Caray, Caray!

Santos tells Gervasia to come home but DB says that's machismo and machismo isn't civilized. Gervasia decides to stay at El Miedo.

Santos chews out his employees for uncivilized behavior and tells them not to carry weapons.

The next day Santos tells Antonio and Carmelito that they are going to Progresso to send a telegram and buy some stuff at the hardware store. He has decided to sell his house in the capital and build a fence between El Miedo and Altamira.

Twice Marisela hears people saying, "El que quiere besar, busca la boca," "He who loves shows it with a kiss." She decides to try that herself.

She offers a kiss to Santos but he is horrified.

The doctor wants Antonio to help him win Cecilia but Antonio tells him that Cecilia is sacred and to stay away from her.

Federica goes after the second of Santos' employees. She says, "Carmelito, sabes que yo sufre mucho de cosquillas?" "Carmelito, did you know I am very tickleish?" She shows him where and one things leads to three times with Federica astride him like a horse.

A furious Marisela tells Santos that it is time to take her father back to Altamira.

Josefa asks Federica about Pajarito and Carmelito. She says that she would take both, "Because one wins for size and the other for technique." ["Porque uno gana por tamaña, pero el otro gana por maña."]

Santos and Lorenzo decide to send Marisela to a finishing school. She is horrified and promptly decides to leave Altamira.

The girls at the Sandoval house see Marisela coming and know that something happened at Altamira.

Marisela tells them that her life is ruined.

DB shows up at Altamira with a lot money that she wants to lend to Santos so he doesn't have to sell his house in the capitol. He says that he can't be bought and that there is big wall between them.

Balbino Paiba tells DB that Santos is buying barbed wire ["alambre de púas"] and she figures out that Santos is going to build the fence he has talked about between Altamira and El Miedo.


In a very funny scene, Marisela says that she doesn't need to go to a finishing school. Maurice left a book on etiquette. After telling Lorenzo not to slurp his soup and Santos not to put his elbows on the table, she shows that she has a little more to learn. She says that the book tells about the proper behavior for all private and 'pubic' (public) events in the whole big udder ('ubre,' I'm not sure what Spanish word she meant.) ["eventos privados y púbicos en toda grand ubre."] Then she takes a giant bite of cake.
Josefa and Federica decide to add Maria Neives to their collection.

Santos is surprised to discover DB building the fence between their properties.

Labels: barbara

Hi everybody sorry about the title, it is just that I can't stand Alonso trying to win Lorena back when he slept with her "sister" it is one of the unforgivable sins of telenovela land. Now complete

Bruno and Sara decide to unite forces to destroy Lorena and her family.

Lorena is at the lesser house remembering Ernesto. She tells her mom that she can’t forget him and that she wanted to create a family with him, but she can’t overlook the fact that he is very handsome and a lot of women are crazy about him and that makes her very jealous and she can’t live like that. Zulema tells her that she will find somebody that will make her very happy. Lorena tells her that she loves Ernesto and she can’t think about anybody else. Lorena changes the conversation and asks Zulema if everything is OK because she looks sad. Zulema tells her that she is having problems with Omar because he has decided to forgive Hortensia.


Dario tells Paula that he has to go to Monterrey because of a job and he wants her and Betina to go with him. Paula tells him that she can’t go because things are not working between them. Dario tells her that they will start anew in Monterrey, but Paula doesn’t believe it. She tells him that it won’t work because the problem isn’t the place, the problem is their past and they can’t change that. For once Dario understands and tells her that he was a fool and wishes she could love him again. She tells him that it is too late for that and at least they are friends now.


Jacky is mad at Ickturo because he didn’t asked about her doctor’s appointment. He asks how it went at the doctor’s. Jacky then tells him that the doctor did a biopsy and will give her the results later. She also tells him about Magdalena, the Lady that talked to her about the “Luz Divina de la Buena Ventura” Divine Light of Good Fortune and tells him that she will go to her house later. Ickturo tells her that she should be careful about sects. Jacky wants him to go with her, but he doesn’t look convinced.


