Caray, Caray!

First, I must apologize for my error of yesterday. I reported incorrectly (because of inattentiveness) that Emilio was not going to help Octavia get to the big duel. As you will see, he did help her.

Before we get to the big bitch slap fest, let's review some other plots:

Max and Diana seem to be making some progress at getting back together.

Diego calls his mother. She is worried that she hasn't heard from him, and they haven't heard from Pancho.

Paco leaves town.

Pedro overhears Marfil plotting against him. He tells Max about it, but reports that he has solved the problem by changing his will so Marfil won't get anything. Max will get everything. That will fix her. Er, but you'll be dead, Max says, and he doesn't want the money. He wants Pedro to live. Don't worry, Pedro has other plans.

More boring stuff about Max and Marcela, but it looks like they are through. At the bodega, it looks once again like Godmom and Marcela are living there. This week, they seem to be moving between the deli department and the cashier. The owner seems to want to date Godmom, and she flirts with him.

Pancho's wedding is about to start, at a church, no less, but no primo/prima in sight. Suddenly, enter Mariposa and Silvia. (Just after the priest has asked if anyone objects to the marriage.) Pancho realizes it's Silvia, so he tries to hide by facing away. Silvia trips and falls, so she doesn't see him right away. Credits roll at this point, so we will follow this part tomorrow.

But back to the big confrontation.

Emilio drives Fedora over to the site of the meeting. It seems to be a railyard, where trains are ending their runs. Fedora is sitting pathetically in her wheelchair, wearing her trademark red shirt with black silk flower! Imagine making sure to have on a silk flower for a fight. Emilio drives away in his Ford Expedition. Who is the bigger moron--Fedora or Emilio? Discuss.

Octy now shows up, and each taunts the other. It's the end for you. You tortured me for so many years etc., I am too bored to recap it verbatim. You can imagine. They start fighting. Soon, Octy has paralyzed Fedora down on the ground, and it doesn't look good for Fedora.

Meanwhile, back at the Mansion, the girls realize she's gone and they start calling around. Rodrigo reaches Emilio, who is driving away. He says Fedora made him promise not to tell where she was, so he can't. Bigger moron, I say. Finally, he reveals the location, and everyone rushes there. Emilio calls Max, and he is rushing to the scene as well. Then Emilio seems to get run off the road by an oncoming car, and we see him smashed against the driver's side window. Did he have on his seat belt?

The fight continues. Who should arrive, knife in hand, but Iggy, who has been lumbering around the same railyard in his zombielike way. Iggy plunges the knife into Octavia's back. It seems he is killing her not to save Fedora, but to continue his own crazed revenge.

Octavia rises, horrified, and staggers toward the train tracks just as a freight train is rolling by. At the same time, Max, Diana, and Rodrigo run up! What a climactic moment. Octavia drops to the tracks, and they all watch helplessly as Octy gets run over. Fedora sits there with her useless legs splayed out in front of her. Max, drawing on every molecule of acting chops that he might possess, drops to his knees in anguish, knowing his own mother is dead, but realizing at the same time that she was an incredibly evil woman who deserved to die. What cognitive dissonance! Diana runs between Fedora and her beloved Max, giving each glassy-eyed hugs.

At the moment of Octy's death, poor Yolanda feels a sisterly lightning bolt and is jolted awake in her cell, shouting "Octavia!" Later, Diana and Max visit her at the jail and they all rehash. Marfil reads about incident in the paper and show up at the station to see Max and Diana together. She is peeved. She didn't know about the Max/Marcela divorce. Don't worry. Diana is still married to Marfil's boytoy, Diego.

The next day, everyone is recapping the action to those who were not present. Lots of boring rehash. What is most confusing is that Emilio is fine without a scratch. Then I thought it was a trick, and it was Diego, but he was unscathed the next day also. Any ideas?

Labels: acorralada

Ana, spying on Paula and Juan from her window, gets bug-eyed and flap-jawed when Paula gives Juan a kiss. A smitten Juan attemps to wipe the kiss from his cheek onto his lips.

Kike comments to Fer that Juan and Paula are together a lot, smiling a lot. Fer says that CL has been asking him lots of questions about Juan. Fer can't believe that Juan could have put the ball in the basket (scored?) with Paula. Kike tells Fer not to discount Juan's superlative social talents. He's seen loads of chicks fall for Juan.

Juan thought bubbles that this is the happiest day of his life, it's right up there with his first communion when he got his first pair of boots. His thoughts are interrupted by a nice set of gams attached to an incredible bod topped by the face of an angel. The "angel" puts the moves on him but he insists that he, Juan Dominguez, has renovated his life. He will not succumb to her obvious charms.

Paula tells Ana there's a good chance she will leave Farell Industries. "Again?" asks Ana, "Do me the favor of telling me what really happened with Juan."

Juan, walking to night class, tells Kike that the big boss is infuriated that he, a simple chauffeur, bested him with his woman, but Juan Dominguez will not be fired, no Señor, Juan Dominguez will go on his own, he'll give his notice and punch CL in the nose! (He demonstrates his punching technique.) They arrive at school and Juan finishes by saying Paula renounced CL and stuck up for him (Juan). If Juan goes she goes. When one door closes another one opens.

Now it's Kike's turn to tell Juan about his misadventure at Casa Chacón...he was caught with his hands in the masa. He got caught in Yadira's trap and Julita told him to take a flying leap. It was a night of passion but not because he loves Yadira. "NO..." Juan gasps, mouth agape. Kike blathers on. "NO..." Juan gasps again. The camera pans to Yadira who sashays up behind them. Juan beats a hasty retreat.

Yadi, under the pretext of bringing Kike's lost schedule to him, says they need to talk. She had a terrible fight with Nidia, left home, and has made a decision...she and Kike will live together. "Que????" Kike wheezes, impactado.

Juan lurks outside the classroom, he peeks in the windows and ogles some of his melonious (con melones) classmates. He displays his physique and they ogle back.

Paula tells Ana that CL wants to fire Juan to punish her. She plans to renounce him (CL) because he's a stupid coward. Ana knows Paula hasn't told her the entire truth.

Kike laughs at Yadi and accuses her of joking. He says she opened the cage and her fat little dove flew away. Yadi reminds him of last night's passion but Kike remains firm and tells her to beat it. She wheedles and insists that she will stay right there and wait for him. As he runs off to class he tells her fine, but she'll be waiting for nothing.

In class, Kike tells Juan that Yadi only came to twist the knife. La Profesora walks in and Juan blatantly appreciates her attributes. "I didn't know this was an anatomy class," he thought-bubbles lecherously. She gives him the goo-goo eye.

Nidia paces, frets and cries and aks Marely if she has seen Yadira. Mari promises to help find her sister.

The Maestra asks her students one by one to turn in their homework. Juan figures he can stud-muffin his way out of not doing his. She calls Kike's name and poor Kike nervously stammers. She rudely asks if he intends to stutter all night long. Juan jumps up and begins blabbing their excuse, in reality it was all his fault Señora... "...Sabogal," she answers. "Sabogaaaaaaal," he growls and kisses her hand. She checks out his bodacious posterior as he returns to his seat.

Monica and Cl are having a doleful dinner. She feels at fault for all that has happened at the office, nevertheless she has a great idea. CL rolls his eyes and we are both thinking "What now Monica Buttinsky?" She says that since he will be without a VP the solution is obvious...she, Monica, will be his VP and work at his side!

CL looks sick, however he reluctantly agrees with MB's plan on one condition, she has to wait several days before starting work because...er...she hasn't completely recuperated yet. She pouts but agrees. CL gets his reprieve but only for a few days.

La Maestra tells Juan not to worry about his homework, he can bring it to her office in the morning. He and Kike high 5 while she admires his physique.

Pastor becomes irritated when Pastora admits that she went out by herself. (I don't believe we know where she went, do we? Hmmmm...) Pastora becomes irritated when Pastor tells her she has to take her new pills every night without fail.

Alirio tells the sleazy Gutierrez that he proposed to Nidia the convenience of Gutierrez getting together with Yadira. Since Nidia didn't give an emphatic "NO" things are looking favorable. Gutierrez says he won't wait forever and Alirio gives him his "word" that all will be arranged. Then Alirio somehow convinces Gutierrez to help him sort through the Farell documents saying "you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours." Gutierrez licks his lips lasciviously. (May I say that these two are great together? I can't wait to see the trouble they get into!)

Nidia freaks out because Mari can't find Yadi and none of their friends know where she is. Suddenly the phone rings and Nidia runs to answer it. Is it Yadi? "No, cuchi cuchi, it's Alirio." He tells her he's sure she's worried because he's working late. Gutierrez rolls his eyes. Nidia snaps "No problem" and hangs up. Alirio pretends she's still on the phone and makes copious smooching noises in front of a disgusted and amused Gutierrez.

In class La Profesora ignores Kike's raised hand and smiles at Juan; she only has eyes for him. After class Kike mentions the maestra's enthusiasm for Juan. Juan insists it's all a part of his strategy, the strategy to save their skin and their honor.

Ana sketches. The phone rings. It's an excited Juan and he wants to talk to Paula. Ana tries to hand the phone to Stoopid Paula who of course doesn't want to take the call. They whisper-argue while Stoopid Paula covers the phone. Instead of doing what I usually do in this situation, which is to tell the caller that the callee is standing in front of me but refuses to take the call, Ana lies and says Paula is asleep. I think my method is superior because people never ask me to fib more than the one time, while Ana will probably lie again and again for Stoopid Paula.

Juan thanks the Diosito, no doubt his love is in bed and dreaming of him. Gosh he's clueless.

Juan sees Yadi hanging outside the school so he pushes Kike out to her. She tells Kike she's not going home so she's going with him. Juan intervenes and suggests she go home to her worried mother. Yadi tells Juan to shut up, she's talking to the ringmaster (of the circus), not to the monkeys. Kike laughs but his smile turns upside down when Juan says "Adios" and leaves him alone in Yadi's clutches.

Gutierrez tells Alirio that he has found something interesting in the Farell documents. He has discovered the hole where the dough is leaking out of the company. Alirio is ecstatic, now he can report it and stop this boring work. "Are you crazy?" exclaims Gutierrez, "we're sitting on a gold mine! If we can find out exactly who is bleeding the company..." "...we can turn him in!" Alirio finishes. "No dummy," corrects Gutierrez, "we can get a big piece of the pie."

Yadi follows Kike down the street. He asks will she be his shadow all night? She logically enquires, how can there be a shadow where there's no sun? "Leave me in peace!" he yells as she blabs and skitters along behind him.

