Tuesday, March 08, 2011
Triunfo del Amor #47-48 3/7/11 A Tale of Three Cities
Part one of two in which:
In Miami, Ximena plants a flag on Maxlandia; Max punches out Joaquin; and Victoria shows her claws to María.
In Mexico City, Bernie bamboozles two priests; Guillermo smacks around Ofelia; a fireman fights for his life; and Max finally sees his father with Linda.
In Acapulco, the full moon loses its charm.
Miami:
The hotel. The night after the triumphant fashion show and Max’s win in the kayaking competition.
A replay of my least favorite plot contrivance: Desperate woman tricks hero into boinking her thereby spoiling the fairy tale romance of the stars for at least the next 50 capítulos. [Feel free to skip the next 3 paragraphs.]
Max is sprawled out stinking drunk on the bed in his hotel room. Our hero! At the door left carelessly unlocked, a figure in a red dress and black wig appears. Is that you, my love? he asks. Yes, my love, it’s me. He mumbles apologies for acting like a jerk before.
Ximena – the wannabe María in the stolen red dress and wig – blindfolds Max with his skinny tie and gets to work unbuttoning and unzipping.
Max believes he’s with the woman of his dreams, not the stalker of his nightmares. María, mi cielo, mi amor, he says. He wants to remove the blindfold but Ximena won’t let him. She knows there’s not enough dark in the night sky to disguise her pale and desperate face.
In another room of the hotel María is lying in bed quietly pensive when she hears a knock at her door. It’s Victoria! The lady storms in looking like Elmer Fudd who’s just been had by that Wascally Wabbit. She is fed up (harta), she says. She rants that MD will never marry Max – she’s an intruder in their lives, a fortune hunter who’s only interested in her son’s money. A social climber (trepadora). Leave Max in peace!
Toni and Pipino agree the show was a big hit and Victoria must be pretty happy about it (or she would be if she did happy). But now Pip wants to know more about Vic’s lost daughter...
...Toni has told him the whole sad story. Ah, says Pip, that’s why Victoria looks so melancholy at times. But now there’s good news, says Toni. Victoria has finally found her daughter. The only problem is she’s staying with Bernarda, Padre Juan Pablo’s mother. Pip is puzzled. Toni explains: It’s because JP is the girl’s father!
And at that moment, Victoria’s actual lost daughter, María Desamparada (expósita), is still on the wrong end of her mother’s rant: MD tried flirting with Osvaldo first, says Victoria. Only when that effort failed (because he would never, ever be unfaithful) did she turn to Max. María hints that perhaps Victoria should rethink her assumptions about Osvaldo:
Le aconsejo que no esté tan segura.
(I advise you not to be so sure.)
Victoria seems momentarily taken aback but then plows on: You are not marrying Max. He’s marrying Ximena, like it or not! Victoria Fudd stamps her little trotter.
María won’t let Vic intimidate her. She holds out her ring as proof: Max and I are engaged. Vic says bitterly:
No cabe duda, ¡eres una mala mujer!(There’s no doubt about it – you’re a bad woman! caber, lit. to fit, so there is no room left for doubt)
Mexico City:
Speaking of bad women…Bernarda awakens with a start and sees Fausto standing beside her bed holding a pillow. Wisely, he chooses not to tell her he had been contemplating suffocating her. Instead he says he heard her scream, and came in to check on her. The pillow? It was on the floor.
St. Bernarda kneels before her personal altar and vows she will kill again if she has to. But no one will make JP stray from the path she herself chose for him so he could save her soul.
Padre Jerónimo, the same elderly priest who welcomed Juan Pablo back to the seminary and listened to his confession of carnal sin 20 years ago, now pops up on the scene once again. He has been transferred to the parish as the new asesor. (He would be what… like 90 years old now?) Domingo introduces himself to Jero as the sacristán (sexton). [So apparently Domingo is not the world’s oldest juvenile. Relax, Osvaldo, your title is safe.] JP is relieved to see his old mentor and anxious to speak to him in private.
After the brutal way she treated her, Bernie is trying to smoothe things over with María Magdalena. (Just because you’re a serial killer doesn’t mean you leave your manners at the abattoir door.) She concedes:
Quizas yo haya sido un poco dura contigo.(Maybe I have been a little hard on you)
But Bernarda has suffered so much because of Victoria. And now, she tells the girl, it’s important to etch this in your memory -- Your mother abandoned you because you got in her way (estorbabas). And I have proof that she was a bad woman!
In the church, Juan Pablo tells his mentor that he finds himself confronted with his past: He has a daughter named María Magdalena. Padre Jerónimo says that one’s deeds in life are what count. And he has been an exemplary priest.
Bernarda smugly presents her proof to María M – It’s that bastard … I mean bastion… of honor, Papa Padilla. He recites the horse hockey that Bernie concocted – he and Victoria were lovers, MM got in the way of Vic’s ambitions so she abandoned her in the street. Padilla was so outraged by Vic’s behavior that he left her. And that’s why Vic hates Padilla so much: he can bear witness to the terrible person she really is.
At the scene of the fire:
The badly injured bombero is lifted into an ambulance. His rescuer, JuanJo, will accompany him. Cruz encourages his buddy: Aguanta, he tells him. (hang on.)
At the hospital: Nathy, Milagros and Alma, the pregnant lady, wait anxiously. (No one seems to be looking at Nathy’s Scarlet Letter today.) The injured man is Israel, Alma’s husband. He tells them JuanJo risked his life trying to save him.
Back at Bernie’s: As soon as Eva takes María M out of the room, Bernarda applauds Padilla’s performance. He casually mentions that in his most recent run-in with the law, he met a guy who might be able to help with the Victoria problem. (He means the Scorpion. Won’t Padilla be surprised when he learns Bernarda and the Scorpion are already as good as kissin’ cousins, what with him being her fake daughter’s pimp and all)
He’s not expecting what happens next. He pulls out a cigar and casually clicks on his lighter. Bernie, seeing the flame, freaks out shouting: ¡no lo soporto, no lo soporto! (I can’t bear it.)
[And NovelaMaven Novelties sees the possibilities for a new retail line: t-shirts, sweats, beanies all bearing the logo: ¡No lo soporto! ¡No lo soporto! Wear it while you watch!]
Miami:
The other María, la desamparada, wakes up in her hotel room and feels bad about quarreling with Max. She has to see him right away. Nothing can come between us, she thinks.
And if she feels bad, imagine how Max feels! He wakes up and reaches for his María D and instead finds Ximena smiling out from a black wig. He is appalled. What the… what are you doing here, Ximena? Don’t you remember? she smiles maddeningly. We made love last night!
Max edges away from her, pulls on his pants and tells her to get out. All’s fair in love and war, she smirks. You made love to me and now we have to get married.
And there we have it, my friends -- the impeccable logic of a sociopath, a nineteenth century virgin or a lazy telenovela writer who is painting by the numbers.
Acapulco:
Osvaldo has recovered from the effects of the full, and I do mean full moon. When Linda pouts that the weekend is over, he reminds her that she knew the rules of the game from the start. And if she doesn’t like them, that’s fine. They can end it right now.
Miami:
Victoria’s phone call to Micaela, the Sandoval housekeeper, is interrupted when Ximena bounds in with great news!
¡Pasé la noche con tu hijo!(I spent the night with your son!)
Ewww! This is more than a little icky so let’s leave the two Women Without Boundaries and rejoin our now slightly tarnished hero –
Max stands in the steaming shower trying to get the Ximena off him. [Out, out, damn skank!] No puede ser, no puede ser, he repeats to himself. ¡Qué imbécil! he says. And we have to agree. Cuz blindfolded or not, drunk or not, how could he?
María D is standing dreamily in front of her mirror when she hears a knock on her door. She opens it to find a huge bouquet of roses with a note:
Con todo mi afecto y mi admiración.(With all my affection and love.)
There’s no signature. It must be from Max, she thinks, and calls him to thank him. (We know it’s not from Max – who’s always all ‘te amo con todo mi corazón’, and ‘mi cielo, mi vida’. So how come she doesn’t know?)
She’s puzzled when he says he didn’t send the flowers. But he has something to tell her. Thinking he’s feeling bad about last night’s spat, she tells him not to worry:
Te perdonaría absolutamente todo – bueno, menos un engaño.(I would forgive you anything – well, except cheating on me.)
Uh oh. Foreshadow City!
Max and María arrange to meet.
Joaquin thanks the bellhop for delivering the flowers to María.
Acapulco:
Linda realizes she has made a strategic blunder and in trying to fix it, appears to make matters worse. It’s just that it feels horrible knowing you’re going to abandon me, she tells Osvaldo. I’ll never abandon you, he answers, but I’ll never abandon my family either. And her chilling response, delivered while holding a butter knife blade over her wrist:
Yo soy capaz de cualquier cosa si me dejas.(I’m capable of anything if you leave me.)
And Os seems to register for the first time that he is in Bunny Boiling Territory.
Mexico City:
Juan Pablo introduces Padre Jerónimo to the guys and shows off the carpentry workshop to his mentor.
Back at the hospital: Israel’s doctor looks grim. Alma sobs on Millie’s shoulder while Cruz, Napo and Nathy stand by helplessly.
Two Back-to-Back Smack Scenes (BBSS):
BBSS 1: While Ximena is in Miami, Ofelia keeps Guillermo’s bed warm. Right now she is marvelling at Osvaldo’s shamelessness. How dare he appear in public with that whore! (Really, Ofelia? Really?) That’s why I wanted to blow his cover with Victoria but your hypocritical (santurrón) husband wouldn’t let me, says Gui.
Says Ofelia with a knowing smirk: You still haven’t forgiven Os for that thing with Leonela, right?
Whoa!!! She’s not prepared for Guillermo’s rage! He smacks her savagely and says: Never mention that woman again!
Miami:
BBSS 2: In the lobby of the hotel, Joaquin is trying to flirt with María. Max comes on the scene just in time to see him kiss her hand. Max says sweetly to María, give me a sec, darling, and then turns to Joaquin and punches him in the nose. Very hard. Hard enough to knock him down. Says Max:
¡Me tienes harto!(I’m fed up with you! Literally, you have me fed up. Which makes two fed-up Sandovals in Miami today.)
Ximena phones her ma to tell her the good news – She blindfolded Max when he was falling down drunk and had sex with him by pretending to be his girlfriend. Now she can force him to marry her! Good thing, says her ma, because we’re broke. What??? Ximena is impactada.
Victoria has seen Max’s knockout punch and she is mortified. She insists he apologize to Joaquin. Max refuses. For a moment it looks like she’s going to send him to his room without supper.
He knows why I did it, retorts Max stubbornly.
I thought Max was a gentleman, says Joaquin, but I was wrong. And next year you brawling bozos from Mexico can take it somewhere else, because you’ve worn out your welcome at this hotel!
Max is unconcerned:
No te preocupes, en esta ciudad lo que sobran son hoteles.
(Don’t worry, in this city there are plenty of hotels).
As soon as Joaquin walks away, Victoria tells Max that he’ll never again use violence to sort out problems in her business. Max sets the record straight:
No fue por tu Casa de Modas que lo puse en su lugar; fue porque le faltó el respeto a María Desamparada.(It wasn’t because of your fashion house that I put him in his place; it was because he didn’t show respect to María D.)
Ximena’s mother tells her their life style is just a facade. They don’t have a cent left. She has sold all her jewelry bit by bit and now every piece she owns is fake.
When the dust has cleared, Victoria follows María to her room and blames her for causing trouble by flirting with Joaquin. María sets her straight: She wasn’t flirting. Joaquin sent her flowers and thought that gave him the right to flirt with her. Max put him in his place. You may be mad, she tells Vic, but I’m proud that the man I love is willing to defend me.
Victoria is not amused. You’ll stay in your room until we leave Miami, she tells María. And remember, I have your passport. Just before she leaves, Victoria turns back and says:
Sabes que todo lo que hago es por tu bien.(You know that everything I’m doing is for your own good.)
Acapulco:
Adam and Eve, aka Os and LindaHo are checking out of the Garden of Eden. And now they – or he, at least, feels shame. A stranger asks him if he is Osvaldo Sandoval and he says no.
Miami:
María tells Max that Victoria won’t let her go out and play. Max is incensed. Does she think she owns people? he asks. Open your window, he tells her.
He makes his way through the service area of the hotel and back stairways to María’s room and climbs in through the window. They kiss and then escape together. When they reach the lobby, Max tries to tell her about last night but before he can do so, he is interrupted by a couple of girls who recognize him as the winner of the kayaking competition. Soon a small crowd of giggling women surrounds him and they want photos with their hero. María is happy to oblige them by taking the pictures.
Pip and Toni come down to the lobby too. He is gotten up in a long-sleeved black and white striped Dr. Dentonesque jumpsuit (I can’t see if there’s a flap in back), and sports a black and white paisley print sun hat and oversized pinkish shades. His skin is very sensitive, he explains. And the sun ages one so.
They notice the girls swarming Max. While Pip happily inserts himself into the middle of the group and hams it up, Toni takes the opportunity to warn María that Vic will have a conniption if she sees her. Toni is right, María tells Max. He reluctantly agrees to postpone their talk until later; but before he leaves her he says:
Nada más quiero que sepas que pase lo que pase, te amo con toda mi vida y siempre te voy a amar.(I just want you to know that whatever happens, I love you with all my heart and I will always love you.)
Mexico:
Juan Pablo is surprised to hear that María M is in Bernie’s house. Mea culpa, mea culpa says Bernie beating her breast, I am guilty. I didn’t tell you the truth because I wanted to avoid a confrontation with Victoria. Besides, I thought it would be a good thing for María to stay here in this pious home under my protection. Bernie turns to Padre Jerónimo and asks his opinion.
The good padre doesn’t know the details, but he’s sure St. Bernarda must be right, especially considering the blood ties that bind her to the girl. Then Bernarda turns to Eva for support. Oh yes, says Eva, you treat the girl as if you were her own mother. (como si fuera su propia madre.) JP is happy to hear this but he’d still like to see MM.
Israel is in critical condition in the hospital. His wife, Alma, weeps at his bedside. In another room, JuanJo appears to be in fairly good condition. He has some burn dressings on his arm. He tells Nathy and Millie that he wants to see his friend. Nathy urges him to be patient.
In the waiting room, Napo remarks that it doesn’t look good for Israel. And Cruz says:
No se vale. A Israel se tiene que salvar.(It’s not right. They have to save Israel.)
Apparently María Magdalena has been allowed out of her cage for display in front of the padres. Bernarda stands behind her chair and rests her hands on MM’s shoulders. She only wants to teach her to respect and love God and lead her to the path of virtue, says Bernie. Juan Pablo asks Padre Jerónimo for his opinion. He backs Bernie. A thousand percent.
Bernarda looks satisfied. And why not? Another day, another priest bamboozled. She strokes MM’s hair. MM looks terrified.
Miami:
María Desamparada is also about to be allowed out of her cage. She is all packed and ready to leave for the airport. One more detail -- she puts Joaquin’s roses in the trash. Victoria comes to her door to tell her it’s time to go. She’s surprised to see the discarded flowers. María explains that although they’re beautiful, for Max’s sake she thought it was better not to keep them.
Now everyone is back in Mexico City.
Os has assumed his public persona. He and Linda stand several feet apart at the airport. A fan approaches Os and asks if he can take a picture with him. Os obliges. Linda looks miserable.
María and Max ride back to her place in a taxi. He says: In a few days, we’ll be married… or at least I hope so (o eso espero). María is concerned: Why did you say it like that? What’s the matter? Nothing, says Max. Don’t pay any attention to me.
