Caray, Caray!

Well, it’s my worst nightmare – no captions tonight, though I don’t know why. Fuego had ‘em. The sad truth about my skimpy Spanish has crawled out from under the rock where it was hiding and is blinking in the bright light of public display. I remember JudyB recounting that it happened to her once and – I loved the way she put it – she said something like “I almost climbed down their throats” trying to understand the actors. She said it took her hours and hours to do the recap. JudyB my hat’s off to you – you are a goddess. Even repeating viewings (listenings?) still didn’t tease all the dialog out for me. It was interesting to notice who had good diction. First prize goes to Stef. The booby prize goes to JM. He can put it on the shelf with all the other booby prizes he’s been getting in other categories.

So please jump in with corrections and expansions. What you read here constitutes my best guess.

Leftovers (which fortunately I remember from last night): The police have finally gotten around to questioning Balbina. They have scooped her up from Viv’s funeral and now she’s in the precinct office where they show her Ivette’s photo and ask if that’s who she saw in the garden that night. Although Balbina says she only could see the big, sparkly earrings since it was so dark, when she sees the photo she says yes! That’s her! For our bumbling police, that’s a good, solid identification.

Elsa tells Nelson off for being drunk/drugged. Leo suggests names for the kid and Mari pretends when he gets to Juan Something that it’s a great idea and she says Juan Miguel. Leo doesn’t say Hey, I have an old friend of that name! Drat.

New stuff: Although it’s daylight, Pirana is lurking in the trees with that fiendish look of his. Stabbing his big knife into a tree trunk, he says to himself that he’s just waiting for the right moment.

Viv’s burial. Everyone is there. The Velardes are wearing shades. The padre says the usual dust thou art words while Onelia crumples, sobbing, and Rocio supports her.

It’s a lovely day at the hacienda and lots of peons are out sweeping the grounds. Mica is inside with Leo telling him that the reason they ditched the newspaper is that the father of Mari’s baby is off to jail for many years after having murdered his wife and it was in the paper and they didn’t want Mari to see it. I think she said the kid will be without a father.

Everyone has left the burial except sobbing Onelia, who is clutching a big framed photo of Viv, and has a rosary hanging from her arm, and Rocio who is trying to be kind and to get her to come away. Onelia shakes her off angrily and says leave! Then she curses JM and promises the pile of dirt that is Viv that she will see him locked up for good. Finally Rocio can’t listen to any more of that and leaves.

The padre is visiting JM who is behind bars. I hadn’t realized how mushy-mouthed Wm Levy is until now – it must be those big lips. Anyway, after several replays I have no idea what he is saying. A jailer comes and tells them time’s up. JM tells the padre don’t worry about him, he’s there because it was his fault. The padre says good luck and JM calls him back and says if Mari finds out tell her I still love her.

It’s nighttime and Mari is in her room with the baby who is fussy. She thinks she hears something at the window and gets a little creeped out. It is now time to fire the writers and hire on the clever ones from Guapos. Astoundingly, Mari heads off the direction of the bathroom and stays gone long enough for Pirana to come in cautiously, take the baby and go out the window. We see him leap from the balcony without breaking a leg or dropping the baby.

Mari returns – the empty basinet! The open window! She yells for Cande. Downstairs in the stunning blue kitchen, Cande and Mica are happily discussing Cande’s favorite topic, food. Mari comes flying in, hysterical, and tells them the baby is missing.

Pirana is running across the grass and meets up with his bright co-conspirator who says Did you get him? even though Pirana has MiniJM in his arms. We did it! says Pirana. What next? asks the brainy guy. Pirana says we escape with him, then he says something that makes the other guy look worried and doubtful.

Onelia is back at Castle San Ramon, sitting on the couch with Stef and Isa. She weeps that everything in the house reminds her of Viv. They look sympathetic and try to comfort her. Onelia sends Balbina to get Rocio

Meantime, Rocio is with freaked-out Blanca in her room. She has Blanca by the wrists and seems to be trying to get her to focus and come to her senses. Balbina knocks. Rocio tries to reason with Blanca, shakes her and tells her to look her in the eyes and all of a sudden Blanca gets that Ivette look in her eyes.

Balbina tells Onelia that Rocio can’t come right now, she’s with Blanca. Onelia says that woman is still in the house? She, Stef and Isa go to see. Blanca is staring now. Onelia says what is she still doing here? Blanca gives them all a steady look.

Now Mica, frantic Mari and Cande are up in the room. Cande looks under the bassinet blankets as if she could find the child there. Mari points out the open window. Leo arrives to see what’s going on. Mari tells him and Cande wails.

Rocio tells Onelia that JM said Blanca was to stay. Onelia says she can’t. Rocio says JM is the head of the family. Onelia says he murdered his pregnant wife – he has no rights. He’s in jail and from now on whatever I say, goes. Rocio is defiant and says nobody can overrule him, not you, not me. Balbina pipes up and tells Onelia she doesn’t know what happened. It was another woman who killed Viv and the police are looking for her. Blanca/Ivette’s eyes widen.

Stef tells Onelia that Balbina is right and the woman’s name is Ivette Whatever. Blanca’s eyes really pop.

Back to Mari’s room. She points out the open window to Leo. He guesses that it’s Pirana, he’s seen him hanging around lately. Mari says but why? Leo has no idea. He swears he will find that baby and return him safe and sound to Mari’s arms.

Stef is telling Onelia I was trying to tell you, but you didn’t want to hear it. The police are almost positive it was Ivette. She tells Onelia to call the inspector. A phone materializes in Onelia’s hand.

Down in the hacienda living room, Leo is trying to head out but Mari is hanging on him saying she is going too. He forbids her and Cande and Mica hang on to her. He leaves, but Mari breaks away and runs out. Mica runs after her and Cande is frantic. This cannot be good for her ticker.

Pirana’s sidekick does not want to do whatever Pirana’s plan is that I can’t make out. He says something about the blood of an innocent and he bails out. More money for me, Pirana calls after him.

JM and Ceci are sitting in the inspector’s office. She mentions Mari and JM says so it’s true what Stef says – Mari is your daughter? Ceci says yes and says tell the authorities the truth, clear your name and tell them where they can find that woman. Do it for Marichuy.

Leo is sneaking up on Pirana by riding a horse with a white blaze through the underbrush – and he has on a bright white shirt. I think we hear the baby crying, but it’s hard to tell as the dramatic music is so loud. Leo changes direction and heads off.

Meantime Mari is in the hammock in the barn with the Cande and Mica who are trying to calm her and who promise Leo will bring her baby back. Nacho hovers in the background.

Pirana has arrived by the creek. MiniJM is still crying.

JM tells Ceci that it was Mari’s choice to disappear. Ceci says are you in love with the woman you’re protecting? JM says he has a moral obligation. I think Ceci says I realize she has liberated you from the torment of Viv. JM says he holds himself responsible for what happened. Ceci says she doesn’t understand and doesn’t think it’s right. JM says I know. I think she says that love can justify anything. JM says he’s sorry he can’t explain anything right now.

Pirana looks like he’s about to give MiniJM his baptism and last rites rolled into one when here comes Leo who slugs him and takes the baby. He holds Pirana down with his boot and curses him and says who set you up? Who sent you? Who?

Ceci says why are you protecting such a bad woman? JM says she doesn’t merit your hard words. Ceci rolls her eyes. She says what if Mari finds out? I think he says she’d never come back, it’s too late.

What a manly manly man! Leo now has Pirana by the throat pinned against a tree with one hand while in the other arm he holds MiniJM. He demands to know why Pirana did it. Pirana says for the money and Leo demands to know who paid him. Pirana says he doesn’t know his name. He breaks free and runs off. Dirt bag! Leo shouts after him. Let’s go home, he tells MiniJM and takes his horse by the reins and starts to walk off. Uh oh, we see the sidekick looking on from behind some trees.

At Casa Velarde, the judge is having tea with Stef and they are discussing how the police can’t find any record of the existence of Ivette. Ceci comes home. They want to know about how it went with JM. Ceci tells them about the moral obligation JM was talking about. Stef says tell him that woman needs to be locked up.

Elsa is looking at the two men who are in love with her, giving her a good opportunity for comparison. One of them, Nelson, is passed out on the bed. The other, Ed, is checking his pupils then giving him little slaps to get him to come to. Ed is going to take some blood samples – he gloves up.

Back at the hacienda barn, waiting for Leo, there are hysterics, pacing, weeping.

