Caray, Caray!

We open with a reprise of the scene where Diana is questioning how Doc Evil, someone with a clear conflict of interest, could be doing the surgery on her beloved Diego. Doc Evil says why not? I’m one of the best doctors in Miami. (and the only doctor in TeleMiami, as Alex has pointed out). I am a professional. He is my patient (whose shooting he was celebrating only a minute ago).

Octavia is thinking again about Paco’s voice . . .

Doc Evil thought bubbles at the operating table . . . this operation is risky: I could leave him an invalid for life. (Yeah!) The scalpel, please.

In the waiting room at Hospital TM, the family gathers around. Pancho is blaming Diana for everything that happened. Paco and Gaviota tell him to stop, it’s very unjust.

FM stares at a drunken Max. Max has the same torpid expression asleep that he has when awake.

Paola is still wearing the spider web costume from the clearance rack at Frederick's of Hollywood. I notice there is a bad reproduction of a Miro painting in the room. Another masterpiece from the Irascibles' world-class art collection.

O wants Paola to go to rehab, because she is becoming a libertine. Paola says she’s tired of having to keep up appearances. She asks her mother, why do you treat me different from my brothers? Cut away before impactada Octavia can answer.

Back at the hospital Gaviota is also saying that Doc Evil should not perform the surgery.

At the little house, RM is trying to stand up in her wheelchair (silla de ruedas).

Now O answers Paola: Why are you asking such a stupid question? Well, mom, I never got a hug or a kiss, you never congratulated me on my school degree (or something having to do with school). I’m sure that Paola was another model student, like RM.

O thought bubbles: because you are a child of sin, and the only man I ever loved. Then she tells Paola not to waste her time.

Back at the hospital, Doc Evil tells everyone that there were two bullets and Diego is not going to be able to walk. There is a spinal cord injury.

Appropriately enough, we cut to RM, who now manages to stand up out of her chair. I did it, she shouts triumphantly. (“I can walk, mein fuhrer,” to quote Dr. Strangelove.) Oops, she falls down. Isabel tucks her in bed and warns her that she’s doing too much.

Cut to Doc Evil’s office, where Andres is lounging around on the couch. You get a good view of Doc Evil’s cheesy seventh grade anatomy illustrations. I've been meaning to comment on these. You know you're in a cheap production when they use these types of illustrations in a doctor's office.

Paola is now commiserating with Yolanda. Yolanda points out that Octavia is a very special character (understatement of the year). Paola asks Yolanda to hug her. Pobrecita.

Max now wakes up. FM calls him a drunk, but he says he had to drink to escape her shrieking. He has a point. She says she does it because she loves him so much. He says she is talking too much. I can’t live without you, she claims.

Back at the hospital, Diana goes into the room where Diego is on life support. You don’t deserve this, she says, crying. Gaviota tells her to be strong, not to cry, but she can’t accept it. Paco says they should go to the cafeteria to get a snack.

Lala is praying in the chapel and Pancho comes in. She is worried about how to tell Diego he can’t walk. They should break it to him gently. She begs Pancholon not to be hard on Diana, she says Diana cares for Diego. Pancho is still grumbling about how this would not have happened if not for Diana.

Caramelo calls the mansion to tell them that Lala can’t come to work. She actually says: “Is this the Irascible Mansion?” Max answers the phone. She tells him what happened. Betcha can't guess where he's going next.

Nancy cries over Diego. Naturally, she seems much more upset than Diana.

Max leaves the house and FM shrieks.

Diego is having a nightmare in his hospital bed. Nancy tells Diana to be strong.

Doc Evil laughs at Andres.

More boring blabber between Diana and Lala.

Yolanda begs Octavia to treat Paola better—the poor girl is falling into an abyss. O reminds her that she conceived the baby when her husband was on a business trip and she’s a product of sin, yada yada yada. O is losing patience and wants to throw Paola in the street, if I understood correctly. (P.S., I apologize for an error I think I made the last time this was mentioned. I thought she said she went on a business trip, but now it seems that she said the husband was on a business trip.)

Max now shows up at the ER. Gaviota calls him trash. No, you’re trash, he says. You were in prison. (hasn’t he learned anything yet?)

As usual, O asks FM where Max is. She should get a LoJack. FM tells her he’s drunk again, on account of that nurse.

Diego is waking up. Pancho continues to blame Diana right in Diego’s earshot. Way to go, bro. Lala tries to get him to stop. Diego wakes up. What’s going on? I can’t feel my legs! Where’s the rest of me? I heard shots and got a big pain in my back. I can’t feel or move my feet. I am paralyzed. Pancho, the soul of discretion, blurts out: You will never walk again!

Meanwhile, Gaviota and Max are trading insults. Yes, I was in prison too long, but I am not a killer. It was an injustice by the Irascibles. Your mother gave false evidence, she took everything. (I think she also said that O killed the husband.) You’re crazy, Max says. Yeah, I’m crazy with the injustice. Then you took Diana and Gaby. You’re ruining everything. Look, Lady, he says: You have no right . . .I like the way he resorts to high-handed classism. Muertas de hambre should never have the temerity to make accusations against their betters. Gaviota vows to get back everything and avenge the injustice. Gaviota tells him to leave. She doesn’t want him near Diana. Granny M wants to avoid a scandal.

Diego is railing at the long useless life that stretches before him in a wheelchair. He wants to die.

Nancy comes in to see O. O yells at her. I gave you two hours off for the wedding of that piano teacher, and you come in hours late. Nancy is crying bitterly. She says it’s terrible, that Diego was shot after the wedding by a masked man, etc. She cries hysterically. Is he dead, asks O? Stop crying. You’re acting like he’s your husband! Nancy says that he will be paralyzed for life. FM affects her gleeful look.

Rene comes in to see Lunkhead. We haven’t seen much of him for a few days. He is lounging on bed in his usual position, but this time his nether regions are clothed in jeans. He is wearing an odd green T shirt with embroidered gold dots. Rene tells Lunk that Paola is out cold in her bed. He asks if Lunk was thinking about Pilar. No, he was thinking of Gaby, of a kiss. You’re thinking of your wife, the sirvienta? Could be that you love her without realizing it?

Nancy tells O that by the way, Lala won’t be able to come to work for a few days. O dismisses the igualada. Now O and FM rejoice over the news. This development means that Diana will be out of Max’s life for good. She won’t dare leave her husband if he’s a cripple. She’ll have to stay with him and play the saintly wife. They cackle like two hens.

Back at the hospital, Lala wants to stay all night, and Diana says that she will stay. Pancho throws Diana out, and Lala scolds him.

FM and O continue their figurative high-fiving. That baratija Diana cannot steal Max. He’ll have to come back to his wife. “Baratija” is defined as “trinket,” but their tone implies a heaping helping of “muerta de hambre.” We should just start abbreviating it as MDH.

Max bursts in with a burning question on his lips: Tell me the truth, Ma. Did you steal the house, the fortune and the perfume factory? I want to know if you’re a thief. Cut to O’s shocked face, no surprise. It will be fun to see her squirm. Credits roll.

Labels: acorralada

Casa Soriano. Gaby’s making dinner, Diana answers the door. The String Quartet of Doom plays. Enter Max, come to apologize. He was an idiot, he admits it, etc. Close-up of Diana, looking sullen. “Habla,” she says.

At Intracoastal Five Star Rentals, a.k.a. Dr. Evil’s Lair, Andrés and Ignacio are being a couple of sore losers. They haven’t come up with a scheme yet, just something on the order of “ruin that nurse and make her crawl before delivering the final blow.” The only thing that’s changed is motive. Now they’re adding their humiliation in court to the list of grievances against Our Heroine. Oh, and Andrés owes Diego one. Flashback to Diego’s brief, shining moment as a Fiera just to make sure we remember. Andrés is going to get revenge on Diego and Diana. Close-up of Dr. Evil, mildly impactado.

We are now transported to Casa Irazabal. Paola and Rene hurry in and sit down on the lovely gold velvet couch in the foyer. Paola’s managed to save herself from the police, but will she save herself from her fiera of a mother? Yolanda comes running in and they decide that Paola should hide in her room. Octavia would never think of looking for her there.

At Casa Soriano, Max is still apologizing. It’s an awful lot of dialogue, but he’s getting through it. Diana wants to know why it was easier to believe Camila and Dr. Evil. Especially since she gave him her virginity. Max doesn’t have a good answer to that but Diana’s not interested in listening, anyway. It’s her turn to do the talking after the way he dogged her 'round.