In another airport taxi, LindaHo perches on Os’s lap. He explains to her that he has to spend the night with his family.
Max and María get to María’s place. He helps her out with her suitcase, kisses her and begins: Would you still love me if…
But once again he is cut off, this time by the sight of his father helping LindaHo out of the second taxi. He says:
Papá, ¿qué haces con Linda?(Pop, what are you doing with Linda?)
Os pulls off his shades to give himself a moment to think up a good lie.
Part two of two: Two pregnancies and a funeral
In which a hero dies; Bernarda learns María Magdalena is not her granddaughter; and Padre Jerónimo learns that St. Bernarda is a monster; LindaHo breaks JuanJo’s heart; and María’s pregnancy brings her great joy -- for about five minutes.
Victoria gets back to Casa Sandoval before Osvaldo does. How did Fernanda behave? she asks Micaela.
Back in the barrio, Os is where we left him – standing there on the sidewalk like a big dope, holding his shades in his hand. It’s Linda who comes up with the lie. She tells Max that they needed a make-up artist on location and Os offered her the job so she could earn a little extra money. And Os is such a gentleman, he offered her a ride home from the airport.
How convenient. Os and Max can share the same taxi back to Casa Sandoval. Os and Linda shake hands and say goodbye. Like colleagues. Max and María kiss and he leaves without telling her about last night and the Ximena problem. When the boys are gone, MD turns to Linda accusingly: ¿Qué hiciste? (What did you do?)
At Casa Sandoval, a thwarted interrogation:
Victoria asks Micaela why she hasn’t answered her question about Fer. Before she can reply, Max and Os walk in together. Vic asks why they arrived together. Before they can answer, Micaela tells Max some firemen have been calling him and he goes off to return the call.
Ximena tells her ma she’s pregnant. She’ll wait a few days and then tell Max it’s his child. Her ma drinks to that. Take care of your health, says ma. Xi will drink to that. Max will be their ticket back to the good life.
Max leaves in a hurry just as Oscar arrives at the house to tell them Fer was in an accident. She’s ok but they wrecked Padilla’s car. Scuzzy was driving although both kids were drunk. Vic is ready to rip the FerBeast a new one but Oscar skillfully talks her down. (He promised Fer he’d be her advocate, he explains.) Os is grateful. From this moment, consider me your friend, he tells Oscar, extending his hand.
Max gets to the hospital where the injured firemen were taken. He stops in to see JuanJo. Nathy comes in with the news that Israel is dying. Max rushes into Israel’s room where Alma, Napo, Cruz and Milagros are already gathered. Max promises the dying man that he’ll take care of his family. With Nathy’s help, JuanJo makes his painful way to see his dying friend, his brother. Nathy and JuanJo promise to be good godparents to the baby. Israel says a tearful goodbye and dies in Alma’s arms.
The FerBeast, cervical collar or no, is still a beast and still defending Scuzzy. At least now Os is on board with Victoria and agrees that Fer can’t see ScuzzBoy anymore. The FerBeast is defiant. But Os has had enough: ¡Basta de tonterías y berrinches! (enough foolishness and tantrums) shouts that pater familias, Osvaldo Sandoval (whom some of you may remember in his most recent role, Pimp Daddy of Acapulco).
The scene is cut short by Micaela’s announcement that señor Padilla is downstairs. (Los busca el señor Padilla.)
Padilla pretends he is a normal person and is there to find out how Fer is doing after the accident. But Vic shouts him down and tells him to get out. Padilla says rather snarkily that nothing happened and there’s no need to get hysterical.
Os defends Victoria from Padilla’s insults. Get out, he shouts, and keep your kid away too. Padilla insinuates that he knows something damaging, but Os won’t listen to another word. He punches him out and Padilla is left to scuttle away. It’s not over, he mutters menacingly. It’s just the beginning.
When they are alone, Os tells Vic they should have done that a long time ago. They would have avoided a lot of problems.
Bernarda refuses to let scorpion guy see María Magdalena. At her signal, Fausto picks him up and throws him out like the bag of human refuse he is. Bernie looks on and smiles with satisfaction.
A neighbor has told María and Linda about the injured firemen and now, both out of breath, they arrive at the hospital where Napo gives them the tragic news: Israel has died. They want to see JuanJo but Cruz says that wouldn’t be a good idea:
A JuanJo no le gustaría que su novia lo viera en este estado.
(JuanJo wouldn’t want his girlfriend to see him in the state he’s in.)
María catches sight of Max and runs to him.
Napo grabs LindaHo’s arm and tells her not to dare break up with JuanJo right now. She’ll have to do it at the right moment but they won’t let her hurt him.
Back at the fake rich-guy apartment, Padilla kicks his progeny (who is also wearing a cervical collar) for wrecking the car and his chances with Fer. But Padilla has too much invested in Project FerBeast to give up now. And he has a number of little surprises for the Sandoval family.
Millie does her best to comfort JuanJo. Even though he is still recovering from his own injuries and really shouldn't leave the hospital, he is determined to go to the funeral to say farewell to Israel. Napo and Cruz help him into a wheelchair.
The funeral: Milagros, JuanJo, Napo, Cruz, Nathy, María, Linda and Max are present. Alma is inconsolable. Max presents her with Israel’s helmet and she places it on his flag-draped coffin.
Bernarda’s house: Victoria has arrived to claim the wrong María. Toni pulls the girl by one arm and Pip by the other. But María Magdalena doesn’t want to leave with them. Vic tells Bernie she knows full well that she poisoned MM against her. Well no one is going to keep her from taking her daughter back.
So take her, says Bernie. She found peace and God here but hey. Take her. And they do. Even though MM keeps howling in protest. [So I guess it’s okay for rich, powerful people to hold poor people against their will. I mean -- as long as it’s for their own good.]
Eva delivers an envelope to Bernie. It’s the DNA results showing MM isn’t JP’s daughter. She was right, she says, as always.
The roomies are on their way out of the apartment when María D has a dizzy spell. Nathy fusses over her while Linda rushes out to the pharmacy. She comes back shortly, hands a small packet to María and sends her to the bathroom. And Nathy must be the only person on the planet who is surprised when María comes out of the bathroom and says: Estoy embarazada. (I’m pregnant.) All three are thrilled -- and they know Max will be too when he hears the news.
The church is packed with sinners so the two Padres do double duty taking confessions. Jerónimo finds Bernarda in his confessional. What sin could a saintly woman like you have to confess? he asks with an avuncular chuckle. It’s true, she says, she isn’t a sinner.
Her only mission is to do justice in God’s name.
Hearing these words, Jero is puzzled and a tad uneasy.
She goes on. Years ago she had to make JP’s real father pay for betraying her -- for seducing her and leaving her pregnant when he was already a married man with a child, she had to intervene in the name of divine justice.
She burned him alive, along with his wife and child. And no one suspected her.
Jero sits open-mouthed with horror.
…That’s why I say that it’s my mission to exact justice in God’s name and with his divine help.
JuanJo is back home and LindaHo tells him they need to talk. JuanJo, she says: No me voy a casar contigo. (I’m not going to marry you.)
At the Televisa building, Guillermo gives Osvaldo a warm welcome back. Os admits he had a great time with LindaHo. Still, he can’t help feeling guilty. After all, he loves his wife. Beelzebub… I mean Guillermo… eggs him on in his infidelity and minimizes the importance of his guilt.
LindaHo tells JuanJo they rushed into things too quickly. She wants to break off their engagement. He’s not hearing her. He thinks she just has a normal set of jitters. All well and good, but he’s not calling off the wedding.
Triunfo de maldad: Ximena walks up to Max in his office and announces with a smile: Estoy embarazada. Estoy esperando un hijo tuyo, Max. (I’m pregnant. I’m expecting your child, Max.)
[Although I’m wondering why he’s there at all. Didn’t he resign?]
Max is open-mouthed. No, no, esto no puede ser! Says Ximena: We have to get married right away!
Poor old Padre Jerónimo is still in the confessional with bloody St. B. So you killed your own husband and Tomasa, the woman who served you faithfully all those years??? You’re sick, Bernarda, you need medical help! That first betrayal must have driven you insane!
It’s a shame you don’t understand me, says B with maddening calm:
...pero los mismos santos fueron incomprendidos en su tiempo(but the saints themselves were misunderstood in their day)
And you think you’re a saint! exclaims Jerónimo. What you should do is repent for your sins and beg God for forgiveness! [And I’m starting to worry about the old guy. Can his heart take this confession? Can mine?]
And Her Craziness replies:
Yo no necesito pedirle perdón a Dios porque solamente cumplo sus mandatos.(I don’t need to ask God’s forgiveness because I’m only obeying his commands.)
That’s why years ago I tried to run over Victoria’s daughter.
Jero gasps and turns to her:
You dared to spill your own blood! Because that girl is your granddaughter! (Te atreviste a derramar tu propia sangre -- porque esta niña es tu nieta!) Because that girl is your granddaughter! Thank God you failed and now María Magdalena is safe with her mother and far from your reach!
B. is surprised at Jero’s innocence. MM isn’t really Vic’s daughter -- although Vic believes that she is.
And speaking of evil and crazy: Ximena repeats to Max that he has to marry her. And now he looks like the one who needs to run into the bathroom to puke. She’s nuts, he says, he’s marrying María D. That was then, this is now says canny Ximena.
She rages, she coos, she shows Max how loony she is. Don’t you care about your child? Of course he does, he says. But please, for now, be discreet, okay?
Bernarda pulls out the DNA results and shows Jero that MM is unrelated genetically to Vic and JP. She’s no liar!
Bernarda has to tell JP the truth immediately, says Jero, so he can keep looking for his real child. Not gonna do it, says B.
No quiero que vuelva a exponer su misión como sacerdote.(I don’t want his mission as a priest to be at risk, once again.)
Jero can’t give B absolution until she repents and makes amends for her sins. No importa. She don’t need no stinkin’ absolution. God forgives her; He understands her. Oh… just a little reminder -- he is bound by the Seal of the Confessional. He can’t reveal a word of the atrocities she has just told him:
God be with you Padre! Have a nice day!
Napo joins JuanJo and Linda in Millie’s apartment and finds the atmosphere a little tense. Linda says she just told JuanJo that she doesn’t want to marry him. Not yet. And JuanJo says he told Linda not to worry, to take her time and wait until she’s ready. But they’re not going to cancel (suspender) the wedding.
María is on her way to tell Max her news but Toni waylays her. She needs her right away for a private show.
Ximena hasn’t wasted any time spreading her news. (So much for discretion, Max.) Vic is overjoyed to hear that Xi is expecting Max’s child. And best of all, says Vic: Max will marry Ximena and they can get rid of that María Desamparada once and for all! Toni joins them and Vic shares the glad tidings. Toni smiles uneasily.
LindaHo complains to Nathy that she tried to break up with JuanJo but he can’t seem to get it. What can she do to make him understand that she’s not interested in him?
Ximena walks the runway in the private show. Then it’s María’s turn. She makes it down to the end, turns back and is almost off-stage when she appears to have a dizzy spell. She manages to stay on her feet and makes it to the dressing room. Pip, concerned, follows her. She tells him she’s fine. Max comes in and Pip leaves the two alone. Each has something important to tell the other. María will change and they’ll go someplace where they can talk.
Back in the barrio: Milagros is on the warpath. She pounds on the door and then storms in to the little apartment, pushing right past Nathy to confront Linda: Listen brat, JuanJo loves you. Where do come off telling him that you don’t want to marry him? I’m warning you, she tells her, I can be fierce (una fiera, a wild beast) when someone makes my kid (cachorro, cub) suffer. First you tell him yes, then you tell him no. She goes on:
Escuincla babosa, de los sentimientos de mi hijo, nadie se burle, eh!(Slimy brat, nobody makes fun of my son’s feelings!)
Linda says she feels so confused!
Milagros mocks her ‘confusion’ and her lame attempts to justify herself.
Ay, ¡la manga que! (You’re a liar! You’re full of it!)
Here Milagros spits out a mouthful of threats involving Linda’s premature loss of both her big ass and her beauty (which I realize is redundant) and growing a big hairy wart on her nose. It sounds pretty scary to me, but Linda laughs scornfully and says:
¡Usted siempre con sus jaladas!(You and your exaggerations!)
Milagros’s final words, delivered darkly:
¡Quedas advertida! (You’ve been warned!)
She and Linda glare at one another.
JuanJo tries to drown his sorrows with tequila.
At the Casa de Modas, Ximena goes looking for María. Pip says she left with Max – oh, but that makes you jealous, doesn’t it? Me? rejoins Ximena. I’m not jealous of anyone. And his relationship with MD ends today, I betcha anything.
Ximena’s cell phone rings. It’s Guillermo and he wants to know how their baby is doing. She tells him she doesn’t need him anymore. She and Max are getting back together. If he agreed to that, says Gui, you must have blackmailed him into it and told him the baby was his.
Max and María are in a charming restaurant and their song plays in the background. María tries to tell him about the pregnancy but he insists there’s something he has to say first:
Espero que puedas perdonarme porque yo no puedo. Mi amor...Ximena ... Ximena está esperando un hijo... mio.(I hope you can forgive me because I can’t. My love … Ximena is expecting a child. My child.)
Cue the kayak. And give that man a lifevest.
In Miami, Ximena plants a flag on Maxlandia; Max punches out Joaquin; and Victoria shows her claws to María.
In Mexico City, Bernie bamboozles two priests; Guillermo smacks around Ofelia; a fireman fights for his life; and Max finally sees his father with Linda.
In Acapulco, the full moon loses its charm.
Miami:
The hotel. The night after the triumphant fashion show and Max’s win in the kayaking competition.
A replay of my least favorite plot contrivance: Desperate woman tricks hero into boinking her thereby spoiling the fairy tale romance of the stars for at least the next 50 capítulos. [Feel free to skip the next 3 paragraphs.]
Max is sprawled out stinking drunk on the bed in his hotel room. Our hero! At the door left carelessly unlocked, a figure in a red dress and black wig appears. Is that you, my love? he asks. Yes, my love, it’s me. He mumbles apologies for acting like a jerk before.
Ximena – the wannabe María in the stolen red dress and wig – blindfolds Max with his skinny tie and gets to work unbuttoning and unzipping.
Max believes he’s with the woman of his dreams, not the stalker of his nightmares. María, mi cielo, mi amor, he says. He wants to remove the blindfold but Ximena won’t let him. She knows there’s not enough dark in the night sky to disguise her pale and desperate face.
In another room of the hotel María is lying in bed quietly pensive when she hears a knock at her door. It’s Victoria! The lady storms in looking like Elmer Fudd who’s just been had by that Wascally Wabbit. She is fed up (harta), she says. She rants that MD will never marry Max – she’s an intruder in their lives, a fortune hunter who’s only interested in her son’s money. A social climber (trepadora). Leave Max in peace!
Toni and Pipino agree the show was a big hit and Victoria must be pretty happy about it (or she would be if she did happy). But now Pip wants to know more about Vic’s lost daughter...
...Toni has told him the whole sad story. Ah, says Pip, that’s why Victoria looks so melancholy at times. But now there’s good news, says Toni. Victoria has finally found her daughter. The only problem is she’s staying with Bernarda, Padre Juan Pablo’s mother. Pip is puzzled. Toni explains: It’s because JP is the girl’s father!
