Caray, Caray!

My tape started up with no credits and no re-hash of yesterday’s events. So if something happened before this, please add fill me in.

In the wine cellar, weepy Alex is listening to Nestor, who is happy to have him for a son and has great plans, business ideas that he’d like to include Alex in. But Alex says he is so angry with his mother he doesn’t want to talk to her, doesn’t want her talking to him. Calmate, says Nestor, your mother knew in advance you’d feel that way. Nestor goes on about how he and Alex will get to know each other bit by bit. Alex says your minute is up Senor Miranda. Nestor is taken aback and says don’t call me Senor Miranda. Alex says that’s how I knew you from before and that’s who you still are. I’m sorry, but the word “papa” makes me sick lately. Alex takes off.

Braulio is in his room in his bathrobe. He’s looking at the luv monkey and remembering that Pedro said “take you time and think it over.” There’s a knock and it’s Damien. Damien gets up real close and thanks Braulio for the inspiration on how to avoid marrying Karla. Braulio says what? Make me gay, says Damien. Brauilio is horrified.

Brualio flakes out on his bed and postures. You’re not my type, he says dramatically. I’ve seen how you treat Karla and I’m much more the sensitive type. Damien says I don’t mean that! I’m all man, real macho. Braulio puts a finger to his mouth and looks a bit vampy. Damien says I just need help to convince her I’m gay and (he takes Braulio by the chin to his delight) you’re the only one who can help me. Braulio makes eyes at him. Damien looks a little worried.

It’s daytime and Luci is working with her flowers in the greenhouse. Nestor comes in and caresses her and tells her he’s off to work. She notes that he looks troubled. He says he didn’t want to bother her last night with this, but he talked to Alex. He says how angry Alex is with her and says he was surprised Alex has taken it so hard. He wants to know if there’s something more that he doesn’t know about. No, lies Luci, it’s just that I kept the secret so many years. They smooch a bit and Horacio comes up and coughs discreetly. He says Brauilio told him she needs the car. Nestor takes off.

She says to Horacio why are you looking at me like that? You’re judging me. Well, I know for a fact that your wife has a lover, and she doesn’t even deny it. Horacio looks serious. Just ask Brauilio, says Luci, he was there when I found out.

Somebody give Alex a Kleenex. He’s at the construction site with Bobby and he still hasn’t dried up. He’s explaining to Bobby how he and Mili stayed apart because they thought they were brother and sister. Bad marriage, now her marriage, etc. What to do? Bobby says think of your baby who’s on the way.

Alex says he remembers exactly his conversation with Luci the day before his marriage where he asked her if he really was Connie’s son and she acted all offended and told him to trust her. Alex tells Bobby that’s the woman who gave me life and for what? To throw me in the trash? (Somehow hard hats and weeping don’t go together.)

Mili is showing Gloria and Lina the painting Hugo did of her with her mama. They agree it’s an excellent present. Mili wants them to help her decide where she should hang it. Gloria has to get back to her chores including the ironing Karla won’t do, but Lina lingers. She has a date with Bobby and has so much to do. Mili says she’ll help with the chores. Lina is worried Braulio will get mad, but Mili says that’s her uncle.

Down in the kitchen Braulio is telling Karla off about her attitude and not doing her chores. She says pretty soon she’s going to marry Damien and be the senora of the house. Braulio says there’s a glut of those right now. As long as she’s wearing the uniform, she has to do something in the way of work. Socorro agrees.

Damien comes up behind Braulio and says he’s brought this rose to give to the loveliest person in the house. Karla says awww Damien. See how romantic he is, Mama? Damien gives the flower to Braulio and says a flower for a flower. Brauilio looks very stiff but plays along. Karla looks on slitty-eyed while Braulio sniffs the rose.

Out in the yard, Valeria is happily reassigning staff. She tells Morgan and Horacio that Morgan is now her personal Morgan again, and Horacio goes back to being gardener. She gives Morgan a kiss.

Mili is in Alex and Flor’s room gathering up the laundry. She holds up his undies and we now know the answer to the burning question briefs or boxers. It’s boxers. Flor walks in and takes a fit. Mili says she’s helping Lina. Alex walks in and Flor tells him Mili is getting his undies to keep as a trophy. You keep ‘em, says Mili, and puts them over Flor’s head. Mili heads off and Alex tries to suppress a smile.

Horacio comes into the kitchen where Socorro is happily working. He looks at her steadily while she prattles on about waiting to hear one of his cute compliments. She figures out that he’s in some strange mood. He tells her if she wants to leave him, she can. He won’t make her stay. He walks out and she’s all que the hell?

In their room, Mili is telling Hugo about the episode with Flor and Hugo thinks it’s a hoot. He asks her why she hasn’t hung her painting yet and she says she hasn’t chosen a spot. He says this is your house, you don’t have to put it in here – you could put it in the foyer. Mili is surprised, but seems to like the idea

At the office, Connie is working at his desk and Damien is telling him that as future party head, he needs to keep his reputation spiffy. Connie’s working and not paying attention. Damien protests and Connie says he has so many brothers-in-law he can’t keep them straight. Damien says there’s a lot of tension in the house and they need to do something about it. Leave it all to him. Connie says I don’t want to think about those things at the office.

Damien says he’s worried about Domingo and what he could do. The phone rings and Connie is pleased with whatever the caller reported. Who was that? asks Damien. Nobody, says Connie, happy. Don’t worry, the matter of Domingo has been resolved.

Mateo and Marisela are talking in her apartment. She is a bit stiff with him. She says it was just a fling and she told him so from the git go. He says but he fell in love with her. The phone rings. We know what’s about to happen since we saw the avances yesterday. Her father’s plane crashed and he’s dead. She is shocked and stunned, but Mateo doesn’t put his arms around her. He looks at her like she’s a math problem.

In the foyer, Alex is telling Flor not to be so paranoid. He talked to Lina and she verified that Mili was helping. He explains that Mili used to clean his room before, and that she doesn’t mind doing that kind of work, plus she likes to help others. How sweet, says Flor.

Mili and Hugo come laughing down the stairs, toting the canvas. Alex says we were just talking about you and Flor can apologize. Flor doesn’t like that one bit, but Alex says you were just saying you regretted the incident. Mili makes a snotty face. Flor apologizes and Mili says that’s okay and they go back to the problem of where to hang the picture. Hugo asks for Alex’s help.

He’s chosen a prominent spot where a big dark landscape hangs. Alex takes it down – miraculously there’s no dust outline of the old picture on the wall. . Flor says that painting’s going to cause trouble but Alex says everything does in this house so who cares?

Finally we see the picture, which looks suspiciously like a photograph. Alex compliments Hugo. Luci walks in and asks what it’s doing there. Alex says don’t you dare say anything against it. Amazingly, Luci backs down and says I just thought it might look better on some other wall. She comments through gritted teeth that Mili’s mother is pretty and goes to leave.

Alex takes her by the arm and says don’t run off, you owe Mili and me an explanation, I think. Luci says this is not a good time for it and Flor agrees. Alex grabs her again and says you’re not leaving until you hear everything I have to say.

Karla is out by the fountain pacing back and forth in her tiny uniform skirt, cursing Damien for this new game. Horacio walks up and Karla says how could he present a flower right in my face? Horacio thinks to himself that she means he gave one to Socorro. Karla heads back to the house.

Marisela is sobbing and lamenting and Mateo is looking at her like she’s a lab experiment. Calmate, he says, as if anyone in her position could. She tells him the police think someone tampered with the plane and they’re investigating. Mateo says you have to notify your sister and Marisela is worried how it will affect her pregnancy. Mateo suggests telling Alex and letting him break the news. Marisela dials the phone.

Meantime in the foyer, Luci is telling Alex that he’s too upset and she’ll wait until he’s calmed down and then she’ll answer all his questions (he doesn’t seem overemotional to me). Don’t forget I’m your mother after all. Alex scoffs. You don’t know what it means to be a mother. A mother doesn’t destroy her child. Luci tries to start up the stairs but he blocks her. Mili comes over and says it’s not worth it, let her go. Just then his cell rings. Of course he answers – don’t we all no matter what? It’s Marisela, natch. He gets an impactado look and eyebrows all around the room lower. He hangs up and tells Flor to sit down and that she must be strong for the baby.

At the office Damien is just hanging up from Luci. Connie asks what’s up. Damien looks at Connie and says I’m just thinking, and I hope… Connie says blurt it out. Damien says Domingo’s plane crashed and he’s dead. Connie looks impactado, but as we and Damien watch him say oh my goodness, how sad, he doesn’t seem entirely convincing. Hard to tell, and Damien’s face says he can’t tell either.

Poor actress playing Flor - she doesn’t get to do any scenery chewing. Instead, it’s a bit later and we are in the hallway outside Alex’s and her room and Alex is reporting to Mili that she is devastated and has done nothing but cry. Mili is sad and asks if she can see her, but Alex says this isn’t the best time.

Vale comes up and hugs Alex and is sweet about what has just happened. She reports that Luci is spending her time wondering what name to put on the wreath, Belmonte or Miranda. Alex is disgusted and wants to go tell her off, but Vale says not now. She gives Alex a big hug and he says such a nice hug and she says she’s been wanting to give him one because she loves him. They’re still half-siblings. He likes that, and Vale tells Mili to join the hug. It’s sweet, the three of them in a group hug.

Morgan, Lina, Karla and Socorro are in the kitchen talking about what just happened. All think it’s sad except Karla who says the daughters can be planning what they’re going to do with all those millions, that’s what she’d be doing. The other three are shocked. Socorro tells her to take a cup of tea up to Flor. Karla balks. Why her? She’s about to get married to Damien and can’t be playing the servant. Socorro says get it through your thick head, you and Damien are never going to marry. Horacio comes in just as she says that. Socorro goes out pushing Karla ahead of her. Horacio remarks to Morgan and Lina that that’s why she doesn’t want Karla marrying Damien – she wants him for herself. Lina and Morgan look puzzled.

Back in the office, an outraged Connie is demanding to know what Damien is implying. Damien says well, you got those documents and passed them off to a pretty suspicious-looking character. Connie sputters are you saying I murdered Domingo? Damien says no no not murdered. Then what? says Connie. Damien says maybe you put a hit out on him.

Hugo, distraught Mili and Braulio are in Hugo’s room. Mili feels like maybe her fighting with Flor put some bad energy out in the universe and now looked what happened. Hugo assures her that her actions had nothing to do with Flor’s father’s accident. He points out that Domingo is a guy who always played with fire, a Mafioso in fact. Braulio says but it was an accident. Hugo says in those kind of situations with those kinds of people, you never know.

We are at maybe a funeral or a memorial service. Everyone is in black (which in the U.S. could mean a wedding or a funeral, you can never tell). Connie tells the sisters that Domingo was a great friend to him. Mateo and his weasely friend are there. Also the Belmonte household, including its new members. Nestor and Luci are commenting that the two daughters have no family, they’re all alone (and indeed no Mafioso friends seem to have come) and now the Belmontes are all the family they have.

