Caray, Caray!

Camilo is being a stubborn jackass and is consulting David about finding a lawyer for Antolín instead of using the expert lawyer Ivan recommended. He makes David promise not to tell why his brother needs the lawyer then reveals the charges against Anto. David agrees with Ivan that Lic. Urbiales and his team are the best for this type of case. Camilo still insists on being dumb about it and refusing Ivan’s help. He’s sure Ivan’s just helping to get in Lucia’s good graces and steal her from him. David agrees with everyone in Viewerville that Cam is being an idiot. The problem his brother is in is one thing, and Cam’s Ivan-Lucia issues are another. And anyway, if they’re still in love, there’s nothing he can do about it. Cam says he’ll die without her. (Maybe so, if the black crow of death has anything to do with it.)

At the local pool hall, Carmen is trying unsuccessfully to put up with the catcalls of the regulars (one guy asks if Saul can lend her to him), so that she can find out what the heck Saul and Gordo did. She won’t permit that Anto stay in jail (el bote) because of them. She’s figured it all out. Gordo knew that her brother had a gun and took it, and their plan went awry when Gerry arrived. They better get her brother out of jail or she’s spilling the beans (soltar la sopa/ to spill the soup)! Saul wants them to speak somewhere else, and Gordo convinces her to go with them—-at knife point. (Yikes!)

Lic. Urbiales is meeting with Ivan and Tony and giving them an update on Anto’s case. Unfortunately, the time he arrived in D.F. versus the time he says he left Alamos don’t add up. Or at least it adds up to too much time in between. Ivan thinks he may have just made a mistake about when he left. Since Anto has forbidden them to speak to his girlfriend, who was the last to speak to him before he left, or to his mother, they can’t corroborate his story. Anyways, with a big crime like this in Alamos, it’s bound to be splashed all over the papers soon, with the accusations against Anto. Ivan leaves to speak to Cam and Lucia to prepare Celia for the news before she reads about it.

Tony asks the lawyer if he thinks Anto is innocent. The lawyer thinks he is, but he doesn’t have permission to enter the prison at will to be able to ask Anto clarifying questions right this moment.

Gordo and Saul have Carmen cornered on the bed in Gordo’s place. They are trying to convince her that it was indeed Anto who did it. She refuses to believe it. When they threaten that she’s implicated too, she says she’ll keep her mouth shut. They aren’t convinced that she’s sincere and that she would actually let her brother do time. Saul tries to scare her some more. Her brother is strong and can survive prison. But she wouldn’t be able to; she’d be raped right off the bat. Carmen spits it right back at Saul and says that he would be too, being a cripple, and so would butterball Gordo. The boys decide to up the ante. If she talks, they’ll cut her throat. Carmen promises again that she’ll keep her mouth zipped. Plus she has a daughter, who is also Saul’s, and she needs her. This is news to Gordo.

They are suddenly interrupted by loud banging on Gordo’s front door and Camilo’s shouting. Before Carmen can call out, Saul has her pinned to the bed under his body with his hand over her mouth and Gordo’s shut the bedroom door. For the second time in his life, Gordo is on the wrong end of Galvan rage. Camilo says he’ll beat him to death! (Matar a golpes!) Camilo correctly guesses that Gordo knew Anto had a gun and is likely behind the attempted kidnapping and the killing. Gordo swears he’ll tell the truth, and then tells a partial truth. He says it was the idea of his brother Anto and his sister Carmen. She thought it up to help her baby-daddy Saul get his operation. Camilo refuses to believe his sister had anything to do with this.

Suddenly he hears a woman moaning and starts making his way to the bedroom to see what’s going on, even though Gordo claims it’s a lady friend. Carmen has enough fight in her to manage to bite Saul’s hand and let out some good screams for her brother. Cam breaks the door down and then breaks Saul’s face. Carmen spills the beans about Saul and Gordo and that Anto had nothing to do with it. Cam starts dragging Saul to the police station, but Carmen is worried about saving her own skin and the fact that she’s implicated too. Saul also claims to have nothing to do with it. It was all Gordo and he knew nothing about what Gordo was planning. He doesn’t know if Anto was involved too, but he does know that Carmen would go down for this. Cam decides to let Saul go.

Ivan takes Lucia to Casa Lomeli. He thinks it’s best that Celia hears the truth about what’s going on from people she loves, before it comes out in the papers tomorrow. Lucia looks at him and marvels at how much he looks like Alex when he’s all energized. She says he’s a good man. She remembers how bent on revenge he was when he first came back, and how different he is now. They both admit the other has not left their thoughts. Then why are they still apart, Ivan wonders. What are they waiting for? Lucia doesn’t think it’s the right time to speak about this.

Inside, Carolina is worried that they haven’t heard from Antolin yet and she has a bad feeling. Lucia and Ivan arrive and Caro asks about Anto. Ivan tells her and Celia the truth about the gun and about Anto being in jail. Neither Celia nor Caro believe he was involved and Caro becomes hysterical.

At Casa Galvan, Cam is interrogating Carmen about how this all came about and what the heck she was doing in Gordo’s bedroom. She explains how they took her there by force. She explains what she originally thought the plan was—to watch Lucrezia, spy on her having relations with JJ, and to blackmail her. She thinks it was Gordo who must have changed the plan to kidnapping and framing Anto. Camilo demands to know if she realizes what she’s done. Their brother is in jail and she might go to jail too for being an accomplice. Didn’t she think of their mother! Lechita is with Celia so Camilo forbids Carmen from leaving the house. He leaves. Carmen calls herself an idiot (estupida). She will get no argument from Viewerville.

In Rancho Curiel, Ivan has just accompanied Lucia home and refuses to drop the subject of them. Their destiny is to be together! He leaves and leaves Lucia to her thoughts. What’s this? A smile? Camilo notices it too as he stares at her from the doorway. Carlota enters the other doorway. Lucia tells them where she’s been. Camilo paces the room like a caged tiger and asks how she got to Casa Lomeli since he didn’t see that her car had left. She explains that Ivan took her and brought her back, since Camilo wasn’t there. “Of course! Marcia, Marcia, Marcia!” Uh wait, wrong show. “Ivan, Ivan, Ivan!” He resumes his usual rant. No need to write it down. Lucia tries to explain again how important this all is for HIS BROTHER. She also explains about the missing three hours and the need to get Caro to verify Anto’s departure time. “Why didn’t anyone tell me?!” Lucia explains that it was the expert lawyers that Ivan contracted that found this all out. Camilo starts to act stubborn again about accepting the best lawyers in town to help his brother, so Carly tries to talk some sense into him. He needs to keep his pride in check if he wants his brother to go free. They have to set priorities! Same old Camilo lines. Lucia gives it a try talking sense to him. Ivan loves Camilo’s family and THAT he can’t doubt. She walks out. Carly tells him what’s important now is his family and that his mother not suffer. He and Ivan can duke it out later.

The next morning, Caro and the lawyer speak to the police commander. She confirms that both Gerry and Anto left around 11am. Gerry went to see Lucia because she’s having troubles with her husband. Caro claims to not know what those troubles are. Caro asks to speak to Anto. After she leaves the police chief says there are still those unaccounted 3 hours and they still need witnesses to help clear that up.

Celia and Caro visit Anto in the cells with one of the lawyers. He asks Anto about the missing three hours and he explains about breaking down by the side of the road. Are there witnesses? Anto can’t remember the name of the mechanic, but he does remember that Judith saw him.

The next day Lechita and Carmen arrive at the ranch and greet Camilo. Carmen asks him if he’s going to rat her out to the cops. Camilo doesn’t answer and leaves in his truck.

