Caray, Caray!

Labels: eva

Tonight, Zuria Vega is "Azucena, Liberada" (Azucena [lily], freed).

A limp body in a chair. Broken crockery.

A young man runs into an office, frightened. He says to someone he calls "Licenciado" (licensed; usually an attorney) that Azucena is gone. The licenciado isn't worried. She probably went somewhere with her husband, Don Gregorio. The young man says Don Gregorio is dead and someone took Azucena. The licenciado asks if he's already checked at her grandfather's house. The two take off.

The licenciado goes into a house and sees an older man slumped over in a chair. Behind him, crouched by a stove is a young woman. He is shocked and goes back out of the house, where the other man asks him what happened. He doesn't answer. A group of people are walking up toward the house and he holds up his hands to stop them, asking them to calm down: "tranquilos, por favor!"

Back at DIEM, Aranda tells Capellan that she has "una llamada" (a call) that sounds "urgente" (urgent). Capellan takes the phone and the licenciado introduces himself as Ramon Morales. Capellan is pleased to hear from him, but he's in trouble and needs her help. He says there's a young woman who apparently killed a man and the townspeople want to "hacer justicia por sus propias manos" (take justice into their own hands) according to "usos y costumbres" (uses and customs--indigenous customary law). Capellan says it doesn't extend so far as allowing lynching. She listens and we can hear the people shouting through the phone. She frowns, nods, and says they (presumably the DIEM crew) are on their way.

In case you've missed it from previous seasons, DIEM, the division that Capellan, Aranda, Moran, and Gerardo work for is "El Departamento de Investigación Especializado en Mujeres" (investigative department specializing in women). Julie asked if we ever get anything about the personal lives of the DIEM crew, so I went back and checked my recaps for season 2, finding the following tidbits about the characters:

• Capellan may or may not be a knitter, though she's not up-to-date on the latest materials, as Gerardo had to clue her in that today's needles are sturdier than they used to be (one was used as a murder weapon).
• Gerardo (the forensics guy) sometimes gets "hunches" and Capellan tends to trust them.
• Gerardo dislikes wearing suits and is more comfortable in scrubs.
• Gerardo has a reputation that precedes him.
• Gerardo tends to roll his eyes at the younger members of the team (Moran and Aranda) a lot.
• Gerardo once hinted that he mixed business and pleasure, in the process of telling Moran not to do the same (Moran and Aranda were making googly eyes at each other). He told him to "do as I say, not as I do."
• Capellan really seems to care about the women, whether they're the victims or the murderers, and has given testimony that affects sentencing.
• I have severe terminal jealousy of Aranda's hair…oh, wait that was about me, not her….

Credits…we're all lost souls.

Four months before…

An older man struggles to tie his tie. A young woman comes up behind him and says "Abuelo, por favor no me obligue." (Grandfather, please don't make me.) His response is to tell her to put on something decent because it's getting late. He keeps fighting with the tie, then gives up and tosses it on the floor, turning around and asking her why she hasn't gone to change. She announces that she's ready. She insists and he backhands her across the face. Oddly, she appears to have acrylic nails.

The old man walks down the road, with the girl behind him, wearing a horrid orange sweater and carrying a suitcase. He motions her to walk in front of him.

In an office, another older man tells someone that the documents are in order. Azucena's grandfather walks in and asks if his "yerno" (son-in-law) is well, indicating the other older man, who I assume is the Don Gregorio earlier referenced. Him being the son-in-law would be funny if it wasn't so grotesque. Azucena huddles with two other young women and Gregorio asks if everything is ok. The grandfather says it is, and calls to Azucena, who stands by Gregorio. The JP, I assume, starts the proceedings to marry Azucena, 18, to Gregorio, 68.

Five months before…

Azucena rides on the back of a boy's bicycle. They get up to her house and notice someone is there. He tells her to hurry up or her grandfather will be upset. She kisses him and runs toward the house, but stops to ask him how many of something in a plastic bag to give her grandfather every day. He says just one, the old guy's diabetic and more would kill him. She says "ay, como crées" (oh, how do you believe; i.e., how could you believe I would do such a thing?; don't be silly; puh-leeze).

Inside the grandfather and Don Gregorio are eating. Azucena is questioned, and admits she came up with Marcelo, the son of the "boticario" (pharmacist), who will come by later to give her grandfather his injection. He keeps insisting she greet Don Gregorio "properly" but she and Don Gregorio both agree that she has. The grandfather tells her to make them coffee. He notices Don Gregorio checking her out. They start having a coded conversation:

"You're going to wear her out by looking at her so much."

"What? You want to look at her?"

"Well, televisions aren't free."

"What televisions are you talking about?"

"Oh, I'm just saying televisions aren't free. To watch them, you've got to pay."

"And to touch them?"

"Well, you've got to pay a lot more."

Both old bastards smile at each other.

Back to the mockery of a wedding ceremony: Azucena barely looks up as she nods her assent. She starts to cry as they both sign the register.

And on the afternoon when Don Gregorio and the grandfather made the deal: Gregorio comments that the grandfather isn't looking too well. The grandfather blames it on his diabetes and on having nothing but one useless girl in the house. He complains about his wife, who was sick all the time, and his daughter, Azucena's mother, who ran off, leaving her daughter behind. He's sold off all his livestock, including his mule, and now Azucena is the last thing he has left to sell off. The grandfather says if he only had enough for his medicines and a little to eat, he'd find a way to get by. "Oh, is that all?" Well, maybe if he also had a mule to carry him back and forth.

