Caray, Caray!

Oy. Not only do I have no captions tonight, I’m also getting a weird echo effect such that every scene sounds like it’s taking place in a crowded party. I guess this is my chance to find out how I do without training wheels. Even more than usual, everyone please offer any corrections or clarifications.

Again: Juan Miguel is at the apartment and wants to see Marichuy. Cande tells him she isn’t at home and she was very clear that there is nothing between her and JM anymore. JM says there most certainly is; there is a child. Cande is impactada.

Onelia returns to the castle and pretends to be civil to Balbina. I think she asks her to take her suitcase to her room because she isn’t going to go stay with her sister. Balbina says she’ll get to it, and goes back to her dusting. You can tell Onelia is just dying to scream at her for not hopping to do her bidding immediately, but for some reason her current evil plot requires that she act nice so she bites her tongue. Then she fakes some medical emergency so that Balbina will rush to her aid.

Juan Miguel waits in Marichuy’s dressing room to surprise her. He asks why she lied to him and said the baby was Amador’s, and why she ran away and hid from him. She says she did it because of love.

New: Marichuy says some stuff to Juan Miguel about why she left. This is hopeless; I can barely understand Marichuy when there isn’t an echo. Based on the words I picked out of that garble, I’m going to guess that she tells him what we already know about why she left, which is that with Viv back they couldn’t be together so she wanted to forget about him. At any rate, she doesn’t look like she’s lying or angry; maybe a bit melancholy and like she still loves him. Glycerine tears of pure dolor run down Juan Miguel’s cheeks.

Balbina and the manservant, whoever he is, help Onelia onto the sofa, where she stages a woe-is-me display and whines breathlessly about all the stress she’s had lately. They help her stagger to her room.

Rocío visits Ceci and tells her she’s managed to find Marichuy’s address. Ceci is delighted.

Finally, Marichuy has slowed down a bit so I can understand her. She tells JM that she wanted to reconcile with him, and that she went to his house to do that and to tell him about the baby, but before she could say anything he just announced that they didn’t need a divorce and told her to leave, because Viv was alive. JM looks sad at the memory, and bats his pretty eyelashes.

Elsa plays with Beatriz’s baby while Nelson looks on and once again laments that they didn’t have a child together. He’s sad that he’s dying and leaving her with nothing except memories. Elsa is comforting and tells him not to keep thinking like that; they had some beautiful times together. He asks her forgiveness for having been so egotistical. The bee alarm alerts them to Amador’s presence. He’s lurking behind the window waving and grinning obnoxiously. The baby immediately commences crying.

Blanca is sitting on the front steps at the castle, waiting for Rocío to come and take her shopping. Balbina brings her a refreshing beverage, which she accepts very graciously, with an excess of thanks and compliments on its deliciousness, so we can’t miss how sweet and kind Blanca is. A car drives up, but it is Omar, not Rocío, so Blanca freaks out and decides to wait elsewhere. Omar brilliantly deduces that he makes Blanca nervous, but Balbina says no, she’s always timid around strangers.

In her room, Blanca thinks about why she’s so stricken by him, and realizes why the fact that his name is Omar is significant.

Marichuy says that JM just wanted to be rid of her, etc. He says she should have been honest with him and told him everything. Oh, that’s rich. “Why?,” she asks. “You had your family all back together; what would you have done about me?” I think she mentions that Viv was pregnant, so they must have been back together for real.

Amador torments poor sick Nelson and bugs Elsa and tries to stop her from taking the baby for his nap. He wants to look at his son. The baby giggles, and Amador probably thinks the kid likes him, but I’m pretty sure BabyEd is just laughing at Amador’s stupid hairdo. Amador asks what the baby’s name is, and Elsa says Eduardo. Amador is impactado, as though he didn’t really believe that Beatriz would do that.

Juan Miguel tries to tell Marichuy how things really were with Viv, but she doesn’t want to hear it. He says he kept trying to find her, but she points out that when she called, he didn’t tell her that Viv was dead (and for real this time); she read it in the newspaper. Even so she wanted to return to him and introduce him to his son and fight for them to be together again, but when she saw him he was already engaged again. Juan Miguel looks bewitchingly sad. And also like he’d be up for a passionate makeout session. However, Marichuy leaves.

Back at the castle, Blanca is pulling new purchases out of shopping bags. Things with colors and shininess. From the balcony, she sees Juan Miguel drive up. Wait, Blanca’s room has a balcony? I always thought it was a terrace where Ivett was sneaking in and out.

Mayita is in the living room doing homework when JM enters. He admires his beloved daughter and gets all emotional about how much he loves her and now he has a son to love, too. He kisses her and hugs her as she laughs and squeaks. Blanca comes in and Mayita leaves. Blanca tells JM he seems worried, but he says it’s nothing. She asks how his arm is (you know, where SHE SHOT HIM) and he says it’s fine. Then timid Blanca tries to get a little affectionate with her husband-to-be…in the form of gingerly brushing his cheek with her fingers, reaching over from where she’s sitting WAY on the other side of the couch. Onelia walks into the foyer behind them and is shocked by this outrageous display of passion. She thought bubbles that they MUST have plotted to kill Viv and once again vows revenge. Even her hair doesn’t want her here, though; it’s trying to form wings and fly her away. The hair stylist on this show is perhaps a little too enamored of the sticking-up styling gel. Maybe Televisa bought a truckload of it after they ran out of the “Televisa Red” hair dye that everyone used to use. Blanca asks Juan Miguel if he’ll be home for dinner. She hopes he’ll like the new clothes Rocío picked out for her. He says he’s sure he will and smiles sadly. He leaves. Isn’t he supposed to be giving her therapy?

Marichuy sits at home thinking about her chat with JM. Padre Anselmo drops by for a visit. She asks him why he didn’t tell her the gossip about Juan Miguel (I think).

Our brilliant shrink has blown off therapy with the part-time homicidal maniac living in his home in favor of going out for coffee with Dr. Ed. I love Eduardo as much as the next person (or much more, probably), but come on, JM, priorities. JM blathers about how he doesn’t know what to do; he wants to be with Marichuy and their baby but it would be mean to throw out Blanca, who is so nice and good with Mayita. Ed reminds him that he promised to cure Blanca, but neglects to point out that JM doesn’t have to marry her in order to be her shrink. Heh, maybe JM really believes that being married to him is the cure for all that ails a woman. Not that it worked for Viv.

Onelia is pacing furiously in her bedroom, but remembers to act sick when sweet Mayita comes in to ask how she is. Onelia says she’s really sad that she’s going to have to leave (at first I mistyped that as “she’s really sad that she’s going to LIVE”…Freudian-slip projecting on my part, maybe), and she’s going to miss Mayita so, so much. She’s all she has left of Viv, and of course she really loves her granddaughter. Just because she’s been an abusive witch to her for the poor child’s entire life doesn’t mean she doesn’t love her. Onelia didn’t phrase it quite like that.

Omar and Blanca cross paths in the foyer and Omar asks Blanca why she’s so scared of him. She squeaks like a mouse and runs away. Omar looks at her like, “what a weirdo.”

Padre Anselmo tells Marichuy that JM wants to marry her and be a good father to the baby. She argues that he said he’s going to marry another woman. PA is all, “saying and doing are not the same.” They argue about the seriousness of her lies, and PA isn’t going to put up with them anymore. Go, Padre! He tells her she needs to adjust her attitudes about a lot of things, not just JM and the baby, but also her parents, because other people have feelings, too. She doesn’t look like she believes it. Marichuy tells him that she knows Ceci is her mother. PA is impactado.

Ceci clutches the paper with Marichuy’s address and is blissful that she’s going to go see her daughter tomorrow.

Mayita visits Granny Mariana in Twinkleland and tells her that she’s sad that her grandmother is leaving, because she loves Onelia in spite of everything. GM says she’s proud of her for being so generous, and surely she’ll get to see Onelia again.

JM is still carrying on to Ed about how he doesn’t know what to do about Blanca. Ed’s like, well, you have to treat her. I think he also tells his dim buddy that he can’t stay engaged to her and he has to tell her about Marichuy and the baby. I think he also asks something about how Marichuy feels about Blanca but I couldn’t make out exactly what he said over the background noise. JM cannot process this much thought, so he just looks handsomely tormented. His hair looks scared.

Marichuy tells PA that she saw Juez Velarde and he confirmed that she is their daughter. PA asks how that chat went and she says he’s the same as always, hard on her and proud and stubborn. Sound like anyone else you know, Marichuy? She insists that she doesn’t need them, and she wants JM to leave them alone, too. PA sighs like he’s going to have to ask for another priest to cover the rest of his duties because straightening out Marichuy is going to be a full-time gig.

Blanca is wearing a new purple dress and admiring herself in the mirror. Oh, goodness, Rocío has worked her hem curse on it. The thing is way too short. She debates wearing the glasses, and ends up taking them off. She revels in her freedom and tries to reassure herself that she’s safe there and nothing will happen to her.

Omar loiters looking out the window and dreaming of Lirio. He sees Blanca on her balcony and, without the magic Clark Kent glasses, immediately recognizes her as Ivett. Impossible!, he says, and looks alarmed. JM sees him and asks what’s wrong, and he says he’s seen a ghost. JM looks at Blanca preening. He walks around to her room and tells her they need to talk…about the two of them. His hair is freshly shocked for the occasion.

