Caray, Caray!

Labels: llena

* Carlos visits apparently very sick and tired Yolanda to talk about his ring and his daddy. In the meantime Mauricio and Juan José are dining in Hell with Sevilla and Zaida, and they are discussing their future seaside project. Sevilla is way too interested in JJ’s plans regarding the project and JJ confesses he’d love to manufacture furniture and an to own furniture shop. He loves carpentry which he mastered while he was imprisoned. The air freezes for a moment. Mauricio: headdesk. Zaida and Sevilla: oh, this guy has a wonderful sense of humor! Juan José: ???



* After her usual “I don’t know anything” speech Yolanda deigns to spill some beans to Carlos. She talks about her love for Mario, her friendship with Marta, the way she framed and warned Santiago and Mario’s love for Marta, but forgets to mention the dancer was Carlos’s mother and she was murdered by Adolfo. Her death was an accident. Carlos doesn’t believe Yolanda, surely Adolfo killed her! He won’t tell anyone what he learned from Yolanda and won’t go to the police either, but he keeps his mouth shut only for her sake and not for Adolfo. Does she have any idea how many years she’ll have to spend in jail if the police unveils the smuggling business? Yolanda cries and says she never smuggled anything, her job was to keep in touch with the jewelers. Ay, Yolanda, Yolanda! And what kind of relationship did Adolfo and Roberto have? She doesn’t know but suspect Roberto was working for him for a while. The hug each other and repeat how much they love each other.

*In the Genovés villa David and brooding Fausto talk about Mario and Gabriela. David confesses he feels like his father never died. However, he’s worried about Gabriela, who’s afraid they try to hide something horrible from her, something that’s worse than what happened to her mother. Does Fausto has any idea what kind of horror stories must be running through her mind? Fausto starts to cry. David tells him Gabriela has every right to learn the truth and he shouldn’t be worried: he’ll always be Gaby’s father… Like Mario will always be David’s father. All right, all right. Tomorrow he’ll tell her everything. Why tomorrow? Please, give him time to prepare.

* While having breakfast, Lionheart and his little Emma Woodhouse are planning to go to the cinema with Julieta. Back in the casa Genovés Alejandra seeks Fausto’s advice. What the hell should she do with Bertha and Juan José? She tells Fausto Roberto’s story and the kiss of death JJ and Zaida shared. What if Gaby was wrong, asks Fausto. Let him talk with JJ. No, no, no, she’s done with JJ, she came to talk about Bertha. How could she become Adolfo’s helpmate? Fausto somehow understands her motives and encourages Alejandra to talk with her. She’s the only person who could convince her to leave Adolfo. Alejandra smiles and leans on his shoulder. Everyone loves Daddy Fausto, and Fausto, who also loves his biological, adopted and countless foster children, tries to convince Alejandra to talk with Juan José.



* Dora, la Exploradora y Desesperada goes back to her friend in Michoacan. Leonardo visits Juan José and while curious Chicles is eavesdropping at the staircase he tells JJ Dora fled again. JJ explodes. However, Leonardo isn’t sure that Dora would’ve testified anyway… Their only hope is finding the letter. JJ thinks Garnica kept it in his briefcase. Yes, Chicles, you heard it well.



* At a hip beauty salon Zaida visits her favourite hairdresser… Ulises! I have a baaad feeling about this. While he’s designing a new hairstyle to his diva, his queen, his old friend, they talk about her plans and affairs. By the way, she’d love to rent one of Ulises’s flats. *Viewerville: no way!*

* David is very worried about the business but he found out how to solve the problem: next week he’s going to arrange a meeting where Gabriela will take over the leadership of the Campo Real hotel chain! *Gaby’s expression says: who are you and what did you do to my husband?* What? Has he gone mad? She’s just started to learn about the hotel business! Next week? She needs at least a year! Thanks for trusting her but please, don’t do anything stupid.



* FaustiCupido calls JJ to fix an appointment with him. Across the way cheerful David asks Abelardo about the masks and high-tech stuff Fausto uses. He’d like to talk with the man who made them. Why does he need them? For a madness… the same mad idea that has come into his father’s mind. No, no, no, no, no, David, don’t do that to Abelardo, he’s already worried sick because of Mario’s scam, no more crazy ideas, please. David says Mario did everything in order to save their assets, and he’s going to do the same. When poor Abelardo learns about Gabriela and the business meeting he always gets a heart attack but nothing can change David’s plans.

* JJ brings the kids back to Elsa’s flat. Caramelo invited Chicles to spend the night there, and Elsa doesn’t mind it, he may sleep on the couch. The children are over the moon and for a change the adults manage to act like two parents who don’t hate each other. After JJ leaves a daydreaming expression flashes through Elsa’s face.



