Caray, Caray!

Ale can’t believe that Marco would even consider asking her to hire her worst enemy, Rafael. Marco lays out the wisdom of the move – she can guarantee he’ll have money to pay her, and she needs another dealer anyway. Though I don’t know why, considering the showroom typically has about eight salesmen and one customer. Maybe THAT’s why she ran out of money! Aside from the fact that she hates Rafael, Ale also reminds Marco that Raf doesn’t know anything about selling cars. She gets offended when he suggests that she use her clout to steer sales toward him.

Ale goes into the meeting to yell at the staff. I think her motivational tactics need a little polish. Everyone wants to put a friend into the salesman job opening, and everybody wants to get their hands on Lopez’ list of sales contacts. Dandy tries to get it from Claudia, and later El Teórico tries to swipe it from Ale’s desk. Speaking of Lopez, check this YouTube clip of Joaquín López-Dóriga (click here), a very respected, polished news anchor, in an uncustomary situation. Imagine Walter Cronkite getting the giggles. (Yeah, I know it’s off topic, but this is my recap and I can go OT if I wanna’. Neeners!)

Ale tells her boss that she has found a replacement dealer, but he says he is the one who will decide whether to hire the guy, and first he needs to see a resume.

Raf has gotten to the point of desperation. The only way he can get money is to borrow it from Vicky’s dad, but the only way Gastón will make the loan is if Raf marries Vicky. So our hero has a choice: wedding bells or prison cells. Be a lovebird or a jailbird. So he cinches up his calzones and calls Vicky to tell her he wants to meet with her father. Our pajarita goes all aflutter, expecting that after three years of working on this boy, she’ll finally catch the brass ring. (What? You think Rafael el probre can afford a gold ring??)

Rafael drags his friend Jaime along to see Gastón, so there is someone to call an ambulance if he ends up on the business end of a meat cleaver. Jaime is even more scared than Raf, and manages to slip out, promising that he’ll watch from a distance.

“From a distance” translates into hiding in the nearest doorway, which happens to be that of the new salon. The short jailbird says his name is Bougainvillea. Anyone remember another novela moment (click here), same actor, and another Bougainvillea? Our “beauticians” are so desperate for business, they Shanghai Jaime into a chair and start giving him a makeover. When Jaime remembers them from jail, they shut him up by putting a moisturizing towel over his face, so their new associate won’t hear this important detail about their work history.

At the butcher shop, Raf stumbles and stutters, afraid to talk about the M-word. He’s saved by the bell, and this time it’s not wedding bells but a ringing cell. Marco tells him to get his resume to Ale ASAP, Sabes? Well, Raf doesn’t sabe. What’s a resume? Raf finishes the call and has a welcome change of plans. He tells Gastón that he came to announce that he has a job. Poor Vicky almost cries, seeing her hopes go hopeless. But the cries turn to shrieks when she has Raf alone. She’s furious that he didn’t ask for her hand as she had understood he would, and she’s none too happy that he’s going to be working around women. She wants her pajarito all to herself.

At home, Raf calls his friend to ask, “What’s a resume?” Ale tells Susanna that she’s going to hire Rafael, and Su concludes that Ale’s med’s are rotting her brain. Marco tells his shady cohort Vicente the real reason he wants Raf hired – so Ale makes less money, so she won’t be able to redeem the house, and Marco will be able to take possession. Vicente suggests that Marco marry quickly, but I couldn’t understand the reason. Jaime warns Raf that working with Ale will be worse than his cuñados’ machetes. Raf goes to the repo man and begs a little more patience, and a chance to use the fax machine.

Susanna brings Ale the resume off the fax machine. It goes on for several pages, hand written, block letters like a second grader. His list of education starts in kindergarten, and his references include his mother the housewife. But he does mention that his first salesman job was in elementary school. Susanna is really warming up to Rafael. (Isn’t it always the wise, kind character who first sees the value of the diamond in the rough?) She has become his advocate with Ale. Ale knows the resume won’t fly, so she invents one as Su types.

I know that there were many things that flew over my head. I welcome any additions or corrections.

Friends, this is my last recap of Dinero. I stepped in at the beginning as a sort of “bridge” recapper until the show got rolling, and as the sidebar says, it was a temporary fix. Thank you for your support. Board Mom is looking for a replacement, but if no one steps forward there won’t be a recap on Tuesdays, just be an empty blog post so people have a place to comment. I encourage you to give it a try. It’s a great way to improve your Spanish, and the audience is always appreciative.

Labels: dinero

Repeat from yesterday: Paloma doesn’t find it all suspicious that her evil auntie orders her to stay away from her ex-beloved ex-priest, who has been acquitted of murder and whose only crime was to not announce his engagement to her mother when he was still in the process of leaving the ministry. After all, his relationship with Natalia shows how vile he is.

Rufi tells Carlota she thinks they should just get all the secrets out in the open. Carloca says it is the will of god that Paloma and Cris be separated. I put “god” in lower case on purpose because I’m pretty sure La Loca is referring to herself, not any officially recognized deity.

Today: Paloma packs her suitcase and reminisces about hugging Emiliano at the jubilant moment when Cris and Nat were declared innocent. She thinks she’s got to get out of this place and away from him.

At the same moment, Emiliano is also packing and reminiscing about the same moment.

Cris pays an unfriendly visit to Misery Manor and asks Cruel if she was behind the whole murder accusation. She, of course, coolly declares that she loves him and would never hurt him. “Do you think I’m an idiot?” he asks. Cruel says she did this to help him; now that he isn’t a priest they are totally free to get it on. Isn’t that why he’s here? Cris looks stonefacedly sick as Carlota slimes herself into his personal space. Just then Paloma walks up behind Crueloca and is way impactada. Cruel smirks.

Eugenio tells Gabriel that the birthday gift Gabe is giving Paloma is perfect; it will let them keep in touch. Fatalistic Gabriel says he’s saying goodbye to her para siempre after the party. That would be for the best. Eugenio says that he will be with him until the very last moment. They hug and cry. I might possibly sniffle a little myself.

Carlota stages a big scene, claiming that Cris was trying to force his way into the house to talk to Paloma. She’s all simpery sweet in her protective auntie character. Paloma says she isn’t going to listen to him anyway; she’s tired of all the lies. Then he really does push his way into the house and says he hasn’t deceived her. He loved her mother and he loves her, too. Paloma yells that Mac didn’t tell her what was going on and she’ll never forgive them. I am not sure what makes her think she was entitled to know everything. If she ever spent 30 seconds on analytical thought, she would realize that a) the engagement happened very suddenly, and Mac died immediately afterward, and b) it was a very delicate situation, as Cris had not yet told the world at large that he was leaving the priesthood. But Paloma throws a snitfit at Cris and stomps away…heh, that’s how you can tell they really are father and teenage daughter. Carloca grins smarmily at Cris and he shoots death glares at her.

Orlando and Camila are happily honeymooning (the only kind of mooning Emo doesn’t know how to do) when Emo finally reaches them with the news that Cris and Nat are free. They are delighted. Well, now that Orly has spent three seconds thinking about his best friend, it’s back to the recreation. He puts his cell phone in Camila’s beach bag, which they abandon while they trek off to check out marine life.

Ol’ Crazy Cow tells Cris that now there is nothing stopping them from getting together. He says it’s amazing that she’s so stuck up that she can’t see that he is not in love with her. What’s even better, Carloca continues, she has saved herself for him! Never been with another man! He is neither surprised nor impressed. Virginity doesn’t make a woman more valuable, he says, good character and morals do. She says if he loves her (or just fakes like he does), she can guarantee that Paloma will love him and consider him a father again. “Estás loca. Absolutamente loca, de verdad!” he says, as he barely pulls back his fingers to avoid strangling her and walks out. Le sigh, says the purple one, I don’t want to get rid of anyone, but they leave me no choice!

Over breakfast, Romememena demands that Paloma convince Emiliano to return home and not divorce her. Paloma declines to get involved. Your husband, your problem, she says. Romi can’t believe she won’t help her dear friend. “You knew he didn’t love you when you married,” says Paloma.

Rafael is doing research about adoption and tells Luz it would be much easier for them to adopt Xochi together. She doesn’t want to; she wants to adopt all by herself. He asks why she’s so afraid to commit to him. After all, she is the one who is always telling him to take risks and go after what he wants. Luz is not shining brightly today, she’s just kind of whiny and stubborn, so Rafa leaves. She tells him not to be mad, which is always a surefire way to keep someone from being mad.

Romina whines that she just wants her baby to have a father. I’m surprised she still remembers she has a baby. Paloma finally blows her top. She is sick of Romi’s lies and manipulations! She didn’t have to force Emo to marry her for him to be a father to the baby, and she told all those lies just to hurt Paloma! Romina weakly volleys that Paloma deceived her, too. Paloma says it’s not the same. All she did was fall in love with Emo, and he wasn’t dating Romina at the time.

Emiliano breakfasts at the hotel with Anamar. He may not be having an affair, but he’s certainly feeding the gossip mill. She thinks he should move to Houston to run the new deal or whatever there. And, bonus, that way they could spend more time together! Eh? Oh, total coincidence; she’s planning to go to Houston to study! And he could get away from Romina! Emo doesn’t want to leave the baby, but he looks thoughtful.

Romina cranks up the waterworks. Please, please, I desperately need your help, Paloma! What can I do for my marriage? Give up, says Paloma. Let Emiliano go. Toodle-oo. She leaves and Romina flings dishes all over the floor.

Cris calls Rufi and asks her to come see him ASAP. Carlota is in the room, so Rufi goes on and on pretending she’s talking to Padre Benito and he wants her tamale recipe. Cris rolls his eyes a bit. I love that he is not hiding his snarky thoughts so much now that he isn’t a priest. Rufi finally hangs up and tells Carlota she’s going to the church to give PB a recipe. “Yes, I heard you a thousand times,” says Carlota. She doesn’t want Rufi getting any uppity ideas that she can just leave her work whenever she wants. “I know you already think very little of me, buh-bye,” says Rufi, and they have a snippy exchange over whether she is calling Carlota “señora” or “señorita” as she leaves.

Padre Benito is talking to someone who might be the bishop and they agree that Cris should be reinstated as a priest. The bishop (?) says it’s like the parable of the prodigal son. {Except completely not; did this bishop even read the Bible?}

Romina tries to call Camila, gets voice mail, and flings the phone. Not quite Sendel style, but she’s working on it.

Eric makes a ten-second appearance to mock Germán until Carloca and the other lawyer arrive. Thanks for trekking all the way down to the studio for that, Eric.

Romina leaves an urgent message on Orlando’s voicemail for them to call her immediately.