Stefi and Isa sit in a bar with fruity drinks and whine about the misfortunes that have befallen their wicked plans. Their one bright hope is that Onelia is plotting to get rid of the institutriz (but also JM, so I don’t know how that helps them.) They’re boring, but the bartender is kind of cute.

JM tells Blanca that he has found his Marichuy and they have a son. Blanca asks whether he still loves her. He twitches.

Omar goes to the apartment and tells Cande he wants to see Lirio. He wants to know why she’s always out with Amador when he comes by in the evening, and why she leaves her baby alone. Cande objects to the “alone.” He gives Cande the phone number for the castle, where he may be reached. I think he says he’s going to go find Amador and do something to him. Or maybe he’s going to get drunk. Maybe both. He storms out, and Cande is all aflutter that it’s like a Mexican film.

Blanca is very understanding about the whole situation, and says that of course JM wants to be with Marichuy, because he loves her more than he loves Blanca and they have a son. JM goes to great lengths to reassure her that it’s not a matter of loving her more; they’re very different kinds of love, etc., etc. Blanca is like, I get it.

Omar sits in a bar getting drunk and worked up. He flashes back to past arguments with Amador to fuel his anger. He drinks more.

JM tells Blanca that it’s not as easy as she thinks, because Marichuy tried to hide the baby from him and wants to keep him to herself. He says that he is going to be a good father to the baby…I think he implies or says something about not necessarily getting back together with Marichuy and that he and Blanca can stay together. Did I get that right? Blasted slurry echoing sound problems and no captions are making this very difficult. Get it together, Univision! After JM leaves, Blanca says to herself that he’s going to leave her.

Omar staggers drunk into the castle. I hope he took a taxi. He falls asleep in a chair. Ivett’s bejeweled-sandaled feet slither in, accompanied by the rest of her tarty self. She caresses his face and kisses him and speaks French, and when he awakens with a start he has flashbacks and freaks out and runs away. Ivett looks smug.

Onelia once again has to jump into bed and act faint when she hears a knock at her door. It is JM. He says something but I can’t tell you what it is.

Marichuy is awakened by incessant doorbell ringing. When she opens the door, Omar flings himself at her and says she’s the only one who can save him. He thinks he’s going crazy, because Ivett is after him.

Avances: Omar returns to the castle and tells JM he slept over at Lirio’s place. JM is absolutely delighted to hear that. Well, maybe the opposite.

Sorry, no vocabulary tonight; it was all I could do to decipher the words I know.

Labels: Cuidado

This is my last "Fuego en la Sangre" submission. It has been a pleasure to be with you all these many long months. Since I am still missing Coyote, I submit one last picture of my neighbor Coyote, aka Ricardo. Since Ricardo Uribe, Jr. had the nickname (apodo) of Coyote, I have decided to give this little guy (or gal, I am still not sure) the nickname Ricardo. If we are going to recap Mañana es para Siempre, I have asked to move to Wednesday nights to accommodate my bilingual southwestern literature class homework schedule so I hope to see you all there starting next week. I am inconsolable over our loss of Nickster and Julie, what stellar writers and humorists. I hope enough recappers new and experienced step forward to delight us all with their talents and Julie and NIckster will come back to these pages before long.

So where were we: ahhhh yes, Gabriela Acevedo de Elizando, wearing a dramatic long black coat wrapped in a long black shawl both of which set off to perfection the extra large gauge noose the villagers have prepared just for her special event. She should have a swinging time out on the town tonight. Let's peak in to see what happens next. Ahh we get treated to a rehash of I love you Mama my true mama who loves me when the false mama didn't love me like a mama. Forgive me but I can't go there word for word but in my sentence are all the words that keep being said over and over. ¡Basta! Sofia sentences Gabriela to a life alone for her punishment. The three sisters together in their sensational ponchos pledge eternal sisterhood and a triple wedding to set the town permanently on it's end. They have a brief rehash of who owns the hacienda, it is still Sofia since Bernardo is still her father, but she doesn't care about this, the sisters can count on her forever. Doesn't Sarita seem even prettier than Rosario now that she has totally let her self out and her hair down, her beauty shines through. But this telenovela never did suffer from a paucity of pulchritude just of probable plot. But I digress and the villagers send the warning of their lynching plans, Gabriela flees the derisive laughter of her worst hallucination, Bernardo smirking from the grave and now the lynchers have got their hands around the grand villainess once and for all. How could this possibly go wrong? the torches are lit, the foolish villain stumbles around the dry ice forest and finally they close in. Oh the noose looks great, She is again accused of harboring the evil Feonando who tried to kill Padre Tadeo she is as evil as he is and since they have her, put that rope up on the tree guys!. The noose tightens, But wait, Mutton Chops, has apparently renewed his contract and arrives with sirens whining and guns blazing in the air. They have no proof, and besides if they persist, they will be guilty of attempted homicide he avers. Chief Mutton asks Gabi if she is okay, he is worried and will have her taken home. She spurns him with her usual snubs and wanders home assuring him she can get there alone.

Paddy Tad with new black color and a bit too much oil (in his hair not his frock) is chastising Fermin for inciting the lynching crowd when God should mete out his revenge. It is not Fermin's place to exact justice.

Miraculously, Gabi runs into Feo on the way home and tells him in tears of how awful the noose felt and how afraid she is but that is nothing compared to his plans to inter her alive to fool them all while he wreaks havoc and revenge on the Reyes brats. She wants nothing of it but she is short on allies so we shall see.

Sofia and Eva grin hug and pray to the Virgincita and before Bernardo's tomb altar, they pledge to be the best mother daughter team in all the land and forever and ever and ever. Here comes Sarita and Jimena, Again Sofia assures the sisters that she wants to be with her mother but she will never abandon them. They need Eva too who has been more like a mother than mother and so they talk to Bernardo while Eva assures Bernardo that she has his three strong daughters and will protect, love and respect them forever. They have found men to love them and protect them forever. The tomb gleams in approval although he doesn't make the same kind of appearance he has saved for Gabi's eyes alone.

Juan and Mutton Chops argue over the capture and punishment of Feonando. Mutton insists that the great wanted poster will bring results and keep the law in charge, without explaining where in the world has he been for weeks while the crime spree has spread without abatement from the short arm of the law. Ahhh, but others see the poster with the $500,000 peso reward for delivering the criminal Feo, And it isn't the grim reaper, but the graveyard guard with the one good eye that can see this looks like much more money than Feo has been offering him for keeping quiet.

(Mendigo perro), begging dog, swears Juan, let's go, the posters are everywhere, on every tree, the villagers read and learn.

The girls plan life with the Reyes and Eva included forever and ever and ever. Everyone smiles, like they used to cry, that is endlessly.

Fatima the housekeeper comes running in to tell them that Gabriela has left the hacienda. They all run off as though they were chasing after a good mother. Go figure.

The boys clean up by the old swimming hole as if they have been reading this blog, but alas, though we get shirts off there are no bare butt shots. Rats, foiled again.

Gabi is leaving slowly and dramatically with Rosendo carrying her luggage. She renounces being their mother as the sisters rush up to ask her where she is going.

The guard shows Feo the poster and the large reward and mentions how paltry Feo's payment scheme is in comparison. Feo promises more money than these miserable bums can offer. Feo adds that he needs not only his loyalty but his aid too.

The bathing boys discuss that Feo has taken their happiness not only of Juan's girlie but their sister Libia too.

Rigo with his baby, wife, mother and step dad talk about their happiness of his when who should appear but the long lost brother back from his big job in the States but his mama called on the phone (where did she go to find one) and he is here to help. The most important thing is the family. like the patria, Mexico there aren't two.

The brothers show up at the hacienda insisting the sisters flee but they have their dream of white weddings like their father wanted and besides Gabriela has moved into the cabana so. Oscar urges that the Reyes submit to the white wedding dreams and the father's wish so they decide they can stay while the brothers will take turns guarding them. Then they ever so casually drop the news that last night the village almost lynched their mom. The ninny girls go all whacky (asusto). Gabi whines in her cabana. Over at the convent, Eva and Sofia meet with the Soledad. Soledad is thanked for bringing the truth in motherhood facts to light. They ask what they can do for her, she only wants prayers for the eternal peace of her son. She is now in full nun's habit and looks more serene than anyone else and assures them she has found peace.

In the kitchen eating large loaves of bread the Reyes and Rigo's family pledge eternal friendship and Juan assures Rigo that they will give him a small but sufficient parcel of land to farm themselves. The graveyard guard shows Feo how he can help him. He has a substance that by it self is harmless or just a sleepytime tea, but when mixed with alcohol can be quite lethal. This will do nicely muses Feo as he imagines Gabi with her perpetual snifter near her bitter lips. What a great helper our guard has turned out to be.

Oscar holds Jimena while she cries that it is painful to realize that you don't matter at all to your own mother. Oscar pledges that his love and devotion will be pledged to cure her of her wounds He will love her with his whole being. She says his love will protect her but she can't forget. Mirror, Franco pledges to always be with Sarita and give her all the love that her own mother withheld. She tells him that he has memories so sweet of his mother but she has memories so false. She wonders why her mother used her so, why she never loved her, why, why, why mama.

