Caray, Caray!

Doña Bárbara tells Arias not to joke with her, that something like that would not be a small thing in her life. Arias tells her it’s not a joke . He asks her if she’s been late on her periods and, after she thinks, she replies: one or two months. Arias says they have to do the test right away.

Gonzalo asks if the par de tortolitos (pair of lovebirds) aren’t happy to see him. They each embrace him. Marisela says she wants to let Andrés and Cosme know he’s there. Gonzalo says there will be time for that. For now he wants to be with the two of them. He says Marisela has changed a lot. He also says he’s come to stay a while. “Say hello to the new special commissioner of the central government of the state!” The old Governor resigned and I’m taking charge. Santos says that this is the way to build a country and congratulates him.

DB starts to believe in the possibility of the pregnancy and looks happy. Dr. Arias tells her that for now it’s only a suspicion and that her symptoms could also be hormonal. He says she should wait until he tests her blood. She wants to know how long the test will take. When she hears an hour, she hustles him out the door to get started.

I did not mention in the last recap that Cosme and Pajarote had come upon a beautiful young girl who has been swimming and wrapped a few things around strategic places. She’s obviously quite taken with Pajarote at first sight. Cosme cautions him that she could have a boyfriend or even a husband. Pajarote says that’s even better. The more risky the lover, the sweeter the pleasure! Suddenly she is grabbed by Leon Mondragon who addresses her as Celeste and says: “What are you doing here, snotnose. Cover yourself up! What are you jerks looking at? Don’t get any ideas. My little sister is not going to get involved with guys like you. Get out of here.” Leon is his usual charming self, grabbing Celeste by the arm and threatening her to ruin every second of her life if she ever talks to these guys again.

Pajarote tells Cosme that Leon messed with one of the terneras, and it wouldn’t be a bad thing at all for him to even the score with this gorgeous young thing. An eye for an eye.

The terneras are discussing the arrival of the mother and sister of Los Mondragones. Gervasia says DB is probably abusing them as she did to her when she lived with Leon. Genoveva is not participating in this discussion. She’s off to one side remembering when Pajarote held her hand and when the other terneras talked behind the sheet of his love for her.

Gonzalo says to those at Altamira that he’s come to put an end to the corruption and despilfarros (wasting of resources). He says there’s been lots of dark deeds and paid-off judges. He’s going to prevent fraudulent elections. They’ve been stealing from the people, and he won’t permit it to continue.

Santos asks about what he learned about Fidel Castell. Gonzalo says he’s an investor who lives abroad. He does import and export businesses under different rubros (titles). He says he could keep investigating. Santos says he’d like this, but understands that he’ll have his hands full with his new duties. Gonzalo says that within months there will be free elections. Santos exclaims that this is what they wanted and that it’s a triumph for Gonzalo. Gonzalo embraces Santos saying that Santos risked himself to save their necks and he hasn’t fully thanked him. He looks significantly over Santos’ shoulder at Marisela.

DB asks herself “Could it be true? Would destiny give me another chance? If it’s true, Santos will return to me.”

Santos wants to have a party and leaves to organize things, telling Marisela to do the hostess duties with Gonzalo. Right away, Gonzalo says that they haven’t had time to talk since she left. Marisela says she’s thought a lot about the way she used him to get away from Santos. She realizes that it was a bad thing to do and begs his pardon.

Gonzalo asks what happened with DB. Because she was Santos’ woman and now you are. Doesn’t this seem ugly to you? I don’t pretend to be a saint, but you used to be very honest and sincere. Aren’t you ashamed of having taken your mother’s lover?

DB is totally flying. She tells Eustaquia: “Haven’t you realized that everything will change if I have a child. Santos will come back and I’ll have the family I always wanted. I can scarcely believe God listened to me. If he’s giving me this child, it’s to give me a second opportunity. I can change, be another."

Gonzalo, seeing Marisela’s stricken face, apologizes and said perhaps he shouldn’t have spoken, but he’s very frank. Marisela agrees that in a way he’s right. Gonzalo says that he’s not there to judge her. What happened happened. But he wants her to know that his feelings haven’t changed. If she changes her mind, she could be the wife of the next Governor and, in a few years, the first lady of the country. She calls him foolish. He says he’s serious. He’s been thinking of her the whole time, he still loves her, and he’s still waiting for her. Marisela removes her hand from him and asks him if he’s forgotten that she’s his friend Santos girlfriend. Gonzalo says he wants to discuss it some more. Marisela says: “No, we aren’t going to speak of this again.”

DB is still talking of her happiness with Eustaquia. She says she can’t wait; she’s going to El Progreso to find out the test results.

Everyone is gathered at Altamira to celebrate Gonzalo’s return. Genoveva is serving drinks and, upon gazing into Pajarote’s eyes, drops the tray. Marisela pointedly kisses Santos before leaving the room, saying: “I love you, I love you, you are the love of my life” in front of everyone.

DB calls for Juan Primito to saddle her horse. E asks if she’s nuts - she just found out she might be pregnant and she’s jumping on a horse. DB insists that she rode all over the Arauca pregnant with Marisela, but E reminds her that she was hoping to lose the baby that time, plus it was long ago. DB acquiesces and asks Melquiades to bring the truck. E decides to come along, either to be a shoulder to cry on or someone with whom to share the good news.

Marisela and Genoveva have a funny conversation in which M is trying to tell her about Gonzalo and Geno is trying to tell M about Pajarote, neither one really listening to the other.

Melquiades hits several big potholes on the road to El Progreso and E jumps on his case. DB tells him that she has a child of Santos Luzardo in her belly. Melquiades certainly doesn’t look overjoyed, but then he never does! As soon as they get out of the truck, Acosta arrests him for killing Balbino Paiba, the guard, and an attempt on Santos Luzardo (I don’t remember the last one??).

DB tells Acosta to Melquiades go. He’s scared, but says Melquiades is charged with a federal crime. Pernalete shows up and she tells him the same thing. P resists for a while, but finally gives in. He tells her she has to keep in mind that there is a new central Government, and that Melquiades has to stay out of sight.

Genoveva tells Marisela she has to put a stop to Gonzalo’s courting because there will be a big mess if Santos finds out. M says Gonzalo makes her uncomfortable looking at her with sheep’s eyes. She suggests going to town to see what Cecilia advises.

At the celebration at Altamira, the guys bring Gonzalo up to date on the birth of the babies and the engagement of Maria Nieves and Altagracia, saying the only one left is Pajarote. Gonzalo asks why Marisela isn’t with them. Santos (oblivious to Gonzalo’s fixation) says that she went to town.

DB runs into Arias office. He chides her for being so loud when there are other patients. He then tells her that she is pregnant. She bursts into tears of joy. He wants to do a complete exam, but she says she has someone to talk with first and runs out. She runs through the streets with Melquiades and Eustaquia trailing behind.

Gonzalo is holding forth at Casa Sandoval, with a baby in his arms, about the wonderful things he’s going to do: education, public health, pensions for campesinos. The guys look pretty bored. They tell him to stop campaigning. And Melesio adds that deeds are worth more than words.

Cecilia is in the church finalizing the arrangements for the baptism of Toñito. DB runs in, not seeing Cecilia, crosses herself and thanks the Virgin for the pregnancy. Cecilia is behind her overhearing her pray out loud. She tells the Virgin that she’s going to have a beautiful child and you can’t even imagine how much she’ll love him. She recognizes that she behaved badly with her first daughter, but now she’ll have a chance to change everything, including making it up to Marisela. She swears she’ll be the woman Santos always wanted. For the child of Santos Luzardo she will stop hating, she will forgive, and she will be good. She hears the steps of Cecilia and sees her leaving.

DB returns to Arias’ office. He thinks it’s strange she hasn’t noticed anything as she’s 10 weeks pregnant. He gives her the instructions about rest. Says she has to avoid unpleasantness.

Mujiquita walks into the Jefatura Civil with Gonzalo. He tries to tell Pernalete about Gonzalo’s role, but Pernalete asks if this isn’t the fugitive, the agitator. Gonzalo says lots of water’s gone under the bridge since then. Mujiquita is still trying to tell Pernalete what’s what. Pernalete roars: Nothing is different! Gonzalo says he’s mistaken. He comes as the Commissioner for the entire region. His first objective is to put into order the various jefaturas; and, because he's so fond of El Progreso, he decided to start with Pernalete! Pernalete looks like he’s going to stroke out again.

DB walks into El Miedo and grabs a cigarette. Eustaquia grabs it out of her hand. DB lets her take it, but tells her not to push her luck. She says she’s going to take a nap. E asks when she’s going to tell Santos. DB says she’s not going to tell him. Let him find out through the grapevine, while I wait here in the shadows. My man will return for his child and for me.

Santos and the entire crew from Altamira are drinking in town, toasting Gonzalo, sure that he’s putting Pernalete in his place. Arias takes Santos aside, telling him he has something very grave to tell him.

Antonio has come to see his son at Cecilia's house, and she is telling him about DB’s pregnancy. Antonio thinks it’s a trick, but Cecilia says he didn’t see her face, crying with happiness, plus she thought she was alone in the church. She says she's sure she’s in that state. Marisela walks in at that moment and says “Who’s in that state?”

