Caray, Caray!

Damian asks Barb – how are you going forward with your plan – She says - just follow orders, and the company will be a zero. I know exactly what you are asking – Anibal is going to be Director General. Damian says he’s stupid – let him show us how inept he is. Barb tells Damian that at 4:00 p.m. he is going to serenade his fiancé – at four he asks. Yes, she says.

At the same time Jacinto and Ed are talking about Sole’s funeral and it, too, will be at 4:00 p.m. today. But Ed can’t go and says he has cried for his mother for 15 years – following the hyena’s orders and paying with his tears.

Damian and Barb talk about the mariachi’s coming at four – he’s not into mariachis and tells her he has important stuff to do – but she says nothing is more important than getting married and singing with the mariachis. He wants to know how it is possible to hide Sole’s death. She says everything depends upon that. Barb calls Fernanda –Barb says they’ve had some problems with the dressmaker – but everything is OK now – and they’ll meet up at home. Barb is a detail oriented girl.

Silly Erika skips in and tells Fernanda that she’ll be at the wedding with Camilo – Erika insists that Camilo loves her – what a fool.

Meanwhile Camilo is up a tree in riding gear telling Natasha that Erika doesn’t mean a thing to him – that Natasha is his one and only.

Bells rings and Ed hides behind a monument and cries while his mother is buried – Jacinto and Margarita are at the graveside. Ed is distraught – this must be time for an oath. He’s getting ready – nope, not yet.

The mariachis are playing loud and sweet music for Nanda. Nanda and Erika do everything to prove they are young like hop, skip and scream. Dear Damian blows her a kiss. Yuck.

Ed is hanging in there – barely, while the last shovel of dirt is thrown on his mother’s grave.

Big Daddy comes out to join the fun, along with Barb and Priscilla. Damian is beside himself with smiles.

Ed is suffering and cries silently. More silent screams.

The music continues and Anibal, the beast, joins the crowd. Hugs and kisses between Nanda and Damian and a wink from Barb.

Finally, Ed says goodbye to his mother. Jacinto and Margarita pray at the grave.

Gardenia, who knows that Soledad is dead, comes upon the happy mariachi scene and Barb with her famous smirk toasts to Nanda’s mother. This is going to be the happiest day of your lives. The hypocrite.

Jacinto and Margarita bid final farewell to Soledad. We can see Ed hiding in the background. Margarita wants to know why Ed didn’t show up. Jacinto urges her to go forward. She makes the sign of the cross and blows it to Sole. Ed comes out of his hiding place. Jacinto wants to know what Ed is going to do now. Ed says that Lili knows the Elizalde secret and he’s going to find it out.

A contrite and humble Ed goes to the clinic and tells Adolfina that Ms. Cruz died and that she had a lot of affection for a patient – La Palomito. He tells Adolfina that it’s important that Lili knows that Sole died – he begs and begs – and finally she gives in and lets him have 5 minutes with Lili. Adolfina and Ed sneak down the hall to Lili’s room – but, since there are no secrets in LaLa Land, an old man sees them. He smiles a secret smile. Maybe this means that Ed has an ally on the inside. Ed sees Lili staring off into space or out the window curled up in a chair. He says her name, “Liliana.” I’ve come on behalf of Sole – she asked that I tell you that she remembered you with great love. He asks if it’s OK if he comes to see her in place of Sole. She does not reply nor react. He continues to talk to her. Finally, Lili says his name, “Eduardo.” What a relief.

Ed says – you said my name – do you know who I am. Adolfina enters and tells him he has to leave and that if Sra. Elizalde finds out, it will be bad for everyone. Reluctantly, Ed leaves Liliana.

Quarter moon rising – Gardenia is crying in the garden and Nanda finds her. She pretends to be crying over Nanda’s wedding. Of course Barb pops up out of bushes. Barb hears that Nanda tells her everything will be OK – she’s not leaving. Then Nanda confirms with Gardenia that Sole is good – over the pneumonia. Better that Barb hears what she has to hear. She also tells Nanda that Ed knows – Damian calls his puppy and Nanda runs to him. Gardenia is beside herself with grief.

Meanwhile Margarita blesses out Ed to Jacinto – she asks what could be more important than being at your own mother’s funeral.

Damian wants to know if it will bother Nanda if he leaves. She says no. He has something to do. She asks about Ursula???But, she’ll wait and thanks him for the serenade – they’re about to begin a beautiful new life, etc., etc. You wanna bet? Gonzo calls for Nanda. Tomasa, the maid, directs her to the library.