Juan and Sofia with all three babies who now look old enough to read, walk along the hacienda. They will be happy forever with the 3 munchkins and her mother, her mother, Juan her mother. your mother-in-law. oh they must mean Eva. What a night, what a night says Juan at the almost full moon.

Fatima comes back into the big house with a full tray of food saying Gabi doesn't want to eat. Sarita and Jimena worry that she will die of hunger. She shows us that it is more likely going to be demon rum or brandy. while she is tormented by the conscience of Bernardo who says she will never get over. The girls listen to her yelling outside. She never wants to see him return again, they think it is Feo but now, the cabana has been redecorated in red couches and chairs, and they enter while she screams to leave her alone and get out (fuera de aqui and largense). They leave and she turns to see Bernardo backed by the choral group singing accusations. Leave me in peace she begs the spector. But the ads come before peace arrives....

the boys are at the cave tomb pledging to give it a good cleaning and a better altar. Juan begs her to forgive them for not catching her killer yet. Oscar swears by this Reyesness and his brotherhood they will find out (hallar), Franco echos the sentiment. and Juan makes three they will find him, they will find him.

A disheveled Gabi faces a scruffy Feo and whines does he love her more than anyone else. He smirks yes, then she wants to know why he insists on this absurd plan she is so afraid of, he nods quietly and understandingly, with quite a full beard now. Glad we don't have scratch and sniff TV sets yet. She rants that he never loved her that she is so alone that he would love her dead, he nods she cries into the sofa, he waits then kisses her forehead and leaves her praying to her brandy snifter. Suddenly out in the yard, Gabi makes Rosendo promise to say nothing and not come near her cabana no matter what weird things he sees. He promises and she goes back into the cabana. Feo watches from behind the bush with his binoculars wondering how long he will have to wait for his great plan to be completed. Meanwhile the Reyes brothers mount horses and ride around in the forest still looking for Feo.

Last shot of the brandy snifter being filled, emptied, filled. As she is whining and crying, Gabi opens the casket that Feo has prepared and magically transported into the cabana. Gabi sits down to write a note, places all the money in the lining of the casket. drinks more then finds the cup, drinks the suspicious liquid. She is woosy but still resists the leather sleeves that put the washcloth full of ether or whatever Feo still had in his dastardly arsenal of intoxicants and she slumps unconscious.

Rosendo tells the girls that mama had a casket (ataud) delivered to the cabana and he thought they should know. Dr. Montes, happens to come and tells them he is worried about their mother and is especially so when he hears about the casket. Feo watches the doctor and ninny daughters rush off to the cabana and hopes doc will declare her dead. Suddenly the Reyes brothers show up at the hacienda and Feo shoots at the brothers, meanwhile inside the cabana, the doctor declares her dead. and just to make it sure we get the significance, the magic camera shoots her in sepia while the daughters stay in color. (cool effect usually seen only in ads but I'm just saying) So did I get a kill or not?? Mama, mama, mama. Adios amigos mios.

Labels: Fuego

Santos, the witness, tells the court that he is DB's neighbor and lived with her for a year. Andrés objects but DB's lawyer, Tulio Meneses (TM) tells the judge that this is not just a case about property but that Santos is an unscrupulous scoundrel who tried to break the sacred ties between a mother and a daugther.

Don Encarnación tells Lucía that all the doctors have told her that she can't have a baby. The strain on her one donated kidney would be too great. Lucía says that she wants to live a normal life. She had not told Antonio about this before they were married. (Maybe DE should have mentioned it to Antonio.)

TM gets Santos to testify to the feud between the Luzardos and the Barqueros. The lawyer suggests that Santos took Marisela in to manipulate her so that eventually he could reunite the two haciendas. Marisela protests.

Genoveva is drunk. She and Pajarote dance to their own music and kiss.

Pernalete says that he doesn't want to go to jail. Mujija says that he has come in his official capacity to advise Pernalete to hide his recovery from everyone in town. Otherwise, Mujica will have to advise the Governor that Colonel Pernalete is in perfect condition to stand trial for corruption and abuse of power. Mujica tells Federica that he deserves a prize for his good deed and she says that she can give him half and hour.

Antonio tells Lucía that he would have married her knowing that she couldn't have children but she deceived him and they promised not to lie to one another. Lucía admits that but says that she was afraid of losing him. Lucía says that her childhood was all dialysis and painful treatments. That all changed when her father donated a kidney to her. Now she has a handsome guy and the only one of her dreams that hasn't come true is to have a baby. Lucía tells Antonio that she wants to live life to the fullest and not in fear. Who knows when death will come? She tells him not to worry. Nothing bad will happen to her.

Santos tells Nestor that he doesn't want to sit at Marisela's table in the restaurant because it would just give DB ammunition.

Pajarote tells Genoveva that he is usually a guy who acts without asking permission but with her he will be different. He asks if she want to continue or stop. Genoveva asks what he is talking about. He clarifies, "Shall we do it or not?" Gevoveva is offended and say that he looks better when he is silent.

Los Mondragon are about to take down the barbed wire on Santos' fence. BP tells them to stop. He says that things are changing in Progresso and there is a powerful new player and they should think about whose side they are on.

TM gets Santos to admit that he thinks a woman who abandons her child is a bad person and then says that Santos didn't seem to have any problem in having an intimate relationship with such a person. The lawyer then gets Santos to admit that he pressured DB into signing the property transfer deed. Santos says that he was trying to return the hacienda to the person to whom it legitimately belonged. He admits pressuring DB but says that he did it because he loved her. TM seizes on the past tense. He asks Santos if he is in love with DB's daughter now and Santos admits that he is. (I guess they don't cross examine witnesses in this court system.)

Andrés calls DB and asks her how and when she met Lorenzo Barquero.

Pajarote seeks to relieve his frustrations with Federica.

Gervasia finds Genoveva drunk in the kitchen.

DB tells how Lorenzo was an alcoholic and had abandoned the hacienda. She took over and when Lorenzo saw how she was running the place, he decided to sell it to her. Andrés brings up the whole Apolinar Prieto loan history and then tries to get Danger's diary admitted as evidence of DB's misdeeds but the judge rules against him.

Juan Primito listens while Los Mondragon discuss their options if DB isn't in power any more.

Marisela tells Santos that she doesn't like the judicial process. We see a succession of witnesses called to testify at the trial and Fausto tells El Sapo that the trial has gone on for three weeks. Santos keeps giving roses and notes to Marisela. Cecilia goes home and Genoveva takes her place. Fausto tells El Sapo that DB's lawyer is much better than Marisela's. El Sapo tells Fausto to provoke DB to go against Marisela.

DB comes up to Santos when he is coaching Andrés and says that she was right - Santos is the puppetmaster of this clown ('el titiritero de este payaso').

Dr. Arias tells Lucia that she is pregnant. She is ecstatic. Dr. Arias warns her that her life and that of her baby is in danger. She says that she doesn't care. Her greatest wish is to give Antonio a child.

Marisela is called to the stand. TM gets her to say that she resents DB, that DB humilliated her, hit her, was abusive and was a bad mother. Then he says that all this gives Marisela the motive to try take the hacienda from DB. TM then gets Marisela to admit that she refused the gift of the hacienda on her birthday. Marisela starts to say that it was all a trap but she gets too upset and can't continue.

Lucía tells Antonio that she is pregnant and he is very happy. Lucía says that she is sure that the baby is a girl. DE is furious when he finds out about her pregnancy. He tells Antonio that he is responsible for the life of his daugther and that if Lucía dies, it will be his fault.

Santos goes to Marisela's room. He says that he knows that her refusal of the hacienda had something to do with Meléndez. Meanwhile Fausto puts an anonymous note under DB's door saying that her ex is in her daughter's room.

Dr. Arias comes to see Cecilia and tells her that he is very worried about a patient. She is pregnant but he is afraid that she can't carry the baby to term. He tells Cecilia that the patient is Lucía Matute. (I guess they don't have patient privacy laws in the Arauca.)

Marisela is trying to tell Santos about Meléndez. She says that it is difficult. It is the only secret she has and she is ashamed to tell him. Santos reminds Marisela that she promised to always tell him the truth even if it hurt her. He urges her to just tells him the bare facts. Marisela agrees and starts to say, "I..." when DB says from the doorway that Marisela killed a man.

Labels: barbara

Life isn't fair, is it? Everybody wants Candy....Patricio, Santiago, Raúl, Toño, even Ceci....while other women sulk and fume, scheme and smoulder, cry and lament. Reminds me a bit of a situation in my brother's first grade class (eons ago). All the little boys were in love with ONE girl, in spite of the fact that there were many charming little girls in the class, including this girl's IDENTICAL TWIN. But all the little guys converged on one. (I think fruit flies do the same thing. Don't quote me though).

Anyway, it's the same old same old but here we go again. First the brief rehash of Paulina trying to wheedle Santiago into letting Rocio go with her back to New York. Nothin' doin'. The previews led us to believe that Rocio might say she wanted to go, but she doesn't. And Santiago packs her off to her room and gets down and dirty with Paulina, saying that there's no way she's going and no way he's going. When Paulina raises the red flag of motherhood, he sneers, You were just the incubator. In no way were you ever the mother. And if you keep pushing this, I'll prohibit you from seeing her at all. Okay...Dr. Plastico is coming on strong. Will Paulina kidnap Rocio now that she has two airplane tickets? We'll see.