Rocio has Blanca in her arms and is comforting her. Blanca is weeping and squeaking and I can’t make out what she’s saying, but I think she’s asking Rocio to stay with her and do whatever is in her power, slap her, whatever, to keep her evil alter-ego away.

The sidekick has found a pay phone and he calls Amador who is at Televisa, working late I guess. He tells Amador what happened and Amador tells him they’re a couple of idiots. The sidekick then tells Amador something that makes the cellos buzz, I think that Leo was demanding a name.

At the barn, Mari is wiped out and is just staring. Cande is still weeping. Hoofbeats! It’s Leo with the baby (apparently he had mounted the horse – not an easy thing to do with a baby in one arm). Jubilation. Leo says he didn’t kill Pirana and Mari wonders why Pirana did it. Leo’s eyes dart back and forth.

Ed has a serious professional talk about Nelson’s condition with Elsa but I didn’t catch it. He says good night and leaves. Elsa studies the passed-out Nelson.

Mari asks again why Pirana did it and Leo tells her somebody paid him to. The cellos buzz. They retire to the hacienda. They are about to head off to bed and Mica tells Leo he did great, and Cande thanks him too. They leave. Mari and he chat and he tells her that she’ll have to separate from MiniJM and she says never. Leo laughs and says one day he’ll be a man and head out on his own. I think he then says you’ll need a companion and Mari demurs. He tell her that she’s young, pretty, and the main thing, she has a good heart. I think he says the right man will come along. Mari smiles and loves up MiniJM. Nobody thinks about security.

Maybe Rocio is going to try an exorcism or maybe she thinks that if the Virgin can’t cure Blanca, nobody can, because she’s bringing Blanca into the church. Padre Anselmo is there and she tells him Blanca needs somebody like him. He asks why Blanca is crying. What does she need? Blanca says I did it! I killed JM’s wife! The padre is impactadissimo.

Amador is in a café with Isa and Stef and he’s filling them in on the failed caper. He says Leo didn’t find out their names, and that it was the sidekick who called him to tell him about it. We’re doomed, says Isa.

Eduardo has stopped by Elsa’s. She reports that Nelson doesn’t want to get up, doesn’t want to eat. Ed hands her the envelope with the bloodwork results.

Rocio is telling the padre that it’s true, but it’s not Blanca’s fault because this other woman takes her over. Blanca weeps that it’s stronger than her, she can’t resist. The padre looks horrified. This is way worse than a neighborhood lady being stoned for being a prostitute.

In his jail cell JM is despondent. Here comes a dignified white-haired fellow who introduces himself as a lawyer. He says he’s familiarized himself with the details of the case and that the police think JM isn’t guilty. He wants JM to be completely honest with him. Are you guilty, or innocent?

Elsa says she can’t read the lab report. Ed informs her that Nelson is seriously ill, but I couldn’t make out the details. Maybe his liver is shot. Ed says she’ll have to decide if she wants to leave him or stick with him to the end, which apparently is imminent.

The lawyer asks JM again – guilty or innocent? Wm Levy’s diction is so bad I reran the same sentence about 8 times and still wasn’t sure if he said No soy cupable or Yo soy cupable. But he’s shaking his head and the lawyer beams, so it must be he said no.

Avances: JM gets out and now he wants to go looking for Mari.

Labels: Cuidado

Last night Kris left us with the image of Alicia sitting outside Meño's house hiding behind her sunglasses and looking obvious in her shiny red car. She's hoping to catch her mama in the lie of not returning to the DF. Uh oh, Candy and Chava come outside chattering away but Alicia gets a phone call and is distracted. Our spy talks VERY LOUDLY, Candy hears her and dashes inside. Whew! Thank goodness Al is as bad a spy as she is a sister. Meño sees Al and Al sees him seeing her.

Jaime wants Isabel to tell Santiago about their relationship, they don't have a lot of time, they're grownups and it's not like they'll have an accidental pregnancy or anything. This comment offends Isabel's finer sensibilities and she tells him all he thinks about is the bed. She doesn't want to be rushed. She pisses him off and he splits. Oops, their first spat. Donato comforts her. Interesting.

Alicia rudely busts bust-first into Meño's colorful house. She knows he's hiding someone, where is her mama? Gregoria enters and informs Al that she's there because she needed help and Meño is giving it.

Meanwhile Candy and Chava hide under his bed. He doesn't understand why they're hiding but he grabs his box of lies for Candy and tells her she needs it to keep her lie. This kid's not dumb.

Gregoria puts on a great show of liking Meño, will that be one sugar or two dear brother? Alicia's skeptical but Gregoria says she was never bothered by Meño's "illness" (gag me) it was her husband who minded. Alicia stomps upstairs and for some reason they don't seem concerned. Aren't they worried about her finding Candy? Or maybe they are downstairs and she's stomping up to the door? Clearly I'm architecturally challenged.

Meanwhile Patricio visits Beto and Soledad tells him Jorge wants to be Beto's papa. Pato talks sweetly to Beto and asks him to give him a chance to be a papa to him.

The commercial fade out is of Pato happily holding both his sons.

Over at the institute Chayo is helping a client with her makeup. Apparently she's one of the clients that they called out of Santiago's stolen agenda. After the client leaves Chayo becomes bored waiting for her next client. She sits behind two big chrome globes that are right in front of her bubis and her mind wanders to her chest. She gives herself a pep talk which Candy overhears, she'll never betray Candy! Then she holds the globes in front of her chest and sighs.

Another frenetic operation while the Plastic Doctor tries to warn Eduardo that Chayo will eventually show up for a bubi operation. This disconcerts Eduardo who changes the conversation to something more comfortable. They argue about futbol.

Back at Meño's house Chava wants to know who is this woman who stays at their house? They finally tell him the truth, she's his abuela, Candy's mom. He takes this news very well, "Super, give me a hug!" Meño mutters that he hopes the kid doesn't listen to her heart.

It must be meet-the-grandparents-day. Pato takes Beto for a walk and guess who's there, evil grandma and grandpa. OK, Beto's also very happy to meet his abuelos and so far they behave themselves but I'm not holding my breath. Beto assumes they are his mom's parents. The grownups have some 'splaining to do.

Chayo comes home to her rude husband Eduardo who tells her he's eating chilaquiles and toast again and he's tired of the situation. Not tired enough to learn how to cook something else or open a can of soup I see. She tells him she's tired of their relationship. So there!

Over at Club Abandonados it appears they're watching Baywatch with gusto. Zamora has joined them and is AWOL from the restaurant. Raul pulls Santi aside and advises him to leave Candy in peace. The abandonados creep up the better to hear. Raul instructs Santi to remain dedicated to his sister. He puts his hands on his hips indicating he means business.

Marissa and Barbara are enjoying some girl talk and a little tequila. Barb tells Marissa that Candy and Santi were in Candy's office "for hours" and after Santi left Candy was totally enthusiastic and excited. Marissa tells Barb that from now on she wants Barb to tell her everything that goes on between her boyfriend and Candy. Barb pretends to be offended to be Marissa's spy but then admits she loves nothing better than intrigue and gossip. They throw back a shot of tequila to seal the deal.

Gregoria makes pancakes for Chava and he keeps staring at her because he's so happy to have an abuela. She tells him if he crosses his eyes he'll see more than one of her and she tries to teach him. When I was a kid my grandma told me if I crossed my eyes they'd stay that way forever.

Over at the apartment of discontent Alicia and Pato are having an acidic breakfast. She tells him she knows it sounds immature but she feels displaced by his son. He agrees, no not that she's displaced but that she sounds immature. He rubs salt in the wound by informing her he introduced Beto to his parents. She's pissed because he doesn't introduce Beto to her, his wife. He tells her she has nothing to do with this business. Nice.

At the institute clueless Candy's in the process of trying to dress Cece in a more feminine shirt when Chayo rushes in to tell her that Marissa's crying in the bathroom. While Chayo forces a makeover on Cece Candy runs to Marissa.

A sobbing Marissa tells Candy she's crying because of the deal about her not being able to have kids, and now the fibroids, she's afraid... Candy tells her it'll be all right, they'll go together to hear what the doctor has to say and in the meantime Marissa needs lots of cuddles. (Apapachar = to cuddle) They hug and Marissa makes another one of her over-the-shoulder creepy faces. Yikes, that face scared the hell out of me.

Good Gawd, a sad and dreary Patricio re-reads the old article "A Wedding Scandal" featuring Candy in her skivvies and then moons over her eulogy. He gets a distracting phone call from Soledad I think and they discuss his parents wanting to take Beto on vacation. Alicia swoops in, sees his choice of reading material, and storms out.