Carlota very formally tells Germy he is no longer her lawyer, nor a trustworthy man. Germán protests his dismissal and maintains that he did everything Carlota asked. Cris and Nat were declared innocent like she wanted, weren’t they? (The other lawyer is still in the room, and should be wondering what Carlota has to do with that case). Anyway, he’s still fired. She says she’s sorry, with a big grin.

Cris rushes Rufi inside and begs her to help him with Paloma. “I don’t know; she’s really stubborn,” says Rufi. Cris says he knows that Mac is Paloma’s mother, and he knows who the father is. In fact, he has met him, and it’s painful to think that Mac was intimate with that nasty dude. “Ehhh…sit down,” says Rufi. She tells him that Crueloca lied to them. That man is not Paloma’s father.

Cris asks Rufi if she’s saying that Paloma is his daughter. No, no, she clarifies, she is not saying that directly, because she promised she wouldn’t say. She is only VERY STRONGLY SUGGESTING that he investigate the matter himself and find out for sure.

Orlando finally checks his messages. They call Romina, and she cries that Emo has abandoned her and begs them to come home. Cami tries telling her to calm down, but she just gets more red and hysterical, then hangs up after demanding that they come immediately. Camila tells Orly that Emo left Romina. “Oh, yeah, he said he was going to divorce her,” Orlando remarks casually. “WHAT?! YOU KNEW?! AND YOU DIDN’T TELL ME?!” There is trouble in paradise.

Cris tries to figure out how he can get a DNA test. Eugenio arrives.

Rafa and his lawyer wait at the family court building for Diana to arrive to sign the divorce papers. Diana is still at home, frantically trying to call Samuel. He finally answers, and says he’s about to be able to give her the life of a queen, like she deserves. She squeals with glee and rushes out for her divorce.

Samuel and some other guy wear suits and talk shady business deals.

Germy and Carloca take their bickering into the street. His chasing her and whining does not help his case. So he threatens her with exposing her dirty deeds regarding Paloma’s inheritance. “Do I have to explain things to you with apples and sticks?” she asks. He’s just as guilty as she is, and would be judged more harshly for his unprofessional dealings. “So don’t try to blackmail me. Stay out of it, or you will suffer VERY serious consequences.”

Cris thanks Eugenio profusely for freeing him and Nat. Eugenio says it was Madeleine who got him to take the case. He asks Cris to try to make amends with her. Cris is reluctant, but he agrees to at least talk with her after Eugenio says it’s not just for her sake, but for his own peace of mind. He’ll just have regrets later if he doesn’t at least try while he still can. Then Cris asks Eugenio to help him find a certain man, although he doesn’t even know whether the name is his real one.

Doctor B packs up his office. He finds the engagement ring he gave Mac and decides to re-gift it to Paloma (not as an engagement ring).

Rufi tells Mac’s picture that she didn’t break her promise. She didn’t actually tell Cris that Paloma is his daughter, even though that would have been so much easier (yeah, Rufi, tell us about it).

Gabriel goes to Paloma’s house and gives her a birthday gift. It is a laptop computer. She tries to protest that it is too expensive, but he insists that she needs it for her studies. She says he’s the best teacher and she hopes to be close to him for the rest of her life, to keep learning from him. He says he also wants to be with her…for whatever time they spend together. He snuggles up close to show her how to use the computer, and they look into each other’s eyes, hovering inches apart, and…end credits.

Avances: Cris and Eugenio plot to unmask Carlota. Gabriel maybe kisses Paloma. Anamar definitely kisses Emiliano, and because he is an idiot galán, he has no powers of resistance.

Labels: amor

Rolu announces to Arni that he needs to repursue Xime and begs him to help write a love letter to Xime. Arni finally agrees if Rolu will turn over the clorox!!

Lalu writes a "love" letter to Arni, Xime reads it and her burned eyes tell us it's really a "lust" letter. She tells Lalu he can't write something like that, it's not from his heart but other body parts and that he needs a professional love consultant, her! Get your pen out Lalu, youpi will be writing a newpi!!

Papi and Con discuss Issy. Pa tells her to stay away from Moni. Coni blames her for evrything bad, but Pa is not swayed, he prohibits her from getting anywhere near our Monkey. Ooooh.

Papi tells her to forget about Vale and do yoga or pick up a sport. HA! Guess what she has...boxing, and she is going to knock the living sh.. out of Valentina Lopez, who is national champion. He all but laughs in her face. It takes years to reach that level he tells her, no way you'll do it, now cut it out and leave her be or you'll answer to me. Basically. Hrmmph.

Issy is spewing more venom at Mau...Mau saying she deserves her Pa, her saying that Pa abandoned her in the trash too. She then plays a little game, ok let's go right now to tell her everything, including how much I hate her. You want this? Of course our boy's balls shrivel and he leaves without saying a word.

Back to Rolu and Arni, he's trying to think of something to say. He looks at the photo for inspiration. He says beauty, my love, you arouse so many emotions in me that I wanted to write them down to make them more tangible for you. He continues on about her as a surprise box that he opens and she's kind and candid, he loves all of her. Arni realizes what he said to himself and drops the photo. Rolu says it's a masterpiece and asks again if he's not gay. Arni repeats it twenty times. Echo Sylvia's comment, um not worried about your bro and your wife eh? Nice.

Over at the restaurant Xime writes a similarly inspiring love note about his sensual aroma and his company being the most beautiful thing. This is too cute, so are these guys going to end up together? Anvils are pointing this way....

Speaking of more anvils, Estrella is at Televisa chatting with Angelis and Nesma about her getting the part of the lover. She is over the top excited to be an actress. The anvil is lowering, you have to be with us for the whole show. A little lower...It will last 8 -10 months. Lower still....You have to watch your figure and your image. You are single right? Good, so sometimes gals get pregnant and it affects production a lot. Boom the anvil has smacked our queen. Whoops. Well if you are pregnant you should tell us now. Ha..not at all allowed in the US to even make such insinuations or questions. Anyway...Estre lies of course.

Back at the house Marc is still lecturing Coni, look Issy is my friend and Moni is her daughter and that's all you need to know. Speak of the Monkey, here she is, what's this crap about my Mom being alive and faking her own death.

Jacqui and Tere are together in the vecinidad chatting about Britney Sofia, the new maid over at Coni's. Jacqui misses Tere. tere misses kids. No one misses Coni, Jacqui knows how everyone feels about her daughter. She was waiting for Nieves who hasn't shown up, but there she is with Cesar. Jacqui notes them smooching.

Back over to the cold house, Coni asks Papi what she should tell Valentina. He is shocked it's her. She remembers him as the lawyer talking to Nieves. Coni wants to know what he was doing talking to the Mama of Beto. Whoops, anvil time, Nieves is that tapujo's (subterfuge's) Ma??

Jacqui meets up with Nieves who has nothing good to say to her, thinking she is there on behalf of her daughter. Nopis. It's about her ex-husband Marc. Que? Marc is your ex hubby??

Ok now we go back to the dueling chicas. Vale finds out he's Coni's pa and thinks he's bad for faking being a lawyer, Beto is worth gold, the one who isn't worth anything is this bitter Momia. They break into a fight and like the good papa he stands in the middle of his two supposed hijas and keeps them apart.

Back at Xime's she arrives with the note and tells Arni to read it and go for it and not let what happened to her happen to him, whoops, that wasn't supposed to slip out, I think. They look at each other very seriously. He decides to go read upstairs. Xime recovers from her look towards him and tells Rolu that he doesn't want us to see his true reaction and hopefully he'll enjoy the letter. Rolu wants to talk again about the shares. He thinks she should sell them, the business isn't really hers. She gets an idea of what she needs to do but doesn't tell us. Rolu gives her the love note, but she is too excited about her idea and leaves. She'll read the card later.

Back at the stone house the girls are separated but that is not enough to let evil words slip out like how Mona stole a married man but Momia got pregnant by her lover. Papa asks if she is pregnant and she says no. Mona reminds it's because she lost the baby, but she wonders if it was an accident or deliberate... Momia denies this to her Pa - this goes back and forth until he finally makes her say that was the worst mistake of her life.

And like magic we are in a park at night staring at that mistake aka Beto and Estrella walks up. They seem to talk to each other while merely talking to themselves. This was quite cool. Neither wants to go back to the vecinidad. She about to lose all of her dreams when they find out she's pregnant, and he swears off women forever, they ripped out his heart. He can't believe he lost his fantasmita, she can't believe she's having a bebita. In unison, un hijo, mi hijo. She for the one that comes, he for the one that has gone. Masterpiece.

Back again Papa Marc can't believe that Coni was pregnant and never told him. She asks what he would have done, come to Mexico to console her? He says of course. She says yeah you didn't even come for my wedding. Val says she's off, she just wanted to tell her not to mess with her Ma. Coni says she can't answer the questions re Ma, but ask Mau, he can tell her. marc escorts Moni off.

Xime is at Mau's new pad. He tells her he's in the street that Coni took it all. She curses Coni's badness, but...she can help. you are not in the street. I'm giving you my 10% of Grupo Sermeno!!! Claro que si!!!

Marc wants to invite Val to coffee, he wants to chat. In typical rebellious fashion, she refuses. he worries about her late at night. She says I'm a stranger why are you so worried. He's proud she's a boxer. Again why. Please accept my invitation, you are wrong. I want us to get to know each other better. He tells her she doesn't know who she is and what she means in his life. Whoa.

Labels: gancho

Folks, I have gotten mighty tired of the bellowing baritones belting out our theme song.

We review MJ's testy few minutes at the restaurant and Alex's ham-fisted, bungling, overbearing attempts to get her to remember him.

She yells that step-daddy Jorge SAVED her and how terrible that she's been torn from the bosom of her loving family!

Poor MJ. First marrying Bruno-the-faux-Alejandro, then having to fake it with the real Alejandro, getting thrown out of the house pregnant, then slapped around, kicked when she was pregnant, stolen and drugged etc., it's no wonder she's testy.

Lisette and her new chemo buddy bond at the clinic.

Gabriel tells Paula how successful his exhibit was: one sale of a sculpture netted as much as three months of his usual work. Soon he'll be able to buy a car! Paula says when he gets his car they can go out and celebrate. Oh, ye material girl.

Doc Hernan talks about studies, treatments, a brain scan to figure out how to help MJ. Maybe they should force Jorge to help cure her, threatening him with the closing of his clinic. [But then, what would happen to those stacks of zombies he's got in there?]

Bruno and Elena arrive at Casa Lombardo and MJ, delighted, flies into Bruno's arms: "Thank goodness you've come, get me out of here!"

Luckily, Vic and Alex rush up in time, and therefore Elena is forced to make nice and get introduced to everybody.

The servants regurge the whole current plot tangle.

Sitting in the living room like civilized people, everybody struggles to have a conversation. It's tense.