Alirio accuses Gutierrez of becoming delirious from too much caffeine. Gutierrez insists that if they can discover who authorized the shady transactions they can make the person pay to keep them quiet. Alirio is worried, it could be dangerous and bad for them. "No worse than what we did with Samuel Cachón's will," retorts Gutierrez. Alirio becomes huffy, "I did it for love, it's completely different!" Gutierrez reassures Alirio, "the thief who robs a thief deserves a hundred years of pardon."* They shake on it, these two thieves who would rob another thief, including each other.

Juan arrives home and tells a worried Marely that Yadi is with Kike.

Yadi and Kike are at his house. To her dismay he tells her to sleep on the couch. He was weak once, twice no.

Nidia has a cow when she hears Yadi is with that naco Kike. Mari scolds Nidia for saying that about Kike. Juan adds that he's a decent guy. He's not a farce or a traitor, he's a pan dulce (bun or sweet bread). Nidia insists he's a ferocious wolf and this morning she found him in Yadi's room; the both of them admitted he spent the night. Nidia spews and sputters about Kike the pervert until Mari finally leaves in disgust.

Nidia sets her eyes on Juan, her papi rico, the only one in the house who understands her. She hugs and massages him, complaining about her daughters, until he breaks free insisting he has to study.

The clocks tick, time passes, and Juan studies downstairs. He's completely dazed and confused by numbers and math. Mari eventually tiptoes down and feels sorry for him. She sits down to help him. As she instructs him on rational and irrational numbers Juan, who should be paying attention, thought bubbles that she's quite a woman. After everything she is still concerned for him. He smiles and begins his homework.

The sun rises and Ana sneaks out of the house to go to work. (Why is she sneaking?) Juan drives up, starts to converse, but she says she must run to work. She changes her mind and turns around. She has a question for Juan, "What's happening between you and Paula?" Juan stands there, stupified, with his silly smile frozen on his face. He wonders, how will he answer this question?

At Farell Industries the elevator door opens as Pastor admires his toupee in his grooming kit mirror. It must be early because the office gossips haven't yet arrived. CL strides into Pastor's office. He wants Pastor to prepare the terminations/final paychecks for Paula and Juan!

Ana asks, "Juan why the shocked face? It's a simple question." He begins to blather as he is wont to do when he's nervous...yes yes yes it's a very simple question very simple but the problem is he doesn't understand exactly what she means is she referring to him Juan Dominguez and and and what does she mean between her daughter and him is she referring to licenciada Paula and him?? Whew, dude take a breath! Ana tells Juan he knows perfectly well what she means.

She'll rephrase the question..."What are you and Paula up to?"


chorros = loads
en balde = for nothing (lit. in the pail, bucket)
me agarré con las manos en la masa = I was caught with my hands in the cookie jar (lit. my hands in the masa)
sacar tajada = get a piece of the pie, to get in on the act (lit. take a piece)
tartamudear = stutter
torcer la flecha = twist the knife (lit. twist the arrow)

Labels: Juan

EPISODE - Sept. 27, 2007:
(ed. note: I wrote this as fast as I could while the episode aired; at times the scenes were so short and quick that it was all I could do to just get the basics of who was in the scene down. Hopefully, I didn't miss too much. J.R. )

* Gavi and Alonso are talking pool-side about her past problems the Montalvo clan - Alonso doesn't care about the past, he is more worried and supportive of who Gavi is right now. He makes her promise to stay calm tomorrow as they head to Tequila and Montalvena; She in turn makes him promise that if he hears any negative rumors about her, he will tell her directly.

* Aaron calls Minnie to tell her about his run-in tonight with Gavi; that he prohibited her from even stepping foot at Montalvena.

* Pammie and dearest Daddy have an endearing telephone conversation. Later, Daddy and Mommy discuss the conversation; he's worried about Pammie and her obsession with Aaron.

* Rod and James at the hacienda.

* Gavi and Alonso discuss their excursion to Montalvena and what they may expect with Rod and Aaron. Gavi reminds Alonso that Granny P and Rod both gave her their blessings to be present at the hacienda for the business meetings, so she's not too worried.

* Isa and Pancho have their intimate rendezvous in Isa's bedroom. The phone rings - Pancho convinces Isa to answer the phone. It's Sofia, looking for her loving husband Pancho. Isa lies and says she's alone and getting ready for bed - says good-night to Sofia and hangs up. Isa and Pancho kiss.

* Gavi works on her computer in her hotel room. Alonso goes stir crazy trying to think up an excuse to visit Gavi tonight.

* James and Rod count down the minutes until Gavi's arrival at Montalvena.

* Alonso goes to Gavi's room. He lies and says he needs to use her phone to make a phone call. She lets him in, then goes down to the hotel's business center to use the hotel's computer and printer. While she's gone, Alonso paces back and forth in her room. The phone rings - Alonso answers - Rod is shocked to find him in Gavi's room and, as Gavi returns and takes the phone from Alonso, Rod turns into the green-eyed monster thinking Alonso and Gavi are lovers. Rod hangs up. Gavi is impactado.

* Rod vents his jealous rage to James.

* Gavi talks with Alonso about her hurt feelings over Rod's anger and jealousy. Alonso is worried about how easily Rod breaks Gavi's heart over and over again. He tries to come up with a resolution in order to continue the trip to visit with Rod at Montalvena. They will discuss in the morning. Alonso wishes Gavi Happy Birthday before he leaves for the night.

* In the office, Rod is still furious and jealous; James stutters; Rod orders James to leave him alone.

* Musical Interlude: Gavi sits on her hotel bed, thinking about Rod and crying; Rod in office, thinking about Gavi and drinking; Gavi cries as she lays in bed, she starts to dial the phone but hangs up and mutters, "Rodrigo, Rodrigo"; Rod drinks and looks at photo of gramps - he gets frustrated and upset and pushes everything off the desk as he plunks himself back in his chair.

* Pancho finally arrives back at Granny's mansion. Sofia is waiting up for him. She notices he's drunk and all wet and confronts him about where he's been and who he's been with. Pancho stumbles with his response - Sofia is furious and throws him out of their bedroom.

* Gavi calls the mansion, to ask Dani for help with Rod.

* Clara lights candles, cries and prays for Gavi.

* Maid wakes Dani and walks her to the phone, to speak with her suegra (Gavi). Dani answers and talks with Gavi. Sofia walks in - Dani stops talking, looks at Sofia and then walks with the phone to the other room. Sofia wakes Pancho asleep on the sofa; she starts to confront him about his lover and all the alcohol she smells on him. He comes up with an excuse about the tequila conference; She doesn't buy it one bit; he continues with his story; she's upset and disillusioned; he asks her to prepare a special bath for him; she looks at him in anger and huffs and puffs away. (Pancho is definitely in the doghouse now.)

* Dani and Gavi discuss Rod's lousy reaction to Alonso answering her phone tonight; Gavi asks Dani to help calm Rod down and explain the truth to Rod (for the sake of the business trip). Dani agrees to try. Gavi hangs up and answers the door. She finds a tray with pink flowers and coffee outside on the floor.

* James returns to the office the next morning and finds Rod standing at the window - he had been there all night. Rod thinks he's lost Gavi forever now, he needs to leave the hacienda and go far away to forget Gavi. Rod flies out of the office with James following as the phone rings. James answers - it's for Rod - James runs to catch Rod.

* Gavi brings the tray inside her room; she reads the note from Alonso - he explains the special coffee he selected for her this morning - as well as wishes her happy birthday.

* Rod is still in his jealous rage and venting to Dani on the phone about Alonso and Gavi. He will leave the hacienda, and James will be in charge of the business conference at the hacienda. He wants to leave now. Dani becomes the voice of reason and calmness; she convinces Rod not to run away (it's Gavi's birthday after all).

* Gavi and Clara talk on the phone - birthday party events. Alonso stops by the room and Gavi talks with him about the present, Rod and their trip to Montalvena. As Alonso helps put the necklace on Gavi, Aaron and two of the group members stop by the doorway. Aaron doesn't resist making a sarcastic comment about Alonso helping Gavi finish dressing. The other two excuse themselves and leave. Aaron sticks around to continue his sarcastic comments - Gavi and Alonso don't appreciate his remarks at all. The hotel workers come to take Gavi's suitcases down to the lobby. Aaron continues his sarcasm about Alonso and Gavi.

* Sofia calls Isa to vent her disillusionment and suspicions that Pancho has a lover. Isa laughs and thinks Sofia is imagining it. Sofia is still disgusted. Dani enters the room and asks Sofia to hang up, so she can use the phone. Sofia wraps up her conversation with Isa quickly, Isa asks about Pancho - Sofia grumbles and hangs up.

* Everyone in the group gathers in the lobby, waiting to leave. Gavi talks with Dani on the hotel phone about Rod's jealousy, not good news - Rod has decided not to be there and leave James in charge of the visit. Gavi hangs up and tells Alonso. Alonso has to assure her not to worry about it. They go to join the group.

* Roman and Ofelia are outside the hacienda, discussing the group coming to visit. He's still upset over Hilario's job - Ofelia tries to get him to open up - he refuses and walks away.

* Hilario is upset when he finds SWB still at the apartment. He wants her gone immediately from the apartment and his life. She cries, whines and begs to stay. He caves and lets her stay one more week and then leaves the room. She vows to use the week to make Hilario is hers and hers alone.

* Gavi takes the group on a tour of Tequila. They stop in the main plaza for photos. Gavi is sad as she looks at the church and buildings.

* Minnie updates Isa about Gavi and Alonso (what Aaron had told her on the phone). Isa can't believe Gavi and Alonso are together; they discuss it in front of Sofia, holding little Rico.

* Alonso, Aaron and others disembark from the bus and go into the hotel. Rod shows up as a surprise and helps Gavi off the bus; he pulls her aside and gives her a huge, passionate birthday kiss in front of Alonso. (WHOA!) Aaron runs out and breaks up the kiss. Gavi goes inside to help with the reservations. In the lobby, Rod greets the group members and welcomes them to Tequila. Aaron joins the conversation. Gavi comes over to tell the group members about the room assignments. Aaron and others go to reception desk. Gavi and Alonso tell Rod they need to talk. Gavi goes to join the group at the reception desk; Alonso and Rod go to the bar for drinks and to talk. Rod listens as Alonso informs him about his difficulties with Aaron on the trip thus far; then Alonso tries to be politically correct about another problem - Rod bluntly states that he is angry and jealous over all the time Alonso has been spending with HIS Gaviota! (AY CARAY!)

Labels: Destilando

We see Iggy drop dead again! Yay!

