Caray, Caray!

[Sorry that this is late and there are no photos. I was at a concert last night and didn't get back until late.]

Marisela tells Gonzalo that that he is the thief and the photos don't belong to him. He overpowers hers and says that everything she said about marrying him was a lie. Marisela says that it is true. She could never love a jerk like him. She says that Gonzalo disgusts her. Gonzalo takes the pictures back and slaps Marisela. Marisela tells Gonzalo to go ahead and hit her. She isn't afraid of him. Hitting women is all he knows how to do but when a man like Santos shows up, he runs away like a little girl. Gonzalo hits her again and tells her not to mention Santos. Marisela tells Gonzalo that Santos is a man, not a coward like him and that is why she has never stopped loving Santos. Gonzalo hits her again.

DB tells Santos that all she wants from him is the love they had before. "Or it wasn't love?" she asks him. Santos says that he doesn't know. What he felt for her was a violent passion that he couldn't resist but there was nothing else. DB accuses him of never having stopped thinking about Marisela and Santos admits that might have been part of it. He tells her that there are other men in the world; she could start over somewhere else. DB says that besides El Miedo and him, she has nothing. Santos reminds her that she has a daughter that needs her. A daughter she is sacrificing for a man who doesn't love her.

Cecilia tells Don Encarnación to stop slandering her and Antonio. She says that Lucía died because she was brave. She knew she would die young and wanted to leave a daughter for DE to remember her by. She tells him that the baby needs her milk and that Lucía herself asked Cecilia to take care of her. Cecilia tells DE that the only person he is hurting is the baby and that he will regret what he is doing. DE doesn't care. He orders Cecilia to be thrown out of the hospital.

Marisela tells Gonzalo that she knows everything about his dealings with Sapo. He says that she just signed her death warrant. She says that Santos and DB know, too. Gonzalo hits her again.

DB tells Santos that he must love her since he has stood up for her so many times. Santos replies that she is an unforgettable woman and he'll always be there if she needs him. DB denies that she needs Santos to rescue her. She says that Marisela knows that DB and Santos are in danger and she is doing this for both of them. She says that she is proud of her daughter and in spite of what Santos thinks, she loves Marisela. But when she thinks about Santos and Marisela together, she can't help but wanting to kill Marisela because she is a woman before she is a mother. Once again Santos asks DB to forgive him and says that he has no right to reproach her. He tells her that he is going to Marisela. She needs him. DB says that she needs him, too but Santos says that is a lie. She has always done things on her own. She is unique. She says that he is giving her a compliment as a consolation prize. He says that he is just saying what he thinks. When he is gone, DB says to herself that she has always done things alone but it never weighed as heavily on her then as it does now.

Gonzalo tells Marisela that she can't leave the room alive. Marisela says that if she dies, everyone will know it was him. He hits her again and leaves telling the guards who appeared to be listening outside that they must not let Marisela out no matter what she says.

Cecilia is worried about Marisela and Genoveva says that she will go and talk to her.

While Santos is preparing to go to San Fernando, he tells Pajarote to check up on Los Mondragón. They are #1 on his list of suspects for Carmelito's killing.

DB tells Melquíades that Carmelito's death made Santos crazy with rage in a way she had never seen before. She wants to find out if León was the killer and turn him in before that anger is directed at her. She says that she has tricks for making León confess.

Gervasia is inconsolable and Melesio conforts her by saying time is her friend. The pain will get less.

León makes another try at killing María Nieves but Altagracia drives him away with her gun.

Geno comes to the Government House looking for Marisela and Gonzalo has the guards throw her out forcibly. She reports on what happened to Cecilia. Cecilia is crazy with worry and says that she will send a telegram to Santos in the morning. At dawn, Cecilia is about to leave to send the telegram when Santos appears.

Gervasia and Pajarote are in Progresso to see MN when they run into León in the street. Gervasia attacks him screaming that he killed her husband.

Gonzalo is pacing and telling himself that he has to kill Marisela but he can't. He gets a call from Sapo and tells him that they have to talk.

Gervasia calls León a murderer in front of everyone in the street. He slinks off.

A maid brings Marisela breakfast and finds her unconscious on the floor. Marisela asks for help.

Santos tries to get into the Government House but he is turned away. He sees the maid signal to him. The maid finds Santos and tells him that Marisela is locked up and that the Governor beat her up.

Altagracia tells Gervasia and Pajarote about Tigre's appearance at the doctor's office and the mysterious man she shot at the night before. Pajarote says that he will stay with Altagracia that night.

Santos gets Antonio's gun from Cecilia.

Marisela demands to be let out of the room. She tells that guards that what they are doing is a crime. They agree but they are afraid of the Governor.

DB flirts with León and asks her to come to her room. He falls for it and tells Tigre to get ready to call him boss.

The Land title inspector gets photos of Gonzalo coming to see Sapo. He says that Santos was right and this job will be easier than he thought. [The Land Title Inspector who doesn't know the area has found a place where he can see and take pictures of Sapo's runway from a car!]

Marisela begs to be let out of the room. The guards are uncomfortable but they say that they can't help her.

Gonzalo tells Sapo about what Marisela told him and says that he has to kill DB, Santos and Marisela. Sapo says that he will take care of DB and Santos but Gonzalo has to kill Marisela himself. Gonzalo says that he can't kill her, he will be blamed. Sapo says that it is time he got his hands dirty like the rest of them. He asks if Gonzalo is too squeamish to kill Marisela.

DB makes Leon take off his clothes. He says that DB should do the same but she wants to talk first. She gets her gun out and asks what he did with the money he stole from Carmelito.

Santos sneaks into the Government House, knocks out and ties up the guards. He burst into the room where Marisela is. She embraces him saying, "Santos, you came for me!"

Labels: barbara

Episode 60 - that is three months of airtime, and how many days have passed in the show? 7? 10? I am amazed at how many episodes can come from one single day.

Fr/Ed continues the story of how he was saved by a guy calling himself El Jinete Justiciero, which I will translate to mean ‘The Lone Ranger’. Same idea, even if that isn’t a literal translation. Fernanda has a flashback of Eduardo hiding in the tree watching her first communion. Fr/Ed lays it on thick, saying how The Lone Ranger used a yellow flag (I don’t remember exactly how he tied that into the story, but obviously he threw that in because Fernanda would recognize it) and Fernanda, predictably, gasps in recognition. Fr/Ed says he didn’t get the guy’s real name, does Fernanda know anyone fitting that description? Fr/Ed rightly says there can’t be more than one guy going around with a yellow flag and calling himself the Lone Ranger.

Liliana says “I’m going to kill him” while acting all googly and crazy. She does this about 100 times. I know crazy and/or hospital is a novela staple, but it does nothing for me. I realize she has to be crazy until the end when she can finally spill her secret, but it gets old.

Fr/Ed tells Fernanda that the Lone Ranger asked him to do two things in exchange for saving his life. First, make sure a school gets built for all the local kids, the kids from the working class families, so they can get a good education. We see people preparing to turn the old barn into a school. Is that actually happening? I don’t remember that coming up before. The second thing was to rescue a woman named Liliana, that’s your sister, right Fern? Fern gasps again. She is getting in a lot of gasps today.

Doctor Obregon is trying to enjoy some putting practice in his office when the lady whose name I can’t remember but who works there busts in and says he needs to come see Liliana, Martina says she’s all messed up. Obregon refuses, mostly out of spite.

I laughed hard on Friday when Gardenia brought drinks to Fr/Ed’s office and he had to rip the tray out of her hand and kick her out, this happens again when Gardenia brings a pitcher of water. Fr/Ed says Fernanda has to do whatever she can to keep Lili where she is. Also, again, does she know who the Lone Ranger is? She says yes, her dearest friend from childhood, Eduardo Juarez. Great, where is he? Dead. Fern wants to know why they must free Liliana, rather than getting her care somewhere else. Fr/Ed just says Fern has to help him keep his word to the Lone Ranger. That sounds a lot more ridiculous in English, doesn’t it? “Lady you have to help me keep my promise to the Lone Ranger!”

Outside, Gardenia rips Jacinto up and down for the whole Camilo break-in episode. He tells her to shut up about 50 times but of course she doesn’t. Let me say again that I very much approve of Gardenia’s makeover from Elizalde Hacienda slave to buxom asistente to Franco Santoro. Nicely done. And it’s always sundress weather, excellent. Anyway she threatens to tell Franco everything if Jacinto doesn’t tell her what’s going on.

Fr/Ed lays it all on the line, he tells Fern that if she can’t keep Liliana where she is, the whole super mega milk deal is OFF.

Obregon has made his way to Lili’s room finally, Martina doesn’t want to leave Lili’s side so she wants Obregon to call Franco (I think, correct me if I’m wrong here) but Obregon refuses. He says call yourself, but of course she can’t if she doesn’t leave the room. This brings us into FELS territory – when people who in reality would totally have a cell phone somehow don’t on a show. This isn’t the only time this episode when this comes up either, there’s another “hello we have cell phones now” moment coming up a little later.

Fernanda says there’s nothing she can do about Liliana. Fr/Ed says to talk to her family about his story and why he needs Lili here, Fern says she isn’t allowed to discuss Eduardo at home. Fr/Ed flinches noticeably at this, then lays it on extra thick, telling her to tell her family good bye for him, tomorrow he’s heading back to New York.

Obregon calls Barbara, who tells him that no way no how can Fernanda see Liliana before Liliana is transferred. She hangs up on him. Gonzalo comes into her office, she gives him all the paperwork for Liliana that she already has completed. He is completely not suspicious about how quickly she got all that pulled together.

Outside Fr/Ed’s house, Fern says she’ll try to do something about Liliana. After she leaves, Gardenia storms up and wants to talk to Fr/Ed, who as always is too busy to deal with her. She says she won’t move until he listens to her. Jacinto arrives and casually says he’s done for the day, but finally Gardenia rats him out. Fr/Ed acts like he’s upset.

Going to commercial, we see Fr/Ed working out with no shirt on, I heard squeals from the Caray Caray faithful across the country. Gardenia spies on him from the door, looking very very good herself.

Liliana has a bad dream, then has a seizure.