Candy walks Marissa into the lobby and assures her her dreams aren't over, she can still have kids, maybe not in her belly but she can adopt. She's giving Marissa a hug when Santi arrives and doesn't quite know what to make of this scene. Candy beckons him over and hisses "hug us strongly!" She wriggles out of the hug and leaves him hugging Marissa and looking baffled. Whooshing sounds and suddenly she runs over and tears him out of Marissa's arms, "I don't want to hurt you Marissa but he's mine" and starts making out with him. Marissa pulls him back "no he's mine" and forces him to kiss her. We whoosh back out of Candy's fantasy and she shakes her head and exclaims "ya ya I'm going crazy, crazy! Santiago and Marissa look at her all "que the hell?"

Over at the institute Chayo seems a bit out of sorts and when Barb accuses her of hoarding their clients she leaves in a snit. The ladies agree she's nervous and could use a little therapy.

Alicia sexily sashays down some stairs and approaches a man. My my, it's the bitter and recently-divorced abandonado (darn, can't remember his name) who says he was surprised and thrilled to get her call. Al tells him she's married but not happily and she hopes he's freed up for the next couple of hours. I wonder if she had anything to do with his ruined marriage? It ended because he had an affair, right?

Chayo tells her current client that all she needs is a little treatment for her dry hair, otherwise she looks great. Client says she owes it all her great plastic surgeon who happens to be in the same building. He added a couple of sizes to her bust, took off a couple from her waist. Chayo is impactada, did the surgery change her life? Client admits that men don't throw themselves at her feet like she'd hoped but when she looks in the mirror she feels like Miss Universe. Chayo looks at her bustline and whimpers.

Alicia is in the bitter abandonado's apartment and she recall's Pato's unfeeling words about her infantile behavior. She energetically boinks the smarmy dude. Take that Patricio!

Meño finds Gregoria poking around his room. Que horror, he shrieks, hands off! She doesn't like his feminine bedspread, 70's decor and all his creams. He tells her to leave him alone and if she doesn't like it leave! He accuses her of separating him from his brother and their kids. She said he separated himself when, when... He finishes her thought, "when I loved another man." She can barely stand to hear it. She insists love is between a man and a woman, he insults God. They have the typical argument about this subject which she concludes by saying he's lost and she's going to pray for him. This cracks him up and he says she's afraid because he's a better person than her bitter old self. He knew love but her, no. His bro married her because she was pregnant and he stayed with her because he loved his daughters. Gregoria's response is she refuses to leave the house because she won't lose her daughter and grandkid again, she won't leave until Candy kicks her out! She can be a right bitch, that one.

Commercial for the upcoming Pobre Millionaria featuring Chef Hawt wearing very little and some ugly duckling type wearing glasses and being impactada and slack-jawed in every shot.

Next up is a random scene with Zamora setting up a graft scam against Toño by convincing Toño to pay him a monthly fee to be part of the Waiter's Protection Syndicate. Is this another Frijolito rip-off?

At the institute Candy gets image consultant lessons from an effeminate lisping man who I suspect is someone famous but I have no idea who he is. His state-of-the-art advice includes walking straight with a book on one's head. Candy finds this challenging and she's impressed and ready to start training with him immediately.

Meño glumly strolls the neighborhood and longingly watches a man and his young son spending time together. He finds himself at the church and tells God he won't ask forgiveness for choosing his own path and for being happy, then he recites the "God grant me the serenity..." prayer concluding with "and please don't let me hurt my son." OK, I'll admit I was quite moved by this scene not to mention that this guy is one of my favorite characters.

Santiago and Eduardo are in the bookstore looking for a book that will help Santiago talk to Lucia about the birds and the bees. Eduardo finds one called "Sex and Adolescents". Santi is indignant, Lucia is NOT having sex. A pretty, young, and highly amused employee offers a book specifically for adolescents before they have sex. Santi is even more indignant, Lucia isn't going to have sex with anyone! Gasp, the book has photos, drawings, whatever they are they're offensive. The employee laughs at this pair of hopeless old farts who are insulted by her comment but still manage to enjoy the book's drawings like a couple of schoolyard adolescents.

Al gets home from her afternoon delight, picks a fight with Patricio who's on his way back to work and calls herself stupid.

Beto and Chava discover they both met abuelos that day. They discuss why abuelos usually come in pairs and Chava asks if a tio abuelo is an abuelo. Beto says an abuelo abuelo no, but a half abuelo yes. Thus this young pair begin to comprehend the intricacies of the family tree.

Pato's at work half-heartedly going through his mail. Bills, bills and more bills...but wait, there's an envelope. He removes a card with feminine writing. "I want to see you" it says. He sniffs it and recognizes the perfume. The only person who wears the same perfume he gave Candy is Soledad. He smiles and says if Sole wants war that's what he'll give her.

The ladies of the institute are taking a tootsie pop break and discussing having men in their lives. There's a slightly awkward moment when they ask Cece if she's got a boyfriend but, used to fielding this query, Cece deftly responds no and she's happy with her life the way it is.

Meño interrupts and demands to speak to Candy immediately...alone.

Meño asks Candy to please throw her mom out of the house! The eavesdropping ladies are impactadas and gasp. Meño snarls at them and they scurry away.

Tomorrow: Santi and Candy, he said she said he said she said, kiss kiss kiss. Marissa arrives, will she walk in on them? Alicia has the brilliant idea of dressing like Candy in her wedding dress and seducing Patricio.

Labels: Tontas

Marisela swears to DB that she didn't want this to happen. She tells Meléndez not to hurt DB, to leave her alone. "Enough hija, you don't gain anything by crying. That's what he wants - for us to fear him. But we are strong, hija, stronger and better than he is. Look at him, Marisela, this scumbag (escoria). He fears us. Even though we are tied up, he is terrified of us because he knows that if we were free, he couldn't handle us. Don't cry. Don't cry, hija, be courageous and strong, like my daughter."

Santos asks Melquíades how DB could have fallen into a trap and Melquíades explains about the soldier who came with the note. Melquíades says that has to leave. He has things to do. Santos replies that he needs Melquíades' help to find DB. Melquíades tells Santos that he has his skills (mañas) and they aren't like Santos' skills. Melquíades says that he will move heaven and earth but he will find them and bring them back safe and sound. If this doesn't happen, they will see him with feet first ("los pies por delante"), that is, dead. He rides off. Gonzalo says that he wouldn't want to be Melquíades' enemy. Santos replies that he is as loyal as he is macabre.

Antonio comes to see Mujiquita to get the Altamira vaqueros out of prison. Mujiquita says that the vaqueros broke the peace and damaged his bar. Antonio says that it is an emergency and explains about Marisela and DB being held by Meléndez. "Stop being a coward for once in your life," Antonio tells him, "Are you a friend of Santos, or not?" Mujiquita stands up straight and leads the way to the cells.

Mujiquita opens the cell and lets Carmelito, María Nieves and Pajarote out but not the El Miedo vaqueros. Guerrero pleads with Mujiquita to be let out also to find Meléndez but Mujiquita's fit of courage has passed.

Marisela: What should we do?
DB: Resist. That's what we are going to do. Follow me in every game and don't be afraid. Whatever the bastard does, don't give him the pleasure of seeing that you are weak. Fight. Fight, hija. We will fight.
M: All right. If you do it, I will do it.
DB: That's my girl.

Meléndez tells Sergeant Fierro that he is his personal assistant. He is to go to town and take charge of the troops. Then he is to return and make sure that no one follows. Meléndez says that he will take care of the two women.

Santos returns to Altamira and tells the vaqueros to split up and search the area. He tells Gonzalo to return to the hiding place. Gonzalo leaves meekly.

The Sargeant returns to Progresso and we see that Melquíades is watching. In the prison, Guerrero tells Fierro not to be an idiot and tell them where Meléndez is. Fierro says that Meléndez is on a special mission and has put him in charge of the soldiers. Guerrero says that Meléndez is involved in a very bad thing and will end up being court martialed and Fierro is his accomplice.

Meléndez comes back in the hut thingy and says that it is time to celebrate. DB tells him not to touch Marisela. "I already had you," he says, "Let me take the girl." DB tells Meléndez to kill her if he wants to but not touch her daughter. "I will kill you," says Meléndez, "don't you doubt it but I want you to see how I will celebrate." He rips open the top of Marisela's dress and the skirt.