Alex comes over to Luci and Nestor and asks in a solemn-occasion low voice What are you doing here? Expressing our regrets, says Luci. Well, you’ve done it so now leave, says Alex. Nestor says if you or Flor need anything, I’m there to help. Alex says thank you, but I don’t need anything from you Senor Miranda. Luci says okay lets give our condolences and go. They head over to the bereaved girls.

Vale has overheard and comes over to Alex and says you have so much hate, you’re scaring me. Alex says they make me sick, seeing her with him. Vale says that’s your father! You have to focus now on Flor and the baby. Alex looks over and there’s Flor still standing with her sister – nobody has offered the pregnant bereaved lady a chair, apparently.

Mateo must be sweltering in his black leather jacket buttoned up almost to his neck. His ratty friend whispers to him that he needs to marry the little orphan (Marisela) quick before Alex gets his hands on too much of the inheritance. Mateo says he has it all planned out carefully. He excuses himself, saying he has to attend to his future wife. She weeps on his shoulder a bit.

Bobby comes in and Marisela runs to him and now gets into to some major, squeaky crying while he holds her. She says she was afraid he wouldn’t come and he says of course I’m here. She says don’t leave me alone. Mateo looks on calculatingly – this is an unexpected wrinkle.

Andrea comes out into a mortuary hallway where Alex is brooding. She kindly offers her condolences. He says can I ask you something? She says anything. He says how could you be with me and my father at the same time? Andrea insists that she didn’t mess in with his father until she and Alex had broken up. And though you may not believe me, I’m in love with him. Alex says you’re right I don’t believe you.

Andrea reminds him that things could have been different if he hadn’t chosen that servant over her. And I’m going to marry your father. Alex says he’s not my father, but congratulations. You two deserve each other.

Andrea leaves and Flor comes in. She says I was afraid you’d left. Alex says no of course not, mi amor. He comforts her and she says she feels so alone, please don’t leave her. Alex says he won’t.

Mili and Hugo walk in and Flor goes ballastic. She demands to know what Mili is doing there and says leave. Mili tries to give her condolences, but Flor says you’re just here to make fun of my misfortune, aren’t you? Get out!

Hugo says to Mili we thought this might happen, let’s go. Mili says let me try and she tells Flor how sad she is for her, how it reminds her of when she lost Regina… But Flor cuts her off and tells her she’s a hypocrite. Hugo talks Mili into going.

Al says Flor that was bad. Flor says just what I need in my hour of pain – you siding with her. Alex says but she was sincere. You always defend her, says Flor. Alex says I sometimes feel like I can’t talk to you. Flor says if you feel that way, then go. Get out. He turns to leave and she says wait! She says don’t leave me. He holds her and looks very doubtful.

In the foyer, Karla grabs Braulio by the lapels and tells him to knock off the game with Damien. She says he’s real macho and what’s more, he’s hers. Braulio says he’s not involved with Damien, he has better taste than that. He reminds her that she is a servant under his orders. Karla says when she marries Damien, the first thing she’s going to do is fire him. He laughs at her and reminds her that it’s Mili’s house. Karla says I’ll get rid of her too. Braulio says don’t kid yourself, you are a servant and you will die a servant.

It’s night now. Braulio is in the foyer looking at the painting and Alex comes in. Flor is staying with her sister, he reports, and he’s exhausted. But here come Andrea, who goes on up to bed, and Damien and Connie. Alex goes right to the point – he wants to know if Connie has anything to do with Domingo’s death. Connie says just what I need – my son suspects me too. Alex says I’m not your son, and why do you say I suspect you too? Apparently I’m not the only one. Freeze frame on Connie looking mad.

Avances: Alex is asleep on a couch, and Mili in her jammies caresses his face (lookit at that huge rock on her hand!). Alex wakes with a start and wants to kiss her. Karla sees. Alex tells his mother off for her lies.

Labels: guapos

HI - I'm hitting for Melinama tonight.

We start with Sofi and Juan proclaiming their love to each other again after he talks about his sister.

At the Tumbao, Maracuya (Passion Fruit) taunts Oscar with her topless cuban wonders. We only get teased to some hair and fluffy skirt, and HUGE eyes by Oscar. I suppose the guys could slo mo this, but it looks like Oscar’s big empty head is strategically placed.

Over at the bad love bar, it’s bad times. Bombon Assasino plays without it’s bombon. Bartender says they are all over at Tumbao. No Rosi, no customers. Curses, we are losing lots of money.

Rosario is on one hell of a pro tour for being the regular bar act in a pueblo. She’s in the town square where the crowd begs for another song.



Nice guy backstage, Bobby Pullido, tells her how great she is and that she should join their next tour. She appreciates his offer but can’t. He asks her then to at least consider dinner after the show. She agrees. Ofi tells her she was great, and she wonders how Luis is doing. Bobby then goes on stage to sing his hit


"Desvelado" (Kept Awake)

Sera fe que yo encontré,
una voz de ternura
Que me llena de placer,
cuando la oigo hablar
Con ella me enamoré,
aunque nunca la conoci
Sueño en su querer
y en sus brazos quiero dormir.
Escucho cada dia la radio
Seguro que la vuelvo a oir
Por el cielo busco mi estrella
A la luna quiero subir
Voy desvelado
Por estas calles esperando encontrar
A esa voz de angel que quiero amar
Donde andara
Voy desvelado
Y mi deseo no me deja descansar
Porque despierto y no me pongo a llorar
Yo seguiré desvelado y sin amor.




Back at Tumbao, Benito and Sara are at the bar and that guy gets up to get Eugenia a drink. Benito suddenly spies Eugenia, she wonders what he is here for. He says he was looking everywhere for her (nevermind that he owns the joint). Just then boy with drink walks up and is introduced as her novio. Benito greets him and tells them to enjoy before he walks away. Smart boy wonders why she introduced him that way. She tells him another day she’ll tell him. He figures she is in love with that guy and he can’t compare to him.


Back at home everyone is singing las mananitas excruciatingly slow and flat to Juan. Sofi is dressed like the Nelly American Girl doll. But she gives him a big girl’s hug anyway. Everyone congratulates him. Vicente serenades us into the birthday mass. Juan thanks the virgen for this happiness and so does Sofi. Then more bad singing ensues. Franco/Pablo is singing Ave Maria, but he’s out of tune again. Yikes, that carries horribly in a big cathedral. Thank God they cut to commercial. I always thought he could sing pretty well too. Guess the studio really does mix his voice well. Obviously he was doing that without a pre-recording playing over him.


G-pa in his zoo tells his girls he’s going to Juan’s party, and they weren’t invited because of course they weren’t going to be allowed to go. Luisito runs out and Sara asks who he is. G-Pa says it’s his grandson, well, really that of Eva. They confirm it’s Rosi’s son and are impactada.


G-Pa asks Jime about her disgust with Oscar and that it was unfounded, he loves her. She doesn’t budge even though G-Pa tells her she will be sorry and may lose him if she doesn’t forgive him.




Brilliant Padre holds up a piece of lettuce proclaiming how delicious it is. Funny, but I always thought lettuce pretty much had one taste. Anyway they didn’t know Sofi could cook so well and she says she tried really hard to please everyone but especially her stud muffin. I love how they are all crammed in on the one side of the table, and poor what’s his face has to sit by himself rather than on the forbidden other side.


Anyway, they toast with ponche. Oscar tells Juan they bought him a surprise, something they knew he wanted. Feo's head? Nope...


He opens it, and is moved to tears, but says instead Dios has given him the best gift, Sofi, his baby, his brothers. The bros say they can never pay Juan for all he’s done for them. He was father, mother, brother etc. to them.


Juan loves the spurs but says they can’t spend the money right now, so they have to take them back. Sofi talks him out of it after everyone yells no. Padre tells him he will bless them and must use them because he knows how to ride best. Manlove all around.


Tia Helmut head tells the boys to go on a picnic. She says they will discuss the wedding details. The boys promise that they are getting along swell with the Elizondo daughters, so set up the wedding when you want. She then asks how it went at the Tumbao. They like this topic much better. Tia wants to meet the singer. Won't that be fun.


Speaking of that, Feo and his buddy size up Maracuya, whom they blame for a potential continued loss of money. They decide to offer her what they clearly believe is a better deal. She’s not so convinced. She tells them she is only going to finish her contract then she has other engagements, she's not interested now help her so she doesn't fall. I did like how she took the cig out of Armando's mouth.


At the party the group is discussing that Pablo needs to be in school when Don Aus shows up and brings Juan a toy rocking horse. OK, I’m so wondering about this guy. His girl is dressed like a dolly and he is getting toy horseys for presents. Hmmmm. Can we say Michael Jackson anyone?


Rosi is asked if she will sing a duet with nice guy but she’s fears the long arm of the Feo, and says she’s not sure if her organizer will agree to it and she has to go. Bobby is not dumb at all and notes that she must have some big problems. Yeah, wait until you meet the rest of that town, dude.


Now everyone is in the country. And I mean everyone. It’s going to be a showdown between the Hatfields and McCoys.


All the actors make funny looks at each other. Crabbi prohibits her daughters from getting close to those fools. Feo suggests maybe they go somewhere else but surprisingly Crabi says no. Raquel agrees there is plenty of space in this park, er country spot. They sit in another location only a few feet away and discuss how uncomfortable this is for everyone.


This Hatfield group (in hats no less, go figure) toasts red wine for the wedding of the boys.


On the McCoy side it’s Juan’s turn to suggest they can leave but Sofi says no way we decided to come here today and here we stay. She mentioned earlier that her dad brought them there when they were little.


The goons have been investigating but still don’t know if Mapache opened his trap, maybe to the padre. Armando proclaims the padre to be an annoyance and that he would love for him to disappear as he plays with his cigar cutter, ala mafia.


Feo comments that Don Au looks very happy with the muerto de hambres. He worries what if Au leaves all his stuff to those losers. Crabbi looks positively frightened.


Just when you think it’s a G-rated swimming scene because people are actually wearing swimsuits, a Reyes gets into the river. Franco is lurking like a pervert with his pants half undone. He eventually sneaks up on Sara in his skivvies. Oh my. Oh my, oh my. Oh my, oh my, oh my. Thank god they splurged for an underwater camera. Sorry I was stuck for a minute there. LOVELY swimming scene. OK, I’ve regained my respect for Franco. That was nice. He can sing off key all he wants if he’ll keep swimming in his tighty whites. That will definitely get a slow - mo replay. Multiple times.


Just then Tia Helmut asks Fer to go someplace more comfortable. Feo refuses and kisses Crabbi’s butt about it, that see, she is the most important thing to him. She smirks.


While Franco and Sara frolick around in the water, at first she resisting him, but man that can’t and doesn’t last long before she is hot on him, Tia wanders up on Benito who was reliving seeing Eugenia again. Luckily he sees Tia and warns the two to swim away. Tia wonders where Sara is and tells Bene he needs to go swimming after her in case something happens. (Yeah like Franco accidently pokes Sara's eye out with....) He smiles much too much and agrees.