In the living room, Carly wants to know what Lucia is going to do about the Ivan-Camilo situation. She apologizes again for having pushed Lucia into this marriage. Lucia says that neither of them could have imagined he’d turn into this jealous idiot. Imagine, putting his absurd jealousy above his brother’s freedom! Lucia doesn’t think destiny wants her and Ivan to be together. (She obviously does not know the title of this tn.) Ivan will always be in her heart, even if he’s on the other end of the world.

At the jail, Camilo tells Anto who framed him and that Carmen was a part of it.

Celia and Caro pray at the church and cry over what might happen to Anto.

Anto and Camilo talk about what Carmen’s fate might be. Anto will not allow her to go to jail. He’d rather take the fall. Camilo doesn’t think it’s fair for Anto to take the blame. Anto thinks it’s best that their mother believe he, being the already identified black sheep of the family, did the crime and not Carmen. Anyways, once Camilo took the blame to save Anto from going to jail. Now it’s his turn.

The neebish lawyer updates the McGuires on Anto’s excuse for the missing three hours. Ivan calls Judith into the office to speak to them. But first, Camilo wants to speak to Ivan alone. He’s come to offer an apology for the way he’s behaved. He knows Ivan just wants to help but he (Camilo) let pride take over. Ivan accepts the apology, then tells Cam they’ve got a good lead for securing Anto’s freedom.

In the Curiel living room, Lucia is speaking to Berenice about their final exam. Bernie thinks they should asks for a postponement considering Lucia is in mourning. Lucia doesn’t want to postpone. Life has to go on. Ezekiel interrupts with an envelope for Lucia. It’s a demand for a paternity test for Perlita from Ivan. Lucia is pissed.

Ivan introduces Camilo to Lic. Lara and Judith enters soon after. She confirms that she saw Anto by the side of the road with his broken down car, that it was sometime just after 11 given the radio program she was listening to at the time, that he was with a mechanic and she offered him a ride, and she’s willing to testify on his behalf. Yay! After she leaves, the lawyer says they still have to prove that Anto didn’t plan it all, considering his gun was involved. Tony wants them to go look at Anto’s locks (la chapa) to see if it was forced, explaining the stolen gun theory.

At Casa Meandragon, Saul tells his dad that he’s in deep doodoo. He’s obviously told the sordid story. JJ wonders how he could be so stupid as to think he’s having an affair with Lucrezia. And why’s Saul in his biz anyway? Saul admits he wanted to blackmail him to pay for the surgery. “What you need is brain surgery!” (Strangely enough, the character he is currently playing in CME has a brain tumor.) He explains about Gordo. JJ’s solution is for Saul to go this moment and propose marriage to Carmen and legitimization of their daughter. That way she’ll have even more reason to keep quiet about Saul’s role in all this. Saul doesn’t like that solution. He thinks he’s too good for that naca. Who is he kidding?

Lucia looks on sleeping Perlita and rants to Bernie about Ivan’s paternity test demand. “Does he want to take her from me?” Bernie says of course he doesn’t. He just wants to know the truth. (Duh!) It’s normal that he be suspicious and think Perlita is his. “He has Alex, doesn’t he?” “You know better than anyone that one child doesn’t substitute another.” “But why this way?” Bernie suggests she talk to Ivan. Lucia would much rather rant some more about how Camilo would react if Ivan got visitation rights for Perlita. Bernie doesn’t think Ivan would put her in an uncomfortable situation. What Bernie is more concerned about is why Lucia is so scared of Camilo. Is he mistreating/abusing her? Lucia says no, but she’s not very convincing.

Saul calls Carmen and assures her it was all Gordo’s doing. He makes his proposal. If she keeps quiet about his role in this, then he’ll marry her and take care of her and Lechita. Carmen takes the bait.

Ivan tells Celia on the phone about the lastest updates in Anto’s case. She’s happy with the good news. She informs him that Caro was named Gerry’s heir, so she has inherited the house and the bank account. She tells Camilo and Caro the Anto update, but Camilo gets all stupid again and wants to know why Ivan is mixed up with the biz about Gerry’s will. Then he gets ticked off when they tell him Ivan helped them find the will and what was in it. “Ivan, Ivan, Ivan!” Celia is like the hundredth person to tell Camilo he’s being an idiot. Ivan is part of their family, he’s her godson, and Camilo owes him plenty. Caro begs them not to argue, and she and Celia speak about Anto’s case while Camilo broods in the corner.

Lucia calls up Ivan to tell him off. He apologizes for not informing her, but he forgot about it with all that’s happened. He’ll put an end to it if she tells him the truth about Perlita. Lucia claims he is not the father. Well, then Ivan doesn’t see what the big deal is about the paternity test being done. She says it’s an insult to Perlita, Camilo, and to her!

After Lucia hangs up on Ivan, Alex wants to know what the discussion was about. He knows the answer before Ivan even gets it out. Grown folk business. Tomorrow he starts school and needs to get to sleep.

The next morning, Ivan drops Alex off at the school. He then runs into Lucia and Bernie in town. He and Bernie meet for the first time and make small talk. Bernie makes a hasty retreat to leave Lucia and Ivan alone, and Lucia immediately starts an argument about the paternity test. Ivan thinks they should go somewhere more private for that discussion, considering they're in the middle of the street in the middle of town. She reluctantly agrees and gets in his car.

On the farm, JJ finds Camilo and tries to make small talk about the diversification of his crops. Then he gets to the real business at hand—this story that Carmen “made up.” JJ bullshits about how it was all Gordo and not Saul. Anyway, if his brother is going to be set free anyway (because of Judith’s testimony), then why bother implicating Saul? And anyways, that would implicate his sister Carmen too. If Camilo forgets about the whole thing, then JJ won’t take away his backing of Camilo’s bid to be the next Ag Assoc president. Plus, Saul will marry Carmen. Camilo would prefer that his sister remain a single mother! Well, then JJ will prohibit Judith from testifying on behalf of his brother.

Ivan and Lucia walk and talk. Same old argument. Why didn’t you wait for me? Why did you sleep with my sister? It was just once! And I was thinking of you the whole time! Lucia is a terrible liar. She denies that she hopped into the sack immediately with Camilo (true). But then she denies that the baby is Ivan’s and that she got married already pregnant (lie). And he knows the baby wasn’t premature. These things just don’t add up, and Ivan is REALLY good at math. Lucia starts to cry instead of admitting anything. Ivan begs her to get divorced so that they can marry. Lucia decides instead to hop in the cab that suddenly drives up, and takes off.

When he returns to his car, Ivan finds that Lucia has forgotten a copy of her thesis in the front seat. He smiles after reading the dedication: “To my grandmother Carlota, my father Gerardo, and Alex.”

Looks like she forgot even her purse in Ivan’s car, because she stops the cab in front of Bernie and asks for cash to pay for the cab. She tells Bernie that Ivan asked her to get divorced and marry him. “Well then, get divorced!”

Lic. Lara explains the next steps to Anto in the jail. He wants to know if there is anyone who would want to frame him. There’s still no way to prove he didn’t plan the whole thing, and the gun is, well, the proverbial smoking gun. They’ll check his locks, but justice moves slowly and Anto will need lots of patience.

The D.F. doc calls to tell Caro that a compatible cornea has been found and she will need to come immediately. He tried to call Anto but got no answer. Caro claims he’s traveling. The doctor says she needs someone trustworthy to accompany her right away. Celia offers to go with her, but Caro refuses to go without Anto since he’s the one who made all the sacrifices to make this happen.

JJ tells Saul how he screwed up since it’s his fault Camilo refuses to accept his bargain. If Camilo denounces Saul, then JJ washes his hands of Saul.