Prudence is planning her wedding.

Sharon is talking to the shrink. She wants to be good but she doesn't know how. The family will reject her. Baloney.

Rodrigo and Fedora discuss Paco. Boring!

Diana tells Lala and Granny M about her nightmare. Poor Lala winces when she has to confront her son's bad behavior. I always feel sorry for Lala here, and I wonder at the generosity of this family to keep her around under the circumstances.

Max thrashes around the pool and then rehashes his situation aloud.

Fedora massages her legs. Nope, still paralyzed.

Max ponders aloud the fate of the various Irascibles. All bad.

Diana pleads with Fedora about something I did not pay attention to.

Octy calls Fedora. They trade the usual insults and then arrange for what seems to be a duel for the next morning. I can't wait to see this one. It seems to be at a site of train tracks, but I'm not sure what they mean.

Octy says goodbye to dead Iggy and pulls her wheeled suitcase out just like a stylish flight attendant. She has looked remarkably unscathed by her recent stay at Hotel Pigsty. Octy is wearing a wig to disguise herself from the police.

Rodrigo and Paco seem to bury the hatchet. They both have lost daughters. Isn't it sad... etc.

Octy checks into a motel and revels in the anticipation of the upcoming battle with Fedora.

At the bodega, Marcela and godmom rehash again. This storyline is beyond boring, and I still can't tell if godmom wants Marcela to be with Max or not. I think she never wanted her to be with Max, but once she was with him, she wanted her to hold on to him.

Yolanda is languishing in our favorite jail cell. Paco comes in. Why? To tell her the news, completely out of the blue, that Rene is getting married to a girl his own age in Germany!!!!! Way to cheer up the prisoner, Paco! Yolanda actually says she's happy for Rene, she wishes him well. Big Doormat, indeed! (I had a feeling they would resolve this storyline this way, but it's pretty pathetic and afterthought-ish. Pobrecita de Yolanda!) It appears that Paco is leaving also, so on the daily Rodrigo/Paco scoreboard, it looks like Rodrigo will end up with Fedora.

Max calls Larry to update him on all the action. Their mom is a fugitive! But Larry doesn't have to rush home.

Fedora tries to enlist Emilio's help in getting her to the duel, but he doesn't want any part of it.

Then, get ready for a shock: Iggy wakes up like a Zombie from Night of the Living Dead. How did he not bleed to death? And how is he so ambulatory? No one has given him a magic potion, so who knows.

Pancho and Prudence simper at each other some more.

Lala and Diana review how bad men are and how women always suffer. Diana has not told Max about her own pregnancy?

Now for a really hilarious scene. Silvia and the trannies are meeting with a new fortune teller at Emilio's apartment. Camila walks in and wants to throw the charlatan out. A really funny slang vocabulary lesson ensues.
The fortune teller waves her magic wand (varita magica) and says she will turn Camila into a dog. Camila calls her an estafadora (swindler). The trannies translate into "venezolano," or Venezualan dialect! In Venezuelan, that would be a "tracalera." Camila calls her a descarada (shameless or insolent one). In Venezuelan, that would be a vivarepa. (My venezuelan Spanish tutor never heard of that one even! Arepas are corn cakes, by the way. This reminds me of LFMB, where Alicia always called Lety a mustached corncake. But I digress.)

Finally Camila calls her a "groseria fuerte," which means a "groseria mayor" in Venezuelan. A groseria is apparently a rude word. The fortune teller leaves, telling Camila she will have years of bad luck.

Finally, at the end, there is another pointless scene involving Max and Marcela. Looks impactados all around.

Labels: acorralada

In the interrogation room, er, CL’s office, Juan tells Cl he and Pau made love. CL tells him Pau doesn’t love you. Juan protests and says well I love her and that’s enough for me. He also says she’s a little confused right now but he knows deep down that she does love him too. She wouldn’t have done this if she didn’t have an interest. She is very enthusiastic about me. This earns a glass throw across the room into the wall from CL. Guessing he didn’t like that statement. I think I saw veins bulging out of his skull even.

CL says Juan never told him anything about what was happening, and he knew how CL felt about Pau. He calls Juan a traitor for this. Juan says he’s aware of what he owes CL, but sometimes things just happen that are supposed to happen and we can’t help our feelings. Cl yells strongly that they had an agreement and he failed it, and this will have consequences. Juan apologizes and says he knows and he’s willing to accept them. After he departs, CL lobs another glass at the door that closes behind him. Everyone in reception hears this one smash and they all look impactado. Juan actually keeps his cool. I’m sorry, but he could take that pipsqueak CL in a nanosecond.

Pastor visits Delirio in the dungeon and says CL wants the first report. Ali says he’s not ready, and he’ll have to wait because he doesn’t do things half ass. Pastor says fine you get another hour. Ali says no way, no one gives me orders. He eventually tells Pastor to leave and it’s because he needs to fix his hairdo/toupe because it’s messed up. Pastor freaks out at this possibility and departs immediately.

Ali goes upstairs, greets Juan, sweet talks Ivonne, then goes in to see CL.

Juan goes in to see Pau and tells her how CL took the news. He rehashes all that, and tells her that now he’ll probably lose his job. She tells him not to worry about that, there is no way he’ll lose his job over this. He tells himself that he is more in love with her and the way she stands up for him it has to be love for her too.

Ali blathers on to CL, who is paying no attention what so ever, about Pastor annoying him and disrespecting him and ends up stating that we need to fire him. CL wakes up out of his anger stupor to react to this and yells at Ali for having the nerve to tell him what to do in his own house and his idea is stupid and there's no way Gaytan is going and that Ali was only contracted for a specific job and not to tell him what to do. He kicks him out.

Pastor is talking to the doc about his Mom and the test results but doc wants to see him in person to discuss. Just then we see Pastora telling a taxi man where to take her is written down on this paper, to wait for her the whole time, and to remember where this house is and not to try and trap her some how, but instead to bring her right back here after she's done. He agrees somewhat bewildered.

Yadi gets asked where she's going by her Mom. Yadi says she's bored and wants to go out. Nid tells her she's not going anywhere. Yadi tells her she's too big to be directed by her Mom and she doesn't meddle in her affairs so she shouldn't in Yadi's. She departs and Nid is visibly upset because Yadi called her a bad example of moral turpitude and that she hasn't earned the respect of her children..

Fer and Juan are chatting. Juan warns him he may not be long for this company, that the boss doesn't really care for him. Fer says that's not what he sees, he thinks the boss man loves him. That's because Fer doesn't know he boffed his best girl. Juan goes on about why CL wants him sacked when Kike comes up and wonders about whether Juan did his homework. Of course he didn't. Fer chuckles.



We have another bitch session between PAu and Ivonne about going in to see CL. She razzes Pau about how she isn't the only one who ascended the ranks in the business so quickly. Pau wonders what she means.

Pau says she needs to talk to CL, he says what, another labor problem that you can't solve because of your incompetence? She says we need to talk about Juan. He says great, the chauffeur who has managed to mix himself in with the executive circles, a phenomenon worthy of a sociological, or philosophical study.

She says maybe someday we can get to that, but right now about him, he's not just a simple chauffeur to her, but he's a very good friend (yeah, very good) and she wants to know if he plans to fire him.

CL says she sounds pathetic, and he pitys her, but he doesn't know if he'll fire Juan. She tells him if Juan is fired, then she will leave too, right behind him. He tells her that's absurd that an exec departs because of the fate of a chauffeur and that she's blackmailing him with that. She says she doesn't want to work in a place where the decisions are made by the emotional state of the boss and not for the good of the employees.

She says she respects loyalty and principles and cares about others, something he doesn't know about. He says whatever, do what you want with him then, go after this goof and be happy in romance with him, it's better for me anyway. Now get out, oh and by the way, do me a favor and go to hell and take that clown with you. Youch!!!! At least he didn't throw this glass. He must realize he's running low on them for the moment.

Fer gives Kike and Juan a mathematics lesson. They are going over their homework discussing how to solve equations. This scene was very cute. Fer tells them how to solve simple equations by making both sides equal.

Ivonne says she'llcover for Pastor to go to the doc. The doc tells Pastor that Mama probably suffered from a minor stroke and she'll be ok with some treatment. He says he'll prescribe some medicine to help her. Pastor calls home and wonders why she didn't answer right away. She tells him she's not a jet that can just fly around. She just returned home in the cab. He tells her he's going to bring her some medicine and she thinks they just want to soak money out of him and she doesn't need them. Pastor calls Ivonne who tells him that CL is gone anyway and never even asked for him so stay with his Mom and she'll see him tomorrow.


Fer complains that he's doing all of the homework for him. Kike says the teacher is a witch. Juan yells at Kike to take this seriously and Kike is like que the hell because Juan is the class clown. They patronize him so he'll continue and he sits back down to help until CL shows up. Cl says let's go. Once they are gone Juan makes fun to kike that he was foaming at the mouth. He tells Kike Pau told him to tell CL everything because to Juan, she's interested in him.

Paula says goodbye to Marely and she is cold. Pau wants to know if she's still mad and why Mar treats her this way she asks if she's in love with Juan. Marely hesitates for a moment and then says no. Pau says well then why are you so weird with me. Mar covers that she disagrees with this scheme of Pau's that many people are going to end up hurt, especially Juan. Pau maintains that he'll be ok and anyway he has a secret love. Mar wisely tells her one never knows when feelings are involved what can happen. Pau says the game is only going to last for a few days anyway, because I'll probably be gone from Farell soon anyway. Mar says and what about Juan? Pau says that she is worried most about him but she will definitely not leave him without a job or money.

Kike and Juan are still doing their homework and Kike wonders what charms Juan is going to turn on to the witch of Zabrog if he doesn't complete this work. Juan says his face and he beams a huge smile. Just then Pau comes down and asks him to go. She wants to sit with him in the front. She doesn't want him to open the door for her anymore either but he'll have none of that because he was raised with manners that it's proper to open the door for a lady. She asks again if he doesn't mind her sitting next to him and he says of course not. She tells him from here on out things are going to change for us. Kike makes an impactado face in the background as Juan just beams, and beams, and beams.

CL comes home and curses that she's a prostitute (perdida) of the devil. Moni hears and wonders who he's talking about. He ends up blaming it on being lost (perdida) as the devil because with Fer he took a short cut on the way home they thought would save them time from traffic but they ran into construction instead. She tells him that's no reason to slam the door. He apologizes and wants to lay down. She notes that he's had a bad day. He says just because I got lost doesn't mean my day was bad. She knows him and says he's smoothing things over not to worry her. He says ok, my problems today have to do with Paula.