And at that moment, Victoria’s actual lost daughter, María Desamparada (expósita), is still on the wrong end of her mother’s rant: MD tried flirting with Osvaldo first, says Victoria. Only when that effort failed (because he would never, ever be unfaithful) did she turn to Max. María hints that perhaps Victoria should rethink her assumptions about Osvaldo:
Le aconsejo que no esté tan segura.
(I advise you not to be so sure.)
Victoria seems momentarily taken aback but then plows on: You are not marrying Max. He’s marrying Ximena, like it or not! Victoria Fudd stamps her little trotter.
María won’t let Vic intimidate her. She holds out her ring as proof: Max and I are engaged. Vic says bitterly:
No cabe duda, ¡eres una mala mujer!(There’s no doubt about it – you’re a bad woman! caber, lit. to fit, so there is no room left for doubt)
Mexico City:
Speaking of bad women…Bernarda awakens with a start and sees Fausto standing beside her bed holding a pillow. Wisely, he chooses not to tell her he had been contemplating suffocating her. Instead he says he heard her scream, and came in to check on her. The pillow? It was on the floor.
St. Bernarda kneels before her personal altar and vows she will kill again if she has to. But no one will make JP stray from the path she herself chose for him so he could save her soul.
Padre Jerónimo, the same elderly priest who welcomed Juan Pablo back to the seminary and listened to his confession of carnal sin 20 years ago, now pops up on the scene once again. He has been transferred to the parish as the new asesor. (He would be what… like 90 years old now?) Domingo introduces himself to Jero as the sacristán (sexton). [So apparently Domingo is not the world’s oldest juvenile. Relax, Osvaldo, your title is safe.] JP is relieved to see his old mentor and anxious to speak to him in private.
After the brutal way she treated her, Bernie is trying to smoothe things over with María Magdalena. (Just because you’re a serial killer doesn’t mean you leave your manners at the abattoir door.) She concedes:
Quizas yo haya sido un poco dura contigo.(Maybe I have been a little hard on you)
But Bernarda has suffered so much because of Victoria. And now, she tells the girl, it’s important to etch this in your memory -- Your mother abandoned you because you got in her way (estorbabas). And I have proof that she was a bad woman!
In the church, Juan Pablo tells his mentor that he finds himself confronted with his past: He has a daughter named María Magdalena. Padre Jerónimo says that one’s deeds in life are what count. And he has been an exemplary priest.
Bernarda smugly presents her proof to María M – It’s that bastard … I mean bastion… of honor, Papa Padilla. He recites the horse hockey that Bernie concocted – he and Victoria were lovers, MM got in the way of Vic’s ambitions so she abandoned her in the street. Padilla was so outraged by Vic’s behavior that he left her. And that’s why Vic hates Padilla so much: he can bear witness to the terrible person she really is.
At the scene of the fire:
The badly injured bombero is lifted into an ambulance. His rescuer, JuanJo, will accompany him. Cruz encourages his buddy: Aguanta, he tells him. (hang on.)
At the hospital: Nathy, Milagros and Alma, the pregnant lady, wait anxiously. (No one seems to be looking at Nathy’s Scarlet Letter today.) The injured man is Israel, Alma’s husband. He tells them JuanJo risked his life trying to save him.
Back at Bernie’s: As soon as Eva takes María M out of the room, Bernarda applauds Padilla’s performance. He casually mentions that in his most recent run-in with the law, he met a guy who might be able to help with the Victoria problem. (He means the Scorpion. Won’t Padilla be surprised when he learns Bernarda and the Scorpion are already as good as kissin’ cousins, what with him being her fake daughter’s pimp and all)
He’s not expecting what happens next. He pulls out a cigar and casually clicks on his lighter. Bernie, seeing the flame, freaks out shouting: ¡no lo soporto, no lo soporto! (I can’t bear it.)
[And NovelaMaven Novelties sees the possibilities for a new retail line: t-shirts, sweats, beanies all bearing the logo: ¡No lo soporto! ¡No lo soporto! Wear it while you watch!]
Miami:
The other María, la desamparada, wakes up in her hotel room and feels bad about quarreling with Max. She has to see him right away. Nothing can come between us, she thinks.
And if she feels bad, imagine how Max feels! He wakes up and reaches for his María D and instead finds Ximena smiling out from a black wig. He is appalled. What the… what are you doing here, Ximena? Don’t you remember? she smiles maddeningly. We made love last night!
Max edges away from her, pulls on his pants and tells her to get out. All’s fair in love and war, she smirks. You made love to me and now we have to get married.
And there we have it, my friends -- the impeccable logic of a sociopath, a nineteenth century virgin or a lazy telenovela writer who is painting by the numbers.
Acapulco:
Osvaldo has recovered from the effects of the full, and I do mean full moon. When Linda pouts that the weekend is over, he reminds her that she knew the rules of the game from the start. And if she doesn’t like them, that’s fine. They can end it right now.
Miami:
Victoria’s phone call to Micaela, the Sandoval housekeeper, is interrupted when Ximena bounds in with great news!
¡Pasé la noche con tu hijo!(I spent the night with your son!)
Ewww! This is more than a little icky so let’s leave the two Women Without Boundaries and rejoin our now slightly tarnished hero –
Max stands in the steaming shower trying to get the Ximena off him. [Out, out, damn skank!] No puede ser, no puede ser, he repeats to himself. ¡Qué imbécil! he says. And we have to agree. Cuz blindfolded or not, drunk or not, how could he?
María D is standing dreamily in front of her mirror when she hears a knock on her door. She opens it to find a huge bouquet of roses with a note:
Con todo mi afecto y mi admiración.(With all my affection and love.)
There’s no signature. It must be from Max, she thinks, and calls him to thank him. (We know it’s not from Max – who’s always all ‘te amo con todo mi corazón’, and ‘mi cielo, mi vida’. So how come she doesn’t know?)
She’s puzzled when he says he didn’t send the flowers. But he has something to tell her. Thinking he’s feeling bad about last night’s spat, she tells him not to worry:
Te perdonaría absolutamente todo – bueno, menos un engaño.(I would forgive you anything – well, except cheating on me.)
Uh oh. Foreshadow City!
Max and María arrange to meet.
Joaquin thanks the bellhop for delivering the flowers to María.
Acapulco:
Linda realizes she has made a strategic blunder and in trying to fix it, appears to make matters worse. It’s just that it feels horrible knowing you’re going to abandon me, she tells Osvaldo. I’ll never abandon you, he answers, but I’ll never abandon my family either. And her chilling response, delivered while holding a butter knife blade over her wrist:
Yo soy capaz de cualquier cosa si me dejas.(I’m capable of anything if you leave me.)
And Os seems to register for the first time that he is in Bunny Boiling Territory.
Mexico City:
Juan Pablo introduces Padre Jerónimo to the guys and shows off the carpentry workshop to his mentor.
Back at the hospital: Israel’s doctor looks grim. Alma sobs on Millie’s shoulder while Cruz, Napo and Nathy stand by helplessly.
Two Back-to-Back Smack Scenes (BBSS):
BBSS 1: While Ximena is in Miami, Ofelia keeps Guillermo’s bed warm. Right now she is marvelling at Osvaldo’s shamelessness. How dare he appear in public with that whore! (Really, Ofelia? Really?) That’s why I wanted to blow his cover with Victoria but your hypocritical (santurrón) husband wouldn’t let me, says Gui.
Says Ofelia with a knowing smirk: You still haven’t forgiven Os for that thing with Leonela, right?
Whoa!!! She’s not prepared for Guillermo’s rage! He smacks her savagely and says: Never mention that woman again!
Miami:
BBSS 2: In the lobby of the hotel, Joaquin is trying to flirt with María. Max comes on the scene just in time to see him kiss her hand. Max says sweetly to María, give me a sec, darling, and then turns to Joaquin and punches him in the nose. Very hard. Hard enough to knock him down. Says Max:
¡Me tienes harto!(I’m fed up with you! Literally, you have me fed up. Which makes two fed-up Sandovals in Miami today.)
Ximena phones her ma to tell her the good news – She blindfolded Max when he was falling down drunk and had sex with him by pretending to be his girlfriend. Now she can force him to marry her! Good thing, says her ma, because we’re broke. What??? Ximena is impactada.
Victoria has seen Max’s knockout punch and she is mortified. She insists he apologize to Joaquin. Max refuses. For a moment it looks like she’s going to send him to his room without supper.
He knows why I did it, retorts Max stubbornly.
I thought Max was a gentleman, says Joaquin, but I was wrong. And next year you brawling bozos from Mexico can take it somewhere else, because you’ve worn out your welcome at this hotel!
Max is unconcerned:
No te preocupes, en esta ciudad lo que sobran son hoteles.
(Don’t worry, in this city there are plenty of hotels).
As soon as Joaquin walks away, Victoria tells Max that he’ll never again use violence to sort out problems in her business. Max sets the record straight:
No fue por tu Casa de Modas que lo puse en su lugar; fue porque le faltó el respeto a María Desamparada.(It wasn’t because of your fashion house that I put him in his place; it was because he didn’t show respect to María D.)
Ximena’s mother tells her their life style is just a facade. They don’t have a cent left. She has sold all her jewelry bit by bit and now every piece she owns is fake.
When the dust has cleared, Victoria follows María to her room and blames her for causing trouble by flirting with Joaquin. María sets her straight: She wasn’t flirting. Joaquin sent her flowers and thought that gave him the right to flirt with her. Max put him in his place. You may be mad, she tells Vic, but I’m proud that the man I love is willing to defend me.
Victoria is not amused. You’ll stay in your room until we leave Miami, she tells María. And remember, I have your passport. Just before she leaves, Victoria turns back and says:
Sabes que todo lo que hago es por tu bien.(You know that everything I’m doing is for your own good.)
Acapulco:
Adam and Eve, aka Os and LindaHo are checking out of the Garden of Eden. And now they – or he, at least, feels shame. A stranger asks him if he is Osvaldo Sandoval and he says no.
Miami:
María tells Max that Victoria won’t let her go out and play. Max is incensed. Does she think she owns people? he asks. Open your window, he tells her.
He makes his way through the service area of the hotel and back stairways to María’s room and climbs in through the window. They kiss and then escape together. When they reach the lobby, Max tries to tell her about last night but before he can do so, he is interrupted by a couple of girls who recognize him as the winner of the kayaking competition. Soon a small crowd of giggling women surrounds him and they want photos with their hero. María is happy to oblige them by taking the pictures.
Pip and Toni come down to the lobby too. He is gotten up in a long-sleeved black and white striped Dr. Dentonesque jumpsuit (I can’t see if there’s a flap in back), and sports a black and white paisley print sun hat and oversized pinkish shades. His skin is very sensitive, he explains. And the sun ages one so.
They notice the girls swarming Max. While Pip happily inserts himself into the middle of the group and hams it up, Toni takes the opportunity to warn María that Vic will have a conniption if she sees her. Toni is right, María tells Max. He reluctantly agrees to postpone their talk until later; but before he leaves her he says:
Nada más quiero que sepas que pase lo que pase, te amo con toda mi vida y siempre te voy a amar.(I just want you to know that whatever happens, I love you with all my heart and I will always love you.)
Mexico:
Juan Pablo is surprised to hear that María M is in Bernie’s house. Mea culpa, mea culpa says Bernie beating her breast, I am guilty. I didn’t tell you the truth because I wanted to avoid a confrontation with Victoria. Besides, I thought it would be a good thing for María to stay here in this pious home under my protection. Bernie turns to Padre Jerónimo and asks his opinion.
The good padre doesn’t know the details, but he’s sure St. Bernarda must be right, especially considering the blood ties that bind her to the girl. Then Bernarda turns to Eva for support. Oh yes, says Eva, you treat the girl as if you were her own mother. (como si fuera su propia madre.) JP is happy to hear this but he’d still like to see MM.
Israel is in critical condition in the hospital. His wife, Alma, weeps at his bedside. In another room, JuanJo appears to be in fairly good condition. He has some burn dressings on his arm. He tells Nathy and Millie that he wants to see his friend. Nathy urges him to be patient.
In the waiting room, Napo remarks that it doesn’t look good for Israel. And Cruz says:
No se vale. A Israel se tiene que salvar.(It’s not right. They have to save Israel.)
Apparently María Magdalena has been allowed out of her cage for display in front of the padres. Bernarda stands behind her chair and rests her hands on MM’s shoulders. She only wants to teach her to respect and love God and lead her to the path of virtue, says Bernie. Juan Pablo asks Padre Jerónimo for his opinion. He backs Bernie. A thousand percent.
Bernarda looks satisfied. And why not? Another day, another priest bamboozled. She strokes MM’s hair. MM looks terrified.
Miami:
María Desamparada is also about to be allowed out of her cage. She is all packed and ready to leave for the airport. One more detail -- she puts Joaquin’s roses in the trash. Victoria comes to her door to tell her it’s time to go. She’s surprised to see the discarded flowers. María explains that although they’re beautiful, for Max’s sake she thought it was better not to keep them.
Now everyone is back in Mexico City.
Os has assumed his public persona. He and Linda stand several feet apart at the airport. A fan approaches Os and asks if he can take a picture with him. Os obliges. Linda looks miserable.
María and Max ride back to her place in a taxi. He says: In a few days, we’ll be married… or at least I hope so (o eso espero). María is concerned: Why did you say it like that? What’s the matter? Nothing, says Max. Don’t pay any attention to me.
In another airport taxi, LindaHo perches on Os’s lap. He explains to her that he has to spend the night with his family.
Max and María get to María’s place. He helps her out with her suitcase, kisses her and begins: Would you still love me if…
But once again he is cut off, this time by the sight of his father helping LindaHo out of the second taxi. He says:
Papá, ¿qué haces con Linda?(Pop, what are you doing with Linda?)
Os pulls off his shades to give himself a moment to think up a good lie.
Part two of two: Two pregnancies and a funeral
In which a hero dies; Bernarda learns María Magdalena is not her granddaughter; and Padre Jerónimo learns that St. Bernarda is a monster; LindaHo breaks JuanJo’s heart; and María’s pregnancy brings her great joy -- for about five minutes.
Victoria gets back to Casa Sandoval before Osvaldo does. How did Fernanda behave? she asks Micaela.
Back in the barrio, Os is where we left him – standing there on the sidewalk like a big dope, holding his shades in his hand. It’s Linda who comes up with the lie. She tells Max that they needed a make-up artist on location and Os offered her the job so she could earn a little extra money. And Os is such a gentleman, he offered her a ride home from the airport.
How convenient. Os and Max can share the same taxi back to Casa Sandoval. Os and Linda shake hands and say goodbye. Like colleagues. Max and María kiss and he leaves without telling her about last night and the Ximena problem. When the boys are gone, MD turns to Linda accusingly: ¿Qué hiciste? (What did you do?)
At Casa Sandoval, a thwarted interrogation:
Victoria asks Micaela why she hasn’t answered her question about Fer. Before she can reply, Max and Os walk in together. Vic asks why they arrived together. Before they can answer, Micaela tells Max some firemen have been calling him and he goes off to return the call.
Ximena tells her ma she’s pregnant. She’ll wait a few days and then tell Max it’s his child. Her ma drinks to that. Take care of your health, says ma. Xi will drink to that. Max will be their ticket back to the good life.
Max leaves in a hurry just as Oscar arrives at the house to tell them Fer was in an accident. She’s ok but they wrecked Padilla’s car. Scuzzy was driving although both kids were drunk. Vic is ready to rip the FerBeast a new one but Oscar skillfully talks her down. (He promised Fer he’d be her advocate, he explains.) Os is grateful. From this moment, consider me your friend, he tells Oscar, extending his hand.
