Caray, Caray!

Juan and Sofi claim the prize. The unnamed man from Hacienda Los Angeles gets the trophy. Juan gets the cash. Coyote quietly tells Juan that the Boss is very happy that the contest was won by a Reyes.

Juan seems to hesitate at this for a moment, but he's much too excited to wonder who the Boss is or why a total stranger would say such an odd thing. He tells Sofi the silver spurs she gave him brought him luck. He apologizes to Rosendo for defeating him, but says he needs the money for his child. Rosendo says Juan deserves it, and they hug. Pablito and Quintina join the fan club meeting. Pablito says he wants to be just like Juan. Juan says he already is - being a Reyes.

Eladio - I think it's Eladio - gives a pro-chile speech. Oscar's sweating over a chili pepper. He offers a bite to Jimena. It's a bit hot for her. Eladio wraps up his speech and encourages the crowd to partake.

Oscar samples another pepper, and Jimena, being very gullible, agrees to try that one too. Again, it's too much. He gives her a big peppery kiss just to make sure she gets the full effect!

Rigo is trying to get mushy with Eugenia when Benito shows up. "So you're still with Rigo's girlfriend even though you're really in love with me?" She answers "Yes... I mean yes I'm still going with Rigo. And in front of him I'm telling you not to come near me." He makes a weird face trying not to cry.

Rosario seems to have forgotten her blouse (she is wrapped in a shawl). Franco wants to talk. She refuses and says she doesn't love him. Sarita comes along a moment later and asks if he's okay. He says he's confused. She smiles and offers to listen. Eavesdropping nearby, Rosario hopes her sacrifice pays off for Sarita.

Now for the singing and dancing. Rosario goes first and dedicates a song to her child. Feo is angry that she's singing without his permission. He orders Armando to nab Rosario when she's done. Then Raquel finds Feo and he tells her not to make a jealous scene. She wants a kiss.

Meanwhile, Gabi is looking for him. (I didn't notice the first time around, but he and Raquel are actually smooching in the upper right of the frame as Gabi wanders in at the lower left.) Coyote finds Gabi and asks if they can hang out. She says she doesn't take invitations from strangers. He says that if they try, they can stop being strangers! Feo finds them and says he was looking for her. She tells Coyote they're engaged. Surprised, Coyote congratulates them with daggers in his eyes. He excuses himself and takes longer kissing her hand than Feo would like.

Gabi grills Feo on his whereabouts. She says Coyote was bugging her because he left her alone. If he keeps disappearing like that, she'll end up responding to that guy's overtures. She beams at Coyote, who is watching from a distance. Coyote grins smugly in acknowledgment.

Next, Pedro sings atop a prancing horse. (That cannot be easy.)

So Armando tries to get Rosario to go with him, but she's uncooperative. He comments on how cocky she is and has the henchmen grab her. Pedro tries to rescue her, so they start beating him up. Armando is ready to give him a good punch when Coyote shows up, discreetly indicates the gun tucked into his belt (his belt buckle says "COYOTE," I wonder if his mommy wrote that on the tags of his shirt and underwear too) and tells Armando that if he touches Pedro, he's DEAD.

And wow, that's some ring he's wearing, it's like a giant iron knuckle that would leave a grille on your face.

Coyote warns Pedro off with his eyes. Thusly emboldened, Pedro gives Armando a scornful look and takes off with Rosario.

The festival draws to a close. The contest gets to crown the queen of the festival. You'll never guess who that is... oh all right, it's Sofi. Juan seems confused by the complicated tiara and simply hands it to her so that she can put it on herself. Franco sings his usual song. He picks Sarita out of the crowd for a dance.

Meanwhile, Feo and Gabi argue (we don't hear any of it, but can assume they're arguing about the usual) and she leaves alone.

Later Pedro meets up with his brothers to congratulate Juan on his win. Armando tells Juan Feo wants to "talk" to him. The guys are skeptical and insist on accompanying Juan. (They joke that Feo gives them "mieo," obvious a pun on "miedo"=fear, but I can't find a definition for "mieo.")

Armando shows them to a room that has bales of hay in it (there's so much hay the outdoors can't hold it all!). Feo challenges Juan to some poker. If he wins, he gets Juan's winnings from the jaripeo. If Juan wins, he gets double.

Juan turns it down, but since money is involved, Oscar is in favor. Franco says they shouldn't be greedy. Pedro suggests letting Juan decide. (I love Pedro!) Juan accepts the challenge.

The tequila girl is looking at Juan's cards and stroking her neck in a weird way. Feo responds by raising. (Armando is standing behind Feo, but he's not giving Juan any help at all. Too bad. He's got a cigarette... he could signal him with puffs of smoke.) Juan folds, and Feo wins the first round. (A goofy onscreen graphic lends a "poker tournament" feel to the scene.)

Juan seems to like his next hand a little better. The tequila girl looks at Juan's cards and sticks some fingers out at Feo as she slowly sets Juan's glass on the table. Feo raises again. Juan sees him and raises. (Oscar and Franco suspect something's up.) Feo has the better hand. (I can't make out the individual cards, but the artwork has a chile pepper motif!)

Juan's funds are running low, and it's not a good sign when he asks for four new cards. The tequila girl comes in and Oscar throws her out (politely, of course - "we don't want any") when he sees her craning to look at Juan's hand again. Nevertheless, Feo wants Juan to go all in. Juan agrees. Feo is smug, but the joke's on him. Juan slaps down four kings. "I beat you with Poker de Reyes!"

Feo doesn't take it well and demands a rematch - double or nothing - "between gentlemen it's a question of honor." Only Oscar is in favor this time. Feo deals. Juan smirks at his hand and asks for only one card. Feo needs three. He tries to snake some cards out of his sleeve. Oscar catches him. The henchmen draw their guns. But like a creepy guardian angel, Coyote shows up quietly in the doorway. I'm starting to like this guy. Feo and his guys slowly put their guns away.

"Let's go!" Juan says, grabbing their money. Oscar tries to take Feo's remaining money too. Juan reminds him it was supposed to be a game between gentlemen, so they'll take only what they won.

Coyote's not still in the doorway when the Reyes turn around and leave. They never knew he was there.

Sofía asks Rosario if she's sure she's willing to give up Franco. Rosa says it's both for Sarita's happiness and Franco's safety. Sofía tells her how great she is. Rosario begs her to keep this secret - don't even tell Juan. Sofi says she tells Juan everything They have no secrets or lies. (Except for his secrets and lies.) Rosario asks for at least a little time to get her life in order and figure out what to do. Feo's capable of destroying anyone who crosses his path. She's afraid for Sofía.

Sofi realizes that her mother is in danger being engaged to Feo. She resolves to warn her.

Feo wants to get his money back. Armando tells him he needs to stop gambling because luck is not on his side. Feo is offended. Armando says something just occurred to him - why is Feo so sure that the Reyes are lying about owning the Uribe hacienda? They should look into it. Feo just gets grumpy again.

Sofía does not approve that Juan gambled the prize money. Juan says Feo challenged him, and his pride got the better of him. Oscar and Franco squabble over who gets to "safeguard" it. Juan knows better and takes it. He wants to try to get the hacienda back with it, or save it for an emergency. (I think this is a nice idea, but Feo deserves something for his trouble too. Maybe something to wear. "Somebody got four kings and all I got was this crummy t-shirt!")

Jimena has prepared their dinner. We don't get to find out if it's any good. As Oscar lifts some food to his mouth, we see he's stashed some of the money up his sleeve. (That's it, you and Feo can't play together any more! He's a bad example!) Franco sighs to himself about Rosario.

Rosario is sighing about Franco. Feo confronts her for singing at the festival without his permission, but she's not in the mood to be threatened. She says she won't take his abuse any more. The docile Rosario, who put up with his whims and did what he wanted, died in the fire. She's thinking of talking to Gabi. Feo threatens to tell everybody what she's capable of and what she was in prison for - they'll all reject her - beginning with Sofi and Eva.

She says she's willing to pay for the errors of her past. If necessary, she'll do it. She defiantly states, "We'll see who loses more - you or me?"

Feo and Gabi argue again. She demands that he stay away from Raquel, or he'll lose her. Feo says no, he knows her passion for him grows more every day. She denies it and says he will never be the boss of her or have the last word, because she's used to giving the orders and it'll always be that way.

He wrestles her and says she's always wanted to find a man of her level, and she's found the man who can satisfy her and drive her crazy with passion. (He backs her up against her easel, I think, and knocks it over.) At last they have the house to themselves and can love each other freely. Gabi can't answer this because her mouth has an extra tongue in it.

Sofi tells Juan that her mom and Feo are getting married. Juan mutters that he knew they were having a thing, but didn't realize they'd be getting married. Sofía is surprised he knew something. Juan admits Oscar saw them kissing, but he didn't say anything because they didn't want to worry her or the sisters.

Sofía should wonder what other things they haven't been worrying her about, but all she can think about is warning her mother. Juan tries to discourage this, knowing Gabi won't be receptive.

Then Sofi cheers up, remembering that if Feo gets married, she can too. Juan's ready to hire the mariachis and caterers.

Mexico airdate: 15 de Mayo

Next time:
Gabi promises Feo she'll disinherit the kids and name him as her only heir. (insert obligatory "what a fool" remark here)
Juan reveals that his father had a brother - Vicente Robles. (insert obligatory "how come you never mentioned this uncle before" remark here)
Raquel wonders how her husband came to own this hacienda without any papers. Juan settles on the same theory we came up with weeks ago.
Sofi warns her mother that Feo is a jerk.

Labels: Fuego

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Labels: index

That's a Beck lyric in the title in case any of you think I'm being morbid. I remember when the song 'Loser' came out many years ago and everyone had so many strange theories as to what he was saying when in fact he was just saying "I'm a loser" in Spanish (soy un perdedor). I knew enough Spanish to recognize it right away, I was always amazed at what other people thought he was singing. This will all be relevant later, or if you watched the episode, you already know what I'm talking about.

Hortensia throws Jaime under the bus, saying the kidnapping was all his doing, she only found out later and kept quiet to protect her son. I can't believe they are sitting there listening to her when they should be sending a squad car with lights and sirens running to get her makeup kit. Cripes she looks awful with no makeup. In the waiting room Omar and Zulema and family are suitably scandalized by Hortensia's accusations against Jaime. There are a few scenes but really just people saying "OMG I can't believe she just said that."

