Caray, Caray!

To avoid unnecessary repetition we start at the point where Crabiela is angrily yelling to Sofia that she has disinherited her and her sisters. The three of them will be out on the main drag pushing pencils to survive once the old witch (rhymes with ___) assumes room temperature and Fernando does a Fred Astaire on her grave. Mama was just waiting for a chance to throw that in Sofia’s face and, apparently, being told that giving Feo so much authority over them all had turned him into an even bigger despot than she ever was gave her the perfect opportunity to spout the news. Sofia stares at Crabi in a state of speechless impactada.

Downstairs said despot is disposing of Nati’s services over letting Eladio into the main house. Fatima runs in and finds herself on her knees begging him not to fire her daughter and defending Eladio, so he fires her too. Why, you ask? Just because he can. (Feo must have been a Gestapo agent in an earlier life.)

Off in the jungle, meanwhile, the toothpick would-be rapist, Skinny Bones, is griping at the witchdoctor that his spells aren’t as powerful as they used to be. The witchdoctor says it’s because this new stranger (Juan) is more powerful than they supposed and it’s not going to be as easy casting a spell on him. (Does this guy really believe this bunk or what?) Juan and Dra. Leonora come rushing into the hut. Juan yells at them that they are sure the two of them had something to do with him being poisoned. They tell him he’s lying but Leonora says they’re the ones lying and they are going to prove it. Juan warns them that since they want war, it’ll be a war unto the death. The witchdoctor tries to scare him with the old magic “exploding ember” trick, but Juan doesn’t fall for it. He says he’s going to expose their abuse and all their humbug and magic nonsense to the rest of the village.

Back at the hacienda, Gabi finds out that Fatima and Nati are leaving and says no way they can leave and asks them to stay. Feo overhears this and immediately comes out of his lair, his brandy glass and choice cheroot in hand, to ask if she really intends to contradict his orders. When she says yes he pushes her rudely into another room for a confab. Feo doesn’t want her upstaging him with the servants. Gabi says give orders all he wants when it concerns the hacienda; but she’s still in charge of the house and she is not going to do without Fatima, unless he wants HER to do all the cooking, cleaning, washing and ironing. They compromise and decide Fatima stays, but Nati still goes.

A few minutes later, Nati says a tearful goodbye to her mother who must continue to work there to send money to her sick, elderly aunt; and over at the Robles-Reyes hacienda, Eladio tells Franco, Eva and Quintina how Feo accused him of being a thief and was threatening to run off Nati from the hacienda. Eva says Fernando will never change. He’s a nasty man and now that he feels he’s in control of the hacienda he is going to be even worse (in spades, Eva).

Night has fallen and Damian is again pensively meandering through what is supposed to pass for moonlit, misty Mexican moors but is actually just the woods along the long driveway to the main house at Hacienda de las Elizondo y Escandon, when he finds Nati crying on the side of the road. He apparently takes her under his wing, but first he makes a detour. Damian walks into the hallway as Feo is starting up the stairs for his room and says “Good Evening”. Feo turns around and coolly looks him over, sizing up the new and unexpected competition. Damian says he’s there to pay a visit to Sofia.

Back in the jungle, Juan tells Leonora he’s feeling better but needs to clean up a bit down at the river. He is still weak and stumbling, so she goes with him as “physical” support.

Upstairs at the hacienda, Oscar has snuck in again and is back at Jimena’s bedside. He says it still pains him to think how her mother is getting her way and plans to make the two of them pay for going against her. He gets ready to leave and then tells her that he thinks she might be playing him for a fool and just faking this. So he says if she doesn’t recover he is taking up with Nati. Suddenly she wakes up from her trance and gives Oscar the third degree about why he’s there and didn’t he just go looking for Juan. Jimena begins to yell at him over Nati and then starts yelling for her mother. Sofia and Sarita hear her and Oscar manages to barely escape being discovered.

Gabi, Sofia and Sarita come running into Jimena’s room, but Jimena plays possum. Gabi loses her patience and warns them all she’s fed up with their problems and if Jimena doesn’t come to soon, she is sending her off to an institution. After the others finally leave Jimena sits up and thinks to herself that she’s going to continue pretending so that she can get what she wants without Mama finding out. (Those of us in Viewerville are not sure if this means she’s been pretending all along or not.)

Juan and Leonora get caught in another downpour. (They don’t call it a rain forest for nothing.) They stop under a tree and Juan attempts to get a campfire started. (Yeah. Right.) Lightening and thunder crack suddenly. Leonora is frightened and “instinctively” grabs Juan close. (Okay. Okay. Without the whiskers, there’s nobody who makes you want to swoon like EY in scenes like these.) Just as they are about to kiss, Juan suddenly has flashbacks of Sofia. He falls to the ground and begins rolling in the mud from the crushing pain in his skull. (If Sofia only knew the power she has over this guy she might actually become dangerous!)

Lolly-pop Lips, aka Leonora, stares down in confusion and asks Juan what’s wrong, what’s the matter? (I swear Dra. Leonora must have slept through those head trauma classes because I can’t believe she still doesn’t have a clue! Did she sleep with the profs to graduate med school or what?) She tries to help him by running in circles, flapping her dainty hands and grimacing. He screams at her not to touch him and continues to thrash in the mud. (Dunno, Doc, maybe it’s just a bad case of …testicular edema.)

Back at the Reyes’ new bakery, the one that gives a whole new meaning to the term home style bread, Oscar is kneading dough. Franco asks him if he thinks Juan is really dead and Oscar says no, of course not. Something inside him says no, anyway. He tells Franco no use to worry about it now, though. They’ll have time for questions when they go looking for him later on. So Franco asks him about Jimena. Oscar tells him Jimena is awake now, but still angry as heck at him. He thinks he’s lost her forever. Franco says he refuses to resign himself to losing what they love.

Back in the jungle under that tree, which is giving very little if any shelter from the rainstorm, Juan is beside himself with grief and tells Leonora that he wants to be able to love but he can’t because he feels that somewhere someone that loves, adores and misses him is waiting for him to return. Because that someone loves him and he loves her, he cannot cheat on her with Dra. Delish. They argue back and forth that he can’t commit because he is so upset that he doesn’t know who the heck he is; she doesn’t understand why he is so sure he does have someone back home if he doesn’t know who he is. (Missed those psych classes too, huh, girlfriend.) He says that’s exactly why he’s so uptight.

Dra. (and I use the term loosely) Leonora tells Juan not to drive himself crazy over it because it doesn’t get him anywhere. (If you two ever make it back to Puebla City together, sue the broad. She knows exactly where the bus stop is and should be taking you there ASAP to get your head examined. Hell, you needed that BEFORE the concussion.) His answer is to howl at the moon again.

A minute later Juan is telling Leonora that she’s got to understand. He ought to be searching out his past. He can’t stick around there acting as if nothing will happen. (I assume he means between the two of them.) He has got to leave and find out who he his and what/who is in his past. Leonora gets angry and screams at him to leave already. “Go on! Beat it!” she yells at him. It doesn’t matter didly squat to her anyway, she lies, and so he races back to the hut.

We are beamed back to the hacienda where, at the bottom of the stairway in the hallway, Feo is snarling at Damian that it’s too late to be visiting Sofia, particularly for strangers. Damian says he knows perfectly well that Sofia is unattached so he’s not breaking the rules by coming around. Feo gets testy then and says he’s the owner of the place and the one giving orders there (uh, yeah and?) Gabi hears the noise and is pleasantly surprised to see somebody like Damian (new blood) standing there. He introduces himself and says he realizes it’s a bit late, but he came to visit Sofia and –looking straight at Feo--didn’t think he’d be so unwelcome. Gabi comes down the stairs at this point with a genuine smile on her face, undoubtedly thinking to herself that if he’s a suitor what a relief he’s not covered in grime, reeking of sweat or yeast, and that he actually knows what a razor is for.

Feo takes the snub and says it’s still too late to receive visitors so go home. Damian stares at Fernando and stands his ground. Fernando barks “Scram!” at him, but Damian doesn’t flinch an inch. (Sigh!) Sofia hears the commotion and walks regally down the stairs. Damian stares up at Sofia, totally captivated. Sofia tells King Cock he’s full of poppycock. She reminds Fernando that SHE decides who she wants to see and when, so kindly keep his nose out of her business and then agrees to speak with Damian. Mama's smile is so big she looks like Wide Mouth Frog. Damian is a mesmerized impactado and continues to stare up at her.

Again in the jungle, a while later, the village sage and the others are there milling around a campfire to decide what they want to do about the doctora and Juan. The witchdoctor speaks first and says because they let her stay among them the ancestors are all in a tizzy and want to punish them for it. He’s had visions that times are going to be hard because of it. Wise Man says no, their punishment will be worse for not appreciating what’s in front of their faces, a man who has contributed to the village while working alongside the lady doc. This indicates that she is nothing to be afraid of and they should let her help them. One of the village men agrees with Wise Man. The witchdoctor throws another smoke bomb into the campfire and tells them that the smoke is a sign that evil surrounds them but that they don’t want to realize it. He winks over at Skinny Bones who is smiling over these antics and secretly encouraging him.

Meanwhile, back in their hut, Leonora tries to convince Juan not to leave, at least until morning, since it’s pitch black in the jungle and he’s bound to get lost again. (How about following the trucks/mules that bring those bags of flour you bake those conchas with back to the main road and taking the bus back to civilization, or forcing Skinny Bones to show you the way out? Leonora didn’t just get dropped down there by helicopter. --Juan, the Robles-Reyes gene pool needs to end with you.) Juan says he’s got to leave now because the anxiety over discovering his past is too great. He’s glad he met her he says and gives her a kiss on her forehead. He tells Silvestre to take good care of her and heads out--no food, no knife, and no blanket and so much for the war he just declared a few minutes ago. (And we’re supposed to take this guy seriously as a hero? Sofia, get with the program, dear.)

On his way out of the village Juan runs into Wise Man. Juan explains his need to find whoever and whatever is waiting for him. The old man tells him that his past could be full of happy memories or it could be full of extremely painful ones that he himself created, and that perhaps the people he left behind would be happier and better off without him. If Juan got lost in the jungle, he suggests, it was obvious he was running away from something. Juan wonders if he could have really hurt someone and the old man replies that no one runs away from something without a reason. So, it might be a good idea for Juan to wait until his memories return first and his mind clears, otherwise he’ll just be running back into the darkness of another kind of jungle. (Okay. That’s my philosophical take on the discussion.) He suggests that Juan should wait for a sign before leaving for civilization.

Speaking of Civilization or what passes for it, now alone with Sofia, Damian tells her that he doesn’t like to beat around the bush and confesses that he is interested in her and wants the opportunity to get close to her. Sofia says she thinks he’s just confusing things because the two of them are suffering similar problems. He shouldn’t consider her as anything more than a despairing mother. He says he agrees and understands her suffering. That’s why he hopes she won’t reject him. “Don’t send me away, Sofia.” She thinks it over. (I wouldn’t have had to think twice about it. Come on, Slowfia. You like him and you are a free woman…..and Damian is the essence of classical Spanish suave and debonair. Note: classical Spanish guitar strains in the background). Sofia says fine, but only as friends. She smiles big. He smiles bigger ‘cause he figures his foot’s in the proverbial door.

