Caray, Caray!

Short version: Nothing happens

Long version: Several things almost happen

Really long version: We start with a brief rehash of last Thursday. Beltran and the Queen are wishing Ale and Rafa well in their respective marriages and professional lives. Rafa and Ale are clearly miserable and after the Queen dismisses them with a "Herein endeth the lesson, go in peace" (to which Rafa mumbles "Amen") ,our two gloomy lovers trudge out. The Queen knows their love life is messed up and warns her little doggies about making a similar mistake.

Out in the hallway, Ale continues her gloomy rant about the debt.

A- Rafa, as soon as you get the money from the used truck sale, pay me. I'm depending on you. I need that money to clear up all my family's debts.
R-Trust me.
A- I have no choice but to trust you. In spite of all the hidden and repugnant things you've been doing lately.
R- You mean Dandy?
A- No, Everything!

Tears run down her cheeks as she promises that after the payment, she'll give him a document exonerating him. (Big whoop Ale!) They wish each other luck in their marriages. They both start to say something. They interrupt each other. They sigh. They give up. He looks grim. She looks sad. Aaaarrrgh. The rest of us are just screaming and throwing stuff.

The scene shifts to Marian's office. She's looking quite lovely and pinkalicious. And still puzzled as to why Rafa is marrying this Vicky person. She knows he's deeply in love with Ale. But she also knows that she and Rafa have some chemistry together (a woman knows these things, she assures Chepis) and something might well have happened if Daniel hadn't shown up at the party. Chepis notes that a messenger brought an invitation to the wedding, but wonders why Rafa didn't give it personally if he wanted Maria at the ceremony. Hmmm...Marian decides to get to the bottom of this mystery. Could there be a pregnancy involved? (Hey, that's our question!) She'll go visit Julieta. And no, she won't call before. Better for it to be a surprise. But yes, she'll fix herself up to be really gorgeous (Good grief! she already is.) before arriving.

And now one of these dreaded financial real estate discussions. They might as well be talking Chinese. Anyway, it's Carmela the Ardent and Marco the Impotent Rat. They're trying to work out how they can both keep draining the hacienda's finances while convincing Ale there's a buyer for the place. After all, it's a really productive , profitable hacienda. Marco has been living like a king off it for two years. Somehow, as I understood it, they were going to use the profits as the down payment for it (as a phony buyer) but Carmela makes it clear she wants in on the "good life" as well. Either they both get rich or they both go down, is her final warning.

Mientras tanto (Hi Carlos!) Jaime is drowning his sorrowful conscience in tequilas and fielding a gloomy call from Rafa. No loan from the bank and Marco is going to take Ale off to Brazil....forever!...after the wedding. Could things get any worse? (Yeah, Rafa, you could actually be married to VickyVickyVicky.) Jaime mumbles and stutters and tells Rafa not to lose hope. Sorry. No hope possible. I told Aleandra the truth and she didn't believe me. Now it's good-bye. I DON'T WANT TO MARRY VICKY!!!! But I owe her dad money and there's no way I can get out of it. Arrrgggh. Shall we throw some more missiles at the TV? Mercifully, an ad interrupts our tantrum.

Susanita and Ale have left work and when Susana refused to go to a bar, Ale drags her to Marco's apartment. Susanita isn't happy there either. She vamooses as soon as the clan arrives, but not without first assuring Ale that she will NOT be at the wedding. Rosario is impactada. As usual. Now some dithering about the papers and passports, giving them over to Manrique, fussing about Jorge who is not dressed warmly enough for Switzerland and then lo and behold, the doorbell rings and it's that rascal Rubi, come to hug and kiss Jorge and accompany him on his trip. Rosario is now looking double impactada and mucho sick.

A random dreary scene. The hapless Ay Dios mio! Jimenez arrives home to find a snoring suegro on his couch, an equally snoring suegra in bed with his wife, no supper left for him in the kitchen and only the prospect of putting down a colchoneta (mat or air mattress) on the floor if he's to sleep at all tonight. Reason? Suegra has fumigated their apartment and it's unlivable at the moment. "Sin cena, sin cama, sin justicia". Jimenez has some serious questions for God.

Rubi is hopping around, excited at the prospect of going to Sweden. Marco corrects her. Switzerland. Whatever. Snow, ski slopes. What's not to love? Ale wants to know how she's going without a ticket. Got it on the computer today. And where did you get the money? A rich "abuelito" gave it to me. (Things that make you go 'hmmmmm') More billing and cooing by Rubi and Jorge, noting how they just can't bear to be apart from each other for even a few days. Ale and Rosario are both looking like they need an emetic.

Speaking of...we now see Marino telling Ramirez he can't come home early tonight. Marino's planning to seduce Sandra and for that he'll need privacy. So much for Ramirez' romantic plans. But why make another woman miserable? he bleats, when you have so many wives already. "No seas mojigato!" (don't be a prude) snaps Marino. End of discussion.

A hunched, soberly dressed woman enters the showroom (after struggling to get past a rotund Trapito). It's Ramirez' mama and they're both overcome with emotion. "Hijito de mis entrañas (my dear child)!" "Sangre de mi sangre!" (Blood of my blood!) Well, you get the picture. They're overcome with emotion. We catch our breath and break for more ads.

Well, tender emotion aside, Mom still has a few scoldings left in her.
M- Germancito Ramirez, you were at the very gates of Hell!
R- For those magazines? Mom, don't go overboard. I'm almost 50 years old.
M- Only 47! And don't make me more aged that I am. Furthermore, one is never too old to have "buenas modales" (good manners)

Upshot. She'll take him back.

R- (Oh mama, if you only knew I was dating a married woman!)

O.K. Back to the infernal apartment. Rosaurio is giving Jorge a blessing before he leaves and warning him to cover up ("Tapate bien"). He assures her that with Rubi at his side, he'll be just fine. And no need for Ale to come to the apartment. He and Meñique (Manrique) and Marcario (Marco) and Rubi (he never gets HER name wrong) will just head out to the airport now. And don't cancel the wedding, daughter, because I'm not there. Go right ahead. Tearful kisses and lots of "I love you's" from Ale. Marco kisses Ale good-bye (an ewwwwww look on her face) and off they go, leaving Rosario, Ale and Azucena all looking a bit gloomy. Azucena's the only one who feels well enough to eat and she tromps off, leaving Ale and Rosaurio mourning Jorge's departure.

And now the invasion. Vicky, in full screech mode, has stormed Rafa's home base, informing Leonor, Julietta and Jaime that they're going to have a wedding rehearsal RIGHT NOW, whether Rafa's there or not. She's dragged her papa and hulking brothers along and the bigger hulk asks for "una chela bien fria" (a nice cold beer) and hey, maybe some "galletitas" (cookies) and empanadas (sandwiches) which promptly sets off a rant by Jaime about what kind of banquet this guy would really like. The answer is a big knife at his throat and a "I don' like your jokes buddy" from the hulk.

Back at the office, Ramirez is still getting whatfor from Mamita. On your knees when you get home. Recite ten Our Father's and fifteen Ave Maria's. And no more girlie magazines. Just then a hapless Dandy steps up, asks to meet mom and starts to kiss her hand. She lurches back like she's seen a demon. Lord, she senses that this man is a womanizer. Yikes, is your mom a "bruja or "adivina"? (witch or soothsayer) queries Dandy, rolling his eyes in circles. I forbid you to be friends with this infidel, shrieks mama, and drags her" hijito de sus entrañas" off with her.

Things are going from bad to worse back at Leonor's. Since Rafa hasn't arrived, Vicky wants to draft hulking brother into playing the groom. He declines. Then it's Jaime. He declines, goes into hysterics and faints. And has a nightmarish vision. He's at the altar, waiting for a lovely Julieta who's walking down the aisle with Rafa. Mom Leonor is alone in the pew, dressed in fur. The priest begins the ceremony with the Act of Contrition: "I have sinned against you in thought, word and deed. By what I have done and by what I have left undone...." That's it, even in his vision, Jaime is hysterically guilty. And now Vicky comes down the aisle, trailed by her horrendous family.

R- What's this?
V- I'm pregnant. By your Best Friend.
J- It's true! I was drunk! When one is in that state, right and wrong get muddled!

Julieta whacks him with a bouquet. Mom joins in. Rafa renounces him as a friend. And Vicky, cool as a cucumber, coos...Now where were we? Oh yes, at "yo pecador (I a sinner). With two brotherly knives pressed across his neck, Jaime starts to shriek out the rest of the confession.

And wakes up. Crashes back into the china cabinet, excuses his weird behavior as being due to lack of sleep, eliciting a scornful, sceptical look from Vicky. Julieta's defending her beau, snapping that if he doesn't want to help out, to leave him alone. Leonor sighs, let's just do it so we can get it over with.

The rehearsal begins. Vicky, imaginary bells ringing in the background ,prances down the equally imaginary aisle, dragging her hefty papa behind her. Now say "Le entrego a mi hija" (I give you my daughter) she barks. Dad drifts off to the side and now she lays hands on Jaime. The doorbell rings. It's her pajarito! Rafa doesn't ring the doorbell in his own house, snaps Julieta.

And indeed. It's not Rafa but a resplendent Marian. Vicky looks her up and down. So does hulking big bro. "Que vieja bien buenota!" (what a gorgeous hunk of woman) Papa agrees. So does little bro'. Marian gets all shy amidst this enthusiastic male worship.