Lorena is remembering Ernesto. She says to herself that she wanted to be happy with him to spend the rest of their life together. At the same time Ernesto is saying that he loves her and misses her. Ivan comes into the room and tells his uncle that he wants to enter a dancing contest. He tells him that he could win 20,000 and if he does, he’ll share the money with him to help with the expenses. Ernesto is proud of him because that shows maturity.


Ed Note. Zulema is driving me crazy; her nagging is driving me up the wall, if nothing else, I now understand men a little better and will try to refrain from nagging. Back to our story.

Zulema –Nag, nag, nag, how can you do this to me? Don’t you see it is all about me?
Omar – Leave me alone, I just want a little peace and quiet.
Lorena –Leave him alone, after all this years, I’m happy now and I also want peace. Would you reject me too?
Zulema –Nobody understands me all I can say is that I will continue with my nagging unless you do as I say. (She leaves the room dramatically)

Alan meets with Sara to ask her to sign her resignation as the image of his product. Sara is surprised. She tells him that she can wait until everything goes away and then they can renew their relationship. Alan tells her in no uncertain terms that he loves his wife and since she has given him another chance, he wants Sara far away from him. Sara is furious.


Diana and Julian go to Bruno’s apartment. Julian wants to hit him, but Diana stops him. They went to pick up her baby’s clothes, but she also wants to talk to him. Julian goes to pick up the clothes and Diana tells Bruno that she knows everything about the deal with Hortensia. Bruto laughs at her and tells her that it is her fault because she was naive and in love. Diana stands up to him and tells him that she has opened her eyes and now she can see him for what he is. She tells him that she filing for divorce and he better sign because she is attaching domestic violence case to it.


Barbara is talking to Vasco. She tells him that she will never oppose his ideals. Vasco wants to know how she is doing; she starts crying and tells him about Chalo. Vasco tells her that he is sorry. Barbara says that at least she has a nice memory of him.


Back at Armendariz Inc. The general manager tells Omar that everything is ok, no, Sara hasn’t showed up and they know not to let her in. He also tells him that they are concentrating their efforts in a bankers ‘big banquet. Omar wants to see the details of the banquet.


Rosi is helping Maruja with the accounting of her company. Maruja tells her that she is ready to leave the restaurant and she wants Rosi to leave too. Rosi says thanks, but no thanks. Maruja offers her an executive position. Rosi is not convinced and Maruja tells her to think about it.


At school Lorena and Paty are talking about Sara and the big scandal. Paty is very happy about it, and notices that Lorena is not. She asks her and Lorena tells him that she broke her engagement. Paty wants to know the details. Ernesto walks in.


Toribio is talking to Alonslow. He is very happy and tells him that he loves Tai Chi. Alonslow is impressed. The phone rings and it’s one of Toribio’s Tai Chi fellow students.


Ernesto is talking to the class about mestizaje and how it is very important in the Mexican cuisine. He gets distracted when he sees Lorena, and Paty has to redirect his thoughts back to the class. Ernesto tells the class to get the ingredients ready because they are going to make a quesadilla they say they are going to nixtamalizar maiz to make a tortilla. He leaves to get everything ready. Paty tells Lorena that she can tell that both are dying to come back.


Toribio is in his element. He is talking to a bunch of ladies about Tai Chi. He notices that Alonslow is not happy and asks him if it is because of Lorena. Alonslow tells him that he misses her and wants her back. Toribio tells him to look for her, not to pressure her, but to start getting into her life again. Alonslow thinks that it’s a great idea and says he will do it.

Ickturo comes back home and tells his mom that he has the perfect opportunity; they will export corn, they are going to be millionaires! His mom is very happy.

Jacky goes to Magdalena’s house. Magdalena tells her that she is happy she decided to come. Jacky is very eager to learn. Magdalena tells her that she needs to give her “obulo” a donation, Jacky gives her what she had.

Lorena asks Ernesto why she kept on looking at her. Ernesto tells her that for the same reason she looked at him. Ernesto tells her that they can’t deny it; they are still in love, but Lorena is not that sure. She tells him that she is still afraid. She asks him if he has something to do with Jimena. He tells her that Jimena is just a friend and he has always been faithful to her. He then asks if she has something to do with Alonslow, before she could answer his question, somebody comes to tell Ernesto that the Principal wants to talk to him.

