Caray, Caray!

All the wrong people are getting together tonight. And even the right folks who hook up soon split apart again. Just another hurtin' night in Telenovelaland. Muñeca appears to sell her body, if not her soul, to Garduño in return for getting Christian back. Jorge teams up with Fedra (they both have incriminating info about the other) in order to win Mari/Vicky and her fortune. (See! Manzanita told you he was a bad guy!) Brandon and Ilitia make love (it wasn't just sex, he proclaims) but fall out in the morning when she admits she could never live a life of “poverty” with him. Kristel decides to drop both Lorenzo and his little package Christian in the hopes of furthering her Top Model Career. And Captain José is still trying to figure out how old buddies Juana Felipe and Bernardo could have turned to a life of crime. Evidently the obvious answer “Because it pays” didn't occur to him.And since Univision is still making casseroles by combining two different episodes, we also have a great scene of Emiliano trying to beat the bejesus out of Lorenzo, when our aging slimeball comes to ask Emi for the hand of his daughter. Suffice it to say the request didn't go well. But it sure was fun to watch!

As the show begins, for one heart-stopping moment, we think that Muñeca is willing to be Garduño's woman in return for offing Lorenzo. Whew. What a relief to know she only wants Low to pay by losing custody of Christian. And what she really really really wants? Why a night of candlelight, wine and a game of Maratón with her favortite adversary. Garduño (“Call me León”) is only too happy to oblige...on all counts.

We have our obligatory clichés: “Esto no puede ser” after Ilitia and Brandon's first go-round in the sheets. We swore it wouldn't happen again, he laments. “It was bigger than both of us”, she replies. (not touching that one). This is the third time we've made love and twice you were drunk, muses Brandon. He's clearly experiencing post-coital depression. A common ailment. Ilitia allows as how she's messed up, stressed about being adopted and what not. But what really torments her is what she feels for Brandon. She really desires him (me gustas mucho) So c'mere big guy. And he does. Presumably for Round Four.

The Maratón game seems to be going swimmingly but is interrupted by a call. It's Magela (the model agency head) letting Muñeca know her daughter is drunk (muy pasada de copas) and if she's not straight by morning and ready to work, no agency will ever hire her again. (This part was left out in tonight's casserole.)

That ends the Maratón game, but a new one begins. Garduño, now on a first-name basis, wants to know how he can help his worried woman friend. What can he do to lift her spirits? he wants to know, while tenderly covering her hand with his. He counsels that nothing can be done for Ilitia until the next day. But as for Christian...no problem. Lorenzo is his slave, he sold his soul to me (as he says this, he slides behind Muñeca chair and caresses her hair (yuck!) so I can promise that tomorrow you'll hold and kiss your little Christian again.

But wait! In the next scene, we see Kristel at Magela's apartment to pick up Christian? Will this mess up the rescue attempt? Stay tuned.

Fedra and Jorge (whom she delights in calling “Mi George”) are playing an extended cat and mouse game. She tweaks him for being the lame husband of Marianela while wanting Vicky. Who's been in her son Eman's bed. But now she ups the ante by affirming that she knows the Meatball and the Spaghetti are one and the same. No way says Jorge, whipping out his wedding photo. “Que mal foto-shop” snaps Fedra. And my friend Bernardo is in jail for forging documents. Do you want to go to jail for forging photos? Sum total of this go-round. Jorge and Fedra have interests in common. But since she's trying to bring down" the woman he loves", he can't be her ally. Clearly only a temporary setback.

Oh my. Kristel's still at the apartment and having plunked Christian down on the floor, she struts her stuff for Magela. Top Model right? D'ya think you could make me an even bigger name than Ilitia? Sure. With your body and attitude (a delighted Christian seems to agree) you could be hot stuff. But not if your “big dream” is to get married. Nopis. Kristel is ready to do whatevah to be famous. Good-bye Lorenzo. Good-bye Christian.

Now the 411 on Jorge. He's walking down Memory Lane, remembering his rushed proposal and also Tia Carlota's suspicions. She told him right off that if Marianela accepted his proposal (even though Tia thought she was still in love with Eman), he would have to renounce all rights to the fortune she would inherit from her dear departed dad. You offend me Doña Carlota, huffs Jorge. No matter. This is a huge amount of money. One people would kill for.

And yes indeed, muses Jorge. Fedra did kill for it....and did me a favor in the process. (Oh he's bad bad bad!) His memories then take him further to a day when Marianela, in her fat suit, is holding the doll that Doris saved for her. The doll that held the important papers concerning Fedra's past. (Okay, the previous two paragraphs weren't in tonight's viewing either. But I think they're important. They already show that Jorge may be in this for the money.)

Oh dear. Round Four (or was it three?) isn't ending well. Ilitia appears to be having regrets. Brandon's chapped that for her, he's only a policeman, a “muerto de hambre” (poor devil) incapable of giving her the life of luxury she wants. Well, yeah. She's never known “poverty” and doesn't want to. Now that you're 'satisfied', and you know what I mean, he snarls, I'm going down to have breakfast. And off he stomps, in spite of her plaintive “no se vayas”.

More games. Eman and Mama Fedra. He wants to know if she had anything to do with Vicky's upset last night. And what about this José whom she introduced as her lawyer the other day? Our Eman, though not nearly as dim as Emiliano, is still no match for Mom. She evades all his queries with an “I don't want to talk about the Past” and a pointed reminder that what he'd better do is work on saving his marriage. Drop this Vicky dame.