Ivan pulls up to Rancho Curiel to return Lucia’s things that she left in his car. Unfortunately, the welcome party is Camilo and he wants to know what the heck Lucia was doing in Ivan’s car. Ivan says they had to talk about personal stuff. He and Lucia love each other, the baby is his, and if Camilo was man enough he would give her a divorce. Camilo laughs, calls him crazy, then punches him. It’s on! Full out rumble on the Curiel lawn, with Ezekiel trying to stop them, while not being stupid enough to jump in the middle of it. MP and Lucrezia run out and also try to get them to stop. (Thankfully the only time we’ve seen these two tonight.) MP is not as smart as Zeke, gets too close to the melee, and gets popped in the mouth and knocked to the ground by Camilo’s flying elbow. The two snorting bulls don’t even notice and grip each other’s lapels, fists ready to fly some more.

Avances: Camilo is caught naked, getting it on with MP in bed, by the whole Curiel family.

Labels: Fuerza

Pancho, stuck in jail, calls Rebe; she drives all the jailbirds home in La Burra. Vince says this is making him an energumeno (raving lunatic). The boys remind each other the car race rematch is still pending. While they're all milling around, Candy shows up. She'd told her best bud Pina she'd find her a plumber - and here is one, right in front of her! She asks Tomas to do the fix the plumbing.

Enzo pushes Freddy on Monica again. She wants to know why her dad is obsessed with her marrying Freddy. He says Pepe is so vulgar, a mechanic. He again says "Promise never to go with him." This time she caves and agrees!

After scolding Pepe for lying to him ("If we don't respect our word, we have nothing"), Pancho forgives him.

Even Arnoldo can see Ana is soft for Freddy! He lures her to the photo shoot with fantasies of her being a movie star, but she demurs. Saying "I'm your boss, the session begins now," Arnoldo hands her a skin-tight dress. She puts it on with her army boots. He tells her to imagine Freddy and gets lots of good pictures. Barbara asks what he's doing. "Maybe I'm changing the image of Avon." "You thinking of replacing me? You're just doing this to get in good with the boss."

Chela is so mad at Pancho (for calling Rebe instead of herself), she doesn't even make him a lunch.

The plumber Tomas arrives and Adoracion flirts with him. Pina: "Ay, que muchachito!" Tomas takes off his shirt to work, Pina and the maid go crosseyed with delight. They're ecstatic when he says: "All the pipes are rusty and old - I'll have to replace them, it will take a month." ("Or more!" Pina hopes.)

Vince yells at Pancho for everything. Pancho trys to stay calm as Vince pokes him repeatedly and taunts: "you don't have the courage to fire me." Finally Pancho buckles and does (fire him). Vince defies him: "The only way I'll leave here is in a shroud." They take their squabble to Rebe - she thinks they're acting like babies. Pancho doesn't understand why, since half Mexico knows Vicento is robbing the business, he is so intouchable.

Freddy and Elena snuggle at the chat room; Pepe shows up and warns Elena: Freddy doesn't love you and will never take you seriously, and he's boasting of having you in his deluxe love nest.

Lupe is getting better bathrooms for ye olde casa popular. Alex comes and asks, "Don't you like me even a little?" "You're great but I'm sad about Tomas." She's decided not to move the kids out to his grannie's house.

Pancho complains: "I'm a toothless president." Rebeca says "You can't fire Vince," then Vince comes to gloat ("I'm not fired"). Pancho hurls folders at him: "Here, take back your credit cards, we'll pay for your wife, your dog... " and goes home, depressed.

Pina decides to let Candy co-host her show on TV, though she cautions: "I will always be the star." She continues: "There's just one condition: tell me the truth, is my Veens doing it with Chela??" "Of course not!" "But he was spying on your bedroom, looking at you and Chela. If it's not her, then... " "I am not your husband's lover, I've never bedded him, I swear."

Pina decides to throw a party celebrating the re-launch of her show. It will be at Fer's house, Pina will invite the whole world. Vince comes home triumphant. He sticks his love letter Candy's ("you are a hurricane, a sweet caramel...") into her purse.

One final surprise: Dona Fer shows up at Pancho's for dinner!

Labels: familia

LA CASA DE AL LADO

The casa of the title can refer to the Conde mansion with its stylized black and white interior; or it can be the Ruiz digs, where no one talks about the elephant in the room. Literally. It depends on the perspective of the speaker. This shifting perspective is especially evident now that Javier Ruiz inhabits the Casa Conde and Pilar has moved in to keep an eye on him and take care of her sister, Rebeca.

The transition hasn’t been easy for Javier. Intruders – including the entire Conde family – enter as easily as they did before and evil still lurks in every corner.

And then there’s the whole servant problem:

Where’s Nibaldo?
The viewer has seen him lying, bloody and inert – though not necessarily dead – in a public park. The police are called after a young couple spot him. But the only one of our characters who knows about Nibaldo’s misfortune is the one responsible: Ismael.

Hilda is gone too (but only to la casa de al lado, thank goodness).
She agrees to help look after Pilar’s kids – it’s only right. After all, Diego saved her from Javier and Andrea also helped to fend off her monstrous father.

Back to the Future:
On Wednesday we saw Renato accepting a mysterious shipment of books and then “accidentally” dropping a copy of Condenados in front of Emilio. We were nonplussed, especially when we noticed the conspiratorial look Renato and Eva shared.

Then Carola finds her copy of the new book snuck into her handbag and guesses correctly that it must have come from her parents.

But from what we learned last night, it seems as if Novelera’s brilliant deduction was correct – Renato has rewritten Condenados, at least in part. One thing we know: in this new version, Ignacia survives. We’d know a lot more if these people weren’t all such maddeningly slow readers. We’d know, for example, if veneno is still in Sebastian’s future in this edition. (And again, hats off to Hombre for guessing that one!) And of course we don’t know if a murderer’s plans can be derailed by writing out his evil deeds.

The red tongue of the stairway swallows them up and spits them back out, over and over and over. And the house just keeps on laughing.

Pilar marches up the stairs in those wild lemon-colored stilettos. She’s going to check on her sister. But when she hears Rebeca say the word Pilar , she races back downstairs to share the miracle with Javier. She wants him to call a doctor to come and evaluate her. Gladly, he says -- now neither manic nor depressed but rather back at baseline bastard – just withdraw your domestic violence accusation and I’ll do whatever you want.

Meanwhile Ignacia arrives at the front door. Just as she is declaring her love for Javier and begging him to admit he feels the same way, Gonzaki bursts in looking for Pilar: She’s living in this house now, right Javier?

Poor Ignacia. She races angrily up the stairs closely followed by Gonzaki. Fuera de aquí, she screams at Pilar.

Are you nuts? asks Pilar (though we all know this is just a rhetorical question.) You think I’m here because of Javier? ¡Te lo regalo! ¡Quédate con él! I’m here for Rebeca!

Then Pilar turns to Gonzaki: I’m here to protect my sister. And like you said in court, you’re just my lawyer. So butt out, buster!

Pilar struts off on the lemon stilettos and Ignacia clumps back down on her impossibly steep wedgies.

Now Renato bursts through the open door and tells Javier to get lost. Ignacia asked her parents to protect her and that’s what they’re going to do. He insists she come back home with him.

Javier smirks and preens here, telling Renato: You’re the one who needs to get lost. ¡Esta es la casa de papi!

Now the red tongue spits Gonzaki back into the foyer. Javier reflects ruefully that the house is filled with people who hate him. (And the viewer reflects that the trick would be to fill the house with people who don’t hate him.)

Gonzo leaves with these words:
Cuídala, Javier – es la única cosa que tengo en la vida.

And the viewers finally let out their collective breath – Amazingly Pilar hasn’t blurted out Rebeca’s progress to Gonzaki. Yet.

