Caray, Caray!

We open with the dire music, a choral fantasy which segues into Barber’s Adagio for strings, which is probably the best tearjerker music ever written. Luba is in extremis, hanging bloodied, arms spread out after having been beaten by the caicique and his pal. Gaspar apparently cut her down because the next scene is him crying and kissing her in his arms, screaming to the Virgincita to help her.

Back in his room at la Rinconada, Angel is pensive. He thinks aloud that Emilio’s plan (to get DL) is very dangerous. There’s a knock at the door. It’s Alina. She wants to talk. About Santos.
Back to Luba and Gaspar and Barber’s adagio. He’s brought her back to the cave and is going to try to cure her. He begs her not to die. He waves a bottle in front of her nose and she mumbles. She’s alive although weak. She mumbles some more about the cacique and about THE BOX—Gaspar has to give THE BOX to the patron so that he can know the truth. Then she tells Gaspar not to cry. He rubs his eyes and makes a vain attempt to stop crying.

Over to Emilio at La R. He’s wearing his nice straw sombrero and doing some target practice with a revolver on a row of bottles. He says to himself that he can’t fail. Orlando comes up and asks him what he’s doing. Is he just blowing off steam or is he thinking about killing someone? Emilio wheels and turns the gun on him yelling. “Do you want me to kill you?”

Alina is explaining to Angel, who has started coughing again, that Santos had amnesia and that’s why he threatened him. Angel says he was surprised by the whole thing since he had never done anything to Santos. Alina tells him that “it’s a long story” and she’ll save it for another time. Right now, she has a favor to ask. She wants Angel to give her away at the wedding. Angel agrees.

Back to Emilio and Orlando. They spar again over Alina. Orlando tries to argue that Alina jumped in bed with him “of her own free will.” Emilio clearly peeved points the gun at him while Orlando points a stick at him and leaves laughing. Emilio goes back to picking off booze bottles.
Over at Edelmira’s which is apparently turning into Coral & Grani’s, Coral is organizing the new girls into a show. Even Grani gets into the act and hops on stage to wiggle his tushie. Coral gives him a swat on the behind. The light moment is broken when the 3 murdering hoochies arrive and declare that they are back to settle scores with Coral.

Over to Gaspar and Luba. Luba is now upright but she is weak and blood is still soaking through her shirt. She staggers into Hacienda de Loco to chat with Don Loco, with Gaspar waiting outside, hidden holding THE BOX.

Back to Eddy’s. CATFIGHT! The hoochies and the new bar band, Las Chicas del Barco (“The girls from the boat,” I think that’s what they called themselves) are pulling hair, screaming and kicking and slapping. Coral and Grani try to keep out of it.

Luba makes it into the kitchen of Hacienda de Loco. She runs into Sergio who seems to spend all his free time in there eating, now that Adela is gone. He asks her what she’s doing there. She tells him she has to give something to the Patron. He tells her that he can give it to him. She says no. Sergio drops that the Patron is occupied with “the wedding.” Luba’s eyes widen. “What wedding?” “The wedding of the Lieutenant Orlando with Flor.” Luba is impactada into the commercial.

On the other side of the break, Sergio is still stuffing his face. Luba insists on proceeding to DL. Sergio remarks aloud that Luba is a crazy witch. Luba overhears him and tells him your grandmother was crazy. Sergio smiles and says he was only joking and goes right back to eating.
At Coral & Grani’s, las Chicas have won the fight and have tied the hoochies’ hands behind their backs. Too bad they didn’t gag them too because they start whining. “There were more of you than us!” Uh Huh. And you picked the fight, what does that make you? Grani taunts them that they are going straight to the police and to jail. Now they want a deal. The lead hoochie asks Coral to let them go and they will promise never to come back. Coral says she’s no fool and tells Grani and the Chicas to stick them in a room while she gets the cops.

Luba reconsiders leaving THE BOX with DL. She hurries out and tells Gaspar that they will leave it for another time because Flor needs their help if she’s set to marry Orlando tomorrow.
Elsewhere at La Rinconada, Thelma is cradling the Baby (who still doesn’t have a name) and telling him that she’s always going to take care of him and never going to let that idiot, his father see him. The door is open and the SA walks through, chastising her niece that she should be more careful about talking about the baby’s paternity. The SA moves on to the subject of listening at the door of Maximo’s office. She heard the entire conversation where Thelma made a deal with Max, not to tell Emilio any of her secrets and in turn, she would drag her Aunt back to Puebla as soon as she can get Emilio to leave the construction project. Thelma tries to argue that she’s saving her Aunt from Max, who is “immoral.” (pot, meet kettle) The SA doesn’t buy it. She tells Thelma she already knows that she made the deal only thinking of herself, to protect herself. With tears, the SA tells her that she knows she depends on Thelma but she is upset to see how little her Auntie matters to her. She flounces out of the room. Thelma calls out “How Dramatic!” after her. She says to nobody in particular that once she is through getting what she wants, her Aunt “will be out in the street.” She goes back to cooing at the baby.

Castulo bursts into Jose’s worker’s cottage pistol in hand, screaming. “Santos! Santos! I’m going to kill you.” The place is empty. Castulo complains that when he finds “that imbecile” this time he is really going to kill him.

Luba is back at the cave still grimacing with pain. She tells Gaspar that when night falls she is going to go to La Rinconada to talk to Flor. If it is not her wish to marry the Lieutenant, she will help. And she knows what she has to do. Gaspar looks quizzical.

Over at Hacienda Montillano, Don Loco is giving orders to the police to get his sister back and kill Elias and his accomplice. They have a pretty good idea that the party hasn’t gotten very far.
Soledad is in her room putting a white bag in her wardrobe. She remarks aloud that “Alina will look wonderful in this dress!” DL comes in and she asks him if she can go over to La Rinconada early to help Alina get ready for the wedding. At first, DL says no, he doesn’t want her to “be with other people.” Then he relents and she acts all happy. As he goes to kiss her, Sergio knocks at the door. He announces that Don Maximo is there and wants to see him. DL asks Soledad to accompany him so that Max can see that they are together again.

Cut over to Alfonsina somewhere else in the Hacienda, packing her clothes. Hugo knocks at outside door. He complains that he was waiting for her at the cabana. Alfonsina claims that she has to pack and he should hurry and get back to Veracruz before the Patron sees him. Hugo kisses her neck and says that he thought she might be angry at him. Alfonsina gives him an accusatory look and asks why that would be. Hugo answers, “Because I lost THE BOX” and because you are a (couldn’t make this word out…vinagrilla?) She tells him that the Patron wants her to go back to Veracruz too. Hugo is glad, now they can be together all the time. Alfonsina gives him a look and says now we can look for THE BOX all the time.

When DL and Soledad get downstairs, Don Max is already helping himself to the booze. DL makes a crack about it and Max says “you always say to make myself at home.” DL agrees. Max takes note that DL has patched things up with Soledad. He calls for a toast and goes back to the decanter but the look on his face is one of nervousness.

Dr. Love is testing Mariana’s reflexes in the small hotel in San Mateo, with Elias and Malena looking on. He is pleased with the result. She is getting better. They are all hungry and but afraid that the police are out looking for them. Malena volunteers to go. All smiles, they are are about to send her on her way. She barely crosses the threshold when she turns and goes back in the room. “The police are searching the building!” Malena cries.

At La Rinconada, Emilio is pacing his room. Angel comes in. He’s confirming their appointment with DL in the wee hours of the morning. Emilio asks him to reconsider coming along but Angel is firm.

Alina is up in her room, looking out the window contemplating her future. There’s a knock at the door. It’s Luba. Luba limps in. Alina sees the blood soaking through the shirt. Luba says nothing and whips her hair around to cover it. She tells her she will tell her about it later. Luba spies the green flask on the dresser. Alina apologizes that she took it without meaning to, when she was dragged back to la Rinconada. Luba picks it up and looks at Alina sharply and asks her if she is happy marrying Orlando. Alina tells her, no, she hates him. She’d rather die than be his. Luba looks at the flask and says “To die or not to die. This could be your salvation.” She puts the flask in Alina’s hands.

Alina is confused. Luba tells her she will help her. “Remember the story I told you about the cacique?” Alina continues “The cacique whose son died after you gave him a potion? THIS POTION?” Luba nods. “That’s it.”

Back at the hotel, the police burst in. Dr. Love exclaims that he knows that he’s an adulterer but PLEASE DON’T tell his wife. He’ll pay a bribe. Malena is huddled in bed with the covers up to her eyes. Elias is hiding in the closet with Malena. A cop tells him not to worry, they are looking for two men who kidnapped 2 women. Dr. Love hands him a wad of cash anyway and the police take it happily after promising not to tell “the wife” and leave. He helps Malena and Elias out of the closet.

