Caray, Caray!

As we begin our journey through the loony land of the everlasting “luna llena” (full moon) we find that Jimena has just accused Darth Rico of attempting to rape her and has even shocked the sh—(rhymes with spit) out of the now mute Root. Darth feigns offense and anger at the accusation. “Where’d you come up with that idiocy, you brat?” Jimena says she never dared say it before, but now she realizes she was wrong not to. No, she hasn’t any proof and never saw her attacker’s face, but right before she left town she noticed him sporting a big bandage in the same place she whacked her would-be rapist over the head before fleeing. Rico admits he had a bandage on his head but claims it was from the men who tried to rob him. “I even told Root about the incident. Didn’t I, Root?”

Jimena says she doesn’t believe him and is thinking of reporting him to the authorities just so they might investigate. Darth tells her she can do whatever she darn well pleases, but he’s not afraid of a fool like her or the authorities. He stomps out the door. Root follows her daddy back to the bungalow.

Once they’re back, Darth admits to Root that he did try to rape Jimena because at the time he thought it was a good idea and a way to get even with Sofia. No, he never managed to do the deed, but he’s not giving up on getting even with Sofia for all the humiliation she’s caused them; and when he’s done with the one sister he’s going after the other. Root tells him she can’t believe he’s seriously doing this all on her account, but he insists he is. They’ve got to stick together and strike out at their enemies—and if Sofia insists in running them off the place, then she’ll end up making herself his next victim.

Meanwhile, somewhere in the surrounding hills at Casa de Coyote, Raqui, Soledad and Coyote are chatting together. Coyote congratulates Raqui because he never thought she would dare go after what’s hers. She says she has Soledad to thank because his momma was the one who convinced her. If she’s going to live without fear then she has to confront her husband as soon as possible. Besides, there was something else that was bugging her, a possible other crime that Rico should also pay for. She has the last will and testament of her dead BIL which named his children (Small and Tall Tweedle) as his heirs, but her husband never gave them their inheritance. His brother and her SIL died together in a strange accident soon after signing the will and it all seemed odd to Raqui. She thinks the accident was caused on purpose by Rico himself to take possession of the nephews’ fortune.

Coyote says he realizes that Ricardo Uribe is a man capable of doing anything for money. Soledad bemoans the fact that she fell in love with an evil man and Coyote says even better reason to punish the man. Soledad begs him to leave it up to God and The Law. She warns him that to raise his hand against his father would unleash a series of violent and vengeful acts in which Coyote himself might encounter his own punishment which is what worries her most.

That night Root remembers back earlier in the day to her strange run-in with El Coyote. She remembers telling him that the strong do not feel love, only hate and vengeance and his telling her that she’s wrong, that she simply was never brought up with love in her life. She wonders then what it is about him that makes her feel good being around him, and what it is that connects her to him. At the same time, Coyote is sitting in his truck-a-saurus remembering his own conversation with Root and how she says she was raised to be just like her daddy. He thinks to himself that despite Ricardo Uribe, she is his sister and he would like to save her. He also remembers what his mother told him about what might happen if he acted against his father.

At the Double E (Hacienda de las Elizondo y del execrable Escandon) Juan and his brothers sneak in with a group of mariachis for a surprise serenade. Franco starts singing:

“I sing under [literally, “at the foot of”] your window so you might know that I love you.
You don’t care about me at all, but I’m dying for you.
They say that I’m mistaken, that I should wake up from my dreams,
But they were wrong because you had to be mine. [Literally, “I had to be your master.”]
What am I going to do if I truly care for you? I really adore you and I cannot forget you...”

Crabi and Fernando hear the commotion downstairs and she gripes that the Reyes’ now think they own the place. Fer says he doesn’t know what she’s complaining about since she’s the one to blame: she underestimated Sofia thinking that Sofia would never confront her again but she did and this time she beat her. Crabi doesn’t like his tone. Fer doesn’t back down, though. So Gabi asks him if he plans to stay with her now that she is no longer the owner of the hacienda, or if he's going to kick her to the curb? (I vote for option #2.) He takes a deep puff off his cheroot and stares at her, but he doesn’t answer.

Downstairs the guys keep singing their hearts out. (Bummer for Mariachi. He'd have loved this shin-dig!) Upstairs in her room, Slowfia fights the urge to go out onto the landing to listen. Downstairs the guys have finished their first song but none of the sisters has come down. Juan is majorly bummed and feels guilty that it’s come to this. “Remember the first time we came here thirsting for vengeance filled with rage and pain inside us?” Oscar says yes, but not now. Now they’re filled with love and hope, right? Franco says yes, but now we’ll have to remind them that we love them with all our hearts. (For the love of gawd, who writes this stuff?) Poor Juan figures it’s pretty plain that Sofia still hasn’t forgiven him. He’s even surer of it when only Sarita and Jimena walk down to the landing. Franco tells him not to get depressed; the next song will certainly make her come down. (That’s the spirit!)

Sofia begins to smile to herself and eventually comes down once Franco starts the next song:

“I swore to make you cry, to make you suffer in the deepest reaches of your heart…
Even to wreck your reputation, to put an end to this burning passion, to make you pay with suffering the way I paid.
And I was mistaken, because by being close to you in order to get even, I have fallen in love.
You have burned my blood with fire, unearthing a heart that died from pain. From hate to love there is only a step.
I swore to make you fear to ever even love again. To mercilessly win your love in order only to leave you a feeling of rage inside that you should not be able to forget.
And I made a mistake. It’s true I went from hate to love. Mistaken.
The stars coming down from heaven have deceived me. (Not sure about this line, poetic phrasing throws me, so take pity--)
You have burned my blood with fire, unearthing a heart that died from pain. From hate to love there is only a step...”

Juan serenades Sofia himself. (–Damn! Did Uni finally get wise and dub EY or does the audio tech deserve kudos for working a little sound magic –‘cause EY actually sounds half-way decent this time! Key word here being “half ” of course.) Her little heart goes pitty pat.

Across the way at the Double R (Hacienda de los Robles-Reyes) Rigo and Eugenia are having supper when Saul and Hortensia come back home after picking up groceries. Saul’s hungry too, but Hortensia Henpecker scolds her husband for wanting to eat first without putting away the groceries. (She treats this man like a little kid and, the worst of it is that he actually goes along with it!) He leaves the kitchen to do his “chores” and Rigo tells his mother what’s in store for her if she doesn’t mend her bossy ways. She brings up Quintina and nobody knows what Tía Quinti is up to. Quintina, however, is somewhere having a grey “goose” party with the Gossip Sisters and the male dancers (the goos-ees) that they hired. FF>>

On a higher note (and do pardon the pun) at the Double E, Franco continues to serenade Sarita while they’re alone on the couch in the living room. In another room, Oscar tells Jimena that his brothers have told him that he shouldn’t kid himself, that he lost Jimena a while ago. He sings (if you can call it that) some silly song then to her, too. (Unfortunately, Viewerville left the earplugs at the shooting range. --This is romance? --and what’s that music playing in the background? It certainly isn’t what Oscar’s singing. Note to editing: next time read the damn memo!) When his private serenade for Jimena (mercifully) ends, Oscar says he may have lost his voice some, but he does love her. They kiss and he cutely asks for a little drink of something hard. (Ha! He’s welcome to what’s left of mine. Salud!)

To top off this cacophonous medley of musical madness, we have Juan serenading Sofia alone in her bedroom. (Now, this is acting boys and girls, and definitely why Adela demands—and gets--the big bucks!! Somehow she manages to keep smiling throughout this entire, pitiful scene despite EY’s embarrassing caterwauling. Honestly gotta wonder if she’s smiling because she’s in character or because she’s trying like crazy just to keep from losing control and falling flat on the floor in spasms of laughter. Even my two cats had their ears back, so kudo’s to costuming, ‘cause I’ll be damned if I can make out those earplugs Adela’s got to be wearing!) FF>>

When Juan finishes this personal …er…serenade, Sofia and he nearly kiss, but she pulls away at the last second because she can’t get the image of Root and him in bed together out of her mind. (I’m not so sure it wasn’t his singing.) He’s frustrated as hell with her and says to forget that already. They’ve been this route before. So, in the end he has to settle for a simple “I do love you, Juan.” He tells her valiantly that he’ll fight to help her erase that image and prove to her that he loves her and will forever.

Across the hall, Fernando has Gabi right where he wants her. She’s desperate because he won’t answer her question. He plays the offended husband and claims she’s the one who doesn’t love him, and says that she has never loved him. The proof is that she’s always doubted his fidelity. He yells at her in feigned frustration that he’s not going to be able to stay with her if she’s constantly badgering him about his feelings for her every minute. She says he’s got to understand that she’s afraid he’ll cheat on her with her own daughter. (Doesn’t say much about your choice in men if that’s the problem, does it, deary?) “How can you accuse me of something so low, so despicable, so sick?” he yells. (The b.s. is so deep the woman should have suffocated by now.) “Are you going to tell me now that what Eva told you counts more than my love and dedication to you?”

Gabi is really wimping out. She tells him it’s not just Eva, but Sofia has also insinuated things. “And who will you believe tomorrow? So much jealousy and mistrust! And the worst is that now you believe Sofia! Sofia has taken away your hacienda and is determined to take away the only man who has loved you, the only man who has loved you! Me! Okay. Fine. I’ll make you happy and you can be at peace. I’ll leave this very night!” Gabi can’t handle it and begs him to stay. She says she’s just gotten confused and is hurting from everything that’s happened to her. He walks out and slams the door, then heads straight for his old room where he starts counting the cash in his safe and thinks to himself that he’s fed up with Gabriela; and it’s best he leave for a while. He is thinking he has enough to go somewhere far away when Juan walks in on him.

Fer quickly throws the wad of bills back into the safe and locks it. Juan asks him what he’s doing in there. Fer explains it used to be his room and he needed to get something from his safe. “It’s not anymore. --Why are you getting nervous?” Juan looks over at the safe. “Seems to me you’ve got something outright devious hidden away in there.” Fer says whatever it is, it’s his business, not Juan’s. Juan tells him that since he lives there now, it’s his business also. “Remember. I’m watching you, because I can’t seem to get it out of my head that you’ve got lots to do with all the bad stuff that’s happened around here.” Feo suddenly turns best bud and tells him he should look around him ‘cause he’s not the only enemy Juan has there at the hacienda. Juan could be in for a big surprise. He tells Juan to keep his eyes open and then leaves. Juan curses and kicks at the safe. “Damn it! I nearly had him!” He looks down at the safe again. “Seems to me there’s a rattlesnake shut up in there and I’m going to find it!” (Don’t ya just love that buckaroo Juan-talk?)

Feo retreats to the office in the dark to take a smoke and bitch to himself that Juan had to catch him just when he was about to get his things out of the safe. Now he’s got to keep up the farce with Gabi at least until he can leave and get away from the place.

At the same time, Gabi is lying on her bed and really starting to doubt herself. She’s remembering the fit she threw in front of Eva earlier in the family crypt and what Eva intimated about Fer. “Fernando loves me! He loves me!” “—if that’s what you think, then find out for yourself!” Gabi mentally replays the argument with Feo from a few minutes before and his threatening to leave “this unbearable” relationship. (Gawd, don’t ya just hate it when a perfectly good villana starts to go down for the count?) “Fernando loves me and I’m about to lose him all because of Eva and Sofia! --No! I’m not going to allow it. I’m going to get my husband back!” Feo comes back into their bedroom at that point and she asks him to forgive her. She tells him they’ll live luxuriously somewhere else on the money she’s got. He pretends to give in. (Viewerville wants to barf.)

