Caray, Caray!

Fancy party. Alex advises Maura on her bogus question only intended to distract him.

Bruno grabs MaryJo to tell her that Daddy Pedro will be along soon and she needs to collect Paula so they can make their exit. MaryJo doesn't want to go and wonders what they'll live off of, but Bruno insists he has enough money, and besides, she doesn't seem to have a problem mooching off of Alex. MaryJo, for the millionth time asks him why he did this to her. I'm not rewinding to hear his answer, it's all a bunch of lies anyway.

MaryJo walks right past where Paula is having fun with some of her, uh, peers and toward Alex and Maura and hears Maura ask Alex the same question, "Why did you do this to me?" Apparently they were together just a few days before his "wedding." He says he and MaryJo have a deal, but it will probably be over soon and then he'll probably get a divorce. He can't tell her any more than that. She passionately kisses his jaw and then suggests they get together occasionally for a little romp while things are being resolved. That's enough for MaryJo and she goes back inside.

Bruno has wrangled Paula and sees MaryJo. He wants to know where she was and she wants to not do things this way. He gives her the option of either getting in the car with their dad now or he'll get in the car with dad and drive him down to the police station. Good girl MaryJo puts family first and drags Paula out behind her. Raquel and Maura's Little Sister (MLS until I can remember her name) smirk as they watch them leave.

Now Alex comes in looking for MaryJo, but nobody really knows where she is. Roberto is suspicious about the exit of Bruno, MaryJo, and Paula. Raquel and MLS fill him in on the gossip, at least the version they know, which is that MaryJo can't stand Alex and Bruno is helping her fly the coop. By the time Alex comes over to ask about MaryJo, Maura has also joined them. Raquel sends him on a wild goose chase to the ladies' room. Roberto kind of pissily notes that all three of them were in on the plot.

As they drive off, MaryJo clutches her huge necklace and cries, Paula complains about not being able to pack, and Bruno gives Pedro back his keys and notices MaryJo crying as he looks in the rearview mirror.

Back at the party the three harpies cackle over MaryJo's getaway. Alex comes asking after MaryJo again, but again they claim not to have seen her. As for Bruno, oh, Raquel thinks he left a while ago. Alex leaves and Roberto notes that he wouldn't want to be in Bruno's skin when Alex finds him. I think there's some subtext here that he wouldn't want to be in the skin of any of these three, er, ladies, when Alex finds out their role in this (well, really, MLS and Raquel are just doing a lot of giggling, it's Maura who distracted him). Maura smiles to herself, thinking of all the fabulous sex she'll have with Alex now that wifey is out of the way. Roberto's looking pretty smart right now.

Alex gets told by some guy that MaryJo and Paula left with Bruno. He races home, but Ezequiel (who keeps making me think of a priest with the collar on his uniform) hasn't seen the Mrs. Alex checks her room and sees party dresses everywhere. He asks Zeke to check Paula's room and Bruno's room. Alex briefly picks up the hem of a pink frothy dress, maybe wondering why she didn't pack it if she was running away. Or maybe thinking she would have looked pale and washed out in that shade of pink, who knows. Some guys have an eye for that. He goes rushing over to ask the guys at the gate if Pedro left. He did, an hour ago, without a suitcase, but with a "bulto" (a sack), saying he was going to the market. Back inside, Zeke reports that Bruno's biggest suitcase and some of his suits are gone, as well as all his manly toiletries (and, presumably, the industrial strength hair gel that he can't live without). Nothing is missing from Paula's room. Alex now orders Zeke to call Fernando and have Fernando meet him at the airport. Alex goes running into his office to grab some documents as his mom hyperventilates and tries to get him to tell her qué the hell is going on around here. He tells mom that MaryJo et.al., have left and he's sure Bruno's the one who took them. "But, why Bruno?" she wails. Oh, Vicky, how little you understand that boy. Alex tries to evade the question. He points out that all three of them disappeared from the party while he was talking to Maura. He gave Bruno 500K yesterday and he thinks Bruno is taking the family to another country. Vicky doesn't think Bruno's capable of that. Alex sighs and says "how true it is 'que es más ciego aquel que no quiere ver'" (referring to the dicho, "no hay peor ciego que el que no quiere ver," meaning, "there's no worse blind man than the one who doesn't want to see," therefore what Alex said is "how true it is that the most blind one is the one who doesn't want to see). Alex is taking the marriage certificate with him to the airport in case he needs it. Vicky tries to tell him that just because they're all gone doesn't mean they left together. Oh, Vicky, I hereby crown you Cleopatra, Queen of Denial.

At the airport, they give Alex and Fernando the run around, marriage certificate and ID notwithstanding. He finally says that it could be a kidnapping, so the gal at the desk agrees to talk to her supervisor and see if they can tell him if his wife was on a flight or not. As they're only checking with one airline, Volaris, Fernando says they'll have to check each one. And he says "chequear" which my second year Spanish teacher would have smacked my hand for…it's "averiguar" not "chequear," even if it is in the dictionary, that's just American English creeping into Spanish and corrupting it, etc., etc., etc. Alex is handsomely distraught.

Bruno is driving them to Mexico, which will take five hours. They will stop at a "simple" hotel to avoid notice, will get their passports, and them make way to Tijuana, where they will cross. Paula objects to going in a "camion" (a truck, or more probably a bus), but Bruno says they'll take a donkey across if they have too. Mhm, I know who the burro in this situation is!

Fernando thinks it makes perfect sense for Bruno to have driven them rather than taken them by airplane, to avoid detection. He also thinks it's plausible that Bruno may have rented a house somewhere and will stash them until the situation cools off. Alex is upset because he thought that he and MaryJo had an agreement, they were going to get a divorce, she wasn't interested in his money, so why now? Why would she do this? Fernando suggests they go home and see if there's any news. What he really means is "let's go back to your house so I can hit on your mom some more."

Back at the party, Maura is insisting to her little sister (MLS) that she's going to get Alex back, but this time she make sure he makes an honest woman out of her. MLS snarks that other guys have liked Maura, but that hasn't gotten her any proposals. Maura says that the thing with Alex and MJ is some kind of "arrangement" and he'll be getting divorced. Maura fills in MLS that Bruno planned MJ's escape. MLS wonders if Bruno is sleeping with MJ, you know, if maybe she met him when she thought Alex was dead and let him console her. Maura doesn't think MJ is the kind of "vampiress" to snag a man two days after her husband has died. MLS says you never know, but Maura's not buying it.

At the house, Vicki talks to Felipa, who thinks maybe Alex is just jealous. Vicki thinks that MaryJo took off because of all the fighting the boys were doing. Maybe MaryJo took off again and Bruno went looking for her like last time. Felipa points out that Bruno took his suitcase, which is suspicious, as is the fact that Bruno didn't say goodbye to Vicky. Vicky brushes all this aside. Ezequiel comes in to say that Alex and Fernando are back.

Alex reports that they aren't on a plane, but Bruno's car is gone, so he thinks they're on the road. Vicky tries to brush this off, saying that maybe Bruno went somewhere, but the Samaniegos went somewhere else. Alex tells her that earlier in the day, MaryJo denied to him that she had been with Bruno in Pedro's chalet, but then Pedro told him that Bruno had been there. He intends to call the police and tell them that Bruno has taken his wife and her family. Vicky freaks out and says he doesn't have proof. Alex unloads on her that Bruno married MaryJo and faked his signature, planning to kill him and then marry the rich widow. "De donde sacas estas estupideces?!" another classic phrase, IMO, "Where did you get that crap from?" Alex says that MaryJo told him and he believes her. So now Vicky turns on MaryJo, calling her an adventuress. Alex backs off, but says that one day he will bring her proof. He storms off. Vicky is livid, accusing MaryJo to Fernando of being a "sinvergüenza" (shameless, money-grubbing whore..ok, not literally, but you know that's what she means…literally it's just "shameless"). Felipa thinks Alex will calm down. She begs Fernando to talk some sense into Alex and bribes him with a big 'ol hug. For a hug from her, Fernando will do anything. He promises Vicky he'll convince Alex the moon is made of green cheese, if only she calms down *hug*.

He goes into the office and tells Alex he shouldn't have told Vicky just like that, especially because he doesn't really know, like not for real for real. Alex says too many things add up, plus MaryJo confirmed it all. Fernando tries to say that it doesn't have to be Bruno, necessarily, who masterminded the whole scheme. "Quien the hell else?" wonders Alex. Fernando thinks maybe there's someone else…but Alex doesn't think Roberto would go that far. He doesn't think they're in Zaqui, because that's the first place he would have looked. Fernando now suggests that Alex just let her go and then divorce her on grounds of abandonment, but Alex won't do that without getting her permission first to be able to dissolve the "sociedad conjugal" (the "you get half if we divorce" marriage). He's not going to give her half his money to go off and marry Bruno. Now Fernando tries, "uh, maybe you did marry her and then you just don't remember?" Pfft. Alex blows that off and says he's not going to have Bruno wandering around and have to be afraid of a bullet in the back or a poisoning attempt. This is something Fernando can agree on. Alex is going to ask the cops to look for MaryJo at all the border crossings. "And what if you find her with Bruno?" asks Fernando. Alex wonders whose side he's on. Vicky's, of course. Alex insinuates that Fernando maybe likes Vicky just a little too much. Fernando looks guilty. And denies it. Alex's plan for now is to get info out of Erick.

Vicky tries calling Bruno, but he ignores the call. Felipa encourages Vicky to get some rest.

