Caray, Caray!

This seemed like an episode of traps. Is Marcos trying to trap Mauricio with kindness? Is Coni going to trap Marcos into an admission? Are Marcos and Jacqui trapped in the War of the Roses? Will Aldo be coerced into robbery? Isabel tries to trap her daughter with fake love. Estrella doesn't want to trap herself or Aldo into marriage and Aldo wants it but doesn't see it as a trap. Sal is trapped by Loriloca and they are both trapped by Oscar. Arni is trapped in love with Ximena. The rateros are trapped in a cage. There is more but ya basta! Let's see who is trapping whom tonight and you can make up your own minds...

When we left off from last night Marcos was offering Mau a job as President of Grupo Sermeño. Ya see, he wants to build a great family business owned by his daughters and run by his two sons-in-law. (Methinks he's figured out HE doesn't have time for it and his daughter who fired the entire staff is now too busy training to be a cut-rate boxer to run the biz. What do y'all think?) Mau is all about the family cuz GS was started by his dad, a stonemason who started from the ground up and turned it into a great business. OK, he accepts the offer and Marcos agrees to keep the name Grupo Sermeño. Wonder how Beto's going to feel about that? Poor dude is already lobbying for Grupo Ochoa.

Gabi is having breakfast with Xime and I must say, neither of these beauties outshines the other. They both have exquisite but very different features. And they are in color coordinated shirts! But I digress, Xime says Rolu is upstairs sleeping off his night of passion, Arni is nowhere to be found (poor sod), and she promises Jero isn't around either, he never came home last night. Gabi says he's probably with Oscar which makes Xime wriggle with delight, How marvelous! "No, not like that," corrects Gabi, "they are accomplices." Hablando del rey de roma y por la puerta se asoma... in walks Jero looking uncomfortably surprised at the sight of Gabi.

Marcos continues his role as the grand benevolent. He thinks Mau's bodega is too small and unseemly for his yerno and nietos. How about the keys to a penthous suite? (Easy there Mau, all this kind arranging may come with a price tag.) Marcos is also confident that for Valentina's sake he will eventually debilitate Isabel, have faith in papa Marcos everything is under control. All righty then, Marcos will see Mau at work first thing Monday morning, here are the keys and oops, almost forgot to give Mau the address of the penthouse! Mau smiles his dopy trusting smile. I hope for Mau's sake they find Salvador soon, I'm not sure he can run GS on his own.

Gabi puts the pressure on Jero, she wants him to tell her right now where Oscar is. Jero's a rotten liar but he does it anyway. He has no idea where that fugitive is, he's hiding from the cops and don't forget he stole all Jero's money too! Gabi doesn't believe a single word and she offers to pay Jero to tell her where Oscar is and any info on Salvador's murder. Any amount, name your price.

Over at the manicomio privado Loriloca makes Sal comfy while the nurse readies the next injection. Lorenza protests, no inyección please! Sal musters up all his strength to moan a pitiful "No, no." The nurse recalls Oscar's treacherous words, he doesn't like loose ends and Lori and Sal must die, so she agrees no inyección, but it has to be their secret. The nurse sends Loriloca to keep a watch at the door and she advises Sal that he must continue to act like he's drugged, then he and his wife must escape. "Graaaacias" he moans.

Gabi is still pressing Jero who seems to be interested in her offer. How much money is a lot? Xime keeps piping up that she knows he's hiding something. Gabi maneuvers around Ximena's interruptions and tells Jero she is prepared to sell everything, her car, her apartment, her family's property.

Nurse tells Sal he will feel some withdrawal symptoms but they will soon pass and he needs to try to cover them up. Señor Oscar is muy peligroso and Sal and his wife are in great danger if they stay. Oscar and Lori come in and Oscar ominously reminds the nurse that Sal must have his inyección every five hours.

Xime is ready to donate an unbitten apple and the change in the bottom of her purse. Gabi is appreciative but forges ahead. What does Jero want? Jero sticks with the lies and tells Gabi when they find that treacherous rat Oscar she will be the first one at him. When he goes upstairs Gabi and Xime look at each other suspiciously. He's hiding something.

Estrella visits Mau at the bodega to tell him Moni doesn't suspect a thing although she (Estre) nearly had a heart attack. She still can't remember, is he sure nothing happened (she asks just a little too hopefully)? He's sure absolutamente nada happened. (Aw, poor Estrella.) They piss and moan about that traicionera Isabel. What are they going to do?

They are interrupted by a surly Aldo who is in an epic snit. Mau and Estrella are thrilled he finally came home. But Aldo lunges at Estre and yells that last night he found them in bed together! This goes on for a couple of scenes but in typical telenovela fashion Aldo won't listen and they can't seem to find the words to tell him the truth anyway. After lots of loud but impotent yelling our cachorro heads for the door never wanting to see them again.

Marcos gets home and finds Coni lying in wait for him. She's confused, what this big secret that her ma keeps talking about? Marcos tells her not to be fooled by Jacqui's craziness. Oops, Moni walks in and tells him to go ahead and tell her his big secret.

Luckily Marcos has a commercial break to get his story straight.

Coni tells Moni to beat it, she has nothing to do with her father, go back to her cage and leave them in peace. Au contraire, Moni has a prior engagement with Marcos. Coni tells Valentina to mind her own business and beat it because she's talking to her dad right now. Marcos corrects her, in point of fact he needs to talk to Valentina solo, he pushes a mortified and irritated Coni out the door. "OK Valentina, we're alone now."

Moni doesn't want Marcos to call her "hija". He says they have a lot to talk about. First up is the subject of her hating him based on Isabel's lies. Moni doesn't want him to call her Monita either, he has to stick with Valentina. He says he wants to start by being her friend, he just wants to see her happy.

Isa and Aliblahblah take their seats in the oncologists office, but then Isabel decides she doesn't want to wait for the test results so they get right up and leave. Weird, did I miss something?

Moni accuses Marcos of ruining her happines. He abandonied her mother and left her all alone, meddled in Mauricio's business, yada yada. He tells her he wants both she and and Coni to be happy. (What about Katia?) He wants Coni to stop her vengeance, to marry Beto and he wants the same for Valentina, to marry Mauricio and have a family and immense love. She looks slightly confused.

Mau and Estrella moan some more about that damned Isabel's perfidy and oh dear whatever will they do about Aldo?

Marcos tells Moni that actions speak louder than words, thanks to him Mau has the kids back. Moni accuses him of doing good deeds not to help people but to get them on his side. He makes the fatal error of mentioning Isabal and Moni goes on her usual rant and ends up yelling she's sick of him and his blood in her veins. "Me das asco!" (An old favorite, "you disgust me".)

Tere and the girls show up at the bodega and Mau tells them they just missed Aldo and guess what, they are moving into a new house. Danny likes it fine in the bodega where they were all crammed into one room, how sweet. Mau asks Tere to move in with them, just like old times.

Luisa slips away and follows Estrella outside to tell her she knows Estre is preggers by Aldo and what's up with him? Why is he acting weird and why has he disappeared? She's worried about everyone and everything. Estre tells Luisa to keep it a secret but soon she and Aldo will get married and everything will be fine.

All except the Aldo part because he's gone back to the cardboard pile and the sidewalk to sit with his creepy cuates. Creepies say they need to go to the store to get some money and want him to come. He's all bummed out and apathetic, doesn't want to go, so they give him a bag of drugs because that's what all good pals do, verdad?

Mau and the girls love their new place, it's huge and beautiful. Tere is reinstated as housekeeper. Ivan is there too and Mau, once again President of GS, offers Ivan his old job back. Dang, things are looking good again, all except those anvils lining up on the horizon like night squalls on the Pacific.

It's night and Aldo and co. make their way to a convenience store. They tell Aldo to wait outside, one guy hangs out at the door and the other (the ratero who stole the jewels) goes inside. It's highly suspicious but Aldo is oblivious.

What's this? Xime and Arni are doing a stakeout? What's up with that? Actually Arnie doesn't know because Ximena's in charge. This is a super dangerous mission they are on. They are following her brother to try to find Oski for Gabi. Arni has a fit, the guy is a murderer! She says it's OK because they are super smart they will be heroes like Sherlock Holmes and Watson! Their subject exits the building. Shirley Holmes tells Watson to drive in pursuit. Glad to see she buckles her seatbelt.

Now Marcos is at Coni's trying to keep his other hija from being mad at him. It's going well until Jacqui casually strolls in with a snifter in her hand...is he going to explain to his daughter what's going on? "What is the damned secret papa?" Go on, tell her, urges Jacqui.

Aldo waits outside, ignorant of the holdup ocurring inside the store. The rateros have a knife to the clerk's throat and demand money. The clerk pushes a button and steel doors slam shut. The little creeps are stuck inside the store with the clerk who now wields a dangerous looking sawed-off. They are trapped like, dare I say it, rats in a trap. Three police cars scream in and Aldo hides.

Mau is at Estrella's house. They figure that Isabel is systematically attempting to separate Monita from everyone in her life. She did it with Mau and is trying it with Estrella. If they don't want to lose Monita they have to change tactics. Estre thinks he and Moni will end up together in spite of Isabel. What they need to do is get Mau and Moni into a place where Monita can't escape. During this scene Estrella keeps aproaching Mau then running back when she gets too close. At the end he wants to give her a hug for her good idea but she squirms away and squeals, "no more arms on this body, principe, after what you and I saw I'm a little nervous." He leaves and she squeals once more "NOOOoooo" and fans her hot bod.

Back at the holdup the cops are putting the rateros in their squad car. Aldo, hiding behind some cars, watches then runs away looking over his shoulder. Cachorro, you escaped by the skin of your teeth this time. Whatcha gonna do now?

Jacqui and Marcos are giving each other a hard time ad nauseum until Coni finally begs them to stop. She hates being stuck between a couple of insane ancianos! "Elderly, me?" demands Marcos. (Guess he doesn't mind the insane part.) Coni wants to know once and for all what they are hiding? Marcos tells Jacqui to go ahead and tell if she wants Coni to know so badly.

Isabel frets about her visit to the oncologist and of course Moni tells her everything will be all right. Isa says she loves enjoying Monita's silence and tranquility. (I'll bet after living with Ali.) They go to bed and Moni replays in her head Marcos saying he loves her and wants her to be happy.