The next morning all three sisters are worrying over Momma’s sudden plans to leave the hacienda with Fer. She sneers that she’s certain they couldn’t care less about her or where she’s going. She says she’s leaving and she’s going to prove to them that hubby loves her with or without the hacienda and because she’s sick of them and never wants to see them again; especially Sofia who took what belonged to her. Snowfia falls for the major guilt trip and tries to explain to Momma that she never planned to keep the hacienda for herself and was planning to divide it up equally, but it just runs off Gabi like water off a duck’s back. “No. You can have it all. You should all be happy. The way’s clear now for you all to wallow with those miserable Reyes’s.” (Let me help you pack.)

Over at the Double R, Juan is helping Franco get Oscar to stand on his feet and recounting his run in with Fer the night before when he had that safe open. “I almost caught the guy!” Oscar tells them that the last time he saw inside that safe it was chuck full of money, and lots of other things he thinks should be gone through. Franco remembers he told him about the little wooden chest that was in there. Oscar says he never got to look inside it. Juan decides they’ll take care of finding out what’s in it that night for sure.

Speaking of said mysterious little chest, Feo has it open and is holding Libia’s locket while the sicko thinks back to the night he clubbed her in the river and left her to drown.

Meanwhile, Raquel pays a visit to Gabi while she’s packing. “So you’re leaving. I already heard you lost everything because of your selfishness and wicked ways.” Gabi interjects that she lost the hacienda, but she’s got lots left of her own to live a lot better than what she does here at the hacienda. (Somehow Viewerville finds that hard to believe.) She tells Raqui that she, on the other hand, doesn’t have the proverbial pot to whizz in or the window to throw it out of. Raqui pulls out the papers and quickly corrects Gabi. She brags that she has sole control of the entire Uribe fortune and can’t wait to throw hubby Darth out on his impoverished ass. Gabi says she’s not interested in Ricardo Uribe so why tell her? Well, says Raqui, you’ll be interested when you find out about Fernando’s cheating. (You got that right!) Raqui lets the first anvil drop.

Gabi wants to know what she means about Fernando’s cheating. “Fer’s only been with you for the money.” Gabi denies it and says Fer loves her. “Fernando doesn’t love you and he never loved you.” Raqui delights in telling her there’s nobody more blind than those who will not see. “Just where do you think he got that serpent belt from, huh? From my bedroom, the bedroom I used to share with my husband! Yeah, you asked me lots of times if he was my lover, well, he was! We made a fool out of you before and after your wedding! Fernando was my lover. He was always MY lover!” Raqui turns tail and leaves Crabi stewing-in-her-own-juices impactada.

Raqui walks back through the woods and is thinking that she’s going to go back to steal back the belt and take it to the police once and for all. Unfortunately, Darth has been following her and he races out of the trees just then and grabs her. He forces her back to the bungalow at knife-point. “Damned female! Keep your mouth shut! Shut up!”

When they get back there he says he suspects Juan Reyes gave her the papers he’d been looking for all this time and he wants them. She refuses to tell him anything but he takes one look at the big purse and figures they’re in it, so he wallops her a good one and knocks her out cold. He reaches in the purse and finds the papers. “You stupid woman! You were always stupid (he’s got that right) and you’ll die stupid. He rips up some sheets and ties her up.

Meanwhile, Gabi is looking for Fernando to get an explanation, but he apparently left the hacienda early that morning and nobody knows where he went.

Once night falls Darth threatens to torture Raqui unless she signs over the papers and the Uribe fortune. He also wants to know about the person who’s been protecting her but she refuses to say a word. She gives in when he promises to let her go afterward.

Across the way in the hacienda, the Reyes’s try to open Feo’s safe while Gabi’s downstairs in the office knocking down more brandy. (I swear that woman has a wooden leg. She puts away enough booze to give any self-respecting sailor a good run for his money.) They’ve got to hurry up and get it open before she comes back up and finds out.

Back at the bungalow, Raqui finishes signing the papers but, of course, Rico refuses to let her go. He says she is just as innocent and trusting as ever, though she had him outsmarted for a while with that affair of hers. When Raqui plays dumb he tells her he knows all about her affair with Fernando and figures he’s also been her protector. It was Fer who stole the snake belt and it was her fault that people discovered he was the one who murdered the Reyes’s parents. Raqui whines that he promised to let her go free, but he says he’s got no reason to make good on a promise to a whore. She kicks him in the groin and runs out of the bungalow and into the woods.

Back at the hacienda Oscar finally manages to hit on the right combination. The safe is opened and the three of them get ready to take a look inside.

Raqui continues running and is surprised by a momentary glimpse at Death watching her from a break in the trees. It’s just enough time for Darth to catch up to her. He grabs her again at the top of a huge, nasty-looking ravine. He says she's going back to the bungalow to pay for what she’s done to him. She calls him a coward and he gets even angrier. He demands to know what there was between her and Fernando Escandon. Raqui says fine, then she’ll tell him. They were lovers and she loved going to bed with him because he turned her on like Rico never could. That’s enough for Rico. He belts her and Raqui nearly loses her footing on the cliff. She begs him to help her and promises to tell him something he’d never suspect but will want to know.

Rico says talk. Raqui quickly tells him that he has a son with the same name as his. Rico demands to know where he can find him and who his mother is. Raqui is about to tell him the woman’s name but then suddenly begins to laugh hysterically. She says she’ll never tell him and that will be her revenge. He’ll never know who his son is or who his mother was. “Did you hear me, Ricardo Uribe, you devil?” She either pushes herself off the cliff or slips. As she falls through the air she screams at him, “It will be my vengeance, you devil!” Rico’s eyes are like saucers. “RAQUE-E-L-L!!”

Labels: Fuego

Permalink posted by Jardinera654 @ 1:58 PM 68 comments

Hi, everyone! As some other recappers have done, I’ve combined a few of the scenes for continuity, although most of the time I’ll be jumping back and forth just like the show.


To remind us of what was going on, we see Candy giving Charly a pep talk, advising him to confront Lucía in person to find out why she won’t talk to him. And if she won’t talk, to keep trying until she will.

And Gregoria asks Meño not to tell Candy that Alicia now knows that Candy’s alive. Meño says he never lies, but after Gregoria reminds him that this isn’t totally true (such as what he’s not telling Charly about himself), he grudgingly agrees to keep quiet for now, but if things get complicated, he’ll have to tell Candy.

Chayo is waiting up for Ed, and it’s almost 3:00 A.M. She calls his cell – no answer. He finally comes in, giving the excuse that he was dining with Santiago, and they lost track of the time. If Chayo doesn’t believe him, she can call Santiago tomorrow. Chayo says fine, she will, and goes to bed, leaving cheater Ed to worriedly sniff the collar of his coat (for possible perfume?)

Sunrise in the big city. After Santi praises Rocío as the prettiest little girl in her school, she goes to get her backpack, leaving Santi to scold his mother about her planned trip with Jaime, saying she’s betraying his father. Isabel says maybe she won’t go, adding that Santi’s Papá is always here with her (this being said in front of the picture of same Papá, which Santi is glad to have watching things).

Chayo is reciting the reasons why she thinks Ed is having an affair to a sympathetic Candy. Ed just bought new underwear, he’s exercising, watching what he eats, he’s nervous when the cell phone rings, and he doesn’t want Chayo to see his bills. Candy agrees that these are all symptoms of a man having an affair.

So, in a parallel scene, we have Ed pouring out his concerns (and a lot of sugar in Santi’s coffee). Ed doesn’t think Chayo would confront him, but Santi thinks one day Chayo will do just that.

However, so far Chayo just thinks she should keep quiet, since she doesn’t want to lose Ed, and he keeps coming back to her after his little adventures. But Candy disagrees. First she wonders if Ed uses a condom with those women (Chayo hopes so). But Candy thinks Chayo is wrong, and is going to write a column about women who turn a blind eye (las mujeres que se hacen de la vista gorda) to infidelity. That those women are just as responsible for what happens to their relationships as the unfaithful men. And she’s writing this column for Chayo.

The little kids are in the schoolyard, and Rocío is trying to convince Beto that he can’t be her novio. She wants a rock star as her novio, like her Dad, who played the guitar at that sixties party. Her novio has to play guitar and sing. Beto says he sang the hymn of Mexico, but Rocío and Chava remind him that that’s not rock music, the novio has to be a rock star. Like Alejandra Guzman, asks Beto? Yeah, but a guy.

In the restaurant where Jaime plays piano, he finishes tickling the ivories (apparently the actor really plays the keyboard, as it did not appear to be dubbed), to the delight of the crowd and his belle Isabel. Jaime produces the tickets to Puerta Vallarta, but Isabel is afraid. Of planes? No, of course not, she’s a little afraid of going alone with him, and asks him to tell her again. He tells her, he’s in love with her. She takes the ticket, but she’s still not sure she’ll go.

Santi and Marissa are walking outside, Marissa defending herself about the Lucía mixup, but Santi isn’t buying it.

And now it’s time for Candy’s first date. With Ceci (whom we know is gay). Only Candy doesn’t know it’s a date, she just thinks it’s an innocent meal in the restaurant. Ceci is about to explode, she has to confide in Candy, she has a secret. She’s in love! Unfortunately the person doesn’t give her the time of day. Well okay, says Candy, at least tell me about the person. No, Ceci prefers to keep it secret at this time. That topic being closed, Candy remembers the machogram she’s been working on, to categorize all the types of men. She has a new animal to add to the zoo, el macho garrapata. (ew! A garrapata is a tick. I guess these guys latch on and suck out the blood. Also, garras are claws, so it’s a good thing Santi isn’t like this, or he’d be Santi-Claws! Sorry about that one, but I couldn’t resist.) Anyway, Candy explains that this type of macho guy tells you you’re free to do whatever you want, but really, except for going to the bathroom, you need his permission for everything. And can you have your own friends? Forget about it.

Lucía has taken Candy’s advice, and knocks on Charly’s door. He lets her in, mistrust showing on his face. She immediately asks who he was saying he missed (on the phone). His Mamá, so? he replies. She realizes the mistake, tells him how Marissa said it could be another girl, and she begs him to forgive her for not telling him why she wasn’t talking to him. At first he’s not sure, but after three little kisses, he smiles, and all is forgiven. And, she adds, you know who defended you? My uncle! How cool, says Charly, and they hug.

Now Isabel is asking Candy for advice (It really seems as if everyone asks her for advice, and she’s good at giving it. Too bad she can’t give herself some advice). Isabel is a little hesitant about going on the trip with Jaime. Candy asks how she feels, and Isa admits she’s in love, but it’s totally different from the feelings she had for her husband. Candy reassures her, and encourages her to go on the trip. Isa is still concerned about what to do if Jaime wants to make love, and Candy advises her to listen to her heart.

Miss Naïve 2009 (aka Lulu) corners Meño, telling him that they can now use “tu”, since their relationship is pretty advanced. Advanced? he queries. Well, she knows he’s timid, but that he’s just about to ask her to be his novia. Don’t think so. I’m gay, he says (and we wondered how this was going to come out). As he walks away to do other things, she remarks that he’s really funny, too, but she’s not so naïve as to believe that!