Upstairs in their bedroom Gabi tells Fer that she’s pleased with the likes of Damian. This is the kind of man, a man of class and position, that her daughters should have been involved with rather than messing around with those darned bricklayers. Fernando is apoplectic. He spouts off something about being the man of the house now and Gabi’s not having been able to properly control her daughters from doing whatever and whenever they want. So now that he’s the sole authority in the house he’s not going to allow Sofia to show such a lack of good manners. “No man is going to visit Sofia, let alone at this hour!!” he yells.

Gabi gets suspicious then and demands to know if he’s actually jealous of Sofia. Irritated by the question, Fernando cops to only looking out for Gabi’s welfare, nothing more --only she always confuses everything. She turns away and he storms out of the bedroom, but stops first to smile at himself. At the bottom of the staircase he admits to himself that of course he’s jealous because this guy, Damian Ferrer, is a real rival unlike that idiot, Juan Reyes. (Hey, even a stopped clock is right twice a day.)

Damian returns home and apologizes for making Nati wait so long, but he at least got a chance to speak with Sofia, he says, even though Fernando tried to keep him from it. He offers Nati a job as his housekeeper and she is thrilled. (Note: the dog’s got the same name as Tall Tweedle! So typical of this group. They couldn’t come up with something like Marimba or Max?) Nati starts chattering away and eventually tells him that Sofia and Fer used to be married, but since it was a forced marriage, she never loved him and she left him when she met the father of her little girl. Damian tries to take it all in and make sense of it. (Note the fast, forceful strumming on classical Spanish guitar playing in the background. –Word up, Damian! You may want to think hard and fast before getting any more involved with the “in crowd” of Mexiloon.)

Meanwhile, Juan returns to Leonora’s hut and tells her that he’s taking the old wise man’s advice and waiting at least till his mind clears before setting off again. She smiles. They hug. (I shrug.)

Sarita is writing another love letter to Franco but shoves it hurriedly into her desk when Fernando comes in with her divorce papers. He makes a mental note of what he just saw for later and then shoves the file folder into her hand. He wonders why Sarita isn’t jumping for joy. She fakes it and says she’s just a bit surprised. He almost looks as if he has designs on her too. He says he’ll see her later and congratulates her before he exits, stage left. Sarita takes the letter out and says to herself there is nothing more that binds her to Franco except the love she has for him, and that it is something which no one will ever succeed in tearing out of her heart.

Across the hall, Jimena is holding the glass rose Oscar gave her. She hears Sarita approaching the door, puts it down and plays possum again. Sarita comes in and tells her that she’s very sad. She lies down on the bed and whimpers that now she’s divorced from Franco. Jimena sneaks a peek and thinks they are both a sorry lot because even though they’re divorced, they still are in love with the enemy.

Gabi goes to see Sofia to tell her that she approves of Damian Ferrar and hopes she takes advantage of his interest in her. Sofia says she can’t look at another man when she’s only interested in finding her daughter. Again she can’t believe that Gabi is unable to understand the suffering she’s been going through. Gabi says it’s not her fault: Sofia asked for it by going to bed with a no account like Juan Reyes. She shakes her head and walks out leaving Sofia to her misery.
=============

The next morning Juan watches as the Indians use sticks to poke holes in the ground to plant crops. He notices a couple of oxen on the side of the field and decides to show the Indians how to use a machete on some of the broken tree branches nearby to make a plow that can be pulled by the oxen for quicker planting.

At home, Pablito tells Franco and Oscar how badly he misses Juan and wonders if he’s still alive and will ever return. They cheer him up and have him help them bake.

Damian invites Sofia to his house. She’s not in the mood for going out she says. She feels emotionally dead inside, but he convinces her that she needs to stop thinking about death and overcome her tragedy for the good of her daughter. He talks her into coming to see the pastures he’s going to use for his horses and says that he wants her to meet the guys getting them ready for him. They’re simple folk (You can say that again!) and she’ll really like them.

They enter the pasture and when he unsuspectingly introduces her to Oscar and Franco they turn around dumbfounded. She frowns at the two of them. “I know them very well. They’re the brothers of Juan Reyes, the man who kidnapped my daughter!”

Labels: Fuego

Déjà vu: Mari has the newspaper photo of JM in her bedroom. Steph comes in, demands it back and slaps her. Mari gets her down on the bed for a good old girlfight.

And on to the new: Mari says nobody touches my face, least of all you.

The noise carries to the rest of the house and Ceci and Isa come running. The prim and icy assistant Martirio tells them that the girls are in a big fight.

Mari bites Stef on the wrist and says why did you call me a rat? Stef says ‘cause you are one. Now Mari has Stef down on the floor and they are really going at it and here come Ceci and Isa. Isa pulls Mari off and they hold her while she jumps around trying to get free.

Ceci says stop, and Mari says okay if you say so. Stef falls sobbing into Ceci’s arms. Isa looks daggers at Mari.

Meantime, JM is on the treadmill at a gym in Seattle. He’s not burning a lot of calories because it’s set to like 1 mile per hour. As he strolls on it, he’s talking on his cell to Rocio back home. They discuss his having appeared in the paper and Rocio said he looked real handsome in the photo. He asks after Mayita and Rocio says she misses her dad big time. Then he asks after Onelia and they laugh about how she’s cranky and not liable to change. JM says she must be glad Marichuy is out of the house and Rocio says she sure is. Then he asks after Marichuy. Eduardo, who is on a faster treadmill right next to him laughs and whaps him with a towel.

Now we see how Marichuy is, namely in big trouble. She is looking defiant and Stef says she shoved me! She bit me! Mari says why don’t you say what you did first? Stef whines I didn’t do anything, I just asked for the photo of JM that you took. Mari says tell the truth, liar!

Isa says she’s the devil. Mari says if you want to see the devil, just look in the mirror. The photo is mine. Stef says see how she is? Ceci says why did you come looking for that photo? You could have bought another copy of the paper, for heaven’s sake. And you, Mari, there’s no reason to have a fight over something like that.


Back at the gym JM is asking Rocio if Mari is happy. Rocio says not completely, but we got along great. JM says how are they treating her at Casa Velarde? Rocio says seems like good, are you going to call her? JM says it’s not necessary, but asks Rocio to keep taking care of her. He doesn’t know yet when he’ll be back. Just as Rocio is sending kisses down the wire, Onelia walks up.

Back at the gym, Eduardo throws a towel and JM and laughs.

Ceci says to Mari what happened? and Mari stares at the floor and says, nothing. Ceci says let’s keep this to ourselves. If the judge found out, he’d be furious. Martirio says my lips are sealed. Ceci says to Mari – okay? Mari keeps looking down and Isa yells at her to look up, the lady of the house is speaking to her. Ceci waves her off.

Everybody leaves except Mari and Isa. They glare at one another.

Onelia is asking Rocio what that playboy wanted. Rocio says he asked after Mayita, you and me. Onelia says did you tell him Malvina got a call from my dead daughter? No, says Rocio. Ah ha, says Onelia.

Now the guys are walking by the gym pool, shirtless, natch. Eduardo is ribbing JM and JM goes on and on about Mari’s eyes, her voice, how he can’t stop thinking of her.

Cut to Mari who is having a glaredown still with Isa. Isa makes a mean remark about her low class, and Mari sarcastically calls her a fine lady. Isa says you should kiss the ground I walk on. They trade more insults and finally Mari says Ceci is the lady, not you. Don’t mess with me or you’ll see who you’re messing with. Ha! says Isa. Your mother dumped you in an orphanage! Mari makes fists, and Isa, seeing she’s scored a bullseye, smiles smugly and leaves. Mari plops on the bed and Cuate wags. (Yeah, wag Cuate! You were supposed to fang Stef and Mari had to do it herself.)

Now the guys are in the hot tub. Eduardo says JM will have to make some sort of decision about Mari.

Mari finds the now wrinkled photo of JM and tells Cuate that nobody is going to steal her photo of him.

Isa is talking with Ceci while Martirio stands to one side, arms folded, listening to everything. Isa says Mari’s a danger. Ceci says yes she shouldn’t have acted like that, but she’s impulsive. Stef is sitting over to the side, we now see, and Ceci takes her hand and says you’ve had the advantage of a good upbringing, you need to understand Mari and you have to forgive her. Yes Mama says Stef unsmilingly. Ceci says you have to make sure nothing like that happens again, for your father’s sake. I promise says Stef. Ceci tells Martirio again that the judge shouldn’t hear about this and Martirio says yes madam, but her eyes shift around.

Ceci and Martirio leave and Stef says to Isa did you hear that? Understand her? I’m going to destroy her. Isa pats her.

Now Ceci, with Martirio at her side is asking the nice young maid Dora if she heard about what happened. Dora says you could hear it all over the house. Ceci tells her that she and her coworkers mustn’t say anything to the judge, she doesn’t want him telling Mari off and criticizing her to JM.

As we’ve come to expect, the minute JM is mentioned, he appears onscreen. And there he is, pacing in his hotel room, his brow knitted. He is thinking back to talking with Mari while she was doing wash in the barrio and she was scared because she thought he was dead. No puede ser, he says, and sits down to his laptop.

Stef is visiting Rocio and checking out Castle San Ramon. Mayita comes down the stairs and Stef twinkles and says she has a present for her and she should close her eyes. It’s chocolate and Mayita uses Mari’s slang to thank for them. Rocio laughs. Here comes Onelia down the stairs. Introductions are made and then Rocio leaves with Mayita to help her with her homework. Onelia tells Stef to come into the sitting room.

Onelia says the room was decorated by Viv and Stef looks properly sad for about 2 seconds then says when it JM coming back? I need to set the date for my party. Onelia says what does JM have to do with you?

Rocio is helping Mayita when Mari calls and says can you come over? Something really bad happened here and I need someone to talk to. If JM were here, he’d understand. Rocio says she’ll come.

Stef tells Onelia that she’s seen JM around a lot and he’s on the guest list of invited males. Onelia rolls her eyes. Stef says Onelia’s invited too. She says she’s never had a party because she’s lived outside Mexico. She wants to know if it’s okay if he is her escort for the night, considering that he just got widowed. Onelia says most people wouldn’t bother asking her, so it’s okay. Stef slides to her knees and takes Onelia’s hand and says she’s so glad to have met her. Onelia looks her up and down with a small smile.

Mari is in the Minicooper with Rocio who seems to have abandoned her visitor and her niece. Mari tells her Stef slapped her. Rocio says now be honest – why? Mari hesitates, then plunges in and tells about the photo, followed by a lively account of the ensuing fight and Ceci’s arrival to stop it. Rocio says did you say she slapped your first? Mari says no. Ceci says why not and Mari said Ceci was saying all kinds of things and I just zipped my lip.

Rocio says you should have told her! Where is the photo? Mari is happy and says I have it and nobody’s going to get it. Rocio says you really like JM? Mari doesn’t say anything.