Pau and Juan are chatting in the car. Pau says she talked to CL and unfortunately Juan will probably lose his job. He says he saw that coming. She says don't worry I'll go too. He tells her no that he doesn't want that, she has more to lose than he does. She gives him the solidarity speech that they are united in this and it's her fault he's messed up in this etc. He praises her valientness to himself and tells her he'll be alright. He tells himself he would sell shXX on a stick if it meant things work out with her. Well, ok not exactly but that's pretty much what he implied.

CL tells Moni he thinks that Pau is trying to use the trick of resigning to get a leg up on him. he tries to turn Moni against her. He says she came to tell him about her relationship with Juan and how delicate all of this is because they are both his employees and she's worried about the cheap gossip around the office and that he asked her to be discreet about all this. He says she nearly tore out his eyes when he told her that. He says that this time if she wants to go she should go.

Kike chats with Julieta, she says she waited for his call, he says well we've only been novios for a short time and well, I was trapped into an encounter with Yadi. Julieta storms off and says forget about our relationship.

Nid wonders who is coming home, she's bummed when it's only Marely. Mar thanks her for the warm welcome and wonders what's up. Nid tells her Yadi fled the house and rehashes that scene and that Yadi hates her. Mar reassures her that Yadi has her strong character but she's not a bad person, and she'll be back. She tells her to relax and she''l make some tila and talk to Yadi. Nid tells her to forget it that it's not worth her effort. Mar tells her not to think that way.

Pau says goodbye to Juan in front of her house AND SHE PLANTS A BIG KISS ON HIS LIPS???!!!! Ana is watching this through the window and she is MUY IMPACTADA!!!!

Labels: Juan

Our first new scene for today is Emilia and Ceci at Casa C&A: Emilia is trying to BS Ceci about not knowing what's wrong with Azul. Ceci accuses her of hiding something; she says she suspects Azul is pregnant based on her symptoms (nausea, fainting). Emilia says it might be anemia or a parasite, but Azul's weakness worries her, so she wants her to keep resting and not let anything bother her. Ceci swears she won't tell Azul that Diego came looking for her.

At the hospital: Arnaldo tells GSD he was rude to Julio, who is his partner, not his "little friend." GSD says he just can't handle seeing his son with another man. Arnaldo tries to tell him he'll accept Julio eventually. GSD says he never will--he'll have a relationship with Arnaldo, but that doesn't mean he has to have a relationship with Julio. Arnaldo says that means GSD doesn't understand him and will never accept him. GSD doesn't want to talk about it anymore. He tells Arnaldo to take Julio away and he'll stay with Inés. He tells Arnaldo he should visit Azul because she's sick.

Casa Diego: Diego leaves after imparting the news about Paco. Mama goes upstairs to talk to Lidia. Piero is unconcerned and keeps eating, and Papa says he never wished anything bad would happen to Paco, but he's glad Lidia's with Piero instead. Gee, guys, tell me how you really feel.

Casa Silvana: Silvana picks up the phone, but one of Gloria's phone sex clients is on the other end. Since Gloria made such a fuss about multiple phones and multiple lines I can only assume Silvana picked up the wrong phone. There's a whole bit about "hot dogs" that I won't get into. It seems like Silvana doesn’t understand what's going on until the guy asks what she's wearing (black pants and a black shirt, in case you were wondering). She tells the guy not to call back because this is a decent house. Mr 5ft suspects that, in the tradition of all people on telenovelas knowing each other, the guy on the phone was Perez Castelar (the lawyer Burgay contacts from time to time, the one who still doesn't know "Santoro" is a woman).

Hospital: Julio asks if Arnaldo caught up to his dad. Arnaldo said it was worthless, GSD doesn't accept them. Julio says he will eventually. Arnaldo doesn't think so and says if GSD keeps rejecting them, he knows he'll end up losing his family.

Casa A&C: Azul gulps a glass of water and asks Emilia how she's doing with the whole Inés thing (fine) and asks Ceci and Emilia if they knew about GSD going back to work for Mauricio. Azul tells them that GSD decided that Mauricio isn't involved in whatever shady dealings Eva has going on. Emilia says GSD has reached a point in his life where he's dealing with things differently. Azul says that includes Inés, that he wants things to be OK with her, but he really loves Emilia. Ceci says they shouldn't be so sure--if he can decide from one day to the next that Mauricio is innocent, he might also decide he wants Inés back. Azul and Emilia look extremely uncomfortable, but I thought it was funny.

Hospital: GSD talks to a comatose Inés about how disrespectful Arnaldo was to bring Julio there. Shut it, GSD, just shut it. He tells Inés he thinks Julio's the one who "made" Arnaldo gay, essentially. Oh, just shut it.

Outside the hospital: Arnaldo muses about how small his family has become and he doesn't want them dividing over him. Julio says it's not his fault and he should forget it. Arnaldo says family isn't important to Julio. He says he knows it doesn't bother Julio that GSD won't address him, but it does bother Arnaldo. Arnaldo says Julio's concepts of relationships are different, that today Julio's with him, but tomorrow…. Julio says he should be the one who should be offended here, but he's not making a big deal out of it. He suggests they go back to the boutique, have dinner together, maybe see a movie, but Arnaldo says he has to go visit Azul. And no, Julio can't come with him because if GSD doesn't accept Julio and Julio doesn't care about being rejected, then the best thing is not to mix their relationship with Arnaldo's family. What. Ever. I'm seeing a family resemblance here. None of them are any good at relationships. They just get these wacked out ideas about the way things should be and they get overly dramatic about things and make them more complicated than they need to be. Julio has the grace to look sad, but not roll his eyes.

Casa A&C: Azul's checking her cell phone and she found the message from Diego saying he's coming over. Ceci tries to run out of the room, but Azul busts her on it. Ceci tries to put her off by saying she saw Andres…but then she gets stuck, because she can't tell where or how she saw Andres. Azul keeps bugging her to tell what she's hiding. Ceci tries to make her promise not to get out of bed, but Azul won't promise. Ceci finally tells her that Diego came over, found out she'd gone to Mauricio's and went looking for her. Dear old Ceci, love her to death, poor girl just doesn't know when to keep her mouth shut.

The 'Stang: Diego and Efrain are talking about how Paco's body was finally given to Anibal and they're doing the velorio ("vigil" this is an up-all-night-with-the-body thing) ASAP. Diego moans (or whines, take your pick) "Why, Paco, Why?" No answer is forthcoming.

Casa A&C: Ceci's trying to explain how she tried to keep Diego from going and how she tried to call Azul (but Azul left her cell phone) and how she even went over there to tell Azul in person. Azul, of course, gripes her out and is determined to go looking for Diego. Ceci convinces her to call first. Diego, in the 'Stang, refuses to answer the phone. Azul's blaming it all on Ceci. She calls the apartment next and gets Chucho (that was quick, weren't they just going to find an apartment about, oh, an hour ago?--and how'd she get the number, anyway?) who tells her about Paco. Azul passes on the news about Paco to Ceci. Azul is now determined to go find Diego and be with him.

Eva's hotel room: I don't fully understand what Ivan's doing with the pictures of the paintings. I mean, I understand what he *said* he was doing, as far as feeding information into the computer, but that assumes that Mauricio used the same complicated process to hide the password in the first place, which doesn't seem likely. Anyway, Ivan is looking at the painting by Jacinto Gabu (which is where Mauricio got the name of his new security guy [who secretly works for Eva/Ivan]) and he finds who Mauricio bought the painting from and at what price, which for some reason tips him off. The painting's name is "Morning in Pamplona", so Ivan finds or comes up with a sentence about Pamplona being famous for the running of the bulls. He feeds "Mauricio Duarte + Pamplona, city famous for its tradition of the running of the bulls" into the computer. (I'm not translating literally, the sentence says "old tradition of the festival of bulls", which we all know means the running of the bulls. The actual name of the festival is the festival of San Fermín. But I digress.) The computer gives back the numbers 11/37 11/39 11/68 11/65 11/67, then at the click of a button from Ivan, 26 + 28 + 57 + 54 + 56, which looks like each of the second numbers minus 11 (not that it really means much else to me). This, apparently is the password they've been looking for. If anyone can explain how, I'd be delighted.

Casa A&C: Azul's gotten herself all dressed in black to go to Paco's velorio. Ceci tries to get her not to go, offering to go find Diego herself. She says if Azul had called Diego before she went to see Caty none of this would have happened. Thank you! Azul can't blame it all on Ceci, she's got to take responsibility for some of her own bad decisions. Ceci tries to block her from walking out the door, but eventually she lets Azul go. And it really is "lets her go" because Azul's been sick and in bed all day, so it's not like Ceci would've had to try very hard to stop her.

Eva's hotel room: As Eva goes around to the other side of the desk, congratulating Ivan on his brilliance, we see that what the computer finally came up with is "Santoro". So it looks like that's what the actual password is, but it took all the numbers and whatnot to get there. I still don't see how, given that there are five numbers, but "Santoro" has seven letters. Did Mauricio actually go through all that number stuff or was the painting just meant as a cue, like Pamplona, San Fermín, toro…Santoro? Am I overthinking this? Probably, yes. It's going to bug me. I'm anxiously awaiting opinions from all the cryptographers out there. Ivan says that Mauricio probably thought it would be the last thing they'd expect. Eva again congratulates Ivan on his brilliance. Oh, just kiss already!

Mansión Malicia: Jacinto and Leonarda run into each other in one of the sitting areas in the house. Leonarda is eating a yogurt, which, come on! We've never seen her eat yogurt until the writers decided her yogurt needed to be poisoned. I think it's out of character for Leo to walk around the house while eating, no matter what kind of food it is. Jacinto and Leo play a game of "Whose is bigger?" in which Leo says she runs the house and gives all the orders and Jacinto informs Leo that he's the new head of security and only takes orders from Mauricio. I'm not sure who wins this round. As Leo continues eating her yogurt, she finds the paper, where the front page news is that several bodies were found in a canyon. Oops. Bad things are ahead for Andres.

Mauricio's office: Jacinto asks about Leo. Mauricio says that Leo's important and should be treated with respect, but that Jacinto should only take orders from him.

Paco's velorio: lots of weepy people we've never seen before, plus the regulars. Lidia's practically acting like she's Paco's widow. Mama says there's just too much violence in the world. The exchange between Papa and Piero struck me as sort of funny, so I'll give it to you verbatim:

Manuel: Did you know Paco?
Piero: Yeah, he went to the office a few times. I liked him.
M: Is it true, uh, true that he caught you and Lidia together?
P: Well, yeah, even back then, Lidia and I were in love. You caught us too.