Once again Barb pops up in Damian’s car in the dark. He’s not scared tonight – just anxious to get out of driveway.

Gardenia is wandering around in the dark crying. Barb directs Damian to stop under some trees. They can’t keep their hands off each other. Barb undresses herself – only she knows the combination to her buttons. Damian gets his motor running. What a tight cramped spot – the front seat of a sports car. They accidentally hit the horn – Gardenia is nearby – She sneaks a peek through the bushes and sees Damian.

Gonzo is telling Nanda that Lili can’t come to her wedding. What about Barb? So, what does Barb think. He goes to get her. But, of course, we know she’s doing it in strange positions in Damian’s sports car. Gardenia now sees Barb’s face and is she ever shocked. It’s wonderful how all these people can see in the dark without night vision goggles.

Gonzo tells Nanda that Barb is not there. She just wants Barb to ask the administrator of the hospital if it would be OK for Lili to come. Gonzo is disgusted with her – Nanda thinks Lili might be lucid enough to attend. Gonzo repeats his lines – Nanda insists that it might be an opportunity to get Lili back in the family. Gonzo, the weak, says it all depends upon Barb. Nanda shakes her head.

The nurse gives Lili a pill and it looks like she’s down for the night. Lili spits the pill out. You go girl.

Nanda says it shouldn’t be in Barb’s hands. Gonzo doesn’t want to argue –Finally – what do you want me to do. She begs him to talk to Dr. Obregon – he says he will. Nanda is happy. He picks up the phone and thought bubbles – where the Hell is Barb? Barb and Damian discuss where she should be dropped off – she says at the barn. Gardenia damns them.

Gonzo says “ready.” So Lili will attend. He hopes he’s made the right decision. He probably doesn’t know how to think anymore – he asks the maid if she knows where his wife is. Nope. Damian tells Barb to be careful and not get caught by Don Gonzalo. What a joke.

At the hospital, Lili is eating chocolate and holding the box. She remembers Sole’s words to her that the box contains the secrets of all their lives. And that when she (Sole) dies – Lili will find it and deliver it to Ed. But, Lili takes the box and sneaks down the hall to the old man’s room (Ciro) – apparently he’s a mathematician because in his room he has a blackboard with equations on it. Lily has brought him the box. (This actor has a great range; he was a tailor in Amar Sin Limites.) Lili didn’t pay attention to Sole.

Gardenia tells Margarita and Jacinto what she saw. They think she’s talking about Fernanda and Damian, but, she tells them that Barb and Damian were making luuv in the car. They are shocked beyond belief.

Barb enters the mansion – Nanda runs into her and asks her where she’s been.

Ever quick with an answer, Barb tells her she went to the chapel to visit Montserrat. Barb was so moved by the serenade and how happy they all were that she wanted to share it with Monty. If she were here, Barb wouldn’t be Gonzo’s wife – but she’s so happy to be here. Nanda tells Barb that Gonzo’s looking for her. Barb takes a deep breath, finger combs her hair and heads for the library.

A male nurse enters Lili’s room and discovers that she’s gone. Ciro reads the paper in the box – Ciro tells Lili that it is the seed of the sunflower (girasol). She wants to know what that means – he says it’s important. The nurse enters and Lili gets real scared. Did anyone think we were going to find out the secret in the box at this point?

The good doctor enters and threatens Ciro – and tells him that Lili is very dangerous. He mentions playing chess (must have some significance that I didn’t get) – and reminds Ciro that Lili must remain in her own room or he’ll lose all his privileges. Ciro hides the box.

Barb drops a load of lies on Gonzo. He just might not be buying into all of it today. We really don’t know. His call to the clinic takes Barb by surprise. He tells her to call Dr. Obregon. What does she think? Looks like they’re playing a game.

Dr. Obregon is getting ready to give Lili a syringe full of a “calmante.” (This word wasn’t in the script. It’s a tranquilizer – but, you probably know that already.)

Ed wanders the streets and dreams of Sole in the sky with the stars. He smiles. Gardenia continues on with her tale of Barb and Damian – how unfair it is. They lament that Nanda has been betrayed her own stepmother. Barb enters Nanda’s room. Nanda insists that they are going to see Lili – and that Dr. O may suspend the treatment. What is Barb’s opinion. Barb says they’ve done everything they possibly could and that they have hired the best specialists in Mexico – Of course, she thinks that suspending Lili’s treatment now will have terrible consequences. Nanda insists no – the doctors will be nearby. Barb warns that she will be responsible for whatever happens. Nanda believes in love. Barb hopes her heart brings her a miracle.

