Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Triunfo del Amor #35 2/21/11 In which Max dresses for a wedding but the bride is wearing black.
Linda got word to ScuzzBoy that the FerBeast wanted to see him. And now that they are together, he tells her he hasn’t called because of her mother’s threats. The FerBeast is incensed and wants to raise a stink but ScuzzBoy tells her that would only put Ma on alert. It’s better for them to keep seeing each other on the sly.
Max and Fabián are chewing over the scene with St. B and Victoria’s Secret. Today, our Max is wearing a very formal looking collar and tie. He looks like he’s a member of the wedding – probably the groom. All that’s missing is a boutonniere. A secretary tells Max that Victoria wants to meet him for lunch so they can talk about something important. Max hopes she intends to tell him the hidden truth about her life.
ScuzzyBoy tries to convince Fer to rent a room with him: If you love me, show me. Come away with me. (Escápate conmigo.)
At the Casa de Modas, Pipino is pleased with the models, especially his stars, the golden-clad Ximena and María D in elegant black. MD and Xi give each other the stinkeye.
María D comes upon a tearful Toni. Toni warns María not to fall in love with the wrong person. She doesn’t want MD to suffer the way she herself is suffering. But MD knows that Max is the right man for her and she’s sure of his love.
Fer and Scuzzy are in her car outside the Casa Sandoval. He has his marching orders from Papa: Get her to a hotel and knock her up! But oddly, his boyish charms aren’t working. He gets frustrated and grabs her. Let go of me, she cries. Cruz, a trained first responder, sees that his Damsel is in Distress. He pulls Scuzzy away from Fer, throws him out of the car and punches him out. What did you do to him, animal? yells the ungrateful FerBeast. She then mounts his back like a small monkey and Cruz twirls the two of them around a few times. Meanwhile, ScuzzBoy scuttles away muttering: No vales la pena, jardinerito. (You’re not worth the trouble, little gardener).
Fer is mad or pretends to be. Once again she threatens to tell her parents and get Cruz fired. Go ahead, he says, and while you’re at it, you can explain that you’re still sneaking around with that human slime.
Back at the office, Max lets María know there’s been a change in plans. His mother needs to talk to him so he’s off to meet her. Max mentions that he suspects that his father is cheating on Victoria. María looks like she just swallowed the last spoon of gruel at the orphan’s table: sooner or later, she reflects guiltily, he’ll find out that Linda is Osvaldo’s floozy.
In the make-up room, Linda is ready to work on Ximena. Don’t you touch me, you bozo, screams Xi, apparently still smoldering from the Nair facial. (Some people can really hold a grudge.) You’re so inept you shouldn’t even be here, she says. Linda smiles smugly: Victoria hired her and only Victoria can fire her.
María D is in a taxi on her way to see St B. She’s convinced that Bernarda is innocent. There has to be some explanation for what Max told her.
Back at Bernie’s, Victoria’s torture continues while the sainted one herself watches with satisfaction. I wasn’t your lover, cries Victoria. You raped me! And Padilla answers stoutly: You trapped me. You were just out to get my money!
I think that Padilla is telling the truth, says St. B. He’s been my tenant for years and he’s an honest man. Now your husband will find out about your past with this man. Caso cerrado!
Enter the smiling María D. She greets Victoria with a kiss. She’s surprised to see her there, she says. Bernie explains that Victoria isn’t making a social call. She came to torment her and to clean her conscience with her lies. Victoria has had enough. She leaves and María runs after her: Yo la acompaño. (I’ll see you out.)
Once they are outside, Victoria says look, kid, we have our differences, but I like you. And I’m telling you this for your own good: stay away from that woman. She’s very clever but she’s totally perverse. She’ll entrap you with her lies:
Me hizo conocer el infierno; por su culpa perdí lo que más amaba.(She made my life hell (literally, she made me acquainted with hell); because of her, I lost what I loved most.)
But she’s going to pay for what she’s done, vows Victoria.
Fausto is watching the scene from the window.
Inside, Bernarda tells Padilla that she backed him in front of Victoria but she knows perfectly well that he stole the watch. She flings it on the table and demands he refund her money. She doesn’t want anything that reminds her of the Sandovals. Padilla reluctantly peels off a few bills and hands them to her.
Osvaldo and his BFF Guillermo are at work, walking and talking as boys will do. Os says he loves Victoria but he cares for Linda too. Just in a different way. You know. A dirty way.
But Gui says he wouldn’t know because he has never truly loved a woman; he just has affairs with them. Os contradicts him:
Tú sí has conocido el verdadero amor.(You have indeed known true love).
He continues: Your love for Leonela Montenegro was the real thing and it was the reason you and I were estranged for so many years. Leonela Montenegro -- The woman I married, Max’s mother.
We leave that conversation just as it is starting to get interesting to go back to Bernie’s. María has come back inside and apologizes for popping in like she did but she was uneasy about what St. B said to Max and what she said to Victoria just now. Bernarda will explain it to her – it’s a long, dreadful story --- but only if María swears not to repeat it to a single soul. Victoria is a bad woman, a liar, a sinner. She has her whole family bamboozled but she’ll pay dearly for what she’s done when the truth comes to light. Stay away from that woman or she and her son will make you suffer more than you imagined possible!