It was a dark and stormy night...
Hilda and Emilio are hosting a party to celebrate their upcoming wedding.
So what if Emilio hasn’t told Hilda he turns tricks for a living?
So what if Hilda still can’t bear to be in the same room as her baby?
So what if the party house has no water? (Sure, you can buy ice and get food delivered – but are they planning to bring in Porta-Potties?)
And so what if crazed killer Ismael is lurking in the shadows?

The heavens weigh in with an opinion – fierce winds, rain, bolts of lightning.

The usual suspects file in ...

While in la casa de al lado, Pilar tells Rebeca she’s just going to pop in on the party and toast to Hilda and Emilio’s happiness. (Better let Sebastián taste the champagne first, Pilar.) Javier is safely in his room and all is well. Va a ser una noche muy tranquila coos the oblivious Pilar to her helpless sister. But the frantic expression in Rebeca’s eyes tells us she knows better. She remembers the terrible things that have happened to her already ...

Outside the storm rages. Pilar stops for an umbrella and steps into the wild of the night.

Inside, Javier, fully dressed, emerges from the shadows.
-----------------------------------------------

OTHER SHOWS

Fans of Mi corazón insiste know that por fin, el fin is on Monday. Then the new Eugenio Siller novela begins on Tuesday: Una Maid en Manhattan. I think I’ll pass – don’t think I’m their target demographic. Anybody in on that one?

Fans of Flor salvaje and Mi Corazón -- les toca a ustedes --

Labels: casa-lado, flor-salvaje, insiste, maid, telemundo

Labels: Fuerza

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Labels: index

Hola, amigos! I hope everyone had a lovely Thanksgiving. Grab a slice of leftover pumpkin pie and settle in for our latest adventure!

Fina tries to threaten Berta into giving her information about what's going on in the family. When that doesn't work, she calls the mansion for Regina but Berta answers for Regi. Fina warns Berta that she is not bluffing and Berta had better show up with the dinero. Berta agrees and gives Regi an excuse about who called.

Regina gives Nata a box of Fina''s pictures and leftover things that were cleaned out of the house. Nata thanks her for does not open the box. Her childhood was not very happy and she wants to enjoy herself at Regi's wedding. Regi shows Nata a picture of Roberto and Regi remarks on the resemblance between Nata and her padre.

Constanza hides Corina and Amparito in a secluded bedroom and Corina plots her next evil move.

Augie and Anibal chat with a mechanic. When Augie steps out of the room, Anibal takes a bag out of the motorcycle and hides it in his coat.

The wedding party is in full swing at La Monterrubio mansion. Honorio and Constanza arrive, as do Ines and Isidro. Everyone is in good spirits and are disappointed that Jero couldn't make it. German and his wife Gema arrive to join the festivities. Chema and Adriana show up as well. I am in love with Adri's baby blue dress; she looks like a million bucks.

Ines and Isidro question the maid about having seen Fina. The maid is certain she saw Berta give Fina a box. A man was with Fina as well, but the maid did not see his face.

Antonio wheels Marina in to visit Jero in jail. Jero is happy to see her but upset that she's out of bed. He will be free in a few hours. Marina cries all over the place and understands why Jero didn't tell Nata. He is always protecting Nata and sparing her feelings.

Monterrubios and Friends toast to the newlyweds. They profess their love for each other anew and make it offical. They sign on the dotted line and share a kiss while everyone cheers, hoots, and hollers.

Fina is furious that she can't do anything to stop Gonzo and Regina's wedding. Blanca claims it's just a piece of paper but Fina's anger knows no bounds. Once the marriage is legal, Fina has lost another man to Regi.

Carlos and Priscila goof off in the lab and Matilde interrupts to tell Carlos they can get married immediately. Priscila pulls a face at the news. Mati shoots Priss a smug smile as she and Carlos lock lips. Priss criticizes Carlos for getting married while Jero is in jail.

Marina does not want to leave Jero's side. Mari tells Jero that she believes the babies can hear and feel everything going on in the outside world. Jero says that they must know how loved they are. Marina cries that she can't wait to have a family and a happy home. Whatever happens, together or separated, Marina's love for Jero will be eternal.

Anibal and Augie visit La Bonita and Allison tells the pair of them that Nata went back to Mexico for her father's wedding. Augie internally jumps for joy at the news that Jero is in jail and Nata knows nothing about it.

Corina complains about the baby crying.

Julieta arrives late to the wedding. German asks who Julieta is and Chema says that Julieta is Matias's girlfriend. Berta ruins everything by ever so innocently bringing up Matias and Adriana's engagement. Chema starts turning red and demands an explanation. Adriana and Matias come clean about their relationship. They try to explain but Chema tells them all to go to hell before storming out of the house.

The Monterrubios explain Chema's situation to Berta, German, and Gema. Adri wanted to make Chema's last days happy by pretending to be his fiancee. Julieta played Matias's girlfriend to keep Chema from catching on. Berta takes offense to not having been told since the entire family already knew about it.

"Why did they lie to me?" Chema wonders as he rips off his tie in anger. "Adriana, I thought you were perfect. How you you do this to me?"

Nata gets a phone call from Augie. He tells her about Jero's imprisonment.

Since he has lots of free time now, Jero reasons out all of Augie and Berta's bad deeds. He decides that Nata has to know about the suspicion that Berta slept with Augie.

Augie claims to only be thinking of Nata. He thought she should know and offers to hire a lawyer for Jero if she wants. Nata says she and Jero will handle the situation; she doesn't even know all the details yet. She hangs up and Augie thinks that now is the time to get Jero out of Nata's life forever.

Adriana calls Ben to tell him that the jig is up. Chema hates her now and she's afraid what he's going to do. Ben agrees to tell Chema the whole truth once they locate him. Adri feels guilty about what happened but Julieta asserts that it's Berta's fault.

As the party winds down, Ines takes note of which champagne glass Nata sits on a nearby table.

Nata calls Carlos and demands to know the truth. Carlos spills the beans; Jero told him to keep it a secret. Jero is fine and was promised that he would be let out in a few hours. Nata cools off and hopes that Jero will be set free soon. If not, Nata will go down there herself and move heaven and earth to get him out.

Gonzo apologizes to German and Gema for the upset. They understand and enjoyed the evening regardless. German claims to have to make a phone call as an excuse to be alone with Berta. He agrees that she is the victim for having been left out of the loop of the Chema secret. (Instead of the guy dying of a brain tumor. Riiight.) Berta swears she never would have said anything if she had known the truth.

Berta thinks to herself that Fina was a good teacher. She followed her mother's old teachings and now everyone feels bad for her. Just for good measure, Berta calls Gema a hag and wonders why he's married to her.

Finally left alone, Gonzo and Regi celebrate they are finally married at last. Nata gives them the news about Jero. The following morning, she is going to catch a flight and straighten things out. Regi and Gonzo offer to change their honeymoon plans and go with her. Nata appreciates the offer but refuses to be the reason they derail their honeymoon.

Upstairs, Berta giggles at her revenge. She got back at Adriana and Matias and now she has to figure out how to free herself from Fina. She worries someone might have seen her and Fina together.

Ines and Isidro discuss their suspicion that Nata is Regina's real daughter. Ines stole Nata's champagne glass so they could test the fingerprints. Unfortunately, the prints were smudged off by Ines's purse. Ines isn't giving up, though. Isidro says they need to be careful. Fina must have a powerful accomplice helping her outside the hospital.

In a split screen, Nata and Jero both express their desires to be near each other in such a trying time.

