Caray, Caray!

Melquíades confesses to the murder of BP and trying to kill Santos. Santos tells the judge that he has no alternative to releasing DB.

The doctor (this actor played a doctor on La Traición, too) tells Antonio that his recommendation is that Lucía have a therapeutic abortion. Antonio asks if there is any alternative. The doctor says no. Lucía refuses. She says that her child will be born. She has to be born.

Melesio says that María Nieves and Altagracia can get married and without delay since he guesses that she she has thrown her bonnet over the windmill as they used to say.

The judge signs DB's release order and tells Santos not to darken his door again. When Santos leaves, the judge says that he is going to have a big problem with the Don.

Melquíades gives DB some advice before he is taken to jail. He tells her that he won't leave her alone for too long and to watch out for the Los Mondragón because they have changed bosses.

El Sapo offers to pay for dresses that Marisela is looking at in a store.

Someone is stealing cattle from Don Encarnación and the trail leads back to El Miedo. DE concludes that DB is responsible.

Marisela throws the dress at Sapo and tells him that he should be glad her boyfriend Santos Luzardo isn't there or he would be arrested for lack of respect. She stomps out calling him a pig.

Santos takes DB back to the hotel. She thinks things are back to the way they were with Santos but he asks her who Fidell Castell is.

Marisela tells herself that she has seen El Sapo's face somewhere before but she can't remember where.

El Sapo is confused about Santos. He says that he wants to get to know him. (I thought he had already put a hit out on Santos.)

DB pretends that she hasn't heard of Fidell Castell. She is saved from having to answer by the appearance of Marisela. DB is impactada. Santos tells DB that Marisela came with him and she will stay with him. DB calles them traitors.

Pajarote calls MN a traitor and MN tells him to hurry up and get his ternera.

Genoveva is down in the dumps because she doesn't have a boyfriend. She asks for advice from the other terneras and they all start to talk at once.

Santos calls Gonzalo and asks him to find out what he can about Fidell Castell.

A soldier tells El Sapo about Santos. The lieutenant says that Sapo is an idealisitic romantic. He is like the gentlemen of the past with his rectitude and attachment to the law and justice. El Sapo asks how a guy like Santos got invovled with DB. The lieutenant say that everyone knows that DB is a witch. He says that no one she gets her claws in escapes. El Sapo points out that Santos seemed to have escaped and the soldier says that Santos is also very tenacious. When he takes on something, he sees it through.

Antonio thinks that Lucía should put her life before the baby's but she thinks otherwise. She wants Antonio to promise that if he has to choose between the baby and her, he will choose the baby. Antonio is saved from having to promise by meeting Marisela and Santos.

El Sapo tells the lieutenant that he has to do something to get Santos to open his eyes. He says that he has an old memory that will work. The judge arrives and confesses to El Sapo that he had no choice but to release DB from prison. El Sapo is furious. He hits the judge and calls him an idiot, tells him to go away and wait for more instructions. Fausto tells El Sapo that Melquíades is dangerous and El Sapos orders that he be eliminated. El Sapo is more interested in learning about Santos. Fausto says that Santos has behaved very strangely. They sent him the diary so he could use it against DB and he didn't use it. El Sapo tells Fausto to send for Guerrero, the soldier who told them about how he was served 'Arroz con Meléndez.' He might be able to tell El Sapo more about Santos.

Marisela tells Santos about the gross old guy she saw in the store. She is sure that she has seen him somewhere before.

Genoveva tells Santos and Marisela that MN is going to marry Altagracia. Genoveva tells Marisela that she is afraid of turning into an old maid. Marisela comforts her.

In a very funny scene, MN and Altagracia come to see Bartolo. They find him reading pornography. Altagracia tells Bartolo that they have come to give him two pieces of news: one good and one bad. The dim Bartolo can't see what is going on but Mujica knows right away. He tells Bartolo that he told him before that he would never end up with someone as beautiful as Altagracia. Now Bartolo has been touched by the bad luck of the Mujicas in love. Altagracia tells Bartolo that the good new news is that she is getting married and the bad news is that she isn't going to marry Bartolo. She is going to marry MN.

DB runs into Acosta in the street. She tells him to tell Pernalete and Mujica that they should be careful because she is back and more dangerous than ever.

Altagracia tells Bartolo that she is sure that he will find another girl who is more hygenic than she is. She says that MN is not at all afraid of germs and she and MN proceed to french kiss while Bartolo watches in a combination of fascination and disgust. When they leave, Bartolo starts to cry and Mujica reminds Bartolo that he taught him that big boys don't cry. At this moment Acosta drops the bombshell that DB is free and is furious. Mujica says that he and Pernalete are dead men.

DB returns to El Miedo and has a joyous reunion with Eustaquia. DB tells Eustaquia how Melquíades sacrificed himself for her. She says that Santos and Marisela are traitors. Then she asks where everybody, Los Mondragón, in particular, are.

Los Mondragón are celebrating the fact that they are making it look like DB stole cattle but they don't have to share any of the money with her.

Antonio tells Santos how hard it is to put on a good face while Lucía gets worse every day.

Oops, ran out of time. See y'all when I get back.

Labels: barbara

Sorry again that I am so far behind on Cuerpo recaps. I am going on vacation today and won't be back until March 14. Cuerpo is ending on March 20.

Mon., Feb. 15
We zip to the night before the wedding and Camilo drives PJ/S to the Donoso house for an untraditional bachelor celebration.

Of course, he decides to go to the Donoso house and play the one and only piece that PJ apparently knew. Abigail tells Simón that PJ/S has to answer a lot of questions about the mysterious midnight concerts. This night, for instance, she hears a lot of anger in his music. Valeria feels that PJ isn't playing for her tonight.

Next morning Gaetana wakes PJ/S up (in his Ralph Lauren Polo pj's). She says that she wishes he would change his mind and not make the same mistake again. PJ/S says that this time it will be Isabel making the mistake, not him.


Isabel is unhappy with her makeup stylist and hairdressers and they leave in a huff. Valeria comes to help her get ready.
Tuesday Feb. 17 -

Gaetana and Matilda are a class act in their get ups to go to the wedding.

PJ/S waits at the altar.


The happy couple.



Rebeca brings Cantalicia to the Church.

Cantalicia interrupts the ceremony.

Gaetana waits an incredibly long time before she hustles Cantalicia out.


You may kiss the bride.

Wednesday, Feb. 18

The the reception, the newlyweds dance and for the second time, Isabel sees PJ when she looks at PJ/S.

Tio Felipe takes Cantalicia back to Las Cruces.

PJ/S tells Isabel that Gaetana is his best friend and he invited her to the wedding. Isabel demands an explanation.

Labels: cuerpo

Well, I’m glad I recharged my beanie early this weekend because I needed it for one last fling with FELS on the show Tras La Verdad. This isn’t a recap of the show, just my personal epitaph.

I have to admit that as stupid as most parts of this TN was, it wasn’t until seeing the clips from the show tonight that I realized I was really going to miss it. Laugh at me if you want, I’m sentimental sometimes. When I was little girl my mother said I used to cry whenever my father bought a new car, because I felt bad for the old one! LOL! No tears for FELS, like I had for Alborada and Pasion, though. But I will miss some of the characters, the good and the bad. The audacity of Gabriela, the psychotic Feo (Cantú - who was probably the best actor of all), Oscar, who of the three brothers was the most likeable, and Jimena, the most likeable of the three sisters. I will not miss Sofia, Quintina, or Eva, at all. C’mon, you know you’ll miss it a little bit, right?

I loved the theme song and I miss hearing it daily. In fact, the Friday of the last capitulo I was riding on a bus in Mexico City and the bus driver had a Vicente Fernandez CD playing, and “Para Siempre” came on, and I thought of all of us that were going to be so happy this TN was finally over.

Some chisme related to FELS that I’m sure most of you already know, but in case you don’t: Tio Elf is Vicente Ferdandez, Jr., son of Vicente Fernandez, the most famous singer probably of all time in Mexico (who sings the theme song, “Para Siempre”), and brother of Alejandro Ferndandez who is a great singer also, and incredibly gorgeous! Vicente Jr. (Tio Elf) was kidnapped for ransom a few years back, and they cut off two of his fingers from the knuckle. I don’t think they showed his fingers in the TN, but I’ve seen him in concert with his father and it’s very obvious. Also, the host of the show “Tras La Verdad”, Mara Patricia Castañeda, married Vicente Jr., about a year ago.