Jackie, who to Arturo's surprise isn't super relaxed after the boning he just gave her, is up in arms about customers fleeing left and right after the scandal hit the news. He tries to give her some sexual healing and she caves in pretty quickly.

Barbara wants to give Vasco some papers for Jaime to sign, to give her control of all their accounts I think, Vasco can't believe she doesn't care about any more than that. He manages to do this without acting high and mighty. You know, in general, so much of what Vasco does and says would be irritating on the highest level coming from most people but he gets away with it. Not sure how, but good for him. I guess because he hasn't quite gotten all the way to "dude they make shirts and rope from hemp you know, LEGALIZE IT!" You know what I'm talking about, especially if you went to college. Also, he hasn't resorted to the official hippie Corona logo-ed faux-hemp poncho/pullover thing that all college hemp enthusiasts wear like a uniform. I fully believe that while he is such a nice young man now, he spent half his time in England baked.

The cops parade Hortensia right past Omar and Zulema on the way to her cell, Omar yells at her and she says "sorry it was Jaime, not me, nyah nyah."

Lorena, Rosy, Julian, and Maruja see the scandal on the news. Lorena says it's BS, Sara told her that Hortensia's signature was on the orphanage paperwork. She tells Julian to get that fact to his parents and tell them they need to find that paper. Well DUH.

Zulema pressures Sara to tell the truth, Sara says her beloved corpse of a grandma (ok some of that was me saying) would never betray her, so she will support Hort's story.

Omar continues to be in disbelief about Hortensia. I would think 20+ years of estrangement form your family would allow you to believe certain things, don't you?

Alonso arrives, Sara puts on her pouty face and tells him her sad tale of everyone being so bad and not believing her, etc etc. Somehow this leads to them making out. Somehow Chef Ern (sorry ladies I was going to call him Chef Hawt since that's the name you gave him but I just can't, you understand) happens to be walking by and sees this, now he understands why Lorena was so upset that one day. He also thought bubbles "wow Lorena is so awesome" just in case one person out there is too dumb to realize weeks ago that he likes her.

Dario is at Paula's house, waiting for Bettina I guess. He's off work early, she says he was never early before, or maybe he was off work early but putting the horns on her? He tells her enough already, leave it alone. Ok before I go any further - let me voice my approval for the makeover in progress of Paula - now she gets to look like a sexy woman rather than a harpy. We're halfway there, come on wardrobe people help me out. I still don't like her character though, she is a manipulative bitch even if she looks hotter now. And looks good in tight sweaters. Where was I? Oh - she tells Dario about her new Avon business and with Bettina's help actually gets him to try some manly stuff and he buys a bunch of it.

Ern sees Lorena at school, she says she figured out his secret ingredient and shame on him it isn't Mexican! He admits it, somehow he manages to turn the conversation to them going for a walk. Eventually she tries to feed him a hot dog, he won't eat it so she shoves it in his mouth, of course he loves it. Ha ha ha, oh Chef Ern, you are just like a regular guy after all! OK writers we get it, he likes street food too, he's not so stuck up, let's move on. He tries to pry details of her sad day, now knowing the truth about Alonslow, but she says change the subject, so he ends up telling her that the worst food he ever tasted was some frijoles with no salt that his aunt made. That sounds horrible, my wife said frijoles sin sal are the worst. I can't imagine why someone would make beans that way. I'm the biggest frijolero out there, especially for a gringo, and making them with no salt sounds like a crime. It's true, even my wife's Mexican family can't believe how I could eat some variation of frijoles with every meal if I had my way. When we were at an all- inclusive hotel in Puerto Vallarta last year, I bet I ate five pounds of frijoles by the end of the week. Oh man now I'm getting hungry. Anyway they walk and talk and flirt, etc.

Sara makes Alonso a sandwich, after he takes a bite his face looks like he just ate a turd. He tries to pretend he likes it but Sara knows better and thinks how f***ing Lorena spoiled him with such good food that she can't make. She asks what he's looking at on the internet, he goes on and on about some medical thing that I couldn't follow, though I didn't try. Sounded like a public service announcement for some kind of treatment or something.

Omar, Zulema, and Diana get to their seats at Julian's game show. Backstage Julian is very nervous but Rosy gives him some R-rated kisses to clear his mind and it works. He goes out and Rosy takes her seat. First the host shows some pictures from the vacation to Acapulco, lots of Julian flexing and showing off but no Rosy anywhere. The host asks Rosy why she wasn't in the pictures? She says she was 'indisposed' that day and shoots Julian a dirty look. But, she softens immediately and says it was the best trip of her life. Julian dedicates his performance to his parents. He has to answer five questions to win a million pesos. He gets the first four right, then they bring out the golden envelope. The host reads the question, and Julian thinks and thinks into a commercial...

.... then gives the wrong answer. Before the host can say the right answer, Julian remembers and says it, but the host says too late, sorry. The crowd cheers for Julian but that doesn't replace a million pesos, know what I'm saying?

At home, Lorena and Maruja sit with their mouths hanging open after seeing Julian miss the question.

Chalo is watching at his naco hotel, he laughs and tries to call Sara. Ugh we get to see that his boxers are barely big enough to keep his stuff covered, please put that away Chalo. He is upset that Sara never answers her phone anymore.

Omar, Zulema, and Diana discuss how they are still proud of Julian anyway, Rosy runs out and says Julian ran off, nobody knows where. We see Julian walking the streets, saying what a loser he is, wallowing in self-pity.

Bettina gets in trouble for chatting online before her homework is done, Paula reverts to harpy mode to take away the cable modem. Bettina just gets on the phone then instead and tells her friend that Ivan invited her to the movies, she'll say she's going with the friend instead so she can get permission to go! What a bad girl she's turning into. Paula returns and yells at her for now being on the phone.

Jackie comes home to find Dario home asleep, with some Avon products on the nightstand. She complains that he had money to buy that stuff.

Arturo tells his mom that he's running the company now, horrible mom rats that Valeria is out with those friends again, Art says whatever that's fine. Not making her stay home is the only decent thing he has ever done. I know he's doing it to be selfish anyway, but at least she gets to go have a life.

Valeria, looking nice with her hair down (though the 1985 bangs can go) wins at cards again, the ladies talk her into coming to the restaurant opening as a guest.

Rosy cries (4 on the FUCS (wow that acronym made me do a parentheses inside a parentheses, we need something else to call the Ferro Ugly Crying Scale) because she is crying for a very good reason, but still a little messy and ugly) about Julian being missing. Maruja and Lorena try to comfort her.

Omar calls some missing persons service (another public service announcement) to report Julian. He explains how it works to fulfill the public service obligation. Speaking of PSAs and product placements, nothing will ever top the scene from La Fea where Boobie Blonde (can't remember her name now!) tells Marcia about her horrible diarrhea and Marcia gives her Pepto-Bismol. Two sexy ladies discussing mudbutt, I just can't get over it. Don't you think Jose Jose as RoboPapa would have been a more likely character for having bathroom problems?

At the mansion, Vasco yells at Sara for going along with Hort's story. Sara says she's with grandma 100%, it was Jaime all along, and she's not leaving the house either.

Chef Ern listens to lots of phone messages from hotties who want to see him. The maid points out that since he met Lorena, he hasn't gone out with anyone, there used to be wall to wall hoochies and now nothing. She thinks she has said too much and runs out before his temper erupts as usual. Instead, for the one really dense person who didn't get the point earlier, he comments to himself again that Lorena is so dreamy.

The next day, Rosy is still crying, but not in any ugly manner. A 1 on the scale.

Omar and Zulema worry about Julian, they stupidly hope that Sara tells the truth about Hortensia. They hear Diana yelling at Julian in the other room, he's back! A few minutes of everyone saying they are proud of him but him calling him self un perdedor. He was so hopeful, that money was going to pay all the debts and the lawyer. Everybody cries.

Omar calls Rosy to tell her Julian has returned and is heading over after he takes a shower. Lorena can finally go peddle her goodies on the street (ok I admit I did it on purpose that time, heh). Maruja tells Rosy to do everything she can to cheer up Julian, I'm not sure but it sounded like she was encouraging some hanky panky to lift the boy's spirits. Did I understand that right? Maybe not.

At the jail, Vasco tells Jaime, who now sports some cool 3 day beard growth, that he believes his side of the story and is proud of how he's standing up and taking responsibility. Jaime says the truth will come out sooner or later.

Also at the jail, Art tells Hort that clients are fleeing and she gets crazy about it, but he says he has it under control. He basically swears fealty to her.

At work, Jackie tells Sara how awesome Art is and how he's doing so great running the company. Sara isn't pleased to hear that at all.

Rosy greets Julian very warmly and says lots of nice things, then he says he's breaking up with her because he's a loser and doesn't deserve her and doesn't want her to suffer from his bad luck. That was the end of the show, but honestly I can't see them being broken up for long. Like maybe not even out of the opening scenes of tomorrow's episode. I just don't see it, but I could be wrong.

Tomorrow - Ern uses the sly excuse of "oh Alonso's right there, hug me so he will be jealous" to give Lorena a full on hip to hip hug out in public. Whatever, Chef Ern, I know your game. Well played.

Labels: enemiga

According to my TiVo and the NBC/Telemundo web schedule, next week will be PdG for two hours starting at 12pm as usual on the East Coast, followed by Frijolito and a one hour 'best of' Doña Barbara.

Not a lot happened on Friday: Grabiela is still locked up in basement; Abuelo is still locked up at the nuthouse; the gang at the Hacienda de los Reyes still think everything is fine at the Hacienda Elizondo and Juan wasn't on at all except for a flashback.




Grabiela is afraid of the rats in the cellar but Herzog and Rubinsky tell her to be more afraid of the rats upstairs.


Grabiela flashes back to when she first met Juan, Óscar and Franco. This is our only glimpse of Juan in the whole two hours. ¡Qué lástima!

Labels: gavilanes

Here we are once again, Guapistas, filled with curiosity to see whether Madre Superior's promo-ed confession is the real deal; what Luci's going to chug now that she's sober; and most importantly, whether Nameless Baby Girl will finally get a name of her very own! On with el show!

Hugo puts down his paints and takes a seat. Karla shows him the results of the blood test. She's thrilled, but Hugo is less so. She swears she was using birth control and yes, it's his. Hugo wonders if it's his dad's, but Karla reminds him they broke up. He wonders if maybe it's Fernando's, but Karla reminds him he's been gone for months. She tells him she's one month pregnant and damn straight it's his!

