ve told him about her sickness.

Paula and Marely are still talking. Paula tells her that CL is dead and probably is her fault. Marely tries to make her feel better telling her that maybe he is not dead, maybe he left the ship. Paula says no, he is dead and maybe he killed himself. Marely tells her that CL would never do something like that. Paula says, why not?, when he left he was completely destroyed. Marely wonders aloud what Juan is going to do when he founds out. Paula says that Juan won’t found out, because nobody should know what happened, at least until they confirm that CL’s dead.

Yvonne enters Pastor’s office all upset calling Pastor a gossip. Pastor tells him he understands that she is upset, but he had his reason to tell Fer. He asks her to sit down. Yvonne calms down a little and sits down. Pastor tells her that he did it because he knows that Yvonne and Fer love each other. Yvonne tells him that Fer forgot about her long time ago.

Cut to Fer in Juan’s office. He is thanking Juan for giving Yvonne her job back. Juan is surprised because he thought that Fer disliked Yvonne. Fer tells him that even though some people are “gacha” (mean) they are still human and have troubles like everybody else. Juan says that he doesn’t understand, is Fer still in love with Yvonne?

Back to Yvonne and Pastor, she is telling him that Fer doesn’t have any feelings for her. Pastor disagrees; he tells her that Fer showed him that he still cares for her. Yvonne gets a little hopeful and asks do you think he really cares for me? Pastor says totally!. Yvonne is a little less depressed, and tells him that she hopes that Fer doesn’t go around telling people about her sickness, because she doesn’t want to see pity on every body’s eyes.

At the Pomposo residence, Profe Lorezo drops Juanito and tells his wife that he has to go. Dona Pomposo tells him that he should stay to eat, she made his favorite dish. Profe Lorenzo tells her that she shouldn’t try so hard and leaves. Dona P notices that Profe Lorenzo is worried and asks Juanito what’s wrong. Juanito tells him that he doesn’t know, but he noticed that his mood had changed after talking to the Principal. Dona P wonders what could be the problem.

At Paula’s office, Marely is trying to convince Paula to go home. Paula says that she can’t go because she has the meeting with Campeoni. Marely tells her that she is in a really bad shape and she should go home, and let Pastor handle the deal. After a little more discussion, Paula agrees to go home and let Pastor go to the meeting.

Now we see Marely at Pastor’s office telling him that Paula had to go home and now he is the one that has to deal with Campeoni. Pastor can’t believe it, he starts yelling that is not fair and that it is not his place to talk to Campeoni. If Paula can’t go, then Juan should go. Marely tries to convince him but he doesn’t listen and goes straight to Juan’s office. When Juan sees him entering his office, he is not amused. Juan tells him that he can’t see him right now, but Pastor insists that it is a very important matter. Juan accepts to listen to him more because Pastor is being a bother than because he is interested in what he has to say. Pastor gives an impassionate speech in how Paula can’t go to the Campioni meeting and is Juan responsibility to see that meeting thru. Juan is not happy, he tells him that he (Juan) doesn’t care about Campeoni and that if Paula won’t go it is better for him he ends the conversation by telling Pastor to please leave his office. Pastor can’t believe it. –The company is going down like the Titanic and we don’t have a Leonardo DiCaprio to save me, he says as he leaves the office.

Delirio is in jail, he is trying to convince the guard that he is not Gutierrez, but the guard insists that he is in fact Gutierrez and if he doesn’t shut up, he will have to go in there and hit him until he admits that he is Gutierrez, Delirio tells the Guard that he is doing a mistake and that he is Alirio Pelafan Rocha, but the guard tells him that if he keeps saying that he is not Gutierrez, he is going to have to let other inmates convince him of his “real” name. Delirio is scare and tells the Guard that he doesn’t have to do that, and that he remembers now that his name is Gutierrez. The Guard leaves and Delirio is repeating to himself that his name is Gutierrez, when he sees a group of inmates walk by his cell. He recognizes his good friend Manzano, and calls him and pulls him thru the bars. Manzano is very happy to see him.

Paula arrives at Ana’s house just when Ana and Willy were getting ready to go out to eat. Willy asks her to join them but she tells him that she is not in the mood and prefers to stay. She goes to her room and Willy tells Ana that maybe Paula doesn’t like seeing him at her house, maybe he should go. Ana says that she doesn’t believe that is the problem, but agrees that it is better to go eat out another day.

At jail, Delirio explained to Manzano how Gutis escaped and left him in his place. He tells him that nobody believes him that he is not Gutis. Mazano is impressed by Gutis craftiness, and tells Delirio that he is almost sure that Gutis paid the guard because it is impossible that he hasn’t realized that he (Delirio) is not Gutis. Delirio finally understands. Manzano tells him that if he wants to get out the first thing they have to do is to prove that he is not Gutis, Delirio wonders how to do that since he is in that cell and he is not allowed to use the phone. Manzano says that they have to talk to the jail Director.

At the market place Angarita is very upset at Kike; he tells him that he shouldn’t have meddled. When Kike tries to explain that he was just trying to help Nidia do what is right, Angarita cuts him off and tells him that it doesn’t matters any more. He gives him an envelope and tells him to sign that he received it. Kike wants to know what it is. Anga tells him it is his (Kike) resignation letter. Big impactado face from Kike.

Ana goes into Paula’s room, Pula tells her what happened at the office and how they think that CL is dead. Ana is impactada.

Kike asks Anga if he realizes what he is doing. Anga says that he is not doing anything illegal; in the envelope he will find his final check including unpaid vacation and all. Kike says that he doesn’t want it (the check) and that what he is doing is getting him back for what he told Nidia

Paula is telling Ana that he feels guilty for what happened to CL, Ana says that whatever decision that CL took was his own and she shouldn’t feel guilty. Paula tells her that to top it all she has to go to an important meeting with the owners of Campeoni. Ana tells her that she is in no condition to go to that meeting.

Anga tells Kike that if he doesn’t want to take the check he’ll keep it, but he has to sign the letter. Kike tries to plead with him, but Anga treats him very coldly. Kike takes the check and signs the letter and before leaving tells him that what he is doing is not fair and he knows it. Anga says that he doesn’t care. Kike leaves.

At Farrell’s Fer is telling Juan how Paula came back yesterday just to find out if Juan was coming back or not. Juan is happy about this. He tells Fer about his dinner with Laura. Fer is very happy for Juan.

Kike goes to the soon to be ex Cachon residence. Nidia is packing and complaining that she doesn’t know where Delirio is. Kike gives her the bad news, he has been fired. Nidia is impactadisima!!


The end

Labels: Juan

The episode started out with a lot of review from past episodes; maybe they're anticipating new viewers. This turned out to be a great episode with lots of good drama and no silly comedy. Morgan had the night off, in fact.

Anyway, we join our previous broadcast where Luci was trying to get Peralta to disappear her husband.

At the same time, said husband is driving his car and must stop short when the driver in front of him stops. It's like one of those auto accident scams you hear about: He's surrounded, as thugs emerge from the front car and another one behind him. They begin beating him and kicking him. Ouch! Addition: Constancio has a vision of Rosario while he is out cold. He asks her if she has come to take him to heaven. She says no, he's going to another place. He is suddenly surrounded by flames. Thanks to Maggie (see below) for reminding me of this bit.

Luci is still talking to Peralta, so I guess she got a freebie beatdown. But the thugs were sent by Peralta, no? (See below.)

Hugo and Pilar discuss Mili and his paintings. Pilar praises his vast artistic talent.

Mili is chatting with her gals in the kitchen. Her little smiles let them know that something's up, but she's not telling. Yolanda (Gloria's mom) comes in and asks to speak to Mili. She tries to get Mili to intercede with Gloria, but Mili is very conflicted. She wants to help, but she fears Gloria won't be responsive. She remembers how sad Gloria was in the orphanage, she had different nuns to wake her up and dress her and turn out the lights and never had a good-night kiss. (Actually, I think the nuns at the orphanage seem very loving, so I suppose that the orphans just always feel an emptiness.) Mili clearly reads into it how she herself resents the father that abandoned her. She tells Yolanda she won't be her Cyrano.

At the office, everyone wonders where Connie is. Andrea suspects that Alex is happy about something more than his ascension to the presidency. He's not telling.

Over in the boardroom, Andrea breaks in with the news that the police just called: Connie was hurt, etc. Lucy says he'll do anything to avoid the meeting. This meeting reminds of the big meeting on LFMB--weeks of buildup! (I wondered if they used the same boardroom set, but I think it actually looks different. I've seen that orange Conceptos building on other shows, though.)

