Caray, Caray!

Yes, I know I said no politics. I know I know! And I know this is not an art blog! I know! I know!

But, I just painted this and I liked it so much I've ordered postcards made up, they should arrive by October 6 or so. You can buy a pack of five postcards for $5.00 plus $2.00 handling via PayPal:

Click on the picture for a larger view.

OK, don't flame me. Now back to our regularly scheduled activities...

Labels: announcements, humor

Pardon him for daring to mention it, says Franco, but it’s more like Sofia’s mother has been putting ideas into her head. He melodramatically turns his back to her for emphasis as he tells her that her mama’s even been telling lies that his daddy way back when was in love with her. Of course Franco refuses to doubt the love his two parents shared for each other. (Said another way: your mama’s delusional so maybe try puttin’ two and two together and gettin’ 4 for once, you dimwit dame!) This little revelation gets Sofia to stop about two seconds to reflect on something and someone other than herself before she starts in with the same woe is me sing-song. Franco then relents and says he understands her pain. “Ha!” says Sofia. “No! Nobody can understand my pain! I didn’t even get to know my child! I don’t even know what she looks like – and it’s all because Juan has condemned me to it!” (How about the fact that Franco was so young when his parents were murdered that he can’t even remember what they looked like?) Franco watches as Sofia wanders off and he tells himself again that Juan isn’t capable and that it can’t be true.

Meanwhile, as native flutes play mesmerizingly in the background, a skinny dipping Juan dives into the river, and those of us with the benefit of digitized DVR get a glimpse of a titillating, not-so-pixilated, version of the underside of Juan’s backside crack. (Hubby’s with Hombre and me on this one: the view of EY at this angle is a bit more information than we needed.) Juan, in a birthday suit which, for 40-something EY has definitely aged in rather nicely over so many birthdays, is swimming innocently along as luscious lipped and unabashedly nude Leonora also gets into the water. She, apparently of the “if it feels good, do it” school of medical ethics, swims over and tells him that from the first moment in which she laid eyes on him she felt attracted to him. (Dunno about the rest of you, but the close up here of Juan’s still battered and swollen face is anything but a turn-on for me. Maybe Leonora has just been in the wild a bit too long and fell victim to the pheromone phenomenon, ‘cause he looks more like an un-jolly, black and blue-green giant to me at this point.) She says that since they’re all alone there in the jungle there is no reason they can’t get it on together; and to top it off, she promises him (Oh happy day!) sex without commitments.

Luscious Leonora attempts to kiss Juan then and it seems he just might give in to the moment. In the end, though, still subconsciously faithful to Sofia, he rejects her and says that she is simply confused because he saved her life from the minions of the angry, ugly Diapered One. It’s no more than that and so she thinks she loves him. Besides, until he figures out who he is and what he’s doing there, he tells her, he has no business being with her. It’s better that she gets out of the river and he’ll turn around to save what shred of modesty she still has. So (while hubby complains that only Mexico gets to see the un-pixilated version of her and I keep what I know about various racier Youtube versions to myself) she swims off.

Back in Puebla City Fernando goes to the jail to see Alejandro Reyes who demands to know what happened that night. Feo swears to him that he had nothing to do with either Juan’s or the baby girl’s disappearance and gives his bogus version of events. El Jefe grabs Fernando through the bars and says he knows Juan is incapable of doing something like that, but Fernando convinces him that it shouldn’t be so hard to believe that since Juan knew Gabriela wouldn’t allow him to ever see his child that he might do anything to keep his child with him.

Sofia meanwhile has returned to Harpy Haven to complain to Gabi about having sold Eva’s daughter to the Uribes for land and then, to top it off, her having the nerve to tell Franco that his father was in love with her instead of his own wife. Sofia cannot comprehend how Mama could be so insensitive and so inhumane. (Come on, Sofia. After all this time and with all the crap you’ve taken from her?) Gabi dismisses her as Ste. Sofia of Lost Causes and tells Sofia, through her own twisted reasoning, that she actually did the little girl a favor by giving her away since now the girl will be the only heir to the entire Uribe fortune. Sofia disagrees and reminds Mama that she illegally intervened against the most sacred thing in life, the love between a mother and her child. Gabi scoffs at Sofia and says she’s fed up with the subject already. Doesn’t she know anything else to talk about? Everything Sofia discusses revolves around the relationships of mothers and their children. (Well, maybe if Sofia had a healthy relationship with her own mother…..) “Why can’t you just accept that Juan Reyes kidnapped your daughter and that she will never be found?”

Sofia refuses to believe her daughter won’t reappear somehow, but Gabi says it is so and that it’s God’s punishment because she chose to oppose her mother. She is condemned to suffer the same fate as Eva’s. (Now right there a couple of light bulbs should have gone off in Slowfia’s noggin.) Gabi smiles smugly at her. This domineering bitch’s sick, sadistic pleasure at seeing the suffering of both Eva and Sofia at the loss of their children is written all over her face. “Neither of you two will ever get to know your child, do you hear me? Never!” As the music swells and we break for a commercial, the only question is, as impactada as naive Slowfia seems to be, will the realization of what she is seeing and hearing EVER sink in?

Across the way at Hacienda de los Baker Boys, Rosario has come for a visit. She speaks with Franco and he confesses to her that he loves Sarita much more so than he could ever have imagined and then apologizes for hurting her. She bucks up and says that’s ok, he can unload on her anytime he likes. (What a door mat you are, Rosario. Sheesh.)

===========

Night falls. Immature Sarita (with a stringed orchestra playing musical refrains in the background of the theme from Destilando Amor??!!) is back to writing love notes in her diary. She is still emotionally conflicted over her feelings of love and hate for Franco as she cries to the dolly in her lap about fate keeping them separated forever.

Across the hallway, Feo creeps into Gabi’s room as she sleeps. He looks down at her and remembers her confessing to him that since childhood being locked up is her greatest fear because it’s like being buried alive for her. He decides to leave and lock her in for grins, like some sick kid who wants to see what happens when he pulls off the wings of a fly. Gabi wakes up afterwards and begins calling out for him. She tries opening the locked door and begins begging for him or anyone to open it for her. Fernando, smiling demonically to himself, hears but ignores her and plays with the silver snake choker he bought her the day Raquel Uribe confronted them at the sidewalk café in Puebla City. Fernando continues to sit on the dark stairway and listen to her panicked screams until he hears her eventually pass out from the fear and fall to the floor. (Now, seriously, how far away could Sarita’s room be that she can’t hear all the ruckus her mother must be making?)

Away in the jungle, Oscar continues his midnight meanderings in search of Juan. He ends up at the Indian settlement determined to search each of the huts one by one. “Something,” he says to himself, “tells me Juan is nearby.” (Uh, maybe this would be a good time to ask Papa Juanjo to have a little confab with the Big Guy upstairs for a couple of solid clues?) Oscar is so obsessed by now with the need to find Juan (we are led to believe) that he apparently cannot wait until morning to ask around and so he creeps from hut to hut looking for Juan like a freakin’ peeking tom.

Sofia, meantime, is having nightmares about Juan handing her over her newborn daughter only to find the baby miraculously absent from its swaddling. She wakes up and begins talking to the empty baby sweater she keeps next to her in bed, crying to it and mourning for her missing child to be returned to her. (I know, I know. Somebody should have taken those baby clothes away from her by now and packed them away in a trunk somewhere, but that would just make too much sense in this family fun-house.) At the same time Juan is dreaming and he begins to yell in his sleep from the mental flashbacks and the excruciating pain they literally are causing him. He wakes and calls out to the mat below for Leonora. She’s not there and so he leaves the hut to go looking for her.

Juan finds Leonora taking a walk despite the thunder and lightning and intermittent rain. She has been remembering her fiasco with him in the river. He rushes up and tells her excitedly that he has remembered something. She suggests they take a stroll together and they will discuss it. Just then, on the other side of the settlement, Oscar peeks into their tent and sees only a sleeping Silvestre and an empty bed. Frustrated, he asks dead sis Libia to guide him, but apparently she’s gone out for a midnight stroll through the clouds herself and doesn’t get the message.