The JP declares Azucena and Gregorio man and wife and Gregorio kisses her, perhaps not on the mouth, but it's creepy all the same. Afterwards, they load up Azucena's suitcase in a red truck and she gets in the cab. The other two women rush over. One tells her not to be scared and just shut her eyes. The clasp hands. At the back of the truck, Gregorio tells the grandfather that she looks "rara" (strange). Right, cause she's supposed to look brimming with happiness at being married to you? What the hell universe are you living in? The grandfather says she's fine, but he should keep her on a short leash because sometimes she thinks she's an artist. Gregorio says he'll cut her wings. "Um, but before you do, aren't I supposed to get a fee for the deal?" Gregorio grins and hands him some bills. "I hope she's not going to turn out to be more expensive than a real artist?" The grandfather says not to worry, he's made a good deal. Gregorio gets into the truck and Azucena's grandfather leans into her window and roughly tells her to behave herself and not do anything to get hit. She glares at him, then looks desperately back at the other two women.

The DIEM SUV's roll into town. Ramon Morales waves them over.

Back to the wedding day: Gregorio brings Azucena to her new house. He takes off his jacket while she looks around. She starts to touch a box, but he tells her not to--it's something for his work. He buys things and sells them and she doesn’t need to get involved. He tells her to go put her things away. The whole house appears to be wallpapered with cardboard, and NOT in a Hildi Santo Tomas sort of way. She goes into the bedroom and Gregorio points out something about the window, saying he asked to have them put up, in case of thieves--possibly he's referring to the beams of wood that are nailed across the window. She tries to leave and says she'll go fix something to eat, but first he wants to "quitarme las ganas" (get rid of my desires; satisfy my desires). Mercifully for us, we fade out as he loosens his tie.

When we return, Azucena is crying. She pulls her dress down as Gregorio buttons up. He says she sure was worth it and good thing she didn't turn out like her mom. He orders her to get up and wash the sheets. "Hey, lazy! None of that! You're not going to pull that crap with me! I paid your grandfather a lot of money to have you, so you're not going to be putting on airs. Get up!" He walks out and she sits up, crying.

Present day: Azucena is led out of the house by Aranda, but not cuffed. She's got a busted lip. She and Morales get into the back of the SUV with Aranda. The group of townspeople, along with Marcelo, the young guy who likes Azucena, all watch.

Morales, Aranda, and Azucena walk into DIEM. Capellan greets them and refuses Morales' thanks, saying this is her job. She introduces herself to Azucena, telling her not to worry, she'll be safe there, and they'll do everything they can to help her. Aranda leads Azucena off, while Capellan tells Morales she's been hearing great things about his work and how he's become the lawyer of the people. He mentions that Capellan was once his teacher. He wants Capellan to help the girl, despite the fact that the murder has already occurred. He wants her to find "atenuantes" (extenuating circumstances), and he's sure there will be several but she objects that this was a "homicidio simple" (a homicide with no aggravating circumstances). Morales says there are some things he needs to tell her. He starts to tell her something we don’t hear and she turns to him audibly and says "What?!"

Rather than being in an interrogation room, Azucena and Morales are sitting opposite Capellan in her office. Azucena says she knows what she did was terrible. Capellan says in order for her to help, she needs to know what happened, and in what order. Does Azucena understand? She asks her to talk about her wedding day. Azucena begins "It was the first time…" she looks down, but inclines her head in Morales' direction. Capellan asks Morales to do her a favor and help Aranda write her report. He leaves and Capellan asks Azucena to continue. "My grandfather, the one who was my grandfather, he kept me locked up. I started to go crazy, and worse when I figured out I was pregnant." I'm sure she's referring to Gregorio, but she says "abuelo," grandfather.

Gregorio sits at a desk, writing in the bedroom. Azucena gets up slowly from the bed. Gregorio says "look who woke up!" He tells her to make coffee, then asks what's wrong, why is she making that face. Azucena says she's not feeling well and he tells her she should make something to eat so she feels better. "Maybe swallowing, you'll get rid of that face!" He says he's got to deal with some merchandise. She asks him if she can go to the doctor, but he says it's not like she's dying. Azucena says she feels really dizzy. Gregorio says when she's done making him some food and she irons his shirts, he'll give her a chance to lie down for a while. But not the doctor--that's a waste of time being out of the house. He complains that he's already paying for her grandfather's medicines, and he's not going to pay for medicine for her as well. He says maybe she does need to go out. She probably needs fresh air and to see the sun--she's looking a little pale. "Estas muy pálida, vieja" (You're looking very pale, "old lady" [wife]). He tells her to get dressed and go to the truck. Azucena keeps looking like she's going to throw up any second.

She carries boxes out to the truck and loads them into the bed. As she stops to throw up, finally, Gregorio tells her to load them up properly. He tells her to clean up her mess and drives off without her.

Azucena goes into town to the health center.

She tells Capellan that she was three months pregnant. "Do you have a child?" Azucena says she doesn't. That she never had it.

Azucena comes back to the house (WHY???!!!) and Gregorio starts in that he knew she would do this to him. She says she went to the doctor, but he accuses her of cheating on him and beats her before she can get out that she's pregnant. He looks horrified.