Augie gets a phone call about a background check on Marina. He asks Anibal to stay at the hacienda. He wants to get to know Anibal more, despite denying the fact that he is his father. Augie thought-bubbles that he needs Anibal around so he can get information out of Allison about what's going on in Nata's life. He plans to look like a saint in Nata's eyes. Good luck with that, hombre.

Avances: Ultimas Semanas! No lo puedo creer! Jero's still in the pen, Nata walks in during Marina's visit, and Augie talks to a shady-looking guy.

Labels: Cuando

Rebe and Pancho offer compliments in alphabetical order. The phone is ringing. She doesn't let him answer right away, and I wonder if he's risking more wrath from Chela, but no, it's Vince and he wants to see Rebeca.

Vince is still snorting Candy's pink envelope, but tucks it away when Rebe gets there. That perfume must be really strong if Rebe can smell it from the doorway! He says it's Sandy's. (He almost says "Candy.") He asks why Rebe always takes Pancho's side. He accuses her of liking him. She tells him it's none of his business, she knows he hired the model to frame Pancho, and she recognizes the perfume as Candy's. Ha! Also, he's despicable and he disgusts her. She leaves him alone to snort the pink letter some more.

Pepe and Freddy ride up together in the Avon elevator. Just when you think it's going to be awkward, Freddy reminds Pepe that they still haven't had their rematch at the track yet. Pepe reminds Fred that it's double-or-nothing. As Fred leaves, Pepe mutters to himself that it's odd Fred didn't mention Mónica.

Alex takes Lupe to Granny's old place. It has a big yard and a swingset and everything. Inside, it looks like a museum, crammed full of beautiful antiques and interesting stuff. There's an office chock-full of books. (Excuse me, I have to wipe some drool.) Alex wants her to have all of it (for the daycare, I guess). She balks. He says he wants her to take the reins of her life, and he's not doing it to mess with her emotions, but does she want to give her life to someone who doesn't deserve it? His grandma would have wanted the house to go to someone who would love it and use it and care for it as she did. Lupe says yes! She gives him a look that clearly says, "I'm thinking about maybe kissing you someday but not right now because I can't take that much awesomeness in one day."

At dinner, Pancho tells Lupita that they all support her and that the legal issues with the Casa Popular Unlicensed Daycare Center have been remedied. It can reopen tomorrow. Pepe tries to leave with a lame excuse, but Chela and Pancho see through it and get him to admit that he's actually going to race Freddy. It's a previous commitment, plus Fred already owes him money from the last time. They don't seem happy about it, but they don't talk him out of it, either.

Rebeca and Barbara rehash. Rebe says that no one else looks at her the way Pancho does. Bar says Rebe quit because of Vince last time; she can't have a relationship at work. She's never been so emotional over a guy before, either; she's going to have to choose between love or a career. Rebe says she doesn't have to choose yet!

Pina tells Adoración to bathe the dog; she's getting stinky. Candy arrives, followed soon after by Vince. (It's a good thing Candy got there first, because if her perfume is as strong as everyone says, Vince must be reeking of it.) In front of Pina, Candy hints around about a video of a model and some sexy photos. Vince nervously scoops way too much ice for his drink. He sits close to Pina and says he doesn't approve of her friendship with Candy. Candy says Pina's an independent woman and doesn't need his permission for any friendship. Candy leaves, but says she'll be back later.

Outside the racetrack, Alex is with Fred, and Tomás shows up for Pepe - I guess he heard about the race and wanted to be there for Pepe. Fred suggests making things more interesting by betting on Mónica. Pepe rejects this ridiculous idea since she isn't his property. I think they say the new watchman won't open the gate for them, so they're going to have to race on the road instead of on the track. (As they rev their engines, I try to figure out the optimum angle for a collision that would bring woe to Freddy and Tomás, while leaving Alex and Pepe unscathed.)

It's a two-lane road: Fred and Alex are on the right side, and Pepe and Tom are on the wrong side. Nobody is wearing a seatbelt, either. Yeah, sure, there's no way this could all end in tears, right? They give each other ugly looks and trash-talk the whole way, but they don't get very far because there's a car coming towards Pepe (big surprise). Oh snap - it's a cop! They try to spin around and get away, but another cop has blocked the road behind them, too.

Pina complains to Vince that because of him, she doesn't have her radio show, her credit card, or any sex; so he doesn't get to pick her friends. Candy's her friend, whether he likes it or not. Vince hints around that Candy might betray her, but the doorbell is ringing like crazy and Adoración is still washing the dog. At the door is Pancho, who demands that Vince leave with him right away. He doesn't even explain why, but apparently Vince is happy enough for an excuse to get away from Pina, because he pauses only to grab his coat.

So Pancho drives Vince to the police station in La Burra. Ungrateful Vince complains about the smell and his allergies and the music on the radio and germs etc. etc. the whole way and even as they enter the police station. They are told that the boys were using the road as a racetrack and that they tried to flee the scene and they weren't wearing seatbelts.

Meanwhile, Pina doesn't have enough to do at home, so she tries to tell Ado how to wash the dog. One of the handles comes off of the bathtub faucet and starts spraying water. (Isn't the one on the left usually the hot water pipe? Not in this house, I guess.) They panic and run into the shower for shelter, but it mysteriously begins to run all by itself, and they get even wetter and more hysterical. Then the sink faucet begins pouring water, and frankly I'd be scared too because that's really not how faucets work!

In their cell, the boys continue to trade unfriendly comments about their racing prowess, incomes, etc. A guard tells them to "calm down or I'll calm you down." They don't stay quiet long, and the drunk in the cell with them (let's call him Otis) complains. Fred gloats that he and Alex have Lupita and Elena and brags about how he took Elena to a luxury hotel suite. Tom nearly strangles him but unfortunately, Pepe pulls him away.

The clerk tells the dads (well, Vince and Pancho - where's Alex's dad?) that they can't pay bail till tomorrow because the safe won't open until then. HA! Pancho has his phone, but Vince forgot his, and the clerk won't let him use the phone there because it's for employees only, and only prisoners are entitled to "one phone call." Pancho and Vince argue over whose fault this is, and the clerk says if they don't pipe down they'll both be arrested for disrespecting authority! Vince grabs the clerk by the lapels and the clerk tells the guard to lock up BOTH of them! Pancho protests, he wasn't being disrespectful, but the clerk disagrees. Vince says he's friends with the chief of police; the clerk replies that his grandmother was Empress Carlota.

Fred and Pepe are surprised when their fathers join them in their cell. Pancho calls Chela to let her know what's happening.

Pina can't seem to get a plumber on the phone and finally thinks to call Candy. Water is beginning to drip down to the first floor. Ado is worried because she doesn't know how to swim. Pina says they'll die together. What fun. (Abeja is perfectly calm, wrapped in a pink towel.) Candy shows up with a monkey-wrench to save them from drowning.

Morning comes. Otis wakes up and says he recognizes Vince, but no one pays any attention. It seems that fathers and sons did not spend much time chatting last night, because only now does Pepe try to explain himself to Pancho. The clerk interrupts; Vince complains about Otis. The clerk says the safe is open now, but (as he failed to mention last night), now that they're in jail, they won't be allowed to pay their fines or those of the boys.

The clerk gives Pancho his phone to call someone to make the payment, and Pancho hesitates, recalling the question posed by Nico and Chacho last week:

Chela?
Or Rebeca?

Find out Monday!

Next time:
Pina finally gets her hands on a real plumber. (Literally? Let's hope so!)

Labels: familia

Recap by Urban Anthropologist

Feliz dia de accion de gracias. Please provide any missing details; I missed a few insults that (as usual) aren't in the dictionary. Gracias.