Juan tells Leonora he remembers something about another storm and lightening and a big tree but… She tells him that perhaps the storm is “stimulating” his memories. (I’m wondering if that isn’t too big a word for Juan to grasp.) He says he doesn’t know whether to stay there or to go off and try to find his home and family. She attempts to convince him to begin a new life, preferably with her. “Where would you go? If you are a man without a past you have no direction and you’d be exposing yourself to all sorts of danger. Whatever you might want, at least here you are protected and this could be your new family. In the clinic you have a home and with me you could start a new life.” She looks up at him with those pouting, sexy, siliconed lips. He looks up at the sky and then back at her and thinks about what she’s suggesting. Thunder continues to rumble and lightning continues to flash. Oscar, on the other side of the settlement with no answer from Little Sis, rides away.

Back at the hacienda freaky Fer opens the door finally and kicks Gabi to stir her awake. She wakes up and starts crying inconsolably. Feo pretends to comfort her. “Oh, oh. Calm yourself. The storm must have caused the door to stick. Get into bed. I’m here to take care of you. I’m here to protect you. It’s alright. Quiet down now.” (Eh, well, it’s not as if she deserves our sympathy over this.) He holds her with a nearly imperceptible smile on his face as she cries about not being able to cope with being locked in and feeling like she is buried alive.

Back over at the Robles-Reyes kitchen Quintina, Franco and Pablito are having a late-night meal. Quintina worries about where they are going to get money to pay the mortgage and Franco tells her he feels inadequate as head of the family. She tells him honestly that he’s not the baker his brother was and so the bread isn’t selling like it used to. So, Franco might as well do what he does best: sing serenades. He agrees with her and they put plan “B” to work.

Sofia comes running over to Augie’s cottage, in tears from the bad dream and desperate to find her daughter. She tells Augie about the nightmare she just had. In a three hankie scene they hug while he comforts her and tells her to cry herself out because she cannot allow herself to become like her mother who sees crying as a sign of weakness. She must cry it all out and face her misfortune with courage. She cannot continue to be one of the living dead from her pain.

Somehow and somewhere at that time of night Franco and the others find their buddy, the accordion player, and they rehearse a little before setting out to find a serenade gig.

Back at the cottage Gramps and Sofia begin to chat. He tells her she has the unconditional love of her family and that she should never allow herself to become like the Reyes who caused everyone’s suffering because of their blinding ridiculous need for vengeance at the death of their sister. She promises to get back to being the “old Sofia” but says she will never stop searching for her daughter.

As Franco and the others play serenades for the locals and the money comes rolling in, Leonora tells Juan about her father not bothering to even come to the bus station to see her off. He tells her as long as she has a father she has no reason to complain. He, on the other hand, has nothing to tell because he can’t remember it.
===============

Morning finally comes to Cd. Serdán. Quintina and Franco have made more than enough to keep things going there at the hacienda for a while longer. She tells him that Rigo gets out of the hospital today and she’s going to look for a cheaper place for them all to live. He says no reason to since there is more than enough room at the hacienda for them. They can all come live there with him and not have to worry themselves about being able to cover the rent. Quintina says they’ll love it and thanks him for the regal ways of the Reyes.

Rigo gets a clean bill of health from his specialist. Eugenia comes to visit him at the clinic and he gives an engagement ring to her and asks her to marry him. (Benito call your office!)

At the same time, back at the Hacienda de las Harpías, Fernando and Mama make a big to do in front of everyone about his formally asking her to marry him and giving her the engagement ring which, like Feo, she also unwittingly bought for herself. She is delighted to accept with a grin even the Cheshire Cat would envy. Augie doesn’t miss the opportunity to comment on what a huge and expensive diamond ring it is. He asks Fer who actually bought it, him or Grabbi. Fernando catches himself and says coolly (as in butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth) that he of course bought it and he will not allow Augie’s impertinence to wreck the moment of this grand occasion. He then, classy guy that he is, offers everyone glasses of champagne to toast Gabi and himself with, but it is painfully obvious that nobody is in the mood. Sarita clears her throat and explains it’s not exactly the proper moment for toasting since Jimena is ill and Sofia’s daughter is still missing.

Crabi looks angrily at her daughters and says if nobody toasts her than it’s like saying it isn’t important to any of them. (Imagine that!) Neither Sofia, nor Sarita nor Augie move a muscle. They all stare at Gabriela as if they’ve just swallowed castor oil straight. So, Gabi toasts herself. She then stares over at Sofia and asks why Sofia won’t toast to her mother’s happiness. (Yes, oh why? Oh why? I can’t imagine. Let's see, her physically abusive, three-timing lech of an ex is marrying her emotionally abusive mother in something akin to a near incestuous relationship. Could that possibly have anything to do with it?) Sofia, her expression flat as day old champagne, then obliges, telling Mama that, God willing, Fernando might actually make her happy. Sofia then tells the others that they will all toast to Mama and Fer’s happiness and hopefully Mama might realize they all are with her rather than against her. Augie won’t even take a glass. He looks at the floor instead. “To your happiness, Mama.”

Fer nibbles at Crabi’s hand and then he and Crabi embrace and begin swallowing each other’s tongues. The others look as if they can still taste that castor oil at the back of their throats. As Fer and Crabi continue sucking face in the “passion” of the moment, the others are sickened and look away in total disgust.

Labels: Fuego

Permalink posted by Jardinera654 @ 5:50 PM 78 comments

Hola, amigos/as – I claim total responsibility for typos, grammar errors, spelling errors, etc. Feel free to pretend there are none.


A nice local gives Zulema and Omar directions to San Martin, only 2 – 3 Km or so away (about a mile or two).

At the San Martin Orphanage, Lorena is receiving the very best news of her life from Alonslow—we may have to rename him as he’s not nearly as slow as he was a week ago – her real parents didn’t abandon her in a dumpster. But she saw the file! He gives her a summary of the story—they’ve been alive the whole time, and close by. Sara falsified it all and Lore’s real parents are Omar and Zulema. Sara wanted Lorena’s place, and Snortensia’s fortune. Our dear naïve Lorena wonders how that could be since they were like sisters? Madre Trinidad notes that Sara messed with them all here. Now Lore understands why she never cared about her parents. Slow points out they’re LORENA’S parents. Slow explains the facts of life to Lore—he’s got the DNA proof. Not a doubt about it. How could Sara do this will all the love she always gave Sara? Lore needs a little time to sort it all out alone.

Another nice local -- in San Martin -- gives Zulema and Omar directions to La Divina Providencia Orfanato, just around the corner. So far, locals are batting a thousand for directions. Well, it IS telenovelaland (great news, since locals rarely can explain effectively where stuff is in their own home towns). Zulema can’t wait and runs for the orphanage. Lore is still sorting when they arrive, with Slow stroking her arms and comforting her about Sara’s betrayal—Lorena wants to go back to the capital and talk with Zulema and Omar.

No need, they’re here. It’s magic. In a tearjerker slow-mo moment they run down the long hallway that is open to the garden, Zulema calling Lorena’s name. The lovely pale blonde daughter and dark brunette mother stroke each other’s cheeks and marvel, Lorena uttering one word over and over: “Mamá, Mamá.” They hug fiercely and even Omar chokes up as Lorena beams at him over her Mami’s shoulder. It’s his turn for a hug….”¡Hija!” Zulema beams through her tears behind Lorena. Waiting discreetly nearby, Madre Trinidad comments to Slow and Madre Carmelita that “they’ve found heaven.” (They’ve gained heaven). On Ferro’s UCS, it’s a 2 or so for all of them—the tears are appropriate and real. Not to mention held in check. No drooling, no dripping noses. All in all, a nice tearjerker for the UCS. Slow tells the Madres that Lorena deserves it (heaven).

The new Happy Family talk about how they hit it off right from the start. Omar reminds Lore about when he told her she’ll always have a family with them. He trusted her. More sweet family reunion talk. Lore will never get tired of saying Mamá. Zulema will never get tired of hearing it. More hugs, more tears.

Maruja and Jaime just have to see how the divorce process is going, so they check with the court. Jaime is sure that Rogelio is probably way far away by now. He speaks for Maruja—the desk clerk takes the details of the paperwork from Maruja, though, and it looks like Rogelio hasn’t put in any appearances, right? All that’s left is for the judge to sign the docs. “Then it’s a done deal?” Maruja has a “that’s way too good to be true” look. Yep, you’re good to go, the gal tells her. Jaime and Maruja hug and giggle.