Seriously? They're having this conversation at poor Paco's velorio? Diego walks in supporting Isela, who's just a wreck. She puts her hands on what I assume is the box holding Paco's ashes ("He would have been pretty ripe," Mr. 5ft says…true, but so unkind to poor, dead Paco). Anibal comes up and holds her as she cries that Paco was like her own son. Silvana and Flavio show up and greet Manuel and Piero, who are closest to the door. Basically, it's like Manuel and Piero are accepting condolences for a guy neither one of them really cares is dead. Piero asks Manuel if it would be rude if he left. He says he's uncomfortable, since Paco was Lidia's ex, and besides, he's tired. Manuel says not to worry about it and he'll let Lidia know. Nice guy, that Piero.

Mauricio's office: Leo bursts in to show Mauricio the newspaper. Mauricio calls Andres an imbecile and complains that it was supposed to have been impossible to find the bodies. Hey, dude, you try hiding your own bodies sometime if you think it's that easy! Give poor Andres a break.

Paco's velorio: More amusing conversations, as Diego tells Silvana that she was right all along about Mauricio. Silvana doesn't quite say "I told you so"…but she does say "And you didn't believe me." Diego is determined to keep his job long enough to find out what's going on--he's sure that the deaths of Nico, Abuelo, and Paco are all connected somehow. Silvana says she's been visiting Caty and Caty's memories about the crash don't square with what the witnesses say. Flavio wants to help, too, and Diego says he'll let him know what he can do. Diego swears if Mauricio's responsible for all this, he'll pay.

Casa Piero's ex: She sees a news report about the bodies, including Paco's (which is the only one that's been identified) and picks up the phone to tell the cops she has information about Paco's murder. She says she knows who killed him. I'm sure she doesn't, but I bet she's going to say it was Piero. Does she really think he did it, though, or does she just want revenge?

Paco's velorio: Azul has finally showed up, and runs into Diego on the stairs. Diego calls her a hypocrite and says he doesn't want to hear any more lies. He tells her to leave and that it's over forever. Azul wants to explain, but Diego is convinced she'd just lie to him. Azul tries to explain about Caty, but Diego twists it into Azul not being able to let go of anything having to do with Mauricio. He says that's why she convinced her dad to go back to work for him. He tells Azul he saw her in Mauricio's arms. Azul tries to say it's not what he thinks, but since GSD said he went back to work "for Azul," Diego just doesn't want to hear it. He leaves and Azul cries. Diego sits outside, thinking about Azul. He tells her to get out of his thoughts because he should only be thinking about Paco.

Casa A&C: Arnaldo gripes Ceci out for letting Azul out of the house. Ceci says she tried to call GSD, Emilia, and Arnaldo. Plus she called Diego, who told her to go to hell because he thought she was Azul. Arnaldo wants to go look for Azul, but Ceci points out they don't even know Paco's full name to find out what funeral home his velorio is at. Arnaldo decides he'll start by going to the IHoP--once Ceci tells him where it is.

Paco's velorio: Lidia comes outside and finds Diego. Diego questions whether she even cares that Paco's dead. Lidia says he'll always be important to her. Diego is pissed that Lidia brought Piero, or rather "the guy you cheated on Paco with." Wow, he's just letting it all out now. He's pissed about the way Lidia got married. Lidia said that was done on the fly, but the church wedding will be bigger. Diego's pissed that she didn't wait to see what happened to Paco before she got married. Lidia (rightly) says that while she did cheat on him, that doesn't make her responsible for him getting killed. Because cheating girlfriends don't kill people, uh, Andres does. He says she lost a good man to marry a bastard. Lidia doesn't take this well. Diego starts going off on why "women" get rid of true love to be with men who will "resuelve la vida" (solve or resolve their lives; in other words, take care of them financially). He storms back inside as Lidia stands outside and cries. Pobre de Lidia--it ain't easy being skeezy.

Emilia's office: Emilia says goodbye to a client and Azul walks in, looking bad and quite possibly feeling worse. She tells Emilia it's all over, she and Diego are broken up for good this time. It's to her credit that Emilia, unlike me, doesn't say, "Again? That's the third time this week!" Azul doesn't want to go back home and rest, she just wants Diego to understand. Emilia tries to calm her down and get her to talk about what happened. Azul's cell phone rings and Emilia answers it, but we don't get to see who's calling.

Some bar: Anibal talks to Isela about how guilty he feels about the way his and Paco's relationship was. Anibal thinks she should have helped him out more, but Isela says Paco wanted to do things on his own. Isela says that Paco loved him and they should think of the good things about Paco, like how hard he worked. I guess this is some part of the funeral home, since Manuel comes in to say that he's leaving. Isela cries on his shoulder and Anibal goes over to Clemencia to tell her how thankful he is for her welcoming Paco into her home. Clemencia says they loved Paco and the door is always open to Anibal like it was to Paco. She puts her hand on his shoulder and we see Manuel and Isela have come over to have a look. Woo hoo! Mixed doubles among the mature folks! Why let the young ones have all the fun? Manuel restrains himself from kicking Anibal's ass and Clemencia kind of looks over at him like she knows it's pissing him off, but she's doing it on purpose.

Casa A&C: Ceci paces the living room while eating ice cream out of the carton. I knew I liked her. Arnaldo has come back since he found out Azul is at Emilia's. She's going to spend the night there. Ceci says it's a good thing, since she'd almost eaten all the ice cream out of nervousness. *snort* Arnaldo asks her what's going on with Azul. Ceci fills him in enough that Arnaldo also wonders if she's pregnant, but Ceci says they're not an aunt and uncle yet. She tells him Diego's pissed at Azul, and attempts to explain why. Better her than me.

Emilia's office: Azul cries about how Diego is accusing her of things that aren't true and he's acting all loco. Emilia says his best friend just died, so it's not the best time to be trying to explain things to him. She says when Diego's calmer, he'll have to listen to her. Azul cries that he doesn't want to listen and brings up that Diego said GSD said he went back to work for her. She asks Emilia if she knows why GSD said that and Emilia lies and says she doesn't know. It looks like Azul is working herself up into a righteous rage as she says she's got to talk to GSD and find out why he said that. Emilia says it will have to wait since GSD is keeping watch over Inés all night.

Hospital: GSD tells the comatose Inés there's nothing more important than life itself--not her cello, or his lab, just living, breathing air, feeling, laughing, and crying too. He says that now that Azul is at risk of dying he sees it all clearly, we only get one life and that's the only thing that really belongs to us. He says the most valuable thing is to take advantage of every moment. He tells Inés she has to live.

Mansión Malicia: Mauricio is tucking Caty in and he thanks her since because of her he got to see Azul again. He tells Caty that Azul is sick and Caty kind of freaks out because she doesn't want Azul to be sick or DIE like her mom did. Poor kid, she's going to be in therapy the rest of her life the way this is going. Mauricio promises that won't happen, that Azul will get better. Caty asks him what he did to Azul. Dun dun dun!

Tomorrow, more follow up on Paco's death, including Eva telling Diego that Andres probably killed Abuelo on Mauricio's orders. The beast is loose, says the announcer. Tune in for all the exciting new developments.

Labels: amar

This recap almost didn't happen - my cable was out until about 5 minutes before the show started. Then, the captions are unreadable tonight so I'm winging it.

Pilar tells the witches to let Rodrigo work in peace, and to stay away from the hacienda until the guests have left. She stiffly creeps out of the room, moving only her legs, like that really low-budget animation we used to see on TV at 6 in the morning.

Sofie barks at Frankie: she forbids him to go to the hacienda. He must stay behind with the women and children. Isa whispers to him, "we'll find a way to make the time pass."

Jose and Clara continue their argument, eventually Clara takes pity on poor Jose, who is leaking tears of self-pity. "My boy always wanted the finer things, I'm a poor illiterate mother, nothing I could provide was good enough for him."

Hilario has scrammed to Manzanilla leaving a note for SanJuana: "Go home, it's over between us, here's money for your expenses." At the airport he tells Cassandra he's having trouble with a stubborn ex-girlfriend. Cassandra remarks on his bitterness, he says he fell for the wrong woman and is paying for it.

Cassandra does that annoying thing that those of us who are unlucky in love hate: "Oh, just wait, the right one will come along, take me and Christian for example, we're so happy together..." blah, blah, blah

James shows off all the fine agaves to Rodrigo. Rod is, in turn, in a lather to show off his empire for the impresarios - perhaps the impending pack of foreigners comprises venture capitalists?

In the midst of talking about visiting the distillery Rod has a sudden spasm of jealousy and calls Gaviota's hotel - the group hasn't yet arrived...

We get a PSA from the Manzanilla Chamber of Commerce, no, it's Gav and Dr. Blondie giving a boring lecture on the glories of Manzanilla, Important International Port.

Aaron calls Minerva, finds out she won't be coming on the trip, says it's just as well because there shouldn't be a bloody battle in front of guests. He hangs up and calls one of his women - "Plans have changed, come on down!"

In exile, the witches are glad Aaron is on the trip to be their spy. There's talk of some bar-hopping, but Isa decides to stay home "to be with Rickie." She gives the nurse a few days off and whispers to the baby: "tonight we'll visit Daddy." Frankie says he has "business" and can't tell Sofie when he'll be back.

Sofia snarls at Daniela: "You poisoned Grannie against us." Dani is unmoved. All exit.

Ah, the important visitors have arrived. They are like a herd of buffalo roaming across the linoleum floor of the hotel lobby. And Rod calls again - he's impactado to discover Gav and Dr. Blondie have adjoining rooms! He shouts at the receptionist! Get a grip you dimwit!

Rod now commences barking at Roman and Ofelia: There must be flowers for the visitors, and local food, and lovely locals in native dress - and James should go check out the distillery. Roman and Ofelia agree the patron is nervous because Gaviota is coming.

Here we are on the set of Hilario's photo shoot - he appears to be mountain climbing in order to advertise toothpaste. Teams of experts are fluffing his hair and improving his makeup so he will look natural and rough-hewn. Cassandra, in charge, is wearing one of those belts the guys at Home Depot wear so they won't get hernias. Hers is much tighter.

The sun sets. Our herd of buffalo is being loaded into the cattle car and taken to dinner. Some picturesque place. Gaviota isn't going. The receptionist has a message for her, from her ma: "I am beyond devastated to be missing your birthday!!" There are no messages for Dr. Blondie.