In the meantime, Marissa is communing with her inner Nazi. This voice (we all have one, alas) is torturing her by replaying the conversation of Santiago declaring his love for Candy. All this while doing the mirror dance that we women do (don't know about you guys) where we hold up various outfits, realize "they make us look fat", lament our bodies and generally go on a pity party. Since she's pregnant, Lord knows she's allowed to have a belly but evidently this is no consolation. More grievous thoughts about being "stupid" and "everyone mocking me" and so forth. She vacillates between positive self-talk...Everything is going to be fine...to self-downing...he only cares about Rocio and the baby. Once the baby is born I'll be nothing to him. More misery with the clothes that don't fit. This poor woman is in total Hell. I don't like her but I feel sorry for her.

Okay, as prescribed, our little light-hearted break from this miserable scene. Zamora and Toño have been tarted up for the makeover. Zamora doesn't look too bad. Toño is simply awful with some kind of Julius Cesar/Marlon Brando comb down over his forehead.

So now, on to romance. With Candy, who else? She's waiting for a taxi and a white stretch limo pulls up. A huge bouquet of flowers emerge, followed by Patricio's squirrely face. He's begging for another chance and emphasizes it by addressing her as Señora Molina. He's pretty eloquent in his pleas. Points out that they have fought more than they have talked. But it's a miracle that she's here...alive...and he begs her to come along with him. You're crazy, she says. You're beautiful, he replies. She gets into the car.

Oh yes, we're waiting with bated breath but the writers are all for delayed gratification, aren't they? We get a little verbal scuffle with Meño and Charly. Meño voicing what we've all been thinking....motorcycles are dangerous and there's no way he's going to buy one for his son. A friend of mine who worked in the Emergency Department called them "Donorcycles". That alone should give one pause. Meño concludes the discussion by saying I prefer an angry son to a dead son.

Alright, back to romance. And it's big-time. A table set for two on the giant heart from their parachuting/will you marry me? days. Champagne. Romantic music playing in the background which we can hear even if she can't. He starts to sing the Mana song but she stops him. Too painful. He wants to kiss again, she refuses. I need your kisses to live, he pleads. And if you leave this heart, it will break. And I will break. Don't go. It's dangerous, he adds, for a beautiful woman to be alone in this park. There are wolves, bears, scorpions, snakes....(she's starting to smile, maybe there's hope...) And you can't leave without kissing me. If you grow old here, waiting to kiss me, that's alright. Because my dream was to grow old with you.

Whew. Patricio had some good lines there. I'm feeling all mushy and forgiving and I don't even like the guy. We break for an ad while I get ahold of myself.

When we come back, it's to the Eduardo/Chayo story. Chayo has received a second delivery of flowers (thanks to Barbara) and Lalo's worried enough now to track his wife down at the Institute. But they've already sequestered her and told Soledad to inform him that she left several hours ago, looking very excited. Now she's sent off to spend a couple of hours at the movies. I find this whole scenario manipulative and stupid but hey, they didn't ask me. We'll see how it plays out.

Back to our erstwhile lovers. She's commenting on the champagne, the candles, the tablecloth that is the same plaid as her school uniform. But what's this, she says, holding up an ordinary sandwich, rather than the tortas ahogadas and pozole she loved as a girl. We need a miracle, they conclude.

Now some brief scenes. First with Raúl and one of the Iron John buddies, said buddy giving good advice. Stay out of Marissa and Santiago's business. It's their business not yours. Did you like it when family interfered in your marriage?

And then a fast-moving scene with Santiago and the groovy old mom/pal cum wedding planner who's trying to hit him up for a check ahead of time, arguing that all the arrangements will be cheaper if they can be prepaid. He winds Santiago up big-time by referring to mom as the "panther of the Colonia de Valle". All the men were after her until your father came along. By this time Santiago is frothing at the mouth (what if this creep had been my father!?) and bemoaning being trapped into marrying Marissa as well. And then there's Paulina trying to take away Rocio. Donato joins him in some kind of therapeutic blubbering and lamenting.

And that's not the only therapy going on. Evidently Marissa is seeing a counselor (good!) but the lady isn't making much of a dent in Marissa's feast of reason and flow of soul. You pay for everything in life, right? asks Marissa. And then answers herself.... And Candy and Santiago will pay for what they're doing to me!

Are you marrying for revenge? asks the counselor. There's no room for happiness if there is bitterness and rancor. I'm fighting a clean fight, counters Marissa. I love Santiago. All I have to do is get rid of Candy. Candy out. Me happy. (Sounds like a plan, but it's not working Marissa dear).

Back to romance. The tired sandwich that Candy has brought along is being munched on by Patricio. He raises a toast to the two of them and proclaims her a marvelous cook. It's the best sandwich he's ever tasted.

All right, "now we're down to the raisins", or as Hombre de Misterio says, the pivotal scene of the episode. Patricio ask Candy to tell him all that she felt that day of the wedding....all that she felt but didn't say. At first she refuses, but then the words come tumbling out.

C: You were my everything.... everything. You left me with nothing. Nothing but a broken heart that never worked again.

P: Of course it worked again. You love our son.

C: I love him with another heart. The heart I had was broken beyond repair. You destroyed my trust in men.

P: One day our son will become a man. And he'll make mistakes. Possibly like I did. Do you believe that your son won't deserve a second chance?

P: I'm not proud of what I did. But I learned from it. And my heart was broken too. I suffered for both of us (thinking you were dead). My life was broken without you.

C: But you consoled yourself with Alicia.

P: Yes, with Alicia and a thousand other women. But none had the fragrance, the perfume of your body. I tried to anesthetize myself in the beds of thousands of women....but I never "made love" again. You are the only woman in this world for me...in this world in which thousands of women exist. Yes, there were mistakes...but do those mistakes wipe out all the love between us, the caring, the tender moments? If Life works that way...I don't like it....and I don't understand it.

Whew. Another eloquent plea. I'm a basket case again. Thank God there are some ads and I can cool down a bit.

When we come back, we're in Candy's office with weird psychic Jorge guy who's congratulating her on her success (although reminding her she's alone in bed) and giving her some advice concerning a lovelorn woman who took back her cheating husband only to have him cheat on her again. (I guess this means Patricio is toast.)

So here's our loser, happily unaware that psychic guy is taking him out of the picture. He's coaching some goal-scoring moves with his sons and facing up to some tough questions. Like How come Beto and I have one father but two mothers? Did you" dance "with my mom (Candy) first and then with Beto's mom? And my mom got mad 'cause you then "danced" with someone else? Uh, yeah, that's more or less it, mumbles Patricio and then hugs and wrestles with them
both, saying I love you the same and you're best friends. How great is that!?

Okay, we get it. Patricio is a good dad. That will work out. Getting Candy back? Not so much.

But speaking of cheating husbands and put-upon wives...we're back with Chayo and Lalo, the latter demanding to know where she's been all this time....(at the office. You're lying!) and asking who's sending her flowers. What flowers? The ones I threw in the garbage. You're jealous. GRRRRRRRR. No, I'm not jealous. Jealous? GRRRRRRRR. No I'm not. He IS, she thinks happily.

Candy, via Meño, has sent Santiago back weird psychic guy Jorge medallion. And adds a note, saying It's not good that I have something of yours. As he takes out his own medallion and sadly puts them together, he thinks....once again...She's the woman of my life.

And the woman of his life has been tricked by Barbara into meeting with Ceci. When she discovers Ceci there, she starts to leave, but the poor gal begs her to stay and just listen. I'd never hurt you. I just wanted to be your friend. Yes, but your "friendship" counters Candy.... No, no...I just want to be a loyal friend, work for you. Forgive me. I let things get out of hand. Boom. Just like that, Candy forgives her. It's all hunky-dory. They have apple pie and vanilla ice cream to celebrate (reminiscent of the cheesecake reconciliations in Golden Girls?) and that's that.

I guess we're supposed to see that little by little Candy is growing up and maturing. Frankly I still find her a gigantic pain in the patootie, but that's just me.

Patricio has brought Beto back to the house and packs Beto off for a "bull bath" (only washing ears and tail). And then a sad little conversation with Soledad where she tells him he can only see Beto for a couple of hours every week. She has to distance herself from him and so the visits are restricted. Sad face Soledad. Equally sad face Patricio, for different reasons. Another ad.

Now another pivotal scene. (Can we have two, Hombre?) Santiago runs into Candy in the park and it's just who he wanted to see. He tells her about this strange person (I certainly agree there) who gave him this medallion in order to recognize the "woman in his life". But since she doesn't want to be" the woman in his life."...he guesses he will..... But suddenly the talk stops and the kissing begins. The first one looks a bit smash-mouth but it gets better after that. Much better. Little kisses, Bigger kisses, wraparound kisses, delicious kisses, lingering kisses, drop-to-your-knees kisses. Make this moment last! Well, we do, but only because stalker Alicia is there taking a picture of those kisses on her cellphone.

And suddenly Candy pulls back. I don't want to kiss, she stammers. Alright, then I'll yell, answers Santiago. I LOVE YOU!!!!, he bellows.

I love you too.

Stunned look by Santiago. Feel my heart! he whispers. This is the first time you've told me that. And love is simple. You'll send off Patricio, I'll break up with Marissa and.....Of course Candy says no way.