Azucena sits up in bed, crying. Gregorio tells her she can stay in bed a little longer if she wants. You know, cause now he wants to be nice to his child-bride-slave-rape-victim since she's pregnant. He asks her how far along she is and when she tells him three months he scoffs that she never tells him anything. He says he's going into town for some merchandise and does she want anything. Azucena tells him she just needs the usual groceries. He asks if she's sure. Then he asks if she feels ok and she says it hurts. "Maybe that's normal?" She says it hurts a lot and he suggests she try to lie down for a while so it will pass. He leaves.

Azucena wakes up from her nap and when she pushes the covers off, they've blurred out the space between her legs, where presumably we could have seen that she lost her baby.

The grandfather feeds some hay to his mule. Gregorio and Azucena drive up. Azucena gets slowly out of the truck. Gregorio gives the grandfather a bottle of alcohol. The grandfather says they should hurry up because dinner is already ready. Azucena hobbles slowly toward the porch. The men joke about the añejo (aged tequila). The grandfather tells Azucena to go see if the beans are ready and wash the dishes in the sink since he hasn't been getting around well because of his diabetes. He tells Gregorio that he's getting worse. He asks if Azucena is "mansa" (tamed) and Gregorio says she's still learning, but it's going ok. The grandfather shouts in, asking if the beans are done yet. She says she's on the way. The grandfather congratulates Gregorio, saying he does think she's more tame. Azucena carries out the food and Gregorio asks if the grandfather can really eat it all. Azucena answers that no, he can't or he'll be sick later. "Who asked you?" He tells Gregorio maybe she's not so tamed. Gregorio proudly tells Azucena to tell her grandfather about, you know. He brought over the tequila so they could toast. "Tell him about the kid!" The grandfather asks if he's going to be a "bisabuelo" (great-grandfather). Azucena says there won't be a baby. Gregorio looks confused and the grandfather says that's women for you. "Hey, you paid for Azucena, but the kid thing--that's not my responsibility, right?" Gregorio waves him off, then gets up and goes into the house, where Azucena is standing at the kitchen table. He menacingly asks her what happened with the kid and shakes her when she doesn't answer. Azucena says she lost it two days ago. "Why didn't you tell me?" She says because he doesn't like it when she talks. He says she should have told him and she replies "I just did." The grandfather calls from outside for Gregorio to come have another drink with him. He leaves and Azucena clutches her stomach and goes slowly into her grandfather's room to start cleaning up. She picks up a shawl and inhales the scent.

She remembers her grandmother lying in bed, covered with the shawl. Azucena is giving her the news from town. The grandfather comes in and yells at the grandmother that she's no great lady to be lying around in bed all day. Azucena gets in the way before he can do anything to her and he tells her not to get in the middle. He tells the grandmother that all she's got is laziness and she needs to get out and get some air. Azucena tells her not to pay attention. It's not true that the air is going to do her good--she's really sick, but she'll be better soon. Azucena is lying in bed with her, rubbing her shoulder. She asks if she's warm yet. Her grandmother doesn't answer and Azucena realizes she's dead.

Azucena lies on her grandfather's bed, holding the shawl.

Azucena tells Capellan that her grandmother was the only one who loved her. She took care of her and defended her from her grandfather when he wanted to take his anger at her mother out on Azucena. Her grandmother loved her like she was her own daughter, one who had turned out well. Capellan asks what her husband did when she lost the baby. Azucena says "he got worse."

Azucena is sitting on the bed when Gregorio comes in and tells her to take her clothes off--that they're going to make another kid. She says it's only been two days since she lost the other one. He asks what she wants--for him to put up with a "cuarentena" (quarantine; the forty days after giving birth).

Azucena and Gregorio go to the market. She says they need tomatoes, but she and Marcelo reach for one at the same time and Gregorio comes over and yanks her away. He noticed them looking at each other and she denies that there's anything going on and says she hardly knows him.

When they get home, he tells her to put everything away. She asks him if she can have permission for Chayo and Luz to come visit. He says she's staying locked up today and that's the end of it. He thinks the other women will bring Marcelo to the house so he can have sex with Azucena, and he says he's not stupid enough to allow that. She keeps begging and says she won't go anywhere, she just wants him not to lock the door so they can come in. He tells her to quit "fregando" (bugging me) and leaves. Azucena takes out a screwdriver and starts to open up one of the mystery "merchandise" boxes.

Forense Gerardo tells Capellan that he was sent some pictures of "her" case. She says it's "a" case, not "her" case. "Fine, 'a' case that you're making yours." He says it's going to be difficult to find extenuating circumstances, now that he's seen the pictures and the "saña" (viciousness) with which she committed the crime. Capellan replies that the girl was treated with viciousness every day of her life, for months. Gerardo tells her she's making the case hers. "That's what we're supposed to do! That's the purpose of this division! To find out the Why's!" Gerardo says she already knows the why's and it's all clear. He says he shares her outrage and agrees with her about how it was done. She says "Then you understand what I'm thinking." Gerardo says that one man's head was beaten to a pulp and the other was administered enough insulin to kill an elephant. He spreads his hands and says "She's a murderer." Capellan gives him a look and walks out.

