Caray, Caray!

Okay, Amigos/as – all our predictions about the end date of Yo Amo a Juan Querendón were off by 48 hours in any direction—they’re having the Gran Final on SUNDAY June 22 at 8/7 central time. So, be sure those recorders are set and your recappers will figure out how to git-r-done!

Also, today I had the privilege and pleasure of attending the very first Fiesta de Quinceañera I’ve ever been to—wow, what an experience. Our Methodist Pastor from Mexico conducted the church service, then a few hours later there was the dinner for several hundred folks and finally the dance (we viejos left before the music got so loud we needed ear plugs). The Quinceañera and her attendants were so lovely, and the jóvenes cleaned up real well, too. All in all, it was super maravillosa!

On to our feature presentation.....

Yesterday’s review: Ivonne tries to convince Paula that she just has to TELL the boy, already—quit waffling! Paula concedes that Ivonne might just be right about that. Okay, she and Ana will invite the boy to dinner over the weekend. Paula can’t imagine what will happen when she spills all that she’s been keeping inside. Paula counts off all the things that trip her trigger—every word, every gesture, every move [Okay, so Paula didn’t say that. I’m speaking for the rest of us here.] She's no gentleman because she definitely kisses and tells. Paula’s just sad she made him suffer so much on the way to this realization. She loves loves loves him!

In the parking garage of the airport, Kike rushes up to a Very Sad Juan. What happened? Juan beats himself up. He’s an imbécil and lost Marely forever.

Pastor describes to Heri how Angarita has suffered—lost the love of his life and his supposed daughter, who doesn’t even want to see the man in a painting. Speaking of art forms, Juan’s resplendent naked self still hangs on Pastor’s wall in the office, for us to admire as the scene shifts. Heri shifts back behind Pastor. It’s like that movie they saw. Pastor says that real life is worse. If Anga doesn’t get his spirits back up, his heart will just stop one of these days. Heri is sorry to hear it and gives Pastor a half hug, standing beside Pastor who sits in his chair. Laura busts in, so to speak, unannounced. She thinks she’s seeing something titillating and worthy of some juicy gossip. Pastor wants to know if anyone ever taught her to knock. Laura insinuates….and Pastor says that she’s not only unmannerly, she’s common/coarse (corriente). Laura demands respect if he wants it back from her. Pastor changes the subject while Heri stands behind him watching this dogfight. What, you’ve got the archives organized? Laura’s sick to death of archives and she’s cut out for more important work! Well, if you don’t like the work, we never keep anyone working at Farell by force. He motions to the door. What, you’re asking me to resign? That’s the basic suggestion, and if you’ve put your complaint on the table, please…..he motions again to the door and Laura sneers and flounces out. Heri congratulates him—that’s telling ‘em! Those cranky employees! Heri admires how he did that. Pastor smiles, pleased and bemused by the flor (compliment).

Laura fusses at S2 (fake Sandro)—how can she advance here when her immediate supervisor disses (pisotear – tramples, abuses, disregards) her? She’s not putting up with it! S2 tells her it’s not really Pastor causing her problems. It’s Paula behind it all. Laura is confused. S2 points out Paula really is trying to get her to resign. Aha. It makes sense now. S2 tells her only Juan can help her now. She just needs to be more aggressive with him. [Ed. Note: Apparently S2 hasn’t been watching with us or he’d know how aggressive she’s been so far.] Juan? Juan who? He’s never around when you need him. He’s got a thousand things to do, and none of them are me. S2 gives her a bunch of flores – compliments about how lovely and intelligent she is-- and tells her she has to go after his bones. Laura can’t buy it. She’s afraid she’ll bother him. S2 urges her to act.

Kike regales Juan with tales of all the calls he had from his women. First, Laura. Hillary. [Ed. Note: Kike doesn’t read the mags because he butchers her name and Juan has to correct him.] And then there was the Very Abundant Licenciada. Kike quotes all her vital stats. Whew, three of them! Juan smiles a little—probably thinking of the fourth Musketeer on the plane. To Spain.

Pastor describes his dilemma to Ivonne. He’s so sweet, that man, the perfect man, the one I’ve always dreamed of. Ivonne gives Pastor virtually the same advice she gave Paula—tell the boy the truth, already, tell him how you feel. Ask him if he feels the same. Don’t set yourself up for a major disappointment (chasco).

This apparently is the night for Relationships. Hillary talks with her Papi about her Relationship with Juan. Papi must be happy, because the relationship with Juan isn’t working. Despite the lovely garden setting, she is Not a Happy Camper. Juan is avoiding her, not responding to messages, nothing. Papi Paris declares him a coward and Hillary retorts that she LOVES Juan. Why doesn’t Papi want to get with the program? Well, because Papi thinks Juan isn’t worth her while. [Ed. Note: Given where Juan’s heart is, probably true, but not Papi’s call.] She points out that Juan sent that car back that she had loaned him while his was in for repairs, though other guys would have kept the loaner for months! He’s not the shameless guy you think he is! Papi Paris has the good grace to look away.

Laura beards the Lion of Farell in his Den. She doesn’t want to bother Juan, but…..he fills the marshmallow dish. [Ed. Note: with all this marshmallow filling, someone is getting a real sugar high.] What bother? It’s always lovely to see you….Laura is So Fed Up! With what? With how Don Pastor treats her! She can’t stand being in those archives! The archives? That’s very strange of Don Pastor. Well, it’s probably Paula behind it all, putting me there. She just wants to get me to resign.

Papi Paris does his level best to appease his lovely daughter. The last thing he wants is to hurt her. But, he IS hurting her, she retorts. Okay, she wins, Juan has a second chance. He tells her that the next day they’ll have a bankers’ meeting and she can bring the boy along. Hillary hugs her Daddy and says she’ll call Juan right away.

Juan is still busy appeasing Laura, and telling her not to worry. [Ed. Note: that verb, apurar(se) has about a dozen very different meanings, gentle readers]. He’ll talk to Paula and work it out. Farell won’t waste (perdiciar) talent like hers. Laura simpers. As usual. Thanks, Juan. He’s SO special with her. Juan, in his glaring orange tie on a green shirt with rolled up sleeves [Ed. Note: we’ve only a short time left with our Juanito, had to stick that in, gentle readers] smiles shyly and looks away. When will they continue those ceramics classes, Laura wonders? He works his hands…..those are too difficult for him. Laura comments on his Very Capable Hands. Strong. Smooth. Like he would caress a woman. Juan thinks back to the pottery lessons. How about we start again tomorrow, she suggests. Perfect! It’s a DATE! Don’t forget now, she warns. Juan ogles her retreating derriere and twirls his non-existent handlebar moustache.

Juan’s telephone rings—if you will—with the Cachi Bombon music. It’s his darling Hillary. He’s invited to an Exciting Banker’s’ Meeting on the next day [Okay, emphasis totally mine, folks.] Juan thanks his Blessed Child of Atocha for healing his heart. It’s a DEAL! He’ll be there. Date with Laura: forgotten already.

Heriberto comes to see Pastor—he’s been summoned. There’s something important Pastor wants him to know. It’s not about work; it’s personal. Pastor tells Heri how it is with him-what’s burning in him. What, heartburn? No, Pastor chuckles nervously. No, more sensitive than that. You realize there’s something very special between us, right? Pastor twitches his hands nervously. Heri affirms that’s right, he even forgets women! Pastor smiles happily at that.

The lobby is full of lobby lizards, and even Fern, Ivonne and Laura have joined the throng. Ivonne’s happy that Juan didn’t catch Marely at the airport. The chat….and suddenly blood-curdling screams fill the lobby. Pastor is begging Heriberto….don’t hit me! Everyone is impactado and Ivonne runs to help Pastor. Heriberto is across the desk from Pastor but has hold of his lapels and is beating the living daylights out of Pastor. Heriberto has bloodied and bruised half of Pastor’s face as Pastor tries to get him to stop. Fern grabs Heri from behind and drags him away while Ivonne gets Pastor into his seat to help him; Pastor is bleeding and seriously bruised on his face. Heri’s not done and fights Fern. Heri is a wild, savage animal, uttering ugly things about Pastor who “just confessed his love” according to Heriberto, while Fern struggles to hold Heriberto from doing Pastor in. Pastor sobs.

Fern tries to get Heriberto to calm down and Heri tries to get Fern to let him go. He’s not done with his savage beating. Heri continues to say ugly things about Pastor, who has not raised a hand in anger and is protected by Ivonne –who would gladly do away with Heri given the opportunity—she’ll call security!! Pastor retorts (in between sobs) that Heri’s words hurt more than his punches. Heri screams that he ‘s going to kill …. That….. let him GO! Fern holds on tight. Ivonne sponges blood off Pastor. Fern drags Heri out while Heri screams about going outside and he’ll break Pastor’s face. Finally, Heri is out and the door is shut. Ivonne helps Pastor and security takes Heriberto. Heri says he’s not forgiving. He announces to everyone who is listening about Pastor in terms a schoolmarm won’t repeat. Fern tells him to stop insulting the man and Heri refuses. He strings out the insults about what Pastor “did to him.” Security moves him off. Everyone is impactado again.

Pastor sits in his office, ashamed and bleeding. What an embarrassment! What an absolute humiliation! Ivonne does her best to comfort her friend. How could he be so blind, Pastor continues, and how could he think a guy like Heri could be interested in him? Ivonne assures him Heriberto was not worth it. Pastor blames himself. He’s going to be the joke of the office now.

Kike plays with Nidia Michaela and Yadi tells him he doesn’t need to feel like he has to leave so quickly. Kike informs her he has new digs and Yadi is…what? Jealous? There’s no hurry, though, if you want to stay.

Fern tells Juan what came down with Pastor as they chat in Juan’s office. Who’s picking him up off the floor? Ivonne, Fern tells him. Pastor’s had to go down to the infirmary. Whew, it was that bad? Yep.

Paula, in her office, advises Rosi how the world works when one is Paula’s secretary. Rosi assures Paula she is on the margin of the gossip—and Paula scoffs at her gently. Paula lets her know that the gossip buck stops at Paula’s desk and Rosi swears that Paula will know it FIRST. No info/gossip can be used against Paula, and Rosi knows what side her bread is buttered on, so she agrees to Paula’s rules. Paula hears EVERYTHING first. Paula’s counting on her loyalty and discretion. [Ed. Note: Except that Paula doesn’t want discretion in her four walls, she wants the whole scoop.] Rosi understands perfectly. Now, Paula wants to know when Rosi hears if Juan shows up. That’s easy, he’s already made an appearance. Great! Paula wants to see him.

Pastor sits on an examining table in the Farell infirmary with Ivonne at his side, comforting and still caring for him. [At my office, we have an infirmary, because it’s a boarding school for kids. But I’ve never worked in any other place that had a full infirmary in the office.] Pastor is aware of the seriousness of his mistake and ready to accept the consequences. He’s ready to resign. Juan is there, too, and assures him there’s no need to resign. Juan tells Pastor that Pastor’s only committed a….tactical mistake. That is undeniable. But the penitence came with the sin, Juan continues, and it didn’t become total havoc (zafarrancho). Pastor points out that he took advantage of his position to promote his personal life and not strictly business, and in fact broke the very workplace rules he wrote himself. Juan’s ready to erase the rules immediately. He tries to cheer Pastor, who simply thanks Juan—he’s a prince.

Rosi rushes back to Paula. Juan’s in the infirmary. What happened to him? Paula is alarmed. Rosi hesitates a split second and remembers that Paula authorized her to be the bearer of all tales. Pastor’s there because Heriberto beat the stuffing out of Pastor. It was no fight, because Pastor didn’t raise a hand against Heri. Heri bulldozed Pastor –rolled over him like a tractor. Why? Well, (Rosi reminds Paula that Paula herself gave the chisme-bearing order) it seems that Pastor declared his love to Heriberto and Heri didn’t like it much. Paula rushes off to the infirmary, muy impactada.