In Paola’s bedroom. Octavia runs her house like a concentration camp, and Paola’s already served 20 years. She’ll stay until tomorrow, but she doesn’t want any more confrontations with Mamacita. Yolanda replies that Paola needs help. Once again she entrusts her wayward niece to Rene. Once again she expresses the hope that Rene’s not using. Paola asks her to ease up on the sermons. Yolanda tells Rene to give Paola some counseling (come again?) and asks him to stop in the library before he leaves. The door closes behind her and we know there will be no remorse from these Bright Young Things because we get a few bars of the “Fiera” song. They burst out laughing and joke about what delinquents they are, how they really put one over on poor Yolanda. Kids these days.

We return to Casa Soriano, where Diana is circling Max, getting him told. Our Heroine may speak softly, but she carries a big guilt-stick. Every grievance is a blow which Our Hero stoically endures until Diana pulls him around to face her. She’s going to deliver the coup de grace, I just know it. “You’re the one who lied to me!” And then she starts flailing away like mad, starting with his claim of being a widower and building to a grand little speech on the evils of machismo. Max is taking one for the team here, no doubt about it. This is followed by the “Not with married men” speech. Her prim outrage and the virtuous little diatribe make it easy to picture her in a candle-lit room, hair in a chignon, angrily slapping her fan against her hoopskirt. “Your worst punishment is losing me forever!” He promises to get a divorce but she doesn’t want to hear it. Tomorrow she’s marrying Diego. Max looks like he had a line…it was right on the tip of his tongue…was it…damn. So much for attractively impactado.

Paola’s boudoir. Rene has decided to take his bomboncito Yolanda seriously and advises Paola to stop seeing Pancho. They argue but don’t tell us anything we don’t already know. After Paola says she doesn’t want him to badmouth her Panchito, Rene leaves. Paola sulks for a second or two, then picks up her phone and calls Pancholón. She wants to have a Serious Talk. He tries to soothe his “fierita”. Paola thinks it’s time for a career change. The illegal jewelry trade is too risky.

We check back in with that other fun couple, Max and Diana. He’s telling her not to make the mistake of marrying Diego. You don’t love him, Max protests. I’ll grow to love him is her response. (Diego’s got Lala, Gaby, and Diana all drinking the same Kool-Aid.) You’ll never love Diego the way you loved me. (That’s an interesting approach. Stupid, but interesting.) Max repeats that he’s an idiot. I repeat “Damn straight you are.” Diana’s getting increasingly bitter as the scene progresses. They continue to argue until she tells him to go back to his wife, who needs him. “From now on,” she decrees, “you and I are two strangers.” Close up of Max, with the Glycerine Tear of True Dolor. Pobre de Max. Before he goes, he says he hopes she doesn’t regret this. All she regrets is having met him. Ouch. Bye, Max. Thanks for playing. The door’s hardly closed when Granny M. and Little Doormat enter to find out what happened. Diana hurries to her room, with Granny and Gabby right behind her. They heard it all. He deserved it. Diana gets all weepy. Despite the noble platitudes, she loves him with all her might, will never love another like she loved him (didn’t we just hear that somewhere?) etc. Little Doormat, a.k.a. Pollyanna the Glad Girl, points out that Max didn’t know how to appreciate Diana any more than Larry knew how to appreciate her. Granny M chimes in, saying that Gaviota was right about the Irazabal clan getting enjoyment out of stepping on people and hurting them. Diana would like to hate Max, but she can’t. Every day she loves him more. Awkward-looking group hug.

Bar Don Paco. The seven extras came back – we can hear them going wild. Gaviota has just finished a show. She and Paco are in her dressing room. “Listen to that applause,” says Paco. “You’re a wonder.” (Because she kept them in their seats tonight?) She attributes her success onstage to her success in court. As usual this brings the conversation to Our Heroine. Gaviota would rather see her married to Diego than to an Irazabal.

At Psycho Mansion, Yolanda is beseeching Rene. Help Paola, advise her. Rene says he’ll give her more advice than a parish priest. Yolanda thinks rehab might be best for Paola. You can count on Rene. Close-up of our boy mugging. She’s charmed by this. Everything’s cute when Rene does it. He changes the subject by asking Yolanda out on a date. An open-air reggaeton concert. Va a estar de pocas pulgas. (Anybody know this expression?) Yolanda prefers classical music. Rene clowns some more before saying “As you wish”, followed by a lingering kiss on the hand. He departs. Yolanda sighs. Ay, bomboncito.

Paola and Pancho. Same conversation as above.

Max is in the parlor. Enter the spider, I mean Octavia, once more dressed like a seventies call-girl. She saunters over to the couch and asks Max if he plans on getting drunk again. What’s the occasion this time? Diana’s getting married tomorrow. Don’t lie down and die on account of this mujercita. Does Octavia know who the defense lawyer was? No. Fedora Garces Ledezma. Close-up of Mamá, her face so immobile you would think she’d gone for a botox treatment and told them “Super-Size me.”

Back in Gav’s dressing room, our torch-singing attorney tells Paco that she has to get revenge on Octavia, find her daughters, and make Diana and Gaby very happy. I guess Paco doesn’t remember the first 32 times she told him that. Or maybe Gaviota doesn’t recall. By the end of the scene, she makes it to rehash number 34.

Chez Diana. She’s lying on her bed. She’s unhappy. “Tomorrow I’m marrying a man I don’t love.” Close-up of Diana looking even unhappier. End of scene.

We return to Casa Irazabal, where Max is reminiscing about the last time anyone saw Fedora/Gaviota. Tía Yolanda met her in the street one day. And when did Fedora/Gaviota become a lawyer, Octavia wonders. A lot of people go to school while they’re doing time. Octavia also wonders how it came to pass that Fedora/Gaviota of all people was Diana’s lawyer. It could have been a coincidence. Max kisses her on the shoulder and they say good night. Octav thought-bubbles: “I don’t like this at all. These two, allies? What is this bond? What plots are brewing in Fedora’s twisted mind?”

Casa Soriano. It’s Our Heroine’s wedding day. At first I don’t recognize the hostess, then I realize it’s Granny M in her Barbara Bush party dress. In come Lala, Diego, Pancho, Caramelo, and Nancy. Nancy’s in surprisingly good spirits for someone who’s attending the ill-fated wedding of the man she loves. The Orphans of the Storm are in the other room, preparing the bride for her Big Day. Gaby is being endearingly officious. After all, the happy couple has her to thank. Nancy knocks at the door. Poor Nancy, Little Doormat says, dying of love for Diego. Sigh. She lets Nancy in and they’re all smiles. Nancy doesn’t beat around the bush with Diana. Diego was never going to love her. Diana is his great love. Nancy wishes her the greatest happiness. Diana stands and we get a good look at her wedding dress. It’s a strapless sundress with a wide band of black lace around the waist. It appears to have been made from a bedsheet and one of Granny M’s old girdles. Nancy and Diana hug. Close-up of Nancy. She is seriously bummed.

Now we’re in Max’s office. He’s got that blank stare under furrowed brow expression on his face again. He is remembering Our Heroine’s words: “Tomorrow I’m marrying Diego.” Enter Emilio. He has some orders to be signed. Max isn’t listening. He’s just sitting there, staring. Emilio finally gets his attention. “Diana’s getting married today.” Emilio gets a close-up so that we can see him thinking “Aw, man, not this again.”

Gaviota’s room. She’s sitting on the bed, putting on her shoes. For some reason I flash back to similar scenes from Pre-Code movies, except that the actress has usually just finished with a trick. Maybe it’s the black choker with the huge black rosette. Or the red dress with black polka dots and Gav’s signature extra-wide belt. But there are no folded bills tucked in her garter and she won’t light a cigarette and gaze moodily into the camera. No. She’s just getting ready for the wedding. There’s an insistent knock at the door. Adjusting her top, she goes to answer. It’s Octavia, just stopping by for a minute before she gets on the Love Boat. While the skin-tight halter-top with the nautical pattern is quite jaunty, I don’t think that’s why Gaviota is impactada. “Octavia!” Close-up of Octavia, staring at Gaviota the way a snake looks at a cornered rat.

Out in the bar, Lorenzo the lovable old barman is being questioned by Paco, the man haunted by the woman who betrayed him. Paco wants to know who just went in to see Gaviota. Lorenzo has no idea.