The principal tells Ernesto that the people from the program “Cocinando con Alegria” want to talk to him.

Sara arrives and goes to talk to her friend, the one that started the problem of the scholarship. She asks her about the first class and when she wants to copy her notes, the friend tells her that she is not interested in her friendship anymore. Sara leaves humiliated.

Lorena and Paty saw what happened with Sara and are laughing at her, when Alonslow arrives. Paty excuses herself and leaves Lorena and Alonslow together. He wants to talk to her. Right then Ernesto comes back and sees them talking. He is now sure that Lorena and Alonslow are back together.

Sara goes into a classroom. There is a picture of Sara kissing Alan on the board. Sara is very mad rips the picture and asks the class who did it. Right then the teacher comes and asks her to go see the principal.

Lorena tells Alonslow that she can’t stay long because she needs to go back to her class. He tells her that he hadn’t asked her out because he wanted her to get comfortable with her family first. Lorena thanks him for giving her, her family back. Alonslow wants to know if Lorena is still with Ernesto. Lorena wants to know why. He tells her that he still loves her and wants a second chance. Lorena tells him that he has a very special place in her heart because he found her family but nothing more. He wants to show her how much she means to him, he asks her to let him take her out for a whole day to show her how much he loves her.

The principal tells Sara that she has been expelled from the institute.

Alonslow keeps on pushing Lorena to go out with him for a whole day. She tells him that she can’t do that because she doesn’t love him anymore, but he tells her to think about it.

Back with crazy Jacky, there is a meditation meeting. Magdalena asks teacher Jaime if he has been able to contact the highest teachers. He tells her that the contact has been established, and the teachers are telling her that there is a new soul in the room that needs healing, however she won’t be able to obtain healing because she is a sinner , she needs to purify herself first by asking forgiveness from all of those whom she has wronged.

Sara storms out of the principal’s office and sees Lorena coming back. She blames Lorena for all her problems. Lorena tells her that in effect she was the one that told the wife, but it is all Sara’s fault because she is the one that has been doing those bad things. Sara tries to hit her, but Lorena holds her hand and tells her that she won’t play her games, she knows that she trying to pick a fight to get her expelled. Sara tells her that she hates her. Lorena just smiles and tells her that she feels sorry for her. Lorena walks away.


Jacky tells Magdalena that she is very happy the contact with the teacher Efrain has helped her. Magdalena tells her that now all she has to do is repent and fix all her mistakes. Jacky is more than willing to do everything she has been told.


Ivan invites Betina to eat. Gina asks her if she is Ivan’s girlfriend, Ivan hesitates a little and says that no, Betina is his dance partner. Gina tells them that they should be girlfriend and boyfriend because they look very cute together. Betina tells her that they are too young to have a relationship. Gina tells them that that is not true, because she has a boyfriend and she is younger.

Ernesto has a meeting with the producer of the program. He tells him that he is one of three candidates, but not to worry and relax and do his best for the test. The producer tells him that this time they only called men because of the incident with Sara. Ernesto didn’t know what happened with Sara. The producer fills him in.

Betina is showing Ivan’s siblings how to dance. Fanny tells them that the little ones have to go do their homework. They leave Ivan and Betina alone and Ivan uses this opportunity to ask Betina if she wants to be his girlfriend. Betina accepts

Maruja tells Ray that she can’t work for them anymore. Ray can’t understand why she is leaving. They enter Ray’s office and Monica is there. Maruja tells them that her little business is doing so well that she needs to be there full time. They ask her to at least wait a little while they find somebody to replace her. She agrees to wait.

Lorena enters the lesser house and Diana is there. Diana wants to know how she feels after seeing Ernesto at school. Lorena tells her that she loves Ernesto with all her heart, but can’t have a relationship with him because they both have trust issues. She then tells her about Alonslow visit and how he is asking for a date with her. Lorena tells her that she is very confused and doesn’t know what to do. Diana tells her that Joel came by and he is going to help her with her divorce. Lorena is happy for her.