Okay, back to the easily expendable Marissa (in Santiago's view any way). Barb has just brought in some baby clothes and while Marissa gushes about them and pretends to be pleased, once Barbara leaves, she curls her lip and says What am I going to do with these? Yuck. Evidently she and Barbara do not have the same taste.

Meanwhile Meño and Gregoria are still sparring over her mystery date the other night and he's using it as leverage in their cook negotiations. She wants to be the restaurant chef since Lulu's so busy at the Institute and he counters that she'll get the job if she gives up the name of her novio. Not my novio! Oh, is he married, then, slyly jabs Meño. The scene ends with a near electrocution when she turns on the power as he has his hands in the water of the fountain. Not sure the point of that scene....but there it was.

Our episode ends with our Alicia bringing Marissa a "surprise" but not a pleasant one, and certainly not a baby gift. Instead she shows her the photo of Candy and Santiago kissing and notes that they really seem to be getting along.

Previews: Alicia arrives at the door of Casa Meño saying How great that all the family is together. Candy, I know you don't want to see me after all that's happened, but I want you to know that Patricio is innocent. He's not guilty of anything.

And Candy is telling Santiago to forget the kisses and that she said I loved you.

And Santiago, flanked by a warmly sympathetic Hortensia, is holding a photo of those to-be-forgotten kisses and observing that he's got a real problem.

Vocabulary

alacranes = scorpions

afinelar = to tune an instrument or to tune up a motor

brindar = to toast (with a drink)

atorado = blocked up, jammed shut

Labels: Tontas

Wed. Feb. 11 (partial)
While PJ/S is asleep, he has a dream about the fight with Miguel. Here, the dream has woken him up.

Then we have a shower scene, which could be the same one they already showed but we don't care.

Gaetana tells PJ/S that she is worried about this happening again. PJ/S (in his purple shirt) says that it is inevitable. He only hopes that he has enough time to complete his mission. The rest is up to God. Gaetana says that she would be more at ease if she knew what the mission was but at that moment Matilda comes in and the opportunity is lost.

PJ/S goes out to dinner with Isabel. She says that in spite of the bruises, he looks very handsome. He suggests that that they put a bold face on their engagement and have a big party to announce their engagement. Isabel says that she likes challenges.

PJ/S tells Gaetana that if Salvador gets his body back, he won't give it up again and PJ will never return again.

Thurs. 2/12

The the big engagement party takes place. Afterwards, PJ/S refuses to stay with Isabel. He is leaving the Donoso house and there is some psychic tension and he turns and Rebeca is pointing a gun at him. She fires but misses.

PJ/S looks on with sardonic satisfaction as Rebeca is forced to confess how she pursued PJ/S. PJ/S tells Isabel that he wants Rebeca to stay at the Donoso house. Rebeca tells Walter that she has one more card to play.

Fri. 2/13

Ángela, Abigail, Antonio and Simón ask Isabel if she is going to bring PJ/S to live in the house. After what happened with Valeria and Rebeca, they are afraid that his presence will be even more disruptive than when Andrés lived there. Isabel asks what happened to all of their great affection for PJ/S. She says that she still has the right to live in the house and if they don't want to live with PJ/S, they should leave.

PJ/S invites Gaetana, Camilo, Lupe and Matilda to his wedding. He says that once he marries Isabel all the need for secrecy and mystery is over.

Cantalicia sees the picture of PJ/S and Isabel in the newspaper. She gets a neighbor to read the wedding notice to her. Cantalicia is destrozada.

The gang of four (Ángela, Abigail, Antonio and Simón) tell PJ/S that they don't want him to live at the house because of the conflicts that it will cause. PJ/S says that he won't give up on the people he loves. He asks for one month to show that he isn't an opportunist who is after their money. PJ/S says that he is here for a reason that he can't disclose.

Labels: cuerpo

...because revenge is a dish best served cold, and she's the entree.

Eva finally tells Sofía that they're really mother and daughter. Gabi stands in the background for a while, then walks away mumbling that she's not going to hang around listening to stupid chatter. They ignore her completely. She goes up to the balcony and watches with an evil smirk as they cry and hug.

The Padre is praying. He gives thanks, and adds, "as for Gabriela, your will be done." (I am sure God was just waiting for that green light from the padre!)

Gabriela polishes off another glass of brandy and worries what will happen to her.

Sofía and Eva bond over having their daughters taken away soon after birth. Eva always felt awful when Gabi was unkind to Sofía and felt united to her in some way. Sofía felt it too.

The Reyes brothers and Fermin want Feo arrested. Comisario Muttonchops says he needs proof. Juan replies that they've got plenty of proof, but they have to catch him first! Oscar tells Muttonchops to close all entrances to town - watch the train station and roads. Muttonchops agrees to this and tells his guys to do it. Whew. Good thing he had Juan and Oscar there to tell him how these things are done. He asks Fermin if he isn't going to go back on his word when it's time to turn Fernando in. Fermin says no - he came back so that Feo would pay for his crimes. Franco says they just want justice.

Feo is napping in the graveyard's toolshed. He wakes with a start when a scythe is returned to its rack. He looks up just in time to see someone come in. No, it's not the Reaper - he wears finer clothes. This guy is the groundskeeper. He's missing an eye. His face is deeply scarred, as if he got caught in one of Gabi's trademark conflagrations.

Eva tells Sofía she found out about the switcheroo from Juan. He didn't want her to tell Sofía right away for fear that it would destroy her world. (Are you kidding me? It would MAKE her world!) But Eva felt the time had come. She had to confront Gabi as Sofía's mother and defend her. They talk for a long, long time about how awesome it is that they're mother and daughter. Sofía forgives Eva (remember, Eva thinks she's awful for "letting" this happen) and accepts her as her mother.

Lots and lots more mush about how much Gabi sucks as a mom and how great Eva is, and it was all very sad before but now they're together and happy, oh I was afraid you'd reject me and be ashamed of me like Ruth was, what no never, etc. etc. etc. This goes on FOREVER. Don't get me wrong, it's nice and all, but we get the idea. Meanwhile, a swarm of little gnats pesters them as they talk and cry.

Feo gives the groundskeeper a thick roll of bills and says there's plenty more where those came from if he lets Feo hide out there and doesn't tell anyone. The groundskeeper agrees with a creepy smile. "Whatever you say, patrón."

The Reyes brothers are sitting around in the kitchen. Prompted, I guess, by Fermin's revelation on Friday that Feo killed Rosario, Franco is reminiscing sadly about her. Juan encourages him to cry it out. He and Oscar give him some privacy. (I was thinking it seemed like he wanted to talk. He could have found some other room to cry in if he wanted to.) Instead of remembering their fleeting happy moments together, Franco remembers Rosario's stage show in a lovely video montage. "Then, and only then, you will cry," she sings. Franco has a good cry.

Sofía is going to talk to Gabi. Eva offers to go with, afraid Sofía will be hurt again. Sofía's not worried. Now that she knows there are no ties binding her and Gabi, nothing will stop them from talking like they've never talked before. Eva gives her a blessing.

Sofía confronts Gabi and asks why she didn't tell her the truth. Gabi admits she found out only a short time ago herself. She never liked Sofía, but never figured it was because Sofía wasn't her own.

Sofi asks, why did Gabi let her stay at the hacienda even when she know she wasn't her daughter? Gabi replies that she just couldn't allow Sofi and Eva be happy together. Eva betrayed Gabi with her husband, and Sofía was the fruit of that betrayal. The best way to get revenge on Eva was to let her suffer on Sofía's account. Sofía expresses her pain of being rejected, mistreated, and unable to gain Gabi's love, meanwhile Gabi enjoyed making her cry and ruining her life.

Gabi says she didn't give her life, but she cared for her, fed her, and educated her, and Sofi owes her respect. Sofi says love and respect are earned, not requested. "You, ma'am" (she almost calls her "Mama," but catches herself in time), "the only thing you've earned is my CONTEMPT."

"We're paying with the same currency, because ever since you were born I began to lose. That's why I hate you. I began to lose my youth, my hopes, the attention of my family, the love of Bernardo. Even without being my daughter, you took everything away from me. Thus, without doing any more, without any right, you me me lose. The loser has always been me. That's why I hate you and all you love - my father, your sisters, my husband, I hate them all because of you. And if now you think I'm going to ask your pardon, you're very mistaken."

"You don't need to ask my pardon, because I've already forgiven you, though I'll never forget. Never! Tell me now, Gabriela Acevedo, will you be able to forgive yourself, forgive all the evil you've done to me?"

"You're no one to judge me."

"It's true, I'm no one to you. But I can say that all the bad you've done to me, all the bad you've caused, you will pay for it by being left ALONE."

Now it's Gabi's turn to cry. Ha-ha!

Rigo gets his test results from the doctor. His tumor hasn't grown, he won't need an operation, but he will need to keep getting treatments. Yay! He's definitely not going to die, perhaps!

Sofía and Jimena are at the clinic, helping Sarita get ready to leave. She has evidently shared her Mommy news with her sisters; they reassure her that they're still her sisters through their father. They'll be sisters foreverty-ever! Eva shows up with the brothers. Sofía lets Juan know that the Mommy cat is out of the bag. They are all super-happy. Then buzzkills Franco and Oscar say that Feo is the one who killed Rosario. Eva reminisces about what a great not-daughter (naughter?) she was. Juan promises justice.