Karla and Andrea recap the Hugo situation. Karla is angry that she's back at the mansion and Hugo is with Her Snoutiness. Andrea says that she thinks something's up with Alex and Mili. She enlists Karla to spy and find out.

Connie is in a hospital bed with a neck brace. At his bedside are Val, Al, Luci, Damien and Granny. He says that three beasts beat him up, but it felt like five! He says they were saying "this is for last night." They seem to be referring to that beating Peralta's thugs gave at the closet casino. Peralta is playing both sides again, I suppose.

Luci wants to keep things out of the press for the sake of the family's reputation. Val says that the only thing she cares about is her daddy's health. Regina calls Luci unfeeling. Connie says that Luci is right--the Belmontes are not going down without a fight.

Luci wants Connie to get back to the office so they can have the big meeting. I remember that these votes have been important from the first episode, but I don't know why they are suddenly electing a new president, other than because they all hate each other and one party has the power to call for a new election? I think Granny was giving votes to Alex to prepare for the future, and maybe these new proxies changed the balance of power so they have to have a new election? I don't think it has been made clear, but if anyone knows more, please chime in.

Everyone leaves the bedside. Alex taps Pop on the shoulder and causes him to wince. Another point earned by our Al! Damien remains behind. Connie says maybe Damien was right--they should hire a security team. Damien has an idea for how they can use the incident to their advantage with the press for the big election. Connie tells Damien that the doctors gave him good news: no broken bones and no internal injuries. He's going to drive himself home and declines Damien's offer of an ambulance.

Horacio and Socorro have some cute flirting time in the kitchen. Then Lina and Mili almost give them a heart attack by breaking in. Mili reveals that the visitor was Gloria's mother.

Mili is tearful, as she confesses she doesn't know what to do about Yolanda. Now Lina is also reduced to tears as she thinks of her own despised mother. She says that these types of women must pay for their mistakes. She's gotten what she deserved. Lina runs out. Soco asks Horacio to talk to her. Horacio says that he promised not to take Lina to visit Roxana in prison. He says that Roxana didn't love Lina because she was rejected by her own mother. (At least that's what I think he said. I may have had pronoun confusion.)

Connie is at home and gets into bed . Damien produces an electric wheelchair for the press conference. Connie says that Luci will vote for him. Luci comes in and tells Connie that unless he banishes Mili, she won't vote for him. You win, he tells her.

Mili tells Granny about the Gloria situation. Granny says not to butt in, and everything will turn out okay. What if your father appeared? Mili is upset, but before she can say anything Connie appropriately pokes his head in and says he has to talk to Mili.

Horacio talks to Lina in the yard. He reveals the truth that Roxana is in prison. (The other day, I wondered what happened to this story line, so now we know.)

Mili comes in to a room where Connie is sitting with Luci. He beckons her to sit, but Luci has a fit--he can't ask servants to sit. Mili agrees. The servants shouldn't sit with the bosses, as they will get dirty. Suck that lemon, Luci! Connie smirks. Mili says that when Luci insults her she's just defending heself. Anyway, noting that Luci is mucking things up, Connie tells her to leave the driving to him. Luci says okay--she can't breathe anyway. She leaves, and Connie gets Mili to sit down after all.

Connie tells Mili that he wants to send Regina away to Cuernavaca for a rest, and he'll send Mili with her. Great! Uh-oh. Granny says not so great. Out in the hall, Connie tries to make a deal with Mili. Just pretend to go away so Luci will give him her vote. After the vote, Mili can come back and Luci won't be able to do anything. She agrees. He asks if she wants money, but she just wants a donation for the orphanage. Unfortunately, Luci overhears. Luci emerges from behind her pillar, and Mili announces her imminent departure. Will you miss me?

Over at the prison, Lina is about to meet with Roxana.

But first we have to have that board meeting. First, Connie asks how Alex is going to cast Granny's vote. Granny pipes up and says what am I--chopped liver? I came here to cast my own vote: I vote for Alejandro! Connie votes for himself. Luci--who are you voting for? She votes for her son! Uh-oh. Now it's even. Damien, it's up to you. Damien is under the table.

Suspense: Cut to the prison, where Lina learns that her mother is in prison because of her business, but Roxana realizes that Lina is not there to discuss Roxana's problems.
Lina asks why she never told her she was alive. She said it was good enough to know she was well taken care of and was near her father. Lina says that Roxana bears a lot of fault. Roxana says, oh, please--at least you're alive. Cold!
She says that Horacio tells her that you're a very nice girl. You're better off without me. Anyway, you were just an obstacle in my way. Lina cries.

Back to the boardroom: Damien casts his vote for Alex. Damien knows his bread is better buttered with his sister. Anyway, Connie is deposed, and he calls Luci a witch. She says, no, he didn't give her what she asked for so now she's in charge. (This is a mistake on her part. Alex is in charge, and he certainly isn't throwing Mili out. But this is really Luci's blind spot.) Connie says that both he and Regina will protect Mili, and nothing will ever hurt her.

Back to the prison, and what may be the saddest story I have ever heard. Lina has now really turned on the tears, but her makeup doesn't run. She says that Roxana will never know what she missed, never having a mother to watch out for her. Roxana says that she was fine--she left her with her sister. Don't tell me she didn't take care of you. Lina reveals that she used to wet her bed. As best as I can understand, she prayed to God that she would stop if he sent her mother, but no mother ever came, so she kept wetting the bed. Finally she says, I would like to hate you, but I can't. She runs out and is comforted by Horacio.

Granny congratulates Alex. Alex is sad that his pop acts like he doesn't love Alex. Here's Granny's blind spot--she always covers for Connie here. Mili comes in and learns the good news. She kisses Alex, but he warns her they must be careful not to reveal their plans. What plans? Let's go in the bedroom, Granny. Karla overhears.

Press conference: Connie is sitting in the wheelchair with the collar on and a sling. To complete the picture, Peralta feeds the invalid a drink with a straw. Connie tells the press they won't be quiet about these vicious attacks, crime, etc.

Braulio catches Karla eavesdropping and sends her away--so he can eavesdrop.

Alex and Mili tell Granny about the secret wedding. She thinks it's a great idea, because no one can interfere. Of course, she will be invited. Hugs all around.

Avances: Mili, Granny and Connie are meeting with Padre Manuel. Padre tells Connie that he must tell Mili the truth!

Labels: guapos

Alternate Title: Pedrito de Salamanca - Whose Your Daddy?

Where were we? Oh yes, Camila is on bended knee to beg the new Colonel in town for a chance to visit Ric in prison. She assures them we are decent people and I really need to visit him because, because, well, he is my fiancé (prometido). Colonel who hasn't been asleep says, your cousin or your fiancé. She gulps, both. (now we have discussed this advanced kissing cousins thing so I'm not going there again). Here is an excerpt of Margaret's excellent adventure, I mean recap:

Next Camila, Inez and Vasco go to see Col. Jose and tell him they are looking for their relative “Manuel Darién.” He begins to press them on all their family connections. Camila tells him that Manuel Darién is a merchant. He asks about Vasco’s line of work and Vasco tells him that he’ s the town miller. Ines helpfully adds that her (half)brother is Don Jorge Mancera’s recognized bastard. (I’d say he’s been pretty well recognized on this blog for being a bastard!) Camila pleads that they are decent folk and she really needs to see him because….he’s her fiancé. Col. Jose looks confused. “He’s your cousin or your fiancé?” Vasco asks what he’s been accused of. Col. Jose lays out the pirate charges and the attack on Pto. Paraiso. Ines’s voice jumps an octave in her protests that it can’t be. Cami falls apart. She cries. Col. Jose offers her his hanky.

Then on to the the dungeon. Ricardo receives Camila with open arms and a swoon making kiss. How much time do you have here? He asks. She doesn't know so they resume kissing with great fervor.

Outside Ines asks Vasco, If he isn't accused of anything why don't they let him go? He answers, I don't know, I don't know, but why did you tell them that your brother is the son of Don Jorge? Ines responds that she doesn't know but perhaps it will be useful for something.

The Colonel in his office muses out the window that he believes this is the man we are looking for. Another uniform (sorry, I am such a sucker for any well fitting uniform and forget to look at the face) joins in that he seems just like him (tiene la pinta) and fits the description. Col. adds all the supposed Darien family is connected to the Manceras and the sister-in-law is the sister of Santiago. Always the relatives will cover up for each other. A third uniform enters to announce that the funeral coach arrived to collect the corpse of Uriel Arriaga. Let them take him. Also Jorge Mancera y Ruiz has arrived with a physician to see the man identified as Mateo Ruiz de la Garza. ALSO they have brought a priest with them. All right. As the aide leaves, Col. remarks, if this man doesn't say anything, we will have very little to go on.