Constancio complains to Padre Manuel that what he feared has finally happened--he's been removed from the party and it's all Milagros' fault! Padre Manuel's having none of it and tells him to man up at last and tell the poor girl the truth. Constancio pouts. PM says what he actually came there for is to get Constancio to go to the convent and talk to the Madre Superior. Constancio is surprised, but he refuses, saying he's just got too much work to do now that Bobby and Alejandro aren't around to do the scut work, Damian spends all his time chasing women, and Hugo spends all day painting and shagging Karla. Oh, poor Constancio, what's an evil corporate overlord to do? Good help is so hard to find these days. And no, he didn't say most of that. Anyhoo, he refuses, but wonders what it's about. PM says she needs to talk to Constancio so that she can die in peace. Now he's really intrigued and says he'll go tomorrow, without fail.

Karla offers to give Hugo the news again dressed as Mili. Hugo doesn't react, but says Mili can't find out that Karla's pregnant. Karla refuses to have an abortion and says she's in love with him and wants to have his baby and she doesn't care if he doesn't believe her. Hugo says he doesn't care about her feelings and doesn't feel anything for her, he's just using her for sex. Karla says she'll have the baby with or without him. Show of hands: Who feels comfortable with the idea of Karla raising a child, with or without Hugo? Yeah, I thought so. Karla storms out and runs into Andrea in the hallway, but she doesn't spill the frijoles, except to say that she finally has a way to get revenge on Damian and everyone else in the house. She says her future is assured and flounces off while Andrea wonders what's up. She doesn't know, though, cause if she did she'd be stroking her hair and plotting. For now she's just intrigued.

Horacio wants to talk to Bobby, but Lina says she doesn't know when he's coming over--he and the other two Stooges are working so hard to get the business up and running. Currently, the business is lying on the ground gasping for air, it seems. Horacio complains that he wants to know that Bobby's going through with the wedding this weekend because it's the second wedding dress Lina has had to buy. If he waits much longer it won't fit her anymore. I notice we haven't gotten a full-length look at Lina in a while. Maybe they're waiting until she can borrow Florencia's old baby belly--that way they can save money. Horacio says he's borrowing Constancio's shotgun so she can shoot Bobby if he doesn't marry Lina this weekend. Sorocco tells him to chill and think about how fun it will be to have a grandchild. Horacio tells Socorro that if she wants a bunch of kids running around the house, just let him know and he'll write to the stork. Ja! Socorro tells him she's past that age, but he's not. Karla walks in as Socorro is saying that she'd just be happy for Karla to settle down with a nice boy. Karla says they're talking about her again, as usual, but nothing will spoil her day. Lina, Socorro, and Horacio are understandably concerned.

Andrea sneaks into the maids' room searching for the envelope of secrets that Karla was hiding in her nonexistent cleavage. She finds it under a mattress and says "She's pregnant!" Let the plotting begin.

At Casa de Mili, Luciana is still thanking Mili and Rocky for everything they've done. She gives them both kisses. Rocky says she just needs to call if she needs anything. He asks when she's going to talk to the kids. Luci says she needs to be a different woman first before she talks to them and asks for their forgiveness. Mili says she has a surprise for Luci…a place that will heal her soul, and the two of them will go there tomorrow. Mili shows her an advice column in a magazine written by "Candy" who has her own clinic, and tomorrow Mili and Luci will go get their souls healed. Oddly, I expected Mili to suggest a spiritual retreat, maybe a stay at the convent, but I think it would be too hard to keep Luci hidden there.

Constancio comes into the study and throws Ramses out before he can tell Constancio about his schedule for tomorrow. Andrea walks in with her magic envelope of getting Constancio back in the mood. Constancio tells Andrea that rumors about his bastard are running, thanks to Damian, and he's going to hunt him down. Andrea says that Damian has had a baby with a servant too, and gives him the envelope with Karla's test results. Constancio thinks that Karla agreed to their scheme and asks Andrea if she's sure it's Damian's. Andrea has assumed it is because Karla said that she had a way to get revenge on Damian in the hallway. Constancio is at least back to smiling his rat-bastard smile, but he hasn't achieved the kind of giddy happiness that makes him want to jump Andrea yet. She'll have to work harder, I guess.

Ramses runs into Valeria in the foyer. Her neck hurts and he offers to give her a massage. She tries to resist, but a stiff neck will not be denied. He spritzes some breath spray before he begins. Valeria oohs and aahs as Ramses blames her tension on Rocky delaying the wedding. Rocky and Mili come in and Rocky gripes out Valeria for having Ramses give her a massage instead of asking him to do it. After all, he has bigger hands *wink, wink* Ramses says size doesn't matter. Rocky says the only way to settle this is for Ramses to give him a massage after he's done with Valeria. Oh, how very modern. Valeria loves this idea and sits next to Rocky on the couch, demanding that Ramses give her Chiquito a rubdown. Ramses gets to work, but Rocky's a little nervous about being strangled.

Mili goes to tell Hugo that she won't be around all day tomorrow. Hugo assumes she wants to be with Alejandro. She says she's going somewhere alone and won't be home until late. He keeps asking whether she's going to be with Alejandro even though she keeps denying it. He says it's her fault he's jealous like this, but she reminds him he's always been a liar and her mistake was to believe he'd changed. She said she's tired of waiting for him and she and Alejandro want to get married. Hugo tells her to keep dreaming and laughs. Mili says she's getting a lawyer and she doesn't care about losing the money and if he chooses to take it, it's on his conscience.

Constancio angrily serves himself a drink. Damian comes in. Constancio tells Damian that he got what he wanted, going to Peralta with the gossip about his bastard. Constancio tells Damian that now he, Damian, is going to resign from the party and then die. Damian wonders why he would do that. Constancio adds that he's also going to give back the contract that Mili signed in exchange for Karla's test results, or else the news will get out that Damian is also expecting a bastard. Damian denies that it's his, that he hasn't been with Karla in ages. Constancio asks if he's sure, but Damian now remembers that maybe a month or a month and a half ago he was with her, that time she was vacuuming. Because nothing turns Damian on more than watching other people work. Constancio says he's got Damian in his hands. Damian walks out. Constancio still doesn't look all that happy.

Damian goes out to the foyer/living room/all purpose room, pours himself a drink and sits down. Hugo's there too and they both talk about the impending baby. Damian thinks Hugo is talking about Damian's supposed baby and Hugo thinks Damian is talking about Hugo's supposed baby. Damian says Karla only cares about money, so he'll fork over some dough and get her to have an abortion. Hugo says to wait, he wants some time to think. Damian wonders what for, but Hugo just says please. Damian says he's going to go gamble and calm himself down. They thank each other and hug.

The next day, Mili and Luci show up at the clinic. They check in with the receptionist. Luci looks nervous.

Constancio has come to see the Madre Superior. He says it's good to see her. She asks him to sit down and asks Padre Manuel to leave her alone with Constancio, which he does.

The receptionist announces the gals to Candy and then shows them in. Candy says what they do there is work on self-esteem and self-respect. Mili's doing all the talking since Luci's so nervous. Luci finally ends up talking about how she's an alcoholic, her kids hate her, she's gone through some really rough times…Mili adds a list of all Luciana's favorite drinks and the fact that even the flower vases weren't safe from her. Candy gives Mili one of those "Aren't you sweet…now shut up" looks.

Constancio guesses that Madre Superior wants to talk about Mili, but MS says she wants to talk about Rosario. Constancio is surprised, but he says it's very uncomfortable for him to talk about her and he'd rather leave the past where it is, he doesn't like to talk about the dead. MS says she's not dead. Constancio is impactado! And we go to commercials before we get the rest of the story.

Constancio says it's not possible. MS says that's what she made everyone, including Mili, think, but she lied and she's hidden the truth her whole life, but now she can't anymore. MS says it was Constancio's father's doing. He came to see MS and…flashback

Don Federico says that he owns the land and he can tear down the convent whenever he wants to. MS is surprised he would even say that. DF says he knows that they're hiding a pregnant woman, but MS denies she's being hidden and asks if he knows her. DF says that his son Constancio is the father of the unnamed woman's child. DF says he'll forget about tearing down the convent if MS cooperates. He tells MS to tell the woman that the child was stillborn and then he'll take the woman away and let MS raise the child in the convent, as long as she never tells the child the truth. DF says he won't hesitate to wipe out the convent. He doesn't want the bastard showing up to hurt his family.

Constancio wonders how she could have agreed to it. MS says she's never forgiven herself, but she didn't have any other way to save the convent, even if she condemned her soul in doing it, and condemned Mili to live without her mother's love. She says she also did it to save Mili because Don Fed said that if she didn't agree he'd also take the baby away and abandon it somewhere far away. Constancio is freaked out by the idea that Rosario is alive. MS says she doesn't know where Rosario could be, but she left there thinking her daughter was dead.

Luci talks to Candy about the mistakes she made when she was drinking, how much she hurt herself and her kids, and how much she hurt Mili. Candy gives a PSA about the evils of drink. She reminds Mili that no one's ever cured of alcoholism, you have to take it day by day. Candy says Luci will need the help of her whole family to keep from falling off the wagon. Luci says she feels so awful and ugly and she wants to look pretty. Candy says she's got to start with self-esteem and self-forgiveness and self-care. Mili says she's behind Luci all the way and will be her cheerleader. Mili's way too perky in these scenes. They're trying to talk about serious stuff, here, and she's being her usual goofy self.

MS tells Constancio she's dying and she didn't want to leave this world with her secret. Constancio asks why his daddy did it and what he said after. MS says he didn't say anything because she never saw him again. Constancio asks what happened when Mili was born. He wants the whole story. MS says that Mili, PM, and Sor Catalina all got her fake version of the story, but now he gets the truth…flashback

A nun takes the baby away. Don Fed reminds her to take care of the bastard and never tell her the truth. The new Rosario sleeps. Don Fed says there's an ambulance waiting to take her away, once MS tells her the baby's dead and gets her ready to leave. DF says she won't believe him, so MS will have to do the lying for him. DF leaves. Rosario wakes up and asks to see her daughter. MS says she's sorry, but the baby was born weak and died. Rosario cries.

MS says after that, they took Rosario away and she never knew anything more about her or Don Fed. She doesn't know where Rosario was taken, and God is her witness to the torment she's been in all these years. MS says the baby stayed at the convent and she made up a story and named her Milagros (Miracle) because that's what she was to them all. MS says there's no more time for her and she wanted to talk to him and tell him the truth. Constancio says "and to change my life."