*Alejandra and her big depressed aura go back to work and tell Mina about the kiss. A few minutes later Bertha show up at the studio to tell Ale she found a new luxurious home! Oh, great, says Ale sarcastically. And how is she going to pay the rent? Anyway, she doesn’t care, and she doesn’t want to see her stupid sister anymore. Why did she tell Adolfo Mario had a tumor?! One day she’ll end up in jail, for God’s sake! However, it’s not Alejandra’s problem, Bertha’s an adult, she may do whatever she wants. Good bye! At Elsa’s the kids are watching an exciting movie in the TV when Elsa sends them to bed. Oh no, please! Come on, kids, you have to sleep! Caramelo obeys but Chicles secretly stays awake and keeps watching the TV.

* Whiney Bertha complains about Alejandra to Carlos: she promised to help her but now she hates her and she kicked her out of her office! And why did she do that, asks Carlos. Well, because she told Adolfo Mario had brain tumor. Carlos is shocked, how could Bertha do that? Yes, yes, yes, she knows she’s an idiot. Fortunately Carlos likes that idiot much. At Leonardo’s his sister calls the Faidellas to talk about Paulita. It’s high time to go back to school and Leo agrees. Paula has to leave tomorrow. She doesn’t like the idea and Julieta also feels sorry for her, but Leo promises to his girlfriend they’ll live together later.

* In the Ávila condo Édgar and Adolfo have a conversation about what happened at Mario’s. Dolphie says it wasn’t Édgar’s fault and now he wants him to keep an eye on Zaida and a man called Dante Sevilla. Persuade Zaida to introduce him to Sevilla and work for him as an assistant. He gives him a thick envelope filled with cash which transforms Édgar into an enthusiastic employee. Yes, boss, he’ll do anything he wants!



* In the meantime Adolfo’s favourite blond protégée and his not so favourite son are doing the nasty. In the Genovés villa Gaby and David also get in the mood to make babies. No, Gaby, you shouldn’t worry, David doesn’t feel sick at all.



* Next morning at Elsa’s the girls are talking about their future while Chicles is sleeping. Doesn’t Caramelo love Elsa anymore? Of course, she does, but she can’t wait for the day when she, Elsa and Asunción will live together in a bigger house. No, unfortunately that’s impossible, says Elsa, and anyway, Limón prefers living with Juan José. If the social worker asked Caramelo with whom she wanted to live what would she answer? Poor kid doesn’t like the question, she wants to live with both of them. However, Elsa, who needs to know the answer, kindly asks her again, to which the girl shyly responds she’d choose her uncle.



* Carlos visits Yolanda again and learns from the maid that she’s in a very bad shape, she hardly eats and doesn’t leave her bedroom. She look exhausted which makes Carlos very worried. What happened to her, is she sick? No… she just lost her will to live. Muñeco hugs her. In the Genovés villa Abelardo and FaustiMario are laughing at David who’s chasing his wife. He’s obviously in better shape and he’ll tell the world who gave him so much strength. After blushing Gaby leaves Blondie tells Fausto he has a cunning plan that may solve their problem with the hotels. They’ll do what his father did and they’ll use high technology.



Aribeth

Labels: verdad

Capitulo 173.
Read Julie's original recap, then come back here to discuss it.

1. Irmita is reluctant to tell her children that Rafael came home to die because it will just awaken their old pain, but Luigi says they have a right to know.

2. Lety tells Caro that she told her whole life to a fisherman she just met because she felt totally comfortable with him. She’s obviously enchanted with him.

3. Fern calls MamaJ and says they need Lety for a meeting with the lawyers. He begs for her phone number so he can explain it himself. All she can do is pass the message. She says, “Confie en mi.”

4. In Lety’s fantasy, Fernando walks across the lawn and says, “Lety, finally I found you. I miss you. I can’t live without you.” He almost kisses her, but then he transforms into Aldo and Lety is pleasantly surprised, and then he disappears. The bellas teach Lety how to walk.

5. Luigi and Marcia met with Ricky without Fern, and Ricky is surprised Fern didn’t attend. Fern says, “Our executive producer and director held the meeting without informing me.” Luigi acts like he and Marcia humiliated Fern. Fern rebukes Marcia privately and says she’s not playing by the rules. Marcia says he changed the rules when he slept with Lety.

6. MamaJ tells Lety what Fern said. Lety says she can’t leave and she sends Tomás in her place. Caro glows when she gets a surprise call from an old friend. Caro pushes Lety to wear one of Caro’s dresses. They meet Caro’s friend, who is Aldo. Lety and Aldo are again charmed, and Caro looks a smidge jealous.

7. Marcia asks Fern if Lety is coming to tomorrow’s meeting. She uses the opportunity to remind him that Lety delivered his head to the board and maybe she wants to disappear with their company. He returns to his one bright spot, gazing at Lety’s picture. MamaJ tells him Tom is going to the meeting. Fern shouts, “Is your daughter nuts?” Then he calms down and says, “Tell Lety not to hide. I need her.”

8. Caro asks Aldo, “Did you invite me so I’d bring Lety? You’re interested in her!” He only chuckles.

---

Capitulo 174.
Read Amanda's original recap, then come back here to discuss it.