It was really fun watching FELS with all of you, I enjoyed every recap with all of the laughs and pure snark. Thanks again to everyone!

Labels: Fuego

El Sapo says that finally he is face to face with DB. She asks what he wants with her and he says that he wants to destroy her, crush her like a cockroach.

Marisela and Santos apologize to each other: he for being so hard on her and she for being silly. Santos says that he has realized that the only woman that he loves is her. Marisela says that she wants to be Santos' friend, his companion, his girlfriend. She says that she wants to do everything for him. She just asks that he not stop loving her. Santos tells her that she is all that and much more.

Eustaquia gives Melquíades money and asks God to protect him. Melquíades says that even if God doesn't protect him, he will still save DB.

El Sapo tells DB that she is only getting out of prison feet first. DB replies that he shouldn't be so confident. His friends tried the same thing and they are all dead. DB tells El Sapo that she is the Doña and she will see him dead. El Sapo is unimpressed. He says that she is nothing while he has all the power in the world. Then he asks DB about Marisela.

Santos tells Marisela that he has to get DB out of prison but he doesn't know how he will do it.

María Nieves surprises Altagracia washing clothes alone by the river. He says that he has come to talk to her. When she refuses he puts her over his shoulder and carries her off.

El Sapo waves the guards away. He says that DB is silent. Is she afraid that he will do the same thing to her daughter that he did to her? DB says that she doesn't care what happens to her daughter. El Sapo says that he thinks DB does care about her daughter and that DB is dying of jealousy because Santos is with her daughter. He laughs at the idea of the man eater being in love with an idiot; the dog of the Arauca melting for a man. He tells her that he is going to mess with everyone who is important to her. He admits to trying to kill Santos and says that the next time, he won't fail. He tells DB that he knows that Santos is her Achilles heel. She will see him fall in front of her eyes and the more she begs for mercy, the worse the end of Santos Luzardo will be.

A doctor tells Antonio and Lucía that Dr. Arias' tests weren't conclusive. He says that she needs to have more test with more advanced equipment right away.

MN takes Altagracia to the hut where he and Pajarote live. He tells her not to talk but to listen to him. He wants to talk to her about his love for her. "I think about you all day, Altagracia," he says, "When I get up, you are the dew (rocío) that bathes me. When I am thirsty, you are clear, cool water and when I am hot, you are the breeze that washes over me, no not me, my soul. When I work, you are my pasture (potrero), my savannah, my river, my pool and at night, you are my moon. You are everything to me Altagracia. I can't live without you. What other pretty words do you want me to say?"

Altagracia tells him that he didn't have to say all that. She only wants him to tell her that he loves her. "Only that?" asks MN, "I love you," he says with his sweet smile.

"Say it louder," says Altagracia. "I love you (te quiero)" he says louder, No, I adore you. No, no, I love you! (te amo)" he yells. The pleasantries having been complied with, they immediately have sex.

Pernalete and Mujica tell Fausto that even though DB is in prison, she is still alive and they are terrified that she will take vengeance on them. Fausto assures them that DB has lost all her power and will shortly be pushing up the daisies. "When I see it, I'll believe it," says Pernalete. He says that DB has more lives than a cat and her enemies end up being eaten by piranhas or in the jaws of the Bramador.

DB tells El Sapo that she will destroy him and his family. El Sapo says that he doesn't have a family. A family and power are incompatible. He says that thousands of people do what he wants because he gives them what they need to live. His legitimate businesses are just fronts (fachadas) for his real business. DB asks what that business is, raping young girls? killing lawyers, beating up old women? She suggests that he let her go so that they can confront each other as equals. Sapo says that he doesn't need to rape young girls, they give themselves to him easily. He says that now he is as powerful as a god. He is called 'The king of the Pacific' and has more power than presidents because for a little white powder, people are ready to kill. DB says that Sapo is an abortion of nature and she will make sure that he ends up where he belongs - in hell.

I would have said that having sex in a hammock is impossible or at least rather dangerous but MN and Altagracia seem to have made it happen to their mutual satisfaction.

DB says that she can see that Sapo is afraid of her. Sapo laughs and says that he isn't afraid of her. She is a broken down old witch who can't has lost her man to her daughter. He says that he feels sorry for her. This is the end for her. DB says that he is lying. This is the beginning. He is the only one missing to end a cycle of death and torture. She says that when she kills him, she will be reborn more powerful than ever. She will get back the peace and happiness that was taken from her when she was a girl. She then lays a really heavy curse on him calling on the dark forces of the universe and accompanied by reverb and native music.

She tells him that he will die the most horrible death of all her rapists. Sapo says that he doesn't believe in any of that. It is she who will die, with her daughter, her 'doctorcito' (Santos), Eustaquia and the mangy Indian that protects her. "All of them will die! And I am going to watch them in their last moments.. one by one, slowly." He leaves.

The clerk at the hotel offers Santos and Marisela the honeymoon suite but Santos says that he wants two separate rooms. Marisela looks disappointed. She is clearly ready to go all the way with Santos but now he is holding back.

Altagracia tells MN that from this day forward they are one, she is his and he is hers. She is his woman and he is her man. She says that they are husband and wife (marido y mujer). She says that when they get married, they will be more, they will be.. [and here we have a problem with the English. Altagracia says that when are are married they will be 'esposos,' which means the same as 'marido y mujer.' In fact, having seen many weddings on novelas, that is what the priest says at the end of the ceremony, "I pronounce you 'marido y mujer.' There is no word in English that seems to correspond to persons in the committed state of being a couple but who are not actually married.] MN suggest that they practice for when they get married.

Sapo tells Fausto that DB spoke to him in a way that froze his blood. Fausto says that surely Sapo doesn't believe in that kind of thing but Sapo says that for the first time in his life, he feels that there is a true enemy in front of him.

Santos tells the judge that all the actions having to do with DB have been corrupt and full of irregularities. He is DB's lawyer and he wasn't even notified of her transfer to San Fernando. Santos asks who is behind the accusation against DB. The judge replies that he will find that out at the appropriate time. Santos says that he isn't some lawyer just starting out. He and the judge know perfectly well that as DB's attorney, he is entitled to know everything about the case. He demands to know the name of the person who has accused DB. The judge tells Santos that if he wants that information, he has to file the appropriate papers with his secretary. Santos says that the secretary told him that he needed the judge's permission. Santos says that he will take the matter to a higher judicial authority. The judge tells Santos to do what he like. Everyone knows that he has an unblemished record ('expediente impoluto').

Sapo tells Faust that he can't forget DB's face. There was something in it that he didn't like. Fausto tells him not to worry. DB is in jail and can't do anything against him. Sapo reminds Fausto that she killed Meléndez against all probability. Everyone knows that she is an evil witch (bruja mala) and even though he doesn't believe in such things, witches can fly on brooms. '(de que vuelan, vuelan,' literally, 'they that fly, fly.' According to what I found on the internet, this is part of a Venezuelan expression, "Yo no creo en brujas, pero de que vuelan, vuelan.") Sapo tells Fausto that to be on the safe side, they should have DB killed immediately.

In her cell, DB says to herself that Sapo has all the power in the world and he has decided to kill her. She can't let it happen. She won't let him defeat her. She wonders where Santos is.

The terneras are hoping that Santos and Marisela will get together. Bartolo arrives. Melesio tells him that Altagracia isn't there and might not be back for a while. He suggests that Bartolo come back the next day.

Marisela runs into Antonio and Lucía in San Fernando. She says that she came to San Fernando with her boyfriend, Santos, who is defending DB. Antonio says that he is surprised to hear her say that word. " Really, that's too bad. If life gives you lemons, you should make lemonade ('si del cielo caen limones, nos toca hacer limonada, literally, 'if lemons fall from the sky, it's our turn to make lemonade.')

DB is telling herself that Santos has abandoned her and she should just die, when Santos comes to see her. He says that he has come to offer her his services as her lawyer, nothing more. He says that she needs to concentrate on the matter at hand: she has been accused of a crime she didn't commit. He says that the law is on her side and they can confront all her enemies including the one she doesn't want to talk about - Sapo. DB says that Santos shouldn't have come. It is very dangerous for him. She tells him to go away and finally calls the guard to have him shown out.