Labels: barbara

Well, according to the avances it's a CRUCIAL NIGHT on Mañana Es Para Siempre, but as my young friend Ms. Salazar says, they're always trying to hook you that way. Let's see...

• We review the heartbreaking scene of Lili telling lil' Fer: "I saw Eduardo!" and begging piteously for her freedom until she gets shot up with more drugs and lapses back into dreamland.
  
  
• Leaving the insane asylum for their next cheerful destination (Mom's tomb in the chapel), Pop Elizalde and lil' Fer commiserate about poor Lili. The chauffeur (Barbara's stoolie) listens as Fer tells her dad "Lili mentioned Eduardo." "Who?" "Have you really forgotten?" Dad sez Lil is confused with childhood memories.
  
  Fer: "Those were the happiest times of our lives. You should never have sent him so far away just because of a kiss, it was unjust. Who convinced you to do it?" "It doesn't matter... anyway, he was just a peon." (Hiss.)
  
  
• In a field, Jacinto tells Eduardo: "Your mother was right, you should go back to the U.S., we can't overcome Barbara's evil."
  
  Eduardo asks after his beloved horse, Amanecer - "He's dead and buried under a tree." They see a couple kids ("they're the grandsons of Don Clemente") with a couple of horses - Ed borrows them and they ride off to an empty farmhouse.
  
  Ed decides he will rent the farmhouse under a false name and stay in the area, both to facilitate avenging and because he missed his home the entire time he was away. He had a great job after he graduated business school and saved a lot of dinero. Jacinto protests, you're in trouble because Barbara hates you.
  
  Ed: "I'll kill off Eduardo Cruz. I'll rent this farm, furnished, and you'll help me."
  
  They take the horses back to the boys and Ed pays well for the rental. One of the boys calls him Señor Fuereño (a guy from someplace else) to Eduardo's grim amusement.
  
  Finally, Ed asks Jacinto to get all the contact info for everybody in the Milk Group. "I'll explain later, just do it!" Poor Jacinto.
  
  
• Margarita is worried - and in no way convinced by Jacinto's lame succession of lies, fabricated hastily to explain away the time he's spending with Eduardo. Jacinto is definitely in over his head.
  
  He finally tells his wife about the expired powdered milk he saw in the barn. She says, either we denounce the Hyena or we leave this place. She walks out, he wanders around hitting things in befuddled exasperation. He sits to put his head in his hands and sees an Elizalde business card. Maybe it will help Ed/Franco with the venging, so Jacinto grabs it and leaves, telling Margarita he's going to see the "old trout" and after that, to take care of the horses. She reminds him of her ultimatum: "I'd rather lose this house we struggled for than to lament a tragedy."
  
  
• Later, Jacinto runs back to the barn - "How odd, it isn't padlocked..." - and breaks in, all the milk is gone.
  
  
• Well, that's because the many bags of milk were moved to a hiding place in a bodega somewhere.
  
  
• Gardenia once again overhears Barbara having a suspicious phone call (and wearing a black dress with white bacilli crawling over it). Barb to Gardenia: "Tell my husband I'm at the beauty parlor." Barb leaves and immediately Gardenia picks up the phone, writes down the number Barbara just called, and sticks it in her bra. Wow, she's turning out to be a good spy!
  
  That stoolie chauffeur reports to Barbara about Lili's yelling scene at the manicomio and Barbara's very pleased to hear about it. She tells the chauffeur to give the wedding dress to Fer. The chauffeur flirts with Gardenia, but she's disgusted and calls him a gossip.
  
  
• At the chapel, Daddy Elizalde and Fer silently brood about the poor dead wheezer-that-was, Montserrat, and also about Lil in the loony bin. It was sad to lose Montserrat, but the loss of Lili is a continuing torment, Lili has spent 15 years in hell.
  
  
• And just at that moment, Lili is curled up in bed shaking in her coma. In comes her geezer friend (how can he just come in like that) and says: "The White Queen is sleeping. But some day she'll wake up with the power to start a fire."
  
  
• Eduardo calls his redheaded friend Steve in the States (from the "Telephone and Cheese House") and asks him to collect all the information on the Elizalde's finances and businesses (which the two of them had assembled for a report on Latin American companies) and send it to him under a false name (to be announced).
  
  While they talk, Ed is absent-mindedly fishing what looks like a driver's license from behind the pay phone. That was fortuitous, wasn't it? He half-heartedly tries to give it to the cheese lady but she isn't interested in taking it. He sees the name is Franco Santoro and decides that will be his new alias. He calls Steve again and gives him the name.
  
  
• Daddy Elizalde advises Fer: "Yes, it was sad, and Lili had a crisis, but chin up!" Gardenia arrives with the wedding dress. "Where's my wife? I thought she'd wait for us." But evidently she's gone to the, ahem, beauty parlor.
  
  
• Damian arrives unexpectedly, saying his boss is out of the office so he can play hookey, he wants to take Fer to lunch.
  
  He gets a call on his cell. He says it's from one of his engineers but it's actually Barbara in her car: "Get Fer out of the house and keep her away all day, she mustn't find out Soledad is dead."
  
  Well, when he gets off the phone, first thing Fer sez is, "Let's go see how my nana's doing."
  
  Her daddy is surprised to hear Soledad's been ailing - way to stay in touch with your loyal life-long servant, dude! "Yes, she had pneumonia but she's better," Fer cluelessly explains. Damian says they can visit Nana later.
  
  
• Barbara reports to Artemio Bravo about the bad milk hidden in the bodega. She wants to denounce the Elizaldes immediately, so Gonzo can go to jail (and she won't have to share a bed with him any more), but Artemio says no, he wants the Elizaldes ruined financially, their accounts zeroed out. She protests but he tells her not to disobey. "Destroy the milk, it's hundreds of tons, there will be millions of dollars of losses!" He then asks about Soledad's son. "It appears he's forgotten his mother!"
  
  
• Oh, it was hard to stay attentive during the thrilling conversation about milk politics Priscila has with her brother in his office. Well, first, Priscila and her brother put his company's new milk (with 50% more calcium) in their coffee. "Mmm, tasty!"
  
  Desultory gossip follows ... some of the milk tzars are innovating, mother is in Scandinavia, dad is playing golf, what's your imbecile husband doing with powdered milk, you know our dad has been waiting for you to have a child so as to cement the milk industry alliances. "I'm working on it." He cruelly points out she's been working on it already for seven years.
  
  
• Anibal is just telling a protesting Engineer "Tonight's the night for processing the expired powdered milk!" when Barbara comes in and semi-casually cancels the whole plan, blaming it on Priscila's family having found out: "They'll denounce you." "No, Priscila wouldn't..." "You think she's more loyal to YOU than to her family?"
  
  Barbara paints a picture of dreadful scandal which would certainly implicate Pop Elizalde. Anibal sputters about the millions of dollars of losses. Barbara: "I have a plan for later. In the mean time, dump the milk tonight. And watch out for your wife."
  
  
• Eduardo is in the very mall where Damian has, coincidentally, brought Fer for lunch. Ed is busy making plans for his new identity, starting by sweet-talking an official young woman into accepting his photo id even though he doesn't look anything like the picture and then getting some new credit cards and a cellphone.
  
  
• Damian gives Fer the honeymoon tickets. He's planned a trip to Hawaii, Polynesia, Borneo, New Guinea, they'll be away for almost four months! Fer is shocked, that's so long, she'd rather go for just three weeks. He resists but then says he is so crazy in love with her he must do everything she asks.
  
  String players stroll over and serenade her, he gives her a pair of pearl earrings surrounded by flowers. "A symbol of our love."

Tomorrow: Fer sees the handsome man she recently sprayed with mud. He asks, "are you still planning to get married?"

And, speaking of mud, we will be gifted tomorrow with a professional mud fight - evidently Ed knows one of the muddy bikinied women from childhood! Way to add a gratuitously lubricious scene in order to boost ratings!

And, lil' Fer wants to show her wedding dress to her nana! Ruh-roh!

Labels: manana

Doña Bárbara is carried out of the church completely unconscious. Santos follows along to see what’s the matter.

Sapo gives orders to have the body completely disposed of. He tells one of his henchmen to give a good quantity of money to the beauty queen and to also threaten her she’ll end up like the corpse herself if she doesn’t keep quiet. He tells one of his guys to call Facundo Laguardia. He needs him right away.

When alone he mutters that DB is challenging him. Doesn’t she know what happens to those who do that? He says that what he gave her 20 years ago will be a caress compared to what he’ll do now.

Genoveva is washing dishes and Pajarote approaches. He’s being very, very sweet. He admires her hands, holding one in his two. He offers to help with the dishes (boy, he’d have me right there!). She continues being stubborn. If he wants to stay, she’ll leave. Pajarote just smiles and says: clearly the girl is dying to be with me.

DB comes to in the doctor’s office and says she’s very dizzy. She sees Santos standing there and says it’s all his fault, all her problems are his fault.

Pernalete, Josefa, Federica and Mujica are discussing the events in the church. Josefa says sapos y culebras came from her mouth (toads and snakes).

Marisela and Cecilia discuss the events in the church. Cecilia thinks she’s faking, but Marisela reminds her of how pale she was.