The Madres with Slow in tow decide the Happy Family is having way too much fun without them and come to introduce themselves. Zulema wants to know if they’ve known Lore forever—yep, they took care of her since she was an infant. Madre Trinidad comments on bawling Lore out, and Lore protests—she was just helping me when I got into messes, Lore vows. And Madre Carmelita was my accomplice. They all laugh and Zulema and Omar thank them for taking such good care of Lore. Zulema calls Slow over, because they owe this happiness to him. Lore and Slow glance at each other awkwardly over Zulema’s head while she beams and the four of them stand arm in arm. [Ed. Note: I hate to say it, but this looks like a family portrait and could be a sign of the future, DRAT.]

Sara has discovered the underbelly of the D. F. and has come to purchase nutritional supplements. The grease ball looks around over his shoulders, then demands his money. Sara hands him a wad; he gives her the capsules in a little plastic baggie and asks if they’re for her. What difference does it make? He just wants her to know that more than three of these and she’s out for the count (you won’t live to tell it, no lo cuentas, my best guess). She thanks him as he goes and mutters to her imaginary friend that’s why she bought them, to get him/her out of this world.

As dark falls, the new Happy Family Reunion is still going on. They marvel at the reunion; Lore can’t believe these are her parents. How she envied Sara for having such a lovely family. Omar notes Sara’s not worth the trouble. Zulema wants to see the silver lining—if Sara hadn’t tried to take Lore’s place, they might never have found out about Lorena. They all smile and coo. Omar comments that Zulema is very positive at the moment and that isn’t always the case. Zulema is the happiest girl in the whole USA—oops, wrong song. She can’t wait to tell the other kids. More rounds of “I loved them from the moment I met them.” Zulema felt guilty liking Lore better than Sara and when she sent Lore away, how bad it was. Lore tells her to forget the sad stuff and more hugs.

The Madres and Slow bring chocolate –because the rompope is all gone, Madre C cracks. Omar wants Slow to fill them in on how he found out the truth. Lore and Slow glance awkwardly at each other again.

Sara is hiding out in her room, breaking the capsules open into the plastic baggie so she’ll have them all ready to pour in a super large serving later. Ready! Looks like very little to actually be fatal. There were 12 capsules, so it should work, though. Then she cuts up newspaper the size of peso bills. That’s a stack of newspapers, all right.

Slow comments that it wasn’t easy to get all the evidence he needed for the DNA tests. Zulema and Lore can’t understand how he could have gotten the samples. He describes getting saliva from Zulema when he “examined” her at her house, and Zulema thanks him for taking evidence illegally. Then he tells about Toribio’s ruses to get into Maruja’s house and get the hair off the brushes for Lore’s sample. Tori was just as interested as Slow in unmasking Sara and getting them reunited with their real daughter. In fact, he was the first to think that it could be Lorena, because of the pathological envy Sara seemed to have for everything Lorena had. Slow conveniently avoids telling about how he tricked Sara and got her hair to prove she WASN’T their daughter. Madre T pipes in—probably Zulema will want to stay over with Lore? YES, of course! Men can’t stay here, so they’ll have to find other digs. The guys assure the Madre they’ll be fine on their own and she makes sure they’ll come for a tasty breakfast, cooked by mother and daughter. Eyebrow raise at Zulema and Lore—who confirm they’ll cook. Lore won’t forget that it was cooking that first brought them together. It’s in their blood, according to Madre Trinidad.

It just sucks to be Chalo. [Ed. Note: Actually, tonight it does.] He’s back in his dismal little rat hole of a room, peeling his designer boots off to reveal white cotton socks. The phone rings — Sara. She better not be messing with him. Oh, no, she understands she can’t play any games with him. He likes that, she knows who calls the shots. You, my king. She invites him to breakfast---to give him his cash. They make their plans. He warns her about messing with him again — she won’t live to tell about it. No, of COURSE not. Sara hangs up and plays with the briefcase of neatly arranged stacks of…money? Or newspapers? Oh, probably 6 of one, ten dozen of the other. She mutters to herself that the one who won’t live to tell about it is him.

Chalo muses bitterly to himself — he’ll have his money tomorrow, but what difference will it make without Barbara? He remembers happy, loving moments and picks up the phone as the dance music plays in his brain. She won’t take his call….okay, so he’ll write a letter. She may tear it up but she’ll at least see it first. He writes……

Sara talks to the baggie. So sorry, it’s your life or mine. A dirge plays in her brain.

Chalo writes….and writes….and crumples the letter…..and crumples the letter…..and has quite a stack building up. Vasco would definitely not like the wasted trees. Chalo crumples another one and sighs, tears misting his eyes as he puts his fist up to his mouth (with the crumpled paper in it). The dirge is playing in his brain now. [Ed. Note: This reminded me of what guys did the night before a duel, setting their affairs in order before they went off to die. Chalo could easily set his affairs in order, because he only had one thing going for him at the time, with Barbara, and no money to leave nor title nor estate.]

Omar and Slow celebrate the family reunion with a drink and snacks downtown at the only hotel. They chitchat about the happiest day of Omar’s life, may there be many more. Omar wants to know if Slow’s going to fight for Lore. Slow thinks out loud. Or does what passes for thinking. He can’t deny he loves her with all his strength. He didn’t start the investigation with that in mind, better said, he felt in debt to her. Slow tells Omar she’s engaged. Omar is mildly impactado, he hadn’t known. Slow sadly points out he let Sara mess with them and lost Lorena through his own blindness. Omar gives him a comforting guy-pat on the shoulder.

Zulema and Lore have changed to jammies and Zulema admires Lore’s precious hair. Lore wonders why she’s so blonde, which surely has been on all our minds, too. Zulema digs deep into her high school genetics and Mendelian inheritance, and notes that one grandparent on each side was a blazing blond(e). Lore is pleased. Then she remembers that she only has one living grandparent—Snortensia. Zulema says that woman doesn’t exist, for all the harm she’s done them. Lore sighs-- it seems Snortensia is very ill. She might never even learn that Lore’s her real granddaughter. Lore goes off on a dangerous path—she’ll never be able to thank Alonslow for reuniting her with her family. How could one repay someone who’s returned one’s family to her? Zulema does some groundwork for Slow—he loves you, daughter. But you don’t? Lore admits she DID love him, lots. Zulema points out that Sara was the demon who messed with them and separated them. Yeah, but he should have trusted me. Zulema agrees—what kind of love is it that doesn’t trust? And, you’re in love with Ernesto, right? Big sigh. Lore can’t say she doesn’t care, but he deceived her. They exchange loving, sad looks while Zulema strokes Lore’s hair.

Ivan’s in his jammies, too, and productively engaged in text messaging when Tío arrives home, forgetting to take his shoes off while he strides into the living room—and the carpet is gone, so maybe that’s why. Ivan greets him and Ern brusquely asks about the sibs. They’ve been asleep for an hour or so. Ern goes off and Ivan calls him back—Ivan wants to take dance classes. With Bettina. The niece of….??? Yep. Ernesto looks pained and Ivan wonders if something’s happened to him. No, nothing. Ivan fishes—you’re like this because Lorena’s gone to her hometown? ¿Qué—how’d you know? Bettina told me….her uncle went to look for Lore there. Ern looks WAY pained and gulps, commercial impactado.

What’s Ivan talking about? Bettina told him about her uncle—he was going there because Lorena was there—but don’t yell! Ern asks his forgiveness. Ivan understands why he’s angry because he’s been cuckolded. Ern hold him off—don’t make my head any hotter than it is. He calls for Fanny. Ivan shushes him and reminds him he’ll wake the kidlets and by the way, you gave Fanny time off early to see her parents. Ern curses and calls her. He “coaxes” her to come back early. She protests, but Ern cites the emergency. Is he mad? No, but PLEASE get here by 7:00.

Church bells toll 7:00 and a rooster crows as the sun rises over the Orfanato “La Divina Providencia” in San Martin. Zulema is already awake, stroking her newly found daughter’s leg, guaranteed to wake Lorena up. It wasn’t a dream? No, Mamá? No, it’s true, finally we’re together. Lorena throws herself at Zulema for a hug. They exchange happy mother-daughter now-we’re-together-I-never-stopped-missing-you-even-though-I-thought-you-were-dead-and-now-no-one-can-separate-us chitchat and loving caresses. Does anyone hear more bells tolling? Nope, that’s more anvils falling.