Back at the "picnic" the soccer players argue about someone being offsides. Feo wanders off as does Crabbi apparently and suddenly Feo slams Crabbi up against a tree. Slimy lust ensues. Meannwhile back at the ranch....the McCoys are still playing soccer when the ball gets launched somehow into the deep forest. Juan volunteers to retrieve it. We know what’s going to happen here. Of course the ball lands just where None Fer Nando is turning into Ma Fer Nando. Juan is impactado.


The players call after Juan and the ball when Feo catches Juan and asks him what his problem is. Crabbi has run off at this point. Juan tells Fer they have something unfinished between them. Sofi runs up and wonders what is taking Juan so long. He tells her he just saw Fer with a woman. He didn’t match up the very distinctive skirt of Crabi though, apparently, because he can’t tell Sofi who. She thinks it’s strange and that Fer’s always been sooo in love with her and never interested in any other woman. Gads. This woman just needs a really good spanking. Juan takes this to mean that she is jealous and starts turning on her and Vicente reinforces this for us. Sofi stomps off mad.


Maracuya is working on her best aerial Shakira impression. Bet the guys holding up her ass like this job. They take a break and as she sensually sort of wipes sweat beads off her face she thinks she really likes Oscar and mustn’t let him go.


Oscar on the other hand is telling Jime that she is going to marry him not Octavio, whom he is shifting back and forth like a puppet. They go through this whole, "I’m not going to regret not marrying you, you liar", "she’s hot but I love you", etc. Eventually, Octavio gets sick of being shoved and moves himself out of the middle of them, until Jime summons him to leave with her. Vicente can't get away.


Sara runs away from super undies man and screams that he should have more respect in front of her fiance. Franco wonders if she loves Bene as much as she loves him, and wrote him love letters too? She tells him that he only saw her letters he didn’t read them, did he? Ohhhh he laughs, of course he did you dingbat. This makes her mad and she smacks him. As she runs off with Bene he laughs at her slap and we get our final nice shot of the tighty whities. We surmise he’s got a tanga on underneath them though. Darn.




Anyway Oscar notes Juan is out of sorts with Sofi and tries to convince Juan not to be jealous. He reminds Juan that Sofi left everything for him. Yeah dummy. Crabbi or no Crabbi she still was a rich girl living in a hacienda and left it to shack up in the back room of a burnt up panaderia with a muerto de hambre. I’d say she did her part.

Back on the "Tour of Rosi" Bobby orders tequila for them both and wonders if she doesn’t like this place. She just says she’s not used to being out. No kidding. He tells Rosi how talented and beautiful she is and that he likes her very much. She responds by telling him she appreciates that but can make a commitment to no one.


Tia Raquel runs up to Eva and it looks like they bond. Tia wonders who the boy is. Eva says it’s her grandson and Tia muses how wonderful it would be to have a grandchild. She mentions that she too would love to have grandchildren, but her daughter Ruth doesn’t even think about getting married, Eva never heard that she had a daughter. Nor did we, yet. Tia was about to tell us more when Crabbi pours water on the party and says they are leaving now and that she’ll talk to Eva later. So that's what she calls it. Talk. Hrmpf.


Eva tells Sofi not to fight with Juan. Yeah we think that too. We are sick of this sillyness. Juan calls after her and she says if he doesn’t trust her they have nothing to discuss. She loves him and has always been truthful with him. She would rather give him up though, then live like she did with Fernando not trusting her. This sweet moment is interrupted by the advance from tomorrow when the witch has Oscar in her claws. Scary. Really. Scary.

Labels: Fuego

That title was too good to miss. We got a new Grabi and most of the episode involved people running around saying that it was impossible/horrible/embarassing for Grabi to marry Feonando. Except for the fact that we know that Feo is bad and Los Reyes are good, it is hard to argue with the sentiments expressed by both Juan and Grabi, herself, that Grabi should be free to ruin her life the same way that she thought her daughters did with their choices.

Very nice scene with Sarita and abuelo where she defends her choice of and love for Franco.

Yes, indeed, that was Olmos the jorobato (hunchback) from Zorro as the snobby guy at the nuthouse. Franco was great here too using his power but very calmly and reasonably. You are so right, Marie Celeste. It is hard to remember the callow Franco who was mooning over Rosario and who let himself get tangled up with Eduwina.

Labels: gavilanes

Okay folks, it's another night of Misery and Misunderstanding....and a little bit of Mayhem (when Julian gives Bruno a well-deserved a..-kicking). No smokin' love scenes, one glimpse of Bruno's bare chest (but we don't like him, so who cares?) and thus the beat-down was the highlight of the night. What does that tell you about this show?

Brief rehash of greasy Chalo trying to insinuate himself into casa Maruja but Maruja is having none of it and dispatches him to a boarding house. He insists on finding one nearby so he can be near to his new best buddy Lorena.

Back at Evil Acres, Hortensia is vilifying Matilde, while Sara smirks in the background. Matilde defends herself...you can search my room. Hortensia isn't buying it...you could have passed it on to someone. But Señora, you've known me for years, I raised Vasco...and if he were here, he'd defend me! What evil have I done that you would doubt me? And...Sara is the only new person here, Matilde adds.

Hortensia jumps to Sara's defense and threatens Matilde with jail for the rest of her life (possibly this could be better than her present employment...who knows?)

Now we switch to another unpleasant scene. Dr. Doofus is all prickly with Lorena because when he arrived the greaser from home was still hanging around the place. Lorena weakly defends him as being from her home town and just wanting to better himself like she does. The relationship is clearly in chill mode.

Maruja is in Rosy's room, reminiscing about her daughter and happy at least that "she's in a mansion and eating well". This scene rang true for me. I have to admit I still go into my children's rooms from time to time and reminisce about them. (of course one is STILL at home)

Now an icky mom/child scene. It's bleached blonde Harlot Mom with Ickturo gushing about his plush new offices in a swank zone of the city. Turns out Arturo secretly dipped into his joint account with Valeria to help pay the hefty rent but Harlot Mom even approves that...her baby boy is just doing what he needs to make a good living for his family.

Rosy's talking to Lorena on the phone, confiding that Julian still hasn't forgiven her when Maruja arrives. She quickly hangs up and pretends to be talking to the imaginary woman who's housing her and promises to call her "mom" 'cause she's SO NICE. (take that Maruja!)

Sara busts in on Dr. Doofus, claiming she just stopped by to drop off the check from Noche de Estrellas. He tells her he's very busy....and she sits down. Hmmm. So he asks about Chalo and she spins her web that she doesn't like him but Lorena has always been VERY close to him...you just have to "understand". What a wench!

In the meantime our little lamb-to-the-slaughter is cooking up a week's worth of meals for Alonso and papa Torbio. Dr. Dad is teasing her that it's not enough food and that she needs to come over more often. And he needs to get out more. But not sitting in the park like some old geezer!

Doc Doofus is rescued by Bruno who sends him off to Admissions while he hits on Sara and invites her out to lunch. On their way out they run into Diana ,who has come on the pretext of asking Bruno to confront her parents like a man and tell them himself that he'll recognize the child and help support it.

You couldn't have come at a worse moment! he snarls and goes on to say he didn't want to marry her because he didn't want marriage period...it's nothing to do with the new babe he's dating.

In the midst of this scene we have a quickie with Hortensia and Jaime where he weakly defends Matilde and she crushes him with another put-down.

At the restaurant Bruno is trying all his charms on Sara who plays along. He promises to take her to a five-star restaurant next time (cinco tenedores..literally 5 forks). She plays it cool while he gushes that he's having a great time. Of course she wants to know all about Diana..is she his "ex"? And gets all righteous and indignant when she finds out Diana got pregnant to "trap him into marriage"...then a little noble "but I feel sorry for the baby"...and then the kiss-off. Bruno is intrigued.

Uh oh, Ferro...some crying...whew...not too much though. It's Diana, back at the office, and she's upset about the confrontation with Bruno. Vasco consoles her, reminding her that one doesn't get over love (even for a bottom-feeder like Bruno) in a day....but eventually she'll find a man who will make her happy.

Zulema is happily opening the boxes with her new cooking gear, musing that they'll need to make more money now that a baby is on the way, and Julian asks for Bruno's place of work so he can go beat on him.

Zulema tries to dissuade him but to no avail. Go Julian!

We have a series of scenes where Sara is trying to get into Jacqui's computer (no problem since she doesn't use a password) and having to skitter back and forth whenever she hears someone coming. When Hortensia notes that she need a menu for the German Embassy's new Cultural Center and Jacqui hasn't finished it yet, Sara jumps in and says oh puhleeze puhleeze, let me do it, I'll work all night! As soon as Horentsia leaves, she locates Jacqui's notes, uses them with a few minor changes (manito de gato) and is ready to hand it to her "abuela" first thing in the morning.

Interspered in all this was a brief scene of Dario returning Bettina home and Paula trying to find out whether Bettina went to the pajama party after all.

Beastly Bruno is in Doofus' office gushing about Sara. Alonso looks....well...puzzled, confused...not happy. Who knows? He agrees that Sara is charming but then pointedly asks Bruno about Diana. Bruno doesn't like that subject...he'd rather plan a big double date, him and Sara, Alonso and Lorena at a five-star restaurant. Alonso doesn't have the cash...he needs to wait until next payday.

He's called out of the office to check on patients, (taking an extra shift for a doctor who didn't show) and is really tired. So Bruno slips sleeping pills in his coffee, ensuring that Alonso will fall asleep at the job and that Bruno will be tapped for the jefe post instead of his hapless buddy. As Bruno muses on this lovely thought we get a close-up of his evil little eyes.

Diana is smiling at last. She finds a package from Vasco with a cute little green outfit for the baby. It's going to be an ecological niño! How wonderful.

Sara and Lorena are chatting, Lorena's talking about her work with Zulema and her dead end search for her parents. Sara unloads some fake sympathy and says she hasn't found her parents either.

Meanwhile Dr. Doofus has been discovered passed out at his desk. The head doc is outraged. Bruno gloats at the door, disappears, then reappears as the rescuing prince, ready to take on the extra shift and cover for the good-for-nothing Alonso. Don't you just love these folks!?

The nasties continue with Chalo barging in on Lorena again , pretending to go off hurt when she rebuffs him, meeting with Sara afterwards to get a little nookie, while Sara rolls her eyes and imagines that she's with Alonso instead.

Julian and Vasco are having a little brotherly bonding over football....and vengeance. Although Vasco is not a fan of violence he more or less approves of Julian's plan to mess with Bruno.

Zulema and Diana are both oohing and aaahing over the little baby outfit and mom remarks that Vasco is much more caring than the actual father. Well duh! Plus we knew where this was heading from day one...Vasco and Diana together. But it will take time.....much much time. More time maybe than I'm willing to watch.