Sapo is meeting with Facundo Laguardia. He tells him he’ll give him Fausto’s job because he’s the only one he trusts. He tells him DB was the one who did Fausto in. He says he wants her to die in the same cruel way that she kills, and soon, because it’s either her or himself. Fausto asks what’s the first step. Sapo tells him to get 3 bullet-proof SUV’s and the best guys you can find. He’ll let him know the rest later.

The crooked Governor shows up at Sapo's house asking for help.

The Shakespeare plotters are laughing on the front porch of Casa Sandoval, saying Pajarote fell into the trap beautifully. Genoveva shows up and they stop talking about that. When they ask where he is, she tells them she sent him off with a flea in his ear. She thinks he’s pretending to be interested, treating her well so that he can make fun of her later. After she walks off, they grin conspiratorially and say: “It’s working! We only need to give her the same treatment!”

Sapo and the Gov again. Gov says “they” are going to appear at any moment. Sapo is exasperated. “Who?” The Gov says there's an expediente (investigation or beginning of disciplinary action) against him for extorsion, fraud, and who knows what else. He thinks they’re going to force him to resign. Facundo approaches and says that everything is prepared. Sapo says to wait.

Santos and Marisela have an argument about DB. Marisela is worried. Santos thinks DB is fine. Marisela says: “What if she dies because of me?” Santos tells her to stop feeling guilty.

Eustaquia fusses over DB. She seems very weak. Tigre and Leon show up chortling over dropping Fausto into Sapo’s bedroom. They tell her Melquiades is watching the pez gordo (literally fat fish, but is used to mean big shot). She tells them to round up all the weapons and ammunition. Mount a guard. There’s going to be war. She faints again, and when she comes to dismisses it as lack of food.

Sapo is talking to someone on the phone: “the National Police?” After he gets off the phone he tells his henchmen they have to take everything and leave right away, leaving no trace behind. He says things are heating up.

We’re back to the argument between Santos and Marisela. She says DB is still her mother. She also feels terrible because Santos has to leave Altamira and all his projects because of her. She doesn’t want to leave. She missed los llanos terribly when she was in the city, and now that she’s home she wants to stay. Santos says OK we’ll stay. But they still argue.

The Gov accuses Sapo of leaving the battlefield without a fight. Sapo tells him it’s a strategic retreat. He needs to wait a while, find new allies. Facundo asks about DB. Sapo says she’ll have to wait also.

Melquiades watches the house with a puzzled look on his face while Sapo’s guys fill the vehicles with boxes.

Cecilia is walking the delightful Toñito in a baby carriage in the park. Arias approaches and lifts the child, smiling delightedly. Antonio walks up with a face like a thundercloud and tells him not to touch his son. He says Arias just wants to get to the mother through the child, but he won’t permit it. Cecilia is furious. She says she's the mother, Arias is the child's doctor and, by the way, when is he going to grow up. Arias tells him he must have amnesia because he’s forgotten that Cecilia and he himself are free, while Antonio is a married man. He then asks Cecilia if he could come by for some of her delicious coffee, and they walk off together leaving Antonio fuming.

The loaded cars leave Sapo’s vulgar house. The valiant Sapo waits until a guard opens the car door, looking all around with a gun in his hand, before he darts from the house and jumps into the backseat.

Leoncia brings DB some soup, and Eustaquia goes into a tirade about how horrible Leoncia’s food is. DB gets sick of the squabbling and goes to bed.

Lucía tells Antonio that she has an appointment the next day with Arias, but Antonio is behaving like a petulant child and refuses to let her keep the appointment. He says he’ll take her to San Fernando.

Arias is in Cecilia’s house. He says “How I wish Antonio had a reason to be jealous, but I know you’re not interested in me.” Cecilia says it’s not him; she’s given up on love. Arias tells her how wonderful she is and that she deserves to have a family. Cecilia reminds him that she already married a good friend, had respect, but felt very alone. She's not going to marry again for only friendship.

Melquiades sneaks into Sapo’s house and finds it deserted. He thinks to himself that they left as if there had been a plague.

Bartolo tells Mujiquita, Pernalete, Josefa, and Federica that the Gov has resigned and fled the country. Pernalete says it’s his duty to tell DB.

Santos is in his room alone, reading, thinking about Marisela and wondering why she isn’t with him. Marisela is in her room wondering why he hasn’t come for her. She says she’s dying for his kisses. Santos gives in first. He tells her: “What kind of couple would we be if the first argument you go to another room? What happened to the brave girl I fell in love with?” Marisela says that all that remains is a coward. Then she smiles and says “Your room or mine?” Santos grins devilishly, bouncing a bit on the mattress, saying why not try this room that I’ve fantasized about so many times.

DB is still very weak. Eustaquia tells her she’s green. Eustaquia is not giving up on complaining about Leoncia. She says she’s not surprised the way the Mondragones turned out, considering what they ate growing up. Melquiades shows up. DB is very surprised to find out they’ve all gone from Sapo’s house. Melquiades says they ran as if the devil were after them. DB says: "or the police".

Mujiquita tells Santos about the Gov leaving and that the new government is embarking upon a program to clear up corruption. There will be a commission to investigate. Santos is very pleased to hear this

Dr. Arias shows up in DB's bedroom. She calls him a matasanos (a quack). Eustaquia tells her she has to put up with him because he’s the doctor for humans, or Eustaquia could call the vet so that he could treat a mule like her. It’s her choice.

There is another Shakespeare production. This time Genoveva is the victim. She’s with a ternera whose name I forget, and they stop and overhear Gervasia, Altagracia and, I think, Melesia, who are behind sheets hanging on a line. They emote in ringing tones that Pajarote is in love with Genoveva. Then why does he treat her so badly? Gervasia says this is how he hides his love; it’s what he told Carmelito. Since they’ve spent so many years fighting like cats and dogs, he’s afraid to tell her he loves her. Melesia says that someone ought to tell Genoveva he loves her. Gervasia says it would then be worse because she’d make fun of him forever. Genoveva looks confused, but interested.

Santos and Marisela are in the sala. She tells him of the Shakespeare plot, incidentally pronouncing the bard’s name better than any other Spanish speaker I’ve ever heard – congratulations Genesis! They have a teasing talk where she accuses him of jealousy, reminding him of how he was about Gonzalo. He tries to say he was only a little jealous, and that he was only looking out for her best interests. (Right!) He says Gonzalo Zuloaga was never his rival. He always knew Marisela loved only him. Gonzalo, in a nice suit and Panama hat, speaks up nearby: “Don’t be so sure, Santos Luzardo! I’m still your rival.”

DB argues with Arias. She doesn’t want him to treat her. He tells her at least let him do a blood test. He has a suspicion. Has she considered her symptoms: weakness, dizziness, wanting to sleep a lot, nausea? When was her last menstruation? It’s possible you’re pregnant. DB looks stunned and Eustaquia looks delighted.

Labels: barbara

Across the way in the moonlight, Eduardo sneaks into the old storehouse and starts looking around. He finds his way up to the loft and notices the little heart with the "E y F" in the center that he carved on one of the beams that fateful day years ago . At the same time, Fernanda is working at her desk on a report for the company. The computer screen starts channeling Ed's thought waves and she begins daydreaming about the exact same memory. She tells herself that those were the happiest days of her life.

Eddie now remembers the two of them as happy children in the storehouse when little Nanda gave him her medallion to keep, and how they swore they would love each other always. The theme song plays in the background:

♪♪ ...I make an impassioned plea that you remember

that you swore not to fail me

and that we promised it would never end,

that tomorrow will be forever...♪♪

Eddie takes off the medallion and asks the virgencita to forgive him for breaking his oath to her, but, he says, out of consideration for Fernanda's feelings he can not wear it any longer. He places it on a broken piece of beam and continues exploring the storehouse.

Meanwhile, at Jacinto's, Gardenia is losing it. She starts screaming at her BIL that she can't take it anymore and wants them all to flee to the other side of the world if necessary just to get away from despicable Devil-Woman. Jacinto is sympathetic, but is reluctant to give in to her whims. She races out of the house and he and Margarita race after her for fear she'll try something stupid like opening her big mouth.

Eddie, still in the old storehouse, stops a minute and remembers the time that Sole told him to get used to the idea that nothing serious could ever be between him and Nanda. Nanda was wealthy and he was poor. "Never forget it, Eduardo!" (Kudos to both the composer and the audio tech. Even Jollywood would find it hard to fault the music or the editing.) He realizes how right his mama was back then.

Eddie roots around a bit more and notices an old blanket and a couple sheets lying in the corner (courtesy of Camilo, perhaps? -eewww!). He decides to spend the night there. As he starts to settle in he takes another look around the room with his flashlight. All of a sudden he notices stacks and stacks of powdered milk bags at the other end of the wall. It apparently doesn't make sense to him that they'd be there. Eddie starts to examine them more closely when he hears a truck motor outside and the main doors to the building begin to screech open. He hides in a corner and watches secretly as Osvaldo and a number of his men rush in and begin loading up the bags from the warehouse.