1. Aldo admits to Caro that he’s drawn to Lety because she’s so innocent and so injured. Caro has known him 1-1/2 years and he’s always been a loner.

2. Marcia again speculates that Lety disappeared because she’s taking Conceptos for revenge. Fern says Lety is incapable of such a thing. She goads him with her favorite taunt, that he’s defending someone who betrayed him. She asks if he fell in love with Lety, and he doesn’t want to talk about it. Marcia demands and answer and finally he admits that yes, he loves Lety.

3. They’re enjoying dinner on the yacht (although Caro’s feeling left out) until the wine loosens Lety’s emotions and her great pain pummels her again. “He lied to me!” Soon she’s gushing about how happy she is here. Caro says they’re three loners. Caro says her house is empty because her obsession with work destroyed her three marriages.

4. Irmita says her son still refuses to talk to his father, but Luigi says she needs him now. The topic strikes a nerve for Luigi. He calls Jorge and implores him to come for his mother’s sake.

5. Aldo talks about his two “sons,” his book and his restaurant. Lety fishes in her purse and a photo falls out. Aldo picks it up and says, “So this is Fernando?” Lety wants her picture back RIGHT NOW and she says she doesn’t feel well; she wants to leave.

6. Lety tells Caro that her pain is too much to bear and she will never be free of it. She tells her whole story off camera. Caro tells her to stop thinking about that and enjoy the here and now, like their night on the yacht. Lety says that was a dream and she woke up, the same fea as always. Caro says yes, she’s the same Lety who is unwilling to change. Her insecurity is in the way she sees herself

7. Aldo tells Lety that her body reflects her soul and vice-versa. Lety runs down the beach in her dress. He shows her where the fresh and saltwater meet in an eternal kiss, and she gazes at him. He talks about the harmony of nature, and she says, “With you I feel harmony and peace.”

Labels: fea-2010

Labels: eva

Friday: Eman tells MariVicky that he’s written all of Max’s inheritance over to her, but MV still tells him he’s a jerk. Showing his dad her diary, he weeps that he still loves Mari, and Emil tells him to go find her, and is sure he (Emil) can get her address out of Vicky. Axel tries to persuade unmasked (but re-masked, or rather, re-mustachioed) Gretel that she should tell Oliver and Emil and Eman because they can protect her. She explains that Fedra wants to kill Oliver. But it’s so hard to be so near to Oliver, yet so far away! They hug, and just then Emil opens the door, Eman behind him. They stare goggle-eyed.

*****

Mano (who is Gretel, of course) and Axel try to stutter some kind of explanation, but Emil lands nimbly on his feet, telling Axel he’s not going to make the same mistake twice, and it’s all cool. Why, they make a cute couple! Eman mentions Lorena, but of course now that Axel has his memory back, of course….well…. Emil rattles on, saying how everyone loves Mano’s sister Vicky at the office and um, welcome to the family! Everyone feels awkward, most of all Axel whose expressions are priceless as he tries to be game.

Emil hands them some money to go out to dinner, and to have some lovely wine too. He reminds Axel to be a gentleman, and Eman hustles him out as he’s definitely overdoing the accepting dad bit. Emil takes one last wide-eyed gander as Eman shoves him out. Eman gives Axel the you-go-guy fist and closes the door behind him. Mano and Axel burst out laughing.

Garduño is in a suit, sitting in a leather chair in what looks like a gentleman’s club, wine in hand, thoughtbubbling. That Fedra certainly is efficient, he muses, and he’s darn glad to be out. Now Mauricio is going to have to marry Kristel.

At the pension, Gladiola is telling Oliver he’s supposed to have absolute bed rest, so get on upstairs. Oliver complains he can’t stand all that rest and look! His cheeks (the rear ones) have turned into pancakes. Mano comes in and says he’s going out with some friends, so bye! Oliver wants to know who he’s going out with. Mano plays it for all it’s worth, and after he’s gone, Gladiola teases Oliver about being jealous.

Eman comes home and slips the diary into the back of his pants, under his jacket to hide it. Ilitia comes down and wants to know where he’s been all night, why didn’t he call, though she isn’t a shrew about it. Blablabla he says rudely, I’m too tired to talk. I had a lot of work, okay? There was the robbery and everything.

This galan is not the most perfect ever. Not only did he take up thieving as a hobby, now he’s being a jerk to his justifiably worried wife. Anyway, she catches hold of his shoulder as he starts up the stairs and he winces. She looks worried.

Consuelo and Gladiola are having a laugh at Oliver’s expense when Brandon comes in and tells them to behave. He assures Oliver that he’s not mad anymore, they’re like brothers. The ladies applaud their reconciliation, and Brandon says the two ought to go hang out like old times. He assures the ladies he’ll take good care of Oliver.

Kristel is on the phone with Mauricio, trying to get him to go out with her to some event, but he says he has something on that he just can’t cancel. She’s furious, then has another idea.