Guerrero tries to order Fierro to release him and tell him where Meléndez is but he refuses. He says that Fierro knows where Meléndez is but he doesn't care. He tells Pernalete and Mujiquita that they are all going be accomplices in this disgrace.

Fierro tells the other soldiers that he is in charge and is going to get further orders from Melénde He gets back into the truck to return to Meléndez and we see that Melquíades is in the back.

DB tries to keep Meléndez from raping Marisela by inviting him to have her but he says that he has a taste for ("apetece") the girl. Desperately, DB says that he can't have Marisela because she is his daughter. She says that she made Lorenzo Barquero believe that Marisela was his but Marisela is the product of her rape. That is why she has always hated Marisela.

Neither Santos nor the vaqueros can find any trace of Marisela or DB.

Fierro is recalling Meléndez's instruction to make sure he isn't followed when Melquíades gets up from behind him and puts a knife to his throat and tells him to drive. He will tell him the way. "Where are we going?" asks Fierro. "To hell itself," replies Melquíades.

Pernalete paces back and forth while Guerrero and the El Miedo vaqueros look on.
Mujiquita tries to convince Pernalete to distance himself from Meléndez and release Guerrero. Another soldier comes asking for orders for his troop. He says Fierro has left and the the troops are hungry. Mujiquita holds out the keys of the cell while Pernalete bites his nails and tries to decide which is going to be the winning side.

Meléndez says that he doubts that Marisela is his daughter. He notes that DB doesn't hate her daughter, she is protecting her. He says that he thinks that DB is deceiving him to save her daughter but it won't work. "Nothing will save you from Nicolas Meléndez, little dove," says Meléndez. He tries to kiss Marisela but she bites his tongue. He hits Marisela and knocks her out.

The terneras come to Altamira and ask what they can do. "Pray," says Cecilia, so they all pray to their God.

Antonio brings Gonzalo back to the cellar. Gonzalo says that this is all his fault for asking Marisela to meet him at the well. Antonio tells him to stop tormenting himself. People in love do stupid things. Antonio tells the other rebels what is happening. They want to help but he tells them not make things more complicated.

Melquíades tell Fierro to stop the truck and turn off its lights. Fierro begs Melquíades not to kill him. He is only a soldier who doesn't have anything to do with anything. "Bad little soldier," says Melquíades. "We don't have much time."

Eustaquia and Juan Primito are praying to their gods.
JP says that he is afraid. He asks if the gods will protect Marisela and DB. Eustaquia says that she doesn't know. Lately, the gods have been deaf. Evil has invaded all of the Arauca and only a miracle can save them. Santos shows up and Eustaquia asks Santos not to let the bastard return and... hit my little girl. Right away, Santos picks up on the verb and asks Eustaquia if DB knew Meléndez from before. Eustaquia hesitates, Santos presses and finally she says there are things that she can't tell him or anyone. Santos leaves.

Melquíades tells Fierro to tell him everything he knows.

Meléndez comes into the hut with a pail of water. DB dares Meléndez to try it with her or is he afraid? He tells her to be quiet. She says that she will tell him how she will kill him. She says that she will kill him like she killed the other three. Always trying to distract him from Marisela, DB describes how she killed the other three. She says that she has prepared a very special death for him. Would he like to hear about it? Meléndez says that she doesn't frighten him. He doesn't care if she killed the others. That's fewer people who know his history. He thanks her for having killed them. He says that if she likes stories about ugly deaths, he will tell her one that she will like a lot. He hits her. She tells him to hit her again. He can do what he wants with her but he must let her daughter go. "Beg for her," says Meléndez, "Beg. I like it. Do you know why you are here, Bárbara? To see what I am going to do to your daughter and so she can see what I'm going to do to you. "
Meléndez tells Marisela to wake up and pours water on her.

Mujiquita continues to try and get Pernalete to do the right thing and release Guerrero.
Finally, Pernalete releases him and Guerrero takes charge of the soldiers. Mujiquita tells Pernalete that they can go and see Josefa's face now that Meléndez has fallen.

Meléndez goes up to Marisela and then curses. "What happened, Meléndez?" says DB, "Dead already, cadaver? It's fear and drunkeness." Meléndez admits that he is drunk and can't do it now but he says that it will pass and both of them will know that he is a man. He lies down to sleep. DB tells Marisela not to cry, that scum like Meléndez like that but she can't control her fear. She sobs and cries out for her father.

At Altamira, Lorenzo wakes up and hears his daughter calling. He tells Cecilia that he had a nightmare. Something bad was happening to Marisela and she was callling him. He asks Cecilia whether Marisela has returned and Cecilia has to say that she is still missing but she is sure that she will return at any moment and the Virgin will protect her. (I was crying here.)

It is the next morning. Melquíades is at the hut thingy where Meléndez is holding Marisela and DB. He kills the soldier guarding the place and opens the door of the hut slowly. DB cries a warning but Meléndez shoots and Melquíades falls to the floor unconscious or dead. "You killed him, bastard!" cries DB, "You killed my Indian..my brother." Meléndez tells her to be quiet.

Santos urges his men to continue the search even though they are tired and hungry and they agree. Santos says that he has a presentment that something bad is happening. Santos meets some soldiers and they recognize him as the man that Meléndez wants to arrest.

DB calls to Melquíades and says that he can't die now. Meléndez says that there isn't anything better for a hangover (resaca) than another drink. He says that he is functioning now and moves toward Marisela.

In the cellar, Gonzalo tells the other rebels that he has to go out and look for Marisela. They protest but he leaves.

Guerrero tells his men that this is an emergency situation. They are to look for Meléndez and the two women he kidnapped and bring them to the police headquarters.

DB tells Meléndez that he will regret what he has done. Waving Melquíades' bloody knife, Meléndez says that it is she who will have regrets. She has very little time left. She curses him and he hits her. She tells him to hit her again. He can only confront her when he has her at gunpoint or handcuffed. "Hit me while you can." Behind Marisela, Melquíades wakes up. He motions her to be quiet. DB keeps Meléndez' attention by saying that there aren't enough curses in the world for him. "Look at me in the eyes," she says, "You won't abuse my daughter. You won't touch her."

Melquíades is untying Marisela wrists one handed.

DB starts to put a curse on Meléndez invoking the Indian gods. He tells her to be quiet and calls her a witch. She tells him to look at her because she is the last thing he will see on this earth. Marisela's hands are free.

Santos tells the soldiers that he wants to be taken to see Meléndez. They lead him off while the vaqueros and Gonzalo watch from hiding.

Looking for Marisela around El Miedo, Juan Primito discovers "a blue man" ("un hombre azul"), the Sergeant's body, in a freezer. He runs for Eustaquia.

Meléndez says that her witchcraft doesn't scare hiim. It is she who will die. She and Santos Luzardo, that good for nothing shyster ("mequetrefe abogaducho"). He will invite Santos to the celebration. "He will go out with you," says Meléndez, "feet first." "No, not Santos," says Marisela and that unfortunately draws Meléndez' attention to Marisela and Melquíades. Melquíades pretends to be dead but he isn't in the same place where he fell. "The dead don't move," says Meléndez. He points his gun at Melquíades.

Guerrero finds Santos being escorted by two soldiers. He tells them to release Santos.

Melquíades attacks Meléndez and Meléndez hits him and knocks him out. DB yells at Meléndez to leave Melquíades alone. Meléndez says that he can't take any more. He is going to kill her right now. He cocks his gun and points it at DB. Marisela yells, no. She pushes Meléndez and he falls onto the straw and is impaled through the abdomen on the tines of some kind of farm implement.

Marisela and DB look at each other horrified.

Labels: barbara

Wow, I had a long hiatus...so busy before the holidays, and then no shows during. Well that worked out just fine. Hope you all have a happy New year. I was asked about the Roscas and I have something for you I'll post in the morning, so check back...

OK here you are. This is my name sake for the last year so I have a special affinity for it. You can see it in my blog image too....

For those of you who don't know, 1/6 is the Epiphany, and known as the Day of Kings, Dia de Reyes and celebrates the three kings visit to the baby Jesus in the manger that you always see in the nativity. More info is here in an article ironically written by "Oscar Reyes"...this is also the traditional day for children to receive their presents. We went to the store to see about trying one of their Roscas when we were met with this line (hard to see but easily 80 -100 people all the way to the back of the store) and an announcement that the bakers were working really hard and the next batch would be ready in about 40 minutes. Caray! But the people waited....we decided to go home and make another one instead....I don't have a pic of ours... but here's actually Wikipedia has some great information about the various iterations of this delight and traditions that accompany it...













