Caray, Caray!

What surprises will our novela spring on us this week?  Who will dare to be tough-girl Alicia's Pygmalion?  Will she learn to wipe her fingers and mouth with a napkin when she eats pizza?  Will Mara be released from jail, still innocent of the martial arts, on the basis of Hortensia's dying declaration?  Will Santi remember who Inés is not?  Will anyone find bayou woman's body?  When Santa gets out of jail, will she still be the Diabla?  What is wrong with Victoria? (physically, wise guys, physically.)   Will Pancho catch Sebastián/Franco Narco guy?  Will he come to terms with his sexual orientation?  (Or do we still have doubts about this?)  Will it be Transito or Victoria who finally dispatches Patricia to the great beyond?  And Berto and Willy and willy and the baby and Begoña and Paula and Lucy and Daniela and Ivan and George and Lázaro and Elisa and Lisette and Arturo and their baby and Barbara and Francisca -- what will become of them?

I guess we'll have to wait and see.

Labels: santa, telemundo

Clutching a colorful chicken to her ample bosom and leading her reluctant burro, Filemón, who has a turkey and a second chicken strapped to his back, la Indía Maria takes a moment to catch up on the local gossip with Santa... ¿Qué? I look back up at the paused TV screen... yes, that's Santa, a burro, Indía María and a healthy handsome hen... did I miss something?

"Do You Think We Could Get Jobs Posing Nude In Mexico?"

Wait... confused? Yeah, so am I. Thinking that someone may have been diddling with my drink, I gaze at the half empty pony glass from which I've been gently sipping some Gran Centinario Añejo. Looks OK... smells right... a cautious taste with just the tip of the tongue... Hmmm tastes fine... smoky, a bit of an astringent but gentle bite, hints of vanilla and cinnamon... let's move on.
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Labels: Indomable

Ahoy, Amigis. I have my knickers in a twist over this Capitulo and for your daily earworm I give you this for your listening pleasure ; )  Si Voy a Perderte.





We start this Capitulo with Monse and JL hugging tearfully on the beach with Monse saying that JL is hers.

One of the workers at the Ale's hacienda tells Gaspar there are some horses missing, and could they have been sold? No, the money isn't there. Gaspar will be talking to Juvie about this.


Won't You Be My Midnight Runaway:
JL wants to know how Monse could be marrying another guy. Monse tearfully tells JL they made her and as a matter of fact HE (Ale) probably planned the whole thing. JL wants her to run away with him, but, but, she tells him she just got married! Please! He just wants her to run away with him. But, But, she can't, her Daddy is so ill. JL doesn't give no never mind to that! But, But, she can't leave dressed in her wedding gown. His friend can take care of that, get her clothes, etc. Doesn't matter he says. JL tells her that if she doesn't run away with him right then, her family will never let her go. Nothing and noone is going to seperate her from her JL. As a matter of fact, meet her in the Plaza in one hour. She'll be there with bells on, not that, but ya know. Vic, ever the gentleman, takes a video of this whole encounter and turns his face away. He even aims the cell phone correctly, go figure.

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Labels: robo

Capítulo 44
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Labels: mentir

Scenes are combined and condensed as much as I could. There was lots of information tonight.
Lo Refrito

• Isa cries to Gaby-“He couldn’t have been faking! No man can fake that for so long without feeling something!”
•  Dominika gets her BSC on- “I killed her!” “It worked!” “Arturo will be mine!” 
• Arturo breaks the news to Aranza- “llantos!”

Lo Nuevo
Casa de Tita
Tita has gotten the news. Tita and Bruno both can’t believe she is gone. She was so young and full of life. They were just celebrating with her! Tita wonders how Arturo is holding up and asks about Aranza. Bruno will take care of the velorio and other things. Tita says Arturo will need them more than ever. Tita sends Bruno off to take his bath and says she will take care of things. She has a good cry.

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Labels: siempre

Labels: Indomable, Manda, telemundo, telenovelas, weekend

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Labels: robo

Francisco gets a call from Eliseo in the middle of his meeting with Trejo Bonfil.  Eliseo tells him that he followed Berto last night and thinks he took the guns out of his sister's hotel in a briefcase and took them over to Casa Bonita.  Francisco ends the call abruptly and asks Trejo Bonfil for his answer. Trejo Bonfil agrees to the deal and agrees to allowing Francisco to place some of his own people in key positions.

After the ceremony, Lina gives her mom her certificate as a present.  While Lina goes to hit the dessert table and get her sugar high on, Mariano and Inés talk.  They joke about Inés saying she thought about becoming a nun.  Mariano offers her the job as the parish librarian, but it won't pay much and he's already told Paloma, who didn't like the idea.

