Caray, Caray!

Once again night time has come to Cd. Serán and it comes with another full moon. (Just once I’d like to see a wolf howl at it in these things.) At the Double E (Hacienda de las Elizondo y a-ú-ú-ú-n del Escandon) Sofia is promising a frantically desperate Mama to drop the charges against Fernando, that miserable, scum-sucking, three-timing (or is it 4-timing?) husband her mama needs to once again heat up her bed sheets. Sofia has given in once more, but all in a worthwhile cause as Mama has driven a hard bargain. If she lets Feo go, Gabi will give her the name of the real murderer of Juan’s parents. Sofia warns Mama that Feo will still have to repay the debt he owes to the hacienda once she gets him out of jail.

Gabi hesitates for a few angst-filled seconds or so before telling Sofia that the murderer was… Darth Rico! Sofia is suck-in-her-breath impactada. (What? No questions for Mama about why DV just happened to tell Mama, or why she never went to the police to turn him in for the crime? Slowfia’s thought processes resemble more of a sluggish swirl down a drain and those of us in Viewerville must have faith that though it will take a while for meaningful questions like these to surface at the opposite end, they will eventually surface.) So, since Gabi has kept her end of the bargain, it’s time for Sofia to keep hers.

Roman Del Posible, meanwhile, comes by the clinic to tell Oscar he’s genuinely sorry about what happened to him with the tractor, but Oscar tells him to get lost because he doesn’t appreciate him coming by to get the last laugh. Jimena rushes in at that point. She totally ignores Roman and tells Oscar nobody and nothing will keep her from his side any longer. Roman (now Del IMposible) sees the handwriting on the wall and wishes them both a sincere lifetime of happiness together before exiting stage left.

Upstairs in her room at the Double E Sofia is now reading a book. (Ever wonder just what it is she’s reading?) She stops to think back to Mama’s recent revelation that Ricardo Uribe was the one who did the dastardly deed to Juan’s parents and considers the best way to give the news to Juan without causing another disaster. Juan just happens to come jingle-jangling up and over her balcony again for a little evening chit chat about Maria Jose’s progress at that very moment. He asks Sofia why she seems so distracted. Sofia remembers Mama’s earlier revelation and decides to keep mum with Juan at this point. She asks after Oscar instead. Juan tells her Oscar is totally inconsolable.

Meanwhile, at the clinic, Sarita sneaks up on a sad and pensive Franco. (It’s probably been said before, but after seeing her in her 10th pair of designer frames, Viewerville must say it again. Somebody needs to explain the function and benefits of contacts in the 21st century to Sarita. On the other hand, some optometrist is obviously making a bundle off her. ¡Viva Capitalism!) She surprises Franco with a passionate kiss and embrace.

Morning comes to Cd. Serdán and the sheriff tells Fernando that he’s being released provided that he signs documents agreeing to repay what he owes to Hacienda San Augustin. If he doesn’t comply with the terms of that written agreement he’ll be back in jail and won’t be seeing the light of day for one heck of a long, long time. Fer takes one long last look at the possessed, singing wall near his cell and is more than happy to sign on the dotted line and to high-tail it home.

Back at the Double R (Hacienda de los Robles-Reyes) Oscar stares by the entrance at the fountain with its rearing stallion and mourns his fate as a probable paraplegic. (I say mourn not as telenovela gods are never ever likely to keep a galán tied to a wheelchair for long.) As Jimena wheels Oscar into the hacienda from the patio, he refuses to mingle with the clan who’ve all gathered there to greet him and welcome him back home. After a touching hug from Pablito he tells Jimena that she should take him to his room. He doesn’t want to see anybody right now. She thinks he should stay a bit and chat with everyone. He tells her that if she is going to complain to him about the things he wants then it would be better for her to just leave. He doesn’t need her.

Back across at the Double E, Root walks in on Fernando digging through his safe. (Why hasn’t’ the guy moved it by now, especially with Root using that room and likely to pop in and out when it's least expected, just like she just has?) Feo quickly shuts the door to the safe, but Root sees the wad of bills in his hands and teases him about it. He gets pissy and she whines that she thought they were supposed to be allies. He says they are but it’s his business and to keep out of it. She says no, things have to be done her way and not his so he gets rough and warns her not to treat him like he was her daddy. She says he’s not her father and then mentions she’s in the know about Eva and Bernardo being her parents, just as Feo probably already is. Feo asks who told her and she says Gabi did. He says that at times Gabi isn’t as intelligent as they all think since she just gave Root a powerful weapon to fight with for a good chunk of the Elizondo fortune. Root smiles and starts plotting.

In town in Pad Tad’s office Augie and Santa tell the priest that they want to get married the very next morning. The padre says fine. Gabi won’t be attending, right? Santa asks when he has ever known a devil to attend a wedding. Augie finishes the joke and says especially of a saint and an angel like them?

A bit later that morning, Root walks into Gabi’s office and asks her why she didn’t mention that she’d sold her for a piece of land. Gabi tries to play dumb but Root calls her on it and says no big deal, but she feels Gabi had been using her by not telling her the whole truth. (Who, our Gabi?) Sofia and Sarita walk into the office then for a meeting that supposedly Gabi had requested, but it turns out that Root had been the one asking them to come down to the office. Root gets up and insists that because she is also an Elizondo she has a right to her part of the family fortune. She wants it immediately.

Upstairs, Fernando is lying on his bed and thinking how he’d love to see the Elizondos’ faces about now. Suddenly Rosario’s singing starts blasting in his ears. He finds it’s coming from a pair of hidden speakers and so he follows the electrical cord across the hall to where it seems to end --Augie’s room. All of a sudden the elevator starts up and he hides. Santa and Augie get out of the elevator and go into Augie’s room. He peeks in and sees Augie taking out a cassette tape and say that things are going so smoothly, and before they leave there Fernando will end up falling into their trap. Fer sees him take out the manila envelope full of money that Santi loaned him to pay off the hacienda’s remaining debts and hears Augie thank her again for it because it means that his granddaughters will not be in tough financial straits once the two of them leave.

Santi asks Augie what he plans to do after they’ve finished with Fernando. Augie says it will be to corner Ricardo Uribe and show everyone that he was the one who really murdered the Reyes’ parents. Feo figures he should let Augie go ahead with this because once Augie confronts Rico, Uribe will kill Augie and Fer won’t have had to dirty his hands. He’ll be shed of Augie without lifting a finger.

At Bungalow del Bruto, Raqui (making quite the fashion statement in those pink tiger stripes) is packing her bag as fast as she can to avoid the excrement that’s about to hit the fan now that Rico is certain to find out Root is not his daughter.

Downstairs in the office of the main house, Sarita informs Root that since there is a will which names Sofia as the sole heir, none of them gets any of the money and that includes Root. Mama takes the opportunity to gloat over the pending lawsuit that contests Bernie’s will and says the period Sofia has to determine which little girl is actually hers is about over, so the fortune will all resort back to her very soon. Sofia takes the document from Gabi and says yes, she’s right, but until then she still remains the sole owner of the hacienda and as proof of her magnanimity (there goes that toothache of mine again) she agrees to share the property in part with Root.

Sarita objects since Root refuses to accept Eva as her mother. Sofia says Root is still their sister and they have the obligation to share with Root. Darth walks into the office at this point and asks Sofia what exactly she means by saying Root is their sister. Sofia says, just that: Root is actually Eva and Bernie’s daughter. DV shoots a wide-eyed look of impactado over at Gabi for confirmation. Gabi looks back like an evil-eyed, Cheshire cat that just ate DV’s prize canary and is happy to wipe DV's face with the bloody, burped up bones and feathers. Papa Bear tells Root not to listen to this line of bull, that she is nothing to Eva and especially not Bernardo. He’s ready to put the Elizondos in their place and to give them all what for. However, Root tells Papa Bear there’s no reason; it’s all true and he’s not really her papa. Bernardo Elizondo was. Darth looks over at Gabi again and she just shrugs it off with one haughtily dismissive lift of her eyebrows. (Nobody does this better than Diana!) He tells them to leave Gabi and him alone to discuss the matter.

Once they’re alone, Gabi says there’s not much to tell him only that since Raqui was sterile and he wanted a child so badly, Gabi had only helped get him what he wanted –and yes, in exchange for some of the land he held. Before he can object she tells him not to gripe since he knows full well those lands didn’t belong to him either before he appropriated them for himself after killing the Robles-Reyes’. Darth yells at Gabi that he earned them by murdering for them and only after she had goaded him into it. (Yeesh! Who cares why? Blaming someone else doesn’t justify it.) So she is the last one to throw “not having a right to that property” in his face, and how dare she and Raqui trick him all these years?

Darth grabs Gabi by the throat and tries to strangle her. The two fight. Gabi escapes from him with a well aimed kick to the groin and tells him not to lay his hands on her. He growls back, while grabbing himself in pain, that he never should have trusted her. Gabi hasn’t changed; and she’ll never change, but well then that’s the way it is. He will just have to teach her a thing or two. He pulls out that nasty knife of his and starts for her. Gabi grabs a small revolver she had hidden above the grandfather clock and warns him that if he dares take another step towards her she will shoot. He’s got no reason to feel betrayed, she says. It’s quits for the two of them now. So, if he insists in threatening her, she warns him, he will force her to tell the truth to the Reyes’ and then Rico will “meet the demon Juan Reyes carries within him,” and she doesn’t recommend it. (Geez, you just can't beat that kind of melodramatic word-wizardry with a stick, can you? Hats off to the A-Team here.)