Alex goes to wake up Erick. Erick of the gross saggy underpants. They're baby blue today, if anyone cares. I sure as hell didn't need to see that. I'm scarred for life now. Alex asks about Bruno. Erick denies everything. He proposes that maybe Bruno decided to take off for a few days.

The Brunomobile pulls into a cheap hotel. Bruno asks the attendant for 3 rooms. Paula gripes. Bruno drops Paula and MaryJo off in their room. He says they'll figure out in the morning what papers they'll need to get passports for the three of them. Paula snarks that if he has a passport, he should already know that, but Bruno says they always handled it for him at the office. Oh, and if they want food, they'll have to go downstairs and get it. Once he leaves, MaryJo turns the lights out. Paula gripes that maybe they shouldn't be giving in to his blackmailing after all. Shut. Up. Paula. MaryJo says she just wants to sleep. As she clutches her ginormous necklace, she flashes back to when Alex put it on her the other night. Alex gets out of the shower (thank you TN gods!) and dries his hair while flashing back to MaryJo telling him about Bruno's plan. He thought bubbles, "how could I have been so wrong" and "what made everything go wrong?"

The next morning, Alex is finishing his coffee as Raquel saunters in. She asks where MaryJo is and Alex says she went to Saqui to visit family. She asks when MaryJo is coming back and when Alex says "in a few days," she cackles. Alex wonders what's up. Raquel, not knowing when to stop pushing her luck, asks where Bruno is…oh, he's gone too, what a coincidence. Alex is now even more suspicious and starts asking Raquel how she knows. Vicky comes downstairs and Alex wonders if she told Raquel, but she didn't. Raquel is a crappy liar. Alex grabs her by the arm, spilling her juice and says she'd better tell him the truth. Raquel finally says she heard Bruno and MaryJo planning to take off from the party, but she doesn't know where to. She wasn't going to tell Alex so that he wouldn't go running after a woman who doesn't deserve him. She also says MaryJo was cheating on him and she knows it because she saw MaryJo and Bruno kissing. Vicky thinks that's a load of crap, but Raquel says if they don't believe her, that's their problem.

Pedro leaves his hotel room looking for the girls and is told they're in the restaurant having breakfast.

MaryJo tells Paula that she already told Alex everything, and that he was very understanding. Paula, in another Shut. Up. Paula. moment, now gripes MaryJo out because after Alex being nice to her, taking her out to dinner, buying her clothes, being incredibly hot AND rich, and bestowing lots of material goods on Paula as well, MaryJo was stupid enough to leave him. Shut. Up. Paula. Pedro comes in just in time to hear MaryJo say that she did it because Bruno threatened to turn Pedro in as a drug trafficker. He lurks around the corner listening as MaryJo tells Paula to wrap her tiny little brain around the idea that Bruno is perfectly capable of having planted drugs to make Pedro look guilty and that Alex wouldn't have been able to do a damn thing about it. MaryJo doesn't want Pedro to go to jail. Paula, who only a week ago couldn't afford a cell phone, is now whining that MaryJo could have had a rich hottie, and instead they have a gaudy tablecloth and some substandard bread rolls. Shut. Up. Paula.

Back in his room, Pedro writes a confession of all the crap he actually did do, addressed to his daughters. He writes that he's a coward (for not standing up to his buddy when his buddy wanted to sell contraband merchandise) and that it's not fair for them to destroy their lives for him. He takes the letter down to the front desk and asks the guy to give the letter to his daughter MJ in the afternoon. He says he's going to go see some friends. He hides again as MaryJo and Paula come out of the restaurant, still arguing loudly about why MaryJo is or isn't stupid (her main argument seems to be that forgiving her for going along with Bruno is one thing, tell him her dad might be or might be framed for being a drug trafficker is a whole other thing). Paula blabs on and on, calling MaryJo a "mojigata" (prude) with too many complexes who is going to get them all thrown in jail. Shut. Up. Paula.

Alex comes downstairs with his briefcase. He's going to the office. Vicky wants to know if he believed what Raquel said, about MJ and Bruno kissing. Alex asks if she believes what he (Alex) told her. Vicky thinks that MaryJo made up that Bruno was behind the whole plot. Alex doesn't think it makes sense that MaryJo would be accusing Bruno of illegal acts and kissing him at the same time. Well, I don't think those two are mutually exclusive, but I'll forgive his logic as long as it's still pointing him in the right direction. Vicky begs him for discretion about MaryJo leaving. She doesn't know if Raquel will keep her mouth shut about it. Well, duh. Alex tells her to go ask Raquel about it herself.

Vicky tells Raquel to keep her big mouth shot and not to tell Lisette (is that Maura's little sister's name?) or Maura, whose mouths are even bigger. They argue over whether Raquel really saw what she claims to have seen. Vicky knows her too well to believe it. Raquel is upset at the idea that Alex might actually be in love with MaryJo, but Vicky says that's not what's important. What's important is stopping all the gossip. They've already had enough with everyone talking about Raquel marrying a "bueno para nada" (good-for-nothing) just because he had a good name. "Don't think I don't know anything just because I'm in the house all day. You two had better watch it!" Raquel turns around to see Roberto. He says he agrees with Vicky. Raquel suggests he consider getting a job, drinking less, and knocking her up. Roberto laughs it off, saying he's not going to get a job in a construction company when his field of study was international relations; also, she drinks just as much as he does; and as for getting her pregnant, he's not interested in sleeping with a "frigid" woman. They snipe about whose fault the lack of sex in the marriage is. Robert says they're better off each one getting it where they can. "Just remember to have your guy wear a condom. I'm not giving my name to a bastard…unless I like the guy." Raquel cries.

Fernando talks to Alejandro about a property. He's not listening. Neither am I. Alex is thinking about MaryJo. He passes on Raquel's version of events, but he wants Fernando's opinion. As Fernando's opinion is that Raquel's a liar, but she might be telling the truth this time, his opinion is worthless. Alex angsts. If she wanted money, she could have just stayed married to him. Fernando thinks maybe she was afraid he would divorce her and leave her with nothing, so she thought running away with Bruno would be the better option. Or maybe they each ran off independently. Alex doesn't buy that. "Well, maybe she really was in love with him and she picked him instead of you." Back to talking about the property. It's an archeological site. What if they make a park. Fernando's eyes light up at the prospect of Vicky being happy to do some restoration work.

Pedro goes to a "Casa de Empeño" (pawn shop).

MaryJo goes to the front desk asking if they've seen her dad. The guy doesn't remember, but he did see Paula, who left a while ago.

Pedro pawns his wedding ring and his watch.

MaryJo goes back to her room, still wearing that fabulous red dress that I covet, but in which I would have a lot more cleavage than her. Oh, did I type that out loud? Oops. She gets undressed.

We see Pedro walking across a bridge.

MaryJo comes out of the shower and starts drying her hair. Sorry, guys, but I think the William Levyites got a much better post-shower scene today. I just think she's too skinny. She rushes to answer the phone. It's Bruno. She says they'll be waiting for him.

Pedro's trying to get someone to give him a phone number. She won't give him Alex's personal number, but she's willing to look up the number of the construction company.

Alex gets in his car and is driven away from the construction company.

Pedro talks to his secretary, swears he really is Pedro, and says he needs to talk to Alex, urgently. She tries to catch him on his cell. She tells him his father-in-law has to talk to him and puts the call through. Pedro says they're in Mexico, it's all his fault, he's afraid to say why, but please come get MaryJo at this hotel in Tlapalan and don't leave her in the hands of that "desalmado" (soulless man). Pedro cries that MaryJo's really a good girl, so please protect her because she really does love you. "Why do you say that?" Pedro says he just knows, he can see it in her eyes. He begs, as a father who has made lots of mistakes, because it's not fair that his daughters pay for his mistakes. He hangs up. Alex calls his secretary back and tells her to tell Fernando to come with him, they're leaving.

Bruno comes back to the hotel. The paperwork is all done, they have to go sign it tomorrow, and they'll get their passports the day after. He also brought some clothes. MaryJo tells him Paula went out. Bruno says he knows it's been difficult, but it will pass. He gets all handsy and starts rubbing her shoulders, telling her once they're in the US he'll buy her much nicer clothes. She is grossed out when he says she hasn't kissed him in a long time. She tells him she doesn't love him anymore. He makes excuses and spouts a bunch of possessive macho crap. MaryJo tells him, very strongly, that it's OVER, and once they get to the US she'll get a job of her own. Bruno tries to force himself on her, but Paula comes back. Ok, Paula, I won't completely write you off yet. She snipes at Bruno that "finally" he brought them some clothes. Paula doesn't know where dad is. Bruno angrily tells them they're going to the restaurant for dinner, so hurry up and change. He leaves. Paula now gripes about the crappy restaurant. MaryJo picks up the bracelet her dad gave her and wonders where he is, and without any money.

Vicky asks Alex how he knows where to find MaryJo as he runs down the stairs. He tells her. He supposes they're with Bruno, but he doesn't know what he's going to do. Vicky asks him not to do anything stupid and not to forget that Bruno is his brother. Alex reminds her that he tried for years to treat Bruno like a brother and it's too late for that now. He tosses his briefcase in the car and drives off. Raquel walks up wanting to know what's going on. She's upset that Alex is going to get her and bring her back. She insists that they shouldn't let "that woman" back in the house. Vicky reminds her that it's Alex's house, and if Raquel is living there it's because she had to sell off her property to pay for her and Roberto's extravagant lifestyle. Aha! I wondered about that. Ok. She gets no sympathy from me. Raquel says that if "that man" had really been her father he also would have left her loving memories. "What a short memory you have!" says Vicky. She suggests that if Raquel doesn't like it, she should tell Roberto to get off his ass and get a job.