Oriana, Alina, and Tito go to visit Paloma and show off Alina's diploma.  She got 1st place in math.  Alina starts complaining about how she regrets wheedling her mom into living with her dad, cause it turns out he's a Tito-hating jerk.  Made him sleep outside in the freezing cold last night and everything.  Paloma chides her, saying it doesn't get cold there.  She sends Alina to go say "hi" to the maids, et. al.

Francisco finally calls Eliseo back and tells him he agrees that the guns are at Casa Bonita.  Eliseo reports that he's found someone to spy on Oriana.  Francisco doesn't care how Eliseo gets the guns back, and he's not going to help him come up with a plan, but he forbids him to get himself a room at Casa Bonita to do it.
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Labels: mentir

Some scenes are combined and may not be in strict viewing order.

News of Maricruz’ Tragic Situation Spreads to the Lower Rungs of Society
    The lawyer (Navarro?) tells Octavio that Maricruz has been transported to the Women’s Prison. Tav asks what can Navarro do? Not much—he couldn’t get MC to recant her original confession or alter any of her testimony. Tav feels her case is hopeless, as she’s presumed guilty. (His case is hopeless as well—we know he sold himself to Doris in exchange for the lawyer’s fees.)

    News of the murderous Maricruz spreads quickly beyond the city’s top drawer of art and culture to her circle of friends and family:

•     Natasha calls Padre Julian with the scandal. He saw the papers but can’t believe the news. He’s happy Natasha sold her painting for the benefit of the poor.

•     JA tells Ester what he heard from the padre. He believes neither the nude pose nor the killing, although MC testified she couldn’t control her rage. Ester reminds JA how impulsive MC always was and asks when will he forget his old love. He stomps out to collect rent.

•     Padre Julian continues his rounds, finding Alvaro on the job site and sharing the scandal. Alvaro will try to help. In a later conversation, he tells the padre he’s taken a two-weeks leave to go help MC. No matter her situation, she’s fragile deep down inside and Alvaro can’t forget her. (Why don’t they gather all of MC’ love victims into a SWAT team to bust her out of prison?)

•     Perico comes home to break the bad news to Solita and Nilda. He tells Soli not to worry, MC didn’t really pose naked! She’s a good person, who wouldn’t hurt anyone. (OK, naked or clothed, the bigger worry is the prison sentence.) Nilda will try to help.

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Labels: Indomable

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Labels: siempre

Recapper’s Note: Scenes were combined for sanity and continuity

Lo del pasado :
The police detective is in full-on lawyer mode as she asks Isabel if she is sure she didn't sign the checks that withdrew all that cash from her account. She repeats the question and hands Isa copies of the checks in question: "Did you, yes or no, sign these checks?" "No, of course not," she insists to the investigator. "My signature was forged."

Lo de Nuevo:

My Mother Is Sickly and Evil ¿Captas?

Little Aranza begins her short descent into spoiled brat-dom. She channels her inner Nikki Brizz, chiding her two amiguitos for playing while her mother is sick and they can’t camp and karaoke anymore. One of the friends suggests that she’ll get her mother to go speak with Eugenia and arrange for another camp and karaoke. Aranza isn’t satisfied by this perfectly reasonable compromise and puts out a laser-beam side-eye that says “No fun is to be had while my mother is sick. ¿Captas?” even as she says, “Don’t bother, I’ll be fine.” After basketball practice is over, Aranza’s friends ask her why she’s still sadmad. “My mother is a bad person.” “No, she isn’t,” the amiguitas counter. Yes she is, Aranza insists. I thought you all were my friends and would support my sick twisted vision that my mother is purposefully getting sick to cramp my style and disturb my peace. Since you are not buying, even at three for a peso, the sick twisted vision I’m selling, don’t say another word to me. Ok? The amiguitas, along with Viewerville, go wait, what? I thought you loved your mother. Why is Eugenia evil, again?

The Very Merry Widow is Free to Give to the Needy

Bruno comes in the kitchen surprised to see Tita, along with her housekeeper—I really dislike the word ‘maid’, so I never use it—packing foodstuffs like oil and sugar to give to the church to help la gente necesitada (the needy). Bruno has on a Que the heck? face since he notes Tita isn’t the type to engage in charity work. "Well, your father wouldn't let me. Now that he’s no longer with us, I’ll do all that I wanted to do but couldn’t." Sayeth Bruno, "Was life with Dad so unhappy and boring?" "Your father was a marvelous man," Tita says, "but he was a bit controlling; I've always wanted to do something more than just be a housewife. Now's my chance. I want to live, do something and I will do something." Sounds like she was more oppressed than bored, but oppression tends to get boring after a while I suppose. Let’s just say Tita is a very merry widow.