Max gets to the hospital where the injured firemen were taken. He stops in to see JuanJo. Nathy comes in with the news that Israel is dying. Max rushes into Israel’s room where Alma, Napo, Cruz and Milagros are already gathered. Max promises the dying man that he’ll take care of his family. With Nathy’s help, JuanJo makes his painful way to see his dying friend, his brother. Nathy and JuanJo promise to be good godparents to the baby. Israel says a tearful goodbye and dies in Alma’s arms.
The FerBeast, cervical collar or no, is still a beast and still defending Scuzzy. At least now Os is on board with Victoria and agrees that Fer can’t see ScuzzBoy anymore. The FerBeast is defiant. But Os has had enough: ¡Basta de tonterías y berrinches! (enough foolishness and tantrums) shouts that pater familias, Osvaldo Sandoval (whom some of you may remember in his most recent role, Pimp Daddy of Acapulco).
The scene is cut short by Micaela’s announcement that señor Padilla is downstairs. (Los busca el señor Padilla.)
Padilla pretends he is a normal person and is there to find out how Fer is doing after the accident. But Vic shouts him down and tells him to get out. Padilla says rather snarkily that nothing happened and there’s no need to get hysterical.
Os defends Victoria from Padilla’s insults. Get out, he shouts, and keep your kid away too. Padilla insinuates that he knows something damaging, but Os won’t listen to another word. He punches him out and Padilla is left to scuttle away. It’s not over, he mutters menacingly. It’s just the beginning.
When they are alone, Os tells Vic they should have done that a long time ago. They would have avoided a lot of problems.
Bernarda refuses to let scorpion guy see María Magdalena. At her signal, Fausto picks him up and throws him out like the bag of human refuse he is. Bernie looks on and smiles with satisfaction.
A neighbor has told María and Linda about the injured firemen and now, both out of breath, they arrive at the hospital where Napo gives them the tragic news: Israel has died. They want to see JuanJo but Cruz says that wouldn’t be a good idea:
A JuanJo no le gustaría que su novia lo viera en este estado.
(JuanJo wouldn’t want his girlfriend to see him in the state he’s in.)
María catches sight of Max and runs to him.
Napo grabs LindaHo’s arm and tells her not to dare break up with JuanJo right now. She’ll have to do it at the right moment but they won’t let her hurt him.
Back at the fake rich-guy apartment, Padilla kicks his progeny (who is also wearing a cervical collar) for wrecking the car and his chances with Fer. But Padilla has too much invested in Project FerBeast to give up now. And he has a number of little surprises for the Sandoval family.
Millie does her best to comfort JuanJo. Even though he is still recovering from his own injuries and really shouldn't leave the hospital, he is determined to go to the funeral to say farewell to Israel. Napo and Cruz help him into a wheelchair.
The funeral: Milagros, JuanJo, Napo, Cruz, Nathy, María, Linda and Max are present. Alma is inconsolable. Max presents her with Israel’s helmet and she places it on his flag-draped coffin.
Bernarda’s house: Victoria has arrived to claim the wrong María. Toni pulls the girl by one arm and Pip by the other. But María Magdalena doesn’t want to leave with them. Vic tells Bernie she knows full well that she poisoned MM against her. Well no one is going to keep her from taking her daughter back.
So take her, says Bernie. She found peace and God here but hey. Take her. And they do. Even though MM keeps howling in protest. [So I guess it’s okay for rich, powerful people to hold poor people against their will. I mean -- as long as it’s for their own good.]
Eva delivers an envelope to Bernie. It’s the DNA results showing MM isn’t JP’s daughter. She was right, she says, as always.
The roomies are on their way out of the apartment when María D has a dizzy spell. Nathy fusses over her while Linda rushes out to the pharmacy. She comes back shortly, hands a small packet to María and sends her to the bathroom. And Nathy must be the only person on the planet who is surprised when María comes out of the bathroom and says: Estoy embarazada. (I’m pregnant.) All three are thrilled -- and they know Max will be too when he hears the news.
The church is packed with sinners so the two Padres do double duty taking confessions. Jerónimo finds Bernarda in his confessional. What sin could a saintly woman like you have to confess? he asks with an avuncular chuckle. It’s true, she says, she isn’t a sinner.
Her only mission is to do justice in God’s name.
Hearing these words, Jero is puzzled and a tad uneasy.
She goes on. Years ago she had to make JP’s real father pay for betraying her -- for seducing her and leaving her pregnant when he was already a married man with a child, she had to intervene in the name of divine justice.
She burned him alive, along with his wife and child. And no one suspected her.
Jero sits open-mouthed with horror.
…That’s why I say that it’s my mission to exact justice in God’s name and with his divine help.
JuanJo is back home and LindaHo tells him they need to talk. JuanJo, she says: No me voy a casar contigo. (I’m not going to marry you.)
At the Televisa building, Guillermo gives Osvaldo a warm welcome back. Os admits he had a great time with LindaHo. Still, he can’t help feeling guilty. After all, he loves his wife. Beelzebub… I mean Guillermo… eggs him on in his infidelity and minimizes the importance of his guilt.
LindaHo tells JuanJo they rushed into things too quickly. She wants to break off their engagement. He’s not hearing her. He thinks she just has a normal set of jitters. All well and good, but he’s not calling off the wedding.
Triunfo de maldad: Ximena walks up to Max in his office and announces with a smile: Estoy embarazada. Estoy esperando un hijo tuyo, Max. (I’m pregnant. I’m expecting your child, Max.)
[Although I’m wondering why he’s there at all. Didn’t he resign?]
Max is open-mouthed. No, no, esto no puede ser! Says Ximena: We have to get married right away!
Poor old Padre Jerónimo is still in the confessional with bloody St. B. So you killed your own husband and Tomasa, the woman who served you faithfully all those years??? You’re sick, Bernarda, you need medical help! That first betrayal must have driven you insane!
It’s a shame you don’t understand me, says B with maddening calm:
...pero los mismos santos fueron incomprendidos en su tiempo(but the saints themselves were misunderstood in their day)
And you think you’re a saint! exclaims Jerónimo. What you should do is repent for your sins and beg God for forgiveness! [And I’m starting to worry about the old guy. Can his heart take this confession? Can mine?]
And Her Craziness replies:
Yo no necesito pedirle perdón a Dios porque solamente cumplo sus mandatos.(I don’t need to ask God’s forgiveness because I’m only obeying his commands.)
That’s why years ago I tried to run over Victoria’s daughter.
Jero gasps and turns to her:
You dared to spill your own blood! Because that girl is your granddaughter! (Te atreviste a derramar tu propia sangre -- porque esta niña es tu nieta!) Because that girl is your granddaughter! Thank God you failed and now María Magdalena is safe with her mother and far from your reach!
B. is surprised at Jero’s innocence. MM isn’t really Vic’s daughter -- although Vic believes that she is.
And speaking of evil and crazy: Ximena repeats to Max that he has to marry her. And now he looks like the one who needs to run into the bathroom to puke. She’s nuts, he says, he’s marrying María D. That was then, this is now says canny Ximena.
She rages, she coos, she shows Max how loony she is. Don’t you care about your child? Of course he does, he says. But please, for now, be discreet, okay?
Bernarda pulls out the DNA results and shows Jero that MM is unrelated genetically to Vic and JP. She’s no liar!
Bernarda has to tell JP the truth immediately, says Jero, so he can keep looking for his real child. Not gonna do it, says B.
No quiero que vuelva a exponer su misión como sacerdote.(I don’t want his mission as a priest to be at risk, once again.)
Jero can’t give B absolution until she repents and makes amends for her sins. No importa. She don’t need no stinkin’ absolution. God forgives her; He understands her. Oh… just a little reminder -- he is bound by the Seal of the Confessional. He can’t reveal a word of the atrocities she has just told him:
God be with you Padre! Have a nice day!
Napo joins JuanJo and Linda in Millie’s apartment and finds the atmosphere a little tense. Linda says she just told JuanJo that she doesn’t want to marry him. Not yet. And JuanJo says he told Linda not to worry, to take her time and wait until she’s ready. But they’re not going to cancel (suspender) the wedding.
María is on her way to tell Max her news but Toni waylays her. She needs her right away for a private show.
Ximena hasn’t wasted any time spreading her news. (So much for discretion, Max.) Vic is overjoyed to hear that Xi is expecting Max’s child. And best of all, says Vic: Max will marry Ximena and they can get rid of that María Desamparada once and for all! Toni joins them and Vic shares the glad tidings. Toni smiles uneasily.
LindaHo complains to Nathy that she tried to break up with JuanJo but he can’t seem to get it. What can she do to make him understand that she’s not interested in him?
Ximena walks the runway in the private show. Then it’s María’s turn. She makes it down to the end, turns back and is almost off-stage when she appears to have a dizzy spell. She manages to stay on her feet and makes it to the dressing room. Pip, concerned, follows her. She tells him she’s fine. Max comes in and Pip leaves the two alone. Each has something important to tell the other. María will change and they’ll go someplace where they can talk.
Back in the barrio: Milagros is on the warpath. She pounds on the door and then storms in to the little apartment, pushing right past Nathy to confront Linda: Listen brat, JuanJo loves you. Where do come off telling him that you don’t want to marry him? I’m warning you, she tells her, I can be fierce (una fiera, a wild beast) when someone makes my kid (cachorro, cub) suffer. First you tell him yes, then you tell him no. She goes on:
Escuincla babosa, de los sentimientos de mi hijo, nadie se burle, eh!(Slimy brat, nobody makes fun of my son’s feelings!)
Linda says she feels so confused!
Milagros mocks her ‘confusion’ and her lame attempts to justify herself.
Ay, ¡la manga que! (You’re a liar! You’re full of it!)
Here Milagros spits out a mouthful of threats involving Linda’s premature loss of both her big ass and her beauty (which I realize is redundant) and growing a big hairy wart on her nose. It sounds pretty scary to me, but Linda laughs scornfully and says:
¡Usted siempre con sus jaladas!(You and your exaggerations!)
Milagros’s final words, delivered darkly:
¡Quedas advertida! (You’ve been warned!)
She and Linda glare at one another.
JuanJo tries to drown his sorrows with tequila.
At the Casa de Modas, Ximena goes looking for María. Pip says she left with Max – oh, but that makes you jealous, doesn’t it? Me? rejoins Ximena. I’m not jealous of anyone. And his relationship with MD ends today, I betcha anything.
Ximena’s cell phone rings. It’s Guillermo and he wants to know how their baby is doing. She tells him she doesn’t need him anymore. She and Max are getting back together. If he agreed to that, says Gui, you must have blackmailed him into it and told him the baby was his.
Max and María are in a charming restaurant and their song plays in the background. María tries to tell him about the pregnancy but he insists there’s something he has to say first:
Espero que puedas perdonarme porque yo no puedo. Mi amor...Ximena ... Ximena está esperando un hijo... mio.(I hope you can forgive me because I can’t. My love … Ximena is expecting a child. My child.)
Cue the kayak. And give that man a lifevest.
Labels: triunfo
Monday, March 07, 2011
La Fea Más Bella #241-242 3/7/11 Fernando's Finest Hour.
Capitulo 241.
Read k-Fuego's original recap, then come back here to discuss it.
1. Luigi throws a tantrum because Aldo loves Lety. He dismisses the dancers. Irma says it’s not Lety’s fault Aldo loves her. Luigi tells the cuartel to dance in the show. They’re stunned that Aldo loves Lety. Irma suspects that Lety still loves Fernando.
2. Mariana Seoane sings for the event. Omar realizes she looks like Carla. Luigi announces that he resigns. He tells Lety that her type doesn’t belong in the world of glamour. The cuartel performs a novelty song to Banda Recodo. (The board hated it, but I hate Luigi’s shows, so what’s the diff?) Lui blubbers because the audience liked the cuartel’s act.
3. Carla congratulates Lety. Fernando starts to, but Aldo RUNS to her, interrupts Fern, and grabs her shoulders and face. Fern asks to finish but Aldo turns away and ignores him. Fern insists, so Aldo reluctantly steps behind her, still grasping her shoulders, pulling her against his chest. She breaks free and Fern congratulates her, but quickly Aldo yanks her back.
4. Aldo asks Luigi why he did it. Luigi says he was crazy for Aldo. How could he love that monster? Aldo says he’s too disappointed to talk. Lui brags that he’s the one who redirected the books.
5. Marcia steps between Fern and Carla and is sarcastic as usual. Carla asks for a taxi, but Marcia says Fern should take her to the hotel. Marcia rebukes Fern for never calling her for 20 days, and for strutting around in front of the world with that woman when he’s supposed to be her novio. Marcia: What happened between you two? Fern: Nothing. M: Are we still novios? Fern refuses to talk now. He’ll take Carla home, then go to Marcia’s to talk.
6. Luigi essentially tells Lety, “You won, I lost, and you’re here to rub it in.” Instead Lety flatters him for his commercials. She asks him to stay and he’s stunned because he saw her as an enemy who beat him. She flatters him some more and offers him a vacation on Conceptos’ tab.
Capitulo 242.
Read Alma's original recap, then come back here to discuss it.
1. Marta loudly says, “We know Aldo loves you.” Aldo gloats and Fern suffers. Fern has to admit to Carla that he doesn’t expect a future with Lety at his side. Nor Marcia. Carla asserts that she’s his best option, and she asks him to live with her. She wants an answer tonight.
2. Ali and Marcia see Fern leave with Carla. Marcia says it means Fernando has let go of Lety. Ali points out that he let go of Marcia too. Marcia reminds Lety the night wasn’t all happiness – “tonight we both lost something, didn’t we?”
.
3. Lety tells Carolina Fernando was so different tonight. He was really nice and treated her like a friend. She’s unsettled because she doesn’t know what Fern feels for Carla. Lety knows Fern never loved her, but she still holds hope. Ariel takes a few swipes at Lety but both seem to be in it for sport, not battle.
4. Fern tells Carla he’s going to Marcia’s to “define” their situation once and for all. Carla: You hurt her. Fern: (with remorse) It’s not the first time. Carla: Are you going to break up with her? Fern: I should’ve done it long ago. It’s been a mess for a long time. She forgave me too much. Things I never should’ve done.”
5. Carla asks if he’ll come to NY with her. Fern admits that she’s a great woman, and at another place in his life ... But now.. it’s not just Lety. It’s Conceptos too. “That company is my life. And I’ll luchar con todo – struggle using all that’s in me – to rescue it.” My father built it and he lost it because of me.
6. Fern breaks up with Marcia with compassion and assertiveness. He takes blame but also puts some blame on her. They once had a wonderful love, but then he started running around and she suffocated him. They fought all the time, but they never addressed their problems. Marcia begs him to stay. See the old recap for complete details.
7. At the party at Lety’s, Marta toasts because Aldo is in love. Julieta pressures Aldo to tell who he loves. He says it’s a wonderful woman, blah x3. Lety shows him the seascape in her room. He promises that one day soon they will kiss again like the did then. He leaves and Lety cries quietly, “I adore you but I can’t love you.”
8. Lety tells Mama, “Yes, Aldo loves me.” MamaJ couldn’t be happier, until she notices Lety’s face. Lety says, “I love someone who makes a mockery of me. And the man who truly loves me, I have to tell no.”
Read k-Fuego's original recap, then come back here to discuss it.
1. Luigi throws a tantrum because Aldo loves Lety. He dismisses the dancers. Irma says it’s not Lety’s fault Aldo loves her. Luigi tells the cuartel to dance in the show. They’re stunned that Aldo loves Lety. Irma suspects that Lety still loves Fernando.
