Caray, Caray!

I'm just filling in for Amanda tonight while she studies for final exams. Thanks for letting me do this one, Amanda, and good luck!

After hearing Fern and Omar (mostly Omar) plotting to send Lety to Africa during the wedding, Lety returns to her office to remind herself why she's felt so torn lately: she reads The Letter again. She realizes that nothing has changed; Fernando was just following Omar's instructions, step by step. He never had any intention of canceling the wedding.

Lety sticks The Letter in a drawer and stews.

Final meeting preparations

Marcia interrupts Lety's stewing to ask where Fern is. Then, spying the folders on Lety's desk, she asks again about the report for the Big Meeting. Lety says she needs to make copies and will be ready in ten minutes. Marcia says it's time now and everyone is waiting except Ariel and Ana Leticia. Marcia ironically offers to reschedule the meeting for Lety's convenience. Lety snaps that she will be ready in TEN MINUTES. Marcia is outraged by Lety's arrogance and says she's stupid to take such a tone with her. She's not in the mood. Lety is equally outraged by Marcia's attitude and replies in kind!

Why fight with your unfaithful fiance who hates you when you can pick on an underling, right?

Marcia says it's obvious that they can't stand each other, and someone will have to go. Lety agrees, saying that after the meeting, she's going away and never coming back. Then they'll be through with one another. (I am not doing this scene justice - you really have to see the determination on Lety's face and the ice in her voice!)

Marcia starts grabbing at the folders and wants Lety to sign something. Lety stops her. Marcia seems to thinks this is some sort of trick on Lety's part. She thinks Lety will tell Fern that Marcia made her quit. However, she (Marcia) is ready for anything.

Lety says the only thing Marcia needs to prepare for is Lety's resignation. Marcia dares her to quit because she doesn't want to see her any more after the meeting. She will throw Lety out, otherwise. Or else she will leave Conceptos herself. (Remind me again why it would be bad if Marcia left Conceptos?) Marcia stomps out.

"Poor woman," Lety mutters to herself. She picks a few pages out of each folder and throws them away. She pulls some other pages out of her drawer. Then she starts typing her resignation. (Amazing... I would have finished mine days ago!)

Meanwhile, despite her waitress dress, Alicia is desperate not to serve the coffee at the meeting. She tries ordering PM, Lola, Sara, and Juana around. She claims that she could tell Humberto that they refused to help her, and then they'd be fired just like that. (She snaps her fingers imperiously.) PM laughs at Alicia for forgetting to make arrangements with a caterer.

As Marcia enters the executive lobby, Alicia shares with the cuartel her flimsy theory that her boss outranks their bosses, and therefore she outranks them. Seeing Marcia, who is standing behind Alicia and listening with interest, Sara and Lola nod with polite amusement as Alicia tells them that Lola's boss (Marcia) is merely a simple production executive, and therefore Alicia outranks the secretary of the dumb so-called production executive.

Marcia claps sarcastically and asks Alicia for an explanation. Alicia whines "Aaaaay, Marcia," and says that none of them would get Humberto's coffee. Marcia asks where are the waiters. Alicia admits that she hasn't called them yet. Marcia asks whose responsibility it is. Alicia admits it is hers.

"So who's gonna serve the coffee?" Marcia asks. Alicia points in the general direction of the cuartel. (The Socratic method doesn't work on everyone.)

Marcia hollers at her to serve the coffee! Alicia is shocked. "I am going to have to serve coffee?" she asks in horror. "What, should I do it?" Marcia answers. Alicia says it would pain her to see it, but if Marcia really wants to do it... "Go and serve the coffee to Humberto, Alicia," Marcia replies firmly. She snaps her fingers at Alicia!

Humiliated, Alicia whines "Marrrrcia" again, and says she could have asked in a nicer way. Marcia smugly replies, "The dumb production executive manager outranks the president's secretary." She orders the cuartel back to work.

In Omar's office, Fern struggles with the Card of the Day. He says he's in love with Lety. What is he supposed to write in that card? He's going to marry someone else! Omar says come on, this is the last time you'll ever have to do this. It's our last chance to convincer her.

Marcia interrupts to remind them to come to the meeting. After she leaves, Fernando mutters, "I cannot stand her. I was just standing here, and you know what I felt? Repugnance. I don't want to be with her because I cannot stand her." Omar says that's no way to talk about the woman you're going to marry!

Marcia tries to get Luigi into the boardroom. He protests, not wanting to go to a meeting full of horrible numbers.

Alicia passes by with one (one!) cup of coffee. Luigi teasingly asks if she took a 3-week intensive course for ["famulla," not in my dictionary] service professionals. She is full of surprises. She's Alicia in Wonderland. (I don't get a lot of the discussion after that. I think the idea is that the people in the cafeteria will only give her one cup at a time because they don't like her. Heh, go figure.)

More last-minute preparations

Alicia brings Humberto his coffee. She passes the cup right under Teresita's nose! She tells Humberto that the people in the cafeteria are very busy. (Marcia and Luigi enter.) Alicia says it's no problem - she likes to help out when other people won't. She says they know she's not lazy or spiteful.

Teresita asks when the waiters are coming and asks for a cup of tea. Lopez asks for some coffee. Luigi asks for some tamarind juice and donuts. He thinks donuts will cure his discomfort because talking about numbers makes him feel lousy. Lopez adds that he wants his coffee without sugar.

Alicia slinks out of the boardroom. Marcia follows and asks why she hasn't called the caterers yet. Flustered, Alicia says she didn't get around to it because she was overwhelmed with the Cannes event and having Tomas at her place last night. She has problems. Tomas has disappeared.

Marcia emphatically says she doesn't care. She doesn't whine, even though her problems are much bigger than Alicia's. She advises Alicia to work out her problems with the cafeteria. Alicia wants Marcia to order the cafeteria workers around. Marcia says she can't order people just to demean them.

Meanwhile, in the Fea-Cave, Lety signs her letter of resignation, gathers the reports, and gets up. "Ready," she says. "Don Fernando, Doña Marcia... they don't know the surprise that awaits them," she mutters in self-satisfaction. She takes a deep breath and goes into Fern's office. She looks at the Golden Lion on Fern's desk and again remembers Psychic Guy's prediction that all the things that have sustained her will disappear, and then her fight for survival will begin.

Lety's ready - let's get started!

Marcia goes back into the boardroom, where people are getting impatient. Marcia says they can't start without Ariel and Ana-Leticia. Humberto asks where is Lety. Marcia picks up the phone.

Passing through the lobby, Omar considerately re-re-rehashes why Fern needs to make up with Marcia. Fern leans in between Lola and Sara curiously. "I'm finishing something," Lola says. "I've already finished," Sara adds.

Lety comes out of Fern's office clutching the reports. Fern asks if they're ready. With ethereal serenity, Lety says she needs to make up some special binders and is missing some photocopies. Fern urges her to hurry. Everyone is waiting. She says she needs ten more minutes (apparently a different ten minutes than the ones she told Marcia about). She assures them that soon they will finish everything. (Neither man detects anything odd about her manner.) She drifts away to the copy room. Omar tries to lift Fern's spirits and reminds him to breathe.

In the boardroom, Luigi tells the senior Mendiolas of all the job offers he's been receiving lately, in LA and Miami. With a perfectly straight face, Humberto slaps him on the shoulder and asks when he'll be leaving! Luigi looks hurt. "Luigi, you cannot abandon us," Teresita protests. "No way!"

They are all startled by Fern and Omar's arrival. Fern greets everyone loudly and kisses Teresita, Luigi (who looks offended again), and Humberto. He makes a big show of hugging and kissing Marcia, and tries to ignore her cold, suspicious look.

Humberto asks why the meeting is starting so late. Fern says Ariel and Ana-Leticia haven't arrived yet. He complains about how disrespectful they are. Humberto wants to look at the report right away. Fern and Omar cheerfully say that Lety is bringing them, and everything is perfect. "Perfect," Omar echoes. "Perfect," Lopez repeats. "Super-perfect," Marcia adds
sarcastically. Fern kisses her cheek. Marcia rolls her eyes. At Teresita's behest, they all sit down.

Luigi asks why they are so cheerful. Fern takes Marcia’s hands and kisses them. He restates his commitment to marry her this weekend, and tells them to smile. Teresita said she never doubted it. Humberto says he never would have forgiven him otherwise. (Gulp!)

Nervously, Fern announces, "Pencils for everyone!" and starts throwing pencils around.

Impatience sets in

The cuartel interrogate Lety as to why she is going back to the copy room. Lety says she needed to correct an error. (And the award for the 2006 Telenovela Understatement of the Year goes to... Lety!) PM says it's not like Lety to wait till the last minute. Lety says that when it comes to correcting mistakes, better late than never. Lola hints that Lety could be run out of there (fired?) if she doesn't hurry up. Lety says no problem - she'll run herself off.

Ariel steps off the elevator with the look of a snake who thinks he's found a nest full of eggs. Lety tells him she's just fixing up some folders. He tells her he's looking forward to seeing the report. She pats his arm (!!!) and assures him that he'll love it. She continues on her merry way, and Ariel brushes his arm. (Reminds me of the time Fern brushed off his chair after Ariel sat in it, or the time Lety brushed off her chair after Fern sat in it!)

Just as Ariel is about to enter the boardroom, Alicia comes in holding a tray. She loudly complains that she has to do everything. Ariel is amused that she is now serving coffee. She says Conceptos is full of useless people, and she has a great sense of responsibility.

She asks the cuartel if she's had any calls (no doubt thinking of Tomas). They say no. Ariel is even more amused. He asks if her boyfriend has reported to her yet. He asks if she got the 500,000 pesos for her car. She says she did. He says she could have gotten more since she can also do waitressing. (She claims that the outfit is just a coincidence.) He says she'd be a sexy waitress and could put on one of those maid outfits like you see in pornos. Listening to Ariel humiliating Alicia, it is hard to believe that this actor will soon have his own talk show. He must be really good! He teases her some more about his alleged "friends" who would surely pay her to serve them.

Alicia maintains a neutral expression and asks Ariel to open the boardroom door for her. He agrees, then stares fixedly at her butt with a juvenile smirk as he follows her to the door.

And now the meeting starts

In the boardroom, Fern is asking when is Ariel going to grace them with his presence, when Ariel suddenly graces them with his presence. Luigi gets up and makes a big point of moving to the opposite end of the table! Ariel and Fern taunt one another sarcastically. Fern insists this will be a great day, and Ariel insinuates that it won't.

Humberto interrupts, asking them not to fight or make sarcastic comments. He adds, "Ariel, at least say hello." Ariel apologizes and says "hi, how are you... PAPA. Teresita, precious as always... MAMI."

Teresita is charmed. Humberto doesn't react. Omar makes a "can you believe this guy?" face. Fern is outraged! He asks Alicia where are the waiters? And why did she only serve a few people? He tells her to bring coffee for himself, Omar, and Ariel... and also an antacid for Ariel. Ariel laughs mirthlessly and suggests tranquilizers and a doctor for everyone else. Alicia whines that she's tired. Teresita says "just bring coffee for everyone." Luigi is not happy with the stuff she brought him - he wanted donuts, not calorie-laden cake (I must have translated the foods wrong - donuts are way worse than cake) and he asked for tamarind water, not soda which gives him gas. Lopez tastes his coffee and makes one of his incredible faces. He says he didn't want sugar. (At least Luigi adds, "please, your highness.")

Fern fidgets uncomfortably.

Alicia leaves the room, whines to herself that it must be Friday the 13th, and then recounts everything that I have just told you, but not as thoroughly or as delightfully. She asks Lola, Sara, and PM if her phone has rung. "NO," they chorus. "Tomas, you're never going to show up with my money," she thought-bubbles. That's right - she said "MY money." You just gotta love Alicia. Well... someone's just gotta love her. Somewhere...

Okay, maybe the meeting starts now?

Don't be silly. It's only 8:42. We've got at least ten more minutes before anything interesting can happen.

As Celso plays mournful harmonica music, Tomas pulls up in the Swigglemobile. He says, "hey kid, do me a favor. Call Lety and tell her that Tomas is here." Celso scrambles to comply. Tomas pompously tells Celso to hurry up, because he's a very important person. His voice trails off a little at the end as he realizes that he won't be getting VIP treatment much longer.