The Anvil Makes Its Slow and Sure Descent on Eugenia

Eugenia drives up and the domestic couple (Lucha is the wife, Gabino is the husband)—that’s what married husband/wife household help are formally called in the US. The wife does the housekeeping stuff, while the husband does the porter/landscaping/maintenance man stuff—meets her. Eugenia asks Lucha if Aranza is home and Eugenia then remembers that Aranza is at a basketball practice. This brain cell overload leads to a severe headache, which Eugenia once again ignores and decides to just cure with rest. Major digression ahead. (Can I just say that I really dislike this setup of Eugenia’s death. She’s a young, fit woman of childbearing age. Why is she taking anti-coagulants any way, even as we know that Prima Sonia is giving Genia the special telenovela pill of death of unknown provenance. It’s just such a specious way to kill of a young healthy woman.)

As she lies down, the headache of death really goes into full swing. She’s coming home to ya, Elizabeth! Eugenia’s headache becomes so torturous she rises from bed and summarily drops to the floor head first, apparently lifeless.

At Tita’s, a Love Connection

Isabel and Tita pull up to Tita’s place and are greeted by Tita’s housekeeper. We find out that Tita is the new redecoration client Isabel and her best friend Gabriela were raving about before finding out they were being robbed blind. Tita’s housekeeper, shod in a breezy aquamarine blue top and white skirt—Tita makes sure her help looks fierce!—happily (she knows Tita is a good boss) tells Gaby and Isa that Tita is busy at the moment but she will gladly take the samples to her boss to review while Isa and Gaby wait for Tita. While Gabriela is waiting in the living room—where Isabel is, no one knows, Bruno walks by the living room spots Gabriela and the mutual love-at-first-sight-eyes, and subtle romantic music—I appreciate that Univision/Televisa—commences. Gaby flirts up a storm as Bruno roughly says “Who are you?” and Gaby says “You don’t live in Mexico, you aren’t Mexican? Everyone knows who Gabriela San Roman is.” Breaking the ice with this joke, Gabriela clarifies, “I’m here to remodel Tita’s house.” Bruno, still impactada googly eyes in love, says “Discúlpame tú por haber sido tan áspero.” (Pardon me for having been so rude—literally, rough) Googly-eyes and nervous laughter commences as Bruno tells Gaby welcome to her home.

Sonia’s Got Secrets
A priest and someone named Cuca discuss a little girl that was baptized Maria Elena whom Cuca says is Sonia’s daughter. Apparently Sonia visits the house where the nina is to see someone named Don Hilberto but ignores Maria Elena despite Cuca insisting she gets to know her daughter. The priest says there’s nothing he and Cuca can do about Sonia’s neglect of Maria Elena because we’re not even sure the little girl we baptized as Maria Elena is Sonia’s daughter.

The priest flashes back to seeing woman with her hair and face sloppily covered with a red scarf—we see some of this woman’s blonde hair—running and dropping a basket in her hand right in front of him. It’s a bassinet with a baby. Of course, the priest picks up the baby. Cuca breaks the priest’s reverie by insisting that Maria Elena is Sonia’s. This baby was delivered to the church the same day Sonia stopped walking around with a pregnant belly. But we’re not sure, the priestinsists. I know it, padre, Cuca says. I feel it in my blood. (I never knew the telenovela call of the blood disease afflicted people who weren’t related to the person they were alleging is blood related to someone). We cut to a sweet-faced, adorable about eight year old Maria Elena, who’s more indigena/mestiza looking than blonde like Sonia, with other girls in their school uniforms making a bed. The school matron supervising the bed making isn’t pleased with Maria Elena’s bed making skills and rips up the bed telling Mari E that she will make the bed over and over until it’s perfect. But to my eye, Mari E’s bed making skills are better than mine and ninety percent of the people in the world.