We switch now to Ale who is not looking gorgeous at all. She all teary-eyed and wearing a spectacularly ugly robe. It seems to be covered with large black and green pears. (Symbolic or did she just cheese off the wardrobe department?) She's having a doleful chat with her mother's portrait and tops that off by strolling down romantic Memory Lane and ripping up a photo of her and Rafa. She then proceeds to tear up his soccer shirt, ending by wiping her eyes with it. (well at least she didn't blow her nose). And there we end.

Previews:
Ale appears at her last sales meeting.
She cries.
Vicky finds out who Marian is and shrieks "Qué!?"

Vocabulary:
un enganche = down payment (we've had this before but "review and learn new")
colchoneta = mat, air mattress
estoy con el Jesus en la boca = I'm really upset, worried (Rosaurio)
no hay por que hacer tantas dramas = there's no need to carry on like that (Marco to Rubi and Jorge)
No seas mojigato = don't be a prude (Marino to Ramirez)
no te hinques = don't kneel down (Mama to her repentant son)
como se fuera mi = like it was me (Rubi promising to take care of Jorge)
tapate bien = cover up, keep warm
tabaja como un burro = he works like a donkey (Jaime explaining why Rafa is not home)
una chela bien fria = a nice cold beer
hijito de mis entrañas = lit. son of my entrails, bowels but fig. means "my dear child"

Dicho of the Day

Antes de que te cases, mira lo que haces. (lit. before you get married, look what you do. or Look before you leap.)
Yes, I've used this dicho before. But it was another story and besides you've probably forgotten it. And furthermore it really fits! So enjoy.

Labels: dinero

Tonight the Cristina Show will feature the Mi Pecado cast members. I'm posting this at the request of some of us who are Mi Pecado aficionados/as so we can discuss, of course! ;-) We haven't run out of discussion topics quite yet....

Jeanne

Labels: pecado

Emanuel: Valentino Lanús: a talented comic-book artist (?) and art director at a publicity agency. A fan of motorcycle competitions, a confirmed avenger, intelligent and noble. Enterprising, of a firm and happy character. It isn't easy to manipulate him, although his love for his family makes him give in. His relationship with Ilitia is more a habit than love. When he finds he's in love with his cousin Marianela his life acquires new meaning.


Marianela: Ariadne Díaz. A young woman with a beautiful face, she is timid, nearsighted and fat - her obesity was provoked by a great trauma that stimulated her love of sweets. She is very sensitive and tender, intelligent and sympathetic, which helps her withstand the hostile environment in which she is enveloped. She suffers from asthma attacks that are controlled by an inhaler she carries with her everywhere. In the face of adversity she struggles to release her strong character in order to go forward. The love that surges between her cousin Emanuel and her will have to conquer enormous obstacles.

Ilitia: Altair Jarabo is a beautiful top model, with a lot of class. She's grown up surrounded with luxuries and glamor. Like all only daughters, she is spoiled, arrogant and capricious, stubborn, frivolous, and banal. Her major preoccupation in life is to look at herself and pamper herself. Despite the great love she says she feels for Emanual, her encounter with Brandon will give her a great life lesson.


Fedra: Azela Robinson is a sexy, arrogant, malicious and lustful woman. She is a volcano of sensuality with the good luck to have a spouse prostrate to her love, also a lover and accomplice who would give his life for her. She has a strong and dominant character. She is nouveau riche and spent years eliminatig obstacles in order to become mistress of the Ruiz and Teresa fortune. She is a cynical sinister unscrupulous hypocrite! She is Emanuel's mother and Marianela's worst enemy. She hides a great secret.


Emiliano: César Évora is a mature man, attractive of robust personality. He is a wealthy empresario, courteous and just. Energetic, and a protector. He would give everything to protect his own, and will have no scruples when the hour comes to keep his evil wife Fedra from winning the day, despite the great love he has for her.


Netty: Laura Flores is an attractive woman, loving and maternal. Happy and talkative. Nevertheless, she is single and has no children. She's a frustrated actress. Her dream is to become a great actress. She is permanently in love with Emiliano. She will become a great defender of her cousin Marianela's rights.


Bernardo: Roberto Ballesteros is a small-minded, unscrupulous man. He's Fedra's assistant, right-hand man and accomplice and loves her in secret with the hope that some day this love will triumph. He's a cruel hypocrite. He knows all Fedra's secrets, past and present. Despite everything, he is Emanuel's confidante.


Brandon: Armando Araiza is a young and humble policeman, attractive, athletic and very wise. Intelligent and of noble sentiments. He is very moral, always ready to do his duty and do everything to defend his own. He is brave and resolute. His charisma, nobility and sympathy will bend Ilitia's frivolous heart. From the first, as a rival for her love, he becomes Emanuel's enemy.


Gretel: Cristina Mason is a beautiful girl, but rebellious and bitter, of unstable character, sour and hostile. She knows things she shouldn't and they've traumatized her. All her life she's been under strict psychiatric treatment. She has exceptional intelligence and ends up making jokes with her doctors. She passes for hysterical. She has a great resentment against her mother Fedra and feels much guilt for having been a witness at the assassination of her uncle, Marianela's father.

Mauricio: Roberto Palazuelos is a womanizer and a show-off type of guy. He always tries to take advantage of any circumstances. He's a hypocrite and uses people. He lives to enjoy life and squander his family's money. People fall for his smile. He plots with his fiancee Kristel to make Marianela suffer.


Lorenzo: Alexis Ayala is an attractive man, a seducer, terribly unfaithful. He's ambitious and a social climber. Though he's bored in his marriage with 'Muñeca' (Doll), he doesn't abandon her because he wants to maintain his status. He is Fedra's secret lover and in the future a woman will change his life.


Camila 'Muñeca': Cecilia Gabriela is a very attractive and classy woman - refined, cultured, charitable and enchanting. Despite living surrounded by luxury and comfort, she can't manage to quench her terrifying solitude, which even brings her to attempt suicide. In her youth she was affianced to Emiliano, but Fedra blocked the way. She has a great need to feel loved.


Kristel: María Elisa Camargo is beautiful, capricious and very spoiled. Accustomed to getting her way. Frivolity is her calling card. Her intrigues and pranks are cruel, especially those she plays on Marianela, who she can't stand because she's humiliated to have such a fat relative. She lives to please herself, do crazy things and to entertain her boyfriend Mauricio. She's Ilitia's best friend and hopes to turn her into an internationally renowned model.


Axel: Diego Amozurrutia is an attractive young man, intelligent and of noble sentiments, but very reserved. The younger son of Fedra and Emiliano. He studies music and hopes to be a great singer though his parents oppose it. A terrible trauma marked his adolescence and from that moment he was isolated in his environment. He lives locked in his world and doubting his sexuality. He offers his friendship to Marianela and will become her great ally.


Don Máximo: Aaron Hernán is a retired general, an eccentric man of strong character, stubborn, dominating, and with a robust personality. He is very intelligent and has a great heart. His eccentricities lead some of his friends and family to consider him crazy. He's knowing and cultured. He knows all the secrets of the Ruiz and Teresa family. He'll confront the villainies of Fedra with all his strength.


Doris: Lorena Enríquez is the younger daughter of Gladiola and Brandon's sister. She is sparkling, of a happy nature, noble, loyal and intelligent. She's a great caricaturist. She will be Marianela's best friend and together they will seek justice.


Oliver: Ricardo Margaleff is a young and handsome policeman, Brandon's best friend, a loyal, noble man with a great understanding of friendship. He has the rumba in his feet and nobody can beat his dancing. He's in love with Ana, but she only sees him as a brother. He will become one of Marianela's allies.


André: Alberto Agnesi is a young man of good social standing, aggreable and charismatic, Emanuel's best friend. He's had an enviable life, but his situation will change when he has to confront himself when suffering a mortal illness.


Paula: Tina Romero is sympathetic, happy and noble, part of the house staff, her passion is cooking and everyone loves her dishes. She is Delicia's constant confidante and Marianela's ally. Her greatest strength is the goodness of her heart and Don Máximo is her great love.


Delicia: Mariana Van Rankin is an absent-minded, rebellious and gossipping young woman. She's one of the service managers at the Ruiz and Teresa mansion. She hates Fedra and mocks her. She will be one of Marianela's great friends and confidantes as she comes to truly appreciate her.


Nereida: Ivonne Ley is a banal and hypocritical young woman, she works as a servant in the Ruiz and Teresa house. For a long time she has pretended to be trustworthy, but later her true personality is revealed and it's demonstrated that she's a traitor.

Labels: llena, synopsis-cast

Thanks to next week's substitute recappers!

An episode where something actually happened!

Jade tells Lucas that what they had is over because he betrayed her. Lucas explains that he had to return because his daughter has become a drug addict, dropped out of school, been arrested and they don't know where she is. Jade seems moved for a second but she says that she too knows what it is like to almost lose one's daughter. 'Ví tu sombra', Lucas, I saw your shadow, Lucas, says Jade. Naturally, Lucas is confused. 'Un hombre idéntico a ti. Una sombra que se despegó de tu cuerpo..' A man just like you, a shadow that has left your body. Jade interprets its appearance as indicating that they will never be together. Jade says that she had to cross all the barriers to be with him and he always chickened out. Then they have basically the same conversation again - Lucas says that he can't leave his daughter doing drugs in the street and Jade reiterates all the times he has failed her. Then she demands that he kidnap Jadiya and take her to foreign country (presumably one without extradition). Lucas replies that he will not commit a crime. Lucas says he loves her but it is his daughter. 'Entonces, olvídame', Then forget about me, says Jade.