A somewhat pointless discussion in Vicky's office at the agency. (probably will be cut if they're merging episodes). Doris is gushing at how romantic the idea of dinner in a puente peotonal was. Jorge thinks it was a lousy idea and wants these shenanigans to stop. Eman's in love with a fantasy. No, sez Doris. She exists. The sweet Marianela is deep inside you, Vicky, and that's whom Eman loves. Vicky recalls her pain when Eman burned his letters to Marianela. Doris whips out her own cliché. You must “luchar por su amor”, for “el hombre de tu vida”. (Surely no translation needed. Even if you've only been watching telenovelas for a week.) From there they segue into worries about Fedra knocking out Vicky to get her fingerprints. They decide Marianela from come back immediately and Doris gets busy on the fat suit. The scene ends with Jorge, reminiscent of Garduño, kissing Vicky's head and vowing to do whatever he can to protect her. (This scene was truncated also. But who needed those clichés anyway?)


In another deleted scene, Fedra's hitting the bottle while musing that she has to get rid of Captain Chema or else that bruja's predictions will come true. No Love and Compassion for you, old amante. I'll get rid of you just like I did Lorenzo.

Shazam! In storms Muñeca. Fedra actually looks scared for a moment and then jumps up to fake hug and fake console her for her loss. What loss!? He's not dead!" Que bueno"Fedra weakly replies. What I want is to see Kristel, continues Muñeca. And presto, she appears. Only to to hand over Christian. Muñeca hugs him fiercely and little Chris smiles like the little Lorenzo he is. Quite content to nestle against any and all attractive bosoms.

Papa Lorenzo isn't doing as well. Comes home, not to an amante, but several armed men, plus Garduño and his lawyer. With papers. Sign these. A divorce. Without a penny from Muñeca. And no custody of Christian either. Impassioned protests. Cool reply: I'm going to have your woman. She's close to el Lirio de Plata and therefore a good investment. Which you didn't take care of. So she's mine. Either as a divorcée or a widow. You decide.

He signs. And weeps. “Que tengas un bonito dia” is Garduño's final thrust as he and his posse clear out.

A little tension back at the Mansion de Terror. Kristel smarmily apologizes to both Fedra and Muñeca for taking their husband or lover as the case applies. Fedra and Kristel both have “whoopsies” looks on their faces as Muñeca storms out in disgust. Now it's time for a little mother-daughter reconciliation. Heck, Kristel is so like Fedra, she's a mirror. And bless you darlin' you scare me to death! And you terrify me, mami, chortles Kristel. Fake hugs. Fake peace. But they're fun to watch, aren't they?

Jorge and Fedra are fun too. They're continuing cat and mouse, now in her office. She's threatening to bring him down along with Vicky now that she has proof that Meatball and Spaghetti are from the same Skillet (sartén). He then vows to tell everyone about her “amorios”. Big deal. Muñeca already knows and Emiliano had an affair with Netty. So what else ya got?

Well, he's got copies of those papers his father-in-law Luis Felipe kept about her origins “Juanta Felipe Pereth” he lisps. Checkmate.

Back to jail. Chema's hanging on the bars wanting to know more about how Bernardo and Juana Felipe wound up living happily ever after, thieving and killing, in the Ruiz y de Teresa mansion. Seems the Ruiz y de Teresa son (cue a younger version of Emiliano, muy guapo!) is strolling on the rocks, just as Juana Felipe, emerges from the waters like a modern day Venus. She smiles and he's a goner. (Too bad this scene was cut. The younger Emiliano is worth a view.)

But what about her son? Where is he? Bernardo turns away.

And we're suddenly back with Marianela. Chunky, cheery and in her fat suit. Eman knocks at the door of Vicky's office. Doris panics but not our Mari. Let him in, let him see me, she says confidently.

But they decide caution is the better part of valor. Instead Mari/Vicky whisks into the bathroom, pleading a case of the trots due to her intolerance of spicy Mexican food. That pretty well ensures that Eman won't bust into the bathroom. Whew!

Jorge and Fedra are still negotiating. He accuses her of knocking out Vicky to get her fingerprints and she's chortling that thank God the whale lost some weight. Otherwise it would have taken three gallons of chloroform to make her lose consciousness. As far as she's concerned, she's holding all the castanets but he threatens to reveal her sordid love affairs to one and all. Pish tush! Muñeca already knows and Emiliano rumpled the sheets with that cheap actress Netty. So you got nuthin' mi George. Not so fast. Good ol' George pulls out some copies of the papers that Gretel burned. Thus he has proof that Eman is probably not Emiliano's son. If so, he won't get a dime of the Ruiz y de Teresa fortune. And we're talking a lot of money (lana) smiles Jorge, his eyes lighting up. And what will your son think when he learns you were a port of call prostitute, selling your body to all and sundry. Sooooo....shall we be allies, or enemies to the death?

Now we're into the next episode. Emanuel's been dispatched to the pharmacy to get the Mexican version of Kaopectate. And back at the Mansion de Terror, Lorenzo has stormed in demanding to see "Her". Whom? sniffs Delicia. Kristel's not here. And neither is Fedra, she snickers. Emil appears, in high dudgeon, wanting to know why Lorenzo is yelling for his daughter. And the fun begins. Well...okay. Not yet. We've suddenly back with Brandon and Ilitia.

She's in a fetching but skimpy bathing suit and he's hyperventilating. Lordy, she's not going out like that, half-nude is she!? Indeed she is. This is a bathing suit fashion show. Not maternity dresses. And besides, I haven't got any cellulite or stretch marks as you very well know. Brandon breathes a little harder and appears to change color. Well, I'm really going to have to watch the guys if you're parading around like that. (Poor guy. He's clearly a goner. But Ilitia...not so sure...) As he turns to go, though, she admires his manly backside and murmurs sweet nothings to herself about his savage gorilla appeal. (Okay, she's a half-gonner. But the Ruiz y de Terese fortune still holds as much appeal for her as it seems to do for Jorge.)