Back in Gaviota’s dressing room, we get a splendid shot of her idea of wedding-guest attire. If she slipped on a ruffled petticoat under that dress, she could entertain us with the can-can. But that’s not going to happen, it’s Fiera versus Fiera here, even if they’re not playing the Fiera song. Instead the Synthesizer of Doom plays loudly as Octav sashays through the dressing room to Gaviota’s bedroom. “So you live in this cow-shed.” Midshot of Gaviota in the archway, with her Gay Pride rainbow boa visible between the groovy beads hanging behind her. She smirks, as if to say, “Are you kidding me, bitch?” Octavia grills Gaviota on her acquaintance with las hermanas Soriano and Gav refuses to answer. Octavia grabs her arm and calls her an ex-con who reeks of jail. Although it pains me to say it, girls and boys, there are no prizes for guessing where that remark leads. Where it ends is the menacing violin music and Gaviota turning venomous as she states her intention of recruiting Diana and Gaby to avenge themselves on los Irazabal. Close-up of Octavia thinking “If I could shoot you dead and get away with it…”

We return to the boda. The justice of the peace arrives, out comes Diana, it looks like our young couple is going to take that fateful step on the road to unhappiness…No, not yet, Gaviota’s not there.

Back to the Gaviota, who’s still reciting her Litany of Revenge. She doesn’t get any reaction out of Lady O until she says Octavia will pay for the death of Gav’s husband. Octavia wheels around and calls Gaviota a miserable murderess. Gav slaps her and neatly intercepts the counter-blow. “Don’t you dare,” Gaviota warns, “because I’ll leave you bald.” She tells Octavia to get out, even holds aside the beads for her. Well, Octavia has to go, anyway, she’s got a boat to catch and Captain Steubing to vamp. They exchange rabid fiera glares as Octav struts out. After a last look at our Avenging Angel, we follow Octavia through the bar. Paco comes out of his office and calls out. She stops, but does not turn. He asks who she is and at first she looks puzzled, then as the camera pulls in closer, impactada. Commercial.

We come back to Andres, in a rental car, staking out the wedding. He calls Dr. Evil to announce that he’s on point and that the best part is yet to come.

At Paco’s bar, Octavia thought-bubbles: “Who does that voice remind me of?” That voice, a.k.a. Paco, keeps asking inane questions. Octav keeps her back to him and then Gaviota appears. “What are you still doing here? I told you to take off.” Octavia leaves without turning or saying a word. Paco asks Gav about the Mystery Woman. She fills him in. He’s sorry that he didn’t get to see the face of the woman who caused her so much harm. That’s okay, Gaviota’s going to destroy her the same way she destroyed Gav. One of Paco’s employees enters to remind Paco that they’d better get a move on.

Outside the unassuming little tract home where the unlucky boda is about to take place, Andrés watches Paco, Gaviota, and Lorenzo pull up. Inside, the guests are happy that the stragglers have finally made it. Pleasantries are exchanged and then it’s time for this wedding business. Diana forces a smile, but it only lasts a second or two.

Max is fiddling with a pencil instead of working on billing or signing orders. He tells us that they’re probably getting married right now, as he speaks, with the show’s theme song playing. He is so upset that he breaks his pencil. And he’s glad he broke it, too!

We cut to the ceremony, with Diana looking melancholy until Diego flashes that weaselly grin at her. She forces another weak smile and looks down. The theme song continues to play while everyone in the wedding party gets a close-up. We end with the bride and groom again. The expression on Diana’s face tells us she regrets it already.

In the rental car. Andrés opens the glove compartment and takes out a gun much like the one Faux Marfil pulled on Real Marfil several capítulos back. Since he’s got his back to us, we can only see his eyes and nose in the rearview mirror. Even so we can tell he’s got an evil grin on his face. That’s some pretty snazzy camerawork.

Back to the boda. Diana and Diego sign the register, then Gaby and Pancho. The justice of the peace declares them man and wife, applause all around, the newlyweds rise. “Now you’re my wife.” “Sí, ya soy tu mujer y tu esposa,” is her rather peculiar reply. The Orchestra of Doom begins to play, and it's not Lohengrin.

Poolside at Casa Irascible. Pilar is catching some rays and Luscious Larry is in the pool. He swims up, invites her in, she declines. They blather on a bit: Octavia would have hysterics if she knew Pilar was here; Pilar wants Larry to get Mamacita to forgive her; whatever happened to that sirvienta. From there it’s a short step to “I want to get married as soon as possible.” Larry wants to wait a few months. Pilar is not a happy camper.

The boda’s still not over. Lorenzo brings out a tray of champagne, and everyone toasts.

Max is drinking, too, but he’s having straight scotch and he’s not feeling too festive right now. They must have tied the knot, he tells us. He’s lost her forever because he’s an idiot. Enter Mamá. Max asks if she came to torture him. Not at all. But she hopes today is the last day he’ll think of Diana. Mmm, don’t bet the perfume factory on that, Octavia.

Back at the pool, Pilar hasn’t given up. She doesn’t see why they should wait months when he could easily divorce that sirvienta. They argue over her use of the disparaging word “sirvienta.” Larry speechifies a bit, extolling Little Doormat’s virtues and calling her an angel. He starts to walk away, then comes back to really let Pilar have it. While Pilar was off rolling around with Kique, Gaby was at his side, etc., etc., etc. He forbids Pilar to dis Gaby again. He leaves, only this time he means it. At first Pilar is miffed, but then she laughs. If he defends her like that, it’s because he’s in love with la sirvientita, only he hasn’t realized it yet. Why this amuses her is a mystery.

At Casa Soriano, the newlyweds toast each other. This leads to a sappy conversation in which Diego basically tells Diana that he is her love slave. Then he gets a little more practical. It turns out that in their mad dash to the altar, these impetuous kids forgot to make honeymoon plans. Diana is suddenly feeling very Scarlett O’Hara. She wants to think about it tomorrow. Diego is enchanted by this reply. “You don’t know how much I love you.” He leans in to kiss her, but she dodges by setting her glass down. “Let’s go out for a walk.” “Now?” Well, whatever his princess wants. Her wishes are his orders. He announces their plans to all and sundry. Lala tells them not to be long, there’s still the cake to be cut and photos to be taken. (And bullets to be fired, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves here.) The Synthesizer of Doom music swells as they leave the house. Andrés watches them, nodding. “There’s the happy groom,” he says and once more we are treated to a flashback of the scuffle in the courthouse hallway. Back in the present, Andrés tells the new Sr. y Sra. Suarez to get ready. He puts on his sunglasses and starts the car.

Irascible Manor. Max comes stumbling in. He looks like he really tied one on. Faux Marfil is flipping through a magazine – probably Vogue, although Guns & Ammo is also possible. She’s wearing a low-cut, baby-doll kimono, or something like that. It’s hard to focus on the actual dress with all that cleavage screaming for attention. But about Max and the little woman. He announces that he’s the biggest idiot in the world. She’s not happy to see him drunk in the middle of the day. I don’t listen to her any more than Max does. Suffice it to say that she gets him up the stairs and onto the bed. Again he says he is the world’s biggest idiot, but Faux Marfil has decided to use this to her advantage. She starts undressing him. “Kiss me, kiss me, tell me you love me, that there’s no other woman….” And so on. Max must be wasted, because he’s returning her kisses and declaring he loves her, only her, only…Diana. Diana? That little slip of the tongue causes Faux Marfil to go right into Chihuahua on crack mode. Max begins to realize that he didn’t just get drunk, he got puking drunk. He struggles to rise.

The boda again. Pancho and Caramelo are admiring the cake topper. Paco pulls on the bride’s little tulle veil and predicts that Diana will never love his idiot brother. The marriage is a farce. (He may be a muerto de hambre, but he’s right on the money there.) Pancho then pulls the cake topper off, stealthily puts it on the floor and steps on it, grinding the bridal couple’s little plaster heads to dust.

Cut to Diego and Diana walking down the street, with Andrés driving three feet behind them. They of course do not notice him. He stops to put on a ski mask, gets out of the car, walks up behind Diego, shoots him twice in the back, and flees. Diana drops to her knees in hysterics, screaming for help, screaming Diego’s name, shaking him – wait. Isn’t she a nurse? Shouldn’t she have some rudimentary knowledge of emergency first aid? Fortunately we go to commercial and I can have another glass of wine.