It’s Beto’s birthday party! The kids are sitting on the floor wearing gold party hats, as the mistress of ceremonies, Soledad, also wearing a party hat, announces the world’s greatest clown, the famous Chivi Chivi! Out jumps Candy, wearing a Raggedy-Ann or Little Orphan Annie type dress, blue with a red apron, yellow high-tops, white mittens, a long frizzy wig, and full face clown makeup. She’s also wearing red and white striped stockings and red and white striped arm coverings (now I understand the Chivi name, since red and white are the Chivas’ colors) and immediately says Arriba Las Chivas, which draws a bunch of boos. Woops. No matter, she also has her cat hand puppet Merengue, who also says hi, and the kids are smilin’. Santi and Rocío arrive, and Chivi yells out (in a kid like clown voice) say hello to Rocío. They do. Then, say hello to Doctor Plastico! Hola, Doctor Plastico, scream the kids gleefully, as Santi winces a little, then goes over to Candy, tells her how cute a clown she is, they should go for a walk, but she firmly reminds him there are children here! Santi then tells the clown to dance, but she merely repeats Arriba Las Chivas and dances around to general merriment.

Meanwhile, Isabel is crying a little, looking at the photo of her husband, when who should come in to cheer her up? Lucía, who determines that Isabel is also worried about the trip with Jaime to Puerta Vallarta, and that Santi is against it. Not to worry, says Lucía. My uncle’s always a little jealous, but you go, and have a good time. But remember to use protection, I don’t want my uncle to have a new little brother! Now look who’s giving whom advice!

Back at the party, the kids are getting into the food when the doorbell rings. Candy the clown opens it, sees who it is, and, one foot away from him, says, “Patricio”. Fortunately she’s wearing so much clown makeup that she’s unrecognizable, but he wants to know how she knew his name. Thinking fast, she says the birthday boy told her, and everybody, look who’s here. The birthday boy’s father! Pat wants to shake the clown’s hand, and remarks that she’s trembling, and feels cold. She quickly says the clown knows he’s a hungry wolf, and that’s why the clown is afraid. Before anything else can happen, Santi quickly ushers her away to prepare her show. Amidst little interruptions from hungry kids, Santi tells Candy she was playing with fire. Well, she just wanted to see what it would feel like, if she was still dead inside. And he looked her right in the eyes and didn’t recognize her! Well, asks Santi, did you feel anything? Before she can answer, it’s time for the clown show. Chivi Chivi wants to play a game. She needs a “volunteer”, and drags Pat into the middle.

Alicia is angrily doing her kickboxing exercises when the phone rings. She’s lets the machine answer and doesn’t pick up despite her mother’s pleas. She flashes back to scenes from her childhood, the constant rivalry with Candy, fighting for their mother’s attention, tickling each other but it’s more like fighting, culminating with a vision of Pat kissing Candy, then Alicia telling Pat he’ll have to forget Candy. I can NEVER forget her, he answers. Never.

At the party, it’s time for the game. This game (which to me would be more amusing for 4 year olds than 7 year olds, but doesn’t really seem too good an idea for any crowd), involves pretending to hit the other person, who ducks just in time. That’s it. Really. I’m not kidding. So Pat swings slowly at Chivi the clown, who ducks just in time, with the kids half booing, but enjoying the show. Chivi swings at Pat, who ducks. One more time, everyone yells. Okay, Pat swings at Chivi, who ducks, and it’s Candy/Chivi’s turn. She suddenly flashes back to Pat’s kiss of Alicia at the wedding, and in a moment of insanity, hits him REALLY HARD on the jaw! As Pat reels, rubbing his jaw and counting his teeth, comforted by Soledad, Santi says party over, the clown has to go to another party, and hustles Candy away before any more damage is done. Soledad gets the kids involved in the food as Pat continues checking his jaw.

After the commercial, the kids have calmed down, and are eating ice cream. Pat takes Beto, Chava and Rocío outside (Beto and Chava still arguing over who’s Rocío’s novio) to the present Pat got Beto.

Meanwhile, Santi has driven our insane clown away to Chapala, a pretty spot which looks like a canal, with little boats, geese on the water and birds overhead, to calm her down. He tells her that when Paulina left him, he was filled with rage. He could hardly breathe. He came here, and taught himself a technique to help him relax. He takes Candy down to the water, and asks her to close her eyes, assuring her that the geese won’t bite, they’re not dummies. Now, she should yell her name. The first two times, she’s not yelling loudly enough, but then she tries again, closes her eyes, takes a deep breath, and screams out “Candyyyy!!!”, which causes the geese to take off, and brings a smile of relief to Candy’s face (mercifully for us, the clown makeup has been removed). Santi explains that when you’re mad, when you feel guilty, when you feel alone, yell out your name! It reminds you that you still have yourself, you’re not alone. Candy says this is a beautiful thought (so do I, maybe the Institute can use this, and pay Santi a consulting fee). Of course when Santi wants a little kiss too, Candy won’t quite go that far, but Santi thinks, little by little, she’s becoming less hardhearted, and as they walk back, he again compliments her on her cute clown costume.

So what’s the present Patricio got Beto? A bicycle. Soledad says he shouldn’t have, Pat responds, why not, and (gently) says don’t scold me. Soledad says she’s not scolding him, as a matter of fact, she misses him. He misses her, too (and it looks as if their attraction is heating up again). There’s a minor accident with the bike, and as Soledad goes to help Beto with his scraped knee, Santi drives up (to pick up Rocío, having dropped Candy off earlier), and greets his buddy Pat. Pat immediately jumps to the conclusion that Santi left with the clown as one of his quickies. Santi negates that, insisting he just took the clown to another party. Too bad, says Pat, she was a really pretty clown, pretty eyes, her mouth was real…..”sexy”, this causing Santi to protest that no, it’s all the makeup, this clown doesn’t look good at all, don’t think about her, but Santi does have a little souvenir for Pat, and gives him the red clown nose.

Speaking of scolding, Candy’s home, and is being scolded by Meño. Meño thinks Candy is subconsciously trying to have Pat discover her. She had to know Pat would be at the party, since what father doesn’t come to his kid’s birthday party? Candy weakly counters that the disguise would prevent her discovery. Changing the subject, Meño asks why Candy had lunch with Ceci. Candy just felt sorry for the poor girl, who kept asking her over and over. Sure, replies Meño, but don’t you realize Ceci’s different? Candy doesn’t get it. Meño repeats, different, like me. What, no way, you’re not saying Ceci’s gay, uncle? Por supuesto she is, says Meño. Nah, says Candy, you just think everyone’s like you. But (changing the subject again), she senses that Meño’s been avoiding her eyes, is he hiding something, is there something he’s not telling her? Yeah, my age, snaps Meño as he walks out.

Continuing our theme of not believing someone is gay, Lulu is chuckling as she relates to Sven and Ole how Meño made that silly joke that he’s gay! Toño asks if she’s sure Meño came out of the closet, but Miss Naïve says no, he wasn’t coming out of the closet, he was going out of the kitchen! Apparently Zamora won the bet, as Toño gives him a bill, to the continued befuddlement of Lulu.

Candy is meeting with Raúl in his office, telling him about her latest column. It’s about how not to desire the novio of your projima (close friend or neighbor). The secret – don’t have close friends (what?!). Raúl, sensing a little inconsistency, asks her about Santiago, he’s the novio of your friend Marissa, no? Don’t you sort of desire him? Well, yes, but it’s like my desire for Alejandro Fernandez, Luis Miguel, Eduardo Yañez (I know some of you female readers may be enjoying this list – too bad she didn’t list Fernando Colunga, right?). Raúl asks if Santiago’s on a list like that, and Candy doesn’t deny it, Santi’s super handsome, intelligent (Raúl’s trying to stop her), but, of course, she adds, he’s engaged to your sister, and our little lie about being novios is still going, too. Raúl’s been trying to convince Santiago, but Santi seems to have strong doubts about Candy-Raúl. Raúl looks preoccupied, and needs to ask a favor of Candy (here’s a switch, doesn’t Candy usually ask these favors?). It’s the anniversary of the death of Raúl’s wife, and he wants Candy to accompany him to the gravesite. Candy graciously agrees.

In the kitchen of Santi’s house, Marissa offers to fix some food for Rocío, but she’s full of cake from the party. She tells Mari that Beto got a bike from his Dad, whose name is Patricio, who’s a friend of Papá. Marissa didn’t realize Santi and Patricio were friends. Mari and Rocío are making silly animal faces while a glaring Lucía, who’s been fixing her own food in the background, walks out, looking annoyed. Mari follows her. Lucía immediately tells Mari what’s up, that Mari made her almost lose her novio, but around Rocío, Mari’s the “perfect Mamá”. She’s no fool. Mari tells Lucía to watch who she’s talking to, she’ll teach Lucía a lesson, she has a mind to slap her or hit her upside the head three times. Lucía shoots back that she’s a well mannered girl, she doesn’t have to listen to someone talk to her like that. As Lucía walks away, Marissa tells herself there’s always a bad one in each bunch (of kids).

And now for our ironic, only-in-a-telenovela scene. Ed enters the office building at the same time as Cecilia. Ed asks her if she’s the nutritionist at the Institute, and she confirms this, wondering if he’s one of those guys who’s a little ashamed about needing to diet to get rid of their llantitas (since llantas are tires, and she’s pointing to his waist, I think we’d call it getting rid of our spare tire). A little self-conscious, he ushers Ceci away from the elevators into the middle of the lobby where they can talk a little more privately. He does want her help, he doesn’t want anyone to know about his little spare tire problem, maybe she can give him some tips. All the while, he’s touching his waist, her shoulders, they’re very close, he’s asking about the artichoke diet, but guess who happens to be in the elevator, looking their way? Candy. Remember when Ceci told Candy she had a secret lover? It’s Ed!

Candy, after seeing the shocking “truth”, is discussing it back at the house with Meño, who’s dubious (since he’s pretty sure Ceci is gay). But Candy doesn’t go for that, thinking how hurtful this will be for Chayo. Also, as for Ceci, it’s a double betrayal. Not only is she fooling around with a married man, but he’s the husband of Ceci’s friend. Candy’s worried, doesn’t know if she’ll tell Chayo or not.

In the cemetery, Raúl lays the flowers on his wife’s grave. He tells Candy he didn’t cry at the funeral, he couldn’t. Until today, he’s never really cried, but now the tears are flowing. He had a life in his hands, and it’s gone. Many times he wanted to kill himself. The music is playing a slow version of the main theme, with a beautiful oboe (which often sounds like a human voice) tenderly accompanying Raúl’s catharsis. Candy doesn’t say a word, but accepts Raúl’s hug with a deep feeling of mutual condolence. After a few moments, Candy tells Raúl that when her husband tricked her, she felt dead, too. But you know what kept her going? Hope. Raúl then reminds Candy that he’s in love with her, she knows that. She’s his hope. Please don’t take away that hope.

Back at Santi’s house, Donato tells him his artificial Dad (Papá postize) is here (it’s Jaime), and urgently wants to talk to him. Santi doesn’t like the joke, and is not too happy to greet Jaime, but Jaime insists on talking to him. After Santi repeats that Isabel had one love, her husband, Jaime points out that Isa’s husband died, and her life is different now. Santi insists that Isabel has a full life. Jaime agrees that she has a son she loves, two grandchildren, but is that enough? She should be allowed to fall in love. Santi thinks it’s better if Jaime just leaves, now. Are you kicking me out, asks Jaime? Well, yes, responds Santi, although he looks a little guilty or regretful as Jaime exits in a gentlemanly way.