Outside somewhere, Jacinto finally catches up to 'Denia who is on her way to the main house to find Don Gonzo and tell him "just what kind of cockroach" the guy's married to. Jacinto is desperate to talk some sense into her. "Do you really think he's going to listen to you? And what's more, you're dreaming if you think you're actually going to speak with him." Margo angrily accuses Jacinto of being on Team Barbie, but he reminds her that they can't do a thing, unless she really thinks they're going to get the head of his security to get Gonzo out of bed just for Denia to tell him, "I caught your wife with Damian Gallardo and they were--" Margo gets the point and shuts him up with an ultimatum that either they leave town together or she will leave without him; and she wants his answer in the morning. Denia follows her back to the house..

Back at the old warehouse, Eddie continues to sneak peeks at Ozvaldo hurrying the men to get the sacks loaded up. Eddie wonders who the guy is and who's behind this secret pick up done in the dead of night. Finally Barrales comes in to tell Osvaldo that the last truck is full up and there's no more room for more than a few of the remaining bags. Osvaldo says they'll have to come back with a truck the next day for the remaining stack. The men lock up and drive off.

Babs and Gonzo are in bed now, but she can't sleep because she's worried how the visit with Lili will go the next day. She's got to get control of the situation and fast, so she pretends to start crying. Her noisy sobs are calculated to wake him up. Gonzo does and she unloads a line of bull that will convince him not to allow Lili to come back with Fernanda. She whimpers about being very afraid that Lili might have a breakdown like when she killed dear sweet Moan-sie. In another part of the house, Nanda gets ready for bed and looks over at the picture of the fifteen year-old Lili. Nanda thinks about how much she misses her older sister and that it's been fifteen years since she's even heard Lili's voice.

The next morning Ed goes looking for Jacinto in the stables. The place is huge and has dozens of stalls in it, leading Viewerville to wonder if the Elizalde's run a stud farm, too, perhaps. Eduardo tells Jacinto that he has something to show him before it gets moved and he wants him to see it right away. Just then Tomasa, one of the maids at the main house, comes yelling for Jacinto about a jacket that Camilo left there in the stables. He says he'll look for it but she insists on doing it herself. Suddenly Jacinto starts screaming in pain.

Speaking of stud-farming, up at the main house Anibal is ready to head into the office to discuss that secret shipment of black market milk powder with BOW, but Prissy nags and says he cannot go in yet. They have an appointment at the fertility clinic that morning. Anibal, who looks anything but hormonally driven around pretty-faced Pris, is not a happy camper.

Back at the stables, apparently to keep Tomasa from finding Eddie, Jacinto pretended he was stung by a wasp. He begs repeatedly for Tomasa to go back to the house to get some vinegar for him to put on the sting. It takes a while to convince her to go because she's afraid of getting bitched-out by Camilo, but eventually she leaves and Eduardo comes out of his hiding place. Jacinto has removed his shirt for the ruse and Ed sees that Jacinto has scars on his back. He asks him where they came from.

"It's a souvenir from Camilo." Jacinto remembers how years ago when they were boys Camilo brutally beat him with a horse whip because Jacinto supposedly hadn't fed his horse yet that day. WHAP! WHAP! WHAP! Camilo yells at him, "When I give you an order you obey!" (Viewerville can only hope that Camilo spends all eternity in some level of Hell being forever trampled by angry stallions.) Ed jerks Jacinto back into the present and tells him it's another reason for hating the Elizaldes. Jacinto tries to blow it off and says Camilo was just a kid when it happened. Eduardo asks Jacinto if, now that the guy's an adult, he's come by asking to be forgiven for it yet? Jacinto is about to admit Camilo might when pigs fly, but just then Kaiser, Camilo's horse, begins to whinny. Jacinto explains to Ed that as soon as Camilo comes near the stables his horse always gets upset. So, with Camilo obviously on his way, Eduardo hides in one of the stalls again.

Camilo comes into the stables. Jacinto saddles up Kaiser for him. Camilo then tells Jacinto that the day of his sister's wedding he wants him to have a gentle horse saddled up and ready. It's for one of his girlfriends who has never ridden before. He threatens him that he'll beat him with his whip if anything happens to her. Camilo rides away on Kaiser and Ed comes out of hiding. (From the way Kaiser's ears went back when Camilo mounted, it's apparent that the first chance this horse gets, Camilo's going para-sailing out of his saddle and over some cliff, but without the benefit of said para-sail.) Jacinto gets agitated and says if Camilo knew he was there he'd have a heart attack. Ed tells him that Camilo will be getting sick from much more serious things, just wait and see. They leave for the old storehouse together.

Margo tells Denia back at Jacinto's, now, that she's thought better about threatening Jacinto the night before. The two women go to the church to pray for Sole and to ask for guidance about the situation at the hacienda. Denia says they'd better pray for a muzzle for her, too, so Denia won't end up telling La Hiena to her face what she thinks of her.

Speaking of man-eating canines, BOW is by the doorway telling Lucio, Gonzo's chauffeur, that she wants a detailed report of absolutely everything he overhears her hubby and step-daughter say on the way to and from their visit with Lili. Gullible hubby, Gonzo, shows up just as the dorky chauffeur leaves. BOW quickly draws her fangs back in. Gonzo asks if she'll consider coming with them to visit Lili. Babs sweetly says she still has to attend to a number of wedding preparations. Fernanda shows up at that point. Babs, in a low, buttery-smooth voice (which to me is more like fingernails being scraped along a blackboard) asks Fernanda to give her warmest regards to Lili. Nanda says sure and then mentions that if Lili seems well enough she wants to bring her home. Babs cautions sympathetically that it's best to ask the doctor first and then affectionately sends the two of them on their way.

Anibal and Prissy are at the fertility clinic in the doctor's office getting instructions. Fanny, The Nurse (you can't be serious!) comes to fetch Anibal. Prissy asks him to be sure to turn off his cell phone so that nothing interferes with his...concentration. Anibal stares over at her and, if looks could kill, Prissy would have been summarily iced, sliced and diced in a nanosecond. Nurse Fanny leaves Anibal in the...er...testicular testing room which, BTW, is stocked with oodles of girlie magazines. Anibal notes the flat screen tv set up to go with an English language porno flick called (are you ready for this) "Fresh Jugs." As we leave him to his lonely task, the burning question for Viewerville is whether he would have rather had naughty pictures of Mr. World and a flick named "Diego Does Dallas" instead.

On the way to the psych clinic, Nanda tells her daddy that there must be something they can do for Lili. She thinks it's terrible that her sister has been shut away from everyone and every thing for the last fifteen years. Gonzo admits he also wishes that things could be different but says he's frightened (thanks to Babs' subtle brain-washing techniques) of her having another breakdown like she did when Moan-sie died. Lucio's all ears as Nanda asks Daddy to give her the details about why he is so sure it was Lili who killed Mama. Nanda explains that she never did really understand what happened that day.

Gonzo tells her that Lili was responsible for causing her mother's death after Moan-sie discovered Lili taking drugs. Lili became enraged over it. She and her mother were always at logger heads and by that point, Moan-sie's heart just couldn't take the stress any longer. He saw himself how crazy Lili got; and that she began talking nonsense. Lili started blaming Barbara for her crime, like she was needing to blame somebody else for what happened. He felt it was due to her being high on something.

In the meantime, on their way to the old storehouse, Ed tells Jacinto that he went to visit Lili the day before and that he mentioned his mother to her. He realized while he was there that she was not crazy after all. In fact, he thought she recognized him because she called out his name as he was starting to leave. Jacinto wonders how she could have known who he was if even he didn't recognize Eduardo the other day in town. Eddie says it might have just been a premonition or something. Jacinto is worried Lili might tell somebody about him, but Eduardo figures everyone will just chalk it up to hallucinations since they all think she's crazy anyway. Jacinto wonders what he plans to do now. He says he still hasn't any idea.

Fernanda and Gonzo arrive at the clinic and try talking with Lili, but she seems lost in her own world again. Nanda asks Dr. Oh! if he followed her father's instructions and suspended the drugs in anticipation of their visit. Dr. Oh! acts insulted and lies to them. He says that of course he did, even though it was against his professional recommendations. Lili tries to respond to her sister's attentions but Dr. Oh! tells them that the visit is disturbing her. He adds a dire warning that any attempt to take her back to her childhood home would have deadly consequences. Lili is lucid enough to understand and is disturbed by the lies coming from Dr. Oh! She attempts to break through the drug's effects but she still cannot manage to speak.

Bar-bot, meanwhile, starts calling around looking for Anibal. She gets hold of Prissy on her cell and finds out they're both at the fertility clinic in the middle of getting tested. Prissy says she'll have Any-balls (sorry, just couldn't resist that) call her back once they're done there.

Ed now shows Jacinto the remaining bags of powdered milk from the U.S. hidden in the Elizalde's old warehouse. Ed says he figures they've got to be there for some sort of shady business dealings. He absent-mindedly scratches off a label and they find out that the bags were all expired as of a couple of years ago. Ed's best guess then is that they probably bought these on the black market on the cheap and, of course, the product would be dangerous for anybody to consume. Jacinto wonder's who's idea this was and Ed says it's La Hiena trafficking in black market merchandise.

Lucio takes a break to call Babs with the skinny while waiting on Don Gonzo and Fernanda at the clinic.