Back to the boys at Televisa:
Gui says: She preferred you, she married you, she gave you a son, she died. Let’s not talk about Leonela any more, okay? Okay. Blood pressures are just beginning to come back to normal when Oscar bursts on the scene, eyes blazing. I need to talk to you, he says to Osvaldo.
María stumbles as she is making her escape from Bernie’s and Fausto catches her. They exchange a long soulful look.
Osvaldo is startled by Oscar’s demand. Is there a problem with Victoria or my son? he asks. Don’t be a hypocrite, says Oscar. He wants to talk privately but Os gives him the brush-off. Finally Oscar loses control. He says loudly enough for people around them to hear: How dare you appear in public with a lover, and a vulgar woman at that, one who’s not fit to shine Victoria’s shoes (no le llega ni a los talones de Victoria, literally, she doesn’t reach Victoria’s heels).
Fausto apologizes to María. He didn’t mean to frighten her. No, no, she says, she’s not afraid of him. She thanks him for helping her. She was just upset over something St B said. Fausto warns her not to believe everything people tell her:
Algunos mienten para perturbarnos el alma y apropiarse de ella.(Some people lie to disturb one’s soul and take possession of it.)
Maybe you’re surprised to hear me use fancy language like that, he continues. It’s because I spent a lot of time reading; books were my refuge when people rejected me.
María is touched. You must have suffered, she tells him, but I can see you’re a good person. Thank you again. And God bless you.
The FerBeast is on the phone with Scuzzy complaining that he left her alone with the gardener. Yes, she’ll tell her parents what Cruz did so he’ll get fired, but Fer is still mad at the Scuzz. He went too far. Still, that damn gardener is gonna pay!
That’s what worries Don Napo when he says to Cruz: You hit the daughter’s boyfriend? What were you thinking? Mira la cara de perro panteonero te traes! (Look at the expression on your face --you look like a graveyard dog!) But the jerk was taking advantage of her, insists Cruz. Still. He and Napo know the real reason he punched out the Scuzz: Jealousy (celos).
At the Televisa cafeteria, Gui tells Os he’s spending too much time in public with That Woman. But how did Oscar know about her? Os is explaining that Oscar has always been in love with Victoria…
… Gui makes a hasty exit (Victoria is my friend, he says) as That Woman is spotted making a beeline to Os’s table.
Victoria and Max meet at the restaurant. His wedding formalware is disguised by an artfully knotted black wool scarf thrown over it. Victoria isn’t here to talk about her past. Here’s what she wants to know:
¿Es cierto que tienes una aventura con María D?(Is it true you’re having an affair with MD?)
He answers:
No, eso no es cierto. Yo amo a MD y nos vamos a casar.(No, that’s not true. I love MD and we’re getting married.)
At the apartment, Nathy and MD are talking about the same thing. MD knows that Victoria is fond of her (me aprecia), but that doesn’t mean she wants her in her family. Who am I? she asks. An orphan who doesn’t even know who her parents were.
Ah the delicious irony. Victoria challenges Max’s choice of María D as his bride because he knows nothing about her family or her past. (Although on second thought, Victoria does have a point. St B is MD’s grandmother. If he knew that, would he still want to marry her?) Max stands firm. He knows her soul is clean and generous. And he knows he loves her. Nothing else matters.
At Televisa, Osvaldo is not pleased by LindaHo’s invasion into his workplace. He tries to keep her tentacles away and tells her to cool it with the ‘mi amor’s’. He expects discretion (hah!) and doesn’t want to jeopardize his family because of her foolishness. She finally gets the message but not before telling him she has a birthday in a few days. She starts to leave and then comes back to tell him one last thing. (At this point, Osvaldo is just about tearing his hair out in frustration and embarrassment. Good.) She says:
No me regales nada para mi cumpleaños; con tu cariño me basta.(Don’t give me a gift for my birthday; your affection is enough for me.)
[At home we are yelling at the tv: Liar Liar Pants on Fire!]
Victoria tells Max that he should marry Ximena because she and Xi’s mother are old friends and everyone always expected them to get married. Really, Victoria? Is that all you got?
She is deaf to Max’s insistence that María is the woman he loves. And that he’s a grown man. If he marries María D, says Vic, don’t count on her support. No problem, says Max. You’ll have my resignation today. From this moment, I no longer work for you.
Nathy is telling María that if Victoria loves Max like a son, she’ll allow him to choose his own happiness. But María isn’t so sure. Victoria is cold and calculating and MD doesn’t know how she’ll react to Max’s announcement.
We at home are all very proud of Max when he tells Vic that nothing is more important than María. But his mother thinks he’s acting like an adolescent. She warns him:
Cuando la pobreza entra por la puerta, el amor sale por la ventana.(When poverty comes in the door, love goes out the window.)
Max says her way of thinking is sad. And for all their money, she and his father don’t seem very happy. Max loves her like a mother. If she loves him like a son, she’s the one who will have to change her opinion.