Inside, Lety returns from the copy room, and Lola and Sara advise her to hurry. Lety says she needs to get some things in her office. PM offers to hand out the reports for her while Lety does that, but Lety says she'll be real quick. Really. The cuartel worry.

Celso calls and Sara answers. She is surprised to hear that Lety's boyfriend is looking for her. They all wonder what's going on and worry about her odd behavior.

Lety takes the call in her office. Celso passes the phone to Tomas and says it's Lety. Tomas says, "that's licenciada Leticia Padilla Solis, to you!" Tomas asks if he needs to pay to use the phone. Celso tells him that it's free. "It should be, since I had to wait," Tomas grumbles. Celso wonders aloud why a guy who drives a convertible would worry about the cost of a phone call. Tomas retorts that rich people are careful about how they spend their money!

Tomas reports that the car is as clean as new. Lety says that he can't come up now because the meeting is about to start. Tomas says he's not interested in going up there anyway, since he's got some unfinished business... did Alicia ask about him? Exasperated, Lety says she wouldn't know. She tells Tomas to give all of the paperwork and car stuff to Celso, then go to her house and wait for her there.

Tomas asks if she feels badly. She says yes. He asks what happened. She says nothing yet, but it will be the end of everything. He says whatever happens, call him and he'll come for her, he'll take a taxi or a bus, whatever, and he will be there for her. She's not his boss any more, but she is his friend, his very best friend.

Tomas throws the phone at Celso. Celso misses, and the phone falls apart. Celso calls Tomas a joker.

It's 8:47 - it'd be okay with me if the meeting started now

Alicia passes through the lobby with another trayload of coffee. She overhears Lola, Sara, and PM gossiping about Lety and her boyfriend. Alicia asks if the mustached corncake's boyfriend is around. (Wow, she's not even trying to be sneaky about it now!) Sara says yes he is, is that a problem? Alicia says it doesn't matter to her.

Just then, Irma joins them. Everyone rushes to greet her and tell her there's no work for her today because of the Big Meeting. Irma points to the ceiling. Everyone looks up, and Irma sneaks away to work! They chase after her. Left alone in the lobby, Alicia tells herself that Tomas is going to pay her.

Meanwhile, in the boardroom, Luigi is telling his captive audience that he partied until 4 that morning and was such a mess that Ruli (his boyfriend) had to carry him to bed. Just then, Marcia gets off the phone and says they might as well start. Ana-Leticia is only just now getting up. I think Luigi says it's a good thing because the rest of his story is too private to share.

Just then, Lety enters with the reports. She greets them all in a solemn tone. Fern and Ariel stare at one another with smug satisfaction, each thinking he knows something the other doesn't.

YES!! Let the meeting BEGIN!!

Tomas says goodbye to the car. His farewell reminds me of Alicia's loving words to her old car from the Bolsa Roja day; but, while Alicia felt that she and her car were twins separated at birth, Tomas tells the Swigglemobile that they are from two different worlds. He laments that he, Alicia, and the car cannot be together as a dynamic trio. He pretends to take his wife Alicia to a nice restaurant and ask for a special table. (He is doing this out loud, in broad daylight.)

"CELSO? CELSO!!" Alicia's screeches float across pavement. Tomas hurriedly hides behind the car. Celso says he was just there. Tomas scurries around back as Alicia comes around to his side. Celso mentions that Tomas was there to leave the papers for the car with him. Alicia asks if Tomas asked for her. Celso doesn't know why Lety's boyfriend would ask for Alicia. She says forget it. Alicia unleashes a string of epithets, some of them negative and directed at Tomas, some of the positive and directed at the car. Huddling against a rear tire, Tomas listens in confusion and clutches the checkbook in sheer terror! (I'm not sure why he has this - wasn't Lety going to turn it over today?) As Alicia runs back into the building, whining "no puede ser," he stands up to watch her retreating figure.

Tomas counts the change in his pocket, complains about his poverty, and catches a bus.

Meanwhile, inside, the cuartel have caught up with Irma and try to get her to go home. Irma says if there isn't any work for her to do, she'll make something up. She goes back to Luigi's lair and Sara, Lola, and PM wonder what's so awful at her house that she doesn't want to be there.

They notice the abandoned coffee tray and joke about the coffee's hotness. Alicia comes back and they laugh at her.

Less than five minutes left

Tomas is already at Lety's house. (Apparently, the buses in Mexico City are not only cheap, but can travel at warp speed.) He is disassembling Filmo-Imagen's computer. He explains to Julieta that he will to take it to Conceptos and asks if she has money for a taxi. (The answer is no.) He complains about being without a car, poor; before and after; without a cell phone, disconnected from the world. Lety touches his cheek sympathetically.

All hope is lost; stop reading now

Lety hands out the folders. Before anyone can open them, Alicia bursts through the door with the tray. They all watch her struggle, but no one offers to help. :-)

Humberto says, "I imagine that you will stay for the meeting." Alicia answers "yes, of course!" Fernando says that his father was referring to Lety. He says Lety will certainly stay; it's her balance sheet. Ariel says he's looking forward to what the licenciada has to say.

Fernando tells Alicia that the coffee is cold. He tells her to get some ice cubes. It'd be better iced than medium-tepid. Omar says it's not completely horrible. Fernando asks where are the waiters. She acts surprised that they haven't arrived yet. He tells her to take everything away. She gathers everything up and struggles out the door with the tray - again, no one helps her.

Humberto tells Lety to sit down. She takes a seat at the head of the table, between Fern and Marcia. Marcia's body language is pretty plain as she turns her body towards Humberto, away from Lety and Fern.

Humberto says that before anyone opens their folders, he wants to go over some rules. First, they will review the report and they will make their comments. Does everyone agree?

Ariel says he has no problem with that. He's not in a hurry, and he's very interested in what they have to say. (This is at least the third time he's said that tonight.) Teresita adds that they mustn't convert this meeting into a battle. When she and Humberto left London, it wasn't just for a reunion or a wedding. They also want to have a nice meeting. (Luigi looks worried. Lopez looks bored.) Whatever problems Fern and Ariel have, should be handled as a family, with affection. Humberto adds similar thoughts about being respectful, etc. and says "okay, start."

Luigi makes a flippant remark about the folders being cute and having their names in them. He sees notepads and thinks they should pass notes like in school. Everyone else opens their folders quietly.

Fern opens his folder and as he reads silently, we hear Omar's voice in Fern's head. "My esteemed president, here are your instructions..."

It is The Letter.

Fern looks up in shock, to meet Omar's terror-stricken eyes. He continues reading:

"...to continue your horrible campaign with Lety."

Wouldn't that be awful? It's like those greeting cards where you open them up and they play music. But this would be a talking Carvajallmark.

Fern looks at Lety. Lety just stares into space.

"I've told you the cards that you should put on your monster's desk each morning. Don't forget because I am not going to be here to remind you. (Omar giggles.) If you're sufficiently motivated, go to bed with her."

---

Mañana
The Big Meeting is underway. Will the waiters ever arrive? Hungry people can be very grumpy...

Labels: fea

EPISODE 51 - December 12, 2006:
* at the cemetery, MA finds Clemente crying and laying at Aurora's grave. They hug (oh, happy, tearful reunion!)

* Delores and Nicolas walk through the little fishing village in the Xochimilco forest. They are searching for the mystery man who ran away from Delores. As they are talking, the man appears - Delores shouts Edgar! He's Alive! Delores runs over to hug her brother (another tearful reunion). Edgar is surprised and stands there bewildered. Nicolas excuses himself and leaves. Delores wants to talk, but Edgar wants her to leave him in peace.

* kneeling beside Aurora's grave, Clemente and MA apologize to each other. They realize the most important thing is that they are together, as father and daughter. More hugs.

* Delores wants Edgar to return to Cuencas with her - He won't go back - She doesn't understand why not? - they discuss her charges in his murder.

* Still at the cemetery, MA asks Clemente why he left the palace. Clemente holds his head and talks about his severe headaches and that he can't remember anything. MA helps him up and will take him to her home to rest. As they stand up, Clemente gets another severe headache and gets dizzy - He can't see anything!

* In the palace office, Gabriel presents Jossie with the papers rescinding the divorce, as she requested. So, now, Gabriel is holding Jossie to her promise of letting him see Luisito.

* Delores and Edgar realize that they need to talk, about who tried to kill him. He's scared and paranoid of everyone. She swears on her knees that she had nothing to do with it - she is innocent, completely innocent. He's still angry. She says what is important is that she is there with him; she has found her son and wants to find out the truth of his murder attempt. She stands up and starts to walk away - Edgar pauses and then calls to her. He apologizes and forgives her. They hug.

* At the palace, Gabriel visits Luisito in his bedroom. Gabriel says that he and Jossie have worked out the problems so he can visit everyday. Luisito doesn't understand why he can't leave the room - he feels like he's in prison, and no one can visit, especially not MA. Gabriel tries to vaguely explain.

* MA is at the Red Cross hospital phone. She calls Leo and tells him that she found Clemente and where they are now. Leo hangs up, tells Candy the news and quickly rushes out of the apartment.

* Gabriel stops Rogelio at the foot of the stairs in the living room. They have a serious father-son discussion about Rogelio's attitude and lifestyle. Gabriel shocks Rogelio by suggesting they live at the apartment together. Their talk is interrupted briefly when Candy calls to notify Gabriel that MA and Clemente are at the Red Cross hospital.

* At Edgar's cabin, Delores tells him who Nicolas is and they can trust him. Delores explains that they think Miriam and Jossie had something to do with the murder attempt. Edgar and Delores discuss the possible motive - Miriam's secret. Delores convinces Edgar to return to Cuencas to see his daughter Karen and she tells him of her son, his nephew.

* Belen and friend are talking at the street-side park cafe about Sylvester. Sylvester approaches with the good news - MA found Clemente.

* Leo is hugging and consoling MA at the Red Cross hospital waiting room. Gabriel enters and listens to the conversation before interrupting to find out about Clemente. Leo tells him the preliminary diagnosis (Clemente is blind and disoriented).

* Rogelio meets with Miriam and Jossie in the living room and tells them that Gabriel fired him from the firm. Miriam is shocked and gives him support. Then Rogelio informs them that Gabriel wants him to move to the apartment now. Jossie wonders where Gabriel is, and Rogelio tells her about Candy's call - that MA is at the Red Cross hospital with Clemente.

* In the waiting area, Gabriel talks with MA.

* Rogelio and Karen are on their jog around the lake. They discuss Rogelio being co-owners with Tiberio in the strip club - Rogelio thinks it is ironic and has an idea of getting revenge on his wife Di, who he tells Karen is an ex-stripper.

* Otilia, Soraya and Di are at the store office discussing Di's former employment as a table dancer and stripper.

* Miriam and Jossie rush into Clemente's room at the hospital and act shocked and horrified that he is there. Gabriel explains briefly. Clemente wakes up. Jossie and Miriam go to his bedside and start talking to him - he is confused and doesn't know them - he is scared. (Hmm, just like Aurora?)

* Tiberio sneaks into JC's office and takes a look at the project on JC's computer. Tiberio stands up and then acts innocent as JC enters. As Tiberio leaves, he thinks about a way to get the upper hand against JC.

* Pau enters the hospital and passes Leo at the nurse's station. Pau faints and Leo grabs her before she collapses. Leo gets her in to see a doctor immediately.

* Rogelio storms into Soraya's apartment - he confronts Di. She defends herself and tells him to leave and not return - he makes a threat before leaving.

* Simona stops Tiberio in the front hall - she wants to talk with him about Belen right now.

* In the hospital waiting area, Jossie goes for coffee. Miriam stays behind. Candy enters, sees Miriam and starts to confront Miriam about why she's there. Leo enters and says hello to his mom and Miriam. He wonders what the two were discussing. Candy evades the question and rubs Miriam's face in the fact that Leo is her loving, precious son now.

* Simona confronts Tiberio about using and discarding Belen the way he did. Tiberio is cold, and turns it around as being Belen and her problem, not his. He leaves for the office. Simona is fuming.

* In the office, Tiberio has a private tantrum about Belen and vows to get revenge on her. He turns on the symphonic music and takes off his tie.

* Regina comes home and finds Simona sitting in the alcove crying. Regina wonders why - Simona says it is nothing. They hear the music - Tiberio is in the office.