Back in the mansion. Faux Marfil has worked herself up to complete fiera hysteria. She screams and screams and screams and screams, pausing for breath just long enough for Max to bellow “Shut up!” Gracias, Max. By now he’s up and moving again. Faux Marfil isn’t finished, however. She was just getting her second wind. I don’t really follow it too well, but this tantrum is not only genuine, it’s operatic. (Scary, Expressionist operatic, not the Mozart in powdered wigs variety.) I gather Faux Marfil’s lambasting Diana because she screeches “She doesn’t love you!” about six times in a row. And then Max does the unthinkable. Close-up of Our Hero, suddenly sober. Attractively impactado. Well, I’ll be damned.

We move on to Ignacio’s office. He asks Andrés how it went. Andrés sums it up very neatly. She got married, and he widowed her.

At Casa Soriano, Lala and Granny M are hoping that their kids find happiness together. Paco, Gaviota, and Lorenzo are behind them, nodding sagely and murmuring in agreement. The phone rings and Gaby answers. It’s Diana. Bit by bit, as the String Quartet of Doom gets louder, Little Doormat is told that Diego’s been shot, is in the hospital, and is muy grave. He’s lost a lot of blood. But he’s alive, thanks to Diana’s emergency response technique. I’d hate to think what might have happened if she hadn’t repeatedly screamed "¡Contéstame!" while shaking his head like a maraca. But back to our friends. Gaby is impactada. She breaks the news, rather perfunctory pandemonium follows, and everyone hurries out.

Back at the hospital, Andrés tells Dr. Evil he’s sure he killed Diego. A nurse knocks on the door. They have an emergency. A man with two gunshot wounds. Gee, I wonder who that could be? Andrés is sure he killed Diego.

The operating room. Diego is face-down on the gurney. Dr. Evil thought-bubbles: “This is Diego? The husband of Diana Soriano?” He tells the nurse to prep the patient. He’ll be right back.

Diana is pacing up and down in front of the desk. Dr. Evil approaches her. Diego’s condition is serious. They’ll need to operate. And Dr. Ignacio Montiel Evil himself will perform the surgery. Close-up of Diana, impactada.

Roll Credits

Labels: acorralada

Labels: duelo

On our local station here in Nueva York, the channel is running spots during the show asking viewers to call in if they recognize where Fernando is walking. The first callers win two tickets to a concert of some singer I don't know at Madison Square Garden. So far I think he is walking near Grammercy Park and Battery Park. I am still not sure he is really in New York or they are scenes of him in front of a blue screen image.

Labels: fea

Alicia is told that Marcia's been looking for her; Alicia goes into Marcia's office, and Martha wonders where Cornilocks got the phone. Lola guesses that it's from some poor idiot.

Marcia congratulates Alicia for thinking. Alicia says that Tomas admitted that he only said Aldo loved Lety in order to get Alicia to himself; Alicia is thrilled, but Marcia is disappointed because it means Aldo won't be keeping Lety away from Fern after all.

Next, Omar hides in the batcave and overhears Lety and Aldo talking about exercise and apples. (I'll irrelevantly add here that I love what everyone is wearing today.) I sure hope Aldo has nice breath, because their faces are awfully close. (I hope Lety has nice breath too, but Aldo's the one who's always leaning in.) He crowds her onto the desk, makes the "scary snicker" noise as previously described by Amanda, and takes his leave.

New stuff

Alicia sees that Aldo, the apple-polisher, has brought Lety more gifts, and questions Tomas again about their relationship, but he insists that there's nothing going on. This delights Alicia, who does him the great honor of kissing his cheek and then goes back to admiring her "engagement" photo.

Lety sets about working at her desk; Omar frets in the cave. Sara is looking for him; she checks in his office and then worries to the cuartel that she can't find him.

Meanwhile, Marcia asks Alicia to check on the tickets, passport, money, etc. for the trip; she's eager to get out of there. Fern's gone, and they'll both be back in 20 days, before the expo. She'll think things over during that time, and after the trip, she and Fern will figure out what to do, once and for all.

Alicia generously offers to accompany Marcia to London to help out... but then changes her mind. She doesn't want to be away from Aldo that long. Marcia says she needs Alicia to stay there, anyway. Alicia then generously offers to car-sit for Marcia. She says she deserves the loan of Marcia's car. Marcia says maybe, but asks Alicia to first do what she's been asked.

Alicia reminds Marcia of what a great friend she is. Marcia tells her that the company pays Alicia for her work. Alicia points out that she doesn't get paid to be Marcia's friend; her friendship is priceless. (Marcia diplomatically doesn't mention the many pesos Alicia already owes her.)

Alicia goes back into the Vortex of Stupidity and makes a great show of calling Papi to tell him that Marcia's going to let her borrow the car. With a nice car, she says, she'll be her old self again. She invites Papi to hand out her new phone number to all and sundry. She promises to call him back and stuffs the phone back into its holster (frankly I'm very surprised that there's room in there for a phone - even a small one).

Meanwhile, Lety is on the phone with the bank, saying she knows the interest is due on their loans. She is flustered when he tells her that the deadline is at noon. She prepares to call Tomas and tell him to hurry up, but is interrupted by PM, who asks if she's seen Omar. The cuartel saw him earlier, but now it's like he's fallen off the face of the earth. An important client is trying to get in touch with him.

At this perfect moment, Omar's cell phone rings. While he fumbles for his phone, Lety and PM wonder where the sound is coming from - PM thinks it's coming from the batcave. Omar answers the phones and the ringing stops. Lety says her phone doesn't sound like that, and PM says cell phones lately sound pretty weird. (It's true. I like a "ringtone" that sounds like a phone ringing, myself.) They dismiss this weird occurrence and Lety asks PM to find Tomas's cell number and call him for her.

The call to Omar is from Fern, who is still at the airport. Omar tries to hide under the not-very-soundproof desk and whispers that he's trapped in "Lety's office." (A sleeping woman I'll call Dot snuggles up to Fern while he talks.) Omar explains what has happened (and doesn't even flinch when he says "gargolita"). He didn't want Lety to catch him hiding photos of Fern's lovely snout all over the place. Fern is confused. Omar says it's so that Lety will be reminded of him all the time. Fern gets up from his seat and scolds Omar for his lack of creativity. He sits down again, almost on Dot's head, and she wakes with a start. Fern reminds Omar not to get caught. Nobody must find out what he's doing.

Omar tries to stand up, not realizing that there is a desk on top of him, and hits his head. PM and Lety hear. So does Fern, who is now letting Dot listen in on the call. Omar makes that little scream again, and Lety and PM go into the batcave to investigate. "Me? Here?" Omar asks, stalling for time. He says he was looking for some old documents among the archives. ("He couldn't come up with a better excuse?" Dot asks Fern in disgust.) Lety asks how long he's been in there. He says it's been a while, because he couldn't find them. Lety says she doesn't believe him - there are no papers in that room that would be useful to him. Then he comes up with another cockamamie excuse - that he was looking for Lety's father. He checks the desk drawers - nope, Erasmo's not there. He'll just have to talk to him later instead. He nervously excuses himself and leaves. PM and Lety wonder what Omar was up to.

And now for something completely different

Luigi is sooooooo happy to see Aldo. He comments on how nice Aldo looks in black. "Thank you very much, you too," Aldo replies. Luigi says he's not wearing black. Har, har, har. Aldo starts to explain/apologize about the mixup with the bear. Luigi would rather talk about Aldo's bruises from yesterday. Who's the savage bear who disfigured Aldo's gorgeous face? Aldo deflects the question and says he wants to talk about the commercials.

Luigi says he's going crazy. They're all in various stages of completion. Some still in design, others in preproduction, etc. But, see, he found this flower (it's one of those individually-wrapped roses that you can buy at the gas station on the way home from work), and he didn't know what to do with it, so he wants to give it to Aldo. Aldo thanks him for the pretty rose and says he's going to work on his book. "If you need me, call," he tells Luigi.

"I always need you, Aldo," Luigi says in Spanish. "I need you, guapo," he adds in mostly English.

Aldo takes a few steps towards Luigi, and I brace myself for a moment of truth. Finally, Aldo is going to explain to Luigi that he's interested in someone else, right?

Wrong. Aldo says "thank you for the flower, Luigi," and goes into his office. Um. Waaaay too subtle, Aldo!

"That wasn't a flower - it was a compliment," Luigi sighs to himself.

Back to the Vortex

Sara is trying to get Omar's client back on the phone, but the guy's cell phone is out of range. She notices the camera strap across Omar's neck - he has moved the camera so that it's hanging down his back, and it's making a huge lump under his jacket - and denies that there's anything strange, but says he wants to go outside because he feels like something's choking him! Sara worries that he will disappear on her again. He walks backwards out of the room so no one will notice the ginormous camera-lump under his jacket.

