Caray, Caray!

Labels: barbara

Previews: Nanda wants to take Sole to the hospital, but Sole wants to stay in her house. Gardenia tells Nanda that Eduardo is supposed to arrive at anytime. Outside, Ed says he doesn’t want to see Nanda at his mother’s house.

New stuff: Barb is talking to Cigarman, she tells him Soledad is close to death. He says that’s why they need to watch her even more closely now, so that she takes his secret to her grave.

Soledad is in her living room with all concerned parties, minus Eddie. Nanda wants to hang out longer, but Soledad wants to rest. She tells Nanda that if she wants to see her at her wedding she has to rest. Nanda then asks Sole about Eddie and explains to Damian who Eddie is. Soledad tells her not to worry about these things, and now she wants to rest. Warm goodbyes between Sole and Nanda ensue. She assures Gardenia, Jacinto and Margarita she’ll be fine and doesn’t need anyone to stay with her. Everyone leaves. Enter TBLMOE, who still hasn’t taken his Snoopy scarf or his muddy jeans off. Soledad tries to get Eddie to leave and go back to New York, and says if he doesn’t a tragedy will happen. He wants to know what she’s talking about, but she says all she can tell him is that he has to get out of there and never return. FC puts on his very best concerned and worried face.

Note: I’m with all of you that don’t like Fernanda’s eyebrows. They make her look mean. So far, I think Gardenia is the prettiest one of the bunch.

Prisila is in a snit with gross Anibal and about Barb calling her a traitor to her own family. Prisila says the only reason she doesn't make Barb tell her the truth about why she called Prisila a traitor to her family is because one day Anibal is going to be the father of her son. He says, “Yeah, I love you too.” She proceeds to strip down to her negligee and tells him he betters perform his obligations as a husband and make her a baby. He’s not bitin’ and she tells him if he doesn’t do his part as a hubby, she’s not going to do her part as a wifey. He tells her to do whatever she wants and walks out.

Nanda thanks Damian for going with her to see Soledad, that she’s the closest thing to a mother that she has. She says goodnight, he goes to leave, gets in the car and Creepy Barby takes him by surprise and tells him his “work” for the day isn’t finished. He’s tells her she scared the bejeezus out of him and she tells him she likes that. After a biting (literally) kiss, they leave. [Lucero is doing a great job at being one creepy witch. Someone said she has those “dead” eyes and it’s true. She looks like the female terminator and Sendel looks like a Maskatron – anybody remember that toy Maskatron from the ‘70’s?] She says let’s go where I can give you one of the best “despedidas soltero” (bachelor party) he could ever have. Yuck.


Jacinto tells Ed that the best medicine for Soledad would be for Eddie to take her away from there. Ed says he came back for two things: to see his mother and to ask Fernanda to marry him, but now that’s impossible. Now he only wants to get his mother better, and he’s going to take her to the best hospital in Mexico and never return. Jacinto leaves. Mama is coughing badly. He picks her up and says they’re leaving, but she won’t let him. He puts her back on the bed. She tells him it’s not that she doesn’t want to go with him, but that her time is finished. He’s devastated to think she might die.

Nanda is in her room looking at the charm Eddie gave her as a child. She’s sure he’s found love with another woman by now, and besides she’s going to marry Damian, the man that loves her. She puts the necklace back in the jewelry box.

Barb and Damian are making out in the car, in what looks like a field somewhere and talk about being caught by her husband and his girlfriend, but they don’t care.

Sole tells Eddie her heart broke every time he told her in his letters he wanted to come home. He tells her to rest, that “manana es para . . .” She interrupts and she tells him there’s no more time and she has to tell him what’s happened. She starts with telling him that Liliana is keeping a terrible secret. She explains how Liliana knows that Barb killed Montse and that Barb has managed to have Liliana locked up and drugged in the insane asylum. Barbara managed to get Don Gonzalo to believe that it was Liliana that killed Montse. She goes on to say she’s been posing as a volunteer named “Cruz” all these years in order to visit her. Nanda has gone each week to see her also and bring flowers. Eduardo asks why doesn’t Fernanda get her sister out of there and she tells him that Barb has gotten the Director of the asylum to declare Liliana insane. Sole tells him Barb wanted to “finish” her too, and that she’s done it. Eduardo begs his mother to tell him the secret, but she tells him she’s too weak and wants to sleep. She tells him to remember that Liliana holds the secret in her power of all the bad things that have happened. She tells him she’s tired and wants to sleep, and Eddie lets his mother rest.

At what looks like the community center or whatever that place is that they’re supposedly building, Barb comes in and is talking with Anibal about the powdered milk, and the possibility of him spending a lot of time in jail for it. He says nobody is ever going to find out that they’ve bought a shipment of milk that is “caduca” (expired). Barb says meanwhile they have to find a safe place to sell it and keep Fernanda from finding out. He says Fernanda is busy with her wedding. I’m not getting the whole selling the expired milk thing. My beanie must have a short in the wiring.

Fernanda is asleep but dreams about having a conversation with Soledad about getting married tomorrow and Soledad says look, here comes your prometido (fiancé), who happens to turn out to be the mysterious man she encountered yesterday. She’s woken up by a text message from Damian saying he can’t sleep because he’s thinking about her. She wonders why she had a dream about kissing that mysterious guy. Note to Fernanda: because he’s HOT!!!!

Eddie is remembering his chance encounter with Nanda on the road when he arrived, while he stares at the engagement ring. He holds his mother’s hand at her bedside and says soon they’ll leave. Soledad is asleep. He spends most of the night pacing, thinking . . . he tells his mother she has to confide the secret in him and he’ll do whatever he can to protect her. He cries for his mother.

Next day Eddie wakes up sleeping by his mother’s side. The window blows open by itself (never a good sign), the sun shines in on Soledad’s face. Slowly, Eddie realizes his mother has passed away in her sleep. He’s overcome with grief.

Liliana wakes up with a jolt in the asylum, screaming, almost as if she knows that her Nana is dead. Eddie sobs for his mother. I don’t mind men crying at all, especially under circumstances like this, but honestly, this wasn’t Colunga’s best moment – too much high-pitched whimpering for my taste. Liliana cries, “No!” Eddie cries and holds his dead mother.

Jacinto arrives at Sole’s cottage, lets himself in and finds Eduardo grief stricken. Eduardo tells him Soledad is dead.

Liliana gets up and goes to leave her hospital room, but some hospital thug and Nurse Ratchet catch her and shoot her up with drugs again, while she screams for her Nana and something about them waiting for her in the garden. She’s unconscious again.

Jacinto wants to know what happened and Eddie tells him Sole couldn’t take all the pain. Jacinto looks out the window and sees the Barbinator coming. Eddie is pissed that woman is coming to his mother’s house. Barb knocks on the door. Jacinto goes outside instead of letting Barb in. She asks how Soledad is. Jacinto tells her she’s gone on to a better life. Barb wants to know who else knows, and he tells her nobody does. Barb is pissed off that Soledad has picked this moment to die. Eddie hears this from inside and literally breaks a glass in his bare hand – he bleeds and is furious. Barb says she doesn’t want the happiest day of Fernanda’s life ruined by a funeral and that Jacinto needs to keep his mouth shut or she’ll throw him out of his house. If he does this favor for her she’ll be grateful the rest of Jacinto’s life. Looks like Jacinto’s going to be sick, but Babs is pretty pleased with herself.

Prisila is on the treadmill. Gross Anibal comes out of the shower. They bicker again. She says she’s going to tell her family the truth about the Elizalde’s using powdered milk. I don’t think she knows the milk is “expired” though.

Gardenia goes running up the stairs and runs into Barb, who thinks Jacinto has told her about Soledad dying and that Gardenia’s going to tell Fernanda. Barb spills the beans to Gardenia, but then realizes that Gardenia didn’t already know until she opened her big Barbinator mouth. She tells Gardenia to keep her mouth shut or Jacinto will lose his house.


Eddie wants to go along with Barb’s plan. He says Jacinto can’t defend himself against Barb. Eddie tells him what Soledad told him about Liliana being in the insane asylum and that Barb killed Montse. Eddie says Barb killed his mother and made her suffer for 15 years, and because of that they’re going to do exactly what Barb says. Eddie looks like he’s planning revenge. Jacinto can’t believe what he’s hearing.

Previews: Barb tells Cigarman Soledad is dead. Cigarman tells Barb she must not let Eduardo assist with Soledad’s funeral. Eduardo says he’s going to spend every minute of his life getting back at the Elizalde family.

Labels: manana

Well, we had a sizzling episode tonight. Not as hot as we were led to believe, of course. But someone got lucky: it just wasn't Patricio and Candy. Here's how things panned out.

We start with a lovely shot of sky over Guadalajara and then descend into the mess that people make of their lives. In this case, Eduardo and Chayo. Lalo's still thinking he can wriggle out of his latest amorous escapade but Hortensia is giving him some straight talk. To his weak excuse of "I'm just a man" she sneers, If you were REALLY a man, you'd be faithful to one woman.

Don't think he got the message yet...but it was delivered.

And speaking of infidelity...we're back with Patricio and Candy. Tender, brushup one-lipped kisses again, deepening now, becoming more passionate, her dress lies on the floor, they're wrapped in each others arms...they're....dang, it was just Patricio's imagination! Candy's looking at his spacey face, asking him where he's "gone" and he replies artfully, I was dreaming of what our life together could have been. Beautiful. Good. Like you.