Back at Los Bickersons Jacqui says Marcos is hiding his secret all because Nieves his lechona (suckling pig? because of they way she stuffs herself into her clothes?) asked him to and he can deny her nothing. Coni is beside herself that he would put that woman and her rabble before his own family! More bickering and Coni tells them to stop changing the subject. What's the secret?

Marcos says OK, since she keeps insisting and in point of fact, what he's been hiding is...he proposed marriage to Nieves and she has accepted. They are going to marry as soon as possible! Caras muy impactadas de Coni and Jacqui. Cara victoriosa de Marcos.

Tomorrow: Aldo is sleeping under an overpass and eating fast food that somebody threw out the window into the dirt. Jacqui vows "That Woman" will never marry Marcos, not while she can stop it. Surprise, Mau traps Moni on a boat.


los actos dicen mas que las palabras = actions speak louder than words (what Marcos thinks)
albañil - stonemason or bricklayer (Mau's dad)
cabos sueltos - loose ends (what Oscar doesn't like)
cuanto antes = as soon as possible
disimular = to cover up, hide, suppress (what Sal needs to do to fool Oscar)
efectivamente = in point of fact (Marcos says this a lot)
estafar - to swindle, rook, cheat, con (what Oscar did to Jero)
por el contrario = on the contrary, au contraire

Labels: gancho

Well, I have had a busy week and so St. Patty's Day got the better of me and I rather forgot to come back and do my recap. The 3:00 version didn't record so I needed the 12:00am version anyway...I couldn't stay up that late so, there you have it. I know, curse those recappers with day jobs! Arrgh. As time permits today, I'll get pieces done.

For starters we opened with Aldo discovering his Dad in bed with his girlfriend. Now how's that for a laugh... hee, like any good teen, he retaliates by stealing all his Dad's money, oh and for good measure, the clothes. Ha!...more to come!

Cris is happy to have his patrol car back...he couldn't recognize the perps but could tell from their voices they were kids. Aldo sees them but disappears the other direction after dumping the clothes he took from his Dad. Oh and he's bawling. Poor kid.

Marcos eats a french fry from Nieves cleavage. Ah she is frisky. He thinks since she is jealous, she still has feelings for him. She says no way and insults Jacqui. He swears he won't fall again for that spider. It looks like they will kiss.

Mona and Ma are in bed, Mami dearest rips up Mona's only photo of them. Nice, Mona wonders why she did that and she says bad memories you know I was dying and all. There will be others. Hrmph!!

Beto interrupts the rainbow lust fest. He thinks Marcos should marry her first and then have well, the honeymoon. Marcos says, yep, just the plans I have for your Ma.

Mona is hot to take another photo, so she does, and wants to go to the park for more. Ooops, Ma forgot to tell her that Estrella wanted to talk to her and she forgot. Mona says eh, it's too late. So Ma syas she'll got ot bathroom. She really goes over to Estre's and takes photos. Ooooo I want to punch that vibora!!! she notes that someone was here.

Ma returns and puts back the camera. So weird.

SO the next day and our unsuspecting nakeds are waking up Estrella reaches over.. ah principe...AAAHHH PRINCIPE??????? This wakes up Mau to the same horror. Yep she's naked, and she checks, he is too!!! Ruhro...


Mau wonders what happened, Estre really can't remember. Oh now Ma is pitting her venom again, encouraging her to go eat breakfast with Estre and not come to doc. She does and Estre shoves Mau under the bed. Mona says her Ma told her to show up. Estre doesn't remember that, but says let's go eat out and she tries to get Mona to go out while she changes. Ali sees Ma outside and chitter chats...as Mona comes out to look for Estre's glasses, Ali tells her Mau looked for her last night, ma wonders if Estre was alone. Mona says yeah and Issy is stumped. Ha.

Inside the nakeds eventually figure out Issy must be behind this. She tells Mau to leave but be careful no one sees her. Just then Mona and Ma come back and Estre notes Issy looking around for something. Yep Estre asks her what she might be looking for. She manages to kick them out and the bitties finally go off to the doc.

Estre sends Mona to get her glasses and looks for Beto. Nieves answers and says he's not there. Estre tells her to go help out Mau because Issy tricked them. Mona comes out with no glasses, but yes, that camera. Nieves goes in...Mmmmmmaaamamamamau!!!! She can't resist his wonderful chest. Yeah, I could see that.

Cris sees Pau and wants to talk but she doesn't he's a little sick though and tells her about his assault. He tells her he thought of her and he managed to confront them and got his car back. Hmm she tells him about the same thing that happened to her and Tano. Cris doesn't want her to go out with him. She tells him she may have a future and kids with Tano, but a stalemate with him, so she'll see him later. Beto shows up and wonders why his Ma went to Estres.

Nieves is enjoying Mau being without clothes. Of course Beto comes in at just the right time to see them struggling together.

In the car Issy is fuming because maybe her little trampa didn't work. Ali swears she did what she was supposed to.

OK, so Beto freaks and tries to rip his Ma off of Mau. That wasn't very easy indeed. Mau explains things aren't as they seem. Oh really. Ma is clearly drunk on Mau's chest hairs. She sticks up for him and Beto sends her to get hte clothing. Maybe the spell will break. Beto wants to know what happened and Mau is convinced the Bruja was behind it.

Mona and Estre go out and are taking more pics and Mona tells her about the photo ripping. Estre is cynical, but wants a copy of the photo. Ok, looks like Nieves came back with the clothing. I can't wait to see what T-shirt they put on Mau. Ha!!!!!!!

Beto has to drag her out so Mau can change.

Ok now we at the Tudor and Oski is complaining that he is a prisoner. He muses where he might go when Con shows up with the dough.

Oski and Jero talk about their captives, Oski thinks they are witnesses and must die. Wait, is Jero cracking? He faked a very nervous smile...hmmmm maybe he's redeemable.

Ha Mau is Beto's clothes, the pants he says are a little too short, hee, and the shirt......I'm ccompletely a gentleman, I stop for what you feel. Or something like that...

Now we go to Coni's and she is complaining to her Ma about the robbery. Ma thinks maybe Oski and Jero were in on it. Coni doubts it she is going to see her Pa. Ma is bitter of course.

Mona and Estre are having breakfast when some chump comes up and asks to buy Estrella a beverage, she says sure if you don't care that I'm pregnant. Huh, they have some girl talk and the conversation turns around to Marcos being bad, and Estre suggesting maybe she should get to know him just a little.

Breakfast continues...as does the mild reversal of Vibora brainwashing. It's not working well, Mona is just sure her Ma suffered at the hands of that man and she will never forgive him.

Marcos is playing with Dani begging her to call him G-pa when Mau turns up in Beto's clothes. They all recognize it right away and Marc wonders if he disinfected it first.

At the docs we learn that Issy opened her wound, must have been carrying something heavy (yeah like naked bodies?) Doc wants to refer her to an oncologist. She finally agrees and enter Marcos's plant. She fights at first but agrees to be examined.

Marc wants to talk to Mau so Tere goes off with the little girls. Marcos proposes that Mau become president of Grupo Sermeno that he should reinvest the shares Xime sold him.

And cut. Thanks for waiting for me!!!

Labels: gancho

We start out with our sweet Rafa funeral crashing. He is all broken up about the passing of Don Chema. The other pallbearers don’t have a clue who he is. I think the one guy asked if he was a con artist ready for the mark. (But wouldn’t swear by that).

Back at Siglo we have Marino returning with his potential client. In a white convertible. He is telling her he doesn’t want to mix business with friendship. Then he invites her out for the night. He kisses her goodbye and gets out of the car.

Bow-tie guy has witnessed all of this and asks him if he was just kissing his client. Mario tells him yes. This justifies my breakfast. (What the heck?) Bow-tie guy accuses him of seducing a client. Marino has no shame and admits to working on this and he will see what happens tonight. Then bow-tie guy asks him if he is just using her to obtain his sale.

Marino tells him no, he says he likes her. They are the perfect couple. She is manager of sales and he is a salesman. Bow-tie guy is not so certain about the ethics of this relationship. Marino gets defensive and says you don’t get it, I like this women. He says if I married her tomorrow and had kids with her I would be the happiest man and the happiest salesman . Then he says and do you know why? Because I will be the best vendor and make a great sale and that imbecile (Rafa) will be 6 feet under.

Well not exactly 6 feet under but close. We find Rafa at the edge of the newly dug grave of his new dead friend Don Chema, consoling the grieving widow. One guy finally asks Rafa who he is he and says he should respect the widow . Rafa says he does respect her and continues consoling her.

Ale is working very hard in her therapies. She is instructed to take it slow. Well we all know Ale and she is going to do what she is going to do and pushes herself, telling Rosario if something happens I am not going to die.

I think this was our odd scene. We have Beltran whining about the poor sales, and I think he has some Ford promotion. That will raise the level of their establishment. He is explaining to Claudia what the promotion is, as he continues his explanation his eyes drift towards Claudias’ chest and she raises his head to signal her eyes are up here.

Back at the grave side, Rafa continues his little charade. He has his arm around the widow and she asks him if he was a fried of Don Chema. He tells them who he is and that he was a good friend and invites them out for all out for drinks (smooth but rather creepy method Rafa) . The widow then invites him back to the house.

Ale is finishing up with her water therapies and getting praise from the doctor as he puts her neck collar back on. She looks exhausted and falls into Rosarios’ waiting arms.

Back at the widows place, Rafa is asked how he knew Don Chema. Rafa tells them it was destiny. He was just about to sell him a truck. He hands them all business cards as he continues talking The widow seems surprised. Rafa says well he never committed to this but we became friends and would have coffee. This is questioned because Don Chemo wasn’t allowed to drink coffee. Rafa is thinking as quick as Marco and says yea I knew this and gets himself out of this lie.

He shows them a picture of a large truck. The widow continues to be surprised. Rafa assures her that he didn’t buy it yet. He says it was going to be a surprise. Now Rafa is in full sales mode and starts talking about the great deal he can give everyone. They are all looking at his book and Rafa steps back.