Pastor repeats his sad commentary on his future in Farell to Paula. He realizes he can’t stay a second more. Paula won’t hear any of it; he has to rest and they’ll talk later. They pat his hand and leave him resting. In the hall, Paula and Juan discuss how Pastor’s doing—and his spirits are so low, too. Paula asks if they’re going to let him resign. Juan tells her not to even joke about it (guasa). Paula thinks they shouldn’t judge Pastor too harshly. Juan agrees, now if they can only convince Pastor. Juan looks at Paula a little suspiciously—he never though he’d see her defend Pastor so adamantly. He thought bubbles—could it be that Pastor’s doing her some little favors? Paula gives him a song and dance about what a fundamental component of the company Pastor is. Juan wants to know if he can ask her a direct question. Sure. By chance, have you asked Pastor to put up a few obstacles in Laura’s way? Paula is righteously indignant. She denies it—she has NOTHING against THAT woman-- and can’t imagine where he got the idea. Juan pushes a little more—how interesting that she right there under the watchful scrutiny of Pastor. Paula goes on the offensive. Okay, on the one hand you’re defending the man and here it looks like you don’t trust him! Juan cares about him but knows his tricks, though. They fuss at each other about Laura and her position. Paula again declares she’s not conspiring with Pastor and he can take it or leave it, basically. Juan kisses her hand and thanks her. Paula sarcastically retorts that he’s welcome. Back to the situation of Pastor, they know what they have to do.

Delirio should never, ever play poker. As he sits in the bank with a service rep, and looks at the deposit that was just made in one of his laundry accounts, he goes into an apoplexy of amazement about the huge sum of money. She asks if he’s all right. Yeah, but this is SO much money—you’re SURE it’s right?! [Ed. Note: just about now, I’d be making notes. Clearly a person who comes to a bank to see what’s in his account shouldn’t be so surprised about it.] She advises him there are two more deposits that will clear soon, about the same amount. And if that weren’t enough, Delirio hasn’t brought the right card with him to get a withdrawal (retiro) out of the account—but he did bring a check so he can get some $$. The whole time, he’s behaving like a maniac and the girl doesn’t even bat an eyelash. But, she tells him to hurry, because other folks want to see her. Delirio babbles on and still no suspicions. This chick shouldn’t be working in a bank. She does ask “pardon” to one of his nonsense babbles and he tells her about living alone and how one begins to talk to oneself and answer oneself. She smiles at him as she takes the check while he asks her pardon for his nervousness. Sheesh.

Heri has come in to complain about how Pastor has dissed him, and Juan fires back at him. Okay, if you don’t want to work with him fine, I agree—but I won’t hear one more insult about the man! Heri, still all hot and bothered [no, folks, not like that, just ticked off], says Pastor deserves insults and more. Nope, Pastor was wrong with you and that’s all. That doesn’t give you the right to keep on aggravating it for the rest of eternity. Whether Heri likes it or not, lots of folks at Farell respect Pastor. Heri is even more incensed. He’s a real man! Juan tells him no one doubts his manhood. But he doesn’t have to prove it with punches. He declared something to you, right? All you have to do is say, thanks, Don Pastor, but no, and it’s over. ¿Qué????? Juan points out that when Heri does the same with women, they tell him no and that’s that. You don’t fight with the women. Of course not, Heri understands that part. You have to understand, Juan tells him, about Pastor who has his ways—THAT’S it, Heri yells, how come he had to have his little ways specifically with ME? And how about when Heri was wrong with Ivonne—she told him thanks but no thanks, right, and that was that? Heri backs down. Okay, Juan tells him, starting tomorrow you’ll work with Sr. Fernando Lara. Heri does a screaming double-take. What? With Ivonne’s BOYFRIEND? Yep, is there a problem? Yeees!

Ivonne gently helps Pastor slip his coat on. He’s patched up and cleaned up but injured and clearly hurting. Pastor thanks her, but he needs to be alone. He hands her his resignation to hand in for him. She tells him that they won’t accept it and he says it’s not negotiable. She points out that the irrevocable ones are always revoked first around Farell. Pastor thinks his will be the exception.

Heri is still steamed and fuming at Juan. This time, it’s about working with Fern. He WON’T. Juan tells him there are two soup choices today: either work under the orders of Fernando or don’t work at all, you choose. Heri threatens—his Papi is a partner of this business and Juan can’t force Heri to go anyplace. Juan retorts that the money’s all been returned to Aldemar that he loaned. Heri knows Juan’s tricks. Juan yells that he can take one of the two choices—and Juan can also call security to have him thrown out. Heri retorts that he’s going out himself. Juan stalks over to the door and motions Heri out—he knows the way. Heri can’t resist one more pointed insult and Juan tells him the next one means Juan will personally kick him out [no doubt with plenty of that pointed boot-toe centered on Heri’s derrière.] Heri glares up at Juan, who glares back. Don’t worry Heri spits back at Juan, I’m out of here, far away, back to my hometown – which I never should have left. Heri leaves and Juan rolls his eyes and brushes under his chin.

Ivonne and Pastor leave his office toward the elevator so he can leave. Heri, now in the lobby, stares hatefully at Pastor with vengeance in his visage. Pastor looks sadly through his one good eye. Paula comes out of her office and calls the lobby lizards to order. A moment of your time. Okay, all those in favor of accepting Don Pastor’s resignation, given that there won’t be any type of reprisals against anyone for your votes, pro or con—you can freely express yourselves, raise your hands. No hands go up. Laura crosses her arms, appearing ready to raise her hand, but thinking better of it and looking sullen. The lizards look around at each other uncomfortably. Pastor, equally uncomfortable, goes over to Paula Please, don’t do this to me. “No one?” Paula looks around at the room where no hands are up. Fine. All those in favor of Don Pastor staying at Farell, as chief of Personnel, who want to give your support to him as a person and boss, raise your hands. Pastor looks sadly and nervously around the room through the eye that isn’t swollen up, and Heri glares into the commercial.

After a crazy-making commercial where we know full well the hands will go up but they didn’t before the break, so we can all wait with baited breath, we’re back and hands go up—first Ivonne, who nudges Julia until her hand goes up, then Fernando, and almost everyone else. Only Laura and Heri glare and refuse to show support. Juan’s hand is up, too. Very good, Paula announces, as Pastor attempts to smile through his pain. For your information, the Licenciado Gaitán IS and will continue to be the VP for Personnel. And not only because of the partners’ decision, but also because everyone here agrees. Ivonne and Julia grin at each other. He’s the right person for the job, Paula concludes. Juan chimes in—that’s right. Don Pastor has not only earned his place at Farell, but in the hearts in each and every one of us. And, if there is any person who has doubts about his authority….ah, Heriberto? Juan looks pointedly at a still glaring Heri….they’ll deal with Juan Dominguez Coral, native of Achichipico. Juan turns to Pastor and asks him to stay. Everyone claps. Except Laura and Heri, of course. Pastor is very touched and Heri is very disbelieving of what he’s seeing.

Nidia roars into Yadi’s room to ask why Yadi hadn’t informed her Mami about signing divorce papers. Yadi points out she’s a grown woman of an age to make her own decisions and Mami doesn’t have to hear everything, or be consulted. Nidia points out that’s why Yadi is as she is, and that’s why she’s going to lose the best man in the world. Yadi says she’s not up for scolding at the moment. Nidia tells her it’s not a scolding, and men like Kike don’t grow on trees (no se dan en maceta – they don’t give them out in bunches of flowers). Someone like him you won’t find again for the rest of the days of your life. Yadi sullenly purses her lips, quiet for a change.

Paula tells Juan that this gossip will feed the rumor mill in Farell for a while. Juan agrees—until they find a better item for gossip. He remarks they should invent a bomb about him and her to get the spotlight off Pastor. Paula chuckles. [Ed. Note: Whatever makes you think you’re not a topic anyway?] Really? Paula seizes the moment to invite him to dinner on the weekend. Juan thought bubbles that his Palomita is lowering her guard? He warns himself about getting his hopes up. He asks her if that won’t make Sandrito mad [using the “-ito” which could be a real insult to the shorter guy]. Why should it? Paula seems surprised. Is she sure? Juan wants to know. It’s a date! Of course he’ll come.

Pastor has returned to his office and Fern is with him. He tells Fern that Paula and Juan gave him the afternoon off so he’s going home to rest. Fern is glad to hear that. He should rest and try to cheer up a bit. Pastor thanks Fern for having defended him. Without Fern, they’d be giving Pastor a wake at the moment. Fern replies that of course, he would be defending Pastor-he’d never let him die alone, how could Pastor think that? Pastor sadly tells Fern he just couldn’t raise a hand against Heri in his own defense. Fern understands.

S2 is telling Paula that what Pastor did is extremely serious and he can’t understand why she’s letting it drop so easily. Paula thinks it better to forget it, and S2 wants to think about the example it sets for the employees. [What? An example of acceptance and mercy? Gee.] Does Paula think Farell should be a place where there are all types of scandals? She points out there have been scandals here before he came, and that she herself was in the middle of some with CL, like fighting in the middle of the lobby at 120 decibels [Okay, I added that editorially]. And then CL fought with Juan. S2 lectures her in true CL mode about this being a mistake to let it go. She points out that his only mistake was to be in love with the wrong man. S2 looks back at her sharply. [Hm, are they talking about Pastor, really?] S2 comments that he hopes not to be doing something similar. She tells him she’s sorry to have to say it, but yes. What does she mean? That he’s looking for love in all the wrong places. And please be sure to close the door after himself, she’s got work to do.

Juan promises Laura a better place, and a promotion. She runs around the desk to hug and thank him. I don’t remember doing that when I got a promotion. Ever. They exchange flirty chitchat—he’s always so lovely with her, she comments as she strokes his arms. She wants to be his assistant but he points out he doesn’t have any. She acts like she’s thinking. How about with “Sandro?” Juan tells her this little man can’t be trusted. Laura hugs him from behind and tells him she loves it when he’s jealous. Juan’s look gives us hope that he might actually have registered a tactical error on his part.

Safely home in Angarita’s little casita, Pastor and Anga commiserate on their pains of body and love. Anga scolds that Pastor alone has brought this on himself [Ed. Note: no need to rub so much salt in the wounds, Anga.] If Pastor had only behaved totally like a man, it wouldn’t have happened. He continues laying it on thick—Pastor should be thanking God that the Licenciada Paula and Juan took pity on him and didn’t put him out on the street. Pastor keeps quiet, but we hear the sighs. Pastor then thanks heaven that Paula and Juan own Farell and not César Luis. And I was so critical of them! Now I have to acknowledge how much heart it takes to run a big company like this, and those two have it. He sobs a little as he speaks. Anga’s sorry he’s ill, or he’d be looking for Heriberto to tear his face off for laying a hand on Pastor. Pastor sighs. It’s better to let it go (leave it this size). Pastor sobs again, “Ah, Angarita, it looks like the two of us are doomed to be rejected by the people we love. Anga pats his brother’s shoulder.

Ivonne feels guilty about what happened to Pastor and Paula wonders why she feels like that. They’ve gotten home from a very strange day and are setting the table for dinner. Well, Ivonne told him to be sincere with Heriberto, and not keep fantasizing without Heriberto knowing Pastor’s intentions. Look what happened. Paula says that Pastor let it get out of hand. Ivonne continues that the worst part is that she never had seen him so in love with anyone. He’s suffering so much. Paula hopes that some day he’ll find the person who is just right for him. Ivonne wonders if they should set a place for Ana. Nope, she’s head over heels with her boyfriend, Paula smiles—she’s not likely to get here to eat. Ivonne chuckles that she’s on a binge (parrandera). Paula’s so happy to see her Mami living like she should have been living since she was young. The bell rings and Paula shoots over her shoulder that at least it’s probably not Heriberto. Whoa. It’s Marely. It’s a mini face-off.

Try his best, Juan can’t give Juanito a good enough explanation for why he let Marely slip through his fingers at the airport. He rubs Juanito’s ears and hair down from the bath. When he missed her at the plane, there would have been no way but to take a plane and catch up with her on the other side of the pond (charco – puddle, pool - Atlantic Ocean?). Juanito protests that he should have stopped it all by force. Juan tries to comfort him—he knows how hard it is for Juanito, but it’s hard for Juan, too, to think she didn’t want to be there with them. They have to accept it and get on with life. Juanito shakes his finger and demands that Daddy promise. Juan raises his right hand. Juanito wants him to wait her out for the year and when she gets back, make her accept and marry Juan. Juan’s hand fumbles around. He’s not promising. He stutters….and Juanito tries to nail him again. He warns Juan that he simply won’t accept any substitutions for a step-mama.