Santiago, "Bachelor No. 2" is looking at himself sadly in the mirror and then again at the cellphone photo Meño took of Candy and Patricio together. Very sad indeed.

Back to our couple. Pato confesses he has a secret. C- What, another son!? P- No, another key.C- I might have known! How dare you! P- Yes, it was a trick. I needed a chance to be with you. You won't forgive me will you. C-Take these handcuffs off.

Now this deserves a special paragraph because Candy FINALLY asks forgiveness. Now it's my turn to talk, she begins. Forgive me for having lied to you for so many years. And for having kept you from your son. Once when he asked about you I showed him a picture of a rival (to Pato's team) soccer player. P-Noooo! C-I really hurt you. They conclude by realizing the one they really need forgiveness from now is not each other....but their son.

I just wanted to jump up and down. I loved this scene. There was honesty, accountability, tenderness, forgiveness....it was great. Worth waiting for. Others may react differently but for me this was the highlight of the evening.

Santiago, however, is not having such a good night. Still involved with his mirror and going over the conversation with Meño. Finally he decides to call Candy. Gets her answering machine. Starts to leave a message and then decides he doesn't really have anything to say.

Alicia, on the other hand, has plenty to say. She's threatening to expose her father-in-law as "un ladron de guante blanco" (literally a white-gloved robber. we'd say "white collar criminal"). He's unfazed until she mentions jail and then asks tersely what she wants. Money? No, she has plenty of that with his very successful son. But she wants Patricio back, and Candy out of the picture.

More nefarious doings, with Marissa setting up a spycam videorecorder in Candy's office. The technician assures her it will only take a couple of hours to install and she can see and hear everything that happens on her computer at home. More fun for our Mariloca.

Gregoria, who's gradually becoming more "simpatica" (likeable) is offering Meño some of her insurance money if it will help him hold on to the restaurant. And Zamora and Toño are marching around holding placards and shouting Resist! Resist! Those two were born premature, muses Gregoria. Virgin brains.

Gals, have you ever cleaned house when you were really really mad? I have and that's exactly what Chayo's doing as she grapples with her fury at Lalo. Just about scrubbing the top layer off the credenza that holds the photos of her and her husband. Finally slips the picture out of one of the frames, hestitates, and then slowly rips it apart. It's in shreds...like her heart. Eduardo blows in with his usual excuses....It was nothing. She meant nothing to me. You know I love you etc. Chayo firmly answers Thanks for shattering the love I had for you. He's undeterred and picks up the photo pieces, planning to glue them back together. Guess he thinks he can do the same thing with the relationship. Not a fast learner, our Lalo.

Back to the Love Shack. Candy's nibbling on fruit....smiling dreamily. Pato's in the bath, offering to share the tub. Nothin' doin' so he comes out, all snuggly in a towel robe and admits he's not sorry for the trick because it was a wonderful night. Indeed it was, she agrees. Hmmmm. He also lets her know he's not living with Alicia anymore, but has moved to a hotel.

At the Institute, the women are all talking excitedly about the radio program and the possibilities. But no salsa and no horoscopes from Meño, insists Marissa. This is going to be women helping women.

The comic relief is still marching around with their Resist placards. When Meño wonders why they're so over the top, Zamora mentions the children. Does he have any? No....but some day. Toño is left to ponder what it means when someone says roll up the placard and put it.....er....somewhere....

Candy and Patricio are still talking. Did you leave Alicia for me...or for you? For both, is the reply. She's looking at her cellphone and realizing that Santiago called but didn't leave a message but Pato recaptures her attention by handing her a thick sheaf of papers and saying....for eight years, here's what I wote....about you...what I felt, the hurt, how much I loved you, how much I missed you.

Will Candy read it? Will it change things? Who knows? In the meantime, the fabulous spycam is installed and a happy Marissa is asking, Check or cash? (cheque o effectivo) And we break for ads.

Hortensia is snuggled up to Santiago, vowing that she can't work for Eduardo anymore after what he's done. But you don't work for him, you work for me, replies Santi, wrapping an arm around her shoulder. And Lalo really regrets what he's done. Hortensia looks at his sad face and asks him what's wrong. Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose, he answers....and this time I lost.

Another losing lover is our Donato, hauling in a gazillion plastic shopping bags and complaining. Tina's not buying it. Her husband could go shopping with her if it's such a "chore"!....and just what are you doing with her picture in your jacket pocket!? Donato looks like he's going to deny, deny, deny.

Another lovelorn person....Soledad. She's fending off Zamora who's trying to collect on that dinner she promised. Instead, she picks up the cellphone that Pato gave Beto and calls....guess who?

Patricio and Alicia are having a little throwdown, but not the fun kind. He's protesting her treatment of his clothes (all over the floor and the stairs) and she's grabbing his cellphone when she hears it ringing. He protests that the phone call is from Beto and besides it's none of her business. She's still trying to negotiate a détente, promising to pick up his clothes and visit Beto with him if he'll just stay. No, no and no.

More splits. Lalo's gluing the picture back together while Chayo demands a divorce and that he move out of the house. No way. I pay for this place and I'm not leaving is his reply.

Meño and Candy are talking. She's feeling bad about Patricio leaving Alicia. He's feeling bad because he's got to deliver the bad news that they're going to be out on the street. Impactada look from Candy.

Meanwhile, Santiago's at Marissa's apartment, trying to talk himself into the relationship again. Although he hasn't heard a word she's said about the new radio deal for the Institute, he bravely says that" when we marry, we'll be very happy". Marissa agrees, says she loves him and begins suctioning his lips. (These were truly ugly kisses. That's all I can say.)

The sad conversation between Candy and Meño continues. She's all "we'll start over". He's all "it's too late for me". Fuera dolor! she replies. I can't help you with anything, he muses to himself. Foreshadowing? I hope not. We break for ads again.

Well, it's evidently après l'amour at Marissa's. Santiago, seemingly nude, answers the phone when Candy calls. Marissa can't come to the phone, she's in the shower after making mad passionate love. Oh, sorry, is this Santiago? I thought it was Juan Pablo. He was there the last time I called. (wicked move Candy). Santiago seems to take this seriously for a while whereas Marissa, fresh from the shower, thinks he's talking about the last Pope.

Well if Santiago has no reason for jealousy (with Marissa anyway) Chayo sure does. Even though Lalo is dismissing her feelings as unimportant....because the affair was unimportant. Candy is right! Men can only keep one promise, fumes Chayo, to be faithful to infidelity!

A simple affair is not the end of the world, replies her husband. Well, I have something to confess, adds Chayo quietly. A month ago when I was feeling bad, I went to see Santiago, and one thing led to another....(Lalo's getting agitated)...and he rang the bell like he does, you know, for a very "special patient"...(Lalo's turning red) and.... Before she can go any further, he grabs her and shrieks, YOU MEAN YOU CHEATED ON ME WITH MY BEST FRIEND!!!??? No, replies Chayo smoothly....I was just showing you that "betrayal is not more or less serious". It's betrayal. And I want you and your stuff out of here.

Eduardo mutters that his wife has gone crazy. And Lulu is saying the same thing....about Zamora and Toño. They're posing now as handicapped ragged beggars and reminding her that they're in trouble if they have no food. She has "reserves". Are you saying that because I'm fat!!?? No, howls Zamora. I'm saying it because you also have your job at the Institute.

Candy and Marissa are talking about the rental problem. Marissa proposes asking Raúl for help but Candy nixes that idea. She's going to try and work out something with the landlord. And another ad.

When we come back, Eduardo's in Santiago's office and Santi's trying to make him see reason. Chayo's right to throw him out. You have a compulsion to go after every skirt that passes, adds his pal. But I love Chayo, protests her bewildered husband. Suddenly Candy bursts in the room and tells him he has a a patient waiting....er, no, not Candy but Hortensia. Our doctor plastico realizes he's in a bad way, he's seeing Candy everywhere.

Candy, in the meantime, is having a very hard time being seen by Señor Brivieska. His secretary keeps putting her off saying he doesn't have time and there's somebody else interested in renting the properties. Superwoman Candy finds a way out. She asks the window washer outside if he can give her a lift (aventon) rides up and bangs on the window, is helped in by the nervous landlord/nasty son and before you can say Jack Rabbit has negotiated a rental agreement. All the gals cheer her like the heroine she is. (alas, the restaurant price was too high. that problem remains unresolved).

Soledad and Patricio. He's come to see Beto. She admits the message was actually from her. She confesses she was hoping he'd leave Alicia for her. And yes, she knows he loves Candy. But he stopped loving Alicia. Maybe he'll also stop loving Candy. She misses him. She's lonely. I'll compress this painful scene. He assures her he wants to protect both her and Beto. But he loves Candy. We were fine before Candy came along, she reminds him. He asks her forgiveness....repeatedly...but again, firmly tells her that he loves Candy. Candy is the love of his life. He kisses her on the forehead and leaves. A tear rolls down her cheek. Alone again.

Pato's dad has gone to Gregoria to ask her help in muzzling Alicia. (I wish you luck there, hombre). He tells her, without going into detail, that Alicia has copies of documents that could ruin him if they got out.