Marco is talking to Chavez telling him he cant stand being with Jorge any longer. He feels like he is in prison. He tells him he has to come up with something . He needs a party or some action. Chavez tells him he knew he wasn’t going to be a good babysitter much less to an old man. Marco tells him to come up with something, organize a party , call some friends. Or I am going to strangle Jorge.

Chavez tells him not to worry , first remember that this sacrifice is for your good and if you continue to tolerate this a little longer you will gain the sky and be well compensated for your good will with lots of money.

Marco tells him to stop talking like he‘s stupid. And let him know what he comes up with. Chavez tells him he will meet him at nine at the hacienda and will have everything he needs to relax waiting for him. Marco says perfect, he will give Jorge a couple of pills so that he will sleep all night.

As he hangs up the phone we hear Jorge in the distance calling out to Marco wanting to know where he is. (I so enjoy Marcos’ frustrated faces) as he calls back to Jorge I am here.

Ale tries to sneak a call back to Mexico but is busted by Rosario. She just needs to know how things are going back at Siglo. Rosario tells her to forgot about Siglo. She reminds her that Marco is taking care of Jorge. She doesn’t have to worry about anything.

Said Marco is playing 21 with Jorge. Who has changed the name of the game to 23. Marco is wasting is time explaining to Jorge that the game is 21 not 23.

Ovi is practically falling out of her blouse washing a clients hair when in walks Chavez. Ovi turns and asks him what she can do for him. I think Chavez just told her to cover herself so he doesn’t have a heart attack. He introduces himself as a modeling agent and has her do a little twirl.

He tells her that today he has a casting for models for commercials and films and wants to know if she is interested in coming. She says of course. He gives her the directions as he looks her over. Ovi realizes it is a ways from the city and Chavez says well it is quite exclusive.

He gives her money for a taxi and Ovi asks if she can bring a couple of friends. Chavez says if they are as gorgeous as you of course and gives her more money . He tells her he will see her tonight and not to let him down and as he leaves he tips over a chair.

Bogan and Villia enter and want to know if she attended to the crosseyed guy that just left. She tells them that he came to invite them to a private party for a modeling casting. I think she tells them she knows he is up to no good and that’s why she is inviting them to go with her. High fives all around.

Siglo time, and in walks Don Aurelio with his two nieces on his arms. They are all excited and waving to Rafa. Don Aurelio wants to know how Rafita is doing. The girls greet him as guapo (hey good-looking).

Rafa is happy to see them all. Dandy is looking on in surprise. Rafa remembers both the girls names and they are surprised at this. Rafa says how could he forget such lovely girls.


Rafa wants to know what they are doing there. He says you didn’t come to buy a car. They remind him about the “quinceanero” (15th birthday party ) of his niece. Rafa begs off but They are not taking no for an answer. Don Aurelio says you don’t want me to go off on you in front of everyone (I think that’s what he said) as he is laughing And Rafa says of course I will come.

Don Aurelio enquires about Ale and Rafa explains that she is in the states having surgery. He says good if it gets rid of the robot thing she drags with her and that thing around her neck so she can breath. He feels bad that he missed her.

They get ready to leave and Dandy wants introductions. Claudia pulls Rafa away from the two young women and wants to know where they are taking her Rafa. Ramiro shows up and wants to know what’s going on. Don Aurelio is taken by Claudia and he ends up inviting everyone to the party . They all end up leaving in the large truck they just happen to have. Ramiro tries to beg out as he is worried about the anxiety it will cause his wife. Dandy says don’t worry about that if she dies from anxiety at least Ramiro is free. They are all off to party

Now we are at Hacienda Alejandra. A couple of Marcos’ buddies are enquiring how things are going with Ale. He tells them just fine. She is in the states having surgery. He tells them that in a couple of weeks he will be able to announce a new date for their wedding.

One of his friends says an operation like that is going to cost lots of money. Marco says well if I am going to marry her it’s the least I can do. The other guy says the whole world knows Marco is generous. Then he wants to know what Chavez is doing at the fiesta. (I think he called Chavez an old man).

Marco tells them that Chavez is his assistant. They tell Marco that he should not be let out in public (well not exactly those words) . They say Chavez isn’t up to his standards. (I may be going out on a limb here but I think Marco actually felt bad and defended Chavez. ) He says he organized the fiesta and brought the goods. (the girls).

And in walks are lovely Ovi escorted by Bogan and Villia. Marco seems dumbstruck and Chavez just shrugs his shoulders.

Now we have the proud parents of the 15 year old giving a speech. The papa seems either very nervous or very drunk or both. Everyone claps .

In walks Challito (the birthday girl) proceeded by a group of young man coming down a double staircase. She is wearing a very pink ruffled dress and they do the strangest waltz I have ever seen. There was no dialogue but I feel obligated to describe it in case someone missed it.

The young men (about 6 of them) go to pick her up cheerleader style and almost drop her. Everyone seems a little nervous. Now she is being twirled around and manages to knock one of the young men down. Now a couple of young men go to do a lift on her and all three end up on the floor. Mind you all of this is to a waltz. Now they are all twirling around and everyone looks really confused about what is going on. None the less they all stand and applaud

Now Don Aurelio to the stage to dance with her. He is the Godfather. After a couple of twirls the announcer says now we will have the best friend of the family Rafa Medina dance with her. Rafa looks a bit panic stricken but ever the good sport walks over to her, nearly knocking down one of the young men on his way to the dance floor.

Don Aurelio gives him a big bear hug that nearly knocks the breath out of him and Rafa dances with the young lady. Honestly this was too funny. Some confetti drops from the ceiling and Rafa gets startled by it. He is dancing, tells her congratulations and she steps on his foot.

He hops around for awhile , She wants to know if she stepped on his foot. He tells her not to worry, he calls her amusing . She tells him he looks like a singer that she really likes. He says you don’t say, who? She says one that sings ranchero. I am not really certain what she said next, but Rafa told her he has been told that many times before. They all clap

So the hour is almost over and we almost made it, but here we have our little Vicky scene. She is all dressed in red underwear, wondering where her little birdie is. Well he’s not here so its his loss. (Not!)

Chavez is about to introduce Ovi to Marco. He says he would like to introduce this lovely desert (biscotti) and Bogan and Villia go in to shake Marcos hand. Then Chavez says I said Biscotti, not dead bread. B and V are offended. Ovi wants to know about the modeling job. Marco looks confused. Chavez tells her to do another twirl. She asks if what he is already seeing not enough, as she is busting out of her shirt. Marco tells her her talents are quite apparent.


I don’t really understand what was said next but B and V cover Ovi with their coat and next thing we know she is standing in her underwear. (what the heck was that all about?) She is asking them if she looks too big. I don’t think so

Ramiro is dancing with some sweet thing and instead of enjoying it is all nervous. Claudia is vamping out on Don Aurelio and Rafa warns her he is married and escorts her away from him. Dona Aurelio doesn’t look pleased. Aurelio gets up one more time to chat with Claudia and is whisked to the dance floor by the Mrs.

Dandy goes to dance with the nieces and we hear Rafas’ thoughts of how he misses Ale and how she would really like this fiesta, then quick scene of Ale in bed smiling and either dreaming or thinking about the duet she sang with Rafa. There is a sweet split/screen of the both of them, and we see Ales’ lovely smile.

Rafa is deep in thought and Claudia snaps him out of it. Asking if he is thinking about his girlfriend. Rafa says no. Then he gives it a little more thought and decides it is better to say he was thinking about Vicky, who else would he be thinking about and he drinks to Vicky.

Don Aurelio is making sure everyone is having a good time. (Even Ramiro looks like he is having fun). Rafa thanks him for inviting him and allowing his friends to come along. Aurelio tells him your friends are my friends. Then he asks Rafa to tell a couple of his funny stories.

Rafa starts one of his stories. Okay I had to listen to this a couple of times but here’s the joke ( I think.) and it may be in bad taste but what wasn't in bad taste tonight. (but all so funny) There was this old television star named Farah Fawcett who was dying. They asked her what was her final wish would be. She said she would like to see everyone who hurts kids to disappear from the world. Then you know who died? Michael Jackson. (I am 99% certain that is what he said) Don Aurelio is in stitches and Rafa spills his drink all over Dona Aurelio.

What’s a Fiesta without Rafa singing. He dedicates a lovely song to Challito. The song is “Me Encantas”. He is out dancing and serenading Challito and everyone is on their feet. And I don’t know how I got so lucky to have two Wednesdays with Rafa singing his little heart out. Me encantas!!!!

Warning, there looks to be a pretty volatile Vicky scene coming up on Thursday.

Labels: dinero

Review/Preview: Juan and Aimee tryst with passion, Regina and Aimee fight with even more passion. Regina tells Renato she loves him???

What they didn’t know: Juan still doesn’t know who he is seducing and Gabriel doesn’t know who he is trying to seduce,

Regina wants Aimee to reflect, ha, proof that she is halucinating. We have a pact that you swore to make Renato happy. Aimee counters with, I realize (doy cuenta) you are jealous because Renato prefers me. I will never realize my dreams, cries Regina while Aim smirks. Outside the twins’ bedroom, Renato wants to know where his saintly mother is, Rosenda goes to find her while actually knowing where she is. Clemencia comes down muttering, dios mio dios mio Renato cannot believe that his mother is asleep and not up wringing her hands in anguish for the missing Aimee, where ever has she gone. Rosenda finds Leonarda’s bedroom is empty just as Leo slips in down below saying she was in the office (despacho) while fixing her love-tangled hair. Feigning hot passion can be hard work, guys!

The sisters aren’t finished, What bothers you most, that the men are fixated with me? Even though we are identica, the men prefer ME Renato prefers me and you can’t stand it. Regina slaps Aimee pulls hair and a great girlee melee as only twins can manage breaks out.

Santos is found hanging upside down from a tree.

Aimee declares in front of Leonarda that she cannot stand Regina and blames her for everything. Her fit is working very nicely establishing her way when Leonarda spots the camellias She stomps them into the floor and blames Clemencia for these hateful flowers. No one seems to notice that her fury over flowers is out of hand.

Rosario in her squalid cave room cries over the flowers, oh hell she cries over everything anyway..