Barb is furious. She wants to know why Dr. Obregon didn’t let her in on this. She interrupts his putting practice. He tried to call her, but her phone was off. Remember? She was getting busy with Damian. He tells her he’s director of a clinic and not comandante of a concentration camp. Barb warns him that if Lily lets anything slip out, the consequences will be disastrous. He tells Barb that Lili’s brain should be fried by now because of all the drugs she’s been given . She calls him an idiot. He just agrees with her and continues to comb his eyebrows.

Avances: Margarita wants to tell Nanda about Damian and Barb.

Labels: manana

Do I Need a Pick or a Shovel For Work on This Recap Tonight? Tonight's event is heavy. For levity check out Doña Barbara where several births occurred simultaneously and everyone is already laughing. But they have more killing there almost every other night, so let's see what we have here on Mañana...

To Review: Mama warns of the tragedy. Mama points to clues at the aslylum with Liliana and dies
Barbara and Damian have fun in the car (aka Monk, any seats to wipe down)
Eduardo hears Barbara's threat to take everything from Jacinto and his family unless he hides the death of Soledad.
Barbara goes toward the house of Soledad
Artemio insists that Eduardo cannot attend the funeral of his own mother.

Barbara realizes that Gardenia did not know that Soledad has died, but her eyes don't blink and her armor doesn't crack. Eduardo and Jacinto fight over what to do. Jacinto swears Soledad was a mother to him too, you can't defend yourself from this woman, you must do as she says or she will leave you in the street, she has no scruples. Have you forgotten everything. She killed Monserrated, locked Lilianna in the asylum (manicomio) and she killed my mother over 15 years. For all this you will do as she says, FOR NOW.

Barbara threatens Gardenia that no one in the family is to hear of Soledad's death, she will destroy all of Gardenia's family to the last one.

Eduardo says no one in the Elizarde family is to know that he is in the area. He will get justice (hacer justicia)

Fernanda puts on her heart from Ed and splits her personality in the mirror and they argue over whether it is insulting to Damian that she wear a sweetheart's keepsake from her childhood love.

Eduardo enters his mother's room where Mom's body is peacefully in the bed, locks the windows that blew open so easily just this morning, He asks the air. What evil did we do, what was our error? [beats me ]

Jacinto tells his wife that Doñita is dead. Margarita plans to send Gardenia to get the priest because she didn't receive the last rites (santos oleos). He has to tell her of the orders of the hyena that no one is to know. Marg insists, Nanda needs to know. He has to tell her that they will lose their house and their land that they have planted (sembrada) all their lives. Your cousin (prima) will lose her school and her students. Everything we've worked for will be finished, the Community center won't be built. we have to bow the head, as in defeat, (toco agachar la cabeza). we are going to eat dirt, this is a disgrace, is this what you want. No, Marg cries, and Jacinto and she cry over the dreadful ruin they are in. Barbara seems to have covered all the bases with her threats.

Anibal adjusts his blue tie, Pris enters and begins to cover her sexy teddy with street clothes while he says he is ready to go to the office they are waiting for him for a meeting. She says, yes I have lots to do too. Hurry he says, (apurate). Instead, she makes a call on her cell phone: Hello brother, is papa still home, I need to talk with all of you urgently, no I can't tell you on the phone. Anibal can't believe what she is doing. She snips back, you saved your skin with your family by calling me a traitor. He threatens that if she crosses the threshold their marriage is over. She says I know that your own interests are the only thing you are motivated by. She lays into him again about the sex thing. He can't believe that with all the problems, this is all she can think about. She kept her part of their bargain and got him all the information from her family to compete with them. The only thing she wants it to have a child. If he doesn't keep his part of the bargain she will see that he goes to jail. She gets on the phone again, to make an appointment to check the fertility of Anibal. He leaves the room imperiously.

Make sure (Cerciorate) that Eduardo does not attend (asistir) the funeral of his mother. says Cigarman to Baba Dearest.

Remember (Te acuerdas) when you said we should be grateful but your words don't fit (cuadraba) because the Elizados were in possession (se aduenaron) of your time so many times he had to wait alone while she did everything for Gonzo's children. He thought transports back to the young Eduardo that had to be alone while she I waited on the Elizados. You always said that Don Gonzo was a good man. You gave your life to them and look what they did to you. What arrogance. He recreates the scene by the pool, he is raking while his mom brings lemonade. Anibal sneers, Monserrat won't even look at her, but Camilo sneaks up behind her and throws her into the pool. MomRat and all the nasty kids laugh at her all wet and humiliated, he picks up his rake but she signals him to keep back.