Fr/Ed asks Jacinto if this is true, then gives him leading questions to get out of him that Camilo abuses him and forced him to let him in the house to search it. Fr/Ed says he understands and would have done the same thing in his situation. So, no harm done, and by the way Jacinto you’re fired. Jacinto bugs out, but Fr/Ed is serious.

Martina goes to Obregon’s office but stops outside to eavesdrop, she hears Obregon telling Frick and Frack to get Martina away from Liliana. She pops out a switchblade and busts into the office, there is a fight and F&F get the knife away from her and grab her. She kicks one of them in the nuts and gets loose.

Liliana is apparently suddenly fine after her seizure and leaves her room and wanders to the chapel, where she cries a lot and then steals a glass jar candle.

Obregon sends Frick and Frack to chase after Martina, she runs all over the surprisingly empty and labrynth-like building. This place is nothing but hallways and locked doors.

Lili returns to her room and can’t find Martina, so she goes into the bathroom.

Fr/Ed keeps trying to call Obregon, but he gets a busy signal. He wants to go and check it out, but he has to stay here and wait for Fernanda’s answer. This was FELS moment #2 – didn’t he give Fernanda his cell phone number? Everyone else has it already. Erica, the entire Elizalde family…

Fernanda finds Gonzalo in the home office/library and says she wants to ask him a question.

Martina runs out of the building, the guys chase her, broken nuts and all.

Liliana wraps the candle in a towel and breaks it against the wall and cries some more.

Fernanda tries to convince Gonzalo to keep Liliana in Mexico. When he doesn’t go for it, she says she wants to make a pact with him.

Martina runs up a hill to a very conveniently placed stack of paint cans, which she throws over onto her pursuers, who are now covered in yellow paint.

Liliana pulls up her sleeve and holds a piece of broken glass to her arm.

Obregon, with a needle full of sedative in his hand, sees Liliana through the open door and stops to wait and see if she saves him the trouble by killing herself.

Martina comes up outside Lili’s window and yells for her. When she doesn’t answer, Martina picks up a rock and throws it through her window. She tells Liliana to stay there and be safe, she is going to run for help. She runs off. Obregon busts into Lili’s room and throws her down and injects her with the needle. Lili passes out.

Fernanda asks Gonzalo to wait three months, for life to calm down, before sending Lili away, to see if she gets better. If not, he can send her away. Gonzalo agrees.

Martina gets out through the main gate and runs down the street where she jumps on a passing bus. Frick (or maybe Frack) gets a hand on the door handle and Martina bites his hand to make him let go. All the bus passengers cheer.

Priscilla comes to Anibal’s office, she wants to see some bank account statements for money she has in Miami. He tries to put her off but she isn’t having it.

Damian, while getting a massage, talks to Vladimir on the phone and encourages him some more in his pursuit of Priscilla.

Priscilla remembers what Vladimir said about Anibal ripping her off and pushes Anibal for the statements. He looks in a drawer but can’t find them and says he can’t look any more now. She says fine, then bring them home later. She leaves and Anibal looks panicked.

Fernanda goes to see Fr/Ed in person to tell him her answer, I guess that’s why he had to stay home, but the whole thing was still kind of stupid that she couldn’t just call him on his cell phone. She tells him that she has Lili here for three more months, he says that is enough time to set her free.

Tomorrow: Barbara gives Damian a goodbye roll in the hay and we are supposed to think that Fernanda might catch them, but of course there’s no way that is going to happen.

Labels: manana

Zowie! What a lot of plot developments, all in one night! Threat of murder, Mario’s back-story, Fred’s true colors, a mafia connection (or two), the best and worst of Pat, and Santi hopes the third time’s a charm. And to add to the emotion, we have fighting between:

• Ricardo and Catarina,
• Arturo and Margarita,
• Candy and Santiago,
• Isabel and Paulina, and
• Charly and Federico.

Santiago, the detective. Santi, in a hot leather sport coat, shows Paulina the panuelo and asks if it’s her lipstick color. Of course she denies it. It doesn’t match her lip color, and it doesn’t match the lipstick he finds in her purse. Pau gives herself a satisfied smirk.

Ed, the caveman. Ed brings Lucía home to explain about the condom Chayo found in his pocket. He brings out Chayo, caveman-style (how appropriate) and Luc explains about the party. Ed says he’s going to take Luc home, and after that he’s coming back for the apology he deserves.

Meño is sitting with Ricardo and Catalina, in the restaurant all decorated for her birthday party, but no guests have shown up. Cat explains that all their friends avoid them because Ricardo fights with her all the time. Methinks it takes two to tango. It front of Meño, she yells at him that he yells at her in front of people. Meño has had enough. Basta!

At dinner, Santi tells Roc that he won’t be there to put her to bed tonight because he’s going out. Pau asks, “With your novia?” and Roc wants to know all about this news. Santi says, “When I have a novia, you two women will be the first to know.

Candy puts Chava to bed, and again he tells her that he wants his parents to live together.

Pat, the hero. Pat is taking care of the baby while his parents fight. Finally he puts his foot down and tells them that if they want to fight, take it outside, because he is raising a child. Go, Pat! Friday he kicked Pau out of his office rather than ally with her, and he defended his mama against Art. Tonight he defended his son’s best interests against his parents. And he did it all in a really great necktie. I never noticed an attractive necktie until I started watching novelas (LFMB).

Santiago’s first attempt. Candy sends Chava to bed and commiserates with her mama about what man-haters they both are. Watching TV later, they continue their rant, until the doorbell rings, and each hopes it’s the man she just complained about. The moment the door opens, Santiago rushes in a lays a big kiss on.. Gregoria! Realizing his error, he backs out sheepishly, and she thinks to herself, “what a shame I’m not young again.”

Pat, the super-hero. Chava dreams that Santiago, the Nazi officer speaking fake German, kidnaps Candy, the French Resistance maiden. Who should answer Chava’s cry for help, but Patricio as Indiana Jones, complete with a cracking whip. Hauptman Santiago takes one look and beats feet, whimpering “I’m scared,” in Spanish with a German accent, mimicking the voice of the guy from the popular YouTube clip.

Raúl shows up early in the morning at Soledad’s apartment. He brought her breakfast, but Ceci shoos him out before Sol discovers that he was there.

Santiago’s second attempt. Santiago shows up at Candy’s house with a sandwich board. The front says “I’m innocent,” and the back says, “Apologize” (pídeme perdón). Candy thinks he should apologize, but he says, “I don’t ask forgiveness for things I didn’t do.” She won’t relent (are we surprised?). He admits that he became a womanizer when Pau abandoned him, but not anymore. He insists that he’s honest and innocent, and he has never lied to her. When Meño sticks up for Santi, Candy tells him this is between the two of them. But when Gregoria starts tearing Santi apart, Candy takes it all in. She doesn’t want to talk to him again until he apologizes. Santi leaves, Candy goes to her room to cry, and Meño tells Greg to butt out of Candy’s problems. “Santiago isn’t Arturo. Don’t hundir (destroy, demoralize) her anymore.”

Jaime brings Isabel tea, and tries to get her to tell him what has been bothering her for the past two days. She doesn’t want to talk about it, but at the mention of “Paulina” she throws a rod.

We see more of Fred. Lucía, Fred, and two friends are at lunch at school. Funny, my cafeteria never looked like that. The friends are shooting for long-duration kisses, and they coax Luc and Fred to do the same. Fred pressures Luc some more despite her objections, and I’m thinking Fred got his friend to provide a pretext to kiss Luc. Charly runs up and punches Fred. Kinda’ reminds me of Chava’s dream! Fred has the advantage of reach and high ground, but Charly has rage going for him, and he gets in several solid punches before the classmates break them up. Luc is furious at Charly for what he did, and she reminds him that with his AIDS, he’s putting other people at risk. Going for underdog sympathy, Fred wants Luc to “console” him at his house since his parents aren’t home. “Baby, don’t you like me?” Luc runs off. Fred tells his buddy he’s sure he’ll score any day now, and his buddy answers, “Another one?”

Rambo Grandma. Paulina is up to her usual manipulation of Rocío. Isabel pulls her aside and tells her, “Leave Roc out of this. It’s between you and me. If you want to hurt my son or my granddaughter, you gotta’ go through me first.” Paulina tells her, “Don’t you realize that you could die first? At your age, anything could kill you.” In my book, Isabel is no dummy. But if she lets that threat to her life stand, without telling her son, I’ll nominate her for a Darwin Award.

The detective tells Santi he thinks Mar had the baby somewhere in Central America, and it’s pretty much a hopeless case. Santi shouldn’t get his hopes too high. Santi assures the him, with or without the PI’s help, he’ll never give up, never surrender.

Lulu tries to make Candy see that somebody framed Santiago. Candy tells Lu she’d love to believe that but can’t, and “frankly, Lulu, stuff it” (loosely translated). Lulu answers, “Fine, I’m leaving. When you get stubborn (terquita, from terco), nobody can stand you.” Wow! Did she really say that???

Image-of-Santiago’s attempt. Candy starts crying as she remembers the panuelo incident. The image of Santiago appears over her shoulder.
Santi: You’ll never cry for my fault, Candy. I didn’t deceive you. Quit hurting yourself.
Candy: I swear I want to, but I can’t. I remember, and.. you’re not the only one who has deceived me.
Santi: I’m not Pat. Stop hurting yourself; stop hurting me. We love each other profoundly, and I’m never going to lie to you. I never have, remember?
He kisses her cheek and disappears. Candy is shaken but doesn’t stir.

Meño chews out Charly for getting into a fight with Fred. Like it or not, he has to stop interfering with Lucía’s life.

Barb gives Candy the tickets to Puerto Vallarta, where she’ll be speaking at the Battered Women’s Conference tomorrow. Barb says Santi has called 10 or 20 times; is Candy breaking up? Candy’s lines. Barbara reminds her that plenty of women cheat too. Candy’s answer? “Yeah, but plenty don’t.” Do I smell iocane powder? Candy, truly you have a dizzying intelect. Candy plans to tell what happened, on tonight’s radio show. Barb is moderately scandalized.