Santo comes to says he is hungry and Juan screams, he’s alive! he kisses his friends bloody face, so glad he survived.

Leo says the girls argue over such unimportant things as she sips her liquor in crystal with her son. Renato tells her about the fight his papa and Rodrigo had over forgiveness and piety.

Rod and Noel fight over the bastardo (aka Juan) and Noel declares his intention to follow through with his promise to make things right.

Santo tells Juan who beat him and Juan swears revenge, sheesh, he always swears revenge.

Aimee says she is worried that Regina is a nervous mess and Renato says she is admirable and strong. Aimee, offended that the attention is wandering from her, Why didn't you pick her then ? Well event thought she is enchanting and perfect, my heart rests with you. You are tender, sensible, exuberant as only a girl of this earth can be.

Regina and the heavenly voice she writes of her paint and destiny and her pain in her diary . He heart will cry out that I love him. She loves him with all her soul.

Aimee draws words of love out of Renato. He will lover until one day if she betrays him and his anger breaks out that he would kill whoever caused her to betray him. She tells him to be tranquil and hugs looking pensive of what is to come.

Juan accosts “Price Gouger Guy” (Thanks 5 ft Latina, I can’t figure out his name either) in his office

Renato sees Juan’s adopted brother that Arcadio is always menacing, telling him that he is grateful that he came to Aimee’s rescue. and from now on he will have more responsibility. Arcadio with his best Johnny Cash disheveled pout looks sullen from behind the corn husks.

Aimee confides to Leonarda that Renato is so good and so noble She tells Leo she needs more time and doesn’t want to hurt Renato but she wants to get away from the finca by the sea and the mostly the unrelenting pressure. Feigning closeness, Aimee says she wishes Leo had been her mother. Just as Leonarda is breaking into a smile at this flattery, Rodrigo come up to tell Leo that Aimee will return to the port with him, to give her time to get prepared for wedding And to slow down her nightly maurauding, no doubt. Leo gripes, you always find reasons to get far form me, errr I mean, US. Don’t say that, don’t exaggerate . They decide that Regina is the real problem and he give Leo permission to discipline and punish her however she sees fit. Leo looks placated with the thought of inflicting punishment... HE is sure Regina will come to her senses and agree to marry Federico that fine and proper young man. He goes off and Leo cries that he is abandoning her again.

Aimee packs. and says she has no resentment (rencor) for Regina and you know why? because I feel sad (pena) for you. Pain sweeps across Regina face.
***
Regina only wants her to keep her promise and make him happy. She tells her of leaving with their father to return to the port and Regina wants to know if she will actually take herself away from Juan de Diablo. [Ed. note, my spell checker just inserted Juan Doable here, isn’t it fun when spellchecker shows such irony.] Rodrigo enters the room asking to speak to Regina alone, When the smirking Aimee retires, He avers that of course he loves her, a father always loves his kids. End of sweet nothings that took him days to come up with, he goes on: He is not going to put up with her stubborn refusal. She will have to stay at the finca to recuperate and reflect on being obedient He is doing his fatherly duty.

Madelena and Felipe plan or Felipe presents his plans of entertainments, Madelena hesitates, ..And my daughter. and Felipe encourages her to stay and put on a show, When she capitulates, Felipe is all ballet toes across the room and out the door. She wonders what her daughter will really think when she realizes Madelena is her mother.

Rosenda plays a dangerous game with Arcadio she knows of his trysts with Leo and other secrets he keeps He tells her she is playing with fire. and throw her on the hay but doesn't jump on her. She says knowingly that she has the upper hand.

Regina tells Clemencia that she is suffering to obey her father and still doesn’t want to marry when Federico doesn’t love her and she certainly does not love him. It is so hard to be close to Renato. Clemencia unwisely tells her to arm herself with valor and tell him how she really feels. Regina, who actually has good sense, says, No, he is engaged to her sister so she wants to leave the finca in order to not fall into temptation. Clem says she knows that Renato is not going to be happy at the side of Aimee. Rosenda ushers in the handsome young doctor. To his query about how she is coming along, she sighs that, she is mortified and her heart suffers. She says too much mortifies her. He listens to her suffering heart with tender use of his stethoscope. He doesn’t like her so, and says she should go out in the sun to enjoy life. Happiness is the best medicine for the soul. Angels sing (well really the church choir) and Clem and Doc smile.

Renato comes to tell Regina that they will follow doctor’s orders and he will take her out in the sun on a photo shoot.

Juan strings up the Price Gouger with a rope. Juan and fisher friend fight over whether to kick out the chair or not. His fisher friend doesn’t want to kill gouger guy, no way.

Renato drives out to the field chirping cheerfully about spring planting and her getting better, impulsively Regina confesses her love to Renato’s surprised look. Oh Clemencia what false hopes you gave the girl.
****

Renato I love you... like a friend, like the sister you never had. I love that you worry for my happiness like I worry for yours. Great save when she saw the shocked reaction of Renato to her confession.

Juan’s fisher friend cuts through the rope and gouger guy barely breaths as he lies on the floor. Juan tells GG, he has his fisher friend to thank for his life and he better be clear that he himself could change his mind.


Renato looks a little relieved and says always Regina has been his best, best friend and such an enchanted but elevated lady that he was a bit intimidated by her. Do you actually want a worldly love? She says more than you can imagine. You have always been more spiritual than I, he points out, but I cannot pretend this, can you accept it. When the one who loves you is not the right one to love. I will look out for and help you. He promises to always be her best friend, no her brother She repeats my brother my best friend. Sheesh, pitiful consolation prize, says her face...

Noel gets the best lineof the night. Leonarda and Noel argue about the struggles of the young people. He supports their right to find love and happiness, She sneeringly, says what do you know of love?. He counters with, Thanks to you I know nothing. He tells her that she has a love for Renato that is more about her and expects that his love choice will keep her near who she really wants to be near while he will fight to help his son find real love, no matter what she says. She reflects that she doesn't much care if Renato ends up staying at her side and much less Aimee.
***

Back at Puerto de Alvarado again, Aimee dances in front of the mirror holding her new aqua velvet gown. She feels free, free and especially free of Regina. Now she can see Juan without the observation and most important the interference of anyone.

Juan and his fisher friend argue over whether they are murderers like price gouger guy. Fisher friend recalls that Juan’s father wouldn't like these tactics. Juan takes issue, saying his father died from being a good man. But, he is full of revenge!

Rodrigo talks at young handsome Doc that Regina is only pretending to be sick for the drama and attention. YH Doc couldn't agree less that her melancholy comes from something very real. Rodrigo, ever the mean man, recalls that her mother, Constanza was weak and always imagined dreadful things in her lethargy as she slipped away from them. Unfortunately, YH Doc thinks she is just like her Mama. Cruel faced Rod really doesn’t like this Are we seeing a glimpse of why Rod is so mean to Regina, she does so resemble her lovely mother. YH Doc continues, She need protection and care and if she doesn’t get it, she won’t get well and he will lose his daughter. Are wee seeing a medical crush develop here? Rod is not moved to compassion as far as we can see.

Clemencia and Regina discuss the “confession that wasn’t” to Renato and Regina says she needs to get away. When the camera pans, we see that Regina is back in the huge nun habit packing her tiny bag, muttering that she needs to be as far form Renato as possible.
***

On the beach, Santo cries out as the villager fisher friends dab his wounds with rags as he yells. The kid goes off to search for a promised super herb. The fisher friend can’t believe how bitter Juan is.

Rodrigo replays the doctor’s warning about needing love, care and compassion for his daughter.

The scampy Aimee comes to the parlor assuring her father she is going off to meet old school friends from her infancy. She needs to reestablish contact with them.

Juan talks to his father’s grave and tells him he has to stay bitter and strong (like great coffee?) when he finally meet up with the Montes de Ocas.

Aimee saunters on the beach with her friends. While Juan sails on his ship, steering then swimming as he replays his father's dying words that he must revenge his mother’s death and ill-treatment against the Montes de Ocas. There will be now exceptions, he will hate all of them. Thus foreshadowing a great discovery soon.

Regina fights off the deprecating interference of Leonarda as Regina insists that she is owner of her own acts as of today. Don’t try to interfere with my path. Nasty aunty Leonarda snaps back, NO wonder your father prefers Aimee, she is so much more agreeable. Regina retorts, He always pardons her excesses for sure. What does that mean says Leo?

Next back to the Estrella/ gypsy Jimena taunting Gabriel where she gives him more veiled kisses even though he thinks Estrella has betrayed him and broken his heart, oh yes. and Juan has found his way off the ship and into Aimee's bedroom where he clutches her and then threatens that he is ready to declare his love to her father. Oh no....

Labels: salvaje

We open with an awkward encounter at the Albieri house. Albieri's explanation of why Dora is staying at their house is that she rented her apartment and can't break the lease. Luisa concludes that Albieri has the hots for Dora. No one (except Albieri) understands what is so special about Dora's pregnancy.

Now we get an idea about what's going on with Marisa. She tells Rosa that she is going to get married in the Vizcaya Palace and all of Miami will remember her wedding. Rosa says that she couldn't find another man like Lucas. Marisa says that Lucas wouldn't find a classy, decent and smart girl like her that easily either. Then Rosa says to Marisa that if Diego hadn't died, she would be marrying him. "Who knows?" replies Marisa and then to herself, "Either way I'd be marrying a Ferrer." So if we had any doubt, now we know that Marisa is gold digger and doesn't care about Lucas.

Lucas runs into Cristina on the beach. She asks why he is pretending to be Lucas. Lucas says that Diego was stronger than he and when he puts on Diego's clothes and pretends to be him, he feels more secure and things work out better. He tells her that he is getting married. Cristina assumes that it is Jade and when Lucas tells her that he's marrying Diego's girlfriend, she tells him not to do it. She says that he is renouncing his own life to step into Diego's shoes and they don't fit. He loves Jade. So Cristina goes from bimbo to wise woman and Marisa goes from bereaved girlfriend to scheming mercenary.

Nariza tells Jade that her 'temporary fiance' is coming to ask Said to consent to the arrangement. She and Jade go out at 4 in the morning to cook suhoor at Ali's house. This is the meal eaten before dawn during the fast of Ramadan.