Victoria is left alone at the table. Badly played, Victoria, badly played!
At the Casa de Modas, Gui has slithered past the reptile barriers and caught up with Ximena in the hallway. He grabs her arm. They do their little I hate you -- I own you – You used me thing . Toni comes upon them. Gui says he’s there to buy a dress. He’d like Ximena to model it.
Max has phoned María and now she joins him in the restaurant. He tells her about his conversation with his mother. She still wants him to marry Ximena but that’s impossible because he doesn’t love her. Did you once love her? asks María. Max looks thoughtful. I thought I loved her but it wasn’t really love. It wasn’t until I met you that I understood what love was. And whether other people like it or not, you and I are going to get married.
Not without your mother’s blessing, says María. I’m not going to marry you if it means separating you from your family. We shouldn’t see each other any more.
Ximena walks the runway in a tight white dress while Gui looks on lasciviously. Xi looks like the “before” actress in a Paxil commercial. Gui tells Toni he’s going to buy the dress even if the woman he’s buying it for isn’t nearly as beautiful as Ximena. When Toni leaves, Xi reproaches him: You want everyone to know I have a lover? He answers: I want to show you you belong to me and you’ll never get rid of me.
Victoria is back in the office. Toni can’t believe what she’s hearing. Max resigned??? Victoria face is stony. Max is obsessed with María Desamparada, she says. If he wants to ruin his life, let him.
Toni is aghast. She tells her friend that she’s pushing Max away with her foolish insistence that he marry Ximena. She has already lost one child. Does she really want to lose another?
We love each other and we’re getting married, says Max. And that’s that.
Nuh uh, says our prissy orphan girl. She won’t let him lose what she has wanted all her life – parents! – in order to marry her. Don’t be ridiculous, says Max (¡no seas necia!). You are the only thing that matters to me. That may be true right now, says María, but later you’ll regret giving up your family. I can’t let you make that sacrifice for me!
Finally we all escape the two stubborn women as we glide along with William in his kayak.
Labels: triunfo
La Verdad Oculta #110: The spit hits the fan
Adolfo's beach-house goon backs off plugging terrified, gagged and tied Zaida between the eyes. At the penthouse, when Dante bullies Adolfo to let him interrogate Zaida about Garnica, Adolf stabs a gun in his face -- until he suddenly notices horrified Bertha entered behind him, stopped in her tracks by the sight.
As Bertha escapes to her room, Dante gets the drop on Adolfo and disarms him, exiting with Adolfo's pistol after promising to put a bullet in his heart one day. Upstairs terrified Bertha phones Alejandra at Mario's for help, but her sister assumes Bertha's making things up and that she had something to do with "Mario's" fall.
Alejandra hangs up on Bertha after ordering her out of their lives; and nearby David thinks that Bertha lured "Mario" to the staircase with the object of having him pushed over the rail. Alejandra wonders what could be keeping Juan Jose, while from his car Dante sets up a smuggling fall guy and orders that Elsa be sprung from jail.
Presently, Juan José appears at Mario's, reporting where he's been to Alejandra's flaring nostrils. Back in Bertha's room, she resorts to phoning and hysterically pleading with Carlos, who looks daggers even at her name on his caller ID. He scoffs that Adolfo would kill Bertha, nastily pointing out she's Adolfo's handy little pet now.
Carlos is spitefully glad she's finding out just what Adolfo's like; and he's not running over there to save her. She doesn't matter to him anymore; and what's more, Carlos jabs rudely that he's dating somebody much better and wiser, before he hangs up abruptly on Bertha's impassioned pleas.
At that moment, Adolfo enters Bertha's bedroom, locking them in, and jeers at Bertha for appealing to her Prince Charming for rescue. Adolfo roughly remonstrates with her, grabbing Bertha's arms -- and then her throat -- while she hyperventilates, grits her teeth and rivets her saucer-wide eyes on him.
She had no cause to worry; but Adolfo has trouble -- and she'd better not interfere! In Mario's office, with Alejandra suspicious and prodding, Juan José explains the situation with Zaida's letter and Elsa's release to her, David and "Mario." They all agree it was a dangerous mission, but Alejandra begrudges him a bit more.
At Bertha's, she's reduced to desperately screaming on bended knee at Adolfo's feet like a child for him to let her go. He points out regrettably that she indeed has no where to go: nobody believes her, nobody wants her. Pulling wailing Bertha to her feet, he earnestly contends she is irrevocably tied to him.
So upset she's almost drooling, Bertha desperately tries to convince Adolfo she wants nothing from him now, except to be released. But Adolfo has two options for her: she can stay with him; but if she decides to leave, she'd better go somewhere he'll never find her. Because if he does find her, he'll murder her.
Oddly regretful, Adolfo rips the phone out of the wall, grabs Bertha's cell and locks the door behind him, leaving Bertha shouting and begging on the floor within. Across town at Juan José's, Alejandra lets loose a jealous rage on Juan José that he still feels for Elsa and risked their love and everything to release Elsa from jail!