Alex asks about Bruno's supposed business in Toluca which turned out to be bogus. Bruno says he was an innocent dupe. Alex asks why he used his middle name, Bruno says it was because he didn't want Alex to find him and ruin everything as he always does.

Elena presents her story (that MJ is actually Sandra, saved by Jorge, newly awoken from a drug-overdose coma) several times. Vic and Alex present their side several times. Elena says it was Ulises who found Sandra in a hospital and spirited her away to be saved by Jorge.

Alex and Doc bring up the scar! Bruno's comeback: "Sandra could have been wounded in the same place." Doc: "A gynecological exam will prove she's a mother."

MJ doesn't want any of this. She pounds on Alex, says she hates him, and runs upstairs.

So then, a satisfying fist-fight and roll on the floor, Bruno and Alex yelling "I'll kill you!" "No, me, I'LL kill YOU!" etc. The captions read: "Blows and complaints." Elena and Vic agree at last: they both yell "Enough already!"

Elena tells her story again and says she'll call the police if she doesn't get the girl back. Alex: "Go ahead and call them, but she's my wife and mother of my son and she leaves here over my dead body."

Bruno and Elena give up and leave, very very grumpy. They phone Jorge and give him the bad news. He's grumpy too and says, predictably, that Bruno is an idiot, "You should have warned us about the scar." And Elena was an idiot too, to say she'd call the police. "That doctor can prove it's MJ and then you can kiss the $$$$ goodbye." Bruno whines: "She likes me better, and anyway, she and Alex are divorced."

Bruno goes to Maura's house. His brilliant plan: they'll all keep saying MJ is Sandra till the last possible second. Ulises will back them up, he's been in it for the money all along. "Whoah, I thought you said Ulises was dead!" "No, he's just resting. [No, actually "in a coma."] We'll wake him up, use him, and then send him to jail."



Jorge and an assistant hover over Ulises, who's coming back to life, but it will take a few days, and he's kind of weak. If he doesn't revive fully, they can always glue his feet to the floor (see video)...

The good guys have a final living-room pow wow prior to Uncle Emiliano's departure, yes, he is going back home, he has to talk to gramps - but first, he kneels to Vic and says she's beautiful, sexy, smart... Fer and the Doc glare furiously as Emiliano kisses Vic's hand...

Roberto is in a hotel in Merida, getting ready to move into his new house. He felt awkward in the big house with Raquel around. Paula says she's sad in the big house too, so she's staying with Pedro the Pitiful. Roberto is anguishing about Vicky Jr. Paula says of course he should get her.

He says again, "you don't know what I've done..." and ends up telling her about his "experimentation" and about being bisexual - Paula looks queasy... she asks if he's "still that way."

He says honesty is the most important thing, and that if he's ever in a relationship again he will be completely himself, hiding nothing. Paula says she accepts him and that he'll find a woman - he's so sexy and tender - and Paula likes him the way he is... she cries...

Good ol' Roberto. "Paula, I don't want to hurt you... I love you too, but in a different way... Are we still friends?" Paula says yes.

Next day, MJ wakes up (still in her dress from the restaurant) and there, in her face yet again, is Alex. He makes headway this time! She softens as he says he's desperate, he loves her... he cries... "You can't have forgotten our kisses..." [I personally think he should have shaved...] but anyway they kiss and MJ likes it plenty. Then she backtracks: "I am confused. I was promiscuous, so I'd probably like kissing any man. My mother wouldn't lie to me..."

Alex mentions her dad. She's astounded: "You know my father?" "Of course. He's a simple man with a good heart." Again the donkey to the wheat: "Do you really feel nothing when I embrace you? Look me in the eyes! I love you, don't you feel it?" [Oh, so this is the spell (sortilegio) of the novela's title - the spell MJ is under, which must be broken.]

After a brief bad-guy scene in which, again, Bruno was stupid not to remember the scar... and what good will Ulises be... and they can't denounce the Lombardo's since there is proof ...

... back to Alex and MJ. She looks much more tender, but asks woefully: "What if I'm not what you think I am?" He reassures her that she is.

Fer and his uncle fear the news about faux-Sandra would kill the grandfather.

Raquel regurges plot with Maura and Katia. Raquel is electrified to hear Ulises is back in the picture. Where is he? "Hidden." [Resting.]

It's another day. Roberto decorates his new home. Paula calls, asks if he's lonely. "Better alone than in bad company." (Meaning Raquel.) He tells Paula she should start going out. "You can count on my friendship, but I want you to find someone to make you happy."

[Commercial: girls playing American football in bikinis? ¡Qué colmo!]

Alex is finally going to go to work - he figures, correctly, that he shouldn't hang around bugging MJ all the time. Vic is upset, it's hard to wait, she wants Tony to get baptised and there's the wedding...

Doc shows up with pills for MJ, pills to treat her memory loss - "One pill a day, without fail, don't interrupt the treatment for anything!" he warns portentously. [Are you as uncomfortable as I am to see that "our" team drugs MJ as much as Jorge did? How many nights has she been drugged to sleep here?]

So Alex goes back upstairs; he's glad to see MJ is eating her breakfast. He flirtatiously drinks some of her juice. Then he tells her: "You need a brain scan, and also these pills." She predictably doesn't want either.

She asks, "Is it true we're divorced?" and when he says yes, she flies into another rage and decides he's been doing it all for money. He despairs: "we can't exchange two words without a fight," then tells her about her knife wound and how Bruno would only donate blood in exchange for the divorce and the presidency.

Finally, he asks her to go see Tony, who needs his mother. "He's an innocent baby, none of these intrigues are his fault!"

Labels: sortilegio

Well this afternoon, the titanic battle continues. Will Love triumph over Hate? Ultimately, you know it will. We have that telenovela guarentee. But in individual cases, "results may vary" as the ads always say. Constanza is still dedicated to the dark side of vengeance, in spite of Beto's pleas. And ditto for Isabel, in spite of Mauricio's noble arguments. Can these heartless females be saved? Evidently we've got a few more months before we find out.

So, mientras tanto, what happened today? Beto continues his very logical, very wise argument for dropping all vengeance. What do you gain by hurting people? he asks. Well, for Connie, quite a lot of satisfaction, evidently. So much so that she's willing to lose Beto, the love of her life, to get it. She's taken Mau's money and kids. All that remains is to break his heart by causing Monita to stop loving him. And she'll do that by betraying the pact Mauricio made with Monita's mother. Two birds with one stone. Beto's not happy. He doesn't want to spend his life with a lady whose every waking moment is spent figuring out how to hurt others. Well, Connie's not for you, then my man.

Zoom over to Xime's apartment. But she's not there, of course. Rolu is, ensconced in his wheelchair and Marcos arrives to firm up their telephone agreement. Yes, Rolu will follow through on his plan to get Xime to sell her shares in Grupo Sermeño. Not for money, no...he wants nothing from Marcos. But he DOES want Xime to be completely dependent on him financially. That way she'll stay in the marriage. (Just in passing, recent research here shows that marriages are likely to last longer when the wife has a career and even more financial clout than the man. I have no idea what this means. But it's interesting.)

Meantime, our good-time gal is spending more and more time away from home....and with Lalu! Can Carlos' theory be on target? For some reason, she's feeding Lalu a bunch of guff about Arny being entranced with him. To what end? I understand why Rolu is promoting this pseudo- romance. But I don't get Ximena's part in it. Oh well, I'm frequently confused. Anyway, the conversation veers into eternal love territory and Lalu is already envisaging the bathroom towel set monogrammed with "L" for lujuria (lust, desire) and Lalu and "A" for amor and Arnoldo. Our romantic Ximena suggests "L" for Love instead and there the matter rests. Except for the biggie. YES, IT'S TRUE. SHE'S SICK OF ROLU. Oh migawd, I still can't believe it. She finds him "empalagoso" (sticky sweet and cloying). Man, whatever happened to that mad desire for our bad boy? Will be interesting to see where this goes.

The debate between Beto and Connie continues. Getting pretty rough, frankly. She's vowing to get the best of Monita in the ring, proving that she's better than the "asquerosa cucaracha" (revolting cockroach) not just in status and class but in battle. Beto says "over my dead body". Fine, snaps Connie. If I have to destroy you in order to get to her, I will. Okay, Elna June, we're gonna need more than chapstick to fix this lady up!

Lighthearted break time: Estrella is all dolled up and off to her audition. And Nieves and Don Cesar are in Xochilmico (sp?) for some quality time together. (I love Nieves and Don Cesar but you know, he is still married to a very nice lady that we met earlier in this novela.)

Okay. Back to the debate between Isabel and Mau. She's arguing that Hate is stronger than Love. He's arguing the contrary. Nice mirror image of the Beto-Constanza battle. But we finally get a peek into Isabel's murky romantic history. She's consumed by hate because she was mistreated, not only by those dogs who attacked her, but by the man she loved with all her heart.

With that teaser, the writers flip us back to Beto and Connie. He's angry because he realizes how little he really meant to Connie. She never did anything for him. On the contrary, she did him the enormous favor of being with a woman like her...of a higher class, she counters. And what's more, if he chooses to have a life at her side, he can have luxury, travel, money cars. No dice. You'll never have to work again! (Beto's beginning to look interested.) But nope, our barrio galan stands firm. You have to choose Connie. Love for me or vengeance. No dice on her part. Now the party starts getting rough. Can't believe I saw you as the mother of my children, he muses. And that's why Mauricio stopped loving you too. You're hot but you're not worth taking to bed. Thank God my little Betito is already in heaven and doesn't know what a harpy his mother is, he continues. But I forgive you...your darkness, your hate. You never learned to love. You're completely empty. Whew!. you'd think Constanza would just curl up and die but she holds her grudging ground. Gotta give her points for persistence.

Brief relief with an Arny/Rolu conversation. Big bro is getting advice from little bro on how to win Ximena back. Love letters, wine, flowers, chocolate, massages with warm scented oils (sure you're not gay Arny?) Upshot. Rolu is considering a love letter.

Back to Beto. He's momentarily distracted by the French maid, Brittney Sofia, who's being sent to answer the door. Enter Papa Marcos. He's horrified to find this lowlife naco in his daughter's home. He calls Beto a "poca cosa" and our boy fires back that Connie is "muy poca cosa" for him. Exit Beto. More outrage from Papa to come. But not before we flip a few more scenes.

First, the barrio. Jacqui's looking for Nieves. Doesn't find her and goes off with Mona for a coffee (Since our little boxer doesn't have the whiskey or cognac our foxy lady would prefer).

And Mauricio and Isabel continue their long-winded debate. He's still arguing for her re-appearance in Monita's life, coming clean with the past, so to speak. She's still arguing that Connie's no threat because "the man" she's talked about will control her. We have to wait while the truth is leaked out drip by drip, but here are the preliminaries. For a long time she didn't know if Monita was the result of rape or the child of the man she loved. But that man betrayed her. Accused her of being at fault in the attack, leading the men on. When he learned she was pregnant, he kicked her out. That's why she hates Monita.