Labels: clon

Ren is having the nightmare again.

Celia is telling Aimee that when she went to town to look for Rod, Ren and Leo were very upset. Celia, the masochist, ask Aimee to take her when she leaves. Aimee burns some document while saying that something drastic has to happen to see if her luck changes. Aimee says that lately luck has not been on her side. Aimee goes on to say that she is sick and tired of everyone and she wants to be free again. But before anything happens Aimee wants to go back to see the witch. Celia is not too happy about that. Aimee is confident the witch can help. Aimee orders Celia to get her robe. Faster than the speed of light. Celia and Aimee are are the witch's lair. Aimee wants to fake and accident to "lose" the baby. She has to go to a witch for that? can't she "fall" down the stairs? The witch is telling it is to risky, Aimee said she knows how to protect herself. The witch is seeing in the smoke coming out of whatever it is she is boiling a baby. the Montes de Oca's heir. Aimee reassures the witch that she is not pregnant. The witch tells her you wish, is not you is another woman, another child. Juan and Reggie's? Aimee can't believe her ears. The witch tells her yes this boy is going to be handsome, strong like his father. the brilliant Aimee deduces that the witch is talking about the newlyweds. Aimee vows to herself that she is going to change destiny and that god forsaken baby is not going to be born.

Finally a new and sunny day. Juan is at the beach talking to his mom. Juan tells his mom that he knows she is in heaven with JDD Sr. loving each other and that both are watching over him. Reggie joints her hubby and tells him about the legacy of love that MDR left them. MDR thought them the love is bigger than anything. Juan professes his love to Reggie and promises Reggie that he'll love her beyond his death. Reggie promises him that come what may they'll always be together. Yeah, we all know what that means. They seal that promises with a kiss.

Fully is questioning the service where the heck is his loving wifey. The servant tells him that Elo is at the dressmaker. That Elo must have a closet bigger than the house. She goes to the dressmaker everyday. I hope she has the dresses to backup her story if ever questioned by fully. We see Elo entering the premises of the dress maker and Serv hot on her heels.

Dr. Pablo is checking Ren. Ren is telling him this is the second time he feels sick. Dr. Pablo tells Ren he doesn't anything wrong with him physically. His brain is another matter entirely. Pablo, says to Ren maybe is something you ate or drank. Ren realizes it is in the alcohol and asks Pablo if it is poison. Pablo says he can't assure that, but asks him to be careful. Pablo tells him about MDR's dead. Ren is very surprised and said MDR died ages ago. Pablo signals with his head, nope, nope.

Juan tells Reggie that MRD was upset because he called himself Juan del Diablo and she baptized him again. Reggie finds it amusing and reminds him how when they where at that island she also baptized him Juan De Dios. Juan wants a life change and be happy with Reggie because he loves more than anything in this world and he wants her to be proud of him. Reggie tells him she is already. Juan tells he is sure his parents are watching and protecting them and their love. MDR and JDD Sr. better strengthen their powers because I have the feeling Juan and Reggie's is going to be tested to the core.

The dressmaker is telling Elo that she is afraid what Fully would do if he finds out what is going on here. The dressmaker is afraid Fully would kill them all. Fed enters the room. The dressmaker leaves. Elo and Fed start going at it. Serv enters the house, it seems there's something going on between him and the dressmaker because he touches her chin very gently. Serv kneels and looks through the keyhole how Elo and fed are making a dress and thinks to himself that Fully has to know this the sooner the better. Can you imagine how useful a cell phone would be for Serv right at this moment?

Noel is talking to Juan about the finca and that Reni would pay his debt as the gentleman that he is. Noel said he'll do all the paperwork. Juan tells Noel that neither him nor Reggie care about the finca. Both Juan and Reggie think is best to give the finca to the workers and the fish folks. Noel agrees with him and tells him he very proud. Juan tells Noel they've decided give Clem the big house, but Juan cautions Noel not to tell Clem yet. Juan sends a message to the Montes de Oca to take their time leaving the finca. Noel is not happy delivering the message because he doesn't want ot go back to la finca. Noel tells Juan about his visit to la finca and that the told Leo about leaving. Noel makes the observation to Juan that he sees a glimpse of sadness on his eyes. Juan gives him the news about MDR and also tells Noel that he is at peace now because his parents are finally together. Juan reassures Noel that he is not sad. He is at peace.

Renie is with mommy dearest. Ren demands of her an explanation about MDR. Rod is eavesdropping and he hears when Ren says that Pablo told him that MDR just died. Rod thinks to himself that if MRD is dead, again, he has not reason to live. Suicide Rod? Really? I don't think so. It would be too easy.

The service is telling Aimee that Rod didn't come home last nigh. Rod spent the night at the finca and no one even noticed his presence. Aimee as always is sitting in front of a mirror spraying whatever it is she sprays herself with and fixing the flower thing on her neck. The maids are concerned about don Rod. Aimee dismisses them and tells them that maybe Rod is just having a good time. She sends a message with the maids to her father. Aimee tells them to tell Rod that as of tonight she is coming to live with him. She double checks that they got the message right and makes them repeat what she told them. They repeat the message, she is satisfied and tells them that she is going to abandon Ren for ever.

Leo is telling Ren the lie about MDR and Orca's doing. Rod walks away. Ren asks her why didn't tell him about this. Why he had to hear this from a third party. Leo gives the line about not wanting to worry him. Ren reassures her that his is a man not a weakling, he also tells her that he is a MDO and he has made the decision to get his dignity back.

Noel asks Juan where is MDR buried. Juan tells him in the penon del diablo where his dad is. Noel is happy with the news. Noel sees the ring and recognizes it. Noel asks Juan if Rod was there. Juan asks surprised Rod? Noel tells Juan that Rod bought that ring to ask MDR to marry him.

Rod is wrecking the dungeons promising to kill Orca when he set his eyes on him.

Juan is holding the ring and tells Noel he promised MDR he'll forget about his vengeance, but he doesn't want to see any of the Montes de Oca. Juan asks Noel to return the ring. Noel is now Juan errand's boy.

Serv come to inform Fully about the rendezvous between Elo and Fed. Serv tells him about seeing them doing the deed. Fully wanrs him that if he is lying Fully'll kill the messenger himself. Serv tells Fully to go and see for himself. Now I am almost sure since the dressmaker kind of gave Elo a warning when Fully decides to go they'll be gone. Fully warns Serv that the penalty for this type of treason is dead.

Juan is by the sea and Remi joins him. Remi asks Juan how is he felling. Juan tells him much better and makes the observation of how beautiful is the day today. Juan says that is going to dedicate his time to be a fisherman because that is the only thing he is good at. Isn't he filthy rich? Remi says he doesn't what he is going to do now with just one arm. Juan gives him the news about the finca and Remi will get a big piece of the land and since he is going a land owner he can then hire some help. Juan talks with Remi about Remi feeling sorry for himself. Juan points out to Remi that he can use the other hand. Juan also talks to Remi about Lulu and how love is the most imprtant thing in life. Juan tells about how he found his mom and lost her. Juan tells Remi that love is more important than pride and to fight for his love. Juan asks Remi if he is going to go through life feeling sorry for himself. Remi is mulling everything Juan is saying. Juan tells him his is going to cast his net and when he brings it back is going to be full of fish. Juan tells Remi that is his choice to either help Juan or continue felling sorry for himself. Juan gets up to throw the net.

Noel is conferring with Clem about Rod visiting MDR. Clem says, could you believe that he has the gall to ask MDR to marry him? That sick and selfish love was the cause of all MDR disgraces. Noel, says he is worried about Rod's sanity. Noel is not too far from the truth

Ros is still crying and going on about losing MDR. Leo is beside herself MDR is finally dead and she, Leo, had nothing to do with it? You think? Leo is happy because Rod is going to be all hers now.

Uh, Oh. Fed and Elo are still at it. Fully and Serv walk into the room and we can hear they voices of pleasure of the two sinners. Fully does the same Serv did and peeks through the keyhole. Elo says something about Fully finding out about them. Fed says do not worry my whore, err, my love the only thing we have to do is to find the right moment to get rid of the old fart and get all his money. We have to try to poison him again. Fed ask Elo if she has any idea when and how. Elo says she'll do a big celebration dinner and invite Fed. Elo says I'll prepare the old fool his favorite dish and then we can consummate our plan. Fed says that only then they can be happy and together for ever. Fully to himself, "malditos traidores." F traitors.

Mariela is talking to Noel about her feelings for Jime. Mariela doesn't understand why. But, we all know right Noel?

Jime is back in church talking to the virgencita and asking la virgen to adopt to her.