Juan José caves, moaning that he just wanted to rub something in Adolfo's face for once. But she's not forgiving him that easily and stalks upstairs in a huff. At Elsa's, Mauricio is just consoling Elsa over her horrible jail experience when Ulises enters and surprises them with news it was Zaida's letter that got her out, not the missing key.
At the internet cafe, Édgar and Valentín read in Garnica's account Adolfo's email to incognito Carmelo making an assignation with him that night at the Sagittarius. Adolfo knows he's not Garnica, but likes his gall and has a proposition. Édgar gets the bright idea to deep-six Carmelo by forwarding this double-crossing info on to Dante, naming Carmelo.
In the dining room at Mario's, David reminds Gabriela not to remark about Márta's murderer when she and Julieta go for the meeting with new sibling Carlos. Back at Elsa's, Ulises elaborates the events surrounding and contents of Zaida's letter to amazed Elsa and Mauricio.
Over at Dante's, he's just reading the damning email and planning Carmelo's demise when Juan José phones to meet at a very public place to exchange the real Zaida letter. In a restaurant, Julieta is hoping to Gabriela she won't slip the upsetting truth, when Carlos appears and plops down between his beautiful, forgiving sisters to learn all about them.
Downtown on a very public flying gangway arched over a cavernous busy commercial center, Juan José exchanges the real Zaida letter; and Dante observes Juan José is the only one ever treated him that way and lived, so there'd better not be a second occasion if Juan José knows what's good for him.
On the patio at Juan José's, Abelardo reveals Asunción's textbooks from the adult education institute to the kids, whereupon Chicles scandalizes them wondering with accompanying hand gesture if adult education means curvy adult teachers, too.
Subdued Zaida arrives at Adolfo's; and Dante phones to threaten if he doesn't get to interrogate her, too, that Adolfo will never see the authentic letter incriminating him. Back on Mario's patio, Abelardo assures Asunción the institute's materials are free and the only aim is his success, such as writing a heartfelt letter to Caramelo one day.
Elsa phones Juan José's, where snippy Alejandra facetiously congratulates her on exiting jail before passing the phone to Juan Jose, who upsets Elsa at first with news of Caramelo's latest plight; but soon she understands the situation and also thanks Juan José for using Zaida's letter.
But when she insists Juan José should turn the letter over to the police, he nastily retorts that neither she nor "that big-mouthed Mauricio" will report anything to the police, who will just censure him. He only used the letter to spring her from jail. She agrees and just wants to visit Caramelo.
Upon hanging up, Alejandra is not convinced by Juan José's assurance that Elsa is happy with "her boyfriend, Mauricio." At the penthouse, a tearful Zaida observes despite Adolfo's denial that it turns out the letter she wrote did indeed serve to spare her life.
Nevertheless, he insists she explain Garnica's death, which she does through a tearful, nightmare-like memory. Garnica cannot be alive; and after considering who could have had access to Garnica's things, they both conclude Édgar and Valentín could be behind the fake emails and blackmail. Adolfo's hiring a hacker to find the source.
Zaida is terrified to be sent to Dante's; and despite her romantic overtures, Adolfo's not in the mood and just insists he can forgive her if she feigns and convinces Dante that Garnica is still alive. Meanwhile Elsa visits Caramelo, who she observes doesn't seem to have missed her much.
But Elsa just wanted to see her anyway and know she's well; and after the current custody explanation from Asunción, sadly but generously agrees it seems to be what's best for Caramelo. At Carmelo's, he puts aside answering Juan José's difficult email requiring proof in favor of agreeing to Adolfo's invitation to meet.
At the internet cafe, the comely technical assistant helps Édgar and Valentín transfer a load of cash from Garnica's account to their "friend's" account in Houston; and she is so blown away by how rich they are that she falls all over herself making dates with them for herself and her friend -- and fails to suspect the rather dicey demeanor of the two thieves.
Unfortunately, the dates will have to wait until the next night -- because that same evening they have something better to do; a "business" appointment. That night, through the lens of someone's video camera, we see a big, black town car cruising in and out again of the Sagittarius parking deck.
Inside his office, frustrated Adolfo waits fruitlessly for "Silverio Rodriguez." Giving up, Adolfo exits to his car -- only to find a slumped Silverio in the back seat, staring forever off into space.
Labels: verdad
Monday, February 21, 2011
La Fea Más Bella #221-222 2/21/11 The Week Starts With a BANG! WHAM! KAPOW! Alt title: The One You Want Doesn’t Want You
Read Amanda’s original recap, then come back here to discuss it.
1. Fernando intends to ask Lety exactly what she told Aldo.
2. Marcia packs for her trip, remembers the spat in the boardroom, and concludes that their relationship is going from bad to worse.
3. The cuartel finds Aldo’s picture in Lety’s purse. Lety tells how they met, and that they kissed twice. Irmita says Luigi left Ruli because of Aldo. Lety assures them that Aldo doesn’t play for the other side.