Somehow, Azucena gets together with the other two women--Luz and Chayo. One says it will be Azucena's birthday soon. The other one suggests they have a party and Azucena shushes her because Gregorio is around. "We're not saying anything bad! We just want to celebrate your birthday." "Que festejar ni que nada!" (Celebrating? What celebrating?--The best way to translate "ni que nada" is to change it to "what" and put it in front of whatever came before it. If one of the girls had just said, "We'll get you a car for your birthday!" She would have replied, "Que carro ni que nada!" "What car?" as in "Are you freaking kidding me?") Azucena says he hardly let her come see them today. It's better if they don't celebrate. One of the other girls says they have to celebrate, like they did when they were little. Azucena sits down by them and says she can't. "Come on! I'll organize it. How long do we have, another week?" Azucena shyly admits it's Wednesday. The girls say that all she has to do is get permission to go out. And of course he's give her permission because it's her birthday.

Capellan says she supposes that Gregorio forbid her from seeing her friends. Azucena says not only that, he also beat her. Capellan says she went anyway. "Did I do wrong?" "No. It's just a question." Azucena says she did go with them and she paid dearly for it. Capellan asks her to explain, step by step, what happened yesterday.

Azucena pulls the "merchandise" boxes away from a window. She starts unscrewing the wooden slat in front of it. She climbs up on a box and starts working on the next one up.

The girls sit outside and toast to Azucena's health. She says she's been dying for a beer. Gregorio doesn't let her drink. She thanks them for everything and says she loves them a lot and doesn't know what she would do without them. They light the candle on the cake, but Azucena is nervous that it's getting late. One of the girls tells her it's her birthday and she should forget about that old man for a while. They tell her to make 3 wishes, but make them good ones because there won't be another cake until next year. Azucena freezes up. She says she can't do it anymore. Gregorio hits her. One of the girls calls him a "desgraciado" (a disgrace; a bastard, asshole, worthless…you get the picture) but she doesn't seem very shocked or outraged. Azucena continues that she lost her baby and she doesn't want to live anymore. Her grandmother was the only one who loved her and she can't take it anymore. The girl tells her they're there for her and she should drink her beer, it will make her feel better.

Azucena goes back to the house with leftover cake. Gregorio is already there. She says she was with her friends, but can't finish before he knocks the cake out of her hands and starts hitting her. He says she smells like beer and who did she get drunk with. He takes off his belt and starts hitting her with it, accusing her of having been with Marcelo and getting drunk to sleep with him. He says he'll kill her and she won't make a fool of him. He grabs a machete, but she grabs one of the pieces of wood that was on the window. She gives him one good whack and the butterfly flies away. She keeps hitting his head. Considering the sound, it wasn't wood that was over the window, it was a metal bar. Azucena's face is covered in blood and she goes into shock.

She tells Capellan that he wouldn't let her explain and he just started hitting her. "What did you want me to do? Either I killed him or he was going to kill me. The bar was right there, it was in my hand and I didn't think of anything. He killed my baby and he was going to kill me." She starts to cry. Capellan gets up and meets Aranda in the hallway. Aranda says she thinks they have "atenuantes" (extenuating circumstances). Capellan's response is that her husband was pathologically jealous, he sexually abused her, he beat her. She thinks the murder could be considered self-defense. Morales is grateful, but she says they can't thank her yet. The problem here is the second murder. She goes back into her office.

Gregorio is dead. Azucena is sitting at the table next to him, rocking back and forth.

Azucena covers Gregorio's head with the tablecloth and walks out the door. She walks slowly down the hill, hands in the pockets of her orange sweater.

She goes to her grandfather's house. He's sitting in the kitchen in a chair, with his hands covered by his jacket, shaking. He asks her if she came alone. He asks if something's going on, but she says since he said he wasn't feeling well, she came to see him. He says it's the diabetes. They were out of insulin at the pharmacy. He's dizzy, he has low blood pressure. He tells her the medicine finally arrived and it's in the box. He complains that Gregorio was supposed to bring him money but he didn't even come. Azucena says Gregorio's his friend and she's got nothing to do with it. The grandfather says she could have at least told him to come. Azucena says she'll fix him some coffee and then she'll give him his insulin. "How long has it been since you've had it?" He says he doesn't even know anymore with the dizziness. Azucena says that she thinks she'll have to give him all of it. "Do you think so? Won't it be too much?" Azucena says one for every day that he didn't have it. He scoffs, but says she'd know. He starts to tell her to tell Gregorio, but she interrupts him and says "I already told you it's nothing to do with me. He's your friend." The grandfather says he must have forgotten and he hopes it's not out of ill will.

Azucena tells Capellan that when she killed her husband she realized that she wasn't being fair. "Why should I kill him and leave my grandfather alive? After all it was he who sold me to Gregorio. He stole my destiny, my happiness. When I gave him the insulin, that happiness came back to me. The same as he took from my grandmother and I. Now we're even."