2. Mariana Seoane sings for the event. Omar realizes she looks like Carla. Luigi announces that he resigns. He tells Lety that her type doesn’t belong in the world of glamour. The cuartel performs a novelty song to Banda Recodo. (The board hated it, but I hate Luigi’s shows, so what’s the diff?) Lui blubbers because the audience liked the cuartel’s act.
3. Carla congratulates Lety. Fernando starts to, but Aldo RUNS to her, interrupts Fern, and grabs her shoulders and face. Fern asks to finish but Aldo turns away and ignores him. Fern insists, so Aldo reluctantly steps behind her, still grasping her shoulders, pulling her against his chest. She breaks free and Fern congratulates her, but quickly Aldo yanks her back.4. Aldo asks Luigi why he did it. Luigi says he was crazy for Aldo. How could he love that monster? Aldo says he’s too disappointed to talk. Lui brags that he’s the one who redirected the books.
5. Marcia steps between Fern and Carla and is sarcastic as usual. Carla asks for a taxi, but Marcia says Fern should take her to the hotel. Marcia rebukes Fern for never calling her for 20 days, and for strutting around in front of the world with that woman when he’s supposed to be her novio. Marcia: What happened between you two? Fern: Nothing. M: Are we still novios? Fern refuses to talk now. He’ll take Carla home, then go to Marcia’s to talk.
6. Luigi essentially tells Lety, “You won, I lost, and you’re here to rub it in.” Instead Lety flatters him for his commercials. She asks him to stay and he’s stunned because he saw her as an enemy who beat him. She flatters him some more and offers him a vacation on Conceptos’ tab.
Capitulo 242.
Read Alma's original recap, then come back here to discuss it.
1. Marta loudly says, “We know Aldo loves you.” Aldo gloats and Fern suffers. Fern has to admit to Carla that he doesn’t expect a future with Lety at his side. Nor Marcia. Carla asserts that she’s his best option, and she asks him to live with her. She wants an answer tonight.
2. Ali and Marcia see Fern leave with Carla. Marcia says it means Fernando has let go of Lety. Ali points out that he let go of Marcia too. Marcia reminds Lety the night wasn’t all happiness – “tonight we both lost something, didn’t we?”.
3. Lety tells Carolina Fernando was so different tonight. He was really nice and treated her like a friend. She’s unsettled because she doesn’t know what Fern feels for Carla. Lety knows Fern never loved her, but she still holds hope. Ariel takes a few swipes at Lety but both seem to be in it for sport, not battle.
4. Fern tells Carla he’s going to Marcia’s to “define” their situation once and for all. Carla: You hurt her. Fern: (with remorse) It’s not the first time. Carla: Are you going to break up with her? Fern: I should’ve done it long ago. It’s been a mess for a long time. She forgave me too much. Things I never should’ve done.”
5. Carla asks if he’ll come to NY with her. Fern admits that she’s a great woman, and at another place in his life ... But now.. it’s not just Lety. It’s Conceptos too. “That company is my life. And I’ll luchar con todo – struggle using all that’s in me – to rescue it.” My father built it and he lost it because of me.
6. Fern breaks up with Marcia with compassion and assertiveness. He takes blame but also puts some blame on her. They once had a wonderful love, but then he started running around and she suffocated him. They fought all the time, but they never addressed their problems. Marcia begs him to stay. See the old recap for complete details.
7. At the party at Lety’s, Marta toasts because Aldo is in love. Julieta pressures Aldo to tell who he loves. He says it’s a wonderful woman, blah x3. Lety shows him the seascape in her room. He promises that one day soon they will kiss again like the did then. He leaves and Lety cries quietly, “I adore you but I can’t love you.”
8. Lety tells Mama, “Yes, Aldo loves me.” MamaJ couldn’t be happier, until she notices Lety’s face. Lety says, “I love someone who makes a mockery of me. And the man who truly loves me, I have to tell no.”Labels: fea-2010
Eva Luna #84 Fri 3/4/11
Daniel tells Leo he knows Pablito is his. Eva told him. And Pablito will bear his last name. Leo informs him that Eva wants Pablito to have his last name. Daniels doesn’t care. Are you going to take him from Eva asks Leo. Of course not replies Daniel, but I have rights. Well like it or not I also will be his father when I get married with Eva says Leo. Just to make it clear. You knew he wasn’t yours says Daniel. From the first time you told me. Yes, replies Leo. I lied to you.
Adrian wants to donate blood. Doctor refuses at first, but after much begging from Adrian she will see what she can do. Ricardo tells the doctor that Tomas doubts Adrian is his and the doctor decides to do a blood test.
Daniel grabs Leo by the lapels of his suit and tells Leo he will never forgive him for his lies. (If you only knew) Leo says he doesn’t regret it because Eva asked him too. She didn’t want him to know that Pablito was his. I swear I tried to change her mind (liar). That’s why I had to stay quiet when she said that I was the father. Well you should have told me says Daniel. We are supposedly friends. Yes, replies Leo. But we’re more then that. We’re like brothers. But this is about the woman I love and will soon be my wife. Because as far as I know the wedding is still on. Or has it been cancelled? No, replies Daniel. As far as I know not yet.
Liliana asks Victoria how she’s going to get Daniel back in her bed as Jackie walks in. She spills the coffee and Victoria yells at her. Jackie quickly leaves and Victoria tells Liliana that Jackie was in love with the chauffer and like an idiot lost him. Poor Jackie’s crying in the kitchen.
Francisco and Marisol waking up FF>>
Adrian is about to give blood to his dead beat dad.
Liliana giving Victoria advice on recapturing Daniel. If Vic only knew who she really needed to worry about now. Anyway Jackie comes in with a letter that was just delivered. Victoria starts reading and is not happy. She crumbles it up and tosses it towards Liliana. Liliana quickly unscrambles it and reads it out loud. It says:
Hello Victoria;
Just a few lines to remind you that I like your husband very much. That I have always liked him. And that I have no choice but to take him from you.
Eva.
Liliana tells Victoria that she has to do something otherwise Eva will take him from her. Victoria says she’ll kill her first. Liliana thinks to herself that Victoria needs to keep her hands dirty while she keeps sending her little letters.
Ricardo and Justa find out from the detective that Tomas killed a cop and it was all caught on tape.
Tomas wakes up and finds out thanks to his son, Adrian, he is alive.
Francisco and Marisol eating breakfast FF>>
Tomas freaks out. Doctor tells him to calm down. Tomas doesn’t want to die yet and asks the doctor for a favor.
Daniel comes into Eva’s office and tells her to cancel the meeting with Buick. The proposal is all wrong.
Adrian asks the doctor if his father will now be saved. Doctor says he’s very delicate but what Adrian did was very good. Tomas requested to see all 3 of them.
Eva tells Daniel she disagrees and explains why. He still disagrees. She says she’ll do the presentation herself. Daniel says afterwards they have a conversation pending. Eva says they have nothing to talk about. We have a son together replies Daniel. Doesn’t that matter? Don’t mess with my son says Eva. Our son corrects Daniel. He’s ours.
Adrian rushes in and hugs his dad who weeps and hugs him back.
Victoria stomps into Daniel’s office and wants to talk. She shows him the letter.
Tomas finally calls Adrian “hijo”. He thought that Adrian wasn’t his. He asks Adrian to forgive him for the way he treated him all these years.
More of Francisco and Marisol FF>>
Tomas thanks Ricardo and Justa for taking care of Adrian and asks for forgiveness. Ricardo says it’s all forgotten. Suddenly Tomas starts having a seizure.
Eva sends a message to Marcella. She reads it and crumbles it up.
Ricardo and Justa try comforting Adrian. The doctor comes out and tells them they did all they could.
What’s this asks Daniel. A letter from Eva saying she’s going to take my husband away from me replies Victoria. Daniel tells her that Eva will never send anything like this. Victoria starts yelling at him for defending her. Tell me you have nothing with her! I do replies Daniel. I have a son with her. Where are getting such stupidity from asks Victoria. Eva told me says Daniel. I am Pablito’s real father not Leo. She’s just telling you that to tangle you further into her web. No! yells Daniel. I talked to Leo and he confirmed it.
An attorney shows up at the hospital. She was sent by Tomas before he died.
More fighting between Victoria and Daniel. Victoria says have you forgotten everything that she has done to you? Stolen your money and left you at the alter? Daniel again tells her that Eva is incapable of sending her that letter. Victoria says then she wants Eva to tell her to her face and storms out. Daniel follows.
Leo is getting onto Eva about telling Daniel that Pablito belongs to him. Then he starts another whopper and tells Eva that Daniel threatened to take Pablito away from her. Eva says she won’t let him. I don’t think Leo gets the reaction from her he was looking for. Anyway Victoria bursts in yelling at Eva that she wants to talk to her about the letter she sent her and invent the lie that Daniel is her son’s father.
Bruno smoozing Marcella. FF>>
Eva tells Victoria that she doesn’t know what’s in the letter because she didn’t write it. Victoria calls her a liar. Eva also tells her that Daniel is the father of her child. Liar! yells Victoria. You are inventing all this to take him away from me. Leo tells her to be quiet. What Eva says is true. Victoria goes berserk and yells some more. Leo accompanies her out of the room. Daniel tells Eva that they have to talk, but Eva says she doesn’t want to talk about this anymore.
Bruno wants Marcella to come over tonight to make monkey love. Victoria bursts in.
The attorney says that Tomas before his death gave custody of Adrian to Ricardo and Justa.
Bruno leaves. Victoria tells Marcella that Eva told Daniel that he is the father of her child. Marcella says its time to end the life of that bastard.
Meeting starts with Buick.
Ricardo and Justa tell Marisol and Francisco that Tomas died.
Eva shines at the meeting.
Bruno planning on ruining Marcella. Phone call from Victoria wanting to see him tonight.
Buick gives the account to Eva. Daniel congratulates Eva. He praises her. She gets a phone call and tells Daniel that Adrian’s father died.
Adrian tells Eva and Alicia that his dad asked for forgiveness in the way he treated him. Eva and Alicia hug and console him. Knock on the door and its Daniel with Laurita.
Marcella finds out that Eva and Alicia are out and Tia is all by herself with Pablito.
Laurita consoles Adrian and says she can come over tomorrow to spend the day with him. Daniel finds out that Eva will be paying for the funeral of Tomas and asks if he can pay half.
Marcella tells Tia that the baby is crying and she runs up to see. Marcella puts the poison in the bottle.
Liliana is at the house with Victoria and tells her what happened today.
Bruno calls Marcella to make sure she’s coming. Bruno plans for her to sign some paperwork so that he can drain her bank account and run away with all her money.
Victoria tells Liliana that Eva told Daniel that he is the father of her child.
Tia comes back with the bottle and sees Pablito sleeping. Oh well now I’m going to have to wake you up.
Adrian talks to his dad. He says he will never forget him and loves him.
Victoria just finished telling Liliana about Marcella’s plan in poisoning the baby. Laurita comes in and says to Liliana that it was good seeing her again. Victoria gets suspicious and says I never introduced you to her. How would you have known her?
Tia feeds Pablito his baby food and is about to give him his bottle but he falls asleep again.
Liliana tells Victoria that she met Laurita the first time she came over. Victoria believes her. Daniel tells Victoria that Laurita’s friend died and they will be at the funeral tomorrow.
Eva comes home and tells Tia about Adrian.
Victoria tells Liliana about Bruno. He will be her eyes and ears in regards to Bruno. And he also satisfies her as a woman. Liliana wants to know where and when they are going to meet tomorrow.
Eva is about to feed the poison bottle to Pablito.
Monday: Will Pablito drink the bottle; Daniel catches Victoria and Bruno
Adrian wants to donate blood. Doctor refuses at first, but after much begging from Adrian she will see what she can do. Ricardo tells the doctor that Tomas doubts Adrian is his and the doctor decides to do a blood test.
Daniel grabs Leo by the lapels of his suit and tells Leo he will never forgive him for his lies. (If you only knew) Leo says he doesn’t regret it because Eva asked him too. She didn’t want him to know that Pablito was his. I swear I tried to change her mind (liar). That’s why I had to stay quiet when she said that I was the father. Well you should have told me says Daniel. We are supposedly friends. Yes, replies Leo. But we’re more then that. We’re like brothers. But this is about the woman I love and will soon be my wife. Because as far as I know the wedding is still on. Or has it been cancelled? No, replies Daniel. As far as I know not yet.
Liliana asks Victoria how she’s going to get Daniel back in her bed as Jackie walks in. She spills the coffee and Victoria yells at her. Jackie quickly leaves and Victoria tells Liliana that Jackie was in love with the chauffer and like an idiot lost him. Poor Jackie’s crying in the kitchen.
Francisco and Marisol waking up FF>>
Adrian is about to give blood to his dead beat dad.
Liliana giving Victoria advice on recapturing Daniel. If Vic only knew who she really needed to worry about now. Anyway Jackie comes in with a letter that was just delivered. Victoria starts reading and is not happy. She crumbles it up and tosses it towards Liliana. Liliana quickly unscrambles it and reads it out loud. It says:
Hello Victoria;
Just a few lines to remind you that I like your husband very much. That I have always liked him. And that I have no choice but to take him from you.
Eva.
Liliana tells Victoria that she has to do something otherwise Eva will take him from her. Victoria says she’ll kill her first. Liliana thinks to herself that Victoria needs to keep her hands dirty while she keeps sending her little letters.
Ricardo and Justa find out from the detective that Tomas killed a cop and it was all caught on tape.
Tomas wakes up and finds out thanks to his son, Adrian, he is alive.
Francisco and Marisol eating breakfast FF>>
Tomas freaks out. Doctor tells him to calm down. Tomas doesn’t want to die yet and asks the doctor for a favor.
Daniel comes into Eva’s office and tells her to cancel the meeting with Buick. The proposal is all wrong.
Adrian asks the doctor if his father will now be saved. Doctor says he’s very delicate but what Adrian did was very good. Tomas requested to see all 3 of them.
Eva tells Daniel she disagrees and explains why. He still disagrees. She says she’ll do the presentation herself. Daniel says afterwards they have a conversation pending. Eva says they have nothing to talk about. We have a son together replies Daniel. Doesn’t that matter? Don’t mess with my son says Eva. Our son corrects Daniel. He’s ours.
Adrian rushes in and hugs his dad who weeps and hugs him back.
Victoria stomps into Daniel’s office and wants to talk. She shows him the letter.
Tomas finally calls Adrian “hijo”. He thought that Adrian wasn’t his. He asks Adrian to forgive him for the way he treated him all these years.
More of Francisco and Marisol FF>>
Tomas thanks Ricardo and Justa for taking care of Adrian and asks for forgiveness. Ricardo says it’s all forgotten. Suddenly Tomas starts having a seizure.
Eva sends a message to Marcella. She reads it and crumbles it up.
Ricardo and Justa try comforting Adrian. The doctor comes out and tells them they did all they could.
What’s this asks Daniel. A letter from Eva saying she’s going to take my husband away from me replies Victoria. Daniel tells her that Eva will never send anything like this. Victoria starts yelling at him for defending her. Tell me you have nothing with her! I do replies Daniel. I have a son with her. Where are getting such stupidity from asks Victoria. Eva told me says Daniel. I am Pablito’s real father not Leo. She’s just telling you that to tangle you further into her web. No! yells Daniel. I talked to Leo and he confirmed it.
An attorney shows up at the hospital. She was sent by Tomas before he died.