Receptionist: "Oh, and, a guy called, he wouldn't leave his name but he sounded kinda desperate and wanted to know if you and the Doctor arrived together ..." "We know who it is." Dr. Blondie in that annoying I'll-take-care-of-everything mode says: "If he calls again, let ME know."

Well, Rod does call again - and the receptionist passes the phone to Gaviota. She doesn't inform Rod that the phone has been passed. He is rattling on with his requests for information (much like Isa and Elvira) until Gav snaps and says, "Why don't you hire a private investigator? Or if you want to know what I'm doing, why not ask me?" He says insincerely that he didn't want to ruin her romantic night with Dr. Blondie... Soon it's the same old same old until she says she won't go to Montalveña and then he says HE won't go to Montalveña and he hangs up on her. Spoiled baby.

After the commercial, he is scowling and whining in the cantina and James is patiently explaining in his no-longer-tolerable atrocious accent that Rod HAS to be there when the VIPs come, otherwise he'll lose business, but more importantly, he'll lose ground with Gaviota - and if he misses her birthday she won't forgive him. Rod sheepishly admits his jealousy got the better of him. Again. Then he blames the whole situation on James who indignantly refuses to shoulder the blame.

Isa strokes her legs and throat. She is wearing a satin kimono and smiling a knowing smile.

Dr. Blondie drones on, to the herd of VIPs, about, what else, tequila. The Doc says his favorite of the new ones is "Ardiente Pasion." Aaron says the name is twee, undignified, and femme. They get into a little spat and then Gav shows up, the only woman, the buffalo all rise happily upon seeing her.

There is blah blah about exports and Europe and Aaron interrupts to say, "Gaviota, you know all about Europe, in fact you 'know' a whole lot of Europeans, don't you!"

The buffalo will be grazing at a romantic seaside restaurant. Gav says she isn't going. Aaron makes snide revelations: "Gaviota spent a whole lot of quality time here with my ol' cousin Rodrigo."

The bus comes for them. Aaron makes snake eyes at Gaviota and leaves. She tells the Doc she'd like to string Aaron up. "Your killing him would not be good for the Institute's prestige," the Doc mildly suggests.

Rod calls AGAIN. He is overjoyed to hear that Gaviota is alone. She's summoned to the phone and is treated, as are we, to the loud and tuneless duo of James and Rodrigo, two idiots baying along with the mariachi band. [I would say it was ghastly except I taught a course called "Songs for Non-Singers" for twenty-five years and have heard worse. -Ed.] Gav likes it. "We're in Carmelo's cantina, where you sang for me the first time." They both apologize. They each say, "Never forget I love you," the sound of anvils whistling through the upper atmosphere can be heard, her eyes fill with tears...

... and here comes the herd again, crossing the plain! I thought they went to dinner already!

... and here comes Frankie with champagne and he and Isa land in the bubble bath!

... and here comes Aaron, telling Gaviota she will never set foot in the hacienda, and there is some horn-butting with the Doc, who says, "Then we can cancel the event," except that would hurt Rod more than it hurts Aaron, who tells the Doc, "If you knew her black history, you'd agree with me," and Gav wants to tell the whole story to the Doc, who is curiously uninterested but offers to make her a cup of coffee so miraculous she will forget all her troubles, but miraculously she doesn't want any coffee. She repeats: "If he comes to you with his story, at least let me tell my side."

Next time: Sofie questions the condition of Frankie's usually-immaculate clothes; the buffalo come upon Dr. Blondie breathing down Gaviota's neck; Rod shouts at Gaviota.

Labels: Destilando

I haven't been watching Destilando, so imagine my surprise when I was flipping through channels a few minutes ago and saw the end of Destilando. There was Amar's own villainous Rene Strickler, playing what appears to be a nice doctor. I looked at the latest Destilando recap, and Julie seems to have identified some character as Dr. Blondie. Is that Rene?

Isn't it unusual for a big star to be in two shows at once? I suppose they must have finished Amar before he started appearing in Destilando, even though Destilando started earlier?

Labels: amar, Destilando

Thanks to a series of petty mishaps (most of them not work-related), I was filled with snark and rage by the time I knocked off work earlier today. This pleased me, since I know from past experience that snark and rage usually inspire a better recap.

Then I went shopping and found everything that I wanted, in exactly the right flavors and/or colors and sizes. Now the snark and rage are gone. I'm sorry. The recap will suck. But you should see the awesome shoes and groceries I ended up with.

The brujas are staggering festively around the living room when Rodrigo and Panchi- er, Frankie arrive. Minerva scurries to turn off the music. "Here comes the love of my life! Hi, my love!" Isa cries with mock giddiness, throwing her arms around Rodrigo's neck. (I am impressed that she landed on the right man. Perhaps she was aiming for Frankie, but being so drunk, she missed.) "How'd it go with the love of your life?" she adds. Rodrigo tries to peel her off of him.

Sofia similarly throws herself at Frankie, who fends off her affectionate attack. "You went to the party?" Sofia asks, hurt. "Sure, with his 'pantera,'" Minerva jokes with a Mundo de Fieras hiss. "Or with Gaviota," Fedra laughs with contempt. "As manager of the plantation, I had to help out. Business is business," Frankie explains pompously. Then, in Pepe-Le-Pew French, he adds, "That's how it is, my love."

"Negocios son negocios. C'est comme ça, mon amour," Fedra mocks him in a deep voice, prompting a lot of sodden laughter. (I wish there were some way to frame this moment and hang it on Pilar's wall, as it perfectly captures both Fedra's personality and Frankie's.)

Minnie wants to know who her husband was hanging around with. "No one," Rodrigo assures her in blissful ignorance. As he takes his leave, Minerva starts slurping at yet another strawberry margarita.

At this point, it would not surprise me in the least if she is indeed pregnant and doesn't know it yet. Getting so hammered this early in the pregnancy probably isn't harmful because there are no actual organs to damage, but you know how it is in soaps. Anyway, she proposes a toast to her faithful husband. Ahahahaha. Isa turns her head so as not to laugh directly in Minnie's face, but the clueless cuñada is way too plastered to ponder the significance of Isa's sardonic mirth.

Meanwhile, back at the CRT, Aaron is dealing with Pamela, who has been anticipating this confrontation for months, while Aaron has apparently never given it a moment's thought or preparation. "Uh... Minerva made me do it," he offers feebly. "I swear on my mother that I had no idea she was going to publish those photos." Pammy pushes for a more satisfactory answer. "Why'd you go back to her? Maybe I'll understand." He weakly says it was due to family pressure about a business deal. "So my father was right - I was just an accident in your life. A bad business move. Right?"

He insists that he really did love her, and now he feels nostalgic about the nice life they had together. ""Nostalgic?! Your feelings have faded so quickly?" She reminds him that he swore he'd forgotten about Minerva, and wanted to marry Pammy and have a baby with her. He answers that he can't explain clearly - he can't say that he loves her, but he can't exactly say that he's stopped loving her, either. It's just nostalgia - that's the best way to describe it.

"At least it's something," Pamela replies sadly. Aaron says he can't even hope that she'll forgive him, but he does hope she believes that he never ever meant to do that to her, and he's sorry. She tells him not to worry - he'll have a chance to make it up to her. She wants to see him again. He asks if she doesn't think it would be useless. She says if he really doesn't love his wife, he can at least spend time with someone who makes him nostalgic. Is that so much to ask after all he's done? She's not asking to marry him - just to see him.

He reluctantly agrees to call her. "No - I will call you," she insists.

Their fathers are conferring in front of a booth for Sangre Brava tequila, which either does not exist, or isn't easy to find in the US (or on Google). Bruno is trying to smooth things over ("it's a matter between our kids") with Gaspar, who towers over him with restrained indignation. Gaspar says the only thing he asks of the Montalvos is to leave his daughter in peace.

Aaron ambles up and asks his daddy if they can leave. Bruno brushes him off and tells Gaspar that he wants to be pals again, with Bruno's apologies in the name of his whole family. Gaspar coldly excuses himself and walks away. "This situation sucks," Bruno tells Aaron in polite terms. Aaron opines that Gaviota probably engineered the whole thing. Bruno verbally rolls his eyes at this and asks how it went with Pam. Aaron says there's nothing tougher than explaining to a woman why he left her at the altar. She bombarded him with questions and it was a challenge to answer all of them.

Bruno reminds Aaron that he went back to Minerva because he loves her and he needs her to live. To this, Aaron replies only that he's exhausted. They leave the party.

Gaspar goes to Av* and says some stuff I don't quite get, but it sounds as though he plans to keep Av* informed on some monkey business that he suspects has been going on. (I think we all know what this is in reference to.) He then finds his daughter and calls her a fountain of stubbornness for tolerating Aaron's humiliation and even seeking him out. Pammy assures him she knows what she's doing. He disagrees and says he doesn't want her to contact that creep any more. Instead, she should go to Europe with him to look for that information she wants. "What are you going to do now, forgive him??" With sad but firm resolve, she answers, "That's the last thing I'd ever do, Papa."

Thus is Aaron's doom sealed; Pamela Torreblanca has been dissed for the dead-last time. I can see it in her eyes. Aaron Montalvo is less than toast. He is the droppings of the microscopic bugs that eat the crumbs at the bottom of the toaster. No, scratch that. He is the fungus that grows on those droppings and causes strange stains on the countertop than can't be removed even with a powerful and expensive bleach gel. Eventually you say "That's it, I'm going to replace this counter with granite, NOTHING stains granite," but then you look at that stain and you think, well... what if? Granite is expensive - what will you do if the bleach gel doesn't get the stain out of it? And then you decide not to spring for the granite after all.

Because that is the effect Aaron has on people, until someday he gets run over by a pie truck, or more likely a swimming pool chemical supply service van, mostly likely driven by Pamela Torreblanca. Mark my words. (No, don't really. I've got my snark back, but that usually means my judgment is unreliable.)

What was I doing? Oh yeah, the recap. Right. Sorry.

Elsewhere at the decreasingly enjoyable party, Doña Jose is sobbing to Gavi and Clarita that when her precious little boy called her his Nana, she felt as if the earth had opened up and swallowed her.

Great. Now I have to come up with what kind of nasty microorganism Frankie the Grifter is. Okay. There's this stuff which, if your property has a cesspool instead of city sewer, you're supposed to flush down the toilet periodically. I think it contains enzymes and such to help break down the, literally, crap and whatnot to prevent gases from building up. Francisco de la Vega is the stuff that...

You know what, I'm stumped. Here I am with my mind in a cesspool, and I still can't think of a substance or fate worthy of Frankie for the way he made his mother cry. Is it okay if I just call him a douchebag?