NO ROSCAS ON THE SHELF
....WAITING FOR THE BAKERS TO FINISH


At the 60’s fest Charly is nervous that Lu’s Unc and Grandma will see them together. Lu isn’t worried about this prospect though, she thinks they’ll get along well and shoves a sandwich in his mouth. Wish I thought of that a couple of times.

The little kids, best actors in the show, are on the stage trying to get each other to dance, but Chava is staying there with his perrito. Roci says he has to dance with his novia so give the dogs to Beto

Jaime shows up and Izzy loves his costume. He too is worried About running into her son. She says it’s a night of peace and love and no one will get angry. She runs off to put on her costume.

The ladies talk about the impending performance and Candi remarks that dr plastic will take any chance he can get to act like a clown. Then she apologizes remembering peace and love.

Tio summons happiness to come. Venga Allegria

Ok our mineral water band Agua mineral looks more like an eighties heavy metal band to me. Maybe they were going for the Kiss look, but heck, that was more 70’s, no? Not sixties....but ok, whatever.

Johnny Laboriel comes on stage to get the party hoppin’.

He announces Joan Baez and John Lennon (Izzy and Jaime) who will sing the ballad of Sacco and Vanzetti. They lip sync to this bizarre choice of songs in English.

Tina warns Donato that Madam will scream to high heaven when she sees him. He doesn’t care.
Ma shows up at Alicia’s who thought she was in the DF. Ali wonders why she’s here she manages to get to talk to Pat and asks him how he’s been feeling in light of the anniversary day. He thinks he saw Candi. She says thinks or did? He responds Candi’s dead. She says she sees her and Vero everyday too.

Donato shows up and angers the peacemonger because he is apparently playing the wrong music, or something. I didn’t exactly get the extent of his offense. He claims he is Mick Jagger and she accuses him of being from the 50’s.

Charly and Jaime go to get the band saying that they have to come out and sing to break up a problem. Of course Santi wonders who these two are. He questions that they are both "friends" of the women in his life.

Ma having done her best to perpetuate Candi’s lie goes to leave, Ali wants to send her by chauffeur to her hotel but Ma refuses that she’s staying with a friend. Ali of course is extremely suspicious of all this and doesn’t want to let Ma go. She follows her out the door.

Fiesta of paz turns a little rocky...

While our peace and lovster continues to argue with her help the band comes out playing, yes what I still would call 80’s rock and the attention turns to them. Santi slides all over the stage and is pretty acrobatic for a while until there is a pause. The crowd agrees by their silence that he looks quite goofy. He says they haven’t played for so long. They try to shake it up with He hey hey fabit albubert I guess it works because they keep singing about horrifying tacos. Fun stuff.

Alicia and Ma end up at the restaurant. Zamora is there and Ali wants to know where Meno is. Ma is trying to get Zamora to disappear but this bright bulb doesn’t get the hint.

Zamora says Meno went to the festival with Candy, but Ali says Candy is dead. Zam begins to mourn her. Ma tells her he means Candido the boyfriend of Meno, and well, they say Candi for short because you know those types like to be called women’s names. She tells Ali he’s a relative so he’s upset.

The crowd begs for more Mineral Water but instead gets a completely unrelated ballad called Nadie se va a marchar, a Jaime Camil song. Paula sent me the words and translation, so here you have them. This from his latest album.

Nadie se va a marchar
Para que la vida no te pese tanto
hare una maleta con tus desencantos
y la mandare de viaje muy lejos
para que las penas no nublen en cielo
para que la risa te brille de nuevo
pintare las tardes de un azul intenso
y atare un rayo de sol en tu pelo
para que no temas al frio en invierno
CORO:para que explicarte que te quiero tanto
y que no puedo verte llorar
dejame mostrarte que la vida es buena
y nunca es tarde para soñar.sabes que hoy me que
doy mañana lo hago de nuevo
yo no te voy a enganar...para que las dudas abran su camino
y tu corazon siga su destinote dare una noche en el centro del mundo
para que disfrutes de cada segundo
para que del alma juntes los pedazos
construire tu casa dentro de mi abrazo
y nos quedaremos por noches y dias
sin que nos importe que traiga la vida
COROla tormenta pasara la luna subira...y tu estaras conmigo.. conmigo
o..=======Nobody is going to go away
So life doesn’t weigh you down so much
I’ll pack a suitcase w/ your disappointments
And send it on a trip far away
So that pains don’t cloud your sky.
So your laughter shines anew
I’ll paint your afternoons a deep blue
tie a ray of sunshine in your hair
so you don’t fear the cold in winter
ChorusTo explain that I want you so much
And I can’t stand to see you cry
Let me show you that life is good
And it's never too late to dream
You know that I’m staying
and tomorrow I’ll do it again.
I’m not going to deceive you.
So your doubts open your path
and your heart follows your destiny
I’ll give you a night in the center of the world
so you can enjoy every second
So the pieces of your soul are put back together
I’ll build your house within my embrace
And we’ll stay there nights and days
And it won’t matter what life brings us
ChorusThe storm will pass and moon will rise
And you will be with me, with me.

Santi tells Candi he wrote the song especially for her it’s not a cover. IN this conversation he tells her he wants to make love with her and she says yeah except that’s something he already does with his girlfriend. This converation was just weird, but anyway he gets it out that the song is all about her and his love for her. I’m thrilled if I’m Marissa right now. She comes over and of course gets told the song was for her. Blech. He also tells her he has to keep an eye on his alcoholic bandmates.

Zamora tells Tono about Candi’s unfortunate passing.

Santi and Mr. Raul are having breakfast and Santi is telling him to leave Candi alone because he will only suffer. Raul isn’t stupid he says he knows Santi likes her but he is also dating his sister. He says that she wants nothing to do with men because one treated her badly once. He just reminds him to forget her and makes like a hypnotist. Raul smashes his hand away but Santi tells him it works for Tony Kamo.

A funeral wreath shows up from Zamo and Tono to the house. Meno wonders who they killed now. Little does he know.

Tono is sad because Candi was the love of his life. They reminisce about her agreeing to sing a song in her honor over her coffin.

Candi and Sole have a chat and Sole promises not to give up Candi’s game to Pat. Sole worries more about Ali. Candi is surpised she knows her and hears about when she came to offer Sole money to stay away from Pat. Sole thinks he’s an ok guy. Candi asks if she loves him. She doesn’t know but Candi says you always know. Sole then rightly asks her about the doc. Candi reminds her that Pat slept with Sole while they were novios. Sole didn’t know and didn’t care. Anyway, Candi says she can’t get him out of her head and Sole wonders if she is in love with him again. Candy leaves.


Ma leaves a note she’s gone back to the DF. Pat’s on the way to work but Ali stops him and wonders if Candi walked through the door right now if he would drop her He tells her not to make him answer questions he’d have to lie about.

Candy and Santi argue again. This time she’s miffed because he goes into the building without adressing her. Blah blah....talk about needing a psychiatriast. He ends that she pretends to tell the whole world how to be a women when she doesn’t even know how to be one herself. Yep.

Pat stops by to tell Sole that his parents want to meet their grandson. She agrees that would be good. He likes Sole’s perfume and remarks that his former wife wore it. He tells that he is widowed, but lately it seems like his wife is following him around everywhere. Sole smiles uncomfortably.

Meno brings the wreath to the restaurant. Just then Ali yells for Meno and wants to know what’s up. He’s a little impactado.

This was great, a funeral march toward the restaurant with Zam and Tono and the hearse in tow.
Meno stalls while the music plays. Tio points out Tono as Candido, a special friend. She says he has the face of a candido. She’s done so she leaves and gets some condolence hugs on the way out.
Tono gives Meno condolences but he breaks a hug to smack him in the face and ask what the stupid ones are doing.

Back to Santi and Candi arguing as usual about what mens’ favorite activities are about, sex, friends and soccer.

The mariachi/waiters tell them the girl told them of Candi’s death. Meno tells them they should check with him first. He wonders about the bill for all of this. Zam says it cost him nothing so Meno thanks Tono, but he says he paid neither. Turn out it was all put in Meo’s name. He asks to borrow Zamo’s guitar who wonders if he’s going to play, no, he’s going to chase them away and beat them over the head with it.

Isabel isn’t sure if Jaime should meet with Santi. He wants to, but Izzy isn’t sure that he can handle it. She yells at Donato for being nosy. He replies he’s a butler, he can’t be unnosy.