THE BOMBSHELL! Pau and Mario are in a restaurant. I’m unsure of my translation on a few points here. Please correct any errors.
Pau: You left Mexico because you did the surgery Santi rejected. The Mafioso died on the table. Santi doesn’t know anything about the death.
Mario: You went to New York with me because you wanted me, not because of what happened.
Pau: You deceived me. You never got paid the million dollars. (Hmm. Does this tell us why Pau went along to New York?)
Mario: Of course I got paid. It bought silence.
Pau: You bought your life. If the son found out you killed his father, you’d be dead too. You should’ve had Ed assisting.
Mario: He wasn’t willing. I paid the million for us.
Pau: Isn’t it risky, coming back to Mexico? Aren’t they looking for you?
Mario: No, they all think he changed his face and disappeared completely.
Pau: Are you sure the bodyguard (guardaespaldas) will keep your secret?
Mario remembers the surgery. He gave the bodyguard a million in hush money. It was all the money the Mafioso gave him for the surgery.
Pau: Go back to NY or they’ll find you.
Mario: I’ll go, but I’m taking you with me.
Pau: If they find you they’ll kill you. (Is that a veiled threat?)

Pat takes one step back. We need to cut Pat some slack. As weak as he is, he’s been doing well. But not perfect. In Pat’s office, Candy asks him why he hasn’t signed the papers. It’s because he doesn’t want to divorce her. She says that she’ll just have to file it alone. He plays the Chava card, and Candy wonders if he’s threatening to take her son. His answer is vaguely encouraging, he reminds her what a wonderful love they had.

Was it Hortensia? In surgery, when they are supposed to be paying attention to the patient, Ed keeps interrupting Santi, telling him he’s sure that Hortensia planted the lipstick panuelo because she’s jealous. Santi admits that Hort is crazy about him, but he also knows she would never do anything to hurt him. He’s sure it wasn’t Hortensia. Back in the office, Ed interrogates her. He has her lipstick, and the color matches. Hort looks Santi in the eye and says, “I swear by my love, I didn’t do it.” That’s enough for Santi. He is convinced she’s innocent.

Surprise visit. Pat is at his desk when two goons escort their boss, Gabino, into his office. Gabino takes the comfy desk chair and says he’s having trouble locating Pat’s dad, so he decided to find him through Pat. Pat is not about to take some stranger to his dad. (Go, Pat!) Fair enough. Gabino tells Pat to pass his card to Art because he wants to talk to him. Pat answers, “Cuenta con ello” (count on it). See “Grammar note” after this recap. When Pat gets home that night, he asks Art, “Who is Gabino Lugo Estevanéz?” Art is visibly shaken, and Pat lets it drop for now. At dinner Art is a real wet blanket, and Margarita’s jabs don’t help any. Surprisingly, Alicia is the one who tries to lighten things up.

Santiago’s third attempt.In the radio studio, Candy goes on air and says that tonight, she’ll talk about Candy the idiot, who still believes in fairy tales. And she’s talking to all the women who have been deceived. Santiago enters the sound booth and waves to everyone as if he’s in the second grade school play and sees mama in the audience. Candy asks her audience, “Why do men need otras? (She points to Santiago.) Yeah I’m talking to you. You say you don’t, but you do. Tonight I don’t know what to do. I love a man who deceived me. Tonight I’m the idiot.” The staff is horribly embarrassed.

From the sound booth, Santiago breaks in. “The subject of the intro is me. Greetings. Yes I’m a fool because I didn’t know how to explain to the woman I love, the lipstick-marked panuelo in my bata (lab coat). I said it wasn’t mine, and she wouldn’t believe me. I’m talking for all the men who’ve been the victim of a cruel joke. I don’t want to be with another woman because I love HER. I don’t have to go outside to look for what I have in my own be.. (he almost says “bed” but corrects himself) in my own heart. Candy, I can’t refuse you anything because I love you. I’ll always answer you yes to everything. I was mujeriego. Was. Abandonados don’t hurt you, because they know the pain of love. I want you to know that without you, my heart is incomplete.

In formulaic writing, the hero, striving for his compelling goal, attempts two things that don’t work, and he succeeds with the third thing he tries. For Santiago, is the third time a charm? Is Candy moved? We’ll see.

Grammar note:
People think that Spanish has only masculine and feminine genders, but no neuter like Latin. Actually it has neuter. “Cuente con ello” is an example of neuter. It is used when the pronoun refers to something that is not a specific noun and therefore has no gender. Another usage is “lo” for “the” before something that is not normally a noun. Examples:
Lo barato sale caro. The cheap becomes expensive.
A lo contrario.. On the contrary..
Por lo menos.. At least..

Vocabulary:

• hundir – destroy, demoralize
• terquita – stubborn. Root: terco.
• guardaespaldas – bodyguard
• bata – lab coat, robe, work smock
• The suffix –azo denotes a hit or blow with the root word.
  portazo – a slam of a door
  manotazo – a hit with the hand
  sarténazo – a hit with a frying pan. e.g. Te voy a dar un sarténazo. I’m going to hit you with a frying pan.
  This doesn’t appear in tonight’s show, but I just learned it today, and I suspected that certain people would be interested.
  
  
  

Labels: Tontas

In his eulogy for Carmelito, Santos says again that Carmelito's death will be avenged and if the law cannot or will not do the job, he will take justice into his own hands. After the funeral, Pajarote tells Santos that he is with him in this.

Dr. Arias asks Tigre what he is doing in his office. Tigre manages to stammer out that his shoulder is hurt.

Santos says that he is glad that Antonio now believes him about Gonzalo. Antonio apologizes to Santos for doubting what Santos told him before about Gonzalo. Andrés says that doesn't matter now. What is important is finding out who killed Carmelito and wounded María Nieves. They speculate whether it could have been Gonzalo, Sapo or DB's man León Mondragón.

DB tells Marisela that she needs the photos of the rapists asap. Marisela replies that Gonzalo keeps them locked up. DB tells her what Sapo did to Juan Primito. Marisela says that she will get the photos as soon as she gets back to San Fernando.

Gonzalo looks at the photos and tells himself that he can control Sapo with them and if he controls Sapo, he controls the Arauca.

DB tells Melquíades that she saw León lurking around at the burial and she says that she didn't have a good feeling about it at all.

Santos tells Andrés and Antonio that he won't be responsible for his actions if MN dies. Antonio tells him not to be blinded by rage. Santos has always said that violence was not the solution. Santos says that he has changed his mind. Antonio says that when Santos is calmer, he will return to being 'the different Luzardo' who is his brother. Antonio and Andrés leave.

Genoveva tells Marisela that she wants to stay in Progresso to be with Gervasia and to help Pajarote who is suffering so much. Pajarote comes in and says that he wants her to leave. He wants her far away during the war that is going to happen. He tells Geno that when the war is over he will come for her and be the all the man that she wants. No one can look into his heart like she does and no other woman could turn him into a 'tame ox' ('buey manso') except her. They kiss and he tells her to go to San Fernando and take care of Marisela.

DB pretends to put the moves on León. [Why can't she have Melquíades just torture a confession out of him like everyone else?]

Antonio is arrested in Progresso.

Santos tells Marisela that he doesn't want to be bothered. She comes in anyway and asks what all this talk about blood at the funeral was about. She says that he is a man of peace and civilization.
Santos replies that he can use violence too. He can be like his father. He tells her that his father killed himself in the room they are in after he had killed his son, Santos' brother. Before that, he had killed Marisela's grandfather and several of his brothers. Santos tells Marisela that his father told him all the time about 'the maneater' ('la devoradora de hombres') but he didn't understand. Marisela says that DB is the maneater. "No," replies Santos, "he was speaking of the land. DB is no more than the product of the violence that swept this place. She is a killer because she learned from the bastards who raped her. But it's not just your mother. It's a way of life." He tells her that he is tired of believing in law and education. He says that they have to fight these animals with their own weapons.

Tigre tells León that he didn't have an opportunity to kill MN.

DB puts on a performance in front of Celeste and Leoncia saying that León and Tigre would never murder a man for money.

Marisela tells Santos that the man she loves wouldn't say such things. Santos replies that Marisela never loved him. Marisela says that she loves Santos more than her life. Santos says that if she loved him, she wouldn't betray him by giving kisses to his worst enemy. Marisela says cryptically that if he knew her, he know what she was doing. She says that he is blind. She has never given her lips to any other man. They kiss.

Melesio comes to see Altagracia and brings her some food. He tells her that they are all trying to help Gervasia. She says that she is sure that God will let MN recover. She asks to borrow Melesio's gun. She tells him that Tigre was there and gave her a bad feeling. Melesio agrees.

Marisela tells Santos that once he knew her so well he could tell what she was thinking. She can still read his thoughts and knows what he is feeling. She still believes in his love and wishes that he would do the same for her. When Marisela is gone, Santos concludes that she isn't betraying him. He decides that DB is manipulating Marisela and says that he won't permit it this time.

Antonio wonders why he always ends up in jail. Gonzalo comes to gloat. He says that Antonio will rot in jail as a traitor.

Marisela tells Genoveva that she is going back to the Government office. She has to continue with her plan even though she finds Gonzalo disgusting.

A guy shows up at Altamira and says that he is the Land Registry Inspector and he has been sent by the Minister of the Interior to investigate a delicate matter. Santos is delighted to see him.

Cecilia bursts in on Gonzalo and chews him out for having Antonio arrested. She tells him that Marisela loves and will always love Santos. "So you can do what you want to do ('hagas lo que hagas')," Cecila tells him, "lock up whom you want to lock up ('encierres a quien encierres'), bribe whom you want to bribe ('sobornes a quien sobornes') and marry her or not marry her ('te cases con ella o te dejes de casar con ella'), you will be sleeping every night with a woman who doesn't love you. She loves Santos Luzardo!" Gonzalo tells her to get out and says that she will pay. He will destroy everything she loves and she will never be happy. Cecilia replies that the world can't be so rotten that he can get away with this.

Leoncia and Celeste tell León and Tigre that DB defended him when Eustaquia suggested that they had something to do with Carmelito's death. He angrily denies Leoncia's suggestion that he was carrying a grudge because Carmelito stole his woman and child.

The Land Registry Inspector tells Santos that he finds the situation very confusing. He wonders who could have stolen the photos of DB's rapists. Santos says that he doesn't know but one thing is for sure, there is drug running in the region and the Governor is involved. The inspector declines to be introduced to Pernalete and asks Santos to keep him informed.

Melquíades is sure that León murdered Carmelito because his eyes reflect recent blood. DB says that she has a way to make Leon confess. Melquíades tells her to be careful. DB tells him not to worry. Men are fools when they think they've conquered a woman.