Lili, meanwhile, keeps trying to communicate with Fernanda. Fernanda tells the doctor that it seems Lili's squeezing her hand desperately as if she's got something to tell her. Dr. Oh! lies again saying it's only an agitated response from not being given her usual medicines and that this could be harmful for her.

Back at the old warehouse, Eddie tells Jacinto that BOW is deceiving the authorities and has corrupted the company executives. Jacinto is ready to turn them into the authorities immediately, but Ed says they don't have enough proof since a few bags of expired milk product isn't proof of anything. They will have to find out where the rest of the shipment is stored first. Jacinto explains his situation on the home front and says things are starting to get ugly around there, so Margarita is demanding they leave the hacienda to start over somewhere else. He 's going to have to give in to her real quick if he can't convince her otherwise. Ed is thinking they're going to need a bit more time to consider strategy. Right now Jacinto needs to go with him somewhere else. Jacinto is definitely feeling the strain of his divided loyalties.

Lili manages to spit out the word "alone" in front of her papi and Nanda, then begs Nanda as best she can to tell the doctor to let the two of them speak alone. Fernanda is encouraged to see Lili is still aware of her surroundings. Dr. Oh! is on pins and (pardon the pun) needles at this slip-up and insists that these kinds of patients without their medicine begin to say incoherent things. Fernanda is adamant and says that Dr. Oh! can listen for any yell through the door. Gonzo agrees with her and the two men leave to wait in the hallway.

Fernanda tells Lili that she's got to get better and prove it to the doctors. She begins telling Lili all about marrying Damian, a great guy who loves her tremendously. Hearing this makes Lili visibly upset and Nanda supposes it's because Lili doesn't think she'll continue coming to visit her once she's married. Lili struggles until she spits out the words, "Don't get married!" Nanda is confused. "--Why do you say that, Lili? What are you afraid of?" Lili manages to answer, "The past." "--The past? No, you don't have to be afraid of the past. The things that hurt the family in the past are healed. Damian is a nice man who is very understanding." Lili struggles again to speak and manages to say next, "Eduardo!" Fernanda reminds her that Eduardo left the hacienda many years ago. Lili shakes her head and struggles again till she can actually make a coherent sentence. "Eduardo came back!" Fernanda is visibly impactada.

Meanwhile, Any-balls is pacing in the fertility doctor's office while Prissy patiently preens in one of the chairs. "So, were any of those videos helpful, or was just thinking about me sufficient?" Any-balls ignores Pris. She says, "At one time you told me that's what you used to do, think about me. --Or have your preferences changed and now you like them younger?" "--That's not funny!" he snaps at her. She says it seems to her what's not funny is that for him to get excited he's got to think about other women. (Ouch!) Anibal finds his pair and tells her that they're only there because she forced it and as far as he's concerned, the last thing he wants is a child, especially with her! The fertility doctor comes back in and interrupts this blissless marital moment to tell them the results will take a few days. He then gives them a paint-by-numbers fertility calendar with the appropriate days marked in red hieroglyphs. Any-balls has to ask, "Appropriate days for what?" Prissy jumps in and says, "your homework, my love!" and he promptly searches for the nearest crack in the floor he can melt through.

Back at the psychiatric clinic, Fernanda corrects Lili and again tells her that Eduardo "went far away many years ago." She suggests that Lili just dreamed it. Lili, though, to her credit, insists that he has come back. "He came back. He came to see me! He came! He came and I saw him!" Fernanda hugs Lili and tries to pacify her by telling Lil that she believes her, but Lili realizes this. She insists through her tears that she is not crazy and Nanda again tries to calm Lili down. Lili wimpers repeatedly that she is not crazy. She begs Fernanda to take her out of there. Lili can no longer control her frustration and starts screaming again and again that she's not crazy, she's not CRAZY! The guards rush in with Dr. Oh! right behind and they start shooting her up with sedatives. Lili begs her father and sister to take her out of there. Fernanda is horrified at what she sees. "Daddy, I can't handle this!" Dr. Oh! smiles smugly. "Now do you understand, Señorita Elizalde?" Nanda and Gonzo share a mortified and tearful embrace.

Labels: manana

Permalink posted by Jardinera654 @ 1:37 PM 57 comments

In case we forgot what was going on, today is the wedding, and we begin by showing Candy talking to Barb in the ladies room in front of a sign saying the floor is slippery (resbalado), Barb asking if Candy wants to be in Mari’s place, Candy not wanting to, because Santi doesn’t love the bride. Barb can’t believe that in this day and age, a man would marry without love, just for obligation. Then (after showing us a cleaning lady to remind us about the floor), Mariloca has her little conversation with Raúl, overheard by Candy, in which Mari is tired of Santi, of his whole family, but while Raúl suggests calling the whole thing off, Mari won’t, asking Raúl what’s the worst thing that ever happened to Santi? Raúl remembers that Santi’s brother died, and his wife Paulina left when the baby was first born. That’s it, says Mari. Santi was abandoned, but he still had Rocío. However, he’ll never know my baby. I’ll get married, and then as soon as the baby is born, I’ll leave, I’ll disappear. Don’t know if I’ll ever come back, but I assure you, Santiago will never know the baby. Candy is impactada, and as Mari leaves to go to the wedding, Candy scurries to get out of the way, slips (unbeknownst to the others at the Institute), falls and knocks herself out on the floor.

Alicia is all dressed up for the wedding, and has come to Pat’s hotel room to ask him to accompany her there. Pat doesn’t want her to invade his space, and doesn’t want to go to the lousy wedding. Ali says they were both invited, she doesn’t want to go alone, what can she tell everyone? Pat doesn’t care, he’s not going, and when Ali begs him to come home, he won’t do that either. She leaves, disappointed, and Pat looks distressed about the whole situation, too. Notice, however, that he is dressed very elegantly, in a dark suit, white shirt, and orange-gold tie (does he always dress up, even on weekends, just sitting around the hotel room?).

It’s a beautiful day for a wedding (I’m a little jealous about their incredible weather). Outside the church, Charly (wearing a suit but white tennis shoes) is camcording the abandonados and Santi. They’re joking with him. Zamora, in mariachi gear, asks Santi if he knows the difference between marriage and divorce. Marriage is all rice, but divorce is all pa’ella! (paella is a Mexican dish, but pa’ (para) ella means “for her”. A little more clowning, and the guys head inside.

At the Institute, Candy has come to, is sitting in a chair as Barb and Lulu make sure she’s okay. She is, but she flashes back to Mari’s threat to abandon Santi, to hurt him.

There’s a brief conversation between Arturo and Pat. When Pat reminds Art that everyone makes choices, Art thinks he chose (elegi) well, he chose to be rich and powerful, but now he has to live with some of the things he did. While he was making money, he had no time for conscience. But things have changed. He wishes one’s conscience could be disposable (desechable), but after age 70, nothing is disposable. Then are you truly regretful (arrepentido) about what you did? asks Pat. Not about what he did, but about putting Pat in the middle of this. And now the papers are in the hands of a nut (Alicia).

We see Santi alone on a bench outside the church, meditating. Isabel sees him, asks if he’s nervous. No, but he certainly is conflicted. Isa knows what he’s thinking, but assures him she won’t make trouble, she’ll be the happy suegra to Marissa, he just has to be brave. As she leaves, he thinks all the guys were right (kidding him about how wrong it is to get married), he’s heading to the matadero (slaughterhouse).

Inside the church, we get a Charly-Cam view of all the guests, looking terrific, making funny faces at the camera. One of the best things about a telenovela wedding is that you get to see all the characters together, all dressed up, hair done, happy. Well not everyone is happy. Chayo’s grumpy on one side of the aisle with a smiling Barb, Lulu, Ceci and Soledad, and Ed’s a matching grouch across the aisle with the guys. Meño and Gregoria are pensive, and Paulina looks annoyed. We also see Beto, Zamora (on the girls’ side), Donato with Tina and Hortensia, and Isabel walking to the front row to join Jaime and be greeted by a gleeful Lucía, Rocío and Chava.

Pat and Arturo continue their chat, Pat assuring his Dad that it looks as if Alicia won’t actually do the blackmail, he and Ali are working this out, but what’s up with you, Dad? Are you having an affair with Gregoria? Of course not, replies Arturo, and explains the mixup from the other day, where Margarita caught him at Greg’s house. Pat’s phone rings, and it’s Candy, Pat must come immediately!

I guess so, as Raúl is now walking his sister down the aisle, giving her away to Santi. Little shots of the various guests reveal their emotions.

Candy is pacing the floor in the restaurant, distraught, as Pat arrives. She tells him they have to stop the wedding. Santiago can’t get married. Mari is doing it for revenge, she’s going to abandon Santi, and never let him see his child. Please help. Pat now has to make one of the most difficult decisions of his life. He loves Candy, but she’s asking him to stop the wedding of his rival! But he can see by her face what she’s feeling. He loves her, but he can’t have her halfway (a medias). Her body is here, but her heart is being torn in half by Santi’s getting married in that church. He realizes she has to stop the wedding. His eyes brimming with tears, he agrees to help her. They rush off to his car.