Back to our boys, Emi and Low. Lorenzo is nervously explaining that he and Muñeca are now divorced. Good, rumbles Emil. She's been sick of you for a long time. And I of her, cheerily replies Lo. And I've met someone new. Love her with all my heart body and soul! Your daughter.

E- Whaaaaat!? My daughter!? What kind of man are you? A pervert? A degenerate!? First you steal millions from my agency, then after Mau dumps her at the altar, you move in and seduce her!?

This tirade is delivered as Emi chases Lo round and round the dining room table and then the chase and fight moves out to the pool.

Oh shucks. Just when it was getting good, we're back in the office. Vicky's back in her Vicky body; Doris has packed Marianela in a big sack and Eman's returned wondering what that huge bag is for. Er, um, it's a giant chicken. We've got a new client for instant soup and that's one of the props.

Well, hey, he's not that interested anyway. He wants to nibble on Vicky's neck and tell her how he couldn't sleep all night thinking about her. She's in her NoNoNo routine. People might come in. Square things with Ilitia first. The usual. He's like "It's just a piece of paper." (Wow, I can remember hearing that argument in my youth.) And I can't live without you. Grab grab. Kiss kiss kiss kiss. Borrrrring.

So back to Emi and Low. Pausing to catch his breath, Emi gasps "Did you lay a hand on her?" Low looks at all ten fingers, shrugs and indicates "Sure did Pops" On to the pool. Lo is now near collapse and wheezes that they're both too old for this. And he's about to have a heart attack. YOU'RE TOO OLD FOR MY DAUGHTER, THAT'S WHAT! AND YOU'RE A COWARD. Nope, you're the coward sneers Lo. You never had the guts to divorce Fedra and marry your Netty. At least I'm taking steps.

Lots more fighting. Lo seems to be having a ball leaping in and out of the water in mock battle. Emi's definitely tiring. And now they have a shocked audience. First Benigno and the maids. Then Kristel arrives, horrified, and shrieks in English for them to STOP. Axel and Gretel join the scene. Nereida informs them that Lorenzo has had a fling with that "facilonga" (easy bit) of a sister. Gretel wants to know if Kristel is planning to bed every man she knows. (well, pretty much, yes.)

Oh well. Back to the office. Eman caves and promises to wait for Ilitia to return and sign divorce papers. A few kisses and a nibble on the knuckle will have to hold him until that day.

Now we see Vicky, in need of fresh air after all that nuzzling, sitting in the park outside the agency with Jorge. She's telling him she can offer him nothing but friendship. And he's not liking it. So he leaves, but not without telling her that she needs him and that Fedra is determined to get her at all costs.

But evidently not before Mauricio does. Right after his exit, Mau comes up from behind, grabs her around the throat and warns her not to scream. He's armed and dangerous.

Previews:
Ilitia, Fedra and Jorge are having a pow-wow on separating Vicky and Emanuel forever! Fedra's advice is for Ilitia to get pregnant as soon as possible. Ilitia perks up at the idea.
Doris sees Mau pushing Vicky into a car and sounds the alarm.
Mau leers at Vicky and vows that she's going to be "his".
Netty and Glad are hysterical and tell Emanuel he must do something to rescue Vicky.

Vocabulary:
desvelarme = to reveal myself, to let myself be known. (Muñeca to Garduño. And he's all for it.)
te comen las ansias = you're nervous, anxious, worried (Fedra to Jorge)
ponernos las pilas = get a move on (Doris, talking about the need to bring back Marianela, in order to fool Fedra)
no me dejaste otra salida = you left me no other choice (Garduño to Lorenzo)
sonando las castañuelas = lit. playing the castanets fig. "I hold all the cards". Fedra to Jorge.
rest of the vocabulary is embedded

Dicho of the Day

Dios los cria y ellos se juntan. Bird of a feather flock together. (Choose which characters you think this applies to.)

Labels: llena

Capitulo 245.
Read Amanda's original recap, then come back here to discuss it.

1. Fern follows the cuartel into the bathroom. They chatter away and tell him Lety and Aldo will soon get married, and Aldo wrote a romantic inscription to her in his book. Fernando storms out. Irma suggests that Fern is jealous over Lety.



2. Fernando searches Lety’s office for the cookbook but instead finds her diary and starts reading. Lety and Aldo enter. Lety asks, “What are you doing in my office?” Aldo corrects her, “Our office.” (Since when??) Fern ducks out to his office.

3. This is not a transcript. I’ve extracted the key points from the exchange between Lety and Aldo.
Lety: It’s my fault. I should’ve supervised the project better.
Aldo: Stop thinking about it. Tomorrow we’ll find an answer. It’s everyone else’s fault.
L: No, it was my responsibility.
A: Thinking like that will destroy you. Your only obligation is to be happy. Come live with me in Acapulco.
L: I have obligations to Conceptos.
A: That’s only because of Fernando. You trembled when he was near. You should move in with me to prove that Fernando doesn’t interest you.
L: I have a commitment to Humberto. It’s about my promises and my honor.
A: You work too hard. Do you want to keep working hard?
L: If that’s necessary.
A: I’m offering you a paradise in Acapulco. Be free! Make yourself the most important thing in your life.
She asks for time to think about it.

4. Fernando reads Lety’s diary: She will devote her life to serving him, he needs her, he overlooks her ugliness, she’s the right woman for him, he’s given up on finding the right woman and she can’t show him it’s her. Fernando goes to the cave and continues reading. He wishes he could turn back time so none of this would’ve happened. Her entries tell of the first kiss, their first night together and Omar’s apartment, her fear of another tragedy, and her belief in him. Every sentence tortures him more as he cries, “My God, my God, what have I done?” He reads her pain in finding the letter.

5. Lety tells Mama what Aldo wants her to do. She loves Fernando. Aldo is wonderful but she can’t love him. But working next to Fern will make her suffer.