Gabi wanders around in her dark house with a candelabra. Is she looking for Vincent Price? Fearing arrest, she packs a bag full of money. She considers Feo's proposal to bury her alive, and decides she'd rather die a thousand times than go to jail. She ties her coat with determination.

The Padre gives a special Mass for Sofía and Eva. Afterwards, everyone dances outside.

Feo goes outside. He's surprised to see a full-color "Se Busca" ("Wanted") poster with his photo on it. (This was the best photo the cops could get their hands on? Just half his face, the rest in shadow?) There's a bounty, er, reward of 500,000 pesos, which is about US$34,500. He tears it down and thought-bubbles that the whole town will be hunting for him.

Juan stops the festivities to formally ask Eva for Sofía's hand. Eva agrees. Sofía kisses him, or perhaps his chin-strap. Oscar and Franco ask for Jimena and Sarita's hands too. They're not Eva's to give, but she does anyway.

When the moon's been full for months, what can you do to signal that something extra-freaky's going to happen? You have to make it even more blindingly bright.

Feo sneaks into the hacienda and tells Gabi there's a price on his head. She tells him to take the money. He says it's tempting, but they can't leave. First he has to get his revenge on the Reyes. He's going to teach them what Fernando Escandón is capable of!

Fermin has just finished teaching a crowd of people what Fernando Escandón is capable of. They disapprove. "And to assist him in these misdeeds, Gabriela Acevedo protected him! This woman, whom we all know was excommunicated, has dedicated herself to protecting evil!" The angry mob agrees that she must pay. They'll bring her to justice! They arm themselves with torches. (I don't see any pitchforks. Too bad. That would have been a nice touch.)

A lone man in black follows behind the rest of the crowd as they approach Frankenstein Castle.

Gabi is alone now, still wearing her coat. Well, not totally alone - she's got Brandy! An open Bible catches her eye. She gasps and knocks it off the table. She does the same with a cross, but neglects the rosary on the wall. She opens the suitcase and buries her face in the money. She puts a cloak on over her coat.

The lights get all blinky and crazy, then go out. The ghost of Bernardo turns the light back on and taunts her about her guilty conscience while a choir blares. The gang of angry ruffians is getting closer to the house; someone is carrying a sturdy rope with a noose.

Gabi sobs and tells Bernardo he has no right - he should be burning in hell! She'll pray that he burns there for centuries. He asks if she thinks her prayers are worth anything, since she's the personification of wickedness and depravity. She tells him to shut up and go away; he doesn't exist. He says he's in her conscience, which won't leave her in peace.

Fatima passes by the door with a stack of clean towels and hears Gabi crying that she has a clear conscience; she's always behaved honestly with all of them. Gabi accuses him of cheating with Libia. That's when her torment began. Even in death he doesn't leave her alone. GET OUT!!!

Fatima peeks inside and sees Gabi alone on the floor. She concludes that Gabi's lost her marbles.

Bernardo tells Gabi that because he's in her conscience, as long as she's alive he'll be with her.

One of the works comes in, warning Fatima that the people of the town are on their way to hang Gabi. Fatima passes the word to Gabi, but she is still reacting to Bernardo and yelling at him.

Meanwhile, the sisters assure Sofía that she's still their sister, which should actually go without saying since they still have the same father and also because they already discussed this at the clinic. They also say that she's still welcome at their house. She doesn't think their mother will want to see her again. Jimena says in that case, they'll all live at Grandpa's cottage. Sarita points out that it's their father's house and he willed it all to Sofía anyway. Sofi doesn't want it, but they're excited about the triple-wedding and they want to be together. She'll never leave them, even if Gabi opposes it.

Gabi wanders outside; I'm not sure if she's even aware of the mob at first. A terrific pain seizes her chest, and she falls to the ground. She struggles to her feet, and now she's definitely aware of the mob. She tries to get away, but she can barely walk. Finally she works up a good run, but since the crowd is about five feet behind her at this point, she doesn't get very far.

The Reaper paces patiently in the foreground as they catch up with her.

As usual, she demands that they leave her alone, and insists that she did nothing. Fermin accuses her of harboring Feo, who has been identified as Pad Tad's intended killer (I'm not sure how they knew about this). Some of the guys throw the rope over a stout branch. Gabi wails in despair as they place the noose around her neck.

Why the blue recap? Because I'm sad. After more than two and a half years of recapping, I have to stop... at least for a while. For reasons that don't exactly need to be a secret but I don't really want to discuss, I need to downgrade to basic cable for a while. Comcast doesn't include Univision in basic service for my city, even though it's a Boston station. (I can still watch YouTube, but my connection is really slow and it's pretty miserable to watch anything on the computer for more than a few minutes at a time.)

When I eventually get Univision back, unfortunately, I may not have enough flexibility in my work schedule to handle a late night (getting up at 5 or earlier for a long commute). So it might be quite some time before I can recap again.

I cannot tell you all how much I have enjoyed recapping, and how much I appreciate all the fun, support, and camaraderie I've found here. I'll do my best to keep up with MEPS via the recaps here so I don't totally miss out on everything!

Mexico airdate: 24 y 27 de octubre

Labels: Fuego

Episode 100:
* MC and Pat confront each other in Pat's office. She tells him off about his lousy attitude and insults towards her; how well she's doing with her career and finances; that she doesn't need anything from him or his family. He's frustrated and wants her to leave. She won't leave until he answers her question - is he her real father? He finally blurts out, "Yes, I am your father!"

* JM brings Blanca home to his castle.

* MC continues to tell Pat off about his insults and indignation towards her; how he and Ceci abandoned her to an orphanage and then to a miserable life on the streets. Pat defends his wife. MC is still hurt and bitter towards both of them.

* JM talks with Nellie about Viv and her secret trip abroad (I think) and he suggests that maybe Nellie should do the same and leave the castle - it is his home and he wants to start his life free and new, with Mayita and Blanca. Nellie reluctantly agrees.

* MC continues her tirade against Pat and Ceci in Pat's office. Pat wants her to stop and leave. She continues to badger him - He tries to interject comments but she shuts him up before he can speak. She blasts him about his treatment towards her while she lived in his house; how he gave preferential treatment towards Steffie over her. He can only listen to her arguments.

* Nellie cries to Balbina about having to leave the castle.

* MC tells Pat that she doesn't want his last name or money or anything from him or Ceci; only to be left in peace and never to see them ever again. MC stomps out.

* MC rides her bike along the street.

* Cande sits and plays with JM Jr. in the living room. MC rolls into the room, crying, and tells Cande that it's true, the Velardes are her real parents. Cande leaves MC with JM Jr. MC cries to her son about her broken heart and her regrets over arguing with Pat, her real dad.

* At the castle, Balbina talks with Mayita about Nellie leaving on a trip. Mayita and Cuate leave the play room.

* In Nellie's room, Mayita asks Nellie about her trip. Nellie explains why she's taking it as well as promises to return with gifts for Mayita. Mayita is excited about the gifts.

* Back in her bedroom, Blanca cries to Rocio about her worries and fears over returning to the castle. Rocio has to work hard to calm Blanca down. Mayita enters and hugs Blanca and welcomes her back to the castle. Mayita then informs her and Rocio that Nellie is leaving on a trip. Mayita leaves. Rocio assures Blanca that there is definitely nothing to worry about. Blanca is content.

* MC, in her costume backstage, is off in her own little thought bubble. Amador comes up behind her and tries to get her to focus on the performance tonight. MC is thinking about her argument with Pat but covers with a story about her nerves. Amador introduces her to the new leading man for the play (Ramon?). Ramon(?) leaves for his dressing room. Amador asks MC what's really the matter?

* Omar and JM are talking in the living room about Blanca's court trial - the shooting - the verdict. JM informs Omar that Blanca is back living at the castle with him. Omar is stunned.

* MC tells Amador that she now knows the truth - that Pat and Ceci are her real parents. Amador says he knows - everyone does. MC is upset and crying about learning the truth; all the questions she needs answered. Amador works to calm her down and focus on her performance tonight. He pushes her onstage - she takes her place but her mind is still thinking about Pat and Ceci.

* Omar finds Blanca sitting in the kitchen. She's startled by his voice.

* Mayita talks with Granny in fantasyland about Nellie's sudden vacation trip. Granny doesn't think Nellie will be leaving.

* Omar enters the kitchen and Blanca is impactado as they stare at each other.

* Granny and Mayita finish their talk. Granny blesses her and they kiss and hug good night.

* JM presents Omar to Blanca. Omar tells him that Blanca is impactado by him. Blanca shakes it off as Balbina enters to tells JM that Mayita is waiting for him to kiss her good night. He leaves with Balbina. Omar asks Blanca if she remembers him.

* Back in her dressing room, MC is still visibly upset. Amador is so excited over her success in the stage play and tells her to continue to focus on her career and forget all about Pat and Ceci - she doesn't need them; in fact he tries to convince her to hate them for abandoning her.

* Omar talks with Blanca about a woman he once knew that looks surprisingly like her. She stares at him in silence.

* Olga helps MC get ready for the next act in the play.