Back to the barrio. (These writers are such a tease.) Jacqui and Monita are bonding over coffee and their mutual dislike of Jacqui's daughter. Jacqui admits she's no "pera en dulce" (sweetheart) but Connie's nasty qualities come from her father. Monita then brings up the big question. Beto's like my brother--do you think Connie really loves him? Answer: Well, love's not a priority for Connie. Vengeance is. That brings up the threat Jacqui talked about earlier. Moni thinks it was being thrown out of the neighborhood but Jacqui drops the bomb that Connie believes Moni's mother is still alive. Outrage. Don't mess with my mom. She's dead. It broke my heart. I held her ashes in my hand. How dare she mess with my memories of my mother. Jacqui agrees. And admits her envy. Monita gave her bone marrow for her mother. Connie wouldn't even give Jacqui the leftover fat from a liposuction! Yikes, what a way with words, this lady.

Another lighthearted break. We see Estrella first performing in another French maid's costume, then in a slinky dress. Fending off a sleazeball until he tells his wife about her. Audition goes well. Great triumph. All excited. Everyone smiling. Cut!

Back to Drama Central. Connie's cozying up to Papito, asking him to not be angry with her for letting Beto in the house. Those people rob, points out Dad. Can't believe you're going out with such trash. You must take after your mother. Yes, he did come to rob me, Papi, and to beg me to take him back. But I kicked him out. That's why he was so angry. But now....dum di dum dum...tell me what Isabel was at your hotel.

And to wrap up the episode, we finally hear the rest of Isabel's story. Before kicking her out, Marcos did give her money "to take care of it". But she couldn't bring herself to have an abortion. What if it was his child? No way to prove it then. But after the bone marrow transplant, the doctor kept some blood and she had it tested. Monita is indeed Marcos' child. That's the reason he's come here. He's the true father of Valentina.

And we're all looking impactados....or would be if we hadn't already figured this out a few episodes ago.

Previews:
Estrella has the role in the new telenovela!
Marcos tells Connie she can't touch Valentina.

Vocabulary:

pescar una infección= catch an infection "pescar" means to fish so it's interesting how it's similar to our English phrase
trepadora =social climber (Connie talking about Monita)
caer come un costal de piedras = to fall like a ton of bricks (lit. a bag of stones)
la calentura = sexual arousal, Beto talking about Connie.
sin vuelta de hoja= lit. without a turn of the leaf, without changing
empalagoso = sickly sweet, cloying (could this be our Rolu!?)
esquivando los guamazos de la vida = Monita's answer to Jacqui's "How are things?" Basically means avoiding the little irritations, roadblocks in life. "guama" means nuisance and "guamazo" is an icky intensifier of the word
te van a caer los ojos = Connie chiding Beto for ogling the French maid lit. your eyes are going to fall out
salió de su papa = she took after her dad
no soy una pera en dulce = lit. I'm not a pear in syrup. I'm no sweetheart
lujuria = lust, lechery

Dicho of the Day:

Del dicho al hecho hay mucho trecho. Lit. It's a long way from the word to the deed.
We say: Easier said than done.
So will Rolu win back Ximena? Well.....Del dicho al hecho hay mucho trecho.

Labels: gancho

Friday: Don E tells the jury that justice is in their hands. The judge sends them off to deliberate. Dr B is in his car, trying to reach Ivonne’s cell. No luck.

Will he make it to the trial in time? Don’t touch that dial!

NB: Before we start, I’d like to note that throughout this episode Chris keeps lamenting that Paloma has distanced herself from him, and Madeleine keeps lamenting about having abandoned her son and yearning to be close to him. Since it’s wearing to keep reading these things over and over, I didn’t put them in. Insert wherever you like.

Walking along a street Gabriel, Paloma and Lili (who, now freed from the clutches of the nuns, has taken a fashion tip from Anamar and is wearing a super-short skirt) are happily planning Paloma’s upcoming Sweet 18 party. Lili takes off and Paloma and Gabriel decide to look in at the court to see what’s happening.

Romina has showed up in the lobby of the hotel and is reproaching Em. You said you left because we weren’t working out, but I’m not stupid. You just wanted to be here with your little chickiebaby. Em says don’t insult Anamar. Romina says why couldn’t you go live with your dad? Or at Orlando’s? Em points out that Angelica lives there. He’s just at the hotel until he can find an apartment. Romina pleads then just come home until you find one.

Em says the apartment is yours, and you can keep it when we divorce. Romina says you’re nuts if you think I’m going to give you a divorce. Em says don’t try to do like my mother did. I’m going to remake my life whether you agree to it or not, same as my father did with Luz.

Frantic Dr B is driving narrow cobblestone streets, trying to figure out how to get to the courthouse.

Don E, Chris and Natalia are waiting for the verdict. Chris thanks him for taking the case. Don E says he loves justice, plus, well, Chris knows how he feels about Chris’s mother. Mother? says Natalia, surprised. Don E says it’s a long story and he’ll tell her later.

Natalia tells him thank you (sniff) … for my daughter’s sake (sniff). I have no way to pay you. Me either, says Chris. Don E gestures expansively and smiles. Ya! he rumbles happily.

Oh no! Dr B is stuck behind a stalled truck. He jumps out and yells at the driver, who shrugs. Dr B dances around frantically. A guy on a scooter drives by the growing line of backed-up cars. Dr B says how much for your scooter? He whips out his wallet and fans bills. Sold! Or rented, I’m not sure. Who cares? Off he rides on it. My hero.

Carlota is burning up the phone wire, telling German to get in that jury room and find out what’s going on. German says he can’t, even Don E can’t. Carlota is quite sure Don E could if he wanted to. Do it! She demands. Get in there and bribe whoever you have to, idiot!

Click. Hysterical old bat, German says to himself.

What’s going on? asks Em, who’s just arrived. Do you think they’re going to go free? German says I have no idea. I think they might hang ‘em. Em says I hope you don’t think so just because you’re off the case. You think they’re innocent, right? Oh! Yeah. Sure, says German. It’s just a saying.

In the background, Paloma and Gabriel walk in together. She spots Em. He spots her. He and Gabriel spot each other. Long laser looks, then Paloma and Gabriel go on in. German says to Em Even though they deny it, it makes sense. I tried to ask Paloma out and no luck. She’s not easy to approach.

So how ‘bout you? How’re you doing? I’m getting a divorce and I’ve moved out, says Em. German pats him on the back and says I’m sorry. His mouth twitches with suppressed glee.

Ivonne, Rufi and Madeleine are sitting in the courtroom, wondering why the jury is taking so long. Ivonne gets a call on her cell and leaves to answer it. Rufi looks at Madeleine curiously. I’ve lived here since the dawn of time, she says, and yet I’ve never seen you here before.

Madeleine says she just came to town. Rufi asks does she like going to trials? Mad says she would give her life not to have to be there. She tells Rufi she’s Chris’s ma. She says probably Chris wouldn’t want me to tell anyone, but you seem so nice and I need to tell someone.

Rufi thoughtbubbles that that would mean she’s Paloma’s grandmother. On cue, Paloma comes into the courtroom and knees affectionately in front of Rufi. Madeleine is touched, then she studies her. Her DNA lights up like a nuclear reactor.

Carlota is pacing her room. A heavenly choir sings. How does she rate a choir? Ay, no! She says. She gets her coat and scarf.

The courtroom again. Everyone is waiting. Suspenseful violins work themselves into a frenzy. The defendants are led in.

Madeleine asks Rufi who that girl was. Rufi says she’s my child, or not exactly. I work in her house. She’s Paloma Espinosa de los Monteros. Madeleine says there’s something about her that seems familiar. Her eyes, her manner.

Everybody up! says the bailiff. Rufi rises, and Madeleine takes her hand and says please stay here with me. Rufi smiles kindly.

Em ends up sitting next to Paloma. He smiles at her.

Outside, Dr B, who’s not very adept at scooter riding, is awkwardly maneuvering the Disneyland-ride-line style switchbacks of the approach to the courthouse. Almost running down a few pedestrians, he pulls up to the front of the building, parks the thing, takes the suicide note from his pocket, and, waving it high, runs into the courthouse.

The jury has its verdict. The lead juror hands it to the bailiff who takes it to the judge. The judge looks at it with a stern poker face. Quick shots of team Chris looking anxious.

Outside of the courtroom, the bailiff bars the door, telling Dr B he can’t come in.

The judge is saying in the case of… etc… and we see the screen fragment into a fly’s vision composite of faces of concerned audience members.

Dr B bursts in waving the suicide note. Wait! he says. Carlota, disguised with a head scarf and long coat, slips into the door and melts into the back row.

Dr B tells the judge that it’s a note Alonso left for Natalia. It was hidden in the back of a photo frame. The two lawyers materialize at the bench and look at it. The prosecutor says that’s no kind of evidence, a suicide note from the deceased! Natalia is agape.

Don E says it’s very important. We need to verify its authenticity, but we can’t decide beforehand. These two people are accused of a murder that obviously was a suicide. Carlota puts her hand to her head – oh crud!

The judge tells everyone to get back in their places. He reads the suicide note. (To refresh: Sorry, but my life has no meaning without Inaki. I’m going to revenge his murder, then off myself. Have a nice day! Alonso) Natalia anguishes.

The judge says this letter might exonerate the defendants, but I’m not going to accept it as evidence, as the trial is already over. Don E objects.

That’s my decision, says the judge. And here’s why. He reads the jury’s verdict: Innocent.

Jubilation! Carlota’s jaw drops. Paloma hugs Em. Gabriel looks down sadly. Hugs all around. We see Carlota glaring furiously.

The prosecutor smiles and shakes Don E’s hand. What a sporting fellow! Perry Mason won ‘em all too. What can you do but be decent about it? Madeline thanks Don E. Rufi congratulates Chris, calling him Padre. He says just Chris. She says she can’t get used to that.

The padres hug and congratulate Chris. Paloma hugs Natalia who says she can’t wait to throw her arms around Sagrario. Rufi comments to Chris that so many things came to light. Chris says he only hopes that Paloma will let him tell her everything.

Carlota stomps out of the courthouse and down the steps. Don E follows at a distance. Carlota furiously whips off her head scarf. Carlota? says Don E to himself

Em tells German don’t feel too bad - you’re still new at the game. German angrily says it isn’t all due to Don E. Em says why don’t you admit that you’re still learning and that you made some mistakes? A lot of people thought you weren’t ready for a case like this yet. German says did you think so too? I did, says Em. But Chris made the decision on his own. Still, think how it would have been for your career if you’d lost this one. And think how it would have been for them.