* Leo gives MA and everyone the bad news about Clemente's sight and memory loss. It may be permanent. Jossie blames MA for everything. Gabe, Leo and Candy defend MA - MA claims not to need it, she can defend herself. Miriam asks Leo to keep them informed about Clemente, Leo agrees, and Miriam escorts Jossie out of the hospital. MA then breaks down in Leo's arms.

* Edgar is in a bathroom, giving himself a haircut and a shave and taking a bath - he is getting ready for his return to Cuencas.

* It is getting late, JC has finally finished his work for the night and shuts down the computer. He leaves to go find Pau.

* Tiberio sneaks into JC's office and opens the computer. He laughs to himself about the big surprise JC will receive when he presents the project tomorrow.

* At the palace, Miriam assures Jossie that all will be fine. Miriam goes up to bed. Jossie gets some brandy and as she starts to hum to herself, she thinks she sees something breeze past. She returns to dancing, drinking and humming. The mystery man runs passed the door in the shadows. As she sits down on the sofa, he snaps the breaker and the house goes dark. She gets up and finds some matches to light the candles on the table. As she sits back down with her brandy, the mystery man rushes passed the door again - she is getting spooked.

* Gabriel is talking with MA in the waiting room. Leo and Pau enter - Pau hugs her dad - Leo explains why he is late returning, Pau's exam. Gabriel is curious - Pau hesitates in answering. JC joins the group - Pau smiles, hugs JC and exclaims that she's PREGNANT! (HUGS GALORE!)

* KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK! on the front door. Jossie answers it. She looks at the person in the shadows - the person doesn't say anything - she passes her candle up to his face and he says "Remember me, Jocelyn?" Jossie screams and takes a step backwards, "NO! NO! YOU'RE DEAD! YOU'RE DEAD!"

ADVANCE for Episode 52: The good news - JC and Pau are expecting their first baby! The bad news - Edgar has returned and wants revenge.

Labels: mundo

Read more »

Labels: index

Cesar takes a picture of Lovely Liliana and Alejandro in a magnificent liplock. Then he says “Hello!” Oops! Liliana breaks away and the blush on her cheeks matches the bright red of her blouse, and then some. Among other snide asides, Cesar tells them he came right on in out of habit from the good old days and anyway, Alejandro, don’t you believe in closing the door, imbecile? (For once, I find myself agreeing with.... Cesar?) He is grinning from ear to ear. He taunts Alejandro and Liliana, about what Miranda will think when she finds this lovely photo on her computer because, now that Liliana is supposedly being so rude, he is going to e-mail it to her. Cesar has one heck of a good thrill rubbing the “high and mighty” lawyer lady’s nose in her shame at being caught in her moment of abandon.....and asks how this is going to look from an ethical standpoint, being the lover of her client. “What a shame. Poor Miranda! Just what do you think she will have to say when she finds out? She is the only one who still believes in being faithful to her mate.” Alejandro threatens to kill him if he says anything to his wife. (Uh, sorry, Alejandro. The horse is out of the barn. That train has left the station. It is spilt milk.........) Liliiana says something lame to defend herself and but well, he’s already sending the photo to Miranda. Alejandro lunges for him and stops as Liliana warns him off. Cesar says one word from him and he goes back to the slammer if he even touches him. She accuses him of having the judge in his pocket. Then Liliana tries to warn Alejandro off again but too late. He punches Cesar in the mouth. (Yeah, Cesar deserved it, but Alejandro just sucks when it comes to an instinctive sense of self-preservation.)

Nuria is wondering if she can climb over a high wall there at the nutty nunnery, in order to escape when one of the nasty nuns forces her to take her pill without any water. “Just use your saliva.” Nuria complains it is choking her, but the nutty nasty nun just laughs at her and leaves. Nuria is one step ahead of this sister of Satan and pulls out the pill from inside her cheeks and pockets it. “I am not crazy and I don’t need this medicine.”

Back at Fernanda’s newly reclaimed manse, people are wondering where Bertha is. Apparently, she hasn’t bothered to come down or to walk the dog. Fernanda is determined to get everyone out of her clutches by finally kicking her out of the house. Fabricio says not before he has his son back, safe and sound. Bertha might do anything to that baby. He and Florencia then ask Charo if Nuria ever confided in anybody and possibly this might let them know where she could likely have gone. Charo says Louis Alberto or Santiago are the only two she ever spoke of. So Fabricio eventually calls LA to ask him to meet him to give him any information about Nuria. LA says he’ll call back with a place and a time. Afterward, Florencia tells her husband that she wants only to see her child returned before she dies. She says that she knows her end is close because every day she can look in the mirror, her eyes are more circled, and she is weaker. At least she has the consolation that Nuria is with Enrique and will not let anything happen to him. Fabricio is having a hard time handling this.

Still nobody has heard from Miranda and the family figures she might have rested over night somewhere along the way. Miranda, on the other hand, is selfishly keeping her whereabouts from them all. (Hiding from Alejandro I can understand, but why hide from her immediate family? This character should wear a sign on her back that says: "Kick me. I deserve it.")

Renata gets a visit from Erica and Veronica and Raul. They compliment Veronica on her talk about AIDS. Vero definitely has her head on straight now. The conversation turns to Juan’s proposition and Renata admits she thinks it is idiotic. Anyway, now the lawyer is in the middle of getting the papers for the divorce put together. If he will not give her one willingly, then she will go to court.

Miranda is getting everything organized at the chocolate plantation ("I am woman, hear me roar"). She still selfishly refuses to let anybody know she is there or when she arrived or anything. Gabino tells her he is a bit worried about Naty’s crazy-lady predictions. He tells her that Naty is sure her father’s dead ghost will come “to reclaim his steps.” He adds that she has predicted Bertha will return there soon and will bring death and dishonor with her. Alone, a bit later, Miranda recalls the night in bed shortly after Alejandro's return from jail when he called her “Liliana”. Again, the painful memory racks her.

At San Llorente Enterprises, or what passes for it now, Alejandro apologizes to Liliana the minute Cesar leaves. He says he’ll take full responsibility for what just happened there. (--Just what does that mean? Besides, Liliana was just as involved in that passionate saliva swap as he was.) Liliana gripes at him for having taken advantage of her. (Not so much from where I sat!) She is upset because Miranda will attack her for wrecking their marriage. (Well, aren’t you?) She also wants to know just why he kissed her. (Wasn’t it obvious, lady? That is your natural-born daughter, isn't it?) He explains that he wanted to know exactly what he feels for her, and that she is an ideal woman that any man would love to have for a wife. (What a stinking load of fresh cow pie!) She asks, “What about you? What about you?” Alejandro, scum bucket that he apparently is, refuses to answer her. He simply says it is only for him to know, but no one else. That is too much for her. She runs out of the room flustered and angry. .--(Weren’t we all about then?) She still needs a job too, we know.

Veronica finds Fabricio and gives him back the money she blackmailed him to get. She apologizes and explains how rotten she was feeling back then. He says he knows that he was just as nasty and in a weak moment tried taking advantage of her as well. He asks her forgiveness.

Miranda is on the phone with one of the neighbors who has sent her an e-mail. She opens the wrong one and it is (ruh-roh!) a ringside seat view of the lascivious lip lock, courtesy of Cesar. She is very impactada and closes herself up in her library for the remainder of the day, refusing either to leave or to eat. Gabino eventually comes in to check on her and becomes worried.

Bertha calls Italy in order to inform her attorney there about there being an heir now to Alfredo Luque’s fortune. She gives him the information about Florencia and Enrique, his first-born grandson.

Florencia assures Fernanda that she knows she’s dying and that she is ready for this. She only wants to see her son return before she dies. She tells her mother that she appreciates what she has done for her. Fernanda says she is sorry, that she tried to get her the transplant, but she was unable to. Florencia says let the heart go to somebody else who needs it more. Bertha sneaks behind the door and listens as they talk. She thinks to herself how she warned Fernanda that she would personally see to her suffering through the pain and suffering of her daughters. Bertha says to herself, “Florencia’s end is the first of a long list of things that will happen to you, Fernanda; and Florencia is dying because I, Bertha, have wanted and caused it to happen.”

Miranda cries out in her heartache that if Naty is right about Gonzalo returning then she says he needs to pick up the pieces of what her life now is.

Carola comes to visit Juan’s family and she and Francisco have a heart to heart about her relationship with Juan. She assures him that they will not be going to sleep together. She is anxious for the divorce though. Francisco asks her what she will do if Juan never gets divorced or if he and Renata reconciles. (Hmm. Hard question. Let her think about that one.)

Raul and Amparo come in. She leaves to help Raul set the table. Amparo and Francisco then discuss Carola and Juan. She says she wants to have a talk with Renata but hasn’t found the opportunity. He says forget it because it will only make things worse.

Renata tells Fernanda that Gabino called to let them know that Miranda is at the plantation house, and in fact arrived there the day before. He is worried because she has not eaten nor come out of the library all day. Fernanda believes she has become depressed with everything that has happened over the past few months. (Do ya’ think so? Miranda should probably be on valium so much has happened. The fact she isn’t must mean she is Superwoman, just like she has always thought she was). Fernanda tells Renata she plans to leave the following day to check on her other daughter. Renata worries about Florencia being left alone. Fernanda says she will have Juan come stay with her and besides she has Fabricio there to help too. Renata hesitates and asks if it might not be better to put her back into the hospital. Fernanda says no, this is better. (We all know Renata is trying to avoid having Juan so uncomfortably close by, and watching every guilty step she takes, but she won’t be able to wriggle out of it apparently.) First, though, Fernanda has to tell Renata: Florencia is very close to the end and knows it now. Renata stares at her mother.

Labels: heridas

... as promised.

Omar: "Is it so horrible to have to marry Marcia?" Fern: "Yes, because I don't love her." "Well we've known that for a long time and nonetheless until now you've been inclined to go through with it, what's changed?" "We fight all day, we don't have sex, she's been calling me, persecuting me, hassling me. I don't want to make this useless sacrifice, Omar. I can't drag Marcia into a hellish life neither of us deserves."

Omar: "Why are you so determined to cancel?" "Because I LOVE LETY." Omar starts to laugh and mock, and Fern roars: "This is exactly why I never told you. Listen carefully. I LOVE Letitia Padilla Solis with all my strength, Carvajal - that woman loves me. I'm special to her. That little game of seduction - kiss her, make love to her - I fell into my own snare, I fell in love. Carvajal, I've known it for a long time now and guess what? I don't regret it in the slightest. On the contrary - she makes me happy. I want to start all over from zero with her, have a clean beginning. Understand? Can you understand? I can't spend the rest of my life having a hidden relationship with Lety, the woman I love."

Carvajal says Marcia hates Lety, Ariel abhors her and vomit is mentioned. There would be no worse insult than to dump Marcia for Lety. "They'll pulverize us, they'll decapitate us, is that what you want?"

Fern: "You're my best friend, what do you think? Should I sacrifice my entire life? How about my happiness, doesn't it matter?"

Labels: fea

Hello friends,

In my "other life," when I am not writing for y'all, I am a professional musician, and I wanted you to know I just got my latest cd back from the printers yesterday. It is "more-or-less traditional music from the British Isles and beyond." There is even a Mexican song on it ("Toda Una Vida").

So, the UPS guys dumped 1,000 copies of it on my front porch last night. Jeesh, can I live long enough to sell all these cds?

I tell you what - they're for sale at my record label's website, Skylark Productions for VERY CHEAP as a special HOLIDAYS bargain. Every cd on that page is $11.99 and shipping is a flat $3.00 (domestic) no matter how many you order. And I promise to pop them in the mail first class right away.

There are sound samples at the Skylark page.

Be excellent to your friends and give them wonderful more-or-less traditional music from the British Isles and beyond for the holidays!

Labels: announcements

*******This will be my last recap till January 9th...I am going to Mexico on the 16th till the 7th, Guerrero, Michoacan & Mexico DF******
Shout out to Fernando & Omar from LFMB & Demian from M de F....Hey if you happen to get near Arroyo Grande, Guerrero, pop like 500, you know the place it is like 15 miles off the nearest paved road. Well stop in boys, we can throw back a few cervezas & I can give you some TeleNovela advice....Good times Good times.
Demian bring the remote, there are lots of big rocks and stuff to blow up out there.
Fernando, I bet Demian will let you blow something up, it is an awesome stress reliever. I'll leave the light on, yes, they have electricity now.