Back at the little hotel restaurant, they've finished dinner. Paula goes back to the room. MaryJo is worried about her dad. She's asked all over and they don't know where he is. She goes to ask at the front desk while Bruno orders a coffee.

Pedro is at a bus station. He goes to the counter and buys a ticket.

There's been a change of shift and the guy at the desk now doesn't know about the letter from Pedro. But MaryJo sees it in the box for her room. The guy hands it over. She reads the letter and cries. Pedro writes that he's sorry, that MaryJo should get away from Bruno and trust Alex because Alex is good. Right then Alex and Fernando pull up in a taxi and MaryJo is impactada to hear Alex's voice right behind her, saying "Why did you do it?"

Tomorrow: Alex and Bruno come to blows!

Labels: sortilegio

Repeats: Orlando asks Camila all sorts of nosy questions about Rafael and Diana. He tries to claim he’s just interested in the life of his esteemed business partner Emiliano. Camila’s expression says his lying skills need work. Meanwhile, Diana freaks out even though Inés doesn’t believe Orlando would harm Diana. They agree that if Rafael knew the truth about Diana’s history, he would have to give her the divorce. She decides to hightail it to Monterrey. Orlando sits in his car looking at the purloined photo and shooting intense looks toward Diana’s house.

New: Paloma listlessly helps Romina unpack in Macarena’s room. Romina pointedly reminds her that when they were kids they wanted to live together, and also *ahemahem* they would never fight over any man, right? Paloma ignores her until she is rescued by her ringing phone. She pretends not to know who is calling but won’t let Romina answer for her.

Licenciado Rojas meets Germán in a restaurant and offers him a job, starting immediately. Germs accepts. We learn that Rojas’s partner’s name is Néstor.

Rufi asks Carlota why Padre Juan came to visit and gets a hostile glare in return, but then Carlota smirks and says he’ll be back for sure (probably with the nice young men in the clean white coats, I suspect). Romina and Carlota put a lot of effort into a hostess-and-guest graciousness exchange which is obviously a lot of hooey, while Paloma and Rufi stand there like they’re wondering where the exits are in this carnival haunted house. After Carlota swans off to bed with an excess of feigned affection for her niece, Paloma has to claim to need the baño in order to slip away to the library and call Emiliano. She’s already tired of the sneaking around, and they agree to tell Romina that they are novios.

Over at the bachelor pad, Emo congratulates Germy on his new job, then updates him on the musical beds situation. Germs is surprised to hear that Romina is staying with Paloma, but is in favor of her knowing about Emo and Paloma’s noviocity so that she can move on. Naturally he can’t tell Emo that Romina already knows, or how.

Romina lies in bed looking bored and asking Mac if she’s going to appear. There’s no rest for the wicked, so why should anyone else get any sleep? Romina goes and wakes Paloma up, claiming she’s scared to sleep in Mac’s room, so Paloma lets her climb into her bed. Once Paloma has finally gotten Ro to turn off the light and she’s getting comfy again, Romina starts complaining that she doesn’t feel well. Paloma convinces her to see a doctor in the morning, and Romina thanks her for her concern and says she’d do the same for her. Paloma looks mildly guilty (also a bit annoyed) and Romina smirks.

Across the street, Camila sits in Romina’s bedroom feeling terrible about the whole situation.

Meanwhile, Rafael is wishing he could be with Cami.

The next morning, Romina and Paloma go to the clinic. Romina is freaked out at the idea of blood drawing, but Paloma teases her and promises to hold her hand and catch her if she faints.

Emiliano eats breakfast while Diana holds an ice pack to her head and claims she needs to go to Monterrey for her health.

Doctor Rodolfo’s secretary tells him she hasn’t been able to reach Carmen, who hasn’t yet returned to Spain. She says she’ll keep trying.

Camila visits Misery Manor. Fortunately, Carlota has gone to mass, so she can ask Rufi how things are going with Romina. Rufi tells her not to lose faith; everything will be resolved eventually. Camila doesn’t look much comforted by that because she doesn’t know the episode count. She asks Rufi whether they ever found those papers they were looking for.

Diana is keeping up her migraine act for Juanita’s benefit. Juanita offers to go to the pharmacy for painkillers. Orlando lurks outside the gate and pounces on Juanita when she comes out and insists he needs to go in and talk to Diana about something important. She doesn’t stop him. He goes inside; Diana bounces out yelling at Juanita and stops short. The paso doble begins.

Diana: Leave me alone!
Orly: I won’t let you run away from me ever again!
D: I never ran away!
O: Then what do you call what you did 25 years ago?
D: I didn’t want to be with you!
O: I wouldn’t have tried to make you! But you left and I didn’t even know what happened to my child! Emiliano is my son, right?

Diana is stunned silent for once.

At the church, Padre Juan is dispensing communion. When it’s Carlota’s turn, he gives her a hard time about the state of her conscience before he’ll give her the host. She winks at him. He looks sick.

Diana tries to claim that Orlando’s baby was a girl who died, but he can do basic math. He accuses her of running away because it was she who took the client’s money, not Ignacio. Orlando says the year he spent in prison gave him plenty of time to think. Only Diana knew the combination to the safe. Diana says she doesn’t have the money and he should go after Ignacio to find it. Orlando hisses that what matters to him is that she betrayed him, after all he had given her, and even though he loved her. He doesn’t care about the money; after all, he has now made another fortune and is richer than Diana’s ex-husband, HA. Orly says he’s going to find proof of everything she’s done and she is going to pay. He leaves and Di cries.

Padre Juan ends the mass and immediately flees the chapel to escape Cruelota. She stays there, kneeling and trying to look fetching and holy in her purple head scarf. PJ returns in his regular robes and tells her if she can’t keep her ridiculous games out of the church and respect his calling he will have to take more drastic measures. She smiles and tries to look flirty.

Diana makes a frantic phone call to her sidekick Inés. Inés thinks the best course of action is to ask Rafael for help. Di doesn’t like that, but Inés says it’s too late; there are no good options now.

Rufi must have told Camila the whole story about the burned papers, because Cami is concerned and wants to help. Rufi says Cami has her hands full already, and Dr. Bermúdez is on the case (Rufi says he “puse las pilas,” put the batteries in, and seems delighted to use this bit of youthful slang). Camila runs into Carlota on her way out so she thanks Cruel for her hospitality to Romina. Cruel takes the opportunity to criticize Cami’s parenting skills. I think all the experts these days are recommending murder and psychological torture to keep the little ones in line.

Emiliano tells Orlando that Diana seemed nervous and anxious so she’s going to Monterrey. He hopes she’ll feel better there. Orlando thinks hard.

Liliana asks Paloma if she’s ever heard the term “sleeping with the enemy.” Paloma says she talks like Romina is some kind of witch. Lili says Romina is worse than a witch, and living with her will be hell. Paloma says she’ll find out just how good a friend Ro is today when she and Emo tell her they’re engaged.

Orlando calls Diana, tells her to cancel her trip and not dare to flee, and hangs up.

Padre Juan asks Padre Mateo to take over the morning masses that Carlota attends, because she is harassing him. PM says that sounds pretty serious, and switching mass duties is only a temporary solution. If things are that out of hand (they are, says PJ), maybe they should report her to the ecclesiastical tribunal. PJ doesn’t want to do that because it could be embarrassing and difficult for Paloma. They’ll think of another solution. I say get the ladies’ auxiliary on the case. Church ladies get things done.

Carlota gives Rojas the cash for his trip and threatens him vaguely. He gives her a card with his email address. Carlota says she doesn’t know how to use such things, so he tells her she can come to the office and the guy replacing him will help her if she needs to contact him. She leaves, and Germy looks up from his magazine in the waiting room. Rojas counts the money.

Orlando sits in the park looking at Diana’s picture, thinking that their lives could have been so different if she had not betrayed him. He decides he has no use for her, but he does want his son.

Diana calls Rafael and says she urgently needs to speak with him. He agrees to drop by sometime, later, when he has nothing better to do. After he hangs up, he tells Joel that Diana was acting very strange. She was friendly and cordial. Ha. Joel optimistically thinks maybe she’s ready to give him the divorce and is trying to extract more money. Rafa says he’ll give her whatever she wants to be rid of her.

Paloma tries to talk Romina into speaking reasonably with her mother. Romina says her lines again. She thinks some men are off limits, for example someone else’s husband or the galán of your best friend. Romi says loyalty and fidelity are of utmost importance. Oh, reeeeeally, wonders Paloma. “You’ve never been disloyal?” “Never,” lies Romina.

Licenciado Rojas gives Germy the lay of the land…the only really important thing is that he not speak to ANYONE about the Espinoza de los Monteros case, especially about the inheritance of Paloma. Germy looks intrigued but swallows hard and nods.

Diana calls Emiliano to tell him she is not going to Monterrey after all. He asks if she’s okay and says she’s acting very strange. Diana frets some more.

Rafael catches Romina at the school gate and says they need to talk. Ro claims she has no time because they’re very strict about the meal schedule at Misery Manor, but Paloma says it’s no problem, take as long as you need. They go off, and Emiliano gloms onto Paloma.

Rafael tries to straighten things out with Romina, and she continues to make everything all about her.