DV starts toward Gabi again and tries to call her bluff. He knows her, he says, and he doesn’t think she’d dare shoot. (Wrong!) She aims and fires –but she turns the gun at the last second towards a flower vase on the desk and blows it to smithereens instead. Rico takes the hint and backs off. He tells Gabi he is not going to let this go. He’s forced to hide his knife when Sofia and Sarita run back into the office to see what the shooting was about.

After Rico leaves, Gabi nearly faints and then falls into a chair. Sofia and Sarita ask what’s happened. They’re worried about the way she fell into that chair. Gabi just crabs at them. “--As if my health and well-being would really matter to you!” Sarita tries to be attentive and empathize but Crabi screams at her to shut up because she sounds just like Sofia now. (These two should be the first to dance on her grave, not Feo.)

Meanwhile, Root and Papa Bear arrive back at the bungalow just as Raqui is on her way out with her suitcase. Darth grabs the suitcase and throws it across the room. “Where do you think you’re going?” Root says she owes them an explanation. They deserve one. Raquel just can’t leave the two of them like this. Raqui says she isn’t going to put up with their complaints. Besides, what can they accuse her of, anyway? She gave Rico the kid he wanted so badly and she gave Root a much better life, filled with luxury and privilege that she’d have never gotten if she’d been stuck with Eva.

Rico still wants to know why Raqui deceived them all these years. She admits she was paralyzed with fear because of his violent personality. (I can’t believe DV wouldn’t have guessed this long before now. The creep prides himself in terrorizing people.) But, she screams at him that’s over and done with now, and if they can’t forgive her then she is going to get as far away from them as possible. As far as she’s concerned they’re both just alike, and what joins them at the hip is their cruelty. She stomps back into her bedroom and slams the door.

In the main house Sofia and Sarita are putting Mama to bed and trying to get her to explain what was said that could have made her so sick. Sarita asks Sofia to lay off the questions. Sofia goes out to get Rosendo to find the doctor. On her way down the stairs she runs into Fernando who hands her a manila envelope with all the cash that the hacienda was missing. He swears again that he never stole anything but he’s making good on it anyway. (So did this money come from the stash in his safe or is this the envelope with Santi’s money?) Sofia tells him she’s in a hurry because Mama is sick again and adds that he’s only out of jail because Mama pleaded for him. So, he’d better be very careful with whatever he does from now on. He replies that he loves Gabi whether she believes him or not. She says she doesn’t believe it and oh, by the way, their annulment came through so she and Juan are now able to have a church wedding as soon as Juan decides when.

Speaking of Juan, he’s upstairs in Oscar's room telling him to stop feeling so sorry for himself. Oscar wonders why when he can’t be a real man for Jimena. Jimena comes into the room with a tray of food. Oscar complains about his soup and then smashes the bowl on the floor. Jimena dutifully leaves to get another for him. He says not to bother. Juan, Franco and Tio get after Oscar but Oscar tells them not to interfere; the problem is between him and his wife. (Ok. Somebody at the clinic needed to have counseled the family on what to expect and for how long. I can’t say Oscar is acting differently from what anybody in his predicament might, but it’s wearing on my nerves just as much as it is on theirs.) Juan says if he wants to take it out on somebody then take it out on him, but Oscar ‘s got no reason to treat the people that love him this way. Finally everyone gets frustrated with him and walks out.

Downstairs in the kitchen, Jimena admits to Juan that she’s sad, not for herself, but because of Oscar’s situation. Oscar’s not like this she knows and he has to be in so much pain to react this way. Juan says however he feels, nothing justifies treating the people that love him the way he has been. Jimena says it’s because he’s so depressed right now. Juan thanks her for doing what she can for Oscar and for loving him the way she does, and then he goes back up to speak with him.

Meanwhile, Dr. Montes examines Gabi and says she’s been careless with herself so her heart problems have returned. Gabi again blames her daughters for continually causing her grief and making her sick. Sarita tries to defend herself and her sisters by (too sweetly) emphasizing they are not the reason she had problems with Ricardo Uribe. Gabi sarcastically replies that, no of course not, she herself is always the one to blame for being ill and all because she gave in and allowed them to return home once the Reyes’ had run them off. (This is as bad as nails on a chalkboard! I am waiting for the day one of these two wakes up and gives this woman hell!) Feo comes in at that point and fawns over Gabi. Sofia is totally disgusted with the scene and has to look away. She thinks to herself what a shameless piece of work but, of course, if Mama ever found out he was two-timing her with Root it would just make her condition worse.

Back at the Double R, Juan tells Oscar that he can understand how the guy would be so depressed and angry at life in his situation. What he can’t understand is why he has to treat Jimena the way he’s been. She’s there to help him keep going above all because she loves him. Oscar asks then why didn’t she come back to him before the accident and isn’t she with Roman? He didn’t ask for her charity and if she doesn’t like it then she should leave. Juan tells him not to be such an ingrate. The Reyes’ aren’t like that and Oscar definitely isn’t that way, but the truth is that he’s giving up before even beginning the fight and Oscar’s been acting like a child. Oscar says fine, and thanks for the “support”. Now Juan should go enjoy himself with Sofia, walking and riding horses together. Juan leaves Oscar to pout.

It’s about time for a little levity as Viewerville and all of Cd. Serdán is definitely in the depths of depression over Oscar’s woeful and grievous condition. In town, we find that Quintina’s taxi-scooter business has literally gone to the dogs. She sweet-talks one of the Gossip sisters, Maria Caridad (?) into letting her drive Caridad over to Juan’s with the cake she had made for Oscar, and she won’t even charge her. Quintina finally convinces Caridad by telling her that Vicente is there and that a little bird told her he has the hots for Caridad and that Caridad has the hots for him too. So Caridad hops in and they drive off together. On the way, though, Quintina runs into a bunch of hay bales in the middle of the road and Caridad ends up with her face in the middle of the cake. Bada-boom! They decide to take the rest of the cake over anyway.

At the same time, Vicente, Juan and Franco are in the living room discussing the rotten way Oscar is treating Jimena and how much she must love him to put up with it. Just then Pablito comes in and he’s hiding a little toy chest behind his back. --It’s the one that Darth has been prowling around the place looking for.-- Juan wants a look-see, but Pablito tells them they have their trunk and he has his now and runs off with it.

At Bungalow del Bruto, Papa Darth tells Root that despite what’s happened, it’s in his best interest if they pretend to forgive Raqui for lying to them. He needs Raqui to sign the papers that he’s hidden in the toy chest’s false bottom. Those documents are somehow important for insuring their fortune. He asks Root for a little trust and a little more patience.

In the meantime, Sofia tells Eva that Mama has gotten sick again and says that it’s all because she and Ricardo Uribe fought once he found out that Root wasn’t his daughter. Sofia says she’s scared because he’s such a dangerous man and she knows this because she found out “something very serious concerning him.” So she’s going to have to tell the Uribes to leave. What she’s learned about Rico makes her think everyone who comes into contact with him could be in danger, so though it pains her to do it (perhaps not as much as she’d like Eva to think) Root and the rest of her family will have to leave the hacienda right away. As it is, says Sofia, they’ve got more than enough problems with that hypocrite, Fernando, who is probably right now getting all lovey-dovey with Mama.

Speaking of Fernandito, the two-timing hypocrite is in fact tucking in Gabi extra tight and getting the scoop on what went on between her and DV earlier. She says they argued, she had to defend herself from his attack and then ran him off the place. She never wants to see him again. Fer says she might be frightened of him but she has Fer to protect her from whatever and whomever. (It does get pretty deep with him doesn’t it?) However, she needs to rethink that decision because Ricardo Uribe is the best weapon they have right now against the Reyes’s. She cannot allow Rico to leave the hacienda.

Over at the Double R, Vicente and Franco are discussing Oscar’s rotten behavior towards Jimena, and hoping that eventually he’ll snap out of it. Quintina comes in with Maria Caridad and what’s left of the cake –the small part that’s not smeared all over her face. Franco remembers Caridad as one of the two women who tricked him into serenading Sarita and Jimena for Roman and Gonzalo, but he forgives Quintina for bringing her because Caridad got covered in cake mess during the ride over. Caridad says it was just a little joke but it was all worth it if she got to be close to “Vicentito”. (Franco laughs to himself that Vicente has just swallowed the bait.) Vicente gives his mustache a twist, puffs up a bit and says there’s a decent amount of cake left that still is good to eat. (Not in my book there, isn’t.) He asks for a little rag and then begins to wipe the cake off Caridad’s face.

Back again at the bungalow, Darth tells Raqui that he and Root are going to forgive her and will make their best effort to continue being the… er…“family” they’ve always been. Root makes nice and says she really wants to believe Raqui did it all for her sake. Raqui says thanks and then tries to be affectionate, but when Root winces and pulls away from her it seems Raqui suspects this little scene is less than sincere.

At the main house up in his room, Augie and Santi ask Fatima to tell them about the gunshot they heard. Fatima says that all she knows is that Gabi and DV had a fight about something. She doesn’t know why. When she leaves Santi asks Augie if he thinks Gabi knows that Ricardo is the one who killed the Reyes’s parents. Augie says of course she does and he’s certain of it.

Sofia walks into the bungalow. (Doesn’t anybody ever knock at this place? I know she’s the owner, but geez, a bit of privacy Puh-leeze….) She surprises DV and says she has something important to discuss with him. “So what do you want, stupid girl? You’ve come to complain about the argument your mother and I had, right?“ Sofia says that’s exactly what she’s there for, but also about the murder of the three Reyes brothers’ parents. Darth is suddenly wide-eyed impactado and all ears.