Paula is impactada, and so is Ivonne. What, she’s not already in Spain? Nope. [Ed. Note: Duh.} Ivonne ducks out to her bedroom as fast as her long legs can carry her. Paula wants to know what happened. Marely was about to get on the plane—and was paralyzed. She couldn’t get through the door. Her legs shook, she got cold suddenly, and a voice inside her said, “Marely, don’t go. Don’t go, because you’ll be sorry.” [Ed. Note: Juanito must have had an altar in his room and was sending up powerful prayers.] Now I’m here and have not the remotest idea what I’m going to do. Paula is muy impactada. What do you mean you couldn’t do it? I thought you were so sure of your decision. Marely admits that she thought that her dream of bettering herself was stronger than her love for Juan. Apparently not. Nothing, nothing is stronger than what she feels for him. Paula looks like she might hyperventilate.

Kike has arrived “home” at Julia’s apartment. She’s still got her pink suit on from work, Kike’s got his bright pink shirt on and the apartment is Very Pink. We have visions of Walt Disney. Kike is charmed by the apartment. He tells her that her “rum-mate” has arrived, like the Yankees (gabachos, Mexican definition, also defined as “froggy” “Frenchy” “Pyrenean” “foreigner or outsider” depending on where you are) say. The laugh shyly together. Kike likes how prettily she’s decorated the house. She bought fresh flowers because it’s a special day for the two of them. Also, she’s fixed up his room nicely, with new sheets (sábanas) and a large pillow. Kike is touched—she shouldn’t have bothered. No, it was no bother! They smile shyly at each other again.

Juan and Nidia sit sadly together in the living room. Juan comments that it was only this morning that Marely left and it seems like it’s been so long. He tells Nidia to cheer up; she’s depressing him. She tells him it’s not just for Marely she’s sad, but for Kike, too. He’s left the house now. Oh, yeah, he told Juan something about that in the morning. Maybe it’s good for both him and Yadira. How can that be good? Nidia doubts it. Juan tries to comfort her, but she’s hurting. Her daughter’s left and so has Kike, who has been like another child for her.

Marely cries and explains to Paula that she’s always been the one with her act together (cuadrada- to tally, to fit together, squared off, standing at attention, coming out on top). She’s never let herself go with her gut. Sometimes she’s been pretty hard on herself. Paula adds that she’s been cautious (precavida), and that’s a different thing. Paula can’t make eye contact and looks darned uncomfortable. Marely is impassioned, pointing out that she’s never had a drink, because she didn’t want to be seen drunk, she’s never escaped to a party, because she didn’t want to put her Mami in a bad mood. She’s never done anything for which she would have to be sorry later. So, what’s wrong with that? Paula is a little impactada. Marely continues her impassioned speech—doesn’t Paula realize, Marely’s always felt she had to be the rational one in her house, who made the right decisions, level-headed (ecuánime), fair, the one who perseveres, the responsible one in the house—and not just at home, but everywhere. She’s always assumed this role where she was and she feels like an old woman who never, never gave herself an opportunity to be wrong (never took a risk). And that bothers you? Yes! It bothers me a lot, because being so cold and calculating I sometimes feel I’m going to lose the one chance I have for happiness in this life. Paula hesitates a little—sure, with….with Juan? Yes. Yes, Paula, with Juan. Paula looks like she’s been hit with a truck.

Kike’s changed and has come into the living/dining room of the apartment. He hopes Julia isn’t bothered that he took a bath and changed into his jammies. [Ed. Note: Kike’s jammies are NOTHING like Juan’s, for which we probably are grateful.] Julia assures him it’s fine, it’s his house, too. She always gets more comfortable when she gets home from the office, putting on her robe (bata) and slippers (pantuflas). She’s fixed a salad for dinner, if that doesn’t bother him too much. If it’s not, she can prepare something more. She thinks he could benefit from her diet. He smiles widely and chuckles about needing to lose some of that belly. They chitchat about helping each other with the diet [Ed. Note: Like the New Julia really needs a diet or anything.] They won’t break it then. He wants to be like the thin folks on the ads.

Marely continues to tell Paula why couldn’t get in the plane. Maybe this is a test for her that God put into her path; for the first time she’s done something really crazy, totally wild (descabellado). Paula wonders if she’s going to carry on, doing these crazy things with a blindfold on (con los ojos vendados—with bandaged eyes), just because she’s so tired of being cerebral? Marely explains that she’s always thought life was a question of having a strategy, and perhaps what’s lacking in her life is changing the strategy. She’s going to need lots of help from Paula because no one knows she’s in Mexico and only Paula can help. ME? Yes, Marely’s had all day to think and refresh her memory about their history with Juan. Marely wants to ask Paula a very direct question, and they need to be very sincere here. Paula’s response may direct the course of Marely’s own future and Paula’s. Marely moves to the seat next to Paula and touches Paula’s hand, but Paula looks away. Marely says they’ve been the best of sisters and the best of friends. Because of this, she’s asking with her heart in her hand. Tell me—do you love Juan?

And we are reminded that any similarity to reality is purely coincidental.

Monday: Who knows? All they can talk about is the June 22 Gran Final!

Vocabulary

Me pisotea – he disses me (pisotear – tramples, abuses, disregards)
Chasco – disappointment
Zafarrancho - havoc
Guasa – joking, teasing, kidding
No se dan en maceta – they don't grow on trees (they don’t give them out in bunches of flowers)
Parrandera - binge
Gabachos - Yankees (gabachos, Mexican definition, also defined as “froggy” “Frenchy” “Pyrenean” “foreigner or outsider” depending on where you are)
Sábanas nuevas - new sheets
Cuadrada- to have one’s act together, tally, to fit together, be squared off, standing at attention, coming out on top
Precavida - cautious
Ecuánime - level-headed
Bata – robe, dressing gown, housecoat
Pantuflas – slippers
Descabellado - wild
Con los ojos vendados - blindfolded, with bandaged eyes

Jeanne

Labels: Juan

Hugo is in the workshop busy with a bellows. Boris comes in and says that he has sent a telegram to Andres asking him to confirm the arrival of Michelle in case she left the city. Hugo says that Michelle wasn’t on the list of passengers who left last night. He was right. She didn’t leave. Hugo says he is worried. Boris asks Hugo what he thinks happened. Eloisa (still wearing the same outfit she was wearing yesterday) bursts in and says that she has the answer to that question. She says that she has very bad news about Michelle. She is sorry to bring it but she has no choice. “Michelle left because of you,” Eloisa says to Hugo.

Paquito shoos his girls out of the tavern. Antonia is outraged that he would expect her to work in such a vulgar place with women who are practically naked. Paquito asks her to look around – this is art! “If this is art,” says Antonia, “it’s in decline.” She says that she is a respectable woman. Paquito chases her around the bar making offers: he will pay her double; he will say she is a foreign pianist; he will give her a costume; she can be his friend George and no one will know she is a woman.

Hugo asks why Eloisa says that Michelle left town because of him. Eloisa says that Hugo knows that Michelle is her friend. How could he have done that to her? “Done what to her?” asks Hugo. Eloisa says that Michelle was shattered. When she came to visit Eloisa, she was very sad and said that she didn’t want to say goodbye because Hugo and Soledad had ruined her life. Eloisa asks Hugo what he did to Michelle. What injustice did he commit?

Nurse Soledad is making up a bed and telling Dr. Dan that she told Alcides that he couldn’t buy her with his money. She says that her mother has seen Alcides roaming around the house. Dr. Dan says that they have to be careful. Alcides is very dangerous. Soledad (with her hair bound up and hanging down her back like a ‘dead animal’ (thanks Nancy)) says that she doesn’t think Alcides will come around her place again after what Soledad said to him yesterday. Dr. Dan asks if Soledad saw Michelle after he left her house. Soledad says no. She asks what is going on with Michelle. Dr. Dan says that it appears that Michelle has left San Marino forever.

Eloisa is continuing her performance for Hugo. She says that poor Michelle couldn’t stop crying before she left. Hugo says that he and Michelle had a little misunderstanding but they worked it out. Eloisa says that is what Hugo thought. Eloisa saw Michelle’s suffering. Michelle had no choice but to leave San Marino to stop the pain. Hugo says that Michelle isn’t like that. She is strong, faces things head on. She wouldn’t have left without saying goodbye to him. Eloisa replies that however strong she was, Michelle is a woman. A woman who knows she lost. She had no alternative but to leave. Hugo asks by what form of transportation did Michelle leave. Eloisa says that she took the last train. Boris says that he is sorry to contradict her, but Michelle was not on the list of passengers on that train. Hugo asks how Eloisa explains that. Eloisa gets that deer-in-the-headlights look.

Alcides pours himself some water on the porch of the Hacienda. He flashes back to Michelle’s death. “You asked for it, Michelle. No one can separate me from Soledad,” he says, “No one. My Soledad. Your hair smells so good. I can almost smell it from a distance. My Soledad… My Soledad..” He flashes back to Soledad returning the bag of money to him. “You’ll come back to me. You’ll come back to me today.” (‘Come back’ Alcides? You never had her.)

Margot says that she won’t go back with Hercu-less. He asks why if he’s her man. Margot says that it is because of that. If she goes back with Herc, Arturo will kill him. There’s a knock on the door. It’s Arturo. Margot shoves Herc out the window with a last kiss. She lets Arturo into the room. When he sees Margot’s dress he says that he understands why his mother was scandalized. Margot asks if he likes her dress. Arturo says that it is different. Arturo touches her breast (Herc watches this part from the window. Herc lets the curtain fall.) Then Arturo turns and leaves the room. Margot sighs with relief.

Paquito tells Antonia that he will dress her as a man with a moustache and they will have to cover up the ‘obvious parts,’ indicating her breasts. When he asks her what she thinks, Antonia slaps him and runs out of the tavern. The Paquitas comfort Paquito.

Hugo asks Eloisa how Michelle left the city if she wasn’t on the list of passengers on the train. Eloisa says that Michelle said something about leaving incognito but that Eloisa was so upset on hearing her plans, that she didn’t pay too much attention. Eloisa says that she has to leave. Michelle asked her to speak to Soledad. As Hugo asks what Eloisa is going to say to Soledad, Soledad arrives at the workshop saying that Dr. Dan told her Michelle had left town. Eloisa confirms that Michelle has left town. She says that Michelle came to her house the previous night to say goodbye and that she was heartbroken.

Dr. Dan asks why Michelle said she was leaving. Eloisa says that she realized Hugo was destined to be with Soledad and she hadn’t realized it until it was too late. Dr. Dan asks why Michelle didn’t talk to him. Why didn’t she take her luggage? Hugo says that Michelle sent Andres ahead with all her luggage. Eloisa says that Michelle was feeling terrible. She only wanted to take her sword. “The sword that I gave her,” says Hugo to himself. Boris says that Michelle looked very upset when she left the hotel and was only carrying her sword. Soledad says that this is a mistake. Michelle has to stay. Soledad flashes back to Michelle telling her that the only way she would stay with Hugo is if their relationship didn’t hurt Soledad. Back in the present, Soledad says that this is hers and Hugo’s fault. “All that Michelle did for us,” she says, “and look what happened.” She runs out. Dr. Dan is going to follow but Eloisa says that Soledad needs to talk to a (woman) friend right now. Hugo asks Boris to get him a train ticket and pack some clothes. He is going to look for Michelle. (What the heck are you doing, Hugo?)

At the Obragon house, Antonia is looking for Ester. She is in her bedroom, very upset. Antonia asks what is the matter. (You could see this coming a mile away.) Ester says that all their money is gone. She doesn’t know how to tell Lucas. Antonia flashes back to Paquito offering to pay her double. Antonia tells Ester not to worry. She will be in charge of the finances in the house from now on. Ester won’t lack for anything.

Marina is looking for Alcides. He isn’t there. Marina says that he told her he was going to be at home. She wonders where he went.