More fighting between Victoria and Daniel. Victoria says have you forgotten everything that she has done to you? Stolen your money and left you at the alter? Daniel again tells her that Eva is incapable of sending her that letter. Victoria says then she wants Eva to tell her to her face and storms out. Daniel follows.
Leo is getting onto Eva about telling Daniel that Pablito belongs to him. Then he starts another whopper and tells Eva that Daniel threatened to take Pablito away from her. Eva says she won’t let him. I don’t think Leo gets the reaction from her he was looking for. Anyway Victoria bursts in yelling at Eva that she wants to talk to her about the letter she sent her and invent the lie that Daniel is her son’s father.
Bruno smoozing Marcella. FF>>
Eva tells Victoria that she doesn’t know what’s in the letter because she didn’t write it. Victoria calls her a liar. Eva also tells her that Daniel is the father of her child. Liar! yells Victoria. You are inventing all this to take him away from me. Leo tells her to be quiet. What Eva says is true. Victoria goes berserk and yells some more. Leo accompanies her out of the room. Daniel tells Eva that they have to talk, but Eva says she doesn’t want to talk about this anymore.
Bruno wants Marcella to come over tonight to make monkey love. Victoria bursts in.
The attorney says that Tomas before his death gave custody of Adrian to Ricardo and Justa.
Bruno leaves. Victoria tells Marcella that Eva told Daniel that he is the father of her child. Marcella says its time to end the life of that bastard.
Meeting starts with Buick.
Ricardo and Justa tell Marisol and Francisco that Tomas died.
Eva shines at the meeting.
Bruno planning on ruining Marcella. Phone call from Victoria wanting to see him tonight.
Buick gives the account to Eva. Daniel congratulates Eva. He praises her. She gets a phone call and tells Daniel that Adrian’s father died.
Adrian tells Eva and Alicia that his dad asked for forgiveness in the way he treated him. Eva and Alicia hug and console him. Knock on the door and its Daniel with Laurita.
Marcella finds out that Eva and Alicia are out and Tia is all by herself with Pablito.
Laurita consoles Adrian and says she can come over tomorrow to spend the day with him. Daniel finds out that Eva will be paying for the funeral of Tomas and asks if he can pay half.
Marcella tells Tia that the baby is crying and she runs up to see. Marcella puts the poison in the bottle.
Liliana is at the house with Victoria and tells her what happened today.
Bruno calls Marcella to make sure she’s coming. Bruno plans for her to sign some paperwork so that he can drain her bank account and run away with all her money.
Victoria tells Liliana that Eva told Daniel that he is the father of her child.
Tia comes back with the bottle and sees Pablito sleeping. Oh well now I’m going to have to wake you up.
Adrian talks to his dad. He says he will never forget him and loves him.
Victoria just finished telling Liliana about Marcella’s plan in poisoning the baby. Laurita comes in and says to Liliana that it was good seeing her again. Victoria gets suspicious and says I never introduced you to her. How would you have known her?
Tia feeds Pablito his baby food and is about to give him his bottle but he falls asleep again.
Liliana tells Victoria that she met Laurita the first time she came over. Victoria believes her. Daniel tells Victoria that Laurita’s friend died and they will be at the funeral tomorrow.
Eva comes home and tells Tia about Adrian.
Victoria tells Liliana about Bruno. He will be her eyes and ears in regards to Bruno. And he also satisfies her as a woman. Liliana wants to know where and when they are going to meet tomorrow.
Eva is about to feed the poison bottle to Pablito.
Monday: Will Pablito drink the bottle; Daniel catches Victoria and Bruno
Labels: eva
Sunday, March 06, 2011
Triunfo del Amor #45-46 3/4/11 A Triumph of Tedious Stupidity
Viewerville was "treated" to two hours of TdA on Friday...a fact little of us knew. Thanks, Univisión.
I will begin with:
Part the First (In Which The Program Begins Almost 10 Minutes Late and Very Little Happens)
Miami: Glamour and Beaches.
Vic is talking to LindaHO, who is telling Vic that Sr. Sandoval has much to do and can't be bothered. Vic calls Gui, at Televisa who promptly throws under the bus. He says he has know idea where he is or why a woman would be answering his phone. Pedro of the bad wig and steel balls grabs the phone from Gui and begins damage control. He sent Osvaldo and a small crew to film some scenes at the beach. They will be gone all week-end. And the girl? Well, she could have been part of the crew...a make-up girl or something (could Pedro have been the one he called and asked him to cover for him?) Don't worry, everything is fine. There is some dialogue I didn't catch, but Pedro says he can't figure out why Gui sometimes does things that "damage" (perjudicar) Osvaldo. Gui takes offense. "You know he's my best friend." Gui says. "Well," Pedro responds "sometimes it doesn't seem that way."
Back to Miami: Beaches and a nauseous Ji/Xi-mena
María is in her room, Max is in his. He calls María's room. She can't get over how great her room is. She's never seen such luxury (lujo.) It's so cool! (padrísimo.) They plan to meet downstairs in half an hour. They declare their love and hang up.
Cut to Ji/Xi-mena throwing up again. (Ew! sound effects! We get it, ok?) As she washes up she says she needs to get Max to marry her ASAP (cuánto antes.)
Toni and Vic are talkng. Toni tells her she has enough things to worry about here and doesn't need to worry about something else. (Hmmm, the subject must be LindaHO.) Pedro is a serious guy, Toni advises. He would lie about why Osvaldo is at the beach. What really bothered Vic was the way that the woman answered the phone. She was very confident ...with "muchos derechos." (literally "many rights"...the implication is that this girl had dibs on Osvaldo...like he was hers.) Toni, (who probably totally knows what Os is up to) reminds Vic that when they are in the middle of putting on a desfile, they don't even have time to eat. Surely it's the same when you're working on a telenovela? It must be terrible. She even throws in a "poor Osvaldo!" (yeeaahhh, "poor" Osvaldo.)
Osvaldo and LindHo's butt on the beach. Running, Jet-ski, sharing drinks, slobbery kisses. I would FF>> if I were you...save your eyes from the horrors of the Butt Crack.
In Miami, Vic is apologizing to Fer for not saying goodbye. She left so early and didn't want to wake Fer up. Fer promises to behave herself, just like if Vic was there (yeeaahhh, right.) Vic thanks her and says she'll trust her (Uh, Vic: Rule of parenting #1 Never fully trust your kid, no matter how good they are.) Vic asks if Fer knows anything about her dad. Fer tells her mother that Micaela (the maid I misjudged) said he left Mexico City. Vic says she'll talk to him later. Fer and Vic say good-bye and Fer rejoices in having the whole week-end to herself alone and can do whatever she wants. Micaela looks on and reminds Fer what she just promised her mother. Fer says that no one can prohibit her from doing whatever she feels like (ni tú ni nadie me va a prohibir que haga lo que me de la gana.) Fer asks where her dad is. Micaela tells her at the beach...and adds that her dad is a very good actor. Fer says what's that supposed to mean. Micaela just says that he always convinces everyone...that is (o sea) his public. (This is one of those instances that is makes complete sense in Spanish, but we lose a little in translation.) Fer throws Micaela out and tosses a few pillows at her for good measure. She sits down to enjoy her seriously crunchy toast.
On to Veracruz and the clarinet (or maybe and oboe?) skankyho theme (I'll have to look at the credits to make sure they call it "skankyho." They probably aren't, but should.) More slobbery kisses. Rolling around in bed. FF>>
First commercial break.
As we return from commercial JuanHuh? is sitting in the living room watching TV. LindaHo's note is slipped under the door. He gets up and opens the door and there is Nati (wearing a bow tie? QTH?) He wonders what she's doing? What's up with the envelope? She explains that Linda asked her to deliver it. Linda is having to work in Veracruz to do the make-up for a Quinceañera. JuanHuh? wants to know why Linda didn't just tell him herself. Nati thinks quick and tells him that it was really late when Linda was contacted about the job and then she left really early. Nati leaves. JuanHuh? reads the letter (and looks a little miffed.) LindaHO's voice over explains that she had to abandon him to go work and make some money. She's sure she will be very bored working, but anyway (ni modo) necessity comes first.
Meanwhile, LindaHO and Os are basking in the afterglow of gross sex. LindaHo suggests a joint shower, delicious meal and shopping. The shower scene is next. Save yourselves! FF>>
Oh, the Parrish Crew. We haven't seen them in a while. They earned a lot of money today! They cheer they thank Lorena. (I guess she is their carpentry muse.) She says the thanks is for them because they accepted her and let her work there. Chipmunk guy (what is his name?) apologizes for being a twit (I didn't actually catch the word) and a kid says yeah, and a despeinado (unkempt...an obvious reference to his balding pate), too. The crowd makes friendly fun of his hair and JP looks on lovingly at his flock.
Fer is in her bedroom watching a flat screen TV (spoiled brat.) Micaela comes in and Fer is rude. Micaela tells her if you were my kid I'd set you straight. Fer gets snippy and says well I'm not your kid so get out. Micaela tells her she has visitors. It's your novio and his dad. RTSB has an overnight bag...guess he'll be staying a while. Fer runs and jumps in his arms. Puke. Oh ick, she turns around and calls Padilla her suegro (father-in-law) and hugs him. Seriously, I want to slap this little spoiled twit of a girl.
At the church Lorena is sanding. Enter JP. Lorena thanks him for helping her to find her way again. JP says he thinks God put Lorena in his path to help illumine one of the darkest times of his life. Lorena doesn't understand. JP just says "that no one has the right to humiliate you" (humillarte) and a few other platitudes. Lorena says if all priests were like him, the world would be a lot better. JP blesses her.
Fer and familia scuzbucket are poolside. Cruz trims the hedges in the background. Micaela asks if anyone needs anything. Papa orders a whisky, the two crazy kids ask for a beer. Micaela tries to tell them that they can't have alcohol, but papa and kids act like twits and send her on her way. Cruz just shakes his head.
In Miami María is looking for Max in the lobby. Joaquín turns on the charm and presents her with a rose. I believe he asks her to dinner. Max swoops in and tells Joaquín that he and María Desamparada (chug *hic*) have other plans. Ji/Xi-mena has also conveniently arrived and says a bunch of stuff I don't catch...I'm sure it's catty. Vic comes in and asks Max and Maria where there going. Max kind of stumbles. Vic tells him they aren't going anywhere. She needs to see Maria and Ji/Xi in five minutes to rehearse.
Second commercial break (and still, nothing has really happened.)
Models modeling. Pip coaching. Vic and Toni taking notes. Joaquín mackin' on María. Max giving the stink-eye to Joaquín.
Max asks Vic about Os. She says he still hasn't answered his cell.
Os and LindaHO continue to shop. They kiss behind a hat. (Now they want to be modest?)
More desfile rehearsal (which I find so comical. Does one *really* need to rehearse a catwalk...walk?) Joaquín stands and shouts "Bravo!" He thinks the desfile is going to be a big success. He would like to invite everyone to dinner, but he's pretty sure (dramatic pause) Max has other plans. "Yes" says Max "I have other plans...(dramatic pause) Joaquín." (ooo, I lerves me a good pissin' contest.) Vic tells Max his plans can wait and accepts Joaquín's invite.
Wow, another commercial break (and still we wait for something...anything...to happen.)
So we are back to Fer and RTSB at the pool. Papa is asleep and Fer and RTSB are a bit tipsy. Cruz looks on with disgust. Micaela is calling señor Fabian and she's urging him to come to the house to help with Fer (?) Papa Padilla wakes up and tells Cruz to go get him another whisky. Cruz says he's just the gardener. RTSB gets up and tries to start a fight with Cruz. Cruz dispatches him to the pool in quick order. Fer fusses at him. I have to say, Pablo Montero makes some very good "Clark Gable as Rhett Butler" facial expressions. I love it! Papa Padilla shows up with a gun and Fer actually laughs! (Twit.)
Ugh. More Os and LindaHO in Veracruz. Puke FF>>
Back at Casa Scandoval, Papa Padilla wants Cruz to get on his knees and apologize to RTSB. Cruz, of course, refuses to do so. Fabian (who is really guapo in my opinion) and the cops arrive. The police drag Papa away. Fab asks if Cruz and Fer are ok. She tells him to leave and snaps at him (literally snaps...like I do when my students are interrupting. Really it's quite rude now that I see Fer doing it...) Fabian lets Fer know that he's going to defend the house in her mother's absence (again, sounds melodramatic in English, but it totally works in Spanish.) Fer starts going off on Cruz and says everything is all his fault and says he's going to pay. Cruz seems unperturbed.
In Miami, the land of salsa, merengue and neon Ji/Xi-mena is trying to get into an ugly outfit and thoughtbubbling. Already it's too tight for her (further proof that the thing she's carrying is no human baby) and soon she won't be able to hide her pregnancy.There's only one way out and she's going to have to do it before they get back to Mexico. The only thing left for we the viewers to wonder is will it be drugs or alcohol that Max will be subjected to.
Max has arrived at María's room and he's channeling the fashion sense of Don Johnson and the 80's. He's determined to continue with their plans. María looks a little worried and says Vic is waiting for them. Max manages to convince her to come with him. He won't even let her get her purse.
In México D.F. Fer and RTSB are slinging back a few beers in the car (this doesn't look good.) Fer asks about Papa. RTSB hasn't forgotten having to sit in jail (remember that? After he and Fer trashed the CD store?) RTSB says dad can stay in jail and learn a lesson. Fer says why don't we try out this new car of yours. Oh this is not good.
Papa Padilla is in the jail cell....oh what a co-inky-dink, it's the same cell as Sr. Alacrán. Is this the beginning of a bee-yu-tee-ful friendship?
M&M on the beach. "Oh god I love you so much!" Max says (in English!) Maria says don't talk to me like that, talk to me in Spanish. Max asks if she's happy. Maria thinks "feliz" is not enough to describe how she feels. Thanks to the waves I miss some dialogue Max says some thing about this man....cargar...I promise you (whatever it was he promised, he'll probably be breaking it very soon.) More "te amo's" and even another "I love you so much" ensue. Max picks up María, slings her around yells "Te amo!" and we see a heart shaped depression in the sand covered with rose petals (of course.) There's plenty of candlelight. María loves it. Let the lovin' (and FF>>) commence.
RTSB is speeding down the highway. Fer is hangin' out the window. We *all* know where this is headed, so you might as well FF until they run into the ditch.
And I'm thinking that at this point the kayak would have been cued.
Here endeth part the first.
Part the Second (I can name that tune in 3 notes.)
Ok, Hubby is hoggin' the TV and I can't get to the recorded second hour. Here are the most salient points from memory (Well, there is some filler. There are really only 2 salient points.) Please note these aren't necessarily in order of the actual show:
I will begin with:
Part the First (In Which The Program Begins Almost 10 Minutes Late and Very Little Happens)
Miami: Glamour and Beaches.
Vic is talking to LindaHO, who is telling Vic that Sr. Sandoval has much to do and can't be bothered. Vic calls Gui, at Televisa who promptly throws under the bus. He says he has know idea where he is or why a woman would be answering his phone. Pedro of the bad wig and steel balls grabs the phone from Gui and begins damage control. He sent Osvaldo and a small crew to film some scenes at the beach. They will be gone all week-end. And the girl? Well, she could have been part of the crew...a make-up girl or something (could Pedro have been the one he called and asked him to cover for him?) Don't worry, everything is fine. There is some dialogue I didn't catch, but Pedro says he can't figure out why Gui sometimes does things that "damage" (perjudicar) Osvaldo. Gui takes offense. "You know he's my best friend." Gui says. "Well," Pedro responds "sometimes it doesn't seem that way."