Her grandfather drinks his coffee as she gives him several injections. She asks him if he knows what day yesterday was. He wishes her a happy birthday. He winces at the injection and says this illness sucks. He always wants to sleep. He asks her to see if there's some juice in the fridge. She gets up and says there isn't. He asks her to bring some next time she visits. "It's not good for you." "Because of the diabetes? Well, that's what they say, but who knows if it's true." She gives him another shot. He says he didn't eat anything the day before, just some stale bread. "Que caray" (aw, gee, that's too bad) she says, with no feeling behind it. He asks her what she did for her birthday. She says her friends made her a cake. He remembers that her grandmother used to bake her a cake on her birthday, does she remember? She does. He says she always bought colored sugar for the top. "Sometimes we didn't even have enough for bread, but there she'd go and get you colored sugar. And I'd tell her she would make you spoiled. The fights we used to have. Do you remember?" He asks if Gregorio gave her a present and calls him a cheapskate when she says he didn't. "I'll have to talk to him. Do you know that all of a sudden my eyes are bothering me. What could it be?" Azucena says she doesn't know. "Why didn't Gregorio come?" Azucena says she killed him. Her grandfather laughs. "Good on you!" "Right? I killed him, just like I killed you." She cries and he looks at her, then slumps over. The butterfly flies away. Azucena gets up, shocked, and looks into the camera.

"Azucena Chávez fue declarada inimputable por la muerte de su esposo, considerándose el hecho como un asesinato en defensa propia. Sin embargo, en juez desestimó los atenuantes presentados en el caso del asesinato de su abuelo, al considerar que la acusada actuó con alevosía y ventaja. Fue condenada a 12 años de prisión. Ramon Morales ha apelado la sentencia. El caso se encuentra en los tribunales superiores y en la comisión nacional de derechos humanos."

Azucena Chávez was declared incompetent in the death of her husband, considering the deed as a murder in self-defense. Nevertheless, the judge disallowed the extenuating circumstances presented in the case of the murder of her grandfather, considering that the accused acted with viciousness and had an advantage. She was condemned to 12 years in prison. Ramon Morales has appealed the sentence. The case is now in the superior courts and the national committee on human rights.

Next week, Kika Edgar plays a pole dancer.

Labels: asesinas

Labels: triunfo

After over a week of nonstop action and hilarity, it should come as no surprise that we would eventually experience a lull, allowing our friends in DF an opportunity to catch their collective breath. Soooo, naturally it would occur on my night to recap. Hey... no problem. I've had a busy week, what with sick folks and lousy closed captions to attend to, so let's all relax, pour up a fine Tequila (or beet juice, if you are of that persuasion... you know who you are), put up our feet, and enjoy a little Telenovelandia Happy Hour.

We pick up with Thursday's final scenes which were described so well by our Sylvia. So with her permission, let's rewind her recap a bit, and while I hunt for the Tequila, join in progress, in the boardroom, Fedra and Lorenzo:

She’s not sympathetic that his money is gone or that his neck hurts and she’s still on the subject that he won’t kill Vicky to please her. He throws back what has she done for him? She wouldn’t loan money to him, remember? And he’s still mad about her lackey Bernardo beating him up. Fedra gets back to the case in point. Pretty soon Vicky will get rid of all of them and it would be very convenient if she were dead. Ilitia runs behind Brandon for protection and Vicky gasps to Eman to help her. I guess she can’t reach into her own purse. Eman pushes FL aside and runs to Vicky. FL runs to Ilitia and grabs her from behind. Brandon coaches her, remember the kick! A bite on the arm and a kick in the nuts sends Ilitia into Brandon’s arms and FauxLirio driving away in a car that mysteriously showed up out of nowhere. But no matter about that now, the right people are finally hugging!
Brandon is with Ilitia and Eman is with MariVicky.

Thanks Sylvia.

Emiliano is at the police station nibbling on a bit of crow as he apologizes to Oliver. He now realizes that Oliver's intentions toward Gretel were honorable. Manolo looks on adoringly as they shake hands. He solicits Oliver's assistance in locating his daughter and Oliver enthusiastically agrees. Turning his attention to Manolo, Emiliana tells him that he is sure that Axel must have told him all about the situation with Gretel, and expresses his approval of their relationship, asking only that an increasingly fidgety Manolo make his son happy. Manolo requests a few moments alone with Emiliano. A suspicious and jealous Oliver sarcastically queries, "Are you going to ask for Axel's hand or what?"

Emiliano is worried that there is a problem with Axel. Nope, but he has a message from Gretel.

Back in the boardroom, Fedra is administering her own tough love brand of physical therapy to a helpless and hapless Lorenzo. Multitasking, she outlines their mutual threat... Marianela who is back in Mexico, what they must do about it... do away with her, and explains why it must be he that does the deed... to avoid being blackmailed. "OK?" He weakly and meekly agrees. "So when will you do it?" He sighs, "When my neck is well." Not exactly the answer she was hoping for, she gives him a disgusted little shove. "¡Ay, ay!" he whimpers... next!

Ahh, this is much better, we join a playful (but will you please do something with that hair?!) Axel and the effervescent Delicia in the kitchen of Castle Creep. The delightful Dee has dutifully donned the dreary duds of a domestic drudge, but even so, she looks radiant. He reminds her of his invitation to the company bash but she declines, "It just won't work," pointing out that to the entire family, him included, she is just a servant. She reminds him of his uncle Max and Paula. In an effort to prove her wrong, he rolls up a dish towel and ties it around his head (hey kid, that's a good start) and turns to washing dishes. She smiles.

"Do you know where Gretel is? Tell me!" Emiliano exclaims. Easing his father to a lower altitude, Manolo explains that he's been in contact with Gretel (one might say that) and assures him that she is well and when the time is right she will contact him. Feeling guilty for not being there for her, Emiliano soothes his conscience by stuffing a wad of cash into Manolo's hand for him to give to Gretel. ( I'll bet Manolo keeps it for himself.) Gretel peeks out to thank her dad... he doesn't see her and says goodbye to Manolo.