Camila is in her shop when a little boy runs in and hands her a note from Samuel, saying he knows she and Romina were looking for them and he wants to return. He misses her kisses. She goes wide-eyed in disgust and disbelief.

Romina gets her test results at the clinic. Embarazada?!

Avances: Wedding prep, but undoubtedly Romina’s news will interfere.

Labels: amor

Hello everyone,

I’m sorry this is so late!!! I wasn’t aware of how quickly everyone liked to see these, and also didn’t plan enough time to write the recap and get it up. I promise you all it will be up a lot more quickly next time. Any comments about what you might like to see are most welcome.

Sortilegio chapter 15

Review of the end of chapter 14:
Brutus asks Alex for $1mm to leave the country and Alex barters him down to $500m. Alex sends for the check to be cut and signed and as Brutus is leaving Alex mockingly asks him about Maria Jose – is Bruno just going to leave her to him? Bruno gives him a killing look but no answer, and after he leaves faithful friend Fernando (FFF) points out that Alex is looking for trouble by poking at Brutus. That’s what Alex wants, he claims – he wants Brutus to fume! (He uses the word reventar, which means to explode, and there are definitely overtones of “may his head explode from the frustration and rage I hope I’m causing him!”) He vows to put security on Maria Jose so that Bruno can’t take her away. FFF reminds Alex that he has one month to annul the marriage as long as he doesn’t have sex with MJ.

Begin chapter 15:
Cut to Maria Jose and her sister Paula. Paula is trying on her older sister’s clothes. MJ is counting money and tracking the family’s finances. Paula wants to know why Alejandro was so furious the night before and wonders if it had to with MJ. MJ is of course sworn to secrecy and only tells her that it’s because of problems between the two of them – nothing to do with her. Paula remarks that he seems really jealous. “Of course Bruno’s jealous” says Maria Jose – it’s already clear to her that Alex is the top dog and Bruno is the one who’s jealous. Noooo squeals Paula – It’s not Bruno who is jealous of Alex, but Alex who is jealous of Bruno, because Alex himself likes Maria Jose. Maria Jose is pretty pragmatic about any supposed attraction: sure – maybe he likes me – but for what reason?

Maria Jose counts out some of their money and tells Paula to bring their father shopping for some hair dye and a couple of shirts. Paula whines about not getting anything for herself, and when MJ says that don’t have any more money P wonders why MJ doesn’t ask Alex for money. She clearly feels like she doesn’t fit in in their new environment but MJ reminds her that they are there temporarily and it’s got to end. Paula can’t understand why and when MJ leaves the room P goes through her wallet and empties it of all the money she can find.

Cut to a shot with Victoria and Maria Jose on a bench in front of house. Victoria is explaining to MJ how much it has always pained her the way those boys don’t get along, and asks MJ to avoid talking to Bruno since it obviously bothers Alex and leads to fights like the one they had the previous evening. MJ assures her that she is not the one seeking out problems and Victoria jumps on that immediately – “Ah – so it’s him?” MJ reassures her that it’s just because they are living together, and Victoria asks her to listen to her (i.e., stay away from B).

Alex drives up in his (of course) white sports car, supposedly for some papers, and asks to talk to Maria Jose. As they walk into the house he tells her in a low voice that Bruno asked him for money and wants to know if Bruno asked MJ to go away with him. She tells him that he did, but she refused. –“Why?” She wants to be truthful with him, she says, and show him that she’s a good person. She hopes that he won’t send her to jail and that the two of them can get a divorce. Alex gives a brief nod and a searching look and the shot cuts to Bruno rounding the drive in his grey sports car. He tells his mother he has to talk with Alex and, ignoring her and her explanation that he’s with MJ, runs up the stairs in search for him.

In the meantime Maria Jose and Alex have made it to the office and are discussing the oddity of what has happened to them. Alex asks MJ if she believes in destiny, no doubt wondering if she is his. MJ isn’t sure about the destiny concept and thinks it may be simply a question of ending up where your errors leave you. Alex hopes that he’s not making an error with her, and MJ says she can tell him only that she wishes that what happened had never happened.

Alex suggests they take the opportunity to get to know each other, but MJ is afraid that he will just deceive her too – he and his family are so different. Alex maintains that the only difference is the money – they are flesh and blood like everyone else. He’s been moving closer as they talk and now he starts to kiss her. She responds with just a minimal and unenthusiastic puckering of lips. Alex, suave ladies’ man that he is, can recognize when a woman isn’t really participating and he backs off and asks her if it bothers her that he kissed her. MJ says that’s not it – it’s just that she doesn’t know if she’s doing the right thing. Alex throws back his head and laughs – ha ha ha – and hooks his arm around her neck to draw her in close.

They are locked in an embrace when Bruno charges into the room. You would think that MJ or Alex would notice that he has come in, but at that moment dramatic music cuts in so loudly that of course they don’t hear him arrive. Bruno watches them for a painful moment, until Alex notices him. MJ is pretty much into the embrace and doesn’t realize Bruno is there until Alex backs away from her and angrily asks Bruno how many times he has to remind him to knock before entering. Bruno, in a trembling voice, hands him the check and tells him he forgot to sign it. Alex signs it and then, in an obvious attempt to make Bruno's head explode, puts his arm around MJ and tells Bruno that the two of them wish him an excellent trip.

Maria Jose is angry – it’s clear that Alex is using her to get at his brother - and asks Alex what his plans are for her. Alex wants to know what would have happened if he had really died and MJ had inherited all his money – was Bruno planning to the marry MJ? MJ says that was Bruno's plan, but she would never have fallen in with it and she had told Bruno that. Alex is skeptical – she’s in love with Bruno, and a woman in love will always end up forgiving her man. MJ is adamant – she will never forgive Bruno!! She wants to know what Alex is going to do – is he going to wait until Bruno leaves the country and then blame her for everything? Because if he does she won’t hesitate to spill the truth. Even if no one believes her, it will cause a scandal for the Lombardo family and she knows they don’t want that.

Cut to Bruno and slavish dog Eric. Bruno tells Eric their plans have changed. MJ and her family don’t have passports so they’ll have to go to Mexico City first (to get them, I suppose). Eric tells him that his buddy in Tijuana can get them fake visas. That’s fine, says Bruno, but they also have to find another way to get MJ and her family out of the Lombardo family compound, because Alex has beefed up security. They have to be ready to grab any opportunity that presents itself.

Cut to MJ and Alex, with Alex explaining why he took the decision he did (which decision? He’s not specific, but it seems to be the one related to bribing Bruno to leave the country): it’s so unpleasant to know that someone is trying to kill you. MJ agrees that this is indeed unpleasant, but points out that it’s been tried many times before – Bruno has told her so! Alex is astonished and angry that she could still believe Bruno after all the lies he’s told, but she points out that she knows nothing about them. Alex tells her that the accident was intentional – the semi-trailer truck aimed straight for them – and a poor campesino was killed in the attempt. MJ starts to say she doesn’t think Bruno capable of such a thing, but Alex assures her that Bruno is capable of all of that and more. He’s gotten worked up and angry and now starts to wonder again how involved MJ is in the plot. Bruno is leaving the country, MJ wants a divorce, and she and Bruno can then get together, forget all this nasty business about an attempted murder, and live happily ever after. MJ assures him that she is not going to marry Bruno. Alex says he believes her, but proposes that they change their marriage contract so that MJ no longer gets a portion of his money if they break up. She agrees – she doesn’t want his money! and glares at him. He drops his eyes.

Cut to a shot of Lisette, Paula and Don Pedro in front of the mansion. Lisette was just visiting Raquel and is on her way out, and she’d be happy to drop off Paula and Don Pedro downtown. Maria Jose arrives and and Lisette tells her how surprised everyone was that she married Alex, and assures her that she, Lisette, has nothing against her. She invites them to a party the following day but MJ doesn’t seem very interested; she’ll ask Alejandro. Paula whines and grabs MJ arm “ay sí – vamos!” and MJ says that if they can, they will. Lisette, Paula and Don Pedro all leave in Lisette’s SUV to go to town.

Faithful Friend Fernando arrives at that moment and he and MJ exchange an awkward head-bob and wave; they are clearly not at ease with each other. Fer goes to Alex’s office, where Alex tells him that he is changing the status of the marriage contract, and that MJ is aware of what he is doing and agreed to it. He also tells Fer that he thinks MJ is a victim of Bruno’s “murderous schemes.” Fer just wants to make sure that Alex isn’t making an error which might hurt Victoria. Alex smirks and doesn’t reply, but Fer keeps going on about it – it’s easy to be dazzled by a pretty woman who presents herself as the victim of somebody that Alex hates. They don’t resolve the issues and Fer changes the subject, telling Alex he just came to let him known that Alvaro (?) has been investigating the accident site but there are so many isolated villages out there that they haven’t yet found out anything about the campesino who died, or his wife. Fer stays to eat with them.

The next scene, in a shopping mall, seems designed to show just how out of place and over their heads Paula and Don Pedro are, and how false Lisette is in pretending to be their friend. Don Pedro is so afraid on the escalator that he tries to run back up it to get off. Paula wants to look – just look - at shoes in a designer-label store and Lisette insists on buying a pair for her.