Gonzalo expresses his jealousy to Marisela and she tells him that she has gotten Santos out out of her heart and that she is here with him and his going to marry him in a few days. She won't let him kiss her, though. Gonzalo tricks her into going into his room by saying that he has a surprise for her. Then he tries to rape her. She manages to knee him in the crotch and escape. Now Gonzalo adds Marisela to the list of people who will pay for humililating him. Outside the room, Marisela says that she has to get out of there right now.

Santos comes to see DB about Marisela.

Cecilia is turned away from taking care of Lucita in the hospital by Don Encarnación.

Santos asks DB if she is blackmailing or forcing Marisela to marry Gonzalo. DB admits that Marisela is doing what DB has asked her to but DB says that she is doing this for him to help him catch Gonzalo. She says that she is showing him that she can do something unselfish and good. Santos says that putting Marisela at risk just to please him shows just how selfish DB is.

Marisela gets the photos out of Gonzalo's drawer but he comes in and catches her.

Labels: barbara

Capítulo 54

At Looney-Land Dr. Dement-Oh! Matamentes Obregon has just been informed by Bitch-Barbie that Lili is going to be transferred to a clinic outside the country, the suck-up’s little sinecure is about to end and, BTW, not to expect a job reference to go along with that resumé he’s polishing. (Ever notice the way “sinecure” neatly breaks down nearly phonetically in English into “sin” and “cure”?) Dr. Oh! leaves his office to supposedly get Liliana’s files for She Who Barks Orders While Rolling. On his way back he tells Martina, looking honest-to-gawd like Fred Munster’s kid sister dressed in those platform boots and white mini-form, that the Elizaldes have decided to send LIli abroad for treatment and that Eduardo needs to be told ASAP.

Margarita and Fernanda are still gabbing in Margo’s living room. Margo feeds Fer a line about Silvestre--currently playing bumper-cars with the walls-- being beaten up by would-be robbers and left on the street where Fr/Eduardo eventually found him. She says since Fr/Ed didn’t know where to take him he brought the old guy to them for help. Once Fer is gone, Silvestre insists on having Margo take him back to his place or otherwise, he threatens, he’ll go alone.

Back at the clinic now, Matamentes returns to his office with Lili’s file. Barbie won’t give him any pertinent details about which hospital Lili’s being transferred to or the doctor who’ll be treating her. Besides, Barbie barks at him, Lili’s only going to be there the amount of time it takes for her to process the forms at the Swedish Embassy, maybe a few days in all.

At Las Animas, Eddie explains to Cinto that he wanted Cadmilo to find the e-mail he left for him. The idea was that if Cad thinks that he came there looking to find a rich wife he’ll lose interest in nosing around in his house and finding out the truth about him. Martina’s call interrupts their discussion and she tells Ed about Lili being sent out of the country to a different clinic.

Across the way at Hacienda Elizalde, Damian gives Fer a song and dance in between smooches about their having to go in to the office in separate cars that morning so he can drive over to say good-bye to Mama before they leave on their honeymoon. Fer goes upstairs to have Tomasa pack her bags. Dam thinks to himself what a shame that she will have her bags packed, excited as any small town bride. But then, there will be that irresistible boatload of dough and well, “Who can resist $3 million dollars?”

Over at Las Animas again, Cinto and Eddie discuss the new problem of Lili’s being taken out of the country for treatment. If Lili leaves, Ed says, he will never be able to fulfill his mother’s last wish. It’s not likely Barbie will leave any clue about where Lili’s been sent, either, and Ed’s not about to let Barbara Greco get her own way; so Ed has got to find a way to keep Lili there. It’s the only means of discovering what that secret is she’s keeping and thus delivering them “from the evil shadow that’s been weighing over them all these years.” He is pretty certain, he says, that Lili’s trip definitely doesn’t come with a round-trip ticket.

Once Barbie’s gone, Matamentes takes a sip of his liquid courage before using it to torch any and all files pertaining to Lili’s “treatment.” He says to himself, “Fine, Barbie. If that’s the way you want it,” but first he’s going make sure his hands are clean. He decides a little CYA is in order. He wants nothing left to show that when Lili arrived there fifteen years earlier she was (Gasp!!!!) mentally sound. (Hubby asks wouldn’t a shredder being easier. I remind him to adjust his beanie down to “Minimally Inquisitive,” because if there isn’t a sprinkler system in the ceiling putting out that fire in the wastebasket, then there ain’t gonna be any shredder for Dement-oh! to use, either.) As Matamentes gives sway to his pyromaniacal tendencies, he smiles crazily off into space. The flames destroy any trace of Lili’s “treatment.”

Meanwhile, the doctor’s phone continues to ring off the hook. It’s Eduardo on the other end of the line, but Dr. Oh! either doesn’t realize it or he is just ignoring it. (I vote for option #1.) Ed hangs up in frustration. Cinto suggests Ed should just run over to the clinic and talk to Obregon personally, but Ed says that’s a waste of time because if Barbara Greco and the Elizaldes have decided to transfer Lili, then there’s nothing the doctor can do about it. Jacinto says, well if the doc is powerless to do anything to stop it, then Eduardo sure can’t. Ed stops to think for a second or two and says only one person can stop Lili from being sent away and that is (pregnant pause) La Hiena!!!

Now Ed calls up Barbie who is delighted to hear from him so unexpectedly soon. She asks if there’s any news about the money. He says it was as he suspected, the transaction is subject to certain conditions. She reminds him they haven’t got much time. Ed says that why they have to hurry so they can comply with Powhere Meelk’s demands. He’s got to have the exact numbers for the social welfare project of Nanda’s, he lies, stalling for time. He needs to meet with her personally ASAP, and not to worry; he won’t tell a soul about their little meeting the night before. Barbie says sure thing and hangs up, pissed that there’s still a hitch.

Babs heads for the board room and tells Gonzo along the way about Fer needing to meet immediately with Fr/Eduardo to clarify a few things more over the community center project in order to get their advance money. Gonzo is upset that this will cause another delay of Fernanda’s honeymoon. Babs smiles back at him and assures him sweetly that there shouldn’t be any more snags after this, but Bitch-Barbie thinks to herself as they walk into the board room that that’s nothing compared to what she has planned for his adored little daughter!

Back in Villa Madera, Margo leaves Silvestre back at his little house and tells him if he needs anything at all to get hold of her through a neighbor. He asks her to have Franco come visit him so he can thank him personally for everything he’s done for him.

At the asylum again, Martina and LIli go for their walk. Martina begs Lili, now that she’s going to be sent off to a clinic out of the country, to tell her what happened back at the hacienda when she left her all alone with Babs the other day. Unfortunately, Lili doesn’t seem able to do more than hyperventilate. (Big whoop.) FF>>

In the city Vlad waits outside a department store for Prissy to show up. (Ok. Ok. I admit it’s a little freaky that the guy should know exactly when and where to find her.) He talks her into having a cup of coffee with him in exchange for some interesting news he has for her. Vlad promises never to bother her again if she isn’t interested in what he tells her. Fine. She’s game.

In the board room, bored Dam nearly chokes on his coffee when he hears that the advance money Franco is supposedly giving the company is exactly $3 million. Babs congratulates Any Balls on having the foresight to initiate the negotiation with Powhere Meelk. Gonzo tells Nanda that the only remaining requirement before they get the money is for her to go over to Las Animas to finalize figures on her welfare project. AB stresses that it has to be before she leaves on her honeymoon. Nanda is not a happy camper because she’s got everything planned to leave that afternoon. Dam pretends to object and asks if AB never took a honeymoon. AB says yeah, but when he went on his the company wasn’t facing bankruptcy, so stuff it.

Ed and Jacinto are still in Ed’s office at Las Animas waiting for Fer to show up for the meeting. Rene Manzanares walks in behind Denia and he waves some sort of “official looking” police badge in Ed’s face. (Beanie adjustment alert: unfortunately for Eddie, there doesn’t seem to be a badge number so he could actually verify the guy is really who he said he was, not that exquisite Ed has the first clue, anyway. His is not to ask or eschew; his is but to smile handsomely and do. –My apologies to Lord Tennyson.) Manazanares jumps right into a discussion about false identities and how people falsify all sorts of documents, as a façade, in order to commit all kinds of heinous crimes while seeking protection behind the name of innocent people. Fr/Ed guardedly asks Manzanares why exactly he’s there to see him. Rene tells him “his superiors” need to confirm that he and a narcotrafficking-assasin who has been identified as “Franco Santoro,” are not one in the same. Ruh-Roh! (Viewerville shows admiration at how clever this P.I. is and figures Artemio Bravo really does hire only the best.) This cock n bull line hits home. Eddie and Jacinto are both take-a-big-swallow-and-two-deep-breaths-impactado.

Back in the boardroom of Grupo Lactos, Babs talks Fer into quickly meeting with Franco Santoro after some rubbish about doing whatever Nanda’s “heart and good sense dictate.” Nanda says fine, she’ll make it quick and then the honeymoon will go on as planned.

Manzanares tells Fr/Eddie that he will have to provide all kinds of documentation about his real estate holdings, his bank accounts, work references, etcetera, to prove he is who he says he is. He tries to avoid any doubts about his story by officiously adding that it could be worse because he could have come with an arrest warrant. “--But, because the people in the district thought so highly of you, my superiors decided it was simply a matter of stolen identity.” Ed is secretly sweating buckets now and asks for a couple of day’s time to gather the information that he needs. Manzanares says fine. He will be back the day after tomorrow to clear things up and then leaves.

Back at the sidewalk café, Prissy complains that Vlad still hasn’t told her anything yet. He reminds his “Gordita” that he’s in love with her and can’t help himself for wanting to chitchat with her. (Ok. Anybody who calls a pregnant woman Gordita might as well have “Loser” tattooed on his forehead. He’d definitely be the first one crossed off my Christmas list.) He adds, sort of awkwardly, that he’ll help her with the baby. Prissy harrumphs and starts to walk off. So Vlad finally blurts out that Any Balls has been stealing from her. Pris is stopped-in-her-tracks impactada.