Antes

Lucia tells Carlota that Camilo has changed; Camilo and Ivan argue; Ivan enquires about Perla's paternity. Carlota orders Maripaz out of the house because she tried to start something with Camilo.


Nuevo

Rancho Socorro: Carlota isn't fooled by Maripaz as Lucia and Tony observe.

Carlota: Leave my house this minute!
Lucrazia: Mama, have you gone crazy?
Carlota: She is the crazy one. Last night she was seen kissing Camilo near the stables. [caballerizas] And don't try to lie!
Maripaz: But he forced me!
Carlota: I know your deceptions. Don't try to blame him. But you are going right now!
Maripaz: But I don't have any money right now and I have to buy a new car.
Carlota: That doesn't matter!
Lucrazia: But Mama. Señor Anthony is here.
Carlota: I'm sorry, Anthony.
Tony: Don't worry.
Carlota (frustrated): [???]
Maripaz (to Lucrazia): But you believe me, don't you? It was him!
Lucrazia (taking her arm to lead her inside): Let's go. (leads her inside)
Alex (touching Tony's arm): Abuelo, should we go?
Tony: Yes, we're going.
Carlota: I'm sorry, but when the blood goes to my head I don't understand such evil!
Tony: Don't worry, Carlota. See you later, Lucia.
Lucia: See you later.
Carlota: I'm sorry, hija, but when Cleto told me I couldn't contain myself. [juantarme?]
Lucia: Me neither, Abue. Don't worry. I can't hold that against Camilo because the other day I ran into Ivan. He kissed me and I returned it.
Carlota: Lucia! Lucia! What are you going to do now?
Lucia: I don't know.


Hacienda Curiel, inside: Maripaz tries to snow Lucrazia about this so she will get her a new car and prevent Carlota from throwing her out on her skanky arse. Lucrazia is looking at her with appropriate suspicion.

Maripaz (complete with her trademark crocodile tears): I'm telling the truth. I was outside having a soft drink when Camilo arrived. I was very upset because Lucia is out of their bedroom. We talked a little then he grabbed me and forcibly kissed me.
Lucrazia: And why didn't you reject him? Why didn't you give him a slap? [cachetada]
Maripaz: How do I hit a man of that size? Who told you this gossip?
Lucrazia: I don't know. Gloria or Cleto.
Maripaz: Then fire them because this isn't the truth. At the moment I can't go because I don't have a car. Where could I go?
Lucrazia: Look, Maripaz, I don't know if you're telling me the truth or not because I know you. I know what a [??] you are.
Maripaz: Alright; if you want, I'll go. But when I get my alimony payment at the end of the month.
Lucrazia (getting up): I'll go see what I can say to your grandmother.
Maripaz (grabbing her arm): Mama, I am your daughter. If you make me go what will happen to me?

Lucrazia really shouldn't care.


Casa McGuire: Tony tells Alex he doesn't want Ivan to know what happened. Benito seconds him. Alex is about to find out more about adultery than any kid his age should know.

Rancho Socorro: Ezekiel and Carmen gossip about Maripaz and what just happened. We find out that Carmen doesn't have a high opinion of the Merry Piece.

Hacienda Curiel: Lucrazia tries to convince her mother not to expel Maripaz. She doesn't want knowledge of this incident to get past the ranch. Lucrazia admits she did a bad job of raising MP. She doesn't want anything on her conscience [she has one?] if anything were to happen to Maripaz. Finally Carlota tells her “one month and not a day more.” She doesn't want Maripaz anywhere near Lucia and Camilo.

Ag Ass Office: JJ tries to blame the fraud on secretarial incompetence, but Antolin isn't fooled. JJ asks why Camilo didn't accept the presidency and Antolin explains that he has other matters to deal with at the moment. Antolin then asks for some vacation time he needs to help Carolina. JJ uses another insulting word I didn't understand, but Antolin doesn't take the bait. JJ plans to dock his pay for those days he'll be out. So much for this being a cushy job.

Hacienda Curiel, Maripaz's Room: Lucrazia tells Maripaz she can stay until she gets her next alimony payment.

Lucrazia: Your grandmother forgave you. Well, it's not that she forgave you but she's allowing you to stay hear one month until you get your alimony payment.
Maripaz: But it isn't my fault! He kissed me first –
Lucrazia: It's of no importance to me who did it first or whose fault it is. The condition is that you stay far away from Camilo. Is that clear? (Maripaz nods) Now prepare yourself for the scandal because your crazy grandmother dragged it in the gutter [del en arroyo] in front of Señor Anthony. Is he going to tell Ivan? You can bet on it. Tomorrow the lawyers will be here to provoke a divorce between Lucia and Camilo. [Is she for real?]
Maripaz: So what if they divorce?
Lucrazia: Look, Maripaz, listen up. You've wallowed in enough mud. [lodo] The pregnancy, then you divorce David, marrying Ivan, then ending up divorced for infidelity.
Maripaz: That was a trick Ivan pulled.
Lucrazia: I don't believe you! It doesn't help your reputation. You killed a woman while driving drunk. And every time I see Antolin near the ag ass he has the nerve to smile at me. He knows I paid money for somebody's silence.
Maripaz: Antolin is a friend, Mama.
Lucrazia: Antolin is nobody's friend, Maripaz! What more do you want? To ruin us completely?
Maripaz: Mama, I assure –
Lucrazia: Don't promise anything because I don't believe you. And if you're so hot to have a man look up Ivan. I know he boinked you every night. If you have that much power over him reconquer him and get back together with him. It's time you rescued your dignity because it's in the dirt. (gets up and exits)
Maripaz: It should only be so easy. Besides, neither are you so dignified. Bastarda!

Just when we thought Lucrazia was showing some sense. She is at least consistent in her indifference to Lucia.


Commercial Break that leads with a promo for La Que No Podia Amar.


Hacienda Curiel: Lucia and Carlota talk about this again, including the possibility of her getting a divorce. Lucia lists the complications of the situation, complications she'd rather avoid. Carlota tells her that she has the same right as any woman to be happy with the man of her choice.

Casa McGuire: Ivan brings Alex a book, but Alex is sad that everything turned to merde when he went to visit Lucia. Ivan tries to get Tony to talk about this, but Tony isn't tattling. He only tells that Maripaz is living there. Nothing else happened, but Ivan isn't fooled, as Tony didn't look him in the eye. Ivan goes out to Alex to show him the books he bought him. Alex spills the frijoles.

Hacienda Curiel: Carlota asks Camilo how he could look her in the eye after kissing Maripaz. She doesn't want to hear any more about it but tells him to come up with a good explanation for Lucia and warns him that gossip spreads quickly.

Hacienda Curiel, Lucia's Room: She talks on the phone about the exam, which is in 15 days. Camilo tries to tell her what happened, but she doesn't want to hear anything. She finally tells him that their marriage isn't working. It's not about what happened with Maripaz, it's that they got married for the wrong reasons. Of course Ivan's name gets into this. Just as he attempts to put the moves on her she is saved by Perlita's crying. Camilo won't be getting any.

Casa Galvan, night: Carmen gossips to Arcelia about what's happened as Antolin walks in. Arcelia isn't buying it. Antolin is incredulous because everyone knows that Maripaz is a Merry Piece. [Maybe someone can translate the phrase he actually used.] Antolin is a bit frustrated that Camilo doesn't want the presidency of the Ag Ass because it would raise his stock with Lucia. However, Arcelia points out that Lucia isn't like that and that love doesn't know from social class.


Commercial Break that leads with a promo for Navidad S.A. where our Tony (Pedro Armendiriz, Jr.) becomes Santa Claus.