Now Victoria, Alex, Bruno, Fernando and Maria Jose are having lunch and Fer is talking about a fine they had to pay on a development deal, and suggests to Bruno that he (Bruno) talk to him (Fer) the next time so that Fer can look at the land beforehand and make sure that it’s buildable. Bruno is contemptuous and incredulous – I should let you know. This seems another scene designed to show the difference between evil Bruno and saintly Alex. Bruno maintains that a bribe could take care of practically anything – even building a skyscraper on a cemetery, and Alex reminds him about his father’s saying that there are no solid grounds to build anything if it’s not done ethically. Bruno angrily tells Alex not to talk to him about his father. Squabbling ensues, interrupted by the arrival of Paula and Don Pedro.

The new arrivals sit down and Paula brings up the party the following evening. MJ says she doesn’t really feel like going but Paula and Bruno pressure her, saying she needs to start developing a social life. Besides, says Bruno, setting out some bait for Alex, Alex would be delighted to bring her – he’s always been proud of all the beautiful women he squires around, and he’s squired the most beautiful women in Merida. Alex of course takes the bait and ups the ante (sorry for the excessive metaphors): Maria Jose is in fact the most beautiful woman he’s seen – wouldn’t Bruno agree – and he would be delighted to bring her to this party. With staged tenderness he takes MJ’s hand, calls her my love and says he wants to bring her to the party because he would do anything to please her; if she wants to go then they shall. Victoria now chimes in that it would be a good idea to go and MJ, pressured on all sides, caves. The girl is clearly missing a few vertebrae. Paula squeals with delight but points out to all at the table that, unfortunately, all their dress clothes are in Saquí and alas, they will have nothing to wear. Soft touch Alex, of course, tells them not to worry about it.

Maria Jose, Paula and Don Pedro are walking back to the guest house after lunch. MJ is angrily recriminating Paula for her obvious bid to get some new clothes out of the deal. Paula shrieks at her that she should get over her complex about it, that they can’t go in rags, that she should do it for Alex, whose wife should be dressed appropriately. MJ insists that Alex is NOT her husband, and Paula and Don Pedro insist that he is: she married a man named Alex Lombardo, and there is a wedding certificate to prove it. MJ points out that Alex was not the one who signed the certificate, and Don Pedro, desperate to stay out of jail, points out how happy, how in love Alex seems to be with her. MJ, sworn to secrecy, can only insist that they just don’t understand, and she leaves them.

Brutus is explaining to Eric that at the upcoming party he will wait until it’s very crowded and then take MJ and her family away. The first thing Alex will check is the planes, so the four of them will drive up to Mexico City rather than flying. Once they have the passports they’ll go to Tijuana for the visas. Eric will have to stay in Merida to keep an eye on what Alex is doing, but he will join them later in the US. Eric is fearful that B will leave him behind but Bruno insists that he won’t.

Meanwhile, back at the compound, Maria Jose is going to her room. Alex sees her and greets her with a flirtatious, “Hi, beautiful.” MJ angrily tells him not to call her that, and says she is not a plaything for him or his brother, that he should save his pretty lies for his other girlfriends. (I can’t help thinking that if MJ were in fact a toy, say a teddy bear, she would by now be missing an arm and half her stuffing would be falling out of her.) Alex points out that they are in fact living a lie, and MJ again reproaches him for telling lies about her being beautiful and only wanting to please her. By this time they are inside MJ’s room, and Alex tells her that if he had gotten married of his own free will he would surely have married her, because of all the women he knows she is far and away the best. He has grasped her arms to tell her this but she denies what he is saying and rather feebly tries to shake him off. He insists that it’s so and she responds that she is aware of the great bitterness (rencor) between the two men and doesn’t want to be used by them to get at each other. She turns to face him: “That’s really what you want from me, isn’t it?” Nope. It turns out (according to Alex) that the only thing he wants is for her to go to dinner with him that night. (His needs are simple, his wants are few.)

Maura and Bruno meet at a restaurant or bar, where Bruno tells Maura of his plan to take MJ and her family away during the party. This is, of course, purely for MJ’s sake, as Alex has practically kidnapped her and is keeping her there against her will. Will Maura help him? But of course! Her job will be to keep Alex busy while Bruno spirits away MJ and her family.

Maria Jose and Alex are at a restaurant and Alex is leading MJ onto the dance floor. MJ proposes that they each lay their cards on the table. He knows who she is and how she got there, and now she wants to know more about him. What she especially wants to know is, is he being so good to her and her family simply to get her into bed, as Bruno maintains? Alex would like to know if she would accept if those were the conditions. If he agreed to a give her a divorce and forget about the whole thing, would she sleep with him? She doesn’t answer and he wonders why not – is it because she is afraid it will make him angry if he says no? That, she says, and also she’s never made love, and she has to be in love to make love. Well, Alex acknowledges that he would like to get her into bed, but says he would never pressure her. And now we get to the crux of the matter: MJ wants to know if he will let her and her family go, even if she doesn’t sleep with him. Alex wonders why she wants to leave – is it so that she can go back to Bruno? She claims not, and he says that if he were absolutely sure that she wasn’t going back to B he might, he might, he might let her go. Throughout the conversation they are stroking and caressing each other’s hair, so it’s hard to believe either one is really able to think beyond the pheromones they’re both producing.

Back at the house, Alex accompanies to her room. He tells her his mother will go with her and Paula tomorrow to get clothes, but she is really bothered by how much they are taking from him and doesn’t want to accept any more. He proposes that she take what he is offering right now (no, not that - the clothes!) and when she leaves them she can leave behind everything he gave her. They exchange a brief kiss at the door of her room but it’s clear that they’re both dying for more.

MJ is alone in her room and, big surprise, here’s Bruno coming through the outside door again. Why in the world doesn’t that girl start locking the doors? Bruno tells Maria Jose about the plan for the next night at the party, but she refuses: she wants to do things right, Alex has said he will give her a divorce and she believes him. Bruno, enraged, grabs her by the neck and says that he won’t allow Alex to win this fight – Alex can keep all the money but he won’t get MJ, and if MJ doesn’t fall in with Bruno's plans he will turn her father in for dealing in black market goods and running drugs. MJ starts to say she will tell the truth but Bruno claps his hand over her mouth and says she has no way of making her accusations stick, whereas he has all he needs to make his accusations against her father work.

The next day Maria Jose, Paula and Victoria go shopping, MJ protesting all the while that she is really embarrassed about accepting so much. Later, in an exclusive boutique, Paula is clearly enjoying herself and Maria Jose is just as clearly uninterested.

Over drinks Maura and Raquel talk about Bruno’s plans to go away with MJ and her family. Raquel doesn’t understand why she would walk away from Alex and his money, but Maura doesn’t care – she just wants her to go.

Maria Jose tells Paula that they have to leave with Bruno because of the threats he has made about turning in their father and Paula pitches a terrific fit. Paula wants her to tell Alex about Bruno’s threats, but MJ doesn’t want this to be the cause of another fight. Paula finally agrees, with bad grace and with much crying and shouting, that, to save their father they have to go.

Felipa and Victoria are wondering what is really going on between Alex and Maria Jose. They are unable to resolve the situation, but Victoria is sure of one thing – since that girl MJ has come to the household there has been nothing but fights and an unhealthy atmosphere in the household. She tells Felipa about Alex’s first supposition that MJ and an accomplice were trying to swindle him and perhaps even kill him, and wonders what is the matter with him that now he rejects the possibility that MJ was responsible. She is sure that something is wrong with Alex, and is angry with Fernando that he won’t tell her what’s going on. Felipa asks, not quite out of the blue, if Victoria has ever thought of getting married again.

MJ tells her father that they have to leave. She doesn’t want to tell her father that he is what Bruno is using to blackmail them into leaving, and so she says it’s because Alex is on the verge of discovering what’s going on. Bruno comes to get their birth certificates so that they can apply for passports and assures MJ that, although she is angry with him now, she will see later that he was right to do what he did. A few minutes later Alex drives up just as Bruno, followed fairly closely by MJ, return to the main house. Alex asks her where she’s been and she says with her father. -“With Bruno?” -“No, alone.” A clearly doesn’t buy it and goes to ask Roberto if he was with Bruno (apparently the only place Bruno would have been if not with MJ and her father was with Roberto). Roberto, in a bathrobe and with a cocktail in his hand, says he hasn’t seen Bruno.

Alex goes to see Don Pedro and says that Bruno just told him he (B) had come by to say hello. Don Pedro, not quite sure what to say, says that he was but just for a couple of minutes. Alex doesn’t respond but is clearly unhappy and suspicious. He returns to the main house, where his mother tells him that although Paula was overjoyed with the clothes, MJ seemed distracted, sad and unhappy, although she didn’t say anything. Victoria asks what is going on, since there is clearly something wrong with MJ and the two of them are still sleeping in separate rooms. Alex, taken aback, comes up with the quickest lie he can think of: his rib is still bothering him a bit. Vicki doesn’t buy it and tells him so, but Alex simply excuses himself and says he has a lot to do.

Getting ready for the party, MJ notices that all their money is gone. Paula maintains that one of the servants must have taken it, but MJ isn’t buying it. Before they can argue, Vicki knocks on the door. Persistent to the end, she ask MJ to please talk to her if she and Alex are having problems. MJ gives her an emotional hug and thanks her for everything before quickly leaving.