Sara is sneaking into the mansion after an all-nighter with Chalo and is caught by Jaime. No problem....first of all because the man is a little dense...but also because Sara's a great liar. She paints a noble picture of staying at the office all night to prepare the menus for the German Embassy, hands him the disc to copy for her, slips out of further conversation by yawning prettily and up the stairs she goes.

Alonso has finally'" come to" but doesn't realize his boss had caught him napping at the desk. Valeria notes wisely that he really seemed like he was drugged. He wants to explain things to the jefa but she is conveniently away at a meeting. Everything's working in Bruno's favor.

Okay...now the good part. Julian finds Bruno in an alley outside of the office and gives him a thorough beating. I'm ashamed to admit this, but I enjoyed every single kick to the ribs and could have enjoyed a few more, but alas, Dr. Doofus arrives on the scene and holds Julian back. The only thanks he gets is Bruno bleating, "Why didn't you call the police?!"

Meanwhile, Sara is working her black magic at the office, claiming that a night without sleep is nothing...she can keep on working...and Hortensia is thrilled that her "niece" has the same drive and energy that Hortensia herself had at that age.

Chalo is at his friend the forger, trying to hawk the jewelry Sara stole. They haggle over prices and finally come to an agreement while quaffing down some beers.

Jacqui arrives at the office to find HER menu is not needed; Sara has already provided one. But when she looks at it, she realizes it's hers with just a few changes. Hortensia demands that she prove it and off Jacqui goes to copy her original. What do you want to bet Sara finds some way around this? You gotta admit this evil wench has brains.....unimpeded by any conscience whatsoever.

Sara has also made a sweet promise to Jaime (who is clearly under her spell along with mama) to go find Vasco at work and try and persuade him to return home. And what could be better.?..she also finds Diana at the desk and gets to put in a few more poisoned darts about her date with Bruno.

Vasco (who just as clearly isn't under Sara's spell) wraps a protective arm around Diana, introduces her as his uncle Omar's daughter and tells Snotty firmly that he's not going back to Evil Acres.

Okay...for anyone who's hot for Bruno...anyone? anyone?... we now see him with his shirt off (shoulders aren't bad... that's for you shoulder fanatics), he's taped up, the x-rays show the damage isn't as bad as expected, and he's feeling well enough to complain that Alonso is sticking up for Julian instead of sympathizing with Bruno. And he certainly doesn't want to meet Diana's parents, whom he refers to as "those people". He's going to own up to his paternity and financial obligation....that's plenty good enough! Alonso, like the decent fellow he is, does not approve...not of that, and not of Bruno's dating Sara.

We finish this hour of misery with a little scene between Zulema and Lorena where Lorena learns Zulema had a baby girl that died....but wait!...Zulema thought she heard the baby cry. Such sadness to lose a child they both agree, and look very pensive.

Ah the irony...there is Zulema with her very own impossibly blonde, fair-complected child sitting right in front of her, and yet neither of them knows it. Doesn't it just break your heart?

vocabulary:

1. molido = beat, tired, ground down
2. al buen entendedor pocas palabras = a word to the wise is sufficient "okay, I get it" what
Chalo said in a pretend huff to Lorena
3. una buena friega = a good beating, pasting (yea Julian!!!!)
4. una manita de gato = a little touch up...what Sara did to Jacqui's proposal....could also mean
a little touch up of makeup
5. venga esas cincos = gimme five. Vasco and Julian high-fiving his decision to give Bruno a lesson.

Labels: enemiga

Franco and Sarita get a nasty surprise

Juan and Norma dance

Lots of developments in the last two days:

Juan and Ruth got rescued.

It was a classy move when Melissa and her sons went to be with Raquel and wouldn't let her drive them away with her insults.

The celebration at the Reyes hacienda looked liked a lot of fun. Melissa was particularly amusing when she insisted on dancing with Juan (the bigger the horse, the better the ride).

Why do I think the police will have no success in finding Dínora?

I guess there is a sort-of resolution between Rosario and Armando. It's nice that they aren't trying to kill each other anymore.

Antonio returns to town to be with Ruth and Melissa puts him up much to the disgust of Benito.

And, of course, Franco and Sarita finally got together. Very sweet scene until, of course, Feonando brings Grabi to surprise them in their love nest. Grabi appears to have lost her mind and Fer has gone completely to the dark side. Does Grabi really think that her daughters are going to give up their lives and live with her forever? Grabi's attack on Sarita was horrible and this is why Grabi wins the worst mother contest over Ester from LT.

Finally, there is the 'love' scene between Fer and Grabi. You notice that they don't get the 'yo soy tu mujer' song. It's 'Amor prohibido,' 'Forbidden Love,' for them. It was pretty hard to watch. Do we think Fer got the idea of asking Grabi to marry him after he told her that he understood why she was choosing her daughters because he didn't have any power at the hacienda. He stops on the way out of the study as if the idea just came to him or had he planned it beforehand?

Labels: gavilanes

Lore goes to see Rossy in the flour rack. She disapproves of Rossy’s "instruction" to Julian and that was over the top. Rossy says he deserved it, his loss if he doesn’t forgive her.

Chalo is bugging Sara and wants to know when he’ll get something. She has nothing yet so what can she give. I guess he’s no longer satisfied with just nookie. She tells him this business is going to take some time so you have to wait. He threatens to rat her out. She tells him he’ll lose out too if he does that. He says he has nothing, so loses nothing. He promise to stay in the DF to keep an eye on her

Love how they are always in that same hotel

Omar tells his wife about his visit to the other side. His Mom hasn’t changed one bit, in fact she’s more bitter than ever. He notes that Jaime isn’t happy. Zule says it for me: Duh, who would be around your Ma. Omar tells her this just proves he didn’t make the wrong choice by being with Zule. He thanks her for making him so happy.

Diana rushes Vasco out the door. He is on his cell because he wants to find out how his Ma is doing in Rio de Janeiro not San Juan de Rio. Julian comes in and is sneezing because after being out in the rain casi naked he simply must catch the obligatory cold.

At the kitchen, Rossy is telling herself to hang in there until Julian calls her, but then she wonders if Lore is right and he won’t . Just then Maruja yells at Rossy for using the cell phone. She is happy she no longer has to report to any one. Ma yells at her for not respecting the house and wants to know where she has been sleeping. Rossy asks if she’s worried, but she says no even though Rossy thinks Ma missed her.

Omar is going to get gas before he takes Zule to see about her tanda. (See discussion about this on Friday’s comments).

Maruja enters to find Julian lounging about and breaks that she has to go out because she’s buying baby clothes. Julian wonders que the heck for. My sis is popping one out? After wondering how she managed that foolish fall from grace, he of course does the obligatory macho thing by saying Bruno must pay for not marrying his sister.

Arturo and Barbi alias Lipo Lass (thanks Sharkbait) are having breakfast when oooooh who walks in to the exact same hotel/restaurant?....Jaime, her husband.

Arturo decides distracting him is the best idea. He goes up and introduces himself as having met him at the Celebrity dinner. Jaime then remembers ironically that Art is married to one of the doctoras there. Key point.

Lipoass (my adaptation) hides under the table then ducks out the side door. On the way out she exclaims that she was about to have a heart attack. Yeah, dummy. Rule 1 of cheating on your spouse is not to go out in public with your amante, something to keep in mind Caray folks. She says they should never come out of the room again. Arturo tells her it will all be fine.

Lore goes to visit Andrea in the hospital, who Alonslow told her about. He told Andrea about Lore too, so she already knows who she is. Lore brings in contraband chocolates for the girl, a bag big enough to instigate a stomach pumping for sure. Bruno tells him Lore is here so he goes to say hi. Bad luck for this boy because in that minute the bad actress Doctora comes in looking for him. Bruno kindly tells her the truth that Al went out to see his girlfriend. She says she’ll go look for him herself. Of course she finds him in bad timing again just as he is kissing Lore. She reams him a new one for not attending his patients instead of sucking tongue with his squeeze. She tells him to prepare a report of the medicines used most in the pedes department in the last month, today. He says he’ll do it. Valeria tells him that he is needed in emergency.


Sara and Snorty are running around a mall. Sara was wondering if she is still worried about Vasco, and she says no but she is affected. She’s surprised Sara did so well on her test, and Sara takes the opportunity to attribute it to the things she’s learned from Snorty. Sara asks if she could borrow some knives that she needs for her studies. Snorty says nevermind, she will buy her anything she needs new as long as she promises to be the best student in the school. Sara hugs Snorty and thanks her for all her support. Just then she spots Chalo watching her and she gets faint.

Al is attending a really big kid, with a mustache no less, and tells Bruno he doesn’t have that report because he’s busy with this patient so someone else is going to have to do it. Bet we know who.

Vasco calls his papa who gets excited to think that maybe Vasco will come home. No chance, dude, he just wants to know if anyone’s heard from his Mom, he’s been accepted by his uncle as a son. No they haven't heard, no one can reach her because her cell is off. At least she knew rule number 2.

Maruja gives Jaime the soda he dropped when he answered the phone and they chat that kids are big pains in the butt. He thanks her and asks her name again. They exchange extraordinarily long smiles.


Chalo follows Sara all around the mall and Sara keeps feigning to Snorty she’s ill and that maybe they should leave. She asks to go to the rest room first, and smacks down with Julian. He tells her he just wants her to understand that he’s not kidding, and he will beat her down if that’s what it takes. Sara keeps assuring him that she has nothing. He screams foul and says he’s been watching her go in and out of expensive store after expensive store and surely she has access to something, getting along with the old bag so well. He puts his slimy pata down and gives her two days to come up with some earnest money for him.

Doctora asks Bruno if Al has the report but Bruno again very kindly tells her that his friend refused to do it because he was attending patients and she explains she’s in a jam now and how dare he not follow orders. Bruno of course offers to help her out.

Security guard asks Maruja how she’s doing, he noticed she’s not well. He knows she has problems with her kid. He knows this too because Rossy is sleeping in the kitchen. This of course makes Maru happy, no doubt she thought her daughter was shacked up with that boy.

Psycho Ma Paula asks her daughter how her Dad and his chick are doing and Bettina says they are fine, even better. Ma takes this that the little girl is evilly playing with her and witholding info purposely, and takes this opportunity to play a game and manipulate her. Bad. Ma refuses her permission for a sleepover.

Dario is working and Jaqui brings him an antipasto plate. There is olive kissing and he tells her she can decide whatever she wants about the wedding, it’s women’s stuff anyway and he’ll be happy with whatever she wants.

Aloslow’s papa is looking for his keys but Al won’t tell him and anyway he shouldn’t drive, it’s dangerous for him. Pa is mad about this.


Sara gives Horty a list and gets a promise of knives but is denied a car. I think a car would have been a better choice for her than a bag full of sharp shiny objects.

Lore is whining about all she needs for her classes and brought Rossy a sandwich. Rossy recomends that she borrows all that stuff from here, it wouldn’t be a big deal. Lore says no way.

Jaime lays it on Sara he knows her real fake status as granddaughter and wants to know why she is there with them and has no interest in being with her parents though she knows where they are.