6. Tom takes Ali to breakfast and says he can take her to restaurants every day. She likes that. At work, Tom encourages Lety to take Aldo’s offer. He says he’ll take care of Conceptos.


Fernando spends the night crying in the cave. The first picture is from Episode 35, when Lety spent the night crying in the cave, trapped when Fernando was "entertaining" Fatima Bosch.

7. Fern says he should not have been born and he belongs in Hell. He starts throwing things. Omar asks what’s up. Irma asserts again that Fern is jealous of Aldo.

8. Aldo calls his manager, Gerardo, about the restaurant. He says he coming back to Aca with someone special.

---

Capitulo 246.
Read k-Fuego's original recap, then come back here to discuss it.

1. Fern tells Omar, “I never knew how much that woman loved me. I knew I hurt her, but I never imagined how much. I fell in love with an angel who lived only for me. She deserves that I love her for the rest of my life.”

2. Lety accepts Aldo’s work offer, but not the shacking up part. She needs to tell the board about the shortfall. He says that until Tom finishes the numbers, it would be an incomplete report.




3. The cuartel tells Fern that Lety left with Aldo, and that she’s soon moving to Acapulco with him. He’s too late to catch them, so he tells Paula to call her for him.

4. Fern finds Omar laughing derisively at Lety’s diary. He says, “Hey! The battle’s not lost yet,” just before Fernando pummels him because he has desecrated the sacred. Omar thinks it’s fair game because they’be both been in on the romance from the beginning. Omar says the guilt is Fernando’s because he’s the one who acted on it. Omar says that Fern himself was disgusted at the thought of sleeping with Lety. That one pushes Fern too far. He shifts into total rage and the fight spills into the vortex. Omar screams, “You’re a worse pig than me because you carried out the plan. You punch me to [purge?] from yourself what you always knew was a crime.”

5. Fern answers, “Yes, but I regret it and I’m paying for it. Not like you, who can still laugh at what we did to destroy a woman.” Omar explains to Marcia that Fernando is trying to wash his hands of it (a reference to Pontius Pilate). He tells Fern, “I hope it works, so that you purify your soul and you redeem yourself.”

6. Marcia assures Fern that Lety is a lost cause and when he comes running back to her she’ll be waiting. She plans to make Fernando president to show she’s the only one who will love and support him.

7. Fern continues reading and discovers that Lety is still rejecting Aldo, and she’s suffering because he might have a new girlfriend. He asks himself, with hope, “Does she still feel something for me?” He reads, “Fernando is not yours. He never was and never will be.” He says, “Yes, she does still love me. I won’t lose her, God I swear it. I’m going to get her back.”

8. Paula calls Lety, who orders her to tell Fernando she couldn’t reach her. Fern knows Paula is lying, and he’s disappointed that his cuartel has turned against him and wants Lety with Aldo. MamaJ hopes Aldo will crowd Fern out of Lety’s heart. Lety wants her parents to move to Aca with her and she won’t go without them.

9. Fern says to himself, “Lety, I’m going to show you that I wrote the truth because I love you.” He removes Omar’s trash from the black bag, and he takes the rest. Irma tells Fern that Lety’s at home. She says, “I know you love Lety; go get her,” and she blesses him.

10. Pop tells MamaJ that Lety can’t leave until she has fulfilled her commitment to Humberto.

Labels: fea-2010

Eva Luna March 8, 2011, Episode 86, Boys misbehaving.
Recap is UP! Be sure to scroll all the way down the page to see many screencaps from this episode.

We have some quick reviewing of what has happened before, ending with the scene Daniel kicks Icky out of the house and says they're getting a divorce and that's it.

I'm going to do the same thing where I try to consolidate some of these scenes so we don't all go crazy with the quick cuts!

Don Julio is putting on the smooth moves on Justa as Don Ricardo looks on, not really comprehending. They're having a nice visit at the pension with Marisol and Don Ricardo and then Don Julio is left alone to chat with Justa.

Bruno's come to the bank to steal Marcela's money. Two-toned-hair bank guy looks at the paperwork that Bruno provides which apparently gives Bruno permission to get into the accounts. It all looks in order. Then suddenly Leo appears out of nowhere, alarming an already jumpy Bruno. Leo chats a little, asks Bruno if he is there for personal reasons or business. Bruno says personal. Leo takes off, seemingly unalarmed.

Justa gives Don Julio the fisheye with those big eyes of hers. She told him she tried to see him at his house but he wasn't there. Now (in the pension) is not the time to talk, she says. Don Julio is like a Senior Don Juan here, soooo smooth, and says that he wants to see her "When? When?" Just a little eager there. He gives her his private card with his real name (I foresee some problems coming from this) and his private phone number. The info on that card is very confidential, he says. She's still giving him the fisheye.

Alicia approaches Eva and shows her the envelope with all the receipts proving that Deborah hired a lot of detectives over the years to search for the girls. Both Eva and Alicia are starting to wonder if maybe Deborah was telling the truth after all. Then Tia comes in the room. She looks at the documents and says that they are falsified. Liar, liar, pants on fire, Tia. Later in private, Tia asks forgiveness from her brother for the lies, but then self-righteously says that Deborah does not deserve her daughters back, after cheating with another man!

Nice little scene between Laurita and Daniel. It's nighttime, there's a fire in the fireplace, and they're comfy on the couch. He's trying to explain to her that he doesn't love Icky and that's why he's getting a divorce. Laurita is worried that maybe she was the cause of it (this due to Icky playing mindgames with Laurita earlier and trying to make her think that she was the cause of any marital unhappiness). Daniel assures Laurita that she had nothing to do with this, that it he never should have married Icky in the first place.