Max is relaxing with his snifter of booze at Hacienda de Loco. He tells Loco and Soledad (Loco has his arm tight around Soledad’s shoulder as usual when they are in public) that it’s great that he agreed to let the girl marry. “It’s the best way to stop any talk after what happened between her and the lieutenant.” Soledad’s ears prick up, “what happened between them?! She asks. Don Loco tries to shush her, that nothing happened. Don Max says “well, if you say so…” Don Loco then explains that people always talk gossip about novios before a wedding. Soledad jumps up and says she’s tired and wants to go rest. DL kisses her and she leaves. Don Loco asks if Emilio is still lost. Don Max brushes this aside by saying that “You know my nephew, he appears and disappears at will…” “And, by the way, I’m glad to see you are back with Soledad. A woman like that, you can forgive anything…even betrayal.” Don Loco shoots him a nasty look.

Back to Alina and Luba over at La Riconada. Alina refuses to have anything to do with poisoning Orlando. Luba tells her not to worry; she will take care of everything. And besides, the cacique’s son’s death wasn’t her fault. Luba asks Alina if she wants to be married to the Lieutenant again and again, Alina says no, but she’s worried about mom. Luba leaves the potion on the dresser and tells her that if SHE decides to take the potion, she, Luba will be there at the wedding and she’ll be there to take care of her. She’ll be there to take better care with her than with her own life.” She turns to go. “Don’t be afraid. For love she’ll do anything.”

[I think I am starting to see what happened to the Cacique’s son. I will give you a hint what I’m thinking: Juliet].

Emilio and Angel are still plotting for tomorrow’s coup against Don Loco. Again Emilio thinks that Angel shouldn’t go and again Angel insists.

Luba continues down the hall and hears the baby crying from a room with an open door. She spies Thelma holding and rocking the baby. The little cub was born! Luba is beside herself with happiness that she now has a grandson. Her pride turns to tears when she realizes that she can’t tell Gaspar or he will go nuts. She prays to the virgincita.

Don Loco is getting ready for bed, taking his gun off. He thought bubbles Don Max’s words about Soledad who is lying in be, pretending to be asleep. DL says aloud. “Soledad, if I didn’t love you so much, I would be capable…” he trails off.

Elsewhere at Hacienda de Loco, Sergio is thinking about the wedding and his part. “Oh, Lieutenant, if only you knew what awaits you at your wedding. He kisses his gun and puts it aside. He decides to take a nap. He’s on guard duty all night but he wants to be rested for the morning.
At la Rinconada, Alina is lying in bed. Apparently even after everything that’s happened, she still leaves it unlocked. Emilio sneaks in. He thought bubbles a touching little speech about how he will not lose her, even if it means that he has to risk his own life. He leaves and meets Angel outside the door. They go off to the Hacienda Montillano.

Back at the cave, Luba is having an orange flashback of her ordeal at the hands of the cacique and his bud. Particularly the part when he threatens to kill Gaspar in exchange for killing his son. Gaspar is curious about what went down at the Hacienda. She won’t tell him. She just does a little lovey dovey scene with him. She tells him that she will be going to the wedding but not him. She sends him to bed with a little swat. After he goes to bed, she worries outloud about him.

Elias bids Dr. Love, Malena and Mariana goodbye at the bus station. They’re on their way to Mexico City!

Emilio and Angel have made it to Hacienda de Loco. They see Sergio asleep beside his weapon. They pause while deciding what to do. Angel suggests they try another route into the house. Emilio says no, apparently he’s got more than one of those tranquilizer darts. He shoots Sergio who wakes up, only to collapse immediately. Must be strong stuff. They walk past him into the house. You know, even if he is knocked out, I would have secured his weapon. Instead, they leave him right there, asleep, cradling his shotgun.

Back at la Rinconada. Thelma is having a tough time getting the little cub to sleep. He’s wailing and wailing. Orlando comes in, all pissed off that the baby woke him up. Nice PJ’s by the way! The SA rushes in to try to calm the baby too. All of the sudden, Orlando wonders aloud why Emilio isn’t awakened by the baby too. Thelma and Orlando give eachother looks and they rush into Emilio’s room. The bed is perfectly made. Thelma hisses “Where is that jerk?”

With so much going on we need to go back to Coral and Grani’s for a musical interlude from Las Chicas. They are ruminating over the day’s excitement. The girls want to know if there is still going to be a show tonight. Damn straight says Coral, “Music until Dawn!” They start the music. Wearing tight miniskirts and stilettos, fighting and capturing murdering hoochies, singing and dancing: It’s all in a days work for Las Chicas del Barco. And just in case we didn’t notice how hawt they are, when the camera focuses on their curves while they sing and dance. Coral plays the hostess meanwhile and invites the regulars back in for a real show.

Over at La Rinconada, the show is just getting started. Thelma bursts into Alina’s room (again, the room without the door lock) with Orlando in tow, accusing her of knowing where Emilio is. Alina looks sleepy and confused and says she doesn’t know. Thelma grabs her and shakes her screaming all the while. The SA comes in, with her hair in ridiculous rollers. She yells at Thelma to leave with Orlando. “If Emilio had something planned, he would have done it already.” Thelma turns and stalks off. Orlando follows, warning that “nothing is going to stop my wedding.” Alina thanks the SA who says that she has nothing to thank her for. But she does give a valuable piece of advice: You’d BETTER CLOSE YOUR DOOR AND LOCK IT. SA flounces out. Alina is concerned about Emilio. She sees the green flask on the dresser. It has now acquired the creepy music that has previously accompanied THE BOX when it glows. I guess we can call this the witchy music.

Thelma and Orlando are out in the hallway stewing about Emilio’s absence. Orlando starts speculating that Emilio went after DL. If he did, Orlando is certain that Don Alvaro would kill him. Orlando laughs that maybe instead of celebrating a wedding tomorrow, they’ll be attending a wake. Thelma doesn’t think the joke is funny. Thelma demands that he help Emilio. Orlando laughs again. What part of “I hate Emilio intensely” don’t you understand? Thelma tells him that if he doesn’t help Emilio, he’s not going to be able to marry Flor. I don’t understand the logic in this, but maybe Thelma is thinking that she would be able to stop the wedding. Orlando pisses and moans some more about how much he hates Emilio and asks when he will be able to get rid of him.

Back at Alina’s room that is now locked Vera is knocking. Since Vera was idiotic enough let Thelma use her to get into Alina’s room before, Alina intelligently asks this time whether she is alone. Vera says yes and Alina lets her in. She tells her that Emilio is gone. Alina tells her she already knows this. But Vera says that Angel is not in his room either! Alina now looks concerned. Wow, even Vera has now figured out that Angel and Emilio have gone to confront Alvaro Montellano.

And confront he’s doing at this very moment. Emilio is outside the master bedroom. He tells Angel after he shoots to help Soledad while he ties up Alvaro. Alas, Soledad and DL do have door locking skills, it’s just that they didn’t pass them on to their daughter. When Emilio tries to open the door, it’s locked and worse still, it’s noisy. The Locos are light sleepers and DL (who is fully dressed, laying ON TOP OF the covers) sits up immediately as does Soledad. DL starts putting his boots on and goes to investigate. Emilio and Angel discuss what to do. Emilio wants to kick down the door. Angel thinks this is a bad idea, they will wake up the whole house. Emilio helpfully suggests that Angel leave and let him finish the job. Angel convinces him to come with him and hide. Alvaro gets up with his pistol and starts skulking around his house, with his revolver cocked. “Who goes there?” he calls out.

Labels: duelo

We open with the awkward phone call from Rod's lack-of-lovin wife calling him at work to talk baby clothes and nursery colors...Later my love.

Now Gavi gets a phone call, Rod slumps down in a chair...it is from Eduardo..Oh Eduardo how are you? Gavi puts on the happy face...(I used to do the same thing in high school, only it was my friend on the other end..I just called her Eduardo...same effect), Gavi pauses to enquire if Rod will be needing anything else...ah she dismisses him like a schoolboy.

Rod is quizzing Elvira...trying to get the low down on all the employees, that now work for him...of course we all know he really wants the 411 on Gavi, he questions Elvira...Is she married? Divorced?, does she live alone? Oh with her mother, does she have a boyfriend and so on and so forth...Rod is so subtle..Elvira says Gavi is very mysterious. Rod asks about Gavi's stellar climb up the corporate ladder...Elvira is thought bubbling "Hey AssHat, maybe if you came to town once and while instead of drinking and listening to that lame ass cassette, I'd still be the numero uno chica", Jest kiddin that was my thought bubble...Elvira says Gavi convinced Aaron to hire her as a receptionist and well the rest is history, without saying so, she kinda infers, "Well it wasn't her typing skills". Elvira then directs Rod to Margarita for more details.