Jaime says he needs to talk to Omar about this. Sara cries she’s the victim and he says all the more reason it makes no sense you want to be with the ones who set you up. He opens his mouth that he helped out the Abue with the baby dump. His conscience is heavy, and he wants to tell all, but Sara says Abue has done everything for her and if she goes back to her parents she knows that Abue and he will end up straight away in jail.

Lore begs Rossy to come back to her house and she shouldn’t have had Julian in her room, but Rossy tells her to go away with her Nun talk and she isn’t going back until Ma apologizes.


Sara wants the family united. Jaime apologizes for thinking badly of Sara and she says he’s already forgiven. She whispers that appearances deceive.

Vasco accompanies Diana to work, even though he wishes he could ride his bad ass bicycle.

Lore tells Zule she got into school. She goes in and meets her Dad, who knows she is Lorena right away.

Horty goes ahead of Jaime and suggests he take Sara to the meeting and he agrees that a little flirting might help them. Sara agrees to go and Jaime says he admires her and sorry about my correct surmising last night. She tells him that harmony and peace will return to this family in time. Not until she finds her way to the meat grinder (thanks Julie).

Sara sneaks into Snorty’s room and is searching for something, oh, seems she’s turned into a petty thief now and nabs a wad of cash and a really ostentatious brooch to pawn and shut up Chalo.

Maruja in the kitchen tells the other chef that Lore now has her own bed because Rossy no longer lives with her. Chef asks Rossy where she lives and she says in a mansion with a family who really treats her well.

Lore thanks them for a great breakfast, she feels like she’s with family (snicker). I’m sorry but there is no way this blond super fair skinned chick is the daughter of those two black-haired darker skinned people. This is just the worst match up ever. It’s like they didn’t even try. Then Omar opens mouth and says her parents must be proud of her. He gets the story and agrees that he admires her. They agree she is like family to them too, and that she is welcome any time.

Doctora busts Al’s balls some more for not following her orders and he should think about this if he wants that post.

Sara gives Chalo his spoils and he wonders if it’s not bisuteria (costume jewelry). She says no way with that woman’s money. She had to rob this too. She says she wants Al away from Lore. Chalo asks if it’s not enough that she robs Lore of her family, now she wants the boyfriend too?

He says no way, he won’t help someone take his squeeze. That's understandable. She says she just wants him out of the way because he is bent on helping Lore find her parents and that is bad.

Speaking of that, Lore calls to see if Madre Trinidad has found out anything new, but no, she hangs up and wonders where her parents are. (snicker again)


Zule tells Julian that Lore was looking for him. He thinks he already knows why and that she probably wants to have him contact Rossy but he won’t because of a bad trick played on him. At the kitchen Rossy checks to make sure that no calls came in from Julian. She is still holding out.

Chalo runs into Lorena oh, just by coincidence in front of the house she lives at. Yeah coincidence. He wants to see the city and has no future with the Nuns. He begs to come in because he hasn’t eaten. She eventually agrees.

Jaime is telling Abue it went well at the bank and Sara handled them very well. Just then Jaqui comes in with Charlie Manson’s dream gift. She says the knife set is the best quality, and they will serve Sara well. Snarly Sara (Snarla) thanks her Abue, er Tia.

Chalo calls Lore his guardian angel and thanks her for feeding him. He’s not shy about asking for more help, maybe Lore’s friends will let him stay there too. She says, she doubts it, she’s already on the couch. She gets a call from her beau.

Sara tells Snorty she looks great for her event. Snorty tells her yes, but something is missing, the difference is in the accessories and she asks Sara to pull out her special box. We knew this was coming. She screams her money is gone. Snarla tries to talk her out of the idea that someone in the house stole it.

Maru leaves a care basket on the racks for her daughter.

Jaqui is complaining about her hard day kissing Snorty’s behind buying stuff for Sara. They agree to get a movie. Beti has learned the manipulating tricks now and plays Papi off Mami, and amante too. She wants to go to a pijama party but Ma didn’t let her. Amante sticks her big nose in and says he should let Beti go, but Papi doesn’t want to contradict Ma (smart Papi) the two gals gang up on him and he caves, they’ll tell Ma Beti stayed overnight with them instead. Bad, this is getting worse.

Picking on the help again. Sara smirks as Snorty accuses them all of stealing from her and wants to know who did it. One rats out the main housekeeper. That is just wrong. They need to stick together.

Rossy finds the basket and thinks Julian did it. She calls and thanks him for forgiving her he says ni loca and hangs up on her. She’s perplexed.

Chalo takes a bath at Maruja’s and Lorena is apologizing for his intrusiveness. When he comes out Lorena gives him the boot. He apologizes if he’s imposed. She asks him to leave. Just then the doorbell rings and Alonslow shows up. He wonders what Chalo is doing there. Chalo calls it destiny that he has found Lore with all the people in the capital. I don’t remember when these guys met.

Labels: enemiga

Buenas noches a todos.

Alternative title: If I had a dollar for everytime some Mexican couple had sex under a tree, I'd have five dollars. (Folks, guitars weren't the only things being stroked tonight.)

As Sarita and Jimena are checking-out the new club in town, Jimena tells Sarita that she had a little visitor on her balcony last night--none other than Oscar! Sarita questions whether Oscar’s priestly duties entail midnights on the balcony. However, Jimena tells her that Oscar isn’t going to be a priest, and that they are going to get married (what else is new?).

Just then the new showgirl in town, a.k.a. potty-mouth, falls desperately into the strong arms of Oscar. Maracucha’s long, pointy fingernails dig into Oscar’s biceps just long enough for Jimena to see that and the loving countenance of Mara. Jealous and hurt, Jimmena introduces herself and Sarita as the fiancées of Benny and Octavio. Uh oh. Oscar is so outraged that he actually picks up the hammer, only to slam it on his thumb. Jimena kisses Benny and then shows Mara that gorgeous ring that her wonderful honey- bun gave her. Of course Benny has never had so much action with a girl in his life and needs to wipe off Jimena’s kisses with a hanky.

Juan is beside himself with anger. Padre Tadeo is with him and they are faced with the problem of remodeling the Bakery. Seeing that God will never abandon the Reyes, He has prepared an oven for them in the local Orphanage. Juan is so excited, and rattles off all the yummy breads that he is going to prepare for everyone.

Frankie and Rosie are sharing some pretty sexy scenes out in the jungle. Frankie, who is wearing some pretty tight, white briefs, is holding the slightly naked Rosie in his arms as she straddles his nether regions. And to think all of this is happening on some straw mat, next to a fire, accompanied by a smooth voice, and a few strokes of Frankie’s guitar-- no pun intended. How sexy!

It must be opposites night because we see Madam NOT Sexy, a.k.a. Sarita, reproaching the ever-confused fiancée. Apparently Jimena is an idiot for thinking that Oscar could love her. Jimena admits that he does have some negative qualities…

Mara, the innocent bar girl, tells Oscar that Jimena can’t be his girlfriend. Why? Because Jimena doesn’t trust Oscar. Why should she? Anyway, Mara invites Oscar to spend some time with her. Sounds like trouble…

Well Gramps and Quitina are preparing for flight as Quintina relates the story of Juan saving Sofia from the fire. Eva comes in and tells Gramps that Gabi wants to see him. He tells Eva that if Gabi wants to see him, she has to come and see him--and that’s final! Gramps has an important mission for Quinti.

Sofia and Juan admire that trophy that Juan won for the trick his stunt-double did. Sofia says that they sure did take a lot of heat for that. That was the time that they first talked, and everything has been great ever since. They decide to take the trophy with them.

Gabi goes out to the cabin and is greeted at the door by a fine young man in a tuxedo, oh wait, that’s Quinti, never mind. However, Gabi failed to make a reservation to see His Majesty, and therefore cannot enter. Luckily His Excellency can spare two minutes for his daughter. She has come to have Gramps sign those papers that will give her money from his fortune; he’s not giving them.

And the moment of truth. The four fiancées admit that none of them is in love with each other, but they will put on a show until they figure something else out.

Fernie has gone to visit Raquel. Fernie asks her about last night, but she was so hammered that she doesn’t remember anything. It’s a good thing, too, because Fernie was kissing her, and no one wants to remember such an experience. Fernie, who knows a boob when he sees one, and he’s seen many where he works, admits that this will be like taking candy from a baby, which he has probably done in the past.

Speaking of Sugar Mamas, Sofia is blindly offering Juan her savings. He sort of refuses it, but we know he’ll take it. Just then we hear a plane. False alarm; it’s Gramps accompanied by Quinti in her aviators and leather jacket. We all know how cold Mexico is in the summer… I think part of hanging around Gramps means that you start to act the part of random characters and their occupations until you actually believe that you are that character. Anyway, Gramps has come to offer Juan some of those Chuck-E-Cheese coins. Juan refuses them because he knows that the local soda machines won’t accept them. On second thought those crazy investors will accept them, so he decides to go against his pride once again.

Fernie now has a lot of confidence in Raquel, and therefore asks her for some money. You see, he finds her really attractive and nice, and thought that she would be just the woman to lend him some money. She is delighted that he thought to ask her for fiscal help, however the moment loses something when Gabi pulls up in her SUV and is surprised to see Fernie.

Raquel tells Gabi and Fernie that she can’t give them the money until she talks it over with her husband. Well, if he’s half as stupid as Raquel he’ll still probably agree to this. Gabi reprimands Fernie for not having any shame. Lay off; he’s only trying to protect your interests. Gabi tells him that he doesn’t want her as an enemy because she doesn’t forgive or forget anything.

Time for Rosie to make that trip. Granny Eva is going to take care of Luisito. Rosie is a basket case for leaving the kid, but she’s gotta make a living somehow.

Oscar, the financial advisor of the family, is crying because they don’t have a cent to their name. So, they are going to sell those boot-spikes for money. In other news, Frankie is suffering because he doesn’t know which woman he likes best: Rosie; the vivacious, sexy, yet highly unstable broad, or Sarita; the border-line socio-path who has no soul, no breasts, and everyone thinks she’s a nun. I’d go with Ruth, and I’ve never seen the girl in my life.
So now that Pablito is the new live-in/son of three fathers, he has to pull his weight around the house, something that Oscar heavily enforces. He doesn’t care where the money goes, just as long as he still has three fathers, a grandpa, and an aunt. Unconventional families are ubiquitous, even in rural Mexico, where they still use the gold standard. Oh, but Pablito is saddened when he remembers that biologically he must have a mother. Everyone quiets down, and Sofia, the only woman who hasn’t been assigned a fake familiar role, offers to be his mother. Well, if Juan is Pablito’s father, and Sofia is Pablito’s mother, then Juan and Sofia must be husband and wife! And therefore, Juan’s brother Oscar would be Pablito’s uncle, who is also his father, who therefore would be Juan’s husband in this unconventional family; meaning the local authorities would arrest the family for a whole array of things, and Sofia, who is the mother and three times wife, would be left alone with Gramps and Quinti to run the local family airport.