We open with the meeting at Los Dos Hermanos Constructiones. Tiberto is yammering on about JC being a general problem for the company, when JC reveals that Tiberto was imitating Demian last nite, eye-patch and all, rambling on about how someday he'd give the company to Tiberto and JC would get nada. Well, Tiberto trys to play this off as a joke, he couldn't sleep, it was just a joke. Everyone looks uncomfortable and I feel kinda sorry for Tiberto. He looks like a ten year old that just got caught with a Playboy. Demian, pulls out a canned Ward Cleaver line and tells Wally and the Beaver they are both his sons. I'm kinda proud of Demian here, he is doing well playing the role of the concerned papi....Really he just wants to get his freak on with Regina; but it looks good; he tell Tiberto he does not like the little joke at all.

Over at the used to be Gabe's crib, Leo, MA & Gabe are presenting a united front against, Joselyn, Miriam & Frederico. They demand to know where Clemente has gone and if it true that Clemente is not Joselyn's father. Joselyn says that indeed Clemente is her papi and she has no idea where he has wandered off to, he left voluntarily and she doesn't seem to care. MA says that Joselyn will answer to her, should MA find out Joselyn was involved in his disappearance.

Leo is wearing his standard Levi jacket and I see it from behind, I can't believe I would not have noticed this before, but he has a damn near life size image of "Our Lady of Guadalupe" on the back. At first I am certain this is a miracle, like the grilled cheese sandwich with the image of Mary, that sold on E-Bay last year, or one of the tortillas that periodically show up on Univision News. But upon closer inspection I realize the image is "BeDazzled", God Leo is the daughter both Candleabra deserved and Miriam always wanted. The boy put some time into that.

Leo, Gabe & MA then leave the office, once they are out in the hall MA runs up to go see Lui. Shorty and the chunky chick are in Lui's room trying to entertain the inmate. I have to say here that I'm not sure if it was for comedic Naco relief or if it was a cry for understanding, but Shorty was either dressed as a clown or had on the gayest shirt I have ever seen and that includes Luigi on LFMB's wardrobe....Good God, it was a literal sherbert fest of striped pastels.

MA meet & greet each other with tears of joy and cheesy salutations, Lui strokes MA face over and over, hey kid, you're crippled not blind....Jeez, it is kinda creepy.

MA, goes back downstairs and our three humanitarians leave.
Frederico is preparing to take his leave of his lovely daughter Joselyn and his former amante Miriam, who always has an expression like, "What the hell was I thinking when I did this doof?"
The three discuss that fact that Joselyn real papi must be kept under wraps so she can inherit all 12 pesos that Miriam hasn't cheatedClemente out of. Joselyn gives Frederico his obligatory hug and he calls her his daughter, Frederico follows up with a kiss on Joselyn's cheek and makes his leave. Joselyn is all grossed out an wipes off her cheek, making a reference to saliva, well at least it wasn't on the lips.

Cut to the scene of either the Amazon River Basin or a really big lake somewhere in Mexico...Looking down from several thousand feet, we see a boat speeding across the water....Remember this cause we are gonna see this same boat in the same scene everytime we come back to this location, like when they show the Angel in Mexico City on Reforma, so you know where you are. Anyhow Dolores (who is wearing a lovely white dress) and Nicolas (looking rather dapper in a sportscoat, shirt and yes, a like bandana or ascot loosely about his neck), hmmmm it is kinda a primitive area with tropical looking foliage, personally I would have chosen cargos, but hey that's just me. Nicolas and Dolores greet a local who is like working on this giant fishing net, I am assuming it is a fishing net, cause if it a mosquito net, those suckers must be huge. Anyway, they start quizzing Don Local about the possibility that Edgar is alive and well and hanging out here. They keep pestering Don Local saying the man has been missing for many years and he is the beloved brother of Dolores, the man nods and Dolores sees a man with long nasty blondish hair walking away. She begins to chase him in her little sandels and white dress (see should worn chucks and cargo shorts), she is running screaming Edddgggggaaaarrr,
to no avail, he is no were to be found.

Damien calls Miriam & Joselyn to tell them about Dolores & Nic taking off on a big adventure.
Miriam is worried, but Joselyn not so much.

Cut to La Creepy Joselyn, upstairs torturing Lui. She is talking to him in that cloying voice while stroking the toy tiger. Lui wants to get out of his room, at least go to the garden. Joselyn is "Why, you have everything here." & refuses to allow him out of his room. Public Service Announcement: This whole thing is just way sick, I don't really mind so much when they torture adults on TeleNovelas, but torturing kids is pretty sick....except then I gotta remember, the kid is pulling down a better income than 90% of the country, so maybe a little torture is okay.

Clemente is hanging out with homeless guys, who are drinking some nasty looking brew out of nastier glass bottles. Clemente is hanging on & petting a dog. He is struck with a terrible pain in his head. Withering in angst, he has flashbacks of he & Aurora when they were young. Aurora...
Aurora....don't leave me....I'm sorry. He gets up and wanders off. The one drunk guy wants to call him back, but quickly realizes there is more hooch for them if Clemente leaves.

MA & Leo are back at Candleabra's talking about their recent foray into "PsychoHills"....Candelabra is talking smack about Miriam & Joselyn, but Leo is sticking up for them. This is all done in a playful manner. Leo gets his thirty fifth blessing of the day, from Mamacita & gives a kiss to Mi Amor, MA, on her cheek. She swallows the bile back down & gives a half smile. Is it just me or is Leo just not the creepiest guy, that whole I'm forty and want to lay in my Mommy's lap...just creeps me out & I can't really see that as bringing on amorous feeling in MA who is witness to this behavior.

Elsa is walking down the street in not really CFM heels, but decently high enough to be uncomfortable, we see her enter several shops looking for jobs, but all we see are heads shaking no. Poor Elsa stops and takes off her heels, ahhhh the unjustice of it all.

Diana is talking to Otilia and Jorge (the eurotrash model)'s mother(I don't know her name). Diana says she is going to talk to Gabe cause he is a good man. It is like a meeting of the first wives club....there are no good men. Diana says yes she knows a good man & they tell her well one in a million maybe.

Cut to Pedro, the resident Nerd, he is talking to some sweet young Naca, over on Naco Lane, when Diana calls him....He is all excited to hear from her and Naca girl looks sad.

Now cut to Gabe sitting in a dining establishment, he is thinking about witnessing a kiss between Leo & MA, (I missed this kiss, the first time, awkward her eyes were open and she was looking at Gabe), like I'm kissing him, but thinking of you. Diana interrupts this lil anguished trip down memory lane. She tells Gabe why she left Rog & will never go back. She tells how she was forced to shake her stuff to pay his gambling deaths and how he laughed when she miscarried the baby....enough is enough, Rog is one sick puppy. Diana wants a divorce, Gabe agrees to help her.

Gabe goes to see Rog at Los Dos Hermanos Constructos, Rog is all Eddie Haskell like, Gabe will have none of it, he presents the facts to Rog, who tries to deny them, saying he wasn't thrilled the baby died, but Gabe will have none of it. Gabe fires Rog promptly on the spot. Rog is none to happy...The only advise I can give Rog is don't wear CFM heels when pounding the pavement it is really hard on the feet.

When Elsa returns to the Love Shack she shares with Coyote, he is there. Elsa starts to have a hissy over him slashing her clothes....Well a few shoves later, Elsa realizes pick your battles.
Coyote leaves & Elsa digs out all the money she has been squirreling away. A knock on the door...it is Belen. Belen wants Elsa to be nicer to Silvestre. Well that just isn't gonna happen and Elsa laughs at Belen for being in love with Silvestre. Now Elsa is packing up some stuff and Candleabra comes to the door. She knows Elsa stole the $ Don Clemente left for MA. Elsa doesn't really even try to deny it. Damn this girl has a bad tude. Candelabra pries the cash outta her sweaty little palm, chastises her tries to give her one of her patent blessings, but Elsa basically just tells her to get out.

Clemente, has made his way to Aurora's grave clutching a small flower he must have robbed from another grave. He is sobbing and lies down next to the grave.

MA comes upon him and screams Papa, Papacito.....He recognizes her, Oh MA. There is much gladness and hugging, actually he is really pretty dirty and probably stinky too, so I hope MA didn't pick up any scabies or lice or anything.

Now fly over the giant lake or Amazon River Basin again....Dolores is begging Don Local, for info on the mystery man who ran away....what is his name...Don Local kinda nods and Dolores turns around and is face to face with a guy who looks like Robinson Crusoe.....Is it Edgar? Could it be?
Will Dolores blow his cover?

So let's see Dolores found Edgar
MA found Clemente
Diana found a willing ally in her divorce
Candleabra found the missing money
all in all not bad for an hour's work.....

Labels: mundo

Ooh, this is the 100th tagged La Fea post. (There were some earlier ones I never got around to tagging.)

There was a very pretty speech in the middle of this episode and I'm sure you'd all like to see it word for word. I'm too tired tonight but if I have time tomorrow I will add the sweet words.

Lety's father worries about the three of them being unemployed - Lety says she'll figure something out when she gets back from her trip, maybe start another business.

Tomas has sadly surrendered his trophies of luxury. "Returning to poverty is so hard." "We'll start again, it's not the end of the world! Now, clean that car impeccably before we return it to Don Fernando..."

Alicia is calling and calling, Tomas is not answering and not answering. "Answer, you rotten serpent!" hisses Alicia. Mocked for being at work so early, Alicia says she's awaiting a very important call. She's fretting about Ariel, too.

Today Alicia is wearing a Victoria's Secret style "Naughty Little Maid" outfit and her necklace has fallen into the narrow gorge between her extremely uplifted breasts and her chin.

Meanwhile, Lety is sad for Tomas that he fell in love - and is a little startled to find out he scored a home run with Alicia. "I was like fire in bed!"

"Forget her, the way I have to forget Don Fernando - they're beautiful, with their little caresses and kisses, but they're not for us. They don't deserve us!" This cheers Tomas a bit. Lety continues: "We're ugly and poor and we'll have to start from zero, but we can do it with calm hearts and clear consciences."

Ariel sends Olarte out to find out whether the rumor about Conceptos is true, and, as we know, it is. Conceptos is in hock to the tune of 45 million dollars - to Lety's business, Filmo Imagen. Ariel, who loathes Lety, throws things around his office, kicks stuff and snarls. I never do that when I'm in a bad mood, never. Well, maybe I snarl a little.

At Conceptos, Marcia shows up muy hungover, in sunglasses, and snarls at everybody, just like her brother. She shouts at Alicia because the waiters with the food and coffee have not yet arrived. Alicia is still on the phone calling Tomas.

And as Lety emerges from the elevator, why, the cellphone in her bag is ringing. The cuartel ask why she never told them she has a cellphone, and why doesn't she answer it? "It's my BOYFRIEND'S PHONE, it's some HUSBAND STEALER calling." (Alicia hangs up.)

Marcia yells at Alicia to get the waiters and food and coffee and yells at Lety to get the binders ready. Luigi arrives, also hungover, also in sunglasses. His head is tender, his neurons still swimming in booze. He tells Marcia to stop yelling.

Fern meanwhile has snuck into Lety's office one more time, to give her a few hugs and ask, "Are you VERY SURE you aren't going to mix up the real balance sheet with the fake one?" "No, Don Fernando, I have the real one hidden away, I've made copies of the fake one." "Today is a very important day for us, I'm going to cancel my wedding, I feel great." He leaves and she sighs.

Now for a subplot nobody is interested in - Irmita's wretched old dud of an ex-husband evidently wheedled himself a space on her couch last night. This morning, he says he's dreamed for years of getting to wake up in this apartment. "OK, fine, you did. Now get out." "No, not until you hear me out." She refuses, says she'll call the police, he calls her bluff, she leaves for work and says "be gone before I get home." He asks the door as it closes behind her: "Irmita, what will you think when I reveal I've come home to die with you?" Will she care as little as we do?

Fern's parents arrive early. Humberto asks Alicia for coffee. The waiters are not around. She comes back with water. Everybody is stalking about in a rotten mood. Marcia tells Alicia she thinks Fern is going to cancel the wedding, and if he does that, she will do whatever she can to help her brother Ariel in his anti-Fern campaign. Teresita hauls Marcia off and hears the sad story. I would not want to see that look on MY mother's face. Uh-oh.