Aaron continues to hang out with swarmy Onate (the guy who is gonna help get the "not up to standard Tequila" outta of the country)... You can just see the green vapor rising up off this guy like a noxious cloud.

Gavi sneaks off from work and tells maintenance guy to lock up her office. Gavi has gone to practice driving her new car. It is a standard and she does not know how to drive one. Some guy is teaching her and Clara is in the back seat...Oh yeah that went well...The car is parked outside her apartment.

Rod is now grilling Margarita about Gavi, does she have a fiance? Margarita says she doesn't know.

Over to Dry Gulch Acres...
James is doing book-keeping and Acacia brings him his dinner...James can't handle it they gotta get away...he is a bit sqeamish about sharing her with her uncle. Nope that is not part of the plan...Acacia has to stay cause I guess she wants the peanut farm and all the wealth that a contract with Planters can bring. She says she loves James, but he is like no can do...Well Mister James suit yourself.

On to the Hacienda...SanWanna & the Roman clan are sitting around getting ready for dinner...Hilario is down in the barn...we really know he is writing in his dear diary...lamenting Isadora...Hilario comes running in "Oh NO the jimadors are staging an uprising...a peasents revolt....

It is night in Mexico City...Gava and Clara come out of the apartment and Clara has a pot that is putting out alot of smoke. Clara has a picture of St. Sebastin (I think it was Sebastin), patron saint of drivers, there is much asking for protection from thieves, accidents and so on...Rod has a perplexed look on his face as he watches from his car down the street. Like many other TeleNovela characters who shall not be named, Pilar now gets a "My grandchild is an Honor Student at Stalker U" bumper sticker...

Finally after many fun filled moments Gavi and Clara go inside carrying their hibatchi which is smoking big time.

Rod runs up and stops a lady going in the building...once again the picture of tact, Rod starts right in asking personal questions about Gavi...the lady tells him to leave or she will call the police.

Lady goes up to the apartment which is now "in a fit of comic relief filled with smoke", Lady tells Gavi & Clara that a man was asking questions about Gavi...a good lookin guy. She says she threatened him with the police. Gavi says he is a thief and call the police if he comes back.
The lady leaves and Clara says you told a lie. Gavi counters, "It was no lie, he stole my heart".
Darn it... these kids are so cute, I want to make little silver charms of both of them and sell them on ebay. Gavi will never allow herself to be hurt by Rod again...Clara does not look so certain.

Rod walks in the living room...TWB is on the phone...It's Roman, the jimadors are striking for more wages...Rod is all like Huh? We pay the highest wages in the region...Well Rod, looks like Jimmy Hoffa resurfaced and the folks done got organized...Rod tells Roman to handle it, but Roman says he needs Rod. Well there is a big meeting, then Rod will return to the ranch. Rod hangs up. He tells the Ice Princess, there is a problem with the Jimadors..."Oh Yeah", she snaps back, she says Gaviota is back...He is like...your so crazy, she in the office downtown...Nah not really, he says if she doesn't believe him, well return to the ranch with him. This leaves TWB, with a damned if I do and damned if I don't expression...She does love the ranch sooooooo much.

Later Rod is typing on his lap top and I don't know what he is typing, but by his expression it looks like a "Do you want to go steady as soon as I divorce my cloying wife?" e-mail to Gavi.
TWB comes in and says they need to talk...this is when she springs the whole, I want to have your baby thing on him. Rod looks duly stunned. He is not ready to have a baby..and he thought bubbles and "not with you". TWB pulls the ole, poor pitiful me routine outta the bag. So after of year of marriage and you not paying any attention to me...now I can't even have a kid....She says it would be thru artificial insemination, no fuss, no muss...she goes on to tell him that the doctor examined her organs, plus she produces a testament from both Aaron and Hilario that everything seems to be in good working order..(okay I threw that last part in..but should she need it, they could give witness), why in just a month she could be pregnant and they'd be on their way to a total dysfunctional family instead of just a dysfunctional couple. Like Bill Clinton, Rod feels her pain, but no...that can't happen..TWB stomps off in her CFM heels. Rod now thought bubbles how he must make Gavi realize...she is the only thing in his life.

Next Day........
Gavi arrives at work...there are yet more flowers with a card...another love anonymus card...she smiles, smells the card...then tears it up and throws it away...yes these flowers are bound for Margarita's desk...

Rod is at home, holding Gavi's scarf to his nose...well he is quite the scent huffer. He puts it away just in time to cover as TWB pops in. No he is outta there, no breakfast...he leaves...she throws pillows...

Gavi is on the phone when sneaky swarmy Onate comes in...he was evesdropping...he leaves chocolates on her desk...Now Onate gives a tulip to Elvira, who is quite taken. Then he pops into Videgaray's office while Vid is on the phone with Bruno...Onate says he just wanted to see his office, but you know he is spying....Videgaray tells Bruno that he does not trust Onate...

Gavi and Artemo Trejo are in Aaron's office with Aaron and Onate...they promise to give Trejo an old customer and friend of the family everything he needs and all the paperwork will be taken care of. Gavi and Artemo leave...Oh you can just see the glee on the faces of Aaron and Onate..the Tequila is substandard chemicals have been added...Rod & MariAnne Franco's (Gavi) names will be all over the paperwork...Ah Aaron you really are a reptile. More green vapors rise up off Onate.
***I gotta say here I am really not sure what they are doing, but I know that Tequila has very exact standards...maybe they are adding colorings & stuff to the new Tequila and selling it at a higher price as aged Tequila...or maybe they are cutting it with some other alcohol...I think this is to increase profits...

Rod arrives at work and sees the flowers on Margaritas counter...
He hears Gavi talking with Artemo Trejo about the meeting...he bursts in (I'm thinking he thought she was with some young guy), anyway, Gavi introduces them and Rod goes off on some kick about her flowers and leaves...the poor customer looks like "oh I didn't know the grandson was slow".

Meanwhile after the guy leaves, Rod bursts back in the office...Gavi says he didn't knock so he knocks on the extremely thin glass door that you can hear everything thru. I don't know how Elvira hasn't picked up on this freak show? Rod starts telling her the usual, I love you stuff, when boy interrupted, here comes Videgaray, he wants all the business transactions so he can send them to Bruno...But wait here comes Aaron telling him...No.....
Rod is trying to calm them down and Gavi has that there is nothing very classy about the upper classes look. After some more arguing Aaron grabs Vid and says he wants his Grandfather's Will...Everyone is muy impactoed.....

Aaron, dude chill.....you got like 700 more episodes to go.

Stay tuned tommorrow for..................
Sofia dressed in a gray knit dress copied straight from 1964 Seventeen Magazine, "Smart Soriety Fashions at Sarah Lawrence" tells TWB that once again she will give Rod a cup and a stern talking to.

Looks like Clara's none stop sewing has paid off...Gavi has an awesome party dress..

Labels: Destilando

Paco is in his office telling Fidiota that he hates the distance between them. Apparently Fidiota is there trying to drum up support for Dimwit Diana's upcoming custody battle. Fidiota tells him it's all his fault there is an abyss between them. He married her worst enemy! Paco states he didn't realize Fidiota loved him (since she was more bent on revenge than being with him). Finally they end up in a passionate kiss. Of course, who should walk in but Octopus. Octopus is wearing some sort of brown top that looks like two slips cut in half and held together in the front by heaven-knows-what. Perhaps a safety pin just above her navel. Octopus is furiosa! "What is the meaning of this?" We are then treated to the two fieras exchanging insults and accusations, while Paco just stands there inert. The two women are so busy bickering back and forth, it's as if they don't realize Paco is there. ***What's with Paco's taste in women anyway? *** Finally Octopus yells, "If Paco loved you, why did he marry me?" Fidiota retorts "If he loves you, why is he passionately kissing me?" Finally Octopus tells Fidiota to get out.

Perfumes 'R Us. Diana uses the adjoining door to throw a folder on Max's desk. Max tells her not to use that door. She should be entering through the hallway, the same way he was told to enter her office. Diana reminds him she is the president and she can use any door she wants. They then fight over how to enter each other's offices. What a pair of idiots. Max then brings up their last kiss. Diana claims she doesn't remember. The only kisses she remembers are Diego's! The sniping continues until Avarice walks in. Avarice wants to know what Max is doing there. That's a good question, since Max was supposedly going to work for a competing company. In all the episodes I've watched, however, Max never actually went into that other office. Max happily tells his rival, Avarice, that he just returned to work at Perfumes 'R Us. Avarice is impactado! Max trades in his lemon-sucking look for a smirk.

Our Lady of La Selva sin Nombre. Marfil is in bed eating something, when there's a knock on the door. Sister Sunshine announces she has a visitor. It's Andres! Andres finally believes it's the real Marfil and not some trap by Debora to kill him. Together they decide that Debora and Doc Evil must die. The fact that everyone believes Marfil is dead will work to their advantage. They will be indestructible!