Icky comes in, looking contrite, says she is "destroyed" and wants to talk to Daniel. He gives her the stinkeye. Laurita leaves the room and Icky starts in again, asking for forgiveness. Daniel says no way. The old brain cells are still working because he reminds her of the B.S. that she pulled (fake suicide and he doesn't even know half of what else!) before they got married. She then says she won't divorce him.

Then she goes on about what will people say, what will people think? Daniel is quite sarcastic about this—of course that's all she thinks about, he says. She begs him not to tell anyone about the infidelity. He says he won't, he just wants the divorce.

Carlos is finally getting out of jail.

Lileach calls Daniel. He warns her that Icky suspects that she's the one that outed Icky and Bruno. Daniel didn't admit that Lileach was the source of the info, but Icky believes that. "Watch out for her" he says. Lately he's noticed that Icky is capable of anything. (Lately? Just lately you started to notice this, Daniel?)

The next scene is of Icky getting a gun from its hiding place and whispering threats against Lileach.

Renata has come to talk to Don Julio. She reports that the plan to gaslight Marcela is working well. They both laugh about that. Then she says that the doll and note he sent really freaked Marcela out. But he didn't send any doll and note! Strangely, Don Julio doesn't seem all that curious about who did.

More nauseating cr@p with Tony and Alicia. He still loves her, blah blah blah. She is not receptive, still is hung up on Leo. He works on her more, reminds her how she used to be so happy, but now not so much. She replies that he's a "nobody" but he says he's a nobody who loves her and respects her.

Later Alicia is thinking about what Tony said to her and wondering if maybe he's got a point. What is she now? As she is contemplating this, Carlos jumps from the bushes and snatches her. He says he told her he'd be looking for her when he got out of jail!

Lileach is taking a shower and remembering the warning Daniel gave her about looking out for Icky. She is thinking she'll change hotels soon. Meanwhile, Icky is bribing a maid to let her into Lileach's room. When Lileach comes out of the shower, there is Icky, all a-froth with wild anger, pointing a gun at her and threatening her. When someone knocks on the door, Icky is distracted and Lileach is able to wrestle with her. A catfight ensues, with both brujas pulling at each others' long hair. The maid comes in and breaks it up.

Lileach gets the gun, but is able to convince Icky that it was all Eva's doing. That Eva's had private detectives watching Icky and that's how Eva knew where Bruno and Icky were. That Eva tipped off Daniel. Icky's little pea brain digests this and decides that it must be so. Off she goes, threatening Eva instead. Lileach leaves the gun for Icky, hoping that she'll take it and use it on Eva.

Daniel comes by Eva's place to visit little Pablito. Quality time with the kid at breakfast. The new theme song for Daniel and Eva swells in the background. Daniel picks up Pablito and talks to him as Eva looks on, smiling.

She asks him what he's doing there so early. He wants to talk to her about something, and also to tell her that he loves her. She starts in with the schtick that she's going to marry Leo. Lather, rinse, repeat, as they go over old ground again. She doesn't love Leonardo, he says. She balks at admitting anything.

He then persists and says that she's marrying Leo for the same reason he married Icky—for revenge or spite, but not out of love. Eva still refuses to admit anything. Then Leo rushes in to tell them that Tia Tilde is ill.

Carlos is grabbing ahold of Alicia. He says he spent all that time in jail because of her. How nice of her to visit so often, he says sarcastically. She squirms and cries as he lists his grievances. He asks her how is it that she lives in this grand house? Who is paying for it? And what is Tony to her now? We hear Tony calling her name. Carlos finally lets her go, telling her that they have "unfinished business." Don't like the sound of that. And I hate how they've made Carlos a thug and Tony the "hero." Nauseating!

Leo called the paramedics for Tia Tilde, who is stretched out on the couch looking wan. They come and give their diagnosis. She had an anxiety attack, she's okay now, but get her in to see a doctor soon. They leave.

Eva and Alicia want to know why Tia had the anxiety attack. Tia flashbacks to the big whopping stinking lie she told about Deborah. But she lies again and tells the girls she has no idea what brought on the attack.

Icky goes "home" (Daniel's place—not her home anymore!) and Jacky tells her that a lawyer is waiting for her. The lawyer wants to talk about divorce proceedings. She gets all huffy and self-righteous with him. Lawyer says that Daniel has claimed that infidelity is the cause for the divorce. He then goes on to say that Daniel is claiming to have caught her in the hotel room with the other man. Icky looks shifty-eyed at this and kicks the lawyer out. In the background we see that Jacky has walked in and has heard all of this. LOL!

Outside of the house, Alicia is telling a concerned Tony that she's still freaked about Carlos. Leo comes up and wants to know what's going on. Later we cut back and see that Alicia has told Leo about the Carlos threat. Leo says that it'll be fine, but commands Tony to look after Alicia all the time. Oh yeah, Tony is quite eager to do that! He winks at her and she rolls her eyes.

Bruno is having a near-orgasmic moment with all the money he swiped from Marcela. He is sniffing it and caressing it and counting it as he puts it in a briefcase. With this money he can hide his identity and keep out of sight for a long time, he says to himself. He laughs to himself that how will Marcela feel when she finds out that he slept with her for money and slept with her daughter for pleasure.

At work, Daniel is wearing a fetching blue shirt and is talking to some guy about that ad that Lileach was in. It turned out well and the customer approved it. Icky busts in and yells about the divorce again. Daniel just looks weary. He tells her that she doesn't have to approve the divorce, he will claim that the reason for the breakup is her (her infidelity). Icky repeats her vow to refuse to divorce him and then walks out. Leo walks in and asks about this.

Leo wants to know why Daniel's getting a divorce. I don't know why Daniel just doesn't blurt it out, but I guess that the earlier scene (where Icky asked him not to talk about the infidelity) is the reason why.