Candi now asks what he thinks of women, he goes on about wanting them in a box called a house and that they don’t think or anything just that they yell every onve in a while. Nice. She notes he’s afraid of love. She says this isn’t him, she didn’t kiss a man who is angry at women, she kissed a man who knows how to love women. He says look, he sees only Candi despite being associate with Marissa, his girlfriend everything brings him back to Candi.

Ma saved the day with Pat tand Ali telling about the "Candido" friend.

Candy looks at her computer and asks for Ma to leave her alone. Ma calls her bipolar and she says look who’s talking.

Candi and Pat chat on line. He knows the picture wasn’t her, and that he doesn’t want to play games about seeing her anymore. He tells her story of their anniversary, and he hasn’t been able to forget her. He’s not good company today.

Pat gets a call from Ali She is outside of Meno’s house waiting for her Ma, she doesn’t believe Ma went back to the DF so she is waiting there. So of course she’s drinking her coffe and doing god knows what else when Candy with Chava come outside and stand right within view of Ali’s car.....

Labels: Tontas

We start off with Marichuy going outside to the balcony were El Leopard is serenading her with his amazing harmonica.


JM and one of the investigators are talking in the living room. He tells JM that they could not find any information on Ivette and figures that she might be living here illegally. The other investigator is in the bedroom and asks Blanca who she is when JM walks into the room. JM informs the investigator who she is. JM tells a big whooper to the investigator that Blanca lives there and that he pays the rent and think whatever you want about all this. He then tells Blanca to go back to the house and take care of Mayita. (who in there right mind would allow a woman who just killed your wife take care of your child?)


Elsa is getting ready to go visit to the funeral. Amador comes for a visit and sees Elsa. He wonders out loud how long they will last after Nelson informs him that he and Elsa are back together. Elsa tells Amador that he needs to worry about his own problems like his baby.


At the funeral home Eduardo walks up to Onelia and offers his condolences. As he turns to leave Ceci sees him and stops him to talk. She asks him if he has seen Patricio or Estephania. He offers to go find them when Onelia asks him where her granddaughter is. She had asked Balbina where she was and was told that Eduardo had taken her. He tells her that JM requested that he take her to spare her the pain of the funeral. Onelia smarts off and tells Eduardo that if JM wanted to spare Mayita pain then he should not have killed Viv. Eduardo just stares at her.


Amador goes to visit Beatrice and the baby.


Onelia asks Eduardo where Mayita is. Eduardo tells her that he took her to Acapulco to stay with an aunt. Onelia says “You left my granddaughter with strangers? I want her back immediately. Tomorrow you bring her back to the house by the time I come back from burying my daughter”. Eduardo tells her that JM wanted him to but does not get to finish his sentence when Onelia interrupts him and says that she does not care what JM wants. That murderer is in jail and will stay there she responds.


Marichuy and El Leopard are conversing. He tells her that with her around he sees life differently. He now appreciates what he has starting with her. Marichuy gets embarrassed. He tells her that he knows she cannot forget the father of her child and he accepts it just so that he can have her near. (?) Maybe one day you will go back with him and I will deeply miss you. Although I will have memories of all the good in you. He tells her that he is not telling her all this to bother her, but the opposite. You cannot imagine all the good it has done for me to have you stay here with the baby and maybe one day he can be mine. I am ready to give him what he needs, love and an education among other things. He then starts serenading her. He suddenly stops and she asks him why. He then tells her that he wants her and the baby to stay at the hacienda forever.


Beatrice asks Amador what he is doing here. Amador tells her he came to see her. She doesn’t want to see him. Amador lifts the blanket that is covering the baby and says that he looks like all other babies. Again she tells him to go and never come back, but he pulls up a chair and asks her why the rush in pushing him out. There’s a knock on the door and a nurse comes in with a huge flower arrangement. Amador reads the card out loud and says that they are from Eduardo. He says something rude with that stupid smile on his face and leaves. What a jackass.


Elsa sees Ceci and tells her that she cannot believe that JM would do something like this. He is so against violence although I can understand after what Viv did to him. Her parents come up and they leave. Patricio comes up to Ceci and says it’s time to go.


JM is sitting in a jail cell.


Marichuy and the baby are in the hammock in the stables when El Leopard walks in on them.


The investigator is grilling JM. JM says what do you want? I have confessed. The investigator tells him that they have some doubts and that they believe that there was another person involved like a woman and he is covering it up.

Outside the Pinana is watching Marichuy and El Leopard.

Cande is inside cleaning up when she comes across the paper with JM’s picture on the front saying that he killed his wife. She is muy impactada.


The investigator tells JM that he believes that Ivette was involved in Viv’s death.


Amador visits with Isa and she wants to know they have taken the baby yet. No, but soon he tells her. She tells him that JM has been accused of killing his wife. She then shows him the paper.


Marichuy and El Leopard are talking and she tells him that it is time for her to start taking on responsibilities in the house, but he squashes that. He wants her to just take care of the baby. He will take up all your time and that is the best thing. What do I do then when he is asleep she asks. He suggests listening to music or reading a book. She doesn’t like those things. He then saya it’s time for them to resume there lessons on proper speech. She has to pass it on to her child. She agrees and says that she does like to read the comics. He suggests the paper.


JM asks the investigator who is feeding him all this information. If it was Ivette then who saw her and who opened the door to her?


Cande shows the paper to Micaela and tells her that they always fought like cats and dogs. Micaela starts to read the paper and tells Cande that Onelia is the one that accused him of murder.


Again the investigator tells JM to tell him the truth. Someone saw Ivette in the garden and they are prepared to testify. Where is the Frenchie?


Cande does not want Marichuy to see the paper. She wants to get rid of the paper. They go into the kitchen. El Leopard comes in after they have left and starts to look for the paper. Micaela and Cande are wetting the paper and balling it up to throw away. El Leopard comes into the kitchen and he asks them where the paper is.


Eduardo is with a patient telling her that she is pregnant. She wonders why out loud why her test results from the lab came back negative. Something about a margin of error (I don’t really care) and then asks her if she got her test results back immediately. She tells him that it took awhile and that maybe the lab accidentally switched the results with another person. This gives Eduardo an idea. He calls the lab and wants to know if Viv did her pregnancy test the same day that his patient went in.


El Leopard asks the ladies what is going on. Why the funny looks on there faces. Cande tells him to sit down and then begins to spin the web of lies that they accidentally used the paper to clean something up. El Leopard thinks that is why they had such funny looks on there faces. No they just feel bad. That’s okay, I just wanted to give the paper to Lirio (Marichuy). He says that he will just give her a book instead.


An attorney comes to visit Onelia at the funeral home. She wants him to find out if JM is really detained and make sure that JM pays for what he did. She wants him to be charged with 2 murders since Viv was pregnant. She wants JM in prison forever.


El Leopard brings Marichuy a romance book to read. He asks her if she has decided on a name for the baby.


Eduardo is on the phone and finds out that Viv and his patient were getting there pregnancy test done at the same time. He asks the other person on the line if there was someone with Viv. He wants to know how the mix up occurred.


Estephania wants Patricio to talk to JM about giving up the wear about of the Frenchie. She knows that he did not kill Viv.
Marichuy tells herself that she cannot tell him that she wants to call the baby Juan Miguel, so she says that she has not decided yet. He thinks it’s time that she picked a name. She tells him that since he was so good to her that maybe she will name him Omar. He smiles and tells her that he will make her a list or she can make one instead.


Micaela comes into the kitchen and tells Cande that she has finish taking the baby a bath. Cande asks if she has told Marichuy anything about what was in the paper. Of course not replies Micaela but when she leaves here she will find out. She asks Cande if they are going to stay here forever. She remembers how it was when they first got there and how things are now different. Cande asks Micaela if El Leopard has fallen for Marichuy. She confirms it and then asks if Marichuy has fallen for El Leopard. No answers Cande she still has feelings for the father of her baby.


Marichuy thought bubbles to the good times that she had with JM and his wonders how things would be if they were still together.


Patricio and Estephania are visiting with JM. JM asks if he has found him a lawyer yet. Patricio feeds him some story about how hard it is finding one now that the papers have called him a murderer. Estephania pleads with JM to tell the truth. She knows he did not kill Viv. JM finally realizes that Estephania is the one telling the investigators that the Frenchie did it. He says you have no proof, but she informs him that there is. He repeats to Patricio that he wants an attorney.