Alone with Eloisa, Soledad says that when Michelle said goodbye to her last night, she had a feeling that she wouldn’t see her again. She thought it was her imagination but now she realizes it was the truth. Soledad wants to go find Michelle but Eloisa says that would only make Michelle believe that Soledad feels sorry for her. Now Eloisa starts with the lies. She tells Soledad that leaving San Marino was the best thing for Michelle. Soledad asks why she says that. Eloisa replies that Michelle told her that Hugo didn’t treat her right. Soledad is surprised and doesn’t understand. Eloisa says that sometimes Soledad is very naïve. Hugo showed one face to her and another to Michelle. He mistreated Michelle. Eloisa pretends to be surprised that Michelle never mentioned this to Soledad. Soledad says Michelle told her the opposite that she was very happy with Hugo. Eloisa say that Michelle told her that Hugo mistreated her verbally the same way he did to Soledad when he was pretending to be Alcides. Soledad says what Michelle is telling her is terrible.

In the lab, Dr. Dan flashes back to Michelle warning him about Alcides’ jealousy of him and Soledad and her fear that Alcides that might hurt him. Dr. Dan concludes that Michelle wouldn’t have left San Marino and especially not without saying goodbye to him. He thinks Michelle is in trouble and Alcides is involved. He gets his whip out. He says that Alcides will listen to him right now.

Hugo is getting on the train. He says that it will take two days to get to where Michelle is and then he will try and persuade her to return with him. He tells Boris that he didn’t tell Soledad that he was leaving so she doesn’t know that he won’t be visiting his daughter. Boris says that he sees Ursula frequently so he can send Soledad a note through her. Hugo says goodbye to Boris and that he will return in a month. (Two days there and two days back; what is Hugo going to do for the other three weeks? I think he meant to say above that it would take two weeks to get to Michelle’s ‘country.’)

Ursula goes to wake up Aurora but she is gone. Meanwhile, back at the lie-fest, Eloisa tells Soledad that she is glad that Michelle left San Marino. She says that Michelle told her that she was envious of Soledad because she could never have what Soledad had. Soledad says that is not true and Eloisa is claiming that she has never lied to Soledad when the Obragon witches and Ursula burst in to announce that the baby is not in the house. Someone took her. Everyone is running around. Maybe Lucas has the baby? He doesn’t. Eloisa says to herself that Alcides must have taken the baby.

Hugo is on the train. He says to himself that he can’t believe that Michelle left because of him. He has to ask her forgiveness. He should start a new life with her far from Soledad. He flashes back to seeing a shadow when he was talking to Alcides the previous evening and figures out that it was Michelle. She heard him say that he still loved Soledad and that is why she left San Marino.

Dr. Dan goes to the Hacienda to see Alcides. Marina says that he isn’t there.

Soledad concludes that it was Alcides who took the baby. He is the only person who can go in and out of her house without being seen. Soledad wants to go see Alcides immediately. Ester says that she will go to the police station and file charges against Alcides. Eloisa pipes up and says that she will go to the police station. Ester can go with Soledad.

The baby, carried by an as yet unknown person, is at the cabaña in the woods. She’s pretty calm so far.

Lucas wants to go and help find the baby but Antonia tells him he would just be a burden. He realizes this is true.

Hugo is on the train. He doesn’t respond when the conductor asks for his ticket. Finally, he realizes that the conductor is talking to him. He says that he is distracted. When the conductor is gone, he flashes back to when Aurora nearly got a catalepsy attack and he saved her.

Marina tells Dr. Dan that she doesn’t know how long Alcides will be out. She suggests that he leave and she will give Alcides the message that he was there. Dr. Dan agrees and at that moment Soledad bursts in looking for Alcides. Soledad says that Alcides has taken her baby. Marina says that she doesn’t know anything about it. Dr. Dan says that he will help and the first thing he does is hug Soledad.

Ursula comes into the workshop looking for Hugo. When Boris tells her that Hugo has gone on a trip for a month, Ursula jumps to the conclusion that it was Hugo that took the baby.

The Obragons and Dr. Dan search the Hacienda but don’t find the baby or Alcides. Marina says that Alcides will be furious when he finds them roaming around his house. Ester tells her to shut up and get out. At that moment, Alcides comes into the house carrying a box. “Where do you have my daughter?” demands Soledad, “Where did you take her?” Alcides stares at her with that sappy look he gets when she is near him. (He probably smells her hair.)

Alcides tells Soledad that he doesn’t know what she is talking about. What has happened with my niece? Soledad screams at him that she knows he kidnapped the baby and she demands to know where Aurora is. He doesn’t know what she is capable of. Ester says that Antonia saw Alcides roaming around the Obragon house. She demands that he confess to taking the child. Alcides says that he roams around their house all the time to get a glimpse of Soledad. Ester saw him. He didn’t have the baby. Soledad says that Alcides must have returned and taken the baby. She is losing her patience. Dr. Dan says that the Obragons have reason to believe that it was Alcides who took the baby. Alcides says that Soledad is wrong. He didn’t have anything to do with this. He is innocent. Soledad has to believe him. Alcides wonders who could have kidnapped the baby. Alcides asks Marina to put away the box he is carrying but Soledad grabs it and it has baby clothes in it! Soledad and the others demand to know where the baby is.

Boris asks Ursula to calm down and explain to him what has happened. Ursula says that Aurora has been kidnapped and since Boris told her that Hugo has left town, he must have taken her. Boris asks how Ursula could believe that Hugo is capable of doing something like that. Boris assures her that it wasn’t Hugo. Ursula asks why Hugo left town. Boris tells her that Michelle decided to go back to her country and Hugo went after her. He says that they have to let Hugo know what has happened as soon as possible.

On the train, Hugo is having a happy vision of going on vacation with Soledad and the baby. Soledad kisses him. (This is not a good sign when you’re going after another woman, Hugo.) Hugo wakes up from his happy fantasy and flashes back to telling Boris outside the mine that he has to go to a meeting to advance his Plan of Vengeance. He says to himself that it all could have been so different. Hugo flashes back to one of the many times when the evidence was there that Soledad loved him but he ignored it. In this case, Hugo says that the other Aurora told him that Soledad named her baby Aurora because this other Aurora saved Hugo’s life at the trial. Hugo says that if that is true, then Soledad loves him. Boris and Marina pour cold water on that idea by saying that Soledad probably just likes the name or wanted to keep up appearances since she cares what other people think.

Antonia tells Lucas that she doesn’t understand how Alcides comes in and out of the house without anyone seeing him. Lucas is frustrated that he can’t even confront that miserable bastard Alcides for what he has done. Antonia tells him not to torture himself. He should trust in God that Alcides took the baby to get Soledad’s attention. Lucas hopes Antonia is right. Antonia starts fiddling with her hair obviously figuring out how she is going to do the Victor Victoria thing. Lucas says that Antonia seems very nervous and not just about the baby. Is she hiding something from him? She flashes back to her conversation with Paquito in the tavern and Ester telling her that they are broke. Antonia tells Lucas that he is imagining things. She is worried and upset about Aurorita’s disappearance. Isn’t that enough to make her stressed out?

Ursula is crying for Aurora. She asks Boris who could have taken the baby if it wasn’t Hugo. Boris says that he doesn’t know but it wasn’t Hugo. Boris took him to the train and he didn’t have the baby. Ursula says that she believes him. She tells Boris that they have to tell Soledad that Hugo is out of town. She needs to know. Boris says that he will go with her. He will send a telegram to Hugo at the next station to tell him that the baby has been kidnapped.

Soledad goes ballistic on Alcides asking how he could take and innocent child and she beats on him. Alcides asks Soledad to look him in the eyes. He swears to her that he doesn’t know where the baby is and had nothing to do with her disappearance. Soledad says that she doesn’t believe him. Why else would he be buying baby clothes? Alcides says that the baby clothes have nothing to do with his niece or rather they do. He bought them for Aurora because Soledad was so upset when she left his house this morning and he wanted to do something nice for her but now it has all gone wrong. Dr. Dan tells Alcides that he should tell the truth. “I will accept whatever from Soledad,” says Alcides, giving Dr. Dan a nasty look, “but not threats from you.” Ester says that the police will be here soon and Alcides will have to confess. “You accused me of this to the police without evidence?” Alcides asks Soledad. Soledad replies that there is more than enough proof (‘pruebas me sobran’). Of course, she is accusing him. Eloisa has gone to do so in Soledad’s name. Dr. Dan notices that Alcides’ arm is bleeding. What happened to him? How did he get injured?

Eloisa runs into the sole representative of law enforcement in San Marino, the judge. She says that she has come to notify the police that Soledad’s baby is missing. The judge asks where and when this happened. Eloisa says that it happened this morning. Soledad’s servant, Ursula, got distracted and someone took the child. The judge asks if Eloisa suspects anyone. She says Soledad thinks it was Alcides but she doesn’t agree. Eloisa pretends to not want to incriminate someone. The judge tells her that her information will considered ‘off the record.’ So Eloisa accuses Michelle Phillips.

We see the baby sleeping and the kidnapper is, who else, Arturo. (Except for Alcides, sort of, he’s the only bad guy we’ve got left.) He flashes back to overhearing Soledad tell Alcides that he has gone into her room without anyone seeing before. Arturo says to himself that Alcides must be dealing with the wrath of Soledad and her family. He told Alcides that he would get revenge, whatever it cost. The credits roll.

Monday – The hunt for the baby –well, at least Hugo seems to have come back to town.

Labels: la traicion

Franco tries to make Juan see that he needs to be patient where Sofia is concerned. Juan says the guy has got him angry as all get out because he won’t give her back her freedom. He is seriously considering running off with Sofia since the brute won’t give her a divorce. Franco says fine, he’ll support Juan’s decision as long as he’ll be happy, but he’s got to get far away from there.

Meanwhile, Oscar, who’s skipped out on work today, has managed on his first try to find his way to the very old folks’ home where Grampa Augie was brought. (I’ll give him points for actually starting with the closest and most obvious place to look for once and saving us in Viewerville from suffering through gawd knows how many aggravating wild goose chases in surrounding towns for the next month of Sundays.) Oscar has asked Dr. Matasano if Augie has been staying there. Dr. Matasano growls back nope, never heard of the guy. So Oscar, bright as well as charming, asks what other homes in the area the good doctor might suggest he could look at but devilish Dr. Matasano shoots him down with a rude, “I don’t know and now get out cuz I’m too-oo-oo busy.”

As Oscar starts to leave the hospital Sor Ratita catches up to him and rats out Dr. Matasano. She tells him that Don Augustin was living there but escaped the day before.

Augie is still hiding out near Libia’s grave site . Seems it’s getting chilly out there and Augie worries about whether Pablito found one of the Reyes brothers to come help him. The old guy snoozes while a nasty looking snake slithers into the clearing near his wheelchair.

Later that day Fernando tells Gabriela again that he’s leaving the hacienda since things have become complicated and seem hopeless. Now, with her father missing and unable to sign the bank papers releasing the funds they need, he doesn’t want to take responsibility for things taking a turn for the worse. Gabi begs him not to do it and says it isn’t her fault her father went missing. Feo whines that it’s not his fault either that his wife isn’t there with him now. He adds that she hasn’t done much to get her back for him. Gabi says she is waiting for an apology first, but Feo says Sofia is not about to give her one so he’s cashing in his chips and heading out.

Gabi begs him to reconsider and asks what she needs to do to keep him there. Whatever he wants she’ll do it. For a nanosecond Feo allows himself a secret, teensy-weensy, malevolent smile and a mental pat on the back for being such a master manipulator. “Tell Sofia whatever you have to, but bring her back, ‘cause that’s the only way I’ll stay.”

Oscar is now galloping back and forth through the forest at breakneck speed, supposedly looking for telltale signs of Augie and wheel tracks in the grass. (Dunno. Maybe I’ve seen one too many American westerns but don’t trackers usually take it slow so as not to miss anything? If they only had a t.v. in that town maybe Oscar could have seen a few of the same westerns and saved himself a few extra zigs and zags.) Back at the half-built bungalow Franco is telling Juan he’s bummed about Sarita giving him the big brush off. He kissed her to prove she was lying about not loving him and the bloody broad felt nothing. Whatever little bit she might have felt for him has gone up in smoke, he laments. Juan laughs and says he better come to grips with his situation and decide. “You can’t love two women at the same time. True love comes only once in a lifetime and whoever says different doesn’t know how to love or else has never loved.”