Speaking of Bruno, he's heading out the door with his briefcase full of cash and who is there but Marcela, offering him a drink and all friendly. He has a deer in the headlights look when he sees her. She asks him where he's going. He didn't answer her calls so she thought she'd come over and visit. He says he was going to call her from the airport; that he has to go on a trip. He explains that a friend's wife died overseas, and he has to help out with the Visa and bringing home the body, blah blah, he'll be back in two days, blah blah, she seems to buy this and gives him a hug.

Leo accuses Daniel of leaving Icky for Eva. Leo is obviously feeling insecure about keeping Eva. You can tell that Daniel knows this. He reminds Leo that she doesn't love him. Daniel's going to fight to get Eva back. Blah blah blah. A fight ensues. (Scroll down the page to see the screenshots I took of the fight.) The guys jump on each other, fists flying. They carefully navigate over to the couch, however, so no one falls on the floor and hurts themselves during the fight. They continue their tussle comfortably on the couch. Then Eva comes in and has the whole thing broken up and castigates the two bad boys for behaving badly.

Eva wants to know why they were fighting. Daniel is eager for her to know. Leo . . . not so much. He gives one of his trademark Leo fishy-eyes.

It comes out that Daniel is getting the divorce. Eva looks impactada at this. Leo calls Daniel a "coward" for divorcing Icky. Daniel says defiantly and with great triumph, oh, go ask your sister what the reasons are for the divorce, maybe she'll dare to tell you! And then you come back to me and tell me that I have no reason to ask for a divorce!

Eva has had enough and leaves. Our bad boys face off again and Leo says that Daniel will never have Eva.

Icky is in her car, ranting to herself that she's gonna get Eva. FF>>>

Eva is chewing out Leo. She doesn't like work to turn into a boxing ring, she says. After he's left her office, she marvels to herself that Daniel really going to get divorced. She sighs heavily.

Daniel goes to Giorgio and asks where Bruno is. "He no longer works here," Daniel announces to Giorgio.

Icky is still in her car, mid-rant, when Leo calls. She yells at him to leave her alone, but tells him make sure that he marries Eva as soon as possible.

Lileach is wearing a revealing dress and visiting Daniel in his office. They're talking about the modeling job she did. She asks him about Icky. You can see on his face that he is weary with her. She says she wishes she could have told him about Icky's faithlessness earlier, because it would have saved him heartache. Then she says that neither Eva nor Icky are women in his life. She leans and kisses him on the cheek. You can almost see him flinch as she does it. She leaves and he wipes the lipstick off his cheek.

Outside the office Lileach gets a text message to see Leo. She goes to his office and he grills her for info on Daniel's and Icky's divorce. She spills all—Icky was found in bed with Bruno. Leo thinks Icky is an idiot. Well, no shit Sherlock!

End of episode!

Here is a bulleted list of the highlights of the episode.

• Daniel is determined to get a divorce. Of course Icky is vowing to refuse to divorce him. There's a touching scene where Daniel goes over to visit little Pablito as Eva looks on, smiling.
• Daniel and Leo get into a big fight at the office. Daniel is going to divorce Icky and fight for Eva. Leo is not liking the sound of that. Eva has to get Giorgio and another guy from work to break it up.
• Icky decides to take out her frustration and anger on Lileach. (Like that name!) Icky bribes the maid to let her into Lileach's hotel room, and threatens Lileach. Lileach convinces Icky that it was EVA who outed Icky's and Bruno's love nest, and it was EVA who was to blame for all this. Icky vows to go after Eva.
• Tia is still lying about Deborah. She has a fainting spell and the paramedics have to be called, but they don't take her to the hospital.
• Bruno wants to get outta Dodge quickly with his money, but as he is out the door with a briefcase full of cash, Marcela stops him and seems to want to chat. Bruno is sweating bullets.
• Don Julio wants to persist with Justa, even though he knows she's married. He won't let up unless she convinces him that she doesn't love him anymore. Don Julio's friend the good doctor doesn't approve. (Neither do I.)
• We have our long-awaited return of Carlos. He's let out of jail and the next thing we see, he's wearing a very unflattering knit cap and has jumped on Alicia in the bushes. He has to let her go when Tony comes by.
• Tony is now being painted as the hero, I guess. He keeps on telling Alicia how he loves her (blah blah blah) and he comforts her after her scare with Carlos. I really do not like this development. They threw Carlos under the bus here. 

PHOTOS! Right-click on images to see a larger (HD) version. (Images may not be displayed in order according to the episode.)
A nice scene near the beginning of the episode where Daniel is explaining how he's going to divorce the bruja.

Labels: eva

Hola guys! It's been awhile. I won't delay.

• Max tells Maria that Ximena is pregnant with his child. She wants him to tell her that's not true. It is [NOT!]. She asks how it could be. Max doesn't know what to say; it is pretty ridiculous in truth. Maria can't believe he betrayed her love; she never wants to see him again.

•Bernie and JP talk at church. Bernie's there to confess to the other padre. JP assures her that she'll find peace that way. She assures him that she always has peace of mind. She invites him and the other priest for dinner.

• Maria says Max always lied to her. She doesn't know how to trust him and never wants to see him. He pulls her and tells her he won't lose her. He doesn't love Ximena. She asks what he'll do with his child. Max will give the child his name, but he loves Maria and will not marry Ximena. It's SO easy for you men, Maria says. Can he even think of how much pain she feels? All Max knows is that he loves her and won't lose her.

•Linda says Maria having Max's kid is the best thing that coulda happened to Maria. She's got Max fo sho now. Nati tells her it's not about money; a child is a blessing. Blah blah blah. Linda wonders if Max will stick by her side. Nati is convinced he will marry her.

• Maria doesn't want to lose Max, but she won't let the child suffer because of her. What about us and our happiness, Max asks. Why should we suffer because of a mistake? It was YOUR mistake, Maria says. YOUR choice. Max says he won't justify his actions. He asks if she can forgive him. She can't. She cries. She leaves.