Candy introduces Luci to the psychologist. The two of them go off together. I'm still trying to figure out what kind of place this is. Candy talks to Mili and asks her what happened to get Luci down the road to drink. Mili talks about Luci's kids. Candy wonders what Luciana is to Mili. She doesn't understand why one of the kids didn't bring Luci. Mili fills her in on the back story, except for the part where she's Luci's husband's daughter. Can't wait to see Candy's reaction to that one!

Alejandro tries to close a business deal in his office while Nameless Baby Girl cries in the background. The potential client says he'll have to go with Belmonte Construction since they made him an incredible deal. I would think by now that screwing the Three Stooges would have started getting too expensive for Constancio. He must be having to seriously undercut them on price. Either that or he's going broke paying every PI in the DF to dig up dirt on all his potential clients so he can blackmail them into signing contracts. Alejandro comforts Nameless Baby Girl (In the words of Mr. 5ft, "Maybe if you'd give me a name already I'd be happy!") and says he's not giving up.

And Monday: Peralta breaks the news to Rosario that Constancio has a bastard daughter who used to work as a servant in his house. Yep, you read it right. Also, Andrea is jealous of Rosario's picture, Luci gets a makeover, and Rosario and Constancio come face to face. That's right, cause we're in Ultimos Capitulos!

Labels: guapos

Now, at the Reyes’ humble abode, Jimena and Sofia seem to be enjoying their time at the rich girls’ version of Explorer Survival Camp. (Ya gotta admit, though, it sure beats listening to Mama's constant carping, and being frightened of where and when her iron fist might land the next time.) Jimena offers to search for a thread and needle for Sofia who needs to sew back on a button for one of Juan’s shirts. She finds Quintina’s sewing basket and digs through it. She comes across the picture frame for Libia’s photograph, and Sofia asks whose it is. As we in Viewerville all hold our breath alongside Quintina, Jimena frowns and tells her that the frame is empty. (Shucks! What a letdown.) Quintina smiles and secretly congratulates herself for thinking to take the photo out at the last minute and having hidden it in her own room.

Back at their swimming hole at the river, Franco tells the rest of the “boys” he doesn’t remember anything about the accident. Juan says he was hoping he could remember so they could grab the guys responsible. Franco swears he doesn’t even remember Rosario’s coming to see him let alone their running away together. Pedro tells Franco that it was precisely that which hurt Sarita so much when she found out he’d gotten hurt. Franco knocks this bit of news around inside his wooden head a while, then frowns to show us he is puzzled with these revelations. (It’s probably a matter of input overload for our formerly French-fried Franco.)

Rosario arrives at Augie’s cottage and finds Sarita there. Eva tells her that Sarita has been spending lots of quality time with Luisito and Rosario warmly thanks her. Sarita smiles and says he is her nephew after all. Sarita has apparently regained her humanity. (Maybe somebody needs to hogtie Mama and send her away to the convent for a while, too.) Augie makes a big to do over their being sisters and everybody smiles and nods. (My wiring is short-circuiting from the sentimentality overload in this scene.)

Back in town Padre Tadeo is praying at the little altar in his office when Bruja-riela storms in on that nitro-powered broomstick of hers. It’s the Bride of Cujo looking to rip Padre Tadeo into shreds. Without even a “Howdy do” Gabi lays into him barking and snarling that he had no right to talk Sarita into leaving the convent. He calmly explains that because Sarita lacked the calling to be a nun and didn’t belong in a convent he sent her home. It is a difficult life he says for anyone who doesn’t have a vocation for the religious life, but that’s exactly what she wanted for Sarita, she says: a difficult life of suffering because that is the only way one receives forgiveness. (The only question here is whether Gabi is implying forgiveness from her or from God, or if she figures it’s all one in the same in her case.)

Tadeo asks her where love fits in and tells Gabi that she has one strange view of religion. (Tadeo, master of the understatement.) She’s quick to demand others suffer but refuses to expose herself to pain. Gabi sits back on her high horse again and selfishly complains that she’s had more than her share of suffering and pain. She wonders if Tadeo takes pleasure in people’s suffering and he answers in the negative. All he’s trying to do is tell her she must show the same tolerance towards her daughters that she shows herself. Gabi spits his advice back in his face and warns him that this will be the last time he meddles in her family’s affairs or otherwise he’ll have to pay the consequences. She storms out the same way she came in and Padre Tadeo says a prayer for her, begging God to enlighten this “lost soul.”

Back at the swimming hole, the guys are getting into their nice, snug-fitting charro pants, allowing us to ogle their well-preserved pecs, while Pedro talks about how he misses his dead mother. He reminisces about his deadbeat daddy’s absence and the way it made his family that much closer to each other. He is upset that the jerk never did a thing to support either her or them. Juan talks about how the three of them missed their parents all along too and says they don’t even know where their parents are buried. He says they have to find their killers in order to find where they they left them (literally, “chucked them”) so they can properly bury them and pray for them, even if it’s the last thing they do before they die. Franco changes the subject to cheerier things like the arrival of Juan’s child. Everyone kids about how Juan plans to raise him and what they’ll do to celebrate when the baby is finally born.

Back at the cottage Augie praises Sarita for the decent way she treated Rosario. Sarita acknowledges that Rosario is her sister and deserves to be treated decently. He tells her he always said she was a good person and they exchange vows of affection for each other.

In town in her dressing room at the Bad Love Bar, Rosario tells Ofelia that she has to reward Sarita somehow for the kindness she has shown towards Luisito. Ofelia asks how and Rosario smiles mysteriously and says, “You’ll find out.” (Why the big mystery, Rosario?)

Franco shows up unexpectedly at Augie’s. He smiles broadly when he sees that Sarita is there answering the door for him. Franco came to thank Augie for paying for the special medical equipment that helped to save his and Rosario’s lives.

At the same time, Juan runs into Rosario walking past the bakery. He’s gruff with her and demands to know if she’s coming to visit Franco. She wonders why he’s speaking to her in that tone of voice. Juan explains that he knows they love each other, but whether it’s purely an infatuation or not doesn’t matter to him; what matters is that every time they’re together Franco gets into major problems. He refuses to let it continue and tells her he wants her to break it off once and for all with Franco. Rosario agrees she’s not suitable for him and that she has been unlucky for him. She promises to stay away from Franco from now on and Juan grunts his appreciation.

Back at the cottage, Augie tells Franco he considers him and the other Reyes’ like grandsons and so there’s no way he wouldn’t have helped him. Sarita mentions that she heard everything happened when he and Rosario left to run away together. Franco says he doesn’t want to be taken for a liar, but the truth is that he cannot remember anything about that or any number of things that were happening at the time. He doesn’t remember leaving with her or even when he decided to leave.

Augie tells Franco that if a man loves a woman he doesn’t forget these sorts of things. Franco says he cannot come up with a reason for it, just that he truly cannot remember anything about getting away with Rosario.

Meanwhile, Gabi goes to the capital to see the bishop and complain again about Padre Tadeo. She says she’s there on a very serious matter that, for the good of their community, he personally should act on immediately. (I’d rather see if and how he personally intervenes, “for the good of the community”, once he finds out she’s marrying her soon-to-be-ex-son-in-law without the benefit of a proper annulment –or even with one.) The bishop looks quite impactado.

Rosario now heads back to the Bad Love. She’s weeping and doesn’t see Pedro riding towards her on the road. He jumps off his horse and gallantly lends her his shoulder to cry on. While she’s crying about how unlucky she is, El Jefe and El Coyote drive past them. El Coyote points the two of them out to El Jefe as ominous music plays in the background. “Did you see that?” --Speaking of music, we in Viewerville are left to wonder if this means that these two lonely sing-sational third-wheels may eventually start making their own beautiful music together.
===============

Morning comes again to sunny Ciudad Serdán. It is both the day of the children’s first communion and of the Chili Pepper Festival rodeo. Franco, dressed in his Sunday best charros, goes outside the front of the bakery to brush the dust off his shabby-looking boots. Rosario runs into Franco on her way to Church. (She’s dressed in her Sunday best also. It's a hot-looking red strapless party dress and actually pretty classy, and for once at least she’s wearing something that covers up most of those bon-bons of hers.) She says she hasn’t had the time to talk things over with him since the accident, but has needed to speak with him. He’s still taken with her bon-bons, but she insists that after the accident so many odd things have happened that she just simply doesn’t love him anymore and is breaking it off. Franco is upset and surprised and tries to get her to discuss it with him but she races off down the street. (Oh well. We all know he’s got another one where that came from.)

Everybody from town begins arriving at the church for the children’s first communion.

Rosario circles around back of the bakery and walks into the Reyes’ living room to sit down. (Hello? I guess when there is no lock there is no need for a knock.) Sofia walks in and sees Rosario crying. (OMG!! I’m crying over that crazy hot pink monstrosity of a dress that costuming has put Adela in. ¡Qué horror! Can we spell dowdy, class? If ever there was proof of the old adage that a redhead never should wear pink, that dress is it! --But then, maybe I’m not being P.C. and the costumer is colorblind, like the hubster. When it comes to shades of pink, he only sees beige's and browns.) Rosario tells Sofia that she has just broken it off with Franco and says that she did it for Sarita’s sake, carefully omitting that it was because Juan had also asked her to give him up.

Sofia says she shouldn’t but Rosario tells her not to try to talk her out of it because it’s taking all of her strength to stick with her decision. “What next?” asks Sofia. Rosario answers that she is going to devote herself to her son and is willing to withstand any test in order to do so. Sofia suggests that maybe Luisito’s father will help her. Rosario is adamant that his father doesn’t deserve the two of them. He’s only devoted himself to abusing and hurting them. Poor, innocent Sofia is confused and doesn’t understand what she is talking about. Rosario starts to walk out without giving her an explanation, but then turns around and thinks better of it. Suddenly she confesses to Sofia that her son’s baby daddy is really “Fernando Escandon, your husband!” before racing out the door. Sofia is greatly impactada as the true meaning of Rosario’s words, literally ricocheting around in her brain, takes hold.
==============

Finally the mass begins. Franco sings Ave Maria (uh-gain, but his time though, he’s got an invisible twenty piece orchestral accompaniment and a full studio of sound equipment to keep him on key. Hubby is snarking about how and where they managed to fit all those musicians into that tiny church. I tell him the Mexican elves took care of it.) While Franco sings Rosario prays to the virgencita for strength to keep away from him, for Sarita’s sake, as well as that of Franco himself.