Ric tells Camila to stop crying, last night he too had a moment of weakness, but seeing you gave me courage and hope. She worries, even if Pablo tells Mario to come, there are so many guards here. Ric says he refuses to risk the lives of his men. I've seen too many have died and I don't want more. Ric adds, remember when I left San Fernando injured? Mario carried away all my papers and personal things and they are in La Iguana. Tell Pablo to have Mario look for two letters to bring marked from Molinar Pastor. Etch this in your mind, Molinar Pastor. These are the letters we found in LaFont's house. She despairs that they are finished but he encourages her to take heart. How are you going to get out of here? He smiles, perhaps with a stroke of luck.

Back at the filthy looking room that serves as both morgue and sickbay, everyone leans over Mateo. The doctor pronounces he is Very bad, to Don Jorge. Jorge tries to get his attention as Mateo just repeats Jorge with confusion, Jorge tells him not to exert himself. The Col. arrives and tries to question Mateo, who was he with? Jorge cautions that this is a dying man here (duh) then turns to the priest to administer last rights. Whose orders were you working under? Mateo tries to raise his head but only takes one last wordless gasp. Jorge pronounces him dead. They all make the sign of the cross, even the Col. has his reluctant respect in the face of death.

Ricardo asks how the Col. was? Camila says correct and polite even friendly. And, how about the Capitan that was with them at the top of the rock pit? He was on the boat when the ladies arrived in Veracruz after Puerto Paraiso. Camila is pretty sure Ursula had "something to do with him" HUH! is Ric's response. Camila thinks maybe they should offer him money? No, in a prison like this, it's not going to be so easy to bribe someone. But he assures her they will find a way...

Still waiting in the hallway Ines and Vasco pace while Jorge comes in with the Col. He asks what they are doing there, the Col.says they are here to see about a detained relative. As they sweep into the office, Ines wonders if Jorge is there for something related to Ricardo.

Ricardo brings up the other big issue on his mind, since she told him that she heard their baby cry when he was born. Listen, take this calmly, but why did your father and Santiago take you to this village. She says to keep people from realizing she was pregnant. And she stutters that her father promised her she could keep her baby. Ricardo presses on but why were you told the baby died when you heard him cry? She thinks perhaps she could have been mistaken. He broaches the possibility that they lied to her and put the baby in someone else's hands. Why were they so cruel to her to take her to an unknown location and not even give her the comfort of Jimena's company. She begins to consider and cry. He cautions that he may be all wrong but the least they must do is verify what happened. Then he starts to give her advise about what if he can't get out of this place. She refuses to let him speak these horrible words. The guard banks on the bars to warn them that time is up. I don't want you to die. but she doesn't want to hear about it. They kiss, and his tender goodbye is that independently of whatever happens, I want you to know that you are the love of my life. It doesn't matter what you are going to do, Antillano, but I need you to live, to live and so much more. Forever he murmurs as she leaves the cell. He gives thanks to God for getting to see her as he had prayed.

We come back to Jorge spilling his guts to the Colonel. He denies knowing anything about what his friends did or not regarding the assault on the caravan. It is his duty to protect the interests of the crown. Col. says he has trouble understanding how someone as intelligent and highly placed as Jorge could have let this get by him. Jorge with cool dismissal says with friendships so deep and old it is hard to doubt your best buds. Yes, and the contraband? The doors and papers in the administrative offices are open to your inspection. And you can count on my total cooperation. Oh and by the way, I wouild like you to come for dinner at my house. It will be a pleasure. Then the big give comes along. Col. begins to tell how he is looking for a Ricardo ..de Carbohal and Jorge just way to cheerfully adds that he in effect is Ricardo de Salamanca who is the same as the pirate Antillano but he disappeared. So is this the purpose of your mission here? Colonel's cagey answer is, Yes among other things... Jorge's curls bobble as he hopes for the best.

Ines adds to Camila's news about what Ricardo brought out about the baby being alive, by saying that she and Vasco wanted to tell her the same thing. Manuela has learned some things from Lis and they think it is strange, that she has named her foundling, the one that they saw with Lis, Pedro de Salamanca. Ascanio said this is the very name of Ricardo's father. A shadow of a story takes place in Camila's head that somehow, that maldita blindwoman, Lis has connived to rob her of her child, and if she finds out this is true, she swears she will kill her.

Poor little ruffle collared Marcelino is confirming to Eustacio that he is heading off to Mexico City for family reasons that he can't expain. Eustacio asks if Jorge knows yet. Yes, yes, he does. Eustacio wishes him lots of luck, they hug like old friends. Marcelino says it has been an honor to work with him and wishes him good luck too.

Vasco and the Darien women return to SanFer and Vasco gives Pablo instructions about heading off to find Mario, Camila remembers that he must tell Mario to find and bring back the letters found in La Font's house from Molinar Pastor without fail. It's of the utmost importance. Pablo wants to know how his Captain is. Fine, fine, Camila wants to be hopeful, considering what's happening to him. Pablo promises to ride like the devil.

Col. discusses that they will finally be able to question LaFont tomorrow. Now the prisoner is being brought in as Col. taunts him with Senor Manuel Darien, Diego de Lujan, or how should I call you? However you like, Ric answers wisely. In the end neither is your name. I talked with your family which means that you are from here. I am not from here but have lived here for some time. Do you know Jorge Mancera? Sure. And his son? How about Alberto LaFont? I know the majority of inhabitants of San Fernando. Col. hands Rick a crystal glass of wine and says a few days ago there was an assault on a caravan, do you know anything about that? I didn't encounter it. The ship we were sailing on was shipwrecked, we traveled to the beach and there we met your Captain. Col, goes on, I spoke with a culprit sentenced here who said that two months ago under the name of Diego de Lujan came aboard (around) asking him for a contact to sell Spanish silver to some English corsair. Is that true? Yes. Please sit down the Col. indicates. In other words you admit to assaulting caravans. No! Ric repeats, I acted under orders. Orders from whom? Ric then takes the offensive in his suave voice, what is it that interests you Col. stopping robbers? I can help you. By denouncing your accompices? Ric remains calm, I have no accomplices because I have never assaulted a caravan. Nevertheless, I know who did these acts. Do you have proofs? Are you interested? This is why I came. The king is fed up with so many assaults. And the loss of silver shrinks the wealth of Spain. Ric adds that the proofs you need will arrive in a few days. But I will exchange these for something. Col. snorts that Ric is in no position to negotiate and further, there are ways to obligate a man to talk. Sure, there is torture, but nothing is served by a cadaver. Also the man who will bring the proofs will expect to find me alive and in acceptable condition. Col. takes his measure and says what is it you want in exchange? Let me leave. I give my word that in a few days I will return with the proofs. I'm not going to trust some friend of yours. Ric heats up a bit, he has a personal affair to attend to, that is that he needs to find out with his wife whether their son was born alive or dead.

Shortly later the Col. and Cap. are riding off on horses, Col. relates that Ric wasn't insolent but he asked to be let free. Cap. says pardon me sir but we have clear and precise orders. The monsignor is already on his way and if he finds out we haven't completed our work, he's going to be upset. Yes, yes, I know. Cap. continues that there is no charge to bring against him. Well, Col. just pulls rank. He's going to keep Ric right there until this mysterious man appears with the proofs. [So Ric's padrino is behind this one somehow].

Back in the Darien yard Camila and Ines greet Jemena and Paco. Camila goes off to find her father.

While over at the palace Jorge has lined up the office functionaries to announce that unfortunately Don Marcelino had to take a personal leave for personal and family matters and his new choice of manager/intendente is Ascanio Gonsalez. A bold clerk points out that Ascanio has been with them a very short time. Jorge sites the confidence his son has in Ascanio. He directly challenges that one of them may have thought they deserved this distinction as Ascanio calls it more than the young one. They should speak up. With that kind invitation the boys all do a quick bobble heads that the Señor knows best.

Camila shows up at Justo's door. They greet and Justo brings out a lovely picture of her mother when she was about Camila's age. What a sweet face. Justo says Camila always looked much more like her mother than Rita did. This morning you left really early, where did you go. To the prison in San Benito to see Ric. Ric's in prison? Yes, but that's not what she wants to talk about. Do you agree that you told me when I my child would come that I could keep him with me? Sure I did, but he was born dead. Camila stands up, he was born dead or died afterward? You were there? No, but Santiago and I arrived shortly after. Are you sure? I saw him, we buried him. Camila blurts out that she thinks a switch was pulled and that somehow the child that Lis has is her baby. Then she drops the bomb that he is named for Pedro, Ric's father. She doesn't want to accuse Santiago but feels sure he has colluded somehow Lis to take the baby from her. Justo is stunned at this news and assures her that she is wrong and worked up. Camila holds out that she and Ric are going to find out whether their baby is alive and justice will be done.