• Maria passes a kid on the street. She sits on a bench crying.

• Osvaldo walks into the house, and Vicki sternly tells him they need to talk. He doesn't like her tone and is not in the mood. It's about Max. Another one of her obsessions, Os remarks. She tells him Max is in love with Maria but can't be with her. Os demands to know why not. She tells him to ask Max for an explanation.

• Max tells Fabian that he feels like the most miserable person in the world. Fab tells him to tell Maria what happened. Max doesn't know how to.

• JP asks the other Padre why he doesn't want to have dinner at Bernie's place. Cause she's freakin psycho is apparently inappropriate for a priest to say. Padre agrees.

• Victoria sits Max down and tells him that he's confused. Maria's pretty and all--Max doesn't want to hear this. He loves Maria; what part of that does Vicki not understand? It's his life. Vicki thinks he's giving up too much for Maria. Max says nothing is his; the business is Victoria's. She's the boss. She says everything is for Max and Fer. Max tells her he's just an employee. This is different from work; Max ain't gonna let her intervene in his happiness.

• Maria tells JP that she's pregnant.

• Vicki tells Max he's disillusioned just like his daddy. Max is proud to be like his father, and if Victoria was his real mother, she'd care for his feelings.

• Maria gives the maternal talk to JP. She knows for him it's a child of sin, but she's happy. He hopes that God blesses her. They hug.

• Victoria changes the topic to Ximena. Max already looks disgusted. He's beyond annoyed when he finds out Ximena told Victoria about the child. Vicki thinks he's being a typical guy. Max doesn't want the news to spread. He doesn't want to know about Ximena, he says as he leaves the room.

• JP asks God to forgive Maria and all the gals like her. He feels like he's Maria's real dad.

• Victoria claims MD is an ingrate and owes all she is to Victoria. Remember when she sold me her soul, Antonienta? Oh yeh, how could I forget. No, Antonieta tells her it was obvious that Max and MD were together. Vicki doesn't care. She's going to destroy Maria. She just wants Max for his money. Antonieta gives Max a bit more credit--just a bit. She says he's HOT, and many girls would love him not for his wealth. Victoria is convinced otherwise.

• Domingo talks to JP at the speed of lightening. FWD. They play games. JP thinks how happy Max will be when he finds out Maria's pregnant.

• Max goes back to his office and Ximena is in his desk. Fab leaves to give them a second alone. He tells Ximena that he ain't marrying her. She responds how you thought she would. Denial. She screams. He screams. She faints. Max shouts for Fabian to help.

• Doctor says Ximena's fine. Just fainted. Totally normal. Ximena's mom gets annoyed cause Max says he's got stuff to do since Ximena's fine. He leaves anyways.

• Maria's crying in her bed. Linda asks why she didn't tell Max that she's pregnant? Cause he broke her heart. She thinks she was just a fun ride for Max. Nati believes that he loves her. Maria doesn't think so. Ximena is from his world, and Maria is just an orphan desamparada. The baby's gonna be Maria's world now.

• Doorbell rings and Linda jumps for it. It's Max. She tries to get rid of him, but Max ain't takin that crappp. He demands to talk to Maria.

• Maria tells Nati she's going to find work to support her kid. Linda tells Maria Max is waiting for her. Maria steps in the living room to speak to him. Max tells her that he came to tell her that he loves her again.  He can't be without her. She cries. He begs her not to cry; he'd do anything to prevent her from having this pain. Well, you didn't, Maria says, and now we've lost each other. Max doesn't think they have. He loves her and will fight for her. He kisses her, and she pulls away, crying about how she doesn't know why she believes him. It's clear that he just wanted an affair. The son of the boss has an affair with the model. [Yep, we've all heard that one.] Max denies it. Maria thinks it's obvious. Now that it's time for Max to marry his formal fiance, he's trying to keep Maria at the side. No, no, no, she's not going to have it. Max looks bewildered by her words.

• Antonieta looks for Max but finds Fabian. They talk Max and MD. Fab tries to convince her that Max loves Maria. It all started as fun and games, but he loves her. Antonieta asks what'll become of Ximena and her child. Fab says he has no idea, and from his smile, i don't think he cares.

• Max says he NEVER asked Maria to be his lover. He loves her. He doesn't love Ximena. He explains Ximena's plan and what happened. Drunk  + jealous  = Fail. He explains Ximena's dress; he knows it's ridiculous. He loves her and wants her to believe him. He cries. She says she wants to believe him, but she doesn't want him to give her false hope. He tells her to trust him. She agrees, and they embrace. [Cielo cried.] He promises that they'll be talkin marriage next time they meet.

• Max is at Ximena's place. Xi's mom gives Max hell for abandoning Ximena. Max laughs when he realizes Ximena told Roxanne about the pregnancy too. Roxy demands that Max marry Ximena not just support the kid.

• Bernie creepily asks the maid (damn forgot her name again) what to do when one is poisoned or something. Apparently, she's a nurse. Idk. Sorry, missed it.

• Max is in his room, in a really Hamlet-style pose. Very thoughtful. Osvaldo comes in to talk. He tells him that he defended Max to Victoria. Max thanks him. Os then defends Victoria's 'protection' of Max...blah blah. Os will support Max, but he wants to know everything.

• Bernie n the maid. Someone plz fill in.

• Os compliments Maria's great character and purity, but he wants to know why Vicki is so against this union. She kept saying ask Max. Max tells daddy Ximena is pregnant with Max's child. Dat changes e'rythang for Os.

• Ximena cries to Vicki for help and support. Max doesn't want to be with her. Boo hoo.

• Os is yellin and talkin HELLA fast. Max isn't going to be irresponsible. He's going to accept the consequences of his actions. Max says he will not marry Ximena. Os leaves him with guilty words: for a child, sacrifice everything.