Look at what they did to you, I am proud to be your son for all that you sacrificed for my well being. to see you without life and think of the 15 years that you were not at my side. Your loyalty to them was not honored. I hope you can ask God for a special place with him. I know I won't be joining you there. It is a sin to bear a grudge (rencor) but I will live with this sin and spend every minute seeking revenge for what they did to you. We fade to the handsomest picture of Eduardo looking disgusted after he cries and says Mama four or five times. [But I don't mind, it will fuel his actions in the coming episodes, so just shut up and leave me alone.]

Margarita is indignant and says we have to inform Eduardo now, Jacinto thinking fast, has to admit something, I have already talked to him. He was shocked (se quedo pasmado). She tells him to go on to the funeral home. I am going keep vigil with the Doñita, I have to prepare her. Jacinto, keeping in mind that Eduardo is waiting to get more time alone with this mother, says, Come with me, We will have to take her straight to the graveyard. Marg complains, She has no one to wake her, it isn't just.

Gardenia brings in 3 boxes. she is too cheerful. Fernanda has to make room for Damian things. Gardenia hugs the bear and remembers how Ed won it at a fair and she wanted it but it was not given to her. Nanda, not quite getting it, says well it's a little late but if you want it take it. Gardenia asks if she had heard from Eduardo but Fanda blabs something meaningless and hard to understand about the long ago.

Eduardo lights a candle and holds a White Lily. Marg is determined to be a wild funeral director and insists her flowers must be white. Jacinto tries to warn her that they should talk to Ed again to see what he wants.

Ooops Nanda moves other clothes making room for Damian in closets and drawers and wants to show her wedding dress to her Nana and wants to rush off to the cottage to give her she promised to show Nana her dress. Gardenia for once thinks fast ands says Doñita isn't home she must have gone to the doctor for some tests and then was going to the priest and won't be back for quite a while. So Nanda is put off. for the moment.

Eduardo dresses his mom in white and put the flowers all around the bedroom while outside the house Jacinto tries to yell about the lock which Marg doesn't understand. It works, Ed in his tight black sweater of mourning gets out of the bedroom, gives Jacinto money while the hyena pulls up in a chauffeured car. Jacinto approaches. Have you fixed things for the burial? demands BabaHyena. There are some formalities (tramites), the doctor must provide a death certificate. Marg gets mouthy and threatens Dona has a right to be buried in the hacienda chapel but Hyena says a cook doesn't need to be buried there. She asks about Eduardo but Jacinto says he talked to him, rephrases that it was a few days ago, and he can't come just now, he thinks his mother is just sick. Good keep him thinking she is sick, that wretch is not to come here, do you understand. She really enjoys these shake down questions and always waits insistently for an answer. Marg is pretty out of control and Eduardo on the other side of the building hearing this all is almost losing his resolve to remain hidden.

Marg isn't quite getting it, why did you not want to tell hyena about talking to Eduardo? Jacinto asks her to come with him to arrange the burial but she balks, we have to accompany her to her last resting place (ultima morada). As they enter Soledad's bedroom weeping, Marg look in wonder, Was it you, Slim (flaco)? The room is set up with thousands of flowers and candles all over her room. All is magically transformed in white as it should be. Outside, Eduardo walks and cries and heaves heavy sighs. Marg thinks the Doñita seems as is she were just asleep.

In Mexico city, Anibal tells Osvaldo we have to get this shipment out of here tonight, no one can discover that this is contraband shipment of expired dry milk.

Erika picks up the FE heart in Nanda's room She knows Nanda has had it since Soledad's son gave it her for her first communion and Nanda admits inspite of being in love with someone else now, for some reason I can't let go of it. Erika looks out the window and sees Camilo on a stunning black horse and wants to go to him. Nanda says I know he is my brother but don't be tricked, he is playing with you. Erika doesn't want to believe it so runs to see Camilo furious that Jacinto isn't there to take his horse to the barn and now he has to do it himself. As he carps that no one gave Jacinto permission to take the day off, Erika appears wanting to know where he has been. Still good at whining, he answers, I haven't stopped working but she sweet talks and hugs saying, we need to talk. She suggest coming to the stalls with him, taking the horse and they will talk. nice grounds, huh?

Gardenia makes a weepy call from the kitchen to Florecita in the office, By order of the hyena she can't leave the hacienda she is calling to say Florecita needs to get to the funeral. Baba comes in snarling for messages from her husband but when Florecita quivers that she wants to have the afternoon off to go to the wake (velorio) for Doñita. She was like a mother to us. Baba hisses, how do you know? If you leave here to go to your fake mother (mama poztiza), you don't need to return to your job and the same goes for Gardenia.