Lorenzo is trying to get Christian to play with him. He’s made a paper airplane and finally gets a smile out of the kid. He kneels down to hug Christian and his back twinges. Muñeca comes in and he explains that he fell at work and now he’d like to go lie down. Muñeca scoops up Christian so they can join Manzanita and Flora in the kitchen. Lor is mad that she takes him away whenever they’re getting along. They’re gone and his cell rings – it’s Kristel wanting to know if he’s busy that night. He brightens.

Ilitia feels Eman’s shoulder again and he pulls away. She pats him and finds the diary under his jacket and demands to know how he got it. He wearily tells her he doesn’t want to fight – she can read it and find out that Mari doesn’t want anything to do with him. I guess he’s unconcerned that he’s showing Mari’s diary to her enemy. Of course, we know Ilitia has already seen it, but still! As I say, not a perfect galan.

As he trudges upstairs, he passes Fedra on her way down. She reproaches Ilitia for fighting all the time, and Ilitia hands her the diary. Fedra realizes that that means that Mari gave it to him – she’s in Mexico!

MariVicky comes back to the pension and sits heavily on the couch and tells Brandon she’s had a horrible day. He tells her what she needs Brandon Therapy - she needs to powder and perfume herself and come out with him and Oliver and Doris. She’s not in the mood so he tells her life is too short to moon about all miserable. She decides he’s right. Just then Gladiola brings her a note from Mano. In it, Mano tells MV to come to La Mala Noche to see the real Fedra Curiel, and to bring Oliver and Brandon for protection, because Fedra’s capable of murder.

She tells Brandon that she has just the place! Mano recommended La Mala Noche.

Pirate-clad guys are setting up La Mala Noche beforehours. Mano has come to see Bernardo (is he the manager?). I think Bernardo offers money to stop the articles. Mano says what he wants Bernardo to do is to hire a friend who’s really good, but she dances with a mask because she’s from a good family and doesn’t want anybody to know it’s her.

Okay, says Bernardo, we’ll try her tonight. He leaves, and Mano thoughtbubbles that it will be the debut of La Sirena de la Noche, and everyone is in for a lot of surprises.

Emil is down in Max’s basement digs, lamenting to him about Gretel’s having been in that wine cellar for two years. And now she’s gone missing! Max decides to tell him that Gretel escaped with his help. He tells how she was physically in bad shape, but that she had the strength to get through it. (We might even say it was great therapy – she used to have bad spells, but now she’s sane as a brick, deftly playing the part of a young man, a reporter, no less, while being tantalizingly close to the amor de su vida. And she’s about to treat us to a racy dance number. Not everyone could pull all that off, that’s for sure.)

Emil is shocked Max didn’t tell him about Gretel, but Max says he couldn’t risk Fedra knowing. Max says he’s protecting Gretel, basically being the father Emil never seemed to be able to be. Emil demands to know where she is and Max says he’s not telling, even under torture. Gretel will come to him when she’s ready and he’s just going to have to hang on. Max assures Emil she’s fine. Emil begs him to tell her if she calls that he loves her and misses her.

Emil leaves and Max sits at his desk and ponders Emil’s situation. Poor guy! He doesn’t know that Gretel isn’t even his child and neither is Eman. And who knows about the other two? It won’t be until the day Emil finds out that he’ll realize what a horrific mistake he made hooking up with Fedra Curiel.

Wow!!! Doris is just finishing giving Gretel a major glam makeover and Gretel looks stunning in heavy makeup, a huge wig of tumbling curls, and fake eyelashes. Axel is there and is impressed at the transformation. He doesn’t get why Gretel is going to such a place, and insists on coming. She says he can’t, Bernardo and Fedra will recognize him. He can’t figure out what those two have to do with it. Both Gretel and Doris tell him not to treat Gretel like a kid and to stay away.

Kristel and Lorenzo are at a busy, but very lame-looking club. Lots of young people are dancing and somebody apparently has switched on the fog machine. Kristel yells over the din that her friend owns the place, and they got the best table! That best table is right near some empty benches and a blank wall, apparently. Big whoop. Lor complains about it being too loud to hear, and couldn’t they go somewhere else? But this is happenin’ place according to excited Kristel, and she wants to dance.

She drags him out on the floor where some young thing comments to her partner that it’s so cute how that dad brought his daughter and is even going to dance with her. Even though Lor could hardly hear Kristel before, he sure hears the young woman’s comment. He tries to do a few moves, but has to grab his sore back. He tries a few more easy moves and is managing to look sort of okay on the dance floor until Kristel takes his hand and tries to give him a spin. He falls out into the room, taking down dancers like bowling pins, and ends up on the floor wincing and wailing that he hurt his shoulder. And his back, ow! Help me, Kristel! Kristel is mortified.