Stef is getting a manicure and haircut at a fancy salon and she’s loving it. She tells her aunt, whose manicure is drying, about her visit with Onelia and how Onelia started out very cold about JM attending her party and how she (Stef) charmed her and now it’s okay that JM is her escort. Isa approvingly says you’re maybe even worse than I am. They high-five. Stef says she’ll work on her so that the day she finds out Stef is marrying her son-in-law, she’ll be happy. They both decide that they deserve a salon like this.

Mari tells Rocio that JM has helped her, understood her, supported her. How could she not like him? Rocio says let’s call him but Mari says no, I don’t want to bother him. I’d be so embarrassed. Rocio says how about we go to an internet café and Mari says what’s that? Rocio explains that they can e-mail him. She’ll show Mari how.

We see JM at his laptop, but he can’t concentrate.

At the internet café, Rocio is encouraging the doubtful Mari, who doesn’t know what to write. She wants to Rocio to do it. Rocio hands her a piece of paper and says here, why don’t you write it down and I’ll type it? Mari says she makes too many mistakes and her handwriting is very bad. Rocio says he’ll love whatever she sends, it’s the thought. She says write, and we’ll scan it, but Mari doesn’t know what that is. She draws a big heart.

JM’s got mail! And there is the big heart and under it in very primitive scrawl, misspelled, is I miss you a lot. Don’t forget me. JM is charmed. He smiles at the screen and says Marichuy, you love me too.

Mari asks Rocio how they send it and Rocio says it’s already there. Mari says but I didn’t hear a voice or anything. Rocio explains a bit how e-mail works and Mari is amazed. Rocio shows her how to type her name in, and Mari says she’s more scared than she was of the canoes the other day. Rocio says you need to learn to use the computer. Mari is amazed when she sees her name typed.

Eduardo comes up to JM and says why are you smiling? JM tries to close his laptop, but Eduardo opens it and looks. JM laughs that he’s been trying to forget her and here she wants him to remember her. Eduardo thinks the e-mail shows a lot of depth. The handwriting and spelling pretty much suck, he thinks, but the sentiment is lovely. They figure that Rocio helped. Eduardo wonders what message Mari is actually sending. JM says that she loves me like I love her.

Riding home in Rocio’s car, Mari thinks to herself that the idea of JM gives her butterflies.

Now JM says to Eduardo that probably it’s just that Mari has had so little kindness in her life. Eduardo says that could turn into love. JM says they are quite different and the circles he moves in are very different. Eduardo says think of Pygmalian and how JM could convert her into a lady. JM says forget it. Eduardo says wait until Mari makes it clear that she’s in love with you. JM laughs happily.

It’s evening and Ceci is sitting on the couch with Patricio begging him not to be so stern with Mari. She says that guy the other night surprised Mari. Pat tells her she’s gullible. Ceci says you didn’t give Mari a chance to talk. Pat says I don’t believe a thing now that I’ve caught her lying.

Martirio comes in and says there’s a man to see Marichuy. Pat says see? Let him in. And go get Mari. Ceci says she’s not here, and Pat is shocked. Ceci says it’s not late and she’s with JM’s sister.

It’s Adrian at the door and Pat remembers him from the police station. Adrian says JM said he could visit at JM’s place and so he’s thinking maybe he could visit Mari here. Pat says if JM said so, then okay. Ceci comes in and is much friendlier to Adrian than Pat was. Ooops – here comes Mari in the door. Pat tells them they can visit outside and asks Martirio to take them out.

Outside, Mari has to chase off Martirio who is shadowing them. She jumps into a swing and Adrian asks how she’s doing. She says she’s fine here. He notes that the judge seems very strict and then says I told him I am your novio. Mari stops swinging and looks at him. Mari pictures JM. Then she says I don’t think we’re novios. Adrian says that’s because they don’t let me see you. JM must’ve sent you here because it would save him trouble, eh? Mari says no, because it would be better for me here. She gets mad and says don’t talk bad about JM! Adrian asks what she feels for this guy who abandoned her.

She swings harder. He asks again. She says I feel thankful. Adrian says and what do you feel for me? She says it’s very different and she stalks back to the house.

Adrian runs after. Mari passes Stef in the hall and they exchange warnings, then Mari takes off and Adrian appears. Stef says hello and asks who he is. Mari’s novio, he tells her. Stef smiles and says oh, I didn’t know she had a boyfriend! and she adds it doesn’t look like Mari knows either. Adrian runs after Mari.

Padre Anselmo is repairing something and Adrian comes in. He says he saw Marichuy and they fought because he said JM had abandoned her. He wants the padre to convince her to marry him. The padre says that’s between you two, plus she doesn’t want to marry anybody. Adrian says why? and the padre says I can’t tell you because nobody knows. Dramatic closeup on the padre’s face and he intones It’s a secret.

Ceci and Stef are having breakfast outside in the garden. Stef gushes that she can’t wait for JM to come back and Ceci notes she’s pretty enthusiastic about him. Stef says she’s in love. Ceci turns serious and says but what if he doesn’t love you back? Have you thought of that? Stef looks serious. Ceci says you’re very beautiful but love isn’t about looks, it’s about understanding, etc. etc. It’s not just the physical. Stef smiles and says thank you, but I’m sure I can win his heart. Ceci says I’m glad you’re so sure. You must have inherited that from your father.

Ceci’s thoughts turn to having given up her daughter. She says to Stef are you sure you forgive me? Stef says yes, mama. Ceci says if Marichuy were my daughter, she’d feel very differently.

Mari is making her bed, letting the sheets billow. She loves her room, and she’s happy happy happy, she tells Cuate. Could it be the exuberance and resiliency of youth, we wonder, but we are wrong. She tells Cuate it’s because she’s in love.

Stef asks Ceci why she mentioned Mari. Ceci says because Mari told her a mother who would abandon her child is worse than an animal. Ceci is still shook up thinking about that and she feels ashamed. Stef comforts her and asks if she told Mari what happened with her. Ceci says no. Just then Mari comes running.

She has Cuate her arms and the poor dog looks like he’s sure rather be off sniffing trees now that he’s finally outside. Mari says she wants to talk to Ceci without “that one” there. Ceci says you can talk freely in front of my daughter. I think Mari says she wants permission to put some personal touches in her room and that Ceci says whatever you like.

Stef all sugary says she wants to fix things up with Mari. She gets up and goes over and tries to give Mari a hug, but Mari sways away. Stef is all bright smiles and says see? we’re all made up. Ceci tells Mari not to be stubborn holding a grudge. Stef aims a kiss at Mari’s forehead and smiles blindingly at Ceci. Ceci says she’s happy they’ve reconciled. Stef puts an arm around Mari’s shoulder and pets Cuate. Mari looks frozen.

Montage of Mari and Rocio checking out a fun gift shop. Mari asks if an item is expensive and Rocio says don’t worry, JM told me to take you wherever you want to go. Mari says he’s so good, how can I not like him? They exit smiling with shopping bags.

Just then Vicente the artist is driving by on his motorcycle and calls out to her and stops. She explains to Rocio that he’s a good friend who’s helped her out. He says where have you been? Are you under house arrest? How are you going to repay that psychologist, hmm? Mari indicates he should shush and introduces JM’s sister, ahem.

He wants to know if they are waiting for a taxi, and Mari pats Rocio’s Minicooper. Vicente whistles appreciatively. He wants to know when Mari is going to come pose so he can finish his painting of her. Mari says sometime and he says remember mi casa es tu casa and we are your friends. And when you come, bring your little friend. He winks at Rocio and she looks pleased. Smiles all around. Vincente drives off and Mari gives Rocio a little teasing shove.

Dora is mopping and Ceci wants to know where Mari is. Dora says she came in with packages and headed to her room.

Mari has hung some of her colorful shop findings on the walls and she is busy painting one alcove a strong green. Ceci comes in and looks a bit taken aback, but assures Mari that it’s her room. Mari says she needs some pictures on the walls. Ceci says she has some extras, but Mari politely says no thank you, not if they’re like the other boring ones in the house, she’d like to find some of her own. Ceci tells her she’ll take her to get some. Mari hands her the brush and runs off to get ready. Ceci looks around again and then seems a bit amused.

We see Mari happily romping through an outdoor art market. (Where is Ceci? I thought she was coming along.) Mari runs to Vicente’s place and knocks. Amador is trying to sleep on the couch and ignores the knocks. Mari calls out “Vicente?” and he recognizes her voice and shoots up. He’s in shorts and a T-shirt and holy cow, we see that he is a big solid block of muscles. Our little Mari doesn’t stand a chance. She has sat on the stairs to wait and Amador opens the door, grabs her and drags her in.

She tries to fight him off, but he says we’re alone now and you can’t get away. She runs across the room. He yanks off his T-shirt and says we’re going to make love now. She throws things at him. He grabs her and says I’m going to make you happy, you’re never going to forget me. She struggles frantically.

Avances: looks like Mari has shoved Amador and he’s hit his head and is out cold, or maybe dead. Vicente comes in and says what have you done, Marichuy??

Labels: Cuidado

Somehow this recap turned out much longer than I intended. If you want to jump to the best part it's in italics at the end.

Over at the lesser house Julian and Omar puff their chests and announce they want to beat the crap out of Bruto. Zuly begs no more violence, it's a police matter now. Lorena agrees with the boys and Diana squeezes a tear out of her swollen eye.

Bruto arrives at Evil Acres and Augusta gives him Snorty's note. The note says Snorty won't pay him one centavo more. Bruto tries to go upstairs but Nurse Auggie happily bares her teeth and announces to Bruto that she is an expert in handling psychos. She adds that Snorty is more lucid than ever and heard everything he said last time he was there, now scat! I absolutely love Nurse Auggie after this scene.

It's dinner time and small talk at the lesser house. Diana talks about the police planning to arrest Bruto, she's concerned about Vasco, etc. Lorena remembers she forgot to make an important phone call. I was wondering where this random scene was going.

Auggie tells Snorty that she kicked Bruto's butt out, ha ha. Snorty smiles and tries to mouth some words. Auggie is thrilled, Snorty can talk! (Auggie doesn't know how nasty it was when Snorty could talk way back when.) Snorty writes that she wants to see Diana, Omar's step-daughter.

Lor calls Ern's house and Ivan answers. To annoy Lorena he says Ern is out on a date with an amiga. Lorena is impactada. Ivan laughs to himself that he can't believe he's on his uncle's side.

When Ern gets home some gorgeous chick is waiting for him. She is Jimena, Silvia's friend and she just heard about Silvia's death. When they go inside Jimena starts to take her shoes off but Ern says don't bother, no more white carpet. "My, how things have changed," she comments. Hmmm...methinks she was more than just Silvia's friend.

Meanwhile Lor call's Ern's cell phone and of course he left it in his car. Does she leave a message? Hell no because this is a telenovela and they'll probably be missing each others calls for at least another week.

Ivan, in a stylish "Baby Light My Fire" t-shirt, tells Ern that Lorena called. "Who's Lorena?" Jimena wants to know. Ern gives his award-winning smile. Sigh.