After the break, Jorge is assuring Ascanio that he is the right man for the job. Ascanio is not so sure and knows some of the more experienced people hoped to take Marcelino's place when the time came. Jorge again assures that they need young people and honest, responsible capable people like Ascanio. AND, if he has this responsible position, he will be all set to achieve the hand of Manuela. In fact, he has already talked to Alberto and his has agreed. Ascanio calmly responds that he knows this is all so he won't pursue bringing forth the falsified papers he has found from the customs office in Veracruz. Jorge delivers the lesson, this is how things go between people of power: favor for favor. Ascanio looks as though he has just swallowed something nasty. [Don't bet on it being swallowed though].

Next Camila jumps Santiago at the blacksmith shop. Justo brings up the rear and Ofelia has to stop her accusations that Santiago is responsible for the loss of her child. The twins realize that she said, her child. Must be nice to be so innocent, huh?

Jorge has to tell Sofia that he had to collect and dispatch the bodies of both Uriel and Mateo. Sofia feigns ignorance, how, where, your two friends are dead and Alberto is both one-eyed and crippled and your son has left the house because he can't agree to your decadence. You seem miserable. She smiles that after years of seeing him abuse power given to him by his parents, she wanted to see him like this. He tells her to enjoy herself. She counters that she only feels sorry for him. He doesn't think he deserves it and says she knows his sins as well as he does. Was it worth it, Jorge. At the moment it did, now, I don't know. She observes that he seems unwell. He justs wants to go up to bed and will see how he feels in the morning. As soon as he climbs the stairs, she orders a servant to fetch the doctor.

Camila's reeming of Santiago continues, how could he not know that Lis has her baby and has even named it Pedro Salamanca after Ricardo's father. Santiago seems genuinely stunned but Camila has her teeth sunk in and is not stopping now. How can she have any confidence in him. Justo assures her from the side that they didn't do anything. Camila demands that Santiago swear by his saints that he did not hand her baby over to Lisabeta. He swears he did. After she storms off Justo reveals that she heard all this from Ricardo. Now Santiago is flips when he hears that Ric is behind this, it has to be another trick by this criminal who deserves to die. He assures the crowd around the table that Camila has surely lost her reason. Ofelia appeals for him to be understanding of Camila's plight.

Over in the palace, the doctor is listening to Jorge's chest and says his heart beat is really fast but doesn't think anything else is wrong. Jorge insists he will be all ducky tomorrow and Sofia tries to reason with him to get some rest, he almost fainted. The doctor leaves it to his discretion and excuses him. A bit unbelievably, Ursula and Fortunata are standing at the end of Jorge's bed observing all of the above. He asks him what they are hanging about for, it isn't time for his wake. They go off talking to each other that he is sure grumpy and must be really tired.

Camla announces to Jemena and Ines that tomorrow she must go to Garbancilla to see the midwife. She momentarily thinks she must be crazy but Ines gives her a boost that she is right to keep pursuing the truth here. Ines sites that Lis was so arrogant to parade her godson in front of Camila the day before. Jemena listens as Camila plans her assault on Garbancilla. She will go to the midwife then find the other woman giving birth to question her. Ines verifies that Jemena will go with Camila and she will go question Candida to find out what she knows.

Ricardo brings his crew up to date when he returns to the prison and lets them know he must try to escape and they are not to stop him or join him that he won't abandon them. They confirm their total confidence in him.

Ascanio joins Santiago at the cafe, he is already up to date from Ofelia so Santiago launches into his usual poor me. He would like the imprisoned Ric to be hung and is sure it is all his fault that Camila has turned against him. Ascanio reasons that they need to verify if the baby that Lisabeta has is Camila and Ric. When Santiago starts to yell his objection, Ascanio demurs, he publically doubts that this is Camila's baby but can see why they want to find out. Santiago is only interested in asserting that it is not his fault. For once he is absolutely right. But Ascanio wants to talk about the dismissal of Marcellino and the offer by Jorge to make him the manager. He reveals that he knows that it is to keep him from talking about the forged documents for the contraband. Santiago then does an interesting twist. He assures Ascanio that pursuing this fraud will end up with his father being hung. He insists that the child is not to blame for the sins of the father [but is he talking about himself or Manuela?, Both?] He accuses Ascanio of wanting more money and then says, well do you love Manuela or not? Ascanio maintains that he can't turn his back on Ricardo's chance to clear his name as the archbishop is about to help him get a pardon. Santiago spits out that this delinquent deserves to die. Santiago stomps out of the restaurant.

Next morning everyone all bright and shiny. Jorge is going out the door with something important to do. Ursula asks if he is going to the wake, but no. even she says the doctor told him to rest. Sofia isn't going either, she seems worried and is going to go with Jorge. She asks for her purse and black cape.

We have a break but there is no rest for the prisoners. Ric feigns weakness [great acting skill here] while the guard whips him to urge him on. Ric really gets a chance to smack him into unconsciousness and begins to take his clothes.

The unstoppable LaFont is drinking something that isn't milk while he badgers the woodworker to get about making him the finest pegleg money can buy. Jorge comes into his bedroom and asks how he is getting on? Lousy snears the crankiest man in SanFer. Jorge brings tidings of the wakes of Uriel and Mateo that are going on as they speak. LaFont's only concern, Did they talk? No. Jorge then happily tells Bouffy of his smart moves in intimating that Ricardo was the pirate responsible for the caravan assaults and LaFont wasn't even with Uriel and Mateo. The only little problem they have is with Ascanio and Santiago. The solution he sees to that is that LaFont will let Manuela marry Ascanio whether he likes it or not.

Next we see Ric with his Mr. Universe shape stuffed like a sausage into a boyscout sized soldier's uniform. He shoots his chained feet apart then hacks at the dangling chains and ankle bands with a rock. Ric fresh from his victory over the suit and the chains finds a peasants horse and the peasants clothes and rides off while the hapless peasants yell ineffectively.

The carriage with Camila, Vasco and Jimena approaches Garbancillo. While Sofia shows up on Justo's porch. He tells the amazed Sofia about the lost baby dilemma and Camila's rage.

Here comes the Colonel again into see LaFont but he gets a chance to see the baby and question Lis with perfect innocence finds out about her godson whom she loves like a real son.

LaFont drinks some more from his medicinal bottle while the servant announces that the Colonel is talking with his wife. Col. is quickly ushered in to the bedroom. Lis coos to the baby and quiets his fussing with calling herself his MOMMY. [Ed. note: Egad, and I am trying to give up swearing, but gag me!!] Back in the bedroom LaFont is entertaining the Colonel with tales that he went not with the boys but to a brothel alone and he doesn't want his wife to know. Clotilde has been sent by Lis to listen to this conversation by the door but a man servant surprises her half way through and she has to scurry off. Then LaFont retells about Ric, his wife's relative, the pirate, blahblah. He rubs his poor old stump while the Col. looks on wisely.

Camila leans on Vasco while they and Jemena try not to get their hopes up too much. There might not be the hoped for ending to the baby story. Switch to Ric arriving at the midwife's in handsome peasant clothes. He kicks in a door or two then turns back outside in time to see Camila roll up in the carriage. They end the evening with a delightful kiss and hug in their joy at being reunited to search for their baby.

Next Jorge prepares to use his daughter as bait for the Colonel. This will be some dinner.

Labels: Pasion

To be continued...

JUAN REYES - Eduardo Yáñez
He is virile, strong and hardened, brusque and irascible, but very tender. Juan is a whirlwind of passions who cannot subdue his emotions easily and always reacts viscerally, even though he is incapable of commiting an injustice or hitting someone weaker than himself. His life is marked by tragedy and he will make any sacrifice for his brothers. Sofia will transform his life and will bring him to a very difficult choice: to seek vengeance, or to love.

SOFÍA ELIZONDO ACEVEDO - Adela Noriega
The eldest daughter of Bernardo and Gabriela, she is beautiful, sensitive, delicate and very spiritual. She loves and protects her sisters. She is charitable, above all with the defenseless, and the people of her area have followed her example. She was happy before she was raped. Her mother forced her to marry Fernando without being in love, and she has not had sexual relations with him because of the trauma of her violation. Juan is the first man who has awaked love and passion in her.

FRANCO REYES - Pablo Montero -

He has a tempting body and the face of an angel. He is a sensitive and pure young man who loves to sing. He is obedient and respectful of Juan, whom he sees as a father. He is very innocent and lets his brother Oscar convince him to take older women to parties (where Oscar pays the women). He will have to decide whether he loves Rosario or Sarita, and his heart will suffer because he doesn't want to hurt either of them.