Marisela tells Antonio and Lucía that Santos believes that DB was brought to San Fernando illegally and that is why he is here to help her. Lucía pleads a headache and leaves. Antonio tells Marisela that Lucía never should have gotten pregnant.

Santos says to himself that something must have happened to frighten DB. He finds out that Fidell Castel was the last person who came to see DB.

Santos tells Marisela that just having her here with him is the biggest help she can give him. She kisses him and he says that if she kisses him again, he won't be able to contain himself and he wants to continue to be a gentleman (caballero) for his lady (dama). Marisela goes into her room asking why Santos has to be such a gentleman.

Pajarote says that now he is alone. All his buddies are chasing after skirts. Genoveva comes and asks him why he isn't worried about Altagracia and Pajorote tells her that Altagracia is in very good company. "Her too?" says Genoveva.

Melquíades tells Santos that he knows what to do to get DB out of prison. Melquíades says that he will speak the truth. Santos asks why Melquíades didn't tell the truth before. He says that things have gone too far and DB is gotten into a situation it will be very difficult to get out of. So he will do what has to do. Santos and Melquíades go to see the judge.

Fausto gives a lot of money to a guard.

Guards come for DB in her cell and she forces them to drag her.

Altagracia brings Melesio to see MN. "It's a miracle that you want to talk" says Melesio to MN, "Ok, son, speak to me." MN hesitates and says that he likes Altagracia. Melesio says that MN has good taste but that 's old news. He asks MN to tell him something new. MN hesitates and then says that Altagracia likes him. "Good, good," says Melesio, "but I already know that song. Sing me something new, something different." Finally, MN stammers out that Altagracia is his fiancée. Genoveva overhears and asks why everyone in this house is getting married and leaving her alone.

The doctor has asked to see Antonio alone to tell him that the results of the tests are worse than they thought. It's Lucía's life or the baby's. She and Antonio have to decide.

Fausto tells El Sapo that he has contracted with an asassin and this time his arrangements won't fail. At his moment, Fausto points Marisela out to El Sapo. Sapo says that he understands why Meléndez went crazy for her. "Finally, I meet you, Marisela," says Sapo to himself.

Santos, Melquíades and DB are before the judge. The judge asks DB if she ordered BP killed. She denies it. The judge says that all the proof points to her employee. Melquíades says that DB didn't do anything. He says that it was he who killed BP and tried to kill Santos.

Labels: barbara

Capítulos 9 & 10

Soledad is still away in the city visiting the lethargic Lil, so Margarita plays lookout as Jacinto rummages around in Sole’s house for Eduardo’s phone number in the States. He plans on going into town to phone him to let him know how sick his mother is. Margarita is anxious for Jacinto to tell Eddie how urgent it is and that he must come home right away to see her.

Gonzo is at his doctor’s appointment and he asks his cardiologist not to let his family know about his heart problems. The specialist says fine as long as Gonzo follows his instructions to the letter. Gonzo says he will, but just because he’s got heart problems doesn’t mean he’s going to make a big deal over it in front of everyone.

At the milk plant, our resident Bad Ass Bitch, aka, Babs, is signing off on a quality control report from one of the workers when Anibal runs in looking for her. He’s got his shorts in a wad because little sis, Fernanda, is the one who gets to make the decision to go with the powdered milk project or not. She’s the only one who can get Gonzo to change his mind about it. He says since Sissy trusts Babs so much that Babs needs to convince her that once the stuff arrives, none of their employees is going to be thrown out onto the street and left without a job.

Babs angrily complains that Fernanda’s problem is that she’s inherited her daddy’s socially charitable tendencies and so Grupo Lactos has moral obligations with rabble throughout the entire region. Suddenly she gets a call from hubby, Gullible Gonzo, and her tone of voice changes to concerned and silky sweet. Gonzo lies that the doctor said he’s just fine and she pretends it’s wonderful news before hanging up. Anibal continues the conversation. He suggests that perhaps Damian, being Nanda’s fiance, could smooth the way for them. Babs feigns shock, shock! at the idea of manipulating his darling sister through Damian.

Back again at the hacienda, Fernanda kisses Damian her “Monstruo” [monster, genius, giant] good-bye. (So, of all the pet names for a lover she comes up with that? Hmm. Let’s see. She hasn’t seen Damian’s bad side yet, and being a telenovela heroine, she’s still a virgin, so I guess she hasn’t got a clue about sizing up his particular…er… situation so to speak, so I guess the next best translation’s got to be “genius”.) She gets the urge to go out back and reminisces through the fountains in the back yard, remembering the happy times when she and Eduardo played together as kids. She’s sad to think that Eddie never kept his word and has apparently forgotten her. (After 14 years and passing through puberty, you sure as heck would hope to think so.) That’s why a year ago (fourteen long years of pining puppy-love later), we learn she decided to finally forget him and start a new chapter in her life.

Eduardo, however, has never gotten down off that puff of cloud-9 of his. He is at that very point in time buying an engagement ring for his gossamer gal before he heads back to Mexico. (Ok. Ok. You’re gonna tell me that a summa cum laude grad student from Harvard Business School doesn’t stop to think that maybe the object of his pre-pubescent dreams might not already be married with five kids by now, or could be into S and M and living in Vegas, or after fifteen years, might have turned out to look like Jaba the Hut’s twin sister and have a personality like Joan Rivers or a mouth like Rosie O’Donnell’s?) Viewerville once again adjusts the foil antenna on its collective beanie.

Jacinto comes back home and tells Margo that although Eduardo wasn’t around, he at least got hold of Ed’s Spanish speaking sexretary, and that he found out Eddie’s on vacation and headed home to Mexico. He’s going to be arriving the following day from the U.S. at the airport in Toluca. Margo says it’s not a moment too soon since Sole’s getting worse. She says that she wants to ask Don Gonzo to put Sole in the hospital, but Jacinto says no, because they both know that Babs will find out and be all over them like a ton of bricks if they try it.

Meanwhile, Gardenia, Margarita’s sister, is at Soledad’s house and trying to nurse Sole as best she can. Lucio knocks on the door to tell her she needs to return to the main house to serve dinner. Margo comes in just then to take a turn nursing Sole and since it’s the cook’s day off, ‘Denia races back to the main house hoping to arrive before BOW notices she’s not there.

Camilo, a grown-up version of the same crude, rude and lude jerk he’s always been, comes in late to dinner. Nanda asks him where Erika is and he makes some stupid joke, which falls flat, about her being on vacation. He blows off the question and says he hasn’t heard from her and says no, he’s not sent Erika packing if that’s what she’s wondering. Nanda says, no, but mentions that it is just so obvious that Camilo’s interest for her friend disappears whenever Santiago (who has been working on some project in Guadalajara for the last six months) is out of the picture for a while. Just then Damian arrives for dinner and very affectionately kisses Nanda “hello”. This secretly ticks Babs off and she goes to see what’s taking so long in the kitchen.

Babs, in a fouler mood than usual, walks into the kitchen just as Denia comes through the back door. Babs instinctively knows that the girl has been tending to Soledad and warns her that if she misses a minute of work because of that old woman again she’s fired. Nanda rushes in at that moment and asks what’s up. BOW immediately turns back into “Miss Congeniality” and says no problem. Gardenia just felt a bit ill but is fine now. Nanda makes a big deal about it and wants Denia to come with her to see the company doctor the next day, then sends her home for the evening and leaves to go back into the dining room. BOW stares daggers at Denia.

Jacinto tells Margo that they’ll have to wait for Eduardo to come home and then let him be the one to decide what do about his mother’s situation.

The next morning Jacinto goes to pick up Ed at the airport, but he doesn’t recognize the only indigenous looking guy in blue-jeans getting off a flight from the States –the one with the uber-large, gaudy, Jollywood shades that scream “Look at me! Look at me!” (Viewerville determines this must be Jacinto’s first time ever inside an airport, because, of course, he doesn’t realize he can have somebody paged and has never seen car services hold up signs for their faceless fares. Jacinto doesn’t do either. Nope, he is just supposed to be another well-meaning country bumpkin who only knows enough to drive to the airport, but not how to think out of the box once he gets there.) Eduardo and Jacinto pass by each other like strangers. Eddie-boy ends up going outside and taking a cab to his mother’s.