Labels: Fuego

Permalink posted by Jardinera654 @ 10:17 AM 43 comments

Ahoy all, I am subbing for JudyB tonight who is busy spending quality time with her family. Good for her!

Labels: Tontas

This is Diego Rivera's version of an escuincle, the hairless dog of ancient Mexico. It is a detail from his mural in the National Palace in Mexico City. Escuincle is used today to describe children kind of like English would say snot nosed kid or brat, not really an insult or said meanly. Escuincle is one of my absolutely favorite Mexican Spanish words.

We begin the night reliving the hysteria of Oscar's pinning by the beady eyed tractor, or Beady Eyed Darth Ricardo Uribe, pick your favorite transgressor. The doctor pronounces, perhaps a bit early, that Oscar will probably be disabled. Juan shows up to have a word with Gabriela. The fountain drips accompany Juan's tearful prayer for this to not be.

Ruth, Eva, Sofia and Raquel do a shout out at the bottom of the stairs at the entry way that seems to function like Grand Central Station with almost constant traffic. Juan doesn't want Tio Vicente to tell Oscar the truth of his condition in the time honored tradition of keeping the patient as ignorant as possible. Even Oscar says this isn't certain when he hears the truth. By the memory of their dead parents and little sister, Juan swears Oscar will walk again. Oscar's resolve quickly turns to visions of a beggar's life on the streets. The Reyes pile on the bed and do the Reyez hands in a pile swearing.

Across town, Eva is picking herself up off the attractive Mexican tile floor looking almost as disheveled as Raquel with her wig atilt. Raquel stops the action by declaring she will tell the real truth for once and all, just then Gabriela appears having been listening in the shadows and says she is waiting to hear this big truthy truth but Raquel is full of fantasies so she doubts she will reveal anything real.

Then there is the little matter of Sofia having Feo arrested. Gabriela shouts and growls that Feo must be released and then rants that Sofia is taking the only man who ever loved her (go ahead guess, I don't know why she suddenly shifts her interest back to Feo) Sofia is getting right sassy with her mother lately and spouts, Feo never loved you.

Ruth is taking this truth we heard last night very badly and rides off on her houre, squats in the field crying and raging about having been abandoned and sold like a dog, and Papa rushes up to console her. They growl and rant together in a father daughter duo for a few minutes. She will avenge herself against her mother, Sofia even her beloved beady-eyed Papa. Looks like they are both still mad that Sofia made a fool of Ruth back in junior high at that fateful dance. Some of these revenge motives are just too deep to discuss here on C2

Rigoberto goes over the tractor and discovers the cut fuel line. No one else is working at all.

Ricardo shows up to sneer beady eyed with Gabriela and show his fury that she messed with his princess daughter. He also now knows that she made up the Jose Roble Reyes love affair and that Jose had actually rejected her. She quickly demands that he used to love her but he professes to hate her as strongly as he used to love her. They vow to be enemies and mutually pledge to destroy each other. She kicks him out of her house and he shows his machismo once again insisting he will go when he feels like it. She promises him that she is keeping something back and when he finally finds out what it is, it will destroy him.

Feo is in the jail and the tables seem turned when his former victim (sorry I can never remember his name) gets to taunt him a little from the other side of the bars. Feo still has his swagger and boasts how easily he will spring out of here. (Gee, I hope Rosario gets to sing him a little lullaby soon).

Juan shows up in the busy entry to the hacienda San Agustin and demands to talk to Gabriela and not hear her tricks and lies. He pinches her arm as she tries to go upstairs and insists she tell him who killed his parents, she must surely know. She smiles that Cheshire cat smile that she reserves for anyone that can talk meaner than she can. Admiration with a sneer.
******************
Juan says she is the one who knows who killed his parents. She also knows that the snake belt did not belong to Bernardo, oh yes it did she sneers. Sofia saves the moment. Where was Juan that he just now is coming to check on daughter MJ. He tells her of Oscar's injury and they go off hand in hand to see him. Gabi sneers behind the stairs.

Ricardo shows up in the casita to tell Raquel they are leaving. They will leave San Agustin and continue pursuing "their" Reyes Hacienda but first Ricardo pledges to recover those important but missing papers. Feel the drama build on these papers?

Ruth has a lonely meltdown moment of shame while she replays the Eva is your mother tapes in her head.

Rigo comes to the Reyes hacienda to tell what he found when he inspected the tractor.

Tio Vincente and Franco talk more calmly with Oscar now, it is nice when there aren't five or six screaming people pressing on the patient's bed. Oscar counts out his awful destiny of losing his parents, his sister, the love of his life and now he can't swagger around to fix all this. He can't get Jimena back if he is in a wheel chair. He is disillusioned with life, he loved JImena so much but now he has lost her forever. He sinks into his pillow with eyes shut but hears JImena's voice as she enters to tell him that he has not lost her, she will be his love forever. The room full of relatives look on with knowing and relieved smiles.
******************
Sofia hopes that JImena's arrival will calm Oscar. They are all hopeful. Rigo shows up at the dispensary to tell them he checked around and the fuel line (manguera = pipe or hose) was cut.

Back in the patient room Jimena swears she will never abandon Oscar but he tells her to get out he doesn't want her pity, Get out. She loves him and is ready to demonstrate in every way how she loves him.

Juan shows up to scowl into the cell at the jail, Feo asks with some irony, to what does he owe the honor? Juan accuses him of cutting the line and injurying his brother. For once Feo's feigned innocence isn't feigned but just like the little boy who cried wolf, his innocence so hard to believe.

Ruth the tormented shows up to ask Eva how she could be her mother and Eva tells her of the love making in the one night stand with a married man she loved. Ruth slings around whore like insults. Then Eva lights the real fire cracker, and your papa was.....drum roll...... Bernardo Elizondo. Noooooooooooooo puede ser! Ruth's biggest bubble is bursting. How can she not be the beady eyed spawn of beady eyed Darth Uribe? (I remember what color Bernie's eyes are do you? Clue? Perhaps)
*********************
Forgive me but you are the daughter of Bernardo, Eve says tearfully, but then Eva says everything tearfully. You have no idea how much i despise (despreciar) you. she stomps off.

Gabriela is having a bitchy moment with the old village girls (and I use that term loosely) when Coyote shows up and suddenly butter wouldn't melt in Gabi's mouth (as my Mom used to say). The dashing Coyote sweeps the thrilled Gabi off to chat.

Juan discusses his visit to jail with Sofia and seeing the truthiness in Feo's eyes when Feo said he didn't cut the tractor line. He thinks he was telling the truth and it must have been Beady Uribe who did this dastardly deed. The two geniuses plan a trap to catch whoever comitted this crime. We'll get back to you on details.

In his jail cell Feo still gets to smoke big stogies as he lays back on his tiny bed while he plots the destruction of the Reyes.

In the rainy cab of Rosendo's SUV Sofia demands that Rosendo tell her the truth that he really must know who wore the snake belt. She is sure his silence is to protect them all and he confirms that. He is afraid of what will become of them if they know the truth. Go figure, but no one can arm themselves ahead of time either.

Oscar has an attack of hysteria maintaining his determined rejection of pity. Now we know that Oscar has only had a couple of hours to form his hardened opinion of his state but he is vociferous from his little white bed. Just then Juan shows up with his million dollar smile sporting a shiny new wheel chair as if it were a shiny toy for a sick child and really makes Oscar yell his rejection of this or any help. (Maybe his is hoping to be assigned to one of the nuns, they do such an admirable job with the babies, maybe they are equally skilled with grumpy disabled men.)
************
Sofia adds her support to JImena and Sarita hugs Jimena too. She asks if they have seen Franco. Jimena tells him that Franco is suffering greatly too. The fountain drowns out Juan's swearing that they are Reyes and they will persevere and conquer all adversity, or something like that.

JImena suddenly brings a suitcase down the stairs and tells her mother she is going to be with Oscar. How can you go be with that bum? Excuse me mother but I am not asking permission.

Feo sits in the jail and sees a shining light on a wall where no fixture is present. He collars the poor sap in the cell with him and says, you see that light, right, you see it! No, poor sap sees nothing.

But Rosario begins to speak from the bright light telling him that he will pay for all his crimes. (thanks Rosario you gave me my wish).

Gabriela comes in yelling about JImena's departure in front of the tender baby and the tender nun. Sofia smartly gets her out of the room to tell her she admires what Jimena is doing. Then she demands that Sofia spring Feo from the jail. Sofia is disposed to let Feo sit out his time for his crime. Gabi's next trick is to say if Sofia will retract her suit and Feo is let out, Gabriela will exchange something valuable. Sofia isn't so gullible as she used to be so insists on proof before she will assist her mother. What valuable thing is offered? So who was it that killed the Roble Reyes? Gabriela actually keeps her promise and says it was Ricardo! Ricardo Uribe. (Guess she really is mad at him...)

Next time we get a repeat the revelation of the real killer and oh oh, Gabriela is toting a gun and pointing it at Ricardo.

Labels: Fuego

Sorry guys. My USB port where I have my wireless card is loose and that is why I cannot stay connected to the internet.