Ern paces, waiting for Fanny, who rushes in. He thought she’d be there at 7:00! Well, it’s just 7:10….okay, okay. He asks her to see to the kids going to school. Gina and Alex are anxious about what that means—why isn’t he taking them? Well, he has to leave. Why? To see about Lorena. HUH? Ivan comes to Uncle’s defense—he has to take care of bidniss—and sends them off for their stuff. Ivan gives his Uncle some wise advice—he doesn’t know how bad this mess it—but take things calmly, please. Ern tells him he hopes he can. He reminds his uncle that Ern loves Lore and the kids are accustomed to Lore—and Ern replies that he doesn’t know how much Ern really loves her. More deep sighs and angst looks.

Chalo has had a bad night and never changed his clothes, apparently falling asleep on top of the covers. He jumps up—he’s got to meet Sara and wanted to deliver the letter to Barb before that. (The anvils are glistening over his head). He’ll have to do it after he collects. Drat.

In the kitchen at La Divina Providencia, Lore wants Zulema to let Omar guess who made what as they finish off the breakfast prep. Zulema thinks he can’t because they cook too much alike. Slow won’t guess, either. Madre Trinidad joins them. She remembers this smell, since Lore was a little child. [Ed. Note: the temptation is strong here, but I won’t go there.] They chitchat about who fixed what dishes and how much alike they cook. Madre T is surprised, but why should she be, this is telenovelaland?

Omar and Slow are doing their part, entertaining the little girls with a game on the lawn. Poor Omar can’t keep up and thinks he’s got a sprain. Luckily, there’s a doc in the house. Omar thinks it’ll pass. One little girl flirts with Al—he should play with them. She puts her hands around his waist and he beams at the attention while the other girls whine about her. Omar wants them to give him a chance. They begin to bat the giant ball around again. Does this game have a structure and rules, or what? It’s definitely not 4-square.

Sara’s ready for her big day. She’s ordered breakfast, apparently for both her and Chalo, and all that remains is for Chalo to show. She thanks the waiter and waits until he leaves to pour the nutritional supplements into Chalo’s OJ, stirring it well into the commercial.

In a lovely jungle setting, Vasco enters the office of a guy who is clearly In Charge. Vasco asks if he’s Don Filomeno, the guy in charge of the Forest Resources. Yeah, so? Well, Vasco and his folks have come to release the parrots bred in captivity for this not-for-profit (non-governmental) program (I think that’s what he’s saying – loros=parrots, crías=bred), “Mundo Inhibido.” Oh, yeah, you’re the guys getting involved with the rainforest (selva=rainforest, jungle), huh? Yeah. But it seems that the forest where they’re supposed to release the parrots isn’t there any more, someone clear-cut it. Vasco folds his arms and waits for an answer. The guy gets muy defensive—those are just birds, for Pete’s sake. Can’t they go hunt for another tree? There AREN’T any trees. The reproduction project is worthless without their habitat, which you’re destroying. PSA for preserving the tropical rainforest, folks. The guy wants to know what Vasco wants him to do about it. Vasco tells him—come along when they get the police out there. Oh, I see. You’re pretty sure of yourself. Yeah, Vasco affirms. Look, kid, you don’t know who you’re messing with here (more anvils glistening. Will Vasco get out without another head blow?) Find some other place to release your feathered friends. Don’t screw around with us here (fregar). Vasco’s jaw is set and square. We know that look. You aren’t going to do a thing?? What can I do? Vasco tells him fine, he’ll just talk to the Municipal President. Don Filomeno recommends again that Vasco just doesn’t mess around here and get in huge trouble. Vasco wonders if he’s threatening or really is involved with the clear-cutting (taladores – from talado, felling, people who fell trees). The guy yells back that what he doesn’t like is some furriner coming in to tell him what’s what. Vasco fumes at him and strides out. The guy sits down, sighs, ponders a second, and phones a buddy. Don Gervasio, did your boys cut some trees near the ceibas (kapok trees)? Ah, so that’s why there’s this kid down from the capital complaining. According to him they were going to release some parrots. Uh-huh. And the locals are ready to point them out to you. [Ed. Note: last sentence was a bugger. Any ideas on translation?] You can stop it.

Chalo is wayyyy too cheerful for his last day on this earth. He thinks he’s getting his 2-mil pesos. What, she already ordered breakfast? Sara retorts she’s been here a half-hour waiting. That’s how he likes her, a little bristly. Okay, now his money. She plops the briefcase in front of him and he’s ready to count it but she pushes the lid back down and reminds him they’re in public — “Here? Don’t even think about it.” Oh, okay, don’t want anyone to see him and then assault him. He shuts it and sets it beside him. He raises his orange juice glass in salute and takes a tiny sip. He remarks about her going to the devil and she retorts that she was thinking this would be the last time they see each other. He smirks — Does she really think so? Stop pretending! She asks if there was ever a time he cared about her. He asks if it bothers her that the whole world hates her now and he keeps drinking. She’s earned that hate, after all. Just answer my question, she demands. Well, yeah, I’ve told you — you’re the closest thing to love I’ve known. Until Barbara came along. Sara watches the OJ disappear from the glass down Chalo’s doomed throat. He continues that even if he never gets back with Barbara, she will always be the love of his life. Sara tells him adios, Chalo, and he retorts “until never.” She picks up her purse to go as he keeps drinking the OJ, telling himself “Chalo, I’ll never understand these old gals.” Sara gives an evil grin as she watches through the plate glass. And he keeps drinking the OJ as she strolls off into oblivion. Wait, he’s the one going to oblivion.

Slow is having a great hair day in San Martin. Lore greets him, a flower over her left ear. In Hawaiian culture, that means her heart is taken (left side, same as heart and wedding ring). She cheerily tells him his timing is good, chow’s on. He tells her she’s gorgeous. She thanks him—and he realizes it’s not for the compliment. That’s a new twist. He says she doesn’t need to thank him. He just got the threads tied together. She tells him nevertheless, without him it wouldn’t have happened. He knew what her greatest desire in life was, and couldn’t stand by with his arms crossed. She’ll appreciate it all her life. What does she plan to do about Sara? Well, not think about that today, for starters. She’s so happy it doesn’t matter. Slow thinks she’s so noble! He’s kicking himself for losing her. Let’s not go there. He mutters that he’s paying for having believed the snake.

Omar breaks up this happy scene with the little girls in tow—everyone’s hungry! Great, because breakfast is ready! She takes her Papi’s arm and walks away with him and the little girls, Slow looking wistfully after them.

Chalo gets as far as the sidewalk outside the restaurant with the briefcase when the drugs hit him hard. He mutters to himself that something’s not agreeing with him and staggers along for several steps, then a car almost hits him and the briefcase falls open. He sees all the cut up newspapers littering the ground, realizes Sara’s betrayed him and curses her, holding some of the worthless paper. But the pain in his gut is stronger than his anger, and he wonders what Sara has done to him. Suddenly, Chalo’s on the ground convulsing for about 30 seconds with his eyes rolling around in his head and his limbs jerking, falling off the curb into the street, and gagging into a commercial.

Chalo is still surrounded by littered money-shaped newspaper, convulsing, but he’s managed to get his cell phone into his hand when a crowd begins to gather. A girl asks him what’s wrong and an older fellow says Chalo’s having an attack. Brilliant! His tongue lolls out of his mouth a little as he tries to talk. Someone says they need to get him an ambulance. Any bets on what Public Clinic he’ll end up in? He hands the younger woman the phone, and she asks if he wants her to call someone. Duh. He can’t talk, though, because his convulsions are in high gear.

The phone rings. Barbara answers and hears the young woman ask for her. Yes, what? The girl describes helping a young man who has been in an accident and is in bad shape, who wanted the girl to call Barbara. What’s his name? He wallet had a card that said “Gonzalo Carrasco.” What happened? Barbara’s concern shows. The girl describes how he ended up in the street, convulsing. She’s called the ambulance (the Red Cross). Barbara shakes with alarm, speechless.