A happier scene with the cluster of "Institutas" gathered around Candy, proclaiming her the Reina Gay for having pulled off the rental agreement. They all troop off to have a cup of coffee as celebration. Where's the tequila?

Not so happy a scene at Chayo and Eduardo's. She arrives home expecting to find him gone and instead he's watching soccer with his Iron John buddies. They ignore her. She stands in front of the tv and tells him to get out. She wants a divorce. It's my home and I paid for it, he snarls. I'm not leaving. She calls him "venadito" which I guess can mean someone who plays hooky. He addresses her as "chaparrito" which means shorty. These are clearly not pet love names for each other. So this is a declaration of war, she concludes. Yeah, he says, returning to his group and the tv, yelling "Goal!" and completely ignoring her. Very ugly scene. I thought there was some chance of Eduardo being redeemed. Now I'm not so sure. Ugly ugly ugly.

More uglies at Alicia and Pato's apartment. Alicia's exercising again( her favorite way to deal with stress...no housecleaning for her thank you very much) while Gregoria tries to persuade her to stop pressuring Pato's father. You know I never mattered to you, yells Alicia. You're living with my sister...and both you and she are garbage!

Pow! Mom slaps her a good one. And that's our show for tonight. Mostly ugly. Hot, but not in a good way. And who knows where it all will lead?

Previews: Isabella is telling Santiago why he sees Candy everywhere. Because she's only in one place....his heart. Patricio seems to be gaining ground with Candy and when she gets a phone call from Santiago saying he wants to be with her, Pato grabs the phone.

Vocabulary:

desalojar = to evict, to clear out
Dios aprieta pero no ahorca = literally, God pressures but doesn't choke. In other words, God never gives you more than you can handle.
estar in el mismo barca = to be in the same boat
un ladron de guante blanco = lit. kid glove robber. white collar criminal
no dejar a alguien ni a sol ni a sombra =not to give someone a moment's rest
aventon = a lift, a ride
additional vocabulary embedded

Labels: Tontas

In the kitchen, Tina discovers Isabel’s picture in Don’s jacket pocket, and she wonders why he carries it.

Speaking of jacket pockets, Alicia sneaks the safe combination back into Pato’s wallet, and she returns it to his jacket just as he’s entering the room. He’s packing his bags and moving into a hotel. He asks why she wants to talk to his dad. She changes the subject and begs him not to leave her. Pat retrieves the manila envelope from the safe and looks carefully at how it was closed. Does he notice something amiss?

Limber Alicia has gone fetal. I just wonder how she can wrap her arms around her knees. Her boobs must feel like they’re in a mammogram squash! Crying, she again begs Pat not to leave, but he patiently persists. She asks if it was because of the photos she gave Marissa (Candy and Santiago in an intense kiss). No, it’s for a thousand things. She reverts to extortion: if he leaves, she could kill herself. How does one answer such a threat from someone who is emotionally unstable? Does he yield to the extortion and remain her prisoner? Does he ignore the threat and convince himself that it’s her problem, not his? Does he remove all the sharp objects and hire a bodyguard? Does he try to reason with someone who is unreasonable? He goes for her soft spot. “Don’t ever say that. It really upsets me when you say that.” He tries his best to be gentle but firm, like a mother leaving a clingy child with a babysitter.

While the boys are playing, Soledad asks Candy if Beto can spend the night there. Candy asks if she has a date or something, but Sol dodges. My friends tell me that in Mexico it is very uncommon for kids to sleep over at a friend’s house.

Santiago walks into the restaurant and finds his buddy and father figure, Meño, drinking alone. Meño says it hurts so bad, even breathing is painful. His best friend died. Remembering the old times, Meño recalls that his friend always wanted to write for telenovelas. The son is throwing Meño out on the street like a dog, and the institute too. Santiago offers to help in any way he can. In the next scene, Meño is more drunk, singing the blues alone. What happened to Santi?

Pat shows up to take Candy for their magical day (I thought Chava was included; I guess not). She is dressed to the nines, and he is suitably overwhelmed by her beauty. Candy hopes it doesn’t rain (like their last magic day), and Pat says, “No le eches la sal al día” (don’t jinx the day). Pat has rented a country home with a beautiful formal garden. Candy is enchanted by it all. They gaze at each other significantly. Candy should have paid more attention to her fairy tales. No, Gretel, no! Not the gingerbread cottage! There’s a wicked witch inside, and a steel trap!!!

Alicia the Desperate is throwing a tantrum and throwing Pato’s clothes. She flashes back to the night of his bachelor party. Sorry, folks, I have no pity to spare on Alicia. Her chickens have come home to roost. Her plot was to ruin her sister’s happiness by ruining her marriage. She fell into her own trap and received the agony she planned to give her sister. And what has she learned from all this? “I hate you, Candy.” That’s the litmus test for telenovela villains. When they suffer for their own sins, they turn in one of two directions. A. Some examine their lives and try to figure out why they’re suffering. Those people repent at the end and either find love or die a heroic death saving someone sweet and innocent., as V. Lanus did in Alborada. B. Others respond to the chastisement by swearing revenge and becoming more devious. You just know those folks have a date with the pie cart of scorpions!

In the gingerbread cottage at the edge of the forest, Candy sees the bed covered with rose petals, and she remembers when she made love with Pat on her 18th birthday. Disturbed by it all, she wants to leave. Pardon me, folks. Pat is trying win the heart of someone who is injured and incredibly gun-shy. In what universe is it a good idea to put up a flashing neon sign that says, “I plan to get you into my bed”??? He doesn’t understand why she wants to leave, and he tells her the rose petals covering the bed don’t have any significance. That falls into the same category as:
The check is in the mail.
This won’t hurt a bit.
It’s not my pot; I was holding it for a friend.
I’ll respect you in the morning.
I’m not lying.
Then he has the gall to ask, “Why don’t you trust me?” She refuses to reconsider; she’s leaving. So he does what any normal obsessive maniac stalker would do: he handcuffs Candy to himself. Because he loves her so much, of course. I’m surprised he didn’t chain her to the rose-covered bed, but the night is young. Maybe Pat has some rapist’s fantasy that if he can just force her into bed, she will be completely devoted to him forever after. Candy looks very worried, as well she should.

In the operating room, Santiago tells Ed that Candy’s landlord wants to evict her. Meño tells Charly the same thing.

Lucía accompanied Charly for a blood test because he wants to donate blood for a friend’s operation. She’s impressed by his gallantry and showers him with kisses. He’d rather she show her admiration in more intimate ways, but she flutters away.

Jorge has come to talk to Soledad while Beto is at Candy’s (while Candy is handcuffed to Pat in the bondage cottage). Jorge was hoping to see Beto. Even though he’s not the bio dad, Beto is still very important to him. That’s why he hasn’t even shown his face in a few months.

Candy tells Pat, “You promised me a magic day, and the only magic I see has four legs and is called a bed. This isn’t what I call magic.” She asks him to remove the handcuffs (esposas) so she can leave, and he refuses. She’s getting more worried about how this magic day will turn out. They struggle over the key, and he “accidentally” throws it out the conveniently open window. Later the workman reports that he couldn’t find the key. Candy calls her house but Meño’s not home. She tells Gregoria that Pat handcuffed her; Suegrita hangs up on her. I’m thinking she should call Santiago and let the boys “talk” it out.

I’m finding this storyline so repulsive, I don’t even want to think about it. I beg your indulgence; for the most part I’ll report the facts and nothing else for the rest of this situation. I’ll leave it to you readers to rant about it.

Pat reminds Candy of their first time together. On the phone, the locksmith tells Pat he can’t come out because they are on strike. At least that’s what Pat reports to Candy. She feels the need for a call-of-nature break. (How is it that in 80 episodes of Star Trek, nobody ever went to the bathroom, yet in Tontas there are at least two potty references in every episode?) Over dinner, Pat points out that things will be much easier when they live together without the handcuffs. Pat’s lines: I suffered so much without you. Candy’s lines: you slept with other women, even Soledad while we were planning the wedding.

Chayo tells Bárbara that Ed has really turned around. He comes home early every night. Barb suggests they take a mini-vacation this week, but Chayo says they can’t. Ed has an anesthesiologist conference in Cancun.

The abandonados are playing video games at the clubhouse. Ed brags that he’s been going home to his wife every single night (what does he want, a Dewey button?). Santi speculates, if he’s so faithful, why did invent a Cancun surgery conference? Amid blowing up Klingons, Metiche Raúl asks Santi whether he will keep his promise to give up Candy. Santi suggests that this is neither the time nor the place for this subject. Raúl says he would like to close that chapter and go forward with his life (e.g. pursue Candy?). Santi tells him that no one has yet been born who can tell him how to live his life. They tussle, and Carlos tells them no fighting in the clubhouse, at least not until they can lay bets. Santi leaves in a huff, and Sven is about to lay into Raúl for messing with his buddy.

Barb stops by Chayo’s while Ed is at the clubhouse. Barb says she looked into it; there is no conference in Cancun. Chayo realizes that Ed is back to his old ways.

Pat and Candy are drinking wine by the fire, and he’s flattering her for her beauty. Anger gone, she is charmed by it all. (Note, when Santiago rented a restaurant for a private date and flattered her, she accused him of just trying to get her to bed. When Pat holds her prisoner, covers the bed with rose petals, and flatters her, she thinks he’s charming. Es el colmo – it’s the limit.) He asks her to tell him about when Chava was born.