Lola gives Tomas's cell number to PM. PM dials the number from Lola's desk. Immediately, Alicia's boobs start ringing. Oh, wait, it's her phone. She answers. PM asks for Tomas. Alicia hangs up. PM seems confused. (Alicia's desk is maybe 15 feet away. Maybe. I don't think it's even that far.)

As Alicia struggles to wedge the phone back into her bodice, Lola, Sara, Martha, and PM combine their brainpower and figure out that it probably wasn't a coincidence that Alicia answered and hung up at the same time as Tomas's phone. Wow. What's next, cold fusion?

PM informs Lety of this incredible development. She says she tried to call Tomas, but a woman answered. Lety doesn't have a flashback, but she might be remembering the time that Tomas went out drinking with the HaHas and gave his previous cell phone to a cocktail waitress, and had to go out drinking again on the night of Lety's birthday party in order to get the waitress to pay for all the calls she'd made. (She didn't pay, but he won some money at bingo, so it turned out OK.)

And that's why my recaps are so long. I have flashbacks even when Fern and Lety don't. PM fills Lety in on the cuartel's theory.

Out in the Vortex, Marcia asks Alicia if she's completed her tasks yet. Alicia says she doesn't know who to ask for the tickets, etc. Marcia reminds her that Tomas is the person to ask, and her flight leaves at 7 that evening. Marcia is displeased that Tomas isn't around and tells Alicia to find him. After Marcia stomps out, Alicia harasses Lola about Tomas's whereabouts. (Martha hisses at Alicia, and Alicia asks if she's deflating.) Lola offers to call Tomas's cell phone. Alicia backs off.

Lety and PM step into the Vortex with Lety's phone. Lety dials.

Alicia (facing away from Lety): Hello? Yes?
Lety: Tomas Mora?
Alicia: He's not here, this isn't - uh - who's calling?
Lety (hanging up walking towards Alicia): It's LETICIA PADILLA SOLIS!

Ah, the look of horror on Alicia's face.

In Lety's shiny new Bored

Tomas stops at a traffic light and pulls out his photo of Alicia. He explains to the photo why he couldn't tell her the truth about Aldo being in love with Lety. He feels badly that this is going to hurt her. He marvels at Lety's luck and wonders why he can't have the same kind of luck. He admits he's as ugly as Lety, but more likeable. He giggles. Good, no self-esteem issues there!

That's it for Tomas in the car. For the life of me I don't know why they bothered with the expense of such a pointless location shot. Perhaps it was part of a longer scene showing off the beauty of the practical, affordable, yet sporty and luxurious Bored.

Back to the Vortex - no one can escape!

Lety asks Alicia what she's doing with Tomas's phone. Marcia shows up and grumpily asks Lety when Tomas is coming back. Lety says she's looking for him too. Marcia wants her plane tickets and such. Lety says Tomas let someone borrow his phone. Marcia angrily says that the whole company is paralyzed because Tomas lent his phone. Lety asks Alicia to tell Marc where the phone is. Alicia plucks the phone out of her top - it's about ready to fall out on its own anyway - and "explains" that she's borrowing it from Tomas.

With grim satisfaction, Lety informs Marcia that the whole company is paralyzed because Miss Ferreira borrowed Tomas's phone. She asks Alicia to give Tomas's phone back when he returns so the company can resume its functions. She goes back to her own office.

Marcia complains to Alicia that she can't stand Lety. She thinks she owns the place! (She does!) Alicia tells Marcia that she came on a bit strong, too. Marcia teases Alicia about Tomas being her ex-lover. The cuartel leans forward to hear better as Alicia denies that Tomas was ever her lover. "So what was he, your sweaty handyman?" Marcia says (I think). Alicia claims it was just a screw-up on her part. Marcia says if she hates him so much, why did she ask him for his phone? (Martha and/or Sara fall over their desks trying to hear.) Alicia insists that he offered it to her; she never asked. He gave it to her. Marcia scolds her for not having any dignity. Alicia says she'd rather be without dignity than be without a phone.

Based on what they've overheard, the geniuses of the cuartel are even more sure than ever that Tomas and Cornilocks were lovers.

Marcia stalks off towards Lety's office, while the cuartel wonder if they're going to fight. Huh, ya think?

Tomas enters the Vortex just as Marcia leaves. The cuartel greets him excitedly, and he thinks they're admiring his New Look. They advise him that Lety's looking for him. Alicia mentions that Marcia's looking for him too, and she's very annoyed. She pulls Tomas aside and tells him that Lety found out about the phone. Tomas insists that she keep it. She seems so happy that he expects another kiss, but she waves him away, saying that Lety's waiting, but he hints to her that he's going to stop in his own office first. (Amazingly, she doesn't follow him there to express her gratitude.)

Alone in her office, Lety observes that the Monster Ladyparts Seashell of Doom hasn't been turned over in a while. She meditates on that for a bit until Marcia comes along to ask for something. "I have it here," Lety says, opening a folder - but inside that folder is a copy of the Fern photo with Marcia's arm. Lety slams the folder shut and thought-bubbles that she's sure now why Omar was hiding in her old office.

Marcia is yelling at her that Tomas has disappeared and she's not going to be able to make her trip to London. (So... I guess there's only one flight from Mexico to London per month. How unfortunate.) "Do you think this is a game?" Marcia asks. Sheesh, what a grouch! She says that Lety and Aldo came up with this trip to get rid of her and now she has to beg for her ticket and money! Lety says it's not a game and Marcia doesn't have to beg, but neither can she come strolling into Lety's office demanding the tickets when she doesn't have them.

Marcia then begins a sarcastic rant about "your office" and how, thanks to the liens, she's now the owner, soul, and mistress of Conceptos. Lety tells her that every time she has to leave Conceptos and come back, she likes it less. It's like being surrounded by enemies.

Marcia says it's all Lety's fault, and she's resentful and vengeful, and the only thing she wants is to take Fern.

Lety tries to tell Marcia that she's been very correct with Fern, when Marcia spies a copy of the photo in Lety's in-box. She demands an explanation, but proceeds to give that explanation herself: "I recognize this. I was in this photo and you copied it and cut me out of it. This is the limit. Do you want my wedding dress too? And I can also give you the wedding gifts that I haven't returned yet."

Lety denies all of this and asks why she would want a photo of Fernando. "You tell me," Marcia answers, and she looks like she's on the verge of a nervous breakdown. (Tomas watches nervously from the doorway.) Lety says she suspects Omar. Marcia finds this charge laughable. Lety insists that she doesn't want to hear about Fern, talk about him, see him, etc.

Marcia says she doesn't believe her. Lety says that's Marcia's problem, but since they hate each other so much, Marcia can keep the company, and Lety will leave.

Marcia says "Excellent." Tomas interrupts and tells them he went to the bank, made their interest payments, and took care of things for Marcia's trip. It's ready now and she can have them at any time. He begs Lety not to resign and reminds her of her obligations. He rehashes them for our mutual convenience, taking a lot of the wind out of Marcia's sails, and reminds both women that they need to work together. Marcia agrees and says she can't wait to be done with this hell. Lety says she wants the same thing.

In a much more civil tone, Marcia asks Lety if she thinks they'll really be able to pay their debts on time. Lety says she's trying to do the impossible. Marcia says something about returning in 20 days and she and Lety won't have to share... (Lety gives her a funny look) ...an office. Lety says she would love not to have to come in and see her, too.

Marcia gives her a radiantly sarcastic smile and leaves. In the Vortex, inspiration strikes (Marcia seems uniquely unaffected by its stupidity rays) and she makes a detour to Omar's office, where a quick search reveals a folder containing the cut photo and several copies of the Fernando half. Marcia vows to pluck out his eyeballs.

She asks Sara where Omar went. Sara says he went outside for some air. He was (she mimics him) "choking." "Choking? And he hasn't even run into me yet." She asks what time he arrived this morning. Sara says he got there at 8, which is early for him, and was using the copy machine.

Back in the Monster Ladyparts etc. grotto

Lety shows Tomas the copied half-photo. "I'm sure it was Omar," she tells him. Marcia bursts in, a cyclone of rage. "I want to get as far away from Omar as possible!" She rifles through Lety's things wanting to know if there are more photos. Lety talks her down and says she's just glad Marcia understands that it wasn't Lety's doing. Tomas is aghast at Omar's prank. Marcia asks if Lety knows anything else about this. Lety says she didn't see Omar do it, but he had been hiding in the batcave.