* Omar gives Blanca a compliment. He then explains his friendship - brotherhood with JM. Blanca is nervous and leaves. Omar thought bubbles about Blanca and Ivette. JM enters and talks with Omar about Blanca and her mental disorder.

* At the cafe restaurant, Nellie and Isa have lunch and discuss Viv's past crimes, that she wasn't really pregnant and that JM brought her killer back to the castle. Isa is intrigued.

* Cande sorts out sweet rolls into a basket at the table - she talks to herself about Olga and MC.

* MC is in the living room, playing with JM Jr. Amador watches and comments. MC assures him of her goal to work and raise her son. Amador reads the paper and then shows her the article about JM and Blanca (Blanca's release).

* Nellie and Isa continue their discussion about Blanca. Nellie is paranoid that Blanca could snap and kill again. Nellie grumbles about Blanca and JM's marriage plan.

* Amador is critical about JM and Blanca getting married - MC gets really annoyed and irritated and tells Amador to stop.

* Nellie thought bubbles in her room about her plan for revenge in her daughter's memory.

* MC continues to scold Amador - Amador leaves for work. MC holds JM Jr. and tells him that the two of them are family and will always be together.

* Rocio and Blanca talk in the bedroom - Rocio wants to give Blanca a make-over. Blanca is nervous and refuses (because of her other personality).

* Rocio walks into the hallway and takes the phone from Balbina. Ceci is on the phone, asking for MC's address. Rocio doesn't have it yet, but when she does, she will call. Ceci will be patient and wait.

* Omar and JM meet with Padre in the family room. Omar tells Padre about talking with Liria and his plans to return to the hacienda soon. Omar leaves. JM and Padre talk about JM's continual, undying love for MC and that he knows about her son.

* Cande and MC feed JM Jr. and talk about the baptism.

* JM tells Padre that Amador will be her husband, since he is her baby's father. Padre is impactado and tells JM, 'that's a lie!" JM is stunned and asks, 'then who's the father?" Padre comes right out and says, 'You are!'

* Steffie keeps Isa company at the restaurant. Isa relays the information from Nellie about JM and Blanca at the castle. Steffie doesn't see any point or motive to interfere. Isa thinks there must be a way to do something.

* JM is confused by Padre telling him one thing and MC telling him something else - he doesn't know what to believe. Padre assures him that he is the father of MC's son; that MC told him so herself at the church right before he helped her leave town many months ago and hide out at Omar's hacienda with fake names. Padre tells JM the entire story, the cover-up, everything. JM wonders about all the secrets? Why did they need to do that? Padre says MC is the only one who can answer that.

* In the audience at the theater, MC talks with another actor as they finish for the night.

* JM confronts Cande at the apartment door about where MC is. Cande won't tell him and wonders why he wants to see her; what ties he has with her? JM says it's because of their son. Cande is impactado.

* Nellie returns to the castle and asks Balbina about her room; in an instant, Nellie fakes a back injury and Balbina comes to her aid.

* In the room, JM asks MC point-blank why all the lies and secrets about their son? MC says that her baby is hers alone. JM doesn't believe it and demands an answer. She finally says, "for love. I did it for love."

ADVANCE: Blanca wants JM; Nellie is suspicious and paranoid about her; JM confronts MC about her secrets and their son.

Labels: Cuidado

Tonight’s competition begins in the underground parking lot, where Patricio has brought a giant bouquet of roses to give to Candy. (I wonder if flowers are cheaper in Mexico. They’re always giving these gigantic bouquets. As someone who just gave my beautiful wife a dozen roses for Valentine’s Day (and we’re also planning our daughter’s wedding, for which the flower bill is humongous), I know flowers aren’t cheap here, but who knows what it’s like in Guadalajara? Ed’s bouquet from the other day must have been about 6 dozen).

Oh, sorry, almost forgot we have a show to recap. Anyway, Santi throws a bucket of water on Pat, to douse his flames, and after Candy says she had it under control, Pat returns the favor, and they’re both wet. Pat’s not upset about being wet, ‘cause he’s an eagle, and eagles can be happy when they’re wet from head to toe (in Spanish they say de la pie a la cabeza). Turns out this is the symbol of the Américas fútbol club, and when Santi realizes that both he and Pat are Américas, they high five and jump up and down to the consternation of Candy, who as we know, likes the arch rival Chivas.

Back at the mansion, Paulina confirms by cell that there are two tickets ready for New York, including one for Rocío. She then continues with her plan to get Rocío to come to live with her. Rocío is upset that her Dad and Mari are going to have a little boy, when she wanted a sister. Paulina uses dollhouse furniture to show how she’s making a pretty room just for Rocío, when Rocío comes to her house. Rocío wants to bring her dog, Pau is allergic to animals, but says the dog can come. Rocío wonders if her Dad will let her go. Sure, responds Pau. You know that once that little hermanito is born, your Dad won’t have any time for you. So of course he'll be happy for you to go with me. But remember, let’s keep this all a big secret.

Meño wondered why Gregoria wasn’t at dinner last night. Gregoria was with an amigo (which of course means a MALE friend), and Meño is surprised. He notices that Greg is quite content today. Well, she has her health, her grandson is healthy too, it’s a pretty day. Right, but yesterday you had all that, too. Did something happen? Meño assures Greg it’s not a sin to have a partner and make love! Gregoria is shocked, and points out she’s a widow and would you please stop talking about disgusting things (cochinadas).

In the parking lot, Pat has gone to change. Santi doesn’t have anything to change into, so he’s going home, but he also wants Candy’s help with the patient who was hurt by the quack doctor. Candy reminds him that her sister Verónica died from a guy who was Santi’s friend, and Santi reminds her that as soon as he found out, he reported the guy. Anyway, he’s cold now, so he goes to change.

We next see them in Santi’s clinic, and the patient with the botched surgery is in a hospital bed, her daughter by her side. Santiago introduces Candy, who has an Institute to help people with their emotional problems. Candy tells her not only will they help with emotional support, they’ll help sue the quack doctor, just give her the doctor’s address and she’ll start investigating.

Pat arrives home to a friendly Alicia, who says she’s much calmer now (then when he left her after sex, telling her he didn’t love her), and everything’s fine. No, responds Pat, your little plan didn’t work. The plan with the photo. Yes, Candy criticized him at first, and that wasn’t “sexy”. But now she has agreed to be the model, so ha ha. So everything’s fine, right, coos Alicia. No, snaps Pat. It’s not fine. I’m angry. He drops her photo face down on the desk, and says “Goodbye, louse” (his other favorite word, piojosa).

Bárbara enters Candy’s office to find that Candy is still upset about the patient with the botched surgery (whose name is Elvira). Barb sees Candy is working on her column, and inquires about this week’s theme. It’s infidelity, but not with men, with women. What does a woman do when she likes two guys (sound familiar?). Barb has the answer. She suffers. When a man has two women, he celebrates. When a woman has two guys and can’t decide, she suffers. Speaking of suffering, Barb implores Candy to be nicer to Cecilia. Candy says she really can’t think about that now, and besides, she has a matter to take care of. She wants to check out a doctor who is disfiguring patients.

You may recall the other day, Hortensia tried her mighty best to keep someone (can’t remember who) from bothering Santi, but when the person burst in anyway, Santi acted thrilled to see them, scolding Hortensia (in a playful way) for not admitting this person Santi was just dying to see. Well, they repeat the joke twice tonight. Paulina is stopped by loyal Hort, and they have a little tete a tete, with mutual insults (e.g., when Pau calls Hortensia señora, Hort correct it to señorita, and Paulina says, oh, still?) Anyway, Hort is firmly insisting Pau needs an appointment, but Santi enters, and of course he’ll see Paulina, what was Hort thinking? As Pau goes off to the office, Hort begs Santi not to ring the bell, and he tells her no way, I’d first ring it with you, which has her dreamin’of bliss.

So what did Pau want? She SAYS she wants him to operate on her, but he’s not falling for this, first recommending another doctor who was second in Santi’s class (we know who was first), then suggesting a padded bra (brassier relleno), which Pau doesn’t find too funny. Santi’s phone rings, and it’s Marissa, whom Santi proceeds to sweet talk for Pau’s benefit. The banter continues as Santi talks about protecting himself from snakes (like Paulina), but Pau says he seemed to like her when they were IN BED the other day. Not any more, and close the door on your way out. He claps his hands, Hort appears to usher Miss EX out.

Back in Candy’s office, it’s time for another visitor, this time Soledad, who feels pretty bad. She knew Pat was a married man, but he didn’t love his wife, so she thought….Candy points out that the majority of women who go out with married men think the guy will divorce, but it almost never happens. Soledad sadly relates how things were going well until Pat discovered Candy was alive. Candy consoles her, noting how strange it is, she’s still married to Pat, so she’s the wife, consoling the lover! They laugh and hug.

Ed thinks they’re losing money, first with Natalie leaving, and now Santi is going to operate for free on Doña Elvira. Santi says it’s not that much money, they have 25 patients a day, and it’s getting him in good with Candy. Into her bed? Inquires Ed. No, no, he just wants to help Candy stop the charlatan who disfigured Elvira, Ed is for that, since these guys give the good doctors like them a bad name.