Bruto arrives home at the apartment he can't afford. A moment later the police arrive, give him a paper and demand that he accompany them to the police station.

Lor tells Diana that Ern showed up at the village and was jealous of Alonslow. They're mad at each other but she misses him and thinks about him a lot. Diana says look for him, dummy. Impishly Lorena grabs her purse and pulls out his apartment keys.

Omar tells Zuly that Snorty asked him to run her company while Vasco and Jaime are away. Same old argument, Zuly can't forgive, she'll never forgive. He says he's never seen her so hateful. She retorts the damn business caused all their problems and now with his hand on his waist (without a second thought) he's going back! He tries to caress her shoulder but she yells at him not to touch her. Something tells me he'll stop trying, especially with Greta as his sexetary.

Over at the police station Bruto is placed under arrest for domestic violence. He'll have to spend the night in jail (hoorah!) until he can go before the judge tomorrow.

Jimena puts her hand on Ern's as they catch up on life and discuss Lorena. Just then Lor walks in and angrily spies the hand holding. Her jealousy goes into overdrive and she accuses Ern of backsliding to his womanizing ways. He'll never change, never! Will she start pounding on Jimena the way Ern did to Al? No, Jimena excuses herself and quickly vacates.

Ern tells Lorena her jealousy makes him happy, he grabs her and lays a big kiss on her, Te amo. She tries to whack him and he kisses her hands. (I would be melting by now.) Then he does the stupidest thing imaginable, he reveals that he and Jimena used to be novios but now they are just friends. Ern and Lor have the What-You-Did-Was-Worse fight. Ern finally says enough, they are even, a mano. But Lor is already too far down the road. She says relationships aren't supposed to be like this and a man like him will never change, boo hoo.

Meanwhile Alonslow is sitting alone pining for Lorena when he should be relaxing or studying up, tomorrow is his first gastric bypass surgery. He tells Tori he's dying to see Lor but she needs her space. Tori says the saint that isn't seen isn't adored (out of sight out of mind).

Lor and Ern argue some more. Instead of telling him why Al was in San Martin she sniffles and leaves her engagement ring on his table. Gah, another graduate from the Alonso school of communication!

There's more sniffling going on elsewhere, Jaqui who is watching a weepy movie tells Ickturo it's the most profound and sensitive film she's seen in years. Ickturo is fed up and wants to go to bed. Jaqui, looking at herself in the mirror, tells Icky it was about an unhappy woman, materialistic, every day more dissatisfied, but she decided to change. "Do you think I can change?" she asks Icky. He snorts and turns off the light. He is so done with her.

Maru tells Greta that Jaime and Barb had to run off together to see their injured son. Greta, with the help of some odd hand contortions, informs Maru that her relationship with Jaime is in great danger if he's with his ex. Look what happened to Paula and Dario! "Shut your beak you big ugly bird of bad luck!" snaps Maruja. (Wow, ten points for Maru on that one.)

Sara stares at herself in the mirror and recalls Al's words that he loves Lorena. "Always Lorena," she hisses. She calls Old Alan and wheedles a meeting so they can make up.

The next morning Nurse Auggie calls Diana. Luckily for Auggie Zuly isn't home or Auggie would have gotten an earful. Diana agrees to meet with Snorty. She asks her infant, "What does Hortensia Armendariz want with me?"

Rosy consoles a crying Lorena who says Ern will never give up the women, they're his chronic weakness. She misses the children though. Rossy asks can she give Ern another chance? No? What about Al? Lor says no, she's very grateful but nothing more. (Good!) She and Rosy bop off to the TV station to meet Julian.

Bruto is released on bail and makes a sexist comment to the cop that his wife exaggerates. "Yeah, that's what you all say," the cop answers unsympathetically.

Zuly and her helper are busily wrapping their catered goods in a mountain of non-biodegradable products when Diana asks Zuly to watch the baby. She's going out but notably doesn't reveal her destination.

Diana arrives at Evil Acres and Auggie gives Diana Snorty's note while Snorty watches. "Diana, I'm really sorry, in an attempt to keep Vasco from you I paid Bruno to marry you." A bruised and impacted face from Diana.

Over at Televisa Sara wheedles her apology to Alan. He says he's giving her the brushoff but she lays a big kiss on him right in the hallway. Lorena sees them, "Witch, you're sleeping with your sponsor", and is impactada through the commercial.

After the commercial Lorena takes a foto with her cellular. Alan gets a call from his wife and tells Sara that she's on her way to help Sara with her show. Sara gets all saccharin and pouts that she's jealous. Lorena's jaw drops.

Diana yells at Snorty and as Snorty gasps "perdon" Diana throws the letter at her and swears she'll never forgive her, Snorty is a monster! Snorty sniffles and looks completely broken. Dang this actress is good. I have to keep reminding myself that this is her punishment for all the wretched things she did, otherwise I feel too distraught having to watch an old lady suffer.

Jaime tells Barb he really loves Maruja and he's surprised Barb isn't ragging him because Maru is from a different social class. Barb says she sees things differently these days. Jaime's impressed and comments with that attitude she'll surely find someone of her own. Barb sniffles that she found the love of her life but he's gone forever, he died before this Vasco thingie.

Lorena shows Rossy and Julian the picture of Sara and Alan, the sponsor of her show, and even worse Alan's wife is supposed to be on the show with Sara! Oh the hypocrisy, comments Julian.

Paula counsels Maruja not to be jealous of Jaime's time with Barb. Maybe estranged couples get back together in the movies, but in reality...she shakes her head no. Long story short, she's not happy with Dario. Not specific problems, just...nada.

Battered Diana weeps to an ever enlarging Zully about what the wretched Snorty did to sabotage her relationship with Vasco. Thanks to Snorty Diana destroyed the possibility of a happy marriage with Vasco. The Snortensia Mutual Detestation society has doubled in strength.

Lor, Rosy and Julian try to figure out a way to get the photo to Alan's wife. Julian says surely Celeste (the chick he flirted with yesterday) will have the lady's cell number. Rosy's jealousy wakes up...Celeste, who's Celeste? Rosy doesn't like it but Julian swears it's for a good cause. Say what you will about Rosy's overly jealous tendencies, her radar is spot-on, she knows it and frankly I respect her for it.

Catalina complains to Tori about Jaqueline, she's horrid. Tori consoles her and blondie hugs him, she loves being with him. Suddenly she sees a Tai Chi class, oh she'd love to take classes! Tori's not pleased when she drags him over. I remember him once telling Al he wouldn't be caught dead doing Tai Chi, it's for old people.

Jaqui, wrapped in a towel, runs out of the bathroom shrieking to Icky that there is a ball in her chest. Duh, there are two. Oh, I think she means a lump in her breast. Are we going to have a PSA for breast cancer now? She tells Icky she was doing her usual self-exam (yep, PSA) and she discovered a little lump. She's completely hysterical. Icky recoils when she asks him to feel it. He tells her it's nothing and she'll be fine. Nice guy. She announces she'll see the doctor for a diagnosis and does her famous flounce out of the room.

Ern tells Ivan that Lor was quite jealous when she met Jimena. He asks Ivan to PLEASE not "help" him again without asking first.

Remember when Zuly advised Omar and Julian not to use violence against Bruto? Bruto is in the process of expounding his diagnosis to a patient in front of his boss when Hurricane Zulema blows in and slaps him hard across the face. She tells him she knows about Snorty paying him to marry Diana. She turns to his boss and calls him a woman beater!

Boss lady dresses Bruto down, she doesn't need that sort of scandal at the clinic. Bruto says his MIL is the nervous type. (To quote SNL, "Oh REALLY?") Boss says his reputation in front of the patients must be impeccable and this display better be the last time! Bruto will probably be fine if he just waits a while, La Doctora changes her mind about as often as she changes her undies.

Diana tells someone on the phone to give the message to Vasco that she is praying for him, she waits with open arms and she loves him. His pal (who used to be Braulio in Duelo I think, Susanlynn would know) gives the surprised but pleased environmental hero the good news.

Scary-looking secretary escorts Zuly into Omar's Armendariz office. Zully is on a mission, she has more proof that Snorty is the worst woman in the world, she paid Bruno to take Diana away from Vasco! Omar says it's serious but... No buts, yells Zuly, you think your mom is a white dove but to me she's still a serpent! Zully demands that Omar reconsider his decision to work at Armendariz. OK, if I were Zully I would consider the choices, 1) Omar works as a peon in a company where Greta the barracuda is his secretary, 2) Omar is the head of a company where ugly lady is his secretary. Zully, wake up!

Lor and Rosy are in the cafeteria waiting for Sara's show. Julian comes back with Alan's wife's cell # and Lor sends the incriminating foto.

Here comes the best part of the night! Nip 'n Tuck (Alan's wife, can't remember her name) and Sara are excitedly getting ready for the show. Sara's nervous after last night's fiasco but her #1 fan reassures her. While Sara winks at Alan, NnT answers her phone and sees Alan kissing Sara along with the message "Sara is a witch, she's doing your husband."

Let the camera and the good times roll. Sara introduces her friend Alma, (OK so her name is Alma, I'll be more respectful of her and you'll see why) who will be helping her with tonight's dish, strawberry jello. Alma starts by throwing water and gelatin on Sara's chest. She calls Sara "zorra" (whore, tart). Perdon? asks Sara. Alma clarifies, "even the best hunter sometimes misses the fox, as the saying goes." Alan starts squirming behind the camera, he knows something bad is going down.

Sara, after her gaff last night, tries to cover and carry on with her show. She asks Alma to hand her the rubber scraper. "Miserable!" blurts Alma, "that's what this is called, right?" Uh, OK answers Sara as she stirs her mixture. Now she wants Alma to add the cream. Alma holds the cream and precariously circles the pan, will it go in the pan or on Sara? Into the pan it goes. Relieved, Sara instructs the audience to stir until it reaches the consistency of atole. "Is it curdled?" sneers Alma, "because my granny always said that those women who go out with married men curdle the atole."

Over at the cafeteria Team Lorena laughs out loud. Alma definitely got the foto. Rosy hopes Alma pokes Sara's eyes out with a spoon.

Back on set Alma pushes Sara aside and stirs the pot, "What filth is this?" She starts throwing it onto Sara. Sara tries to remain calm and continue her show while Alma keeps throwing spoonfuls of hot gelatin onto her. Sara bids her audience goodbye and CUT! Sara asks what got into Alma? She ruined the show! Alma shows Sara her phone, calls her whore, tart, miserable, man stealer, and begins cracking eggs on Sara's head. Sara runs and Alma chases her. Stupid Alan tries to get between them and Alma whacks him on the head with a frying pan. She chases Sara around the island and gives Alan another whack as she passes by.

Alma chases Sara off the set just as Lor and her pals walk by. Sara stops short as she sees them, then runs away as Alma chases and calls her names. Score a major victory for Team Lorena.