Maruja apparently hasn’t been disabused of a double wedding yet, because she’s telling Rossy what she does and does NOT want at her wedding. She doesn’t like Rossy’s kind of music and Rossy doesn’t like her Muzak (that she hears at the supermarket). Maru tells Jaime to advise Rossy that they don’t want their wedding to be a disco, and Rossy tells Julian to advise the viejos that this is 2008 and not the last century. Jaime tells Julian it’d be nice if someone asked them, and Julian agrees—they are the grooms, after all. Maruja interjects that Jaime’s the classical type. Well, Julian told Rossy that whatever she likes is fine by him. Maruja thinks Rossy’s preferences are going to make for an absurd wedding. Rossy protests and Jaime and Julian call for silence. Julian tells the girls that if they keep it up, neither Jaime nor he will want to marry the girls. Maruja sees Jaime’s face and suggests they forget the music for the moment and concentrate on the food. Sure, Rossy wants sushi. Maruja is scandalized. She wants Italian! Jaime’s good sense prevails—he prefers Mexican food and Julian seconds the motion. They’re the majority vote, and therefore, it’ll be Mexican. Rossy pouts and Maru rolls her eyes, but smiles a little.

Bruto is back figuring the expenses again, which is guaranteed to provoke something or other. He asks Diana why she’s not talking to him. She ignores him and he yells that he’s talking to her, so respond already like other folks! She keeps doing house work things. She’ll do it when he treats her like other folks! As her head comes up, we see the remains of the last beating. (Really slick wife beaters do it where it won’t show to the world; Bruto is either too stupid or really too sicko to figure this out). He tells her he’s going to treat her however he feels like. He begins to yell and she tells him to keep it down or he’ll wake up Saul. Bruto yells that the baby is awake all night so he can sleep all day. How come he doesn’t understand schedules!? Diana suggests that Bruto tries taking care of him all day to see what it’s like. Stay with the baby while she goes to see her folks. Bruto beats on the table and yells. Nope, it’s her obligation. She accuses him of machismo and he actually agrees and tells her not to give him reasons to lose his patience. She collects up some dishes and starts off to another room. They fuss some more and he complains about the expenses; she points out they don’t need to live in such an expensive apartment. He got it to take care of her and her baby. She sighs and continues to the other room.

Toribio has tons of points for bringing a dozen pink roses to Catalina. She’d love to invite him in but…..he understands, that’s okay. She thanks him for breakfast (gee, she didn’t get any of the OJ by any chance, did she?), the chat and the…..(breathe deeply) roses. He thanks her for putting up with that crazy woman, Amalia. (Bad move, Tori, Catalina had almost forgotten that unpleasant moment). She looks at him reproachfully over the roses. He stutters that he hopes it’s clear he doesn’t want to see her again, not even in a photo. What an old nutcase, Catalina tosses in. She tells Toribio he was lucky not to fall into her clutches. (Who’s going to warn him about YOUR clutches?) Tori says he’s lucky that he can fall into others (another reproachful look)—well, not clutches, but the lovely little hands that he’s touching. And he strokes her hand while she shyly smiles over her roses. Tori beams at her. He’s just tremendous, Catalina simpers. He kisses her hand and she tells him she’ll let him go now. Until soon, he fondly tells her…..and calls her “lovely thing.” (primor) She smiles broadly and so does he as he slowly gets on his way, looking back…..

Arturo is involved in a hot game of computer solitaire and Jacqui is involved in a hot bowl of popcorn. She wants to know what he’s up to. What does it matter to her? She leans in and sees the game—now she knows how he wastes his time. And she doesn’t? She scowls, pretty sure she’s been zapped. Catalina carries her roses in by them, humming and gliding along, actually smiling at Jacqui. Those flowers, Mama? They call them roses, Catalina informs Ickturo as she gets a vase to put them in. Didn’t he know? Who GAVE them to you? Better she tells them right away—a suitor gave them to her. What?? Jacqui calls the suitor a poor man. Ickturo sits up and challenges his Mami—are you seeing someone? Why not? Catalina gives as good as she gets, and her smile drops a little but swiftly returns when she points out she’s still alive and feels better than ever. Ickturo pries for details—name, what does he do? Some day you’ll meet him, Mami assures her only offspring. She smiles and glides away. Ickturo fumes and Jacqui smirks a little. Ickturo thinks the old gal’s nuts, behaving like a quinceañera. Jacqui retorts that he should give up the Oedipus complex. (Someone finally called it what we’ve been thinking!) He fusses at her comment and she stalks out after spitting back at him; Ickturo goes back to his game, fuming, but can’t concentrate.

We recognize the desk at People’s Clinic #23. Barbara rushes in to find out what’s happening with Chalo. Have they brought him here? The clerk looks up his name.

In an emergency room bay, the doctor and nurse comment on the poor boy. The doc says at his age they think they can do everything; he’s seen many young men like this. She finishes taking blood, and he tells her to get it to the lab to see if they’ll be in time. Chalo’s shirt is off, and he’s hooked up to all kinds of machines.

Barbara paces the waiting room. Must feel like home by now to her—this and the court lobby. The doc approaches—is she family of the young man? His friend. How is he? Barbara is desperate. He’s pretty bad. Did she know he was an addict? No. Barbara’s expression is grim. The doc asks for total honesty—whatever clue she might have about what he’s overdosed on, please share with the doc. Barbara is impactada; she had not even the least idea that he took drugs. Does she know any other family or person they might ask? No, he only has me. Barbara is close to tears. Well, then they’ll just have to wait for the lab tests. The doc hopes Chalo’s gotten there in time. She wants to see him, but the doctor thinks his situation is too serious and it’s not wise. Barbara begs. The doctor takes her to Chalo.

Vasco’s breakfast doesn’t include OJ, thank heaven, and the guy eating with him is one of the Good Ones in the jungle. The guy warns him they need to be careful—after all, they’re strangers there. Vasco doesn’t care. Someone has to pay attention and help them. Another guy comes to their table with a gift, all wrapped nicely. His boss sent this. He hands it to Vasco. Who’s your boss? Don Gervasio Arriaga. The guy gives a long, hard look at the guy eating with Vasco, then strolls off. Vasco opens it. He’s disgusted, mutters under his breath, and stands up in anger. It can’t be, those bast**ds. His breakfast buddy thinks they’d better go. (In the box it looked like there was a dead parrot, or a dead parrot’s decapitated head). No, they’re not going. It’s personal now. The breakfast buddy holds the box with the feathered creature in it and Vasco calls over the waiter. Where can they find Gervasio Arriaga? The boy looks frozen.

Barbara talks to an unconscious Chalo lovingly. He’ll get well, because he’s very strong. Chalo’s lips move and he makes a clicking/gagging sound in his throat because he’s been entubated and can’t actually talk. What are you trying to tell me? Barb strokes his forehead. The monitors look like his vital signs are fairly normal, but he’s still not in this world. She kisses his head. (Ooops, she’s left Snortensia to Sara if Augusta has gone off to the reading of the will!) Barb calls him her heaven, her life. He flat lines. She tries to revive him, to get some response, and screams for the doctor. Barbara begs Chalo not to leave her; she’s sorry for all she said to him. She loves him!!! The tears come. She begins to scream his name in earnest as the doctor pulls her away and the nurse pushes her out of the room. They zap his heart. Nothing. They hit him with more juice. Nothing. Barbara sinks against the wall as they pull a sheet over Chalo’s head. She weeps in slo-mo as the violin music plays in her head into the commercial.

Madre Trinidad sure can entertain the troops and keep ‘em howling. At the breakfast table all the niñas have obviously been dismissed because Lore and her whole group are seated entirely on one side of the table and no one is on the other, very weird. Madre T’s got them up for grabs with a story about Madre Carmelita climbing up a lemon tree and yelling about her legs. Madre Trinidad can’t contain her own howling, though, and if not for the captions your recapper would be lost for sure. Madre Carmelita begs her not to tell the story, but Madre T is not to be deterred. But, it’s so funny! She continues the story. As Madre C yelled “my legs” they all thought she’d broken one, or something, but actually she had hooked her habit on the tree and her legs were showing! Madre T says it was like she was wearing a mini-skirt. More howling and clapping. Madre C scolds her gently for telling this, and Madre T remarks that we have to render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s and she’s got pretty good legs, anyway. Madre C hangs her head and chuckles. Now she’s going to tell one on Madre Trinidad. More howling and clapping. Nope. Don’t even think about it. The room gets silent fast. She’s the superior, eh? Chuckling, but Omar checks his watch and it’s time to get on the road. Lore cajoles that they’re having such a good time, and couldn’t they stay a little while more, Papa? He smiles indulgently, gives her a little hug and tells her yes. They talk Slow into staying, too. It was all so wonderful! Hugs and laughs.