Em goes into the courtroom to congratulate Chris. Chris is happy, but he says the one thing that’s weighing on him is Paloma. Em says that makes two of us.

Ivonne and Natalia tell Dr B he’s their hero and Chris thanks him. Dr B’s glad he made it in time. Chris says it’s the hand of God. Or the hand of Macarena, says Dr B. They all agree Macarena was splendid, Natalia included. Chris has his arm around Dr B. Dr B says it was a wonderful man that she left me for. Chris says you were a wonderful friend, a great supporter, and I want to thank you for everything. Man hug. Now, isn’t that civilized?

Madeleine is overcome with emotion. She tells Rufi that it was horrible that Chris had to go through all this, but it helped her find him. Now she just hopes she can get him back. Rufi says talk to him, he’s a good man with a good heart. A man sitting behind them nods sagely.

Madeleine weeps and thanks Rufi for her kindness.

Gabriel tells his dad he’s the best. Don E says the main thing is that justice was done. Paloma tells him that it was really impressive – maybe she’ll study law. Don E says each person has their own gifts, and yours shows in what you’ve done for Gabriel. For him? says Paloma. He’s done so much for me!

Don E says see that smile on him? It wasn’t there before. Daaaad, says Gabriel, embarrassed.

Don E goes over to Chris and they hug. He tells Chris that he’d like to talk to him tomorrow.

Chris then goes over to Paloma. Can we talk? he asks. Paloma says it’s great that you were able to prove your innocence. Con permiso.

Rafa is working on his laptop in his apartment. Luz tells him he can go on to work; she’s okay. He says he knows she isn’t. She says it hurts to think that they’ve taken the little girl and she won’t see her again. Rafa says I gave you an option.

Luz says I know. But I don’t ever want to marry. I know it’s weird for a woman to say that, but I believe marriage ruins everything. It obligates a person to stay with another person. It destroys the magic. And I don’t want to do that with you.

Rafa says I don’t see it that way. Luz says How can you say that after your disaster with Diana? Rafa says I say it despite that. Diana and I didn’t know to keep the magic alive. But with the right person, it can be amazing. I think you and I have a spark.

We do, says Luz, but I don’t believe in marriage, in bonds. Why not? Says Rafa. Did you have a bad experience? Luz looks dramatically out the window. Yes, she says. Her parents’ marriage was horrible. The looked normal on the surface, and they waited too long to divorce. Luz doesn’t want to live like that.

Rafa says we’re different than them. You don’t have to repeat their history. We have magic.

Carlota storms into her house. Maldito! Maldito! She stomps into her room and glares at her big crucifix. It’s not fair! She says. You know it’s not. I hate them! I hate all of them. She grimaces with fury. AAAAAHHHHH intone my beloved bassos.

It’s evening and Anamar is returning to the hotel and is confronted by Romina in the lobby. Anamar says are you staking the place out? Romina says I just wanted you to know that you have no idea who you’re messing with. Anamar says I came to see Em because I realized he’s the love of my life.

What a shameless hussy you are, says Romina. He’s MY husband. Anamar says when I came I didn’t know he was married, and if I knew he was happy, I would have left. But I found out that’s he’s not, so it’s full steam ahead.

Ha, says Romina. I checked and you both have separate rooms. Anamar eyes her up and down and says you are no competition. Now that Paloma… she might be. But she’s leaving Real del Monte. Anamar sashays off. Romina wonders who can help her.

German is very nervous, about to dial Carlota. But he figures she would know by now, and he doesn’t want to face her wrath. Better to let her cool off a little.

Nester comes in and puts a nice spin on German’s role in the trial. After all, he started the case. It’ll look good for his career. He says he was just talking to Carlota and she wants an appointment with him tomorrow, maybe to talk about German. She asked to talk to Nestor alone first, then have German come in.

German decides to dial Carlota. I heard you wanted to talk to me. You are such an insignificant speck, she spits at him. You bet I want to talk to you, but I don’t have time now. Tomorrow.

Carlota says to herself One by one, they’re all going to get it. And right where it hurts.

Some folks are still at the courthouse. Why haven’t they gone out for a nice steak and a beer? Why hasn’t Natalia borrowed someone’s lipstick? Anyway, Natalia tells Chris, Dr B and the padres that she’s going to go to the DF with Ivonne. She has to tell Sagrario that her father is dead. (I hope she leaves out the part about how his life wasn’t worth living without his son - what is Sagrario, chopped liver? And Natalia?)

Ivonne says I guess we’ll never really know how he died. Dr B says the truth usually comes to light over time. Padre B focuses on the part where Alonso said he was going to revenge his son’s death before committing suicide, but there’s no other death that they know of, at least not here in Real del Monte.

Natalia says he thought it was Carlota, but it looks like he wasn’t able to tie Inaki’s death to her. Chris says if somebody killed Inaki, sooner or later that will come to light, because they are indirectly responsible for Alonso’s death. (No, I don’t get his logic either.)

Ivonne says gosh, we’ve all been so miserable for so long, why don’t we talk about these things later? Smile time! Everyone smiles and laughs. Dr B says you’re right. It reminds us how life can change in the blink of an eye, so we need to enjoy it. We’re going to have a great time in Mexico City says Natalia. You, me, Rufi and Paloma.

Paloma is leaving Real del Monte? says Chris.

Gabriel is walking Paloma home. She says that she’s glad things are getting better and that Natalia got off. Gabriel says Chris got off too, Paloma. It’s not like you to hold a grudge. Paloma says I’m just tired of people telling me things that aren’t true just to protect me.

Gabriel says he has to get back to the church. Maybe Paloma could send him an e-mail. Paloma says I don’t have a computer – Carlota didn’t want to be modern. Upstairs, we see Carlota looking out the window at them, disapproving.

Bassos: AAAAHHHHHH.

He strokes her cheek and says But it would be very helpful so we could communicate. Paloma laughs that Carlota is never going to change. He kisses her cheek and tells her he’s going to miss her. Paloma says you’ll be coming to the DF when you’re finished here.

Carlota says another one to add to my list.

Chris is glad to come back to the priests’ quarters. The padres tell him that his room is still here. Chris says I don’t belong here anymore. Padre M says even if you’re not a priest, you can keep up your social work. Chris thanks them, but says he’s going to find some kind of job. He kisses their hands and hugs them and leaves.

The two padres think that since he was innocent, the bishop should reinstate him.

Don E and Madeleine are chatting. Gosh, he loves the law – maybe he’ll take it up again. Madeleine wonders what he thinks her chances are with Chris. He says give it a little time – he’ll help.

Chris kneels at a pew and thanks God for helping with his trial. He wants to unmask Carlota.

Rufi and Paloma are working in the kitchen. Rufi says they’d better get started on packing early, as her party is the day before they leave. Rufi wonders if she’s going to leave her address with her friends. Rufi notes that she herself doesn’t have anybody to give the address to. Paloma says Edmundo!

Carlota comes in. She mentions Chris getting acquitted and says she thought Paloma was mad at him. Paloma says she’s glad they both got acquitted. Rufi says how did you know they got off if you weren’t there? Church ladies, says Carlota.

She tells Paloma that just because he was declared innocent it doesn’t mean that Chris didn’t do some of the things they talked about, like his relationship with Natalia. I suggest you stay away from him permanently. Paloma says I’m leaving town anyway. She gets up and leaves the kitchen.

Rufi says all these secrets that have been kept from Paloma! Like about her father. Carlota says I should break my word to Macarena just so Paloma won’t be mad?

Carlota says maybe it’s God’s will that the two stay separated. She’s going to the DF now, and surely Chris won’t stay in town after all this scandal. Rufi says she has the right to know her family. Carlota says Chris doesn’t have any family. Yes, he does, says Rufi. His mother is still alive. She was at the trial.

Avances: Romina begs Em not to go. She asks Paloma what she should do to save her marriage. Paloma says give it up. Romina sweeps the dishes off the table in anger. Chris is talking to Rufi, getting started on his Carlota unmasking. He goes to see Carlota.

Labels: amor

Juan del Diablo (Eduardo Yañez): Juan is a man of good heart, but hardened by suffering and the thirst for vengeance against Rodrigo and Leonarda, who destroyed the lives of his parents. He seeks vengeance but also justice, so he confronts authorities and struggles for the poor.


Regina Montes de Oca (Aracely Arámbula): She is noble and delicate but has a strong character and a grand moral and ethical sense of responsibility. She's a woman who seeks to develop herself without waiting for a husband to maintain her. She will live a platonic love with Renato and a real love with Juan, who will help her discover the passionate woman she carries within herself.


Aimée Montes de Oca (Aracely Arámbula): She is beautiful, sensual, volcanic, temperamental and passionate. She unreservedly gives in to her desires. She is passionate for Juan although she doesn't actually love him, and she marries Renato for money. Aimee lives in the present, without thinking about consequences. She will try to separate Regina from Juan by any means at her disposal.


Renato Vidal (Cristian de la Fuente): he is noble and fair. His vocación de justicia (vocation of justice??) will change radically when he discovers that the love of his life, Aimee, has been mocking him. When he discovers that Regina loves Juan, he'll seek to reconquer her love and will use all his power in an attempt to destroy Juan.


Leonarda Montes de Oca (Helena Rojo): A woman dominated by her sentiments. She loves and hates without moderation, and is capable of murder to gain Rodrigo's love. She destroyes the life of her own sister and poisons Rodrigo's new wife, Constanza. Leonarda decides that "if momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy" except her son Renato.


Rodrigo Montes de Oca (Enrique Rocha): He is kind and gracious, but proud. He can't bear it that the woman he loves is in love with a humble fisherman and becomes a spiteful villain. Blinded by jealousy, he decides to destroy them and succeeds. He spoils his daughter Aimee completely, but is rigid and strict with Regina.


Noel Vidal (René Casados): He knows all the secrets of Renato, Juan del Diablo, Aimee and Regina; adviser, tutor, moral guide for the four of them. He was the only one who offered a hand to Juan when he needed it. He'll have to go against Renato, his own son, because truth and justice are more important to him than everything. He secretly loves Leonarda, but she only married him for spite.


María del Rosario Montes de Oca (Laura Flores): She is hopelessly in love with Juan de Dios San Roman, whose son she had, now called Juan del Diablo. She went crazy when her sister Leonarda told her that Juan and her son were dead. Leonarda locked her in the farm's catacombs,where she lived dreming that her Juan was alive and would come back for her.


Gabriel (Sebastián Zurita): a handsome young man, noble by heart as well as by inheritance. When his father, who was Juan's tutor, dies, he takes care of Juan. He admires Juan and with him will defend the poor and humble. He feels confused for loving Jimena and Estrella at the same time, without knowing they are the same young woman. (MORE twins?)