Noel drops the bomb to Mari and asks her the $10 question. what would you do if Salma wasn't Angela. Mari asks Noel if he knows something she doesn't. Noel says it is only a supposition and since we are still investigating we have to exhaust every possibility. Noel asks Mari if she would allow him to give her an advise. Mari says yes. Noel tells her to get close to Salma and let her hart tell her if Salma is really her daughter. Noel tells Mari to listen carefully to her heart because it might tell her something. Mari looks intrigued.

Fully is walking on the streets, upright. I think he forgot his cover about being a very old and incapable man. I'm also surprised he didn't do anything to the fornicators. Anyway, he is thinking about the treachery and how the worse of it is what it hides. He might know a thing or two about it. Now is acting according to character. Fully things that a simple death would be too easy for the traitors. He'll think of something appropriate for them. That's my fully! I was thinking that Grizzies body was never found and then I thought that Branco is gone and he was the cadaver finder.

Lulu is at the market buying oranges, she trips over and a new and improved Remi offers to help her. Remi asks her if he can be of assistant even though he's missing an arm he is strong enough to help her with that heavy basket. Lulu can't believe her eyes, she is all smiles. Lulu thanks him very sweetly. He really looks handsome. they walk away together.

Mari is trying to take Salma to church, but Salma is not having it. Mari said to Salma that she'll get used to it. Salma tells that she is a gypsy and she is not Angela an takes off. Mari is calling her, but Salma continues running away. Gabe literally walks into Mari and asks her what is going on? Mari tells him about what Salma just said. Gabe tells her he wants to share some doubts about the validity of Salma claim to be Angela. Mari ask what types of doubts. Gabe propose Mari to go someplace else with him to talk. Mari agrees.

Lulu and Remi have arrived to De Marin's house. Remi asks him if this is her place of work. Lulu tells him she is the cook in the Marin's house. Remi sets the basket on the ground and when he is standing up he barely touches Lulu. They looked into each other eyes and then he slowly walks away. Lulu is breathless and thanks him. Lulu is very happy because Remi is talking to her.

Mari and Gabe are walking and comparing notes. Mari is telling him that Salma still keeps her gypsy's clothes and the way she behaves is very strange. Mari sits on a bench and when Gabe was going to ask her something, Gabe sees Serv turning the corner. Gabe excuses himself and said he'll be right back. because he had seen someone he needs to ask something very important. Mari says OK. Gabe confronts Serv about how Serv almost killed him. Serv denies it and ask Gabe what would, he, Serv gain by Gabe's death. Gabe tells serv because you know I don't believe Salma is Angela. Gabe tells Serv how Gabe knows that Salma is paying Serv for his silence. Gabe offers Serv money but Serv doesn't take it and tells Gabe to leave him alone.

Jime is still at church praying to the virgencita about MDR and how she is still hurt about losing her mom.

Gabe is informing Noel of his encounter with Mari and how they almost talk and couldn't about Angela. Gabe is sure that Serv knows the truth and doesn't want to say it. Noel Gabe about his suspicion about Mari being Jime's mom. Gabe just realizes the resemblance between the two. Noel is sure that Jime is Angela. But since they don't have any proof they should stay with their mouths shut until they know for sure. that way no one gets hurt. Gabe agrees, but they have to find out pronto.

Aimee is leaving the house with Celia. Aimee tells Celia not to make any noise because she doesn't want to be found out. They are walking on stealth mode, when all of the sudden we hear Renato shout AIMEE!. Aimee and Celia are very impactadas. When Aimee and Celia where leaving the house was pitch dark and all of the sudden there's is light. Renato is pointing a gun at her. Celia cries to Aimee; Senora corra! my lady run. Aimee takes off running and Ren fires his gun, we see Celia falling to the ground and then yelling NOOOOOOOO! while Ren just looks on. Ren is either a very bad shot or he just wanted to scare Aimee. Aimee tells him are you nuts? did you want to kill me? Ren tells her I warned you that if you tried to escape I was going to kill you. This was just to show you that I'll fulfill my promise. Yeah, it was just a warning shot, too bad. But I think he got her on her right ear. Reni tells her if he really wanted to kill her he would had done so but the shot would've been between her eyes. Ren just wanted Aimee to know who's the boss. Ren tell her that he warned her, that she would never be able to leave him. They are going to be together until death do us part.

Diner is on at Fully's house. That was quick. Fully asks surprised about it and asks a dinner for me? Doesn't he dines at home every night? huh. Elo is all love, yes my love I realize how much I have been neglecting you and I decided to make up to you and do something nice for you. Fully happier than a dog with two tails, or so Elo and Fed think. Fully tells her how happy he is Elo invited Fed to the little celebration. Fed is like you know how much I love you man. Fed tells Fully how much he appreciates Fully's friendship. Fed goes on to tell Fully how he, fed, is the lucky one. Yes Fed you don't know how lucky. They toast to eternal friendship and loyalty.

Aimee asks Ren why is it so difficult for him to understand that she doesn't care about him anymore. Ren says who care! I don't care about you either, but you staying put. Starting tomorrow someone else is going to assist you. Ren yells Celia to leave. Celia knows was best for her and gets the hell out. Ren orders Aimee to go back to her bedroom and stay there until he says otherwise. Aimee tells Ren she is not going submit to his tyranny. ren warns her not challenge him, she is going to walk away and he grabs her by her arm and spoons her around and tells her whims are all used up. Aimee tells him to her go because he is hurting her. ren tells her to obey his orders. Aimee tells him she is not afraid of him. Leo comes down the stairs yelling at Ren no to touch Aimee. This is Aimee's cue to run away of Ren's reach and look for protection from Leo. Leo inquires about the sot she heard. Aimee tells Leo that Ren tried to kill her and shows Leo her injure. Leo starts questioning Ren and he tells her this is a husband and wife issue. Ren tells Leo to go back to bed. Leo points out the obvious, But Ren you are holding a gun and you are very agitated. Ren, I told you this is between husband and wife, get the heck out and do not interrupt us again. Aimee is putting her best act begging Leo not to leave her alone with the neanderthal. Aimee is begging for her child, Leo listens to her son turns around and goes back upstairs. As soon as Leo leaves Aimee changes her victim act to being the nice person she. Aimee turns around and looks at Ren defiantly.

Dr. Pablo is at Noel's telling him and Clem about his suspicions of his uncle the old dr being murdered the same night Juan was born. Dr. Pablo looks very handsome with his hair this way. Noel asks why he think the old Dr. was killed. Pablo says I've been putting two and two together and they sum four not five as I have been told. Pablo says that since MDR came back from the dead, Juan being the bastard son of MDR and JDD Sr. Juan being abandoned right after his birth. Pablo is sure his uncle knew all that and wasn't going to stay quiet. Clem adds her two cents and tells them that the old Dr. was MDR's dr and probably he found out what Leo and Rod did. Pablo says that is why I think my uncle was murdered. Noel is looking very worried. Pablo comes up with the idea of asking Rosenda if she ever heard anything about Leo and Rod killing the Dr.

Leo is in a very dark room talking to herself how Noel was right about everything she loved and cared for is going to hell.

Ren is dragging Aimee to their bedroom. He throws her on the bed. Aimee call him a savage and a coward. Ren tells her, you better understand that I am your man and you owe me obedience and if you do not obey me, this would be your treatment from now on. Ren tells Aimee I wanted to give you the royal treatment but you didn't want it now I'll treat you like a slave. Aimee tells him she won't allow him to treat her that way because she is going to leave. Ren yells you better or I'll tie you. Ren walks away and she throws something at him and yells at his back, I hate you, i hate you! Ren turns around and says at least you are being honest now, but I don't care, if love couldn't keep us together hate would, but you are going to be with me until I say so. The next time you try to escape think it twice because I just show you I won't stop at nothing. Aimee, Stupid you are not going to stop me; I swear you are not going to stop me. Aimee holds her ear in pain.

Juan and Reggie are in bed kissing each other. Reggie asks Juan why is looking at her that way. Juan answers because I love you and I thank God for finding the most wonderful woman, in you arms I feel complete and you lips drives me nuts, your eyes are like two big stars, that are always lightning my way. Reggie, my love, my love I am very touched by your words. Juan I am telling you how I feel. Reggie, I also love you the same way you love me and I have learned to look at the world through your eyes. More kisses, more I love yous, you are the best thing that have happened to me. Juan, wait I have to confess that I am very afraid of losing you. Reggie, never say that again because I am yours and will be for ever and ever. There you have it.

Labels: salvaje

In which Jadiya’s heart is broken; Rania wins membership in the Wicked Stepmothers Club; and The Naz shows us a person can be kind and self-absorbed at the same time.

Samira appeals to her mother for help in her budding romance with Carlos, but Latifah tells her:
Tienes que sacarte a ese hombre de tu corazón.
You have to get over him (literally: remove this man from your heart).

Zein and Jade are arriving in Miami. He wants to know if the man in her past is from Morocco or the United States but she refuses to talk about him.

At the gym, Alej and Diana continue their conversation. ¡No puede ser! (It can’t be) insists Alej. But Diana isn’t repeating gossip: She actually saw Nati drunk and high and obviously spending a ton of money. The increasingly miserable Alej remembers Lucas telling him about the money he gave her to buy appliances. I’m telling you this as a friend, says Diana:
Aléjate de esa niña, ella no te conviene.
Stay away from that girl, she’s not good for you.

We flash briefly to Nati and Paula, still high, walking along the road where we saw them trying to hitch a ride yesterday.