And in classic telenovela moment number 2, Candy is going to force Meño to reveal the secret he’s been hiding. Meño makes her promise that after he tells her, she won’t leave the city. Of course, I absolutely promise, no matter what you say, I won’t leave, Candy says, in her confident, playful voice. All right, then, spits out Meño, your sister knows you’re alive! Boooiiiiiinnnnnggg! Candy’s world starts to blur.

At the same time, Gregoria is confronting Alicia, who wasn’t returning her calls. They argue, Gregoria not understanding why Alicia’s so upset. Ali’s distraught, what can she do now? Well, just live separate lives, you live yours, Candy lives hers. Sure, separate lives, same thing you told Candy at the wedding. Well, says Gregoria, Candy didn’t listen to me. If she had, she’d….”She’d be married to my husband now, right?”, says Alicia, angrily exercising on the floor mat. Is that what you want, Ma? Are you happy? Just let it all out. Oh, be intelligent, says Gregoria. Forget about your sister. She never wants to run into you, and she never wants to meet your husband, either. (However, the look on Gregoria’s face belies this exhortation).

Ed enters his apartment, and is shocked to see a cleaning lady! Who’s that woman? Oh, that’s just Ingrid, says Chayo. Now that Chayo’s working, they have an employee to help out around the house. They can share the expense. Ed wants to know how much Chayo earns, but she won’t tell, unless he tells how much he makes. He’s not about to do that, and just wants her home, providing the house with her sazon (seasoning). Not to worry, replies Chayo, because Ingrid doesn’t cook. Chayo can always cook. But Ed doesn’t want any employees in the house. Fine, then Ed can make the bed while Chayo vacuums, Ed can clean the bathroom while Chayo cleans the kitchen. Ed can wash his clothes, and each of them will do their own ironing (she’s reading from a little list she made up). Deal, she asks?, extending her hand for the handshake. Ed recoils, asking if she thinks he’s an idiot. Well, you said it, and you’re a little macho, too. But don’t worry, she’ll teach him to value the labors of women. He can do it! He crumples the list and walks out, horrified, as she tells herself it’ll be difficult, but she’s gonna do it.

Marissa asks Donato where Isabel is, and Donato says she’s not there, Mari could call her on the phone, in fact, she could have used the phone in her own house, and saved herself the trip. Mari says, you know, I sense a little tension here, how’d you feel if once I marry Santiago, you don’t work here anymore! Lucía heard this, and asks Mari if when she marries, is she just going kick out Rocío and Lucía, too? Lucía adds that she’s heard Marissa say bad things about Rocío, too, and that Mari’s a bit of a liar. Marissa is tired of this, and exits, insulting Donato again on her way out.

Tina, the cook is sitting in a chair crying (and furtively clutching her breast). Donato is concerned, was she peeling onions again? No, she’s afraid, she went to the doctor, some tests were done. Donato doesn’t get it, until she says they found a lump (bolito) in her breast. Donato doesn’t know what to say. Fortunately, Isabel comes in to help (thanking Donato for getting rid of Marissa). She says many women have this, and often it’s benign. The important thing is to treat it early.

Shocked Candy has recovered enough to realize that Meño was just joking about Alicia. Except that it wasn’t a joke. When it starts to sink in, Candy tries to stay calm, but she says everything is exploding. Her life is over. It’s over. Meño wants to confront the situation, but Candy knows what she has to do. Disappear (despite that promise of a few minutes ago). She implores Meño not to tell anyone, she’ll get her things from the Institute, and she’ll leave. Meño throws up his hands.

Next time: Faceoff of two sisters.

Just want to let everyone know that my recap next week probably won’t be up until Sunday, but don’t worry, you’ll have it by the end of the weekend

Labels: Tontas

Rehash: Back in the old apartment, Mari is weeping and tells Cande that JM doesn’t love her any more, he has somebody else. She says Stef told her and Rocio verified it. Meantime, Stef tells her tia that Mari is back. Cande tells Mari see? We should head right back to the hacienda and Leo. She wants to call a taxi, but Mari wants to think it over first. Judge Velarde is talking to JM outside the hearing or whatever it is, and almost mentions that Ceci went to look for Mari, but he stops short.

Hot off the griddle: Here come the legal types out of the other room. Blanca is led out in the background, but she’s still on the other side of some bars. JM asks her if she’s okay and she says yes. Chin up he says. Onelia and her lawyers say just look at them, not even trying to hide that there’s something between them. Onelia says the judge will nail both of them. JM sees her and she gives him the stink eye.

Cande says so what do we do now? Mari says I don’t know, I was wrong to think JM was waiting for me. But I have to take responsibility for my own mistakes and I have to give up Omar’s affection and protection because he’s too much of a man to accept being Plan B.

Cande says so we’re staying, but I don’t know why. Do you have big hopes about JM? Mari says no.

Ceci thinks maybe if she calls JM… no, if Mari doesn’t want to see him, that’ll put her off Ceci even more. Then it dawns on her – Cande’s house. Yes! Although it’s nighttime, she grabs her purse, offers up a quick prayer and heads out. (It’s interesting that Ceci seems to be the only woman in this show who carries a purse. Mari’s always heading out without one and her standard outfit is too skimpy to even accommodate a Chapstick.)

JM is sitting alone in his bedroom wondering where Mari is and missing her. He soliloquizes that yeah, he knows it’s selfish, but he doesn’t want her to marry anyone else because he feels like she belongs to him forever and ever. If only he knew where she is! If he could find her he would glue himself to her and never let go. He flashes back to them in bed on their wedding night.

Mari is sitting on her bed telling MiniJM that his daddy is a wonderful human being. She flashes back on the exact same scene.

Cande tells Mari that they can’t live secretly like criminals and besides they’ll need some money to live on. Cande says she’ll take in laundry again, but she looks sad about it. Mari says no, I’ll be the breadwinner and you look after the baby.

Cande hints maybe this is a good time to find out who your parents are. Mari scoffs and says she wouldn’t accept anything from them. The richer they are, the less she would want to anyway.

Ceci is at their door, knocking. Mari whispers don’t answer, but Cande says maybe it’s Olga and she goes to peek out the bathroom window. Ceci is wearing out her knuckles knocking over and over. Cande makes Mari guess who, then finally tells her. Mari tells her not to answer the door.

At the hacienda, Leo’s ready to head out and Mica says why at night? He can’t wait and says he’ll be heading for Mexico City and he’ll stay in a hotel. Mica implores him to call time to time and he promises and hugs her. He asks Mica what Lirio’s last name is.

A neighbor lady, who is actually kind and doesn’t tell Ceci off for knocking for like 10 minutes straight in the middle of the night, tells Ceci Cande and Mari left a long time ago and haven’t come back. Ceci does what she’s been doing since this novela started, which is to say she cries.
Comedy bit: Now there’s no knocking, Cande goes to look again, upsetting a bucket and slamming the bathroom door which sticks, so she pounds on it to get out. Anyway, Ceci apparently has taken her sobs elsewhere. Mari says she had a quick hope that it was JM because Rocio would have told him by now that she was there.

Cande is dying of curiosity about why Ceci came, but Mari says I don’t care about her.

The judge is telling Stef how worried he is about Ceci – where did she go in the middle of the night? Here she comes and tells him she was looking for their daughter. Behind them, Stef’s eyes widen. Ceci says she looked at Cande’s old place. Stef is trying not to register her surprise, but Ceci says no luck finding them. The judge reproaches her for keeping up with this, she weeps, nuestra hija, amor de una madre, etc. etc. The actress sure hasn’t had many lines to memorize for this novela.

She doesn’t want any dinner, she’ll just go take a sleeping pill.

Mica tells Leo she never knew Mari’s last name. Leo says we know so little about her. Mica mentions her brother, and Leo who yeah, is stout of heart and apparently bright enough to get through medical school, only just now thinks of Padre A as a lead. He asks her to write down his address and she hesitates, but does it. He kisses her on the forehead and leaves.

Adrian! We haven’t seen him in a while. He comes into Olga’s kitchen and asks Purita why she won’t see him anymore. If you’re mad about something, tell me. She says she can’t see him anymore, she doesn’t want anything to do with the neighborhood or the people in it. He says don’t you love me anymore, ‘cause I still love you con todo mi alma. Purita says we just can’t be together. He says but we made plans. She says my future is already mapped out and it doesn’t include love.

Adrian says but why? She weeps she doesn’t know, she just has to disappear and he’s not in her plans. We hear heavenly voices singing – is she about to enter a convent? Adrian, now tearful, says if that’s what you want, I won’t bother you any further. He leaves and she breaks down.

Cande and Mari are having breakfast and Cande remarks that the eggs aren’t as yummy as at the hacienda. She wants to know what’s wrong with taking in wash? And Mari says it’s too strenuous, that the light work Cande did at the hacienda was okay, but her laundry job would be dangerous for her heart.

Mari says she has stuff to do and hands Cande the baby. Cande wants to know where she’s going particularly since she’s taking her bike, but Mari says she’ll tell when she gets back. She bikes down the street, greets and knuck-bumps the newsstand guy, then sees the headlines about JM and Blanca.

Mayita comes down in her jammies and greets Onelia who says she’s going out but she can’t tell her where because she’s been forbidden to tell her certain things. Like about her mama for instance. Mayita says is she coming back again? Onelia tears up and says not this time. Mayita wipes Onelia’s tear away and says last time you said she’d gone to heaven and she came back and you’ll see, she will again. Mayita says people go away and then they show up again, like Marichuy just did. Onelia looks puzzled, then annoyed.

Two of the neighborhood harpies (one is the scrawny one who always has big pink rollers in her hair, Casilda) spot Mari and gnash their teeth that they have to deal with her being around again.

Stef is at Isa’s place and tells Isa that there’s no need to worry – it looks like when Mari found out that JM’s not interested, she went back to the hacienda. Like the papers today say, he’s into the nanny now. Isa is surprised to hear that Ceci went looking for her. We should pause to evaluate Stef’s hair ribbons – today they’re white and way too long.

Anyway, Isa says that Ceci should give it up and let Stef be the daughter. Stef says it’s JM I want to be accepted by, but I won’t be comfortable as long as Mari is still crazy about him.

Ceci agonizes some more while the judge comforts her. Maybe Mari crossed into the U.S? The judge has a flashback of a scene we haven’t seen – in it Stef speculates to the judge that Mari has gone back to the hacienda, but says let’s not tell Ceci because she’ll go looking for her again. The judge thoughtbubbles that maybe it would be better to tell Ceci that Mari has gone back and married the guy, that that might comfort her.

Purita goes to the church, where she caresses the altar cloth. The padre says ¿que haces aqui? She says she wants to be a nun.

Onelia yells at Rocio about letting Mari in. Rocio says don’t worry, she’s not coming back. Onelia stomps out. Rocio comforts Mayita and says let’s keep it secret from your dad that Mari was here. Maybe we should evaluate Mayita’s barrettes too: They are more understated than Stef’s ribbons.