4. Aldo swears to Tom that he has no interest in Alicia.
5. Paula tries to push Lety toward Aldo, but Lola says Lety still loves that bum Fernando. PG counsels Lety while Fern listens at the door. PG says two men have Lety on their mind. The generous one values her and has seen her soul. The other one gets bluer by the day. Irmita worries about that one suffering.
6. Aldo takes Luigi the stuffed bear from Ruli. Luigi sees Aldo bring it but he pretends to sleep. He finds the card saying, “I want you at my side forever,” but it’s unsigned, so he’s sure it’s from Aldo.
7. PG tells Lety that the generous one will surprise her. She has difficult days ahead. And a woman from another country will cause her much pain. Lety calls Mama for advice. She recognizes that maybe Aldo is interested in her. Mama says this man could be a dream come true. Lety says Aldo is super nice and she needs his strength. But they’re just friends, and she’s going to forget everyone’s suggestions that there’s something more.
8. Fern tells Omar that if there is another man in Lety’s life, he’ll lose her forever. Omar thinks he already has.
9. Fern can’t stand that PG talked to Lety. He wants to know who the other guy is. PG knows Fern’s love is sincere, so Fern wants PG to tell Lety that. PG says Fern needs to fight for this love, and he should use this trip to straighten out his thinking.
10. Luigi hears Aldo tell Caro that he’s afraid to declare his love because there’s still “el otro.”
Capitulo 222.
Read Alma’s original recap, then come back here to discuss it.
1. Tom sees Ali crying for her cell phone and he apprehensively loans her his. He says, “Whatever else you need, count on me.” She looks lovingly at his phone.
2. Marcia takes the Dress of Inviability to work and pronounces the incantation, “One Dress to bring her man, and in darkness bind them.” The One Dress to Rule Them All affected Marcia’s mind. Once she obtained her “Precioussss” it became her obsession, it turned her more evil, and she would not part with it under any circumstance. Someone should throw that thing in the fire!
3. Ali takes the One Dress for her wedding to Aldo. See? Already the Precioussss has made her believe delusions too!
4. Tomy (without a necklace) hears “wedding” and storms (with a necklace) into the rage room (Aldo’s office). Tom surprises him with the news that he (Aldo) is engaged to Alicia. Tom feels badly betrayed by his new friend. Aldo says, “Alicia doesn’t interest me at all. I’m in love with Leticia.” Tom couldn’t be happier. He encourages Aldo to declare to Lety. Aldo hustles Lety out for a walk.
5. Marcia finds Fern in her office and she lays the canceled-wedding dress on her desk. He flees the room quickly, as if a dog farted. Alicia, as heartening as Job’s friends, says, “Did you see that? He was here for awhile, but as soon as you arrived, he left.”
6. Ali and Luigi try to convince each other of their delusions that Aldo wants to spend his life with them. Tom tries to gently persuade Ali that she could be mistaken. Finally he spits out, “Aldo loves Lety.”
7. Alicia shoots out like a bullet to tattle to Marcia. Marcia sprints out of the room as fast as a neutrino to break the news to Fernando. (Most people save their schadenfreude for their enemies.) He goes ballistic and blasts out of the room at warp factor 8, saying he has to talk to Lety about travel allowance. When he finds out she left with Aldo, he goes supernova.
8. For the rest of this episode, I’ll condense as much as I can. It’s too packed to summarize. Here are the bare facts.
Aldo tells Lety he loves her. He doesn’t care if she’s still in love with Fern.
She says she loves another. He wants a chance to fight for her love.
Marcia is broken hearted because of how Fernando reacted to her news. Duh!
Marcia whines to her mirror, mirror on the wall, “What has she got that I ain’t got?” (Yeah, I mixed my allusions. So shoot me!)
Fern accuses Aldo of cheating. He came in under the cover of the food project, but his real purpose was to capture Lety’s love.
Aldo shouts that he loves Lety. All Fern can do is shout “I love. I love.”
Fern: Shut up! Aldo: What are you going to do about it? Fern: mucho. Fern walks toward Aldo. Aldo punches him in the face. Aldo: Eh? Did that hurt? Aldo tries to take her away. She refuses. Lety: Look, Señor Fernando..
Fern punches Aldo. He tells him not to invade his (Fern’s) territory, and pulls Lety toward him, but she pulls away. Then Aldo grabs her but she pulls away from him too.
Aldo: the only territory you want to defend is Conceptos. You have no affection.
Fern: Get lost! Leave us alone! Aldo: Us? You and who? Fern: Me and my nov.. .. Lety. Aldo: Let her decide. You lost the right to defend her, long ago. Aldo punches Fern. Fern falls. Lety rushes to him. “Don Fernando..” Then she stops herself. “You should leave. Please.”
Fern: Lety is president and she has a commitment to me!
Here is a fun picture from Angélica's wedding Saturday.