We start off with JM and Viv yelling at each other on the stairwell. Viv tells JM that she is a sick woman and he is bullying her. Well you no longer are going to play with me replies JM. You told me everything that you did while you were gone. Names of people you were with and places that you had gone. Viv keeps insisting that she remembers nothing, she has amnesia. I do not know what I did while gone or who I was with claims Viv. And I no longer want to talk about it and leaves. As JM runs up to go after her, Onelia comes in and tells JM to leave her alone. He tells Onelia what should I let things remain like this? That I will let Viv hide behind her lies and false illness while continuing to live in this house like nothing has happened. Viv has confessed everything to me although now she is denying it. If I have to move heaven and earth to unmask her, I will. There are persons who knew her while she was away and I will find them and use there testimony against her to obtain my daughter. Onelia tells JM that Viv will never give him a divorce. JM replies that he knows Viv won't, but is crazy if she thinks things are going to stay the same. She and Onelia will have to leave the house. Onelia wants to talk.


Rocio and Blanca are talking about last night's events. Blanca hopes that Mayita does not find out what is going on. Rocio asks Blanca to take Mayita out of the house.


Mayita talks to Abuela and says that her mother does not care for her. Abuela says that all mothers love there children. She then starts to tell her a story with Pinocchio.


Viv is talking with Estephania about JM hyponitizing her. She plans to deny everything that she said. JM knocks on the door.


At the hacienda Marichuy tries to take a piece of bread and ends up spilling her milk. As she is cleaning up, Leopard shows up and asks her how she is feeling today. She says she slept fine once he started playing the harmonica for her. He asks her why she thinks it was for her.


JM tells Estephania that he thought that he would never see her again in his home. He wants to talk to Viv privately, but Viv insists that Estephania stays and listens to what JM has to tell her.


Leopard gives Marichuy a hanky to clean herself off. She tells him that she cares for him and if it wasn't for him or LaLa (Cande) she would not have anyone. He reminds her that she has PA also, but she says that she rarely sees him. He asks her if PA has told her who her parents are.


JM apologizes to Viv about being rough with her last night. Viv replies that she thought that he was going to kill her, but let's forget about that. How was I suppose to react when I found out about your lies, replies JM. Viv still claims that she is not lying about anything.


Marichuy tells Leopard that she has requested PA not to tell her about her mother. Leopard says that once she becomes a mother, she might feel differently.


JM is outraged that Viv still claims that she is innocent. Viv says that he is confusing her. You told me everything about where you went after the accident, where you stayed at and who you met along with the men. These are not made up stories, but are proof. I will use these things against you because we will separate and I will go find Marichuy replies JM. Why, asks Viv. To get back with her, replies JM. And just so you know (and he looks at Estephania to include her in this) Marichuy is the only woman I have ever loved. (what a slap to the face to these two she-devils)


Leopard tells Marichuy that once the baby is born she will know how it feels to give life to someone. To feel a part of the baby, to have your blood running through it's body. She claims to already feel that. Leopard responds that once the baby is here that emotion or feeling will be intensified when you get to see him, to kiss him and to hold him. Then how can see have given me away replies Marichuy. Leopard asks her what would she feel if that child was taken away from her.


JM wants to get back with Marichuy because she is the only woman he has ever loved. Viv says that is why you want the divorce to run after her, but even though you have proof against me. I also have proof against you.


Marichuy tells Leopard that no one will take her baby away from her. Unlike her mother who gave her away.


Viv still claims that she does not remember. JM says you are lying. Viv says that you made me talk against my will while I was hyponitzed. You did that without my permission. That is illegal. What you did was the same or worse then what I did. Although you cannot prove anything. JM tells her that he can prove it, because someone that she confessed to confirmed everything to him. Viv turns around and glares at Estephania.


Leopard asks Marichuy to tell him the truth. Does she not feel guilty about her mother's feelings by not having her by her side.


Viv goes after Estephania saying it was you who told him. Estephania backs away from her denying that she told JM anything. JM says that if Estephania knew it all then she did not tell him. Viv finally realizes outloud that since it was not Estephania then it was her mother. JM with a smirk on his lovely face confirms it.


Marichuy tells Leopard that since she was a child she has suffered. She realized that there was two different worlds for children with mothers and those without. There was world where there was love, toys, smiles, gardens full of flowers and beautiful curtains hanging in the window. But there was another world with solidarity, hunger and without love. In the orphanage there was never enough to go around. But in the streets there was worse. There was yelling, fighting and hard work. Leopard gets up from the table and consoles her.


JM tells Viv that Onelia saw that the truth was the best way to go. Estephania hopes they can resolve there problems and leaves. JM asks Viv why she wanted her there? Did you think that she would defend you? Or did you think that I would kill you? Viv suddenly throws her arms around JM asking him to forgive her. She has repented. JM has a disguisted look on his face.


Leopard tells Marichuy that god will send her a beautiful healthy, chunky baby. And that she would be the best mother in the world and that he will be a father to her baby if she wants.


JM tells Viv not to touch him. She was the cruel one and insured that this marriage was over. JM leaves and she realizes all is lost.


Elsa tells Vicente that he needs to get out of his funk and think about Rocio. Elsa changes the subject and asks him if he knows anything about Nelson.


JM talks to Onelia and tells her that she needs to go to Viv and tell her that they have to leave the house immediately.


Marichuy runs into the stables and shows Leopard a bird that fell out of the tree. Can he help him? Leopard tells her that the little bird is not good and to let him go. Suddenly Marichuy realizes that the bird has died and she starts crying. He hugs her and tells her that he crys everyday inside because of the dealth of a child.


Onelia goes to see Viv who yells at her that she is no longer her daughter and that they are now enemies.


Vicente tells Elsa that Nelson is not doing very good. He walks the streets asking for alcohol. He has no dignity left. I try to talk to him, but it does no good. He is lost and you are the only one to save him.


Marichuy and Leopard are burying the bird and she asks him if there is a heaven for little animals. Yes, he says for all life. In heaven he can grow big and fly everywhere. He asks about JM and how he would have behaved in this same situation. She responds that he would have reacted the same way. Leopard asks her why she cannot say his name and her answer is that it still hurts for her to say his name.


Viv yells at her mom why she told JM the truth. Because you told him the truth that why responds Onelia. Viv tells her that she would have gone on denying it since he has no proof. Onelia tells her delusional daughter that he can prove it by locating everyone that knew you during the time you were gone. Viv tells her that she should have stayed out of her business. He want the divorce so that he can go after Marichuy. Onelia yells to let him have what he wants. She needs to think about what she can get from him instead.


Marichuy is putting away the baby clothes when she doubles over in pain and yells for Leopard.


Viv finally agrees with Onelia and wonders where Mayita is. Onelia tells her that she went out with the nanny. Viv gets pissed because they are keeping Mayita away from her on purpose. Now JM will hear me and she storms out. JM is talking with Rocio about what has been going on. Rocio leaves when Viv comes in. Viv informs JM that she will leave today, but with Mayita. JM says that she will not take Mayita. Viv tells him that he has not right. The law will give Mayita to her since she is the mother. JM tells her that after the courts find out what she did, she will not be granted custody. And if she wants a scandel then she will get one, but Mayita stays with him.


Patricio is informed when he gets home that Ceci does not want to eat. He goes to talk to her and she tells him that she does not want to live without her daughter. He asks her what he can do to make her happy.

Cande finds Marichuy in the hall and assists her back to bed. She leaves to get Leopard.

Viv tells Onelia that JM will not get away with this. Onelia tells her to forget about it, but Viv tells her that she is so angry that she that she feels capable of killing. She tells Onelia to leave her alone to think.

Balbina tells Blanca that Viv wants to see her and warns her that things are not good. Blanca enters the sitting room and asks her where her daughter is. Blanca informs her that Mayita is in the garden with the dog. Viv asks her where she was with Mayita earlier on today. Blanca tells her that she took her to the park and Viv interrupts her asking did you do it so that when I left today I could not take her with me? No, I assure you I didn't and then gets bitch slapped by Viv. Viv then starts to choke her saying that you are siding with my husband but you will pay for this.

Ceci tells Patricio to find out where Marichuy is.

Viv pushes Blanca across the room and Blanca runs to the couch. Viv follows her and puts her in a choke hold when Mayita interrupts them with a flower for her mother.

Leopard comes to see how Marichuy is and she tells them that she is in a lot of pain. Leopard looks nervous.

Cande's neighbor and the roller lady are talking outside of church. Purita is inside putting a flower arrangement together. Cande's neighbor wants to take a collection to buy something for the church. Purita comes out and ask what they are talking about. Roller lady insults Purita's mother and she then bitch slaps roller lady.

Viv dismisses Blanca and takes the flower that Mayita brought to her. Viv takes her to the couch to talk. She tells Mayita that she and JM had an arguement and that she will be leaving the house. But you will come with me won't you?

Leopard wants to take her to the hospital and she agrees. He says they have to time the contractions before leaving for the hospital and hopefully the rain will die down.

Mayita asks that if she leaves with her, does that mean she will be leaving her dad? But of course, he will stay in his house but we can get a new one. You must choose between us, but I am your mother and children always love there mother more then there dads. Are you going with me, asks Viv. No says Mayita. She wants to stay with her dad. Viv yells at her that she will do what she says. Mayita says no I will do what my dad says. Then leaves.

Patricio asks PA where Marichuy is.

Rocio confronts Viv and asks her what she said to Blanca because now she wants to leave. I didn't say anything, I bitch slapped her. Why did you do that asks Rocio. Because he is siding with JM and took her away from me. Rocio tells her that she told Blanca to take Mayita away to avoid seeing the ugliness going on in the house. Now she wants to leave right away. Good says Viv. Rocio tells her that she will be leaving the house today, but Viv says I will not leave my house.