At Ali's house, Zoraida asks Jade why Nariza is smiling so much. Jade explains that Nariza is getting married.
A guy brings the future temporary husband to Said's house. It appears that he is a businessman from Teheran who is staying in Fez for a year. Things go swimmingly until the guy reveals that he wants a 1 year temporary marriage and that Nariza was ok with that. Said and Ali are impactado.

Luisa accuses Albieri of bringing his mistress, Dora, into their house. Naturally, Luisa does not believe or understand the 'professional reasons' that Albieri claims are his motive for having her stay at the house. Albieri then claims that Dora's pregnancy may have problems because he didn't feel well when he fertilized her egg. 'So you're worried about it now, halfway through the pregnancy and not before?' says Luisa sarcastically. Albieri can't think up any more pathetic excuses so he leaves his furious wife alone with Dora. [We're halfway through the pregnancy? Didn't Dora just find out she was pregnant?]

Dora comes out of her room and when she realizes that Luisa thinks that she and Albieri are an item, she says that she will leave and apologizes for causing trouble.

Said and Ali return to Ali's house and summon Nariza. She tells Zoraida and Jade that Allah had a different fate in store for her than to be a dried up old maid. She flounces out. Jade and Zoraida giggle.

Said tells Nazira that there has never been a temporary marriage in their family and he isn't going to allow one now. Nariza says that the religion permits it but Said responds that he won't permit it. Nariza loses it. She describes for the nth time the sacrifices that she made for her brothers and then says that if she going to be this unhappy, Allah can take her now.

Dora ends up where else? At Cristina's. She is on her way out on a date but she makes Dora welcome.

When he returns home, Albieri is upset that Luisa has let Dora leave. Albeiri is so vehement that he has to observe the progress of Dora's pregnancy every day that Luisa is afraid that he will leave her if she doesn't let Dora return. Albieri swears that he wouldn't risk his reputation by getting involved with another woman [note that he doesn't says that he wouldn't hurt Luisa by doing that]. Luisa agrees to have Dora return.

Of all the shops in Miami, Vicki and a friend are in Mohamed's place of business. They are talking about the Lucas' wedding and saying his last name just so Latifa, who is in the shop, will know who they are talking about. Latifa immediately calls Zoraida to pass the news along and she tells Jade. Jade is devastated. Ali says that she thought that Lucas was in love with her and he didn't even suffer. He tells her that Ramadan is about controlling emotions and passions and this is what Allah is teaching her. Jade tells Zoraida that she has to find out whether Lucas is marrying Marisa.

Leo tells Lucas that he has to go with a sheik (jeque) to a slaughterhouse to learn about that part of the business. He explains to Lucas that meat slaughtered for Muslims and Jews has to be done in accordance with religious rituals. He needs to learn about this part of Leo's business.

Ali and Said are watching the sun setting and say that they can eat now. (They refer to this meal as suhoor but the evening meal in Ramadan is called Iftar.)

At Ali's house, Nariza is sulking and says that she won't eat. She wants to die. When she is alone, she takes what looks like a cheese and cracker out of her veil and eats it. No real suffering for Nariza.
Cristina and her new boyfriend come to the same bar as Leo (of course). The important part of this exchange is that Leo tells Cristina that he doesn't have a new girlfriend and never will again. 'Does this mean you still love me?' asks Cristina. Leo doesn't answer and Cristina has to leave and calm her jealous boyfriend before she gets an answer. They argue in the car and Cristina leaves saying that Leo was nice to her.

Albieri is upset to find out that Dora is staying with Cristina. He says that Cristina almost married Leo and she knows Lucas. Naturally, Luisa has no idea why that fact would make Dora staying with Cristina such a problem. [If Albieri didn't want Dora around people who know Lucas, he should have let her go to New York. Does he think that someone who knows Lucas as an adult will recognize a newborn?] When Luisa tells Albieri that Dora went dancing, he goes ballistic and leaves the house.

Dora is dancing and Osvaldo is in the club. All of a sudden in comes Albieri and drags her out. She asks what is going on with him. He says that it is important that he be there when her baby is born. He says that she and her baby may be in grave danger if he isn't present when she gives birth. Now that Albieri has told her that there is might be a problem with her pregnancy, Dora doesn't want anything to do with him. He tries to drag her away but she calls for help and Vicki comes out of the club and Albieri runs away.

At Ali's house, Abdul and Ali are telling a bunch of children the story of Ramadan while the servants put food out. Said sits next to Jade and says that next Ramadan their child will be sitting there. [Said is a little optimistic there. If Jade got pregnant right away, the child would only be 3 mos. old next Ramadan.] Jade is even less encouraging. She says that she may not be able to have children and it would be ok with her if Said took another wife. Said says that he will never do that.

Ali offers Nariza a gazelle horn [I assume this is a pastry like an elephant's ear, not a real gazelle horn]. She hastily wipes crumbs off her face from her secret food stash and says that she is too unhappy to eat. Ali says that she lost a fiance but maybe Allah has something better in store for her. Hopeful, she takes the food. Watching this, Said tells Zoraida that only Ali could control Nariza. Jade slips out of the room.
Jade calls Lucas' house. [Doesn't he have a cell phone?] Rosa answers. She lies and says that Lucas is out with his girlfriend. Jade is impactada. Lucas is suspicious but Rosa says that the call was for Leo and suggests that it was Cristina. She gives Marisa a wink.

Cristina goes back to the bar looking for Leo but he has gone.

Jade daydreams about Lucas. Zoraida tells Jade that she saw her go out of the room and call Lucas. She warns Jade to be careful. Her fate is in the hands of Abdul and Nariza. They could have her whipped or stoned for a man who is marrying someone else. Jade says that women have more freedom now. Zoraida tells her that they are far from the capital and Abdul could do as he pleased and no one could interfere. Jade says that she is getting a divorce. If she can't marry the man she wants to, she won't marry anyone. Zoraida says that getting a divorce is not as easy as buying fruit in the market and expresses pity for Said. 'Poor Said!' snaps Jade, 'What about me?'

The sun sets over the desert and the moon rises and it appears months have passed since now Dora is two weeks from delivery. She says that she is all ready when the day comes but not so much when the day comes early. She is walking around in some deserted residential neighborhood and starts to go into labor. No cell phone. She screams and presumably far away Rosa wakes up suddenly. When she gets herself a glass of water, she runs into Lucas. It appears that this is his wedding day. She tells him that she dreamed about Diego. She wishes that Diego could be reincarnated and she could hold him again in her arms as a baby.

Back in Morocco, Ali is (still) teaching children and says that only God can create life. Jade asks Zoraida to read her fortune in the coffee grounds.

Dora finds a taxi.

Zoraida reads the coffee grounds. Since this is cryptic, I'll just translate the whole thing.

Z: I see a man. It must be Lucas because he's from the heart. You two will meet again but I don't know if it will be in this life or the next. You will meet when both the past and future exist at the same time. How can the past and the future exist at the same time? The Final Judgment. I think you will meet on the Day of Judgment.
J: Ah Zoraida. Why do you always get it right with everyone else but not with me? I want to know if I will succeed in living my life the way I want to. Will I be able to run away?
Z: The only thing I see clearly is that you will be confused [you aren't alone in that]. You will be divided between a man who is in the mirror (dentro lo espejo) and another who is outside the mirror (fuera lo espejo).
J: I don't understand anything, Zoraida. What are you saying?
Z: The only thing I know is that the mystery deals with a mirror. The storm that is shaking your life is related to an image reflected in a mirror.
As one would expect, Jade is less than satisfied with this.

In the taxi, Dora has flashbacks to Albieri telling her that she and her baby are in danger if he isn't present when she gives birth. She borrows the cabbie's cell phone and calls Albieri.

The credits roll.

Labels: clon

Telenovelas are supposed to carry us into another world. Tonight’s episode achieves that goal. It carries us into a world where logic and reason are as rare as flat-chested actresses. Fasten your beanies. It’s going to be a bumpy night.

Lucas tells Leo that he’s ready to start working at the company, and Leo is stunned silent. Leo is always stunned silent. I think if he got laryngitis, no one would know it. Lucas says, “What’s the matter, Papa, don’t you want me to fill the space left by Diego? From now on I’ll be the son you always wanted.” The boy who couldn’t decide which socks to wear is suddenly ready to throw himself into a career he despises. Tighten your beanie.

Luisa and Sylvia are trying to figure out why Albieri is acting so strangely. Speaking of the King of Clon, he walks in and asks Sylvia into his office. He tells her that she will go to work for Betty Brown in London, starting ASAP. Even though Betty never talked to Sylvia about it. Even though Sylvia is apparently the only MD at the clinic. Makes perfect sense. Tighten your beanie.

Sylvia does find it strange. She tells Julio she can’t help thinking Albieri wants to get rid of her. Julio suggests that Albieri is acting strangely because he doesn’t want to interfere with this great opportunity, but he doesn’t want to lose Sylvia. Personally I think Albieri is acting strangely because when he works past midnight, a strange blue light shines on him from nowhere, and Toccata and Fugue in D Minor plays in the background. He’s obviously Dr. Frankenstein.

Cristina is walking with her coffee order, when an eligible bachelor named Jorge “accidentally” knocks into her and her coffee falls. Somehow he is neither surprised nor disturbed by the “accident,” and he already has his introduction, charm, and pick-up lines ready at hand. He wears a coffee-colored shirt so that he can pull the same stunt twice in one day without changing shirts. Enrique happens to be at that exact café at that exact time to witness it. Tighten your beanie.

Cristina goes home and tells Vicky she’s met the man of her dreams. Vicky’s own dreams are assisted by the magazine she’s flipping through, full of men with oiled pec’s and skimpy Speedos. But she only buys that magazine for the meatloaf recipes. Or was it beefcake? Vicky warns Cris, “You don’t know if he’s a murderer, or married, or has chokum chingus (that’s Korean for “little friends,” a slang term for crabs).” Enrique tells Leo what he saw. Leo is rude to him as usual. Alone, Leo remembers intimate moments with Cristina and looks pensive. Again.