• Maria Mag is telling Antonieta that she has no memories of her mom. She remembers a doll. Antonieta gets excited. Tries to hug her amd baby her. MM doesn't care; her mother abandoned her and wasn't decent according to Bernie and Padilla. Antonieta tells her about the search for little Maria all these years.

• awkward dinner at Bernie's house. Bernie thinks God is there to punish; JP believes He's there to love. Padre talks about forgivness. JP catches onto the code talk and asks if Bernie confessed something strange to padre. Bernie denies havin any sins.

• Os tells Vicki about his convo with Max. Give Max time, he says. Time is what Ximena lacks, answers Vicki. She thinks Max needs to marry Ximena asap. Max loves Maria Desamparada, Os says. MD don't know me, Vicki answers back.

• Fer plans on sneaking out, but Cruz warns her against it. He doesn't want to see her hurt again. Flirting. Blah blah. Cruz dances.

• Luci tells Vicki Maria's there to see her. Vicki doesn't want to be disturbed while MD is in her office. Maria enters, and Victoria goes on about how Maria could have the guts to go after Vicki's son. She calls her a gold digger, bashes her, and fires her.

Cue the kayak.

Labels: triunfo

Labels: llena

Capitulo 243.
Read Julie's original recap, then come back here to discuss it.
1. Fernando takes his suitcase, says “Adios,” and walks out of the door for good, for great, for fantastic.

2. Luigi talks to Aldo. Aldo says Lui’s utter failure was punishment enough. Lui is horribly ashamed for how he behaved, and Aldo forgives him.

3. Irma suggests that the cuartel turns over a new leaf and abandons gossip. Irma, Sara and Juana join the no-gossip branch, leaving Marta, Paula and Lola in the gossip branch.

4. Aldo leaves Lety’s door open so the gossips observe, and he gives Lety a heart necklace. The card reads, “Keeping hope alive is part of success in life and love.” Lety says some battles are lost. Aldo says battles, yes, but he’s sure he’ll win the war. She says that’s what she wants most. He turns up the heat as he puts the necklace on her.

5. Fernando tells Aldo that the expo is finished so he can go back to Aca; he’s not needed here. Aldo says Gui wants him in charge, so “I’m your boss.”

6. Marcia arrives in widow’s weeds. Marta hears Marcia say that Fern broke up with her and doesn’t love her. She’s sure it’s final. Out of Marta’s hearing, Marcia says it’s because he still loves Lety.

  .


  .



7. Paula tells Lety that Fern dumped Marcia. Paula asks rhetorically, “What could move him (llevar) to make such a drastic decision? It’s never happened before.” Lety rationalizes that he did it for Carla, but Paula answers sarcastically, “Yeah, and Carla moved him like nobody else.”


8. Paula leaves and Lety weeps, “Carla achieved what I never could. She changed his heart.” Marcia tells Ali, “The only one who could change Fernando is Leticia.” Ali hollers and Marcia tells her to shut up. She doesn’t want anyone to find out that Fern loves Lety. She admits that she bore some of the blame because she was possessive, jealous, and suffocating.

9. Ali tells Marcia to face the facts; it’s a lost cause. Delusional Marcia answers with the dicho, “Donde hubo fuego, cenizas quedan,” where there was a fire, there are still hot coals (and a chance to reignite a fire). Ali counters that, “Este es el presente de un futuro muy pasado.” I think it means, “The far past’s future already passed, long ago,” but I’m not sure. Marcia says Fern knows he can’t get Lety back, and her last delusion is, “I know Fernando can only be happy with me.”

10. Carla arrives and tries to kiss Fern. He tells her he broke up with Marcia last night, and he’s relieved.

---

Capitulo 244.
Read Chapel Hill Fiddler's original recap, then come back here to discuss it.

1. Marcia torments Lety because Fern was with Carla. She suggests that Lety and Carla duke it out for the prize. Fern halts this torture saying “If you really want to talk about this in front of everyone, I’ll be happy to. Lety, I’ve told you many times, but now I’ll say it with witnesses. Yo la a…” Fernando stops because Aldo walks in.

2. Tom asks Ali for his cell phone, but she declines. Then she mourns her lack of a car, and Tom offers to drive her. She asks him for a ride home tonight. Both leave happy: Tom has his girl and Ali has her car.

3. Carla says she’ returning to NY. Fern escorts her to keep Omar at bay. Carla again asks him to live with her. He says, “In another time, I would’ve given anything to be with a woman like you. Thank you. For the first time in my life I was completely honest with a woman.” He tries to give her a besito but she grabs a kiss, a very long kiss.

4. Omar pumps Fern for the locker room details of last night with Carla while Marta listens. Fern says nothing happened; he dropped off Carla then broke up with Marcia. Omar thinks Carla must’ve turned him down since Omar can’t comprehend that Fern turned her down.

5. Marcia says that Lety believes Fernando loves Carla, and that helps Marcia’s cause. Ali says Lety will find out he doesn’t. Marcia swears that Lety will leave Conceptos empty handed, and we know Marcia’s never wrong (cough, cough).

6. Lety tells Tom that Fern started to say something that seemed important, and she’s trying to sort it out. Aldo arrives. Tom says they didn’t make enough profit because Luigi spent too much. Lety feels like a failure.

7. Fern tells Omar that he turned down Carla because he’s in love with another. Marta gets pulled away before Omar says Fern hasn’t slept with anyone since Lety. Omar says Fern should tell Lety he loves her.




8. Irma worries that if Lety finds out Fern didn’t fall for Carla, Lety will get her hopes up. Marta adds, if Lety finds out he’s in love, she’ll think it’s with her. They join forces to get Lety to fall for Aldo.

Labels: fea-2010