Now it’s morning. They slept on cushions on the floor, with Pat’s jacket over Candy’s shoulders, and Pat behind Candy spoon-style. How did Pat remove his jacket while in handcuffs? Pat says he spent the night gazing at Candy. Candy calls Meño and asks him to get a locksmith. When he arrives, he reports that he couldn’t find a locksmith either. He teases them about spending the night together, and he snaps their picture. Meño leaves, hangs a Do Not Disturb sign on the door, and bribes the workman to not let anyone disturb the lovebirds. Whose side is he on, anyway?

Class, let’s review, shall we? Santiago’s idea of a magical date involves dancing in the moonlight to the sound of a renown singer who magically appears, and Candy is regaled by stories of legendary lovers linked eternally by destiny. Pat’s idea of a magical date involves holding Candy prisoner away from civilization, regaled by stories of how miserable and desperate Pat is. And Candy is CONFUSED??? She can’t decide which is a better choice? Give this girl a Nobel Prize for Stupid! And while we’re at it, considering Santiago’s choice of Paulina, Marissa, and Candy, I say he deserves the premio for Worst Taste in Women. But Televisa doesn’t give premios based on merit, as he well knows.

Raúl grumbles to a buddy that Santiago is still chasing Candy, and Raúl wants her for himself. The buddy counsels Raúl that Mar is a big girl; Raul should let her solve her problems herself. Likewise his fruitless desire for Candy – he needs to let that go too. The buddy has something to distract Raúl. It’s a new venture: partnership in a radio program. It could be very lucrative. (Does anyone recognize the buddy? Was he Ascanio in Pasion?) Marissa is delighted at the thought of her own radio program, until Raúl points out one little problem – it’s for Marissa and Candy. The more he describes the venture, the more he talks about Candy. And the more Marissa gets annoyed. She suggests (or demands?) that instead of getting Candy radio shows, he should conquistarla so she leaves Santiago alone.

In surgery, Ed asks Santi for private use of the recovery room that afternoon. He has a date and doesn’t want to take her to the clubhouse because taking a girl to an apartment for a first date seems a bit too presumptuous, even to a cad like Ed. Santiago suggests the couch. “The one in your consultorio?” Ed asks.

“No, the one in your own apartment, with your own wife, where you belong!” Santi tells Ed he’s a hopeless case; he’ll never learn.

Speaking of people who don’t learn from their mistakes, Meño shows Santiago the photo and tells him that Candy spent the night with her ex-widower. She’s doing this as a desperate attempt to forget Santiago, he explains. He wants Santiago to get jealous and angry enough to amarrárse los calzones (hitch up his knickers, put on the big boy panties) and actually take action to win Candy before it’s too late. Meño makes sure Santi gets a good close look at the picture. “Doesn’t she look content?” Santi suggests, “Le está echando mucho crema a sus tacos” – you’re embellishing the story quite a bit. If he wants to get Santi angry, it’s working. The question is, will the anger lead to action or will Santi just give up?

Chayo comes to the clinic to talk to Ed. Hortensia wants to announce her, but Chayo says she’ll surprise him. Boy Howdy, does she! Ed is in consultation with a patient. Consultation includes smothering himself in her neck and pulling down her spaghetti straps. When he sees Chayo, he says, “It’s not what it looks like. I can explain.” And the check is in the mail. And this won’t hurt a bit. And I love your new haircut.

Back at the gingerbread cottage, Pat says, “I love you.”
Candy answers, “You betrayed me.”
Pat repeats, “I love you.”
Candy begs him to stop, because she doesn’t want to suffer again. “Don’t hurt me again.”

Tomorrow:
Pat and Candy share a passionate kiss.
Alicia blackmails Pat’s dad, Arturo.
Santiago is losing his grip.

Vocabulary
echarle la sal a alguien – to jinx someone
echarle mucha crema a sus tacos – to exaggerate a story, or be conceited
amarrárse los calzones - hitch up one’s knickers, quit being a wimp. I confess, Meño did not use that phrase, but it perfectly expresses what he did say.

Labels: Tontas

I'm demoralized, I think here in Chapel Hill the Univision subtitles are never coming back. So I feel pretty inadequate as a recapper these days and if anybody would like to take over, be my guest!

A few thoughts at this, my first viewing of the characters now that they are older, way older. I suggest that all of you who have beanies should dial them to a 25-year time gap rather than 15.

On the other hand, Barbara is doing the Dorian Gray thing - in the attic, no doubt there's a picture of her looking like a scary wrinkled hag, but in the present day she looks like Fernanda's sister...

My only complaint, other than this, is Fernanda's eyebrows, the eyebrows of a villainess, in fact she looks like Alicia in Las Tontas. I just can't warm to her as the ingenue. So sad - I loved the long-ago Fernanda so so much!!

Well, anyway.

• Jacinto and Eduardo are reunited in town; Eduardo gets filled in on the seamy goings-on we've been witnessing. "Why didn't you tell me any of this sooner?" "I didn't have your address or phone number." Ed asks Jacinto not to tell anybody he's back, he wants to operate incognito for a while to scope things out. He's horrified to hear his mother is sick.
  
  
• There's a tussle over powdered milk at the office. Daddy Elizalde is opposed, not because it's illegal or expired or contraband or whatever (because he doesn't know that), but because he fears it will harm the livelihood of the area's small dairies. Barbara and Damian and Anibal and Anibal's wife Priscila are pro-powder.
  
  Anibal and Priscila get sent out of the room. Barbara plies her nigh-infarcted hubby with booze and frightens him with stories of the competition, which I believe includes Priscila's family. "It's go with the powder, or lose your clients..."
  
  
• Fer tells her BFF Erika about the handsome dude she sprayed with mud on the road. With much giggling she moans about his enchanting smile. "He acted as if he knew me... He rattled me a bit when he asked why I was marrying."
  
  She tells Erika her love of Damian is relaxed, mature, not like silly young things with butterflies in their stomachs.
  
  Erika teases Fer for still being a virgin. "It's cause I want a really special wedding night."
  
  
• Erika told Fer she hopes to win back Camilo's love, but I'd guess Camilo's love is not worth the paper it's printed on: he's next seen smooching in a Jacuzzi with some bimbo. [He is the orange-tanned stupid oversexed jerk who was Ludwika's novio (Ludwika who is now Liliana) in 'Niña Amada Mia.' --Ed.] UPDATE: Jarocha pointed out Liliana is actually Dominika Paleta, Ludwikak's sister. Ooops, there are two of them!?
  
  
• The doctor says Soledad has pneumonia compounded by a "tired heart." He doesn't seem hopeful but writes out prescriptions. Jacinto gives the doc 200 pesos and Margarita [who played the sexy sister in Juan Querendón] asks where he got it.
  
  Poor Jacinto, he's not long on brains and is certainly not ready for all the lying Eduardo's expecting him to do! Fact is, it was Ed who gave him the dough, but Jacinto can't say so. "Father Bosco lent it to me."
  
  Margarita goes off for the medicine, Eduardo sneaks into the cottage. Jacinto tells him he's got an hour.
  
  His ma is asleep under her crucifix. He looks at a picture of his parents and whispers, "Papa, don't take Ma away, I need her. She's suffered all these years... She was so happy when I was young..." He's shocked by the changes a quarter-century have made and swears the Elizaldes will pay.
  
  Ma wakes up and says "What are you doing here? You have to go away!" "Let's go away together!" he says sweetly, and they have a tender reunion (at the expense of Jacinto, who is desperately trying to keep Margarita from going back to the cottage and is a rotten liar).
  
  Ed gives his ma her medicine and asks if all this misfortune came from his innocent kiss with Fer. Ma, though she doesn't tell him, remembers Barbara's threat ("Say anything about Artemio Bravo and I'll kill your brat and the Elizalde children just like I offed Montserrat") and desperately asks Ed to stay away from the Big House.
  
  He tells her he's incognito and then goes on with his wistful fantasy: that he and she will go off and live in a house near a lake, with a garden and a boat, and go fishing on the weekends...
  
  She coughs and coughs. "Ma, I'll take you to the hospital!" "No, for what I have there is no cure."
  
  
• The Elizaldes are all lounging around their living room. Santiago has sent them a letter, he'll be back for the wedding. [Did I catch a glimpse of Raul from Las Tontas, aka Meester James, wearing ridiculous curls and a faux ingenuous expression -- is he gonna be Santiago, the youngest son? Oh no, oh no! --Ed.]
  
  Fer reminds her loutish middle brother Camilo that Erika is going to be one of her maids of honor, it's awkward because of Camilo and his bimbos. Fer also sez she wants dear doped-up Liliana and nanny Soledad to sit at the same table at the wedding.
  
  Dad gets up and makes a speech, apologizing for the scene earlier in the day. He thanks Priscila: "You betrayed your family for us." "But we'll never tell, we're discreet" sez Barbara. (There is some complicated wheeling-and-dealing over Barbara's milk scheming, without captions it eluded me.)
  
  There is talk of expanding their operation into the U.S. Fer is worried, like her dad, about the livelihood of the Little Guys. She is mollified when Damian is called on to discuss the plans for some giant mega-center (maybe a community center) they're building. (But the baddies remind each other, "Don't let her anywhere near the site.")
  
  
• The meeting is over; Fer and Damian are leaving but Barbara barks, "Where are you going?" "To see my nanny Soledad, she's sick."
  