Mean Girl/Cutie Pie Aranza Discovers Her Mama

Aranza returns to her sweet, obedient personable self as she gets home and is greeted by Lucha and Gabino. “Where’s my mom?” she sweetly asks. Oh she’s feeling a little bad, says Gabino. Lucha comes on the scene and tells Arazna says dinner is ready but first she has to wash her hands and change her clothes. Aranza says, “Oh no, I have to see dear old mom first.” You’d never know an hour ago she called her mother everything but a child of God to her friends. In any event Aranza runs to her parents’ bedroom and sees her unconscious mother on the floor. She’s shrieking, wondering why her mother won’t answer her. The shrieking alerts Lucha and Gabino in the kitchen and they run to Arazna’s aid. We cut to Art Dad at the construction site working hard supervising the work; he apparently overhears, but ignores Arazna’s screams. (I’m very confused by this. Their house is by the construction site and they can hear, over the audible construction noise, Arazna’s screams? I’m emphasizing this because it’s not as if Art Dad was the only one who heard Arazna’s screams, like it was intuition, but someone beside him did too and ignored it.)
Lucha, Gabino and Arazna start slapping Eugenia to wake up until Gabino tells Lucha to call Art Dad. He also puts a pillow under Eugenia’s head and continues, along with Arazna, to try to wake up Eugenia. Another digression: Why do they always do this in tns? Someone collapses and instead of immediately calling the emergency services or a personal doctor, they call a family member who then tells the housekeeping staff who discovers the body to call the ambulance or that they’ll call the ambulance. The help can’t know the emergency services number or what? Anywho, because of the vital minutes lost calling Art Dad instead of the Dr or ambulance, Eugenia remains unconscious, risking brain death. Lucha finally calls the Dr who makes sure to ask if they tried to revive Genia with alcohol under the nose. They did—they had the bottle to prove it.

Gaby Continues to Make Sense While Isa Continues to Bury Her Head in the Sand

At Casa Arte Gaby gently asks Isabel if it’s wise of her and Fernando to go ahead and buy a big million-dollar house while the authorities are investigating the fraud. Isa with her bug-eyes freaks out telling Gaby to mind her business because the house she’s looking to buy is a wise purchase because it’s the inheritance she and Fernando will leave for their children. Gaby gives Isa (and Viewerville) her, “I tried to knock some sense into this girl, but oh well” look.

Smarmy and Slimy Fernando shows up at the end of this with his forked tongue filled with compliments for Isabel. She’s the most beautiful woman in the world; no, the universe! Fernando calls Gaby, chaparrita—squirt or sport—as he and Isabel leave their house built on lies. Gaby exclaims after they leave, and we can agree, “I hate that guy!”

Abuela Meanie Rides Again

Abuela Meanie fusses at Andrea and Esteban for being inconsiderate, rude, taking advantage of her charity and being such a hassle they must be waiting for her to die so they can get her house. Andrea says Abuela Meanie shouldn’t talk like this in front of Esteban but her rant continues…>>>FF

The House Built on Lies

Fernando and Isabel are in a lawyer’s office with their IDs spread out for him to copy and give them papers to sign to buy their house. The house sellers are their too and look like a real loving couple. Isabel asks the lawyer’s name again, It’s Licenciado Cuadros, ma’am, at your service. The lawyer is obviously shady as he gives Fernando a knowing look as if they are perpetuating a scam. As Isabel gushes about Fernando getting her her dream house, Licenciado Cuadros says it’s all due to her loving husband. Isabel thanks her good fortune—oh girl, you’ll be paying a fortune for what your loving husband has done. As they’re celebrating buying their new house with a drink at a bar—Fernando says Isa’s house, Isa says “our house,” a photographer surreptiously snaps Fer and Isa as they liplock.

Gaby meets a friend, Edgar, and tells him she suspects Fernando, who Edgar also doesn’t like, is fraudulently saying he’s buying Isa’s dream house. Edgar agrees to look into the public property records to see if Fer is on the up-and-up with the house purchase. Thanks Gaby says, I need to know this is for real, because if it’s not, it’ll be a gut punch to Isabel.

We cut to Fer and Isabel and Isa gets a call from Mauricio saying they have the bank tapes showing who robbed her. The next morning Fernando is in bed while Isa is dressed for a doctor’s appointment to a fertility specialist. Fernando pretends to agree with Isa doing this and calls her guapa, but after Isa leaves, the louse complains that Isa insists on getting pregnant and he’s not pleased with that and he wonders what the doctor will say is Isa’s issue.

Eugenia Finally Gets to a Hospital, or These Things Happen

Hours later—the moon was out—they finally take Eugenia to a hospital and
Dr. Carranza the personal doctor runs tests and finds out Eugenia had a stroke. As he’s explaining this to Arturo, Arturo can’t believe it. “How is this possible if Eugenia always took her medication? She knew they were vital.” Dr. Carranza says “Yes, Eugenia was disciplined, but these things happen. Her heart rhythm may have been off. Maybe the medication dosage wasn’t strong enough.” “Tell me my wife will get better,” Art pleads. “I can’t promise you that says,” Dr. Carranza, “but I’ll tell you if anything changes.” When Dr. Carranza goes to exam Eugenia she’s doing worse. Her heart rate and blood pressure drops and she’s apparently brain dead. With the slow long beep of the vitals monitor we cut to a sleeping Aranza who sees her mother before her in her bedroom in white. They drink tea together. Eugenia tells Aranza that she loves her, always will, and her father will take care of you. We cut back to the hospital and they get Genia’s vitals up, but Carranza isn’t sure Genia will ever wake up.