Back to Miami: Beaches and a nauseous Ji/Xi-mena
María is in her room, Max is in his. He calls María's room. She can't get over how great her room is. She's never seen such luxury (lujo.) It's so cool! (padrísimo.) They plan to meet downstairs in half an hour. They declare their love and hang up.
Cut to Ji/Xi-mena throwing up again. (Ew! sound effects! We get it, ok?) As she washes up she says she needs to get Max to marry her ASAP (cuánto antes.)
Toni and Vic are talkng. Toni tells her she has enough things to worry about here and doesn't need to worry about something else. (Hmmm, the subject must be LindaHO.) Pedro is a serious guy, Toni advises. He would lie about why Osvaldo is at the beach. What really bothered Vic was the way that the woman answered the phone. She was very confident ...with "muchos derechos." (literally "many rights"...the implication is that this girl had dibs on Osvaldo...like he was hers.) Toni, (who probably totally knows what Os is up to) reminds Vic that when they are in the middle of putting on a desfile, they don't even have time to eat. Surely it's the same when you're working on a telenovela? It must be terrible. She even throws in a "poor Osvaldo!" (yeeaahhh, "poor" Osvaldo.)
Osvaldo and LindHo's butt on the beach. Running, Jet-ski, sharing drinks, slobbery kisses. I would FF>> if I were you...save your eyes from the horrors of the Butt Crack.
In Miami, Vic is apologizing to Fer for not saying goodbye. She left so early and didn't want to wake Fer up. Fer promises to behave herself, just like if Vic was there (yeeaahhh, right.) Vic thanks her and says she'll trust her (Uh, Vic: Rule of parenting #1 Never fully trust your kid, no matter how good they are.) Vic asks if Fer knows anything about her dad. Fer tells her mother that Micaela (the maid I misjudged) said he left Mexico City. Vic says she'll talk to him later. Fer and Vic say good-bye and Fer rejoices in having the whole week-end to herself alone and can do whatever she wants. Micaela looks on and reminds Fer what she just promised her mother. Fer says that no one can prohibit her from doing whatever she feels like (ni tú ni nadie me va a prohibir que haga lo que me de la gana.) Fer asks where her dad is. Micaela tells her at the beach...and adds that her dad is a very good actor. Fer says what's that supposed to mean. Micaela just says that he always convinces everyone...that is (o sea) his public. (This is one of those instances that is makes complete sense in Spanish, but we lose a little in translation.) Fer throws Micaela out and tosses a few pillows at her for good measure. She sits down to enjoy her seriously crunchy toast.
On to Veracruz and the clarinet (or maybe and oboe?) skankyho theme (I'll have to look at the credits to make sure they call it "skankyho." They probably aren't, but should.) More slobbery kisses. Rolling around in bed. FF>>
First commercial break.
As we return from commercial JuanHuh? is sitting in the living room watching TV. LindaHo's note is slipped under the door. He gets up and opens the door and there is Nati (wearing a bow tie? QTH?) He wonders what she's doing? What's up with the envelope? She explains that Linda asked her to deliver it. Linda is having to work in Veracruz to do the make-up for a Quinceañera. JuanHuh? wants to know why Linda didn't just tell him herself. Nati thinks quick and tells him that it was really late when Linda was contacted about the job and then she left really early. Nati leaves. JuanHuh? reads the letter (and looks a little miffed.) LindaHO's voice over explains that she had to abandon him to go work and make some money. She's sure she will be very bored working, but anyway (ni modo) necessity comes first.
Meanwhile, LindaHO and Os are basking in the afterglow of gross sex. LindaHo suggests a joint shower, delicious meal and shopping. The shower scene is next. Save yourselves! FF>>
Oh, the Parrish Crew. We haven't seen them in a while. They earned a lot of money today! They cheer they thank Lorena. (I guess she is their carpentry muse.) She says the thanks is for them because they accepted her and let her work there. Chipmunk guy (what is his name?) apologizes for being a twit (I didn't actually catch the word) and a kid says yeah, and a despeinado (unkempt...an obvious reference to his balding pate), too. The crowd makes friendly fun of his hair and JP looks on lovingly at his flock.
Fer is in her bedroom watching a flat screen TV (spoiled brat.) Micaela comes in and Fer is rude. Micaela tells her if you were my kid I'd set you straight. Fer gets snippy and says well I'm not your kid so get out. Micaela tells her she has visitors. It's your novio and his dad. RTSB has an overnight bag...guess he'll be staying a while. Fer runs and jumps in his arms. Puke. Oh ick, she turns around and calls Padilla her suegro (father-in-law) and hugs him. Seriously, I want to slap this little spoiled twit of a girl.
At the church Lorena is sanding. Enter JP. Lorena thanks him for helping her to find her way again. JP says he thinks God put Lorena in his path to help illumine one of the darkest times of his life. Lorena doesn't understand. JP just says "that no one has the right to humiliate you" (humillarte) and a few other platitudes. Lorena says if all priests were like him, the world would be a lot better. JP blesses her.
Fer and familia scuzbucket are poolside. Cruz trims the hedges in the background. Micaela asks if anyone needs anything. Papa orders a whisky, the two crazy kids ask for a beer. Micaela tries to tell them that they can't have alcohol, but papa and kids act like twits and send her on her way. Cruz just shakes his head.
In Miami María is looking for Max in the lobby. Joaquín turns on the charm and presents her with a rose. I believe he asks her to dinner. Max swoops in and tells Joaquín that he and María Desamparada (chug *hic*) have other plans. Ji/Xi-mena has also conveniently arrived and says a bunch of stuff I don't catch...I'm sure it's catty. Vic comes in and asks Max and Maria where there going. Max kind of stumbles. Vic tells him they aren't going anywhere. She needs to see Maria and Ji/Xi in five minutes to rehearse.
Second commercial break (and still, nothing has really happened.)
Models modeling. Pip coaching. Vic and Toni taking notes. Joaquín mackin' on María. Max giving the stink-eye to Joaquín.
Max asks Vic about Os. She says he still hasn't answered his cell.
Os and LindaHO continue to shop. They kiss behind a hat. (Now they want to be modest?)
More desfile rehearsal (which I find so comical. Does one *really* need to rehearse a catwalk...walk?) Joaquín stands and shouts "Bravo!" He thinks the desfile is going to be a big success. He would like to invite everyone to dinner, but he's pretty sure (dramatic pause) Max has other plans. "Yes" says Max "I have other plans...(dramatic pause) Joaquín." (ooo, I lerves me a good pissin' contest.) Vic tells Max his plans can wait and accepts Joaquín's invite.
Wow, another commercial break (and still we wait for something...anything...to happen.)
So we are back to Fer and RTSB at the pool. Papa is asleep and Fer and RTSB are a bit tipsy. Cruz looks on with disgust. Micaela is calling señor Fabian and she's urging him to come to the house to help with Fer (?) Papa Padilla wakes up and tells Cruz to go get him another whisky. Cruz says he's just the gardener. RTSB gets up and tries to start a fight with Cruz. Cruz dispatches him to the pool in quick order. Fer fusses at him. I have to say, Pablo Montero makes some very good "Clark Gable as Rhett Butler" facial expressions. I love it! Papa Padilla shows up with a gun and Fer actually laughs! (Twit.)
Ugh. More Os and LindaHO in Veracruz. Puke FF>>
Back at Casa Scandoval, Papa Padilla wants Cruz to get on his knees and apologize to RTSB. Cruz, of course, refuses to do so. Fabian (who is really guapo in my opinion) and the cops arrive. The police drag Papa away. Fab asks if Cruz and Fer are ok. She tells him to leave and snaps at him (literally snaps...like I do when my students are interrupting. Really it's quite rude now that I see Fer doing it...) Fabian lets Fer know that he's going to defend the house in her mother's absence (again, sounds melodramatic in English, but it totally works in Spanish.) Fer starts going off on Cruz and says everything is all his fault and says he's going to pay. Cruz seems unperturbed.
In Miami, the land of salsa, merengue and neon Ji/Xi-mena is trying to get into an ugly outfit and thoughtbubbling. Already it's too tight for her (further proof that the thing she's carrying is no human baby) and soon she won't be able to hide her pregnancy.There's only one way out and she's going to have to do it before they get back to Mexico. The only thing left for we the viewers to wonder is will it be drugs or alcohol that Max will be subjected to.
Max has arrived at María's room and he's channeling the fashion sense of Don Johnson and the 80's. He's determined to continue with their plans. María looks a little worried and says Vic is waiting for them. Max manages to convince her to come with him. He won't even let her get her purse.
In México D.F. Fer and RTSB are slinging back a few beers in the car (this doesn't look good.) Fer asks about Papa. RTSB hasn't forgotten having to sit in jail (remember that? After he and Fer trashed the CD store?) RTSB says dad can stay in jail and learn a lesson. Fer says why don't we try out this new car of yours. Oh this is not good.
Papa Padilla is in the jail cell....oh what a co-inky-dink, it's the same cell as Sr. Alacrán. Is this the beginning of a bee-yu-tee-ful friendship?
M&M on the beach. "Oh god I love you so much!" Max says (in English!) Maria says don't talk to me like that, talk to me in Spanish. Max asks if she's happy. Maria thinks "feliz" is not enough to describe how she feels. Thanks to the waves I miss some dialogue Max says some thing about this man....cargar...I promise you (whatever it was he promised, he'll probably be breaking it very soon.) More "te amo's" and even another "I love you so much" ensue. Max picks up María, slings her around yells "Te amo!" and we see a heart shaped depression in the sand covered with rose petals (of course.) There's plenty of candlelight. María loves it. Let the lovin' (and FF>>) commence.
RTSB is speeding down the highway. Fer is hangin' out the window. We *all* know where this is headed, so you might as well FF until they run into the ditch.
And I'm thinking that at this point the kayak would have been cued.
Here endeth part the first.
Part the Second (I can name that tune in 3 notes.)
Ok, Hubby is hoggin' the TV and I can't get to the recorded second hour. Here are the most salient points from memory (Well, there is some filler. There are really only 2 salient points.) Please note these aren't necessarily in order of the actual show:
- Fer and RTSB are not killed in the accident. Oscar is doing damage control.
- At home Oscar tells Fer she has everything a girl could want, why does she act like an idiot. Fer cries that her mother doesn't spend enough time with her.
- Vic et al wait for M&M to come to dinner. Vic and Ji/Xi-mena are actually wearing pretty nice clothes and somewhat matching colors. Fuchsia is a very flattering color on Vic.
- Ji/Xi steals a brown wig and destroys a dress Maria is supposed to wear in the show.
- Max wins his boat race. He and Maria are all smoochy and Ji/Xi-mena is catty. And Vic seems fine with it.
- When destroyed dress is discovered there is brief panic, but Maria is able to fix it.
- Maria is a hit on the catwalk
- Joaquin presents Pipino with the Golden Thread Award (Hilo de Oro)
- Joaquin steals two kisses from Maria on the catwalk (really, they were innocent pecks on the cheek.)
- Later that evening Max is pouting, being jealous and gettin' drunk. When Maria comes to meet him, he gives her a hard time about Joaquin. Ji/Xi-mena has witnessed the whole scene.
- Later that night, Max stumbles into his room. Ji/Xi-sneaks in after him (wearing the brown wig she stole earlier.) To make double sure the deed is done, Ji/Xi-mena blindfolds him with his tie. We are reminded of STuD. This is salient point #1
- Now my memory is fuzzy. Maria Magdalena is still locked up at Burnie's. Eva and she have a conversation in which Maria Magdalena reveals some information that makes it clear that she is NOT the child of JP. This info is relayed to Burnie. Who immediately calls a lab and asks about a DNA (ADN) test. This salient point #2.
- Burnie collects hair from Maria Magdalena's brush and her own brush. She entrusts Fausto with carrying the samples to the lab.
I'm pretty sure that's it. Feel free to add to my list.
Two hour episodes this week. I hope it's not a triumph of torture.
Labels: triunfo
Saturday, March 05, 2011
Llena de Amor #142 (Mex. 147) Fri 3/4/11 Fedra Shoulda Stuck With Credit Cards
"¡Mienten, mienten, entiéndame, le juro que mienten (they're lying, lying, understand me, I swear, they are lying) !"And thus we begin tonight's hour in DF with Bernardo lying to his old Capitán José Maria Sevilla about what he has been told of the mischief that the captain's trusted first mate and ex-bunkmate have been up to while he has been a guest of the state for the past twenty-some-odd years.
Meintras tanto, in Marianela's old room, Emanuel is dismayed to find Victoria reading and commenting on those letters he sent to his Gordita that went unopened and unread for all this time. She kicks his butt out, but, "I want my letters!... ¡Ábreme, open the door!"
Vicky confers with Mari, "You have to open the door, Marianela."
"¡Ábreme!"
"Ay, Dios mio, I can't."
"I want my letters!"
"As soon as I look at those eyes , I won't be able to hold on (aguantar), I'm going to tell him everything. And if I tell him the truth, if I tell Emanuel that I'm Marianela , that never, for not even a single day have I stopped loving him..." She reaches for the door handle.
But we know that none of that is going to happen, don't we? So let's watch as a panicked
Ollie,fashionably clad in boxers, flip flops, and a hot pink dressing gown with a feathered collar, chases and temporarily captures a livid Gretel as she flees the ad agency, "Let me explain!""What? That Kristel set a trap and you tumbled into it?"
"Sí, that's it exactly."
Gretel is in no mood to forgive. This is his second offense. Remember Lorena? She struggles, "¡AUXLLO! HELP! HE WANTS TO RAPE ME!"
Security runs up as he releases her. She runs away. Color me disappointed... here I was thinking that the truth just might work.
True to his word, General Maximo is guarding the front door. He sits staunchly erect with a pistol in his lap. Delicia scurries up from behind and offers to fetch him coffee. He warns her not to distract him, he must remain alert. I guess even after all these years he is unaware of the salubrious pharmacologic effects of caffeine. Paula joins them and orders Dee to help Nereida with the groceries. She, meanwhile, has lost Benigno. She met a nice young man who even wanted to have his photo taken with her (Dandy!), and when she looked around... no Benigno. The general points his gun as a figure approaches the door.
"¡La perdí, General, I lost her..." It's Benigno. He spots Paula and doesn't miss a beat, "...la encontré, I found her! I found Paulita."
He hugs Paula, but the general interrupts their reunion telling them to sort this out later. He needs Benigno here to help him stand guard, "Go get your shotgun..."
Benigno salutes, the general retakes his seat, Paula and Delicia stand stiffly at attention and dutifully salute as well. The general orates, "The urraca del demonio (the magpie from Hell) bought her freedom and it's up to us to prevent that magpie from setting foot in this house."... Next!Bernardo is still trying to convince his captain that things are not quite as bad as he has heard. José Maria reminds him that they operated under a strict code of ethics, robbing from the rich, giving to the poor, a little freelance redistribution of wealth. They confronted criminals but never stooped to their level. Bernardo tries to convince him that he did the best he could to watch over the captain's beloved Juana Felipe. "These are different times..."
The captain points out that there is no expiration date (caducidad) on morals and ethics. "How did you fall so low?"
Brandon has found a suitable generic bodyguard to accompany Ilitia in Acapulco but she wants the name brand, namely, Brandon. He points out that he is an important police inspector who has serious work to do.
"What are you trying to say? That it's not serious work protecting the life and integrity of a top international model like me?"
Brandon realizes that her family is going through a tough time what with her dad wanting a divorce and all.