Jaqui is somewhere, at the clinic maybe, and some strange new age lady tells Jaqui she can see Jaqui suffers and her soul is sick. She goes on and on about being a vessel of the Divine Light of Good Fortune and she can read Jaqui's aura. Jaqui thinks it's a sign, just like in the movie she saw. Creepy new age lady says the Divine Light will purify Jaqui and make her well in body and soul. She assures Jaqui they aren't a sect, no temples or priests, they are teachers and graduates. Jaqui the Gullible wants to know how to meet them. Where in the hell is this random scene going to lead us I wonder? I sure hope the writers aren't throwing in some stupid side plot as we near the end. They love to pull that crap on us.

Julian and Lorena get home and Zuly is all atwitter about Sara's show. It was a disaster because she stole somebody's husband! Wow, imagine that, Lor and Julian shrug.

Dario wants to talk to Paula. He wants them to move to Monterey and start fresh. Paula's not biting. No way will she move away from her family and friends. She takes Dario's hands and kindly tells him she cares for him but the relationship isn't working. They can't live together.

Bruto visits Sara at her command. She tells him she lost everything, her program, her money, her inheritance and it's all Lorena's fault. It turns out Lor is the real Armendariz granddaughter and Sara is out on the street. Bruto asks, did Sara deliberately usurp Lorena? "Uh, no, it was just a confusion," she answers without looking him in the eye.

She knows Bruto was also rejected by the family. In addition to Diana doesn't he hate fat Zulema, idiot Omar, Julian and now Lorena? "Don't forget Vasco," adds Bruto, "I detest him most of all." Sara has a proposition, they can unite forces and go after them, one by one.

The unholy alliance is formed.


Vocabulary:
Cierra el pico, pajarraco de mal aguero = Shut your pie hole (Lit. shut your beak you big ugly bird of bad luck)

Al mejor cazador se la va la zorra (or el liebre in the traditional dicho) = Even the best hunter misses the fox (the hare)

Con la mano en la cintura = Without giving it a second thought, without much mental or physical effort (Lit. with hand on waist)

Las que andan con casados se les cortan el atole = Women who go out with married men curdle the atole.

Santo que no es visto no es adorado = Out of sight out of mind (Lit. the saint who isn't seen isn't worshipped)

Labels: enemiga

• So evidently yesterday some guy (probably Damien?) distracted the girls (Eva, Sofia, Sara, and Rosario) in the store which I will call "Chock Full o' Chachkes," but Sofia sez she isn't interested in the guy -- and what was that, by the way, that you were going to tell us, Rosario?
  
  It was: "Armando told me Furd's been going around all nervous, the boss gave him orders, he's looking for a scapegoat to blame for one of his misdeeds."
  
  
• Out on the road, Coyote stops Furd again. Armando warns Furd: they're still after you. Well, duh. [That's like my friends' dogs that bark just after you ring the doorbell: "THE DOORBELL! THE DOORBELL!!" -- Ed.]
  
  When Coyote is done being menacing, Oscar rides up and yells "I just figured out it wasn't Jimena who signed the divorce papers, it was Gab guiding those lifeless noodle-fingers!" Furd says MYOB, go blame Gab. "I will!" Oscar rides off.
  
  
• Here is everything that happened in the jungle.
  
  Juan is hunkering around carrying coconuts and gourds and other jungle-like things. At first I thought he'd suffered some calamity and could no longer stand up straight, but it's just that he's gone native. He sees Capricho, glowing and completely silent, in the trees. He starts to have flashbacks. It's like Lassie finding Timmy! Except that Timmy never rolled around in the dirt screaming and shaking like a holy roller.
  
  Juan crawls, he rolls in the bark, he's shaking like epilepsy. Capricho, however, stays very calm. Nice horsie.
  
  A villain lurks in the trees and says Juan will be dead soon. Capricho disappears, I guess he was just an apparition. The villain pours poison into Juan's drinking-gourd.
  
  The babe doctor with huge collagen lips wants to go vaccinate the ignorant savages (or rather, D.F. extras in white clothes) and do vaccinations. I saw this exact story line in a novela years ago. I thought this dumb racist stereotype would have been laughed off the tv by now, but no. Juan will help, the People know him and trust him (maybe because he hunkers around like an orangutan).
  
  While they are talking, Juan's extra-sensitive nose smells the bread. It's all burned, he'll have to make more. He drinks water the witch-doctor poisoned.
  
  As usual, the babe doctor makes an impassioned speech in defense of vaccination, the ignorant jungle-dwellers are suspicious, Juan sez he'll be first, he looks jes' fine after getting stuck with the needle so the people fall compliantly into an orderly queue, Juan is going down the line swabbing them all with the same cotton ball (his understanding of hygeine has not improved since his days as king of sweat-soaked pretzels) when he staggers and falls.
  
  They, naturally, think it was the vaccine. The witch-doctor yells, see he's DEAD she KILLED him with her VACCINES (what does he have against vaccines? is this, like, trying to crowd out the competition or something?) so let's US kill HER and the rabble makes wan crowd-noises.
  
  But wait! Mighty Joe, uh, Juan is not dead! So the crowd carries him off belly down (it looks implausible and uncomfortable) and plunks him in a tent with the babe doctor. She takes advantage of his comatose state to kiss him and monologue on her obsession with him.
  
  'Silvestre' (how COULD they?) goes and gets magic herbs and makes a potion and cures Juan, who starts babbling about Oscar and Franco to the babe doctor's grave disappointment. Silvestre is all excited that Juan's memory is coming back, but the babe doctor crossly says he's just delirious and raving and it doesn't mean anything.
  
  So the rabble is ready to drag the babe doctor away to her doom but Juan busts out of the tent all hale and hearty, and once again he's not dead, so the witch doctor who poisoned him is unhappy, and the confused natives shuffle off to decide what they think about all this.
  
  
• Heladio and Natalia are courting. He's all happy and grateful that a pretty girl like her could want an ugly guy like him. Furd comes in and sez Heladio you're a robber and should be immediately carted off to jail.
  
  Sofia takes time out from sniveling to say she will vouch for him, he's a good man, so later Furd menaces her physically and sez she better stay out of his affairs, he is now King of All He Surveys and will run all the sisters off the plantation if she meddles.
  
  
• Sofia and Gramps discuss, several times, how Furd is dangerous and Gabriela trusts him but shouldn't. Gramps calls Furd alimania (vermin).
  
  
• Gab goes back to her heart doctor, he says his treatment is working and she's basically fine but needs to refrain from being a bitch. No, not really, he says she should avoid stress. She says all her stress comes from her father and three daughters, who'd like to kill her off. The doctor agrees, our children don't understand or appreciate us.
  
  
• Jimena keeps staring. Like Sleeping Beauty except her eyes are open and blinking. Oscar visits her frequently. Sarita wants to run him off, Gramps sez she shouldn't interfere, maybe Oscar will wake the princess.
  
  Gab comes in and tells Jimena if she doesn't get better soon she'll get packed off to an asylum. Oscar, who'd been eavesdropping in the closet, pops out after Gab's exit and says he'll rob Jimena before he'll let her be locked up.
  
  Rise and shine, Jimena! The poor actress must be getting mighty bored. Sarita sez, better to be comatose like you, sis, than to be suffering like me.
  
  
• This is the first time I've met Damien and he already bores my last nerve. Quintina drops in on him, bringing groceries and flirting, she'll find him a housekeeper, on her way home she bumps into (literally) Sofia and Rosendo, who are coming in the big truck to deliver chachkes to Damien. They knock Q. clear off her motorcycle, luckily she was wearing a helmet.
  
  Before leaving, Quintina pointedly informs Sofia: Damian has a wife and children.
  
  Sofia and Rosendo proceed onward to Damien's. He wants her to sit down, she is indignant and waves the picture of the wife and two kids at him, then feels bad because it turns out they're all three dead!
  
  He sits her down and tells her: he was profoundly in love with his wife until the birth of the second child, when the wife became bipolar and his life became hell, and one day they had a fight and she flounced out with the kids and drove around all reckless-like till a tractor-trailer hit them and killed them instantly. [I know some folks struggling with bipolar disorder and I don't think they'd appreciate this wooden-headed take on a complex illness. -- Ed.]
  
  Sofia is all emo about it and the two of them share their sorrow and she talks about her baby and Juan the cradle-robber, but you're all sick of hearing about it.
  
  Damien asks if she still loves her daughter's father. She is evasive but says she'll never forgive the cradle-robbing. Damien compares their cases. On the one hand, he got to see his children grow up and Sofia never even held her daughter in her arms. On the other hand, Sofia may see her child again whilst Damien never will. So it's a draw. They look at each other.
  
  
• Finally, Sofia begs her mother yet again: don't trust Furd. Gab blames everything on Sofia, for falling for a Reyes for instance. "I HATE the Reyes! And I hate Juan more than the others, because he's the most like their father, so rebellious!" Sofia realizes her mother is still angry at the dad for rejecting her -- that all this drama about the sons stems from the fury of a woman scorned. Sofia is impactada.
  
  She is further impactada to hear: "I've disinherited you and sisters -- Furd and only Furd will get my fortune.

Tomorrow: Damien, of the wooden acting and receding hairline, slithers ever-closer to La Llorona; Juan looks to be mighty ready to kiss the babe doctor's gigantic lips in the rain.

Labels: Fuego

Sorry, I'm behind in posting. Life has gotten in the way.


PJ/S uses his knowledge of personal details about the human resources director to convince him that he really did work at the company in the past.

Rebeca makes a move on PJ/S.

Valeria accidentally drinks poison that Walter intended for the dog. She manages to stagger out to where PJ/S is before she collapses and he insists that she be brought to the hospital immediately. This saves her life.

PJ/S proves that Azur isn't rabid when it rolls over lets him, a supposed stranger, rub its tummy.

Gaetana goes all out in bizarre outfits when she takes PJ/S to a bar to get his reaction to her idea to open a bar in her house. PJ/S is not supportive of this idea.

PJ/S's reaction when he sees...

Isabel passionately kissing Andrés.

PJ/S is really bummed out.

Labels: cuerpo

Buenas noches a todos.

You know it’s never good when Fernie pays Oscar a visit. Attorney Fernie has brought the divorce papers and needs Oscar to sign them immediately. Oscar isn’t gonna sign nothin’, but not because he doesn’t know how. It’s because he loves Jimena enough for the both of them. Sorry Charlie, Jimena signed the papers before she went into the coma or whatever Fernie and/or her mother put her in. Yeah, I guess if you squint really hard and turn the paper upside down and imagine that Jimena can write in cursive it sort of does look like she signed it. Well, that must mean she wants a D-I-V-O-R-C-E. Where do I sign?!

Frankie is digging something when Oscar comes along all pissed-off. You’re not doing it right he tells Franco, and harasses the lone brother who makes a conscious effort to keep things above water around their new digs. Well what bit you? Ah, I just divorced Jimena. Well, if it makes you feel any better, I divorced Sarita. No, that doesn’t make me feel any better. Then along comes Pablito with the drinking jar. You know, I heard Mexico was a major producer of plastic bottles, yet they’re still using good old fashioned pewter jars for a diet rich in lead.