Uh oh. The vulture Gabi spots Luisito, and wants to know why he’s there. Eva tells her that it’s her grandson. Gabi wants him out of there; it’s not her problem that he’s only a baby and has no place to go. Gabi is appalled by Eva’s behavior; she doesn’t like that they were eating peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwiches apparently.

So Pablito has found the picture of Libia, shows it to Quinti, who says it’s a saint and refuses to show it to Sofia because it is dirty. Sofia is suspicious.

Now that Juan works in an Orphanage, he has taken the role of home-economics instructor. He teaches the children how to make bread for his company, and the best part is that the children do the labor for free. Though the oven here is different because you can grab the pan with your bare hands-right out of the oven!

Luckily for Eva, Gramps is going to let her Luisito stay with him. And Luisito is now a General in Gramps’s army!

Big night at the Tumbao, and everyone who’s anyone is there. Frankie and Oscar are playing the field tonight, but they can’t score it big with Jimena and Sarita because those girls are caressing their fiancées. Here comes Mara, who gives Oscar a virtual belly dance.

Bedtime for Sofia. And before she falls asleep Juan brings her some heart-shaped S-bread. Juan says that if his son turns out to be a daughter, he will love her more because she will be like Sofia. Then he tells Sofia about his sister, who was his best treasure. And you all know the rest… New information: she had really rebellious hair, and boy did Juan love to comb it!

Tomorrow: Sofia is living the happiest time of her life, but everyone is in for a big surprise when there’s a family reunion.

Labels: Fuego

Sorry, but I've really got to rush this today. If anything is missing, please fill in.

We lead off with a repeat of last night's ending: Mili misleads Al about whether she's gone all the way with Hugo. Suddenly, Alex is called in to the study, where Connie, Domingo and Damian are waiting. Connie starts to talk about the future of their merged businesses, but Tony Soprano cuts him off: There will be no merger; instead, he's taking over completely. Bada bing! Bada boom!

Hugo asks Mili why she lied to Alex. She gives the explanation about wanting to preserve things for the wife and baby, yada, yada. Luci comes down the stairs and greets Hugo and pointedly not Mili. She asks if he's seen Nestor and is told he's outside. As she leaves, she tosses off a request that Hugo ask his wife not to look at her as if she wants to hang her. Mili fumes.

Back to the study. Domingo is offering Connie at most a 25 percent share in the business with no active role. Now that he has learned Connie is not Al's real father (and accordingly, not the real grandfather of Domingo's grandchild), he can't trust him (and Damian is worse). Connie accuses him of a swindle. Domingo says when Monday's market opens, Damian's shares will drop precipitously. (was it a publicly traded company? Who knows?) Connie says he will destroy Domingo. Domingo says not if I see you first. Connie orders him out of the house. Domingo says tomorrow he and his girls and Al are leaving for Monterrey. Connie asks Al for help, but Al says, "Sorry, Constancio, but you're not my dad, and now I'm not on your side. To be honest, a big weight is lifted from my shoulders."

Al and Domingo leave. Damian is worried, but Connie says don't worry, we can take him. Connie calls someone.

Domingo talks to his daughters by the pool and tells them they're leaving. He walks away. Mari tells Flo that it's a good thing she didn't spill the beans to pop about all the bad times she's having with Alex.

Luci kisses Nestor in the back yard. She effuses about how wonderful it is that they are now free to make out in the open (not for us viewers, eeww), and how they can shout their love for all to hear. He looks a bit queasy and tells her that he's upset for Alex. She is worried that Alex hates her, but he says everything will be okay eventually. He is going to try to talk to Alex.

Mili and the gals talk. She is not exactly revealing too much about the wedding night. It's clear she's still pining for Al, and Lina wants her to get a divorce and go with Al, but Mili says it's not the right thing to do. She points out that she was at fault too in letting the deception go on. Now she teases Lina about Bobby. Lina says Bobby is still treating her as just a friend.

Bobby is at a card store trying to buy the perfect stuffed animal that will express his desire to convey that his gift recipient (Lina) is a friend that he wants to be more than just a friend. (You know, I would have suggested that jewelry was a better bet, but I guess he doesn't want to move too fast.) He is shown a cute little dog. Pablo/Pedro (whatever his name is) from Rodeo comes in on the same mission for Braulio.

Damian and Connie go somewhere in a car and have some documents. Connie gets out of the car and meets a mysterious figure in a black leather coat like someone from the Matrix. He hands him the documents.

Flor and Mari continue their discussion. Flor blames her drunken mother-in-law for everything, but Mari points out that Flor was really her own worst enemy. Sooner or later, she had to know Al would find out . . . Said Al is listening at the door and bursts in (scene from avances). Mari leaves and Al wants to know who told Flor about Connie? Was it his mother? No, she lies. It was Mili. He doesn't believe it.

Meanwhile, Connie comes back to the car where Damian is waiting. Damian wants to know who the mysterious figure is, by Connie cautions that it would be safer for him not to know.

Al and Flor have an argument about Mili that I don't have time to recap in detail. It's pretty repeptitive anyway. Flor immediately goes to Mili's room and tells her how she's lied to Alex. She tries to get Mili to take part in her deception, since Mili promised to keep the happy couple together.

Braulio helps Hugo seet up his new painting studio. He tells Hugo he's so happy that Hugo didn't take his niece away. Hugo tells him he feels Braulio is his new uncle too. Braulio gives him an overenthusiastic hug.
Braulio is called to the door where Pedro is awaiting to deliver flowers and a giant chimpanzee stuffed animal. Luci and Socorro are there. Luci somehow thinks the presents are for Socorro and she tells Soco she never thought Soco was the type to have lovers. Meanwhile, Braulio sweeps Pedro away with the ruse that he is dispatching him from the mansion.

Bobby gives Lina the stuffed dog, and they have an awkward moment. He asks her if she would like to go to dinner or a movie sometime. They're like high schoolers.

Hugo shows Mili a new painting he's made. Braulio has given him a picture of her mother, and he has painted a picture of Mili and her mother together. She really loves it, and they hug. Of course, just then Al comes in.

Cut to the entryway, where Luci and Andrea are having a good cat fight, a la Alex and Krystle on Dynasty. This fight should have been staged next to a pool or fountain, however, so the participants could fall in. Connie and Nestor pull the gals apart.

Al talks to Mili now about the past. He accuses her of deceiving him, but she tells him that she never was able to find the right time to tell him. First, she only found out right after he was already married. Once she decided to tell him when he returned to Mexico, Floreenda was pregnant, so she refrained from revealing the truth. That's why she married Hugo. She needs to forget Al. He says he is dying because of their eternal love, he is full of rage. His marriage was a mistake and he's going to fix it by getting a divorce. Mili says he can do what he wants, but she's not divorcing Hugo. In fact, Al is in their bedroom, and he should respect them. Ick.

Al asks how she could give herself so easily without love. Hugo must not really love her if he could take her without love. Mili says no, she gave herself. Al says that everytime he is with Flor, he has to hold his tongue to stop himself from saying Mili's name. He is crying now, and it is a very tough scene. She sends him away, saying that Hugo's love for her is very large--look at the painting he did. Al says that he has painted her with his soul and tattooed her on his heart. Al leaves, and Mili cries too.

The fearsome foursome continue arguing, but Damian breaks it up. He says that Connie is party president today and president of the country tomorrow. They should all work together. Dontcha just love Damian as the voice of reason?

Short scene of Karla going after her chicken pimp unsuccessfully.

Braulio talks to Pedro, all the while caressing him with one paw of the giant chimpanzee. It's just hysterical to see Braulio with the chimp hanging off his side. Pedro begs forgiveness for ignoring him for three years. Braulio isn't so fast to forgive. Pedro leaves, and Damian catches Braulio with the monkey. Brau laments that he will now be a laughingstock.

Al is crying in the family bar and Nestor finds him. He says he's always gone there to be alone when his parents fight. Nestor says that for three years he wanted to tell Al the truth, but Luci had fooled him with the paternity test. Al says he is an orphan now--Luci has taken away everything and the love of his life.

Avances: Mari gets a phone call that her father has been killed in a plane crash.

Labels: guapos

Big thanks to JudyB for trading nights with me. Thanks Judy! I hope you don't mind that I got to recap on the night Gaspar made his guest appearance. He sure was cute in his little sheriff outfit and I didn't miss his overalls one bit.

On with the show...

We get to see a repeat of Vasco doing his verbal smack-down on grouchy granny. Dad gets some too, he should have protected his brother. Vasco announces he's going to stay with his estranged uncle and he throws his credit cards on the table in a brazen display of independence.

Bruno meets Diana and tells her that Zulema made him reflect, he doesn't want to abandon the baby. OUR baby, she says. Fine whatever but you're not part of the deal, he replies, he doesn't see himself married. She says she hopes he doesn't let the baby down like he has let her down. Bruno looks confused.

Jaime tries to get Vasco to stay but since he is as prejudiced and close-minded as Granny, not to mention super wimpy, Vasco runs upstairs in disgust.

Betina gets home after spending all day with daddy. She wonders why mom asked her to keep dad late into the afternoon. Paula thought bubbles that she'd love to see the faces on that pair of idiots.

A doorbell rings and Jaqui runs to the door. OH. MY. GAWD. Did you see who's at the door? None other than El Intocable, aka Rene Gomez, aka Gaspar from Duelo, the incredible hunk. He's got a cameo as a stripper! He plunks down his boom box, gyrates his fluid hips and removes his shirt (le pant le heave) in front of an unappreciative Jaqui. He even sings Happy Birthday. Dang, he is so fine. Where was I? Oh yeah, Jaqui pushes him away and falls to her knees, her face smack dab in his manly parts just as Dario enters. Umhum, and daddy ain't happy.

Jaime admits to Snortensia he couldn't convince Vasco to stay. He betrayed his brother and now he's lost his son. Snorty wails, "He's abandoned me, the person I love most in the world!" Not a very nice thing to say to one's son.

Dario is determined to ruin our fun. Does he grab a seat and tell Gaspar to go on with the show? Hell no. The wet blanket fights with Jaqui and Gaspar puts his cute little Sheriff shirt back on. Poor baby, he just wants to dance and get paid. Dario kicks out the bod beautiful and he and Jaqui glare at each other.

Diana cries to Zulema and wants to know why is it that she can't love someone who loves her back? Ah, the eternal question.

Dario may be dumb but he ain't stupid. He figures out that his obsessed ex is behind the stripper plot. (If Paula were really smart she would have just hired the stripper for herself instead of Jaqui. Talk about falling on one's sword!) Dario and Jaqui decide to stick it to Paula by making love not war.

Vasco leaves Evil Acres and tells his dad he can't be part of the plot to banish Tio Omar. Snortensia watches sadly from her little window.