At the same time, Sarita is up in her room writing another love letter to Franco. She is weeping over having lied to him about her true feelings. Sarita admits in her letter that she really loves him with all her heart and that it took her a great deal of effort not to respond to his kisses while we see flashbacks of Franco all sweaty undershirt, do-rag and 24/7 stubble, getting ready to lay a big one on her. (Anyone ever figure out how they keep that stubble at a permanently skuzzy ¼” length? It’s one of those kinds of niggly nagging things you really want to know the answer to before you die.) For a second time we get to see Franco literally sucking the face off Sarita (while I go into gagging mode). She writes him good-bye forever because she cannot continue suffering like she has while he plays with her feelings. (Ok. So isn’t this the second time she’s done that? But who’s counting? Yawn.)

Outside on the roof Franco tells Juan he’s dumping Sarita now and going back to Rosario. (Lucky gal --not!) Juan tells him to listen to his heart the way he has listened to his own with Sofia, to the point of even thinking to run off with her. Of course he can’t because he doesn’t want to leave his two brothers alone especially since they’ve not carried out their blood oath to Libia. Franco tries to talk Juan into running away with Sofia if he really wants to and says Libia would understand about this and be happy for him. He and Franco will take care of their plan for vengeance. Juan says he has as much an obligation to the oath as they do so he can’t run off now. Franco says then run off with her for a long while and come back after they find happiness and the three of them will take care of their blood oath then.

Back in the forest Pablito has returned to find Augie with the snake near enough to bite. They try to wheel him away but the wheelchair is stuck in the soft ground. Miraculously Oscar appears from nowhere (literally –I’d swear he almost missed his cue and somebody pushed him). He manages to grab the snake from behind the head before it strikes. He turns around with the snake, points it in their direction, and sternly asks them what they were doing there.

We are beamed back to the convent where Juan is apparently angry over the Church’s refusing to give Sofia her annulment. Juan doesn’t want to wait the time it would take for Padre Tadeo to ask again, only to have the Church refuse permission again, and he persuades Sofia to run away with him that night.

We go through another disorienting time warp and Pabilito is apparently on his way back home when he spies Armando paying off the old woman from the fair and taking Luis away with him.

Oscar has now arrived back home with Augie. Quintina and Augie remember each other from her bread deliveries to the home. It’s a happy reunion for everyone and Augie has a good time explaining to her how Oscar rescued them from the snake near the beautiful meadow where he was hiding out. Oscar feels a twinge of pain as Augie describes the place to Quintina as a quiet, peaceful refuge. He tells her he thought it seemed like it was somebody’s grave site. (Your're half right, Augie. Try thinking "shrine".)

Back in town now, Armando brings Luis to Rosario’s dressing room at the Bad Love Bar. She begs to let her take him to church with her. Armando gives in and they start out. Franco has just come into the bar and ordered a drink. He watches from the other side of the room as Rosario walks through with Luis. He sees Armando leave with them and is impactado, thinking to himself that this must be Rosario’s secret, that she has a son with Armando.

Oscar enters Jimena’s room through the balcony doors again. She tells him they need to get married right away so she doesn’t have to spend any more time locked away in her room like this. Oscar stalls and changes the subject. He tells her he’s found her granddad, that Augie’s at his house and he wants to take her to visit with him.

At the convent Sofia has filled her pillowcase with her few possessions which she carries with her into the visitor’s room and is getting ready to sneak away soon with Juan. As she hears the nuns approach she hides the pillow case. The mother superior comes in to tell her she has a visitor. She’s excited to think that Juan has finally come for her. She turns around but, surprise!! It’s Mama (BIG let down!) who immediately lays a guilt trip on Sofia about her arrogance and selfishness. When Sofia tries to defend herself, Gabi tells her the only thing she can do is to complain. She should be thinking more of her mother’s health and emotional state or one day she’ll find her dead and (say it with me class) she will be sorry for treating her mother this way. For emphasis Gabi fakes another fainting spell. (Puh-leese, Sofia, just. step. over. this woman and walk away already, can’t you?). Mama keeps the act going till Sofia, in tears, is begging to be forgiven and frantically telling her she’ll do whatever she needs to make up for it. Gabi regains consciousness just in time to forgive Sofia and to scold her, saying that even so, when she dies her mother’s suffering will still be on her conscience. (The best actresses in Jollywood got nothin’ on Mama!) Curtain call, everybody! Curtain call!

We flit from there to Oscar and Jimena eating rose petals and making out somewhere. I suppose in the garden out back. Jimena stops and is obviously getting a bit too carried away now that Oscar’s nuzzling her ear in just the right way. She tells him he really needs to speak to Padre Tadeo about their plans so they can get married as soon as possible. He promises and that seems to be enough for her. They go back at it again.

Juan finally arrives for Sofia at the convent. (Dig that poncho! I want one!) Sofia tells him she cannot leave with him, that she’s a woman with obligations and is now giving him his freedom. He tells her the only obligation he has is to her. She says she has too many priorities, in particular, her ill mother who will certainly die if she leaves her. He is angry and hurt and calls her a coward for not putting their love first. Her decision is a huge disappointment but he isn’t going to force her, he says. What’s more, he won’t even continue to discuss it with her. So, good-bye forever and have a nice life cuz without her his is not worth spit. As he rides off she tells herself that he is right, she’s a coward but her conscience and her heart will not allow her to run away with him.

Juan (not so artistically) rears his horse as he gallops angrily away. He eventually arrives at his sister’s shrine. He cries and tells Libia he now understands how she felt when she found out that Bernardo Elizondo was married and had betrayed her. He says that Sofia Elizondo has also betrayed him. She played with his feelings and caused him to give up his oath of vengeance to her. Despite it all, he still loves Sofia so much; and he loves her as he could never love another woman. His love is for her and only her. The little flower on her grave is crying dewdrops.

Meanwhile, Sofia is sitting in her room in the convent crying and asking Juan to forgive her for destroying both their lives and sacrificing their love for the health of her mother.

Back at the hacienda, however, while the two lovers are dealing with their pain, Gabriela is happily strutting around her office telling Feo that she’s certain Sofia will return probably the very next morning. Fernando says then the only thing left is the problem with finding her father otherwise they’ll have to declare him missing or dead so they can change the documents at the bank. Gabi says it won’t be necessary. He’s too clever to have had anything happen to him and she’s certain he’s just hiding out somewhere.

At the Reyes’ Franco comes back home and is glad to see Augie there. Augie says it’s thanks to Oscar. Quintina wonders why Franco looks like he’s at a wake and asks who’s died. He says Love has died. He tells them both the [women] he loved he’s lost and Augie pretty much tells him “I told you so!”

Oscar and Jimena are still doing the preteen make out thing and again have to stop before things go too far. Oscar tells her he loves and respects her so nothing will happen until she’s his before God and men. (Whoever wrote this part of the script must have really O.D.’d on old Annette Funicello flicks the weekend before.) Jimena smiles and they kiss again.

Sofia promises the Virgencita that she will sacrifice her love if she will take her mother’s suffering away and make her better. Then losing Juan will have been worth it. At the same time Juan is still galloping around in the moonlight and screaming (EY’s signature, I guess) to the heavens for Libia to get Sofia out of his heart forever and always.

Back in town, Rosario takes Luis to church and they say a little prayer. While walking him back to the bar she stops in her tracks thinking the man in front of her is Franco, but she realizes he’s only a stranger. Armando has a big ugly laugh about it. She stops to wonder why Franco threw her over for another woman, but then figures it might be for the best since if he really knew the truth about her he’d despise her.

In his room alone, Franco moons over Rosario’s supposed secret and her son who he mistakenly thinks is Armando’s. “That was the last thing I expected of her –a son! A son!” Sarita meanwhile looks at the moon and pines away for Franco.

Oscar has brought Jimena back to his place to visit with her granddad. She tells him that Sofia is living in a convent and that her mother has been locking her in her room except to go out with Octavio, so she’s had to sneak out the balcony with Oscar to get there. Augie notices that something’s developed between her and Oscar while he was sent away. She admits they are a couple now and Oscar says they’re getting married. Augie gives them his blessing. Franco comes out from his room then and they ask where Juan is. Franco tells them that he ran off with Sofia. Franco says Juan told him himself that he planned to run away with Sofia that night. After Oscar leaves to take Jimena home Augie tells Quintina he knew Sofia loved Juan from the start.

Juan, though, is actually now at the rectory and talking with Padre Tadeo. “Yes, we were going to run away, Padre. We had verbally agreed to it but she decided to stay with her mother.” Tadeo tells Juan he needs to understand that Gabriela is very ill. Juan disagrees and says the old woman is faking it as far as he’s concerned, to maintain control over her daughters, to blackmail them somehow. Tadeo tells him then that love withstands all, gives all and forgives all. Juan admits he’s going to love Sofia for the rest of his life.

Afterward Juan ends up at the Bad Love Bar to drown his sorrows. He gets drunk to the Mariachi band there playing badly off-key songs about bad love. (Off-key, but they still sound a heck of a lot better than the stuff being played on those 10 watt Duranguese AM stations we get in the boonies here, the stuff that sounds like somebody’s cousin had recorded of their best friend’s amateur band performing at their sister’s wedding.)

A couple of the regulars notice Juan and one says that Juan never comes in there, let alone drinks. The other says tonight though it looks like something’s really bugging him. (Man, I can’t get over the size of those sombreros! I’m getting’ dizzy watching those huge things bob and weave. I guess though, it’s the law of the machismo jungle that just like their American counterparts, vaqueros and vaquero wanna-be’s always gotta keep their spurs and sombreros on. It’s just that with the size of those things, it’s a wonder they don’t all suffer from bobble-head syndrome down there in Puebla.) Juan can’t help it. He gets carried away by the words in the song and decides to sing along with the band. (Oh, no! Eduardo, as we all know from Desti days, can’t sing to save his soul. I‘ve been desperately praying they weren’t going to torture us with another song from him. The man is too much of a hunk to demean himself this way.) Juan chimes in drunkenly every few words and remembers his encounters with Sofia from first to last, especially their making love in the abandoned barn. He takes another drink to forget and to dull his pain.

=============

Next episodio: Grab your glasses and hold onto your ..... sombreros, boys! It looks like we’re gonna be treated to a good ol’ fashioned bar-brawl free-for-all!

Labels: Fuego

Permalink posted by Jardinera654 @ 11:55 AM 44 comments

But you can certainly scare the bejezus out of a cowering car jockey and his compadres

I'm going to have to do a quick recap today, as we are heading off for a bar mitzvah, and I want to get this finished. I did not have time to go back and watch some gaps, so please fill in if you wouldn't mind.

Recaps from yesterday:
Socorro catches Karla talking to Connie when he has snuck into the girls' dorm. She refuses to believe that nothing sexual is going on. She calls him a dirty old man.

(compressing segments here) Alex and Luci discuss why she never told him all this stuff. She gives her usual lying answer. She is angry at Mili for breaking her promise not to tell. Alex says it's a disgrace how she has treated Mili. She asks him why she should be so kind to the bastard child of "your father"--should she welcome her with open arms? He says he now knows what she did at the church, and he is appalled. He says he knows his father (Connie) is an infeliz, and she says the equivalent of "you don't know the half." She tells him to stick with Flor so he can be happy. Alex seethes.

Rocky is moping at Vulcanizadora Valeria. Horacio tries to cheer him up.

Mili is lying in the middle of Regina's big bed. The girls come in and try to get details of her romantic getaway. They want to know what it was like to be with a man. Mili says they're just gossips. They ask her not to be "gacha," or annoying . . . (like "don't be that way").
She says they just talked and went away. She looks sad.

Hugo is sniffing a scarf in a sick stalkery way. Que the heck! Alex comes in and interrupts. Hugo wants to know what happened, and Alex says it's none of his business, but in short, he told Mili to be with Hugo. Hugo says he thinks Alex is making fun of him. Alex says no, but Hugo had better treat her right or he'll have the devil to pay.

Connie fumes over the photo of Rocky. Karla arrives with the address of the tire store. Connie shouts for Braulio, then gets an enormous shotgun and takes off for the tire store. I really don't know what to say about this shotgun. It's just so big, so terrifying, I just can't do anything but drop my jaw in astonishment.

Connie tells Val not to move. I think Brau apologizes for his failure to keep the picture from Connie.

Comic relief segment: Horacio and Rocky have one of those malaprop exchanges with the deaf guy. I don't follow it all except for a shout out to Paty Navidad. Did anyone catch what was the homonym for my girl Alicia Ferreira? I wish she would appear in something else, as I regard her as a great comic talent.