Candy, meanwhile, has found the guy’s address. The man who answers the door says the doctor (Doctor Hurtado, how appropriate!) hasn’t been there for a few days, and he doesn’t know the guy’s home address. Candy is about to leave when the guy (apparently wowed by Candy’charm) calls her back, adding that Dr. Hurt is in jail. He’s had tons of lawsuits by women on whom he operated and left in horrible conditions. Candy is impactada.

Meño is giving his salsa class to about six happy young ladies, with Gregoria observing in the back of the room. The class ends, and he’ll see them next Tuesday, reminding them to “loosen their hips”, but only with dancing, please! They leave, and it’s Gregoria’s turn! At first she resists, but he charms her into letting go of some of her inhibitions.

In the restaurant, Patricio gives Toño a wad of bills. T excitedly goes over to Zamora to let him know they’ve been hired to give a serenade for Candy at 10:00 tonight. Zamora quickly makes sure he gets all the bills, and tells T that they can do a double serenade, because he’s just been hired, too!

Bárbara is back in Candy’s office, having made the decision to adopt the baby from Renata’s friend. Candy is happy for her, but Barb is sad and frustrated, because she lost contact with the woman. Barb had been contacting the pregnant woman through Renata, the woman who had been injected with oil into her body. But Renata has died! It was massive organ failure. Candy is stricken with sadness, but hopes that at least something good will happen, because that woman’s story prompted Candy’s column last week, warning women NEVER to inject anything into their bodies, without real medical supervision.

We go to commercial, and it’s for tonight’s Christina, which is about (you guessed it) the horrors of plastic surgery done by incompetent or fake doctors. Good timing, no?

Gregoria’s dance lesson is over, and she’s happy, but exhausted and a bit sore. Meño reminds her to come again next week, and tries to get her to have fun, he’s sorry he jumped to the conclusion about her male friend, but she should enjoy herself. She says she dances alone (but I’m not so sure).

Santi consoles Candy about Renata, saying it was a lost cause, but Candy’s column did some good. As they hug, he sneaks a little kiss on her head (and she doesn’t recoil, as she did with Ceci). He then thanks the Virgencita de Zapopan. Candy wonders why. Well, he prayed he wouldn’t rip off Candy’s clothes and make love to her right there on the sofa! Candy pushes him away, and he cries out, “It’s a miracle! Thank you for separating us. Thank you Virgencita”, as Candy gives him a look and he gives a guilty little boy look back.

It’s a late dinner at Candy’s house. Chava and Charly are eating, Gregoria is serving, Meño is cooking and Candy is in her bedroom. We get ready for the central scene of tonight’s episode. The doorbell rings, Chava and Charly rush to answer, and when they and Meño see who it is, Chava is dispatched to get Candy at top speed. Candy runs down to see a romantic band of mariachis enter the house, led by Zamora and Toño, but followed by a smiling Patricio, as they sing Solamente Una Vez Ame en la Vida (you only love once in your life, which is of course Pat’s song). This goes on for a few bars, until the song changes to Shark in View, and Santi sings his way in, bearing another large bouquet of roses. He stops the music, and tells Candy he is not going to marry Marissa, because he loves Candy. At this, Meño and Charly look happy, Gregoria looks sad. Santi says now let’s shout the song Prisionero, but Zamora needs some more money for that. Santi pays they start singing, and PAT stops the music. He wants his song again, which requires more payment. Then back to Santi with his song (and more bills). But Candy flashes to Marissa showing her the sonagrams, and decides this has to stop. She asks Santi how can he DARE to serenade her, when she is here with her HUSBAND (she grabs Pat’s arm). Santi doesn’t believe her. She told him she had broken up with Pat, didn’t love him anymore. He doesn’t believe her. Oh no?, she challenges, and lays a big wet kiss on Patricio! Zamora wants Santi to fight back, but he’s a gentleman, and he gracefully exits, telling the guys they can sing Solamente Una Vez. But after he leaves, Candy is affected by his actions, and stops the singers.

A distraught Santi is sitting in his car in the dark, telling himself he’s an idiot, when he sees himself sitting in the other seat, and his other self tells him he should definitely be with Marissa, raise her child, Rocío likes her, what was he thinking? But he loves Candy, responds good Santi. Oh what is love, says the other Santi. It’s really overrated. No, love is hard work, and you have to keep fighting for it every day, responds the true Santi, who thinks he’s going nuts. He calls Marissa, though, and tells her he loves her and misses her.

Cut to Marissa, telling Raúl she doesn’t believe a word of it. Santi is just saying these things because he wants the baby to develop properly. Santi just loves the baby, and once the baby is born, Santi won’t want anything to do with Mari. Raúl promises he won’t let anything happen to Mari, since he once lost his wife and child, and he can’t permit any harm to come to Mari. He’ll take care of her. Mari says don’t worry about my health, maybe you should worry about my future husband (and we hear an ominous sound effect). What are you saying, replies a concerned Raúl. Well just imagine a man who has to be married to a woman he doesn’t love, she answers.

Back at Candy’s, she tells Pat that the kiss she gave him was a lie, she just did it to get rid of Dr. Plástico. Pat says it wasn’t a lie, she loves him. Candy then grabs Zamora and shoots back you’re not going to make me kiss Zamora to get rid of you, are you? Zamora puckers up, but Chava comes downstairs, wants a goodnight kiss from Pat. He gets one, and one from Candy, who then tells everyone that’s it for the kisses. Pat disagrees, and says he’ll keep coming back and coming back and coming back, which prompts the guys to sing Volver (to come back, or return), at which point Candy says okay, leave the house. Of course they sing Volver y Volver again.

Candy, Meño and Gregoria discuss what happened. Meño thinks she was crazy to kiss Patricio when she doesn’t love him. Gregoria thinks it was okay. Meño cautions Candy that she made a big mistake with Pat the first time, don’t do it again. Now Gregoria agrees with Meño, saying Pat is the husband of Alicia, and is still married to Candy, and is the father of Candy’s child, and is also the father of Soledad’s child, and she’s getting a headache, she’s going to bed. She leaves, and Meño implores Candy not to let her true love for Santi slip away. But she can’t get the ultrasound pictures out of her mind. Okay, fine, he’s washing his hands of it, says Meño. In her bedroom, Candy screams her name into the pillow, over and over.

Back home, Santi can’t take it anymore, and dials Candy’s number. He immediately tells her not to hang up, please just hear him out. He knows he left like a rat abandoning a burning ship, but the truth is this: When she hears him say “I do” in the church, don’t believe it. When she sees him put that ring on Marissa’s finger, don’t believe it. When she sees him acting all happy, don’t believe it. Because that kiss of Pat killed him. It just killed him. On the other end of the phone, MEÑO apologizes for answering Candy’s phone, but he understands very clearly that Santi will never kiss him (hah!).

After the commercial, we have a funny segment in which Candy is taking the “before” pictures of Zamora and Toño for her image design project. Zamora is worried that he doesn’t look too good (he doesn’t), but Candy (with Soledad, Chayo and Lulu looking on bemusedly) tells him he should just look natural. So they all have great fun posing for Candida’s camera.

Over to our recurring joke with Santi telling Hortensia not to let anyone in, even family and friends, after which Patricio rings the bell, walks into the office, Santi greets him warmly, and Hortensia has to do a 180 and act as if she meant to welcome him in all the time. Santi begins by wondering if Pat is convinced to have plastic surgery, since he’s Santi’s worst client, already having a perfect face, but actually Pat is serious, and he came to apologize, as he didn’t realize that Santi cared so much about Candy. Pat thinks that changed everything. Santi negates this, saying that Pat is Candy’s husband, he can reconquer Candy, Santi is going to marry Marissa, there’s nothing else they can do, and he and Pat should be friends. They shake hands.

Charly spies a hot motorcycle. Lucía is worried about the danger. Charly pooh poohs that, he’s tough, and in response to Luc’s concerns about the money, Charly simply states he’ll just ask his Dad, who owes him. Why does Meño owe Charly? Because of all those years of no gifts, after Meño left, this’ll make up for that. Lucía is still worried about an accident (and we telenovela fans know this worry is justified).

We see a close up of Zamora, with a hand squeezing his cheeks. It’s Chayo, who’s getting ideas for the makeover. Zamora is afraid. Toño says Zamora is afraid of losing what little hair he has left. Candy and Chayo whisper in each other’s ears their plans, as Zamora and Toño cower in fear. It doesn’t help when Chayo says they’re going to look “divine”. Uh oh!

Paulina tells Santi that Rocío has to study in the U.S. She can’t understand why Santi would want Rocío to study in Mexico, when everyone wants to go to the U.S. No, counters Santi. He lives here, he studied here, he’s done very well. Rocío will study here, period. Well then, why don’t the two of you come to my house in New York for a while, hisses back our sneaky snakette. Then we’ll let our baby girl decide. No way, says Santi, and besides, what about my wedding? Well, I wasn’t even invited, says Pau. Okay, fine, I hereby invite you, but remember, I am the father of our daughter and I have custody. And until she’s 18, I make the decisions, and she’s not going to live with you period. Aren’t you going to listen to your daughter? Shoots back Pau. She’s a person, she can talk, and here she is! Rocío enters on cue, and Paulina takes her into her lap, and smugly says “Okay, baby girl. Tell your Daddy that you want to live with your Mamá!”

Next time: Pat begins his reconquest with a gigantic heart, made of roses.

Labels: Tontas