They arrive outside the church, and she hesitates. Inside, the padre is giving the vows. Mari happily says I do (actually they say accepto – I accept him as my husband, etc.). As the priest recites all the promises Santi will have to make, to love, honor, cherish, in good times, and bad, Santi’s face looks as if these are quite a few things to promise, he’s a little overwhelmed. Before he can answer, some one’s cell phone rings! Hmmmph, you’d think people would know to turn off their cells in a wedding. Santi impatiently looks at the abandonados to just answer it, please, but it turns out it’s HIS phone. With Mari saying no, he answers, and it’s Candy. “Say no, say no, please say no”, she implores, her hand shaking, his mouth wide open. He pauses for a few seconds, as Mari tells the padre to ask him again, and the padre does. Then Santi says “(the patient is) that sick!?” Candy says she’s outside the church. Santi says “They’re going to die?”, as all the guests go Que, queeeee! Santi turns to the priest, tells him it’s a medical emergency, sorry, but he has to go! Raúl demands what’s up, Santi mentions the Hippocratic Oath, Raúl thinks more like hypocritic, Santi walks out of the church (past a smirking Paulina), as all hell breaks loose. Raúl’s in hot pursuit, but Donato extends a toe, and Raúl’s down for the count. In the midst of the confusion, though, we do see sly Alicia seem to sneak out past the guests.

The three kids wonder why Santi walked out, Beto thinks maybe he had to make pipi (of course!), both boys ask Rocío if she’ll marry them, but sorry, she can’t right now, her Daddy isn’t there for them to ask permission.

Santiago rushes to Candy, bends her back with a big kiss, but she’s not on the same wavelength (we also see Pat, gallant but hurting, just off to the side). Santi says he loves her, he loves her, he just needed that push to help him make the correct decision, and she did it! Pat is softly saying adios to Candy a few feet away. Candy says we have to leave, now. But Santi wants to marry Candy, now! They have the church, everything’s ready, let’s take advantage of it! Meño runs up, saying he knew the phone call had to be Candy, but they’d better get out of there, there would be big trouble if they went back into the church. So they do flee, and Meño is happy, but as he turns back to the church, Alicia is looking right at him, she saw the whole thing! After Raúl comes out, Meño says Santi went thataway (the wrong way), but advises Raúl to look after his sister. Meño then confronts Alicia, hopes she’ll keep quiet about this. Alicia’s not so sure, even after Meño reminds her it’s better for her if Santiago goes with Candy (because Pat’s crazy about Candy), Alicia contemplates the power of secret knowledge.

On the bench outside the church, Barb is consoling Mari, Raúl says the wedding was suspended, but the padre can start it up when Santi returns, to which Jaime says “you think he’s coming back?”, Mari faints, everyone’s upset, but Barb sees that Mari is faking, and tells everyone not to worry.

And sure enough, Mariloca is not down, she’s just getting started, she bursts into (I think Santi’s) house, telling Raúl he did nothing, just stood there, he tries to calm her down, they don’t know what’s happening yet, she flings open the upstairs window, curses Candy, screams she knows what happened, you don’t really think there was a dying patient, give me a break! She calms a bit, reminds Raúl she had a plan, right? Sure, get married and leave Santiago. Well, she says, she’s not married yet, so the plan’s not over. But your fiancé left. No, it’s not over. Raúl pleads for her to be reasonable, but she tells him to shut up and hurls her flowers out the second floor window. He calms her down, tells her maybe the game isn’t over yet, let’s not show our cards. Can you act sad, hurt? She wipes her eyes and says yes.

After the commercial, Pat, alone, slowly enters the now vacant church. (I’m really feeling for him at this point. He sacrificed himself for Candy). The padre asks if he can help. Pat wonders if he can do a miracle. No, but God can. Pat feels alone. The padre tells how when Jesus was on the cross, there were only three people there, Mary Magdalene, the Virgin Mary and Saint John. Jesus cried “Father, why have you abandoned me”. So he was alone?, asks Pat. No, God heard his call, and from that day, none of us is ever alone. God is always with us. Pat tells the padre he let the woman he loved most in the world go. He had wounded her, but now, all he cares about is for her to be happy. As the padre leaves, Pat looks up at the picture of Jesus, who sacrificed himself as well.

Back at Candy’s house, Santi wants to go back to the church and get married. Candy doesn’t. Santi thanks her for the push, for waking him up, but Candy tells him she did it for him, not for herself, or for them. She explains how she heard Mari say she was going to abandon Santiago, and take away the baby. She stopped the wedding so Santi wouldn’t suffer, so he could protect his son. Are you sure? Candy is completely sure, she would never play around with such a sensitive topic. Santi knows Mari’s a little weird at times, but he can’t believe she would do something like this. He asks for more specifics about the baby, and Candy relates what Mari said, that she would never let Santi know his son. Santi starts to get mad about all this, stands up, but Candy calms him down, you have to consider carefully what you’re going to do. When Santi starts to stroke her cheek, she adds that now is not the moment to think about us.

Santi’s phone rings, it’s Isabel, but he doesn’t want to answer until he knows what he’s going to do. Isa leaves him a message of support, but wants him to come home. She and Jaime discuss the situation, Isa pointing out that Mari already knew Santi’s feelings. Donato enters, muy preocupado, downs a glass of champagne in one gulp, says Señora Alicia is in the study, looking like trouble!

Cut to Raúl and Mariloca in the study, as Alicia tells them she saw Candy and Santiago get into his car. Raúl, nostrils flaring, wants to go to Candy’s house and settle things!

And now it’s time for our mandatory humorous segment. Zamora and Toño aren’t letting their mariachi costumes go to waste. The whole band launches into song outside the house, where there are plenty of empty tables (and filled champagne glasses). Zamora sings about freeloaders (gorrones) and the need to empty the bottles. He pretends Toño is the novia, puts some flowers on his head, and they cut a slice of the wedding cake to celebrate as the musicians call out beso, beso (kiss, kiss)!

Meño is advising Candy and Santi to leave the house, this is precisely where the others will look for them! Santi thinks no one saw them, but Meño tells him that Alicia did. Just then the doorbell rings. Santi wants to confront the situation, but is convinced to go upstairs with Meño, while Candy answers the door. It’s Raúl, demanding to see Santiago. Candy coolly lies that Santi is not there. Raúl tells her that Alicia saw them leave, it was very easy to deduce that Santiago is, in fact here, get him! Upstairs, Santi is also mad, wants to stand up to Raúl, tells Meño that Raúl knew about Mari’s plan, Santi is pretty hot about this. Fine, says Meño, go break his shnozz (rompale el hocico). But that would have repercussions (repercutir) for the matter of your son. It’s better to stay calm, not let them have an advantage (it seems as if this staying calm so as not to let the other side know what is happening is takng place on about 3 fronts tonight). Santi calms down, absentmindedly grabs Meño’s little cushion on the bed, Meño jokes about it.

Downstairs, Candy tells Raúl Santi is not there, and she wasn’t at the church, her sister is a liar. Why would Alicia lie? Because she hates me. I don’t know where Santi is, instead of coming screaming at my door, why don’t you go console your sister, and pushes him out, slamming the door after him.

Upstairs, Santi is telling Meño he’s not a robot, he has feelings. So does Meño, but one has to act with intelligence. They’re standing in front of the closed door, and right after the word “intelligence”, Candy pushes it open, Meño falls into Santi’s arms, and they crash together onto Meño’s bed in a very compromising position. Meño says to Candy “Would you believe me if I said I was just consoling him?” (Ha ha, the Laurel and Hardy music plays, Candy observing with an amused look).

Next we see Rocío, very cute in her orange dress and matching purse, flanked by Beto and Chava, equally cute in their suits and ties, running down the outside stairs into the garden, where they are greeted by the sight of 10, apparently dead cake-faced mariachis. When Rocío touches Zamora’s mustache, he snorts and wakens, causing the kids to scurry off. Donato tries to rouse all the drunks, who apparently took their song about the freeloaders and empty bottles a little too seriously. The kids joke a little more about their marriage plans, still baffled as to where Santi went.

Inside, more hijinks, as Charly is camcording Lucía. He tells her he borrowed the camera from his boss (might actually be Meño, since he calls him jefe), telling him he wanted to be a movie director, and was going to practice at the wedding, but that plan didn’t exactly work out. Lucía remarks that her uncle ran out of that church just like in a novela (lol!). Charly hopes Candy was outside, but for now, he wants to practice his cinematic art on Lucía some more, although she’s not really in the mood. He starts talking to her like a model, telling her how beautiful she is, he pans down her legs, she smiles, tells him he’s a clown, he tells her she’s pretty, she hides, he finds her, he has her pose at the piano, she doesn’t play, but she pretends to, they’re very cute.

At the hotel, Pat is sitting on the floor, arms on knees, chin buried in arms, as Alicia quietly asks if she can come in. She sits next to him, as he laments the loss of Candy, but guesses that Candy is happy now. Alicia agrees, adding that Candy doesn’t love him. Pat feels like a fool, does that make Alicia happy? No, not at all. It greatly upsets her, she wants to do something, anything, to make Pat happy. He wants to be alone. She says okay, and goes to the other side of the room, sits on the sofa, as Pat silently weeps.