Gretel's tears run down Manolo's cheeks.

Oliver steps in to console the tearful Manolo who takes that as his cue to embrace his pal... just as the Comisario enters.

As Axel washes dishes, Dee explains how he can never know what it's like to be poor. He vows that he will continue with the menial chores until she agrees to attend the party with him. She smiles.

Brandon is holding court in his office, with Ilitia, Vicky, and Manny in attendance. Somehow, he manages to strut even while remaining seated. His less than impressed audience assure him that the bandit they recently encountered was definitely not el LdeP. Brandon has picked up the scent and dismisses the ladies for a private chat with Eman.

Home with her perro fiel, Bernardo, Fedra is in a snit over the abduction of her beloved son Emanuel by the silver-plated lily. She threatens to to kill him. As Bernie tries to calm her they are joined by Nereida who announces that Fedra has a guest. Before Nereida can properly present her, Netty pushes past and confronts Fedra. She is hot over the attempted assassination of her niece, Marianela Ruiz y de Teresa Pavón.

Outside Brandon's office, Ilitia and Vicky do a little lady-bonding, genially exchanging insults, accusations, and threats. Ilitia is especially impressed with Vicky's zinger, "You're dying of fear, Ilitia Porta López, fear is tattooed in your eyes," calling it very poetic. Going gently for Ilitia's pretty throat, Vicky tells her that if Marianela showed an interest, Manny would return to her in an instant sending Ilitia's marriage into the dumpster."

Well this is all very sweet and touching, but let's see what the boy's are up to...

Brandon gets right to the point. He thinks that Emanuel and el Lirio de Plata are one and the
same. Manny scoffs asking Brandon if he got his badge from a box of cereal, then suddenly the conversation takes an odd detour as Brandon pops out of his chair and grabs Eman's lapel, "What were you doing hugging Victoria de la Garza?" Eman counters with, "What were you doing hugging Ilitia, my wife?" Brandon thinks for a moment, one can almost picture the little hamster sprinting to catch up to this line of questioning... "You first."


Our pet, Axel, is still in the kitchen and has turned his efforts to food preparation. With a sprig of cilantro clinched in his teeth he is cutting up vegetables. Dee swats at him with a bouquet of parsley. Careful with that knife there, boy! Oops... too late... he slices off a finger while chopping a tomato. Nope... just a flesh wound... he's had worse. Ahh, it was worth it. Delicia moves in and clutches his hands, "These hands weren't made for washing dishes, nor ironing, much less for cooking, Axel, these hands were made..." He interrupts her in mid-sentence, grasping her face lovingly... "... to caress you, precious girl." Oh Axel, you eloquent devil... Oh crap, here's Nereida, "What are you two up to?"

Netty smiles, telling Fedra that indeed, Mari's back and loaded for bear...er...ah... snake... "She wants revenge... on you, Fedra." Fedra smirks. Netty needles. Fedra smugly sips. Netty prods. Fedra cracks going BSC and lunges at Netty. Bernie restrains and reasons, "Fedra, por favor. Don't waste your time with this woman, she's not wororth the trouble." Fedra regroups, picks up her drink and heads for the stairs ordering Bernie to heel. He obeys, but only after grabbing up a drink for himself. Netty decides that a chat with Max is in order.

Must be happy hour in DF because Super Mau is pouring himself a drink as he congratulates Dandy on a job well, if not perfectly, done. He gives the battered alternate lily a drink. Even though Vicky escaped, he got his money back. Their celebration is interrupted by a knock at the door as the cops come callin', "Open up! Police!"

Max welcomes Netty into his bunker, "Netty Pavón, long time no see." "Yes, two years, don Máximo." They've both sorely missed Marianela. She takes a seat across from his desk and tells him of the attempt to poison Mari, "... here, here in her very own house."

Realizing that the place is probably surrounded, Orangeboy sends Dandy off with the money to hide in the basement. Sadly I shake my head, he's probably right to think that it'll never occur to them to look there. Mau warmly welcomes Comisario Tejada and his boys in but asks that they be quick about it since he is a very busy man. The Comisario informs him that they are there to investigate the robbery at the Ruiz y de Teresa Agency. "The Ruiz y de Teresa and Associates," Mauricio hastens to correct him. The comisario wonders if it is a mere coincidence this time that the amount taken was the same as that taken in el Lirio de Plata's previous robberies. Now, I advise you not to ponder this detail for very long, but let's briefly acknowledge that it's unlikely that Lorenzo would have revealed to the police how much was taken. In any event, he wonders if Fonseca might be involved in this most recent escapade. Comisario, do bears...?... oh, never mind. Mauricio asks him if he really thinks that he, Mauricio Fonseca, as a partner in RydT and Associates, would rob his own company?

Netty and Max both agree that the person most likely responsible for poisoning Mari would be Fedra, but Netty adds that Fedra did not act alone, "Apparently Emanuel was her accomplice." She hurries to add that she has a difficult time believing that such a noble and generous lad would have been involved. Max also has his doubts, but then again, that same contaminated blood of his mother runs through his veins as well. The one thing he knows is that Marianela is the only authentic Ruiz y de Teresa (here again, it helps if one does not examine this statement too closely... what about Kristel? What about Axel? Drink up everyone and let's move on) He asserts that he knows that Marianela will fight tho the last to restore the family honor. Netty nods in agreement.