Sara rubs lotion on her shapely gams as Snorty stalks in looking for the low man on the totem pole. She blames Sara for Vasco leaving, she must have told him about Omar because Vasco would rather live with Sara's mother and her kids! Sara feigns surprise, "I have siblings?" She tells granny not to worry, the only family she wants by her side is her abuela. Granny comments she'd love to hear Vasco say those words. Another left-handed compliment from the old bag.

Well well, turns out Rosy is sleeping in the kitchen's pantry. Señor Caballero the gentleman security guard discovers her and promises to bring her a blanket.

Maruja, alone at home, frets about where Rosy is spending the night.

Vasco and his bicycle surprise Zulema at Casa Contenta. He seeks asylum for a few days. He tells Zulema and Omar that he's not like his dad, he can't live like that.

In contrast, Snortensia cries over Vasco's picture..."It was all for you and you scorn me just like...like...Omar".

Next morning Valeria the babe doctor who works with dumb Alonso and evil Bruno kisses her little girl goodby and gets the stink eye from her blowsy blonde suegra. Odious Ickturo bounces downstairs and excitedly tells her he got some money and he's going to spend it on decorating his new business in a good part of town, hooray! Valeria, ever practical, tells him investing in decor sounds dumb to her. He suggests she to stick to her patients and leave business matters to him.

Snorty lolls in bed while the maid Mathilde arrives for her morning insult. Snorty perks up enough to tell Jaime that Sara has all her confidence, she is ambitious and prefers money over her own penniless schmuck parents. She threatens Jaime that if Omar ever finds out they are harboring his daughter he will denounce them, so Jaime had better keep his lip zipped.

The next scene is at Casa Contenta where nothing important is said (except an odd bit about Vasco surprising Julian in bed, uh, OK) but we get to see lots of yucking it up and arm-punching. Even Diana manages to force a smile.

Lorena shows up at Alonso's office with the requested cake. He wants to go with her to to find out the results of her test. How nice that this busy doctor can leave his practice in the middle of the day.

Valeria tells Bruno some interesting news, apparently he and Alonso are both competing to be the new head of the clinic (Jefe Medico - Chief of staff?) Bruno says it doesn't bother him to be competing against his friend, the clinic is the most important concern. He gets an evil look on his face. (It's a pretty sad clinic if those two dopes are the best they can do.)

Vasco and Diana arrive at work. She's impressed when he tells her his liberty is more important than grandma's money. Wow, he sure is different from her bad boyfriend who was ashamed of her because she lives in La Colonia.

Short scene with Lorena and Zulema highlighting Zulema's exercise and she still hasn't lost a pound. Zulema tells Lorena she's sure she did well on the exam.

Jaime recalls the angry words of Vasco and the insulting words of Snorty. He goes for a soda, sees Maruja, and drops the soda on his foot. Does he have a thing for her or is he just distracted? Dude, you should seriously go for the cook and leave Lipo Lass to her boy toy.

Sara sees the exam results, she is one spot higher than Lorena. Bitch. "I did it!" she yells. She sees Alonso and throws her arms around him. He is probably supposed to look muy pero muy impactado but he just looks confused.

Omar surprises his mom at work. Cara impactada from Snortensia. He just wanted to let her know that Vasco is at their house. (What, he couldn't call or email?) She blames him for turning Vasco against her and calls Zulema a common crook. Omar declares that Vasco is a big boy and makes his own decisions.

Lorena arrives at school and Sara blurts out "Too bad you didn't pass, ha ha." Her joke seems to backfire as Lorena grabs her and screams "It's all your fault I lost the scholarship!!" She runs off before dense Alonso can stop her. Sara pouts, "Gosh, it was just a little joke." Alonso looks confused again.

Snorty and Omar argue about money. Jaime enters and is shocked to see his brother. Omar has had enough of his superficial family and he leaves. Jaime follows him outside and Omar comments that Jaime seems very sad to him.

The head Doctora (current chief of staff on her way out?) asks Bruno where Alonso is. Bruno tries to twist facts to make it appear that Alonso is neglecting his work to be with his girlfriend. Predictable jerk.

Ickturo shows up at Barbara's room. He needs more money. She needs more loving. Guess who gets their way?

Maruja and Greta arrive at Paula's. Maruja tries to get Greta to call Rosy's cell but no answer. OK, so now we know she really is worried. They scold Paula for using Betina as a spy. Paula justifies her behavior, she's going to stop those two from marrying!

Betina is at Dario and Jaqui's apartment. Jaqui sends Dario off to get pizza so she and Betina can have a woman to woman talk. Jaqui sucks up to Betina and gets her to admit that Paula arranged the stripper. She says Betina has a place in their home (lie!) and that when Betina helps her mother it hurts her father. That poor kid is going to be so screwed up.

Sad Lorena gets home and Maruja tells her Alonso hasn't stopped calling, and guess what, you really did pass the exam! Just then Alonso and Sara arrive. Sara is all "Why did you run away like that? It was just a joke." (This show and their sadistic jokes.) Lorena snaps back that Sara knows why! Clueless Alonso tries to fix things by suggesting they go out to eat and Lorena jealously suggests that he and Sara go out since they seem to be getting along so well. Sara turns her head and smirks, her diabolical plot is working perfectly.

After the commercial Alonso tells Lorena that maybe they should celebrate another time when she's in a better mood. She says "and you better not move." What? Maybe she means he'd better not follow Sara, I'm not sure.

Speaking of which, Sara sucks up to Snorty by bringing her some tea and telling her she passed her exam. Snorty says there's nothing worse than being disappointed by one in whom you have placed all your hopes. But all is not lost, she has Sara. We know that all Snortensia's affections come with a hint of a threat. She says that Sara had better not deceiver her...ever!! Sara mutters that the old witch will fall one day. She gets a surprise call from Chalo which makes her mad. He's not to call her there! (He called her call phone, how could he know where she is?)

Rosy calls Lorena and tells her where she's staying. She wonders if Maruja has been worried about her, but she doesn't seem cncerned when Lorena says Maruja hasn't mentioned it, probably because she has a hot date with Julian.

Betina arrives home and is snotty to Paula.

Rosy and Julian snuggle in some bar. He thinks it's too bad she and Maruja are fighting. She thinks it's too bad they got caught with their hands in the masa. Julian pisses Rosy off by eyeballing some chick holding a Pomeranian. He tells her he loves only her, wanna get a hotel room? Horny Julian has a little bit to learn about romance.

Omar comes home to find Zulema and Diana crying. Diana ugly-cries that she's pregnant, Bruno will recognize the baby but he doesn't want to marry her. Dad blows a gasket and spouts a bunch about morals, yada yada. Diana asks, does he really want her to marry someone who doesn't love her? Dad calms down and says OK, the baby will want for nothing. Some wacky orchestral music plays, it sounds kind of like Conan the Barbarian. They all weep and Omar says the baby will have a lot of love. The music reaches a crescendo as Vasco enters, "You can count on me too." Man, does this guy have a knack for sticking it to grandma or what?

Rosy and Julian are in the hotel room dry humping. He's optimistic. She's thirsty and thinks they need to take a shower. Somehow she gets him to disrobe and head for the shower. She eyes him lasciviously but gets to work. She quickly gathers his clothes and throws them out the window, then she makes her escape. He comes out and looks out the window in time to see her gathering up his clothes. (Why didn't she just carry them out? Maybe she threw them out then decided to make it harder for him, eh?) She yells up at him "Next time don't flirt in front of my face!" She laughs and jumps in one of the magical taxis that appears out of nowhere. I think Rosy just became my favorite character.

Vasco and Diana enjoy an evening stroll. She thanks him for his friendship. She was afraid how her parents would take the news, now she just has to tell Julian. Speaking of the king of Rome, Julian, wet and clad only in his hotel towel, which is a good look for him by the way, scrambles out of the taxi and asks Vasco to pay. Rosy stole his clothes and he had to leave his watch to pay for the towel! Needless to say Vasco and Diana are highly amused.

Elsewhere, Chalo prepares his little love nest in a cheap hotel room. Sara arrives and is angry, if granny catches her she's doomed! "Nice clothes," remarks Chalo. He's tired of being poor and not getting nookie any more. He tells her it's time to chip in or he'll reveal everything he knows.



Afanador/ora = Crook, petty thief
Despreciar = To scorn
Lombriz = Worm
Mocharse = To chip in, to go halves
Muertos de hambre = Penniless schucks (this phrase is an old favorite, but worth repeating)

Labels: enemiga

Willa and I are back from aventuras maravillosas, I will now be your trusty recapper for Tuesday nights. Mil besos y mil gracias a Kris, aka Fuego de Rosca de Reyes for her fabulous recaps of the past two Tuesday evenings. Talk about smokin' charms, Kris, you are the very best!!

So now we get right to tonight's smokin' melodrama: We are treated to the world's most reviewed scenes of any telenovela. It seems that the writers can't believe that anyone has an extra brain cell to waste on memory but not to worry. Flashing before our eyes and rattling our ears, the rattle free but venomous snake frightens Blanco the stallion into dumping Sofia but also stomping the stuffing out of FeoFernando, too many scenes flash by of the smokin' in-laws would be incestuousness, until we arrive at last to the happy couple Juan and Sofia rescued from fire but looking like so much smoked salmon in front of the bakery that looks cooked too. In contrast, the Hacienda has a new batch of crickets that nearly drown out Armando's proud announcement that Mapache will give them no more worries.He has completed Feo's orders and we sent Mapache off to the other world. Armando does his own able sound effects as he draws his thumb across his own throat in a poor imitation of that foaming death from the poisonous midnight snack. Armando's one worry is that Nabor who was in the cell for offing Don Bernardo so rudely with his car may have talked with Padre Tadeo. Feo does snot-nosed mockery so well, "Padre Tadeo, Padre Tadeo, Padre Tadeo...PadTad, I am looking for a way to get rid of him forever.

But wait, Padre arrives to talk to the lads in the jailhouse about who the sacristan (sexton) was who arrived. At least the lads are honest about their benign negligence, they admit to only having see the bottom of the priestly robes. However, they went by so fast and it was so dark, the lads are confused, PaddyTad frowns so we realize someone is thinking, thinking very hard.

Armando uses Sofia's famous line to assure his agitated, cigar smoke surrounded boss: Tranquilo! Feo wants him to make sure, while upstairs Gabriela paints flames with an angry stabbing brush on a blank canvas and revels breathing heavily again at her ardent mind movies of her artful arson at the bakery. She mutters her hopes that they are all dead!

Feo delivers the news of her impending tour to Rosario with orders to pack. She will be going with Ofelia and she shyly asks if her son can come too, you can just hear the Feo say no with a hiss, no way. See who you can leave him with, don't you understand? She backs off not asking anymore questions. If only Feo could make everyone else act as scared as Rosario does, life would be so sweet.

In a parallel scary scene, Mommie Dearest sails down the stairs with the sniveling daughters in her wake. They beg to see their sister but Gabriela berates them for wanting to follow their sister's scandalous example they should leave Sofia for dead (like Mama wanted so badly to do) and they are not to plague her with appeals to see Sofia. Abuelo Augustin tries to reason with his unreasonable daughter. She has no right to separate her daughters. He threatens that if she denies them the right to visit Sofia, he will not sign any papers as she wants. Well, we know that money talks but Abuelo better get a rearview mirror on his wheelchair as Gabi's sour look fades, no, it just blurs.