Jade tells Zoraida she wants to be devuelta (returned to her family); how can she get Said to do that? She wants to be a single career woman. Zoraida says she’s nuts. With no education she’ll end up being somebody’s maid. But with a husband, soon she’ll have children to keep her busy and happy. Jade says she’s not going to have children by Said, since she’s taking something to keep from getting pregnant. Zoraida is scandalized. Z demonstrates once again that she and Ali are the only ones with common sense. She reminds Jade that Lucas, the one getting in the way of a happy marriage, is the one who made Jade a ton of promises and never kept any of them.

Marisa finds Lucas on the beach. They are in Miami, on the beach, in the middle of the day, and no one is anywhere in sight. Tighten your beanie. She says that she’s sooooo sorry for Lucas, that he couldn’t marry Jade. In a pig’s eye. She tells him she thought she’d never stop hurting after she lost Diego (like, a few weeks ago), but over time the pain goes away. She tells Lucas, “The point when it stopped hurting is when I fell in love with you.” Lucas, the shy one, decides that a public beach in the middle of the day is the perfect place for sex. Marisa decides that the perfect time for sex is any day with a “Y” in it.

Nariza is complaining to Zoraida that since her brothers got married, they buy gifts for their wives but nothing for her. She laments how terrible it is to have no family, “YOU know what I mean, Zoraida.” Z says she accepts the hand she’s been dealt. She’s not one of those women who goes out in the street with her veil askew, so men know she’s available for a temporary marriage. Z leaves. Nariza, by herself, says, “Why didn‘t I think of that before? I won‘t die without at least one marriage in my life.” And she puts on her veil askew and heads out to the street. Quickly a man spots her loose veil and starts chatting her up. (An unaccompanied woman talking in the street to a man she doesn’t know? Que haram!!!) miracle of miracles, Nariza the mouth shuts up! I THINK she says to herself, “I will be what I don’t understand (what I am not??) so he keeps asking.” He follows her home and peeps through the window as she brazenly removes her veil and shakes out her hair. Jade comes into the room and Nariza crows that she’s getting married. The man didn’t talk to Said but to her. The CC’s said “Sawasha amuta,” but I found it on the net as “Nikah mut‘ah.” Nariza says temporary marriage is for a specific duration, by contract. Depending on how it goes, it may or may not be renewed. Wiki says that the duration can be for as little as an hour, there do not need to be witnesses nor family permission, and payment may be involved. Gee, sounds like prostitution. In fact, the term can be a euphemism for prostitution. Here is one woman’s experience. (Note, I used a Google cached page because the original page has been hijacked.)

Speaking of temporary marriages, at the jewelry market, Said is trying to buy Jade more gold. She says she doesn‘t want jewelry. What she really wants is to study for a profession. Said sucks in his breath, and he says, “We‘ll talk about that later.”

Cut to another jewelry scene, Lucas giving Marisa an engagement ring. He says he‘ll dedicate himself to making her happy, but he doesn‘t say anything about love. Well, at least he‘s more willing to kiss his therapeutic wife than Albieri is. They tell Leo and Rosa the news. Leo thinks it’s awfully fast (well Marisa is a fast girl), but he won’t try to stop them. He only insists that they live here at his house. Yes, you heard that right. Newlyweds, from monied families, moving in with dear old dad. Tighten your beanie. Marisa’s not happy about the housing arrangement, but Lucas has no objection, and Marisa has more obsession than objection, so she accepts. Leo says he’ll take care of costs and Rosa will take care of arrangements. He pulls Lucas away and asks about Jade. Lucas explains that this marriage is to help him forget Jade. Lucas also believes in the Easter bunny.

At the other loony bin, Luisa is trying to get to the bottom of Sylvia’s sudden transfer. She asks whether Sylvia did something to make Albieri uncomfortable. Albi denies, too loudly and too quickly. He asks Luisa, by the way, how is Dora doing. Luisa says she’s moving to New York to have her baby close to her mother. The next morning, the office has a little wine reception to bid farewell to Sylvia. She toasts Albieri as “the father of ethics in our profession.” Albieri chokes on his chardonnay.

Latifa and Mohammed are at a restaurant, and Lucas and Marisa take the table next to theirs (of all the coffee joints, in all the towns, in all the world, she walks into mine). Latifa tells her husband who Lucas is, and Mohammed tells her we’re leaving orita mismo. Back in Morocco, Said is talking to Ali about heaven. Zoraida goes to Jade’s room and ponders the inequalities - they get 72 virgins and we don’t get doodley. Latifa calls and tells them she saw Lucas today, and he was hugging a muchacha. Latifa has to hang up, and Jade tries to convince herself it didn’t mean anything. Those westerners hug women all the time.

Jade comes up with a new escape plan. If Said won’t let her study for a profession, she’ll get him to buy her lots of expensive jewelry, so she can sell it for lots of money when she abandons him. Okay, for me, Jade just crossed the boundary from foolish, irresponsible, impulsive, and selfish, into the realm of evil. And all this for a loser who left her to her fate. How long until Zoraida stops covering for her?

Albieri goes to Dora’s apartment and finds out she has left for the airport. He rushes to the airport and leaves his car parked at the Departures curb. Where are the Airport Traffic Gestapo telling him to move it or lose it? Tighten your beanie. He arrives immediately after Dora, of course. He tells her she can’t move to NY. She needs to have her baby here. In fact, she needs to move in with him and Luisa. She asks why but he won’t tell her. He says, “Just come to my house and we’ll discuss it there.” Does anyone have visions of gingerbread houses, small children, and big ovens? Naturally she goes along with him to his house, and no one else is home. I guess Dora’s mom told her not to talk to strangers, but never warned her not to go alone to a secluded place behind locked doors, with no good explanation, with a man who is acting like a lunatic. At least Dora should check the back yard for recent excavation! Luisa gets home and Albi informs her, “From now on Dora will live with us.” Dora is a bit unsettled by the “from now on“ part. Duh! Luisa is upset that her husband has brought another woman there to live. But if you ask me, a woman who marries a man who can’t stand to kiss her, and yet she expects they will have a fairy tale romance … a woman like that should be able to swallow just about anything.

Rosa brings Lucas lunch because he’s working non-stop on papers for dad’s business. He takes a little break to strum his guitar and remember Jade dancing for him.

Said walks in the door and Jade starts to badger him, asking if she can study to be a doctor. He tries to dodge and she says, “Don’t you trust me?” Let me count the ways. He snaps and tells her she hasn’t joined herself to him, she wasn’t honest with him, and if she goes to university she’ll move even farther from him. He’s done everything possible for their marriage, and it means nothing to her because she’s still fixated on that westerner. “Did he love you like I do?” Survey says, No. “Was he able to trample his pride like I did? I didn’t abandon you like he did. I didn’t hurt you like he did. I didn’t do all I could’ve done because of the wedding night. I didn’t because I love you. You don’t understand what it means for a Muslim to endure all I have endured for you. And I did it because I love you.“ Go, Said!!!

And Jade answers, “I only asked if I could study.” I wanna’ slap her silly.

Said answers, “On the day that I feel that you’ve accepted me, that your heart beats for me, on that day I’ll give you the sky and the stars.”

Labels: clon

Don't adjust your sets…the first half of this recap really is missing, due to a DVR snafu, so if someone will kindly fill all of us in on what happened and how this wet, steamy mess got started, I would be much obliged. Darn HOA meetings!

Out in the pouring rain, Renato tells the assembled workers to hunt down the witch Aimee…no, wait, sorry, I saw the torches and thought I was watching something else. Actually, he says she's missing and he can't find her, so he wants their help.

Juan carries Aimee in from the sea. She doesn't know what happened, but she does realize that it's late and she doesn't know how she's going to explain her absence. She starts freaking out, but Juan tells her to calm down.

Regina worries about Aimee and Rosenda comes in and tells her she shouldn't worry so much, since Aimee has been going out almost every night. Regina is only slightly surprised to hear this news and she puts Juan and Juan together and gets two.

Juan thinks this whole situation is hilarious, but Aimee tells Juan that her daddy is not going to find this so funny. No problem, as far as Juan's concerned--they'll just go back to her house and explain to daddy and maybe they'll get married this very night.

The peasants, with their torches, but no pitchforks, are still looking. Remigio thinks she might have gone back to the house, so Renato dispatches someone to check the house while the rest keep looking.

Arcadio sweats and paces. He says to himself that he'd do anything, just as Leonarda comes in. She grumpily says "Here I am."

Maria del Rosario's attendant escapes. She takes the opportunity to use her secret door to the outside, carrying her bouquet with her.

Arcadio and Leo get hot and heavy. She seems like a cross between bored and disgusted.

Maria del Rosario creeps along and finds the secret door into the house.

The guys looking for Santos see that something got dragged through the sand. Curly goes off to inform Juan that someone must have dragged Santos off.

Aimee keeps trying to use her womanly wiles to convince Juan that really, now's not the time to go talk to daddy. Lucky for her, Curly comes up just then and informs Juan that Santos disappeared. Juan is torn, but Aimee tells him to go with his friend. Juan hesitates, but Curly screams to get his attention and the two of them run off in search of Santos.

Maria del Rosario gets into the foyer of the house and then makes her way upstairs. She goes to her old room.

Regina is tossing and turning in bed when Clemencia brings her some tea. Clemencia reassures her that Aimee is probably fine. Regina is worried, though. Clemencia offers to stay with her.

Renato finds Aimee, soaking wet, and hugs her. He says he was so scared. Aimee says she's been through a lot and thought she was going to die, for realz! She says that she went out for a walk, blah, blah, blah, but she got lost this time and then the storm started and she ended up falling in a river and oh, she was so scared, but thankfully Providence sent Renato to save her. Renato says that in his manly arms nothing will happen to her. They kiss. Skank.

Maria del Rosario remembers her time with Juan de Dios and starts crying for her child.

The mute woman comes back to the cell and finds MdR missing. She sees the open doorway.

MdR takes off her veil in front of her mirror. Yeah, she could use a coat of fresh paint. Her scream wakes up Regina.

The mute woman makes her way up the stairs as Regina starts to leave her room. Clemencia didn't hear the scream, but is woken up by Regina opening the door. They both head out.

The mute woman gets into MdR's bedroom.

Regina assures Clemencia that she didn't just dream it and they head for MdR's room too.