So Josefina is sobbing that she totally gets why he blew her off - after all, how can he admit that she's his mother, a lowly and illiterate woman? Clarita and Gavi try to comfort her. Gavi tells her that a child must never deny the family that gave him life. (I'm catching a whiff of irony. I can't place it just yet, but let's memorize the aroma so we can recognize it later, okay?) They converge in a three-way hug.

Back at the brujas' lair, Sofia asks Frankie if he met Gaviota. Yep! "Did she seem pretty?" Isa asks sarcastically. "Eh, more or less," douchebag Frankie answers in his first-year French. Fedra asks how she looked. "Adequately made-up," Frankie replies with great restraint. "Let's just say she was elegant enough."

Fedra drunkenly protests that a migrant worker could never make herself look "elegant." Fortunately, the arrival of Bruno and Aaron brings this painfully ironic conversation to an end. Isa stifles another laugh as Minerva complains that she thought Aaron would spend the night at the CRT. "Did you have a lot of fun without us?" Isa giggles.

"It was an evening of business, not a party," Bruno answers. (Now that I think of it, not only did he, Aaron, and Frankie all fail to have fun, they also failed to get anyone to conduct any business with them.) He's pooped and wants to turn in, but Fedra's got a burning question: Did the other women ask about them (the brujas)? Did anyone comment on their absence? "Oh, yeah, everyone," Bruno humors her.

"You're wrong, Papa," Aaron interjects. "Somebody specifically did NOT miss the women - Gaviota's mother." The brujas are as impactadas as you can reasonably expect from a bunch of women who are barely conscious. At the word "mother," douchebag Frankie closes his eyes and probably hopes no one will remember any of this tomorrow. Aaron hugs his own mom, either to comfort her or to prevent her from slumping to the floor.

(I believe Aaron missed out on the Jose/Frankie confrontation, unfortunately... he's the one person who would have figured out the entire thing in the blink of an eye.)

Minerva is particularly offended that they were snubbed just so that husband-stealer's mother could attend instead of them. (No, no, Minnie - you were excluded because you're a bitch. Clarita's attendance was an unrelated insult.) "I'm Fedra de Montalvo," Fedra slurs, "and that name means Tradition in the world of tequila!" She breaks down weeping. "So much humiliation!" She ambles out of the room in tears.

(Sofia rests her head on douchebag Frankie's shoulder, but backs off when he again doesn't respond.)

Minerva asks Aaron how the ex-migrant-worker treated with him. He tells her Gavi invited the Torreblancas. "You were with PAMELA??" Minerva asks, shoving him like Elaine on Seinfeld saying "GET! OUT!!" "Yep, but don't worry. Nothing happened. I'll explain later." He tries to kiss her, but she dodges him and storms out to join Fedra.

Aaron yells after her, but does not follow. Isa grabs him (a bit more eagerly than necessary) and asks if he knows whether Gavi will be visiting at the hacienda. "Of course," he answers, extricating himself angrily. Sofia gets up swiftly and declares that she will not allow Rod's little woman to invade their precious Montalvania.

She pauses, as if receiving a psychic message from a distant planet. It's actually a message from her digestive tract. It's remembering what it's supposed to do when it's presented with more poison than it can deal with. She rushes to the bathroom, heaving. Douchebag Frankie is so concerned, he almost swivels his head 90 degrees to watch her retreat. Bruno asks Isa to ask Enriqueta to get Fedra a coffee. "She's not used to drinking like that." Isa agrees and staggers off, even though she's got a massive headache herself.

The two men and one douchebag are now alone. Frankie complains that Aaron ruined the party for them. Bruno agrees. Aaron whines angrily at this, causing d.b. Frankie to smirk discreetly.

Back at the party, Gaviota is expressing concern to Dr. Blondie that she may have made a mess of things with the Montalvos. He tells her not to worry, and that if anything happens, he'll say he was the one who invited Clarita and Jose. "Since you invited us, why don't Jose and I get another tequila," Clarita slurs at him coyly. Gavi says they've had too much already, and she's going to get them some coffees and a taxi, because she still has to take some of the guests back to the hotel.

Dr. Blondie offers to take them (Clarita and Jose) instead. Clarita loves this idea - she wants to talk to him about this trip he's going to be taking with her little Gaviotita. "Clarita, do you think I'm five years old?" Gavi asks. Clarita informs her that she's never too old to be her child.

Dr. Blondie tells Gavi to leave now and show up early at the office tomorrow with her bags packed. She agrees to leave the ladies in his charge, and reminds Clarita to behave herself. Jose is still sobbing and pretty much out of it when Gavi leaves to take the guests back to the hotel. Clarita absentmindedly tries to follow Gavi, but Dr. Blondie calls her back. (You've heard of trying to herd kittens? Try herding just one drunken Clarita.) He assures Clarita that Gavi will be well taken care of. Clarita replies (with a slightly threatening edge in her otherwise unsteady voice) that Gavi grew up in the agave fields and can pretty well take care of herself.

Clarita then reveals that she's bummed that she won't be with Gavi on her birthday the day after tomorrow (pasado mañana). At this, we get a close-up of Dr. Blondie making an inscrutable face.

Rodrigo is in bed, telling himself that Gaviota's birthday is the day after tomorrow. (Okay, okay - I can take a hint. I guess now if anybody shows up without a gift or at least a card, we're going to look like jerks.)

Elsewhere in the DF, Sanwanna dozes lightly in her underwear on Hilario's bed, which is strewn with rose petals. The door slams, waking her up. She douses herself in Isa's stolen perfume and hides in the closet. Hilario enters the bedroom with two women, who go straight for the bed. He tells them, "First we're going to watch a movie, and afterwards..." He trails off, ever the shy and wholesome farmboy.

Sanwanna charges out of the closet, enraged. Hilario seems surprised to see her, and asks what she's still doing there. "I told you to go away!"

"And I told you I'm not going!"

He tells her to cut the crap and get the hell out. She counter-demands that he throw out his painted women. "I'm in my home and I'll do as I please." Sanwanna argues that she won't be thrown out. "Hili"'s lady friends are only mildly concerned and wondered where the heck she came from. He says he knows her from the hacienda, where she considers herself quite the thing.

"Don't be such a blabbermouth, Hilario! I'm his fiancee," she informs the amigas. "Get out or I'll throw you out!" She starts throwing stuff at them. They reluctantly get up from the bed and pick up their shoes, scolding Hilario as they leave.

Triumphantly, Sanwanna tries to comfort Hilario. With his back to her, she cannot see the maroon rage spreading across his face, nor the great effort he is making to control himself.

Isa joins Rodrigo in the bedroom and civilly asks what time they'll leave tomorrow to go back to the hacienda. He tells her it's strictly business and he'll be back in three days. She sourly observes that Gaviota makes all of his decisions now, and the Montalvo women aren't allowed to accompany him. "Does that include our child too?" He tells her to leave the kid out of it - and he's the one who decides who does and does not go. (If anyone was contemplating an angry comment about Rodrigo, now is the time to make it!)

"Fine, I wouldn't think of insisting. Montalveña is more hers than mine." She asks what he's going to do about Sofia. She's going early tomorrow too, and no way is she going to let his lover in.

Rodrigo gets up to leave the room. "None of you are going. NONE." Isa tries to hold him back and says she is surprised by his cynicism. "Don't you remember that we spent our honeymoon at the hacienda, my love?"

(I remember. I think he slept on the couch.)

Rodrigo reminds Isa that he is well aware of what she and his sister have done. They didn't support him in his project, they made all kinds of trouble for Gaviota, and that's why they got burned. That's why Gaviota didn't invite them to the party.

Isa clutches her skull and asks him to keep his voice down and complains that he's so concerned about "her." Rod says it's because he loves "her." And, he wants his guests to be well received and for things to go as planned. He doesn't want some trifulca (trifle?) to ruin his and his father's years if work on the organic tequila. He's going to go tell Sofia and Pilar to leave him in peace. "DID YOU HEAR ME? TO LEAVE ME IN PEACE!" Isa moans again, holding her head.

Over at Hilario's, Sanwanna is blabbering about how he should be grateful that she chased those nasty skanks away. She tries to tempt him with shrimps and cider to sooth his rage. And she tells him that Isa (there's someone Hilario does not need to be thinking about) says that seafood will "arouse his spirit."

Hili slowly turns to face Sanwanna. Honestly, he looks like he's going to bite her. She shoves a shrimp at him, and he leans away. She leans forward and demands that he smell her, because she's put on some perfume. He is wide-eyed with bemusement and exclaims that her shrimps and her damn perfume are not going to do her any good. He stomps out.

Alone, she gloats something like "we'll see who's tougher." She opens the bottle of cider and toasts the thin air. "To us, Hilario!"

Aaron and Minerva are just getting home. Aaron scolds Minerva for drinking when she's supposedly (even if only fictitiously) pregnant. "Well, you're SUPPOSEDLY my husband," she retorts, but instead he put on a big show in front of the whole world with his ex-lover. Their reconciliation must have been quite the spectacle.

She flops down on the bed. Aaron hauls her back up. "I told you we only talked." Pam wanted an explanation for what he had done. Aaron tells Minnie that he told Pam that he went back to Minnie because he loves her.

Minnie seems not to be paying much attention. She says she's thirsty, and sends Aaron to get her some aspirin. Glad for the change of subject, Aaron tries to lecture her on the perils of too much alcohol, but Minnie is not so easily derailed. She asks how Pamela took the news. "Did she congratulate you?"

Aaron tries to dodge the question by giving her the aspirin. Minerva hiccups and says she's sure that Pamela is in cahoots with Mariana Franco. Aaron angrily says no, Gaviota saw her chance to play a joke by inviting Pamela, and that's all.

He complains about some stray garment in his drawer. I don't know what that's all about.

"Did you really tell her you love me?" "Ah, with women you can never tell the truth because they never believe you!" He backpedals and tells Minnie the truth: He told Pam he went back to Minnie because there was a deal that would be very profitable for his family. (Minnie frowns, either at his words or at the turmoil in her innards.) And that maybe he does feel something for Pamela: Nostalgia. Pam said she wanted to see him again, and he agreed.

"Do you like that version better?" he smugly asks Minerva. She does not.

All Minerva can think about is the gossip that will be flying around the tequileros' union. That, plus a glass of water.

She asks if the homewrecker will be traveling with them (the men, not her) tomorrow. He says yes, and he is going to trash her reputation in front of everyone, including her boss.