OSCAR REYES - Jorge Salinas
An attractive young man, very sympathetic, irreverent, a seducer. He has an unequalled tongue (!!) and is not very moral, but he is not a delinquent. He is a born business man, always looking for a way to make money, able to sell anything to anybody. For him, life is to be enjoyed and Jimena will be his ideal woman. Their relationship, full of sensuality and impudence, will change both of them. She will be freed from old hindrances and he will become more responsible.

GABRIELA ACEVEDO DE ELIZONDO - Diana Bracho
An elegant, beautiful, arrogant woman of strong and dominating characters. She is accustomed to getting her way and is tyrannical with her daughters, suppressing them and keeping them locked in the house. She always gets what she wants, for good or ill. She clings to religion in an unhealthy way. Her world has been reduced to her house, her husband, the hacienda, and God. Bernando's infidelity makes her even more of an egoist.

EVA RODRÍGUEZ - María Sorté
A noble and selfless woman, faithful and obliging. She is the hacienda's housekeeper. She nurses rancor against Gabriela for having forced her to give away the daughter she bore with Bernardo, with whom she has always been in love. She will take advantage of the Reyes brothers' hatred towards the Elizondo family to help them enter the hacienda and take vengeance on Gabriela and her daughters, even though later she will be sorry for having done so.

SARITA ELIZONDO ACEVEDO - Nora Salinas
She is the second daughter of Gabriela and Bernardo. When she was born, her parents wanted a son, and her attitude is a bit masculine from her having been educated as a man. Sarita is very attached to her mother and always obeys her. She has rigid morals and, although she reproves the rash and liberal behavior of her sister Jimena, will help or cover for her sisters, even though it may grieve her. Her love for Franco will make her more sweet and feminine (!!!!) little by little.

JIMENA ELIZONDO ACEVEDO - Elizabeth Álvarez
The youngest daughter of Bernardo and Gabriela. She is very beautiful and uninhibited: irreverent, thoughtless, lively and sensual. She wants to live life to the fullest and is frustrated by her mother's dictatorship. She is romantic and has always dreamed of love. She is Sofia's confidante, sharing the stories of her hopes. She has always fought with Sarita and her mother, who tries to subdue her by force. Oscar will disrupt her life and she will do crazythings that cause her mother to be even more severe with her.

FERNANDO ESCANDÓN - Guillermo Garcia Cantú
Fernando is perverse by nature. He has a superior intelligence he uses for his own ends. He is an enchanter and knows how to get what he wants, always finding the weak side of others. He is audatious, intrepid and fears nothing, even death [the end I already predict for him --Ed.] His love for Sofia has become an obsession, to the point of devising a scheme to marry her.

AGUSTÍN ACEVEDO - Joaquín Cordero
A jovial and easy-going old man, the original owner of the hacienda Bernardo now manages. Witty, impurdent and scathing, but honest and faithful to his beliefs. He is
He is a viejo rabo verde (see below) who hounds the young servant grils. He has a difficult relationshipo with his daughter Gabriela. He loves his grand-daughters and protects them from their mom when he can. Nobody knows that Agustin knows all the secrets of the people arround him.

Rabo verde - An older man who likes to court and date younger girls. Only used in extreme cases (a 45 man courting a 18 year old girl). No equivalent expression for women.

Labels: Fuego, synopsis-cast

I think we are down TWO bloggers for this upcoming telenovela, which stars Eduardo Yañez, our hero from Destilando Amor as well as DUHmilio, the wooden love interest from Duelo, and Marcia from La Fea, and I think I caught a glimpse of the ultra-odious Niurka wearing red gingham heart-shaped pasties. Should be a real old-school snorter, the kind we love to hate (see above). Interested? Email me, Melinama the blog mom

Translated from Esmas.com:

Standing before the tomb of Libia Reyes, her three brothers swear to avenge her death. Full of rancor, Juan, Oscar and Franco head to the hacienda of Bernardo Elizondo, the man who seduced their sister and knocked her up. Bernardo really loved Libia and was thinking of divorcing his despotic and tyrannical wife Gabriela - however, he died in a strange accident and his hacienda remains in the hands of Gabriela and her son-in-law Fernando.

When the Reyes brothers arrive at the hacienda, they get jobs as bricklayers and carpenters. Blinded by their hatred of the Elizondo family, they decide to seduce and then abandon the three daughters of Bernardo and Gabriela, so that they will suffer the same misery as Libia did before she died. Juan will seduce Sofía, Oscar Jimena, and Franco will seduce Sarita.

During this time, they are discovering it isn't easy for them to follow through with their oath. The three daughters are being crushed under the tyranny of their mother, who does not respect their liberty or individuality.

Juan discovers that Sofia is a sensitive and charitable woman tormented by having been violated, and that she is unhappily married to Fernando, a violent man she doesn't love. Juan truly falls in love with her, and thus it is that Sofia is able for the first time to touch a man without feeling the disgust her terrible experience left her with. Sofia and Juan's relationship will be in danger not just from his oath, or from Fernando, but also from the arrival of Ruth Uribe, who takes a fancy to Juan and tries to conquer him at any cost.

Oscar will find Jimena to be the woman he has always dreamed of. She is easy-going and uninhibited, a girl who wants to live life intensely. Their relationship is full of sensuality and mischief. They can't avoid falling in love, which torments Oscar because he must decide between love and vengeance.

Franco and Sarita will discover they are twin souls. Both are sensitive, lovers of discussion (amantes de la lectura?), ingenuous; together they will live a tender romance full of unforeseen turns, but Franco will be tortured by indecision. Before meeting Sarita, he had been in love with Rosario Montes, a singer who works in one of the pueblo's bars. He is suffering because Rosario rejected him and is unaware that she actually loves him, but is darkly bound to Fernando, who has sworn to kill anyone who comes near her. Franco will follow one of two roads: he will love Rosario and fulfill his oath, or he will break his oath and love Sarita.

This is a story full of intense emotions, sublime love, insatiable ambition and blood-curdling hatred. Young, passionate hearts, united and separated by the same tragedy. Hidden truths, lies which cloud the mind, passions which dominate the soul ... and Fire in the Blood.

Labels: Fuego, synopsis-cast

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Labels: index

Hugo asks Eloisa what she is doing in his house. It's a little late for visitors. Eloisa says that she came to warn him that Arturo plans to invest in the mine and then he will betray Hugo. He should be careful of the documents that he signs. Hugo says that Eloisa shouldn't put herself at risk on his behalf. It's late; she should go home. Eloisa asks to stay. Hugo says he is busy with the situation here. His baby suffers from a terrible illness. 'Catalepsy?,' says Eloisa, 'what Hugo had?'
'How did you know that?' asks Hugo.
'You told me. Don't you remember? The night you were so nervous. You told me Hugo had catalepsy and you let him be buried alive.' (I hope this dashes any illusions Hugo had about Eloisa. She obviously wasn't shocked at this admission of Alcides.)

At Arturo's house, Margot is about to make a conquest of Arturo. (What she has on gives the words, 'push-up bra' a whole new meaning.) Just as things are about to get underway, there is a knock at the door and in comes Hercu-less. Averting his eyes from Margot, he tells Arturo that he followed Eloisa from the Taverna and she went to the Hacienda Montenegro. Arturo is impactado.

Hugo explains that having the baby in the chamber is a long process. She will wake up slowly. Eloisa says that Alcides has changed so much. Before, he thought only of himself even to the extent of letting his brother die. Now look at how he went half crazy trying to save the life of this baby. Unfortunately, Hugo has no choice but to play into Eloisa's conclusion about what is keeping him with Soledad. He says that it is different now that he has a child. He goes on to say that Hugo was a bad person. Eloisa asks if Alcides still thinks that the spirit of his dead brother is pursuing him because he had let him be buried alive. That is what he told her the night he was so nervous. Hugo says nothing. Eloisa apologizes for telling him this. She knows how to keep a secret and will keep this secret always - for love. She says that she doesn't care what he has done. She only cares about her love for him.

Ursula comes in and tells Hugo that Soledad tried to escape through the window and is about to fall. Hugo leaves Eloisa in charge of the chamber. She fiddles with the mechanism of the chamber in the hopes of killing the baby. 'Poor kid,' says Eloisa, 'you are the only thing keeping your parents together but you would be better off out of your misery. Everyone will say that is was for the best.' The baby starts crying and then stops. Eloisa leaves the basement certain that she has done the job.

Hugo saves Soledad and Ursula and Hugo tell her that Aurora is out of danger. Soledad wants to see her baby.