Mauricio, with nobody at hand to rape, is lying on his bed fully clothed in a suit (at least he’s a sharp dresser) thinking about how he’s going to devour that delicious Victoria de la Garza, inch by inch. What a body! Into his room comes the equally sartorially splendid Garduño, startling him. He’s surprised Garduño got out so fast. I’m surprised that Garduño has wandered into Mau’s bedroom, but maybe Mau’s choice of social interaction doesn’t require that he have an actual living room. Bed, bar, some décor, what more does a young rapist-about-town need, anyway?

Garduño spots Mauricio’s bar and makes a beeline for it, pouring himself a drink. He tells Mau that he wants his money now, or he’s going to call his goons who will off Mau when he’s least expecting it.

Eman is sitting in the living room, thinking to himself that Mari doesn’t want anything to do with him and he’s just going to have to rip her out of his heart, but he doesn’t know how. Benigno comes in, looking cheerful. He mentions about Eman now knowing about Gretel and apologizes that he couldn’t tell earlier, or Max wouldn’t have his head. Eman says it’s okay and shakes his head over the thing that go on in the house. Beningo tells him about the snake and the note from Mari that came with it.

Mauricio tells Garduño that it wasn’t his fault that the Lirio took the money. Garduño snorts that he read the newspapers, that it was a faked robbery to make him look bad. Mauricio tells him not to believe everything he reads in the papers. Garduño’s not buying, though, and says he tried to make it easy for Mau and Lorenzo to pay him back, but that’s over now. Mau pays or he gets it, get it?

Mau complains that he put half of the money into the merchandise, so the Lirio stole from him too! Garduño wonders where Mau got the money he’s paid so far, and Mau says he was able to convince Fedra to loan him some. He can sell ice to Eskimos, you know (yo le puedo vender helado hasta a los esquimales – I love these handy sayings). Ah, Fedra! says Garduño. I’ve a mind to do business with her myself.

Eman tells Benigno about Mari sending him a package too, this one with her diary in it. Weird. Sometimes he feels like she’s so close. Maybe he’s losing it.

Benigno brings up Vicky, and Eman says he can’t get Mari’s contact info from her, plus Vicky hates them all because of what Mari told her. He agrees that Mari has plenty of reason to be furious about what happened to her in this house, but that’s why he wants to see her, to talk to her. Ilitia, coming down the stairs, asks if they want to know what’s going on with la gorda, because she knows.

At the hospital, Lorenzo is in a neck brace. Kristel says she’s sorry, but she’s embarrassed too about the scene at the club. She teases him that he looks hot in the neck brace. He tries to suggest he has energy for more than just the club. She exclaims about what would happen if her mother saw them together. Does he love her mother? He says Fedra is important to him, and how about her, does she love Mauricio? She unleashes a cascade of superlatives, punctuated by her wonderful mannerisms. (She’s so effective as a ditz that we forget to notice how talented this actress really is.) Lor has bad news for her – men like Mauricio never, but never, marry, and there’s nothing she can do to make him.

Garduño reminds Mau that he sold him his soul a while ago, and if does what he wants, he’ll settle for the money he’s already received and forget the rest. Mau assures him that Garduño’s slightest wish is his command (para mí, sus deseos son órdenes). Tell him what he wants, and he’ll do it. Garduño says he’d been checking up on Fedra and found out she’s in some multimillion-dollar deal that they could use to launder money. He’d like him to get Fedra to work with him. No problem, says Mau, I’ve got her wrapped around my little finger! Not only is her daughter my girlfriend, but I know her little secret. What secret? Garduño wants to know, but Mau’s not telling.

Garduño says he owes Fedra, and of course he has to honor that. Mau completely agrees. Garduño proposes a toast, and when their glasses are up, he tells Mau they’re celebrating because this is his bachelor party. Their future business with Fedra depends on Mau marrying Kristel. Mau bugs his eyes and takes a swig.

Ilitia, whose manner is much more reasonable than it was some months ago, is talking to Eman about his obsession with Mari. She realizes that here she is trying to save their marriage and he’s been thinking of Mari all this time. He points out that Mari is gone and anyway is married and he doesn’t know where she is. Yes you do, says Ilitia, you know she’s in Mexico. Eman is bewildered.

MariVicky, Doris, Oliver and Brandon arrive at La Mala Noche, but the captions have disappeared and there is a lot of background noise. Anyway, it seems to be early in the evening, and the ladies balk a bit at the door. The group is shown to a table. The announcer is on stage, heralding the arrival of the one, the only, La Reina! Here comes Fedra, in a small glittery mask that just covers her eyes, a bustier, boots, etc., her curls tied up in a bun (not her best look, and certainly not seductive), and she starts in on some sword and then whip action. Somehow she looks slightly tipsy, but I’m sure that’s inadvertent. While she clunks around, the four at the table have no flicker of recognition, though she has quite a distinctive smile. She spots Mari and hesitates. Mari keeps her in her laser beams. Fedra hesitates again.

Aw, too bad! We have left that scene and instead are with Eman and Ilitia. He’s asking why she thinks Mari is in town, and she tells him not to play dumb. He swears he hasn’t seen her in two years. Ilitia, tears welling in her eyes, begs him to come clean. She’s been fighting to save their marriage, while he’s been seeing Mari. He starts to get mad, saying Mari lives in Paris and doesn’t want anything to do with him.