Outside the church, Crabiela drives up and smiles evilly to herself as she sees the bishop and his entourage drive up and enter the church. The bishop walks in as Padre Tadeo is celebrating the first communion mass and he does not look like a happy camper as he holds out his ring for Tadeo to kiss. Tadeo can guess what’s on the bishop’s mind and takes it all very calmly.

When the mass is over, Gabi, hidden in the crowd, looks on from the back of the church and smiles triumphantly as the bishop announces to the town that the padre will conclude his term as parish priest there and will be transferred to another church. The bishop introduces the new priest to the parishioners but everyone begins screaming in protest. The parishioners are demanding at the top of their lungs that the bishop must keep Padre Tadeo at their parish. None of them want him transferred. His term isn’t even up yet one yells.

Crabi doesn’t like the sound of this and realizes she’s lost control of the situation when Juan tells the bishop that before he transfers Padre Tadeo he is going to listen to each and every one of the parishioners’ opinions. Crabi frowns. She does not like being beaten at her own game again by the likes of Juan Reyes.

After the bishop lets each of the parishioner’s plead their case he prays for guidance. He calls in Padre T and says that he ought to recognize that he was very poorly informed since all the people love and respect him, especially for the charitable works he’s carried out in the community. The bishop begs Tadeo’s pardon and tells him that he will be allowed to remain with the parish indefinitely. The parishioners cheer at the news from Juan the apparently new, and natural born, leader of the parish community.

During the celebratory luncheon the social worker announces to the Reyes’ table that since the rules for adoption say a child must go to a legally married couple, Jimena and Oscar who are the married ones in the family will be allowed to formally adopt Pablito. Everyone cheers again at this news.

During the celebration, Rosario can’t help noticing how Sarita and Franco are continually staring at each other from across the room. (So much for the effect of Rosario’s painful dumping on Franco.) The mother superior tells Sarita that is was wise of her to leave the convent as she also has noticed Sarita and Franco sharing meaningful looks.

During the meal, Eva tells the Reyes’ that from what the bishop kept saying about being “poorly informed”, it must mean that somebody complained to him about Padre Tadeo. Both she and Franco, to Sofia’s dismay, guess it was Gabriela’s handiwork. Franco tells the rest of them that “the one good thing is that at least this time Gabriela Elizondo didn’t get her way.”

Speaking of the Queen of Rome, Gabriela is back in her office at the hacienda griping to herself that she cannot cope with Tadeo and muttering that there just has to be a way to keep him from meddling with her and her family. Feo walks in at that point and asks what’s the matter, why isn’t she ready for the rodeo. She doesn’t want to go and he says if she doesn’t it will mean that she’s hiding from everybody because she’s ashamed to be seen with him. Gabi gives in because she has no sense of shame, and leaves to get ready to go with him to the Chili Pepper Festival at El Jefe’s hacienda. Feo is salivating from the smell of easy money he figures to make from the rodeo.

Juan and Sofia thank everyone for their participation and the parish gets ready to leave for the rodeo. First, though, they must all take pictures. Snap. Click.
==============

We’re at the fair and the rodeo festivities start. Sofia gets to ride in the lead carriage as Ms. Chili Pepper and waives to the adoring crowd while Juan performs a few fancy sidestep maneuvers on Capricho. Afterwards the riding competition begins.

Feo chomps on his cigar and tells Gabi not to get so upset. What’s important is that they win that rodeo prize. Their hacienda has the best horseman, he says, and they will be the ones taking it home. She’s says she’s just upset to see Juan Reyes and Sofia so happy because they’re nothing but a couple of insolent and arrogant clods. Feo says they probably are not that happy. He feels they have got to be hiding their disappointment in not being able to compete in the rodeo since the Reyes’ don’t work on a hacienda. Nobody is going to take that prize from him he says smugly. Nobody!

Just then Raqui and Benito show up together and sit a few seats away from Gabi and Feo. Raqui shoots a nasty look at Fernando and then one at Gabriela. Gabi returns the favor. A few minutes later El Coyote walks up into the bleachers to give his smarmy greeting to Feo and Gabi. They exchange oily pleasantries. On the other side of the stands Franco ingeniously tricks the guy sitting next to Sarita out of his seat so he can sit with her instead and they can watch the rest of the rodeo together. Sarita rolls her eyes at his mischievous behavior. (Give it a rest, already, Sarita!)

After a while the announcer informs the crowd that nobody has earned enough points to get top honors and receive the prize, but they do have a final rider to wait on. It turns out to be Rosendo from Hacienda St. Augustin. While he competes another hacienda owner has a chat with Juan about something we don’t get to hear. Rosendo doesn’t earn enough points to win for Feo and this other hacienda owner yells to wait for his man to ride. Suddenly there’s another rider let into the rodeo representing… “Hacienda Los Angeles”. Why it’s none other than Juan Reyes who gets to represent that hacienda! Sofia prays to the virgencita for his safety while Juan does his ride ‘em and slide ‘em bareback trick and wins “Fernando’s” huge cash prize. (Did you ever doubt he would?) Feo is not a happy camper. (Anyone want to hazard a guess at how much Fernando probably bet in El Jefe’s back barn on the outcome of this rodeo?)

Feo gets down from the bleachers and begins walking toward the booths in one heck of a snit and he nearly runs into Sofia. He looks up at her and sneers, “So are you going to go now with your rodeo rider?” She hauls off and slaps Fernando across his face so hard that she nearly knocks him for a loop. He is stunned from disbelief. No female ever does that to Feo and gets away with it –least not till now! Feo starts to take a punch at her but pulls it at the last second. (Yeah, Mighty Joe Juan could show up at any second and catch him in the act.) She is startled and calls him a coward and a despicable wretch. She lays into him about the way he’s treated Rosario and her son this whole time, the son that just happens to be his son also! “Not even learning that has affected you, has it Fernando? I am sure now that you only got close to my mother for the money and not for love. (Ya think?) Somebody like you doesn’t know how to love.” (Sofia, another master of understatement.)

Fernando gets in Sofia’s face now and tells her she’d better learn that her mother is hopelessly in love with him and she won’t be able to do a single thing to stop their wedding. “Nothing! Understand?” he screams at her. “Nothing!”

Juan comes around the corner and sees Fer harassing Sofia. “Fernando! Don’t be a gutless wimp! Leave her alone!” he says, warning Fernando away from her. The two start for each other, but Sofia steps in and quickly asks Juan not to ruin the moment. She turns to Juan and flashes a smile. “You are the best horseman here!” She looks over her shoulder at Feo and rubs it in his face. “Let’s get your prize!” Juan doesn’t take his eyes off Fernando. “You’re right. WE won!” They leave. Feo is beside himself with anger. He stomps the ground and kicks at the dirt with his boot. Totally frustrated he screams, “[The Devil] Take me!!”

Labels: Fuego

Banshee Barb grouses about sitting around and not knowing a thing. Vasco calmly explains process to her. She wonders if they’ll call her but he reminds her she’s not really implicated. Or DID she have something to do with all this? No way! She just threw out an offhand comment about what trash Zulema was, that’s all. Vasco points out that sometimes an offhand insulting opinion does more harm than a crime. She whines some more. Is the divorce still in play? She supposes so and it’s a good thing if he ends up in jail forever. Vasco mutters about her solidarity with Pa. She whines that she’s just a victim here.

Zulema’s deposition is in process with the lawyers and judges. She explains why they’re denouncing Snortensia and Jaime. As she lays out the facts as she knows them, the judges nod and Snortensia’s shakes his head. They tried to make us believe the baby died.

If Banshee Barb isn’t going to show her solidarity, at least Julian will with Vasco. Julian also apologizes for Diana’s rejection, and how’s he doing? Vasco is really sad about it. No one in the family agrees with her. Julian would like to take Bruno’s face off. Vasco’s relating to that sentiment.

Zulema’s deposition continues with the lawyers and judges. Abogado Joel tells the judges that the doc who signed the death certificate probably got paid off by Snortensia and left the country years ago so they can’t really prove what happened. The questioner asks if she never had any suspicions of a kidnapping over the 22 years. No, who would be so monstrous? (Well, we know the answer to that now). Zulema tells them she’s certain she heard the baby’s cry even under the influence of anesthesia, though. Zulema makes a compelling statement that the proof is that Snortensia has immediately acknowledged Sara as her granddaughter when she suddenly showed up after 22 years and given her a plum position in the company, made her an heiress—all to shut her up! Makes sense to me—will the judges buy it? Snorty’s lawyer just shakes his head. Is he annoyed with Snorty or just trying to indicate disbelief and psych Zulema?

Sara strolls into the waiting room of the jail and wants to know what’s up. Barb snaps at her. Sara goes to her “Papá” and tells him she wants to talk with him. She does her usual “why are you denouncing them, stop it already and I want my family united” number. She pushes and he tells her not to ask this; his mother and brother have to pay. The writers are getting some good mileage out of these few lines. We suspect we will hear this cut-and-pasted over and over in the next several months. Does this mean they get paid double for the same lines used extra times, or are the producers saving by recycling? Bottom line: if Omar is capable of denying his mother, Sara can do the same with her folks. She makes a production of taking her place next to Barb—who gestured her toward the seat, imagine that, folks. Julian glares from across the room, then goes to comfort his step-dad.

In the Apartment of Ill Will, Dario works on his laptop and complains to Jacqui that the sound on the television is too loud and he can’t concentrate. Jacqui’s all wrapped up in the Armendáriz scandal. She lowers the sound and begins a fuss about how she gets to work; the real agenda is she wants a car. He tells her to take a taxi ‘cause he’s tired of her depending on him for a ride all the time. More sharp words are exchanged. She should buy her own—she works. What’s more, after the trip to Thailand their bank balance won’t absorb the hit of a new car. Jacqui refuses to live in the miserable conditions that Paula did. She flounces out –the steamy scene in their bedroom is just Dario with steam coming out his ears.

Zulema’s deposition continues with the lawyers and judges. Surprise. (I might as well highlight that sentence for cutting and pasting—looks like I could use it all night). She tells them Snortensia has been manipulating things with Sara. Snortensia forbade Sara to come looking for her parents. So, how did she end up with you? Zulema recounts how she began to work with Sara’s best friend, who figured it out and brought Sara to their arms. Sara didn’t want her parents to denounce Snortensia. Zulema protests that Snortensia and her son cannot slide out of stealing their child with impunity. She cries that Snortensia robbed them of all those years with their child, and their child’s years of growing up with her parents’ love. She stops for a moment and wipes the tears, taking a deep breath.