PA says finally you want to find your daughter. Patricio tells him I do not do it for me, but for my wife.

Elsa finds Nelson on a park bench and tries to wake him up.

Onelia asks Viv why she has not packed yet. They have to leave the house. Viv tells her that they will not be leaving the house, because she suspects something.

Marichuy is still suffering in pain and asks Leopard if she will lose her baby.

Patricio tells PA that by law as Marichuy's father he has to tell him where she is. PA asks him how do you know you are the father? Do you have proof?

Onelia asks her what she is suspicious of, but Viv wants to be positive first before telling her. She tells Onelia not to tell JM anything.

Leopard says to himself outloud that he is scared and that what is going on with Marichuy is the same as before.

Friday: Viv tells JM that she is pregnant. Marichuy is having problems with the baby.

Labels: Cuidado

Hi, everyone. This is Hombre de Misterio, and I've tontosamente (foolishly?) agreed to do the Friday recaps for Tontas. I'm going to tell you a little bit about myself, but not too much, since I'm the Hombre de Misterio.

Actually, I originally posted under the name Por Otro Lado, but I wanted people to know I was a guy, so I had to find a new name. At the time, I was mainly watching FELS, and since my real name is John (oh darn, I let that slip out!), I could have been Juan something, but since the main character in FELS is Juan, I had to go a different direction. Now you know.

I've been learning Spanish for a little less than two years, listening to CD's in the car, watching Destinos, and many other methods, but of course my favorite method is watching telenovelas. I first started watching LFMB and Destilando, both of which were in the middle, and understood very little other than who were the good guys and the bad guys, who was whose hija, etc. Hopefully I've improved a little since then. I didn't find Caray Caray until those other shows were over, but I'm glad I did.

These days I'm interested in everything Spanish and Latino - the tv shows, the music, the food, even the political issues. I especially like the music, because music is my other main hobby. I love opera, bluegrass (I play guitar, banjo, mandolin and a little fiddle), progressive rock, jam band music, techno, and now rock en español, salsa, and even ranchera (spelling corrected now). I also play electric guitar (Jimi Hendrix style!), piano, bass, and recorder, and now that I'm getting into ranchera, I'm thinking of learning the accordion!

Unfortunately I have a normal job, which greatly cuts down the time for my hobbies :)
Looking forward (with some trepidation) to doing my first recap this week!

Labels: recapper-intro, Tontas

For the third time, saco el gordo - I hit the jackpot. Two weeks ago, I got to recap Chapala Kisses (the wind knows). Last week, I got to recap The Circle of Truth. And tonight I hit the jackpot yet again.

Pat discovered Candy’s portrait at Chava’s house, and Chava told him, “That’s my mama.” Pat is impactadisimo squared. Meño walks in and tries to do damage control. If Horatio could hold the bridge, Meño can hold off the likes of Pato. He explains that he adopted Chava and told him Candy was his mama so the poor child would have an image of a mother. Pat is trying to make sense of it, and he’s too stunned to think clearly. Meño just wants to eject Pat ASAP, but Pat doesn’t want to leave without answers. So Meño pulls out the big guns - he starts pawing Pat, telling that his “amigo” will be jealous, and Pat is so handsome… that finally gets Pat out the door. I loved how they played out the scene.

Note, yesterday Candy had a near miss with Pat twice - at the soccer field, and again when Beto advised her that Pat was in the house. When Chava tells Pat that Candy is his mom, that makes three.

Santiago walks into his office and is mauled (in a very hungry mode) by a sexy model. She says, “Ooh, Doctor, you’re just like I always imagined you.” He tells her “Hold that thought” and goes to talk to Hortensia. Horti tells him they’ve been mobbed with women like that all morning. Didn’t he see all the copies of his picture down in the lobby? He runs out of the room in a panic.

Tío Meño gets to play a second fun scene. Candy calls, worried Pat discovered the truth. Meño starts in, “I gave a great performance. I missed my calling. I should’ve been an actor. What will I wear when they present my Oscar? Hollywood is clamoring for me. I’ll do Tootsie II because Dustin Hoffman is too old to play a woman.”

In the lobby, Santiago is trying to get rid of the photos. Marissa calls him a sicko and tells him to get some therapy because she doesn’t want to marry an exhibitionist. A woman asks Santi to autograph her picture, followed by a man.

A tarot card reader tells Alicia, “A dead one who returns. Your husband deceives you. There are children. Again the dead returns. As if the dead are alive.”

The kids talk about Rocío’s dog. Beto wonders how she knows it’s a girl dog. Chava, man of the world that he is, explains to Beto, the Philistine, “Of course she knows! Her father is a doctor.”

Arturo runs (yes, runs) into Pat’s office and tells his son that Mama’s not going to divorce him, she’s buying gifts for their grandson, and they insist on seeing el nieto at once. Pat tells him that’s not possible; Art tells Pat he’ll do what he pleases, with or without Pat’s permission.

At Candy’s house, Santiago is chewing her out for posting that photo. She tells him he did it to impress her, and she wasn’t moved in the slightest. He warns her that in war, nobody wins. They get nose to nose, and both try to pretend that they feel nothing. And is anybody in the market for a bridge? Meño tells her to stop fighting with that hombre. Bust him in the mouth if you want, but do it with kisses. I loved that little scene, for all the things I love about Camil’s acting - the faces, the gestures, the vocal expression, the comedy, the intensity, the movement, the way he never stops moving. It’s all there.

In surgery, thank goodness my CC’s worked this week. Behind the masks, I understand nothing! Santiago says Marissa refuses to go to the investors’ dinner with him because of the photo. Ed says Chayo is mad at him, and he’s afraid someone is putting ideas into her head.

Arturo is still strong-arming Pat to let him meet Beto. “I could die at any moment (work it, Pop!). Let me see my grandson before I die.” This is coming from the man who RAN into Pat’s office.

In a phone conversation of galloping stupid, Alicia is telling Gregoria about what the tarot reader said. Mama tells her, “Your sister is still alive. Oops! In Pat’s heart. She’s still alive. Oops! For him.” Ali gets sick of it (so do I) and hangs up on Mama.

In Candy’s office, Cece notes that the rose must be from someone who likes her very much. Candy says she doesn’t want to be involved with anyone. The music tells us Cece is sad.

Out on the street, Santiago tries to convince Marissa to accompany him to the investors’ dinner, but she’s still mad about the photo. She refuses and catches a taxi instead of riding with him. We see several random actions in this scene. They make a point of looking both ways before crossing the street, probably because people on TV never do. There are three men hanging around a pickup, and Santiago tells her to watch out for the drunks. She hails a taxi, and he says, “What magic! You raise your arm, and instantly a taxi appears! No one else in Guadalajara can find a taxi, only you.” As Marissa rides away, Santiago gets an idea that he is please with. Does anyone else notice that Camil looks thinner in this scene?

Santiago catches Candy leaving the office. He tells her that whatever she earns in the restaurant, he’ll pay her triple if she spends tonight with him. She decks him, and then she worries whether he’s okay. Rubbing his jaw, he explains that he needs her to play the role of his girlfriend for the investors’ dinner tonight since Mar is angry about the photo. She agrees, if he pays for uniforms and equipment for the soccer team. And no hugs, no pushing the limit, no kisses.

Soledad thanks Meño for taking care of Chava tonight.

Santiago is with the investors, waiting for Candy who is quite late, and the guests are getting tired of waiting. Just then she walks in and Santiago lights up. He’s so taken, he can’t even breath, much less talk straight. He introduces her to them as his novia and says, “Soon we will get married and be very happy together. And have many children and a family.”
Now the stars have fallen into Candy’s eyes, and all she sees is Santiago. “A family?”
This is the first open door Santiago has ever found with the woman who has stolen his heart. Damn the torpedoes (and the other guests), full speed ahead. “Are you serious?”
She says, “Don’t forget, you promised the uniforms, and I won’t let you quitarme (stop doing for me) that.”
He says, “You won’t let me quitarte (stop doing for you, or take off of you) the clothing?”
Candy: “Perhaps.”
Santiago: “Then what do you say? Do you want to be my wife?”
The rest of the world has disappeared for Candy. She whispers because Santiago is all she sees; she’s not putting on a show for the investors anymore. “Yes, I want to.”
Big kiss, interrupted by uncomfortable coughs from the investors. Music turns sour, foreshadowing us.

The men compliment Candy, their wives tell them to stop flattering her (echar flores). (What is regalar flores?). Candy tells one investor that he should be flirting with his own wife instead. And what does Santi say? “WAITER!”

Pat comes to see Beto and to bring money for whatever he needs. Soledad says, “Aw shucks, I forgot, he’s spending the night with a friend. But if you don’t have anywhere you have to be.. I was about to make dinner. You can join me si quieres (if you want to). Pat does want to, and he doesn’t waste time on small talk. Nor on dinner. He goes straight for dessert. Soledad will abandon all reason to get a man into her life. Candy will abandon all reason to keep men out. Both are tontas.

Rocío tells Luc she wants to call her mama to thank her for the puppy, but Papa won’t ever let her call. Lucía offers to help get the number so Roc can call. Ruh-roh.

Charly calls Luc after Roc falls asleep. They flirt some, and he asks what she told her mom about him. He tells her he’d like to be her novio, but then he backs off because the last time he said that, she ran away. They hang up, but all this talk of mamas makes Lucía wish she could call hers.

Meño comes down to chat with Charly, who says he was talking to an amiga who he likes. Meño stops himself before admitting that he’s glad his son likes girls, but he gives a PSA for using a condom. Charly admits that he hasn’t had an opportunity to use one yet. Meño is glad to have his son there with him, and Charly likewise.