  
• Jacinto can't keep Margarita away from the cottage any longer with his feeble stories of soup and Father Bosco, and Gardenia is already banging at the cottage door... Ed, your time is running out... Hearing Gardenia outside, Ed flashes to the letter she gave him when he went away... "Ma, it's not safe to tell Gardenia and Margarita that I'm here, they both go to the Big House."
  
  Soledad realizes Ed is still in love with Fer and is still wearing Fer's communion medallion... She struggles out of bed to answer the door...
  
  
• While driving to Soledad's in their nice car, Fer and Damian encounter Jacinto and Margarita walking down the road. Fer offers them a ride, since they're all going to the same place. (When the others get out, Damian stays behind for a moment to wipe the lower-class coodies off his pristine upper-class back seat.)
  
  These four plus Gardenia converge at the door. Soledad slips out and greets all five in her shawl and jammies. Fer hugs her, they go in the house (except Jacinto, who lurks outside with Eduardo watching through the window as Damian drifts around spying on everything).
  
  "So that's the fiancé!..." Ed sez he doesn't want to see Fer here...
  
  Fer wants to take Soledad to the hospital but Soledad just wants to stay home with her herbs. Fer is impactada to hear that Eduardo will be home soon.

Tomorrow: Liliana is injected with drugs as she screams and sobs, "They're waiting for me in the garden!"

Ed and Fer have a nice juicy kiss -- as do Barbara and Damian.

Labels: manana

Melquíades confesses to the murder of BP and trying to kill Santos. Santos tells the judge that he has no alternative to releasing DB.

The doctor (this actor played a doctor on La Traición, too) tells Antonio that his recommendation is that Lucía have a therapeutic abortion. Antonio asks if there is any alternative. The doctor says no. Lucía refuses. She says that her child will be born. She has to be born.

Melesio says that María Nieves and Altagracia can get married and without delay since he guesses that she she has thrown her bonnet over the windmill as they used to say.

The judge signs DB's release order and tells Santos not to darken his door again. When Santos leaves, the judge says that he is going to have a big problem with the Don.

Melquíades gives DB some advice before he is taken to jail. He tells her that he won't leave her alone for too long and to watch out for the Los Mondragón because they have changed bosses.

El Sapo offers to pay for dresses that Marisela is looking at in a store.

Someone is stealing cattle from Don Encarnación and the trail leads back to El Miedo. DE concludes that DB is responsible.

Marisela throws the dress at Sapo and tells him that he should be glad her boyfriend Santos Luzardo isn't there or he would be arrested for lack of respect. She stomps out calling him a pig.

Santos takes DB back to the hotel. She thinks things are back to the way they were with Santos but he asks her who Fidell Castell is.

Marisela tells herself that she has seen El Sapo's face somewhere before but she can't remember where.

El Sapo is confused about Santos. He says that he wants to get to know him. (I thought he had already put a hit out on Santos.)

DB pretends that she hasn't heard of Fidell Castell. She is saved from having to answer by the appearance of Marisela. DB is impactada. Santos tells DB that Marisela came with him and she will stay with him. DB calles them traitors.

Pajarote calls MN a traitor and MN tells him to hurry up and get his ternera.

Genoveva is down in the dumps because she doesn't have a boyfriend. She asks for advice from the other terneras and they all start to talk at once.

Santos calls Gonzalo and asks him to find out what he can about Fidell Castell.

A soldier tells El Sapo about Santos. The lieutenant says that Sapo is an idealisitic romantic. He is like the gentlemen of the past with his rectitude and attachment to the law and justice. El Sapo asks how a guy like Santos got invovled with DB. The lieutenant say that everyone knows that DB is a witch. He says that no one she gets her claws in escapes. El Sapo points out that Santos seemed to have escaped and the soldier says that Santos is also very tenacious. When he takes on something, he sees it through.

Antonio thinks that Lucía should put her life before the baby's but she thinks otherwise. She wants Antonio to promise that if he has to choose between the baby and her, he will choose the baby. Antonio is saved from having to promise by meeting Marisela and Santos.

El Sapo tells the lieutenant that he has to do something to get Santos to open his eyes. He says that he has an old memory that will work. The judge arrives and confesses to El Sapo that he had no choice but to release DB from prison. El Sapo is furious. He hits the judge and calls him an idiot, tells him to go away and wait for more instructions. Fausto tells El Sapo that Melquíades is dangerous and El Sapos orders that he be eliminated. El Sapo is more interested in learning about Santos. Fausto says that Santos has behaved very strangely. They sent him the diary so he could use it against DB and he didn't use it. El Sapo tells Fausto to send for Guerrero, the soldier who told them about how he was served 'Arroz con Meléndez.' He might be able to tell El Sapo more about Santos.

Marisela tells Santos about the gross old guy she saw in the store. She is sure that she has seen him somewhere before.

Genoveva tells Santos and Marisela that MN is going to marry Altagracia. Genoveva tells Marisela that she is afraid of turning into an old maid. Marisela comforts her.

In a very funny scene, MN and Altagracia come to see Bartolo. They find him reading pornography. Altagracia tells Bartolo that they have come to give him two pieces of news: one good and one bad. The dim Bartolo can't see what is going on but Mujica knows right away. He tells Bartolo that he told him before that he would never end up with someone as beautiful as Altagracia. Now Bartolo has been touched by the bad luck of the Mujicas in love. Altagracia tells Bartolo that the good new news is that she is getting married and the bad news is that she isn't going to marry Bartolo. She is going to marry MN.

DB runs into Acosta in the street. She tells him to tell Pernalete and Mujica that they should be careful because she is back and more dangerous than ever.

Altagracia tells Bartolo that she is sure that he will find another girl who is more hygenic than she is. She says that MN is not at all afraid of germs and she and MN proceed to french kiss while Bartolo watches in a combination of fascination and disgust. When they leave, Bartolo starts to cry and Mujica reminds Bartolo that he taught him that big boys don't cry. At this moment Acosta drops the bombshell that DB is free and is furious. Mujica says that he and Pernalete are dead men.

DB returns to El Miedo and has a joyous reunion with Eustaquia. DB tells Eustaquia how Melquíades sacrificed himself for her. She says that Santos and Marisela are traitors. Then she asks where everybody, Los Mondragón, in particular, are.

Los Mondragón are celebrating the fact that they are making it look like DB stole cattle but they don't have to share any of the money with her.

Antonio tells Santos how hard it is to put on a good face while Lucía gets worse every day.

Oops, ran out of time. See y'all when I get back.

Labels: barbara

Sorry again that I am so far behind on Cuerpo recaps. I am going on vacation today and won't be back until March 14. Cuerpo is ending on March 20.

Mon., Feb. 15
We zip to the night before the wedding and Camilo drives PJ/S to the Donoso house for an untraditional bachelor celebration.

Of course, he decides to go to the Donoso house and play the one and only piece that PJ apparently knew. Abigail tells Simón that PJ/S has to answer a lot of questions about the mysterious midnight concerts. This night, for instance, she hears a lot of anger in his music. Valeria feels that PJ isn't playing for her tonight.

Next morning Gaetana wakes PJ/S up (in his Ralph Lauren Polo pj's). She says that she wishes he would change his mind and not make the same mistake again. PJ/S says that this time it will be Isabel making the mistake, not him.


Isabel is unhappy with her makeup stylist and hairdressers and they leave in a huff. Valeria comes to help her get ready.
Tuesday Feb. 17 -

Gaetana and Matilda are a class act in their get ups to go to the wedding.

PJ/S waits at the altar.


The happy couple.



Rebeca brings Cantalicia to the Church.

Cantalicia interrupts the ceremony.

Gaetana waits an incredibly long time before she hustles Cantalicia out.


You may kiss the bride.

Wednesday, Feb. 18

The the reception, the newlyweds dance and for the second time, Isabel sees PJ when she looks at PJ/S.

Tio Felipe takes Cantalicia back to Las Cruces.

PJ/S tells Isabel that Gaetana is his best friend and he invited her to the wedding. Isabel demands an explanation.

Labels: cuerpo

Well, I’m glad I recharged my beanie early this weekend because I needed it for one last fling with FELS on the show Tras La Verdad. This isn’t a recap of the show, just my personal epitaph.

I have to admit that as stupid as most parts of this TN was, it wasn’t until seeing the clips from the show tonight that I realized I was really going to miss it. Laugh at me if you want, I’m sentimental sometimes. When I was little girl my mother said I used to cry whenever my father bought a new car, because I felt bad for the old one! LOL! No tears for FELS, like I had for Alborada and Pasion, though. But I will miss some of the characters, the good and the bad. The audacity of Gabriela, the psychotic Feo (Cantú - who was probably the best actor of all), Oscar, who of the three brothers was the most likeable, and Jimena, the most likeable of the three sisters. I will not miss Sofia, Quintina, or Eva, at all. C’mon, you know you’ll miss it a little bit, right?

I loved the theme song and I miss hearing it daily. In fact, the Friday of the last capitulo I was riding on a bus in Mexico City and the bus driver had a Vicente Fernandez CD playing, and “Para Siempre” came on, and I thought of all of us that were going to be so happy this TN was finally over.