Lucas is with Rebeca. He remembers that when they were newly married, they didn't have any money and Jeremias let them stay with him for a few months. Rebeca asks if there could have been something between Ester and Jeremias. Lucas gets angry and leaves. Paquito comes in. Rebeca tells him that she is just following the trail to the treasure that will be hers. 'You mean ours,' says Paquito.

Arturo has come to fetch Eloisa and is threatening Ester with a sword. Hugo, Soledad and Ursula come downstairs. 'This is no way to enter my house,' says Hugo. Arturo says he is not leaving without Eloisa. At his point, Eloisa runs upstairs and says that the baby has stopped crying and isn't moving. Everyone runs downstairs except Arturo and Eloisa.

Hugo fiddles with the machine. He doesn't understand. She was doing well. He asks Soledad to talk to the baby and after a few minutes, she starts crying again. Everybody is happy.

Guillermo is at Dr. Max's looking for a book on hypnotism. He finds one and tries to learn how to un-hypnotise Elena. He tries to impersonate Dr. Max in appearance and voice but that doesn't work. Finally, he takes Elena to Enrico's place. She calls him Guille but she might be faking it to get away.

Boris and Marina have joined the happy party in the basement. Marina says that when they arrived, they saw Arturo taking Eloisa away and he was very annoyed. Outside the house, Arturo is escorting Eloisa down the steps. He asks her why she came to Hugo's house at this hour. Eloisa concocts a story that she encountered Ursula on the road asking for help. Unfortunately for Eloisa, Hercu-less is there to report that he was following her and she didn't encounter anyone on the road. Eloisa tries to impute bad motives to Hercu-less but Arturo isn't buying. Then Hugo appears. He gets Ursula to confirm Eloisa's story, the coachman does the same. Even Hercu-less can see which way the wind is blowing. He admits that Eloisa was out of his sight for a period of time. Eloisa accuses Arturo of always thinking the worst of her.
Hugo tells Eloisa that the baby is fine. Soledad's voice woke her up. Eloisa hides her disappointment. In her carriage on the way home, Eloisa asks why the cursed baby had to survive. She will find a way to get rid of the baby. Nothing will stand in the way of her plan to make Alcides hers alone.

In her bedroom, Soledad tells Ester about Dr. Max's visit and blackmail attempt. Always ready to give bad advice, Ester tells Soledad that since Dr. Max seems to know about this illness, Soledad should let him treat Aurora at least until someone else is available. Soledad is doubtful. She doesn't like Dr. Max. He makes her afraid. Ester also tells Soledad on no account to tell Alcides that the baby is Hugo's. In spite of all he has done for the baby, they still don't trust her with him.

At this point, Hugo comes in to talk to Soledad. He is so cute making baby talk to Aurora. Soledad asks about the catalepsy. He tells her that Aurora has inherited a disease that runs in his family. It is called catalepsy - state of profound unconsciousness when the body appears to be dead. He has to tell her that there is no cure. The chamber only helps keep the temperature of the person having the attack stable. Soledad is impactada. She can't believe that her child has an incurable illness.

Hugo goes on to tell Soledad about his father and how his mother was driven crazy and could not prevent her father from being buried alive. A new horror for Soledad. She says that it was fortunate that he and Hugo didn't suffer from catalepsy. Alcides/Hugo tells her that Hugo did have catalepsy. 'It's not possible,' says Soledad, 'If Hugo had this terrible illness, why didn't he tell me?' she asks. (She's still not remembering what she learned in the mine.) Alcides/Hugo says that Hugo didn't want people to be afraid of him. In these ignorant times, people who came back to life from the dead, were considered possessed.' (Is this sloppy writing or is Hugo telling her this on purpose? Way back in the beginning of the novela, Hugo said that, nobody, not even his brother knew about his illness because he didn't want their pity (lastima).)

Soledad says that now she understands. Before the wedding, he tried to tell her something that was tormenting him. Hugo/Alcides says that Hugo loved her and wanted to be honest with her (it is tough to indicate clearly when Hugo is pretending to be Alcides but is talking about Hugo). Soledad asks a logical question, 'How do you know all this?' Hugo tells her that Boris told him everything. Boris told him that when a person has a catalepsy attack, they appear to be unconscious but they hear everything that is going on around them. They just can't move. Soledad, crying, says that is terrible. It's like a nightmare. Hugo is watching her carefully. He asks if her tears are for their daughter or for his brother.

Eloisa tells Paquito about Aurora's catalepsy attack. He thinks it is amusing that she is angry that her plan didn't work and the baby didn't die. He knows her, though, and understands that she has told him this for a reason. She wants something from him. What Eloisa wants is for Paquito to put a story in the newspaper about Aurora's attack so that people will be afraid of the baby and look down on her mother. Paquito says that he can't write such an article about the baby; Alcides would kill him. 'Are you so afraid of him?' Eloisa taunts. Paquito responds that they have to be smart. Alcides knows his secret and he is working for him. In fact, he has an article prepared about the rich vein of gold that has been found in the mine. Eloisa suggests that he include the story of the baby in that article and do it in a way that hides his bad intentions. Now it is Paquito who wants something from Eloisa (can you guess what?) in return for helping her. She agrees.

Soledad doesn't answer Hugo's question directly. She says what he has told her is terrible - that her daughter has an incurable disease and that Hugo had it also. He must have suffered so much. Hugo says that his brother was very lonely. He had bad relationships with women because he didn't want to offer them a future together. He was afraid of hurting them. Soledad says that she always heard (from her mother) that Hugo was a womanizer but she didn't realize the truth was that he just didn't want to hurt anyone. He was so generous, so good.
'I don't think so,' says Hugo/Alcides. 'He was stupid. He thought of others before himself. That's probably why he fell in love with you.' Soledad responds angrily that she doesn't want to talk about it anymore but Hugo/Alcides isn't done.
'Hugo loved you too much,' he says, 'The poor sap. He thought that the great love he had for you would be the cure for his disease.
'Why are you telling me, this?' asks Soledad. 'You speak as if you knew Hugo's deepest thoughts and fears but I know that you and your brother were never close. Tell me the truth, Alcides, why do you talk about Hugo this way?'
'Why do you find it so strange?' answers Hugo/Alcides. 'Hugo was my brother and Boris was his great confidant.'
'Are you telling me that Boris told you all this?' asks Soledad.
'Yes,' says Hugo, wiping the tears from his face before he turns to speak to Soledad, 'Boris told me lots of thing about my brother that I didn't know. It made me look at him from a different perspective. I don't hate him anymore. On the contrary, I pity him.'
'Pity?' says Soledad, 'Hugo never inspired pity.'
'Hugo was a poor devil,' says Hugo/Alcides, 'condemned to live with death at his side. He was also naive for falling in love with the wrong woman. That's what we wanted, right?' Soledad avoids answering by saying that she is tired. It is almost dawn. Hugo kisses her on the forehead and leaves. When he is gone, Soledad wonders why Hugo never told her about the catalepsy. She would have helped him with his terrible disease.

At the Obragon house, Lucas wakes up from a nightmare he had while sleeping on a couch in Ester's room. He asks Ester if she remembers when they were newlyweds, had left home and he had started drinking. Jeremias took them in and Lucas could tell that Jeremias liked Ester. Jeremias told him so once when they were drinking. Lucas asks if Jeremias ever 'took advantage' of her? Ester asks why Lucas is bringing up these old memories. 'Just answer,' says Lucas. 'I'm not going to tell you anything,' says Ester, 'You are offending me.' She walks out of the room and curses the mistakes of the past.

Hugo tells Boris that now Soledad knows that Aurora has catalepsy. 'It must have been very hard on her,' says Boris. 'She was destroyed,' responds Hugo. Boris asks if Hugo told her about the possibility of a cure. Hugo says that he didn't tell her. He didn't want to get her hopes up. We still haven't found von Chirac's son. Boris says that he is sure that they will find the son.
Hugo says that it broke his heart to see Soledad suffering that way for Aurora.
'When I saw the defenseless little baby,' he says, 'I felt like the world was coming to an end for me, too.' Boris says that Hugo is suffering too. The baby is so tiny and she carries his blood.
'Yes,' says Hugo, 'my blood.' Hugo tells Boris to get some rest. (This is the second time in a row they've been up all night with crises. Soledad was poisoned the night before.) When he is gone, Hugo speaks to the portrait of his father, 'This disease has been such a curse on our family, such a curse. I will save my niece from this scourge, no matter what it takes.'