Ilitia tells him Fedra found out Mari had arrived not long ago. Eman is so surprised, Ilitia realizes he doesn’t know. She hugs him, begging him not to leave her for Mari. Poor kid.

Goody, we’re back at La Mala Noche. MariVicky is remembering Gretel telling her that she’ll be surprised to see what Fedra does at night. Fedra for her part is disconcerted by MariVicky’s presence and Oliver and Brandon’s too, and stalls, staring at MV. The master of ceremonies, the aproned pirate, has to come nudge her back into activity. The audience starts doing the slow clap. Fedra rouses herself.

At the table, the guys wonder why Mano recommended a place like this, and wonders if they should leave. Doris says it’s interesting. Fedra is back in action, swinging her whip, and realizes MariVicky has probably recognized her. MV continues her stony staring.

Mau tells Garduño he’s not the marrying type. Garduño pats him genially and tells him it’s an order. Mau laments all the lovelies he sees in the street. Is he to give them up? Garduño says he can do whatever he wants, but they all have to sacrifice for business. Mau feels like he’s being strangled. Garduño enthuses about how great the money-laundering will be using Fedra’s connection, and then he and Mau will end up with everything. Neat huh? Mau seems not to be paying attention.

Ilitia is sure Mari came back to ruin their marriage. Eman says he’s equally sure that’s not true, because Mari hates him, and it’s Ilitia’s fault. He says he knows about how she got him drunk at his bachelor party then crawled into bed with him for Mari to see. Ooops, thoughtbubbles Ilitia. He notices her silence, but then she says she had nothing to do with it. But you did, didn’t you? insists Eman, and we are left hanging at that.

Avances: Ilitia tells Kristel her marriage is doomed with Mari back in town. Mau demands that Netty tell him where Mari is, but Netty says only Vicky knows. MariVicky is in Fedra’s dressing room, and Fedra grabs her and holds a knife to her throat. Bernardo bursts into the room.

Labels: llena

Outside, the snow swirls through the frigid night air. Inside, the Mavens snuggle before the warmth of the electronic hearth. The music swells. The opening titles appear on the screen: The Adventures of Ozzie and Harridan … and Mr. Maven makes a hasty retreat, muttering: I can’t believe you’re actually watching that crap… ( Bah. Let him go, damn cultural elitist.)
María Desamparada is where we left her last Friday – sobbing in Juan Pablo’s arms. He will be her father, just as he is a father to all his flock, and he will take care of her. She will be his daughter.

Victoria is still convinced María will come back to work as if nothing had happened. Toni’s not so sure.

Juanjo is involved in a daring rescue. A young boy is trapped in a high balcony in a burning building.

La familia Sandoval is chatting at the dinner table. Victoria tells Fer she likes the dress she picked for her birthday party and Osvaldo tells his daughter the garden, as promised, will look just like a disco for the occasion. When Max asks if anything’s new at the agency, V drops the bomb: I fired María D. He is taken aback but Fer nods approvingly. You did good, Ma, she tells her. Max tells her to shut it.

Juanjo carries the boy to safety. He looks pretty beat up. The rescue is being televised and at home, Milagros and Nathy are watching anxiously. Linda is leafing through a magazine. He’s such a hero, swoons Nathy. Yeah right, like something out of the movies, says LindaHo. At the scene, the boy’s family thanks Juanjo effusively. Aw shucks, he says, he was just doing his duty as a fireman. (bombero).

Back at the Sandoval table, V explains that María’s offense was disobedience. She showed up at work with the most vulgar makeup and hairdo you can imagine. Osvaldo immediately gets it: María was just trying to please you, he tells Victoria. He is disheartened at V’s lack of patience and compassion for María.

María, back at her apartment, tells the roomies how V humilliated her. Now her dream of being a model is kaput. She never wants to see Victoria again.

Osvaldo leaves the table. Victoria’s cruelty to María has made him lose his appetite. Now it's Max's turn. He tells her how upset he is by her inhumane treatment of her employees. They are only flesh and blood (carne y hueso, literally, flesh and bone). They make mistakes. Not everyone is as perfect as you, he says pointedly. One bright spot for V: Fer is cool with her cruelty.

The roomies are still hashing over the María-Victoria incident. Luckily, a little time under the shower was enough to banish LindaHo’s MiniMe look and we have our heroine back. Max comes to the door and this time he doesn’t get turned away. MD falls into his arms.

MD and MS have found a place to talk. He warned her that Victoria was exigente (demanding), he says. She replies:
Una cosa es la exigencia, otra es la prepotencia.
(It’s one thing to be demanding, another to be arrogant.)
Her modeling career is over (se esfumó, it vanished), she says. She’s not going back to the Casa de Modas. And now she wants to change the subject. Tell me about your family, she says.