Back at Soledad’s, Margo tells Denia where Jacinto’s gone and warns her that absolutely no one can find out that Eduardo’s come back. Denia has heart palpitations at the mere thought of Eduardo, “the handsomest passenger on the plane,” showing up there again. Marge realizes that her little sis still has the hots for Eddie and knows nothing good’s going to come of it.

Back at the main house Nanda and Denia have a chat and Nanda finds out that Soledad is seriously ill. She wants to go to see Soledad immediately but Denia refuses and almost lets the cat out of the bag about why, but then remembers nobody is supposed to find out that Eduardo is back. Nanda wonders what the big deal is that she can’t go with her to see about Sole.

Babs and her assistant are working on the final guest list for the wedding. Babs crosses off Solie and LIl from the list. When her assistant says something about Fernanda possibly being upset over it, Barbie shuts her up with some nasty aside about Fernanda’s not wanting her druggie loon of a sister or some dying old woman there, then summarily kicks her out of her office with a couple of BOW finger snaps.

Nanda has forced Denia to come with her back to Soledad’s house. While they’re walking down the lane towards Soledad’s Damian shows up. He persuades Nanda to come back with him to the main house because he and she need to discuss something important. Denia breathes a sigh of relief for the reprieve.

We beam back to the plant as Babs tells Anibal that instead of talking with Fernanda herself about the powdered milk project, she’s having Damian discuss it with her. Anibal says he hopes Damian does a good job of convincing her because he’s gone ahead and signed the order for the powdered milk already and he doesn’t want his father to can him because of it. Babs thinks to herself that that will be the least of Anibal’s worries once that powdered milk purchase causes the company to go under.

Damian and Nanda are in her daddy’s office at the house. He tries to explain to her that the company needs the powdered milk as a bridging measure for the company to survive and continue growing. She doesn’t want to go against her father because she believes in his judgment and says if he’s against this then there’s got to be a reason for it. (Enough all ready! Will somebody please keep Silvia and Sergio away from the Jolt Cola and the Red Bull? It’s like listening to Alvin and the Chipmunks on speed!! Damn! It’s gonna take true willpower for Viewerville to make it through 175 episodios of “The Hopped-Up Chipmunk Chronicles.”) Damian warns her that without the powdered milk as a break-gap measure to fill all the orders that are coming in, the company will have to forget about their philanthropic projects, the fair and a number of her own personal projects. Daddy’s problem with the idea, though, is that he just doesn’t like being only a prepackaging third-party intermediary, he says.

Fernanda seems to be leaning towards giving Damian her support after hearing his explanation. They head outside and she admits she’d rather he discuss it with Daddy because she’s more interested in checking on her nana, Soledad’s, health right now, and anyway Damian’s got a better grasp of the details than she does. She says she wants to go into town to get Soledad a little get well gift but Damian’s got a meeting he can’t miss and they go their separate ways. As he sends her off he prophetically warns her to drive carefully “because you never know when you’re going to run into some crazy person walking the roads around here.”

Speaking of said crazy person, Eduardo is riding back home in the taxi with roses (and the ring). He reminisces about the fateful day he gave Nanda the locket and she gave him his medallion, and their first kiss. (Sorry, but this is just a bit too weird for me to get my head around. Maybe Damian’s on to something here.) Overcome by nostalgia, Eddie decides to get out from the taxi and continue walking on foot.

Not far from there, Denia and Margo are still nursing Soledad. Denia tells Sole she’d get better if she could see her son but Sole is adamant that Eduardo can never ever return to the hacienda to visit her.

Fernanda has turned out to be a real Valley girl. She’s jabbering a mile a minute on her cell phone about wedding details while speeding along in her car --on the very same country road as Eduardo. She races past and splashes him with a mud puddle. He gets completely soaked. She stops and through her side view mirror sees this hunky looking stranger angrily throwing down the bouquet he was carrying. A very embarrassed Nanda gets out to apologize. The two immediately seem to feel a strong attraction for each other. They share a star-crossed lover’s stare as Uni goes into the commercial break.

The two are still staring at each other as we beam back. Nanda explains (now at a 100 miles a minute) that she wasn’t paying attention and didn’t see Ed because she was too busy talking on her cell (at 100 miles a minute) about all the wedding arrangements she’s got to make. There’s soooo much to do, she prattles on (still at a 100 miles a minute), when planning a wedding, doncha know. He’s taken with her and says, well, no, he wouldn’t know since he’s never been married. Nanda considers this little tidbit for a couple seconds longer than she should. (Methinks that Nanda might have just been struck with her first twinge of doubt now that this hunk has told her he is still unattached.) She says she’s sorry she’s muddied him up. He smiles his hunkalicious smile at her again and politely says, aw shucks, it’s just one more reason to take a bath. (“Bath?” Did you say, “BATH?”) She offers to take him into town so he can at least buy a new bouquet of roses. He accepts.

Back at Soledad’s house Denia, Jacinto and Margo are wondering where Ed could possibly be and why he hasn’t deigned to show up yet. ”What kind of a problem would keep him from coming straight to his mother’s house?” Margo asks if possibly Jacinto missed him in the crowd. Jacinto says he saw every last passenger come through, but then wonders if possibly he didn’t recognize Eddie because he might have changed so much over the years that he couldn’t. (Do ya think?)

In the car Nanda and Ed begin to chat. He is enchanted by her. She jabbers on Valley-style about how many things there are to get done when planning a wedding. He tells her he’s from New York. She wonders why anybody would leave skyscrapers just to wind up there on some back road in the middle of the sticks in Mexico. He’s about to explain when Nanda’s cell rings. She tells the caller that yes, it’s Fernanda Elizalde speaking, the same one who is getting married next Saturday. Eddie is head-pounding, heart-sick impactado and his eyes get the size of fried huevos.

Back at Grupo Lactos’ corporate offices, Damian’s big important meeting is apparently with Babs. She’s pissed that he came back without having convinced Fernanda to immediately intervene with Gullible Gonzo. She tells him to try again and to do it immediately. He calls Fernanda back on her cell but it’s busy. He says he’ll call her again later. That’s not good enough for Babs and she gripes that again she is going to have to do things herself. Damian gets honked off and tells her she can do whatever the heck she wants to --and, I think, he changes inflections to broadly hint she can stick it where the sun don’t shine--then slams the door on his way out.

We get shunted once again to the Mexican countryside. Eduardo can’t believe he’s actually in the same car with and has been listening to his beloved planning details for a wedding with some other man. He gets freaked a second time when Fernanda mentions Barbara Greco, the man-eating hyena, so matter-of-factly. When she finally is off the phone, Eddie plays twenty questions to find out why she’s really getting married. (Ok. Now that is painful to watch—a gorgeous, 40-something hunk playing a lovesick puppy of 25 acting like a jealous, love-struck pre-teen. This is déjà vu all over again…..) She giggles and says for love, of course and then notices that he’s suddenly gotten moody.

Ok. It’s once more over the hill and through the woods to… Soledad’s… house we go. Now Denia is getting angrier by the minute thinking that Eduardo hasn’t come back to the house to see them and his mother because he’s simply gotten too sophisticated to bother with “poor people.” Jacinto gets tired of hearing her constant complaints and says it is very possible that Ed got into a jam of some sort. Well, Denia says, it’s probably better if he doesn’t show up because his coming back could spoil the happy couple’s wedding plans. Margo says that’s never gonna happen; what was between Nanda and Eddie was just kid stuff. (Here, here!) Denia isn’t so sure, though.

Poor Damian, still frustrated over Babs’s bitch session, now gets a call from the other bossy broad in his life, his mama. She’s called him at the office because she simply cannot make up her mind which designer dress to choose for the region’s Wedding of the Century between Sonny and Nanda Elizalde. Damian impatiently tells her to pick any one she likes and to leave him the heck alone at work. He clicks off his cell and fights the urge to (yessssss!) break it.