In another uninteresting subplot, Lopez has written memos complaining about Paula Maria and Simon and starts complaining to Marcia, who is in no mood to hear it. "But she would not stay and finish her work." "What was so important about that work? Because I tell you, if it wasn't really important, I'm gonna bring this up at the meeting and get YOU fired." Lopez backs down and the cuartel is triumphant.

Alicia staggers in from time to time and complains that there is no coffee.

Omar, engineer of evil moments, hauls Fern off to discuss "things." Marcia stalks by without speaking to either of them and Omar rhapsodizes sarcastically: "Oh, that's romantic, you're as united as ever, that will look good at the wedding."

"Omar, there isn't going to be a wedding."

I'm sure most of you are wishing Lety were overhearing the subsequent conversation in which Fern protests that he doesn't love Marcia and doesn't want to sacrifice his life to her. He's going to wait till everybody leaves, tell Marcia, and then be free. Omar is very opposed to this plan and lays the heavy party line out over and over again. Fern will ruin the business and everybody who works there, he will disappoint and disgrace his parents and Marcia... Ariel will want his money back ... (uninteresting discussion re: why have asked Lety to spend all that time massaging the balance sheet if Ariel is immediately going to ask for his money and discover he can't have it?)

Fern says he shouldn't be forced into a loveless marriage, Omar says the business IS his life and he should just proceed as planned.

Finally Fern comes out and shouts at Omar: "I LOVE LETY. I AM COMPLETELY BESOTTED WITH HER. She makes me happy." [Insert very sweet speech here.]

Omar is muy impactado and starts in with the mockery and Fern tries, unsuccessfully as usual, to shut him up. Why couldn't Lety be listening to THIS part of the conversation? Omar suggests that Fern can marry Marcia, divorce her later when Conceptos is out of debt, and then take up with Lety. "Do you know any woman who would tolerate that?" "Well, Marcia wouldn't, and most women wouldn't, but Lety...? "

Lety happens by, of course, as Omar continues with this lovely scheme: "Let's send her far away for a few months." Fern should Marcia as planned and go on his honeymoon -- and Lety will be far away, unable to spoil it. "Africa, Antarctica, somewhere so far away she can't spoil things. She's delirious for you, she'd parachute in and ruin the wedding if she could. The most important thing is the balance sheet, it will leave us free. Get through this and then give her kisses. Or get a hotel room ..." Outside the door Lety collapses, arms full of folders with the fake balance sheet. "I can't take any more! I've been so ingenuous yet again! Fernando is a pig." She reads the dread letter from Omar again. "He was never intending to cancel his wedding..."

Is it possible that they will stretch the seven minutes between this scene and the meeting into yet one more episode? Perhaps they will take us to see the waiters pack up the coffee urns and drive them, very slowly, up the street?

Labels: fea

Juan is dressed up to go see Al, Carola tells him that she doesn’t care what the others said about their relationship, she isn’t trying to get Juan to marry her (YET is what she forgot to say – not YET). Basically she volunteers to be his slut. What a winner this girl is. Don’t forget she has that great supermarket job!

Miranda strokes Flor’s hair as she sleeps, gets up and takes a pillow out of the empty baby crib and starts crying. She is getting her obligation out of the way EARLY this time. She is crying that she lost Alejandro, then has a green memory of when Al got out of jail and she met Babe Lawyer for the first time, seeing the three of them standing together like a family. She thinks it is her fault for paying too much attention to the hacienda and her sisters.

Al apparently ignored Babe Lawyer’s request to leave, he is sitting in her house reading a story to her daughter. The girl looks bored. She says she’s tired and asks Al to sing to her. Babe Lawyer goes to take her to bed, she asks for Al to take her. Boy this is all laying it on a bit thick. Babe Lawyer tells herself “no no no not him no” when Al leaves the room. Whatever that means. Al comes back in a bit later and Babe Lawyer is crying, the crying is really going strong today, she tells Al how she tries to give everything to her daughter that she never had but realizes that she doesn’t have a father figure for him. Cry cry cry. Al asks her what happened to the girl’s father. She just says “the papa of my daughter is me.” So perhaps she was raped or something like that.

Fab is drinking at Cesar’s house, accusing Bertha of kidnapping him. Cesar says he’s full of it. Fab says yes it was her, to teach him a lesson. He says he’s telling Cesar this because he has no one else to tell, Flor with her heart condition – Cesar interrupts and says that he has seen Flor survive so much, don’t go on saying she has a condition. Fab says that yes, she really is sick, he doesn’t want to stress her with his problems. Cesar tells him he’d love to listen, etc, but he has other things to do. Fab is a bit insulted and says fine, whatever, I’ll get out of your hair. Cesar tries to placate him, that his things to do are REALLY important, maybe he could go talk to Padre Santiago, or maybe a professional, a psychiatrist. Cesar opens the door to let Fab out, and who appears in the doorway but Bertha! Fab is… all together now… Impactado. Muy impactado. He backs up a few feet just from the sight of her. Bertha says how nice to see him! How is your wife? Fab doesn’t answer, he blurts out “YOU HAVE MY SON!” Bertha slaps him and tells him not to yell at her. She tells Fab that Fern wants her out of the house but if that happens, listen up stupid, if that happens, nobody will ever see Enrique again. Fab says he won’t let anyone evict her. Cesar walks up and Fab looks back and forth and finally figures it out – “You are her accomplice, Cesar?” He can’t believe it, they are brothers, same blood, same mother, etc etc. Bertha tells him to save the drama. Fab says to give their mother back all of her money and jewels. Cesar doesn’t respond.

Babe Lawyer has apparently told Al a long story, so he understands how difficult her life has been. Al says that she was there for him in his most difficult times, Babe Lawyer says only because that was her job, she isn’t some saint, he paid her for her professional services. Furthermore, she was there and Miranda wasn’t because he wouldn’t let her. He should be with her 24 hours a day. Al says he understands but wants to still be friends with her daughter. Uh NO Babe Lawyer, that’s how pedophiles talk. I don’t care if everyone has decided that Al is so perfect or whatever, a grown man wanting a relationship with a little girl even if not with that girls mother is creepy talk. CREEPY talk. Babe Lawyer stands up so I can admire her form, I mean so she can tell Al to go find his wife and straighten things out with her. She tells Al to tell Miranda everything they discussed, to tell her that Miranda is the only one he has eyes for. Al leaves, she sits back down and cries some more.

Cesar and Bertha are having a drink, celebrating how much they scared Fab. Oh crap. If this ends with them going to the other room, or reminiscing about the last time, or any talk of toys, I just may lose my lunch. Bertha asks him how he could extort his own mother, he just said that the opportunity was there so he took it. He wanted the money for his company. Bertha is sucking on her finger throughout this conversation. I agree, that has been going on too long for it to not mean anything. She says she has a question and wants a real answer. Her question is “when people talk about wounds of love, what are they talking about? What is a wound of love?” Cesar stares at nothing and starts to tear up, apparently. Whatever. Any attempt to humanize Cesar will be ignored by me. Let me say again – whatever.

Fern, Flor, and Renata are chatting. Al knocks and enters, looking for Miranda. Renata says she left. Where? She ran off because of what he said about not wanting kids. Al says he explained his reasons. Yeah good one Al, that is sure to go over in a room full of women. Fern tells Al that Miranda also may not ever be able to have kids. Al says he loves her with or without kids, he doesn’t care. He gives a long speech about how much he loves her. Renata says she wishes all men thought like him. It turns out that she left to go to the hacienda, driving by herself in her car, which is very dangerous. Al rushes off to go find her and save her.

Cesar says he doesn’t have words to explain words of love. He takes off his glasses, doesn’t this mean any women around are supposed to run? He cries. Give me a break. They have a conversation about loving or being loved but I really didn’t understand the details. I think they were mostly feeling sorry for themselves. Some scary music plays, I’m waiting for something to happen. Cesar squeezes his glass so hard it breaks. Again, I won’t be able to see him as human. It isn’t working at all.

Juan comes home, Al cancelled. Francisco wants to talk to him, he says about Renata? No no sit down. Fran says how do you feel? Juan says bad, really bad. He’s still very upset about the Renata thing. Fran says don’t lose her. Juan says he did all he could, she’s confused. Fran says to help her understand. Juan has a green flashback of Renata kissing Cesar. He starts crying, Fran wants to know what’s so upsetting. Juan just gives him a hug and leaves.

Bertha comes home to Lucas. She whines that Lucas is the only one who loves her. She whines and cries for a bit. She also rubs her forehead a lot. She cries herself to sleep, in the morning she talks to Lucas some more and says she doesn’t want to get up, she doesn’t care what happens. Her phone rings. It’s Cesar, they agree that they are both sad. Lucas snorts. They’ll talk later. She hangs up and cries some more. She also talks to Lucas some more. Hey – if she doesn’t get out of bed all day like she plans, who takes Lucas out to go to the bathroom?

Slutty McSlutterson is giving a talk about AIDS. Lots of facts and figures. A girl in the crowd asks her how she felt when she found out she had AIDS. Slutty says she was very angry. Others ask typical questions. Big public service message portion of the show. Let’s move on.

Al and Luciano are in his office, Al is telling Gabino on the phone that he’s worried sick. I thought he went after her? I guess not. We see Gabino, with Miranda sitting RIGHT THERE, telling Al “yeah as soon as I see her I’ll let you know.” So I figure he’ll lie for her for so long that Al will be convinced something bad happened and rush out to find her, then other problems will occur. Al says to Luciano that she should be there by now, Luciano says maybe she just stopped to rest. Luciano thinks that Miranda is exaggerating, Al says he agrees but she might have a point. He admits to Luciano about saying Babe Lawyer’s name by accident right after sex. Oh guess what – Babe Lawyer is eavesdropping and heard that! She is impactada. Of course. Luciano asks if he likes Babe Lawyer. He admits that he does a little bit. He’d like to be able to say that he only has eyes for Miranda, but Babe Lawyer is so hot and so awesome that he likes her a little bit. Luciano says he looves Babe Lawyer. He shares a little fantasy about her, Babe Lawyer is impactada again, finally she says “Buenos dias” and marches into the room, probably to just break up the conversation.

The commercial that came on just now insinuates that Tomas is finally going to live his dream of nailing Alicia on La Fea. She decided that if it takes that to get the money to save her car, so be it. I just thought that might interest some of you, back to the show.

Miranda tells Gabino that if ANYBODY asks, she isn’t here. Anybody. Nati and Mrs. Gabino come in, the new age music starts playing. I wonder if it is called “Naty’s theme” or if it is just “new age crystal chakra feng shui whatever #4.” Nati has something important to say to Miranda. She tells Miranda that Gonz has settled his affairs, or something like that, the time of the cocolbosh is close. I really don’t understand this stuff. I’m not very ‘earthy’ or whatever. I’m more comfortable with numbers and science. Miranda asks to be alone with Nati and asks Nati if she’ll help prepare the cacao, Nati says of course. Miranda remembers her cocolbosh cure, but the memory isn’t green. Does that mean anything? I thought all flashbacks and memories were green. It’s a really long flashback. She finally remembers how Nati cured her, it was the cocolbosh!

Slutty finishes up her talk about Aids. Again. Renata and Erika congratulate her. Remember kids, always use a raincoat.

Two nuns discuss how they are ordered to discipline Nuria, so that’s what they’ll do. These nuns look like lunch ladies, I can’t believe they are really so vicious. Shouldn’t they be more like the nurse from “One flew over the cuckoo’s nest” or something? They don’t have any evil feel to them. Nuria is just sitting there like she is drugged, oh she was asleep. They take the baby away from her, wake her up, and start being mean to her.

Vicente has also arrived in Al’s office, they discuss how to proceed with the various lawsuits. Luciano and Vicente leave Al and Babe Lawyer alone. As she gets some stuff off the desk, Al pretends to be thinking of what to say to her, but I know he’s really just checking out her butt until she finally turns around, then he starts to talk to her. He asks her if a man ever called her by the wrong name, would she forgive him? Babe Lawyer says no, she never would. She knows that if a man did that it means that he loves the other woman. Al says so, that means I’m in love with you? Because it was your name I said to Miranda. He says “let’s remove any doubts” and starts to kiss her. She pretends to resist but kisses him back. As they make out the door opens and Cesar appears! At first he is impactado but then he smiles, this is to his liking.