Casas Mondragon / McGuire: Judith tells JJ she's going to visit her mother at the end of the week. He tries to get her to talk Esther into returning to him. He actually thinks Esther needs him! She tells him she can't promise anything. When he dismisses her she kisses him and he doesn't kiss her back. Did we ever see him kiss his wife or kids? He calls Tony to talk about the next Ag Ass meeting. Tony tells him that Ivan isn't likely to be there, so JJ asks for David to stand in. Ivan comes in and they talk business. They finally talk about the ugly incident.

Ivan: Why didn't you tell me something happened between Camilo and Maripaz?
Tony: It was nothing, really. Who told you?
Ivan: Alex. Then you left. Does Lucia know?
Tony: Yes, she knows. Lucia was present when Carlota yelled.
Ivan: How did she look? How did she react?
Tony: Disconcerted. Do you believe Camilo would have a relationship with Maripaz?
Ivan: I don't think so. Except that he's changed.
Tony: Over jealousy.
Ivan: Think we should have Maripaz watched by an investigator?
Tony: L.A. is a huge city full of people, multitudes. Por favor, hombre! Maripaz now lives on a ranch. What investigator would be able to infiltrate that? And of course if anything were to happen between them we'd hear about it. No quitas [???]
Ivan: I won't stop.
Tony: Lucia is from a traditional family. Her mother and grandmother – like conservative people – wash the dirty laundry indoors. Not like Maripaz, who doesn't care what anyone thinks of her. I don't think Lucia wants to face the scandal of a divorce.
Ivan: Then she will be unhappy the rest of her life. Because she loves me.
Tony: The only possible way she will be happy the rest of her life is for you to disappear.
Ivan: No. The reason I came here is to fight for her. She is the woman of my life.
Tony: Good luck, then. But I won't do anything to help you.

Tony, you just disappointed all of us.

Casa Lomieli: Antolin tells Gerry and Carolina about this with the goal of getting Gerry to talk to Maripaz. They all understand Maripaz, but Antolin makes the definitive statement that Maripaz isn't happy unless she's hurting someone. Gerry finally decides he needs to speak with both of his daughters.

Casa McGuire / Hacienda Curiel: Ivan reads Alex to sleep (awww!), then thinks about his last meeting with Lucia. Flashback to the chemistry scene. Lucia thinks of the same meeting. Flashback to a different moment.


Commercial Break leading out with the crow image.

Ag Ass Office, the next morning: JJ calls the meeting to order. The discussion of the insurance claim comes up. He actually attempts to blame the “misunderstanding” on the secretary he terminated “for incompetence.” He tells them that the checks will be handed to them in a few days.

Rancho Socorro: Maripaz' new red convertible is delivered. Carmen looks on with resentment.

Ag Ass Office, the next morning: The members want Camilo to take over as president. JJ proposes that it be David. The others object, thinking David would be just like his father. Tony backs him, saying he's honest. Camilo agrees and nominates David.

Town: People are surprise to see Maripaz. Maripaz sees Saul with his cane; to our surprise es impactada. She has lunch with him and El Gordo at an outdoor café. When Saul tells her his father won't help him with his medical issues, Maripaz tells him she would except that her alimony only takes care of herself. When Saul asks why the divorce she tells him “Ivan never could forget Lucia. He made up lies about me to get the divorce.” She tells him that she's at her grandmother's ranch for the moment, but isn't sure of her plans except to get an apartment. Saul welcomes her back and they toast (with beer, which I didn't expect to see her drinking).

Casa McGuire: David explains to Tony and Ivan he's uncomfortable with the possibility that he will have to expose his father's frauds. The first thing he would need to do is get an audit and that would be that. They discuss why Camilo didn't accept (family problems) and David says that someone will have to convince him.

Casa Lomieli: Antolin isn't happy with the situation; he knows Camilo would be an effective head of the association. He has the same conversation with Gerry and Carolina, who point out that Camilo being president would make no difference to his marriage. Lucia loves Ivan, punto. Antolin tells Carolina she's just like his mother, then asks Gerry for her hand in marriage. We're going WTF because Carolina is not even a blood relative but Gerry says OK. The operation will happen first, though.


Commercial Break that leads with a promo for MQB highlights, which will precede the Christmas movie. We return with an image of Camilo and his pet crow.

Hacienda Curiel: Lucia and Carlota talk about the meeting and Lucia's exam. Carlota wants to give a party to celebrate Lucia's degree, but Lucia says to keep it small. Carmen takes her leave of them.

Car, on the road from Rancho Socorro: Saul and El Gordo talk about their upcoming scheme. Carmen is walking toward them, so they stop talking and Saul tells her they're waiting for her and why don't they go out and eat. She accepts.

Casa McGuire: Ivan and Alex talk about whether to go back to LA or stay. Alex wants to stay because of his loved ones being there. Ivan tells him they'll stay and he'll go back to his old school. Ivan calls a lawyer (Zabaleta) about finding out whether Perla is his child.

Zabaleta's Office: They meet and the lawyer tells him they need to order a DNA test.

Casa Mondragon: David arrives to tell JJ he will not accept the presidency. He doesn't want this because the audit he is obliged to order will expose JJ's frauds. He is refusing to cover up his father's wrongdoings,.which JJ expects him to. David finally leaves. JJ speculates on whether Antolin would be the one he can bribe. Typical.

Casa McGuire/Curiel: Ivan calls Lucia to tell him he will be staying and will be enrolling Alex in school. He tells her he misses her and knows she misses him too. She clearly has a hard time trying to put him off. Camilo enters the room and Lucia covers up that she's talking to Ivan. Camilo begs her to return to their room in the house, telling her she is the only woman he loves, etc.. She begs off because of her exam. He kisses her, but she doesn't kiss him back. In fact, she turns her face so he only catches the corner of her mouth. He knows he's lost her.

Carlota sees he's upset and tries to pep-talk him. She tells him to show the great love he has for Lucia and be the man he was before. Por favor, Carlota; you know this is inutile! She encourages him to accept the presidency of the association because the other ranchers would support him. They trust him. Get your self esteem back, man! That would help but not for this, as we know.


♫♫Por amor...♫♫



Capitulo 79: The Beginning of the End, starting with the stupidest criminals in history


Casa McGuire, the next morning: Alex wants to visit Lucia, but he's afraid of Maripaz. Poor kid! Ivan reminds him about the judge in L.A. But Alex says “But Los Angeles is far away.” Smart boy, but Ivan tells him not to worry. [But we should.]

Ag Ass Office; Camilo goes to see JJ to accept the presidency. He gives him the insurance payout check for his own losses; we bet this has to come out of his own pocket.

Rancho Socorro, mostly: Ivan and Lucia talk on the phone. Alex wants to visit her but he's afraid of Maripaz. Ivan is hoping Lucia will come to Casa McGuire once or twice a week to visit. She tells him she can't. She is resigned to her fate. She sent Carmen out of the room with the baby, but later feels the need to tell her not to mention the call. We know how that will end. Gerry arrives.

Town: Antolin and Camilo talk. Antolin congratulates him and tells him that many important people will try to curry favor with him. Camilo says he won't be like Mondragon.

Hacienda Curiel, kitchen: Carmen finds out that Lucrazia will be going out on Monday and calls Saul.

Hacienda Curiel, sitting room: Gerry and Lucia talk about her marital problem. She refuses to be as selfish as Maripaz, but he tells her to think of herself and her feelings. He knows she loves Ivan. She tells him that she has to be the one to tell Ivan and admits that Perlita is Ivan's child. Gerry asks the universe why it is so hard on her.


Commercial Break that leads with a promo for La Que No Podia Amar.