Luisa and Albieri are in the ruins in Fez. She asks what he was trying to do (she uses the verb: pretender) by coming here. Was he going to stay? Did he make the decision to leave her so easily?

Alí still can’t make sense of what Albieri has done. Finally he tells Zoraida:
Si sucedió, es porque Ala lo permitió.
If it happened it’s because Allah permitted it.

Dora is in Caliente, Cris’s bar, where Miguel is once again attentive to her. Vicki tells her that Cris called. She is on her way back to Miami and she’s furious with Dora. She plans to set things straight (aclarar cuentas) with Dora and Leonardo and the whole truth (toda la verdad) will come to light. ¿Pero cuál verdad? (but what truth?) asks a bewildered Dora.

The maids in Alí’s house are cowering. Zoraida explains to Alí that they are afraid of Albieri; if he comes back, they will run away. But he’s not an evil spirit, says Alí, he’s just a man, a man I’ve known all my life.

In Miami, Rania and Amina discuss the genio malo in Alí’s house. (It seems Abdul, in addition to his other charms, is an incorrigible yenta and called the good sisters to spread the word.).

Jadiya wants to know why Rania is changing everything around in the house; her mother isn’t going to like it. Rania sits down quietly with Jadiya and explains as gently and kindly as she can that Jade will be living in a different house. But Rania loves her and will take care of her… Okay. That would be in an alternate universe...

..In this universe, Rania screams in her face that her mother has gone off with another man, and that she, Rania, will do what she damn well pleases because she’s in charge now. I’m going to tell my father what you are doing, retorts Jadiya. Go, tell him, shrieks Rania. (And to give you an idea of how mean she is, Amina has to remind her to cool it, that Jadiya is just a child.).

Elsewhere in Miami Jade is burning as she recalls Lucas’s words when he asked her to trust him, that he would be there for her. Mentiroso, falso… !

Pablo shows up at Salamandra in response to a message Malicia left for him. She wants his help with a problem. She has found so many serious errors in Cris’s work that it looks like Rogelio may be giving her Cris’s job. What should she do? You should talk to Cris, answers Pablo. But what would you do if they offered you the job?
Si fuera yo, no lo aceptaría.
If it were me, I wouldn’t accept it, answers Pablo. (If clause: fuera: imperfect subjunctive of ser; Then clause: conditional of aceptar)
But this job is all I have, says the winsome Malicia, and things aren’t going so well with my boyfriend…
Oh, well, that’s different, says Pablo.

In Fez, Luisa and Albieri get Cris’s note saying she has returned to Miami. And she has taken Daniel with her!

And back in Said’s house in Miami, Jadiya is desolate. She tells her father that Rania changed everything and her mother won’t like it. Tenemos que hablar (we have to talk) says Said as he strokes her hair lovingly. But when is my mother coming back? Jadiya asks.
Nunca. No va a volver nunca.
Never. She’s never coming back.

An angry Jade accosts Lucas in the street in Miami. I don’t want to have anything to do with you, she tells him, but there’s one thing you owe me:
Quiero que me devuelvas a Jadiya.
I want you to return Jadiya to me.
Once again she tells him she has given up everything for him and he has ruined her life.

As they are talking, an image of Daniel comes to her unbidden. She seems spooked, momentarily.

He begs her to listen. He still loves her. He intends to keep his promise to her. He asks her to go to their apartment to talk. She agrees but insists she will take her own taxi there.

Jadiyah, meanwhile, is pleading with Said to bring her mother back to her. He did everything he could, he tells her, but in the end she didn’t love him and she didn’t love her daughter. She turned her back on us (Nos dio la espalda), he tells his heartbroken daughter. She rejected her veil and she rejected us. Rania will be a good mother to you now. No! cries Jadiya and she runs out of the room leaving Said slumped on the floor, weeping.

Jadiya walks downstairs, passes Rania and Amina and heads out to the garden followed by Said. R&A follow him. ¿Qué pasa, mi amor? (what’s wrong/ what’s happening my love) Just leave me alone, she says. Yes, déjala (leave her) advise R&A.

We are back in Fez with Alí and Zoraida. Said has called to say:
Jadiya no se conforma… no deja de llorar.
Jadiya is unhappy... she won’t stop crying.
Said would like Zoraida to fly out to Miami immediately to take care of his daughter. Alí tells her to go but reminds her that Jade chose her fate. And so, for that matter, did Albieri choose his fate when he had the hubris to think he could create life. But remember, says Alí to Zoraida:
No vayas a conspirar con Jade porque te corto la lengua.
You’re not going to conspire with Jade or I’ll cut your tongue out.

The following scene is all Naz:

She comes to visit Jadiya, and is appalled by what she sees. What did those animals do to you? she wants to know. I want my mommy, says Jadiya. My father says I’ll never see her again. The Naz dismisses this, saying:
Tu papá ha dicho muchas babosadas.
Your father’s talking drivel. (babosada is related to the word baba, drool)
I’ll find out the truth and I’ll tell you what’s what. But for now, how about a story?

Once upon a time there was a beautiful princess named Nazira. So great was her beauty that suitors came from everywhere just to gaze upon her. When she danced, it drove them mad. (Here we see the fantasy Naz belly-dancing for her admirers, an appreciative Alí prominent among them) The Princess –Odaliscas were sick with envy and so they conspired against her. (The PO’s are Latifa, Jade, Amina and Rania, of course).

One day, the handsomest man on earth (Pablo) came in search of a wife. The PO’s conspired to keep the handsome Prince Pablo from seeing Princess Nazira. Indeed, they called the executioners (Verdugos), scary black-garbed figures, to first remove Prince Pablo from the scene and then to lock up the beautiful Naz in a tower so high and far away that no one could hear her screams for help. (Mohamed and Said are los Verdugos).

With Princess Naz out of the way, the PO’s compete among themselves for the Prince’s attention. But to no avail: none of them is beautiful enough for him.

One day as the Princess Naz is bemoaning her fate, she sees a bottle in a corner. She opens it and an enormous genie pops out. She gets three wishes.

A key to unlock the tower and escape? suggests Jadiya. (Alas she is familiar with ogres locking up princesses in towers and in her experience, a key is paramount.) No, says the Naz. The genie can open the door by magic. She chooses instead:
una alfombra mágica (a magic carpet) y una varita paralizante (a ‘paralyzing’ wand)
[So if anybody can spot the third wish, let me know. I count only two.]

The genie releases her from the tower. When the PO’s see that she is free, they call for the Verdugos. But Princess Naz taps all but Prince Pablo with her magic wand and her enemies are frozen. Then Princess Naz and Prince Pablo run away to get married. After several days flight on the magic carpet, they reach his kingdom.

Both the Naz and Jadiya take comfort in the story.

In Fez, Alí is smoking his water pipe (What is in that pipe? Does anyone know?). Albieri is with him and tells him he’s going back to Miami that very night. Alí says:
Me buscaste para que te aconsejara y lo voy a hacer. Creo que debes hacer público lo que hiciste.
You sought me out so I could give you advice, so I’ll do so. I think you should make public what you did.
He goes on: In the godless west, it will probably make you famous. Maybe they’ll give you prizes. But on Judgment Day, you’ll see what’s more important: the prizes or the lives you destroyed to do your experiments.
Albieri says he’s more concerned with how he’ll be judged on earth. Alí reminds him that everything earthly is ephemeral. Only Allah is eternal.

In the final scene, Lucas is begging Jade to let him explain what has happened. She remains stony. Don’t dare lay a finger on me again, she tells him. It’s over. Nunca estuvo escrito. (It was never written).

Labels: clon

Dandy lets Carmela know that he’s been driving the ladies wild since the tender age of 15. She understands why and starts trying to suck off his face to show her understanding. Unfortunately, Susana sees this lip lock/face lock and is not so understanding. She approaches an unsuspecting Dandy, and grabs him by the hair, releasing him from Carmela’s jaws. After a few choice words, Susana winds up to deliver a monumental slap to Dandy’s cheek. Unfortunately, our resident skinny drunk guy gets in the way and receives the message intended for Dandy. Carmela wants to know who this woman is. Dandy says she is his girlfriend. Susana corrects him and says she WAS his girlfriend. She then delivers a few more choice words (it’s all too painful to detail), and storms out in tears. Carmela tries to cheer Dandy up by asking why he wants that little girl when he can have a whole lot of woman like Carmela. Dandy collapses into his chair and over a table in despair, and Carmela collapses into her chair in defeat. No Nelson nooky for Carmela.

A weeping Susana rushes by Rafa and into Ale’s office. Rafa knows something bad went down and calls Dandy to get the 411. Unfortunately, Dandy still has his phone shut off, and is probably contemplating suicide at this point. Rafa is joined by Pepeto and Ramirez, who saw Susana and also want to know what’s up. Their answer soon arrives in the form of the walking dead Dandy. They drag his lifeless body into the meeting room.

Dandy explains all and calls Carmela a demon. The boys lament that they have accomplished nothing from all their efforts. In fact, things are worse than they were before. Rafa is even further away from getting Ale back, and Dandy and Susana are over. Rafa begs for Dandy’s forgiveness, but Dandy has gone to an inner place far, far away. Poor Dandy! Rafa then gets excited and says that all is not lost. This gets Dandy’s attention. “I can get back my Nonicita!” Rafa has to dial back the enthusiasm. “Nope. Sorry Dandy. I meant getting the bank loan.” Dandy returns to the safe place in his mind.