Labels: heridas

At the same time Miriam is getting her hand bandaged up by son Leo and is having second thoughts about abandoning him all those (30-40 some odd) years ago and is wishing she could hug him and confess all, Candy is fearing the worst challenge from her. “Miriam is very cunning and can catch him in her net; I’ll just die!” Just then Silvestre knocks and enters to show her his surprise – pretty in pink Elsa come with him to pay a visit!

Leo excuses himself for momentarily indulging in self-pity about his being abandoned by his parents so ver-r-r-r-r-r-ry long ago. Miriam asks him if he’s ever wondered who they were and if he’d ever like to meet his real mother. He answers not really because Candy is the only mother he’s ever known; the way she sacrificed for him all these years to get him to this point in his life and career, he could never manage to give her all the thanks she’s due. (Tough nuts, Miriamcita!) Miriam sees how bitter Leo is and insists on asking him if he didn’t think the woman might have had her reasons? Leo says no way a real mother would do anything but fight to keep her child near her and his mother didn’t. “Not even a wild animal acts like that.” (Slap! Bam! Bang! --Take that, Miriamcita!)

Candy tells Elsa and Silvestre that she’s hopeful Elsa will come back to stay for good. Silvestre prompts a stubborn Elsa into admitting she came to stay the night.

Mariangela and Gabe drive up and down the narrow streets looking for Clemente, but they don’t find him. (They didn’t bother with the back alleys, I guess, huh.) While talking about Clemente, Mariangela begins to refer to him as her father. Gabe mentions this to her. She feels badly because if she hadn’t been so arrogant and hadn’t rejected him he wouldn’t be in danger right now. She is certain he’s in danger because of the strange hurt in her heart. Gabe tells her not to be so hard on herself ‘cause it isn’t easy getting used to the idea of a daddy after all this time alone. In the meantime, Clemente wakes up with amnesia and one hell of a headache, but we don’t know if it was all that boozing or the deadly poison Miriam put in his drink.

Back at Demian’s place, Regina and Delores are up in Regina’s bedroom having a gossip-fest. Delores is excited because she is going on that trip, but she can’t lie. It is to find out if Edgar may still be alive somewhere and to prove her innocence for certain, then. Nicolas has asked her to keep quiet for her personal safety and so Regina promises to keep quiet about it. (Delores though, stupidly has told her son, Tiberio, who has no good reason to keep his mouth shut and definitely not the good sense to do it, either.)

El Coyote comes stumbling into his rat hole, drunk as a skunk and screaming for Elsa. When he sees she’s not there again he goes into the closet in the bedroom, takes out all of her clothes and shreds them with his knife.

Elsa is lounging out on the couch at Mom’s and a wad of bills drops out onto the floor. Candy picks it up saying it is the money Clemente had left her to give to Mariangela. (That was the wrong name to bring up, Candy!) Elsa smarts off about the new little rich girl and watches where Candy sticks the cash in the cupboard.

At supper Pedro asks when Clemente is coming down to eat. Karen and Jos inform him that Clemente has left the house for good because he decided that he wants nothing more to do with him. Pedro thinks that’s a bit odd but shuts up and just keeps eating all that rich food Mayeya has been cooking for them since Candy took sick leave.

Delores informs Demian that she has changed her mind and will leave early the next morning to take that trip he suggested to her. He wonders why the change in attitude and Delores says it will be a life-changing experience for her. He then sits down with Regina and tells her how he hopes she will some day come to love him. Then he gives her a necklace as a present. Regina eventually says that if he continues with this new approach to life, she is certain that she may. (Hitler haircuts, heavy breathing, and stuttering excitability in a wealthy middle-aged man with bad taste in jewelry sure does a lot for me, too.)

Miriam returns home with Rogelio from the hospital. Pedro comes walking in munching an apple and Miriam tells him she and he have something to discuss. They leave and Jos and Rogelio snicker about whatever naughty thing he might be getting in trouble over. Miriam accuses Pedro of sneaking into her bedroom and asks what he was looking for. He denies it and says if she doesn’t believe him then he’ll leave the house immediately.

Pau and JC are in bed and she’s still in a snit over the text message. He finally tells her that this dirty trick is no reason to lose their happiness. They must have some enemy that wants to separate them from each other. Whom could it be? If he knew who was doing this to them he tells her, he would have stopped it already. Pau reconsiders and asks forgiveness and says she believes him. (They’ll figure it out eventually, but not soon enough for me.) So, they spend another night of wedded bliss together because making up is always so much more fun with the likes of a Sebastian Rulli in your bed.

Miriam tells Pedro to reconsider his lie, and that the only reason she may not be kicking him out is that it would only complicate the family's problems right now. He rushes out and goes straight to Rogelio. Rogelio laughs in Pedro’s face when accused of knowing (and darned well) that it was he and not Pedro who snuck into Miriam’s room. Rogelio taunts him and asks for proof, then laughs aloud and tells Pedro that Pedro will not be able to get the better of him. No, he’s better prepared and he is such a handsome and charming guy. On the other hand nobody will ever believe an ugly, insignificant loser like Pedro. Rogelio smugly turns on his heel after that and walks off leaving his cousin fuming.

Gabe and Mariangela have struck out at the police station, too, since nobody there knows anything about Clemente. Gabe decides to call his house and see whether anybody there has heard from Clemente. Jos answers the phone, but she’s half asleep and doesn’t realize what she’s saying when she picks up the phone. Gabe asks why she isn’t worried about the fate of her father. Jos says, “Who do you mean?” He says, “Clemente of course.” She tells him she doesn’t know a thing and doesn’t care because he’s not her father so stop bothering her. The minute she hangs up she realizes her error. Gabe calls back and says, “It’s me again. What did you mean Clemente isn’t your father?” He gives Mariangela the cell phone and she tries to get Jos to talk to her. Jos asks what in blazes is she doing on the phone. Mariangela asks if something has happened to make Miriam kick him out of the house. Jos just spits at her and hangs up.

About this time Clemente meets up with a couple of homeless drunks who warm him up with a bottle of their hootch. (Yech!) They take him along with them and offer him a bit of their meager, scavenged garbage scraps. (Double yech!) He accepts, not knowing who or where he is. He just absent-mindedly munches and hopes the pain in his head stops.

Gabe and Mariangela go for coffee. They are both worried for Little Luis being under the same roof as Jos and they know he is frightened to have to stay with her. Gabe says he knows it was never about protecting Lui from him but keeping him away from his son. Gabe and she start putting the pieces together (pardon the pun) regarding the fishtank incident and the scalding during the therapy session. How could Jos have appeared at the hospital just then and how did she know about the session being that early in the morning Gabe wonders? He says he’s come to the conclusion that Jos has been involved in everything that has happened to his little boy, as if she’s planned it all purposely. Even Regina’s accident with the viper made no sense. (You can say that again, Mr. Mejia.) Because of this he says that he is prepared to do whatever it takes to see and to protect his son. In this case, that means forgetting about the divorce. He tells Mariangela that he has told Jos he is acceding to her conditions only to see his son, not her.

Jos right then is pacing around her bedroom and talking to the picture of her son. She is telling the photo that his father must not, should not be with “that woman” and how much she hates her for it. She is frantic again and drops Little Lui’s framed photo on the floor and the glass shatters everywhere.

Down in the kitchen, late that night also, Belen and Simona have a heart to heart. Belen admits to her mother that she slept with Tiberio and found out too late that he was just using her. Simona feels badly for her daughter but does not judge her. Belen says, if that weren’t the worst of it, she finds that she is now in love with another man, Silvester, the taxi driver. Unfortunately, it’s a waste of her time because he is hopelessly in love with another woman. Simona thanks her daughter for trusting her enough to tell her the truth.

While this is going on in the kitchen, Ti is pacing through the house because he can’t sleep. He is too upset at the thought that Juan Cristobal might stand to inherit everything of his fathers, leaving poor Ti with nothing. He tells himself he has to insure that JC looks incompetent and unable to take over the reigns of the business in front of his father. Somehow, then, he enters his father’s office and finds Demian’s spare eye-patch, and plays Daddy-dress up in it.

Belen happens to notice Ti’s strange play-time while she is walking back from the kitchen. She cannot help herself and watches half amazed as Tiberio, with thunderously loud strains of Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” (4th movement, 5th Symphony) reverberating in the background, acts out and verbalizes in his delusions of grandeur his fantasy of Demian dispossessing JC of his share of the inheritance. “Tiberio, you are the inheritor of my construction business and my empire! On the other hand, Juan Cristobal, you will be left out of everything that belongs to you! Away from it, away away away!” (I just cannot decide whether Mejia was laughing with us, at us, or was just taking his production entirely too seriously in this scene. My apologies to Mr. Mejia and his musical directors, but I thought it was downright roll-on-the-floor hilarious!)

Mariangela comes back to Candy’s after a long night of searching for Clemente. She admits to Candy that she has come to realize she truly does love him and wishes she’d treated him better. Candy tells her how sick he appeared to be during his last visit. Then she remembers the money he left with her for Mariangela because he didn’t know how to hand it to her or how she would take it. Candy goes looking in the cabinet for the wad of bills and sees it is gone. She has no idea where it might be.

Cut to a scene of Elsa in the beauty shop counting her new-found riches, aka, Clemente’s wad of cash, that she’s stolen from her mother’s cabinet. In comes El Coyote, filthy and stinking from his boozing the night before, and he grabs her by her hair. He slaps Elsa and knocks her around, causing quite a scene for all the customers. She tries to tell him she only spent the night with her mother. He doesn’t believe her. He screams at her and asks if she takes him for a fool? He’s going to check out her story and if she really wasn’t there last night then he’s going to kill her. Coyote storms out of the place. Once he leaves, the shop’s owner fires Elsa on the spot. This is the last time she will allow a scandal at her business. (It’s about friggin’ time, lady! Once would have been enough for me.....)

Pau and JC stop for lunch the next day at Chela’s which is now once more a streetside taco stand. They wonder what has happened and she explains how her husband didn’t read the contract fully. The building’s owner kept upping the rent and apparently can whenever he wants to so they had to give up the space.

Little Lui is very depressed and won’t eat the lunch that Mayeya has brought him. He complains to her.

Demian looks out of his office window downtown and asks if Delores left on her trip. Ti says yes, early that morning. He also tells him that she went along with Nicolas on this trip in order to do something that will hopefully prove her innocence. This definitely gets Demian’s attention.

When Belen, who is now working full time at Chela’s, gets a chance, she tells JC what she saw Ti doing in his daddy’s office the night before.

Leo comes home from the hospital that morning and finds Mariangela with his mother. They tell him about Clemente missing and how she and Gabe looked for him all night but couldn’t find him anywhere. Leo promises to get the other taxi drivers to help look for her father. Gabe shows up at the door about then and hears them. He asks if he can join them. Leo says that is fine with him and then kisses Mariangela on the lips purposely, in front of Gabe, to embarrass him. Gabe is embarrassed, but then, so is Mariangela and in the end, so is Leo because he realizes what an immature, insecure jerk he just was.

Federico comes to Miriam’s office and gives her the finished papers to sign in order to ensure that Clemente’s fortune is definitively taken away from him. He informs her that Clemente came to complain to him about being Jos’s real father and having slept with his wife years ago. Miriam scolds him and Freddy says, "Who cares? I put him in his place and the guy was just as pathetic as ever." Then Miriam forges Clemente’s signature and Freddy compliments her "artistry".......

Ti, JC, Pau, Regina and Demian are in a business meeting together. A bit earlier Ti was complaining to Demian that JC had lost a chain of suprmarkets for them because the owners didn't like JC's non-creativity. Now, at the meeting,Ti starts insulting Juan Cristobal’s poor work and insinuates that JC just isn’t cut out to be a part of their construction company. Demian is getting rather uncomfortable with Ti’s attitude and accusations. Regina asks what Ti is referring to. He says he doesn't want to risk their losing the business because of JC. JC finally has had enough and he confronts Ti with the crazy things he said and did late last night in his daddy’s office at home, i.e., strutting around in Demian’ eye-patch and saying JC will be left out of the business and any inheritance. Ti is stunned and left speechless.