JM comes in with Dr. Handsome and Rocio looks happy. Mayita says I have a secret! and Rocio rushes her out. JM follows and tries to get the secret out of her, but no luck. Dr. Handsome offers to take the girls for a car ride, so they’re off to the park for ice cream. JM sits down for breakfast and sees the headlines about himself in the paper.

It’s time for the hearing. In a regular room with just lunchroom-style chairs, there is the judge and a couple of lawyers. Blanca watches from behind bars. Onelia is shown in by a guy who looks like Tony Blair and she accuses Blanca of the murder and JM of planning the whole thing. One lawyer says wait – it’s just supposed to be Blanca, but Onelia’s lawyer says Onelia has formally accused both. The judge asks for some evidence to support her accusation and the lawyer says it’ll be produced later.

Out in the hallway, judge Velarde tells JM that Viv being pregnant is the sort of thing that catches the public’s imagination and that can affect the judge’s decision, no matter how much he wants to be impartial. Her case may already be lost – anything you try to do to help her may be useless, plus you may go down with her.

In Grannyland, Mayita says that Onelia says her mama isn’t coming back this time. Granny says maybe it’s best to believe that. Mayita is a little choked up, but she says she’s experienced her mama being gone before, so she’s prepared. She tells about her Mari secret and says she really wants to tell. Granny says maybe wait just a little before saying anything.

The lawyer asks if JM and Viv fought a lot and Onelia says yes. He didn’t respect her as a woman, a wife or a mother. He wouldn’t let her care for her own child! She goes on to say that JM had total power over Blanca and that Blanca was very submissive. They were lovers! Behind her bars, Blanca is shocked.

Ceci goes to see the padre and says he’s going to be mad at her – she went to La Escondida to look for la escondida.

Avances: Ogla loves up Mari’s baby and dicusses him with Cande. Omar shows up at the church and asks Padre Anselmo where Mari is.

Labels: Cuidado

(I couldn't seem to get the song "Sisters" out of my head while recapping tonight. Who remembers it?)

Alicia spies Candy outside her building. "No puede ser!" She follows her inside and watches at which floor her elevator stops.

Up on the third floor Santi and Eduardo wash their hands before surgery. Ed wants Santi to spill his guts, what's he feeling inside now that he's engaged? Santi says he's bedded lots of dames but he never wakes up with them. However, Rocio needs a mama and maybe it's time to wake up with someone. Ed asks what about Candy, is she history? Santi believes Candy will eventually reconcile with her husband. This is news to Ed, is she divorced? "No, she died and her husband's a widower." Ed is perplexed.

Isabel conducts a rather lame sex talk with Lucia. She says Lucia is too young to do "it" but not too young to know about "it". Isa says most young women don't know diddly about using a condom so please never, ever do "it" without protection.

Santi visits Chayo at the institute and he's got good news. He finally convinced Lalo to let him operate on her bubis!! He's so very pleased with himself but she...not so much. "What will I do?" she asks herself.

Pato is diagramming futbol plays for his young team when Beto arrives and brags to them all that the coach is his papa! Hooray!! Soledad looks on and projects a simpering smile over the group.

Charly and Lucia climb a tree. He's suspicious of his dad, when dad said he left mom for another person he specifically did not say a woman. He had a homosexual friend in Mexico City who said the same sort of thing. Charly shakes his head.

Back at the futbol pitch Pato tells his little champions how well they are playing. Chava asks if they're playing so well then why are they losing? When Pato says the most important thing is to have fun Chava comments that's exactly what his mama says. Pato tells Chava to stop talking about his imaginary mama, it's not "sexy". (Ooh I want to slap him when he says that overused phrase. Let's throw him in the net and use him for goal practice.)

Post operation Santi and Lalo are still talking women. Santi isn't interested in women who are too easy, he likes the conquest, like a panther! He loves the adrenaline and darn it he wishes Candy would walk through his door right now, she always puts him in a good mood. Well, not always, not when she knees him in the nuts and calls him the plastic doctor which is 90% of the time. But 10% of the time she really puts him in a good mood. He decides to go look for her.

After Beto scores a goal and the little tykes win, Chava asks Pato why mustn't he talk about his mama? He becomes impatient at the silliness of this adult and asks Soledad to please please tell Pato he has a mama and she's Soledad's friend. Tell him!

Marissa catches Santi looking for Candy and he covers by saying he wanted the feminine perspective on the Lucia/Charly dilemma. Santi is aghast at the thought that Lucia and Charly may already have done "it". Does Marissa think they have? She keeps trying to kiss him and every time she does he pulls back and yells "short circuit!!!" because his pea brain can only cope with Lucia and Charly right now, he must get back to his patients, adios!

When Marissa comes home she hears Charly downstairs talking on his phone to someone and hears him say "I miss you too". Charly is talking to his mother but Marissa the Metiche (buttinsky) assumes the worst and immediately dashes up to Lucia's room to ruin her day. She heard Charly telling someone he missed them and who else could it be but his other girlfriend? (That does it, Marissa goes in the net too.)

Pato and Sole bring the boys home and when the adults are alone Pato says, "now you're going to explain to me how you are the friend of Chava's mom." Soledad tells Pato that yes, she is the mama's friend and she lied to protect a secret. If Pato promises not to tell anyone she'll share it with him...

Commercial for Mañana is Para Siempre and we get a rather hot bod shot of none other than Sergio Sendel. Muy pronto!!

Whoa, I totally forgot about Alicia. Apparently it's taken her all day to make it up to the third floor and to the Institute. She lurks at the door and listens to Lulu chatter on about Meño; she uses Candy's name in every other sentence so there is no doubt it's Candy Candy Candy. Candy advises Lulu that Meño isn't the man for her but does she explain why? No, she just walks out of the office prompting Alicia to dash for cover.

Charly, rose in hand, is still downstairs at the rich house waiting for Lucia, she's never kept him waiting for so long. Marissa finally comes town with a message for him, Lucia doesn't want to see him.

Soledad makes up a ridiculous story that Chava's mom is a fugitive from justice, an escaped prisoner who was forced to kill Chava's father because he abused and beat her. Meño is hiding Candida and they are all keeping her secret. It's just a coincidence that she has the same name as Pato's first wife. Pato rubs his chin and mutters "Candida".

Alicia follows Candy around town and is almost spotted by Candy, what suspense, yawn.

Santiago goes to the chapel, says hello to his namesake (tocayito) Saint James, but he's really there to talk to Saint Jude (patron saint of lost causes) who was a sinner but also a good liar. It's not too bad of a sin to tell a lie for love, is it? He explains to Saint Jude that he loves Candy with all his heart but Marissa is entrenched in the middle of his life. Rocio sees her like a mom which doesn't help. He asks Saint Jude to join forces with his namesake over there so they can help clear his mind he can make the best decisions.

Candy and her mommy dearest are in the mercado buying a hideous piñata and expensive grapes. Alicia, verifying that Candy is alive and mama is a part of the perfidy, cries and starts to call Patricio. She changes her mind and takes a few closeups of Candy so that the pics might be discovered at an inopportune time later on in the show.

In the grand telenovela tradition of non-communication Lucia sobs in her room while Charly rants, both wailing "how could you treat me so horribly?" Rocio comes into the bedroom and asks Lucia why is she crying? She sweetly loans her own crying dolly to Lucia.

Charly climbs a telephone pole and yells for Lucia. He only wants Lucia! Luciaaaaaa!

It seems the saints have given him an idea because Santiago visits Candy at the institute for a cure, he has a pain in his heart. She thinks he's there to make fun of them but he swears it's because he feels bad. In the privacy of her office she yells "It's a miracle" that the plastic doctor is there for her help. The eavesdropping staff busts through the door.

Rocio is upset about Lucia so Marissa takes her for a walk in the park to calm her down and pollute her mind with lies. She explains Charly's not a bad person but perhaps he's not a person that can be trusted. Lots of people are like that, people who resent the happy lives of others and who want to hurt others, Candy for example. (Marissa for example.) Remember when Candy kissed Santi in the theatre? Wouldn't it be terrible if Candy were to win Santi then Marissa and Rocio couldn't be together, eh? Marissa thinks she and Rocio should be on the same side and get rid of Candy. A confused Rocio agrees except that Candy is the mama of her friend Chava. Marissa tells her that's why they have to keep their little plan a secret. They high five it.

Alicia is back home uploading the photos of Candy onto her computer. Pato comes home and wants to see her pics but but she says they are private with a capital P. He thinks the P stands for Porno ha ha and if she needs him she can call him. Oh right, like any guy finding a sex bomb like Alicia peeking at porno would actually leave the room? Doubtful.

Candy's got the cure for Santi, she prescribes a therapy session with Babs, massages with Chayo, a dance lesson with Meño, sign here please and welcome to the institute of inner beauty.

Alicia invites her new (and only) girlfriend Marissa over for a tequila and to tell her that she saw her "dead" sister at Marissa's institute so she must be one of her clients. She tells Mari her version of the story, that Pato married her sister but on his wedding day he confessed to Alicia that he was still in love with her (Alicia) but he'd already married her sister. She did what any woman would do, she kissed him and they were caught by her reckless sister. Clearly sis lied about being dead and lied to all of them. Marissa asks will she tell Patricio? Alicia thinks not, he hates ghosts.

Funny music plays so we knows some comedy scenes are coming up. Barbara is giving Santiago his psych session and she tells him to punch the pillow, it'll make him feel better to release his frustrations. She holds the pillow for him and he punches it...right in her stomach. (Serves her right.) Then it's massage time and he doesn't want Chayo, wife of his friend, to touch him. It's a stupid scene so let's move on.

Time for the dance lesson with Meño and it's basically a vehicle for Santi to shake his bootie and act like a goofball. So yes, definitely worth watching. I'm not the only one who enjoyed his little exhibition. The ladies of institute admire him from the doorway and Barb comments he was spectacular, he really worked his muscles well. "I go to the gym," he explains. She didn't mean his biceps, she meant his glutes. Indeed.

Soledad comes to the institute to tell Candy and Meño about the bullcrap story she had to tell Pato to get him off the Candy scent. Candy's proposed solution? Move far away before she runs into Patricio. What a surprise.

Mean Marissa comes to Santi's office to tell him that Lucia is suffering from hearbreak but it's not serious. Santi wants to run right home to comfort his daughter but Rocio scampers in with a surprise for dad. It's a drawing of the family, dad, grandma, Marissa, Lu, Rocio, and off to the side is Candy scribbled out because Rocio doesn't want her for a mama. Marissa, thrilled, feigns shock while Santi looks downcast.

Meño tells Candy that running away solves nothing. He wants her to visualize standing in front of that louse Patricio, what would happen, what would she say? Candy daydreams that Patricio demands to take Chava away from her so she suggests he practice parachuting or learning to fly. She pushes him off the top of a building and he smashes onto a car below, then looks up and waves at her. "Uh, I'd better not run into him," she tells Meño.

Jaime and Isabel are out for a romantic stroll and he suggests they take a little trip to Puerto Vallarta. She asks will she have a room for herself? Jaime says of course, it will be for her...and him.

Santi goes to Candy's office and says he has to talk to her. Blah blah blah what he really came to say is this...he closes in for a kiss and stops an inch away from her lips. He can't, he feels too guilty. She thinks it's a miracle, he's cured, he finally feels guilty about Marissa. Not quite, he feels guilty about Patricio.