At the People’s Clinic #23, there are only tears for Barbara (UCS 7, some drooling and nose dripping), and regrets. The nurse brings Barbara her “nephew’s” things. There is a letter with Barbara’s name on it, much to her surprise. She opens the simple handwritten note on lined paper that was torn out of his spiral notebook and reads it—hearing his voice saying the words, and seeing black and white flashbacks of lovely times with Chalo.

“Before I depart, I want to tell you how much I appreciate you showing me that life can be good, without giving any importance to age differences, nor money differences, nor any of those things that sometimes preoccupy you. You succeeded in respecting me for myself, and at your side I felt like I wanted to learn and become a better person, also to laugh, pass time well, and ….you know.”

Barbara groans in agony.

“And with you I discovered what they call love. Fight for your dreams, your projects, your ideals. Even from afar I will always be thankful for all you have given me. And I hope—who knows—let me go with this hope, that you will forgive me all that I have made you suffer. It wasn’t my intention, I swear to you. I take leave of you telling you that I love you. And I will never forget you. Again, forgive me. Your Chalo.”

Barbara folds the letter again, and tells herself that he killed himself for her while the violin music plays in her head.

[Ed. Note: Now that Chalo is dead, he can’t tell the name of the forger, can he? He also can’t tell where the originals might be hidden. Not that it matters….but if they could prove Sara deliberately usurped Lore’s position, and didn’t just “accidentally” take her place because it wasn’t clear from the orphanage paperwork, they might could put the girl away for a crime.]

Back at the Greater House, Nurse Augie efficiently brings a tray, but it must be for her, because we have no evidence that Snortensia can swallow coffee. Sara strides in and asks if Barbara is with her Granny. Nope, Sra. Barbie left. Joaquina is helping care for Snortensia. Sara snarls at Nurse Augie not to give her that look of the guard dog. Sara’s not thinking of getting near Granny. She’d better not. Nurse Augie goes off to her patient, and Sara checks her watch. Chalo is surely dead by now. Yep, he has to be. She muses to herself that if what they say about the first murder being the hardest, it’ll be easier to kill you, Granny. She glances over her shoulder at the stairs so we know she means to do that pretty soon. Then we get that intense Sara-preparing-more-evil look.

Lore and Zulema are saying their farewells to the Madres. Lore never thought this trip would be the best of her life. Madre Trinidad is happy that it was there in her long-time home she reunited with her parents. Madre C talks about this gift of God, and it was one for them, too. Zulema tells them they’ll be back soon, because the Madres have to meet Zulema’s other children. Yep, and the nephew and his auntie! The nuns marvel at the enormous new family and Lore’s finally ready to hug them and go. She’ll never forget that they were her first family. Hugs. Well, since her Papa and Slow have delayed so much getting back, Lore and Zulema better just go find them. The nuns walk them out. Slow is finished packing the car when Lore finds him. Madre C goes off to greet someone else, and Lore and Slow talk about how she feels, happy about her family. It’s the best gift of her life. Now all that’s left is to confront Sara. Lore agrees; she’s not one to hold grudges or rancor, but Sara has to pay for all the harm. Lore just can’t forgive her. She gets sad and he gives her a hug, stroking her back comfortingly. Timing is everything, because Ernesto is arriving just in time to see the hug. He is muy impactado and Put Out. Ern calls out her name, and she turns, impactada to see him there. Slow is impactado-irritated. Ernesto’s face registers hurt, too.

Monday: What will happen now that Ernesto has found Lorena in Alonslow’s arms? Will the boys beat the stuffing out of each other?

Jeanne

Labels: enemiga

Mari is still sitting around with the ducks at castle San Roman. She wishes JM would come home. She remembers being happy in the barrio, being with Cande, and the angry Grandma Onelia telling her to get out.

Cande is talking to the padre, wondering how long Mari is going to be gone. The padre says she’s gonna need some working on, some schooling, to get her on track. Cande says you mean I won’t get her back any time soon? The padre says you can visit or she can visit you. Cande says I’ve lost her, she belong to other people now.

Aerial view of the castle – yowza! Time for a class uprising, no doubt about it. Rocio in teeny tight shorts walks up to Mari who is still holding a duck. Mari asks her if she’s part of the shrink’s family. The are friendly a bit with each other, and then Mari says she wishes he would come home because there’s nothing for her to do.

Cut to the barrio street where there is lots of life swirling around. The artist guy Vicente comes up to Cande who is doing wash and asks what’s up with Mari and why didn’t she show up to pose? Cande fills him in and he wonders who the doctor in question is. Cande says that shrink and Vicente says ahh.

At the judge’s place, JM is just leaving the room after having met Isa and Stef, and Stef is all gaga. Stef asks Cecilia about his financial status and Isa asks about his marital status. They both pretend to be sorrowful about his wife’s death. The phone rings and it’s the padre.

Mari is starting to get tearful as she tells Rocio that she misses Cande. She tells Rocio that that’s the lady who raised her and then corrects that to the lady who gave her a home after she’d grown up. Rocio says that’s the laundry lady, right? and wants to know how come she came to live with them. Mari tells them about the milk caper and says you’d have done the same thing for the starving orphans, wouldn’t you? Rocio says ummm I dunno. Probably I would have bought some milk.

Cecilia is telling the padre he was right to call. She says she’ll get some friends to donate and he says that the nuns don’t give her the whole story because they feel she donates so much already. She says thank you Padre Vidal and Isa tries to stifle an impactada look.

Mari is telling Rocio about her arrest and how JM saved her and told her she’s now like one of the family. She talks a little about granny Onelia and how she yells, and how she was so rough with the little girl. Mari says you know what? I’ll just leave. It’s not the first time I’ve been thrown out like some wild animal.

Isa is asking about how long Ceci has known Padre Manuel, and Ceci explains that it’s the first time she’s spoken with him. Isa laughs nervously and looks relieved. Ceci asks if she knows him and Isa says no.

It’s night at castle San Ramon and Mari is at the kitchen table poking at a tortilla and we see black and white flashbacks of her arrest, of the jail cell, of JM rescuing her. The maid tells her to eat up, but she says she’s tired of waiting, the doctor has forgotten all about her and she’s leaving. The maid (Malvina, I think her name is) tries to persuade her to stay. Running down the corridor Mari runs splat into JM who looks at her, puzzled.

The little girl, Mayita, is in her nightie, but she pushes aside the trunks, clambers into the hidden chamber and suddenly again we’re in Disney…. er, Grannyland. Granny appears and Mayita tell her about Mari and how the mean grandma called her a thief and wants her to get out.

Vicente is painting and Amador is looking on. He asks how Vicente can paint without a model but Vicente says he has a clear mental picture of Mari. Amador wants to know where he is and Vicente you’ll never guess – in the home of Dr. Juan Miguel.

And there we are in the castle. In one room, Stef is telling her aunt Isa that she has met her future husband and it’s JM.

In another room, JM is trying to convince Mari that she cannot go. He gives his never-fail half smile, then tries his open-lipped look, but she says you didn’t buy me and I don’t give a rat’s patoot about this family or this house. She rants on some more, then runs out of steam and leans against him. I’m sorry, she says, forgive me. She kisses his check. He hugs her back. She says you left me alone all day, I’m sick of it. She re-thinks and says maybe you were doing really important things? She sees his serious look and says what’s wrong?

Stef and Ceci are discussing JM. Ceci is biting a cuticle and looks nervous. Stef says don’t you like my choice of future husband? Ceci says no, he’s fine. Then what’s up? asks Stef. Ceci I don’t want to worry you – I’ll get some information, then I’ll give you the details. She leaves. In the stairwell, she stops and says to herself Padre Anselmo Vidal! How is it possible?

Back in Grannyland, Granny is saying the young woman is good, probably she just got off on the wrong path and that’s why she’s different from other people Mayita knows. Mayita says she’d like to talk to her but the mean grandma won’t let her. Granny says Mari needs love and Mayita could help her feel better. Mayita says how come my mama hasn’t come back? Granny looks heavenward and says sometimes God sends you things at the time you least expect them. Mayita says why are you so good and so pretty? You never say things that hurt me, and mean Grandma Onelia always does. Granny says because you are the person I love most in the world of the living. Mayita snuggles up to her and soaks up love.