Mili is out at the soccer field with Hugo. He says that Alex has told him the field was free for him.

Alex goes to see Flor. I skip over this until the end where he grabs her and kisses her madly, asking her to rub herself all over his skin, his heart, etc., to erase his memories of Mili. He asks Flor why she isn't asking him what happened. She says all that matters is that he is there with her now.

Hugo tries to get Mili to spill the beans. Nada, but they're still novios. She says, however, that she can't lie, and she really still loves Alex. They kiss, and Padre M suddenly comes up and interrupts in his GoGo shirt. There's another one of those mistaken information exchanges, where he asks why she's not with Alex, and she says, well I did what you said and I told the truth. So why aren't you with Alex? Huh? Come on, Padre, do something!

Connie now gets out of his big car with the big gun at the little tire store. More malaprops: You are loca, no I don't have coca. Do I look like a narcotraficante? Morgan cowers behind a trunk while Horacio and Chalupa try to hide him.

Padre M calls Nestor to find out what went wrong. He's in a hospital waiting for the DNA tests. He said he didn't feel it was the right time to tell now that he thinks Alex might not be his son. (oh, please, at least he's not Connie's son--tell him that!). He ends the call with the arrival of Luci with the "DNA samples." (I use that term advisedly.)

Raise your hand if you think Luci has really brought hair from Alex's bedroom. Now a show of hands for those who think Luci has gone out on the streets of Mexico City and gathered hair from rabid stray dogs. (or a third option--she's brought Connie's hair?). Another show of hands for those who think Nestor is an easily manipulated idiot who should have collected the sample himself by surreptiously pulling hair from Alex's head or something like that. Luci's scheming look tells you that something's up. (Although who knows what Luci's own DNA would show--something not human, I'm sure. Remember the scene in The Omen when they find out that Damien's mother had the DNA of a jackal?)

Connie is now in the tire store pointing the gun and saying I give you three seconds to produce Alejandro. Yes, that's what my captions say, and I know that's a typo. I can't really hear what he says, though, oddly enough. Morgan comes out with his hands up. Connie sticks the shotgun down the front of Morgan's pants and threatens him. It's just horrible is all I can say.

Mat comes to the mansion to see Mili, but Braulio sends him away. Val is then caught by Braulio, who handcuffs her to a chair! Braulio sees Mili in the house and says he was worried about her. He hugs her. Hugo comes in and asks why Brau is hugging his girlfriend. Uncle Brau has to let go. There's another scene here where Braulio reveals to Luci that he doesn't want Mili to be with Alex because Alex has made her suffer so much and he doesn't deserve her. So that explains his motivation for not revealing the truth. Uncle Brau, please!

Socoro and Gloria arrive at the tire shop. Chalupa takes Gloria away for a "chat." Maybe they will practice more of those French kisses Sor Cachete was teaching them about until they get it right.

Florencia and Domingo talk with Alex. Alex asks to see Domingo alone. He tells him he will not work for Domingo. He doesn't need his help. I didn't have time to write all this down.
Domingo keeps threatening Alex.

Hugo makes a new painting of Mili. When she sees it (thankfully, she's wearing clothes this time), she is shocked by how sad she looks. Hugo tells Mili that he doesn't really want her the way she is not really loving him. (This is certainly a new Hugo.) He says that to love is to know when to give up. He loves her so much he gives her up.

Karla meets Connie in the yard again for one of their informational exchanges and she trips and falls into his arms. Socorro espies them from a distance, of course, and gets the wrong idea again.

Avances: Connie receives a special delivery letter from the Caiman Islands Bank. He's smiling until he opens it and realizes the account has been drained. Luci hits Karla.

Labels: guapos

You were right, Marie Celeste (como siempre). This was a great couple of episodes and I haven't even seen the last 15 minutes.

How long was Fernando working at the Hacienda before he caught Norma on her Saturday fence visits with Juan? One day?

How many times is Norma going to insist that she can do what she wants - visiting Juan, deciding to name the baby Juan David but refuse to just leave when her mother goes ballistic.

Uh oh, Fernando hooks up with Dínorah - they will have a common enemy - Juan

Óscar's plan to get back with Jimena was very funny. They are a very cute couple.

It was great when Franco threw Rosario out of the Hacienda. I didn't realize how much Juan dislikes Rosario. And now the nitwit, I forget his name, who played Agapito in Zorro, is going to follow Rosario. That will work out well, I'm sure.

Looking forward to Monday

Labels: gavilanes

Alcides hears noises in the house. He waits with his gun. Down the stairs comes Eloisa. He asks what the hell she is doing there. Wasn’t he sufficiently clear before? Eloisa asks him to be calm and lower his weapon. She tells Alcides that she came because Michelle knows everything: she knows about the treasure; she knows about them. She was here and heard us arguing. Eloisa says that she is ready to tell everyone.

At Rebeca’s house, Alcides watches while a bound and gagged Michelle wakes up. He takes the gag off her and the first thing Michelle says is that the treasure doesn’t belong to Alcides. “I told you she knows everything!” says Eloisa. Alcides replaces the gag and uses the Vulcan nerve pinch on Michelle to render her unconscious. Eloisa asks how he did that. Alcides says this is no time for trivial matters. Eloisa asks what he is going to do with Michelle. Alcides says that soon it will be dawn. He has to get her out of here. Alcides mentions the fact that Paquito helped Eloisa incapacitate Michelle. Eloisa assures Alcides that he doesn’t have to worry about Paquito. Alcides says that he hopes so. Alcides says that Michelle is very beautiful. Eloisa says that she hopes Alcides isn’t thinking about taking Michelle to his house. Marina is there and he shouldn’t trust her. “You do your part and I’ll do mine,” says Alcides. Eloisa wants to know if that means he will still pay for her services. Alcides tells Eloisa to give him all Michelle’s belongings so that there is no trace of her in Rebeca’s house. Eloisa says that Michelle only came with her sword. Alcides picks up Michelle and the sword and tells Eloisa not to say a word about this to anyone. When he is gone, Eloisa says that Michelle has finally got what was coming to her. Alcides has no other alternative than to kill her.

Alcides takes Michelle to the Treasure vault. With his back to Michelle, he is fiddling with something and asks himself what he is going to do with her. He has to think of something. She can’t ruin his plans for Soledad by talking. All of a sudden, Michelle’s sword is at Alcides’ neck. She tells him to turn around slowly. He does and he’s holding a gun.
M: This is the treasure you told Eloisa about, right? You’re so wretched. You killed Rebeca de Montenegro over this. You tried to convince everyone that you were a changed man but no, you’re just a murderer. No wonder Soledad hates you.
A: That isn’t true. There is no basis for what you say. You don’t understand. I love Soledad more than anything. I’d do anything for her.
M: Including murder?” (‘llenar tus manos de sangre’, literally ‘fill your hands with blood’) “That not love it’s craziness, it’s obsession.” Alcides cocks his gun. Michelle looks around. What are doing? Be careful.
A: Don’t move. Don’t take another step or I’ll shoot. (Michelle is very close to the trip wire.)
M: Where are we? Where is this place?
A: Listen to me Michelle. No one has to die. We can reach an agreement.
M: There’s a way out, isn’t there? Where is it?
A: We’re under the Obragon house. (Alcides lowers his gun).
M: How ironic that Soledad is above us. That’s how you get into her house undetected.
A: We can reach an agreement, Michelle. No one has to die.
M: No.
A: Don’t move!
Michelle trips the booby trap. Alcides pushes her aside and the arrow goes into his arm. He staggers, puts down his gun, holds the wounded arm and looks at Michelle.

Doña Gladis rings the bell at her party and in comes Margot. Gladis and the other maid stare in disbelief. Margot has made her uniform into a tight-fitting and extremely low cut dress.

Paquito comes to see Antonia and says that he has a good paying job for her as a pianist. She asks what she has to do.

Hugo is having breakfast. Boris says that he is very thoughtful. Dr. Dan bursts in and says that Michelle is missing. Her bed wasn’t slept in. Something must have happened to her.

Soledad comes to Alcides’ house with the bag of money. She tells Marina to tells Alcides that she is waiting and she won’t leave until he speaks with her. Marina gives Soledad a real nasty look.

M: Why did you do it, Alcides? Why did you lie to Soledad? Why?
With great effort, Alcides pulls the arrow out of his arm. (that trap is not working out so well for you, Alcides.)
A: I’ve never lied to Soledad. I’ve loved her since I was a boy.
M: That’s not love; it’s sickness. You have no right! She’s not in love with you!
A: (making an effort to speak) All’s fair in love and war. Why did you have to stick your nose in my business? Why? Why did you come to my house and listen to what you shouldn’t have?
Michelle looks at the gun Alcides laid down. She makes a move for it. Alcides tries to stop her. They struggle. The gun goes off. It’s not clear at first who is hit. It’s Michelle. “Tell Hugo, I loved him with my whole being,” she says and dies.

Ester is dreaming. She flashes back to visiting Jeremias’s tomb and asking him to help her because someone knows her secret and is blackmailing her. Rebeca comes up and asks what she is doing there and on and on. Finally, she wakes up when she hears a shot. Ester goes to Lucas’ room and tells him that she heard shots. He heard them too. He thought they were close to the house. Ester looks out the window and sees that Paquito and Antonia are talking as if nothing happened. Lucas says that means that they are getting old and are hearing things. He asks her to help him up.

Paquito is having difficulty making Antonia understand what he wants to hire her to do without telling her that she will be working in a tavern. Finally, he asks her to come with him to see the establishment he is opening.

Marina tells Soledad that Alcides is not in the Hacienda. He must have left early because he didn’t have breakfast. Soledad doesn’t believe her and says she will look for herself . Marina stops her. Marina asks why Soledad is looking at her like that. Soledad says that because of her Hugo was almost hanged and Boris was only saved by a miracle. She betrayed her boss and her husband. Doesn’t she have a heart? Marina shouldn’t forget that Hugo dropped the charges against her. She should be in prison. What she did was unforgivable. Marina raises her hand to hit Soledad. Soledad dares Marina to hit her and she will see what Soledad de Obragon is capable of.

Hugo asks if Dr. Dan is sure that Michelle didn’t sleep in her room. Dr. Dan says that her bed is untouched and the reception desk didn’t see her come in last night. Boris suggests that she did leave the city, maybe by carriage if she wasn’t on the train. Hugo says that he can’t believe she wouldn’t say goodbye. Dr. Dan asks if there was any detail that caught Hugo’s attention. Hugo (eating grapes and drinking orange juice) says no. They had talked. Michelle had agreed to stay. Hugo flashes back to asking Michelle to leave him and Soledad alone in Soledad’s house the previous evening. Michelle told him that she had something to do and hugged Soledad. Back in the present, Dr. Dan asks if Hugo has any idea where Michelle could be. “Yes,” says Hugo, “Michelle has left San Marino. I want to know why she left without saying goodbye to anyone.”

Alcides carefully lays Michelle on the floor of the Treasure Vault and puts her sword on her body and crosses her hands over it. “What a shame,” he says, “You were in the wrong place at that wrong time. I don’t think I’ll respect your last wish, Michelle. I can’t tell my brother without revealing my involvement. You knew it. One of us had to die. You lost. (‘Sólo que a ti te tocó perder’).

Antonia doesn’t want to go with Paquito. He offers her 1,000 pesos just to come and see the place. Antonia says that is more than all of them earn in the house. “And that’s just a tip,” says Paquito. Antonia agrees to come. She will just tell her family. Paquito does a happy dance. He has found a pianist.

Margot tells Gladis that she knew she would be surprised at the alterations to her uniform but she didn’t think Gladis would like it so much. In a voice that would freeze the blood, Gladis tells Margot to come to the kitchen with her and excuses herself to her guests.

Soledad tells Marina to go away. She prefers to wait for Alcides alone. Marina leaves. Soledad flashes back to one of the many times in that house that Hugo as Alcides tormented her for betraying him. “As much as I want to,” says Soledad, “I can’t forget the horror you made me live through in this house, Hugo. All because of your revenge.”