Maruja and Lorena share a moment at home, Lorena hitting the books and Maruja contemplating Jaime. She prays at her mini-altar that he won’t go into a slump again. Lorena asks what’s up and Maruja tells her best confidante she hopes Jaime will be okay, and not feel so guilty. [Ed. Note: Every Friday Lorena’s décolletage is sinking into the sunset farther. Pretty soon, they’ll need to blur it for US television.] Lorena gets up and walks over, remarking with a little smile that Maruja cares a lot about Jaime. Maru’s not sure what she feels—she’s confused, but Lorena thinks she does care. Rossy arrives and interrupts the moment. She looks at their faces and asks who died as she breezes through. Lorena and Maru exchange glances. Lorena steps wayyyy out of character, lying that the candle is for Zulema who’s getting deposed at the moment. Rossy buys it and reminds Lorena it’s time to go work—and face Monica. They’re off and Maruja’s phone rings.

It’s Greta—he called! She knew he’d like her best. He’s invited her to the opening of his new restaurant—so don’t wait for his call. Maru congratulates her—does Paula know? Yep, I’m sitting here with her. They chitchat a second more and say goodbye.

Paula has her wares laid out on the table—those beauty items, folks, let’s keep it on the high road here. (Now when it comes to Jacqui, sounds like she may have her wares laid out on the table tonight, but she’s not selling). Paula’s tired of looking for work so she’s going to be an Avon Lady. Or whatever. Greta’s thrilled, she wants some help looking better than ever at that restaurant opening. Paula cheerily tells Greta her stuff is good but she can’t work miracles. Paula proceeds to talk about her beauty line and the phone rings. It’s Raimundo, and she loudly says “Raimundo” so Greta can’t miss it. He’s inviting her to the grand opening of the restaurant. Paula is exultant. Greta is incensed. Raimundo writes down Paula’s address so he can send an invite. He’s glad he can count on her and will be looking for her.

Ern comes out of the kitchen before Rai has an opportunity to call Maruja (okay, I’m just speculating here. The writers are so predictable). Ern wants Raimundo to test the dishes he plans for the opening of the restaurant. Raimundo will be pleased to….after he takes this call, since his phone’s ringing. Monica storms in while Raimundo saunters off with this phone. Monica is p.o.’d from answering calls from Ern’s girlfriends. Which girlfriends? She scolds on the 50,000 or so of the poor groveling things he’s left scattered around. They all want a complimentary invite--isn’t this opening a private affair or what-- until he asks if she’s jealous. Monica scoffs. Moi? She can’t see what they see in him. He smiles and tells her she can’t imagine. He’s really a caring guy….Ask them or find out for herself. Ern tells her he likes girls with character but not like hers. She huffs and storms off, leaving him thoroughly amused. (Will it make up for the fender, Ern?)

Sara greets Alonslow warmly in the waiting room of the jail. He’s brought her a headache powder and she’s calling herself a fool for thinking she could be in a happy family. (hah) He hugs her. Around the room, various contingent groups of the Armendáriz family exchange looks—disgust, comfort, glares, whatever. Alonslow asks what’s going on. Sara tells him the depositions are continuing. He wants to go out, since folks seem uncomfortable with him there. (Zulema’s out, so Omar must be in). Sara and Al go off hand in hand. Vasco jumps up and exchanges a glance with Julian.

Omar’s getting his turn. He’s pretty sure his Mami took his baby because his Mami has no scruples. (Ya think?) It’s the kind of whim she follows through with. Snortensia’s attorney writes furiously. He describes falling in love with the wrong woman and Snortensia didn’t like it—not their social level. So, Snortensia disinherited him and kidnapped their baby. The judge wants to know if Snortensia hates that grandchild so much, why is she living with Snortensia and why are Omar and Zulema bringing the charge and not Sara, whose life was most affected by the kidnapping and abandonment. Omar hates to have to acknowledge it, but his daughter’s been blinded by the wealth and power his mother has. The judge nods.

Grandpa Toribio and Bettina give the skating another go. He’s every bit as comfortable as last time (which is NOT), so he’s holding on for dear life and grumbles about how he’s ended up skating again. He’d rather sit on the bench and read his magazine. Bettina whines that it’s boring for her to skate alone and he needs to practice. (So, tell Ivan to meet you already and you won’t be bored). They fuss at each other, he grabs her and begs her not to let go, and Gramps is suddenly talking to himself because Bettina sees a ghost. Nope, it’s Ivan with a buddy. Of course. Gramps points—he knows the guy. Really? Yeah, he came to the apartment for a school project (and got info on you, honey, thanks to Gramps). I didn’t buy any of his story, ha ha. Gramps chuckles at the memory. It was all just an excuse to get info on you. You gave him my birthdate, right? Yeah, it was just some excuse and I don’t know why he would want that. Bettina thinks he’s a pest. Gramps tells her “see, he likes you!” He’s getting a great kick out of it and Bettina just looks like she wants to kick someone. A little more arguing about Ivan and they’re off to skate again. Gramps wants her to skate in his direction like there’s nothing going on.

Things are hopping at the restaurant. Ern cruises, tastes, gives instructions. Lorena comes around the corner and he sees her. Ern drops everything, greets Lore warmly, and she tells him she has to get fitted for a uniform—and just had to go past the kitchen to do it. He knows she’s just dying to get into the kitchen. She admits she is. He ushers her in and she takes a good whiff of something cooking. Ern tells Lorena her place is right there next to him. She agrees, but there’s Monica. They chuckle nervously and nod. Rossy bursts around the corner, greeting them. They go off for their uniforms, leaving Ern with a warm fuzzy feeling.

Bettina and Grandpa Toribio skate right up to Ivan and his buddy, and Bettina focuses on greeting Ivan leaving Gramps to fend for himself. Gramps yells for her not to let go of him, and he falls, of course. Ivan the Hero rushes to the rescue with Bettina. Gramps mutters that’s what he gets for trying to skate with a love struck girl. They get Toribio up and he shakes his finger at Ivan—I know you. Ivan denies it. Toribio says Ivan came to the house and Bettina smirks. Toribio keeps babbling on and Ivan keeps trying to weasel out. Bettina confronts him—he got her info so he’d know her email address. Bettina works her way out with a goodbye and drags Gramps off with Ivan and his buddy staring after them. “Do you like her?” “She enchants me!” Ivan is love struck, too, it seems.

Ern’s folks have laid out the testing spread for the menu that will be served at the opening. Raimundo is pleased—it’s a banquet for the gods-- and invites them to join in testing—so they dive in. Ern wants his team to explain about the dishes they’ve prepared. Raimundo thinks it’s a great idea—they should all know the menu like they know the Our Father-- so all the restaurant team are familiar with what they’ll be serving. Lorena and Rossy have changed into white shirt/red vest and black tie uniforms, looking like Nebraska Cornhusker fans. If Lorena was the teacher she’d be giving Ern a 10 for all this. No, an 11. Rossy is enchanted with the taste she had. Ern announces it’s time to test; if there are any questions, be sure to ask.

Monica comes in to dump water on the fiesta. She demands to know why her team is testing these dishes. Ern sternly tells her that they have to know what they’re recommending, and wants her to try them, too. Raimundo urges her to try them and hear the explanations. Monica snaps back at Papi but glares at Ern. No one needs to explain anything about the dishes to her. Raimundo, who probably has been smoothing over situations for as long as this princess has been alive, gently feeds her a bite and asks how she can sell her product if she doesn’t know it? She gags and hates the dish. It’s disgusting! Ern feeds her one. She gags and hates it, too. [Ed. Note: reminds me of my ex, who once pretended to gag because he wanted to put down my cooking—his Mami’s was so much better. I quit cooking for him and we got divorced not so long after that. He came to me after the divorce and told me he liked my cooking, really, better than his mother’s. Let that be a lesson to all of you who would put down someone’s cooking. If you want to eat, learn to do it yourself or don’t complain. But I digress.] She thinks Papi’s chef is going to ruin them. Monica wipes her mouth and storms off, effectively putting a damper on the party. Oh, well, not for long. Raimundo tells Ern not to pay attention to her –between the two of them they’ll end up taming her--and points to the staff, happily wolfing down samples. (I bet they’re way better than samples at Sam’s on Saturday). Raimundo and Ern grin as the staff enjoy.

Jacqui’s all nervous about Snortensia, and Ickturo fishes about how Jacqui should be pretty happy about now, just back from the honeymoon and all. Jacqui plays with her hair and says “yeah, sure.” With absolutely no conviction whatever. Ickturo wants to know about Thailand. Oh, it was okay. Different. The beach was just like any other. We’ve got just as good in Mexico. What about the temples? Boring. Ickturo expected “interesting” or something like that. Well, let’s just say that it’s not a country I adore (that kills me). What about the honeymoon? I would guess that it went VERY well, or no? Oh, sure. Jacqui’s ready to get back to work. Ickturo smiles slimily (ooooh, I like that word) and Jacqui looks ruffled by the inquisition.

Banshee Barb thinks it’s a royal waste of time to sit around hearing nothing. Vasco firmly tells her it’s solidarity with Dad. Barb doesn’t care; she’s going for retail therapy. Right Now. Vasco shakes his head in frustration as she stalks off to shop ‘til she drops.

Omar is done and comes back to the waiting area with Abogado Joel, who has a tie that matches Omar’s (even though he’s a foot shorter, so he looks like Mini-me—what WERE the wardrobe folks thinking here?). Meanwhile, Snortensia’s Abogado talks with Vasco. The denunciators (is that a word? Apparently so since my spell check in Word didn’t underline it in green). They’re waiting for the accused to make their statements. The plan is that Jaime and Snortensia won’t confess—they’ll claim innocence. Vasco doesn’t know how he feels about that—he doesn’t want to see Papi in prison even if he is guilty. The lawyer tries to reassure Vasco—he’s certain Jaime will accept the proposal to deny the charges. Maybe fear of prison will overcome his feeling of guilt over the past.

Toribio gets high quality first aid from Paula for the bobo on his knee. She wants to know whatever prompted him to do adolescent stuff? He blames Bettina (the boss) for dragging him along to skate. She apologizes and takes the blame prettily. Oh, well, it was worth the trouble. Paula notices that he’s pretty wrinkled up. (Oh, we can see it coming. He’s going to have a facial any minute now). He says he’s a child of the 80s and Paula retorts it’s 80 years. Why didn’t she think of it before? She’ll rejuvenate him! ¿¿¿Qué??? Paula proceeds to give Papi the works. He grumbles and whines while she slathers him with great goop. First, the cleanser. He’s not her guinea pig!!! Then, the cream. He’ll LOVE it! He’s going to buy absolutely everything! He wonders if she’s more interested in his wrinkles or his wallet. Beauty has no price. They bicker while she slathers. Then, she’ll put toning cream on him. How disgusting! What a horror!