Some chisme related to FELS that I’m sure most of you already know, but in case you don’t: Tio Elf is Vicente Ferdandez, Jr., son of Vicente Fernandez, the most famous singer probably of all time in Mexico (who sings the theme song, “Para Siempre”), and brother of Alejandro Ferndandez who is a great singer also, and incredibly gorgeous! Vicente Jr. (Tio Elf) was kidnapped for ransom a few years back, and they cut off two of his fingers from the knuckle. I don’t think they showed his fingers in the TN, but I’ve seen him in concert with his father and it’s very obvious. Also, the host of the show “Tras La Verdad”, Mara Patricia Castañeda, married Vicente Jr., about a year ago.

It was really fun watching FELS with all of you, I enjoyed every recap with all of the laughs and pure snark. Thanks again to everyone!

Labels: Fuego

El Sapo says that finally he is face to face with DB. She asks what he wants with her and he says that he wants to destroy her, crush her like a cockroach.

Marisela and Santos apologize to each other: he for being so hard on her and she for being silly. Santos says that he has realized that the only woman that he loves is her. Marisela says that she wants to be Santos' friend, his companion, his girlfriend. She says that she wants to do everything for him. She just asks that he not stop loving her. Santos tells her that she is all that and much more.

Eustaquia gives Melquíades money and asks God to protect him. Melquíades says that even if God doesn't protect him, he will still save DB.

El Sapo tells DB that she is only getting out of prison feet first. DB replies that he shouldn't be so confident. His friends tried the same thing and they are all dead. DB tells El Sapo that she is the Doña and she will see him dead. El Sapo is unimpressed. He says that she is nothing while he has all the power in the world. Then he asks DB about Marisela.

Santos tells Marisela that he has to get DB out of prison but he doesn't know how he will do it.

María Nieves surprises Altagracia washing clothes alone by the river. He says that he has come to talk to her. When she refuses he puts her over his shoulder and carries her off.

El Sapo waves the guards away. He says that DB is silent. Is she afraid that he will do the same thing to her daughter that he did to her? DB says that she doesn't care what happens to her daughter. El Sapo says that he thinks DB does care about her daughter and that DB is dying of jealousy because Santos is with her daughter. He laughs at the idea of the man eater being in love with an idiot; the dog of the Arauca melting for a man. He tells her that he is going to mess with everyone who is important to her. He admits to trying to kill Santos and says that the next time, he won't fail. He tells DB that he knows that Santos is her Achilles heel. She will see him fall in front of her eyes and the more she begs for mercy, the worse the end of Santos Luzardo will be.

A doctor tells Antonio and Lucía that Dr. Arias' tests weren't conclusive. He says that she needs to have more test with more advanced equipment right away.

MN takes Altagracia to the hut where he and Pajarote live. He tells her not to talk but to listen to him. He wants to talk to her about his love for her. "I think about you all day, Altagracia," he says, "When I get up, you are the dew (rocío) that bathes me. When I am thirsty, you are clear, cool water and when I am hot, you are the breeze that washes over me, no not me, my soul. When I work, you are my pasture (potrero), my savannah, my river, my pool and at night, you are my moon. You are everything to me Altagracia. I can't live without you. What other pretty words do you want me to say?"

Altagracia tells him that he didn't have to say all that. She only wants him to tell her that he loves her. "Only that?" asks MN, "I love you," he says with his sweet smile.

"Say it louder," says Altagracia. "I love you (te quiero)" he says louder, No, I adore you. No, no, I love you! (te amo)" he yells. The pleasantries having been complied with, they immediately have sex.

Pernalete and Mujica tell Fausto that even though DB is in prison, she is still alive and they are terrified that she will take vengeance on them. Fausto assures them that DB has lost all her power and will shortly be pushing up the daisies. "When I see it, I'll believe it," says Pernalete. He says that DB has more lives than a cat and her enemies end up being eaten by piranhas or in the jaws of the Bramador.

DB tells El Sapo that she will destroy him and his family. El Sapo says that he doesn't have a family. A family and power are incompatible. He says that thousands of people do what he wants because he gives them what they need to live. His legitimate businesses are just fronts (fachadas) for his real business. DB asks what that business is, raping young girls? killing lawyers, beating up old women? She suggests that he let her go so that they can confront each other as equals. Sapo says that he doesn't need to rape young girls, they give themselves to him easily. He says that now he is as powerful as a god. He is called 'The king of the Pacific' and has more power than presidents because for a little white powder, people are ready to kill. DB says that Sapo is an abortion of nature and she will make sure that he ends up where he belongs - in hell.

I would have said that having sex in a hammock is impossible or at least rather dangerous but MN and Altagracia seem to have made it happen to their mutual satisfaction.

DB says that she can see that Sapo is afraid of her. Sapo laughs and says that he isn't afraid of her. She is a broken down old witch who can't has lost her man to her daughter. He says that he feels sorry for her. This is the end for her. DB says that he is lying. This is the beginning. He is the only one missing to end a cycle of death and torture. She says that when she kills him, she will be reborn more powerful than ever. She will get back the peace and happiness that was taken from her when she was a girl. She then lays a really heavy curse on him calling on the dark forces of the universe and accompanied by reverb and native music.

She tells him that he will die the most horrible death of all her rapists. Sapo says that he doesn't believe in any of that. It is she who will die, with her daughter, her 'doctorcito' (Santos), Eustaquia and the mangy Indian that protects her. "All of them will die! And I am going to watch them in their last moments.. one by one, slowly." He leaves.

The clerk at the hotel offers Santos and Marisela the honeymoon suite but Santos says that he wants two separate rooms. Marisela looks disappointed. She is clearly ready to go all the way with Santos but now he is holding back.

Altagracia tells MN that from this day forward they are one, she is his and he is hers. She is his woman and he is her man. She says that they are husband and wife (marido y mujer). She says that when they get married, they will be more, they will be.. [and here we have a problem with the English. Altagracia says that when are are married they will be 'esposos,' which means the same as 'marido y mujer.' In fact, having seen many weddings on novelas, that is what the priest says at the end of the ceremony, "I pronounce you 'marido y mujer.' There is no word in English that seems to correspond to persons in the committed state of being a couple but who are not actually married.] MN suggest that they practice for when they get married.

Sapo tells Fausto that DB spoke to him in a way that froze his blood. Fausto says that surely Sapo doesn't believe in that kind of thing but Sapo says that for the first time in his life, he feels that there is a true enemy in front of him.

Santos tells the judge that all the actions having to do with DB have been corrupt and full of irregularities. He is DB's lawyer and he wasn't even notified of her transfer to San Fernando. Santos asks who is behind the accusation against DB. The judge replies that he will find that out at the appropriate time. Santos says that he isn't some lawyer just starting out. He and the judge know perfectly well that as DB's attorney, he is entitled to know everything about the case. He demands to know the name of the person who has accused DB. The judge tells Santos that if he wants that information, he has to file the appropriate papers with his secretary. Santos says that the secretary told him that he needed the judge's permission. Santos says that he will take the matter to a higher judicial authority. The judge tells Santos to do what he like. Everyone knows that he has an unblemished record ('expediente impoluto').

Sapo tells Faust that he can't forget DB's face. There was something in it that he didn't like. Fausto tells him not to worry. DB is in jail and can't do anything against him. Sapo reminds Fausto that she killed Meléndez against all probability. Everyone knows that she is an evil witch (bruja mala) and even though he doesn't believe in such things, witches can fly on brooms. '(de que vuelan, vuelan,' literally, 'they that fly, fly.' According to what I found on the internet, this is part of a Venezuelan expression, "Yo no creo en brujas, pero de que vuelan, vuelan.") Sapo tells Fausto that to be on the safe side, they should have DB killed immediately.

In her cell, DB says to herself that Sapo has all the power in the world and he has decided to kill her. She can't let it happen. She won't let him defeat her. She wonders where Santos is.

The terneras are hoping that Santos and Marisela will get together. Bartolo arrives. Melesio tells him that Altagracia isn't there and might not be back for a while. He suggests that Bartolo come back the next day.

Marisela runs into Antonio and Lucía in San Fernando. She says that she came to San Fernando with her boyfriend, Santos, who is defending DB. Antonio says that he is surprised to hear her say that word. " Really, that's too bad. If life gives you lemons, you should make lemonade ('si del cielo caen limones, nos toca hacer limonada, literally, 'if lemons fall from the sky, it's our turn to make lemonade.')

DB is telling herself that Santos has abandoned her and she should just die, when Santos comes to see her. He says that he has come to offer her his services as her lawyer, nothing more. He says that she needs to concentrate on the matter at hand: she has been accused of a crime she didn't commit. He says that the law is on her side and they can confront all her enemies including the one she doesn't want to talk about - Sapo. DB says that Santos shouldn't have come. It is very dangerous for him. She tells him to go away and finally calls the guard to have him shown out.

Marisela tells Antonio and Lucía that Santos believes that DB was brought to San Fernando illegally and that is why he is here to help her. Lucía pleads a headache and leaves. Antonio tells Marisela that Lucía never should have gotten pregnant.

Santos says to himself that something must have happened to frighten DB. He finds out that Fidell Castel was the last person who came to see DB.

Santos tells Marisela that just having her here with him is the biggest help she can give him. She kisses him and he says that if she kisses him again, he won't be able to contain himself and he wants to continue to be a gentleman (caballero) for his lady (dama). Marisela goes into her room asking why Santos has to be such a gentleman.