Erika can't understand why Camilo hasn't called her in all these months. Have your been waiting for me? he asks slyly. He kisses and they circle the hay, then he pushes her around and plays rougher, calling her gorgeous or tasty (ricura), . Don't be like this, Camilo disappearing like a ghost (fantasma) Kissing and almost listening, he has taken his shirt off. (Cads shouldn't be this good looking but he could lose the neckerchief) Erika jumps to ask, can we use this opportunity to announce our engagement? This breaks the mood, he complains that one kiss and you insist on this boring theme. She assures him she feels great in his arms. She just wants to know if they are going to be together, sure the maid of honor and best man of the wedding have to be together. He seems to mean for the next fifteen minutes. She slips happily to the hay hoping this means something more.

Baba sits in her office with a report brought in by Damian talking about this first felonious shipment going so well. He wants to know the next step of the plan and she tells him not to worry his pretty head and not ask so many questions. They do need to be sure that the General Director's name is on everything, yeah that would be Anibal. Damian complains that he is such a beast who knows nothing. Baba says his name really needs to be everywhere. They flirt about the afternoon but Baba needs him to be available with his fiance at 4PM, a little party... Nice timing hyena.

Eduardo remarks to Jacinto at the coffee shop in town where no one seems to recognize him, that it, the burial, is to be at 4 pm, the exact hour he was born. He insists again that Jacinto comply with every order of the hyena, for now. Shortly after, in dual scenes Baba is toasting the couple at the little impromptu party to keep Nanda busy, and on the other Eduardo is watching in the shadows as his mama lowered into her lonely grave with only Jacinto and Margarita present to weep for her.

Next time. Baba and Nanda argue about whether sister Liliana can come to the wedding. Nanda insists that love is better than any medicine. Baba looks like a good drugging is what is called for.

Vocabulary:
Asylum (manicomio)  
Get justice (hacer justicia) I like the Spanish image of “making”
Last rites (santos oleos).
planted (sembrada) 
cousin (prima)
to bow the head, as in defeat, (toco agachar la cabeza).
Hurry (apurate). I
Make sure (Cerciorate)
attend (asistir)
Remember (Te acuerdas)
fit (cuadraba) 
were in possession (se aduenaron)
grudge (rencor)  
He was shocked (se quedo pasmado).
formalities, like paperwork or filings (tramites)
last resting place (ultima morada).
Slim (flaco)
wake (velorio)
fake mother (mama poztiza), 
gorgeous or tasty (ricura)
ghost (fantasma) 

Labels: manana

Santos and Marisela continue their conversation and kisses from yesterday. Santos had said before that only Marisela could save him. Marisela says she doesn’t know how to save him. And he replies: by loving me, mi sol. They seem so much in love; Marisela says she feels like she’s losing herself in his eyes. She asks if he loves her and he says no, he adores her.

Melquiades and DB are continuing their conversation in which he wants her to return to her old ways. Let’s make the Mondragons pay for what they did. You don’t need peleles (puppets); you don’t need anyone else. DB replies that now’s the time to get back all the miserable allies: Pernalete, Mujica, even Federica and Josefa. Melquiades says that they turned their back on her. She tells him she wants them to think they are forgiven and then punish them after she’s made use of them

There’s another chaotic birth scene with the terneras. Altagracia has fainted and Melesio tells her to get up and help.

At Altamira Santos and Marisela are very close to making love when he pulls away and tells her it may not be right. She’s so young. She sweetly tells him that she’s tired of being called “niña” and that she’s not one. She proceeds to open her blouse. Santos looks at her chest and says: “You convinced me!” He then asks if she’s sure. She says she was sure since the time he caught her sleeping in a tree and called her “bella durmiente” (sleeping beauty). By the way, this is the name of the chapter in the novel in which Marisela first appears. There’s then a long, wonderful, tender, and sexy scene of the two making love (with lots of sheets, of course, as in all telenovelas!).

Back at Casa Sandoval, the babies have been born – a boy and a girl. Everyone is glad that the husbands made it back in time for the birth. Melesio is congratulated for his excellent birthing skills.

DB is meeting at El Miedo with Pernalete, Mujiquita, Josefa, and Federica. She says: OK, I accept your apologies, but I want to know exactly what happened, why you dared to cross me. They say Fidel Castell and Fausto Borrego threatened them.

El Sapo and Fausto are talking about the “mercancia” (merchandise). Sapo says this is of the utmost importance now, and they’ll deal with DB and Melquiades later.