The relentless LindaHo calls Osvaldo on his cell and won’t listen when he tells her it’s best if they don’t see each other. In her breathy little voice she tells him that phone conversations aren’t enough. And she just wants to make him happy.

Back to MS and MD. He turns the conversation away from the dangerous topic of his family (she still doesn’t know who his parents are) by asking her what happened to her parents. They abandoned me, she tells him. Her mother didn’t want her. And for a long time she felt guilty – she must have done something to make her mother reject her. What would happen if you found your mother now? asks Max. Would you forgive her. Never, says MD, never.

Clueless Victoria sits before her mirror thinking how Max and Ozvaldo judge her too harshly. This whole María thing will be over by tomorrow when she comes back to work.

And Max is at that moment saying to María:
Entonces, ¿has decido no regresar a la Casa de Modas?(Then, you’ve decided not to go back to the fashion house?)
Yes, she has made up her mind. She’ll find another way to support herself. She’s not afraid of honest work. Now Max is completely convinced that she is unlike any girl he has met. They lock Bambi eyes. Romantic music. Lean in for a kiss. Sigh. Let’s move on.

Vicki comes down to the breakfast table and finds Fer seated alone. Max and Os left early. Os said to remind her that tonight is the premier of his movie and he hopes she can go (que ojalá pudieras ir) – but if not, well it wouldn’t be the first time.

It turns out Os is having breakfast with LindaHo. When Vicki calls him on his cell to make arrangements for the evening, he blows her off. Estoy ocupado (I’m busy) he says and hangs up. LindaHo is delighted.

Victoria, who is calling from her office, tells Toni what just happened. Osvaldo probably is very busy, says her friend. V is still expecting MD to come back to work and Toni is still thinking that’s not likely. V’s secretary announces via the intercom that a priest (it’s JP) is there to see her. She can’t receive him now, she says. It will have to be some other time. JP assures the secretary that he’ll be back.

We step away from the miserable ricos for a moment to spend some time with the poor folk who can smile through their adversity. María, Milagros, Juanjo and Don Napo are setting up some eats at a long table outdoors, a stall at the neighborhood market.

Speaking of miserable ricos, Fer is in a snit because she hasn’t been able to reach Scuzzy Tattoo Boy all day. She doesn’t know he’s still in jail.

Just when we thought St. Bernarda couldn’t be any worse –-
It turns out she is – what? a usurer? a heartless landlord? In any case she is demanding payment for back rent from none other than Rodolfo Padilla, Victoria’s old abuser and Scuzzy Tattoo Boy’s father. ¿Qué casualidad, no? He tries to tell her his problems but she cuts him off:
A mi me importa muy poco que tu hijo está en la carcel.(I don’t give a rat’s ass that your son’s in jail.)
He’s not looking for compassion, just a little more time. Look, she says, I’m a poor widow who has to look out for herself. I’ll give you a week. Pay up by then or you’ll be keeping your son company in jail. Got it?

That evening Max is playing pool and gets all mushy and sentimental just thinking about María. He says to himself:
Ay, Max, Max, se me hace que te estás enamorando.(Ay, Max, Max, it seems to me you’re falling in love.)
When Fabián comes in and wonders why he isn’t dressed for his father’s film premiere, he tells him he’s not in the mood. Say, could you do me a favor-- says Max. Would you mind escorting my sister tonight? No need to ask twice. We all know Fabián has a thing for Fer.

Fabián watches as Fer comes down the stairs in a bizarrely matronly get-up. (Did she borrow a costume from the set of Alicia en el país de la Meravillas?) In the rudest possible way, she accepts his offer to accompany her for the evening.

We see Padilla selling the car that Scuzzy Tattoo Boy thought of as his own. Nice. One less moron on the road.

At the premiere of Osvaldo’s film, fancy people are arriving in their fancy wheels. We see Toni and Pipino, Guillermo and a woman in red, and Pedro and Ofelia.

In somewhat less fancy wheels, a public taxi to be exact, Padilla rides with Tattoo Boy. He bailed him out with the money he got for selling the car. Padilla is mocking his son’s band – You think you’ll get rich from that? No, admits Tattoo Boy. But he does have a millionaire girlfriend and she’ll be their ticket to the big money. Padilla’s ears perk up. Yeah, continues Scuzz Boy, her father is the famous actor, Osvaldo Sandoval.

Back at the premiere, Osvaldo and Victoria are climbing up the stairs of the red carpet and are confronted by LindaHo coming down. (Who knows how she got in.) She smiles boldly at Os.

Tattoo Boy continues: Her ma is a big deal designer with her own fashion house. Padilla wants to meet the suegros, natch. He’ll get his chance at Fer’s birthday party, sonny boy tells him.

LindaHo asks for Osvaldo’s autograph. He signs and the matrimonio Sandoval moves ahead as Victoria remarks: Vaya manera de pedir un autógrafo. (That was quite a way to ask for an autograph.) It looked like you knew her. Don’t make a scene, says Osvaldo, not tonight.