Labels: fea-2010
Eva Luna #74 Fri 2/18/11 Leo Lies to Dan; Eva Starts Cracking the Whip; and Jackie and Franc Get Together
Labels: eva
Eva Luna #74 Fri 2/18/11
Labels: eva
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Triunfo del Amor #34 2/18/11 Revelations and Confessions -- Forced, Faked and/or Otherwise Useless
Labels: triunfo
La Verdad Oculta 109: Two Damsels in Distress, Saved by One Letter
Vivi has gone out to play in the beautiful spring-like weather! The recap will be up sometime over the weekend when she’s tired of being out in the sun and the 60 degree weather. Want more? Well, ok. Here are the highlights: JJ and a kind bystander save FaustiMario (of course); everyone thinks Bertha was part of the plot to do him in, but she swears she's innocent; Adolfo is not pleased; Tia Yolanda visits the kiddies at Casa Genoves (aka enemy territory); JJ shows the gang the “mai” he received from Garnica- they decide to give “Garnica” an identity test; Yolanda begs “Mario’s” forgiveness, admits she switched the rings, but refuses to say why she can’t free herself from Adolfo; cracks form in the partnership between the Three Goons and Edgar and Valentin decide to make some trouble on their own; Ulises finally remembers Zaida’s letter, which tells all about Adolfo’s and Dante’s dirty dealings- he informs JJ; Gabi tells “Mario” that he can’t take Fausto’s place, although she’s accepting the idea of his being her bio dad- at times he really reminds her of her dad; Dante orders Carmelo to find Garnica; the two sisters decide to reach out to their brother Carlos and make plans to see each other; Adolfo orders his henchman to “liquidate” Zaida for betraying him and letting Garnica escape alive; JJ (stupidly) goes to Adolfo’s condo alone, and threatens to give Zaida’s letter over to the cops if Adolfo and Dante don’t find a way to set Elsa free, immediately; Adolfo rushes to stop Zaida’s liquidation, just in the nick of time.
Full recap: FaustiMario is hanging by a thread, or rather a finger, from the railing over the lobby of the hotel Mirador. Our hero JJ, and another heroic bystander, pull FaustiMario up and safely onto the stairs. After assuring that the very relieved and breathless FaustiMario is ok, JJ and Ale begin to wonder who was the guy who pushed him, if what just happened was an accident, and what was Bertha doing here. When Fausto explains that she was there to meet him, Ale narrows her eyes in suspicion. She heads up to the restaurant to find out what her sister is up to. She thinks her little sis’ excuse about wanting to mend fences with their uncle is bs, and informs her of “Mario's” near death experience on the stairs. Why did Bertha run off? Bertha says she just headed to the restaurant because that was where they agreed to meet. Ale takes Bertha to check on their uncle, since Bertha is so concerned for his welfare. After asking how he is, Bertha decides it’s best if they save their discussion, particularly the subject matter of Adolfo, for another day. She quickly rushes off under the suspicious gazes of Ale and JJ. JJ and Ale accompany a still shaky Fausto to his car.
At JJ’s house, Lucha wants to know how Limon is dealing with Abelardo’s custody of Caramelo and her staying at Casa Genoves. Turns out he’s not freaking out as much as he did last time because he knows Abelardo isn’t trying to take Cara from him. Yolanda calls wanting to speak to Caramelo, and is encouraged by Limon to cross over to enemy territory at Casa Genoves to see the kids in person. Limon and Lucha stamp and certify Yolanda as “good peeps.”
Bertha returns home to Adolfo to inform him about what happened. She didn’t get to speak to her uncle because someone pushed him on the stairs and almost killed him. Adolfo is clearly upset about the ALMOST (casi) part, and not about the killing attempt. Then he gets more upset that it was JJ who saved the day. “How fortunate. What luck that nothing happened.” Bertha seems to pick up the hint of irony in his tone, and looks at him suspiciously. (Is her brain finally starting to function?) “Adolfo, you told me that you weren’t going to expose me (exponerme) to anything dangerous. And you try to kill my uncle by pushing him over the stairs!?” Adolfo gets indignant. “How dare you say something so stupid! No way!” He storms out demanding not to be disturbed.
Yolanda arrives to Casa Genoves. FaustiMario is regaling Limon with tales of the near death experience and JJ’s heroics in the back yard. He greets Yolanda with suspicion, but she gets a much warmer reception from the kids. Caramelo rattles off the list of all her new uncles and aunts. Chicles says he’s doing the usual, which Yolanda knows means he’s up to no good. Big hugs and kisses for the formerly kidnapped trio. David and Gabi arrive and greet her with awkwardness, but understand why she and the kids would want to see each other after their terrible experience. Yolanda asks to speak to Mario privately, and shortly after they leave for the home office, JJ and Ale arrive. Gabi and David learn of the staircase incident and they all agree that it was done on purpose. They are all sure that Bertha set the meeting up on Adolfo’s orders. Gabi suggests the logical—bring Leo into the loop. But JJ nixes that idea. He still prefers the go it alone (well, with his BFFs David and Carlos) approach. He pulls out the “mai” he received from Garnica. David and Ale think they can’t be sure it’s Garnica. Gabi once again suggests that Leo could help them figure out the true origin of the e-mail. Nope. JJ doesn’t think that will solve anything. Plus he’ll just scold them about their latest cowboy antics. David thinks that there is likely a link to the appearance of the lawyer with knowledge of Gabi’s shoes (Carmelo) and this reappearance of Garnica. (Gold star for David!)