Rosario and Eva commune amiably in the church so we can see what a harmonious parent-child relationship looks like. Eva assures her that she will be thrilled to look after little Luis with such love and care while Rosario makes her big tour. It will help Luis get to know Eva as his grandmother, nobody can take better care of him than she will. Rosario says he couldn't be in better hands, and Eva happily promises that there is nothing she wouldn't do for her. Rosario asks Eva to say goodbye to Sofia for her but Eva hesitates then tells her that Sofia has left the hacienda and is now living with Juan Reyes. ¿Juan Reyes? says Rosario with widening eyes. Clearly she hasn't heard the news that Sofia and Juan are expecting a child and together at the Reyes fire-brazed house, which is still remarkably smoke and soot free, at least in Libia's old room where Juan is feeding Sofia and himself something loving from the oven, or at least from the microwave if that didn't burn. Sofia doesn't want Juan to worry so much about what happened to her last night (not to mention the bakery is pretty messy looking with fallen timbers and all) but he flashes that million dollar (ten million peso) smile assuring her that he and his brothers always carry on even when something bad has happened to them. She beams out compliments of his confidence, strength which she admires more every day. They bill and coo more about love. I replayed his beautiful smile and superior kissing skills several times but I forget what all the sweet nothings were...

Next scene, brace yourselves, Oscar in itty bitty black briefs tries to shave and hold his belly in at the same time while he chats with baby brother who is slathering soap on his almost younger looking body in the shower which apparently has no movable curtain. The bros. carry on a serious economic discussion reviewing the needs of the pregnant Sofia who isn't used to doing poverty so much and little Pablito who is now their son. They plan to keep up the serenading business at night but agree that a day job is what is really needed.
**********

We return to the new tropical nightclub where Maracuya is energetically rehearsing to the delight of the new owners. When they beg her to tell them what more she needs, she has the audacity to suggest they build steps off the the front of the stage so she can more gracefully descend to meet and greet her adoring crowds. They look thunderstruck that she would ever get off the stage but are equally delighted to do something to please her.

Oscar and Franco now in decent black shirts sit down to a hearty breakfast which Quintina has provided thanks to her sister's market. She quips that perhaps they will become vegetarians (I guess Sis doesn't sell carne at her veggie stand?) The Reyes Bros. are certainly being looked after by the community. Oscar wants to know how the loving went with Sarita but Franco frankly reveals that he couldn't bear to wake her but he did manage to pilfer through her letters to read of her undying love for him. Just then they are interrupted by none other than Oscar's so-called rival, Octavio who is protected by Franco from Oscar hurling his burly self at him long enough to spit out that the reason he has invaded their sanctuary is to offer him a carpenter job. Next thing we see is Octavio coming back to the stage where Maracuya is tiptoeing through her dance routine while Oscar follows with his bag of tricks or tools. Octavio and Oscar do a little Marcel Marceau routine showing where and how big the steps are to be. Maracuya notices Oscar's charms right off the bat and is especially thrilled when he strips off his black cowboy shirt, reveals his bare chest and finally dons his serious laborer's white sleeveless undershirt all to the beat of the pulsing sexy music.

Juan excuses himself from the visit with Eva and Rosario telling Sofia just to whistle (chiflar) if she needs anything. Eva and Rosario and Sofia all hug then sterner talk turns to the mystery and danger of this fire's source which Sofia informs the ladies has been judged by the brothers as deliberate arson. As Eva can't believe people could be so horrid, Rosario stares into space while she admits their are people in their pueblo that are capable of this and worse. Sofia thanks them for their visit, Rosario says Eva told her that she was now living here at the Reyes palace. Sofia assures her and Eva she is glad her sister Rosario knows where she is and she doesn't want any secrets between them (hehehe, we know better though don't we....) Rosario sincerely looks as though she fervently wishes this were true. But, she does reveal that she is going on tour such is the nature of her work. (hehehe, but we know this isn't the little music review to launch her career, don't we...) Harps play in the sound track to let us know how hallucinatory this all is.

Juan and little Pablito have a tender arm-wrestling scene with shirts off in the boys dormitory where apparently Pablito will replace Juan. He offers to get a job to help pay for expenses but Juan assures him that his job will be to go to school. Franco comes in to join the joking but Juan asks him to distract the little boy to keep him from getting too sad while they get ready to go bury the grandmother. Franco tells Juan he is not going to believe where Oscar got a job.

Oscar is dancing around Octavio wanting to say something but all he can transmit is that he will try his best to get the stairs built quickly so the club can be opened at the earliest moment. He wishes, he wishes, oh shucks, he wishes Octavio the best of luck with new club. Maracuya watches Oscar like a hawk sizing up a mouse. Oscar breaks into a sweat.
***************

Maracuya flirts and Oscar sweats profusely and hammers nails into the beautiful stairs that develop as if by magic.

Rosario shows up to give her condolences to Pablito for losing his abuelita who is now in heaven with the stars and his parents smiling down watching over him. Juan thanks her for coming and for her nice words to Pablito. Franco looks that sick puppy look at seeing Rosario, they all clutch Pablito while they avoid looking at the taut animal fur fabric that Rosario has chosen for her mourning costume, oh wait, she was wearing it yesterday too. She leaves without giving Franco the slightest encouragement.

Maracuya flirts and caresses herself with ice cubes while she sips her fruit drink and Oscar makes a sweaty job of pounding nails in that staircase. Before you can spell out passion fruit, she is caressing Oscar with an ice cube and they have an earnest business discussion about the other night club in town and whether that will be competition for her. She says no, she isn't worried, they will all have their audiences, but soon is asking him if he has a girl friend. He actually tells the truth but she seems undaunted by this awkward fact.

The two remaining sisters are visiting Abuelo Augustin's bungalow which Sarita doesn't find to her tasteand discussing whether to risk Gabi's flaming wrath (no jokes here, folks, they just don't know how dangerous she is, but they are justly afraid) while Abuelo encourages them to go see Sofia and Eva counters with negation and caution after giving them the news of the fire but assuring them that Sofia is fine. The girls worry about making Gabi's health worse, but Augustin reminds them of her miracle recover. Octavio shows up to save the day and invites them to visit the new club to meet Maracuya. Aha, a free pass to get out of jail.

Feo lurks outside the bakery muttering self aggrandizing threats about those who would reject him. Inside Quintina and Sofia laugh in the sitting room. Sofia is in a white cotton dress which seems to have replaced the black skirt and that foot wide leather cummerbund belt that must have been making the baby's head go all pointy, I'm relieved. Quintina rubs creme into Sofia's angel soft skin when the wicked Feo bursts into their serene room with his rude ways we have come to expect. He demands that Sofia return with him this very day to the hacienda. She glares in defiance.
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Feo does his usual violent rough handling of Sofia while Sarita and Jimena pull on him from one side telling him to leave Sofia alone. Although this is new attitude-wise for the shrinking violet sisters, as we could have predicted it is the intrepid Quintana who faces down the threats and violent pulling of Feo as he threatens she shames him with her little fists up telling him he is a big macho for treating a helpless woman so, what does he think he is doing? The boxing ring bell rings to tell Feo he is on the slippery slope and he backs off saying he is there wasting his time. (Is Feo capable of this type of epiphany? Nahhh.) He spouts poor me, how humiliated he is with everyone in the pueblo thinking he is a schlubb. (Sorry bud, they already knew). Quintana is afraid afterward that Feo will kill Juan or that Feo may have hurt Sofia but outside as the cowardly Feo drives off in his big black truck, Juan rides up on his big black horse, drops Pablito off and starts to chase after the car but thinks better of it and goes inside to check on Sofia. The three brothers and Pablo are in a clutch worried about the three sisters and the brave Quintina in another clutch as they determine that nothing much really happened and nothing new was set of fire.

The big bully Feo mutters that he is about to finish with all these guys and he will show no mercy with anyone that has messed with him but he drives on in his big black truck only to be surrounded in the wooded lane by several more even bigger black trucks loaded with gun toting goons and our leather clad ever-smiling Coyote makes another appearance. Although it was hoped that he would let the boys pistol whip this gutless wonder. However, Coyote only asks him if he approves the Boss taking Rosario on the "tour". Oh so jovial, Feo assures him he is only too happy to comply with whatever the Boss wants, but Coyote cuts his dream talk short with the reality show piece that he has not repaid even one centavo of all the money he owes Boss man. Feo brashly asserts that he is on the verge of taking complete control of the hacienda and he will then have all the money he needs to pay the debt in full. Coyote says great, if the money doesn't appear soon we will have to tell all to your mother-in-law and sisters-in-law. Gee, I wanted some rabbit punches or pistol whipping here but no....

Sofia tells her two starry eyed sisters how tender but strong but sexy (I put that in) how strong, so tender, so oooohhhh she thrills her empty bedded sisters of the joy of romantic love she shares with Juan. They are ready to sign up. Sofia is grateful to God for her good fortune and happiness now and wishes her sisters similar good luck one day. She amazes everyone with her solicitous query about her Mother's health and childish wish that her mother will pardon her one day. (Huh?, I'm thinking fire and brimstone being covered by icicles thoughts myself, but...)
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Sourer than ever, Gabi swears she will never pardon Sofia just as she will never pardon Bernardo. Feo has other worries and tries to scare Gabi with the need to mortgage the hacienda if he can't get the money he needs to run the business (run it right into the ground) Gabi looks a bit afraid of the frantic Feo herself for once. As he nuzzles her neck and urges them to become united against all to save the ranch. She remains unmoved while he says she should gather her pride and think about him or think about herself or at least think about the hacienda... Oh you sweet talking sob... you finally found the magic button.

Sofia and her sisters discuss how difficult it will be for them to be frequent visitors.

Juan brings Pablito in to officially give him his bed, Pablito finally has the nerve to bring up keeping Mariachi and in fact keeping him in the dormitory. The brothers hesitate then give in while Pablito goes off to find bones for Mariachi from Quintina. the big boys talk about the job at the tropical lounge. A job is a job, Juan finally says. He seems a bit surprised that Oscar did something independent of him but they will carry on.

Feo is throwing an ugly little fit as Gabi who is no shrinking violet in the fit department says she doesn't want to humiliate herself in front of her father again. There must be some little bit of power Augustin has that even she can't deny.

Sisters Jimena and Sarita show up with Oscar and his brother (cousin?) to show off the tropicana lounge to celebrate the grand opening and with flashing green lights as they approach to find Maracuya has just pulled the old ooops, I am falling into your arms because I just can't stay on these big bad stairs trick. Oh, oh, talk about green lights. They are now flashing inside of Jimena's head. Busted!!!

Tomorrow: Oscar caught with his hands in the masa....

Labels: Fuego