Padilla is back at Bernie’s to pay off his debt. (I guess he got a good price on the car.) He leaves and she is counting her money when Tomasa comes in with a message: A volunteer called to remind her she has promised – apparently grudgingly – to visit the children’s hospital tomorrow. (Just what those poor kids need – a visit from the Bride of Satan.) Tomasa asks where the money came from. What money? says Bernie as she stashes the roll of bills and reminds Tomasa of her oath to Christ to keep her piehole shut.

Padre Juan Pablo can’t sleep. He is worried about María D and determined to talk to the woman who humilliated her. He’ll keep trying until he gets through to her. Meanwhile, he is sanding little crosses. It helps him relax.

LindaHo comes back to the apartment all excited about her daring ambush of Osvaldo at the premiere. Her roomies disapprove.

The premiere is over and when Osvaldo walks out, he seems to be looking around (perhaps for Linda?) Fer, arrogant as always, orders Fabián to take her to dinner. He, poor idiot, is only too happy to comply.

The three roomies sit at the table scarfing down sandwiches. They’re delicious, Nathy assures María. You’ll sell them all very early. I hope so, says MD, because tomorrow afternoon I’m going with the nuns to visit the children's hospital. (Those kids may be in for quite an afternoon!) Then the doorbell rings. It’s Max.

What a horrible place this is, whines Fer to Fabián when the two are seated at a restaurant. Gosh, he thought it was a pretty nice place. Poor fool keeps trying. He says gamely, if lamely:
Te han dicho que eres muy bonita?(Has anyone ever told you you’re very pretty?)
Muchas veces (many times), she spits back at him. And then she says dismissively:
No me estarás echando los perros – ya tengo mi novio. Y además, tú no eres mi tipo.(I hope you’re not coming on to me – I already have a boyfriend. And anyway, you’re not my type.)

Max and María are out together. He says: So you’ve definitely decided not to go back to the agency. What exactly happened? María prefers not to talk about it. Ok, he says, only I would have liked a chance to defend you. (Me hubiera gustado defenderte). And he gallantly kisses her hand.

The premiere, it seems, was a disappointment. Guillermo is having a drink with Ofelia and Pedro, trying hard to disguise his pleasure at the lukewarm reception Osvaldo’s film got at the premiere. Pedro says it wasn’t Osvaldo’s fault; the role just wasn’t a good fit for him. You can’t fool the public, says, Ofelia, and this film is a stinker. Salud!

At home, Victoria consoles Osvaldo but he has been in the business long enough to know how to interpret an audience’s silence. The film is a flop. Even so, he is grateful she was there with him. He needed her at his side. And he loves her.

María explains to Max how she’s going to earn her keep. The nuns in Guadalajara taught her how to make tortas ahogadas (literally, drowned sandwiches). So she’s got herself a stand in the market and she’ll be preparing them and selling them. And why not? It’s honorable work. (trabajo decente) He promises to be her number one customer. He bats his beautiful long lashes at her and apologizes for the way he treated her before. He has no doubt now that she is a wonderful, sweet girl, as pure as her eyes. And there’s something he has to tell her… Before he can complete the thought, the owner of the café approaches with the bill. It’s closing time.

The following day, Osvaldo reads the scathing reviews of his film in the newspapers. Victoria tells him his work was impeccable; it’s not his fault if the project failed. He still feels responsible. Yet he is again grateful that V is standing by him – she makes him feel he is the happiest man in the world. And the luckiest. Stay with me all day, he begs her. She refuses. She has a meeting with Oscar. But don’t lose heart (No te desanímate) she says. And she leaves as the phone rings. Osvaldo picks up the receiver. We all know who will be on the other end: the indefatigable stalker, LindaHo.

Max is totally into the market stall experience. He helps María set up her table, and prepare the tortas. Then he tastes one and declares (in English): Oh. My. God. He is her front man, her promoter, her assistant. Between the two of them, the tortas ahogadas sell out in no time.

Linda has persuaded Osvaldo to meet her in a restaurant. She’s telling him she, for one, looooved his film (me fascinó). He’s glad to hear it. After all, artists work for the public, not for the critics. She swoops in for a landing on his face but he pulls away. No, he tells her. This is a dangerous game. Let’s leave it alone.

At the Casa de Modas, Toni tells Victoria that it’s time to face facts: María Desamparada isn’t coming back. They have to find a new model.

LindaHo is swooping, swooping, swooping… and she hits her target. Prolonged lip lock. Then, ever so breathily, she purrs:
¿Porqué no me invitas a un lugar más íntimo donde podamos estar solos?(Why don’t you invite me someplace more intimate where we can be alone?)

María is telling her roomies what a mensch Max is turning out to be, how he helped her sell her tortas… the tale is interrupted by the doorbell. ¡No puede ser! It’s Queen Victoria! Deadpan, she asks María:
¿Porqué no te has presentado a trabajar?(Why didn’t you show up for work?)

Levy in the kayak.

Labels: triunfo