Mariangela, Leo and Gabe pay a visit to Jos and Miriam at the manse to see if they have heard anything from or about Clemente. Miriam says Clemente left on his own accord, but Mariangela says she doesn't believe that. She knows her "father" too well. Miriam delights in emphasizing that phrase "my father". She says yeah, that everyone now, including Jos, knows he is her father. Mariangela has had enough of Jos and Miriam's attitude. Finally she confronts Jos in front of everybody and asks Jos point blank why she is denying that Clemente is her father. She adds, "and I want THE TRUTH!"

Labels: mundo

I’m getting the non-Lety stuff out of the way first, so if you don’t care about Irma, Rafael, Tomas, or Alicia, just scroll…

Irma y Desgraciado, er, I mean, Rafael

Raf complains about all that he is lost; Irma reminds him that he didn’t lose anything, he abandoned it. He says he can’t leave until she listens to him. She doesn’t want to hear anything. He says he NEEDS to explain. He begs her to listen. She says that for 30 years, she asked herself why he left; the only reason she could come up with is that he left her for another woman. She says “you left me for a woman, didn’t you?”

Rather than answer her question and get this story over with, he backtracks and says that when he came to her house that morning and got up the courage to knock on her door and saw the look on her face, he knew he could not leave without getting her forgiveness. There is a repeat of the same exact conversation they had a week ago: she tells him to ask God for forgiveness. He says he’ll do that when he dies, but he wants her pardon first. He insists that she listen to him.

She says she doesn’t deserve to hear the tale of his romance. She tells him to leave, and goes to her room. She doesn’t want to watch him leave her house. She prays that he will leave her alone to die in peace.

Tommy gets “boobified”

Thank you to Stacey for inventing this useful word!

After finishing his Chinese dinner (which I believe Alicia tried to pass off as her own work), Tomas compliments her cooking and the cleanliness of the rice. He thinks they should run a Chinese restaurant. A chain of restaurants. Alicia looks completely befuddled, but smiles nicely when he turns to her. She points out that that would cost money, and she doesn’t even have the 500,000 pesos to rescue her car… which reminds her, did he bring the check? Then she backs off, in mock shame. She says she only mentioned it now so she doesn’t forget later!

He says he’s surprised by the question. She asks him again. He says he brought it. She says she will be happy to put this disagreeable subject behind them. When he admits that he doesn’t have it on him, she shoves him away and tells him (sweetly, of course) to go back to the car and get it. He heads toward the door but then freezes in mid-stride as he recalls Lety’s one request, to not give Alicia any money.

Seeing him motionless, Alicia prompts him again. It is clear to Tomas that he’s not going to get what he wanted. He nervously puts his coat on and wordily insists that he is going out to the car and putting on his coat because it might be cold outside. Alicia asks if he’s changed his mind about the loan. Maybe he wants a contract? If he doesn’t want to give her the money, she’ll understand. Their friendship is more important.

Tomas continues to stand there in confusion instead of fetching his checkbook. Alicia thought-bubbles with dismay that he’s like all the others. She’s going to have to give him what he wants in order to get that check.

She says she doesn’t want him to think that she only invited him over to ask him for money. She says, before you go get the check, why don’t you lie down. She shoves him onto the bed and tells him to relax. She tells him how much she likes him, and removes his necktie, saying it must be choking him. She makes like she’ll kiss him; he puckers hideously. She backs off with regret. He says he’ll do this without remorse. He says tonight will be without remorse. He puckers again and waves his lips at her invitingly. (There must be someone in the world who would find this inviting. Someone, or something.)

Alicia puckers up too and kisses him. For a moment, all we can see is Tomas’s feet writhing in their white socks with arousal and terror. It starts getting slightly acrobatic, with his legs waving in the air. Alicia hangs on for dear life.

A short time later, Al admires her reflection in a hand-mirror while Tommy recovers. His glasses are still on; his feet are still trembling; but his naked limbs, missing sock, slack jaw, sweaty sheen, and glassy eyes let us know that he has completed his mission.

They nudely engage in light pillow talk. Alicia says it seemed like he had never made love in his entire life. Tomas says they say that all the time. She says he was pure fire. She says he can go to sleep and with her just as soon as he goes and gets the check. He asks if they will spend the night together. She says of course… but he needs to get that check. She’s nervous that someone might steal it out of his car. She tells him to go get it right away so they can sleep together. (She pushes her hair back to give him a better view of her cleavage.)

Tomas agrees and timidly gets out of bed with the bedspread wrapped around him. She says she already loves him. He says “me too.” He gathers up his clothes and heads toward the door. She tells him not to be gone too long and reminds him to leave the bedspread. He puts on his shorts underneath the bedspread, then tries to look dignified while clutching the rest of the clothes to his chest. After he leaves, she calls him “desgraciado” and says she’ll kick him out as soon as he gives her that check. She congratulates herself on her great performance.

Still disoriented from afterglowicus interruptus, Tomas stumbles semi-dressed towards his car, delirious with glee. He tells himself he has touched the sky. He starts to write out the check, but hears Lety again warning not to give Alicia any money. He feels obligated, however, so he finishes writing the check, signs it, stamps it multiple times, and starts taking it up to her place. Then he changes his mind and goes back to the car. Then he changes his mind again and heads for the building. Then decides not to. He agrees with Lety (not that she can hear him) and mumbles his apologies to Alicia (not that she can hear him either) and blows a kiss in the general direction of Alicia’s building. He dozes off for a moment, then wakes up. “I'm going, Lety,” he says to himself, and drives away.

Alicia rubs her hands together in anticipation of the check, but gets worried that Tomas hasn’t returned yet. She calls the building security guy and makes up some ridiculous story about her cousin coming over to help with a plumbing problem and forgot something in the car. The doorman answers that Tomas already left. Alicia’s jaw hits the floor and she drops the phone in dismay. (It gets stuck in her hair and she has to give it a push to get it to fall properly.) Weird music comes up – sounds like a jazzy version of “Owner of a Lonely Heart.” (It’s still better than that thing with the kazoos.)

In the Swigglemobile, Tomas slaps himself as he struggles to stay awake. Alicia calls. He slams on the brakes, but doesn’t answer. (She listens at the phone and cries. She hangs up. No doubt she feels like the worst kind of prostitute… the kind that doesn’t get paid.)

Tomas feels awful about not answering, but tells himself that Lety is her friend and she has to come first. He looks at the laminated photo and holds it up next to the check he didn’t give her, and apologizes to her. He kisses the photo and says he’ll miss her. He looks at the phone. He looks like he would answer it if it were to ring right now, but he mutes it. Then, for some reason, he gets really paranoid that someone is watching him. He tries to slink down into his seat to avoid being seen as he continues his voyage home.

Practice run

Lety gets home and greets the dog. RoboPop startles her. She says someone from Conceptos brought her home; he tells her not to lie - she came home in a taxi. He complains to Mom that Lety lied and that her boss should have driven her home. He disapproves of the way she is treated at Conceptos. Mom agrees. Pop wants to give Fernando a talking-to! Lety tells her parents that this won’t be a problem any more because she’s going to quit tomorrow. Her parents are impactados.

Mom wants to know if something bad happened; Lety evasively says she just feels like her work there is done and she has to leave. RoboPop asks if Fern knows; Lety admits that he doesn’t. She’ll tell him tomorrow after the Big Meeting. RoboPop tells Lety she’s gone crazy. Mom is more supportive. Lety says that after tomorrow’s Big Meeting, she’ll be going on a trip.

Dad flips out. He thinks that hanging around with dancers, models, and rich people has warped Lety’s mind. She tries to explain that she’s had a good run at Conceptos, going from secretary to assistant to controller and running Filmo-Imagen on the side. Her resume is all beefed up now and she can move on.

RoboPop still wants to know why she’s leaving. She says the Villaroels and Mendioles don’t like her, and there is too much stress and conflict. Tomorrow will be the Big Meeting, she will present the Big Report with the balance sheet and all that, and then she’ll be able to leave Conceptos in good shape.

Mom is worried about Fernando. Lety is his right hand and he adores her! Lety says that in business, they only adore you when you’re useful; he’ll replace her with someone else, maybe someone better, and forget Lety.

Pop wants to know what’s next; Lety starts to mention Carolina Angeles; RoboPop thinks she said “Los Angeles” and fears the worst. Lety explains that she’ll be going out of town with Carolina to work for her at an event. RoboPop is annoyed that Lety didn’t ask for permission first, but Lety says she needs some fresh air and to think about the future. She will get a new job when she comes back.

RoboPop asks about Filmo-Imagen. (I really prefer Omar as a rehash facilitator, but I suppose that wouldn’t be very practical for this scene.) Lety says that’ll be done tomorrow too – she’ll hand it all over to Fern. Mom worries about money; this means Tomas and RoboPop will be out of work too. How will they manage without this income?

Lety says she will have severance pay. (Really? There are companies that will give you severance even if you quit without notice?? Maybe this is just her unused accrued vacation time.) RoboPop is supposed to get severance too (did he say he’s been waiting for YEARS??), and he’s able-bodied and can work. They will never want for anything for as long as he lives!

Thusly fired up, he shuffles off to bed! Mom tells Lety to go to bed too. Maybe some sleep will change her mind. Lety says she’ll feel exactly the same when she wakes up tomorrow. Lety rummages through the desk looking for the FI books; she is not happy that the checkbook is missing, knowing that it’s with Tomas.

Two babbling drunks do not a conversation make

While Fernando sulks and fidgets at his desk, drinking, Lety writes in her diary that tonight was the end of everything. The lies, the kisses, the dreams, and the nightmares. Tonight she said goodbye to Fernando. She could not resist his kisses, but she also knew that those kisses were motivated to save his business. She gave in because she knew it would be her last kiss for her body and her heart.

She tells her diary that she wished she could reveal the truth about Conceptos at tomorrow’s Big Meeting. They will have to sort it out after she leaves… but that will be Fern’s problem. She will forget everything – the business, the affair, and the deceit. She will get him out of her thoughts. She will go where there will be no news of him or of his wedding. She will go to a place where she will not even have to be herself.

Back at Conceptos, the phone rings. Fern answers. It’s Marcia… drunker than ever. Oh boy, is she going to be irritable tomorrow.

What am I saying? She’s irritable right now! But so is Fern. Marcia detects his disappointment when he recognizes her voice, and asks if she was expecting someone else. He accuses her of checking up on his whereabouts again. She’s tired of the way he talks to her. Everything she does bothers him, and that offends her. He says he’s offended by her “radar.” She says he calls it radar, she calls it desire. She only wants to know what’s going on in his life. They don’t see their relationship the same way. She wants to marry the man she loves, and he’s going to marry “radar.”

Fern points out that she’s marrying someone she doesn’t trust 24 hours a day, is that what she wants? This seems to sail right over her drunken head. She complains that he is bored and annoyed with everything she does. He picks on everything she says. It’s humiliating. She asks if Fern is marrying her out of obligation or pity.

Fernando astutely asks if she’s been drinking. Marcia says sure, he saw her drinking before, and she knows he’s drinking too. She wants to know who he’s with, since he doesn’t seem to want to have this conversation. Fern says he’s alone. Marcia wants to know where “licenciada Leticia” is. Fern says she finished her work and went home. Marcia says that she’s not a happy bride, counting the hours till her wedding; she’s counting the hours till she forces a man to be with her. She’s counting the hours until she completes the act that will ruin her life. She says she feels like she’s forcing it, and she doesn’t want to. (She is crying so hard I have to rely on the captions.) She demands an answer: Are we going to go through with this, or are we going to cancel? Tell me, tell me, tell me now!!

Fern suggests that they discuss it tomorrow, after the Big Meeting. This is not acceptable to her. She dares him to tell her the truth. She’ll get ready, because it’s obvious what he’ll tell her tomorrow.

She hangs up and slams the phone repeatedly against the table with the clumsy fury of a drunken woman scorned.

Fernando muses that it’s a good thing she’s preparing herself, because he is never going to marry her.

Nightmare on Lety’s street

Lety dreams that she is strolling happily through her neighborhood. Smiling, she stops at her house and reflects that it's her refuge where she always feels safe. Nothing bad can happen to her there. She loves her parents.

However, when she opens the door, there is something terribly wrong. It's her house, but it's pouring rain inside. She cries that the only thing she wanted was to be safe. She drops her red pocketbook and runs into the house, but she’s scared. She goes outside and struggles with her fear. Then she tells herself, “when I have fear, I don’t have love.” She goes inside.