Casa McGuire Ivan and Tony discuss Ivan's next move. Tony doesn't approve of Ivan's intention to force a DNA test on the baby. He doesn't want more trouble. Ivan doesn't want Perla to grow up without her father. Tony reminds him that he is his father although they don't share DNA, and Ivan says that this is completely different. Tony agrees, but says that Camilo is Perla's father. Punto. Ivan won't give up, Tony calls him stubborn, and finally Ivan walks out while Tony relaxes with Bruno.

Hacienda Curiel, sitting room: Gerry and Lucia talk about Camilo and Ivan. Maripaz enters and avoids the discussion Gerry tells her they must have by walking out with a flip comment about how the kiss meant nothing to either of them. As she exits Gerry comments on her cynicism. Lucia tells him not to worry; she'll be out of the house soon and they'll finally have peace. Then she tells him she loves him.

Somewhere there is an anvil waiting to fall.

Hacienda Curiel, Lucia's room, night: Camilo, why can't you leave her alone when she needs you to? She's studying for her exam. He suggests they go out on Sunday en familia like a normal couple. New clothes, etc. She consents. But the kiss he starts doesn't happen. Lucia is still sad.

Angelina's House: Judith visits Esther and Angelina. The latter comments that Esther's idea of divorce is crazy. Judith isn't falling for this. She goes through the motions, but assures her mother that she and David support her decision to divorce JJ.

Alamos, street: Ivan and Alex run into Lucia and Camilo, who are pushing Perlita in her pram. Ivan sees the baby for the first time. It's a hugely awkward encounter between the adults. Alex comments several times on how pretty the baby is. Do 11-year-old boys really talk like that anywhere in the world?

Casa Lomieli: Antolin takes his leave of Carolina to go to D.F. to enquire about the cornea. He will only be gone a few days. Gerry makes a comment about God compensating him for what he does. We ponder the meaning of that statement.

Hacienda Curiel: Lucrazia yells for Gloria to accompany her to the market. Suspense music begins as Lucrazia drives. Two black SUVs enter, surrounding Lucrazia. Three masked men in long-sleeved white shirts come out and pull her out of her car at gunpoint. We can tell that one of them is El Gordo. Gerry arrives, gets out of his car, and gets shot trying to save Lucrazia. He falls into the dirt road clutching his gut. El Gordo throws the pistol on the ground and the kidnappers take off as Maripaz drives up. Lucrazia screams to call the police and an ambulance and Maripaz quickly pulls out her cell phone. We don't see what happened to Lucrazia's car.


Commercial Break

Road out of Alamos: Something has happened to Antolin's car. Someone has stopped to help.

Road back to Alamos: El Gordo calls Saul to admit he screwed up and gets chewed out for his pains. He shot someone and just then Maripaz showed up. He's afraid Maripaz will go to the police.

Road to Hacienda Curiel: Maripaz calls the house to tell Lucia what happened. She has called the police and the ambulance but they haven't gotten there yet. Lucia hangs up and quickly tells Carlota. Carmen is in the room and is impactada because she now understands what was going on.

Road out of Alamos: Judith sees Antolin and offers him a ride back. He declines; his car is being attended to and he's en route to Mexico.

Road to Hacienda Curiel: Gerry is taken into an ambulance. The police talk, then find the pistol. One picks it up with a handkerchief. He doesn't watch La ley y la orden where Briscoe and Curtis use a pen to do this.

Hospital: Lucrazia is impactada that Gerry tried to rescue her. The doctor comes in. Gerry is in serious condition. The bullet perforated his intestine and he's lost a lot of blood. He needs transfusions. The nurse arrives to escort the family in to be tested for type. Maripaz doesn't want to, claiming she's too thin. Carlota isn't letting her off the hook and forces her in.

Hotel: Saul chews out El Gordo as El Gordo noshes on some snack that's a product placement. Carmen calls Saul and calls him out on what this was all about. She's angry at her failure to see through it before and he makes it worse by reminding her that she was their accomplice. She's scared as she tends to a crying Perlita.

Hospital: Maripaz wants to leave and Carlota isn't pleased with that. Lucrazia can't get over that Gerry risked his life for her. Carlota suggests that perhaps Gerry never stopped loving her (Holà, Carlota; have you forgotten about Alicia? Your daughter hasn't.)


Commercial Break The exit shot with Gerry and Lucrazia is the anvil waiting to fall. And this is not a Road Runner cartoon.

Casa Lomieli: Camilo and Lucia arrive to tell Carolina what happened. Camilo tries to be optimistic, but Lucia thinks they should be prepared for the worst because the doctor wasn't hopeful.

Hacienda Curiel: Carmen asks Maripaz how her father is. She says that she doesn't know but thinks he will die. As she exits Carmen says “Dear God, don't permit this.”

Hospital: The doctor allows Lucrazia to see Gerry, whose heart is weak. Carlota whispers “Dios mio, salvalo.” The doctor tells Lucrazia that they have administered pain medication and antibiotics to fight the infection from the gunshot. The next few hours are very important. The music becomes ominous. Lucrazia is clearly upset as she tells Gerry to fight for his life. His daughters need him and... she always loved him despite her inability to show it. He says that he loved (querer) her but that it didn't work. He asks to see Alex and Carolina. Lucrazia suggests that it wouldn't be good to see Alex now but that Camilo and Lucia went to get Carolina.

Camilo and Lucia arrive with Carolina, who is next to go in. Lucia calls Ivan to explain. After filling Tony in he exits.


Commercial Break that leads with promos for Navidad S.A. and for Una Familia Con Suerte

Casa Mondragon: JJ refuses the coffee the maid has prepared for him, demands his tequila, and Judith enters. She tries to explain to him why Esther won't come back. He complains that he tried to raise them strictly and all his children have failed him. She lets him know that he's done her mother wrong in a variety of ways and he gets on her case for criticizing him. Finally, when she tells him not to drink he defiantly down a shot of tequila and tells her to leave him alone.

Judith, get the hell out of there before you become the Tita of this family. That is a tradition worthy of death.

Casa Galvan: Carmen tells Arcelia about the attempted kidnapping and the shooting. She's very upset.

Casa McGuire: Ivan explains the school situation to Alex, then sits him down to tell him about Gerry. He tells him there are times to be strong and brave, like when he went from living with Gerry to living with him. Now is another such time. Alex realizes that Gerry might die.

Hospital, Gerry's Room: This is not looking good.

Carolina: Why did you try to save Lucrezia? Why?
Gerry: Because she is the mother of my daughters.
Carolina: But she always despised you.
Gerry: Carolina, this is not the time for this.
Carolina: [???] I love you. You were my friend, the only one always at my side. You always worried about me.
Gerry: Now you have Antolin. He loves you very much. Marry him. It will bring you peace.
Carolina: You have to get better. Promise me.
Gerry: I need to ask you a favor.
Carolina: Whatever you want.
Gerry: It's for my daughters. Lucia needs help and love. Maripaz... isn't good. Advise her. Keep her from going from bad to worse. Help her, please.
Carolina: Don't ask this, Gerardo. You will get out of here. You'll help your daughters as you always meant to.
Gerry: No. I don't think I will get out of here. En el fondo, it's OK. I'm tired. It's hard to hear.

The bright light and flatline sound.

Carolina keeps repeating his name. The doctors rush in. As Carolina trips over her cane the doctors apply the defibrilator twice but it's no good.

Doctor: Lo siento, Señorita. Esta muerto.

To die for a cause is a common evil; to die for nonsense is the devil – Henry Fielding


Avances:

Muchas lagrimas, an arrest, and another confrontation.


Vocabulary:

caballeriza stable
cachetada slap
collon or coyon ???? but definitely an insult
del en arroyo drag in the gutter
fichita ???? but definitely an insult (not sure of the spelling either)
lodo mud

Labels: Fuerza