Cuca’s Digging for the Truth, But Doesn’t Want Anyone to See Her Shovel

We see that Cuca is a housekeeper for Sonia’s step-dad Don Hilberto (?). Don Hilberto asks if Sonia came to visit. Cuca says she doesn’t know, but Hilberto says that Sonia only ever comes by when she wants money. Puede ser (Could be), says Cuca. What’s more important to Cuca is asking Don Hilberto if she can visit the children’s home nearby. “Why are you so interested in those children?” Hilberto asks accusingly. Cuca talks fast and emphasizes that those children don’t have parents and we have to give such kids a bit of love and care. Hilberto says Cuca can go at dinner time to visit.


Andrea’s Terrible, Horrible, No-Good, Very Bad Day

Long-suffering Andrea suffers another body-blow when her neighbor shows her as she’s walking home with her boys a newspaper headline with a picture showing—the one the photographer secretly got in the bar—La exitosa diseñadora Isabel López Cerdon con su esposa Fernando Cordova (Noted designer Isabel Lopez Cerdon with her husband Fernando Córdova.) Cara de completamente impactada y triste de Andrea.

First Encounter

Isabel is at the hospital leaving the fertility specialist and wonders out loud why she can’t get pregnant. She gets on the elevator and she shares the ride with Arturo, who barely notices Isa since Eugenia’s brain death is on his mind. Isa though, definitely notices her handsome elevator mate, and then the elevator gets stuck. Isa is horrified, but Arturo doesn’t even look up and says “Don’t worry. These things are safe.”

Avances

Aranza returns to “I hate mom” mode while speaking with her friends saying it may be better if Eugenia never wakes up. Sonia rejoices with crazy eyes that Arturo will be hers. Isabel says cries repeated “No puedo ser” as she watches the surveillance tape showing who robbed her. Arturo cries at Eugenia bedside asking her to help him make the right decision.

Labels: siempre

*Ahem, hi patio peeps, I'm sitting here with my laptop trying to figure out how to start this recap, I tried to get out of writing it, I considered faking my own death and then thought that was just too drastic, then I thought about just posting a discussion page and telling you folks there would be no recap because I got a case of smallpox, but then I realized Carlos would call me out on it so thought better of it, I also thought about coming down with a case of the bird flu and swine flu, but again thought better of it. I have watched Judge Judy, gone on Twitter, checked Facebook a million times and even walked down to the corner liquor store in search of booze, yes, this show has made me turn to the bottle. Anyhoo, it is now midnight and I figured I should just get it over with. I hope you enjoy.* Read more »

Labels: Indomable

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Labels: mentir

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Labels: robo

Recap by Corazon Salvaje

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Labels: siempre

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Blue Bungalow Kitchen: At the refrigerator, Berto grabs Celio from behind and slams his head into the wall. Celio lands face down on the floor, but Berto flips him over so that Celio can easily identify his blue-eyed perpetrator in the possible police line . Anyways, terrified Celio lies helplessly, staring vacantly into Berto's face and sh*tting cement blocks. Understandably, throttling butlers can burn a lot of energy, and since the refrigerator door is wide open, Berto reviews his snack options. He spies a paper bag filled with what could to be some delicious Bolo Bar leftovers, but instead of ribs and slaw, he discovers the guns. He runs away, leaving Celio lying in a halo of his blood.

Apparently, a grown man, sprinting down the street and across a parking lot, in the dark, dressed in all black and wearing black gloves is not an oddity in Mexico. Berto runs to a dumpster and tosses his gloves, but keeps the mask since it's hiding the bag. He calls Jose Luis and lets him know that he’s got the guns. Jose Luis tells him to bring them to the Platina Hotel. They'll meet up later. Berto wants to return to the Casa Bonita, shower and change into something more comfortable and less IJustMuggedSomeOne-ish looking.
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Labels: mentir

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We open on a festive family scene - a lovely couple descends the stairway as their daughter throws flower petals. We hear applause and cheers and there are hugs all around. The party is very small, just the happy couple, their servants, and a few guests.

Another party scene. Isabel looks lovely in a royal blue strapless dress. "Where's Fernando? He was here just a moment ago." Her friend Gabriela doesn't seem surprised and mutters, "It never fails." Isabel is not amused. She warns Gaby about bad-mouthing her man. Gaby nods and makes the the "zipping her lips" gesture. I already have the feeling that the yet unseen Fernando is a schmuck.