Santi takes Candy home and scolds her for reverting to “usted.” She says that the play is over and they are back to normal (IOW she’s trying to sweep that proposal under the rug). It’s after midnight and Cinderella needs her sleep. He asks, “If I find your shoe, can I bring it tomorrow to see if it fits?” (Isn’t every novela a Cinderella story?)

Candy encores her favorite song, the one Santiago hates. “You have a girlfriend, and there is nothing between us.” Hey! Santi! Listen up! Maybe if you didn’t have a girlfriend, she wouldn’t sing that song anymore!

Despite all the protests, when they arrive at her door, they get close, make goo-goo eyes, magnets attract, and sparks fly until they both run back to home base with their hands in their pockets.

On the other end of both spectra, Pat is leaving Soledad’s. No warmth, no consolation, no sparks, because neither listened to the voice warning them, “Don’t do it, it’s not right.” Two starving mosquitoes trying to feed off each other and finding nothing. They separate as hungry as they were when they greeted. All that’s left is soledad.

In her kitchen, Candy is strengthening her resolve with a pep talk from Merengue. “I can be anything but a traitor.”

On the other side of the tracks, when Santiago gets home from their date, Isabel needs to talk to him. She’s worried about Lucía visiting websites she shouldn’t, and tells her son it’s time to talk to Luc about sex. Time for Santiago to talk to her. Like every TV dad, he goes into a panic. He says, “I am a doctor so it should be easy, but there are certain words I can’t say in front of my daughters.” He can‘t stand to hear his mother use those words either. Notice he thinks of Lucía as his daughter, not his niece? I know, I know, a 15 year old who hasn’t had “the talk” yet? Sometimes even on Tontas we need those Beanies de Cd. Serdán.

Pato arrives home late, and Ali asks where he’s been. He blows her off.

Candy is getting depressed, trying to answer the letters from her column. She asks Meño why men are so cruel to women. Meño reminds her that women are cruel too, and she should ask, “Why are people so cruel to their partners?”

Candy admits that she’s afraid. She’s feeling things, and she promised herself that she’d never fall in love again.

At breakfast, Candy tells Chava he can’t be friends with Pat. Because I’m the mom, that’s why. Charlie doesn’t think it’s macho to kiss his dad. At her breakfast, Rocío wants to know why she has to finish her breakfast, and why she can’t have a boyfriend.

At the office, Soledad tells Candy that she was with Beto’s dad last night, and it was even better than before. Does anyone else start her work day like that? “Good morning, Boss. Here are you phone messages, you have a 10 o’clock appointment, and last night I had incredible sex.”

Cece brings in coffee. Marissa comes in and introduces Chayo (Ed’s wife), who Marissa just hired because she’s so well qualified. She can do nothing, even better than the rest of them. Marissa notices the rose on Candy’s desk and asks who gave it to her. Cece speaks up and says that it was her. After Mar leaves, Candy thanks Cece for covering, but Soledad is confused - she thought it was Cece.

Does anyone else think that Soledad, Chaya, and Barbara look too much alike to be in the same show? Now that the Institute staff is gathered, keep those cast photos handy, friends. You can’t tell a thing without a program.

In the clinic office, Santiago is beside himself because Ed is touching Santi’s things, especially his computer. Remember his obsessive-compulsive tendencies regarding his sock drawer? He also can’t stand for anyone to touch the things on his desk, especially his computer. He gets nervous when someone takes a green pencil (!) from his desk, and he’s driven to distraction when Hortencia moves his stapler two inches. Some bosses just have a thing about staplers.

He’s also disturbed because he has to talk to Luc about sex. Ed understands - Santi thinks of Luc as his daughter, and he sees her as a child. “SHE IS A CHILD!” Santiago demands. Ed plays psychologist, complete with couch. Santi plays the OC patient, complete with nervous twitches.

On the playground, Rocío asks Chava if they’ll be novios. He’d rather play soccer than have a novia.

Candy tells Meño she knows Pat won’t show up at the soccer game today. Rojiblanca (her persona in chat) made a date with him for today, so he’ll go there instead of soccer.

Raúl comes to see Marissa’s new office, and she basks in his attention. “By the way,” he asks, “where is Candy?” So much for her brother’s attention. He starts to say, “She reminds me of..” but his sister stops him. “Let her rest in peace. You deserve to enjoy your life.”

Candy struts into Santiago’s office and shoves the pink rose in her face. He thanks her, but tells her roses are supposed to be red. She asks him if he is a taco de arrachera. Huh??

Pat taps out an e-mail to Rojiblanca, saying that he has to miss their date because he has an appointment he can’t get out of. So much for Candy’s fool-proof plot.

Pat leaves, and Art sneaks into his office to call Alicia. Then he calls Margarita. He has arranged for Ali to follow Patricio, to keep her away when he and Margarita go find Beto. He uses children’s names for grandparents, Abi and Bubi.

Santiago brings the pink rose back to Candy because he has nothing to do with it.
She asks, “You’re not the one who leaves a rose on my desk every day?”
He turns on his seductor’s voice and answers, “No, but I can if you want me to.” (Secretly leaving detalles on her desk every day? I thought he learned his lesson two years ago!)
On his way out, Santiago gives his business card to Candy’s staff until she walks in and he runs off.

Pat discovers Ali following him at the soccer field. Santiago and Candy were suddenly teleported to the soccer field as well, and the teleporter changed their clothing too. Candy still wonders if it was really Santi who gave her the roses, he still says he can if she wants him to, and she still says she wants nothing from him - no roses, no friendship, not even a greeting. ‘As you wish,’ he starts to leave without saying goodbye because that would be a greeting. Just then Candy sees Pat on the field. Candy lunges for Santiago (you remember, the one she didn’t want anything to do with?) and buries herself under his jacket. She tells him, “It’s an attack of love. So shut up and hug me.” Santiago is perdidamente confused, but always the gentleman, he is more than happy to oblige.

Tuesday: At their engagement dinner, Marissa puts on a puppet show. Guess who the puppet is?

Labels: Tontas

(Note: Not really Mother's Day. Do not adjust your calendar.)

Rerun of Feo confronting Raquel, who gets away from him, and then Juan comes along and punches Feo in the face.

Raquel is lamenting to a smug Gabi that Ruth suddenly doesn't want anything to do with her. "What did you do to her? Surely Ruth must have a reason to treat you that way." Raquel says she'll ask Gabi the same thing: did Gabi tell her "the truth"? Gabi denies it; she would never do anything to upset Ricardo. Raquel warns that if she feels trapped, she'll have nothing to lose, and then she'll tell Ricardo the whole truth herself. Gabi says fine, and then she'll tell Ricardo that Raquel slept with Fernando, too. Raquel denies this and says Gabi has no proof. Gabi reminds her that Feo found the snake belt in their bedroom.

Feo snarls in his room, trying to stanch his bleeding mouth, throwing clothes around, swearing vengeance on Juan and his whole family, etc. Then Rosario's voice warns him that she's going to make him pay for each and every one of his crimes. She sings a few notes of one of her hit songs while images of her flash briefly on the screen.

Padre thanks Nabor for doing a good job and lets him leave for the day. Nabor shows him the mail before he leaves. Padre doesn't tell us what the letter says, but from the look on his face, I am guessing that he won the Publishers' Clearinghouse Sweepstakes. He prays his thanks.

Feo sneaks out of his room and pauses nervously on his way down the stairs. Santa and Abuelo watch discreetly and feel sure that he's being tormented by guilt; he must be afraid of something. They're worried about Sofi and the kids. Abuelo hopes she marries Juan and gets out of there soon.

Sofi and Juan watch Maria Jóse sleep. Sofía doesn't feel that the kids are safe with Feo and Root in the house. This reminds Juan to ask her to marry her. Of course she agrees. They'll have a civil wedding away, then a church wedding as soon as they can get permission. Sofi says then they'll be happy forever! "That's what they say," Juan laughs.

Feo drinks in the parlor and tells himself that he must have imagined Rosario. If he doesn't control himself, he'll be screwed. He resolves not to end up the way Padre Tadeo predicted.

Tio Vicente, dressed in street clothes (I almost didn't recognize him) paces the floor in the kitchen, asking Franco why Oscar would go to see Jimena when she doesn't want to see him. Then the gossip sisters flurry in and flirt desperately with Tio. He twists his mustache at them and admits that he hasn't yet met the mistress of his heart. They hire Franco to do a mystery serenade - they won't tell him who it's for. Tio sings for them while they wait for Franco to change his clothes.

Big surprise, it's the full moon again for the hundredth day in a row. Oscar is in Jimena's room. He challenges her to swear that she doesn't want to see him again.

Franco, blindfolded outside the girls' windows, proceeds to give the serenade, not realizing that the Posibles are there. Oscar hears the ruckus, looks over the balcony, and cannot believe his eyes as he watches the gossip sisters sneak away.

In the next room, Sarita is intrigued and wants to come down for a better look. Oscar wants a better look too. Jimena is not interested in the serenade, but she's afraid Oscar will pick another fight.

It ends up being a double-fight - Franco vs. Gonzalo (who looks familiar) and Oscar vs. Roman. Four men rolling around on the ground, ahhhhh. Get a good look, because it's all downhill after this.

Sarita comes down and begs them to break up. Franco and Oscar aren't doing well. Grandpa's blunderbuss goes off, halting everyone in mid-swing. This time, Santa's doing the shooting. They all scramble, she fires again, the Posibles pick up their jackets and leave. Franco steals a kiss (from Sarita, not Gonzalo) before he and Oscar go away too.