Fernanda, meanwhile, babbles on to Eddie (still clocking palabras at 100) that she’s marrying a guy named Damian Gallardo. Eduardo is still playing twenty questions and asks how long she’s known him. She says for ten months. Ed then asks if that’s the only man she’s ever loved. She says you could say that, although there was one time before, but it was just kid stuff. This answer seems to really upset him and he suddenly says he wants to be let out of the car. Nanda doesn’t understand since they haven’t gotten to the florist’s yet, but then she smiles innocently at him and asks if she can at least get his name. He stares back at her and fights the urge to tell her off. She smiles back, clueless. Just as he decides how to answer, her cell phone rings again. This time it’s The Fiancé. “Hello, Monstruo!” Eddie swallows the basketball-sized lump in his throat and decides he’s heard enough. Damian asks where she is and who she’s with. Nanda turns back around to look at Eduardo, but he’s already walked off from the jeep. She suddenly deflates and tells Damian that she’s alone.

In Bab’s office back at Grupo Lactos, we learn that Anibal, it seems, has purchased bootlegged powdered milk and Babs is not a happy camper. She’s upset because it’s too big a shipment to keep under wraps. The company transporting it for him, he says, doesn’t know that it’s bootlegged, so he doesn’t think it should be a problem. Babs then asks Anibal if there’s anything else she needs to know about this shipment. (Guess we’ll have to wait for the next capítulo to find out.) Gonzo, meanwhile, is in his own office reading the powdered milk contract and nearly blows a gasket when his secretary informs him that Anibal went ahead and ordered the powdered milk anyway.

Fernanda is now driving on her way back from town and tells Damian that she still hasn’t gone to see Soledad yet. He wonders why not. She fibs and says she punctured a tire and had to have a man fix it for her. It’s gotten late, he says, and she realizes she still needs to meet up with Erika to get her wedding dress fitted. Damian says he’ll pick up Erika for her and then after supper he’ll go with Fernanda to visit Soledad. Just then Fernanda sees Eduardo’s bouquet still lying on the side of the road. She gets distracted by it and stops in the middle of her conversation as she remembers the hunkalicious mystery-man angrily throwing it down after getting splashed.

Our hunkalicious mystery-man meanwhile, walks around town and ends up at Silvestre’s rundown little blacksmith’s shop. He unconsciously tugs at the medallion around his neck and realizes what an idiot he was to come back for Fernanda after so many years. Just then Silvestre walks by him and loses control of his wheelbarrow. Eduardo helps him pick up the fallen tools but the old man no longer recognizes him. Suddenly it hits Eddie that absolutely no one from the little town recognizes him. He walks back toward the market place. One of the women goes running after some guy and calls him Jacinto. Eduardo realizes that the guy is his childhood friend and runs after him. Jacinto doesn’t recognize Eduardo until he mentions the names from their old “Dungeons and Dragons” game. “Are you Jacinto Cordero, El Halcon Azabache?” Jacinto is cautiously suspicious. “--How do you know about that?” Eduardo gets a huge smile on his face. “Jacinto, look at me! I’m El Jinete Justiciero!”

Labels: manana

Permalink posted by Jardinera654 @ 2:08 PM 79 comments

Many of us never get to live the fantasy lives of telenovela characters. Well, after tonight’s show, we might want to give thanks that we don’t have their problems. Things are really starting to fall apart for some of our good characters, and the “bad” ones are really starting to wake up and be their bad selves. Also, I’ve often thought that in this show, no one is completely good or completely bad. But tonight we meet a truly bad character.

First, we revisit Pat thanking Candy, who is “confused” over whether she loves Santiago, for the best day of his life (the camping trip). Later, at the Institute, Candy is staring into space as Marissa brags about the honeymoon. Candy doesn’t want to lie, she can’t get Santi out of her head. As she leaves, Mari threatens Candy under her breath.

And now, to start our fun, we have Santi, half asleep on the couch at work (having missed a lot of sleep for Mari’s midnight munchy madness), being roused by Ed, who reminds Santi it’s not sleepytime, they have to do some operations. When Santi explains about Mari’s sudden cravings (antojos), Ed says it’s a myth, just don’t fall for it. But Santi points out that Ed has never had kids, and when he does, he’ll be pulling out all the stops for them (he says he’ll be doing circo, maroma y teatro, which literally means circus, tightrope and theater, maybe someone can help me with the cultural meaning of this phrase?). Talk turns to Hortensia, and Ed lets it slip that Horti’s got a galan!

We now see Jaime playing the white piano (with John Lennon’s picture on it) for Isabel, playing a little Solamente Una Vez, as she sings along. Enter Donato, with a longing expression on his face (we now know he’s got it bad for Isa). Isa beckons Don over with a playful finger, and Don pictures himself in an elegant suit, extends his arms, and they dance a few bars, with Jaime’s approval, until reality comes back, and Don shyly backs out of the room.

Santi wishes his office door would open and Candy would walk in. This being a novela, she does. It’s not exactly romantic, though. She can’t get him out of her head. Neither can he, he couldn’t sleep the other night because of this. They have to figure out a way to stop thinking of each other. They sit down to contemplate. After a few false starts, Candy has it! When Santi thinks of Candy, just call Marissa and tell her. When Candy thinks of Santi, she’ll just call Marissa and tell her. Great idea, says Santi, and dials Marissa’s number. What are you DOING?! shrieks Candy, as Santi tells Mari on the phone he was thinking of Candy (maybe this wasn’t such a good idea).

Patricio is standing around when energizer bunny Alicia pops in with her usual “Hola, mi amor!”. Pat queries, isn’t she going to scold him? Nope. But he didn’t sleep home last night, doesn’t that bother her? No, should it? Well, Pat says, I spent the night with Chava and Candy. So?, responds Alicia, not taking the bait.

It turns out Marissa isn’t so happy about Santi’s call, and she’s coming to the office right now. Santi tells Candy it was her idea, but Candy protests it was just a metaphor, a figure of speech, she didn’t mean they would REALLY call Marissa, and now Mari will suffer. Santi is defending himself when Marissa bursts in to find out what’s the big idea of telling her this on the phone. Candy thinks the situation is ridiculous and walks out (but doesn’t really leave – she’s lost in thought outside the door). After Marissa reminds Santi instead of thinking of Candy, he should be thinking of the baby, she walks out, and talks to herself in front of the elevator, unaware that Candy can hear. Here’s what she says: “Let’s see who ends up losing, Santiago.” She then looks down at her tummy, which she calls “Gordo”, and tells he baby to be, “Here’s a phrase for tomorrow. He who laughs last laughs best”. As Mari gets in the elevator, Candy can’t believe what she just heard.

It’s time for some comic relief. Zamora and Toño notice a fly buzzing around the restaurant. They start trying to kill it with their cloth napkins, but Zamora seems to be having more fun hitting Toño, pretending the fly was on Toño’s shirt, his head, etc. Meño calls them over to stop the ruckus. He suggests bug spray, and Zamora says when he tries this, he misses (he says no le atino, atinar is to be accurate, or on target). Meño wants them to be quiet about the matter, but when he goes to help a customer, he leans over, and Sven and Ole notice the fly has landed on Meño’s butt. Toño wants to strike with the napkin, but Zamora says let the fly live, at least he’s happy where he is now. Meño tells them to get back to work as they continue to hit each other with the napkins.

Time for another Pat-Alicia confrontation. As usual, Pat is sitting around doing nothing (he’s actually hitting himself in the forehead over and over with a pen, I guess he’s supposed to be thinking) and Alicia bursts into the office, with her “hola”. She tells him she understands why he keeps contemplating things, but she keeps trying to save the relationship, and he isn’t doing his part. Well, Pat doesn’t want to do his part. He wants to be alone, and in this house, he can’t be alone, so he’s leaving. You’re leaving me? asks Ali as her happy face collapses into concern. “I’m going to a hotel”, responds Pat, and after kissing her on the forehead, walks out of the apartment, leaving Alicia standing there, as her gaze drifts over to the safe, which she knows contains some secrets.

Marissa is talking with Candy in Candy’s office for the millionth time, repeating how she can’t understand that they’re friends, partners, but how can Candy be in love with her novio, etc., etc. Candy reassures her yet again, saying Santi’s just a womanizer, Candy’s just another of his attempted conquests, but Mari doesn’t believe this for a second. However, when Candy confesses that she's starting to fall in love with Patricio again, (!) Mari lights up, hugs Candy, and tells her that changes everything!