Back at El Miedo, Josefa decides to take the lead and brazenly says that Fidel and Fausto were paying better and hints she’d switch sides for a better deal. DB slaps her hard, saying this is MY offer. The next time you double-cross me, I’ll feed you alive to El Tuerto del Bramador (the one eyed croc). She tells them that they betrayed her because they thought she was finished, but it’s not so easy to get rid of Doña Bárbara.

Genoveva comes running into Altamira to tell Santos and Marisela about the babies and overhears them giggling together in the same bedroom. She smiles happily.

DB and Melquiades are discussing the traitors. She’s worried about Fausto Borrego, but Melquiades says he’ll take care of him. But DB says, first things first; it’s time to tighten the reins on Tigre and Leon. She tells Melquiades. to do what she asked him to do.

Santos and Marisela are in a happy, post-coital mood, both of them glowing. M says she had no idea making love could be so marvelous. Santos tells her its because they love each other. She asks if people do it without love. He says that sometimes they do, but that kind of love is ephemeral. He tells her he wants to grow old with her and be one of those old couples walking hand in hand.

DB is caring for Eustaquia, asking her to please not die. She is again fantasizing that she’ll get Santos back.

More scenes of Marisela and Santos in the bedroom. This time M brings a tray of food and they eat in bed.

Altagracia goes to the schoolhouse to tell Cecilia and Casilda about the births. She also tells them she’s engaged, and their faces fall. She laughs and tells them it’s not Bartolo, but Maria Nieves. She then drops the bomb that Santos and Marisela are lovers, and that DB needs to forget about Santos since M now has his heart. Cecilia and Casilda are surprised, but happy.

DB is meeting with Leon and Tigre. She tells them: "I understand that you were looking for a new boss". They admit it, saying they didn’t like the way she was operating recently. They say they don’t really want to argue with her. DB says she didn’t bring them there to argue, but to bring them a surprise. Just so you will be clear as to whom not to have as your enemy. Melquiades comes in with their mother and sister! The mother is named Leoncia and the daughter Celeste. DB sardonically tells them what a big favor she is doing them, how swell it will be to have their family near. Leoncia will work in the kitchen and Celeste help out. The boys are impactados! They fully understand that their relatives are hostages for their good behavior.

Fausto and El Sapo are meeting in his office. Egad, El Sapo has got on a shiny, black '70s disco shirt! Fausto tells him there will be problems moving the product down the river because there’s more vigilance. Sapo tells him to get the Governor on the phone. It turns out to be the same corrupt guy DB was bribing when she and Santos were fighting over land and cattle. He’s apparently in on the trafficking. He says he’s having problems with the higher ups. There’s lots of pressure. Sapo reminds him he paid a bundle to help him politically and keep him in office. He tells him he has to cooperate, and if the shipment doesn’t make it, he’ll pay the consequences.

Tigre and Leon are spilling everything to DB. They tell her Sapo wants lots of cattle stolen to scare the owners into selling their haciendas. DB remarks that Sapo apparently wants the people gone and wonders why. She tells them they’re going to do a little job for her with Melquiades tomorrow. They are to be seen with him so their new friends will know whose side they’re on. What? They’re afraid? She tells them they can work happily knowing their mother and sister are being so well cared for!

Marisela finds a basket of food from Genoveva outside the bedroom door with a note inside telling them about the new babies. Santos asks if she’d like to have his child. She says not one but ten! She wants a team. She says they have to leave the room; they’ve been there two days. Santos says they were the best two days of his life.

At the Sandovals, everyone is gathered admiring the babies. They’re going to name the boy baby after Melesio. Genoveva happily tells everyone Santos and Marisela have been two days in bed. Pajarote sticks his foot in his mouth and accuses her of envy. He also says they’ll have to tell the two of them Altamira is on fire to get them out of bed. He then proceeds to pretend to stand outside their window screaming loudly that the hacienda is on fire, when Santos and Marisela come up behind him. Everyone is pretty embarrassed. Santos recovers and invites everyone to Altamira for champagne to celebrate the babies.

Fausto is going somewhere and is being followed by Melquiades, Leon and Tigre.

Eustaquia gets out of bed and finds Leoncia and Celeste in her kitchen. She’s suspicious and angry. DB comes in and tells her that she hired them so E doesn’t have to lift a finger from now on. E looks like a thundercloud.

Marisela and Santos are riding back from seeing the babies and race their horses.