Soledad tells Ursula that she should have seen the way Alcides looked when he told her about Hugo's suffering. It was the most terrifying thing you could imagine. Ursula says that now she understands Soledad's concern to know what Hugo wanted to confess to her. (Ahora entiendo su preocupación por saber lo que Hugo tenia que confesarle. My recollection is that Hugo tried to tell Soledad about his illness once, after their night of passion in the cabaña. She said she didn't want to hear about any bad things and that was it. Right before the wedding, when Boris asked Hugo if he had told Soledad about the catalepsy, Hugo said he didn't need to tell her, he hadn't had any symptoms and he decided he was cured. So when was Soledad so concerned about what Hugo wanted to tell her?) Soledad has a different memory. She has a flashback to finding Hugo, apparently dead, on their wedding day. 'What if Hugo wasn't dead when they buried him?' Ursula asks what she means. 'What if Hugo had an attack of catalepsy and wasn't dead when I found him? They could have buried him alive!'

The next morning Arturo shares the article in the paper about Aurora with Gladis and Eloisa. The article says that all the gold in the newly discovered mine won't help Alcides cure his daughter because she has an incurable disease known as catalepsy. Gladis doesn't know what that is so Arturo continues to read the article, which describes the symptoms of catalepsy. The article also mentions that the baby inherited the disease from the Medina family and that Hugo's father had it and was buried alive. Gladis says that is terrible and must be why Anabel (This is the first time we've found out the name of Hugo's mother, I guess it was on her grave but I never could read it.) de Medina went crazy. Eloisa manages some false sympathy for the baby. Arturo goes on reading the article, which says that people are saying that the baby's illness is punishment on Soledad for marrying Alcides two days after her fiancé Hugo was buried. Eloisa says that is cruel. Gladis says that it is true. Everyone knows that Soledad betrayed her fiancé's memory by marrying Alcides so soon after Hugo died and that it was a marriage of convenience.

Hugo comes to see the baby in the morning. Soledad says Aurora is fine as if nothing had happened. 'That's how catalepsy is,' says Hugo. Soledad wants to tell Hugo/Alcides something. She says that after thinking about their conversation the previous night, Hugo's death seems very mysterious. She wants Hugo/Alcides to authorize an exhumation of Hugo's body. Hugo is impactado. Hugo/Alicides says that it is out of the question. He will never permit his brother's tomb to be opened. 'Don't you see,' says Soledad, 'Hugo could have been buried alive.'
'I don't think so,' responds Hugo. 'Dr. Max said that he had a heart attack.'
'Dr. Max could have been wrong,' she says, 'please let me do this.'
'Why do you want to dig up my brother's grave?' asks Hugo, 'You didn't care about him, did you?' Soledad begs him to let her do it just to put her doubts to rest.
'If the doctor was wrong,' says Hugo, 'If it happened, it isn't necessary to relive such pain. It's better to leave things as they are. I think that it is curiosity that is behind this request.' He leaves.

Boris asks Hugo why he won't let Soledad dig up his grave. She would find Miguel's body (or bones) face down (We recall that Hugo had Los Burque turn Miquel's corpse over in one of the many times that grave was dug up) and would know that Hugo was buried alive. It would be the perfect revenge. But Hugo thinks that it would be too cruel. Boris says that Soledad never loved Hugo. Hugo has a flashback to when his mother had his father's tomb opened up. He says that she went crazy when she found out his father had been buried alive (maybe she got more crazy but supposedly she was crazy before Armando was buried so that no one believed her when she told them he wasn't dead.)

Soledad is in the market with Ursula and Aurora. Some women who have read the newspaper article accuse her of bringing misfortune on the community and they start throwing vegetables at her. Hugo sees this from his carriage. The credits roll.

Tomorrow: Soledad digs up Hugo's coffin.

Labels: la traicion

Leftovers: the padre is telling Gloria’s ma maybe she needs to think about forgiving herself for abandoning her child, even though it’s a very bad thing.

On to the new: Mili and Alex are walking happily by the fountain in the garden, exclaiming over how much they love each other. Smoochies. Don’t ever let me go, says Mili. Alex says let’s go away somewhere where my family can’t bug us. Mili says but we have to take the abuela. She prattles on happily and he smooches her to stop the stream. He says come along to the clinic construction – he’ll make her his assistant. Both are giddy.

Now it’s night. At Case Belmonte, Connie is talking to Damien, requesting assurance that Damien is going to vote for Connie to stay head of the business. Damien feigns surprise that he would have to ask. Yeah, says Connie, it would be stupid for you to vote for Alex, plus it would make a great lesson for your stupid sister. Uh-uh says Damien, looking conflicted. Connie tells Damien that he’s been doing great, and when Connie gets elected, Damien will be his right-hand man. You bet! says Damien. Karla brings in coffee – Damien’s eyebrows shoot up. Karla leaves, and Damien excuses himself for a moment and takes off after her.

She goes into the girls’ dorm and closes the door. Damien bursts in and grabs her hard by the chin. Let go or I’ll scream she says, scared. He says I thought you’d quit but she says Luci gave me my job back. Damien says I can imagine how you convinced her of that – you sold me out. Cross me and I’ll kill you. Karla feigns ignorance. You told Luci everything didn’t you he says.

Karla says it’s all your fault. You betrayed me first! You said you would marry me – did you expect me to just sit on my hands? Who’s the hypocrite now? I would never marry a speck of dirt like you, he says – you were just something to pass the time. You’d better get used to that uniform because you’re going to die a servant. He leaves. Karla is crying, but she makes a fist too.

Regina is in bed and Connie comes and gives her a kiss. She is surprised. She says you never come give me a goodnight kiss – what’s behind all this? Connie mentions the upcoming vote for the head of the company and he is hoping she’ll vote for him. She taunts him – change is good, time to modernize. You’ll vote for me? he asks. I’m not going to vote, says Regina, ‘cause Alex represents me. He’ll vote for who you say, says Connie. Regina says I trust his judgment, and I don’t know who he’s going to vote for, and besides, you’re running for office and you want to run a business at the same time?

A montage: Mili and Alex in shiny silver hard hats are smooching at the worksite. Bobby is putting the finishing touches on the office décor under Damien’s direction. Pilar and Hugo are having a cozy dinner out – she is making eyes, he is looking a bit confused. Horacio and Socorro are smooching in the kitchen, later Karla walks through and the staff roll their eyes. Bobby is serving an umbrella drink to Vale poolside. He puts a pillow under her feet, she pushes him away and dives into the pool. He is aflame with passion. Connie comes in to see the campaign office – he wants to adjust the painting hanging on the fake wall – Damien indicates don’t touch. Ribbon cutting at the new clinic with general jubilation. Oh, wow our telenovela is over and we can get back to our lives!

Ooops – apparently not. We have months to go. Wine party at the campaign headquarters. Damien announces Connie as the “honest candidate.” Oddly nobody chokes on their wine. All toast. Connie wants to know if Damien has written the acceptance speech – Damien hands it over. Connie says how ‘bout a nice big photo of me on that wall (the fake one). Damien says there are photos of you all over the other walls.

Peralta the power guy takes Damien aside and says well done, you’ve sure got him in the bag. Stay after the event, says Damien, I want to talk to you.

At the party, Alex is telling Bobby that he hopes Mili shows soon. Bobby says do you think it’s a good idea? Alex says she’s my girlfriend and I don’t care what the family thinks. Yes, says Bobby, but he looks doubtful.

Connie comes up and Bobby fades away. Connie is saying to a very skeptical Alex that we’re all family, let’s not compete - but actually as far as being the head of the firm you lack, um, experience. You should take it bit by bit – I’ll be president and you can be vice-president, whaddaya say? We can wait for the meeting, says Alex, smiling.

Peralta tells Luci she adds elegance to the event. She says how gallant. He tells her she’s beautiful. Maybe we can work together on this campaign – more than friends even. Luci gets his point, and says thank you, very guardedly and thinks eew.

Andrea is telling Connie that don’t worry, he doesn’t need the support of Alex or Luci, he has Damien. Well, I’m kinda wondering about that says Connie. He won’t tell me definitely that he will vote for me.

Ooooh! Hugo and Pilar in are in bed, enjoying a post-coital chat. Seems like this isn’t the first time for them. Pilar says she doesn’t think about Alex – does Hugo still love Mili? He says he has loving feelings, but no memory of why and besides it sounds like he did something skunky in the forgotten past and he doesn’t want to hurt her any more. You’ll heal with time, says Pilar. They smooch. Hugo has really great hair.

Karla in the dining room is telling Socorro that she is very upset about Pilar and Hugo being together. Horacio signals from behind a partition and Socorro takes off, giving Karla an excuse. Lina and Gloria come in and razz Karla about her pretensions.