Sarita runs up to Grandpa's room, frantic that they could have killed someone with those shots. Grandpa explains that they're just blanks, same as he used to break up a confrontation between Feo and Sofía. He's no fool - no way is he going to jail for those people!

Next morning, Comisario (who I think has been growing his hair) and his men surround Feo as he walks out of the house. Feo is surprised as anything. He's being arrested for stealing from the Elizondos while he was their manager. Sofía has shown them his account records and so forth that prove his fraud, confirmed by experts.

The specialist at the hospital wakes Sofi and Juan and tells them they can take MJ home. The padre shows up with more good news: he shows them the letter. Sofía's finally been granted her annulment from Feo, and they can get married in a church. Finally, life is smiling at them again; no one can ever separate them! It's the end of all their woes!

Juan doubles over with pain - he's got a bad feeling that something's going to happen. He has to go home and check on his brothers. The padre agrees to stay at the hospital with Sofi.

Back at the ranch, Oscar, Rigo, and Franco are working in the field. Oscar tries to start the tractor, but it won't go. He gets out and stands in front of the tractor - with his back to it - while it's in gear. While he mutters to himself that a yoke team isn't going to be enough, the brake slips, and the tractor rolls forward and hits him square on the butt, knocks him down, and I think steals his wallet.

Fortunately, he's between the tires, so they don't run over him, but then the, um, weighted crossbar thingie made out of logs (excuse the agricultural jargon) squishes him. He cries for help.

Gabi interrupts Feo's arrest. The comisario explains that he's being arrested for fraud. She says she never filed any charges against him; comisario says it was Sofía. She brought the charges and only she can withdraw them. Feo tells Gabi to tell Sofía as he's carted away.

Franco, Rigo, and the freshly arrived Juan (did he fly??) try to lift the weighted crossbar thingie off of Oscar, but it's too heavy, and now Oscar can't feel his legs. Tio shows up on Capricho. They decide they need leverage. They hook something up to Capricho and tell him to pull while they pry the weighted crossbar thingie up. Franco pulls Oscar out from underneath.

Rosendo drives up (apparently by coincidence?) and opens the gate between their pastures. They transfer Oscar to his truck. One of them says "careful with his back," which is pretty funny considering they just pulled him out from under a tractor like a rag doll.

Darth Ricardo gloats from a nearby hiding place, "you're just starting to pay, and where it hurts you the most - your own blood!" His beady eyes sparkle with joy.

I don't know who's driving the truck, which looks exactly like Rosendo's, that's taking Sofía, MJ, and the padre home from the hospital. They hope that whatever worried Juan isn't too bad. She'll find out just as soon as she gets MJ home.

Oscar is being carried into the clinic in a very spine-unfriendly manner (someone is still yelling "careful with his back!"). Oscar is moaning in lots of pain. Franco asks Juan to promise that Oscar will be okay. Juan promises. Hugs in front of the noisy fountain, which is less noisy than usual. Rigo tells them we should never lose faith at the worst of times.

Wearing a cape and a silly bandanna over his face (no telltale snakeskin jacket this time, but no hat either), Darth Ricardo hops through a window at the Robles-Uribe-Reyes hacienda and looks for that mysterious thing he's always hinting about having left there. He pushes a wardrobe away from the wall and knocks a panel loose from the baseboard. He feels around and realizes that the box he hid there is gone. "Who could have it?" he wonders.

Pablito is in the kitchen with Quintina. He doesn't like his new haircut. Q is telling him he was going to look like a girl with all that hair. Now he'll attract girls instead. He says he's already got a girlfriend, Rosita. Q puns that Rosita wouldn't even throw a hair-ribbon (or noose? I think "lacito" could mean either - maybe it's a pun) at him and warns him that love can kill. Pablito asks for a more direct answer, because he doesn't understand her refranes (dichos - sayings - proverbs).

She repeats that love can kill, and insists that he get on with his homework. He says he left some notes in a box that he found in his room, behind the wardrobe. (Evidently, he went back there looking for a dropped pencil.) The box was empty.

Ricardo covers up the baseboard, drags the heavy wardrobe back into place (let's not ponder how Pablito was able to move it by himself), stomps around in his heavy spurred boots, and then stands there for a while thinking to himself that the box had a false bottom underneath which he had hidden some secret papers. Does anyone hear him? No. He puts his hood on and leaves.

Pablito tells Quintina that he's going to hide all of his secrets in that box. She wants to know what his secrets are, but he won't tell. She's not much help with his homework.

Eva tries to charm Ruth again, calling her "hija." Ruth says she'd rather be dead than have Eva as a mother. She would die of shame. "Don't you understand that I despise you? You disgust me! You're just a servant to me.. Get it? I don't want you to come near me. Who knows what I might do? " She grabs Eva by the neck (or shoulders) and shakes her.

Sofía intervenes. Ruth tells her to mind her own business and says Sofía's corny. Sofía is ready to tell Ruth that Eva's her mother, but Eva begs her not to say anything. Ruth, who unbeknownst to them already knows what they're talking about, dares Sofía to have the guts tell her. Sofía resists, "you don't know what you're saying."

"YOU'RE the one who doesn't know," Ruth retorts. Ruth claims to have the upper hand (ventaja). "You want to tell me something I already know, and not only do I know it, I couldn't care less."

Just to show how much she doesn't care, Ruth bursts into tears and tells them that this pathetic, weepy servant is her mother. (Notice that the bump going into the commercial features Bernardo on a horse...) She asks if it's true. Eva says yes, she's Ruth's mother. Ruth crows (tearfully) that she's stronger than Eva because Eva's maternal feelings don't move her at all. "Don't kid yourself - even though you're my mother, don't expect anything from me."

Eeyore sighting outside the dispensario!!
Rigo and the guys wait for news about Oscar and try to be hopeful. They try to figure out how Oscar ended up underneath the tractor.

Dr. Montes is poking at Oscar's toes. He doesn't feel anything in his toes. The guys come in for news, Oscar says he doesn't feel his legs either. (This doesn't necessarily mean anything. It's not unusual for the swelling of a new injury to pinch nerves and cause numbness. I think everyone who's had a really bad bruise knows this? Also, I saw it in a TV show. I figure my TV show doctor is at least as good as Dr. Montes.)

Ruth is a little calmer now, but still hates Eva profoundly. Eva tries to make friends, saying she would give her life for her, but Ruth tells her to drop dead and get out of her life. Sofía punches her in the face. "How dare you touch me?!" cries the overgrown spoiled brat. "Now you'll pay!!"

Eva warns that if Ruth doesn't leave Sofía alone, she'll find out what Eva's capable of! Moody Ruth gets weepy again and says Eva should be defending her, not Sofía.

To make this little tea party even more delightful, how about a fresh serving of Raquel? "Oh look, here comes another self-sacrificing 'mother,'" Ruth declares sarcastically. She says the three of them - Raquel, Sofía, and Eva - are all the same. Ruth says Raq had better shut up, that's enough lying for now, because she's not Ruth's mother, she could never have children, she wasn't even good for that.

Eva hits Ruth and tells her to shut up. "I'm ashamed of you." "No more than I am ashamed of you," Ruth replies, crying again. "I'd rather die than accept you as my mother." (Watching Ruth's mood swings is like watching a lava lamp. A really crazy, loud, bitchy, violent lava lamp that cannot be turned off or unplugged and could burst into flames at any moment.)

Sofía comforts Eva and tells Ruth she'll regret her words. Ruth gets defiant again, she's never regretted anything in her life. Raquel says now that we're telling the truth, she's going to tell Ruth the WHOLE truth.

Dr. Montes takes the guys (except Oscar) into the lobby so that we can hear the fountain better. He's afraid that Oscar has suffered an irreversible spinal injury. There's a good chance he'll be disabled. Juan emotes sadly. I don't want to contradict a make-believe doctor when I don't even have a made-for-TV degree, but I'm still thinking they should try an icepack before ordering a wheelchair.

Raquel's version of the "whole truth" consists of admitting that she "bought" Ruth. "Like a dog," Ruth says. Eva says no, she didn't sell her. Raquel says it's true - Eva didn't sell her, but Gabi made her give Ruth up so she'd have a better life. Gabriela sold Ruth - for land. "Land that turned out to belong to the Reyes brothers," Sofía says.

Ruth tells Sofía to stay out of it. She hates Eva and Raquel. Eva begs forgiveness and touches Ruth's arm. Ruth knocks her to the floor and tells her to leave her alone. (Hmm, if denouncing your mother in a telenovela is an automatic death sentence, does it count if you only THINK she's your mother?)

On top of everything else, Oscar has had a shot for the pain and doesn't feel much anyway, but he's worried that the doctor didn't tell him anything. (What is with this doctor who doesn't tell his own patients when there's something wrong? First Juliana and now Oscar?) Juan stalls, "ah you know how doctors are, they always want to do tests."

Franco says he's going to get better. Oscar is relieved to hear this. Tio agrees and starts to tell him that he's going to have to be very strong, when Juan cuts him off. Oscar gets suspicious and asks for the truth. He has the right to know! But they don't want to tell him. Oscar yells that he can't feel his legs. The doctor comes in and says "it's likely that you'll be disabled." Oscar emotes. Tio tells him to fight. Juan swears on their parents and their sister that Oscar will walk again. "I'll give you my legs if necessary," Franco offers. Rigo tells him to be strong.