DB and E quarrel. She refuses to quit work. Juan Primito is lurking in the doorway of E's room and has a letter in his hand. He turns around and drops another photo of the miscreants on the floor. This is not explained, and it looks like it may be a different photo of all five of them.

Santos’ horse has an injured hoof and they decide to spend the night in the open.

Eustaquia starts to pack her bags in a temper. DB has a wonderful, tender scene with her. She tells her she’s like her mother. That she taught her to desentrañar el cielo, encender fuego, y jugar con el agua (unravel the stars, build a fire, and play with water – swim?) She tells her she only wants her to rest. “Tell me you’ll stay and take care of yourself, because without you I can’t move through the world”.

It’s dark and some men are unloading large bags from a boat in the river onto the bank. Fausto is crouching down watching. Suddenly the cops show up and arrest the guys. Fausto sneaks away. We then see Melquiades, Tigre, and Leon watching all of them. Fausto looks pained and calls El Sapo on a cell phone to say there’s bad news and that the cops were watching for them. Before he can finish talking to Sapo, Melquiades and the others grab him and put a knife to his throat. Melquiades says: “Remember me; I came on behalf of La Doña”.

Santos and Marisela are in front of a campfire with a hut in the background, kissing. Marisela jumps up and shouts her happiness to the moon and the stars. She shouts that she’s Santos Luzardo’s woman and that he makes beautiful love to her. Doña Bárbara has approached on horseback close enough to see and hear, although the lovers cannot see her. The last view is of her furious face.

Labels: barbara

Ma hugs Ali and apologizes for hitting her.

Santi thinks he sees Candi serving him tequila. This prompts him to slam it and then when finished with the shot he sees Donato. Now, if I thought I was seeing things, tequila would be the last thing I would chug!! Especially if it made me see a funny looking butler. Santi flashes back to when he shared tequi with Candi and she told him it should be drunk by itself and slowly. He imparts this wisdom to Donato who takes note of it like an eager student.


Candi is chatting with Issy about buying the institute property, and wanted help from Issy, but the woman who lives in a palatial estate with multiple servants says she already invested all she had and she is left without cash. Hmmm. Isabel wants to offer her some jewelry instead but Candi refuses. Santi comes in and makes sure he sees her in flesh. Candy will find a way to keep the institute going. Santi agrees and invites her to stay for dinner. She thinks he’s being weird.

Pato chats with Meno and tries to cheer him up despite him being tired of fighting. Pato discovers Merengue.

Donato knocks on Jaime’s door. Donato wants to know if Jaime is coming down to the table. Right now he can’t. Don says ok, Jaime turns around and a vision of Santiago appears teasing him for not being able to make his wife happy in a gentleman's way. Soon Don comes back and wonders who Jaime was talking to.

Candi tells Meno she got the new owner to allow her to pay monthly but she tells him she would have rather saved the restaurant than the institute. Meno has resigned himself and is tired so they go up to bed.


Candi finds Merengue talking to her in her room. She wants to know who gave him the right to come up there and Merengue says that spouses have the right to be in the bedrooms of their spouses. She thinks Merengue is the only spouse that didn’t betray her. Merengue is my favorite character in this episode by far....







I think Candi is taking lessons from Paula Davila in Juan Q. She's sportin' some more cleavage for sure. Pato again begs for forgiveness and says he's the love of her life.



Santi cries to Mommy that he keeps thinking he sees Candi everywhere and she replies that he's only got her in one place, his heart. He makes a cute smile.



But, the phone then rings and it turns out Santi is calling and wants her to see him and give him a bachelor send off. She says he's crazy and he knows but he figures he's got nothing to lose by asking. She says she doesn't have nights of wild sex but she's thinking maybe she'll try it. Pato gets rocked at this possibility and kisses her but she says she's not talking to him. Pato finds out who is on the phone and tells Dr. Plastico to bug off. Candi asks the doc if she thinks she should go after the sex, she's there with Pato, blah blah, of course he thinks it's a bad idea. She tells him ot get a stripper and hangs up saying she's with her husband and is goign to take a bath. Pato says that guy only wants to bed you but I want ot live with you and our son. Dong!!!! Heavy. He's got a point....


Chayo comes home and finds the place trashed by Lalo and his buddies she is PO'd and turns up the music really loud on a sleeping Lalo. She tells him to get rid of his stuff and the fight about who really owns the house.

Candi says she doesn't know what she wants but she does care for Pato but it's time to go to bed. He says no, you said that when we were camping too. She's like, uh duh, yeah, that's what I say when I want to end a conversation. Konk! She basically says she's not ready.