Onelia is holding a picture of Viv and is crying. One of the investigators pulls Balbina away and asks her to accompany him to the station for questioning.


Elsa comes back home and finds Nelson drunk. She gets mad. She asks why he is doing this.


Balbina tells the head investigator about seeing Ivette in the garden. He shows her a picture which she confirms is Ivette.


El Leopard and Marichuy are discussing baby names. He throws out names which she doesn’t like. He then says how about Juan. She tells him that she likes it. He says maybe Juan Jose or Juan Carlos. She suggests how about Juan Miguel. He likes it. She agrees and the baby is named Juan Miguel.


Tomorrow: Pirana takes the baby.

Labels: Cuidado

Good evening, my name is Nickster, and it has been twenty-one days since I’ve last watched FELS. God grant me the serenity to accept the stupidity and naïveté of the characters, the courage to represent whatever truth I can possibly discern, and the wisdom to know the difference. A.A.men

FELS was BIG in Cozumel, Mexico. So big, in fact, that local food stores and markets took advantage of the baking talents of a Mr. Juan Reyes, and offered his delicious "Sofia breads," among other delicacies in their bakeries.

*Yes, even abroad, FELS is always on my mind. More of a curse than anything…

So Pablito is all like Donny Osmond with his mammy in the living room. Apparently there is something special in those treasure chests which somebody stole, but little Donny won’t show his mammy anything because she speaks in tongues that he doesn’t understand. Then, when he does open up, it’s a bunch of crap like fifty-day old flowers and pictures of much older, but similarly BradyBunch-esque looking girls. “Think it,” says mammy, “Who would want this crap?”

Oscar is major trippin’ on the floor of his bedroom—couldn’t quite make it to the bed. Some curious needles are circulating and people are groping his legs. Seems to me that his groans are reminiscent of a long trip…

Aw, it’s like twins on earth! Whatever Mother Gabi wears, Imaginary Daughter Root reinvents in a much more skanky and free-flowing design. However, we all know that Sofia has been the real trend-setter, and that’s why most of Gabi’s attention goes to her. This makes Root sad because she loves her pretend mommy so much that she even wears leather gloves to hide her wrist wounds and other signs of border-line/obsessive behavior. Sofia happens to watch as Gabi and Root embrace solemnly, only leading to more envy between the bizarre daughters of Gabi who are united by the wondrous bonds of insanity. Root cries until she sees Sofia coming, then she chuckles inside. Sofia chews her out for pretending to love her fake mother and role model in evil. “But I love her.” “Then why are you getting it on with her husband?” Not even the quickest tongue of a viper can retort the clever remarks of Sofia…

Oscar can’t take anymore. The speed has eaten away whatever was left of his brain and innards. He is irritable and apathetic, yet stubbornly resistant. His rage is indicative of a drug-rehabilitation patient. It’s only a matter of time until his personal demons can escape the dangerous bonds of recreational drugs. Juan reproaches him after having knocked his woman out of the way. “Hitting family members is not good. Who else will love you?” Oscar tears, but his mental faculties do not allow him to fully understand the repercussions of his actions. I don’t see why he’s so pissed; I mean, he can still probably drive that tractor and drink tequila…

I swear Coyote and Raquel are stuck in some time warp. He’s been taking styling tips from Sammy Davis Jr. and Gene Simmons, while she is still convinced that anything off the “vintage” rack at Goodwill is good enough for primetime TV. Honey, medallions are so 90’s…

The much younger and exposed twin is all like, Daddy Uribe, you must hate Mama Gaby because she made you a killer. Then Daddy Uribe twists her wrists, which were fragile enough to begin with, and is like, you can’t hate Gaby because she is your mother—not your sister, even though everyone would think so because you have the same tastes in clothing and men… This news is pretty much a god send, but Root has never, ever been able to aptly handle her emotions or psychological states, so she runs outside to confront her problems with the only psychologist she knows; the bartender. In fact, she is so full of rage and mixed feelings, that while she started running, she ultimately decided to steal a horse from a humble field hand so that she could make it in time for the more economical happy-hour specials.

Gabi is having her own mid-day crisis and on top of that she’s driving down a dirt path; normally I’d say this is easy, but considering the amounts of booze she consumes, I’m sure it’s all she can do to not see “spirits.” Anyway, she goes to break (I have no earthly idea why because she’s going like 20 on an open “path”), and it doesn’t work probably because Fernie cut the breaks like in every other show he’s ever been in. Anyway, her pleasantly-intoxicated state makes her lose even more control when she decides that frantically turning the wheel will stop the car. This only leads to doom when she bangs her head on the fiberglass steering wheel. But what is this? Two horses come galloping along at random. It’s Juan! It’s Root! Single-handedly, they are going to stop this runaway full-size SUV, which, by the bye, is probably illegal to make… In the nickster of time Juan yanks Gabi’s arm and pulls her size-6 body out of the window! Thank God nobody in rural Mexico uses air conditioning, right? Seconds later the SUV collides with a tree at 25 miles per hour and creates an explosion that makes Nagasaki seem like a fire cracker… There’s nothing more sobering that a near-fatal car crash provoked by a nearly-fatal, crazy drunk, who is also your mother/idol...

Oscar’s condition has left him with little but the bitter memories of the life he once knew, which wasn’t much, but at least it was something…

More importantly, Juan didn’t leave his bitchy mother-in-law for dead and caringly brought her home to her fake daughter and dangerously-murderous husband. Oh! The irony…

Just because PadTad is 50 and looks 60, doesn’t mean he can call everyone who looks under 60 “mi hijo.” Anyway, he goes off on some rant to the guy who waters the flowers about, in the words of Cher, loving one another, father and mother, love one another, yeah… Said flower-waterer guy is deeply moved and presents crazy PadTad with a flower. He contemplates the meaning of this gesture, the meaning of flowers, the meaning of procreation, the meaning of his pathetic life, and ends up shoving the flower in some random pot and hates his life.

Mammy Quinti, on the other hand, appreciates her bachelorette status, and especially likes being the live-in slave for the Reyes boys. Maybe she’ll have a kid… But no way is she going to get married. This turns into a song and dance and then a waltz with Keebler the friendly, but fashionably-confused elf. Next stop: What Not to Wear: South of Civilization. Notice the bread that is also pictured above. I think this is a case of life imitating art…

On the bright side, this isn’t the first time Gabi has been in a drunken state, and it’s certainly not the first time she tried to kill herself/someone tried to kill her. Thank God everyone else in the house has the detox. routine down pat. Throw her on the bed, and let her sleep it off. Here, throw the blanket on her. But, I want to put it on her. No, I will; I’m her daughter. Rejected again, Root wishes Sofia only knew that she, Root Uribe, is the legitimate daughter—the one whom Gabi loves… she thinks… This lovely scene is only capitalized by Root tryin’ to steal Sofia’s man. “Girl, don’t make me snap my Z.” Sofia marks her territory by kissing Juan in Root’s very face. First her bio. mom, then the man of all her sexual fantasies… Root seems to be holding up on the outside, though I know she’s being strong for her beloved mother as she crumbles on the inside.

Over at the Historical Society, Coyote is telling Raquel about Ricky’s mysterious limp, and how he is a bad, bad man. Raquel gets all scared and nervous and then Coyote makes a move. He asks Raquel how Gabi and Ricky are united. By blood, says Raquel. Who, remember, probably doesn’t even know her own name half of the time, so…

Poor Jimena is learning what is means to be the enabling spouse of a medication-dependent, irate husband. She will never understand, though, that it isn’t her, but the drugs. Sarita tries to console, but if she had her way she’d rip his balls off, and then how would Oscar and Jimena have real, non-wards-of-state kids? However, it’s worth pointing out the Sarita has taken a somewhat-personal interest in Jimena’s case because Franco’s performance in the bedroom has not been up to par ever since Oscar started treating everyone like shit. Maybe now the girls can unite their limited knowledge about men and relationships and save everybody’s fake marriage thingys.