At Las Animas again, Eddie is forced to tell Jacinto about the ID card he found in the phone booth. Cinto thinks that that’s why Jairo backed off the other day, because the police were going around looking for this “Santoro”. Ed worries that he’s hit a dead end now and that there’s no way out of this mess. Jacinto advises him to get hold of his American friend and head for parts unknown but Ed refuses. He says he still is determined to find the person who’s been lurking in the shadows and who had persecuted him and his mother for so long. If he leaves he certainly wouldn’t be able to rescue Lili from the clutches of La Hiena and if La Hiena takes Lili out of the country it will be to get rid of her permanently, because Lili is the only one who knows that she killed Montserrat Elizalde.

Jacinto is about to suffer a major circuitry breakdown at this point. (Ok. Ok. No news here. Cinto’s circuits always seem to be on permanent overload.) He yells at Ed that now he’s got no choice and warns him that if he sticks around there they’ll put him in prison. Ed is just as adamant that he’s not going to run away because it’s his responsibility, and he’s going to see it through to the end. (Here’s where the CC goes on the fritz again.) Barb calls Fr/Ed back at that point to tell him Fernanda is definitely coming and she just needs to know when he wants her there. He tells her in an hour is fine. Babs conspiratorially reminds him that Fer doesn’t know about their little dinner meeting the night before and hubby Gonzo only knows that Barb spoke to him about Fer’s project. He says fine, that mum’s the word, and hangs up. (He turns his back to Jacinto and without CC I’m not sure what was said exactly but, it seems…) Ed mumbles something about dealing with “that guy” and Cinto asks, “How?” Eddie says with Fernanda’s help.

Back at Grupo Lactos, Damn is checking his Swiss bank account online and gets upset because he still doesn’t see a deposit for the $3 million in there. There’s a knock on the door and it is Fernanda. She wonders if he’s upset or not (we assume) since she notices that his door was locked. (Still no CC here.) He says something about he just came in since they were going on their honeymoon (?) to check his e-mail. She apologizes because it seems that everything is conspiring to keep them from going on that honeymoon. They agree to meet back at the house after she finishes meeting with Santoro. After Fer leaves, Dam gets a call from Flor telling him that Anibal wants him in his office right away. Dam says fine and hangs up. He gripes to himself that Vlad better come through for him because before he leaves he wants to make life miserable for Anibal, “that conceited …” (fill in the blank).

Back at the street-side café again, Prissy is fed up with Vlad’s accusations and accuses him of libeling her husband just to get in good with her. Vlad suddenly asks her (I think) how long it’s been since AB handed her a statement from her accounts in Miami. She stops in her tracks and asks him how he found out about that investment. He says it’s not important, just that there’s been some funny movement with the funds. She says what happens with her money is none of his business. Vlad agrees, but says since they do have a kid on the way he wanted to watch out for the two of them. Prissy immediately screams “YOU ARE NOT THE FATHER!” at him. He backs off then and nervously advises her to check on her accounts anyway. (What a milquetoast.) He adds that if he’s not telling her the truth about things then she won’t see or hear from him again. Prissy is totally disgusted and walks off without a word. Vlad sits there dejectedly in his 60’s style preppy-loafers-without-socks and is frustrated with his miserable self.

The Barbot gets in touch with Cigarman now to tell him about her little rendezvous the day before with Franco Santoro. She tells him that Santoro is a hard nut to crack [hueso de roer]. He tells her that he’s waiting to get the goods on Santoro and with the financial analysis [radiográfico] he’s about to get he’ll soon learn Santoro’s weak points which will make it easier to destroy him. Barbie then asks about Padre Bosco. Bravo says that the priest’s days are numbered. We beam over to the parish church that Bosco tends and there is Rene Manzanares (apparently a master of disguise) dressed like a small town farmer, hunched and humble, asking the housekeeper if Padre Bosco is in.

Fernanda eventually arrives at Las Animas. She sits down in front of Fr/Eduardo’s desk and opens her laptop, ready to go over the figures he supposedly needs. Fer tells Fr/Ed she’s a bit miffed because she and her husband are supposed to leave in just a few hours. Fr/Ed frowns. She notices and assumes it’s because she’s discussing her private business and apologizes. Because of the rush and the last minute meeting, she says, she isn’t sure she’ll have all the answers to his questions. He hands her a cup of tea then closes her laptop and places it on the other side of the desk. He seems to be making a move on her. “More than the information you’re bringing….. “ Fr/Eddie bends down over her till his nose is only inches away from hers. Fer is both mesmerized and scandalized at the same time. “…I need you--” He starts to lose a bit of his self-control. He lets out a sigh. “…I need you, Fernanda.” (Honeymoon? What honeymoon?) She gets lost in those eyes of his.

Fernanda suddenly gets a grip and jumps up. She walks to the window and takes a deep breath. Fr/Eddie is back to his cool, collected self-again and acts as if the seduction never happened. “Why does it surprise you, Fernanda? Without you the project will never become a reality.” She assures him that her company is committed to the project even though she will be gone while it’s being built. He shakes his head no and crosses over to her. “No.” “—What do you mean no?” He leans in and this time whispers seductively in her ear. “You are totally indispensable.” She smiles and looks up at him with a twinkle in her eye. “Aren’t you exaggerating a bit? This business deal can’t depend entirely on me.” He stares into her eyes and lowers his voice. (Hearts skip a beat throughout the whole of Viewerville.) “It depends exclusively on you…because… the only reason I came to this country …was you.”

As Fernanda is left to decide what to make of Fr/Eddie’s irresistable charisma, we beam back to Padre Bosco’s office at the church. Rene Manzanares is there pretending to be a small-town schoolteacher with a son who feels he has a calling and wants to become a priest. He tricks Bosco into giving him the hours the church doors are open and when they’re locked to the public for the night, the location of his room, and the fact that he lives at the rectory alone. The two agree to meet again with “his son” there, late one evening, because the schoolteacher’s son is supposedly a male nurse who doesn’t get off from the hospital till pretty late.

Back at Las Animas in Fr/Ed’s office again, Nanda has gotten back to business and is typing away on her laptop. Fr/Ed walks by and not-so-accidentally, runs his fingers lightly along her forearm as he picks up the laptop and moves it out of the way again. (Whew! Works for me!) She pretends not to notice the goose bumps she (and the rest of Viewerville vicariously) gets from that touch to her arm. It seems she’s just asked why she is “the only reason” he came down there and why she seems to be so indispensible to this negotiation between the two companies. He says it’s a long and involved story. She says she wants to hear it and watches (with only a hint of drool) as he takes his jacket off, rolls up his sleeves, and begins to smile at her. He asks, “Do you love horses? Do you like to ride?” “--Why?” “--Because only somebody who loves horses and horseback riding as much as I do can appreciate this story.”

Fr/Ed now invents a tall tale about a man that saved his life when he lost control of a high-strung, difficult mare he was riding once. “Some years ago in a horse show for purebreds I fell in love with Centella.” Nanda thinks he is talking about a woman and turns away, obviously a bit irked. Ed notes the unconscious signals she’s just given him—definitely a green light—and he continues his story. “The horse was top notch and couldn’t be ridden by just anyone. She could only be properly ridden by an experienced horseman.” There was a man, someone he met only once and he never saw him again, but he saved his life.

“This man was raised around stables and was an excellent horseman.” He warned stubborn “Franco” about the horse, but he wouldn’t listen to him. When the horse seemed to be calmed-down enough he jumped on the horse and tried to ride it anyway. The mare took off and bolted away. “Franco” lost control of her. The mare continued to race blindly away with him hanging on for dear life till they were nearly about to run over a huge cliff. Just at the moment they were about to go over it, this daring horseman –his guardian angel-- rode after him, got hold of the reins, and stopped the racing mare. "Franco" got off and could barely stand his legs were trembling so badly. He started to cry like a baby, he tells her.

Fr/Eddie notices that Fer is enthralled with the story (as well as the storyteller). He asks if he’s boring her. She says no and grabs his arm excitedly but then gets embarrassed when she realizes she’s touched him, and she quickly lets go. (Wanna guess the amount of electricity that touch shot through the two of them? Sigh.) Franco continues. He says he asked the man what he could do to repay him for saving his life. The man told him a story, the same story and the reason he’s there telling it to her today. She doesn’t understand and asks him why. He stands up and looks over at her. “Does the name ‘Jinete Justiciero’ mean anything to you?” Fer’s eyes go wide as she struggles with a sudden rush of emotion. Eduardo is on tenterhooks as he continues to look over at her and wait for a response. He seems to really need her answer and he’s hoping it is the one he wants.

Labels: manana

Permalink posted by Jardinera654 @ 2:52 PM 103 comments

This was a wild episode. Almost everyone was at everyone’s throat, nobody’s telling the truth, nobody trusts anyone else, relationships are falling apart, no PSA’s, no inner beauty, just conflict!

After Alicia leaves with Patito (a strategy suggested by Margarita), Pat feels alone in his big house.

We switch to Lucía’s condom party (oh, excuse me, Protection Party) at Santi’s house. They’ve hired a few guys to come dressed as life-sized condoms, with smiley faces, one orange and one blue, and Lucía and Charly are greeting everyone at the door, handing out condoms to the lucky guests as favors. I’m thinking if this show is on at 7, how do the parents explain this to the preteens? Oh well, we notice that Eduardo gets a condom, which he absentmindedly puts in his jacket pocket. They take a nice group picture with Santi, Ed, the two life sized condoms (with authentic reservoir tips), and kids everywhere will want to get in on the fun. Isabel, Santi and Jaime are joking around. Isa says Zamora is too timid to come out of this room. Santi says talk with Don Jaime (con Don Jaime) and Jaime says “con don?” (condom) as a joke. Lucía’s friend Fred enters, gets a condom from a wary Charly, then greets Lucía with a kiss on the lips, as Charly’s blood begins to boil. He pulls Luc aside, tells her how bummed he is about her kissing Fred, he still wants to be more than amigos with Luc, but Luc says no, she doesn’t.

In the restaurant, at an outdoor table, Meño is telling Ricardo about his list of things to do before he dies. First up, learn to ride a bike. Ricardo offers to teach him! No trouble (lata) at all. Changing the subject, Meño inquires if things are getting better with Ricardo’s wife Catalina. No, that’s a lost cause. Meño wants Ric to try again, but Ric has a confession. He’s in love with another “person” (my quotes). Well, well, well. Let’s see. Meño’s been getting notes. Ric’s in love with another “person”. What gayme could they be playin’?