More one on one (It’s amazing to me how many serious heart to heart conversations these characters have, and most of them take place at work. How do they ever get anything done?) This time it’s Santi and Ed, with Santi pondering the strangeness of Marissa, adding that she was strange to begin with, so maybe it’s nothing new. Besides, Santi has so many problems, maybe he’s just projecting his own concerns onto Marissa. But enough about him, he wants the scoop about Hortensia! Ed says he didn’t recognize the guy, didn’t even see him, but he heard him, and heard Horti call him dear (cariño). Santi doesn’t think this means a thing, anyone can say that, why there have been times when Santi was sitting around thinking, and Horti came into the office, wearing a nice dress, and…. he quickly stops himself from saying more.

Cut to Hortensia’s modest house, as she tells her “mystery date” she has the day off, and can spend it with him. She wants to spend more time with him (his name is Iñaqui, and to answer yesterday’s speculation, he’s not a blow up doll). She tells him he makes her very happy, and we see his smiling face.

Ed’s making fun of Santi, Santi must have thought he had Horti’s affections all to himself, and now there’s competition! Ed says let’s go to the house, and check out the guy. Santi demurs, he can’t invade the private life of his secretary, but then starts wondering what if this guy is taking advantage of her, Hortensia’s no rug to be stepped on! Ed likes this turn of phrase, where did Santi come up with that one? Well, Candy’s column, and (forgetting his previous privacy concerns) now thinks they have to protect poor Horti. Ed advises a phone call first. Santi calls, holding the phone so Ed can hear. Ed helps Santi by writing words on index cards, as Santi stumbles with why he is calling on Horti’s day off. No, it’s not an emergency, he was just curious, umm, she’s not hiding some galan, is she, haha? Of course not, says Horti, are you jealous? She’s just taking care of herself today. Santi doesn’t believe her. Horti says she doesn’t want to be an old maid, and if she got a man, she’d yell it to the four winds! Okay, Santi just wants to make sure she’s not abandoning him, and is coming in to work tomorrow. After hanging up, she tells Iñaqui it was her boss on the phone, but forget that, today she wants to devote herself to Iñaqui. She then gets a wheelchair out of the closet, which may explain why she was massaging the feet of her “mystery date”.

We then have a short scene in the ladies’ room in which Candy is talking to the mirror about Marissa, Lulu overheard, and Candy shares her feelings about the weird things Mari has been saying to her baby.

It’s a bet. Santi bets that Hortensia does not have a lover, Ed bets she does. The stakes? If Santi loses, Ed gets his parking spot. If Ed loses, Santi gets Ed’s collection of pictures and coins of Heidi and Kong Kong (maybe that’s how they say King Kong, who knows what this is, maybe something like film posters, hopefully we’ll find out. Well, then they use the word encuerado, which means naked, so maybe these are some girly pictures).

Close-up of Candy’s magic talisman, in Pat’s fingers, as he flashes back to when he picked it up after Candy had thrown it away. While Pat dreams away, we see Alicia sneaking around, 20 feet behind him. She quietly lifts his suit jacket off a chair, extracts his wallet. What is she looking for? She finds a small white piece of paper in the wallet, removes it, replaces wallet and jacket, and exits, while Pat continues to think about Candy, oblivious.

It’s time to settle that bet. Santi and Ed have driven to Hortensia’s house. It’s nightime, and the first view we have of our sleuths is of their heads peeking out from behind a wall, looking like a pair of kids about to sneak a cigarette in the schoolyard. They dash across the street and hide behind a tree, feeling (and looking) a bit ridiculous. Santi feels a bit “chinche”, which Ed doesn’t totally understand (and neither do I, since it can mean irritating, a pain in the neck, but it can also mean a thumbtack) spying on Horti like this. They both are anticipating winning the bet.

Inside the house, Hortensia encourages Iñaqui to try to stand up from his wheelchair, but he can’t. She tries to get him to try again, telling him he shouldn’t let an accident leave him paralyzed, the therapist said his legs do have strength, he should give it his best shot (echale ganas). The doorbell rings. Hortensia is astonished to see Santiago and Eduardo at her house. They say they were just in the neighborhood (yeah, right), but the guy in the wheelchair recognizes Santi, and then solves our mystery. He’s Hortensia’s brother! Santi has won the bet (but we’ll talk about that later). Santi wonders why Horti never said she had a brother, but Iñaqui told Horti to keep quiet, didn’t want to hurt Horti’s job, knew it was hard to care for a sick person like himself. Santi slaps Ed as if to say you should be ashamed of yourself for what you thought.

Meño asks Candy about the camping trip, admits that Pat asked Meño to help him, and he agreed. Candy can’t understand this, when she thought Meño favored Santi. Well, Meño likes both, and suggests a solution – Candy should let Santi get married, be Santi’s lover, and marry Pat!

Back to Mariloco. Raúl asks if she’s serious about leaving Santi after the wedding. Finger twitching, she affirms it, since he laughed at her, laughed at her love. Then why not just leave now, asks her brother. Nope, they deserve to keep trying (Raúl can’t believe this). Mari asks if Raúl is jealous or envious of Santi. She reminds him that when they were kids, Santi always copied Raúl’s papers, Raúl always got 7’s and Santi always got 10’s. Also, Santi always got the girls. Raúl is a little touchy about this, and when Mari kids him some more, he wants her to leave him alone.

Back at Horti’s, everyone is enjoying Santi’s joke about the bell in his office, how once Santi had a hot chick in the office, wanted to ring the bell, and Horti said, no, no don’t ring it! Why not? Why can’t I ring the bell? Horti frantically pointed out that the girl was the Health Inspector, not a patient! Everyone laughs as Horti notes that that was before Marissa, of course. Santi goodheartedly acknowledges this, and then announces that the real reason he and Ed came to visit Hortensia was to give her some important news. They’re giving her a raise in salary! Hort is truly moved, as Santi goes on to say how much they like Iñaqui, and with two people living in this house, Santi and Ed know there are lots of expenses, and don’t want Hortensia and Iñaqui to have any money problems. Iñaqui wants to give Santi a hug. Santi wants to give HIM a hug, and they all lift Iñaqui out of the wheelchair for the hug, encouraging him to try to stand on his own. Santi says the therapist was right, you can stand, and keep trying, as this happy scene ends.

It’s morning, we’re in the restaurant, and Zamora and Toño have their heads under the table. They explain to Meño they were untangling (desenchuecando) the chair legs. He sends them off to the market as they inform him that a mysterious, mean-looking (malencarado) young man is waiting to see him. Meño introduces himself, but the young man won’t shake his hand. He’s Pedro, the son of Juan Alberto (Meño’s former boyfriend and partner). So how is Juan Alberto? My father died, replies Pedro, looking away. Meño is shocked and saddened.

At the Institute, Lulu informs Candy she has a visitor, Patricio. Candy doesn’t want to see him, she feels pressured. Lulu would love this kind of pressure, or maybe pressing against her, from handsome Pat. In fact, if Candy gets Pat to really press against her, she’ll name Candy her sole heir. Candy thinks Lulu is incorrigible, she’ll never change. No, she’ll change, says Lulu, the day she gets Pat in her bed, please make him press against her. So Candy goes to meet with Pat, who requests just 5 minutes to talk. Candy grudgingly grants him 5 minutes, but points out that only 4 minutes are left.

In the restaurant, Meño wants to know if Juan Alberto suffered, telling Pedro they were friends. With a menacing tone, Pedro says he knows exactly who Meño is. He doesn’t want to talk about his father’s death. He came to inform Meño that now Pedro is in charge of all the family properties, including this restaurant, and as of tomorrow, the place is for sale. Does Meño want to buy it? Meño wants to, but doesn’t have the money. Too bad, then, you’ll just have to find another job. Goodbye. Wait, says Meño, I also administer some offices (the Institute!). Fine, do you want to buy them? asks Pedro. Well, the money….. In that case, we’ll sell them too, and all the tenants will have to leave. Mean Pedro leaves, and Meño is devastated. He calls out his dead friend’s name, Alberto, Alberto!