Diana gets a glimpse of her baby on the Sonogram. Is the tech sure this is her baby? (Sheesh). He shows her the beating heart. It’s within normal limits. But he can’t tell yet if it’s a boy or a girl. Bruno comes and asks if all’s well with his child. Sure, and he’ll go print up the pix. Bruno smiles at Di and asks if she’s excited. Yep, bunches. She just saw the heart beating. He has a pasted-on totally fake smile, but she doesn’t notice. The tech has the photos printed and Da asks Bruno to interpret, which he does. Bruno wonders why she can’t see the features and she assures him it’s better he explains them. (Clever, Diana, to get him totally engaged with his own baby). He wants to formalize their commitment with her folks. Ah, maybe, after all this unpleasantness has passed. Huh? Diana asks if he’s seen the news. Nope. Diana’s folks have denounced Snortensia and Jaime, who are in jail for kidnapping Sara when she was a baby. Yikes. Bruno is impactidíssimo.

Speaking of the King of Rome, Jaime is ready to be deposed. His Abogado asserts that he’s going to claim innocence and Jaime jumps up and denies it. He’s guilty as sin and accepting his responsibility. He kidnapped the girl. The judge looks thoughtful, the Abogado annoyed, and Jaime looks like h***. Thank heaven for a commercial break.

Jaime yells that he kidnapped Sara and doesn’t deserve forgiveness. The family Abogado cuts in and asks that the judge suspend the hearing—Jaime’s under psychiatric care. Jaime denies that’s a problem here. He doesn’t want to shut up, his conscience is killing him! Joel jumps in—the declaration has to be considered as valid. He knew what he did 22 years ago! Jaime sits down and mutters that he’s garbage. He doesn’t deserve to live, he has to pay. The family Abogado puts calming hands on Jaime’s shoulders—he needs to be evaluated by a physician first. No doubt one vetted by Snortensia herself. The judge takes it all in….and declares a suspension of the proceedings but the confession is valid. And Jaime looks like h***.

Joel comes in to see Zulema and Omar in the waiting area of the jail with the news. Sara joins them. {Ed. Note: are we supposed to think they’re all on the same team with purple dresses/blouses and ties? Or is that just an artifact of the wardrobe department so we’ll pay attention to the dialogue?] Everything’s going in their favor—Jaime confessed to everything. They’ll go on to court, it looks like. Sara s not thrilled, but Omar and Zulema are. Sara goes back to Alonslow with a glower on her face, cursing Jaime, the idiot. She exchanges a glance with Alonslow that we’re guessing he can’t possibly interpret without help.

Snortensia consults with the family Abogado. He tells her there’s a problem, Jaime spilled his guts like a nutcase. Qué the heck? How could he do this to us? There’s more. The Abogado couldn’t hold off the reporters. Geez. How will she keep her image up? Oh, well, the only important thing is to Get Out Of Jail, Free. He nods vigorously.

Speaking of the Press, they’re out in force, asking Omar and Zulema about the Proceedings. When did they find out their daughter wasn’t dead, only kidnapped? We’ve confirmed that your brother said he’s guilty. Joel says his clients have no comment. What’s this about you orchestrating vengeance against your Mami to get her out of her business? Zulema snaps and retorts. This b**** (okay, I’m paraphrasing here) committed a crime and has to pay for it. The reporters want to know if Omar and Zulema are looking for a cash settlement. Nope, just looking for justice. They begin walking away and we see the “Televisa” microphone. Julian emerges from the courthouse, Pretty in Pink (the color suits him soooo well). Isn’t he the contestant from the genius game show? Yep. Is he with Them? Yep, they’re his parents. Does he agree with the charges against his grandmother? She’s nothing to him. The reporter presses about his relationship with Snortensia but Joel rushes him away.

We see the image in a television and it’s in Chalo’s room. Julian declares they’re going to win the contest and the fight with Snortensia. Chalo is p. o.’d as Sara arrives. By the time he can show her that idiot, Julian, the news has moved onto a fire somewhere. He tells her what Julian said and that the news says Jaime confessed. Sara assures him the lawyer has a plan.

Toribio drills Paula on the specifics of her new product line. It clears up the skin, and doesn’t irritate. It’s got pumpkin seed in it. Don’t tell me, it opens the pores. Perfectly…..wrong! Toribio reminds her it clears up crows’ feet. (lines of expression). She moans about forgetting and he tells her to study but the doorbell rings. Alonslow has arrived. What, no Sara? Shucks, Paula wants her to buy some creams. Alonslow says Sara’s not buying creams. They bicker about Sara, creams, etc. Sure. When his sister needs a favor, he disappears. Okay, he’ll call Sara.

Speaking of the Queen of Rome, she’s ready to leave Chalo’s place and he thinks she’s like the 13th Apostle—eats and runs. (There’s an interesting metaphor and one the Methodist Church doesn’t use). Oops, Chalo gets to her cell phone first and answers, with Sara screaming at him in the background. The phone drops and breaks. Sara screams at Chalo for messing with her phone and with the call. She storms out. Chalo intuitively notes that she’s mad now. Alonslow is left wondering qué the heck, giving Paula and Papi an opportunity to put doubts about her faithfulness into his Little Brain. You say a guy answered? Toribio starts it all. Not to bother him, but she may be putting (the horns on you? Is that what Paula wanted to say?). Alonslow cuts her off cold. Toribio seizes this golden opportunity to say he doesn’t like Sara much. Paula notes that she’s left him in the same position as Lorena here. Alonslow soaks it all in. Toribio doesn’t want Paula to compare the girls. Paula changes the subject, apparently oblivious to Alonslow steaming. He should buy something from her.

Bettina is off in her bedroom on the cell phone and tells Lucia about how Ivan got her info. Does he have a cute friend? Oh, the friend’s okay—but Lucia wants to meet him anyway.

Snortensia is a mess but her purple blankie is nice. Don’t they just give out khaki colored blankies in jail? Bruno comes to find out if the deal’s still on. How’d he get in her anyway? He told them he’s her personal doc. What if someone recognized him? There’s nothing odd about calling for a doc under the circumstances. She assures him the deal’s on and she won’t be in jail long. He tells her that from the heart, he hopes she won’t be in jail long. (Yup, of course.) She fumes as he leaves.

Rossy trots in to see what Lorena is up to. Lorena’s decoding recipes that they tested for the grand opening. Rossy wonders if she shouldn’t just ask. Nope, she wants to figure them out; it’s an exercise. She asks Rossy what she thinks was in them. Magic! She loved them! Rossy changes the subject; what was up with that Monica. Her disgusted looks reminds Rossy of the witch. Lorena thinks it’s a good thing no one paid her any attention. Rossy thinks it’s just one thing—what? She’s in love with Ern. What? Rossy thinks Lorena is jealous and Lore protests he can be interested in whoever he wants. Rossy tells her she can say what she wants, but Ern’s not indifferent to her. Lore is saved by the bell, and it’s Julian. They talk about the news. Did Don Jaime confess it all? Yes. Lorena sighs and puts her hand on her chin.

Sara descends like the true princess she is. Sorry she kept him waiting. Alonslow goes on the offensive—where was she? Huh? In her office. He called her number and he got a guy. Must have been the guy who stole it. Is he doubting her? He apologizes profusely and repeatedly. Gag me with a spoon. She doesn’t want to be around a guy who doubts her. Don’t be comparing her to Lorena. Out, out da**ed spot! He tries to make up. She points Alonslow to the door. He tries again and Sara relents, laying it on thick. It leaves her cold that she’s under so much pressure and he does this to her. (She’s got him now.) More apologies and a kiss.

Back to Zulema’s and Omar’s house, and it’s morning. She gives a grinning Julian instructions for turning on the stove and cooking pumpkins. Omar comes and calls her to go with him; Julian assures Mami that even if he’s no chef he can do this with no problems. Maruja, Rossy and Lorena arrive to save the cooking day. Lorena came to wish them luck. Zulema assures her this is her house. (And we all know it really is.) Omar thinks it’s time to fix all the injustices. She’ll always be welcome, no matter what else happens. Hugs. Lorena was going out to sell her panqués, but Julian thinks they should buy them up and serve them as dessert. Whatever. Boy, will Ern be steamed if he doesn’t get his ration today.

Jacqui grumbles about Dario throwing his clothes around. She wants a girl to clean up. Fine, but Jacqui has to pay. Dario isn’t to blame if her boss is a criminal and Jacqui doesn’t want to clean up after her hubby. He storms out and she runs after him demanding a ride to work, brandishing some discarded item.

Zulema and Omar walk into the waiting area of the jail/courthouse and talk about the relief of having Lorena as part of the fold again. They felt so guilty when they kicked her out. They were wrong to judge her; she’s really noble. Zulema sees Sara and walks over to her with a hopeful expression. Sara stands up and walks away, saying nothing. Zulema asks Omar why Sara treats them like that. Duh. Omar says she’s just blinded. Vasco joins them, and they all greet each other. He hopes it’s over soon. Sure, his father’s confession will probably speed it up. Omar is sorry about the situation. Vasco is, too. He doesn’t know what to think. On the one hand, he knows his father committed a crime. On the other hand, it saddens him to think of his father spending so much of his life in jail. Omar hugs Zulema as they feel pain for Vasco.

Banshee Barb breezes into Ickturo’s office and closes the door. He wants her to leave the door open. She misses him and needs some lovin’. She’s really upset about her hubby. The imbecile confessed! He’s a fool according to Ickturo. She puts moves on him and he reminds her that SHE wanted it to end. That was then, this is now. She wants to go back to the encounters that make life worth living. Nope, can’t risk it. He says they have to be more cautious than ever. He’s going to be in charge of the company. Barb is incensed—Vasco should be in charge. So, where the heck is he? Barbara thinks he’ll show up and Ickturo tells her to quit dreaming. He doesn’t give a rip about this company and Ickturo himself is right where he needs to be at the right time. Barb is really put out now. She won’t listen to this. Okay, so what’s she doing here? She grabs her purse and stalks out with a long glare over her shoulder leaving Icky chuckling to himself. He turns the photo of the Armendáriz family face down on his/Jaime’s desk.