At the party, Alex is obviously proud to introduce Maria Jose to his friends, introducing her by her (very long) married name, Maria Jose Samaniego de Lombardo. Bruno takes Maura aside to tell her she has to somehow get Alex alone so that he can get MJ and her family away from the party. In a moment alone with MJ, Alex comments that she seems odd. She says it’s because she’s not used to parties like this, and Alex takes the opportunity to tell her how beautiful she looks tonight. At that moment Maura interrupts them, gives Alex an exceedingly affectionate kiss and insists that she has to talk to Alex on urgent business - she needs his advice about a financial matter. MJ surely wouldn’t mind lending him her husband, would she? MJ clearly does mind, but does the polite thing and says of course she doesn’t. Maura proposes to Alex that they go someplace quiet where they can talk alone. As they walk away Alex is following MJ with his eyes from across the room, and a frustrated Maura tells him not to worry, nothing will happen to wifey (tu mujercita). Alex tells her not to kiss him like that anymore when she greets him, and especially not in front of his wife.

Bruno gets MJ and tells her their father is going to be there soon and then they will all leave. MJ tells him she has changed her mind – she doesn’t want to leave anymore, and she goes to look for Alejandro.

Maura, in the meantime, has brought the conversation around from investments to her and Alex. She wants to know why he could have done what he did. They were together (and by together, understand “together”) just a few days before he got married – what happened? Alex looks away from her, unable to find a response, and just as MJ walks into view Maura is pulling his head around to force him to look at her so she can tell him she loves him (I must say, there is a lot of coercion by way of head and neck going on in this story.) The scene ends with MJ gasping. It’s not clear whether or not she has heard Maura, but she has clearly seen how intimate they still are with one another.

Labels: sortilegio

Aldo is heading off to "music school" as we end this episode. And Luisa is headed for trouble if Constanza uses the photos Katja took. And Monita and Mauricio seemed headed for a mini honeymoon but we know something will put the kibosh on that. And the double date of Lorenza/Salvador and Gabriela/Oscar is headed for trouble...for sure!


But let's start at the beginning. Monita's at the gym, After-glow Connie has just come out of the shower; Consteño's sniffing her hot red dress and our Moni draws the obvious conclusion: Connie's favorite color is not red but black.


Both Costeño and Connie hasten to clarify. Not the big guy!...the little guy...Beto. Fireworks are about to erupt but the writers flip us back to the office where Gabriela has lined up the three gray-smocked receptionists like little dolls and is grilling them about the latest gossip. Paula's not going to share any of her night with Christian (and where was Paula's dad during all this?) and Gabriela chides her for being "uña y mugre" (thick as thieves) with Lorenza. Paula chides right back that Gaby is going with a married man. A soon-to-be-divorced man, corrects Gaby. Whoops. Lorenza has appeared. End of conversation.


Beto's protesting his innocence even though Monita notices he's wearing his same clothes from yesterday. So what? Sometimes he doesn't change his clothes for a week. (We have no problem believing this. Evidently neither does Monita.)


Beto was teaching me to box, purrs Constanza. It was so...strenuous...I needed to take a shower afterwards. After flinging down THAT particular gauntlet, Connie tosses out another. If you think I'm going to give up Mauricio without a fight, think again! I'll lower myself to YOUR level and fight with fists if need be. They start to go at it, but Beto warns Connie off. Monita in a fist fight will pound you to the ground, he warns. (And certainly with one hand gripping her towel, our Connie would be at a real disadvantage.) We get a quick ad here, which hopefully will allow the closed captions to catch up. They were running about 5 minutes behind.


Okay, we're back and so are the closed captions. Monita snarling that Connie doesn't have the "agallas" (guts) to fight her. Connie ripostes that she'll put her in her place. My place is with Mauricio, coos Moni. Score! But when you're ready for a fight, come get me, she adds. The scene ends delightfully with Connie going "quéquéquéqué and doing a tongue-roll duet with Beto. These two are meant for each other! (carnally speaking anyway)


Another carnal couple, Lorenza and Oscar, are making discreet plans in the office. She's suggesting he make a play for Gabriela so no one will suspect they making salacious whoopee on the side. However, if he actually touches Gabriela, she warns, he'll die. (Oscar looks truly worried....and turned on.)


Tulips arrive with the mysterious note. "Para que nuestro secreto florezca." You can figure that out, can't you? But the gals can't. Paula, Gaby , Monita and Lorenza all decide the flowers are for them. But Lorena walks off with them. Don't mess with the schizo!


While the females battle over the flowers, the menfolk are talking about the planned business trip to Merida. (Look up the Wikipedia reference on it. It's interesting.) Mauricio wants to stay home and nurture Monita in her grief but Jerry needs him to get out of town so the noxious trio can hatch their latest plan to deep-six the adoption. He comes up with the grand idea of Mauricio taking his personal assistant/novia with him. Mauricio's on board, and once he convinces Moni she can train in the gyms and lovely parks of this former Mayan colony, she's on board too. They have some little exchange where she misunderstands and thinks he's going to show her some "teiboleras" (table dancers) but that's quickly cleared up. Culture, only culture... and maybe a little romance on the side.


A short sweet scene with Gaby and Sal. I love this couple. She thanks him for the tulips. He didn't send them. Who did then? No no, I'm not a gossip, just have a lot of innocent curiosity. He kisses her briefly...but quite thoroughly...and then says "Off with you, gossip girl". For some reason, that scene just entranced me. Oh heck, I'm a sucker for mature/old folks romance.


Fake romance? Not so much. Oily Oscar is out propositioning Gaby for dinner that night. She says "no". Lorenza ups the ante. Not interested in Oscar anymore? You must be dating someone else, no? Er, no. Well, fine. Clearly Oscar's crazy about you. Tell you what! Sal and I will join you and all four of us will go out to dinner. Oh no. Oh yes. Oh dear.


And now to more skullduggery. Constanza, playing the generous employer, is giving her salesgirls the afternoon off. They're confused and suspicious. So are we. Enter Luisa and Katja. Connie pretends to be desperate for help (these salesgirls are sooo unreliable), will you gals fill in for me this afternoon? Of course. As soon as she leaves, perfidious Katja persuades Luisa to start trying on the lingerie while she posts a "Closed" sign on the window. This can't be good. In fact it looks like one of thse PSA announcements about not putting intimate photos on cellphones. We'll see.


And things are looking bleak in the barrio. Nieves is doing one of her thorough ream-outs of Beto. How could he be getting it on with that "flauta" Constanza!? Me dañas...(say it with me)...bleats Beto. It's your fault you lost Monita, continues Mom, and I'm thinking she's better off without you. Ouch! But bless his little heart, Aldo arrives at that moment with a request that only Uncle Beto can fill...Help me be with a woman, he pleads. Beto's confused and thinks for a moment Aldo's looking for a sandwich date. But he finally understands he just needs a guide to getting some professional experience. No problem. More to come.


Back at the lingerie boutique, Katja has a brief moment to redeem herself. Luisa is telling her how she didn't like her at first, but now that she knows her and knows what a great gal she is..... Guilty look. But then Katja forges ahead. Let's take photos. Just for us. And they're off. Quite a montage with both girls suddenly looking much older, much sexier, and very seductive. Oh no. Oh yes. Oh dear.

Another cute little scene at the office between Salvador and Gabriela musing about how they'll get through the gruesome foursome date planned that evening. Salvador growls that it's a "locura" but somehow it seems like an endearment. Ah, what a couple.

Just before the next ad break, we have a cozy family scene. Mau's going to Meridia and the girls want to go along. Well, how about if he goes with Monita since the kids can't miss school. Great idea. Aldo deftly slips in a request for cash to go out with his buds that night (who can say "no" with the prospect of a honeymoon at hand?) but Mauricio does put down some rules. Ivan has to go with him and drive him...and no alcohol. Mau and Monita will take a taxi to the airport.

While Dany and Luisa help their dad pack, Estrella and Paula are doing the same with Moni. They remind her she doesn't have to take soap. The hotel will have some. (I blush to admit that when I went off to Europe at 19, green as they come, I packed soap and shampoo and lotion for a year! Like they didn't have those things in Europe. Oh my!)

And at Constanza's apartment, she and Jerry (and a clearly uncomfortable Katja) are checking out the incriminating photos while a delighted Jeronimo requests some "close" (close-ups).

Enough of that scene. Back to the barrio where guard-dog Beto is vowing to keep Mauricio from kidnapping Monita. There's a brief, hysterical scene of the two men trying to fight, while their feet slip around like they're on grease. The onlookers decide they should throw water on those "dogs" but even that doesn't stop Beto. Christian finally has to taser him, and Paula's so entranced with the weapon, she wants one herself. Beto does a good imitation of an epileptic fit and funny though it is, let's not forget there have been some fatalities with these arms. Kids, don't try this at home.

Somehow, in spite of the antler-bashing and taser chaos, Monita and Mauricio take off for the airport, tucked into Christian's squad car with the siren blasting. Pure romance. Estrella waves them off shouting "metale chota, metale chota". I'm going to guess that means "you go girl!" or simply "go for it!" because some of the other possibilities are pretty raunchy. Remember, I don't write this dialogue, I just recap it. (Late night translation from Anonymous 10:02 says "chota" means "cops" so "metale chota" would mean "step on it, cop"...telling Christian to hurry our loving couple to the airport.)

That leaves us with a soggy Beto and a mournful Nieves. He's trembling with rage-- and maybe a little leftover taser juice-- and she's resigned. Accept it, son. Things have changed. Monita's in love with a good man. Having new experiences. Becoming a new person. Leaving us little people behind. I'm going looking for some more taser, snarls Beto. That hurts less than what you're saying.