The doorbell rings in Alicia’s apartment. “Eva” is nowhere to be found, so Ali asks who it is, and when she hears it’s Pat, she primps a little before opening the door. Pat has come to return the stroller (carreola) Ali left at the house. Of course, he also wants to see little Patito. Ali says no. She’s tired, and she’d appreciate if he’d call in advance whenever he wants to visit. He asks if this means war. No, but she has the right to decide whether to receive visitors. So he’s just a visitor? Well, he no longer lives there, he lives in his big house, so Adiós! She forcefully closes the door on him.

One door closes, another opens (but not very far). Arturo wants to talk to Gregoria, to explain that when Margarita said he lived with Art in Pat’s house, it was just a little joke Marg was playing. But Greg won’t let Art get a word in. Art starts to insist, when Candy comes downstairs to support her Mom. The two of them succeed in shutting the door on Art. After he leaves, Greg tells Candy “all men are the same”. Candy corrects her. “Some are worse!” They chuckle at that.

Time for our next conflict. Chayo’s upset that Ed leaves his clothes all over the apartment, but that’s nothing compared with her discovery of a condom in the pocket of Ed’s jacket! She’s livid. Once again, he’s deceiving me (me está engañando), she says to herself, crushing the condom in her fist.

Candy puts Chava to bed (not before Chava tries his own little trick, pretending to be hungry so as to stay up, but Candy doesn’t fall for it). After turning out Chava’s light, Candy goes over to Charly (the boys sleep in the same room), who is making his list of things to do before he dies (just like Meño’s). Candy thinks that’s a good idea, since no one’s life is set in stone (nadie tiene una vida comprada, or no one has a life that’s bought). But the conversation is waking up Chava, so it’s lights out.

In the morning, Candy has come to visit Santiago, and over coffee, she asks for his help with the Pat situation (he won’t sign the divorce papers). Apparently Paulina is also an early riser, as she’s listening in behind the kitchen door. We can see the wheels turning in Pau’s evil brain.

Continuing our theme of trickery, Chayo is talking to Hortensia in the clinic, and when comely assistant (I think her name is Lety) signals that Ed is approaching, Chayo’s voice gets WAY louder as she “admits” to Horti that of course, Ed was NOT her first! Ed grasps the rope from the big bell, standing open-mouthed in shock as Hort and Chayo continue to talk very loudly, Chayo talking about all the men she’s had, of course she had to enjoy herself, right? Ed snarls in silence.

Pau’s evil brain (and her well dressed body) have brought her to Patricio’s office, where she informs him that the two of them can help each other. She doesn’t want Pat to get divorced. Pat protests he barely knows her, isn’t this a little personal? Well, Paulina wants to get Santi back, and the best way for that to happen would be for Pat to stay married to Candy, and maybe that would separate her from Santi. Then Pau brings out the big guns. She says she’s really just worried about her daughter, and you, Pat should be worried about Chava! She adds that she made a mistake, when she left her husband, she may have lost her daughter Rocío. She doesn’t want Pat to make the same mistake, by letting Candy go, he could lose his son. But who is she to give advice, she says flippantly (but knowingly), as she leaves a pouting Pat, pondering this possible peligro.

Ed now confronts Chayo about her “lovers”. How many were there? he demands. She doesn’t know, she forgot. He was her only novio, but not her only man. Then there was another? Others, she corrects. Many. Can’t even count ‘em, as she throws up her hand at the huge number. This is echoed comically by the Institute gals, all lined up to witness the fun. Chayo strides off to get some work done, the sea of femininity parts to let her through, but rejoins to block a frustrated Ed.

Back at Pat’s place, Arturo is laying into Marg for making Gregoria think that since Marg and Art both live at Pat’s place, they’re back together. Marg tells him he’s tricked her for years, now it’s her turn, and she’s having fun with it. Arturo is furious, and they start yelling at each other, she about his amantes, he about her demands for money, when Pat arrives to defend his Mom, ordering his father not to talk that way in Pat’s house. Marg says it’s okay, Art just lost his head a little, to which Art asks if she’s now saying he’s senile, and HE stalks out. More conflict, more tension.

Ed is devastated, sitting in the waiting room imagining Chayo’s lovers. How many were there, he mutters. Two, no that’s too few. Five hundred? There must have been a batallion of them! Hort is observing this and reporting everything by phone with Chayo, telling her Ed’s breathing like a toad (sapo).

We now see little Rocío in robe and slippers, looking at her legs. What are these little hairs (pelitos)? she asks her Mom, also in a robe. They’re not hairs, they’re beauty hairs (no son pelitos, son bellitos – I think that’s what she’s saying). Paulina says when Rocío gets older she can remove the beauty hairs, and she’ll have pretty legs, nice and smooth. Does she want to be a model? As Rocío chatters away, Pau flashes back to her confrontation with Candy, where Candy said she only cared about getting Santi back, not about her daughter. Rocío brings her out of her reverie, what was she thinking about? Oh, she was thinking about someone whom she really doesn’t like at all, but it’s not you, sweetie, as she hugs the innocent pawn of her devious plan.

We have a short scene in which Lucía and Candy are talking about expanding the Protection Party idea, and Chayo looks uneasy about this, as she’s a little more old fashioned than they are.

And now for some real fighting! (not really). Santi and Ed are wearing boxing gloves, and Santi (or the production assistants) has hung a big punching bag from the office ceiling, as the guys take turns getting out their male aggression, each in turn holding the bag for the other. (I think I want one of these. I read an article recently about a local judge, now 80 years old. His wife said that although he may have had lots of frustrations with the crazy or angry people in his courtroom, he was always sweet as sugar with her. Then she pointed out that of course he has a big punching bag in the basement for whenever he gets agitated). Ed keeps wondering how many (cuántos) guys did Chayo have? Santi says maybe millions! Ed says, so you knew, and the two punch each other (in fun, not really connecting).

A taxi drops Mario off at Santi’s house. But guess what? Mario is being followed! A guy who looks like a detective was in a dark car behind the taxi. He calls his client, yes the guy’s here, I’ve confirmed the info. What should I do next? (Uh oh! Mario’s a doctor, right? Could he be running from something he’s done, and not just pursuing Paulina?)

Wow, Rocío really wants to grow up. Now she’s asking Pau when she can depilarme las axilas (shave her underarms!). Pau hustles her off to change, then sneaks into Santi’s bedroom. She goes through his drawers, takes out a handkerchief (pañuelo), smiles with glee, and stuffs it in her bra.

We get a little relief from all this scheming with Soledad and Raúl. Today he didn’t come to eat. Well, what then? Uh, he’s a very sober guy, but he’s been telling himself he needs to loosen up (he loosens his tie), and do what he FEELS. What’s that? asks Sole. This, as he quickly and nervously kisses a wide-eyed Sole on the lips. He turns away, comes back a second later with a lovely small bouquet, hands it to her, and at least one of our romances seems to be flowering.

Now Hortensia is holding the punching bag for Santi, as he tells her he’s full of adrenaline, needs to work out some of his tensions. Raúl comes in to hold the bag, and they discuss the detective who’s going to try to find Marissa, Raúl gave him some photos, and wants to help, but Santi wants to cover most of the costs. As Santi mentions Marissa, he hits the bag really hard, sort of dislocating Raúl’s shoulder, which Santi twists back into place, leaving Raúl to limp out the door (this is our humorous segment).

We see black stockinged legs walking up some steps, followed by a woman in a little black dress, nice jewelry, but no, it’s not Pau, it’s someone we’ve never seen before, who puts an envelope in Meño’s door, but he sees her, and asks her why she’s delivering mysterious letters to him, and he doesn’t even know her. Please don’t tell, she begs, or her boss (she says jefe, which is masculine!) will fire her. As she goes, Meño thinks, her boss? He contemplates the letter. On the outside Meño’s name is written, with a big heart after the “o”. I think we viewers know what’s going on here.

Candy is leaving a message for Pat, please call about the divorce. Pat is on the other end, not picking up, sadly sulking, thinking, still on the edge between good and evil, which way will he fall?

Speaking of evil, Pau’s at the clinic, Santi’s not in, Pau tells Horti she’ll wait. In the meantime, can Horti get her a nice hot coffee? Pau spies two chicas in the waiting room, do they want coffee, too? Sure do. Okay, she tells Hort, how about 3 coffees? With Horti out of the way, Pau springs into action. First, she applies a fresh coat of red lipstick. Sneaking into Santi’s office, she removes the handkerchief (which she got from his bedroom) from her bag and kisses it, leaving a big impression. She puts it into Santi’s lab coat, which was on the back of his chair. She takes a tissue to wipe off her hands and lips, and is back in the waiting room just as Hort arrives with the coffees. Pau dismissively tells Hort she decided to go shopping, and walks out (quietly depositing the tissue in the trashcan near the elevator), quite satisfied with herself.

Little Patito is sweating, he may be sick. Alicia, who doesn’t know the first thing about babies, has called Pat for help. She’s distraught, but he’s very calm (we know he’s good with kids). All they have to do is take his temperature, but Alicia doesn’t have a thermometer. No problem, says Pat, they’ll go to the pediatrician.

Candy and Santi are in his office, discussing how at first Pat was giving excuses about not going to the lawyer for the divorce, but now he’s not even answering Candy’s phone calls. It’s strange. Even stranger (to us, but very convenient to the plot), Candy now gets something in her eye. Wouldn’t it be nice if anyone happened to have a HANDKERCHIEF? Of course, Santi is prepared, takes out the tell-tale pañuelo from his coat pocket, and as Candy dabs her eye, he sees the big red LIP mark on the outside of the handkerchief! He’s shocked, and when Candy sees the lipstick mark, Santi acts shocked again, but unfortunately, Candy thinks it’s just that – an act.
She asks him to think hard before he answers. Is this his handkerchief? Yes, it is. Okay, then what’s the lipstick stain doing on it? This one has him stumped. He fumbles, and that’s never good.

Now Paulina (back at Santi’s house) is arguing with Mario. It’s the same old thing, she’s through with him, he threatens to tell Santi some little details, but this time, Isabel happens to overhear! One little detail, says Mario, is that you were unfaithful to Santiago with his best friend! At this, Isabel bursts in, and SLAPS Paulina.