Perfumes 'R Us. More squabbling among Max, Dimwit, and Avarice. Max claims Avarice was always making mistakes with his calculations that had to be corrected. Avarice counters the only reason Max is there is to see that the factory crashes and burns as a means of payback for the Irascibles losing it to Fidiota. Diana is telling them both to be civilized. Talk about the 3 Blind Mice! Max says because of his son, he has no reason to see the factory fail. Whatever.

Emili-Oh's Shelter for Wayward Individuals. Debora, wearing some sort of electric blue pleather vest over a black shirt and black jeans, is talking to Yolanda in a brown unflattering dress with turquoise trim and a tiered skirt. Poor Yolanda, why does she always get the short end of the stick with Wardrobe? At any rate, Debora is trying to convince Yolanda to join Team Debora. "Max has no business working with that cualquiera." Yolanda replies that Max is old enough to make his own decisions. Yolanda then tells Debora (who she thinks is Marfil) to let Max go. She's young, pretty, etc. Find another guy. Debora boisterously nixes that idea. Debora is mad Yolanda is not joining her outrage. Yolanda says she has no reason to hate anyone. Debora snipes back, "What else should I expect from a dumb single woman like you!" As Yolanda is leaving, there's a knock on the door. It's Bruno. Bruno slinks in without saying a word. Debora shrieks, "What are YOU doing here? Get out!!!!!"

Our Lady of La Selva sin Nombre. Andres and Marfil are sharing a tender moment in which they bare their souls to one another, including why Marfil and Debora hate each other to the extent they want to kill each other. Marfil begins with her tale of woe. There was always a rivalry between the two. Marfil was a good girl, got good grades, and all the teachers liked her. She then met a handsome, rich man. Debora was rebellious, got poor grades, and was always in trouble. I believe Marfil says their father preferred Marfil, but since we don't know anything about "Dad," I may be mistaken in my understanding. Andres' turn. When he met Debora, she was "an easy woman" on the streets who committed petty crimes. Stealing jewelry, selling drugs, etc. Either they were easy prey, or they both targeted easy prey. Can one of our fans help out with this? At any rate, Andres and Debora hooked up and started getting wild and crazy. They had so much in common. They stole cars, robbed mansions and banks, etc. They fell in love and got married. She then disappeared and he lost her trail. Marfil points out that apparently Debora got tired of him. Marfil then starts in with how Debora stole her husband and identity. She must pay!

Paco's Place. Fidiota and Octopus are still trading barbs. Paco some how manages to insert a lame, "Please, enough!" but they ignore him. Finally, Octopus attempts to slap Fidiota, but Fidiota grabs Octopus' arm mid slap. "The only one doing the slapping is going to be me!" Fidiota then connects with two slaps to Octopus' face; both a front hand and a back hand! I must admit, it was priceless. Commercial.

We're still at Paco's Palace. Paco finally finds part of his spine and tells Fidiota to leave and never return. Fidiota spews some venom, "One day you'll realize you married a monster and that she took advantage of you!" At this point Fidiota struts out. Paco looks sheepish. Octopus looks grim. As Fidiota is leaving the bar, Jorge stops her and asks what's going on. Fidiota dolefully tells him Paco prefers Octopus. Jorge replies that Paco still loves her (Fidiota) but that he's just confused. "Alas, woe is me, Paco has caused me so much pain!" Fidiota walks out in tears.

Emili-Oh's Shelter for Wayward Individuals. Debora repeats her demand, "What are you doing here? Get out!!" Bruno announces she's come to clear her conscience. Not only is she Debora and Marfil's mother, but she knows she's talking to Debora, not Marfil! Debora becomes hysterical. "I refuse to accept you as my mother!" This touching mother-daughter reunion goes downhill fast. Bruno feels that Marfil is still alive, but in danger. Lots of tears and screaming by Debora. Lots of tears and yelling by Bruno. She's going to tell anyone and everyone that Debora is an impostor. Debora retorts, "Not if I kill you first!"

Perfumes 'R Us. Avarice is trying to incite a riot with Emili-Oh, Caramel, and Beatriz. "Can you believe Diana is allowing Max to work here? What kind of a hare-brained game plan is that?!" Emili-Oh believes Max would never sabotage the business, but Avarice wants no part of Emili-Oh's justifications. Clearly, Avarice has a vested interest in this. Beatriz tries to throw in a comment, but before she can get out three words, she's cut off. Caramel tries to explain Diana's personal and business life are two different things. "When Fidiota comes back, she's going to be very angry to see an Irascible in her factory." Avarice is furious there is another fox in the hen house.

Little Doormat is in Dimwit Diana's office asking Diana what could she possibly be thinking when she allowed Max to return to his old job. Diana says she doesn't like it either, but it's a way to avoid a custody battle. Gaby wants to know what Diego's going to do when he finds out. Diana makes Gaby promise not to say a word. "Don't you think he'll find out?" asks Gaby reasonably. Diana says she'll tell him when the time is right. Some how, where Diego is concerned, I don't think the time will ever be right. Dimwit does add that Max must never know she still loves him.

Our Lady of La Selva sin Nombre. Andres isn't entirely sure he's dealing with Marfil, but he's cautiously optimistic. Marfil's first order of business: Steal a nun's habit from the convent. Andres apparently isn't particularly excited about this proclamation.

Dimwit and Little Doormat. More discussions about Max working at the factory to avoid Diana losing custody of her son and having her son raised by Marfil. The scene ends with Gaby telling Diana she's afraid of what may happen when Diego finds out Max is in close proximity to Diana. The Orchestra of Doom starts pounding away. Commercial.

La Playa. Yolanda is walking on the beach in her ugly dress. Rene sees her and comes running up. He wants to know how Peyote is doing. Alas, Yolanda says she has no idea. The Irascible family has been totally destroyed. Larry and Max have their problems as well. All is not well in her world. Big Doormat starts crying and Rene tries to comfort her. Pobre de Yolanda.

Emili-Oh's Shelter for Wayward Individuals. Debora and Bruno are still fighting over Debora's little secret. Bruno, with a sudden attack of conscience, can't sleep or eat with everything that has transpired. She wants to stand on the mountaintop and shout the truth to the world. Debora is furiosa! If Bruno says a word about "their secret," she'll have to kill her. Bruno doesn't care. "You killed your own sister in cold blood!" The heated exchange hits a climax when Debora knocks Mommy Dearest to the sofa and starts strangling her.

La Playa. Rene is holding Yolanda in his arms, comforting her. She tells him the only good thing in her life is having him as a friend. He steps back and tips up her chin, but she won't look him in the eyes. He forces her to look at him and says she has beautiful eyes. They are brilliant and enchanting. After teasing us for what seems like a forever, slowly, S-L-O-W-L-Y they lean in for a kiss!!!! Contact!!!!! Finally some satisfaction!!!!

Merciless Medical. Pillow and Kike are still celebrating their success in splitting up "that servant" and Larry. Pillow hastily adds she recognizes Kike hates it when she refers to Gaby as a servant. All is well in their scheming little world.

La Playa. Yolanda breaks away. "Why did you do that?" Rene says it was an impulse. Yolanda says he could be her son, to which Rene innocently responds, "But I'm not!" Yolanda runs off in tears. As she leaves, Rene suddenly realizes/admits he's in love with her. At a distance, Yolanda is impactada. She wants to know why she's trembling all over. She feels like a college kid.

Debora is still throttling Bruno when Larry comes in to save the day. He breaks them up and Bruno slips out the door. Larry wants to know why "Marfil" is trying to kill her own mother! "What is it that you don't want Bruno to tell anyone?" Debora says she doesn't want anyone to know she is the daughter of a kitchen maid. Finally Debora stomps off to her room and Larry looks lost and confused, as usual. The doorbell rings. It's an attorney. Gaby's hired him to handle her divorce. Once again Larry has a "Lost and Confused" look, while he struggles to get his brain around this new bit of information. Apparently it hasn't registered the many times Gaby has mentioned hiring an attorney in the past.

Merciless Medical. Sandy has come to visit Pillow in the hospital. Pillow is happy to tell her Gaby has hired a divorce attorney. Pillow starts bad-mouthing Little Doormat, but Sandy stops her. "Little Doormat is your victim!" Pillow gets defensive, but Sandy tells her to sell it to someone else, she was there and she knows what REALLY happened. Sandy says love knows no social or religious background. Blah, Blah, Blah. In fact, I think Pillow uses this terminology as well.