Jimena (Angelique Boyer): Jimena is an adolescent tormented by her aunt Griselda, who in reality robbed her as a girl. Her life will take place among: the circus; her friendship with Regina; her love for Gabriel; and the harrassment of Servando. She will be protected by Juan and suffers because Gabriel ignores that she is Estrella.

Labels: salvaje, synopsis-cast

Filmed in natural settings of beautiful provincial Mexico, "Wild Heart" arrives to make us vibrate with all the force and ardent passion of a story of unforgettable love.

A story that begins with María del Rosario y Juan de Dios, two beings who love each other, separated by societal differences. She, a young woman of Veracruz high society; he, a humble fisherman. Rodrigo, a powerful man in the port, is furious when he finds out Maria plans to marry Juan. He sends the fisherman to prizon and with the help of Leonarda, Maria's sister, he locks the young woman in a hacienda, where she gives birth to the son who is fruit of her forbidden love.

Juan escapes from jail and, pursued by Rodrigo, he falls off a cliff into the ocean. Leonarda causes the baby to disappear and locks Maria in the dungeon in the basement of the country estate, telling Rodrigo that she has died.

Rodrigo, desperate, disregarding Leonarda's confession of love, leaves for Europe, from which he will return married to Constanza. Leonarda marries Noel, the family notary, and gives birth to Renato.

Juan survives and discovers his son was rescued from the mountains by Remigio and adopted by Remigio's mother, Aurora, who has given him the name found in the note hidden in his clothes: Juan de Dios (Juan of God). Years later, the dying fisherman searches for his son, tells him his story and asks that he punish Rodrigo. At his father's grave, the young man swears vengeance and changes his name to Juan del Diablo (Juan of the Devil). Nevertheless, when he meets Rodrigo's twin daughters, Aimée y Regina, an uncontrollable passion for Aimee invades him. [Oh NOES! Not more twins!!! -Ed.]

Regina ama a Renato, pero cuando éste se enamora de Aimée, Regina decide irse de monja. Aimée se casa con Renato pero sigue viendo a Juan. Cuando está a punto de huir con él y Renato los descubre, Regina la protege diciendo que es ella quien se iba a fugar con Juan. Renato los obliga a casarse y Juan accede con la intención de vengarse en ella de todo el daño que Rodrigo hizo sus padres. Sin embargo, al irse conociendo, ambos descubrirán que nacieron el uno para el otro, y que su amor será más fuerte que el odio y la venganza, un amor profundo e indomable como el mar.

Regina loves Renato, but when he falls in love with Aimee, Regina decides to become a nun. Aimee marries Renato but continues to see Juan. When she's on point of fleeing with him and Renato discovers them, Regina tries to protect Aimee, saing it is she (Regina) who was going to escape with Juan.

Renato forces them to marry and Juan agrees, with the intent of getting revenge on her for all the damage Rodrigo did to his (Juan's) parents. Nevertheless, as they get to know each other, they discover they were born for each other, and that their love will be stronger than hate and vengeance, a love as deep and indomitable as the sea.

Labels: salvaje, synopsis-cast

Hi team,
I'm sorry I haven't (sob) been there for you. This blog has just gotten so darn huge. Anyway, I note that you are in ultimas semanas. Thoughts about the future?

Labels: amor

Hi all -
Since I'm doing Monday for Dinero, I won't be on the CS team. Chavela and PB are dropping out. Jody is in for half a slot on Monday. That leaves a half slot and a whole slot for any willing souls! Email me - caray@mappamundi.com - or reply to this post if you're interested.

Labels: dinero, recappers-needed, salvaje

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Labels: index

of the girl.

SandyJo takes a look at Tiny Tony's baby pictures and wonders if perhaps the people in this house are not big fat liars.

Maura comes home and calls Bruno. She is very confused because she thinks that Sandra woke up in addition to MaryJo being missing from Toluca. She also tells him that she's got video of Katia with another guy. Skank.

Bruno reports back to Dr. and Mrs. Evil. He proposes accusing Alex of having kidnapped Sandra. Dr. Evil says that won't fly because medical experts would be able to tell that MaryJo has had a baby. Mrs. Evil proposes that they just say that Sandra had a baby in Spain. Dr. Evil wonders if they can use Ulises somehow. He says they have the word of the people at the clinic in Mexico that Ulises is the one who left with her. Now Bruno is confused--he thought Ulises was in Argentina. Doc says he's in an induced coma, but they can revive him whenever. You should be worried Bruno…if you had an ounce of sense left in that pretty little head, you'd be picturing yourself in a hospital bed, pale and flabby, with no hipster scarf to accessorize your hospital gown.

Ulises has grown a pretty decent beard. Bruno is impressed, but he does look a little freaked out. The doc explains how they'd revive him. Bruno is worried about what happens after he wakes up. Doc says they'll just bribe him--all Ulises is ever after is money anyway. Bruno reminds him that Ulises wanted to marry Sandra and get the old guy's money…why would he settle for less? Dr. Jor-hey-he's-evil says they'll figure something out. "It's him or us." Bruno gives another freaked out look.

Chucho works on some pottery as Pedro comes home with flowers. I didn't know it was like that with them. Oh, the flowers are for the Virgen. Chucho wonders if they shouldn't take Sandra's ashes to a church. Oh, no, the flowers are for Sandra, got it. Pedro hasn't had any word about MaryJo and he's kind of nervous about it. Chucho tells Pedro that there's a party going on later being thrown by the guy who's going to make Gabriel famous, in order to introduce Gabe to rich people with no taste who like to buy art. What? Maybe his stuff's good, but we haven't really seen it yet. Pedro doesn't want to go, but Chucho tries to talk him into it. And fails. Chucho then tries to talk Pedro into going to Toluca and dragging MaryJo back by force. Pedro won't do it. That would take a spine.

Vicky, et. al., come home to hear the news that Alex, Paula, and MJ are all back. Ezequiel doesn't know the details, though.

Hernán checks out SandyJo. He gave her a sedative. She's very worked up and she's going through withdrawal from the medication. Alex asks if Hernán knows what it is yet, but Hernán is waiting for test results. He counsels Alex to have patience and reminds him that right now MJ thinks Alex and everyone in that house are her captors. Alex is not happy about this.

Paula cries and tells the assemblage at Casa Lombardo how MJ didn't believe them. She's very upset about the whole thing. Felipa suggests lots of praying. Hernán and Alex come downstairs. Fernando introduces Alex to Tió Emiliano. Tió suggests talking to SandyJo since she remembers him from before. Alex walks him upstairs while Vicky comforts Paula.

Emiliano tells Alex to buck up, he'll see what he can do. Alex hides in the hallway to listen. Emiliano wakes SandyJo up. She's thrilled to see him.

Bruno is getting antsy waiting for Doc Evil to come back from his lab. He's still stuck on the calling the cops plan. Doc Evil comes in right then and tells Bruno to cool it. They'll wait for Ulises to wake up. Bruno doesn't want Ulises marrying MJ, but Jorge says it's no big deal--Bruno can just kill him after. Once again, kiddies, why doesn't Evil do it himself? That's right, he's not a killer. Bruno laughs and Mommy Evil just looks mad.

Emiliano gives SandyJo the info about the scar on her back as a way to confirm that what Alex, etc., are saying is true. She says she knows she has a scar, but they probably are just using her scar to support their story. But why would Sandra have a scar? Well, probably from doing dangerous stuff in Spain. And why would both Sandra and MaryJo have a scar in the same place? Well…. She doesn't have an answer for that one, but it just makes her more confused. She woke up with no memory and people telling her who she was and now she's got a whole new set of people telling her she's someone else. Emiliano says that he's sure that the people here are her real family and she only feels like she doesn't know them because she's upset, but deep down she knows.... SandyJo doesn't want to keep discussing it. She keeps trying to make it Emiliano who's really the one who's confused. Emiliano keeps calmly trying to tell her that these are her people. She ends up crying and hugging Emiliano.

Gabriel looks uncomfortable at his party. Meche and Chucho are having fun, but Gabriel looks like he smells poo. He wishes Paula were there to see him in his new tan suit. But Paula's busy with her family drama. Gabe's patron comes over and grabs him so he can make the official introduction to the crowd. Gabe's pants are not fitting well. I can't tell if they're too tight or too loose. It's kind of a diaper-y effect.

Emiliano is still upstairs talking to SandyJo while Paula and everyone else are downstairs. Emiliano comes downstairs and reports that SandyJo is upset and confused. SandyJo doesn't want Emiliano to leave. He's not sure if he should stay, though, and he wants to go home and tell Porfirio what's going on. Alex wants to go to talk to Porfirio too. Emiliano says they've got to worry about MJ first. Alex wants vengeance, but Fernando tells him to leave it to the cops.

Maura paces the pink pad. She picks up the phone to call Bruno. Bruno, meanwhile is packing his suitcase while he shouts the entire story to Erick who keeps annoying him by asking stupid questions like "how the hell did that happen?" Bruno picks up the phone and Maura starts panicking. She calls Bruno an idiot when he tells her that Alex came to get MJ. This is when she realizes that it actually is MJ at the Lombardo house and not Sandra. Maura says Alex will never forgive them and he'll have her locked up forever. Bruno, just as brilliantly as ever, tells Maura that they've got a plan and if everything goes as planned, no one will get in trouble. Translation: I have yet another stupid plan that's going to end up getting us all thrown in jail as I have been incapable thus far of carrying out any of my plans in an advantageous way, except for killing the judge, but he'll probably come back in the end after having spent the last several months recuperating from a stabbing, a near-drowning, and amnesia back in the DR and be so pissed off that he'll make sure I get the book thrown at me for identity theft and attempted murder, even if it means he has to go to jail himself. Maura tells him to swear, but first he wants her to calm down. He tells her she has to have cold blood and stick to her original story, until some indefinite point in the future, when he will give her a different song to sing. He won't tell her what and he won't tell her when, but, hey, unless she's got a better plan…. Maura decides to "trust" him and says he'd better not let her down. Maura is an idiot, but then, we've known that for a while now. Bruno gets off the phone and gripes at Erick for staring at him. Then he makes Erick pack his suitcase. Erick looks a little dazed as he starts putting stuff in the suitcase.

Vicky comes upstairs with food for SandyJo. SandyJo asks who she is, but Vicky answers with "I brought you dinner. I hope you don't throw it at me like you did poor Ezequiel." SJ asks again and this time Vicky says she's Alex's stepmother and Bruno's mother. She also says that SJ knows Bruno as Damián. SJ refuses to sit down and eat. Vicky sits down to eat her own dinner. SJ sobs, asking why they did this to her. Vicky comes over to comfort her and tells her to cry it out, that life is screwing with her, but they really are her people. SJ accepts the comforting and keeps crying.