Outside the campaign event, Alex is opening the car door for Mili who is dressed up classy. Luci comes out (for a smoke?) and sees her and tells Alex what is he thinking? The press and everybody important is in there! Mili fiddles nervously with her hair. Alex says she’s my girlfriend and she’s coming in. Take her away somewhere, says Luci. This is going to drive me back to drink, and you know how hard it was for me to quit! Break off with her for once and all. Luci turns to go back inside so quickly her hair whaps Alex in the face.

Even though Mili (and Morgan) were just a few paces away, they seem not to have heard. Mili is nervous and says she doesn’t have to come in. Alex says you are very welcome, come on in. Morgan and I could go for tacos, she says. Alex kisses her and says okay, let’s go for tacos. They all get in the car.

At the event, Connie is speaking on the record to a reporter, who then takes off. Luci comes up and Connie says don’t throw one of your scenes. You want my vote for the company president? she asks. Connie decides to pay attention. Get rid of Mili, says Luci.

Now we’re at the taco place and Alex is filling Mili in on what his mother said. But you are my life he tells her. I love my mother and would be sad if she went back to drinking, but it’s not going to change our relationship. Mili makes some jokes about tacos and Alex says he loves her spirit. She says she’ll not put on any scenes with his mother. They smooch. Morgan is not in sight – maybe he is having his tacos out in the car. Oh wait, there he is at the counter. He sees them kissing and the filling falls out of his taco.

The campaign party is over, Bobby and Connie are seeing the last people out. Damien and Peralta are still there. Peralta man-hugs a glowing Connie, and Connie and Bobby leave. Why did you want me to stay? asks Peralta. Damien gives a whistle and a large group of dressed-up men and women appear. With a flourish, Damien tilts the painting on the fake wall and the wall slides aside. Inside are some fulsome ladies in pink bunny suits complete with ears, and a room full of gambling tables. Everyone streams in happily.

Mili, Alex and Morgan have arrived home. Morgan excuses himself and Mili and Alex comment to each other how nice and discreet Morgan is, how he let them talk alone at the taco place. They smooch and give each other happy little goodnight wishes.

Back at Damien’s casino, Peralta is amazed – he says it’s like Las Vegas. Damien says he made some money at the track, plus a little from the family business and now he has realized his dream and is an independent man. Peralta sits down happily to gamble, and Damien stands triumphantly over the scene, two bunnies clinging seductively to him. Look out, Damien! If you want to have a secret gambling den with pink bunny girls and people coming and going, maybe having the entrance right within your brother’s campaign office is not an inspired idea.

The Belmonte kitchen late at night is a scary place. Mili comes in and Luci is there waiting. Luci starts in on her, but Mili says she doesn’t want to fight. She says Alex is my whole life. Your life isn’t worth much, says Luci, so that’s hardly a good measure. Mili protests that she loves him. So much, says Luci, that you were going to marry his cousin - I know what you really want. Mili protests that Alex is everything for her. Prove it, says Luci. If you love him so much, do the right thing and give him up. True love requires sacrifices, you know.

A mother wants her children to be happy, says Mili, wiping away a brave tear. That’s why I’m doing this says Luci. We see Braulio in the background, listening. This is war says Luci and you don’t stand a chance of winning. Luci leaves and Mili cries. Unseen by Mili, Braulio comes in behind her, reaches out as if he will comfort her, then he draws back and retires.

He arrives in the darkened foyer where he sees Hugo and Pilar telling each other goodnight and smooching. Hugo offers to walk her out to her car and they leave.

Back at the casino, an employee with a headset is telling Damien a customer wants credit. Okay, but check him out says Damien. Peralta takes Damien aside and points out a gambler – a spy from the mafia who control all the gambling, says Peralta – this guy could be very dangerous.

A very angry Braulio comes into Luci’s bedroom – she is taking off her makeup. He tells her that he overheard, that they have a pact, and that she has broken it. She promised to leave Mili alone. That bastard child? she asks. Don’t ever call her that says Braulio Things could be very bad for you. Are you threatening me? Luci asks. Mess with her and you mess with me says Braulio.

At the gambling den, Peralta has been on his cell. He reports to Damien that there’s an underworld plot to set up Connie and wreck his political hopes, to say that he is running a gambling den on the side. For a crook, Damien sure is a real babe in the woods – he is genuinely surprised people would do something like that. Peralta says there is one solution – let those underworld types know who they are dealing with. Oooh, that sounds dangerous says Damien nervously. Don’t worry, says Peralta, these types don’t like to attract public attention. Two headset guys escort the mafia spy out, fortunately not having to use force. We see that to open the door from the inside, the guard tilts a framed picture by the door. I’m wondering why the exit trick is a secret if all the patrons can see it.

Luci is telling Braulio he has no power, now that she has can threaten Connie with jail. Braulio says I’m the one who gave you that idea! So what, says Luci, I would’ve thought of it sooner or later myself. Connie needs my vote, and the price of that is the head of that bastard. Braulio is beside himself – don’t call her that! Luci says, that’s what she is, a bastard.

Braulio says watch out. Luci says hey, I’ll tell Alex myself that Connie isn’t his father Yeah, it’ll hurt him but better that than he marry that bastard girl. Braulio now is so mad he’s smiling evilly. I can tell the press everything and ruin your and Connie’s reputations. You think you’ll still be in the social register when people know your husband has an illegitimate child? Think you’ll get any invitations? Instead of appearing in the society pages, you’ll be in the tabloids. Milagros is not alone in this war, I’m behind her until the last man is down. He leaves. Until the grave, maldito, swears Luci.

The padre comes into his office in his giant black nightcap and is surprised to see Connie waiting for him. Connie says he needs the company vote to stay in control of the business and for that the price is having Mili leave his household. He wants the padre to come get her, so he doesn’t have to throw her out.

We see the mafia guy being beaten up at campaign headquarters. Damien looks on,
scared. Peralta tells the guy to tell the people who sent him to leave things are they are – there’s enough pie to go around and that way everyone will be happy. The bouncers half-carry the guy away. See? says Peralta to Damien. All settled.

Connie is telling the padre that he doesn’t want to have Mili leave, but the control of his affairs is very important. The padre says he sees that it’s a hard time for Connie, but he can’t help since he has no good reason to tell Mili. Besides, Connie would be sacrificing a child to control a business.

Mili in the kitchen is still a bit weepy. Her eye makeup is intact, though, and her lipstick still glossy – she looks lovely. Braulio comes in and says he can’t sleep either. He says he saw her crying a bit ago. He goes to give her a hug and she pushes him off. He says don’t misunderstand – I’m like an uncle, remember? She says oh yeah! and gladly throws her arms around him. You’re not alone in this house, he tells her. You have me on your side and Regina. I don’t get why they treat me this way she says – it’s not my fault I was brought up in an orphanage, that I’m poor. They treat me like a dog in the street. I’ve never wanted to hurt anyone.

Braulio gives an impassioned speech: Despite your youth, you are a powerful woman – hang on to that, don’t listen to anyone who would try to convince you otherwise. You are more pure and more happy than any other woman in this house – and money can’t buy that, social position can’t bestow it. You should be proud and satisfied. Mili is thrilled at his words. She shows him how to do the slap and bump handshake she does with her girlfriends and throws her arms around his neck again.

Braulio is bringing Hugo his breakfast in his room. Hugo says he can go down to eat. Braulio says that even though Hugo’s memory is bad, he’s glad he’s otherwise recovered. He says he’s sorry about what happened with Milgaros. Hugo is surprised and confused. Braulio says he supported their marriage, but he realizes he made a mistake, since Mili never loved him. Hugo looks pensive. But, Braulio says, congratulations on your new relationship, it seems great.

Connie comes into the bedroom, Luci is fiddling at her mirror. She says she hopes he hasn’t forgotten the conditions for her vote. Forget it, he says, I’m not throwing Mili out. I don’t need your vote, I have Damien’s. I wouldn’t be so sure, says Luci, Damien does what’s best for him. Yes, says Connie, and what’s best for him is to vote for me. He leaves and she smiles. She gets a business card from her purse and calls. She says she’s Luci Arango and needs to see person on the other end of the line. They agree to meet. She smiles again.

Mili is talking to Regina in her room, telling her how nice Braulio was to her. Regina notes that Braulio’s kind of a tough nut to crack, and that shows how special Mili is. Alex comes in. Mili is happy to see him and they kiss. (I’m surprised she’s not giving him the freeze à la Socorro after that threat from Luci. I thought sure that would be our next plot line.) Alex asks if he can talk to her outside. Next they are seen on a bench on the expansive lawn. Mili said she couldn’t sleep for worry about what Luci said. Alex said he was up thinking too and he has a plan – they should get married in secret. Freeze frame of Mili looking impactada.

Avances: Luci is asking Peralta if he can disappear someone. You want to kill Constancio? No! she says, “disappear” is a nicer term.

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