Minnie tells him that all of the women are going to be at the hacienda to make sure the homewrecker doesn't set foot in Montalveña. She spanks him playfully. He tells her to quit the subject of Gaviota and get in bed. She wants to know how she's supposed to sleep, knowing that he's going on a trip with that woman, knowing that he's had relations with her? (Wait, I thought we already resolved this??) He ignores this. "I am going to sleep."

Frankie makes Sofia an Alka-Seltzer, which nauseates her further. She describes her plan to get up early and enlist Pilar's support to keep Gaviota out of the hacienda. He tells her he has to go back to the hacienda with Rodrigo to take care of operations there. Sofia is woozily impactada that he's planning to go back there without her. She doesn't want to leave him alone with Gaviota. She warns him that he doesn't know what she's like. She might flirt with him.

Frankie takes mild offense that she thinks he's such an easy guy. Sofia doesn't try to deny it. "How little you know me!" Frankie protests. He starts with the first-year French and "I only have eyes for you."

Throughout this scene, Sofia has been battling severe nausea. As he leans in to kiss her, I half-expect her to throw up. Instead, her stomach suddenly seems to settle. (Mine, not so much.)

Now it's morning. Clarita gives Gavi a blessing and asks the santos and Virgencita not to let the airplanes break in midair, and not to let Rodrigo and Dr. Blondie to argue over Gaviota. And not to let the Montalvo women show up at the hacienda. Gaviota adds, "and keep those fieras way far away, because wherever they look for me, they find me."

"And above all," adds Clarita, "protect her in the hotels." (She reminds Gaviota to double-lock all the doors.) She also asks them to give Gavi a happy birthday.

She's still bummed about missing Gavi's birthday. She says she'll say a prayer at the very hour that Gaviota was born to her. (That sounds like a pretty explicit statement that they are truly mother and daughter.) "You are my pride. You are the best child in the world." They hug and cry. At Gavi's request, Clarita manages a shaky smile. Gavi leaves with her luggage.

Hilario sneaks out of his own apartment, leaving a note for Sanwanna, who's asleep, possibly passed out, still clutching the cider bottle. "In my world, there's no room for you," Hili mutters.

Rodrigo asks Imelda to go wake Sofia because he wants to speak to her right away. She groggily comes out to join him. He says he's aware that she's planning to go to the hacienda, but he'd like her to wait three or four days. She says no can do, she's going with Frankie this afternoon. "Anyway, I know why you're asking me to cancel." They argue. She says it's her home too and she doesn't need his permission to go there with her husband. And, he's not her father and he can't tell her what to do. He says it's okay, he's not trying to deprive her of her rights, it's just that there will be guests and he wants things to go well.

Sofia knows he wants to have Gaviota there too, and she is not going to permit it. "I can invite anyone to Montalveña I want!" he hollers. Anyway, he claims, the "guests" will just be there for one afternoon, and after Monday they'll be gone.

Sofia says he's wasting his time. She's going this afternoon, period.

Rodrigo says fine. In that case, he'll cancel the event and give up Montalveña. She can do whatever she wants with the place. They argue some more - actually, it's just him yelling and Sofia holding her head - until Pilar shows up, wanting to know what's going on.

Sofia quickly summarizes the conversation. Rodrigo tries to "clarify" the situation - he's not threatening to quit. He is quitting, if he can't be with Gaviota there. He just wants a place where he can receive his guests the way they deserve. Sofia and Isa only want to go so they can interfere with Gaviota, and he won't allow it.

They bicker some more and Rod tries to stomp out. Pilar won't let him leave until they work things out. Sofia gets mad and starts yelling at Pilar, thinking that Pilar is going to give her blessing to Gaviota moving in.

Daniela wanders in and adds her two pesetas: she thinks it's swell if Gaviota does live at Montalveña. She proposes a vote: all three siblings have the right to enjoy the hacienda, so it's two to one. "What, doesn't Granny's opinion count?" Sofia asks in alarm. "She has the definitive word!"

"Thanks very much for including me," Pilar answers dryly. She says as long as she's alive, she'll give the orders. She says the CRT people can certainly stay at the hacienda. That includes Mariana Franco. All she asks is that Mariana not stay any longer than the duration of the CRT event. Nobody else from the family can go to the hacienda until the event is finished.

Sofia bitterly tells Pilar that she just helped break up Rodrigo and Isadora's marriage, and storms out. Pilar sits there serenely, brushing off Rodrigo's enthusiastic thanks. She reminds him that she's not authorizing him to take advantage of the situation. She trusts that she'll behave himself.

Rod tells Dani he doesn't think he'll see Gavi right away, because he has things to do in Tequila. But her birthday is coming up. He tells her about the book that Dr. Blondie gave her with the mushy inscription. Dani teases him about his jealousy and tells him not to worry so much or he'll miss his plane. She reminds him that if he doesn't stay calm, he could end up without Gaviota. (Again.) Rodrigo is seriously threatened by Dr. Blondie.

Now Gaviota is in her office, giving orders to Nancy. She is almost as demanding with Nancy as Dr. Blondie was on Gavi's first day, but at least she can remember Nancy's name. She asks Nancy to go to the IT dept and get her a laptop for the trip. She's going to do all of her press releases on it. Nancy's already on the case. She asks Gavi if she'll take a nice long bath (baño de tina?) at the hotel. Gavi says this trip is for business, not pleasure. (Gaviota seems to be the absolute only person who thinks so.) It's important that their offices in Washington, Brussels, and Madrid all share in the festival's success. (I Googled this, and while the CRT does have offices in Madrid and Washington, I couldn't find any reference to a place in Brussels.)

Dr. Blondie comes in. He's in a good mood and tells Nancy he's leaving her in charge of the department. Gavi says she has everything she needs except some cards for some overseas companies, or something. Dr. Blondie says they don't have time and tells Nancy to email them. Nancy takes off to get Gavi's laptop.

(In the last two paragraphs, I see like half a dozen things that could go horribly wrong for the CRT.)

Dr. Blondie asks Gavi if she's considered that she might run into all the Montalvo women. It won't be easy. Gavi says she knows Aaron probably thinks she invited his ex-girlfriend just to be mean, but in fact, only Pamela's parents were invited, and not Pamela. But she sure got a kick out of it when Pam showed up in front of Aaron!

Gavi says she'll be ready for anything. And she still sort of thinks of that place as her own turf. If anyone touches her, she'll make 'em dance!

Nancy shows up with the laptop. I think someone should take a peek inside that laptop bag before they leave just to be on the safe side, but as we all know, yelling at the TV accomplishes nothing.

Isadora and Minerva are on the phone, comparing hangovers. Minerva says that ever since she spoke to Sofia, her liver's been in her mouth. (Our equivalent would be to say that our heart is in our mouth.) She tells Isadora about Pilar's decree. Minerva is furious with Pilar and is hoping that Fedra will make a difference. They're going to meet with Sofia in half an hour.

Doña Jose is still smarting over what her douchebag son said to her last night. She's trying to excuse his behavior because she had caught him between a rock and a hard place (a sword and a wall). If the Montalvos knew what kind of mother her Panchito came from, they'd make him divorce that woman. Clarita says it's not her fault, it's his father's fault for letting her raise him alone. Jose disagrees. Frankie is where he is, among all those fancy people, because of the way she raised him. He looked like a prince.

"And what's that worth to you," Clarita asks, "if he denies the woman who gave birth to him? Gaviota would never do that!"

"And how's that been working out for her?" Jose answers angrily. "How many years has she been getting scorn from the Montalvos? And breadcrumbs from that Rodrigo? But him, he's married to a great lady!"

Clarita asks Jose not to compare their children, but Jose just has to point out that Gaviota doesn't have any hope of taking the Montalvo name. Clarita tells her that her daughter isn't in it for the surname. She's worth more than that. She's gotten to where she is by using her head, and not by being ashamed of her background. "THAT is the difference between YOUR Panchito, and MY Gaviota."

The brujas, including Fedra, are now assembled at Granny Pilar's house. "We want to know what you have against us," Isa begins.

"How long are we going to have to pay for our mistakes?" Minerva asks.

"It'd also be nice to know whose side you're on, Grandma," Sofia adds.

"Not only have you withdrawn your support of us, but now you're opening the doors of the hacienda to that woman," Fedra complains.

"It seems that you've become my enemy," Isa continues, "because she's allowed to go to Montalveña, and I'm not."

Pilar tries to reason with them, says it's about work and the CRT and the tequila, and tells them about the stipulation that Mariana must not stay any longer than the length of the CRT event. She tells them to let Rodrigo work in peace.

Sofia wants to know when they can regain her support. Pilar says that's a great question - it'll be just as soon as they can behave with some grace. And if there are no more questions, then great, everybody have a nice day! She excuses herself and walks out. I bet her virtual foot is still tingling from the virtual and extremely classy ass-kicking she has just delivered unto these dingalings.

Frankie comes in and tells Sofia they're going to miss their flight. "We're not going," she answers. He informs her that he is going, regardless. He gets up.

Isa smirks behind her glass and quietly asks Sofia if she's just going to let him leave. Sofia barks Frankie's full name and insists that they're not going. He argues. She stands up to him. He is flabbergasted, thunderstruck, dumbfounded, and, needless to say, muy pero MUY impactado.

It is awesome.

Isa pulls Frankie aside and tells him it'll just be for a few days. They'll find a way to pass the time.

---

Miércoles

• At the CRT event, Aaron tries to get Gaviota to talk about her adventures in Europe. I hope she tells them every last sordid detail of her laundry-folding days at the convent.
  
  
• Isa and Frankie get dirty in the bathtub.
  
  
• Rodrigo gives Gaviota a long-distance birthday party.
  
  
• Rodrigo goes out of his way to discover that Gavi and Dr. Blondie have adjoining hotel rooms. He does not approve.
  

Labels: Destilando

Highlights only today, guys. Feel free to jump in and add details!

It turns out that Max wasn't shot, it was only a nightmare that Diana was having. He picked up Maxito without incident.

Marcela's still planning to leave town, and tells Max that he can either get a divorce now or later he'll want a divorce and he won't know where to find her. Then she goes to see Diana to let her know that she's free to be with Max.

Paco's leaving Miami - he's going to Puerto Rico to open a bar and forget about Fedora. Jorge and Lorenzo will buy his bar in Miami. Yolanda's super sad to see him go.

Pedro's starting to realize that Marfil's only after his money, and confronts her, so she has to go back to the "viejito lindo" talk to convince him that she loves him. Meanwhile, she tells Camila that she'll wait a month before she kills him so that the police won't suspect her.

Ignacio is about to rape Octavia, but she grabs a steak knife and kills him instead.

Labels: acorralada