Toribio goes to see Alonslow to know what happened with Lorena. Alonslow tells him that Lorena is hesitant, but he asked her to go out with him for a whole day to show her how much he loves her. Toribio is not that sure about the plan. ALonslow tells him that Lorena hasn’t agreed to go out with him, but he is almost sure she’ll say yes.

Jacky is talking to Catalina. She asks for her forgiveness. Catalina thinks that Jacky is crazy, but tells her that yes she forgives her. Jacky is very happy and tells her that now is her turn to ask for forgiveness. She needs to contact Valeria and tells her that she is sorry for everything she did. Catalina refuses. Jacky then prays to teacher Efrain to help her open her heart.

Ernesto arrives to his house. Fanny tells him that the children are sleeping and Ivan is practicing dance in his room. She comments that Ivan’s girlfriend is very pretty. Ernesto is not to happy to hear that Betina was there.

Lorena is talking to Rosi and Diana about Alonslow and Ernesto. Diana tells her that she needs to decide which one is the one that she really loves. Lorena tells them that she loves Ernesto with all her heart. Rosi then tells her to stop thinking about it and to go and talk to him. Diana agrees that they need to talk and resolve all their misunderstandings. Lorena says that she will go to his house to talk to him because she can’t stand this situation anymore. Zulema walks into the Kitchen and asks them if they have heard form Omar. They tell her no, and Zulema, very rudely, just walks out without saying anything else.

Omar is at the office. He tells Greta that she can leave; he’ll stay longer because he has a lot of work. Greta gets close to him and tells him that she wants to stay to “help” him, and then she gets even closer and tells him that she can see that he is very tense. She offers to give him a little massage which Omar refuses. Finally Greta takes her mask off and tells him that she likes him. Omar is trying to resist, he tells her that he is a married man and asks her to leave. She says she’ll leave…for now, but she’ll see him tomorrow.

Julian and Rosi are making out on the couch of the lesser house. Lorena comes out. She is going to see Ernesto. Julian tells her that everybody at work is saying that is almost sure that Ernesto will get the job as the chef of “Cocinando con Alegria”. Lorena is very nervous and asks them to wish her luck. She leaves and then Julian asks Rosi if she wants to go to a more comfortable place. Rosi accepts and they leave too.

Ernesto is at his house when we hear the door bell. I think we all know what is going to happen, is it Lorena? No it is Jimena. Jimena tells him that she has good news. She found Ernesto a job. Ernesto tells her that he has that test tomorrow for the program. Jimena tells him that she is sure that he’ll get the program, but if not, then he can always go and take the job her father’s friend is offering. She asks him if he has fixed things with Lorena. He asks her if he has time to hear his story.

Sara has been waiting for Bruno. He arrives and makes fun of the fact that he is late because he has a job and she doesn’t. Sara tells him that she called him because she is ready to start the destruction of the Armendariz family. She tells him that she can’t think of a way to make Lorena suffer, she’ll start with the old lady. They will sabotage the Banker’s Club banquet.

After hearing the whole story, Jimena tells Ernesto that maybe he overreacted. She doesn’t believe that Lorena would be capable of betraying Ernesto. She reasons that maybe they were in front of the hotel, because Alonslow had to stay in the hotel, not because they just had sexual relations. Ernesto is not sure. She asks him if she saw them kissing. He says that no. Jimena tells him that Lorena is very direct and it doesn’t look like the type that would lie. Ernesto tells her that maybe not her, but what about Alonslow, he keeps on pursuing her and he(Ernesto) knows that Lorena loved him a lot. Jimena tells him to talk to Lorena to clarify the misunderstandings. He tells her that he’ll do it because Lorena is the woman of his life. Jimena is impress because Ernesto is showing maturity.

Ernesto (conveniently) walks Jimena to her car. He thanks her for all her help. Jimena tells him that that’s what friends are for. He hugs her and right then guess who arrives in a taxi, Lorena. She asks the driver to stop the taxi and she looks thru the window making a big impactada face.
The End

Labels: enemiga

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