Pajarote says that now he is alone. All his buddies are chasing after skirts. Genoveva comes and asks him why he isn't worried about Altagracia and Pajorote tells her that Altagracia is in very good company. "Her too?" says Genoveva.

Melquíades tells Santos that he knows what to do to get DB out of prison. Melquíades says that he will speak the truth. Santos asks why Melquíades didn't tell the truth before. He says that things have gone too far and DB is gotten into a situation it will be very difficult to get out of. So he will do what has to do. Santos and Melquíades go to see the judge.

Fausto gives a lot of money to a guard.

Guards come for DB in her cell and she forces them to drag her.

Altagracia brings Melesio to see MN. "It's a miracle that you want to talk" says Melesio to MN, "Ok, son, speak to me." MN hesitates and says that he likes Altagracia. Melesio says that MN has good taste but that 's old news. He asks MN to tell him something new. MN hesitates and then says that Altagracia likes him. "Good, good," says Melesio, "but I already know that song. Sing me something new, something different." Finally, MN stammers out that Altagracia is his fiancée. Genoveva overhears and asks why everyone in this house is getting married and leaving her alone.

The doctor has asked to see Antonio alone to tell him that the results of the tests are worse than they thought. It's Lucía's life or the baby's. She and Antonio have to decide.

Fausto tells El Sapo that he has contracted with an asassin and this time his arrangements won't fail. At his moment, Fausto points Marisela out to El Sapo. Sapo says that he understands why Meléndez went crazy for her. "Finally, I meet you, Marisela," says Sapo to himself.

Santos, Melquíades and DB are before the judge. The judge asks DB if she ordered BP killed. She denies it. The judge says that all the proof points to her employee. Melquíades says that DB didn't do anything. He says that it was he who killed BP and tried to kill Santos.

Labels: barbara

Capítulos 9 & 10

Soledad is still away in the city visiting the lethargic Lil, so Margarita plays lookout as Jacinto rummages around in Sole’s house for Eduardo’s phone number in the States. He plans on going into town to phone him to let him know how sick his mother is. Margarita is anxious for Jacinto to tell Eddie how urgent it is and that he must come home right away to see her.

Gonzo is at his doctor’s appointment and he asks his cardiologist not to let his family know about his heart problems. The specialist says fine as long as Gonzo follows his instructions to the letter. Gonzo says he will, but just because he’s got heart problems doesn’t mean he’s going to make a big deal over it in front of everyone.

At the milk plant, our resident Bad Ass Bitch, aka, Babs, is signing off on a quality control report from one of the workers when Anibal runs in looking for her. He’s got his shorts in a wad because little sis, Fernanda, is the one who gets to make the decision to go with the powdered milk project or not. She’s the only one who can get Gonzo to change his mind about it. He says since Sissy trusts Babs so much that Babs needs to convince her that once the stuff arrives, none of their employees is going to be thrown out onto the street and left without a job.

Babs angrily complains that Fernanda’s problem is that she’s inherited her daddy’s socially charitable tendencies and so Grupo Lactos has moral obligations with rabble throughout the entire region. Suddenly she gets a call from hubby, Gullible Gonzo, and her tone of voice changes to concerned and silky sweet. Gonzo lies that the doctor said he’s just fine and she pretends it’s wonderful news before hanging up. Anibal continues the conversation. He suggests that perhaps Damian, being Nanda’s fiance, could smooth the way for them. Babs feigns shock, shock! at the idea of manipulating his darling sister through Damian.

Back again at the hacienda, Fernanda kisses Damian her “Monstruo” [monster, genius, giant] good-bye. (So, of all the pet names for a lover she comes up with that? Hmm. Let’s see. She hasn’t seen Damian’s bad side yet, and being a telenovela heroine, she’s still a virgin, so I guess she hasn’t got a clue about sizing up his particular…er… situation so to speak, so I guess the next best translation’s got to be “genius”.) She gets the urge to go out back and reminisces through the fountains in the back yard, remembering the happy times when she and Eduardo played together as kids. She’s sad to think that Eddie never kept his word and has apparently forgotten her. (After 14 years and passing through puberty, you sure as heck would hope to think so.) That’s why a year ago (fourteen long years of pining puppy-love later), we learn she decided to finally forget him and start a new chapter in her life.

Eduardo, however, has never gotten down off that puff of cloud-9 of his. He is at that very point in time buying an engagement ring for his gossamer gal before he heads back to Mexico. (Ok. Ok. You’re gonna tell me that a summa cum laude grad student from Harvard Business School doesn’t stop to think that maybe the object of his pre-pubescent dreams might not already be married with five kids by now, or could be into S and M and living in Vegas, or after fifteen years, might have turned out to look like Jaba the Hut’s twin sister and have a personality like Joan Rivers or a mouth like Rosie O’Donnell’s?) Viewerville once again adjusts the foil antenna on its collective beanie.

Jacinto comes back home and tells Margo that although Eduardo wasn’t around, he at least got hold of Ed’s Spanish speaking sexretary, and that he found out Eddie’s on vacation and headed home to Mexico. He’s going to be arriving the following day from the U.S. at the airport in Toluca. Margo says it’s not a moment too soon since Sole’s getting worse. She says that she wants to ask Don Gonzo to put Sole in the hospital, but Jacinto says no, because they both know that Babs will find out and be all over them like a ton of bricks if they try it.

Meanwhile, Gardenia, Margarita’s sister, is at Soledad’s house and trying to nurse Sole as best she can. Lucio knocks on the door to tell her she needs to return to the main house to serve dinner. Margo comes in just then to take a turn nursing Sole and since it’s the cook’s day off, ‘Denia races back to the main house hoping to arrive before BOW notices she’s not there.

Camilo, a grown-up version of the same crude, rude and lude jerk he’s always been, comes in late to dinner. Nanda asks him where Erika is and he makes some stupid joke, which falls flat, about her being on vacation. He blows off the question and says he hasn’t heard from her and says no, he’s not sent Erika packing if that’s what she’s wondering. Nanda says, no, but mentions that it is just so obvious that Camilo’s interest for her friend disappears whenever Santiago (who has been working on some project in Guadalajara for the last six months) is out of the picture for a while. Just then Damian arrives for dinner and very affectionately kisses Nanda “hello”. This secretly ticks Babs off and she goes to see what’s taking so long in the kitchen.

Babs, in a fouler mood than usual, walks into the kitchen just as Denia comes through the back door. Babs instinctively knows that the girl has been tending to Soledad and warns her that if she misses a minute of work because of that old woman again she’s fired. Nanda rushes in at that moment and asks what’s up. BOW immediately turns back into “Miss Congeniality” and says no problem. Gardenia just felt a bit ill but is fine now. Nanda makes a big deal about it and wants Denia to come with her to see the company doctor the next day, then sends her home for the evening and leaves to go back into the dining room. BOW stares daggers at Denia.

Jacinto tells Margo that they’ll have to wait for Eduardo to come home and then let him be the one to decide what do about his mother’s situation.

The next morning Jacinto goes to pick up Ed at the airport, but he doesn’t recognize the only indigenous looking guy in blue-jeans getting off a flight from the States –the one with the uber-large, gaudy, Jollywood shades that scream “Look at me! Look at me!” (Viewerville determines this must be Jacinto’s first time ever inside an airport, because, of course, he doesn’t realize he can have somebody paged and has never seen car services hold up signs for their faceless fares. Jacinto doesn’t do either. Nope, he is just supposed to be another well-meaning country bumpkin who only knows enough to drive to the airport, but not how to think out of the box once he gets there.) Eduardo and Jacinto pass by each other like strangers. Eddie-boy ends up going outside and taking a cab to his mother’s.

Back at Soledad’s, Margo tells Denia where Jacinto’s gone and warns her that absolutely no one can find out that Eduardo’s come back. Denia has heart palpitations at the mere thought of Eduardo, “the handsomest passenger on the plane,” showing up there again. Marge realizes that her little sis still has the hots for Eddie and knows nothing good’s going to come of it.

Back at the main house Nanda and Denia have a chat and Nanda finds out that Soledad is seriously ill. She wants to go to see Soledad immediately but Denia refuses and almost lets the cat out of the bag about why, but then remembers nobody is supposed to find out that Eduardo is back. Nanda wonders what the big deal is that she can’t go with her to see about Sole.

Babs and her assistant are working on the final guest list for the wedding. Babs crosses off Solie and LIl from the list. When her assistant says something about Fernanda possibly being upset over it, Barbie shuts her up with some nasty aside about Fernanda’s not wanting her druggie loon of a sister or some dying old woman there, then summarily kicks her out of her office with a couple of BOW finger snaps.

Nanda has forced Denia to come with her back to Soledad’s house. While they’re walking down the lane towards Soledad’s Damian shows up. He persuades Nanda to come back with him to the main house because he and she need to discuss something important. Denia breathes a sigh of relief for the reprieve.

We beam back to the plant as Babs tells Anibal that instead of talking with Fernanda herself about the powdered milk project, she’s having Damian discuss it with her. Anibal says he hopes Damian does a good job of convincing her because he’s gone ahead and signed the order for the powdered milk already and he doesn’t want his father to can him because of it. Babs thinks to herself that that will be the least of Anibal’s worries once that powdered milk purchase causes the company to go under.