Now Quinti has started a motorcycle taxi agency. It’s a fine, upstanding business in which she uses Gramps’ moto, Gramps’ gas, and Gramps’ clothes to operate a vehicle in questionable condition without a proper license, and exceeds the speed limit. It’s even endorsed by Padre Tadeo. With passengers like chickens and doves it augments the petting zoo perfectly. And in addition to providing local clergyman with free transportation, she provides our hundreds of viewers with English lessons: Time is money, business, business, business, and my personal favorite, see you later! You know they’re desperate when they actually give Quinti some camera time.

So the brother of Baldie (guy in hospital) comes to the Reyes with a basket of fruit and vegetables from the market to repay them for their hospitality. Sorry it’s not cash, but it’s all we had. Here’s an idea: sell the fruits and vegetables from the market in the market and give the cash to the Reyes. Apparently they’re all family now—who isn’t in this joint? Oscar is a sour-puss because of his divorce with Jimena. Talk about a freakin’ ingrate… Oh, but there’s an explanation. Gabi took advantage of Jimena’s illness and made her sign the documents. Gee, I didn’t see that coming from a mile away. Well, the point is Oscar didn’t, and now feels really stupid, as he should.

Just as Aladdin would visit Jasmine from the balcony, Oscar finds a way to see Jimena by means of the balcony. He tells Jimena that he feels really guilty, etc., blah-blah, you know the drill… No matter how much he talks, she still sits there with that wide-eyed stare and heaving breasts. Oscar holds her hand and sobs. Jimena tears up. How? I don’t know.

Damian asks Padre Tadeo for some help: last night he saw a woman dressed all in black, who seemed to be suffering very much, who is it? Padre Tadeo says that it is absolutely ridiculous that someone would be walking around in the forest crying. That’s what all reason would tell you, but remember where you live. Well, Damian is going to see that woman again because she really impressed him, a lot.

Baby music. How it transports Sofia and me back to yonder years. I had a little white lamb and when you would wind the knob on its side it would play the same song… Anyway, Sofia is a basket case.

Whoa! Wrong wardrobe Juan, Rodrigo is over on set 3, this is FELS. Sorry, but for a minute I thought Juan was wearing clothing from this century. Anyway, he’s alive, and wants to know where the lady doctor is, apparently she’s alive too.

Uh oh, the tribe drunkard approaches said lady doctor and starts groping her. She resists, but the tequila has made him bold. He rips off her top and we see her boobies. Well, at least we know that these, unlike Rosario’s, are real because they jiggle more than Grandma’s jell-o.

Sofia has had it with the mourning and is going to take a stroll. Gee, she was only raped twice (that we know of) after she went walking in the woods at night; when will she ever learn? Well, Gabi is not going to have her daughter be the town “llorona” and demands that she stay at home. Nope. Sofia doesn’t care what people think about her. Somebody’s been reading Betty Friedan… Gabi is ashamed of her. Oh yeah? Well, you shame me for the way you treat my sisters. SLAP! Who are you to judge me? Gabi says that she’s gonna get rid of Sofia right this very instant. Do it! Do it! There isn’t much left to me! Honey, there never really was.

Well, the idiot decided to dress in black and take a stroll in the dark, spooky forest. Spanish guitar—that’s his cue (that’s what they do in low-budget productions). What would Damian be doing in the dark forest, too? We know that they are going to fall in love and propose marriage because everyone knows that Spanish guitars mean love. He looks into Sofia’s eyes with desire and asks who she is. Well, that’s one way to meet psycho/depressed/ex-mothers.
Why are you stopping me, with what right? Save it for community theater sweetheart. Damian can’t believe how much pain Sofia has. They say I’m the “llorona,” I guess I am. Wait, why am I talking to you, you’re a stranger. And, if I see you again, don’t talk to me. Spanish castanets; must mean she’s playing hard to get.

Juan is searching for the “llorona” in the middle of the same dark, spooky forest. Now I know these people have shit for brains, but I thought it was a fundamental human instinct to hunt and gather during the day. But then again, noting adventurous or sexy happens before 10:00 p.m. Uh oh. That can only be the cry of one woman; the lady doctor. The drunk hasn’t gotten very far and is still sitting on her trying to take off her tank tops. Juan arrives with time to spare and punches the guy out. Lady doctor actually looks like she enjoyed it. Juan takes off his shirt and gives it to lady doctor. They embrace. Uh oh. Sofia flashbacks urge him to call said lady doctor “mi niña.”

Ooo, Damian is rich; we know this because he is drinking wine by a fire in a village without phones. He still can’t get over Sofia’s sadness. Gosh, they really know how to drive a point home. Damian observes his Kama Sutra statue and ponders Sofia’s nineteenth-century sex appeal. He has to find out more… With all this Spanish music I’d be led to believe he’s Spanish. It’s obvious the sound managers are on crack—or retarded.

Interestingly enough (but not surprisingly), Sofia is having her own hot flashes and flashbacks. Why did she encounter the same man twice—with what right? Oh my God, for one second could we puh-lease try to pretend that we aren’t in a Lana Turner movie? Secondly, I want to point out how confused these people are. What would a guy like Damian see in Sofia? I think we all know that he’s going to propose marriage sometime in the near future, and most likely plant his seed in her battered garden.

The drunken guy is really fed up with Juan, and wants the witch doctor to knock him off. Don’t worry he’s got it coming to him, but then again, if a gunshot wound and a fifty-foot fall won’t do you in, I don’t know what will.

Half-naked Juan helps half-naked lady doctor tie her shirt strings. Like we haven’t seen this trick before… He almost chokes her. I think it’s supposed to be a romantic moment—blame the actors, I do. But when they tried to show Juan’s underwear, everything went downhill. Oh, I like a direct girl. She wants to know why he doesn’t give her a chance; they would make such a great couple. For such a “smart” girl, she is so dumb. Juan puts his arm around her. Could it be love? If the burlap shirt fits…

If I have to see one more scene where pious Sofia goes to church and begs the Virgin not to abandon her I’m going to throw this laptop through the TV. That would not be good…

From now on Fernie is the owner/master of the ranch and holds a staff meeting to inform everyone of his promotion.

Gramps tells Fernie that he is completely mistaken, and his lawyer has secured 20% of the ranch for Gramps. On top of that, Fernie admitted to stealing all of Gramps money. Wait a minute! You leave my husband alone says Gabi. Everyone hates Fernie because you’re all trying to ruin my happiness. If she could only grow up! She loves Fernie and is going to back him in everything. Be careful Gabi. Fernie is like a rat, and is going to steal all of your money! Gabi ponders, no it couldn’t happen…
Over at the Goodwill/Elizondo store of junk with inflated prices Sofia brightens visibly and greets everyone with smiles. Spanish guitar. Damian enters and something tells me he doesn’t want to make a purchase. I like how it took four people to say “buenos días” in a successive line.

Damian wants to get to know Sofia and offer her a friendship. This relationship is moving way too fast. She doesn’t mean to be rude (but she really does), but she doesn’t want a relationship with a man. I should have known she was into that sort of thing… The music here is ridiculous just as the women in this scene. They all check him out while he tries to convince Sofia that he wants to buy her crap.

Gabi asks Fernie if it’s true that he stole Gramps’s money. Of course it’s not true. My only interest is to protect you, would I do that? So this is what it looks like when you take the two most dysfunctional people in town and put them under one roof…

Franco is talking to his horse again. Where have you been? Have you found Juan? Are you gonna find him? Go look for him. OMG the horse actually goes. If they would only invest the money they paid the horse trainer in their script-writers’ salaries.

Well, you sure don’t see men like that around here says Rosario in response to Damian’s visit. Fernie is uncomfortable because he received orders from the boss. Completely unrelated, I know.

Uh oh. Black SUVs. That means trouble. My question is; why is it that they always come out of the wood work when Fernie passes by? Oh. There’s Oscar. He’s mad that Fernie made him sign that divorce paper. Oscar doesn’t understand that horses aren’t as fast as SUVs.

Oh my god. I just realized that Juan is supposed to have amnesia. Ok, this makes a little more sense, but you know how stupid he is, I thought he was just being himself. Well, anyway, Capricho comes along, and after weeks he finally found Juan. Juan sees him, rolls his eyes, screams in agony, rolls on the ground, scratches himself with sticks and rocks, and mostly screams some more. He reaches for Capricho but he is too far away. The witch doctor observes this display, and probably thinks that now he doesn’t have to kill Juan. I really don’t think there are words to articulate Juan’s display of what I think I just saw.

Tomorrow: Eva says that Damian didn’t come into the store for handicrafts, but for Sofia. Oh my God, you think? You would have to be blind, deaf, and retarded not to have gathered that. Oh, not only that, but Damian wants to cure the wounds of Sofia’s heart. But what about Juan? Just know that, as always, he’s happy in his own little world.

Labels: Fuego

We left off with Patricio coming home and seeing Marichuy and Amador in each others arms. He gets out of his cars and tells Amador to leave. He then goes to Marichuy and asks what she has to say about what he just saw. He yells and her and tells her to go into the house. The housekeeper comes in and tells Ceci that there is trouble outside. Ceci and Isa run out to see what is going on. Ceci asks Marichuy what is wrong. Patricio says that he caught Marichuy in the arms of a man. Ceci looks at her with disbelief.

We go to the office of the padre and a lady (do not know her name) is crying that she does not want her daughter to come back and find out that she was a loose woman. She does not care what others say about her, but does not want her daughter to be condemned for her actions. She says that she will write her daughter a letter and tell her that she cannot come home until her studies are done when the padre asks her how are you going to keep your daughter away.

Patricio walks in the house still yelling about what he say. Marichuy, Ceci, Isa and the housekeeper follow him in with Marichuy denying what he saw. He asks her if she is calling him a liar. She says yes because he is telling lies. Isa yells at her to respect her elders. He keeps insisting that he knows what he saw. They get into a shouting match with her repeatedly calling him a liar. She runs to her room and Ceci is forbidden to go after her. She is crying in her room and is mumbling something that I do not understand. I think that she is asking why JM left her in this house.

JM is remembering his conversation with Marichuy.

Back in the living room Ceci is telling Patricio that Marichuy is crying and he says let her cry so that she will learn to respect the rules of the house. Isa comes in Patricio's defense that Marichuy is immoral and dangerous. The housekeeper says that she noticed that Marichuy was acting very odd. In walks Estephania talking about meeting JM and suprising him.

On the plane JM is talking to Edguardo about Marichuy and the feelings she stirs in him that he does not quite understand. Edguardo asks if he likes her which he admits. "Does she like you" Edguardo asks. "I don't know" says JM, "I think she sees me as a protector or her salvation." "What if she is in love with you, what would you do?" asks Edguardo.

Isa is updating Estephania on what is going on. Estehania puts her arms around Patricio and comes in Marichuy defense. Ceci begs Patricio to let her go to Marichuy and he says no. Estephania then asks to let her go, but again says no. Let her learn her lesson.

The next morning Marichuy is looking out the window of her room when Ceci finds out if she is coming out of her room today. She starts talking about last night and asks Marichuy to understand why Patricio was so upset. Marichuy says that Paticio does not know what really happened and will tell Ceci the truth.