Mientras tanto (in the meantime) in the office, Yolanda is telling “Mario” about all the guilt she feels for being part of so many injustices. “Mario” is forgiving, especially since Yolanda has been a victim of Adolfo’s evil herself—most recently with the kidnapping. “Well, we all have our crosses to bear. And it seems that destiny wants Adolfo to be mine.” She begs “Mario’s” forgiveness for all that has happened, but knows it can’t change anything. Mario doesn’t think it’s her that needs forgiveness, but Adolfo. And the things that he’s done are unforgivable. For this reason Yolanda wants to tell him about something she did to right a wrong—something that can help prove that Santiago didn’t kill Marta.
Over at Goon Central, Carmelo is laying out the next steps of the plan. He’s going to tell Dante that he couldn’t find Edgar. Valentín needs to get back to work so that no one will become suspicious. Annoyed Edgar wonders what he’s supposed to do. Give him the shoes and sit tight is Carmelo’s reply. NO WAY! It cost Edgar his job and nearly his life to get those. Carmelo urges him to calm down and stick to the plan that will benefit all of them. Edgar decides to go along for now, but he doesn’t like to take orders from anybody, and if Carmelo decides to betray them, he’s got a photo of him with the shoes that will get him in deep doo doo with Dante. Carmelo reminds him that they are all in this together. All for one and one for all, and all that. Edgar doesn’t seem convinced.
Yolanda continues her explanation about how she switched Carlos’s real ring for the fake one Adolfo had created. “Mario” wonders wouldn’t it have been easier all around if she had told the cops what really happened at the very beginning. Yolanda thinks Adolfo would have killed her had she done so. “But the police would have protected you!” “But it’s not about my safety, it’s about…about…I can’t denounce (delatar) Adolfo. I can’t” “But why Yolanda!? Why?! What ties you to him?!” “I can’t tell you anything.” She flees the office leaving Fausto more baffled than before.
Carmelo better be careful because Eddie’s got that crazy look in his eyes that we all know so well. He wants to know when they’ll get to see all the cash (lana) they’ve demanded from Adolfo and Dante. Carmelo doesn’t know since he hasn’t received an answer from either of them yet. He’s demanded 10 million pesos from each of them. In exchange, Adolfo will get the shoes, diamonds, and the letter Valentin spoke of; Dante will receive info about how Adolfo is trying to double cross him. He’s sure they’ll have an answer tomorrow.
At Casa Genoves, Fred and Daphne (aka David and Ale) are trying to convince Scooby Doo (aka JJ) that there is no proof that the e-mail was actually sent from Garnica. JJ thinks he’s probably just afraid to show his face to him after his blackmail scheme. David thinks it best that they send “Garnica” a few questions to first prove his identity. Questions like: How did they meet? (David and Abe are shocked JJ trusted a guy who just turned up at his door saying he was a lawyer who knew JJ had a lot of money. JJ knows now that it was dumb.); Who was with them on the plane?; and Who was at the table when they signed the contract in Puerto Vallarta? Ale writes the message as they all look on.
Ulises returns to his apartment to find a stack of junk mail and bills at his door. As he throws them all in a drawer, he suddenly remembers an important piece of mail—Zaida’s letter! After a bit of hand wringing about what to do, he rips it open. “No manches!” (No f-ing way!) He calls up JJ right away with a quick explanation of the letter and a promise that it will knock his socks off (ir de espaldas/to fall to one’s back/be surprised). JJ explains to the group as best he can (Zaida, letter, Elsa, Ulises) and leaves.
Edgar and Valentin are having a stroll and a heart to heart. Edgar is not comfortable with Carmelo having his hands on everything. Valentin casually says that Carmelo doesn’t have EVERYTHING. Say what?! Valentin explains that there were a few other things in Garnica’s safe that he kept. Edgar is impressed. He obviously was in agreement with us that Valentin was not the sharpest assassin knife in the drawer. “Knowledge is power”, says Valentin.
In the back yard, Gabi and FaustiMario are having a chat about the baby and what Gabi wants- girl or boy. If she’s as sweet as Caramelo, then she wants a girl. No way in heck she wants a boy like Chicles! And what does she want to name the baby? If it’s a girl, then she wants to name her Gabriela, since she loves the name and it’s not her real name. If it’s a boy, then she wants to name him Fausto. FaustiMario can barely contain his proud tears (where’s David with a bear hug when you need him?). Gabi can’t wait to tell her father he’s going to be a grandfather. He’s going to go crazy and start buying baby toys and clothes. She can already picture him walking the baby in the park. FaustiMario really has to work hard now to not start bawling. Gabi continues that she doesn’t know if one day she’ll see him (Mario) as a father, but for her, Fausto, the man who raised her, will always be her father. FaustiMario understands perfectly, but would love for them to continue communicating the way they are now. Gabi agrees. Sometimes he even reminds her of her father! (Ahem…) FaustiMario thinks it’s because they’re both old dudes. Gabi wonders how her father is, and wonders why “Mario” is so quick to answer that he’s fine. Now that she’s pregnant, and feeling more emotional, she particularly wants to be surrounded by her people/family. “I understand. Your father won’t be far away for long.” Gabi gets up to go, and plants a sweet kiss on “Mario’s” cheek before she leaves. Fausto’s working overtime by this point to not let his tears fall.