The table is set for dinner and her parents are nowhere to be found. “It’s raining in here again,” she cries. With an angry swipe of her arm, Lety pushes their place settings off the table. (I think Angelica Vale injured herself during this maneuver.) She says she cannot bear the pain in her heart. Her heart is water. Her heart is tears. Her head is water.

There is a clap of thunder. She screams that she doesn’t want to cry any more. Now the rain has stopped and it's bright inside. Lety tells herself: I don’t want my heart to be broken. I want to be strong. I need all the strength I can muster. She looks at the report folders and papers for the Big Meeting spread out all over the table. A wind blows them around and Lety struggles to secure them. She worries about Fern. He needs her. "I have to help him. But he doesn't love me." She fears she will never get out. She holds the papers and cries as another Lety bangs on the door to get out. The other Lety gives Crying Lety a curious look.

(Has Lety had this dream before? Maybe in the other dream it’s done from the other Lety’s point of view, so she’s banging at the door and wondering why the other Lety is sitting there crying?)

It's raining again. The reports for the Big Meeting are all soaked and ruined. She’s crying and trying to talk, but the rain and thunder drown out most of it. There's a framed photo of Fern. “Why, why?” she asks the photo. She kisses it, then throws it on the floor. Sort of like what she’s planning to do to Fern.

Lety cries in front of a wedding dress. She can't put it on.

Lety is curled up on the table in the rain, sleeping. The other Lety tells her to wake up. She says you can’t dream about this love because it doesn’t exist.

Lety wakes up and remembers Psychic Guy’s words: You will be lost. Everything that has sustained you until now will disappear, and you will begin your fight. Your true fight for survival.

Next day

Moty sits on the table as RoboPop critiques his breakfast. Mom is proud of herself for having turned her insomnia into something productive (I guess she spent all night cooking). Lety joins them and mentions that the checkbook is missing; Tomas probably has it. RoboPop says the good thing about this is that Tomas won’t be driving around in that sports car and carrying the checkbook around with him any more.

Tomas comes in and lets them know that he doesn’t want breakfast. RoboPop is surprised by this. He fills Tomas in on the big news of Lety’s impending resignation and giving up FI. Soon Tomas will be unemployed too. He tells Tomas to get that tricycle ready because he’s going to have to deliver bread for his mother again soon. Tomas is not amused. Lety suggests that perhaps they will create a new business when she gets back.

She and Tomas go to her room. Tomas sadly gives her the checkbook and promises that he didn’t spend anything last night. He says he’ll take her to work in the car and then go home on the bus, like before. He is depressed about returning to poverty.

Lety tries to cheer him up. She asks him to get the car cleaned up. She wants everything to be perfect when they give it to Fern. She also tells him they need to give Fern the computer and the cell phone. She asks him for the phone right away.

Tomas asks about his new clothes. She says he can keep those. Lety notices that the phone is muted and turns the ringer back on. It starts ringing. It’s a number from Conceptos. Lety realizes it’s Alicia. She looks about ready to slug him.

---

Next week:
Fern tells someone there’s not going to be a wedding, because he loves Lety.
Meanwhile, the cell phone continues to ring.

Beyond next week:

Here’s the deal: We don’t tell you about stuff until AFTER it’s been shown on Univision. It’s not because we are jealously guarding super-secret information; it’s actually pretty easy to find out what happens next. But, for many people, knowing about things ahead of time spoils the fun of speculation and the enjoyment of watching the story unfold.

But some people really like spoilers. And as this show’s popularity increases, it is going to get more difficult to avoid spoilers. The show in Mexico is about 14 weeks ahead of us; stuff gets posted to YouTube; people get really excited; naturally, they want to talk.

If you’re curious, hang out at this cool forum with people who are watching on Univision, want to talk about the show, and discuss (with spoiler warnings!) things that are coming up. Just go to that site and scroll down a bit to see what’s going on. Lurk a little before posting, and be sure to follow the rules when posting spoilers.

If you’ve just gotta know more, read this Wikipedia entry. It will bring you more or less up-to-date with what people have been seeing in Mexico. It won’t tell you how the series ends, though, because that hasn’t happened yet. Sorry. But it should satisfy your curiosity as to what happens in the short term.

If you then want to discuss what you’ve just read, you can try this English-language forum for people who’ve been watching the episodes soon after they air in Mexico. People there will be reacting to things as they happen, speculating as to what happens next, or talking about rumors. Only a handful of people in the entire world will know more than you do, and those are the people who are doing the show!

If you’re still hungry, you have two options: 1) get a time machine or 2) consult a psychic. Good luck. ;-D

Labels: fea

Alejandro wonders why he called his wife by his lawyer's name. Nuria cries as the superior of the convent slaps her. Berta arrives at that moment and asks what's going on.

Veronica informs her friends she's been asked to give a conference on AIDS. They leave as Renata talks to herself as she recalls when she and Cesar slept together. Her alter-ego tells her she's worse than Carola; she sold her self out of necesity ,to survive while she did it for brandname clothing and make-up and that she's worth nothing. She also tells her to pray she's not pregnant.

Berta tells Nuria she's not crazy as she tells her that her son is dead. The nuns tells her they'll put her in her place and mistreat her and then give Enrique to Berta. Fernanda talks to Santiago and tells him about the atrocities that Berta has committed. She also tells him that Florencia's end is near. Cesar arrives to see FLorencia and Fabricio. He insinuates to Miranda that there's something between Liliana and Alejandro.

Miranda asks Cesar why he has so much poison in his mouth and he becomes angry and insults her. Fabricio tells his bother to calm down. He tells him he's tired of Miranda's insults. She orders him to leave and he says that his treatment towards her is going to change for the worse as Florencia begs him not to talk to her sister that way. He apologizes to her and tells her it was something he had to let them know.

Berta tells the superior how she has to treat Nuria and she lies about Florencia's state. Luis Alberto arrives at Cesar's looking for Nuria. Renata and Pamela learn about the situation between Cesar and Miranda when Alejandro arrives. As he leave he tells him he knows he bought the judge while Cesar tells him it isn't over yet. Renata goes after Cesar as Florencia greets her brother. They leave as Alejandro talks to Miranda. Luis Alberto finds Nuria's papers and hopes he finds a clue to where she is. Renata tells Cesar to understand Miranda's attitude; he's accusing Alejandro of killing their father. He tells her he's not lying as she says maybe he and Berta saw something else. He yells at her and she tells him she's not going to allow he yell at her. He apologizes as she tells him she fears she might have gotten pregnant and that might complicate her divorce. He tells her he'll marry her but she tells him she doesn't want any children, his nor anyone's.

Alejandro and Miranda argue as she tells him she's the one to blame for what happened and he did nothing wrong. She also tells him she wants a separation as he tells her he's done everything for her to forgive him as he asks her what else she wants from him. She tells him she wants a baby but he tells her no, that Berta can keep the inheritance since he doesn't want a child fearing they might have the same disease as his father and his sisters. He admits he's afraid but she tells him that's what being a parent is all about, to confront any situation but if he prefers to read stories to another woman's child to go ahead and she leaves.

Luis Alberto talks to Santiago about Nuria when Charo arrives and tells them about Florencia. The priest realizes that the man LA described to him was the same man he once helped. Alejandro gets a call from Juan. Francisco gets after Juan for his relationship with Carola and the respect he owes himself and Renata. The sistersw bring Enrique to Nuria to quiet him down. Miranda explains to Florencia why she has to go to the ranch as she begs her sister to reconcile with her husband. Raul tells his parents to let Juan and Carola live their lives but they make their argument that they have their beliefs. Alejandro arrives at Liliana's and she tells him she's going to work from home from now on. He answers his phome and Miranda hears when Sofia calls out his name and she hangs up. She cries and tells Florencia if Alejandro changed his mind about having children she might not be able to even if she could, Sofia is a child and she can't compete with her.

Alejandro realizes that Miranda called him and asks Liliana why she's acting childish. She tells her it's a natural reaction and now realizes she made the right decision to work at home. He tells her Miranda's attitude will change as she tells him if she was in her place she would act the same way. He tells her she wouldn't since she's stronger and can handle any situation better than Miranda. She becomes uncomfortable and tells him to leave her house.

Labels: heridas

I've been looking at our sitemeter occasionally over the past few days. Here are some of the places that showed up outside of the United States. Are telenovelas really playing in all these countries? Whether your country is on this list or not, please leave us a comment and introduce yourself!

Albania Tirana, Tirane
Argentina Buenos Aires, Distrito Federal
Argentina Olavarra, Buenos Aires
Australia Mortlake, New South Wales
Australia Mount Gravatt, Queensland
Australia Melbourne, Victoria
Australia Mortlake, New South Wales
Australia Mount Gravatt, Queensland
Austria Arnberg, Oberosterreich
Austria Graz, Steiermark
Belgium Wasseiges, Liege
Belize Belize City
Bosnia and Herzegovina Mostar, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Brazil Brasilia, Distrito Federal
Brazil Rio De Janeiro
Brazil Trs Ilhas, Minas Gerais
Brazil Sao Paulo
Bulgaria Stara Zagora
Bulgaria Kazanluk, Stara Zagora
Canada Toronto, Ontario
Canada Weston, Ontario
Canada Bedford, Nova Scotia
Canada Regina, Saskatchewan
Canada Vancouver, British Columbia
Costa Rica San Jose
Croatia Zagreb, Grad Zagreb
Croatia Split, Splitsko-Dalmatinska
Croatia Zagreb, Grad Zagreb
Denmark Tranbjerg, Arhus
Denmark Silkeborg, Arhus
Dominican Republic Santo Domingo, Distrito Nacional
Egypt
Finland Nurmijrvi, Southern Finland
France
France, Schiltigheim, Alsace
Germany
Germany Ellen, Bremen
Germany Eschborn, Hessen
Germany Germersheim, Rheinland-Pfalz
Germany Wilstorf, Hamburg
Germany Ubstadt-Weiher, Baden-Wurttemberg
Greece Athens, Attiki
India Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh
India Bangalore, Karnataka
Italy Acquaviva Delle Fonti, Puglia
Japan Osaka
Latvia Riga
Lebanon Beirut, Beyrouth
Lithuania Vilnius, Vilniaus Apskritis
Malaysia Petaling Jaya, Wilayah Persekutuan
Malaysia Kinarut, Sabah
Mexico Mexico, Distrito Federal
Mexico Monterrey, Nuevo Leon
Mexico Tijuana, Baja California
Netherlands Goor, Noord-Brabant
Netherlands Utrecht
Netherlands Veghel, Noord-Brabant
New Zealand Auckland
Nigeria Mararaba, Gombe
Paraguay Encarnacin, Itapua
People's Republic of China
Peru Lima
Philippines Benguet
Philippines Cavite, Cavite City
Philippines Guadalupe Viejo, Rizal
Philippines Makati, Rizal
Philippines Mandaluyong, Quezon City
Philippines Mandaue City, Mandaue
Philippines Manila
Philippines Davao, Davao City
Philippines Quezon, Nueva Ecija
Poland Wejherowo, Gdansk
Portugal Linda-a-Pastora, Lisboa
Portugal Amadora, Lisboa
Puerto RicoCaguas
Puerto RicoGuaynabo
Romania Bucuresti
Romania Cluj
Romania Roman, Vaslui
Russian Federation Novosibirsk
San Juan Puerto Rico
Saudi Arabia Riyadh, Ar Riyad
Serbia and Montenegro Pozarevac
Serbia and Montenegro Beograd
Serbia and Montenegro Nis
Slovenia Ljubljana, Beltinci
Spain Barcelona, Cataluna
Spain Madrid
Spain San Andres Del Rabanedo, Castilla y Leon
Spain La Ametlla De Mar, Cataluna
Spain Zaragoza, Aragon
Spain Guadalajara, Castilla-La Mancha
Sweden Stockholm, Stockholms Lan
Switzerland Hnenberg, Zug
Taiwan Hsiaoi, T'ai-wan
Tanzania, United Republic of Dar Es Salaam
Turkey Adana
Turkey Istanbul
United Arab Emirates Dubai
United Kingdom Bristol, Bristol, City of
United Kingdom Exeter, Devon
United Kingdom Harlesdon, Newham
United Kingdom Millwall, Newham

Labels: announcements