Fedra is relieved to see her son, Manny, return home safely and greets him with a hug as Ilitia, Emiliano, and Bernardo look on. Fedra's has had a tough day what with the robbery, Eman's kidnapping, and Vicky taking over the company... Though no one is paying attention, Emiliano points out that Vicky is merely representing Marianela. Fedra goes into a rant about that stinking fat woman is worse than the plague. "The only stinking plague here is you, Fedra." Netty has joined the party. Let's pause a moment and savor a word: Hedionda. It means stinking. I think it's one that we all may find useful. Netty goes on to say that not only did Fedra take what is rightfully Mari's, but she also tried to kill her. Emanuel lifts an eyebrow but no one really looks surprised.

Having found that he has more talent for household chores than for music, Axel is trying to mop the floor but Nereida's feet are in the way. She says, "Wait'll your momma finds out that you're doing the maid's chores..." Axel replies that he's a grown man and does what he darn well pleases. Delicia smiles. She urges him on with parsley swats as Lorena interrupts. Does this girl have her own key? Has she taken over the vacant wine cellar? Why is she here?

Netty must have eaten an extra portion of Wheaties today because she is relentlessly scolding Fedra over her attempts on Mari's life. Fedra, with her clever way with words, orders this bataclava (stripper, have I missed an episode? I thought that Fedra was the stripper) back to her own tropical sidewalk (vereda tropical) before she throughs her out. Emiliano tells Fedra that if she touches Netty, he'll throw her out. Uuuuhhh! Eman just wants to hear more about the attempt to kill his gordita. "Do you have proof of what you're saying, Netty?" She tells him of the medical reports from Spain. Half-heartedly, Fedra feebly mails in a weary obligatory look of wounded innocence, hoping more for her son's understanding than his belief.

After a commercial break, Fedra weakly, and without closed captions responds to Netty's charges. Eman, more out of a sense of duty than of doubt demands proof of her accusations. Por favor. Netty doesn't have any... yet. Ilitia smiles in amusement. Doesn't she have the cutest wicked little smile? Emboldened for the moment, Fedra makes the most of a pregnant pause in the action and storms out of Dodge. Netty continues, the captions are back, and both E's protest their innocence. Manny is beginning to understand Vicky's hostility. Netty pleads with Eman to protect Marianela. He vows to protect her with his life. Oops! Now we hear from Ilitia, "You'll protect her with your life? Where does that leave me... Baby?

Delicia smiles. "Yes he loves me, yes he loves me, the little rascal!" She was alone in the kitchen but is joined by Lorena. Who keeps letting this girl in? She tries to rain on Dee's parade but ends up with spaghetti raining down on her head.

Well, this is unexpected. Sitting around the pensión, Oliver, Brandon, and Doris have a hankering for taquitos al pastor and ¡Shazaam! Gladiola springs into action, heads for the kitchen and with the help of a pack of Maggi Sazón de la Callé Pastor, whips up a batch in no time flat and the kids love 'em... next!

Dandy peeks around the corner as a chuckling chucklehead Mau closes the door. "Are the cops gone?" They discuss the day's triumph but Dandy recognizes that he was less than successful in convincing his victims that he is el Lirio de Plata. Next time... what? these idiots are planning a next time?... they will need another Lirio de Plata since if Mau were to disappear right before eLdP appears the police might get suspicious. Gee, you think? The conversation turns to the upcoming nuptials. Gourdguy doesn't want to think about that, he is thinking of Victoria de la Garza. He's obsessed. He must have that bit of prettiness (lindura). Well, that'll be fodder for a few episodes.

Over drinks (Is it still Happy Hour? Linda, honey! I'll have another Tequilita, por favor.) Lorenzo tells Garduño that that he had the money until ths wascally wobber el Lirwio Plato showed up and took it away. He is sure that Muñeca is abetting him. Remember that evening of Maratón with Muñeca, Garduña gets a wistful look in his eyes, "That woman is too smart for you." Lo assures him that he can control his wife. Regaining his composure Garduña reminds him that his life depends on him returning the money and cryptically adds that his marriage is an investment, "...are you following me?" I hope that Lo is because I'm not quite sure that I am.

Up in her room, Mari confesses to Doris that she is really fed up with wearing the wig. It's hot and cramps her style. Doris offers to cut and color her hair to match, but there is a knock at the door... someone actually knocks?... It's Netty. She comes in complaining... boy, she really has a bee up her butt about this poisoning thing. Why wasn't she told? "Ummm... how did you find out?" "Almudena told me, but that doesn't matter." Doris explains, "Victoria didn't want to worry you..." Yeah... that's the ticket, she didn't want you to worry... yeah. It worked. Vicky rejoins the conversation, And it wasn't only Fedra, Emanuel helped her."

Have you ever noticed what big honking clocks everyone, especially the galáns, wear on their wrists in these shows? Lost in thought, Ilitia startles Emanuel. She has a nifty idea, "Lets go to the beach for the weekend." Well why the heck not? Manny observes that they both can relax. It'll be that honeymoon. Ilitia beams, "Baby, you're the most!"

Vicky apprises Letty of the poisoned chocolates that Eman gave to Mari. "For that he deserves to suffer."