The mute woman covers MdR's mouth so she doesn't scream again.

As Regina gets to the door, Clemencia tries to convince her no one could have been screaming from this room, since no one's lived in it for years. She hesitates as she sees the bouquet on the bed. MdR and her attendant are crouched on the other side of the bed. Clemencia approaches the gardenias and commences to freaking out. She remembers the gardenias at the tomb, too and wonders what it means. Regina asks whose room this was and proceeds deeper and deeper into the room. Clemencia says it was Maria del Rosario's room. The mute woman's eyes are bugging out as she struggles to keep her hand clamped over MdR's mouth. MdR, meanwhile is struggling to get free. Regina remembers that Maria del Rosario was the woman who died for love, but she wonders why all the mystery. Clemencia smells the gardenias and asks Regina not to make her talk about painful things. "Like your godmother says, we have to let the dead rest." She rushes Regina out of the room. MdR gets free and starts "no puede ser"-ing, very very quietly.

Back in her own bed, Regina wonders again what's the big flippin' deal about Maria del Rosario. Clemencia cries and says they should leave the past alone, things are fine there. She says that it seems like this family is condemned to "desamor" (lack of love) as if they carried a "maldición" (a curse, a malediction).

The guys tell Juan about the disappearance of Santos. Juan agrees with Curly that some guys must have banded with the sheriff to take Santos. Juan insists they'll go find him. So off they go.

Rosenda wanders the basement, thinking it's a disaster, she's lost. She can't find Arcadio's quarters. She does, however, find Maria del Rosario's. She assumes someone must live there, since there are lit candles. Several rounds of "no puede ser". Just as she leaves, the secret door slides open and the mute woman and Maria del Rosario come back in. MdR presses the big button on the floor to close the door.

Rosenda keeps wandering. She finally peeps through a crack in a door and sees Leo adjusting her stocking. Leo gives Arcadio more jewelry to keep his mouth shut. That's just wrong on so many levels. Rosenda accidentally lets the candle holder bump into the door and runs for it when Arcadio goes to see who's in the hallway. He doesn't check very far, then says that it's the mute woman "she's like a cat, she goes everywhere."

Out in the hallway, Rosenda thought bubbles that if Leo is paying Arcadio to keep his mouth shut, then he must know something that it would benefit Rosenda to know.

Juan and the gang follow the drag marks. They do some CSI and connect the drag marks to the cart wheel tracks.

Meanwhile, Santos is tied to a tree and being beaten. They want a confession that it was Juan's gang who attacked the boat. Santos says "we’re" not thieves. He says they only take what belongs to them. The price gouging guy says they're all going to pay. His men keep beating Santos.

Clemencia makes Aimee's bed. She finally admits to Regina that she is worried about Aimee's absence. Regina has a pretty good idea of where Aimee went. Just then, Aimee walks in, still sopping wet, taking ridiculously short steps in her dress that's two sleeves short of a straitjacket. The questioning begins. Clemencia wants her to dry off before she tells her story, though. Regina asks Clemencia to leave them alone because she needs to talk to Aimee. Clemencia agrees, but says she'll be out in the hallway. Regina tells Aimee that she knows what's what. She also knows her bed was empty a few nights ago. She demands to know who Aimee is meeting up with. Aimee gets belligerent and says it's none of her business and if Regina doesn't like it she can go back to the convent. Regina tries to convince her to behave herself. She reminds her about her "vow," that she swore to make Renato happy. Aimee laughs and says that Regina is just complaining because she's jealous that Renato liked her better. "You'd like to be in my place." Regina says that's true. She'd do anything to be in Aimee's place, but she knows it will never happen. Aimee just smirks and sucks in her cheeks. Bee-yotch!

Renato has a good stiff drink to soothe his good stiff…ummm, yeah, anyway. Rosenda comes in and asks if he needs anything. All he wants is to know where his mom is. He's upset that she would go to sleep knowing that he was so worried about Aimee. Rosenda covers by saying she'll go let Leo know that Aimee is back. Clemencia comes downstairs, fussing. She tells Renato that Aimee is upstairs changing and talking to Regina. Renato says he was just going to inform his mother that Aimee is home, completely safe. He heads up to Leo's room and Rosenda tries to head him off by saying that the exhaustion must have gotten to her, she's gone to sleep already and maybe he could just wait until morning to tell her the news. Renato pushes past her to open the door and sees that the bed is still made. Come on, people, every teenager knows all you've got to do is shove some pillows under the covers. At least make some effort. Renato accuses Rosenda of knowing where his mother is. He starts calling for her as she comes in from her assignation with Arcadio. So now Rosenda looks like an idiot, as Leo says of course she wasn't asleep, she was in the study, waiting for him to come home with news.

Aimee has changed into a slinky little number from the Secretos de Victoria Catalogo de 1875. What can I say, the mail system used to be a lot slower. She's even spritzing on some perfume. Regina gripes at her about being indecent and not keeping her vow. Aimee accuses her of being jealous that men look at her, but not Reggie. "I feel sorry for you, we look exactly the same, but you've never been able to get the attention of the man you're dying for. Renato wanted me and you can't stand it." And that was so blatantly gloating and mean that even Mr. 5ft didn't need a translation. Santa Regina gives her a good hearty smack. After a brief tussle, heard by Leo and Renato downstairs, Aimee smacks back.

Tomorrow: Regina is mad as hell and she's not going to take it anymore! She commences the seduction of Renato.

Labels: salvaje

I was sewing and thinking, "Hah, whoever is the recapper tonight is sure getting off easy," when I realized it was me. Oops. Well, luckily tape was running.

Marco comes to take Ale and Auntie to the airport, but Ale has called a taxi. She gives Marco a cool peck of a kiss and her dad gets a warm embrace. Marco whispers, "We'll make love 24 hours a day when you get back," she smiles snidely thinking he doesn't want her unless she is perfect. They get to Houston; the nurse in Houston speaks extraordinarily halting and accented English for an Amurrican; the operation goes fine; Ale mumbles, "Medina, Medina" as she is under the sedative. She starts her therapies, all is well.

Susana is not doing so well. Her low-key approach includes replacing the daily "Hymn" with hand-holding and spiritual mediation (not very spiritual, as you can imagine). People straggle in late and even on the first day she has to lean her head against the glass and say ommmm ommmm while ringing her little brass bell in order to calm herself down. The whole gang is impressed by Medina's new suit. He soon puts it away and goes back to the old one for his "lion hunting" expeditions, afraid Ale will kill him if anything happens to the new duds.

Next morning, early, Medina's phone rings. It is Susana, sort of giggling, reading to him the script Ale has left her: "Get up, you worm! Get in here! Start selling!" Rafa says she needs to work on her delivery, she is lacking the jefa's cadence and energy. He misses Ale dreadfully and vice versa.

Marco is not happy either. He is bored to death, especially by Don Jorge's inability to play poker competently, and he doesn't like the comida tipica Don Jorge prefers for breakfast.

Two weeks in, nobody has sold much of anything, although a sort of cute blond, separated from her husband, comes in authorised (supposedly) to buy a flotilla of vehicles for her business and Marino thinks he'll land the deal and also land her as a good wife (wait till she finds out how many women he has to appease on payday). Susana is so demoralized, when the sales team REQUESTS that they sing the Auto Siglo hymn, she says, "Sing it at your desks; I need to be alone for a while."

Rafa makes a rare visit to Vicki's and gets threatened by her brothers and their butcher knives. Vicky grabs him and presses him to her breast, saying all will be well as soon as he moves in with her and the butcher boys.

The technique Rafa used on Cheeseman (pretending to be a big buyer and then a segue into selling) does not work on the next bunch of guys. He needs a new technique. In some small town, he sees a funeral - it's of the richest man in town - he creeps down and insinuates himself among the mourners, finding out little details about the deceased. Soon, he is one of the pallbearers, sobbing "Don Chema, Don Chema!" The sons are suspicious: "Who is this guy?" To be continued.

Tomorrow: everybody parties.

Labels: dinero

Wow. What an episode. Major food fight. Fine folks being kicked out of even finer restaurant. Elderly romance heating up. Rolu and Ximena doin' the wild thing all night long. A real cascade of insults, none of which we can ever use (can we?) Christian stuck to Beto's backside as they limp home from their ill-fated-impress-Paula caper, and alas, wicked serpent Hissabel setting up a damning après l'amour scene between Estrella and Mauricio.

Question: Which was your favorite scene? The food slinging or Estrella lifting Mauricio's sheet to see if he was truly nude? Hard to decide. Shall we make them both a No. 1 seed in the tourney?

Okay. On to the details. We start with a little suspense. Monita has knocked on Estrella's door and is about to discover her vile mama orchestrating the Estrella/Mau setup......when.....Paula calls her name. All in a lather because of the attempted robbery. And Tano was such a hero! So great to go out with a real man who makes me feel protected (hear that Carlos?). Of course he's all oh shucks twarn't nuthin' ma'am and in fact it WAS mostly Paula although he did land one good kick. Methinks it was Paula who did the most damage though and he concurs. She's his heroine. Is rebound love blooming here?

Well, it sure isn't at the restaurant. Jacqui's doing her darndest to seduce Marco and he's not havin' it. This is NOT a romantic dinner and we will NEVER get back together. Jacqui's offended that he seems to prefer that naca Nieves to her. Well, don't ask if you don't like the answers, he snaps and heads to the bathroom again. Off he goes, while Cesar, hair in full salute, glowers in the background. Back to Nieves who is tenderly concerned about being left alone. Fear not, he never wants to leave her ever ever again. Evah!

And back at the vecindad? Wow, Paula's on a tear. Praising Tano to the skies. He's "simpatico", he bought her popcorn, he's incredible, he's....aw hell, let's just give him a big hug. Ay yi yi, let's lay a big fat kiss on the lips while we're at it. A loooong one. Tano is flustered, somewhat appalled, mumbles incoherently, shuffles his feet and decides it's time to get going. Paula worries she may have scared him off. Monita looks amused.