“Ah Michelle, my belle (Mario actually sort of says the line from the Paul McCartney song in its original English/French!) How could she?” Dr. Dan says that if Hugo and Michelle had a problem, he could understand how she could not say goodbye to Hugo but not to say goodbye to him. He doesn’t believe it. Boris says that he thought it was strange that Michelle went out so late with her sword. Hugo asks Boris if he thought Michelle had a problem. Boris says that she doesn’t know but she didn’t look very happy. Dr. Dan has a thought. What if Michelle went to confront Alcides because she was convinced that he had it in for Dr. Dan (‘me tiene entre ojos,’ literally, ‘had me between the eyes,’) for courting Soledad. “Michelle went alone to confront Alcides,” says Hugo twice.

Alcides resets the trap. He tells Michelle that he will return tonight to bury her body.

Gladis hauls Margot out of the room where the guests are. She asks what Margot did to the dress. She looks like a street walker. Margot says that she always dresses this way. Gladis sends her to her room until Arturo comes back.

Hugo says that Michelle didn’t have any reason to confront Alcides unless she thought he was going to attack Dr. Dan. Dr. Dan says if that were so, she would have told him. Dr. Dan says that he doesn’t understand. She changed her mind. Did she leave without telling anyone so that we couldn’t try and convince her not to go? Hugo tells Boris to send a telegram to Andres and have him let them know when Michelle arrives. Dr. Dan asks what Hugo is going to do. Hugo says that he will go to see Michelle in her country.

Alcides comes out of the treasure vault and runs into Antonia. She asks what he is doing there. Alcides says good morning. Antonia asks if he came to leave another bag of money. Alcides asks what she is talking about. Antonia says that yesterday a bag of money was found in Soledad’s room and Antonia knows perfectly well that it came from Alcides. Is he going to deny it? Alcides says, of course he denies it. Could it have come from a family friend? Antonia says that she would rather question her family’s enemies. She tells Alcides that he returned to the city showing off about his money and has entered Soledad’s bedroom without being seen several times. It’s obvious that he left the money there.

Ester comes up calling Antonia. She asks if Antonia heard shots being fired a little while ago. She is not happy to see Alcides either and asks what he is doing at her house. Alcides politely says good morning to Ester. Ester asks Antonia if she saw Alcides coming out of any of the windows. Antonia says that she found him in the garden and she doesn’t know if he’s been inside. Ester tells Alcides that he may be a millionaire but deep down he is a thief because only a thief would enter a house without permission. Ester says that it must have been Alcides who fired those shots. Alcides claims that he has no idea what she is talking about. He repeats the suggestion he made to Antonia that a friend left the money in Soledad’s bedroom. Antonia says, “What shots? I didn’t hear anything.” Ester says that if she finds Alcides wandering around her house again, she’ll call the police. Alcides’ arm is starting to bleed. He tells Ester and Antonia that he has to leave. They can finish their discussion later. He drives off in his ratty wagon. Ester yells insults after him and Paquito comes running up asking who she is yelling at.

Meanwhile, Soledad is still waiting at Alcides’ house. Arturo is there too, watching her. Soledad is uneasy.

Margot goes to her room. She says it was a mistake for Arturo to bring her here. Gladis wouldn’t like her if she were dressed like a princess. Hercu-less climbs in the window. Margot is worried about Arturo finding him. Herc says that he waited until Arturo left. Margot says that if Arturo finds her with Herc, he’ll kill Herc. She locks the door. Herc asks if Arturo gave her that dress. Margot say no, it is a servant’s uniform but she altered it a little bit. It turns Herc on. They fall to the bed and start going at it.

Alcides is with Eloisa. She says that he is bleeding. Eloisa starts to panic: If that wound is from Michelle’s sword, then that means Michelle escaped and she’s at the police station right now to accuse thm and Eloisa doesn’t want to go to jail… Calmly, Alcides says that Michelle is dead. He asks Eloisa to cover his wound but she is open-mouthed impactada.

The guys are packing up to leave the hotel. Dr. Dan is going to Dr. Max’s place. Hugo is going to the cabaña in the woods. He says he will pay Alcides for it little by little. Hugo asks Dr. Dan to tell him if he hears from Michelle. After Dr. Dan leaves, Boris asks Hugo if he believes that Michelle left town. “No,” says Hugo, “I didn’t want to say it in front of the doctor but it’s not possible. Michelle loves me as much as I love Soledad and when you love someone that much, you don’t give up that easily.”

Paquito is having some tea at the Obragon house. He asks who the Obragon witches were yelling at. Ester says that lately Alcides has spent a lot of time wandering around outside her house. To himself, Paquito says that if the treasure is here, of course Alcides would come here a lot. He wonders what happened to Michelle. Did Alcides take care of her? Ester asks why Paquito has come to visit. Paquito is surprised that Antonia hasn’t told her. Antonia says that she prefers to make sure what it is about before telling her family. She and Paquito leave. Ester asks Ursula where Soledad is and Ursula says that she went out very early to see Alcides.

Eloisa says to Alcides that his wound looks very deep and ugly. He should see a doctor. “Yes, of course,” says Alcides, “I’ll go to the hospital and see von Chirac and when he asks me how I got the wound, I’ll say that an arrow struck me when I was trying to save Michelle Phillips in the treasure chamber.” Eloisa says that everything is getting out of hand. She is afraid. Soon, everyone will be looking for Michelle. Alcides says that she will have to decide if she wants to go to prison or not. Eloisa asks what he means by that. Alcides says that she has to follow his instructions to the letter.

Soledad is still waiting. Alcides comes in (the Phoebe is singing like crazy outside). “Soledad,” says Alcides surprised. Soledad says that she has been waiting all morning. Alcides closes his eyes for a few seconds (is Alcides meditating? trying not pass out? is Mario trying to remember his lines?) Finally, he says that he had to go out early to do some errands. He is so glad to see her. What can he do for her? “Nothing,” says Soledad coldly, “I don’t need your help.” She holds up the bag of money. “I imagine you know what this is, right?” Alcides pretends that he doesn’t know what the bag is. Soledad says that he is the only one who could have left a bag of money in her house. “Ah, the infamous bag of money,” says Alcides, “Hugo told me about that last night. Soledad, I didn’t have anything to do with that.” Alcides suggests that it was Michelle who left the money for her. “How can you lie to me so easily?” says Soledad, “I could never be with you. I hate lies.” Ester comes running in. She says that Alcides is a fraud. Ursula told Ester that Soledad had come here alone. This is the second time that Ester has seen Alcides this morning. Soledad asks what she means. Ester says that Antonia found Alcides prowling around the house this morning. Alcides stands there with this idiotic smile on his face while Soledad looks at him in horror.

Paquito brings Antonia to the bar. She says that this is the cheap tavern where indecent people come. Paquito says that it isn’t a cheap place. All the best people will come here. Antonia is scandalized at the thought of working there and that is before the ‘Paquitas’ come in wearing their skimpy outfits.

In a post coital chat, Margot tells Hercu-less that he will always be the man of her life and she swears that she will return to his house. But for now Herc has to stay calm and not get in Arturo’s way. Herc asks why, will Arturo attack him? Margot says that she doesn’t know but she thinks that Arturo doesn’t want to hurt Herc. She says that he is not as bad as Herc thinks. (What have you been smoking, Margot?) She asks if Herc knew that Arturo had been in the military. He is tough like all military men. Herc asks if Margot likes Arturo. She asks if he is jealous. He says of course he is. Margot asks why Herc should be jealous. Even if Arturo wanted to sleep with her, he can’t. (That’s not really an answer to the question of whether you like Arturo.) Herc asks Margot to come back with him before Arturo comes back.

Ester tells Soledad that she and Antonia just saw Alcides wandering around the garden of her house. He was probably putting more money in Soledad’s room. Alcides asks why they both think it was he who left the money. Did anyone see him go inside? Soledad asks Alcides not to be so disingenuous. He has entered her room secretly before when he rescued Hugo from the investors. Arturo is watching. Ester says that she and Soledad should leave. Soledad holds the bag out to Alcides. She thanks him but says that he can’t buy her not even with all the gold in the world. Alcides doesn’t take the bag and it falls on the floor. Ester and Soledad leave. Alcides stands there confused, “I just wanted to help,” he says. The credits roll.

Tomorrow- Aurora is kidnapped.

Labels: la traicion

From last night we see Mili alone on the beach. Well, alone except for Lagrimas the wiener dog. Nester has shown up and finds Alex anxiously looking around for Mili. Nester says don’t worry, she’ll be back soon. Nester tells Alex how much he loved Luci and is about to tell the Big Secret when we cut to Mili being abducted by Flor’s dad Domingo and a few of his henchmen in a jeep.

They have gagged her, but Domingo says take the gag off, she and I are going to have a little chat. Mili gives him a bunch of lip and he has the thug put her gag back on and indicates for him to hold a gun to her head. We hear Weeping Wiener barking in the background, but darn those legs are too short for him to leap into the jeep and savage anybody. Domingo explains he’s Flor’s dad and that he’s a plenty dangerous guy and Mili is to leave Alex alone. He says he’s not going to kill her or Alex, but she better think about her friend Gloria and also Padre Manuel, heck all the people she loves. Any of them could have a fatal accident, and it would be her fault. Alex and Flor are going to marry and Mili is to help that happen. Mili is so impactada she doesn’t even say hmmfff.

It looks like Nestor is about to tell Alex, who’s all ears, that he’s his papa, but then says Padre Manuel wanted him to tell Alex and Mili together so they should wait for her. He notes that Alex loves Mili, and Alex says more than life itself. Nestor says but you don’t look happy, and Alex says we’re doomed not to be happy. Nestor exhorts him to fight for his love – he didn’t fight for Luci and has been sorry every since. Alex says why are you so interested in me? Nester keeps saying Alex should fight for what he wants or he’ll never be happy. Alex asks why are you telling me all this? Think about what I said says Nestor.

Flor and Luci are waiting to hear some news. Luci is sipping her drink and Flor says you’re making me nervous, don’t worry, my papa will call me on my cell with news. Flor says she didn’t know Luci drank so much. Luci pours herself some more and says it’s to calm her nerves. Flor says this is ridiculous – when Alex gets back, Luci should tell her that Mili is his sister, and everything would be taken care of. No! says Luci. If I tell him, he’ll confront Connie and Connie will tell Alex he’s not his real father. Luci hopes Nestor hasn’t told him. Flor says Nestor? Luci explains Nestor’s the real daddy.

Ungagged Mili is telling Domingo that he doesn’t understand, there can never been more between Alex and her than brotherly love. Domingo says, oh right, that’s why you’re here at this secluded romantic getaway. Mili says that’s another story, but please believe that she wants Alex to marry Flor and for them both to be very happy. Oh yeah sure, says Domingo. Believe me says Mili, there’s no reason to capture me, let go of me, you’re hurting me. I don’t buy it for a minute says Domingo. Alex left my daughter for you and here you two are relaxing by the sea. Mili says she just wants to get back to the city and Domingo says that’s where he’s taking her. She wants to tell Alex so he won’t worry, but Domingo says no. They gag Mili again and head off to the airport.

Damien comes into the office all happy and greets Andrea. She asks what’s up that he’s so smiley. He asks if Connie is there and when she says no, they go into his office, Andrea first and Damien rolling his eyes heavenward at the sight of her retreating curvy derriere in those tight pants. Damien tells Andrea that it’s all set – Hugo will transfer the funds from Connie’s secret account. We’ll be millionaires! Damien says. Andrea wants to know how he talked Hugo into it and Damien said he just said it was for Hugo’s good. Andrea isn’t believing it, but Damien says he does worry about Hugo. Andrea says you worry about your own financial well-being. Damien says now that’s another story.

Alex and Nestor are on the beach looking for Mili. Alex is pretty worried, and Nestor has to admit that the beach is deserted. Alex picks this moment to ask Nestor if Luci loves him back. The waves wash poetically over their feet. Nestor says he’s not sure, but the important thing is that he loves her now and forever.

Alex spots Weeping Wiener, who is sitting there with Mili’s red cap in his mouth. Alex is distraught, sure that Mili has drowned herself in grief, literally. Nestor pulls him back from swimming out to look for her, and gets on his cell.

Flor wants to go home and wait for news – hanging out with frantic, boozing Luci is wearing thin. Luci says no, don’t leave me alone. Flor hopes that Nestor hasn’t succeeded in telling the lovebirds the truth. She says if he has, it’s Luci’s responsibility to straighten things out. Luci says she hopes Domingo offs him. Flor says you’re talking about Nestor, Alex’s father, the guy you just said you love. What’s wrong with you? It must be the booze talking. Luci swills some more. Flor says if you want to help your son, you have to quit drinking like that. Luci hugs her bottle protectively. Flor goes to leave, and says one day when the servant girl is far away, Alex needs to hear the truth. He has the right to know his true father.