Santi is not making any headway. He first jokes that the lipstick is not his color. Not funny, replies Candy. Oh, Santi gets it – Candy’s joking with HIM. She set it all up. Wrong. Candy feels everything is clear, he’s been unfaithful. He swears he hasn’t been, but Candy’s heard enough. She walks out, ringing (or crashing into) the bell, as Santi tells Horti to stop her. Hort does, temporarily, but after they argue a little more in front of the two new patients, Santi knows there’s nothing he can do at this point, and stubborn Candy leaves angrily. (Handkerchiefs are used a lot to “prove” infidelity in dramas. I’m reminded of Othello, in which Othello’s friend Iago “finds” Desdemona’s handkerchief in Cassio’s bed, thus providing the key evidence that Desdemona was unfaithful to her husband (she wasn’t, though).

Isabel and Paulina argue with Mario looking on. Pau thinks it’s none of Isa’s business, but Isa says don’t think she’s going to keep quiet about this.

Arturo is begging Margarita, please come with me to tell Gregoria you were joking about our being back together. Marg says it’s the first time he’s ever said “please” and asked for a favor. She wants to hear it again. He grudgingly says “please” again, and she agrees to go straighten things out with his “lover”, which also gets him upset. At this point Pat enters with Patito in his arms, followed by Alicia. Seems the baby was fine. Art and Marg leave, and Alicia asks if the “lover” they were talking about was her mother, Gregoria. Pat confirms it, but doesn’t want to get involved. By the way, continues Ali, how come we came back to this house? Well, Pat wants the baby near him. Okay, says Ali, then you want us both here, and you know what? I’m tired of the guest (huésped) room. I think I’d like to sleep in the master bedroom (recámara principal). You could bear it for a few days, no?

Santi is pleading his case in front of the jury, which consists of Hortensia and the two chicas who were in the waiting room, all sitting on the sofa of his office. He’s not getting anywhere in convincing the chicas. Hort seems to be wavering. He even brings in (figuratively) the Reyes brothers from FELS to make his points, but so far, he's striking out.

Isabel wants Paulina to leave the house. Pau says not only will she not leave, but Isabel had better shut up about what she heard, or else Pau will do damage to Rocío! Are you capable of hurting your own child? Pau’s response? Test me and see, you’re a mother like me, you know how much influence a mother has over her child, imagine Rocío being sent to a string of psychiatrists, never to be cured. So you’d better stay quiet! She leaves.

Isabel is left with Mario, who hasn’t said a word, and they walk outside to talk. Isabel confesses that she never got along well with Pau, but Santi was so in love with her, she didn’t meddle. But what Isa really can’t understand is Eduardo! Huh? Isa continues, reminding Mario that he said Paulina was unfaithful with Santi’s best friend, and isn’t that Eduardo? Mario does the right thing, tells the truth, lets the bomb drop that Santi’s best friend was Mario himself! He was blindly in love with Pau. Isa thinks he should stay far away from Pau, that woman is dangerous. And has Mario told Santi? He's told him some, but Santi doesn’t want to hear about the past. Isabel concludes by saying that she may have to be quiet to protect her granddaughter, but Mario betrayed his best friend once, he may not have another chance to make things right if he does it again. Think hard about what you’re going to do.

Candy, in her office, is going through all the bad names she can think of for Santiago. She’s getting help in some of the word choices from Ceci and Lulu. She’s really mad, and she’s also mad at herself for being so stupid as to believe Santi could change. She doesn’t even want any tila tea! She caught Santi this time, but how many other times were there? She starts with the dichos. Out of sight, out of mind (she says corazon que no ve, corazon que no siente, although I thought it started with ojos que no ve). Lulu chimes in with one, the blacksmith’s son gets the wooden knife (en casa del herrero, cuchillo de palo). Candy says right, in the blacksmith’s house, wait a minute, what does that have to do with anything? Lulu doesn’t know, she just thought they were trading dichos.

Santi and Ed are complaining about their problems with Hortensia. Ed always wanted to be Chayo’s first. That’s okay, says Santi, at least you’re her last! But I wanted to be her first and ONLY, cries Ed into his coffee. Hortensia takes pity on him, reveals that Chayo found a condom in Ed’s jacket, was jealous, and made up the stuff about all the lovers. Santi can’t believe after all of Ed’s efforts, he’s unfaithful again. Ed is relieved, though, says actually Santi, it’s your daughter’s fault, which prompts Santi to explode until Ed reminds Santi about the condom party. All is forgiven, and Ed is so happy, he gives Santi a big kiss on the cheek and happily goes back to his office. And after he leaves, Santi is raving about his problem, who could have gotten into his office and put a handkerchief in his pocket, and Hortensia says she would never let anyone into his office, not even La Señora……Paulina! She remembers that Paulina was there earlier in the day, and Hort went to get coffee. Ah hah!

But we can’t leave this episode without at least one more trick. Arturo and Margarita arrive at Gregoria’s door. Greg doesn’t want to let them in. Art wants Marg to explain the little joke. So what does Margarita say? “Please, Gregoria, leave my husband. We’ve been trying to repair our marriage, it’s been so hard, please stop seeing him”! Art is impactado, wants to explain, but Greg has had enough, and even closes the door on his hand. Remember earlier when Greg told Candy all men are the same, and Candy said, no, some are worse? Well, that’s what Gregoria says to herself, You said it, some are worse!

Monday: Santi fights back!

Vocabulario:

Carreola – stroller, they also use cochecito
Engañando – deceiving, or tricking someone
Nadie tiene una vida comprada – one’s life is not set in stone
Pañuelo – handkerchief

Dicho del día:

En casa del herrero, cuchillo de palo – the blacksmith’s son gets the
wooden knife, sort of like the shoemaker’s son gets the worst shoes

Labels: Tontas

With all the horrible things happening in the real world, I don't need to be sitting in front of the TV sobbing because a character on a telenovela died! I don't think it was any easier because we got a lot of warning. In addition to the event itself, we had all the anxiety beforehand.

Anyway, on with the recap. Santos is unsuccessful in reviving Carmelito.

DB is upset at what Juan Primito suffered because of her enemy. She wants to make a frontal attack on Sapo's hideout but Melquíades persuades her that would be suicidal and unsuccessful.

Sapo calls his henchmen who let JP escape bigger idiots than JP.

Cecilia asks Marisela to forgive her saying that Marisela was going to marry Gonzalo to get revenge on Santos. Because Marisela paid Lucita's hospital bill, Cecilia knows that whatever the reason Marisela is marrying Gonzalo, it's not out of spite. Marisela says that she can't tell Cecilia what she is doing but she asks Cecilia to believe in her.

Antonio gets out of prison and is told not to leave the city.

Gonzalo tells Don Encarnación that Antonio has been arrested for embezzlement and suggests that he isn't fit to raise DE's granddaughter.

Antonio returns to Cecilia's house and is mean to Marisela. He tells Cecilia that Marisela betrayed them. Cecilia tells him that Marisela paid Lucita's hospital bill with her own money. Antonio wonders if she paid his bail money, too.

Mujica tells Pernalete about the attack on Carmelito and María Nieves. Pernalete says that they have to tell DB.

DB brings JP to La Chusmita and tells Eustaquia and the other women to take care of him.

Pernalete tells DB about what happened to Carmelito and MN. Melquíades watches Leon suspiciously. DB says that she expects Santos to blame her for what happened.

Santos comes to tell Melesio and Gervasia about Carmelito.

DB tells Pernalete that the shootings have to be solved as soon as possible. Mujica says that the best thing would be if MN woke up and identified the culprit. DB says that she hopes that MN is well guarded since if the culprit knows that he survived, he will try and finish him off. Pernalete assures her this is being done.

Cecilia tells Antonio that he will have to apologize to Marisela. A telegram comes with the news about Carmelito. Genoveva says that she will tell Marisela and they will all go to Progresso.

Melquíades tells DB that he thinks Los Mondragon and particularly Leon might have been responsible for Carmelito's murder. DB points out that it could have been Sapo trying to ruin Santos.

Melesio tells Santos that it isn't fair that Carmelito never got to know his own child. Josefa and Melesia come to say that Gervasia has locked herself in her room with Carmelito and won't come out.

Marisela tells Gonzalo in no uncertain terms and without a trace of any affection that he is not welcome in the Sandoval house and isn't coming with her.

Dr. Arias tells Santos that there is no change in MN's condition. It is in God's hands.

Gonzalo is furious that Antonio was released on bail. He sends his guards after him. Casilda tells them that Antonio has gone to Progresso.

DB comes to Dr. Arias' office. She says that whoever attacked his men will pay. Santos replies that he is beginning to doubt that there is justice in this world. DB is the living proof that one can get away with crimes. He asks what Carmelito did to her. DB swears by her life, Eustaquia's life, Santos' life that is her life that she didn't do it.

Santos is nasty to Marisela when she comes to Melesio's house. Antonio tells him that Marisela hasn't changed. She paid the hospital bill and bailed Antonio out of jail. Santos is impactado.

To distract him from his grief, Geno asks Pajarote to tell her about his life. He tells her that he as abandoned as a baby and had a hard childhood: hungry and cold.

Leon tells Tigre that he has to earn his share of the stolen money by finishing off MN.

Gonzalo sends his guards after Antonio in Progresso.

At Carmelito's funeral, Santos gives a 'vengeance is mine' eulogy apparently directed at DB.

So much for guarding MN, Tigre apparently just walks right into Dr. Arias' place. He is sneaking up on MN when Dr. Arias surprises him and demands to know what he is doing there.

Labels: barbara

Guess what, as of this month I have been a recapper for Caray, Caray for three years! That's right, my first official Caray, Caray recap was on April 25, 2006. I know I'm not the only recapper (besides our Blog mom Melinama) who has been around that long. But you know what's even better, how the phenomenon of Caray, Caray has grown from a one-telenovela blog with a few recappers and few (but very faithful) commenters a to full-on resource with many participants. Congratulations Melinama and everyone!!

Tonight I learned that "coraje" means not only courage but also anger.

We are in...Guadalajara! And Chava has a tantrum because he wants to live with papa not mama. Meño counts the ways Candy has been the best mother in the world and his advice to her is you can't be with someone you don't love (Pato) just to make your kid happy. "But Chava is my life!" she wails. He says if she's not happy Chava will not be happy.