"Fantastic! Marvelous!" And with that, Marcia turns on her heel and marches out of Lety's office.

Funny, I don't recall hearing an "I'm sorry I accused you of stalking my ex-fiance who loves you and hates me," but perhaps that will come later. ;-)

Lety pulls Tomas's ear and yells at him for letting Alicia have the phone. She demands that he take it back from her. He begs her not to make him do that. He tells her not to worry - he'll pay the bill. Lety warns him that she can get more use out of that phone in three days than normal people would in a month (something like that, I think). He promises that he knows what he's doing.

Lety finds another copy of the Fern half-photo and is bummed. Tomas reminds her that Aldo loves her. Lety promises she will dedicate the next 20 days to forgetting Fernando, but Tomas worries that she'll want to throw herself into his arms the minute he gets back.

Steam is still coming out of Marcia's ears when she re-enters the Vortex. Alicia wants to know what happened. "If you want to know, try asking Omar," Marcia retorts, on her way someplace else. Alicia complains about her bad friend.

Omar comes back from "taking air," and Alicia immediately attempts to pump him for information as to why Marcia is so angry. He doesn't know. He asks Sara about that client. Alicia continues pestering him, saying that Marcia has to be in a good mood so she'll let Alicia borrow her car. Sara tells Omar the client is away at a golf tournament someplace and can't come in to sign the contract. They discuss (joke?) that Sara should deliver the contract to the client.

Aldo on the phone

Aldo's on the phone with Gil, telling him how well things are going. Luigi comes in to talk about the commercials and the expo. Aldo notes that it's a lot of work. Luigi says that being with Aldo turns work into nirvanalike pleasure.

Later, he tells Aldo that he'll take charge of the choreography of the big show at the expo, and Aldo will be in charge of the banquet. Aldo wants to include a tribute to mole (I hope he's talking about the buffet and not the big show). Luigi loves the idea. Aldo wants to serve the 12 main kinds of mole, four of which he's never made himself. Luigi wonders how Aldo will pull this off. Aldo says he knows someone who can supply the necessary recipe. Luigi wants to know who is the great chef whose recipes are good enough for Aldo. Aldo says he'll tell Luigi later.

I think we all know who this great chef is! Her most devoted consumers are Tomas and Moty!

Nueva York

At Yankee Stadium, if the Yankees win, they play the Frank Sinatra version of "New York, New York" at the end of the game. If the Yankees lose, they play the Liza Minnelli version instead. I know this sounds like the kind of thing I would make up, but it's true.

Anyway. In the short amount of time that Omar was getting air outside, Fern managed to get on a plane, fly to New York, go through Customs, and start walking around the city, complaining of the cold. His phone rings - it's Marcia. "Tell me one thing," she demands. (He is not thrilled that the first thing he hears in New York City is Marcia's voice.) "Hi Marcia!" he answers her cheerily.

"Did you order your little friend to put a photo in Lety's office?" And with that, Marcia nips Operation Aldon't in the bud.

---

Mañana
Fernando acquires another admirer.

insult of the day
pelos de elote=Cornilocks. Because "pelos de oro" would be "locks of gold," or Goldilocks; "pelos de elote" is "locks of corn." How sweet it is!

Labels: fea

** Ok, we’ve left off with Mir breaking the big news to Joz that Mir’s Leo’s mom… Joz is verdaderamente impactada.

** Candy visits Leo... She worries that Mir will tell him the truth, that Mir is his “real” mother.

** Joz can’t believe that Leo is Mir’s son. Mir tells her to forget about it. Joz can’t forget about it… Joz doesn’t want Leo to know and is afraid that he would want part of their fortune… Mir says no, that Leo is different than them. She compares his goodness with Joz’s… well, badness… Joz says Mir never gave her love… They cry they have a heart-to-heart; Joz, tearing up, says Mir let her down as a mother… never teaching her or showing her how to love … Joz leaves, Mir cries…

** The cops missed him (aw, drat) and Tib is running from the law… sirens blare in the background… he hides out.

** Nic and Dol arrive at her place when the phone rings… it’s Tib calling to tell her he’s running from the law. He tells her to tell Dam. He’s gonna be gone for a few days and not to worry about him. Nic promises he’ll investigate and runs off…

** Dam murmurs about beginning his venganza for Regina’s death. Leo is first.

** Leo wakes up to Candy in his hospital room. He remembers getting trapped in his office. Doc (I don’t’know his name) comes in to check on him… apparently Leo only has burned his leg a bit.

** Next day

** Leo comes home, unable to walk well and helped to the chair by his friends... Silvestre (I think it’s Silvestre) brings up that Mir had come to the hospital… Gabe comes in with little LD… he hadn’t heard about the fire… Gab offers to rebuild it. Candy asks about MA, Gab says someone came to his apartment and gave him her engagement ring… he say’s, very calmly, theirs hope she’s alive.

** Coyote muses that MA has no idea who she’s messing with, referring to Joz.

** MA is blindfolded and thinks to herself that she can’t take anymore.

** Dam comes into JC office… Dam, once again, blames him for Reg’s death. JC hopes that one day Dam will learn how to end the anger in his heart… Dam hits a chair and leaves.

** Mir and Joz are at the design shop, or whatever it’s called, and Mir says she doesn’t want to talk about Leo anymore. Joz agrees. They talk about getting Dam on their side cuz he’s powerful… Mir advices they be careful and not trust in Dam.

** Candy and Leo are chatting and Leo brings up Mir… he thinks it’s weird that she seems to care so much about him. Candy blows it off… Silvestre comes in and tells them the fire was started on purpose.

** Dol goes to see Dam in his office. She asks him to help Tib and he doesn’t want to mess with it… says Tib’s mess is her problem.

** Regina comforts JC who just told her about Dam’s tirade… she tell him to forget it cuz Dam is hurting over the loss of Regina. Dol comes in wondering if they’ve seen Tib. They say no, something happen? She says he’s a profugo (fugitive). They tell her everything will turn out ok (!!!) and break the news about their twins.

** Tib is wandering the streets when a cop cars starts following him… he runs behind a tree and they move on… he thinks to himself that he needs to leave the country.

** Rogelio and Karin are having coffee, tea or lunch, or all three. Rogelio says he wants to get to know her better… he’s only telling her so she knows he’s sincere. She says she’s not ready yet… he agrees and says he wants to get away for awhile and find himself… Karin thinks it’s a good idea but she’ll miss him. They giggle.

** Dol goes to see Candy... She’s come to check on Leo. Candy lets her know about the clinic fire being purposely set. Dol tells her Tib is running from the law. She tells her to ask the Virgin of Guadalupe to bring a miracle.

** Rogelio tells Gabe that he wants to leave for a while. He’s ok with it. They hug…

** Tib calls Dol to tell her he’ll have to leave the county. She suggests he not make it worse on himself and turn himself in to clarify the situation. He “asks” her to get his passport and money.

** Karin comes to visit Dol… Karen has just come from the cemetery visiting her father’s grave. The police barge in wanting to know where Tib is… Dol says he’s not there… The detective warns her that she’ll be an accomplice if she doesn’t cooperate… and he asks her if she’s heard from Tib… She gets a determined look on her face… Karin hides behind her.

** Mir remembers telling Joz about Leo being her son. She hopes Joz doesn’t do something stupid like confront Leo and “tell” him.

** Meanwhile, Leo is recovering at home wondering why Miriam is so interested in him.

** Dol tells the detective that she told him already; she doesn’t know where Tib is… he says to let him know if she hears from Tib… he leaves. Dol fills Karin in on the situation. Dol says she knows there is no such thing as justice.

** Coyote tells Dam that Leo escaped the fire; Dam says Leo will pay and hangs up.

** Leo and Candy eat dinner… they chat about love and the fire… Leo tells her he suspects Dam as the one who set the fire. She says he should denounce him… he says no, he has no proof…

** Gabe and Rogelio have a heart to heart. Rogelio is getting ready for his trip and admits to being Dam’s accomplice while Gabe was in a coma. Gabe forgives him and they hug. (Since the novella is ending I wonder if we’ll see anymore of Rogelio… I’m guessing no, just a guess…)

** Leo goes to see Elsa… She tells him he doesn’t work for Otilia anymore… He can’t believe it and starts to go off about it… She asks if he came to preach at her… he calms down and says no… and says she’s been acting strange. It’s her turn to over act and she goes off; he says the family is there for her. He tries to talk to her about her drinking and stealing… She calms down and, for a second, accepts a hug from him then suddenly pushes him off and threatens to leave if people don’t stop telling her what to do.