Oscar was basically doomed from birth, and sadly he realizes that while he desperately clings to the box spring for leverage. Getting himself into that damn chair was a week’s amount of work. What do you do when you have fallen and can’t get up? You call LifeAlert. “All senior citizens [drug abusers] must have LifeAlert,” says the lady in the sky-blue night gown who even more desperately needs a bra. Hey, but life isn’t that bad. Look at Gramps. He scored in a wheel chair, with Alzheimer’s, and being an octogenarian…! Now that’s the upside! Notice the producers have de-sexualized Oscar by making him wear boxer briefs instead of bikini briefs. I guess there’s nothing sexy about being bitchy and in a wheel chair. Though everyone has their own tastes…like Root…

To avoid confusion: I didn’t recap the Fernie-Juan fight because we’ve seen it on every other episode, I didn’t recap the Juan-PadTad conversation because we’ve seen it on every other episode, and I didn’t recap the Ricky-Gabi-Rooty make-up scene because…you get the idea…

Tomorrow: Root and Gabi can finally be together! As a matter of fact, Gabi loves Root more than all her other questionable daughters, and she simply never loved Sofia. What a shame that Sofia had to hear all this. Then there’s Fernie, who’s pissed that Root is going around saving everyone he tries to kill. Win some lose some…

All in all, nothing has changed. Juan is the same confused prick, PadTad is still the spooky philosophe/martyr/saint, and Sofia is still just as Mennonite as usual. How I love this show…

Labels: Fuego

DB tells Melquíades that Meléndez is taking too long to come back to the room. She feels that something is wrong.

Gonzalo tells Santos to go ahead and hit him again out of jealousy. He says that Santos' jealousy is not that of someone for his distant cousin but the jealousy of a man defending his woman. Santos accuses Gonzalo of being irresponsible in asking Marisela to meet him away from Altamira with all the soldiers around. Gonzalo says that it's water under the bridge now. He asks what they are going to do and Santos tells him they are going to wait for Marisela.

Meléndez tells Marisela that in his life he has made master plays ('jugadas maestras'). These plays have enabled him to become the chief of the political police in the state. He has eliminated those who stood in his way. He says that Marisela is the best play that he has made in his life.
Marisela says that he has to let her go; she hasn't done anything. Meléndez says that she has provoked him with her face, eyes and beautiful body. He tells her that she is his bait (carnada) to catch DB and Santos.

DB comes down to the bar looking for Meléndez but Pernalete says that he hasn't seen him. He compares the consequence of Meléndez' arrival in the Arauca to the seven plagues of Egypt descending on him. Pernalete tells DB about Meléndez' having his lieutenant arrested.

Antonio tells the soldiers patrolling the river that he is out to meet a married woman with whom he is having an affair. They let him go but tell him to stay away from the river or he'll be detained.

Guerrero is trying to convince one of the other soldiers to let him out of jail when all the Altamira and El Miedo vaqueros are locked up in jail for the night. DB asks to see Guerrero.

Waiting for Marisela by the well, Santos decides that it is too late to start his and the rebel's escape that evening. He orders Gonzalo to go back to the cellar but he refuses saying that he is responsible for what happened.

Cecilia and Lorenzo are waiting for news when Antonio comes in looking for Santos. They tell him that Marisela has disappeared. He tells them that escape by the river is impossible. It's too well guarded.

Marisela tries to kick Meléndez and spits on him. He says that she is just like her mother and says that he is going to tell her a story that she will like.

DB asks Guerrero where Meléndez is. He says that he doesn't know but he warns her that Meléndez is a danger to DB and her daughter.

Meléndez tells Marisela about how he and the others raped DB long ago. "Once I have finished Luzardo off and killed your mother," he says, "I will make you experience the same as her and I will take you ('te voy a gozar') and take you and take you."

Guerrero tells DB that the Colonel is crazy. He says that DB's daughter is in great danger. Meléndez is going to use Marisela to lure DB into a trap.

DB gives Melquíades a free hand to kill Meléndez if he can find him. She orders BP to go with Melquíades.

Marisela tries to get her hands untied. She says to herself that she won't let what happened to her poor mother happen to her but she can't loosen the ropes.

There is wringing of hands and angst at Altamira. DB comes in looking for Marisela. Lorenzo accuses her of knowing where Marisela is and mocking them. Santos asks to speak to DB alone. He asks what she is hiding from him. She denies hiding anything. Santos says that he knows that Meléndez is using Marisela to get back at DB and he wants to know everything.

BP warns Melquíades that killing a Colonel in the army isn't the same as killing lowlives like they have done before. If Melquíades kills Meléndez, he will be pursued just the like the rebels. Melquíades tells him to be quiet. They overhear a soldier says that Meléndez is on a secret mission and won't be back until morning. They leave the bar.

Meléndez finishes the bottle of rum. He asks Marisela is he likes the way he smells. He says that once DB and Santos are gone, she will have to get used to it. Then he goes to sleep.

DB says that nothing happened between Meléndez and her. She says that he never believes what she says. DB says that she has nothing more to say to him. She says that she will go to see if Marisela is at El Miedo. She leaves. Santos tells the rest of the Altamira folks that DB doesn't know where Marisela is but she is still hiding something.

Antonio and Cecilia run into each other in the kitchen. Antonio asks if all this fear affects the baby. Cecilia says no. Antonio asks to touch her her belly. They are interrupted by Santos who wants to organize a search for Marisela. Casilda tells them that the vaqueros went to town earlier in the evening and haven't returned.



Guerrero asks Acosta, the goofy guy under Pernalete, to let him out of prison so he can send a telegram denouncing Meléndez. Acosta just laughs. He only does what Pernalete orders him to.

Melquíades and BP return to El Miedo tell DB what they overheard in the bar. DB concludes that Meléndez has Marisela. She asks why Melquíades didn't follow the soldier who was bringing food and rum to Meléndez.

Meléndez gives a note to his Sergeant to give to DB and to bring her back with him unarmed.

Santos sends Antonio to get the vaqueros out of jail and bring them to the llanos. He tells Gonzalo to go and get all the lanterns and flashlights that there are at Altamira. He and Santos will get headstart searching. Santos has a flashback to the times that Meléndez was with Marisela. Santos tells Cecilia that he has concluded that Meléndez has Marisela.

Marisela tells Meléndez that he is wasting his time; her mother will never come for her. Meléndez says that DB may not come right away but her cousin will and intimates that Santos' relationship with Marisela is more than cousinly. Marisela yells at him to leave Santos alone. Meléndez says that Santos is lucky - he has the mother and the daughter. "Que se unta?" says Meléndez. I'm not sure what he means. My dictionaries say that untarse means to 'smear, rub, or bribe'. Meléndez says that he will get rid of all three of them, but not her, not right away because he likes her, like her mother. Meléndez says that in a few hours she will be on her knees begging him.

DB tells BP to get the men to start a search but he reminds her that they are all in jail after the fight in the bar. DB insults BP and he leaves. DB sends Melquíades to get the weapons and ammunition out of the cellar and tell the rebels what is going on. She tells Eustaquia to stop praying. The God of the white men isn't going to do anything for them. Eustaquia isn't so sure. She's hoping for a miracle.

The soldier brings the note from Meléndez to DB. She swears to Eustaquia that she will bring Marisela back. She tells Eustaquia not to let anyone, referring to Santos, follow her.

She puts Juan Primito in charge of the hacienda, tells him to stop crying and take care of Eustaquia, takes off her gun and and goes with the Sergeant.

Melquíades comes out of the cellar and finds DB gone. He loads a shotgun, tells Eustaquia that she is not to tell Santos about DB's past with Meléndez and leaves to find Santos.

DB arrives at where Meléndez is holding Marisela. DB asks if Meléndez has hurt Marisela and she says no and that DB shouldn't have come.

Labels: barbara

Andrés aims his rifle at Isabel from the former love nest in the attic.

Walter stops him from firing at Isabel.

Isabel thinks she heard a shot but nobody else did.

Andres calls in a hit on PJ/S.

Isabel asks the Board to give Andrés another chance but the Board would like to hear from Andrés himself.

Andres isn't in any shape to talk to the Board of Directors.

He attacks Valeria.

Simón asks PJ/S to go with him, Antonio and Ángela to a show and dinner. PJ/S says that he's had a hard day. He just wants to go home and rest. Fate, as we will see, has a different plan in store for him.

For some reason, Camilo is still driving PJ/S. Why can't he get his own car or one from the company? Anywhy, they are followed when they leave the factory and they end up in a dead end.

The killers shoot up the car and PJ/S and Camilo duck under the seats. The killers are about to finish them off when the police sirens are heard. The killers leave.

Andrés trashes Isabel's bedroom and finds the poison that she used to try and kill him earlier. He puts some of the poison into Isabel's glass but she gives it to Rebeca and Andrés smashes it before Rebeca can drink it.

Camilo is injured by the killers.

PJ/S is not injured. He tells the police that he doesn't have any idea who could have done this.

Labels: cuerpo