So what can Pat do in 4 minutes? He gives Candy the talisman (which had been given to her and Santi, which she had thrown on the ground). She wants to know where he got it. Well, he found it, not really by accident, but he wants her to have it. He knows what it means, and he wants to be the man of her life. He invites Candy and Chava to a magical day. Candy chuckles, she remembers he had a magical day for her all those years ago. Romantic dinner, moonlight, and it was all ruined! He had set up a table in the woods, candles, red wine, everything was beautiful when she felt a raindrop. He didn’t feel anything. Oh yes, there was another. Two minutes later, it was pouring! And he hadn’t brought an umbrella. With all the magic in the world, Pat couldn’t stop the rain. So forget the magic day, it’s bad luck. Pat won’t give up, says he’ll pick up Candy and Chava for the magic day, and bye! He runs out, Candy chasing after, yelling are you deaf, I said no! Pat kisses a smitten Lulu on the way out, leaving a fuming (but maybe not really) Candy.

Back in Pat and Alicia’s apartment, we find out why Alicia wanted the piece of paper she took from Pat’s wallet. She opens the modern art outer door of the safe, crouches down, and takes the paper from her large handbag. It’s the combination! There are five groups of letters and five groups of numbers on it, I wouldn’t have a clue what to do, but Ali presses a few buttons on the keypad of the safe and it opens right up. After leafing through a few items, while holding the combination in her teeth, she extracts the large manila envelope (which Arturo had given Pat), looks at the papers, and after 2 seconds, thinks to herself “these papers show that Arturo committed fraud, I can use them”. (I must say, if Alicia doesn’t make it with Pat, she definitely could have a second career as a secret agent – move over, James Bond!). She stuffs the envelope in her bag, shuts the safe, and high tails it out of there, as the music pounds with excitement.

Meño is drinking some shots to deaden the pain, and after he tells Zamora he’s in a bad way, Pedro returns. He forgot to leave his card. He tells Meño to let him know when they’ve vacated the premises. Zamora hears this and worriedly asks about it, but Meño says leave us alone. Pedro then gets really brutal. Meño asks if Pedro’s father left Meño a note. Yes, says Pedro, and I burned it. You don’t know how much I hate you, he adds. My father defrauded me, and types like you should…..”Be killed? We should be killed?” interjects Meño. Even killing me won’t make me forget your father. “You disgust me” sneers Pedro. “Let's hope you die!” As he leaves, Meño overthrows a chair and smashes some china.

Our budding secret agent is at the copy store, her copies are ready.

Santi is replaying his own words about Marissa’s strange behavior in his mind, while absentmindedly turning his phone over and over. Is he strange, or is Mari? Little Miss Strange enters, and Santi suggests a talk on the couch. They both sit down, and he asks if she recognizes that she’s been acting a little strangely. She thinks maybe so, but isn’t it normal when he keeps thinking about Candy, etc., etc. He says things happen in life, then they pass. She then coolly tells him things happen which mark you for life, like for example, my child, I’m marked for life. He just wants her to be happy about the pregnancy. Well, don’t worry, she answers. Better yet, occupy yourself (there's a little wordplay on no te preocupes - don't worry and si te ocupas - if you occupy yourself). Stop being a Don Juan, and do worry about me, you, the baby. Deal? Deal, and they shake on it, but he doesn’t look any happier.

Alicia enters the apartment, closes the door quietly, opens the safe (she has the combination memorized now), replaces the envelope, closes the safe and the arty cover to the safe, just as Patricio calls her name, she sits down on the sofa, crosses her legs, tries to look natural, he enters and asks what she’s doing (which is a good question, since never before have we seen her just sitting there). She says she was thinking. He doesn’t buy this, what’s wrong? Well, she answers, you said our relationship was no longer the same, you were leaving the house, but you know what? I’ve thought about it, and I will not give you a divorce. Pat isn’t surprised, he wouldn’t expect differently from her, just one more reason for him to move to a hotel, he only came for his things. As he leaves, she can breathe again, at least she wasn’t discovered.

Speaking of divorce, Mari is again in Candy’s office (does Mari actually do anything in life besides go from office to office bothering people?), asking if Candy is going to divorce Patricio. Candy says no. (I think when Candy was gone, Pat had her declared dead, so they don’t have to divorce). But Candy wants to talk about something else. She can’t be the matron of honor at the wedding (madrina de la boda). Candy says Isabel should be the one. Mari protests, Candy promised at the commitment party, she doesn’t want all of Isabel’s peace and love crap. Then all of a sudden Mari changes her mind, actually it WOULD be a good idea for Isabel to be up there at the altar, Mari doesn’t even want Candy up there, wouldn’t want Candy to be confused. Confused? Sure, just imagine, the padre asks if I accept Santiago as my husband, and you jump out and say “yes”, no you’d better not be anywhere near that altar, you’re right, thanks for the idea, bye! She gets up, laughing weirdly, and Candy, a bit offended by all this says don’t provoke me! Maybe I’ll change my mind and decide to be the madrina and ruin your little joke. You wouldn’t dare! shoots back Marissa. You wouldn’t be capable of that! They glare at each other, and the episode ends.

Next time: The two meanings of esposas

Vocabulario:

antojos - cravings
circo, maroma y teatro - circus, tightrope (or somersault) and theater (jumping through hoops)
atinar - to be accurate, or on target
chinche - irritating, pain in the neck, also a bedbug
echale ganas - do your best, give it your best shot
desenchuecando - untangling
malencarado - mean looking
madrina de la boda - matron of honor

Labels: Tontas

DB thinks about what Santos is asking her and chooses to continue to lie. First she says that she doesn't know this 'El Sapo.' When Santos won't buy that, she pretends to remember that he is a cattleman who bought some cattle from her. They got sick and he blames her for that. Not unreasonably, Santos asks what El Sapo's real name is and where he lives. DB says that she doesn't know or can't remember.

Marisela hesitates outside the door of the police station but finally decides that she can't go in when DB is in there. "It's his problem! (¡Allá él!)" she says, "It's his problem."

Santos asks what kind of woman DB is who can't tell the truth even when she has ended up in prison. Santos begs her to let him help her but DB maintains that she doesn't know anything. "You're lying," says Santos, "You lie and therefore, as your lawyer, I can't defend you. Our love died for this same reason." DB replies that her love hasn't died. Santos says that she never trusted in him. She always thought that he was an idiot that she could deceive until the end. "You killed what we had," Santos tells her. DB repeats that she loves him. Santos says that at base, DB despises him just like she despises all other men. He says she is so sick with hate that she can't even see that he is trying to help her. DB asks him not to say that to her. She says that he is being very cruel to her when the only thing she has done is love him. "And I you," replies Santos, "and for what we had, I wanted to extend my hand to you. I don't believe a single word of what you just told me about this Sapo. So I'm sorry... but I can't help you." He turns and leaves.

El Sapo tells Los Mondragón that he wants them to steal cattle and poison water and generally perpetrate a reign of terror among the cattle owners and especially those that are near Altamira and El Miedo. El Sapo says that he will pay them a lot more than DB did. Here he is offering them large wads of money as an advance.


Cecilia advises Lucía to take better care of herself but she says that it's no big deal. Antonio comes for her and suggests that she go home and rest. She wants to stay with Toñito but Cecilia tells her to go and says that she will bring the baby along later. "If you weren't so young, I would think that you are my mother," Lucía says to Cecilia.

Melquíades tells Eustaquia that he can't hang around doing nothing while his Doña is in prison. Melquíades asks about Los Mondragón. Eustaquia says that they are running around somewhere. "When the cat's away," she reminds him, "the mice will play (..'las ratas andan sueltas haciendo fiesta," literally, "the rats are running loose having a party."). Melquíades says that he doesn't like it. It smells of a betrayal.

They say there is no honor among thieves and certainly there isn't any among lowlives like Los Mondragón. El Sapo tells them that he wants them to kidnap and terrorize people but always leave evidence indicating that DB is responsible. El Sapo says that he doesn't want anyone to know that they are working for him, least of all DB.

Marisela can't understand why Santos would want to help the woman who hurt him so much. Cecilia says that Marisela obviously doesn't know Santos very well - he can't tolerate injustice. Cecilia says that Marisela is consumed with jealousy. Marisela admits it and says that she can't understand Cecilia's idiot nephew. He's driving her crazy. "Welcome to the adult world," replies Cecilia, "Relationships are complicated. Human beings aren't simple and sometime we make decisions that others do not comprehend." Marisela asks what she should do. Cecilia replies that she should let Santos make his own decisions. Marisela says that she has no problem letting Santos make decisions about the hacienda but when it comes to DB, she's going to interfere. Cecilia says that she's acting like a jealous girlfriend. Does that mean that she is or is not one? Marisela says that she doesn't know what her relationship with Santos is. There's a knock at the door and it's Santos. He wants her to come back to Altamira. He says that he doesn't like it when she acts like a spoiled, little girl. Marisela says that she is 19, not 40 and if Santos doesn't like it, he will lose her. "Lose you, lose what?" asks Santos, "A jealous, silly baby that still hasn't grown up?" He says that he doesn't need her to take care of him.