Perfumes 'R Us. Avarice is still trying to hit on Diana and get her to go out to lunch. As usual, Dimwit replies she's a married woman. Avarice doesn't buy it any more, now that he's seen the photo and articles in all the papers. Diana retorts, "Are you saying I'm an easy woman?" She starts to explain, but catches herself. She points out she doesn't need to explain anything. She's the substitute Prez and whatever she says goes. She all but stamps her feet and crosses her arms. Avarice starts bad-mouthing Max again, when Max bursts into the room from the adjoining office door Dimwit doesn't want him using. Max has a new tight blue sweater. At least it isn't pastel like the other ones. The pissing match continues with Avarice accusing Max of listening in to a private conversation. Max wants Diana to fire this useless individual right now!! The Orchestra of Doom plays.

Merciless Medical. Sandy is still begging Pillow to leave Gaby alone. Gaby is filing for divorce, Larry is free, move on! "Accusing Gaby of pushing you down the escalator when she didn't is against the law." "What a swell idea!" says Pillow. "I'll have Gaby arrested!" Sandy wants no part of this little charade. Pillow threatens Sandy and Sandy promises to not say anything to anyone if Pillow promises to lay off Little Doormat.

Paco's Palace. Paco and Octopus are fighting about his kissing Fidiota. Paco swears he loves Octopus, not Fidiota. Octopus wants him to swear to it. She also wants him to promise he'll never leave her for anyone. He promises. He also wants to end the conversation. They hug as Octopus glares over his shoulder.

Lala and Granny M are discussing the unfortunate situation between Paco and Fidiota. Apparently Fidiota is in her room crying, but we all know she's actually in her room drinking. Lala and Granny M discuss what is old news to us: Paco and Fidiota were kissing, Octopus burst into the room and caught them, Paco took Octopus' side, etc. "What a pity because Paco really loves Fidiota, but after what has happened, Fidiota will never forgive him."

Can I call it or what? Fidiota is in her room drinking. She can't believe Paco could humiliate her. She will never forgive him. She keeps muttering this over and over between swigs. We're also treated to a flashback of the confrontation between her and Octopus.

Perfumes 'R Us. Maxi-Moron and Avarice are now coming to blows in the presidential suite. Emili-Oh comes into the room as each dope is telling Dimwit to fire the other one. Dimwit is also trying to break them up. She's the president and SHE gives the orders. It's hard to envision a president of a huge "conglomerate" wearing a brown satin top that looks like my grandmother's slip, with a non-matching tan skirt. The fight looks like a grade-school playground skirmish, when Dimwit announces she'd love to go to lunch with Avarice. Avarice plays up his success and Max storms out. Emili-Oh cautions Diana that agreeing to go to lunch with Avarice could be a career-limiting move. Max is mad and will use it against her in a court of law. Diana says "It's just a lunch, nothing more than that!" Hence one of the many reasons we refer to her as a dimwit.

Bruno is sobbing in front of the Virgin. She is begging forgiveness for all of her evil ways. For lying, cheating, aiding and abetting Debora, and just being evil in general. How can she repent? She must tell the truth! She then realizes she doesn't know which daughter is dead. She is impactada!

Avarice and Dimwit are drinking their champagne lunch. Maybe the color on my TV is off. It now appears Diana's top is gold lame with a tan skirt. Whatever it is, I'm sure it's keeping Alex up at night with nightmares. Avarice wants to make a toast. "To what?" asks our gullible heroine. "To us meeting, to your assuming the presidency and doing such a bang-up job, and third. . ." "What's the third?" asks Dimwit. "To your beauty!" states our smarmy salesman. "We can't drink to that!" responds our glassy-eyed protagonist with her signature held tilt. "Well, an ugly woman wouldn't have a problem drinking to her beauty!" Where does this sleazoid get all his lines? They toast. At any rate, Diana says she'll never be able to love him.

Merciless Medical. The second best scene of the show. OK, maybe the best. Kike has come to inform Pillow that Gaby's attorney has met with Larry. Pillow is thrilled that their plans have worked so well. Pillow refers to "that Naca," but corrects herself for Kike's benefit. She then says Larry can never find out that Gaby is not responsible for Pillow losing her and Kike's baby, and that Gaby is truly innocent. Kike swears to never say a word. Pity for Pillow and Kike; Larry has been listening in to their conversation and even HE finally grasps Gaby is innocent and the baby wasn't his! Well, that remains to be seen. . .

Credits roll!

Labels: acorralada

Due to circumstances beyond my control, and I think I'm the third one this week to pass the buck, something must be going around, I won't be able to post a recap this week. Any help in the comments section would be awesome, anything coherent I'll copy and paste into the main post here. Sorry folks, very very sorry. Happy Mother's Day to all!

EDIT - Sylvia has come through in the comments with a great recap, I'll copy it in here -

Ah Caray Caray, I wasn't going to watch this episode but I got through the first half...

Carmen begs Santos not to confront Don Max.

Alfonsina gets kissy face with Hugo but he accuses her of stealing the cofre. She weeps and finally convinces him she doesn't have it. It must be Luba who stole it.

Orlando tells Thelma it will be fun to watch Emilio die of rabid jealousy when he marries Duhlina. Thelma tells him when she held the baby over the river and felt the trembling of his little body she loved him, loved him more than anyone even though he's the son of that idiot.

Singing Aunt tells Max that she expects better behavior from hur future spouse. He tells her he'll never marry an old ugly. She says she'll tell Emilio that he killed a poor innocent who turned out to be his son. Max says he'll tell Emilio that Auntie's niece Thelma was boinking the help.

Gaspar prays to the Virgencita to watch over Luba. He sees a vision of the virgin holding his cachorrito, his little cub. He and Tonki chase after her. They follow the vision up into the mountains.

Luba gets captured by the Cacique and his henchman. They tie her to a tree and light a fire under her. She screams "The letter the letter. What are they doing to me? It wasn't my fault." The Cacique tells her she will pay the same price as he, he will kill her son. He decides not to kill her so she can watch Gaspar die. He beats her with a stick and she screams to the Virgencita.

Sergio tells Don Loco that he was assaulted on the way to San Mateo and masked men kidnapped Malena and Mariana. Don Loco figures it's to extort money from him. Just then the corrupt police chief shows up and says Elias escaped. Soledad can barely conceal her smirk.

Elias and Dr. Love reveal themselves, as in they take off their masks, to Malena and Mariana.

Alfonsina and Hugo ransack the cave looking for the cofre. They don't find it and after they leave it glows and blinks, kind of like a prop from the old PeeWee's Playhouse.

Dohlando tries to get lovey dovey with Duhlina in front of Duhmilio. She tells him to cut it out, he knows she intends to divorce him right after the wedding. Dohlando says no, he changed his mind. Duhmilio says he'll make Dohlando do it. Later, when Duhmilio and Angel are alone Duhmilio tells him a letter is on its way to General Ochoa asking for help from the military to arrest Don Loco.

I have to take a break and do some stuff but I'll try to watch the second half later on. Stay tuned...
OK I'm back with the second part...

The Cacique viciously beats Luba. He tries to get her to reveal where Gaspar is. It's a pretty graphic and horrible scene. Gaspar appears and screams "Mama!" She hears his voice and smiles.

Singing Auntie tells Thelma it is Thelma's whoring ways that stand between her (SA) and the man she loves (Max).

Don Loco tells Sergio that he intends for The Lietenant (Orlando) to die at the foot of his wedding altar and it will be Sergio who kills him. Sergio is impactado.

Hugo threatens Nora to tell him where the damn cofre is. Adela convinces him that Nora doesn't know so he leaves.

Thelma and Don Max reach an agreement. He won't tell Emilio about her whoring ways if she will convince auntie to leave with her for Puebla. They toast on it as SA eavesdrops and scowls.

Dr. Love plans to take Malena and Mariana back to Mexico City. He tries to get Elias to go with them but Elias says he prefers to remain in Escondidaville and get his stupid self killed, errr...remain and help save Soledad.

Alfonsina gives Soledad some lip and Soledad smacks her one. Al tries to hit back but Don Loco comes in and won't let her, he says she has to respect his wife, and anyway he's shipping her back to Veracruz tomorrow. Alfonsina mutters that he'll pay dearly.

Alfonsina writes a blackmail letter to Loco and signs Hugo's name. It demands that Don Loco sign over his property to Hugo or he will divulge the secret of the cofre. Don Loco almost catches her in the act but she manages to sneak the letter out.

Duhmilio tells Angel that he will deal with Don Loco one way or the other. He points a rifle at a wall to drive the point home.

Angel is impactado but Duhmilio says it's dad's old tranquilizer gun, he'll only tranquilize Don Loco, not kill him.

Gaspar leaps down the mountain and beats the crap out of the Cacique and his henchman. The angels start to sing. Gaspar runs to his mama and unties her. He sees her whipped back and cut up face. She's messed up but good. He kisses her and yells to the Virgencita. Is she dead? It's not a good sign when the angels sing.




Thanks Sylvia, for saving me from a case of real life intruding! So very inconsiderate of real life, I thought we had a better relationship than that. I hope real life gets eaten by the coyotes.