And now for the most satisfying scene of the evening. Still wearing his neck brace, Lorenzo arrives home and congratulates Muñeca, who was detained but released by the police, on her convincing performance with eLdP. He thinks it was a plot between the two of them to recover the money and return it to her. He reminds her that he used his influence to spring her. She's not buying what he's selling. She's frosted at him for selling some of her interest in the agency. At that moment, Ilitia comes down the stairs holding little Cristian in her arms. He's delighted to see his two children together, but his joy is short-lived. Fidel and Flora are bringing his bags down the stairs.

"Leave my house, I'm kicking you out of my company, and get out of my life, para siempre."


Hey! Where's the Lovely Linda? What happened with that drink?

Carlos

Labels: llena

Last week’s comments were terrific. Thanks everyone!

NUEVO RICO, NUEVO POBRE

This is for real: Last Friday there was a piece in BBC Mundo about how Venezuelan authorities pulled the Colombian novela, Chepe Fortuna, off the air because:
…promueve la intolerancia política y racial, así como la xenofobia y la apología del delito.
(...it promotes political and racial intolerance as well as xenophobia and a rationale for crime.)

Here’s the article, if you’re curious: http://tinyurl.com/66qt9qa

It seems the novela features a minor character named Venezuela (and another, her sister, Colombia). Venezuela is characterized as a large, kind of vulgar, dark-skinned woman who, when told that her small dog, Huguito, is missing, cries out tearfully:
¿Qué va a ser de Venezuela sin su Huguito?
(What’s to become of Venezuela without her Huguito?)
Her less than sympathetic friend answers:
Va a ser libre, Venezuela...
(You’re gonna be free, Venezuela…)
… because lately that Huguito of yours has been sticking his nose in where it doesn’t belong.

Hugo Chavez didn’t see the humor, apparently. And we’re not likely to see SNL Venezuela any time soon.

I thought of this when I was watching the latest episode of the Colombian comedy, Nuevo Rico, Nuevo Pobre, in which the newly minted and totally unprepared executive of a major shipping company says in a televised speech: Yankees Go Home! The "Yankees" in question are empresarios who have given the Colombian firm an ultimatum: if they want their business, the Colombians will have to do some belt-tightening and lay off 200 employees. Talk about Ugly Americans.

I’m so glad we live in a country where we get to decide whether to laugh or switch the channel.

That’s it. Just had to get that off my chest.

HEREDEROS DEL MONTE – OR – All the Pretty Horses…and the People Ain’t Bad Either.

Lots of amor no correspondido (unrequited love), uncertain parentage, guapos y guapas. I’m happy to enjoy it vicariously through your comments. Have at!

-----------------------------------
ALGUIEN TE MIRA – As of Friday

As we sit at home and gnash our teeth, Julián just keeps getting away with it. Arrrrrggggggggghhh!!! And while Matilde lies unconscious with the direst of prognoses, Julián and the ever-more odious Piedad make out in the waiting room. And Julían waits for an opportunity to get to Matilde – “I’m the father of her child! And I’m a doctor!” – and finish the job he started.

In what may have been the last phone call of Matilde’s life (remember how she frantically dialled Tatiana from the deserted gas station), she cried out Julián’s name. And now the moronic Tatiana is determined to hide that fact from the police. In that decision she is supported by the even more moronic Lola.

Mauricio’s gruesome remains – minus the head – are delivered to the police. The idiot Fiscal insists that Mauricio’s death is unrelated to el Cazador. Amador and Carvajal know better, but not much.

(Can anyone tell I'm getting a little impatient with these people?)

Only Rodrigo has hit upon the truth: the killer is Julián. Rodrigo is trying to keep Valeria from coming to Julián’s attention but she insists on taking risks in her efforts to prove his innocence. I wasn’t worried about her before, but I am now.

Camila is finally a success at something: with her deliberate overdose of ‘calmantes’, she is effectively punishing her sister and her brother-in-law.

Daniel Vidal is still out there lurking in the shadows. Back at the killing ground, he could have stopped Julián from harming Matilde; later he could have prevented the murder of the good samaritan at the gas station. At the very least, if he didn’t want to get his hands dirty, he could have alerted the police. But he is apparently interested in keeping Julián alive and at liberty so he can bleed him dry financially – murder victims past, present and future be damned!

We are waaaaaaaaaay past a possible happy ending. I only hope that the police recognize Julián’s guilt and they are able to stop him. And I’d rather see him dead than in jail because that’s the only way to stop him from hurting anyone else.

How do you think this is going to end?
-----------------

AURORA

I got nothin’. Your comments are welcome.

LA REINA DEL SUR

Like Urban Anthropologist, I’m assuming La Reina will be replacing Alguien. I’ve read that it is the most expensive Telemundo production to date and that Kate del Castillo was author Arturo Pérez-Reverte’s personal choice for the title role.

A few of you have read or are reading the novel. I’ve gone back to it and am trying to read a chapter a week. The prose is already very cinematic and I have a feeling that the script will often use the original literally.
I’ll leave you with this quote, something Teresa remembers:
Raimundo Dávila Parra aka el Guëro Dávila: Mejor, solía decir, cinco años como rey que cincuenta como buey. (p.50)
(Better, he used to say, five years as a king than 50 as an ox. buey: literally, ox but in Mexico = idiot, fool)

Okay, now it's your turn.

Labels: alguien, aurora, herederos, reina-sur, telemundo