"Strong for what? To end up in a wheelchair? So I can't do anything, dance, ride a horse, I'll have to depend on people to wait on me?" (You won't be able to get into stupid fights with a kickboxer, either.) "Without my Jimena..." Lots of crying. Franco grabs Oscar around the neck to hug him, which again I think might not be good for someone with a spinal injury. Just to make sure the injury takes, though, Juan slaps Oscar too for saying he wants to die. The brothers vow to stay united and invincible.

Mexico airdate: 2 de septiembre
Next time: Gabi warns Ricardo that "they" will kill him without pity, like the dog that he is.

Labels: Fuego

EPISODE 63:
* Chuy and Padre are in the stables finishing their discussion. Omar interrupts. Chuy uses her new grammar lesson to properly excuse herself and leaves. Omar asks Padre who is really the father of Chuy's baby?

* Viv doesn't take JM's divorce request well. She's hostile and refuses - He leaves frustrated - she grumbles to herself.

* Next day - Viv goes to talk with JM in the study. He still wants the divorce. She still hasn't change her mind and refuses to give him anything of the kind. He wants the marriage to end so Mayita will live in peace. Viv won't divorce him, she thinks he will just run off to be with some one else - who, the french maiden? - no, she says with Marichuy!

* Omar talks with Chuy about offering her protection, a home and a father for her baby. She's impactado.

* Viv argues about her jealous suspicions regarding JM's love for MC. Rocio interrupts and stops the fight from escalating. Viv tells Rocio about JM's divorce request.

* Omar and Chuy continue to discuss his very caring offer. She has her doubts.

* Viv and Rocio argue - Rocio leaves with JM.

* In the hallway, JM stops and argues with Nellie about his need for a divorce from Viviana. He orders her to talk some sense into Viviana and grant the divorce.

* In the kitchen, Vince talks with Rocio.

* Omar continues to talk with Chuy.

* Nellie and Viv are in the hallway by the stairs - they argue about JM's wanting a divorce. Viv is adamantly opposed and stops talking about it. Nellie follows her upstairs.

* Rocio and Vince continue their conversation - they talk about the promises they made to each other at the hospital. She tries to encourage him to try everything possible to walk again.

* In the room, Nellie tries to convince her daughter to get the divorce from JM. Viv is adamant about not doing so, especially because of Marichuy - and that MC is carrying JM's son. Nellie is impactado.

* Rocio kisses Vince and tells him that she will always be by his side.

* Padre meets with Chuy - they discuss telling JM the truth about her baby or let Omar be there as the father. MC refuses on both accounts - she will be mother and father to HER son. Padre argues from the church's perspective. She thinks about it to herself.

* In the study, JM and Ed meet and discuss Viv's adamant refusal for a divorce. JM is almost certain that she's faking her amnesia and discusses with Ed how to set her up to prove it.

* In the bedroom, MC and Cande discuss Padre's conversation with her as well as Omar's proposal to be with her and be father to her baby. MC also wonders about Amador and if she can return to acting in order to support her baby.

* Amador finds Nelson getting drunk at an outdoor patio. Nelson is distraught and tells his BFF that Elsa has left him.

* Nellie enters the bedroom to see Viv. Viv sends Balbina away. Nellie gives her daughter a message - Viv is still adamant against the divorce and leaves. Nellie is frustrated.

* In the study, Viv enters and starts to talk to JM about her refusal to grant the divorce. JM has her sit down in the chair and starts to swing the pocket watch back and forth (to hypnotize her).

* Amador laughs - Nelson cries and begs and grovels for his BFF to give him money and help him get Elsa back. Amador tells him to get serious; Nelson continues to beg for money and more alcohol. Amador refuses to give Nelson money or drinks.

* JM uses hypnosis to get Viv to relax and let her mind open up, calm down and agree to answer his questions. It starts to work - her eyelids flutter shut. JM flips his hourglass over as Viv sleeps. He tells her twice to open her eyes. She opens them. He asks her for the date. She says it's the day of the plane accident.

* As a harmonica plays a lullaby, MC wakes and starts to walk towards the window in her room. She smiles.

* Viv tells JM that she remembers being in the plane with him as it starts to crash land. She remembers screaming - she starts to scream and thrash her head back and forth and grasp the chair arms and seat cushion hard. JM has her continue to tell him the details of her memory about the accident. He's impactado as she remembers sees him floating on the sea.

* MC looks out the window at Omar playing his harmonica and sitting by a tree below her window.

* JM tells Viv to continue with her memories. She says she remembers being alone on the beach and thinking about her, him and their lives together.

* Omar continues to serenade MC and looks up at MC at the window - she wonders if Omar is really in love with her.

* Viv remembers and cries about how lousy and horrible she felt being married to him lately. JM asks more questions - Viv grimaces.

* Omar finishes his serenade and shouts up to MC. MC goes back to bed - she thought bubbles about Omar being in love with her or not.

* Viv tells JM she remembers having her documents and jewels in her case in her arms and walking along the beach. JM is really upset listening to her talk about celebrating her freedom - her new life completely away from him - JM becomes angry to discover that she planned the whole thing, the amnesia and the accident just to be free from him.

* In the bedroom, Cande and MC discuss whether Omar is in love with MC. Cande thinks it's true.

* Viv tells JM that she took complete advantage of the accident to escape her dull, boring life and routine as his wife, especially since no one found a body and that no one went looking for her. She went travelling to far away places and had fun. JM grumbles, "why did you return?" Viv says she returned because her money ran out and the credit cards were all cancelled, plus she wanted her marriage, life, house, family back. JM is furious.

* Cande and MC discuss MC's dream about JM. Cande reminds her that JM's wife Viv has returned.

* Viv laughs at JM's reaction to her amnesia and her scheming. JM grabs and shakes her really hard. Viv turns scared as JM continues to attack her for being a conniving liar and manipulator.

* Cande talks with MC about JM and reminds her that life with JM will never be the same again. MC cries. Cande advises MC to think about herself and her baby and move on.

* JM continues to attack Viv. Viv cries and curls up into a ball in her chair - acting scared to death.

* Rocio is consoling Blanca in her room - Blanca is scared about Viviana (I think). They hear Viv's loud screams and run out of the room.

* In the study, JM is on top of Viv on the sofa, slapping and shaking her as Viv screams for help. Rocio, Blanca, Balbina and Nellie all enter the study. Viv breaks away from JM's grasp and runs to her mommy. Nellie hugs her daughter and tells the staff to leave - this is a family matter.

* Cande and MC go to sleep. MC lays awake with thought bubbles of - no, not sugarplums - more like Omar, JM and Cande dancing in her head. She wonders what to do next?

* Viv cries to mommy about JM abusing her and wanting to kill her. JM argues that he doesn't want her dead; because of Mayita. Rocio supports her brother; Nellie tries to support her daughter. Viv yells about JM and the divorce and wanting to kill her. Rocio tries to push JM backwards as JM yells about Viv being a liar and a manipulator and admitting the truth to him.

* Elsa is in bed reading a book. She answers the phone. Nelson, on a pay phone, takes a few extra minutes before responding.

* Nellie stands as buffer for her daughter - JM yells at Nellie that everything he is saying is the truth - Viv cries that he's lying. Rocio snaps and tells Viv that she's a rotten example of a mother. Viv snaps back about being mentally ill. JM yells at her about faking it. Viv runs from the room; JM follows her. Rocio stops Nellie, telling her to let them handle this alone.

* In the hallway, Viv yells at JM.

* Nelson begs and pleads for Elsa to return to him. As he begs and whines, Elsa remembers talking with her mom. Elsa hangs up on Nelson. Nelson is impactado.

* Viv and JM continue their shouting match. He yells at her about faking the amnesia and her death. Viv is frustrated and runs upstairs. Nellie comes out to the hallway to try and support her daughter. JM yells at Nellie that Viv is a liar, a manipulator and he will do everything he can to throw her and Nellie out of the castle (and into jail). (UY!)

ADVANCE: JM's still adamant about divorcing permanently from Viv. MC goes into serious labor contractions again (could this be the moment she gives birth?)

Labels: Cuidado

Okay, this is a test, only a test. Sorry I can't making the annoying beeping sound. Trying to make sure I'm ready to go for my first eve recap of FELS next Thursday . . . saved by Santa for this week!

I'd also like to introduce myself to you guys. My name is Melissa, and I've been a lurker for quite awhile now, back to the Alborada days. I usually post after the "fin" of a novela to thank the dilligent and talented recappers for their efforts that make us laugh everyday.

My husband is from Mexico City, we've been married almost five years and speak close to 80 percent Spanish in our house on a daily basis. I rarely watch English-speaking television (although my husband does), with the exception of stuff on the History or National Geographic Channels, and Desperate Housewives - strange mix, I know! Even prior to meeting my husband I had a passion for Mexican history, mostly pre-Columbian, Nahua (Aztec). My family background is a little less straightforward. My father is Italian/Catholic and my mother is Jewish. Needless to say, there are mountains of wonderful food in our houses especially this time of year.

I don't watch novelas with CC's, and don't have any problem understanding what's going on, with the exception of certain cliches, Mexican dichos and the like, that I haven't heard before. So, I'd appreciate any help with those from anyone who wants to add.

Please feel free to give me any suggestions about how to make my recaps better - there's no way in h*ll that my recaps will ever be as good as Beckster's - what an act to follow!! Also, thanks for giving me the chance to do this Melinama - I'd been thinking about volunteering for a while and was always too nervous.

See you next Thursday!

Labels: Fuego, recapper-intro