Now Mari and JM are sitting on the stairs. She says tell me what’s wrong (he looks exactly the same if you ask me) and he says, nothing. She asks if she can go see Cande and Cuate, but JM says it’s nighttime and he doesn’t want her going, particularly alone. He promises to take her tomorrow.

She says you didn’t ask if I was good today – I was, or rather I think I was. That old windbag yelled at me and told me I had to leave. JM looks puzzled.

At the artist’s studio, Amador is asking why JM has Mari and Vincent explains. Amador says where’s this guy’s house? Vicente says ask his cousin.

JM is telling Mari tomorrow they’ll talk more calmly (they were already pretty calm, if you ask me). She wants to talk some more, spend some more time with him, but he demurs. He says he’ll have Rocio take her shopping for some clothes. For me? she says, excited.

Vicente is driving and is on his cell with Elsa, JM’s cousin. Looks like he’s leaving her a message telling her he wants to see Mari and where does her cousin live? (They seem to have given up on the threatening angry-bee strings for his theme music and now it’s some dark piano notes.)

Cande is sitting outside with Cuate and Adrian comes up with some to-go food. Cande laments that Mari hasn’t come all day to see her, and Adrian says maybe the doctor won’t let her. Cande is afraid Mari has forgotten her and doesn’t even care about Cuate. Now she’ll be in that big house and forget all about them. Adrian says he wants to go see her and he hopes they’ll let him.

They agree it’s better than her being in jail. Adrian says he’s jealous. Cande says come on – do you really think a big important doctor would be interested in a street girl like Marichuy? Cut to JM sitting in his study looking maybe a little distressed, hard to tell. B&W memory of Mari leaning on him and talking. He puts a hand to his brow and looks tragic.

Balbina (Malvina? What’s her actual name?) the maid comes in and tells him there’s a man at the door who wanted to talk to Mari, but since she’s in bed, he asked to talk to JM. JM walks to the door and says to the guy (who we don’t see) what do you want? Wow, rude, JM!

Back in Grannyland, Mayita wants to know where the little bird is that used to live in the cage there. Granny says go closer, and sure enough a little red cartoon bird appears. Granny says she has to go do some stuff and Mayita says skeptically in heaven? at night? Granny spreads her arms and disappears and Mayita blows a kiss.

It’s Amador at the castle door. (Don’t they lock the gate at night?) He’s giving a bit of attitude and says he wants to talk to Mari. JM says who are you to her? She doesn’t receive visitors. Amador says got her locked up, huh? JM curtly explains the situation. He adds that he needs to keep her away from the bad-influence friends she was with (of course, if crime goes down in the neighborhood its’ because she’s gone, not because the artist types are gone). Amador says he’s not pleased and JM says I don’t care what you think. Please be so kind as to leave. Amador says just a few minutes. JM says not one second - leave and don’t come back. Amador says okay, maybe she’s on your territory right now, but later, we’ll see. Bye, Mr. Headshrinker.

Mari is lying in her nice big bed and is thinking maybe she was an ingrate. Plus JM is so handsome and kind. Cande said he looked half in love with her.

It’s morning now and the maid sees Mayita off on the schoolbus which was waiting by the front gate. Hmmm …. when Marichuy came in to deliver laundry, it was a huge distance from the gate to the front door, so is the maid having to hoof it? At any rate, she has arrived in the foyer, not winded, and here comes Onelia down the stairs in a stylish pajama set. She wants to know if that young woman has left the house now, and the maid says no, she’s still asleep. Onelia is furious wants to know where JM is, and the maid says he’s having breakfast. Sure enough, we see him outside alone at a table long enough for 20 people.

Onelia takes her fit and JM says Mari stays and that’s that.

Adrian is in the foyer of the castle looking around like wow! He tells the maid that he wants to talk to Mari, but she says no visitors, the doctor said so. Andrian asks to talk to him. The maid heads off to talk to JM.

Meantime, Onelia is saying are you going to make me leave this house? JM says I didn’t think of that when I signed on with the orphan, and I don’t want you to leave, but if that’s what you have to do…. Onelia says you have to throw her out and she stomps off.

The maid comes up and says there’s another visitor. JM says no visitors and I don’t want to talk to him. He changes his mind and heads into the house. He recognizes Adrian as the boyfriend. JM says he’s responsible for her now, but Adrian says that could change at any minute and I’ve come to take her home with me.

At the studio, Amador is showing some temper. He’s furious that JM threw him out. One of the artist girls points out that the law is on JM’s side and that he saved her from prison. Amador says he knows important people and he’ll do something! He has to see her!

JM is explaining to Adrian that he has to keep her away from the bad element she was hanging out with. (Such tact, JM!) Adrian says I’m not from that group. What do you do, asks JM? Adrian says I work in an office during the day and I study at night - you have no right to tell me I can’t talk to her. JM says if you’re so decent why couldn’t you keep her away from those bad types? Adrien says I tried to and JM says well, you didn’t succeed, so now I’m going to. He walks off. Adrien says this isn’t the last of it! You have to right to keep her from the people she loves. Tell her I’m here.

Mari has showered and she tells the maid that she loves the hot showers there. The maid tells her Adrian is downstairs, but Mari makes a little face and says she’s mad at him right now. But she’ll go down. She gets her one outfit from the vast empty closet.

Outside Adrian is cooling his heels. JM walks right by him as if he doesn’t exist and gets in his fancy car and drives off. Meantime, Mari slides down the banister, then goes out to see Adrian. She’s glad to see him and asks what about Cande? She says he’s her first visitor and he says JM isn’t letting anyone in. Mari is surprised. He tells her he said he was her boyfriend. She’s not happy about that, but he says he had to say that or JM wouldn’t have let him visit.

He asks if she wants to stay. She says it’s all right, she seems to belong to JM now. Adrien says there’s a way for her to leave – marry him! She jumps down off the wall they’re sitting on. She doesn’t like the idea, but he says it would just be a way of escape, he wouldn’t touch her. They could be married friends.

JM and his pal Eduardo are in an Olympic-sized pool. They swim to the edge and chat. Eduardo says how did you get into all this? Why don’t you tell the judge your mother-in-law is taking a fit and hand Mari back? JM says back to jail? No.

Back at the castle, Adrian is saying come on, you’ll be free. Mari says this is where I am now. Adrian says why - what is the doctor to you?

Meantime Eduardo is asking JM the same thing. They are out of the pool and we get some towel-draped beefcake. Eduardo says come on, be honest with me and JM says yes, there is something more, Mari makes me feel things I haven’t felt in a long time. I’m confused. When she gets next to me, she makes me want to embrace her, to kiss her.
I’m in love with her.

Eduardo says love, ha! She knows what she’s doing. JM says no, she’s innocent and doesn’t know how I feel. Eduardo says come on, she comes from the streets, she knows.

Adrian is still trying to sell his marriage idea. He asks if Mari’s in love with JM. She looks defiant.

In the looker room, the guys are towel-less and we can see where William Levy’s true talent lies. But back to the plot: he tells skeptical Eduardo that he’s sure Mari views him as a brother, she’s as innocent in her manner as Mayita is. JM talks about Mari’s skin, her lips, her youth. When those lips are near him, why, he just wants to plant a big ol’ beso on them. He says he doesn’t want to do anything stupid. Eduardo says then she needs to be out of his house.

Mari is telling Adrian that if she married him she’d be more trapped than she is here with JM. He says he’d give her every freedom. Sez you now, says Mari.

JM says to Eduardo that he has to keep her out of jail, protect her. Eduardo says you have to protect yourself first. JM says I guess you’re right.

Adrian tells Mari she’s stubborn. She says JM is like a brother and he’s going to improve her, though she’s not clear exactly in what way. She says if you don’t believe me, tough. She rushes him off and says tell Cande and the padre to visit me. He wants to stay, but she smilingly says she’s start a fight with him and they won’t allow him back. He leaves reluctantly.

Mari goes to her room and flops on the bed, saying all guys are alike. She decides to watch TV, but can’t work the remote. She finds a button the TV and some singers come on. She dances around and pretends to sing into the remote.