Labels: duelo

We open with our missing Marfil calling Andres for help. She wants him to come to the convent right away.

Nancy is showing Lala an article in the paper about the big beso. The paper has turned the photograph around so it looks like Diana and Max are standing up instead of his having trapped her on the ground. The headline reads: Enemies in business are lovers in real life. She is having an affair behind the back of her husband. Max is also a married man. Lala tells Nancy to hide it from Diego at all costs--throw it in the trash. Does anyone want to bet that Diego will find out anyway?

Diana is getting ready for work. Lala comes in to talk about the picture. You know, she says, you are like my daughter, but why do you do this to Diego? If you don't love him, do you have to humiliate him? Diana asks how she knows, and Lala tells her about the newspaper. I guess Diana hasn't seen it yet. Diana begs her not to tell Diego. Lala says she threw away the paper, but reiterates her question about what Diana is doing to make her son suffer. Diego doesn't believe Diana.

Pancho is looking for football scores and he sees the picture. He says he's going to tell Diego right away. Let's hope he puts on his shirt before leaving the house.

Lala and Diana continue their discussion. Diana swears she is not cheating. Lala asks if the photo is a montage. Diana explains that Max trapped her and took advantage (aprovechar).
Lala reiterates that Diego won't believe her, and he is humiliated, being a pobre prostrate, bedridden and defenseless invalid. It's terrible that he still has hopes.

Diana says she is sorry that she could not love Diego. Lala says it's better that she not make him suffer--he's jealous and apt to do something crazy. Diana flashes back to her hubby's death threat.

Larry is at Pilar's bedside. Pilar is asleep, and Dr. Rene is trying to offer words of wisdom. He is dubious that Gaby could have pushed Pilar. Larry says that Yolanda said that too. But "I don't know what to think," he says, nicely summing up his general intellectual abilities.
Rene says he shouldn't blame Gaby. Just then, Pilar wakes up and thanks him for coming. She needs everyone's support at this terrible time.

Pancho is showing Wife #2, better known as Paola, the picture of the big beso. Paola can't believe he's going to show Diego. It's my brother, he says, he has to do it. But Max is her brother--and she's worried. Pancho declares again that he's muy macho, and no woman is going to make a laughingstock of the Brothers Blank (I don't think we know their last name!).
Pancho leaves, and Paola quickly calls Max to warn him. Dimwit Drip laughs and is glad to hear of the picture. Paola asks why he kissed Diana. Oh, the motivation is quite rational: to make Diego mad, because he assumed the paternity of my son. I want him to suffer. She tells him to take care, because Pancholon is on the warpath.
Good, says Max. Diego will learn to suffer for having tried to pass as the father of his son. He took everything from me (despojar).

Over at the fabrica, Caramelo is arranging her jefa's desk--in a pleated white miniskirt and a maroon blouse. Caramelo's wardrobe is slightly more modest now, but she's sticking to the microminis. Might I point out that a white skirt with a dark shirt is always a bad idea . . .
Emilio says she certainly came in early after that late night. Caramelo says she's very reliable (cumplidora). How'd he like the party? Phenomenal, no? He says that he doesn't understand Max and Diana--they act like children, with their crazy love-hate relationship. Caramelo is laughing about Camila, but then realizes her gaffe, as Emilio looks hurt--after all, that MDH is his sister . . . I also wonder about Emilio's hair. Why doesn't he get a haircut? He is always dressed in a nice suit, but his hair hangs down three inches over his collar in a greasy flip. This is a very misguided style.

Yolanda is talking to Max about Larry. He's being very mature about the loss of the baby. But she does not trust Pilar. She's afraid he'll marry her anyway now. Max thinks Larry will get rid of Pilar now, but Yolanda says that no, Pilar is making herself the big victim to manipulate Larry.

Back at the factory, Emilio is now laughing at his sister's situation. Caramelo is relieved. Now he looks serious. He wants to ask her something. Please don't stop smiling--your smile is too pretty.

Nancy lets Pancho in. She notices he's brandishing a newspaper, and she's worried. Pancho goes to the pool, where Diego still wants his bro to give him a massage. I'm finding that idea grosser and grosser. Thankfully for us,Pancholon does too. He wants his brother to open his eyes and divorce his cheating wife. If you don't do it, I'll kill Max. He wants Diego to stop wearing horns.

Over at Iggy's, he's pacing back and forth and making Camila crazy. He's worried about tomorrow, when he will have his medical license hearing. (Odd, we haven't heard about that storyline for a while.)
Silvia barges in with guess what--yes, the same newspaper. And an orange wig.

Isabel brings breakfast to Andres, but he is preoccupied--with revenge! He tells how he is going to make Debora and Iggy pay!

Back at Iggy's they all exclaim over the photo. Somehow, Iggy sees this as a great opportunity to get back at everyone. He is hoping that Marfil will pull the eyes out of "that nurse." Camila won't have to lift a finger to get Maxi Maxi back, I think is the idea.

Diego is now seething: Diana didn't tell him that Max was at the coctel. Pancho repeats that he must get divorced. No way, that would make her happy, and she'd run right to Max. Never! Always the gentleman, Pancho wants Diego to give her a beating.

Diana and Caramelo talk about keeping the paper from Diego. Too late.

Larry and Rene talk about how Larry should forget his trouble and concentrate on his career. Rene says Lunkhead is young and can have more children. But Lunkhead remembers that Gaby doesn't want anything to do with him, and Pilar can't have children. Oh, well.

Max barges into the office. Did I mention that he is wearing an outfit coordinated with Caramelo's? Yes, white pants and maroon shirt. And an ugly bluish sweater underneath. I think this is a new blue sweater. Max tells Diana that he likes the factory, he likes walking the hallways (pasillos) and seeing the workers (obreros), and he wants to return! I don't think he even worked one day at the new job he got with the competitors.

What is Maxi's brilliant motivation: He wants to make sure that the mother of his son is not cheating with all those single men who are buzzing around her gorgeous glassy-eyed presence, especially that MDH Alvaro Ferrer. If she agrees to his conditions, he won't go to court. He wants visitation and a job at the factory.

Iggy goes over to the homeless shelter and greets "Marfil." Well, you've been very distant since we came back, he says. Maybe you're Debora. No, I'm Marfil, she responds, toning down the usual shriek just a bit. Iggy says he wants to show her a very interesting photo, but of course, if she's too busy . . . Now she's interested. Look, Max and your friend Diana are kissing. Uh-oh, that lousy piece of lint (pelusa), she says. That nurse still wants to steal my husband. Debora starts trying to shred the paper while her shrieking rises in volume. It appears that she might just take off . . .She swears that she will destroy Diana.

Back at the convent, our favorite actress has changed into her chaste Marfil nightgown and removed her makeup. She's fuming about getting back at Iggy and her sister. Just then, Mom Superior comes in. She asks Marfil if she knows Diana, who was also there after the plane crash. Yes, of course, they were friends. Oh, then you'll be glad to know there was a man looking for her here--he was very much in love--his name was Max. (Slowly I turn, step by step, inch by inch . . .)

Speaking of the white-shoed wonder--he's still camped out in front of Diana's desk, continuing the fight over Alvaro Ferrer. She wants him to stop watching her--the only one who should watch her is her husband. She's not Max's property. Finally, she agrees he can have his old job back. Hasta manana, boss, he says. Then he thought bubbles: Good, now I can be near her every day and begin to win her back.

Iggy has returned from his mission and rehashes with Camila and Silvia. He bets that "Marfil" is right now on the way to the factory to start trouble.

Indeed, she steps off the elevator and demands to see Diana. Come out, you husband stealer, and show your face. Everyone tries to get her to calm down, and Emilio has to hold her back. She demands to know how Diana could kiss her husband in public. After they throw her out, Diana tells Beatriz to warn security not to let her in again.

Gaby, Diana, and Caramelo arrive home from work. Diego demands that they leave him alone with his wife. Diana says she has to bathe the baby and doesn't have time to talk.
He says she's not going anywhere. The girls leave, with Caramelo's tush visible beneath the edge of the skirt. Diana crosses her arms and tries to look imperious.

Diego wants to know why she didn't tell him Max was at the coctel. Gee, I don't know--because you are a raving lunatic? He begins to announce his hate for her. All his love has turned to hate. She says that she knew a marriage without love would not work. She reaches out for him, but he says don't touch me. I thought you were a decent girl, but you're a flirting qualquiera. I'm just a poor crippled cuckold. I hate you! I will make you suffer as I have.

Max comes home, and "Marfil" lambastes him for kissing that piece of lint. He tells her to cut the c--p, because everyone knows they are separated. Tomorrow, he says, he is going back to work at the factory.

Cut to another montage of city scenes with Karen's favorite helicopter shadow.