Back at the house the small family party is all smiles. Eugenia tells Arturo that she is the luckiest woman in the world. Eugenia's daughter Aranza jumps onto her mother's lap, smiles at her parents and proclaims them the bestest parents in the world ever. Eugenia tells the maid (whose dress reminds me of Dorothy's in the Wizard of Oz) to please bring a glass of milk for Aranza to join in the toast. Everyone raises their glasses. But where is Aunt Sonia?

Sonia is upstairs emptying pills from a brown bottle into a small container. She closes the container and puts it into the drawer of the nightstand, then puts a single pill into a kleenex. She tucks the brown bottle back into her evening bag and snaps it shut. "Oh, Eugenia. You think you're taking anti-coagulents." She smirks. "I just wish these pills would work faster." Sonia stands and straightens her hair as the maid comes into the room. "They're waiting for you."

"I was just on my way down." Sonia walks out. The maid looks skeptical and glances around the room. Nothing seems out of place... but still...

Downstairs Sonia gives Eugenia the kleenex with the pill inside. "Gracias, Sonia. You're always so concerned with my health." Eugenia puts the pill on the coffee table. "First, we must toast." Everyone raises their glass and shouts, "Feliz Aniversario!" Glasses clink. Everyone drinks. Sonia lets her eyes wander over the happy scene with just a touch of malice on her lips.

Isabel's missing husband Fernando enters her office. He crosses over to a desk and picks up a black handbag. He removes something from it. It's a checkbook. "Oh, Isabel my love. It is so easy to steal from you. Seriously." Yes. I was right. Fernando is a Grade A Schmuck. He rips a check from the checkbook, folds it and tucks it into his inner jacket pocket. He puts the checkbook back into the purse. "And all the money I have left to steal." He smiles.

Fernando walks into the party saying "Buenos Noches" to everyone he passes. Very few return his greeting. Okay, if that's not a tell I don't know what is.

He walks up and takes Isabel by the waist, "Are you happy, Beautiful?" Isabel grabs hold of him. "Oh, yes my love! We've been waiting to cut the ribbon!" She tries to get Fernando to stand by her side. He brushes her off with "It's your moment, my love." Gaby is having none of this. She growls at Fernando, "Hurry up Fernando! We haven't got all night!" Fernando moves closer but as the women count down to the ribbon cutting, "Uno...Dos...Tres..." he backs away. The ribbon falls to the floor amid cheers. Isabel pulls Fernando close to her side. He protests, "No photos. You know I have a fear of photos. They steal your soul." Say what?? "Besides, I have a surprise for you." He turns Isabel around as fireworks light up a sign that reads:

"Wow! Fernando!" Isabel is ecstatic. She grabs Fernando and plants kisses on him as a photographer snaps away. Fernando spots him. What to do? What to do? Fernando decides Isabel must have her favorite drink, a Cosmopolitan, but he can't seem to find a waiter. He moves off as Isabel waves a waiter down. "Get her a Cosmopolitan."

Arturo talks to his guests. He is very happy in his marriage despite his parents' objections. They wanted him to marry Maracel, but Maracel would never have made him as happy as Eugenia has. But Arturo's marriage has cost him. He was cut out of his inheritance.

Eugenia and her mother Tita talk about Bruno. He needs a woman. He needs a family. His life is nothing but work, work, work. Sonia walks over, "Did you take your pill?" Eugenia hasn't, so Sonia offers to get her a glass of water. A cell phone rings. The doctor answers and has a very brief conversation. It's an emergency. He must leave. Suddenly everyone must leave. I guess they all came in the same car. The small party starts to break up. All that food...

Isabel and Fernando are canoodling. He sees something across the room and pulls away. "I have another surprise for you. But it's in the car." He leaves and Isabel gives a blissful sigh.

Fernando has followed the photographer out of the building. "Give me the film from your camera." "Perdon?"

At the anniversary party Tita and Bruno head for the door. As they leave Eugenia suddenly clutches her forehead in pain and has to sit down. Did no one ever tell her not to mix alcohol and pills?

Arturo and the Doctor talk outside. "Your father is all alone now that your mother has passed. I'm sure he'd enjoy being a Grandfather to Aranza." "My father is free to visit. My door is always open." The doctor consigns himself to the father-son rift and says his good-byes.

Tita and Bruno come down the stairs. In this lighting her hair matches her blouse. Tita tells Arturo she isn't leaving, she's being taken. Bruno wonders why she always has to make a scene. "He always wants to leave when we start talking about him getting married." No wonder he's hustling her into the car.