Candy can't believe it. Are he and Pato friends? Santi shrugs, "well...more like in the process of becoming friends." (En vias de serlo= in the process of becoming) Candy reasons that he feels guilty about Pato who might be his friend, she doesn't want to feel guilty about Marissa who is her friend, therefore they should make a pact that they won't interfere in each others' lives. He on his side and she on hers, agreed? They shake hands and Santi crosses his fingers behind his back. So does Candy.

Alicia confronts her mother and calls her a liar and traitor. Mama denies it until Alicia shows her the pictures on her phone. Mama kindly tells Alicia that Patricio always loved Candy and furthermore she'll lose her husband because her marriage isn't valid if Candy is alive. Alicia pitches a fit and says that Mama may have found one daughter but she lost the other, she doesn't want to see her again. Mom says Alicia should be grateful, grateful that Mom didn't tell Patricio. Al says fine, she won't tell Patricio if Mom doesn't tell Candy she knows, that way they're equal, both liars.

At the big house Isabel tells her family she's thinking about visiting Puerto Vallarta...with Jaime. Santi gets all silly and blabbery, points out that Jaime is a man, and says they'll talk about it tomorrow. Rocio observes to Isabel that papa is a bit distracted because she already knew Jaime was a man.

Over at Casa Meño the family notices Charly's not eating anything. Candy goes off to comfort him and Granny gets rid of the kid so she can tell Meño that Alicia knows Candy is alive but she promised Al she wouldn't tell Candy, what should she do?

Candy comes back and tells Meño that Charly has love problems. Meño's suggestion that perhaps Lucia went back to an old boyfriend doesn't make Charly feel better. Thanks dad.

Santi (with Marissa clinging to him like a remora) knocks on Lucia's door and wants to know what happened. Lu sobs that Charly has another girlfriend. Santi wonders who told her such a thing? Marissa says it was she, she heard Charly telling someone he missed them a lot. Santi whispers loudly that Charly could be saying those words to anyone, a mother, grandmother, aunt, the lady who changed his diapers in kindergarten, for the love of God! Mari accuses him of taking Charly's side. No no no, Santi is taking the side of all men who aren't allowed to explain themselves! Lu opens her door and asks could there be a confusion? Santi tells her she should give Charly a chance to explain himself. Lu hugs Santi but when Mean Marissa moves forward with open arms Lu shuts the door in her face. Good!

Candy visits Charly in his room and wants to tell him two things. First, it's a lie that men don't cry. Second Lu should tell him to his face why she doesn't want to be with him. This from the runaway bride.

Meño tells Gregoria that he has never lied to Candy and he's not about to start now. He stands up and Gregoria panics. Meño plans to tell Candy the truth that Alicia knows she's alive. "No Meño No!!!"

Mañana: Patricio goes to the birthday party and Candy is dressed like a clown. Oh dear, will he recognize her?

Labels: Tontas

From Last Night: Jimena kisses Oscar goodbye at the bus station with Eva and Sarita looking on. Darth is pressuring Gabi to tell him where Soledad is, they argue. Root comes in and tells her parents that she’s not a child of love, but a child of hate. That’s why she’s the way she is, and it’s all Ricky and Gabi’s fault! She storms out of the house and rides off on a horse. Outside, Coyote is lying in wait with his rifle – he’s got Root in the crosshairs, but he just can’t kill her. He thinks to himself that whether he likes it or not, she’s his sister and none of this is his or her fault. He follows her.

Sofia and Juan are at the lab or hospital in Puebla waiting for the results of the DNA test. The $64,000 question is which of the two girls got the double dumb gene – it’s a damn good thing the girls are too young to understand. They get two envelopes with the results and they head off to the lawyers office. The lawyer says that’s it for now, they wait for the judge.

Oscar is struggling in his bedroom, Jimena walks in – he’s impactado. He tries to get up out of the wheelchair – Jimena helps a bit and wouldn’t you just know it – he can stand!!!! It’s a milagro! Must be the healing powers of the ever-full moon. He promises her he’ll be the same man as before. They kiss.

Gaby, drinking in her office, is remembering Root’s words about being the daughter of hate and not love. Doesn’t look like Gabi’s day is gettin’ any better any time soon, when Juan comes clangin’ in with Sofia . Gabi mocks the two of them, saying she can only imagine that they’ve come to tell her they’ve reconciled, that Sofia has forgiven Juan because they love each other so much she just can’t live without him. Angrily, Juan says, nope, they’ve come to tell her about the judge’s decision – that as of right now, the Elizondo fortune is back in Sofia’s hands. Damn, Gabi should have consulted her horoscope with Walter Mercado this morning and not gotten out of bed. https://www.waltermercado.net/ Gabi obviously doesn’t believe them, because she’s laughing like the crazy woman she is. She grabs at the paper that says which one of the kids is really theirs but Juan won’t let her see it. He says that he and Sofia don’t even know. But then he hands her the papers from the judge so she can see for herself that the Elizondo fortune is Sofia’s once again. Gabi tries to switch it around and give Sofia the biggest guilt trip on the face of the earth. She says Sofia has finally shown her true colors, that she’s a bad daughter – the worst one of them all. Juan tries to defend Sofia. Now Gabi tries to say that Juan put Sofia up to it – he’s in it for the money. Sofia says it not true, she’s just trying to be a good mother and a good sister. Gaby tells her not to play the victim, Sofia’s always gone against her and this just goes to prove it. Now she’s trying to convince Sofia that Juan, this “animal rastrero” (crawling animal) is full of hatred and revenge and that he’s just using Sofia to get back at Gabi. Hello Kettle? This is Pot. Guess what? You’re black!!! Yikes that Gabi must be lookin’ in the mirror! Juan tries to defend Sofia again. Sofia finally sticks up for herself, tells Gabi she’s taking the kids out of danger and leaving the house. She’s not going to let Gabi insult her anymore – she knows Gabi doesn’t love her, but aside from everything she’s still her mother and she loves and respects her, and as proof of that, Sofia will let Gabi continue to live in the hacienda, but without violence, because Sofia is not going to put up with anymore threats, or live in fear. Gabi laughs almost maniacally. Juan and Sofia walk out. Gabi looks like she just might cry.

Oscar and Jimena are basking in the glow of the miracles that are Oscar’s revived legs. She says he’ll be walking again soon. He says he’s stronger now that she’s back. She’s given him the strength to keep trying. He thinks maybe he only stood up this time, and that when he can’t again she might leave him again and she says no, she’ll never leave him again, she came back for his love. They kiss. Franco walks in and smiles, happy they’ve gotten back together. More Oscar and Jimena kissing. I’ve always thought they were the only couple with any chemistry. All I can say is thankfully this latest separation only lasted a week – the TN gods spared us!

Coyote is out ridin’ in his big, black truck, and comes upon Root riding her horse. She jumps off the horse and completely flips out on Coyote for getting in her way. She’s screaming and crying, saying that she doesn’t want to see or speak to anybody – this girl is badly in need of a Xanax. He says he followed her because he saw how distraught she was. He asks her what happened, she screams some more to leave her alone and actually spits at him! He says he won’t leave until she calms down. She says nobody cares about her, she’s learned that strong people don’t feel love, only hate and revenge. He tells her it’s because she grew up without love and he cares about her more than she thinks. He tells her how much his mother loves him and that’s why her suffering has hurt him so (“parte el alma” – literally, split his soul). Root says her father loves her too, in his own way, and he made her the image of himself (“semejanza” – his similarity). He asks her would she have liked to have grown up in a different family? Full of love, and learned how to love? Aaaaaawwwww, how cute! Coyote turns out to be a mental health counselor!

Sofia and Juan are back in Fernie/Root/Juan’s room. She can’t calm down after arguing with her mother. Sofia says she knows she did the right thing, but she’s still worried about protecting her mother from Feo and Root. Juan’s like, protecting Gabi? Everyone else is scared of that witch! Sofia says she’s going to speak to Gabi and tell her the whole truth – I suppose about Feo and Root? Sofia is stupid enough to think that once Gabi hears all this, she’ll understand and agree to divide the Elizondo fortune up equally – yeah, right!!!!! But Sofia doesn’t want any of it. The only thing she cares about is keeping her family together. Sofia knows that people says she’s too submissive (“sumisa”), but this is about her mother, the mother who raised her and put a roof over her head – Sofia says she can’t hurt Gabi, she’ll always love her. He says he likes how she thinks, but wants to know where his and Sofia’s relationship stand. A slight smile on her face tells me she’s giving in – big shocker there, huh?.

Cut to Root walking into Crabs office – Crabs just poured herself a fresh snifter full – she deserves it. Root wants an explanation. Gabi tells her she doesn’t deserve one because she doesn’t trust her anymore. Gabi goes on to say she and Root are exactly alike – “como dos gotas de agua” (like two drops of water) - she knows how Root thinks, how she feels, it’s like looking at a mirror image of herself. Root wants to know why Gabi slept with her father, Darth, and got pregnant if Gabi didn’t love him. What was in it for Gabi? Gabi says she wanted love, she’s always looked for love and never found it. She thought she had found it in Ricardo, but he didn’t love her either. At least not in the way she needed. Bernardo never loved her. Waiting for Root to be born was the best revenge, but she had no idea that stupid Raquel switched the babies and left her with even more stupid-Eva’s baby. Root doesn’t believe Crabs did this all for love. She says for love she got revenge against Jose Robles, and for love she got together with Fernando, but now she doubts Feo. Crabs eyes are closed and she’s got this creepy look on her face. A couple of big ol’ alligator tears fall from Root’s eyes cuz she know she’s guilty, but she asks why Gabs doubts Feo – Gabi says for everything, and because Root is the one that put doubts into her mind about Fernando. Hello! Didn’t she just get through telling her that they were exactly alike? Gabi says she thinks there’s something going on between Root and Feo, and if she can prove it, whether Root is her daughter or not, Root will pay dearly for her betrayal! Gabi genuinely looks hurt! Another milagro!

Back in the bedroom, Juan is telling Sofia that he’s going to continue living in the house until all the strange accidents stop happening. He’s pressuring her for an answer about their relationship, she says she’ll think about it. He makes her promise. She wants to go tell Sarita what’s up about owning the farm again. Instead of a kiss, she gives Juan a “bendicion” and leaves. Picking up his sombrero, Juan looks at the safe and wonders what secrets it holds. Yo Juan! Curiosity killed the cat!

More promesas de amor with Jimena and Oscar. He thought he’d lost her forever. He tells her everything she said to him helped him a lot. Once again he asks for forgiveness. She says even though she doesn’t want to leave him, she has to go see her sisters and tell them she’s back together with Big O.

Quinti in the kitchen with Tio Elf getting the bread ready for the market, but he doesn’t want to go with her again. Hortensia and her hub, Saul Dominguez Ortiz, come into the kitchen. I keep forgetting that they live at the Doble R now too! BTW, where’s Pablito lately? Hort is annoyed because Saul didn’t make the bed – it’s his obligation. What’s up with that???? He wants a kiss, but she’s not givin’ it up. Then she says something about ironing the clothes! Tio Elf tells her she’s too strict, that Saul is her husband not her slave. Quinti, flirting with Tio, says not all women are like that. Total waste of time here. What’s the point in emasculating poor Saul?