Morgan has fallen asleep in a car up on blocks and he dreams Vale reaches into the window. He kisses her hand. It’s Horacio’s hand and he says knock it off. Morgan jumps awake. Gimme the lug nut wrench says Horacio and what’s up with you? Morgan says his misses his chiquita and really needs to see her, but Connie has her locked in the castle tower with a flaming moat all around. Horacio says he and Socorro have a plan and that Morgan will see his chiquita today. Morgan is touched that they would help him out and he hugs Horacio and keeps hugging him over and over while Horacio is getting embarrassed because they’re out in a public street.

Connie is reading the paper and Socorro asks if she can talk to him. He says if it’s about Karla … and Socorro says no, but don’t let me catch you with her again. Socorro says she has to get lots of things from the grocery and what with no chauffer, what’s she to do as it’s too much to carry. Connie says get a taxi. Socorro says she doesn’t trust taxi drivers, you don’t know who they are. Vale walks up and says who would want to rob YOU? Connie says don’t be rude. - go to your room. Oh great, says Vale, now I’m not even allowed to leave my room? What next, you’re going to make me go to the grocery with Socorro and carry bags? Hey, not a bad idea says Connie. You go help carry stuff. Vale feigns outrage. Connie insists, and tells Socorro don’t take my daughter anywhere else. Your job is on the line. Connie leaves and the two hug and exult.

Damien has just hung up the phone in Connie’s office and he explains to Andrea that some of the funds Connie has in the Caimans are now being transferred to Hugo’s account in Switzerland. Damien says it’s like ant’s work, slow but sure.

Andrea wants to know when she gets her cut. Damien says when the money hits Hugo’s account. Andrea wants to know exactly when that will be. Damien says in a few days all the money will be drained out (that doesn’t seem like an ant’s pace). Andrea is worried that the bank will send Connie a notice. I think Damien says that since it’s a made up name on the account, no notice will be sent. He tells Andrea that he figured out Connie’s password easily – Connie used his birth date. What an egotist that guy is, says Damien. By the time he finds out, it’s going to be too late.

Horacio tells Morgan to clean himself up, Socorro and Vale are going to the grocery. So what? says Morgan. Horacio says don’t be so thick – I brought you some clean clothes and we’ll go to the market and you and Vale can meet in the produce aisle. Morgan is thrilled and hugs Horacio some more.

A boat is trolling the waters looking for Mili floating around like an extra from Titanic. No luck. On shore, a coast guard guy tells Nestor they couldn’t find her body, must be the currents and her body should show up somewhere else along the shoreline. All this “her body” talk is not helping Alex who is standing there stupefied. The coast guard guy says it’s possible her body won’t ever show up. Alex sobs It’s my fault! Nestor embraces him and no, says you brought her here to make her happy and look what happened! It’s MY fault. Alex pushes him off, staggers down the shore and falls to his knees.

Cute montage of events at the grocery: Socorro in the veggie section looks like she’s offering two big round melons to the modestly-endowed Vale, then clutches them to her own chest, Horacio and Morgan are searching, Morgan and Vale find each other in the clothing department (is this Wal-Mart?) and kiss, a passing lady sighs at the sight and her husband comes up and kisses her, Morgan and Vale run a cart into a pile of cans, they try to clean them up, Vale pushes Morgan around in a cart, the checker is distraught, Vale passes through the checkout with Morgan.

Domingo comes into Flor’s apartment and tells her it’s all taken care of. He talked to Mili and reasoned with her. Nothing else? asks Flor. No, that was pretty much it, says her daddy, but I didn’t have the opportunity to talk to Alex yet. Flor is happy. Leave it all to me, says Domingo. He says that Mili did say something about their love being forbidden, and he says there must be something we don’t know. Flor looks like she knows, but he doesn’t see her expression.

Flor says she wants to call Luci, but Domingo says I’ll talk to her later. Right now I’m starved. Flor says she’ll whip up something. She heads off to the kitchen and he takes an enormous shiny gun from his belt and lays it on the coffee table.

At the repair shop, Vale is telling Morgan that she loved being with him. They sweet talk a bit and Socorro says hurry up, or Connie will suspect something. They ask for one more minute. Vale says please come to the house – I miss you so much. Your dad will kill me, says Morgan. You kill me, says Vale sweetly and they kiss. She says she brought him a love letter. He says he has one too and gets out a bigger envelope. He says it has an autographed photo of him in it. Socorro comes back in and says we have to go, I could get fired!

It’s nighttime and Hugo and Mat are drinking in a bar. They are both pretty well on. They talk about stupid Alex taking Mili away, and Hugo says they are the stupid ones for letting it happen. Hugo says Alex is always taking what doesn’t belong to him. He says Alex stole Mili from the church. Mat says and there they were like a couple of idiots at the soccer field with their bouquets of roses. They admire their stupidity some more and decide drinking together makes them feel less stupid. They toast and take another swig.

At Casa Belmonte, Luci is having a swig too. The phone rings and it’s Domingo. He says everything is taken care of, and Mili won’t be a problem ever again for her, or for his daughter. Luci hangs up and says ohmygawd, he killed her. In the background, we see a dejected Mili coming into the foyer. Hello she says. Luci jumps. Mili says what’s your problem?

Alex and Nestor are hard on her heels. Alex runs up and embraces her, relieved. Nestor and Luci stare at each other. Alex asks Mili if she’s okay and he tells her how frightened they were. Mili looks distraught. After a bit, he introduces Nestor as a friend of his mother’s. Nestor says let’s leave the kids alone. Luci says no, she wants to know what happened.

Nester says I told him. Alex says he told me everything – the whole story. Nestor wants Luci to go to another room to talk, but she is riveted on the spot. She says to Alex please understand. Alex tenderly takes Mili away and Luci slaps Nestor who looks shocked. You betrayed me, she says.

Out at the fountain, Alex and Mili are walking in the dark. She wants to know what happened to the little dog. Alex says he was so upset about her maybe being drowned that he couldn’t care for the dog and gave it to some kids. Alex asks how did she get home and Mili tells him it was Flor’s dad, who talked to her. I can’t tell if she indicated there was a kidnapping. Alex looks impactado.

Luci is going nuts telling Nestor off. He says stop and listen: I didn’t have the opportunity to tell Alex I’m his father. I told him about how you were my big love despite everything, about our time together. Luci says if you love me so much, don’t destroy my life. Nestor says maybe you’ve stopped loving me? I’m going to tell him and that’s that. She says he is making a big mistake. He mentions something I didn’t get about a hotel and an airplane. He asks if she had something to do with Mili’s disappearance from the beach. Luci tries a new tack: I lied to you, she says. I’m not sure Alex is your son.

Back at the fountain, Alex and Mili are sitting on a bench. He is trying to find out what Domingo said to her. She says she can’t say, but he was very worried about his daughter - who is suffering a lot on your account and he thinks that I was coming between you two. Alex says he has no right to mess in my life. Mili says he’s going to be your father-in-law. No, thank goodness, says Alex. I cancelled the wedding and I cancelled him too. But she loves you says Mili, though maybe not as much as I do.

You should marry her, says Mili. Alex says but I don’t love her. Try to love her, says Mili, try to be happy with her. Alex says when he found her cap on the beach, he thought Mili had done something desperate. Mili says I would never do anything like that. We both have so much to live for, even if we can’t be together. Alex says he doesn’t think he can get over this. Mili says love will make him strong.

Hugo, says Alex. ¿Que? says Mili. Pick Hugo, says Alex. You were going to pick one of us and I just don’t trust that Mat. He’s after your money. Pick Hugo, he loves you, always has. I don’t love him says Mili. Alex says I’m going to say what you just said a minute ago: Try to love him, try to be happy.

Nestor asks Luci what’s she’s playing at. She says you can’t say anything because I’m not sure you’re Alex’s father. But you said… says Nestor. Never mind, says Luci. A few days after you and I were together in Paris, I was with another man. Now what? says Nestor. Luci says you can tell him but not now! We’ll do a blood test, and if Alex turns out to be your son, I’ll tell him myself, she lies. Nestor says I want the test right away. I’ll find a lab and I’ll meet you there tomorrow with Alex.

Vale is coming in and Braulio says he wants to talk to her. How is it that she was at the store so long and came home with so few things? Vale says she doesn’t have to explain to him and if her father asks, she’ll just tell truth. And that would be? asks Braulio. Vale says a lot of the things didn’t look fresh, so we had to come back. Hmmm says Braulio, that’s exactly what Socorro said. See? says Vale. Good story, says Braulio. At any rate, your father doesn’t need to know that you were late, does he? I like that! says Vale. She leaves up the stairs.

Braulio spies her purse – she forgot it on the couch. Oh, no, he’s going to look in it and find the love letter! No, instead he’s going to wear it. He swishes around a bit, enjoying the effect. Unseen, Connie comes in and watches, eyebrows up. What’s this? he says. Braulio says Vale forgot her purse and he was going to take it to her. Connie says I’ll take it up, and he dismisses Braulio. After Braulio leaves, it occurs to Connie to look in it. He finds the envelope from Morgan. He gets out the photo, which says to my seňorita chiquita with all my love, Rocky. [What th ..? I can’t find the right “n” in the symbols. Arabic yes, Greek, yes. Spanish, no.]

Alex and Mili on the bench are tearful. She says she’s very tired and would he mind if she went off to bed? He said of course not, he’s shot too. She says good night. He strokes her cheek and they look at each other sadly. She holds his hand to her face. She says who’d have thought it? Carlitos turns out to be of your own blood. They stare at each other. I love you, says Mili. Slowly they let go of each other’s hand, and she walks off. Alex watches her go and says quietly goodbye, my sister.

Vale is picking up her purse from the couch. Mili walks in. She says good night. Vale looks at her warmly and says I’ll see you tomorrow. Mili goes up the stairs. Vale happily opens her purse and then is horrified to find that her love letter isn’t in there.

Some high heels walk into a darkened room and approach a bed. Mili is on the bed, weepy. She says I know why you’ve come. Because I broke my promise and told Alex he’s my brother. We see yup, it’s Luci in those high heels. Mili says I had no choice. I had to tell him why we couldn’t be together. Luci asks coldly And how did he take it? Mili says just like you’d expect: It broke his heart in two, it shattered all his dreams. That’s all I wanted to know says Luci. Good night. Mili watches her go with hate in her eyes.

Vale hollers for Braulio who comes running. She asks if he looked in her purse and he says he never would. She says she missing an envelope. Maybe it fell out in the car. Braulio wants to know if she lost some money maybe? Vale says yes, that’s it! But it’s nothing. She runs up the stairs. Braulio bends to pick up a pillow that dropped and finds something else (maybe a lotion?) that fell from her purse and sniffs it happily.

Connie is tiptoeing into the girls dorm – all three are asleep. He whispers “Karla?” “Karla?” He’s not sure which sleeping form is her. Finally he spots her and wakes her and has her follow him into the hall where he tells her she needs to find out where Morgan works. She knows it’s with Horacio. Connie says to find out the address first thing in the morning. Socorro has come up and overhears this last. She looks suspicious and disapproving.

Alex is flaked out on his bed. Luci knocks. She wants to know if they can talk, there’s a lot to say. He says can’t it wait for another day? but he lets her in. She starts that Nestor is a man who is pursuing her and she wishes he’d go away. Alex says well he says he loves you. Luci says we were very young. Alex says he keeps on loving you. She says I don’t want him causing problems with your father, with you. I want you to stay away from him. Alex confronts her: Why didn’t you tell me that Mili was my sister? Why did you hold out so long? Luci says gulp.

Avances: Hugo asks Mili if he can have any expectations and she says yes. Alex shows up at Flor’s and says can I have another chance? She is overjoyed. He says kiss me – tear her from my heart, help me forget her kisses, her caresses. Help me forget Mili. She goes for it. The rest of the avances didn’t have subtitles, but Connie goes after Morgan with a gun, Luci slaps Nestor again, Alex hugs Mili, and Alex confronts Domingo.

Labels: guapos