Things are going better with Marcos and Nieves. As the pink cow purse looks benevolently on, he presses his suit. He wants to smother her with love and make her the happiest woman in the world. Nieves simpers and glows, breathes heavily and wriggles around a bit in that horrendous electric rainbow blouse (with matching bow, by gum). She's touched....but wants some time to think about it. "Tus deseos son ordenes"(your wishes are orders) rumbles Marcos. They toast, arms encircled. Cesar has had all he can stand, watching this. "Esto se acabo!" You swine, you don't know what awaits you. (yep, food fight for sure, coming up)

Ick. The boys are roaring along in the stolen patrol car, Aldo at the wheel. Another police car seems to be following them, lights flashing, siren blaring. Not good.

Not good for Beto and Christian either. Our favorite policeman is lamenting that he'll lose his job, lose his license, lose his girl, all because of this ill-fated caper. Beto is ready to make up a good story to get out of it, but Christian, ever law-abiding, wants to face up and take his punishment like a man. It's what he deserves for breaking the law. Fine, yelps Beto, but don't stick so close behind me, man! we're not that good friends.

After declaring his love to Nieves and her pink cow, Marcos hastens back to Jacqui who's ready to end the evening in a hotel (holding firmly onto that lovely striped tie as she says this). He escapes back to Nieves. And his seat is taken by Cesar which startles the bejesus out of Jacqui. Even more startled when he tells her Marcos is here with two women. Uh oh.

Now Nieves has to visit the john. Marcos wants to accompany her. A little flirting about not leaving her side for a minute. But lo! she spots Jacqui sitting with Cesar and now the game is on.
A slew of insults is exchanged, some of which I'll list in the vocabulary section. By why bother with words when we can sling a plate of spaghetti all over Jacqui? Cesar throws a salad on Marcos, a passing waiter trips and dumps his tray all over Nieves. Food fight!

And food's the topic, sort of, with Lalu and Arny. Our favorite gay guy is asking to stay for a little coffee....no...well, tea....no....just a glass of water....NO! Alright, a good-bye kiss. Gag. No. Push out the door. Lalu, ever hopeful, whispers outside "Someday, you'll open this door wide and let me in. You won't escape me.


Just when Arny probably think this is as bad as it gets, he hears Xime in full throes of passion in the bedroom. No Rolu...wait. No. Oh yes. Oooooh, how yummy. Oooooh. (giggles) Ay Rolu! Ay yes, That's good! Ay how great!

Well, you get the picture. So does Arny. He's not happy.

Neither are our feuding middle-aged lovers. They're being hustled out of the restaurant in disgrace. Marcos is calling frantically for his car. Nieves, cow now hanging around neck, is still berating Cesar for double-timing her with Jacqui. Jacqui clear it up by saying she came to the restaurant with Marcos. More outrage. Marcos can explain.

But first we're flipped back to the apartment. Ximena, attired in a lovely plum-colored peignoir and negligée, has staggered down the stairs to get a glass of water. Arny's concerned his nasty brother has laid a hand on her. Not one hand, but two, exults Xime. And no time for any more lessons with you, Arny, 'cause I'm getting my doctorate in love with Rolu. He's about to win the Guiness Book of World Records, she adds, counting up on her fingers the number of times....well, here we draw a veil. You don't want to know and neither does Arny.

But what about those restaurant kisses? Well, Jacqui's were forced. She gave Marcos no chance. But his for Nieves...ah that was love! And he's not losing his love again. With that he shoves Nieves, cum cow, into the car, is chased once 'round by Cesar before he hops in, and off they go. There's a tense moment when Cesar reaches in his suit jacket to draw out--a pistol?--nah...just a pen to note down the license plate in case Nieves is being kidnapped. Jacqui assures him she's going willingly. Otherwise she'd just get out of the car. We shall see.

Now we're at the bodega. Tere is chatting with a sleepy Luisa and mentioning that Mauricio might be late since he's ironing out his differences with Monita. Seems like nothing's been right with those two since her mother came back. Luisa is horrified, thinking they're talking about a phantom at first. She's happy though, since Monita missed her mom so much. Tere tactfully avoids saying anything more and sends Ivan off to tell Alicia that Tere will be staying overnight to watch over the girls. Ivan moves in for a good-bye kiss. Luis smilingly stops him, and they settle for a "good-bye novia" "good-bye novio" farewell. Hmmm.

Back at the barrio, Hissabel continues her ghoulish task of arranging the drugged bodies to look like they've just had a tumble in the sheets. A strategically placed black bra completes the tableau. Surveying the scene, she likens them to Romeo and Juliette, and with just the same dreadful destiny. Then turning off the light and chuckling to herself, she slithers out.

Monita is in her room with Paula, laughing about Paula's wild night with Tano, but also concerned. After all, Christian's in love with her. Fine, snaps Paula, he's in it for a good time but he won't commit. I want to have a home and a family. And what about you? Sermeño Group (Mauricio for you newcomers) is crazy about you and DOES want to marry and start a family and you send him off to "freir esparragos" (lit. fry asparagus, but means send him to the devil).
Isabel arrives. A shadow falls. Paula stops short, leaves in a hurry. Isabel, still deftly playing the victim card, sighs that there's another one who doesn't seem to like her. Ya think? And of course her shoulder is hurting after hauling the drugged bodies of Estrella and Mauricio around so Monita hustles to the cupboard for antiseptic and cotton. Her poor mommy is bleeding. Ojala!

A much better couple in the pad next door. Marcos and Nieves, dripping lettuce, salad dressing and God knows what (Nieves has one long hair hanging down in front of her nose and it waves gently back and forth while she talks) are having a long overdue discussion. Let's just compress this scene because it's so funny and so tender. They start picking food detritus off each other and gently swab each other's cheeks and chin, head and neck, like two elderly chimpanzees indulging in a little grooming. Sweet words are flowing from Marcos's lips. He was only at the restaurant with Jacqui because she blackmailed him. He did it to keep her from telling Connie that Monita is her sister. She'll probably rat him out now but that doesn't matter. All he cares about is that Nieves believe him...that she believe in the great love he feels for her. Please forgive me, he adds. And Nieves smiles....tenderly...through her one long goopey string of hair hanging down. What's not to love?

Well, Jacqui, for one thing. She's arrived home and daughter dearest is letting her know she stinks to high heaven, and not only Mom but her ratty fur as well! And Mom's in no mood to talk about it. The worst night of her life. Food thrown all over. Tossed out of an elegant restaurant. The shame, the everlasting shame! So what about Connie's night? Zip. Zilch. Nada. Moni refused to fight me. Said I wasn't ready. The worst part of it?...she's right, I'm not ready. Well, why don't you give up this idea, suggests Jacqui. Nope. No way. But something's going on. I have a strange feeling, adds Connie. You'll be sorry if you go against Valentina, cautions Jacqui. Please talk to your dad first. He has something important to tell you. Forget about waiting, tell me now, insists Connie. Nopis. I'm headed for the shower. I'm disgusting.

Gee. Disgusting. And then the writers send us back to Hissabel. Is there a message here? Darn tootin'. She's whining about having to go back to the doctor and thanking Moni for tending to her wound and caring about her. But what happened at the gym? Clearly Maniac Mom is horrified to hear that not only did Monita not want to hurt Connie, now that she knows she's her sister (HALF-sister, snorts Isabel); Monita actually wants to tell her the truth. Horror! Isabel quickly tells her that's a bad idea. Better to stay far far away from both Connie and her dad.

Back at the house, Jacqui, fresh from her shower, now discovers her precious jewels are missing. Horrors. It's like she's been widowed again. Who could have done this? wonders Connie. If I knew that, I'd be working for INTERPOL snaps Jacqui.

The scene switches to a dark street where Aldo, evidently having escaped the other police car, is suggesting they leave iChristian's stolen auto. The two druggie rateros protest a bit, ragging about the pistol still inside, but then they scuttle off into the dark. And up scuttles Beto, with Christian glued to his behind (under plaintive Beto protest). Our hapless police guy spots the car and runs to embrace it like a long-lost (and faithful!) girlfriend. Tender reunion. Ah chiquita! All is well. For about a minute.

All hell is breaking loose back at the house. Connie is accusing the maid of the jewel and money theft, shaking her shoulder, rendering her hysterical and ready to pitch her out of the house in the middle of the night. Mama Jacqui calms the waters a little bit. I think she's telling the truth. No matter. This happened on her watch. I'm still kicking her out. But I'll wait until morning (the first sign of redemption for our Connie?)

Aldo has drifted into the vecindad, on his way to see Estrella. He's intercepted by Ivan who tells him about the adoption reversal and urges him to go to the bodega. Aldo's in no hurry. What's up? Admits he had words with his pa and dad said some awful things to him. But yeah, eventually he'll get there, but first he has to see his girl.

And here we go. He pauses at the door. Enters. Sighs. Looks down. Turns and walks towards the bed. Looks. Turns on the light. Sees. And is stunned. Cara impactada. And there we end.

Previews:
Estrella wakes up and sees the principe. Shrieks. Mau wakes up. Estrella, you're nude! She looks under sheet and by golly she is. Then she picks up Mau's sheet. Yowsa. He's nude too. Meanwhile Hissabel is urging Monita to go see her friend Estrella. And Monita does. Knocks. Waits at the door. And then starts to go in......Oh no!

Vocabulary:
apuntar las placas = jot down the license plate numbers
cabeza de piña = pineapple head (Cesar)
cabeza de jicama = jicama head (Marcos)
cara de estampilla = (Cesar) stamp head? blockhead?
cabeza de alambres = barbed-wire head (Cesar)
verdulera = fishwife
posolera = naca, someone who eats posole
vieja con olor de manteca = another naca insult...female reeking of lard, cooking oil
engatusar por palabras bonitas (Nieves being enthralled by Marcos' fine talk)
mandar para freir los esparragos = dump, send to the devil
echo y derecho = fine, upstanding (Mauricio)
viejo rabo verde = dirty old man (Cesar)
ni cara tienes que hablar = you're a fine one to talk!
andar de roba maridos = going around stealing husbands
michote mal amarrado de Nieves = just guessing...wild cat of a Nieves (this is Jacqui speaking)
marrano maicero = corn-grubbing dirty, filthy swine (Marcos)

Dicho of the Day:
La cosa ya no tiene remedio. The fat is in the fire. (for sure!)

Labels: gancho