Meño and Candy are debating what to do. Santi wants to go home, Candy says she can’t stop him, Meño says she’s the only one who CAN stop him, tell him it’s for the good of his son. Santiago, however, is up and on his way out the door. Candy tells him wait, think about things, for your son, Santiago says that’s why he HAS to go, Marissa’s not a terrorist (we hope!). Candy suggests going to the Institute, when Santi’s phone rings, it’s his daughter Rocío. He answers. But as soon as Rocío asks where are you Daddy?, a raging Mariloca rips the phone from her hand, pushing Rocío away, yelling for her to get out, starts screaming into the phone, where are you, damn you! She runs into the garden, yelling answer me you idiot! She grabs the four-foot high wedding cake and drags it down with all her might, gasping into the phone, “Answer, you bastard, answer!” She knocks over flowers, screaming into the phone, alone in her wedding dress, surrounded by empty tables, overturned flowers, as Santi hangs up, and he and Candy exchange shocked looks.

And that’s it! We’ll have to wait until Monday for the repercusiónes.

I just want to give a special thank you to Paula H., who had already translated several of the key scenes of tonight’s episode, and generously shared her files with me.

Vocabulario:

Resbalado – slippery
Desechable – disposable
Arrepentido – regretful
Matadero – slaugherhouse
A medias – halfway
Gorrones – freeloaders
Rompale el hocico – break his snout, or nose
Repercutir- to have repercussions or effects

Labels: Tontas

Santos and Marisela are still happy together beside the fire. She wants him to make love to her a thousand times. He doubts he can do this, but he’ll try. Of course, Doña Bárbara doesn’t go away peacefully. She rides right up on her big black horse.

Fausto tries to resist but is overpowered by Melquiades, Tigre and Leon. Sapo is still on the phone wondering why Fausto doesn’t reply.

DB tells Santos he’s with Marisela to punish her for the photo. Marisela gets angry and tells her to leave them alone. DB calls her a mosca muerta for having tried to take her mother’s man. Marisela says: “What mother? When were you ever a mother?” DB replies when she saved her from Melendez. M replies that she saved DB by pushing him before he shot her. She says they’re even. Santos tells Marisela to go back to the house. Marisela doesn’t want to leave him with DB. After Marisela leaves she tells him once more that he’s hers; how could he do this to her? Santos tells her to have a bit of dignity.

Fausto has been beaten, and Leon and Tigre are on opposite sides pulling ropes that practically drag his arms out of the sockets. He insists he’s told them everything. Melquiades wants the guy’s name and everything Fausto knows. Fausto says he’s only an employee. Melquiades replies that he’s a very good one who knows many things. He says that boat wasn’t bringing rice or beans. They were bringing the thing that ataranta la gente (dazes people) and earns a lot of money for someone. Fausto says many important people are involved, but only Sapo knows who they are. Melquiades tells him not to annoy him or he’ll really have to hurt him. They bring out a hot poker.

Sapo is ruminating and comes to the conclusion that the problem with Fausto is DB. He sends guards out to search for him, but keeps one as his bodyguard. He thinks that if Fausto talks, he’s in a lot of trouble.

DB asks Santos how he can speak of dignity when he’s sleeping with the creature who was inside her stomach. Santos laughs and says, oh now she’s your daughter! But you won’t make me feel guilty for being in love. DB says he doesn’t really love M, that she’s only a bad copy of her mother. It’s just the youth he’s attracted to, isn’t that it? “Take me, not this desabrida (insipid one). She can’t give you what I can give you. Don’t you miss my skin, my kisses?” Santos says the truth is he doesn’t. The woman he loved never existed. He created an illusion that was never real. He tells her that Marisela gives him unconditional love. Marisela doesn’t want to be his master, but his companion.

At this point DB loses it a bit: “Don’t you dare return to her!” Santos smiles ironically. He says she’s the same Barbara Guaimaran as always, with a death threat on her lips, someone who can’t live without imposing fear. He tells her she has forgotten what kind of man he is. He tells her to go ahead and shoot him, all six bullets, to satisfy her thirst for blood. But he’ll never return to her bed.

At Casa Sandoval, Melesio, Carmelito, Andres and Cosme are getting drunk on the front porch. Genoveva tells them to pipe down. She gives up and leaves for Altamira saying “con este escandalo no se puede pegar ojo" (won’t be able to get a wink of sleep with all the noise).

DB does NOT give up. She starts in saying Marisela killed a man. Santos replies it was to defend DB. DB asks what could M give him that she couldn’t give. He replies: innocence, gratitude, tenderness, laughter, and love. He says Marisela loved him much more than he deserved. DB says that she gave Marisela life and she can also take it away.

Genoveva is having a little pity party at Altamira about everyone having someone except her. Pajarote comes up unexpectedly. At first she’s sweet, talking about the births. P tells her this is good experience for when you have your own babies. She bristles, tells him all men are idiots, and there goes another chance.

Melquiades tells Fausto he’s held up very well. Or could it be because you fear your boss more than this hot iron. He seems ready to put it in Fausto’s eye when F suddenly decides to say more. But he only says that Sapo hates DB because she killed his friends. Melquiades says tell us something we don’t know. We were the ones who helped her kill those guys and it wasn’t pretty. I want details!

Marisela has returned to Altamira, is talking with Genoveva, and has come down from the clouds somewhat. Now she’s worried about whether she and Santos are making a mistake.

Santos asks if this is DB’s revenge upon him, threatening Marisela. She says if she loses him, she doesn't care about anything. Santos says: IF you lose me? Are you deaf? Are you crazy? You already lost me. This is over. Understand this, if Marisela never existed, I would still not be with you. Resign yourself. Go away. Forget about us. I’m fed up. If I have to, I’ll leave with Marisela to put distance between her and someone who would hurt her. Because I’m starting to hate you as I never thought I could.

DB goes to Eustaquia’s room and sobs in her lap. “I found them together. He laughed as he never did with me. He’s happy with her. Seeing him laughing and kissing her, I thought my heart would break in a thousand pieces. He doesn’t love me. Why? I can’t kill them. Why?” Eustaquia replies it’s because you love him and, although you don’t want to recognize it, you love Marisela also. DB replies that no, she hates her.

Marisela says she did wrong in getting involved with Santos. Genoveva is exasperated. She tells her that one step forward and two steps back is Marisela’s pace. She reminds her that her mother left her in a hut in a swamp until Santos rescued her.

Genoveva wants to know what it’s like to make love. At first Marisela is embarrassed, but then she explains it’s like a balloon of happiness inflating inside and then, it explodes. It doesn’t sound as good written as it did when Genesis Rodriguez said it! Very poetic!

DB tells E that Santos went to bed with Marisela to punish her because of what she did. Eustaquia shakes her head sadly and tells her the truth. She has to accept the reality. Santos and Marisela are in love. Melquiades comes to tell her that the guy is “ready”.

Sapo shows up at the house of the corrupt governor to take him to task for the seized mercancia. The governor is appalled to see him, fears someone will see them together. The governor quite reasonably tells Sapo he warned him about the guards but he wouldn’t listen. Sapo says he’ll have to explain what happened to his associates, and he better make it good or commend his soul to heaven.

Marisela and Santos are in bed and she’s trying to probe him about what he felt when he was with DB. She’s still insecure because of the love he used to have for her mother. She brings up the time DB told her he only was interested because M is a younger version of herself. Santos denies this. He suggests their leaving the Arauca. Marisela insists this is where she was born and the land she loves.

DB has come to where they have Fausto. He swears he doesn’t know more. She says this has gone on all night and he hasn’t given them anything. She tells him his time is up and leaves, after giving Melquiades a significant look. Fausto gets real, and shouts afterher. Melquiades does something I don’t understand. It looks like he stuffs a leaf of something into his face.

Sapo is talking with the guard, still asking about Fausto. There’s no word. The guard mentions the beauty queen awaiting The Toad in his bedroom. Should he send her away. Of course not, she was very expensive.

The Shakespeare plot is being implemented. Marisela, Maria Nieves, Carmelito, and Cosme have a planning meeting.

Antonio is disturbed to hear that Santos is considering selling Altamira and leaving because of what DB said last night. Santos tells him he’s afraid she’ll harm Marisela.

In the bunkhouse Maria Nieves, Carmelito, and Cosme have scripts!! Looks like Marisela has left nothing to chance and written their lines for them. Andres plays his part and brings Pajarote to the entrance of the bunkhouse, but he can't really see in. They overhear the other guys talking about Pajarote. They say they don’t understand why a guy as intelligent as Pajarote can’t see from a mile off how much Genoveva is in love with him. P is impactado, jaw dropping.

Cecilia tells Marisela nothing is better than love. Marisela continues to worry. She says DB is like a shadow over her. Cecilia says she’s like the plague, but you have to be alert. M tells C they might have to leave to raise children in peace. Cecilia frankly says she doesn’t want to be left alone in the Arauca with only her son.

Pajarote completely bought the script Marisela wrote!

A truly disgusting Sapo is getting ready to have his way with the young beauty queen. As he leans over to nuzzle her neck, Fausto’s corpse falls through the roof onto the bed beside the girl. Another great shot of a bug-eyed Sapo! There’s a letter attached: “No estoy derrotada. Estoy mas fuerte que nunca. Tu vas a perder mucho más.” I’m not destroyed. I’m stronger than ever. You are going to lose much more.

DB finds out from Juan Primito that Marisela is going to the noon mass.