Gabi’s in the crypt with Bernardo, crying and insulting him. She tells him he’ll never leave her in peace, this is his vengeance against her. She tells him she hates him. She smashes a flower vase on the marble. She hopes he continues to burn in hell (enchicharrando – like chicharrones) for centuries. Eva walks in and yells how dare Gabi disrespect Bernardo’s memory! Gabi tries to throw Eva out. Eva’s not going anywhere, she wants to know why Gabi is doing that. Gabi says, it’s none of your business. Why are you defending a man who never loved you? Eva tells Gabi that Bernardo never loved her either, and is that why she hates Sofia so much, because she was Bernardo’s favorite? Gabi tells Eva that her bitterness and loneliness is making Eva say these things. Eva says she’s not alone, she has the love of Gabi’s daughters, Gabi is a bad mother, a bad person, and that she enjoys hurting her daughters, especially Sofia. But, Eva says, one day Gabi will pay for it all with loneliness and without affection (“desamor”). Gabi tells her to shut up, it’s all lies, lies I said! Eva says Gabi has never been and never will be loved. Gabi argues that Feo loves her and Eva says, “You believe that?” Gabi says, “What are you saying?” Eva says, “See for yourself if you care so much.”, and then walks out.

Jimena walks into Crap from Afar to tell Sarita that she couldn’t be apart from her sisters and Oscar any longer. How long has she been gone? Overnight?) The girls hug.

Back in the kitchen, it’s time to go to the market with the bread, but Tio Cente tells Quinti ok, but this time he’s driving the motorcycle. Quinti says fine, and on the way she’ll tell him about her new business – music, she’s going to put on shows and she’s even hired two assistants. Over at Horny Spinsters House there’s some craziness goin’ on – they are Quintina’s assistant dancers. The ladies are dressed up like ballet dancers at practice, but dancing to rap music! They can’t let Quintina down. This scene really deserves the ultimate Que The Hell Award.

Gabi and Feo are in the office talking. He says she’s lost everything again. Gabi says he promised her he would kill Juan, but his promises are always false. She says something is going on behind her back and everyone knows about it but her. He says he swears he has no idea what she’s talking about. He says he has demonstrated his love for her in all the ways he knows how. I think Crabs is a little drunk at this point – she’s drained the carafe. She tells Feo that even Eva is laughing in her face now. He’s mad that she believes Eva over him. Feo says even if she winds up in the street he’ll still be at her side. Gabs says she’ll never be out on the street, she has her own money and that she’ll fight for the hacienda with every last cent she has. He tells her not to waste the money – she’s lost this time, she better face it. She says doesn’t care about anything as long as she has him, and asks if he loves her. He doesn’t respond right away. She’s begging pathetically to tell her he loves her, but all he says is that she’s had too much to drink. She tells him if she has him she has the strength for anything. Maybe it’s best if they go away together. She’s kissing his hand and rubbing it all over her face (excuse me – Eeeeeewwwwww!!!) and he’s looking at her likes he’s disgusted with her. He holds her close but thought bubbles that he has to get rid of her as soon as possible.

Sarita fills Jimena in on the DNA tests and the change in ownership of the hacienda. Jimena says she is still going to live in the store, but Sarita tells her she should move back into the Doble E.

Sofia is talking to her Abuelo’s picture telling him she’s back at the Hacienda’s helm just like he always wanted. She says it was hard, she had to confront her mother, but that hopefully one day her mother will realize she did it to protect her from the “codicia” (covetous) Feo and Root’s betrayal. Now she turns to a picture of her father and talks to him, she promises to share just like he taught her. Feo walks in to insult her. He says he never thought she had it in her to confront her mother. Sofia says she did it to protect her mother from him and Root. She says she knows the truth, Eva saw them together and she’s ready to tell her mother that he and Root are lovers! Feo gets that crazy look again, and tells Sofia she better remember who she’s dealing with. Sofia tells Feo she’s not afraid of him. Hell, I am! She calls him a snake. He tells her not to forget for her own good that snakes attack unexpectedly when they are cornered. Feo walks out.

Back at Darth’s Den of Evil, he tells Root he’s been looking for her and is worried about her, but she’s doesn’t believe him. She starts in with the daughter of hate line, and Darth wants to know what started all this. He tries to explain that he and Gabs did not hate each other when she was born. The only thing he cares about is that they are together. Darth comforts evil daughter with a hug and some nice words. He tells her not to worry herself with sentimental things, it’s a sign of weakness. She’s his pride, don’t let him down, he says. Now, he wants to get back to vengeance business. He says the two of them are made from the same wood. He says “El que nos la hace, nos la paga” – the one who gets revenge first, gets paid – or something to that effect. He tells her never to forget that.

At Doble R, Franco and Oscar are happily singing in the kitchen, Juan doesn’t know why, but he joins in too, followed by gritos of happiness! Juan says O’s like a new person. Franco says there’s no doubt that love does marvelous things. O says he’s happy because Jimena has come back because she loves him, just like he loves her. But then Oscar remembers something, he calls himself a “tarugo” – a wooden plug. (I guess that’s sort of like dumb as a post, huh?) Juan says yeah, they knew that. (Well, sure, it runs in the family!) Franco recites some cute little rhyme and Juan calls him Ojitos Pispiritos. I really didn’t get this whole thing, and my husband wasn’t around to ask. If anyone knows, please fill me in! Juan tells them that Jimena is going to live at the Doble E once again. Oscar’s all no way, she’s living here with me! Juan says obviously he hasn’t heard the latest gossip, but Sofia’s back in charge – she’s the new “jefa”. In an almost childlike way, Juan explains to them about Sofia going to the lawyer, about them going and getting this newfangled “genetica” test thingy done, and with the proof that one of the little munchkins is theirs, they comply with Bernardo’s will and the judge gave the Elizondo fortune back to Sofia! Oh Happy Day! All Franco and Oscar want to know is which kid is Sofia and Juan’s, but Juan says they are keeping their promise not to find out, that they love them all the same. More gritos, they decide this news needs to be celebrated. How come nobody is talking about Oscar’s miracle legs?

Raq comes rushing into the kitchen, she needs to speak with Juan urgently. Franco, still joking about Juan says he’s going to help Moscatelito(?) – another nickname. I guess that’s what Franco does all day, thinks of nicknames. Raq obviously she wasn’t too afraid to leave the Coyote Den and run into Darth, but maybe she thought her helmet head hair would protect her from danger.

Apparently, Sofia has invited Darth and Root to come see her in the office. Darth is pissed. Sofia tells them they have 2 days to get out of Dodge. He says Sofia can’t run them off, only Gabi can. She explains that she is now the owner of the Hacienda. Sofia says she will have them thrown out. Sofia asks if they’re going to leave of their own free will, or if she’s going to have to have them thrown out. Sofia leaves. Darth can’t believe Gabi has lost everything. Root’s mad because Daddy has nothing of his own, it’s all stupid Raquel’s. Root can’t understand how a man like Darth could wind up in a situation like this. He says he never thought he’d be in a situation like this. She says now more than ever he has to find Raquel, or they’ll wind up in the street – they have nowhere else to go. Where the heck were they living before they came back to Stupidville?

Over to Coyote Den, Soledad walks into the room talking to Raq, only Raq’s not there. She thinks it’s weird that Raq left without telling her.

Back at the Doble R, Juan hands Raq the papers that he and Slofia found in the cofre. She says Soledad convinced her to fight for her rights. Juan says he and his brothers will help her fight Darth. Raq says she’s tired of being afraid, she’s going to confront Darth alone, and fight for what’s rightfully hers. She’s going to leave Root and Darth with nothing! They will have to live off of Gabi’s charity. Well now, Juan says he’s got some big gossip for her, he tells her how Gabi’s lost everything and it all belongs to Sofia now, and that Sofia will be kicking Darth and Root out any time now.

Darth and Root are walking back into the house just in time to see Jimena going upstairs. Darth says, “Asunto!” to her and Jimena turns. “Asunto” is normally used like “subject”, I don’t get the relevance here. She looks scared, but slowly comes back down the stairs and says she’s never liked or trusted him. He wants to know what she’s talking about. She asks if he’s forgotten already about trying to rape her!!!!!! Ruth is impactada!!!!!!

Previews: The boys come to Hacienda Doble E with mariachis to serenade their women, Root looks dejected.

Labels: Fuego

Ok, I don’t know, this seems to be all over the place. I’m also cursing Rosy Ocampo for her overpacked scripts this friggin recap took me about 5 or 6 hours. Jeez.

We ended up with Santi and Mari arriving to a surprise engagement party, but then we got to Candy in the office saying she’ll be done soon and Ceci shooing everyone away. Once they are gone Candi notes how odd Ceci is acting.

This next part apparently was edited from the US version I guess for obvious reasons. I'm not so bright as I recapped it anyway not thinking it wouldn't appear. There is a scene where pipi is being visibly made too that was edited out, you'll read about that below.

We then go to Abuela scolding her young grandson for pointing out the anatomic differences between males and females and that his dog has a penus and is therefore male of course because females have vaginas and he’s not sure why it’s a cuchinada to say that. Abue isn’t hip to this frankness and nearly escorts him upstairs to his bath by his ear.

Ali and Pat are dressed up leaving for the surprise party but Pato is proclaiming how much he doesn’t want to go.

Candi and Zamora are discussing that Tio hasn’t been home yet and they are worried about him. She asks Zamora for a favor.

At Sole’s house, Meno is there telling her she’s right that her son is being raised around a gay. Like Serrat said, the truth is never sad but it has no remedy. He very somberly tells her that he has only had their best interests in mind, but if they want him out of their lives, so be it. He hands Sole the letter that he doesn’t have the courage to give to Candi directly. He worries about seeing them but is informed that at this moment everyone has left for the party, that he was invited to as well, so he won’t see them. He comments that he has his own funeral and doesn’t need to attend any other. Sole just kind of stands there impactada.

We go back to the party where Santi feigns excitement at his surprise engagement party. He immediately chugs a glass of wine then guardedly greets his guests. Mari worries he’s not enjoying this. He walks toward the door telling everyone to be happy, but under his breath, not like him. He walks out the front door and who is right there but Candi who is spying because she wants no surprises and wonders if her widow and sister are going to be there. Santi of course doesn’t know since this was all a surprise to him. Candi makes one more call to Meno before Mari sees her and drags her in. We see Pat in the background with Ali while she is talking.

Mama sees Meno packing and wonders what’s up, Candi didn’t mention he’s going on vacay. He says no, it’s for good, say goodbye to everyone for me. Of course Mama is impactado.

Santi is discussing this whole idea with Mari that this wasn’t right, and they don’t even have a ring, but of course our scheming Mari has taken care of that as she very slyly hands him a ring while holding his hands. He is therefore forced to present it happily to her in front of the crowd.

Her turn to feign pleasant surprise as she accepts the ring. Candi is the first to hug them congratulations and Santi doesn’t let go of her too easily. She says first a gift to them with all her love and the mariachis file in singing the cumbia, Tiburon a la Vista (Shark in sight) – wonder if it’s Santi or Mari….or maybe Pato? We see the Pato head coming in the still open front door and happily joining in the dancing. Candi ducks behind and grabs on to Santi again after seeing the Pato head through the crowd.

Candi and Santi begin dancing, but Mari thinks she should be dancing this first dance with the groom. Claro que si, but Santi’s Ma brushes her off - it’s a party, relax. Just then Ali and Pat greet her and distract her for a moment from her green envy. Until Ali notes the Novio dancing with someone else too, but Mari says well I guess I’ll have him my whole life so what the heck.