** Karin tells JC and Pau that Rogelio left for a short while… JC answers the phone, it’s a client, and goes off to talk on the phone in the other room. Pau tells Karin that she wants to find her “real” mother. Karen doesn’t think it’s a good idea. JC doesn’t know… Pau asks Karin for help… Karin looks anguished

** Candy and Mayaya are chatting and having a cup of tea in Candy’s apartment. They start talking about Mir being Leo’s mom… Leo wanders up to the door and overhears Mayaya wondering if he suspects Mir’s his real mom… Candy says that she worries cuz he seems to care more for her every time he’s around her. They talk about blood and repeat Mir being Leo’s “real” mom all the while Leo looks like he’s about to have a heart attack. He’s more than impactado… he looks like he’s going to have an anxiety attack and throw himself in front of a train or something… he swoons falling back against the door… music plays… and we’ll have to wait until tomorrow…

** Fin para hoy, ¿qué va a pasar?

Labels: mundo

Marycelis writes:

For those of you who haven't seen the episodes, Diego told Esmeralda he is Zorro. She told him that she swears she won't reveal the truth. They agreed if they escaped the cannibals, they were going to meet at the chapel and as a sign of loyalty she was gonna swear that she wouldn't reveal the secret. They escape and when Diego tells Bernardo, they agree it wasn't a good idea, yadda yadda. When he & Esmeralda meet at the chapel, Diego basically says I lied, it was a stressful moment, etc. Then Bernardo dressed as Zorro rides up on Tornado as proof that Diego lied and she gets very angry at Diego for lying to her and all that…. anyway on to the medio recap.

Zorro sneaks into Esmeralda's bedroom through the window and removes his mask in front of his lady love. So much for Esmeralda's room being guarded against anybody coming in or out. "Diego?!" She is surprised but not sure if impactada would be the right word so it's a few grades lower than impactada. "You are first and only person I have ever revealed my secret to." She then questions him as to why didn't you tell me this at the chapel? It's a dangerous secret. Why didn't you trust me? I fear for those close to me, my friends, family, etc. Anyone who knows this secret pays the consequences. I imagine superheroes have had this discussion with their lady loves too. He then explains that while at the river (they were being chased cannibals) he had to act openly, remove his Diego de la Vega mask and act like who he really is because he didn't want to loose her. Esmeralda tells him she never would have given away his secret. Diego talks some more about how much he loves Esmeralda how he faces death everyday but the fear of losing her really scares him. They share a very steamy kiss with background music included.

At the church, are Alejandro de la Vega, Dolores and the Indian chick, Jumalai (sp?) wearing a nice white dress with beige trim and eyelets in the skirt part of it ready be baptized. Alejandro feels that getting Jumali baptized, given a Christian name and hired as a servant in his house she will be better protected and hidden from El Governador (I forgot his name so that's what I am gonna call him). She has tried to kill El Governador twice already (revenge for killing her brother and attacking her people) but Alejandro has been able to protect her and hide her whereabouts. She's upset because the dress isn't her and like a small child in a dress she lifts the dress and you can see the slip underneath. Dolores scolds her and smoothes the dress. Alejandro laughs and says that she will have to learn the customs of the white people (everyone here is Hispanic and with a tan/bronzy color, so I guess it's like a western style reference although for an Indian chick she has light skin and looks whiter than everybody else). In that getup, Jumalai looks very much like Regina when she was baptized says Father Tomas….

And that's all she wrote….I gave up at this point. I conceded defeat in the battle for the remote and this freaking keyboard keeps highlighting and removing things I type, aughh!!!!!

Labels: Zorro

Emilio hears Orlando offering to pay Edelmira for Flor. He gets jealous and vows this will never happen.


Rosita is in Luba's cave. She has come to cry on Flor's shoulder about how screwed up their love lives are but alas, Flor is trapped at Edelmira's. Poor Flor is trapped, poor Luba's soul hurts from missing Flor, and poor Rosita sobs because Santos left and all men are scoundrels.

Flor is dressed in a white lacy dress with pink ribbons, no doubt Edelmira's idea to make Flor look more virginal thus commanding a higher price. Flor is moping on her bed. Emilio enters! He has come to rescue her, to take her away that very night. Dragon Lady with the big teeth, long nails and pink boa steps into the doorway, preventing Emilio and Flor from leaving.


Sergio sees Blanca get on the bus for Puebla. He follows her, sits next to her, and makes a threatening wisecrack. Surprise!! It's not Blanca! It is, miraculously, a woman of Blanca's exact stature who has agreed to trade clothes with her. Sergio rushes off the bus but he's too late, Blanca has hailed a cab and is headed for Puebla.

Edelmira is all big teeth and no bite. She cannot keep Emilio from leaving with Flor. She orders Granillo to stop them but Granillo whisks his fan and says, "Right, he's got a gun and I've got a fan. I don't think so." Orlando (who was in her office) runs in, sees Flor has gone, and punches the dresser. Emilio has bested him yet again.


Castulo, shirtless, muscles gleaming in the heat, lounges on his bed eating a banana. Thelma enters in a rage, "Swine, I thought I could trust you!" He stands up to reveal his manly physique, "Hey, I got rid of Coral as promised." Thelma brings up Gaspar, but Castulo assures her Gaspar will no longer bother her. She tries to mouth off but he picks her up and starts making out with her. The sleazy music begins and Thelma decides that sex is better than arguing.

I just noticed that when Edelmira is in a rage her boobs kind of fly all over the place. Like now. She bares her big chops and asks Coral what in the heck is she going to tell the Patron about Flor flying the coop? "The truth," says Coral, "that finally there is a real man in Sierra Escondido to defend Flor." A real man? Does she mean Emilio?

Night Scene - Don Loco goes into Doña Loco's room and imagines he sees her in bed with Elias. Don and Doña argue. He says Blanca and Elias are traitors.


The Singing Aunt arrives at Edelmira's, ostensibly for dancing lessons from Granillo but really to spy for Thelma. Granillo tells her that Emilio, right in front of La Mera Mera (Edelmira), grabbed Flor and rode away on his horse. "How barbaric," gasps Auntie, "I have to tell Thelma right away!"

Thelma is all smiley and happy because she has just gotten her rocks off. I have noticed that Thelma is only happy immediately following a good boinking, but this one may be short-lived. Auntie runs into Thelma's room and tells her Emilio rescued Flor. Thelma's good mood has officially vanished.

Vera tells Rutilio she is worried about the red dress that she retrieved from the trash because Aunt Rebeca was asking all sorts of odd questions about how often they empty the garbage. Suddenly Vera has a great idea! She'll give the dress to someone else, Nora would be perfect one for the latest in slut-wear from the big city. (I'm sure she'll have many opportunities to wear such a dress...cooking, cleaning, bringing sweet potatoes to the cave.)


Gaspar is in the cave whining about his muñequita. (Dude, give it a rest!) Luba says he is absolutely forbidden to see her, but Gaspar says she will come to see him. Luba says there are other women. Gaspar wants only his muñequita. Luba asks her friend the Virgencita to give her strength.

Just then the beautiful Nora arrives with a basket of tamales. "They're the ones you like, Gaspar" she tells him sweetly. Romance music hits a crescendo and Gaspar gets the Aw Shucks look.


Thelma has a tantrum in front of Orlando. As she throws Emilio's things all over his room they see Flor's silver heart necklace. It gives Thelma an idea...

Emilio has taken Flor to visit her mother. She says Emilio rescued her, it's proof that he loves her, right? But he is married and she doesn't want to get between him and his kid. She assures Soledad that Edelmira's isn't so bad, there are good people there who protect her. Nothing bad will happen to her, the only virgin in the only whorehouse in the entire region.


Luba has decided to play matchmaker. She apologizes to Nora for Gaspar being so "dry" toward her. He's a bit of a fool. (I guess the Aw Shucks was for the tamales and not for Nora.) Luba convinces Nora to return the next day by telling her that just a while ago Gaspar said he was going to invite her for a stroll tomorrow. Nora leaves, excited and looking forward to tomorrow.