Pajarote says that he enjoys the freedom of the single life. He decides to go see Federica and María Nieves says that he will come along.

In her cell, DB has a dream about being chased by dogs as an adult that morphs into the familiar memory of the rape when she was a girl. She decides that it means that El Sapo is close by.

Los Mondragón weigh the advantages of the money they will get from El Sapo against the chance that he will kill them like he did BP. Melquíades is listening.

After sex, Josefa tells MN that he can't complain, she gave him a nice little discount (rebajita) and she doesn't do that for anyone. Federica and Pajarote emerge from her room and she tells him that she is happy to take care of him any time. She says that she adores his "large attributes." MN and Pajarote tell each other how great being single and going to see prostitutes is but we can see that it's all bluster.

Santos tells Genoveva that he doesn't care if Marisela doesn't want to stay and nurse him. Santos suddenly decides to get up. He says that with all the problems he has, he can't stay in bed.

Pernalete and Mujica nervously approach DB's cell with the guards. Pernalete tells them to take her out and handcuff her. She demands to know where she is going and who has paid him and once again, she says that he will pay with blood.

Santos comes to see Eustaquia. He tells her that he is sure that El Sapo is the person behind all that happened recently including DB's imprisonment, her loss of the hacienda case, the attempt on his life and the death of BP. He begs Eustaquia to tell him who El Sapo is and what is his relationship to DB.

Pernalete, Mujica and Acosta cower behind a fence while a handcuffed DB is being hustled down the street.

DB sees Cecilia and asks her to tell Santos that she is being sent against her will to San Fernando. Antonio advises Cecilia not to tell Santos, he'll just go after DB. Cecilia says that she feels sorry for DB.

Eustaquia tells Santos that if DB wouldn't tell him about El Sapo, she can't. She says that she had hoped that DB's luck had turned when she got involved with Santos. DB was so happy but now it has all been ruined. Santos tries again to get her to tell him about El Sapo so he can help DB but Eustaquia says that she has never betrayed DB and she isn't starting now. Santos gives up and tells Eustaquia not to cry.

Antonio tells Cecilia again that she shouldn't tell Santos about DB's transfer to San Fernando. Cecilia replies that Santos has a right to know. Antonio is concerned that Santos and DB might get together again but Cecilia says that Santos has to make his own decisions. She reminds him that once they hid the truth from Santos about their love. She says that she has never stopped regretting the cowardice that resulted in the loss of their happiness. She says that since then she has stopped being a coward and she thinks that such things shouldn't be kept secret. Reluctantly, Antonio agrees.

MN tells Pajarote that he doesn't want to go from woman to woman without feeling anything in his heart. He says that he wants one woman to love.

Marisela and Genoveva-
G: Marisela, Don Santos really loves you.
M: That's what my Aunt Cecilia says but I don't know if such good fortune is true. He was in love with Luisana and then DB. How can I be sure that what he feels for me is true and will last?
G: Don't think about the past because then you will be paralyzed. If he has declared his love for you, what doubts do you have? Marisela, take advantage of the love you have because there isn't a lot of it around. Don't be silly.
M: Yes, that's true. I am being silly.
She asks Genoveva where she can find Santos.

Cecilia tells Santos about seeing DB being taken to SF. Santos tells Cecilia that this transfer is wrong and he isn't going to permit it. He says that he will go to San Fernando to find out what is going on.

Los Mondragón raid the liquor cabinet on their way out of El Miedo. They push Eustaquia around and tell her that they don't care what DB thinks anymore. She is behind bars and that where's she staying.

Antonio is taking Lucía to San Fernando for some more high-powered medical attention. Lucía tells Don Encarnación that everything will be all right.

Genoveva tells Marisela to go to Santos' room and tell him that she believes him and loves him and then she should give him a kiss on the lips. Marisela tells her that love isn't that way, it comes little by little, it has to be revealed. Genoveva isn't sure about this but Marisela claims more experience since Geno has never had a boyfriend. Marisela then says that she needs an excuse to go looking for Santos.

Santos, meanwhile is packing his stuff up. Cecilia thinks it is crazy that he is going to San Fernando but Santos says that he has to go. The fact that DB has been taken to San Fernando gives him a bad feeling. Santos says that there has been an injustice and he is sure that someone very powerful is behind all this. Cecilia says that he is putting himself in danger since someone already tried to kill him. At this point Nurse Marisela comes in and says that she has come back to take care of Santos. When Santos tells her that he is going to San Fernando to get DB out of jail. Marisela throws her tray of medicines on the floor and leaves.

DB gets locked up in San Fernando. She prays to God for the second time. She says that the first time she prayed for a child and God didn't listen. She asks God to listen this time and do something for her.

Marisela tells Santos that she isn't interested in his reasons. He snares her with pretty words and in the end he always gets what he wants. This time he isn't going to convince her. Santos replies that he doesn't want to convince her of anything.
S: What I want is that for once in your life you try and understand me. Listen to me, please.
M: So talk already.
S: Marisela, I love you! I love you for your intelligence, for your feelings, because you are my sunshine, because we were born for one another. But the woman I need by my side has to be my friend, my companion, my lover and above all, she has to be a full-grown woman and not a silly, scared and jealous little girl. Life isn't easy nor is it black and white. People aren't completely good or bad in everything. There are shades of gray. I am not a perfect man and it has cost me a lot to recognize that because I always thought I was, I don't know, better than everyone else. I was a snob, an idot and weak, very weak. I recognize that I have comitted many mistakes. The woman who is in jail is your mother, Marisela. I know that she has done horrible and unforgiveable things but this time she is the victim. I need you to understand and feel compassion for her.

M: You always defend her and you always attack me. I'm not silly, fearful or jealous

S: Then it's worse. You behave like a silly, scared and spoiled girl. Look Marisela, I am the most mistaken person who has ever lived. I believed that I knew what was good and bad but life has taught me that nothing is absolute. DB, that terrible woman who is in jail, was my woman for a time. But now I love you."
M: It's sick. It's abnormal. It's not right.
S: Perhaps that is true. Many decent people will say that it is wrong for us to love one another because unfortunately that woman is your mother. We can't change that and if that makes me a despicable person in the eyes of others, I don't care. I know who I am and who you are. Marisela, understand, that woman deserves my solidarity. I want to help her. Don't disappoint me now. Continue being my sunshine. You know me better than anyone. You know that I love you and in your heart you know it. You continue to be the good, smart and courageous woman that I fell in love with. Don't have doubt about me. Be my friend, be my love. Believe in me. Please don't disappoint me. Do you understand?
He leaves her standing there thinking about what he has said.
like you say.


Eustaquia tells Melquíades about the departure of Los Mongragón and DB being sent to San Fernando. She says that she has a bad feeling about this and begs him to do something. Melquíades says that he will get DB out of prison even if it costs him his life. Eustaquia tells Melquíades that she has seen DB in some bad times in her life before but yesterday she seemed defeated like someone who is just waiting for the end and that makes Eustaquia very afraid. Melquíades tells her not to worry. While there is a drop of blood in his veins, DB will always be safe.

MN says that he is going to declare his feelings to Altagracia and if she says no, he will take her with him by force. Melesio says that the time has come for them to have a talk.

Marisela is inconsolable and Cecilia, Gervasia and Genoveva try and find out what Santos said to her. Marisela says that the worst thing is that he was completely right in everything he told her. She says that she is stupid. Gervasia says that if it were her, she would run after Santos and go with him wherever he is going. Genoveva and Cecilia agree. Cecilia tells her not to hide her head in the sand like an ostrich (avestruz). They tell her to be with Santos now when he needs her the most.

Melesio tells MN to open his heart to Altagracia and tell her his true feelings. He is sure she will accept him.

Marisela stops Santos' truck and asks to come with him.

The guards tell DB that she has a visitor. She hopes it is Santos but it is El Sapo.

Labels: barbara