Valentin shows Edgar the additional documents Garnica has—account books of Adolfo’s restaurants; a black book of important people, including Mario Genoves; info sheets of various people including Elsa and Marcos; and a pic of the famous helicopter. Turns out Valentin did not destroy the helicopter as he was ordered to. He hid it away. They both think JJ would pay pretty well for that info.
JJ at that moment has just arrived at Ulises’s. He immediately reads the letter. JJ figures Zaida wrote the letter because she thought they were going to kill her. This letter can help free Elsa! He runs out without explaining to (eager) Ulises what he intends to do.
Carmelo brings his apologies to Dante for not being able to find Edgar. No worries, says Dante, he has a new person for him to look for—Garnica. He thought the guy was dead, but it seems he isn’t. Dante thinks Valentin, one of Garnica’s men, knows the deal. He wants Carmelo to use his special skills to get info out of him about whether Garnica is alive, and where he’s hding.
At the Guillen apartment, Juli is having a Luis Miguel moment—singing the theme song while sorting beans. Gabi comes to visit and the two have some sisterly bonding over the baby on the way. Neither have heard from their father, but Leo assures Juli that Fausto is safe. Speaking of Leo, he’s been working a lot, but Juli is super excited about the upcoming return of Paula in two weeks (maybe Paula Drew can help our slow adults solve this case). Juli gives Gabi her first baby present- a unisex yellow and white sweater. They hug, and Gabi gets emotional and starts crying—so many things are happening, and their dad isn’t even there to share in the news of the baby. Juli thinks there’s plenty of time for him to enjoy the baby and for them all to be together. Gabi knows she’s right and that she’s being affected by pregnancy hormones. Juli concedes that their lives haven’t always been normal, and especially not lately, so it’s understandable. Has Gabi spoken to Carlos? Not recently. They are both now excited about the idea of having a big brother and think they should all get together. Gabi calls hard working Carlos to set something up. He’ll try to wrap up work early enough to see them that evening—if not, he’ll meet them tomorrow. The siblings end the call sweetly with terms of endearment. Carlos smiles from ear to ear. Juli is pleased to learn Carlos is working for JJ. They wonder how their father is holding up.
At the local internet café, computer novices Edgar and Valentin are getting the pretty employee to help them check their G-mail (Garnica mail) account. They see that there are responses to each of their three messages. The first they read is Adolfo’s. He’s already deposited the money to the account indicated. Now he wants his stuff. “That idiot Carmelo lied to us when he said he hadn’t heard anything about the money!” Uh oh! Eddie has that look in his eyes again.
Carlos and Urbina speak restaurant biz. Carlos thinks thing have been working well, but he has some ideas for modernization. Urbina’s down with that. He knows Carlos is experienced and thinks his ideas will be beneficial for the hotel.
Dante storms into Adolfo’s condo, with two armed goons at his back, and demands to speak to Adolfo. Adolfo, meanwhile, is in his office checking in on Zaida with one of his goons. She’s down at the beach, being watched by two other goons. When she comes back, Adolfo wants him to “liquidate” her!
He goes out to see what Dante wants. Dante refuses to send his goons out. The two old devils are just gearing up to have a verbal showdown, when JJ breezes in. Now they both turn their ire to their mutual thorn in the side. JJ pulls out Zaida’s letter and begins to read it aloud:
“I, Zaida Castellanos, in possession of my full faculties, declare that I was obligated/forced by Señores Dante Sevilla and Adolfo Avila…” Dante bids his goons to leave before they learn more than he’s comfortable with them knowing. JJ continues:
“…to become involved in shady/serious business. I was forced to become involved in serious crimes. These two individuals are…” This time Adolfo has him stop. JJ continues again:
“These two individuals are smugglers of precious jewels and archeological pieces, and responsible for other crimes. Among them, dealings with a criminal named Javier Garnica, whose cadaver, on Adolfo’s orders, was thrown in the sea in Puerto Vallarta. For all these reasons, I want to make clear that if something happens to me, or I disappear, the guilty ones were the men I just mentioned.”
Lies! All Lies. We’ve just been in communication with Garnica. “You don’t say?” (No me diga!) So why don’t you take this letter to the cops? “Because I want to do everything possible to demonstrate the innocence of Elsa Rivera!” JJ leaves the two with a copy of the letter, and a promise of the original IF/WHEN they find a way to clear Elsa of the charges against her and set her free immediately. As JJ makes his cocksure exit, Adolfo runs to the phone to stop the itchy finger of the beach goon, who has his gun cocked and pointed at the forehead of a bound and gagged Zaida. “You want to hear the gunshot boss?” “NO!!!”
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