Roberto interrupts Raquel playing a solo game of Truth or Dare. I thought it was Spin the Bottle, but she's using Spin the Bottle Truth or Dare rules. She asks herself about her first love and is about to answer herself as Roberto walks in. He came to tell her that he's leaving in a few days. She doesn't care and apologizes to her imaginary guests for the interruption. You know, some girls just have tea parties, but whatever. Roberto wants to say goodbye to Alex, but Raquel says he's busy with MJ. Roberto is surprised to hear it. Raquel says that Maura thought it was the twin, so there's some confusion. Raquel returns to talking to the empty room about her first love.

Alex fumes downstairs while Paula keeps crying. Alex thinks Bruno will be there tomorrow. Fernando doesn't think he'll dare. Paula runs to Roberto for comforting as soon as he walks in. They explain to him that Sandra is the one who was in a coma and now she's dead. Paula will explain the rest to Roberto, but he has to promise not to tell anyone.

SandyJo wakes up to Alex sitting in a chair staring at her. She's still upset. She feels like her life has been stolen just when she was figuring out what her life was. Alex tries to explain that he's her husband, they have a baby. He wants to take her to see the baby, but she freaks out. Alex talks about how upset he was when she disappeared, but she refuses to let him call her María José. She's Sandra! Alex tells her that Sandra died of a drug overdose and MJ has never had drugs, so she needs to get it into her head that she's not Sandra. He leaves and MJ sobs. I know she's upset, but come one…on the one hand there are two bitchy people who seem to hate you and keep telling you that you're a whore and a druggie and a supposed ex-boyfriend who gives you bad vibes and keeps trying to get you to sleep with him. On the other, you have a whole bunch of people who seem happy to see you and they're telling you that you're basically a decent person married to a hot guy and with a cute little baby and none of them are trying to make you feel bad about yourself. And still, you'd rather be the whoring druggie?

Vicky gets an update from Alex. She's sad about what's going on. Alex is afraid they've lost her. Felipa comes over to ask how MJ is doing. She asks if she can have a chance. Alex says he's going to the office. Vicky gives him a blessing.

Felipa comes in with Cuco and a balloon. SandyJo digs Cuco. Felipa says "see, he recognizes you…and dogs don't lie." SJ is cheerful as she says maybe Cuco's just like that with everybody. Ha, ha…"he knows who his friends are." Felipa wants to show SJ something. She agrees, reluctantly, and lets Felipa lead her out of the room. Felipa tells her the story of rescuing Cuco as they walk downstairs, SJ holding Cuco. Felipa explains that the house is half Vicky's and was half Alex's, but Alex gave his half to her because he loves her. SandyJo is impressed by the size of the house. Felipa leads SJ outside, where the babies are on the lawn. Felipa talks about how much staff they have to maintain the house and grounds. When they get down the stairs, SJ lets Cuco down to walk on his leash. Rosie comes over with the baby, happy to se MJ. SJ coos over the baby and Felipa says it's her son. SJ can't decide whether to hold him or not. She eventually gives in, cause babies suck you in like that. Just as she takes the baby Raquel walks up, getting Cuco all agitated. Felipa basically says, "I told you so." SJ explains she isn't greeting Raquel because she doesn't know her. Raquel says "I can't tell if you're Maria Jose, who seduced my brother to get him to marry her or if you're that Sandra chick." SJ gets upset and gives the baby back to Rosie. She goes back to the house. Felipa tells Raquel that MJ lost her memory. Raquel reminds Felipa to keep to her place and Felipa, I think, calls Raquel a whore. There was bleeping involved.

Pedro mops the floor as Paula walks in. He's apparently mopping with his own tears. Paula heard that Pedro didn't want to go to work. She nags him. Pedro is just feeling toooo sad about Sandra's death. Even though he didn't spend time with her, or see her grow up, or call the frickin' cops to report that her mother had abducted her, he still feels the pain. Some of that I embellished. And on top of that they don't know what's up with MJ. Pedro has already decided they'll never see her again, but Paula reassures him things will be like they were before. Pedro has resigned himself to being left only with Paula. Paula keeps trying to cheer him up, saying that MJ will be back before they know it.

At work, Alex and Fernando review Dr. Jorge's web page. Nothing on the web page talks about how to restore the memories after they've been wiped. Alex is sick of MJ looking at him with hate and fear. He's sick of looking at medical textbooks to figure out how the brain works and not being able to understand half of it. He just keeps feeling more trapped. What if MJ never gets her memory back and keeps thinking he's a kidnapper? Fernando says if she loved him before, she can love him again. Alex is down and Fernando is waving the pom-poms for all he's worth. He suggests getting MJ to go have lunch with him, Vicky, and Emiliano. Alex gives the ok, if Vicky can talk her into it.

Maura walks in, all smiles and swishy hips. Alex will not let himself be cheered up by her. He refuses to give her any additional details about what's going on. Maura's good cheer evaporates.

Vicky gets the call from Fernando and goes to talk to MJ. MJ is looking at the photo album. She tells Vicky she saw the baby, but she doesn't remember having a baby. She says she was excited to see him, and she also felt tenderness for the other baby, but…she just doesn't know. MJ felt a lot of things with Tony, but she figures that's what she would feel for any baby. Vicky thinks it's a good sign that MJ dreamt about breast feeding, but now SJ says she's not even sure she was the one breast feeding. Vicky says she knows it's all confusing, but they're not lying to her. Vicky invites MJ to go out with her, Fernando, and Emiliano, but SJ is scared to go out in a strange place. SJ gets stuck on not having clothes, but Vicky points her in the direction of the closet. After Vicky leaves, MJ goes into the closet to find a nice burlap sack to wear.

Hernán takes Lisette to a clinic where people without means get cancer treatment. He points out another girl, Lety, who is Lisette's age and also had leukemia. Hernán says Lisette needs a friend right now. Lisette goes over and introduces herself.

Vicky and SandyJo join Emiliano and Fernando for lunch. She is happy to see Emiliano, and even Fernando, who she remembers from the party. Alex comes up, but he upsets SJ, who refuses to let him call her MJ. She also refuses a drink, but Emiliano and Alex suggest that this could be additional proof--she can try a drink and see if she feels the need for another. SJ agrees and orders a tequila. Emiliano starts talking about Chichen Itza. SJ and Alex get into another spat when SJ says she loves historical stuff and Alex says she can't know that if she's lost her memory and she says people know what they like, regardless. Dude, right now, she's not liking you very much, but at least this is more fire of any kind than she showed around Bruno. She ends up screaming at him and calling him the shameless guy who kidnapped her from her family. She gets up and tells the whole table that she was a promiscuous drug addict in Spain and she ended up in a coma from an overdose and Jorge was the one who brought her back, but in order to cure her addition he had to wipe her memory and now they're taking advantage of it. She storms off. Alex goes after her and insists she was never a promiscuous drug addict. SJ can't see any other explanation for her memory loss. Alex says it's what Elena and Jorge wanted her to believe so that they could swap her out for Sandra and get her to inherit her grandfather's money. SJ says maybe it's Alex who wants the money. She wants to go home to Toluca. Vicky comes up as Alex is grabbing MJ's arm and separates them. Vicky and SJ leave to go back home. Way to ruin a nice lunch, Alex. I vote they just lock her in somewhere and let her finish drug withdrawal. Preferably somewhere where Bruno and Co won't know where to look.

But alas, as we have seen from promos, that is not to be. And judging by the outfits, we don't have long to wait before Bruno comes to reclaim what was never rightfully his in the first place. Again.

Labels: sortilegio

The kiddos, Aldo, Luisa. and Dani, have fled the evil castle controlled now by a misunderstood, misguided Coni. OK, OK, she has been a real pain in the butt here lately. She has unresolved issues but has not killed anyone... yet. They are with Moni and Mao at Moni's place. Moni reminds them of the first time they met. Yes, Aldo remembers, "You knocked out the thugs that were threatening us." "I will always protect you," but for now, they must return and stay with the cruel stepmother. Surprisingly, they understand.

Marcos is alone in his room with Isabel.They agree that Monita and Coni must not learn the truth. Isabel agrees to cooperate with Marcos... for now. Annoyed that he went to see Nieves and seeming to have plans for him herself, she grabs and kisses him. He resists , pushes her away, and is rescued by a knock at the door. He checks. He orders Isabel to hide. "It's my ex-wife!" Indeed, it's Jaqui, looking smart in a leather with a collar donated by a fox who is now shivering in the cold up north somewhere. I wonder if the PETA people have any more luck with their Emails than we do. They exchange pleasant greetings demonstrating their deep lingering affection for each other. She tells him that he is but a shadow of his former self. He counters that it is because he is not addicted to the placentas of mandrills as she is.They make a cute if volatile couple.

As Mao, Moni, and the kiddos walk bravely through the patio, Dani is still cradled in Mao's loving arms, wrapped in a blue blankee with pink bears, oblivious to all that has been going on around her. They encounter Teri, returning to the barrio. She of course is glad to see them, but relieved to hear that they are returning to the manor to face up to a wrathful Coni. She is proud of the maturity they are demonstrating. She predicts that they will all be reunited as a happy family soon. Huggies all around and Mauricio departs with the children. Teri reassures Moni that everything will workout. Moni looks... hopeful.

In their apartment (how many bedrooms does that place have?) Ximena, Rolu, Jero, and Arnie are seated around the table for dinner. They are awaiting Lalo who is invited but has not yet arrived. Tempers are a little frayed and bickering is the predominant mood. Jerónimo is looking forward to seeing Lalo who always lifts his spirits. He is bemoaning his recent turn of fortune and his betrayal by best bud Oscar. "After all we've been through. After that night together. It was a friendship strengthening thing," he hurries to add. I would guess so. "I don't deserve this!" Ximena asks, "May I tell you three things?" May I choke you three times?" he snaps back. Ignoring his surliness, Ximena observes a bright spot in all of this, "Im the only Sermeño left in the company! The company is now all about me." Rolu, counsels selling her part Jero sees this as an appropriate time to reveal his deep abiding affection, admiration, and devotion for his beloved sister and to remind her of his birthday coming up. Her shares would be a sweet gift. Arnie opines that the wise thing would be to hold on to her shares, her patrimony, but Rolu insists that she sell. Suddenly our dark-haired duena feels the pressure.

More fun with Jaqui and Marcos. These two seem evenly matched and the electricity veritably crackles between them. She wonders why he's in Mexico. "To be close to my daughters." He notes how lovely she is as a result of her collagen treatments. "Always trying to look younger for the youner men. They reminisce over her past husbands. They discuss her current relationship with Jero. He needles her that now that he has Jero's shares, he won't be able to pay for her BoTox. She wonders about his implying to Jero that he was responsible for the deaths of her subsequent four husbands. He asks pardon for taking advantage of her good fortune, "they all died." "Not such good luck... you're still alive," she observes. Well he has something for her. He takes a small box from a drawer and shows her... "Black pearls!" she's impressed. She admits that he's still an attractive man. They embrace. They kiss. The closet door concealing Jaqui cracks open. She peers out. What a sour expression.