Enter Aldo to the rescue again. Even though Beto (say it with me) BLEATS that "traigo el animo en el piso" (I'm waaay down in the dumps), he can't help but respond to Aldo's need to learn the art of love from an experienced woman. However, our favorite experienced woman, Estrella, overhears this risky plan. Stay tuned. We've gotta get back to the foursome.

They're at the table. Oscar orders wine. Sal orders water so Lorenza can take her crazy pills (otherwise she might KILL somebody, she explains). And she appreciates his thoughtfulness so much, she lays a great big schmoozeroonie of a kiss on him. Oscar retaliates by wooing Gaby with a multitude of sweet nothings, including "If I were a ship lost at sea, the light of your eyes would guide me to safe harbor.". "And what could I say about your lips, you...AH DIOS! a well-aimed Lorenza kick under the table takes Oscar an octave higher and adds real pathos to his love declarations. "Well, that's the effect I have on men, smiles Gaby, looking directly at Sal. Oh no. Oh yes. Oh dear. Oh heck...I love it that Oscar took one in the nether regions.!

Meanwhile, our Nookie Tour Guide is warning Aldo off picking up a woman in the street. You can get the clap that way, trust me, he says. Now in a house, the girls take care of themselves. you'll be safe. And in they go (while a worried Estrella watches from behind a tree)....to a misty, pink bordello cum music school with various sexy ladies draped over a variety of instruments. Lends new meaning to the phrase "foreplay".

Lots of double entendres about stroking harp strings, caressing the violin, blowing on the flute (How about the tuba, chimes in Beto) and finally the promise to turn this "becerro" (calf) into a "toro" (bull) for the straight rate of 3,000 pesos. Ivan and Aldo pool their money and he's in, so to speak. The madame even hints at a discount since she's sure Aldo won't take long to conclude his business. Ivan throws in a timely PSA "sin gorro no hay fiesta" (use protection) and then he and Beto go out to the car to wait.

But oh dear, oh no, oh heck and oh dang....Jerry is there too. And quite miffed he is, since his lady of the night is not playing the part of Constanza very well. Evidently Monita has also been part of his fantasies, and he's even whispered Oscar's name in his sleep. We wait breathlessly for the next installment on THIS story. In the meantime (mientras tanto for you guys) he pops his head out the door and catches sight of Aldo. Ah ha. More ammunition for the adoption fracaso. And as he gleefully phones Connie with the news, we hear the Madame asking Aldo, You ARE 18, aren't you? Oh yes. (But we know...oh no.) And there we end.

Previews:
Mauricio is also whispering sweet nothings...in Mayan for gosh sakes! My closed captions say "Itllacumech" Te amo. Works for me, as does the kiss.
And Connie is warning she wants no slipups as she schemes with Oscar and Jerry.
And does anybody want to bet that somehow Estrella will be behind that door Aldo enters? It's not in the previews and I haven't looked ahead...but...maybe.....

Vocabulary:
I'm guessing on a lot of these. They sure weren't in any of my dictionaries.

paraguas = normally, umbrellas, but used as a metaphor for condoms in this episode.
la cotorrita = appeared to mean carnal congress. Nieves in her denunciation of Beto's behavior with Constanza ; "peinar la cotorrita" lit. comb the parrot but refers to yes, you guessed it carnal congress, having sex etc. (thanks for the translation, Jarocha)
panuchos= yummy little rolls? Estrella was talking about this when she was imagining the trip Mauricio and Monita would take
los lacayos = lackeys. Jeronimos' insult of Salvador
las agallas = guts
uña y mugre = literally, nails and grime. "thick as thieves"
el mensote = idiot, stupe
cabezón =pig-headed
fracaso = failure, big mess-up

Dicho of the Day

Meterse en camisa de once varas = To bite off more than you can chew. To get in hot water. To be in a pickle.
This could apply to Aldo, Luisa and from the looks of it, even our dear Oscar.

Labels: gancho

Hello campers,

I don't think the new Monday recapper Khavele realized we usually get the recaps up the night of the show. So she was planning to post, evidently - tonight. So in the mean time, if anybody wants to discuss, feel free to use this post. Sorry!

Labels: sortilegio

Friday: Carlota tells Paloma she’s (sniff) changed due to Macarena’s death and now she realizes (sniff) how distant they are, and that she’s going to let Romina stay in the house just because she loves Paloma soooo much. Orlando sees Diana/Gudelia’s photo at Em’s house, realizes that she’s Em’s ma, and does some deep breathing.

And we’re off! At his house, Em comes in with his old university project he was looking for, but he says he didn’t find his ma. Orlando asks what his mother’s name is and Em tells him she didn’t like her real name, so she goes by Diana. Em tells Juanita the maid to tell Diana that he’ll see her that evening.

Meantime Orlando is looking stupefied. Em says what’s up? Orlando says nothing – your mother looks like she has a lot of ummm … personality. Do you get on better with her or your dad? Em says I have more in common with my dad. My mother makes me a little crazy because she’s kinda controlling. Orlando says you must be her treasure, and Em says maybe that’s why she’s that way – I guess all moms are. Jaunita runs in and asks Em to help her with the pilot on the stove, giving Orlando the opportunity to skulk around a bit, then slip the framed photo under his suit coat. (How do you conceal a framed photo under a suit coat and then walk out into the street with it? A question best left unexplored.)

Carlota tells a very doubtful Paloma that she’s not the baddie that Mac made her out to be, and that Mac said those things to strengthen her own relationship with Paloma. But Carlota says she won’t judge. Anyway, Romina can stay with us. Thank you Tia, says Paloma unenthusiastically.

Paloma leaves and Carlota closes the door and gloats. Romina, she thoughtbubbles, you turned out to be way smarter than I had thought. But don’t even imagine that you are using me; it’s me who is using you. And you’ll end up in my debt. Chortle.

Mournful Camila and Angie are having lunch. Camila fills her in on the whole thing – two galans, just dating, thought she could handle it, they both knew, Romina caught her kissing Rafa, etc.

Angie says the problem is you weren’t honest with your daughter. And she’s going to have trouble accepting that you have a boyfriend at all, much less the husband of the lady she’s staying with. Before you talk with Romina, you have to get straight with yourself.

Joel and down-in-the dumps Rafa are in the office – it looks like the new line will be a success, but even that can’t cheer Rafa up. He’s decided to talk to Romina, even if Camila told him not to. Joel points out that he could lose Camila that way. Rafa says what he likes about Camila is that she’s a mother before anything else. If he can fix up her relationship with her daughter, it’s worth losing her. Whadda guy – throwing himself on the hand grenade.

Angie asks Camila which guy she loves. Camila stirs her tea listlessly and says both. But I’ll give up love to get my daughter back. Angie says a sacrifice like that will cost you big. You have the right to both worlds. Romina doesn’t need a perfect mother, just one she knows, one who can goof up in love like anyone else.

Camila wonders if Romina could understand. Angie says who knows? But you have to decide – our culture doesn’t accept someone going with two people for very long. Obviously Angie has never watched The Batchelor. You’re going to have to listen to your heart and decide. Romina looks completely depleted. Angie rubs her arm and says it’s hard, but you can balance your being a mother and a woman.

Diana, wrapped in a headscarf and wearing giant sunglasses, is in a small shop with Inez. She tells Inez she can’t go out these days, then she looks out the door and sure enough, Orlando and Em are on the sidewalk. She ducks back in and says What he’s going to be mad about is not Emiliano, but that I robbed him. Inez says and then Ignacio robbed you. Diana says that’s why I never trusted another man. Inez says not even Rafa – he was like an angel dropped from heaven. If it hadn’t been for him, your life would have been a disaster. You’re just reaping what you sowed.

Rufi is changing the canary cage in the kitchen. Paloma tells her that Carlota is going to let Romina stay, and that maybe she’s judged Carlota too harshly. You think so? says Rufi. She’s really trying says Paloma. Rufi says and she never could stand Romina.

Paloma says she doesn’t want this affecting her relationship with Em, plus she really likes Camila and doesn’t want to hurt her. Rufi says let her stay a few days, and help her reconcile with her mom, then you can talk to Em. Paloma thanks her for being like a grandmother to her. They air-kiss at each other.

Diana comes home and gets a fright. The maid tells her that Em was there with some guy from work. Diana, looking like a cornered rabbit, thinks to herself that it must’ve been Orlando. Dios mio!

At work, Orlando is a bit distracted and fibs to Em that he was just thinking how Em is his partner, yet he knows so little about him. Em, smiley and bouncy as a Disney character, pulls up a chair, eager to oblige. Orlando wants to know where Em’s parents are from. Em says he and his dad are from here, but his mom is from Mexico City. He thinks she came to visit with a girlfriend and his father saw her and they fell in love. Now that they’re divorcing, she wishes she could take Em and go to Monterrey.

Orlando wants to know if it was his father who wanted the divorce. Em says yes, she’d become kind of dependent and demanding. She can’t get over it – she thinks my father should stay forever.

Romina, hanging out with Aron, gets a call from Paloma telling her that Carlota said she could come stay. Romina is gleeful and tells her she’s the best friend in the whole world. After she hangs up, Romina and Aron exult. Aron tells her she would make a great actress. Romina says now I’ll have more control over her, and I’ll tell her that you are a big catch.

Natalia is sitting in a coffee shop, on her cell phone with Chris, telling him all her woes right within the earshot of strangers who seem not to listen in. She tells him Alonso is a real problem since Inaki’s death and she’d like to come to Real del Monte and talk to Chris and get some advice. Chris is welcoming.