Eugenia and Sonia talk in the living room. Eugenia's headache is getting worse. Sonia offers to call the doctor. "No, No. I'll be fine. I'm just tired. Please don't tell Arturo about this. I don't want to worry him." Famous. Last. Words. I think I see a vulture sitting on the mantle.

Aranza tells her mom she is tired. It's late. Eugenia and Sonia take her up to bed. The maid takes a full cheese plate from the table. Suddenly I'm hungry.

Outside, Fernando asks the photographer, "Do you want to make it home alive? Do you want your kids to be orphans? Do you want your wife to be a widow?" Well, I guess that's one way of getting straight to the point. The photographer shakes his head no, no, and no. He quickly takes the film from his pocket. He hands it to Fernando. First it was checks and now film. All paper, nothing digital. Fernando is an old-school criminal. Fernando pockets the film and tells the photographer, "Now, see how easy that was?" He smiles an evil smile and heads back into the party.

Aranza wants her Papa. Sonia offers to go and fetch him. My, Sonia certainly has been helpful tonight hasn't she?

Downstairs, Arturo is gazing lovingly at a picture of his wife and daughter. A woman's hands encircle his waist from behind. We see a smiling Sonia rest her head on his shoulder. Arturo smiles and leans his head against hers until he realizes it's not his wife that has him wrapped in this tight embrace. He jumps away. Sonia tells him that she just came down to get him. Aranza wants him upstairs. Sonia looks at him innocently. Arturo appears thoroughly rattled by what has just happened.

Fernando smiles at Isabel. Then we see the same smile in a black-and-white photo in a small shabby room. A young woman, Andrea, is playing on the bed with a toddler. Her older son tells her, "You never pay any attention to me." She tells him, "Come on. We can jump on the bed together!" They laugh and jump. Andrea's mother Mine storms into the room. "Enough! Enough!!" She screams that she is tired of the noise, she is tired of watching the kids, she is tired of the kids themselves. "I wish you'd take your kids and get out!" The poor kids are crying now. Andrea looks ashamed.

Back at the party Fernando takes Isabel aside. He tells her not to scream and opens a small box. It's a gold band with diamonds. There is much screaming and excitement. Isabel puts the ring on and wags her hand toward Gaby and her friends. They are all impressed. They should be. Something tells me Isabel paid through the nose for that cheap cubic zirconia.

Eugenia and Sonia say their good-nights as Arturo and Aranza kneel down together to pray. Eugenia and Sonia talk in the hall. "I really appreciate all you did for us, Sonia. You are the best cousin in the world. You're like my sister."
"Wasn't your anniversary party rather small?"
"Yes, but Arturo prefers it that way."
"Still that was a lot of expense for just a few people.... I'm worried about your headaches."
"I'll see a doctor soon. You know every day I thank you for introducing me to Arturo." Did I detect a wince from Sonia?

Andrea is looking through the paper. Grandma Meanie wants to know what she's looking for. "I'm looking for a second job."
"You don't expect me to watch your kids while you work more hours at the hospital?"
"No, I'm hoping to find something that I can do from home."
"Ha!" She laughs, "Like doing something on the Inter-neeet?"
"We don't have a phone."
"No we don't and it's your fault. All the money gets spent on your kids."
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
"You're always sorry. You still believe that worthless Fernando will come back."
"He will come back. He's my husband and the father of my children."
"He'll come back and leave you with another child. You're a fool. Open your eyes." Mine gives a derisive snort. She walks out calling on The Lord or a Saint to open Andrea's eyes.

Eugenia and Arturo are cuddled on the sofa. They are talking to Sonia. Sonia suggests they take a trip. A second honeymoon. She offers to take care of Aranza. They tell her they only take trips as a family. Besides, Sonia is the one who needs a man and a honeymoon! How about Bruno? Sonia blasts that idea like a clay pigeon. Bruno just doesn't do it for her. Sonia tells them she is already in love with someone who doesn't realize how she feels. He's the only one for her. But now it's time to go. Sonia rises to say good-night. Arturo offers to walk her to the car. He goes toward the door. Sonia sits beside Eugenia and tells Eugenia she should have another child. Suddenly things get awkward. Sonia kisses Eugenia good night. Eugenia looks like she is going to cry.

A car pulls up in front of a fancy highrise. Fernando helps Isabel out. Inside, he tells her to close her eyes and take off her shoes. "I want you to feel the texture with your feet." He opens the door. "Walk. Another step. Keep your eyes closed." Isabel ooohhs at the feeling under her feet. He tells her to stop, then pushes a button. Music fills the room. It's her favorite song.