Susana, who had been bawling in Ale’s office and getting a massage and hugs from her BFF, has now returned to her desk for a bit of much needed meditation (ohmmm…). It doesn’t work as well when you’re crying though. Rafa interrupts and gives his lame non-excuse about everything being cleared up eventually, and then she’ll see she was wrong about Dandy. Susana doesn’t want to hear half excuses. Well, then Rafa has a favor to ask her. Is Rafa looking to get slapped? He wants her to call up the bank and check on the status of his loan application. Susana gives him a firm NO. I say he’s very lucky he escaped with his life.

Rafa heads back to his not so merry band of men and calls the bank. The answer is (drumroll please)…NO. Well, then there’s no choice in the matter. Rafa has to marry Vicky. Ramirez accepts that it’s their fate to be in unhappy marriages- He to his wife; Rafa to Vicky; Ale to Marco; and Dandy to…well, to someone who is NOT Susana. Dandy collapses into a puddle of tears. They then wonder if they should send Dandy back on the Carmela mission since he has nothing to lose now (just rub it in guys). Clearly the soulless shell that was once Dandy will not be able to adequately protect himself against Carmela the Ardent. How about Zetina? Rafa proclaims that he hasn’t been doing much other than running up taxi fares. How about putting Dandy on Marco’s trail instead? He can’t sell many cars in this state anyway. They all think it’s not too bad of an idea. Dandy does not react.

On the sales floor, Marino tries to dump a potential client on the General when his girlfriend (or his next victim as the General calls her) strolls in. The General will only do it if she gets credit for the sale. His girlfriend's trucks aren’t ready yet, but Marino wants them to celebrate nonetheless. They decide to celebrate at her place so that he can meet her sons. She thinks her sons will be like the sons Marino has never had. Claudia nearly chokes on her coffee when she hears this. Once Marino’s next victim leaves, Rosuara asks him if she know about all the kids he does have. Marino tells her to keep her big gossipy mouth shut.

After the not so merry band disbands, Dandy attempts one more time to talk to Susana. She does not want to hear anything from him or see him. She is hysterical, and very un-Susana-like, yelling at him to beat it (vete!). She winds up for another slap, and this time she connects with her intended target, Dandy’s cheek. Ramirez drags a shell shocked Dandy away and they nearly run into Marco who is just entering the sales floor.

Marco is on the phone with Chavez, arranging the fake exorcism of the hacienda by the Great Mololongo. He then surprises Ale who is just heading back into her office. They both don’t hear Susana’s warning that Rafa is in his adjoining office. Marco has purchased two tickets for himself and Ale to Brazil! Not only does he want them to go there for their honeymoon, he wants them to live there. Yep, that’s right. Permanently. Rafa is just as shocked as we are as he overhears this from his office. Marco has it all planned out, and Ale can barely come up with reasons not to go along with this plan. Urdiales is starting a new business in Brazil and wants Marco to manage it. No, he’s not mad about the wedding invitation gaffe anymore. Marco will have a huge salary. They can sell the hacienda and buy a huge house there. Between the new job and the sale of the hacienda they can pay off all their debts. It will be easy for Ale to learn Portuguese. Of course they will send for her aunt and dad to come live with them. After all, Marco couldn’t possibly imagine living without them. He tops it all off with a little samba hum and dance.

Marco’s Brazil sales pitch is interrupted by a call. He has to go, but before he does, he does another happy little samba hum and dance, which Ale mimics. Once he leaves, her false smile fades and her face looks just as grim as Rafa’s, who is standing in the doorway between their offices. Ale is startled by his presence. Rafa looks defeated. He assures her he’ll have the truck business wrapped up and pay her back. He leaves to gather the not so merry band and tell them about the latest Brazil developments. The guys wonder how Marco can afford to take Ale off to Brazil if he’s got nothing to his name. In Ale’s office, Susana is wondering the same thing. Susana wonders what Rafa said. Ale says he said nothing. Susana then informs her Rafa huddled with his buddies when he left the office. Ale is sure this group included that lout Dandy, but Susana tells her that actually Dandy is sulking at his desk. Ale thinks he deserves it.

Meanwhile, Marco has stepped outside to inform Chavez that Carmela called him. He is sure she wants her money. When he arrives at Carmela’s office, it is obvious that her sexual frustration with Dandy has put her in a foul mood. Her assistants are bearing her unhappy shouts and insults. Marco wraps up a call with Claudia, who wants to give him a bachelor party send-off for one. More importantly, she tells him about Rafa’s upcoming marriage. Marco is very happy. And Carmela’s very happy to see her bon bon when he enters her office. One of her assistants comments that Carmela is going to eat richly today as she exits and soaks up the view of Marco. But Carmela’s been down the Marco road before. She appreciates the majestic view from the window, but she knows as soon as she steps outside of the car to try to take it all in, she’ll step right into a pile of moose poop. All she wants from Marco this time is her money. Marco informs her that he will have the money once he sells the hacienda. He has been given power of attorney to do whatever he wants with the hacienda, and what he wants to do is sell it. But first he needs the certificate stating that the hacienda is free from embargo. Carmela is impressed by his devious plan, and impressed he’s managed to con Ale and her family after all this time. She’ll give him a copy of the certificate, but not the original. But she doesn’t think it will be so easy to sell a hacienda quickly. She has a plan however, which we’ll have to wait to hear in another episode. Zetina is watching this whole exchange and calls to report to Rafa when Carmela goes to make the copy.

Back at Siglo, things are going from bad to worse. Susana is now refusing to answer the phone. Rafa answers a wrong number call from someone looking for a psychiatric hospital. Rafa tells them it’s not a psychiatric hospital, but close. (lol!) Susana has retreated to Ale’s office again. She can’t keep working in this same place as Dandy. She has to leave. Ale tries to console her, but they’re interrupted by Beltran. He and Doña Arcadia want to see Ale and Rafa in Arcadia’s office, right away. When they arrive, Beltran and Arcadia want to know what the management plan for the sales team is going to be while Ale and Rafa are off getting married and honeymooning at the same time. Rafa assures them he’s leaving Siglo at the end of the month. Beltran wants to know what up with those Celeste trucks. He hasn’t seen any down payment money come in. Rafa and Ale try to explain about the buyer with trust issues, but they are sure he will come through. Rafa personally takes responsibility for it, and Beltran and Arcadia calm down. Next they want to know what the plan is for Ale while she’s away. Ale also says she’s not returning, and Rafa blurts out that she’s moving to Brazil. Arcadia and Beltran wax poetic about Brazil as a perfect honeymoon spot, and wonder if Rafa is going on a honeymoon. When he says not and talks about the expense, they wonder what he’s doing with those huge commissions he’s been getting. He and Ale pass guilty looks. Beltran and Arcadia end the meeting rather pleasantly by stating that the doors of Siglo will always be open to both of them if they want to come back. Once they leave, Arcadia comments on love making people do stupid things (Amen Arcadia), and urges her puppies not to fall in love.

Outside of Arcadia’s office, Rafa and Ale breathe a sigh of relief that Beltran didn’t push them about the down payment. Ale then mentions that this may be the last time they see each other as they both have packed schedules from now until their fast approaching weddings. Yikes!

Tomorrow: There is no show tomorrow because of the Pecado finale, which I will be watching.

Labels: dinero

Ep 119

We begin our episode with one of the saddest episodes I’ve ever seen in a TN. And since Jeri covered it so eloquently yesterday I would not dishonor it by trying to recap it again.

Juan, so worn out, finally falls asleep as he continues to tenderly hold his mother in his strong arms. He remembers all the good times they had in their short time together. Regina and the boyz approach him and he wakes with a start. He holds up the rosary and the shark’s tooth and asks them where is God. Where is the light to save my mother. Just one more minute, one more minute. Everyone looks so sad. Remi says we have to take your mother to prepare her for burial. Juan is still babbling. Pedro tells him his mother is no longer with us. Juan continues to babble. Remi says that they are the same. They have both felt the loss of a mother. And here is your family. Everyone is crying. Regina, Colibri, Jimena, Gabe, me. Remi continues, it’s time to let her go. You have to let her go. It is time for her to rest in peace. Juan says you are my brother. You understand my pain. He won’t let him take her. Nobody will take her. He starts to get off the rocks. Then there’s a break and it looks like maybe the scene was cut.

Rodrigo is wandering around the house. He goes into a bedroom.

They’ve managed to get Juan off the rocks and he’s carrying his mother. Gabe gives it a try and says something about stars but I can’t hear over the waves. Juan says no and continues walking. Jimena tries next. She says she understands. His pain is her pain also. He needs to let them take her. He says no. You can’t take her. They all gang up on him but he still won’t let her go. He’s swinging her around and if this wasn’t so sad it would be funny. Because if it was me, I’d be laughing my ass off.

Rodrigo is apparently in MdR’s bedroom. He remembers the night he discovered JDD there in her room. How he wanted to kill JDD but MdR wouldn’t let him. He remembers how he would rather kill her than let her be with JDD. He says to himself that she is dying. The love of his life is dying. He cries. Good. You hateful bastard. He touches the pillow. Why didn’t you love me? Do you really want me to go there? Why, why? He rolls around on her bed. Seriously, are we supposed to feel sorry for him?