She tells him that is because of the goings-on between him and Muñeca. He demands that she respect her mother, the only one guilty is that rabo verde (dirty-old-man) daddy of hers who has taken up with a girl the same age as Ilitia. And we all know who that is, though strangely, Ilitia does not... yet. She calls him a liar (mentiroso). Then in an un-Ilitia-like manner, she yields handing him officer Godines' expenses and papers for the trip (viaticos) and telling him that he'll get his salary when it's over. She leaves him wondering, "Who's going to kiss you Ilitia... you're always able to buy what you want. When will you learn that happiness has no price?"Dang, I forgot all about Vicky. She's still trying to decide whether to let Manny back in and reveal the truth. She is still talking to Marianela. She decides that with the ratings as good as they are, it would be a shame for the show to end this easily and this soon, and besides maybe with Fedra getting out of jail it would be best all around... well, I know there are some of you eager to know what she actually said so:
"Ay Dios mio (honey, I think Dios lost interest several episodes back) how could it even occur to me to tell the truth? I can't do that yet, much less if Fedra leaves jail. If they set her free and she returns, I have to keep up the ruse."
Manny's impatient and announces if she doesn't let him in he will kick down the door. She fast forwards her mumbling vowing that she has a promise to keep and must continue on as Victoria de la Garza.
Tired of waiting, he kicks open the door. He wants the letters. She has hidden them where he'll never find them. Oh, really? In that little room? Bet we could find them. She tells him that she wants Marianela to read them. And now she feels badly, "After reading those letters from Emanuel, I feel that you and I never should have made love."
Well boo frickin' hoo. She tells him she thought that he didn't care for Mari but after reading his letters she sees that his love for her was real. He says I told you so. She says that Mari hated him so much, She should never have meddled in their love. Poor Manny, he says,"Love, what love? I was the only idiot in love in that relationship. It's not your fault, no es tu culpa.""Claro que sí, of course it is, I should have believed you before..."
And there you have it ladies... and any gentlemen who might still be hanging around... there will be no pigs flying tonight.
Let's move on to something more interesting... Bernardo is trying to convince José Marie that he and Juana Felipe just did what they had to do to survive what with José´Marie being dead and all. This sends the captain on a trip through his memory banks,
"It all began as we unloaded (descargar) the whisky onto the yacht of Aristóteles Curiel"
Flashback!
Yacht. Young Bernardo.Young José Marie.
Older other guy.
Boxes of whisky.
Money. Not enough money.
Cap'n Joe isn't happy. "This is the best and most expensive (caro) whisky in the world and this is not even a third of what we agreed on. Is this a joke (burla) or what?" Gun.
Juana Felipe." What's going on?"
Old guy likes. "Is this beauty (belleza) included in the deal (paquete)?"
Oops... ummm... Nopis.
Cristian is enjoying a day in the park with his proud papá. They are awaiting a preview of a potential new mamá. This must be one confused kid by now, but he seems to go with the flow. It's Kristel! Actually this all goes pretty well. She smiles and takes him in her arms.
He's happy to be there. He is, after all, Lorenzo-lite. If I didn't know Lorenzo and didn't know Kristel, this would work for me. However... next!
Max sits guard. A standing Benigno naps. The general orders him to inspect his weapon. Uh oh. Forgot the cartridges . They're in the shed. "Hurry!"In the shed a Lirio de Plata (or should I say THE Lirio de Plata? It's Manny this time) is gearing up. He's mumbling to himself about how now he's hopelessly (perdidimente) in love with Vicky. "To work (chambear)."
As he is uncovering the Batcycle he is joined by a startled Benigno who implores, "Don't kill me."
El Capitán laments, "It was her fault, Bernardo, if Juana Felipe had not boarded the Curiel's yacht that day everything would have been different."
Let's take a moment for a grammar lesson. José Maria has just used an if clause utilizing the past perfect subjunctive and conditional perfect tenses:
"Si esa día Juana Felipa no hubiera abordado el yate de los Curiel, todo habría sido distinto."
See, that didn't hurt a bit, did it?
"The Greek didn't want to pay, but to top it off, he wanted my woman."
Bernardo remembers that they had to leave empty-handed. That's why later he went to the Greeks cabin and found his woman there. "Sleeping. Durmiendo."
Flashback!
Pretty woman sleeps.Bernardo creeps.
Lots of cash in a cabinet.
Now lots of cash in bag.
Bernardo slips up.
Pretty woman wakes up.
¿Y Ud? ¿ Qué hace aquí? ¡Yeek!"
"¡Callate! Shutup!"
¡Crac! Neck breaks. Pretty woman dead.
"Drat! Hate when that happens." (He didn't actually say it, but I'm sure he thought it.)
I think that was the first and last we'll see of the real Fedra Curiel.
Now Benigno is on his knees pleading. ELdP pulls him to his feet...
Benigno is grateful... wait it's the old make 'im think you're grateful trick... he spins eLdP around and grasps him around the waist and... eLdP escapes the death grip. Benigno resorts to some nifty... if clumsy... ninja stick work... It works!
ELdP has had enough. He removes the mask. "Emanuel! " He briefly berates him, prompting Manny to wonder if his old friend is going to denounce (delatar) him. How could he possibly denounce him? He yields to the pride he feels for his pupil who is doing so much good for the community. Huggies!"You killed that woman and I paid for it with almost thirty years in prison for her death and I am innocent!"
Bernardo tries to soften that revelation by avowing that it was an accident. Oh, well, if that's the case... Unfortunately for Bernardo, JM is not in an understanding frame of mind. Fortunately for Bernardo, they are separated by steel bars. More for our benefit than Bernardo's (who after all was present that night) Cap'n Sevilla completes the sorry tale of that fateful day:
Flashback!
That night the Greek, Aristóteles Curiel, his heart filled with grief and a thirst for vengeance, boards the Lirio de Plata, splashes around a combustible, and strikes a match. Capitán José Maria shouts for Bernardo and Juana Felipe to jump ship. He wrestles the Greek to the deck even as it's consumed in flames then
¡BOOM!
So does Fedra return to la Casa de RydT? Not right away. First she needs to consult with her vidente (soothsayer), Angela, who apparently accepts walkins. Being clairvoyant, she no doubt was expecting her.
Fedra gets right to the point, "How did you know that the man with the scar was going to return from the dead? Everything that you told me is happening (sucediendo). Todo, everything, todo."
Well, duh! Didn't you read the sign on the door? Haven't you heard of truth in advertising? There are strict laws regulating this business in Mexico.
"Reina y guerrera (Queen and warrior)," Angela consults the cards."¿Eh? Maybe you didn't hear me. I want to know what is going to happen to me. Por favorcito."
"Sit down. Your destiny is inexorable and it will be impossible to escape what awaits you."
"¿Cómo? No, no, no one is going to destroy (destruir) me. Surely not. Tell me that no one will strip (quitar) me of all I've gotten, por favor. I've worked very hard, you have no idea what I've had to suffer for."
"Prepárese, be prepared because the war is coming Fedra Curie... a war to the death."
Yikes!
Bernardo tells his captain that he followed orders. He saved JF and constructed (construir) a life for her as Fedra Curiel. JM asks if it was to sell her to the highest bidder, Emiliano Ruiz y de Teresa.
"¡No, no, no la vendí, I didn't sell her!"
Bernardo tells him that Emi fell hopelessly in love, the captain was dead, and for them, hope and honor died as well, so the only ethic remaining was survival so they did what they had to do to survive. JM thinks they sure were quick to forget him. Bernardo tells him they kept his memory alive... why heck... there's even a guy carrying on el Capitán's good works who is called... el Lirio de Plata.
Angela continues, "Between you and the man from your past there is, there is a, a blood tie (lazo de sangre) that is unbreakable (indisoluble)."
"A son," Fedra replies after taking a moment to goose the little hamster. "Why can't you speak plainly (sencillamente) to people? Yes, my son is the only thing that remains from what we had,""That son does not agree with what you do." Angela holds up a card as proof,
"He holds in his hands the sword of justice. Él, he will be your most implacable judge and will ultimately convict you."Fedra is subdued, "¿Cómo, how can you believe (creer) that? He's my son, how can he.... He has to understand that all that I've done has been for him. I did it so he would not be condemned to grow up (crecer) in the misery that I grew up in... truthfully, because it's what parents do who want the best for their ..."
Angela (dang she's good!) interrupts and continues, "Veo, I see. ah, I see a crossroad (encrucijada) where the roads join, between that of the recent arrival and that of your son."
"Oiga (listen), and the crossroad is it for good or for...?"
"It's not clear and you contribute a lot to what will be so. Change your evil ways. There is still time to repent, change your life, to repair all the damage that you've done, (maybe pigs can fly after all) because if not, this man back from the dead will be dead once more."
Fedra sniffs, "¿Qué bueno, no.?"
Angela adds, "But this time, taking you with him."
"¿Ah?" The card Fedra is holding has caught flame from the candle.
That is your destiny. The fire will consume you turning you to ashes (cenizas).
Well, she certainly got her money's worth from that session.
That'll be thirty bucks... tips accepted.
The general is on guard as Netty enters, almost wetting her pants as he confronts he with his pistol.
He apologizes, he didn't mean to frighten her. He's guarding the door to prevent a certain reptile from entering. Netty has come to inform everyone that said reptile has been released. Marianela is glad to see her, "Ay Tia, thanks for coming." Netty tries to cover for Vicky calling her tia, but it's really OK, the only person left who doesn't know the truth is Emanuel.Max informs them that Fedra must choose between leaving the house forever and... death. Marianela is not sure that she can keep up the fight but Netty gives her a pep talk.
Next to almost wet her pants is Gretel. Actually, I think she does. She begs forgiveness. Mari asks what for? Gretel explains that she burned the proof against Fedra, "Perdóneme."She explains that she knows the truth, that Tio Max and Criada Paula are her parents and that she burned the papers to save them. Oh, well that's alright then. We have a tearful reunion. "Abrázeme," she gently demands, "Papá, give me a hug."
He never thought he'd get the chance to call her hija or hear her address him as papá.
She tells him that she need his help in finding an recovering Paula, her mamá who is in danger.
Nopis! "No hija, Paula is here in the house... ¡Paula, Paula!"
And heeeere's Paula.
More tearful reunion. Awwww... next!
Daddee's home! Lorenzo strolls in dragging his luggage behind him. His lawyer thought it be best that he stay there in the house with Muñeca until the divorce is final. Muñeca does not concur and orders him to take his sorry butt... and his luggage and get the Hell out. He has a better idea. If she doesn't wish to be there with him, why doesn't she just pack up her goats (chivas) and get out herself?
"¿Mi niño, where is Cristian?"
"Ah, Cristian, he is in a safe place, well attended, and know what? you'll never be able to find him."
He thinks that it'll be best if they get too fond of each other since once it's over, she'll never see Cristian again. She protests, but he reminds her that she has been the one who has been unfair. We all know that the world revolves around Lorenzo and his happiness is of utmost concern.
Ilitia has overheard his assertions of entitlement. How wonderful it is that her parents are divorcing to be with their lovers. She already knows whom Muñeca has chosen and now wants to know the identity of his amante. "Go ahead, tell her," Muñeca urges.
Paula doesn't understand. Gretel explains. She was shown photos proving that Paula is in danger. The truth finally stumbles into Marianela's weakened brain (drat those tainted chocolates), "So that's why you burned those papers! Gretel, that was a big mistake. You should have checked with me first. We could have come up with a solution." You know?... I have my doubts. Netty defends Gretel,"She was terrified. We all know the reach (alcances) od Fedra's evil." Thank you, Netty. Max sums it up nicely,
"Maldita seas, Fedra Curiel for manipulating my daughter like this."
"I only wanted to save Paula. I wanted to save my mamá." Gretel burbles through snot bubbles.Paula is quick, "¿Tu mamå?" Awwww. Tearful conversation...huggies!...Next!
Suddenly it's all about Ilitia. She's on the verge of losing her husband and her thoughtless parents are divorcing so they can be with there respective lovers. Lorenzo quickly reminds her that no... it's really all about him. He deserves happiness with the woman he loves. This reminds Ilitia, "Just who might that be?" Once more Muñeca encourages him to tell her then offers to do it herself. Stunned by the prospect, Lo ups the ante by threatening to go all in, "I can bring forth your real mother, so that you and all the world and the press can find out (enterar) who I'm talking about. And believe you me, hija, you will not like for a moment finding out."
Muñeca calls that sick, but I think I speak for all of us here at Caray Caray looking on...Bring it on! He goes on to tell Muñeca that he will do it in such a way that she will be sorry for the rest of her life.
"If you bring this woman to destroy my daughter, I swear, I'll kill you!"
"Uy look, I'm trembling (temblando) in fear."
She pushes him. He resists as they are joined by a dark, powerful presence,
"Get out of here immediately if you don't want me to throw you out of this house myself."
It's... say it with me... el Lirio de Plata!
Nereida pouts. Delicia tells her that Bernardo is not worth the tears. He's just using her and she is nuts to be in love with him.
Nereida snaps back, "El comal le dijo a olla (the kettle tells the pot). Do you really think young Axel will marry you?"
Dee's smile says that she does but Nereida warns that once he gets her into his bed, he'll lose interest and dump her. Just in time Axel arrives with a big white box. It's Dee's wedding gown. He spent all his savings and spent two days shopping. She's thrilled.
ELdP scolds Lorenzo as Ilitia digs out her cell phone and makes a call. Gee... whom could she be calling? Lo decides that eLdP must be his wife's amante. Lo throws a punch which misses, eLdP spins him around and marches him out as Lo shouts, "Wait, no. no!" Ilitia looks up from her phone and mutters "Let's see who throws out whom, Batman Región Cuatro."
AS Netty and Marinela look on the protracted mother/daughter love fest between Paula and Gretel, Mari whimpers about not being able to hug her parents. Netty reminds her that she still has her tias and gives her a big hug. Mari then whines about how she has bolluxed things up between her and Eman making one mistake after another.
Netty suggests the truth.
Mari complains that it's too late, he's in love with Victoria and when he finds out they are the same person, he will hate her for deceiving him.
Netty suggests the truth,
"After all that Emauel has done..."
¿"Y qué, what has Emanuel done? Dime (tell me), Tia?"
As Netty sputters, Max is alert. He raises the pistol. Emiliano blunders in. I doubt that he's aware enough of what's going on to even think of wetting himself. He announces that Fedra is free.
He spots Gretel. He wonders why Paula is crying. He wants his gretelhug. Everyone looks awkward.
Delicia is still thrilled with the dress. Axel is glad. They kiss.
French horns sound their love in the background. We're all happy until Nereida snatches the garment.Things are winding down for the evening. Gretel rushes into the arms of he ex-daddy who beams cluelessly. Max glowers.
Gretel announces that she's home to stay (say what? What about Manolo? We loved that little fellow.) Victoria boasts that she promised Marianela that she would save and unite the family, and by golly, little by little, She's doing just that. 
This happy scene is disrupted by Nereida who plows into Emi, dress in hand. He tells her that Dee is Axel's novia and that she is obligated to serve her. Ouch! Axel orders her to return the dress to Dee.Now it's Delicia's turn to gloat even as as Nereida growls, "Just wait'll Fedra gets home."
ELdP returns shaking his hand. "Don't worry señora Muñeca, el señor Porta López is gone and I don't think he'll find it worthwhile to disrespect you anymore or to bother you."
Ilitia grouses and scolds.
Even as Muñeca thanks him we see a smug look cross Ilitia's as she seems to recognize someone just outside and we hear a familiar voice,
"¡Lirio de Plata, we're the police! You're surrounded!"
Carlos
Labels: llena
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