We turn to Candi begging Santi to help her. He ends up moving her towards the door and giving her his car and she trades him for her son. Mari rushes up and learns she’s leaving to find her uncle. An interesting trade, car for kid. Candi drives off, Mari is more than happy to see her go I’m sure.

Back at the house Gregi is telling Meno she won’t stop him if he wants to leave, because after all it isn’t right that her grandson and his son grow up with an abnormal. The have the same old argument that he’s not abnormal and she thinks God punished their whole family but meno realizes it’s futile. He says God isn’t punishment, he’s love, but she doesn’t know love. This departure is barely believable given how Meno is so strong and proud and running his restaurant and his life for so long. I guess I could only see it if he’s supposed to be that fearful of outing himself to his son. I suppose strangers are one thing, but your own children, maybe it’s not so easy to be as confident around, I don’t know. I still think he wouldn’t just abandon everything like that. Oh Candi, you’d better do something, look at where your lie has gotten us!

We see our young lovers plotting to steal away from the party for more groping. They communicate by cell phone and work their way up to Lucia’s room. While Issy and Jaime talk about their children’s respective discontent with their relationship, she looks up and notes the suit clad sneaker wearing young buck not so clandestinely ascending the stairs towards his waiting lady. Issy is not far behind. She knocks on Lu’s door and wants to know where the boyfriend is. Now here's where it’s dumb. Lu says he’s not there, but of course Abue is no tonta and discovers him behind the door. What would bother me most about this is not that they are trying to steal away, but that they lie about it, but heck, I would have done the same thing when I was that age unless there was no way to get away with it. Sigh. Abue yells at Charly to get out, appreciates he tries to cover for Lu but says Lu knows no boys allowed in her bedroom. She departs saying she already knows she’s an old-fashioned old lady and Lu doesn’t even have to say it.

Downstairs the new best friend foursome is chatting again about why Santi was dancing with that other woman and he says well she gifted the mariachis so it’s only right that I shared the dance with her. Mari thinks they should meet her someday and maybe even come by the institute.

Santi screams at this possibility, which alarms everyone, and so he covers that Donato should not be putting out the candles just now, because people will leave; and something like if the candles are out then they can’t be put on the cake. Mari tries to tell him there is no cake but he says this is a party so of course there is cake and he asks what kind they all want. They all say Mil Hojas ( Thousand Layers - not an easy cake to just pick up).

Back at the multicolored home, Candi probes her Ma for info about Meno leaving, Ma doesn’t know, she tried to change his mind but he is too stubborn - she isn’t too bothered.

Back at the party Issy is having a good conversation with her granddaughter about not rushing things and there is plenty of time. Santi hears this part and wants to know time for what, and she says to make love with her boyfriend. Santi reacts to this with a spit out of his drink, and Issy orders Donato to help him out with the mess. Ha. Santi will deal with Lu later.

At the bottom of the stairs Pat introduces Ali to Chava as his wife. Chava, having studied the finer points of Abues and Papas and Mamas with his pal Beto, rightly comments that ah, but she isn’t the Ma of Beto. Ali, who looks as though she may have enjoyed her share of champagne at this point does something waaayyy weird and asks Chava if he wouldn’t like it if she were the Ma of Beto. He listens to her Bubis, er, heart, and decides nope, she’s a bad person. Santi interrupts explaining this is just a child’s game and well his heart sounded the worst. Ali says fine, but she is zero bad. Hmmmm….

We see Los Arcos and can guess that Meno is in a hotel still in Guadalajara. This is certainly not random because of it’s inscription declaring Guadalajara the hospitable city and that an enjoyable stay is a guaranteed return. Meno’s not going to get far I surmise. He flashes back to his days of "parenting" Chava and cries profusely. Very tender moments. Poor Meno.

Back at Santi’s house it’s time for Chava’s bedtime (notice Santi does this, not Mari, the woman) and he gets to sleep in one of Santi’s shirts, of course it’s waaay too big, and this is so cute and they discuss the finer points of what makes a heart good versus bad. Honestly, I think he couldn’t really hear a heart through all that Bubi, and well, that’s what makes her bad, wink.

Candi reads the letter that basically says Meno doesn’t want to burden her with having to raise her son around a gay and that with love for her he’s left to make it easier on them. She calls him again and note, she asks yet again for something, not to leave her alone. Nice.

Chava and Santi also discuss the bedwetting and Santi tells him if it happens, to let him know and he’ll take care of it and that accidents happen. We had some comments about this bed wetting and possible causes and I like that the adults are very understanding and not stressing him out about it, but I still can’t help thinking this poor child needs some medical attention, physical or mental, to help him over this hurdle. That or they shouldn’t be handing him tequila shots before bedtime!! Adorable scene indeed. Santi tells him a story of him having to take his Roci to the bathroom and of course is first thought is to take her to the ladies room, but that upset the other ladies when he went in, and so when he took her to the men's, well it was disgusting, so while he was trying to figure out what to do, poor Roci let loose on herself and all over him and it looked like both of them wet themselves!!! OK, really, I’m echoing the sentiment we’ve heard, really what is it with all this pipi humor. I hope there’s a moral or a point or some sort of tie in at the end!

When Santi comes downstairs it turns out that Meno has come to ask him a big favor. Santi comes down, glad to know Meno is ok. He says he didn’t come to the party because he didn’t want to meet up with Candy.

Candi goes to yell at Sole for making her uncle leave. She doesn’t care about Serrat only her Uncle. She tells Sole not to say those things anymore, besides just how people don’t understand Meno, they might not understand how it is that Beto and Chava have the same Dad. Good point.

Santi talks to Meno who appears to be getting drunker by the minute. Meno asks if Santi likes his niece, he says much and that she made him a believer again, not in God but in love. They discuss how he got used to no one bugging him about where he put his socks or that he snores, but Meno says Candi hates snoring. Meno tells him not to let her go. He tells that he read Santi’s astrological cards and he’s got two paths, one with his girlfriend but the other is with his heart and that is Candi. Anyway, we know Meno likes the two of them together.

Candi calls Santi and learns Tio is there.

Pat has a dream that he sees Candi and tells her he still loves her and she’s all he cares about despite Ali and they kiss.. He wakes up with Ali there.

Santi is now drunk and professes he’s scared to be with her. I think they have switched to Jalisco’s finest instead of wine. Meno asks how he could be scared if he looks for her all the time. He says because he loves it when she yells and even when she bites her lip when she’s nervous. He says they play a cat and mouse game. Just then Candi shows up.

He tells Meno he did trick him, but he’s leaving them alone. Candi and Meno hug and make up. Oh yeah, and cry. He says he messed her make-up, but he put on none today himself because he was too depressed. On the balcony Santi and Donato contemplate why men flee marriage but do everything to get it, Santi replies that a single man is the only incomplete animal, and Donato remarks in that case marriage is the whole animal?

I think the theme here is dark suits with red ties. Now Pato is wearing one and Charly and Santi wore the same thing for the party, and well our president wore the same thing yesterday. Hmm.


Pato is in Santi’s office and they are discussing that he dreamed about his dead wife. Santi wonders her name? Candi. Pato tells all the virtues of her and Santi agrees knowingly, until he catches himself. Pato tells the whole sister kissing story. Santi says yeah, you have to forget this chic, in fact you and your wife should move far away. Really far away, the farthest, to get away from all of this. He picks up the phone to make them reservations even. He recommends Spain because they love Mexicans and there are a lot of lawyers there. Pato says he’s staying then because he’s not a lawyer.

Rocio is forced by Beto and Chava to decide which "boyfriend" she wants to keep.

Santi continues his discussion with Pato and is surprised to learn that she always said yes to Pato and never fought him or yelled at him or gave him guff. Anyway, he calls this an obsession that he needs to get over.

Charly wants to know why his parents split up. Meno asks him if he really is prepared to know the truth. All we get initially is that it was his fault because he fell in love with another person. Charly looks interested.

Santi tells Candi that Pat dreamed of her last night. She wants to know how he knew this happened and Santi tells of their chat. She thinks Pat is dreaming about a ghost because she is dead to him. Santi presses on and tells her Pat loves her, and he’s not in peace because of her death. She says good it was his fault. Santi tells her she should give him a chance to listen to him and that he really loves her. Candi is a bit impactada.

Chaya tries to demonstrate that a housewife is worth something. 11200 pesos to be exact. He says yes, but they don’t charge. She says maybe they don’t charge, but they have value and so you either pay me for what I do or you let me work and we hire someone. This plea has fallen on deaf ears again. He reminds her how much she has to do.

Meno continues to Charly that he was a bit egotistical, but he never forgot his son. He reminds him that he wouldn’t have been happy with unhappy parents but he never meant to leave him. He says he didn’t leave for another women, just fell in love with another person in a relationship that didn’t last long. But they split up and if it was up to him, he never would have left Charly alone.

Back at school Abue comes to pick up Roci so she has to decide quickly who is the novio, so she does eeny meeny miny mo and chooses Beto. Abue says this is silly, you can’t choose a boyfriend when you are hungry, so this will have to wait and she escorts Roci off. The boys fight about who she chose.

Pat takes off to go to Beto’s soccer match when Ali comes in. She asks to go with him that she won’t get in his way. He laughs and says she doesn’t know how not to and besides she hates soccer. She chides that he always brought Candi, and he says well Candi loved soccer. When really pushed of course Ali would rather be hanging around that luxurious office than going to see the Chivas on the weekend and she agrees not to go. Instead she makes an appointment with the plastic doctor for today. Nice.


Lulu is pushing this love thing with Meno and coordinates Zamora to sing to Tio Meno the song, Wake up my Sweet Love :

Despierta dulce amor de mi vida
despierta si te encuentras dormida
escucha mi voz vibrar bajo tu ventana
en esta cancion te vengo a entregar el alma
Perdona que interrumpa tu sueno
pero no pude mas
y esta noche te vine a decir
te quiero
Despierta dulce amor de mi vida
despierta si te encuentras dormida
escucha mi voz vibrar bajo tu ventana
en esta cancion te vengo a entregar el alma
Perdona que interrumpa tu sueno
pero no pude mas
y esta noche te vine a decir
te quiero
Te quiero, te quiero, te adoro


Candi notices and comments on the fact that yes Lulu appears to be flirting and or courting him. She essentially tells him he hides his sexual preference fairly well so she might not even realize it.


Still talking to the invisible maid, Ali is in front of the plastic doctor’s office on the phone. As she is parked exactly in front of the entrance, an amazing feat pulled off only by telenovela actors who have incredible parking karma, in her rear view mirror she spots someone getting out of a taxi that just pulled up. She wants to be sure what she saw, so she watches this person go in the building and up the glass elevator. Without taking off her huge designer sunglasses to get a better look, she asks if that was Candi. We’ll have to wait until next time to learn if she catches her.

Wagers anyone? What are the odds statistically….? Well, even if she does figure it out, she’d probably be in agreement to keep it from Pato for obvious reasons, not the least of which would be to keep her husband, and even more of which, as something to blackmail Candi, so maybe we are in luck with at least another person learning the gig is up. Slowly but surely the house of cards will tumble. I only hope the little kids aren’t playing Fort in it when it does. :)

Labels: Tontas