The doorbell rings. Ximena is excited, "It's Lalo!" She insists that Arnie get it. He balks. Jero offers and gets up. "Sit!" Jemena orders, adding pleadingly, "porfis." She insists some more and Arnie reluctantly complies. Lalo dances gayly in, he has a bouquet which he enthusiastically offers to Arnie who hestates, then accepts. Jero, mumbling, grumbles, "You never brought me flowers." Ximena is delighted. Arnie prays for the earth to swallow him up.

Beto is suffering, but this time from his hangover. Moni seems to him to be shouting. He needs something to eat. "Nieves isn't here." He hurts. Moni notes his contusions and abrasions. "No, what hurts is my heart... well, OK my head, too." Moni gives him a hug and eases him into a chair at the patio table. She consoles. He announces, "I'm done with women." Moni's skeptical. I'm going to dedicate my life to el Señor. I'm going to become a priest." He gazes piously toward heaven. Moni is speechless. We are delighted . Padre Beto, who knew?

As Jaqui admires the pearls, Marcos tells her to forget Jerónimo, she deserves better. "Jerónimo is my slave, my doggy, my pet, I want to keep him happy," she rationalizes. She asks why he wants Jero's shares in th company and he cautions her not to meddle in his business. A knock at the door. He checks ."You must hide!" He wrestles a complaining Jaqui into a closet. He answers the door. "Nieves, what a great, pleasant surprise!"Her proud, erect stance is only slightly diminished by the unicorn she is clutcing to her bosom. He inites her inside and she complies, turning to face him. She admits that yes, she still loves him. He seizes her and kisses her. She responds enthusiastically. The poor little unicorn is crushed between them, a victim of their passion. Through a crack in the bathroom door, Isabel looks on disapprovingly (though who can really tell what this sour old biddy is thinking?). Jaqui peeking out through a cracked open closet door seems bemused with a knowing smile,"Ummm."

Meintras Tanto, Moni has recovered her voice. Don't talk crazy. A priest." He's serious. Sure. She saw him getting drunk on sacramental wine and stealing from the alms box to play cards. He is adamant. He must still be drunk so she offers him coffee. No, he has a hangover but otherwise he's perfectly sober. Coni has wrecked his plans. Now he only wishes to see her and Mao happy and procreating. He cautions her not to laugh. She struggles to keep a straight face. He continues, he will become a priest, perform their wedding, baptize their children, preside at their first communions, perform their weddings. Once again, Moni is speechless.

Nieves recovers her composure and pulls away from Marcos. "You have your reply, now I'm going." He asserts his love and implores her to stay. Nope, she's got her life and a man who loves her and treats her well, and he's the king of boxing. "Do you love him?" She ignores the question and starts out but notices the black pearls. "Black marbles?" "No, black pearls. I got them for you." "They're extremely ugly." Jaqui seethes and scowls from the closet.

Coni's home. She is joined by Katia who greets her with the news that the kids have packed their bags an left. She is put out that Katia let them leave. "I'm not their nana." Coni figures that Mao must have taken and hidden them somewhere. She'll have him put in jail. Just then Mao appears with the wayward children. "No need, here are my children," Mao announces.

Moni's still trying to get her arms around Beto's career plans. She points out the responsibilities and the thing he will have to forego. Drinking, carousing, women. He ponders, then replies that if he can't have Constanza, he wants no other woman. Wow, I believe.

Mao tells Coni that he will fight to have the children, but he won't fight dirty. He reminds the kids of his love and sends them off to bed. Coni reminds him that this is no longer his house but he needs to stay and talk a bit. He warns her that Moni is an experienced boxer (exactly what I have said) and that there is no way she can compete at her level. She reminds him that her became a world class luchador overnight. Well yes, there's that. He then tells her that he knows that she's met with Isabel.

Nieves is not impressed. She prefers her own more colorful, happy beads, thank you very much. She extends her hand. He kisses it. "I have no place in my life for you," she says as she proudly sashays out. Jaqui erupts from the closet and administers a wickedly serious slap. Ouch! "Thanks for reminding me of all the reasons I detest you!" Ouch, again. "Now I know where my daughter gets her taste for these jackals. I'll take my pearls. You offered this exquisite necklace to that woman who would know fine herbs from epasote. She leaves as Isabel emerges from the bathroom. (Elna June, are you noting a similarity to Moliére here?) "Vaya, looks like all your women decided to visit you at the same time." She warns him to stay away from Valentina (Monita) and he tells her to stay away from Coni. She agrees but tells him to tell la momia to stay clear of her. She is sure that knowing that Isabel is alive, Coni will at sometime use it against Moni. Alas, I fear she is right. She is leaving but pauses and turns to remind him,"The ball is in your court."

Coni doesn't know if she feels sorry for, or despises Mau. They spar over Mao helping Isabel deceive Monita. Coni doubts that Moni will understand. "I did it for love," he objects, the sort of thing Coni couldn't understand. Sacrifice. "Yeah, tell your little monkey that.Maybe everything will be alright. But you and I know it won't be. She'll never forgive you." I'm afraid Coni won that round.

Mao pounds on Beto's door. Beto's head is still pounding itself. "Come in my son, welcome to my humble abode." He tells Mao that he woke up with a clear head and is through with women. Like Moni, Mao is trying not to laugh. Beto tells him of his noble plan. Mao smiles and says that he's glad Nieves isn't here for he needs to talk with Beto. As long as he speaks softly Beto pleads. Mao announces, "Isabel is back."

Rolu and Arnie are seated at the table as Ximena comes down, looking fetching in brown wool. "Arnie made you breakfast," Rolu announces. Ximy has other plans, sorry. Lalo has invited her for breakfast. "Any message for Lalo Arnie?" "No." "Fine, I'll invent something." Wait, Arnie utters some inanities. "Better I make up something," and off she goes. "You see, she's going to tell him that I'm in love with him. I'm not gay!" "Yeah, but what's important is what's happening to me. I'm losing her. What am I going to do?" Rolu hasn't strayed far from his self-centered roots.

Beto is sure that Isabel is up to no good. Mao says that she says she's here to help. He tells Beto that Isabel has told him of a man who has arrived to upset Monita's life. She has insisted that he take Moni away. Beto thinks that there is no man and that Isabel and Coni have joined forces to annoy Monita. Mao tell Beto that they must confront the truth. Beto has his own problems and a killer hangover, but OK.

Beto has recovered enough to confront Coni in her lair. He calls out for her and she comes running. She attempts a hug but he holds her at bay. She tells him that she is so sad that she lost her child. She feels empty. He lights into her. She is empty. She has no heart or soul. She hurts everyone around her. "I'm not going to let you hurt Moni anymore." He will be like a scorpion. "Are you threatening me?" "Yes."

Rolu is venting. Should he continue pretending he can't walk? "You're wasting your time, she's on to you." Rolu can't imagine why Arnie thinks Ximy is so smart, "She doesn't even know what to do with her partnership shares. " "You gave her bad advice." "Don't meddle in what is not your concern." This fraternal chat is interrupted by the doorbell. Arnie gets it. "Buenos días." It's Marcos. He's looking for Rolando Klunder. "Pase, por favor." He enters and smiles a carnivorous smile at Rolu.

More Beto and Coni. This is painful for me. He tells her of his plans to give up women and become a priest. She doesnot want to lose him. Nor he, her. He has a huge heart. He wants her to be the mother of his children. He is willing to forgive her for everything she has done, but she must choose, "Our love or your vengeance."

Isabel is in her room, there is a knock at the door. "Qué haces aquí, Mauricio?" Mao is here to take her to see Valentina. Time to come clean.

Carlos

Labels: gancho

It's dog eat dog at Auto Siglo. Moustache man, jealous that Don Carlos Lopez is sealing a deal tomorrow to sell ten trucks, watches Claudia moaning to said Carlos as she thrusts her breasts up his nose and moans: "Alexandra is going to fire me, I am three or four commissions short of my quota, and my whole family depends on me, even my poor old aunt in the hospital!" She cries unconvincingly and asks the sucker Lopez to accompany her to the bathroom; she waves her butt in his direction and he decides to give her three - then four - of his truck commissions, and she wraps herself around him.

Moustache spies on them and then rats them out to the big boss Beltran. The two rush through the hall and Beltran busts into the bathroom, where he sees the couple against the wall - Claudia's blouse is open.

And Moustache says "In addition, Lopez is neglecting clients in favor of canoodling!"

Elsewhere Susanna is giving Ale a massage. Ale's "nobody can disturb my peaceful moment" sigh is Beltran's cue to rush in and tell her to deal with her people.

She calls in the lovebirds, she yells and waves her crutch. Claudia says she had a fever and therefore loosened her blouse, Lopez says they're novios. Ale says, that is against the regulations - they say they're just friends - she says "intimate bathroom friends are not ok." One has to go: Ale chooses Claudia!

However, Claudia flounces to the boss, pulls her tricks, and he hyperventilates and then tells Ale she has to fire Lopez instead of Claudia.

Big drooling boss is not impressed by the 10 trucks that Lopez has virtually sold - and says, further, that Claudia's miniskirts and open blouses are good for biz. "So you have to fire Lopez, he's the pervert. Now you have to find a new salesman!" "Where will I find another salesman?" she asks herself...

Cut to Rafa, grimly telling ma and sis that he'll marry Vicki. They are skeptical and rather negative. He defends the decision - he and Vicki have been going together for years and he feels for her tenderness, solidarity... His sis mocks him and his mom worries that he's marrying "por interes" (for money).

At Auto Siglo, the salesforce is yakking about romance vs. capitalism. Ale stumps in and gripes that Beltran is keeping "the miniskirt" on the payroll -- and firing Lopez instead.

Ale asks Susanna to prepare Lopez's liquidation papers. In comes Marino, her most detested and pushy salesman, asking who's going to nab the 10-truck deal. "Can't we bury the dead first?" she asks.

Rafa's jailmates are out. I think they run some kind of beauty parlor. In comes a bombshell. They think she's their first customer but actually she's "Ovidia," their new associate.

Poor Lopez packs his stuff as Claudia hangs all over him, squeezing him for his database of clients and, especially, his big buyer. He's called away to Ale, however, and makes a deal: he'll submit his list of clients in exchange for a good letter of recommendation. Ale agrees and has Susanna lock his list in her desk.

Marco comes for her and she yells about her whole day and especially the nerve of Rafa asking for a job. After hearing her out, Marco says he thinks she SHOULD hire Rafa!

Labels: dinero