Onelia sees Rocio and calls her into the living room saying that she will not permit her to play games by calling the house and saying that she is Viviana. Rocio says that it was not her, but her actual daughter calling. Onelia asks Rocio where is she going? Rocio says that she is going to see Marichuy because JM asked her to take her out. Onelia says of course if he cannot see her he makes sure that you do. This makes her very suspicious. Rocio says you always think the worst of people. Onelia ignores her and thinks aloud that JM brought Marichuy into the house because he is interested in her. And no wonder he let her daughter die so that he can kick it with Marichuy.

We see Viviana looking at herself in the mirror and glancing at her jewerly box. She notices that her braclet is missing and she starts looking for it. Her lover says that she probably lost it when she was drunk. He tells her to look again and he has a look on this face that says that he knows were it is.

Marichuy is telling Ceci about the incident that happened last night. Ceci is asking why she did not insist on telling Patricio even if he was telling you to keep quiet. Marichuy says that when she gets angry she closes up. Ceci tells Marichuy that she believes her and she wanted to see her last night, but could not since Patricio would not let her.

JM and Eguardo are walking out of a conference. Eguardo asks JM about the book that Estephania gave him at the airport.

Estephania spots JM sister and asks her if she has been helped. Rocio introduces herself and Estephania is delighted in meeting her. She says that she was going to call her to meet with her since she is friends with JM and wanted to get to know the rest of his family.

JM tells Eguardo that he left the book on the plane. Eduardo says that means you are not really interested in the person who gave you the gift. What are you going to tell her when she asks about it? All of a sudden a beautiful woman walks by and Edguardo says hi and that they have a party? to go to. To celebrate the end of single life. JM says are you serious? You will take liberties with your finance far away? Edguardo says no, I was just joking. He would never do that to Elsie.

Meanwhile Elsie is kissing her other man and he jokedly says that she kept him up all night. Elsie says that they have to seize the moment because Edguardo is a jealous man and after she gets married they cannot see each other. Dude with the glasses says that he is not a jealous man and even after she marries him they can still see each other in secret.

Isa asks Estephania to keep Ceci in the bedroom because she has important things to take care of. She goes outside and sees the padre walking up.

Marichuy and Rocio are walking down the street eating when Rocio spots the kiyaks and asks Marichuy to go on one with her. Marichuy does not want to.

Isa asks the padre if he came to see Marichuy. Yes, he says. Isa tells the padre that she left with JM sister. The padre turns to leave and remembers that he also came to see Ceci. Isa tells him that she left with her daughter and asks if he wants to wait. He agrees and Isa takes him to the backyard. Isa asks the padre if he has known Marichuy long. Yes, since her mother gave her to me when she was a babe about 20 years ago.

Marichuy and Rocio are on the water kiyaking and having a good time.

Ceci and Estephania are in Ceci's room. She asks Estephania how long JM will be gone for. About 10 days responds Estephania. Too bad Ceci says because Marichuy will miss him. "Do you think that she is in love with him" asks Estehania. No says Ceci , she feels grateful for saving her from jail. "Do you know what she did? She stoled milk for the kids at the orphanage." Ceci gets up to leave the room and Estephania tries to distract her, but she says later. Ceci asks Isa if she has seen the padre and thinks that it is odd that he did not show up since he wanted to meet with her. Estephania finds out from Isa that Marichuy could be the actual daughter of Ceci and Patricio. All their plans could be ruined.

JM is lounging by the pool reading a book. Girls are checking him out, but he thinking about Marichuy.

Ceci and Estephania come back from shopping and Ceci asks Isa if the padre has come yet. Isa says yes, but he left. He will call again to set up an appointment.

Isa asks Estephania if Ceci suspected anything about the padre. No says Estehania. Has Marichuy returned yet with JM sister? No says Isa then says you met JM sister? Yes and she has invited me to visit her at the house and will introduce me to his mother in law. I have to make a good impression so that I can win points with JM. In walks Marichuy and exchanges words with Isa and Estephania. Marichuy walks away and Isa says how she cannot stand her. Estephania says poor girl. She does not know what will happen to her if she crosses us.

Marichuy thinks about JM and envisions him coming to her and putting his arms around her then kissing her. She mutters his name as she falls asleep.

We then see Dr. McHotty in the shower. He steps out, water sliding off his rippled muscular chest. Darn it he puts on a towel, looks in the mirror and says Marichuy.

Back at Ceci's, Marichuy and Ceci are chit-chating and Ceci gives Marichuy money. She does not want it, but Ceci insists. Marichuy takes the money and buys the orphans milk and bread. She introduces Rocio to Cande afterwards and gets her dog.

Ceci, Isa and Estephania are in the living room drooling over Dr. McHotty who's picture was in the paper. Marichuy walks in and shows Ceci her dog. She spots the newspaper with JM's photo and goes into her room to cut out his picture. Estephania walks in demanding why she took the paper and cut out his photo. She wants it. Marichuy says take it then and Estephania slaps her. Marichuy knocks her to the bed, gets on top of her and starts pulling her hair.

Tomorrow: Remainder of the fight.

Labels: Cuidado

See what happens when you drop off for a week? There actually is progress sometimes! Sigh...

I'm posting early because I may not be able to post later. We had airplane issues and our flight was delayed all day so I'm not getting home until later tonight. I'm going to see if I can get something together for you after all, but in the mean time, you all can at least post here.

We start with the pathetic grunting invalid (sorry, it's Snorty) and Omar forgiving her. She manages a handshake. I think she's actually touched. I'm seeing rehabilitation for her, for sure....

Zully is consoling Lore who is happy that she finally has the family that she always wanted. She thinks it's a pity that she can't share all this with Ern. Zully tells her pride is not a good console, or something along those lines, and that she should just call him. Of course she won't, she's still upset that he doubted her or something, besides she needs to confront Sara.

We go to said Ern lamenting the situation as well. Ivan is actually encouraging him. He is trying to manage the kids. Sorry but Ern earns some points here, I'm not giving up on him just yet!

He tells the kids he's got some news. The bad is that he's not going to be working at the restaurant anymore, so they will have to tighten their belts and watch their spending. He says the good news is that he can now spend more time with them! He's still got the institute classes so he's not unemployed but it's not enough to maintain a whole family. Funny he seemed to be ok before he started at the restaurant.... anyway, this leads the little girl to put back some of her cereal so they won't be as poor, and Ern very lovingly hugs her and says things aren't quite that bad and he gives her more cereal. CUTE!!!

Di can't get a hold of the lawyer about Vasco, and Julian says he'll check with Rossy after he compliments the ladies for their cooking. They are worried.

We then flash to Sara in bed waking up suddenly from a nightmare and realizing I think that Lore really was after her but no problem she'll get everything back that was hers, including Al. Hmmmm, me thinks not.

At the mansion Snorty is shaking her hand violently and our brilliant nurse declares to Omar that she must want to say something so she gets a pen and paper. She tells them that Sara better not enter the business. Omar makes that his mission and says between he Jaime and Vasco she'll never set foot in there again.

Julian is on the phone with Rossy who asks him how it's going with the new sis he stole from her. He says great and she was only on loan to Rossy. She tells him to enjoy it now because soon he'll leave that house when they are married. He's not so sure with those two great cooks. She scolds him of course. He is called for breakfast and Lore remarks how well the baby slept, but they say it was her who slept well because the baby cried all night!

Back at the mansion, Snorty is still up in arms and declares that this is punishment for Sara. Omar is befuddled because he says they are the first ones who would want to punish her but there is no proof, on account of the dead nun and all. Snorty continues scribbling that Sara tried to kill her, she is a murderess. omar believes her but wonders how they will prove it. he then tells everyone not to ever let Sara back in there and if she returns to let him know.

Out in the country Barb and Jaime are fretting over Vasco, when the doc has them summoned he says the wounds are really bad and he is hemorrhaging and that natural medicine is not enough and he needs to get to a real hospital so they have called for an ambulance. Barb says it's so far to a hospital and there isn't enough time, but just then the ambulance shows up so they go running after it.

Additions from Julie:

- Snorty wrote Bruno a note that he's not getting another penny out of her- Bruno beat the hell out of Diana so she took the baby and went to her mother's house and then she went to the police station to file a complaint against him

- Sara was going to use wimpy chiles (or maybe they were green onions, I didn't see) on her TV show, Julian swapped them out with habaneros, when she put them in the hot pan she choked from the burning smoke and threw a tantrum on the air (it's a live show). She was hoping to get some sympathy from her sugar daddy but instead he told her to... I didn't get all of this but I think she's supposed to apologize on TV the next day and say she had a nervous breakdown or something!

From Calamity Cakes:

Ernie finally gets hold of Lore just as she gets ready to start the community cooking classes. His tone is appologetic and it seems hers is too so wedding bells and hearts and doves seem to be back in the picture for the two of them. They admit neither one could get either one out of their head during the separation. Lore still doesn't have the presence of mind to tell him what happened. They agree to have her call him later in the day to give him a time and place to talk about ....stuff. Then Julian bugs her by phone during the class for a recipe that he doesn't tell her Sara's show is apparently using that day. Lorena gives him the recipe and shuts off her phone so she can teach without interruptions and apparently forgets to turn it back on after the old folks' class is over.

Sara shows up at Slow's and tries to worm her way out of her predicament, but for once his brain receptors don't short out and he gives her what for about what she did in breaking him and Lorena up, Chalo and otherwise criminally ursurping Lorena's past, present and future.

When Lorena gets back home at Zulema's Julian calls to tell them to turn on the tv and watch Sara's cooking show. They laugh so loud they wake up Diana who comes out looking like the wife of Frankenstein's monster. Just as Lorena's telling her to make a complaint at the local police station, Bruto parks himself in front of the gate and starts yelling he's sorry, it'll never happen again and let's go home. Diana panicks but goes outside anyway and confronts him. Lorena calls the police then Zule and Lorena join Diana in front. Lorena takes a few threatening steps towards him just as the police show up and he races off in his car. Zule and Lore join Diana at the police station while she makes her statement and a few minutes turns into hours while Ernie's calling to see what's up with their date and ovbiously can't reach her.



And as you all have said how great, I simply have to include this gem from Ferro, an observation on the finer points of Alonspeak:

"No she went to the Alonso school of delivering life-altering news! "Ok first act normal like what you are going to tell is no big deal, even though it is like the biggest deal ever. Then, don't ever get to the point until the person you are talking to is ready to punch you in the face.

Then stall some more, delivering lines like you are writing blurbs for a book jacket or movie poster. Stuff like 'this is the biggest news ever, just wait until you hear it' and 'what I am going to tell you will change your life' works great. Remember to speak slowly. Eventually, after a commercial break at least, you can finally deliver the news. Make sure to only give a little bit at a time, don't drop the whole bomb at once.

Hint around a little, say something that doesn't make sense without the rest of the information to support it, so you can have some more 'what? I don't understand' comments from who you are talking to. This makes it take even longer. Also, remember to keep a blank look on your face so the person listening to you STILL doesn't know if they should be excited, worried, or what. If you do this right you can make it take 15 minutes to tell someone what you ate for lunch. Good luck."