"Open your eyes." There are several boquets of roses. Rose petals and candles make a path on the floor. Isabel is overwhelmed. "I love you." She looks out at the candle-lined balcony. They kiss. They slow dance. "I don't know how I'm going to pay you back for all this love." Oh, Honey. It's on your Visa card. And you are going to pay it back. With interest.

Eugenia asks Arturo about the party. There were only 3 or 4 people here. Don't you miss your father, your family? "You are the center of my happiness." "But you left your father and your family for me." "You and Aranza are my family. And your cousin and Lucha and Gabina." He nuzzles her neck and hair. "I'm happy. You are the perfect woman. Better than any of my fantasies. I am crazy about you." Eugenia leans against him. They sigh blissfully. The vultures are circling.

Morning. Time for school. Eugenia asks Aranza about her homework. She finished it in the afternoon. She doesn't like doing homework at night. In the kitchen the maid asks Aranza what she wants for breakfast. A quesadilla. The maid announces, "I'll make a quesadilla for my girl!" Eugenia asks what else is cooking. Scrambled eggs. Beans. The maid lifts her spatula with a florish and announces "A quesadilla for my girl!" as she puts it on the plate. Wow. Play-by-play announcements on the food. They don't do that on Master Chef.

Isabel and Gaby arrive at CasaArte, "Decoration and Design". So that's what the party was for! I notice we have some Home Depot product placement here, but it's been pixelated. I guess that's a good idea. Why go to a fancy design studio with a security guard at the door if you can shoplift buy the same thing at Home Depot?

Fernando has sent Isabel a lovely boquet of yellow roses. Her co-workers are gushing over them. Isabel is so lucky to have a great guy who send flowers and gives her surprises like this. Isabel flashes her ring at her co-workers. What a guy! Honestly if I were her I'd check to see if the band was leaving a green ring around my finger.

Andrea is carrying her toddler while walking her son to school. He asks, "Why isn't dad here?" Andrea tells him that his dad is busy, he's working. "Does he have a phone so we could talk to him?"
"No. He's trying to raise money so we can have our own house."
"If I eat less, we'd have more money."
Honestly, this is killing me. Such cute kids. They don't deserve a schmuck like Fernando for a father. Andrea tells her son he has to eat to be big and strong like his dad. They go on their way to school.

Isabel wants to know why Gaby doesn't like Fernando. Gaby makes a snarky remark about Fernando's honesty. Isabel gets angry and storms out into the hall. Gaby follows her and tells Isabel, "We're more than friends. We're like sisters. I don't think Fernando is honest."
"I'm happy. I ask you to respect my relationship."

A co-worker approaches. She has a bill from the factory that Isabel needs to sign. The two continue their talk. Gaby says, "We don't know where Fernando works, what he does for a living or where he gets all the money he spends."

"He negotiates with clients. He is doing well. I feel like I don't deserve everything he gives me. I am looking forward to having him as the father of my children. I can hardly wait to become a mother." "It will happen." They hug.

Grandma Meanie unwraps a bandage from her leg. She mutters how the pain in her leg will spread to her back. She prays. There's a knock at the door. She hastily rewraps the bandage and hobbles to the door. It's her neighbor Agatha. "I brought sweet bread. Can I make you some coffee?" "I thought it was Andrea back with those kids." Grandma Meanie starts on a rant about her daughter. Agatha tells her it's hard to be alone with kids. She asks, "Don't you love your Grandsons?"
"No. I don't love them at all."

Arturo eats breakfast and tells Eugenia about the new construction on the bridge his company is building. Eugenia is hanging on his every word as if all this talk about an overpass is the most fascinating thing she's ever heard. "Soon we will see cars driving over both levels." "No", she says. "We can get a convertible and drive over the bridge together." They talk happily as they walk to the door. Lucha and Gabina smile. "It's a blessing from God to be in a house where they are so happy and so much in love." They sigh, smile and hug each other.

Gaby is going over the business's receipts. It seems the business has less money in the bank than they thought. Isabel believes it's because of the Grand Opening party. Don't worry, it's temporary. We'll make it all back very soon. They laugh.

Mauricio storms into the room. Mauricio asks Isabel if she has any receipts that she has neglected to give him. Before she can answer she has to take a call from a new client who wants her home remodeled. Isabel leaves to take the call. She'll be back to talk to Mauricio. Gaby asks, "What's wrong?"
"I'm afraid Isabel's accounts are nearly empty. Her personal accounts. Large amounts are missing."
Gaby thinks it's Isabel's good-for-nothing husband.

"It looks like embezzlement. This is very serious."
Isabel enters the room. "What Mauricio? What's this about?" They all stare at each other.

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