Chava comes back, sees mom crying and they make up. Fuera dolor! He wants to visit Rocio and mom says she has something to show him first.

Candy makes Chava another box, it's an anger (coraje) box. When he gets mad he yells in the box. His trial run is "It make me really angry that my mami doesn't want to live with my papa!!!!" and hey, he feels better. Candy's a bit impactada at his vehemence but she feels better too. Charly shows up and tells Chava that Rocio is downstairs waiting for him.

Alicia struts around Pato's house with the baby threatening to Pato that she and Patito are moving out and will be perfectly happy without a papa.

Candy calls Santi and complains to him about Chava's tantrum. He assures her she's not a bad mom. As he talks Rocio runs in and steals the glass of OJ he just poured. He dispenses advice and pours another OJ; Beto runs in and steal this one. He pours another and almost drinks it...but Chava runs in and grabs it. He tells Candy he loves her and she responds by blowing her nose into the phone. "Very nice" comments Santi.

Jaime watches the kids and Zamora shows up to discuss their (his and papa's, oops I mean Jaime's) performance. As they talk Zam's mom calls and Zam tells her his new friend plays the piano. Uh oh, mom has hated pianistas since he was young so Zam takes the call elsewhere. Did you all catch that? MOM HATES PIANISTAS. GET IT?

Santi shows up and wants to talk to Chava hombre-to-hombre...en privado.

Daniela and Charly have lunch and she shares her anguish with having to tell her family she has HIV. She thinks she's going to die. Charly tries to educate her, life changes but she still has to live it. She says she's very tired and her life is a disaster, she played the game of life badly and she lost. Charly tells her he wants to introduce her to someone who can help and he takes her hand. Oh please don't let it be Candy.

Santi talks to Chava like an adult (he sez), Candy confided to him she feels she's a bad mama. Chava tells Santi his mom is the best in the world. Then Chava pronounces that his dad loves his mom more than Santi does. Santi screws up his face and disagrees but says, hey, this isn't a competition (hah, since when??) then they high five and Santi says it's time to work on mom's surprise.

Isa asks Lucia about her new friend Frederico. Lucia likes Fred but she can't stop thinking about Charly. Isa's advice is that time heals all wounds.

Pau intercepts Santi and complains that he's not paying enough attention to Rocio because he's proccupied by his novia. He brings up that Pau has been gone for more than 8 years so butt out. No, she insists getting all octupus-arms on him, she's jealous because she still feels like his wife. He tells her she's Rocio's mom and that's it, nothing more.

It looks like Candy's in therapy with Barb. Candy tells Barb how it felt the first time she held her baby and how it was when he grew up. We see a lot of cute scenes of Chava growing up. She worked and went to school and now he doesn't want to be with her, blah wah blah wah, by the way she has a boyriend. Babs screeches and jumps for joy and Candy reminds her this is therapy. (Is it a good idea to have a good friend be one's therapist?) Candy tells Barb she has decided to dedicate herself to Santi but she doesn't want to neglect Chava. Barb asks Candy what does she REALLY want? Candy admits all she wants is to be without blame. "Then stop suffering" advises Barb.

Charly and Daniela walk hand in hand to the church. As the bells ring Charly prays for help getting rid of the anger (coraje) he feels. He adds that Daniela's afraid and needs help. They both need help finding a new path.

Santi shows up to Candy's "therapy" with a little surprise and a blindfold. He wants her to go somewhere with him. To the Maracana she hopes! Meanwhile Babs grins from ear to ear; Santi can tell she knows they're novios so he and Babs jump up and down. "Therapy" reminds Candy. Santi shushes Candy and then blindfolds her and leads her from the room. Barb smiles "que bonito" but snorts "and I can't tell anyone."

Pau raids the refrigerator and mutters that he's not going to win, he's just a mosca muerta (he acts so cool butter wouldn't melt in his mouth). Don walks in and wonders to which dead fly she refers. She yells at him for taking her money and then telling Santi everything. He gives her money back and tells her nobody buys him. "I'll throw you in the street too," she mutters.

Candy opens her eyes and sees Chava in a cute little suit holding a big sign "The best mommy in the world". Then with Santi's help, he begins to shyly sing a sweet song for his mom. Suddenly Santi yells "Break it down!" (in English) and Chava begins a hip-hop routine. He checks his cheat sheet just once and then goes crazy, jumping and rapping and concluding with "I want to say I love you, To steal the best years from you, to be your tender thief..." and Santi decides this is enough and closes down the show. (Chava's cute but doesn't quite have the pipes or rhythm that his pal Rocio has.) Santi high fives Chava, his "brotha from anotha motha". And thus ends another wonderful Camil and kid act. Who was it said adults should never act against animals or kids? They have obviously never met Jaime Camil.

Santi and Mario are in a bar. Mario seems drunk and preoccupied as Santi blabs about how much Candy loved Chava's hip hop routine. Mario calls him Shanti and Santi corrects him, "Shanji". Oh right, Shanti Shanti, says Mario, returning to his original pronunciation. Lalo returns from the bathroom and Santi says he didn't miss anything important. I'm not sure what this scene accomplished other than the ongoing joke about mispronouncing names. I sense we missed something important due to botched editing.

Candy and Chava play ugly monster face and she tells him she's the most important thing in her life, in fact she's staying home from work so they can be together. He confirms she's the best mom in the world. Charly interrupts to say Paulina is downstairs. "The witch?" asks Candy. "No, Rocio's mother," corrects Charly. "Yes, the witch," says Candy, the best mom in the world, in front of Chava.

The musketeers are still drinking and trying to remember a song, Mario jumps up and does a quick and twitchy little dance but they still can't figure out the song. Santi starts to probe Mario about his love life, what's he hiding? He makes a kissy face and tortures him a little more and Mario spills it, does Santi already know about him and Pau? Santi assures him he doesn't mind brother, she's he's ex. And no Pau didn't tell him, Donato saw them kissing. Mario is disconcerted but admits he's going out with Pau.

Pau gives Candy some bull about Rocio being traumatized by Santi's relationship with Candy. Puhleeze! Candy doesn't fall for it, why did Pau even come back? Pau tells Candy twice in two different ways that Candy had better not make her mad. (Again with the coraje) Pau says she's come back to resume her role as Rocio's mother and nobody, but NOBODY will take her place.

After mulling over Pau's threats during the commercial Candy sees Pau to the door and reminds her that "ex" means in the past or in other words, already outta here. They bicker a bit more at the door with Pau threatening to use Rocio as a tool against Candy. Candy shuts the door in her face.

Now the musketeers are doing Tequila shots and Santi demonstrates the proper way to drink Tequila, sip it slowly. (Isn't this what Candy showed him way back when?) Mario wants to know why Lalo is in the Abandonados club. Santi points out it's because he used to have a wandering eye for the ladies but now he's faithful. They drink to something.

Candy helps Chava with his homework, name three animals that live in the city. A dog...a cat...and Candy mutters about that witch Paulina having a black cat. "Rocio's mother?" wonder's Chava. Oops, Candy tries to cover but more or less messes up Chava's homework but that's OK because she's the best mom in the world.

Meño and Charly go to Daniela's house to talk to her parents. Meño tells them Charly is HIV positive and the mean dad says "AIDS!?!" and tries to kick Charly out. Daniela tells her papa she's also HIV positive and he slaps her hard across the face. She admits she's the one who gave it to Charly. Cruel papa tells Meño his daughter is dead to him. Cruel papa Guillermo worries about what he will tell hs family and friends. Meño says his daughter needs help and recommends that Guillermo use this as an opportunity to educate people about HIV. While Charly consoles Daniela and her nice mom Guillermo looks constipated, or maybe he's having second thoughts about kicking out his daughter.

Candy packs her bag for the big Interior Beauty rollout. Chava wants to help her and she promises she won't be gone long, her trip will be like lightning.

Over at Pato's house Al reports to Margarita that Pato is not interested in her, he's only interested in his son. Margarita has a plan, Al needs to take control by moving back to her apartment and then Pato will follow her. They are interrupted by the bell and Arturo answers the door. (Oh right, they're one big crappy family again.) It's Greg and boy is she uncomfortable when Marg asks Art, didn't you tell your lover that I'm living here...with you? Naturally Greg beats a hasty retreat and pandemonium ensues. Run Greg Run!!

Raul visits the house of miracles and tells Sole he came not to see Candy but to ask Sole if she had a good time at dinner last night. "No," she teases, "not a good time but a VERY good time."

Meño tells Charly he's worried about Daniela's father. Charly, who has been thinking heavily about life, asks his dad what he wants to do with the rest of his life. They decide to make their lists and help each other realize their goals.

The Institutas are at their Belleza Interior deelio at Televisa studios and the hostess (who is probably an actual famous person but I don't know who she is) introduces Candy, Barb and Ceci along with Tere Murillo of Buen Hogar magazine and Emilio Aliaga of Esmas (he looks kind of uncomfortable). Candy explains the theme of the institute is to help women blah blah blah her website Tu Belleza Interior blah blah blah let me introduce my partners blah blah blah. She's an instant hit and the cameras surround her.

Donato escorts a recovering Tina back into her kitchen for lunch. They talk about her new bracelet that her bro-in-law Mariano gave her. (Who is Mariano?) Donato is concerned it will cut off her circulation and helps her remove it. She's worried to be still waiting for her test results and tells him he's the only friend she has. He teases her about being lovers and she whacks him with her sore arm. Ouch!!

Al has taken Margarita's advice and is leaving Patricio's house. She stomps through the house holding Patito and kicking the stroller on her way out the door. She tells Pato she's out of there and if he wants to see his baby he'll have to visit. She slaps his hand and says no she doesn't want a ride, she'll call a taxi. "Alone again," he mutters sadly, "they took him away."

Tomorrow: Pau suggests she and Pato join forces to divide Santi and Candy. Candy discovers Pau's lipstick on one of Santi's hankies.

Coraje = courage, anger
Es una mosca muerta = Butter wouldn't melt in his mouth (Lit. = he's a dead fly)
No hay nada como el tiempo para sanarlas las cosas = Time heals all wounds
Ojo alegre = wandering eye (Lit. = happy eye)
Relampago = lightning

Labels: Tontas