Back on the beach it looks like Regina is up to bat. Remember all the good times you had. She’s with your father. No matter what she says he still won’t let MdR go. Think of your parents to together. She’s making some progress it seems. We’ll take her to Penon del Diablo. The boyz start moving in from behind. She begs him some more. He agrees to take her Penon del Diablo. Just when I thought they were going to grab MdR from him, he gets up and starts walking with her. They prepare the Juan De Dios boat for her with flowers and torches. They play music and sing and she’s dressed all in white. Remi tells him everything is ready whenever he decides to go. All the guys are wearing black bows on their sleeves. They get her situated on the boat.

Rodrigo has stopped crying on the bed and gets up to wander down to the dungeon. He follows the hallways until he gets to the cell where MdR was kept. He looks around and swears that he will do something with his own hands. He finds her veil and picks it up and sniffs it. I’m not even going to go there. He finds the doll. He picks it up and throws it on the floor in disgust. He sits in the chair and starts talking to the veil. He repeats her name.

Juan slowly rows his mother’s body to the island. Colibri blows a horn. Juan conducts his own private ceremony. He looks to the sky and says that now his parents are together. He’s made a giant flower heart and his mother is in the center. He says that in memory of his mother his name is now and forever Juan de Dios San Roman Montes de Oca. He asks El Senor to let her rest in peace. He starts to recite the Lord’s prayer as a white dove flies into the middle of the grave and away. I’m not sure if that is supposed to symbolize his mother’s soul passing or whether it is JDD coming for her. You decide. I hear this song in my head as I watch this scene:

Lay down your sweet and weary head,
Night is falling, you have come to journey’s end.
Sleep now, and dream of the ones who came before,
They are calling from across a distant shore.
Why do you weep? What are these tears upon your face?
Soon you will see, all of your fears will pass away.
Sail for miles, you're only sleeping.

Chorus:

What can you see on the horizon?
Why do the white gulls call?
Across the sea a pale moon rises,
The ships have come to carry you home.
And all will turn to silver glass,
A light on the water, all souls pass.

Hope fades into the world of night,
Through shadows falling out of memory and time.
Don’t say, We have come now to the end?
White shores are calling, you and I will meet again
And you’ll be here in my arms, just sleeping.

Chorus:

What can you see on the horizon?
Why do the white gulls call?
Across the sea a pale moon rises,
The ships have come to carry you home.
And all will turn to silver glass
A light on the water, Grey Ships pass into the west.



Back on the beach Pedro is thanking Remi for taking care of that situation. He says of course.
He is my brother. Santos says he is a brother to all of us. Gabe says he is his patron as well as his friend and also a father. Jacinta says something and Jimena says they are all feeling the pain but not as much as Juan. He went all these years thinking she was dead and then he found her. And then he had to lose her all over again. But finally his parents are together. Jacinta notices the ring and Jimena says it is her engagement ring. Gabe has asked her to marry him. Santos and Jacinta are getting married too. Gabe goes over to Remi and tells him that he needs to be happy too. Don’t let your pride get in your way. He watches Gabe and Jimena together and looks very sad.

Lulu lights a candle and thinks about Remi and thought bubbles that she thanks Remi for changing her life. For his love, his innocence. And for believing in her. For this she needs to show him that she loves him. She cries and wishes he would forgive her.

Meanwhile Rod is still babbling incoherently to the black veil. FF>> We don’t really care.

And now for something completely different:

Renato is in the parlor drinking. I wouldn’t drink that stuff if I were you. Didn’t you learn your lesson last time? Amy barges in looking for her dad. She can’t find him anywhere. Tomorrow she’ll go look again. Renato says she only wants to find her dad so she can go live with him in his house. Aimee says don’t you remember--He interrupts her and says don’t you remember when I told you to get lost? She tries to argue with him and he grabs her arm. When I call you you will come right away. She chastises him for being so rough and says how can you treat me that way when I’m your wife and I’m expecting your child. I can’t wait for him to find out that she’s not really pregnant. He says well then it is better that this future mother get her rest. She gets all snotty about it. If you don’t want to talk then I’ll leave. You only want to drink anyway. You don’t want to confront reality that is why you drink. Hmmm… that sounds suspiciously like my ex-husband. Bad day at work--better have a beer. Messed up on the video game--better have another beer (or two, or three, or 10). Stubbed my toe--better make that a shot of Southern Comfort. I think you get the drift. Is anyone else getting really sick of Renato and Aimee besides me? Renato says you got that right. I drink to forget what a lying ho you are. She tries to bring up Regina but he’s like just shut up and let me drink in peace. I can’t say I blame him there. He says well if you won’t leave then I will. She tells him not to go. He tells her the only thing she is interested in is his position, his name, his fortune. I married you and now you are the boss of everything. He picks up the decanter to pour another drink. I have a bad feeling about this particular decanter.

Back on the beach Clem and Regina are discussing the sad death of Juan’s mother. The death of a mother is a terrible thing. But finally she is happy. They agree. Regina tells Clem that Renato lost his half of the finca in a card game. Everything is Juan’s now. Clem looks surprised. What’s going to happen? Regina doesn’t know. Clem tells her not to worry about it. She tells Clem that Aimee was here. She shakes her head as she tells Clem that Aimee confessed that she’s not expecting a child. I see this as a golden opportunity to get even with her. But that’s just me. Clem is astounded and says Aimee is playing with fire. Yep. Clem is very afraid what Renato will do when he finds out.

Renato is to the point that he doesn’t really care what happens. Blah blah blah. Aimee’s lines, Renato’s lines. He grabs the decanter and heads for the stairs. This time she tells him to get lost and don’t come back. He gets in her face and must smell bad because she keeps putting the fan in front of her nose. He says he could kill her. Oh good. Renato’s pretty snockered by now. I don’t know if it is from the alcohol or the sleepy time potion that was put in the brandy. He starts to go up the staircase of death. We haven’t had a good death by staircase in quite a while so maybe we are in luck. Aimee thinks to herself what a dumbass he is for drinking the wrong alcohol with the potion in it. Maybe he will die.

Raul is at Noel’s office. He wanted to see Noel immediately. He wasn’t sure he had heard the news. News? What news? You don’t know? Raul is a little surprised. Tonight Renato lost his half of the finca in a card game. Noel comes out of his chair on that one. Oh Renato my son! Who did he lose it to? To Juan de Dios San Roman. Noel has to think about that one. So now Juan has more than half of his inheritance! Man, that Noel. You can’t put one past him can you?

Juan finally shows up at the beach house. Everyone is glad to see him. Jimena says now you can be at peace. You have completed your promise to your mother. Santos says we are all here. We are not just your friends we are your family. Amen brother. Thanks to God that I have you all as my friends. My mother said that my friends would give me support and strength. He calls Regina to him. He thanks her for everything. You will illuminate my way the rest of my days. She says yes. They hug. Colibri gives a cute smile. Dr. Pablo shows up late to the party and tells Juan how sorry he is about his mother. Regina says she and Clem would have come for him but they knew there wasn’t much time. He understands and goes to stand awkwardly against the wall. Regina tells Juan that now his mother is not alone. He says yes, she is not alone. My mother accompanied my father and now they are together.

Rod somehow has made it back upstairs and overhears Noel shouting at Leo to see his son. He starts yelling for Renato. Leo tells him to shut.it. He says he just found out that Renato lost the finca. Rod is surprised to hear this tidbit of news. He continues to listen and thought bubble to himself that it can’t be possible. Leo and Noel continue arguing and Noel says she ‘d better make preparations to leave. She’s not having any of that. She’s not going anywhere. That bastard Juan is not going to get this finca. Rod didn’t like the sound of that either. It can’t be possible.

Renato is lying in bed fully clothed and doesn’t look like he’s feeling all that great. He’s having some serious nightmares. Raul is telling him that Juan is more intelligent than he is. Well, yeah. Everyone is laughing at him. Juan is holding a bag of money and a piece of paper and waiving it at him. He tells him what an idiot he is and now he has everything. Bwaaah, Bwaaah! Renato wakes up and tries to get out of bed. He falls back down. Freaky music plays in the background. Then we get scary music as Renato falls back one last time on the bed.

Labels: salvaje

Episode 118

At Raúl's, Inéz Villareal continues frantically demanding why her husband and Noel think Salma is not their granddaughter, when from down the hall Mariela approaches and stops in her tracks, spying Noel. She greets him, saying how nice it is to see him; to which he shyly turns and returns her sentiment.

Mariela remarks on the lovely day and invites Noel to stroll with her; and after the Villareals gladly excuse him, Noel approaches Mariela and pointedly takes her hand to kiss it, looking into her eyes. Noel promises Alberto to return and finish the earlier conversation, and Mariela takes his arm as they exit.

The moment they do, Inéz rounds on Alberto once again, pleading for an explanation; but Alberto can't get over the idea of Mariela and Noel together and that they're even using informal address. Inéz won't be distracted, and he must finally regretfully tell her it's true that Noel suspects Salma is not their granddaughter.

At the cottage, María del Rosario's health is much worse, and she can't eat for coughing. Regina is just praying for God's help that she doesn't suffer when a black figure creeps in through the doorway. Regina is startled to see it's her father, and he's looking for María del Rosario. Where is she? Rodrigo begs.