Flor thanks Emilio for taking her to see her ma but now she has to get back to Edelmira's. Emilio isn't happy to hear this and who can blame him? Instead of telling him the truth, that she fears for mom, she tells him he's married and it's none of his business. He grabs her roughly, is he going to kiss her? He usually does after he roughs her up, but no, he punches his own fist instead and leaves in a huff. "Oh Emilioooo," sighs Flor, "How I would love to go with you but I cannot. Once again I lose you and you will hate me."


Thelma tries on Flor's necklace and prodigiously admires herself in the mirror.

Vera and Nora meet on the pathway. Vera gives Nora the red dress. What luck! It's Nora's size, and what a different look from her white, cotton peasant dress. Nora is going to meet her galán tomorrow and the dress will be perfect. Perfect for a visit to the Devil's Cave or Edelmira's maybe, but for a stroll in the country? This we've gotta see.


Sergio tells Don Loco that Blanca gave him the slip. Don Loco goes ballistic with anxiety and calls Sergio a useless imbecile. Now she'll end up in Puebla and tell the damn authorities!

Blanca finally makes it to the police station in Puebla and says she wishes to report a kidnapping.

Flor wanders stupidly in the dark and talks to herself about how much she loves Emilio.

An investigator repeats what Blanca told him, that a crazy man has kept two women against their will and has inflicted physical and emotional abuse upon them. Does the señora have any proof, a letter, a recording? With no proof the inspector will need to go there to confirm her accusations. They'll go tomorrow. For some reason Blanca doesn't mention that Don Loco locked HER up, nor does she show the inspector the wound she got from trying to escape!

Night Scene - Don Loco goes into Doña Loco's room. He yells. She feigns madness. When he leaves she smiles and thanks the virgin for guiding Blanca to Puebla.


Coral and Granillo are talking excitedly about Flor's escape when who should walk in but Flor. Their disappointment in her is evident.

Orlando waits up for Emilio so he can pick a fight. Not much happens, just boys puffing out their chests. Orlando calls Emilio an egoist, what business does Emilio have concerning himself with Flor when Thelma is expecting their child? Flor has renounced him and wants to start her new life. Emilio insists he will save Flor from that place and he won't allow Orlando or any other man to take advantage of her desperation. Thelma eavesdrops and peeks out from beind the doorway.


Emilio leaves. Orlando fumes. Thelma says it's worse than she thought, Emilio is completely obsessed. Orlando vows that Flor will be his (Orlando's).

Don Loco tells nobody in particular that he's happy Soledad is pretending to be crazy. Her madness will be his salvation. Please note that this is only one of many times that Don Loco converses with himself throughout the day.

Next morning Thelma wants to talk to a grumpy Emilio. She tells him she knows he loves Flor and that he will never love her (Thelma). She understands what it's like to be frustrated in love. She says she wants to be his friend, not his enemy. She would rather win his confidence than have his hate.

Don Loco knocks on a gate. It is answered by an elderly man with a long white beard and hair. He looks like Heidi's grandafather, remember the Shirley Temple version? The hermit-looking-guy, Dr. Zavala, tells Don Loco he has retired and cannot help him. Don Loco says he needs the services of a psychiatric specialist like Dr. Zavala. He knows many things about the renowned Carlos Zavala, that he retired from practice and sought refuge here, that he wanted to forget his past, or more to the point, forget a patient who committed suicide because of him. Alvaro says he is the big boss in these parts and he wants Dr. Z to certify his wife's madness.


Thelma plays nice and convinces Emilio to tell her the story of how he gave the silver heart to Flor. Why did the necklace mean so much to her? Emilio stupidly tells Thelma that when he gave the heart to Flor he told her it was his heart. She was to wear it so that he would be with her wherever she went. It meant so much to them, he had so many illusions about her when they met. Thelma grabs the necklace and says she needs to go do something, make lunch, yeah that's it, she's got to make lunch. She runs out with the necklace.

We are at Jacinto the drug runner's funeral. Felicia sobs over his fresh grave and Jose of all people gives the eulogy. He tries to think of something nice to say,"ummmm...he was a guy who was involved in his cause." Then he thanks Jacinto for saving his life. (?!?!)


Felicia begs Jose to stay, she is expecting his child. Jose says she knows very well that his dream is to return to his woman and child in Mexico. He'll give Felicia money instead. She wants Jose by her side and plays the pity card...his city family has the good life while she is stuck in a life of danger (of her own choosing I might add). Jose's child will be born in the middle of nothing, without a father to protect him. (What about the gun-toting mother?) "OK," says Jose, "you'll go with me." Felicia says no, the journey while pregnant will be too dangerous. She sobs, can Jose wait until the birth and at least meet his child? (Puts his hand on her stomach.) "Duhhh...otay," agrees el estupido, "but then I really have to go."

No Mariana/Marianita scene but we do cut to Dr. Love with Marianita's first doctor (much cuter than creepy Dr. Love, why didn't Mariana jump on him instead?). Dr. Cute tells Dr. L not to get Mariana's hopes up. Dr. L says he can't bear to cause Mariana pain by telling her that Marianita's illness is terminal and that she's dying. Dr. L says he just wants to wait a little bit before telling her. When he sees the right opportunity he'll tell her. Oh dear, this guy just sucks on every level.


Angel is looking for Emilio and runs into Orlando. Of course Orlando tells Angel that Emilio saved Flor but she couldn't wait to get back to whore town. Angel scowls.

Puebla - Elias runs around the house yelling for Blanca. What, he hasn't noticed she's been gone for days? "Gosh, she's not in Sierra Escondida with our friend the insane kidnapper, nor is she home. Wherever could she be?"


Don Loco tells Doña Loco that she truly is mad. Why does she keep asking about a daughter she's never had? He has a surprise, it is a crazy-looking psychiatrist to help her accept that she never had a daughter. Dr. Z enters. Don Loco tells Dr. Z that just yesterday she was talking to the virgin. "Is that true," asks the Dr? Instead of saying "Yes you a**holes, it's called praying" she averts her eyes and mutters "Yes, I was talking to the virgin." Intense music plays and Doña loco glares at Don Loco.

Don Loco takes Dr. Z aside and tells him that since the missus thinks he killed their daughter it would be best to pretend said daughter never existed at all. Isn't the fact that Soledad talks to the virgin proof enough of her madness?


Dr. Z wants to talk to Soledad alone. Naturally she starts talking like a crazy woman. Dr. Z just nods his head. He's heard all he needs to hear.

Gaspar is up in a tree and refuses to come down. He's waiting for his fairy. Luba tells him not to get wrapped up in his illusions. There is another girl, a REAL one, who wants to see him. Gaspar doesn't want another girl, not even Nora. If Nora comes then Luba had better get rid of her or Gaspar will do it, and if Nora doesn't want to go then it will be the worse for her. Luba tells him he's as stubborn as a mule.


Flor has a guest. It's the ghastly Thelma. Thelma says she came to advise Flor that Emilio only rescued her as a joke. She shows Flor that she's wearing the silver heart necklace. She says Emilio gave it to her and said it symbolizes his heart. If Thelma wears it then his heart will be with her wherever she goes. Thelma keeps walking around showing off her chest, I mean her necklace. Flor is impactada and sobs.

Ha ha!! Nora "walks" along the river wearing Thelma's slutty red chiffon evening dress. (She's staggering actually, due to the large round river rocks.) Sergio follows on his horse. He asks her where she's going, to visit that moron Gaspar, right? An angry Nora tells Sergio to beat it. Yes, she's waiting for Gaspar. Poor Nora, she doesn't fill that dress out quite like Thelma did.

Don Loco grumpily sits in his office drinking booze with Don Max while Dr. Z talks to Soledad. Don Max tells Don Loco that the shrink is a great idea, not even he would have thought of it. He drinks Don Loco's booze, says Soledad's madness is God's punishment for what she did to Don Loco, and leaves.


Coral comes into Flor's room and sees her crying. Flor says Emilio was making a laughing stock of her. Coral says no way, Emilio is too much of a gentleman. Flor sobs and says he was messing with her the whole time. How could she think he had changed? But this time he'll be sorry. Emilio is going to regret giving her heart as a gift to that woman.

Don Loco tells Dr. Z that he is ready for the Dr. to fill out Soledad's crazy papers. "Not so fast," says Dr. Z, dolefully shaking his head, "your wife is not crazy." Don Loco is muy impactado.


mohino/a = sad
atolondrado/a = foolish, bewildered
es un atolondrado = he's a bit of a fool
zozobra = anxiety, worry

Labels: duelo