Pajarote approaches Genoveva and calls her Princess. She tells him she’ll take the broom to him if he’s making fun of her. He apologizes if he’s ever said anything gross to her. Guys are like that sometimes. He only wants to say that she’s pretty and, if possible, he’d like to take her out on the town sometime.

Santos gets a telegram from Gonzalo who says he has news about Fidel Castell and soon will have a surprise for Santos.

Marisela is praying alone. Then she is joined by Cecilia, Casilda, and finally Santos. The mass begins. DB sneaks up behind the two of them and starts to hiss insults: Eres una sátrapa (sly fox). Eres una avenadiza (anybody know this one? wasn’t in my dictionary) , pecadora (sinner). Me das asco (you disgust me). I hate myself for having borne you. Alimaña (weasel), serpiente, traidor. Santos tries to quietly stop her several times. At last, DB faints in the arms of Dr. Arias. Tears are coursing down Marisela’s cheeks.

Labels: barbara

Your recapper is ignoring Jaime's bathroom scene...

Mariloca uses her laptop and spycam to peep at Santi and Candy at the institute. It's impressive how the camera is positioned perfectly while at the same time not at all visible to the subjects.

Guadalajara - (Like where were we before?) Santi tells Candy he doesn't love Marissa. Spying Mariloca cries as if this is the first time she's heard the news. She says "you want to play little daddy, bring it on." (Las cartas estan echadas, a ver de a como nos va = the cards are dealt, let's see how it goes.)

Over at the restaurant Pato asks Meño about his voting credentials (credencial de elector). Meño says hey you want my age just ask, I'm 43. Sven wisecracks he was born at age 20. Pato compliments Meño's youthful spirit but here's the deal. He wants to give Meño a piece of art or craftsmanship so very fine that the owners need the records of whoever owns it. What does Pato have up his sleeve?

Candy and Chava are at home munching popcorn. Chava tells her that Rocio has two boyfriends, both he and Beto. Candy explains that's bad because a girl shouldn't have two boyfriends. Que the hell Candy?

Mariloca shows Raul her favorite home video starring her fiance and his girlfriend. She wants to show him she has sufficient evidence to revenge herself against Santi and make those two ingrates suffer. She's hoping the recording will twist Raul's tripe (retuerce la tripa) but he's more worried about Mari's loca than twisting his tripe.

Candy visits Santi's office and demands the keys to his Apartment of Sin. She says she'll meet him there at 9:00. He's dumbfounded. We hear the bell clang as she departs.

Santi is about to faint and Lalo administers smelling salts. Santi whispers, What if Candy doesn't like it?

Pato goes home. Hola mi amor!!! Guess who's lurking wearing nothing but one of Pat's shirts and ties? Does he like the surprise? She wants to show him the Alicia he knew the night before his wedding. He tells her to give it a rest. She juts out her chin and her bubis and announces she has his dad's future in her hands. He wouldn't like the grandpa of her kid to end up in jail would he? She wants to get pregnant tonight.

Santi gives his little man, family jewels, whatever, a pep talk as he quietly sneaks into the darkened Apartment of Sin. The light is dim and tequila and snacks are on the table. He coos romantically to the apartment's resident mannequin while Candy watches, amused, from the shadows.

I'll condense their conversation for the readers. He: I want to spend my last free night with you. She: You're getting married. He: I love you.

Marissa gleefully plots revenge against Santi's entire family. Raul is not happy. She's going to kick Isabel and Donato out of the house, but first Lucia's gotta go because she hates her face, then the kid. Mariloca thinks she and her child should have ALL Santi's attention, bwa ha ha ha.

Back to Santi and Candy, the shortened version. She: We can't. He: I want to be with you. She: I can't. Goodbye. She leaves and I wonder why she bothered making drinks and snacks.

Pato tells Alicia that his dad did something stupid but she shouldn't mess with him. She blackmails Pat into spending the night. He can sleep on the chair and she won't bother him. Right.

Santi is alone in the dark, both literally and figuratively, writing down his thoughts. Why is Candy back? That girl just can't leave it alone. She forgot her purse, oh right. She sits next to him and they have another conversation. He: I'm getting married but it's for the child. When I see you and say "Hola Candy" it means I love you. She: When we see each other and you ask how I am, if I say "fine" don't believe me. He: I don't want to be alone tonight.

Alicia cheerfully thanks Pato for spending the night. She doesn't care if people think she's loca. She doesn't have the weapons to fight Candy's memory. Candy is alive he notes, not a memory. You're in love with the ideal Candy, not the real Candy she says. Crazy girl might have a point.

Looks like Candy fell asleep on Santiago. She wakes up, carefully covers him with his jacket, and reads what he wrote...

As she reads his note she recalls a number of funny and romantic moments, dancing in the dark, pouring water on his head... "You have the other half of my heart. I love you" she reads aloud.

She folds the note, kisses it, kisses his sleeping lips softly and whispers, "I love you too".

Next a.m. Lalo finds Santi in the apartment and reminds him it's his wedding day. Santi sees that his letter has been torn from the pad and he smiles.

Mari's getting her mani-pedi and is a little snippy with the help. Raul calls to say it's her wedding day so why isn't he happy? She attempts to reassure him in her insanely chipper way. Raul is not reassured.

Candy's sulking and Meño brings her breakfast in bed. He says it's a sin to deny love. Nice words but Mari's kid is reality. Meño insists it's the 21st century and they can redefine love's parameters. Candy's a broken record, she loves Santi but doesn't want to hurt Mari.

It looks like Pat survived the night with Alicia because he's at Soledad's picking up Beto's birth certificate for some secret reason. She just hands it over after he says "Trust me". She asks if everything is OK. He should be happy Santi's getting married. I'm not sure what Pato says here, something about Candy not fighting for his love. Sole asks what if she (Sole) should fight for Pato's love? He gives her the que the hell look and leaves.

Donato supervises the placing of the wedding cake. Marissa comes downstairs with Rocio and allows her to stick her finger in the cake to taste the frosting. Marissa "sincerely" thanks Isabel for all her help and they hug. Hmmm...

Now Pato visits Candy to get Chava's birth certificate and again won't say why. She's irritated but gives him the cert anyway. He makes a dig about Santiago getting married and she shuts the door in his face. "Men have the sensitivity of a refrigerator!"

Candy is at the big house with her baby stroller gift for the crappy couple. She and Santi thought bubble how they really feel for each other until Mari shows up and clings to Santi. "Hola Candy" he says several times until Mari tells him to stop acting weird. Candy tells them she won't be in the church and Mariloca glares at her like she's kind of pissed.

Candy wishes Mari the best and plans to meet her at the instituto to help her get dressed. "Hola Candy", vows Santi one last time. Mariloca pulls Candy aside and demands the truth, is Candy sincere when she wishes Mari happiness? Mariloca wishes Candy happiness too, far away and with some other man; she recommends Patricio. Mariloca's body language is firm and her arms are crossed.

Art visits Greg to apologize about getting her in the middle of the Alicia biz. They are interrupted by Margarita who comments she thought he was going to the bank. They get into it and Greg says she was only helping with Alicia. Margarita doesn't believe it, "Gregoria is your lover!" Greg, looking sexy in her apron and rubber gloves, takes umbrage. Marg shrieks "you're a witch like your daughter!" Meño interrupts and says "not in my house please," then throws gas on the fire by saying "I knew Gregoria had a boyfriend!" Mag turns around and threatens to have an affair with Meño which completely cracks up Greg and Art.

Donato helps Santi dress for the wedding and tries to give him last minute advice...marriage is the perfect state for a man. Santi's not quite convinced. In that case Donato suggests Plan B. He can make a reservation for Brazil's Carnival within the hour if Santi would like. Why get married? Tina can cook, Isa can take care of the kids, and there are plenty of fish in the sea.

At this point my TV kep macro-block and freezing up. I'm not sure if it was the transmission or my Tivo. I don't think I missed much.

Ceci advises Candy that she's sure Santi would prefer to be with Candy. Candy's all, "No duh, what hurts the most is that Santi didn't to marry Mariloca but I made him." Candy says in guilt she's equal to her mom, in stupidity...does Ceci want a list?

Now Mari is in her dress getting dressed by her dressers. Chayo tells her some old wive's tale that her mom used to say but I didnt' get it, sorry. Raul shows up and kisses her stomach and tells her she's beautiful. Has he forgotten her dreadful plotting?

Santi's family waits at the bottom of the stairs and claps at his handsomness. They all chatter like chipmunks and leave together for the church. The poor saps.

Back at the Institute Candy eavesdrops on the bride and hears Marissa nastily telling Raul she doesn't even like Santi's family. "Well then don't marry him" he urges. Hell yeah she's going to marry him, she reveals her plan. She'll get married, then she'll split with her kid and never return. One thing for sure, Santi will never know his baby!

They start to leave and Candy runs around the corner to hide, slips and knocks herself out. Mariloca and Raul don't see her as they leave for the church. "Tell Candy we're off to the church" gushes Mariloca to Barb and Soledad. Candy lies unconscious and unseen on the floor.

Mañana - Marissa says "I do" and Santi stares in dumbounded agony. Does Candy pull off the church scene from The Graduate?

Labels: Tontas