It's morning at the factory, and Max barges into Diana's office wearing his best lemon-sucking smirk and--you guessed it, fans--a new periwinkle blue sweater. Diana is wearing a very businesslike gold lame getup. But no obi today, surprisingly.

Diana tries to get him to stop barging in from one door--he has to come in the other door. It's not clear what the difference is or how he would get to the back door. He says he'll go wherever he wants. He then reports that he has already founds some errors in some invoices for Barcelona. She thanks him and dismisses him. Yes, jefa, con permiso. (Wow, it's just like Fernando and "Dona Lety.") They return to bickering about the door. She says he can come in the back door if he knocks and waits for permission to enter. He says he will be glad to take orders from her.

Meanwhile, a big surprise. Fedora goes over to the bar, and Paco is surprised to see her. She says she didn't come to see him personally, but she needs him as a witness in the big custody battle. (this part isn't clear, because she keeps advising Diana not go resist Max, and we think they aren't going to court, but then she's preparing for the big showdown anyway. Anyway, I suppose that Sonya Smith has a contract to appear in every episode, and we saw her very little today.)

She wants him to tell the truth, which will explain why Diana was justified in hiding the paternity and making Diego the official father. Because Max had not believed her, she was justified, right? I don't see how Paco's testimony would help here. It seems as nutty as all of Fedora's other legal strategies.

But now Big Lunkhead has his chance. I hate this distance, he says. But he created it himself by marrying her worst enemy, she says. More rehash about if only he had known, bla bla bla. They start to kiss, and guess what--here comes Octy--wearing a brown leather backless halter. Hola, Sweeney Todd is calling--he's missing his apron. Everyone is impactada.

Labels: acorralada

Labels: Destilando

Labels: Zorro

Gavi pointedly remains formal towards Rod throughout while he persists in addressing her in the familiar tú. She gets angry at Rod for haltingly telling her that he stayed with his wife because he realized that Ice was in love with him. As soon as she hears this she tells him to just shut up because this kind of self-serving attitude is revolting to her. (Burly-Bear must stop to process here......) It is painfully evident that Rod's long-awaited re-encounter with Gaviota has quickly turned into a disaster.

At Grammy P's place, Icedora, Minnie, Grammy, and Sofia discuss their delight in Rod's agreeing to take the lead at the corporate offices these next few months. Dani takes in the whole misguided scene totally incredulous. (I am still trying to process Isa's wardrobe choices. How couth is a woman who wears tight-arse pedal-pusher jeans, a tight, scoopneck tee and dangling earrings to her well-heeled husband's family's well-respected, high-toned, corporate offices, not to mention to one of its boardmeetings? H-m-m-m-m? All together now: "N-A-C-A!")

The hen club congratulates Grammy over her talents of persuasion. Sofia says she thinks Rod already called off his search for this "working girl". They are all smiles, especially Icedora, figuring this change leaves the way clear for her to truly save her marriage (and successfully seduce our HotRod). Grammy suggests to Isa that perhaps her grandson cares for her more than she ever imagined.

Dani cannot stand it anymore and dares to disagree. "No. Don't kid yourselves. You really don't know his reasons for staying. For sure though, Rod loves Gaviota and he will continue to for the rest of his life." She then dances out the door with a smirking theatrical bow to Icedora who is left with steam coming out of her ears. (Chalk one up for the home team!)

Rod continues to explain his feelings and his actions to Gaviota. He begins to apologize for the unthinking and confusing manner he told Gavi about his desire to provide for her that day a year ago in the shelter. He tells her that after she left last year he "feared" the loneliness. "I admit I committed a grave mistake back then and I tried to deal with losing you some, and it came out like a suggestion that you should become my lover." (He is certainly scoring points with me here......) He didn't mean to imply he wanted her only as his mistress. "That cursed night we should have left together...that night back then..... I do not want to run the risk of losing you ever again. I am ready to leave everything for you."

Gavi sucks in her breath. "You want to know how I feel? How is it possible that you could live 20 years (and not have figured it out), but two was all it took for me to learn all about life, big-time? (THAT is definitely the $64,000 question we've all been asking ourselves.) During those two years I learned a lifetime's worth! Definitely not to trust in my dreams and not to believe in people who lie! So don't strain yourself trying to prove to me I am the only woman in your life, because that is not the truth, I know that I have never been. That is only a tactic of yours. It really worked on me. But, you can go tell your story to another woman because for months now I've been hearing that you are happily married. (Damn, that woman knows how to get her pound of flesh!)

Gavi takes up her notebook to leave. "Though you may never believe it, I am a decent woman. I don't fool around and I never have. I would have to be crazy to get involved with a man who has such a solid marriage like you and your wife have!" Rod loses his temper when he hears that. "I see again that I did something stupid. A bit ago in the meeting I should have told my family to go to hell; that I had found you and that the search just ended; and I could have said I was leaving, together with you. You wouldn't have had to have witnessed that absurd scene about our anniversary! It is not too late to yell out to them all that I love you!" He starts for the door.

Gavi is at the door and blocks him from leaving. She looks up into his eyes and begs him not to. "I have changed my life. I did it to forget the past, a past I suffered through already. I want to tell you something. "That other young girl, the one who went looking for you in London, capital of England, she died. Mariana Franco arrived in her place with a nicer, more dignified background." Everything in the personnel files, all that was listed on the resume, is the person everyone now believes her to be.

She asks him not to give her identity away to the others, not to hurt her like he already has done. "--I don't want to hurt you, " he tells her. "I have tried to be as careful as possible. Don't you believe I was going out to yell to them all that I had found you and the search is over? It isn't so difficult to figure out that in order to work here in the corporate offices you had to change your identity. It has caused me to ask so many questions: how, suddenly over night, did you transform into such a capable executive? How have you overcome so much? Why did you end up working here, at Montalvo Corporation, near my family? Near me? Why?"

"It was by chance." "--It's a lie and you know it!" She fumbles for a good answer. "It's a good company, that's all." He touches her face gently. "You want to know what I think? I think that even though you might want to be another woman, you are still the same Gaviota. You still are my Gaviota. Much more lovely. More beautiful than ever --and a huge liar! Because you know very well that you haven't stopped thinking about me. You have not been able to make yourself forget me." (Damn! I gotta remember to breathe now.)

With tears streaming down her face she pulls his hand away from her cheek and tells him not to touch her. She requests he treat her with professionalism and respect while working at the office and tells him they must maintain a certain distance, not just because he is going to be her boss, but because he is a married man. (I myself would have added the word "still" in there.) " But why? I accepted this to be with you." "-- In time enough to rectifiy that situation." Rod is then desperate to know if there is another man in her life now. "Ingeniero, Ingeniero, STOP! It is to be a working relationship between executives or else I will resign immediately." She must answer her phone. They are expected in the board room now.

Rod says he has one last question for her: "Do you still love me? Think about it very carefully before you answer, because it will affect the decisions I make about my future. I am telling you a second time I am ready to leave everything for you." Gavi tells him that she doesn't trust in his kisses anymore. "I don't believe in happy endings or telenovelas. You are not a Prince and I am not Cinderella nor am I Sleeping Beauty who can be awakened with a kiss. If you are afraid of loneliness then, don't come to me for an adventure." Gavi takes his watch off her wrist and gently places it in his hands. ".....because now I don't feel anything, absolutely nothing for you." She walks out and heads to the board room. (I am letting out one hell of a deep breath now.)

Back at Grammy's place, Pilar tells Icedora not to take Dani's remarks to heart. She's a flighty thing...... Icedora, still all grins, tells them how she plans to put together a humdinger of an intimate dinnerparty for her first anniversary. Grammy wishes her a lifetime of blessings. (Can they all be so self-serving and clueless? Uh ya-ah!) Sofia and Icedora giggle about summoning the stork tonight at her little celebration.

"Mariana" and our trod-upon Rod have both returned to the boardroom. She stands at the chart giving her presentation about the production figures for the Turquesa project. Rod is in awe of her. He is dazed and amazed by both her beauty and her brilliance.

Bruno gets angry over Aaron's using so much of the company's available cash and risking the solvency of the company through the huge loan he has taken out to finance the rest of the project. He complains Aaron is gambling with money that isn't his to use. Bruno then yells that Aaron shouldn't get ahead of himself, insinuating that he is acting already as if he were head of the entire company and all its funds. Aaron loses all patience and insults his father, claiming that his old man has a complex because now he, Aaron, has excelled and is way beyond him in talent, and that soon all of the funds will be under his control.

Gavi is totally bug-eyed impactada by this lively example of Montalvo male bonding and probably wondering at this point if those walls were purposely soundproofed for family chats like these. Aaron feels he has a right to all the company assets as it would be nothing without his talent and expertise. Soon enough his dad's entire fortune will be at his disposal anyway. Bruno screams back not so fast, since he isn't dead yet.