Damian and Nanda are in her daddy’s office at the house. He tries to explain to her that the company needs the powdered milk as a bridging measure for the company to survive and continue growing. She doesn’t want to go against her father because she believes in his judgment and says if he’s against this then there’s got to be a reason for it. (Enough all ready! Will somebody please keep Silvia and Sergio away from the Jolt Cola and the Red Bull? It’s like listening to Alvin and the Chipmunks on speed!! Damn! It’s gonna take true willpower for Viewerville to make it through 175 episodios of “The Hopped-Up Chipmunk Chronicles.”) Damian warns her that without the powdered milk as a break-gap measure to fill all the orders that are coming in, the company will have to forget about their philanthropic projects, the fair and a number of her own personal projects. Daddy’s problem with the idea, though, is that he just doesn’t like being only a prepackaging third-party intermediary, he says.

Fernanda seems to be leaning towards giving Damian her support after hearing his explanation. They head outside and she admits she’d rather he discuss it with Daddy because she’s more interested in checking on her nana, Soledad’s, health right now, and anyway Damian’s got a better grasp of the details than she does. She says she wants to go into town to get Soledad a little get well gift but Damian’s got a meeting he can’t miss and they go their separate ways. As he sends her off he prophetically warns her to drive carefully “because you never know when you’re going to run into some crazy person walking the roads around here.”

Speaking of said crazy person, Eduardo is riding back home in the taxi with roses (and the ring). He reminisces about the fateful day he gave Nanda the locket and she gave him his medallion, and their first kiss. (Sorry, but this is just a bit too weird for me to get my head around. Maybe Damian’s on to something here.) Overcome by nostalgia, Eddie decides to get out from the taxi and continue walking on foot.

Not far from there, Denia and Margo are still nursing Soledad. Denia tells Sole she’d get better if she could see her son but Sole is adamant that Eduardo can never ever return to the hacienda to visit her.

Fernanda has turned out to be a real Valley girl. She’s jabbering a mile a minute on her cell phone about wedding details while speeding along in her car --on the very same country road as Eduardo. She races past and splashes him with a mud puddle. He gets completely soaked. She stops and through her side view mirror sees this hunky looking stranger angrily throwing down the bouquet he was carrying. A very embarrassed Nanda gets out to apologize. The two immediately seem to feel a strong attraction for each other. They share a star-crossed lover’s stare as Uni goes into the commercial break.

The two are still staring at each other as we beam back. Nanda explains (now at a 100 miles a minute) that she wasn’t paying attention and didn’t see Ed because she was too busy talking on her cell (at 100 miles a minute) about all the wedding arrangements she’s got to make. There’s soooo much to do, she prattles on (still at a 100 miles a minute), when planning a wedding, doncha know. He’s taken with her and says, well, no, he wouldn’t know since he’s never been married. Nanda considers this little tidbit for a couple seconds longer than she should. (Methinks that Nanda might have just been struck with her first twinge of doubt now that this hunk has told her he is still unattached.) She says she’s sorry she’s muddied him up. He smiles his hunkalicious smile at her again and politely says, aw shucks, it’s just one more reason to take a bath. (“Bath?” Did you say, “BATH?”) She offers to take him into town so he can at least buy a new bouquet of roses. He accepts.

Back at Soledad’s house Denia, Jacinto and Margo are wondering where Ed could possibly be and why he hasn’t deigned to show up yet. ”What kind of a problem would keep him from coming straight to his mother’s house?” Margo asks if possibly Jacinto missed him in the crowd. Jacinto says he saw every last passenger come through, but then wonders if possibly he didn’t recognize Eddie because he might have changed so much over the years that he couldn’t. (Do ya think?)

In the car Nanda and Ed begin to chat. He is enchanted by her. She jabbers on Valley-style about how many things there are to get done when planning a wedding. He tells her he’s from New York. She wonders why anybody would leave skyscrapers just to wind up there on some back road in the middle of the sticks in Mexico. He’s about to explain when Nanda’s cell rings. She tells the caller that yes, it’s Fernanda Elizalde speaking, the same one who is getting married next Saturday. Eddie is head-pounding, heart-sick impactado and his eyes get the size of fried huevos.

Back at Grupo Lactos’ corporate offices, Damian’s big important meeting is apparently with Babs. She’s pissed that he came back without having convinced Fernanda to immediately intervene with Gullible Gonzo. She tells him to try again and to do it immediately. He calls Fernanda back on her cell but it’s busy. He says he’ll call her again later. That’s not good enough for Babs and she gripes that again she is going to have to do things herself. Damian gets honked off and tells her she can do whatever the heck she wants to --and, I think, he changes inflections to broadly hint she can stick it where the sun don’t shine--then slams the door on his way out.

We get shunted once again to the Mexican countryside. Eduardo can’t believe he’s actually in the same car with and has been listening to his beloved planning details for a wedding with some other man. He gets freaked a second time when Fernanda mentions Barbara Greco, the man-eating hyena, so matter-of-factly. When she finally is off the phone, Eddie plays twenty questions to find out why she’s really getting married. (Ok. Now that is painful to watch—a gorgeous, 40-something hunk playing a lovesick puppy of 25 acting like a jealous, love-struck pre-teen. This is déjà vu all over again…..) She giggles and says for love, of course and then notices that he’s suddenly gotten moody.

Ok. It’s once more over the hill and through the woods to… Soledad’s… house we go. Now Denia is getting angrier by the minute thinking that Eduardo hasn’t come back to the house to see them and his mother because he’s simply gotten too sophisticated to bother with “poor people.” Jacinto gets tired of hearing her constant complaints and says it is very possible that Ed got into a jam of some sort. Well, Denia says, it’s probably better if he doesn’t show up because his coming back could spoil the happy couple’s wedding plans. Margo says that’s never gonna happen; what was between Nanda and Eddie was just kid stuff. (Here, here!) Denia isn’t so sure, though.

Poor Damian, still frustrated over Babs’s bitch session, now gets a call from the other bossy broad in his life, his mama. She’s called him at the office because she simply cannot make up her mind which designer dress to choose for the region’s Wedding of the Century between Sonny and Nanda Elizalde. Damian impatiently tells her to pick any one she likes and to leave him the heck alone at work. He clicks off his cell and fights the urge to (yessssss!) break it.

Fernanda, meanwhile, babbles on to Eddie (still clocking palabras at 100) that she’s marrying a guy named Damian Gallardo. Eduardo is still playing twenty questions and asks how long she’s known him. She says for ten months. Ed then asks if that’s the only man she’s ever loved. She says you could say that, although there was one time before, but it was just kid stuff. This answer seems to really upset him and he suddenly says he wants to be let out of the car. Nanda doesn’t understand since they haven’t gotten to the florist’s yet, but then she smiles innocently at him and asks if she can at least get his name. He stares back at her and fights the urge to tell her off. She smiles back, clueless. Just as he decides how to answer, her cell phone rings again. This time it’s The Fiancé. “Hello, Monstruo!” Eddie swallows the basketball-sized lump in his throat and decides he’s heard enough. Damian asks where she is and who she’s with. Nanda turns back around to look at Eduardo, but he’s already walked off from the jeep. She suddenly deflates and tells Damian that she’s alone.

In Bab’s office back at Grupo Lactos, we learn that Anibal, it seems, has purchased bootlegged powdered milk and Babs is not a happy camper. She’s upset because it’s too big a shipment to keep under wraps. The company transporting it for him, he says, doesn’t know that it’s bootlegged, so he doesn’t think it should be a problem. Babs then asks Anibal if there’s anything else she needs to know about this shipment. (Guess we’ll have to wait for the next capítulo to find out.) Gonzo, meanwhile, is in his own office reading the powdered milk contract and nearly blows a gasket when his secretary informs him that Anibal went ahead and ordered the powdered milk anyway.

Fernanda is now driving on her way back from town and tells Damian that she still hasn’t gone to see Soledad yet. He wonders why not. She fibs and says she punctured a tire and had to have a man fix it for her. It’s gotten late, he says, and she realizes she still needs to meet up with Erika to get her wedding dress fitted. Damian says he’ll pick up Erika for her and then after supper he’ll go with Fernanda to visit Soledad. Just then Fernanda sees Eduardo’s bouquet still lying on the side of the road. She gets distracted by it and stops in the middle of her conversation as she remembers the hunkalicious mystery-man angrily throwing it down after getting splashed.

Our hunkalicious mystery-man meanwhile, walks around town and ends up at Silvestre’s rundown little blacksmith’s shop. He unconsciously tugs at the medallion around his neck and realizes what an idiot he was to come back for Fernanda after so many years. Just then Silvestre walks by him and loses control of his wheelbarrow. Eduardo helps him pick up the fallen tools but the old man no longer recognizes him. Suddenly it hits Eddie that absolutely no one from the little town recognizes him. He walks back toward the market place. One of the women goes running after some guy and calls him Jacinto. Eduardo realizes that the guy is his childhood friend and runs after him. Jacinto doesn’t recognize Eduardo until he mentions the names from their old “Dungeons and Dragons” game. “Are you Jacinto Cordero, El Halcon Azabache?” Jacinto is cautiously suspicious. “--How do you know about that?” Eduardo gets a huge smile on his face. “Jacinto, look at me! I’m El Jinete Justiciero!”

Labels: manana

Permalink posted by Jardinera654 @ 2:08 PM 79 comments