She adds that she’d like to get to see Paloma and Macarana. Chris’s face falls. He tells her the sad truth, and she is impactada. Gasp!

Rufi is at Dr B’s office, giving him Inaki’s mom’s phone number. Dr B says he’s sure Carlota and her lawyer are up to something fishy. You should have seen her reaction when I brought it up! Rufi says and now she knows you suspect. Cuidadito.

Dr B says Carlota even tried to accuse me of extortion! Originally I was going to investigate just for Macarena and Paloma’s sakes, but now I’m doing it for my ownb conscience. Doing nothing would be like being an accomplice to Carlota.

Lic. Rojas is being told off by a guy, apparently his law partner, for wanting to leave town for a few months. Seems they had talked about adding another partner, but couldn’t afford the salary. Rojas says okay, just hire somebody and I’ll pay his salary. The partner asks why he wants to leave so precipitously – is he in some kind of trouble? (I guess Rojas is so unappealing that the partner doesn’t suspect a beach & bimbo vacation.) No, no, lies Rojas, he just has been needing some time off and by golly, he’s going to take it now. The partner says if we get swamped while you’re gone, you are responsible for the consequences.

Orlando has the framed photo of Diana on his desk and he’s talking to it. It’s you and you live right here! That’s why I saw you in the restaurant! That’s why you didn’t come to the office party. You’re living in hiding. Is Em the child you were expecting?

At Diana’s, Romina is thanking her for taking her in, and says that it’ll be better at Paloma’s because, as Diana advised, she needs to be real close to Paloma. Through all this, Diana is very distracted and Romina notices that she’s not getting the 100% focus on her that she expects. Diana says oh, it’s nothing.

Romina says I know this isn’t necessary – she gets out a wad of cash and gives it Diana. Thank you! says Diana and Romina looks a bit disgusted.

Paloma is at Emiliano’s office, telling him about Romina coming to stay for a little while, and about Romina’s difficulties with Camila. Em is very suspicious and thinks that Romina is trying to come between them. Paloma, not at all enthusiastic, says she wants to help her reconcile with her mother.

Orlando is about to knock on Em’s office door when he hears there’s a conversation going on. He hears Em tell Paloma that he knows about Romina catching her mother kissing Rafa. Orlando morphs into a thunderhead and storms into his office. He gets out some wine and a glass, then gets all crazy tense and crushes the glass in his hand.

Angie comes running. Blood! Yikes! She runs for the first aid box, runs back in and starts dabbing. It’s nothing says studly Orlando. She looks up and OMG their faces are close together and for a moment they look in one another’s eyes. Some tentative music starts up.

You need to get some care so you don’t get a scar. She looks up in his face again. Deep wounds always leave scars he says with Great Meaning.

Fortunately the canaries aren’t on the kitchen table any more, because Carlota has come in to bark some orders to Rufi. Romina will stay in Macarena’s room, so get it ready. Rufi is taken back – can’t she stay in Paloma’s room? Carlota says I’m letting her in the house, but I don’t want them to be so close.

Rufi says I’m surprised you’re letting Romina stay. Carlota says you know I can’t stand her, but this house is Paloma’s as much as mine and I want her to feel comfortable in it, and I want her to be happy. Point two five percent of the viewership sigh Isn’t that sweet? This would be the same .25% of the viewers who got into the tequila.

Carlota also wants to know how that envelope of papers got in the house. Rufi says she doesn’t know, but since Carlota said they were just medical reports, why does it make any difference how they got to the house?

Camila comes up to Paloma on the street. They hug, and Camila gives her Mac’s pearl necklace, plus she gives Paloma back her money for it. Paloma protests that Camila shouldn’t pay, now that she had the money from the school, but Camila says it wasn’t me. A man bought them and gave them to me. Paloma wants to know what man, but Camila won’t say. Camila says it was more important that you have it. But if you ever want to sell it, let me know. Pal says I won’t be selling it. – it was my mama’s. I mean, my tia’s, but I loved her like a mother.

Camila is about to leave, but Paloma stops her and tells her that she’s sorry about her trouble with Romina, and that Romina is going to come stay with her a few days. Camila is impactada and grateful. She thanks Paloma for telling her, and says what a good influence Paloma has always been. Could she please convince Romina to talk to her at least?

Paloma promises to try, but Romina is muy confundida. Camila says it was just a kiss, that was all there was to it, and not what Romina thinks. They hug.

Meche is sitting on a park bench with Chris while the boys' soccer team practices in the background. She tells him Chava has been rebellious and Chris promises to keep an eye on him. She thanks him profusely and leaves.

Em comes up and tells Chris that guess what, Romina is going to be staying with Pal and it’s going to be a real problem with their secret love. Chris says well, don’t keep it a secret any more. This must be a sign that it’s time to tell everybody. Em goes oh yeah, huh? He grins.

At home Carlota says to Rufi Who? Come to see me? Make sure we’re left completely alone. Don’t let Paloma and Romina bother me either.

We’re supposed to be mystified as to who has come to see Carlota, but none of us are.

Orlando is at Camila’s door. She looks completely drained and she tells Orlando that she’s had a couple of horrible days and she’s just not up to talking right now. How about tomorrow? He says he won’t leave until they’ve talked.

Carlota looks sublimely smug. She leans her back against the heavy doors and says I knew one day you would seek me out. There in the shadows of the room is Chris who says I hate to contradict you, but I didn’t come for you. She slinks up to him and puts an arm around his neck. Are you sure? She strokes his lips with her finger.

Chris: What are you doing?
Carlota: What we’ve always wanted to do, live our love. (She paws him.) Now there are no obstacles.
Chris: (backs up) I am a man of the church!
Carlota: Leave it! You were about to anyway.
Chris: I came to talk about Paloma.
Carlota: (lunging at him again) But I want to talk about us.
Chris: There never was an “us.”
Carlota: There always was.
Chris: Maybe in your mind.
Carlota: We could make it a reality.
Chris: I only loved one woman in my life and you know very well it wasn’t you.
Carlota: A person can love again, desire again. You could do that with me. Because you are the only man who I have loved desperately, insanely.

Carlota twines her octopus arms around Chris, who rears back, eyes wide, looking at her like eeewwwww.

Blech. We need a break from that, but what we get is Camila looking exhausted, giving Orlando a cup of tea and wanting to know what it is that can’t wait until tomorrow. He asks how she and Rafa are doing. She says fine. He wants to know exactly and she says she thinks it’s not proper for her to discuss Rafa with him, but if he must know, they’ve decided not to see each other any more. Why? says Orlando.

Camila thoughtbubbles: I can’t tell him. I don’t want to start a fight between them.
Orlando thoughtbubbles: I don’t want you messing with me. I won’t ever let a woman do that again.

Camila says it’s better this way. Believe me.

Back to Carlota, who is still trying to force herself on Chris. He pushes her away. I’m sorry you try to keep seeing me as a simple mortal. Carlota says you could go back to being one! Like you were going to do for her. I know you could be one again for me. I know you, I sense it. Though you are in a priest’s clothes, I know the man hasn’t died. She tries to grab him and kiss him again.

Basta! Ya! He says, fending her off with some beginner martial arts moves

Carlota: Why don’t you recognize that there’s a man inside who desires me? That I make your blood boil? Your religion is just a refuge. You’re the one who’s responsible for making my sister so miserable.

Chris: If any one is guilty of that, it’s you. You’re the one who made sure we couldn’t live the life together that we wanted.

Carlota: When it comes to love, there are no obstacles and you don’t go around believing what other people say. It was very handy for you to think that she was dead. It took away the responsibility for having made her yours without having married her.

Chris: I can’t believe you actually believe your own lies. You’re nuts.

Carlota (smiling): Oooh, that’s the passionate fellow that attracted me.

Chris: Yes, for your sister I would have left the church and given her myself, body and soul. But you aren’t even worth the time to talk to.

He stomps out. Christobal, she sighs to herself swooningly.

Em is having dinner at home with his mother, a nice, healthy salad. She looks scared and said she heard he was here during the day with someone. Em says yes, with Orlando, and he saw your photo and said you look like you have a lot of personality. Diana gulps. She tells him that Romina moved out. Em says he’ll stay with German. She begs him to come back home for a while and he kindly says okay and pats her hand.

Orlando tells Camila maybe he should talk with Rafa. She says about what? He says why, about Em, who may be suffering from the divorce. He says Romina maybe would have an easier time if she had a brother. Camila says I’m too old for that! Orlando asks her about her friendship with Diana and she said it was very slight – they really didn’t have much in common. He wonders why they didn’t have more children. He wonders if Diana was pregnant when she married. Camila says what’s with all the questions?

Orlando says I don’t want to sound nosey. It’s just that the more I know about Emiliano, the more I can help him. Camila looks skeptical.

Diana has frantically called Inez, who is now at Diana’s. Diana says now Orlando knows who I am and how to find me. What do I do? Inez says he won’t hurt you, don’t forget that Em is his partner. But if Orlando finds out, you’ll have to give him his divorce and your son will lose all respect for you. Diana wails. Run for it, says Inez. Diana says I will – I’ll go to Monterrey and stay with my godfather until things calm down. She wrings her hands.

Orlando is in his car, fixating on the photo of Diana and looking stressed. He stares at the front of a house, which must be hers.

Avances: Em wants to tell Romina about his and Paloma’s Big Love. Romina reminds Paloma they swore never to fight over a man.

Labels: amor

Labels: gancho