Aaron screams back that as far as he's concerned he might as well be. Then Bruno gives him a couple of those classy two-handed European b!tch-slaps and reminds Sonny-Boy not to show such disrespect towards his daddy, which of course, infuriates Aaron even more. He tells his father he better not slap him again or he will forget he is his father. Bruno says it ended between them a long time ago as far as he is concerned and he leaves, warning that things will turn out worse than Aaron thinks.

Patricio tells Aaron that this time he went too far with his father. Aaron claims he is just a lapdog for his daddy, and he warns Patricio he needs to choose a side because the new enterprise will be totally under his control and he needs complete loyalty. Rod returns and asks where Mariana has gotten to. Patricio says she left because she could not put up with this depressing sight and then leaves. Rod advises his cousin to calm down and not to treat his father in this way. As far as Rod is concerned, Aaron was wrong and he deserved those slaps his father gave him. Aaron thinks to himself, "We have just begun the war, Dad."

After the hubbub is over Rod goes looking for Gavi. Aparrently she left the room during the fracas, but when he knocks he finds out she's gone home already. He sees her handkerchief left out on the desk. He picks it up and notices it is still damp from her crying. He stuffs it into his pocket. Then he sits down in her chair. Aaron surprises him just then and asks what he's doing in her office. Rod catches himself and says he was waiting for Mariana, but apparently she left already.

That night Gavi tells Clarita what happened between her and Rodrigo, how he was ready to leave it all just to be with her, and how she loved him but had to prevent herself from being tricked by him again. Clarita wonders if she didn't give the guy even just a tiny bit of hope for them getting back together. "It seems that he was honest then when he told you he had no one but you." "No, Ma. Not after all he did to me. Besides, he is a married man." "--Do you think Montalvo really does love you?" "--No! Once he gets what he wants he is going to tell me he has to return to his wife and I will be left shattered, worn out. No, I am not going to fall apart for that man again. Gee! He even said he believed all along I was going to return each year for the harvest and he would be there waiting for me. Sorry, that isn't possible."

This remark starts Clarita remembering her last conversation with Don Amador, when he asked her if she remembered when they first met each other many harvests ago, and how he told her he wanted her to remain on the land he loved so much once he had passed on. She remembers holding his hand to her cheek and kissing it with tears in her eyes. (Ah! Definitely a two hanky scene here.)

Gavi is on a roll and doesn't notice her mother is lost in her own thoughts. "It is killing me, Ma," she tells her mother; she would love to resign her job but she cannot do that to Aaron Montalvo. It would be a betrayal of his trust in her. She figures Rod's offering to give up everything for her is just a line to get her into the sheets again. "What are you thinking about, Ma?" "Oh just that it is like a lot of other similar stories. Like the silly telenovelas." "Yes, just like, huh." Clarita smiles at her daughter. (OMG!! I just used up my third hanky.)

When Rod gets home that night Isa is waiting for him in the living room of the apartment in a sexy, gold lamee, spaghetti-strapped cocktail dress and yes, those same Barbarella thigh-tops. (So! How much you figure Univision paid for those boots, anyway?) She has a table set with champagne, candles and an anniversary cake. Isa then hands him a glass of bubbly She makes a toast saying it has been a difficult year, but one in which they've learned to love each other and she is so happy to be a part of his life. (Excuse me, but which parallel universe is this Icedora from again?)

Isa then comments on his new pocket handkerchief and the fact that the watch he's got on isn't the one he normally wears. He lies and says he just recently bought them. Icedora proposes to Rod that since they never had a honeymoon, well..... and tries to seductively kiss him.

Rod gulps down the champagne but after his unpleasant discussion with Gavi, he has no patience with Isa and tells her to just forget it. Just forget it! He says as an afterthought,"Thanks." Then he leaves her and goes to bed. (Hubby is muttering at the screen in utter disbelief about Rodster's lax libido. I tell him to just think of him as simply being "chaste." -- Yep. Rod is one chased, chaste, duly chastised and definitely chastened home-boy. Word up.........)

Sofia calls about then and asks if her brother came home and if she is interrupting anything. Iced over Icedora yells that there is absolutely nothing to interrupt. He has just rejected her for the umpteenth time. (Get a clue, then Ditzydora! Sheesh.)

Gavi continues on her tirade and promises that she will show Rodrigo who Mariana Franco really is and she will not be soft. "Being glib won't get him anywhere with me. These rich men are all the same."

Sofia suggests to Isa that she submit to artificial insemination since Rod cannot deny her right to become a mother as she is his wife and is supposed to have his children. Besides they agree, the will never specified the children had to be "naturally born". They agree to go together to see the OB the next day to see what needs to be done to have the procedure. As Icedora hangs up she thinks to herself that certainly a baby, even by artificial means would tie him to her forever.

Aaron gets home and screams at his wife that she needs to get pregnant and fast. Minnie tells him, "For Godsakes, I am still recuperating from the miscarriage!" He regains his senses and says not to get too comfortable thinking that just because Rod's in the city for a while that he'll forget all about the jimadora. This is just a truce in the battle. She needs to get pregnant as soon as it is possible.

Rod sits on the side of the bed holding the watch Gavi returned to him. "Why would she have worn this watch all this time if she didn't still love me? She must still love me. (No sheep-dip, Sherlock!) I will do everything possible to regain her trust." At the same time Gavi is in bed and remembers Rod swearing that in all this time he has never touched his wife. She prays to the Virgencita not to allow her to fall for his tricks and fancy words again.

The next day in the agave fields Roman and Hilario discuss the fact that Gavi did not show up this year. Roman says the boss is not going to be happy about it, either. Hilario wants the reason why if they loved each other that he married Señora Isadora instead. Roman explains that there was a misunderstanding and that he thought she'd left town to become a "good-time girl". Hilario says it is a rotten thing for Rod not to give Isadora her freedom when he doesn't love her and treats her so harshly.

Roman remembers Hilario's confession about the one-nighter with a married woman. He says "Look who's talking. You have done the dirty deed yourself, so you're just the pot calling the kettle black." He warns his son about messin' with another mister's missus.

Rod joins his sisters and Pilar at the airport to see Dani off. Dani gets him alone for a minute and begs him to confess why he's been all smiles. He secretly confides to her that he found Gavi in the least place likely. Dani is thrilled for him.

Later Rod spends time at the Agave Growers' Congress and gives his presentation. Aaron has Elvira call Rod's apartment saying he wants to find out where his cousin is, but he says he'll talk to whoever answers. It is of course, Icedora who answers. She refuses to talk saying she's got an appointment and is going out right then. She tells Elvira Rod went to the Agave Growers' Congress to make his presentation.

Gavi and Clarita go to choose the company car. The only problem is that, as Gavi tells Margarita, she doesn't know how to drive it yet. When she eventually learns she promises to take Margarita for a spin. As Gavi enters her office she finds flowers from an anonymous admirer. Margarita teases her about them. Gavi suspects but won't say who she thinks sent them, and offers them to Margarita for the reception desk.

Isa tells the OB that she wants to be artificially inseminated because her husband wants kids but is currently impotent. The doctor says first they both must submit to a number of tests. Frustrated, Isa tells Sofia they'll have to come clean and talk to Rod directly about this idea. Sofia figures that Rod will jump at the idea because it will assure their future and their fortune. (Sofia, hon, you need to buy another vowel from Vanna.)

Aaron discusses his less-than-above-board intentions for his Turquesa tequila to actually be of a lower quality than advertised. He'll be selling these in countries where the tequila inspectors have no authority or reach. Oñate must be sure that his documentation appears to be absolutely clean. No one should know what he's planning to do. Oñate says that should be no problem and that he'll ready the paperwork before each shipment and just have Mariana and Rod sign the documentation while Aaron is working out of the country. (I just heard the theme song from "Jaws" start up.)

Driving back from the conference Rod nearly has an accident because he gets so involved smelling Gavi's scent on her handkerchief. (The boy just isn't used to city driving yet, I guess, so we'll have to cut him some slack for clowning around like this.) He finally gets back into the office and sees that the flower arrangement he sent Gavi is sitting there on the reception desk. He goes upstairs and cheerily greets Gavi. He flirts with her about the flowers ending up at the reception desk.

Gavi pretends that she wasn't aware of who'd sent the flowers and says she thought they'd look great out there. He suavely replies he felt they would have looked better on the desk nearby so he could compare their beauty to hers. She stops her typing at that and looks up. (Woo-hoooo!! 10 points and a free-throw, Rodster!!)

Just then, breaking the mood of this magical moment, Icedora ding-a-lings on Rod's cell. "Hello, my love. How about lunch? " "--Perhaps. Why?" "--We need to talk about your future son." Rod senses another WTF?!!** moment courtesy of his Sissy Sofia and Ditzydora.

Labels: Destilando