Ma and Ali continue their mother daughter bonding conversation (not) and Ali ends basically explains she doesn't want to live alone, or live with Ma so if her hub doesn't come back, well then Art goes to jail. Ma worries about this because Art isn't the kind of guy to be pushed around. Ha no kidding....



More teenage type flirting from Pato, he has I love you written on his hand and plays that she has a birthmark on her face. Laugh laugh, cute cute, kiss, kiss... next.....

Meno is meditating. Candi tells him Pato wants to live with them. Meno says that's nothing new and is miffed that she bugged him for that. He gives her the book "Mrs. Flower" and her two husbands. He thinks she should read it and learn.

Santi shows up at the office to see Candi and tells her he couldn’t sleep. He wondered if she “did” it or not. She says yes. He thinks she’s going to regret this, how could she just because she thinks he does with Mari etc. She yells at him to stop because what she did was went to sleep with good conscience and Pato left after she hung up. Santi is thrilled and runs over to hug her. Lulu comes in to say there's a package for Candi. Snati didn't send it he swears. They run out. Turns out it's :a model hand with words of love written. Santi scoffs, body parts? Killers send body parts, what the hell?

Marissa wishes she had one because he never does such things for her. Santi tells her he would rather give kisses…he looks to make sure that Candi is looking when he plants a bunch on Mari. Mari knows he’s trying to make C jealous and tells herself this in the bathroom.

Lalo and Chayo split the apartment in half, and then fight over the various things they bought. The TV in particular. No Futbol and no novelas porque in their excitement, they managed to drop the thing and make it smoke. Ouch.

Jaime is muttering to Issy’s picture that he’s glad to finally see her because he says he's been under such pressure etc and well that's why he can't uh.... Donato sneaks up behind him and claps. he figures out the secret and offers a remedy because everyone wants Issy happy, right. Jaime agrees.

Arti tells Pat Ali had those papers, she showed them to me. Pat didn't think she had access. Pa writes that off to being a woman scorned. He worries about the Ma. He asks a weird question if Pato has never hit his wife and he says no way, why, and well anyway the subject is dropped but Pa continues that if Pato doesn’t go back to his wife Pa dearest will end up in jail.

Zam tries to pep talk Meno into doing something about saving the restaurant.

All of a sudden Toni shows up with a strange woman. Turns out she is the widow of Juan Alberto. She sorry about all the property but wanted him to have a letter. Turns out there were two and even though evil son wrecked his, she saved hers for Meno. He is sad he never got to hug his friend goodbye. Alma hugs him. He reads the letter and I didn't get much except that he does get his hug, figuratively.

Donato teases Tina and figures out that something is wrong with her so says he'll go to the pharmacy and get her something.

Lalo complains about Chayo, Santi complains about the body part. There was a bunch of stuff about bubis and what have you.


Sole goes to chat with Ceci. She says she’s in love and afraid to be alone. Ceci says to whom and Sole surprises her with the news that it’s Pato, the pop of her hijo and Candi’s too. Yeah Ceci is impactada at that one guess she's the last to know....

Pato yells at Ali for meddling. He reminds her that Candi is his wife. She smacks him.

Santi is apologizing to Candi for his behavior, he's jealous. He thinks she cares for him no matter what she says.He wants her to follow the arrow to his heart. He doesn’t want to lose her either. They smooch and it looks like somehow Mari rigged a web cam because the next thing we know she is watching the smooching and of course muttering curses.

Donato is preparing pills and saying he has to assist with the conjugal life to make the patrona happy. He gives Tina her pills too. Jaime sneaks up to see if Don got the pills and it looks like Don gives him the green one that was meant for Tina. Soon Tina shows up for hers and well, gets the other one...


Pato and Ali are still fighting about whether their marriage was good or not. He gets 2 days to come back home or Pa goes to the big house.


Turns out Donato gave him Tina’s laxatives.. the J man is all set to give the bone to Issy when he suddenly cramps up and runs to the toilet. You knew this was coming and somehow Tina turns into a rabid hound dog who can't get enough lovin' from Donato. We see Jaime cursing Don that he fell into the trick and should have known better and so forth. Issy wonders que the hell Don has to do with it all, well Jaime finally outs that he got a bad pill from him and that he was worried about so many things that he thought maybe he couldn't well...poor Issy is on to him.

Mari is watching the novela within the novela on the laptop. Candi is rejecting Santi, but he swears he'll call off the wedding in a second, he only loves Candi not Mari. Yikes, that sealed his fate. Mari says he's dealt the cards now. And that's it until tomorrow. Looks like we are on the verge of a wedding, but then again maybe not....

Labels: Tontas

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