Cut to Onelia who is having a fit, demanding of Balbina to tell her where that music is coming from. She rushes into Mari’s room and turns off the set. They glare at each other.
Outside, JM pulls up. Mari says why did you turn off my TV? Onelia says I don’t have to explain anything to you. They get in a shoving match, Onelia even kicks out at her. Balbina tells JM thank goodness you’re here! He runs off to see. Mari has had Onelia down on the bed, holding her wrists, but by the time JM arrives they’re up again. Onelia says she attacked me! She has no respect! She tells JM to throw Mari out. Mari says you started it from the first time you saw me. Old lady! Old windbag!

Mari tells JM I was watching TV, listening to music and she came and turned it off and then she shoved me. He looks amused. They throw insults. Mari says is playing music forbidden here? Onelia says, yes, we’re in mourning. Mari turns serious. Onelia says to JM you won’t throw her out because she’s pretty, a woman.

Avances: JM sits on his vast bed in his vast bedroom and agonizes.

Labels: Cuidado

Labels: Fuego

Sorry if things are out of order, I’m doing kind of a quickie job today. I’m also extremely grouchy about how badly the Cubs are crapping the bed right now. Big thanks again to Sylvia for trading days with me in my hour of need (which seems to be almost every week).

Alonso finds out the DNA results – Lorena is Zulema and Omar’s daughter.

Lorena talks to the nuns about Ern, then the nuns almost spill the beans that Alonso visited them.

Hortensia’s nurse wants to go see a former child patient who is dying, Barb watches Hort without incident until the nurse gets back. Barb promises to watch Hort again tomorrow when they read the dead child’s will, the nurse wants to be there. Wow things move fast in novelaland!

Arturo is on the internet trying to find some other get rich quick scheme, now it’s something about selling something else, Jackie just wants to go to a movie. Arturo says she was a bad business deal, so much investment and zero profit.

Alonso looks all over for Lorena, he finally convinces Rosy to tell him that she went to the pueblo to talk to the nuns. Rosy tells Alonso that if he makes trouble with Lorena, she’s sending Julian to beat the crap out of him. Alonso just says “ok I accept your terms.” I found this extremely funny.

Toribio is out with horrible mother in law, Amalia shows up and pretends to be first his wife, then well ok not his wife but his fiancé, and ruins his date. She says if he wants war, he’s got war.

Diana and baby show up at clinic #23 where Bruno is an off the charts ass. We are being beaten over the head with how much of a tool he is. Attention writers: we get it. She has huge shades on to hide (I think) a black eye. Bruno gets so pissy he acts like he’s going to hit her there in public and she dares him to. He just yells at her to stay at home. Jeez ok we get it he’s horrible. Just give him his punishment already. Boss lady shows up and Bruno is all slimy nice and fake, so proud of his son. I hate him.

Toribio yells at Amalia until she finally agrees to leave him alone. I don’t believe her.

Julian and Rosy are picking out wedding invitations (well she is, he doesn’t care. I hear you Julian. You send them, people say yes or no, the end, right?) and Julian spies someone outside that gets him really excited. Turns out it’s Don Enrique, who must be some soccer TV personality or something. He knows Julian from the quiz show and thinks he’s great, no matter the nerves at the end. He gives Julian his card and tells him to come see him. Rosy is even happier than Julian, surely because he won’t have to hang out with hoochies while modeling any more.

Vasco is in the jungle somewhere, they are going to put birds in their natural habitat or something, but turns out that habitat has been cut down. Vasco says he’ll get to the bottom of it, but I smell trouble.

Sara is trying to call Alonso but he has his phone off. Old guy she was flirting with comes out of the other room, they are both wearing robes…. Ewwwwww they were having sex! Gross. Anyway she manages to try and hit him up for a loan but he doesn’t have any free cash.

Alonso finds Zulema and tells her that Lorena, not Sara, is her real daughter. Zulema, being fat and all, looks like she’s going to have a heart attack. She calms down and calls Omar at work. Greta works for him now and apparently wants to do him, so she’s all attitude when Zulema calls. Z tells Omar to get his butt home quick so he does.

Alonso gets time off work, boss lady tells him that since he got back from Canada he just leaves work all the time. Maybe she should just call him Bruno to make her point. Anyway he says after this he’ll be chained to his desk, promise.

Omar comes home, Zulema tells him the good news, and they head off to San Martin to find Lorena.

Alonso is already there and tells the little short nun that Lorena is Hortensia’s granddaughter.

Bettina and Paula try and figure out what’s up with Alonso and Lorena and Ern. Surprisingly it is Bettina who wants to find out and Paula telling her not to meddle. Quite a turnaround.

Julian goes to see the soccer guy and gets a job as a production assistant, or something like that. He is very excited.

Alonso and the nun talk about how Sara could have turned out so bad and Lorena so good, while saying over and over how Sara can’t learn the truth until Lorena finds out. Also, Omar and Zulema are driving… driving…. looking forward to seeing Lorena….we have all this buildup to “Telling Lorena” that something is surely going to get in the way of it. We’re going into the last segment of the show now, so I’m sure I’ll find out soon enough. Maybe she ran away to the country or something.

Sara goes to Chalo and wants him to get back with Barbara, but he says she won’t see him. Sara wants her out of the house so she can kill Hortensia. Chalo hits her in the face a couple times and says “bring me my 2 million pesos” and throws her out the door. Jeez. Sara bleeds and looks creepy in the hallway.

Rosy and Julian find a note at the house that Omar and Zulema left town, Julian tries to call but they don’t answer. They also agree that a double wedding with Maruja is a really stupid idea. Rosy runs off to work, where she tells Maruja the good news about Julian but not the part where the double wedding is stupid.

Omar and Zulema get lost, of course, to drag out “Telling Lorena”… they get directions from an amazingly nice guy.

Lorena comes back to the orphanage from her shopping trip and isn’t happy to see Alonso. He finally gets out that he knows who her real parents are. She wants to know. Instead of telling her he says “you have been close to them all this time….” I swear if I were there I would punch him in the face and scream “JUST TELL HER YOU IDIOT!” Since I wasn’t there, my wife and I both yelled that at the TV. He tells her that her parents are Zulema and Omar, she is understandably end of episode level impactada.

Preview – Lorena is finally reunited with her parents and Sara puts poison in Chalo’s orange juice.

Labels: enemiga

Another great episode!

The stage is set. The wedding party are in the hospital chapel ...

so is Melquíades and his blowgun...

DB has been refused access to the hospital but she forces some nurses to give her a uniform and sneaks in while Leon distracts the guards. Tony's plane lands in San Fernando and he rushes to the hospital.

Santos sees DB in the chapel and gets the priest to accelerate the service. Luisana is assaulted by flashbacks of all her dealings with DB.

When the priest asks if she accepts Santos as her husband, she hesitates and says, "no." Marisela is ecstatic.

Antonio and Cecilia take Lorenzo to the doctor.

Tony arrives at the hospital and Luisana falls into his arms. Santos wants to go after her. Marisela tells Santos that Luisana isn't the right woman for him. Marisela says, "who knows who the right woman could be?" Santos is so blind he doesn't even look at her.
Josefa sees Antonio comforting Cecilia.

Maurice & Luisana advise Marisela to convert herself in to the ideal woman for the man she loves. Luisana leaves all the clothes she brought with Marisela.

Maurice gives Santos advice:

Mauricio: You deserves a woman with a bright soul and a backbone of steel who will never let you down. And that woman will bloom very soon and give you a wonderful surprise.
S: Who are you talking about?
M: You'll see.

[M: Tú te mereces una mujer con un alma luminosa con un temple de acero, y que nunca se te doblegue; y esa mujer, Santos Luzardo, pronto florecerará y te dará una maravillosa sorpresa.
S: de qué hablas?
M: ya lo verás. ]

Finally Mauricio says, "Santos Luzardo, you're not a bad guy. You're just a man."

Mauricio says goodbye to Marisela. (I shed a little tear here)

Josefa decides that to get Antonio, Federica needs a sperm donor. In comes Pajarote and drinks his way right into their hands.
Pajarote to Federica: "After 5 beers, you look pretty good."

Lorenzo didn't drink kerosene, he had a heart attack but he's only got a short time left. Santos and Marisela are notified and who is on the boat they want to take back to Altamira but DB.

No DB tonight because of the vice presidential debates but on Friday, it looks like JB's ring is in play again.

Labels: barbara