Julian tells Maruja that Jaime and Snortensia could spend several years in jail. Poor things, she mutters. Julian thinks they should have 50 years for each one they were without Sara. Rossy bursts in – did they miss her and Lorena? Of course. Rossy wants the tele on so they can follow the scandal. (Geez, news must be awful slow in the D. F. Could this whole novela be a PSA about kidnappings in Mexico? Oh, probably not.) Maru watches intently as Julian turns it on.

Jacqui comes to Jaime’s/Ickturo’s office, commenting that he seems to know the company inside and out (teje y maneje) in the short time he’s been there. He says he’s in charge of the company with Snortensia and Jaime gone. You think? He comes around the desk to breathe down her neck. Can she think of anyone better? Well, she hopes he remembers his companions. He strokes her arms and tells her he never forgets the ones who are loyal to him. Jacqui heats up. He hopes she’ll be one of those. She’ll put her life on the line for someone she commits to. (Hah). She looks over her shoulder at Ickturo, sultry. And if he tells her he’ll die with her? (One wonders what kind of death we’re talking about here.) He strokes her cheek and brings her face to his for a kiss. Suddenly he’s sweeping everything off of Jaime’s/his desk, and she’s belly up over the edge. Seems that Sylvia called it spot on last night. If Jaime only knew….Can clothes come off any faster than these two make them?

We’re saved by a quick shift back to Zulema’s kitchen where Maru is barking orders and Rossy thinks she’s been sublimated back to the Armendáriz company kitchen. The bicker fondly and the phone rings. Guess who? Sure ‘nuff, Maru has a lovely invite to the grand opening of Raimundo’s new restaurant. He gets her address. Rossy messes with Mami about having a man call her. Maru’s not inclined to tell her if she’s going to be such a kvetch about it. But she does, and Rossy and Lorena put two and two together. It’s where they both work now— Julian thinks it’s a hoot that Maru’s going to be a guest and they’re going to serve her! But, why did he call only Maruja, Rossy wants to know. Maru assures her Raimundo invited all her friends. Rossy gives her a skeptical look and Lore grins.

Ern and one of the kitchen staff discuss which knife to use for a task. Guess who’s going to win that discussion? Another staff member (the hairstylist for Pastor Gaitán and Heriberto, Juan, and just about everyone else in Yo Amo a Juan) comes in with the filet. Ern says it needs more time cooking. The guy disagrees. Guess who’s going to win that discussion? Doesn’t Ern think he might be exaggerating? Could be. But the guy goes back with the filet. A third kitchen staff member comes in with another little situation. The crust is getting too dried out in the oven. Nope, Ern thinks it needs a couple of minutes more. The guy disagrees. At the moment, his fish is overcooked. He’s never let it have that much time in the oven. Ern controls him self masterfully and tells the guy to let his nose be his guide. Smell it already. The guy INSISTS. Ern does TOO. Guess who’s going to win that discussion? Okay, but what if it happens like the guy thinks it will? Ern’s name won’t be Ernesto Mendiola any more. He walks off in frustration with the guy shaking his head.

Jacqui and Ickturo dress again, and she’s got regret written all over her face. What have we done? Ickturo points out it was fantastic. Or, will she try to deny it? But she just got married! Yeah, but you’re not happy and I noticed it, doll. So stop worrying. Wasn’t it incredible? She admits that even the best minutes with Dario couldn’t equal that. He assures her this is just the beginning, they ain’t seen nothin’ yet. More sloppy kissing.

The judges want Snortensia’s declaration. Well, she’s innocent, of course. But Jaime’s not. He did it and she protected him. That’s her only crime. Joel looks incensed. She continues that she only learned about it recently. But she kept her silence to protect him. Jaime kidnapped Sara; he’s the only guilty one. Joel looks plenty disgusted. Snortensia, who looks bad enough with makeup, looks positively skeletal without it.

Joel bursts out into the waiting area. Zulema and Omar get up to hear the news. Vasco joins them. What happened, Omar asks. Joel’s indignant. Why? Snortensia declared herself innocent and said Jaime is the only guilty one. Zulema and Omar are impactados and Vasco shakes his head, disgusted. Behind him, Sara is smug and silently gives Snortensia her regards.

Next time: Lorena is sure that Hortensia personally took the baby to the orphanage. Will anyone find out that the real Armendáriz is Lorena, not Sara?

Jeanne

Labels: enemiga

We start with Rosario and the boys separately overhearing Sara professing how much she still loves Franco, but that all is lost...he loves her not.

Ok, so the first one to react to this is Rosi. She tells Ofi how it breaks her heart to see her flesh and blood so distraught and that she must do something to help. Hmmm...

Feo finishes his conversation with Crabi while Raquel cowers on the floor. Where is the pride!! He tells her they will talk about it at home ad pleeeasse will you just go ahead of me!! He gets in the car and yells at Raquel to not complain to him. Arghhh...

Back at the small bread shop turned house full of ever increasing bodies with only one shower practically in the living room and previously only one bedroom that all three grown men slept in together...the boys fight over going to pick up Franco and who gets the hot water first and Oscar steals the coin. Sofi worries about her sister. Juan tells her not to worry that she isn't the likes of nun, and she'll snap out of it.

We then see Sara paying a visit to our oh so animated Padre seeking counsel.

Oscar and Juan chat while he takes a shower when Quinti asks them if they are going to participate in the chile festival this coming weekend. Oz think it would be a good distraction for Franco so Juan says fine count us in. There is a conversation about if they had the hacienda for the jaripeo event or something but I didn't catch this so feel free to add in if you did.

Paddy Tad essentially tells Sara that she has found love love so she should try for that and give up the idea of being a nun. In fact he orders it of her and there are no buts about it.

All of a sudden Franco is back and there is much rejoicing. Yeahh..... and some toasting Rigoberto's brother (I can't remember his name, darn) makes the announcement that he and Eugenia have formalized their commitment and they are on the path to marriage. Everyone smiles except Eug and Sofi; they make smirks like they know there's more to it. Random older man comes out of the woodwork and makes the confession that he's always liked both sisters Quin and Hort, but he's decided on one and it's Hort. She is amenable to this idea.

Franco feels so special with all these stories of love and Pedro is about to rain on the parade that not all love stories have happy ending when Paddy Tad shows up proudly bringing in Sara to join in the celebrations. Everyone is thrilled and Franco tells her to sit by him because they have a lot to talk about.

Back at Bad Love, Feo yells at Rosi to get dressed to go on and she says nope, not tonight honey I still have a headache. She says she needs to rest and maybe will go on tomorrow. She wants to think about how she is living her life. She doesn't care what he thinks. He thinks she's confused with all that's happened and so ok, she can wait till tomorrow. She mutters after he's gone if he only knew she was going to give up Franco for Sara.

Back at the celebration, Franco sings to Sara his famous song again (see one of my previous recaps for the words) and everyone joins in. Looks like they dubbed the music over it afterwards as he sounds awful. Scenes like this are why this novela is so popular. In the other room Pedro wallows in his despair, he misses his Mami. He does make a portentous statement that his Pa abandoned them and only God knows something of him if he's alive or dead.

Benito is complaining about the Reyes asserting their rights over the hacienda and that they need a lawyer fast. He thinks this is all an error and that what Raqui thought too, she'll have to speak to Fernando C to get advice and to Crabi, because this time like it or not Crabi has to help them.

Uh oh...Crabi finds out that Sara left the nunnery with help from Paddy Tad.

OK, finally Juan and Sofi are worrying about where everyone will fit in that place. Yeah, thank you. Anyway, the worry shifts to her sisters and that even if Sara isn't going to be a nun she has no vocation. She thinks though that eventually her Mom will have to take her back.

Oh no....the next scene is Crabi smacking the jalapenos out of Sarita and shaming her for disappointing her despite being her favorite, oh and get out of the house. OK so she doesn't and goes to her G-Pa and tells him the story. She is going to live in the zoo with him. And there is much rejoicing.

Next we see Raqui searching a trunk and drawers for the house papers. What does she pull out, but that illusive belt buckle that Juan always dreams of and is dreaming of at this very moment in a flashback to his parents' murder. Raqui lets the public in that this belt buckle belonged to her husband Ricardo...aha moment. Raqui says how he always wore it.

Juan tells Sofi he's had the nightmare again and the culprit will pay.

In Crabi's love nest, she slithers her lips over him and discovers his serpent tattoo.

Sofi reminds Juan of her own nightmares. Say it with me folks, they agree they will be together "para siempre."

Feo tells Crabi that's his favorite animal, it never fails, either poisoning or suffocating it's victim who slowly suffers their own death. He reminds of the Adam and Eve and original sin story with the serpent as tempter. He says this is the symbol of seduction and pleasure and that when you least expect, it gets you. Hmmm..

More pillow talk from Juan and Sofi, blah blah blah. Our love is stronger than anything and will cure all wounds....

The three kings comment on the tree they believed belonged to their Pa, and this tree represents them and their people. Juan flashes back to his Pa making them promise as kids to never give up and to protect these lands forever, and the promise they made on this tree symbol. They agree this is their mission in life.

At the zoo, Sara cares for Luisito and G-Pa, she's sad but better though still sad about her Ma's rejection. She does forgive slightly because Ma is sick. G-Pa says if she was so sick she wouldn't be getting set to marry Feo.

Back at "The Tree" Crabi and Feo show up trying to kick out the boys. They say no way these are our lands. Crabbi and Feo are impactados. Somehow Raqui shows up there too and tells Crabbi that now she knows what these thieves are up to and they want her hacienda and she has to help or Raqui will tell the whole world the truth. Crabi is again impactada.

She tells Raqui to shut up and if she reveals the secret, she will suffer more. Raqui doesn't care. She is prepared to do what it takes even if she prejudices both of them. The brothers leave, but not before noting that these people are indeed hiding some evil secret.

At the zoo G-Pa and Eva talk about Sara's change and how she will gain acceptance with Rosi through caring for the little boy.

Back at the mansion, Crabi wonders what hearing the Reyes were mentioning and Feo says not to bother herself with it.

Quinti is looking for spices when she comes across Libia's photo. She decides to put her in another location and decides no one will see her in the basket.

Pedro is waiting for the boys at the river, who tell him that Crabi and them didn't believe anything they said. Oscar can't wait until they get the Hacienda back. Franco says we shouldn't be disillusioned because none of us have ever worked in one so how will we compete. Oz thinks their luck will change. We are then treated to wet undies swimming fest x4. Yum. And that's where my tape cut off. I sure hope they replay this Friday!!!!

Labels: Fuego