And I personally found Mike's comment so hysterical that I want to include it here as well:

Surprised the Sara character didn't flourish in the habañero smoke, I mean, her being a demon spawn and all. Would've expected a deep breath and a glassy-eyed smile followed by a spew of pea soup.


Thanks all!!!

Labels: enemiga

Rehash: JM tells Eduardo he needs to go on a trip to get Mari out of his head; he just wants her to be happy.

Stef creepily and rudely awakens Marichuy to interrogate her as to her feelings for Juan Miguel. Mari equivocates and refuses to parse their relationship and finally says she doesn’t really know. Understandably, she seems to resent being asked.

New stuff: Stef returns to her room where Isabel is lounging on the bed, and shouldn’t she really have gone home by now? Stef reports on the inquisition and Isa again alludes to getting rid of that pesky orphan.

Next day, a new young maid, Dora (or possibly Doris; I couldn’t be sure and the captions switched back and forth), comes to Mari’s room to ask whether she’s coming to breakfast; Ceci and Pat are already in the dining room. Mari says she’ll eat in the kitchen, then invites Dora in to sit on the bed and kibbitz. They seem to hit it off right away, and Mari says she’s going to help with the cleaning to earn her keep. She likes being there where everything is pretty and clean.

Over at the castle, JM is on his way out, asking Rocío to mail some stuff for him and to be a friend to Marichuy while he’s gone. Go visit her, take her out shopping, to the movies, for ice cream, etc. Rocío is willing, and also looks like she’s caught on to the whole situation. She is surprised that JM isn’t going to go say goodbye to Mari before he leaves. FOR REAL, JUAN MIGUEL. You are supposed to be rehabilitating this young lady, and yet you avoid even speaking to her ever. What kind of program is this, exactly? All your psychological training hasn’t clued you in to the probability that she will feel confused and rejected? But, he thinks it will be better this way. How long is he planning to be away?

Well, I thought Dora said Ceci and Pat were in the dining room, but they are not. They are on the deck on the lawn, and the deer is having his breakfast, too, in the same spot as usual. Is he tied up? He’s always in the same place. Mari marches up to them, bucket and mop in hand, to ask what her work obligations are. She’s thinking first she’ll do the windows, then the floors, that way if she drips…

Ceci, playing the role of Grace Farrell, doesn’t understand why Mari thinks she has to work. Mari tells her so sayeth Patricio. Ceci says, “¿qué?” and glares at him.

In Miami, a steel band plays by a resort pool. Viv’s new hot tamale strolls past thong-bikinied women (ew. Really, who needs that much exposure? Getting your legs sunburned is bad enough) to give a lounging Viv a smooch, then he goes for drinks. She is living it up, indeed. She picks up her phone and dials.

The phone rings at the castle. The maid answers, so Viv hangs up.

Patricio says that Marichuy is lying; he didn’t say she has to work. She begs to differ, and reminds him (while gesticulating wildly with a hot pink duster) of their conversation, when he said she would get only what she deserved and would have to pay for her keep with chamba (means fluke or scratch, and in Mexico, slang for work, according to my dictionary). He argues that he was only referring to behaving well. Ceci looks either amused, full of pity for Marichuy, or annoyed at Patricio. It’s hard to tell.

In the poor barrio, Adrian asks Cande how Mari is getting along at the judge’s place…does she miss anyone, hint, hint? Yes, Adrian, she misses you desperately and wants you with her at every moment, so you can repeatedly consummate your passionate relationship, can’t you tell by the way she pushes you away and avoids you? Oh, wait, that’s what JM does to Marichuy. Maybe Adrian has been talking to him about how a person madly in lust behaves. ANYWAY, Cande tells him she likes it there, but Cande is worried and thinks they’ll exploit her. She thinks Mari is going to “desgajar” (split off, break away…I’m guessing she means run away) because they’ll treat her like a “cenicienta” (Cinderella).

Patricio and Cecilia tell Marichuy that she doesn’t have to work, just behave like a civilized person (say, I wonder how they got those windows fixed so fast. They were big windows; you’d think they would have to be special-ordered) and she doesn’t need to earn a home and food, just their affection. Ceci gets her to sit at the table.

Ceci’s phone rings; it is JM and Mari lights up. Ceci talks to him about his trip and asks if he’ll come over to say good bye. No? Then do you want to talk to Mari? Marichuy smiles and reaches for the phone, but he says he doesn’t have time to talk to her and he and Ceci hang up. Mari looks deflated. The deer, meanwhile, is attending to its bowel needs on the lawn in the background, which is so PERFECTLY appropriate a metaphor for JM’s treatment of Marichuy. I wonder how the film crew managed that.

JM sits in his office in his white coat and half-smiles and sighs and daydreams of Marichuy. Yeah, he’s super-busy. What does he actually do? Elsa comes in and asks if Eduardo is there yet; obviously he is not. She lights a cigarette. JM doesn’t smoke, but conveniently keeps a giant ashtray on the coffee table. He says he knows she and Eduardo are engaged, and asks pointedly if she’s broken up with “the other.”

Mari is climbing trees on the estate to pick fruit, which Ceci is putting in a basket. Ceci asks about her life at the orphanage; she says she left when she was 13 or 14 and uses the phrase “pinté de colores” as she has several times before when she refers to leaving the hospicio. I know it can mean “ripened” so maybe she means she was grown up or done there then, or something? Can anyone explain? Ceci asks who her parents were (DU-DUM).

JM tells Elsa that marriage is serious, too serious to be leading a double life. She says she knows, and after they’re married she will be a real wife, and even have children. Well, jeez, Elsa, don’t overshoot there or anything.

Mari says she never knew her parents, and wonders how her mother could have abandoned her. Ceci is very pained. She says, maybe your mother was very poor, or sick. Mari thinks that’s no excuse, but she notices that Ceci is not looking so good and comforts her. It’s quite sweet, and apparently no one filled Mari in on their precious daughter Stef’s story. Isabel lurks creepily behind a tree and eavesdrops on the conversation.

Stef, meanwhile, is bugging Patricio in his study, and learns that JM’s flight is leaving at 9:00 that evening. She wants to go to the airport to say goodbye. Pat just says he’s busy and can’t go; somehow he refrains from saying, “don’t be a crazy stalker, you creep!” She asks if she can use a car to go, and when he asks whether she can drive, she says sure, she had a car in New York. What is that? You lived in New York? OOPS. Seriously, stupidest criminal ever.

Ceci tells Mari she wants to be like a mother to her. Isabel doesn’t like that.

Stef tells Pat she worked as a nanny for a diplomat and went with the family to New York. They lived in the suburbs, so she had to drive the children around. He apparently buys that and says he’ll give her her own car, and she is a little too exuberant and affectionate.

They go out to the driveway and run into Ceci and Marichuy. Mari is annoyed that Stef is going to the airport to see JM. There is a whole fleet of cars in the driveway, which I’m pretty sure weren’t there before, and he tells Stef to choose one. Naturally, she picks the sleek convertible, the newest of them all. Apparently the keys are kept in the ignition.

Eduardo has arrived at JM’s office, and is pawing Elsa while JM gives her Looks. Marichuy and Ceci call, and Ed answers and asks if he should say JM left already.

Back in Miami, Viv again calls the house (from her lounge chair RIGHT in front of the steel drums) and Malvina/Balbina? answers. This time she says it’s Viviana, and the maid is shocked and hands the phone over to Onelia, but Lover Boy has come back for some action and hung up the phone. So now Ornerylia thinks the maid is crazy too.

Marichuy is still waiting for JM to answer, and uses the pintar de colores phrase again in reference to his having left for the airport. So I guess she just means “departed.” He finally answers, having shooed Ed and Elsa out, and they both grin like fools. They make cheesy romantic conversation, although Mari is worried that his plane will crash (again). He says it will be fine and promises to remember her. She says she’ll miss him.

In the parking garage, Ed is giving some guy a tip for putting his bags in JM’s trunk. (for real, Eduardo? What is all that gym time good for?) Flashback (the guy’s) of him being in JM’s office explaining that he can’t pay the fine for the bar brawl. Which I would guess means that Elsa knows him. Not sure what that was about.

Stef and Isabel catch each other up. Isabel agrees with me that Stef is an idiot.

Stef tells Mari and Ceci she’s off to the airport and makes them admire her. Mari looks annoyed; Ceci fails in her motherly duty to tell Stef not to be a creepy stalker. I mean, seriously, it’s not like they’re really friends and he’s going to be gone a year or something.

Eduardo comes back to fetch JM and JM’s dopey blissfulness after the phone call is not lost on Ed. Elsa will not be going with them to the airport because she has something to do at her theater job (or someone). Ed thinks that after they marry she will give up that experimental artsy stuff. Oh, Ed. Ditch her and marry me. I am every bit as boring as she thinks you are; I think we’d get along very well.

Amador sits on the stage in a theater, smoking a pipe and writing. Enter Elsa. She tells him her cousin is in love with Marichuy. He is impactado.

Stef finds the gents at the airport. They do not look excited to see her. They try to think back to their training on what to do about crazy stalkers.

Elsa and Amador plot to take advantage of Juan Miguel’s absence. Elsa says the Velardes won’t let him in; he says it won’t hurt to try.

Apparently, what JM and Ed do about stalkers is sit and have coffee with them. Ed is really encouraging Stef and enjoying tormenting JM. She gives him a book to read on the plane and remember her by. Eduardo thinks that is hysterical.

Marichuy talks to the cat and has animated thoughts about being Cinderella. She is sad that her handsome prince is away and probably smooching that wicked stepsister (as if) and imagines a fairy godmother (hada madrina) coming to help her.

JM and Ed are finally taking leave of Stef. She asks if she can give him a goodbye kiss. I don’t know what else is said; Eduardo and I are both nearly rolling on the floor laughing. Methinks JM is not going to hear the end of this. He consents to a peck on the cheek. I hope this conference is on how to not encourage creepy stalker criminals.

Amador climbs over the fence. Mari is chasing the cat and runs into him.

Our rich docs apparently fly coach. Now I’m glad I didn’t bother with medical school. They discuss JM’s attraction to Marichuy. He takes a few minutes to recall the various ladies in his life. Ed says it looks like Stef will be a rival with Mari. Umm…not if you don’t want her to be, Juan Miguel.

Speaking of, Viv and Beach Boy stumble drunkenly into the hotel room and make out. He removes her ring and puts it in his pocket.

Amador thinks assaulting Marichuy will endear her to him. She tells him to get his porky hands off her. They fight. He thinks she’s bored there, she says she’d rather be bored than with him. They fall on the extremely slick driveway.

Padre Anselmo once again counsels the guilt-ridden woman. I don’t know who she is yet, so I don’t care. Ceci calls and makes plans to visit him with Mari in the morning.

Patricio drives up as Mari and Amador fight in the driveway and demands to know what that scum is doing there.

Avances: Isabel realizes Marichuy could be the real child/heir.

Labels: Cuidado