Back at Raul's, Alberto concedes they only have suspicions; but he's noticed some inconsistencies, like how Salma doesn't really know the town. Inéz desperately worries a deception would break Mariela's heart; while behind the wall in the hallway Salma eavesdrops -- and behind the next wall, Lulu eavesdrops on her, like a mirror looking in a mirror.

At the cottage, Regina tries to stop Rodrigo; but María del Rosario appears from her bedroom and assures Regina it's all right; she wants to talk to him alone. After Regina exits, when María del Rosario warily asks what he wants, Rodrigo lowers himself to one knee and proposes marriage!

In a carriage on a country lane, Mariela grins at Noel across the seat and asks why he's gazing at her so intently. Noel removes his Magical Mystery Tour sunglasses and observes that Mariela so reminds him of someone that he can't put his finger on.

She laughs and asks if it's a former lady friend, and he chuckles and ruefully denies he had any lady friends except Leonarda. Mariela admits she only had her husband, as well; and she was widowed at a young age. Then she lost her daughter and was consumed with finding her.

When Noel asks if she feels particularly sympathetic to Jimena, Mariela confides in a whisper that it pains her to admit she identifies more with Jimena. She hasn't seen much of her, she explains, because her parents think it would hurt Salma. Just then the carriage lurches violently and dumps Mariela into Noel's lap.

Slightly abashed face to face, Mariela seems in no hurry to jump off. Noel gentlemanly ascertains her well being and then launches out of the carriage to find out what the hell happened. As it turns out, the driver narrowly missed a young girl in the lane. When Mariela hears it was in fact Jimena, she runs to embrace her.

At the cottage, Rodrigo is still on bended knee, and María del Rosario wants to know if he's lost his mind. Rodrigo recalls he thought he had lost his mind when he saw her "dead;" when she appeared later as the black-veiled woman in his room; and when he saw her in front of the townhouse.

Rodrigo rises and rushes to her, grasping her hands; but now that he's seen her alive -- and not a ghost, he says, he's come back to his senses. And that's why he's asked her to marry him, he says earnestly; because he's never, ever, stopped loving her. María del Rosario looks at him blank faced.

He eagerly pulls a little red box out of his jacket pocket, explaining breathlessly that this is the ring from the day so long ago of his first proposal -- when that damned fisherman took her away from him! he grits out, shaking a fist. María del Rosario moves away and observes she never belonged to Rodrigo.

Looking him in the eyes, she calmly maintains that her heart always did and always will belong to Juan de Dios San Roman. Rodrigo begs her painfully to please not say that name! He still hates him. But the fisherman is dead, and they two are still alive, he points out. He urges her to take the ring and marry him.

María del Rosario reaches up, closes the ring box and lifts a hand to Rodrigo's cheek, which he gratefully covers with his hand. Poor Rodrigo, she says; he never changes. He never has understood that love doesn't obey orders. She can't marry him, María del Rosario repeats. She's a married woman; married to Juan de Dios.

Rodrigo angrily responds that it's a lie! The guards interrupted the wedding, he insists. María del Rosario observes that it's so difficult for him to understand that Juan de Dios and she swore eternal love -- and that soon she's going away with him. She astounds Rodrigo by explaining she's condemned to death.

Out on the country lane where Mariela and Jimena embrace, Noel looks on and now realizes that of course Mariela reminds him of Jimena. They look a lot like each other, and with dawning comprehension he concludes they look like mother and daughter. Is it possible Jimena is the real daughter of Mariela? he wonders.

Back at the cottage, Rodrigo cannot stomach the idea that María del Rosario might die; but it's true, she says. Rising and looking distant, she adds that she has very little time remaining. If he really does love her, she wants him to let her die in peace. She's already forgiven him. Rodrigo is devastated and exits.

Lulu and Gabriel meet in the plaza, where Lulu reports that Salma always acts preoccupied and sad when she's alone, like she's pining away for somebody. When Lulu adds she saw Salma giving money to Servando, Gabriel thinks it's hush money -- and that if money can shut him up, money could also make him reveal the real Angela.

At the cottage, Clemencia is astounded Regina left Rodrigo alone with María del Rosario, but Regina insists Rodrigo loves her and couldn't hurt her. María del Rosario emerges from the bedroom to say she is feeling much worse, can't rest and is glad they are there. She doesn't want to be alone. She collapses on the floor.

When the women return her to bed and want to call the doctor, she insists they should stay; these are her last moments, she says. María del Rosario tells Regina she must remain strong and help her son, and Regina tearfully promises to do so. Clemencia swears through tears to continue to be like a mother to Juan.

Just then Juan charges in, bearing his mother's favorite sweets; but is brought up short by the sad scene. He can't believe it when Clemencia tells him his mother is dying. He quickly sits by her side and takes her hand, as she weeps over the suffering he's had to endure.

Juan tearfully begs her not to abandon him. Please don't go! But it's not she who decides, his mother says; it's God. Juan can't accept it; he doesn't want her to leave him, he repeats. No! She says he must continue to be strong, but Juan defiantly refuses. He doesn't want to be strong! He doesn't want her to leave!

He drops his head on her chest, weeping, and she asks him not to suffer for her sake. They weep together and she entreats him not to fight it. She's going to reunite with his father, she whispers. Searching Juan's face, she marvels how much he looks like his father. He's coming for her, as he promised, she assures Juan.

This thought mollifies Juan. She seems so sure of that, he observes. Juan wipes his tears on his shirtsleeve and sits up. All right, he relents. He will take her to wait for Juan de Dios. Pulling back the covers, he lifts his mother up into his arms. They'll go and wait for his father, he says.

Juan carries his mother to the shore, where their friends and family are gathered, and explains he must take her -- his father is waiting. He carries her up the shoreline, away from them, sobbing, step by step, slowly leaving friends and family behind as they approach the rocks -- the last barrier before the eternity of the sea beyond.

Sitting on the rocks in her son's arms, María del Rosario, remembers the sea, where she met his father. The sea was always a witness to their love, she says. She knows why Juan called himself Juan de Diablo, but that's over now; no more vengeance, no more tears, no more hate. His father and she will be together.

Juan still doesn't want her to go, he says. But she wants to be happy with his father, she says, and so she gives Juan back his real name: Juan de Dios. Juan kisses her hand, relents and tearfully promises to remember all the advice she gave him and do whatever she wants. And so from now on he is Juan de Dios, he says.

God is love, his mother tells him. And now that Juan's known this feeling -- now that he loves and is loved -- he belongs to God, she says with a beatific smile. Juan promises through tears that he will remember all her words; but just don't leave yet, he pleads.

He shouldn't worry for her sake, his mother says; she leaves gladly. And she thanks heaven that she had a chance to hold him in her arms, even if it was just for a little while. As the sun progresses lower in the western sky, she tells him she endured all those years clutching a rag bundle, hoping to see Juan again.

When she tells him that not for one moment in all that time did she stop thinking about him, Juan cries "Mámi!" into the crook of her neck and is wracked with sobs. To find him, she continues, was the only thing that maintained her life. Despite the sadness, despite the suffering, he gave her the strength.

And she wants him to be strong now. Juan says he understands that she has to go, because her life has been one of martyrdom and she has completed her duty to God about him. For that she deserves heaven; but he doesn't want her to go yet, Juan pleads again, inconsolably.

My son, she says, I would never leave you alone. Placing her hand over Juan's heart, his mother assures him she will always have a place in there. She wants God to always protect him, so she gives him her blessing. Juan kisses her hand and says Amen, but calls it back. No, he can't let her go! he sobs with fresh tears.

Wait, wait, Juan says. He wants to give her something, too. Juan removes the rosary that belonged to her which Clemencia gave him long ago -- and the shark's tooth from his father; and his mother holds them, smiling. The sun progresses lower and lower in the western sky, and his mother says it's the most beautiful evening she's ever seen.

She met him in the sea and she lost him in the sea, María del Rosario says. And only the sea can return him to her. Offering the two symbols of herself and Juan de Dios in her hand together up to the setting sun, María del Rosario repeats that she met him in the sea; she lost him in the sea; and only the sea can return him to her.

"Juan..." she whispers, as her hand slowly lowers, her head drops to her son's chest, and her arm falls slowly from around his shoulders. Juan knows his mother is gone and keens No, mother, no! Still holding her and kissing her hand, he can't let her go. He still needs to tell her about himself; tell her his story.

He needs to tell her how he became Juan del Diablo, what happened during the many years of her absence. Rocking back and forth with her, he begs her not to go. Just one more moment! He needs to tell her about himself; needs his mother to get to know him. His father was a very brave man whom Juan loved so much.

Juan recounts how he met his dad, went to live with him and heard his father's story -- how he thought she was dead. He needs her to listen to him; please don't go, he asks, sobbing. Juan caresses his mother's face and kisses her cheek. Gazing at the same sunset she did, he agrees it's the most beautiful evening.

Now there won't be any more suffering, any more sorrow; because she'll be with him and be happy, Juan says. All the happiness that never could be while on this damned earth! Juan sits with her and mourns as the sun sets and into the darkness. He still sits, cradling his mother, with only the moonlight.

Labels: salvaje